#Prettywitch Muses

[prettywitchiusaka]

Because the characters not knowing who they can trust, and people believing Rhodey might be a Skrull didn't do that!?

If they thought Maria Hill dying was essential to the story? Fine. If Cobie Smulders wanted out? Fine. Why couldn't she just die in Episode 4 alongside Talos? And wouldn't a better death be for her to take a bullet for Fury and tell him to keep going while she dies in his arms? Yeah, I like Fury and Talos acting like they're married, too. But Maria's not some one-off, she's Fury's right hand woman and best friend! A position she's held since the first Avengers film. She deserved a much better death than what she was given.

#marvel cinematic universe #secret invasion #maria hill #cobie smulders #Prettywitch Rants #Prettywitch Muses #bad writing #cliched writing #rip maria #you deserved better

[prettywitchiusaka]

Not gonna lie, while I wish Clea was in more of MoM beyond a cameo, I'm actually kind of glad she isn't the more I've thought about it.

Putting aside the fact that Michael Waldron is (apparently) SO media illiterate/lazy he thought the emotional core of DS1 was Stephen and Christine's lost romance (it wasn't), I really don't wanna know what Clea Strange would be like in his hands.

Much like her hubbie, Clea's one of those characters that, in the wrong hands, can come off as incredibly unlikeable. There's a lot more layers to her character than one might initially think, and I don't think has the skill to write a character like that, nor does he have the desire to learn how to write nuanced characters properly.

At best, his Clea would be bitchy and hypocritical. At worst, she'd probably be another one of Waldron's patented sexy, over-powered murder bot with no personality beyond being angry (he wants to fuck), and be bitchy and dismissive of Stephen for no reason until it's time for them to fall in love which...yeah, I don't know if you guys heard, but that's not how things are in the comics. Clea falls in love with Stephen for his inner beauty; she sees that he's a brilliant, brave and compassionate man and she loves him for that, and always will. More over, he's the man who taught her to love and she grew through their relationship as much as he did. To do anything else would be an insult to her character.

P.S. I know I keep going back to the "Waldron's horny" jab over and over, but come on! Look at how he writes Sylvie in Loki Season 1, and how he writes Wanda in MoM, and tell me Waldron doesn't have a fetish for that kind of woman.

#marvel cinematic universe #Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Rants #sort of #doctor strange #clea #clea strange #michael waldron #anti waldron #Prettywitch's Writing

[prettywitchiusaka]

I'll be updating my blog with more posts tomorrow, so for now, let's celebrate No Way Home's two-year anniversary with a funny story from opening night in 2021.

I think like most people in the DS fan community, I was psyched to learn the good doctor would be in the third Spidey film (I'm pretty sure they hadn't dropped the title yet att). And I was even more psyched when we started getting more Doctor Strange projects (both in the comics and What If...?) in the second half of 2021.

In fact, I was so hyped to see my boy that it didn't occur to me until, as I was walking into the theatre with my friends that most of the people in the theatre...were there because they're either Spider-man fans, MCU fans in general, or they wanted to see all three cinematic spider-men team-up (a.k.a. the worst guarded secret for a big budget film ever!)...

What can I say? I can be a little dense sometimes. 😅

It did lead to this running joke (with myself) for whenever I talk about and/or watch No Way Home, though;

"Oh crap! Most of these people are here because they're Spidey fans, aren't they!? Uh...I see nothing! I see nothing! Don't mind me folks! I'm just here for the Dilf Sorcerer! And I will be out of your hair! Ha ha ha!...Please don't judge me! 😅"

#marvel cinematic universe #spider-man #no way home #Doctor Strange #Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Fangirls #single-mindedly #lol!!! #Stupid sexy Stephen!

[prettywitchiusaka]

So in light of Benedict Cumberbatch’s recent interview where he (more or less) admitted he was trying to continue Stephen’s story unlike some other people (Feige, Waldron, you know who you are), I feel like now is the time for me to explain my problem’s with Stephen’s arc in Multiverse, much as I like it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love that Stephen’s arc in this film is centered around love, which I agree is a very important aspect of his character. I love that it tries to address Stephen’s issues with control. I love that he decides to face his fears and start embracing love in all of its forms.

A lot of that is decently carried out in my opinion...it just feels like there’s something missing. See, the biggest problem with Stephen’s arc in this film, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t that he doesn’t have one, it’s that it feels incomplete.

It’s established that he’s lonely, but it’s never explained why that is.

