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#but it still makes me sad when a series/world I love goes downhill because they won't let it rest
ismellpestilence · 2 years
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I hate you constant production of sequels and prequels. I hate you reboots that contribute nothing. I hate you origin stories that no one asked for. I hate you everyone that makes adaptations and leave the original creator in the dark. I hate you everyone that takes stories and strips away everything they have to say so it can appeal to every possible person. I hate you everyone involved who thinks no one notices when you directly ignore the events/cannon of the previous installment. I hate you shows that only make sense if you've seen all the other shows. I hate you studios that think you can buy yourselves a good story.
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13eyond13 · 2 years
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Well. I want to bring up about death note manga a bit. Do you think second half was good as the first one?
I think everything up to the Yotsuba arc in the manga is the best part of the manga and pretty difficult to improve upon storywise. I find the Yotsuba arc pretty fascinating too from a character study perspective, but I think it drags a bit sometimes and focuses too much on the ins and outs of the Yotsuba Group itself. And it maybe relies on withholding information from the audience a bit too often in order to maintain the suspense too, which can start to feel a tad cheap and gimmicky or tiresome sometimes if overdone.
The successor arc of the manga isn't as much my favourite as the L arc, but I think it does get overlooked more often than it should because fans are too upset about L's death to continue. Almost always when I'm talking to more casual fans about it they are mostly only familiar with Death Note because of the anime, and almost always they say they either stopped watching it after L died or didn't like it as much after he was gone. And I honestly don't really blame them for thinking the story goes downhill after L's death when they haven't also read it, too (even though I know some people still love and prefer the successor arc just because of the anime as well). I don't always find the successor arc as entertaining as the L arc not just because L is my fave, but also because it's way more spread-out between various distant groups with everything done mostly over the phone. It increases the showstopper theatrics with explosions and missiles and raining money down on crowds of people, but I think the real magic of the series comes mostly from the intimate and more mundane little moments between the characters rather than anything more showy and action-packed like that. And Light becomes a lot more serious and closed-off and less weirdly funny as a character to follow at times in the successor arc than I think he was before the time skip, so if you aren't feeling emotionally invested in the other characters and their fates as well then it can seem like way more of a tedious slog sometimes.
But that being said, I felt that the manga did a much better job introducing the new characters and making me care about them a bit than the anime did, and I think the successor arc introduces a lot of interesting worldbuilding and new settings and aesthetic stuff to the story that I would be sad to have missed out on too — like the way Team Kira evolves to include Kiyomi and Mikami, and Wammy's and the LA mafia and the SPK. I don't think the story would have felt as epic and satisfying and interesting and complete to me if we hadn't seen Light carry on for years after L's death, both continuing to build his dream world while also acting as L and playing several different competing roles at once. And I honestly don't think L winning instead of Near would make for a perfectly satisfying ending for me either, because in my opinion L's death was a good and effective dramatic choice. I think Near has the more sympathetic circumstances and motives, and that L was never really meant to be seen as "the good guy" or the embodiment of true justice that we should all be rooting for to win.
Overall I always recommend people read the whole thing all the way through at least once, but at the same time I also feel like I personally probably don't really want to wade through that much heavy dialogue myself again, either. And it definitely can be depressing and disturbing at times too, so I can understand why some people just don't feel up to it because of that as well.
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dropsofletters · 1 year
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hello!! I wanted to drop by to say that you’re an amaazing writer and everything you write is so chefs kiss especially bcos im such a sucker for slowburn👩🏻‍🍳💋 i’ve had a super rough year (and its only march lol) but your fics never fail to take me on a rollercoaster of emotion & provide me some much needed escapism & comfort so thank you for sharing your skills with the world 🫡
PS. are you still continuing the when we were young series! sometimes i’ll be doing a task and that series pops into my head so i thought i should ask lol
hello baby!!! i hope you're doing fine and that this super rough year only gets better for you. i have been super insecure about my writing this year, granted could be because it's not living up to what i think it once lived up to, but still writing, still going strong, only hoping to get better!
as far as the 'when we were young' series goes...yes, i'm planning on continuing it and i have an explanation for the hiatus. first, as you may or may not know, i'm a fifth year med student who was going through a gyn-ob internship that took up most of my time and mental health, i'd spend more than 36 hours awake unable and uncapable to sleep because i'd continue to work and that took up a lot of my time. granted, i have passed that internship and will head onto another one that is seemingly easier on the 27th, so here's to hoping i get the time to slowly make my way through the next installment so we can see it in april!
secondly, i have also slowly made my way to writing because i went through a relationship from october of last year to february that was very good for me at the start, truly inspiring for my romance writing, but then went downhill and the break-up was very tough on me. still is, somehow, but i have come to terms and accepted my love for romance and how to separate that from my obvious disappointment in men and love lol.
that said, i know my life shouldn't be an impediment for me to do what i love...which is this, writing, and being read, and reading too, but i felt like i had to explain that yes, last year and this year included lots of character development but also a lot of me being...i don't wanna say miserable, because that's not it, maybe with a different outlook that i didn't want to plaster into my writing as a big, sad blob. i mean, i still add the big sad blobs in my angst at times, but never as a reflection of me lol. i like my characters separated from my life lol.
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jiminzfilter · 2 years
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burn my soul | 02
-> Pairing. Jimin x reader
-> Genre. idol!jimin, aspiring singer!reader, strangers to lovers au, hurt/comfort, implied mention of mental health disorders (yes, Jimin is sad but he gets happier I promise), sadness sadness sadness, Jimin is really burned out :((, mentions obsessive thoughts, kinda depressed characters, breaking down (a lot of that), once again namjoon always finds the right words when someone feels down
-> Summary. after hurting his shoulder during their last concert, Jimin takes time to recover but things go downhill for him when he can't seem to find any reason to smile...
-> Word count. 3.5k
-> wooh finally!! I'm super happy to be done with this chapter, it took me so much time to get myself to finish to write it because I really struggled with the last part. It was really hard to write about "depression" without romanticising the whole thing, but I tried to make everything as accurate as possible based off a lot of reading and my own experience with burnout and other things as such to make it seem more real,,, let's just say that this won't be the happiest chapter you'll read in this series
-> the playlist
-> previous // next
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[The morning after the concert]
Waking up is never easy. It rips you out of your dream world and throws you back into reality.
As Jimin opens his eyes, all of his pain comes back and hits him like a truck. In all honesty, he feels and looks miserable. His throat is burning, his shoulder throbbing… it seems like he just came back from the dead, looking completely washed-out.
The others can't help but notice how bad and ill their friend looks. Jungkook immediately calls a doctor.
His diagnosis was clear, Jimin needed at least three weeks of rest in order to allow his shoulder to heal. Thankfully, after the tour they just did, the group got a little break to recharge and rest
However, he wanted anything but rest right now. His thoughts were getting the best of him and not doing anything would certainly not help the situation.
And so, whenever he was awake, he kept busying his mind with work and other activities. If a nurse wasn’t taking care of his shoulder, Jimin would bury his nose in a book, write new lyrics, compose a backing track or even try to practice a new choreography to the best of his abilities. By doing so many things related to his work, Jimin started to hope that he will never have to be unhappy about it again; that he would love his life once again.
Maybe he was pushing it a little bit…
Anything to keep his train of thought quiet.
The funny thing with life is that it never goes as planned.
Nothing you can imagine or want will arrive the way you hoped it would.
Just like you cannot prepare yourself to fall, nobody imagined that Jimin's condition would start getting worse.
We are not talking about his shoulder here. This would be too easy. To be honest, it healed pretty well throughout their small vacation. He still needed some rest because his moves were stiff but the pain was almost completely gone.
But maybe… maybe the shoulder was the trigger.
Jimin’s mental health was declining. Whatever was going inside his head has obviously been eating him up and anything he tried to make the situation better didn’t help. Especially considering the fact that the group started promoting their new single as soon as the break ended.
Great. Amazing.
After all, that’s what his life is about and, just like everyone says, it’s just a bad phase and it will go away. As a singer and performer, he has to show only the good in his life.
Smiles and glitters, sparkles, and laughter.
However, if his smile and perfect behaviour could fool the cameras, it certainly can’t mistake his best friends.
While Jimin was trying his best to conceal his pain and act fine in front of everyone, they all could notice something was wrong. Their ball of laughter and warmth was deteriorating, losing its colours day by day and there was nothing they could do to help.
The only times Jimin seemed happy were in front of cameras during promotions. It was all fake though, they all knew it.
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“So, tell us, what is this latest song you released about ?”
The interviewers ask the same questions every time. It’s getting repetitive but that's part of the job… Jimin wonders how Namjoon never gets tired of telling the same answers over and over again.
“Well, we decided to call this new song ‘Dream’. I would say it is dedicated to both the fans and our group members. It’s kind of a story made into a song. On one side, it thanks everyone who helped us reach our dreams and go higher than we ever expected and, on the other… well.. we are wondering what our dreams are now. What we want to do and aspire to become… we grew a lot in the past few years and now we are starting to ask ourselves what is next. What we wanna become and the things we’d like to do. Also, it is meant to encourage everyone who has a dream to pursue it. The situation might seem hopeless right now but, look at where we are now? We used to think we were a lost cause but kept working and now we accomplished much more we could’ve ever dreamed of.
I hope our fans can understand the meaning of this song and use it as a motivation to follow their dreams as well.”
“That sounds really amazing and inspiring !! I would ask you more questions but I think everyone wants to hear you sing now. I’ll see you all after your performance!”
The interviewer smiles.
“For sure!” Namjoon bows lightly and the lights go off. Jimin’s smile falters
The performance was recorded beforehand so everyone just waited for it to air on the public’s tv before moving on with the interview.
You could hear most people quietly chatting while the music played in the background.
Dream was a calm and comforting song. Jimin really liked it. It made him feel somewhat peaceful for the time of one song. He hopes everyone could feel the same while listening to it. A bit of healing in this harsh world.
While the other members talk amongst themselves or watch the performance onscreen (or do both), Taehyung bends down to reach Jimin’s ear. “Hey, you okay?” He murmurs. Jimin only nods to answer and offers him a sweet smile. He tries to question further but the makeup artists arrive and start doing some touch-ups on everyone’s face before the show starts again.
Eventually, the song comes to an end and the lights go back. Everyone in the studio quietens and the cameras start rolling once again.
“What a lovely performance you gave us !” The interviewer says. They all smile and thank her.
Yoongi grabs a microphone and speaks up “ I- um, I would also like to say that Jimin helped in producing this song. We worked on it while we were on tour and he gave us a lot of good ideas that we added to the song”
Jimin turns to Yoongi, trying to not look too surprised. Everyone is looking at him. Marvelous. He reluctantly grabs his microphone a bit tighter, preparing himself to answer any questions that are coming. His smile becomes wider and he straightens himself on the chair.
“ Oh really? I trust it’s not the first time he is helping you write a song, right?”
- Yes, I’ve already helped a few times with some lyrics in the past. Nothing much honestly… Rm, Suga and J-hope do the biggest work here… I’m very thankful they let me be part of this song.”
- We hope to see you composing songs again soon. Maybe even release your own songs…”
The interviewer smiles. Of course she would say this. Everyone is wondering when is Jimin going to release a mixtape. A few days ago, Jungkook went live and briefly talked about how Jimin had been working hard on writing songs and composing. Almost instantly, his name was trending on every platform and people started to wonder if he would release an album anytime soon. It’s a hot topic nowadays. However, Jimin doesn’t really want to be the talk of the show. He needs more rest. He just wants peace. His mouth goes dry and another member saves him from the embarrassing silence that’s about to come.
“Jimin actively started songwriting during our break and he’s very talented.” J-hope says “I hope we will get to hear more of his work”
“Yes, he often comes to see me when he needs help to fix some lyrics. He’s really talented” Namjoon adds. That last comment makes Jimin smile.
The host seems pleased with what she just heard and moves forward with the interview.
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“Jimin, I think you should start considering dropping an album or a song anytime soon. In the next two months it’d be great” Sejin, one of the group's managers, says.
A few days after the interview, he called Jimin, Namjoon and some of the production team members for a meeting.
Jimin sighs. He knows that the manager isn’t actually asking for his opinion and is just telling him what he has to do. The room goes silent.
“I know you haven’t been doing well these days but I think it would be good for you and the group if you released something. Remember when you uploaded Promise everyone talked about it”
Good for me or good for my public image?
“ You should give it a try Jimin. Last time I told you songwriting could help you come at peace with some unspoken feeling… maybe it’ll work again this time” Namjoon reassured him
Talking about releasing new songs and promoting when his mind is wandering around dark places isn't ideal. He doesn’t want to release a bad song because his feelings are drowned in sadness. What if he does something wrong and gets hated for that? Maybe he should stop singing. Maybe he’s not that talented after all. He shakes his head and drinks some of the water he brought with him. His mouth ran dry.
“I don’t know… I’m not feeling it. I could send you what I’ve worked on so far and you tell me what you think. Would that be okay ?” Jimin proposes something that would satisfy everything and allow him to get over with this meeting as soon as possible.
Sejin nodded. “I’ll be looking forward to that. Be sure to stay in touch with the producing and composing teams. I’m sure you will do something amazing. Jimin. You can go now. Thank you all for coming today.”
Everyone bows and makes their way to the door except for Namjoon and Sejin who are still at the table.
“ Would you mind going without me ? I need to talk to about manager before leaving.” Namjoon asks Jimin and the latter nods before leaving the room.
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The night is particularly cold for the early fall. The cold air brushing against Jimin’s cheeks as he wanders is somehow soothing. His warm tears slowly turn clod as they roll down his cheeks.
Jimin hugs his jacket a bit more tightly around him. He didn’t think it would be this cold outside when he decided to go for a walk earlier tonight but he didn’t want his friends to see him cry like that either. They looked worried enough about him already, no need for them to witness this.
With the back of his hand, Jimin wipes the wetness off of his face then buries both hands in his pockets and sighs.
It’s not the first time Jimin comes here. Whenever he needs to be alone, really alone, this is where he is.
Truth to be told, the garden of The Hill looks really gorgeous. Even more during the night, when the only thing you can hear is the sound of the water fountain.
It’s a great place to escape his hectic life. To run away from his responsibilities. Run away…
Jimin just walks around the place, thinking. He has been thinking so much lately, too much. He looks at the flower while doing so, details their perfect petals and immaculate colors. They all fall in place together, make sense.
Unlike him.
As he looks at the flower, he notices a bed of lily flowers, his favourites. There are white and pink ones mixed but there’s one of them that particularly stars out to him. Amongst all those perfect-looking flowers, you could one withering, slowly turning grey (or maybe brown, it’s a bit too dark right now to tell its exact color).
The sight makes him stop in his step. Slowly he approaches the flowers and crouches to take a good look at it.
How is it possible that this flower is withering when everything around is so full of life?
The poor flower looks out of place
Lately, Jimin feels out of place too
It’s like things were happening without him being able to do anything. He just looks at the world going. It’s sad. He doesn’t feel like himself. He’s been feeling… different.
He looks again at the flower and approaches his hand but stops himself last minute before touching it, scared to break the plant. He stands up and massages his shoulder. Another tear falls from his eye.
Is this the life he really wanted to live? Everyone knowing you, wanting you, looking at you, stalking you… constantly having to watch over your shoulder to see if no crazy fan was following you. Is that really the type of life he dreamed of when he was 15?
Probably not. But he’s here now. He’s gotta do it.
Or maybe not.
Maybe the group can go on without him.
Maybe, maybe… they would be fine without me, they can go on. I’m not making that much of a difference these days. I just-
Jimin sighs. Is he even making sense right now ?
He starts to ask himself why he started crying in the first place.
Jimin remembers being at Hybe’s studio until late trying to record a sample for the song he wrote over the week. Nothing worked his way and one of the company’s workers who noticed how upset he looked told him to call it a day and go home. Tears started to fall during the car ride. “Been in the field for years and I’m not even able to record something properly” he thought at that moment. He’s grateful the driver gave him his space, only handing him a small pack of tissues when they arrived.
Not wanting the others to see him in that state, he decided to go for a walk around the complex.
The Hill was well enough guarded for Jimin not to worry about a crazy fan jumping on him. He really didn’t need that right now. Running away from fans is definitely not what he dreamed of/for when he was younger.
There’s a bench a few steps away from him and Jimin walks to sit on it, resting his shoulders on his thighs. What he knew would happen then happened ; tears spill from his eyes and run in rivulets down his face, Jimin's breath getting heavier as he tried to control his emotions.
Why, why was he so sad all of a sudden?
When did he start to feel so much pain ?
When did it all go wrong?
Why was he so… flawed? imperfect? so sad?
Obsessive thoughts start to fill his head, painting his mind just like the tears are covering his cheeks.
Maybe… maybe I should just. Drop out. Stop. If I had a calmer life, it’d probably be so much better Jimin thinks but, as soon as he pictures himself as something else than a singer, his sadness only grows bigger.
What would I be? I spent my whole life performing, it’s the only thing I could do. And I’m terrible at it already. Why am I failing so bad at life….? I don't understand. There’s just, no point, in continuing this. I don't know why I keep trying honestly…
Jimin shakes his head before lifting it to take a look at the whole garden around him. No one is here. You don’t hear anything ; it’s so calm, so peaceful. It almost becomes pressuring because everything is so quiet here while Jimin is such a mess.
Putting his hands in his pocket, Jimin finds the pack of tissues the driver gave him earlier. He takes one from it and wipes his cheeks before blowing his nose. Again, he sighs. The little energy he had left went into flames with this big little crying session.
Suddenly, Jimin's phone vibrates into his jeans' back pocket. Weird. He was sure that he turned the do not disturb mode on.
The screen shows a call from Namjoon that goes unanswered because Jimin was too late to reply. From the lock screen’s notifications, Jimin can see that he missed several calls from Hoseok and Namjoon and he received a few texts from them asking where he was. The last one, sent only a minute ago, says :
PM 11:03 | Yoongi : “Hobi and Namjoon are going out to look for you. Please reply.”
“Jimin!!”
It’s Hoseok
Jimin turns around and sees his friend walking towards him
“I knew I’d find you here. Thank god. We were so worried” He places a hand on his shoulder (the uninjured one) “are you okay? Come on let’s go home. It’s so cold out here my gosh!”
On the way back, Hoseok calls the others to reassure them.
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“Hey, can I come in?” Namjoon asks as he stands in the doorframe of Jimin’s room. He doesn’t wait for his friend’s//an answer to invite himself in.
Jimin is laying on his bed, earphones plugged in, staring at the wall. The sad music playing in his ears probably covered Namjoon’s voice when he spoke because Jimin is startled when he sits next to him on the bed.
“Oh. Joon. I didn’t hear you come in”
With a quick movement of his arm, Jimin cleans the already dried tears on his cheeks and removes his earphones. His eyes are still red though, a detail Namjoon does not fail to notice. He straightens up to properly face his friend.
“So,,, is there something you wanna talk about ?” Jimin checks his phone “Oh my- it’s already 3:00 AM, why are you still up? Is everything okay??”
Namjoon sighs “I could ask you the exact same question Jimin….”
