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thoughtportal · 10 months

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How Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Became Public Enemy Number One in Hollywood

A series of maneuvers from the executive has angered the film community.

By Jason Bailey

July 3, 2023

Picture this: A captain of industry standing at the lectern at his alma matter, resplendent in his red-and-black graduation regalia—and getting booed. David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, was delivering the commencement address to Boston University, recalling how the late General Electric CEO Jack Welch once told him, “If you want to be successful, you’re going to have to figure out how to get along with everyone—and that includes difficult people.”

But instead of soaking in that kind of wisdom, some students were heckling Zaslav. Others had turned their backs to the stage. Now more were chanting, “Pay your writers.” Zaslav, a studio head, is often invoked as a villain by the striking Writers Guild of America.

He tried to press on with his story, continuing to quote Welch: “Some people will be looking for a fight.” The booing continued.

Zaslav later issued a statement thanking BU for the invitation, and insisting, “as I have often said, I am immensely supportive of writers and hope the strike is resolved soon and in a way that they feel recognizes their value.” But while BU President Robert Brown publicly apologized for the incident, blaming it on “cancel culture,” many observers saw it as a victory for the striking writers.

David Zaslav has become the face of a rocky and controversial new period in Hollywood. Few people who weren’t industry insiders even knew his name two years ago, when Discovery merged with WarnerMedia to become Warner Bros. Discovery. Zaszlav had been CEO of Discovery Communications since 2006, where he oversaw the transition from, in his words, “no longer a cable company, (but) a content company.” What that meant, from his critics perspective, was Discovery’s transition from educational programming to low-effort reality programming—which seems to be a much more lucrative business model.

There were, of course, considerable challenges awaiting the CEO of the new Warner Bros. Discovery conglomerate, whomever that might have been. Essentially every studio has taken fire the last few years. (Scarlett Johansson went nuclear on Disney!) Warner Bros. had, like most motion picture studios, struggled considerably during the pandemic. And then, in late 2020, before AT&T spun it off and Zaslav was brought on to lead the company after its merger with Discovery, Warner Bros. decided to simultaneously stream their entire 2021 theatrical slate on the HBOMax streaming service. This upset filmmakers, including those whose films were impacted by it, as well as theatrical chains that showed the movies. Christopher Nolan, whose enormously profitable relationship with WB began back in 2002, was reported to be so pissed that he took his new film Oppenheimer to Universal out of frustration with the company’s handling of his 2020 feature Tenet.

After a grueling pandemic, some are wondering whether the right person for the job of healing the wounds and reestablishing relationships with filmmakers might not have been Zaslav, the guy best known for shepherding the likes of Naked and Afraid, Dr. Pimple Popper, and My 600-lb Life. But, to be fair, figures from the world of reality TV are often seen with suspicion, if not outright snobbery, by those responsible for scripted fare. And Zaslav's most visible moves have been as a businessman.

One oft-referenced move: Zaslav announced that two nearly completed films that had been greenlit and produced under the previous regime—the DC superhero story Batgirl and the family-movie sequel Scoob!: Holiday Haunt—would not be distributed on the platform or released in theaters. Instead, they would be essentially used as a tax-write down. “We’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it,” Zaslav said in an earnings call, responding to a question about Batgirl. “We’re going to focus on quality. DC is something that we think we could make better and we’re focused on it now.” A WBD spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, “The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max … We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.”

Eagle-eyed subscribers subsequently noted that several other Max originals, including the Seth Rogen comedy An American Pickle and Robert Zemeckis’s remake of The Witches, had been quietly removed from the service, in a further attempt to save money. The service proceeded to remove several dozen series from its library, from HBO originals like Westworld and Vinyl to family programming like The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo to animated series like Infinity Train. Even episodes of Sesame Street weren’t safe. (Westworld and other programs were moved to free ad-supported streamers like Tubi and The Roku Channel.) Several other streaming services, including Paramount+, Starz, Showtime, Disney+, and Hulu, have followed suit, disappearing their underperforming originals.

Meanwhile, the merger of the HBOMax and Discovery+ services continued apace, with HBOMax rebranding to “Max,” removing its most prestigious and identifiable piece of branding, and as result, playing down its history of high-quality, high-profile scripted programming. It didn’t help that, on the “details” tab for film and shows on the service’s new interface, the writers, directors, and producers were initially lumped together, in no particular order, under the nebulous designation of “creators.” A joint statement from the Director’s Guild of America and the Writer’s Guild of America West criticized the “unilateral decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to change the long-standing individual credits of directors and writers in the new rollout of Max.” Max quickly promised to “correct the credits, which were altered due to an oversight in the technical transition from HBO Max to Max.” The company called the terminology a “mistake” and began rolling out revised credits around a month later.

The most star-studded criticisms of Warner Bros. Discovery came in mid-June, when the company cut loose five of the most senior executives at Turner Classic Movies—“the people who’ve been the architect of the brand for decades,” according to one insider. The cable network is beloved among cinephiles—and high-profile filmmakers. Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson quickly released a statement noting that “Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It is truly a precious resource of cinema, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been a profitable endeavor since its inception.”

The writer's union is striking for better wages and working conditions, and many of these fights are simply about how to split up a financial pie that has been radically changed by the pandemic and tech. But Zaslav's critics say it's more than that, expressing a fear that the financial machinations reflect not just shrugging indifference but outright hostility to the creative side of cinema. That's not a very novel line of attack: Netflix, for instance, has drawn comparable fire. But that company's CEO, Reed Hastings, doesn't seem to attract quite the same vitriol. Fair or not, with Zaslav, the criticism has gotten personal.

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quoteablebooks · 7 months

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Genre: Fiction, Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: 5 out of 5

Content Warning: Death of a parent, Grief, Sexual content, Cancer, Infidelity, Child abuse

Summary:

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really.

*Opinions*

I know I say this at the start of almost every review, but this read was influenced by social media. However, I do think that almost everyone heard of Beach Read when it came out in 2020 so I can’t blame Tiktok and Youtube for this one too much. Beach Read follows January Andrews and Augustus Everett, two writers that are suffering from a number of crises in their lives as well as writer's block. There is also the added issue that January has always seen Gus, as he went by in college, as her writing rival because he dismissed her writing of women’s fiction and romance for his high-brow literature. One ill-fated book club meeting later and a deal is struck, they will both attempt to write a novel in the other’s genre. Whichever book sells first gets the bragging rights. However, living next door to her college rival, whom she spent one steamy frat party dance with while dealing with digging up all the secrets of her father’s past might be too much for even disillusioned January Andrews to handle.

This was a five-star read for me and there were only a couple of hiccups in the story that I found. However, because I read this book three years after it was released, I had also been warned that there were some heavier topics in the novel that had such a light-hearted title. I can see how some people would have been taken off guard when they thought they were going into a light-hearted romance and were hit with a lot of not light-hearted issues. In the Author’s Note, Henry stated that she didn’t write a romance novel, so perhaps it was the marketing team that got it wrong. That being said, I really enjoyed that there was a lot going on in both January and Gus’s lives aside from their jobs and their evolving feelings for one another. It made them feel real and well-rounded. It also made some of their miscommunication make more sense than just ‘they won’t talk to each other’.

I related to January a lot more than I thought I would. While I don’t have a box of gin and an agent breathing down my neck for a new novel, the way her thought process played out was very familiar. While my outlook on the world might not be as happy and optimistic as January’s, I think I still try to find the happy ending, or at least the satisfying ending, in all the stories I tell myself in my head. Gus, at times, was a little too brooding, but understandable once you learn more about his background and past relationships. He also had some great romantic lines in this novel.

The one gripe I had was that there were numerous miscommunications that, while cleared up usually pretty quickly, seemed to fall into a predictable rhythm. Gus would grow distant, January would blow it out of proportion (relatable) and then she would get emotional and he would comfort her. As someone with anxiety, my mind is constantly telling me that everyone hates me and will never talk to me again, but reading about it multiple times in a novel does get a little old. Luckily, I liked the characters enough and cared about their arcs enough that it didn’t really dampen my enjoyment of the novel. One more time and it probably would have knocked the novel down a star rating.

Overall, I think that this is an interesting novel that takes a look at love and how our perception of our loved ones can change over time. How relationships don’t have to be perfect to be right for you. This isn’t a perfect novel, but it was perfect for me at the time I was reading it so it is a five-star read. I would suggest checking out the content warnings before going in though, so you aren’t caught off guard.

#book review #booklr #Beach Read #emily henry #5 out of 5 stars

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newagesispage · 6 months

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NOVEMBER 2023

THE RIB PAGE

Hackney Diamonds is out. The Stones performed with Lady gaga in NY at the release party. In attendance were Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Trevor Noah, Christie Brinkley and Daniel Craig. The Stones are all in their 70’s and 80’s but Mick was still showing some nip.

*****

Foo Fighters are heading out on tour in 2024!!!

*****

If you’re afraid that books might change someone’s thinking, you’re not afraid of books, you’re afraid of thinking. - Andrea Junker

*****

In May. Russia banned all late- night shows except Fallon.

*****

Did ya catch the rant that Congresswoman Jasmine Crocket had?? She called out the lack of evidence against Biden and wondered why our Government’s secrets were in Trump’s “shitter.”

*****

New York was flooded.

*****

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (Traylor) are keeping the NFL and the gossip pages talking.

*****

It seems that the last few years, China is rehearsing war in Taiwan.

*****

Gwen Stefani got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

*****

Hooray for Vera Wang. When asked what keeps her ageless at 74, she told us, “Vodka, McDonalds, Dunkin and hardwork.”

*****

Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate and they voted out Kevin McCarthy on October 2. McCarthy blamed the Democrats. 45 Republicans issued a letter that things have to change and they were embarrased about what is happening. They put a speaker pro tempre, Patrick McHenry, in place for a bit. Steve Scalise seemed a better choice but he wasn’t it. They went with Jim Jordan but there weren’t enough votes. In the end, the fifth choice was Mike Johnson. The Trumper who is an election denier and won’t even discuss the subject, was voted in. I can’t wait to see what his scandal is. Bill Maher commented, “Loves Jesus, hates democracy.” **And, what of this terrible Virginia Fox from N. Carolina who told the reporter to shut up when asking Johnson legitimate questions. Another democracy hater, no doubt.

*****

Chloe Troast is the newest SNL cast member to join. They came back live on October 14 with Pete Davidson.** Mick Jagger made a couple of cameos on the Bad Bunny episode!!** Chris Walken popped up on the Nate Bargatze show.

*****

The Writers settled their strike. SAG AFTRA is still trying. Healthcare workers are on strike. It seems like the UAW may have settled.

*****

Biden’s dog, Commander, keeps biting people.

*****

There is a new coke for the younger set, Coca- Cola Y3000. Ok.

*****

Stevie Nicks has a barbie with her name on it.

*****

Days alert: Ok, there is no rhyme or reason to the ‘new’ Theresa. After the initial shock, her colleagues are cheering her on. Nothing against Emily O’Brien but bring Jen Lilley back!! Talia and Chloe and Phillip are headed out of town for a while. Clyde and Lucas are back. Holly and Tate have been soap aged and are back as teens. ** Is that Nick that is back?? Same actor but this time he is Everett with a link to Stephanie and Jada. The Pawn storyline is coming back around. Since Everett seems to have a past with children of men from stories of the past, is he a part of it??** And speaking of Jen Lilley, during covid she started ‘Christmas is not cancelled.’ The program has bought toys for 72,000 kids so far!!

*****

Jessica Lange is getting ready to retire.

*****

Joaquin Phoenix is Napoleon in the new film of the same name.

*****

The Vet aid concerts will be held in San Diego on Nov. 12 with Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills, The Flaming Lips and ELO.

*****

The B-52's were to perform at the White House on Oct. 25 but instead were guests. It was decided that the ongoing crises in the world, there should just be instrumental background music. So, nobody should be happy?

*****

George Santos and Meghan McCain were on a podcast together. That sounds about right. I could see them becoming a duo. The man has 23 counts against him. By the time you read this, he may be ousted!!

*****

The World Series has the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.

*****

Pete Holmes has quit drinking he seems much louder now.

*****

What?? Geddy Lee has a show about bass players and all they can do?? What?? I am there!!

*****

The film, David Holmes: The Boy who lived will be out on Nov. 15. David and Daniel Radcliffe got together to work on the tale of David, Radcliffe’s stunt double on Harry Potter who became paralyzed after a stunt.

*****

Simone Biles is now the most decorated female gymnast in history. ** Apparently, Mary Lou Retton has no medical insurance and is in a Texas hospital with pneumonia.

*****

Hamas attacked Israel. Militants carried out early morning surprise murders and abductions. Israel responded by telling the world they were at war.

*****

Mike Lindell says he is out of money and can’t pay his legal bills. All these shady republicans from the Trump posse could not have been as rich as they kept claiming. They all seem to be unable to pay their bills.

*****

About 1,000 migrating birds crashed into McCormick Place in Chicago.

*****

Biden says that he has no choice but to work on the border wall.

*****

The story of Jimmy Saville is coming to the BBC. The story itself is horrendous but needs to be told. The Reckoning stars Steve Coogan. Will it come to the U.S.??

*****

I have noticed that true crime shows are telling tales of the covid years. Murder continued thru the pandemic.

*****

Prequel is the new book from Rachel Maddow. This looks like an interesting, timely and frightening lesson in the silver shirts. I never knew Eric Severeid discovered and infiltrated the American Nazi’s. The Christian front plot involved those in our own Government. There are a lot of books coming out. There was a great deal of writing going on during covid.

*****

Sly Stone has a memoir out, Oh that gotta be wow! (thank you falettinme be mice elf agin), brought to you by Questlove.

*****

Barbra Streisand also has a memoir, My name is Barbra coming out Nov.7.

*****

Wayne Brady stars in the Wiz on Broadway and has just told the world that he is pansexual.

*****

The Zuckers and Abraham also have a book, Surely, you can’t be serious.

*****

Leslie Jones has a memoir too: Leslie f#cking Jones.

*****

Henry Winkler wrote Being Henry: The Fonz and beyond.

*****

Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz are engaged.

*****

The Great British Baking Show will have no more theme weeks. There were some complaints after Mexican week.

*****

About a year ago Schwann updated how they do their service and became Yelloh.

*****

California law will ban red dye #3, potassium Bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben.

*****

Bobby Kennedy Jr. Has become an independent. Four of his siblings have already condemned him.

*****

Steely Dan was replaced as opener on the Eagles Farewell tour. Steve Miller Band will take over.

*****

The Peoria Journal Star will become postal delivery only.

*****

There is a film coming out about Anita Pallenberg.

*****

Clarence Thomas is recusing himself over a suit about the 2020 election.

*****

Dean Phillips is running for President. Mike Pence has dropped out.

*****

Scary Clown 45 is teaching us so much like we need to dampen the forests and that the letters u and s are in U.S. and that spells us.** He also announced that, “People in Beverly Hills, generally don’t smell too good.”** Another gem: “the low rated late- night creeps are back.”** The Trump parade of trials continue. In the NY civil fraud trial, he is already guilty, they are just figuring out the rest. Trump was again fined cuz he can’t keep a thought to himself. The Trumps could lose control of their company. They repeatedly submitted fraudulent documents.

*****

Sidney Powell pled guilty to Georgia election charges. She received 6 years probation, fines, must give an apology to the citizens of Georgia and testify against other defendants. Ken Chesebro pled guilty to conspiracy to commit filing false documents. These fucking people are like spoiled rotten children. If they don’t get what they want, they do whatever they please to get it. ** Courts have told us 60 times that the election was good. Will it ever sink in?

*****

Congressman Jared Moskowitz is proposing that if Trump insists that Mar A Lago is worth 1.5 billion (100 times what the tax man says it is really worth), then they should raise his taxes accordingly.

*****

Word is that 1 oz. Gold bars are selling like crazy at Costco.

