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overthinkinglotr · 2 years

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Everything in the Amazon lotr series makes perfect sense when you learn that the show runners have literally no experience working on tv shows. None. 😂 J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have barely any experience in the entertainment industry. And like if you check their IMDb, their only credits are a Flash Gordon screenplay for a movie that wasn’t made and “uncredited” writing on the 2016 Star Trek movie (meaning they weren’t an official part of the production but talked to J J Abrams every now and then.)

The only way I can praise the Amazon show is the way you’d praise something written by a kid…”like wow this is your first try? Your first time ever working in tv and writing a fantasy story? This is good for a first try! Nice work! Your mom should hang it on the fridge!” The real question though is like, why didn’t they give biggest budget of any tv series ever made to people who had literally ANY experience showrunning ahsjndndnd.

To be honest I’m baffled at people who say this show is “desecrating tolkien” because like…first off, desecrating tolkien can be super cool. He sucked sometimes. Second, “desecrating tolkien” implies they were creating a story that had something specific to say about Tolkien, and they knew how to use their medium to convey what they wanted to say. But like…they didn’t. The Amazon series can’t desecrate tolkien, it’s relying on tolkien as a crutch to tell an amateur story that would be literally totally incoherent without you filling in the blanks with prior knowledge gained from the books and from other better adaptations.

I’m baffled at people trying to act like Amazon is being progressive with this series when its sorta like…the peak of conservative Hollywood nepotism? Two upper middle-class white dudes with literally no idea how to run a tv show because they have never been part of the process, ever, were gift wrapped the highest budget for any tv show ever made— not because they deserved to make the most expensive tv series ever made, but because they were upper middle class white dudes who happened to know famous people in Hollywood. People work in television their whole lives for the chance to be a showrunner and these two mediocre white dudes who have barely done any professional writing were handed the most expensive tv series of all time.

And it shows! It explains why the show doesn’t feel as expensive as it is. The process was “run” by people who literally have never needed to understand how creating a tv show works.

Everything feels so clumsy, unfocused, and generic because it’s being showrun by people who do not have enough experience to know what they’re doing.

It feels like someone’s first published work because it is. there’s some vague generic theme about being corrupted by darkness but it’s portrayed with all the grace and subtlety of showrunners who have no experience telling stories professionally, don’t understand how to do it, and so are just turning to the audience and flatly saying what the themes are supposed to be in bland boring language. (They couldn’t even find relevant quotes from the books to use instead— at least then it would sound pretty. Tolkein’s language is almost entirely absent from the show. :P)

There’s a lack of specificity— the tone veers wildly from “epic and idealized like the Pj films” to “relentlessly gory and cruel like GOT,” and almost no quotes from the books appear in the show despite language being so important to the feel of middle earth— because the showrunners are too busy struggling to learn the basics of showrunning for the first time to figure out things like “how to set a consistent tone.”

Characters turn to the camera and spoon-feed the audience information like we’re stupid and constantly reiterate exposition from previous episodes because the show runners have never worked on tv shows before, and don’t have enough confidence to trust the audience to understand anything.

The pacing is so bizarre and wonky, and the introductions of important characters/McGuffins is so clumsy, because the showrunners have never done this before ever on any tv show.

The show doesn’t look like the most expensive tv show of all time (even though it is) because the show runners don’t understand how to budget visual effects effectively. Tons of expensive labor is wasted on dream sequences and meaningless one-off plot beats that don’t add anything to the story when they could’ve been spent on the actual important emotional story moments.

And of course the way the show handles gender and race is so hollow because it’s driven by two white male nepotism hires tackling these topics for the Very First Time. They decide to handle sexism in middle earth by making it a world where patriarchy just doesn’t seem to exist(?), but they’re also not willing to actually genuinely imagine what that would look like. so we get a world where “there’s no patriarchy” but most the warriors/leaders are still men, all the women still dress in feminine clothing/hairstyles and all the men have masculine clothing/hairstyles, no women are butch and no men are effeminate, a woman fighting/showing up in battle armor is framed as a big cool reveal, and every single relationship is suffocatingly heterosexual (and there isn’t even the possibility of queer relationships/homoerotic subtext.) They had three POC play some of the side characters but were careless in how they handled them, in a way that’s a disservice to the talented actors— for example the character they marketed as “the first black elf in tolkien” is immediately thrown into a plotline where people are racist to him for being an elf and then he’s captured into slavery and spends a few episodes in chains driven around by white orcs with whips in a way that makes you realize the creators were too white to think about the optics of this. They also don’t tackle the root issues with the way tolkein portrayed race (the idea that different races are different Species with immutable personality traits) and just take his racist assumptions for granted. Meanwhile, every scene where people are “fantasy racist” against white blonde Galadriel for being an elf is handled with all the grace of a white teenager who just realized racism was maybe Bad writing their first fiction story saying Deep Things About Society for a high school assignment. Can you imagine how much more thoughtful writing we would’ve gotten from literally ANY of the far more talented experienced female and poc directors in Hollywood, people who understood how to tackle gender/race in their writing and who understood how to actually run a show? But no, the show has to be handed to two white dudes who have literally no experience writing for tv and no relevant credits, just because they’re white men who are well connected, and we have to trust tHese people to condescendingly explain the importance of diversity to us like we’re children. And then we have to pretend to like it because theres a massive right wing backlash against the show for being “so woke” (when it isn’t). ANSJSJJDJDJD

I just kinda…don’t understand? Why give so much money to people who have no experience and don’t know what they’re doing? People whose only qualifications are being random white dudes who know famous people?

It feels like such a waste of money and resources to throw so much into what’s essentially a training exercise for people who’ve never run a show before. The Amazon series is longer than the first two PJ films but it doesn’t feel that way because the showrunners don’t understand how to use a medium they have never worked in.

Like Peter Jackson had never directed anything on the scale of LOTR, but he had directed plenty of movies (with the writers who later partnered with him on lotr) before he was allowed to make it, AND had spent years pitching his scripts around Hollywood and helping develop the technology used for the visual effects. Heck, Ralph Bakshi had made animated movies before, and Rankin/Bass had worked on tv specials. As much as all those adaptations are flawed like?????????? I genuinely don’t understand why you wouldn’t hire more qualified people for the most expensive tv show of all time. or even just. Anyone who had literally any qualifications at all.

But I guess I’m thinking about this all wrong because…their lack of experience is likely why they were hired. Because of the complicated legal and rights issues happening behind the scenes, Amazon likely didn’t want to hire anyone who would have a coherent vision and a clear idea of how to execute that vision. The show needed to bow to the mandates of Amazon but ALSO the copyright issues (they don’t have the rights to actually adapt most of the stuff dealing with the history they’re adapting), the mandates of the Tolkien estate (who were allowed to make whatever petty changes they wanted to the story at any time) and the mandates of New Line Cinema (who were allowing Amazon to ape the style of their movies to get l publicity for their brand but are also completely willing to enforce copyright and demand change if they felt Amazon was stepping on their toes, and etc etc). Amazon needed inexperienced people who would go along with whatever they were told to do. Someone who had a clear vision and knew how to execute it would fight against the dumb corporate mandates. Someone who has literally never worked in tv before would assume Amazon knew best and do whatever they were told.

I don’t know, I feel the same way I do about the hobbit films where it’s just—it’s such a waste? It’s such a waste. It’s such a waste of time and a waste of labor, on a project that (because of weird corporate nonsense) has no clear artistic vision and only exists to be part of a lucrative Brand(tm.)

