#love the way you can genuinely read his arc as a trans allegory. love the way he's got gnc swag (more subtly than Luz but still)

[welcometogrouchland]

ok i just saw this hc but i immediatly adopted it: hunter is trans and he was binding unsafely for a lot of time until darius (also trans) put a stop to it in the reunion that definitevely happened between LR and COTH and gave him a quickly put together temporal binder promising him that he would make him a proper one post DoU

Firstly anon I think I know exactly which comic you're referring to and second of all REAL I LOVE TRANSMASC HUNTER!!! All hunters are good, and I acknowledge that every interpretation of him has a lot of textual validity. He's got that link gender going on! Transmasc is just my fav bc my transmasc friends are attached to it <3

I don't have much/anything to add to this one bc I'm not transmasc and don't bind or anything (I fielded this ask to some friends before hand just to make sure I didn't say anything dumb) BUT- I do have this for you

[ID: two versions of a digital drawing of Hunter from the owl house. He stands with one on his hip looking off to the side. He's depicted in his costume from for the future, except his wolf shirt has been replaced by a binder. In the first version the binder is plain black, whereas in the second version it has a simple strawberry pattern on it. There is a note that (in the first version) reads "Hunter in the binder baby!!!" And (in the second version) "Hunter in the STRAWBERRY binder baby!!!". End ID]

#the owl house #toh #hunter toh #transmasc hunter #ramblings of a lunatic #asks #the binder w/ strawberries was made to match a different doodle of willow in the strawberry dress #i forgot to post that tho 😭 i would if ppl asked tho #i love Hunter. love whatever gender he's got going on #love the way you can genuinely read his arc as a trans allegory. love the way he's got gnc swag (more subtly than Luz but still) #love that he is narratively a prince charming and a princess in the tower and a faceless devoted knight #hes great. I've had brainworms about him lately that I'd indulge more if i wasn't in such a state #this sketch isn't perfect but like. it's a sketch. I'll let myself have this one. just this once

[commsroom]

I'm really glad for all the love you've put into w359 fanworks. every time I see you post about it, my heart glows a little.

I'd originally felt that way while listening to the show, and your interpretation & vision feels so tightly knit to the source material. you even go farther in your explicit discussions about hera, her autonomy, her emotional depth, her treatment by other characters, and her arc as a trans allegory

totally understand why you might feel embarrassed, but I wanted you to know: thank you 💜

oh, that's so sweet of you to say!! i'm honored you think so.

i genuinely think there's a case to be made that eiffel/hera is as canon as the parameters for romance in wolf 359 allow it to be. like: gabriel urbina's policy was always "never confirm or deny 'on-screen' romance unless absolutely necessary" and from the AMAs we know they at least discussed it with regard to eiffel and hera, though we'll never know how that conversation went. it's not really a secret that sarah shachat and zach valenti, at least, viewed it that way. i still think about zach saying (paraphrased) that he thinks his non-answer is an answer, because if he didn't ship them, he could just say so.

and that's kind of how i feel about eiffel/hera within canon. like. anybody at all familiar with shows the wolf 359 writers like (especially things like btvs and farscape) can tell you there are plenty of scenes that mirror and meta-textually reference scenes from other shows. both gabriel urbina and sarah shachat were huge fans of the new doctor who, and whatever you believe the intent was, i find it hard to believe they didn't at least know they were evoking "if it's my last chance to say it, rose tyler, i-" with "and hera. hera, i-" it's what isn't said, the fact it has to be left unsaid, that speaks the loudest.

and anyway, talking about hera and romance / sexuality is especially interesting to me because it's not a given for her. it's not assumed to be something she should want or can have, and the way that intersects with her canon disability and with readings of her as a trans woman re: autonomy and desirability is very interesting (and very personal) to me, especially in the broader context of stories about AI women. but that's a topic for another post.

it's not a new observation by any means, but i think there can be a tendency to treat romance as separate from character analysis, and that's always sat poorly with me. romance isn't unique in either a good or a bad way, it's just... one type of relationship people can have. i think a lot about the unique approach wolf 359 has to romance because, while i understand why a lot of people would find the lack of romantic subplots refreshing, the characters aren't written to be intentionally disinterested in sex or romance (in some cases, textually... the opposite, even), so much as the writing carefully skirts around it. and... i don't know! there's something fascinating there.

