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rainydaydream-gal18 · 2 months

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(The Bad Batch) Crosshair x Reader: More than a Dream

The Bad Batch is finally enjoying some more downtime and even some relaxation after the return of Omega and someone else unexpected. You feel like you're caught in another dream.

Word Count: 1,209

Warnings: Some angst, comfort, Season 3: Episode 5 Spoilers

Can Be Read as Sequel to: In My Dreams

“Why are you crying?” A thin, raspy voice asked. It only made the tears fall faster as you shielded your eyes from the waking dream beside you that sat up and gently leaned over you in comfort.

You’d been plagued by false hope too many times before. You couldn’t bring yourself to meet his eyes in the dark.

You curled up on the soft bedroll as you focused on the sounds of the room.

The ocean waves softly whooshing in the distance outside your open window. Nocturnal insects were chirring to their heart’s content as they did every night. A warm breeze tickled your skin and ruffled the curtains draped on either side of the window.

If not for the continued presence that you felt beside you, you’d think you were beginning to wake from the bittersweet vision. But he remained.

“I had another dream,” You answered finally. “It’s…I wanted it to be real.”

There was a pause before the familiar voice continued. “What was it about?”

“Omega came back safe and sound, and so did you. You finally returned to us-” The sentence was cut off by a sorrowful sob. You curled up, trying your very best to stifle it. A hand curled over your shoulder, drawing you closer to the figure.

“Shh,” he hushed next to your ear. “It was real. I’m here.”

You relaxed against his clothed chest and allowed yourself the comfort. As much as these dreams played your heartstrings like a seven-string hallikset, you couldn’t bring yourself to push him away. So, you clung to the fleeting moment and waited for it to fade into the night like they did every time.

Except it didn’t. Precious seconds turned into minutes. The minutes pushed on until you realized that he wasn’t going to fade. Not this time.

You dared yourself to look up. Just one glimpse…

The first thing you saw was moonlight pouring into the room, covering everything in a lovely haze of silver.

And there he was, propping himself up beside you on one elbow while the other arm draped over your form. His chin was lifted as his gaze was directed to the scene outside the window. Your eyes followed the line of his jaw, pausing at his cheekbones, and wandered down the slope of his nose to his lips- admiring the shadows that the moon of Pabu cast on his face.

All at once, the memories came rushing back.

You remembered so vividly the moment Omega jumped into your arms after being lost to the Empire for several months. You recalled the way your heart jumped for joy at her return and the fact that she was safe and sound.

You remembered the way you froze up completely at the sight of him. Omega’s sheepish tone and Hunter’s suspicious gaze were lost to you as you stared Crosshair down from across the way. No words came to you for some time. It seemed to be the same with him. The two of you spent the entire journey across space in that ship speechless toward each other, only communicating with odd stares.

You weren’t sure how you felt at first. Of course, you were shocked by his return. Confused. And there was still anger toward him for betraying the squad, for betraying his family, for betraying you.

Somewhere along the line, it was just the anger that remained. The odd stares turned into cold ones on your end. He didn’t return them. He’d only met your gaze with a sort of prickly silence.

Then there was last evening when the tension finally snapped. You’d ditched the silent treatment and instead opted for a shouting match; except, it was only you shouting, and him replying through clenched teeth.

Finally, when you’d spent your energy, you exhaled.

He wasn’t asking for anything unreasonable. He wasn’t asking for anything, period. Crosshair had been a big part of helping Omega escape, and the kid had spent plenty of time trying to vouch for him to you and the rest of the squad.

The man before you had been severely humbled. He’d changed, and it was written all over his face. When you finally began to accept it, that’s when the tears came. There wasn’t just anger: there was hurt. There was longing.

Crosshair pulled you into an embrace, and you cried into his shoulder.

You recalled your quiet, pathetic plea for him to stay. You recalled the way he held you tighter, and how before you knew it, you both had curled up on your bedroll together, drifting off to sleep.

And now, in the late hours of the night, you realized that it was indeed real. It was truly Crosshair beside you, warm and safe. His eyes were no longer gazing out at the moon, but instead locked on yours. His mouth formed a frown as he saw the tears that had begun to well up in yours again.

“I thought it was another dream,” you cried.

His hand reached up to stroke your cheek as he hushed you again gently. “You don’t want to wake anyone.”

You gave a nod and buried your face into his shoulder.

“Hunter wouldn’t be so pleased to find me in your room,” he continued, petting your hair.

His comment nearly gave you a chill. The thought of Hunter finding the two of you there, giving Crosshair that glare of utter distrust and fury and you the weighty gaze of disappointment was not something you wanted to experience.

“He still doesn’t trust me.”

“It’ll take time,” you murmured, voice muffled in his shirt.

“I know. This wouldn’t exactly be a step in the right direction. It’s bad enough that the kid can’t seem to stay away from me.”

“Omega sees something in you.” You sighed sleepily, as a wave of exhaustion hit you. “And so do I.”

Silence fell between the two of you, and the sounds of the night came to the forefront of your mind again as you began to drift back to sleep. Crosshair’s breathing and his heartbeat were your lullaby.

Somewhere between the waking world, and your dreams, you thought you heard him utter,

“I don’t deserve it...”

- - - -

The next morning, you awoke to brilliant sunlight in your eyes. In the heat of morning, you’d kicked your blanket off. Reaching over to pull it back, you realized that the presence beside you was no longer there.

For just a split second, your heart plummeted. The question of whether it was all just a dream arose once more, and you found yourself standing there on your feet and staring at the bedroll.

“No, it was definitely real,” you said aloud. Relief flooded you as you fully woke up and went over last night’s conversation in your head.

As if timed to perfection, you heard the zoom of blaster fire. It was a single shot, which was that of a sniper rifle. You headed over to the window, trying to shield your eyes from the bright sunlight. You squinted to see a familiar figure clad in gray and red down by the beach, taking aim at a target.

A sigh escaped your lips as you watched him fire again.

It was the start of a new day.

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starryluminary · 6 months

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Honestly I want to know your opinion on Nemma. Because honestly I don’t like the ship either and want to see if someone agrees with me.

Oh my god hiiii nerd-chocolate!! I will GLADLY detail why I don’t like nemma. Buckle up cause I’m not exactly normal about this subject

I will preface this by saying I understand why it’s Noah and Emma. I get why if Noah had to have a girlfriend it would be someone who would match his intellect and someone he could hold a competent conversation with. Logically, on paper, I understand. It’s not so much the concept of Noah and Emma dating that I dislike, it’s the execution. The development of the relationship was a train wreck. HERES WHY!!!

From the very beginning Nemma showed problems. The Noah that couldn’t play a game of dodgeball for $100,000 and was so standoffish he could only make a good friend in Owen is now suddenly falling in love at first sight with a girl that did a front flip and I’m just supposed to accept it at face value??

You could argue that it’s been three years and a person could change in three years. I’d like to argue back: this is a cartoon. If the development happened offscreen, it didn’t happen. Noah had a drastic change in personality out of nowhere because they give us no reason to believe otherwise. This is just the beginning. It’s all downhill from here, honey.

This is very much subjective and a personal thing but do you know how irritating his face is.

It makes me ill. Who is this.

Back on track, Noah is out of character the rest of his time competing (not that he was perfectly in character to begin with.) Both the way he treats Owen and how he acts regarding Emma is not believable to me. He’s tragically mean to Owen almost the entire time and he’s insufferably… inconsistent? When it comes to Emma? Like they didn’t exactly have pinned down how he should act when he’s in love so it changes with every episode.

[I did a bit of research regarding the more important Nemma episodes and their writers, but couldn’t draw any good conclusions from it. I did find out Laurie Elliot wrote both Slap Slap Revolution from World Tour (notorious for the most significant Noco moments of the season) and New Beijinging (where Nemma is at its worst in my opinion.) This isn’t all that relevant but it IS fucking hilarious. The writer responsible for “Cody’s got a tiny sausage!” being made to (co) write a Nemma episode and subsequently butchering it is reeeeeally funny to me.]

On the topic of New Beijinging. I cannot watch this episode uninterrupted and it’s because of Nemma. I despise it. It’s not that I don’t believe Noah would act like a bumbling fool in love… in concept. In CONCEPT, I can buy the failed one liners and the speaking your thoughts out loud and the acting out to try and impress her. In practice it’s so painful to watch. The Noah that said he’s incapable of being embarrassed in his WT biography is now spitting hot food in his love interests face and physically recoiling every time he tries to talk to her. I can’t express through text the pain and anguish it causes me.

This is ALSO after giving her a suave one liner in the previous episode. How does he go from cool and collected to cringing at her I- AAAGGHHHH.

They don’t suddenly get better when the feelings are mutual, either. They just become insufferable together and it’s tragic. This is specifically about Māori or Less and Got Venom? (though admittedly I haven’t gotten that far in my rewatch and don’t remember Got Venom? too vividly. I do know they’re annoying in it even to Owen and Kitty so.) They just become so infatuated with each other they forget the rest of the world exists and while I enjoy the CONCEPT……… it just manages to drag down both characters. At least they treat Emma with a little more respect and have her snap out of the haze to play the damn game but THEY END UP KNOCKING OUT NOAH INSTEAD. Pain agony suffering and woe. Noah going catatonic and leaving Owen to struggle is the worst it gets but he still never truly focuses on the game and even hopes to get kicked off. He won’t even play for Owen.

Do I even have to mention Owen. My poor guy Owen. Owen suffers an unnecessary amount for Nemmas development. It hurts my heart even thinking about it but I’ll list off examples. Ways Owen has suffered for the sake of the relationship include:

Being made to carry dead weight (Noah) on more than one occasion.

Being used as a flotation device, offered by Noah to Emma, after being frozen solid.