I won’t be watching the next season— I assume the the future seasons will be “better” because the show runners have now had their very first season of experience working in television ever (good for them and congrats on breaking into the industry for the first time etc etc), but that doesn’t change what a massive corporate waste the first eight hours were— again, that’s longer than the first two PJ films but it doesn’t feel like It because it’s so directionless and devoid of a clear artistic vision. Idk as long as the only Lord of the Rings adaptations we’re legally allowed to get are massive Mega corporate ones funded off the suffering of all the underpaid Amazon workers who die in the warehouses, you would think the adaptations would at least be good XD. Again, can you imagine what more experienced and talented directors with a long history of working in TV, and who were free to execute their artistic vision, could’ve done with such a giant budget? Can you imagine if corporations didn’t waste an entire season of television as the world’s most expensive training wheels for people who’d never seriously worked in tv before? Can you imagine how much good art we could get if Hollywood was actually a meritocracy? Idk dudes, idk.

#i said i wasn’t gonna talk about the Amazon show again but ajdjkdkf #ok now I’m done #lotr #anti rop #ahsjdjdkd #but I learned how inexperienced the show runners were and am Baffled #i have friends in the entertainment industry and???????#they actually have to Work to become showrunners or directors???#theyre told they need Experience?????#XD GUESS NOT #i feel like I must be missing something because it’s so confusing #but yeah rings of Power #rings of power definitely exists doesn’t it

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ms-m-astrologer · 2 months

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Transiting Sun enters Pisces

Monday, February 19 - Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Pisces the Fish*:

Water (emotional and soul - feeling, nurturing, hidden, sensitive)

Yin (security - ingoing, receptive, intuitive, right-brained)

Mutable (adapting to learning - distributing, connecting, adaptable, flexible, scattered)

Transpersonal (universal - focused on ideals and abstractions

“I imagine"

Rulers - Jupiter (traditional), Neptune (modern); exalted - Venus

Colors - blue-greens where you’re never sure if it’s more blue or more green

(* Gleaned almost completely from the book Astrology for Yourself by Bloch and George; the color is my own theory/belief.)

Dreamy season, during which we learn the difference between “going with the flow” and “drifting.” As Neptune nears the end of its travel through Pisces (it begins to transition to Aries next year), we should be more aware of how these “enhanced” Pisces transits have gone - what lessons have we learned? And where do we need to finish up or let go?

Friday, February 23 - Sun/Pisces square Pallas Athene/Sagittarius, 4°26’. Some indecision. Wanting to do the right, noble thing, without knowing how.

Saturday, February 24 - Full Moon, 5°23’ Virgo. We’re still torn about our direction - feelings of guilt only complicate the matters. If we can figure out our real responsibilites, life flows more easily.

Sunday, February 25 - Sun/Pisces sextile Ceres/Capricorn, 6°21’. A practical outlet for all that heavily guilty Full Moon energy. Kind of like the end of Candide, we look toward our own (figurative) gardens.

Wednesday, February 28:

Sun/Pisces conjunct Mercury/Pisces, 9°14’

Sun/Pisces conjunct Saturn/Pisces, 9°46’

This is the Superior Conjunction between Mercury and the Sun, marking the halfway point between the little planet’s retrograde zones. Add Saturn to the mix, and we go into much more conservative ways of thought, possibly/probably more fear-based. That happens when Saturn lets its imagination run away with it - and when the Sun is too passive to resist (or caught up in the drama of it all).

Friday, March 1 - Sun/Pisces sextile Jupiter/Taurus, 11°24’. Generous, sharing what we have. We feel materially blessed. Can get a little too comfortable and complacent.

Sunday, March 3 - Sun/Pisces opposite Juno Rx/Virgo, 13°38’. A nagging partner? Make sure it isn’t you! Make sure everyone agrees about what constructive criticism is.

Saturday, March 9 - Sun/Pisces sextile Uranus/Taurus, 19°51’. A time to bask gently in our uniqueness, at the same time we celebrate our common humanity.

Sunday, March 10 - New Moon, 20°17’ Pisces. Good for setting Pisces-type intentions, such as making time every day for meditation or prayer. We look for (or run screaming from) the spaciousness within.

Saturday, March 16 - Sun/Pisces square Vesta/Gemini, 26°09’. More indecision; if we don’t feel very confident in our identities, this could find us flailing around a bit.

Sunday, March 17 - Sun/Pisces conjunct Neptune/Pisces, 27°21’. “What a day for a daydream,” as the Lovin’ Spoonful sang. Perfect for meditation and prayer (we may not have much choice about it), visualization, and flowing.

#Astrology #Transiting Sun enters Pisces #Ms M astrologer

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visit-new-york · 1 year

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Bow Bridge is one of the most iconic and romantic landmarks in Central Park, New York City. It is a beautifully designed cast-iron bridge that spans across the picturesque Central Park Lake, also known as The Lake. Bow Bridge is known for its graceful curves, intricate ironwork, and stunning views, making it a popular destination for visitors, photographers, and couples. Here are some key details about Bow Bridge:

Location: Bow Bridge is situated in the southern part of Central Park, not far from the park's entrance at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. It crosses The Lake, connecting the eastern shore (Cherry Hill) to the western shore (the Ramble).

Design and Architecture: The bridge was designed by architects Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould and was completed in 1862. It is a cast-iron bridge with intricate Gothic and neo-classical elements. The bridge gets its name from its unique shape, which resembles the curve of a violin's bow.

Scenic Views: One of the main attractions of Bow Bridge is the breathtaking views it offers. From the bridge, visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas of Central Park's landscape, including the lake, surrounding trees, and the Manhattan skyline in the background. The bridge's elegant design adds to the beauty of these views.

Seasonal Beauty: Bow Bridge is stunning in every season. In the spring, it is surrounded by blooming cherry blossoms and other trees in full bloom. During the fall, the bridge is enveloped in the vibrant colors of autumn foliage. In the winter, it often becomes a serene and romantic snowscape.

Cultural Significance: Bow Bridge has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and photographs, becoming an iconic symbol of Central Park. It is a popular location for engagements, weddings, and romantic walks, further enhancing its cultural significance.

Central Park Conservancy: Like many features within Central Park, Bow Bridge benefits from the efforts of the Central Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to the park's preservation and maintenance. The Conservancy ensures that the bridge remains in excellent condition.

Photography: Bow Bridge is a favorite spot for both amateur and professional photographers. The combination of its architectural beauty, scenic surroundings, and reflections in the water creates an ideal setting for capturing memorable photographs.

Recreational Activities: The area around Bow Bridge is perfect for leisurely walks, picnics, and relaxation. Visitors can also take boat rides on The Lake or explore the nearby Ramble, a more rugged and wooded section of Central Park.

Accessibility: Bow Bridge is easily accessible by pedestrian pathways within Central Park. It is conveniently located near popular attractions like Bethesda Terrace and the Central Park Boathouse.

In summary, Bow Bridge is a quintessential Central Park landmark known for its beauty, elegance, and romantic atmosphere. Whether you're seeking a scenic spot for photography, a leisurely stroll, or a picturesque backdrop for special moments, Bow Bridge offers a timeless and enchanting experience in the heart of Manhattan.

#Bow Bridge #Bridge #Central Park #New York City #new york #newyork #New-York #nyc #NY #manhattan #urban #city #USA #buildings #visit-new-york.tumblr.com #1

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astroyongie · 15 days

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can you do boynextdoor ideal types ??

