masterskywalkers

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colored sketches of Lae'zel and Karlach from Baldurs Gate 3

#ch: lae'zel #ch: karlach cliffgate #gaming: baldur's gate 3 #misc: gaming #fanart

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#i ... guess prince would be extravagant rocker / pop star considering his namesake is his inspiration? #if i ever do get around to making a bard in dnd though i'm going for classic opera singer / drama actor for memes #misc: things

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Favorite Padmé Outfits (1/2)

#ch: padme #ch: padme amidala #mov: star wars

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Alduin burns to the ashes yet another city.

Reference said it’s Riften, so, I guess he likes warmer regions more. Cirodiil beware, I guess…

#gaming: skyrim #misc: gaming #fanart

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The best ship dynamic is actually just. "I love you and it terrifies me. I'm terrified how much I need you and how much I want you to need me. I'm terrified I'm no good for you and I'm going to hurt you and ruin you and I'm terrified of how I feel when you're around me but I can't bear to push you away completely because I'm terrified to be without you so now we're stuck in limbo and that's terrifying too. I'm terrified that if I lost you now it'd destroy me and I'm terrified that it's too late to do anything about it. I love you. And it's terrifying."

#misc: things

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I mentioned this briefly over on MDL yesterday, but since I'm back from my theatre trip I figured I'd say a little something about the Shōgun finale here too.

I've seen quite the divide in how people felt about the ending; some hated it whilst others, myself included, loved it.

I think one of the things that some people feel disappointed by is the fact we never got to see the battle of Sekigahara that the show was building up to. Yet the truth is that Shōgun was never going to show it, because in terms of the story the viewer didn't need to see the battle to know the outcome.

The story was always about Toranaga and the journey he takes towards becoming Shōgun. He is a master strategist, and has playing the game of war from the very start, just silently and through methods of politics rather than by the sword. He uses every person to his advantage, moving them like pieces on a board for his endgame, even those who he is closest to. Sure, there are moments he likely doesn't account for - the death of his son and the appearance of Blackthorne, for instance - but like any strategist of his level he either adapts them into his plans, or finds a way to use the moment in his advantage. That's what strategists do.

We don't need to see the battle of Sekigahara, because by the end of the show Toranaga has already won. This is what he tries to tell Yabushige before his death. Toranaga's explanation here reminds me to the moment he's talking to his son, with this quote:

'Why is it that only those who have never fought in battle are so eager to be in one?'

War is inevitable, but Tornaga is trying to minimize the number of those who have to die because of it. After all, his goal is for a peaceful era for Japan.

Mariko's death was the final act of Crimson Sky. Her death shakes the foundations enough to cause action to happen, because her death should not have been allowed to happen. Ishido knows this, which is why he sends his ronin to capture, not kill. Mariko's death, while tragic, is the final nail that sparks change. Ochiba, mourning the death of her childhood friend, decides to tell Toranaga in secret not to send the Heir's army to aid Ishido in battle, meaning that without his banner Ishido's war is no longer a lawful one.

While Mariko's death is a tragic one, it is not a meaningless one. It does not feel cheap, and the finale episode allows the viewers to mourn with those who knew and loved or respected her. I thought this was quite beautifully done, as even though she wasn't present in the episode, her spirit was still there, so she was still very much there. Some of the cinematography beautifully alluded to this, especially in moments like when Blackthorne and Fuji are sitting together in silence, yet there's one seat left -- Mariko's. Blackthorne even says then, 'no translator', because once Mariko had been a bridge of communication and understanding between them.

Another thing which I see a lot of confusion upon is Blackthrone's flash-forward scenes -- did he ever return to England? The answer, in my opinion, is told in the finale episode too. No, he didn't. Toranaga tells Yabushige that Blackthorne will never leave Japan, and in the scenes with an older Blackthorne, we see he's holding Mariko's cross. Yet he drops it into the water, showing that he lets it go. The episode title is 'a dream of a dream', and that's what Blackthorne's flash-forwards are: dreams. Another life, another path - but not this one.

The characters of Shōgun are based on real-life people in history -- it's actually really fascinating, and I've been learning more and more about their real-life counterparts whilst following this gem of a show. If you're interested in learning more, look up names like Tokugawa Ieyasu, Miura Anjin (William Adams) and Hosokawa Gracia (Akechi Tama).

All in all, Shōgun to me leaned more into the political intrique side of war, which for some people will be fascinating, and for others, not so much. But this show has so many layers and so much hidden within it, I can see it being one that's analysed for years to come.

#reblogging myself from my other blog because i could talk shōgun for ages now tbh #i'd add the book to my to read list but i already have so much to get through right now ;_;

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okay but i cannot get over how funny it is. imagine if the Russians launched bombs back in the 60s and fucking John Wayne survived, 200-some years later he's still kicking and has become an actual gotdang cowboy like a real force to be reckoned with, a real wasteland legend. imagine you're a prewar ghoul somewhere else in the country and you hear about this. "John Wayne survived? The John Wayne from the movies? That John Wayne? You're kidding, he– no. No he is not a cowboy. No he's not going around dressed up like an honest to god– they didn't even– that's just for tv! WAIT AND HE'S GOOD AT IT? YOU'RE FUCKING WITH ME SAY PSYCH RIGHT NOW I CANT–"

#fallout has always been hilarious for this #never forget new vegas and the fucking cult to elvis #ch: cooper howard #tv: fallout

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Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean Fallout (2024 - ) 1.01: The End

#ch: lucy maclean #tv: fallout

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Sabrina the Teenage Witch – 4.09: Love Means Having to Say You're Sorry

#ch: salem saberhagen #tv: sabrina the teenage witch

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#ch: shadowheart #gaming: baldur's gate 3 #misc: gaming

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AHSOKA (2023 –) | 1.01 'MASTER AND APPRENTICE'

#ch: shin hati #tv: ahsoka

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ELLA PURNELL & WALTON GOGGINS as Lucy MacLean & The Ghoul/Cooper Howard in Fallout (2024)

#ch: lucy maclean #ch: cooper howard #tv: fallout

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Blissful fox

#misc: animals

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day and night in the Shire

(prints)

#mov: lord of the rings #mov: the hobbit #fanart

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Moments in time, preserved through sentiments Twitter | Ko-Fi | Patreon

#misc: art

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✦ — FALL OF A HERO IN NIBELHEIM — ✦ i knew that i was different. that i... was special. but not like this. not like this.

#ch: sephiroth #gaming: final fantasy vii: rebirth #gaming: final fantasy vii #gaming: final fantasy #misc: gaming

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#misc: nature #misc: photography #misc: mental health