A heavy silence sets itself in the room
“J-Joon, have you ever felt like a disappointment ? That you should give up on everything? You know, as if you were a failure. A- a failed attempt…
-Jimin I-
-I don’t know what to do with myself anymore. I can’t sing like I used to, I can’t think straight, I struggle to sleep… Namjoon I feel like I’m going insane and it’s like no one can help me…
Jimin’s voice breaks at the end of his sentence. At that exact moment, Namjoon feels utterly powerless. He doesn’t know what to do. Never has he imagined Jimin, his Jimin, this sweet boy, could be feeling so much pain. No one in the group noticed, at least not before it was too late. Jimin covers his face as tears run down his cheeks again. Namjoon reaches out and puts an arm around his shoulder. The youngest nests his face in his shoulder and breaks down. Namjoon holds back his tears with a deep breath. He pats his friend’s back.
“Jimin. I- I’m sorry I didn’t realise sooner how great your pain was. We all are. I feel bad because I failed to notice this in the past few months. I saw you drifting away from us slowly but I thought it was just post-concert tiredness, I’m sorry I denied your pain. As the leader, I should’ve been more observant. I- You know, I always doubt my ability to comfort you guys because I feel like my words never carry the meaning I want to give them but I shall try tonight. It will seem like the worst comforting thing to say but it will get better, okay ? You know, when you come to think about it, you already made it through a dark time, more than once! Jimin it will get be okay. Eventually, someday. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in a week. Maybe it will take more time than you expect before you really feel good again but you will get there okay? Time may seem desperate now and the place you’re in may seem very dark right now but it will be okay. I’m here for you. We all are.”
Namjoon never thought it would be this hard to comfort his friend, not when said person is completely falling apart right before your eyes. He exhales deeply, mustering the last of his strength to not break down too
“I was talking with the others earlier and we think you need a break. We all agreed it will be good for you. I already called Sejin and he seems okay with the idea. It will only do you good to stay out of the spotlights for a while. If- if that's what you want. For as long as you need.”
Jimin’s sobs slowly quiet and he quits his friend’s comforting embrace.
“Please keep in mind that you’re not disappointing anyone Jimin. We’re all so proud of how far you’ve come, even if you feel stuck or lost right now. Now please go wash your face and get some sleep, we can talk about all of this tomorrow when you wake up, our schedule is clear”
As Namjoon exits the room, a barely audible thank you can be heard.
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edorazzi · 4 years
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It’s the post everyone’s been waiting for! 
It’s taken a little while for me to get around to this, but it’s worth it for being able to make a full reaction post. This is really long so I’ll put it under a cut, but check it out for my complete scene-by-scene reaction of Miraculous’ “Felix” episode! (´∀`)♡
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Okay, I’ve been putting this off for days now so it’s time to finally get to it. I’m comfy and undisturbed and have my supplies ready to go.
I know next to nothing about what I’m going into. I’ve seen a little bit here and there because some people haven’t tagged their content properly, but I haven’t watched either of the trailers. I haven’t even looked directly at the images of Felix which have been going around. I’ve tried to stay as blind as possible, so as a result I’m pretty excited but also very anxious. I’ve taken two beta blockers today and I’m considering taking a third.
I usually liveblog episodes on our Ladybug PV Discord server (message me for an invite!) but this time I’m making a proper post out of it. I’ll be typing up my reactions as I go then cleaning everything up a little bit afterwards. I think it’s the first time I’ve done something like this on my blog so here goes!
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- “Script: Thomas Astruc” NO. HE REALLY COULDN’T JUST STEP AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE GRACEFULLY, COULD HE. HE HAD TO GET HIS HANDS DIRTY. I’m not going to say “fuck this man” but, you know, identical sentiments. I’m opening my chocolate bar.
- God, Emilie looks more like ET every time I see her. Such an awkward model.
- Oh but wait, Sébastien Thibaudeau was on the script? That does actually give me some hope! Next to Zag himself he’s the only writer on this mess of a show I trust. HE FIXED WAYHEM, CAN HE DO FELIX A SOLID TOO? PLEASE. PLEASE SÉBASTIEN OL BUDDY OL PAL OL FRIENDA MINE
- Does Gabe have anything else to say to his wife other than monologuing his Miraculous plan over and over? They say people in comas can still hear things but Emilie’s probably double unconscious from how boring her husband is.
- DON’T LIKE THAT KNIFE SOUND EFFECT FROM THOSE RINGS. Am I supposed to find it sweet that Gabe’s taking such good care of their wedding bands or is he about to use them for evil? Also where’s Felix.
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- ADRIEN SWEETHEART. I maintain that it’s weird to have a statue of your wife/mother/self in your own garden but it kills me that he’s just sitting there in front of it like a lost kitten.
- “Of course, someone will get you right away.” IS THAT FELIX. WAS SHE ON THE PHONE TO FELIX. WHERE’S MY SON, NATHALIE HAVE YOU SEEN MY SON
- That wide-eyed look Adrien turns up towards the window is killing me even more. I’M SO SAD. I see he also hasn’t noticed he’s sitting in the middle of a giant butterfly circle, unless he’s so used to it being Gabe’s logo that he’s just not paying it any mind. When was this all built? Has Gabe always used a butterfly motif even before he got his Miraculous and it was just a great coincidence, or did he commission this whole garden area after Emilie went missing? I guess you could pass it off as eccentricity but in the real world that would be a HUGE red flag that Gabe murdered her. I dunno man.
- DON’T WAVE AT HIM LIKE THAT, NATHALIE. YOU RATTED HIM OUT IN 5 SECONDS IN THAT THEORETICAL FUTURE WHERE YOU DISCOVERED HE WAS CHAT NOIR. YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THIS BOY. >:V
- “It’s been one year.” HAS IT? Hasn’t Adrien been at school for at least a year now? Didn’t his mom vanish two years prior to that?! Maybe she’s talking about how long Gabe has been fighting Ladybug and Chat Noir but knowing this show’s messy timeline it could be anything. WHERE’S FELIX.
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- That’s the song from Chat Blanc! Was that something his mom taught him? OH NO, I’M EVEN SADDER NOW. This is what I mean about Sébastien’s writing, we’d never get this kind of focus on Adrien from Garbage Man Astruc. This kind of character exploration does wonders for ML whenever it’s brought up so I hope this is consistent.
- SHIT, GABRIEL’S OUT OF THE HOUSE. SOMETHING’S WRONG. THOSE EXPENSIVE LEATHER SHOES HAVEN’T TOUCHED ACTUAL GROUND IN YEARS. ADRIEN GET OUT OF THERE.
- I do like that Adrien doesn’t get up when his dad comes to stand right next to him like that. It’s just informal enough. He’s waiting for Gabe to make the first move this time and that’s nice development considering how stiff and cold their relationship was in S1.
- OOOOH GABE THAT’S AN AWKWARD CROUCH. Any lower down and his back is going to go. He’ll be stuck there. I do LOVE that he’s trying though, I don’t even know what he’s going to say to Adrien but this is already SO good.
- “There’s something important I have to talk to you about.” Finally time for The Talk, huh.
- GABE PLEASE. ADRIEN’S WAY TOO CHIRPY TO HAVE ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON TO WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY. HE THINKS YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY YOU LOVE HIM OR SOMETHING ELSE RIDICULOUS
- “I’ve noticed how close you and Nathalie have become!” CLOSE ENOUGH. Still in the ballpark of Adrien thinking his dad has real human feelings! 
- “HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY THINK SUCH A THING??” I GENUINELY LAUGHED OUT LOUD AT HOW ANGRY GABE WAS ABOUT THAT. I’m not sure what to think of the “Nathalie replacing Emilie when Emilie’s technically still alive” plot either but GABE’S DECIDED FOR ME. Also good job yelling in your son’s face when you were JUST having a moment, good luck getting back up off your knees in order to storm away, old man.
- Oh alright, he did get up, but it was with a strange angry bow-legged prance. I think he still had trouble.
- I love the way Adrien just kinda wide-eye-blinks at him, like Gabe’s emotional outburst is going totally over his head. He’s been dealing with akuma FAR too long to be bothered by this.
- Guests, plural? I’m guessing Felix is one of them but is he with someone else? That makes sense given he’s (as far as I’ve gathered) the same age as Adrien so he wouldn’t be running around far from home unchaperoned, but OHHH this is so interesting.
- So they ARE claiming it’s been one year since Emilie vanished! This just doesn’t work as a Season 3 episode, especially with Nathalie and Gabe’s romantic development being as far along as it is. Emilie’s been gone for at LEAST three years by this point! Read your show bible once in a while you horrible garbage man!!! Also ADRIEN SWEETHEART THAT’S A LITTLE PREMATURE. You can say “went away forever” when you’re three years into her disappearance, the anniversary of one year really isn’t long enough to claim she’s never coming back!
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- OH NO, IT’S THE GIRLS. I’m already bored. Unless Luka is here I really just do not care what they’re all up to. I haven’t missed Marinette at ALL in the first two-and-a-half minutes and I don’t want to see her now. WHERE’S FELIX.
- I’m sorry, how are Lila, Chloé AND Kagami all on a video call together without any blood being drawn? Also for god’s sake PLEASE leave Adrien alone, you want to ask first if he’d LIKE some company or if he’d prefer a quiet personal day to think about his mom? OF COURSE NOT MARINETTE, YOU WOULDN’T WOULD YOU. 
- Okay, a video message is definitely a better idea than trying to break into his house AGAIN. At least then he can watch it whenever he feels up to it. The first good, safe, noninvasive idea Mari’s had for SEVERAL episodes when it comes to Adrien.
- I’M REALLY TORN WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGLISH DUB. On one hand I hate how little screentime Nino has when he’s not just being Alya’s fashion accessory, but on the other hand I’m so glad they switched scenes the moment Nino started his video because I CANNOT handle his dub voice. Nino just deserves better in general really.
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- HE WAS CRYING. MY BOY WAS CRYING AGAIN. I’M NOT COOL WITH THIS. IT’S NOT ABOVE YOUR PAYGRADE TO GIVE HIM A HUG, NATHALIE.
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- ALRIGHT HI ELSA. IS THIS HIS AUNT? THAT’S SPOOKY. 
- Her name is Amelie? So their parents had twins and named them Amelie and Emilie, and they turned out the same right down to the over-the-shoulder Dead Anime Mom hairstyles? That’s lazy parenting down to a tee, can’t mix your twins up if you never have to learn the difference between them in the first place! But that’s INTERESTING that Felix is (I assume, still haven’t seen him yet) from Emilie’s side of the family, I’ve always had the impression he was a petit Gabriel.
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- OHHH THAT’S MY BOY! I CAN SEE MY BOY IN THE DOORWAY!!! OH MY GOD GIVE HIM TO ME. GIVE ME FELIX. GIVE ME MY SON.
- ADRIEN IMMEDIATELY JUMPING ON HIM IN A HUG IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. WHILE FELIX’S HAND IS STILL OUTSTRETCHED FOR A HANDSHAKE. I know this episode is going to go downhill because there’s no way it won’t, but this one single moment is EVERYTHING I WANTED. I should just close the tab now and leave it at this, I really should.
- “Do you remember when they used to have so much fun pretending to be each other? Once they had you and Emilie fooled for a whole weekend!” WHERE HAS THIS BEEN FOR MY ENTIRE ORDEAL GETTING THROUGH THIS SERIES. I don’t even care if this Felix is a stone cold bitch, it’s enough to know he and Adrien were besties when they were kids and Adrien still wanted to hug him the second he walked through the door. AMAZING.
- “I WON’T BE FOOLED A SECOND TIME.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, GABE. THEY WERE PROBABLY TODDLERS. ARE YOU JUST SO USED TO GETTING YOUR ASS HANDED TO YOU BY CHILDREN THAT YOU’RE SUSPICIOUS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE NOW
- Aww, Felix is American (dubbed, anyway). I was really hoping he’d be British with all the references to London over the last season. He does have a nice voice though! I can tell he shares Adrien’s actor but he’s got the softness I’d have expected from his character. There’s kind of an interesting look about his face though, I wish they’d tweaked it a bit to give him a sharper look but I guess he IS like 14, he can afford to still have a bit of baby-cheeked roundness. I’m going to find the positives in every part of this because I will NOT give Garbage Man Astruc the satisfaction of being disappointed like I know he wants me to be. It’s been a fucking war from the moment I saw his name in the writing credits and my best weapon is being pleased about everything in this episode.
- Okay, he looks a little better in the following closeup where his eyes are slightly narrowed. I think it’s the slightly-below-the-chin angle which doesn’t really work for his character model with his soft cheeks and high collar. FELIX IS A BABY.
- WHY WILL NOBODY SHAKE HIS HAND. Adrien hugged him instead and Gabe is ignoring him completely, Felix is clearly so perplexed and I love it. He’s fourteen! He’s fourteen and doing his best with social graces but NOBODY WILL HELP HIM.
- “Felix, you know your uncle’s never been the physical sort!” HE KICKED HIS OWN SON RIGHT ACROSS PARIS IN THE LAST EPISODE BUT SURE, IF YOU SAY SO.
- “Oh, how sweet! You’re still wearing your wedding band!” YEAH? IT’S BEEN LIKE A YEAR?? Again this would make more sense if it had been around three years like we KNOW Emilie’s been gone for, but picking someone out for still wearing their ring after 12 months?! And why isn’t Amelie more emotional about this anyway, isn’t it her sister who’s missing? I wouldn’t be poking fun at MY sister’s husband for keeping his ring if SHE went missing. No wonder Felix seems like he turned out weird.
- I CAN’T MAKE OUT THE NAME OF HER BRANCH OF THE FAMILY AND IT’S KILLING ME. SOMEONE LET ME KNOW WHAT THAT WAS. Graham de Vanily? I can’t place the words. I mean I’m going to keep calling Felix “Agreste” no matter what but I’d like to know what canon is trying to get at.
- “It’s been a long journey from London” I KNEW IT, I FFFFFFFFFUCKING KNEW IT. SO THEY ARE BRITISH?! BUT THEY HAVE AMERICAN ACCENTS?! I mean I guess they’re French first and foremost, but what the fuck is with the American accents if you’re making a POINT about them being from London?! I can’t wait for the French audio to be released, I really want to know what Felix sounds like there. Regardless AAAH MY SON IS FROM MY CITY, I’M SO PLEASED.
- “TakeFelixtoyourbedroom.” EASY GABE THEY JUST MET, ALSO THEY’RE COUSINS
- Poor Felix looks so depressed being saddled with Adrien. Sweetie it’s okay, think positive! You could be stuck with Marinette and THAT would be a true nightmare.
- Now why does Felix keep glancing at Gabe? Is there something going on there? Is he suspicious about what happened to his aunt? I can’t imagine he knows anything about the Miraculous so what’s the deal here?
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- UuuuuUUUUGH we’re back with the rest of the gang. I’M NOT INTERESTED, SHOW ME MORE FELIX.
- “Help me Tikki! What would you tell a Kwami friend who’s lost their mom?!” You’re talking to a 5000-year-old demigoddess, Mari, I don’t think she’s gonna relate.
- MARI YOU CAN’T CONFESS TO ADRIEN. NOT AFTER CHAT BLANC. GABE WILL LOSE ALL HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TO WRECK THE LOVE SQUARE AND ALSO THE MOON’S GOING TO EXPLODE. WHY ISN’T BUNNIX HERE TO SLAP THE TABLET OUT OF YOUR HANDS
- Should Tikki really be encouraging this?! I have no idea where in the timeline this is supposed to be. Maybe this is at a stage where she doesn’t know Adrien is Plagg’s chosen so there’s no reason to steer Marinette away from bonding with him. Or maybe every episode just plays by its own rules and there’s really no such thing as continuity in this series. I want to see Felix again.
- YANKING AT AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF A BOAT ISN’T GOING TO END WELL. DON’T. I do love how :D Alya is about it though, if nothing else I love what a supportive friend she is.
- Oh, the tablet didn’t go into the water! I’m genuinely surprised by that. Though I imagine Felix is going to fuck things up in some way so he’ll probably be the one to destroy the video somehow. We all know the relationship development isn’t allowed to move forward so SOMETHING’S going to happen to it.
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- Thank god we’re back to the mansion. I’m surprised and pleased that (for now at least) we’re only getting the girls in small doses and the plot is mainly focused around the Agrestes. Gorizilla is my favourite episode to date and it did a similar thing with allowing Marinette to be a side character for once along an Adrien-centric plotline, so hopefully this episode will be similar. I’m liking its odds so far but who knows what Horrible Garbage Man Astruc has up his sleeve.
- “I’m really sorry I didn’t come to your dad’s funeral.” I’M SORRY WHAT? PARDON ME? THAT’S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM I DIDN’T EXPECT. As a side note I love Felix being killer at basketball for some reason, he doesn’t look like the athletic type at ALL but he still made that net over his shoulder without even LOOKING. Goddamn. Can everyone please appreciate how cool my son is!!!
- “My father thought it would be too hard on me, considering everything that’s happened this year.” So Felix lost his dad VERY RECENTLY. OUCH. DON’T LIKE THAT. Or I DO like that because it’s already giving his character some extra depth when we’re still only just getting to know him, but on an emotional level I don’t like that. 
- “He’s very... protective of me.” CHAT BLANC REALLY WAS A HOT MESS OF AN EPISODE WASN’T IT. 
- Now Felix is giving Adrien a hug?! I didn’t see that one coming. My canon Felix would mean it but I don’t quite trust this new Felix yet, he’s probably up to something.
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- WHAT A JARRING PIANO TRANSITION. Also why?! What does he have to gain from swiping Adrien’s phone? He’s probably got a terrible roaming plan on his own mobile, that’s always my problem when I go to France. If you truly loved your cousin you’d let him browse Reddit on your phone, Adrien. This is worse than not coming to his dad’s funeral.
- PLAGG KNOWS SOMETHING’S UP. He ought to, in another life he and Felix are STILL dealing with each other.
- Okay I take back what I said about Felix’s voice. Bryce Whatshisface isn’t doing a very good job separating the tones. I can buy that Adrien and Felix sound very similar but their delivery should be completely different! I really do want to watch this in French, I get the feeling it’ll sound much better.
- AH YES, HERE WE GO. I’m getting the feeling this is Garbage Man’s part of the episode. Squished cheese aside, I do like the implication Felix does (or did) card magic and karate. I’m thinking of that Mickey Mouse episode where he vanishes Donald’s car keys with a hand trick except it’s Felix vanishing Marinette’s phone when she’s about to text Adrien or something. I’ve got to draw that.
- “Mind if I take a shower?” WHY, FELIX. I mean I’d probably want to shower too after the London-Paris commute (and I’m sure he’s only going in there to wreak havoc, put food colouring in Adrien’s shampoo bottles or something) but what a weird time to ask!
- I mean Plagg has a point about difficult home situations not justifying bad behaviour (and I feel like that’s not what’s going on, with how he was glaring at Gabe I think he’s behaving like this for some other reason), but Felix’s dad LITERALLY DIED. Like they had a funeral and everything. Emilie is just “missing”. They’re SIMILAR but that’s still a false equivalence because Adrien’s got hope to hold on to and Felix doesn’t.
