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carriagelamp · 3 years

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Since it’s Pride Month, I decided this year I wanted to raid the library for a bunch of different queer books to read. Mostly graphic novels in this case, because I’ve had a hard time settling into much reading lately... thought hopefully now that it’s summer and I finally have my second shot I’ll be able to relax a bit more and dig into some heavier novels again. For now, enjoy some light, queer reads that I indulged in this June.

A Wolf Called Wander

A beautiful novel I had been hearing lots about. This story follows the young wolf Swift, who grows up knowing that he and his pack are the mountains, and the mountains are them. It’s in those mountains that he grows and learns and loves… until disaster strikes and he finds himself viciously torn apart from his family and forced out of the mountains that have always meant home to him. Forced to survive on his own. Swift then begins a gruelling journey that makes him face injury, starvation, and the everpresent danger of humans as he seeks a new place he can call home, and new people with whom he can form a pack.

This is all based on the true story of a tagged wolf known as OR-7, following the unbelievable route he took through Oregon and northern California! It was a very neat read, and I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoy stories told from an animal’s perspective because this book is a master class in it.

Bloom

I decided for June to try to read a handful of different queer books, and this was one of the first graphic novels I picked up. It is a super sweet story and the art is lovely. It’s about Ari, a boy who has just graduated high school and is now desperate to move away from his small town and his family’s struggling bakery, to join his band in the city where they hope to make it big. An agreement is finally reached: Ari’s father will let him leave, if he can find someone who can replace him in the bakery, which is how Ari meets Hector, someone who sees artistry and peace in baking. For anyone that’s read Check, Please, it gives off those types of vibes!

Boule et Bill: Bill est Maboul

Another book of Dupuis comics, because I can’t get enough of them! This one I just stumbled across and ended up reading on a whim but it was very cute. Geared younger than the others I’ve read, but still quite funny. It’s the charming hijinks of a young boy, his dog, and the family they live with. Each page or so is a different stand alone joke, a bit like Calvin and Hobbes except expanded beyond a single strip.

Chicken Run: Chicken Pies for the Soul

This was a ridiculous urge I got and had to follow. I recently rewatched Chicken Run (which is, of course, one of the best movies ever made) and felt the need to see if it had ever been novelized. Well, I found something better than a novelization! This is a chapter book with “advice” and stories written by the various characters, post-movie. It really does a good job with grasping the different characters’ voices and making something simple and funny out of it. It was very cute (and available on The Internet Archive if anyone else feels like reading something ridiculous!)

Doodleville

I picked this up on a whim and honestly, I shouldn’t have bothered. It was not very impressive. Very mediocre, awkward feeling artwork, and a story that only slightly manages to redeem it. The concept was kind of neat, and I did like how the ending came about, the rest was rather… plodding. I did not like the main character at all, her friends felt very Intentionally Quirky Aren’t We Cute :3 in a way that just tries too hard, and… yeah. Meh. It technically gets the “queer graphic novel flag” but it’s so in-passing that it feels rather excessive to give it that.

If you are interested, it’s about a world were doodles actually exist as living creatures that can be drawn into existence (the rather unsettling implications of which is never fully explored). This is all well and good, until the main character draws a monster and takes it with her to her art club... where it begins ravanging not only her doodles, but those of her friends. Together they need to work together to figure out how to stop this menace.

FRNCK v4

Phenomenal. I adore the FRNCK series, and book four wrapped up the first “cycle”, revealing several of the big secrets dogging the series so far, and changing how things are going to be able to run in the future.

If you haven’t seen me talk about it before, FRNCK is a graphic novel (a franco-belgian bande dessinée) about a young orphan, Franck, who’s chafing under the constant parade of uninterested foster parents that visit the orphanage he lives in. Determined to learn about his mysterious abandonment instead, he flees the orphanage… but finds himself tumbling through time, landing among a family of cave-people who rather reluctantly take him in and ensure this modern boy doesn’t die in the strange, dangerous new surroundings he finds himself in. You can get these ones in English as e-books, so if you want a really kickass graphic novel series to read please try these.

Haikyu!!

I’ve heard so much about Haikyu!! that I finally gave in and picked up the first book from the library. And I gotta say, it’s well worth the hype! This series really does capture the best parts of a good sports manga -- which is to say the team is filled with interesting, enjoyable character who all need to learn to pull together, boost each other’s strengths, and cover for each other’s weaknesses. Love me some found family tropes and this series oozes it in the best possible way. And then you also get some very cool action scenes as it makes high school volleyball seem like the most intense thing on earth. I can’t wait to continue it

Queer Eye

I haven’t been keeping up with Queer Eye but I was watching it ravenously when it first came out, and this seemed like a very cathartic book to read… and it really was. It had the same gentle, loving encouragement as the show. It doesn’t expect you to change your entire life, but to learn to embrace who you are, and take small steps to enhance those things. There a segment written (presumably) by each member of the Fab Five, explaining the mentality behind what they do on the show and how you can grow in those areas too. It’s very zen.

Spinning

I got this graphic novel out at the same time as Bloom, but it was the one that interested me less of the two... though that’s just because I have less interest in “real world” slice of life as a genre and this one is meant to be autobiographical. If you’re into that, you’ll probably love this because it really is stunning. Very pretty, and the format and pacing is all really well done. It’s a coming of age story for Tillie as she grows up dealing with a crosscountry move, complicated friendships, a burgeoning attraction to girls, and attending competitive figure skating classes.

This Place: 150 Years Retold

A stunning and heart-wrenching graphic novel told by a collection of different First Nation’s authors/artists, recounting oral histories about the 150 years since the colonialist formation of the country known as “Canada”. In other words, this is a post-apocalypse story, but one that really happened and that entire peoples are still fighting to survive. It’s very eye opening and beautifully told. Very strongly recommend the read, especially if you’re at all interested in history.

Torchwood: Serenity

Whoops, not technically a book. I had thought these were technically audiobooks at first, but rather they’re audio dramas that were played on the radio. Still, I decided to include one because I’ve been listening to them like a person possessed and they’re too fun not to at least mention. Let me indulge in my obsessions.

If you don’t know Torchwood, it’s a BBC series that spins-off from Doctor Who, focusing on the enigmatic and flirtatious Captain Jack Harkness, who is running the covert organization known as Torchwood, which is tasked to protect humanity from and prepare them for alien contact. It’s goofy and campy but also more adult and heavy than Doctor Who tends to get, so it is (in my opinion) a really fascinating series. Though it also has content warnings coming out the wazoo so maybe make sure it’s for you before delving in.

Serenity specifically is possibly one of the best Torchwood stories I’ve ever experienced. The Torchwood team concludes that there’s an undercover alien hiding in the idyllic gated community Serenity Plaza, and so that means it’s up to Jack and Ianto to go undercover as a happily married couple and flush out the alien without being discovered first. Even if it means being sickly sweet together, pretending to care about the local neighbourhood barbecues, and actually caring a bit too much about the Best Front Lawn competition. What is truly magical about this one, is that it manages to make it a Fake Dating AU despite the fact that Jack and Ianto are actually dating in canon. But they’re both used to dating as a pair of alien hunters with insanely dysfunctional lives, and who now need to figure out how to deal with domesticity. It is marvellous.

Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice

A middle grade novel that felt a bit like a cross between Harry Potter and Pokemon. It’s about orphan Barclay Thorne who wants nothing more than to be accepted in the rule-bound village of Dullshire, and live up to his apprenticeship as a mushroom farmer. He certainly wants nothing to do with the fearsome Beasts who live beyond the village, deep in the Woods or the sinister Lorekeepers that bond with them. It was, after all, a Beast that had killed his parents all those years ago. But when he finds himself at the very edge of the forest, hunting for an elusive mushroom, he is suddenly unable to avoid any of that. Not when a wild girl and her bonded dragon appear to summon a horrible Beast and end up getting Barclay bonded to it instead. Now, if Barclay ever wants to be welcomed back into his home, he has no choice but to venture into the Woods and find a way to sever the bond imprisoning him to the massive, monstrous wolf now imprinted on his body as a living tattoo.

I honestly can’t decide how I felt about this one. I feel like it’d be a really fun read for maybe a grade 5 to 7 student? I was a bit more meh about it. It was fine, but it was very hard not to draw unfavourable parallels to Harry Potter. But for a kid who’s never read Harry Potter? Or even an adult that has but is looking for something different to scratch that itch, this might be a good book to try. I’ll probably try reading the second book when it comes out.

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travllingbunny · 4 years

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The 100: 7x10 A Little Sacrifice

After The Flock - the show’s weakest episode in a long time - and an unfortunate hiatus after that episode, A Little Sacrifice helped get season 7 back on track. It’s one of the best episodes of the season: it was exciting, things finally happened - a lot, we got a big revelation about what the endgame is likely to be all about, there were fights, an attempted mass murder/genocide (what would a season of The 100 be without those?), some really good character work, and the first major death of the season.

Yes, Charmaine Diyoza was not a main character. but after being introduced as a villain in season 5, she has grown into one of the most memorable and interesting characters on the show - in large part due to Ivana Miličević’s charismatic performance - with a complex and morally ambiguous characterization and backstory (which I really hope to maybe learn more about one day in the prequel flashbacks? Please?). She has been one of my favorite characters since season 5, and I loved her development and her relationship with Octavia, her mother/daughter relationship between her and Hope, her past fights to protect “expendable” prisoners and her S7 attempts to find peace and renounce violence, and hope (!) that at least her daughter will get to have a different and better life where she wouldn’t need to resort to it. She became a (not so little) sacrifice for the better future we saw her dreaming of in season 5 in that conversation with Kane - maybe that dream is something we will see the new generations live in the series finale?

The one thing I wasn’t too happy about (I was OK with the lack of Bellamy cliffhanger since we got him in the promo for 7x11 right afterwards) was that Clarke did not have any more screentime than in the other recent episodes. But, especially on rewatch, she had some great subtle little moments.

You know what is not subtle? Sheidheda. He’s finding new ways to be completely OTT. This time he can finally stop pretending to be Russell, so he gets a makeover, more in tune with the...interesting Grounder fashion styles, chews the scenery even more, and then - thanks to Madi - he loses an eye (just as he did during his original lifetime), getting closer to his season 6 Emperor-like look, though he’s missing a cloak this time. He also doesn’t have enough facial hair to twirl his moustache, but he actually hisses at one point. This part of the episode was, this time, really fun and intense, including a really good fight scene and some really emotional and important moments for Indra, Madi and Murphy, but doesn’t need much analysis and doesn’t require attention on rewatch.

I’m still not sure how/if these two storylines will connect. But I can see a thematic connection of sorts: Sheidheda is the embodiment of the worst parts of the Grounder culture, with the worship of violence and power and killing all those who oppose you; and not just that - he’s all egotism taken to the extreme, the kind of “wild beast” as Anders would despise, but in this case, he would actually have good reasons to. On the other hand, we have the Disciples with their sterile white rooms, order and the propaganda of the abnegation of self in the favor of the collective, and dreaming of “transcendence” instead of trying to get back to the “old ways”. But they really come off as two sides of the same coin: both ideologies are about worship of and subjugation to a leader, both believe violence is the solution, and both are against love and see it as a danger.

Brand new opening titles - these opens start with a shot of Sanctum and end with the Bardo Stone Room with the Anomaly Stone - and guess what makes a cameo near the end of the credits? That’s right, Earth. I was starting to think that any return to Earth won’t happen, but now I’m not so sure.

Sanctum

The episode opens with the immediate aftermath of Shady’s massacre of the Faithful. We see Madi’s friend Rex (that’s his name according to the credits) - the Sanctum boy who offered Madi’s other friend, the null boy, to play soccer - mourning someone, probably his mother. This scene had to be there so we’d feel some sympathy and sadness over the deaths of the Faithful rather than just be relieved they’re (mostly) gone. One of the wounded ones is Jeremiah, the same guy who developed deep gratitude for Murphy for saving his son. Although the Faithful have been very annoying, I do feel a tinge of sympathy for this guy, who’s so clueless that he never understood he had any agency in what happened to his son and seemed really convinced it was all about the will of the “gods”. He now asks Murphy to take care of his son when he dies, but Murphy insists he will not let Jeremiah die. (Trey, the annoying a-hole who was brainwashing Jordan, and used to act as the leader of the Faithful, is credited in the episode but I didn’t see him anywhere - so I have no idea if he’s among the dead, or he survived and was in a deleted scene.)

Madi has a really nice mini arc in this episode. She already had PTSD from her experience and possession by Sheidheda in season 6, so she is absolutely terrified when she learns he is back, and when he threatens her in a really creepy way. Excellent acting by Lola. Later, after being comforted by Murphy and joining the survivors,she shows strength in comforting Rex for his loss; and in the end, overcomes her fears and risks her life to save Indra.

Not that it matters, but Sheidheda’s real name is Malachi. (I’m still gonna keep calling him Shady.) We learn that when he recites the lineage - the names and clans of all the previous Commanders, which we know from S3 is a Grounder custom for a new Commander to do. Of course, we only get to hear some of the names in the middle (a couple of random Commanders called Maffei kom Boudalankru - the Rock Line and Kemji kom Trishanakru) and the end, when he mentions Lexa and Madi. The show wasn’t going to spoil the prequel by revealing the names of early Commanders,

The fight itself was really intense and maybe the best Grounder-style duel in the show (yes, I prefer it to the 3x04 one, which involved too much showmanship to look as a real death match). Shady is obviously going to be there for a while and things aren’t going to get so easily resolved, so he wins and is about to kill Indra - who refuses to kneel to save her own life - but just as he’s about to kill her, Madi finds the courage to come as the Big Damn Hero at the crucial moment, pluck out Shady’s eye and save Indra’s life. But then as he is about to kill Madi, Indra decides to (metaphorically, since she’s lying and about to pass out) kneel in order to save Madi’s life. Indra’s arc with Shady has come full circle: this may finally make her understand her mother’s choice and realize she was unfair to her. She grew up blaming her mother for agreeing to kneel to Sheidheda and considering her “weak”. The battle had been lost, her father was already dead, and her mother made the best possible decision and wasn’t just saving herself but her daughter, too. Otherwise, as we see in this episode, Shady would have ordered the daughter to be killed, too, after the mother - as he thinks children of the people he killed should also be eliminated so they couldn’t pose a threat and seek revenge.

That last order even shocked Knight, who may be having some second thoughts about the awesomeness of “Sangedakru’s greatest champion” (but this doesn’t mean he won’t keep obeying him). Penn and the other Trikru guy we know, who are loyal to Indra, reluctantly knelt when Indra asked them to.

Madi, Rex and the other Faithful (including Jeremiah, who has indeed survived) have gone into hiding with Murphy and Emori - and hiding at the abandoned reactor. We didn’t see Jackson, but i’m sure he’s there. (Sachin is a guest star and must skip some episodes he’s not really needed in.) So now we’re finally reached the part of this storyline where Shady is in power and our heroes are the resistance. And Murphy is now, with Emori, a part of a power couple protecting these people and taking care of them (who would’ve expected that back in season 1?) - much like we’ve seen Clarke and Bellamy do over the seasons - even though most of the same people resented them for being fake Primes just a few hours earlier. Maybe they’re finally starting to get a clue and feel respect and gratitude to people who are trying to save them just because it’s a decent humane thing to do, rather than for being self-proclaimed “gods” who participated in their murder, oppression and exploitation.

Bardo

After 4 episodes, Clarke, Raven and Miller finally left the Stone Room! Yay! Jordan and Niylah stayed in it, and as it turns out, Jordan has a much more important and interesting role to play by reading the Anomaly Stone, while Niylah’s role in S7 has been to be exposition machine for Grounder history and have bad one-liners while Miller has the good ones. I’m glad there was no prolonged “OMG are they really brainwashed and on their side?” misunderstanding, as Clarke and the rest of the group, after learning about MCap from Gabriel, quickly realized that Octavia, Echo and Diyoza are only pretending, since they haven’t blown the secret that Clarke doesn’t have the Flame.

Speaking of one-liners, Miller’s “Get the flock out of here” really made me laugh out loud.

Callie is known as the Pramfleimkepa - the First Flamekeeper - which should mean she was never a Commander (I imagine that would supersede the position of the Flamekeeper or at least be as worthy of mention). I was afraid for a moment that Niylah had given the game away when she told Cadogan that - but fortunately, he didn’t understand what it meant, as he never knew that Becca called ALIE 2.0 “the Flame”.

Gabriel and Cadogan have a long conversation over dinner (or breakfast or lunch of whatever) about Earth before the bombs and Cadogan’s beliefs. The two of them are one of the few remaining humans who knew life before the apocalypse. (After Diyoza’s death in this episode, the only other people left from that time are the Eligius prisoners in Sanctum.) But while Cadogan is chronologically ‘older’ than Gabriel, as he was a Millennial, while Gabriel was born a couple of decades later, and because Cadogan has technically been alive for thousands of years on Bardo - Cadogan spent most of that time in cryo (same as Diyoza and the other prisoners). Gabriel is the real Old Man - at least 260 years old, having lived and experienced all those years. We learn a bit more about Gabriel’s background - that his family were from Colombia and his grandmother was poor, making him a “self-made man” - another contrast between him and the love of his life Josephine (which makes their season 6 parallel to Clarke/Bellamy even more perfect). Gabriel is the go-to-guy this season for having conversations about the worship of false gods and trying to challenge the Disciples’ beliefs. Cadogan, again, denies that he’s a cult leader (sure), reveals he doesn’t believe in God, and claims he doesn’t consider himself one (he sure doesn’t mind being treated like one, though). Instead, he claims his purpose is for everyone to “transcend” and become like gods - though he doesn’t really explain what that would consist of, and he also doesn’t offer any explanations as to why there is supposed to be a “Last War” and who the enemy in that was is supposed to be. Seven episodes have gone by with the characters talking to the Disciples, and no one has ever asked that question: who is the enemy? I guess they don’t even know that, they just think that, when they type in the code, they will learn who the enemy is and the war will begin, for... reasons? He also adds some BS about “this life” being unimportant compared to afterlife. (Now, to be clear - I actually do believe in the afterlife in general (though I don’t know in which form), but I really, really hate it when religions make the afterlife the focus and treat the life we actually know and are sure we have as less important, use it as an excuse to teach people to accept any sort of crap in their lives and not ask for more instead of living their lives to the fullest and trying to build something worthwhile in this life.) Gabriel is less than impressed with Cadogan, and challenges him by pointing out that “You can’t fight a war for the soul of the human race with an inhuman army” and that a life without love, individuality or freedom is pretty worthless, but Cadogan has the afterlife as a ready excuse, even though that doesn’t really answer the question.

The most important revelation that we finally get in this episode is that Cadogan has most likely mistranslated and completely misunderstood the ancient Bardoan text that he’s based his entire belief system on. And his mistake was in large part due to confirmation bias - he saw what he wanted to see, even though the idea of ending wars and violence by starting and fighting a war is absurd. (Niylah, for once, has a good line, when she points out that every major war is supposed to be the “last” but it never is.) Jordan’s interpretation - that it is really about a test that the species needs to pass - makes a lot more sense. Not a literal test - I really can’t imagine the show introducing some kind of godlike “higher beings” - but, I think, something that will require the characters to use all their strength and moral sense and all the experience they’ve had and wisdom they may have gained, to find the best solution to save the human race and rebuild the civilization, hopefully into something better (and it’s really not too hard being better than the mess of tribalism and constant wars and conflicts we’ve seen on the show). I don’t know what this will be, but the words “the orb becomes like a star” make me thing of a natural phenomenon.

It’s also cool that it was knowledge of the Korean language that helped Jordan decipher the text - proving how helpful it is to be familiar with multiple languages and cultures and how much it expands one’s way of thinking. Do Disciples speak any languages other than English? They seem to foster cultural uniformity, so probably not. (it’s also confirmed now that Monty was half-Korean on his father’s side - Chris Larkin is Korean, but the actress who played his mother, Donna Yamamoto, is Japanese, so I assume Monty is half-Japanese.)

