#i shouldn't be making jokes

[strywoven]

@asteelgarden has requested a story : ❛ can you look at me? please? ❜ ( also this from benny to kaen i did not forget no sirree not me )

𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅.

Once-faith / once-trust now lays in shatters all at their feet , broken fractures Kaen desperately tries to pick up and piece back together only to catch themself bleeding because of it— Kaen stares unblinking , in s h o c k , down at their lap ( just what are they meant to do with the information that’s come to light ? ) .  It feels an awful lot as if the world – this one , not their own they know , but one that has made them feel p e a c e all the same – has been knocked off axis , sending spinning wildly OUT OF ORBIT and into the vacuous nothingness of space.  Amid all the emotions that seek to overwhelm them in this moment , the only constant … Is BETRAYAL .  Their friend , this Reverend who guided them and cared for them ( or so they believed ) , has been keeping things from them ; things that involve t h e m !  If only Kaen could claim this is the first time they have experienced such a pain , but alas … The familiarity of it is a cruel reminder of how inherently PREDICTABLE this all seems ( sweet creature , don’t you know ? you deserve this , you ought to know better than this by now — ! ) .

Look at me , he asks of them , pleads with them no less as if trying to offer consolation for everything ( but kaen is not a dull doe , they have a feeling this is only a trifle ; what they know is not the whole of it ) .  There’s a choked sound in reply , Kaen sinking further into their seat across the stretch of desk between them ; they CAN’T , they can’t look at him.  The poor thing t r e m b l e s under the weight of their emotions , the air around them QUIVERING alongside them , retaliating against the force they’re restraining in their small host ( no matter how upset they are , they still don’t want to hurt him ) .

Kaen takes a deep , steadying breath … And then another for good measure before raising their antlered head to look at Benny ; furred ears are pinned , divine aura is intense and agitated.  Though they put on a straight face , their blue eyes are welled with tears ( a few of which spring free , toppling down their cheeks , bouncing along as crystalized misery ) .  ❝ Ah … Trusted ye … ❞  Each word is gritted out , harsh and slow so he UNDERSTANDS ; their voice wavers around the edges , threatened by the instinct to break into a weeping , raging mess.  Cinder-smoke curls into the air , rising from their tightly clenched fists.  They take another breath , trying to keep themself talking , ❝ ‘Ow much- ‘ow much o' this – ❞ Hand lifts , gestures between the two of them to indicate their supposed friendship , ❝ – ‘R any o’ this – ❞ They swing their hand outwards broadly to indicate not simply the room they’re occupying , but the realm itself , their place in all of it up till now , ❝ – Was th’ TRUTH , huh ? ❞  They wait a beat , looking between his mirrored ‘ faces ’ , their own head shaking at him.  ❝ Was all o’ it a LIE ?!  Wha’ else do Ah needa’ know ?! ❞  Their hand slams down on the desk , searing into the wood , a starting fire that’s beginning to dangerously crawl over the grain closer to the Reverend , ❝ Jus’ TELL ME !  If ye- ye cared at all , ye’d fuckin’ TELL ME ! ❞

#❧ ⸺ how can ( queue ) say there is no story here ? ❞ #❧ ⸺ ch. kaen | answered ❞ #❧ ⸺ ch. kaen | verse i: main ❞ #asteelgarden #me with my coffee gawking out the window waiting for the ondes authorities to come arrest kaen rn #LMAO SKDJCDNKN #them? clearly a threat - must be detained #hey fellas you ever get your friend so upset they set your office on fire with you in it?? #I'M SORRY I'M SO SORRY #i shouldn't be making jokes #and yet................ #.................. this is the content we deserve

[qcomicsy]

Being in the Batman fandom is so fucking funny because is literally lineless phone where someone makes a joke

.

.

then someone hears the joke and it's like "Oh didn't knew this was cannon *posts as if it was cannon*

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And a couple of hours afterwards you can hear at distance.

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.

.

.

"wHO THE FUCK–"

#batman #batfam #batfam shenanigans #I'm laughing but I really shouldn't #people making silly funny haha jokes: ha / people who don't read the comics: “Oh wow that's definitely their personality” #and at distance you can hear a comic essayist dying--- or getting a gun #q rambles

[bread-cat-luna]

If I had a nickel for every time Joey Richter sang an Evil Villan Song (TM) at Curt Mega, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice

#sometimes when I make a joke I think I shouldn't be allowed social media. #anyway i thought this was funny #joey richter #curt mega #curtwen #spies are forever #black friday #tin can bros #starkid #hatchetfield #luna says stuff #luna shitposts

[elumish]

To fight (cis)heteronormativity, one thing we need to do is write better (cis) straight characters.

Straight men being friends with straight women and never considering dating

Cis straight characters dating trans characters and being normal about it

Cis straight characters being good parents to queer children

Cis straight characters being good friends to queer characters

Gender non-conforming cis straight characters who really are cis and straight

Women and men having healthy and respectful monogomous romantic/sexual relationships

Straight characters having healthy and respectful polyamorous relationships

Straight characters having healthy and respectful interracial relationships

Straight characters having healthy and respectful interreligious relationships

Cis straight characters living lives that are outside the expected gender norm of their society (e.g., stay-at-home dads)

#representation #i shouldn't have to say this but please stop making jokes about how it's bad or gross for women to date or be attracted to men

[skylarbee]

if any of you are still feeling weird about that infamous interview, here is what alex said about it (and why that ashley girl doesn't like him). i really want to point out that what alex says here is the exact same thing us, miles fans have been saying since forever. so, if you are a fan of alex, but throw shit at miles, just remember that your favourite also supports him. and maybe think twice before starting arguments with miles fans and keep in mind that alex has the same opinion about it all.