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- So we’re not going to talk about how Felix got into Adrien’s passcode-protected phone? I guess he could have done the fogging-up-the-screen trick from Oblivio. Standing around in a steamy bathroom in three layers of clothing is a great way to sweat yourself out and ruin your hair though, way to get even more gross than a five-hour commute between countries.
- “Of course that idiot has a crush on a superhero!” EASY THERE, MR HOWLING-ON-A-ROOFTOP-BECAUSE-HE-SAW-THE-GIRL-HE-LIKED. WE’VE ALL SEEN THE PV.
- I’ve just noticed Felix has a ring too! I don’t know how I missed that before this scene! That’s NICE. He’s still not allowed to have it on his middle finger (LET HIM SWEAR) but that’s a nod back to Chat Noir which I really appreciate!
- ROSE HAS BEEN ON THE HELIUM. SOMETHING’S NOT RIGHT THERE.
- FELIX KNOWS CHLOÉ! THAT’S NICE, THAT’S GOOD. I LIKE THAT. That’s also a really nice little video from her, I love the few small moments we’ve had that affirm she and Adrien really ARE friends, whether she wants to date him or not. 
- OOOH HE DELETED THE VIDEOS. I’m curious about him borrowing Adrien’s clothes too, are they going to dress the same? You’d think Adrien wouldn’t give someone an exact copy of the outfit he’s currently wearing but I genuinely don’t know if he owns anything different. I hope they don’t just use two Adrien models for the rest of the episode, please let me see Felix properly :/
- WHY. HONESTLY, WHY. CAN I PLEASE GET AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY FELIX IS DOING THIS.
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- OOOH MARI YOU’RE NOT GONNA LIKE THIS. I can imagine Felix is going to say something nasty and that’ll set the girls off and bring about the akuma of the week. I’m mildly entertained but I’m still not engaged with this idea without any proper explanation. We’d better get something by the end of the episode which justifies what’s made Felix do this, because “he’s just evil lol” would be a reeeeally low move from Garbage Man Astruc. 
- MARI SWEETIE. YOU’VE GOTTA LEARN TO CHECK A ROOM IS EMPTY BEFORE YOU RUN INSIDE AND START FREAKING OUT VERY LOUDLY. LUKA’S HEARD ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. 
- Luka is such a nice character. Why does he get to be so high quality when Felix has been turned into a cheese-smashing phone-stealing gremlin? I mean I KNOW why, but I’d like to think the showwriters are better than this. They’re not, but I’d like to think they are.
- WHAT A VIDEO MESSAGE. I love how Luka’s just sitting there grimacing while Mari speeds off into battle, he doesn’t know what she’s about to do but he knows better than to try stopping her.
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- Back with Gabe and Nathalie. Is this what was being foreshadowed when Gabe claimed he wouldn’t be fooled by the boys’ identity switch twice? Is he GOING to be fooled again or will he be the one person who can tell immediately that this isn’t his son? 
- “FELIX.” WOW, HE REALLY WASN’T FOOLED TWICE. RESPECT. He may have trouble getting up off the ground if he sits down too low but he can at least identify his child in a difficult situation like this, props to Gabe this week.
- “All this disappointment might just help us get rid of our unwanted guests!” SHUT YOUR MOUTH, FELIX IS A DELIGHT. The only unwanted guest here is Astruc on the writing team.
- “Felix... I told you that you couldn’t fool me twice.” Way to blow your identity in five seconds Gabe. I guess he hasn’t sent out the akuma yet so this might just be a personal monologue, but he starts addressing his victims directly so often at this stage that I’m really not sure what they can or can’t hear. SHIT’S RISKY.
- OH OKAY, SO HE’S SENDING THIS TRIPLE AKUMA AFTER FELIX? AND/OR ADRIEN, DEPENDING ON HOW HARD IT IS TO TELL THEM APART? I guess that’s what he means by getting rid of their guests, if the house is attacked by a monster (or monsters?) they aren’t going to want to stick around, but I REALLY HOPE YOU’RE TAKING ADRIEN’S WELLBEING INTO ACCOUNT HERE GABE OL BUDDY :/
- “TIKKI, SPOTS ON! MNUURGH” ME TOO MARINETTE. I’M REALLY ONLY 12 MINUTES INTO THIS.
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- I’m gonna be honest, I’m not really interested in the girls. I was hoping for a real triple akuma (like Oblivio was apparently Alya and Nino together) but they’re all just villains we’ve seen before. There’s stuff I could comment on here but I just want to see more of Felix, that’s what I’m here for.
- “Nathalie, get Adrien to a safe place far from his cousin!” YOU’RE REALLY JUST GONNA SACRIFICE FELIX LIKE THIS. I guess that makes sense, I WAS complaining during Chat Blanc that Adrien is Gabriel’s weak point, so all things considered I’m not surprised that he’ll protect Adrien but just flat-out wants Felix dead. Fair enough.
- WOW. I THOUGHT ADRIEN WAS GOING TO BE HEROIC AND DEFEND FELIX BUT HE WANTS HIM DEAD TOO. Or was that a double bluff to make the akuma think he MUST be Felix so he can lead them away and keep his cousin safe? He’s just run off with a wild cackle so I’m thinking it’s the latter. HE’S A GOOD BOY AND A TRUE HERO.
- I also find it kind of funny how Nathalie will jump in harm’s way to defend him when there have been INNUMERABLE other episodes of Gabe just setting an akuma directly on Adrien for the hell of it. Maybe because there isn’t really any ‘harm’ here to start with; the three girls’ powers are probably the least violent of all the akuma we’ve seen so far.
- AM I REALLY ABOUT TO SEE FELIX DRESSED AS ADRIEN DOING KARATE. I HOPE HE’S GOOD AT IT.
- OH MY GOD HE IS GOOD AT IT. That’s cool! I was expecting him to totally flop considering how badly his imposter trick went down a few minutes ago, but it’s nice to see he’s as capable at fighting as he is at basketball. When do I get to see his magic card tricks?
- YEAH I FEEL THE SAME PLAGG. WHAT’S EVEN HAPPENING. Not that I think Adrien shouldn’t save Felix, I just want to know WHY Felix felt like he had to do this in the first place! I feel like “can I PLEASE get a waffle” except instead of watching the employees fight I’m watching this episode careening away with no pauses to explain what’s going on.
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- FELIX C’MON. STOP CAUSING PROBLEMS ON PURPOSE. I can tell Garbage Man Astruc still has the reins here because causing even MORE trouble even AFTER Adrien saved his ass is a completely illogical course of action. PUT SÉBASTIEN BACK IN THE WRITERS CHAIR.
- “WHICH PART OF THE WORD ‘NO’ DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!” Oh perfect, great, can’t let this episode end without accusing Felix of not respecting consent! That’s a hot button issue and if Garbage Man Astruc can get him on that bandwagon then fans HAVE to hate this character! Great move! Fucking pillock!
- WOW CHAT THAT’S MEAN. I guess accusing Felix of having no friends is justified in the context of the episode but yikes :(
- Was that a flash of humiliation from Felix there? God will one of the writers PLEASE save this character, PLEASE don’t let this episode end without someone getting him out of the Garbage Man’s big meaty claws.
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- Excuse me WHAT? Felix is talking directly to Papillon?! So he knows about all the Miraculous stuff?! Oh NO, is this about getting his dad back? I don’t know whether the One Wish is common knowledge (I don’t think it is?) but maybe Felix put the pieces together on his own back home, so all his behaviour here has been trying to incite an akuma that he can take advantage of to appeal to Papillon?! Or he could just be a bitch all on his own, which is probably what the Garbage Man would prefer, but this makes a lot of sense all of a sudden.
- BRO HE NEARLY DIED. BRO. BROOO.
- “I hope you’ve learned your lesson!” YOU’RE NOT EVEN GONNA ASK ABOUT THE PAPILLON THING? YOU CAN’T JUST TREAT THIS AS A REGULAR DISTURBANCE, FELIX KNOWS SHIT ABOUT THE MIRACULOUS YOU GUYS--
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- FELIX’S MOM IS REALLY GOING TO BLAME HIS DEAD DAD FOR THIS? HARD YIKES. NO WONDER FELIX IS WEIRD.
- I’m expecting this isn’t over, because Felix still clearly wants something specific that he didn’t get, but I’ll take this cute hug for what it is. He didn’t have an evil expression behind Adrien’s back this time either and the music is all soft and nice, plus he FINALLY got a handshake from Gabe, but I absolutely do NOT imagine this episode will end without getting an extra shot in at the PV fans somehow. We’re not getting off this easy.
- Why doesn’t Gabriel want Adrien to go after Felix? Is he scared he’ll try to run off, or ask them to stay longer when he really wants to get rid of them?
- AHAHA FELIX STOLE GABE’S RING. WHAT A BRAT. Was that the “jewelry” he mentioned wanting in return for helping Papillon? I figured it was a Miraculous thing but maybe not.
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- OHHH, look how much Felix loves his mom! This is such a sweet scene. I particularly like the idea that Amelie was trying to get the rings back to give one to Felix because the way she was speaking to Gabe made it sound like she wanted them Just Because. But you can’t mention some wild story connected to the rings and then not explain it! I want to know what that is, I want to know why Felix is so fascinated with it!!!
- ALSO, FELIX GETTING A BIG KISS RIGHT ON THE FOREHEAD. EXCELLENT. I’ll fucking BET this is another scene Sébastien sneaked in because it’s such an emotional quality shift from the whole clone mess. Like what the fuck even WAS that.
- Yep, Felix is still evil! WHY THOUGH. WHAT’S GOING ON. CAN I PLEASE GET A WAFFLE
- I was expecting a worse ending, but “Felix can’t ever come back to Paris because Gabriel will kill him with his bare hands if he does” is decent enough. If there’s no further confirmation (and NO, anything Garbage Man Astruc tweets later on does NOT fucking count so don’t try me) I’m going to take it that he WAS actually sorry for what he did to Adrien. That’s better than nothing.
.
.
WELL THAT WAS AN EPISODE. That actually wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be - it could have been a lot better but it could have been a lot worse too. The beginning and end were nice enough even if the middle part was Garbage Man Astruc’s usual atrocious mess of self-service, though I do particularly despise the hamfisted consent issue shoved in there just to generate extra reasons to hate the character. WE GET IT, YOU DON’T LIKE FELIX. OFF YOU FUCK. 
I’ve slept on this next paragraph to give myself time to formulate some concrete thoughts about the plot, so... Well, it was a mess, that’s for sure. They spent way too much time establishing how oH sO eViL Felix was and not nearly enough time actually explaining his character. 
Why is he acting out like this? What has he got against Adrien in particular? Is he really sore about Adrien not supporting him at his dad’s funeral or is that just what Adrien thinks is his problem? What was his relationship with his dad before he died? Was his troublemaking all about trying to provoke an akuma and ask Papillon to help him get his family rings back (which he was clearly trying to steal from the moment he walked through the door, only Gabe wouldn’t shake his hand the first time), or was that just a side effect of causing shit for no reason? Did he mean his apology to Adrien at the end? WHAT was the deal with the rings and the story attached to them? There’s a whole interesting story buried in here which just got completely overlooked by the emphasis on how terrible he was and that’s really disappointing. 
I did like his damaged-but-still-good relationship with Adrien though, there’s still hope there and maybe Felix (if he ever shows up again, which I only hope he does if it’s NOT another excuse for Garbage Man Astruc to shit on the PV fandom again, for the love of FUCK don’t give this guy multiple opportunities) will start coming around and making the effort to be a better cousin since Adrien’s given him a second chance. I don’t know. What I liked just as much was Marinette actually barely being in this episode at all, for the first time since Gorizilla she’s ALLOWED to be the supporting character again and that’s GREAT.
I don’t really know what else to say. I’m exhausted. Adrien’s a darling and I think I prefer my Twin AU, though canon Felix being a delightful little gremlin who causes problems-on-purpose is something I can work with in the future too. 
Thanks for coming on this... interesting journey with me! I posted a set of tweets last night which I’ll leave here to finish up:
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Now or Never - Final message & remaining notes (A NeganxRoxy fic)
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Hey guys, so I think it’s pretty clear I won’t be finishing my Negan/Roxy series anymore. And I feel awful for doing so as I hate abandoning fics. However, there’s two key factors that have solidified this decision. The first one being, I majorly lost interest in The Walking Dead around the time they killed off Carl and then Rick. The writing had been going downhill since season 5 (in my opinion) but with the mess that was seasons seven and eight (especially eight) I just couldn’t watch the show anymore. Good job Scott Gimple you killed the show the moment you killed Carl off. Naturally, when I’m not consuming the fandoms media anymore, my interest is going to dwindle.
The second major factor was I lost my face claim for Roxy around February this year, I didn’t want Roxy’s face claim to be someone that is a domestic abuser and that’s all I’m going to say on that matter (not looking for a debate). I tried to look for another face claim, but after having the same face claim since I first got into the show around 2012, it’s really hard for me to picture Roxy as anyone else. I enjoyed my time in The Walking Dead/Negan fandom; I met some wonderful people and will cherish those memories.
I’m quite sad to see it end really, I’ve been writing Walking Dead fics since 2012 when Roxy was originally shipped with Glenn and then Daryl and then The Governor and finally Negan was her perfect match. (She gets around okay). So instead of leaving you guys guessing and wondering for however long, I typed up the notes I had in my Negan notebook so you guys would know what direction the fic was going and how it was going to end between Negan and Roxy. I’ve done my best to write them out in chronological order, so hopefully they all make sense.
1. After Daryl drove the truck into The Sanctuary and let all the walkers in, Roxy, Negan and a small group of others go in hand to hand with the horde, using the stairs as a way to funnel and control the flow of walkers to take them out easier.
2. Negan and The Saviours go to Alexandria for their revenge, mostly destroying the community (as seen in the show). However, Carl lives and is not bitten. All of team family lives.
3. All Out War storyline begins (mostly following the comics, not the show).
4. Roxy, Simon and a small handful of Saviours are sent out to scout Hilltop so that Negan can make attack preparations. However, before leaving Roxy debates whether or not to tell Negan that she loves him, she almost says it, but Simon ruins the moment.
5. Out on the scouting trip Roxy, Simon and the saviours are ambushed by Rosita and a group of survivors from the rebelling communities. Simon tries to get Roxy to run but is shot and killed by Rosita before Roxy has the chance to escape. Roxy is taken as a hostage back to Hilltop.
6. At Hilltop Rick and co. debate what to do with Roxy. Daryl wants to kill her as she was the one who tortured him when he was a prisoner at The Sanctuary. Rick decides to hold a vote. The majority vote to kill Roxy. But before they have the chance Roxy lies and tells them she’s pregnant to save herself or at least buy herself time.
7. Maggie is determined to see through Roxy’s lie and makes her take a pregnancy test. To Roxy’s and everyone else’s surprise, she actually is pregnant. So now most of those who voted to have her killed change their vote, and Roxy is spared but put under house arrest. Upon finding out they won’t kill her because of the baby, Roxy laughs in Ricks face and says the line, “your so fucked when he finds out.”
8. Meanwhile back at The Sanctuary, Negan has a gut feeling something’s wrong and the radio silence isn’t helping. Nor are the remaining wives who are unhappy with their ‘husband’ neglecting them and dwindling supplies. Sabrina in particular gets the guts to say, “being your wife is a fucking curse. Good thing Amber and Sherry had sense to get out whilst they could”. This really pisses Negan off, responding with, “you are only insurance! Insurance that if I lose Roxy, then I’m not alone”.
9. Back at Hilltop Rick has taken the ambushed Saviours supplies, which includes a radio, giving him a direct line of contact with Negan. Roxy hears about this and devises a plan to try to get it to warn Negan. Rosita takes over Tara’s guard duty and goes to taunt Roxy about Simons death which results in a fistfight. The fight is broken up by Michonne, Arron and Jesus.
10. Negan is contacted by Rick over the radio. Rick tells Negan that they have Roxy and he needs to stand down for her to remain unharmed before also breaking the baby news to him. Negan is enraged and refuses to back down, now preparing for the final battle.
11. Roxy attempts to leave the house in the middle of the night and get hold of the radio so she can warn Negan of Hilltops preparations. She’s caught red-handed by Rick, who escorts her back to the house she’s being held at. Roxy taunts Rick further saying, “As long as I’m still breathing, there is nothing you can do to stop me from getting to him.”
12. Negan and The Saviours show up to Hilltop and the final battle ensues, Rick and Negan fight each other with Negan thinking he has the upper hand before Rick slices his throat. Rick has Negan saved by the Hilltops doctors and eventually thrown in a cell. Rick won’t kill him because that would make him just as bad as Negan, and he also wants Negan to see the better world that Rick is going to build with everyone living in harmony.
13. Roxy not wanting to risk the pregnancy does not involve herself much in the fight. And after talks with Carl she sees that what Rick envisions isn’t so bad after all, its something she’s been seeking herself since the start of the apocalypse. A home where everyone can live peacefully and fight the real threat, the undead. A place she can raise her and Negans child.
14. Negan and Roxy are allowed monthly visits, supervised by a member of team family. Negan finding out he’s going to have a son and eventually being able to feel the baby kick. It’s these moments that keep him from feeling suicidal.
15. Nine months pass and Roxy’s due date is nearing. During this visit to Negan’s cell, Rick is the one to supervise. Roxy’s water ends up breaking and Negan panics, unable to do anything to help her with the prison bars in the way. He begs Rick to help her, whilst Roxy begs Rick to let Negan out of his cell so he can see his son being born. Rick caves in and allows Negan this one moment of freedom. Rick doesn’t take any chances though and makes Negan carry Roxy to the med bay at gun point so he doesn’t escape. Roxy gives birth to baby Samuel.
16. Roxy struggles to be a mostly single parent whilst Negan struggles not to be there for his son to bond and help out. Samuel becomes very clingy to Roxy, understandably.
17. Carl regularly visits Negan for chats, finding it easier to talk to Negan about things than Rick.
18. Now that Roxy isn’t seen as a threat, she’s no longer under house arrest and has even made some friends like Tara. However Maggie, Rosita, Daryl and Carol still have very obvious resentment towards her which she does her best to ignore.
19. One-night Tara stays over to give Roxy a night off from Samuel as she’s exhausted. Only Roxy sneaks down to Negans cell, having swiped the spare key and spends a few hours in Negans cell. Smut ensues.
20. Whisperers attack and whilst Roxy wants to help and fight, she can’t now that she’s a mother and essentially all that Samuel has. She knows if something were to happen to her that Samuel would just be given to someone else instead of Negan. During the attack, she hides with Samuel in the house.
21. Negan escapes during the attack and sees this as an opportunity for him, Roxy and Samuel to take off and be a family together. He finds Roxy and Samuel in the house and asks her to come with him. Roxy refuses, knowing it wouldn’t be wise to take a baby outside the walls, it’s safer for them to stay here where they have a home and supplies. Negan understands, but it still upset and leaves without them.
