#Premiere is actually surprisingly easy to use. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theuniversitychallengereview · 1 year

Text

Ep 5 - Cranfield vs Royal Holloway

Right, gang - I got distracted watching skits about contact tracing on Twitter so I now only have thirteen minutes to write this intro rather than the thirty I had initially planned for (its remarkably easy to fall down a ‘skits about contact tracing’ rabbit hole, and it's a surprisingly deep rabbit hole), but we’re going to give this a go anyway...

Something football fans will idly do if there aren’t any matches on, or if the only match thats on is something like Burnley vs Watford (mid-October, not mid-March in the depths of a relegation battle), is idly speculate about what the ideal lineup of Premier League teams would be. Unlike American sports in which there is no promotion and relegation, the football pyramid is a constantly shifting chimaera, meaning that you can never have all of the most “noble and historic” teams in the top division at the same time.

Indeed, they did try and engineer a version of this for teams across the European continent in the form of the European Super League, but this was shouted down for being one of the most soulless and corporate ideas ever to come out of soulless and corporate modern sport. But it's something fun to think about, anyway.

I actually have a list of 22 teams for my dream Premier League on my phone, dated 5th January 2019 (just so you know I’m walking the walk as well as talking the talk here). I’d share, but the controversy would likely be too much for me (and you) to handle. The thought processes behind this decision making are very abstract and unknowable, but essentially, in most people’s cases, it probably boils down to two things: one - who used to be really good, ages ago?; and two - who was sort of okay when you were between the ages of five and thirteen. This is why my particular list contains Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth, despite neither of them having been in the top division (until Forest’s ascent this year) for quite a while.

You may also have noticed that my league has 22 participants, while the actual league only has 20. This is because of a third aspect of the decision making process - the idea of the golden age. Despite the fact that I was never alive when the Premier League had 22 teams, it feels to me like football must have been better, and more pure when it did.

Nothing can be as good now as it used to be.

This is a truism in more than just football. When we look at the past, we look at it with rose-tinted glasses.

I imagine you’re wondering what the heck this all has to do with University Challenge, and you’d have good reason to. Your wondering will likely not be abated by my explanation either, because the observation it is based on is far from universal.

When choosing my ideal 28 team lineup for University Challenge, I’d have all of the major players - your Yorks, and your Edinburghs, your Durhams and Warwicks and Imperials and St Andrewses. A sprinkling of the most successful Oxford and Cambridge Colleges, Trinity, Magdalene, Corpus Christi… The Open University. I’d also have one of tonight’s teams, despite them only having appeared four times in the Paxman Era.

However, in one of those four appearances, Cranfield made the final, so in the hours I have spent on the University Challenge Wikipedia page over the years, scrolling through the list of past finals, they must have seeped into my head as an absolutely classic UC team. They’ve not been on the show since they were beaten in the Grand Final by Birkbeck in 2003, but I’ve absorbed that name over the course of countless repeat visits to that one webpage, to the extent that I had written all of that stuff about the Premier League without even checking their overall record. Still, they make my roster regardless.

Unfortunately, Royal Holloway, with their pair of second round appearances, do not. But that’s quite enough nostalgia for one intro, lets get on with the show (this has taken me twenty one minutes, so I’m going to be watching on a delay, but that ain’t half bad for seven hundred words I don’t think)

The first starter goes to Brown of Royal Holloway, winning the race to Renee Zellwegger. They pass on a very guessable bonus- as in they should have at least given a guess, not necessarily that they would have got it right - which is not the most promising of signs, but they get the third at least. Brown then takes another starter, and they took two bonuses on the Copley medal.

Suri gets Cranfield off the mark with pop art, and they get two bonuses on the letter X, before Keenan takes the first picture round to bring them within five points. Two bonuses on proposed new states reversed the deficit.

Harvey gets a starter for Holloway, and I was about to chastise them for saying snapping turtle instead of snapper turtle on a bonus, and chastise Paxman for allowing the answer, but a quick Google has revealed that it was I who was in the wrong. How embarrassing. At least I didn’t publish that without checking, though.

Cranfield’s double act of Keenan and Suri take another ten points each to reclaim the lead for the Bedfordshire quartet, but Harvey swiftly pegs them back with a starter of his own, and Holloway are five clear going into the music round.

No one gets the starter, despite some accidental conferring from Holloway after Cranfield skipper Stephenson had buzzed in with a wrong answer. Abramovich hears two-toed on the next starter and buzzes in with sloth, as any good quizzer should. What other animal is defined by its having two toes?

On a bonus about The Haunting of Hill House, Cranfield’s Chivers comes so close to the correct answer that it's such a shame to hear him say End instead of Hill, but them's the breaks. Holloway follow this up by giving sea urchin instead of sea cucumber, but that only has two words in total so it's less sad.

The second picture starter goes to Brown, who recognised a still from the Danish show Borgen. They clean up on the bonuses, and Paxman takes his chance to patronise them for knowing stuff about TV shows. I know it's his last season and all, but it should be pointed out that he himself is literally on a TV show at the exact moment he makes this comment.

On the next starter, which also goes to Brown, you can sense him gearing up to correct her pronunciation of Karamazov before she’s even finished giving her answer. She won’t care though, because Holloway are more than fifty points clear with only a few minutes remaining.

A late rally from Cranfield brings them above one hundred points, but Holloway aren’t threatened, and win by a clear margin at the gong.

Final Score: Cranfield 110 - 155 Royal Holloway

So, Cranfield not doing much justice to my selection of them to the Hall of Fame lineup there, but congratulations to Royal Holloway, who advance to the second round for the third time in three appearances. Here’s hoping they can go one better this time.

See you next time for Glasgow vs Queen’s Belfast, and as always, thanks for reading. Subscribe if you never want to miss a post, it really would mean a lot to me.

#university challenge #bbc2 #cranfield #royal holloway #jeremy paxman #quizzy mondays

5 notes · View notes

roxy206 · 1 year

Note

hi kimmy!!! how's your day going? i hope you're having a great one <3 tell me a story about yourself. any story, from any time—yesterday, when you were four years old, middle school, anything. don’t focus on making it interesting or cool, just tell me something that feels nice to talk about!! is there an old friend you miss? a sledding hill you used to go to? what was the last meal you made? tell me something, but be sure to add details!!

Hi Gi!

I always love an invitation to waffle on about things

When I was in the Nashville fandom, a few of my friends from the fandom & I ran a fan account on the bird app. One thing led to another, & the first time we all went to Nashville we were invited by Callie Khouri to the set

It was the season three premiere & they did a partially live episode. They did the scenes with music live from the set. So most of the cast was there (sadly no Connie Britton; Hayden P wasn’t there either) & they had the live broadcast up for everyone to watch — then they would mute it & we all had to be quiet while they did the live songs/scenes. They did the east coast broadcast & the west coast broadcast, & in between there was a craft services dinner. We had all been so nervous all day & couldn’t eat though 😂 but we hung out while every else ate

Deana Carter was there too because she co-wrote one of the songs. I’m a country fan so I’ve listened to Deana since I was in idk middle school or high school, but I’m not like a huge mega fan & it was so unexpected in the midst of this wild unknown night that somehow it was the most normal thing. And Deana was a total fan of the show too, so we fangirled together 😂 We were talking in depth about the show & she was like oh yeah here’s where the house is where they shoot the exteriors of Rayna’s house, you should definitely check it out! We did talk a little bit about her music too & about how she actually had auditioned to play Rayna!

But yeah we got to meet everyone! And they were all so so nice & welcoming. It was definitely something to see everyone interacting & actually talking to them too. Some of them had already been told who we were & some of them weren’t sure before we were introduced, but they were all really glad to have us there & appreciative that we were supporting the show

It was surprisingly easy to talk to everyone. I did get really nervous talking to Chip Esten though; I was totally starstruck 😳 He’s super sweet though & then I met him again the second time we went to Nashville & I could actually hold a conversation 😂

We talked to Callie Khouri & the Nashville social media manager about ways to increase engagement & not so subtly mentioned how much the audience wanted to see Rayna & Deacon together

Callie Khouri is literally so so nice! From inviting us in the first place, to checking in with us & making sure we got introduced to everyone, to telling us we had to go to the Opry & she was about to get us tickets from one of the board members but we were like oh we actually just went last night! Then the next night we messaged her thanking her again & telling her what a great time we had, & she was like go dance at Robert’s! So of course we did & sent her a photo lol

Anyway, I’ve been feeling nostalgic about that period of time so thanks for giving me an excuse to talk about it!

Deana Carter

Callie Khouri, Charles Esten, Claire Bowen

Once we got back to our Airbnb after the premiere we wolfed down our Chinese leftovers & stayed up talking

#kimmy answers #thecollectionsof

4 notes · View notes

crookedmakerengineer · 11 months

Text

MD5325

https://connectglosac-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/s4104878_glos_ac_uk/EeGQjnO9c4BKs7kvblQWVtgBWhYnLTGtmc56tFVRG9Cw2Q?e=Qv2HE1

This is a link to a green screen video I made of two of my friends fighting to the death!!

Only joking but these extra elements do make it quite intense!

This was extremely fun to make and just a laugh overall whilst learning to do all of this. I thought the iconic Kahoot music was perfectly suitable for these antics and this fish added a nice visual.

Really this was all just a lesson to learn how to use these things and nothing too serious, and it is actually surprisingly easy at this level. We used Premiere pro for this task which is handy as I have used it before, and it is also very user friendly for beginners of this sort of thing like I am.

0 notes

julietterblog · 1 year

Text

Narratives in motion, Making the Stopmtion! (+ practice animations)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m not too confident when it comes to stop motion, I find it hard to stabilise my images and get a clean video. Which is why I started off by making a series of small practice animations, just so I could warm up and get the hang of the application.

youtube

Now it was time to make the actual final animation. Having made the practice ones made me a little more confident in making the final thing. For me the main challenge with this was my camera, simply because I used my iPad to film and I didn’t have a tripod or anything to hold it still. Meaning I had to hold it with my hands, which ended up making the animation quite shaky, which I hated. I feel this took away so much of the quality and fluidity out of my work, but I did my best with what I had. The opening sequence was quite easy, it was just moving the waves back and fourth to create a wave pattern. Then it zooms into the fish swimming around. Navigating the fish swimming was quite tricky as I made them all moves in different directions, so I had to be careful with where they were going to in each frame. After shooting the first sequence I realised it was a lot shorter than I anticipated, so I simply duplicated some frames to make them last longer, which erased the problem! The second sequence was also quite simple, just the scene of the crow eating on the field and then flying away on top of the house. However when filming the crow flying there are some shots with both of the variations of the crow in the shot, which was a total accident, making it look like there was more than one in some frames! This was once again due to the fact that it was so hard for me to hold my iPad at a correct angle over my work and using my other hand to navigate the drawings. The hardest part came after though, when I had to use the doll. I didn’t want my hands to be showing in the animation when making her move, so I had to find good angles where we couldn’t see me whilst still having as much of her in frame. This once again led to some problems with my frames being very shaky and incoherent. To try and help myself I balanced the doll on my background so I could take each shot without me in it. However she kept on falling over, especially when I had to make her walk, and it was super tricky to get her back into the correct position in each frame. I was quite scared if the scene where I had to put her in bed, as it was already hard enough to create the walking sequence, surprisingly though, I managed to hold her weight onto the bed, making it a lot easier to make her get in without my hands in the shot. I think out of all the sequences this one is my favourite as it’s quite smooth and nicely executed. After that sequence, the animation turns black and white, to represent the fact that she had died in her sleep. To make only this part of my animation in B&W I had to crop my final animation into two videos, switch one to B&W then stitch them back together on Adobe Premier. After finishing the last scene of her looking in the mirror and finding herself dead, which was quite a quick and easy sequence to make, it was time to add sounds to my work. To do so I used the free sound effects found in Premier. I got quite lucky as I found all the sounds I was looking for - the waves, footsteps, crow pecking and the sad music when she dies.

Overall I’m not too displeased with my animation. Seeing as I’ve never made a stop motion so long before I was happy with the results, however if I could do it again I would definitely pay more attention to the small details like making sure each background is in frame and making the frames more fluid.