*****

Governor Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas got into some hot water over a $19 thousand podium and fudging government tallies.

*****

Kari Lake is running for Senate.

*****

Lesley Matvszak, former CEO of WTVP passed away. The board is now looking into, “questionable, unauthorized and improper use of funds.” The station also owned Peoria magazine and that seems to have now gone under with all the budget cuts.

*****

It seems that the migrants shipped to Martha’s Vineyard and other places was done illegally. The covert criminal operation is being looked into by a Sheriff I nBexar Co. Texas who is not too happy about the whole situation. Deception and unlawful restraint are just the start of it. Operatives including former U.S. Army intelligence are suspected of driving around approaching migrants. Calls from the operatives go back to Gov. DeSantis office where the $600 thousand in costs seemed to come from Florida. The migrants were given gift cards if they signed a paper that allowed transport. They claimed to be promised housing and jobs.

*****

Wolfgang Van Halen married Andraia Allsop.** Frances Cobain married Riley Hawk.

*****

The Dept. Of the Treasury has put sanctions on 11 entities.

*****

Sen. John Kennedy’s advice to his colleagues: “Take your meds.”

*****

The latest in sexual misconduct: 7 women have alleged sexual and physical abuse by Brian Foster.** 2 women have accused Danny Elfman of sexual abuse. He was ordered to pay $830,000 to Nomi Abadi but did not pay the full amount.

*****

Watch for the film, The Treasure of Foggy Mountain from Please Don’t Destroy. The offering from Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy with Conan O’Brien will air on Peacock on Nov. 17.

*****

The guinea worm problem continues to decline. Infections are down 27% from 2021.

*****

Netflix will open Netflix House, real stores with merch and events.

*****

Carl Ruderman, an executive whose family once owned Playgirl, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in a $250 mil scheme.

*****

X-rays on the Mona Lisa (Lisa Gherardini) have shown that a unique chemical was used . The make- up of the paint used plumbonacrite, a by- product of lead oxide. The paint in each of his works was different.

*****

R.I.P. Dick Butkus, Keith Giffen, Phyllis Coates, Rudolph Isley, Tim Wakefield, Mark Goddard, Suzanne Somers, Louise Gluck, Hughes Van Ellis, Charles Feeney, Al Petteway, Burt Young, Lara Parker, Joanna Merlin, Louie Meriweather, Joan Evans, Rock Brynner, Richard Roundtree, Judy Nugent, Aaron Spears, Tyler Christopher, Matthew Perry and Piper Laurie.

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dramaintherain · 6 months

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I've been watching dramas for a decade and a half and it's not about the quality of just netlix dramas ( although most of them look very nice but have the substance of a paper back and the writing quality of a 12 yo writing fanfic for the first time) because like you said there isn't that many of them compared to everything but how they influenced the kdrama industry just like they influenced hollywood (there are multiple articles and industry writers/actors talking about netflix and streaming by extension because companies tried to follow them and the irrevocable damage it has done to how hollywood functions not just for the quality of the art but the livelihood of writers and actors they went from big writers rooms and residuals and recurring spots to mini rooms where they do a huge amount of free work basically no residuals and actors getting paid dust here's one https://www.vulture(dot)com/2023/06/streaming-industry-netflix-max-disney-hulu-apple-tv-prime-video-peacock-paramount.html). No one is saying kdramas were perfect there were a lot of bad shows like there always are, a lot of misogynistic writing a lot of exploitation and there still is, here's how netflix is treating korean labor ( https://www.latimes(dot)com/world-nation/story/2023-08-07/south-korea-actors-netflix-pay-dispute-union). But netflix has changed the game and unlike hollywood which it started disrupting a long time ago it's relatively newer to kdramas, much shorter shows regardless of the story being told ( the actual main leads of song of bandits complained how the show got cut in half after being filmed just... because) and networks are popping out 12 ep shows like clockwork when it should be based on what the story is, 12, 16, 20? Like some of the greatest kdramas of all time weren't 20+ like six flying dragons, reply 1988, cruel city, chief kim, prison playbook, we used to get 20 ep shows and 16 and 12 and for sageuks 30 and 50, now 20 is extinct and the only show doing it is my dearest and it's the biggest rating hit, it should always be a variety, a huge number of shows getting filmed and shelved because networks have cut their slots, westernized shows masquerading as kdramas, shows getting multiple seasons when the story really doesn't call for it. Of course there are still great shows but that's not because of netflix it's in spite of them and just like Hollywood are barely starting to recover due to labor standing up for themselves with the strikes, Korea is gonna take a few years before it looks around and says wtf has happened to us, we had a model that while not perfect, worked and now... It's capitalism through and through and tech bros f*cking up another industry for money.

I have been watching k-dramas for eight years now, and the same critique of "shiny coat of painting but terrible story writing" can be applied to various dramas broadcast outside netflix so I really do not see where this thought is coming from other than narrow nostalgia.

At the same time it is nothing but ludicrous to blame the woes of Hollywood on streaming services as if there were no major issues already. Since the late 1970's-1980's western cinema became monopolised and dependent on blockbuster films based on intellectual property.

Today we are witnessing the zenith of this circumstance as the majority of films available at cinemas are nothing more than reboots or sequels, particularly the super hero gene. This has also spilled over into television series as now there are countless, fast food like shows of a certain Mickey Mouse brand that has accumulated a great deal of intellectual property when it comes to comic book characters.

I am not arguing that streaming services are less exploitative or that they have not taken opportunity of local labour laws and so on with the objective of profiting: that is how they function, just like television networks. The shift towards pre-produced k-dramas is a positive one nonetheless as it is less taxing on those involved in producing k-dramas. "Some of the greatest k-dramas of all time" were shot live and under excruciating conditions for labourers, and this model is and remains unsustainable.

It's a shame "Song of the Bandits" had several of its episodes cut during editing but this is something that happens under any production, be it from a television network or a streaming service. And that often happens because there are doubts whether a show will be successful or not. But none of this suggests that k-dramas are being "westernised" -- these shows reflect South Korean culture and history.

South Korea already has a plethora of national streaming services like TVING which is already planning to expand to the American market in a year so I do not understand why all these changes are being exclusively blamed on one streaming service when this is part of one big wave across the world and television networks are also having their share of the pie. You are effectively romanticising the exploitation of South Korean workers for your own personal consumption while deriding any changes that contribute to lessening their payload: think about that.

#dramaintherain questions

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piracytheorist · 3 years

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Since the first thing that strikes me about re8, story-wise, is that it seems to be all over the place? Again, I’ve no idea how it ties to previous games but it feels like this parental/mother-child theme is just hanging there with no resolution at all? I mean yes, Ethan saved his daughter, presumably breaking some sort of abuse cycle, yay, congrats, but what about his wife/gf? Isn’t she supposed to be like the main protagonist of the story of a mother bereaved to the point of tyrannical madness

Or rather, this specific story is not the right choice for his character since there’s SO many ethical and philosophical issues and questions implied but never properly explored because of Ethan’s ‘fuck you, idc’ attitude (which is completely understandable in those circumstances but adds virtually nothing to the plot and arguably even ruins it a bit). Heisenberg could’ve been an excellent ally with fascinating grey morality (provided the writers wouldn’t push him to the point of absolute insanity and let freedom, not power-hunger be his main goal and motivation for rebellion).And again, aren’t the lords supposed to represent child development stages? In which case Ethan what? Kills the possibility of some evil version of Rose? Or his own chance to experience fatherhood throughout all of those stages? Either way, it seems a bit… weird to have a Parent destroy multiple people whose main relevance to the plot is that they’re children of an abusive antagonist in a storyline so extremely focused on parent/kid relationships.

I feel like the main theme of re8 is not just parenthood/motherhood, but the relationship itself of the parent to the child. There's a lot of mentions to "children being used". Miranda kidnapping people, experimenting on them and mutating them and then treating them like they're her kids; Miranda kidnapping and practically killing Rose; Dimitrescu making daughters out of reanimated corpses she experimented on; Heisenberg wanting to use Rose's powers, etc etc.

And it's important that Miranda is at the center of this. There's something very interesting she says to Ethan in her boss fight:

"Why do you interfere? Surely you have no need of Rose now, so close to death?"

And that's where her mistake was. Ethan wasn't doing all that because he needed Rose herself. He was doing it to save her, fully aware that he wasn't going to be a part of her life cause he knew he was dying. Miranda was way too dependent on her love for Eva - and like, I honestly get it that losing your child can devastate you (if anything my fear of that is one of the reasons I don't want to have kids) - so much that her life literally revolved around her child. Once Eva died, Miranda wanted to die. Once she found the Megamycete and discovered she maybe had a chance to bring Eva back, she dedicated her entire life and ruined multiple others to do just that. Her one and biggest need was to get Eva back. It wasn't a simple want or wish. It was a need. She'd get her child back, damn everyone else - including other people's children.

Miranda had no-one to blame directly; Eva had died from the influenza, it wasn't like she had any chance to change things. Ethan's case was different; he had people to blame, particularly, the one who kidnapped Rose and dismembered her, and her lackeys who kept said parts and fought him for trying to take them back.

So on one end, you have a parent who lost her child due to a tragedy, and ended up destroying other - innocent - lives in order to get her back. On the other, you have a parent who lost his child due to a crime, and ended up going after the criminals responsible in order to get the child back. Like, it wasn't even revenge, and it wasn't that he "needed" Rose in his life. He simply wanted to save her and ensure she'll be alright.

I fully agree it could have been Mia as the protagonist in re8, and that it was a wasted opportunity to simply fridge her and have her in the sidelines angsting over her husband. But whether it was Mia or Ethan as the protagonist, I feel like the theme that I explained above does offer a resolution, showing the opposites of Miranda and Ethan, and ending Miranda's tyrrany of her "need" to have her child back through Ethan's determination to ensure his child's safety and happiness - even if he doesn't get to be a part of any of that later on. Miranda showed obsession; Ethan showed dedication.

And this is how I see the abuse cycle breaking and the resolution is reached; an obsessed parent hurt a good parent's child to bring their own child back - the good parent's dedication stopped the former, allowing the former's tyrrany to end and their child to grow up safe.

Seeing as this is a horror game, I don't tend to focus on the morality issues (if I'm interpreting your second message correctly). Like, the developers are making a grant effort to put us in Ethan's shoes, first-person POV, plain character protagonist and all; our child got kidnapped and practically murdered, and we have the chance to bring her back. We'll absolutely raise hell to the people who are responsible for it and we will get our child back, fuck any moral dilemmas we might have. When someone is threatening your life, you have the ability to kill them to defend yourself. In the case of a caring parent, that ability may multiply by a lot when the threat is towards their child. And I feel that this is what the game explored in the end. Though the whole survival issue is taxing on Ethan, he doesn't give a damn about who he has to kill if it means saving his daughter - but again, it's only the responsible parties. We see how watching all the people at Luisa's house die affected him, and even before Elena died, he wanted to ensure her safety before he went searching for Rose; he is sympathetic and morally rational, but also capable of cold-blooded murder if someone is threatening his child. To a lesser extent, we saw that in re7 too. With his life on the line, he killed Jack (multiple times) and Marguerite, and at the end he recognized how they were actually victims of Eveline. But they were still actively trying to murder him so he wasn't given the chance to help them. With Zoe, he promised to send help, and he did, even wanting to talk to her once she'd been rescued by her uncle and Chris. The same applies to re8, but as I said, it's multiplied since it's his daughter who's in danger, and the end of re8 proves he cares for her safety more than his own.

Now, all that said, I think it's important to note how it's stil a Resident Evil game. I haven't actually played or watched any playthroughs of other games, but the basic concept in these games, from what I understand, is that the player shoots zombies; ex-human beings who have lost any human mentality and will just come for your throat if you don't kill them first. They're not humans anymore, they can't be reasoned or sympathized with. It's not really an issue of morality, ethics or philosophy. Your life, and the life of your child in the case of re8, are in danger. You don't give a shit. You just start shooting and hope for the best. Again, I don't know if the morality issue is explored in other RE games, but to be honest... Resident Evil doesn't sound like the kind of franchise that's thematically into going super deep into the morality of shooting zombies to save your life.

I have to admit I haven't thought of the Lords being representative of child development stages. I think they could be put as Moreau being a toddler, fully dependent on their parent - funnily enough, the Greek word for baby is "moro", pronounced almost exactly the way "Moreau" is pronounced in the game - Donna as a child, Heisenberg as a (rebellious?) teenager, and Dimitrescu as a late teen/young adult (if anything, Dimitrescu seems to behave like the eldest child of the bunch). But I'm not sure the connection that has to Ethan as a father, if anything because the bosses are fought in complete random order of age, if my analysis is correct. Like, I understand the symbolism behind the Lords' behaviours, maybe as you said they represent the obstacles Ethan had to overcome. In one single day and with his life on the line, instead of in the course of Rose's entire childhood and adolescence, but that's exactly why he hated being a protagonist of a horror game, lol.

Anyway, yeah. All in all, I don't think Resident Evil is a franchise where we should expect to sit down afterwards and ponder whether we were right to shoot the zombies that were trying to kill us. Again, I'm not the right person to ask this, since I don't know anything about other RE games, but that's the conclusion I'm making in a meta-thinking way.

#Resident Evil #Resident Evil Village #Resident Evil 8 #Ethan Winters #Mother Miranda #re meta #anonymous #ask and ye shall receive

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jess-rewatches-prodigalson · 3 years

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It’s All In The Execution (S2, E1)

It happened. We got a second season. I’m living my best life...unfortunately Malcolm isn’t...

*** Content warning: brief mentions/allusions to depression, suicidal ideation, and Malcolm’s general poor mental health ****

SPOILERS AHEAD.

0:00 - OH HELL YES. I can’t believe we actually got a second season! <3 My heart is so full.

0:18 – “This ledge is taken.” …..ok so I have lots of feelings about this scene. 1) Malcolm’s lines are iconic in this scene and I love it. 2) WHY THE ACTUAL HELL WOULD JT, DANI, AND EDRISA AGREE TO LET A (LET’S BE HONEST) MAN IN A VERY BAD MENTAL STATE WITH A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION STAND ON A LEDGE FOR A CASE?!? Like seriously, Gil wouldn’t have gone with this shit. 3) As soon as I saw Malcolm on the ledge I believed he was seriously considering jumping. He showed passive suicidality most of last season and after Endicott – well I don’t blame him for being a little depressed.

0:26 – Damn. Malcolm is really manic in this scene. It’s reminiscent of the pilot episode in the sense that Malcolm really has no filter.

0:40 – Ok so Tom Payne deserves a freaking Emmy. This performance is gorgeous. Look at his facial expression when he says “It got real dark for me though. Family issues.” The look on his face completely convinces me that Malcolm is riding the struggle bus more than usual right now…..also am I the only one who thinks this ‘penthouse slasher’ is kind of unbelievable? He strikes me as too anxious and jumpy to be a serial killer.

1:18 – Is Malcolm even trying to hide the fact that he knows what happened to Endicott?!? I mean “I tried to fight it” can’t JT and Dani hear his usual ‘projecting his personal issues on the suspect shtick?’

1:30 – Did he really just scream “I am the Surgeon’s son” from a ledge?!? Dude – someone please give this boy a hug and get him to Gabrielle – like last month.

1:40 – Soooo… now Chester isn’t scared of the ledge? He looked like he was going to wet himself from fear a literal minute ago.

1:49 – OH OF COURSE CHESTER SLIT THEIR THROATS. JUST LIKE AINSLEY SLIT ENDICOTT’S. Chris Fedak really loves to inject Malcolm’s personal issues into the ‘serial killer of the week’.

2:23 – I’m sorry – the team let Malcolm on the ledge without tethering him first?!? No. No. No. I refuse to believe it. Dani, JT, and Edrisa care too much about Malcolm to let him do that.

