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mismatched-sockss · 2 months

Text

Where I never dared to stand

» Pairing: purely Spencer Reid x fem!Reader [NO JEID whatsoever] » Wordcount: 4k » Warnings: JJ's POV (3rd person), based on Where I Stood by Missy Higgins, we're staying within the realms of canon with this one - this focuses on JJ's feelings and my own interpretations regarding those, spoilers mentioned for s12!Spencer and 13×01 300, heavy spoilers for 14×15 Truth or Dare, kind of for 15×02 Awakenings too (i used a part of the conversation between JJ and Reid about what happend in 14×15), reader is Garcia's college roommate & friend, no time line mentioned but first meeting of Spencer and Reader is said to happen somewhere after JJ married Will to mid s10 (so somewhere from s8×01 to about s10×12, reader and Spencer are together when s10×13 happens), no mentions of Maeve only a vague mention that the last years have been rough for Spencer), » A/N: multiple mentions about reader being a woman / female, use of she/her pronouns, no body description, no mentions of readers clothes --- pls take a look here for more info about my reader descriptions in general » IMPORTANT!!!: i just want to say that i hated the way the writers where forcing the climax of 14×15 through out the whole s14 both on the characters and us, and i hated just about everything about the whole thing in general tbh, (after making Will such a big part of JJ's life JEID was over and done with, i never liked them as a ship in general; just wait until i'll unleash my hate for JJ in the future (hate only regarding the way she is treating Spencer, otherwise i like her for the most part)).... the only reason this fic happened in the way it is, is because i lost track of my initial plan when i got inspiration from the song, but then i kind of got carried away while writing; i tried to capture and bring out JJ's inner conflicts, the guilt she feels about all of it etc

Jennifer Jareau liked you from the moment she saw you, no doubt about it. There was something about you, that uplifted the whole room you were in; it was hard to not be in a good mood when you were around.

Penelope had brought you along for a girl's night one evening. You had been her dorm room-mate in college and fate brought you back into each other's lives, when it just so happened that you moved into the same building she was living in. From then on, you joined them for girl's night on most occasions and it was just a matter of time until Penelope invited you to a party where not only the girls would be attending, but also the rest of the BAU team. It so happened to be Penelope's birthday party.

Everyone could see the sparks fly when Spencer and you met each other then. One look at the both of you was enough to see it; that this was a once in a life time, soulmate kind of thing. The kind of love you could only find in movies or books, the stuff all the cheesy romance movies JJ liked to watch were made of.

Something had stirred in her heart when she saw the two of you interact at Penelope's birthday party; a small ache, something she couldn't quite place at the time. So without further thinking about it, she brushed it away, forgetting all about it in the following days. That is, until the next time she saw the two of you. Together.

It was at one of Rossi's dinner parties not too long after Spencer and you met. Everyone was already accounted for in Rossi's backyard, except for Spencer. The doorbell rang and Rossi went to open the door; when he got back a big smile was plastered on his face and he was wiggling his brows suggestively. After him, Spencer walked in. With you. Holding hands.

Then and there the ache found it's way back into her heart, a little more persistent then the last time. This time she knew in an instant what it had been.

Jealousy. She couldn't stand your hands on him.

At the realization she had felt dizzy. Had it been any later in the evening she probably could have blamed the dizziness on the wine. But the glass she held in her hand was her first and she had barely nipped on it. No, it was because she was jealous, and the guilt she felt at the same time collided with it and mixed into an even bigger ugly thing that almost swept her off her feet.

Here she was, standing next to her husband and the father of her child, feeling jealous over another woman holding hands with her friend; a friend who she knew once had a thing for her, a friend who she may have had a thing for herself at one point but never even had went on a date with - actively avoided it even, if you thought about it. A friend, who she shouldn't have any feelings for that would call for her to be jealous when he got romantically involved with someone else.

A friend, she instead should be nothing less than happy for, after all the shit he had to go through in his life. She should be happy, that he finally had something good in his life, something that made him smile, something that made him happy. All she wanted was for him to be happy.

Will had commented that Spencer and you looked good together, that you made a cute couple. No matter who much that jealous part of her hated it, she had to agree.

