#also the way the episode and season number matches as well

[canonicallyobserving911]

Buck & Eddie: “You don’t know me!” - 7x5

In 2x8, Buck told a woman, “You don’t even know me!” and according to the script for episode 5 in season 7, the title of it will be almost an exact match since it's "You don’t know me!” and it appears to be a callback to his comment.

Since it's possible some may not have watched 2x8 Buck Actually in a while, here’s a quick reminder of the conversation Buck had with Bobby.  They were discussing TK and how Buck hooked up with her in a bar restroom but Buck told him that since he had finally let go of AC, he thought she had changed him 🙄. Then he proceeded to say he had only been single for like a day and he was back to basically being Buck 1.0. When they entered the gas station, Buck kept talking to Bobby about how he was thinking about calling TK but he didn’t want her to think he was only after one thing.  While Hen was treating the woman robber victim, she overheard Buck talking and commented, “You are only after one thing.  Jerk!”.  Buck responded, “You don’t even know me!” and she replied, “You’re a man, I know enough!”

Why is this important?

It’s important because the theme of “You don’t know me” has been applied to Buck with regards to every hookup or so-called “relationship” he’s had with different women on the show.  Let’s be real for a minute because the truth is none of them AC, AM, TK, ND, Dr. Wells nor the two women he hooked up with in season 1 knew him either.  Also, the woman who made the comment was a random victim who overheard Buck talking for less than a minute and she thought she knew Buck just because he’s a man. It was implied that all men want to do is hookup and leave like he did with TK but Buck has been and continues to search for the love of his life. The conversation he had with her connects to the one he had with Eddie in 6x15 while they were standing in the cemetery.

Buck said, “I feel like I have to try and be the same old Buck… mostly for the sake of everyone else” and Eddie responded, “You don’t have to be anything for anybody”.

IMO, their comments were being made directly to the audience and they were for the people who, after six seasons still want to keep seeing Buck do the same thing over and over again (I know it’s hard to believe but trust and believe there are people in the GA and in the 9-1-1 fandom who want to keep Buck on the hamster wheel and I think it’s because they DON’T WANT HIM TO BE WITH EDDIE).  These are the viewers who would rather he keep randomly hooking up with people (it could be anybody and it doesn’t matter if it’s irrational, nonsensical, illogical, random or whatever/whomever just as long as they can see him hookup with another guy or another random love interest) instead of him finally accepting the love that him and Eddie effortlessly share with one another.  I’ve said this many times, Buck and Eddie are in love with each other, they’re soulmates (post linked here) and they share a once in a lifetime love of their lives type of love that transcends space and time.  They have a deep, emotional and intimate connection that’s not superficial and it’s not based on a hookup.  They have an EPIC love story that deserves to be told without any more distractions or the addition of one-dimensional love interests.  It’s not platonic, it’s romantic and if they do go CANON, it will make for groundbreaking television.

Back to our regularly scheduled program…

After the title for 7x5 was released a few weeks ago, I completed a post about how Connor really doesn’t know Buck the way he said he does in 6x4 (linked here) and I stand by everything I included in it.  However, this post is in addition to that one and it includes the details about how all the women Buck dated didn’t know him either.

In 1x1, the first woman Buck was shown hooking up with in the firetruck told him to his face that she didn’t want to get to know him.  He asked her for her number and she replied, “You’re cute and you’re very good at whatever it is we just did but let’s not ruin it by getting to know each other.” She didn't want to get to know him and the look on his face showed he wanted more but she didn't so he moved on to the next one.

Dr. Wells was the LAFD’s trauma therapist and SHE TRIED TO BEFRIEND Buck on Facebook before he ever entered her office.  She knew the day would come when he would need therapy and when he asked her if she sent him a friend request, she told him he should delete it but then they ended up having sex.  It was played off like a joke but that’s not what it was because she was in a position of power and as a licensed therapist, she should have been charged because it’s against the law for that to happen. IMO, since Buck didn't know any better, as his captain, Bobby should have reported her. She wasn't mentioned again until 3x9 when Buck, Bobby, Chimney and Eddie were sitting in the loft at the firehouse and all Bobby said was "She's no longer with the department". That wasn't enough and she took advantage of him. Trust and believe the situation would have ended differently if the roles had been reversed.

AC wasn’t any different because after Buck stood by her and helped her after her mom died, he was being catfished by a man and several women were after him because of that guy's lies. After a woman threw a drink in his face, he said to her, “You know me right? Come on” and she replied, “I don’t even know who I am right now. But I definitely don’t feel like I know who you are right now.” She ended up ghosting him and abandoning him while he waited for her for months.

When she returned two years later, she didn't even apologize to him.

AM didn’t know Buck either and don’t get sidetracked by the fact that she called him Evan sometimes.  It was proven she didn’t know who he is when she said, “I know it’s who you are” after he said, “You want me to quit my job”.  Well, being a firefighter is NOT who Buck is, it’s what he does but she clearly saw him as a hot firefighter just like AC did and was looking for a good time. Please remember she didn't have a problem leaving him because of it.

TK didn’t know Buck at all and for everyone who thinks just because they were having sex and living together, that doesn’t mean anything because after meeting four years earlier, TK still had no idea who Buck was before it was over and she didn’t care.  If she had known him then she wouldn’t have betrayed his trust.  Also, he did cheat on her which made the situation worse but neither of them wanted to admit they weren’t supposed to be together and they clung instead of just ending it.  When he got ready to break up with her, she didn't try to see his side of it, she just stuck to her immoral ideals and wanted him to be ok with her running with the Jonah story.  Instead of saying, “I understand and I apologize” she said, “You knew who I was when we started dating” and he replied, “I guess I thought I could learn to live with it”.  She made it all about her the same way Buck makes everything about himself. They were two self-centered people with tragic childhoods in a trainwreck relationship and it shouldn’t have ever happened. It's still interesting that Buck ended up in a relationship with her after everything she did to Bobby and the 118 four years earlier (related post linked here and here).

ND fangirled over Buck and was so enthralled by his death but when she found out he had a full life, she did judge him.  He said, “I know this is something that’s easy to judge” but even though she said that him being a sperm donor was a kind gesture or whatever, she left because she couldn't handle his full life. Granted she was a death doula but her actions weren't professional and it would have been better if she would have helped him deal with his death. Her return should have ended with Buck saying "No thanks" and sending her on her way but of course he was shoved into another lackluster one dimensional relationship. Also, them telling each other, “I like you” was very high school like🙄.

Please understand, I don't like TK but in 4x8 she said, "You just can't stand the idea of someone not liking you" and she was right. Buck works hard to make people like him and it's very reminiscent of the way he's been trying to get his parents to love him anyway. He needs therapy.

It seems like he's still doing it and the words Bobby spoke in 6x11 during his coma dream had no effect since he still cares about how people see him. He hasn't learned anything yet but hopefully he will in season 7.

Eddie Diaz is the ONLY person on the show who KNOWS and SEES Buck and the video above includes several snippets from different episodes to prove it.

Eddie knows him at his core. He knows when to call him on his BS, he recognizes when Buck makes things about himself and he knows when he's trying to fix things instead of understanding it's not always his job to fix them.

Maddie is Buck's sister but she still sees Evan (post linked here) her little brother but Eddie knows Buck and after they become a CANON couple, he’ll know Buck even more. 

While I’m not sure who’s going to say, “You don’t know me” in 7x5 or if it will be said at all, I do believe Buck might say it again and if he does, it will be a callback to 2x8. Also, 6x15 could be included in it since Buck might not be trying to be the "same old Buck" anymore and hopefully it will be enough for the naysayers to understand he's not the same person. IMO, I still think it’s something he will say to Connor especially since the sperm donor arc is supposed to return and OS said in an interview it won’t be revisited before the first 5 episodes.  Hopefully, Buck will finally realize the people he thought knew him really don’t including Connor.

Is it possible Eddie could say it to M, maybe but I don’t know because IMO that doesn’t sound like something he would say to anyone.  But he is all therapized now and he’s supposed to be joking or whatever this season so who knows.

The point of this post is to illustrate how Buck said, “You don’t even know me” in 2x8 and apparently, it’s going to be a callback in 7x5 but the question is, if he does say it, who’s he going to say it to? 👀 

#buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #christopher diaz #the buckley diaz family #buckley diaz family #911 abc #911 on abc #911 meta #911 season 7 #911 season 7 speculation #911 spoilers #911 speculation #anti taylor kelly #anti natalia dollenmeyer #anti bucktalia #anti dr. wells #anti bucktaylor #anti buckabby #anti buckali

[081314]

Book 7: The Ruler of the Abyss – Chapter 4 (Part 2)

Following is part 2 of my translation of Chapter 4 of Book 7: The Ruler of the Abyss. This part contains episodes 7-62 to 7-65.

Main storyline spoilers after the cut!!

Episode 7-62

Silver: …Hmm. It’s not so bad. Thankfully, most of these ingredients and cooking tools are ones we’re used to.

Sebek: Ne’er have I felt so grateful in my life for having completed those Master Chef courses…

Silver: Yeah. Once we get back to the real world, maybe we should talk to the principle and recommend he make it a required course.

Yuu: All that time I’ve spent cooking for myself at Ramshackle Dorm really came in handy.

Grim: Woooah, that smells so good! Henchman, are you makin’… cheese risotto in that big ol’ pot you’re stirrin’?

(Yuu nods)

Silver: That’s right. There wasn’t any pepper in the supplies we got a hold of, but we were able to season it with some salt and wild herbs we found growing around here.

Sebek: And I have completed the herb roast chicken and the vegetable garnish!!

Grim: Sweet! I’m starvin’ over here. Time to dig in!

(Sebek clops Grim on the head)

Sebek: Restrain yourself!! The Imperial Guards shall be served first! Your shamelessness exceeds you, beast.

Grim: Aww, come on. Whoever lines up first gets first dibs at school.

Sebek: This isn’t school! Know your place! ….Now then! My deepest apologies for keeping you all waiting. Dinner is served!

Imperial Guards: Gurururu…. Gauu?

Lilia: That sure did take a while. …Yuck. What’s this mushy white shit?

Silver: That’s cheese and oatmeal…. It’s a risotto made with oats.

Lilia: Ri..sotto?

Silver: Please do give it a try. It should be fine.

Lilia: You sound pretty confident there. Well then, time for a taste test… *munch* ……!!

Silver: …How is it?

Lilia: This is some top-notch stuff! I’ve had something like this before, at a get-together with the old fuddy-duddies from the senate over in the royal capital. We ate with plates bigger than my head, and there was just this one tiny little dollop of this kind of stuff on mine… I had no idea it was made with such a big pot.

Sebek: Please also help yourself to the meat and vegetables!

Lilia: Let’s see… *munch* ….!! Hmm!? This meat is so soft. Don’t tell me you didn’t cook it all the way through!? We’ll get sick, you moron!

Sebek: I assure you, I cooked it thoroughly! I gathered stones from the riverside and assembled a simple furnace using my magic… It’s been properly roasted, so there’s no need to worry.

Lilia: *munch* …It’s so savory. Reminds me of the type of meat you can get at the inns by the ports. It’s… not half bad.

Sebek: Truly, I am honored to receive your kind words!

