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nightswatchdisbandmentera · 1 year

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“I didn’t catch anything,” Bran said, “but Jon gave me his fish on the way back to Winterfell. Will we ever see Jon again?”  “We saw Uncle Benjen when the king came to visit,” Robb pointed out. “Jon will visit too, you’ll see.”

- Bran V, AGOT

There’s something so strange about this exchange because it’s preceded by Robb and Bran grieving Jory and then all of a sudden we get a random callback to Jon Snow. it’s only two lines of dialogue but I think it does quite a bit of work in terms of establishing who Jon is as a character, and also gives us a few hints of what we might expect to happen in coming books.

They’re talking about going fishing with Jory once upon a time and Bran mentions that when he didn’t catch anything, Jon gave him his fish. This, in and of itself, isn’t very surprising and it doesn’t tell us anything new about Jon’s character. That’s because he’s been established as a selfless and kind person from the very first chapter. Jon being self-sacrificial, then, isn’t something that is new to the reader at this point. But this short exchange does show us the extent to Jon’s sacrifice. He isn’t someone who takes half measures. Rather, he’s someone who goes all in.

And it’s so fascinating because Jon giving away all his fish may seem like a typical ‘big brother looking out’ moment, but I can’t help but notice the extent to which Jon looked out for Bran. Because he could’ve given him a just few fish and it would’ve been quite lovely; we would still say that he is kind and compassionate big brother. He could’ve given Bran half his fish and we’d praise him for such a great display of kindness. But Jon gave Bran everything he had. He didn’t take any half measures; he went all in. And Bran doesn’t mention Jon only giving him some, so I’m assuming that this means all.

This is something we see in an earlier Tyrion chapter, where he and Jon are parting at the Wall.

“Rickon will ask when I’m coming home. Try to explain where I’ve gone, if you can. Tell him he can have all my things while I’m away, he’ll like that.”

- Tyrion III, AGOT

Jon once again assumes the role of the big brother looking out for his younger sibling, but it’s quite stark (pun intended) how far he goes to make sure that Rickon is happy and well-provisioned. He doesn’t say “tell Rickon to pick and choose what he wants”. He doesn’t name a specific thing that Rickon might want. No. Jon means to have his brother take everything.

The depth of Jon’s kindness is quite remarkable. Yes I know, it’s not the most revolutionary thing to have the fantasy protagonist be good to people. But it’s still quite nice to see him being so kind in a series half-full of actors motivated by purely selfish reasons. It’s especially important because this flashback comes after Bran gets news of Jory’s murder - a selfish, unkind, and senseless act; it’s just pure malice. There aren’t many people in this world who would give everything they have, especially when they don’t have to. Jon had no reason to give Bran all his fish, but he did anyway. He didn’t have to give Rickon all his things, but he did it anyway. It’s the extent to which he goes about being good to people that’s impressive. And we see this develop where he starts extending that to the dozens, hundreds, and thousands.

And I would be negligent if I didn’t mention the obvious messianic framing here. We’ve got a sacrificial lord (mayhaps we might even say a prophesied sacrificial savior), a little boy, and a couple of fish. And we also have mentions of giving away all your possessions to attain true righteousness in scripture, as Jon did with Rickon.

But what I find most curious is Robb’s line. Because it reads like a promise of some sorts. Robb makes the observation that Uncle Benjen visited them when King Robert went to Winterfell, and he is using that as proof to say that Jon will visit too. It’s interesting because Jon mentions hearing his uncle talking to his father about settling people in the Gift. Plus Jon and Benjen have a pretty good relationship so he must’ve travelled there earlier. Thus, I’d assume that King Robert’s feast wasn’t the first time that Benjen went to Winterfell in Robb’s lifetime. So it just makes the connection of Jon’s arrival coinciding with that of a king all the more noteworthy. Except, Jon might be the king who visits this time around.

Robb’s line evokes the imagery of the Return of the King. And also if we go back to scripture, there’s the return of the lord/king, after a great sacrifice. So:

Bran mentions Jon’s sacrifice and then Robb promises that he will return

The savior sacrifices himself then returns in glory (scripture)

Therefore, Jon shall return to Winterfell as a glorious king after a sacrifice

It’s part of why I think we as a fandom need to be a bit more flexible when we talk about Jon’s relationship with sacrifice. I always see people say that because Jon is self-sacrificial, then he is the one who needs to/must die after sacrificing himself for the realm/other POVs. Nevermind the obvious bias in this line of thinking, which is usually in favor of other characters, but I think such opinions only got half the picture. They don’t follow the pattern that has been presented to us by the text. Yes, it’s true that Jon makes some big sacrifices. And it’s true that they’re sometimes preceded by a period of temptation. HOWEVER, these sacrifices are usually followed by something more spectacular (obviously, in my humble opinion). For example:

When they find the direwolf pups, Jon sacrifices himself so his siblings can get a pup each. However, he immediately finds Ghost afterwards who is the most special of all the dire wolves (and even becomes the largest)

He sacrifices his want for Wintefell in ASOS, but is elected Lord Commander of the NW by book’s end. So the sacrifice is followed by a great appointment to power (rather quickly, I might add). And being Lord Commander puts him in a special position in the upcoming war for the dawn.

So the quote at the beginning of this post, imo, just illustrates that pattern. A sacrifice is followed by something grand. Bran mentions Jon’s sacrifice and then Robb connects his coming to a king’s return. The question remains though: if this is something that will happen in the future, how will it happen and when? I don’t really know tbh, but it would be quite a nice bookend to have Jon’s glorious return be towards the end of ADOS so that it can parallel King Robert Baratheon’s arrival in the beginning of AGOT (which preempted Jon’s departure in the first place).

#jon snow #bran stark #asoiaf #valyrianscrolls #jon the king #welp #I’m on my J=J agenda again #And also my king Jon agenda #I mean…it’s really hard not to #It’s right there!!!#The Return of the King……#It has to be deliberate right?!#GRRM had a catholic upbringing but I don’t really know the extent to which he incorporated that into asoiaf #BUT ANYWAY #I’ve been meaning to write at length about Jon’s relationship with sacrifice #And how his greatest acts of sacrifice (usually after a period of temptation)#Are followed by the emergence of greater things that elevate and set him apart #But I’m LAZY AF and I haven’t done it up to now #So this short meta will have to do for now hehehe #I think this short exchange between Robb and Bran is kinda emblematic of that pattern though #Maybe I’ll actually get to writing something more detailed once I finish my reread…le sigh #my stuff

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 2 years

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“Shine”- a Loki/Reader one-shot

You finally get a break from being a personal assistant at the Avengers Compound when you get cast in a leading role in the local community theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Loki, as familiar with the theater as he is, can’t help but get worried and jealous of your leading man, and he has an idea on how to keep an eye on you…

Pairing: Loki x Plus Size!Reader CW: Dumb, contrived fluff, Jealous!Loki, stage fright, body insecurity Word Count: 2.8k

“I can’t believe I got Belle!” you said excitedly, sitting around the conference table with Clint, Bruce, and Steve. “I didn’t think I did well at the callback.”

Not to mention, a woman my size isn’t usually considered princess material, you thought, not wanting to say as much out loud in front of three attractive men. The last time you were under a size-10 was in middle school, and these days you hovered between an 18 and a 20. You were usually cast as the villain or the comedic relief on stage because of it, but this director had apparently loved your voice enough that your dress size didn’t matter to her. Finally, your chance at a lead had come.

“I can’t believe you’re willing to drive forty-five minutes each way to sing and act in front of strangers,” Bruce said, half-jokingly. “But I’m sure you’ll be great.”

“Y’know, I played Belle once,” Clint quipped. “But then Lila told me she was tired and wanted to switch the DVD to something else.”

“I have to admit, these Disney cartoon films weren’t the first things I took in after being awoken,” Steve added, “But congratulations. I’ll be sure to buy tickets.”

You beamed. “I hope you all come! In fact, I bet I can convince the box office to comp you all. The Avengers endorsing a small-town theater would be a boon for them.”

“The only problem is, we still need a Gaston,” you added. “We need to find someone fast, but it IS a small town, and no one has the vocal range, or the cockiness in his personality, needed for the part. We may not have a show without a Gaston.”

You heard heavy bootsteps come up behind you, and you didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

“A children’s show?” Loki scoffed. “Why would you want to see something as inane as a musical derived from a cartoon?”

Ever since you were hired, you’d had it pretty bad for Loki. He was smart, funny, and his long, bouncy black hair made you swoon. However, you’d stayed away under the assumption that Loki could have any beautiful woman he wanted, and someone like you would never live up to the lovers of his past. Loki must’ve taken offense to this, for when he grew wise to your reasons for keeping your distance, he immediately closed the gap and began flirting with you in the hallways. You thought he was mocking you, and so, in spite of your crush on him, you always brushed by him, never acknowledging him as anything more than an Avenger.

You groaned. “Piss off, even you can’t rain on my parade today!”

Loki pulled out the chair next to you and took a seat. “And does this mean you’ll be quitting?”

You shook your head. “I know that’s what you’re hoping for, but no, it’s just in the evenings four times a week until tech.”

“And how much are you being paid?” he added. “As a leading character, hopefully plenty?”

You rolled your eyes. “I thank you not to judge my hobby. And no, it’s not a paid engagement.”

“I don’t judge your choice of pastime,” Loki countered. “In fact, I patronized the performing arts on Asgard frequently. My qualm is that you are willing to drive a long way from here, four days a week, to work amongst strangers for no money whatsoever, only to expose yourself before a live audience, who could either love you or laugh you out of the house.”

You could feel his icy words begin to affect you.

“Hey, come off it, Laufeyson,” Steve snapped. “Why can’t you be happy for her?”

“It’s my dream role,” you added.

“I imagine, as a leading woman, you will be kissing a leading man as well? Kissing a stranger in public!” Loki sighed. “Theater people will do anything for a bit! It just doesn’t seem very becoming of a single woman.”

You grunted and shot out of your seat. “Becoming?! The only thing I’m BECOMING is agitated, Loki! Jesus Christ, do you always have to cast a cloud of negativity over every little good thing that happens to one of us?”

“No,” he said as if it were simple fact. “Only when it happens to you.”

You bit your lip. “If this is your idea of flirting, Loki, you need to take a lesson or two.”

You went to leave, deciding to take the rest of your lunch break in the lab. Before you left the conference room, you turned back to Loki. “And yes, I’m kissing someone. He’s rather handsome, too, and his voice could remove my panties faster than your magic ever could.”

“Ouch!” Steve laughed.

“Nice one,” Bruce added.

Clint leaned back and folded his arms, amused. “There isn’t enough aloe in the country to soothe that burn.”

Loki looked down at his lap, smarting at your insult as you skipped away in triumph. Even so, he was already concocting a plan. He just needed to rent a certain film to do some research first…

“—ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered…”

Three days later, you were dressed ready for a one-on-one dance workshop with the choreographer when you first entered the space that, two months from now, would be shining spotlights on you as you belted out the final notes to “Home.”

The house was already populated with other actors and tech crew working. The Narrator’s deep bass was chilling.

“Y/N!” chimed out Bri, the choreographer waiting for you. You smiled as she came up to you. “Glad you’re on time! Thanks for bringing character shoes.”

You shrugged. “About time I took them out for a spin again! Hey, any updates on the Gaston situation?”

Bri nodded excitedly. “Actually, the director’s meeting with a candidate right now. He sure looks the part, at least I think so! He’s just got to audition—”

As if on cue, a rich, handsome baritone started singing some tune that was unfamiliar to you. It was upbeat and robust, but it was also a sweet melody.

Oh no, I might end up falling for the bad guy in the end if this man gets the role, you thought, shuffling towards the left wing, where a piano was being kept, and where an accompanist was plunking out the song the mysterious singer was gifting your ears with.

You brushed aside one of the curtains, only to stop in your tracks as you processed that it was Loki himself, singing that incredible song. The director was standing behind the accompanist, looking very pleased with him. Your jaw hit the floor.

After the final bar, the entirety of the cast had gathered around the left wing, and they all erupted in applause and cheers.

Marie, the director, quickly scooted around the piano to shake Loki’s hand. “Welcome to the cast, Gaston! Everyone, we have a full cast!”

Fuck. A. Duck.

Everyone clapped again as Marie gently turned Loki around to face you. “And I believe you already know our Belle! You two probably know how to work together already! So, Mr. Loki, go see Adele for costuming before the end of tonight if you would? And Y/N,” she turned to you. “I changed my mind, I want you and Garrett doing Intimacy Coaching with Marty in the green room, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” you said, trying to hide your burning desire to kick Loki in his sack. As soon as Marie left you to your own devices, Loki smirked and raised a curious eyebrow.

“Intimacy Coaching?” he asked, sounding intrigued.

“Don’t get your hopes up, perv,” you groaned. “It’s just boundaries and limit-testing. We kiss twice at the end of the show and it’s to make sure we’re cool with each other, that’s all.”

“I’m sure your partner wouldn’t agree,” Loki murmured.

“Okay, first of all, Garrett is gay. Gayer than Christmas. So that’s already one problem solved,” you told him. “Second, just…why? Why, Loki? Was tormenting me at work not enough to get you off anymore?”

“I thought someone needed to keep an eye on you,” Loki growled. “And it’s been nearly a millennium since I’ve graced a stage with my presence, so I—”

“—you are ridiculous, you know that? You SHOULD be playing LeFou!” you barked, spinning on your heels and walking away before you lost your cool entirely.

Loki followed you with his eyes, his shoulder dropping as you left the house. Damn, he thought. I’m losing my touch. Sighing, he went to go retrieve a script from the stage manager as Garrett, the actor playing Beast, was practicing the final notes of his big ballad, which seemed to perfectly reflect the feelings in Loki’s own heart in that moment:

“Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free But it's not to be If I can't love her…”

Tech Week arrived faster than you thought; you were having such a blast rehearsing for the role of a lifetime. What’s more, when word got out that an Avenger was in the leading cast, ticket sales boomed so much that the company had to rent out another week from the building for a second weekend of the run, which of course meant even more people would be seeing you.

You didn’t say anything more to Loki than was absolutely mandated by your respective parts in the show. Even at music rehearsal, you sang away from him. If you’d just turned your head a few times during a solo, you would have seen that Loki was genuinely impressed by your vocals, and couldn’t hide the admiring look on his face.

Admittedly, the stage fright was beginning to crawl up your back, especially now as you were in the green room with the costumer, getting the final touches finished on your ball gown. Sadly, no version of the iconic yellow gown fit your full body, so a replica in the same size and shape, but in a crystal blue color more akin to Cinderella, was made. You still looked incredible, at least according to the seamstress, but the fact that there was no costume in the yellow you’d dreamed of wearing as a girl made your insecurity only grow. Now showtime was beginning to feel less like a looming adventure and more like a ticking clock. Would the audience receive you for who you were as a singer-slash-actor? Or would no one be able to get past your looks. After all, it was right there in the song lyrics: “it’s no wonder her name means ‘beauty.’”