That night at Rossi's she drank a couple more glasses of wine to flush out her confusing emotions than she maybe should have. When someone said something, she successfully played it off as being able to let go for an evening since her mother was watching Henry for the whole weekend. Luckily Will was okay with it, and even was pampering her the next day when she had a bad case of hangover.

After a short time, when JJ had sorted out her feelings, she really was happy for Spencer. So incredibly happy for him; that he had found his person. His safe haven. His forever.

And everyone could see it. That the two of you were perfect for each other.

She didn't think she had seen him this happy since... Ever, actually. Life had never been exactly easy on Spencer, but the last years had been especially rough for him. You were his rock when Gideon died, were there for him when his mom got worse and additionally stayed with her when he had to leave for a case after he took her in – oh, how much Diana loved you. You were the only person except for Spencer who she would let come close when she had an episode and was chasing the nurses away he hired. After he had been arrested in Mexico you as good as moved into his place to help (the nurse with) Diana. Whenever JJ came to visit her with the boys, she was amazed by the way you cared for Diana, so patient and understanding and affectionate, and how she would let you take care of her.

When Spencer had to go on mandatory leave after prison and the whole shit-show with Cat, JJ watched as you broke down the walls he had build around his heart in those three months he was locked away. She watched as you crumbled them down until you reached him again and then you gave him a new ground to build on, a ground back in safety and trust and love.

You broke his walls down, like JJ would never have been able to. Sometimes she wasn't sure if she could stand the fact, she just knew she should.

Back then, all those years ago when Spencer had sat down next to her on the jet with the Red Skin's tickets in his hand and asked her to go, she was scared. She knew that now, had realized it when Spencer and Penelope had been abducted by Meadows and the Messiah, when Emily spoke with her in the restroom and JJ was going crazy with worry about her best friends. Before, it had never really clicked for her, that maybe that was why she had invited Penelope to come with them to the game. Because a little voice in the back of her head had been whispering to her telling her to run, to turn away from him. She was scared of what could be, of what others might say and think.

Scared of hurting Spencer.

Deep down, she knew even back then, that she wasn't right for him.

And then, a year later, she met Will and the more serious their relationship got, the more any feelings for Spencer became platonic in nature. And it was good the way it was: working with each other, being friends. Maybe even something like best friends. It was enough.

She was happy with Will. She loved Will. She couldn't imagine life without him. The what if's and could have been's about Spencer hadn't been on JJ's mind in a very, very long time. Never really gone if she had to be honest, but not at the forefront of her thoughts all the same.

And since being honest was the keyword for today, here in this jewellery store forced with a gun pointing at her and Spencer and the other hostage, a rapid back and forth that could spiral more out of control with every passing second, the Truth she had to admit today, could change everything she had in her life.

"Truth." JJ swallowed after she said it and bit on the insides of her cheeks. Stand strong, show no fear; that was what she repeated in her head again and again, trying to fight of the raging panic that kept rising up in her chest ever since the guy had fired a warning shot in Spencer's direction just a moment ago.

"I want you to say something, you're afraid to say", the Unsub spat through gritted teeth. Saliva was pooling at the corners of his lips and the hand he was holding the gun in was shaking uncontrollably, “That you'd never tell anybody. And you better make it good!” He didn't take a step closer, he only shifted his weight from one foot to the other, but with the way he accentuated every word he was screaming with a movement of his hand, she felt like he was coming closer. Like he was placing the barrel of the gun closer to her body with every twitch, until he'd be able to press it right onto her sternum. “'Cause if it's not, it's gonna be the last thing you ever say!”

Her nostrils flared as she took a slow breath in, trying to calm her nerves enough to find an answer and to give him the answer without a waver in her voice.

“What's it gonna be?” This time when he shifted his weight, he did take a small step closer to her.

By the way her nose was aching and her eyes were burning she knew it would only be a matter of moments until the tears would fall. She blinked to keep the tears away a bit longer and avoiding eye contact with the Unsub, only looking at him for a second. When she answered, she cursed herself for how shaky her voice was. “There are only four people it trust in this world.”

