#unfortunately I don't think Steven will be back this season

[dust-and-grave]

hng, i am so frustrated by this whole watcher tv situation. i've been chewing on it ever since i watched their announcement video yesterday + i've been looking around online at other fan reactions. i'm having a lot of thoughts so i guess i want to throw my two cents in + hope it'll make me feel better to talk about it a little.

i think we all agree that creators should be paid fairly for their work; however, not all work is created equal, right? if i commission an experienced (and thus high-demand) artist to do an oil painting of my cat, they might quote me $500+ to do that + it would be fair. if an artist with substantially less experience (and thus in lower demand) spends 30 seconds on a crayon rendition of my cat, should they also received $500+ for their work? i think most people would agree that would be ridiculous.

in some ways, this is what it feels like the watcher team is doing to us right now, imo. we know that shows like ghost files or puppet history are expensive to make because travel costs (in the case of ghost files) + production costs, but we can see the effort put into the work. we feel that what we give for the show, whether that's turning off ad blocker while watching or buying show merch or supporting via patreon, is going toward making the product that we are asking for. these shows are the oil painting in the metaphor.

i don't agree with how mean + rude some people are being about steven lim rn, but frankly, his shows are the 30 second crayon drawing of the watcher channel. anyone can look at the view count on their channel + see that his shows consistently have performed worse than shane + ryan's shows. additionally, we can see that he blows huge amounts of money on his shows ("$913 seafood tower", "$1027 fried chicken") that may leave a lot of viewers feeling as if they're aren't getting as much bang for their buck.

frankly, i think people are valid for being upset that they're expected to directly foot the bill for steven's "i fly all over the world + eat expensive food while you watch" project. while youtube has a shit ton of problems (like, say, not paying their creators enough), one of the cool things about it is that you can gauge directly the amount of the interest in a project (and how many resources you should dedicate to said project) by how many eyes are on it. unfortunately for him (i guess), steven's shows just don't garner enough attention to justify the expense of making them.

which is why i see this shift to watcher tv as such a problem. this feels very much like using shane + ryan's success on the channel to force fans to fuel steven's pursuit of his glory days on worth it. it feels even more strange when they say that they're making the switch because the company isn't currently sustainable, but steven has just hired his friends from buzzfeed + continues to push his series that just don't seem to be making back the cost of production.

to be totally fair, shane + ryan don't get out of this clean either. some of their shows don't deserve to be behind a paywall either. too many spirits is filmed in ryan's parent's backyard with content submitted by their viewers. are you scared is just ryan reading creepypastas/fan submitted content on a minimal set. survival mode is just them playing games like any other streamer or gaming youtuber does. i love all of these shows, but are they on par with puppet history or ghost files? absolutely not.

this is where i think the disconnect is coming from. they're taking everything including the lower production shows to a streaming service where you have to fund them directly (rather than indirectly through ad revenue). they're forcing funding into steven's projects despite them just not doing well enough to justify the cost. they're coming across as disingenuous with their reasoning because their stated reasons for doing this don't align with their actions rn.

i feel like it would've made so much more sense to crowdfund new seasons of shows (which gives them feedback from the fans about what they want too) or put higher cost shows like ghost files or puppet history on patreon or channel membership. i would gladly fund mystery files, weird wonderful world, ghost files, puppet history, etc. with my own money, but i'm one of the ones who isn't really interested in funding steven's quest to eat all of the gold-plated kobe beef when i'll never be able to afford to eat at a restaurant that even serves it.

#rachel says #watcher #shane madej #ryan bergara #steven lim #also it really bothered me that they dangled weird wonderful world over our heads to convince people to use the streaming service #it regularly got more views than all of steven's shows save dish granted #but they never picked it up again despite that #it just adds to the sense of betrayal that a lot of us are feeling rn i think

[oddballwriter]

Plus One to make a Sour One

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

Summary: You and your old high school friends made a promise to go at each other's weddings, which you all keep. Regardless of the passing of time and what it brings. However, one out of place friend doesn't like that you've moved into find someone that you plan to have in your future.

Warnings: Female reader and is referred to using she/her. Mentions of jealousy and unrequited love (not between you and the boys). Mentions of marriage. Marc being called "second hand" by another person. Reference to Layla and Marc's divorce (she and the divorce are not an actual issue, she's just mentioned off handedly (I would never make her an issue <3)). There's a character in here who is a fucking dick and makes rude comments. This does take place after the show but there's no mentions of MoonKnight work. The boys are still a system but this is Marc centric. Jake does talk once though. "Y/N" is used four times. It is also mentioned that there is an age gap between you and Marc, with Marc barely in his 40's and reader being in their late 30's.  

Author’s Snip: Don't know what this was or why I wrote it. I just had it in my mind and wanted to write it.

Notes: The girls in your friend group are supportive as hell about you and Marc. Also the character Ben has a mix of Ken and Allan energy but in an aggressive way because he's just... there... just for the plot. 

Work count: 1730

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy! And don’t be afraid to request.

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

  In your high school years, which were admittedly a good way behind you, you made a promise to each other. To go to each other's weddings no matter what.

  Kaylani was the first to make that promise be kept by getting married a few years back and like promised, everyone managed to make it. In your group there was, as mentioned, Kaylani, Susie, Sydney, Gabby, you, and the only boy in your group, Ben. Or Benny, as you all called him. It was nice to see each other again and catch up since it had been so long and you had done your own things after graduation. For example you had gone on to study and even traveled abroad to do so, which ended up having you meet your now boyfriends Marc, Steven, and Jake. Though you did think that it was just Marc at the time, but hey, no one ever complains about a three for the price of one deal. 

  However, at the time of Kay’s wedding you just started getting used to all of them. So when the topic of if everyone else had a certain someone already, you just answered that you were seeing someone. Unfortunately in a room full of people you knew since braces, they asked for more. To which all they got was the details of his name being Marc, he was older, and that you met while you were living in London for your studies.  You knew that that wasn’t a whole lot and that they would want to hear more, but they didn’t want to pressure you into saying more than you wanted. Though they did like the mystery of this man that you had back home. 

  Now the time has gone by and the system has become a regular part of your life and now live together in a new place with a fresh new start close to where you're from. Which was perfect considering the call you just got done having. 