“Would you like to go out and show everyone?” asked the costumer. You looked at yourself one more time in the mirror, sighing and admitting to yourself that you really looked all right.

Picking up the hem of your billowing skirt, you went upstairs and onto the stage, where two stagehands were standing under spotlights, so that the tech director could focus them.

“Oh, never mind, let her stand under the light,” the tech master yelled from the booth above the back of the house as you stepped onto the stage. The stagehands moved aside for you, and you could hear several people gasping from the house.

“Y/N!” cried out Marie. “You’re stunning! Can you move well enough to dance?”

“Yes,” you said meekly, stepping into the light, feeling vulnerable.

“Geddit, Bella!” you could hear Garrett calling from the wings, and you looked over at him, dressed in his own royal-blue best.

“Do a slow turn,” the tech master asked. You obeyed. “The light reflects this color differently than I thought…”

After a few minutes of standing in the light, hearing the encouragement from your cast and crewmates, you were given permission to step aside and to get out of your dress and into dance gear for the top of the show, but as you swiftly walked back into the wings, you heard Loki call out from near the curtain.

“Beautiful,” he mused, admiring you. You stopped in your tracks and looked at him oddly.

You couldn’t help but fail to stifle a laugh at Loki’s appearance in his own costume: the standard candy-apple red jacket and black ponytail. He looked the part for certain, but seeing him in such a recognizable suit was strange, to say the least.

Loki smiled and looked down at himself. “I know. I should have asked to play the clock.”

You smiled. “You look like Gaston,” you said.

Loki raised an eyebrow. “Should I consider that an insult?”

“Um….no,” you answered. “He’s supposed to be the physical ideal. Herculean, y’know?”

Loki took this as a signal to slowly close the gap between you, looking you in the eye. “I knew Heracles,” he said quietly. “He’s not exactly someone I’d invite to supper.”

“Look, Loki,” you began, “About what’s been going on between us, I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe it’s worth it to talk things through? After all—”

“—Y/N, I didn’t make my intentions fully clear before,” he said. “I did not take this part because I was worried that you’d be swept off your feet by another. Well, perhaps not entirely.”

“You didn’t? Could have fooled me,” you quipped.

“Ever since Stark hired you,” he continued, “I’ve held a bit of a torch for you. That said, my knowledge of Midgardian flirting rituals are limited. Once I thought my attempts to get your attention were yielding the opposite result to what I was hoping for, maybe I became a bit spiteful.”

“So you DID ask for the part to torture me?”

He quickly shook his head. “I wanted to protect you.”

“From whom?” you asked.

Loki sighed. “One thing about Midgard I DO know about is the shallowness of the people here. I know you are a lady of beauty, but the humans out there can’t seem to appreciate anything that falls outside their norm. I was afraid they would come after you.”

You looked away from Loki, blushing and hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I guess I appreciate the gesture, cavalier and outdated as it is.”

“But,” Loki continued, putting up a hand. “After hearing your dulcet tones sweetening the air in the room, and seeing you grace the stage with your body in that immense dress, I don’t see a need to protect you any more.”

You cocked your head. “No?”

Loki smiled and took your hand, gently starting to remove the opera glove on your arm. “You are talented and graceful. Any audience that would judge you for a large frame and not your skills are mad and not worthy to attend the performance. But, with what you’ve been bringing, I think worrying is no longer required.”

You smiled. “Thank you.”

“And,” Loki continued, removing the glove and bringing your bare hand to his lips, laying a gentle kiss on your knuckles. “If you would forgive me for my previous misguided transgressions, I would be honored if you’d let me escort you to the after party on our final evening.”

The light kiss on your hand sent electricity up your arm and down your spine.

“You’d willingly be seen with me?” you asked. “And you’d be proud of me?”

Loki took your arm and pulled you in even closer, taking his hand and running it gently along your cheek. “My dear, I’d be a beast not to be.”

Opening night, you felt the icy chill of stage fright cement you off in the right wing as the recorded narration and the opening scene played out for the audience.

Loki was right behind you, confident in his stride as always.

“How do you feel, Belle?” he asked gently, leaning by your ear from behind you as you stood watching for your cue. You shook your head, your skin shaking with fear. “Darling, your skin is trembling.”

He caressed your neck with a hand, and somehow, it did the trick, stopping the shakes underneath your skin and warming you.

“You really think they’re going to like me?” you asked. “What of--?”

“—no what ifs, Y/N,” Loki demanded. “This is your finest hour,” Loki said, encouraging you with a firm-but-kind hand on the small of your back. “Act like it.”

Giving you one last kiss for luck on your cheek, he gestured to the stage, where the scene was going black and the narration dying. “I do believe that is your cue. Go. Shine.”

You felt a tingle of courage (and pleasure) milk the adrenaline from your brain, giving you the fuel that you needed to take your place for your grand entrance. Once you did, and once the first spotlight and twinklings of “Belle” emitted from the orchestra pit, the audience clapped for you.

You immediately blew them away with your opening notes, Loki’s own heart began to tremble with admiration (and affection) as he watched you.

“Little town…such a quiet village…”

@el-zef @lokisasgardianvampirequeen @lokisgoodgirl @mischief2sarawr @michelleleewise @mochie85 @toozmanykids @xorpsbane @huntress-artemis @itsybitchylittlewitchy @the-fantasy-loving-angel @moonlightreader649 @littlemarvelmenfan @ficitve-sl0th

#MCU #MCU Loki #MCU fanfiction #Loki fanfiction #Loki fluff #Beauty and the Beast #MCU Avengers #fluff fic #fanfiction #theater #marvel #loki x reader #plus-size reader #loki/reader #loki x reader fluff #enemies to lovers

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oc-character-development · 1 year

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My belated opinion on Endeavour series 9 episode 1: Prelude:

This might be a little all over the place but I have a lot of thoughts, just haven’t had time to write them down, so apologies for the rambling style.

The mystery was dark. I mean the link to the death of the 14 year old was DARK. And you could really see the pain in Morse’s face as he figured it out, probably because it’s horrible AND because bullying that drives to a innocent teenager to suicide is exactly WHAT MORSE WENT THROUGH HIMSELF. Shaun Evans really did great with the acting and directing in this episode.

My word Russell’s pulling out all the stops this series. The callbacks, the references, fucking BLENHEIM VALE!!! (I hope this means a Jakes return, please!)

SAM! SAM! SAM!!!! He’s alive, dealing with PTSD (poor kid) but at least he’s alive and back home in Oxford. My heart broke when he yelled at Thursday that he had no idea what he went through (even though we know that Thursday does know, he just processed it differently and Sam is just lashing out) Plus we learned of a little of what happened to him. His friend got shot right next to him. Poor Sam. I loved his little scene with Morse though.

Unpopular opinion: I loved Joan/Strange in series 8. So I’m content with Joan being Mrs Strange. At this point, it makes sense, they set it up last series, and the crew couldn’t really bring in a new character for us to get to know last minute. So Joan makes sense. Plus it means that my theory of Morse recognising who Mrs Strange is and slightly smiling knowingly in Inspector Morse when Strange brings her up is validated. However, this brings me onto my main concern of the series:

Thursday.

Bright is retiring, that I fully accept, great for him, but…. Thursday.

Thursday I get the feeling as though it’s not going to be so cut and dry with his exit. I want it to be. Thursday becoming the Superintendent at Carshal Newtown, THE STATION MORSE CAME FROM ORIGINALLY, is almost perfect tale end to the story. It’s almost poetry and it makes sense as to why Morse never brings him up despite already being very closed off about his past.

Also Win being concerned about Thursday leaving Morse made me smile, especially after her outburst during the final episode of the last series when Sam had gone missing, she really cares about Morse as much as Thursday and understands the role her husband plays in Morse’s life- her worrying over what’ll happen to Morse if they left Oxford warmed my heart.

HOWEVER, if Strange is his son in law, which it’s certain he is at this point, then why doesn’t HE bring up Thursday to Morse in the original series? That’s why I’m believing that it won’t be so simple as a transfer with Thursday. And why I’m still worrying he might die or something worse. I WANT a happy ending for him and Mrs Thursday. I’m just don’t think it’ll happen. I’m basing it off when the wedding happens, in episode 2 or episode 3; because it would be too tragic for something to happen to Thursday the same episode as the wedding.

Speaking of the wedding; Jim asking Morse to be his best man, they’re at that level of friendship and knowing that just makes Inspector Morse even better 🥺

Also seeing Max more was fantastic. More of that please in the last two episodes.

Morse. My blorbo. I feel so bad for Morse. Not only did he break his alcohol abstinence which we all knew would happen eventually half way through the first episode, everything is changing for him, not only is Bright retiring (which hasn’t been announced to the station), not only was he not told that Joan and Strange are getting married (although Thursday did have a valid reason for not bringing it up himself), not only are the wounds of Blenheim Vale threatening to open again, but he has no idea that the man who is the closest thing he has to a father is seriously considering taking a Superintendent job and transferring to the station Morse originally transferred to Oxford from. Seriously; THE SEPARATION OF MORSE AND THURSDAY IS GOING TO BREAK ME!

The last scene of Prelude broke my heart. Thursday looking at Morse and clearly worrying about him broke my heart. And that is just episode one of the final series!

Overall; great episode, and this series is shaping up to be the emotionally destructive series I expected it to be.

#endeavour morse #itv endeavour #endeavour series 9 #endeavour series 9 spoilers

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methinmycoffee · 1 year

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Spoiler Warning!

Okay, I have some thoughts on the new episode, and I’ll probably go in depth on some of them later, but for now, I’ll start with the negatives:

1. I don’t think anyone at South Park Headquarters understands TikTok at all. And that’s fine, except a lot of the episode is Kyle and To(l)k(i)en making TikToks and It’s a little cringe

2. Cartman is made a little bit of a better person? Like, not a lot, but he goes “woah woah woah” when Cupid Ye says Hitler wasn’t that bad, which was obviously just to make the point that Kanye is worse than Eric Cartman, but it just makes me nervous for the future of his character. Honestly, I appreciated the joke though

3. No Creek :( and this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, even for a Valentines Day episode, except we got a scene where Craig was paired with someone who didn’t even really say anything, and they paired him with Kenny. I like Kenny a lot, actually, but Tweek could have just as easily played the role that Kenny played in the scene. It also would have been a little funnier, in my opinion, because Craig and Tweek* have already interacted with Cupid Me so it would have been like a little callback. Plus Tweek’s reaction to Craig being literally shot and turned in to a N@zi would probably have been a little better. (*We didn’t actually see Cupid Me interact with Tweek, but Tweek was either shot off screen, and even if he wasn’t, he was still the person Cupid Me made Craig fall in love with)

And now for the positives:

1. It was pretty good. Maybe it was just my over-excitement because of the new episode, but I had a good time watching it, and I honestly thought the Cupid Ye joke was a pretty good premise. I was a little nervous for this one based off the promotional material, but it exceeded my expectations.

2. The scene with Craig was actually pretty good too, don’t let my previous rant make it seem like I didn’t like it, because it was one of my favorite parts of the episode. I really like Craig (and Kenny) and I like that Kenny kicks down the door to the bathroom. He’s an icon. And I like the animation with the hearts with the Sw@stikas.

3. I like that Cupid Ye is visible now. Like, people can just see him? But he’s not real? Because of the scene where it was actually Cartmam in To(l)k(i)en’s room? But Craig interacts with him? And so does everyone else? But Craig couldn’t see him before? Is Cupid Me visible? Or just Cupid Ye? I like the confusion that comes with the character, it’s pretty funny

4. Angry Kyle is usually pretty funny. And this time it definitely was.

Overall though this was a great episode and I enjoyed it. I’m glad they’re showing signs of gradual improvement.

#south park #South Park 26 #guys I liked it #maybe this is just my excitement talking #because I stayed up to watch it live and was hyped #but I really did enjoy it #Maybe I’ll watch it again tonight

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what-do-1000-swords-look-like · 1 year

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TW: 1x03 "You're Lost, Little Girl"

Disclaimer: It goes without saying, if you don't like, don't read. And as I always say, criticism of a show does not equate to criticism of actors (or executive producers) as people so if you choose to continue, please leave all stan-age (in particular, AA baggage) at the door.

Written by: Gabriel Alejandro Garza

Directed by: Claudia Yarmy

Rating: 3.5/10 (I debated moving up one but it still feels like they have so much work ahead of them so I settled on this instead)

Pros: Dean's voiceover (sounded way more natural & fitting this time around); better costuming; Drake & Nida are relaxing more into their roles & so far feel the most natural (& Jojo is definitely coming along right behind them); Ada's character shining through (& an organic lead-in to her back story); interesting twist with the plants; some Ada and Carlos time; Mary was SPN Mary for a hot second

Cons: Meg is still struggling to relax into the Mary role (it feels too forced); writing is still choppy and inconsistent (feels more like a broken up rhythm in some parts & it's not matching); stop with the on-the-nose SPN callbacks that have nothing to do with the characters/world you're in (they're not cute & they're preventing you from showing the audience which show this is & why they should tune in plus it doesn't jive with the story you're attempting to tell)

Oh boy, now we’re in Lawrence & we’ve got a sort-of SPN type opening with the same title screen - again, trying too hard

Dean’s voiceover sounded way better this time around and worked better for this episode

I see they’re keeping the Mary hair - good idea, I still don’t understand why they gave her a 90’s look in the pilot - I have to say that the costuming has gotten a bit better

Interesting that Latika picked that up about Samuel & she appeared to clock it better than Mary did & Mary’s response to it is…to walk away? Literally? I don’t understand this character (and I’m not even talking about in comparison to SPN Mary) or some of Meg's acting choices here

So far Drake and Nida seem to be settled into their roles & starting to relax into them more - Meg appears to be struggling to find the right rhythm for hers

Soooo that whole episode of Mary being called out by Carlos & for her to learn that she doesn’t have to be militant like her dad was for…nothing? She’s still giving orders, attempting to be a leader (but like she allegedly learned last episode, good leaders take in different viewpoints/tips & remain open to their team) & while she's still learning it wasn't set up last episode to show this continuation of learning? And even though Ada isn’t being sidelined directly, she’s not even able to choose if she wants to take Carlos with her & when did Ada start working for Mary? Oh, right, she doesn’t

The whole scene with Betty, John, and Mary was awkward and not why you think - Betty seems like an incompetent cop (I get it, it’s the 70’s but come on, common sense) - “Where’s Carrie?” “She’s missing” - just like that - and then no follow up on that from Mary? Really?

