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pastelpressmachine · 10 months

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Black Mirror’s Demon 79 and the Justification of Brown Feminine Rage (warning: spoilers)

What if intrusive thoughts can be valid, and it is okay, maybe even necessary to act on them sometimes? If violence isn’t the answer, why must it so often be the question?

Set in Northern England, 1979, “Demon 79″ is the final episode of Black Mirror’s sixth season. It follows Nida, a meek sales assistant with a mousy appearance, who is tasked with the most complicated and important mission: to save the world by taking the lives of three human sacrifices in the days leading up to May Day.

Champions of the extended metaphor, Black Mirror employ the talents of Anjana Vasan (an Indian-born, Singaporean-raised, and U.K.-based actress) who plays Nida Huq and Paapa Essiedu (an English actor of Ghanaian descent) who plays Gaap*, the demon Nida accidentally invokes upon finding a talisman that begins this stressful mission of her. Gaap, devilishly handsome and charming, trying to earn his “wings” and be initiated into demonhood reassures the panicking Nida that she is not going mad, she is not a bad person, and the people she is encouraged to kill are vetted through his soul-reading as deserving of death.

*Gaap is considered through stories of demonology and texts related to the Testament of Solomon to be the Prince of Hell, with angels as siblings and a penchant for manipulating women and rendering them infertile.

Gaap adjusts his form to something more comfortable for Nida by changing into a look-a-like of Bobby Farrell from the famous disco-funk German-Caribbean vocal group known as Boney M. Having the representation of a demonic entity be a Black man while allowing him to manifest into a symbol of appeal for Nida turns the inherent vilification of Black men on its head without contributing to the hypersexualization of Black bodies. Gaap is never presented as a love interest for her, but viewers do get to see them develop a snarky back-and-forth. I almost never see Black and brown leads banter like this.

Another reason I’m glad Gaap was not portrayed as a sinful symbol of sexual desire is because Indian women already have to navigate a shame-fueled purity culture, and I wouldn’t want to see her grapple with her feelings for someone who is not only outside of her race and religion, but isn’t human. Writers avoided the idea that to love Gaap was to love something forbidden in all possible ways. And we don’t need to see Black folks depicted as not-human. The history of both American cinema and politics has acted on that dangerous perception already.

When I saw the opening scene of Nida with her wide eyes waking up to get ready for work, I recognized the doe-like innocence in her face as the one I have been raised to emulate. She looks so much like my mother 30 years ago. Minimal makeup, modest clothes, hair neat and tied back.

Moments of Nida’s inner demons being unleashed start off as fantasies she has. She is quietly scurrying through her life as an oppressed minority in 1970′s England, where xenophobia and racism showed up everywhere, from the actions of the British Nationalists to the microaggressions Nida faces at work for simply bringing her potent biryanis to the stock room and “stinking up the place”.

Indian women are some of the least visible in politics historically and presently because we are raised to not make a fuss of things, to be quiet and reserved and let white people act how they want towards us because we are guests in their countries, even when they’ve colonized and pillaged our own. I feel Nida’s pain as she thanks the white people around her for the bare minimum (allowing her an alternative place to eat, such as the basement - where she finds the talisman that changes her life) and avoids the confrontation and rage within her, even sighing in defeat at the NF* tag that has been spray-painted on her front door.

*NF stands for the National Front, a far-right, fascist political party in the United Kingdom, founded in 1967.

I crave catharsis for Nida. And for her late mother, whom she has a photo of in her apartment. She explains after the first sacrifice that her mother was perceived as crazy, and now Nida is afraid that people will think the same of her, and this time, because of what she’s done, it will be true. I wondered if Nida’s mom was called crazy because she had stood up for herself, reported abuse or harassment that was occurring within the Indian community itself or in her own home, or tried to leave Nida’s father. None of these scenarios would make the show seem like fiction at all, at least not for many of the South Asian women trapped by the chains of patriarchal ideals.

There are moments where I am concerned Nida is enamored by Michael Smart, a white politician giving a campaign speech outside the store she works at, as if his mere acknowledgment of her existence without visible disgust is enough to make her heart flutter. Again, I enjoy seeing a Black and brown lead in this episode, and knowing that other viewers are getting to see the many instances of white culture that exposes the racist ignorance and unfair power structures that exist in western society, workplaces, and even the homes of white folks themselves. (I was so happy for little Laura to hear of what was done to her assailant).

When it comes to stopping the world from absolute destruction in a nuclear holocaust, the heroes have never really been people who look like Nida. (It is worth noting that the head writer for this episode was Bisha K. Ali, who also is the executive writer for Disney+’s Ms. Marvel and has tackled many of the same representation issues in her work). People like her don’t have the permission to be loud, angry, or violent without consequences, no matter how justified. Meanwhile, with unchecked authority, bombs go off and innocent people die and children cower in their beds and white men get to act on their worst traits and impulses, however sinful, with little to no accountability.

Even when Nida is being violent, it is for the greater good. Because it has to be. Even female rage has to serve a purpose for others. It cannot just be hers. If she’s going to be angry, she better be trying to solve crime or save the world.

