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maya-matlin · 2 months

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Name a show (or two or three!) that you once loved but now kind of can't stand? (Sadly, Gilmore Girls tops that list for me---please don't hate me!)

On a brighter note, which 1-2 shows did you once dislike but now love?

Name 1-2 ships that you once loved but grew to dislike

Name 1-2 ships that you once disliked but now love :)

Shows I once loved but now can't stand: (I promise I don't hate you!)

1.) Riverdale obviously tops the list. I genuinely think the first season was good and still enjoyed parts of seasons 2 and 3, but at a certain point the writers' resentment of the fans and careless writing was practically slapping me in the face. It wasn't just that Betty and Jughead were broken up, though that didn't help. It was as though no one, the creator of the show included, was aware of what made the show popular in the first place. The entirety of the time jump years were insulting, with the last two seasons being particularly bad. Rather than owning up to their failure, they literally switched up the genre, blew up the original universe, and sent the "characters" back in time. It's going to be a very long time before I can think too hard about Riverdale without feeling the bile coming up in my throat.

2.) 13 Reasons Why. I still think the first two seasons are overall pretty good in spite of some questionable choices and the disturbing need to be so graphic in the name of getting their points across. But by the end, it went from being a show about a group of kids brought together by the same shared experience, the suicide of Hannah Baker, to a show that attempted to humanize rapists.

3.) Gossip Girl lost me by the end. I feel like with time, so much of the joy was drained from the show. It was replaced by the inevitability that the elite would always be on top and that the only way to earn anyone's respect is to throw away your morality. And even then, this only works out if you're a man. In the case of someone like Jenny Humphrey, you end up being banished forever for getting taken advantage of by the town serial rapist. And the sole remaining bright spot of the show, the love story between Dan and Blair, was trashed to go back to the original couples.

Shows that I once disliked but now love:

1.) This isn't totally accurate, but I remember thinking that Friends was so overrated based on seeing only a handful of episodes. At the time, it was everywhere. There were board games, best of DVD's, card games, t-shirts, soundtracks, etc. I just didn't get the appeal. Now, I totally do. While I agree that aspects of the show didn't age perfectly and I actively dislike one of the main two ships, Ross/Rachel, Friends is now one of my comfort show and one of my all time favorites.

Honestly, that's about it. I can't think of another show.

Couples that I once loved but grew to dislike:

1.) Chuck and Blair (Gossip Girl). When I first watched the show as a teenager, these two were my favorite couple. At least at first. Now, I genuinely don't know what I saw in them. I mainly enjoyed the chemistry and the back and forth during the first season with Chuck pining and Blair being a first choice. By the second season, I was already over the mind games. Then after that, all hell broke loose.

2.) Johnny and Alli. I feel like I've gone through different phases with these two, each one of them ending with the realization that actually, their relationship was even more horrifying that I'd realized. In my defense, I was literally Alli's age during season 8. I liked seeing the smart, rebellious girl pursuing and trying to tame the unattainable, secretly smart, bad boy. I liked seeing Johnny's softness around Alli even though the last thing he wanted to do was admit he could have real feelings for someone so much younger. But later, I obviously realized what a massive asshole Johnny was. Having genuine feelings and viewing Alli as "different" than other girls meant absolutely nothing considering so many of his interactions with Alli came across as emotionally abusive, culminating with him sharing pictures of her 14/15 year old naked body with his equally older friend. Johnny didn't want to show any weakness or vulnerability, and he took all of his hang ups out on Alli. Sickening.

Couples that I once disliked but now love:

1.) Sav and Holly J. The first time I watched season 10, I was mad about their relationship. At the time, I was much more into Sav/Anya and Declan/Holly J. I couldn't get past the idea of the two characters with their first loves, particularly Anya being betrayed by her best friend and her ex-boyfriend, even though Anya herself was never that bothered by it. But through multiple rewatches, they've become one of my favorite couples on the show. They were so sweet and healthy. The fact their previous relationships were treated as something ultra serious that just HAD to work out makes Holly J and Sav basically just feeling things out with each other that much more refreshing.

2.) Mia and Nicholas (The Princess Diaries 2). I was a huge fan of the first movie. I never even read the book series. All I knew was that Michael was the perfect boyfriend for Mia and no one could possibly compete with that. When I saw the second movie in theaters and Mia ended up with someone totally new with Michael not even being a consideration, I was furious. I think it took me years to watch the second movie again, even though I owned the first one on DVD. A few years ago, I revisited both movies and was blown away by how much better Mia and Nicholas worked for me than Mia and Michael. While Mia's relationship with Michael was sweet as a first love, teen relationship, I feel like Mia really connected with Nicholas as a woman. They had so much passion and surprisingly, things in common. They challenged each other and lifted each other up, and it's so easy to imagine them living happily ever after in royal harmony.

#mayamatlinscello #Long post

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alaffy · 10 months

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Riverdale, Ep. 7x14 - Archie: The Musical (spoilers)

Okay, first off, everyone needs to check this out. This is the epitome of it's so bad it's good. And, to be honest, I won't be doing much of a recap, because I don't think I can. And, I'm not going to lie, that last song did choke me up a bit. Even though my joy at watching this show has lessened over the season, I still loved it at one point. And it is kind of sad that these characters are about to go away.

So, this is just going to be really brief. Kevin has been told that he can write a original musical for the school performance. Jughead, Reggie, and Fangs check out almost immediately. But it's this thing were, as the songs are sung, characters realize more about themselves.

Toni and Cheryl sing this love song, but when they find out that it won't be in the musical, they decide not to take part because they don't want to hide anymore.

Archie (and my God is KJ great in this episode) realizes that he doesn't know what he wants in life. And, no, it's not a choice between Betty and Veronica. He wants to decide between basketball and poetry. He leaves the musical and swears off kissing anyone for awhile. Then, he tells Frank he's not going to play basketball anymore as he wants to work on his poetry. Frank says Archie will regret this (no, I'm sure that will be us).

Betty and Veronica hate the fact that their role is reduced to wanting Archie. Veronica has Cole Porter write a song about them (seriously, won't use Castro's name; but will drag Porter through the mud). Veronica admits that she kissed Archie to Betty, which leads to them realizing that what they have right now is more important than Archie. Then they sing the song and have a moment. They wonder what this means...at which point Archie literally bursts in to tell them he won't be kissing anyone for awhile; basically, clearing their way to pound town. Look I really don't think it will happen, but honestly if the show ended with them together I could live with this.

Meanwhile, Kevin parents are apparently fighting (oh, yeah, Kevin's mom finally makes an appearance) and then he learns they're getting a divorce just as he finds out his musical won't be used. Kevin takes it out on the cast, snapping about their criticisms. I kind of feel like this was addressed to the audience. And let me take a moment to be honest here. Are there times that some fans have taking their criticisms too far? Absolutely. And normally I support the writers, because I do believe that there are people that don't understand the difference between criticism and being an asshole. But some of the comments or behaviors I've seen from some of the writers, like I don't think they really thought about the fact that they are adults who may be addressing a younger audience. Look, all I'm saying is that maybe some people need to consider their behavior on both sides. But I digress.