Man, the Campell parents really sound like John from SPN & that’s not something to be proud of

“Here’s a new one that’s sure to have you buggin’ out” - very on-the-nose there, people

Did the demon really get stopped by…Ada getting out of the van on the other side? LOL that’s a new one. And to think, all this time, that’s all Sam and Dean had to do for 15 years, get out of the other side of the Impala "So get this...we just need to get out of the car on the side...wait for it...they don't expect" "Sounds like pure crap to me, Sammy, but okay"

While I love that Carlos and Ada got their badass moment, would a demon really allow itself to be thrown around like that?

Mary to John and Latika: “Do you guys find it weird that we’re coming across so many wayward monsters?” John who found out about monsters literally two episodes ago: *shrugs*

It’s shame that they made it about John and Mary getting together and the whole “epic love” thing because this actually would be a much better story if it was more about their separate origin stories & the love was a side result/consequence of the two stories converging like they are now & you could still keep the Dean involvement/overview — anytime they mention the romance & force it into the show/the dialogue to make it the focus by making other random characters mention it who have only been around them for 3 minutes (you know, just in case the audience forgot for one hot second), it just makes it awkward

Ah, turns out Betty may not be so incompetent after all

“Where are you?” wasn’t the first question from John when Mary is on the transistor radio? How...how are scenes like this making it to air? Seriously, I want to know

Mary taking this action felt like SPN Mary for a moment - GOOD

Oh God, she put on that hat - never mind, I take that previous note back

WAIT A SECOND - demons can be put into a plant? Sam, Dean, wtf? How did you not know to carry a mobile greenhouse around in the Impala? *facepalms*

While I think it’s ridiculous, I can appreciate the “twist” with trees being a conduit since they are live organisms

So Ada wants to be a witch? Honestly, I think she’d make a good one and if pre-existing SPN characters will be brought in, I’m thinking she could cross Rowena’s path at some point, that would be pretty cool to see -> I'm all for it

Demons can’t stop the Akrida? For real? So Crowley or whoever is King of Hell at this time isn’t working with Heaven to kick the Akrida out or even just working amongst themselves? They’re just rolling over and making a deal to survive? But they don’t know who the Akrida are? S I G H

Oh I am loving Ada as well, she’s a badass - we need more Carlos and Ada scenes

“None of this works without Mary” - wish that SPN John had felt the same way & not done what he did to Sam and Dean because of what happened to Mary butttt that's now a moot point, isn't it? Somebody had to say it though

Soooo Mary supposedly learned to walk in her own footsteps but she’s channeling her father while learning to lead herself? What the… Make it make sense, Jan. And apparently, Samuel’s hat for Mary is the equivalent to John’s leather jacket for Dean. (again, trying too hard with the callbacks & how is this relevant to Dean's story? Or both his and Sam's? Just admit it, this is a new gen show/reboot, which is fine, but label it as that and move on already)

Oooo Latika’s mom is still alive but didn’t Mary say her parents died years ago or…? Ah, she lied to John about who it was. Okay. Interesting.

I liked that they put John and Latika together this episode and Ada and Carlos - it’s nice to see the ensemble being an ensemble and not it just being the John and Mary show

Carrie kicking the monster’s head was “stupid” - I know it was meant to be a funny moment but it achieved the opposite effect

Ah so Betty is an ex-fiancee of sorts, interesting - so basically John was always looking for a wife?

So we get rando guy with Mary in the end, okay - but I do like that it does sort of complement her fear in the episode & it's a glimpse of a part of what she could have if she gets out of hunting

John: “So who is she?” “This is Rockin’ Roxy” (& then we see her and her hands) - I didn’t think they’d give it away that soon but okay (and it makes you wonder why the cloaked figure in the last episode? she could have been shown or in silhouette/shadow - I feel like I'm consistently bashing my head on the wall trying to follow the path this show is taking us on)

So apparently you can play fetch with an alien dog with spider-type legs. Who knew?

I'm utterly convinced that no matter what villain role Bridget Regan finds herself in, she will always be super sexy while scheming mass death and destruction

No one should ever leave Ada alone with the plants - Carlos' lesson for the episode

That whole plant revelation 👀 is kind of making me leery of going to nurseries in the future so bravo on that one TW

Monster: kind of scary (would be to little kids anyway) but also not

Chemistry: Latika and Mary; Latika and John; John and Mary are getting better (but still don’t have that organic romantic vibe; personally, I think their teamwork has a better vibe)

Theme of episode: You can’t do it all on your own; you can end up lost if you try; it's time to let go

Ending Thoughts: this episode is better than the last so I'm hoping it continues on that trend and that all of the other hot mess is just due to them trying to find their footing & trying to decide which audience to target/play to (hint hint: based on the last 2 episodes, it should be new gen, just saying)

#spnwin critical #spnwin #spnwin 1x03 #spnwin lb notes #spnwin lb notes 1x03 #aa's dni #spnwinposts

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damnhotmsimmons · 3 years

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Assuming the cm revival is still happening, here's a list of what I want in the revival and what would make it better:

Tara, Luke and Matt getting more screentime and decent characterization

No more Reid angst and unnecessary drama(*cough*15x06 & 15x10*cough*cough*)

Garcia being in the revival, whether she returns to the BAU or not, it would be nice to see what she’s up to whether it’s about her new job or date and relationship with Luke

Garvez, seeing the development of their relationship since the end of 15x10

Resolving the Garcia stalker storyline from 15x04, maybe Alexei Stanovich resurfaces and Garcia needs the BAU’s help to stop him. Maybe it’s also coincidental that he resurfaces the moment Garcia starts a relationship with Luke

Letting Paget go gray when playing Emily again. The crappy wig has got to go

Have the team struggle to adjust to Garcia’s departure, maybe a callback to 11x20 or 6x03 when Garcia walks past JJ and Morgan’s empty office. Maybe Emily, JJ or Reid walk past Garcia’s empty office, which was once filled with light and colors

Emily struggling to find a convenient replacement for Garcia, which is tough as Garcia is irreplaceable but the team are not able to complete cases without a technical analyst

Have a realistic timeskip, maybe a few years have passed since 15x10 and we see how much has changed since Garcia left and so much has changed

More friendship moments with the ladies(and yes, this also includes Tara)

More Luke and Tara friendship moments

Give Tara more to do, I mean she was the only one who didn’t have an episode in the final season and I felt that Aisha was underutilized in that season especially when she’s been on the show since season 11

Same thing also applies to Matt, sure he has gotten some focus in three episodes in the last season but he was still underutilized and characterization from cmbb was ignored. Kinda jarring especially when some of those writers came from cmbb

Assuming that the revival will continue and knowing that Daniel has commitments to another show, maybe give Matt a proper send-off, just don’t pull an NCIS. Leave it open ended incase he’s able to return

If they want to revisit past cases, maybe resolve the escaped prisoners storyline, the one with the Romani family in 4x13 or bring back the unsubs from Lo-Fi/Mayhem since we didn’t know much about them and their motives. The latter could also be beneficial for Tara, Luke and Matt since Tara can use her forensic psychology skills when it comes to profiling the unsubs, Luke being from the Bronx indicates that he has some familiarity with the streets in NY and Matt utilizing his tracking skills and connections

Since the revival will be on Paramount+, I’m hoping that means the revivial gets a decent budget. I’ve never seen any original series from Paramount+(CBS All Access then) but I notice from gifs and commercials that the quality of those shows look good and I’m hoping the same applies to the revival, which means better lighting and no more of that ugly yellow filter

I’m also hoping that means better quality in the writing, maybe get new writers that understand the characters and show well. Fire the writers who suggested Jeid

Better wardrobe, it seemed that the quality for the wardrobe aside from Garcia’s went downhill

Be more consistent and acknowledge the character’s ptsd. I hate how they have the characters act like things are suddenly alright after one episode

no more gross and creepy unsub like the guy seeing the goat man or cutting off faces like wtf?!

give the revival a tone similar to the early seasons. Use the early seasons as a reference

another episode like 15x04. Since the revival will focus on one case as opposed to the usual “case of the week” type, maybe there’s room for a breather episode, and we see the characters on their day off, a little break from whatever serious storyline

Let Rossi retire, honestly, he’s way out of his prime and it’s getting obvious that he’s too old to be going on the field especially when he got ambushed by Everett Lynch who is much younger than him. Honestly, the finale should have ended with Rossi retiring, especially as he’s been in the BAU since the beginning and it make sense that it ends with him leaving and moving on while the rest of the team move on without him

unpopular opinion, I think the show can last without Rossi/Joe

More Willifer moments and Katt moments. I’d also like to see Matt and Kristy taking care of baby Rose. I’d also suggest JJ and Matt bonding with their kids but that seems uncertain since depending on when the revival will be greenlit for production, there’s a chance that the kids grow out of their roles(JJ’s kids might not be that affected but Matt’s kids definitely will). Unless they either recast the kids(which isn’t uncommon for some shows) or have a timeskip which explains the kids being a bit older than in s15

Fix JJ’s character, I hate how the writers ruined her by making Jeid happen. AJ is a great actress and she cares about the character. Maybe have her interact with the newer team members, build up more of her friendship with Tara and Matt. I’m not sure how the writers can fix her characterization but I wished they push the whole Jeid storyline out and focus on her as a character

I’d love Hotch and Morgan to be mentioned or acknowledged, making it clear that the team still keeps in touch with them even though they’re no longer working for the BAU. Cameos would be nice but that depends on Shemar’s availability due to commitments to SWAT and the whole situation with Thomas during filming of s12

Guest appearances from other former characters would be nice but also unlikely since Gideon and Stephen are dead, Kate is mostly forgotten(plus Jennifer is on 9-1-1), and while Elle returning as an unsub would make an interesting storyline, it’s clear that Lola has no intentions on returning to CM(based on her IG stories)

seems like Blake, Jordan and possibly Seaver are the only likely candidates that have a better chance of returning as a guest but that depends on the actresses decisions and if the story allows it

Maybe learn from 15x05 since it was the highest rated episode, and has more ratings than the finale. Maybe the writers can learn from this and realized maybe they shouldn’t focus too much on Reid and Reid angst. There’s seven other characters, make the revival focus on all of them

An update of Reid’s personal life, if he and Max are still together, and no angst

Getting to see the new BAU Jet

More BAU family bonding moments, whether it’s them having drinks, eating dinner together or celebrating something like a Garvez engagement, Rossi’s retirement or Matt’s first book being published

Retaining the opening title sequence. It’s not CM without it

I know I might get my hopes up for this and be all disappointed if this post was all for nothing. Still, a girl can dream

Tagging: @illegalcerebral, @dreatine, @marvelfanlife, @jaqren, @yeoldespacebuns, @ropoto. Feel free to add anything incase I missed something

#spencer reid #jennifer jareau #emily prentiss #david rossi #penelope garcia #luke alvez #tara lewis #matt simmons #criminal minds

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havethetimeofyourstyles · 3 years

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Chapter One.

a/n: welcome to the first chapter of wtsgd! i’m so excited for you all to read this story and for what’s to come. please please please support content creators bc we’re doing this for free and it takes up a lot of energy to put out stories. so reblog, leave feedback, and send a message to motivate and support them. happy reading everyone <3

SERIES MASTERLIST | word count: 6.4k

come talk to me about wtsgd! i’d love to know your thoughts!

March 4, 2017

The trunk was filled with heavy boxes that were labeled with thick black sharpie, which didn’t seem to leave Luciana’s senses; and one too many suitcases filled with her many articles of clothing that she couldn’t get rid of—no matter how hard she tried—since she was too much of a hoarder and every piece of clothing seemed to have a lost memory in them that she tried very hard to think of, which only meant that it was worth keeping.

A droplet of sweat leaked down the side of her face due to her nonstop packing and heavy-lifting from her childhood room upstairs to her dad’s car in the driveway. It didn’t help that the sun was beaming down at her with every move like she was on center stage, in front of the spotlight, but it made much more sense for the sun to do that because that’s where she belonged: on stage.

Moving to Brooklyn, New York from Cambridge, Massachusetts during, what felt like, the coldest but the sunniest day of March wasn’t the smartest move—to be fair, Luciana was never one to make a smart move, anyways—but it was one that needed to be done. Plus, all the lifting seemed to have warmed her up.

Her destination, or now, home, in New York was one that she’d been anticipating for a while now. She had auditioned for the role as Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway in November, and she’d gotten a callback in January for the role as the second Kim, meaning she would be on rotation to perform every week or two weeks, so the main Kim could rest. But she would still have to go to rehearsals and be on the side of the stage watching the show just in case she needed to jump in at the last minute.

It wasn’t her ideal way of playing the main lead, but nonetheless, she was grateful for the opportunity, and she would take any chance that was thrown at her to not only take another step towards her dream, but also another learning opportunity to make her a better actress.

Little Luci would’ve been so proud of the present Luci because it’d been her dream ever since she was younger, to be on stage and eventually, be on the big screen. Although she was far from completing her dream of being a face in Hollywood, this was a step that would take her to where she wanted to be in the future, and for that, she was proud of herself.

As a child, Luci had been in various commercials; from being the kid that played with slime and had no lines but to just put on a big smile while the sticky substance ran through her small hands, to being the daughter in a car commercial with one line that said “Are we there yet?” with a groan and a face of exhaustion as if she were the one driving the car. She hoped that these commercials would have someone recognize her talent, to cast her as a Disney star, but that would require moving to California, which her parents were wary of.

The commercials stopped when she reached middle school. Her early adolescent years consisted of an abundance of attitude and mood swings; Luci was a very tough and determined kid. Her love for acting had grown into a big balloon that was let go and on its way into the galaxy where no one could reach it—where no one could mess with her achieving her dream.

She would always stand in front of her white wooden framed mirror—with delicately painted colorful flowers around the border—reciting lines that she heard from a television series or the films that she watched, and she would write them down in her blue notebook. Sometimes, her parents would let her search the script up if it was available online. But oftentimes, she would test and challenge her memorization, and listen to it by ear; testing her mind, and eventually, her memorization skills were immaculate by the age of eleven.

It was perfect timing because by the time she was in middle school, she was able to snatch the roles she wanted when her school’s drama department held school plays. Her family thought that she would start to hate being on stage since school plays always ran until late evening, but being part of the productions had only enhanced her love for her talent, and it only prepared her for a quarter of what her future may look like.

All in all, from a very young age, she always knew that she wanted to become an actress. The spotlight or the center of the camera was where she always craved to be.

And she was finally making that dream come true.

A black Toyota Camry pulled into the space behind the car that was filled with her belongings. Ren and Beatrice, Luci’s lovely parents, both get out of the car with a pink box of donuts—a snack for the road and for when she gets to her new apartment.