And through this most guttural and sometimes poisonous part of being a human, Gaap sees her. Maybe it’s because he has transformed in the image of Nida’s celebrity crush or maybe it’s truly the way in which he interacts with her, Gaap sees Nida. He recognizes the type of violence she would and would not indulge in. He tells her she should feel more at ease after killing the first sacrifice, a pedophile she clobbers with a brick before he falls into a river. He continuously recognizes her hesitation, and suggests “Dutch courage”, or booze before following through with the second kill. It is inappropriate in Indian culture for women to drink, which Nida notes when she tells Gaap she doesn’t. Then he asks her if she wants to, something, from the expression on Nida’s face, it doesn’t seem like she has ever been asked.

Upon entering a pub full of (yes, all white) men, Nida is dismissed by the (also white) female bartender who looks just as irritated by her existence as her coworker Vicky, who had reported how unfair it was that she had to smell Nida’s lunches and endure the lingering scent at work. An older (also white) bartender (who might be the owner) takes her order with the same polite and quiet discomfort of her boss, who had presented her with the basement lunch “solution” to appease Vicky. It’s subtle but the approaches in which different age groups and genders of white English folk take with engaging with Nida demonstrate the variety of ways in which people of colour experience discrimination. At its worst, it is violent hate crimes and unjust legislation that mutates into full blown genocide. At its mildest, it’s passive aggression and strained tolerance.

It’s more apparent with the second killing (of a man named Keith who killed his wife) that Nida does have the option to be as righteous as she wants to be, which is something I really appreciated about her character. Even if she was killing to prevent the literal apocalypse, and the clock was 6 minutes from midnight -- she must follow the cadence of at least one kill a day -- the moment she has to hear Keith’s justification for what he did and his attempt at absolving himself with the statement “I’m not a bad husband, but --” she swings a hammer at his head to shut him up. She then bashes his head in repeatedly, even to the point where Gaap is wincing at the sight. If this was just about killing people to stop a bigger disaster and loss of life, she wouldn’t be losing herself in the act like she did.

The third and final kill occurred in the next few minutes, as Keith’s roommate, witnesses her trying to exit, which presents itself as problem in allowing her to continue with the mission if she’s arrested. It’s messy because it was fast, the least premeditated, and she doesn’t know who the man is or if he’d done anything as bad as the previous two skills. Because of this, she’s much more apologetic as the man dies, later finding out from Gaap he was Keith’s brother, Chris, an “ordinary” person who would not have been one of Nida’s choices.

But as Gaap says, “What’s done is done”. And the three lines on the talisman should have disappeared indicating that Nida has fulfilled her duty. But it still has a line remaining, so a confused Gaap dials 666 (of course) on Nida’s rotary phone to explain the issue to his superiors. He tells Nida that Keith apparently didn’t count because he’s a murderer and anyone who’s been directly responsible for the death of another human being (not counting future deaths they might be responsible for) is off limits. Chris counted because his death still occurred just before midnight.

Nida doesn’t snap psychologically and decide she enjoys this and is going to become a serial killer, which is a direction I find common in other Black Mirror episodes, where the white and/or male character loses it and/or goes on a killing spree. She grapples once more with her initial unwillingness to participate in this because even when given the go-ahead and to have the most reason to, she enters a mental boxing ring with her instinct v. culture v. morals. From my own experience and what I have seen in my own community, outward expression of rage is never the first emotion a woman reaches for...because she can’t always afford to in the way others can.

“My whole life, I never wished harm on anyone.”

Gaap tells her what’s at risk for him, and he describes a fate of punishment that she says sounds like her life now. She stands, empathizing with an actual demon, and deciding to continue with the mission. Gaap also reminds her this isn’t solely for him; she possessed a darkness within her that drew her to the talisman. So, he asks her, who pissed her off?

To Possette’s Shoes they go.

Vicky, a prime choice for the grand finale, delegates the task of attending to the young girl Laura (from earlier) and her mother to Nida. Because the little girl creeps Vicky out. Gaap informs Nida that because she killed Laura’s dad, Laura doesn’t kill herself at 28 and instead goes to therapy, becomes a mother at 29, and a grandmother at 57. It’s a comforting thought amidst the mayhem of it all.

Michael Smart makes an appearance once more, as his father and the boss’s father, are old college friends, and Nida’s boss had promised him a suit and shoes on the house. The boss unsurprisingly selects Vicky as the sales attendant, with Gaap grumbling to himself as Nida’s eyes go from ‘excited crush’ to just crushed. Her boss then chooses to notice the boxes on the floor from when Vicky could’ve been cleaning up and hisses at Nida, “Could you pick up the bloody mess?” This prompts Gaap to suggest the boss be the next to go.

Nida moves on to cleaning up the boxes, eavesdropping on the conversation between Michael and Vicky. When Michael says he hopes he has her vote, she says she is siding with the National Front who she believes will help rid the town of all the pesky foreigners. And then Michael Smart reveals himself to be what a lot of politicians are: covert bigots. He explains to Vicky that an explicitly xenophobic campaign would be too polarizing, so you have to elect a moderate who can win over the masses and put the evil plans in motion. (Sound familiar?)

There is a subliminal language spoken among white supremacists, even if they smile politely at people who look like me and Nida. And this revelation that she witnesses presents an even more justifiable option for Nida’s third kill.

She asks Gaap to give her information about Michael’s future, which he hesitantly reveals to her. Michael Smart wins the election, eventually becomes prime minister, and leads a new world order built on white supremacy. Nida decides he is the final target, but Gaap tells her he wouldn’t be the right choice because the Satanic world he comes from is a fan of his work and everyone there would want Michael to be able to facilitate the upcoming deaths that occur as a result of him first winning the election to become a member of Parliament.