Anyway, that's really it for this episode.

#archie andrews #kevin keller #clay walker #betty cooper #veronica lodge #cheryl blossom #toni topaz #reggie mantle #fangs fogerty #jughead jones

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i-know-you-can · 2 years

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One of the (many) things that annoy me this season is how they tease us with Bughead crumbs to keep us invested but never more than one episode in a row. They give us Tabitha in Rivervale being jealous of Betty and then nothing, they give us Bughead making out to save the universe and everyone forgets what happened and we go back to Riverdale. They give us Bughead working together for an episode and Jughead getting a flash of their “best of” moments but it’s never followed up on. Now in this last ep we have Ethel yell at writer!Jughead about still loving Betty and again I suppose next ep we get nothing (though at least this was Jughead in a different universe who may need to face Ethel’s wrath there).

I have no doubts of Bughead being endgame and I’m not oppose to these crumbs but it’s annoying that they keep giving us these hints just to then pretend they didn’t.

#bughead #idk what this post is #just some random bitching #don't renew my bughead addiction every few weeks if you can't keep it up #but also do #give me all the crumbs

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findyourrp · 1 month

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Hi all,

I am a Female 21+ literate, para to multi para discord writer looking for fxm - me writing as female.

I'm in need of a long term writing partner for the verses of the following:

•The Vampire Diaries - Delena/Stelena

•Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir - all the Adrien/Marinette - Ladybug/Cat Noir

▪︎Chilling adventures of Sabrina - Nabrina

▪︎Riverdale - Bughead/Barchie

▪︎Digimon - Kari/TK or Davis

Please.. please!

No ghosting. I have had 6 partners all ghost me and leave over the last 4 months and I just would like someone to stick around.

I understand real life and getting busy, I am very patient.

Themes: Action, fluff, angst, Aged up for future themes, story based, we can talk over other themes and what they can include.

I use Discord and would prefer a server together to keep the writing in one place. Please, no ghosting. This happens too often. Please be responsive and communitive! I am not expecting a response every day, I understand real life. Do not like this post if you are not going to respond or do not have time.

Like this post if you're interested, and I'll reach out 🫶❤️

#rp finder #18+ rp #fandom rp #fandom roleplay #tvd rp #riverdale rp #digmon rp #chilling adventures of sabrina rp #mlb rp

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darkrpfinder · 2 months

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Hi all,

I am a Female 21+ literate, para to multi para discord writer looking for fxm - me writing as female.

I'm in need of a long term writing partner for the verses of the following:

•The Vampire Diaries - Delena/Stelena

•Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir - all the Adrien/Marinette - Ladybug/Cat Noir

•Chilling adventures of Sabrina - Nabrina

▪︎Riverdale - Bughead/Barchie

▪︎Digimon - Kari/TK or Davis

Please.. please!

No ghosting. I have had 6 partners all ghost me and leave over the last 4 months and I just would like someone to stick around.

I understand real life and getting busy, I am very patient.

Themes: Action, fluff, angst, Aged up for future themes, story based, we can talk over other themes and what they can include.

Like this post if you're interested, and I'll reach out🫶❤️

#vampire diaries rp #vampire diaries roleplay #miraculous ladybug rp #miraculous ladybug roleplay #chilling adventures of sabrina rp #chilling adventures of sabrina roleplay #riverdale roleplay #riverdale rp #digimon roleplay #digimon rp #mxf #rp search #dark roleplay #dark rp #18+ mun

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riverdale-retread · 11 months

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Riverdale S7 E5 Tales in a Jugular Vein

We open with the three unwise men of Riverdale who fancy themselves the key authorities of the “situation” - Clifford Blossom, the high school principal, and Dupont from S4 that they keep giving more names to that won't stick in my memory: His first name is apparently Friedrich. It’s not even Freddy, it’s Friedrich like he’s some sort of kaiser. In any case, the Blossom patriarch as the source of all evil in this town asks if Ethel has been silenced.

Yes, she has, quite literally - the nuns at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy have imposed a ‘vow of silence’ which seems like a euphemism for literal physical muzzle (Poor Ethel). The parents are all very concerned about the murder of the Muggs but the three wise men are not. They are also confused about why it is that Sheriff Keller is continuing to chase down this ‘milkman’ that Ethel saw as well as the murder weapon. The HS principal seems not to know that this is Sheriff Keller’s actual job, but Dupont (Werther? Whatever) says that the real problem is COMIC BOOKS.

I don’t think these old farts understand how very incompetent Sheriff Keller is. He’s the man who forgot to check the time of death on the coroner’s report. Ain’t no way he’s finding the murder weapon.

And he has a whole batch of them to toss on the table, the topmost of which is The Pit Of Tyranny. Which is what these three men are, sitting together all close in dim lighting. (Are they going to have a threesome after??)

Dupont/ Werther hates comic books, because they are the source of all violence and iniquity in the world, so he is going to make everyone in Riverdale focus on them.

Jughead meanwhile strolls into the offices at the publishing house looking for work. He is just so happy to be working as a writer, across all universes! So adorable. His asshole publisher who always puts out the most terrible terms - a full issue, 21 pages worth of stories, no errors, by tomorrow morning! - and Jug is just bright eyed and bushy tailed about it. “Plenty More Where That Came From!!” Super eager Jughead is so cute - “I wont let you down!” with the finger POINT.

The publisher hands him a stack of potential stories, advising Jughead to talk to Bernie about them. The extremely paper wasting way of listing these little A03 tags, 3 at a time, in single index cards is very luxurious to me.

Boxer, Vigilante, Organ Harvesting

Man, Woman, Cult, Rocket

“Gosh Bernie, all these stories have been done to death!” Jughead says. Aw Riverdale, you’re so silly when you get meta. Is this actually the writers’ process at Riverdale, the Show? Because this was actually a fan theory I saw go around - that they literally just throw darts at the wall and then weave the stories together from keywords. Is Roberto trying to tell us something about his “process”?

Just in time, his girlfriend (Because Veronica is his girlfriend now, right? She certainly enters the room like she’s the girlfriend) Veronica comes over, calling him her “Little Tortured Genius” as Jughead is typing away. She wants to go see Diabolique, but Jughead is being very intense about his deadline and says maybe they can go tomorrow.

The idea that Jughead thinks is GENIUS is “stories about teenagers in high school.” And his ideas grow to things like Witchy Lunch Lady, Creepy Janitor, “Homeroom of Horrors.” Jughead is completely enamored by his own ideas.

I really need to take on Jughead’s attitude about work, maybe. The way he phrases it - “Al has asked me to take on an entire issue!” makes it so sound like he is adored and beloved and trusted, rather than being exploited.

On second thought, no.

Jughead needs to be more like me.

In any case, Veronica takes what he says at face value. She wants to help him, so Jughead tells her with enthusiasm about his first story, which is about gym class (“What’s scarier than gym class?”). The narrator in Jughead’s special edition is a very unhinged looking unkempt old man, a ‘creepy janitor’ with a bunch of keys. Jughead even got one of the artists to draw a mockup for him. He’s really good at this, worming his way into this publishing house!