“Boring”, he commented in a weird sing-sang before he pointed the weapon down and shot the Judge in the leg. The gun was immediately pointed back at JJ. “Next!”

The gunshot had drowned out the whimper she hadn't been able to hold back. And when the deadly attention was back on her, she immediately went back in to position - stand strong, show no fear. The second part almost wasn't manageable any more for her. “Uhm”, she let out, again racking her brain for an answer, something the would finally accept. What could she say? What was she willing to say?

“My, uhm.” The pained whimpers of the woman in front of her as she slowly slid down the cabinet distracted her, she wasn't sure if she was welcoming the distraction or not. JJ felt bad for even remotely feeling thankful that the woman was in pain. “My baby, I lost, I um-”, she looked around, first meeting the Unsubs gaze, then at a random point at the wall and back to him. The emotions bubbling up in her almost choked her and she had to clear her throat. She didn't want to tell him this, but she had to. “- wanted to name her Maggie.”

“BULL!”, he screamed and JJ jumped. “Come on, you can do better than that!” Again, waving the gun, closer and closer.

Spencer tried to get his attention and pull it away from her, calling out the Unsub's name. “Casey...!”

Now the gun was pointed at Spencers head. “SHUT UP!” And again with the uncontrolled waving and twitching. JJ felt like she couldn't breathe.

She jumped again when Casey suddenly was right in front of her, forcefully grabbing into the hair at the back of her head, pushing her down to her knees with the tight grip and possibly even pulling some strands out. “Okay, okay..”, she mumbled, whimpered. What could she say?

“Last chance! Something you'd never say aloud. Not even to your partner here.” For a moment he waved his gun at Spencer again. “Your deepest, darkest secret. Impress me, or I'll kill him.”

It was the first thing that came to her mind when the Unsub demanded this, and threatened Spencer's life. It was the only thing that fought its way through the panic. The panic that had clouded her mind for anything else but the need for survival. Hers. Spencers.

She couldn't hold back her tears any more. In a desperate attempt to catch Spencer's gaze, she darted her eyes to his direction. At the same time the guilt that was already coming over her and trying to pull her down, before she even said one word and it made her look away from him.

“COME ON!”

So she said it. Hoping, it would be enough to save their lives. Hoping, her fear of losing her best friend would stay just that. A fear. Hoping, that they would walk out of here alive and that nothing would change between them. That even after saying what she was about to say, they could go on like before, that they would be okay. Selfish as it was, JJ couldn't lose him. She just didn't know who she was without Spencer in her life. Her best friend, her confidant. Her fi-... She knew she should know it, that it made no sense to feel like this. But she couldn't help needing him.

With a shy look on her face, she turned to her friend, took a deep breath.

"Spence, uhm,” she started, shooting him a pained smile to ease his nerves and her own. And he looked at her, waiting for her to continue, with a sad but still vary and concentrated shimmer in his eyes. He was sitting weidly stiff and there was ovment in his shoulders but she wasn't able to focus on anything else than his face.

Or not, because JJ had to look away. She didn't think she could say this while directly looking at him. This was just too...

“I've always loved you", she admits, helplessly shrugging her shoulder as she said it. You meant more to me than anyone I loved before you, before Will.

It took Spencer a moment to understand, what she is saying. How she meant those three words, that they had said a lot of times to each other over the years, in a platonic way.

His eyes slightly widened when the words sink in. The true meaning behind them.

“And I wasjusttooscaredtosay it before.” Her words came out in a blur, almost undistinguishable. She exhaled and looked away, shook the hair out of her face with a quick motion of her head. And as she tried to bite back her tears,she scoffed. “And now, things are just”, the sob leaving her throat almost sounded like a laugh, “far too complicated to say it now.” I am married and have kids, my kids are your godsons. You have a girlfriend, the love of your life waiting for you at home. These are the things she didn't say, didn't need to say. Didn't want to say in front of everyone else in the room.

Maybe she did laugh. The situation was so absurd, so surreal. It almost didn't feel real if there wouldn't be this gun pointed at her.

