Heyoooo so everyday of September I drew Arty as a different animal (with same palette) as a little challenge a friend came up with

These are just a few of my favorites but I’ve got 30 of these dudes and it was so much fun and very educational on how some animals look and are shaped - and I didn’t even miss a day, so bad on me if I don’t succeed Inktober

“They’re trying to discharge her constructively. Do you know what Constructive Discharge means?” She asked.

As soon as I heard the term ‘Constructive Discharge,’ I knew I’d never seen it on a vocabulary quiz.

“No. What does it mean?” I asked.

She explained.

“Constructive discharge is a fancy way of saying “being forced out.” It’s not good. And if you’re not a lawyer or in human resources, you’ll probably learn what it means when it’s happening to you.”

“Oh my God. I’ve seen this my entire career and never knew it even had a name.” I thought.

You’ve seen constructive Discharge too. You may have experienced it. We’ve all made choices to avoid it.

Constructive discharge defined

“We can’t fire you, but we’ll make you so miserable you’ll quit, and then we won’t have to pay your unemployment.”

Then there’s the textbook definition:

“A constructive discharge occurs when your employer has made working conditions unbearable, forcing you to resign.”

Or as one person put it.

“I didn’t get handed a pink slip, but when you’re not wanted, people have a way of letting you know.”

HR isn’t always the secret police.

Employees aren’t always victims of evil-doers.

However, employers push employees out all the time to maintain and protect the, “We didn’t do anything wrong, YOU did,” power structure.

Constructive Discharge looks like this:

— Meeting invitations slow to a trickle, and you’re excluded from emails and generally looped out of what’s going on.

— People stop talking to you or stop talking when you walk in.

— Your emails don’t get answers, or they arrive too late to be of value.

— Suddenly, your work is not good enough, though nothing about your work has changed.

— Reviews, once good or even glowing, are now mediocre or bad.

— Instead of a bonus, you get a Performance Improvement Plan.

— Warnings and write-ups start so they can justify your eventual termination with documentation of your “poor performance”

— Your work, clients, assignments go away, or they overwhelm you with work.

— The words “Set up to fail” were practically invented to describe this scenario.

Constructive Discharge is illegal

It isn’t easy to prove you’re a target, and it’s even more challenging if you don’t even know constructive discharge is a real thing.

If you’ve ever experienced this and don’t fully understand what’s happening to you beyond knowing you’re in the process of being excommunicated, it can be hell. It’s not uncommon for the experience to leave long-lasting scars.

Talk to anyone who’s ever been through it. They’ll tell you.

Knowing constructive discharge exists and how it’s used gives you power to predict what’s coming and to protect yourself.

Seeing the endgame helps you in two ways.

You know what to expect. Having a sense of what’s coming next is enormously empowering. You can go on the offensive and protect yourself. Constructive discharge works to crush your ego, making you feel you did something wrong and deserve this treatment.

Without strategy, you end up being a miserable pawn in your employer’s endgame.

Remember, they’re almost certainly building a case to fire you in the event the hellscape they create for you doesn’t persuade you to quit.

If you’re getting pushed out, and you know what to look for you can prove constructive discharge and you can get unemployment benefits, be released from payback obligations on a signing bonus, and protect your mental health.

You’re not crazy, incompetent, or a failure. This is real and it’s carefully executed to leave you holding the bag and feeling like you did something wrong.

If they force you out, in addition to feeling horrible, you lose your paycheck, benefits health insurance, and possibly owe them money.

i chose you. will graham.

summary : will graham had felt himself slipping away for months. after a particularly grisly nightmare, he finds himself being comforted by his partner who can’t help but reassure him. (can be read as gn!reader)

word count : 944

warnings : nightmares , anxiety , panic attacks , unstable mind , insecurities , fear of hurting others

a/n : hello everyone ! it’s been a while. truthfully , i had been having a bit of a rough time. i apologize for the leave , but i want you all to know that i have received your requests , they are in my ask box and i will be getting around to them ! thank you so much for all of the love and support you all continue to show me. i truly am so appreciative of it and find it motivates me to write even more. that being said , this is my first hannibal fic ! i would love to write more for it , so please let me know if you all would be interested in that. and please send in requests !!! i want to write for you ! i hope you like the story. thank you all again for the support. have an amazing wonderful incredible day ! love you all !

it was a cold, rainy wednesday night.

it wasn’t rare for the weather in virginia to be like this. sprinkles, drizzles, downpour. it was all the same to you.

you glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. its electronic glow read 8:53 p.m. it was still early in the night. you and your partner, will, hit the hay early this evening. will had sipped on a small glass of whiskey before declaring himself drowsy enough to go get in bed.

you had followed him up the stairs, a small army of dogs on your heels as you trudged up the wooden steps.

“i think i’m gonna read,” you announced, tossing the sheets aside.

“oh yeah?” will smiled gently, “your new one?”

“yeah, i’ve got just over 60 pages left and i want to get it done before friday,” you adjusted your pillows.

“i’m expecting a review when you finish,” will stepped out of slippers, lying down next to you.

“like i’d ever pass up the opportunity,” you grinned, reaching for your book, “lamp or reading light?”

a timid look settled on will’s face, “lamp. please”.

a few months ago will had started having nightmares. they were grueling, each night a horror film of his most traumatic moments, deepest fears, and haunted past played on a nauseating reel in his mind. since then, will had liked to keep the bedroom lamp on. he found it comforting to awake from his grisly slumber to a well-lit, familiar place.

“lamp it is,”

will sunk into the mattress beneath him, drifting off to his nightmarish dream world, a place his sleeping figure visited far too often. once you heard the soft, steadying of his breath, you propped yourself up under the covers, resting against the wooden headboard as you began finishing your book.

37 pages or so later, here you were, glancing at the clock that read 8:53.

a small shake of the bed startled you. looking down at the man next to you, you swayed again as his body jolted.

his shirt had seemed to change color in the past half hour as his sweat had drenched the cottony fabric. his breathing had become uneven, sharp and jagged, clawing at the oxygen around him, begging for sweet relief from this panicked suffocation that encased his lungs.

spasming, sweat, hyperventilation. you knew what was coming.

you placed your book down beside you, preparing yourself for the storm of will that was brewing beside you.

his wet shirt clung to him as his shaking turned to convulsions. his arms and legs thrashed around, trying to fight off the dreadful scene that played in his mind.

your heart raced, fearful for him as you reached forward, resting a protective hand on his shoulder.

“will,” you shook him carefully.

the hideous sounds that ripped from his chest frightened you.

“will,” you shook harder, terrified that he was actually going to suffocate himself, “will!”

his body lurched forward, a gasp escaping him so loud it seemed to silence the rest of the world.

he looked like he was being pinned down, the way his body uncomfortably pressed into the bed, an attempt to make himself feel grounded.

escaping from his nightmarish state didn’t appear to help to ease his mind at all. his breathing was still frantic and his eyes shot around wildly.

“sweetheart,” you gently wiped a few strands of wet hair from his forehead, cautious as to not spook him.

he placed a desperate hand on the back of yours, a pool of comfort flooding his chest. your tender touch breaking down the icy walls that trapped his harrowing thoughts.

“will,” he was still trembling, his mental battle still not quite over, “look at me”.

you started pulling away, afraid your physical presence might be overwhelming while he was still so raw. will moved to grip your wrist, pressing your palm back to his cheek.

he breathed deeply, bit by bit, the life returning to his eyes.

“how am i ever supposed to save anyone when i can’t even save myself?” he whispered sullenly.

“i wouldn’t say it’s all your own doing,” you stroked the side of his damp face, “there’s a lot of people that put a lot of pressure on you. people that would rather see you drown trying to help them than allow you to swim to shore”.

“what if i can’t save you?” he met your eyes, his gaze timorous.