But Nida is set on him, or no one, giving Gaap the ultimatum to get on board or risk his own banishment after failing his initiation.

Meanwhile, a police investigation occurs which leads to the bar staff identifying Nida as a “muttering Indian woman” who was at the bar the night Keith died. Len Fisher of Tipley Police arrives at Nida’s apartment, as part of routine questioning, and she invites him in, with Gaap’s suggestion to kill him.

Fisher is the first white person to speak to her as person, too, even though he’s there on the premise of Nida being a potential suspect. Maybe this is more covert trust-building behaviour, maybe as a cop, maybe as someone generally suspicious of people of colour. He is the most mild-mannered, middle-man in the whole story.

Fisher follows Nida who follows Smart after his speech at town hall. This is where I’m a little surprised but not displeased. The other episodes end with something sad, violent, and/or redemptive. Nida gets a bit of everything, but as with all things Black Mirror, not in the way you’d expect. In society, Nida may be reduced to a mad woman telling an insensible story, enduring the same perception people had of her mother. But society doesn’t last long, and she walks off into a kind of nuclear, fiery sunset with a new friend.

The deadline for the sacrifices had been May Day, also known as Workers’ Day or International Workers’ Day to commemorate the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Nida, representing intersectional identities of the working class (immigrants, women, people of colour), was not listened to or believed, and the world ended because of it. Her weapon of choice had been a hammer, a tool meant for building that was used for destructive but necessary purposes. This could be a reference to the Communist party’s symbol of a hammer and sickle, which represents proletarian solidarity. The meaning of the episode, particularly its ending, captures the significance of the working class and how our world relies on them to function and last. When their efforts are stunted, their sacrifices are in vain, or they are not heard, the world ends.

#black mirror #demon 79 #tv series review #black mirror season 6 #paapa essiedu #digital illustration #fanart #commissions open #anjana vasan

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jademickian · 4 months

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I think it’s pretty neat that stargazing was a Gallavich thing.

In season 2, Mickey says “you want us to put a blanket out and look for shooting stars next?” There is that—once again—an inner desire hidden behind the veil of a witty rhetoric. The dawn is popularly the symbol of new hope, the sun coming up shining its light, enveloping the ground with a potential of joy and rebirth. But with stargazing, the darkness in which it transpires precedes the coming of dawn. It is the hoping itself, the wishing, the tilting of head towards the sky, like the heart whispering a prayer to the universe. The sun is a very bright star that illuminates all. It’s overwhelming with its promise of renewal and warmth of love. That's why it’s much easier to look at tinier, less brighter stars at night. The multitude of them enough to give light—not too much—but just enough to stare at, so it doesn’t hit you all at once. The dawn would tell him he deserves to love and be loved, and that contrary to his belief, he’s not fucked for life. It’s a crazy jump, and the blaze of it might even burn. Meanwhile, the twinkle of the stars would tell him that a boy likes him enough to hang out with him, and that it is okay to long for something so far out of reach, for now.

In season 5, Ian is having some grass time (he’s lying on the grass), stargazing. Earlier than this, he mentions you can never see this many stars from Chicago because of light pollution. Mickey calls, and he holds it up to stare at his ringing phone. Contemplating whether he should or should not. He stares at the stars—weaver of fates, guider of travels. Desire, once again, for answers. A confirmation. Some direction. There must be something because here, they’re clearer, unlike back home where it’s hindered by stray city lights. Maybe this could help clear his clouded mind. Maybe he could draw constellations by connecting the dots and it’ll show him what to keep, what to lose. A glint. A flicker. “That’s the most important thing, to find somebody to love, right? Who loves you back for who you are.” But the thing about the stars’ divine message is that it could often be misunderstood. Misinterpreted. Maybe the stars will sigh, oh well. Guess you could take detours. Because another thing about stars is that, although enigmatic to a fault, they know where everything must go. They are close to the language of the gods. Perhaps for now, the answer is to be apart because in the grand scheme of things, it will all play out as planned.

In season 7, together, under the very same stars. It is hope and desire realized. Who would’ve thought? It was inexplicable, almost alien, that this is how their story is going now. But to the stars, it’s an old song. This is exactly where they should be. It’s the same narrative back then under the bleachers, when they didn’t know better. When voicing your feelings seems a futile and gargantuan feat. It’s the same story now, when they reconvene after, celestial forces refusing to cut these ties. When feelings are all you could voice out, as you’ve learned that if they swim inside you long enough, you’ll drown. “God I missed you.” The stars have known since the beginning. Its plans, slowly unfolding themselves. The wisdom they hold seem nearer now that if reached by the fingertips could be cold to the touch—not yet, not yet.

But even stars could grow impatient.

Even stargazer lilies—observer of heavenly bodies, predictor of futures—bloom facing the sky. Upwards, toward the stars, the flower looks upon. Maybe they’re ready for the dawn. The sun, the bigger and brighter star. The ball of fire catapulting itself, yet it doesn’t burn. It caresses, warm to the touch, and over the land gives life. It is here before them, and it will be here after.

“Now?” Now.

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young-royals-confessions · 6 months

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I think a lot of people expect a conclusion to the series to mean everything gets wrapped up in neat little boxes tied up with bows and that we know exactly what happens regarding everything going on.