Alongside Arctic Monkeys, Turner has a long-term side-project called The Last Shadow Puppets with his best friend, the Birkenhead singer-songwriter Miles Kane. During the promotion for their last album, the two did an interview with a female journalist from the music webzine Spin. Turner was being his usual unforthcoming self, so Kane attempted to break the ice with some groan-inducing banter. This included inviting the journalist up to his hotel room when she asked what he was doing after the interview, which, in hindsight, was pretty stupid (he realised as much the next day and emailed her to say sorry). The result, though, was a lengthy op-ed calling out Kane’s unprofessionalism and the misogyny of the music industry at large. Personally, I found some of her complaints against him a tad flimsy — holding eye contact for too long, high-fiving her, “yanking” her in “for a not entirely consensual kiss on the cheek” as she said goodbye, and not least the idea that interviewing a rock star is ever supposed to be an exercise in professionalism. What did Turner make of it all? He sighs. “I think he made a joke he shouldn’t have made and realised he had misjudged the situation.” I thought it was a bit OTT, I tell him. “Yeah, I’m not sure it was deserving of that response honestly, but you just can’t make a joke like that.”

(from 2018, this interview)

#also he didn't exactly invite her; just joked about inviting her (which was still wrong) #also pointing it out that i also think that his 'jokes' were wrong. i also would've thought he's a dick. but alex said it brilliantly. #there was a misunderstanding between the two of them; he made the joke; realised he shouldn't have and that he misjudged the situation; #apologised; never did anything similar to this again #let. it. go. he's proved countless times ever since then that he is a decent human being. open your eyes; look it up; do your research #or if you don't want to then don't interact with him/his fans at all #btw this interview is absolutely horrendous #only read it if you want to lose your mind a bit #imagine getting alex turner to let you into his home and then only ask him questions about his gf; bf; taxes; what he spends his money on; #etc. my god. #also he talks about not being in taylor's ig posts: and says he #“doesn't recall submitting that request; but he's not sorry about it if he's not on there.” #makes you think #(and then the fact that this is from may and he talks about being 'settled down'; then they 'break up' in june. smh) #alex turner #miles kane #ashley reese #tlsp

[stainedglassthreads]

So Dungeons and Daddies Season 2 is really just taking the average coming-of-age story and making it to every horrifying extreme, huh.

It is that moment in which you realize your parents don't know what they're doing any better than you do, and people present it like it's something comforting, but it's just even more terrifying because there really, really is no right answer. It's realizing that no, love isn't enough, sometimes you love your family and it just made everything worse. Everyone who came before you fucked things up even when they were trying to make things better, and unfucking everything just seems impossible, but not even trying is such a depressing option, and one your kids will never be able to forgive you for.

I have many feelings on this.

#i want to make a joke about how this is just like me. an adult #being made to solve extremely easy problems that other adults shouldn't have any issue with #but which feel insurmountable on an equal level with what these poor kids are going through #but it feels like it's kinda about that too #there's how scary acts with her 'no one will ever ever ever understand what i'm going through' thing #and then. well. hyperbole is a very ancient art indeed #anyways i just got to the point where these kids had some very good reasons to team up with willie fucking stampler of all people #even when they KNEW he sucked #and it all just smacked in the face like a dead fish #god i wish i could make stories as complicated and fucked at this #but i keep dithering between grimdark and happy ending #anyways. uh #dndads #dungeons and daddies #it's a great podcast. go watch it #if you liked eeaao ESPECIALLY watch it

[bumblingbabooshka]

Concept: Vulcan siblings trying to make each other laugh but for the express purpose of training themselves/each other not to laugh at things they find funny. Some new-age parents also do this with their children but others think it’s too undignified a way to learn control from an elder and should be left to peer groups.

#vulcans #Sek makes a joke and Elieth leaves the room #'You cannot leave the room every time you find something funny.' Sek says #Asil comments that that's correct. Think of Sek - if everyone left a room when they found something funny he'd have to walk around with a #cloth around his face v_v (Elieth laughs aloud in the hall and Sek shakes his head) #<- he begrudgingly has to give Asil credit for not even cracking a smile during her burn #I can also imagine Vulcan siblings insulting one another in (they say) an attempt to make themselves impervious to offense #but if that's heavily discouraged by parents and teachers...HEHEhehe...you shouldn't insult people - that's not disciplined!

[astellarrion]

Ariane I’m trying to keep my promise but I keep blowing myself up with the grenade shells at close proximity

#signalis #elster #lstr 512 #ariane yeong #god bless the flare gun #turning the flare gun into a grenade launcher was a mistake #there are 5 eules and a star what do you mean I shouldn't use it #how many variants of this joke can we make

[essektheylyss]

I am obsessed with how narratively convenient Lark's divinatory abilities are. She's the only one of the protagonists who is both pragmatic and has a working sense of self-preservation, so having some internal impulse that is actually the guiding hand of the cosmos pushing her into doing the REALLY stupid shit is both necessary and really useful.

Like, I am the type of writer who kind of scoffs at the idea that characters are beyond the writer's control and will completely screw over your outline, because on one hand, a sensible outline will follow the characters' personalities and tendencies anyway. Obviously in an ensemble cast you will need to do some wrangling, but in theory your characters are responding to varying degrees of stimuli in order to maneuver them into the places you need them to be for things to all come together in the end.