“that’s not something you have to worry about,” you reassured him.

“well it is,” he pressed.

“you don’t have to save me, will. i’m okay. i’m here, in this moment, in bed with you,” you offered.

you were met with silence.

he gnawed on his bottom lip as thoughts bounced around his brain.

“what if i can’t save you from myself?” he stressed, his real worry coming to light.

“i don’t need to be saved from you. you’re not holding me captive, i choose to be here. i choose to spend my nights with you, reading books and drinking whiskey and caring for dogs because i love you, will,” you brushed the hair from his forehead, “there’s nothing else i would rather do in this world than be here with you”.

for a moment, the air was still. a blanket of calm had quieted everything except for the pattering of the raindrops that hailed from above.

he rolled over, his face falling into your chest as his shoulders quivered.

“i’m afraid,” he choked out.

“i know you are,” you pulled him flush against your body, massaging your fingers through his hair, “but i’m here for you. i’m always here for you”.

The Red String of Fate - A Poll Game

Part 2

Here we are at Chapter 2 of our story. This wasn't meant to be this long but it turned out huge. If you are just finding our story now, you can read Chapter 1 here. I will be writing our romantic conclusion next!

In Which the Prefect gets Advice

The dim green glow of a candlestick cast a strange shadow over the face of your senior.  Lilia sits across from you and pours out a cup of steaming tea for the both of you.  You eye it warily before deciding it was worth the risk.  You take a sip and are relieved to find it just common green tea.  He gives a chuckle at your expression, the bright and cheery smile he dons seems at sharp contrast to the eerie atmosphere of Diasomnia.  

“So, to what do I owe this friendly visit?” Lilia asks kindly.  You take a sip of tea to calm your nerves and begin, “Well, you see, it’s like this…”  You explain to him about your almost red string of fate and what you learned from Ortho and Crewel.  “I think I don’t want to sit around and wait.  If this is real, if I have someone out there waiting for me; then I want to find them!”  You look at Lilia to see how he responds. 

At times, Lilia seems far older than he appears.  As he sits and looks into the distance, reviewing his memories, you feel that this is one of those times.  Finally, he sighs.  “I’ve met a lot of soulmates and seen many with the red string of fate but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of your situation before.”  You deflate slightly and he chuckles, “Now, now.  No need to be so glum.  What you say is true, the more people you meet, the better the chance you have at running into your soulmate.”

You nod, sensing he was finally getting around to his advice.  “If you’ve felt the sensation for a few days but not recognized your soulmate, it is quite possible it is someone you don’t interact with every day.  Why not range further; seek out new acquaintances and experiences.  At the very least, you’ll be having a merry time with your classmates.  It’s just the sort of thing youthful students, such as ourselves, should be doing.”  He finishes his statement and sets his hands on his hips, giving you a fang-toothed smile.

You think it over and see the merit of his suggestion.  If your soulmate was in your class, why had you not noticed him before?  Perhaps he is one of the many students of NRC that you rarely interact with, a faceless NPC in your game of life.  Well, ok.  You’ve got your ghost camera and an order from Crowley to capture school memories, so that is what you’ll do!

You had thought introducing yourself to students in other classes would be easy.  Stop in over lunch and say hello.  You had forgotten the typical attitude of students at NRC.  You were thankful that you had at least stated with a class of first years.  The look of suspicion they’d given your awkward introduction had been so extreme that you barely had time to check for the famed string before backing out the door.  You can only imagine the hostility that would have arisen from a third-year class.  You decided even true love wasn’t worth the risk of braving the student body of NRC.

After failing so abysmally with your first plan, your second was more carefully thought out.  As you never officially joined a club, you decided to use this as an excuse to join club activities.  With Ortho already being in your confidence, it made him the perfect co-conspirator in your plan.   When you asked, he was able to get permission from Idia to attend Board Game Club’s next club activity.

When you showed up, you were greeted by an eager Ortho at the door.  “Good afternoon, Prefect-san!” he beams at you as you enter.  “I hope you are able to discover the charms of board games today!”  You smile at him and enter the classroom, subtly checking your hand for signs of the red string.  As far as you could tell, there were none.  “Ah, so where is your brother?  Let’s have a game.”  Ortho deflates a tad and informs you, “Nii-san declined to come today.  He said not even a rare drop would entice him to join a co-op mission.”  That did not really surprise you.  “How about Azul then?”  You weren’t exactly friends but it would be nice to see a familiar face.  “Azul Ashengrotto is also not present,” Ortho replies, “my GPS indicates he is having a meeting in Headmaster Crowley’s office currently.”  Hmm, dorm leader business, you suppose.  Though you had not met your soulmate, you did win at checkers; and that was something.

Club activities pass without any incidents, for which you were grateful.  You leave the club room and turn toward Ramshackle.  You pass by a window and get the strangest sense of foreboding.  You cautiously look over your shoulder but there is no one there.  You shrug to yourself and turn around only to come face to face with an upside-down Lilia.  “Gah!” you screech.  Lilia chuckles, “Fufufu, what a lively reaction.” 

You shake your head at your senior.  “Lilia!  Don’t tease me!” you scold him, knowing full well it was a useless endeavor.  He smiles back at you cheerfully before asking, “So, how goes your quest?”  You give a sigh, “Not well.  I’ve tried to get out there and meet more of the students but it’s harder than I planned.  People aren’t friendly and, even when they are accommodating, you can’t be sure you’ve even met everyone.  We always have students out sick or skipping class or…whatever.” 

You shake your head sadly, “I know he has to be a student at this school but I just don’t know if I’ll find him.”  Lilia ponders that for a moment before he says, “Oh, I don’t know about that.”  You smile at him, “I’m glad at least one of us believes I’ll find him.”  Lilia’s eyes widen slightly, “Oh no, I don’t mean that.  I mean that you really have no idea if he is even at this school.  There is also the town and Royal Sword Academy on the island.  Really, there is no way to know if you are even looking in the right place.  In fact, if you hadn’t meet him by now, isn’t it more likely that he doesn’t attend NRC?”

Your mouth falls open.  “LILIA! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner!”   Lilia only smiles, amused by your discomfort.  You shake your head at the mischievous fae, knowing he’d likely omitted that little fact from the start.  “So, oh wise one, what do you recommend I do now?”  He tilts his head, “Hmm?  Oh me?  Well!” then he sets his hand on his chin and pretends to consider, “I think, instead of running down people individually, I’ll find a place where everyone gathers.  Then cause a giant ruckus before going into screamo.” 

“Are we still talking about finding true love?” you ask the fae.  “Hmm, love?  Oh, pardon.  I’ve just had a great idea.  Well, good luck with your quest, Prefect.”  While your first conversation with Lilia had left you feeling inspired, this one has left you confused.  What was the best course of action; continuing to hunt among the students of NRC or trying to scope out the town and mysterious rival academy?  Finally, you decided on a compromise; you’d take new routes home after class to try to meet new people at NRC and, on the weekend, you’d go to town.  There was only one thing you were sure Lilia had gotten right; if you didn’t find your soulmate soon, there would be some screaming happening.

The town on Sage Island was small but, compared to the school campus, it was exciting as a bustling city.  You had lunch at a café, examining your hand each time a new patron entered.  Then you did some shopping, browsing the goods being offered but not really interested.  There was only one thing you were on the market for.

It wasn’t until you found your stomach rumbling that you realized you’d spent nearly the entire day in town.  Searching desperately as your hope waned.  You found a stand selling meat-filled buns and purchased one to eat.  As you sat on a bench in the square, you let your mind drift.  Would this all be worth it in the end?  You were starting to doubt even true love could be worth all this disappointment.  You give a long sigh, lamenting your star-crossed fate.