2:28 – Why is Edrisa even on this stakeout?!? Did she fill in as the 4th team member while Gil was in the hospital?!? I love Edrisa – she’s hilarious but the fact that she’s in the field like this is absolute nonsense. Hahaha

2:32 – hahaha OMG. JT is like the big brother forced to hang out with his younger sibling and their weird friends. He’s think’s they’re all crazy but he’d also die for them.

2:42 – Yikes. Malcolm is questioning his moral code. This boy is headed for a real nasty downward mental spiral if someone doesn’t intervene quickly.

2:46 – Am I really supposed to believe that a rope tied to a radiator can hold the weight of two grown men dangling off a building?!? I mean – I’ll suspend my disbelief because I know it’s fictional entertainment but I found it really distracting.

2:48 – JT. Would. Not. Let. Go. Of. That. Rope. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT. If for no other reason than because he loves GIL too much to let Gil’s surrogate son fall to his death. I understand why this happened – tension and excitement for television in the first scene of a new season but honestly – this whole first scene is wildly unrealistic given what we know about JT, Dani, Edrisa and their respective roles on the team.

2:50 – Can we talk about JT’s facial hair for a sec? I like him with it (and without it). Part of me thinks he grew it because he’s trying to channel Gil while he’s temporarily in charge of the team.

3:08 – Honestly, the second Malcolm picked up his phone all I could think was “You moron. What if you drop that thing off the side of the building!?!?!”…then I remembered that he’s rich.

3:20 – “Please say it’s cancer.” Hahahahahaha OMG. I have a love/hate relationship for Malcolm with no filter. That’s freaking comedic gold.

3:57 – “I’m hanging in there.” Tom Payne is freaking incredible. Look at his facial expression here. Malcolm’s emotional pain is etched on that face. Ugh. I’m love.

4:02 – soooo no updated title screen. Interesting.

4:08 – Istg the writers only put Ainsley in this scene so she would be in the episode. I mean honestly – what kind of precinct lets reporters with a camera crew INSIDE?!?!

4:15 – hahaha I love JT in this scene. I love how he initially looks at Ainsley with a mixture of confusion, resignation, and fear. This is a man who does not like the camera.

4:16 – Side note: is it just me or is Ainsley acting very manic in this scene? Something about her energy reminds me of Malcolm circa 1x05 when he’s not sleeping and trying to convince everyone that he’s fine.

4:38 – hahahaha OMG. That wink.

4:48 – Even Malcolm looks surprised that Ainsley and a camera dude were let into the precinct.

5:00 – Ahhh the hand tremor. <3 Love that they’re still using that.

5:05 – also Malcolm is heartbreaking in this scene. Someone give him a hug. Look at how hard he’s trying to hide his pain, fear, and trauma. UGH.

5:33 - So we finally get to see it. The moments immediately after 1x20. Or do we? I have this crackpot theory (I posted it on my main blog, so you might’ve already seen it – “AllTimeBouvier”) that these flashbacks are only a fraction of the truth. I think Sophie walked followed Malcolm from the vet’s office to the hospital, then home. I think she hid when she heard Endicott’s voice due to fear but came out after Ainsley started screaming and stabbing. Besides – anyone else notice how the portion of these flashbacks where Malcolm is saying “Ainsley, focus on me. You didn’t do this. I did.” Only his right hand is ever in the frame. So it’s impossible to tell if he’s holding his cell (on the phone with Martin) with his left hand or if he just hung up and put the phone back in his pocket? I think that Martin either phoned Malcolm back or Martin heard Sophie’s voice and demanded to talk to her. I think Sophie disposed of the body while Malcolm took care of Ainsley like a good big brother. I think Sophie went into hiding and Martin is gaslighting Malcolm into believing that he disposed of Endicott’s body.

5:37 – Anyone else want to know what happened to the murder weapon? And Ainsley’s bloody clothes? Just me?

6:00 – hahahahaha Jessica is so extra. I love it.

6:29 – Wait. What? Why was Ainsley quarantined with Jessica? Ainsley has her own apartment. If Jessica forced Ainsley to come and live with her during quarantine – why didn’t she also force Malcolm? This doesn’t track for me.

6:40 – I love that Jessica brought Malcolm food (you can see the grocery bag behind Malcolm in one of the shots) and went so far as to actually lay out the breakfast ingredients for him. <3 I mean. It’s extra but it’s also sweet.

6:45 – Why is Jessica looking at Malcolm’s pill bottles? Is it just to avoid eye contact with Malcolm while she talks about Gil? Is she noticing that his dosage has changed (she’s extra so I’m assuming she knows exactly what meds he takes and how much of each). Is that part of the reason why she’s suspicious of Malcolm? His dosage has gone up and he’s clearly trying to hide his pain?

6:52 – I love how Malcolm interacts with Jessica in this scene. It’s so cute. They’re adorable. AND seeing Malcolm in casual clothing is always nice.

7:44 – “Oh about that.” Damn. Malcolm really can’t catch a break. Poor baby. : (

7:50 – hahaha Martin looks like a mountain man here. Completely deranged and un-groomed.

7:51 – Glad Mr.David isn’t dead or evil. I had fears.

8:35 – The tension between Dani and Malcolm seems to have lessened since 1x20. The trust seems to have been partially rebuilt. Partially. Dani is still suspicious.

8:38 – Well at least Malcolm’s still going to therapy.

8:41 – GREEN SUIT. HELL YES.

9:06 – “The ‘Drise knows.” OMG hahahaha I love this show. Look at how Malcolm looks at her hahaha.

9:17 – “I can fire these people right?” OMG. 10/10. JT REALLY SHINES IN THIS EPISODE. AND FRANK HARTS IS KILLING IT and the writers gave him so much well deserved screen time and great lines.

9:53 – Malcolm and Edrisa getting excited about murder is honestly so freaking cute.

10:34 – OMG. The way Malcolm perks up at the mention of rumours is hilarious. A learned behaviour from Jessica during his childhood?

10:45 – I’ll say it again. Chris Fedak was wasting Frank Harts in season 1. This dude is shining in this episode. I hope they keep giving him more lines and screen time than they did last season.

12:00 – I love seeing Malcolm this excited/happy but it’s pretty concerning that his passion is murder weapons.

12:04 – This scene is really interesting to me for four reasons 1) Where the eff did Dani go? I guess she’s probably on her way to see Gil? 2) Even though Malcolm is getting excited about murder he’s way less manic than he was earlier this episode. 3) I love watching JT deal with Edrisa and Malcolm’s nerdy excitement. I could watch it all day. So fun. 4) I love watching JT and Malcolm in scenes together. Period. I can honestly say that watching their friendship evolve is one of the highlights of this show for me.

12:30 – Heartbreaking. Malcolm had a few minutes where he forgot about Ainsley, Endicott, Martin, and the various traumas currently haunting him. Then he not only remembered but he saw Martin in himself. The crazy person collecting murder weapons. You can tell he feels embarrassed, ashamed, and sad. I genuinely believe that’s why JT says, “soooo weird.” with a look of sympathy and concern. JT doesn’t suspect that Malcolm has anything to do with Endicott’s murder at this point in time. Mark my words.

12:55 – Edrisa gets Bright. I will never ship them together but I really hope they get more scenes together this season. Their friendship is beautiful.

13:00 – Malcolm, baby, no. You don’t have to do this. Ugh. Poor baby. This is just going to make the night terrors worse.

13:10 – They trimmed Martin’s beard but not his hair between the first scene in this episode and now. I think they just combed his hair? Why?!? Was this a Michael Sheen request? I must know!!!

13:40 – hahaha OMG. Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how incredible Michael Sheen is?!? This man can go from downright terrifying to hilarious in a split second. Incredible actor.

13:55 – Sooooo Mr. David doesn’t know about Endicott? Because he’s definitely heard Malcolm and Martin discuss some pretty sketchy stuff over the years. I’m pretty sure he heard about the Sophie stuff last season didn’t he? Why is Martin finally trying to hide something from Mr. David?

14:03 – Look at Malcolm’s face. Ugh. He looks nauseous and scared. Someone hug him. Or better yet – get him away from Martin.

14:18 – Sooooo is Jerry going to be a problem later? Martin ‘cures him’ later in this episode so will he be able to tell someone he heard Martin and Malcolm talking about Endicott’s murder? Would anyone believe him?

14:40 – GO. TO. HELL. MARTIN. You’re not feeling it?!? Haven’t you caused enough emotional damage to your son. Stop. Trying. To. Manipulate. Malcolm.

14:50 – Question 1000 about how Endicott’s body was disposed of: Where the hell did Malcolm get that yellow jumpsuit on such short notice? And….those gloves – anyone else notice that they’re practically the same as the gloves he puts on in Izzy’s sex dungeon in a few minutes? ALSO – THEY FOUND ENDICOTT’S BODY IN ESTONIA?!? LIKE ALL OF IT OR JUST PARTS OF IT? WOULDN’T IT BE SMARTER TO SCATTER HIS BODY IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES IF IT’S ALREADY IN PIECES?!? Unless maybe Endicott’s body isn’t in pieces because we all know that Malcolm’s memory of traumatic events is fuzzy at best.

15:07 – “Don’t. Say. That. Never, say that.” - I’m really proud of Malcolm here. He’s clearly in serious emotional distress throughout this whole conversation. He’s grappling with what he believes he did, what that means about him, his moral code, and his relationship with Martin. But yet – he found the strength to basically tell Martin to eff off.

15:20 – AMAZING. Right after Martin says “Estonia?” there are a few seconds where it genuinely looks like Malcolm is going to cry. It’s moving as hell, heartbreaking, and some downright kickass acting.

15:56 – Well, that’s not going to help Malcolm’s night terrors. But we definitely have confirmation that Jerry wasn’t as engrossed in the cartoons as Martin suggested.

16:20 – I love this scene. Gil is the whole team’s surrogate father – not just Malcolm’s. Sometimes I forget that. Also – the fact that Chris Fedak waited 16 minutes to show us Gil Arroyo alive and well is a crime.

16:28 – “He wouldn’t dare.” “I know.” How cute is this? Look at Dani’s smile. Ugh. I can’t decide if they know that JT doesn’t want Gil’s job because he loves working with Gil too much or he doesn’t like how much responsibility comes with Gil’s title. Probably a combination of both.

16:35 – Sooo has Malcolm not been visiting Gil? I guess because of COVID he couldn’t but now he’s just not? I mean – Gil would be able to tell how Malcolm’s doing just by looking at him.

17:05 – I’m sorry ‘multiple surgeries’?!? I want elaboration on this.

17:09 – So I googled “British musician Izzy” and the top hit was the guitar player for Guns’n’Roses (who looks kinda like this guy). I have no idea what that means but I found it interesting.

17:30 – Holy shit. Izzy is a nutcase. I love him. hahaha

17:55 – Soooo Malcolm keeps a spray bottle of some sort of magic “show me the blood” water? Nah – the writers wrote it into the show for this scene’s convenience.

18:05 – I love this. Malcolm’s nonchalant approach to his mother and Gil’s budding relationship. He’s like a little kid who doesn’t want to get his hopes up. He’s using the mentality of “If I don’t acknowledge it, it’s not happening. Therefore, if it goes wrong – I won’t get hurt by it.” It’s really sad and I wish he didn’t run away from something that will potentially be good but I also get it.

18:06 – I also respect Malcolm a lot in this scene and am irritated by Dani. Look – they both adore Gil. They’re both protective of Gil (and in Malcolm’s case Jessica). Here’s where they’re different: Malcolm recognizes and respects that Gil and Jessica are adults who can make their own decisions. Dani doesn’t. Dani is acting like a preteen trying to break up Dad and the new step-mom she isn’t sure of. Dani and Malcolm both have their hearts in the right place but I disagree with Dani’s response to the relationship. I also understand where she’s coming from given what we know about Dani’s bio Dad.

18:39 – It’s not supposed to be funny but holy hell. Malcolm putting his head on the floor to listen is hilarious.

19:00 – I’m getting major John Watkins flashbacks. Malcolm breaks down a lot of walls where serial killers once hung out. Is that supposed to be some sort of subtle comment on Malcolm’s character?

20:33 – Damn. Malcolm’s hair is long this season.

20:55 – aannnnnd here are the murder gloves from the Endicott flashbacks.

21:30 – Something about Malcolm dancing to this music in this supremely manic state is really upsetting to me. It just makes me uncomfortable.

22:13 – I’m so worried about Malcolm right now. Holy hell. Get him to Gabrielle. NOW.

23:00 – A skil saw. Pretty much a small version of what Malcolm thinks he dismembered Endicott with. Yikes. Fedak really loves making Malcolm project his issues on murder suspects.

23:27 – Yep. Dani totally thinks Malcolm killed Endicott. She thinks he’s gone dark side and followed Martin’s footsteps. This is not going to be good for their friendship or the trust that they’re rebuilding.

23:50 – One of my favourite things about this show is that it can go from dark and creepy to family sitcom-esque drama in a second. It helps lighten the show’s tone a little. I mean honestly – most of the fans are here for the family drama as opposed to the ‘killer of the week’ storyline anyways.

24:10 – I love this. Jessica admitting to Malcolm that she and Gil have been discussing him for almost 25 years. You can see that Malcolm is 1) a little freaked out and 2) a little touched. For a moment you can see how badly he wants Gil and his Mom to have a long-lasting romantic relationship.

24:32 – OMG. Why did Jessica call Ainsley about Malcolm’s mental state before calling Malcolm? Is that standard Whitly family practice? I have questions.

24:40 – Yep. Dani is Concerned and Scared.

26:46 – Sooo we all agree that Martin was trying to electrocute Jerry to death right? I mean “You really shouldn’t have done that Jer-bear.”?!?! And he’s literally a serial killer?!

27:25 – Mr. David is having none of Martin’s bullshit – so how did Martin get away with it? What does Martin have on Mr. David?

27:50 – “A miracle.” Omg. Hahahaha. I love this show. So. Much.

28:09 – “clearing her brother’s name. Not murder.” Seriously, the parallels between this case and Malcolm’s personal issues are more obvious than usual this episode. Almost to the point where I’m annoyed that the other characters aren’t really catching on.

28:35 – “What happened, his brain break?” I love the way JT can simultaneously tease and be concerned about Malcolm. Ugh. It’s beautiful (and hysterical).

29:07 – Not again. Please stop putting JT in front of the camera. I’m getting second-hand embarrassment and anxiety on his behalf. It hurts to watch (funny too, but mostly painful).

29:19 – Look at Gil. Hahaha he’s so amused by JT’s awkwardness in front of the camera – but you can also see how proud he is. <3 I love papa!Gil.

29:33 – “Police work is patience.” Cute 1x05 callback. And can we all just take a minute to appreciate how much Gil loves Dani. Just look at his proud Dad face!! <3 Warms my cold, dead heart.

30:00 – Oh yeah, Dani is suspicious.

30:04 – I love how Gil seems to be the only person who truly understands Malcolm and all his quirks. <3 I love how much Gil loves Malcolm. <3 I just…ugh. <3 <3 <3 • 30:11 – “I’m a good big brother.” That line cut through my heart. He shouldn’t have been put in this position – choosing between his moral code and his brotherly instincts. It’s not fair and the stress of it is literally killing him.

30:17 – “Messed them up.” Them!?!? I’m sorry Dani, when did you and Gil start talking about Malcolm AND Ainsley?!? Last I checked this was a 100% Malcolm conversation. …she’s not wrong though.