Boynextdoor Ideal Types

Jaehyun

in his case, Jaehyun's ideal type is a boss girl

like someone who has their shit together

that gives off a strong vibe

who are naturally pretty

short sided with shirt hair

who he likes when they tie their hair

someone who is smart

who has made good studies and who is successful in their professional life

because his ideal type needs to be independent and not depend on him financially

Jaehyun's ideal is someone who takes skincare seriously

who takes their health serious as a whole

who have a fair skin

who take care of their appearance

but without making it too obvious

Sungho

Sungho's ideal type is a little like Jaehyun's

in the sense of stability

like its someone who also has their shit together

someone who he can trust and have faith in

he needs his partner to be dependent

and actually be responsible for things

so his ideal type is someone who is mature for their age

who likes to be organized

the typical "home wife" might also be something that he seeks on his perfect ideal

yet someone who is also smart

and has a type of professional status

Sungho's ideal type physically is someone who is simple

who is not extravagant

who knows how to cook

he probably is more into skinny time of people

Riwoo

Someone sexy

sensual

with that cat eye type

who stares deep into his soul and makes him feel buttlerflies

he wants someone more edgy, more vibe grunge for exemple

probably is into goth/rock people but that's another story

his ideal type is someoen passionate

with a deep emotional connection with him

since its important for him to have that connection that goes beyond love, it needs to be a soul thing

Riwoo's ideal type is someoen that will be jealous and possessive of him

someone who isnt scared to fight for him and conquer him everyday

There's the need of reciprocity in the feeling

physically he doesnt care much beside what I said earlier

and also maybe some sharp features in their face

ohh and if they have tattoos or piercings that can be a plus!

also a big booty

Taesan

Taesan's ideal is a family girlie

someone who has the same ideals than him when it comes to building a family

someone who Is honest with their emotions

Taesan is the type to dream of a family, have a home, have a dog

so his partner needs to have these type of dreams as well

someone who also gets well in the pattern of "perfect wife"

Taesan's ideal is someone with a big chest

a round face and eyes

nice thin hair

with a gentle side

someoen who is sensitive

so that way he can provide and take care of them

his ideal is someone who is very feminine

who dressed cutely

and who isnt the sexy type since for him that might be too vulgar of this ideal type

Leehan

His ideal type is exactly like Sungho's

so someone who is physically short

with short hair

who has a round face

with big eyes

who have that maturity feeling around them

his ideal type is equally the perfect "wifey" material

so someoen who knows how to cook and take care of home

who is probably family oriented

yet they have to be smart

and still have their job of their own

Leehan's ideal has to be responsible and organized

with a straight and simple personality

someone who people dont notice much at first

someoen more int+ the quiet and introverted side

Woonhak

his ideal type is someoen different from the rest

someone that is actually very adventurous

who probably likes traveling

and has a perception of the world that Is more opened

so probably someone who isnt too conservative

someone who is funny as hell

but Woonhak would also like if they were a little reckless

a little feisty

without overbearing

just for the spice and the personality in a sense

physically they dont care much as long as his partner can have some nice thick thighs

like on the athletic side maybe

his ideal type is someone who gives the energy of "I would fight a bear" and yet is 5'3

#Boynextdoor #Boynextdoor astrology #Boynextdoor headcanons #Boynextdoor imagines #Boynextdoor scenarios #Boynextdoor reactions

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goddammitjosef · 15 days

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*places subway surfers vieeo below you*

napalex is actually the PERFECT ship alexander and napoleon were meant for eachother actually well not really i dont think theyre good for eachother but theyre evil soulmates you get what im saying??? like they shouldnt be together but they are and i like it that way

alexander was RAISED ON IDEALS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION his tutor was a FRENCH REPUBLICAN NAPOLEON WAS A PRODUCT OF THE REVOLUTION BOTH LEANED TOWARDS MORW CONAERVATIVE IDEOLOGIES AS THEY GOT OLDER IN THEIR CAREER WHILE NAPOLEON STARTED OFF AS A BOARDERLINE CORSICAN NATIONALIST LATER GRAVITATING TO WHATEVER THW FUCK YOU CAN CALL BONAPARTISM ALEXANDER STARTS OFF AS A LIBERAL MIND YOU HIS TUTOR WAS AN ATHEIST ONLY TO LATER TURN INTO A CONSERVATIVE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN IN HIS LATER YEARS AND LESS OF AN IDEALIST YALL DONT EVEN GETT IT BRUHHH

alexander never wanted to be tsar and dr amed of living a life away from tsardom meanwhile napoleon did everythinh in his power to become emperor and got there THROUGH A COUP LOOK AT THIS COMPARISON THERES SO MUCH TO COMPARE AND SO MUCH TO LOVW ABOUT THWM

FROM THE TILSIT TO ERFURT AND THE QUOTES AND THE BED IT ALL MAKES SENSE ITS SO OBVIOHUS FAGGOTRY THEY SPENT LONH TIME IN ERFURT WHAT DID THEY DO IN ERFUET?????

im sorry to all my clone high mutuals who had to see this

#napalex #im going to bed #qill dete in morning

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variousqueerthings · 5 months

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DOCTOR... WHO???? (siiiigh)

ok. ok. so. ok. alright let's do this. i have a sneaking suspicion this will rate higher than some other M*ffat episodes, but don't let that fool you about me thinking it's good"

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 8/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored): 3/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 1/10

furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 5/10

companion matters (the companion doesn’t always have to be there, but if the companion is there, can they function without the doctor– and overall per season how often is the companion the focus or POV of the story): 3/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 3/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 6/10

isn’t trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 4/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 1/10

Politics (how conservative is the story): 3/10

FULL RATING: 37/100 (if I can count….)

OMFG NO IT'S THE LOWEST RATED BOY OH BOY OH BOY AND IT DIDN'T EVEN DO BAD ON OBJECTIFICATION RATING AND YET!!!!!! IT'S SO STUPID!!!!!!!!!

OBJECTIFICATION: Amy wears a suit in this one. River Song is also wearing a suit in this one. because this secret society thing? (I am unclear what they're doing in it in this world, but I mean... the world-building is rated one out of ten so we'll get to that) people wear suits

there is this weird fucking interaction between sci-fi Churchill and the Doctor:

Churchill: What’s she like? Attractive I suppose The Doctor: Hell.... in high heels Churchill (leering): Tell me more