The first story is called Keep Your Head in the Game.

And this is when I got attacked for a second time by this, my favorite television show, because they came for my throat. Poor bespectacled Asian Dilton is called “the runt, the klutz, the pipsqueak, half pint, short, near sighted and uncoordinated.”

STOP TALKING ABOUT ME!

He is the last among a row of boys who are being forced to uselessly throw a projectile so it lands in a specific arbitrarily designated location. (I hate you, all sports. I hate you, all games that involve throwing things at me.)

Nobody can leave until everyone makes a basket which Dilton can’t. OMG. My PE grade depended on making a certain minimum number of baskets in gym class in Germany, and I almost failed it, but I kept at it with such bloody minded Korean dweeb determination that even though I definitely failed it, my teacher wanted so to go home that she gave me a C. This is so personal.

The Coach makes the other players run laps while Dilton desperately tries to make one lousy basket. Of course, the one most immediately pissed off about this is Julian. He threatens Dilton as soon as the lap running starts, then slams him against the lockers at the first opportunity. Actually though, I decided during the course of this confrontation that Dilton would deserve what he got, because Julian asks him a very important question: Why are you even here if you can’t make one stinking basket? Dilton idiotically wants to be part of ‘the team.’

Dude.

Dilton.

Dude.

Don’t be stupid.

Julian pushes Dilton into a locker, while all the other boys let it happen. Including Archie. Archie is like this in every universe - he doesn’t think this is correct, but other than voicing a sort of weak objection, he doesn’t actually do anything to solve the problem (Flashing back to the infamous birthday episode with Jughead. Does Jughead the writer of this tale really not remember the OG universe?? HMM??). Dilton is desperately screaming inside the locker after Julian threatens for a second time to kill him.

Dilton it turns out is morbidly claustrophobic, which somehow leads Dilton to suffering a psychotic break. The day shift cleaner lets him out, but he steals the fire-rescue ax to hide in the same locker until he can pop out and get rid of them all. Covered in blood, Dilton is next seen in the basketball space, easily making a basket. The coach is all atta-boy until Julian’s decapitated head rolls to his feet. The coach turns his head to see six decapitated heads, all wearing Chuck Taylors, sitting impossibly upright in a row on the benches, their hands demurely in their laps.

Hahaha! OK so this was funny.

The heads are all neatly stacked in between basketballs in a roller container. The next head that he picks up is Archie.

Veronica is all about murdering jocks. She especially likes that Julian Blossom got his head chopped off. Jughead wriggles a bit on his round butt which he does when he’s being excited and smug. He explains that Dupont/Werthers (et al) don’t understand that comics are actually very *moral* forms of entertainment. Rule breakers get punished in these horror stories, as do people who are cruel to others, as well as people who have lustful sex.

Veronica calls him Juggiekins (SQUEE) when she asks him to elaborate on what he means by lustful sex.

Jughead says that it starts on a ‘dark and stormy night’ exactly as the night outside in Riverdale starts to get stormy. The next story is called “Love You to Pieces.” The “young strapping man” Archie Andrews knocks on the Blossom mansion door to explain that he has a flat tire to Nana Rose. He asks to stay the night, to which Nana Rose generously says he can keep himself warm by the fire.

There’s a very wholesome looking portrait of Cheryl that Nana Rose and Archie share their tea front of. Nana Rose gives Archie a warning - he must stay in his room with the door locked all night, because Cheryl is an aggressive compulsive boy-molester. Archie is immensely excited about this. He leaves his door not just unlocked - he leaves it OPEN, then sluttily lies there with his shirt off. What we have is a Rocky Horror Show type of sequence when Cheryl comes in to kiss him. She won’t let him light a candle, then they flop down to the bed together. (This is apparently what Jughead thinks sex is).

What the heck is Jughead’s problem with Cheryl? The cruelty of this story about Cheryl (as the audience knows her) is a bit shocking. She’s definitely trapped in the house. Her family members definitely sexualize teenage Cheryl. She is definitely cursed. And he’s using all this against her? JUGHEAD.

Next morning, Archie is very pleased with himself as he bounces out of the guest room. He sees a very ominous looking veiled young woman looking out the window, but he doesn’t say anything to her. As he scarfs down a generous looking breakfast with Nana Rose, he proves himself to be a real asshole. Having been told not to fuck Cheryl and then having done it, he wants NOW to know what’s wrong with her. Apparently it’s fine if he just took advantage of a crazy girl (“What exactly is wrong with her, a mental illness?” he says as he cheerfully chows down.)

Veronica does not like this story whatsoever. Jughead says it might be a “curiosity killed the cat” story or maybe even a safe sex story (even though that phrase wouldn’t be coined for another three decades). Ever the smartie, Veronica sniffs out the Jarchie angle to all this, directly pricking at Jughead with “I’m hearing that Archie and Cheryl broke up” and that they didn’t actually have sex. Jughead pretends to not be shooketh by this news and the realization that his resentment of Cheryl getting to fuck Archie before him was what was motivating this story. He says, “Well, who can keep up with all the horny teens at Riverdale High?”

It’s only when he is told that what Cheryl has is a physical illness which is contagious - LEPROSY - is when he is upset. Nana Rose is immune because she was ‘exposed’ to it as a child but of course, Archie wasn’t! Then Nana Rose gleefully tells him that it “was no accident that brought you here.” The nail in the road was Nana Rose making sure that Cheryl would ‘relish’ her last days on earth (because she is soon to die). “We’re going to be together forever and ever!” Cheryl says as she comes from behind to grasp the terrified Archie by the shoulder.

Jughead Jones is pro-food and anti-sex but he’s also pro-making out with Veronica.

Anyway Veronica tells him the point of high school is for straights to chase each other. Jughead is just too far up his own ass to catch the hint, so he moves directly to, “Girls will do anything to get boys’ attention” to which Veronica, now thoroughly bored because the lustful sex story turned out to be an anti-sex debacle, glumly retorts, “Including feigning an interest in comic books, apparently.” Jughead is not listening to her, at all.

Jughead the writer next turns his poison pen upon the blameless Betty Cooper. Or is he? Because honestly his descriptions of her are so completely wrong as to be comical: “Plain Jane with the ponytail mane. Sweater set waiting for better yet. Whom none of the boys seem to sic their sights on.” I mean, in the real world of the 1950s AU, Betty was targeted by the lying asshole Kevin as the perfect unwitting beard because she’s the prettiest girl in school, and no guy who can ‘get’ and keep the prettiest girl in school can be gay, right?

Anyway, in Jughead’s story, even though he calls her Betty, this girl is not Betty in the real world. She goes to the hair salon in tears because nobody wants to take her out. The drag queen (is it the same actor who is playing Janitor Key Keeper?) hairstylist suggests that Betty gets the beehive. She suggests that ‘girls in Europe’ are doing it which is immensely enticing to Betty. The thing is, according to the hairstylist you can’t ever wash your hair again once it’s in a beehive. It can only ever be hairsprayed (Aqua Set). Betty objects on hygiene reasons - hair should be washed every other day or at least once a week! - but decides to give all that up for the joy of being beautiful.