If you doubted that 7x09 flashbacks were a waste of screentime, we get a confirmation early on that Echo has just been pretending to be loyal to the Disciples, while plotting revenge all the time, when she kills a Disciple and saves Hope from being sent to Skyring. This plot could have continued straight from 7x07, when Echo’s Azgeda ritual was strongly hinting that she’s out for revenge. (And yes, the writing in 7x09 was just that clunky as I feared - of course that Chekhov’s WMD that Levitt mentioned for no reason would be used in the very next episode for someone to try to kill all the Disciples in another Mount Weather parallel.)

A tiny bit of info about the Disciples - a Disciple addressed Hope as “Seeker Diyoza”. I don’t know if that’s a title for those trying to reach Level 1 or something else.

Hope, with her usual anger and impulsiveness, reminiscent of how Octavia used to be once, and her naive black and white views, is all for revenge-genocide, too, in spite of Octavia’s and Diyoza’s disagreement. Her mother tries to, again, teach her the lesson she tried to in 7x07, that she should turn to love instead of violence and killing (which carries a lot more weight when it comes from someone like Charmaine Diyoza rather than a hippy): “I know what it's like to kill innocent people for a cause, and I promise you, it's not gonna fill that hole in your heart. Only we can do that.” But Hope retorts that “There are no innocent people here”, echoing Nikki’s words to Nelson that “There are no innocent people at the end of the world”. It’s not that Hope doesn’t have a point that everyone in Bardo is a part of the society that’s been kidnapping and torturing her family and that stole her childhood, but collective responsibility is a concept that only works in terms of moral responsibility, not as an excuse to commit genocide because you’ve decided that everyone in the other group is evil and the “enemy” and deserves death. Some people have compared it to Maya saying “None of us is innocent”, but I don’t think this comparison works, because that line changes the meaning entirely depending on whether you are holding yourself and your society morally accountable for its failings and complicity in crimes against humanity, or if you’re using it against others, in order to justify hate and commit crimes against humanity.

Even though neither Clarke nor Octavia had huge screentime in this episode and may not have done anything big (like Diyoza sacrificing herself and saving everyone, or Jordan figuring everything out), they had some wonderful, subtle little moments that spoke volumes:

I loved the hug between Clarke and Octavia - where Clarke said her condolences to Octavia and then Octavia said them back, letting Clarke know she knew what Bellamy meant to her and that she is grieving just as much. (”I’m sorry, Octavia” - “So am I”)

Raven and Miller exchanged a wordless look - probably because of how awkward it was for Miller to see Octavia again. Although these 4 people all go back to season 1 (and it was the first time in a while they were in the same room), for Miller it’s been just a few weeks since she was Blodreina and he was her follower, and the last time they saw each other (in season 6), he yelled at her that he’s not following her orders anymore - which was about him struggling with his guilt and seeing her as an embodiment of it. But for Octavia, it’s been over 10 years and a huge character development, which Miller doesn’t know about. But they had no time to go over it - instead, she just hugged him and asked him to hug her back, and he did.

When the group went to find Levitt - still tied up and bloody after Echo had tortured him and killed two Disciples in front of him to force him to tell her about Gem9, the WMD that can destroy everyone on Bardo (he must be really traumatized one - Clarke obviously immediately realized what was going on when she saw Octavia come to check on Levitt, going by the look on her face, and her look when she turned to go and the others went after her, while Octavia was still there -as if saying "I realize you need a moment with this guy, but don't wait too long". Although Levitt looked disappointed and shocked that Octavia didn’t untie him, she was really doing what was the most reasonable way to try to protect everyone - the priority was to stop Echo from killing all the Disciples, which would include Levitt, but also to stop Levitt from alerting Anders, which he would’ve done, because Octavia also wanted to save Echo and her people. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t care for Levitt, but she’s not the 17 year old girl who’d go: “I just met you but you’re immediately the most important person to me and I’m going to prioritize you over everyone I know”.

And then we get to the final and most dramatic scene of the episode... Echo’s attempt to commit genocide out of revenge, while Octavia, Clarke and Raven tried to talk her down.

Octavia tried to reach Echo by, again, talking about their shared grief over Bellamy, as she did in 7x07, but again, it did not work - because Octavia and Echo, and Clarke and Echo, are different people, who grieve in different ways and think and act in different ways. It doesn’t mean that any of them are grieving more or less than another one - but their responses are very different. Octavia - this mature Octavia who is more able to empathize with others and doesn’t react with impulsive violence as she used to - responded by trying to reach out to others who were also grieving for Bellamy, Echo and Clarke, and validating their grief, too. Clarke reacted - after the initial shock and grief - by sucking it up, as she does, in order to take care of the others, and focusing on saving the people Bellamy loved, telling Raven “We do this for him” and focusing on saving Octavia and Echo. Echo, on the other hand, reacted destructively and violently and by killing people for revenge and then plotting genocide as revenge for 3 months. This is the only way she knows how to process grief - she’s never known a different way, as I’m sure Azgeda weren’t known for compassion and sharing feelings. When Bellamy was grieving Clarke in season 6, she asked him “When do we attack?”, because that’s what she expected him to do, too. She’s also lost because she hasn’t lost just a boyfriend, but a leader and anchor in her new post-Praimfaya life, and because she had made saving Bellamy her mission she was waiting to fulfill during the 5 years on Skyring. If she had carried out her plan, I’m not sure she’d know what to do with herself. (I don’t know what it says about the mindset of us, humans of 2020, that so many fans have decided that Echo’s way of grieving is the superior one and the one that shows that she loves Bellamy the best. It certainly doesn’t show anything good.)

Octavia’s next argument - that there are many good people on Bardo she’d be killing - was even less successful, as Echo threw her relationship with Levitt back in her face, pointing out that he stole her memories, talking of him as one of their enemies, and then even saying: "Way to honor your brother's memory!" Echo came off as very judgmental here, and more than bit hypocritical - after all , she personally almost killed Octavia twice, and Bellamy started trusting her and dating her on the Ring, after she had given them both far less reason to trust her than Levitt did. Levitt actually took a risk and was helping her against Anders just out of his feelings for Octavia, while Echo only helped Bellamy and others after she was exiled and had to in order to survive. She seems to value forgiveness only when it’s others forgiving her (”Who knows more about forgiveness than us?”), even though she never expected them to and was a bit shocked that they did.

Clarke then tried to use her standard “This is not who you are” plea, but it didn’t work with Echo, since Clarke doesn’t really know Echo, and the words felt empty. There really is very little reason for Clarke to think this is not who Echo is, except for her tendency to assume Echo must have changed for the better because she’s Bellamy’s girlfriend and Bellamy loves her (see their conversation in 5x12). Clarke also tried to use her own experience - as she did with Raven earlier in the season - telling Echo that “a choice like this” would haunt her forever (of course Clarke would bring up MW, it always goes back to MW for her), but Echo rejected that comparison and, for a moment, channeled me by pointing out that Clarke’s motivations were to save her people, while Echo’s are purely revenge. Which was, however, a strange argument in context - pointing out that Clarke’s reasons were much better and she had no choice but to kill all of the Mountain Men or let them kill all of her friends and family, while Echo wasn’t achieving anything good and could just save all her people and not take revenge on the Disciples. But Echo seemed to be telling Clarke that they different, and she cannot assume that Echo will feel the same way about mass murder Clarke does.

Then Clarke finally brought up Bellamy, pointing out that he would not want a genocide to be committed in his memory. I don’t know how anyone who’s watched the show for 6 seasons could disagree with Clarke. But Echo did. What’s more, she yelled "You have no idea what Bellamy wanted!" in a really angry, resentful way. It felt personal. I don’t know if Echo has felt romantic jealousy of Clarke over Bellamy - she has sure kept it close to her chest - but it certainly felt like some kind of possessiveness, like resenting the idea that Clarke was as close or closer to Bellamy and knew him better. In any case, this was a moment of extreme dramatic irony - because we know (and really, Echo should know as well) that Echo is the one who doesn’t seem to know, or is simply ignoring, what Bellamy would have wanted and who he was. And she should know. She was there when he talked down Riley from killing Roan, telling him “War made me a murderer, don’t let it do it to you too”, she was there when Bellamy refused to kill 283 prisoners in cryo sleep and said “Clarke didn’t die for us to go back and make the same mistakes”. And she was there when Bellamy was grieving Clarke but decided not to take revenge for her death - not even by killing the man who murdered her, Russell - but to try to honor her memory by doing what she would want and surviving and keeping their people alive. Which directly contradicts Echo’s statement that Bellamy would be doing the same she is if one of them (Clarke, Octavia or her) were killed. Does she really not know him? Most of the time they spent together were in a time of peace and boredom with just 7 people on the Ring. She seems to be projecting her own ideas and views and character into him.

Then Raven went on to agree with Clarke (but Echo did not resent her for saying it), pointing out how Bellamy has grown and changed and that the post-season 3 Bellamy certainly would never do that. I was slightly annoyed when she said that Bellamy of season 3 may do that - but to be fair, she did say, “maybe”. Now, season 1 or season 3 Bellamy was certainly angrier and more prone to black and white thinking when it came to enemies, and he may very well have agreed to kill all of the adult Disciples if he thought they were likely to be a threat to his people (which is what he did when he agreed to help Pike kill Lexa’s army), but he sure wouldn’t agree to kill any of them just for revenge, or to kill children and non-combatants (the one time he did it was MW, when he and Clarke knew there was no other way to protect their people from being horrifically killed, and he hated it and was haunted by it then). Nevertheless, that’s a minor thing as the point of Raven’s speech was the way Bellamy has grown and developed. Echo hasn’t really changed, certainly not as much as Bellamy wanted to think in S5. Is there still time for her to change?

In the end, love did save the day - but it wasn’t Echo’s love for Bellamy, it was her non-romantic love for Raven and Raven’s for her. Raven calling her a sister only helped pave the way - but she had to actually threaten to stay there and force Echo to choose between killing Raven and giving up her revenge, for Echo to finally stand down. The fact she did shows that maybe there’s still hope for her to change and give up revenge and violence for things like friendship.

But then Anders had to appear and ruin everything, He could have just tried to arrest the group, rather than threatening them and giving them speeches about how he despises them for being “beasts raised in the wild”. (I’ve wondered many times since 7x05 is Anders is supposed to be smart or a complete dumbass. He was definitely a dumbass.)

Diyoza took charge, as the most experienced and tactical one, and almost. And then Hope was again being her impulsive, angry, out of control self - Anders is always the person most likely to set her off - killing Anders (which I wouldn’t mind) but then also making her own attempt to commit genocide. (It’s funny that the four Disciples just froze and did nothing while all of that was happening.)

What happened then was both a heroic sacrifice and one of the best and most heroic death scenes on the show, a fitting ending for Charmaine Diyoza (even a visually beautiful death in a creepy way, as Diyoza turned into a crystal statue), with her final message to her daughter to be “better” than her in the future - and a heartbreaking loss for Hope, who has just been punished by the narrative/fate for her devotion to violence and hate and attempt at genocide, by causing her own mother’s death. She was obsessed with revenge for her lost childhood and the fact her mother was taken from her - instead of focusing on the future and what she still had. I’m sure that Hope will survive to the end of the series, and will have to question herself and change. She still has Aunty O to help her and be her family.

As we’re approaching the endgame, the show here made an obvious point about violence, hatred and revenge and having to give up those things - not for Anders’ unemotional duty to the collective, but for love and compassion/

Rating: 8.5/10

#the 100 #the 100 7x10 #a little sacrifice #the 100 season 7 #charmaine diyoza #clarke griffin #octavia blake #gabriel santiago #jordan green #indra kom trikru #indra #john murphy #madi griffin #sheidheda #emori #bill cadogan #hope diyoza

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tessatechaitea · 4 years

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Inferior 5 #2

How is this not an Ambush Bug comic book?

Brother Power the Geek!

I immediately realized this was Brother Power the Geek because I'm constantly looking for references to Brother Power the Geek in DC comic books. Also, I'm sticking with my guess that the mysterious guy in the hazmat suit is Ambush Bug. It might also be Jonni DC except the shape isn't exactly right. Unless she's no longer round because her body updates along with the DC logo. Hazmat Bug leaves Brother Power to meet up with Jenny Shanker, Billy's canvas-headed little sister. She doesn't have a red X on her face so maybe she's not super terrible. She just has a creepy smile. And instead of repeating nursery rhymes about cats lying about their winter wear, she simply repeats names. Not great but definitely not as scary.

Billy is currently making friends with either a parademon or a roided out Ambush Bug.

Billy winds up possessing Ambush Bug Hulk and loping off into the desert talking about kittens and pie. I could have worded that differently so that it sounded super dirty. Billy Ambush Bug attacks Justin (the kid from Metropolis who is probably Merry Maker), Lisa (who must be The Blimp?), and her weird friend Helen who must be White Feather. Awkward Man and Dumb Bunny are probably off making out behind the record store right now. Later, we'll see Dumb Bunny with a look of shame on her face and Awkward Man trying to catch a glimpse of himself in every window he passes to see if he's physically changed in the way he feels he has after losing his virginity. You know how long I looked at my naked self in a mirror after I lost my virginity? Probably pretty long because I was fucking hot in my twenties. I mean at fifteen!

Okay, I guess I don't have to pretend Helen is human to save her reputation among her friends. I was just trying to keep a secret for once in my life.

You know how people will sometimes tell you something but then they give you a list of certain people that can't know the information they've just told you? Yeah, fuck that. I don't keep a data base in my head of who can know what things I've been told. I've told everybody I know straight up: "If you have information you don't want somebody else to know, don't fucking tell it to me. Because I will fuck up. Like that time my friend Brent told me how his girlfriend Simone had a dream where she had me hide in the closet so that I could watch them have sex. And then at a beer festival where we were all hanging out, I brought up the dream to Simone. And then Simone looked at Brent like she was going to flay him alive. And I just kept drinking my beer and thinking, 'Well, Brent, you should have known better!'" Hazmat Ambush Bug calls off Billy Ambush Bug because his threats against Justin and Lisa do not cause any meta-genes to activate. I mean metal-genes. Just because the characters in this story from 1988 don't know that the mega-genes are actually metal-genes, it doesn't mean I have to pretend ignorance. Lisa explains to Justin that there are only five kids in Dangerfield, Arizona, and the fifth one keeps getting killed. Justin is the new fifth one and he seems to be so sub-par that Hazmat Ambush Bug's boss has decided not to have him killed. So Billy Ambush Bug heads off to put his canvas bag back on his stupid head.

I can smell the sex all over them!

And then a revelation: Billy and Jenny Shanker might be Brother Power's children! Meanwhile, the Dominator trying to create a sleeper cell to renew the invasion of Earth has Justin's mother (who isn't as dead as I thought, I guess?). Contrary to what Hazmat Ambush Bug believed, the Dominator thinks that Justin's metal-gene was activated by the encounter with Billy Ambush Bug. But since he doesn't care about anything happening in Dangerfield, Arizona, he ignores the new information. Which he'll probably regret later because the Inferior 5 are going to rise up and save the world! Probably by accident. In the Peacemaker back-up, we learn that Peacemaker's helmet can talk. Or Peacemaker's head wound received during Crisis on Infinite Earths makes him think it can talk. Either way, he's leaving Russia to go investigate Dangerfield, Arizona. But he won't be going alone! Unbeknownst to him, KGBeast is tracking him! Inferior 5 #2 Final Thoughts: All you need to know about me as a comic book fan is that I prefer Keith Giffen's art to Jim Lee's or David Finch's or Tony S. Daniel's or Bryan Hitch's or John Romita Jr's (but, I mean, who doesn't in that case, amirite?!). And I also like the way Giffen tells a story. He doesn't give it all over easily. He doesn't explain every single thing in narration boxes. He lets the characters talk and he lets the action play out and he doesn't give a shit if the reader has to put in a little work to figure out what's going on. I despise people who want easy to read stories! Which is good because those people probably like Scott Lobdell and I'm happy to be a person who despises fans of Scott Lobdell.

#Inferior 5 #DC Comics #DC #Jeff Lemire #Keith Giffen

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paulisweeabootrash · 5 years

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Retrospective Review: Rewatching Azumanga Daioh as an Adult

This may seem hard to believe if you are a younger reader or one who got into anime only recently, but there was once a time when recommendations spread by word of mouth, it was absolutely commonplace for anime seasons to last longer than 13 episodes, and the vocabulary of the anime fandom wasn’t nearly as full of internet-originated in-jokes. A time when the internet-savvy congregated on forums dedicated to specific topics instead of social networking sites, and the imageboards that generate so much of the internet meme landscape were just starting to take off among lonely nerds as an obscure haven for perverts, racists, and assholes instead of the role they have today as… uh… well... a well-known haven for perverts, racists, and assholes. A time when there was no such term as “weeaboo trash” because that Perry Bible Fellowship comic hadn’t been published yet, let alone used for that meaning. It wasn’t some golden age, but it was different, and today I’m taking a self-indulgent trip back to the end of that period, when I was in high school in the mid-2000s.

Azumanga Daioh (2002).

1. Why is this show important to me?

My introduction to anime consisted mostly of Pokémon and Sailor Moon, and took off with scattered episodes of several other shows that aired on WB and Cartoon Network, which were generally driven by action and combat. I can’t remember the circumstances or even who did it, but someone who owned, or perhaps pirated, a copy of Azumanga Daioh must have shown me a few episodes at some point.

Here was a show that had been on the leading edge of the moe trend a few years earlier, and although certainly available, such things were not yet common. Moe has, of course, taken over a large chunk of anime since, to mixed reception since it can range from innocently delightful to extraordinarily creepy. Azumanga is close to the innocent end of the spectrum, and absolutely delightful (as, BTW, is the author’s current ongoing manga series Yotsuba&!), with a softer, cuter art style than I was accustomed to and instantly-lovable characters.

It was clearly in a different genre and had a different sensibility about how to make a show, too. It had few repeated or filler elements, unlike any of the shows following the “monster of the week” formula. It was broken up into several vignettes per episode — a practice that I was familiar with from the format of many Nicktoons, but while American shows with that format told multiple self-contained stories, the short segments here were typically parts of larger episode-long stories, often focusing on different parts of the same event or different anecdotes about the same character. It showed us, the foreign audience, something about life in Japan, and at least for me was the first time I’d heard of distinctly Japanese school practices like applications for public high schools, students cleaning classrooms, or the particular kinds of seasonal festivals they have. It lacked story arcs driven by overcoming some enemy and instead was driven by character relationships themselves and the instantly-relatable experience of school. It was an encounter with something utterly different — and it made an excellent first impression.

Eventually, I bought a copy of the complete series of the manga it’s based on. Azumanga Daioh was originally, well, a manga, written by Azuma Kiyohiko and originally published in the form of a 4-panel comic strip that ran in the magazine Dengeki Daioh. See, it’s Azuma’s manga in Dengeki Daioh. Azuma manga, Dengeki Daioh. Azumanga Daioh. Ha. Clever. Anyway, in there, I encountered largely the same characters and interactions, a mix of believable school life and quick gags, just presented in a different format. I eventually got the DVD box set of the show, too, and I’ve rewatched a few favorite episodes several times, but this review is the first time I’ve revisited the whole series in years.