#Youtube

0 notes

knudsen42goodwin · 2 years

Text

Ambush X Bvlgari's Bag Launch Puts A Recent Spin On The Enduring Serpent Motif

Courtesy of BulgariThe collection is neatly rounded out with small leather goods such micro and nano baggage in addition to printed scarves and unique eyewear. Selected types will launch from October 1, onwards. The contrasting stripes catch the light in different methods and provides the bag an actual sense of texture and motion. The fuchsia inside of the bag might be for your eyes solely, but it is a sensible touch. The addition of a zipped inside pocket also makes it simple to maintain money and playing cards separate. Bucket baggage could not appear overly suitable with the opulent, classic elegance that Bvlgari is understood for. In 1995, Bulgari pushed forward with an aggressive programme for development, changing into listed on the Milan Stock Exchange for the first time. In 1996, the model launched its first equipment assortment, beginning with silk scarves before growing a variety of leather equipment and eyewear. In 1999, the brand launched the B.zero1 ring. Greek designer Mary Katrantzou has partnered with BVLGARI to revamp the accent brand’s classic Serpenti baggage. Applying her signature kaleidoscopic prints to the snake-accented purses, Katrantzou presents a unique take on a BVLGARI favorite. Still, the various segments and card pockets make it easy to maintain all of your essentials organised. Bulgari's jewellery collections embody B.zero1, Divas' Dream, Serpenti, BVLGARI BVLGARI, Parentesi, and a bridal line. I wouldn't need to recommend Designer manufacturers... ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a group of critics writes up each new anime tv premiere as it airs initially of a season. ― Our group of reviewers are following 28 anime series of the Fall 2021 season and readers are score every episode because the reviews go up. The gentle gold chain strap is harking again to the curved physique of a snake. The impact is, after all, heightened by the traditional serpents head ornament above the fastening. Compact however surprisingly spacious, this is often a excellent, chic possibility for days out. An integral a half of style, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to hold around personal gadgets. In 2011, Bulgari signed a strategic alliance with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world's leading luxurious group. The agreement was primarily based on a stock transfer of the Bulgari household's shares in Bulgari S.p.A. to LVMH, an all-share deal for €4.three billion ($6.0 billion), larger than LVMH had supplied for some other firm. Made of white, agate calf leather with an eye-catching ‘graphic chain’ design it has a calm magnificence to it which is reminiscent of marble. best replica bvlgari bags Made of stunning Karung leather-based, this silver-tone bag with its twisted gold chain and black and white enamel snakehead is bold. Despite the block colouring, the clever panels and construction of the bag give it texture and movement. Bulgari's watches collections include Octo, BVLGARI BVLGARI, Diagono and Haute Horlogerie creations for men, and LVCEA, Serpenti, Divas' Dream, BVLGARI BVLGARI, B.zero1 and High Jewellery timepieces for women. An unusual Two-Color Gold Evening Bag by Bulgari. The curved rectangular mesh case embellished with two-color fluid motif banding, total gross weight approximately 360 grams, comprise... Large model of the iconic Melone 18kt Yellow Gold Clutch Evening Bag by Bulgari, the opening mechanism button highlighted with a cabochon sapphire.. I agree for Bulgari to make use of my personal info to supply an enhanced customer support, tailored to my preferences. Brimming with exquisite details and sophisticated finishes, the collection is the outcome of ingenious methods, perfectly mastered by Bvlgari’s professional and expert artisans. A collision between jewelry inspiration and leather items artistry, each creation is a classy display of recent refinement, meticulous consideration to element, and visionary craftsmanship. In 2017, Bulgari opened a brand new jewellery manufacturing headquarters in Valenza. The largest in Europe, with a complete area of 14,000 square metres , the Manufacture has been given a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for sustainability in its design. The facility was constructed over the former house of the first goldsmith in Valenza, Francesco Caramora. The buildings observe the mannequin of a Roman domus, and are constructed round a central courtyard. Not a lot a night bag as a daytime assertion, this is good for anybody who likes to let their mild shine. Prices for a bulgari bag can differ depending upon dimension, designer and different attributes — on 1stDibs, these accessories start at $209 and might go as high as $75,000, while, on common they fetch $899. The Serpenti Bag first got here out in 2012 and was inspired by the Bulgari wraparound watch. The most stylish on a regular basis bag if we ever noticed one. Marking the first mood within the Bulgari assortment is a nod to the everlasting city’s radiance. The Italian House is best recognized for its glamorous evening clutches and neat purses. RADIANCE instead takes on contemporary silhouettes such as the brand new Serpenti Bag hobo shape and Serpenti Jewellery bag – impressed by an authentic Twenties silver jewelry box from the heritage collection. There are few baggage as beautiful as what Bvlgari creates and though many first consider the model for its exquisite jewellery, those who love the baggage are a half of a rising and very loyal fanbase. The range actually boomed in the 1960s as has enjoyed interest from celebrities and continues to be the best-selling bag within the Bvlgari portfolio. In the Nineteen Forties, BVLGARI debuted maybe its most famous design, the Serpenti bracelet watch. wikipedia handbags The piece’s snakelike coils were made possible by the tubogas jewelry technique, which links a flexible series of thin horizontal bands. Both the glossy, fashionable tubogas development and the sinuous snake motif proceed to be synonymous with the BVLGARI brand. one hundred pc genuine Bulgari Isabella Rossellini XS handbag in black canvas and leather embellished with black sequins. Opens with a turn-lock and is lined in black satin with one zipper p...

#replica bvlgari #best replica bvlgari bags #bvlgari bag #bvlgari serpenti bag #bvlgari bag sale #bvlgari crossbody bag

0 notes

realhousewives-fan · 2 years

Text

Honorable Mentions of 2021

There actually was a lot of good moments in 2021, and I wanted to make another post about some honorable mentions of the iconic moments of 2021.

1) Tiffany Moon deserved better

Tiffany Moon was an amazing housewife. She was funny, smart and shady. I’ve never seen anything like what happened with Tiffany on RHOD.

That racist feud with Kameron Westcott is some of the ugliest I’ve ever seen - and Tiffany deserved better!

2) That Pho Lunch in the Peace Garden

Season 2 was a chaotic one for RHOSLC. One event more crazy than the next.

And Jennie Nguyen’s Pho lunch in the Peace Garden was one of the most chaotic dinner parties I’ve ever seen on Real Housewives.

3) The Return to Miami

Peacock has taken over Real Housewives of Miami, the show that got cancelled back in 2013.

It was never my favorite, but their fun energy and crazy lives was exactly what we all needed. This was an amazing reboot!

4) The Cake Dropping Moment on RHOSLC

I still can’t get over that Whitney Rose dropped that poor cake 3 times in the season premiere. This was comedy gold.

5) That Dinner Date on RHOBH

Speaking of comedy gold - that dinner on RHOBH was one of the best moments from season 11.

Messy PK was making fun of Erika Girardi’s crazy and unbelievable stories. And rightfully so.

6) Tequila-Jennifer is back on RHONJ

Now, this was a moment that either bothered you or made you laugh. This made me laugh.

2021 was the year were I surprisingly found myself becoming a fan of Jennifer Aydin.

7) That Salat Fight on RHOP

RHOP also had a great season in 2021. It was comedy gold, but not short of drama.

There was the infamous salat fight that delivered us this incredible image.

8) The “Who’s Hunky Dory” Question

I wasn’t particularly thrilled that Kathy Hilton joined the cast - but she was a much needed comic relief.

Her confusion about who Hunky Dory was is just one of many moments Kathy gave us in 2021.

9) The “Pizza Bagel” Comment on RHONJ

Again a funny moment. Funny one-liners are much more enjoyable to be than drama and feuds sometimes.

And the last couple of years hasn’t been easy. So I appreciate it so much when the housewives makes me laugh.

This one was a tiny comment, but it made me laugh out loud. When Jennifer is funny, she’s funny.

10) Porsha Engaged to Falynn’s Ex

Here’s a moment that wasn’t funny: Porsha Williams’ engagement to Falynn Pina’s ex, Simon Guobadia.

This was the beginning of the fall from grace for Porsha in 2021.

Her spin-off Porsha’s Family Matters was just a confirmation that she’s lying and manipulative.

I’m starting the new year by declaring that this is no longer a Porsha stan account.

#Real Housewives #Tiffany Moon #Kameron Westcott #RHOD #RHOSLC #Jennie Nguyen #RHOM #Whitney Rose #RHOBH #Erika Girardi #Jennifer Aydin #RHONJ #RHOP #Kathy Hilton #Porsha Williams #Falynn Guobadia #RHOA #Porsha's Family Matters

27 notes · View notes

theolsentimes · 3 years

Text

Mary-Kate Olsen's Singular Style

She came to fame as a twin, but the actress's cultish look is entirely her own. Here, with Lauren Hutton, she pays homage to another fashion inspiration, Grey Gardens. Written by Laura Brown, with photography by Peter Lindbergh (Harper's Bazaar, 2007)

VIEW GALLERY

Mary-Kate Olsen may be the only young actress who breezes into her local Starbucks wearing towering, fashion-fierce Balenciaga boots, who arrives at her latest premiere (in Mary-Kate's case, for the new season of Showtime's Weeds, in which she plays a devout Christian with a pot fetish) sporting an oversize cross, and whose favorite band is Led Zeppelin. She may, in fact, be the only young actress who knows who Led Zeppelin is. MK, as she is known to her friends and family, is also a punctual and professional sort. She arrives for a poolside tea in Los Angeles 10 minutes early, ordering a hot chocolate while explaining her fetish for all things sweet — "I'm a candy girl, like Tootsie Rolls and Swedish Fish" — and objecting when the waiter tries to take the sugar bowl away. She is wearing a nautical striped T-shirt (her mom's, from the '70s), tucked into two black Wolford slips rolled down and turned into a tight, Robert-Palmer-video-style mini, and multicolored sparkly Christian Louboutin stilettos. She's just had her hair colored, returning to a sunnier shade after some experiments with both peroxide ("I woke up one morning and was like, I want white-trash hair today") and the dark side (an auburn-haired near-Goth moment last year). She's carrying a large black fringed leather Prada tote — she doesn't do small bags — and her fingers are covered with rings, most notably two vintage coiled gold snakes stacked on top of each other. ("They remind me of twins, sort of double headed.") Altogether, the effect is less her famed "bag-lady chic" than an edgy, body-conscious, and, yes, sexy silhouette. If she weren't 21, she could be 40. And French.