Jughead the writer has a thing for Dad joke level puns - he describes the girls of Riverdale as being “gangrene with envy” at how fabulous Betty looks with her new hairdo. Cheryl is upset, and so is Veronica, so when they run into her spraying the hell out of her beehive in the girls’ bathroom, Cheryl attacks first. She calls Betty “ponytail princess” and the haircut “ridiculous” and Cheronica laugh meanly about it. This turns out to be the very first time either girl had paid any attention to Betty, so Betty figures all attention is good attention. She “started needing it, feeding off it.” Veronica is in blue-white polka dots, Cheryl is in red check, but Betty is in the same blues-and-yellows of the bathroom!

The hairspraying is out of control, but the heavier and more shellacked her hair becomes, the more boys are attracted to her. Julian wants to carry her books to class. Archie wants to go out with her on Friday. Two nameless extra boys just wanna stand close by and stare! Betty doesn’t even accept Archie on his first pass either.

She does develop a bit of an obsession with the hairspray. Sitting very Wes Anderson-like in her yellow-green living room, dead center frame, in her yellow-greenish outfit, she is spraying and spraying. Betty never washes or undoes her hair, instead spraying it further before going to bed. The narration says something VERY BAD HAPPENED as Betty’s window throws a huge spiderweb shaped shadow over her sleeping face.

A week later, she and Archie are finally on a date! Pops says that Betty has always been a peach when Archie implies she’s suddenly become good enough with the hairdo change. Go Pop’s. Can I just say I hate the word GINCHY. Is this an actual word from the 50s or did they make this up for Riverdale? I refuse to look it up. Archie insists on using it TWICE in one sentence - he calls Betty and her hair both Ginchy. Ugh.

The song called “I got Stung” comes on so they go out to the dance floor. Archie is the dorkiest dancer of all time but Betty seems to be having a good time, until she suddenly isn’t. She is coughing up foam! She’s having a fit! Archie looks so horrified. The narration comes in to say Betty is now DEAD.

Veronica is super not amused by this conclusion, which I think Jughead put in there for her benefit because he just got done talking about how these stories in this horror comic are actually all morality tales. She takes issue with it, in the beautifully spruced up space she created for Jughead to live in. “What’s wanting to look good?” asks Veronica, looking absolutely perfect beyond all reason. She also says that men do the same thing, turning themselves into he-men.

Heyyy Doctor Curdle Jr. is the coroner! He finds Betty very beautiful with a fascinating hairstyle. He cuts the top of the hairdo off, which unleashes a torrent of spiders down Betty’s beautiful dead face. Black widow spiders ate their way through Betty’s skull. Well.. okay. The Key Keeper bursts in to tell us that “beauty is only skin deep and vanity kills.”

The thing is, even though she doesn’t appear to like these stories, Veronica is still annoyed that she hasn’t had a starring role, unlike Dilton, Cheryl, Archie and Betty. The fact that Dilton is included in this list is interesting, isn’t it, given the relationship, both shown and implied between the other universe Dilton and the Rivervale Dilton and Jughead? She specifically asks a tale romantic in flavor, which is not at all the flavor of what Jughead has been writing all evening NOR who he writes for, but then because Veronica is actually gay her thoughts skip directly from romantic → focus on female friendship.

Asking a man who has written about spiders eating into a girl’s brain because she got a fussy hairdo one time to write about “female friendship” is a recipe for disaster. I will say, Jughead does sort of start off on the right foot - he suggests a story where the girls in a love triangle do NOT go after each other’s throats. This brings Veronica’s hopes up too much though (“Now you’re singing my tune!”).

This last story is called, “My Better Half.”

Jughead really dislikes Archie in this universe. Like, a lot. He sees Archie as a really dumb slut (both terms derogatory). Are we absolutely sure that Tabitha did a complete mind wipe? Where does all this hostility come from? The story starts out with the Key Keeper (who has a wicked case of sunburn or rosacea or whatever) coming in too close, way too close, to call Archie “a half wit when it comes to decision making.”

I object to this. This is unfair. Highly suggestive is what Archie is and has always been. When Julian tells him to ask Cheryl out, he does. When Cheryl tells him to write Betty a poem and start wooing her, he starts out to do exactly that. And so on.

The multiple choice question Archie is struggling with is the choice between A. the girl next door, or B. the rich starlet-socialite. Betty in a pale blue headband and white neckerchief looks like Disney’s Cinderella, whereas Veronica looks like a Betty Page type seductress with her severe haircut and dark red lipstick. Archie chooses C, both of the above.

MWF are Betty, and TThrSat are Veronica days.

In a super modern innovation, Archie tells both girls that he’s dating the other one, and both girls allow this to happen. Veronica thinks Betty is a smelly tomboy and Betty thinks Veronica is a vapid airhead. This is exactly not at all what either of these girls are so this choice is interesting. (Is Jughead pulling his punches because Veronica is right there looking at him type?) Archie just doesn’t have the brains to explain the concept of polyamory I suppose, so his way of coping with the objection from both ladies is to tell each that she is his favorite.

Julian wants to know how Archie gets away with it, and Archie calmly offers it up. This is in matter of fact Archie’s actual philosophy of life a lot of the time: You tell them what they wanna hear.

He even gives them his best line - You’re my favorite. (Doiley gets yelled at because he tells Archie this is not three words, but four.)

The three girls at Riverdale are in the bathroom, fixing their make up. Veronica in black polka dots, close fitting, with a black handbag. Cheryl in a flared skirt red-and-white dress. Betty in pinkish dark check with a black belt. Of course, Cheryl is the one to start shit, while standing between these two girls, by asking Veronica who will be her date for Valentine’s Day. She calmly continues to do her make up while Veronica and Betty have at it.

Veronica calls Betty “dumb for such a smart girl” and a “charity case.” Betty calls Veronica “fragile,” “desperate” or “crazy.” Veronica is furious at being called Fragile, so she fights back with “high strung” and then they're lobbing intimate things they’ve learned about the other from Archie. Betty takes Alice’s sleeping pills because she can’t sleep. Cheryl turns around to call both of them fools. Betty carries a white handbag, by the way.

Archie says that he ‘s taking his MOM to Valentine’s day because it’s her first Valentine’s day without her husband. Both girls are completely moved, but also get their punches in. Archie asks them what they’ll be up to, to which both say they will be at home. They go on a girl’s night out on Valentine’s Day.

And guess what? Cheryl!!! It’s Cheryl that’s Archie’s date for Valentine’s day!! They see them in the Diner! Veronica is immediately about to go do some confronting, but Betty stops her, saying she has a much better idea. Immediately the next day, both girls approach him at once (I love Betty’s outfit with the contrast belt and the white hairpin) to offer a threesome. This is something that Archie must have been working himself up to get them to do, because as soon as it’s offered he says he knows the perfect spot. But they’re setting him up so they get to choose the location. They invite him to the shop room because it’s soundproof.