I think sometimes we forget that we don't have to know how everything would work out to find a conclusion. I know we all have opinions about symbolism and meaning in YR, but some things don't necessarily need to be wrapped up in that way. It's okay to leave us imagining what could happen in their futures.

I mean this my thought based on the people who are afraid they are going to rush season 3 to show us everything. Sometimes a conclusion is simply knowing that the character is in the right path and not knowing their final decisions.

I hope this makes sense the way I meant it to. Also, I'm sure season 3 will be just as incredible as the first two. I have high hopes

🤞

#young royals #yr s3

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penguin--rat · 8 months

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my take on the lads!!:) headcannons under cut

Moon (she/he) - tallest of these guys, around 195~cm, 200~cm counting her antennae. -she's bulky, like those old computers! can't move her neck or joints all that much. - the 'moon' on her forehead isn't painted on, but actually a rock! perhaps a moon rock... its primary colour is a reddish magenta, but it changes colour as light bounces off of it, so it can look orange at times. - she gets dented and rusted after the collapse. - her colony is pretty chill. she added the pearl to her cloak herself:)

Pebbles (he/any) - he's Not the shortest of these guys, nor is he the shortest of the local group (ui is). about 162~cm, 166~cm with the antennae? who knows! - his cloak is too big for him. he ties it up with a piece of cloth, so that he looks Cooler and such. it falls of after his collapse. his puppet gets cracked in certain parts, during the collapse, too. - the spots above his eyes are painted on. - not a headcannon. i tried to make him look childish, but still mature. pretty happy with the result:) - colony similar to above.

Suns (he/they/any) - like moon, theyre around 190~cm, but shorter than her. - the red spots on his forehead are painted on. - the pearls around his neck hold religious meanings - poems, stories, prayers, art, and mantras are burned onto them. - i dont think suns likes being a 'godlike being', like how pebbles describes himself. but, what can he do? he is a god in a way, to his citizens, and, if he tells them to stop worshiping him, they get upset. so. its easier to just let them be.

Sig (they/any) - they were orignially 175~cm, which isn't short at all, but they wanted to be taller. so they made themselves some 'boots'/'stilts'. now they're about 185~cm - the green symbol on their forehead is practically burned on. its not going anywhere. - he's a 'deviant'. likes to indulge in life's wonders. - i've come to make an announcement. sig is a bitchass motherfucker, he was a bitch to design, i can't bear to look at him any longer. let's move on

SOS (she/any) - shortest of these guys, 160~cm, 170~ with the antennae? idk - same as sig, x symbol burned on. - i dont think she intended to ascend. i dont think she was part of any grand plan. to me, she is one of the last iterators produced, one of the last straws to grasp on or smth. they didn't build her because they believed she could solve their problem, but because they could (like with many/most(?) other iterators, i think). i think she was just a normal iterator. i think, like sig, she indulged in life's pleasures. maybe she was just.. testing things one day, and she found the anwser. didn't even mean to. but she did. - i just think she's neat:)

thank you for reading!

#rain world #fanart #looks to the moon #seven red suns #no significant harassment #five pebbles #sliver of straw #rain world downpour #downpour spoilers

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sodium-chloride-blog · 9 months

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Forgot to type up the red team face hc's thought process, but I'm back from Quebec now, so...

Sarge was — fittingly — the biggest enigma. His design came to me almost instantly, and he went through basically zero changes. Somehow I realized there wasn't really anything for me to add except for maybe a few extra scars as time went on. The first design felt accurate right off the bat.

Somehow I just knew the first design I drew up for him was also the only design necessary. dude just looks like that.

I had a bit of a harder time figuring out what to do for Grif, but I had a few designs I had in mind and used them all the same way I did for Tucker.

Shorter hair in BGC like everyone else, except I gave him some stubble too because Grif would 100% rarely ever bother to shave.

Obviously added the stitches where Sarge used bits of Simmons to stitch Grif back together.

Hair grown out by the time the Recollection trilogy starts up, casually tied up in a messy bun because Grif definitely wouldn't put in the effort to cut it.

Finally a full on ponytail and much more facial hair by Chorus by the time he's matured and gained some confidence.

I was admittedly a little conflicted on whether to give Grif a bun for Recollection or Chorus, since putting his hair up might have been visually symbolic of his character development as he starts to put in effort for things/people he cares about. I'm still unsure if I made the right call leaving the bun in Recollection Grif's design and letting his hair grow out in Chorus.

Lopez is just Lopez lmao

Simmons felt somewhat easier since I had a clearer idea of what I wanted him to look like from beginning to end.

Same military-appropriate length haircut in BGC as everyone else.

Freckles because they just fit perfectly on him.

Awkward nerd smile, complete with dimples and long face/nose for maximum nerdy charm (or lack thereof).

Slightly grown out hair but not too much by Recollection, plus he has the cybernetic replacements on his face now. I tried to make the pupil on his cyborg eye more rectangular than his natural eye but I don't think it's very noticeable.

Finally grew out his bangs. I was torn between this haircut and the shorter, nerdier one, so I used them both. Plus he finally grows some facial hair by Chorus as he matures into his own person.

I like the idea that Simmons gradually growing his hair out past what the acceptable length is in the UNSC is a good representation of how he's grown as a person and doesn't adhere to the rules as strictly as he did in BGC. Something about becoming less of a suck-up and gaining confidence in his own choices and leadership.

Thought it would be a neat detail that he eventually gets a scar through the eyebrow that matches the one I gave Sarge.