  “Congratulations again, Gabby! I can’t wait to see you!” you cheer into your phone before saying goodbye to your soon to me wedded friend. “What was all the squealing about?” Marc says as he walks into the living room where you are. “That was one of my friends, Gabby, from high school. She’s getting married in the Fall season.” you answer. “Oh, Miss Homecoming Candidate.” Marc commented as he sat down in his arm chair. “No. Kaylani’s Miss Homecoming Candidate. Gabby’s-” you correct, “The blonde one, right.” Marc says correcting himself in the middle of your sentence, that wasn’t it either. “No. No,” you giggle. “Sydney’s the blonde one. Gabby’s ginger. And also Gabby was the Captain of the Girl’s Tennis team.” you clarify. “Jeez. I really can’t remember anything about what you tell me.” Marc jokes. “How about Bridget? Wasn’t there a Bridget or is it another name with a B?” Marc tests. 

  “It’s Benny.” you answer. “He was the only boy in our group.” you admit. “Okay, get me a picture because I don’t remember any of these people.” Marc requested as he sat forward in his seat. “Because you never met them, dingus.” you chuckle as you go looking for any picture you had saved. 

  You spent a while showing Marc the various pictures of you and your friends while back in your teenage years, which looked as dated as you think they would, and pointing to who’s who. Of course it was easy to point out Ben since he was the only boy that would ever be in your friend group photos. At some point you get to prom pictures where you and Benny are seen in one of those prom couple photos. 

  “You two went to prom?” Marc spoke. “We all did. But we all were meant to be a posse and go as a group of friends.” you remark, “But all the other girls got dates and I was the only one who didn’t so Benny asked to be mine so that I wasn’t the only one without one.” you explain. “That was nice of him.” Marc replied before changing his attention to a nearby reflection and muttering “Shut up.” under his breath. You knew that meant one of the others said something so you asked who it was and what they said. “Jake’s saying that maybe Ben was trying to “get lucky” or something.” Marc answered. You laughed at the comment and denied it. You knew Ben wasn’t that kind of a guy. But you always had the sneaky suspicion that Ben did always like you. 

-------------------------------------------

  Marc knew he’d be your plus one at the wedding as soon as you started telling him the difference between the girls and also letting it slip that you wanted him to be when he commented that Gabby had a metal mouth and you said “Don’t tell her that.”. He didn’t mind. Maybe he’d feel a bit out of place but he’s worked on handling foreign situations and had a balance with Steven and Jake, so they wouldn’t end up fronting during the wedding. 

  Gabby had her ceremony and reception at this little gallery in your home town that was actually really cute and fit everyone invited from both her invites and her now husband’s. As the bridesmaids, and bridesman, you all got to sit at the table closest to the newly weds during the dinner. To say that the girls were hyper fixated on Marc was a bit of an understatement. They asked all about him. What he did, how you met, what he was into. And anytime he said something about himself that would be considered attractive someone would sneak a look at you and wiggle their eyebrows. All the while Ben was silent.

  After dinner was of course cocktail hour while the coordinators rearranged the room to be better fit for the actual party. Sydney and Kaylani, along with Ben, managed to steal you away to talk more, and Susie opted to talk to and learn more about Marc. You sort of knew what they were doing, when Gabby brought her then boyfriend, now husband, to Kay’s wedding you separated them to see if there was a future marriage on the way.

  “So, Marc.” Sydney said as he took a sip of her cocktail, “Is it going anywhere with you two?” she spoke after finishing. You sighed. “We’re cohabitating right now.” you admit. “It’s not that he hates the idea of getting married. He’s just had a�� strange and rocky path with it in the past and he’s taking his time getting over it.” you clarify before mouthing “He’s once divorced.”. The girls nod in understanding before Ben speaks up, “So he’s second hand?” is what comes out of him in an almost slightly negative tone that doesn’t even make it sound like he’s hesitant to say it. One of the girls flicks him on the arm and scolds him with a “Ben!”. You take a moment to gather yourself from hearing that. 

  “Let’s not put it that way. He’s not an object.” you nervously continue. “It’s not like he’s battered from it. I’ve met his ex wife and she’s a lovely woman. They just had their own issues and figured that it was best they figure it out alone.” you say. “And there’s no shame in that.” Kay speaks up, to which almost everyone nods. “How old is he again?” Ben asks, seemingly dropping the tone and changing the subject. “Well. He’s older, like I said. But if you need to know he’s barely in his forties.” you confess. “He’s more past me, sure, but I’m almost in my late thirties. So it’s not that much.” you justify, to which the group takes into acceptance. “You have always liked older men, I guess.” Ben replies.

  Meanwhile with Susie and Marc, the talk has gone from him to something else. “Okay. So,” she manages to roll out of her mouth while spinning her now empty glass, “You might have noticed Benny.” she says. “I know of him, yes. He was at our table and I was told about him.” Marc verifies. “I’ll come clean with you, Marc. I think you and Y/N are great for each other. There’s clearly so much between you and if you asked the girls, you’d have all of our blessings to your relationship.” she stated. “Lemme guess. Not Benny’s, huh?” Marc chimed in. Susie gave him a firm head shake and said “No.”. Susie fixed her casual posture to a more serious one, which Marc knew meant that she was going to talk about some drama.

  “Marc. I’ve seen a lot of men,” Susie claimed, “In general.” she added, “And I know that men can hold their hearts out for literally nothing if they think that something is there to take it or if there’s a glimmer of hope that something will.” she explains. “Ben is one of those men.” Susie confirms. “He’s been holding it out for Y/N since he became part of our group. He wasn’t an obvious sucker back then. But once she told us about her seeing someone back at Kaylani’s wedding,” she says while pointing at him when she said ‘someone’, “He was all sappy and sad. It was honestly pathetic”. 

  “So what? Is he going to try and win her over?” Marc scoffs. “Hell no!” Susie exclaims, “You got everything on Y/N’s checklist. You’re charming, aged, you have some ruggedness to you, and I’m willing to bet you have more." she lists off. “And Benny’s 100% butthurt about it.” Susie jokes at her friend’s expense. “And you’re telling me all of this…?” Marc questions as he looked at Susie to have her answer why. “In case you two have your own wedding party and you get looked at funny by Ben if he’d even show up at all.” Susie remarked. “I’m sure I can handle some dirty looks from a guy who my girlfriend went to the high school prom with as a means to not be the person without a date.” Marc chuckled. “I might dance with her all night just to rub it in his face a little.” Marc comments.

“Well, the song they danced to at prom just so happens to be on the playlist for tonight.” Susie mentions.