Because Jughead is the one writing this story, the girls set up the shop room with TONS of candles. (Has there ever been a good fandom post about Jughead Jones’ candle fetish? Because it’s a really persistent theme. Please share). They’ve even set up what looks like a bed on the floor of the shop room, as well as a record player. Veronica and Betty are speaking in unison using identical dulcet tones. They give him a thermos of coffee which is apparently delicious, even though Archie says he doesn’t “need the boost.”

I have been living a very sheltered life because I didn’t know that caffeine caused priapism but then Archie is an unusual bird. Archie does feel strange immediately - there’s a funny Looney Toons type of doi-oi-oi-ing! sound effect as he tries to ‘shake off’ the effects of whatever they’ve drugged him with. He collapses.

When Archie regains consciousness he’s strapped to a table. It turns out the sleeping pills were what knocked him out. “A problem shared is a problem solved” the girl tell him, calling each other B and V. They turn on a huge saw to “double their fun” as Archie screams and screams as they slice him in half. The camera is completely doused with blood.

Veronica wants Archie’s top half and Betty wants his bottom half. I wonder why this choice? Veronica is a breast girl, and Betty is a leg woman?

Jughead wants to know what Veronica thought of the ‘tag team twist’ at the end. Veronica is not pleased. She says that the sexual politics of his stories are troubling. She interrogates Jughead for demonizing women, to which Jughead says she is overthinking it. These stories are meant to be a gas etc. She just doesn’t like these stories.

The thing is, I don’t think these stories are misogynist so much as anti-sex. Jughead is very puritanical and judgmental at the same time - he finds all these people’s aspirations (retaining the desire to be part of a team even if that team isn’t nice to you and there’s no team that calls for your specific strengths, wanting to have easy sex that doesn’t mean anything, wanting threesomes, wanting approval and admiration for shallow things from others) all really dumb. He wants to punish people for being vulnerable. He’s like a lot of solitary, self conscious overthinkers - he finds other people nakedly going after things they want painful to contemplate, and so he is mean spirited about them.

The main mistake Jughead made here though was that the story he wrote with Veronica as his lead wasn’t flattering to Veronica. And Veronica’s mistake was hoping for something like that from a man writing in the horror genre.

I snorted when Jughead mentioned Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe as somehow aspirational because I know what happened with Miller after Monroe died (he wrote a whole play where he called his ex wife a great piece of ass, which, great. Super classy. Yup.) Anyway they’re broken up now, over Veronica not liking Jughead’s writing. He is sad about the break up between them. Jughead is also worried about accusations about ‘corrupting the youth of America’ via comic books.

Friedrich Werther (Dupont!) has made good on what he said to the two other Unwise Men at the start of the episode. He’s written a whole editorial on the front page of the Riverdale Register about the dangers of Comic Books: Slaughter of the Innocent! It actually appears to be a fully written article that’s being used as a prop. It ends with “I am asking for a call of arms. We must attack our attackers. No one likes a fight, but the fate of our children hangs in the balance.”

Werther absolutely does not have children, so it’s the usual huge red flag when childless men go on about ‘our’ children. The other major thing that has happened is that Four Horses Have Escaped From Farm (this is also a fully written article. Apparently, nobody was injured, but the children did neigh at the horses , which confused the farm animals. What?)

We cut to the principal reading his boyfriend’s article out loud to their leader Clifford Blossom with great absorption. “Our children are being seduced by sex, by violence, by depravity.” Blah blah. Clifford - who is mayor by the way - says this crusade against comic books is going to be a nice distraction from the still unsolved Muggs murders.

Back at the comic book business, Jughead is told by the publisher that his work is “incredible stuff.” When Jughead says he needed a win, Fieldstone guesses that it’s girl trouble. Jughead tells him he had a “sweet thing going with this one gal” and she didn’t like what Jughead was saying. The publisher does not care what that means, and instead offers a byline (not a bonus, not a cover) so Jughead’s name is going to be in print! The publisher names him Jughead JUGULAR Jones. Featherstone promises that girls come and go but one’s name in print makes people sit up and take notice. Apparently this is going to set Jughead on a collision course with Dupont (Werther! Whatever!).

I am sad that Jeronica is over, though I do like the way it just sort of fizzled out because they ran into an incompatibility that they could not find a way to overcome rather than Archie or Betty causing them problems, which I appreciate. And you know what - the fact that Jughead just can not stop thinking about Archie fucking other people makes me think the Jarchies have it right after all.

#riverdale opinion #riverdale episode 122 #riverdale ep 7.05 #riverdale s7 recap #riverdale s7 #Riverdale s6 #riverdale recap #riverdale episode recap

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thetaoofbetty · 2 years

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Do you truly think Bughead stands a chance at getting endgame? I’ve tried to hold out hope these last two seasons. I thought once upon a time that eventually the payoff would be worth it, but the nonsense just goes on and on. I feel like BH’s get kicked in the teeth every episode and are punished for their years of devotion. And it’s not even like BA and JT are written well or have anywhere near the level of BH’s chemistry, but sometimes it feels like we’re stuck with them because RAS has disdain for his audience and is fixated on the “new” above honoring these characters and giving the show the ending it deserves. I’m sorry for being so negative. I just feel so stupid for continuing to invest anything in this show. I don’t want to discover a year from now that my time has been wasted and that the show is still trying to convince us that Betty and Jughead belong with other people and can’t even be assed to let them discuss anything not plot point related.

i've been avoiding these asks for a while because i don't want to come off like i'm telling anyone how to feel but since i keep getting asked i guess i'll try and give my honest opinion but hopefully without offending or upsetting anyone (jinxed by even saying it, i know).

bughead is not the first ship to get kicked in the teeth. they're not even the first ship to break up and have the writers ignore the fact that they dated for a good portion of time. they are not the first ship to date other people and totally act like they never dated until it's time to ramp up any drama. they are not the first ship to date, break up, date others, and then tell that new person that they love them.

and every ship i am thinking of for the above? they ended up together in the end. so yeah, i think it's possible. stories aren't told in a vacuum and shows that go on for 22 episodes or more need to drag out their narratives. these are not 8 episode netflix or hbo max shows that have limited time for their stories, they are filling a lot more air time. they have and will drag things out if they're trying to get to a certain point. yes, riverdale does this worse than others. 100%. 1000% even.

maybe it's a product of us all bingeing and watching shows with 8-10 eps a season but recently i was rewatching gilmore girls with my exchange student and i legit kept leaving the room because i felt like it was dragging on even tho i watched it when it was on week to week and was invested. there were a lot of episodes that just felt like they did nothing past fill some time. which is probably what they were doing when you need to make 22 of them in a season.

and listen, i'm not the biggest fan of anyone writing this show overall (how no one seems to know what anyone else is doing is just such a bad way to write?) but i don't think roberto actually has a disdain for the audience. ted? sure. we don't appreciate his genius and therefore suck. his arrogance is well known. evan? he wants attention. he got it. it was a dumb move. raise your hand if you're a bughead fic author who has written more interaction between betty and archie in your fics than this man (their king!) has written onscreen.

this show is badly run, written, and promoted. that's pretty obvious at this point. not a lot of people are watching, not a lot of people care anymore and i totally get why. i'm not going to tell you to continue being invested in something making you unhappy, your fictional escapes should bring you joy so taking a break when needed is always a good idea.

personally, if they're going to drag out this whole timelines mess, i don't think everything that happened will be ignored, it's just a continuation—and i'm not going to assume anything about the 50s thing, we don't even know how long it's going to last or what will happen within it. but we haven't even seen the finale yet and at the end of the day, i feel like they didn't have tabitha tell veronica it was 50/50 for the fun of it. but that's me and i think everyone should do what works for them when it comes to this show and fandom.