Please please PLEASE tell me someone noticed where Grif and Simmons are each looking.

I struggled with Donut's design the most since he seems to have the most variation in design. I knew I wanted baby-faced blonde for BGC but coming up with a design that felt right afterwards was rough.

I ended up going through a few sketches for Donut before settling on a face with rounded cheeks and nose for a sort of boyish look.

By Recollection he has the face scars thanks to the plasma grenade. I ended up keeping Donut facing left even though it covered the hearing aid since I didn't want to throw off the balance on the page. (sorry)

I also had to give him an ear piercing. I just had to.

Some hair probably got burned off thanks to the explosion, so I imagine Donut probably gave himself an undercut on the undamaged side to make the hairstyle symmetrical. I don't think Donut had access to any hair dye during Recollection, so chances are his roots started to grow out.

By Chorus I wanted him to fully accept his face scars, so he ditched the eyepatch by then. Self love, baby.

His eyebrow on his scarred side has somewhat grown back by then, but not completely. The same goes for Donut's hair, though I imagine it grew out just enough for Donut to settle on a very stylish slicked back undercut, cuz y'know. 🫳💁‍♂️✨🌈

Donut got most of his character development post-Chorus during The Shisno Trilogy which is... Technically retconned now(?) thanks to Reconstruction coming out this Fall, so the last design for Donut probably would have fit season 15-17 more than Chorus when he really grew into his own. However, I think the design still works for Chorus to show how he matured over time.

ngl I kinda just threw something together for Doc. I couldn't really think of a design for him since there's a LOT of variation online. I'm not entirely happy with it, but it'll do for now unless I come up with something better later.

Maybe I'll draw more rvb characters sometime... Maybe the AI?

#red vs blue #rvb #sarge #dexter grif #lopez the heavy #dick simmons #frank dufresne #franklin delano donut

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nikofortuna · 7 months

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JTTW Chapter 13 Thoughts

Chapter 13 for the @journeythroughjourneytothewest Reading Group! Very nature heavy this time!

On the title of the chapter while “detain” works well enough since they do hold up Tang Sanzang for a little bit, I prefer the other translations going with “entertains” for the J.F. Jenner translation and roughly translated “cares for” for the German one.

Tang Sanzang really enjoys making vows doesn’t he. I hope this won’t come back to bite him later.

Since they get mentioned multiple times this chapter and I already figured out that flowers in this story may not be arbitrarily chosen I looked into the Chinese flower language of chrysanthemums! These lovely flowers.

First up chrysanthemums are Autumn flowers, which tracks perfectly here given that it is late Autumn. Additionally they apparently are the flower of the ninth moon aka ninth month which is the month in which Tang Sanzang departed, so that works exceptionally well too! Also they symbolize longevity, which could tie into the story as well.

Oooh, the travel group is technically comprised of four people currently, which is deliberately mentioned! And it is the fourth night watch when they set off this time as well! Now if that isn’t blatant foreshadowing through the meaning of numbers.

I really love those little details with flower meanings and numerology.

When Tang Sanzang “was so frightened that his spirit left him” everyone who watched so much as a single anime probably had a very specific kind of image in their head for this.

I’d like to draw some attention to the depiction of those yaoguai in how they interact with each other and that they actually left the horse alone. It makes me see them as not really malicious as such, they kind of just treat humans how humans would treat animals and given that they are in part animal, well you can guess how that fits together.

Ah yes, they didn’t eat him because of his nature. And literal plot armour.

At this point I would also like to present the illustration in the German translation this chapter. Particularly focusing on Tang Sanzang, who is tied up like a little package! I don’t know it looks kind of funny to me context aside.

Though it’s also interesting because when you imagine someone tied up you tend to do so like in Westerns for example with the rope tied around the arms and chest in a cylindrical manner and not this net-like manner as depicted here.

Tang Sanzang could really just have told Boqin from the start that he doesn’t eat meat. Though to be fair he likely had a lot going through his head at the time.

Lastly with the deer mentioned I would like to show off this neat info graphic I found on different species of deer! Looking at it I noticed how all the deer in the translation are specifically European deer, so those are definitely not the actual kind of deer!

Subsequently I got curious and checked the Chinese original for some deer. First one is [獐] or Chinese Water Deer! That character is translated as Roe in Google translate, when Musk would at least provide a similar look with their teeth, so I’m happy that Anthony C. Yu chose Musk Deer here.

Then we have [麂], which are indeed Muntjac Deer as the Google translate told me! Turns out what isn’t clear in the info graphic is that there are Muntjac in Europe and Asia! So I find it a bit odd that Anthony C. Yu went with Fallow Deer instead. The J.F. Jenner translation goes with the same translation as Google translate gave me by the way.

The herd of deer later are Water Deer again. The dozen deer mentioned seem to just use the general character for deer, though feel free to correct me if the character [鹿] does mean a specific kind of deer after all.

Also if you are curious what kind of deer meat Boqin ate, it’s Water Deer.

#xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw #tang sanzang #jttw reading group #jttw book club #chrysanthemum #deer #chinese water deer #muntjac deer

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olivermorningstar · 5 months

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“Night, night after day black flowers blossom.”

If day time was for working, then night time was for lovers like Oliver and Sariel.

As the day began to wind to a close, the only thing that Oliver could think about was when he could see Sariel again. The towel in his hand brushed over the countertop, removing any traces of chemicals left behind from the day’s work. It wasn’t anything particularly difficult - mash some plants, see what you could separate from them, identify the compounds and what they could be used for. However, it was work that wore him out and left him rather lonesome when it was all said and done.