Lilia: Time for dinner, you dolts! Eat up and then get to sleep!

Imperial Guards: Garururu! Fuarinaa!

Sebek / Silver: *sigh of relief*

Baul: General, I bring news. The “Iron Ones” have withdrawn to the Canyon of Howling Winds. However, we can’t underestimate their obsession with our land’s resources. It’s possible they may regroup and bring back reinforcements, so we should remain on high alert.

Lilia: Good work. Now go take a break and get some food while you can.

Baul: No, I should go tend to the equipment, in case the enemy…

(Baul’s stomach growls)

Lilia: Bwahaha! Sounds like your stomach’s saying food comes first.

Baul: Ack…!

Lilia: You’re our troop’s number one glutton, Baul. Cut the act and just go eat something already. Like I always say, you can’t fight on an empty stomach.

Sebek: Sir Baul! Please, come sit over here. I’ve your meal ready for you.

Baul: …Hm. Did you lot make this?

Sebek: YES, SIR! I would be most delighted if it’s to your liking!

Baul: ….Get this crap away from me, I don’t want it.

Sebek:  But….

Baul: DO NOT MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF! I SAID I DON’T WANT IT, HUMAN!!!

Sebek: Yes, sir… My apologies.

Lilia: Shut the hell up! We’re trying to eat here, quit it with the screaming match. Do what you want, but you better not go pass out on me from an empty stomach.

Baul: I’ve got some provisions with me, so please don’t worry about it.

Sebek: …….

Silver (whispering): Sebek, this is just a dream. In the real world, Sir Baul wouldn’t…

Sebek: I know! I don’t need to hear that from you. My grandfather imparted so much of his knowledge to me. He’d oft purchase books for me when I was growing up, and it’s thanks to him I’ve such a passion for reading. Were it not for the “Silver Owl”, then perhaps I could’ve strengthened my connection with my grandfather while in this dream… I shan’t ever forgive those miscreants!

Grim: Wait, what? Baul doesn’t want his grub? Then I’ll take your plate off your hands for ya! Thanks!!

Baul: Wha- You damn beast! What an impudent little creature you are!

Yuu: Knock it off, Grim!

Grim: Maaan, this stuff is good! The cheese is pipin’ hot and nice and sticky, and the meat’s just drippin’ with juice ♩

(Baul’s stomach grumbles)

Baul: Arrrghhh….!!

Lilia: Hahaha! You’ve got guts, picking a fight with Baul.

Baul: Damnit…. Fine! It’ll be a waste if that blasted little beast eats it all. Hand it over!

Grim: What! You said you didn’t want it! This stuff’s mine now!

Sebek: S-Sir Baul! There’s still plenty left to go around!

Silver: We’ll fetch you another plate right away.

Episode 7-63

Lilia: Baul, that was your third helping of that “Risotto” stuff. Was it really that tasty? Kufufu.

Baul: …W-Well, now that I think about it, there really wasn’t anything wrong with the food.

Sebek: I’m delighted to hear it!

Baul: Ahem! At any rate…

Lilia: Mm. The “Silver Owl” has been leaving the Canyon of Howling Winds and coming out to these parts more and more often.

Baul: They’re laying waste to the Land of Briar as if they owned the place…. Those vile thieves!

Lilia: A hundred years ago, they landed in Cape Sunrise crammed aboard a single, tiny little sailboat… And then we blinked, and now they’re all over the place, far outnumbering we fae. All the land to the east of the Canyon of Howling Winds pretty much belongs to them now.

Baul: Grrrr…. Damn those humans!!! We should’ve driven them out right from the start!!

Lilia: I doubt her Majesty the Queen had any idea things would get this bad.

Sebek / Silver: ………..

Lilia: Had they just lived here quietly, respecting our lands and our wildlife, then we easily could’ve just left them alone…  But we can’t let them keep tearing up the mountains and forests like this. We need to hurry and deliver Lady Mallenoa’s letter to their fortress as soon as possible.

Grim: Lady Mallenoa? Who’s that?

Sebek: Know you not of Lady Mallenoa, you imbecile? Why, she is the Young Lord’s… Ah! …I mean to say, Lady Mallenoa is the princess of the Land of Briar.

Lilia: The boy’s right. She’s the lone daughter of Queen Maleficia. She’s both our master as well as the Lady of Briar Castle.

Silver: Briar Castle? Not the Black Scale Castle over in the capital?

Lilia: In the south of the Land of Briar lies Verdant Moors, a wetland. And at its center stands a great citadel. All the vagrants who come from beyond the Canyon of Howling Winds and the Coral Sea are greeted by its fearsome gaze. That is Briar Castle.

Baul: Lady Mallenoa commands the Imperial Guards, and she's the cornerstone of our country’s defense. Under her orders, we’ve been dispatched to the “Silver Owl” as delegates, and we are to deliver her requisition to them. We just departed from Briar Castle today.

Sebek: By “requisition”, do you mean….

Baul: Isn’t it obvious!? It’s our final warning to the “Silver Owl” - to cease with their irreprehensible actions at once!

Lilia: *sigh* If we could just fly there, we’d be there in an instant.

Silver: Is there a reason you all aren’t using flying magic?

Lilia: All the delegates we’ve sent to their fortress have disappeared one by one.

Sebek/ Silver: What!

Lilia: Our job is to deliver this letter and search for the missing delegates along the way. Additionally… we have to track down any "Silver Owl” members who’re mining without permission and drive them out.

Baul: Damnit… Diplomacy is supposed to be the aristocrats’ job. I don’t understand why all this is being forced into your lap, General!

Lilia: It’s because there just aren’t that many fae around, compared to humans. We’ve been short on hands ever since the “Silver Owl” showed up. Besides, those aristocrats are all useless. They faint as soon as they get a whiff of iron. I’m sure Lady Mallenoa kept that in mind when she chose me for this.

Baul: But that’s…

Lilia: Our next step is to get through the Dark Night Forest, cross over the Verdant Moors, and then head for the Canyon of Howling Winds. And once we make it through the Canyon, we’ll continue searching for the missing delegates at the Crimson Plain and the Dragon’s Tail Mountains on our way to the fortress. It’s located at the eastern tip of the continent.

Silver: …Sounds like it’s going to be a long journey.

Lilia: Kufufu. You getting scared? Now then, Night Raven College envoys, do you see why I don’t have time to go to your stupid school?

Sebek / Silver: …….

Lilia: What good will it do you to come with us? You’re about to step into a hornet’s nest here. I’m saying this for your own good, go back to your school already.   

Silver: No! Having heard you said all that, I want you attend Night Raven College now more than ever.

Lilia: The hell?

Silver: You’re right, there’s not much we can teach you about “magic”, but I… I have no doubt all the memories you’d make at school would be invaluable for you.

Sebek: Silver….

Silver: We’ll come invite you again when your mission’s over – we’ll invite you to our alma mater, Night Raven College!

Lilia: I highly doubt my mind’s going to change… You still intend to stick around?

Silver: Yes, sir!

Lilia: Even if you’ll be putting your life at risk?

Silver: YES, SIR!!

Lilia: … I don’t know much about humans, but I get the feeling there's a bunch of weird ass types at that school?

Silver: There’s certainly a lot of people with strong personalities. 

Sebek: We are a diverse group…. In nationality, species, and culture.

Silver: And that’s precisely why there’s so much for us to learn there every single day.

Lilia: *sigh* Do what you want, I don’t care anymore.

Silver / Sebek: Thank you!!

Episode 7-64

Baul: General! I know I’ve said this before, but I’m staunchly opposed to letting these humans accompany us!

Lilia: Well, they can at least make our food and carry our stuff. And we’ll just dump them on the side of the road if they get in our way. They aren’t our responsibility.

Baul: ….If you say so, General.

Lilia: I’m much more concerned about Briar Castle. If we’ll be able to wrap up this mission and get back home faster, then I’ll make use of whatever I can, be it a bunch of humans or fae.

Yuu: You must be so worried about the princess.

Lilia: Me? Worried about Lady Mallenoa? Ah ha ha ha! I’m not worried about the princess, I’m worried about the castle and my own hide! Last thing I want is to come back and find the place in ruins from another one of her little tantrums.

Sebek: What?

Lilia: The Draconia clan that rules the Land of Briar, they’re descended from dragons – admired for being the apex of the followers of the night. The princess of your country might be some pretty little maiden who everybody’s supposed to protect… But over here, our princess is strong as hell - frighteningly so. And not only that, she’s a major tomboy, she’s hotheaded, she’s selfish and quick to anger.  ….And she’s ill-natured beyond belief. She’s without a doubt the Land of Briar’s most disastrous princess. If you dawdle around, she’ll either strike you with lightning or roast you to a crisp. Mark my words, I’m not kidding here. She’ll seriously do it.

Baul: G-General! You shouldn’t speak ill of the princess!

Lilia: My bad. But I was actually being quite nice, you know. She’s had me wrapped around her little finger for the past 300 years, ever since I’ve known left from right. If Lady Mallenoa were the type of princess who just sat around the castle all day waiting for her prince to come on a white dragon… Goodness knows my life would’ve been so much easier.

Baul: GENERAL!

Lilia: I mean…. It seems she’s going to behave for us for the next two or three years, so I’m thankful for that, at least. Even knowing her, she’s not going to do anything reckless until her precious little egg hatches.

Sebek / Silver: Egg!!??

Lilia: What now? Keep it down…

Silver: L-Lady Mallenoa already has an heir!?

Sebek: W-Where is the Young Lor- …Nay, where is His Eggcellency!? I-Is he residing with his parents at Briar Castle!?

Yuu: (Tsunotarou came from an egg!?)

Baul: Why are you so interested in the whereabouts of the heir’s egg, huh? You’re being awfully suspicious… You better not be after that egg!

Silver: W-We’re not! We just, erm, we didn’t even know the heir was already born…!

Lilia: *sigh* …Even a toddler could tell you where that egg is right now. Dragon eggs don’t hatch without their parents’ love and magic poured into them, and the safest place in the whole country is right between Lady Mallenoa’s arms. Doesn’t matter if they know where the egg is, not like they can do anything about it.

Baul: Yes, but don’t forget what happened to the Dragon-eyed Duke! We can’t go trusting these outsiders! We need to remain vigilant.

Lilia: The Dragon-eyed Duke, Levan, huh… If he’d just come back safe and sound, we wouldn’t need to be doing all this. That couple’s been overloading me with a bunch of work since I was a kid.

Baul: That’s…

Lilia: *Yaaawn* …It’s getting light out. I’m going to bed. You better not let that fire go out. There’s “Silver Owl” members and all sorts of vicious beasts lurking in these woods. You all get some sleep, too. We’ll be leaving at midday.

Baul: …Yes, sir. Rest well. “The Night’s blessing upon ye”.

Lilia: “The Night’s blessing upon ye”.

(Lilia departs)

Baul: Oi, humans. The General might think otherwise…. But I don’t trust you lot one bit. If I see you doing anything suspicious, you’ll be answering to my blade!! Mark my words! Go take one of the empty tents, but don’t bother the Guards while they’re resting. Hmph!

(Baul departs)

Silver: Did you hear that, Sebek?

Sebek: How could I not!! T-The Young Lord has already been born! Ahh… Oh, how I wish to see him, even a single glance will do!! HOW I WISH TO GAZE UPON HIS PEARL-LIKE VISAGE!!