But more importantly, "curse from god" is the funniest and easiest way to push any character to do things beyond the realm of reason when necessary, and frankly, what the fuck is the point of playing god if you don't embrace that?

#midst podcast #midst spoilers #cr meta #anyway at all times I am advocating for taking full responsibility for your characters and overall story #this is also why I laugh at those posts like 'um if you're not going to treat your characters right then you shouldn't get custody of them' #sorry babe there is no CPS in my head. I am the cruel custodian and these are my poor darwinian orphans. #that's a joke but really like. look. yeah sometimes you gotta fabricate scenarios to make characters do what you want #but like... you do that by going 'who is this character and what would it take to push them to x'??? #and especially in an ensemble cast sometimes that thing is 'curse from god' or 'divine insight' #fun fact: I LOATHE that post about 'my writing teacher made a joke that the characters are driving and the writer is locked in the trunk' #absolutely fucking hate it. #because THE WHOLE POINT OF FORMALLY LEARNING WRITING IS LEARNING HOW TO BE INTENTIONAL. #it is perfectly possible to write successfully without ever having a formal teacher but IF YOU HAVE A FORMAL TEACHER. UH. #like yeah yeah 'workshopping' but like. okay go build your own workshop group don't pay somebody jfc #(cuz it's not like most creative writing teachers know how to teach you to workshop. let's be fucking real.) #if you wanna learn how to workshop take a script class for the love of god. #ANYWAY rant over but I'm correct. the highest purpose of a writer is to be a control freak and to play god.

[ventiswampwater]

man cringefails himself into an early grave, colorized (2005)

#yes.......I will subject u to my jokes as I learn how to make gifs <3 welcome to jester hell land :) I am ur host.......bozo bing bong #shouldn't have worn ur baseball cap at night worstie..........this is what ur fashion choices cost u #house of wax #house of wax 2005 #carly jones #bo sinclair #mine

[acaiyatree]

woo! sonic x shadow generations is a thing! hopefully that means straight people won't make jokes about the title being unironically homophobic! right?

#i enjoyed the ''homophobic'' jokes us queerios were having but all of a sudden.... #those motherfuckers who weren't invited decided to make jokes abt shit they shouldn't be joking abt #tell me why r u unironically homophobic towards fictional hedgehogs 💀 #sth #sonadow

[goldensunset]

what they don't tell you about having posts blow up is people will compete for the opportunity to be The One who adds something onto it in the hopes that it will become The Definitive Version of the post that goes around. this can range anywhere from pointless but harmless commentary to annoying garbage that's an active diversion from the point you were trying to make

#i don't really care about the 'growing up means you love both your fun interests and adult stuff' thing #it makes people happy so who am i to say anything #but the laundry post actively boils my blood. dude it was a post about overcoming executive dysfunction #i mean ok sure it's fine to turn it into a silly joke about losing socks i guess #could be way worse i shouldn't be so mad about it #but like duuuuuude it was actually meant to be wholesome and inspiring.............................. #doing laundry is a great way to get your clothing back.... peace and love..... #suit yourself but come on mannnnnnnnnnnnnnn #peach rambles #also bc the person who added it seems to be the sort of funnyman who's always adding dumb annoying stuff #if you make a 'career' as a blogger being that kind of person i will never find anything you say interesting #real comedy comes and goes with the situation you can't try to force it anywhere or on command

[amethystina]

The Devil Judge Meta: The Bus Scene

Hello and welcome to the chaos.

So, ever since I first saw this drama, I've been OBSESSED with the bus scene for how beautifully it establishes a lot of core traits for both Yo Han and Ga On's personalities. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece. And so, since I've got nothing better to do (*cough, cough*) here's a rambling meta where I scream about it, simply because I can and want to.

Disclaimer: This is by no means a COMPLETE meta of this scene. I will only be focusing on the characters and not, say, the cinematography. And even then I won't include every single detail. I mostly want to gush about how wonderfully this scene takes on the challenge of showing two characters' different personalities through their actions and reactions alone. Don't come at me if I don't talk about everything that makes this scene cool. Also, obviously, these observations are just my opinions and I don't expect everyone to agree. I'm just having fun yelling about characters I like.

Second Disclaimer: I was left unsupervised with Photoshop while having a fever. I take no responsibility for the resulting screenshots.

More under the cut!

And brace yourselves — it's hella long.

Let's just jump right into the action! (mainly because the build-up isn't all that interesting)

The moment the situation becomes clear to Ga On — i.e. that the little girl is in terrible danger — this is his immediate reaction:

Good boy.

I mean, at this point, it's not even a particularly risky decision. The bus is still pretty far away so he should have enough time to grab the girl and run out of there. No biggie. And, clearly, the soldiers aren't going to be doing anything to help her, so it's understandable that Ga On takes it upon himself to do so. SOMEONE has to.

And this is a very good example of Ga On's problem-solving in action. His main priority is saving the victims and his method of choice — run over and grab the girl himself — may be simple, but also very straightforward and effective. It gives an immediate and tangible result. It's a bit impulsive, sure, since he's potentially putting himself in danger, but it also shows his selflessness and sincerity. He doesn't even HESITATE before he starts running since Ga On's problem-solving is very instinctual.

He's a man of action who doesn't waste time on second guesses, doubts, or plans. He sees a situation and intervenes with the method that occurs to him at the time.