With a sigh, he walked back over to the washbin and lifted it up, carrying it outside to dispose of it all properly. Tomorrow it would be filled back up and the process would start again, but the purples and blues of the evening night sky told him it was time to head for his lover’s office.

The walk passed by quickly, and before Oliver knew it, he reached up to knock on Sariels’ door. “Come in.” He heard Sariel say on the other side. He had a good idea who would be entering at this time, but he could never be too sure. Yet, as the door opened and he saw Oliver step into view, he should feel his shoulders relax.

He lifted his head from his paperwork and laid his black quill down as he looked to the window behind him with a sigh. “Is it really that time already?” He asked. Sariel turned back to his paperwork and gathered it up. Once it was neat and organized, he slipped them into his desk drawer. There was no arguing with Oliver. When he arrived to collect Sariel, the day was done.

“I’m afraid so.” Oliver said. “Have you seen the gardens as of late?” He asked.

“No. Why?” Sariel asked. Oliver smiled at him.

“You’re going to like this - I had something special planted out there.” He moved to head back for the door. Sariel wasn’t far behind.

“Nothing dangerous, correct?” He asked as he raised an eyebrow.

“Please, I’m not having any poison grown on site if that is what you’re worried about. That’s asking for a tragedy around these parts.” Oliver scoffed. “It’s something nice. Have some faith, dearest.”

As they exited the palace halls, they found themselves in the gardens. The lanterns on the side had been recently lit by the serving staff, providing them a safe path to travel as the last of the light faded from the sky. It was partway down this path that Oliver stopped and turned. “Here they are,” he said, “ah, it looks like they were just starting to bloom as well.”

Sariel followed his gaze down and saw a bundle of flowers low to the ground that were just starting to sprout. “Oh, I see.” Even from where he was standing, he could see the dark buds that were starting to open. While he never claimed to be an expert when it came to plants, he could recognize hollyhocks.

Oliver had to snort at his response. “Is that all?” She asked.

“Well, I am curious. Why these ones? You had them planted for me?” He asked. Oliver nodded before he paused to consider his words.

“This particular kind is called Watchmen.” He began to explain. “The color, of course, matches you very well, but they also have ties with magic, but they also symbolize cycles, rebirth, new beginnings. I was thinking back to what you told me - about how you got here. This garden is primarily for the roses and some other flowers for the people who lived here, but you’re a major part of this place, Sariel. I wanted to make sure you had a spot here too so you could see it.”

Sariel paused. He didn’t exactly consider himself an outsider to the palace, but to say he was fully accepted would be a bit of a stretch as well. He had a role to fill. He was the Palace Devil, chained and bound to this place to make sure it prospered. It was his home as the people he cared about lived here, but this was not something he expected to get back. To take on a lover, one who decided to try and find a way to integrate him, well… That was something special wasn’t it? He took a deep breath to keep himself in check. “This is very kind of you, Oliver. This wasn’t something you had to do.”

“No, but I wanted to.” Oliver quickly said. “You looked out for me, you defended me, you made sure I was alright. I wanted to return that care, I want you to know I’m serious about us, Sariel.”

He smiled as he shook his head, his eyes back on the flowers. “I accept your gift then.” He then held a gloved hand out to Oliver. “Shall we head back inside then?” He offered. “Let’s.” Oliver placed his hand in Sariel’s and together they headed for the door back inside the palace.

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raayllum · 7 months

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Love how, in Callum's intro, his eyes are fixed on the Star symbol with the Sky symbol being opposite it on the cube. I doubt that means a lot or that its intentional, but idk I just thought it was neat.

Oh, it is absolutely intentional (and means a lot) - we just don't know precisely why yet! The rune cube placement has been intentional in the past, particularly with Ocean ("You found it?" overlaid in 1x04, which foreshadowed the discovery of the prison; the Ocean rune being prominent in Callum's dark magic dreams in 2x08, foreshadowing that he would use it again in S5) and Sky (mostly in S2 with Callum's mage journey in 2x01, 2x07, and 2x09).

There are also some possible ones with Moon (the Ocean-Star-Moon trifecta in the cube's first appearance in 1x04 and when Callum cannot bring himself to drop it in 4x07; Soren flipping the thing back and forth between Star and Moon in 4x01, which could foreshadow Rayla struggling to break Callum free of Aaravos' possession) but we'll have to wait and see if they come to fruition.

A lot of the foreshadowing regarding the cube has also come back around / been intentional, such as:

Callum: This is the game room. Cube should be in there. (1x04) → Viren, to Aaravos: What game are you playing? (2x08) → Callum (and Viren) being literal game pieces to Aaravos, including the cube

Callum: You wait here, however long it takes, I'll go find a key. (1x04) → we learn that the cube is called the Key of Aaravos (2x06)

Rayla: It's a glow toy! (1x05) → the cube in Callum's intro literally flashes a bright, white light (4x04)

Rayla: Are you practicing magic or are you losing to Bait at a game of rolly-cubes? (2x07) → Callum using both dark and primal magic to save Rayla, tied up as literal bait, even as the use of the pawn intro with him indicates that doing so means this is another step forward in losing the game Aaravos is playing (5x08)

In case you are interested may I present a decidedly more unhinged meta analyzing the rune placement in scenes with the cube

Anyway!