22. Rick and co. find that Negan have gone and instantly suspect Roxy of letting him out of his cell during the attack. Rick threatens Roxy with a gun, regardless of the fact she’s carrying Samuel. Tara and Carl vouch for Roxy’s innocence, and Roxy tells Rick to never threaten her in front of her child again. Carl is also very vocal about his distaste for Rick’s actions.
23. Negan runs into The Whisperers and is brought to Alpha who questions him about Rick and Alexandria. Negan sees this as his chance to infiltrate them and gain their trust, only to really earn his place back at Alexandria. However, he must earn his place amongst The Whisperers first and Beta is tasked with trialling Negan.
24. Back at Alexandria, hordes of walkers are being led to the gates by whisperers to try to destroy the community and get Lydia back. Roxy assigns herself to protect the children of the community and eventually takes over Michonne’s shift in taking out walkers so she can rest.
25. Beta trials Negan with hunting animals, skinning walkers and getting them to follow and form a small horde. Negan isn’t so good with the skinning of walkers or getting them to follow him as he’s ‘too loud and egotistical’. Beta leaves him with only a knife to fend off a small group of walkers.
26. Roxy reassures Lydia that she won’t let anything happen to her, nor will she let The Whisperers take her back, the two form a friendship. Lydia is later attacked by three members of Alexandria who still see her as an enemy. Roxy intervenes and injures two of them, as other members of the community show up. Carl and Daryl vouch that Roxy was only trying to protect Lydia, much to Roxy’s surprise.
27. Negan returns alive and unharmed to the Whisperers, much to Betas surprise and disdain. Negan kneels and ‘pledges’ allegiance to Alpha, who accepts him into the pack.
28. Alpha makes a border separating The Whisperers land from Hilltops, Alexandria’s and Oceanside. And to get her point across beheads several members of the surrounding communities, including Henry, Rosita and Ezekiel.
29. Having caught a Whisperer, Daryl locks it up in what was Negans cell and asks Roxy to help him with the interrogation as ‘she’s good at that stuff’. During the interrogation, Roxy attempts to apologize to Daryl for torturing him back at The Sanctuary, but he doesn’t accept and leaves her with the whisperer.
30. Negan gains Alphas trust and assists them on supply runs and raids until he earns his skin suit. One-night Negan gets Alpha to open up about her past as does he, telling her about Lucille and Roxy. Alpha claims Roxy to be weak for not leaving Alexandria with him. Negan beheads Alpha.
31. Two days later Negan arrives at Alexandria and presents Alpha’s head to Rick and also reunites with Roxy and Samuel, who is close to approaching his first birthday. However, the reunion is cut short by Rick demanding Negan fights alongside them against the Whisperers who are going to attack now that Alpha is dead.
32. Roxy reveals to Negan she’d been keeping his jacket and Lucille safe and that he’ll be needing it to fight the rest of the Whisperers. Roxy then decides she’ll fight alongside him despite his protests.
33. Roxy and Negan fight off a horde with a small group before Beta emerges from the woods, charging at Negan to avenge Alphas death. Roxy joins the fight before Beta sets his sights on her, throwing her to the ground and advancing on her. Negan beats Beta with Lucille and severely injures him, but breaks Lucille in the process.
34. Realizing they are outnumbered by walkers, the group retreats and Negan buries Lucille’s remains, finally mourning her loss. Roxy stays behind with him, but he argues with her about how reckless her behaviour was, and he wasn’t going to lose her too. The two eventually return to Alexandria.
35. Beta and the remaining Whisperers gather the horde and attack Alexandria in a final showdown. Parts of the horde are dispatched whilst other parts are led away. Negan finally kills Beta, and the war is soon over.
36. Rick gives Negan, Roxy and Samuel supplies, weapons and a vehicle, indicating he wants them to leave now they’ve done their part. He also gives them a map that has an outpost marked within the safe zone where they will live.
37. At the outpost, the three settle in and they celebrate Samuels’ first birthday. Negan can finally really bond with his son. Roxy finds Negan asleep on the couch with Samuel asleep on his chest and smiles, feeling content.
Taglist: @sweetfictionalworld, @cltex84, @sarahlee8793, @negans-network, @collette04, @themagikat409, @ninavantastisch, @emoryhemsworth, @jdmslut-red
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reachexceedinggrasp · 4 years
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Fated to Love You here reaffirming my long held conviction that no pure romance drama should be 20+ episodes.
This show is... really something. It is, in the fullest possible sense, A Lot. It starts out as an all-out screwball comedy wrapped around a troperiffic romance fluff plot. Wall to wall clichés, but not in a bad way; in a meta, self-aware, peak performance, finest Velveeta way. And if you’re not familiar with screwball comedy, think ‘light-hearted crack fic with slapstick and farce’. There is nothing believable or grounded about any aspect of it, it starts at Bonkers Level: Platinum and it only climbs higher as it goes on.
(On a side note, this results in the leading man being possibly the most memorable love interest in romcom history. His introduction scene is nothing short of batshit insane and you can't reliably predict how he will respond to anything. I have never seen a main character like this, he is all over the shop and utterly singular. Your first reaction to him is ‘wtf?’, your second and third reactions are ‘really?! this guy??’, your fourth reaction is ‘okay he do be mad hot tho’, your fifth and final reaction is ‘I cannot believe this performance exists, I have no idea what he is doing, but it is amazing.’
Appropriately(?) the actor who plays him is an uncanny Korean doppelgänger of Johnny Depp and- between the resemblance, the mannerisms, and the fearless total commitment to a bold as fuck acting choice with the very serious chops to back it up- I’m not convinced they aren’t half brothers separated at birth.
They do sabotage my happiness several times by starting to randomly style his (long, beautiful) hair very weird, fixing it right when the plot is rapidly circling the drain so he looks his hottest just as the show becomes briefly unwatchable, and then ruining him for the entire second half of the series by shearing it all off. WHY, my anguished cry goes up. Why do you do this?! Why does he have like seven hairstyles over the course of the show? Much later they even briefly give him that ubiquitous Kdrama Second Lead haircut with weirdly forward combed fringe in a solid straight line across the brow all the way back from the crown. It looks terrible on everyone and I hate it so much. This version was less bad than most but it is still bad. Anyway.)
So it’s an incredibly fun time to start but there are some problems with the tone and plot even in the first 9 episodes, including when the lovers start getting along really well right away and they’re both thoroughly decent people so there’s nothing keeping them from having a lovely time together making the best of the circumstances (forced/fake marriage). And, instead of introducing new conflict or advancing one of the dozen conflicts previously established and actually moving forward, there is a painfully contrived rehash of something they already dealt with which is then just never resolved. They make the hero leap to a conclusion his wife is nefarious after he’d already decided once that she isn’t (though it was completely reasonable for him to think she was- the fact that he decided to trust her so quickly just speaks to what kind of person he is), never try to find out more or talk to anyone about it, start pushing her away because of it, and have all this come to absolutely nothing. It only exists so he’ll stop being so incredibly nice to her and they won’t fall in love too fast.
You’d think they would have to eventually clear the air before the romance advances right? No. It wasn’t a real plot point, it was just a reset button to get them estranged and hostile again after they connect over their kindred spirits and we’ve spent a bunch of time showing how profoundly supportive and honourable our hero is. He’s being beautifully mature and selfless because he’s a really good dude (unusual for a romcom drama, right? for the main guy to be nice and considerate? to accept responsibility even if he doesn’t have to? Gun’s weird but he’s wonderful), but the writers need him to be cold and standoffish, so they just make him act like an unreasonable idiot for a while. He’s been thus far hugely proactive and direct and honest about everything, it’s one of his most prominent character traits, but suddenly he’s going to avoid confrontation in favour of being super passive aggressive?? Then the writers never solve it. Never! It just goes away. He got over it, I guess? He decided he doesn’t care if she’s a gold digger who deliberately trapped him? God forbid we have motivations that make sense and organic character drama, right? It's not like he didn't have totally valid reasons to be suspicious that could have led to legitimate conflict our heroine would struggle to vindicate herself from.
But anyway, apart from that kind of lazy bullshit, it’s a fine romance plot with extremely endearing characters who have great chemistry. They are fun and well-rounded and incredibly human despite all the silliness and OTT antics. Their relationship is hugely, hugely engaging and the dynamic is perfect, they really complement each other as characters and organically drive each other's arcs. There's the genuine depth and warmth and quiet pathos so often lacking from this kind of show. Things progress at a semi-reasonable pace. They work up to confessing their mutual feelings and get into some cute shenanigans before making out. It happens soon enough that you are not frustrated, but there's still plenty of build-up. Then- uh oh! We’re only 9 eps in and we have another 11 hours to fill with this fluffy plot!
Time for a bunch of absolute fucking nonsense. Time for our show, which has been so goofy and removed from reality it occasionally resembles a Monty Python skit, which has been so light it asks you to ignore the frankly incredibly fucked up implications of its premise for the sake of comedy (they were both drugged and proxy raped resulting in a pregnancy- the FL was a virgin prior to this and Gun had a girlfriend he wanted to propose to- and it was the FL’s family who did this to them: SUPER FUCKED UP), so farcical that it makes Some Like it Hot look like a gritty crime drama, that show to cover a bunch of serious heavy shit.
First, the rankest of melodrama. The families and the world all turn on our couple, but their love is true and will conquer all- UNTIL, he randomly collapses and gets convenient Soap Opera Amnesia. He’s forgotten their entire relationship and a series of coincidental pieces of misconstrued evidence, the machinations of his scheming ex girlfriend, the Soap Opera Doctor’s advice, and his closest confidants all going along with this conspire to make him believe (AGAIN) that his wife just wants his money.
This whole terrible episode is mercifully brief, but it just gets worse after his memory returns. This is where we get into the Noble Idiocy. The ‘pretend you don’t love them to “save them” from getting hurt by hurting them and making their important life decisions for them as if they don’t have a basic fucking right to decide that themselves’ kind. Which goes on for three FUCK years in the show. He wastes three years of their lives they could have spent together because he’s worried he might die young (in a terrible way) and doesn’t want to put her through that. And, of course, they inevitably get together later, so all he did was make it infinitely worse for her either way. To say nothing of how he thus couldn’t be there for her through the loss of their child. Possibly my most hated fucking trope of all time when done this way.
And, yep, you read that right. This show that has the single most batshit bonkers over the top slapstick I have ever seen in a kdrama, this show has a storyline where the fluffy romcom trope accidental pregnancy ends in massive trauma. Because she was standing around in the street after realising he does remember her (he continued to pretend he had amnesia after his memories came back, it’s all part of the stupid noble idiocy so I glossed over it) and gets hit by a car in the middle of their angst staring.
It is nearly Meet Joe Black levels of hilariously abrupt and incongruous.
so, blah blah, they lose their baby (there’s a very stupid whole thing about her telling everyone to save the baby instead of her- the baby is not far enough along for this to have been remotely viable. She is like 3 months pregnant. They all act like there’s a choice to be made between them and she’s mad at her husband for choosing to save her, but there was NO CHOICE. Either she lives or they both die! ffs I’m so irritated about this) and then he dumps her ~for her own good~~ because he loves her too much to make her go through losing him? So she loses him sooner?? right after their baby died???
Why do people in these stories always think being betrayed and abandoned for no reason and being incredibly angry at someone you love while also not getting to be with them is somehow less painful than making the best of your life together and then losing them against their will? ‘I will make her hate me and then she won’t be sad we broke up/I died!!!!’ is such a fucking galaxy brain take and I despise it with the heat of ten thousand suns. Fuck you, Spider-Man. You aren’t protecting anyone, the villains still know you love MJ and will still use her against you, you clod. Emotionally torturing the person you love is not going to make them not a target because the villains are not as fucking stupid as you two. Anyway.
Amnesia was right where I started fast-forwarding and skipping around (because I couldn’t bear it), but it only goes downhill from there. Maybe I would have toughed out more of the wretched middle part plot twist if they hadn’t cut all the hot guy’s hair off. If I’m going to watch total nonsense tedious melodrama, I need it to at least be pretty. I understand it was a Symbolic Haircut but damnit! Let me have this!
And it ultimately does the thing that kdramas seem obsessed with and which makes me want to claw out my own eyeballs with frustration. There’s a giant time skip, the female lead gets a personality transplant, all narrative momentum is lost, and the characters who eventually (at ENORMOUS length) get together permanently are essentially completely different characters with a completely different dynamic than the couple you were shipping for 90% of the story. It is so FUCKING unsatisfying and it is EVERYWHERE.
Not so much with this one because this one still had a lot of very romantic scenes late in the game, but most that do this, it’s also like all the romance is sucked out of the post-time skip episodes and the ending is a consolation prize instead of a triumphant culmination. Inevitably, the heroine abruptly cools off and is suddenly wary of the hero and wants this Important New Career she never mentioned until the penultimate episode but is now her one true life’s dream. What the apparently irresistible appeal is of these contrived separations and demure conclusions is I CANNOT FATHOM. I’m here for the fucking romance guys, you have not made Citizen Kane, please just indulge me with a big schmoopy finale.
And if not that, it’s frequently that there’s been so many random mood swings and so much shitty behaviour by the end that the relationship doesn’t make sense and you don’t know why they even bother to get back together.
I’m not inherently against all misunderstandings (they are the bread and butter of low stakes romance let’s be real) or attempts at noble idiocy from misguided characters, but the duration and seriousness of the drama these generate needs to be in proportion to how ridiculous they are. If your entire plot can be solved by a thirty second conversation there is NO REASON not to have and the continuation of the misunderstanding is a result of someone just NOT SPEAKING UP when any functional human being would have spoken up seven times by now IT’S BAD.
Do little cliff-hangers, whatever, but don’t draaaaagg out silly misconceptions into Shakespearean tragedy, it’s just wearying. It makes me hate the characters for acting like emotionally constipated toddlers with terminal stupidity. If there is so little trust, so little understanding, and so little basic patience between these people, they probably shouldn’t be dating, so try fucking harder, writers. And noble idiocy that is more than an impulse they fairly quickly see the error of is just insulting. You are not helping the other person, you are being domineering and selfish. I have a whole complex about wasting time and seeing endless parades of characters flushing years down the toilet for literally no reason gives me hives. Especially when the whole issue is about time!
(And, btw, so much of the plot is about how desperately the family needs an heir and everyone still wanting them to have kids the second time they get together- while the ~dilemma used to keep them apart is a GENETIC DISEASE which could STRIKE AT ANY TIME. Do you SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WRITERS????? NO, I KNOW YOU DON’T. ommmmmmmmggggg that’s awful! So they’re just dooming more kids to Soap Opera Brain Disease? And maybe growing up without a father just as Gun did? And no one even considers suggesting adoption??? He never considers that he shouldn’t have biological children despite thinking he shouldn’t have a wife?)
ANYWAY. Please do watch the first nine episodes and the last three, it’s bananas. They are cute as fuck, Gun is The Best, and the tropey romance scenes are top quality. You don't get those things executed so well, it doesn't happen, so you need this in your life. The acting is of a calibre you never usually see in modern romcoms; these are people at the top of their game committing utterly and taking these characters completely seriously. In that way it is pure wish fulfilment for me as someone who loves romance and is almost always disappointed by popular romance media, and thus the show is incalculably special. But skip the middle. Just skip it. It's not worth the suffering. I find the tone whiplash honestly just this side of crass.
I’ve been thinking about it for over a week and I truly love the main characters so it did plenty right, but I just cannot with wedding the two things this show is trying to be together, especially when it goes so hard in two mutually exclusive directions. but also the Meet Joe Black sudden car accident device is not redeemable under any circumstances. Can we never do that again, please.
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polandspringz · 4 years
Text
Director’s Cut of My Fic “I’d Rather Be Dry” Part 2 (Chapter 3)
Chapter 3 was probably the most painful chapter of a fic I’ve ever had to write, and not because I was sad writing the sad scenes. No, this fic was physically painful to write because it took 3 days and I was struggling to sit down and write it the entire time because even though I had the whole thing planned out, I just felt like I was dragging through it and eventually had to change some things to speed it up a bit. Still, it ended up being the longest chapter because I had to tie up so many loose ends! Luckily for me, my beta-reader @primal-shitposts​ read it through for me again, so I didn’t have to suffer again!!! If you want to support not only me but my beta-reader who makes sure my fic lacks grammar errors (and also gives you this great commentary on these types of posts), please go to their art blog @primal-interstellar​ and give their artwork some love!!! They deserve it after slogging through this mess of a fic for a game they don’t even play.
Since there are a lot of funny quotes from this proof-read, I’ll post them all under read more. Beta-reader (Primal) is in pink. If you see blue text, that’s me typing stuff in frantically before she skipped to the next line:
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I actually originally wrote the opening scene with Satan in a lot more detail. It dropped us in the present where he was in the office, and Diavolo and everyone was just looking on as he slowly ran out of energy. But, I got about 3 pages in and realized it was dragging and so I cut it and swapped it for a flashback on the walk home.
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While I intended for this to be a much more dramatic anime scene of Satan just silent as he ran out of steam and could barely move his arms save for slapping the guy, I love this interpretation.
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I CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY BUT THIS WAS THE FUNNIEST COMMENT IN THE DOCUMENT. NOTHING TOPPED THIS. I DON’T UNDERSTAND BUT IT’S SO OUT OF LEFT FIELD IT HAD ME DYING
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Primal knows about Lucifer birthing Satan because the moment I started playing the game I made her watch a crack video with me that mentioned it. Although I know she likes Leviathan cause sea monsters, I’m convinced Satan might be one of her favorites. On a side note, writing dialogue for Satan is very hard because he is very proper but when he snaps, I always feel unsure of whether it sounds believable or just like a string of curses that a twelve year old would think sounds cool. 😎 I do like the father/son dynamic Lucifer and Satan hint at though (and from what I hear the new lessons might be adding on to that? oWO)
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I honestly don’t know how the demons who attacked MC aren’t dead yet. They’re basically disfigured and then Satan just doubled the damage and then tripled it in the council room this chapter. Somehow they’re not dead though! I wonder what MC will have to say about their punishment...
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QUICK, SOMEONE DRAW SATAN WITH THE CRAFTING TABLE STARING AT THE DOOR WHILE THE EQUATIONS FLY BY HIS HEAD
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I did choose the “yes” option when Beel asked to eat me in the animal event. It was not because of vore though, but I do make many vore jokes. I could imagine MC being forced to explain vore to Lucifer (or all the brothers) after making a joke and them being confused. Writing Beel’s breakdown this chapter wasn’t initially planned, and it was sort of what really started to make writing this fic slow down because as you might notice throughout the fic, I suddenly felt the need to give every brother an equal amount of screen time which sort of led to me RUNNING OUT OF VERBS for how to make each breakdown unique.
Okay, so the next part. I was actively seeing the comments as they popped up, but there was a delay with the comment box on the side appearing before the actual comments in the text. So, I saw this:
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And had two seconds to go “Oh no” before this was added:
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From here on it was chaos.