Being forced to wait for the sister team, making his team go from first place to seventh.

Being victim to Noah’s snark and insults, which he does to either impress Emma or to reprimand Owen because of something Emma related.

LOSING THE RACE CAUSE NOAH COULD ONLY FIND THE ENERGY TO MOVE WHEN HE WAS OFFERED A KISS FROM EMMA.

(Side note: have I ever mentioned that RR Noah is my enemy? I feel like I don’t mention it enough)

To wrap this up, I do genuinely believe Nemma could have been great. I don’t hate Nemma cause I thought Noah was gay, or I’m a Noco shipper, or any other superficial reason. I hate it cause it’s a terribly written relationship that had to completely destroy my favorite character of the series to try and make it work. It’s a damn shame, really. I wish I could look past how different Noah is and how badly he treats Owen and how sickly annoying he and Emma can be and just, at the very least, tolerate Nemma. But I can’t, and I never will.

#and nemmas the reason the adversity twins got kicked off so they’re immediately on my bad side forever #SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG. I GOT BUSY AND MY THOUGHTS WERE HARD TO ARTICULATE #but there it is. all the reasons I don’t like nemma #thank you for letting me get that out of my system #ship hate #total drama #total drama presents: the ridonculous race #tdrr #I don’t feel like tagging anything else actually #let’s keep this one here #Starry has a question #Starry speaks

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5eraphim · 6 months

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Hind of an odd question but how did you get into tf2 in the first place

i can actually tell u exactly when i really got into it bc i so vividly remember the exact day it clicked with me-

November 15th, 2022

i was having a mental breakdown in a roach motel (all i could afford on my own at the time) in austin, texas and i was going through a post-manic depressive episode, hadn't slept in 3 days straight, and was feeling all scared about the future, a romantic relationship was falling apart, and i was so far away from home, austin is literally on the other end of the country relative to home (and like it's a long story but by GOD was i goin through it-)

anyway, it was late at night and i was curled up in the fetal position in bed sort of staring at the wall while youtube was playing on the desk in the background. a video from a channel i followed for ages was talking about overwatch two bombing hard, and kept refrencing TF2 as a good counter-alternative and, by chance, youtube autoplayed a compilation of the "meet the team" videos after and like, watching that was the first thing to make me laugh audibly since i got to austin.

i deadass had NO idea TF2 was one of the biggest video game franchises of all time (somehow) and fell down rabbithole of lore videos, twitter meme accounts and like, really found this beautiful little community and one i wanted to join when i got access to my pc again.

like i realize this might sound kinda pathetic, but it was something i could hold onto, if that makes sense? and remind myself "life isn't pure hell, there are more good things to discover and enjoy" and it's what finally got me back into posting fandom writing on tumblr since a 3 year hiatus.

and heeeere we are today :')

#anonymous #thank you so much for the ask <3 #also i feel like i already said this before-#but it was then that i realized where this one insane line i heard out of context came from and my jaw hot the FLOOR when i realized #the line in question being 'so listen up boy or pornography sstaring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today'#and i wouldn't have it any other way

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queenofthearchipelago · 5 months

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The Second Day of Doomsday

I've brought down my copy of How to Be a Pirate off the shelf and I must admit how fond I am of this book. This is where the setup really begins for the story we are about to embark upon. The first book was really more of a prologue and this is the real beginning.

This is where we introduce characters like Alvin the Treacherous and Grimbeard the Ghastly. This is where we introduce the idea of the quests and where we really establish who these people are, Hiccup and Fishlegs and Toothless.

There are so many iconic scenes in this book. The entire episode with the coffin, to the escape of the Isle of the Skullions, to the battle on the ships, Hooligans vs Outcasts.

And of course, the Treasure of the Cavern. What an epic first battle between two evenly matched enemies (if only one was a little older and the other a little smarter). However I must admit my favorite part isn't the finding of the Treasure, nor is it the battle for it. It's the little bit at the end, where Hiccup notices a piece of paper nailed to the backside of the door they came in through.

This is one of only a handful of scenes I regularly come back to reread. This letter, and Hiccup's decision after reading it, both changed who I am as a person and cemented Book!Hiccup as one of my favorite and most relatable characters of all time.

For context, teenage me read this book for the first time through audiobook, and every single time the story came to a place where Hiccup needed to make a decision, I'd hit pause. I'd think about it. What would I do? And what did I think Hiccup would do?

So when I finished Grimbeard's letter I knew I had to pause again. To know about this fearsome pirate of a Viking king who gathered all this treasure and came to regret it based on what it turned his people into... that was so powerful to me. It wasn't that he got bored of his riches, or lost it in a shipwreck. It was that in the gain of fortune, he lost his friends to greed and lust for power. And so he decided to get rid of it, leave it for some far-off distant person who deserved it. Someone who would do the right thing with it.

And so I had a decision to make. What would I do with it? I remember the moment so vividly. It must've been 2 a.m. on a school night. I thought about all the good things money can buy. All the good causes money can be put to. But then I remembered that this isn't a question for me in my life, this is a question for me in Hiccup's shoes. This isn't exactly what I would do, this is what would I do if I were him? And so I determined that I would leave it there. They weren't ready yet.

What a beautiful surprise to me, when I pressed play on the audiobook again, and listened to Hiccup make that same decision with the same words that I had used.

Fishlegs didn't understand, but he respected Hiccup enough that he kept the secret all his life. And then, in writing this book himself as a memoir left to us, Old Man Hiccup trusts us the readers with the knowledge of this treasure too. What would we do with it in the present day?

I think again of all the good causes money can be put to today. But the purpose of the question is not to think of those, I think. The purpose should be to remember that long ago the Vikings were not capable of having beautiful and dangerous things and using them wisely. Nor are we capable of using them wisely today.

I imagine myself holding the second of Hiccup's memoirs. I imagine myself flipping to the last page and I imagine myself writing there the same words he wrote on the bottom of a letter nailed to a door in an underwater cavern.

"Still Not Ready."

(And before I go, a special shout-out to Grimbeard's favorite sword. Because sometimes second best is best. I would remember that line in music university every time I went into the practice rooms and went into the room with the second-best piano. I spent many many hours in that small storage closet of a room without AC. No one ever fought me for it. Thinking about it now, I've built quite a lot of my skill on the keys of second-best pianos. And I was always significantly less shaken than my peers when a note buzzed or when the pedals got stuck. Because hey, when you're a pianist you don't always get to choose, you play on what they give you when you show up.)

#twelve days of doomsday #httyd #dragons #httydbooks #httyd books #how to be a pirate #a bit late today but I did it!#thoughtsfromthequeen

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alcorian · 8 months

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transformers as cold war era media: an analysis written at 1 am, based on things me & my friends talk about in my tf server

Okay, so, G1 Transformers was made in the 1980s, which is the late Cold War era. I think that laid the foundations for the traces of pro-capitalist Americana we see throughout the franchise even in the modern day.

In G1, Megatron’s main ideological ‘catchphrase’ is “peace through tyranny.” To me, this is a pretty good representation of how many anti-communism Americans viewed and still do view communism; I’ve seen a lot of this idea that the evil communists are going to come take away your money and your rights for the sake of building a better world, and they’re not even gonna be good at it. Sure, they say they want to create a peaceful world free of inequality, but they’ll have to take away your rights to exploit others to do it! And communism in the US was largely colored by the Soviet Union and their authoritarianism.

It’s peace (economic equality) through tyranny (authoritarianism).

Also notable is the fact that the entire war in G1 seems to be focused on a race for resources, which is very similar to how the Cold War played out! Rather than being a war of physical battles, it was largely a war of economics, ideology, and resources. Anyways, nearly every episode is about the Decepticons finding some new energy source, and the Autobots having to stop them from taking advantage of it, because then they will use that energy source to power their weapons and vehicles, and spread their evil "peace through tyranny" throughout the galaxy. It’s very reminiscent of the Cold War and the development of nuclear weapons and power, and the ways nuclear power was treated as being very entwined with the advancement of capitalist and communist ideologies.

Another thing is that the Autobots worked openly and often with the US government in G1, and the government was portrayed as the good guys who only wanted to develop new power sources for good—but those nasty Decepticons want to steal it for evil purposes! I vividly remember an episode where the US government developed a new, novel, and extremely powerful energy source, and had to do everything in their power to keep it away from the ‘Cons. One of the protagonists of that episode was a human scientist working for the government, who was kidnapped by the ‘Cons, but never gave up their secrets.

Another thing I noticed is the language at play in Megatron and Optimus’ character designs, and the designs of their respective faction members. Optimus is very clearly the colors of the American flag, and Megatron's construction reminds me of stereotypical Soviet bloc architecture—big, grey, rectangular, heavy, utilitarian. Ruth pointed out that the Autobots are mainly consumer vehicles like cars and vans, while the ‘Cons are mostly military and industrial builds, which plays into the narrative about Evil Commies Coming For Your Consumer Products With Their Weapons. Also notable is the Decepticons’ association with red (a VERY popular stand-in for communism—it wasn’t called the Red Scare for nothing). On the other side, the Autobots all have blue eyes, which to me is reminiscent of the Stereotypical Good, Strong, Blonde-Haired Blue-Eyed All American Man. Certainly, some of this is coincidental, but I still enjoy pointing it out and pointing out the associations these character design choices would have had at the time they were made, and even today.