Grim: Pearl-like? Dude, he’s literally an egg.

Silver: …….

Yuu: What’s the matter?

Silver: …..It’s strange.

Episode 7-65

Silver: …It’s strange.

Grim / Sebek: Huh?

Silver: Just now, my father said something like, “For the past 300 years, ever since I’ve known left from right.” And in the real world, he’s 700 years old… Basically, it seems like he’s dreaming of something that happened 400 years ago. But…. He also said the heir’s egg would hatch in another two or three years.

Sebek: *gasps* …I see! You’re right, ‘tis certainly very strange. That’s quite a great inconsistency with how old the Young Lord is presently.

Grim: How old’s Tsunotarou anyways?

Sebek: THE YOUNG LORD TURNED 178 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR!!

Yuu: (Compared to 700 years old, that actually sounds pretty young.)

Grim: What!?? Tsunotarou’s a friggin’ geezer!!

Sebek: What insolence! For the members of his species - those fae descended from long-lived dragons - he’s exceedingly young!

Yuu: Wait… Something’s not adding up here….

Silver: Did you notice it too, Yuu? You’re right, that’s a 200-year difference.

Grim: 200 years!? That ain’t somethin’ we can just write off here.

Sebek: Fae are known for their indifference towards the passage of time, but even so… It’s quite a serious discrepancy. 

Silver: So you guys feel the same way, huh. It’s hard to believe my father would forget the date of something as monumental as our Lord’s birth. …Hmm… Neither my father nor Lord Malleus would ever speak much about the past in front of me. And there’s hardly any books on Briar Valley’s history back home or in the school library…. Do you have any idea what’s going on here, Sebek?

Sebek: My grandfather would oft regale me with tales of the Draconia Clan and Sir Lilia’s heroism, however… He hardly ever spoke of Lady Mallenoa-…. of the passing of Lord Malleus’s parents. I’ve read a wide variety of books in order to deepen my understanding of our country and our sovereigns… But again, hardly any of them covered that matter. Further, the Verdant Moors where Briar Castle is located lies outside Briar Valley’s present-day domain.

Silver: Sounds like all this chaos must’ve gone on for a really long time… Just what in the world happened…?

Sebek / Silver: …………..

Grim: Then how’s about we go stop by Briar Castle? Since Malleus’s egg is there and we’re lookin’ for a way to break his spell an’ all. I betcha we can find some clues! Heh, I’m a genius!

Silver: No, that’s… We won’t be able to do that. Dreams are unstable things. They’re more or less mental worlds constructed by the dreamer. And if you stray too far from the dreamer, you’ll often either hit a dead end or run into the “Darkness”.

Grim: Aww, maaan…. Guess we got no choice but to stick with Lilia.

Silver: Correct.

Sebek: Damnit…!!! Why did things have to turn out this way. And I had so hoped to catch a glimpse of the Young Lord!!

Silver: After they deliver that letter, Father and the others will most likely return to Briar Castle.

Sebek: *gasps* And that means I still have a chance!? A chance to gaze upon his regal countenance!? If that is so, then let us complete this mission posthaste!!

Silver: Yeah. Let’s all get some rest and get ready for tomorrow.

Sebek: Hmph! You needn’t tell me that.

Part 1

Part 3

Please note: We will not know what the proper translations of the new places and character names introduced in this chapter are until the official English localizations are revealed, so please take my translations of them with a heavy grain of salt.

#twst #twst spoilers #lilia vanrouge #twst silver #sebek zigvolt #baul zigvolt #the ruler of the abyss #twisted wonderland

[gottagobackintime]

Tedependent (and bi Ted) in season 3 episode 7

We have Ted whistling and being impressed by a man's hair “Look at that head of hair”. Ted and Trent have both talked about Trent's hair before "Because of the hair and the whole vibe?" and Ted's: "You know, they got a big old Ziploc bag full of your hair ties down at the lost and found. You should pop on down, if you still want 'em." As far as I can remember they are the only ones who has ever talked about Trent's hair in the show (correct me if I'm wrong). To compare it to another scene, we have a scene between Roy and Keeley, which is meant to be seen romantically between them where they say this: "Yeah. Woman with the hair." "Keeley Jones, The Independent Woman Magazine." A scene set in the pressroom where most of Ted and Trent's interactions, with a few exceptions, take place during season 1 and 2. She also uses The Independent as a joke about her being independent while still looking to be in a relationship. Which is similar to Trent always introducing himself in the pressroom with "Trent Crimm, The Independent." And Ted and Trent's last scene of season 2: "You know what this makes you now, though, right?" "Trent Crimm. Independent." Hair is also talked about with other couples we're supposed to look at romantically. Roy and Keeley, Higgins and his wife, Sam and Rebecca.

More under the cut:

When Beard is talking about Jane dropping hints and Ted thinks he’s talking about marriage but Beard is talking about pegging and Ted doesn’t seemed shocked or outraged or anything he just “Oh. Well, still.” Ted have been pegged confirmed??? (And then he asks what magazines contains the topic of pegging, just for normal reasons, no big deal). And while pegging can be enjoyed by people of all sexualities, I find it interesting that they brought that up and the "straight man in middle America" isn't at all fazed by that. Not even a double take, just "yup, that's a big commitment", with all the other hints that Ted is not straight... yeah...

“Hey, Trent” “Hello Ted” Now this isn't really evidence, because even non queer people say hello to each other. But I wanted to include it because it's just Ted that acknowledges that Trent is standing there. Beard and Roy doesn't say anything, nor does Trent say anything to them. It's an interesting moment to include, if they hadn't said anything no one would have really noticed. Because you'd just assume that they'd seen each other earlier that day so there is no need to say hello again. But they did include it. It's about Trent being present and Ted noticing it. It's like the scene in the last episode of season 2 when Trent is absent from the pressroom. Ted notices and he stops speaking for a moment while looking worried/confused. Only for him to be happy to see him, even admitting that he was worried he'd been injured. Ted's excitement when he sees Trent in Rebecca's office in season 3 episode 2. We see them talking after the match against West Ham (they could have had him talking to anyone, but he was talking to Trent). It's Trent being the one to notice and the first to acknowledge that something is wrong when Ted gets the text about Henry being in a bullying incident. It's the fact that these two seem to be drawn to each other, seeking each other out and noticing each other.

Ted not knowing what step number four is yet and Trent being obsessed with finding out what number four is. We even get to see his notes about it, something we haven’t seen before. And with Trent's newfound confidence since his talk with Colin, he's being more comfortable around Ted and Ted rewards him with smiling and even a touch to the shoulder (that Trent even reacts to by looking at his shoulder afterwards). Just look at the way he runs after Ted and just gushes over Ted's work as a coach. (Would he have done that pre-Amsterdam, I doubt it.)

Ted talking about people being put in boxes since an early age. (Children are always assumed to be straight and are often told to stay in that box for the rest of their lives). In Sunflowers Colin talks about not wanting to be a spokesperson, he just wants to live his life, to have his two lives combined. But if he were to come out he'd be a spokesperson whether he wants to or not. Because he'd be put in a box, his box would be "gay footballer". What boxes are Ted put into? American? White? Straight? Which one of those boxes are something he could have actually have been forced into? Straight. He may or may not have already realised that it's not a box he fits into. But to have him talk about being put into boxes when we know that he's being looked at as straight by everyone around him, including the TV audience...

Trent asking Ted if he thinks that it's a good idea to use a tactic the boys don't understand and while doing so he's holding his glasses with his little finger out (while we can see the two threads of red on Ted's jacket). Later Ted explains to the team: "In Japanese culture, they have a myth where they believe that all soulmates are connected by an invisible red string. And those strings are attached to each of their little fingers."

"Well, Trent, the way I see it, it's kind of like taking a hike with Robert Frost. It could go either way." That's a very bi thing to say, Ted. Also this poem by Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Two roads, coming back to the other one another day, not knowing if you'll come back. Taken a road less traveled and that made all the difference. Pretty queer if you ask me. Especially considering bi people are constantly told to pick one, pick one side and stay there, you're either gay or straight, you can't walk both roads.

Ted feeling the need to express his individuality by growing facial hair. He didn’t go for the beard (because he didn’t want to hide his sexuality aka use a beard because Beard already had that) so he went with a goatee. And then Beard pointed out that he shouldn’t have a goatee right before he was about to walk down the isle (get married to a woman) and instead he went with a moustache. When we think of bisexuality and moustaches, who do we think of? Who do we know that Ted saw perform at Wembley in 1985? "I remember being a little kid, sitting in front of the television and watching Queen perform right over there during Live Aid." Who in Queen famously had a moustache? Freddie Mercury. Freddie Mercury who wrote "Love of my Life" for Mary Austin, his then girlfriend. Freddie who, as we all know later got together with Jim Hutton and they were together until he passed away. Ted has said that he will always love Michelle, because they are still family. He still loves her, but they are no longer together.

Trent running after Ted to excitedly tell him that it's going to work. Telling him how he's noticed what Ted has been doing for three seasons (again, it's about being seen). How he's created a space that is filled with trust and support, something he himself has been the recipient of. Ted has both trusted him (allowing Trent to write a book about the team, having him follow them around even after Trent wrote that article) and supported him (when Rebecca, Higgins and Keeley wanted him to say no to Trent and he said yes anyway, him telling Roy to knock it off with his treatment of Trent, Ted inviting him in to share his ideas).

“Yeah, but he’s our dork.” Ted says smiling fondly. It's about the fondness. Roy is the one who refers to Trent as a dork first, but Ted is the one who turns it into something that is only positive. He's smiling and to him, having Trent be their dork is something that makes him happy. The other two are more like "yeah, I guess he's cool" *shrugs*.

Does this mean that Ted and Trent will get together? No. But I do find it interesting to find all of these small details that connects the two of them. It's the way Trent went from "Is this a fucking joke?" to excitedly telling Ted that "It's going to work!". Ted changed Trent's life, and in a way I believe that Trent changed his. Trent doesn't have a problem asking the hard questions, but he also sees Ted. He can see that Ted is a mess (when it comes to coaching and possibly also on a personal level) and yet he believes in him. He challenges him on his tactics and his way of doing things, but he believes him and the thought of Ted succeeding makes him excited enough to run after him to tell him that he's done something with the team that is going to work. Something he could have told him calmly and in private, but he couldn't wait. He had to tell Ted right at that moment. It's the running through the airport at the end of the movie.

And as for Ted being bi or not. Well, I know that he's referred to himself as both straight and an ally. But as someone who once thought they were both straight and an ally before they realised that they were in fact bi, because they fell in love with a girl... he might not feel ready to deal with that, or like me he knew about his attraction to women in his case, men in mine and so we must be straight, and then just assumed that all straight people think that people of the same sex/gender are attractive.

#ted lasso #ted lasso spoilers #tedependent #trent crimm #nicole watches stuff #as always I'm just rambling hoping that people understand what I'm talking about #also how many times have ted talked about men being nice to look at like... I see you... I've been you... #except for me it was women obviously #the way these two just seem to connect is...

[redwiccanrobin]

I keep seeing people say the live action show is going to be bad only because Bryke is no longer involved. Now, I’m not particularly interested in the show because live action remakes just don’t do anything for me, personally. But I think y’all are giving Bryke way more credit than they deserve. Let’s discuss.