Few people need reminding that Mary-Kate — with her twin sister, Ashley — literally crawled into celebrity aged nine months (courtesy of Full House) and has not been out of the spotlight ever since. She has been a celebrity for more than two decades. Perhaps that's one reason she seems as if she came out of the womb worldly, the textbook old soul. "Yeah," she says with a small shrug. "I get that a lot." With all of that attention and all of the money (her and Ashley's company, Dualstar, has famously become a "billion-dollar business"), Mary-Kate could easily have ended up the type who wears pink terry cloth and carries a variety of small dogs. "Could you imagine?" she says with the politest version of a snort. "No way." She credits her exceptionally close-knit family (she has five siblings) and, interestingly, early stardom with helping her keep her perspective. "I think it helped that I started in front of the camera, so it didn't come as a shock. If I was a teenager and was thrown into the spotlight, I don't know how I would react, to be honest." Though the tabloids are all too keen to brand her a skinny, nervous deer in the headlights, in person Mary-Kate is easy in her skin, confident and surprisingly tactile, curling up in her seat and touching you on the arm to make a point. She laments the generic style of most actresses and cites only men as style inspirations: "Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp. Men, they just dress the way they want, and they don't think about Who Wore It Best." She doesn't much care for Who Wore It Best, noting she avoids those pages by "wearing vintage so often. I just dress the way I feel instead of looking for what's the new handbag." If Mary-Kate and Ashley have their way, more people will be wearing clothes and carrying bags the way they do. They have just shown the fifth collection of their ready-to-wear line, the Row, and recently launched a contemporary label, Elizabeth and James, named after a sister and a brother. The Row's holiday collection (in stores next month) is a slick mix of skinny leather pants, razor-cut blazers, butter-soft, slouchy tees, and a destined-to-be-cultish pullover fur. Lauren Hutton, who stars in the Row's Spring '08 look book, says, "The clothes are extraordinary. A man I was with just loved them. The pieces are just so genius, soft like a baby's skin. Simple minimalist stuff, but really spectacular." Mary-Kate, designer, faces an interesting challenge. She has to marry Dualstar — which has made its fortune selling tween-tastic DVDs and pastel Mary-Kate and Ashley T-shirts at Wal-Mart — with her increasingly edgy and subversive taste. Dualstar executives, some of whom have worked with her since she was a child, often nag her, mom-style, about pulling her hair back "or wearing a color," she says with a laugh. "I had this event recently, and I was like, They're going to be so happy that I'm wearing ... purple. I actually have to think about those things, though, you know, so I don't get trashed." Get trashed sometimes she does. Hutton says, "Once in a while, she'll wear something and I'll think, Oh, baby doll, take another look. But to have the bravery, to take the chance to do that, is pretty wonderful. She is making her own way, which is hardly ever done in Hollywood." Of Mary-Kate's penchant for gigantic Balenciaga heels, Jenji Kohan, the creator of Weeds, says, laughing, "I'd be like, 'It's Tuesday. Do you really want to be wearing those shoes?' But she pulls it off." Designer Giambattista Valli, a friend, says, "She likes to take risks, but because she has such strong personal style, she always manages to make it work. Even if she had nothing on, she'd have style." And MK chic is spreading. "Sometimes I'll look at people or at a magazine and I'll do a double take because I'm like, Oh, my God, that's my outfit, but that's not me," Mary-Kate says. Playing with her wire-rimmed aviators, she jokes wryly that she should have bought shares in Ray-Ban. (She and Chloë Sevigny pretty much brought back white '80s Wayfarers.) She tends to fall in love with a look, then wear it until she's done. "If I put together a good outfit, I'll wear it for three days and then switch it up with a blazer," she says. "I still love my vintage jeans, my tights, and my pants, though." She didn't start wearing heels, in fact, until a couple of years ago: "I kept watching Ashley walk around in them so gracefully, and I'm such a klutz. But I ended up loving heels, and I don't usually take them off." She wears precisely one pair of flat shoes: Chanel's knee-high patent-leather gladiator sandals. This season, it's Balenciaga's fall collection — all of it — that has Mary-Kate obsessed. She is close to designer Nicolas Ghesquière and says, "He is so talented, but he's the nicest, most down-to-earth guy, and that makes everything he does more brilliant. I bought everything, but I haven't got anything yet," she says like a girl impatiently waiting for Christmas. Will she wear the new pieces with her infamous clodhopper boots? "Uh-huh. Wore them the other day, actually." Mary-Kate always goes with her gut, even if some people (back to those tabloids) don't quite get it. "The tabloids say things about me? What do they say?" she asks archly. "People are going to write what they want, and everyone's going to have their own idea of who I am. But I'm not trying to be friends with the people who are reading them, really." After a rough couple of years filled with near-forensic scrutiny of her weight, she'll have you know that she does eat. "This is not going to sound good," she laughs, "but I like making crispy tofu sticks with peanut sauce. I love my sashimi and my salmon and my vegetables." She observes, "Stress plays a big role in how I look day-to-day. I've always been very active — Pilates, yoga. I grew up horseback riding every day for hours. I love dancing. I usually last longer than anyone on the dance floor." A common image of Mary-Kate has her emerging from a coffee joint with an oversize cup. "I always get creamed for having my Starbucks cup," she says, sighing. "But the only time people get photos of me is when I'm getting coffee, when I can't sneak away from the camera." She also resents the pictorial implication that she and Ashley are dilettantes. "They take photos of us going into our offices, and it's 'Mary-Kate and Ashley shopping again.' But I'm going to work for eight hours, and we're working so hard. ..." She trails off. "It just shows how people want to think of you." Mary-Kate is not above celeb watching herself, however. Newly obsessed with Victoria Beckham, she notes she avidly watched Beckham's Coming to America documentary: "She's running around in a bikini and heels, and I'm like, Oh, my God! I do that, too!" How positively Grey Gardens. "I run around my house naked with heels all the time. It's so funny. All my friends will tell you I love running around in kimonos and jewelry or naked with jewelry." More people will be watching Mary-Kate soon, thanks to her role in the Emmy-nominated Weeds. "I am a very good Christian girl," she says with a wink. "She has her moral beliefs — and she happens to smoke pot." Of her newest cast member, Kohan adds, "Mary-Kate is complicated. She's a big celebrity, a huge media icon, but you have to separate the media images from someone who has the same issues, the same desires, as anyone else." Of course, Mary-Kate's image, in all its incarnations — from high fashion to small screen — is her strongest asset. And she has yet to settle on one. "I feel like I've lived 10 different lives already and I'm only 21," she says, almost as a reminder to herself. "But I also feel like I'm entering a new chapter." One thing on which she is clear, though: She doesn't need to be looked at all the time. What would she do for a day if she were invisible? "I would probably go to a restaurant with my friends, who would be able to see me, of course," she adds pragmatically, "and I would sit outside and enjoy a nice lunch with them. Then I would walk down the street." The old soul takes a sip of her little-girl-sweet hot chocolate. "That's what I would do."

#Mary Kate Olsen #mary kate and ashley #Ashley Olsen #harper's bazaar #magazines #articles #photoshoot

54 notes · View notes

ordinaryschmuck · 3 years

Text

What I Thought About "Yesterday's Lie" from The Owl House

Salutations, random people on the internet who absolutely won’t read this! I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons!

Here it is! The midseason finale of The Owl House Season Two! An episode featuring Luz going back to the human realm, is hyped up to heaven about how painful it'll be for the audience, and features more anxiety by how Creepy Luz is a thing. And BOOOOOOOOY howdy were fans not ready for this. I'm sure as hell not ready for when I wrote this intro at *checks time* thirty minutes before watching the official premier. Yup, the words you're reading right now are from me in the past, when everything was still pure and simple. Whereas future me is still probably destroyed by the events that transpired. Isn't that right, future me?

Future Me: Actually, it wasn’t that bad. The ending hurt, sure, but other than that, it wasn’t too painful.

Wow, that is some neat input! At least, I think it was. I wouldn't know because I literally wrote that after watching the episode. With the words you're currently reading being written at *checks time* twenty-six minutes before the premier...this whole intro is confusing, isn't it, future me?

Future Me: Sure is.

Yeah, it's definitely confusing. In any case, let's dive into this spoiler-filled review as we find out together just how painful this episode was! Take it away, future me!

Future Me: Will do! Major spoilers ahead, folks!

Now, let’s review, shall we?

WHAT I LIKED

Luz’s Room: We only see it for a short time, but everything about it just screams Luz. The pile of weird-looking stuffed animals, the witch hat in the center of the floor, and the fact that she has bunk beds, a single child's dream (Or so I've heard). It's a small thing, but I love it.

Vee: Here she is! The character previously dubbed Creepy Luz who now turns out to be yet another new addition to the ever-growing list of characters that we, as a fandom, would give our lives for. Because holy s**t was Vee the best type of expectation subversion. Showing us all the ominous ways of how she basically took Luz's place made fans assume that Vee was an evil doppelganger. Turns out, she was just a tortured soul that was desperate to live a new and better life and lucked out in finding Luz's. What Vee does is...questionable at best, but seeing what she went through with the experiments Belos pulled on her, you understand why she would do it. And I personally love it's that same background information that makes Vee resentful of Luz of all people. Luz's life is a relative dream come true, and running away from that would be insane to someone who spent most of their existence through imprisonment and experimentation. It's an intriguing point of view, even though it's admittingly flawed given how it's mostly Camila that seemingly made Luz's life bearable. But the flaws don't matter. What matters is that you can see where Vee is coming from, and to me, personally, I think she's understandable enough to make me root for her to have some kind of happy ending. Whether as Luz or as herself, I'm hopeful to see Vee get some semblance of peace.

Camila: *Round of applause* Don't mind me! Just taking the time to love how all them sons of b**hes who thought Camila was a bad mom are now heavily invalidated. 'Cause, guess what? Camila is a fantastic mother, both to her daughter and her daughter's doppelganger! Allow me to walk you through the highlights:

How Camila looks like she’s not okay with the fact that "Luz" is clearing out her weird stuff, seemingly acting too different to the Luz she knows. Added to the fact that Camila doesn't like it.

How Camila drove Luz to camp whether than letting her take the bus

The fact that Camila takes that box of junk back in, not willing to part with the tin foil sculpture Luz made.

The way she was willing to play along with the game she thought Luz was doing, supporting her daughter's creative mind that Camila admits to being glad to see.

And, best of all, the willingness Camila had to help this poor creature, despite the lies it lived.

It's that last part I really want to touch upon, though. Because an action like that shows just how much Luz's heart comes from Camila. The kindness and generosity of helping this poor creature, who she has every right to run out on, proves how Luz learned to be everything she is today through Camila's own loving heart. Vee was scared and hurt, and the second Camila saw that she was then more than willing to help because of it. It's something that Luz would do, and it proves that even though Camila didn't exactly get everything right, she's still a great mom where it counts.

“A new life”: A perfect line.

Initially, it makes audiences think that it has everything to do with replacing Luz. It's only through future context that we know it's about escaping the s**t show Vee once lived through that it's clear she's talking about starting over. It hits us with intrigue on the first viewing, only to hit harder with the feels during a second. Really well-done.

Luz in the Mirror: A well-done surprise that makes fans curious about how this even happen in the first place. Kudos to you, writers.

The New Portal: I don't mind that they found a way to build this off-screen. Showing Luz and the gang slowly building a new portal would have been a little too tedious to watch, and it's so much better to just start this episode out with it. Besides, maybe we'll get the slow and steadier version now that we've seen how quickly building one might not have been the best way to go, given how fast that thing fell apart.

Luz Between Dimensions: I have no clue what the hell that place she was in is called, but it's awesome! The overall design of the realm is the correct type of unsettling, like it's oozing with mystery, but it's somewhere that you probably don't want to be in for too long. Whoever designed it deserves all of the credit because I don't want to even think about all the hard work that went into making this look as well-made as it was.

Luz Resisting to See Amity: What? Luz and Amity are adorable, and seeing Luz's immediate thought about seeing Amity makes my shipping heart scream with glee. Don't judge me!

Hiding Luz’s Dad’s Face: Well, that was a fun story while it lasted.

So, it turns out that Luz's dad really was a part of Luz's and Camila's life at some point, but not anymore. As for why remains to be seen, as we don't really know yet if we'll see him make an appearance. I'd say that the odds are high that he will, given how much of a point this episode made about keeping his face hidden. Shows don't usually do that unless the goal is to hype up some official reveal, and I can't wait to see what comes of it.

Luz Telling Herself to Count to Five: Hey, more evidence for how I relate to Luz! I know how it feels to be all panicky about a specific situation, and I only got better when I took the time to calm down for a bit. Sometimes, I even tried the "count to x" method that Luz used...it never worked, primarily because it made me feel worse when people told me to do it, but I still tried it! Plus, there's also some narrative foreshadowing when after Luz says five, the realm shows her Vee, or Number V, which is a pretty cool detail you'll notice on a rewatch.

Luz Helping Vee: I gave Camila praise for helping Vee in the end, but that doesn't abstain Luz from her own set of recognition. The second that Luz realized that Vee wasn't really a threat and is far from evil, our favorite human does what she can to help and even makes a deal where they're both happy. Because, of course, Luz is that perfect of a protagonist who is more than willing to help others in need. And it's why we love her so.

Looking for Magic that Eda Left Behind: A pretty cool idea that gives Luz and Vee a chance to bond and giving us an insight into Eda's past antics and misadventures in the human realm. Not much I can add to it, though.

Gravesfield: It's surprisingly not as jarring as I thought it would be to spend an episode in the human realm. I thought for sure, after all that time in the Boiling Isles, there would be something off about walking around a normal environment for a change. Turns out, it's almost easy to get used to. Or, for me, it is.

But I will say that there's this neat use of colors when comparing Gravesfield with the Boiling Isles. In Gravesfield, the coloring looks dulled down and standard, which is a stark contrast to the bright vibrancy of everything we've seen in the Boiling Isles. It's a subtle way of showing how things are different, aside from the major discrepancies we could come to expect. And I think that's why I appreciate it much more.

Eda’s Called Herself Marylynn in the Human Realm: Hang on...hang on...do you mean to tell me that the crack theory about Eda being Stan's ex-wife is actually true?

...

...What even is this show?!

Vee Making Friends with Camp Members: This shows the most apparent difference between Luz and Vee. Where we see Luz is already fearing the many ways that could go wrong with interacting with teens, Vee revealed that she adapted to her situation and had a chance to make friends. The implications of this are worth discussing another time, but for now, I'll say that it's pretty intriguing that we gain this much insight into both Luz and Vee through such a small thing.