So that's just G1. But later on I think we see echoes of that original Cold War era signaling throughout the franchise, even in media made after the War ended. For example, in Aligned; Megatron wants to force economic equality on the populace. He does this in a violent way that threatens both Cybertron’s way of life, and the rich and middle class bots of the planet. Megatron is a scary, violent communist rising up from the working class to wreak havoc on Good, Polite Society with his Radical Ideas. What I find interesting is that this version begins to lean more into the fear of American communists, with Megatron being a disenfranchised member of the community & building up his own army of rebels who commit acts of domestic terrorism, rather than being an outside force. And in Aligned, in response to the Decepticon uprising, we see Optimus Bravely Defending the American Capitalist Upper Class From Robot Antifa, Who Tried To Blow Them Up, How Nasty! Aligned really espouses the idea that “sure, economic equality sounds great and all, but these people really want to blow up rich people’s houses and amusement parks and destroy our government entirely! Is it really worth it?”

And finally, Ruth suggested that there’s something in the way the G1 Autobots and Decepticons teamed up to fight a mutual threat (the Quintessons) and then the Decepticons turned on them because they were too “war hungry” to settle, so the Autobots have to continue fighting them to keep their evil ideology and empire from expanding. It all screams “metaphor for American capitalism and Soviet communism.”

I think this could have easily been unintentional, and probably was. A lot of it is just the public perception of what "evil" looked like during the Cold War Era. The thing about creative media is that it’s always coloured by the assumptions and stereotypes of the time. Even if an author didn’t mean to create a commentary on something, you can still observe how certain pervasive ideas of the time made their way into the work. This is especially true of villains (what does “evil” look like to them?). Look at Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The character of the Count plays on fears of immigrants from southeastern Europe “corrupting” England. Any shorthand for “evil” will be STEEPED in the era and location’s politics. Since Transformers is meant to be a kids’ show with very clear cut heroes and villains, it makes it especially easy to locate these biases and discuss them.

#alv posts #transformers #maccadam #meta #analysis

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writebackatya · 1 year

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3. The best character you’ve written for

Della. Your love of her character absolutely shows in how you write her. She’s hilarious, snarky, and caring at the same time. She’s an absolute ball to read when you write her.

6. Something I remember vividly from reading one of your fics

When Dewey accidentally got high on pot brownies when he met his Great Aunt Matilda in the 1960s.

10. A character/ship I didn't enjoy/think about as much before you wrote about them

Jane. In the grand scheme of things, she’s a relatively minor character, but at the same time, she has such an interesting relationship with both Louie and Webby. And she’s so relatable, in that she’s just a regular Joe, trying to get by by working at a children’s entertainment center. And just how you write her in general is so interesting!

3. Thank you! Della is always a blast to write for! Even when her role is smaller in an overall story I still like to think she makes a big impression. Especially when I not so subtlety let the reader know, “Yeah. Della is in this story!” like in this one where Della was basically given the role of “supportive soccer mom”

If I have an excuse to include Della in a story I will. If she has no story purpose reason to be in a story, I’ll probably just have a character mention her

Yeah I definitely don’t play favorites

And I’m glad I know at least one person out there enjoys how I capture! I remember early on when I started I writing I had a worry that my readers would get sick of me writing stuff around Della Duck and so far no complaints!

6. Oh my god! Thanks! I had a lot of fun writing that but I wasn’t sure if people would think it was as funny as I thought it was or they thought I was a messed up individual for writing this kid eating not one, but TWO pot brownies that a family member gave him. (Granted, neither knew they were related to one another but, still)

But at the same time…how could I NOT do a story about Dewey getting high during the events of Timephoon!?!

Timephoon! fics are always so fixated on that one scene when other characters were going through some stuff in that episode too. Well everybody but Dewey and Webby! They were having a fun play date with Bubba and got to eat chili dogs! And then they fought pirates! And went back in time to the 1960s and dressed up like hippies! Talk about a fun day!

I remember when I was writing it I was back and forth with whether or not I wanted Webby to eat a brownie. Glad I didn’t, I have something far more sinister planned for her in the next story which I had planned long before I even wrote Dewey eating that pot brownie

Also. Matilda definitely made edibles and was a hippie during the 60s.

10. Oh Jane, I’m gonna do whatever I can to make more people in the fandom realize you’re great! Because she is! So far I think I only have her in two of my stories. Indi-Quack!’s F.O.W.L Play! where she vents to Gandra about her job (because she deserves to, damn it!) and Up, Up, and Away! where she is on the clock and getting paid time and half to be in the Funso’s ad

I just think she’s the type of person that would be on the good side of everyone in McDuck Family. Besides Louie and Webby, I like to think she’s chill with all the kids.

Also I’m sure Jane has stories about working with Magica that she could share with Lena

I don’t have a whole lot of other stuff planned for Jane. She has a small role in my Iron Duck of Steel story and will definitely appear throughout the story (such acting as sort of a bartender to two characters later on in the story when they’re at a low point in their lives)

And I do have another idea for a story that will take place at Funso’s that I really wanna do. Basically as a way to combat the public finding out about FOWL operating underneath them, Funso’s starts doing adult nights where it basically becomes a Dave and Buster’s because alcohol makes arcades sooooo much better

#fanfic asks for the askers #tokuvivor #writebackatya

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bengiyo · 1 year

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My Only 12% Ep 14 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

So we reach the finale of My Only 12%, and I must say this has been an incredible experience as someone who remembers Love of Siam (2007) so vividly. New Siwaj has created such a restorative production to fill the space that show left open in a way I hsve only otherwise acknowledged I Told Sunset About You for.

Last time, we got to enjoy the honeymoon phase for See-Eiw and Cake before dealing with the decline and death of Eiw's mother. It was deeply sad, but in a way I felt delivered dramatically.

Funerals are almost always sad. We don't often deal with the death of a parent in BL.

Oh man. We've never seen Prem cry like this. Afterday also does a great job matches Earth's emotions. I know she wrote the source material, but she's been doing a great job.

I'm getting affected by how many people came here to support Nate's children.

And now I'm crying, too.

I really like how we've kept focus on Eiw this whole time. It allows Santa to play quiet support. It also makes the choice to not show Hom and Pao's conversation with their dad sensible.

Using cookie tins as storage is a universal experience.

I recently went through something like this as well, so I feel for Eiw and his siblings. It's hard to accept that someone you loved suffered privately when you feel like you should have known and helped.

We always talk about how Earth is a good crier. What's especially impressive is how he's pulling tears consistently out of his scene partners.

I love Prem so much, and I how everyone trusts Cake with Eiw. Everyone knows and everyone is thankful for their relationship.

I feel for Eiw. I actually got my dad to quit smoking cigars when I was a kid.

Santa does a great job with Earth here in this consoling scene. This show has been a great display of why they were paired.

We just met the father, but Earth is doing a great job securing this scene with a new character in the final episode.

I'm sure we will all have our own personal reactions to this reconciliation scene with the father, and so I will say that I think this is appropriate for the themes of this show. I don't think Nate would want her death to worsen a wedge between people she loved.

Ah, the hets are at it again. I will concede that they gave me a small chuckle.

Meddling little brothers.

I am relieved that we get to see Eiw being content in his relationship with Cake before the end.

I really love that the siblings continue to see each other regularly, and that all of their partners have blended into the dynamic.

Eiw is a writer! That's so cool.

Earth continues to be the best actor ever. He blushes when they say he blushed.

Wow, what a fantastic experience.

Random slur at the end wtf.

Final Verdict: 10, Recommended. If the intiial premise appeals to you, this is an absolutely lovely experience about young queer love enduring and succeeding. Everyone delivers stand out performances, and I felt like nothing was wasted, even if things felt a bit long and indulgent as New's projets tend to be. More than anything, I like that we spent more than half a decade with these characters instead of the usual 3-12 months.

#my only 12 percent #my only 12%#thai bl #bl series #Ben watches

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desert-bluffs-and-me · 5 months

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Wtnv quick rundown - 103 - Ash Beach

Ya know, I think I'm getting really good at doing this, just trimming it to the nice little info bits instead of doing an episode play-by-play like when I started. Sometimes I look back over the other ones I've done and remember all kinds of stuff that gets lost in an episode or that I've just forgotten. Isn't that neat?

We make money the old fashioned way: we chemically convert lead into gold. Welcome to Night Vale.

Ash Beach, the titular place, is a beach that was made in the 1950's out of all the burned books in NV. It is now being reopened with a refurbished boardwalk.

The ash is burning hot and sticks/stains the skin of those who touch it. There are thin-armed humanoid figures with gaping mouths, round glowing eyes filled with square teeth emerging from the ash. They made faint crunching and clicking sounds and shimmer in and out of visibility.

NV citizens Amber Akinyi and Wilson Levy are celebrating their first wedding anniversary at the beach. Seeing the figures causes them both to vividly relive members of times and people they've never actually experienced or known.

Other people that the figures cause to experience false memories include: Frances Donaldson, Tristan Cortez and John Peters (you know, the farmer?)

A huge wave comes out of literally nowhere (this being a desert and all) and washes away all the beach goers things and several beach goers. The old well appears, sucking the water into itself and then disappearing again.

Simone Rigadeau has also been left with a memory. A memory of the world ending in 1983 due to a missile strike. She of course already knew this, but didn't remember it until now. She recalls watching Tim and Trinh on the news reporting it, followed by the image of Huntokar appearing. Simone says that Huntokar is responsible for 'this' and that she (Huntokar) is the destroyer.

Weather: "Faded" by P.O.S

Dark Owl records will be having a signing of Stevie Ray Vaughn's newest album, Beyonce, a cover of Leonard Cohen's best hits where he reads each chord out loud. He doesn't know how he got there and can't hold tangible objects.

There will be a Gun show at the rec centre, first 500 people to buy a ticket will have their government-implanted tracking chips surgically removed for free. 'Gun dealers from all over the United States will be at the show selling handguns and hunting rifles, and telling fantastical stories about a mythical government that would try even in the slightest to regulate gun ownership.'