#besos!#anonymous #riverdale spoilers #rd negativity #anti b*rchie #anti j*bitha #for the mentions in the ask #basically i've seen ships treated pretty bad and come back from it is what i'm saying #tho this show is terribly written overall #long post

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fyeahvarchie · 1 year

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What Lili interview? And unlike B*s I know B* will still get their share of scenes and no ship will be "dead" as they said about ours until the end credits and even if we don't get Varchie in the end we still have a lot of good scenes to enjoy and no one can change that even if I hope we get them together in the end because I can be honest and say it will put a sour taste on the overall show for me if they don't because honestly until 5.18 it felt like Varchie was the story the writers told and season 6 just felt like a bad fever dream with super dogs and super humans ..it really didn't feel like the old Riverdale. Even if this last season is kind of another AU I hope it's more down to earth and have the same vibe as we felt in season 1.

Check Entertainment Weekly.

And yes, anon.

It's a good perspective to have. Of course we all want our ship to prevail in the end, but we were favored for a long time.

Once a show is done, you can look back on it any way you want.

Endgame or no endgame. Nothing prevents you from enjoying the good things that happened.

I wouldn't hold my breath for the season one vibe beyond the things we already talked about. But they do like to keep promoting it as "no need to catch up! it's a fresh start!"

Anyway, we haven't reached the end yet. It's all in Roberto's hands.

Which means it's currently about enjoying the content we're getting and seeing for ourselves where it's going.

#ask: rvd

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whitetrashjj · 1 year

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I’m honestly worried if we do get a jiara sex scene in season 3 or 4 it’s gonna be just like the pokie scene where it fades to black because I know the writers talk to the actors to see how far they’re willing to go with intimate scenes and to talk about comfort level and boundaries this is the only scene I could see us not getting much of because of Rudy and Madison’s real life partners I feel like they would only be comfortable making out while laying down on a bed then it fades to black or Kie straddling JJ both fully clothed 🙄 then Kie pushes him down on the bed then it fades to black and shows the next morning of them laying under the covers together 😭 my ideal sex scene would be for Kie and JJ to be in his room making out then Kie gets on top of him and takes off his shirt then jj takes her top off so she’s in her bra then Kie pushes him down on the bed then they continue to make out them JJ rolls her over so he’s on top then it cuts to the next morning with Kie and jj cuddling while playing with each other’s hands/intertwining fingers and then they talk about it and how perfect it was but that’s just my fantasy and we’re talking about Outerbanks they could very well give us a more explicit sex scene and probably show some thrusting while bed sheets are covering everything but my hopes are sadly very low for a good jiara sex scene 😔

I feel like OBX could for sure give us a riverdale-level sex scene. If you think about it the jarah b and pokie ones faded to black for reasons. Where are the jiara one could be a lot longer. I guess it all does come down to Rudy and Maddie but like jiara seem like the kinda couple you get a solid sex scene for so fingers crossed.

Yes I love the way you think! Tbh I would kill for them to allude to JJ going down on Kie. I just neeeed it.

But yes. The morning after is so special to me and bloody important if you consider that it need to parallel the pokie scene where it’s so weird and awkward. We just need them being all cute and touchy and close. But still just being them with stupid jokes in between soft kisses and longing looks. Damn.

#lara answers #jiara #obx

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maya-matlin · 7 months

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Hi Ashton! I've loved talking about OTH with you. I was wondering what you would pick as five unpopular opinions about the show? No judgment here - I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours :)

Hi!! I've loved talking about the show with you, too. You have great opinions 💙 LOL I'll try. I definitely have some, but I don't want to repeat myself from other times I've been asked about unpopular opinions.

1.) Even though One Tree Hill is well known for their iconic love stories and being very good at hitting the emotional beats, sometimes I think the writing was lacking. The biggest example of this is the Brucas/LP mess. To be fair, it's been speculated that behind the scenes shenanigans is the reason Lucas flip flopped multiple times. But as a result, the writers often intentionally misdirected the audience to surprise them with the opposite of what they were expecting. Even though I LOVE Brucas's season 2 arc and enjoyed seeing Lucas pining, I have to admit they needed more on screen time together as friends for Lucas's revelation to be believable. Brooke and Lucas were friends again during episodes 202-209, but it wasn't until the beginning of 210 that they seemed to decide to become 'real friends'. So in that way, I can understand why some LP shippers believe Lucas's revelation should have been about Peyton instead. Season 1 was much more pro LP. However, I don't think the first half of season 2 sufficiently set up Lucas realizing his deep feelings for either girl. What sells me on Lucas being in love with Brooke is his behavior during episodes 211-223, when he continuously shows up for Brooke and acts as a true friend, always valuing her happiness over his own while keeping his feelings to himself. Lucas allowed Brooke to be with Felix while also sticking around for her. In contrast, Lucas helped bring Jake back for Peyton, but didn't really stick around for her. On to seasons 3 and 4. The writers spent so much time setting up Lucas's love for Brooke and the rebuilding phase of their relationship alongside Peyton's love for Jake. In season 3, it was kind of like, "never mind." Even though Peyton spent the entirety of season 2 wanting Jake and not showing any signs of loving Lucas, season 3 gave us multiple, ambiguous moments where Peyton is talking about a former boyfriend. Peyton realizing she's still in love with Lucas implies those moments were in reference to him rather than Jake, the guy she was actually in a happy, healthy, monogamous relationship with the previous season. It doesn't track at all. Lucas's feelings for Peyton simply aren't there at all. At best, you could say Lucas still felt some attraction towards Peyton because he flirted with her from time to time, but emotionally he was 100% with Brooke. In season 4, Lucas is repeatedly told he should be with Peyton or that Peyton is the one he wants. Lucas seems to arrive at the revelation Peyton is the one kicking and screaming. When the Ravens win the state championship, Brooke and Lucas hug first, presumably to show us that even though Lucas previously said it was Brooke he wanted next to him when his dreams came true, it doesn't feel right or as satisfying? Yet again, someone (Brooke) has to tell Lucas to go to Peyton. Even at this moment, Lucas looks baffled and is very much like, "Okay..." But then Peyton says the magic words, "I'll be seeing ya," and suddenly that line unlocks Lucas's repressed feelings buried deep within. Lucas claims Peyton is the one. It's not Riverdale bad, but it's pretty pathetic writing. Season 5 is slightly less bad because by the time we reach the time jump, we've unfortunately become accustomed to Lucas's fuckboy ways. Still, Lucas dicks around for 18 episodes until finally realizing he does want to marry Peyton after all. All this after spending the majority of the season behaving as if he'd rather get a root canal than reunite with Peyton. Someone on Reddit hilariously described Lucas's dream sequence as him choosing his future wife in a raffle, so I'll steal that. So to sum up Lucas's romantic life during seasons 1-5, he is perpetually confused about who he wants to date. The sole time Lucas makes a real decision about his love life that he came to on his own, that he wants Brooke, he's basically told that was wrong and he should be with her best friend instead.