30:33 – “There’s nothing we haven’t talked about.” I love what that suggests. To me – that means they when Dani has a bad break up, they talk about stupid stuff like what they’re cooking for dinner and songs that make them happy. I love that it suggests that Dani and Gil have talked about Jackie. Malcolm might be Gil’s fake-son but Dani is sooo Gil’s fake-daughter. <3 I can just see him getting all overprotective when she gets a new boyfriend even though he knows damn well that Dani is more than capable of taking care of herself – he can’t help it, Dani is his little girl. <3 <3 <3

31:00 – Ugh….ok. So this scene. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reactions about it. I have a bit of a mixed reaction myself tbh. On one hand, I love that they have the type of relationship where they can openly discuss this. On the other hand – it feels forced and it really rubs me the wrong way. Dani is just way out of line here. She’s totally attacking Jessica and Gil is kind of letting her? I mean I think it upsets me so much because Gil isn’t even really defending Jessica. Also, that line about Jackie thinking the Whitly’s are cursed?!? Wtf is that?!? No. No. We know that Jackie loved Malcolm like a son. Jessica has said that Jackie was kind. What is this cursed nonsense?!?!? I refuse to believe it. And the fact that Jessica heard it all breaks my heart. Like – it physically hurts me to watch this scene for all of the above reasons. But I also kind of understand why we got the scene – to further explore the Gil+Dani dynamic and to add some angst to the Jessica/Gil romance.

33:00 – Oh hell yes. I love this danger.

34:10 – Amazing how calm Malcolm is while the killer is literally going through his murder weapon collection. Like he hasn’t been this calm all episode?

35:10 – Ahhhh here’s manic!Malcolm.

35:25 – “Is it my hair?” Okay so totally hilarious, but Dani is listening to this. Can she tell that Malcolm is clearly (and weakly) deflecting the comment about him being a killer like Martin?

35:40 – Malcolm is scared. :( Someone please hug him. This is the most honest he’s been all episode. My heart is broken.

36:20 – Soooo did Malcolm just abstractly tell Dani that he’s a justice killer? Nahhhh I’m totally typing out of my ass.

37:00 – He was on the Harvard fencing team?!? Why is that adorable?

37:34 – Malcolm just cut a dude 3x. No remorse. No more fear. He’s calm. I’m terrified. Does he like hurting the killer?

37:50 – I think Dani suspects that Malcolm killed Endicott. Yep. Definitely.

38:00 – Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. This scene with JT and the cops is heart-wrenching. The fact that Dani and Malcolm come to his rescue is beautiful. The fact that JT is clearly terrified but not angry is perfect. I hate that this scene had to be made but I love how it was executed.

38:31 – Look at Malcolm’s confused, white, rich face here. He genuinely can’t believe that cops just racial profiled one of the only good people who ever accepted a serial’s killer’s son as a friend.

38:40 – I’m crying. JT’s fear (and Frank Harts’ acting) is so believable and completely haunting. I hear the subtext in this scene, “What if those cops killed JT? What would happen to his pregnant wife and unborn child?”, “How is JT going to financially support his family if he loses his job unfairly?”, “How messed up is it that a literal military veteran is terrified of fellow police officers?”.

38:44 – “You didn’t do anything wrong.” This line gives me hope. Malcolm isn’t too far gone. Malcolm still knows right from wrong and he still has a heart of gold.

38:55 – Ok. I LOVE that Gil magically shows up in this scene. BUT HOW DID HE KNOW TO COME TO THE PRECINCT?!?! LIKE WTF? Because Malcolm and JT look surprised to see Gil. Dani just looks relieved – did she call Gil?

39:10 – Gil is an absolute A+ human being. I love him. I will die for him.

39:33 – OMG. JT’s big watery puppy dog eyes have ripped my heart to shreds. <3 :(

39:45 – When I first saw this I thought Malcolm was hurt by Gil’s “and whatever Bright is”. But upon re-watching it – Malcolm looks surprised and so so touched. I’ll be honest – I don’t think Malcolm’s mental state would be so bad right now if he had had regular contact with Gil throughout COVID. Gil is Malcolm’s rock. His literal example of what a good man looks like – without him during a traumatic time Martin creeps back into Malcolm’s psyche.

40:15 – Sooo Martin is still definitely lying to Malcolm.

40:20 – Stupid little thing – there never used to be a toilet on Jerry’s side of the room. And what happened to all of Martin’s books and stuff? Did Claremont put it in storage? I mean he’s a serial killer? Jessica certainly didn’t store it for him.

40:37 – Amazing. As soon as Malcolm physically sees Gil he comes to Martin with a renewed faith in his moral code. (“I stop killers. I don’t help them.”)

41:30 – “Please don’t torture yourself for that.” Martin is right BUT that’s also why I hate him. Martin is manipulating Malcolm right now. He’s trying to convince Malcolm that he genuinely cares and loves his children. Thus destabilizing further Malcolm’s mental state.

41:36 – Also – both Tom Payne and Michael Sheen are acting their asses off here. *chef’s kiss* 10/10. I love to see it.

41:45 – Aaaannnnd there’s Martin the asshole. Completely screwing with Malcolm’s mind. Again. What a dick. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

42:00 – Look at how scared Malcolm is. I genuinely think Malcolm (whether or not he actually dismembered Endicott, I suspect he didn’t) feels good when he remembers doing it. This is BAD for Malcolm’s mental health. Yikes. : ( Poor baby.

Ok. So that’s the first episode of season 2. I really liked it. It wasn’t perfect but I’m excited for what this season might bring. Be back next week.

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side-lizabeth · 3 years

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ONE PIECE DRESSROSA-ZOU ARCS IMPRESSIONS

This part is the spoiler-free part of my impressions.

I don’t know what I was expecting from Dressrosa but it didn’t left me wanting for more... outside the animation part, probably. But I mean when you get spoiled on how OP’s being animated rn, no sh*t. Although I really did enjoy the new characters. Cavendish is accidentally becoming one of my favourite characters and this is because of the anime of Gintama... But that’s because I’m finding more and more seiyuus in One Piece that just so happened to be voicing recurrent characters (or straight up main characters) in Gintama, so I shouldn’t be suprised.

And then there’s Zou and I’d lie if I’d say I should have had expected an island with furries, and yet I didn’t. ...and once again the “holy sh*t I wasn’t expecting these seiyuus being in One Piece too” striked back. But at this point I don’t know if it’s really because of Gintama or just because I’m starting to go back to my old teen hobbies like when I was a hardcore Seiyuu fan, and recognizing a lot of seiyuus is giving me a huge bust of serotonin. (?)

Above all, I liked Dressrosa more than Zou, even if Dressrosa has... it’s own issues.

If you want to go straight up to the spoiler section, click down here:

Let’s start with Dressrosa:

I thought to just continue this lil update, where I started the non spoiler section by saying that I won’t feel any shame or make an apology for reblogging non stop posts of Roronoa Zoro, I’m still on that Idea, fight me if you want(maybe no); but I decided to explain more about my first impressions, and then maybe elaborate extra stuff from those bullet point-lighning round from that post.

Overall, I had fun. I geniuently enjoyed Doffy as a villain, and his motivations where pretty interesting too. NGL, this arc is basically new world Alabasta” and it pretty much shows... But the thing is that this time it was a little bit more interesting because of Doffy.

Doffy being the combo of Warlord and Celestial Dragon may sound like that moment of the Simpsons of “it’s just the same doll but with a new hat” in comparison to Alabasta, but even if I also enjoyed Crocodile as a villain in there, at least Doffy had a more interesting backstory and motivations to explore... while Crocodile was just an excuse to show off Nico Robin in all her glory. That’s it. I said it. (and probably made a fwend sad). Please, Crocodile, sir, next time you come back please do show us the secret Ivankov and you only know and then we talk.

Overall, I just had the time of my life hating Doffy, that’s it. I’m not going to try to explain anything else. I’m a basic b*tch whose favourite villains are the ones who are just so evil I just have the time of my life hating on. Like Tsurumi from Golden Kamuy, another despicable motherf*cker, for instance.

And now that I’m talking about Doffy... I KNOW UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE CORA-SAN AND I ALSO JOIN THE GANG. BEST FATHER EVER AND HE BARELY WAS ONE FOR 6 MONTHS. BUT GAVE BABY TORAO ENOUGH LOVE TO PREVENT HIM FROM BECOMING LIKE HIS BROTHER. KUDOS TO HIM.

...Btw, I just need to break this impressions one moment to openly say that, as a Spaniard, I feel weird now saying Doffy’s entire name. For a reason. And Cora-san’s too. Now I understand english speakers(americans to be more precisely) when they watch Bungou Stray Dogs and some characters from there just happened to be named after famous english literature writers... (the first comparison I just thought about, don’t attack me plz)

Also, kudos to the voice actors because they did an amazing job and I had even more fun, like for instance Koyama Rikiya. I absolutely loved Kyros thanks mainly to him... Although I wish I could entirely say the same about Rebecca and Baby 5 because they barelly had any screentime or, at least personally speaking, didn’t to bring something interesting tothe table... Well, maybe I can excuse Baby 5 because of the ending of Punk Hazard, but with Rebecca definetly not. FFS her seiyuu is the Queen Hayashibara Megumi, I was expecting more from Rebecca (although maybe the blame is really in me for expecting that much) than what we got. But don’t get me wrong, I did like her but.. I wanted just a little bit more of her.

Another thing I enjoyed a lot was the introduction of Fujitora. I knew he was popular for a reason, but I wasn’t expecting it to be... because of this. I was expecting him to be popular only because he was a blind old man who could fight harder than the dudebro’s gary stu fanfic-like idea they have of Zoro, but he’s definetly not that. Fujitora is a really interesting man who geniuently thinks about people’s safety (can’t say the same about Sakazuki and Borsalino, lol), and I respect that.

*LAST MOMENT EDIT BECAUSE I FORGOT ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING* THE REUNION OF LUFFY AND SABO MADE ME CRY TOO. I DON’T KNOW, I’M CRYING TOO MUCH OVER ONE PIECE

Now I’m just going through some bullet points from the update post:

First bullet point I’m actually elaborating: The Colloseum part was hella boring.

I just couldn’t stand it. I barely gave any sh*t about the characters and there’s also times where I’m just thinking that the Colloseum part could had been handled differently, with more interesting characters but well, that’s my opinion. I mean the only tournament arcs that I genuenly enjoyed were the Galaxy Wars from Saint Seiya (the OG one from the 80′s if somebody’s wondering), and maybe the Heaven’s Arena arc from HxH, so even if I was interested on seeing the OP take on it.. It kinda went sour for me at the beggining of this tournament, honestly. The fight versus Diamante was probably one of the very few interesting things happening inside the tournament.

And don’t get me wrong, interesting things do happen inside, like the encounter of Luffy and Rebecca, the fate of the losers from the colloseum, etc. But the tournament arc itself... not the best thing, pretty boring tbh.

The second bullet point I’m actually elaborating, but this time I’m literally copy-pasting the bullet point... for a reason: I STARTED TO SWEAT IN F*CKING FEAR WHEN NAMI’S GROUP ENCOUNTERED BIG MAM’S SHIP, AND EVEN MORE WHEN SANJI SAID “I’M GETTING INTO THAT SHIP”. NO. PLEASE. DON’T. I’M NOT READY FOR WHOLE CAKE ISLAND YET.

Look, by the time I’m writing this I’m already in Whole Cake and let me just tell you one thing; I’m still not ready for this arc. I know it’s very important, specially for Sanji’s development as a character and it’s like a re-introduction of him, but I’d lie if I’d said that I “do feel sensitive” around the themes explored in this arc, and it’s personally tought to go throught it but... Since it’s just too long and too personal to share the entire reason on a public post, I’m just leaving it as the following: “I’m not ready to tackle those themes, but I feel like I need to tackle them if I want to be the best version of myself”. That’s all.

The third and last bullet point I’m actually elaborating, LET ME TELL YOU HOW GINTAMA F*CKED ME UP ENTIRELY

For the sake of being short, I’m a crazy Gintama fan. I’m almost like an encyclopedia of shorts for all(?) Gintama content. I’ve been like this since I was 14-15 y/o (when I’m writing this I’m currently 25), so of course, if there’s something that remotely resembles something from Gintama (mainly gintama jokes or references when it happens), I’ll react to it instantly (but in a healthy way, not like an obnoxious annoying elitist lil sh*t of a fan), and sadly, part of this curse I ended up with included reconizing every single seiyuu that appeared in Gintama (or at least the ones who voiced important/popular characters) in other anime. And of course, seiyuus from Gintama did already appear before Dressrosa; like kid Ace’s seiyuu Sakaguchi Daisuke (voice of Shinpachi), or... Akainu’s seiyuu Tachiki Fumihiko (voice of Hasegawa “Madao” Taizou)... But then there’s Dressrosa and... It just went all over the board (pun not intended... does it even count as one tho?).

And don’t get me wrong, this did also happened to me on reverse with One Piece Seiyuus, but.... coming back to “Gintama f*cked me up”, it hitted differently, because it almost looked like they were casted to play certain characters based on the characters they played in Gintama and... NGL, it made everything even more hilarious. Like the fact that Kugimiya Rie voices a bad mouthed “child” in One Piece(Sugar)... just like she does in Gintama(Kagura). And I know technically speaking Sugar “is an adult” BUT, if we follow the logic of her Hobby Hobby fruit, she’s doomed to be an eternal child for the rest of her life, as in “no more development like a normal adult human would”. I’m just saying what the canon says, don’t mind me.

...Or Cavendish. I can confirm you that Cavendish is pretty much Gintama’s Katsura Kotarou’s madness as an OP character. And now he’s one of my favourite background characters in One Piece... Mainly because of that. And yes, they do in fact share the seiyuu Ishida Akira. (Also, is it just me or is he inspired by Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles???)

...So yeah, TLDR: too much gintama made me shout “oh shit, gintama’s taking over one piece”

Now with the Zou impressions

I liked the idea of Zou being an “island”, that’s not an Island but a millennia old elephant, walking around and hard to track down. Brilliant. Also, I’m pretty sure it’s inspired by something mythological but I still can’t point out which one.

...also I wasn’t expecting Pedro to be voiced by Miki Shin’Ichiro, in the same way I wasn’t expecting Orikasa Fumiko as Wanda... although she already voiced someone previously in One Piece so...

Even if it was a short arc, it gave a lot of valuable information like the origin of the poneglyphs and the link between the Mink tribe and the Kozuki clan from Wano but...

What I wasn’t expecting was how we got introduced to the Whole Cake arc. I came to this arc, thinking the Whole Cake thing won’t be that mentioned and... I ended up crying because of the sacrifice Sanji was willing to partake in... I feel bad for that guy... And since by the time of writing this I’m already in Whole Cake... Without spoilers I’ll say: yeah, no sh*t I was feeling bad for him” (also because I got almost entirely spoiled over all Whole Cake arc).

...but look, ngl, I didn’t like very much the ending of this arc. Probably what happened to Momonosuke and the Millennia old elephant may be more interesting and better explained in the near future but... I was more confused than anything, and I’m hopping it to be better explained in the future. I’ll just leave it as such.

Over all, if I had to choose, I’d say that Dressrosa was more entertaining than Zou... Although Zou did deliver bigger stuff when it comes to plot development, while Dressrosa was more focused on the next step to overthrow a Yonkou than anything, I felt like I had more ”fun” watching Dressrosa... Probably because I also want to get to Wano already.

Now I’m in Whole Cake arc, I’m more or less by the beggining of the arc and oh boy... This arc is going to be harder than expected and the only thing ready I have are the pocket tissues by my side because I already know I’m going to cry the hell out of this arc. And of course, have my soul utterly destroyed by the Reintroduction of Sanji and his past.

I hope he has a break after this because wow... He needs too many hugs to count. Probably more than Luffy in Marineford.