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Listen, the boys are idiots. They’re all concerned, Mammon just doesn’t want MC to get upset again. In reality, this sort of dialogue stemmed more from me still lingering on the original idea of the fic. The original concept of this fic (when it was just a one-shot) was MC still getting attacked by a demon in the locker-room showers (for their soul) but because I was originally thinking about a female reader, I knew that it could have more of an undertone for sexual assault. I actually first discussed the fic idea with Primal months back when I first got into Obey Me, because I wanted to write a snippet of each brother helping MC after the event (it wasn’t going to be extreme, I was thinking more accidental scratches during the scuffle closer to the chest and such and maybe the assailants having more dialogue demeaning MC for being around the 7 brothers all the time) but I realized I didn’t have much experience with that and it would make writing scenes that I thought about (such as Asmo wanting to give MC a bath as aftercare) difficult as I could see someone after an attack like that not wanting to be in a bathroom with someone else or be vulnerable to them. I ended up playing with that idea in my previous Mammon fic with more different comfort aspects and touching on that kind of assault briefly, so this fic ended up just being focused on the brothers’ being upset over what happened to MC.
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As much as writing Satan’s angry dialogue is a pain, I have fun making him talk with a more formal tone, it’s closer to how I normally talk, and prefer to write my characters talking. I have no problem writing contractions or more casual speech, but for one of my fantasy stories, where I’m writing in English but trying to differentiate different languages through italics or just whether they use certain contractions or not, I tend to really stress the characters that use absolutely zero and more complicated synonyms. 
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I DON’T KNOW WHY BUT IT WOULD BE HILARIOUS IF MC JUST ASKED FOR SOUP OUT OF THE BLUE I’M IMAGINING ASMO BEING LIKE “BITCH I TOOK ALL THIS TIME DEBATING OVER HOT OR COLD TEA AND NOW YOU’RE SAYING YOU’RE FINE WITH HOT SOUP???”
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I know the shower idea may have been really corny or cringey. I know a lot of people write things like the water in Devildom as being much hotter (cause their near hell and their demons! It makes sense, also I think Asmo might have mentioned in a text chat he would make the water cooler for MC? But I could be wrong) but I imagine their is some demons who aren’t powerful enough to handle a lot of the settings. Of course though, our demon bros are 7 of the highest demons in Devildom, so they’re immune.
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*Slaps this comment* Congrats, Primal. You just summarized the entire chapter.
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I find Leviachan to be such a funny nickname, mainly because writing any dialogue for Levi makes me cringe because while I was a VERY big weeaboo in elementary and middle school, I was so lucky I never hit his stage of acting like an otaku. While it’s charming, having to type him in more modern fic is even more painful because it’s like “oh god he actually goes into the real world and talks like this). Sidenote, I always mispronounce Levi’s name when I’m talking about him, mainly because I have to remember so many anime characters where their name is pronounced Lee-Vai or I just think of the brand of jeans (fashion major brain). So, whenever I’m talking out loud about him to someone, I have to stop and be like, “Levi... Leviachan...Leviathan...” because that “a” sound corrects my brain to how it’s supposed to be.
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*throws confetti again* Believe I felt the pain of this fic dragging through every boy going back on their character development I had given them but I felt it was only fair that each of them got time with MC. As the tag on archive says, “everybody gets time to shine with MC”. (I really just want to write Barbatos’ scene for chapter 4 though)
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This scene was hard to write because I wanted Levi to get closure on the scene with MC, but I couldn’t have him straight up kabedon them because then he would be cornering them and I thought that would be too much like what MC went through in the shower. Although I didn’t write anyone in explicitly summarizing what happened to MC, and Levi saw the least of it, I think he’s seen enough series depicting it to know that cornering them would be bad, but he still wants to show that he loves them and cares about them. Also, when I was writing this, I remember just going through a counter of who got the most smooches in chapter 3. Originally only Mammon was going to get 2, putting him in the lead above everyone who got 1, but then I felt back for giving Levi the least screen time and just gave him 3.
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Honestly, chapter 3 really took a turn for a more intimate chapter??? Especially with Asmo’s one-on-one scene with MC, it was all downhill from there. I have noticed with quarantine, my writing has become more focused on touch (if you read any of my Balance:Unlimited fics or even my Mammon fic, you would definitely die if you tried to do a drinking game with the number of times someone TOUCHES the other gently). It’s just an unfortunate projection issue that comes with writing.
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And here is complete chaos. I had blocked this game from my memory and then I was forced to remember it right here. 
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Removing these meme images from the fic text will be tedious, and painful. But, I am preserving them here. (I type up these directors’ cuts before publishing the final version of the fic, so I don’t lose the comments)
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I’m not even at lesson 16 yet, but based on all the spoilers I read, watched, and scene for research purposes, I’m pretty sure it was more of a-
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This is what writing 11k+ words for one chapter worth it. The final read through I get to enjoy things like this.
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I wish Belphie was 7′2″. 😳 I like Beel but Belphie is one of my favs. Ironically enough he was the one who skipped this fic. (I’ll make it up to you one day, Belphie fans.... will we ever know what they talked about and what made Belphie cry? Personally, I think it’s like the iceberg effect Hemingway talked about, and says more under the surface... it’s totally not because I got burned out, lolololol.... 🤭)
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I WAS ACCIDENTALLY FEEDING DIALUCI STANS but again, if you’ve read my Mammon fic, you probably know my true thoughts on Diavolo and Lucifer’s relationship. This fic is so MC focused, I wasn’t intending to write it in so much, Diavolo was just supposed to order Lucifer to go home, that’s it. But, I got rejuvenated when I hit Lucifer’s scene, because I knew it was the homestretch for the chapter! I really played up a Hamilton reference accidentally, having the “Go home” line repeated, because it just felt like the vibe the scene was getting at. I am hoping to explore Diavolo and Lucifer’s relationship more in my modern au fic, Siberia.
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I hate tumblr because if I attach a link in the initial post, this won’t appear in the tag, but Primal’s comment here made me think of this art I saw of Lucifer and Satan the other day by ObsessiveAlice (I don’t want to tag them because they’ll be so confused by this long unrelated post! But I’ll put the link to their art in the notes/replies on this post, so check them out!!!)
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I know it wasn’t the most romantic kiss but again I WAS RUNNING OUT OF WAYS TO MAKE THE BROTHERS HAVE UNIQUE SCENES SO I GOT DESPERATE.
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And that’s the end!!! Again, if you liked the fic, more than giving me a like or reblog, please go check out Primal’s wonderful artwork @primal-interstellar​ !!! She does a lot of great oc work and it needs more recognition!!! Almost all of my fics would never get posted without her help, so please, please, please show her support! (She has an animatic she just made which I will also link in the replies!!! Please give that love too!!!)
Anyway, if you made it to the end, I don’t know if you got a laugh out of this, but I hope you enjoyed the fic commentary somewhat! I was going to post chapter 3+4 at the same time like I did the prior chapters, but chapter 3 took so long I had to just lay on my floor for 3 hours earlier today to take a break from it, lol. Luckily, I’m very excited for chapter 4, so it shouldn’t take as long!!! 
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It’s 2020 and my anxiety level is so high, I grind my teeth while I’m asleep and awake!  But let’s ignore all that and instead focus on critically analyzing America’s premiere soap opera for monster hunting! It’s Supernatural! 
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As you may have already guessed, I watch a lot of TV. And in the Year of Our Troubles, 2020, when I’m encouraged to stay home and indulge in my favorite pastime for the health of the nation, I watch a hell of a lot of TV. When you watch that much TV, you start to notice the rhythm and the flow of how seasons of television progress. You probably notice it too, even if you don’t think about it as much as I do. 
Like, you know that episode that happens right near the end of the season where all the characters are happy? They’ve overcome a whole bunch of obstacles and they’re finally winning and they can see that light at the end of the long tunnel? You know the one I’m talking about. That’s the moment that you, as an audience member, know things are about to go downhill very quickly
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Like when Poldark smiles over something and you’re just like, ah yes, I’ll prepare for the funeral. 
Season 1 of Supernatural is like a case study of the rhythm that makes a network show work. There’s this wave effect throughout the season, building the tension up for a few episodes and then sliding through the next handful. Look at the first five episodes: they’re all about holding our breath, we’re gasping at every new turn - death and ghosts and monsters and Family Drama and Bloody Mary and PREMONITIONS AND THEN we let it out over the next three. 
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Aaaaaaand exhale!
This first season especially, but I’d argue the first three definitely, you can see this pattern repeated over and over again - building the tension, ramping the horror, bringing it to a major Mythos or Series Arc Moment and then releasing all that tension with a cool-down filler/self-contained episode. 
And that’s where I am in the show now. We just had a major series arc episode with “Shadow” - John finally reunites with his sons, the villain is revealed (Meg and also the demon that killed their mom), and the endgame (for this season at least) is in sight. BUT! We’re a network show with 22 episodes to fill, and we can’t just head straight into the Finale Fight now, we’re only on episode 17! I mentioned in my last post that getting the team together again for all of 6 minutes and 44 seconds (yes, I did go back and count) felt like a slap in the face. I assumed it would have something to do with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s shooting schedule, but looking at it again, it probably had more to do with the fact that it was too soon to bring John Winchester back as a major player.
So our next episode, our breather episode after all this High Drama, should feel a little disappointing to anyone caught up in the arc of the season. But. BUT. But. The next episode is “Hell House."
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Yes, this is a filler, but this is filler done RIGHT. I mean maybe it’s just cuz it’s 2020 and I’m very tired and sad and scared all the time, but I was SO HAPPY to see Ed and Harry again, guys you don’t even know. Guys, the GHOSTFACERS ARE HERE!
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And man, I am SO glad that this is a recurring side team that shows up throughout the series. Pease no one tell me that they die in a later season, I’ll find out eventually, I just can’t handle it now. 
They are the anti-Sam and Dean. They have no idea what they’re getting into, they have no idea how to hunt anything, but they’re here to get famous and that’s just...it’s beautiful guys. Just beautiful. 
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Plus, you have this soft b-story line where Sam and Dean get to be Real Brothers for a hot second and prank the shit out of each other the whole episode. It’s like even Sam and Dean are saying, yeah, we need a break from all the feelings, let’s put itching powder in each other’s boxer briefs. I want to say that I was really annoyed the first time I watched this and did not care for these shenanigans, but this time around, it was a REAL JOY. 
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I’m also not mad about this.
And this breather feeling sort of carries over into the next few episodes. Sort of.  
“Something Wicked” is another feelings-heavy episode. Backstory! Child-eating Monster! Tiny!Dean! I think Dean maybe cries again? Or just does that thing where he stares into the middle distance, all pain and torment and chiseled jaw line and I’m doing it again, I’msorrynotsorry. 
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You know. THIS face.
All of these things lead to an episode that has a lot of character development and strengthens the bond between Sam and Dean. Sam literally validates Dean’s whole existence by apologizing for fighting him on this job and then saying “I know I’ve given you a lotta crap for following Dad’s orders, but I know why you do it.” It’s a lot. It’s a big moment from Sam, who hasn’t really reconciled with John yet and who’s still hoping for a future that isn’t all about killing every evil sonuvabitch they can find. It’s a big moment for Dean, too, since his main motivation is protecting his family and (from his limited point of view) that family keeps trying to leave him. And while we do get some insight into the f-ed up childhood that was forced upon our eponymous heroes, there’s nothing really driving the season’s plot forward in this episode. 
Same goes for “Provenance”. This episode is another good horror episode. I mean, even if that painting wasn’t possessed by a murder orphan, it is deeply haunted and I hope props burned it when the production wrapped. And what is it about ghost children particularly that’s upsetting? Is it the size? Is it the fact that their eyes are too big for their heads at that age? I mean, it probably has something to do with perverted innocence and goodness blah blah blah, but also their hands are tiny and so all the knives look bigger.
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Same, Sam.
Aside from that, Sam gets another nice growth moment where he gets to imagine a world after Jessica. He’s been so fixated on finding Jessica’s killer - I’d argue more so than his mother’s killer albeit they are the same entity. That’s not a judgement against him, mind. He knew and loved Jessica, he did not know his mother, so I’m not mad about that character decision. But the show is really wrapping up the Jessica plot line because that won’t have legs in a season 2. And that’s harsh, so I’ll temper it with the fact that Sam, as a human being, is getting to the final stages of processing his grief and starting to move on with his life. Plus, I think that Dean wingmanning his brother is adorable and I love it. Good Brothering, Show! 
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But nothing in this episode has anything to do with the killer Sam’s been fixating on, so there’s no progression for the season’s main arc. 
Last but certainly not least on this disc of my season 1 box set is “Dead Man’s Blood.” My notes on this episode include the key phrases “I’m pretty sure this episode is...dumb?”, “ I...do not care for vampires,” and then like, two lines later, “Nope. Still don’t care for these vampires.” They’re just making up some random-ass lore and their fashion sense is SO 2006 and I just...I just hate them. 
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I hate them SO MUCH.
BUT! That’s not the point of this episode. The point of this episode is to point us towards the season finale. FIRST, we start to see a little bit more of the world that the Winchesters inhabit. We actually meet another hunter, Daniel Elkins. He dies immediately, but that’s a cold open for ya. And when Sam and Dean go to investigate Elkin’s death, John comes back, this time for good (haha, lol). We get a real taste of the family dynamics in this episode - John and Sam fight and come together and fight and come together and Dean’s standing there kinda like, SPONGEBOB! 
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You know, Plankton! Krabs! Dean Winchester! Right? Anybody?
All sides have good arguments, and I appreciate that none of the conflict between the the three of them feels forced, or at least, it doesn’t feel forced this watch. The fights all come from deep character places that have been established through the whole season. They’re natural progressions of what we’ve come to expect of these characters. 
And finally, most importantly, John knows how to defeat the demon that killed their mother. Enter Deus Ex Colt Revolver. 
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Colt Revolver Ex Machina?
CAN I just take a break for a second to say that BOTH Elkin AND John were ready to WASTE PRECIOUS COLT BULLETS on VAMPIRES, who can be killed IN OTHER WAYS?? Listen, you make a magic gun that only works with these  like, 5 BULLETS, and then you just THROW AWAY A BUNCH OF SHOTS, GUYS??? ALSO, what the HELL does Haley’s Comet and The Alamo have to do with this STUPID GUN??? I JUST- you know what, we don’t have time for all that. 
Attaining the Colt is the brick they drop on the gas pedal to drive us into the season finale of season 1. 
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Wasting a some PRECIOUS F*CKIN’ BULLETS, GUYS.
When you look at the season’s pacing at the outset, it seems like it shouldn’t work. I was that person who felt disappointed in each episode where it became clear we were definitely on a side quest, not the main quest.  Watching it now, though, I think that pacing is important. Yeah, the Monster-of-the-Week episodes are a little hit and miss, but sometimes you have to think of a TV season like a marathon and not a sprint. There will be times when you pick up the pace, yes, but it’s a long race and you’re gonna need some periods of recovery if you’re gonna make it to the finish line. And frankly, a lot of those side quest episodes ended up being my favorite episodes of the entire series. 
NOW. I doubt you would see this sort of structuring in a show today, specifically in shows that don’t get a 22 - 24 episode order. You MAY get, MAY, a Ghostfacers-type episode thrown in after a major emotional climax for that breather effect. MAY. But if Supernatural was made today - probably for an online streaming site, probably with only 10 - 13 season order - I don’t think you’d see episodes like “Something Wicked” or “Provenance” or “Faith”. The nice thing about short seasons is that you can keep the storytelling focused and tight, but I also think that can be a weakness as much as it is a strength. What do those three episodes all have in common? They’re strong on character and relationship development. We, the audience, get a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Winchesters and how they work and grow as a unit in these episodes. So if we’ve watched this far, through bugs and ghost trucks, through all their little victories and major setbacks, we’re well and truly invested in how the season is going to end. 
I’m not saying you can’t have big character moments in a shorter season. And I’m not saying that a show more focused on plot, on the What Happens rather than the Who It Happens To, is a bad thing. But watching this season over again in comparison to present day television seasons, it’s highlighted what Supernatural did right. On this side of the series, it’s easy to see why the show went on for another 14 years.
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lovelykristenbell · 5 years
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ET Interview with Jason Dohring after the revival
"It is sad to have to have a sacrificial lamb in order to keep the show pumping, but Jason's so gracious about taking one for the team," star and executive producer Kristen Bell told ET on Friday when she and her Veronica Mars co-stars stopped by the Comic-Con video suite. "But we love each other so much. We were mourning him on set." Dohring, who has played Logan off and on over the course of 15 years, admitted during a lengthy sit-down interview with ET that he didn't initially understand why his character had to die for Veronica Mars to continue on. It wasn't until he had a conversation over the phone with creator Rob Thomas that the puzzle pieces started to fit together, and he came to accept and understand his character's fate after some time. "When Rob said that, my f**king heart just fell out of my body. And I was like, 'Oh my god,'" the 37-year-old actor recalled. Here, in an in-depth chat, Dohring opens up to ET about the pain of saying goodbye to Logan Echolls, why he hasn't told close family members about the stunning ending and why he understands that fans will have opinions "one way or another" about how his story wraps up -- "even though it's not necessarily what people [may] want." 
ET: What did Rob tell you about this season of Veronica Mars, since it ends quite tragically for your character in the end? 
Jason Dohring: Rob called me. He was like, "We're going to do this. I feel like we're far enough along now," and he started to lay out the story of where Logan was. His idea was Veronica's in a bad place, we're going to see her move from there and into a different state. That's the the arc. And then he said, "They're getting married. Then, Logan goes out to check the car and Logan is killed in the blast." When Rob said that, my f**king heart just fell out of my body. And I was like, "Oh my god." He spent the next five minutes explaining the reasoning for it. And I cannot say that I understood or agreed with what he did. Rob wanted to shed the teenage drama aspect of the show with this on-again/off-again [relationship between Veronica and Logan] and as long as either one of them is still around, I feel like we've told those stories. They're kind of meant for each other. So I think, in that way, it's cool that Logan's exiting this way, and also that he served a role to get Veronica to reevaluate her life. I think that's really cool. Rob also talked about her being an underdog and that people really respond well when she is in that sort of determined state. I think that this really throws her in that and yet opens the door to a brand new life, a brand new setting, a brand new possible list of characters that she could be involved in. It really gives freedom and determination from her point of view for a new start anywhere. 
You mentioned that Rob called you ahead of time. How long were you sitting on this secret that Logan dies?
JD: Before we even started shooting, by a few weeks at least, or a month or so. You're thinking with that secret the whole time, and then just getting to the end of that four or five months of production.
What was your initial reaction when you learned Logan wasn't going to survive the season? 
JD: Devastated. And then for about three days, I was sort of sitting with it, digesting it. 
Were you mourning a little bit? 
JD: I had a hard time telling my wife because she has certain family members -- there are family members I haven't even told yet -- who are going to see it. They're so excited, and they're having these huge parties. I'm like, "F**k. I'm really sorry." That party's going to have a sour ending, at least on my family's point of view. I eventually came to terms with it, in no small part, thanks to Rob's explanation of it, and understanding it for the greater good of the show. I told a couple of the cast members who didn't even know. I told Percy [Daggs III] and I told Ryan [Hansen], and they were devastated. They'd come up to me hours later and be like, "J, I just can't believe it. Like, I just can't believe it." And I'm like, "Man, I know buddy. I know." At first, they were like, "That's bullsh*t, man. That's bullsh*t. I don't believe you." And I was like, "No man, it's true." And they just kept saying, "That's bullsh*t, man. You serious man, you f**king serious? Oh f**k." And then it hit them. It was crazy. 