#moon knight #moonknight #moonknight x reader #moon knight x reader #marc spector #marc spector x reader

[themultifandomgal]

Finn Cole- Red Carpet Interview

Finn and I exist our car together ready for our season 5 premiere and interviews. I smooth out my dress before taking Finns arm and we make our way down the carpet taking photos and doing interview

"Hi, how are you both this evening?" One of our interviewers asks

"We're good thank you, excited for tonight" I smile replying

"Watching the show it's about the Shelby family, but I get the impression you guys are actually a family off screen. You both seem to be with Harry a lot when your not filming"

"Yeah we're definitely a family, and I think we're lucky that we can say that" Finn says with a hand now around my waist

"Harry and I are the closest in age he's only like a year older than me so we have really grown up together from season 1. I always say that Harry is my annoying twin, Cillian is the dad, Paul the cool uncle, Sophie is my big sister and Jos like a brother to me"

"A real family then. I guess that makes filming so fun and easy for you guys?"

"Definitely. I can't imagine working on a set we're you haven't got these friendships" Finn replies

"I have to say in the last season we saw YCN toughen up a bit, will that continue throughout the next season?"

"For sure. We are going to see a lot of different things that YCN will struggle with which makes her really angry I guess and at times she will loose her cool"

We're then moved on to our next interview

"Hi how are you doing?" we're asked again

"We're well thank you"

"It's so lovely to see everyone coming out and dressing up. I've seen some people in period clothing"

"Oh wow I love that"

"That's brilliant. That's what we've, we've created a show we're people can get involved and can dress up and can enjoy it for the same reasons we can enjoy it and it's a really special thing in tv..." I see Natasha walk over to us smiling

"Oh hello" I smile interrupting Finn

"Hello" she smiles back

"Sorry babe carry on, I get distracted so easily" I tell the interviewer who laughs

"We we're just saying how nice it is to see everyone dressed up"

"Oh I love it, and the vibe, I wash just told that this is where they would stand to sign up for the war. And since the show focuses so heavily on PTSD it's really quite emotional" Nat says

"As actors what is it about Stevens writing that jumps out of that script when you first see it"

"Oh I only read my parts" I joke but don't last long because I start laughing "No I'm kidding. Erm for me it's how I'm kept at the edge of my seat. Like I can't ever predict what's going to happen"

"You can hear the music coming of the pages"

"It's one of those experiences reading something where it's so visual but every sentence is so exciting" I nods agreeing with Finn

"YN in season 4 we finally got to see YCN fall in love. Will that transpire into this season?"

"Yes. Unfortunately Jordan had brier engagements so wasn't able to film with us anymore so Daryl was casted and he's just slotted right in with all of us"

"What about Micheal. Will we get to see him fall in love this season?"

"Ah that you'll have to wait and see" Finn says making me chuckle because his answer basically was yes.

Move move on to another interview this time just Finn and I. This time it's an interviewer who has interviewed me since season 1

"It's good to see you both again"

"It's good to see you as well. How have you been?" I ask

"I really good thank you. You know I look back at my old interviews with you all and everyone looks practically the same, but then there's you and Harry who now look like actually adults" I laugh at her making the comment

"I know it's crazy. We filmed the pilot when I was 12 and now I'm 20 so it's crazy that nearly 10 years I've been with these guys"

"Well what is the dynamic like on set of a program of a drama like peaky blinders because it's very intense"

"Oh it's horrible" Finn jokes earning a nudge off me

"You know what's weird we would be doing a really intense scene but the moment we hear cut, we all burst out laughing" I say smiling "in season 4 I had to throw a drink at Lizzie but I only really had one chance so we did it over and over again with an empty cup. Then when we were ready we did it for real and I felt to bad. So as soon as we stopped filming I hugged her and kept apologising while Nat was just laughing the whole time"

Finn and I finish up with more interviews and some photos, watching the first episode of season 5 and then finally going to a little after party with all of the cast.

#peaky blinders #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders reader #tommy shelby #arthur shelby #john shelby #finn cole #finn cole x reader #michael grey imagines #michael gray

[bluebear-d]

Five act structure: reason to hope

I don't usually make posts on Tumblr, but i think after st4 maybe i should.

I agree with a lot of criticism for s4 and share everyone's pain. Hope all of you are well or at least getting there.

But here's something I've been thinking, so read on if you want to get another perspective or a little bit of hope in the magic of storytelling.

If the Duffers knew for awhile that they would have 5 seasons, they might have planned s4-5 together, a two-parter of sorts. So the reason s4 feels incomplete is because it is! And the reason it doesn't offer all the things the marketing implied is because those were meant for s5.

I think the Duffers are playing the long game using the 5 act structure. You can read about it on the internet, for example here is a good general article which i'm gonna quote a little.

I want to talk specifically about the final suspense, which is an important narrative tool occurring in act 4.

In 5 act structure, the forth act is where everything that can go wrong, does. It's the darkest before the dawn part, the part where we, along with the characters, lose all hope for things to end well.

It's like Sam's speech in The two towers: "how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened. But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."

I think there's reason to assume this is the structure the Duffers are planning.

First of all, the show is 5 seasons long. What better way to structure it than with five acts?

Secondly, other seasons seem to fall neatly into this structure.

For example, s3:

If we go by this structure and try to imagine what s5 might look like, it also fits perfectly:

Sound familiar? After the brutal and incomplete s4?

So if we assume Stranger Things is supposed to have this structure (which i think is reasonable and highly probable), then s4 is exactly the season where everything is so wrong it seems to never be right again.

But a new dawn is just around the corner.

A new hope if you will.

So take heart.

p.s. I know we've waited three years for this and didn't get much of anything resolved. I know we're all having trust issues right now irt the Duffers' plan and writing, but i'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. We've loved this show for so long, it gave us a lot, we put so much passion, effort, skill and love into it that i think it's not entirely fair to anyone to just abandon all hope and judge an unfinished show.

We're all hurt and frustrated right now, and afraid to be hurt again in two years. But hope is hardly a bad thing. Remember: the story is not over yet, and some wonderful storytelling just might be still happening.

p.p.s. With byler and Robin x Vicky and Will's potential coming out it's also possible that it's just not allowed to make any of that explicit until well into s5. It can be part of the deal with netflix or something, for fear that anything more than "up to interpretation" will cost the platform a chunk of its viewership.

It's a sad possiblity to consider, but I'm speaking from experiences with other shows and fandoms.

Just as an example: the creators of Steven Universe faught tooth and nail for a lesbian wedding and a kiss on screen, WON THIS, but immediately got cancelled and faught some more for additional several episodes to conclude the series.

Obviously, they aren't the same shows, I'm not saying it's the same situation.

But stuff like this still happens, unfortunately.

#byler #stranger things 4 #stranger things

[episodeoftv]

Round 1 of 6, Group 1 of 4

propaganda is under the cut (354 words) - may contain spoilers

summaries (pulled from imdb or wikis)

propaganda

Angel - 4.22 Home

Lilah returns from the dead to offer Angel and his friends full ownership of Wolfram and Hart.