Belos Wanting to Learn How Basilisks can Drain Magic: ...Didn't Raine say that Belos was taking away magic? If so, I think we can figure out how he's doing it. The question now is: Why?

Jacob (The Curator Guy): This guy was a riot. At first, Jacob seemed like a threat with the way he trapped Vee and was apparently stocking her, but the second he goes off about his conspiracy theories, it becomes clear what type of character he is. And was it a blast seeing how much of a crackpot this man is. It wasn't cool seeing him wanting to dissect the precious angel that is Vee, but I still chuckle about things like his "Flat Eather's Certificate." So while he's not that much of a threat, he's still fun to watch.

The Owl Beast was in the Human Realm: ...How did that happen? When did it happen? And how the hell did Eda get out of a situation like that?! Who knows, but it's still a shocking piece of news to learn.

Luz Telling Camila the Truth: Hey, she faced her fear after all! Although, the results aren't as pleasant as when Amity faced her fear two weeks ago.

Camila is a Veterinarian: ...One insignificant reveal...managed to destroy so many fanfics. I mean, we probably shouldn't have just assumed Camila was a nurse...but what the f**k else were we supposed to think?! Sorry for seeing the scrubs, and the first thing that came to my mind was "nurse" and not "vet."

By the way, that had to have been intentional, right? There's no way that Dana Terrace didn't think we'd assume Camila was a nurse. She'd had to have put off a reveal like that just to trip up her fans. And if that's the case, then that is a major d**k move...but that's why I mildly respect it.

Two Human Brothers went to the Demon Realm: Turns out we don't have to be in the Boiling Isles to learn more about it. Because now we have more information about how two humans were taken to the Isles with the help of a witch, thus setting up a grander reveal if it turns out that one of the humans was Philip and the witch was Belos. Because if that's true...then there's more of a history between those two than we thought.

Jacob has a Training Wand: This helps me believe that it's highly likely for Jacob to make a return and to have a power boost for when he does. After all, focussing all that attention on the training wand is way too convenient for it not to come up again in the future. Meaning we're most likely going to get more pain from Jacob if he shows up again.

Camila Beats the Crap out of Jacob for Vee: ...Writers, don't make me choose between Camila and Eda on who's the better cartoon mom. I know Eda's technically not a mom...BUT I STILL DON'T WANT TO CHOOSE DAMNIT!

Also, the sandal...just...

Why the f**k does Camila have a sandal in her purse? I don't know. Is it still funny that she does? Most certainly.

Camila and Luz’s Talk in the Rain: Ooooooooh, I was not ready for this...

I wasn't ready for the crying.

I wasn't ready for the hurt in Camila's eyes when she found out Luz chose to stay in the Boiling Isles.

I wasn't ready for Camila asking if Luz hates being with her that much.

I wasn't ready for Luz profusely stating how it was never Camila's fault.

I was not ready for Camila to tell Luz that she'll try to do better.

And I definitely was not ready for Luz to barely have enough time to promise that she'll come back.

This episode wasn't the twenty-two minutes of nonstop angst that I thought it was going to be...but this short scene more than make up for it.

Luz Tries to Stay Strong: Yet another thing she unwittingly learned from Camila. Camila tried to keep a brave face when Vee was with her and Luz, most likely not wanting to tear either of them down in the process. Luz does the same thing here as she avoids talking about the details of what went down in her sort-of journey back home. And seeing her clearly fake smile slowly droop into an uncertain frown, it uh...it definitely tore me up inside.

WHAT I DISLIKED

I want to say it's perfect, but there's one major issue that really bogs this episode down.

Continuity Error in How Vee Replaced Luz: Having Vee take Luz's place the same day Luz appeared in the Isles is a smart idea on paper...if it wasn't for the fact that it's impossible.

Because Eda closed the portal door the second that she saw Luz, meaning that there's no way for Vee to go to the human realm. It's a major plothole that makes no sense, and it might just be the first time ever that this series wasn't so closely knit with its story. Which ends up taking a dive in quality in the process.

IN CONCLUSION

I'd say that "Yesterday's Lie" is an A-. Everything about Luz, Vee, and Camila is incredible, combined into a story that ends in tragedy and uncertainty for the future. That plothole may drag things down a bit, but everything else is handled so well that I'm not lying when I say it's easy to forgive and forget.

(And that's ten episodes in a row without a single stinker. HOW THE F**K DOES THIS SEASON KEEP WINNING?!)

#the owl house #the owl house spoilers #toh spoilers #luz noceda #camila noceda #camila is a good mom ok!#toh vee #emperor belos #what i thought about #the owl house reviews

51 notes · View notes

sisterspooky1013 · 3 years

Text

Green Eyes

Author: SisterSpooky1013

Rating: General Audiences

Words: 1352

Post-episode Hollywood AD

Read it here on AO3

Tagging @today-in-fic

Los Angeles, April 2000

The sun was high as they lay side by side on a large blanket, Scully safely under the shadow of a beach umbrella while Mulder took his chances with the UV rays. It was a quiet day as far as beaches go, and they listened to the hush of the lapping waves interrupted only intermittently by the shrieks of children and barking dogs.

Though the movie premier had been an embarrassing disaster, this time together away from the gloom and emotional baggage of DC had been wonderful. The romantic relationship between them was so new, and something about the sunshine and the bustle of tourists made it feel safer for her to relax and enjoy it, not so caught up in her constant mental anguish of all the what-if’s and the insecurity of letting her guard down around him. The physical aspect of their new relationship had been surprisingly easy to get used to, having toyed with the idea for years, and there was no denying their chemistry. The emotional aspect, however, she still struggled with. Mulder had tried numerous times to have a conversation about his feelings for her and she became so uncomfortable she’d escaped the conversation with a trip to the bathroom or pretending she heard someone at the door. As close as they were, and as vulnerable as she’d been with him on countless occasions, talking about romantic feelings still triggered a fight or flight response in her mind. This wasn’t a new phenomenon for her, but she’d thought it wouldn’t happen with Mulder. She thought it would be easier to let him in.

“Scully, did your family ever go to the beach when you were a kid in San Diego?”

“Yes, of course, it was right there.”

“I always wanted to go to the beach. We went to the lake house, obviously, but I was fascinated by the ocean. We actually had a trip planned before Sam was taken but I could never convince my parents again after that. I think they’d only agreed because Sam was so excited about it. When she was gone it was all ‘the beach is so far away, Fox. Wouldn’t you like to go to boarding school instead?’ I wish I’d gotten to see it as a child.”

Scully rolled to her side to face him, his lean tanned body warm in the sun, his eyes closed behind his sunglasses. She studied him, this man who was so kind and tender with her heart, and her body. When he held her, she felt completely safe and cared for. How he came from such cold and selfish parents, she could never understand. She pictured him as a child, desperate for their approval and love, and always being left wanting. Provided for financially, but not emotionally. Thinking about her own childhood full of love and adventure, bonds with her siblings and the steadfast devotion of her parents, she wondered who he would be if he’d had the same support. Compassion gripped at her heart and she reached out to place her hand on top of his on the blanket.

He peeked one eye open to glance at her momentarily before closing it again.

“You okay?” He asked, sensing her unrest.

“I was just thinking about how many people in your life have failed you. It makes me so sad.”

He opened his eyes and rolled onto his side to face her.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean your parents totally left you out to dry after Samantha was taken. The way you talk about your childhood sounds so lonely. You deserved to have someone looking out for you, caring for you and about you, and you didn’t. It breaks my heart a little, Mulder.”

He smiled at her, touched by her compassion.

“I had an incredible education, tailored suits and summers at the lake house, Scully. I don’t think anyone can claim I had it rough.”

“But those are just material things, Mulder. Kids need to know that they’re loved and valued, and that they’ll always have the support of their family no matter what. Did you feel that way?”

He shrugged. “I mean, not really. But it’s all to the good, Scully. I turned out okay.” He brushed his hand over her upper arm, comforting her over his own shitty childhood.

“It’s not just that, Mulder. Phoebe was a total psycho, to use a completely un-clinical term, and I know we haven’t talked much about your relationship with Diana, but the gunmen had some things to say about it.”

He laughed, but was a little disturbed at the idea of Scully and the gunmen discussing his relationship with Diana. That was a dark time.

“Oh yeah, what did the three stooges have to say about it?”

“They said that she was manipulative and cruel. That she made you dress and act a certain way, project a certain image.” She looked down at the towel between them before she spoke again. “They said she was unfaithful to you on multiple occasions.”

Mulder rolled away from her to return to his supine position, playing it cool but clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

“Well there’s something to be said for being young and dumb, Scully. I seem to recall you having an affair with a married man in your youth.”

She flinched at the reference, and at the fact that he was perceiving what she had said as judgement.

“Mulder, I’m not questioning your choices or your past relationships. What I’m saying is…” She took a deep breath. “What I’m saying is that you deserved, and still deserve, better than what you’ve gotten. You’re an amazing person. You have your moments, as we all do, but the vast majority of the time you’re so kind and giving and sacrificing. Sometimes I question whether I deserve you, to be with you. So when I think about all the people who have hurt you and let you down, it makes me angry, and sad.”

Turning just his head to look towards her, he cracked one eye open against the blaze of the sun and studied her face.

“Scully, are you flirting with me?”

That earned him one of her rare megawatt smiles. It felt like a victory every time.

“What if I were?” She answered coyly.

Quickly, he rolled towards her and pushed her to lie on her back, bringing his body over hers, his knees resting on either side of hers and his arms bracketed around her head. In any other situation, she would have pushed him off her, embarrassed by the public display. But here, on this sparsely populated beach thousands of miles from anyone who knew them, she let it happen. He brushed his lips lightly over hers before kissing her once, a chaste kiss full of feeling. She brought her hands to his bare waist and grazed her fingers gently over his warm skin. Pulling away from the kiss, he brushed the tip of his nose across hers before bringing his mouth down to her ear.

“Thank you for not being like everyone else in my life.”

#the x files #txf #dana scully #fox mulder #gillovny #msr #sculder #xf fanfic

44 notes · View notes

dappercritter · 3 years

Text

Godzilla vs Kong: Brutally Honest Thoughts

(Took me long enough, eh? Depending on home video releases be like that.)

So first things first, I have a confession to make: I spoiled the movie before I watched it. I was impatient and they had only announced an HBO Max premiere in the states and a theatrical run in Canada at the time. Afterward, I got heads-up from a friend and immersed myself in the opinions of those lucky enough to see it early. I’m just saying that I have some preconceived opinions that I’m sticking to.

That said, Godzilla vs Kong turned out to be more fun than I expected! But you already knew that. Everyone did. The two kings of movie monsters had their rematch and this time it was with glorious Hollywood SFX powering it this time.

The human story was fun but it’s clear they stopped trying at this point. Team Kong stole my heart, especially Jia. Team Godzilla (although the Conspiracy Crew would be a more fitting term since they spend more time chasing down mysteries than trying to back or understand Godzilla) was more fun than I expected and their dynamic was surprisingly enjoyable. Bernie is actually kind of funny, it's nice to see Madison acting more assertive, and Josh was fine--he was the only sane man of the bunch but he was also the butt of the jokes. Still, all the hardcore conspiracy jokes got old fast and it feels off seeing the daughter of two scientists turn into an edgy conspiracy crackpot. Why not an edgy science major?

Team Apex are fun villains, especially Walter Simmons who's a great megalomaniacal CEO type, but Ren Serizawa is a joke. I like his actor's performance but he's just another footnote. Nobody bats an eye at his last name, although the only heroes he interacts with are Nathan Lind and he just misses Team Godzilla. He really could have just been any other villain, but instead, they had to sully Serizawa’s legacy further while robbing a good actor of some interesting material. (As is, it turns out he was just an egotistical jerk with daddy issues--an easy puzzle to solve on day one--after all...)

However, I still cannot and will not approve of the fact that somebody thought it would be a good idea to make the heroes of a sci-fi story into hardcore conspiracy theorists in this day and age. Likewise, I’m not a huge fan of how they essentially made the Hollow Earth into its own universe complete with a crazy portal and an environment with its own laws of physics, nor am I totally crazy about the huge leap in technology that was made between this and KOTM, or G’14 for that matter.

The monsters as awesome as they are, are the biggest mixed bag in the show.