So he's a quick thinker, definitely, but he also doesn't have much of a strategy outside of "save the girl." The scope of his solution is narrow, focusing more on rescuing the one in immediate danger rather than defusing the situation. That doesn't mean he's BAD at solving problems — he's actually very clever and reacts and adapts impressively fast — just that he's got a very specific goal in mind and the solution he chooses is usually decided by that goal.

In a tight spot, Ga On's main focus is pretty much always to rescue the victims (or innocents, if you prefer) rather than neutralising or stopping the threat. He is, first and foremost, a protector and saviour.

Which is very noble and heroic. We love that for him.

And Ga On's day would probably have gone a lot better if life hadn't decided to throw a Yo Han-shaped wrench into his reckless but well-meaning plans. Because, WOW, do their respective problem-solving tactics clash.

Case in point:

This shot (aside from being very pretty) is a SPECTACULAR glimpse into Yo Han's mindset and POV. The focus is on the bus — the threat — but we can also clearly tell that, should Ga On try to rise, he and the girl might end up getting shot. There are innocents in between Yo Han and his target — innocents who might get hurt should Yo Han proceed with his planned actions.

And Yo Han still fires.

Which is why I totally don't blame Ga On for making this face:

Like, Ga On later criticises Yo Han for being willing to risk the bus driver's life, but let's not forget that Yo Han was also willing to send a bullet flying over Ga On's head without hesitation. Just as Ga On was about to straighten, no less. That's risky as all hell.

And that brings us to Yo Han's problem-solving.

Unlike Ga On, Yo Han focuses on stopping the bus rather than protecting the victims — he even puts them in MORE danger by firing the gun with them in the crossfire. Which may seem even more reckless than Ga On's method at first glance, if it wasn't for this:

Yo Han is perfectly calm.

Despite the pressure of the situation, he handles it with a cold, almost detached, precision. A precision that probably comes from the fact that he's already assessed how the situation will unfold and how he has to act in order to change its course. As he points out later, the bus would have kept going forward if it hadn't been stopped and, even if Ga On and the girl had managed to run away, there's a potential for countless more victims — soldiers, bystanders, and other employees at the Supreme Court. In neutralising the threat, he saves more lives.

In a sense, this can also be seen as punishing the instigator, as opposed to Ga On's choice of protecting innocents. As Yo Han later admits, he's willing to sacrifice one life to save many — especially when that someone is a bad person.

While Yo Han's actions are undoubtedly ruthless, he also has a wider scope of the situation than Ga On, to the point where they don't even view it the same. To Ga On, the girl getting run over is the problem that needs to be solved. In contrast, to Yo Han, the problem that should be solved is the speeding bus, which, if not stopped, will result in the girl getting run over.

This is why, instead of allowing Ga On and the girl time to run away, Yo Han doesn't lower the gun.

He's there to solve a problem and the speeding bus is the problem, not Ga On or the girl's possible fate. And with such a different core grasp of the situation, it's no wonder their respective solutions clash.

They're trying to solve two completely different problems.

Complete Sidetrack: I've seen some people criticise the realism of this scene because Ga On doesn't try to take the girl and run despite having many chances to do so, but I would argue that the biggest flaw in the realism is the preschool teacher. You're telling me that woman WOULDN'T turn back and try to save that child herself? Has the writer of this show even MET a preschool teacher? That girl is her responsibility! She wouldn't just leave her!

And sure, the woman has other children to take care of, but they're safely across the road already. She can order them to stay put and then run back. I think the only logical reason why she wouldn't is if someone is physically restraining her.

… or if the creators simply wanted a cool scene (that I admit to loving) and didn't really care if they misrepresented this poor woman. Justice for the preschool teacher!

ANYWAY. I DIGRESS.

I LOVE Ga On's face when he realises what just happened and that Yo Han is far from finished.

Because Yo Han more or less holds Ga On and the little girl hostage. Which says quite a lot about his ruthlessness AND his confidence. Yo Han is clearly convinced that his method is the right one — that his aim is good enough to take the risk — and doesn't even give Ga On the option to protest. He literally holds Ga On at gunpoint and forces him to abandon his solution of grabbing the girl and running in favour of Yo Han's plan of stopping the bus. Basically, if Ga On wants to come out of this alive, he'll have to bend to Yo Han's will.

Foreshadowing much?

Like, short of trying to ROLL out of the line of fire, there's not much Ga On can do if he wants to avoid getting himself or the girl shot. He has NO idea when Yo Han might pull the trigger again or exactly where he is aiming.

And, well, as we see here, Ga On is clearly making the right choice by staying put. YIKES, Yo Han.

And this highlights another aspect of Yo Han, which is his arrogance.

We've established that stopping the bus will most likely result in saving more lives, but there was nothing wrong with Ga On's initial response to the situation. Ga On and the girl would have been completely fine if Yo Han hadn't shown up when he did — or had simply chosen to wait a couple of seconds longer before firing the first shot.

Except Yo Han is so certain of his own abilities that he completely ignores what everyone else might be trying to do to solve the situation, to the point where he doesn't even care if he RUINS those efforts. He's already convinced his plan is better. So he essentially steps in and wrenches control away from everyone else — including Ga On — and the consequences could have been catastrophic, especially since he doesn't communicate with the others involved.

And if that isn’t Yo Han in a nutshell, I don't know what is.

Yo Han has no faith in anyone's plans but his own and will pursue them with a single-mindedness that's both alarming and kind of impressive.