First, I think we should acknowledge the more problematic aspect of them creating the show in the first place. While I love Avatar, Bryke are two white men who took the aesthetics of many different Asian cultures to create their world. And most of the voice cast were also white. If there were Asian voice actors, they were either a background character or a villain (besides Iroh and Zuko, of course). Now, I know that some of you may have read that and thought about how the actor playing Sokka is not only white but lied about his ethnicity. Don’t worry, I’m mad at that as well and I’m beyond frustrated that Sokka has been whitewashed not once, but twice in the name of a live action interpretation.

And speaking of live action interpretations, let us not forget Bryke’s role in the 2010 movie. They announced their decision to leave this new show due to it not matching their vision. But they had no problem with the film that casted almost exclusively white actors to play characters of color. Again, if there were POC in the movie they were either background actors or villains (again, besides Iroh and Zuko). When people bring up the movie, they blame Shamalan for every aspect of it. Yes, he did not direct a good movie. But, at the end of the day, Bryke wanted this movie to happen. Everyone else, including Shamalan, wanted a season four but they were dead set on the live action movie that whitewashed most of the characters. And they were fine with that. That didn’t clash with their vision despite relying very heavily on non-white cultures to make their show.

Outside of the whitewashed movie, their creative choices are… interesting, to say the least. And we didn’t get to see those because the writers pulled their weight and tweaked the original concepts. Toph? Bryke wanted her to be a boy and be in a love triangle with Aang and Katara. It was the writers who made her a girl. Azula? Again, Bryke wanted her to be a boy and, again, the writers made her a girl. Katara fighting sexism in the Northern Water Tribe? They wanted her to be fighting for Aang, not herself. It was the writers decision to add in Katara fighting against a patriarchal system. Many of the episodes that people point to as their favorites (Zuko Alone, The Puppetmaster, The Southern Raiders) were not written by them. Yet, they get the pats on the backs from casual viewers and even some dedicated fans.

Do you know what happens when they do have creative control? At best, it’s mediocre, at worst, it’s bad. Let’s first take a look at their continuation of this universe by looking at Legend of Korra. The writers that made those iconic and beautiful episodes in ATLA? For the most part, they’re no where to be found. And it shows. LoK was a mess from the very beginning and never quite got its footing. Yes, I will acknowledge that Nickelodeon fucked them over. Yes, I do have respect for them for sticking to their guns and making Korrasami an item and giving us not one but two bisexual women of color. But besides that? It’s just a very mediocre show with mediocre writing.

But we see how truly bad things can get with the ATLA comics. Now, I do need to acknowledge that they didn’t work on that comic alone. So, like the movie, there are others to blame for the mess. But Bryke signed off on everything and wrote some of it themselves. And, boy, are they bad. A large number of the ATLA fandom do not like these comics and there’s definitely a reason why. Including out of character moments, prominent sexism with how the women are written, and just downright bizarre discussions, it’s not that much of a surprise that we don’t like to acknowledge it. In my opinion, no one got screwed over more in those comics than Katara. They make her a trophy girlfriend. A shadow to Aang rather than being her own character. That girl we watched in the show, the one who was vibrant, layered, complex, was gone. In her place, a hollow shell. And they would continue to show disrespect for their own character in LoK where she has been upgraded from trophy girlfriend to trophy wife. They didn’t even care enough about her, besides her being the wife of Aang and the mother of his children, to give her a statue! All the feminism we see in the original show? It definitely wasn’t Bryke.

I don’t know how this new live action show is going to pan out. It could be great, it could be bad. It could just be meh. But none of those outcomes have anything to do with whether or not Bryke was involved. Because they may have created ATLA, but they weren’t the ones who truly breathed life into it.

#avatar the last airbender #atla meta #anti Bryke #atla fandom critical

[jicklet]

Oh no I forgot you ship Ted/Becca.

😆 Hi anon! I hope this doesn't ruin your day or anything, whomstever you are. If you don't ship it or ship something opposing or whatever's your bag, I'm sure we can still be friends, or whatever we are.

But I've been mulling this all over since the finale, and this is a good excuse to get my thoughts out. Because I come from ye old timey shipping days of "the idea of them together is cool, regardless of whether it happens or not." so that wasn't really my problem with the ending.

Here are the things that are true:

I really like themes and parallels. I like connecting dots and finding connections and all that jazz

The number of themes and parallels they set up between Ted and Rebecca was delicious and very fun for me.

My reaction to the finale is less upset than it is frustrated and confused.

My frustration isn't purely 'they didn't get together romantically so it sucks.' I had started making peace early S3 with realizing it probably wasn't gonna happen

I am frustrated because I wanted all those bits of cool narrative shit they laid out to Do Something

I am frustrated because it feels like Ted and Rebecca have had very few emotionally connected scenes since season one, and what's the point of parallel journeys and soulmateism if their journeys are going to stay so parallel and not join up more, and then just apparently diverge completely

And on the apparent diverging, I don't love it but it would have sucked less if their lines just matched up more in the middle! That could be poignant! But as is, it's more disappointing than tragic, because whatever potential was there wasn't almost realized and then lost, but instead just... never really approached. It feels wasted.

The show did not owe us them getting together, but what it did give us, I found unsatisfying. That's just a bummer, man.

Forgive me this metaphor but I cannot find a better way to put it: I am frustrated because I feel like I got ridden for 3 seasons while they went 'just wait it'll feel so good' and then they were like 'are you ready?' and then just hopped off and left.

I am confused because at the end of their story, I cannot figure out what I am meant to be feeling about it.

Again, I didn't need them to get together romantically, they totally could've found some other way to make it satisfying! But. Ted and Rebecca getting together romantically would have also tied it up in a lot of ways that worked and made the narrative satisfying.

Having a romance arc that works with their character arcs and the themes they've built on is just really cool as a story.

Obviously all that parallel journey stuff would've actually been leading them somewhere, ie to each other, yay woo

And not to each other just because they've been through similar shit, but because, as that last post said, among a lot of other reasons, they've been set up well to be what the other person needs.

Romance is not the be all, end all. But:

Ted and Rebecca both want to be in love with someone, someday.

Here is someone who already understands and balances and supports them.

Like, that's awesome. Is that not the qualities you want for them in a future romantic partner?

I can't see how it diminishes their friendship if it caries on very similar to it has been, just like, sometimes they smooch. Maybe I'm just too demisexual for this idk

Boat guy. I like boat guy, but he's a chiller version of Ted. I can't find that post that points out all the parallels there, but that episode by the time we got to Kenny Rogers I was like. Uh. Hm.

It's confusing to have boat guy have a beautifully intimate evening with Rebecca, all the while having so many specific details similar to Ted, and then just act like romantic Tedbecca is a wild, character-ruining concept.

Because the show ends with Ted leaving and Rebecca miserably walking out of the airport and straight into proxy-Ted. I have no idea how to feel about that.

I could keep going, but I'm about out for now, so uh. Woe, wasted Tedbecca potential be upon ye~

#Ted lasso critical #Ted lasso spoilers #V watches Ted lasso #Tedbecca #Ted x Rebecca #don't like; don't read pls no flames lmaooo

[markantonys]

Hiya!! Do you know if there's any sort of guide to where each of the tracks from the s2 soundtrack pops up in-show? I adore the soundtrack, but somehow I can never recognise the individual tracks until they're pointed out to me lol

hello! there isn't a guide for this............until now! [cracks knuckles] let's get going

season 2 vol 1

this is the Themes album, so none of the tracks appear as-is in the show itself. but they do form the basis of in-show tracks, so i will note those connections as well as any other scenes i can recall where an unreleased variation of the theme can be heard.

The Desert Warriors: aiel theme. remixed into aviendha's theme as well as "a daring escape"

The Hailene: seanchan theme. appears in "damane", "face it on your feet", "uprising", and "the thrill of battle" (and in "from the west" from season 1)

Darkness and Shadows: not sure if this ever appears. but this version's such a weird-ass banger (complimentary) that i wouldn't be surprised if it was remixed into some creepy ishamael music or something in a way that sounds so stunningly different from the Theme Version that i won't notice it until my 7th rewatch of the season haha but either way, i'm pretty sure it doesn't occur within any of the vol 2 tracks.

Liandrin Guirale: can be heard a few times in liandrin scenes (notably one scene of her either leaving or arriving at mat's cell, but i forget which scene), but nothing that was released on the official album

Aviendha: this itself is in large part a variation of "the desert warriors", and it's very similar to "a daring escape", definitely the closest neighbor to actual in-show music of any of the Theme tracks. it can also be heard in the scene where aviendha gets beat up by bain and chiad (unreleased track; the melody here is, i believe, the portion that is specific to "aviendha" and not the portion that "aviendha" shares with "the desert warriors")

Mat Cauthon: "the horn of valere" and also we hear a glorious few moments of it in that one extremely romantic shot of mat preparing to save rand while silhouetted by the sun

The Dragon's Heart: can be heard a few times in rand/selene scenes, but nothing that was released on the official album. interestingly, i believe this theme only occurs in the early episodes and vanishes after the selene=lanfear reveal.

Egwene al'Vere: "new beginnings", "making plans", "uprising", briefly in "the source of power", and unreleased versions in several other egwene scenes. probably the most-used New Theme of season 2!

Nynaeve al'Meara: "evil has no limits", not sure if unreleased versions of it appear elsewhere in the season, but it's possible. the "like a raging sun" variation on the aes sedai theme also kinda doubles as nynaeve's theme (we hear it again in her test in s2), so she isn't in as much need of a Character Theme as some of the others.

Last Light: not sure if this ever appears

Coming Home: this one is my everest. i'm not sure if it ever appears BUT there is a distinct and brand-new-for-s2 Damodred Family Melody heard multiple times in-show this season (examples are the second half of "the well" and the very end of "the bond that cannot break") and my GUT is telling me that that melody derives from "coming home". but it isn't actually the same melody as "coming home", yet it doesn't match any of the melodies in the other Themes either. so it's driving me crazy!! haha

season 2 vol 2

these are the tracks that actually appear in the show! and i will note the scene(s) they appear in. i decided to list them in order of appearance rather than in album order. also, a number of tracks have part of it play in one scene and another part play in a different scene, so i've noted that where i can, but i don't think i got Everything.