“Ready, Lucky?” Beatrice asked, rubbing her daughter’s back. She was quite bummed to see Luci leave her childhood home, but she’s proud to see Lucky Luci chase her dreams. She was, after all, twenty-five and was bound to move out at some point, but to see it actually happen made Beatrice quite emotional.

“Ma, please, don’t cry…” Luci frowned as Beatrice pressed her fingertips to the corners of her eyes. She wrapped her arm around her mother’s shoulder, comforting her. “You’re all coming to New York in a month, right? To watch me on stage?” Luci asked, reassuring herself that she would see her family in a different state to rescue her from her loneliness.

Luci was an independent woman. She could do tasks by herself, go places alone, and she wouldn’t have a problem with it; she enjoyed the company of herself. But to know that at some point she might be alone—that everyone had left her behind or forgotten about her—was what scared her. She needed to know that the people who loved her unconditionally wouldn’t forget about her.

“Of course we’re going!” Ren exclaimed with a smile that Luci was going to miss seeing everyday. “We can’t miss our baby on the Broadway stage. If we could, we’d go to every damn show that you’re in, but that would be a lot of gas, no?”

She chuckled, nodding her head. She felt tears pricking her eyes at how supportive her parents were—they’ve always been. If she could, she would take them with her to New York, but her one bedroom apartment and their work said otherwise.

“Now, Lucky, don’t cry.” It was Beatrice’s turn to comfort her daughter. Like any parent, when they see their child cry, it breaks their heart and they cry too. “We’re gonna see you real soon. You can always come back anytime you want. We’re just a phone call away and we’ll pick you up,” Beatrice said between sniffles. The mother and daughter were embracing so tenderly and comfortingly—enjoying every last moment together until they got to see each other again.

“Jeez, you’re both the same—always crying!” Ren interrupted, making the two women laugh; and he was glad they found what he said amusing because he couldn’t handle the sad moment. “C’mon here, my Lulu.” Luci settled into her father’s arms, hugging him tightly. She’s always been her dad’s girl, despite having a close relationship with her mother, her relationship with her father was something that felt like home; he always knew what to say and when to say it. It helped that she was the female version of him. “You’re gonna be the best star out there, I’m sure of it. Now, I want you to have fun, alright? The fame, the fortune, the big city…it doesn’t amount to anything if you’re not having the time of your life” He comfortingly rubbed Luci’s back, holding her in a warm and tight squeeze.

Luci smiled at her father’s words. She was always a bit hard on herself when she would mess up or forget a line or a movement that correlates to a specific line in her script. When she was younger, she would beat herself up for a sliver of a moment; she would cry into her pillow—sobs loud enough that they were heard from downstairs. Luci would think that she wouldn’t become a well-known actress just because of the minor forgetfulness her mind had presented. But Ren would gently tap on her ocean blue door, letting himself in because he knew his daughter didn’t have the energy to get up and let him in, and he would sit beside her, gently urging her to sit up with him. Once she complied, after many groans of refusals, she would be glad she did because her father looked deeply into her eyes—and it was like looking into the reflection of clear and clean water—and told her she was a star. It was only three words, but those three words reminded her to never give up and get up when she would hit the pavement of what she felt like were her fallen hopes and dreams.

Ren would then end it with a statement of advice that had always lingered in her mind, resonating to the silent and harshful words that she tells herself. ‘Nothing will amount to anything if you’re not having the time of your life.’

A rush of gratitude settled upon her as her eyes became glossier by the seconds she was in Ren’s arms. Beatrice looked at her greatest treasures fondly, a smile appeared on her face only for it to be replaced by a look of confusion.

“Where is that damn brother of yours? He said he was going to be here at ten!” Beatrice interrupted the sweet moment she was having with her father, making them disconnect from the hug—just as Ren did with Luci and Beatrice.

Speaking of the devil, her dear brother was making his way towards home on the side of the street, wearing a grey sweatshirt that was stained with his sweat as his earphones were nestled in his ears, loudly playing music. He loudly sang along to some rap song, breath staggered as he rapped along with his hands.

Nathan smiled once he stepped foot onto the driveway as he took out his earphones, seeing his family look at him vigilantly. Luci laughed, shaking her head.

“Hey, there’s our superstar, little Ana!” Nathan opened his arms, ready to hug you but she quickly stopped him, curving her spine backwards to deny his hug. Ana had been one of the many nicknames her family had called her when she was growing up from the second half of her name, but Ana seemed to have stuck with Nathan as no one else really called her that, so it was his own personal nickname for her.

“Ew, please, do not hug me.” Her face wrinkled in disgust from the spell of her brother’s sweat from his run. Nathan chuckled, playfully rolling his eyes before turning towards his parents.

“Ooh, donuts-”

Beatrice slapped the back of his hand before he even got a chance to open the pink donut box. “Not until you shower and change. Lulu needs to be in Brooklyn by three!”

“Ow, mother!” Nathan whipped his hand away from Beatrice’s burning slap, although he was just playing around and being dramatic. “But fine, alright. The star always gets what she wants, am I right?” He dropped his head towards Luci, sighing before he hurried inside the house to take a quick shower and change.

Luci giggled, telling her parents that she would be right back to go up to her room to check if she’d gotten everything, even though she knew that she had everything, she just needed to reminisce alone for a moment.

Her feet took her up the wooden stairs, where she, for some unknown reason, always spent her time sitting on as she leaned her back against the wall and read or drew. Nathan always found it weird of her when they were doing homework when they were younger, but it was just one of the many fun anecdotes he could tell reporters if he’s asked about their childhood.

Pushing open her ocean blue door that she never changed because she loved the color, she was met with the emptiness of what was once her sanctuary. Despite the paint on the wall changing, the replacement of furniture, and rearrangement of her childhood room, Luci could still see the baby pink walls where she hung up various posters of her celebrity crushes when she was eight. She could still see herself walking over to her Cinderella white wooden dresser as she pulled out an inflatable microphone from her drawer before she walked over to her bed to sing her heart out with her cousin. In the corner of her room was her mirror that she painted colorful flowers along the border when she was younger, and she definitely did not want to change or get rid of it; it wasn’t difficult to stir up a memory when she was in front of that mirror because up until now, she was always reciting her lines to her own reflection until the late night.

All of these memories that Luci held within her heart would help her ground herself—remind her where she came from. No matter where her career took her, she would always be the girl that was firstly known in her room, crying, laughing, and acting within the four baby pink walls until she was sixteen, and then it changed to an ecru white. The feeling of nostalgia clutched her chest, and for the second time today—not even noon, yet—she found herself crying.

She silently sobbed in her sanctuary. Her chest felt tight, like her heart was grasping onto the memories, begging her to not leave, to not move on. But moving on would mean being stuck, and she didn’t want to feel stuck—she just never wanted to be in one place where the walls would slowly feel like they were closing in on her. She didn’t want to be in one place and eventually hated it, so for that, she had to move on.

A soft knock was heard from the outside of her bedroom, making Luci turn around hastily. She found Beatrice standing in the doorway, warmly smiling at her daughter, and keeping the tears at bay because she needed the comfort of her mother more than her mother’s tears.

“My Lucky Star…” Beatrice walked into the room, welcoming Luci into her arms. “You okay?”

Luci deeply inhaled and exhaled as she calmed herself down from her cries. “I’m alright. It’s just hard saying goodbye to this place—to my room.”’

“Oh, Lulu. You don’t need to say goodbye. I know you’ll be coming back here soon, anyways. I know you love home too much to completely stay away.” Beatrice was subtly trying to remind Luci about her love for her hometown, for her home, but her words also were trying to remind her about that certain love for her home and to never forget that love so she doesn’t stray away because Beatrice was simply afraid Luci would never want to come back once she discovered the luxury of her career. And even though she knew her Lulu wasn’t one to forget about her family, Beatrice would never admit her fear.

Luci sniffled, wiping her tears away as she pulled away from her mother’s embrace. “Yeah, I know. Just…doesn’t feel real that I’m leaving.”

“Sure, you’re leaving, but you’re going off to do bigger and better things. You were never one to stay in one place, physically and mentally—you were always moving, always loved learning more. And I’ve always been so intrigued and interested in how your mind works.”

“Ma…” The waterworks seemed to be the highlight of the move.

“I’m serious! I’m so genuinely proud of you. You’ve been keeping your talent—and I don’t mean ‘high school plays’ talent. I mean your Broadway, Hollywood, Academy winning talent. Now, you get to showcase your light in front of thousands of people.” Beatrice always had a way of boosting Luci’s self-esteem, making her ego a tad bit more bigger than it already was. She didn’t mind if her self-esteem had skyrocketed into the galaxy of her dreams, but she always reminded Luci that being humble and kind always outweighed being obnoxious and arrogant. “Now, enough with these tears. You’ve got a road trip to New York. C’mon, now.”

They made their way downstairs and out the door where Ren and Nathan were talking about the latest basketball game of the Celtics. The trunk was closed, and the only thing waiting was Luci herself.

“There she is! Ready?”

Luci took a deep breath, turning her head to look back at the pastel yellow house that had kept her safe for the past twenty-five years. From here, she knew everything was going to change. Whether it’d be for the good or if things would go downhill from here? She didn’t know; all she knew was that she was going to be doing what she loved and she was going to have the time of her life doing it.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

The state of Connecticut seemed to pass by quickly from the car as Nathan drove at a decent seventy miles per hour; the state vanished just as quickly as when they entered.

Luci mindlessly looked out the window, thinking about everything and nothing at once as she drowned out the music playing through the speakers of the car and Nathan’s voice singing along.

The cars passing by, the bystanders, and the locals filled the streets and highways, making her wonder what all of these people’s stories were—wondering if they lived in this city or if they were just stopping by to visit, or if they’re just going through the state to get to the one next door just as she was. Maybe she’s had an encounter or simply passed by them on the street in a world that seemed too large but small at the same time. She always pondered on whether everyone else thought the way she thought—if they wondered what her story was or the people around them.

The world is an interesting place and there were so many intriguing people out there, making her more excited by the minute as she takes on this new adventure in her life that would be completely life changing. Luci’s going to be meeting so many new people that, she would hope, have an impact on her personal life or career.

“Nervous?” Nathan broke the comfortable silence between them.

Luci raised her brows and curled her lips into her mouth. “A bit.”

He nodded, thinking for a moment. Nathan was always one to think before he spoke, and it was a quality that some people needed to learn how to do. He quickly learned that lesson when he was in high school; one of his friends, Johnny, and him were going back and forth joking around with one another. And for some odd reason, teenage boys liked to joke around about fucking everything, so Nathan had said “Yeah, I fucked your mom, what about it?” without thinking. Johnny stayed silent, the rest of their friends were waiting for his comeback, but they only received tears that glossed over his eyes before he ran off to a different part of campus, away from the lunch tables. Nathan found him behind the orchestra building with his face pressed on his kneecaps, crying. Later, he found out that Johnny’s mother had passed away before their sophomore year started and he hadn’t told anyone, which left Nathan quite speechless, but it was a lesson that he learned: to think before anything comes out of his mouth.

“I know you’ll do great. You were born to do this, born to be on stage. Everything you do is to greater your experience and opportunities. All the mistakes you’re gonna make, which we both know you’re gonna make, they’re gonna be learning lessons for you to continue doing what you’re good at doing; the mistakes are there so you can better yourself,” he reassured, occasionally glancing at you briefly before averting his eyes back onto the highway.

Luci smiled, never taking her eyes off her older brother. She leaned closer to the middle console, where his right arm was resting on the padded console. Hugging his arm tightly and resting her cheek on his shoulder, she accepted and appreciated his advice, his words. They made her heart fill up with so much gratitude and love, insanely grateful and happy that she had such an amazing and supportive family who always knew the right things to say when they could sense her nerves and anxieties powering through the roof.

“You’re gonna kill it out there. This is just a step towards where you wanna go, where you actually wanna be.”

She nodded, looking to her right as they quickly passed the ‘Welcome to New York’ sign from the state line of Connecticut and New York, and it was the sign indicating her new home.

Nathan pulled into the apartment’s parking garage, entering in with the code that the complex gave Luci on the silver keypad as the two watched the automatic gate arm swing up to the side, and Nathan entered the parking structure, parking in one of the many spaces available.

Luci excitedly got out of the car, rushing to the trunk where Nathan had opened it from inside the car. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to bring the hand dolly to help carry the boxes, which meant that the siblings were going to have to carry the many boxes she packed by her own hand and strength. But luckily, some of them weren’t that heavy; most of the items in the brown boxes were kitchenware and she figured she could just drag those.

One by one, they took one box each and headed for the elevator, where it took them to her apartment floor—floor four. Luci grabbed the keys from her purse that contained two copper keys hanging on one single silver loop and a small keyless sensor, and she unlocked her navy blue door, revealing her new apartment.

When she entered, she was met with a door across the entrance that she would use for her coats and shoes, things that she would need when she’s rushing out the door. Going through the small hallway in from the entrance, it led her to another small hallway to her left where her bedroom and guest bathroom was; and to her right, it would take her to the kitchen and living space. With four big windows with black window frames, the natural light really came in, making her place brighter for saving electricity.

Walking in and putting the boxes against the black cabinets in the kitchen, she immediately fell in love with the space, her space. Despite already taking a tour of the apartment a few months prior to her official move in day, it felt different being there for the second time because she now knew that this place was hers. She saw it in a different light, and she was already anticipating the memories she was going to make in her new home. The place was empty; and with every step and every noise from her mouth, the room would echo, and she loved it. There was something satisfying about the echo in an empty space that was hers, like she wanted to furnish the hell out of it, but at the same time, she didn’t mind the echo.

“This is your new home.” Nathan put an arm around Luci’s shoulder. He got a bit emotional seeing his baby sister grow up and move away from home, but he was excited for all of the experiences and memories she was going to make. Luci looked up at him, not saying anything but smiling as she was speechless. Nathan could practically feel the excitement run through her and all he did was chuckle at her speechlessness. “C’mon, let’s go get the rest of the boxes.”

For the next fifteen minutes, Luci and Nathan hauled the boxes from the car, to the elevator, and down the hallway to her apartment. There were about four more boxes left in the trunk, and they would’ve been finished by now if they hadn’t been taking breaks.

Nathan’s phone rang as he was sitting on the floor, leaning against the cabinets of the kitchen across from Luci who was sitting in the corner where her dining table would be.

“Hello?” Answered Nathan. “What? Tonight? I’m in New York. I’m helping my little sister move here. Uh, okay. Sure. Bye.” He groaned, standing up.

“Who was that?” Luci asked, nosy as she was.