With tears running down her face she forced herself to look at Spencer. “I'm sorry”, she breathed out. “But you should know.” In case I die here. In case you die here. I had to let you know.

He didn't give away what he was thinking or feeling, had closed off the expressions on his face after the initial shock. The whisper of a sad smile stretched his lips as an acknowledgement when she stopped talking.

The giggle the Unsub let out, made the bile rise into JJ's throat.

“Hot damn”, he laughed, switching between looking at her and Spencer. “That's what I'm talking about.”

Neither of them looked up at the man standing over them, caught in a silent conversation. Did I just destroy everything? - Don't worry. At least that was what she hoped he was saying with his eyes.

“Now those are some last words right there.” Could this guy please, please, please just stop waving the god damn gun around!?

For the fracture of a second, everything fell from JJ's shoulders. The guilt, the sorrow, the fear. She did it, her confessions had been enough. Worthy of saving them. Just when the muscles in her body relaxed, the gun was pointed back right in to her face, mere inches away. “But not good enough to safe your life!” Spit landed on her face.

JJ readied herself, even with the immense fear shooting through her whole body so harsh her body felt numb. The hole of the barrel drew her eyes to it, hypnotized her. For some reason, she started a countdown in her head.

Three, two – BANG!

Casey's legs gave out and he grunted as his weapon fell out of his hand and he helds his stomach. Then, he collapsed, his dead-weight body falling into the space between her and Spencer. Her brain had problems catching up after already checking out, after making some kind of peace with her immediate death.

She looked from the dead body, to Spencer and the gun in his hand, too stunned to ask or think about how he had managed to free his hands and where the gun came from.

They didn't speak a word to each other after their team burst in, there neither had been the time nor a fitting occasion to talk. They didn't speak until some time later in the evening, after the team made it back, just in time to get cleaned up and celebrate David's & Krystall's marriage.

When they finally shared some words when they both headed to the bar to get something to drink, they didn't talk long.

JJ was nervous. A whole lot of new what if's regarding Spencer were now on her mind. What if he hates me now? What if he wants nothing to do with me any more? What if he leaves me? She hated herself for being so selfish when the last one crossed her mind. She had been prepared to take this secret with her to her grave. But she had needed to say some thing real, something that would not only get the Unsubs attention, but also Spencers. Only then could she have made sure to get a chance at getting them out of there. She was sorry for spilling her secret, for doing this to him and burdening him with it. But now it was out an she couldn't take it back.

“So I, uh, I didn't get a chance to... say it back there, but...”, she started before saying anything else about her confession, having to start the conversation at least somewhere. “Thank you... for saving my life.” She smiled at him.

“You're welcome.” He nodded his head, a small smile stretching in his lips as well. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She laughed nervously. “So uh, Luke was right, two guns, huh? Since when have you been wearing an ankle holster?”

“Around the time I got out of prison”, Spencer smirked.

“Right.” JJ nodded, then quickly looked away, internally working herself up to get the next words out, the ones she so desperately wanted to ask him. “Look, uh, I... Are- are we, okay?” That was all she could hope for at this point. It was all she wanted. That they were okay.

He smiled at her reassuringly and nodded. “Of course.” His smile and the soft tone his voice held eased her nerves instantly.

She held back a sigh of relief and smiled. “Good.”

They fell silent as they wait, Spencer for his water and JJ for a glass of wine. She softly drummed the tips of her finger on the wood, before she turned around to find where you were standing. When your name fell from her lips Spencers eyes darted to you, not even having to search the room. Like a magnetic pull, something that just came natural to him, knowing where to find you. “She looks beautiful tonight.”

Spencer silently nods as his eyes roam your body, how the fabric of your outfit hugged itself around you. “Yeah”, he breathes out, almost inaudibly. “She is.”

The glass clinking as the drinks were served caught her attention and she turned to take hers into her hand. With her free hand she touched Spencers arm and squeezed lightly. Their gazes met and they shared a smile before she walked away.

Just when JJ got back to the table the music changed into a soft and slow tune. Will took the glass form her hand and pulled her away to dance with her. Happy, she leaned into him, and enjoyed the moment. Enjoyed being in his arms.