PLOT-POINT: ok so like. this episode is called "the wedding of River Song." it's about... not River Song. it's technically about how River Song (REMEMBER HOW RIVER SONG IS SECRETLY AMY'S AND RORY'S KID AND SHE WAS STOLEN AFTER AMY WAS FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER IN ORDER TO BREED THE "PERFECT PSYCHOPATH FOR THE DOCTOR" SO SHE WOULD KILL THE DOCTOR FOR A REASON WE STILL DON'T KNOW BUT LET'S FUCKINDFG DKLJSLÖKGFHSK BUT THEN OFC SHE BREAKS HER PROGRAMMING BECAUSE SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH HIM BECAUSE SHE'S INFORMED SHE WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM AND SO SHE DECIDES NOT TO KILL THE DOCTOR BUT THEN THEY FORCE HER INTO AN ASTRONAUT SUIT THAT WAS BUILT IN 1969 BECAUSE THIS SECRET SOCIETY SENT HUMANITY TO THE MOON SO THEY COULD DESIGN THIS SUIT FOR RIVER SONG TO KILL THE DOCTOR THE MOON LANDING WAS ABOUT THE DOCTOR SDFJJJLKJÖARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OKAY AND SO EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NO LONGER INTERESTED IN KILLING THE DOCTOR THEY CAN JUST KIDNAP HER AND FORCE HER ITO THE SUIT TO KILL THE DOCTOR BUT ALSO NOW SHE'S NOT BECAUSE LURVE MAKES HER BREAK TIME TRUST ME BRO JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT I- *tears M*ffat apart With My Fucking Teeth*)

okay so it's about how River Song broke time in order to not kill the Doctor, which is supposedly a fixed point in Time, even though it definitely is not in show canon up until this season decided it was, and then the whole episode is the Doctor building up to telling River "actually I've found a way to not die," and she's like "oh good" and then he doesn't die

that is the plot. why is this a season's worth of plot and then 48mins? I will get to the FUCKING MONTAGES in a bit

so River's Thing is like. she's in love with the Doctor. in fact according to this episode "I cant let you die without letting you know that you are loved, by so many and so much, but by no one more than me"

which, if you're into River/Doctor is fine, personally I think Matt Smith looks like a child and Alex Kingston for all her acting (and hindered by so much bad "sexy" dialogue) cannot convince me she's into this baby-looking person. maybe if they'd done this during Capaldi, but that would require doing more things with River Song and M*ffat isn't really interested in her beyond the fact that a. she's in love with the Doctor and uh... 2. she was raised by a secret society. or she lived with her mother while she was growing up? (how did that work, when she was a child, weren't there people wondering who this kid's parents were????) and 3. she's sexy and she knows it

it does not fucking matter how she feels about the brainwashing of it all. it Does Not

I give this SOME points, because finally Amy got to have an emotion about her baby being taken away from her, I had fully forgotten that: "You took my baby from me and you hurt her and now she’s grown up and she’s fine (is she, we'll never know), but I’ll never see my baby again," and then she straight up, deliberately murders the villain who's helplessly tied to a chair

wonder if her feeling about murder will affect the plot in the future (they do mention it at the end of this episode), and she hints that "River didn't get it all from you" so like. Amy care to explain the execution you just committed?

she also mowed down a bunch of The Silence, but they're creepy monster people and not real people, so that's fine

uhhh what else for Amy? idk, she's there, she still loves Rory

COMPLEXITY: Stupid! Fucking! Plot! wait I already did this in the above point, okay so after River Breaks Time to not kill the Doctor at this supposed fixed point (lol, no it still fucking isn't M*ffat, there's loose continuity, and there's not caring at all about making your shit make sense, because LOLLL it's scifi after all and you can do what you want I fucking guess), Time just... stops

and all of Time happens at the same Time, except some people are noticing (are people ageing? or experiencing the same day again and again? or.. hte same second again and again? why is Churchill really the guy we want representing this idea??? why are there cars being carried around by big balloons????? why is it all earth? no time to explore any of this world- wait that's below point IT ALL BLEEDS INTO EACH OTHER BECAUSE IT'S SO STUPID)

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLORE ANY OF THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET TO THE REALLY INTERESTING PART OF THE EPISODE!

montages

the Doctor is explaining what happened up to a certain point and does so through the artistic format of montage. that means that Every! FUcking! Episode! M*ffat wrote for this season has a montage at the beginning!!!!!!

and then at the end of the montage, they're like oh no there's The Silence around us, for some reason, and then the Doctor gets kidnapped by... Amy, who's in the secret society now?

but now they're good guys, dedicated to figuring out why Time has stopped (except it... I mean it clearly hasn't, things are moving and changing and why is this done in the Stupidest way possible)

and they captured some Silence. but actually they were never captured just waiting, and now they're free and they go up to the top of a pyramid, the Doctor gets married to River, time restarts, River shoots the Doctor, but the Doctor had a Plan all along, using the little guys in robot-people we met in Let's Kill Hitler to get that body shot instead

the end

except for setting up THE NEXT STAGE OF THE MYSTERY because aaaalll of this happenned from WAY back in s5, because of a Question that mustn't be asked... and that question is Doctor Who

this episode is doing like. 2 things. "I know I'm going to die, and I stopped it easily (not so fixed a point after all I Guess, M*ffat)," and River and Doctor got married

oh and Amy KILLED PEOPLE but this will not be important, that was just to make her More Badass

and for all that it is presented like it's so fucking complicated

CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: um so plot as above is nothing, as said, it's just another bit of silly mystery on top of an already unwieldy house of cards standing in a drafty room

characters. not much actually, I mean, yes the Doctor and River got married now, but it's like. anti-dynamic. it's just there now the characters are meant to get married for the set-piece

lore um... checks notes. fucking. "Doctor Who." Trenzalore is a place something is going to happen. yeah so, fuck off nothing

COMPANIONS MATTER: lol see above. nope they're still basically "The last Centurion and the Girl Who Waited"

which, defining Rory as the Last Centurion outside of the particular episode in which another version of him was the centurion never made sense to me, sure that's something he did in a part of the story, but it's not really what his character... is. it's just that M*ffat loooves a moniker and it sounds impressive, and also in the last episode, the Doctor said "it's time to stop waiting" there's just nothing! new here! they're never going to be anyone else, or like... just their flipping names

Rory in this version of events/this other different universe is a soldier, and Amy doesn't remember him (I'm assuming Amy remembers the Doctor because they have a bond from back in s5 where her remembering him brought him back from non-existence, I can accept this as an already-established thing), but she does remember someone who she draws completely differently to Rory (hearkening back to Rory not being as manly as Amy's ideal fantasy and I thought we were past that but whatever)

anyway, the Doctor goes up to soldier-Rory and says this: Loyal soldier waiting to be noticed, always the pattern

IS Rory a soldier ever outside of two episodes in s6, both written by M*ffat????? M*ffat has a different, less caring, more "masculine" version of Rory that he writes that is so different from Rory in near every other episode... I don't like this Rory much, because he has no personality outside of "shoot gun/be badass and run after Amy"

I do appreciate that he is about to die and Amy returns to save him (although I have questions about how easy it is to kill "the bad guys" in M*ffat's era)

I will take this from the same exchange as above:

The Doctor (trying to get Rory to go for Amy): she said you were a mr hotti…ness and she would like to go out with you for… texting and scones..."

“GODLIKE” DOCTOR: this episode is all about how the Doctor is so special that everything bends towards this Moment In Time, but wait, That Moment is actually all about an even more important Moment that is still to come, also about the Doctor

and the tension of the episode is simply everyone waiting to see what clever thing the Doctor has already done in order to stave off the events this whole season has ostensibly been building up to

River Song at the Doctor: You’ve decided that the universe is better off without you, but the universe doesn’t agree

I mean yes, I enjoy the narratives favourite chewtoy type characters as much as anyone, but the thing is this Doctor isn't that, because the Doctor already has the solution. it's just. doing the exact thing that the episode The God Complex was deconstructing! S I L L Y ! ! !