“Ah?” says a voice beside you.  You turn to look into the largest pair of sweet brown eyes.  The ebony haired boy gives you a cute grin, “I know you!”  You smile back, “Neige!  It sure has been a while.  How are you?”  Neige gives you a gentle look, “I’m just dandy but how are you?  That sigh sure did sound lonesome.”  You let out a depreciating laugh, “Tell me Niege, do you believe in True Love?” 

If you ever find someone questioning the value of True Love, you will recommend they get a pep talk from Neige.  The princely boy just gushes about his own hopes and dreams of the love he feels is waiting for him someday.  You think he is naïve, terribly so, but somehow, the talk restores your spirit.  By the time he is telling you about white horses, you feel ready to return to your own quest. 

“I just don’t even know where to go from here.  I feel like I’ve looked everywhere!”  Suddenly, a strange voice responds, “Have you looked front-ways and side-ways?  How about up-ways and down-ways?  Nyah, maybe backwards is the way to go when you need to go forward.” 

You seem to be running into a lot of acquaintances today.  “Hello Chenya.”  The beastman materializes next to you, grin first.  “Have you come to weigh in on my love life too?”  He chuckles at you, “Why no, I’ve only come to bring my companion back to school before curfew.”  He considers you with his usual air of mystery, “Meowny new opportunities come along when you least expect them.”  You roll your eyes at the pun, “Thanks for the advice.  Shall I pass on your greetings to Riddle?”  He gives you a wide grin as he fades away, “I’d a-purr-eciate it.”

Neige gives you a small wave as he joyfully departs back to RSA.  You sit and ponder the strange conversation you just had.  Front-ways and down-ways, huh?  Were there opportunities waiting for you backwards?  You chuckle at Chenya and his strange advice.  Only, that last one had you pausing.  Cheyna is known for offering solid, if somewhat cryptic, advice.  Was that statement random or was it his way of telling you to return to NRC?

You figure you might as well head back; the day was nearly ended anyway.  Upon entering the gate of NRC, you realize that something was happening.  Leona was standing near Main Street, highly agitated.  You approach him cautiously and ask him what is happening.  “Some genius decided to crowd the plaza right as everyone is trying to return from club activities.”  His tail swings in an angry sweep.  Epel comes to your side, “Are you trying to get through?  I’m about to push my way through!  You can come with me, if you want.”  You figure that was a good offer and follow in the wake of the energetic country boy as he shouts and shoves his way through the crowd.  You learn a few new curse words too; you just hope Epel doesn’t run into Vil while he is speaking like this.

When you finally reach the center of the chaos, you see a stage set for a music performance.  Cater and Kalim were already on stage, setting up.  Pausing was a mistake; the short time you spent looking at the stage was enough for the crowd to swallow Epel up, leaving you without his assistance.  You look around for an escape and spot a familiar face.  You borrow some of your new vocabulary from Epel and force your way over to Lilia. 

“Lilia!” you should as you arrive at the side of the fae. “What is going on here?”  He sets his base guitar down as he reaches your side.  He leans in to shout out a conversation to you over the noise of the crowd.  “Isn’t it wonderful?  I got the idea this morning!  Why spend all week inviting everyone to the concert when we can just have it where everyone already is?  Fufufu.”  Suddenly, the advice he had given you earlier made more sense. 

You sigh and start to form a complaint about his reckless behavior and how it had inconvenienced nearly the entire student body when you bump into someone in the crowd.   Without fully understanding, you feel your heart start to pound.  A sensation rolls down your entire body before centering on your pinky.  The red string is no longer a phantom but a bright red beacon.  You turn your head around to meet the eyes of the boy behind you and feel the hand of fate close tightly around you.  You had finally found him, your soulmate and, as you met his eye, you could tell he felt it too.

Have you ever read Mirrorworld by Tramontana Keeper? I feel like its one of those massive polished fics that almost everyone in the fandom has heard of. I don't know how you feel about certain ships (I'm not a ship person myself) I highly recommend if you haven't read the whole thing just based on how good the characterization and insane world building is. Regardless of shipping preferences this is one of the coolest 03 fics I've ever read and I've been in the fandom for nearly 9 years (yikes)

I’ve heard of it but i probably stayed away from it cause of ships. If it has that glowing of a review i might give it a chance though!

Bad Day

Nick Amaro x fem!reader

Nick was surprised to come home and find the apartment not empty, lights flicked on in the entry way and the sound of the t.v buzzing from the living room. You usually worked later than him on Mondays since you didn’t go in until nearly lunch and he worked the early shift with the squad. He slid his jacket off, hanging it up as he toed off his shoes, moving through the apartment with ease, locking up his gun and changing into comfier clothes.

Grabbing a beer from the fridge he popped the cap, joining you in the living room. He smiled at the sight of you curled up in one of his sweatshirts, your head propped up on the arm of the couch as you watched Bridget Jones. He ducked to kiss your head,

“Hey sweetheart.” Nick dropped down onto the couch beside you, shifting your curled legs so they were across his lap, hands rubbing at your calves, “you feelin’ sick?”

“Hmm?” You half turned your gaze toward him, not truly meeting his eye.

“This is your feel good movie.” He gestured to the t.v, “you okay?”

“Physically yeah.” Muttering you felt your eyes glaze over again, trying to turn your attention back to the movie.

“Hey…” Nick’s hand squeezed at your calf, “talk to me baby.” When you glanced back up at him the adoring concerned look on his face made your heart swell, you couldn’t keep things from him no matter how heard you tried. Sighing heavily you pushed yourself up to sitting so you were half across his lap. Nick brushed your hair off your face, stroking at your cheek with his thumb.

“You know that job you were so proud of me getting last year?” You asked, picking at the sleeves of the sweatshirt.

“Yeah?”

“I got let go today…” the tears invaded your eye again as you finally met your boyfriend’s gaze.

“Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” He pulled you to him, kissing your forehead softly, “did they give a decent reason at least?”

“Budget cuts.” You grumbled, “lowest on the totem poll got cut without a second glance.” A tear dared to slip its way down your cheek, “even with the glowing performance review I got last fucking week.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“You still love me right?” The wavering in your voice shook Nick down to his bones, his entire body softening at your words as he held you to him.

“Baby of course! Why would you ever think otherwise?”

“You provided for us when I was struggling, when I was job searching and it took so fucking long for me to actually get hired anywhere, I was beginning to feel like a charity case.” You cried, leaning into his chest, “you were so happy when I got hired, and I’ve..I’ve done my best to help out but now…now…I’m fucking useless…again…”

“Oh sweetheart.” He stroked at the back of your head, kissing it gently, “just because those idiots didn’t see how amazing you are doesn’t mean that I see you the same. You are, without a doubt the most incredible part of my life, I’ll always love you. Fuck those assholes.”

“Really?” Hesitantly, you glanced up. Nick smiled, kissing the tip of your nose.

“Really, really. As long as you’re by my side, that’s all I need.” Cupping your chin gently he kissed you and you nearly melted into his body, feeling the appreciation and love soaring from Nick to you in that moment. “Now what’d’ya say we order some greasy pizza and forget about this bullshit?”

“Okay.” You smiled meekly, only beginning to giggle as Nick started to tickle at your sides. Despite your protests he didn’t let up until you were full blown laughing. Even if it was out of torture, he was more than happy to see a real smile back on your cheeks. Ducking down he kissed you again,

“I love you.”