Also, Naley's relationship progression in season 1 was ridiculous. The first season mainly felt realistic in terms of their growth as a couple up until the finale. It was literally like, "I know we've only been saying I love you for two weeks, but wanna get married?"

2.) 316, the school shooting episode, is overrated. I still love it for what it is and consider it probably the most emotional episode of the series, but I have a lot of problems with it. To start with, it's another example of portraying a school shooter as someone sympathetic who was driven to violence by bullies. This was a misconception that started with Columbine and is only now starting to be rectified. I'm of two minds about the LP stuff. I can appreciate that life continues regardless of bigger things happening. Lucas and Peyton were in a highly charged situation, so in some ways it makes sense for that moment to happen. But I also kind of feel like it's tasteless for it to happen during this particular episode. Then afterwards, it's kind of portrayed like Peyton in particular can't be blamed because it was the school shooting. And of course, the whole thing ends with Jimmy not even killing anyone. The entire point of the episode was to perfectly orchestrate a scenario where Dan could conceivably fatally shoot Keith in an unpremeditated way. In my opinion, the decision to have Dan kill Keith took the show in a direction I never fully loved.

3.) Season 4 was the worst season of the high school years. I enjoy certain things about season 4. 409, 413, 417, 420 and 421 are some of the strongest episodes of the series. But when it comes to individual episodes, the majority of them are either less memorable than the majority of seasons 1-3 episodes or outright bad due to the story lines. This is not a good season for female characters. Haley was shoved into the background during her own pregnancy in service of Nathan's story and struggles of being a teen dad to be. Brooke was intentionally trashed and made out to be a hypocrite to manipulate the audience into rooting for Peyton and Lucas. Peyton objectively gets the best stuff, but she's also highly reliant on Lucas during this season. Independent Peyton is completely gone at this point. She sort of vaguely has dreams that set up her role in the time jump, but mostly she just cares about Lucas. The energy is also off. I can't explain it, but the move from The WB to The CW is very noticeable. OTH was always a soapy show, but now we had stalkers and point shaving and offensively written "Clean Teens".

4.) Brooke isn't and wasn't, not even a little bit, to blame or in any way deserving of being cheated on by Lucas and Peyton. Whatever "scheming" Brooke supposedly did, Brooke didn't force Lucas and Peyton to keep their feelings quiet. They made that choice on their own.

5.) I've talked about this before, but I can't come up with a fifth and it always needs to be said. HALEY WAS NOT THE VILLAIN IN SEASON 2. Haley was a teenage girl, newly married, in over her head with the responsibilities of being a new wife and tasting freedom for the first time. During a time in her life when she should have been spreading her wings and seeing what else was out there, she had a husband. A devoted husband who supported her dreams, but a husband nonetheless. Haley rushed into marriage because she loved Nathan and got caught up in the romanticism of committing herself to him. The fact this was so out of character and so wild for Haley was literally the point. But in spite of the fact Nathan had Haley's heart and she was legally bound to him, Haley was still a teenager and was going to sometimes behave in ways that were sort of selfish and immature. God forbid she do what every single character on the show did LOL. While she didn't handle things 100% correctly, Nathan also made mistakes in his marriage to Haley. Even Nathan acknowledged the ultimatum was wrong. These mistakes just aren't discussed as often because (1) misogyny (2) Haley was ultimately the one to walk out of their marriage (3) Nathan and Haley had different needs during season 2. Haley needed the space and freedom to pursue her music and figure out who she was. Nathan needed the closeness and the stability Haley could provide, viewing the marriage itself as his "escape" and freedom. These needs were at odds, leaving them in an impossible situation where the possibility of remaining physically separated came up. And worse, Nathan found out about Haley kissing Chris at the same time. This isn't to say I'm excusing that. It was all just terrible timing, bad communication, and kids trying to pretend they were adults.

#still-and-always-the-one #Long post

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chonidale · 9 months

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so are there spoilers or an idea about what happened to the original characters? because if the comet hit then Toni died married to Fangs and if the bomb exploded and killed them all then choni weren't together then either. so what was the point in eternal soul mates?

you need to rewatch 701 lmao. there doesn’t need to be spoilers because despite what people want to believe because their ships aren’t getting together, these ARE the original characters. this isn’t like rivervale where it’s an alternate reality with alternate characters. jughead literally asks tabitha if they’re dead and she explains that she used the last of her life force to send them all far enough back in time so that she could have enough time to figure out how to fix the timeline and make 2022 riverdale a better place so that it wouldn’t fall prey to someone like percival. she clearly does not find it and they have to stay in the 50s to make that happen.

these are the characters without their original memories, but it’s their souls and bodies and emotional memories, which is why cheryl and toni were immediately drawn together and have stayed together while everyone else played musical partners. because they're eternal soulmates. that’s literally the whole point of their storyline this season, no matter the timeline or universe, they will find each other and fall in love and end up together. it was reassurance from the writers that had they continued to live in the present, they would have found their way back together, that where they were forced to end was not what was meant for them. but that’s why we’re glad they get their memories back, even just briefly, in the finale, so we can have more closure than that on adult choni.

but even if that wasn’t true, and they did die at either of those times, again, that does not make them being soulmates pointless. it just means that if they had lived, they would have ended up together, it means that in the next life, they will find each other and be together, in means being together in the afterlife, just like abigail and thomasina. soulmates can’t escape death, sometimes one dies before they can be together or get back together or while they’re together, but they’re still soulmates. you seriously need to expand your brain and learn romance, because this is some boring pragmatic jaded thinking there.

#there’s a reason everyone has been speculating about memories all season lmao

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thatiranianphantom · 2 years

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I don’t really like the whole "they need to be single for a while because they need to health from their trauma first" narrative because it doesn’t apply for everyone or every couple.

These are my opinions:

I actually think that when VA gets together again they need to go slow because they already went too fast on season 5 only for it to end with mixed opinions about the future. I do feel there’s some issues with Archie that he needs to think about (such as properly grieving his father and define if he truly wants to built a life in Riverdale) as well as Veronica dealing with not being able to be alone romantically (as always needing someone with her which is why I think her power will be part of that process) and coming back with Archie right back will crack that important development. She needs to realize she can be on her own for a while before fully entering a relationship with Archie again. And I can honestly see the writers giving them some healing on season 7 and having them be close but not romantically explicit yet (similar to how it was on season 5 before the divorce) and then a confession by mid season 7 about wanting to be together and building a family, a parallel to their 518 conversation.