She couldn't help but look as Spencer and you found your way to other side of the dance floor. He pulled you so close to him, not even a sheet of paper would have had space between the both of you. He was smiling down at you as you were slowly swaying to the rhythm of the music together and you were smiling up at him just as bright. Lost in each others eyes. Every so often he would lift your intertwined hands from his chest up to plant a kiss to your knuckles, or he would brush the tip of his nose against yours before he stole a quick kiss from your lips. Not for one second losing the bright smile, that all but screamed that he was drunk on love.

Spencer was JJ's first love, and the first love is something special, something you can't just erase out of your heart as if it never had made it's home in there in the first place. He was a big piece of her heart and would always be. But she had never even dared to try and stand where you were standing now. By his side; as his partner, his equal. His other half. His forever.

Even if she wouldn't have Will and her two beautiful boys - and don't get me wrong, she wouldn't trade her life with her family for the world-, the way the two of you were clinging to each other right now, looking like you were deeply sunken into your own little universe where no one else existed; and so full of bliss and love for each other... There was no way she would destroy this, no way she would break you two apart.

There was nothing in the world that could break Spencer and you apart.

JJ couldn't hear what you were whispering about, she could only guess by the way you looked at each other and giggled occasionally. The longer you danced it seemed like you were melting into each other, merging your bodies and souls together to form one.

Emily's speech from earlier ringed in her ears then. Penelope says, that this was fate. That [their marriage] was in the stars. [They] are twin flames. Two souls, that are always meant to be together. […] The thing about twin flames is, that nothing can keep them apart.

It was similar to something she had heard Spencer himself say once: "There's an old Buddhist saying, that, when you meet your soulmate, […] the act to bring you together was 500 years in the making." She thought both descriptions were fitting for what you and Spencer had.

As she let her eyes linger on your swaying forms, she suddenly felt like she was intruding something personal and intimate, so she averted her gaze and turned her head away. She rested her cheek against her husbands chest as she faced the other way and closed her eyes. JJ hugged Will closer and as his own hold on her tightened he rested his chin on the crown of her head.

It wasn't fair that she loved Spencer. Because she loved Will and her two boys too. Her family had made her who she was. But so had Spencer.

It wasn't fair to anyone involved.

She had never meant to hurt him, never. She just wanted him to be happy. And you made him happy.

No matter who much she loves Spencer now, had loved him before and would continue to love him, she could never love him as much as you did; the woman who stood where JJ never even had dared to stand.,

#spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x fem!reader #spencer x reader #spencer reid fanfiction #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #ghosts can write #💜 s.r.#--- mismatched🧦

172 notes · View notes

brian-in-finance · 1 year

Note

As a go to for everything Cait, I thought you and other fans might enjoy this collection of various critics' review quotes about her wonderful Belfast performance. ❤️👏

- Though her entire performance is practically perfect, it’s in the “bus scene” where I just KNEW Caitríona Balfe was winning that Oscar.The number of shifting emotions she has to express in one unbroken shot is simply staggering, & she truly takes you on a journey with Ma.

Zoë Rose Bryant - Awards Editor

- Caitríona is “a true star.The woman can send three emotions flickering across her face at once, making the implausible seem more real than reality itself”. - Maeve Higgins

So while “Belfast” is, in one sense, a deeply personal coming-of-age tale, it’s also a more universal story of displacement and detachment, located most powerfully in Balfe’s fierce, shining performance. Her authenticity steadies the heartbeat of a film.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/movies/belfast-review.html?smid=tw-nytimesarts&smtyp=cur

Buddy’s mother, played strikingly by Caitriona Balfe.

https://www.indiependent.co.uk/belfast-kenneth-branaghs-impressive-tribute-to-his-roots-lff-review/

Balfe is the film's MVP.

https://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Belfast.shtml

Caitriona Balfe is one of those actresses you see in the cast list and immediately get excited because of how she delivers over and over again. She displayed this in her small amount of screen time in Ford v Ferrari, as she absolutely stole the show as Mollie Miles, but her role as Ma is her best yet. Balfe carries the emotional weight of the entire film on her shoulders. We see her as the more reserved wife early on, but as her cubs become more and more in danger, the aggressive side of Ma comes forward. Balfe takes this on full steam and delivers. She shows the audience her love and compassion, but at the same time, the depths she will go to protect the ones she loves. One scene in particular rips your heart into a million pieces, she is THAT good.