“I love you to Nick.” Smiling you titled your head up, kissing him again, smile evident on you lips. Even when life got you down the most, you were more than happy to know that Nick would always be there to bring you back up.

cracks knuckles. so, been just trying to gauge overall reception with this, but what are your thoughts on the fan made return to the bunker episode? i’ve noticed glowing reviews from people who vaguely describe it—hit the character vibes right, jokes were cool, i liked the art, etc, but scathing ones from people who go more into detail—stan would never be this explicit in his desperation, ford was never this outcast or terrified of himself/others nor did he consider dipper as below, the entire thing was misogynistic, etc. so, what’s your opinion?

i did say i wasnt going to talk/reblog anymore posts about return to the bunker, but ill answer this anyway

i feel its kind of important to say right off the bat that i never finished the episode and i certainly dont intend to. i never even got to one of the b plot scenes with stan and dipper. i stopped around the bit where they got into the bunker and ford started trying to warn them about the shapeshifter. the clearly-not-ford-ness radiating off of 'ford' was too much to ignore and i couldnt finish it

anyway- what was good about the episode? well, the art and voice acting, for sure. during the first part, it also seemed like they had gotten the characters down pretty well and i thought some of the jokes were good.

in the first part.

and then mabel comes in. this is around the time real ford goes missing and fake ford shows up. no there arent two fords in the actual episode, its just that the difference between them is stark enough that theyre completely separate entities in my mind. anyway

i noticed that the sweater thing was weird to a lot of people. glad im not the only one that was extremely confused by the guy wearing a sweater saying it was too hot to wear a sweater. maybe it was meant to be a joke? it really just came off as ford trying to make excuses not to wear mabel's sweater.

which- its not like him not wanting to wear the sweater cant coexist with him liking mabel. maybe its a situation where he doesnt want her to see all his scars, or maybe he doesnt want it to get ruined when he goes to beat the shit out of the hawktopus (since yknow that was kinda the whole point of him being outside)

the point im trying to make here is that it really seems like the episode is just trying to paint ford as unreasonable and not liking mabel. speaking of which-

the way ford treats mabel is uncharacteristic. the first time we ever see ford smile in the show is when he's meeting mabel. he literally says 'i like this kid, she weird!', why are we acting like he doesnt like her?? genuinely confused. who looks at the way he was treating her in the episode and goes 'yeah fords just like that'?

sorry, anyway, last thing i have to say-

the entire bit where theyre making their way through the bunker struck me as a bit odd. it sorta felt like the episode was trying to make a joke out of ford and his wariness about the place? hes trying to guide mabel and some other kids he barely knows through the place, theyre rushing ahead (which cant be good for his paranoia), and for some reason when theyre getting close to shifty and hes trying to warn them its framed as him being melodramatic?

shifty locked his friend in a cabinet and pretended to be said friend so it could catch a look at the creatures in ford's journal and start transforming into them. i think hes allowed to be a bit cautious/afraid about meeting shifty again

and some bonus stuff ive heard about below:

ive heard that ford wipes their memories with the memory gun. he was a victim of it (implied or directly stated multiple times- who wants to bet hes got brain damage from that?) and he struggled so much to use it on stan in a situation where it was necessary to keep the world from ending. no, theres no way ford could just hit them with it like that

ive also heard fiddleford shows up and ford is weirdly antagonistic to him? 'im sorry fiddleford' is a phrase running through ford's mind on the constant for over thirty years and his first reaction to seeing fiddleford again is to apologize to him and assume he hates him. according to the journal, he actually mentioned to everyone else in the shack that he was wondering what happened to fiddleford. its implied he did that several times.

i dont have anything else to say and i dont know how to end this so. thats all. thank you for the ask and sorry if anything i said here sounded aggressive at all. not my intention.

uh moral of the story: i didnt like it :(

So I feel like I read quite a bit of smut. And usually, at most, I’m like wow that was so hot. Fans self. Maybe I’ll think about it a little longer. Re-read. Re-read again. Okay, I’m good.

Oh my god not chapter 8. I barely made it through one read. Only the beautiful, vulnerable moments between Jake and Bradley kept me from leaping out of bed for my vibrator and like—how do I put this most politely—having a second hand experience? I’m so sorry if this is tmi. I couldn’t even re-read. I had to take myself for a walk. Clean my house. My house is very clean right now. Hot doesn’t even begin to cover it. Like that was lay me down to sleep, here’s my soul to keep level.

a glowing review if I’ve ever heard one!!! 😈 so happy to hear you enjoyed the chapter friend 🫶🏻

Spring 2023 Wishlist & Reward Package A

Booster Pack: The perfect reward package for keeping motivation after beginning new challenges and hitting that halfway mark. I personally need to hit the mark for seven different milestones. Equipped with reinvestment into myself and my work to keep the ball rolling. To make your own booster pack, choose two experiences, one method of at home self care, and set a shopping list to whatever budget fits you personally.

♡ Experiences & Self care ♡ Pedicure Trip to the park/gardens

♡ Makeup/Skin Total: $89 ♡ > halo glow liquid filter; shade fair -------> I really wish they had better shades, I know this will be too dark on me/orange so I'll be using it for bronzing areas ONLY > megaglo makeup contour stick; shade oaks on you -------> I've heard rave reviews about this! And for under $5 it's a steal >morphe 35U gilded desert artistry palette -------> morphe is a tried and true brand, with buildable shadows that blend beautifully. A soft nude and shimmery palette like this is perfect for very basic looks. >caffeine 5% + EGCG depuffing eye serum -------> one of my FAVORITE serums I've ever used. While it won't completely rid of eye bags, it definitely helped me. Perfect for me as I work lots of late nights. >retinol 0.5% in squalane -------> retinol is the holy grail of anti aging skincare, I'd love to have this baby in my routine to decrease signs of aging as early as possible >lip cushion hydrating mask -------> listen babe, i talk all night and i'm an anxious chewer! lip masks are the move. this one is cheap and it'll do! >etude house tear drop eyeliner in white tear -------> korean, japanese, and chinese brands are the BEST when it comes to glitter and sharp eyeliners! this glitter liner would be perfect for when i need an extra POP! >kuumba creamy coconut fragrance oil roll on -------> I am a RAVE reviewer of kuumba's vanilla bean roll on. I am complimented without a doubt every single time I wear it. I want to see how it pairs with a coconut scent!

♡ Work Total: $65  ♡ >maid cat ear costume 7 pc set -------> I’ve own something similar before and it was SUPER popular >lace short lingerie set in red >self tie bandeau bikini in lilac  >barbie one piece dance set with  money bag -------> CANNOT stress enough how much i’ve been ACHING for a new barbie outfit. I had a two piece barbie outfit that accidentally got thrown in with black clothing and faded!!! 

Personal Shopping Total:  >Portable 50ML spray bottle -------> one for spray sanitizer, one for facial mist? absolutely babe 

To be edited with more <3 MWAH

Re: Beetlejuice 2

I agree. I think it's going to be very much not good. Not everything needs a sequel, and this is one of those things. I feel Warner Brothers is banking on nostalgia to put butts in seats at the expense of something good. The fact that Seth Grahame-Smith's who wrote one script in 2011 that was rejected, saying this about it in 2021: "It’s funny, when I had met with Tim about it last, and we’re talking about five years ago at this point, the reason that it’s so hard to get going is because so many people love it and because there are 10 million ways to get that sequel wrong and four ways to get it right. It’s such a very fine needle to thread that I certainly like, didn’t get it there, on the script side. I didn’t thread the needle. There are things that were cool and some interesting ideas. I’ve certainly emotionally moved on from it and just said, 'If it happens someday, it happens.' Yeah. Michael Keaton is just as relevant as ever and, and Tim Burton is just as relevant as ever, but you have to have both of those people excited about something to do it. I couldn’t get it there personally, as a writer, but maybe somebody else can."

But he's credited as the screenwriter for the sequel? To me that does not bode well. Keaton's old. Maybe they'll de-age him with CGI. Burton hasn't done anything original (with the exception of two things: Corpse Bride and the remake of Frankenweenie) since 1994's Ed Wood; everything since then as been based on books or other source material. All in all, I won't be seeing this in the theater unless it really blows people out of the water. I think it will do okay opening weekend, but after that it'll fade away +/- be another example of "Hollywood is out of ideas".