2. Who are all these people?

Rather than focusing on a small core friend group like Three Leaves, Three Colors, another much more recent adorable high school slice-of-life I greatly enjoy (and should maybe review?), Azumanga has a pretty large ensemble. Most of them are students and the “story arc” such as it is follows them through three years, from entering to graduating from high school, over a single 26-episode season. So rather than cover a plot synopsis, I think it would make more sense to dive into specific characters and their relationships. The show its at its funniest and sweetest with the dynamics of certain combinations of the main characters, and there are a lot of combinations available. Covering all of the recurring named characters approximately in the order we meet them (except a few characters who show up only in an episode or two each and another classmate named Chihiro who shows up on the periphery as a friend of Kaorin), let’s look at the relationships that stand out:

Yukari and Nyamo: Yukari Tanizaki, the English teacher who is the homeroom teacher to most of the cast, is unprofessional and insensitive from the first moment we see her, traits which are elaborated in later episodes into a sort of impulsive over-the-top-ness that clashes with the fact that she actually is a pretty good teacher. Emphasizing her less-serious attitude, students even refer to or address her by her given name (although the subtitles exaggerate this a bit by consistently calling her “Miss Yukari” when she’s usually just addressed as “teacher”). Minamo Kurasawa, the gym teacher, is a long-time friend of Yukari. She and Yukari (who calls her “Nyamo”) were even classmates at the same high school they currently teach at. In addition to being central to the gym class/sports-related episodes, she’s also Yukari’s more caring, approachable, and professional foil, which sets up interactions where Nyamo tries to be helpful and manage situations in the face of Yukari being antagonistic (and, outside of school hours, drunk) towards her and the students. Yukari in particular prods at Nyamo’s sore spots: being single and having done embarrassing things in high school.

Tomo and Yomi: Tomo Takino is 100% genki girl. I mean, come on, she’s the illustration for the TV Tropes article by that name. She’s not only enthusiastic, but loud, intrusive, and pointlessly competitive to the point of being just plain mean. She’s the kind of person who might mature into a less competent Yukari if she burnt out a bit. Koyomi Mizuhara, on the other hand, is much more serious and self-conscious, and although she still genuinely is Tomo’s friend and goes along with some of her silliness, she barely puts up with Tomo’s teasing and flurry of bad ideas. She is the Nyamo to Tomo’s Yukari, complete with Tomo enforcing a nickname on her, so she’s almost always called “Yomi” throughout. Yomi is much more considerate than Tomo, too. This often comes out in Yomi scolding Tomo’s insensitivity, but it’s also seen less directly when they are giving Chiyo (more on her below) birthday presents — Tomo offers first a joke that doesn’t go over well, then a magic wand she apparently expects Chiyo to believe will make her grow taller, which Chiyo dismisses, while Yomi offers a book which Chiyo enthusiastically accepts and says she expects to enjoy.

Osaka, Tomo, and Kagura: Ayumu Kasuga is a distractible and soft-spoken transfer student from Osaka whom Yukari, Tomo, and Yomi pester with misinformed questions and assumptions about her home city. Tomo, naturally, saddles her with the nickname “Osaka” as if that is her entire identity. The nickname quickly catches on, with even Yukari calling her that instead of her actual name in class. She is accepted as a friend by the other students who still consider her eccentric and baffling, but not annoying or embarrassing like you might expect. (In fact, the other girls react more and more to Tomo as the annoying and embarrassing one.) During the second year of school, she bonds with Tomo and Kagura (introduced as a star athlete from Nyamo’s homeroom during the first year, she becomes a major character in the second year) over their similar incredible forgetfulness and poor academics. Yomi calls them “bonkura”, translated as “knuckleheads”, and the three of them adopt the name for themselves as they study together — an idea which is doomed from the outset. The three of them together, or any two of them, play off each other wonderfully.

Chiyo and Osaka: Chiyo Mihama, a child prodigy who is only 10 years old at the beginning of the series, is so academically gifted it can upset and embarrass her classmates, but on the other hand is naive, and not just because she’s a child. She is in fact clueless about the outside world. She fails in the first summer break trip (ep. 5) to understand that the other characters’ families are nowhere near as rich as hers, and in the second summer break (ep. 14), even after a year and a half of being around high schoolers, she entirely fails to understand Nyamo’s off-screen explanation of “adult relationships” (kids innocently being oblivious to what sex is seems to be a common basis for jokes in Japanese media). Chiyo being five years younger than her classmates — and on the other side of puberty from them — also makes her lag far behind them in athletics. On the one hand, this makes her very self-conscious and afraid of being a burden on her classmates in team activities, and on the other, it sets up a running gag of Chiyo and Osaka teaming up to be by far the worst pair of athletes across the board. Oh, and Osaka’s dream about Chiyo’s pigtails in the New Year’s episode is one of the weirdest and most authentically dreamlike dream sequences I’ve ever seen. Although maybe that just says more about my own dreams than about the show.

Sakaki and Nobody (or, Multiple Kinds of Unrequited Feelings): Sakaki is considered effortlessly cool and somewhat intimidating — Kagura calls her a “silent lone wolf” — but she’s not big on that reputation. Students openly admire her, especially for her athletic talent, and treat her with distance and respect by almost universally calling her “Miss Sakaki” (since this is apparently her family name, not given name). She does not enjoy this treatment, but is also too private (and perhaps too insecure) to complain about or discuss it. She is indifferent to sports despite excelling at them, and doesn’t even recognize Kagura when she proclaims herself Sakaki’s rival, presumably because the first-year sports festival just didn’t stick out in her memory the way it did in Kagura’s. Despite calling it rivalry, however, Kagura quickly inserts herself into Sakaki’s life in a friendship that Sakaki responds to more with quiet tolerance than reciprocation.

Kaorin, meanwhile, mistakes Kagura’s one-sided friendly rivalry for a very different kind of attention, and accordingly treats her one-sidedly as a romantic rival (although she does eventually calm down about it). Kaori (family name not mentioned), usually addressed by the more affectionate “Kaorin”, is shown at first to ambiguously admire Sakaki, but it quickly becomes clear that she is infatuated with her. And, despite the insistence of many fanfic writers since, Sakaki never catches on to this, even with Kaorin gazing dreamily at her while dancing with her, or clinging to her arm while posing for a picture together. I'm sure, given how over-the-top she is, that Kaorin’s unrequited feelings are supposed to be funny, but I find it sweet and sad and end up rooting for her.

Sakaki and Cute Animals: Sakaki is not unfriendly, or even very socially inept, though. She gets along well with the main cast, especially Chiyo. But she is aloof, not just because of shyness but because she has a secret love of all things cute, especially cats and dogs, and gets caught up in her own thoughts about cute things. Although she loves animals, they don’t necessarily love her back. There is a series-spanning running gag with a cat in the neighborhood whom she repeatedly tries to pet, no matter how many times it bites her for doing so. In fact, in that very same episode where Kagura declares her rivalry, the strongest emotional reactions we see from Sakaki are horror directed at Kagura for scaring that cat away and, later, being moved to tears by a story she’s constructing in her head about another cat while Kagura is trying to talk to her. Sakaki’s thoughts on cute animals also yield a second running gag: "Chiyo's dad". An orange cat-like doll (evidently some kind of character or mascot in-universe?) that appears numerous times in the background early in the show appears in Sakaki’s New Year’s dream and introduces himself to her as Chiyo’s father, so Sakaki refers to the doll as “Chiyo’s dad” for the rest of the series without explanation, much to the confusion of the other characters. While he’s an inanimate object in the background before the dream, afterwards he appears as alive and magical, sometimes in Sakaki’s imagination and sometimes intruding into the real world as short transition clips between scenes.

Kimura vs. Everyone (mostly Kaorin): Last and certainly least, let’s consider Mr. Kimura, the literature teacher. Within a minute of the first time we the audience see him, Tomo asks him why he became a teacher and he blurts out that it’s because he likes high school girls. Which a group of creepy boys in the class call “brave”. Ugh. This presages chronic inappropriateness of varying levels from Kimura — from unsolicited suggestions for cheerleading uniforms to hanging out during gym class to watch the girls swim to heaping unwanted “favors” on Kaorin, to whom he is obviously attracted. Beyond the increasing variety of his inappropriateness, he doesn’t really develop as a character. He is, interestingly, shown as an otherwise decent person outside of school, but this is not portrayed as excusing him. Rather, it’s made clear that his creepiness is contextual, and his role throughout the series is consistently as a grotesque comic relief, not a sympathetic character. Kaorin even consciously tries to improve her opinion of Kimura because his wife is so nice, leading her to believe that this means Kimura himself must have good points to deserve someone like that, only to be immediately shown otherwise. We the audience are laughing at him, not with him, and at some points are genuinely upset at him on the girls’ behalf. Or at least, I hope that’s how the rest of the audience takes him.

3. Yeah, but there's some kind of progression, right, even if it's not really a story arc?

Again, it's not the kind of show that has an overarching goal or conflict. The goal, such as it is, is the characters' graduation from high school. The topic of what they'll each do after graduating comes up several times, as you might expect, but isn't that much of a plot point. Not all of the main characters even have clear plans laid out that we know of, but the plans we do know about match their established personalities well. Tomo changes her mind repeatedly between several half-baked ideas. Osaka decides at the last minute to try to become a teacher based on Chiyo straining to think of something fitting Osaka's... unique way of looking at things. Chiyo is perhaps overconfident, planning to study abroad in America despite being only 13 when she graduates. Sakaki anonymously showed interest in veterinary school early on, but didn't discuss it with her friends until much later, after she started showing her weakness for cuteness in front of them.

The main progression that happens is some evolution in the characters' relationships and attitudes. There is of course the progression from strangers to friends among the main cast, but also some character development growing out of things that started as gags. Osaka, for example, begins as the butt monkey of the class, but by the end of the first year, she is very well accepted by her classmates, and she even gets along particularly well with Tomo, who was originally shown teasing and stereotyping her the most but has now toned it down a bit. Nyamo’s miserable singlehood, previously a running joke, leads her to open up to the idea of trying matchmaking instead of dating. Sakaki becomes more willing to express her love of cute animals in front of the other girls, starting with Chiyo, and her running gag experiences with the hostile cat play out to a resolution when she adopts, of all things, an endangered wildcat which is the only cat that doesn’t bite her, then has a final encounter with the hostile cat where she tries to make amends. Chiyo's academic talents were met with light irritation and mockery at first, but by the end, her new friends are grateful for her help and rise in applause when she is recognized for her grades during the graduation ceremony. Kagura relaxes her Tomo-like tendencies more and more, and shows a degree of gratitude and sentimentality towards her new friend group that would’ve been shocking when she was first introduced. Even Tomo, usually the show's last bastion of immaturity, shows tiny bits of improvement: self-reflection and regret during a serious conversation with Yomi over what American audiences would call "finding your passion", and later leading the applause for Chiyo. To compare Azumanga to Three Leaves, Three Colors again, it’s true that this show doesn't go into as much depth in character relationships as that one despite running for more than twice the number of episodes, but I don’t think that’s a flaw in Azumanga so much as a combination of Azumanga’s larger main cast, gag comedy focus, and choice of a different “zoom level” on the main cast’s lives.

The show itself evolves a little bit, too. As it goes on, more episodes have segments that flow together and they contain more references to events in previous episodes. By the last few episodes, with graduation looming, it almost feels like it has become a conventional plot-driven show. The shift from shorter to longer segments, shorter to longer jokes, etc., is seamless — and pretty typical of comic strips where perhaps the author hasn’t “figured out” their own characters at the beginning. Surreal elements also get more common, like the “Chiyo’s dad” running gag and increasingly-elaborate looks into what characters are imagining. As I recall, these changes reflect the stylistic evolution of the original manga, but... uh... my copy of the manga is with my parents at the moment so I didn’t check myself on that.

4. How is it different in retrospect?

As I said, I first saw this in high school, so I was about the age of the main cast. Perhaps this was one of the things that made it so enjoyable. The characters seemed relatable, and I lacked the aversion to depictions of ordinary life that some people had because I didn’t have a particularly negative high school experience despite being decidedly uncool. (I was, in fact, neither interested in being cool nor in being self-consciously uncool, and was content with the set of people I got along with. I was never really an angsty teenager so much as a sad one.) My experience of the show is, if anything, even greater appreciation now. Some of that difference comes from knowledge and some from aging.

I’ve become a bit less of a poser and/or snob about some things since then. I’d seen a lot of obviously-atrocious dubs growing up, and they really put me off the idea that anyone actually cared about dubbing into English well. Since then, I’ve lightened up a bit, partly because it seems like nowadays distributors do a lot less 4Kids-style butchery of shows when they’re translated and partly because I’ve realized that there is plenty of bad Japanese voice acting, too, so sometimes the English version is just plain easier on the ears. So I’ve watched this mostly in the English dub this time around (some episodes in both to check the different versions of specific jokes) and I really enjoy it. The voices are character-appropriate and the English lines fit the lip movements better than the original Japanese voice track while only rarely resulting in rhythms and stresses that sound unnatural in English, which really impresses me.

Just from the sort of vocabulary one picks up by being weeaboo trash, I occasionally notice differences in meaning between the dialogue and subtitles when watching the sub version. And I even picked up on an interesting translation choice for a joke I hadn’t noticed before. When Yomi tells Osaka that Chiyo is a child prodigy in ep. 2, Osaka responds comparing Chiyo to a boy she knew growing up, resulting in her expressing a different misunderstanding in each version about how the boy was described by adults. In the English dub, Osaka says something about him “smarting off”, the joke being she thinks that means he’s smart. In the English subtitles, she says he was “precocious”, to which Yomi says she doesn’t think that meant he was smart by calling him that. This time around, I finally caught that the Japanese dialogue there clearly uses the phrase “otoko no ko”, insinuating that the boy is a crossdresser and/or gay. Even though I don’t understand the full Japanese joke, the implication is clearer than it was in English (because I, um, also didn’t think of the double entendre on the word “precocious” until now), as is the degree of the misunderstanding.

I appreciate now how many scenes are psychologically-savvy. Just in the episode in which the main cast of students move up to their second year of high school, we see two scenes that just click with me as “yes, people do this, and I don’t know why we don’t seem to notice it!”. I mentioned above Kagura wanting to compete more because of the sports festival while Sakaki thinks nothing of it at all, which hinges on the simple difference in the sports festival having been a memorable event in Kagura’s life but not Sakaki’s. That episode also features a scene in which Tomo eggs on her classmates to eat their lunches early because it’s a thing that (according to her) second-years do, which sets up Mr. Kimura to arrive the room for literature class, see everyone eating, and therefore assume he must be the one who has the time wrong and go back to the faculty lounge for his own lunch. This tendency to defer to others in decisions in our own lives, not through peer pressure per se but through assuming that something done commonly or confidently must be correct, is just something I don’t see portrayed or acknowledged much in Japanese or American media. And I love it. For those two scenes alone, this is one of my favorite episodes in the whole series.

As far as the characters, I still find the students charming and relatable, and I’m willing to bet that everyone knows someone like most of them in real life. They fit Japanese character archetypes to a certain extent, but are also developed enough especially in their interactions with each other that they come off as realistic to me. So they hold up well. But mainly, I find I have much more appreciation for the teacher characters as an adult. I can think of times when I’ve been the Yukari in a situation, whether that means being overbearing and inconsiderate when I think I’m being funny or whether it means or digging through a messy desk swearing that I know exactly where something is before creating a landslide. And I can think of times when I’ve been the Nyamo accidentally antagonizing the Yukari by trying to be helpful. I even appreciate Kimura, not because I think he’s relatable or a good guy, but because he’s distressingly realistic. His creepiness comes at the same time as genuine competence and, as far as we are aware, a normal and functional home life. It is widely-acknowledged yet never stopped by the administration, even though it ranges from unprofessional obnoxiousness to genuinely alarming sexual harassment. Kimura is unfortunately plausible and all-around frustratingly topical.

Revisiting these characters, I’ve also realized something about myself. When I first watched this show (and read the manga), I got a serious crush on Osaka. She would go solidly in the “endearingly pathetic” column if I were to evaluate her that way, and she also reminded me at the time of a few different confidently strange and spacy people I went to high school with. And then, getting older, I realized… She’s endlessly distractible by trivial things. She asks weird hypotheticals and follows odd tangents to other topics. She often misunderstands people. She’s hopelessly unathletic and clumsy. Oh no. I'm the Osaka of my circle of friends. So, uh, that’s a thing that happened, and I have no idea what to make of it.

Azumanga is relaxed, wholesome, and hilarious, and its characters and major events are believable even when highly stylized for comedic effect. When it's not in hyper-simple comedy mode, the art can be downright beautiful. It’s clearly an artifact of its time given, for example, the lack of cell phones (even basic ones) and persistence of film cameras, but that kind of aging happens to any show. The situations are still relatable despite not being topical, which makes me think — or at least hope — that this can last well into the future as something new audiences find worth watching.

—–

W/A/S Scores: 8 / 3? / 3

Weeb: There are lots of little things that will seem odd if you go in believing that Japanese school schedules and activities are the same as American ones, but anime is so saturated with high school comedies nowadays that it is much less weeb now than it was then to expect that background knowledge. Many non-school things like flower-gazing or the fact that seasonal fairs in Japan have different activities and expected clothing than in American ones will seem distinctly foreign but understandable to a naive audience, while a few episodes might need some looking up to “get” because they expect audience familiarity with things still obscure to most Western audiences, like lucky dreams in the New Year’s episode or the yōkai in the second culture festival episode. Mostly, familiarity with the conventions of other anime or of Japanese culture will enhance enjoyment but aren’t strictly required to enjoy it. The art style sometimes shifts for specific gags to a particular style of minimal-movement chibi characters on very simple backgrounds which is more at home in the 4-panel comic world in which Azumanga originated (and in pre-moe-era comedy anime, or at least the few I've seen) than in other manga formats or newer anime, creating an additional small hurdle even for those with different Japanese media exposure.

The show runs into more of a barrier with hard-to-translate jokes than anything else, leaving the viewer the choice between replacement jokes with similar general ideas in the dub vs. the occasional feeling that there should be a joke but you’re not quite getting it in the sub. One particular joke that they made no attempt to adapt ended up being utter nonsense in both the sub and dub unless you get that "Mr. Yukichi" refers to 19th Century Westernization advocate Fukuzawa Yukichi, who is on the ¥10,000 bill, and I gave the show an entire extra point on the Weeb scale just because I had to look that up.

Ass: Unless you’re Mr. Kimura, probably no “ass” score at all as far as sexualizing the characters, but there is the occasional sexual joke or implication. Even the obligatory beach episodes aren’t fanservicey in the way or to the degree that a contemporary moe high school show often is. Probably the single most sexual-looking thing is characters holding their skirts down in the intro, which is tame by comparison to anything released in the last decade. Kimura, however, does make the show unsuitable for audiences… well… younger than the show’s main cast, probably.

Shit (writing): I have very little problem with the bulk of the content. I think the show works and the characters are relatable and delightful. But I do have some gripes about translation, mostly in the dub. Although I still maintain the dub is unusually good in acting and synchronization, they do take more liberties than I’d like with changing jokes, and the dub and sub both lose some subtlety in how characters address each other, as mentioned before.

On top of that, there are some odd localization choices in the dub. For example, the way Yukari, their English teacher in the original Japanese, is not portrayed as teaching a foreign language at all in the dub, while still making a big deal of her foreign language skills outside of class, or how characters repeatedly say “taiyaki pastry” in the dub instead of just establishing once for the English-speaking audience that taiyaki is the name of a specific style of pastry and using the name “taiyaki” from then on. Also, I know this is very small and specific, but I noticed a place in ep. 17 where they inserted a strained pun in the dub where there was intentional awkward silence in the sub, so that’s just… weird.

Shit (other): The animation is often sparse, and although this is usually fine, it does sometimes come off as cheap. The biggest problem visually is that the DVDs I’m watching have noticeable and pretty frequent combing, which I was able to reduce but not eliminate by fiddling with video player settings. On the other hand, kudos to the director for hitting a sweet spot on shots that are lingered on or actions that are repeated for “too long” (e.g., Nyamo demonstrating chopstick use, or any of the scenes of Chiyo and Osaka failing at sports, or Osaka trying to wake up Yukari) because they end up hilarious when they could have been tedious.