Hadassah McDaniels and the rest of the dragons seem to have disappeared and witnesses report that they may have been talking to the Distant Prince.

Cecil and Carlos visit Josie on her death bed and Cecil openly acknowledges angels for the first time.

Whatever our truth, Night Vale, you can feel your body, hear my voice, see the sunlight through dissipating ash clouds. I do not know if we are real, but we are alive. We are tangible, feeling, and whole. Stay tuned next for the sound of something trying to dig its way out of your chest.

Proverb: If you're not wearing a denim vest, then this conversation is over.

#wtnv #welcome to night vale #wtnv quick rundown #wtnv ep 103

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brokenmusicboxwolfe · 7 months

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I am deeply saddened to see that actor David McCallum has died. While 90 hardly a short life, when someone has mattered to you, even in the distant way of an actor playing make believe for a living, you always wish the life were longer.

I expect I am about to ramble, and not very coherently (sleep deprivation), so all of it will go under the cut.

Actually, he was about the first actor I ever remember recognizing. When I was 3 I adored an obscure tv series called The Invisible Man, where he played the title character. It bares little resemblance to the original story, instead following the adventure show of the 1970s-1980s formula. I think the fact he played a scientist, married to a scientist, and that the couple happily worked together had a lot to do with it. Reminding me of my parents was a natural thing to appeal to a preschooler.

To be honest, I only remembered fragments of the show, but I remembered him vividly. Even as a little kid if I saw him anywhere my first thought was “lt’s the invisible man!!” and a wave of affection would wash over me.

Affection is something you wouldn’t find with my favorite of his tv shows. Steel, in my beloved Sapphire and Steel, is hardly a warm character. How can I describe the show…Well, the title characters aren’t human, but beings that are sent out to deal with problems in time, or maybe you can say caused by time. Nursery rhymes, photographs, and gas stations take on a menacing quality. If these two show up you better be afraid because while they will go to extreme lengths to stop the threat, those lengths might involve sacrificing you.

Steel the cool, sharp edged, and anything but the lovable nice guy I’d adored as a tot….and I adored him here too.

I was late seeing Sapphire and Steel, but I was even later seeing The Outer Limits (original version) where he starred in two of my favorite episodes.

In one, The Sixth Finger, he played a coal miner experimented on by a scientist until he evolved far beyond a connection to his humanity. I have an action figure of that one!

The other, Forms of Things Unknown, has an obvious inspiration in a certain famous French thriller, but then in comes McCallum, a man experimenting with time. While in the other episode he played a man shedding his humanity with every mutation, here he actually is unearthly from the start, a peculiar characterization that reminds me of the madness of characters that have seen to far into the void, but also of a child lost to forces far beyond them….

TBH, I went through a period where this episode was comfort viewing. I would day dream up back story details for McCallum’s character, and even ways to connect it to Sapphire and Steel.

What? just because I was going full geeky fangirl on a single episode of a tv show made well before I was born isn’t THAT weird on here!

And here is another obscure one I’m fond of, a movie called The Ravine. It’s a movie set during WWII where he’s a German soldier sent to capture a woman that’s been acting as a sniper picking of his side like crazy. The concept, that they end up trapped together and do the enemies to lovers thing, seemed like the usual contrived thing. Still, out of mild curiosity I watched a horrible print on Youtube and I was surprised how effective it was. I was actually sold on the tragic relationship, and I’d gone into it expecting to be rolling me eyes. In fact , since it isn’t (or at least wasn’t) available on DVD in the US I got one from Europe. Good thing the acting and setting are more important than dialog, cause I don’t speak Italian!

Frankenstein: The True Story has about as much relationship to the original novel as Bram Stoker’s Dracula has to the book, but it’s actually a rather fascinating take on subject. Tumblr would approve of the gay subtext (more like text, cause how could even folks in the ‘70s miss it) McCallum’s part is supporting, but crucial being both Frankenstein’s mentor and brain donor. I’ll be honest with you, my weakness for mad scientists is showing because I swooned over even has he enthusiastically collects raw materials (ahem) for their work.

Is it weird that this is the roll he played that had me properly, classic fan girl swooning?

There are couple of adaptations that are notable for me. There is that adaptation of Kidnapped he was in. I got it on DVD for my father because the sequel to Kidnapped was a childhood favorite of his, and this was the rare version to use that book (TBH, Pop had a fanboy crush on the girl in that book, from the way he talk! LOL) Unfortunately Pop died before seeing it, so it colors my thoughts on it. And there was an adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, one of my favorite Dickens novels, but I watched it in a “see all the adaptations” kick so it’s a blur of compare and contrast.

I will end this with the most peculiar way a part he played connected with me.

It started unexpectedly, with me watching The Man from UNCLE on a DVD set my father had gotten for Christmas. My parents had liked the show, but like a lot of shows from before I was born I’d heard a lot about it before I’d seen it.

To be honest I wasn’t particularly impressed. Oh, it was fine, and I did like the warm dynamic of the main two characters. **It’s just sort plain potato chip tv, tasty but forgettable. Plus it was sooo of it’s time that the sexism irritated me no end. I have watched, and loved, a lot of 1960s tv, so maybe I just expected more. I enjoyed it, but if you asked me to rank my faves of the “ Sixties lets do the Spy Thing” tv shows I would pick Wild, Wild, West or The Avengers or Danger Man or Get Smart*** even before it.

So it was fine, I enjoyed it while we watched, and then didn’t really think about it anymore.

And then my father got sick.

My father’s illness, and eventual death, hit me hard. Very hard. I was alone dealing with it. I had no friends, and wasn’t even on Tumblr yet. I couldn’t weigh my parents down with my emotions when they had so much of their own. And with my father’s chemo and such I was often actually alone. Obviously not as much as now, but so many days completely alone was new to me then.

So there I was, on the verge of being an emotional but holding it together, desperately aching for someone, anyone, I could turn to….

And then I started dreaming.

Of course I always had dreamed, but this was different. This was nightly dreaming. Serial dreaming. Stories that continued on for days or weeks. And fictional characters started creeping in. Up until then the characters in dreams had always been my OCs, but now suddenly tv shows, books, movies, comics…they were all fodder for the stories helping me escape.

The part may be one of his most famous roles, but it still came as a huge surprise when I found myself dreaming about Illya.

Actually, the first dream was a general Man from UNCLE dream. It was fun, even if it seemed weird to be dreaming about the show. But then the next one had Illya only.

And so it started, an epic series of dreams, chapter after chapter, night after night. Adventures with Illya.

Well, and aliens and time travel and so on. It was, after all, my subconscious spinning the story, not screenwriters. Gotta get time travel and/or alternate universes in there somewhere if it comes out of mushed up brain.

After a while the dreams had bigger gaps between them, but the dreams with Illya still came. In fact over months they dominated my dreaming. Illya was there all the time.

It got so I spent time when I was awake, thinking about the dreams and the character. What would Illya think of this? What would Illya listen to? What would Illya say? What if Illya were in that situation? What if…

Now, I admit, the Illya I was imagining is only inspired by the one David McCallum played. It looked like him. It sounded like him. I even found myself replaying select episodes to remind myself of his “voice” so my brain could make him seem more authentic. But the truth was he was my interpretation of Illya, my head-cannon, my quirks, my obsessions..

Actually I guess it was my need. I needed someone. My dreams even created characters to be my avatars for interacting with him. I those dreams I could talk to him, laugh with him, cry in front of him, save him or be saved by him, and be his friend.

And in a weird way, that is what my brain was doing. It was giving me an imaginary friend while I slept. Someone smart and kind and brave, to save the world…just like the imaginary friend I’d had when I was little.****

I’d given myself an imaginary friend that looked and sounded like Illya!

Well, in dreams. I wasn’t so far gone I talked to him when I was awake!

But it was comforting. I found myself thinking about those dreams, almost cuddling up to them in those painful dark days. I confess I worried that if I ever were in a delirium or under anesthetic or something might call out to him and have some very embarressing questions asked.

Eventually the dreams stopped. Time moves on. Maybe I didn’t need them anymore, or maybe my subconscious got bored.

TBH I kinda wish I still had dreams about him, or some other characters. Any dreams with a repeated cast or continuing story would be beyond welcome. I could REALLY use their company now.

And now, writing this, I realize just why I actually gasped when I saw David McCallum had died. Yes, as an actor he had played many parts I enjoyed, but other actors have done that without the shock of their death knocking the breath from me. But the fact is no other actor has had their performance gift me with something that felt like a friend when I needed one most.

So that’s why I am sad. It isn’t just a list of parts he played that I loved or that he had been a familiar face as long as I can remember. He got stored in a special part of my mind, the strange area of the imagination where strangers and friends get blurred and fiction protect a fracturing heart.

I am eternally grateful he lived. Even if I didn’t have a list of credits I enjoyed ******, as long as I had those dreams he helped inspire when I needed them most I’d mourn his passing.

Condolences to all that loved him, be they friends, family, or fans.

**Though I would end up in fandom exile for seeing them as like brothers or little boy best friends instead of shipping them. Good on you if you do. I think it’s beautiful every character everywhere gets shipped with someone, but dang, what is with the hate for the non-shipping fans?)

*** The Prisoner, possibly my fave tv show ever, isn’t really in this category to my mind, but a lots of folks would disagree.

****My childhood imaginary friend was the ghost of a little boy murdered by his uncle during the American Revolution. Still, the smart, kind, brave, save the world stuff was there too.

*****I didn’t mention something he did that I enjoyed. For instance, Mother Love, a wonderful bit of tv that criminally isn’t on DVD, because it’s Diana Riggs’ showcase. But then I’ve also never seen any of the six billion years of NCIS (I think those are the letters). Who knows how many other of his work I never saw.