The Well: 2x01 opening Sad Moiraine Bath

New Beginnings: 2x01, first half is the lantern scene & second half is egwene's opening tower chores montage

Making Plans: 2x02 nynaeve overhears egwene talking about her to elayne

Face It On Your Feet: 2x02 atuan's mill battle

Evil Has No Limits: 2x03 bandit attack in nynaeve's first arch

The Test: 2x03 trolloc attack in nynaeve's third arch

Desert Dreams: 2x04 lanfear's resurrection, then again a bit later when she's riding a horse with a flame whip. a version of this track also plays in a few other lanfear scenes, most iconically her cairhien rampage in 2x07, but the exact album version occurs in 2x04. interesting to note that the melody here is actually moiraine's theme from s1, and moiraine still has that melody often in this season but it's also repurposed as lanfear's theme. although it is also simply The Main Show Theme since it's the opening credits theme, so perhaps it's breaking away from being specific to moiraine (we also hear that melody used for egwene in "uprising")

Family Reunion: 2x04 alanna's house

Damane: 2x05 opening shot of the seanchan in falme

A Daring Rescue: 2x05 aviendha & perrin vs. the whitecloaks

The Thrill of Battle: 2x06 final sequence of ryma's fight & egwene being broken

The Bond That Cannot Break: this is the only one i'm not sure about, but i THINK i heard it in 2x07 when anvaere confronts barthanes (or at least a portion of it)

Uprising: 2x08 egwene escapes and kills renna

The Horn of Valere: 2x08 mat blows the horn

Echoes of the Past: 2x08 mat fighting with the heroes & dain seeing perrin kill his dad

The Source of Power: 2x08 end fight with moiraine on the beach and the kids on the tower

#anonymous #answered #wot show spoilers

[booasaur]

avatrice is just so perfect so good. it makes so much sense that after all the cruelty she experienced ava would fall for bea who's so methodical and patient, bea who's so deliberately thoughtful and kind and compassionate. and after so many year of practicing control bea would fall for someone who lives so unrestrained with so much joy and curiosity. ugh just meant for each other. and a bit of a queen/knight thing going on too

Oof, anon, that's so well said! They match sooo perfectly, it really couldn't be anyone but Bea for Ava and Ava for Bea. The parts that contrast, the parts that complement, the way they like each other as people even outside all that.

It had to be Bea who first pointed out to Ava to think outside of herself, but so fairly and gently that then she was the one Ava turned to for comfort, earning her trust that quickly and keeping it. And it wasn't a one way thing, their relationship isn't just Bea being the cool, infallible one who helps Ava, when Bea was struggling with being gay and the perception of it, it was Ava who was so accepting it prompted that frankly super romantic "It was everyone but you."

What's more, even as they keep these core tenets of their personalities, you can see how each affects and slowly changes the other. Bea absolutely grounds Ava and has taught and trained her to be more mature and patient and a better leader, but also provides stability and a home base, a partner she knows she can count on, invaluable after everything she's gone through. Bea is more willing to try new things, more open to what might make her happy instead of living only for the church and accepting their harshest judgments.

This has been the culmination of decades of subtext f/f ships that seemed so perfect if only the writers would go there, best friends, enemies, rivals, partners, narrative foils of all kinds, and every time we'd say "if that were a man and a woman they'd go there" but they weren't and they didn't, not until now. Finally it feels like what we're seeing and that the writers are writing is on the same page.

I'd also like to give credit to the three things that for me were so necessary to this ship's success. First, it's main character/main character. I've always talked about this, right, the trajectory of canon f/f over time, starting with temporary sweeps stuff, then guest stars, then side characters, and even when including mains and leads, often the love interest was still a side character who might leave at any point. But this is as main/main as you can get! And doesn't it show? The amount of time, story, development? Whole plot decisions hinging on their feelings for each other? It's incomparable.

Second, the fact that they did a multi-season slow burn. I've talked about this before as well, the vanishly small number of shows where characters who were introduced in one season get together in another. Even smaller when both the characters were in the first episode, indicating their importance to the show, being a pivotal character from the start. It pays off in such a rewarding way when we get that anticipation and building of tension and speaks to the commitment and patience from the writers in doing it over such a long arc. Everything we know about these characters and their relationship we were allowed to observe over a significant amount of time and get truly invested in. Not to criticize those that write the full arc within a season, especially in these cancel-happy times, but y'all can't tell me this didn't feel AMAZING.

And lastly, for the most part this remains a very character-first kinda show, and I have not a single criticism for how they handled Ava, Bea, or Avatrice (though I'm not happy about certain other aspects). What we know about Ava and Bea, their traits that you can list so clearly, they're such fully formed characters and their actions feel so organic and rooted in what we already know about them. That's been so vital in appreciating their whole romance, it's always just made so much sense.

Oh, the queen/knight thing! I didn't even think about that but it's definitely there, and my favorite kind, where the knight character is awesome and protective, but the queen is fighting for the knight just as hard in her own way (see also: Dani/Grace >_>).

This turned out to be truly special, really hoping the show gets one more season at least to cap things off.

#replies #femslash related stuff #sent on 20221120 #Anonymous #5 #warrior nun #avatrice #still not recovered from jetlag so you have me typing this up at 3 in the morning

[ferociouslycreativemystery]

A Beet by Beet Analysis - Part 1

This is largely just a walkthrough of the Good Omens season 2 episode 1 title sequence, though I have made some attempts to interpret the contents where I felt able to. 

Because we of course don't know everything the series will contain yet it's hard to know which details to pick out and focus on, and how they might be interconnected or not. In my observation I have therefore paid extra attention to the things I felt were visually distinct in each title segment, as well as any (barely) legible text or symbols⁠—all presented with pictures so you can make your own mind up. 

I hope this will be useful to anyone who wants an overview of the titles without having to go over the whole sequence frame by frame yourself, since I think it’s useful to put the details in context relative to each other, in case their order or placement might be important. I’m sure others have already pointed out the things I will bring up here, and added more context and better analysis; I'm just here to join in the fun! :)

Oh, and the title of this will make sense in due course.

So, where do we start off? With a mountainous landscape, and some pretty self-explanatory symbolism. Our occult (ethereal!) forces join up⁠, Crowley climbing out of hell and Aziraphale coming down from the heavens. They’re coming from their separate sides in season 1 to arrive on their own side: earth.

They enter a cave together. Crowley lights a match to light their way. The action is emphasised both by it being the only action taking place at the time, and the fact that the two of them are in closeup.

Through a hard cut we emerge into a hilly desert landscape. It’s dark, but we can see a man walking with a box. Notice the label with the three arrows pointing up. This box is a recurring theme throughout the title sequence⁠—keep an eye out for it. Is it significant that the box appears this early? Who is the delivery man?

The sun rises above the hill in the distance, and we see a large number of animals: a few sheep, and lots of goats (kids anyone?). Our main duo are followed by a black-robed figure, possibly death, as they come upon an ancient city. The sun rises while Crowley strikes another match alight right behind, or possibly against a goat. He doesn’t need it for light; he does it to set the animals on fire, and they are all engulfed in flames.

The visuals in this segment, the presence of death, and it being Good Omens immediately sends my thoughts to biblical times and biblical places. My guess is that this either Sodom, Gomorrah, or a third town inspired by the two of them that’s being set ablaze. Though why it’s the animals specifically on fire I have no idea, and may count against this theory. (I’ve also never read a religious text, so I don’t know the story well enough to tell if this theory makes any sense at all.)

To see the other parts, click here.

#good omens #gos2 #good omens season 2 #good omens s2 #good omens 2 #good omens meta #title sequence #maddie's beet by beet analysis #maddie's go2 tag #maddie's writing tag

[pi-creates]

Hey, Pi. Not sure if you're still active, but I am modding my copy of TWDG: Definitive and have been following your model swap tutorials for season 4. I was wondering if you knew how to make multiple model swap mods run together without any conflicts? My goal is to have four running at once (Player/Clem controlling Minnie, Minnie replaced by Clem/AJ as Tenn, Tenn as AJ) for a modded playthrough. For Minnie swapped by Clem, I wanted Clem to use her ranch outfit instead of default. Thanks.

I'm still here, but I'm in like a constant state of hibernation unless prodded.

To answer your question - you can theoretically do as many model swaps as you want in your game so long as you know what you're doing and have the right amount of "parts" to overwrite with. There will always be fiddly moments where things may look off, but complete breaking shouldn't happen all that often.

With that said... swapping out AJ makes certain scenes be unplayable - I don't think it matters who the character you replace him with is, it moves the interaction points in a few scenes and makes them impossible to select.

Off the top of my head, in episode one during the car crash sequence, you need to get a knife from AJ's hand via clicking on one of those interaction circles - changing AJ to another character moves that circle outside of your vision and thus causes you to fail the sequence. And in episode 2, the scene where you need to remove bullet fragments has the same problem - you can't interact with what you need to and therefore you can't progress.

The only way to get passed those moments (as far as I know) is to remove the modded content, play to the next checkpoint, then exit out of the game and put the modded content back in.

If it helps at all, this is kinda how I would go about things...

Get your files for the character parts you need: - Minerva's files: episode 3 or 4 archives [make sure to save the textures as well] - McCarroll Clementine's files: episode 4 archives [note that she uses the "sk62_clementine402.skl", but her meshes and textures use the word "Mccarroll" with both the 400 and 402 number] - AJ's files: any episode archive depending on the outfit - Tenn's files: any episode archive [note that his name in the files is "tennyson"]

Try swapping in one character at a time: - KEEP ALL THOSE UNALTERED FILES SEPARATED FROM THE FILES YOU'RE RENAMING - Just trust me, it gets real confusing if you lose track of what has been renamed and what hasn't - especially when you are doing a swap that directly "flips" characters - Make a new folder and name it clearly something like "Minnie replacing Clementine" - copy your Minerva files here and rename them to overwrite Clem's files - Replacing Clementine with Minerva for all episodes requires you to overwrite the the "sk62_clementine400" files for episode 1, then the "sk62_clementine402" files for episode 2 and onwards. Episode 4 has many iterations of Clem's mesh for her lower body - it's a pain to make files for all of them, but just replace all those files with Minerva's lower body.

Check that the character appears correctly: - Go into the game directly and play for a moment to check that the swap has worked appropriately - You can see in the episode select screen if Clementine and AJ have been replaced, or you can also check the character viewer, but they aren't always accurate to how the character appears in the game - If you see the character models appear spindly like their limbs are very warped, this is probably a "skl" file issue... double check that you've used the proper skl to match with the meshes you're using in your replacement. - Invisible parts can be because textures from later episodes haven't been copied over [unaltered - you shouldn't need to rename any textures for this swap to be what you want]

Move on to the next character: - Doing it character by character will make it easier - But still, put things in their own folders with clear names - In the end, you should be able to take all of your "renamed" files, stick them in one folder, and be able to make a mod file out of it

#twdg #twdg s4 #model swaps #hopefully this is helpful #for curious campers out there #the telltale modding discord server has a 'help' channel for people wanting to mod #for if i'm unresponsive or if people just want to look into projects other people are up to #meanwhile... i go back to hibernating #and by hibernating i mean play bg3 because i have a problem #but also actual hibernation because fatigue is poopy

[a-queenoffairys]

Code Lyoko Dialogue Stats

A while ago, I got curious about how much of the dialogue in Code Lyoko is spoken by each of the main characters, and how often some of them might get sidelined compared to others. I decided a quick way to find out would be to write a script to analyse all the fanmade episode transcripts and tally up the line and word count for each character.

So I did just that! And I ended up with a bunch of statistics I find pretty interesting. Image descriptions are in the alt text.

Ranking main characters across the original series

Jeremie was the clear winner when it came to the amount of dialogue everyone has. And it makes sense, given how he's the one who does the most work helping Aelita and trying to find ways to counter XANA, as well as acting as the group's guide on Lyoko, so he's much more likely to be able to get to the factory and help the others deactivate the tower.