Why is the Star rune in the intro important? For starters rather than being right side up (symbol of the star primal) it's upside down, which is Aaravos' symbol. Secondly, it looks like whatever is turning Callum to stone bears a striking resemblance to how star magic is coloured in show. Book 6: Stars is going to have a heavy overlap with Destiny as a theme (hence star associations) as well as likely see Callum play into Aaravos' plans ("and destined to play right into my hands") due to both that word association and the aforementioned game motif. If Sky represents freedom (and the freedom to choose your own destiny) then Star would - at least for now - represent the opposite, which I'm sure the Celestial elves being Skywing elves will only drive home more.

Which all just comes down to this more specific deciphering / prediction regarding the intro's meaning that you can read here if you'd like <3

#the key of aaravos #thanks for asking #anonymous #tdp

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fandomfriend · 10 months

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Fanart for Doves and Arrows

So there’s this amazing Tf2 Bushmedicine fic called Doves and Arrows, by @anonymous-astronaut, and I decided to make a thing for it. Astro at one point put the title of his fic into an ai generator, which produced this image:

I got permission to turn it into a wall hanging, and have finished this after almost 3 weeks of work (front and back):

If anyone wants to see my explanation for choices I made or in progress photos I took, I’ll put them under the cut since I tend to ramble. Please go read Doves and arrows, it is fantastic.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23886154/chapters/57423127

So, I started out by trying to make sense of the original ai image. I threw it into an art program and made 2 copies of it. One sticking closely to the original image, just cleaned up. The other changing some of the weirder shapes into something recognizable. I especially focused on including actual arrows into the second image.

I decided to use the second image, and put it into a site called Bracelet Book, in order to get a pattern to use. I did my best to make the pattern as symmetrical as I could on the first pass, but the dove was very difficult to work with.

People looking closely may see that the final project looks a little different from the pattern. Especially the dove’s eyes and the fletching on the arrows. That’s because I would sometimes make on the fly decisions to alter parts of the pattern, since it’s pretty flexible like that. Most edits were done to make parts look more even or less cluttered (except for 2 specific changes). Here is the edited pattern I had by the end of all this. The edits are a little messy since most were drawn using my phone. :P

Once I had a pattern, I started working on making it. The kind of method I used is used for what’s called Alpha bracelet patterns. If anyone wants to know more, I recommend looking up tutorials by the youtuber Masha Knots, as she was the one I learned from. Here’s some progress photos, as you can see it’s a pretty messy looking process.

I changed the eyes and and arrow fletching colors for a specific reason actually. I wanted the eyes to be blue since the dove represents the BLU Medic, Josef. The arrows fletching then became red for the RED Sniper, Mick. I just felt like the plainer pattern wasn’t as clearly a Tf2 thing.

Once I finished off the pattern, I tied the strings I had been tying my knots on into little tassels. I sewed a black outline around the beak, since it didn’t stand out against the body as well as I hoped. I also decided to make a cover for the back. This is because, for anyone who doesn’t know, the back of an alpha pattern pretty much always looks like a disaster. It takes a lot of work to hide the mess, so I like to make fabric covers for it. I did neaten up the mess where I could before sewing on the cover though.

When I made the fabric backing, I originally just planned something simple and plain, but the only fabric I had was blue, which didn’t match the look of the piece. So I got the idea to paint it to lean into the red and blue theme, complete with the characters class symbols. I cut out the fabric, hand hemmed it as best I could, and painted it with some acrylic paints I had.

Then it was just a matter of sewing it on and adding a string for the wall hanging to hang from! This is the biggest project of this sort I have ever made, nearly twice the size of the second largest wall hanging I’ve done. It’s about 5 1/2 inches tall (not counting tassels), and 5 1/4 inches wide. If anyone is interested in making anything like this, I have some advice. One, always get way more string than you think you need. I got two bundles of each kind of thread I purchased, since I got some specifically to color match as best I could. By the end I had to make another run to Michaels for more green since what I had wasn’t enough. Also, try to keep your knots neat and evenly sized. Some parts of the pattern aren’t clear on the final project because the knots are hard to see.

If you actually read through this whole thing, I hope you have a good day!

#general post #Tf2 #bushmedicine #doves and arrows #this took me so long to make you have no Idea #It doesn't help that I am also trying to get my drivers license #so I literally finished this final test for an online driving course right before making this post #I'm very tired but very satisfied

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blazescompendium · 19 days

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Mythology in our daily lifes: Mythologic symbolism in Football Teams

This is a post i want to do for a while, because one of my passions in studying mythology and one of the main topics i like to study is how Mythology is embedded in our daily lives and modern culture.

Football is the most popular sport on Earth, and as in many other sports, it has deep roots with myths. I personally have great interest in how sports connect us as Humans, and i started noticing how some teams have their symbology and their visual identity completely tied to mythology!

Hey, this post will be more less of an essay, and more an irreverent commentary. With all due respect to all the topics i will talk about here, but i will be a bit more casual in this text.

I took some examples to write about, and i will focus on those teams shields. The examples i have here are specifically from National Teams, but this can also apply for regional clubs as well. I just thought the examples i have here are a bit more straight to my point! If you have any regional club you want to show, because they have mythology embedded in their emblem or identity as well, please do!

So, let's start by the easiest:

Mexico National Team:

The Mexico National Team honestly have one of the best looking logos on Earth right now, and it has everything to do with their own country Mythology.