#rambles #david mccallum

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alecthemovieguy · 1 year

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40 years, 40 movies: My life through film

On Feb. 16, I’m turning 40. In honor of this milestone birthday, I chose my favorite movie (and a runner-up) for each year of my existence.

Some years were easy, as there was an obvious personal choice. Others, like 1994 or 1999 which are among the greatest years in film history, proved far more difficult.

What I discovered was there’s literally hundreds of movies I love from the past 40 years but my favorites are the ones that made the most impact and I, unequivocally, adore. The results are deeply autobiographical, so join me on a four-part journey exploring the movies that shaped who I am.

COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

1983: “Return of the Jedi”

It was perhaps inevitable that I would become a “Star Wars” fan. I was named after Obi-Wan actor Alec Guinness. As my parents only had a VHS copy of “Return of the Jedi,” it was my first introduction to “Star Wars.” Given the episodic, serialized nature of the movies, I was able to just drop into the next adventure and fall in love with R2-D2, C3PO, Luke, Han and Leia. (Runner-up: “National Lampoon’s Vacation”)

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

1984: “Ghostbusters”

“Ghostbusters” remains one of the defining franchises for me. Movies, cartoons, comics, toys, clothes, it has been an obsession since I was a little boy. My baby teeth marks were on the box of the VHS tape my parents owned. My first day of kindergarten became less traumatic when I found two boys playing Ghostbusters and they invited me to join them. They already picked Peter (Bill Murray) and Ray (Dan Akyroyd), leaving me with the nerdy Egon (Harold Ramis). I was disappointed. Now I’m totally Team Egon. (Runner-up: “The Neverending Story”)

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

1985: “Back to the Future”

This is another seminal film from my childhood and typically my default answer for my favorite movie. The idea of time travel sparked my imagination as a child. I used to run around my backyard as a kid, humming Alan Silvestri’s theme, imagining I was traveling through time with Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched the film, but the final act still fully engages me every time. (Runner-up: “The Breakfast Club”)

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

1986: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

Any child coming of age in the 1980s and 1990s was hugely affected by the teen films of John Hughes, who was able to perfectly capture the angst of growing up. “Ferris Bueller” was the ultimate kid fantasy: Skipping school for a day in the city with your friends. Better yet, Ferris manages to outsmart all the adults, including snooty waiters, parents and the principal. As a kid, Matthew Broderick’s Ferris felt like the embodiment of cool. As an adult, it is undeniable that the anxiety-ridden Cameron (Alan Ruck) is my avatar. (Runner-up: “Labyrinth”)

COURTESY OF MGM

1987: “Spaceballs”

I had a major Mel Brooks phase in my adolescence. I even held a party dedicated to watching Brooks films. I vividly remember my friend Rebecca Howland telling me “The Producers” was good, but not as good as “2001” (the film it beat for Best Original Screenplay). Only four Brooks films have been released in my lifetime. Of those four, “Spaceballs” is the one I’ve revisited the most because its inspired lunacy is perfectly delivered by its cast, including Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis and Brooks, himself, in dual roles. (Runner-up: “The Princess Bride”)

COURTESY OF TOUCHSTONE PICTURES

1988: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

This was a mind-blowing film for a kid. It was the first and only time Disney and Warner Bros. characters interacted together. It remains the definite seamless blend of live-action and animated characters. But the biggest mindfreak to my little brain was that Christopher Lloyd, my beloved Doc Brown from “Back to the Future,” was the evil Judge Doom. Years later, while studying film in college, I would write an essay exploring the film’s take on the film noir genre. (Runner-up: “Beetlejuice”)

COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY PICTURES

1989: “Say Anything”

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a big Batman fan, so it probably seems insane that my No. 1 choice for 1989 isn’t Tim Burton’s “Batman.” Here’s the thing, I’m also a huge fan of actor John Cusack and writer/director Cameron Crowe. If you need any indication of how much I love this movie, “Say Anything” is tattooed on my right arm. “Say Anything” is the definitive 1980s teen romance with Lloyd Dobler being the ideal model of a boyfriend. (Runner-up: “Batman”)

COURTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA

1990: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”

There was a time when the ninja turtles were my everything. I had a tape with a couple of episodes of the cartoon that featured a trailer for the live-action film. I loved the cartoon but this was different. It was dark and atmospheric like the comic books that inspired the cartoon and toys, and the Jim Henson-created turtles looked real. The film deepened my love. I had a cassette of the film’s theme song, “Turtle Rhapsody” that I danced to constantly in my room. (Runner-up: “Tremors”)

COURTESY OF ORION PICTURES

1991: “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey”

I vacillated on what my first choice and runner up would be for 1991. I nearly chose “Addams Family,” but I prefer its 1993 sequel “Addams Family Values.” Alas, a certain dinosaur movie claimed that year. Ultimately, I went with another sequel that actually improves upon its predecessor. Sequels almost always just repeat the formula of the original, but “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” largely throws out the time travel antics of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and goes on a bonkers adventure through heaven and hell featuring evil robots and an alien named Station. (Runner-up: “Addams Family”)

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT

1992: “Wayne’s World”

On the surface, Wayne and Garth (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) are clones of the dim-witted headbangers Bill and Ted, but “Wayne’s World” has more of a satirical edge than the “Bill and Ted” movies, with Wayne providing fourth-wall breaking commentary throughout that mocks filmmaking cliches. I’m a big “Saturday Night Live” fan, and this was my gateway to the show. My friend, Caleb Ring, had a camera and we recreated scenes as “Caleb’s World” and “Alec’s World.” Maybe they still exist in a dusty box somewhere. (Runner-up: “Reservoir Dogs”)

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL

1993: “Jurassic Park”

At 10 years old, I remember a mixture of excitement and nervousness about seeing Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s sci-fi novel about a dinosaur theme park gone awry. I wanted to see, but would it be too scary? I vividly remember sitting in a darkened theater watching the T-Rex attack. I was scared but also mesmerized by the groundbreaking dinosaur effects. It was also my introduction to Jeff Goldblum, and he has made my life better ever since. (Runner-up: “Mrs. Doubtfire”)

COURTESY OF MIRAMAX

1994: “Clerks”

“Clerks” wasn’t my first introduction to writer/director Kevin Smith (that was 1999’s “Dogma”), but working at both a convenience and video store, the plight of its New Jersey clerks spoke to me. I would even write my own script set in a video store that years later I would convert into a play that was performed in a New York theater festival. Last year, I was lucky enough to interview Smith and tell him that. (Runner-up: “Pulp Fiction”)

COURTESY OF DISNEY

1995: “A Goofy Movie”

Goofy has always been my favorite Disney cartoon character. This movie is significant because it is the first movie review I ever wrote. It was an assignment for sixth-grade English. I received an A, which sent me down the path to where I am today. It still remains one of my favorite movies for its strong father-son story, offbeat humor and the excellent songs by the fictional popstar Powerline. (Runner-up: “Before Sunrise”)

COURTESY OF DIMENSION

1996: “Scream”

Growing up, I wasn’t a horror kid. I was more likely to watch the Muppets take Manhattan than Jason. But by 1996, I was already a fan of Mel Brooks and Monty Python and had a growing understanding of parody. The idea of “Scream” being both a satire and an example of the slasher genre intrigued me. The humor made the scares more palatable and piqued my interest into further exploration of the horror genre. (Runner-up: “Jerry Maguire”)

HOLLYWOOD PICTURES

1997: “Grosse Pointe Blank”

For years, John Cusack was my celebrity man crush because he was the perfect balance of vulnerability, sarcastic wit and nonchalant coolness. All of that is on display here as Martin Blank, a hitman who decides to go to his 10-year high school reunion. Also, I often discover music from movies, and this film’s killer soundtrack (pun intended) introduced me to a lot of great punk and New Wave music, including The Clash’s “Rudie Can’t Fail,” The Violent Femme’s “Blister in the Sun” and The English Beat’s “Mirror in the Bathroom.” (Runner-up: “Good Will Hunting”)

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT

1998: “The Truman Show”

Like many ’90s kids, I became obsessed with Jim Carrey’s style of comedy. I drove my family crazy shouting catch phrases like “allllll righty then” and “ssssssmokin’.” But ‘The Truman Show” was different. It was still funny, but in a more subtle, satirical way, and showed that Carrey had dramatic range. I was 15 when it came out, and it made me feel clever that I was able to pick up on the film’s commentary. (Runner-up: “The Wedding Singer”)

COURTESY OF FOX 2000 PICTURES

1999: “Fight Club”

My love of social critique and satire continued to grow with “Fight Club.” I clearly remember watching “Fight Club” in a theater and my jaw literally dropping upon getting to the big twist. Not many people saw “Fight Club” in theaters, so my friends didn’t believe me when I said it was great, especially since I couldn’t explain why without spoiling it. It’s a film that not only holds up to repeat viewing but benefits from it as there are Easter eggs hidden throughout. (Runner up: ”Dogma”)

COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES

2000: “Almost Famous”

Around this time, I made a decision that I wanted to be a film critic, so Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical film about a teenage rock journalist in the 1970s hit me in all the right places. The protagonist is an awkward, geeky kid in love with and in awe of the rock world and that was me with movies. When I became a journalist, I only learned to love this movie more for everything it gets absolutely right. (Runner up: “High Fidelity”)

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL

2001: “Josie and the Pussycats”

There are absolutely better films that came out in 2001 but I continue to stand by this silly satire of the music industry and consumerism. I’ve been a defender of this film since it came out. I even had the poster up in my college dorm room. It did not make me cool but, in a just world it would have. The original songs are genuinely great, and the cast, especially Alan Cumming as a villainous record label flunky, is perfect. (Runner up “The Royal Tenenbaums”)