Kong is at his best in ages, and while I am all for the new heroic warrior character that Legendary have crafted and I acknowledge that making him a worthy opponent for their god-tier Godzilla was going to be a hurdle, I think they did a splendid job. Seeing Kong using agility and acrobatics was a glorious sight to behold, and something about Kong becoming a tool-user and weapon wielder just feels right. It’s a far better demonstration of Kong as a “thinking animal” (*wink, wink*).

I’m much less thrilled about their treatment of his greatest opponent ever. After everything they’ve done to build up Godzilla as the incredible force of neutral good fighting to maintain balance and all the build up to ancient rivalry debating back to a great Titan war--even going as far as putting his name in front Kong’s this time!-- they’ve reduced Godzilla back to glorified bully for Kong. He only gets the minimum amount of sympathy from the cast of his movie before they go off to deal with the conspiracy plot or focus on Kong and the Hollow Earth. Worse still, he is somehow more powerful and more aggressive than ever for a good chunk of the movie which leads to an outcome I’m sorry to say we all saw coming. Somehow, I suspect that the reason behind this was how Wingard cited Godzilla vs. Mothra, vs. Destoryah, and Shin-Godzilla as influences for the monsters scale and story, which while cool and all, are all movies where he was played up as a mostly stoic antagonist rather than a three-dimensional character like Kong. (Though ironically vs. Destoroyah and Shin did a better job of making Godzilla feel more sympathetic and in both of them he was a walking nuclear reactor meltdown.)

Due to the unfortunate time constraints of the three-way deal between Toho, WB, and Universal at the time this was in production, Kong was unable to secure a proper sequel that could develop his skillset like Godzilla’s did. Nevermind the fact the filmmakers completely surrendered to the “nothing matters but the monsters” mentality that a chunk of the fanbase has been spouting since this universe unofficially kicked off almost 10 years ago. (Sidenote: Oh god, I’m turning in an old fart already.) As a result, the movie trips over itself trying to set up Godzilla and Kong’s rivalry as well as building up Kong as a worthy opponent to Godzilla while expanding on their shared lore, and as a result countless plot points set up in in the previous movie and tie-in movie are thrown out the window. I’m sorry to say but in spite of all hopes and illusions of grandeur, it’s safe to this damn thing is a Kong movie with Godzilla as the bad guy.

...at least until HE shows up. Yup, Mechagodzilla. The biggest spoiled twist of the centuries steals the show so the movie can pull a Dawn of Justice. But! It does it much better than the fractured DCEU’s most controversial entry ever could. Mechagodzilla’s inclusion gets a decent amount of build up thanks to Team Godzilla/the Conspiracy Crew, and when he shows up, does he make an impression! At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about his inclusion or his design, but I’ve come to like this one. He’s basically a kaiju terminator built in Godzilla’s image made purely out of heavy machinery piloted by the best Ghidorah head. It’s a jarring change of pace compared to previous MechaG’s but it grows on you after a while. With the abundance of weaponry stuffed into him, he feels like a fitting update of the original killing machine, and even if his inclusion feels like an easy way out of the big showdown, it’s fun to see him played as a literal colossal heel for the kings to team up against. Not to mention he looks shockingly good with those red highlights. However, one still can’t help but wonder how and why he was made in this universe, or how he feels like pure heavy machinery one minute and then an extra-large Ultron unit the next.

As for the the big throwdowns we’ve all been waiting for... well, we’re still in the mixed bag deparment. While the fights are all exciting and excellently choreographed, and benefit from some more eclectic lighting and cinematograph, I’m sorry to say that as far as the rematch of the century goes they dropped the ball on this one.

Don’t get me wrong, the fights are all great in their own ways, but there’s a drastic change in the feeling of weight and power with the monsters. Godzilla, Kong, and even Mechagodzilla all feel strangely floaty in most of their fights. One moments they feel like true behemoths shaking the very earth with every movement and then it’s like they’re in Godzilla Unleashed, running, jumping, and throwing each other around with speed that feels that almost makes you wonder if the Hollow Earth’s gravity inversion stuff is leaking out into the world. While it’s all perfectly cool, you can’t help but wonder how Kong is able to leap between aircraft carriers and buildings, when Godzilla got the ability to blow a hole through the Earth itself, or how a colossal machine is able to move so nimbly or why it has to be flashing blue all the time.

It’s fascinating and fun but you just can’t help but wonder how we got from almost posthuman disaster and war movies exploring how we’re at the mercy of the ancient almost mythical forces beyond our comprehension, we’ve found ourselves smack dab in the middle of Bayformers meets Jurassic World levels of Hollywood absurdity where anything and everything can and will happen in the name of getting to the monster fights. Although I can’t say I’m surprised given the director’s take on Death Note made some questionable choices with it’s take on the infamous cast while still coming up with some genuinely inspired choices. Still, all things considered we could have gotten worse compared to ther cinematic universes made by WB and Universal.

As for some misc. thoughts to close up this rambling mess:

-The soundtrack is fantastic. A great continuation of the feel of Skull Island’s mixtape with some truly wonderful picks. Special mention goes to the opening and ending songs, and they GOT AN ELVIS PRESLEY SONG IN HERE! YES!!! The three kings of pop culture together at last!

-While this movie didn’t need to be any more overstuffed, it would have been nice if the rest of the Titans didn’t disappear entirely from this movie. I get that Godzilla: Dominion already explained what happened to them all more or less, but it really is a missed oppurtunity that we never got to see another Titan war. Or Rodan attacking Kong to avenge his pterosaur bretheren from days long past. Speaking of which...

-“Save Mothra” jokes be damned, Mothra would have been a welcome gues star, not just to help break up the big fight, but to show off Godzilla’s softer, more protective side. And yes, I want more Mothzilla. Shut up, we deserve it.

-Boy, Monarch sure does a whole lot of nothing up-top, huh?

-The cinematography is a great update but there’s a little too much neon lighting, especially in the Apex HQ and the Hollow Earth throne room. It feels like they’re trying just a little too hard to sell the more futuristic, Hollywood sci-fi feel.

-The score is... great but not that great. Of course, I’ve always had mixed feelings about Tom Holkenburg (AKA Junkie XL)’s music. I liked Kong’s themes, but they REALLY dropped the ball with Godzilla’s theme. Mechagodzilla’s works really well as long you ignore that it’s just Godzilla’s theme in this movie with an ominious choir added in.

-The new Hollow Earth creatures are all perfectly fine. Actually, I thought they were another highlight! Especially the Warbats, Hellhawks, and Doug the Titanus Foetodon Man.

-I want to do a release the extended cut campaign but I don’t think any of us have the energy for that s**t anymore.

24 notes · View notes

multimetaverse · 3 years

Text

Riverdale 5x17 Recap

Lord help me I’m back on my bullshit

This whole Betty and Tabitha go undercover as ladies of the night to try and get picked up by a serial killer trucker is nonsensical even by Riverdale standards

I guess they didn’t teach Betty down at the FBI academy that serial killers, contrary to the popular belief that they keep killing until they die or are caught, often do stop killing of their own volition especially once they age past 40. Just like all other types of crime, murder is a young man’s game

Glad they kept the creepy coroner around after the time skip. All things considered he’s being pretty chill about being an accessory to a bunch of crimes

Is that really the suit you’re gonna wear to your divorce paper signing, Chad?

Lmao yaaas kween Penelope drag Kevin for being a fool. I love how Kevin’s only consistent character traits are cruising in the woods and being extremely susceptible to joining cults

Toni’s rocking that hairdo but what on earth is this out of nowhere coming out plot for this student? Have we ever seen her before?

I’m actually wheezing at Hiram handing Chad a gun to go and kill Archie. Every single of one of Hiram’s plots and schemes devolve into him trying to kill Archie Andrews

I had forgotten that they let Cheryl be the Vixen’s coach

Oh yeah Squeaky, wasn’t she in the premiere or something?

The Virgin Chad versus the Chad Archie. At least that time in Uzbekistan came in handy for Archie surviving attempted murders

I do actually like the concept of a serial killer family and tying it back into to Lerman Logan’s disappearance is another good idea

I always assumed Chad would either be killed, probably by Hiram, and then Archie would be framed for his murder or that he would die trying to kill Archie so we’ll see if he goes gently into that good night

I like that Hiram berates Chad both for botching the Archie assassination and for losing Veronica

This song playing during the Varchie reunion sex scene is just awful

Oof poor Alice. She’s really just had her life destroyed over the course of the show

Wow they let Fangs use the word bi

I’ve been hard on Hiram’s lame schemes but props to him, blowing up a mine to kill Archie and a bunch of innocent miners is a legit evil plan

Love Cheryl’s red quill

So they continue to tie the mothmen/aliens/serial killer truckers together. Is mothman some injured/deformed member of the trucker family, maybe injured in the old mines?

RIP Squeaky

Of course the trucker serial killing family will turn out to be distant Cooper/Blossom cousins

Damn this Lodge confrontation was years in the making

So glad that Nana Rose survived the time skip

This is surprisingly plausible for Riverdale. The Starkweathers take in Blossom bastards and move from the woods to the mines to the lonely highway. And we have an explanation for why old man Dreyfus was so crazy

Archie’s ptsd is coming in clutch

Lmfao Cheryl’s a full on witch now. I love it

RIP Chad, you sucked. Good day for Veronica, she kills her ex-husband, vanquishes her father, and gets Archie back safe and sound

Good on Veronica for telling Hiram he’s a cartoon character

In fairness to the Blossom bastards, they’d actually be way less inbred than the Blossoms were

Wow an old school bear trap. Impressive security these serial killers have

No way that mothman armor could stop the bullets in Betty’s gun

Well that was a surprisingly easy take down of those serial killers

Varchie upgraded from shower to bubble bath sex

Damn Hiram burning that photo of Hermione and Veronica

It was nice of old man Dreyfus to tell Betty where Polly’s body was. Don’t know why Betty brought Alice along. I guess kudos to the writers for having this story end realistically but man poor Alice, it’s just blow after blow for her

Well next week looks like a doozy. Kinda surprised they wrapped up the serial killer plot so quick though the TBK is still out there

Until next week Riverdalers

#Riverdale #Varchie #Archie Andrews #Veronica Lodge #Hiram Lodge #Betty Cooper #Alice Cooper #Cheryl Blossom #Riverdale Recaps

5 notes · View notes

poppykru · 4 years

Text

This is a collection of my favourite canonverse fanfiction. I actually started reading bellarke fanfiction last year when season 6 premiered so a lot of the fanfics you see are old and popular within fandom. Nevertheless, I love them and they deserve the recognition for how awesome they are. 😊 I went through my bookmarks twice and I am sure I still missed some, but this is getting really big and has now taken me so long to compile so this is the list. I’ll update it once the show is over. For now though, enjoy!

To all the writers, thank you for your beautiful works! I appreciate you so much! 💖

Most are one shots because that is just my preference for format. Some fanfics are within the universe, but not part of canon (e.g. Ark AUs) so I have put at at the bottom under Canonverse AUs. I tried to list them in order of time in canon but some were difficult to classify.

One more thing, this is a Bellarke fic rec. If it was a general the 100 fic rec, this would include some great non-ship fics I’ve read or other ships. I might do a mini fic rec with those. (Also, I’ll probably post a big AUs fic rec, because my true love is AUs and i have read some masterpieces everyone needs to read!)

With that I am done. I hope you enjoy my collection and please don’t forget to show all these amazing fanfic writers some love - give kudos, bookmark, comment! Let’s support our content creators! 💖

Single Chapter

Inconceivable by @johnnyjaqobis

Explicit | 8,798 words

Bellamy and Clarke have to perform a ritual to seal a grounder aliance. It’s unconventional.

Just the Beating of Our Hearts by @hiddenpolkadots

General Audiences | Fluff | 4,683 words

He leans into it, tilting his body towards her where she still stands between his legs, and they’re so, so close, breathing in each other’s air before his eyes flick up to meet her gaze and then— Abby opens the door and steps out of the supply closet. “Clarke.”

or, 3 times Bellamy gets hurt and one time he isn’t.

Strong as an ox by @wellsjahasghost

Season 1 | Teen and Up | 5,399 words

Clarke tries to rescue Bellamy from some Grounders holding him captive, but things don’t go quite as planned

Here we go Season 1 The line between love and lust does not exist.

Meet me in the Morning by @argyledpenguin

1x03 | Explicit |Time Loop AU | 25,375 words

“I guess one of us is messed up,” he said, “and it’s part of our hallucination that the other is, too.” He paused. “Seems appropriately hellish that my mind sticks me with you.” She pursed her lips. “Likewise.” Clarke is trapped in a stupid time loop, and guess who’s trapped with her?

Sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles by @viansian

Season 1 | Mature | Angst | 10,858 words

“I have spent my entire life afraid of men thought to be gods,” he finally says. “I’ll tell you a secret, princess: these men? The ones who claim to be deities? Their blood isn’t ichor. They bleed red like the rest of us, and sometimes they need to be reminded of that.” or Clarke is abducted by the grounders. Bellamy freaks out.

and just as the sun chases after the moon (i will always chase after you) by @viansian

Post season 1 | Teen and Up | 12,013 words

He had once gone into hell for Octavia. He wonders at what point he had begun to love Clarke as much as his sister.

In the Silence Between Worlds (that’s where I’ll find you) by @viansian

Season 2 | General Audiences | Fluff | 12,647 words

It’s a goddamn tragedy that both of them could be so incredibly in love with each other and yet neither could notice it.

aka everyone knows Bellamy and Clarke are in love except for Bellamy and Clarke.

I loved him first by emmaofmisthaven

Season 2 | Teen and Up | Unrequited Love | 1,306 words

Clarke is missing and Bellamy is going after her. From Octavia’s POV.

Eight Minutes Against a Tree by @cupcakesandtv

Season 2 | Explicit | 2,320 words

Clarke and Bellamy use each other to relieve tension.

The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Sky Person by @ponyregrets

Season 2 | General Audiences | Fluff | 2,320 words

Clarke and Bellamy don’t know how to relationship.

Here be Dragons by ms_scarlet

Post 2x08-2x09 | General Audiences | Hurt/Comfort | 1,121 words

“Well, here we are.” She gestures towards the space beyond the electrified wire in front of them. “We fell from space only to find a pit full of monsters except they didn’t warn us that we’d find them in ourselves.”

All You Have is Your Fire by @hawthornewhisperer

Post 2x09 | Teen and Up | Angst | 2,402 words

Bellamy didn’t think he could survive Mount Weather. But he did, and somehow the aftermath is almost worse.

Do you look like me? Do you feel like me? by heroic

Post 2x16 | Teen and Up | 511 words

There are some selfish wants Clarke will not allow herself, even when everything is dirt with decomposing bodies.

Gifts by winterwaters

Post season 2 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 4,154 words

Bellarke are at a grounder festival. Clarke is pretty and Bellamy is flustered. Fluff.

What We Have to Do by ms_scarlet

Post season 2 | Teen and Up | Hurt/Comfort | 4,910 words

As the air turned cooler, the forest burst into color and the leaves started to fall, and all Bellamy saw was death and decay. He realized that Clarke had been gone longer than he’d known her. He’d lived most of his life without knowing her, so it didn’t seem like it should be such a striking realization, but crashing to Earth was such a cataclysmic event, he realized he’d been thinking of it as a new life beginning and now she’d been out of it longer than she was there.

This One’s for the Faithless by @argyledpenguin

Post season 2 | Explicit | Angst | 22,645 words

“He couldn’t worry about her, about how she’d fare, and whether she’d find her way home eventually, or make a home with strangers, learning to forget the friends she’d killed for. He needed to worry about those friends, to look after their people like she’d asked him to. “She doesn’t need us to go after her,” Raven said. “She knows how to survive.” They’d trust her to return when she was ready, and to look after herself in the meantime.”

who cares if we're trashed by @probably-voldemort

Season 3 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 2,180 words

"Propose to Bellamy." Murphy said it like it was easy, like she wasn't drunk off her ass, like she wasn't hopelessly in love with him. "Unless you're chicken."

The End Where We Begin by katebishoop

Pre 3x06 | Teen and Up | Kid fic | 10,553

Clarke and Bellamy are tired of war and bloodshed. So they run.

Hungry Hearts by @insideimfeelinpurrdy

Post 3x16 | Explicit | Hurt/Comfort | 5,663 words

We all swallow lies when our hearts are hungry.

Field Medicine by storyskein

Post season 3 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 3,558 words

Clarke decides that Bellamy needs to learn first-aid because his bandage wrapping technique is pitiful.

I’ve Got You Here by ms_scarlet

Post Season 3 | Explicit | Hurt/Comfort | 18,383 words

“Here.” He thrusts one of the cups at her and she sets the rake aside to accept it. “You owe me a drink.”

Five Years Later by storyskein

Post Season 3 | Explicit | Fluff | 6,845 words

Five years later, and everything is finally right

To the Order of Night by storyskein

Post season 3 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 2,620 words

Bellamy and Clarke hang out after a long day of preparing for Arkadia’s exodus. Drinking, poker, and cuddling ensue.

Soap by @verbam

Post Season 3 | Teen and Up | 3,571 words

Perhaps because of the late hour, or the heat limiting most duties to half day shifts, the hammam is surprisingly empty when they reach it, their voices going hushed in the echoing room. Clarke realizes as she glances at Bellamy that they’ve never been entirely alone here together. They’ve rinsed off here together before, but that’s easier when they’re surrounded by their friends: Bellamy distracted by Brian snapping a towel at him and Jasper splashing everyone in cold water. Clarke tends to sit with Raven, stretching their legs out on the warmed metal after they’ve scrubbed down and enjoying the steam and hubbub of Arkadians around them.

Right Within Your Heart (This is How It Starts) by @prosciuttoe

Post Season 3 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 6,270 words

Bellamy has never had a enjoyable Christmas. Clarke seeks to rectify that.

Cold Bones by @insideimfeelinpurrdy

Season 4 | Explicit | Major Character Death | tw: depression | 4,152 words

The world dies screaming, protesting violently at every turn, fighting for survival. He dies silently, whispering reassurances into the radio, walking fast and with purpose but without hope. The apocalypse can’t be stopped, and there aren’t enough lifeboats. Bellamy decides to take himself out of the equation.

if it was safer underground, we wouldn’t be on a boat by heroic

Season 4 | Teen and Up | 1,005 words

Did you feel it, too? Clarke wants to go back and ask, lean herself against the bark and look at Bellamy in the night. Do you miss this too, when everything hurt and we still thought we could be better than we are?

And If My Heart Should Stop by @octannibal-blake

4x06 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 1,905 words

The one where bellamy decides it’s time to tell Clarke how he feels.

Whenever the End by @sometimesrosy

4x11 | Mature | 2,173 words

It’s the night before the conclave and the end of the world is nigh. Clarke and Bellamy needs to sleep and Clarke convinces him to share her bed. But waking up in his arms crosses the distance they’ve kept between them.

How I learned to stop worrying and love the apocalypse by @kindclaws

4x12-13 | Explicit | Time Loop AU, Exes to Lovers | 16,407 words

Bellamy and Clarke keep reliving the last few hours before Pramfaya.

Just enough, but not enough by @rycewritestrash

Post Seaosn 4 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 1,173 words

They’re leaning against the rover, sharing an apple, back and forth, discussing their plans for the day when Bellamy says, “We should get married,” in the same tone he’d use if they were talking about what’s for dinner.

The Silence by @sometimesrosy

Season 5 | Teen and Up | Reunion fic | 5,872 words

Clarke and Madi stumble upon spacekru, finally returned. Everyone greets her, except Bellamy.

Think of Me as Time of Day by @octannibal-blake

Season 5 | Teen and Up | Reunion fic | 5,872 words

Three times Bellamy misses Clarke and one time he doesn’t have to.

You’re Just Another Recovering Heart by @prosciuttoe

Season 5 | Mature | Pining | 10,814 words

Bellamy gets into the habit of writing letters to the girl he left behind in the six years they’re apart. But as it turns out, Clarke’s alive, and she’s read them. Or: the fallout of a love confession six years in the making.

Forty Yards by @the-most-beautiful-broom

Season 5 | Teen and Up | Angst | 3,825 words

Bellamy and Clarke are caught in the crossfire of an Eligius/Wonkru battle, and in the fury of it all, Bellamy refuses to leave Clarke behind.

I’m so fucking happy you’re alive/swear to god I’m down if you’re down by heroic

5x13 | General Audiences | 679 words

He wants to go back there, to press his hands against the bare skin of her back, to breathe her in.

I Feel Like We're as Close as Strangers by @eyessharpweaponshot

Season 5 | Explicit | Angst | 7,277 words

“This isn’t about Madi," Bellamy tells her, voice even and certain. "It isn’t about me leaving you on Earth." Clarke’s expression is steel but he can read the discomfort off her a mile away. She’s holding her arms too tightly, her teeth clenched like she’s said too much. "This is about Echo." Even though he knows it is, his heart is still belting in his chest while he waits for a response. The knowledge is overwhelming - because if this is about Echo, it means Clarke might…she might… "Why would this be about Echo?" Clarke says blankly, like she’s bored - like he’s way off the mark. He’s not. "You tell me."

Astra inclinant by @hermesmultivitamins

Post season 5 | Not Rater | Sharing A Bed | 1,814 words

The inevitability of Clarke and Bellamy is obvious to everyone except themselves. Or, the story of how it took 130 years and two planets for Clarke and Bellamy to realize what everyone else already knew.

Do You Feel the Way We’re Falling out of Touch? by @eyessharpweaponshot

Season 6 | Explicit | Time Loop AU, Angst | 13,279 words

Clarke and Bellamy are over and he has moved on, it’s just something Clarke has to accept. They have a job to do and that’s what is important now. They spend the entire day at odds with one another, being distant and lying about their true feelings. When they’re stuck in a time loop because of their inability to be honest though, it’s time to start admitting some things - and it turns out to be a little harder than expected.

Bad Moon Rising by @bettsfic

6x02 | Teen and Up | Angst, Hurt/Comfort | 1,700 words

Afterglow by @queenginnys

Post 6x10 | Teen and Up | Love Confessions | 1,085 words

Bellamy and Clarke have a lot to discuss after Clarke survives Josephine.

Sick of Losing Soulmates by @pawprinterfanfic

Post 6x10 | Teen and Up | Hurt/Comfort | 4,884 words

Clarke and Bellamy talk after the events at Gabriel's. After almost losing her again, Bellamy intends to not let emotions go unspoken.

Our Own Stars by bellofthetolppl

Season 6 | General Audiences | Angst | 3,477 words

Bellamy gets hurt when he tries to find Octavia after she disappeared in the Anomaly and once Clarke finds out, she goes crazy. Kind of like 6x10 but the roles are reversed and she's worried sick about him.

feet on the ground, head in the sky by fathomless

Season 6 | General Audiences | Hurt/Comfort | 2,547 words

three times Bellamy kissed Clarke's forehead and one time she kissed his.

Like Being Submerged in Your Contradictions by WelpThisIsHappening

Season 6 | Explicit | Fluff | 4,491 words

She supposes she's not surprised.

Clarke probably should have expected it. After all, her romantic track record is not really all that impressive. But. She hoped. And to say that she's a little disappointed to find out sex with Bellamy is not as great as she wanted it to be is an understatement.

So now he wants to talk about it. Figures.

The House Don't Fall When the Bones Are Good by @ponyregrets

Post Canon | Teen and Up | Afterlife | Crossover with The Good Place | 6,019 words

Clarke wakes up and has a conversation with a man wearing a bowtie.

We Burned Bright by @marauders-groupie

Mature

Collection of canon-compliant drabbles

Multichapter

Small Favours by @kay-emm-gee

8 chapters | Season 1 | Teen and Up | Fluff | 24,203 words

Small favors born out of sheer necessity (part I, part II) forge a unique intimacy (part III, part IV, part V, part VI) that brings forth intense chemistry (part VII, part VIII).

Or, how Bellamy & Clarke take their time falling in love.

Survivor’s guilt by @wellsjahasghost

4 chapters | Post season 3 | Explicit | Angst, Kid fic | 102,671 words

“There’s no one else to live for anymore.” Clarke utters those words without too much emotion. They’ve had time over the years to reflect on all the people ripped away from their lives. It’s no longer a fierce, stabbing pain, just a kind of endless ache that surges and subsides with every breath they take. After all their efforts, they failed. The story of the SkaiKru would die with them. “We’re the last of our people.”

Bellamy finally looks up at her tone of voice and after a pause he says, slowly, “We don’t have to be.”

Hold me Still by bellofthetolppl

9 chapters | Season 4 | General Audiences | Angst | 45,863 words

“I can’t see, what’s happening to me?” or Bellamy is blinded in an accident.