The movie introduces the idea of Stephen’s issues with control, and what happens when he becomes obsessive and deprives himself of love, make him dangerous, something that makes sense to explore, and there are plenty of examples to show that it can be done well (Strange Tales Volume II, Strange Supreme, etc.). The problem is that Stephen’s issues with control are never tied into the fact that he’s insecure and deeply traumatized like they should be. 

It’s implied that losing Donna is what started Stephen down the path of his desperate need to fix everything himself, but because it’s only mentioned once in passing, we don’t have a clear picture of how badly her death affects him other than Sinister’s line. Which, as I’ve been saying for months, would’ve been so EASY to fix if they’d tied it into his relationship with America.

Bottom line, the arc that Stephen has in this film is not a bad one (at least in my opinion). The problem is that, like a lot of other things in Multiverse, probably needed another draft or two to flesh it out a little better. And while I commend Benedict for trying to develop Stephen’s character, the fact of the matter is that he isn’t a seasoned writer, and if he’d been working with a more experienced screenwriter they could’ve churned out something truly great.

#Prettywitch Muses #prettywitch's philosophies on writing #screenwriting #marvel cinematic universe #doctor strange in the multiverse of madness #Doctor Strange #benedict cumberbatch #God bless ben #for actually #giving a damn #stephen strange has ptsd #stephen strange is traumatized

[prettywitchiusaka]

So in light of Rachel Zegler tanking the Snow White remake before it even comes out, does anyone else think Bob Iger should find someway to turn this movie into a tax write-off and lock it away in the Disney Vault?

Because I don't care if you wanna do a different take on an established IP. All I ask is that you actually...you know, watch/read the source material, not piss all over it and act like it's so out of touch. Especially when the reality is that most women, no matter how ambitious they are, would like someone special in their life...and that's okay!

#Prettywitch Rants #Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Observes #Disney #snow white #snow white remake #rachel zegler #controversy #i swear #this kid is gonna get blackballed so hard if she doesn't shut up #also #i'm starting to think #Hollywood #is stuck in #End of Evangelion #and they need a #rebuild of evangelion #moment #which i feel is coming #mark my words

[prettywitchiusaka]

So, I'm sure I'm wrong about this but I'm gonna post it anyway.

I know people have their own ideas for who the new girl is the Walpurgisnacht Rising trailer is...but I honestly think it might be Nagisa?

We didn't see her at all in the new trailer (despite the concept trailer showing her briefly), and it does seem weird to me this new girl has a similar hair color to Nagisa + her magical girl outfit taking cues from Mami's original magical girl clothing (given Nagisa's association with Mami).

So...yeah, I think she might be Nagisa. Keyword might because it most like it isn't true. But until we get more information (and until they confirm if the movie is set for release in early 2024 or Christmas time 2024), we won't know for sure.

So yeah, this new girl might be Nagisa...but it doesn't seem likely. For all we know, she could be a manifestation of Homura's desire to "punish" herself for her disdeeds (which I also think is likely). We're just gonna have to wait and see.

#Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Speculates #madoka magica #walpurgisnacht rising #homura akemi #nagisa momoe

[prettywitchiusaka]

Forgot to show the copy of Doctor Strange #7 I picked up this past Wednesday.

And having read the issue (and now that a few days have past), yeah...I don't think Clea's trading in her hubbie for General Psycho. If anything, I think this is part of her's and Stephen's plan to bring him down. I mean, we've established General is still simping for Clea. I think it stands to reason they might be using his love for her against him. You know the old saying; all's fair in love and war!

#Prettywitch's Collectibles #Prettywitch's Comic Collection #Prettywitch Reads #Prettywitch Muses #Doctor Strange #Clea #Clea Strange #General Strange #Volume 6 #Jed Mackay

[prettywitchiusaka]

In re-reading/re-listening to the Fate of Dreams novel, it still gets me that what does Stephen in in The Realms of Erotic Dreams isn't some steamy, kinky dream, but the memory of Clea's first sunrise on Earth/his and Clea's first kiss. It's ironic, yes, but I also think it's actually really sweet and goes to show how much Stephen loves his wife.

That and it showcases how she is also his greatest weakness.

#Prettywitch Reads #Prettywitch Muses #Doctor Strange #Clea #Clea Strange #stephen x clea #the fate of dreams #meta #analysis #stephen loves his waifu

[prettywitchiusaka]

Speaking of which...