COURTESY OF UNITED ARTISTS

2002: “Igby Goes Down”

Growing up in rural Maine, I didn’t have access to a lot of independent films, but that changed when I went to Keene State College to study film. Keene had two theaters that showed indie films: The Colonial Theatre and the on-campus Putnam Theatre. “Igby Goes Down” was one of the films I fell in love with while at KSC. It’s essentially a modern riff on “The Catcher in the Rye,” but with a more likable lead played by Kieran Culkin. There’s also an amazing supporting cast, including Susan Sarandon, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Claire Danes, Ryan Phillippe, Amanda Peet and Jared Harris. (Runner up: “About a Boy”)

COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

2003: “Shattered Glass”

While at Keene State College, I was able to go to collegiate journalism conventions. At one of them, there was an early screening of “Shattered Glass,” which tells the story of Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), a journalist who fabricated dozens of articles while working at The New Republic. The film instilled in me a desire to be an ethical journalist with integrity. It also has one of my all-time favorite lines: “If I were to throw a party where all we did was play Monopoly, would you guys come?” It’s absolutely something I’d say. I just wish that it wasn’t said by Glass. (Runner-up: “Lost in Translation”)

COURTESY OF WORKING TITLE

2004: “Shaun of the Dead”

Edgar Wright has become one of my favorite directors for how perfectly constructed all his films are. His first film, a zombie movie set in England that he co-wrote with star Simon Pegg, is the ideal genre blend of horror, comedy, romantic comedy and drama. This is the first film in what became dubbed the Cornetto trilogy, a trio of genre-bending films directed by Wright and starring Pegg and Nick. While it is mostly played for laughs, the dramatic moments hit hard every single time. (Runner-up: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”)

COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS

2005: “Wallace and Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit”

I was already a big fan of the stop-motion animation Wallace and Gromit shorts, so I was thrilled the English human and dog duo were making their feature film debut. I was in England getting my master’s in journalism at the University of Westminster when the film was in theaters. I went to visit my friend Natalie Toy in Hull to see it, and watching a film that is so thoroughly British in England is a memory I cherish. (Runner-up: “Batman Begins”)

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

2006: “Stranger Than Fiction”

This is a film that takes a high-concept — a man (Will Ferrell) suddenly finds his mundane life the subject of a voice-over narration only he can hear — and executes it with humor, heart and intelligence. A dialed back Ferrell gives one of his best performances, and he’s surrounded by a great cast, including Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Tony Hale and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film features some of my favorite romantic moments, including Ferrell playing and singing “Whole Wide World” on guitar and giving “flours” to Gyllenhaal’s baker character. (Runner-up: “Little Miss Sunshine”)

COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS

2007: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about a vengeful barber (Johnny Depp) and his partnership with the baker Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonheim Carter) was my first introduction to the material. While liberties were taken, Burton was the perfect person to transition it from the stage to screen. I immediately fell in love with it. I’ve since seen it on stage three times and had a Sweeney Todd movie marathon with my friend Brian McElhiney in which we uncovered other obscure versions of the story, including one from 1936. (Runner-up: “Juno”)

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

2008: “The Dark Knight”

Christopher Nolan's second film in his Batman trilogy is the strongest and is not only one of the best superhero films ever made but a great film regardless of genre. Heath Ledger’s Joker is an iconic film performance for the ages. His performance is the glue that holds the film together, but the rest of the cast, including Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, and the slick storytelling proved that a comic book movie could and should be taken seriously. (Runner-up “Iron Man”)

COURTESY OF PIXAR

2009: “Up”

Pixar has a history of making animated films that make adults cry, but with “Up” they weren’t messing around. The first 10 minutes, which shows the entire course of a relationship, has the power to crack even the most stone-faced viewer. The rest of the film is the charming adventure of a balloon salesman (Ed Asner) who attaches thousands of balloons to his house so he can fly to the mythical Paradise Falls. This film will always have a special place in my heart because it was the theme of my wedding. Adventure is out there everyday with my wife, Ashley. (Runner-up ”Inglourious Basterds”)

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL

2010: “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World”

Director and co-writer Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s six-part graphic novel — a pastiche of comic books, video games, anime, romantic comedies, rock musicals, sitcoms, kung-fu movies and even a dash of Bollywood — immediately spoke to me. I became obsessed. I read the books, played the games, bought the toys, listened to the soundtrack and even got a tattoo of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers. I connected with it in a way that put it alongside my childhood favorites. As I get older, it only becomes more emotionally resonant. (Runner-up: “TRON: Legacy”)

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURE CLASSICS

2011: “Midnight in Paris”

My relationship with Woody Allen films has become a complicated one. What he may or may not have done in his personal life colors his work, but can you separate the person from the art? I have to because so many of his earlier works helped shape me. This whimsical time travel comedy with Owen Wilson hobnobbing with literary and artistic idols in 1920s Paris is Allen’s last truly great film. It is a funny and thoughtful exploration of nostalgia. (Runner-up: “The Muppets”)

COURTESY OF MARVEL

2012: “The Avengers”

Marvel Studios experiment in creating a shared universe of superheroes paid off with Joss Whedon’s “Avengers,” which brought together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) for the first time. For better or worse, Marvel has continued to further expand their cinematic universe and experiment with serialized storytelling in film, but this first crossover event still holds up and is wildly entertaining. (Runner-up: “Looper”)

COURTESY OF WORKING TITLE

2013: “The World’s End”

This the final installment of co-writer/director Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy, a series of genre homages starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. “The World’s End” lampoons alien invasion films but is also a surprisingly sincere exploration of alcoholism with Pegg’s Gary King trying to recreate the best day of his life: a pub crawl he did with his friends as a teen. This is Wright’s third film on my list. I adore his storytelling and visual style. Everything is carefully constructed and paid off. Plus, I regularly quote the “Let’s boo-boo” line from his film. (Runner-up: “Pacific Rim”)

COURTESY OF FOX SEARCHLIGHT

2014: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Idiosyncratic filmmaker Wes Anderson has a style all his own, including eccentric characters, deadpan humor, absurdist flourishes and a mise-en-scene in which everything is framed symmetrically. “Grand Budapest Hotel,” which centers on the misadventures of a hotel lobby boy (Tony Revolori) and a concierge (Ralph Fiennes), is possibly the most distilled version of Anderson’s particular brand of filmmaking. Anderson embraces the ridiculous and finds the beauty in it. (Runner-up: “The Lego Movie”)

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

2015: “Mad Max: Fury Road”

Director George Miller returned to the “Mad Max” franchise 30 years after the previous installment, but this is not a shameless cash grab. This is pure action filmmaking of the highest order. “Fury Road” is a visceral, nearly non-stop chase. But this isn’t faceless or mindless action. The film has personality to spare, including a character playing a flame-throwing guitar. As there’s little dialogue, this is also an example of strong visual storytelling. (Runner-up: “Inside Out”)

COURTESY OF SUMMIT

2016: “La La Land”

After coming out of “La La Land,” I posted this on Facebook: “For anyone who has ever created something, done something artistic or has simply been passionate about something, ‘La La Land’ will speak to your soul.” After seeing writer/director Damien Chazelle’s exuberant, funny and ever-so-slightly heartbreaking musical about a jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) and an actress (Emma Stone) trying to find success and love in Los Angeles, I wanted to create. I began rewriting an old script that would eventually be performed in New York City in 2018. (Runner-up: “Yoga Hosers”)

COURTESY OF MARVEL

2017: “Thor: Ragnarok”

This is my favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to director Taika Waititi providing a much-needed tonal shift to the Thor (Chris Hemsworth) character. Waititi is a quirky filmmaker with an offbeat sense of humor that managed to shake things up at a time when the Marvel formula was starting to become a bit too familiar. “Ragnarok” remembers that comic book movies are supposed to be fun. It is colorful, funny and ridiculous, but also has strong character moments. Plus, Jeff Goldblum at his most Goldblumiest.(Runner-up “Baby Driver”)

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

2018: “A Star is Born”

Co-writer/director/star Bradley Cooper’s “A Star is Born” is the fourth filmed version of the story of a fading star meeting and falling in love with an undiscovered talent (Lady Gaga), and using what pull he has left to make her a star. The first 30 minutes are pretty much perfect and the rest of the film builds on that promise. I’ve only seen the film once and I can still vividly visualize scenes and the emotions attached to them. (Runner-up “A Simple Favor”)

COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES

2019: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Writer/director Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite filmmakers. I even taught a class on him for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. “Once Upon a Time,” Tarantino’s love letter to Hollywood in 1969, is basically a hang-out movie centered on a has-been TV actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman (Brad Pitt). In the background, Tarantino offers a revisionist history of the Manson family. It’s rich with location and character detail, and is both hilarious and unexpectedly poignant. (Runner-up: “Booksmart”)

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

2020: “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn”

Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was the best thing in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” but this film is what made Harley one of my favorite DC characters and led to a further exploration of the character. Robbie is joined by an assortment of strong female heroes, including Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), The Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to face off against the sadistic Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). This is the first comic book film directed and written by women, and the strong female perspective makes it unique and vital. (Runner-up: “Freaky”)

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

2021: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”

As previously mentioned, “Ghostbusters” has been a huge part of my life, so I was thrilled when this long-awaited second sequel was announced. (For the record, I do genuinely love the 2015 remake). While the original ghostbusters only make a cameo appearance, this is a loving tribute to the late Harold Ramis (who co-wrote the first two films and starred as Egon) that passes the torch to a group of kid ghostbusters led by the amazing Mckenna Grace. This is nostalgia done right. Plenty of laughs, action and, yes, tears. (Runner-up: “The Mitchells Vs. the Machines”)

COURTESY OF A24

2022: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

This completely bonkers multiverse adventure is difficult to describe but is a fully engrossing mix of sci-fi, martial arts, comedy and family drama. It is a terrific showcase for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu. Its sincerely sold themes of optimism, kindness and love gives it weight and heart. Quan was in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies” in the 1980s, but hadn’t acted in 30 years. He’s so good here, it makes me sad that we missed on decades of performances from him. (Runner-up: “Glass Onion”)

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atarev · 9 months

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Magnolia Masques Set 12

Hello again!