“That was one of the board members at Mass General Hospital.” Luci’s eyes widened. “They just asked me if I could come in tonight to teach and supervise the new residents.” Nathan was a general doctor working in the Emergency Room as Mass General back in Boston. He’s always wanted to teach with all the knowledge he’s stored in his brain—always wanting someone to learn a thing or two when they spoke to him, and this was his chance.

“Holy shit, that’s amazing, Nate!” Luci stood up, excited for him.

He started to breathe a bit heavily and Luci immediately took notice; she could practically feel the nerves coming out of him, the same nerves she felt while going in for an audition. “Yeah, I actually have to leave, like, right now.”

“Hey, hey.” She quickly stopped him from running out of the building and out of his mind. “Come here—breathe with me for a second.” She held onto his wrists gently.

“Luci, I have to-”

He pulled away, but she tugged him back. “You’re going to drive yourself through the highway, and who knows what will happen, you might get pulled over and you won’t make it to the hospital. So, just take sixty seconds to breathe with me.”

For the remainder of the time that they had together, they took some deep breaths. She spoke encouraging and uplifting words to him to calm down his nerves and anxieties that he seemed to drive himself over a cliff for, and it seemed to work as Nathan’s shoulder’s weren’t so tense and the grip on her hands had loosened.

The two of them walked down to the parking garage where Nathan took down the last four boxes and placed them by the entrance of the complex. He was adamant on helping her get the last few boxes up to her apartment, but she shrugged it off, telling him that she was able to carry them and that he needed to leave because he’s most likely going to hit traffic during rush hour.

“Call me if you need anything, okay? I mean it. I will drive here in a heartbeat.”

“I will, I will-”

“Just not tonight,” he joked. “This is the highlight of my career.” His smile was so bright that it was like he was a little kid on Christmas again who just received a Hot Speed set from Santa.

Luci laughed, hugging him goodbye. “And call me if you need anything too. I’ll miss seeing you everyday,” she admitted, a slight frown on her face. She thought she’d have the entire day with Nathan, but it was cut short due to his work but she wasn’t mad about that at all because she knew there'd be plenty of times when he would drive down to walk along the New York streets and see her perform.

“I’m gonna miss you too, Ana. But I love you and I’ll see you next month!” He hurried into his car, and Luci watched him as he pulled out of the driveway, waving at the rear view mirror to say one last ‘see you later’ to his little sister.

Walking back to the curb where all of the boxes were set, Luci picked one up to test how heavy it was and she barely made it upright without almost hurting her back, so she put the box down to take a proper breather. She decided to drag the box closer to the door of the complex—which saved her a few steps without completely dropping the box that was labeled ‘glass plates’—and pulled the handle of the door, only to find it completely locked. There was a slight panic that flew through her until she realized that she needed her keyless tag that she had to press against the pad on the wall to get inside the complex, so she blew out a sigh of relief before reaching down to her pocket for her key, and with just her luck, her keys weren’t in her pocket or with her at all. Then she started to panic again.

Luci quickly walked out of the parking garage and to the front of the building where the leasing office was to find them closed, which was odd because it was Saturday, but apparently their servers were down so they just decided to take the entire day off. She rolled her eyes annoyingly, walking back to the garage in a fast manner because she didn’t want anyone to take her boxes, and so she figured that she could just wait until someone left the complex or arrived. She even left her phone at her place, so it wasn’t like she could call anyone to help her, but some sort of entertainment would help the time go by quicker.

Sitting on the curb in the garage, pacing back and forth on the sidewalk, and humming the melody from the Miss Saigon soundtrack, an hour goes by until she sees someone walk past the automatic gate barrier, heading towards the entrance where he opened the door with his tag. Luci sprinted towards the door, calling out for help.

“Wait, wait!” The man turned around confusingly, taking his AirPod out of one ear. She caught up, taking deep breaths as she waved at the man. “Sorry, I’ve been out here for an hour and I completely forgot my key.” He didn’t say anything but stared at her, wondering why he’s never seen this woman before. The apartment complex really only had four floors, and he’s sure that he’s seen everyone who’s lived here. She noticed that he looked down at the boxes and back at her. “Oh, I just moved in.” He nodded more understandingly. “Do you mind holding the door for me?”

“Sure.” Was the first thing he told her before stepping aside to hold the door. She took another deep breath, getting into the correct form so she doesn’t throw her back out, and began to lift the heavy box. He noticed her struggling, and he felt foolish for not offering his help in the first place when he noticed the four boxes on the cement. “Here, sorry, let me help with that. Get the door, yeah?” Luci’s heart flipped once she heard his deep, accented voice before she gratefully thanked him and he grabbed the box from her, replacing her hands with his and the slightest brush of their fingers made her flustered; he held the box tightly to his chest without much struggle.

“Yeah, let me just get this one.” Luci grabbed a much lighter box that had all of her shoes, and held the door for him with her foot as he made his way inside of the building and to the elevator. He pressed the button with the arrow pointing up, and luckily, they didn’t have to wait for more than five seconds before the bell at the top chimed and the stainless steel doors opened.

With the heavy box in his hands, he still let Luci walk in first, which made her smile and he followed in as she pressed with the bold ‘4’ printed on it. He held the box in between his chest and the other end of the bar on the wall as they waited in silence as the elevator lifted them up to her apartment floor, and she brushed past him when he lifted his arm, gesturing her to go first.

Her front door was closed but it was unlocked, which only made sense, so she opened her door, putting the box next to the entrance and politely asking the man to put it next to the one you put down.

“Thank you so much, really. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help.”

“It’s no problem. I was the same when I moved here too—forgot my keys and was locked out.” He related to make her feel lighter about the situation since it was an honest mishap.

“Did you go to the leasing office?” She asked curiously.

“Yeah, but they were closed.”

“They’re closed today too! It’s like they do that on purpose whenever someone new moves in.” The man chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.

She hadn’t gotten a proper look at him since she was too distracted by trying to get into her building, but just by one real look at him, he was very attractive—probably too attractive to where she couldn’t think straight. He was wearing a pastel yellow and white striped button down that was a bit flowy and open, showing his white tank underneath that was tucked into his black skinny jeans. His tank top was low enough, exposing a patch of chest hair and his necklace that rested against his skin, in between his swallow tattoos just below his collarbones. Rings hugged his long fingers on both hands as he held two brown paper bags from Trader Joes. He was handsome, that’s for sure, and she felt like she was going to compare his beauty to all the other men that she was going to encounter in the future.

“They’re not very good at going into work, but if you give them a call then it’s like they’re a 24/7 help center.”

Luci nodded, chuckling. “Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’ll help you with the last boxes.” Before she was about to protest and tell him that he didn’t have to help her anymore because she was sure the last ones were light, he made his way towards the elevator and she quickly followed.

To her surprise, one of the boxes was heavier than the other and she was glad that the man was able to carry it for her. They took the boxes up to her apartment, stacking it on top of the ones that were set down before she thanked him gratefully again.

“I really appreciate all your help.” She smiled, leaning against the doorframe.

“Not that I’m doubting your strength or anything, but how were you supposed to get those boxes up to your apartment?” He asked softly, not wanting to offend her by his words.

“Oh, my brother was supposed to help me, but he had to go back home for an emergency at work.” The man nodded, seeming that was the most acceptable answer, not like he was searching if she was lying. “But thank you for your help. You’re a true lifesaver,” she said with a soft smile on her face. Her tone was a bit flirty than she wanted it to be, but it naturally came out.

“It’s not a problem. I’ll see you around.” Luci hadn’t closed her door yet, but she found out that he was literally her neighbor on the opposite side of the wall. He didn’t even have to take two steps to get to his place—all he had to do was turn around and he was home. She smiled at the thought of that, glad that her neighbor was already so kind to her.

As he was fumbling with his keys, he eventually got his door unlocked, and Luci was itching to ask what his name was—maybe make her first friend during her first day living in the big city. The man felt his neighbor's eyes on him, burning through the back of his head, so he turned around at the same time she spoke.

“Uh, hey,” Luci called out. He was looking over his shoulder, pursing his lips as he raised his brows. “I was wondering if…you’d like to have dinner with me tonight? Y’know, to thank you for all your help and practically saving me while I was stranded.” She chuckled, playing with the tips of her fingers as she looked at him with hope.

He thought the invitation was nice, but…“It’s okay, really. I, uh, have plans already tonight,” he admitted honestly because he doesn’t make a habit of being dishonest.

Luci had some thick skin—she grew it throughout the years, and she had always been pretty confident. So many people would think that she could handle rejection well because she’s auditioned for many roles in her lifetime, and had been rejected for most of those roles. But the rejection that her neighbor handed to her so respectfully and politely was one that hit her the most, and she didn't know why.

Curling her lips into her mouth as she felt the pang of her heart sinking into her chest, she nodded and placed a small smile onto her face.

“Have fun tonight, then. I’ll see you around.” She grinned, hiding the slight bit of pain that she felt. He nodded, walking inside his apartment as she was in her doorway as well. “Oh, I’m Luci, by the way.” She introduced herself, feeling like she should have done that ten minutes ago, but it had slipped her mind.

The corner of the man’s mouth turned up into a sly smirk, and she nearly felt herself fall as she gripped the door handle tightly. It was enough to make the pain in her chest disappear, and all thoughts of the rejection that she would think about for the rest of the night vanished.

“Nice to meet you, Luci. I’m Harry.”

With that, Harry closed his door, putting a barrier between him and Luci, who was still standing in her doorway. She let out the longest sigh of her life, feeling like she’d been constricting herself from breathing properly for the last ten minutes.

Luci closed her door and leaned against it, looking down at the boxes that were resting by her feet. She softly smiled, her cheeks were starting to get warm, and she was fully aware that Harry was the cause of it.

come talk to me about your thoughts and feelings! hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, thank you for reading <3

ty to @sunflowers-styles for beta reading!

#harry styles fanfiction #harry styles angst #harry styles series #harry styles x oc #harry styles fic #harry styles ff #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #harry styles au #boyfriend!harry #harry styles writing #harry styles solo #actress!oc

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kurisus · 3 years

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Chapter 95-2 thoughts

I don’t have a whole lot in terms of speculation, mostly feelings, so here we go. Spoilers under the cut. Also, a content warning for discussions of child abuse.

So right off the bat we see that Haru’s father was delusional, or at the very least, insisting that he kicked his wife and daughter out rather than them choosing to leave. It makes me wonder if he really did later trick himself into thinking his son ran away, which makes him that much more pathetic as a person.

On an even unhappier note, I can’t help but wonder what kind of gaslighting his family was subject to, if he’s tricking HIMSELF into thinking outright lies.

The strikes don’t stop though because right after this we have Haru smiling and pretending to be happy with his father even though we know he was terrified of him. And wanting to escape has been a recurring character beat for Yukine since the start of the story, too. MAN. MAN. IT’S LIKE BEING PUNCHED IN THE FACE OVER AND OVER.

His father also teaching him to steal if he doesn’t have any money is a nice callback to Yukine stealing stuff at the beginning of the manga, too. He knows it’s wrong, but now that he’s dead he can steal without getting caught, and the very act of doing so is what was drilled in his head by his father.

On that note, I was trying to speculate how old he was when his mom and sister left, and the answer from the official translation is at least 9, going by the height marks left on the wall. Either way you slice it, he was alone with just his father for quite a long time.

Speaking of horrible fathers it really hurt to see Father just being outright abusive (rather than his usual brand of manipulative) by calling Hagusa stupid and slow and basically just forcing him to fight Yato when all he wants to do is find his sister. I think his real desire to escape and be with her got twisted up with his desire for revenge against his father, and that’s why he was blaming her for abandoning him a few chapters ago.

Hagusa’s divine net has also caught a few other gods in the meantime, and combined with Yato’s later statement about how Amaterasu will go after him for working with the sorcerer only increases my worry. I’ve been worried about that exact scenario for a while now, and Yato voicing it makes me suspicious.

For the record, I very much doubt Yukine will die. You can all come clown me if I turn out to be wrong but it doesn’t make sense to me that this character arc about an abused child getting a second chance to live and make things right (even in an unfair system) would end with him just dying again but for real this time. Plus, he and Yato are partners and killing both of them off would just be unwise too.

That doesn’t mean he can’t get boxed again though! I hate it here.

enough of that bad line of thought,,, I swear it’s like Adachitoka saw how much I’ve been suffering over Yato and Yukine’s relationship since my reread last month and threw me a bone--despite everything, despite all the measures he’s taken, Yato’s #1 goal is not killing his father, but saving Yukine. To him, violence has never been the end goal, but breaking the cycle of abuse. Hence why he didn’t kill people except for when Father made him.

And that’s why he’ll succeed with saving Yukine in the end. Since the beginning, Yato has always tried to be a better father than his was to him. He’s not perfect, but he’s always tried and made honest efforts to improve, whereas Father has only ever seen those around him as tools--Yato, Nora, Hiyori, and now Hagusa. They’re only a means to an end, and them having their own thoughts and feelings is an inconvenience unless he manipulates them back in the right direction.

This is also a fun observation I tweeted a few months back that devastated the Twitter side of the fandom so now I’m gonna torture you guys too--Yato has never gotten mad at Yukine, at most stern. Whereas both their fathers yelled at them, blamed them, and were generally just unapologetically mean. Because even though Yukine’s done some stuff, Yato is choosing not to follow the same path they’ve both already experienced.

Anyway, back to the chapter--Yukine’s desire for revenge on his father is just Father manipulating his anger and sadness for why he died and using it to help him in his fight against heaven. Yukine hasn’t killed anyone before now, and no matter how angry he is, even if his father is still alive I don’t think he will be able to kill him.

I’m sure Kazuma isn’t happy by this turn of events, though--he signed up to kill Father, and that’s what he’s going to do, regardless of Yukine’s role in all this. I guess we’ll see where his ideology being at odds with Yato’s will take them next, as Father escapes yet again and Amaterasu comes for them.

I already said this in my snaps but pray for an Amaterasu cover for volume 24! I’d love to see official colors for her.

#Noragami #Noragami spoilers #Noragami manga #live update

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youranxiousnerd · 3 years

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Showtime Thoughts

bc i am in love with julia lester

spoilers below

First off, why is this episode so short?

ngl i forgot mazzara was a regular

ricky ded besties

awww nina and the letters

she looks very good in her dress

ashlyn and ricky look so good

“We’re screwed!”

ash and ricky are too funny like where were they this season?

chaotic and pretty best friends

sidenote, why did they go see north high’s production?

oh my god ricky and nina are talking

SEBLOS IN THE BACKGROUND

i am taking what i can get

RICKYS FACE WITH THE CARD!!!!!!!!

my favorite part of the episode

his makeup looks very good

he looks very good

as @organic-guacamole said, he is very pretty

its been like three minutes and it already is so chaotic

yessss kourtney’s mom!!!

so howie and kourt are fine? gah since when?