Looks like I owe my friend a bowl of ramen; when we were discussing what the Doctor Strange Issue for What If...? Venom could be, she suggested that Stephen would find peaceful co-existence with the symbiote. I initially wasn't sold on that idea...until she explained to me her reasoning, and I actually grew to enjoy the idea.

It turns out the writer for this issue had the same line of thinking my friend did, because that's essentially what this Issue is...and it kinda makes me sad now that this isn't an entire mini focused on a universe where Stephen keeps the symbiote and tames it. I think that could be a lot of fun.

I still wish Clea was in the book, though! It would've been fun seeing her reaction to the symbiote. Also, let's face it; with Stephen in control of an alien creature like that, you just know they'd be having freaky symbiote sex!

#Prettywitch Muses #marvel comics #doctor strange #symbiote #what if...? #what if venom #clea #clea strange #stephen x clea #cleaphen smut

[prettywitchiusaka]

I wrote this as a post on a Youtube video, but it more or less sums up my feelings about the current state of Marvel;

I honestly can't help but feel that Marvel being forced to scale back is a good thing. I've enjoyed many of the Disney + shows, but not everything needs to be a series.

 I think if Marvel scales back, spaces out their current movie slate by a few years and continues with the Special Presentations for shows or characters with not a lot of story to them, they should be fine. 

 Really, the bigger problem is they need to start hiring actual talent to write and direct their films again. Hiring people with not a lot of experience is fine, but they shouldn't be put in such high places like head of story or given screenwriting duties before they've even proven themselves. You do that, you start catering to the lowest industry hacks who don't know or care why we like these characters to begin with, which goes against Marvel's Mission Statement. 

 If Marvel wants to get back on top, they need to start courting established writers and filmmakers to make these projects for them. Get someone like Guilermo Del Toro for DS3, or hell, even Kevin Smith, who loves Marvel to direct a film for them. Even if he just directs it while someone else writes the script, it'd be better than nothing. 

 Anyway, that's just my two sense on the matter.

Here’s the original video if you wanna check it out:

#Prettywitch Responds #Prettywitch Muses #marvel cinematic universe #i'm worried for the future #but i'm trying to stay hopeful

[prettywitchiusaka]

Oh, and before anyone asks yes, so far I'm enjoying Season 2 of What If...?. Though I'm leaning a bit more to Episode 2 being my favorite (of the season) so far, even though I liked Episode 1 a lot.

I'm (admittedly) worried about the rumors surrounding the return of a certain tentacle boy, but I'm trying to stay optimistic. I mean, let's face it, I've been waiting for the return of Strange Supreme over two years now. So if it turns out to be a dud, at least I can take comfort in knowing I'll always have Season 1 tentacle boy.

Also, it's the holidays and I really don't want it to be (too much of) a bummer. I'm already mourning the loss of my puppy, I really don't need another reason to be depressed this Christmas.

#Prettywitch Watches TV #marvel cinematic universe #what if season 2 #What If...? #doctor strange supreme #Prettywitch Muses

[prettywitchiusaka]

I must admit, I agree with everything Raimi says in this article...except with his take on why Stephen is lonely.

Yeah, he's right in saying that Stephen's frustrated he's always forced to put his needs second and others first, but it's not because of his arrogance. Stephen is lonely because he's traumatized, which is implied in the moment he talks about Donna, and his confession to 838 Christine at the end of the film.

Although, as one person on the DS discord put it, he got most it right. 🤗

Still wish Derrickson would come back though; if him and Raimi collaborated on DS3, we'd have the best of both worlds imo.

#marvel cinematic universe #Doctor Strange #sam raimi #meta #analysis #character analysis #Prettywitch Muses

[prettywitchiusaka]

Okay, so I just made a (delayed) post about how I went to see The Marvels on opening weekend and enjoyed it (which is true). At the same time, I know that it's not doing well at the box-office.

Now I do think that the Actors Strike and poor marketing (coupled with inflation & Disney's terrible streaming practices that've strip-mined their IPs) contributed to that. I also think that it sadly comes down to something else entirely; word of mouth. WOM for The Marvels has been meh at best, or bad at worst. Which is kind of a big deal for a film that's budgeted at $220 million after re-shoots. Whether those re-shoots were warranted or not, they shouldn't have happened so late into production, or rather, post-production. Which leads me to an uncomfortable belief I've held for awhile now; I think it might be time for Kevin Feige to go.