Aelita and Yumi scored pretty low especially in the first two seasons, namely because Aelita spent all of season 1 stuck on Lyoko, and Yumi was in a different class to Ulrich, Odd and Jeremie. This meant that both of them had fewer chances to interact with the rest of the cast. Aelita in season 2 is a bit more strange, as she was living on Earth permanently but she just didn't appear in many of the classroom scenes. If there's some sort of explanation for this, I don't know what it is.

It was Odd who had the most lines spoken in a single episode, and that episode was Triple Trouble. So yeah, it's understandable he would have way more dialogue than everyone else in an episode where there are three of him running around.

Dialogue stats per season

Something of note here is how the average word and line count increase quite a bit by season 4. Season 4 is known for audio quirks such as the occasional sped-up voice line and sometimes cutting off syllables or entire words from the characters' sentences. People tend to think this was due to the English dub struggling to match the French lip flaps, but did you know the sped-up dialogue is present in the original French version too? I can't say for certain, but my theory is they did this because season 4's episodes were so densely packed with dialogue, they had trouble fitting it all in.

I think this shows just how big a role secondary and background characters had in season 1 compared to the other seasons. Speaking of which, Jim was the most talkative secondary character in the series, followed by Sissi.

Ranking main characters in Evolution

Once again Jeremie is the clear winner, by a wider margin this time. I have to give his actor credit for doing so many scenes where he was sitting alone in a chair pretending to talk to someone on Lyoko or the phone.

It's nice to see Aelita and Yumi moving up the rankings, but also disappointing that secondary characters have such a small role. Without more prominent secondary characters around to create interpersonal drama, I feel Evolution's writers would often turn to creating drama between the main characters instead, even when it didn't seem like it made sense for them to be upset at each other. Jim and Laura make up the bulk of the secondary character dialogue; all the other characters score very low.

Another thing to note is how low William scored. Even if you don't count the episodes prior to him officially joining the group, there are still a number of episodes where he only has about 4 to 6 lines - low scores not seen since Aelita was materialised at the end of season 1.

This graph is mostly the same as the previous one, but now with Evolution added and William separated from the other secondary characters in seasons 2-4.

Full data

If you click the link below you'll find the full spreadsheet with my methodology and full dialogue breakdowns for every episode, season, main character and top secondary characters, for both Code Lyoko and Evolution. Enjoy!

#code lyoko #code lyoko evolution #//I finally posted it wowwww

[vinxwatches]

watching good omen season 1

ep 1 pilot

haven't seen a lot of it, mostly that people like it, that it's made by people people really like and that it's gay (or at least people make it gay) so you know, good pick for me. and i just watched to animations/animatics on youtube with bad endings and bad endings fuck me up, so hopefully this is happier. intro is a fucking banger. also god has a fem voice? nice. accurate skin colour for the earliest humans. not surprised, but appreciated. making fun of theology and great banter? i love it.

ominous picnic basket. oh... actually quite biblically fitting it seems. i REALLY hope they don't expect me to remember these names too well. many of the characters seem fun though.

of course the american politician says bs like "a regular y chromosome son". which i'm sure has not been tested as you 1: don't know the gender yet. 2: phenotype does not denote genotype.

i wonder who and how they'll figure out who has the wrong baby. "i don't recall what horror of history we had a lunch over, but i do recall what we had." the BEST dynamic.

will they even figure out they got the wrong one? ok, i know that working with an actual 5 year old would be a nightmare... but that kid is like 12.

well done making both heaven and hell look like shit. do you want grime overpopulating or empty, liminal, office spaces?

brilliant end of episode 1.

ep 2 the book

damn the forces of hell are so bloody rude and evil. and so many quick jokes.

question: what are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse supposed to be in christianity? both biblically and in modern belief? they are separate from devils and angels.

i love a witch that also uses an ipad in her rituals.

"sorry, right number" seriously the humour in this show is so brilliant. i really hope the story is able to match it.

ep 3 hard times

a black knight shrugging is way too funny. i love these two. just two old friends helping each other out, it's just that that's diametrically opposing one another. the angel doing some tempting, the demon some miracles. and upper management doesn't care.

awh, they are just so cute together.

excuse me you are playing intro now? 28 minutes in? that's not an intro. that's a bloody intermission!

they really succeed at making heaving seem so extremely bad. extremely wide shot or extreme close-up. it's so incredibly uncomfortable.

the prime minister has a nice flat chested fucker in his bed.... good for him if he's not cheating.

"mend it all"/"end it all" whispers. really neat.

ep 4 saturday morning funtime

of course he was condemned for nothing more then asking questions.

ah, they got rid of pestilence to replace them with pollution. it's a good change, but feels pretty pre 2020.

oh no, i find his death so sad. he had a love, why kill him? i know the apocalypse is coming but still.

i still really hope that the presidents son turns out to be trans to just break the things he said at the start. then again it wouldn't really work as it's not the kids he said it about. idk, i guess i hope of screen son turns out to be trans to spite the person that'll never know... yea i'm holding out hope for something that doesn't matter.

azi being send to heaving is SO bad. his bookshop possibly burning down is emotionally worse. it was going to be the last episode of the day. but i started watching because i couldn't deal with bad endings, so i guess i'll have to watch one more.

ep 5 the doomsday option

Azi going full rogue (finally).

man that's the most obvious cold reading ever.

the guard reads a neil gaymen book. cute.

sir... your car is... more then a little on fire.

ep 6 the very last day of the rest of their lives

are we doing a flash back episode for the last episode of the season?

oh, please let him rebuild the car just like i want the bookshop rebuild?

the way to defeat the end of the world is to believe and stand (and i hope work) for a world that wouldn't end. a bit on the nose but very nice.

and of course with Terry Pratched being involved death is not to be defeated, just not hastened along.

a kid not doing the one thing they were supposed to do.... there's a trans/gay message in there. also That's Just What Kids Do! you wanted an 11 year old to do what they were told? that's the first part of the problem.

for a TV series that's a pretty good satan. oh that is SO clever. kind of time fucking, but not really so long as you never introduce time travel so it's only true from now on. oh, is it a nicer ending then i though? YES IT IS! \o/

it "ends" as it starts: with a garden and an apple. ok, make it more explicit why don't you.

oh, you subtle bastards. i love it. other scene's now make more sense too, oh how i love it.

ok, yea it makes sense people go wild over this as it's really bloody great.

#good omens #good omens season 1

[popculturebuffet]

Pirate Week/Monthly Muppet Madness: The Muppet Show: Glenda Jackson (Comission for WeirdKev27)

In Loving Memory of Captain Glenda Jackson

1963-2023

Avast ye happy swabs and welcome to pirate week! Well half a week at this rate but it dosen't sound as good does it. Arrr.

Pirate Week continues a tradition going all the way back to .. last year with pirate month, simply compressed into a week because my schedule has been in freefall since my movie in june and i'm just now getting it back in order.

So to kick this one off we're bringing back some old friends. It's been a bit since the muppets themselves have featured on MMM, it's grown into being about muppet style puppetry in general, but their back in style with one of the best muppet show episodes i've seen.

For those like me not familliar with today's guest, Glenda Jackson was a classically trained actress, winning the triple crown of acting, having won two oscars, three emmy's and a tony and thus being a big deal i'm shocked I hadn't heard of sooner. She also went into politics and all in all seems throughly amazing and i'll certainly be looking into her more after this.

Despite this though when it came to the muppets... she was ENTIRELY chill. Jerry Juhl explained in the book of muppets and men which I just now know exists and now badly want..

“A problem with some guest stars is that they have strong ideas about the show -- about what they'd like to do on it -- and those ideas are not exactly original. Almost everyone wants to work with Piggy, and sometimes that's fine, but often we'd feel much happier if we could match that guest up with another puppet. I think we generally do our best work when we're given a completely free hand, as happened with Glenda Jackson, for example. We asked her if there was anything she would like to do and she said, 'You people know what you're up to. I'll do anything you write for me.'”

And what I love about this is it's clear from the episode.. Glenda didn't say this out of "Oh well I don't give a shit do whatever" syndrome. She's giving her all to the material this episode and having a fucking blast. She simply trusted one of the best creative teams on earth to do what they do and they in turn didn't let her down.

The result is both one of the best muppet show episodes, as I said, but also one of the fucking weirdest. And given this is the muppets that only adds to it. So join me under the cut to see classically trained award winning actress turn out to be a pirate and hyjack the muppet show under the cut!

We open with a standard mupet show opening: our host checking in with Pops the doorman. I see these more in later episodes, with most of the first few seasons instead doing the more memorable "5 minutes to curtain (Insert guest star name here)" with Scooter. She has a penguin sidekick for this one and I love how some guest stars will just casually have their own muppet entourage.

So after our into and standard gonzo gag (this time with a bunch of penguins and given I love me some pengys I loved this), we get our first musical number: Gonzo singing Jim Croche's working at the car wash. What I like is listening to the original while Croche did great Gonzo adds some nice pathos to it, his slower more glum tone giving it a bit of a more melancholy tone while the fact he's surrounded by his chickens and in fantasy takes the day off to go do some stuff i'd rather not competmplate iwth camilla makes it work. Solid sketch.

So Kermit goes to get Glenda.. and it's here the episode goes off the rails only a few minutes in and is all the better for it. So given free reign to do whatever they want with the guest, the writers decided.. to have Glenda be the decendant of the pirate, and with her crew (including my boy sweetums as long john silver, that'll teach kermit to keep leaving him places), mutiny's and takes over the show and shanghais it, leaving the muppet theater stuck on a boat. I paticuarlly love the bit with her pengy parrot, with Kermit snarking the guy up and down about being in a pengy desiguse, not being able to change and then having to go offscreen to do it. Sassy kermit is almost as good as depressed overworked kermit, aka relatable kermit.

The pirates then sing tie the man down.. I forgot this one happened.

Glenda has decided to take the theater ship to go search for treasure, and after one fozzie joke, they set sail to find One Piece!

Oh boo yourself I didn't have time for a once piece film this year. Let me have this.

We then get a great pirate shanty, A Captial Ship. It's a number that both shows off Jacksons pipes and just how game she is. She was handed this pretty nonsensical, if deeply hilariously weird idea and just runs with it. She has pitch perfect comedic timing (When one of her crew worries they've tied kermit too tight she quips "Don't worry his eyes always look like that) and a ton of energy. It's clear like most muppet show hosts she's having a fucking ball doing this.

We then get her parrot singing carolina in the morning... in the croakiest, most nausating voice possible. We don't even get the cahtarsis we should as Sweedish chef prepares to cook the bastard.. only for him to shoot him.

We then get some more antics on deck as Scooter gets seasick, complete with a brand new puppet. And I have to agree wtih muppets fansite tough pigs.. this puppet is all time great muppet stuff.

Especially since they had to make an ENTIRE MUPPET just to do this one gag. Which isn't unsuual for them and probably easier because they know how to make a scooter, but it's still bonkers they put in all that extra work for one sight gag and I salute it.

We get a segment of At the Dance, my faviorite recurring muppet show segment. For those who haven't seen this one, the muppets do a ballroom dance. Usually their pretty good but the jokes here just aren't the strongest and most of it is the boat is moving and knocking everything about. A real disapointment especially since it's a rare gimmicky one that has a certain theme.