Grahame-Smith's publisher, Hachette, sued him for half the advance for a manuscript he gave them because, in essence, it was so bad it didn't live up to the quality they expected.

Imagine your writing being so shitty that your own publisher sues your ass?

So I do not have any confidence in his ability to produce anything near the quality of the original, even working with other screenwriters.

That quote is great. Thanks for posting it, I've never seen it before.

I agree with you completely on both Keaton and Burton. And I also won't see it in theaters unless the reviewers are glowing.

But then, I've seen a movies with enthusiastic reviews and hated them.

Hollywood could walk into any decent-sized library and find material to adapt, if Hollywood knew what a library was. As for screenwriters with original ideas, my impression is young writers -- and I can speak for those I've met who have MFAs -- are taught how to write in very specific, pre-programmed formulas that are "popular." Screenwriters never seem to study classic movies made before 2000; never heard of "Sunset Boulevard" or "The Third Man." I tried to get a young screenwriter to watch "A Man for All Seasons," and he said it was too long and boring.

Anyway, I'm ranting now.

Thank you for the Ask and your reply, anon.

I don’t know if this counts as a question but I am OBSESSED with On the House. Please say more right now!!!! Also, I’m gonna go on a gif dive and see if I can find some potential vibes 👀

(Whiskey getting schooled on kitchen safety perhaps? 😂)

(There have to be waffles. I DEMAND waffles)

^^^ Jack’s face when you tell him you’ve ***** ***** ******* 😂

Am I close??

Emmaaaaaaaaa the way I CACKLED when I saw that idiot sandwich gif 🤣🤣🤣. That is SUCH a vibe, all of these are!! No waffles, but may I offer you French toast as an acceptable substitute??? 😏

For you, here is the entire opening bit that establishes their dynamic. I’ve messed with this a lot trying to get it to a place where I feel comfortable with it/likes it works, so lemme know what you think? ❤️

———

When people ask you whatever happened to make you dislike Jack Daniels, you never give them a straight answer.

Nothing happened, you tell them, attempting to be diplomatic. He is your coworker, after all. Sometimes two people just don’t get along.

But it’s not true. You know exactly what happened.

It was the very first time your mutual boss Champ introduced you to each other. You’d been approaching Champ’s slightly ajar office door when from within you’d heard him talking with someone else.

I think you’ll like this woman, Jack. She’s talented as hell and takes no shit.

Sounds like just my type, replies a second voice in the smoothest southern drawl you’ve ever heard.

It’s important that the two of you get along, Champ growls, a note of warning in his tone. She has the ability to really make something of Barrel & Bond, give the restaurant the culinary boost it needs.

I still maintain there ain’t nothin’ wrong with the restaurant the way it was. Besides, the whiskey is the star of the show, and it should stay that way.

You suck in a breath. This asshole, who does he think he…

This is why she’s handling the restaurant side of Barrel & Bond and you’re in charge of the bar program. The more people she can tempt in for a full meal the more time they’ll spend also sampling our beverages. This benefits everyone, Jack.

You’d squared your shoulders and knocked on Champ’s door at that point, shoving down the sting of this Jack character’s dismissiveness.

When you’d entered the room, Jack had reached out to shake your hand, not bothering to hide the way he’d looked you up and down with a slick greeting of hello, gorgeous without a single hint that he was worried you’d overheard him just a few moments before.

And that was it. It didn’t matter after that how polite Jack was to your face, or how broad and solid his hand had felt around yours, or how warmly he smiled at you. If this man wasn’t going to respect what you could do…

You’re no stranger to this kind of behavior. You work in the restaurant industry, for crying out loud, and every day of your career has been a fight to be taken seriously as a woman in a professional kitchen. But when Champ had offered you this job, you’d thought you’d finally made it. When you’d opened the first box of business cards with the words “Executive Chef” under your name, you’d had to quickly shut your office door so no one would walk in to see you cry.

You were finally the boss. It was finally your kitchen, run the way you wanted it, with the staff you hired and were dedicated to looking out for. And after six months it was now going better than you’d ever dared hope. Word had gotten out that some of the finest dining in all of Kentucky could now be found at the restaurant of a whiskey distillery, of all places. Reservations had become tougher and tougher to get, and after a recent glowing review by the Courier-Journal’s food critic, were now damn near impossible to score.

The only problem is that within your restaurant, just beyond your kitchen, attached to your dining room, is the whiskey bar.

It makes sense, of course. It would be absurd if the facility didn’t feature ample capacity for folks to enjoy the distillery’s products. But you do not run the whiskey bar.

Jack Daniels does.

From the moment you’d met him you’d had his number - this cocky, swaggering cowboy who had somehow wrangled himself the ridiculous title of Chief Whiskey Officer.

He is arrogant. He is flirtatious. He is charming. And despite your best efforts to deny it to yourself, he is handsome beyond all reason. It isn’t often that you find him behind the bar whipping up orders for customers himself, but when certain folks considered Statesman VIPs were around, Jack would make a point to serve them personally, using his larger-than-life personality to coax big tabs and big tips out of them.

He has, to your knowledge, never deigned to set foot in your kitchen.

And he is, you’ve concluded, a distraction you cannot afford. Your work is too important to take your eye off the ball now for someone who doesn’t respect you, someone who has “heartbreaker” written all over him. Better to keep the man at a politely icy arm’s length, no matter that a treacherous part of you, deep down, wonders how good it would feel to have him turn his attentions to you for a moment.

Review: Each Confide’s new single ‘You & I’ offers lighthearted, dance-along electronic sound merged with a message of fighting internal battles

Since their formation, Glasgow’s synth and dreampop duo Each Confide have only gone from strength to strength, selling out headline shows and finding their tracks resonating far and wide across the globe. Backed up with regular radio features on BBC Radio Scotland, Each Confide spent 16 weeks at Number 1 on Amazing Radio's US Charts while still being relatively new to the scene. That’s not to say it wasn’t well deserved though, as this pair now take on 2024 ready to build up their fanbase and continue the momentum their prior releases had stirred up.

Their newest single ‘You & I’ is likely to be that defining anthem for the two-piece, a blend that embodies both serious emotion while smothered in energy and beats that keep you on your toes. With a vibrant, looping electric guitar riff ringing out from the get-go, things are light and easy on the ears before you’ve even delved deeper. Quick-paced beats and whirring backing synth also make an appearance, complemented by backing vocal ‘ooh’s that all-together set up an introduction that’s fun, colourful and still paired-back enough that an intimate narrative isn’t off the cards.

The verse continues this glowing set-up, with electronically smothered vocals taking centre stage as they retell an internal conflict, battling with oneself during a time of personal crisis. Though you’d never have expected such meaning from the jump, it slots right into the fast moving sound and dance-along spirits, encouraging complete openness while you shake off the negativity that’s looped through your mind one too many times. The intimacy also manages to hold back on feeling all too raw, intentionally limited by the vocal effects that keep up a guard while still delivering thoughts often shared only to pen and paper, taking their audience through an all-too relatable journey of pain that they can only quite share when it’s in a less emotional capacity.

Through the opening admission, the pair instantly capture an audience that have found themselves in a similar position, working through the nuances of mental health behind closed doors: ‘I’ve been desperate to find myself some normality, there’s a war in my mind.’ Yearning for that sense of ‘normal’ once again, the words are distant and far from it, wistful and wondering what they’ve lost as to stray so far from simple pleasures in the everyday. The internal ‘war’ is just as telling, an all-too-common reference for those dealing with their thoughts as they seek to find something tangible to relate it to, with nothing quite comparing to the pain or the experience of mental illness. Continuing with the pre-chorus spilling of back and forth, Each Confide sing: 'nowhere to go, your mind’s in trouble… no need to lie, you’re in denial’. Through self-awareness they find themselves even further astray, acknowledging their weaknesses and yet incapable of making change, trapped within a constant loop of disdain. So much of it yearns for change, for help and guidance, pleading ‘sound the alarm, next stop this catastrophe’ , but sometimes so much cannot be done alone.