Oh, and I love the soundtrack. Some people may also find the frequent use of recorders annoying, but those people are (1) wrong and (2) not writing this blog. The soundtrack is appropriately lighthearted and/or relaxing. The opening theme “Soramimi Cake” is catchy and accompanied by an opening credits sequence that decently shows who the main characters are. But “Raspberry Heaven”, the ending theme… ah… the sequence accompanying it is a beautiful dream and the music is movingly bittersweet for reasons I lack the music theory background to articulate. Like, this is a really weird example, but it conveys my feelings: have you seen Soylent Green? You know the scene where Sol is listening to a medley of classical music while he’s being euthanized? If the last thing I ever heard were “Raspberry Heaven”, I would die totally content.

Content Warning: Kimura.

—–

Stray observations:

- I think Kaorin may have been the first unambiguously gay character I saw in any anime. Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura would’ve beaten Azumanga to the punch with representation, but I grew up on the butchered-for-pearl-clutching-audiences versions of those shows.

- Kimura has, incidentally, produced one piece of lasting weeb culture. While trying to save his illustration for a proposed magical girl cheerleading outfit, he drops a picture of a woman. Tomo picks it up and wonders out loud who it is. Kimura responds, in heavily-accented English, “my waifu”. So… yup. We have him to thank for the whole waifu/hasubando phenomenon. Or, well, the terminology, since attraction to fictional characters is probably a phenomenon as old as fiction itself.

- More of a fun fact than a stray observation, Kuricorder Orchestra, who collaborated with Oranges & Lemons on the Azumanga soundtrack, recorded two Yotsuba-inspired concept albums, which are also adorable. They’re hard to come by in official copies, but I can’t help but notice that nobody seems to be stopping anyone from uploading them to YouTube...

- The background music in the cheerleading scene in ep. 6 is the “Grandpa Polka”, a.k.a. “The Clarinet Polka”, which fans of various other weird geeky media may recognize as the melody for the Candy Mountain song in “Charlie the Unicorn” and/or as the song between “Love Shack” and “Pump Up the Jam” in Weird Al’s medley “Polka Your Eyes Out”.

- My junior high, oddly, did have sports festivals somewhat like those depicted in anime, but I don’t hear much about other American schools doing similar things.

#weeaboo trash #retrospective review #anime review #azumanga daioh #this post is way too long

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mentalcurls · 5 years

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1. Sembri una pu***na

So I started the all-Skam Italia rewatch last Sunday and it turns out I have a lot to say about it. Like, four pages on Word of stuff to say. It took me three days to get evrything out and make it readable. So here, for you reading pleasure, my thoughts on ep.1 season 1 “Sembri una pu***ana”. There’s some kind of heavy stuff and I draw some parallels to my personal experience, since I was, unce upon a time, a teenager and a student at the same school all the highschoolers in SkamIT attend, and I’m also beginning to do the Bechdel test on the episodes!

The montage at the beginning is really powerful when you link the images from Giovanni and Eva’s class’s time at the Succursale to Gio’s essay, that Eva’s reading in the background, in particular the first part: LudoBesse is basically telling us how much of a waste Eva thinks her and Laura’s friendship is to Laura now

Something else about Gio’s essay (as someone who attended classico): it’s a YES from me because criticizing liceo classico is peak classico culture, it’s a HELL NO because classico is actually the best school in the world and I sincerely hope that if anyone else but himself said/wrote that kind of stuff about his school Gio would be at their throats

Eva has that “seeing someone outside the school gates and static fills your ears” moment just like Marti when he sees Niccolò for the first time! Hers is of course with Laura and Sara, who are with... Silvia and Fede! I like that they showed us a bit of this friendship that we didn’t really get to see in the og.

Martino and that iconic first “A zozzoni!” ❤️

Marti and Gio are competing for who got the best grades in the History test and I have a lot to say about this: we know Gio has really high grades (we are told he has an average of 9/10 in Latin and he got 8,5 in History) and that thing he does, bragging about it with his friend, the friendly competition between them, the actual talking about his grades without worrying who’s listening to him? That shit wouldn’t have flied for me, a once-upon-a-time student of liceo classico with an average of 8/10 in Latin, 8/10 in Ancient Greek and 9/10 in History and in part it was because I didn’t have the best classmates, but for the most part I couldn’t have done that because I am a girl (and my friends and classmates were 98% female)

girls are socialized to be humble about accomplishments, first and foremost, to avoid bragging AND humblebragging as well, and to always care about other people and their feelings; basically, whenever the topic of marks and grades came up while I was in high school, I had to try my best to avoid disclosing my own; if they were brought up directly, say them as dispassionately as possible and then try to change topic; I had be conscious of the fact I was talking someone who had much worse grades than me most of the time, so I had to keep into mind their experience of finding things I found doable (like translating from Latin) extremely hard, of disliking subjects I enjoyed (and most of the time the professor who taught them too, especially when they’d recently gotten a bad mark) and of being frustrated by their grades. I could never have competed with any of my friends about who got the highest marks (most of the time there was actually a sort of “gallows humor” competition over who got the lowest). I couldn’t show I was happy about my good grades, because I’d get negative comments from my friends (yes, even close friends, people I get on with and love to this day) who would dismiss my accomplishment as obvious, something that came easily to me because I was a nerd (the translation in Italian is “secchiona” and it doesn’t have any of the “cute” connotations pop culture gave its English counterpart) and something I shouldn’t “show off”. On top of that, if something was hard for me, it was whatever and what right did I have to complain when I had such high grades anyways, it wouldn’t be a problem in the long run.

So yeah, Martino and Giovanni, right now I kind of hate you for not having to take on any emotional labour in these kind of situations and society for socializing males and females in different ways when it comes to accomplishments and for accepting different behaviours from boys and girls.

QED Gio and Marti turn to Eva and ask her about her mark, she’s reticent but they get an answer out of her (that is not even the truth) and they mock her for it. Yes it’s all fun and games but Eva’s mark is really bad compared to Giovanni’s and Martino’s (especially her real mark) and grades are important for teens, no matter how much they deny it, if nothing else then because they influence their relationship with their parents

you can see Eva is hurt by their careless mocking, by Gio’s fake attempt at placating with “stuff she’s good at” (among which is re-heating pre-cooked food which is at the same time a way to have her “stay in the kitchen” and not even be able to properly cook) and by the way he and Marti underestimate her and laugh at her in the following exchange, when Marti shushes her and she calls him “asshole” with that annoyed face. It’s silly, “loving” mockery but it affects people anyways and it shows a lack of empathy only guys are allowed. She’s expected to take it with good grace (and this takes additional emotional labour) because it’s just for fun and they’re friends and they don’t mean it, but it’s not fair

“There are no secrets in a couple, but there aren’t between friends either.” THE WAY MARTINO PUTS HIMSELF ON THE SAME LEVEL AS EVA in Giovanni’s life, straight away! This boy. And Gio agrees! That shit must’ve been so frustrating, poor Eva.

This conversation between Gio, Eva and Marti: G: Today we’re going to Elia’s place to study. E: Oh, so that’s what you’re calling it now, studying. M: Oh c’mon, 6 minus, shhh. is the beginning of the reoccurring dynamic between them in the season that will make Eva paranoid and will bring her to confronting Laura and to cheating aka Giovanni keeping a secret, lying to Eva about where he goes and what he does, Martino enabling him by misdirecting or distracting her or Gio doing it himself, then either or both the guys calling her crazy or paranoid for doubting their words. You know what’s that? It’s called gaslighting.

[Gaslighting means manipulating a person by psychological means into questioning his or her own sanity. It’s the same technique that, according to some of his critics, Donald Trump used to get gain traction with voters (see Trump giving “alternative facts” and dubbing the media that fact checked and corrected him “fake news”).]

[I’M NOT SAYING THAT GIOVANNI IS THE SAME AS TRUMP, I DON’T THINK THEY’RE THE SAME, I only want to present an example of how this form of psychological manipulation is an actual thing in the real word and is really effective and dangerous.]

I am aware that Giovanni is just a dumb teenager trying to hide his weed habit from his girlfriend, that Martino is just being a good bro and covering for his best friend, that they’re doing this without any malicious intent towards Eva and that she’s insecure all by herself. Still, gaslighting is not a behaviour our societies should excuse, especially because it’s usually practiced by the usual suspects over women and minorities. I’d never seen it pointed out in the context of Skam Italia so I thought I’d bring it up, especially in light of S2 and of the “unproblematic” label Gio’s been given. He’s not perfect, he does shitty stuff too, then afterwards he simply grows up and becomes better. Let’s not forget about it and celebrate the person he’s become.

Case in point is the whole 1.2 Online clip. This is conversation between Eva and Gio: G: My battery died. E: But you were on-line. G: No, I wasn’t, my phone died a couple of hours ago. E: But I saw you. G: Eva, I don’t know how it happened. There must be something wrong with my phone, I don’t know. Sometimes I see you online and you’re not, too. I mean, everyone knows it happens. We can Google it if you want. E: No, it’s okay. And where were you? G: At Elia’s. E: Till now? G: Yeah. E: That’s weird. I talked to Martino earlier and he said you guys left a while ago. G: Eva, what’s wrong? Martino left earlier and I stayed till now. What, you don’t believe? Don’t you trust me? Are you insane, uh? [G kisses E] Everything’s alright. Little koala? Little koala always works. [G carries E to her room, then they have sex.] Giovanni lies about his phone being dead, then tells Eva that her seeing him online is impossible or a fluke, that everyone knows those kind of flukes happen, then lies again about being at Elia, when she tries to expose him he adjusts and starts questioning why she doesn’t believe him, finally calling her crazy and distracting her with kisses and sex. This is gaslighting.

(I had actual chills as I watched the scene again and typed this.)

Those theatre kids are so awkward, but quoting weird passages from greek/latin/italian poetry by heart is peak liceo classico culture

unsupportive boyfriend Gio shows up again when Eva suggest they go to the Easter party: his first reaction is “What? Why? You don’t even like that”, so savage, but fair Eva reminds him he’s actually a loser who, at 16, plays card to have fun with his friends like a 60 year old

Gio is being an asshole, he only considers going with Eva’s suggestion in exchange for something, then guilts her into accepting his “deal” bringing up Marti’s difficult family situation and her grades, implicitly, by promising to volunteer for the philosophy oral test, plus he’s rude and insensitive af because he brings up her inviting a friends when he knows fully well that when they cheated on Laura she got completely cut off

this will show up again, but let me just start to say it in the first episode: how unfair is it for Eva to be suffering most of the consequences in her life for getting together with her best friend’s boyfriend, when Giovanni faces no consequences that we know of for cheating on his girlfrien? And how unfair it must feel, deep deep down, to Eva

then, when she agrees, he takes back his side of the deal and Eva has to say it’s fine, it’s nothing because he says sorry and that’s socialization kicking in, telling her not to be difficult, not to be needy and not to complain cause that’s annoying and girls guys want to date are not any of those things; honestly, the emotional labour Eva has to go through

that getting ready montage, Eva really goes full on revenge mode like Lady D and she’s fully feeling her oats

the first dress Eva tries on is the same we saw Laura wearing at the party, but Eva’s red while Laura’s blue: I put all my money o it being a dress they bought together and on it being kind of their go-to dress, Eva thought about wearing it to remind Laura of their friendship but in the end decided it would only make things harder

oh, the conversation with Laura at the bar. God, if the situation is this tense can you imagine being in the same class as her and as Gio six hours a day everyday? We’ve talked about how shit it must have felt for Niccolò to be in the same class as Marco Covitti in S2, but Eva’s situation is awful too. I wonder how much of that factors in her bad grades and troubles with school

how more people don’t ship Italian Evanora is beyond me, have you seen this interaction?

on the other hand, I wonder how much Eleonora thought about it later, about how she must have come on too strong, about how maybe Eva thought she was weird or hitting on her and how much that weighed on Eleonora not reaching out first again, cause she makes a face like she regrets her life the minute Eva walks away

it breaks my heart, honestly: Eva has just been told she’s a whore by someone she once considered a friend, but when she finds this person’s new friend, who she doesn’t know, crying in the bathroom she doesn’t bat an eyelash, reassures her and tries her best to help her (so much emotional labour that women “naturally” take on themselves because we’re taught to be empathetic and caretakers even when we’re ourselves in distress)

one question: if Federico Canegallo is as popular as the Villa crew seems to be, how the hell does nobody know him when Eva is looking for “Fede”? Besides, Silvia doesn’t even react to the fact that he’s a friend of Edoardo’s when she sees him in the bathroom!

the interaction between the two Fedes kills me in every version

ok fuck you Silvia for not even saying thanks for trying and looking at Eva like she’s a decerebrate

Bechdel test: the episodes passes the test because of the conversations between Eva and Laura (nice 😑), Eva and Eleonora (though they’re mostly talking shit about other girls, so still not very good) and Eva and Silvia (though we actually don’t know her name yet at this point, we can only guess it from context, so it’s borderline). So this is cute.

This post is part of my complete series of meta about Skam Italia season 1. If you’d like to read more of my thoughts about the other episodes, you can find the mastepost linked in the top bar on my blog under SKAMIT: EVA. Cheers!

#skam italia #skamit s1 #eva brighi #martino rametta #giovanni garau #laura pandakovic #federico canegallo #eleonora sava #silvia mirabella #skamit meta #1x01 sembri una pu***ana #a. writes

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walklikeanavenger-blog · 5 years

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REVIEW: Ballet Philippines Presents Snow White – A Timeless Classic by Rafa Ticzon

DISCLAIMER: first and last photos from John Paul Manlapaz

Growing up, I have always been a huge fan of Disney. In fact, most of my childhood was composed of countless hours sitting in front of the television watching whatever classic was on air. On most days, I’d even strictly follow the TV schedule just so that I could rewatch Disney movies that I had already memorized. My favorite ones of course were the stories of the princesses, more specifically The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Snow White. The former because I absolutely adored the princesses themselves, but the latter also because it was a story full of friendship, magic, and had a happy ending. That being said, I was absolutely thrilled coming into Ballet Philippines’ Snow White.

Effie Nañas, the choreographer, is a very prominent artist and former dancer of Ballet Philippines. First staged in 1988 for their 19th Season, and staged three more times since, first in 1993, then in 1999, and most recently in 2007, Snow White once again hits the stage this December 2018 with the help of Rhea Bautista, as she too returns as regisseur. Along with Denise Parungao, Monica Gana, and Katrene San Miguel as alternates for Snow White, while Victor Maguad, Ronelson Yadao, and Ian Ocampo as alternates for Prince Charming. Not to mention the notable Liza De La Fuente as the Evil Queen.

The story of Snow White is a classic that everyone knows, whether it be a child or grown-ups, everyone is bound to enjoy. The moment the show started, it was as if I was immediately transported to a different time and place. As the curtains rose and the first act began, the notorious Evil Queen was revealed, dancing around in her chamber, distraught after being told by her magical mirror that she is not the fairest of them all, but in fact a young, fair skinned, and diligent beauty known as Snow White. Angered, the Evil Queen sends a Huntsman and instructs him to do away with the young beauty and kill her in the forest. All of a sudden however, the doomy vibe from the first scene immediately changes and it was like I was whisked away to the world of Snow White, in that magical forest. Despite the horrible attempt of the Huntsman to murder Snow White, I was still totally blown away by the Set and Costume designer Arturo Cruz’s work. Not only could you tell that the production value of this show was indeed given value, but you could truly see that magical world of Snow White transcended from Arturo’s vision onto the stage, and onto the hearts of the audience. The lighting design by Katsch Catoy did not disappoint either, matching every sequence to the respective feeling that it produced.

The rest of the story unfolded almost naturally, and all the other elements continued to astound me. From set transition to set transition, it was always smooth and appeared very well-rehearsed. One remarkable instance for me was the second time the Evil Queen was presented, and as she mixed her ingredients together to produce her special potions, was a very quick, but not so obvious, change wherein she turns into the old woman. It was so smooth and seemingless that it took me a while to realize that the switch had been done and immediately found myself applauding this transformation.

The establishment of the other characters of the production was another great aspect. One of my favorite parts of the first act was the introduction of the famous seven dwarves, each displaying their own unique personalities that even though you did not know any of them prior to the show, you would still be able to establish it through their performances. All throughout the first half of the show, it seem authentic and indeed made the audience feel as if they were part of their world, and not once did I feel that I was in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, sitting among the audience and watching a performance.

Come the second act, the most awaited wedding of Snow White and Prince Charming takes place, with almost everyone invited to the celebration. This was displayed with succeeding dance pieces from each division of the guests, all leading up to the lovely couple’s dance together, as well as their solos. Though each sequence was breathtaking, it seemed as if the entire act was a bit of a drag. This did not have anything to do with the choreography whatsoever, but in fact the narrative in itself. In act one, a whole story was revealed, from the Evil Queen’s anger towards Snow White, until her journey through the forest, meeting new companions, and finding refuge in the Dwarves’ cottage. Although in act two mainly consisted of the dance successions, and after having each group perform, would simply head to the back towards the staircase and stand there, watching the next group. For me, a huge part of a show is always the ensemble. They are just as important as the leads, filling in and making the entire show a whole. However, during this entire act I felt as if they were severely under-utilized, merely standing at the back, not even interacting with one another, and simply just watching sequence after sequence.

With regards to technicality, everyone involved in this production, even the ensemble, whatever age range they may belong to, exhibited a skillset that was remarkable. It definitely showed that this was something they loved to do, and poured their hearts out through each movement, through each sequence. The agility and athleticism of each performer was nothing short of brilliance, most especially the lead birds, the lead friends, and of course the shining, happy couple, Snow White and her Prince Charming.

Nañas exhibited a lot of diversity in her choreography, playing around a lot with movement exploration, gestures, energy, and space. I do not know a lot about ballet as a genre of dance, but I was able to observe that most of their movements were obviously divided in specific parts of their body only. For example, a simple point-toe then foot shake or a movement in the arms, exhibited isolation towards a single section of their body, which indeed isn’t an easy thing to do, and showed dexterity among the performers. Gestures were a big part of the choreography too, and was most frequently seen among the characters with specific personalities or characteristics, being the trees, bats, owls, butterflies, birds, and even the dwarves themselves. Though simple, they helped in establishing what they were, as seen for example with the birds and butterflies’ smooth up and down of their arms to establish their wings, every time Sneezy the dwarf would sneeze, or even every time Dopey would turn to the audience and wave exhibiting each of their unique personalities. Energy played a huge part in the performance, varying from each character. With Snow White, the energy of her movements were slow and graceful, perfectly matching her sweet demeanour. When it came to the dwarves however, they exhibited a more excited and frantic energy, because that’s just who they really are. As with the Evil Queen, her energy was much more intense and doomy, fitting her role in this entire spectacle. Being that the Cultural Center of the Philippines is a very big venue and had a huge stage as well, I commend both Nañas and Cruz for making sure to maximize it at all times. With the choreography, Nañas always made sure to make her pieces much more dynamic, utilizing the space on stage to ensure that it never seemed flat in any way as well as varying the blocking of each dancer. In addition, and one of things that I liked the most about her play with space, is when she had all seven dwarves deviate from their own blocking, sometimes not even having any blocking at all, to establish their very playful manner and to highlight once again their unique personalities.

Snow White, though not perfect, still truly is one of the highlights of this year’s productions. The long time fairytale classic, along with all its magical elements and timeless narrative, is a spectacle made for all audiences and is something that one can look forward to for its next restage, which for sure is soon to come.

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randomfanfictiontime · 7 years

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It's All Coming Back to Me

Summary: Upon returning to your former home, Mystic Falls, a series of flashbacks makes you remember why you left in the first place. But, most importantly, why you returned. (I swear that the story itself is better than the summary!)