https://musiccitydrivein.com/2021/11/09/belfast-review-branagh-delivers-in-the-heartwarming-tale-of-the-year/

Balfe is splendid.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/11/11/belfast-review-coming-age-film-makes-case-oscar-contender/6345745001/

Balfe’s Ma is a particular stand-out.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/belfast-movie-review.html/

Ms. Balfe’s gorgeous performance.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/belfast-kenneth-branagh-judi-dench-van-morrison-northern-ireland-the-troubles-11636671094

Balfe and Hill are tour de forces in the film and provide some of Belfast‘s most impactful, heartfelt moments. Balfe’s charm and charisma explode on the screen. Even in the film’s most difficult moments, Balfe evokes the spirit and determination of the family’s matriarch that may lead her to both an Oscar nomination and win.

https://www.reeltalkinc.com/belfast/

Caitríona Balfe is an absolute knockout here as Ma, who delivers such a nuanced and layered performance, and one that I could absolutely see getting nominated for an Academy Award.

https://cailloupettismoviereviews.com/movies/belfast-film-review/

Caitriona Balfe does the most complex, nuanced acting in the movie. - Zack Clopton

What helps break down the aforementioned walls is most assuredlythe strong performance of the ever-concerned and lovingly tough mom of Buddy and his brother, played by Caitriona Balfe. She delivers such passion throughout, and the camera is just so attracted to her magnetism, going long on her takes, capturing every bit of what she’s wearing on her face - stress and all. She’s as intense and real as a parent can be, but never mean or big about anything. There are figurative punches she throws, and sometimes it feels as though the hits are coming from those in front of the screen too. She acts for everyone, and like with her character’s family, she holds everything together.

https://www.billarceneaux.com/p/belfast

- "Balfe can change the course of a scene through just her eyes, moving from steely resolve to regretful heartbreak in one heartbreaking glance."

"The cast is excellent, especially Caitriona Balfe who deserves to be a bigger star than she is."

Even more stunning is Caitríona Balfe’s depiction of Buddy’s mother. Afforded the most difficult task by far, with scenes ranging from an emotional breakdown to dealing with mobsters and a hostage situation, Balfe more than delivers and is responsible for some of the film’s dramatic highlights.

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/11/9/belfast-review/

I was really taken by Balfe’s nuanced, layered performance. That moment in the bus is likely going to be used as the clip for her Oscar campaign by the studio. She’s won acclaims in Outlander series, but she’s definitely ready for more prominent film roles.

https://flixchatter.net/2021/11/12/flixchatter-review-belfast-2021/

Balfe brings her best as Ma—fearless and afraid, broken and yet standing tall, playful and in love, there wasn’t a single emotion Balfe didn’t touch on masterfully. Ma would’ve been a compelling character through spoken word alone, but Balfe brought layers to her that were aspiring and a sight to see. A strong Oscar contender I will fight for.

https://marvelousgeeksmedia.com/2021/11/12/kenneth-branaghs-belfast-is-one-of-the-most-emotionally-compelling-films-of-the-year/

Caitriona Balfe is absolutely brilliant, effortlessly embracing the full range of her character - from despairing mother and wife to glamorous, dancing optimist.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-opinion/belfast-review-masterpiece-one-two-22061617

Caitriona Balfe might be the Best Supporting Actress frontrunner for her showcase performance.

Balfe is marvelous in a role that requires her to run the emotional gamut – she’s fierce, funny, sexy, and heartbreaking.

https://theestablishingshot.org/2021/11/branaghs-belfast-is-a-triumph-of-artistry-and-universal-storytelling/

Caitríona Balfe is nothing short of astonishing in this role. You can't (and don't want to) take your eyes off her. She is transfixing.

https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/story.php?309985#.YY6XhuPVYSo.twitter

"The true standout is Caitríona Balfewho just has to go through so many emotions.I would be gobsmacked if Balfe doesn’t earn at least an Oscar nomination for her performance."

https://www.btlnews.com/film-reviews/theatrical/belfast-review/

- Decision monologue - EASILY my second favorite scene of hers, and I think that’s the one that seals the deal! (She’s also stellar when she’s yelling at the kids *in* the store - MAJOR tough mom energy Face with tears of joy).