With BH is different, they have quiet a lot of baggage, that’s for sure but they also haven’t been together in more than 7 years (as oppose to VA). They haven’t been together romantically and all their interactions have been platonic since the time jump but I think that as oppose to VA – they’ve made emphasis on how shitty and traumatic their life’s have been without the other (and this is where I think the whole choice between going with Jughead vs joining FBI being ultimately a turning point for Betty wasn’t a coincidence) plus being Betty the one that saved Jughead during his traumatic episode. BH has always been framed as the type that work together better as a unit because Betty needs emotional support and she isn’t getting it from anyone right now – Jughead used to act as her biggest outlet emotionally (and vice serve). I can see BH coming back together by season 6 finale after a very emotional turning point and support each other to work on their trauma as they used to do before. It helps that they haven’t had their romantic moment yet since the time jump because the next one will be definitive for their character arcs. I don’t think it’s a coincidence one of Betty’s memories on 614 was when Jughead was comforting her about her "evil genes" and about them not being like their parents. Them coming to terms together that Betty is not like Hal and Jughead is not FP is their endgame. It’s been their theme for all seasons. Them overcoming the fear of being like their parents and adopting their behaviors is something that will complete their full character arcs and it needs to be together.

Basically, I see VA being "officially together" next season while they maintain very flirtatious interactions in between. BH having a big moment on the finale that turns everything around for them to be together and having the reunion moment for the first time in 2 seasons. This is what I would do if I were Roberto and what to gain audience for the big last season because I’ll be thinking of the rewatchability factor already. At this point is about giving the fans and there’s characters their due time.

Agreed, anon.

BH also have a lot more water under the bridge. I feel like the finale will bring us back to 517 and leave BH in a good place to rebuild, with BA and JT being over, and then S7 can just be classic BH in Real Riverdale, with some shippy moments before we get there.

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peacerisendove · 1 year

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Dove Reads Big Ethel Energy #2-11 (62-71)

Alright, I said I was going to read through this season and I did get to episode #3 before I completely dropped off for a while.

So I'm back and once more into the breach we go. Time for Dove's Big Ol' Review/Comment Electric Boogaloo cause this is going to be big.

Episodes 2

Not much to say there honestly. It might just be me personally, but I feel the writing is clunky or zipping by too fast in setting up problems for Ethel, such as the chapters about the all-female Olympiad and regarding women in Riverdale for the biography being removed from the book. It sucks of course, but also the way these problems are set up feel like it's a problem simply to be a problem rather than naturally occurring. Perhaps I'm being overly aware of how BEE goes about setting up issues regarding gender and sexism, but it feels rushed and doesn't jive with me.

Episode 3

My same complaint as before is that the issues and how they're present feel shoe horned. Also applied to Ethel and Moose's dynamic just doesn't feel cute or clever.

I do however love their idea for Coach Treadwell to use Moose being in her position as a reason for her to get a pay raise. That is a good idea.

Episode 4

Ethel needs to pick a lane on whether she want the distance from Seth or not. Like I get it being sudden and weird, so it's weird for her to figure out the boundary, but I believe she is also the one who brought up needing Seth to keep his distance.(Though I would need to check back near the end of season 1)

Also he just helped you up. That's it. That's him being nice and isn't something that should be read into.

Ok see? This is cute and natural sounding writing that I love.

What I don't like is what feels like the set up for a love triangle/Ethel potentially developing feelings for Seth. I really get a sense of developing guilt in her talking to Seth while she's dating Moose. Though this may also just potentially point toward the writer making Moose a jealous boyfriend like I've mentioned in the past, and perhaps drawing from his angry personality in the comics.

Hm. Dilton is a teacher? I guess we'll get more out of that later.

Episode 5

MOOSE BOOY WHY ARE YOU LYING ABOUT THE NEW TEACHER BEING DILTON?!?! I hope Ethel told him about what happened with Veronica and the cyber bullying.

I also do not like what they've done to my precious nerd Dilton :c . Honestly no one is like themselves. They merely have the facade of them.

Hmmm...questions about long distance. Who do we know that is away?

Seth.

(I know. I know. I'm pulling at nonexistent threads, but my brain immediately thought of Seth. Then her life in New York of course.)

Episode 6

Ok, I know I'm nitpicky, but why did they not put Nancy in a different outfit than her regular one for the poster?

The veneer of perfection in Ethel's life and her having these moments to gush just don't endear me to Ethel as a character.

Episode 7

I smell jealousy and more misunderstandings on the horizon. Honestly, all problems in this comic can't be based on misunderstandings.

Episode 8

Considering we spent a good portion of the first season revolving around Ethel's woes and the reader is meant to feel sorry of her/empathizing with her and her problems and now we are seeing Ethel have access to a very luxurious apartment, that her life is relatively problem free, except for social problems, once again makes her a very unrelatable character. There's a dissonance I feel here as a reader. She feels less like a rounded character and feels more like dream fulfillment.

Now if it was Veronica helping her out then it would make more sense for me. At least it would feel like the comic is playing within the rules of the universe and using established characters. And it would have been nice and fun!

So basically they just have a nice time together in New York and Ethel sorta/implicitly wants to convince him about New York/wants him to like it there, which I get if you're worried about the future of your relationship when you and your partner live in two different places.

Also minor complaint: I know it's webcomic and that this is a job with time constraints, but if you're going to do the sprawling city scapes and the message is to sell the character to the setting then I think it should look nicer/sell the scenery to the reader too.

Episode 9

Now in contrast to the last episode which focused on the scenery this episode focuses on culture and it does so well to sell you on it. Talking about the rush of getting a seat on the subway, that Ethel would tackle someone for a set is fun and entertaining! It draws you in!

Also showing Moose unable to fully adapt to it all and that he was tired due to the fast paced nature of the city was nice too.

Seeing Ethel's growth and that she is comfortable to say I love you to Moose is nice as well. This is what I like seeing from characters.

Episode 10

This episode focuses on Seth and Trula. Seth talks about how his last relationship was five years ago. Truly talks about being aromantic.

And maybe I wasn't wrong about what I said about connecting the dots earlier. Seth seems to have feelings for Ethel perhaps? That's what I think this is hinting at at least.

This response from Ethel is unnecessarily aggressive. I don't think they've really talked about it in detail, so I don't know why the response is aggressive. Like you can't be mad if you haven't talked about it. Now if I'm just forgetting and they have had this conversation repeatedly then I understand why she would be annoyed with Moose's comment.

When it comes to Moose and Ethel together Ethel is the lead I feel like and there is a lack of balance between them. Or perhaps it's that despite the fact they are portrayed as happy together they don't actually compliment each other as a couple.

Perhaps it's just me, but I don't see their relationship lasting in this comic.

Episode 11

I've connected the dots. I told you! I'm not the only one!

Me: -DISBELIEF-

This is not going to end well. Moose's jealousy is definitely going to be part of the death knell of their relationship. Remember what I've said. Mark my words.

Ethel also talks about feeling guilty regarding talking to Seth since he isn't Moose's favorite person, and I feel like while part of the guilt is due to Moose's on insecurity affecting her, I also think that a sense of guilt may be due to her potentially having underlying feelings toward Seth.

And that's if for my commentary on the episodes so far!

#Dove Reads Big Ethel Energy #Dove reads BEE #me: rushing on less than 6% battery to write this

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