You've been in and out of this world over the past 15 years, playing this character for four seasons and a movie. Did you have any worries or concerns about Logan's fate?
JD: I have complete faith in Rob's ability to write the story and when you have somebody like Kristen Bell leading the show the way she does, that's the driving force. I think they're going to be super fine with whatever direction they choose to go, especially now that they have a new possible lease on where they can go with the story. 
Had you thought about where you wanted Logan's journey to end at any point? 
JD: Adding the military aspect to the role was very cool, and gave a new dimension and helped ultimately serve the story with Veronica's character. I think I did everything that I wanted to do with the role. I got to fully explore this guy in various ways. 
It's disheartening to know that the Echolls family has basically been wiped out. Well, with the exception of Logan sister, Trina (played by Alyson Hannigan in the original series). It's almost like there's an Echolls curse. 
JD: I know. And when you're on a drama for a few years, that's just what happens. Your character's f**king life just goes downhill. 
Because Logan's death was such a violent one and we didn't see a body, fans may speculate or theorize plausible theories about why he's not really dead. Are you anticipating those types of conversations? 
JD:I don't know. I mean those are all beyond me. I just hope ultimately the fans are pleased with the whole project. You can look at it that way, and understand that this will launch the series in a new way that's not tired or redundant. 
It's hard to swallow knowing that Logan's death is the catalyst for Veronica to finally make that leap and work through her inner turmoil through therapy, even though he had been pushing her all season to look inward. In that sense, Logan is a martyr. He ended up serving that purpose. 
JD: There was another scene where we're on a couch. I don't what was understood from that scene, but I feel like Logan was, at that point, willing to sacrifice their relationship if it meant that she'd be happy with her life, and that she would move on. Maybe move out of Neptune, do something that she wants to do and fulfill her potential. I think that's pretty sweet that he would be willing to sacrifice their relationship for that. It's a heroic death that sparks new life. 
You're so positive about it all! I'm like, I just need to curl up in a ball on the corner and cry. 
 JD: Yes, I know. When you're in a corner and you're crying, it's like, what do you do then?
If this is the end of your time with this character and the show, are you ready to say goodbye? If there is another season, do you hope there's room for you to come back in some way? 
JD: I think that would be a question for the team, you know what I mean? If that could fulfill any purpose in a story... I have to see what they want to do, but I assume that it would be happier times. Flashbacks to a good life? I can't really speculate, but I would hope it would be something joyous if it were to be anything. 
I do want to ask you about Veronica and Logan's wedding at the courthouse. How did you feel knowing that they at least had a moment of bliss, however temporary it was? 
JD: It's so funny that you ask these questions and I never really think about it as an audience member. (Laughs.) 'Cause I'm never thinking, when I see it, "Veronica and Logan really had their time..."
It was a long time coming for a lot of Veronica Mars fans... 
 JD: I think so too. I always felt that they were so awesomely compatibly incompatible, you know what I mean? In the best way. Both had strong wills, which is just fireworks ready to happen. She has care for the world and he has care for her. She has ways that she wants things done and it's not necessarily the way he'd do them, but yet there's this love [between them]. And Logan's relationship with her, everything rolled into it and made it something special. I think that's what you see in the audience appreciation for it. 
Was any part of that wedding scene ad-libbed?
JD: No, it was all scripted. Rico was doing his thing. He was crying. Kristen was telling stories about her real wedding in a similar setting in a courthouse. She showed us a picture of her literally crying and [her husband] Dax [Shepard] is laughing at her. I thought that that was pretty funny. 
Did you ever think that Veronica and Logan would ever reach a point in their lives where they would both actually agree to say "I do"?
JD: Hopefully, they were on that track. And I think giving Veronica that scare toward the end got her to have this mini wake-up call. But I go back to that conversation on the couch right before. I thought that was noble: I'm willing to sacrifice us, but I want you to be happy. And if you're not going to be happy, then goodbye. When I was rehearsing that scene, I was f**king crying. As much as I love you, I care more about you than that. Brutal. 
 What was the toughest or most challenging scene from this season?
JD: I think that. Working on that. Sometimes it would really hit me as we're rehearsing, like, what he's really saying is he wants her to leave him right now if it's not going to make her happy, because that means more to him than us.
Logan's journey has been the most dramatic out of all the characters on Veronica Mars. Has that been gratifying for you as an actor seeing how far he's come? 
JD:Yes. I appreciate variation. To start out being the antagonist and then getting this romance that was never intended to be. Then feeling that so strongly. Then that's all on the rocks and shredded... And then the military, and then on top of that having a ridiculously sharp sense of humor and looseness of morals. All that is such a joy to play as an actor. I was always trained to look for those choices, so that's where I would try to branch out and make some of those decisions where I could. 
I was rewatching the pilot recently and Logan is a completely different person from then until now. 
JD: He'd be like, "Where are the hookers? Where are the boobs?" 
What do you want to say to fans after they've finished watching the season and may need a second?
JD: I don't know. I mean, they'll have thoughts one way or another. I think if you really step back and you look at what was told and where the show may be going, and how this opens up the door for Veronica... this relationship between Logan and Veronica is just one aspect of Veronica, right? But her helping the world and solving cases and her personal happiness, I think you may see more storylines there. I think that was what really helped me understand the whole thing with Logan -- putting it in context for the future. 
You're so glass-half-full about it all, when you could be like, "Ugh."
JD: I know. I was like that. But if you really think about it, you can't just play that over and over. (Pauses for a moment.) I mean, you can... Part of the cool thing is Veronica Mars is a smart show. Rob is very creative and he has his ideas, and I think that people like that. At the end of the third season, the CW came up to him and said, "We're probably going to end the show at the end of this third season, so if you want to wrap it up, you can do that." And he did the exact opposite. He f**king left it open. And that's probably the reason that the movie was made, which is the reason that season four comes. Really it ties back to the creative aspect of an artist who has integrity to his vision. So I respect that and people respect the result of that, even though it's not necessarily what people want all the time.
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idio-cies · 4 years
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Tine and Anxiety
How are people feeling? Knowing that tomorrow is the last episode of this beautiful series? Sad? Excited? Don’t want it to be over? Same
Welp, this may or may not hurt when reading and probably won’t be my last meta/analysis on this series. Anyways... This is a long post folks, so make sure you are sitting comfortably.
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I am almost certain that Tine accentuates some kind of anxiety.
I don’t like diagnosing people, but this is just something that I deeply relate Tine with. As a person who has CFS/ME with depression and anxiety, who also has a best friend with severe anxiety, my mum and sister also having depression as well as having many other friends with mental health issues revolving around anxiety and/or depression and doing a lot research both on anxiety and depression. I know the ins and outs of these mental illnesses. I will not go into further detail because as I am trying by hardest to not sound like an obnoxious twat whilst writing this.
I came across this article so I could check that I was right about relationship anxiety which Tine does express. This is pretty self-explanatory so you can read at your own leisure if you wish, but as a brief summary relationship anxiety most likely comes out of previous bad relationships, low self-esteem an attachemnt style one has grown up with in childhood (honestly this is another thing entirely, I talk a little bit about this here), but also relies on knowing oneself, having good communication etc.It just screams out here.
I need to clear things up as well before I really start getting in deep. It is correct that every human being has self-doubt, it is intrinsic to the human psyche, there is no doubt about it, unless you are self-righteous or have learnt that you are loved and you can love yourself a healthy amount, then good for you! This video is a good summary of how disliking oneself is natural human response
Now, where anxiety related to Tine comes in is the fact that he ruminates, he worries excessively and his automatic response to things going wrong he places on himself, and just in general has such a deep lack of self-worth and self-love that all you wanna do is cuddle him all day. This takes it further than what a normal human beings response is. 
Tine obsesses, and as a result makes him spiral and becomes unwell. Rumination is both a feature of Anxiety and depression. This is where things get tricky because Depression and Anxiety work hand in hand, with some traits crossing over (such as rumination), you can also have panic attacks with depression as well. The reason why I think it is anxiety is because of how things morphed with Tine, how he worried himself to be literally sick on more than one occasion
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and it looks like he does the same this week. You can see the IV and how he is laying 
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and he doesn’t to eat
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This is not “normal human behaviour”. Worrying so much it makes you ill is one thing (see article here), but actively avoiding food is another thing. It’s another response people have when they are under extreme stress, though people can also over eat.
My analysis of “Escape” supports rumination.
There is no category that I will place him. I will leave this article here for people to go through if they are interested (I’m sorry, I know this is a lot of links, I just want to prove what I’m saying). 
so, when we meet Tine he seems like this ball of energy, he comes across as self-righteous with his Mr Chic facade
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But that’s the thing: it’s a facade, it’s a coping mechanism, which shields him. I wouldn’t say that this is a classic example of anxiety as anyone can put up a front to hide all sorts of things. I know that I used to have facades or personalities I use in front of people.
Anyway, this Mr. Chic persona was all that, a persona, he took refuge in it. Which is why we see the comeback of it in ep 9 as he was experiencing some stage fright mixed with a heck of a lot of self-doubt and stress, which Green had identified was a coping mechanism!!!!
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This front was used in order to block himself from being hurt, from rejection and from life in general, as well as of course criticism. His friends aren’t the brightest bunch, though evidently Fong (bless his heart) is very emotionally intelligent and let us know that they were aware of Tine and how he self-imposes on himself, has to prove his worth etc
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This explains why he was so fatalistic in ep 11
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Because he is still putting himself on trial and their relationship
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It was legit after the tree got trodden on it all went wrong 
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Poor Nuisance Tree... RIP
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Anyway, but as friends do, they tease each other, which is ultimately something that Tine is afraid of. He doesn’t like the teasing. Based on my perspective of teasing, I bite back with teasing, but it may be because it’s because I am sensitive about it. Tine by no means has my temper, so it doesn’t surprise me if he is effected and is scared to be teased because in all actuality, he is sensitive about those topics. 
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Next, he gets obsessed. People noticed about not moving on from Sarawat, there are a few explanations. 1. they needed it for Sarawat’s popularity to broadcast it 2. I bet you Tine got intrigued 3. potentially, he got obsessed with the idea. Tine was adamant to “get rid of Green” this in of itself was an obsession and no fucking wonder it backfired. Some, “normal, healthy” people I’m sure would’ve moved on, but oh no, not this dumbass quartet
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Which is another thing. He is heavily influenced by his friends. Naturally, a person listen and adapt their thinking to their peers, but some don’t and are adamant in their thoughts. What gets me here is that Tine practically doesn’t allow himself to think for himself very much. I mean, it’s natural to go to friends for advice, but he was always very quick to go “yeah you’re right”. He is too easily swayed by what his friends tell him or their philosophies. Go look at episode 8 1/4 6:50 onwards. He concludes so quickly... Though I guess in this round, he felt it was right.
As soon as he sees one “fit” per se, that is it, which is apt as he is always been on the search for “the one”
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(It will not surprise me if this series does full circle, and has Tine going to Sarawat once more as Sarawat did all of the chasing after this... kinda)
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Tine can make up his mind very quickly once he sees fit. The only time he has really made sense and not listened to his friends fully was when he realised he loved Sarawat, and he went hell for leather on proving himself in episode 9. 
Tine had to prove himself in order to be worthy of Sarawat to love him, he thought he had failed, but Sarawat showed him a different perspective. Sarawat is very good at comforting Tine and showing him a new perspective... 
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Sarawat is so good in this scene, because he tells Tine (in their little hypothetical language) that it is up to Tine is in control (which he felt he wasn’t), that Sarawat won’t pressure him, and that he is enough just as he is. That he doesn’t need to prove himself.
To a degree he helps every time, but as I have said before, if Tine is anything like me, those affirmations are useless after a couple hours max.
This post and also this one are really good at explaining Sarawat, and my perception of the last episode, so please also give those a read because I don’t want to repeat and make this even longer than it is! I do not blame Sarawat, and understand that it is human to make mistakes, which is also why I am making this post, because Tine is also wrong and is not helping their relationship or himself!!!
The time when he did believe in them was during episode 10 with Type in the house... it was extraordinary
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Sorry I love Sarawat’s reaction to this
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It’s like “Okay, you got it, why you gotta be so cute tho” 
Then the next week it goes downhill again and he believes that he is the one causing everything to go wrong (ahem, look at the first article)
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He puts all the blame on himself... But Sarawat was always there to tell him that it was okay, that he was there with him, never got angry, just gave him smiles and headpats galore while looking at him with all the love in the world
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I had to add in the “lets go to bed” bit here 
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because I feel like it’s under appreciated. Sarawat was continuously telling Tine “we can look for it later, lets focus on this for now” and did a little nod. He was trying to help Tine not feel so bad, he recognised it and tried to give him comfort. He tried setting an agenda, so that Tine didn’t need to be overwhelmed with processing too many things if that makes any sense? He cares a lot and knew it was bothering him. It didn’t work as Tine was riddled with guilt, so he wasn’t satiated by it unfortunately, but this trip really did churn everything up :/ 
It’s just super hard to get Tine to feel alright in himself, but Sarawat is so lovely about it all. He loves Tine so much, so this week is going to hurt so bad when Tine tries to break things off as it is just going to be so difficult to make sure Tine is secure in himself and the relationship... I better stop
The fact that this is the state Tine puts himself in, again and again screams anxiety to me. The facade kept things up for a while, but I would not be surprised if this is how he went through life for quite some time. Plus the fact that Type also shows this need for a facade by trying to be a perfectionist is very interesting as well. 
Of course, I can be wrong in all of this. Please don’t hold me to it, but as a person who profoundly resonates with Tine, and would consider myself to be well versed in anxiety, I think that Tine most likely does have a form of anxiety. He just takes “self-doubt” to the next level. 
As always I am welcome to discussion! Credits to those blogs with the posts I linked to! 
Thank you for reading, I hope you guys are all staying safe, and I look forward to tomorrows episode ^-^ 
I am so not ready to let it go 😭😭
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t-citurnity-moved · 4 years
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HEY TALK ABOUT YOUR LOVES
Ohohohoho.
My thoughts are more or less about the boys, BUT I feel like I also need to provide context because this series has been such a huge part of my life.
So, therefore, let's start at the beginning.
GOD THIS GOT SO LONG AND I AM SO SORRY BUT I HAVE A LOT OF THOTS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I have been part of the fanbase (not gonna say fandom, because that implies I'm active at all in the d//m//c "community" when I absolutely am not) since before 2010. That's 10+ years of enjoyment in this series. 10+ years I've been holding onto my feelings because I wasn't sure if it was right to love fictional characters. I still wrote and roleplayed with other people who were also in the fanbase, because... well, writing OC / Canon at the time was the closest anyone could get to saying "I want to date this character and not be judged." (But we all know that even then, if the OC wasn't written a specific way then they'd be considered a sue / stu; don't even get me started there.)
I fell in love with Dante first. He was the main character up until Nero starred in D//M//C4! So why wouldn't I love him? The first piece of media in which I really broke into the series was the anime and that's only because I really loved anime at the time (now not so much, mostly because I don't have attention span, etc). And boy... ohoho boy. I loved him even more. I think it's partly because that was my first real look into the series that I love D//M//C2 so much, because I'm more inclined toward the ""edgy"" side of Dante; wacky wahoo pizza man is cool and all, but I also love retrospective Dante who's a bit serious. Doesn't mean he's not the same Dante, because he absolutely is. But I hate how the fanbase portrays him sometimes. (The same fanbase that hates D//M//C2 and probably hates the reboot too, BUT I'LL TOUCH UPON THAT IN A MOMENT.)
The fact that Dante can be a serious person when he needs to be (or even if he's like... killed his brother several times and is therefore entering into a depressive state because who tf wouldn't) seems lost on a lot of people and it makes me sad. Because when I first really started branching into the fandom, I was (and still am) the same way... I just feel like 2Dante and Anime Dante are just... more relatable? So I lean toward them more than anything because I can understand them more? Because I too have depression and struggle with it? (By no means am I saying that 4/5 Dante don't have depression, I just think at that point he deals with it differently. I have a lot of headcanon there and that in and of itself is a whole ass different discussion. I also think discovering that Nero is Vergil's son / his nephew also helps him handle his depression as well, because "wow... at least I still have some part of Vergil left, even if it is only his kid" plays a bit role in how Dante recovers, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK.)
I even think 3Dante has some level of depression going on, even thouh that's the start of the series and it doesn't really start going downhill until after those events. I mean, losing his mother at a young age and also thinking he lost Vergil until, SURPRISE SURPRISE, Vergil invites him to a "bash" which is really just some ploy to gain power? I just think at that point, it's manageable for him; he doesn't struggle with it nearly as much as he does in 2 + Anime.  That being said, the fact that he's so """wacky wahoo""" also leads me to conclusion that, even if it is "manageable," he does still struggle at times and I feel probably overwhelms him at times, so he tries to manage BY being upbeat about things. Which, anyone who has depression knows, is so fucking difficult to do. The fact that Dante can keep going despite all this shit going on in his life makes ME feel like I can keep going.
AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON VERGIL AND HIS PROBLEMS. Dude just wanted to be protected and loved.
Actually, LET ME get started on that. Because I have a lot of thots.
Vergil grew up believing their mother chose Dante over him. That she didn't try to save him. That Dante was more important to her than he was. He grew up with this inferiority complex because he didn't know WHY their mother never came to save him. He also grew up thinking he wasn't strong enough to save HER. That's why he actively sought out power, while believing humans were "weak." That's why he manifested this hatred for being half-human. Because he couldn't save his family and, for a long time, he was led to believe his mother didn't care for him nearly as much as she cared for Dante (IE. "saving" Dante, but not Vergil).
Vergil's thirst for power is just misdirected feelings toward his family. He should've been mad at demons for attacking them in the first place, but because he grew up believing what he did, it became hatred toward humans instead. That's why he hated Dante, too. In reality, I don't think he really "hates" Dante, just feels severely inferior (which he veils by """having""" a superiority complex instead of the opposite, which he actually has). I think he just had a lot of conflicted emotions that he was never able to work through. Which is why I love the idea that he and Dante, post-D//M//C5 could reconcile at some point. Because neither of them really hated each other, they just had conflicting viewpoints due to one event that go thrown out of proportion somewhere along the way. Vergil just wanted what Dante had, which he perceived as the love of their mother, because she "chose" to save Dante instead of him. In reality, she tried to go after Vergil too, but simply didn't survive. Vergil was entirely unaware of this, so obviously he'd be upset. It's the crux of all his problems.