I cant remember if its been a week or a lil less or more but! I figure writing around the time episodes release is a good strategy. Especially since the anime's on break this week!

Can you guys sense a trend with these? It's almost like the Masques this set are unassuming but good! (Except one)

But for now! Let's look at the next Blackout member made Uniformer made punching bag made Blackout member! Magnolia Masques!

I vividly remember my reaction to this card on reveal! And that's that it was overcosted as hell by virtue of its mechanic and bad as a result, here's why!

[CONT](VC):During your turn, all of your rear-guards on (RC) with a Dragontree marker can attack from the back row, and get [Power]+10000. [ACT](VC)1/Turn:COST [Remove a card with "Magnolia" in its different card name from this unit from hand, soul, or drop], and this unit gets "[AUTO](VC):When your rear-guard attacks a vanguard from the back row, choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and retire it." until end of turn.

Dragontree markers? Like the markers that cost cb and ocassional soul to make?? So you're handing your opponent control of your deck's ceiling??

Not quite! Thanks to the speed of the format, Magnolia Masques definitely has to be respected and played around! You can't just simply ignore it, and this list will show why!

Code: 2Q5T9 once again on JP Decklog!

Here's the list in question! By combining knowledge from content creators, high-quality players + my own inclinations about what this deck needs, this is the final result! I'll go into more detail under the cut, but if you were just looking for a list then ta-dah! Go wild!

Alright! So the big thing that previous magnolia players might notice is we're only using 2 sylvan beast rearguards! Not Giunosla or Gabregg or Daimanaru and we're also not using the 'staple' Inlet Pulse! There are reasons for all of this!

Firstly, the deck cbs and sbs enough with making markers and using serrol to generate board-wide persona power, so we simply dont have resources for it the first two! Daimanaru would only be online for 1 turn, and inlet is frankly a waste when you could have a card like tideline which actually helps you win!

So lets take a deeper look at the two name-dropped cards! Sylvan Horned Beast, Serroll and Tide Line Dragon!

Seroll! The card that turns your masques turn into a real proper threat through his simple buff of persona power to the back row!

One thing to keep in mind with Seroll is that his persona buff effect is Continuous! That means that if you persona ride, and then call him down right before you start attacking, every back row unit will have that buff!

Seroll is also a key card in finding Magnolia Masques! Both for the initial Masques ride and further persona turns!

Seroll really just pushes the deck up a rung because of the sheer poewr he enables, and we're not done talking about power cards yet either! Because Tide Line Dragon is next!

Tide Line Dragon! If you've persona ridden you SB1 to give him and another unit +10k!

This isnt the first time Tide Line's been seen with the Masque units, making his proper debut outside of Maelstrom with Lianorn Masques as a way to raise the ceiling of your highroll to play 2 of these on a LiaMasques turn and light your opponent up!

He fills a similar role here except he's a bit more versatile because he's able to pick anything to give his power to! So if you have a rock-solid backrow but your other front row is a Depth Iwelth lacking power, slap a Tide Line buff on it! Even better if you're able to use 2 at once and Really light em up!

Keeping with the theme of the last article, Tide Line may be an unprecedented pick when people are probably thinking about Forced Grow Dragon as a necessity, and I'm gonna explain why I really don't think that's the case!

Forced Grow Dragon for one thing is another cb, which you need 3 of the make your whole back-row have markers. Considering you want to conserve your hand until you can Full Power Masques, you might not even have the resources to Forced Grow, or even be able to keep him in hand against the potential clap-back turn against a deck like Gandeeva or WIllista as the top-dogs.

Going into some other choices, namely draws, no main-deck magnolia and the stoich OT. The reason for draws is you have the ability to make multiple decent size attacks, or 3 big ones thanks to how mag masques will often have g1s like Bist and Seroll in the back. Draws can help you find pieces in a deck that really really needs them compared to Orfist Masques where if you get going once you're generally fine for the game.

No main-deck Mag because there isnt really space, and its usefulness is also limited given decks like Willista, Gandeeva, Orfist Masques and Bastion Accord either mirage their boards, make their boards out of replaceable pieces or just cant be targeted by retire effects. Considering all of those decks are the top echelon at the moment, the skill will likely see one use against decks like Viamance, Youth, Drajeweled and other decks that can't recoup such a loss

Finally the Stoich OT. A case can certainly be made for Blue or even Red here, but I just find the general power it gives is very versatile, giving you every trigger effect in one no matter when you check it is going to be useful in some way. Given that you want early cb you'll likely be able to use its heal effect, and the extra crit and draw are very welcome indeed.

Those are all my thoughts this time around! There might be a break from Masques decks after this or next week since there are only 2 left, and one of them I dont think there's much point in salvaging for a Variety of reasons (those of you who follow the game closely will probably know what I'm talking about).

Though even in the case of that deck (Grav Masques), play what you like! I met someone on a big VG Discord that actually likes Gravidia which just goes to show, there's a deck for everyone no matter what! So go ahead and play it!

Once again, if this gets any even remotely notable outreach to other people in the cfvg tumblr crew, feel free to suggest decks! I'm going to be focusing on Set 12 for now, and then maybe move forward or backward depending on what I feel like!

Thanks for reading and have a good one! Ciao!

#atare speaks #cardfight!! vanguard #cardfight vanguard #cfvanguard #cfv #cfvg #cfvtcg #Deck Thoughts

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bowtiesnmusicals · 1 year

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Here is my recap of Slush Fund (Mash-Off).

I am skipping the Drag Race episode. If you want me to do a recap I will but I really just wanted to do the Glee related episode. I know I also skipped the Snixxmas and Darren's Christmas episodes. I can go back and do these if anyone wants me too. I just figured most people bought tickets to watch the live version of Snixxmas and there were other posts about Darren's Christmas episode.

Anyways, now I will actually start the recap.

There are no actual mashups in this episode. Well not song wise anyways.

Matt, Lea, and Cory were on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. This was the first glee magazine cover.

It was announced Johnathan Groff would be doing a couple of episodes. Jenna said he's the nicest person in Hollywood.

The number 1 movie at the time was Paranormal Activity. Lea forced Kevin to watch it. She had a movie night at her house. Jenna opted out because she doesn't like scary movies. Chris might have been there. Actually they aren't sure if Jenna was there.

Austin has taught Kevin to appreciate scary movies.

The day after this episode aired Neil Diamond tweeted Mark. It was the first time an artist reached out after their song was covered.

Jayma sings for the first time in this episode.

Kevin likens Rachel and Puck to when Rachel and Joey dated on Friends. It's just weird.

Kevin says the Thong Song is a classic.

This episode is a lot of cringey Shue. It feels like Acafella's part 2. We see a lot of the adults in this episode. Many boundaries are being crossed.

Mr. Shue doing Bust A Move is also weird. He unbuttons his shirt and touches students faces. It's just a really weird number.

Everybody is getting slushied in this episode. This is where Karofsky says he is on the hockey team.

Lots of tracking shots of slushy cups.

Amber improved the not my weave line.

This episode was the start of the fake slushies. They used it because it was faster to reset and easier to clean up. It did not look as good as using a real slushy.

Everyone had a great time doing Bust A Move because they didn't really have to do anything.

Matt had to do a lot this episode.

Kevin had a teacher that taught him how to fake play the bass.

At the time they didn't see Bust A Move as cringe. They saw Matt as a friend. Whereas fans saw Mr. Shue as a teacher and that made it weird and not appropriate.

When Quinn and Finn get slushied a football player slips in the slushy at the end of the scene.

Jenna and Kevin watched Chris slushy himself. He asked them not to laugh because they only really had one take to get it right. The slushy went all behind him and on the light and got Lea.

Kevin points out Chris' amazing in that scene and Jenna says that's why he is a Golden Globe winner.

Kevin and Jenna vividly remember filming when they slushied Mr. Shue.

This is the first time we see Quinn in regular clothes. Quinn's clothes subtly mirrored what Dianna wore in real life.

You can see the plastic they had on the floor when the slushy Mr. Shue. Matt was actually really nervous. As of this episode 12 slushies was the most anyone had been slushied with but Kevin would soon break that record.

Kevin and Jenna purposely kept it quiet that Tina and Artie had never been slushied. Someone ratted out Kevin.

Kevin quite literally got the Superbowl of slushies.

Will and Emma talking about the mash up's really shows their characters perspectives.

Sue goes on a tirade this episode.

It was nice seeing Sue vulnerable but it was also a bit uncomfortable.

Zach Woodlee the choreographer was put through the ringer in this episode. Brooke the assistant choreographer really came in handy this episode.

Some of the Glee dancers are in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Also Jane is in this show.

The Puck and Rachel storyline makes Kevin really uncomfortable.

The dream montage was really good. Puck and Rachel were funny together.

Jenna didn't have Joey and Rachel on friends. She didn't want them to end up together. She thought it was weird to already be mixing and matching since we hadn't really seen much of Rachel and Finn at this point.

Jenna and Kevin forgot about What A Girl Wants.

Neil Diamond loved glee's cover of Sweet Caroline.

It was a fun number to shoot.

Kevin, Amber, and Jenna recorded the background vocals. to Sweet Caroline.

At some point the cast stopped recording the background vocals would have to learn the song the same day as they performed it.