If you want something done, do it yourself, I guess?

In some ways, Yo Han even CREATED this situation, with Ga On and the girl remaining in the bus's path. He could easily have let them run off first, but didn’t because he's so convinced he's doing what's best.

Then again, I guess we wouldn't have this shot if he had:

I appreciate your dedication to being a protector, Ga On, but I don't think that's going to make much of a difference.

And this thing, where Yo Han's arrogance and actions are the direct cause for the complications they face, repeats a couple of times in the drama. Sometimes it's because he's stirred up so much shit that people get desperate and, a couple of times, it's because he's underestimated his opponents. And, sometimes, it even seems like it's just out of sheer curiosity, because he wants to see what will happen.

Like how he gets kidnapped and drugged by Sun Ah because he went off the meet her alone in a goddamn shipyard, or how he underestimated what Cha Kyung Hee would do if he pushed her into a corner, and how Sun Ah would never have tried to have Ga On beaten up in the slums if Yo Han hadn't paraded him around like his lovely little househusband, making it blatantly obvious how much he cares about him (which, I will admit, it another favourite scene of mine).

While Yo Han is definitely a good problem solver, he also CAUSES a lot of problems, both for himself and others. The part that I like about that, however — and what sets him apart from a lot of other characters in media — is that he's AWARE of the risks. He's not foolishly making reckless decisions that put him in danger (unlike someone else we know) but simply deems the risks to be worth the endgame. The risks Yo Han takes are calculated and, for better or worse, he's frighteningly good at maths.

But that only makes him seem more ruthless. Since no one else can see his calculations, it can be difficult to follow his logic, even more so since his values and morals are what they are (that's to say: OPTIONAL).

All of that said, while Yo Han is arrogant and very determined to be the one in control, he doesn't do it to show off or brag. He's used to being if not the smartest person in the room, then at least the most efficient one. He, too, is a man of action who will get things done smoothly and efficiently, no matter the cost.

And I do love this moment right here, just after the bus has only narrowly missed Ga On and the girl:

They could have made him look smug — or even pleased — but they didn't. He remains calm and focused because, again, it's not about the glory. Just like his revenge plan, it's all about the mission — the result. He does what he has to in order to reach his goal, simple as that.

While Yo Han definitely carries a lot of intense emotions (some that he should probably talk to a therapist about) he is also incredibly goal-oriented, to the point where he doesn't let his emotions sway his decisions very often. More often than not, if Yo Han does something, it's because he has a plan — a goal or something he wants to accomplish. And he will pursue that goal without hesitation.

But that also means he doesn't really care about who he has to step over in order to get there — including victims and innocents.

Meanwhile, Ga On:

Showing care and concern in a situation like this is pretty natural, I'd say, especially for someone as compassionate as Ga On. OF COURSE he would take the time to make sure the little girl is okay!

Ga On is such a good boy <3

And here's another difference between Yo Han and Ga On, since Yo Han makes no such effort. Which I wouldn't necessarily say means that Yo Han doesn't care, but rather that he doesn't bother to ask for verbal confirmation of something he can clearly see with his own eyes. They weren't hit by the bus so they should be fine. Nevermind possible shock or trauma — that’s definitely not Yo Han’s problem.

The difference IS pretty unsettling, anyway, and we get this shot (which I love):

It's not even particularly long, but the fact that they lock eyes after such a traumatic event and THAT is the face Yo Han makes is… yeah. Say what you will about Ga On and his habit of jumping to conclusions, but I can't really blame him for wondering if Yo Han is a psychopath.

And that's another beauty of this entire scene, since not only does it tell us, the viewers, about these characters, but it also serves as a moment for Ga On to realise what kind of man his new boss actually is. That's to say, someone who doesn't hesitate to shoot despite innocents being in the way, but also chastises the soldiers for not having the guts to do it themselves.

Also, I know I said I wouldn't focus on cinematography, but I just want to point out how beautiful these two shots are:

With Ga On and the girl — the victims, for all intents and purposes — framed by the soldier and Yo Han, which soon shifts into this:

With Yo Han moving to COMPLETELY cover them. It's not only gorgeous from a visual and storytelling perspective, but you can also have a field day analysing what that might mean from a character and symbolic perspective.

But that's another meta, I guess.

Back to the wide-eyed deer Ga On.

For someone as caring as Ga On, Yo Han's behaviour — and lack of compassion — is clearly quite upsetting. For which I honestly can't blame him. A lot of Yo Han's actions up until this point can be explained away as a superior trying to take action and protect his employees, but Yo Han chastising the soldiers for not firing sooner? Yeah, not so much. That is COLD, especially coming from a man who’s in a position of power over practically everyone else at the scene.

Because that's also something to remember: Yo Han doesn't just have power because he forcibly takes command, he also has a lot of authority due to his position.

A position he doesn't hesitate to abuse at points.

And, if we try to view this from Ga On's perspective, that shit is not only upsetting but downright TERRIFYING. Who wants to work for a cold and heartless dictator?

Anyway, back to Ga On being A Good Boy™.

His protective instincts are once again brought back into focus as he rushes to save the bus driver. Like with the girl, he doesn't hesitate, even if he is, once again, putting himself in danger. Saving people is instinctual to him and it doesn't matter who they are — Ga On values lives equally.

… well, until they hurt someone he cares about — then he's Down To Murder.

But that, too, is another meta entirely.