“look for the shortest fork” mood

I CANNOT TAKE EJ SERIOUSLY HE LOOKS LIKE AN ANGRY BIRD

big bird ej comin at you

PORTWELL DATE

wait isnt this ejs last show? is he going to miss his last afterparty for a date?

true love bitches

GINA MY LOVE

“Is he with us?”

NORTH HIGH SET OUR BEST BOI ANTOINE ON FIRE APS GET READY

seb being a supportive boyfriend is everything i needed

jenny is frazzled

i love how all the techie turned actors are nervous at some point during the episode

REDLYN CONTENT

awww thats so cute love the callback!!!

ooo howie is here

love how the writers leave a cliffhanger and then close the book before it turns to tragedy with one line

mazzara and ej, thats it

jenn what

why is mike there?

that was so unnecessary like aren’t mike and jenn over?

LILY

“did we forget to build a moat around the school”

let ricky be single challenge

she just said “lol” i cant

props to ricky for keeping calm during the show after he saw mike and jenn

ah so lily is a child of divorce?

“lily scram”

RICKY AFTER THE CURTAIN OPENS WHY IS THIS FUNNY

STOP MAZZARA IS THE VOICE OVER

HE SOUNDS REALLY GOOD

how did ricky do that so fast-

put on gloves over the cast, makeup, and a mask?

i dont work with costumes

AMERICA EXPLAIN

The one scene we get from the show...

Yay Steph!!!!

“Big Red has not thrown up in twenty minutes” ashlyn’s little smile

“she heard wrong”

someone please explain how spotlighting the judge is a good idea it makes it seem like things went wrong

“Carlos is a seasoned professional” honey carlos is on the verge of a mental breakdown

“He says help

Communication

Seb translating for Carlos is beautiful dramatic, yes, but im right.

im so proud of them. they go from not talking for a week to seb being able to tell how carlos is feeling based off a stoic expression.

SOULMATE SHIT

IM SORRY NO BOP TO THE TOP CALLBACK

LIKE NONE

WHO WANTS TO RIOT WITH ME?!?!

wait so carlos goes from on the verge of a mental breakdown to full on performing and speaking?!?!?!? Speaking well too, not stumbling.

he looks so comfortable on stage when not even ten minutes ago he looked like he was going to vomit?

h e l p

ashlyn’s little laugh!

NINI IS A FORK IM LAUGHING THIS IS GREAT

big red lookin’ at his girl

ricky what are you doing?

ASHLYN AND GINA

I QUIT THEY’RE ADORABLE

GET IT KOURTNEY

howie’s little mouth drop

i cant with sebs costume i should not be laughing how is he able to do a kick line

ASHLYN MY LOVE

be our guest was enjoyable. it had a lot of moving parts. frankie and dara sounded really good. it’ll probably grow on me the more i listen to it.

is it just me or did be our guest lack some energy?

NATIALIE IS SO AGGRESSIVE

awww gina bb

portwell!!

“my mom sent me jordan fisher”

big red and ricky!!!

...what is big red doing? has he been faking sick?

“PLEASE EVERYONE REMAIN IN THE SAME ROLE YOU STARTED IN”

BEST LINE OF THE SEASON OMFG

alright what the hell is up with howie?!?

kourtney is so excited and then downer howie comes to ruin it

nina just write “thanks for being the best bro and glad youre not dead”

btw kourtney and gina look really good in their costumes

ASHLYN!!!!

SHES SO PRETTY THANK YOU

redlyn!!

gina and jamie!!!

he looks so proud

glad gina gets to see her family!

cute scene, jordan is a nice addition!

RICKY AND THE BOWL

julia lester is killing it with the vocals

big red is so in love

seb bouncing in the costume

“she’s never looked at me that way before” evil smirk

PORTWELL GLANCES

my heart fricking stopped when carlos went on stage

being early on your cue/missing is awful would highly not recommend

a bop to the top callback after this would have been perfect

those harmonies!!

THEYRE SO IN LOVE

ummm phone call?

CHIPS BIG SCENE

...why wasn’t seb cogsworth?

alright that was really good. everyone (even the backup) sounded really good. portwell rights! ashlyn rights! kowie rights! acting rights!

so mazzara and jamie?

Ashlyn is the perfect Belle fight me

“Eat it Zackey Roy!” how about “yay kiddos, nice job!”

ej’s little dance

“bc you’re ginas brother”

he is enamored by her it is adorable

EJ CASWELL RIGHTS

“hey, jordan fisher, would you like to f up one of three stableish ships in hsmtmts?” “sure, im in!”

ej!!!

aww hopefully he doesnt take the conversation too heart. they both like each other so much.

Portwell is so enjoyable to watch.

return of the bro

ej go get your girl dont worry about her brother please

SOMEONE TOUCHED THE PROPS

all hands on deck

“Can you just jump off something high”

I seem to remember Ricky falling from something high last episode, is that correct?

She tells this to one of her most UNSTABLE kids

Oh shit

Miss. Jenn

Wtf

like what the actually hell

look at the kids faces they’re heartbroken

Miss. Jenn why. You’re stressed about the show, but you’re not performing it. They are. They have to worry about lines and cues and pitches, not you. Miss. Jenn has literally gone at the kids this season. Opening night speech too Ash and Ricky, shutting Seb down, that comment. She has become obsessed with the Menkies and North High. It has gotten really bad. These kids have put everything into this show, even their relationships (both platonic and romantic) and that is how you repay them?

I didn’t think they would address this, I lost hope after last week but I am so glad they’re going too.

Someone send Seb after Miss. Jenn please, let him rip into her, he would do very well.

Miss. Jenn is supposed to be the role model and she just told a kid to jump off something high.

nina has been a godsend this episode, props to her!

haven’t been the biggest nini fan this season (off and on for me), but she was very behaved this episode.

if there is anything the east high kids are good at, it’s bullshitting their way out.

“aim for my face” character growth

I KNEW IT

LILY WHY HOW WHEN WHY

WTF THEY END THERE I CANNOT WITH CLIFF HANGERS

I liked the episode. Didn’t love it, but liked it. I really wish we got to see more acting, like we didn’t even see Big Red and E.J go on stage. Not even the iconic yellow dress. Some of the drama is so unnecessary, like why Mike and Jenn? What is with the Kourtney and Howie drama the writers insist on having, can’t they just be happy?

Besides the whole harness incident (burn that harness and mask it is causing so many problems) the production went very well, too well. This is East High we’re talking about.

Promo thoughts because what

oo they’re sneaking, maybe Big Red’s thingy

YES ASHLYN GETTING THE LOVE SHE DESERVES

oo Kowie confession?

portwell please be okay

what is up with carlos’ hair?

so seb, miss. jenn, and carlos scene? this has the potential to be very beautiful.

“It’s not over” not this again...

i’m thinking carlos and seb are going to talk to miss jenn.

Sidenote, if we do not get a good seblos scene I will riot.

Hopefully Miss. Jenn apologizes with a billion sorrys

rini you just broke up please dont get back together

im scared

if it is a scene where they close the book i will be very happy

Are we getting a flash forward scene? I’m pretty sure Miss. Jenn said Menkies aren’t till two plus weeks after the show.

We know based off the promo pics Ej and Gina are at the cast party, what went wrong?

Wait do we not get to see the finale of the show?

We better see the goddamn transformation

how does lily home and core four song fit in? im more curious about the lily one.

In conclusion, I am not ready for this to be over and the transformation needs to be sent to hell.

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calliopecalling · 3 years

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QOTS Rewatch - 1x06 - El Engaño Como la Regla

THIS EPISODE, MAN. So if you’d asked me before starting this rewatch what my favorite QOTS episodes were, I probably wouldn’t have named this one. I obviously loved the cave conversation (which it sort of seemed like all of season 5 was one big callback to) and knew it was an important moment in the series. But there isn’t quite the same explosiveness between them like we see in 1x02 or 1x05 and they get less screentime together than they do in 1x03 (other season 1 faves). On rewatch, though, I was so struck by HOW important this episode was for James in particular, and for Teresa and James’s relationship, and it makes me appreciate it on a whole new level. Basically I think this episode is James’s point of no return. And it even marks a kind of turning point for Teresa. Plus, the episode has almost all the best Jeresa qualities:

“adventure” i.e. high-stress situation

bickering

saving each other

Teresa being smart and impressing James

James trying to convince Teresa not to do something risky

Only thing it’s missing is James heart-eyes! His “why’d you turn around?” almost counts.

Ok SO.

This episode is a turning point. I’ve always thought of it as the moment James recognized her as his true equal--not just his charge or his mentee, but a partner in crime (literally, lolz). She reset the power balance, and the symmetry between him driving the car on the way to the delivery and her driving on their escape illustrates that nicely. But I’m realizing now how much else is going on here.

For one thing, the whole cave conversation isn’t just James lecturing Teresa about his worldview. It’s James being vulnerable to her--telling her more about himself. I’m not sure if he’s intentionally doing this to level the playing field, but that to me is the effect of it. She arrives on his figurative doorstep in Dallas and he already knows lots about her: whose girlfriend she was, what happened to him, who was after her, and that she had no family to speak of. He subsequently learned that she’d been a money-changer. And in the first few episodes, he sees her in quite a few compromising situations: getting manhandled by warehouse guards, sleeping, even peeing fercrissakes. But by a few episodes in he’s clearly recognized she’s “different” and in 1x05 he found himself attracted to her. So he’s gotta level the playing field a little bit. Because he can’t be attracted to someone he’s got so much power over!

Of course, she helps him level the playing field with her tacit understanding of her role in the organization vis-a-vis his. She suffers from no pretenses that she has any actual power here. But she can rebel in her quiet ways, by giving away as little as possible while still doing what she’s told. Teresa seems unafraid of being vulnerable, and you can’t take away the power of someone who’s not trying to hold onto it. Anyway, James already revealed a bit about himself in the last episode (the whole “I just want a few bricks” thing, and his chagrin at Eric killing the guy) and now he’s going to give her a little bit more. It’s still in the form of this faux-coaching, but it’s doing that in a way that also tells her something that’s actually pretty intensely personal about himself: that he lives in permanent darkness. So this is the first thing I find remarkable here and that I didn’t notice quite as clearly when I’ve watched it before. And then he says, “you know what I’m talking about.” You and I are similar, he seems to be saying.

In typical Teresa fashion, she doesn’t let on at all that she’s absorbing what he’s saying. She’s still giving him the silent treatment for “letting that man be murdered” (cue the incredible “married” fight over the volume of the radio, giffed above lol). She dispassionately argues with him about the cave but doesn’t make eye contact, only looking at him to say incredulously “you think I haven’t seen darkness?” At the end, when he says “you know what I’m talking about,” she doesn’t respond and seems like she’s ignoring him.

But she’s not ignoring him and we know that because after the bust, after they’ve both had to leap out of the parking garage and split up to run from the DEA and the cops closing in on them, she calls him and he tells her to go back to the warehouse without him and she almost does, but then she turns around and goes back for him, and then he asks her why and she says “I used the time I could see to get you out of the cave.”

And here’s the second thing that really struck me hard this time around. Teresa makes a very conscious decision to turn around and go back for James. She doesn’t do it out of instinct. She was heading back to the warehouse, James told her to, she was about to get on the on-ramp, but... she doesn’t. She decides to circle back for him. And not only that, but then she throws his own metaphor back at him when he asks her why.

What’s particularly striking about this to me is that it shows how much she was actually paying attention. I’ve always sort of thought of Teresa in season 1 as having been pretty checked out. James noticed her, was drawn to her, was quickly very focused on figuring her out, but it has always seemed to me that she was pretty preoccupied with other things--her grief, her trauma, trying to escape. But this decision to go back for him is revealing. She was paying attention to him. She was noticing him. And her callback to getting him out of the cave is an acknowledgment that she’d heard him say he was in darkness every time he closed his eyes, and not only did she understand what he was telling her, but she cares. And she considers him redeemable! The whole reason she could be so pissed off at James for letting Eric kill the man the night before was that she could even expect anything different from him.

It’s pretty great. She cares about him at this point and she shows him that when you care about someone, you help him. Of course he’s already helped her too by now--getting her through the airport ordeal, trying to coach her on how to approach Camila, etc.--but I think he’s told himself it’s just because he’s doing his job. But here comes this woman who shouldn’t by rights care about him, I mean she’s basically his captive!--and she shows him loyalty.

I was talking to @la-ermitana about this and she was like, oh my god, Teresa saved him first. Just like she was the first one to always move their relationship to the next level. She was the first one to consciously decide to go back for him, out of care for and loyalty to him, personally. And what she doesn’t realize --because she thought she was just trying to show him that it was possible to get out of the darkness, with help--is that she basically just cracked the James code. The way James looks at her when she tells him she was using the time she could see to get him out of the cave? He’s like--what the actual fuck is happening right now. Who is she? And from now on, he’s going to see her differently. He’s going to see her as someone he needs to not only help as part of his job, but protect, and for her own sake, not just out of duty. (Case in point: his face when Charger tells Camila she should sell Teresa to Epifanio for the $5 million she owes the Columbians.) I still don’t think he quite realizes it’s love, or going to be love. But he’s almost there. And she made it happen. As she does.

I just love this so much for them.

Meanwhile:

Teresa is still trying to team up with Brenda to get out. One possibility opens up in the form of an immigration lawyer she happens to deliver to. She just needs to find $90k.

She also tries to ask the priest at the neighborhood church if he can help her get back to Mexico. He denies that his church makes trips across the border and the smile she gives him is so full of masked pain. :(

It’s becoming annoying that Camila isn’t figuring out why all these problems keep happening with her shipments. It’s not all that believable to me that she wouldn’t by now have assumed that Batman ran right back to Epifanio and told him everything. I know she figures it out soon, but c’mon Camila...

Again, Teresa’s resourcefulness this episode is pretty cool -- how she quickly figured out how to hide from the cops in plain view (shedding the jacket, putting her hair up, hiding in the crowd of tourists, etc.).

We see James telling Kim she needs to go into hiding at his lakefront trailer. (Exactly what Guero should’ve done for Teresa, and didn’t.) Seems like this relationship is winding down. But he’s still trying to do the right thing by her.

Brenda basically repeats to Tony verbatim what James had said to Teresa earlier, in the car. That sometimes there will be things in life that if you let yourself care about, you won’t be able to forget, so you need to push them down. This is kinda gut-wrenching knowing the fates of Brenda and Tony. But this also I think further humanizes James to Teresa, who is listening to Brenda in the background.