#personal mumbling #one piece spoilers #dressrosa arc #zou arc #the zoro joke from the spoiler sectiong was brought to you by a zoro enjoyer who hates straight zoro 'fans' *cofcof*dudebros*cofcof*#i know i said i may analize the spanish influence from dressrosa but it looks more like a cross between italy and barcelona tbf #i still can't believe i still can recognize so many seiyuus after all this time #I FORGOT TO MENTION CARROT IS HELLA CUTE AND I LOVE HER ALREADY #ALSO ALSO ALSO SPOILER BUT SABO AND KOALA ARE VERY CUTE

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atlas-of-a-human-soul · 4 years

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frENEMIES, pt.8 {Quarterback AU}

Summary: Reminiscing often brings ghosts of your past right to your door.

Warnings: angst, fluff, alcohol

Series Masterlist

"Have you ever experienced that moment when time stops? When you're caught in a single inhale and that achingly slow beat of your heart that is preparing to skip the next one because the moment you're in is just that strong? That earth-shattering?

It feels like it lasts for an eternity, as if time itself had fallen in love with that one incredible point in time that it has difficulty letting the world keep spinning around.

And most of us think: 'Tomorrow is going to be a big day' and we plan for it, prepare because we expect that big day to be comprised of these time-stoping events, ready to see what it is that all the writers fill their books with.

But let me tell you a little secret: the big days and big moments you're preparing yourself for are never as big as we expect them to be. The most important ones always come unexpectedly, stealing your breath away and forcing your heart to skip a beat...or three. They come in shape of people who change your lives forever - some for better and some for worse.

For me, that moment came when my quarterback decided to kiss me and I swear, not even the clock dared to move or make a sound."

Taking a deep breath, Y/N rubbed her eyes open, realizing it was just a dream.

She could still remember how it felt when he walked up to her that night and they spent a whole hour sitting on the top step of the staircase, just talking about all the things they wanted from the future. She wanted to live on an island and study animals, and he wanted to be the best quarterback in the world.

Smiling softly, she shakes her head as her eyes close and she can almost see it - the way his hand would tremble whenever he put down the beer in his hand or the way his eyes would linger on her a little too long, enough to make her blush and smile shyly as she'd look away to hide just how strongly he affected her.

And she remembers his cologne mixed with the alcohol on his breath and even more, she remembers how his smile made her sweat. She had never been more nervous in her life yet completely uncensored in front of this guy she'd call a typical jock had she not spent time getting to know him, the real him.

And he is a jock, a drunk one she could tell from the start but he had the most intense look in his eyes when he approached her and asked her to talk and while she wanted to refuse and walk away, she couldn't. His eyes, his smile and the hand he held open for her to take were far too convincing and so she found herself getting to know him without even knowing his name first, liking him before he even knew hers. And the rational part of her brain warned her he would ignore her the next day when she's back in her normal clothes and minimum make up and messy hair she was too lazy to comb, but her heart couldn't part with him.

Yet she remembers when he stood and she followed dutifully, up that last step and into the poorly lit hallway of the second floor, noticing the door of a room opened, offering darkness for a view.

And before she had a chance to say a word, he had cupped her face and bent down to her level, pressing his lips against hers so fast she barely had a chance to make a sound, her breath caught in that inhale, her heart preparing to skip that beat and his lips sent electricity throughout her body and for a moment, while time stood still, she had held onto him for dear life. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer and and she let him. She feared he'd let go of her and she'd fall and it wasn't an exaggeration for she truly felt faint and weak in the knees, but by the time her eyes opened and time moved once more, she was pressed against the doorway as Grayson was pulled away by a man she didn't pay attention to at the time, but she knew it was Ethan now.

While she struggled to learn how to breathe again, sat with her back against the wall, Y/N was sure she would fall for him. But when the next day came and he didn't even look her way? That's when she got angry, when her heart decided to defend itself and it quickly grew thorns ready to strike if he ever got too close again.

She wrote all of that in the book that carried the weight of her whole heart with it. She wrote every single detail, every feeling and every reason why and it felt therapeutic because it gave her a chance to truly look at her entire college experience and she understood more than she thought possible. She understood him. And she knew he wasn't solely to blame for how bitter their end was.

It took her a few years to learn who submitted her manuscript, only to be surprised by the perpetrator - Amina, her once best friend who read it and recognized how important that book would be. She believed in Y/N even though they were no longer friends and Y/N found comfort in knowing she cared.

When the book was first published, months, if not the whole year, that followed were filled with dread.

Every book signing, Y/N expected Grayson to show up and either hate her for the way she portrayed him or love her for it. She was terrified of what he might think if he got his hands on it but she secretly hoped he would. Too many things have been left unspoken between them and too many regrets have filled her up inside. That book was her proclamation of love for him and anyone who knew her could easily guess it was about Grayson. Luckily, no one exposed that in media though many people tried to guess who she wrote about.

But as years went by, she gave up on the notion. The book was still popular and her second one was nearly done as well, so she figured he never saw it or he did and he just didn't care. Either way, she forced herself to move on, to get into therapy and truly solve her 'I will never be good enough' insecurities and trust issues.

Unfortunately, she never truly let go of Grayson. It wasn't like she obsessed about him or never dated anyone, because she did, but she found herself comparing everyone to him. And every guy falls short eventually. It didn't help that he was always all over the media, or that she watched every game in his jersey. Though she knew he was just subtle about it, Y/N was happy he wasn't flaunting his relationships and hook ups publicly and she adored how he used his platform to help so many causes she was passionate about as well.

And so, when she got up that day, it felt like any other day. It felt routinely, nothing out of the ordinary except for her favorite blouse losing a few buttons when it got stuck on the doorknob as she hurried to get to a book signing on time.

And once the day went on, hundreds of copies signed, she grabbed a cup of tea and looked back at the poster hanging above her head.

She never liked the big drawing of herself and the quarterback the artist improvised based on his few descriptions in the book. The way they were painted always looked like some higher power kept them away, but that wasn't the point of her book. It was always them who made their relationship unsustainable.

She loved him and maybe he loved her, but it wasn't that simple. It never is. The thought of what could have been can be as painful as a broken heart.

Swallowing thickly, she reminds herself to take a slow, deep breath and let the pain go. After all, the ghosts of our past have ways of finding us even when we aren't thinking about them. She was forced to admit her therapist was right about that just a moment later.

"Where can a quarterback get a signed copy of his own? I think I deserve at least one."

Her hand wrapped tightly around the cup, afraid it would shatter from the death grip as she recognizes his voice and that cocky undertone that always made her crazy.

She turns slowly, and when her wide eyes meet his, it happens again - time stands still and nothing, not even she dares to challenge time again.

His hair is shorter, his eyes a little darker with a few laugh lines showing but it's nothing too much - the years have been kind to him. He's tan, California agrees with him, she could tell. And he's bigger, more muscular, and if she didn't know any better she'd think he got taller too. Or maybe it's just his intimidating flare she used to be immune to, but she would have to rebuild that immunity from scratch.

Either way, time moves again and she's aware of her wildly pounding heart and his eyebrow raise as she lets herself say his name out loud for the first time in years.

"Grayson?"

Tags: @livexdolan @dreadingdaisies @strangerliaa @mendesficsxbombay @beinscorpio @peacedolantwins @dolandolll @idekxdolan

PART 9

#dolan twins #grayson dolan #grayson dolan x reader #grayson dolan angst #grayson dolan fic #grayson dolan fanfiction #grayson dolan fluff #grayson dolan fanfic #grayson dolan au #grayson dolan quarterback au #grayson dolan quarterback #grayson dolan series

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schraubd · 4 years

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I Have To Talk About Omar and Melton-Meaux, Don't I?

I really don't want to. I really, really don't. But sometimes something falls too close to your wheelhouse to ignore it. And with separate antisemitism controversies hitting both Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and her main Democratic primary opponent Antone Melton-Meaux within a few days of one another, I -- writer on antisemitism and former resident of Minnesota's 5th congressional district -- probably can't sit this one out. As much as I want to. Which I do. Both candidates are under some fire for things put in campaign communications. Melton-Meaux released an "FAQ" which included the questions "Why do you have so much support from Jewish people/pro-Israel people" and "Will the money you received from the Jewish community influence your policy decisions?" (to the latter of which he replied "no" and noted his opposition to many policies undertaken by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu). Omar's allies said that by implying that Jews only care about Israel-related issues and supposedly conflating "Jewish people" and "pro-Israel people", he was invoking in veiled fashion a dual-loyalty trope. Omar sent out a campaign mailer accusing Melton-Meaux of being in the pocket of conservative, big money interests, with all of the named donors being Jewish (plus a "Michael from Scarsdale, New York"). This was alleged by Omar's opponents to be an allusion to his opponent being "bought" by Jews (cf. fellow Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer (R) sending out a mailer naming three Jewish billionaires who had "bought" control of Congress). What do I think? Most importantly, while I don't think there is no fire behind this smoke, obviously a lot of the high dudgeon on display here from both sides is really just shots-of-opportunity. That's not exactly surprising, given the nature of politics and all, but still disappointing. I also reiterate my point that while people outside of the 5th District only care about this race for Israel/antisemitism/Islamophobia reasons, the dynamics within the district are generally concentrating on other things (including whether Rep. Omar is more concerned with her national profile than with the particular needs of her district). On the specifics: Melton-Meaux's FAQ is clearly styled as responding to "questions" that amount to hostile whisper-campaigns (i.e., that he's a stalking horse for far-right Jewish and/or pro-Israel interests). On one level, this is why I don't really see the first question as conflating "Jewish" and "pro-Israel" -- aside from the fact that they are listed separately, in context it denotes two variants of a similar question he receives (and the questioners probably aren't too fastidious about the distinction). But the problem with such whisper-campaigns is that it can be really hard to respond directly to the allegation without in some way legitimizing or retrenching it. Imagine being asked if a candidate supports "the gay agenda" -- you can't really answer "yes" or "no", because the entire way the question is framed makes answering it a trap. This is why you don't accept your opponents' framing of questions, as any halfway competent campaign should know. Doing otherwise means you suddenly are putting out statements answering questions like, well, "Will the money you received from the Jewish community influence your policy decisions?" There's no good answer to that question, which is a good sign that Melton-Meaux shouldn't be asking it to himself. To the extent that some Jews cringe while reading it, he has no one to blame but himself. As for Omar. While all of the named persons in her mailer are Jewish, none of them are specifically identified as Jewish (the theme of the mailer is that many of his opponents' donors are backing him solely because they hate her, which is probably true). But on face, this doesn't distinguish her mailer from Emmer's, or Trump's 2016 "closing argument" ad which featured Hillary Clinton and then three Jews associated with money -- George Soros, Janet Yellen, and Lloyd Blankfein (none of whom were explicitly identified as Jewish either). For those in the right circles, Scarsdale is well-known as a very Jewish and very rich town (hence its appearance in the "JAP battle rap", featuring "two hard-as-nails she-brews from SCARSDALE!"). It is fair to say that few people in Minnesota are likely to know this though (had she called out donors from St. Louis Park, by contrast, everyone in her district would know what she meant even as nobody outside the Twin Cities would have a clue). On the whole, my real takeaway is feeling more convinced than ever about the need to think about antisemitism less as a question of motives and more as a question of impact. It strikes me as implausible that Melton-Meaux was intentionally trying to antagonize the Jewish community by loudly disavowing his support; it was an awkward effort by a novice campaign staff to respond to a smear -- but one that nonetheless retrenched the perception that the Jewish community is a force one needs to declare his independence from. Melton-Meaux may be a political newbie, but he has an obligation to be attentive to that dynamic and not blunder into traps quite that obvious. With respect to Omar, I likewise find it highly unlikely that her campaign staff went on a hunt for rich Jewish donors to her opponent in a sly bid to dog-whistle at her opponent being owned by the Jews. Nonetheless, it is probably the case that the Jewish associations of the people cited -- while not likely to be picked up by many if not most of her readers -- likely do help make the attack land more effectively for those who do spot the pattern. I've written elsewhere about how one thing antisemitism does is it greases the wheels of plausibility; when you're trying to tag your opponent as in the bag for big Wall Street money (or Marxism, or "globalism" for that matter) it just feels more right when there's a Jewish hook to go along with it. It's in accord with deep-seated background intuitions, it makes the entire package feel more harmonious. This is one reason why I think someone in the Omar campaign could have reasonably been expected to check and see whether everyone they're talking about is Jewish -- and if not, find some different names (one has to think that there are some non-Jewish rich people who also are pumping money into her opponent's campaign, yes?). But ultimately, I think this is all relatively small fries. The hypocrisy is perhaps more bothersome than anything else. I get the frustration from Omar's allies that they think she's constantly being pelted with small-ball nonsense on the antisemitism front, and so perhaps they think turnabout is fair play when they can accuse Omar's opponent of being the "dual loyalty" trope guy (you can almost feel the catharsis from here!). But either they think stuff at this level is fair game or they don't; they can't have it both ways unless they really do believe that antisemitism can legitimately be treated as instrumental political football. And on the other side, regarding the conservative media ready to stand up and shout about "yet another instance of Ilhan Omar being antisemitic!" -- unless they're willing to concede that the bulk of the Jewish community was absolutely correct in saying that the contemporary GOP, what with its brazen targeting of Soros, Bloomberg, Steyer, etc., is shot through with antisemitism from root to branch, they need to sit the hell down. As always, however strong or weak you think the case for Ilhan Omar being antisemitic is, it's far less strong than the case for the GOP being antisemitic. If I have to listen to one more attempted gotcha from the Republican Jewish Coalition about Jewish Democrats staying out of the 5th District endorsement game, when they're affirmatively trying to put this guy into a Minnesota U.S. Senate seat, I'm going to have an aneurysm. Okay, I've done my duty. As a palate-cleanser, please read this lovely column by a Minnesota Jewish Republican explaining, in touching and heart-felt terms, why he considers Ilhan Omar a dear friend. It really is a nice piece of writing from a man whom I have to assume has decided he never wants to have any role in Republican Party politics again, because any public dictation about Ilhan Omar that's friendlier than "she's a she-devil" is grounds for immediate ex-communication from the party. And, just so nobody thinks I'm endorsing one way or the other (I'm not, and will not), read as well this column from Avi Olitzky explaining why he is such a fan of Melton-Meaux. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/2ZUSIUn

#anti-semitism #Antone Melton-Meaux #Ilhan Omar #Minnesota

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letterstothemidnightsociety · 3 years

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Previously On Supernatural Season 3, we had a really rock solid trio of episodes to kick us off right, so what does SPN do next? It’s gonna lay the groundwork for some spicy character development that may or may not pay off by the end of the season. Let's find out!

To be honest, I felt the next three episodes just sort of plateau? There’s enough nuggets in these three eps - “Sin City”, “Bedtime Stories”, and “Red Sky at Morning” - that it does feel like they’re setting up for something big but it’s taking too much time. If the season had been longer, I don’t know that I’d be complaining, because there’s SO much potential introduced with these character developments, but I know it’s gonna get cut off at the knees in the very near future. 2021 Me has been trained on what to expect from a short season, so half of my brain wants to give the show slack for Unexpected Circumstances, but the other half of my brain is shouting YOUR NOT DRIVING THE BUS FAST ENOUGH, YOU’LL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE LINE IN TIME!!!

And that’s maybe unfair because there really are some great nuggets in here. We’ve got “Sin City”, which is Dean’s episode. I mean, they’re ALL Dean’s episode, but this one more so than the other two in this post. Dean gets trapped with a demon who turns out to be...kinda...nice? In kind of a Stockholm Syndromey way I guess? She let’s Dean in on the fate that awaits him when his year long contract is up and it is NOT great. This isn’t the first time we see that there’s more to the demons than SPN has shown us in the past (hello, Ruby), but it is the first time Dean chills out enough to actually have a conversation with one. Dean doesn’t really get it, like he’s still not interested in getting out of his deal, but the fear gets planted, it just needs some time to grow. Oh, also, the Colt Ex Machina is back in action, so that's important.