1) It's the end of the worst season of tv I I can think of. So much on and off screen was just awful. I wish I could bleach any recollection of this from my mind 2) Easy summation of why Joss Wheadon should not be trusted with handling shows at this point. Connor is a horrible character that gets treated like garbage to the endthat despite the interesting premise of him, they don't address his issues and wipe his story to "fix" him and then there's everything with Cordelia that's best described in an essay that unfortunately isn't around but removing her after assassinating her character with everything is a mess and making her comatose to "wipe her away" never sat right and while the concept of Angel working for his worst enemy is a neat concept. it just. feels wrong. it just sucks.

Steven Universe - 5.29 Change Your Mind

cw: characters get stabbed (PG)

After landing on homeworld, Steven embarks on a journey to convince White Diamond to listen to him so he can help the corrupted gems back on Earth.

1) Genuinely just felt like a compact of all the issues Steven Universe had summed up that it tries to be deep and meaningful but felt so bad as a result. 2) "IDC that the interest decided media criticism is cringe or malicious and we all have to pretended Steven universe was some perfect little angel who was the victim of an evil hate campaign. The ending was rushed, horribley paced, had the worst redemption """"""arc"""""""""" in the entire series(yes I say redemption arcs look me dead in the eye and tell me the diamonds weren't redeemed), hideous fusion designs that broke the pre-established logic of fusion, and was some the most insufferable case of millenial writing I've seen. The only postive of the ending was that 10 seconds of james baxtet animation. It compounds all the criticisms people have held for Steven universe for years into a singular 40 minute episode and I'm glad it's considered embarrassing to like this show now. And in case anyone thinks I'm just a bitter 30 year old who was expecting too much from a children's show: I was 15 when the finale aired I was literally the prime demographic I thought it was shit then and I think its shit now”

#btvs #steven universe #su #angel #angel the series #wfround1 #wfpoll #polls #poll #wfr1g1

[thestupidhelmet]

If the original writers had stuck around for the eighth season and we'd gotten a Jackie/Hyde endgame possibly ending with their wedding, do you think the writers of the reboot would have destroyed that in favor of pairing Jackie with Kelso the way they broke up Jackie and Fez? Or do you think there's a chance their endgame would have been preserved? For some reason, I feel like J/H shippers would have been screwed no matter what due to real life stuff.

Many of the original writers stayed, and some of them wrote great J/H episodes before season 8. The show runners changed from the J/H-loving Filgos to the J/H hating duo who took the job afterward.

If season 7 hadn't been decided to be last season and originally written as the end of the show, the Filgos likely would've stuck around to finish out the series (if it was just one more season). As far as everyone on T7S was concerned, S7 was it, and people started looking for new gigs, including the Filgos.

The writers take story direction from he showrunners. If the Filgos had stayed for S8, they would've had to deal with Eric's absence and Kelso's mostly absence. I'd like to believe they would've made sure both characters were still part of the show even if offscreen.

Jackie and Hyde would've been engaged (as in the originally-written S7/series finale). A lot of humor could've been derived from that. Red/Kitty and Jackie/Hyde likely would've had a lot of stories together, comparing and contrasting a long-married couple to a newly-engaged one (which isn't the direction taken during E/D's engagement arc).

W.B. would've been utilized more, hopefully with his character (and relationship with Hyde) fleshed out instead of just punchlines.

Fez would grieve over Kelso, a storyline of its own. He and Donna could bond over their mutual losses. At some point, Fez might misinterpret his new friendship-closeness as romantic, and Donna would have to shut him down. She's still in love with Eric, and she's waiting for him. Ez would think about this a moment and say, "And I will wait for Kelso, too."

Donna: But Kelso's not coming back. He's living with Brooke and their baby in Chicago.

Fez: Then I will go to him.

Donna: And do what?

Fez (emotional): Tell him I love him!

Donna: Okay, when you say *love* ...

Fez: Love, woman! Can't one man love another man in this country without everyone else being weird about it?!

Donna: I suppose father and sons, brothers --

Fez: And best friends. Now good day.

Donna: Fez, we're in my house.

Fez: I said good day!

Out of this we get an episode where Fez visits Kelso in Chicago. Unfortunately the actress who played Brooke didn't love being on the show, but maybe she'd do one guest spot like she did in S7.

What I would love is if Fez runs into Rhonda in Chicago, and the second half of season 8 for Fez is about them reconciling.

Jackie and Donna s storylines have a lot of potential, too. Jackie might say she understands what Donna's going through with having a long-distance relationship.

Donna: Oh? Do tell.

Jackie: Steven has to go to Milwaukee every few weeks for work. That's, like, an hour away, and sometimes he's there the whole weekend to spend time with family.

Donna: Jackie, Eric is across the ocean on another continent. I get letters from him twice a week. I haven't heard his voice in months. Hyde going to Milwaukee for a weekend doesn't compare -- and you go with him for a lot of the overnights.

Jackie: Well, fine. If you don't want my sympathy, you don't have to have it.

Donna and Jackie reconcile sooner than later, though, and Jackie helps Donna come up with the best care package for Eric ever, which Kitty gets nosy about. She tries to slip in a few items her own, and Red catches her. This leads to their story in that episode.

We also have Bob, whom might not have planned to move to Florida but started to date another woman, played by a famous actress (as T7S is wont to do). Maybe someone totally inappropriate for him or insane, which gives him a story arc with all the main characters who have to deal with this new presence and her weird effect on Bob. Not a Caroline/Fez rehash, though.

All in all, I hope the Filgos would feel free to let humor and plot rise organically from characterization. No more alcoholism for Kitty and no put-upon cliche TV husband for Red. R/K would get their due with their characters, evolving as the circumstances around them have changed (e.g., no Eric, J/H engaged, an ever-present Fez and Donna, etc.)