Queenpin Visions:

At the very beginning, referring to one of the other mules who says she’s going out to California to be an actress: “You think she knows she’s lying to herself? Or do you think she actually still believes it? Sometimes we need lies to survive.”

Here’s my question. What’s the lie in this episode? Is James the one telling himself a lie--that there’s no way out of the darkness, so he might as well accept it? Or is Teresa’s conviction that there’s a way out the lie? I guess now that we know the end, I’m going to have to go with James was the one lying to himself. Teresa just had to go through her own phase of believing James’s lie before she came back around to her original truth.

#queen of the south #qots #qots s1 #1x06 #2021 rewatch #txt post #qots reaction post #qots meta #oooo this was a fun one #and these recaps really aren't getting shorter #are they #oops

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into-the-stratosphere · 3 years

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Sweeney Todd: Revisted

Lol I can’t post this on any of my other socials just yet because the official cast list hasn’t been posted, but my tumblr isn’t linked to my Instagram or Facebook or anything like that, so I felt I could safely post here without getting in trouble. Warning now that this is a LONG post because I overwrite a lot lol

If you’ve been following me a while, you might remember last spring I was supposed to be in a production of Sweeney Todd as a soloist/ensemble member. We got through about a month and a half of rehearsals before everything was shut down by Covid, but the company kept promising we would do the show once everything opened up again, just a little while longer and we’ll do it, we’re pushing for October instead of May, this is going to happen. Honestly, once we hit the school year and no updates had come, I thought this would have to be a show I shelved until an entirely new production came up- until April this year we got an email asking who was still interested in returning.

Somehow we had gotten approval to move forward with the show again after all, and we were being moved to a larger space to accommodate a larger audience to boot! But with the new dates and location, naturally some cast members had to step down from their roles due to conflicts. In fact, pretty much the entire main cast had to step down; our Sweeney had moved in October, our Beggar Woman wasn’t comfortable coming back to live theatre just yet, Mrs Lovett would be on her honeymoon during the new show dates, our main Johanna would be working a new job further away, a lot of our younger cast was going to college out of state, like our Anthony and I believe both Toby’s.

In the initial email we were told that if we were willing to return, we could keep our roles and not have to reaudition, but as roles opened up we were also given the option to audition for the new openings. Our understudy Johanna was returning, so I figured they would bump her up into the main role, and I hoped I could squeeze in and maybe get the understudy spot this year, since last year I hadn’t made the cut for Johanna at all. I picked my music (Soon from A Little Night Music if anyone was wondering) and my monologue (fairly certain they wanted monologues just to hear that we could do accents because the audition listing said they preferred we did our monologue in accent), and set to preparing again to hopefully have a shot at Johanna this year.

A friend I met doing virtual shows was also auditioning, and when she mentioned she heard the new director didn’t want to have any understudies for the main cast, I grew worried, remembering our understudy Johanna said she was returning. Since I didn’t know how the director would go about distributing promised roles regarding understudy positions, I continued to prepare to the best of my ability with the slim hope I might get Johanna, but that hope was fading with the knowledge of the former understudy’s return.

A few days before the audition however, she posted in our private group that she too would have to step down, as she had just gotten accepted into her dream school and would be out of state during the production’s run. Suddenly the grey area barring me from Johanna dissipated, and all I had to worry for now was the new auditioning pool- this was one of the first in person shows to open in our area since the lockdown, so there was bound to be a lot of new faces trying to get back into the game.

I went in on Sunday feeling far more prepared than I did last year (I almost didn’t audition last year because I had only just gotten my voice back from a horrible flu strain), and funnily enough, my friend I had met doing virtual shows had signed up for the same time bracket as me without either of us knowing. Entering the audition room, I immediately felt good; everyone had such a welcoming atmosphere, the director was friendly as could be, but I could also tell he was very professional. I performed the best I could, waited for my friend to finish her audition afterwards, then we went to go talk and catch up while desperately waiting to possibly get a callback.

We chatted for hours about theatre, our virtual theatre group, life, all while keeping a vigilant eye on the time for when that day’s auditions would end and calls would be made. Eventually we both decided to go home, wishing each other the best and hoping to see each other again at callbacks.

I was only halfway home when my phone rang; they loved my audition and wanted me to come in on Tuesday to read for Johanna at callbacks. I was so excited that I started crying behind the wheel, and from the way my phone was blowing up with messages from my friend, I knew she had gotten a callback as well.

Luckily they asked me to prepare Green Finch and Linnet Bird for the callback, because I have known the song for about two years now- I had put it in my audition book about a month before my Sydney trip in 2019, and the hope to perform it in the original production had been the reason I auditioned in 2020 in the first place. I found out there was two other girls they were looking at for Johanna, so I worried day and night that what if they already knew the song too, what if their resumes were better than mine, what if I cracked, what if, what if, what if…

Tuesday came and I could only hope I’d get another burst of energy after a long day at work. I showed up about forty five minutes early (the drive usually took about half an hour, but the traffic had been forgiving), hearing snippets of the Anthony’s and Beggar Woman’s upstairs, and then the first of the other two Johanna’s showed up. She was so nice, and with time the second Johanna showed up. We all chatted as the Sweeney’s, and Beggar Woman’s came down, and soon enough, they were calling the Johanna’s to head upstairs.

The Anthony’s were still upstairs when we got there, certainly so we could read our audition scenes together. The director explained we’d be singing our song first (ALL of Green Finch, since there’s no good natural spot to stop in the song), and then taking turns reading with both Anthony’s. Since I volunteered to go first, the director said he’d let me go a second time after the other two girls, that way I could adjust any slip ups since I was basically test running the sound and space for the other two girls. The speaker was as loud as it could go, but once I started singing I quickly realized that I drowned out the music and couldn’t hear my accompaniment anymore, so I relied on my muscle memory of the flow of the song and my internal meter to get me through to the end. I only messed up on the trill before the final verse, it was so much longer than I anticipated, but I knew I’d be able to fix that after hearing the other two girls. Turns out the other two had only started looking at the song once they got called back, so I had an edge on having it memorized, but once I heard their voices I grew worried because they both had such beautiful tones, trying to react quickly to when they missed something in the music. I went through my second time, correcting my mistake with the trill (which all three of us made the same mistake there) and tweaking a few small things to my blocking, and then we were given a scene to read with the Anthony’s.

We would all get a turn with both Anthony’s to get a sense of chemistry, as well so we could all make adjustments (the director reminded us the context of the scene we were reading after we all finished with the first Anthony, and guided us on a better direction to what Johanna would be feeling in that moment for our second time through). I felt I really connected well with both Anthony’s, familiar with the scene and story so I wouldn’t have to be buried in my lines. It was during our read-throughs that I realized the other two Johanna’s were likely a few years older than me based on how they played her; more mature, more sure of themselves. I finished my second read-through, hopefully keeping to the context of the scene better than my first run-through, and we were all told that we could head home, that we’d be hearing from them in a day or two regarding final casting. Before I hit the door, the director paused me, asking if I still had my original script from the prior production. Heart pounding at the implications his question could be loaded with, I told them I did, and in fact I had it with me. “It felt like good luck to bring it,” I said, and they all laughed with me at lugging around a four hundred page script for luck.

When we got downstairs, the Johanna I was particularly worried about asked me if I studied opera, which I admitted I did have an associates degree for music. We all talked a while longer before they all headed out, and I sought my friend in the lobby to confide in her; I think I’ve got Johanna.

After talking with her a bit about our auditions, explaining how I thought I had an edge, I headed home, hardly able to sleep as I picked my audition apart in my head and awaited some kind of phone call.

The next day at work I jumped every time my phone buzzed, waiting to see if it was a call. When I was upstairs heating up my lunch, my friend asked if I had heard anything yet, mentioning how she and our Judge thought the director would start making calls after work. I assented- it made sense, plus it’s so much better to actually be able to receive the call than to come back to a voicemail about your casting.

As I waited in the hall for someone, my phone started buzzing with a call, and my heart rate shot up. It was still so early in the afternoon, not quite 3:30, and with everything I had knew was good about my audition, I allowed myself a flicker of hope. I knew I had a few minutes, so I quickly answered- and there was our director on the other side.

“Hi, is this Shelby? This is (director), from Sweeney Todd.” I responded back, asking how he was, trying not to lose my nerve. “I’m great, thanks for asking. We’re just starting to call everyone about casting, and we were just so impressed with your auditions, your first and your callback; we were interested if you’d be willing to accept the role of Johanna?”

I was trying not to cry on the phone as I excitedly responded YES, I would LOVE to play Johanna- I had wanted to play Johanna for a year and a half at this point, and here was my moment at last. After a few more logistical questions, he bid me a good day and hung up to call the rest of the main cast. I was just bubbling over with excitement, the first thing I did was message my friend that I’d gotten Johanna- she had found out the night before that she was going to be the Beggar Woman since she stayed late at callbacks to discuss a miscommunication with the director (she was accidentally twenty minutes late because her email had the wrong callback time listed, and when the director was made aware, she asked if she could sing again, and he said “we don’t need you to, we saw all we needed your first time through- you ARE the Beggar Woman”), then I messaged our Judge Turpin, who was one of the other few returning cast members.

My coworkers were all so excited for me, asking me when the show was going to be, that they’d all make a group to go see it together. When I got home, I tricked my parents into thinking I was still nervous about casting, saying “I don’t know, I’m just nervous… I mean, my first kiss is going to be on stage.” And when it clicked that I had gotten the part, my mom screamed and my dad laughed at my mischievousness at tricking both of them, congratulating me.

I’m still waiting on the go-ahead so I can post about this on my main socials, but I’ve just been so excited that I had to find a way to post it secretly somewhere, just so I wouldn’t burst at the seams holding this in. Our first rehearsal is in August, so my rehearsal stories series will be returning once those start (I theorized there’s a gap between auditions and first rehearsals because the cast has to be vaccinated for legal reasons, so the handful that aren’t can have time to get their vaccines).

For now, I get to wonder who my other fellow cast mates are, who my Anthony will be. Until then, if I cannot fly, let me sing 🕊 -Johanna (Shelby)

#long post #audition stories #sweeney todd #johanna barker #sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street #personal post #dream roles #dream shows #seriously long post though I don’t know how to not overwrite lol #into-the-stratosphere #auditions #tldr: was ensemble in Sweeney last year- postponed by lockdown- approved to run October this year- most of the main cast couldn’t return-#-including both main and understudy Johanna’s- I audition and get called back- I worry because the other two girls are really good but I-#-still think I might have Johanna- next day get a call from the director and I’m right I have Johanna! rehearsal stories will start again 💙

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popculturebuffet · 3 years

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Lilo and Stitch Crossover Arc: “Rufus” (Kim Possible) Better and Worse (Paid for by WeirdKev27)

Aloha all you happy people! It’s back to Kauai for the third of my look at LIlo and Stitch’s crossover episodes! This retrospective was made possible by WeirdKev27, who had the idea for it and paid for me to review these episodes. You too can buy reviews for only 5 bucks a pop. Just go to my ask, Direct Messages or discord.

Now with my plugging out of the way, this one, out of all four is the one I looked forward to the most, and out of the four shows in this crossoverathon to make the trip to the Kauai, this one is hands down my faviorite.

Kim Possible was just damn good and having rewatched a handful of episodes and the movie (Easily one of my faviorite Disney movies and the best DCOM, I will not back down on either), I can say it holds up every bit as good as it did in the early 2000′s. Frankly like Danny Phantom i’m surprised I never thought to get to it till now. But no time like the present: The show proper is a fun super spy sendup, but still feels unique: Instead of i’ts Teen Superspy working for some knockoff of MI6 or S.H.I.E.L.D., Kim is self employed, simply helping people because it’s the right thign to do and not for any reward with the help of her bumbling but loveable sidekick and future boyfriend Ron, though the romance angle wasn’t overplayed with the two, just hinted at here and there, enough to make it plausable for Ron to realize he has feelings in the movie and for Kim to return them and frankly it’s probably the best handled “Friends to lovers’ plot i’ve seen in a children’s cartoon. I”ll get more into that if I hit my stretch goal for it on patreon, more on that at the end of the review, but while it has no baring on this review I still felt it worth noting as that trope is NOT easy to pull off.

Point is, the show was smart, funny, engaging and had two great characters, a tremendously talented voice cast, and more anchoring it. It was a treasured part of my adolsence. It also had one of the only succesful “Save our show” campagins from fans i’ve ever seen. Despite So The Drama having been written as a finale and having reached Disney’s episode count, fan demand for a fourth season was so incredibly high we got one and it’s to this day one of the very few Disney shows to live past three seasons as a result. The show is in full on Disney Plus, along with the movie, which I HIGHLY recommend and hope I get to talk about, and the recent live action remake movie which .. is not bad. Not GREAT but the leads do make a good kim and ron, paticuarlly my boy Sean Gambone as Ron, and for a live action remake it really does get the spirit of the show.

But obviously we’re not here to talk about the show proper, though I REALLY want to now, but instead it’s crossover. So far the crossovers for Lilo and Stitch have been, much like said live action remake, OKAY, but nothing amazing, often shoving in sideplots related to Lilo and Stitch proper we didn’t need, forced morals and not really having a good amount of character intraction. The good news is this crossover DOES fix a lot of that.. the bad is that it also has some new problems, and still falls into some of the same traps the other episodes have. See what I mean with the full review under the cut!

We open at night, with Lilo and Stitch playing hide and seek. Adorably though Sttich dosen’t quite get the hang of it and proudly announces where he is. However things are quickly interupted when he’s kidnaped by a mystery ship out of the blue. It’s a good hook to start with, leaving us wondering who it could be...

And thus, if you hadn’t gone into this episode knwoing it was a crossover, giving us a hell of a reveal with a cut to Dr. Drakken being the one to kidnap stitch!

Look I love this Doofus. He’s easily one of John DiMaggio’s best roles, up there with Jake and Bender, and the one along with Bender that cemented his career. as one of voice acting’s finest. He’s just so loveably incompetent, over the top and quick to bicker with Sheego, which leads to some of the funneist moments in his home series as she’d either skewer him good or he’d shove his boot in his mouth and help her point instead of his own. He’s just such a great character and he not only fits neatly into Lilo and Stitch’s world, but the writers clearly get him perfectly. We get a hilarious bit where, fed up with Hamsterviel, who he’s teamed up with, he simply fakes the radio going out, adjusting the dials purposfully to make it come in buggy something I GUARANTEE he put in for SHeego and I gurantee she saw right through. His plan is to create a clone army of Stiches.. meaning Hamsterviel’s big evil plan.. is a copy of someone else’s.