If you’ve ever hoped for a track that on the surface is an anthem worth dancing, singing and having a great time to, while below there’s so much more to be said and heard, then ‘You & I’ is the perfect tune for you. It’s relatable, filled with hope, determination and moments of solitude and defeat too, the realest depiction of the mental conversations a lot of us often face in our hardest times. Give it a listen here so you don’t miss out.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

Listed: Buck Curran

Steel strings course through Buck Curran’s blood: he is both a guitarist and a luthier. Rising to prominence in the northeastern American psychedelic folk scene, first with his band Arborea and then solo, Curran is steeped in his country’s blues-influenced folk heritage. Recently, he performed an about-face and released Delights and Dangers of Ambiguity, a collection of improvisations that he describes as “improvised dissertations on dissonance & sustain (experimental, drone and modal explorations for piano and guitar).” In his review of the album, Bryon Hayes noticed that “there is a tie that binds these tunes to Curran’s overall oeuvre: a focus on resonance. Throughout his career, [he] explores ways of extending a note’s sonic envelope via extended techniques.” Curran also recently compiled a 22-track tribute to Steffan-Basho Junghans, which Jennifer Kelly reviewed here.

For this Listed, Curran runs down some recordings and writings from which he draws inspiration for his sonic explorations.

Blind Willie Johnson — Dark Was the Night Cold Was the Ground (1927)

I believe this is one of the most important recordings ever made, and there is a great reason why this recording made it onboard the space probe Voyager 1. I imagine it now: Blind Willie Johnson's deep plaintive voice and haunting slide playing on an endless loop as it hurtles out into the open void of deep space; a memory carried on a tiny metal seed...used as a kind of beacon of hope and promise for all life on earth. For certain it represents (along with folk music from Japan, the Navajo tribe, Bach, Beethoven, etc.) significant music made by the human race. The recording echoes the eternal loneliness that is such a big part of human nature and of our thoughts towards the silence and darkness of the cosmos itself. But in its moaning sadness, I feel it yearns always as a steady glowing light of hope.

The Wikipedia entry says this about the song: In 1977, Carl Sagan and other researchers collected sounds and images from planet Earth to send on Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. The Voyager Golden Record includes recordings of frogs, crickets, volcanoes, a human heartbeat, laughter, greetings in 55 languages, and 27 pieces of music. "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" was included, according to Timothy Ferris, because “Johnson’s song concerns a situation he faced many times: nightfall with no place to sleep. Since humans appeared on Earth, the shroud of night has yet to fall without touching a man or woman in the same plight.”

Sinead O'Connor — The Lion and The Cobra (1987)

Sinead has been an inspiration for most of my life. In the late 1990s, I was fortunate to see her perform outdoors in Portland, Oregon. I stood in the front next to the barricade and her voice was just otherworldly: intense, emotional, and visceral in a way I've never heard before. It was powerful and transformational, and the siren-like timbres physically penetrated my body. She wrote and recorded these songs as a young woman pregnant with her first child. Songs like “Jackie” and “Troy” embody the spirit of the album and sound the many internal and external struggles of life.

Camaron de la Isla — Seguiriyas (circa 1980s)

Camaron de la Isla is one of my very favorite singers. His work with both Paco Delucia and Tomatito is essential listening. This film of Camaron singing a Seguiriya is so incredibly emotive and beautiful and cuts straight to my heart giving me such joy. As described here, a “Seguiriya” is one of the oldest flamenco styles. The oldest evidence of this flamenco style is found in the late 18th century, even though its origin is still uncertain. “Seguiriya” derived from primitive “tonás,” being created between Seville and Cadiz, los Puertos, Jerez and Triana neighborhoods. As singing, it has a tragic and gloomy character, enclosing the main values of what is known as “cante hondo.” Lyrics are painful, tragic, about human relationships, love, and death.

Pandit Nikhil Banerjee — Raga Chandra Kaushiki: Live at Dover Lane Music Conference, Kolkata (1977)

This deeply passionate performance by sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee simply transcends time and space, and shimmers with the radiance of the Cosmos. Banerjee is among the best musicians I have ever heard. His tone is sweet and incredibly emotive. His technique absolutely masterful. He is accompanied on tablas by the Great Ustad Zakir Hussain.

Cinder Well — Live at Abbeydale Picture House (Songs from the album 'No Summer' 2020)

Along with the Gillian Welch albums Hell Among the Yearlings and Time (The Revelator) as well as various albums by Sandy Denny, June Tabor, and Karen Dalton, Amelia Baker's album No Summer is listed among my very favorite contemporary folk albums. This plaintive and beautiful live session features songs from No Summer. This session was perfectly documented (audio as well as video) in a historic movie house in Sheffield, England. During the songs “Old Enough” and “From Behind the Curtain,” Amelia is subtly and beautifully accompanied by Jim Ghedi and GBH.

Robbie Basho — Zarthus (1974)

My favorite album made by Robbie Basho. Thematically, it was deeply influenced by his spiritual guru Meher Baba and his fascination and love for Persian culture. Highlights on this album include his playing on 12 string guitar and piano. “Kahlil Gibran” is among my favorite of Basho’s songs that features him singing. I also highly recommend listening to Basho’s “Lost Lagoon Suite” from Falconer's Arm II (1967) and the album Song of the Stallion (1971).

Dylan Thomas — Deaths and Entrances (1946)

Deaths and Entrances is a volume of poetry by Dylan Thomas, first published in 1946. Many of the poems in this collection deal with the effects of World War II, which had ended only a year earlier. I first discovered Dylan Thomas’ poetry as a teenager when reading the anthology of poetry Immortal Poems. Along with the books Ariel by Sylvia Plath, and various poems by John Keats, Dylan’s poetry seems to transcend written word and takes me to another place.

Martin Simpson — Leaves of Life (1989)

The first acoustic guitar instrumental record that made a huge impact on me. Martin creates a dynamic world of sound with his virtuosity and the use of several unique and responsive hand-built acoustic guitars. Leaves of Life is an album of instrumental guitar arrangements of traditional ballads from the British Isles, many of which he learned from vocal airs. It’s an album that’s steeped in a dark, mysterious mood, and songs like “Green Fields of America” are otherworldly. His slide playing and command over the dynamics of single-note passages (and use of guitar overtones) are a great influence on my playing. The complex voices of the guitars he used on this album influenced me to build my own acoustic guitars.

Michael Hedges — The Naked Stalk (1991)

Michael Hedges was a true innovator of the acoustic guitar. “The Naked Stalk” is a deeply contemplative and beautiful piece of music, and along with his guitar instrumental “The Happy Couple” (from the Breakfast in the Field album, released in 1981), it is one of my very favorite guitar recordings.

Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham — Live (1971, filmed by Blanton Owen)

I love the primordial American folk music from Round Peak, North Carolina. I hear the roots of Scotland and Ireland in this music and it moves me deeply. Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham were among the finest players in this genre, and this intimate concert (filmed on Cockerham's front porch in Low Gap, North Carolina) is a vital and amazing archive. Also of interest is Cockerham’s fretless banjo made by fellow musician Kyle Creed. The fretless fretboard of this banjo was made with a sheet of Formica. This banjo now resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Neil Young — In Concert at BBC (1971)

I absolutely love Neil Young’s live solo recordings. This live BBC concert from 1971 is a perfect example of the magic that can be made with just a handful of songs, voice and acoustic guitar. Other brilliant recordings performed in this fashion include Live at Massey Hall 1971 and Carnegie Hall 1970. All are favorite recordings that are utterly perfect. Neil Young, along with Bert Jansch and Tim Buckley (especially Goodbye and Hellofrom 1967), exists artistically in a realm that has inspired and influenced my own music. “Don't Let it Bring You Down” is my favorite Neil Young song, and I love his performance of it in this session.