PREVIOUS DOCTOR WHO: there's a moment here that's kind of quick succession, and goes like this -- the Doctor is avoiding the moment of his death (that is easily avoided), and has a throwaway bit in which he say that Liz the First is forever waiting in a grove to elope with him (gross, stop gross stop with the ongoing Elizabeth the First banged the Doctor jokes stop! It!) or he could just "go and help Rose Tyler with her homework"

I can read this either as M*ffat's penchant of writing whatever he wants in terms of how the timelines of this series go (which is how he does it with Eleven constantly jumping forwards and backwards, up until the point it suddenly can't be done, because M*ffat only has rules when they serve a particular plot point), but I also can pretend/enjoy it from the perspective of "actually I could never go back and help Rose Tyler with her homework, because it's not possible to change how things went down or mess with her timeline, and that's the point, I'm pretending I can do what I want, but I know I can't"

ofc the episode then undermines this point, but still... it's a sweet point

also Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart dies. I didn't remember this in the episode, but I assume it just didn't land with me back in the day because.... who is the Brigadier if you haven't seen classic!who? it's something for the classic!who fans I suppose, but it's literally the moment that makes the Doctor stop running and it's completely unestablished why the Doctor cares about this character or even really who this character is

I'm being pedantic now perhaps, but I think if you're going to bring up classic!who (which I do enjoy) it needs to either be an actual Easter Egg/not affect the plot, oooorrrr it needs to be re-established in this text why this matters, and this does neither

I was sad watching it this time, because I've met the Brigadier now, but it's easy and lazy nostalgia bait

“SEXINESS”: so like. this isn't the worst episode for this, but the worst episode for this is so bad!

aforementioned gross mention of "Liz the first," River Song and the Doctor do boring, annoying flirting in which she mentions his past with Cleopatra (strike two, but at least??? Marilyn Monroe isn't also mentioned)

INTERNAL WORLD: none. nothing. montages of places that will never matter and a pocket universe world in which it seems like they thought two seconds about the functionality of it, I went on a rant above, I'm resisting ranting again, this whole thing is Stupid

POLITICS: there's not really politics. I mean, it's not a very big episode, it's just pretending to be, but in the end it's a couple of specific plotpoints inside a carnival that's on fire

but let's see, there's obviously the complete lack of interest in exploring female characters (including in episodes in which their names appear in the title)

oh and they mention psychopath River again

River: Take a child, raise her into the perfect psychopath, introduce her to the Doctor… who else was I going to fall in love with? fuck offffffffffff fuck off with all of this forever

also the plot culminates in a marriage -- now I was more annoyed when I thought the marriage literally solved the problem, when really it's more a sort of... segue into solving it, but the idea that this is a more important relationship than any the Doctor ever had or is ever going to have is what this plot works so hard to make the central conceit, and the way to prove this is by getting married, which segues into Fixing The Universe

and to be fair, it walked itself into this corner (on purpose) from the moment River Song was introduced, but the way it pretended at mystery as if the answer wasn't always "yeah they got married I guess, in an episode so boring, trying to be so big, that presents the Idea of marriage as the event that is more important than any other in the Universe (not like... individually, in the Universe) that for the Doctor in the same season as we had The Doctor's Wife is framed as more important than any other relationship because it is now defined by Getting Married...."

it's kind of a central problem with River Song and the Doctor, in the end it's... terribly normative. it tries not to be, but its structures struggle to break out of it, even when we get told that River has other partners (never seen, never important, often more of a throwaway innuendo to show how sexy she is), even with the tragedy of them moving backwards (sort of) in their respective timelines, it's still performing alloromantic heteronormative relationship hierarchy (big words meaning They're Straight TM writing)

the possible upside (we shall see) is that maybe now the stupid flipping marriage build-up is done River can be doing other fucking stuff, like being a character

FULL RATING: 37/100 (if I can count….)

okay so, the good. low on literally objectifying female characters on the whole, and isn't the worst on previous doctor who (except for of course saying a big fuck you to every past Companion and important relationship the Doctor has ever had)

and the bad is. that it is bad. bad across the board. it's a bad episode, made worse by everything that was bad before being doubled down on, so that in hindsight all the other bad stuff is also worse, like a horror ride funhouse mirror of non-linear watching reflecting backwards and forwards in time (kind of like M*ffat wishes the River Song and the Doctor's story managed to do, but in bad)

and that is s6. what a wild ride. epic highs and lows indeed!

#im watching nu!who #im watching eleven who #the measurement #the wedding of river song #enjoy my rantings and ravings #there is so much ranting in this and it is totally unedited #i am the charlie day meme just.... be prepared

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quazardrawing · 9 months

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Here we go with Ingo's Pokémon reunions, This time it's Galvantula and Crustle,

Little reminder that Emmett and Ingo co-raise/ share their Pokémon teams with each other so while Emmett carefully picked out and breed joltiks for his Ideal Galvantula, Ingo played a major part in training, raising and spoiling this Joltik/ galvantula from its egg into a powerful member of the Battle Subway

[ image description]

[ Ingo sits on Crustle, a crab Pokémon underneath a block of stratified/layered earth that looks a little like a tiramisu cake, Ingo is leaning back and laughing with his hand to prop him up as in his lap is Galvantula who is climbing up to snuggle Ingo. Crustle and Galvantula are verrrrry happy to see Ingo ]

More headcanons and details below the readmore

- Galvantula's name is Catanary, which is the overhead wires that power subway cars or trams! Her name was picked out long before she was hatched while Ingo and Emmett where figuring out their idea for the perfect Subway boss team they drew up during their Pokémon journey so they didn't exactly stick to it but it shows how dedicated the Boy were to their dream of combining their two favourite things, Battling and Trains!

- While Catanary was breed from a egg, it wasn't only Emmett with 5 million joltiks. Costum IV or egg move type Pokémon can be gotten from breeder who specializes in the Pokémon you are looking for, but are rare and need to put in a lot of work and need to be a little lucky with. How it worked out is that Emmett and Ingo's put their Pokémon journey on hold for a few years working at a joltik breeder, (who both studies the Pokémon, does conservation work and does adoption and training for trainer who want a joltik or want to take care of their Joltik properly) After hatching and breeding a lot of Joltik, Emmett eventually found a Joltik that had the right IV's and egg moves, and then he and his brother started on the matchmaking system. Since Pokémon are intelligent creatures with personalities and preferences, Emmett not only had to find a joltik with his proper stat set up but also one whom the Joltik found that He measured up in turn, Catanary was not the first Joltik Emmett hatched with the proper egg move and such but the one who wanted to grow up to be a fighter and wanted Emmett as his permanent trainer in return.

- Due to this, Emmett considers Galvantula lucky, and along with Archeopes, has spoiled her a bit (a lot) Thankfully since she is one of the older Pokémon in Emmett's team, due to her being caught during their childhood/ Pokémon journey days, she has matured to be more responsible in front of other Pokémon, such as the subway Joltik infestation, or Pokémon from her trainers coworkers

- she has not however grown out of using her puppy dog eyes to get extra treats or try to convince both her trainers that the other one has Not feed her thus getting feed twice, So she's very overweight for her species, which would be a bigger consern if she also wasn't a part of the top 10 professional fighter teams

- She is also overly friendly with people, often climbing into people's lap for pets, and walking up to children for attention and Skritches. While this behaviour means that she could never be a wild Pokémon, it has also means that she is one of Emmett and Ingo's go to Pokémon for calming down lost children, to the point that she does this by herself. First by watching subway traffic from the ceiling, them approaching them to calm them down and then leading them to their parents by having them hold the other end of her spider silk, while she leads them though the crowd. Of course she does this is in part to to get extra Treats from her trainers but she also likes helping people like Emmett and Ingo helped her when she was small and cried a lot

- Crustles name is Tiramisu! Which I think is the cutest thing I could think up, I also made sure that the rock she carries looks like her cake namesake. She was actually caught by another trainer, and traded with Ingo, since she loves fighting much more than her old trainer did. I imagine that her old trainer was a Station Master who predated Ingo and Emmett joining subway. She was in charge of the care of a single line, with Tira helping out with tunnel maintenance. Tira meet Ingo and Emmett when they started out as grunts for the Subway system, but didn't really get to know them until they had moved up the ranks and got started with Battle Subway project. Due to Tira's knowledge of her trainer's tunnel line, she guided the diggers and at that time learned what kind of person the twins are and what kind of life their Pokémon live, I think she actually told her trainer that she wants to live with them instead, not that she didn't love her old trainer but sometimes you need to make a change if you want to pursue your dreams, (which included fighting, not just running the subway) Her old trainer understood (but put Ingo and Emmett though some trials to prove to her that they would be worthy of the trainer's trust and be responsible enough for Tira's welfare)

- Tira still carries/ wears the collar her old trainer gave her, and gets to see her often when Ingo and Emmett does their inspection rounds on her trainers (passenger only) line, in addition to non-work visits. The collar is also has tags with both the Old subway logo and the new Battle Subway logo, symbolising both the passing of the torch, and her loyalty to all of her beloved trainers past and present.