This dumb bitch thinks he can fool us with that devil-may-care side glance but he caaaan't

But then we get “Bedtime Stories”, the Sam episode, where Sam learns...to let go? That’s the point of this episode right? It’s about letting go of someone before that person becomes too toxic and dangerous? At least, that’s the lesson that Dean wants Sam to take away from this case. But Sam will NOT learn this lesson, so instead he tries to cancel Dean’s deal by killing the crossroads demon who wrote it. Spoiler Alert: it doesn't work.

And then we get “Red Sky At Morning”, which opens and closes with some heavy emotional baggage, but then is stuffed full of fun. Like, this episode ricochets wildly in terms of Feelings, but then that’s probably what we should expect from SPN. I mean, what show have I been watching for 3 seasons now?

Fun Facts guys: I’m a tired Millenial, and swapping DVD discs was too much work so I switched over to watching this season on Netflix and GUESS WHAT???? THESE EPISODES COME WITH A SUICIDE WARNING!?!?!

They're not wrong.

And like, if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about this season I don’t know WHAT will. Cuz Dean is absolutely suicidal and I am surprised (??) I guess (???) by how much the show acknowledges that. Or I guess, surprised by how much Netflix acknowledges that. It’s something that I did not...pick up on the first go around on season 3, possibly because I was 19 and I was an idiot and found this sort of emotional vulnerability to be endearing. Listen, I know there’s a lot to be said about the producers of the show making...umm…poor decisions in regards to character developments? But if the target demographic of this show was anything like me - and I suspect they were - then the viewers were also...probably...responding inappropriately to some of those character developments. And here’s the thing - I’m looking at this from 12 years in the future, with 12 years worth of real life drama that makes the heavy handed melodrama of television feel...well, heavy handed. Maybe irresponsible? Certainly a little uncomfortable. Big Me is having A Time confronting Little Me’s taste in TV Characters. It’s one thing to have a kink, Little Me, it’s another thing to romanticize suicidal depression.

And hey, I can’t deny that the character development for Dean makes sense. I actually appreciate that the show is thinking through the world and the relationship dynamics that they’ve built and the toll that these misadventures are having on their main characters. These episodes all get bookended by Impala Fights where Sam keeps pushing Dean to give a shit about his own life and Dean responds with an inability to care. That’s just where he is right now, and I get that. We’re early in the season still. But how will the rest of the season handle this? I honestly can’t remember but I also don’t want this to be a throw-away issue that they use to remind us that Dean’s supposed to die at the end of the season. I’m prob gonna come back to this throughout the season because I ~just~want~this~show~to be~repsonsiblllllleeeeeeeeeeee.

Lol, I know, that’s a lot to ask from the CW.

ON TO MORE FUN THINGS!!

Sam is gettin’ reeeeeallll bitchy in these episodes and #1, I love it, Bitchy Sam 5Ever, but also #2, was this supposed to be the sign that Sam was going darkside? Like, he’s snarky, he’s angry, he’s not pulling any punches and that could just be him reacting to his brother’s situation but it could also be….you know...him...becoming slightly...evil? For instance in “Sin City”, he kills the two demons who kidnapped Dean without even thinking. On the one hand, this is the Winchester MO, they kill demons, that’s their job, but on the other hand, Dean is actively telling Sam to stop. Same deal in “Bed Time Stories” - Sam kills the crossroads demon in cold blood (or maybe viscera). Again, we could blame this on instinct - the Winchesters were brought up to do exactly this - but 1) Dean keeps telling Sam not to and 2) that’s not Sam. This show spent 2 seasons telling us that Sam is the Good Brother, the White Hat, the Touchy-Feely One. This is not the Touchy Feely Sam who reasons with ghosts and falls in love with werewolves. Like, everyone else sees it too, right? Also, he is usually very nice to everyone but he is a REAL BITCH to Gertrude in “Red Sky at Morning.” Like, come on, Sam, she just wants to have a nice time. She is OLD. You really think she’s got what it takes to climb that tree?

Honestly, how tall are this lady's heels?

I know that there was a plan for Sam to start Turning in this season before the show’s episode order got slashed due to the Writer’s Strike. And man, I really would have liked to have seen this play out. Like, first season Sam is the Innocent, right? He’s our stand in for the viewer in those first few episodes and then he’s revealed to be kind of the only thing that went right in the lives of both John and Dean, so Baby Must Be Protected at All Costs. The fact that John ultimately lets Sam go off to college and doesn’t contact him for the next four years says to me that on some level, John felt the need to preserve that innocence, that kind of untouched quality Sam has. Dean is very similar - whenever Sam gets too into the job, Dean calls him out on it. So in the second season when we find out that Sam might be evil, it’s a real punch in the gut, for Dean most of all. But then the show admittedly got bored with that storyline and it didn’t really go anywhere. So whereas Dean has personality in SPADES that fluctuates and changes and develops/maybe just gets more intense as the show goes on, Sam remains that kind of blank slate that the viewer can put their face on. Except now we’re in season three, and if you’ve bought into this show, then you’ve bought into it, so the audience doesn’t need a Blank Slate Sam anymore. And if you start with Sam the Innocent and then introduce the idea of Dark!Sam and then just leave that concept hanging, then isn’t this sort of like Checkov’s Evil Sam? If you introduce Evil Sam in the first act you really ought to deliver on Evil Sam by act three, right? Wouldn’t that have been A+ and Wild? Wouldn’t that have made Sam’s arc and emotional struggles over the previous seasons have more weight?

Will this be resolved in later seasons? Maybe. I’m gonna be honest, this is the last season I watched all the way through and seasons 4 through...like, 8 were real touch and go for me. I know that Sam ultimately is revealed to be a vessel for??? The devil??? And Dean is ultimately revealed to be a vessel for??? Michael??? And then the two of them???? Fight to the death???? Point is, season 5 got weird guys and I’m not there yet.

Back to more fun things! You know what guys?? I think I ship Dean and Bela. I’m...almost ashamed to admit it? Like, I remember Little Me watching this season and just dumping on Bela, I HATED her, but this time? I am 1,000% On Board This Ship. Like, there is an alternate universe somewhere where these two got a spinoff show that ran for 6 seasons and I watched EVERY episode. And then, like, 5 years after it ended, they rebooted it with Dean and Bela’s grown up daughter as the lead and the whole OG cast makes cameos over the three seasons it stays on the air and it’s amazing. I’d own both shows on DVD.

What I like about Bela this time around (and again, I am WILDLY surprised about this development), is that she can dish it just as hard as the Winchesters can. Like, every line Dean throws at her she holds up a mirror to say, “Oh yes, I know the Kettle is black, but what color are you, Pot?” and I’m just continually thrilled. She is also just as damaged as Dean is but somehow channeling it into a healthier way? Like, she’s true Chaotic Neutral, which is not necessarily healthy, it’s just healthier than Dean. Or maybe it’s just that she’s better at managing it. In either case, they are HOT MESSES and I love it. I just love it. I know I complained about shoehorned romances but Ackles and Lauren Cohan just totally crush it in every scene and when Dean walks down the stairs all She’s All That in “Red Sky at Morning”, I yelled at the screen OMG just BONE already!!!!! And then like, 5 seconds later, Bela literally says “We should really have angry sex,” and it was probably the most vindicating moment I’ve had on this ride so far.

I just think they're neat!

WHY did we cancel her? WHY?? I don’t want to believe it was the Wincest again, so I’m gonna pretend that it wasn’t, but it was definitely fans. According to Kripke, Bela gets the axe at the end of this season because of the fan hatred of her. Now, I’ve already admitted that I personally held a grudge, but good Lord, what was wrong with us, as a Fandom? To be fair to me (and all of us), would we have felt differently if we had not been introduced to Jo a mere season earlier?? I'm gonna say yes. Although I had misgivings about Jo the first episode we meet her, by the end of season 2 I was certainly on her side. Working through season 3, I am remembering that, when we were introduced to Bela, I was immediately FURIOUS because WTF, WHERE’S JO? SPN just introduced to her. They just settled on a love interest for Dean and the writer’s just got me on board with that. Now they’ve completely done away with both that character AND that dynamic and you want me to get on board this NEW thing? And be excited about it??? So I'm gonna blame the love-interest-whiplash, combined with the fact that Little Me related my own personal self more to Jo than to Bela, that made me hate Bela in the first place. When you look at how quickly the show abandoned one character to introduce another character, it makes sense why fans got mad, but I’m also mad that we continued to hate Bela when she turned out to be such an A+ Frenemy. It makes me want to shout at the writers through the time void COMMIT TO A FEMALE CHARACTER YOU JAGWEEDS.

What’s wild watching this show now is just how Male it was, especially considering its audience was already skewed heavily female by this point in the series. If you made this show today, I don’t know that you could do that. Today, there’s a real push for balanced, diverse casts in programming, especially in sci-fi/fantasy and young adult. I think if SPN had started in 2021, they would have introduced the Harvell’s or Bela up in season 1, and that introduction would have been much more intentional. The benefit of having a shorter episode count as the standard is that there’s less of the “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks” approach. Looking at it from 2021, reading snippets of interviews from Kripke, that’s definitely what they’re doing with the side characters in these seasons and you can feel that in Jo and Bela. A shorter season means that the storytelling has to be tighter, it can’t wander, so every decision has to be a load-bearing decision. On the other hand, one of the down sides of having a shorter episode count is the exact same thing - less room to throw stuff, less room to experiment. Heck, Bobby was technically a character they threw at the wall and he didn’t just stick, he became a tentpole character of the series. The only side character that actually made it into the series finale even!

So how much room should we be giving our television programs? I think it depends on the show, honestly. I think you have to decide up front if you want space to experiment, or if you have one, tight, compact story line that’s gonna drive viewers from episode 1 right through the finale without giving them the chance to catch their breath. You have to make the decision, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop making one style of show in favor of the other. Just because we’re in the Age of Streaming doesn’t mean there isn’t room enough for both.

#Supernatural #Supernatural season 3 #Supernatural rewatch #Sin City #Bedtime Stories #Red Sky at Morning #Sam Winchester #Dean Winchester #Bobby Singer #Bela Talbot #TV #TV history #TV format

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cornholio4 · 4 years

Text

Team Iron Man’s Doomsday Clock

Dedicated to the memory of actor Wilford Brimley, 1934-2020. May he Rest in Peace and I hope for the best for his friends and family.

This week I got in the mail my DVD for the Watchmen show, I am also actually interested in the upcoming Rorschach comic series. Hopefully Tom King will pull off his Mr Miracle quality of writing and not his Heroes in Crisis quality of writing. Also I apologised for this as I knew beforehand that I am nowhere near good enough as a writer to perfectly capture Dr Manhattan (I am not even sure that he would be care enough about the MCU Earth to form an opinion of it). Also if by some larger than life miracle Alan Moore himself finds this fanfic that I am writing that could be a sequel to Watchmen as well as admitting to having seen the Watchmen show as well as now have read Doomsday Clock and wants to read the other possible sequel to the comic... Please have mercy on the curse that you send my way.

It was after the so called Civil War of the Avengers and Tony Stark even after getting Steve Rogers' letter. He shared everything with Rhodey and then to Pepper when she came about wanting to have a serious talk. They were all angry about all this and what Steve had done.

How dare him and his rogue sheep think of how their precious freedoms will be impacted, how they dare want to not sign until their concerns are realised and that they could have the safeguards guaranteed before signing anything. How dare Steve burn the world for his stupid HYRA killer friend Bucky when he went to bring him in because he was capable of not being killed and was protecting the hit squad from Bucky as well as him. How dare they want to not fight and just want to focus on what they knew was a real threat in the 5 Winter Soldiers and knew that Tony jsut wanted to bring them in and wasn't interested in what they had to say.

How dare Steve not reveal that Bucky had killed his parents though he apologised saying he was only protecting himself since he only knew for sure that HYDRA had killed the Starks and that he admitted that he didn't know that it was Bucky who personally did it.

Well they were focused on brewing and revenge especially when the reports of Steve and his rogues (who the public and some media began just calling the Avengers) just doing what they wanted in rescuing people and fighting terrorists around the world, sadly they got the public on their side and Anti-Accords sentiment became popular. They called his surrogate son Harley Keener (who Tony hadn't talked to in a long time) and got him on board and he was totally on their side.

Sadly Tony lost his other surrogate son who he barely knew Peter Parker the Spider-Man who after learning more about the Accords and feeling fed up about Happy not having any answers from Tony to the questions he was asking, blocked the number and was basically done with Tony. It seems that Peter joined his friends in promoting Anti Accords and pro Cap articles and statements. Then Vision left them to hide with Wanda. Rogers and his rogues were ruining anything.

They began trying to recruit more including Hank Pym, Hope Van Dyne and Thor's old girlfriend Jane Foster. However their recruitment was pretty much a failure as the Pyms were still on the 'don't trust a Stark' mentality (with Hope subtlety making it clear that if Scott had brought her on to the airport battle then she would have been on his and Rogers' side). Jane asked why they thought that she should be involved in this at all.

However with 'borrowed' research on the Quantum Realm from the Pyms they managed to find a way to look into the Multiverse and other Earths. They found one where decades in the past after the popularity of Action Comics #1, costumed vigilantism became popular among people and it was a fad that lasted for a good long time. However they became more brutal and dangerous and it led to public outcry and a police strike causing a law to be enacted making them illegal called the Keene Act.

They felt so vindicated because them being outlawed entirely if they were not put in check was exactly what Tony had warned Rogers and his rogues about. They saw there was only one real Superhuman on this Earth and it was Dr Manhattan who through an accident became a powerful force far beyond anything on their own Earth. He single handedly won the Vietnam War for America (while ignoring how horrible the thought was) and thought that they can recruit him and he can take care of Rogers and his Rogues and then make the whole world better. Plus they could handle the big threat that his coming...

Through countless money and hours of building (having to ignore and cancel appointments with Ross calling demanding to see them as he was being close to being kicked out of office and the Stark Industries board of directors telling them about the failing stock) they got a machine ready to summon Dr Manhattan.

Using the large Arc Reactor they had to rebuild and using the entirety of the power of Avengers Tower, they managed to summon Dr Manhattan there from wherever he was. He was like a glowing blue godlike larger than life creature and thank god that he was able to create the black thong to cover himself...

They explained everything to him and he stated "I can see the past, present and future all at once and I already knew of this before you explained yourself. You remind me of Adrian Veidt somewhat Mr Stark..." Tony beamed and there were smiles from the others and Dr Manhattan continued on "He masterminded a plot to get scientists to create for him a fake interdimensional lifeform out of believe that it was a movie plot. He used his lifeform to devastate New York in a plot to unite the world and end the Cold War through a futile peace that was destined to fail. I fail to understand how you would believe that it was a compliment."

They were not pleased with how this was headed as Dr Manhattan said "while I am sort of impressed that you went through this work to bring me here, unfortunately for you I don't believe that I have any desire to continue being a weapon for the governments of any Earths. If you are done then I will be on my way."

They were gobsmacked and Rhodey shouted "you can't be serious! You should know how right we are and that you should help us, we know about the Keene Act and there is an actual threat coming and not some hoax..."

"A law to outlaw dangerous individuals from playing dress up while your Accords seek to control Superhumans while blaming them for incidents where they were actually responding and fighting to save the day. I have seen the life of Steve Rogers and why he opposed the Accords and I have to admit some admiration for him and his ilk who want to inspire hope and good in this world that is so much brighter and more... fantastical than my own one. Steve Rogers could very well be everything that Edward Blake wasn't and should be. With him and his Avengers uniting with teh world's greatest defenders and not divided by issues like these Accords, I see high probability in their success." Dr Manhattan replied and this got them all angry.

This was a god like being who should have been smart enough to know that they were the right side and Rogers was an idiot thug who was preaching his own twisted morality, they will humble him and get him to join them by force. Tony activated the House Party Protocol and they cheered as all his armours were assembled to fire upon Dr Manhattan.