- I love that we got to see how funny she is in this movie too. Her comedic timing is spot on (see: the quip about the "educational" Raquel Welch). - Zach Gilbert

Though Balfe has starred in notable titles like Super 8 and Ford v. Ferrari in the past, Belfast is easily her biggest (and best) film role to date, as she brings the magnanimous Ma to life in faultless fashion. Though Balfe is gifted two masterfully moving monologues by Branagh (her mid-movie exchange with Dornan about what Belfast has meant – and means – to her will floor audiences the world over), she’s just as stunning in the scenes where she isn’t speaking, relaying her raw resilience through only steely stares or effortful embraces – mindful mannerisms that will stick with crowds long after the credits roll. In anyone else’s hands, Ma could’ve been a stock stereotype, devoid of depth. With Balfe, she’s brimming with brilliant wit, warmth, and wonder - poignant performances.

https://www.loudandclearreviews.com/belfast-review-branagh-balfe-dornan/

Caitriona Balfe is both earthy and ethereal as Buddy’s mother. Her vibrant but teary eyes are often seen betraying so much feeling.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/belfast-review-kenneth-branagh-delivers-25212467

The performances are definitely the film’s strength, specifically Caitriona Balfe, who commands each scene she is in with brazen authority.

https://ilbishop7.medium.com/sliff-week-1-5718a460d54b

Balfe is — in a word — magnificent. — Peter Travers

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/review-belfast-front-runner-best-oscar-picture/story?id=80913653&cid=social_twitter_abcn

Balfe, who was so good as Christian Bale’s wife in “Ford v. Ferrari,” is the glue that holds the family together. She makes you believe in her strength and anxiety both.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/10/arts/belfast-when-black-and-white-is-rosy-colored/

Balfe steals every scene she is in. She is the beating heart of the film.

https://awesomefriday.ca/2021/10/viff-21-review-belfast/

Balfe was a powerful yet calming force who commanded every scene.

https://keithlovesmovies.com/2021/09/14/tiff-2021-belfast-review/

Caitríona Balfe the beautiful mother (who has no reservations about staying in Belfast) - Branagh shoots her with the supernatural elegance. Balfe is terrific — Branagh is wise to put the film’s most pivotal speech on her shoulders.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/belfast-review-kenneth-branagh-1234662382/

Thanks for the message, Anon. Rather than thinking of my blog as a go to for everything Cait, I think of it as a go to for everything real.

Your list of Belfast (film) critic quotes is impressive. Thanks for sharing it with the class. 📝 Most of those reviews are on my blog. I was unable to find sources for the Zoë Rose Bryant, Zack Clopton, and Zach Gilbert quotes

Maeve Higgins’ quote, (Caitríona is) “a true star: the woman can send three emotions flickering across her face at once, making the implausible seem more real than reality itself” is about Caitríona’s performance in Outlander. The Guardian 5 April 2021

"Balfe can change the course of a scene through just her eyes, moving from steely resolve to regretful heartbreak in one heartbreaking glance” is by Dan Bayer. The Next Best Picture 16 September 2021

"The cast is also excellent, especially Caitriona Balfe who deserves to be a bigger star than she is” is by Steve Harcourt. NerdSpan 2021

I also enjoyed Caitríona’s Ma very much. I thought the entire cast was wonderful. Once I saw how well Ariana De Bose acted, sang, and danced in West Side Story, I understood how Jessie Buckley, Dame Judi, Kristen Stewart, Aunjanue Ellis — and Caitríona — applauded, rather than accepted, the Academy Award.

Remember… whatever happens, she'll still be Caitríona. — Anne Balfe

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #Inbox #BelfastMovie #Anon ❤️ Caitríona #Belfast #2021 #Asked and Answered 7 January 2023

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