THIS DANCE SCENE! GOD, THIS DANCE SCENE. It's going to live rent free in my brain for weeks.
Where do I even begin? The parallel with sword fighting being a dance of its own (a dance with your opponent, a dance with death), with a winner and a loser? Rishe's closeness and intimacy with the very man who killed her less than a month ago who now intends to have her as his wife? Her competitiveness and pride as a warrior rearing up its head to try and one-up Arnold for once?
This scene is such a phenomenal adaptation of the line 'there's a thin line between love and hatred' because even when she's in what's considered a classic romantic setting (a dance ball/party where she's revealed as the crown prince's fiancée!), Rishe cannot help but reminisce on the last time she was in such close quarters with Arnold, the last time she was pitted against him, and try to gain the upper hand.
From a dance to the death to a dance with death.
Yet the dynamic is the same, no matter the setting: it's all about Rishe trying to figure out Arnold, taking jabs at him to see how he reacts and if she can crack his impenetrable wall, and Arnold not giving an inch.
This hand grab animation has no business feeling so sensual and intimate: the way Rishe's hand glides over Arnold's thumb, the way her fingers curl from pinky to index, the way Arnold's hand starts to close, but only completely wraps around Rishe's after she's done, as if waiting for her permission to touch her... GAH
And I love love love the way the animators portrayed Arnold matching Rishe's extra moves step for step, extra twirl for extra twirl, (pictures above). It shows his quick wit and his adaptability. And unlike Rishe who sports a neutral if not serious face the entire time, Arnold seems amused, entertained even, as he tries to predict her next move. The way he slowly curls his arm behind him as he lets Rishe twirl away from him show how relaxed he is. No matter what Rishe throws at him, he has the confidence to match her, to regain the upper hand.
It's like watching a chess match, but in dancing format.
And in the end, despite all her best attempts, Arnold's the one who manages to trick (trip) Rishe:
In short, this entire dance scene is a good representation of Rishe's and Arnold's current relationship. Despite their proximity in this lifetime dance, Rishe cannot get a good read on Arnold and doesn't feel close to him. He's just as unshakable, as unflappable, as the Arnold who killed her. And yet, as Arnold matches Rishe move for move, he allows himself the last laugh, showing he's not entirely unmoved by her. He respects her and her skills, but he's not above teasing her as well.
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Ranboo holding his head as the mask malfunctions, asking ““the hell?”” quietly as if he’s processing what he’s seeing for the first time, the blood on his hands, the smell of gunpowder, looking at something certainly more horrific than what it was changed into… and then a hand reaches out and turns the mask back on, altering his perceptions back into the cheesy comedy horror landscape showfall needs him to see.
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“Sergeant Troy was telling me how keen you are on the bells.”
“Oh was he?”
“I said you where welcome to come along this evening, see how it’s done. I think he’s already confirmed it with your wife actually.”
*Troy hurries past*
“Troy!!”
~Midsomer Murders, Ring Out Your Dead
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[ID: Gif of Gabe from Locke & Key watching Tyler and Bode trade keys. He's clearly frustrated but trying to hide it. He blinks twice, glancing around. The camera briefly focuses on Tyler and Bode as they trade the keys right in front of Gabe, who watches the exchange, before it focuses back on Gabe as he looks off to the side and bites his lip. END ID]
Tyler, I need to borrow the Anywhere Key. Actually, while we're trading keys, give me the Hercules Key. Deal.
Inspired by this and this post.
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