The expanse recap

The expanse recap series#

I liked the guy right away, which is important since we're going to follow Steven Strait's character for several seasons. Basically, the time we spent with Holden was meant to endear him to us. Besides it was a cool visual, though I'm sure the harnesses were tough on the actors. I've heard folks complain about the zero-g sex scene, but it's not like humans are ever going to stop boinking. Yeah, that ending was a shocker, but more on that in a minute. He's probably a little too honorable and now has to live with the guilt of logging that damn distress call. While Miller has clearly learned to work the system to his advantage and comes across a bit dirty, Holden's an upstanding guy. Next, we were introduced to the crew of the Canterbury and met protagonist number two Jim Holden. Miller was assigned to Julie's case, and our first real connection was made.Ĭaptain Shaddid: Find Julie Mao, if she's still here on Ceres detain her and ship her home. How about that Belter creole, eh? Not adding subtitles was a risky move, but it's easy to understand what's going on. Thomas Jane plays him to perfection, warts and all. Sure he's a bit of a cliché, but he'll come to surprise you, I promise. We quickly found ourselves on Ceres Station and met one of our protagonists, Detective Miller. Can you imagine that? The visual effects are top-notch and I plan to soak in every little detail weekly. I'd give anything to watch it in IMAX 3D.

The expanse recap series#

This series is, without a doubt, one of the most cinematic experiences with which Syfy has ever been involved. I guarantee the season finale will blow your freakin' mind.Īs I took in the Belter's protest monologue, it was the glorious visuals that impressed me most. Give the writers the opportunity to dazzle you it's coming. Yes, I know what the thing is, but all I will say is the big reveal is not what you're expecting. Since then, I've devoured several books in The Expanse series. What the hell was it? Did Julie get sucked into it as well?įull disclosure, I had not read the book when I screened the pilot. I found myself instantly taken with the mystery of that huge glowing blue thingamajig that swallowed up her crewmate. Introducing her locked in a claustrophobic cargo hold left a memorable impression. Julie Mao (Florence Faivre) was the first person we met, so I figured she was important. World building is always a huge highlight for me. There is a ton of exposition to get through early on, but overall I felt it was handled well. Besides, one should never judge a 10-hour series by its first hour. Listen guys, you've got to start somewhere, and the reason tropes exist is because they work. You may read a few reviews stating the series is not original and littered with tropes. They've become quite disenfranchised, with good reason, and war is inevitable as history has sadly proven time and time again. Way out in the Asteriod belt, our brothers and sisters (known as Belters) work hard mining the resources of the belt. controls Earth, while Mars is its own military power. So, the story drops us in the 23rd century and we learn the U.N. Yes, there's plenty of room for all kinds of sci-fi shows. However, I quickly understood this was a much more somber universe compared to a playful series like Killjoys (which I also absolutely adored).

Horror of Fang Rock (A Doctor Who slasher flick) part 1

[All images are owned by the BBC. Please don’t sue or EXTERMINATE! me]

[A quick note: Tumblr has been having fits with my review of this episode. First it deleted the review the day it was to be released, then when I came close to finishing it refused to save my progress. I’ve come to the conclusion that my review was too long/large, so I’m breaking it up into two parts]

As I have mentioned previously, Tom Baker’s tenure as the Doctor was mired with controversy from parents’ groups due to the number of supporting cast who seemed to die during the course of an episode. So I thought I would explore these complaints with a random episode.

A note on the timeline...

The episode is one of the fourth Doctor’s adventures. This version of the Doctor is a lot more comic relief than his first and third incarnations (though far less “bumbling” than his second)

The Doctor’s companion during this time is Leela, a warrior from the primitive Sevateem tribe. Though her knowledge is limited and her demeanor savage (she is prone to violence when stressed or annoyed), she is actually quite  intelligent, showing at least a hint of understanding when the Doctor starts spouting timey-wimer technobabble that would go over an expert’s head.

Now, on with the episode (that one review compared to a slasher film). If you would like to watch the episode, it’s in four parts (as is the norm in classic Who) and can be found on BritBox. However, I don’t have a subscription so I had to go to dailymotion. Click here for part 1.

We open on a lighthouse on a small island known as Fang Rock, where the youngest member of the three-man crew (Vince) spies something falling into the water.

The oldest member (Reuben) and the lighthouse’s engineer (Ben) dismiss it, saying it was a shooting star or meteorite.

However, whatever it was had an occupant, and (thanks to some out-of-focus camera tricks and bad special effects) we get a creature’s eye view of it approaching Fang Rock.

Downstairs in the lighthouse’s galley, Ben and Reuben continue a long-standing argument between lighthouses using oil-burning lamps as opposed to them new-fangled electric lamps powered by a boiler heated with coal (such as the one on Fang Rock) when Vince calls down that a sudden fog is rolling in...and the temperature drops considerably.

As Vince goes to blow the foghorn, Reuben and Ben continue their argument from earlier, with Ben preaching the reliability of electricity. And right on cue...

...the lamp stops working.

And that ominous scene is a straight line if ever I heard one as...

...a poorly-made model of the TARDIS appears.

The Doctor and Leela (dressed in an outfit better suited for the period than her animal skins) emerge, but they were expecting to appear in Brighton, not Fang Rock. Leela suggests going back in and trying again, but the Doctor wants to head up to the lighthouse for directions.

Inside the lighthouse, Ben is on the ground level fiddling with the boiler to figure out what went wrong when all of a sudden the lights come back on again. As Ben heads back up, the door to the outside opens and something glowing green and making a weird audio effect enters (though we can’t see what it is)

As the Doctor and Leela make their way to the lighthouse, Leela feels something amiss. You don’t say?

Meanwhile, the lights have gone out again, so Ben heads down to give the boiler another look when...

...the cameraman does that weird out-of focus shot again (with some bad special effects involved) as Ben lets out a scream and dies.

Up in the lamp room, Reuben thinks the fog is unnatural (YA THINK?!) and sends Vince down to check on Ben.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Leela have entered the boiler room as Vince comes down. The Doctor explains they got lost in the fog. Vince takes them up to the galley to wait out the fog. The Doctor helps himself to the nearby clothing.

Sorry Doctor, but bowler hats are not cool...

...no matter what your future self says.

Vince catches the Doctor up on what the audience already knows. The Doctor says he didn’t see Ben in the boiler room, and offers to look for him. When the Doctor leaves Leela asks for dry clothes...

...and the episode almost needs a TV-M rating (since the Sevateem aren’t big on modesty)! Vince stops Leela from stripping and leaves to find an outfit for her.

Downstairs, the lights have come on again...

...and the Doctor finds Ben. By the looks of it, he’s been electrocuted.

Vince and Leela (in an outfit that MUCH better suits her than that dress) come down at that point. The Doctor tells Vince the bad news and sends him back up to tell Reuben as he shares his theory with Leela that the generator didn’t kill Ben, though he isn’t quite sure what did...

...though it’s powerful enough to crush a lantern.

The Doctor and Leela head up the galley, where they meet Reuben. Reuben isn’t keen on coincidences and all but accuses them of murdering Ben. He then heads down to cover Ben until the authorities can be contacted in the morning. Meanwhile the Doctor head up to the lamp room...

...and Leela goes out to hunt down whatever killed Ben (in the fog...against something that can electrocute a human and crush a lantern...great plan, Leela!) She fumbles around for a while until she finds a bunch of dead fish. She then realizes she might be over her head and returns.