Anyway, Ga On's protectiveness is clearly one of the cornerstones of his character. Not only is he very heroic (though he'd certainly never use that word), but he's also a good caretaker and a very compassionate human being in general.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abyss over here:

Yo Han makes no effort to help Ga On, neither personally nor by sending soldiers to aid him. And while that only serves to make Yo Han seem even more cold and unconcerned, it also makes complete sense considering what we established earlier. Because sending the soldiers to help would only put them at risk as well, should the bus explode before everyone can make it clear. Again, Yo Han chooses the option that will cause less damage and put fewer people at risk (hilariously), even if that means he's willing to forsake the lives currently in danger.

It's simple arithmetic, just like with the driver.

And, well, since he DOESN'T move, we also get this glorious shot:

Everyone else ducks down or gets thrown off their feet, meanwhile, Yo Han just raises a hand to shield his face — as if a wholeass bus exploding is just a mild inconvenience to him.

10/10, Very Impressive. Very Extra.

HOWEVER, after this comes a brief but very fascinating moment, when the fire is roaming and Yo Han's gaze (presumably) lands on Ga On.

During a couple of seconds, Yo Han seems to zone out, just blankly staring. It's the most unfocused he's been during this entire scene and I don't think it's a coincidence that the moment involves fire and Ga On (i.e. Isaac 2.0 – Sugar Baby Edition).

This is a moment that probably won't stand out all that much during a first watch, but holds a lot more meaning once you know Yo Han's backstory. It's an interesting glimpse into something like humanity — and weakness — from Yo Han. And I'm pretty sure it's intentional that most people are too panicked and/or disoriented to notice. While Ga On learns a lot about Yo Han in this scene, this moment — this particular thread, with Yo Han's trauma — is still too early to pull on. It's not until later that Ga On begins to see Yo Han's humanity.

This moment is for US, the viewers, more so than the other characters.

Anyway, in true Yo Han fashion, he's soon back to his regularly scheduled shenanigans.

He still makes no effort to help Ga On or the bus driver, instead settling for a little tilt of his head that could be disapproval, could be approval, or just acceptance of how the last couple of minutes played out. They were, after all, minutes during which Yo Han made no attempt to wrestle control from Ga On, letting him attempt to save the bus driver without intervention. I wouldn't call it an outright test, but it's definitely a moment during which Yo Han waited and watched rather keenly.

Because, naturally, Yo Han is learning about Ga On, too, just like Ga On is learning about him. They're two very observant people and each action and reaction helps them start outlining the other's personality. Yo Han, in particular, has a good reason for cataloguing Ga On's behaviour and reactions, since it'll help him gauge if Ga On will be a hindrance or an asset to his revenge scheme.

And while I don't think that Yo Han is particularly impressed by what Ga On did — it was impulsive and reckless, and Yo Han clearly doesn't care much for heroics — it DID give results. And Yo Han is all about the results. If nothing else, he learned that Ga On is both stubborn and compassionate.

The latter isn't very useful to Yo Han, but the former certainly is. And I have no doubt that he's filing that information away for later.

And, hilariously, this is the point where Yo Han does ANOTHER very Yo Han thing:

Despite being the man with the highest authority at the scene — i.e. the one who should arguably step in, take command, and deal with the aftermath — Yo Han simply turns around and leaves. Once the threat has been handled, he sees no point in staying since his purpose was never to protect or help the people involved — it was to solve a problem.

And since the bus has now been stopped, the problem is solved.

The fact that he also made it explode is clearly not his problem.

He doesn't care about the fallout, even when he's the direct cause. This returns time and time again, where Yo Han is fully prepared to stir shit up, but rarely stays long enough to deal with the consequences. Most notably in the last episode, when he dumps the burn crisp of a judicial system in Ga On's lap and tells him to fix what he broke.

Which is HILARIOUS.

But, honestly, also very reasonable. Say what you will about Yo Han (and I do — very often) but he's a man who knows himself, his strengths, and his abilities incredibly well. And he holds no illusions about being a nurturing person. His strength lies in analysing situations, solving problems, and, for lack of a better term, Fuck Shit Up. He's the wrecking ball — the unstoppable force of nature — not one of the helpers who come after to build it all back up again, better and shinier.

That kind of job is definitely better suited for Ga On, who's kind, compassionate, and driven.

So while it is very irresponsible for the man in charge to just leave in a situation like this, it probably makes sense to Yo Han. Why waste time on something he has no interest in and, in some ways, isn't even particularly good at?

(also, it makes him look WAY cooler if he walks away with that fire burning in the background, I guess, which might also be a factor)

Unsurprisingly, it makes less sense to Ga On who, the moment he starts regaining his bearing, looks up and tries to find Yo Han.

And while I AM tempted to make a joke about always looking for your crush first after a dangerous situation, we all know it’s way too early for that here. No, Ga On looks up partly to see if anyone else has gotten hurt but, also, to look for guidance. It IS Yo Han's responsibility to handle this situation and Ga On is well within his right to expect that of his boss.

Except Yo Han isn't there.

Boss of the Year, this one.

And not only does that convey to Ga On that Yo Han is unpredictable, but also, to some extent, UNRELIABLE. Someone cold and uncaring — someone not to be trusted to uphold his end of the bargain. Someone who causes a lot of damage, but will leave it to others to mend the wounds.

And, clearly, Ga On is VERY disappointed.