We then get Muppet Sports and this one is fun as Lou interviews a crewman whose yard arming, i.e. hainging onto the yard arm of the ship (the thing that comes out of the crows nest that you climbed in donkey kong). He naturally falls thanks to looking down just 5 minutes shy of a world record and even more naturally takes Lou with him. A fun skit, mostly for the ending but I love that they were able to adapt every sketch after the first for this new gimmick. It's still the usual runners but fit sthe perfomers being stuck on a ship.

We then get.. the weakest part of the episode. Shakey Sanchez, the nights intended performer is donig a bomb juggling act. That on a rocky ship.. would work and be geninely funny either because he dosen't drop them and then casually whoopsies or because of all of the explosions. What we get.. is piggy threatning to tip them because she tips the ship wherever she walks. BECAUSE GET IT SHE'S OVERWEIGHT. HA HA. And look I do think you can make an overweight joke work in two circumstances: If it's clearly in good faith by someone who has some weight , like moi, or it's so cartoony and over the top it's less fat shaming and more just plain slapstick, like 80% of the jokes from the critic or this joke from family guy.

In this case it's just "THIS WOMAN IS HEFTY AIN'T THAT FUNNY" which no. It isn't. Your just an asshole. I'm not the biggest Piggy fan but of all the things nto make fun of her for, you choose a non issue? Really?

This also causes a VERY rare event: Kermit ... tries to stop the show

Keep in mind just HOW much shit Kermit goes through on a nightly basis. He didn't stop the show when Alice Cooper kept making deals for satan or when they had to do it at a train station. It just boggles the mind to think just how much this guy can normally take.. and after this too. He dosen't do this after and genuinely dosen't quit unless really pushed. After being kidnapped by a guest who sailed the theater away into the open sea what besides personal issues COULD POSSIBLY BREAK YOU.

We get our finale a battle at sea and my faviorite part. Not only is the song top notch but we get a lot of fun as Gonzo storms the ship to take it back, his chickens as his crew and some human canonballs as his ammo. It's truly awesome and wonderfuly caathartic to see the muppets take their show back. Sadly Glenda fakes just getting to into the bit and ends up winning, but frankly this episode is so insanely redieculous it works. Roll credits. This episode.. has quickly become one of my faviorite muppet show episodes. Not EVERY segment lands, like I said there's a few duds.. but the theme, Jackson's performance and the music is so damn fun you don't dwell on the weaker segments for long and instead just have a lot of fun with the insanity that's unfoldlding. Glenda Jackson trusted they knew what they were doing.. and unsuprisingly the muppet show crew absolutely did. Thanks for reading.

#pirate month #glenda jackson #the muppet show #the muppets #kermit the frog #sweetums #miss piggy #gonzo the great #jim henson #Youtube

[bidonica]

Art in HotD - 1x05 “We Light The Way”

(more art in Westeros) - (more art in HotD)

(Make sure to click through, these images are BIG)

There’s no doubt about what makes the meaty part of this episode: Corlys’ art collection. But first, a good panoramic look at High Tide:

Hard not think of Mont Saint-Michel. Does this make the Stormlands Fantasy Normandy? Maybe, if maritime pines grew there. On the other hand in this very episode Larys explained to us that “natural habitat” is an elastic concept on Planetos (which honestly? is consistent with the magical seasons). ETA: The actual filming location is indeed St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, historically hosting an abbey founded by benedictine monks coming from… Mont Saint-Michel. (Thanks to Ashaya of History of Westeros and @salty-wench for pointing this out to me!)

But it’s the inside that’s the real treat. We saw a glimpse of it in episode 2, when Corlys and Daemon join forces to fight at the Stepstones.

That bronze head covered in coral and sediments makes a clear connection between the Velaryons and the sea they tied their house’s heritage to. Same for what looks like the skull of a deep sea fish on his desk. But they are also bizarre and unique items; let’s put a pin on that.

The great hall in High Tide gives the impression of being spacious and airy, despite being full of items collected by Corlys in his travels. The architecture is very spartan, with some painted decoration on the window arches, that together with the teal walls prevent the room from feeling too austere. I’m also a bit at loss with the diamond texture on the pillar capitals; they don’t really look like any historical style I can think of, though the diamonds have been used in the renaissance for civilian as well as military architecture, just not on capitals.

A good look at the Driftwood Throne; a piece of lore that wasn’t mentioned in the episode was that it was gifted to the Velaryons by the mythical sea deity the Merlin King. It would be interesting to know whether it was the Velaryons who decorated the wood with their heraldic seahorse or if the story goes the other way around - they adopted the seahorse because it was already there? I am leaning towards the former.

On the bottom left you can also see a mid sized statue of what looks like an Asian warrior, reminiscent of both the terracotta soldiers and of traditional Mongolian iconography. Does this represent an inhabitant of Yi Ti?

Another statement piece besides the throne is the model of the castle on the left side of the room:

Not gonna lie, during my first viewing I took note of it and I assumed it was a model of High Tide itself, but the actual castle is much smaller. The architecture is also distinctly different from the one in Viserys’ model of Valyria, so it isn’t a representation of the Velaryons’ ancestral land. A possibility is that it is actually Driftmark, so Corlys is watching over both his castles at the same time - and most of all, he is displaying them both. It’s important to note that unlike Viserys’ miniature, this model is meant to be seen by whoever is coming to meet the Lord of the Tides. However, this doesn’t really match the description of Driftmark as dark and cramped, so I’m making a wild guess and saying it is actually a project for the future expansion of High Tide, as the architectural style seems to match, as well as the hilltop silhouette. The model also seems to be made of wood, which was the preferred material for this kind of item back before modern lightweight alternatives and 3D renderings. Note also the statues holding the table, an iconography with its roots in antiquity and that took hold again during the Renaissance before taking a decidedly racist turn shortly after (a huge number of architectural elements but also furniture etc. especially from the 17th and 18th century depict black men in that position, often with exaggerated, grotesque features).

It wouldn't surprise me if the big seashell near the throne was custom made for High Tide especially because of the impeccable color coordination, but I'm not so sure. Something that definitely was commissioned is the huge fresco depicting a ship behind the staircase (why oh why is it behind a staircase??? Corlys you didn't think *this* through). The figurehead represents the titular Sea Snake Corlys' ship gets her name from, preceded by dolphins (both in classical and Medieval/Renaissance iconography a symbol of good fortune for seafarers, and also of speed and intelligence) and it is also going in the direction of the sun, which is interesting in the context of this quote from Fire & Blood:

As for Lady Alys Westhill, born Elissa of House Farman, where her adventure ended we cannot say. The Sun Chaser vanished into the west, still searching for the lands beyond the Sunset Sea, and was never seen again.

Except…

Many years later, Corlys Velaryon, the boy born on Driftmark in 53 AC, would take his ship the Sea Snake on nine great voyages, sailing farther than any man of Westeros had ever sailed before. On the first of those voyages, he sailed beyond the Jade Gates, to Yi Ti and the isle of Leng, and returned with such a wealth of spice and silk and jade that House Velaryon became, for a time, the wealthiest house in all the Seven Kingdoms. On his second voyage, Ser Corlys sailed even farther east, and became the first Westerosi ever to reach Asshai-by-the-Shadow, the bleak black city of the shadowbinders at the edge of the world. There he lost his love and half his crew, if the tales be true…and there as well, in Asshai’s harbor, he glimpsed an old and much weathered ship that he would swear forevermore could only have been Sun Chaser.

Is this fresco both a celebration of Corlys' famous voyages and a declaration of intent - that someday he, or another Velaryon, will go "west of Westeros" the way the legend says Elissa Farman did? Either way, it's as much of a statement piece as the storytelling columns in the Great Hall in King's Landing, except less martial and more aspirational. You can glimpse a bit more of the fresco in some pre release featurette from HBO that I didn’t have the time to track down, which shows the ship is also accompanied by actual sea snakes, and that the painting overlooks what’s basically an altar with the skulls of the Velaryon ancestors wearing oblong helms, clearly representing the ground (well, technically the sea) upon which the house stands.

>

House Velaryon as envisioned by Corlys, however, doesn’t dwell on the past; it  is projected towards growth and discovery. There seem to be also some little monochrome scenes in the circles painted into the framing of the bigger fresco, but not even high res production stills are able to show what exactly they are depicting.

On to items that have been collected rather than commissioned: lots of sea and horse imagery, but no straight up seahorse save for one where the peculiar bend of the tail makes me suspect it had a functional purpose, possibly as an oarlock. There are also items that do not relate directly to the Velaryon heraldry, like that stone element hanging from the ceiling that reminds me of the steeples of Khmer temples like the ones in Angkor, Cambodia. Or what might look like an astronomical tool, relevant for a seafarer, but also interestingly held by serpents, which might indicate more obscure, occult uses (and as the quote above reminds us, Corlys allegedly sailed as far as Asshai). There's a random wooden statue representing a human figure, precious pottery, etc. There's also, notably, the Crabfeeder's mask, which makes me wonder how many of Corlys' treasures were bought or traded and how many are spoils of battle.

What these items make when grouped together isn't so much a museum or private art collection, as much as a Wunderkammer, or cabinet of wonders. It's important to note that in the eras HotD draws from - basically the late Middle Ages with some tentative leap towards the Renaissance - the notion of art and its value was different than it is now. The way we conceive of art today owes a lot to the Romantic movement and its idea of art as the expression of human emotion - and of individual human genius. Before that, with various degrees of nuance, art was mostly a means to an end, and the artist was generally seen as a glorified craftsman (sometimes craftswoman) whose intellectual and personal contribution began and ended at the formal, technical stage of execution (again: there was wiggle room for this, and increasingly heated debate on figurative artists’ intellectual worth, but I digress). Which is why the Wunderkammer often mixed what we now consider actual, reputable art (or archaeology) with things that were valued just because they were weird and unique, like stuffed exotic animals, weirdly shaped pearls or seashells and whatnot, complex machinery, biological specimens going from the bizarre to the macabre. Cabinets of wonders have often been the starting point for the construction of modern museums, but Westerosi culture is still very far away from conceptualizing museums or private art collections in the modern sense, however they have the right mindset to start building Wunderkammern.

In a way, Corlys is the closest thing Westeros has to a Renaissance prince right now, because he claims ancient nobility but he's also a self made man, whose influence relies on a wealth built on trade rather than on the ownership of land or natural resources. And, like a Renaissance prince, he has a keen understanding of the use of art and decor as a means to communicate what he and his family are, what they were and what they want to be.

I thought High Tide would take over all of this week's post BUT we have at least a couple of tidbits from the Red Keep. We get a nice look at Alicent's quarters, and while the walls are dominated by the usual dragon orgies, I spotted that little aedicule near the window. Unfortunately we can't see what it contains, but my money would be on some little painting or icon relating to the Seven, a little niche for Alicent's devotion amongst the aggressively pagan wall art. It would be in line with the thinly veiled Catholic references the Faith is built upon, as it's pretty common for Catholic devotional paintings or statues (especially of saints or the Virgin Mary) to be housed in aedicules. It's a small thing, but I'm very curious to see whether and where the production design slips Faith iconography in the background, as it seems to be one of the main divides between the Greens and the Blacks.

Also, peep the dolphin shaped table legs, a popular motif during the Renaissance in general but, besides the meanings we've seen in relation to Corlys, also traditionally associated with nobility and faithfulness, hence a fitting iconography for a queen consort.