Pairing: Damon Salvatore x Reader, Stefan Salvatore x Reader (platonic)

Word Count: 4069 (Whoops)

Warnings: Death scene, angst

(A/N): So, I’ve been on hiatus. I’m truly sorry, I just have had a HUGE drought when it comes to story ideas. Some people have requested ships and imagines but I haven’t been able to brainstorm any ideas for them, so I’m very sorry. But, I’m also excited because I’ve recently been rewatching the entire The Vampire Diaries series and I’m proud to announce that I have come up with some ideas for stories in the department. This is my first Damon fic, not to mention my first TVD fic. I really hope you enjoy it as it much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Also, I know I left you on a bit of a cliff-hanger, but not to worry, there’ll be a second part. As you can see, this was getting a bit long.

**1864**

“Stefan, I couldn’t possibly play this game. I don’t know the rules.” You whined, eyeing the ball as you turned it in your hands.

“Well, my dear friend, the rules haven’t been decided yet.”

“Well, I am in a dress. It is hard to run in a long skirt.” Stefan Salvatore scoffed, grabbing the ball from you and running to the other side of his front yard.

“Stop making excuses, (Y/N). I know the real reason you do not want to play.”

“Oh really? And what would that be, Mr. Salvatore.” You countered, putting your hands on your hips.

“You’re waiting for Damon to return.” The mere mention of his name made your stance falter.

“Stefan Salvatore. You may be my host and my best friend but that does not give you the right to-”

“Oh, what have you done to upset (Y/N) this time, brother?” The smooth, familiar voice immediately made you turn around.

“Damon!” You ran up to him and he engulfed you into a strong hug. “Oh how I have missed you.” Your eyes meet his and you could see them shining with happiness.

“I should hope so. You are my dearest friend.”

“Brother. It’s good to see you.” You stepped out of the way as Stefan and Damon reunited for the first time in months.

“As much as I have missed you, brother, I have to say that I have missed Ms. (Y/N) much more.” Damon smiled in your direction as you felt your cheeks heat up. Stefan lifted his eyebrows, a smirk playing on his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Present**

Mystic Falls… You hadn’t been to this town in 164 years. Why all of a sudden now? There was nothing for you here. Perhaps it was because you needed a change of scenery. You had been all over the country, becoming easily bored with every town you visited.

Or maybe, it was because you missed the quaint little town. Of course, you had openly avoided it for a century and a half. You ran every excuse through your mind as you stepped out of the cab. Excuses to justify your presence in the town that you turned your back on so many years ago. Every excuse except the true reason. Him.

**1864**

You scowled over a hot cup of tea as you watched Stefan and Damon fawn over Ms. Katherine Pierce.

“I do not get what they see in her. She is just using them. She wants to ‘share’ them? How could you possibly love two people at once, equally?” Emily Bennett sat next to you on the porch, watching as Stefan and Damon chased Katherine around the front lawn. You sighed, turning around to face Emily.

“I’m sorry. I understand that you do not want to hear my whining. She is your best friend, after all.” Before she could say a word, Stefan called up to you,

“(Y/N)! Come on and play with us!”

“How am I to play when there is still no rules.”

“Who needs rules?” Katherine butt in, “I say we do what we want, how we want, when we want.”

“I agree with the lady.” You rolled your eyes. Of course he did. Damon was the most smitten of them all. Of course, Stefan was head over heels for her as well but he wasn’t the one who broke your heart every time he looked at her with heart eyes.

You looked on as Katherine snatched the ball from Damon, giggled, and ran into the garden. Both boys were in tow.

**Present**

God, did you miss him. You missed everything, but he was the one that always came into your mind. He was your everything, and he never even got the chance to see it.

Deciding on where you wanted to go first, you blink back the tears and begin a leisurely pace towards the forest.

As you passed through the town square, you notice that some things had never changed. The old clock tower was still here, a few of the shops were still here. Abandoned, but still standing. Much like yourself, they are empty shells of what used to have been, alive and great. Now? Now, they’re just a memory, fading in the wind. Becoming more and more forgotten as every second passes by. Becoming useless.

**1864**

“I can not believe that she chose him to escort her to the ball.” Damon sighed, defeated. As much as you despised his feelings for Katherine, you couldn’t help but feel angry that she did this to him.

“Why him? What did I do for her to choose him?” He just looked so sad, and as much as you wanted to, you couldn’t ignore that. So, you sat next to him and wrapped your arms around him.

“You did nothing. Do not blame yourself. She made her choice, she doesn’t know what she’s giving up.”

“I am to see her tonight after the ball.” You pulled away from him.

“What?”

“Yes. Ms. Katherine told my brother to escort her and when it is over, I will be waiting in her room. Do not tell Stefan, though.”

“I can not believe this.”

“Pardon?” You stood up and walked to stand in front of your mirror.

“How can you still like her when she plays the both of you like dolls? Can you not see that she is only using you?”

“You do not understand. I don’t just like her, (Y/N). I am in love with her.”

“You what?”

“And I know that she loves me too.” Tears pooled in your eyes as you turned to face him. He immediately jumped up, taking you into his arms.

“What is it, (Y/N)? What upsets you?” You pushed him away, stumbling to the door way.

“Can you really not see it?” Could he not see how in love you were with him?

“See what? Please, talk to me.” You shook your head sadly, giving up.

“Just forget it. I am tired, I want to sleep. Please leave.”

“(Y/N)-” Damon started but you cut in, your voice breaking.

“Damon, please. Leave.” You watch as he moves to stand outside of your bedroom door. Hurriedly shutting it, you kneel down in front of your bed. You couldn’t remember how long you had cried, but you woke up in the same position the next day.

**Present**

Damon had been so infatuated with Katherine. Even now, you couldn’t see what he saw in her. Yes, she was beautiful. The most beautiful woman you had ever seen. More beautiful than you, that’s for sure. But that was just on the outside. On the inside, she was anything but. A manipulative, conniving, evil bitch. As the boys treated her with the utmost respect, took her in, loved her, she treated them as if they were her food. Though, you guess they were.

As you arrived at your destination, you were hit by a wave of sadness. In place of a great mansion, now stood over-grown trees and decaying stone columns. The house wasn’t even standing anymore. The Salvatore house, your beloved home, gone. Just like every thing else. Gone with the wind.

**1864**

You rubbed your tired eyes as you were awoken by yelling and stomping coming from outside in the hall. Stumbling over to your door in the dark, you opened it.

“Giuseppe,” you grabbed onto his sleeve as he was about to pass you. “What is going on? Is everything okay?” He made a last glance in the direction he was headed in before he lightly pushed you back inside your room, away from the group of men running.

“(Y/N), my dear, you must be careful.” He gazed at you with concern. He had believed you to be the daughter he never had. He would’ve never forgiven himself if something had ever happened to you.

“But why? Please, I need to know. Has something happened? Are Stefan and Damon hurt?”

“You’ve heard the stories that I’ve told about the monsters that we believed to roam Mystic Falls, correct?” You shook your head in confusion.

“Yes, of course. But what does that have to-”

“Vampires, (Y/N). They live among us. And we have exposed them.”

**Present**

Night blankets the sky as you make your way back into town. There were a few people out, but other than that you were alone. Stopping in front of the “Mystic Grill”, you pull open the door. Warmth immediately washes over you as you breathe in the familiar smell of cheap beer and cheeseburgers.

“Scotch on the rocks with a twist, please.” You order as you sit at the bar.

“I.D. please.” You leaned forward a bit and looked into the bartender’s eyes.

“You don’t need to see it, as I am old enough. Now, mix the drink and keep them coming. On the house.” He complied, cleaning out a glass and pouring the liquid inside. Sighing deeply, you drummed your fingers on the counter top.

**1864**

“This is all your fault! How could you tell him?” Damon shouted at Stefan in anger, glaring at him.

“I-I thought we could trust him! I’m so sorry, Damon.” Your eyes widened, frantically switching your gaze between Stefan and Damon.

“You knew? Both of you knew that Katherine is a vampire?” Neither said a word as you were filled with the feeling of betrayal.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Do you not trust me? Me, out of all-”

“If you had known, you would have ran to father with the news.” Damon spat, moving his glare to you.

“How could you think something so absurd? You both are my best friends, yet you think that I should tell something you do not want told?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t you? You’ve always disliked Katherine. If we had told you her secret, it would have been the excuse that you needed to get rid of her. You were probably in on it the whole time, you and my brother against me and Katherine!” He stalked closer to you, growing more and more angrier by the second. Tears pooled in your eyes as you backed away, arms slightly raised in front of you. Stefan tried to cut in,

“Damon, stop. It was me alone, do not bring-” You cut him off, anger taking over.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You are jealous of Katherine! Jealous of her poise and grace, jealous of her beauty. You know you could never be as breath-taking as her so you tried to get rid of her. Well, you will not succeed. I will get her back. You are damned to me. Maybe I should tell father that you are a vampire as well, just so you can burn with the rest of them.” You reared back as if he had slapped you on the spot. Maybe that would have hurt less. His words rang inside your head, “You can burn with the rest of them…’

“Damon!” Stefan yelled.

“How could you?!” You cried, tears cascading down your face as you went up to him, slapped him hard and pushed him back harshly. Seeing as he wasn’t expecting this, he stumbled backwards, falling onto the floor. His eyes were wide as he looked at you, a hand on his cheek.

“We’ve been best friends since before I can remember. I’ve done everything for you since then. Everything! And this is how I get repaid? By deceit? Betrayal? I’ve been ignored for weeks, by the both of you. And then I get accused for something I did not do? Of course I’m jealous. I’m jealous that the both of you dumped me for her, I’m jealous that she got all of your attention, I’m jealous that she is more beautiful than I could ever be, I’m jealous that she is better than me in every aspect!” Stefan stepped forward, arms outstretched, ready to comfort you, before you moved out of the way, backing towards the hallway.

“But, I never let it get to me. Do you want to know why? Because, I thought that once the crush faded away, you would see me once again. I thought that you would apologize for being so distant with me and we could go back to the way things were before. Before her. But, I never thought…” a sob escaped your lips, “I never thought that you would choose her over me. I never thought that I would hear those words come out of your mouth. I never thought that you would want me dead, just because of her! If you hated me so much, you could’ve just told me!” Damon picked himself up off of the floor, slowly walking towards you. Instead of anger in his eyes, they were filled with regret.

“(Y/N), I am so-”

“No! No, you know what? I hope you find Katherine. I hope you save her in time and I hope that you both have a happy life with her. Because we all know that she is not going to leave one of you. I hope you realize how much you have hurt me, tonight especially. Those words, Damon, they will haunt me forever. But, don’t worry. I won’t be around to keep reminding you of your hatred towards me. Your wish is my command, Damon. I am leaving. Don’t worry, you won’t have to see me ever again.

"You will forget me and move on, but I will never forget you. Neither of you. You were my best friends, my family. That might not mean anything to you, but it means something to me. I sincerely hope you have a nice life because regardless of everything, I still love you. Both of you.” Without another word, you take off running down the hall. You heard your name being shouted, and you heard Stefan and Damon begin to argue once more.

**Present**

Downing the glass of alcohol, you wait as the bartender fills it up once more. With tired eyes, you look around the restaurant. So many faces. Faces of all ages. Everyone so happy and lively, completely oblivious to the real world.

Eyes scanning the crowd, your gaze landed on a particular girl. Her brown hair, her brown eyes, her round face… they all seemed so familiar. Had you encountered her in another city? Had she been a friend of yours a long time ago and you just forgot? Getting up from your place at the bar, you silently move towards her. She seemed to be talking to someone on the phone. Even her voice sounds hauntingly familiar.

As she makes her way the bathroom, you follow her, in a daze. You rack your brain for any memory you could pinpoint her to. About to give up, you stopped in your place, just outside of the bathroom door.

“I’ll be home soon. Yes, Stefan, I promise.” You hear her say, and that’s when it all clicked. Without wasting a second, you break the leg off of a nearby chair and you sped into the bathroom. You didn’t stop until you had her pinned against the wall. She dropped her phone in surprise as she cried out.

“What the hell?!” Her eyes widened when you flashed your fangs at her.

“You’re damn right ‘what the hell’! How did you escape the fire?” You lifted the make-shift stake to right above her heart.

“What are you talking about?”

“Answer me, bitch!” You brought her forward a bit before slamming her back into the wall, making her let out a little grunt. “How the hell did you escape?” You could hear the voice on the other end of the phone yelling something but you were to enticed in the task at hand.

“I don’t know what you are talking about!” You roll your eyes, bringing the stake closer to her.

“Stop lying! Do you remember me, because I remember you, Katherine.”

“Katherine? You think I’m Katherine?” Her voice raised in surprise, eyes wild. You ignored her.

“You killed them. It wasn’t enough that they loved you unconditionally. No, they had to die… for you!”

**1864**

You had ran so far, so fast. The tears had long since dried away, but you were still left with an emptiness. An emptiness that only your boys could fill. You knew that you and Damon would make up eventually. You always did. Every fight that the two of you ever shared had never gone on to long unresolved. You knew that he more than likely didn’t mean his words, as you didn’t mean yours. You were both just hurt. Damon was losing the love of his life, while yours had blamed you for it. You just needed time to cool off before you went back and try to talk to him. Hopefully, he’d be ready to talk to you by then.

After about thirty minutes of sitting, you scramble off of the ground, dusting the dirt off of your dress. Before you could begin making your way back to the house, you heard commotion coming from behind the trees.

“Hey! Over here, I found another one!” You recognized Stefan’s voice as he led, what sounded like, a mob of men farther away. Peeking through the trees, you saw a carriage. A man was on the ground, another standing above him. You knew it was Damon. As you watched, Stefan came back, helping his brother drag someone out of it. Katherine. You quietly called for them as you stealthily made your way towards them. They paid you no mind as they began frantically untying her.

“It’s okay, Katherine. We’ll get you out of here.” All of a sudden, a gunshot rang through the air and it was like everything turned into slow motion. Damon fell to the ground, face contorting to one of pain. Your eyes widened and you covered your mouth with both hands to keep from screaming out.

“Damon, no!” Stefan cried, scooting over to his brother. Katherine turned her head, almost looking sorrowful. Your cries were muffled by your hand, and you dropped to the ground to keep from being seen. You pressed your hand harder to your mouth to try and keep your sobs quiet.

Your ears were ringing, your vision blurry from tears. You barely registered the gunshot that sounded. Stefan dropped to his knees, hands flying to his stomach as he landed on the ground. A mangled sound escaped you as you stared at him. The mob bustled over them, picking Katherine up and placing her once more inside the carriage.

As soon as you were sure that everyone had gone, you ran over to the two bodies, lifeless on the ground. When you were in the middle of them, you dropped to your knees. Crawling over to Damon, you shook him. They weren’t dead. They couldn’t be dead.

“Wake up! Please, wake up!” You went over to Stefan, doing the same to him.

“You can not be dead, please! Stefan, Damon… WAKE UP!” His lifeless eyes continued their never-ending gaze up at the sky. You screamed. You just screamed, as loud as you could for as long as you could. Hugging your knees to your chest, you cried hysterically. Your whole body was shaking.

“I’m sorry! I’m so so sorry!” You repeated it like a mantra, over and over again. You stayed in the same position for what felt like hours, rocking back and forth. You lost them. They were gone and there was nothing you could do about it. Your last words to them… They were full of hatred and hurt. Now, you couldn’t make it right. It will never be right…

**Present**

“I’m not Katherine!” She yelled, struggling to push you away.

“Still a lying, manipulative bitch, I see. I guess some things never change, do they?”

“My name is Elena. I promise you, I’m not Katherine.” You ignored her, continuing.

“They loved you. They were so in love with you, they were blind. I knew them way better than you ever did. I was their best friend for years before they met you. You drove us apart.”

“Stefan and Damon? Are you talking about Stefan and Damon?”

“Are you really this forgetful or do you take me for a fool?”

“They’re alive. I can take you to them.” Your heart skipped a beat, and your stance faltered a bit. No, no it couldn’t be true. It wasn’t true. Shaking your head, you gripped her tighter.

“Sorry sweetheart,” you growled, “that lie doesn’t work on me. I seen them. I watched as they were shot to death. I saw their lifeless bodies.” Before she could say anything, you gently push the tip of the stake into her flesh, easily drawing blood. She gasped in pain.

“You know what? It doesn’t even matter how you got out of that church. It just mean I can revel in your death once again. I will so enjoy this.” You brought the stake behind you, about to plunge it into her heart, killing her once and for all until the door slammed open and you were thrown away from her. Your back landed against the wall, leaving a dent as you fell to the ground. Before you could stand, you were kicked back down. You felt yourself being lifted up, back landing against the wall as you were pinned. You felt the tip of the stake press against your chest as you looked up and saw your attacker. Your mouth falls open and your eyes immediately filled with tears as you looked into his green eyes.

“Stefan?” You asked quietly, voice breaking as you slowly brought a shaky hand up to his face. His stance faltered a bit as he tried to comprehend why you knew him. He flinched a bit when you placed your hand on his cheek. All thoughts about Katherine escaped your mind as you traced his face, as if feeling to see if he was really there. You were.

“Stefan is it really you?” A few seconds later, his eyes lit up with recognition. He dropped the stake and engulfed you in a tight hug.

“(Y/N)? I can’t believe it. I thought you were-”

“So did I.” You cried. When you pulled away from the hug, you saw that he was tearing up as well.

“How are you… how did you… I don’t understand. I saw you get shot. I saw you die, but here you are.”

“Katherine fed us her blood. We came back.” Your heart sped up.

“W-We? We as in…?” Stefan smiled, remembering how smitten you used to be over his brother.

“Yeah.” You let out a whimper of relief, hugging Stefan once more.

“Thank God. I missed you so much, Stefan.”

“I missed you too.” Katherine cleared her throat from behind Stefan.

“Stefan? Who is she?”

“(Y/N). She was my best friend back in 1864.” Your anger suddenly came flooding back.

“Yeah, before you got him killed.”

“She isn’t Katherine.” You turned to Stefan, crossing your arms.

“Excuse me?” He walked over to her.

“This is Elena Gilbert. She’s human. She isn’t Katherine.”

“Then explain to me why she looks exactly like her.”

“I’ll explain everything later. Right now, I think that there is someone you’d like to meet.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You, Stefan, and 'Elena’ stepped into a huge house, before you spoke up.

“Where are we?”

“My house. Just go through there, I’ll be there in a second.” He pointed through a doorway before he and Elena disappeared around a corner. Sighing, you walk into a big living area. Bringing your hand up, you touch some of the little trinkets on a table before making your way over the liquor stand. Chuckling a bit to yourself, you sit on the couch. Gazing around, you waited for Stefan to come back.

“What? They’re here? Why on earth would you bring the vampire who, might I add, tried to stake Elena, here?” You picked up a male voice, distant but coming closer to the room you were in.

“Shut up and come on. Trust me, you’ll want to see who it is.” That was Stefan’s voice.

“(Y/N)?” He called, now in the same room. Standing, you turn around.

“What’s going o-” You stopped mid-sentence as the second male stepped into the room, slightly shaking his head at his brother’s lame excuses. His icy gaze met yours and your heart sped up. You would know those blue eyes anywhere.

“D…Damon?”

FOREVER TAGS:

@missmalfoy1703, @16wiishes, @trustnobodyshootfirst

Masterlist

Prompt List

#damon salvatore x reader #stefan salvatore x reader #damon salvatore imagine #the vampire diaries #the vampire diaries imagine

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drink-n-watch · 4 years

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Are you a loyal anime fan? Do you stand by those shows which have brought you joy?

Lately, I’ve read a few think pieces on how people’s preconceptions can colour our enjoyment of a show. How going into an anime with preconceived notions or expectations based on other people’s experiences, inevitably affects what we end up getting out of our watching experience. But what about the reverse case scenario.

it’s a reverse harem!

Have you ever stumbled across a title you’d never heard of before and thoroughly enjoyed, only to discover that your hidden gem is widely reviled by the anime community? Do you remain faithful to your new love or do you disavow it? Are you suddenly ashamed to admit you enjoyed the show? Do you go as far as downgrading it in your own mind, admitting to yourself that is was indeed riddled with flaws, or do you feel compelled to defend it against accusations you don’t really believe are true?