- Speaking of 'carrying' due to crustle's whole gimmick being carrying the earth on their back, To carry something has a very important place in their Culture. 'to carry' means 'this is my shell, my home, whose worth is so much more than its weight that I shall bring it with me everywhere' this not always a meaningful thing but in the case of this picture Tiramisu picking up and carrying Ingo on her back symbolises that She considers him family, an ireplaceable part of her home, that she so very happy to have him back in her life

- sappy stuff aside, like most Pokémon there is a element of them having goblin animal behaviour, and carrying thing such, as the fridge (where all her snacks are), when she's mad at Emmett or Ingo for something (like washing her bed without permission, No she doesn't care how dirty it is and weather it's tracking mud on the carpet, she just got it to smell right) is the equivalent of her Pick up a rucksack and saying she only cares about Food Now She is Running Away!

- She and Ingo has on multiple occasions pranked Emmett, (who is a early riser but gets sleepy early) who accidently feel asleep in a nice recliner in the work room, by picking up his chair and walking away with it, With Ingo trying to see if he could get his silly little brother all the way back home without waking him up. It never works, (dispite Ingo's effort of figuring which way home will have the least noise and rough terrain) but pictures on Ingo trying to get his sleeping brother past the subway turn styles on moving recliner with a lease, have become a permanent meme on Poke-Internet for obvious reasons

#submas #subway masters #ingo pokemon #warden ingo #subway master ingo

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atom-writings · 11 months

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Hi if its ok to ask for a hc with the hetalia guys

What if they have a s/o whos a fashion student/designer who dose elegant, modern and femenine looks and also likes sketching to stress relif . Hope its not confusing ^^' and love the hc and stories you make with the hetalia characters

Whenever reading luds its fun

(Allies + Italy X Reader) Fashionista, artistic S/O!

(Feminine) Headcanons ~ A/N didnt do germany n japan bcs they would be like ok 👍love u. Do ur thing and thats it jskhkjj. req that seperately ig

Trigger Warning: None, just fluff!

Thank god you’re around because otherwise, Alfred would walk outside in neon shorts, a novelty t-shirt, and sandals with socks. Luckily he has deep pockets, so the two of you can go on shopping sprees together all the time. He’ll wear whatever you tell him to, just make sure he doesn’t buy another pair of pizza pants.

He does love how feminine you are though. As much as he hates to admit it, he internalized a lot of 50s ideals. It’s always been his fantasy to have a ladylike wife, someone who can smooth his rough edges, someone graceful and caring. Once he realised you exemplify those traits, he had to have you.

Your hobbies are the exact opposite of his, but he’s always happy to listen and support your interests. Any art you do, regardless of how much you like it, is ending up framed on the wall, too.

Arthur cares quite a lot about fashion, too! Although his tastes are a bit vintage and very conservative. He’d be very interested in your studies, every time you get home, he’ll ask you a million and one questions about the newest developments. And if you make your own clothes, he’ll pull some strings to get you your own studio. After all, what kind of idiot wouldn’t support the future head of the fashion industry?

He loves how elegant you are, too. He’s always been attracted to ultra-femininity, so your indulgences in that part of yourself always excite him. It’s nearly impossible for him to keep his hands off you when you wear those cute dresses…

He’s also always had a thing for femme fatales, but you didn’t hear it from me…

Oh, mon Dieu! You’re the perfect partner for Francis! He’s absolutely over the moon about having an artistic S/O! He wants to see all of your work, everything you’re studying, and everything you want to make! All your thoughts, your ideas, your aspirations, he wants to know all of it. There’s nothing better for creativity than in-depth discussions, right?

One annoying thing though, is just that… he really loves your work. So he is constantly requesting that you make more. It’s very motivating when you’re going through art block, but… it’s not like you can design all of his clothes! Of course, since he’s also very skilled in that area, he’s very willing to help you whenever possible though. You need fabric? Your machine broke? Just need a second pair of eyes? He’s there. (And his advice is usually pretty good!)

Definitely gonna take you on a lot of dates to art museums and the like.

Well, Yao has never been that big into fashion… but nowadays his people are really getting into it. Now that he has you, you can make sure no one calls him lame and outdated! (And then he gets to spoil you with clothes you love along the way. Win-win!) With your guidance, everyone will finally envy him and his beautiful wife again. Wait- Sorry, he constantly forgets you two aren’t married yet.

He’d love to work side by side with you. He has very different artistic pursuits, but spending that kind of time together is always nice. Both of you lost in your own little worlds with the only words being exchanged being occasional compliments. He’s really latched onto your own ways to relieve stress…

Also, because of how graceful and elegant you are, he’s like… obsessed with you. He thinks of you as some kind of goddess, and he’s always trying to please you to make up for how lucky he feels.

Oh, how cute! He absolutely adores your work! While you’re busy designing and sewing, he loves bringing you little snacks and drinks while you're busy- he doesn’t wanna interrupt, really… he just can’t resist getting a little peak at whatever you’re working on. Whatever it is, he’s proud of you!

Since you like sketching to relax, he often takes you out to beautiful places. Whenever you’re stressed, or upset, or scared, he’s throwing you over his shoulder with your sketchbook and bringing you to a flower field. Maybe he’ll even start drawing himself! Although, you’re basically the only thing that inspires him.

Although he isn’t usually very attracted to ultra femininity, there’s something so pure about you that constantly makes him fall more and more in love. You’re like his sister, but not unstable and homicidal. And not his sister.

A fashion student? Well, you’ve come to the best! Not him, exactly, he dresses like someone you’d see on r/peopleofwalmart, but his country at least. He could probably even get government loans for you to buy as much fabric as you need. And if you need a model, he’s been told he’s very average.

He would be able to help with your sketching, though. His classical training isn’t usually something that can be easily passed on, but he’s very willing to sit down and teach you anything you want. If you’re not as serious though, he respects that. Leaves more opportunity for him to be the one sketching you.

Your femininity is what drew him to you in the first place. He’s never been able to resist pretty people, and seeing how you carried yourself… and what you wore… it’s a wonder you two are dating now considering his accidentally creepy introduction.