Last but not least, this isn't artwork per se, but it's hard not to see a callback to Last Supper imagery when it comes to the high table at the wedding feast - but rather than Leonardo's famous painting I got reminded of a slightly older iconography which explicitly singled Judas out. Which isn't to say Daemon is literally the Judas in the scenario, especially if we take Rhaenyra as the "Jesus" of the scene - she even has a halo/crown created by the outline of the Iron Throne when she’s seated... - but he is definitely a disruptor. Though not as disruptive as Alicent, the real odd one out here, arriving late and dressed in green as she joins a table that's basically composed of the future Blacks. Ironically, from her point of view it's Rhaenyra who is the Judas in the picture.

(also high res production stills show us some more details about the reliefs on the Great hall columns - yeah that's indeed a Targaryen shield there in the upper right. Now, if only I could make out what's on the shield more to the left...)

#art in hotd #house of the dragon #hotd meta #hotd 1x05 #fire and blood #art history #this is so long........ i'm very sorry i even tried cutting stuff out #blame it on famous hoarder corlys velaryon #renaissance #wunderkammer

[izumi-fanclub]

A3! Event Story Translation “Ah, My Dearly Beloved” [ Chapter 3 ]

We have a very special guest star for today's episode.

Syu

Yo, hope I’m not intruding.

Chikage

Syu-san.

Itaru

RNG must be crazy for you to show up.

Syu

I was just passing by when I ran into this guy and he invited me in for a drink.

Guy

I heard from Azuma that we have some good local sake, so I took the liberty of inviting him over.

Syu

I came for the sake, but I also need to talk to you about something so it all ties in together.

Izumi

What about?

Syu

Ever heard of an inn called Sayuru Pavilion?

Izumi

It’s a famous long-established ryokan. The foliage there during autumn is popular so it’s hard to make a reservation…

Azuma

We were just talking about it earlier.

Syu

Talk about good timing. So you must’ve heard there’s a Noh stage there.

Azami

Yeah, we saw the pictures.

Syu

It’s basically just decoration now since it’s barely used, actors are only onstage once per year.

Chikage

Are you referring to the “Night Party” by any chance?

Syu

Hohh… So you know. That’s not typical information you’d see out in the open.

Chikage

Just learned some things brought up in work conversations.

There’s a group of influential people called the “Scarlet Poet Society”, they have an evening party where they gather in secret annually…

That’s as far as my knowledge goes about it.

Omi

It’s like something out of a drama or movie.

Itaru

That’s so IRL animecore.

Syu

Here’s the kicker.

Those night party performances that are performed on the Noh stage? Our troupe’s in charge of that every year.

Izumi

No way!?

Guy

How impressive.

Syu

We got asked to do it again this year, and the theme was “Four Seasons.”

I figured the MANKAI Company is a better match for the theme than us.

They got interested in the company since it was my old troupe and you guys won the Fleur Award.

Izumi

So Syu-san, what you needed to talk about was…?

Syu

How about you put on a play at that party instead of us?

Izumi

We’d love t—.

Syu

There’s one condition, however.

Sakyo

A condition?

Syu

The lead has to be a teenage boy. Don’t got a clue why it has to be different this time around.

Well, whatever’s up, the story’s not half bad.

Izumi

To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s alright to hold a soiree there, but if Syu-san recommends us personally then it shouldn’t be risky…

Sakyo

If Syu-san partners up with them every year, then they must be influential and not just some name.

It’s a great story too, it should be fine to take it up.

Izumi

Then it’s decided. …We’ll gladly take up your offer.

Syu

As you should.

Sakyo

And the script?

Syu

I’ll get it prepared for you. I know your style anyway.

Izumi

Thank you so much!

Azuma

…Well, now that all the work talk is over with.

Syu

Yeah, sorry for taking up so much of your time. Now that negotiations are in order, let’s get to stuffing our faces.

Guy

I shall get us some snacks.

Izumi

I’ll go help!

Azami

…Hey, Sakyo.

Sakyo

What?

Azami

That ryokan, Sayuru Pavilion… it feels familiar, have I been there when I was a kid?

Sakyo

…No, I don’t recall anything. Maybe it was before I joined, go ask the boss.

Azami

(That’s such a pain though.)

Chikage

I’m home.

Azami

Welcome back.

Chikage

Studying ancient literature?

Azami

Yeah, Itaru-san just went out ‘cause of a work call.

Chikage

I see. Sorry for disrupting your studying.

Azami

Whatever. It’s fine, I could use a break.

Chikage

…Are you having a hard time with it? Azami

Eh?

Chikage

It doesn’t look like you’re making much progress from the number of pages.

Azami

I mean…

Chikage

…Now what are you reeling back for?

Azami

It’s like a defense mechanism thing.

Chikage

Well, go take your time. I’m gonna eat dinner.

Azami

Sigh… I’ll never get what’s up with that guy…

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#a3 translation #a3! translation #a3 #a3! #a3! event story translation #a3 event story translation #chikage utsuki #sakyo furuichi #azami izumida #omi fushimi #azuma yukishiro #itaru chigasaki #syu otomiya #ah my dearly beloved

[blamemma]

Okay I’ve watched 3 episodes of full contact gonna watch the rest tomorrow and I’m in different minds about it. I like the plucking of a player from a team but I also want to know about that team as a team. Even if they gave a rundown about which players are there in each team per episode and roles etc. But again I understand certain players are not interested in it at all.

Surprised by that Ireland episode and what we got considering that rumour of Peter O’Mahony closing the door telling the cameras to fuck off during one match. But what I wouldn’t give to see Peter showing off his gardening down in Cork too.

I also think I’m experiencing from this what I did in the last season of dts which is, I know the sport and what is going to happen. I’m excited to see how the season is going to unfold fully because I do have 5 episodes left. Can say not a fan of Negri or Russell after this so far. I think Farrell would’ve been such an interesting player to focus on but he is very media shy along with other stuff surrounding him at the moment. I do have a soft spot for Andrew Porter especially because of how outspoken he is with his mental health and it takes balls to do that, even opening that conversation.

i definitely get what you mean! i also have only watched 3 eps so I can't judge the whole thing yet, but to me there are two things missing

emphasis on team camaraderie and looking at the bigger, whole picture of a rugby team rather than just individuals. number 10 is a very important jersey, but actually that position can't play well and find opportunities if the other players around him aren't also playing well

there is no explanations.....at all. if i was a new rugby fan, tuning in to learn more about rugby and the way it works i'd have no idea. what's a scrum? what's the scoring system? what causes a penalty kick? what's a lineout? so many of those things are glossed over and not explained. i know sometimes will buxton's explanations can be funny and meme-y, but actually i think they're so important to explain the simple things to the newer audience you're trying to capture!! to me, full contact won't actually do much to bring in a wider larger audience because it doesn't do enough to appeal to that group?? I'd be interested to know how you feel about that and what your level of rugby knowledge is??

i must admit tho, i v much fell in love with negri a little bit after his episode....idk what it is but i was like ahhh he's an okay chap actually!! he definitely won't be the stand out italy player from full contact (if there's an episode of ange capuozzo then he'll sweep the board) but i enjoyed his parts alongside porter. it's hard not to love anyone from the ireland team tho!!! glad to hear ur a fellow finn russel hater also <3

#anon #asks #rugby

[fruity-phrog]

Have any Episode 5 predictions?

Oh...just a few...

Zava and Shandy out Colin. As in, Zava posts an image of Colin and Michael from the end of ep3/sends it to the press, but Shandy encouraged him to. We know Shandy wants a big "scandal" to blow Twitter up and we know Zava left the restaurant a few moments after Colin and Michael. Zava will claim he posted the image because Shandy said he should "show some love on his socials" but it would definitely be at least partially due to his anger surrounding the West Ham match. This allows a segway into two issues being resolved - Keeley will get to tell Shandy off for basically jepordizing her company and her job, and Zava will get to be put in his place. Maybe he'll leave. Can you leave halfway through a season? Apparently it's to do with your contract, so since Zava signed with "You're welcome" he could probably leave. So yeah. We'll get Zava and Shandy problems because. I want that.

On the subject of gay, Trent and Keeley will be gay. I'm not saying "canonized" because, as you can probably tell, it fuckin pisses me off when people say that bisexual Keeley is a headcanon. It's not. It's canon. Anyway, Trent will be canonized as queer and Keeley will revisit her bisexuality. Obviously it will be mainly Trent but I think Keeley deserves to get fuckin pissed off at Shandy for outing someone.

Okay enough self-indulgence. Aside from the episode dealing with three issues - Colin, Shandy and Zava - I think it will also deal with Rebecca in one of two ways. Firstly, it could deal with her whole green-matchbox-prophecy thing which I am now going to explain my theory of because it's my blog and I can.

-What if it wasn't a green matchbox. What if it was a green matchbox soldier. Something Ted is well-known for having and giving out. I'm not even a Tedbecca shipper but I can see when I'm wrong (ignore my huntlow denial). Rebecca's not going to get back with Sam, just like Keeley's not going to get back with Jamie. She's going to get together with Ted. Okay theory within theory is over-

Okay now that I've explained that, that's option one. Option two is that she deals with her issue with Rupert. In that way, I mean her bestie arc with Bex begins in full swing. Perhaps they bump into each other in the shops, perhaps at a game, but the point is they bump into each other. I think Bex is genuinely a nice woman who respects and likes Rebecca. Anyway, maybe Rebecca mentions the assistant idk. But those are the options.

BUT I think my first option is correct because the episode is literally called "Signs". Which brings me to my fourth point-

4. The match against West Ham will be addressed. I mean, come on, three red cards? It's got to be addressed. Again, the episode is literally called "Signs", so the Believe sign is coming back. The team are obviously going to be very ashamed of themselves (Dani is going to need more therapy lmao) and I think they'll opt not to disclose the information of why they went batshit crazy.

5. HOWEVER, I think Nate will begin to wake up, maybe even apologize to Ted. Ted will explain what Nate already knows and they might even part on good terms. I want this for two reasons. Number one, Nate was my BOY for season 1 and part of season 2 and I miss that teeny lad. Secondly, I think putting a good word in with Nate s what Ted needs. He needs to be reminded that his way of life does work. So far, he's got yelled at by Rebecca, had his request gone against by Beard and Roy, been embarrassed by the team and found out about Michelle and J*cob (fuck him) (and her actually). He needs to be reminded that he actually does so much good. He changed Nate's life. He gave him to opportunity to coach, something I don't think Beard would do and something the old coach definitely wouldn't have done. This is something he needs to remember.

Anyway. I know not all of this can happen, but the synopsis is "With their season in a tailspin, Richmond try to right the ship against the mighty Manchester City. Off the pitch, everyone faces their own setbacks." These setbacks 100% could be Keeley's issue with Shandy, Zava's anger at the match, Rebecca's increasing concern over the matchbox or Bex, Colin's problems with coming out. Of course, my thing with Nate and Ted isn't exactly a setback for Richmond, but it definitely is for West Ham. So there are my options. I hope you enjoyed them.

Also, where are these asks coming from istg-

#I mean I love them but I am *confusion* #tl #ted lasso #cedar crap #colin hughes #trent crimm #nathan shelley #rebecca welton