The Twelfth Level by @jemleofan

13 chapters | Canon-compliant until 4x03 | Explicit | 62,085 words

The death wave is rapidly approaching. Clarke and Bellamy make a startling discovery: Cadogan’s cult has survived underground and is willing to shelter Skaikru from the impending disaster. But at what price?

This one’s for you by @andthelightbulbclicks

48 Chapters | Post season 4 | Slow Burn | 60,535 words

Ficlets glimpsing at those 2,199 days, and after…

The Price of Peace by @chase-the-windandtouch-the-sky

18 chapters | Season 6 | Teen and Up | Angst, Hurt/Comfort | 11,0987 words

Upon landing in the new world, it seemed like humanity finally had a chance at peace. When suddenly something is taken from them, Bellamy and crew must find a way to navigate this new world when it feels like it’s falling apart.

Bury A Friend, Try To Wake Up by @talistheintrovert

7 chapter | Teen and Up | Angst | 75,289 word

A few weeks after settling in to the new planet, Clarke seems to be acting strangely. Almost like she's two different people. Bellamy is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Canonverse AUs

Single Chapter

Winners Don’t Always Get Lucky Breaks by @cupcakesandtv

Explicit | Ark AU, Arranged Marriage, Domestic Bellarke | 23,501 words

Bellamy and Clarke are roped into Abby’s political games and have to get married.

Just as You Are Mine by @prosciuttoe

Explicit | Arranged Marriage AU, Grounder!Bellamy | 23,637 words

In hindsight, marrying a total stranger may not have been one of Clarke’s brightest ideas. (Clarke seals an alliance with the Broadleaf clan by marrying Bellamy Blake.)

Darkest of marks by @important-metaphors

Explicit | Ark AU, Angst | 21,162 words

After Jake Griffin’s prediction about the system failure turns out to be wrong, Clarke is given a second chance on the Ark. Janitor Bellamy Blake may or may not complicate everything for her.

Shadows Run From Yesterday by @important-metaphors

Explicit | Ark AU | 14,053 words

Thirteen nations have operational space stations at the time of the bombs and Clarke Griffin is among the survivors. When she loses those dearest to her, she finds an ally in the person she least expects.

In My House on the Hill (there is room for you still) by @argyledpenguin

Explicit | Ark AU, Angst | 24,066 words

“There were nights when the clinic was busy, forcing Clarke to scarf down a snack in between patients. But those nights were rare. Usually, there was time to take a break for lunch, to sketch for an hour, to talk to Bellamy, or to try to. It turned out that Bellamy wasn’t a talker. Or a friendly, pleasant person in general. But she got used to it. To him.” Clarke meets Bellamy on the ark.

Multichapter

How You Stay Alive by @wellsjahasghost

3 chapters | Explicit | Reincarnation AU | 88,303 words

You and him will live again by my hand. But whether you fall in love again is entirely up to you.” Nine lifetimes where Clarke and Bellamy meet again, and again, and again.

In his heart of hearts by @bilexualclarke

2 chapters | Explicit | Ark AU, Enemies to Friends to Lovers | 12,808 words

She looks at him expectantly when he walks in, daring him to say something. His interactions with Clarke since their first day have consisted of “hello” “goodbye” and the occasional glare when he scoffs at something corny she says to a patient. But right now, he can’t help but take the bait. “Mommy pull some strings for you, Princess?” Clarke deflates a bit, and for a second it dawns on him that maybe she was waiting for him to congratulate her? But then, “Go fuck yourself.”

Bound by the secrets we share by troubledpancakes

4 chapters | Explicit | Ark AU | 48,523 words

Ninety-seven years ago, a nuclear apocalypse rendered planet Earth unlivable, leaving only the four-hundred people on the twelve space stations as its survivors. Over three generations, these twelve nations joined together to form the unified Ark Station. To preserve the human race, the leaders of the Ark implemented strict measures including: capital punishment for anyone over the age of eighteen, a ration system based on job placement, and the arrangement of marriages based on genetic compatibility. If the human race was to return to Earth, it had to be strong to survive. Clarke Griffin turned eighteen and celebrated her birthday with a marriage ceremony.

#poppy's bellarke canonverse masterlist #fic rec #bellarke #bellarke fanfiction #bellarke fanfic #bellamy x clarke #clarke and bellamy #the 100 fanfiction #bellarke fic

304 notes · View notes

earnestly-endlessly · 4 years

Note

Could you please rec cherik fics where they still have powers but being mutant is well accepted? (Kind of like the Daycare Verse by brillingspoons) THANK U SO MUCH YOURE INCREDIBLE

Hi anon, of course I have a list for you. I am so sorry for the delay. I have been super busy lately with work and home renovations, but I’m back and I have a looong list for you. Now, the nature of x-men as a parallel of the very real fight of minority groups for civil rights makes it pretty hard to find fics where everyone accepts mutants.That’s actually why I love the x-men, because they represent the fight of those who are ostracised. So, some of these might have some social commentary, but the main focus does not lie there. Also, if you love the Daycare Verse check out pocky_slash’s fics (who actually wrote the majority of the Daycare Verse).

------

Cherik ´Still Have Powers Modern AU´ Fic Recs

irreconcilable differences (make for surprisingly good bedfellows) – pocky_slash

Summary: Tonight on The Evening Report with Malcolm Stevens, noted geneticist and mutant equality proponent Dr. Charles Xavier faces off with the infamous mutant rights activist Magneto in a live televised debate over the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act.

(At least, if they can stop flirting long enough to stay on topic.)

Words and Pictures – pocky_slash

Summary: When Lorna's powers manifest early, Charles Xavier's mutant picture books are the perfect teaching tool. Erik just hadn't expected the author to be so young. Or attractive. Or available.

For the Record – endingthemes

Summary: As prominent figures in the mutant rights movement, activists Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr are pretty much household names. When a romance scandal between them breaks, their celebrity reaches new heights, and though the increased exposure is great, there’s a big problem -- the two of them are just friends.

Too bad no one believes them.

Runs in the Family – Anonysquirrel (chibirisuchan)

Summary: Alex knew his own reputation. Hell, he'd started some of his own reputation, because it kept some of the smarter thugs off his back. Everyone knew Alex's reputation. There was no way Hank didn't know his reputation, but he'd brought Alex into a house with some really expensive things and a lot of innocent little kids and his too-friendly, too-harmless dad.

But clearly Hank hadn't told his family anything about Alex, just like he hadn't told Alex anything about his family. At least, not about the brain-breaking parts of his family.

"I didn't know where to start," Hank said, for the dozenth time.

Featuring mpreg!Charles in a Kiss The Cook apron, overprotective!Erik in wet black leather, and baked goods. Lots and lots of baked goods.

(Another segment of this series is posted under the Cookie Cutter fic collection - thanks again, Takmarierah!)

Impulse Decisions – listerinezero

Summary: Erik wakes up in Las Vegas with a hell of a hangover, a telepath in his bed, and a ring on his finger. Now what?

You Show Me Yours - endingthemes

Summary: When Erik receives nudes in the middle of the night from an unknown number, he's confused and mildly amused. He doesn't expect it to turn into an actual conversation...with feelings.

As if that's not baffling enough, his friend's brother ends up crashing at his place, further complicating everything.

Some Such Place (The Big Screen Classics Remix) - Pocky_Slash

Summary: Erik's spent the last eighteen months having lengthy socio-political conversations and casual sex with Charles Xavier after seeing Monday matinees at a dingy little independent movie theatre in the Village. That doesn't mean they're friends. Or that Erik should have any say in what Charles is going to do with his future.

(At least, that's what Erik keeps telling himself.)

Into Your Tar, Honey - tomato_greens

Summary: Really, Alex doesn’t know why he’s in the damn class.

(Or, the one in which Charles teaches an online Introduction to Biology course, and Alex reads more than he expected to.)

Heli Cases - Black_Betty

Summary: "Heli Cases" is a program on PBS whose aim is to educate on the rapidly increasing occurrence of genetic mutation in the general populous by breaking the complex science down into palatable, easy to digest pieces.

It is also the only thing that helps Erik get his fussy daughter to fall asleep.

(Featuring Dadneto, baby Lorna and the struggles of single fatherhood, and Charles as the host of a late night show about genetics.)

Bound - FuryRed

Summary: Is there anything worse than someone else’s wedding? Well, perhaps your sister’s wedding- where the groom just has to invite his boss and that man just happens to be your ex-boyfriend; a person you had an extremely passionate and tumultuous relationship with that ended badly.

Charles hadn’t seen Erik for a year by the time Raven had told him about the wedding. He wasn’t looking forward to the occasion, particularly when Raven explained that they would be celebrating the event with a two-week extravaganza at a luxury hotel, meaning that Charles would be forced to spend a whole fortnight with the man who he’d given everything to; the man who had ultimately broken his heart…

An Exercise in Frustration – ikeracity

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr's latest critically-acclaimed film Shame features a full-frontal nudity scene. His long-suffering husband Charles is really very peeved about it.

Eyes on Fire - Black_Betty

Summary: Every once in a while, fashion tycoon Emma Frost invites her favourite male models over to entertain her. And by "entertain", I mean she makes them have kinky consensual sex in front of her....Emma never touches herself when she watches, but she always has a glass of wine with her. Emma likes it best when they eventually forget that she's watching.

Charles and Erik meet each other through Emma...

(I've taken some liberties with the prompt, but all the sex is still there, and it's wholly consensual...and gradually, becomes more than just sex...)

Order Up - ikeracity

Summary: Charles has a terrible habit of multitasking, and that is probably why he absentmindedly tells the pizza man that he loves him when hanging up.

Then the pizza man says it back. And Charles is pretty much smitten from there.

Some Assembly Required - manic_intent

Summary: "Alex and Hank were two teenagers who frequently fight in school. One fight got so bad that the principal called in their fathers (as both came from single-parent families)/ guardians for a conference. This was how Charles and Erik meet."

Limited Release - rageprufrock

Summary: When Alex Summers broke out of supermax to rescue his stupid kid brother, he had no idea it was going to be so fucking complicated.

Math Reasons – pearl_o, pocky_slash

Summary: "Mom says Erik always knows what he wants, it just sometimes takes him a little while to actually realize it," Ruth said.

Charles fell in love with Erik the first night they met, the first week of freshman year. Two years of friendship, adventures, arguments, hijinks, secrets, and summer visits later, Erik is starting to catch up.

It’s kind of our whole thing – pearl_o, pocky_slash

Summary: After two years of best friendship, Charles and Erik thought they knew everything there was to know about each other. They're surprised, then, when their first summer as a couple reveals that they have a lot to learn about each other and themselves.

PART 2 of Math Reasons

A Nice Boy (The Family Matters Edition) – pocky_slash

Summary: Erik's not sure whether the problem is that he doesn't want his parents to meet Charles or that he doesn't want Charles to meet his parents. Either way, he never invites Charles to brunch. Why should he? It's not like they're dating.

apple season – pocky_slash

Summary: "You know," Charles says while they're sitting around the kitchen table reading the paper, "You should take Anya apple picking."

"Don't you mean 'we?'" Erik responds. The silence that follows is enough to make him re-examine his own apple picking memories a little more closely. Uneven ground littered with apples, tree roots, holes, and narrow passage between rows of orchard trees. "Oh," he says.

rooms/shares – pocky_slash

Summary: Erik is single, working a cube job he hates, letting his master's degree in mutant studies collect dust, and living on his best friend's couch. When she kicks him out, he's forced to trawl Craigslist for the least-offensive rooming option within his meagre budget. He never expects a response from the persnickety, high maintenance ad he replies to as a joke, but it's possible this too-nice apartment and mysteriously absent roommate might be the answer to all four of his problems.

Continue firm and constant – aesc

Summary: Moira hasn't seen her old partner in saving the world from threats human and intergalactic, Erik Lehnsherr, for a few years. When she finally does see him again, she finds a man different from the one who's been with her down in the dark and the dirt and the blood... or maybe he isn't so different after all.

Tough little baby telepath – aesc, pearl_o

Five Part Series

Summary: Teenage telepath Charles Xavier takes a job as a consultant, working with prickly police detective Erik Lehnsherr. Charles is used to being on his own and taking care of himself; he has no reason to think that his relationship with this stern, icy man is going to change any of that.