Lilo goes to Jumb and Pleakly, the latter of whom has been collecting magazines adorably. Lilo plans to go after Stitch but Jumba says she can’t go on dangerous missions without him and to get a professional and this part.. does not work for me. Most of the time Jumba ENABLES Lilo’s behaviors and while not wanting an 8 year old to run out into the night is a good call, he also suggests getting help.. instead of you know GOING WITH HER WHEN IT’S LIGHT. It sounds more like Nani’s idea... it fits her more to not want Lilo to run out and to want to get help versus Jumba whose admant about keeping secrecy yet very lax on things, and you know would BE concerned that his prized creation was suddenly stolen and actually think about it. He’s just so horribly out of character it hurts.

And Nani’s absence really hurts the episode. See the last two, as much as I missed the lovely and talented Tia Carrere’s presence, didn’t really need her, though still could’ve included her: she could’ve made a cameo at the start since Lilo was there to visit her and she woul’dve made a better target for Spats than trudy, with Oscar fighting Jumba instead, allowing us some crossover interactions instead of having Jumba argue with a random asshole the episode wrote in. But it’s minor stuff. Here though? Her being the one to tell Lilo not to go would’ve made more sense: She’s protective by nature, and while she’s let go more since the movie, it’d make sense for her NOT to want Lilo to blindly chase after someone who beat stitch of all beings, as well as for her ot be the one to later tell Kim not to let lilo be involved. It’d be stronger coming from her sister and surrogate mother than Pleakly and it would’ve been a better arc to have Nani let Lilo off the leash so to speak and accept she needed to save kim. Instead she’s just gone for no reason and Jumba is grosly out of character and i’m disapointed.

That said the setup is the best and most intergrated so far: Pleakly sees an article about kim so he reaches out to her via a message on her site, while Lilo is stubborn about not being help.. obnoxiously so to the point it hurts the episode. While her being inscure about someone else saving Sttich would be fine, the episode never adresses that and instead just has her say she can because shut pu instead of accepting help. The episode would’ve flowed better if instead she accepted kim but Nani had Kim push her away, and thus create more problems. More on that in a bit.

But as I said this setup is great: it uses BOTH shows for once isntead of feeling like the first two, and honestly the next one judging by the blurb on the wiki, where its just “Hey x character visits Kauai”, here it blends both: The two main villians team up, and Kim is logically called for help since that’s what she does and they don’t want to risk lilo’s saftey. It’s good stuff.

So our other heroes enter the episode, on a ritzy jet as Kim’s dad had an old college friend with an airline. I admit the episode weirdly downplays Kim’s penchant for getting rides, getting a helicopter that appears to be a touring one and getting this one via her dad instead of the usual person who owes her a favor. IT was a neat part of her character: that she got help from people she already helped on adventure’s we hadn’t seen to establish she can’t drive herself yet and to show she’s an experinced heroine with a lot of history before the show started. I also like how a handful of episodes after season 1 had returns from people we HAD seen before or linked to them, a clever way of having callbacks.

It’s simple stuff Kim is ready for the wrold saving mision and ron hopes to get a vacation in. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

So the next day Lilo tries to go it solo but is spotted before she can leave, while Pleakly has built a.. photo colloage of Kim’s face on the wall...

... no wait i’m getting paid for this. Nevermind.

It is funny as it is unsettling though and Kim arrives and Pleakly faints.. Ron also arrives doing fake kung fu moves. This episode gets ron about half right... they overdo it a bit on the shenanigans, but Will Freidle’s natural charm and talent mean that even standard ron bits coughed up by a cat onto a page and used for this script still work simply because he’s that good at delivery.

We also get the who’s on first bit you all knew was coming as Kim asking what’s the Sitch confuses lilo and i’ts .. pretty funny. Again you could see it coming from a mile away, but Daveigh Chase and Christy Carlson Ramano really sell the hell out of it and we get a nice runner after of Kim misprouncing his name and trying NOT to say her usual catchphrase.

She also gets filled in on the alien thing... and while she admits i’ts a lot to swallow, she also admits she’s seen weirder. And given this episode would, by airdate (ignoring the one for So the Drama as that aired before the last batch of season 3 episodes but continuity wise takes place between seasons 3 and 4), take place around the same time as the season 3 intended finale “Team Impossible”, by this point she’s seen vengeful fishteens mutated by a horrifying summer camp, a rogue gentecist who basis her crimes against nature on a beanie baby knockoff, magical monkey based kung fu, a magican egyptian amulet, killer robot’s resembling teenage girls, a body swap episode, a plan using a barcode to destroy the internet, an attack on canada, a giant poodle, a complicated time travel plot, a trucker with a mullet, her sidekick getting turned into a surprisingly competent supervillian, and draken’s plan to use his rap career to promote brainwashing shampoo. And that’s just a handful of the things I was reminded of on the episode list. So yeah, this isn’t THAT much of a stretch. Oh and lest you think Kim never encountered aliens the series finale was an alien invasion by aliens Draken had pissed off earlier in the season. Suprised Lilo didn’t you know have Stitch and the family army pitch in. Maybe Leory and Stitch was going on at the same time?

Point is she’s in but goes with Pleakly in trying to keep Lilo out of it. And here’s yet another place the episode missteps: Kim’s REALLY patronizing to Lilo, treating her like she can’t do anything and later ignoring her advice when she brings up the current later, something that ends up getting Kim caught. The latter part especially bugs me since Kim normally listens to her clients pretty well, and had she doubted him could’ve at least asked Waid since she contacts him in the same scene. Speaking of which THAT’S why I feel her patronizing “not now kiddo” atittude dosen’t work: her spy master IS a child, her brothers have helped out multiple times, and the incident I mentioned from where she met her younger cousin who idolized her at an old west town was understandable: Her cousin was getting into dangerous stuff and throwing herself out there recklessly with no regards to her own saftey and impeding the mission with her well meant antics. Lilo.. knows who their looking for, knows the island well, and knows stitch’s weaknesses. And she goes from being annoyingly hostlile to kim to helpful, so it makes kim even more obnoxious for not accepting said help. It’s just.. draining as when this part of the plot ISN’T in play, Kim is fine. She’s her usual self.. not AS well written as the parent show, a bit too reliant on her catchphrases, but still not half bad and Christy Carlson Romanao, like Fredle helps paper over the weaker bits of the script. She’s not even out of character in her actions, as she does have a tendency to think she knows everything or undereistmate people.. the problem is it’s written poorly enough she comes across as insufferable, and unlike the show, where she actually learned something here.. she just learns to work as a team? When she does on a regular basis with Wade and Ron?

It’s just so frustrating because they almost had it just right, but instead just had to try and put some half assed moral about teamwork in there. They broke from the formula of having an experiment of the week but they still just HAD to keep to their own formula. And look Kim Possible has it’s own formula.. but it used that to great effect, often using the episode’s plot to shake it up in fun ways, and the plots were still diffrent enough and the villians bold and intrestin genough that it didn’t grate. This is starting to grate. And I do remember good and intresting episodes of the show.. but i’m starting tor ealize why I don’t remember NEARLY as much of Lilo and Stitch as I do the other shows it’s crossing over with: it’s so bolted to the formula they all just sorta blend together. It’s really fucking disheartning to realize something you loved so damn much as a kid just.. isn’t as good as you remember. And with these other shows.. I don’t have that as much. I accept proud family’s fault, Jake Long actually seems MORE intresting than it was at the time, and rewatching kim possible it’s excellent, same with recess coming up. I really need to watch more Recess. The most disheartining thing about this arc is the crossover just shows how BETTER the other shows were. Lilo and Stitch wasn’t a BAD show, and it isn’t here.. but it’s a mediroce one. it has a good premise. but it feels like they just don’t break away from the premise enough. This just... hurts a lot to type and realize. I really loved this show and movie as a kid and while the movie likely still holds up this.. this just dosen’t.

I need a moment... i’m breaking open the glass case containing my emergency patrick stewart clip excuse me...

youtube

That.. I needed that.

So before the bicker sisters can head off, we get our goofy comedy subplot: Jumba thinks Rufus is one of his experiments, one that could destroy the universe if not cancel and is highly unstable. As for why this one wouldn’t of worked out, I get why: it’s TOO powerful. Stitch is a weapon of mass distruction in a cuddly package, but he’s also easily deployable, kind of like Wolverine if he was in the body of a cartoon mascot. Having the THREAT of destroying ap lanet is fine and good for the long term but it does you no good if you can’t control it and i’td just destroy you too.

So he and Pleakly try to steal rufus without telling Ron why after Ron naturlaly refuses to sel land a chase insues. So while the boys and gender fluid person have their comedy plot, the girls head to where stitch was taken and find Draken’s glove.... they know it’s his because he put a note saying “return to dr. draken, his mother gave it to him”. That’s just.. fucking precious. And entirely in character. So kim aranges a ride, and dives into the ocean, but finds lilo in her parachute, and tries to send her back despite LIlo offering valuable advice both about the area , the current I mentioned earlier, and about stitch, i.e. Draken’s base is underwater (something Kim didn’t realize which feels odd for her), because Stitch can’t swim, something I genuinely forgot.

So while Kim sends Lilo back, or rather intercut with that but I choose to compress plots for my own convinence we cut back to Drakken and Shego. And I WAS worried that Shego wouldn’t show up, she wasn’t in the synopsis or anything and was delighted to find that nope she’s here. Drakken just isn’t the same without her.. I mean I liked the recurring subplot in season 4 where other villians would break her out, that was great, but in the end the two need each other. I may not ship them romantically but as a comedy team one just needs the other: Drakken needs Shego to cut down his ego and Shego needs someone to snark at and complain about. Sullivan and DiMaggio just had perfect chemistry and it’s easy to see why Drakken and Shego went from just another part of the Rogue’s Gallery to Kim’s arch enemies.

Which is why I am sad Gantu and 625 don’t show up for this one. I mean I can buy it: Hamsterviel likely is doing this on the sly to see if he can find a better minon, but the two sets of villians have similar dynamics and i’d love to see Shego and 625 dunk on their bosses together. It’s a really big missed opportunity but I do get it as they may of just nto been able to fit the two together or it may of been hard to block a lot of scenes iwth the human sized drakken and the giant sized gantu. So unlike a lot of missed opportunites in the other episodes, this one I at least can understand.

We get some GREAT banter with the two though. Out of the four guest characters in this one the crew really got Drakken and Shego down and the two bicker like any episode of Kim Possible, with Shego pointing out the massive bill on Stitch’s cage and how Drakken’s tried cloning about five times now and it’s never worked, and of course how he’s 50 50 splitting with a hamster bellow his station. Seriously why get rid of Gantu and 625 but keep the annoying rodent, I don’t get you episode.

Of course while they quack quack bicker bicker Stitch escapes and Shego gives chase. Sadly we don’t get a fight between the two like we did with Jake, another missed opprotunity but Stitch getting out of her grasp by licking her is objectively funny. Stitch finds he’s underwater though and gets recaptured.

Kim gets captured for the first time shortly after as the current caught her, but luckily she has kimunicator gloves and calls waid to call ron. Meanwhile Ron finally catches rufus back and Jumba explains the situation.. but Ron understandably dosen’t want to give up his buddy especially since Rufus has shown no signs of being a planet killer before. He’s not mooncake... althought i do think those two could hang. God now I just want a final space kim possible crossover to wash this out of my mouth.

So it’s down to Lilo, the really not all that ambigiously gay their pretty darn gay duo, and Ron to save the day. Lilo finally gets to do what she kept asking kim to do: use jumbas hot rod car spaceship thing to go down under the sea, and they send Lilo and Rufus in since hteir small enough to get in and suriive the pressures. Our heroes arrive and Drakken is nonplussed.. only for Lilo to prove WHY she can keep an alien in line by freeing stitch from teh leash drakken has him on using kim’s grapple gun, and then frees kim. The good guys win and the bad guys loose and the base starts to self destruct.. eh they’ll be fine. They still have the movie to get to.

So time for the wrap up: Stitch sniffs Rufus and confirms what the audience knew... that he’s a naked mole rat not an experiment. Which didn’t make sense to begin with for either show: Jumba’s archive should’ve been able to scan him or something (And if not he could build something to do that), and Kim Possible not only implied from day one Ron had Rufus a while, long before the rain of the pods, but A Stitch in Time outright confirms Ron bought him years ago in middle school. It just makes no sense and while it thankfully dosen’t take up a ton of the episode it still takes up too much.

But with that our heroes prepare to part on good terms but Pleakly decides to celebrate with Luau. Kim’s repsonse “Well I can do anything...”

And we get a gratuitous luau sequence! I do love a job that allows me to type the phrase “Gratuitous Luau Sequence’ They clearly ran short and we just get a good minute of everyone doing hula dances for no reason. I mean.. you could’ve done a quick gag with the experiment who was mistaken for Rufus... who I now realize given the finale was befriended by someone. I’m headcanoning now Kim and Ron came back for that one and Kim had him sent to space as part of one her dad’s projects where he and earth would be safer and he could help with space missions or something.

Final Thoughts: As you could tell I had mixed thoughts. As a crossover this melded things better, had a more original plot and the actors from Kim Possible brought their a-game.. but once again some disapointing characteteriztion and downright stupid decisions really let the episode down. These episodes just depress me every time and I’m looking forward to being done.. which given how excited I was going into this.. yeah. Like all of these despite their flaws I recommend checking it out if you like Kim Possible, if nothing else than for some extra drakken shego banter but.. keep your expectations low.

Next Time on Kim Possible: A team of spiteful assholes who are in a way repsonsible for Kim’s Career try to shut her down. It’s the intended finale episode outisde of hte movie people buckle up.. or you would if I was doing any of these. Though I should do “Team IMpossible” at some point.

On the finale of these crossovers: The Recess Gang are the final visitors to Kuai as Lilo must find and stop a lazy monster... no i’m not guest starring too.

Tommorow: Another kev one this time by patreon as I put two similar episodes of a show or franchise against each other and ask “Who Did It Better?” This time it’s two episodes of Celebrity Death Match, original versus revivial may the original.. probably win.

If you liked this review, please consider supporting my patreon, YOU CAN FIND THE LINK TO IT HERE. For just 2 bucks a month you get access to my discord, to pick a short each time I do one of my shortstravaganzas, and acess to my Patreon exclusive reviews! Next month I intend to do one for the show whose crossover gets the most likes within a week of it’s relase. Proud Family has already passed American Dragon so you have a week to get it ahed. And if you like Kim Possible, help me reach my 25 dollar stretch goal! At that i’ll review So The Drama, along with the Recess and Proud Family Movies. So check it out and i’ll see you at the next rainbow.

#lilo and stitch the series #lilo and stitch #kim possible #ron stoppable #doctor drakken #shego #Lilo Pelekai #Stitch #experment 626 #jumba jookiba

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