Back at the lighthouse, Reuben has relieved Vince so he can get something to eat. However, Vince hears a weird audio effect and heads to the boiler room to investigate only to discover Ben’s body missing! Vince calls up in hysterics to Reuben, but Reuben has problems of his own as...

...a ship is moving at a speed that is pure insanity in the fog toward the island! Reuben calls Vince up, who blows the foghorn for all he’s worth...

...but it’s too late and the ship hits the rocks, ending the episode!

Who survived the crash and why were they being so reckless? You’ll have to see part 2, which can be found here.

Vince, Reuben, and the Doctor head down to assist the survivors, leaving Leela to man the foghorn in case there are any other idiots piloting their boats in the fog. As the Doctor grabs a rope in the boiler room...

...a bad special effect appears over his head, but disappears once he lifts his head.

Up in the lamp room, Leela looks thrilled (THRILLED, I tell you!) to be manning the foghorn. Then the lights go on again (down below, the Doctor deduces whatever is out there needs electricity) Leela steps out onto the widow’s walk (the walkway around the lamp room) and sees...

...what appears to be a giant glowing green jellyfish slithering along the rocks.

Up in the galley, the rescue party returns with the surviving passengers (the one surviving crewman, Harker, is securing what’s left of the boat)...

(Right to left is Lord Palmerdale (the idiot responsible for ordering the ship to travel so recklessly), Colonel Skinsale, and Palmerdale’s secretary Adelaide Lesage)

Palmerdale and Adelaide act like typical entitled gits toward Vince (though Vince is too busy being a gentleman to Adelaide to notice)

Up in the lamp room, Leela tells the Doctor what she saw. Reuben starts talking about a local legend known as the Beast of Fang Rock returning. The Doctor ignores Reuben and takes Leela down to the galley, where he congratulates Palmerdale for killing most of the crew just because he needed to be in London by morning (to capitalize on some insider trading info he weaseled from Skinsale, who would be ruined once it was used)

In the boiler room, Leela hears something approaching the door. Thinking it’s the jellyfish, Leela decides to go on the offensive...

...and nearly brains Harker, who found what was left of Ben’s body. Leela thinks it might be Reuben’s Beast, but the Doctor says “the Beast” is merely superstition. What happened to Ben’s body was a dissection to study it.

Up in the galley, Palmerdale tries to order Harker to take the ship out to make for the mainland (that must’ve been some tip!), but Harker refuses due to the fog. Besides, wouldn’t the ship have a few holes to patch up first?

Outside, Leela has taken the Doctor to where she saw the jellyfish. The Doctor notes a residual electric field in the area, which could kill someone on contact. He admits to Leela he still isn’t sure what they’re dealing with yet (well, that’s reassuring. Then again, even given the dozens of races the Doctor has encountered in four lifetimes, there are plenty of lifeforms he has never encountered) I’m sure he’ll figure it out...eventually...maybe...

Up in the galley, Palmerdale tries to convince Harker to send a message to his broker (since he can’t get to London) via the lighthouse’s wireless telegraph.

Then Harker remembers who was responsible for the deaths of his shipmates! Fortunately for Palmerdale, Skinsale wakes up and breaks it up. Then the Doctor comes in and announces that they’re all in mortal danger.

I’m sure that grin helped soften the blow, Doctor.

Up in the lamp room, Reuben heads down to feed the boiler...

...as a bad special effect the jellyfish stalks the lighthouse.

In the galley, Palmerdale is scoffing at the Doctor’s announcement, then Reuben comes in talking about the Beast as he continues downward, to which Palmerdale continues his tirade...

...until Leela shuts him up.

Then the lights dim a blood-curdling scream is heard as part 2 ends.

Given everyone in the galley is accounted for, that leaves the lighthouse crew the only ones it could’ve been...or the jellyfish. To find out, tune in next time for the exciting conclusion!

Becoming The Archetype - Children Of The Extinction The idea of “word of mouth” is a concept that’s sadly being lost to time, I think. Even just maybe fifteen years later, you had to get word of mouth recommendations from people if you wanted to find new music. You couldn’t just Google it, or go on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, or whatever social media you want, and look for new stuff. Hell, you couldn’t go on Apple Music or Spotify and get recommendations for stuff, you had to actually dig. Either that, or you went to the record store, Walmart, Target, or whatever store you wanted to (at least when the big box stores carried CDs and music), and you just saw something that looked cool. I can’t count how many bands I’ve found through just being at a store and seeing a cool album cover, so I checked it out just from that, but these days, you can get recommendations from a lot of places. One good place is still word of mouth. People can tell you about something, and you have a lot of options to look it up, whether it’s on a streaming service, pick up the CD / vinyl, or go on YouTube and look it up. That’s what I do from time to time, especially if there’s something I hear about from a reviewer or an article online, and I’m curious enough to check it out. That album, at least in this case, is the new record from progressive metalcore / djent / death metal band Becoming The Archetype. I feel as though I’ve heard of this band, but their name didn’t ring a bell, so when I heard about their new album, Children Of The Great Extinction, my ears perked up a little bit. The Metal Meltdown reviewed this album the other day, and it got me curious from everything he was talking about, whether how this band took elements of progressive metal, death metal, metalcore, and djent, or how this is their first album in ten years, so I decided to listen to it a few times over the weekend. Angry Metal Guy also posted a review on it, and they were also relatively glowing on it, which really made me think that I should check it out. The reason I brought up the idea of word of mouth to preface how I found this band, since I don’t think think I would have gone out of my way to find this, is that it can be both a good and a bad thing, depending on what you’re listening to and how you end up feeling about it. Most often, though, I’m happy I gave something a shot, even if I don’t like it very much, and I have to admit that I don’t really see the hype with this album. From what I’ve gathered, Becoming The Archetype was a band that was very important in the Christian metal scene in the early 00s to mid-00s, at least before they called it quits in 2012. Their name is familiar, but I can’t say I’ve ever listened to them. I didn’t know what to expect with this record, and I went in with open ears, but I don’t know how I feel about it. There are things I like, such as some of the riffs, some of the clean vocals that pop up from time to time, or the myriad of sounds they combine together, but this album just doesn’t do much for me. In a sense, I can get the hype behind it, because it seems like these guys had a cult following behind them, but this just isn’t anything to write about home. It’s not even that the individual elements are bad, either; their vocalist is pretty good, and the instrumentation is solid, especially a lot of the riffage and breakdowns that you hear throughout it, but this album has the problem of being devoid of any variety at all. You’d think that there would be more, since it’s a progressive metalcore / death metal record, but there’s not. Every song just sounds the same, minus a couple of acoustic interludes that don’t really go anywhere, and there’s no rhyme or reason to anything. It’s just a huge mess in the worst way, even if it’s relatively competent, so I can’t really get into this as much as I want to. It’s not a bad album, by any means, and I can get the hype behind it to an extent, but for being away for ten years, you’d think they’d deliver more. This is my first album with this band, and I can’t say I like it very much. Maybe their other stuff is better, but for a first impression, this really disappoints. If you’re into progressive metal and/or metalcore, you might get a kick out of this. It’s got some good moments here and there, but it all blends together, and with the record being 49 minutes long, it feels as though it really drags. This is one of those albums that goes on forever, and not in a good way, so I don’t know, folks. I’m glad that I heard this record, as it was an interesting one, but that doesn’t always mean it resonates, either. I’m glad that the Metal Meltdown and Angry Metal Guy were able to enjoy it, and maybe I’d like it more if I was already familiar with this band, or just into progressive metal more, but this album doesn’t work for me, unfortunately. That’s what happens when you take the gamble of hearing about things through word of mouth in some way, but I’m glad that I still heard it.