obviously, i think you can recognize what's important about eiffel and hera's relationship (that it's the most equal one hera has ever had, that he has no real hierarchy over her or expectations for her other than companionship, how they share values and mutually support each other, etc.) without needing that to be romantic. and i think you can even acknowledge there's some degree of romantic intent without being invested like i am or "shipping" them. but i do think there's some intent there, and i think the the themes of the show can be expanded in some interesting ways to explore that beyond the intentional ambiguity of it. if you want to.

i would also never deny having an emotional bias here!! complete objectivity is never possible because we always bring parts of ourselves to our interpretations of art, and that's only amplified by how close to my heart wolf 359 is as a story. but i do really want to communicate, to the best of my ability, how much love i have for the show and how much thought i put into it. and i definitely don't mind being known for my love of eiffel/hera; they're my favorite characters from anything ever, both individually and together. but i do get kinda embarrassed when i talk about them too much, because it's not that i don't have plenty of thoughts about every other character and aspect of the show, it's just... that they are close to my heart in a particular way. anyway. i really appreciate it, thank you!!

#this still isn't worded as well as i'd like but i can't rework it any shorter without losing something. i hope it's clear enough what i mean #like in my mind eiffel/hera is functionally a canon romance but an unresolved one and i find that very compelling #fwiw i do not think gabriel urbina perceives it that way (nor would he ever say even if he did) but like. in the context wolf 359 created #i am sure he was aware of how that would come across. #anyway. remember how that one track on the ost used to be named 'eiffel and hera' and gabriel described it as the show's tenderness theme #and said their relationship became what that song guided his understanding of it to be. beats my head against the wall. #... you just got a bunch of thoughts that were on my mind and i apologize but i do appreciate it very very much #this was such a kind thing for you to say #asks

[terramythos]

TerraMythos 2021 Reading Challenge - Book 13 of 26

Title: The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle #2) (1972)

Author: Ursula K. Le Guin

Genre/Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Third-Person, Female Protagonist

Rating: 10/10

Date Began: 5/14/2021

Date Finished: 6/3/2021

Arha lives in an isolated community called The Place, the last bastion of worship for the ancient gods known as The Nameless Ones. She was taken from her family at a young age, and forced to abandon her true name, Tenar. Now she lives as The One Priestess, a title passed from one woman to another throughout the ages, believed to be an eternal reincarnation. Day in and day out, she performs complex rituals which have lost their meaning, and spends her free time navigating The Place’s vast underground Labyrinth. 

Everything changes for Arha when she traps a mysterious, artifact-seeking sorcerer in the maze. She’s been taught to mistrust the strange magicians of the west for her entire life. Yet she’s fascinated by this man and his kindness. Arha soon finds herself questioning her purpose in life and her isolated, lonely existence-- but escaping it is not as easy as it seems.  

Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light; but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it. 

Content warnings and minor spoilers below the cut.

Content warnings for the book: Animal death, child abuse, slavery, and death. Torture of prisoners. Mention of genocide. Some implied mind control. 

Usually when I really like a book, I can narrow down my reasons without too much trouble. Maybe the setting was cool, or the characters fascinating, or the writing style popped. Maybe all of the above! But my affection for The Tombs of Atuan is harder to articulate. I enjoyed the book, relished it even, but I’m hard pressed to say what in particular made me love it so much. For me it was one of those books that was much greater than the sum of its parts. 

The Tombs of Atuan is a stark contrast to A Wizard of Earthsea. While the previous book detailed a world-spanning adventure, this novel takes place almost entirely in a small and isolated setting. In fact, the first half seems like it’s from another series entirely. The tone is much darker. The novel is deliberate and slow-paced, which is something I usually don’t like. But Le Guin has such a way with words and character development that I was totally enraptured. There’s a heavy focus on Arha/Tenar’s upbringing and daily life in service to The Nameless Ones. This doesn’t change until Ged enters the story and (literally) brings the outside world with him -- and some much-needed context. 

Even beyond all that, the setting feels claustrophobic. There’s the bleak rituals and sacrifices Arha/Tenar must perform. There’s her terse, strained relationships with the other residents of The Place. There’s the inherent desolation of a small hamlet in the middle of the desert. Most of all, there’s Arha/Tenar’s exploration of the subterranean Labyrinth, and the sense of dark forces lurking in its depths. It’s noteworthy that The Nameless Ones never show themselves physically, yet they feel real and foreboding in how they affect and manipulate the characters. This adds a palpable layer of anxiety to the whole novel. 