#that 70s show #that '70s show #Jackie x Hyde #Red x Kitty #Eric x Donna #Ask #Anon #My Meta #My Essay #Meta #Essay #Ficlet

[littlekingbergara]

okay you totally don't need to publish this if you don't want the disk horse or drama but as someone whose favorite is Steven... these last few months have really been bumming me out? like with the launch of ghost files and then with puppet history having an insane season, I totally get why the fandom has been all about Shane and Ryan recently. but like it's spread to other social media to the point that like someone was sincerely saying that they didn't know there was a third guy who co-founded the company or people just mentioning Shane and Ryan when they talk about the entire channel or like just in general, the lack of hype over worth it or any of Steven's activities... :/ and it's always been an issue for as long as the channel as been around and I totally get liking creators over others and being here for Unsolved/being here for Shane and Ryan's stuff but I don't know. I hope Steven knows he is loved and has fans and we appreciate his content, that's all.

i totally hear you. the last few months steven himself has been pretty absent from the channel too, filming worth it and then he was shooting something in korea for a while and then finishing up worth it when he got back. and he posts even Less on social media than shane does so he's harder to keep up with 😭 i know he's made it a conscious effort to use social media less and not rely on it for validation and not give followers too much access to his personal life (he's talked about it in the past) so i guess his absence in that regard is a sign he's doing well and fostering his own life and his personal relationships. he is so so missed when he's gone for long periods of time though :(

steven lim is truly a pioneer in content, in formats, in representation, and on and on and on. he is constantly finding new ways to take something as universal as food content and use it to tell so many different stories and bring us so many perspectives that arent often given a voice in mainstream or digital media. a lot of his content is focused on showcasing - or rather giving people the space to showcase their own - cultures and customs and traditions and that's a super important space to occupy and provide. it's about respect and reverence and love.

i mean it soooo genuinely when i say i think probably Thee biggest content-related loss because of covid is homemade. that show was so special and so deeply steven. i wish we could have gotten to see where else he could have taken the show and i hope one day they can find a way to bring it back safely.

and youre so right. ryan and shane have made it a point since the beginning of watcher to say hey we brought steven lim with us and we Couldn't run this company without him. he brings something to the channel that neither of us can. unfortunately i think it's harder to have a vocal fandom around food content.

yall can be the change you know. if you want to see more steven or shane love start a blog about it!! people will follow.

#im not afraid of discourse and anyone who would send hate over something like this is a big loser anyway. #im also mourning a day in my mouth. rip 🕊️ #💌 #anon #steven #steven lim #ahtw

[caddy-crystal-queen]

Moon Knight and Daemons

So I'm losing sleep over something and I wanna hear honest opinions.

Been back on a moon knight kick as well as a His Dark Materials kick. That being said, I've started to wonder: what daemon(s) would the Moon Knight system have? Now I have no idea how someone with DID would work in the world of HDM, so I'm kinda going on a limb here and assume that a system's daemon would also have alters and alternate forms. I don't actually know if that's how it works, so please please please PLEASE do not take my word for it. I'm literally just doing this for fun.

So...what daemon would each alter have? Well, I'm glad you asked. Let's get into it

1. Steven Grant

Daemon: the Kestrel

This bird is small. Like really small. I believe it's actually the smallest of the raptors, but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. Either way, the bird is small and folks tend to underestimate it, the same way Steven is rather underestimated by his peers as well as the system at first. The kestrel, despite its size, is still a bird of prey and important to the environment, just as Steven is still important to the moon knight system.

2. Marc Spector

Daemon: the Timber Wolf

Yeah I knew this one right off the bat. Marc's daemon is a wolf and no one can convince me otherwise. Here's why: wolves can function fine on their own, but they work best when in a pack (something we'll also see with Jake's, but we'll cross that bridge in a minute), which I feel is something Marc learns throughout the Moon Knight series. Wolves are also highly misunderstood animals, being depicted throughout history and lore as monsters and villains. Who else have been depicted in a similar way? People with DID unfortunately. These people aren't monsters, they're human beings who deserve to be loved and understood. And again, like the kestrel, wolves are important to the environment (they're actually a keystone species if I recall correctly), and Marc is, arguably, the most important personality in the moon knight system (a keystone, if you will).

3. Jake Lockley

Daemon: the Meerkat

Before you get your torches and pitchforks out, let me explain, as I had a REALLY hard time figuring this one out. Primarily because we haven't seen much of Jake at all in the series, and I personally have not read the comics. Please take it easy on me yall. So I chose the meerkat for one pretty big reason: they are the most murderous mammals on the planet aside from us, and Jake is the most bloody of the Moon Knight system (as far as we know). However this does not mean that he's not important to the system, or can't work well in a group. Like the wolf, a lone meerkat can, and often does, function well on its own but it eventually does need a mob. If you've seen Meerkat Manor, you're probably very familiar with meerkat society and how it functions, and just how brutal it can be. I feel that Jake, if we're ever gonna get a second season of Moon knight, is probably gonna go through a similar arc as Marc, where he learns to get along with the other two in the system rather than pushing them away like he seems to. Honestly I'm all for it, so bring it on Marvel (well, after the strike of course). And seriously, I just love the idea of seeing someone like Jake with something small and kind of adorable. I'm a sucker for that trope, and plus I think he'd find a meerkat to be pretty damn useful.

And those are the Daemons for the moon knight system. This was actually pretty fun to write but I think I'm gonna try and get some sleep now! Leave honest thoughts in the comments or reblog if you feel so inclined! Have fun ^.^

#moon knight #his dark materials #marvel #literature #the golden compass #the subtle knife #the amber spyglass #crossover #marc spector #steven grant #jake lockley #daemon #daemons #kestrel #wolf #meerkat

[thesinglesjukebox]

DJO - END OF BEGINNING

Keeping up with TikTok pop while we still can...

[3.75]

Leah Isobel: I kind of want to be a hater about this. "Stranger Things star makes budget Ariel Pink pop about growing up, goes viral on TikTok" is an insufferable Mad Libs narrative pitch. The lyrics feel cryptic in a bad way, like Djo is aware that he's traveling well-trodden ground and straining to justify himself. And yet, his acting background comes through: his hammy Boris Pickett affectations lock him to the beat, keeping the song from feeling overly self-indulgent. It's still a little mushy, but that's not a crime. [5]

Nortey Dowuona: Djo has rightly seized on his captive audience in order to launch his pop rock career, but it thankfully hasn’t spiraled the way the Childish Gambino project did to the point where there are insufferable fans and detractors duking it out over its merits -- mainly because it’s too good to be dinged, but not good enough to be more than a popular actor’s passion project. Adam Thein’s limp drums, which have aged badly since 2022, can’t keep the overwhelming pace of the synth riffs or the lumpy bass left in the background of the mix. They support the toplines rather than drive the song, as many a baseline has done, but that then leaves the topline to hold everything up, which it constantly refuses to do. As for Joe Keery, he is no Childish Gambino before 2012. At least it’s short. [4]

Alfred Soto: The Stranger Things actor is too old by at least five years to have taken Twenty One Pilots seriously. [0]

TA Inskeep: Owl City 2024. [2]

Dave Moore: The verses are synth fetishism worthy of an awkward Stranger Things teen romance subplot (derogatory), followed by a pale imitation of a Sufjan Stevens chorus (complimentary). The ingredients sort of work on paper -- I am only human, which is to say a dork who was born in the '80s. But the song just sort of sits there, like it was designed to be vaguely apprehended floating through a pop-up beer garden. [5]