In short, Yo Han doesn't really make a good first OR second impression on Ga On. Though I would argue that Yo Han couldn't care less about that, which probably only makes Ga On MORE frustrated, since he's clearly more of a traditionalist, who believes in being polite, accommodating, and taking responsibility. And while Yo Han has no trouble taking responsibility in certain regards — like admitting that he was willing to kill the bus driver if he had to — it's not in the considerate, altruistic way that Ga On no doubt would prefer to see in a superior.

Yo Han doesn't give a flying fuck about propriety and politeness, and when he's being a good boss or kind to strangers, it's usually performative.

Which, again, is why I don't blame Ga On for wondering just what kind of person Yo Han is. Even just in this one scene, Yo Han doesn't exactly come across as very sympathetic. Cool, efficient, and ruthless as fuck, sure, but definitely not the kind of guy you want to be working with. Which is only made all the more obvious when it's put next to Ga On's somewhat reckless but ultimately well-meaning and selfless acts of compassion.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that they're each other's opposites, but this scene goes a long way to show the differences in Ga On and Yo Han's personalities, mindsets, and values. And it doesn't necessarily take sides or try to tell you which is better, just that they're different. Both have pros and cons.

Ga On is kind, caring, and will do whatever it takes to protect innocents, but that also makes him reckless and unpredictable.

Yo Han is calm, efficient, and always has a carefully calculated plan, but that also makes him cold and ruthless.

All of this from one single scene.

They learn so much about each other — and we about them — in this one scene that you don't really need much more to understand just how violently these two opposing forces are going clash as the drama progresses. This scene is MARVELLOUS.

Even more so since they don't speak a WORD to each other.

They talk to side characters, but not each other and still, SOMEHOW, this one scene contains so much information — so much TENSION — that you can cut it with a knife. This, even more so than their first meeting, is where the foundation for their relationship is laid and they manage to do it entirely through actions and reactions.

These two will be the death of me, I swear.

In conclusion: FUCK YES I LOVE THIS DRAMA.

You can pry it from my cold, dead hands.

End of meta.

#The Devil Judge #The Devil Judge Meta #Kang Yo Han #Kim Ga On #Gahan #This has been brewing for a while #And I finally decided to actually get it done #But also #Guys #This is ridiculously long #And the screenshots are incredibly stupid #This is why I shouldn't write meta #I don't know how to do things by halves #Or how to stop making stupid jokes #I'm pretty sure I'm going to hell for that 'Sugar Baby Edition' thing #I choked on my tea when I read the draft and realised what I'd written #I should clearly not be trusted with Photoshop OR a word processor #But yeah #Have some excessively detailed meta

[dichromaticdyke]

idk what woman or similarly gendered nonbinary person needs to hear this, but if you feel actual distress, frustration, discomfort, etc. at the thought of being attracted to men, or being with men in a sexual or romantic context--if you genuinely feel this way and you hide it behind "haha sucks that i like men lol" jokes--you honestly should consider lesbianism.

#dichromaticdyke.exe #because i've seen some posts going around about how people shouldn't feel ashamed to like men or anything and i agree #especially wrt men or similarly gendered nonbinary people--mlm or nblm attraction is good and should be celebrated #but like. if you make those kinds of “gross i like men haha” jokes a LOT as a woman or similarly gendered nonbinary person #you should investigate why #because you might be a lesbian #and if you're not! that's totally fine. but you as a woman or similarly gendered nonbinary person should not feel ashamed to like men #that's like the status quo lol so if there's genuine negative feelings there then there might be a reason #and i've seen a lot of posts lately talking about how having shame towards like men is radfem thinking and i disagree #i think that could be a reason why people feel that way but it could also be (pause for dramatic effect) #compulsory heterosexuality and internalized lesbophobia #some people genuinely don't like men please remember that #anyway reblogs are available on this post. for now. but the second i get bad faith actors in the notes i'm turning them off. #be normal please

[chirpsythismorning]

There’s something sort of patronizing and damn near infantilizing about the way stans (specifically stan twitter), will take something that isn’t that serious, or even is very serious, and will twist it as much as they possibly can, for pity and engagements.

I remember when that lie detector interview with Millie came out last year, and toxic stans of hers made it their mission to accuse the guy in the video of disrespecting Millie, when really it was all a bit? They were rushing to make posts saying, “this is so messed up! she doesn’t deserve this!!” And it’s like?? Are u guys serious rn??

And then there’s all that fucked up shit that happened with that grown ass man who groomed Millie and how a lot of hardcore stans of hers were making plot-twist edits with that horrid ig live he did??? All of that shit blew up and went beyond what it ever should have, and part of it was because a lot of those same toxic fans were out there low-key promoting a very private matter, for clicks???

Right after this happened, she deleted all of her old instagram posts (I think she’s returned recently), and still doesn't allow herself to be tagged in anything (again mostly hardcore fans there), and it’s pretty obvious to me that it's because at this point, not only does she have to watch out for people that hate her for no fucking reason and who actually mean to harm her, but she ALSO has to avoid so-called fans constantly acknowledging all the negativity surrounding her, for attention, with the guise that they support her.

Because like, do we seriously think she deleted all those sentimental posts from her past, to spite people that hate her?? No she did it to punish the so-called fans. That's the place where they could connect with her and she made a boundary that she couldn't let them into her life like that anymore.

Fans took something very serious, like as serious as it can fucking get, and were making it about stan wars. Anyone and everyone who makes one joke or one comment needs to be called out and brought down. Like it's just so obsessive and unhealthy and I get that a lot of these kinds of fans are children, and so there isn't much anyone can do. But still, it's ridiculous.