Vergil HIMSELF even theorises what would happen if they switched places that day! He wonders what would happen if he and Dante's lives were swapped! (Which, TBH, would be a pretty neat AU, heheheheh.) Legit! "If our positions were switched... would I have your life? And you mine?" DUDE WANTED TO KNOW!!! He wanted to know what it was like to BE Dante, to be LOVED, to be PROTECTED by the ONE PERSON they had in their lives at the time! They only had their mother, so OF COURSE Vergil would be upset due to the circumstances! HE JUST WANTED TO BE PROTECTED AND LOVED.
3Vergil doesn't show much of this side of him, because he's just angry and going through a lot and he JUST wanted to be powerful enough that no one could hurt him any more. He would NEVER say this, but dude....... You cannot convince me this dude just wanted to be powerful to keep himself safe. To feel like he finally would've had enough power to protect the people he loves AND himself. He just didn't want to be hurt again. This is, by NO MEANS, an excuse for his actions. It's an explanation. His actions shouldn't be excused because of his ~ f e e l i n g s ~, but I firmly believe that post-D//M//C5, he could redeem himself for these actions. For everything he's done, he can realise it's wrong. He can grow to be a better person. He can reconcile with Dante and even be a good father to Nero. He can be better and I want to believe that he WOULD be better. After everything V went through, discovering that he doesn't really want to be the person he used to, Vergil can change and be better.
OOFIES. This has gone on long, BUT I STILL HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE REBOOT BOYS THAT I STRUGGLE TO PUT INTO WORDS, SO BEAR WITH ME IF THIS SEEMS STUPID OR GARBLED.
Context for the reboot: It's basically a remake of the series that got poor reception because people struggle to accept change. :) I will not debate this and anyone who wants to come at me can eat my socks.
Dante 2.0, like original Dante, HAS PROBLEMS. He's an edgy punk bitch who has problems and he's so ugly I love him.
This dude went his entire life struggling with his identity as someone "human." At one point, he was so convinced he didn't have a heart that he ripped open his own chest to see if he did. Yeah. Dude has issues. But it's ok, because in game, he legitimately sets aside his own issues with people to save humanity. Dude's got such BDE.
People hate him, but I feel like they fail to realise what the hell he's been through. He's been through just as much shit as original Dante. Same goes for Vergil 2.0. These boys have been through SO MUCH, but people don't see that because "Nooo!! You can't just remake the series!!!" Meanwhile I'm like "hehe handsome nephilim boys go brrr."
I literally cannot begin to explain the amount of hate people have for the reboot and it makes me sad, because... like.... y'all.... don't realise... these dudes... went through so much shit..... and yeah... I get it... remake bad, original good, but dude.... my dude.... my bro.... you do not have to hate it that much.... calm down, it's just a video game....
My dude Dante grew up in the system because the foster homes and shit he got placed in were run by demons!!! So he'd lash out at them!!! He was violent because demons suck!! They killed his mom and enslaved his dad!!! Imagine!!! Being surprised by that!!! When you know what he went through!!! Damn, couldn't be me!!!
Vergil went through some shit too!!! Like!!! Yeah, he was adopted into a rich family and lived a pretty cushy life, but fact of the matter is!!! Their parents died and they had their memories WIPED when they were kids!!! Imagine!!! The distraught!!! When he (since he found out who he was long before Dante did) realised what had happened!!! When he remembered!! When he discovered he wasn't human!! My dude founded a whole ass group of demon hunting hactivists because he knew demons sucked and wanted to make the world a better place. It wasn't until after Mundus (big stinky demon man) died that he started realising how frail humans could be and decided to be an asshole about it.
I'm so sad that there will never be any more about the reboot, because fans decided to be assholes about it. I'm so sad that we'll never learn more about what happened to those boys. I'm so sad that we'll never be able to see whether they reconcile or even have the opportunity to.
Alas, I have to rely on heavy headcanon and personal re-write of the story to fix canon instead. :<
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sparda3g · 4 years
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Kimetsu no Yaiba Chapter 177 Review
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The battle has ended, but Kokushibo’s story has not. He is perhaps the last remain of the past generation; now fading to the afterlife. Before he goes out, the backstory begins to unfold, revealing the life and downfall of the Moon Breather. It all started with the Sun Breather.
This chapter is all about the flashback. That’s definitely not a bad thing; however, if you’re dying to know (no pun intended) the status of the Pillars, you’ll have to wait. It’s not confirmed that Tokito and Genya are dead, though for Tokito I can’t see any way around it, so patient is key. In the meantime, the flashback will serve a sob, depressing tale of brothers that couldn’t have their own way.
We know Kokushibo envied his younger brother, Yorichi, but we don’t know when exactly that sin began to consume him. Honestly, I didn’t expect the last chapter’s closure was seguing to his entire backstory, but not only it’s welcoming, it’s warranted. Not only will we learn the depth of Kokushibo’s character but so as Yorichi’s. While the future of the series is still unknown, despite the feeling of closure is strong, this flashback will set up for what’s to come today.
Although they are twins, Yorichi was born with the Mark. It disturbed the father so heavily, he wanted the baby killed. That’s just sad. Curse or not, what kind of person would want to kill a baby? Thank the sun for the mother, for she denied him and kept the baby alive; like a true loving person. It’s only when he turns ten that he will be sent to a temple.
The idea is, Yorichi was treated like a special person; differentiate from how Kokushibo was raised. Different food, different clothing, and so on. Yorichi had cling to his mother’s left side; as if she is the only one he is treated with love and care. She did save him, so no child would ever leave their mother’s side. However, there’s a major key to that illustration, but let’s go one step at a time.
Kokushibo pitied his younger brother for how he was treated. I thought it’s sad to know he did care for him. He even went out of his way to make a flute for him. The brotherly love or bromance did exist once upon a time. It’s also sad to know how lonely Yorichi was; unable to smile or even speak, like a mute person. It’s amazing how much he will change as young adult, but saddening to see him as a child.
The seed of envy was planted when Yorichi watched him training. It was that moment where he was fascinated by his dream to become the strongest Samurai in the nation; so he too wanted to become one. Kokushibo was shocked to not only hear him speak for the first time, but so as see him smile. It’s like a blind person finally able to see in 20/20 vision; it’s a miracle. It’s a heartwarming moment, but disturbing to Kokushibo. This moment is very crucial to the following scene for it would become apparent how much life changes for the two.
He believed it was unthinkable for Yorichi to become a Samurai. This gives you an idea how he judged the book by its cover, and you know the old saying goes. He was a kid, so it’s understandable in some regards, but this is where it began to change. Yorichi takes a practice sword and goes against the instructor for fun. Kokushibo has practice for so long, he’s still unable to land a hit on the instructor. Yorichi however on his first try not only lands it, but soundly defeated him.
It’s striking to see him go at it, practically annihilated the instructor in his first try. He was only seven years old. It’s as if he’s the Broly from Dragon Ball of this series; gifted with incredible power. It becomes more apparent when Kokushibo asked him about his strength. Yorichi was already able to see the Transparent World. That’s unheard of, but according to his description, it’s most definitely the case. All this time, Kokushibo pitied him when he’s in fact not only gifted, but vastly superior. “Looks can be deceiving” is what he should have known.
This should have been an uprising hill for both, but it sadly becomes a downhill spiral. Yorichi’s smile faded away once he realized the damage and pain as a Samurai. This explains why we hardly see him happy until he spoke about the next generation. Maybe he found it again, but as of now, it appears his life was forced to live this path, based on his gift or maybe curse. It’s crushing to see him wanting to play games with his older brother, yet all they can talk about is Samurai, something he wanted to avoid.
As for Kokushibo, his downfall is much clearer in compare. He was outclassed by his younger brother by a large margin. It was then their father changed his mind about his sons’ role. Yorichi would inherit the House, while Kokushibo would be sent to a temple. In other words, the roles have been reversed.
It’s bad enough the same guy who wanted Yorichi dead now kisses him like the favorite, it is worse that Kokushibo is now treated like a second fiddle. It’s not like he was rude like a spoiled brat to warrant this kind of karma. It’s not designed for us to laugh at him, rather sympathize. The sad part is, he was raised to be a Samurai from the get-go. Because of House’s status, he can no longer be as such. Imagine being raised to be a football player, training and all, only to be declined seven years later. Your mind is fixated to live that life, but now that’s taken away, how can you adjust to something else. It’s not easy and Kokushibo got it really rough.
Perhaps the last tender bromance moment is Yorichi’s farewell. Their mother had passed away and Yorichi was departing to the temple. He stopped by to say goodbye to his brother, presenting him the flute, the same one from the past. It symbolizes how much he cherished it. Even with their shortcomings as of late, Yorichi truly loved his brother; like their mother, he saved his life. Now the tear scene back when they are much older holds so much meaning. It’s quite sad to look back.
The nail on the coffin for Kokushibo is the mother’s journal. She has been dealing with a bad illness for a long time, and her left side was suffering. That’s when he realized Yorichi was supporting her since the beginning. Once again, seeing is not believing. With Yorichi winning the father’s approval, loving and caring the mother, and being a superior Samurai in every way, Kokushibo was enraged with envies.  Looking over the chapter, I can’t really blame him.
To me, this is deemed as a sad story. Yorichi had nothing, only to be granted with everything, yet he wasn’t amused. Kokushibo had everything he thought to have, only to be discarded by reality, yet he thought he was doing well. The best way to describe him is a Shounen protagonist gone wrong. He was treated with respect, but inside, he was the underdog. He trained hard, yet Yorichi was gifted with everything. Because we know he became a demon, hard work didn’t pay off. I look forward to that moment.
I thought this was a touching chapter. It delivered the insight depth of the Sun and Moon Brothers back in their childhood. Their adulthood differs greatly from their childhood. I would have assume they lived mostly normal, but their childhood shows hardship and painful reality. Kokushibo’s envy was reasonable and sympathetic in my opinion. It would have been pitiful if he was just jealous without any circumstance such as raised as a prodigy or approved by the House before changing plans. I know I mainly summarized here, but the narration is very good. It’s wall of text, but compelling and thoughtful. The tale isn’t over, so the downfall will resume.
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psst! i wanna hear #s 2, 5, 6, 8, 12, 17, 18, and 20 about the humans! all of them B)
My partner is trying to kill me. Do you see this? Anyway, long-ass belated ask response under the cut.
2. what’s their opinion on Logan Thackaray?
Lynette, Amara, Rasheem, Vesh: He exists.Miguel: Who?Galen: So in canon I suspect he doesn’t have any strong feelings. But commander AU… I’m trying and failing to find a more tactful way of saying that he makes Logan his bitch. I hate my brain. Galen would just really enjoy breaking him.
5. describe their childhood.
Lynette’s earlier childhood was pretty unremarkable. Calm, comfortable. Two brothers, one a twin (fraternal, you’d never know it to look at them,) and one several years younger. Then somewhere in her teens, her mother died suddenly and everything went downhill very fast. Her father took it very hard. A couple years of irresponsible living (and spending) later, he died as well, leaving the twins to try to pull things back together. Some extended family was able to help them a bit, but they were never very high up the noble hierarchy, and in his grief their father nearly ruined them. It’s been a slow, long struggle for stability since.
The Landi siblings are odd to talk about, since throughout her childhood, everyone including Amara saw her as a boy. A particularly effeminate boy that exactly no one was surprised to learn wasn’t straight, but still a boy. (Probably the biggest surprise came in learning that “he” had any interest in girls at all.)
Amara grew up distinctly aware of the series of roles she was expected to fill. Her family ran a textile trade, which she was expected to continue. Nobility came with the expectation that she’d continue the family line by some day marrying and having children. And alongside that, the expectation she didn’t even realize bothered her the most until it struck her there might be an alternative, the expectation she’d do so as a man. She learned to handle pressures from all directions. Mesmer magic ended up coming naturally to a mind that was already trained to carefully manage appearances and keep focus on multiple projects at once. And privately, it allowed some release through fantasy. She got very good at convincingly changing her appearance.
Rasheem’s childhood is marked by an inverse kind of frustration. He’s long felt like the extra, the untalented one that no one really expects to do much. The sad thing is, he’s not entirely wrong. He has a complicated blend of resentment and admiration for his sister, whose talents he tried and failed to emulate. (Though at the time he saw it as his brother he was trying to keep up with. He’s still not entirely used to having a sister.) But he does still love her, because when it’s really mattered she’s been quick to support him.
Galen was a farm boy. An awkward, awkward farm boy who spent entirely too much time doing gods-know-what outside on his own, and who took far too much interest when he saw a priest of Grenth perform some minor necromancy. His family situation was pretty normal; hard working parents, a mother who ran a tight and clean household, and siblings he sometimes even managed to get along with. But he was always a bit detached from most people. Adolescence didn’t help. As a teen he was tall and lanky with the vaguest hints of facial hair that refused to grow in more than wisps, and he was still as awkward and nerdy (I’m not sure Tyria even has that word, but the concept applies) as ever. He grew into his looks.
Vesh’s was not good. Some details are still fuzzy to me. I know she grew up in DR, and her name was originally Eliana. She was only raised by one parent, I’m still undecided which, and she’s not even sure whether or not the other is alive. The one she was raised by definitely isn’t, they likely died when she was anywhere from 9-14. She was always desperately poor, and despite her parent’s insistence on Elonian lineage, obviously of very Orrian heritage. By the time she was a teenager, a certain knack for the more abstract, energy-focused aspects of necromancy was manifesting. That’s when she gave up the struggle to not be the creepy Orrian girl entirely. The persona of Parivesh, witch of the Mists was born. It isn’t the only identity she goes by these days, just the easiest for her to fall back on. She’s developed a few different personas to deal with the constant sense of lack of belonging. Not all of them female, I should note.
Miguel was part of a big, reasonably well-off family of half a dozen or so siblings, of which he was one of the younger. He ended up left to his own devices a lot, and got himself into plenty of trouble. Modern diagnostics would say he has a pretty clear case of ADHD that he never outgrew, so “shut up Miguel” is something he heard a lot growing up. From pretty much everyone. But he doesn’t hold any resentment. He’s a big exuberant puppy of a person, and besides, he ended up doing pretty well for himself anyway.
6. do they feel particularly blessed by one of the Six?
Lynette, in-game choice Grenth: This has some canon relevance, as she’s a moderately religious person who’s had a lot of reason to think about death, and had to make peace with it.Amara, Lyssa: There definitely is a sense of appropriateness here. I’m not sure she’s particularly devoted, but it’s difficult not to feel a connection to the dual-faced goddess when she herself has had two very different faces she’s shown the world.Rasheem, Dwayna: Not really.Galen: …I’m not even going to answer that.Vesh, Kormir: She isn’t at all the religious sort, but if any god could earn her genuine respect, it’s the one who was once human. I do think Kormir speaks to her in a way the others can’t.Miguel, Melandru: Um… He likes birds? That’s nature-y, right?
8. do you have an in-game location for their “home?”
Lynette lives in one of the Shaemoor houses. I have a specific one I imagine, but it’s not terribly distinct description-wise, and I like to imagine it a bit bigger and fancier. I figure the whole world would realistically be scaled up a bit, anyway.Amara and Rasheem live somewhere in the Ossan quarter. I know I’ve picked out specific houses at one point, but I don’t quite remember. Pretty sure Rasheem ended up moving in with his boyfriend, but IIRC he’s in the same general area.Galen: There’s a little house in Kweli, one of the few if not the only one with a real interior. And it’s impossible to AFK in because the periodic forged attacks go right by the door and aggro on you.Vesh: …No actually.Miguel has a particular spot in Lion’s Arch, overlooking the harbor.
12. how do they feel about sylvari?
Lynette has had at least one sylvari as a long-term work partner and intimate friend. Generally positive. Occasionally remembers that they don’t have the same concept of class that humans do, and as someone who spends a lot of time worried about class structure, she finds this refreshing.Amara has no strong feelings. She knows some sylvari. They’re nice.Rasheem is much the same.Galen gets the title of resident dendrophile. He’s functionally (perhaps literally by now?) married to one, so… He’s generally had good experiences with them. Though things like the entire race spawning from the same mother and the fact that his husband is technically 14 are still weird if he thinks about them for too long.Vesh strikes me as the one most likely to take an academic interest in how sylvari work, if given the opportunity. The complex magical underpinnings of life as we know it are very much her thing, and she’d probably end up asking a lot of questions about the Dream to any sylvari willing to answer. She’s definitely had some sylvari friends by now, but I’m not sure if she ever got around to pestering them about it.Miguel will likely never get over the weirdness of (theoretically) being able to have conversations with someone who was literally born yesterday. But as people they seem alright.
17. how well does the dance animation fit their personality?
Lynette: Not very.Amara: It could be worse.Rasheem: Ditto.Galen: no
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Vesh: Not very.Miguel: In one of his sillier moments, yeah, I could see it.
18. what sort of climates do they prefer, if they care at all?
Lynette is pretty comfy with Krytan weather.Amara is much the same. Though she does like when it’s a bit cooler, because she likes layers of clothing.Rasheem is also comfortable with Krytan weather.Galen likes cold weather. He finds it invigorating. And yet, he ended up living in the desert. Sigh.Vesh has no strong preference, though I think she might favor warmer.Miguel likes it hot. If only because he looks damn good with his shirt open. Or off.
20. what’s your favorite thing about playing them?
Seeing as I don’t actually RP them, answers are skewed toward either the superficial, or just what I generally like most about the characters.Lynette is a power lesbian and makes me cry because I’m gay.Amara is gorgeous and has the best judgmental stares, and I cry because I’m gay.Rasheem has a damn fine ass.Galen “Saltybitch” Blake is the saltiest of bitches, and makes a wonderful avatar for my grumpiest of moods. While somehow managing to be unfairly hot.Vesh’s abs make me cry because I’m gay.Miguel Enrique de Arca Santiago e Pereira is the most extra thing on two legs, and I love having a character like that.
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robbiwrites717 · 6 years
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Master list of my Davekat fic recs. This is long so keep reading for the entire list. Also, unless a fic was explicit I included it on this list so be aware and still read the tags! I wanted to include my thoughts about each fic but it’s been well over a year since I read most of them and it would have been exhausting to read back through all of them so i just included the authors’ summaries instead. I have major respect for every fic and author on this list, seriously they’re amazing <3 Happy Reading 
A Bump in the Road - by leopharry - Daycare AU (teacher Karkat/gaurdian DAve/kid Dirk) - Ch 1/1 - 10260 words
After earning his Master's degree in education, Karkat can't find a teaching job, so Kanaya gets him a job as a toddler teacher at a daycare, much to his chagrin. Dirk is his quietest and most behaved student; in fact, Karkat has never heard him speak, and he's curious. What kind of person could raise such a child? And just how long will Karkat's patience last in a room full of two year olds?
Alpha Rats Nest - by sicklekind - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 9911 words
Dave and Karkat have a long overdue, late-night discussion about the upcoming final battle (and lots of other things, too). 
AMC Gremlin - by PeachBriseadh - Coffee Shop AU - Ch 1/1 - 2267 
A drive through window is probably not a good place to confess your feelings to the boy of your dreams, particularly when said dream boy is working it.
Apple Juice, Chips, and Bandages - by Weevilo707 - Humanstuck/Convenience Store AU- Ch 2/2 - 5338 words
Every time he comes in he gets the same three things. A bottle of apple juice, a bag of chips, and bandages.