Taylor Alatorre: Are we just supposed to take these younger artists' word that their work is primarily inspired by genuine Nineteen-Eighties music, and not the phantasmal refractions of it that were being created between 2008 and 2015 (and beyond)? Because whatever points I take away for roteness and facelessness, I may give back for honesty. Anyway, check out Twin Shadow's new single "To the Top" if you get the chance. Sound of the summer. [4]

Katherine St. Asaph: This is by a Stranger Things actor and supposedly sounds like the '80s. What it actually sounds like is the driftier, understated parts of '90s alternative radio playlists. And as someone who owns the Carice van Houten album, I fully support TV folks making vanity albums that don't sound like what you'd think. [6]

Mark Sinker: He’s singing “tear to cry,” but I first heard it as “diddikai”, the Romani term for a traveler not fully Romani. Maybe you can make something of this – musician who fashions his artistic persona round not being the character he plays in a multi-season Netflix series! ��� but I’m not sure I sensibly can. The song is pretty and mannered and flimsy; he’s way not old enough to have the wisdom he thinks he has.  [5]

Isabel Cole: "I wave goodbye to the end of beginning" is a great line, capturing the moment when you might not feel particularly like an adult but understand, suddenly, that until recently you were very young, and now you are something else. I do remember twenty-four! Unfortunately the actual song is a plodding, soupy nothing. [0]

Will Adams: When you've got an admittedly gorgeous arrangement of languid, synth-smeared indie-rock, the last thing you want to do is sound like a try-hard; and yet, Joe Keery's delivery of clipping every syllable makes "End of Beginning" almost embarrassing to listen to. [5]

Ian Mathers: There are some choices here I kind of like (mostly around the lyrics and vocals), but the guitar tone, the chiming synth sound, and something about the production overall feels instantly dated, like I'm already looking forward to me five years from now hearing this and going "yeah, a lot of shit sounded like that in 2024." [5]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: An absolute nothing of a song – but I know, deep in my heart, that if I had encountered this as a college freshman it would have absolutely rocked my shit. Keery is seven years too late for me, but I'm glad this exists for those who need it. Will I still feel this warmly towards this mediocrity if I have to hear it out in the world for the next year or so? Well, that's not my problem right now. [4]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

#djo #stranger things #music #music writing #music reviews #music criticism #the singles jukebox #Youtube

[none-prob]

I write about a character per day

Day 15: Hunter

(Don't worry I'm not abandoning this yet, I'm just very tired)

Hunter Deamonne-Clawthorne-Noceda-Park-Wittebane-insert-whatever-you-want-here is an interesting character to say the least. He has arguably the best redemption arc throughout the show that was unfortunately sacrificed by his best friend and palisman. This boy can contain so much traumatic experiences.

A character that was only introduced in Season 2, yet having so much depth than even some main characters. From an annoying brat to completely traumatized kid that need intensive therapy. My god, so many things cramped into this child in 21 episodes.

Hunter before and after Hollow Mind really was two completely different people, despite trying his best to be the same, so I want to go for it first. Everything built up for Hunter before Hollow Mind was intense. Complete alienation from the life outside the castle, starting to doubt his "uncle", actually truce and cooperate with Luz in Hunting Palisman, and even doubting himself. And then Hollow Mind came like a trainwreck.

Belos was too good of a manipulator, he made Hunter completely trust him, even at doubt times inside his real mind. Only when he witnessed the graveyard of Golden Guard, all hell broke loose. Nothing Belos said is true anymore, all those masks used to be like him. And in a moment of desperation, fleeing away is the solution he considered, which to me is reasonable. That moment when you started doubting everything, the moment of ultimate betrayal, definitely had a toll on him. From a kid with only one purpose, he's now panicking, disoriented, and traumatized beyond recognition, trying to be strong for Gus in Labyrinth Runners but still seems shakingly anxious inside. This poor boy was starting to recover when in the Human realm, only to be traumatized again by Belos, with the loss of Flapjack on top. He is only related to Belos as a grimwalker of his brother, everything else Belos used this kid like a puppet. You don't need me to repeat the bad things Belos did to know that part.

Considering Luz and co missions were being meddled the most by the Golden Guard, it truly is a heartbreaking moment when she considered Hunter a family member. Look, compare all you want about Steven Universe being too "merciful and forgiveful", that is an incredibly kind act of her. Communication is so important. Acceptance and forgiveness is not forgetting what they did (that's revisionism), but to acknowledge their desire to change and get better. The person who just a few episodes ago were yelling at her for keeping them trapped in Belos' mind, was crying next to her, the tears of acceptance and relief. A person who followed every imperial order, now fights back the imperialist to his life. Luz changed Hunter's life in such a drastic way that changed this boy forever.

It's honestly really funny that the community thinks Amity and Hunter just despite each other. They have one episode fighting each other and probably some small fun-awkward-look from Amity. But really, after that dreadful day at Eclipse Lake, they got along really well, I just think it's funny to point it out.

One of the greatest dynamics of the show is Hunter and Willow, between the captain and her best player. Huntlow is an incredibly fun couple to watch, with the rapid rate of clues about them being canon, to Zeno Robinson's trolling on twitter about "advanced friendship" (I mean, yeah it's very advanced indeed I guess). The fact that one was always there when the other was at their lowest is amazing to me. She made him feel accepted for the first time, he got her out of her immense breakdown. Through the entire time in the Human realm, Willow was so supportive to Hunter, and that genuinely made him happy. It's just so beautiful.

Gus is a great friend/teammate/brother for Hunter, and they really only started interacting at the last quarter of Season 2 (yes you can see how the cancellation affected the show, so many interactions were robbed). The times spent in Camila's basement is priceless, bonding them with a mutual interest in Cosmic Frontier. Labyrinth Runners was a great episode, as Gus indirectly helped Hunter getting accepted in Hexside.

No other character in the show had a stronger bond with their palisman than Hunter and Flapjack. Flapjack was the only friend in the castle for Hunter, and so many times Flapjack just decided to do things for Hunter's good. Flapjack just can't stand Hunter being too closed towards everyone, he loved pulling Hunter's hair to make him talk. Just no one understands Flapjack more than Hunter. The scene Flapjack sacrificed himself for Hunter is truly the saddest scene throughout the show. Hunter still can feel Flapjack in his heart, but it just doesn't feel right anymore, which reminds me of the first Stevonnie experience. My poor boy was having the first glimpse of happiness only to be traumatized again.