What if you thought a title was really so-so but endlessly see it described as a classic, a masterpiece, an undeniable work of art? Do you pretend to like it? Do you add it to your top 10 lists just to fit in? Do you avoid giving any opinion or at least try to soften the blow with excuses like: “I was really young when I saw that”?

I know I do.

It’s stupid of course. I end up getting nonsense recommendations for new shows because it’s based on skewed data. Or I find myself sitting through movies or shows I know I won’t enjoy because I somehow didn’t manage to scrape together the microscopic amount of courage required to admit that I don’t like a particular director or studio. On the flip side, I also can’t gush over whatever silly, stupid little show is making me super happy at the moment because I’m afraid people will judge me. Despite the fact that I know no one cares about my anime tastes, at least not enough to actually have them affect their opinion of me.

yes, yes tell me more of this awnimou you like so much – everyone I know

I want to watch shows I like – and I want those types of shows to get made, but people won’t know that unless I tell them. So? Well…As my own feeble attempt at some kind of earnestness, I give you my top 9 animes I’m either ashamed of liking or embarrassed of not getting. Let’s all celebrate our lack of good taste together!

In random order:

😊 The Royal Tutor

I’m not as stupid as I look. I realize this show is just a lighthearted excuse to bring together a flock of beautifully drawn bishies and cash in on the hormonal audience ready to devour it. The animation is minimal, the historic setting is laughable and characters and storyline are all more or less surface level but that’s not what this show was for… It’s paced well, the easy humour may be uninspired but it’s familiar and comforting. What it did do, it did well. The pretty pretty characters are super likeable for all their lack of developments and by golly I would watch another season the second it came out. I would leave work early and everything.

☹ Sakamoto desu ka

When this show came out there was so much hype, even I heard of it. This was recommended to me by just about everybody – the one friend that watches anime, blogs, youtubers even MAL. Everyone told me that this is comedy gold – one of the most hilarious shows to come out in recent years and well, I didn’t get it… My sense of humour is important to me, it’s the one quality I’m actually proud of. I am quick with a laugh and need very little to find the funny in a situation and although Sakamoto wasn’t bad I just didn’t find it that funny and ended up dropping it after 6 episodes or so. I’m very worried that I’m growing dull.

😊 Black Butler II

Black butler, in all its iterations, has long been a guilty pleasure of mine. I am honestly ashamed of liking this show so much. It’s just sooooo emo and gothicky and teenage angsty and I love all of it. At least it’s fairly popular except I’m a black sheep even among Black Butler fans because my clear favourite is season 2. Most fans will stop talking to me at this point, I understand. But, I adore Alois, I think he’s the perfect embodiment of the cheesy gaudy charm that BB brings to the table and the sarcastic ending was the best. Soo yeah – I’m a lost cause.

☹ My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

People love this show, I see artwork from it all over the place and I will admit it’s quite pretty. It also has the word SNAFU in the title which is automatic extra points in my book. But everything else never resonated with me. The comedy fell flat, the drama felt fabricated the pace was off and the characters were irrational. I fluctuated between bored and depressed throughout most of it yet still felt the need to watch both seasons, waiting for it to finally pick up. It did not. I did like the orange haired girl’s front cross strap bra thingy….

😊 Alien 9

OK – I can’t explain this one. It’s a mess of a show but I lurve it so much. One of the few series I’ve both watched and read and reread. I could defend it to you guys. The intriguing parasitic/symbiotic alien aspect with a sort of magical girl deconstruction feel. The jarring violence and real suspense but in all honestly even those high points aren’t fully realized. I can’t tell you why it’s better than people think it is but it is. I’m going to go watch it right now.

☹ Azumanga Daioh

I like the Slice of Life and Comedy genres quite a lot (although looking at this list, maybe I don’t?) and Azumanga Daioh is considered by many, a classic. The intro should be! It has its moments to be sure but I just didn’t find it that funny. That aside, what really put me off was the use of a teacher’s predatory and continual sexual harassment of students as a running gag. The show treats it as cute and funny that an adult teacher is clearly trying to grope or see his students naked all the time. I’m afraid that I’m being a stick in the mud or that I somehow missed the distinction between ridiculing bad behaviour rather than humanizing it, but it always skived me out and I just couldn’t shake the feeling. Apparently, I’m the only one who has a problem with this. This scene always made me laugh though:

youtube

😊 Cheer Boys!!

I’ve written a post about this unsubtle cash grab of a show and how I can’t seem to hate it. In fact I’ll just say it, I really like it. It’s indefensible so I won’t even try to but sometimes we just want empty calories. This show won’t bring anything new. There are so many better sports animes out there and you should watch them all before this one. But once you’re done with all the “good” shows….

☹ Spirited Away

Yes, yes, I know – Ghibli, yes genius, yes Myazaki, yes I think he’s really hot, yes this movie is brimming with wonder and charm… I can see the quality but, I mean, so what? Do I remember anything about Chihiro as a person? About any character at all? I don’t, they just didn’t leave a mark on me. I can clearly see the images of what people and things looked like but they have no personalities beyond that for me. I would show this to a small child or an animation student who wants to admire the technical know-how and maybe I should rewatch it. I just didn’t find in it the depth or meaning of earlier titles like Mononoke or the graceful ache of Totoro and I would write more except I don’t remember anything about it…

😊 Cute High Earth Defense Club Love!

Let’s end it on a happy note. Eminareviews named this as the anime she was embarrassed of liking and it suddenly dawned on me that maybe I should be embarrassed too. Sure, the jokes are super easy and the premise is paper thin but what can I tell you guys, this show had me smiling from start to finish. I realize that given the fact that Shinji Takamatsu (of Daily Lives of High School Boys and Gintama fame) was behind this, expectations may have been sky high for some and disappointment was inevitable. I also see that the writers went for some low hanging fruit here, and that they would have been capable of much subtler and more cutting humor but just because it’s a little lazy doesn’t mean it’s not funny. Season 2, now that was not funny….

This is one of the disadvantages of wine: it makes a man mistake words for thought

Suggested drink: Confidence Builder, alternatively you can throw it in the other person’s face but that would be such a waste…

Every time someone tells you your favorite anime is derivative – drink

Every time some says “I use to like that show before I knew more about anime” – drink

Every time someone gets real nitpicky about an unimportant aspect of your favourite show, like the color palette for example – drink

Every time someone says you should what X instead – it’s so much better – drink

Every time someone tells you, you’ll get it when you learn a bit about… – drink

Every time someone tells you the manga was better – drink

Every time someone says, well I’m more into story driven narratives – drink

Every time someone tells you it’s a poor man’s version of… – drink

Every time someone accuses your show of being cliché – drink

Every time someone accuses your show of being pretentious – drink

Every time someone says aren’t cartoons for children? – go home

Anime confessions Are you a loyal anime fan? Do you stand by those shows which have brought you joy?

#Alien 9 #anime #Azumanga Daioh #Bad idea #Black Butler #cheer boys #Cute High Earth Defense Club Love!#Essays #Guilty pleasure #Lists #sakamoto #snafu #spirited away #The Royal Tutor

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titconao3 · 6 years

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that 11 question thing

i was tagged by @antarctic-echoes & @mametupa, so here are my answers. Warning: i suck at these things. Sorry. tl;dr: i’ve been told several times i was too much of a realist, too down-to-earth and sadly unable to dream & leave what things actually are aside, and it shows.

1. what’s your favorite hobby? Er, i don’t really know... anything where i can forget myself?

2. What’s the movie you hate more than anything? there are several, and probably quite a few i’ve erased from my memory. i don't get why people like Love, Actually so much for instance - so depressing. And others, but i either don’t remember them or don’t want to get flamed, so.

3. which would you rather be: Ninja or British Spy? And why? i teach English for a living, but i practised a martial art for a few years. No idea, you pick! If the British Spy thing means lots of sex, no thanks. If it means cool fun toys, why not. If the ninja thing means being able to do fancy moves, why not. If it’s about the training that allows me to do that, probably not.

4. What’s your favorite book of all time? i don’t know. No, really. There are many books i enjoyed, but i’ve learned to be wary of picking them up again for a reread...

5. If you could go anywhere, whether it be a real or fictional location, where would you go? no idea. Since i’m a very positive person who expects disappointment everywhere, well. Somehow, people think i’m pessimistic; i tend to see this as being realistic. It’s not that i don’t travel or like travelling, it’s just... i’m always keeping in mind it’s just a distraction that barely covers the emptiness of existence ;-) many places sound really great, but then when you’re there’s always that “gah i hate mountain paths” or “crap nearest toilets are far away” or “and now there’s the horrible trip back to look forward to” or “my feet are wet” or “those moving stairs are such a pain” or “the Pegasus galaxy is cool and stuff but i don’t have reliable access to AO3″... you get the idea.

6. Which would you rather fight? An angry horse-sized duck or a hundred angry duck-sized horses? depends on what tools / weapons etc i have at my disposal, i’d say? Do i have something that can incapacitate one large thing? or something to outrun small-legged animals for long enough i’d be safe?

7. If you could have any dinosaur as a pet, which one would you have? i don’t want pets of any sorts. Not that i don’t like animals (i really do!), but i can’t properly care for them; i don’t have the time / space / patience etc. And, while dinosaurs are cool, they’d need a lot, and probably wouldn't be happy in an environment they’re not adapted to.

8. What is your favorite animated movie? er... i really don’t watch a lot of films, animated or otherwise. There are some i’ve enjoyed, and they’re definitely not Disney films. No shade on those who enjoy them, bear in mind i haven’t watched a Disney film since i was a kid, apart from the Lion King on a plane or something and the political undertones and how the way the lady lion’s role was downplayed made me angry (and why do so many of these end on “and they got married, the end”? not the more recent ones, from what i understand?) and also why do these people sing all the time? i... don’t like random singing??? i live in fear of the Lucifer musical ep, and i’m one of like 2 or 3 people who don’t like Lucifer singing stuff. I try to pretend he’s Freddie Mercury when writing him. Regarding anime, i’m probably supposed to say Miyazaki or something because everyone loves his stuff, and... it’s nice, sure. Really. Honestly, young characters have never been my thing - Ponyo was sure cute, i guess? i liked the Kenshin OAV because it mixed great music, anime, trope use etc? Or should i mention The Grave of the Fireflies because it’s all deep and stuff? It’s really good, but i’d never EVER rewatch it. Or perhaps Ghost in the Shell? great Kenji Kawai music there. Haven’t watched any animated film in ages.

9. What is your favorite dessert? i generally don’t really like sweet things - i can appreciate them, but one spoonful or two is enough; it’s not really my thing.

10. what is your movie score? the... number of films i’ve watched? i used to be big on artsy cinema in my younger days, now i can’t stand being still for several hours, surrounded by people potentially munching on crunchy stuff. I’d probably not get a good score (HAHAHA) at most quizzes. to answer the question, the music i’m living to? i do enjoy some film scores - but i like silence more.

11. If you could go to dinner with any fictional character, who would you choose and why? no idea. i don’t have anything interesting to say to anyone. i imagine i can pretend for a while, but that’s what i already do most of the time i’m not home, so... i mean, there are many characters i find interesting / fascinating, but i don’t fit in their world or they don’t fit in mine. How would that work? Am i a lowly ensign on the (original) Enterprise? What am i supposed to talk about with Tony Stark and his buddies? i guess i could just stare moodily at a beer bottle while Methos looks all cool and liquid on the chair next to me, he’s probably one of those people who won’t mind silence too much? It would be rude to pester him about what he’s lived through. Maybe ask where he gets his sweaters, they look comfy. Not Lucifer, because i’m not the Detective (or in her orbit) / a pretty young thing / a good singer. I can drink? But i don’t know what to do with myself in a club, so. and now from @mametupa: 1. Which is your favorite holiday and why? As a rule, i dislike holidays. It’s uncomfortable, i don’t particularly want to see most of my family, and it all feels forced. Of course i do know that for some people it’s a joyous time, but be it Xmas / Easter / birthdays whatever, it’s... not my thing. Sorry.

2. What is your favorite food to cook or eat? i’m easy either way. A few years ago i used to cook with a friend. We became estranged, and now i don’t really cook anymore - i mean, i still cook everything myself everything i eat (including bread or yoghurts) but since then i’ve lost the taste and it’s all very utilitarian; fuel so i don’t faint at the gym or at work. i don’t really care, but i’m okay with or at least will try almost anything. Really.

3. If you had to live in the body of someone else, who would it be? Er, no one. Honestly, and that’s not a fun answer, but i’d rather not exist at all. Bodies are hard work (plus luck) to maintain reasonably healthy and, worse, in what is considered “good shape.” Besides, some that really look good are actually not good at all inside, not all diseases / pains are visible.

4. Favorite season? spring makes me sneeze, summer is too hot, winter is that horrible holiday period, so i guess autumn? i do like red colours on leaves (but i live in a city, so don’t see them much like on those nice autumn moodboards with pretty forests)?

5. If someone wrote a book about you, what would the title be? that won’t happen :-)

6. Favorite childhood book? i was a voracious reader until lit studies made me quit reading for a few years, so i read a lot as a child. I kept ideas, feelings, one little thing from many books, but i don’t think there’s ONE book that made me go THIS ONE. sorry.

7. Favorite smell? i don’t know. Wet forest? Fresh bread? Fireplace? What is one supposed to answer? Definitely not perfumes or flowers, i’d sneeze and my eyes would become liquid or something.

8. What different languages do you speak or understand? French, English. I used to be good at Spanish, and i can (especially after a few days of resetting the brain bits) cope. My grammar and vocab are all shot to hell but i can definitely get by; i understand people enough to enjoy guided tours & stuff and get food and a hotel and get directions to park the car. For some reason i now have an English accent whenever i try to speak Spanish (i once said “nos quedamos ten minutos” sounding like a posh XIX lady and the friend i was travelling with was laughing like a loon. She had to repeat what i said to me). i’d like to learn Arabic, because it’s different and the grammar and sounds and writing and word etc are both alien to what i’m used to and yet a source of the languages i’ve learned before, so. i did Latin and Ancient Greek loooong ago, and well it was useful to read street signs in Greece and St Petersburg (i’d brushed up on the Russian alphabet just in case).

9. Favorite era? they’re all interesting, past and present and future. The way some categories of people are / were treated tends to make me run away, though - women, sexual or racial or or or minorities, slavery, you name it. Nowhere, nowhen is 100% a haven.

10. What 5 things would you want to have with you if you were marooned on an uninhabited tropical island? i don’t know if the Internet counts, i guess i could tell people i’m stranded with it, so maybe not? If it doesn’t, no idea. i guess i should say useful stuff like, i don’t know. A fridge with electricity? A survival handbook? A fully-stocked house (with furniture) with electricity? or a means to kill myself as painlessly as possible?

11. One thing that you would never throw away? i don’t know. something useful? Or trousers, perhaps? i hate being naked. But a knife is always useful? Probably? i tend to not throw away stuff BUT i don’t *get* a lot of new stuff either (unless it’s polish, but even there i’ve slowed down because it has to be really special to catch my eye now). i don’t have 11 questions to ask people, but if anyone wants to pick among the many that have been asked before, feel free.

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what-even-is-thiss · 7 years

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Fic, Good Night.

If you want to fully understand why I wrote this, read this post. Read the whole thing. Did ya read it? Okay, let’s get into it. I invented some people for the dreams that weren’t mine, because I don’t know anybody else that had a dream about the Sanders Sides last night. Also, I guess I’m a character in this fic? So freaking weird. It’s not an accurate representation of me though, because it’s dream me and nobody acts normally in dreams. Also, Anxiety’s is longer than the others because that’s my dream and my dream was complicated and also I might have gotten a little lazy writing the other dreams. Oh well.

Tip Jar

Warnings: Uh, I dunno. Chasing. Forced change of location. Dreams. Car related stress. 2,250 words.

Abstract: Roman has been hiding a strange ability he has for a while. When the others try to figure out what’s going on, weird things happen.

Roman was considering the device in his hand. He had to admit it was tempting. Very tempting.

Anxiety was grumbling to himself about the most recent video. It had just been posted a few hours before and he hated it every time he rewatched it.

“Stupid cartoon. Gets to meet Butch Hartman and that’s what happens. Well, if that’s what happens when you meet your heroes then...”

He noticed Roman sitting there on the brown sectional as he walked into the mindpalace version of Thomas’ apartment. He had just been considering seeing if Morality had left any of the pizza from last night. None of the others were usually in this area when Thomas was asleep, so what was Prince doing here?

“Hey, shouldn’t you be working, Princey?” Anxiety said.

“What? Uh, no!” Prince said, putting the strange handheld device behind his back.

Anxiety felt concerned. The imagination should be working right now, working through problems via dreams during REM sleep.

“You need to get to work, Roman. What’s that machine? I don’t like those things you make. They’re never good,”

“It is none of your concern!” Roman said, getting up to leave.

Anxiety considered where they were. The mental recreation of Thomas’ apartment. This was where they sorted out their issues and had talks. The others had done it before. He wondered...

“Logan! Patton!” Anxiety said.

Logic and Morality popped up, by the stairs and by the window respectively. Morality with a slice of pizza in his mouth, mid bite, and Logic with a file in his hand, looking like he was just about to put it in a drawer that was no longer in front of him.

“I knew you already ate the pizza,” Anxiety said in an annoyed tone to Patton.

“Why have you called us here in the middle of the night, Anxiety?” Logic asked. “We are performing essential tasks necessary for proper function that can only be done during sleeping hours,”

Anxiety pointed to Prince, who had stopped his attempt to get away when Patton had spotted him. The colorful phone like device was clearly visible in his hand. Logic observed the device with disgust.

“Roman, are you making another attempt at ESP? I have told you before, it is not scientifically possible to read minds or travel through dreams or read auras or whatever other nonsense you are trying to accomplish,” Logan said.

“Now hand it over, buddy,” Morality said. “Logic knows what’s right,”

Morality walked over to Roman and held out his hand in a very parental fashion, expecting him to hand it over. Roman instead held the device closer.

“No! You have no idea what this is capable of!” He said, attempting an escape.

Anxiety didn’t let him. He took hold of Roman by the sash and pulled him back. “Oh, no. Your little ESP projects only ever make me work harder. Give the thing to Patton!”

“No!” Roman cried out as he tried to get his precious outfit out of Anxiety’s grasp without tearing it. “You don’t understand what you’re doing!”

Logic tried to get the device from Prince. “Honestly, as if any of your schemes ever actually...”

Zap! Logan’s hand activated something on the touchscreen and a swirling green cartoonish portal opened up, first sucking in Logan and Roman, since they were the ones with their hands on the device, and then Morality and Anxiety were sucked in as well, despite their best efforts to run.

If Logan remembered correctly, driving an out of control vehicle was one of the most common nightmares that people can have. Thomas had that dream before. He thought he remembered Roman talking about it. However, seeing as he wasn’t in charge of dreams, he didn’t exactly know what to do in this one.

“Um, perhaps you should hit the breaks?” Logic said, not quite certain he knew how he got here.

The frightened young person in the driver’s seat briefly turned to glance back.

“You’re Logic Sanders. From those YouTube videos,” They said nervously

“Yes, and it would appear that your breaks are faulty,” Logan said, wondering why there were no seat belts or panic bars to be found.

“Breaks?” the confused driver asked.

“Yes, the breaks! The device that slows the car or brings it to a stop!” Logic called out.

“I know what breaks do, I think,” the person said as they tried to concentrate on where the break was. “Why are you here?”

The break petal came into focus just long enough for the driver to slam down on it. Logan lurched forward and into the seat in front of him and then disappeared as the person woke up.

Prince thought he had experience with dreams. He had to remind himself it was just Thomas’ dreams he had experience with. He honestly hadn’t actually expected that thing to work. He hadn’t finished it. He had done a lot of thinking to get that device made. For now it could only focus on people that thought about Thomas a lot. He had hoped to maybe surprise some friends if he was lucky. He had somehow forgotten about the fanders.