Astronomy in Reverse - by PunkZucchini & sicklekind - Pen Pal AU - Ch 9/10 - 53857 words
Dave and Karkat are intergalactic pen pals, originally paired together for an extra credit school outreach project. Now, three years of correspondence later, they're best friends... and Karkat is finally immigrating to Earth.
Blood Dragon - by Corvid_Knight - Fantasy AU - Ch 8/8 - 11609 words
Fantasy-set homestuck AU in which Dave has a shit life, but he just managed to rescue a dragon...who also happens to be a nice guy. Now he's just got to keep his brother from finding out. Good luck with that, Dave.
Breathe - by Lilith_In_The_Garden - Highschool AU - Ch 31/? - 54700 words
Your name is Dave Strider, and there's nothing good about John and Rose changing schools.Without your twin sister and best friend, you've been left socially crippled at school, and barely coping at home. You're nearly certain that your mental health has been slowly spiraling downhill. You have no clue how you'll last the year to high school graduation. In all this, there's just one single ray of light.Your name is Dave Strider, and there's nothing good about John and Rose changing schools. Except for meeting Karkat Vantas.
Book Covers - by me ( cuz im an egotistical asshole) = College/Guardian AU- Ch 28/28 - 136611 words
Karkat has had a shitty life and has had to bust his ass for everything he has. He has no patience for spoiled, delusional, lazy people and this is exactly what he thinks Dave Strider is. They get paired up together for a project in their college English class and when Karkat accidently learns that Dave is fighting to keep custody of his younger brother Dirk, he learns that he may have been completely wrong about Dave and shouldn't have judged a book by it's cover. A story of two damaged boys coming to each others rescue and growing as people. <3
Broken - by Aurellyn - Pale Romance/Moirallegiance - Ch 1/1 - 18911 words
This has been an increasingly common occurrence recently. Maybe it’s because you’ve got so much time to just sit around and really think, maybe it’s because you don’t really have anyone to talk to, you don’t know, but you’ve been feeling literal oceans of insecure.It’s like someone ripped a bandaid off of an old wound, or broke the dam or some shit, because lately all you can think about are things you never wanted to think about literally ever again. You’ve been thinking about your Bro, your life before the game, and it was only yesterday that it really, truly dawned on you that you’re actually really scarred by it all. The strifing, the constant tiptoeing around the one place that you should feel safe, paranoia of being stalked by a God damn puppet.It haunts you, and it’s maybe had more of an impact on you than you want to admit.
Cold Desert - by gidgit - Neighbor AU - Ch 7/? - 48493 words
Curiosity killed the cat.It probably just wasn't as good at being nosy as Dave is.
countdown until the end of the world - by divingred - Alpha Session/Memories AU - Ch 6/6 - 17291 words
You’ve seen them before, in countless dreams like this, but this is the first time they’re so clear. They’re so big, they seem almost inhuman, not to mention their color. Deep black pupils against golden, almost glowing, sclera. Even though they’re nothing like a pair of human eyes, there’s a softness there. This is someone who cares about you. You don’t want to look away.Your name is Dave Strider and you feel like you’re forgetting something important.((au where alpha dave picks up a certain troll))
Demon Eyes - by Corvid_Knight - Demon/Hunter AU - Ch 28/28 - 84335 words
In which Dave goes in to kill a demon for his bro, and things...don't exactly go as planned. Really, absolutely nothing goes as planned, but that's...somehow okay. Mostly.
Don’t Forget the Sun - by Weevilo707 - stranded Alien AU - Ch 23/?(DISCONTINUED) - 204539 words
Karkat Vantas always accepted the fact that he was not going to live past nine sweeps. It was just a certainty of his sad, miserable life. At least, that was until his friends found out and decided to hatch a plan to get him out of the Alternian empire. A plan that actually worked.Now, he was stranded on an alien planet, at the mercy of some strange creature that was either trying to help him or going about some freaky ritual of flirting with your food before you eat it.Also, aliens have sunglasses.He was better off dying on Alternia, wasn't he?
falling in love's a struggle - by divingred - college AU - Ch 4/? - 7784 words
“What. The. Fuck,” You manage to spit out, “Kanaya, did Terezi just bring a human?”Who the fuck is this guy anyway!? You stare daggers at the guy. He’s tall… pale, with light hair, wearing an obnoxiously bright red jacket and black skinny jeans. He’s even wearing sunglasses at night, what a complete fucking douchebag. The complete opposite of you.--or alternatively titled; falling in love with your ex-girlfriend's new awful boyfriend
File It Down, Polish It Up - by introsquirrel - Ch 1/1 - 20713 words
Trolls have some weird priorities. They can’t bring themselves to invent conditioner, but they have automatic manicure kits and gossip about which blood caste produces the best in claw hygiene. Dave has never really given much thought to the state of his nails. His time is better spent memorizing lame movie quotes and actively *not* flirting with the grumpy troll version of the Second Coming.On an unrelated note, being a teenage boy is hard. Literally. (Insert dick joke here.) It’s hard and having a hot sister doesn’t help in the slightest. Not that Dave finds his sister attractive in any way.Nope, not going there.
Fortuitous - by Java_bean - meteorstuck - Ch 21/? - 111066 words
Dave and Karkat build a pillow fort and an unexpected chain of events occurs.
Hard To Stay And Watch You Walk Away - by LandofMistandSecrets - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 7502 words
I thought too hard about scenes that happened in the GO timeline that we never saw the retcon version of and then this came out. The "will we still be able to be best bros" conversation re-imagined for post-retcon. Somehow Karkat is even more insecure. Also I always wanted Rose and Karkat to talk in canon so hey have a bunch of them too, thanks.
hey there bright-eyed mister melancholy - by attentionmerrymakers - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1/ - 2338 words
This is why you are sitting in Can Town making your fifty-sixth scale replica of a sheep.
how...did you tell your friends - by sburbanite - post sburb/sgrub - Ch 4/4 - 7906 words
Unfortunately, you don't fancy your brother's suggestion on how to break the news to John...There's no other way out of it, you're going to have to just tell him.
If I Lose Everything In The Fire - by HexMeridan (myrainbowshoelaces) -  pacific rim AU - Ch 20/22 - 108975 words
The Kaiju - or Horrorterrors, as the trolls call them - first invaded Earth through a transdimensional rift at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Serving the Condesce in her quest to add Earth to the Alternian Empire, these monsters have terrorized humanity for twelve years. With the help of rebel troll factions and the adaptation of Alternian mind integration technology - The Drift - the Interspecies Defense Program has fought back as the last line of defense between the Kaiju and Earth.Karkat Vantas was a Jaeger pilot, fought for freedom in the Assault on the Breach that brought trolls to Earth. The loss of his co-pilot left him bitter and full of rage, but desperate times have lead to him being recruited to join the fray once more.Dave Strider is the best and brightest the Interspec program has to offer. Jaeger Restoration Project Head, highest simulation score on record, and younger brother of the Deputy Marshal - except he's not allowed in a Jaeger.Nobody expects them to be Drift Compatible
Improvidence - by biodigitaljazz - Meteorstuck Series - Four separate multi chapter fics 
Part 1 - Your name is Karkat Vantas.Your life is unnecessarily complicated. Part 2 - Your name is Dave Strider.You’re the baddest MC this side of the meteor and damn do you know it. Part 3 - Your name is Karkat Vantas.And you are the most beautiful and superlative specimen of complete and total relationship failure in the history of everyone and everything. Part 4 - Your name is Dave Strider.You really wish you could remember everything.
Locked Up - Weevilo - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 9272 words
Dave had always been the one best prepared for the game. He was able to handle the shit it threw at them and push it down a lot better than everyone else could.It might have fucked up everything else about him, but that didn't matter.He was fine.He was always fucking fine.
Love in the Time of Juggalos - by sburbanite - Alpha timeline AU - Ch 37/37 -  80521 words
Alpha-Dave has everything anyone could want: fame, fortune, legions of adoring fans, and a shitty hatchback car.
But behind the shades is a man who knows the world is ending, and who wakes each morning expecting to see a lover who isn't there. Someone he's never even met. 
M.C. Escher that’s my favorite MC - by Unda - Soulmate AU - Ch 42/? - 587474 words
Dirk has a plan, when he's 18 he's going to take Dave and get him the fuck out of their terrible lives and start over. Until then being the barrier between Dave and Bro is his only job, his soulmate is just going to have to wait goddamnit. Dave has a plan, it involves getting internet famous and not going gay, easy right? Karkat also has a plan, to repeatedly track down his dumb as rocks soulmate and get him to actually talk to him for fuck's sake.
Palisades, Palisades - by magicites - Summer Camp AU - Ch 4/4 - 46,422 words
In your memories, you see Dave Strider, fourteen-years-old and made up of lean muscle and awkward limbs that he would still need a few years to grow into fully. Crows surround him, all cawing impatiently, vying for the chicken sandwich in his backpack. He swears loudly as he swings a stick at them, trying to get them to leave him the fuck alone.“Stupid feathery assholes,” he’d always complain once he finally shooed them away.You tear yourself out of the memory. You miss him, and you hate yourself for it.
Perspective - by MsGeekNerd - Meteorstuck - Ch 85/85 - 63833 words 
In which Dave Strider and Karkat Vantas are Bored as Hell and Eventually Grow Close to Each Other in Multiple WaysKarkat wants nothing more then to be entertained, Dave can supply that entertainment.A story of friendship turned crush between my favorite dorks
Purrbeast - by wittykitsune - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 1140 words
Dave takes a dare to pet the grumpiest troll on the meteor. Instead of violence he is met with a very different reaction.
Reclassify - by notwest - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 2917 words
warning: this is a highly cliched, self indulgent first kiss meteorficyou know you love it though
Songs Made on the Meteor - by apocalypticTaco - Meteorstuck - Ch 3/6 - 11752 words
Once the train of aimless tree blabber has left the station, you remember why you agreed to meet up in the first place. Leaning forward to sit up properly, you turn to Dave.“So,” you say, “what did you want to show me?”“Oh! Yeah, I forgot about that, sorry. The topic just fucking strayed from me like some kind of toddler seeing a candy store and waddling away from mom. Chubby little bastard gets me this time. Here.” He plops out one of those music tables onto his lap, and motions for you to come closer.
(It's music, and along the way they fall in love.)
Sun - by mintboy - highschool Au - Ch 8/? - 14205 words
I’ll never be able to do what other teenagers get to do. When the world robs your health from you, robs your face from you, they rob from you everything else you’ve ever wanted. Because people are fucked up. And all they see is what’s on the outside.Inspired by the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio.
The Calm is Terrifying When the Storm is All You’ve Known - by happikatt- no-sburb AU - Ch 39/39 - 178722 words
There were two kinds of trolls who went to Earth: rich shitheads with too much money and free time, and desperate assholes who couldn’t survive on Alternia, even with the best efforts of the young Condesce. Karkat hated the planet almost immediately, but with his home planet too dangerous for mutants, he really didn’t have any choice but to hide out on this weird little diurnal planet. At least he’d be safe. Or so he thought, right before blundering his way into an accidental friendship with the son of an anti-troll terrorist.Slow burn, shifting perspectives; romance really isn't the focus here but it'll still play a significant part; extra content warnings will be posted with each relevant chapter
The Highlights of being a Split End - by Introsquirrel - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 7381 words
On the list of "Things Karkat Needs to Remember To Pack for Surviving This Fucking Game, In Order of Priority," hair styling utensils fell somewhere between "rubble that crushed my lusus" and "last sweep's decomposable trash, recently unburied from the back lawnring, along with all those bodies of the undead I had to kill." In other words, somebody needs to give that boy a brush.
The Lucky Ones - by daniomalley - Stowaway AU - Ch 10/10 - 51182 words
Lost and stranded on a ship millions of miles from Earth, Dave wants nothing more than to stay hidden from the crew until he can get somewhere safe. But then he runs into another fugitive and suddenly things become a lot more complicated.
the sun coming through - by astrogyaru - College AU - Ch 11/? - 98804 words
You're not sure what to expect when you go to college out of state, in a place that you've never been to before and where you only know one person. Awkwardness, definitely, and a little bit of homesickness, too. Falling in love with your internet buddy's best friend that you kind of hate, not so much, but somehow it happens anyway.Or: Dave and Karkat fall in love, from both of their perspectives.
Time Travel and Troll Grubs - by Corvid_Knight - Earth-C - Ch 16/? - 24723 words
AU in which Dave has An Idea and follows through with it, leading to him and Karkat raising a shitton of grubs.
“Truth or Truth?” - by assumare - Meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 4799 words
Dave and Karkat kill time on the meteor together and play a human party game to learn about each other's lives before the game and prepare for what may come after.The meteor was not a place you could spend time alone. At least, not out in the open.
Waffle House - by notwest - humanstuck - Ch 4/? - 15487 words
Dave Strider is almost 18 years old. His hobbies include avoiding Bro and eating at Waffle House.In the worst moments of his life, Dave finds comfort in a run down restaurant, the family he never knew he had, and in one particularly cranky waiter.
What To Do When Your Boyfriend Is Too Hot - by ayyyy(RosaAquafire) - Earth C - Ch 1/1 - 6846 words
Moving to a new universe and a new paradigm brings a lot of changes. And Dave kind of likes the way things were before, back on the Meteor, when he had Karkat all to himself and didn't spend sleepless nights waiting for the shoe to fall.
Within, Without - by reinkist - Meteorstuck - Ch 37/37 - 78311 words
Dave just wants to be left alone. What's the point of anything when what's broken can never be completely fixed?This is the story of Dave Strider and Karkat Vantas, on the longest journey of their lives.
Your Interpersonal, Intergalactic Relationship: A Beginner’s Guide - by sicklekind - meteorstuck - Ch 1/1 - 8342 words
A beginner's guide to playing hopscotch, overcoming internalized homophobia, and falling in love with your alien best friend.Disclaimer: results may take up to three (3) years to appear.
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thegraftedbranch · 5 years
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Gravity Falls’ Rewatch Value.
If you’re reading this, it’s already too late. ‘Cuz I’m throwing off my Gravity Falls meta trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) with this new one on why the show gets better whenever I watch it. Or scream into a pillow pretending to, as one does.
I said that childhood memories, and retrospective stories of them, reverberate differently as seasons pass. Well, Gravity Falls slips so much nuance into the space between words that it needs only two.
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“Dv zoo xivzgv hglirvh gl kilgvxg lfihvoevh.”   —Nzip A. Wzmrvovdhpr, Slfhv lu Ovzevh
We all joke that it’s Twin Peaks for kids -take the aesthetics and themes of duality and trauma, leave the surrealism and its quality going downhill on the air. Gravity Falls rises above most cartoons this century for its groundbreaking use of conventional storytelling. That it runs unfaltering along a set course demands at least one viewing; codes literal and figurative, intellectual and emotional, call for later viewings. This continuity-heavy kids’ series eludes the apathy typical of kids’ series and the superficiality typical of continuity-heavy series; inferior media would fill canon until it’s empty but we can allways rely on this show to leave enough to the imagination, where meaning truly lies.
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This show elicits laughter via the most genre subversions, wordplay, and freeze-frame text this side of BoJack Horseman. (Special shout-out: “I am going to eat this entire oak tree because I am a powerful wizard!”) Ill is its illicit laughter, which puts the “merit” in “temerity”. Peer into that ethereal scenery all you want; the show still chews it with bathos, background events, and cute things dying. So it goes. Gravity Falls’ multilayered farce urges us not to take it too seriously, but doesn’t con us out of mystery in the sincere moments it shuts up in prose.
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Gravity Falls has no “filler” to speak of; I do not think it means what you think it means. ~Half the episodes progress the plot, but all progress the story through characterization and lore. The clues Blendin seamlessly, plain episodes become Agents of plot development, Bill is there... no episodes I’d skip, for how many details make this story more than it seems. We’re then immersed in mythopoeia when pop culture references clash with more inspired, esoteric allusions -the Eye of Providence and other conspiracies displayed thereupon*, Beale ciphers, (A)Xolotl, Thunderbird, Running Horned Woman, Flatland-! I love what this narrative does, almost as much as I love its violent undoing. Its cancellation.
* (Bill shouted out, “who killed the Kennedys?” when after all, it was you and me)
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“Gsv ilzw tivd drowvi zmw wivzirvi, zmw nliv uzrmgob gizxvw, zmw ezmrhsvw zg ovmtgs, ovzermt srn rm gsv svzig lu gsv wzip drowvimvhh, hgroo ifhsrmt lmdziw, drgs gsv rmhgrmxg gszg tfrwvh nligzo nzm gl vero.”  —Mzgszmrvo Szdgslimv, “Blfmt Tllwnzm Yildm”
Some parts of Gravity Falls will disturb adults more than kids. Like how our 12-year-old leads hadn’t had The Talk yet. It’s because our frame of reference sheds light on the dark places whose haunting undercurrents the show can only telegraph. But Gravity Falls respects children’s intelligence enough to trust they’ll see the omens lurking in all the liminal backroads, forsaken birch woods, and spooky Cipher hell dreams. It’s black as midnight on a moonless night, by kids’ show standards. But that lets us echolocate our own hopes and fears into it.
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I’ve said that the heavier implications around Ford make this show more like Gravitas Falls than it has any right to be... and we can’t forget the tear-jerker moments around Stan, missing his brother and whatnot. They’re sad, if a bit too palatable for my tastes. Anyway, the boat imagery, swing set, license plate, secret rooms, spare glasses, Bill iconography, bloodstained pages, and mild gravitational anomalies all do what continuity and foreshadowing should: making the story’s world bigger, not smaller. By not dictating how we should feel about everything, but speaking for themselves. (The journal alone speaks volumes).
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“Dv rnztrmv lfihvoevh zh xivzgfivh lu wvhgrmb. Dv orhgvm gl hglirvh zmw ulitvg gszg gsv orhgvmrmt zohl gvooh gsv hglib. Gsv hglib dv svzi rh lfihvoevh. Dv ziv gsv lmob lmvh dsl xzm svzi rg. Drgslfg lfi orhgvmrmt, zoo gsv hglirvh ziv gsv hznv hglib. Gsvb gvoo fh gszg mlgsrmt rh nvzmg gl yv. Gszg mlgsrmt rh nvzmg. Gszg mlgsrmt rh. Gsvb gvoo fh mlgsrmt.” —Pzivm Qlb Uldovi, Hzizs Xzmzib
Everything you care about will change. Because it will shift from the surface to the expanse beyond, to the unsaid and unthought. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so! We’re taught not to trust taut truisms, not even the tautological title. Fitting how Dipper urges us to find our own Gravity Falls, when a discerning eye will have found us our own Gravity Falls. If we truly follow what the Literary Agent Hypothesis and the Greeks said, anyway.
This show rightfully ends so that we can pick it up again anytime, and pick up on nuances through which we complete it. Better nuances than my inexplicable allusions to Ongian theories of orality. If you eat your words, do you shit books? Anyway, I know my Gravity Falls will remain the chronicle of an uncanny wooded sleepaway town described above. For more information please reread.
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