Honestly I am not the biggest Hunter fan, nor is he my all-time favourite, but Hunter's redemption arc is so good, and I wished we had more scenes of this boy being happy.

#the owl house #toh #hunter toh #hunter the owl house #luz noceda #willow park #huntlow #gus porter

[itsahotminuteinbetween]

Audio that I think would be cool animated but I won't animate cuz I don't know how to and don't have the tools:

Exactly the nature of this post. I have ideas but can't put them into format and I hate that I'm limited by my own capabilities. I can't even draw half the time, so I'm doing this because I have no motivation right now.

Yes half of this is from steven universe and almost all of it for TSAMS.

2:55 and 4:09, I don't remember what for, but I'm assuming for cannon sun and moon?

2. Can't find the audio for it, unfortunately. It's the season one ending of Teen Titans 2003, where they defeat Slade, the part where Robin says: "And I know how much you hate to lose." I think that would be interesting between tsams Eclipse and Lunar, with Eclipse lashing out and Lunar standing up for himself.

3. I can't find the original audio for the Marcy 'death' scene. Yes, it's a little overused nowadays, but it'd work for Lunar and Monty, I think.

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKRN73Hm6Q Guys, tell me this wouldn't fit with tsams Sun and Moon. Again, a bit cliche, but still. Sun as Pearl, twin BloodMoons momentarily appearing on either side of him, a cannon in his hands, the og Moon on the ground, until he stops himself, remembering that this Moon isn't his Moon, not really.

5. You're not Welcome by Naethan Apollo. Tsams Sun going a bit crazy in that one thing where he 'kill' Eclipse and goes after 'Solar Flare'.

6. "I can't Decide" by Scissor Sisters, Tsams Eclipse and Lunar.

7. Stevonnie Fusion scene with the original (?) Eclipse combination of Sun and Moon.

8. "Just Take My Wallet" by Jack Stauber, tsams Sun and past Moon.

9. Interlude IV (Showtime) with Tsams Sun, yelling at that Moon illusion in his head from that on episode. It doesn't really fit, but it's a thing.

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6JPEdv-Ac Ya'll could probably find some use for this.

11. This.

That is all, I'm going back to my lil hole to worry over what I just posted and hope that no one sees this cuz it's embarrassing.

#sorry to bother #don't mind me #i'm deleting this later no one can see this #god I wish I could animate but alas #animatic ideas

[darthkvznblogs]

What did you think of Amphibia's finale btw?

I've talked about it before, but I do have a bit of a complicated relationship with it; I think it's very well done, and very much succeeds at sticking the landing with regard to the overall plotline and message of the series. However, I think that's a little bit to its detriment, ultimately; the series' message is all about teaching the ins and outs of friendship and family (biologically or otherwise), and also the darker sides of such relationships, as well as the very important lesson that sometimes, friendships just end, and they're no less valuable for doing so. In teaching this lesson, however, it unfortunately kinda overlooks the fact that we've spent 3 full seasons getting invested in these characters and relationships.

It's...genuinely impossible for me to believe that the girls would fall out of contact, that everyone involved wouldn't try everything in the book (and then invent some new things) in order to try and open a portal again. I'm not even talking about any shipping aspect, I just...I feel like if I saw a loved one pretty much die before my eyes and they miraculously came back (Sprig, Marcy), I don't think I could tear my eyes from them again. I feel like the natural response would be to grow even closer, regardless of the distance.

I still appreciate it a lot. I respect its boldness in sticking to its guns, if nothing else, and I definitely bawled my eyes out when I watched it. I'm not too heartbroken now - I thrive in post-canon :P - it's just a similar (if much less intense) love/hate relationship like I have with Steven Universe Future. Well made, but definitely not what I wanted.

#ask box #anon ask #amphibia

[madmarkinabox]

Season 3

The Gunfighters

The TARDIS arrives in Tombstone in the Old West, the Doctor seeking a dentist for a painful toothache. Unfortunately a band of gunmen are in town seeking revenge against drunken gambler Doc Holliday, and the Doctor fits the description they've been given.

We take our first, but not last, trip to the wild west, and, oh dear, it's really not good. Remember those really dodgy accents in New York in The Chase? They're even worse here. At least in The Chase they were consistent. Here they slip all over the place. With Dodo and Steven's attempts to mingle, it's generally played for laughs, but the others that are trying seriously generally don't land. Some don't even really try to hide that they're actually English. Not even the presence of Thunderbirds alumni Shane Rimmer and David Graham, in a rare physical performance and sounding a lot like one of his previous roles as Fireball XL5's Matt Matic, can do enough to prop up the others.

In addition, it's so generally dull. It's only 4 episodes long, but feels more like 8. And by the time you've heard that Last Chance Saloon song for the 4th time, because they insist on using it for almost every scene transition, it becomes very annoying. Especially when they start using it to narrate what's happening or to try and teach us something far too late. Were we supposed to just already know about Wyatt Earp in advance, like with the Reign of Terror?

Boring and annoying, and not even silly in a fun way. Don't bother with this one. I want those two hours back.

The next story, The Savages, is gone. Just as well, I don't think I could face another historical one. So next time: The War Machines.

#classic doctor who #doctor who #first doctor

[survivor-marieta-islands]

Cast Reveal #3 - Antigua - Old School

JINX | SHE/THEY/VERS | 28 | ST. LOUIS | MEDICAL MARIJUANA AGENT

First Survivor Season: TS Montenegro (June 2019)

Intro: 28. zilennial. enfj. begrudgingly a morning person and a glass half full person. is happiest cuddling & sleeping in bed or on a roadtrip. writer & poet. humanistic spiritual interpreter. professional ipad baby. the most taylor swift hating taylor swift listener. happiest zero vote finalist. moved cross country recently and is still adjusting to being in CST after a lifetime of PST. cries pretty easily after a lifetime of repressed emotions so don't take it personally. a little pretentious about how much they love music but definitely not in music taste. in a perpetual state of grief & love. misses the beach.

Three Words to Describe You: Effervescent, passionate, creative

Hobbies and Passions: Writing, collaging. Playing online Catan and some video games like Overwatch, Mario Kart, etc. Reading tarot and astrological charts. Pointless debates. Finding humor in everything (genuinely). Going on long drives. Going to the beach. Making playlists for people I love.

What You're Most Proud Of: Myself and how far I've come after all I survive and keep surviving.

Why You'll Win: I think 3rd time may actually be the charm!