There were people walking through this square. None of them seemed to be doing much. They were walking straight ahead. Not talking or anything. They were like background characters in a video game.

There was a girl among them. She seemed to be doing something with a purpose, but whatever it was seemed to be unclear. He walked up to her and said “Greetings! Is this your dream?”

Or, at least he tried to. When he said the words he felt the vibrations in his throat and his muscles working, but no sound came out. He looked around. He listened. There was no sound. He suddenly felt himself compelled to tap on her shoulder. It would appear that even though he had an effect on the dream, it also had an effect on him.

The young woman turned around, her hair flicking out behind her almost in slow motion. When she saw him her face was full of confusion, and then wonder.

She started signing frantically. He only understood bits and pieces of what she said, but he did catch his name. She spelled out R O M A N more than once.

He tried answering, but only ended up saying nonsense. He didn’t know much American sign language beyond basic signs and finger-spelling, so the entire conversation was confusing for both parties. They attempted to communicate for what seemed like an hour in dream time, but could have very well only been a couple of seconds, and then the girl abruptly turned around and left.

Roman shook his head as he faded out of the dream. Some things were just random and made no sense. It would appear he had landed in the middle of one of those things.

Morality wasn’t quite sure where he was, but it seemed pleasant enough. There was grass everywhere and the sun was bright. There also seemed to be white bunnies hopping around.

Suddenly, what appeared to be a little boy started running by. Patton didn’t quite know why, but he found himself compelled to pick him up and say “Hey there! Why are you running?”

“Thomas!?” asked the little boy. “My mom watches videos with you in it. You should run. There’s a big egg about to crush you!”

Patton looked and there was indeed a colorfully decorated egg rolling towards them that was as long as a school bus.

Patton wasn’t experienced in stopping nightmares, but he did know a thing or two about kids. He just affectionately said, “What? No it’s not ya goofball,”

And then they looked over and there wasn’t an egg there.

The little boy jumped for joy. Morality went to go play with him. The kid constantly forgot what they were doing and switched from one thing to the next, and even rediscovered that he was there a couple of times, but it was a dream. Dreams don’t always make sense, and that’s okay.

He faded out right in the middle of a hug. The boy had said he heard his mom calling him. Patton guessed that meant it was time to get up.

Anxiety could see his breath clouding up in front of him. He wondered if whoever this was had forgotten to turn the fan off before they had gotten to bed.

He stayed next to a tree in the parking lot. Maybe he could just wait this out.

A guy standing a few feet from him noticed who he was. The stranger started walking towards him. Anxiety didn’t know who this was. This wasn’t his mind and he was not in the mood to meet new people. He started running. The person started running after him.

Anxiety ran into the Home Depot to hopefully lose him. No. Every turn in the aisles he made he was found. The kid knew this store too well he needed to get outside.

Anxiety ran out the store and past the next shopping center which turned into an old town. A fog was beginning to gather. Anxiety skidded to a stop and jumped into an alleyway. The stranger in the pleather jacket found him there. This was a clear dream. Too clear. It made too much sense.

Anxiety kept trying to weave between buildings, but it was no use. They were still in sight. He saw a high school up ahead. He ran for it. He found himself in a huge cafetorium with a huge black stage at one end and lunch tables set up where the audience would go.

He jumped on the stage. Was the backstage complicated enough to lose them in? No, but there were stairs. He ran up those.

The stairs seemed to go on for even longer than should be possible. This was the most unrealistic part of the dream. These stairs. They went up and down and skipped and there were theater students sitting and doing homework on them, clearly unconcerned that two adults that were too old to be there were running through the place.

He got to the top of the stairs and saw the only way out was a comically long drop down to backstage. He saw the blonde pursuer pushing some high school students away. Anxiety decided to take the jump.

He began to climb the railing to jump off, when he found himself caught by the waist. The man had grabbed Anxiety by the waist and was pulling him away from the railing. Anxiety tried to struggle, but then they started moving their fingers along Anxiety’s side.

God, Anxiety wished that Thomas wasn’t ticklish.

Anxiety wiped the smile off his face and sat down on the ground defeated.

“Okay, what do you want? Thomas’ address? My name? Everybody wants that,” He said, folding his arms.

He felt a weight fall on his shoulders and looked up to see that the brown pleather jacket the person was wearing had been placed on his shoulders. The stranger sat next to him and put his arm around Anxiety’s waist.

“That’s actually not what I wanted to talk to you about. I don’t know if anyone has told you this, but you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to. You can wait until you’re ready. There’s no pressure,”

Anxiety felt tears swell up in his eyes but they actually never fell. “Is this what social anxiety feels like when you’re not the one inflicting it? Because if so, it sucks,” he said, trying to keep his delivery as dry as possible.

The dreamer gave a nervous little smile and said “if it makes you feel any better, I’m feeling pretty anxious too,”

He sat and talked with the fander, who for some reason seemed to have a store’s worth of saltwater taffy in his pockets. This was a dream though, so he didn’t question it much. At some point the dream compelled him to sit on the edge of the person’s lap and it was clear it made them both uncomfortable, but the dream willed it to happen, so it happened.

After what could have been a few minutes, but it was a dream so who could tell, Anxiety told the random person whose dream he had stumbled into goodbye and jumped off the railing.

He faded into darkness on the way down.

Anxiety was the last one to get back. He walked in to see Logic breaking the ESP device with his bare hands.

“We keep telling you. Stop making these things,” Logan said harshly.

“But you have to admit it worked,” Prince said, trying to find some small comfort now tthat his work had been trashed.

“I will do no such thing,” Logan said, taking the pieces away to dispose of them.

“Anxiety, you saw that it worked. You were taken to someone else’s dream,” Prince said.

Anxiety thought about the city he had just run through. and the taste of watermelon taffy that was still lingering on his tongue.

“Nope. Don’t know what you’re talking about Princey,” Anxiety said before leaving.

“Patton, surely you remember,” Prince insisted.

Morality’s mouth was full of cold pizza from the fridge. He thought briefly about the giant egg, but then put it out of his mind and happily shook his head.

Roman sighed and lay back on the couch. They never let him break the laws of nature. How disappointing.

#i felt pressured into writing this #roman wrote a thing #dreams #sanders sides #fanfiction #fan fiction #fanfic #fan fic #thomas sanders #thatsthat24 #anxiety sanders #prince sanders #roman sanders #morality sanders #patton sanders #logic sanders #logan sanders #mircheckthisout #fanders

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bascojinn · 7 years

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What Ardyn did wrong... and why everything was wrong with Noctis’ fate

Ardyn is the most interesting character in FFXV, indeed. Mysterious man of no consequences. Despite his horrible actions, a lot of people being sympathetic to him, because Trash Jesus is very charismatic person with aura of tragic, misunderstood hero, who was punished by terrible Gods for nothing.

But people simply ignore a big elephant in the room.

Ardyn didn’t cure Starscourge.

He didn’t fullfill God’s task, he absorbed Starscourge within himself, but didn’t destroy the plague properly.

But why? Why didn’t he sacrifice himself like Noctis? Why did once selfless and kind man choose the path of Accursed?

There is popular fanon that Ardyn was both - Chosen King and Oracle, but I doubt it. There is no evidence for it, aside once dropped “healer” during Ardyn’s speech. But nature of Ardyn’s “healing” was different from actual healing.

One more reason why I didn’t support Oracle!Ardyn fanon - Oracle bloodline has already existed 2000 years ago.

In the distant past, Bahamut, the Draconian, descended to the mortal realm and graced the people of Tenebrae. From among them, he handpicked a pious maiden and bestowed upon her the power of the Stars and his trident. Using these gifts for the good of all, she became the first Oracle—she who joins heaven and earth.

In Cosmogony books Chosen King always portrayed with the First Oracle behind his back.

The Crystal and Ring of the Lucii were delivered to the king of Lucis by the astrals before they entered a deep sleep.

Ancient King had Crystal and Ring. Covenants with Gods were forged. But something went wrong. But something stopped him.

Okay, here is my theory.

Ardyn didn’t want his Oracle to die.

[If you don’t like the idea of another forced lovestory and idea of straight Ardyn at all, you can replace Ardyn x Oracle with Ardyn x someone significant to Ardyn, who’s death was required to fullfill the Prophecy. I went with Ardyn x Oracle as example, because it helps to cover massive amount of plotholes in noctluna storyline. I included another variants under the cut.]*

[you can also said that Ardyn x Oracle or “Ardyn wished to save his s/o” wasn’t mentioned in game. But Ardyn’s backstory is very vague and almost nonexistant in game. More information about Ardyn spread across different media (Ultimania, guidebook, interviews). E.g. only recent DLC revealed that first Chosen King had his own Shield and Ardyn has his own Sword of Father]

Just like Noctis he fell in love with her and just like Ravus he wanted to find a way to save her from her destiny.

Why I think so?

Usually we tried to find answers in the past, but due to “glorius” FFXV storytelling I would pay attention to the present, specifically to Noctis x Luna plotline.

Since the first day of release I had wondered why Luna didn’t join Noctis and bros after Insomnia’s fall. She loved him, she wanted to hear his voice once again... but she went her own way. The pursuit of Imperial army wasn’t a big problem, because her brother was in charge of Nifflheim military. But for some reason she avoided Noctis’ company.

It doesn’t make sense at the first sight.

It makes sense if we assume that 2000 years ago happened incident when certain Chosen King failed his job, because he wanted to save Eos, but without Oracle’s* sacrifice.

The earliest accounts of covenants are found in ancient times dating back to the time of the Cosmogony, some two millennia ago. According to such tomes, the rites are a means by which the Oracle summoned forth the gods, that she might make the will of mortals known to the divine.

Lunfreaya is Oracle. She knew about Prophecy, her and Noctis’ fate, Ardyn’s identify and many other important things. I’m pretty sure that she also knew why previous Chosen King was a mistake didn’t comply his mission to cure Starscourge.

[don’t forget that she was trained by Shiva in disguise]

Luna’s illness is weird thing, which seems unnecessary on first sight. Why should we care about it, when she is already dead? What’s the point of this ass-pulled revelation?

Now imagine if Noctis was aware about her illness. Imagine if Luna joined chocobros after events of Kingsglaive. Imagine her travelling with them, making covenants with Gods, helping Noctis with trials... and slowly dying.

What would Noctis do if he learned “price of the covenant”?

I think we know the answer.

Until Luna’s death Noctis didn’t see himself as Chosen King. He wanted to save Luna and nothing else. He fought against Empire, he wanted to beat the shit out of Ravus, because he thought that Ravus hunted Lunafreya, he would have done everything for her, but he didn’t know what actually killed Luna. He was misguided by Luna herself.

[and then Lunafreya... told Noctis about Prophecy again]

It also explains why Gentiana didn’t help to save Luna in Altissia. Luna should’ve died. Her own precense kept Noctis from fulfillment his duty as Chosen King.

Almost everyone, who knew about Prophecy, tried to hide from Noctis horrible truth about his fate and, which is more important, Luna’s illness. Gentiana, Regis, Luna, Ardyn (just how fucked up is plot of this game if “good guys” used exactly the same methods to manipulate Noctis as main villain) deprived him of any chance to change something. Looks like they were afraid that Noctis can choose another path, isn’t it?

I put Luna’s illness over Noctis’ future sacrifice, because Noctis was ready to die young. It was revealed in Ignis Brotherhood Episode, when Noctis realized that like his dad he will spend his life sources to hold the Wall around Insomnia. Ofc, he didn’t expect to die like in this one cutscene, but he was ready to die anyway. Luna is whole different thing. Her death was last straw for him.

Although, there was a moment, when Noctis had a chance to learn the truth from another character, who was also informed about Prophecy and constantly tried to mess up with it.

Back to chapter Five, when Noctis met Ravus first time. There is a common misconception about this scene, a lot of people thought that Ravus wanted to kill Noctis and Ardyn saved him.** But I think that real reason why Ardyn interrupted them was this particular line:

Ravus told Noctis about trials and consequences, but Noctis didn’t mind about it... and you know what happened later.

Congratulations, Noctis, you fooled yourself.

[now there is another big question - why Luna didn’t write Noctis about Ravus’ true position?]

After this event Ardyn took Ravus on leash. Ravus himself wasn’t dangerous for Noctis, but Ravus’ knowledges and intentions were dangerous for future sacrificial lamb. Remember: Noctis shouldn't have a choice.

People compare FFXV with FFX and FFXIII a lot. These games are opposite to each other. In FFX and FFXIII characters didn’t accept their fate so easy as characters in FFXV, they fought for their lifes and lifes of their beloved (Lightning and Snow wanted to save Sera, Sazh wanted to save his son, Tidus wanted to save Yuna), they fought against destiny, broke the rules and won.

It always bothered me that chocobros never demonstrated any serious resistance. But, well, they simply didn’t know what’s going on. They were desinformed from the beginning.

[That one character in FFXV who just wanted to save his sister was labeled as villain and turned into monster. Just think about it]

Now back to Ardyn and his possible past. Imagine him travelling in company of his King’s Shield, Oracle and may be his own versions of Prompto and Ignis. Imagine them fightning daemons, camping, making covenants with Gods...

But something went wrong. Oracle is dying. Ardyn wanted to save the world, but not for this price. He tried to find a loophole... and he was tricked or made a deal with Ifrit. From perspective of mortal man it was perfect deal - he can save everyone by healing absorbing Starscourge into his own body without sacrifices. But from Astrals’ point of view it was nothing. It was temporary solution.*

I never liked Noctis that much***,but I think that his situation was horrible. People that are most dear to him treatened Noctis like possible failure aka Ardyn 2.0. They were afraid that if he finds out the truth, he will get out of control. They did everything to prevent Noctis’ possible resistance to his fate.

All these people prioritized Prophecy over Noctis’ life, happiness and free will.

Just like Ardyn.

It wasn’t even “kill one to save many”.

Everything is wrong with Final Fantasy XV story.

@stephanythedramaqueen it’s not exactly that Regis’ post, which I promised, but it’s something like prequel to it.

*I prefer Chosen King x Oracle, because it’s good parallel to noctluna. But I also thought about Ardyn x Chosen King (not in shipping manner, but what if Ardyn wanted to save previous Chosen from his fate? So, Chosen King could be Ardyn’s brother or son. Or just his good friend. May be Ardyn wanted to avoid his own death, but I think that it’s too... boring?

**Go and rewatch this scene if you think opposite. Ravus had a good opportunity to choke Noctis with MT hand, but he didn’t do it.

***I wouldn’t mind Regis or Luna actions, if this game didn’t try to show them as epitome of goodness. I wouldn’t mind if Tabata stayed with old concept of Yakuza Regis. I wouldn’t mind if he stayed with concept of antagonistic love interest. But Tabata erased moral ambivalence of Versus XIII. Lunafreya is perfect woman, which Noctis can’t reach and his role model. But she is also woman, who didn’t tell him all truth. Shiva, the most friendly Astral, hides the truth too. And of course, Regis didn’t even try to raise Noctis as king, because he knew true meaning of Chosen King title.

Chosen to die.

#ffxv #final fantasy xv #Noctis Lucis Caelum #ardyn izunia #lunafreya nox fleuret #regis lucis caelum #gentiana #gilgamesh #prompto argentum #gladiolus amicitia #Ignis Stupeo Scientia #ravus nox fleuret #chocobros #VERY CRITICAL #my English is horrible tho #read on your own risk #longread

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wellesleyunderground · 7 years

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Wellesley Writes It: Chatting with Kate Erickson ‘05 (@katefromky), (Writer for SNOWPIERCER), Part II

It is such an honor to catch up with Kate Erickson ‘05, who has written for AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, BBC America’s Copper, and USA’s Mr. Robot, for which she won a Writers Guild Award. Her fiction has been recognized as a finalist in the 2007 Glimmer Train Winter Fiction Open as well as the 2006 Summer Fiction Open Contests. Outside of TV, Erickson worked as an assistant producer for The Moth and as a writer for several non-profit organizations. Her essays have appeared in Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, Wellesley Magazine, the New York Press, and on Medium (@ericksonkate).

Interviewed by Dr Rebecca Danos; image used with permission by Kate Erickson

WU: Thanks so much for doing a follow-up chat with WU, we’re so happy to interview you again! It was a blast interviewing you here last year. What have you been up to since we last chatted?

Thanks for having me! I’m happy to be back. Last year we spoke as I was beginning on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead. Since then I helped write the stories for the fifteen episodes Fear’s season two. I wrote the scripts for the fourth and eleventh episodes of the season, and I was in Mexico for a total of two months to prep and produce those scripts. After we wrapped, I moved over to the writers’ room for TNT’s adaptation of the film Snowpiercer.

WU: Tell us about Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer and your work on it as a TV show.

I can’t say too much, as our work has only recently started. I will say that I love the movie, and I hope that we are on our way to doing it justice. Our showrunner, Josh Friedman, who wrote the pilot, has a passionate, organized, thoughtful take on the material, which has allowed the rest of us easily to jump aboard his vision. Also, we’ve learned there is no end to train puns.

WU: How do you know when a story has the potential for the longevity of a TV series as opposed to a film?

Stories meant for features usually have an end within sight, right from the outset, and fit within more compact framework (and a few hours of airtime). Stories meant for television likely have an end within sight, but usually the framework is less defined (or mutates over time). They benefit from several stories running parallel to each other, can be segmented into weekly units, and embrace conceptual challenges without letting that concept define the project as a whole. But then, for every rule, there’s a magnificent disruption. So who knows, really?

WU: What about your new job excites you?

The Snowpiercer writers’ room has more women than any other I’ve worked on — six women, two men, including the showrunner. I think a few of us had a moment when we walked in the first day, looked around, and realized that none of us were the token lady on staff. Second exciting thing: everyone is confident, respectful, and dedicated. Everyone enjoys thinking about the show after hours, and we all look forward to walking in and sharing our ideas every morning. This sounds like a small thing, but it’s not. Some shows — as a result of any unfortunate confluence of elements — wear their staffs out, and by the second month, everyone’s dragging themselves in, racking their brains for something useful. Third exciting thing: on the lot, there’s a 24/7 gym which we can use for FREE.

WU: You seem to be involved in a lot of political activities. What do you see is the role and relevance of writers in the current global political climate?

What a question! If I had a great answer to this, I might feel like I had a firmer step through the world right now. Writers are communicators, so I think we should be among the first to find words for our frustrations, and we should be leaders in dialogue across barriers. What form that takes, I don’t know. Some people will make great and moving works of art — allegories, direct commentaries, portraits of people and situations. That’s wonderful, because a reality star is the president-elect of the United States. If we were confused before, we now know for sure that a large percentage of Americans are seduced by the screen. We writers should be creating the place for powerful, nuanced characters of color. For all sexualities to experience honest, complicated relationships. For stories about the actual challenges of this world to be engaging, interesting, and, yes, entertaining. Maybe we can seduce America into greater compassion.

Other TV writers (increasingly more, I hope) will step from behind the camera and engage with the world directly. TV stories are made in a writers’ room, with groups of individuals arguing, agreeing, brainstorming alternate directions, conceding. During production, we learn the languages of a dozen different departments, and we problem solve across department lines. We develop skills which should translate to political organizing and outreach. I would ask more writers: please, make space in your schedule to regularly lend the world these skills.

WU: Your involvement in Wellesley also follows the non ministrari sed ministare motto. Can you discuss what inspired you to be involved in founding a prize for Wellesley undergrad writers? What other Wellesley and alumna activities are you involved in? How would you advise alumna to become more involved in our alma mater or other venues to embrace our alma mater’s motto via writing?

I can’t take all the credit for founding the screenwriting prize. Our subgroup of film and TV professionals within the WCLA brainstormed the thing all together. I’ve been very excited about it, because I don’t think enough Wellesley alums are graduating with a writing sample which would help them apply to fellowships and get representation. I hope this competition will encourage the completion of such a sample. I also hope that the awards package of the prize (a trip to LA, with small stipend, for several days of meetings with industry professionals) will encourage creative alums to embrace and develop their business skills. To current students or alums who graduated within the last year — please apply! The English Department and Career Education (formerly CWS) have the application packet.