However Dr Manhattan was not phased at all and without even having to snap his fingers all the armours disintegrated all at once. "This isn't over, you leave right now and we will hunt you down and get you back by force! I can make use of your power myself; you will pay as Rogers will. I am the world's smartest man, I am Tony Stark... I am Iron Man!" Tony snapped with his colleagues cheering him on.

Dr Manhattan saw that in less than a week they will get the news that the Accords were repealed with the Governments welcoming Steve Rogers back, Thaddeus Ross will be in handcuffs once evidence of his secret projects come to life and Mr Stark and his colleagues will get the news that the Stark Industries board had enough of them ignoring their calls and then sell off their stock. 51% of Stark Industries will be bought by Hank Pym and his daughter Hope using some offshore money that they had.

Steve will have the Avengers united and then once Bruce Banner and Doctor Stephen Strange comes to them , the Avengers will be ready and Thanos's snap and the disintegration of 50% of all life in this universe, doesn't come to pass.

However before leaving Dr Manhattan gave them a last message to Mr Stark and his colleagues:

"Even if you were the world's smartest man... The World's smartest man poses no more threat to me than it's smartest termite."

#anti tony stans #anti Tony Stark #mcu oneshot #oneshot drabble #also on ao3 #also on fanfiction.net #also on fanfiction #also on fanfiction and ao3 #also on ao3 and fanfiction #Dr Manhattan #Watchmen #mcu fic #anti team iron man stans #anti team iron man #anti accords #anti sokovia accords #anti fanon rhodey #Tony Stark negative #tony Stark negativity

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mittensmorgul · 4 years

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Why has Chuck resurrected Cas so many times if he doesn’t want him to be part of the story?

I don’t think Chuck didn’t want Cas to be part of the story. I think he realized how useful Cas was to Sam and Dean. Which is painfully, wonderfully, what a lot of us have been saying about Cas and his own personal issues for years.

Cas has struggled with his purpose. But there are some things Chuck can control (ooh people will like this cool new monster!), and things he can’t (Cas struggles mightily to understand Free Will and humanity). So after all that, I think the bigger question is why DIDN’T he bring Cas back after 12.23?

Chuck has entirely lost the emotional thread of his characters, precisely because he can’t control characters exercising their free will. He can control scenarios, not people.

Like Lilith, for example. She had very precise limits literally written into her character. Like Chuck handed her a character sheet and a specific mission goal, and sent her off to accomplish the task (weirdly, seduce Dean and destroy the Equalizer). She failed at the first bit (Dean is Not That Guy anymore, he didn’t take any of the random drugs she left out, Lilith literally had to knock him unconscious to arrange the second half of the plan). She needed the ability to improvise like that, to “go off script” to complete her tasks, so Chuck infused her with insight into his “writing process.” And even as a limited character within the story, she criticized his story and her part in it. Including her bitterness over how her “original purpose in the story,” back in s4 where she sacrificed herself for the Grand Plan she believed in with her entire being-- to free Lucifer from the cage-- and then nothing even came of it. The promised glory never came to pass, the apocalypse failed. So... why did Chuck “resurrect” her now (because I don’t think he literally pulled her from the Empty, but basically brought a character sheet to life... SHE was the puppet, but in order to play the role, she needed to know enough and have enough flexibility to adapt to a changing situation, or it would’ve been like interacting with a robot pre-programmed with a few dozen set lines). Why bring HER SPECIFICALLY back to the story now? Because of how she functioned in his story before. He doesn’t write “people,” he writes plot devices.

And to Chuck, for a long time, had written Cas as a plot device, instead of as a person. Because Chuck has proven he’s not terribly interested in the actual humanity and emotions of his characters, but in the endless drama he likes to watch unfold. The rest of what *WE* see, of what *BECKY* sees and then writes about, well, Chuck ain’t writing that. That’s all TFW.

I mean, what is the ONE REASON we ever got Cas in the story at all, after Kripke insisted for YEARS that there were no angels in Supernatural? He needed a plot device to free Dean from Hell, because he’d written them into a corner right before the writer’s strike, and had their 22 episode season cut to 16. They just... ran out of time to have Sam save Dean before he ever went to Hell. Which had been his original plan. Oops? Except... Cas didn’t STAY a plot device. He was supposed to be gone after a few episodes. I’ve even heard it suggested that the entire angel plotline was only supposed to last MAYBE a season. And yet... here we are.

Partly BECAUSE Cas just... isn’t and hasn’t been a tool for years. He’s so much more than that, because of the choices he’s made along the way. Look at s8, how desperately the plot circled around Cas’s “brainwashing” by Heaven into literally being the good little soldier to accomplish plot for them again. And then he was manipulated by Metatron because of his need to feel “useful,” to solve the problems he blamed himself for. And then Metatron showed us EXACTLY how Chuck “writes” in s9, using the angel tablet to power his typewriter. Metatron didn’t write every little detail, and his story DID fall apart anyway. He was using Chuck’s template exactly, though, and the one thing he couldn’t account for

Unfortunately, it’s led to some painful failures of communication, especially when Chuck hasn’t left room in their mission for them to actually step back and process-- like the 7 episodes between 14.17 and 15.03 where they barely had a chance to stop at all. That would burn anyone out. But Cas is left feeling “useless,” and Dean is left feeling adrift and desperately trying to find one thing in his life he can anchor his broken self-identity to, and pushing Cas away SPECIFICALLY because he couldn’t be sure Cas WASN’T just Chuck’s plot device, because of the entire nature and history of their relationship.

Messed up, right? And CHUCK doesn’t CARE! Because I don’t think he really sees Cas as much more than a plot device, despite having “watched the story” all these years. I mean he still somehow thinks Dean’s a 26-year-old dude who would actually seduce the victim of a MotW that was now under his protection. His conversation with Becky was actually super enlightening. He doesn’t actually care about any of the characters, the way Becky has come to. She was obsessed with them, and with Chuck, for a while, but she’s had some counselling and GROWN. Chuck, for all of this, hasn’t. He either needs to let go of his need to control the “story,” allowing his characters full agency by not meddling in their lives, or he needs to be stopped.

And we know Chuck’s favored storytelling style, how he crafts the “mytharc” plot, which we’ve had pointed out to us in 15.04 is what he really cares about. And he’s trying to reach the ending by going back to the beginning. He’s writing an ouroboros, and I’m not sure he’s really aware enough of how much his characters have evolved, how much the story has changed them all, and the fact that he can’t just erase all of that while trying to tell the one story he’s never really been able to get Sam and Dean to provide him-- which is Chuck’s OWN “origin story,” of shoving his sibling into a box to generate all of creation oin the first place. Chuck wants people to side with him. He wants to feel “big,” when if you look at him longer than five seconds, you can see he’s entirely self-obsessed and willing to tell any lie, manipulate any story, to frame himself as the Hero, when just like Metatron he’s actually the petty villain of the piece.

I mean sure, we wouldn’t have creation at all if it hadn’t been for his actions, but the fact he can’t “let the story go” and let creation tell its own stories (and even Metatron understood that to a degree, his obsession with human storytelling an integral part of his arc), but feels the need to vindicate himself as if he was the unproblematic fave is just... creepy, you know? And it’ll probably end up being his downfall.

And I think it will take all of Team Free Will working together to bring that about, because Chuck long ago lost the thread of ANY of their stories. Because he’s not writing THEIR story, he’s writing HIS. He’s just using them all as proxies to pat himself on the back, except TFW aren’t actually his proxies. Chuck created free will, but he doesn’t understand it at all. :’D

#spn 15.05 #spn s15 spoilers #spn cosmology #Anonymous

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headoverjojo · 5 years

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First off I wanna say your writing? Amazing. I love it. I've binged your blog like five times. Second, can I request la squadra headcanons with a doctor s/o? It'd be cool to see how all the murder bois handle loving someone who saves lives as a living. Thank you if you can do this request and regardless, have a wonderful day and know you're a great writer!!!

Hi there, honey! Aaaaaa goooood you make me blush!! o////o hhh thank you for your super kind words :,) Ooooh sure sure!! Here we go :3

La Squadra with a doctor s/o

(Under the cut for length!)

Risotto Nero

Ironically, he and his s/o met when they were back from their night shift at the hospital. He was heading back to the HQ after a mission and, seeing them in difficulty with their car, he stopped to help. They seemed harmless, he was too tired to hide with Metallica and, frankly, who cared. After meeting them again, randomly -he was unaware that they were actually trying to spot him wherever they were-, and finding their company enjoyable, he asked them out for a friendly date, which turned out as a real date, in the end.

He was a bit baffled, finding out they were a doctor -and this explained why he had met them so many times at early morning hours-, but in a positive way. He does his job because he has to do, it’s nothing more than this. He doesn’t actively enjoy to steal life, but this is his work, his fate and he has accepted it. Seeing them, however, so passionate about their work, doing long shifts at every hour of the day and night, doing their best to save as much people as possible… it’s inspiring. Their love for life makes him see the world in a different way. Maybe… he’s starting to love life again, thanks to them.

However, he has to be honest with them. Even if he doesn’t show it, he’s scared of rejection, now: he has allowed himself to grow attached to them, losing them would hurt him a lot. When he says them what he does to live, they do the last thing he imagined: they just ask him if he enjoys his work. At his negative answer, they hug him, murmuring that it’s all ok; they know he’s, by now, obliged to do it. They’re not naive: world is a cruel place and their Risotto found himself in a situation without happy solutions. Still, he managed not to become a monster and this is what it matters.

Prosciutto

He met them in a bar, on late night. They were just out of the hospital, after a long, tiring day, and definitely needed a drink. Prosciutto spotted them immediately: they were a new face. So, from his hidden and calm spot, he studied them, their moves, the drink they were sipping. He noticed they came in precise days, as after a work shift; once learned this and assured they weren’t a threat, he approached them. No one was immune to Prosciutto’s charm and so they too were so: after a long and pleasant talk, it wasn’t a problem to invite them for a coffee.

Jokes on Prosciutto, what he thought would have been a flirt or, at most, a one night stand, ended up being his loved s/o. He treasured them above everything else, voting his life to protect and make them happy. However, the fact that they are a doctor bugs him a little, even if not because he disapproves their work: he’s really proud of them; the person he’s not proud of is himself. He’s an assassin, a top tier one, even more; he steals life to live, while his s/o saves them. How could they work? They’re the exact opposite. This thought bugs him every day and he savour every day as it’s the last. However, he knows he can’t go on like this, hiding the truth: it’s time to reveal himself for who he is.

And so he calls them, asking them to talk. They are scared that he wants to break up with them, that their time is already come to an end… they don’t expect the utterly sincere confession. They stay silent for long, absorbing it. It’s hard to unite the two Prosciutto, the loving and teasing one they know and the assassin… but, looking at him, they don’t see a different man, as they almost feared. Always their Prosciutto, now on the edge and tense. When they go to him to kiss him, he can finally release a tense sigh, as he brings them in a hug, relieved beyond imagination. Sincerity had payed back, in the end.

Pesci

The first time they met it had been rather silly and normal: they both were buying groceries at the near supermarket. They didn’t know where skincare products were and he led them to the right aisle. That was all; however, they met again some other times and by now they recognized each other, weaving at each other and chit chatting a little. If Prosciutto or someone else asks him why he’s later than usual from errands, he just says that he had to wait in line. He loves to have a friend outside work, outside the team… it’s refreshing. Maybe he even starts to develop a little crush on them, but he never actively thought his feelings could be returned… until they ask him out for a coffee.

He’s so happy, with them! he couldn’t ask for more.They’re gentle and kind and caring… they’re a doctor, after all. Care and gentleness are in their nature. He loves the passion and sincere dedication they put in their work, to save as much people as they can… it inspires him to do his best too. If he improves, he can better protect his comrades, even save their life, as his s/o does with their patients! When they’re back from their shifts, he’s the one who makes them smile; he loves to listen to their stories, to hear that their patients are feeling better… he’s here to hug them when they lose one of them. As assassin, he knows how much life is fragile and he doesn’t blame them if they’re suffering, leaving aside their professionalism, for once.

Pesci, however, is not so good at keeping secrets to his loved ones; until now the only people in his life were his comrades, but now there’s his s/o too. He doesn’t think it’s right to keep secret from them such an important part of his life and so, one day, he decides to face the issue and talk about it to them. He waits in a tense silence their response, already picturing them taking their things and leaving him forever. However, when he feels their arms around him, he opens wide his eyes, baffled: how can they hate him for this? They know that no one enters in mafia for fun, but because something went really really wrong in their life; they’re pained to know that something in his life went so bad to force him to choose this way. Now, however, they’re together: things will get better.

Formaggio

The first time he met them, they weren’t walking on a nice and safe road. They had been called for a home emergency visit in one of the most dangerous districts of all Naples and they were scared. Well, not randomly: criminals were around and, among them, Formaggio was here too. But, luckily for them, Formaggio was above simple thieves; he saw them, but he didn’t touch or near them. Still, some drunkards did so and, being already nearby, Formaggio intervened, chasing them away. Seeing he wasn’t drunk nor had bad intentions, they agreed on being escorted out of the district and, to thank him for his help, they invited you for a coffee the next day.

What he really didn’t expect was that coffee to turn into a second coffee, then a third, then they finally admitted they were dating and soon after they were moving together. He couldn’t ask for more, they were amazing, patient… and a doctor. This left him surprised, at first, but it wasn’t something that could stop them from being together. It wasn’t, also, like he and his team sent people to them; when they striked, they sent people directly to obituary. Still… he almost feels guilty. His s/o is a so caring person, so sweet and devote to their work… and here he is. He’s the one they hate most, the one who steals the life they try strenuously to save.

He has to tell everything a night when he came back heavily injured. He’s a top elite, but this doesn’t make him invulnerable! While they patch him, worried as hell, he’s finally forced to admit everything. His profession, his life… He’s ready to see them go away, as it always happened. Nothing good lasts long, with him. But his s/o surprised him once more; they didn’t go away and they just told him to be more careful, next time. At his bewildered face, they just say they already suspected something, but this didn’t matter: they knew that Formaggio, deep inside, was a good person and he loved them: this was enough.

Melone

Melone is one who always managed to slide in internships into hospitals. He loves medicine but, alas, he couldn’t ever go to university and actually become what he dreamed to be, a surgeon. So he follows some internships, taking advantage of some documents Illuso or Formaggio stole for him -a favor for a favor- and, during one of these, he met his future s/o, a young, brilliant doctor. Melone was immediately fascinated by their determination, by the passion they had for their work… a curiosity and a devotion he knew well. He tried as much as he could to meet with them and, after a lot of chattings and laughs, they decided to see each other out of the hospital.

That encounter went so well, to Melone’s utter surprise, to turn in a second “date” and so on. He didn’t dare to hope in more than a one night stand, but here they are, together and even talking about living together! He never thought he could have been so happy. They are perfect for him, passionate, smart, extremely intelligent, devote to their work… but here Melone’s enthusiast cracked. They were a doctor… he wasn’t. He wasn’t even a medicine student. He was… an assassin. He killed as job. Would they accept it? He highly doubted it and the fear of rejection and abandonment twisted his guts to no end. He was so anguished that his s/o started to seriously worry about him and this was the moment when Melone understood it was time to reveal the truth.

And so he did, his head low and his words heavy. How would they react? He’s so scared… like never before. He knows he’s going to lose them, as he has lost everything beautiful in his life. His heart is already breaking. Still, he doesn’t hear any scream or accusation or slammed door. Just silence. He slowly lifts his head, finding them still here, looking at him. They ask him to tell them all the story, how he ended up doing what he does, if he enjoys it… and he tells them everything. When he finally finishes, he’s lighter and he feels even better when they just hug him tight, almost protective. Melone has faced many horrors in his life, many prejudices, but he managed not to lose all his light and they love him for this.