When I read I usually can’t “feel” myself in the setting, but this book was an exception. In particular, there’s a scene near the end where Ged and Arha/Tenar are lying down in a boat, staring at the stars, and speaking to each other... and I vividly felt myself there in that moment. I have to credit Le Guin’s skill as a writer for making me feel that way; something many authors across hundreds of books have rarely accomplished. 

Another big strength of this book is the character development. One of my main criticisms of A Wizard of Earthsea was the dearth of interesting female characters. Arha/Tenar is exactly what was missing from that book. As The One Priestess, she holds a place of reverence among everyone else in her life. But this leaves her isolated, lonely, and trapped. She tries throughout the novel to fulfill her role as the cold, calculating woman she’s supposed to be. She’s prone to sudden outbursts of anger or cruelty because of her upbringing (and potentially the influence of The Nameless Ones; this is kept vague). Yet her kindness peeks through as she struggles with this aspect of herself, and ultimately breaks free with Ged’s help. 

I also like that Le Guin wrote this from Arha/Tenar’s point of view. The Tombs of Atuan could easily be just another Ged adventure story; he has a clear goal that’s in line with his character in the previous book. But Arha/Tenar’s perspective feels much more intimate. We see all her personal struggles and relationships, and her inherent familiarity with the setting adds a lot of nuance we’d miss through Ged’s eyes. It’s also interesting to see Ged from another character’s perspective, especially someone prone to mistrust him. 

And Ged himself is a great character; I can see why people like him so much. In particular, I love that he’s this this important and powerful wizard, yet his defining traits in this story are his patience and gentleness (things he incidentally struggled with in A Wizard of Earthsea). Even when Arha/Tenar captures and imprisons him, he treats her with kindness and respect. And it’s not a ploy to manipulate her; it’s because he genuinely sees her potential as a person and how they can help each other. I’m just a huge sucker for that kind of thing.

Finally, there’s lots of interesting thematic stuff that I won’t explore in detail, but might be interesting to analyze on a reread. Imprisonment is a big one; Arha/Tenar literally imprisons Ged, but is likewise imprisoned in her role as The One Priestess (something Ged clearly picks up on). Consider the literal role of a labyrinth; to trap someone and bewilder them-- and how Arha/Tenar spends so much time memorizing the one in this story. The power of names continues to be relevant; the protagonist is Arha for most of the story, but she eventually rediscovers her true name Tenar and uses that instead, in parallel with her character arc (this definitely wasn’t intended to be a trans allegory, but damn if it didn’t hit that way). There’s also the symbolism inherent in the Ring of Erreth-Akbe, the artifact Ged came to find. When Arha/Tenar joins Ged’s half to the one they find in the Labyrinth... right as the two resolve to work together and escape... Le Guin, you turned the MacGuffin into a symbol of trust! I’m going to scream! 

The Tombs of Atuan just slapped, what can I say? On the surface level it’s a fantasy novel, but it often transcends the label and provides a deeply human tale. It’s a beautiful piece of writing, and I found myself reading it slowly to savor every chapter. I’m curious how the remaining four books compare. 

#if i had a penny for every 10/10 i read this year with antagonists called 'The Nameless One(s)' i'd have two pennies #which is not a lot but it's weird it happened twice #10/10 #taylor reads #2021 reading challenge

[jewlwpet]

Jewelpet Kira Deco is my favorite season of Jewelpet because it has all the wackiness I loved in Sunshine while also having a good story and character development. Admittedly only half of Jewelpet Sunshine has been subbed, but I’ve read about the plot and find it impossible to take seriously, which is probably the point, I realize.

Also, Jewelpet Sunshine was generally hilarious, but there were some things that I found very unfunny... particularly everything involving the genderfluid character Wanimiya/Waniko who was portrayed as creepy, predatory, and unnatural. Whereas the trans-coded character in Jewelpet Kira Deco was, despite starting out as a villain, was liked and respected by most of the non-villainous characters (in contrast to constant disrespect she received from the other villains), and the joy she felt and bonds she formed while presenting as female was actually the catalyst for her turning to the side of the heroes. Although it’s true that despite having the lines “I can be whoever I want in this world? Well then of course my gender will be female,” Coal is still officially listed as a male Jewelpet and was portrayed as a gay man in the following season, though it does take place in an alternate universe, and various Jewelpets have had large aspects of their character vary between seasons.