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kidpunkjunk · 2 years

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how good is arcade gannon... really...

the best. hes literally the best. thats the answer thats it thats all hes the most good.

i was about to make a big long think piece but you know what no, fuck you, i shouldnt have to. i shouldnt have to explain or debunk or anything, if you have any kind of comprehension at ALL youd understand. he is, morally, one of the best people in the entire wasteland. he tries so hard and succeds as best he can. he wants the best for himself and everyone around him which cant be said abt most fuckers in the fallout world. hes so selfless and caring and just. fuck dude.

imagine coming from one of the most vile terrible factions in the fallout universe, imagine growing up with those ideals and yet realizing no hey fuck that, thats bad actually. he subverted the mindset he grew up with so extremely, joining a group almost the exact opposite of the envlave. and even within them you could argue hes one of the optimistic and idealist people. like. shit dude. "he joined bc of their resources and knowledge" are you kidding ?? his main goal is to help people, thats his main drive in life and you dare imply its anything else? you dare imply hes shallow and selfish and would use them just for their books? fucking really? sure its a PLUS but youre emptyheaded thinking thats the only reason.

i will never shut up abt his parallels to carla. he is out of time, hes a prewar relic, he doesnt belong in the shithole that is post nuclear wasteland america. hes something out of a pristine photograph, as perfect as one can get without trying, while remaining humble. hes honestly too good for the world he is in. "how good is he really" too good, hes too good, and i dont mean that in a "its unrealistic how good he is" way, i mean that his world doesnt deserve a man so good.

when they said he uses his enclave knowledge in the independent vegas ending (best ending btw) they dont mean the fascist ideas they held or the conservative mindset they had, dude they were SMART in the enclave, wildly intelligent!! fucking !! sentient deathclaws the fuck !! they had fountains of knowledge, rivalling the followers and the brotherhood. say what you want, yes theyre horrible people, but their scientists were near genius' !!! which made them all the more terrifying!! like Caesar if he wasnt a goddamn dumbass !! their best president was an ai !!! and you misinterpret that so insanely its not FUNNY. hes using all this forgotten knowledge, knowledge that would be lost forever, for good, and you think they meant he was instating fascist regimes into freeside? really? really? and he doesnt. he doesnt want to be his dad. he doesnt want to not want to be his dad or whatever the fuck. he wants his dad to be proud of him. bc thats his fucking father. enclave or not, whatever the hell, thats his father.

he hates the ncr because the ncr sucks. only good idea that the enclave held: ncr sucks. they do. theyre imperialist, theyre capitalists, they suck. regardless of who installed that opinion in him, its right, its correct. bootlicker.

i believe that during the battle arcade, like the other remnants, kept their face hidden so they could go abt their lives after. its entirely believable that noone knew it was him in the tesla armour and he could return to freeside. enclave knowledge and tech is invaluable, im sure julie was willing to not ask too many questions for such helpful and valuable prewar recources. and after he returned im positive that he did not strive for a place of leadership within the fort, i highly doubt it. give orders? where did it say he started giving orders? where? point me to it ?

this is the story of a man with a troubled past, who comes from.horrible roots, who wants to be better than what he was set up to be. its the story of a man finding his place in a world thats not fit for people like him. its the story of a man who wants his parents to be proud of him, without being what they wanted him to be, a thing so many people go through. its the story of a man who fears he is destined to be horrible but defeats his perceived fate. its the story of a good man. arcade gannon is a good man. and thats why hes my favorite character. fuck you.

#arcade gannon #fallout new vegas #fnv

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poolboyvmprmansion · 11 months

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so this guy im kinda seeing/casually fucking, is very country, considers himself moderate, all of that shit, started explaining to me his perfect society. and i just stopped him and went.

dude, thats textbook communism. like if you look up the most basics of a textbook communist society it is everything you described.

and then he tried to backtrack and add shit to it. and i got to be like.

dude, thats textbook socialism. and he just kinda sat there for a minute before changing the subject.

i've actually noticed a lot with conservative/moderate leaning people ive talked with, that they seem to view socialism as an ideal society until you put the name to it

i have a feeling it's a lot of propaganda and fear mongering about the words used. i know theres an actual word for that but its almost 4 in the morning and im just rambling

#kye speaks

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youllallriseintheink · 1 year

Note

Headcanons for the team Galactic Commanders? Please and thanks! :)

Haha, thanks for asking this! Sorry for writing out more than anyone could be expected to read, but please enjoy as much of this as you’d like!

Saturn

-Grew up fairly poor and didn’t expect a lot out of life. Did a lot of petty crime for the thrill of it. He was also a natural with tech. Decided to give up crime when his family scraped together the cash to send him to college.

-He and Cyrus were roommates in college. Rather self-conscious at the time, Saturn was immediately drawn to and kind of fascinated by Cyrus’ seemingly-effortless shamelessness and confidence. He quickly managed to crack Cyrus’ shell, and they became good friends.

-Their friendship dissipated after Team Galactic was established. Largely this was because Cyrus knew he’d have to kill Saturn one day to fulfill his plan, and because Saturn didn’t like what Team Galactic was turning Cyrus into/revealing him to be and Saturn wanted to stay in denial about what twisted hands he was putting the universe into. They both just kind of distanced themselves. They do both respect each other a lot, though.

-Trans. Was closeted as a teenager due to thinking his conservative parents would be against it. He ghosted his family for a few years after he could no longer pass as a woman. He came out to them during a moment of world’s-ending-anyhow bravado, and it went much better than he thought it would. This puts him in a better place with his family than like 90% of Team Galactic members are with theirs.

-Saturn has a tendency to overthink things. He’s naturally a serious and somber person, and he knows to keep his mind busy and keep some cheerful company so he doesn’t get too mired down in his thoughts. The other commanders are good cheerful company. He might be the responsible one, but he’s also pretty passive and enjoys their hijinx, so it’s a coin toss whether he’ll try to reign them in or just go with the flow when they’re going too far with something.

-loves video games and went through a ton of them during his time in Team Galactic as a distraction. He does not get as much sleep as he should.

-He doesn’t have a specific skill set that Cyrus would struggle to replace, but there are few if any others that Cyrus would feel comfortable leaving everything to for any length of time. Basically, he’s a commander because Cyrus respects and trusts him most. In kind, Saturn would have an easier time moving on from Team Galactic than most of its members. He’s there because he chooses to be, as misguided as it was.

Mars

-Giovanni’s daughter, about a year older than Silver. Giovanni was a loving father and never pushed Team Rocket on her, but she was unintentionally exposed to some of Team Rocket’s worst misdeeds far too young.

-ran away from home not long after Silver did because she wanted to pursue her own ideals. Her Pokémon journey went extremely poorly. She lost all her money and ended up stranded in Sinnoh with nothing to her name. She was instantly taken in by Cyrus’ promises to take the corruption, greed and cruelty from the world and practically begged him to join. She was among the first members of the team.

-her experience with evil teams made her indispensable in the early days of Team Galactic. Cyrus largely learned how to be charismatic and tailor his image as a saviour by watching her do recruitment for Team Galactic.

-Mars is absolutely genuine. Everything she says while doing recruitment is 110% her actual beliefs. She has no doubts that Team Galactic’s cause is good and that the new world will be perfect. She’s practically blind to Cyrus’ flaws because she wants a saviour that badly. She’d do anything for him.

-the other commanders are her family and her stability. Jupiter in particular is like her big sister. Jupiter was a very corrupting influence and taught her to battle better, to shoot a gun (as useless as that is in the Pokémon universe), and to act confidently villainous. Mars didn’t take long to catch on, come to enjoy dominating others and become a highly competent battler.

-doesn’t feel like a hypocrite for doing largely the same things Team Rocket does. After all, they’re doing it for a good reason!