Illuso

Illuso has always been the one in charge to steal bandages and medicines, since the paycheck didn’t allow the group to afford enough of them. Passing from mirror to mirror, Illuso could easily sneaking in the hospital and stealing what the group needed, going back in the mirror world: no one ever noticed it. Still, from his safe spot, he observed the hospital life. The patients, the doctors… his future s/o. He noticed them immediately by the sincere passion they had, the strong will and the extreme care they showed to their patient. He was… enhanced by them. He studied their habits and, so, he managed to meet them “casually” when they were out for errands, a bit every day, becoming their acquaintance and, then, friend. After a little, they had their first date and things went better and better.

Illuso always lived in a world that mirrored the reality, manipulating it at his pleasure and advantage. But… he doesn’t like to do it with the person that now is his s/o. They trust him with their life and how he repays them? With lies. He hates it, he hates it so much. Still, he’s scared: his line of work is dangerous and they could end badly, so maybe it’s better to keep them safe and unaware? Or trying and telling them everything? He doesn’t know. He’s battled, he’s full of doubts. In the end, however, he decides to try: they are too important and, if they are together, he wants to be honest with them for one damn time in his life.

And so he calls them, one evening, and settle a meeting. He’s so serious and professional that his s/o seriously fears he’s going to break up with them! But, instead, he tells them a totally different thing. After he has finished, they just sigh, going to sit next to him, revealing too a little secret: they suspected about it since long time. They always saw him in mirrors, crawling behind the corners, his watchful and warm eyes on them. Why do you think they stationed so much around mirrors talking so bluntly about their habits? Illuso is baffled. So do they have a stand too? And really they aren’t bugged by his profession? They just look him in the eyes, serious, caressing his cheeks. Until he’ll be safe, they’ll be happy, they say.

Ghiaccio

Ghiaccio was the only one who met them as an actual patient. Once he broke really badly his arm and it couldn’t be fixed at home, as usual, so he had to be carried to the hospital. He was grumpy and nervous all the time and the only one who seemed to manage to handle him was a patient but strong headed doctor who had no qualms in battling Ghiaccio when he was at his grumpiest state. They managed not to make him escape, as he would have surely done with someone else, to take his medicines and just to give himself time to recover. To everyone’s dismay, when Ghiaccio invited them out, grumpily, before being sent home, they said yes.

After a while, they came out as couple. Things weren’t perfect, but from both parts there was enough will to make things work out. Ghiaccio, despite his namesake, is a passionate man, a man of strong feelings and even stronger reactions; he loves his s/o’s stubbornness, both when they have to deal with him both when they have to save a life. And, about their job… he’s proud of them, of course. He sees how much passion and dedication they put in their work. But… they’re so different… he’s an assassin and they a doctor. He takes life and they save people. Basically they fight on opposite parts, like an angel and a demon. Could a love like this last?

He decides to try it all, revealing them what he does for living. He doesn’t shy away, always looking in their eyes: does he fear rejection? He does. It’s the first time since long, long time that he allows himself to grow so attached to someone, so losing them would be devastating. Still, he shows the bravery and stubbornness that made them fall in love with him and, at their questions, he answers sincerely: no, he doesn’t enjoy killing. Yes, he does it for money. Yes, he’d choose again this road, since it was the only one available, when he found himself alone in the past. No, he’d not quit. He can’t leave his squad. And so his s/o just hugs him, accepting him for who you are, asking him, however, to be careful. Now he doesn’t have to be more reckless just because a doctor lives with him!

#jjba #vento aureo #la squadra di esecuzione #risotto nero #prosciutto #pesci #formaggio #melone #illuso #ghiaccio #neutral s/o #doctor s/o #headcanons #sfw #anon ask

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mobius-prime · 4 years

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210. Sonic the Hedgehog #142

The Original Freedom Fighters (Part 1)

Writer: Romy Chacon Pencils: Art Mawhinney Colors: Josh Ray

It's been a while since we saw anything of Hope, but she's settled into life in Knothole quite well. She's been going to school, and today, she's stressed because she procrastinated on her history report and now has to look for sources at the library last-minute. While looking around, she finds a file on the "original Freedom Fighters," though she doesn't recognize any of their faces. As she's walking home, Sonic accidentally blows all the papers out of her hands while racing by, and helps her pick them back up as an apology.

So I've actually been excited for this story, as it ties into some stuff I've talked about before, though I won't be able to go into details till part 2. Tig Stripe was a retired general from the Great War, but when Robotnik's takeover began over a decade ago he immediately leaped into action to save as many civilians as he could, directing them to Knothole during the evacuation. He even helped a five-year-old Sonic personally when he became separated from his group.

Hundreds of citizens were evacuated to Knothole, which was originally a tiny hideout hidden from the rest of the world. Under Stripe's leadership the place was transformed into the village we know today, but the Robotnik problem still remained. One night Sonic and Sally were sneaking around when they overheard Stripe and his allies talking through a window. They were torn on what to do, with some insisting that it was their duty to fight back, while others reasoned that they didn't have the proper firepower to mount a successful invasion of the city. Stripe settled the matter, bringing everyone together into the first Freedom Fighter group.

Stripe led the team in hit-and-run strikes against Robotnik's factories in much the same way that Sally's Freedom Fighters did (and still do), and they became a symbol of hope for Knothole. They even passed the word on to other parts of the world, encouraging more people to form their own Freedom Fighter chapters to battle Robotnik's tyranny. Hope asks why they're not around anymore, and Sonic replies that they were betrayed by one of their own… who we'll find out about next issue.

I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter!

Writer: Romy Chacon Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Jason Jensen

Once upon a time, several years ago, Amy Rose threw a massive temper tantrum because Sally wouldn't let her join the Freedom Fighters. She whined that Tails was allowed to be a Freedom Fighter even though they were the same age, and accused Sally of just wanting to keep Sonic for herself when Sally tried to reason with her. Remember, she was a little kid back then, so this behavior was a bit more understandable.

There's actually a mistake on this page - Amy didn't use Sonic's billionth ring to age herself, but the Ring of Acorns. I suppose I can't blame Romy for getting this one wrong considering that they're both just magical rings, but continuity is important to me, dammit. Anyway, Sally continues her speech, recognizing how despite the horrors the war has brought, it's also brought everyone together. She recalls Amy's most recent act of heroism, where she fought off the first wave of swatbots singlehandedly during Operation: Triple Threat, and then awards her an Acorn Medal of Valor for her service.

She's had to grow up quickly (though to be fair, a lot of that was by choice), but now Amy Rose is a full-fledged member of the Freedom Fighters! I mean, she's basically been an honorary member for a while now, ever since the first Sonic Adventure arc, but it's nice to finally see it made official.

Mobius 25 Years Later: Moment of Truth

Writer: Ken Penders Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Jason Jensen

We're getting close to the end, guys - almost everything in this arc is plot-related now, thank goodness. Knuckles has a restless night full of disturbing dreams about what the future might bring, and wakes up late. When he comes down the stairs, Lara-Su is there to greet him, and pointedly informs him about a recent encounter of hers with one of Knuckles' old friends.

Oh come on Knuckles, you know she's never going to give this up. It's actually worth pointing out that while Lara-Su may seem incessantly whiny about this from an outside perspective, we should keep in mind that she's the latest in a long lineage of Guardians who have been going back hundreds of years protecting the island, and not only that, but the majority of her father's family and friends are war heroes who all had their chances to save the world multiple times over. It's really no surprise that she isn't taking her father's offhand rejection of the idea of training her well - from her point of view, he's basically babying her and being so overly protective that she doesn't have the chance to choose what she wants for herself, even though at her age Knuckles had already fought a dozen battles for the fate of the world.

Meanwhile in Cobar's lab, he and Rotor are still hard at work trying to find a proper solution to the end of the world problem, but none of their simulations are giving them enough data. Lien-Da is nowhere to be seen, and they don't seem bothered by anything she might have said to them, so apparently her showing up all ominously in their lab last issue meant literally nothing. Rotor has an epiphany that if they could go back in time they could properly study this phenomenon, and when Cobar points out that echidna scientists are forbidden from researching time travel due to its inherently volatile nature Rotor retorts that the echidnas aren't the only ones who have advanced technology in this world. Back at Knuckles' house Sally finds Sonic and confronts him once more about his attitude lately, and he again reiterates that he doesn't like being king and that he thinks she should be handling all this political stuff. Nevertheless, when Knuckles comes to find him saying that Rotor and Cobar are calling, he dutifully comes along to listen to what they have to say.

Sonic gives the go-ahead for them to meet at the shuttle port in two hours to head to the storage site, telling Knuckles once the call has ended not to tell Sally, as he doesn't want her coming along with the kids. Man, no wonder you and Sally are having problems, Sonic, apparently you actively hide things from her even though you then complain about having to handle those same things! Knuckles says he has business to take care of first and heads out to do whatever it is, passing Sonia and Lara-Su on the way. Sonia complains that even though she was born first, Manik is the next in line for the throne because he's the firstborn male. Hey, wait, what? That seems… oddly archaic, even for a monarchy. I know that this is a rule based on like, ancient patriarchal monarchies, but it just makes no sense in the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, because apart from where Penders seems desperate to insert it, there really isn't much gender discrimination in this universe. Men and women alike both participate in battles, politics, home life and the like, and though it's been noted before that Sally would have been the first female to bond with the Source of All in her bloodline, I just kind of assumed that it was because the line was predisposed to male babies or something. Plus, it seems like a bizarre tradition for Sally in particular to want to carry on, considering that by all rights, going by this rule she shouldn't have even become queen due to being both female and not the firstborn. Sonia is clearly the more interested of her and Sonic's two children in becoming queen someday, so why pass her over in favor of Manik, who isn't interested at all? That's almost an exact recreation of the situation with Elias, and we all know how that went! I fully chalk this up to Penders' weird gender biases leaking into his writing, because the Sally I know wouldn't be down with this rule at all - but eh, we've already seen massive amount of out of character behavior in this arc, so I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised at even more. Anyway, the issue ends with Lara-Su complaining to Sonia about not being able to become Guardian due to her father's wishes, and when Knuckles overhears this, he appears to become contemplative, thinking to himself about something important…

#nala reads archie sonic preboot #archie sonic #archie sonic preboot #sonic the hedgehog #sth 142 #writer: romy chacon #writer: ken penders #pencils: art mawhinney #pencils: steven butler #colors: joshua d ray #colors: jason jensen

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gothamstreetcat · 4 years

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7. Who’s the most overrated Gotham character? Why? Courtesy of @mydumbassenergy

Let me first start out by saying I think every character is a little overrated in their own way. They have to be, as this is a show about the characters of Batman. Yet, there are different types of overrated to me when I think of this question. Like Jim and Barbara, who I don’t particularly like for characters therefore I find them overrated but for slightly different reasons. Characters like Oswald, Riddler, Jeremiah, and I don’t know why but I want to add Silver onto this list, because they are all over the top/dramatic. This may be the wrong use of the word overrated but I’m dumb so my brain don’t think the way it should.

I know many of Gotham’s main villain’s are fan favorites and that’ s why they are in the spotlight, but I do wish they had used more of the side villain's too. Characters like Bridgit Pike, Mr. Fries, and even Scarecrow--they got an episode dedicated to them, but it kinda feels like after that they weren't used to their more full potential. Which is something I did enjoy about the first season of Gotham, each had their own episode featuring their story and a whole lot of content. I think perhaps the only character that can’t really be put on this list is Fish, and it’s really only because they killed her. Something, I wish they hadn’t done as she was created solely for the show and isn’t in the comics which I found very interesting and cool (yet, know I think I’m just rambling at this point and letting words spill out of me in a semi-coherent state).

However, in sorting through my messy thoughts I realized there is one character I do think is highly overrated overall and always. fucking. has. been.

The Joker.

I swear, every fucking time they make something, the Joker has just got to be the star of everything; and not only did they really one Joker-ish character. They had to have two.

Jeremiah in particular because even as he was peak Joker before Ace Chemicals, it just feels like he managed to steal most of the fifth season (as I would have liked to see more rouges from past seasons). For one, he’s very dramatic. Queen Drama Queen. Second, he spent an entire day re-creating Bruce’s worst day--ruining his whole day and he didn’t even do a good job while doing that. I made a video about this in the past, but basically this man had five months to do what he did, and he couldn’t think of enough dialogue beyond “hey champ” for Thomas Wayne. Who the fuck uses the word ‘champ?’ I don’t even understand how you manage that after five months and have children do your dirty work while you fanned yourself and got frisky with something who could clearly do so much better.

Going even further, he thought it was just this seriously amazing fact about Bruce that his family used to eat together. First off, who the fuck else is every gonna be there considering Bruce didn’t really have any friends. And second, I can understand not coming from a household like that and maybe being a little shocked that a family eat together, but to Jeremiah’s degree he really thought he had the code cracked on something that is typically normal. On top of this, he really went out of his way to tell Bruce he was weird for liking a really particular food, and you would think with someone who brags to know everything on Bruce’s life, he’d know that (hello!) Bruce is autistic and likes his specific food. He should be happy Bruce even eats at all.

I would also like to add, he was one of the few character’s to seeming claim that Jim Gordon was Bruce’s second father (one of the reasons I think Jim is overrated) along with Nyssa Al Ghul.

Excuse me, but is Alfred Pennyworth a joke to everyone??

And perhaps lastly, of course Jeremiah just had to make it into the final episode. While I am not trying to hate on the final because I appreciate how much thought, time, and effort everyone put into this show--these are just some of my feelings.

Moving onto this, Nyssa just might be my second overrated character partly because they threw her in seemingly at the last second, and she screams “I have daddy issues.” We all know if one Gothomite has daddy issues, everyone is going to have daddy issues.

Nyssa (much like any other villian with a ‘master plan’) did all this work to hurt a kid. She did all this work just because of something that was her father’s plan anyway and not only that but really out of her way to blame Bruce for everything. She tried to steal Barbara's baby, and I don't know... she really just strikes me as one of those people who is admitted too big for their britches and they don’t know it yet (which is how I also see Barbara and why I don't exactly like her as a character and think she’s overrated).

I could probably ramble more--and you know what? I think I’m going to. This last person I’m probably going to talk about is someone I should have mentioned first. Barbara Kean.

Part of the reason I don’t like Barbara and why I feel she is an overrated character is because of the way they went about turning her into something more. Initially I didn’t like Barbara because I thought she was whiny. It seemed like complained too much about Jim and his job but here are some things: A. he’s a cop. B. he’s a cop in Gotham. Both of which are very dangerous jobs and I’d imagine for someone who’d lived in Gotham for much of their life she’d understand that. Funny enough, for even as scared as she was, she became somewhat of a badass character. Yet, part of me feels like the show didn’t use that to what they could have, and Barbara came off as selfish and too big for her britches. She got these powers she didn't know how to use, almost didn’t wanna give them up, and put people in danger for her own selfish wants. I believe the only time I ever actually liked her was towards the end was when she had a change of heart and then had a baby.

It’s crazy because even as I’m writing this out and I’m frustrated about the things Barbara did--particularly to Selina, she could have actually been a much better character given all that she’d been through. She could have been more of a hero potentially then just another victim to Gotham’s crime destruction. Yes, she had her mental breakdown and it affected her greatly, but I don’t ever remember the writer’s actually having her deal with that rather then putting her in a coma.

Brutally Honest Gotham Roulette

#also I forgot to mention that the only character I don't think is overrated may be Bruce #a. because I love him #and b. because he just wants to be himself and wear sweaters and eat grilled cheese and be himself and save people #and yes. perhaps I am a little biased for saying that but we know who I am and how can we expect anything less #also Selina because I feel they made her a super underrated character throughout the show in some ways #street trash Selina might just always be peak for me and DO NOT COME FOR ME please and thanks #also. again I love how I turned most of this around into being about Bruce #in this essay I will...#gotham roulette #mydumbassenergy

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