I support the notion that we should be calling out harmful behavior/language. But it eventually gets to point where it's like, what even is the point? Is there a point anymore? Or are we just speaking to speak, when no ones even saying anything? Are we seeing one negative comment and blowing it out of proportion as if everyone is saying that, to gain pity? Because it starts to get ridiculous.

In reality, people are gonna say what they want. Everyone with access to internet has the affordance of posting shit anonymously without any repercussions. That’s unavoidable. And these same people aren’t going to just be enlightened by someone calling them out. More often than not people like this want to upset others in the first place. They want a reaction. And so by constantly acknowledging their existence, and fixating on it, we're giving it to them.

And now ever since Noah has come out, we're sort of seeing something similar happening with him.

While he is getting unwavering support from a lot of people in his comments, there's undeniably a disgusting amount of homophobia being thrown at him as well.

And then somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, we have people making jokes, INCLUDING Noah.

And yet, the tag has suddenly went from unwavering support (as it should), to obsessing over any and every post/comment/joke that can be interpreted as somewhere between sarcastic, uninformed, mildly offensive and downright offensive, and we're acting like it's the end of the world.

There's no denying that all of this is overwhelming. It's a lot. And I don't blame people for speaking up when they truly feel that it's necessary. It's only natural to get defensive when you think someone is being wronged/harmed and you want to do what's right.

But again, to what point is it truly necessary to keep bringing attention to every single thing we come across that falls somewhere on that spectrum near negative?

Right now this space is filled with the negatives, even if it's coming from a good place. Do we think that Noah or Millie or any of the cast want to have to be confronted with negativity from all directions, even from the people that claim to just be fans trying to do the right thing?

It gets exhausting.

And now we're just seeing this stan twitter behavior create one big mess of delusion, with toxic Millie stans calling Noah a white sexist misogynist because he liked a TikTok referencing his coming out and the homophobic Millie meme?...

Is Noah only allowed to be open to unwavering support right now? Can he not make light of the situation, or are we just imagining that he's sitting there victimizing himself because of any and all of the negatives being thrown at him, that are never going to go away, no matter what he says or does? Because I honestly think that's the opposite of what he's doing or would even want to be doing.

And same with Millie, I don't think she sees anything and everything happening to her, and everything anyone is saying, and allows it to bother her anymore. Because how could she?? That kind of shit drains a person of their sanity.

Noah is out here not only liking TikToks joking about his coming out, he's still liking byler edits, still commenting on fans posts with a lighthearted positive attitude. He even mentioned Will in his post, so obviously he doesn't mind people making some comparisons between him and his character.

And yet here we are dwelling on everything negative we can get our hands on.

It's important to realize that the cast has seen the worst of the worst. And you can see that it's affected them. You can see they went from fairly public public figures to almost entirely private public figures, only interacting with fans when they have to, because they know a good portion of the trauma they experience comes from the fans themselves who just don't understand boundaries and common sense.

The most delusional aspect of all of this is that toxic stans are 100% convinced Millie and Noah hate each other... like they fully believe this lie they've told themself based on videos they've seen of them? Like they genuinely think they know her better than she knows herself I guess???

Now, I do want to say that I understand partly where these fans are coming from. Millie has went through absolute shit with this fandom. And it's mostly because she herself is known for saying stuff that causes people outrage. Whether it's a joke or a comment, that clearly just came off the top of her head, they'll flip it to something negative and use it as ammo to hate her. She doesn't deserve that. And I know a lot of her fans are coming from a protective place because they're so used to people hating Millie for no reason.

But even still, I don't think they realize they are a part of the problem themselves. And we are too whenever we allow ourselves to focus on the negatives, letting it practically consume us.

That sort of shit can make a person feel hopeless. 1 negative comment can outweigh 100 positive ones. And so imagine that by a scale of about a billion?

Again, I know a lot of fans mean well, but if you just take a moment to think about it, like really think about it, you'll realize that your energy would be much better directed elsewhere.

Instead of making dramatic intense posts that focus on all the negativity, BE THE POSITIVITY! Be someone that actually makes our community redeemable. Because again, we're no better than the worst of the worst if we're giving them all the attention, making the very people we're claiming to be supporting and defending, even more miserable.

And don't be surprised when s5 promo rolls around or any other event involves Millie and Noah interacting in a public forum, where they'll inevitably make jokes about all of this, arguably just as offensive as the ones we're getting worked up over right now

#stranger things #noah schnapp #millie bobby brown #tiktok #byler #i feel like this is controversial but it really shouldn't be #dude i remember when people were joking about mike looking at angelas boyfriend during the rink o mania scene #and milkvan stans on twitter were full serious #you’re shipping Mike with El’s abuser #who is shipping who? what?? like can we not just exist and talk about things without it being the most serious take on the planet?? #or during noah's live recently he kept getting questions asking if he was friends with millie/the other cast or if they hated each other #and it got to a point where he was like #what is this? millie is my friend i'm friends with all my castmates #you guys are jut always trying to find the tea or stir the pot when there's nothing there #it's all just drama for the sake of drama and it's no wonder they don't interact with fans anymore #don't even get me started on bylers who get really condescending at random comments millie makes in interviews #it's not that serious i promise you #not to mention a lot of this stuff happened when they were kids so kids saying whats on their mind and being ripped apart for it is so? #gross #remember your online experience is whatever you want it to be #set boundaries with yourself if you have to #lord knows the cast is