-she’s the one who designed everyone’s uniforms. When it came to the unique ones, she took everyone’s preferences into consideration.

-The other two commanders try not to fight around her so not to upset her. She’s very sensitive to that.

-adores feline Pokémon and loved playing with Giovanni’s persian as a child. Her purugly is very spoiled.

Jupiter

-Veteran. Joined the military primarily to bully people, saw more than she could handle, and doesn’t think the world should be like that. She left the army for Team Galactic the second she heard about it. Plus, Team Galactic’s “no one but us matters because we’re leaving the world behind” mindset took away any semblance of guilt she might have felt about being a brute.

-In terms of personality, she’s blunt, sarcastic, aloof, and generally acts like she doesn’t care about anyone most of the time. She has a personal interest in guns and explosives that, combined with her sadism, most would find disturbing. She’s not all hard edges, though. Team Galactic is her family and as one of the older and more emotionally intelligent members, she ends up supporting those within it that she’s close to.

-Her knowledge of weaponry makes her indispensable to Team Galactic, since Cyrus isn’t likely to find anyone else who can build a bomb. As a result, she has job security up to her eyeballs, and she knows it.

-In the early days of Team Galactic, Cyrus would have weekly meetings with her, last thing in the day so they could go late, in which they’d discuss military tech and possible ways to use it. These meetings were largely for his own interest and enjoyment. He pretends otherwise, but she can see through him.

-definitely the toughest commander physically, and could beat almost any member of the team in a physical fight. Though Mars has surpassed her in battling prowess, she’s not to be underestimated in that domain, either.

-To her, Cyrus is just another hopeless, messed-up person in a cult full of hopeless and messed-up people, with the initiative to change things and some weird coping mechanisms. She doesn’t think it would take a special person to make a better world and is kind of living for today, so it doesn’t bother her that Cyrus is ridiculous and clearly isn’t the God much of the cult sees him as. And she does respect his initiative and ability to fool people.

In general

-“Commander” is less a specific position and more an honour Cyrus gives to those he trusts most and believes to be indispensable to Team Galactic. It definitely comes with authority, though.

-the three commanders are loyal to each other, first and foremost. Nothing could ever separate them.

-The commanders know Cyrus better than anyone due to having spent a lot of time with him. They are not only unswervingly loyal, but are the closest thing he has to friends. They’d all love for him to be more open and accept their friendship. He’s too emotionally stupid to see this.

-Team Galactic has allowed them to lean into their worst impulses, but they all have the capacity to be good people.

#pokemon #commander saturn #commander mars #commander jupiter #galactic boss cyrus #headcanons #creepyalienghost #thanks for the ask

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dionysus-complex · 9 months

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oh thank god someone put what i've been feeling into words (author is a leftist btw):

"When I was growing up in a conservative evangelical community, one of the top priorities was to manage children’s consumption of art. The effort was based on a fairly straightforward aesthetic theory: every artwork has a clear message, and consuming messages that conflict with Christianity will harm one’s faith. Helpfully, there was a song whose message consisted precisely of this aesthetic theory: Input Output (The Computer Song). It is worth meditating on these profound lyrics:

Input, output, what goes in is what comes out.. Input, output, That is what it’s all about. Input, output, Your mind is a computer whose Input, output daily you must choose.

This theory underwrote the whole vast edifice of Christian contemporary music, which aimed to replace a particularly powerful avenue for negative messages with its Christian equivalent. The disastrous artistic consequences are well-known. Less successful were the efforts to create Christian films and television shows, though there have been some advances in that field more recently, such as God’s Not Dead. Though the search for the “messages” of secular artworks sometimes took paranoid form — such as the belief in subliminal messages recorded in reverse, or in isolated frames from Lion King where smoke appears to form the word “sex” — most often the analysis was more direct and straightforward. Portraying a behavior or describing a belief, unless accompanied immediately by a clear negative judgment, is an endorsement and recommendation, and people who consume such messages will become more likely to behave and believe in that way.

One of my running jokes for many years has been that all contemporary top 40 music is effectively Christian contemporary music now, as American Idol confirmed the hegemony of the “praise band” vocal style. More clear is the fact that all mainstream criticism — especially of film and television — is evangelical in form, if not in content. Every artwork is imagined to have a clear message; the portrayal of a given behavior or belief is an endorsement and a recommendation; consumption of artworks with a given message will directly result in the behaviors or beliefs portrayed. This is one of the few phenomena where the “both sides” cliché is true: left-wing critics are just as likely to do this as their right-wing opponents. The culture coverage in Jacobin is the worst and most intellectually deadening example, but it is absolutely pervasive. And I hate it.

This morning, for instance, I awoke to learn that Oppenheimer, a film about the man who created the nuclear bomb, did not include any Japanese characters. Indeed, it did not even directly portray his invention’s horrific consequences. Surely this aesthetic choice was meant to minimize his actions by rendering his victims invisible. I also learned that the area surrounding Los Alamos was actually cleared of indigenous residents, another bit of history that is effectively erased by the film. Let’s imagine, though, that those complaints had been anticipated and addressed. Let’s imagine that there was an entire B-plot of a family going about their business in Hiroshima. We get to know and like them, to relate to them as our fellow human beings. Then, shockingly, they are incinerated by a nuclear blast. One can already hear the complaints. If the family is portrayed as too morally upstanding, it is a dehumanizing portrayal that idealizes them as perfect victims. If they have moral flaws, the film would be subtlely suggesting that they deserved their fate. Either way, the film offers up their suffering as a spectacle for our enjoyment. The same would go for the displaced population of Los Alamos — by portraying them as passive victims with no agency, the film reinscribes white authority, etc., etc.

Obviously leftists do not have to be as paranoid in their quest for messages supportive of the status quo as Christians playing their records backwards in the hopes of finding Satanic content. Yet the very fact that the demand is so open-ended, that it is impossible to imagine an artwork that meets the (largely unstated and unarticulated) standards for the “right” way to portray, e.g., racial injustice, shows that something has gone wrong here.

To be clear, I don’t want to defend Oppenheimer in any way. I have not seen it and likely never will. I also know that Christopher Nolan’s films often have conservative implications. Nothing anyone is saying is wrong, it’s just not interesting. It’s not addressing what people make movies for or why people want to see movies. The logical end goal seems to be to create artwork that is straightforward political propaganda, and we’ve seen how that turned out for the evangelicals (and indeed, for the Stalinists). It also infantilizes the audience by assuming they are essentially ideology-processing machines — unlike the wise commentator who somehow manages to see through the deception.

Part of the reason that we cannot imagine the perfect “politically correct” artwork (by any standard) as a successful artwork is that political problems cannot be solved on the aesthetic level. Indeed, I would suggest it’s much more likely that people are consuming politics as a kind of aesthetic performance or as a way of expressing aesthetic preferences than that they are somehow reading their politics off of Succession, for example. (“Welp, I guess rich people are good now. Better vote Republican!”) And just as the reduction of art to political propaganda leads to bad art, the aestheticization of politics leads to bad, irresponsible politics. That’s because — wait for it… — aesthetics and politics are not the same thing! They are not totally unrelated, obviously, but they are also and even primarily different. A political message can be part of an aesthetic effect, just as a political movement can benefit from an aesthetic appeal (like the classic Obama posters). But we get nowhere if we confuse or collapse these categories."

#have not seen either barbie and oppenheimer and anticipate that i might not like either #but boy oh boy am i tired of treating media like this

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