Re: Jewelpet Kira Deco I hate Blue and I honestly cannot decide if he’s fun to have as a figure to hate on or if he’s really dragging the show down, but I sure don’t like him. I’ve seen him compared to Meganii (from PriPara, which had the same director), but I actually think he’s worse; I’d say he’s something like PriPara’s Hibiki or Onegai My Melody’s Hiiragi were a straight man. but also without any of their character depth. just the surface stuff. and happy.

It doesn’t help that gogoanime has the episodes in the wrong order and starts with his episode for some reason.

Jewelpet Happiness has a lot of great individual stories in it, which isn’t to say that the main story isn’t also good; I honestly don’t remember, but I think it was. Mostly, though, it’s the individual episodes that stuck out to me. It was very heartwarming, probably the most in the franchise, for me. I personally prefer Kira Deco mainly because of its zaniness, but Jewelpet Happiness is a very solid addition to the franchise. Incidentally it had multiple episodes that work remarkably well as trans allegories though I don’t think this probably intentional. They’re good, though, regardless. They work.

Jewelpet Magical Change is also very good; like Kira Deco, it has a good balance of zany humor and actual substance. It also has a couple of moments of genuine gay/bi rep, most notably the episode in which the protagonist’s brother found out that the woman he’d been crushing on for years was in fact an onnagata in costume and didn’t seem to waver at all in his feelings, wanting to see this person again. No actual relationships, though. It was pretty much just that and a girl who had a crush on Garnet’s human form. That was sweet, but it was never followed up on.

The main reason it isn’t tied with Kira Deco for me is Larimar’s arc. I didn’t like it. I honestly don’t exactly remember how much of it actually bad as opposed to just being boring to me personally, but I know there was only one of her episodes that I liked, the one that was just an affectionate parody of Aikatsu and PriPara. When it was serious about her being an idol, it rubbed me the wrong way, and the ‘forbidden love’ thing did so even more.

OG Jewelpets is impossible for me to review fairly because there are only 16 episodes subbed. I was convinced it had very little to recommend it, due to things like how the villains were the only ones with body diversity and who broke gender norms (so I thought at first) and they stole because they were fed up with being “too poor to commit crimes,” and also a really sexist love interest that one of the main characters had, and how Garnet refused to be that character’s Jewelpet at first because she was sweaty from sports and only changed her mind because she found out that the character also loved pink (really bad message there).

Then, when I was almost done with watching the episodes that were subbed, there was a remarkably good one, about an actor known as a “prince” with a supposedly impossible dream, which turned out to be becoming a princess. Thanks to the Jewelpets’ magic, the actor was able to become a princess in a film and ended up forming a Takarazuka-like male theatre group to help others who wanted to be princesses but didn’t feel like they could. Good stuff!! Admittedly, the protagonist, who’d had a crush on this “prince,” was unhappy with this development, but her mom was really happy and excited about it, so overall I think it’s nice, mostly. There might well be other gems like that among the unsubbed episodes. But of the subbed episodes, that’s honestly the only one I would recommend.

I know people who LOVED Jewelpet Twinkle, and I completely respect that. Personally, I just wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, but that’s more personal taste than anything else. There were problematic elements but I’m not actually going to get into that because they’re not the primary reason I didn’t enjoy the show all that much, so I think only talking about that wouldn’t be doing the show justice, but I am not the best person to talk about its good qualities.

I don’t talk want to talk about Lady Jewelpet. I mean, I certainly can if asked, but otherwise... I’m not giving it that attention.

This has been my completely unprompted review of every season of Jewelpet, or what I’ve seen of each, that I wrote just now, completely spur-of-the-moment, several months after watching all that I’ve seen of Jewelpet. If you read this far, thank you for your time.

#jewelpet #jewelpet kira deco #jewelpet sunshine #jewelpet happiness #jewelpet magical change #jewelpet twinkle #depending on how my experience re-subbing episode 49 of jewelpet kira deco goes #i might end up being the one to sub the rest of sunshine #and people would probably hate me #bc the first half of the earliest of the unsubbed episodes is about waniko's backstory #and id just write 'i didn't like this segment and didn't want to spend my time on it. here's when the part i did sub starts' #'here's a link if you want to add subs for the first part yourself and combine them with my subs for the second part' #transphobia discussion #long post