This is not Kevin and Jenna's favorite episode.

Gold star to Matt for working his ass of in this episode.

Tartie Takes:

Cringe Moment - The whole entire episode.

Worst Dance Move - Thong Song

Favorite Dance - Sing Sing (Jane had a blast doing it.)

Best Song - Sweet Caroline

Best Performance By A Prop - Slushy

Flight of the Bumblebee playing during the slushy montage was brilliant.

Things That Didn't Age Well - Finn's line about a zombie virus.

Best Line - I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat. Then on some dark cold night I will steal way into your home and punch you in the face. (This is Kevin's favorite line of the entire show.) Shue's reply is also great. Didn't work out with Rod. Also Emma's quote about Ken convincing her to be in the same room when the marriage is certified.

Fun Fact - They used something like a karate dummy to practice with the slushies. Apparently you can see it during their Oprah episode.

Shit We Found On Tiktok

Kristen Chenoweth made a Glee tiktok. April Rhodes to the students of McKinley and she signs popular. It was really cute.

Someone found a mistake in this episode. During Sweet Caroline when they are clapping at the end of the performance its the same shot twice.

Someone made an incredible tiktok of a shot of the cast of Riverdale watching something on a laptop and it cuts to Bust A Move.

Next up is Wheels!

#and that's what you really missed #atwyrm #jenna ushkowitz #kevin mchale #glee #podcast #mash off

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countfagulaa · 2 years

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1 and 22 ❤️

1. I have far too many but truthfully I think my favorite episode that comes to mind when reading this question has to be The Devil’s Foot. I vividly remember watching this episode in the fifth grade and being totally disturbed by the concept and the visuals of the effects the drug had on the victims and it’s one of those memories that I associate with my childhood (morbid I know). But I also really love this episode because I think it’s one of, if not the first time we see a little more of Holmes’ personal and slightly more vulnerable side. We know hardly anything about what he has going on within himself up to that point in the series and I always saw the visions he has while under the effects of the drug as something that said a little more of what haunts him personally when he’s alone with his thoughts. We also see more scenes of him with heroine and one scene in particular where he walks on his own down the beach, pours it out of the syringe, and then buries it in the sand, showing he wants to quit and not let it have that much of a hold on him, at least that’s how I always saw that scene but correct me if I’m wrong. It just really captured my little self’s attention and made me think and understand a deeper side of the man rather than the detective, if that makes any sense. If not that one then probably The Read Headed League because I always laugh along with him and Watson when Wilson is listing off all the things he learned from the ‘A’ section in the encyclopedia it’s just so fucking funny every single time.

2. This isn’t really one singular piece of furniture but I must say either the small desk in front of the windows (if not somewhere in the middle I think) near the spot Holmes usually plays his violin in, or probably Holmes’ entire bedroom, frankly. The desk because in the few times I’ve seen it it looks so pretty when the sun shines through the window and sheds light on the pretty little things on it like old books, the magnifying glass stand, journals and such, but also because it’s where Holmes has his super special and secret drawer where we’ve seen him store the photo of Irene Adler and the Blue Carbuncle. I can only imagine what other prized possessions he has in there and what they mean to him as I wished he would explain each item within it one by one. As for the bedroom, it’s so nice looking and probably one of biggest ways to know more about Holmes as a genuine person judging by the books on his bedside table and the posters/images on the walls or the stuff he has on display. Now that I write out this sounds a lil creepy I am so sorry omg-

Furniture in question:

#jeremy brett #sherlock holmes #john watson #granada holmes #johnlock #sherlock #sherlock x john #acd holmes #acd johnlock #acd sherlock holmes

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the-lost-girl · 2 years

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Goodbye, Thirteen 🌈

Wow what a ride! I vividly remember watching Wimbledon in 2017 to find out who the next doctor would be. There was buzz that it could possibly be a woman but I wasn’t going to get my hopes up. Finally the reveal trailer began to play and my heart was pounding. I really wish someone would’ve filmed my reaction because as soon I realized that it was a woman I took off running around my house. My mom always loves to tell me about how I didn’t even stick around to see who it was. Once the initial wave of shock wore off, this kickstarted my watch of Broadchurch and various films from Jodie’s filmography (Adult Life Skills will always be my favorite🚀). I was completely blown away by her talent and couldn’t wait to see what she was going to bring to Doctor Who.

I always say Twelve is my doctor but Thirteen was something special. Jodie Whittaker has been the most incredible ambassador for the show. Her incarnation embodied hope and inclusivity. She’s been such a bright light for me and for so many others. Thirteen was ushered in at a very dark time in my life. She’s been there through so much grief and so many big scary changes. When I was feeling sad and scared there was always a new episode around the corner to keep me going. When there wasn’t an episode in the throes of a global pandemic, Jodie broke out her costume and filmed a message from the Doctor to give us a glimmer of hope. Words can’t express how much this era means to me and it’s honestly going to be so hard to say goodbye. I’ve grown attached to all of her companions but most especially Yaz. I see so much of myself in Yaz. Mandip Gill’s performance was incredibly moving to watch. People tend to criticize this era a lot but I know I’m not alone in saying there was so much I identified with. I want to thank all involved from the bottom of my heart. It’s been an adventure I’ll ever never forget. 💙💙

#dw #thirteen #jodie whittaker #yasmin khan #mandip gill #doctor who

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vivo0805 · 1 year

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[TRANS] 230328 Kwon Yuri Star News Interview (Part 2)

Jung Ilwoo, from <Bossam> to <Good Job>.. Now the sense of comradeship is developed.

The ENA drama <Good Job> is a heroic-romantic investigative drama involving a man and woman with special abilities: a conglomerate detective and a job seeker with super vision. <Good Job>, the follow-up drama to <Extraordinary Attorney Woo>, broke through the pressure and recorded the highest viewership rating of 3.1%, showing a heated response. Above all, the most talked about was the title of the drama. Just like how it being revealed in the release press conference, the title <Good Job> drew attention as it was known as Kwon Yuri's idea.

According to Kwon Yuri, "This was also my first experience with it. I didn't approach it with the intention of renaming the drama. I had a lot of experience releasing albums as part of Girls' Generation. I have done a lot of work where the story is vividly remembered with just one photo and one title, so I wanted (the title of) our drama to have a strong emotional impact," She stated. "I considered it from the perspective of the viewer, and I believe I listed 25 titles while speaking with the management team. The work was a lot of fun. I also spoke with Jung Ilwoo, the director, and the writer. I believe the production team listened with an open mind." she elaborated.

As a result, she poured a great deal of affection into <Good Job>, particularly for the role of Don Sera. Don Sera possesses superhuman vision and is a 'professional any job catcher' who is willing to accept any job offer that comes her way. Due to a series of events, she becomes involved with Eun Seonwoo (Jung Ilwoo) and embarks on a tumultuous romance. According to Kwon Yuri, "It was fascinating to meet a character who possesses supernatural abilities. Using supernatural powers to help someone in reality was progressive and cool. The character changes in every episode. This is actually an actor's fantasy and dream. It was also the reason why I wanted to be an actor. So it was attractive."

In the drama, Don Sera tries to do her job perfectly, but gives a laugh with her sloppy side. This kind of appearance seemed to be very similar to Kwon Yuri in personality. She stated, "I am extremely grateful that you saw me in that light. When I play a character, I take what's inside me and use it, as all actors do. So it's possible they felt that way. When my coworkers see my usual appearance, they usually tell me, 'Use this when acting.'. I think that’s why I gave the impression that the synchronization rate (between Yuri and Don Sera) is high, making Don Sera and I appear well-matched."

The meeting of Jung Ilwoo and Kwon Yuri is the most unique aspect of <Good Job>. The two had previously collaborated in the MBN drama Bossam> and met again in the drama <Good Job>. There were obvious concerns surrounding them at the time of the initial casting confirmation, but the two demonstrated a new affinity through flawless collaboration. It received such a positive response that some speculated, "The 'Bossam' couple was reincarnated". Jung Ilwoo had previously expressed similar concerns, but he later admitted, "(The role) has a different social status than the previous one, and the new character is a conglomerate and a detective rather than a troublemaker. I assumed that the resolution of the romance that I could depict would be significantly different."

Kwon Yuri also said, "Honestly, I had some concerns regarding the casting. There were many people who thought well of <Bossam>, so I wondered what I should do if the good memories fade because I don't do well (in <Good Job>)? But come to think of it, among the dramas I enjoyed watching, there were seniors who had partnerships several times. Like actors Jisung and Hwang Jungeum, for example. I opened my heart because I expected such a path to exist," she stated. "I really wanted to do well after listening to my co-actors and directors who believed in what Don Sera had. Also, because we had previously worked together, I believe I could act comfortably," she recalled the filming location at the time.

“After working on a project together, the depth of the relation changes. Especially in historical dramas. I (with Jung Il-woo) developed a combat power and comradeship. So it felt like we had a really different and meaningful chemistry. It's really easy and happy to do a new work with a colleague who has this mindset. It was easy because we understood each other a lot"

Not only Jung Ilwoo but also Kwon Yuri had action scenes in Good Job. Especially in the final episode, when Don Sera is kidnapped violently. "There were so many male actors, and (Jung) Ilwoo is good at action (scenes)," Kwon Yuri said. I simply did everything as I was instructed. The kidnapping scene was horrifying and terrifying, but it all worked out thanks to the skilled method. Ilwoo and I talked a lot on the phone, but instead of saying "Hi," we said "So regarding this scene..." as soon as we answered the phone and talked about acting.

Original source :

Interview by Ahn Yoonji reporter from Star News (Link to the original interview is available below)

#kwon yuri #snsd yuri #bossam #good job

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