Don't get me wrong, I think Feige is one of the great success stories of Hollywood. What with how hard he worked to not only become an expert on Marvel Comics, but also to see it actualized on screen. And yeah, I do feel empathy for the guy; it can't be easy being stretched so thin by corporate demanding you make around the clock content no matter how bad the end product is. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if Disney forced him to tie all the shows into the movies no matter how little sense it makes. But I feel like both Joe Quesada and, to a less extent, Ike Perlmutter before him, Kevin has begun to abuse his power. I don't know if it's because he was emboldened by the success of Endgame or what, but it seems like a lot of the problems we've been seeing with the films as of late (and some of the shows) are a direct consequence of Kevin's meddling. The result is a convoluted mess of a saga that feels less organic than The Infinity Saga, which was built up over a decade. Not in two-three years and certainly not as micromanaged as this string of projects has been.

Bottom line, I think it might be time for Kevin to step down pass his Baseball Hat onto a James Gunn type; someone who'll actually let the writers and directors do what they want (within reason) and only intervene when something isn't working early in production, or if something in the test screening doesn't work. GotG Vol. 3 worked because it was the film that Gunn wanted to make. Same with Wandavision and Wakanda Forever. Whereas films like MoM, while it made a lot of money, would've likely been better received by critics and audiences if Kevin hadn't meddled like he did, there.

#Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Rants #kevin feige #marvel cinematic universe #Phase 4 #Phase 5 #The Marvels #something has to give #and it's probably gonna be soon

[prettywitchiusaka]

So one of the criticisms I’ve seen people lobbying towards Multiverse for several days is why they chose to focus on Stephen’s infatuation with Christine, rather than focusing on his loneliness as a whole.

Normally, I’d agree. Except, and I know I’m (probably) gonna piss off a lot of people when I say this, I feel like they did...sort of? Let me explain.

I feel like, based on the flashback we see (and the Donna mention) that it wasn’t just that Stephen was in love with Christine, it’s that (save for Wong) she was the only person he made a connection with as an adult. And given how the first Doctor Strange film ended? I think it makes sense that he’d be actively wondering why things didn’t work out between them.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wish they’d focused more on the why, too. But I still feel like the film did a good job in exploring Stephen’s issues with control, which are very much rooted in fear and trauma (the line “But we don’t talk about that.” is telling), and giving him an arc where he was allowed to admit to that fear of being vulnerable and choosing to move on.

Granted, we still don’t know what the future holds for the Good Doctor in the MCU. But if they play into him keeping his new (dark) powers in check while opening himself up to being vulnerable with Clea and any potential allies that things will be fine.

#marvel cinematic universe #doctor strange in the multiverse of madness #multiverse of madness spoilers #Doctor Strange #meta #analysis #hot take #sort of #stephen x christine #Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Observes

[prettywitchiusaka]

Also, while I am annoyed we've never had a proper pop figure for TOS Mccoy, I'm not terribly bitter.

My friend recently suggested that I look into getting a 3-d printer as a way to make money on the side. Something I'm considering; I'd thought about getting one before, and the idea of using it to make my own figures in addition to figures for other appeals to me.

Plus, it means I can finally make pops for characters we'll most likely never get (cough Maria Hill cough).

It also means I can make my own, cool variant pops we'll never get, like Bones hopped up on Cordrazine from City for my friend and I!

#Prettywitch Muses #Pretywitch Observes #Prettywitch fangirls #Prettywitch arts #story of my life #funko pop #star trek #star trek tos #bones mccoy #leonard mccoy

[prettywitchiusaka]

Look, I know people are complaining about She-Hulk twerking for reasons of “I don’t want my kid seeing this!”, and...yeah. I agree. Not every superhero show is going to be for kids and yes, kids don’t need to be exposed to twerking.

I will say this, though; at least Jen’s a grown ass woman.

Yet the Powerpuff Girls reboot had two pre-teen girls twerking (while under hallucinogenlike mind-control)...and that somehow made it past Cartoon Network censorship!

I’m not saying these same people didn’t complain about that when said episode came out, I’m just saying. 

TL;DR: Jen is an adult and will engage in adult activities. So if you don’t want your kids watching it, then don’t let them watch it and leave it at that. Nobody cares you don’t your kids watching She Hulk, Ben! Because there’s FAR worse examples I can use. Trust me! 

#Prettywitch Muses #Prettywitch Responds #Prettywitch Rants #she hulk #marvel cinematic universe #for the record #when I say ben #i mean #ben shapiro