Frosted hearts – aesc, palalife

Summary: Emma Frost has 99 problems, but a date ain't one. Specifically, she has no time to play the dating game--which is fine with her, because she'd much rather run it instead. From a set of sleek, silver and white offices on Fifth Avenue and with her trusty, stylish, and silent partner Janos Quested, Emma has built Frosted Hearts into New York City's premiere dating service, built on the principle that money, and a sufficiently rigorous psionic scan, can, in fact, buy you love.

Somewhere in Frosted Hearts's server is one Charles Xavier, genius and geneticist, with the kind of nicely-starched good looks that sell well on brochures for New England prep schools. He's also a telepath who's decided to give up pursuing serious relationships and instead spend his thirties doing what he should have done as a teenager: have a lot of sex with random people. Fortunately for him, Erik Lehnsherr, metallokinetic and engineering executive, has absolutely no time in his heart or his schedule for anything more serious than... well, absolutely nothing romantic at all.

Mercy of the Fallen (the AirDrop Security Update 2.0) – pocky_slash

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr feels defined by his past sins and after years of acting against his own moral compass, he's finally struck out on his own. He's his own boss now, and determined to work hard to help the mutant community and make up for years of doing someone else's dirty work.

Complicating this is Charles Xavier, mutant advocate, genetics professor, unfairly attractive telepath, and owner of the coffee shop below Erik's office. Erik may not think he deserves to be a part of the community he's thrown himself into helping, but Charles has other ideas on the matter, and he's determined to do everything in his power to make Erik see himself as a force for good.

you follow and i’ll lead – pearl_o, pocky_slash

Summary: When Charles discovers how frustrated and self-conscious his best friend Erik is about his ignorance about sex, he's eager to volunteer to help teach him and practice. Charles might not have any more direct experience than Erik, but he does have a telepath's mind full of accidentally picked-up fantasies and memories, as well as knowledge of a few dirty books - and more importantly, he's been madly in love with Erik for years. This seems like a brilliant, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he can't pass up.

Now he just needs to manage to keep his feelings in check, and not ruin their friendship forever.

Snail Mail – pocky_slash

Summary: Alex isn't thrilled when his boss, Erik, starts sending him to hand deliver notes to Erik's husband up at the university--that is, until he sees the Professor's hot new TA, and suddenly, the notes can't come fast enough. If only Alex could work up the guts to ask him out....

this is life (and everything’s all right) – pocky_slash

Summary: Edie Lehnsherr came into Charles' life long before he ever heard Erik Lehnsherr's name, and her death left a gaping hole in the lives of everyone in Charles' family. As the first Purim without her approaches, he begins to get creative in his efforts to bring everyone out of their grief. Kitchen creativity, however, is not quite his strength....

Watching the Detectives – Clocks

Summary: Detectives Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr are good friends and colleagues. However, when they go undercover at a Christmas party to nab a prime suspect, Erik keeps reminding himself to stay professional and ignore feelings of unexpected jealousy.

Student/Teacher Relations – PoorMedea

Summary: As a TA, Charles knows he can't get involved in all his students' lives. He needs to keep professional boundaries, to make sure that he's an authority figure. But when he accidentally finds out how complicated Erik Lehnsherr's home life is, he suddenly finds that distance hard to maintain.

Fill for the prompt: Erik is the teen dad of adorable baby!Lorna. I just want teen!Erik being a dad, with adorable interactions between him and his baby. Angst is good too since there's always going to be some in such situations, but mainly I want to see teen dad Erik being an awesome dad who loves the hell out of his daughter despite whatever else may be going on.

Conspiracy of Kisses – Alaceron

Summary: Seven-year-old Erik needs to keep his telepathic best friend Charles from finding out that he wants to kiss him. But that's okay, because he has a plan - he'll put on a tinfoil hat.

Favorite Mistake – endingthemes

Summary: Charles Xavier doesn’t think anything of it when he sneaks out without even saying goodbye to his latest one-night stand. What he doesn’t expect is to walk into his new position in the Xavier Industries marketing department and find that his latest hook-up is now his new boss.

Never Take Biology for Granite – ikeracity, pangea

Summary: Charles is an internet celebrity who garners his fame from posting educational, in-depth videos about a different animal every week, though for some reason his viewers are always more interested in his sex life with his geologist husband, Erik, who happens to frown heavily upon all living things.

Except for Charles, of course, whom he's missed these past couple days while attending a geologic convention--though considering the subject material of Charles' newest video, he's wishing he would've stayed away longer.

This Is Not Comedy – baehj2915

Summary: Written for amarriageoftrueminds' prompt for a Cherik version of Louis CK's tangent about the fuckability of Ewan McGregor.

Naturally the similarities end there. I made this about Erik's full on public lust-filled gay revelation, and the chaos that spirals from there.

Snowed In – dedkake

Summary: Charles and Erik have a one night stand, but a blizzard traps them in Erik's apartment afterward.

#cherik fic recs #fic recs #still have powers AU #cherik #asks #earnestly answers #as always I can't make short lists #sorry about that #long post

109 notes · View notes

spaceorphan18 · 3 years

Note

What effect do you feel Kurt’s friendship with Rachel had on his relationship with Blaine?

This is a really fascinating question! Thank you!

It’s interesting because I don’t think Rachel had all that much impact on Klaine for better or for worse. Let’s dig in!

Season 1 - clearly zero impact.

Season 2 - I’d argue zero impact. I’m not sure how much of a friendship I see in season 2 Hummelberry. Things I can think of off the top of my head

In Special Ed before competition Rachel and Kurt have a heart to heart, and Blaine comes by. But there’s really nothing about Blaine there.

Silly Love Songs, Kurt discusses his feeling for Blaine, but Mercedes gives out advice while Rachel talks about herself.

In BIOTA, Rachel dates Blaine, and mostly that makes Kurt dislike Rachel more, but on the positive side, Blaine is able to figure out that he is gay and no bi, which is neutral for Kurt.

In Rumors, Rachel is pro-Klaine, and wants Kurt not to cheat on Blaine with Sam, which again, is more of Kurt thinking she’s crazy.

And in New York, Kurt mentions going to New York with Blaine, to which Rachel has no objection, but again, is mostly thinking about herself.

So my conclusion is - zero effect in season 2.

Season 3 - Is tricky! Because I think it’s misleading. Kurt has duel roles during this season -- the first being Rachel’s new BFF-slash-sidekick, the second being one-half of a romantic pairing, and because Rachel is now the main character, guess which one takes precedence. Due to that, Klaine’s screen time is cut down to focus on other things, and it’s easy to blame Rachel, but I still don’t think she has a bad effect on Klaine, is mostly positive.

I’m hard pressed to remember any early instances of Rachel having anything to do with Klaine -- she seems happy that Blaine has transferred, happy about having Blaine be her co-star, happy that Klaine gets their own Bachelor Chalet, and happy to bring Blaine movies and soup when he’s out for his eye injury.

During Dance With Somebody -- she even gives Kurt some relatively good advice about not being a dick to his boyfriend, even if said boyfriend seems distant and unresponsive.

During Prom - she encourages both of them do the anti-prom with her, it’s mostly for selfish reasons, but she seems rather content that both of them are her gay bffs.

I’d say she has a rather positive influence in season 3, even if we’re personally annoyed that her presence takes away from Klaine.

Season 4 - Which I suppose people think has the most negative effect. But I think I’d argue it’s not nearly as bad as it seems, and Rachel’s a relatively supportive friend, despite the narrative still using Kurt as Rachel’s emotional prop. (Though that is not as bad as it is in season 3.)

Despite the continuing parallels found between Finchel and Klaine in season 4 (this started in season 3, after the show decided to drop paralleling Finchel with Wemma), Rachel has little to no say around the time Kurt and Blaine break up. She neither condones or condemns Blaine for cheating (not that she would have any leg to stand on in any kind of condemnation).

I’d also add that any kind of issues Klaine had before the break up due to Kurt being wrapped up in NYC had really nothing to do with Rachel - and more to do with Kurt, as an individual, moving in a new direction in his life.

During Glease, again, Rachel plays a (minimal) part in being Kurt’s supportive friend. While she is wrapped up in her own (melo-)drama, she does act supportive to Kurt when they get back to McKinley. And has little to know commentary on Blaine, and of that, is mostly reflective of her own situation.

During Thanksgiving -- she wants Kurt to be an adult with her - and while this may seem disconcerting to a Klaine fan, Kurt is in a place where he’d rather go along with her crazy cause it’s easier than trying to deal with his shit. But interestingly -- Rachel’s attitude is ‘fuck our exes’ let’s seize the new day, and that’s about it. Meanwhile, Kurt isn’t opening up to her, at all, about Blaine - and uses Isabelle as a sounding board. It’s Isabelle’s advice whom he really takes, and ends up confessing his real feelings to Blaine by the end of the episode.

During Sadie Hawkins -- she’s encouraging him to go on a date with Adam -- and while this doesn’t sound Klaine friendly, not only does she completely miss the cues that Kurt isn’t over his break up, her advice isn’t actually bad, and reminiscent of what Brittany is going to tell him in season 6 -- that he can’t just sit around and wait for things to work out with Blaine, he needs to continue on with his life.

During Glee, Actually -- she is sadden to hear that Kurt won’t be trying to reconnect with Blaine over the holidays, because even as self-involved as she is at this point, she is probably aware of how much Blaine means to him (still) and even broken up and semi-dating another guy, Kurt probably still doesn’t shut up about Blaine.

If there’s anything post Glee, Actually, I’m completely drawing a blank. Santana takes over the Klaine commentary during the I Do era, and Rachel is pretty absent during the end of the season stuff.

So... while I think she doesn’t have much of an impact on the Klaine love story in general, I think she’s trying to be a good friend to Kurt while he goes through his shit. And even though she’s framing everything through her own issues with Finn (and Brody), I do believe she has his best interests at heart. The other interesting thing to note here, though, is that Rachel is not the person Kurt confides in about Blaine - Isabelle is, and even Santana has picked up on stuff with Kurt more than Rachel.

But it’s important to note that while Kurt ends up knee deep in Rachel’s shit, Kurt plays his own heart very close to his chest, and how he feels for Blaine is not something he really shares with other people -- as very evident by this season.

Season 5 - Again, I don’t think Rachel plays that big of a part in any of the Klaine narrative.

During LLL, she makes sure she and Santana are there for the proposal -- and she’s supportive to both Kurt and Blaine in this.

I’m struggling to see where, if at all, she plays any kind of part in the Klaine narrative for most of the rest of the season. She is relatively supportive of him in his individual career moves, but really has nothing to say about Blaine. Even in the AU Christmas episode -- Santana is the one whom he discusses his feelings over what happened, and his feelings about being ‘broken up’ with Blaine.

Elliott takes on more of a role within the Klaine narrative in the meantime when he’s around.

Even in the NYC arc, Kurt doesn’t really talk to anyone (other than Elliott) about his problems with Blaine (while Blaine has Sam to talk to). And in fact -- he and Rachel are more at odds than not during this run. Blaine isn’t involved much at all.

So.... Rachel has little to no impact on the Klaine narrative here.

Season 6 - I’d say that Rachel is rather a positive influence for both of them at the beginning of the season (and then the writers kinda stopped caring about involving her in it).

In the premiere, Rachel is a good friend to both of them -- she is not negative towards either one of them during their discussions, and tries to emotionally support each of them while they deal with their emotions. She’s actually, surprisingly, a pretty good friend.

And... that’s about it unless I’m forgetting something huge. I mean, she does go looking for them in HL pt 2. But mostly, she’s a non-entity in their story. Sue, Brittany, Santana, Dave, and Walter have more influence on either of them than Rachel.

So... Rachel is has nearly zero impact, and is positive in general towards both of them.

Conclusion -

So, yeah, there are aspects of Hummelberry that I do find frustrating, especially during season 3 and 4 when Kurt becomes Rachel’s emotional prop instead of a character, but! She’s usually positive towards Klaine, is friends with Kurt and Blaine, and is supportive of whatever incarnation they’re in.

Mostly, though, I’d argue that Kurt keeps his relationship with Blaine very separate from Rachel, and she is not who he confides in for emotional support with those issues a majority of the time. I think Kurt is smart enough to know what kind of friend Rachel is, and seeks emotional validation, for the most part, from other people when it comes to Blaine. And despite the fact that as written, Hummelberry seems lopsided -- I think ultimately, she tries to be a good friend to Kurt when the writing allows it.

So, there ya go :)

#readyrex #that's how s.o. sees it #interesting right?

25 notes · View notes