I’m involved in a few other alumna activities: planning ongoing events for film and TV professionals in LA, contributing to a committee organized by the Alum Association and Career Education to envision a new/ongoing mentorship model for alums, helping the English Department organize their “Working Writers” series, which brings professional writers to campus to speak to students about their paths into their careers.

For alums looking to embrace Wellesley’s motto, http://www.idealist.org has a good database for finding ways to give back with whatever your skill set. Also, though this article was written in reaction to the election (and focuses on NYC-based organizations), all of these organizations can use writerly assistance, no matter the president (and some have branches in cities other than NYC): https://electricliterature.com/lets-get-to-work-practical-ways-for-writers-and-teachers-to-get-involved-right-now-79d6d6b9af29#.x1s3amjgw.

WU: Are there any writers who serve as role models for you?

Alice Munro is a queen of invention and grace. Sometimes I read a page of her work and try to imagine the feeling of having written it. Then I weep in self pity.

I met Vince Gilligan at a party once and blurted, “Everyone says you are the nicest boss!” What I meant to say was, “I respect your storytelling and leadership, and I aspire to your integrity. Please give me one piece of concrete advice so that I might take the first step toward even halfway becoming you.”

On a daily basis, I turn to my mentor, Tom Fontana, and my writer friends, including the best of them, my fiancee, to lead by example. Does Kyle know how closely I observe his decision making, Jen her perfect execution of restraint, Jared his discipline? Hopefully not. Hopefully they do not read this.

WU: What are your go-to films, TV shows, and books that inspire you?

I rewatch over and over Tomorrow We Disappear, a documentary film co-produced by fellow alum Fazeelat Aslam. Everyone should download it here: http://www.twdfilm.com. The questions it raises about the purpose of art and the definition of an artist bring me back to what matters every time.

WU: How do you practice self-care to cope with the stresses of your career (or the LA freeways, for that matter)?

I get outside. I drive east, on Highway 2, and I go into the mountains and hike until I have a nice view. I try to have a chunk of the year on hiatus, so that I can write my own stuff and deep clean my house. I make sure that my life always holds more than writing, so that I don’t feel frantic if I don’t get a job or if I make what feels like an irredeemable mistake on the job.

WU: You went on location this time to Mexico for some of the filming of Fear the Walking Dead. Was this a new aspect of your job description? What was it like?

Shooting in Mexico was new, but going on set for prep and production was not. I covered my scripts on set for both of my previous shows.

Production hours are longer than your hours working in the room, but being in touch with the production process is invaluable. So many elements of the story are decided during prep (What type of backpack should a character wear? An army surplus? One that’s pink plastic?) and so many more during the shooting (If the characters are standing across the room from each other, will the audience understand their intimacy? Let’s get them closer to each other. Etc, etc). You have to juggle a million decisions at once, and your brain is fried at the end of the day. But, god, do you learn a lot about how to make a story come alive, and do you ever have a chance to make sure this particular story is told well.

WU: You write a blog. When did you begin this project, and what inspired you to start it? What is your goal for the blog?

I’ve written personal essays ever since I started telling stories at The Moth. This past year, I brought some of them together in one place, on Medium. I wrote some more, and then realized that, really, they could tell one unified story, so I stopped posting them and started a book proposal — which may go nowhere. I hope it goes somewhere.

WU: What are your other writing projects?

I have three unfinished pilots on my desk. One is much closer to being done than the other two. I really, REALLY need to finish that one.

And I am always writing a commencement speech. No one’s asked me to deliver one, but doing so is my ultimate life goal. If anyone ever mistakes me for someone worthy of that, then I'm going to be ready.

WU: What would you tell a younger Kate who wants to pursue TV writing? What do you wish you had known?

Younger Kate did not know TV writing was a thing, so I would first tell younger Kate that TV writing is a real job which involves creative writing almost all day, almost everyday, and so you do not necessarily have to “write on the side.”

To mid-twenties Kate I would say, you may not get the job, so maintain your other passions, and keep practicing both how to write on the side and how to get your work into the world (see the databases on http://www.pw.org, the SLAM schedule at http://www.themoth.org, the columns open for submission in various papers, screenwriting fellowships and contests at http://www.wga.org/the-guild/advocacy/diversity/writing-programs-conferences-festivals).

To the younger Kate of a few years ago, I would say, turn down opportunities which don’t put you farther down the path you seek, respectfully maintain all your professional relationships, read a lot, take nothing for granted, and for god’s sake, finish your pilot.

WU: What would you tell emerging writers if you could convey to them one or two lessons you’ve learned from your career?

Write everyday, and maintain a list of your “projects,” even if you are embarrassed by the word “project.” Seeing your daily work as part of a greater whole will help galvanize when you wonder if all of this is worthless.

Learn a new, non-writing skill every year. (Productive procrastination/new skills are research into new worlds.)

Treat the friends, colleagues, readers, and performers you’re surrounded by now as lifelong collaborators, because they might be.

Save distinct drafts of each day’s writing so that you may fearlessly rewrite — and recover lost genius if the rewrite is a step in the wrong direction.

Embrace whatever journey you took to get to the place where you are now.

#wellesley writes it #Kate Erickson #Wellesley Underground #Snowpiercer #Wellesley Alum #Fear the walking dead #TV Writer #Writer

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timeagainreviews · 5 years

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Marco... Polo!

Greetings friends! Real quick, I wanted to say thank you to all of the people who read my "The Witchfinders," review. It means a lot! Finally had the time to settle down and rewatch "Marco Polo," only to remember I had a doctor’s appointment. Well, I saw one Doctor at least!

Recently I got into an anime known as "Konosuba." People close to me would know how rare this is, as I don’t usually watch anime. Excited by my newfound fandom, I got inspired to read the manga. Which brought me to light novels, mangas, spin-offs, volumes, and chapters! My word there is a lot to learn! I had to get my wife to explain it to me. For many fandoms, entry is a simple Netflix view away. But for other fandoms, where to start is not as simple. When starting Discworld, a 41 novel series, people often get on Reddit saying "Where do I start?" Comic books can be just as daunting with their thousands of issues already established over the course of decades. Doctor Who is no different.

My friend Tino told me recently that he would have watched Doctor Who by now, but he’s such a completionist, he would want to start at the First Doctor, which would mean watching everything from the beginning. Which I get. Before my friends sat me down to watch the Eighth Doctor, I had looked into the First Doctor. What I discovered is that I was in way over my head. Not only was this cheap old black and white series hard to track down, but it was also rife with missing episodes! The idea of such a thing perplexed me to no end. Having grown up with VHS, and into the digital era, I couldn’t imagine a network destroying old episodes.

When I came into Doctor Who, there were 108 episodes of the show missing. Since then, eleven of them have been recovered. Alas, not one of them was from the 1964 serial "Marco Polo," which to this day, is missing in its entirety. So what’s a girl to do? Reconstructions of course! Various sources have reconstructed lost episodes. The BBC had even animated some of them. For the most part, the BBC frowns upon third-party reconstructions, but isn’t that a bit rich? If I toss a diamond in the bin, I can’t get upset when the rubbish man repurposes it.

For those of you watching along with me, I decided to go with the Loose Cannon reconstructions. I opted out of the colour version, as I was looking for something as close to the original as possible. I also avoided the Mark Eden reenactments for similar reasons. Now then, if you recall, we last left the TARDIS crew on a snowy mountainside. Susan had just found a giant footprint. As I was going through this episode, it somewhat donned on me that we never really get a very satisfying conclusion about this footprint. Ian attributes its size to the sunlight melting a normally sized footprint. But more than just a red herring, the true point of the footprint is to alert you to the fact that our friends aren’t alone on this mountain.

The TARDIS seems not to be working, which is odd considering all of the fault locating Ian and the Doctor did in "The Edge of Destruction," but whatever. Ian and Barbara are sent off to find fuel, which is funny because the show is still looking for excuses to be the show we know now. I guess I’m glad they earned it at least. And they really have earned quite a bit by this, their fourth serial. The TARDIS crew has really come together as a group. The Doctor is still a curmudgeon, but he’s our curmudgeon. Instead of a simple kidnapping situation, Ian and Barbara have gone full-on Stockholm Syndrome with the Doctor. So when they see a man dressed in full 13th Century Mongolian apparel, they go running back to the safety of the TARDIS, their newfound home. By this time the Doctor realises the fault with the TARDIS is in its circuitry, which has knocked out the heating. If they’re to survive the night, they’ll need to come down from the mountain and find a camp.

The Mongols, having seen the crew arrive, want to kill them for being evil spirits. But a white man they will come to know as Marco Polo interrupts the proceedings. Now, when I say “a white man,” I mean "a supposed to be white man." Because most of these “Mongols,” are also white men. I’m not going to pretend to know how many Asian actors were active in 1960’s London, but I do know all but maybe one of them had a speaking role. I find it hard to believe they couldn’t find more. That being said, I’m going to proceed with things on a story level. Yellowface is bad. It’s not my place or desire to excuse it.

Marco invites the Doctor and his companions into his company. They’re travelling across the Gobi Desert to see the great Kublai Khan. Among his fellow travellers are Ping-Cho, a sixteen-year-old girl arranged to be married to a 75-year-old man. And there is also Tegana, a peace emissary from Khan Noghai. He, along with his other Mongol brothers distrust the Doctor, seeing him as some sort of sorcerer with his magic box. Of all of the new characters introduced, I rather liked Ping-Cho. Part of me was thinking what a good companion she would have made, but this is the only story where she makes an appearance. Another great thing about her is that she’s one of the few actors of Asian descent, and she’s really good. Even in a reconstruction, she shines.

Over the next few episodes, not a lot really happens. The company travels across the Gobi desert. Susan and Ping-Cho become friends and get lost in a sandstorm. Tegana spends most of his time plotting against Marco Polo. Marco Polo takes the Doctor’s TARDIS away from him as an acquisition for the great Khan. Doing this causes the Doctor to sulk by himself for the better part of an episode. Lots of things early on give William Hartnell the option to take a rest. Perhaps they were writing around his health, but the Doctor spends a lot of time sitting, or having altitude sickness. Marco tries to get the Doctor to understand that if he can bring the Khan a great gift, perhaps he will permit him to leave back to Venice. The Doctor’s aversion to explaining the TARDIS, mixed with Tegana’s distrust of him, causes Marco to bar the Doctor from entering the TARDIS.

Planning to poison the water gourds, Tegana goes off into the night. But Susan and Ping-Cho follow and get lost in a sandstorm, causing Tegana to have to hastily slash open the gourds instead. With not enough water to finish the trip, the travellers face hard times. Where they travelled fifteen miles one day, they travelled ten the next, then eight. I’m not sure the writer, John Lucarotti, understands the desert as he depicts it as hot, even at night time. With this kind of heat, they’ll need water, and fast! Tegana rides ahead to find an Oasis, where he finds water, but only for himself. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Susan, having been let back into the TARDIS, are able to supply the company with water condensed on the TARDIS walls. I was impressed with the good people at Loose Cannon for digitally adding in water droplets. Those small bits of animation act as an oasis in and of themselves. At first, Marco thinks the Doctor has been lying to him about their water reserves, requiring the Doctor to explain the concept of condensation. It’s an edutainment moment.

Speaking of Marco, he’s a hard one to pin down. In many ways, I rather like Mark Eden’s portrayal of him. He’s a rather dopey, but lovable character. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the real man himself. Though the script does endeavour to make him realistic, as John Lucarotti used actual diary entries from Polo as a reference. I did, however, find myself constantly frustrated with his uncertainty. I understand that it’s helpful in creating believable characters to give them flaws. But in a lot of this serial, I felt like Marco Polo was a bit naive and indecisive. It made it hard to really like him, which I get, to a point. He needs to be a bit of an antagonist at times. He’s taken the TARDIS, he’s siding with Tegana’s awful lies, and he kowtows to Kublai Khan like a cheap suit. These things are supposed to aggravate the audience, but it happens so often, it begins to feel like padding. We can’t have Marco Polo being more assertive. That would turn this seven-parter into a four-parter!

One of the things I love about this serial is its use of the Marco Polo diary entries as narration. Along with overlays of a map of Northern China, we get nice little interludes from the great traveller. In many ways, it reminded me of "Star Trek," with the Captain’s log. It’s a rare opportunity to get narration in Doctor Who, much less by a character that isn’t either the Doctor or a companion. Like many map montages, this one is used to plot our journey across the Gobi desert. Renewed with their TARDIS water, they arrive at a way-station in Tun-Huang. Here they restock and Ping-Cho recites the story of Aladdin. As a fan of Ping-Cho, I was saddened not to be able to see this performance acted out. I’m sure it was rather charming. During the performance, Tegana slips out to see about some shady shit he’s up to, but Barbara, who’s been onto him for a while now, tails him all the way to "The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes." Tegana meets with a couple of men named Malik and Acomat. Evidently, Khan Noghai has an army on it’s way to Karakorum. Barbara gets kidnapped, but the Doctor and co. are able to rescue her, while Tegana is able to avoid association.

Looking for another way to rid himself of the busybodies from the TARDIS, Tegana tries to draw a wedge even further between the Doctor and Marco. He convinces Marco that Susan and Ping-Cho have an unusual bond together, causing him to separate the two friends. His trust is even further tested when Tegana is proven correct that the Doctor has a second TARDIS key on his person. More than ever, the TARDIS crew are more like captives than travelling companions. Tegana plans an assassination with Acomat to finally rid himself of these pests. But Ian is able to escape Polo’s internment, only to discover their guard is dead.

I’ve learned a bit watching this serial. Like Ian throws bamboo on the fire to scare off their would be assassins. Bamboo under intense heat explodes, evidently. I also learned that the word assassin comes from the Arabic “ḥashshāshīn,” or “eaters of hashish,” making this the first mention of narcotics in Doctor Who history. Neat! Now, either it was the sound of exploding bamboo or the killing of their leader Acomat at the hands of Tegana, but the raiders leave the camp. Tegana, once again, has enough plausible deniability to avoid any sort of recourse from the great Marco Polo, wet blanket that he is. However, after taking swords against a common enemy, our friends seem to have regained Marco’s trust, allowing Susan and Ping-Cho to talk again, and freedom to roam.

The TARDIS is about to get split off from the rest of the caravan, which would separate them even further. Out of options, Ian tries to explain that the TARDIS is the only way home, even going as far as to tell Marco about its time travelling capabilities. But it’s no use. Having seen where he hides them, Ping-Cho gives Susan one of the hidden TARDIS keys. The Doctor and his friends head off to leave under the cover of night. But Tegana nabs Susan as she’s entering, and uses her as leverage to get the key back from the Doctor. Ping-Cho, afraid of the repercussions of revealing the key, runs away. Ian discovers her and the TARDIS have been kidnapped by one of Tegana’s men. Tegana pulls a sword on Ian and Ping-Cho, but one of Polo’s men arrives with a band of soldiers. Even then Tegana smooth talks his way out of things.

Finally, at Peking, the great capital of China, we’re introduced to Kublai Khan. Much like "The Witchfinders," relieved a lot of tension with it’s take on King James I, "Marco Polo," finds its foil in Kublai Khan. Played as a decrepit old man with twinkly eyes, he adds a bit of humour to the proceedings. The Doctor refuses to kowtow to the Khan. Perhaps it’s due to a lack of respect, or from a bad back, or just a case of the old. Either way, he can barely muster a bow. It’s a pretty classic moment, that I’m sure was even more charming when you could actually see it! I get the feeling that the two of them bond over mutual achiness. The Doctor and the Khan play rounds of backgammon, which the Doctor uses to win back the TARDIS, but ultimately fails, despite earlier winnings.

Unimpressed by Polo’s gift of the Doctor’s TARDIS, which was not his to give, the Khan seems in no hurry to bestow the boon of returning home. Ping-Cho and Ian tell the Khan of Tegana’s machinations, but Tegana claims they are evil sorcerers. Not sure who to believe, the Khan decides to hold court. It’s all very tedious, this constant back and forth of trust and distrust. Tegana is really wearing out his welcome. While the Doctor and his friends are taken into custody, Ping-Cho learns that the elderly man to whom she was to be wed has died suddenly after taking an elixir of life. Basically, old boy overdosed on ancient Viagra because he was worried about his vitality. I shit you not. It’s such a "by the way," random turn of events. At least her character got closure?

The Doctor and his friends escape by tripping the world’s dumbest guard. They make their way back to the throne room where Tegana has just slew the Khan’s Vizier while attempting to kill the Khan. Using this as a chance to grow a spine, and maybe regain the Khan’s favour, Marco draws his sword against Tegana. Now I know old Doctor Who is not going to have great sword fights. At best we can hope for some fight choreography, but nothing too flashy. And let me tell you, friends, I would take that over still images of a sword fight any day. After what I assume was a gallant battle, Marco disarms Tegana, and he is taken into custody. However, unwilling to be taken alive, Tegana throws himself upon a spear, thus ending his own life. I was actually a bit shocked, in all honesty.

Having gained the favour of the Khan again, we’re left with the knowledge that Marco Polo will once again see his home of Venice. Ping-Cho no longer has to pull an Anna Nicole Smith. Tegana’s plan has been thwarted, and Kublai Khan is prepared for whatever forces Noghai has planned for him. But what about the TARDIS? Feeling benevolent, Kublai Khan simply gives the TARDIS back to the Doctor. Or maybe it had something to do with an unfinished game of backgammon that was tipping in the Doctor’s favour. Susan and Ping-Cho say goodbye to one another, and like in "The Witchfinders," a great ruler and his subjects watch as the TARDIS disappears into thin air. Marco ponders whether the Doctor and his companions are now in the past or the future.

Final Thoughts: Hoo boy. Let me tell you. I am really glad I don’t have to watch another reconstruction for a while. As reconstructions go, this is one of the worst. Literally, every episode is missing in this seven-part serial. Not even a snippet of footage exists. But none of this is really the fault of the story. I will say, however, that large swaths of the storyline were very tedious and repetitive. It was basically a constant trade-off between kidnappings. If it wasn’t Barbara, it was Ping-Cho, or Susan, or the whole team. You could have devoted two episodes to the travelling, and two episodes to the stuff in Peking and the pacing wouldn’t have killed you.

On the plus side, I was happy to see the Doctor in China. As series 11 has proven, it’s nice to see the Doctor visit other parts of the world than the U.K. There are parts when the music and atmosphere come together to make some truly creepy stuff. The singing sands were pure Radiophonic bliss (see: a bunch of noise). The costumes and sets were brilliant. This also marks the first time in Doctor Who when actual animals were used on set with the horses. So that’s kinda cool. It all lent a lot of credence to the setting, though I can’t speak to any level of historical accuracy. However, a lot of the realism and setting is thrown under the bus with the constant and all-pervasive yellowface happening onscreen.

Carole Ann Ford once said this was her favourite episode to shoot. Perhaps it was the fun costumes and sets, or maybe she formed a bond with Zienia Merton, the girl who plays Ping-Cho. For me, I don’t really see it. There’s not a lot of plot, for starters. As I said earlier, it could have been edited down considerably, and nothing would have suffered for it. I do appreciate the sheer spectacle of it. On a level of classic Doctor Who, it’s a feat of design. I’m also really glad to have watched it a second time because I didn’t pay much attention the first time around. I wasn’t looking forward to a seven-part slideshow, so my investment level was pretty low. Even still, I’ve not got a lot to say about it. Basically, unless they find the episodes intact, I don’t plan to watch it again.

#Doctor Who #marco polo #william hartnell #william russell #jacqueline hill #carole ann ford #susan foreman #ian chesterton #barbara wright #ian and barbara #classic doctor who #first doctor #bbc #tardis #loose cannon #time and time again

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