MADDISON | SHE/HER | 27 | TEXAS | MARKETING DIRECTOR

First Survivor Season: Stings Tierra del Fuego (July 2020)

Intro: Howdy party people, my name is Maddison and I’m super excited to (potentially) play with all of you! This is about as exciting as my tinder profile, so I’ll notably mention my love for basketball and being a plant mother. I’m a 26 y/o lil bisexual and I work in marketing (thrilling!)

Three Words to Describe You: silly, goofy, cowboy

Hobbies and Passions: listening to live music, watching women’s sports & anything outdoors!

What You're Most Proud Of: Leaving my small, rural hometown and building a life for myself that feels authentic and open to possibility.

Why You'll Win: I can win this game because I am open, adaptive and flexible to others gameplay.

RAFFY | HE/HIM | 23 | NEW JERSEY | ADMIN OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

First Survivor Season: Athena Azores (July 2017)

Intro: I'm Raffy. I wasn't planning on playing a game so soon after, but it is Jay hosting and I love them. So here I am again to make a fool of myself.

Three Words to Describe You: Prideful, Sentimental, Bold

Hobbies and Passions: Reading, writing, and playing video games

What You're Most Proud Of: I am most proud of my senior thesis I wrote in university. It taught me a lot about where my skills as a writer lies and the joy of research. I’m actually working towards creating more analytical essays on some of my favorite TV shows and video games (though I still have to get around to it)!

Why You'll Win: Because I am headstrong and determined to do my best in everything!

STEVEN | HE/HIM |26 | FLORIDA | LINE COOK

First Survivor Season: Supreme Madagascar (February 2016)

Intro: Hey y’all! I’m Steven and I’m a Florida guy without the Florida vibes. I work as a line cook and love Pokémon, board games, and reality tv. It’s also my birthday month so please be nice to me

Three Words to Describe You: Optimistic, competitive, opinionated

Hobbies and Passions: Watching reality tv, Pokémon, and baking

What You're Most Proud Of: That I am able to always push myself to overcome what scares me and grow as a person from it

Why You'll Win: I know what I am successful at and hopefully can balance the things I struggle with to make my way to the end

ZO | SHE/HER | 26 | TORONTO | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

First Survivor Season: TS Kiwayu (March 2015)

Intro: Hi kids it’s everyone’s fave elusive icon back from the grave to play again! Currently using she/her pronouns and am a fresh crispy 26 years of age! Unfortunate facts about me include that I’m a swiftie, I identify as a slytherin in ironically, and i’m mentally stuck in 2004! 🫶🏼 Excited to dust off the ole brain cells and play again with everyone!

Three Words to Describe You: Kooky, Kwazy, and Kunty (can i say that?)

Hobbies and Passions: Spin/the gym in general, reading, and arts and crafts 🫶🏼

What You're Most Proud Of: My fiancé and I recently bought property in the year 2023 and we never thought that would happen so that’s probably my most proud moment 💅🏼

Why You'll Win: Because I’m funny but also snakey and everyone loves the mean one with the good one liners

#cast #cast reveal

[hen-universe]

character opinion bingo: them doggone diamonds - also the mail lady

For the Diamonds, I don't think anyone's surprised

Wooo boy, where to start?

I love them (shocker). I love their designs, I love their characters, I love their relationships. I wish so badly we'd had another season to give them a little more screen time, but what we have is so rich.

We start with Yellow, who the show teases as the possible end game 'big bad.' She's introduced as someone who's cold, calculating, and controlling. Everyone's scared shitless of her for good reason. Same goes for Blue's introduction in 'Story for Steven'.

But when we see Blue in person, it's her grieving at Pink's 'grave'. This Diamond who finds solace in Greg’s words is a far cry from Garnet’s portrayal. 'What's the Point of Feeling Blue?' is such an uncomfortably intimate moment. We eavesdrop on this private and raw demonstration of grief. It's jarring and uncomfortable. We get to see ‘cold’ Yellow trying her best to comfort Blue, and sadsack Blue turn vicious when Steven’s put on trial. 

We can sympathize with their interpersonal struggles, but they’re still the leaders of a highly repressive society. These things coexist without trying to frame their behavior as a tragic backstory responsible for their actions. It makes their characters that much richer, and the story that much better for doing so.

As for White Diamond... my feelings are a little more mixed. I love her design influences (her intro? Chilling. Perfect )  I just get caught up on the ‘she believes all Gems are her and she is all Gems’ bit. It just doesn’t feel like it quite fits with the rest of her ideology, but that’s just me. 

(I kind of wanted to circle 'they got done DIRTY' because there is an unfortunate chunk of the fandom that came away thinking 'SU is bad because the Diamonds are evil space-imperialists and Steven just forgave all their space-imperialism and they should have died/been banished/overthrown' but let's be real here: they also have a lot of folks who love them and gave them the attention they deserve, so that doesn't seem fair.

But part of the impetus for Dispatches was because at the time it started there were soooo many 'Homeworld is horrible/the Diamonds are cruel for shits and giggles' stories circulating that flattened them out to generic baddies. To be fair, they've done lots of things wrong, in their lives, often, but I want to read stories that actually take their characters into account.)

As for Barb, well...

'Actively dislike' may be a bit strong, but I've had enough experiences with people like her to not warm up to her. I've said this a hundred times, but SU does a fantastic job at realistically illustrating flawed people and dysfunctional dynamics. One episode is enough to tell us everything we need to know about Barb, Sadie, and why Sadie turned out the way she did.

Barb's enthusiastic and strong-willed. And she steamrolls. She does what she feels is best without allowing Sadie any input. So Sadie doesn't fight back and just accepts it as inevitable.

Sadie hiding the warp pad in Island Adventure makes so much more sense once Barb was introduced. Sadie 'knew' what was best for Lars and made an executive decision with long-reaching impacts over which he had no control. Sounds familiar, huh?

And it goes back to SU's storytelling that we're shown how damaging this behavior is. Barb isn't malicious; she's doing these things because she loves her daughter, but she's so caught up in herself she can't see how much this 'love' was hurting her. The catharsis of 'Sadie's Song' is her finally, finally, seeing her daughter as she is and apologizing.

(It turns out I actually have a lot to say about her. Discussions of generational trauma just seem to bring that out, haha. )

#answers #anonymous #text posts #OP

[emometalhead]

✌🖤

#I love his drums shirt! #in honor of my love of current Steven and The Top Ten Revealed #the show comes back next month!! my dad and I are super excited for new episodes!! #unfortunately I don't think Steven will be back this season #his peace sign tattoo always makes me happy #this is a very nice picture of him #it makes me happy to post these daily Steven pics 😊 #steven adler #stevie baby #the top ten revealed #ashley posts pics #hi I woke up crying about him so that's the 2nd time today. fun times lol.