According to the Aztec Codices, the founding myth of Tenochtitlan (capital of Aztec civilization, and later reborn as the Mexico City) should be done where an Eagle was seen eating a snake in a Cactus. Legend has, this was seen in an island inside a giant lake, that would later become Tenochtitlan. The city was made of small islands connected inside the lake, but was destroyed and the lake drained by the Spanish Invaders in the 16th Century.

There's some variations on this legend, as well. The Codex Fejérváry-Mayer does depict just an Eagle attacking a snake, while the Ramirez Codex corroborates the more popular version of the tale, that has the Cactus.

In other texts from the time, the specific creature being targeted by the Eagle is not specified.

The Aztec Codices are nothing more than registers from the civilizations on Central America, like painted books and documentations of their society. Many were lost to time, or destroyed on purpose by Spanish Invaders. Others, like those i have mentioned are well preserved or at least transcribed. This makes sourcing this tale not a very hard task, you can look it up yourself!

The Eagle, Serpent and Cactus became the most popular version of the tale. So much so, it became the coat of arms of Mexico, and the symbol is as well present in their national flag. The eagle is rumored to represent the solar and war deity, and Patron god of the capital city Tenochtitlan: Huītzilōpōchtli. While, it is true that Huītzilōpōchtli was connected to birds, more so the Hummingbird, there's also the suggestion it was connected to Eagles, which makes this shield much more iconic. Not only Mexico is evoking its ancestral god strength to guide the country, but also to play a world cup. Which i find pretty neat.

Mexico's official coat of arms and the current National team shield

Analyzing the design, they have gone for spike outlines representing the cactus, while some kind of cubic shape (resembling Aztec aesthetic) go around, with the colors of the Mexican flag. The traditional Eagle is instead roosted with one leg on a football ball, which is the classic Tellstar model, that debuted in...You guessed! 1970 world cup,held at Mexico! A perfect match of the sport history, and national culture from Mexico, but as well many depictions of Mythology in a subtle manner in the logo. I really like it!

Japan National Team

This shield was the reason i started to study about this topic to begin with, because i bought a Japan national team shirt, and started to notice Yatagarasu on its crest! Yes, the legendary three-legged-crow that guided emperror Jimu through Yamato.

The Yatagarasu legend is pretty simple, and it says this bird is a manifestation of ''divine will'', sent by Amaterasu herself to guide Jimu in his quest to found what would be modern day Japan, according to the myth.

According to the Kojiki, Yatagarasu was sent by Takamimusubi specifically. While the Amaterasu version is from the Kojiki. In the Nihon Shiki a rather different version of the crow, and his lineage can be seen.

Another fun fact is that, in all of Yatagarasu mentions in Japan's myth, originally there was no mention about the number of legs! This was later added after assimilation of nearby cultures that also had Three-Legged-Crows in their myths, such as Korea and China. This, however is just a theory scholars came with, and it could be also a misinterpretation caused by time.

Ok, but what exactly did Yatagarasu helped Jimu with?

Glad you asked!

According to a myth known as ''Eastern Expedition'', Yatagarasu was guiding Jimu while the later was trying to cross Seto Sea to the Kinki region, in his quest to establish the Yamato court and his country. Guided by the legendary Crow, they decided to attack from the east, crossing to the west during their quest of conquer, since attacking from the west did not prove helpful before. According to the tale, that was because Jimu, descending from Amaterasu should follow the Sun.

This was just one of the registers of the creature, that is some times regarded as guardian of Amaterasu herself. Many instances on record (both scholars and popular records) that, Yatagarasu also protected Amaterasu. In my research i did not found much evidence of this being recorded, but i also do not speak Japanese so... If you do, and know something please correct me!

It is also seems very common knowledge the Yatagarasu is very much worshipped in the Kumano region! But i should dive a bit more into that if i ever cover this Crow specifically, in the future!

But what is important is that, this creature was recorded in the Kojiki, Nihonshoki, and other archaeological sites, like murals and even mirrors!

But why is Yatagarasu balling in the Japanese national team shield then?

Yatagarasu became a symbol of guidance to victory, and even before the founding of the team, in 1921, the Crow with three legs was already in use as family crests, and even in postal services. It would become associated with football when Japanese Football Association adopted it as a mascot in the 1930s. The crow, however, would just appear in kits during the 1980s.

The first Japanese national team logo and a shrine for Yatagarasu which uses a football ball!

The logo did not changed much during years, just slightly. The crow is always dominating a ball with one feet, while standing in the other two feet. The color red also symbolizes the sun, which is important as a national identity and the identity of the myth itself. In later iterations, such the more recent, the ball lack details, making it more like a sun.

Yatagarasu is also the official mascot of the JFA (Japanese Football Association) since 1931. Many associate the Yatagarasu link with football, being because the football pionner Nakamura Kakunosuke, ''Japan's football father'' was born in the Kumano region. He was a high school senior of Uchino Tairei. This football coach designed the JFA logo himself!

Even the Kumano Shrine officials accepted this new role of the deity. One of the shrines even has a statue of the crow with a football, just like the JFA logo. Some complexes also houses memorials to sports achievements.

You can read more about this in the following link

This is not my only source to this text, but there's a good chunk of information i could not cover, like some political background and more!

For me it is pretty cool overall how a mythological symbol changed over the years, and even embraced such a recent sport as football. Despite of the political connotations of its time, i believe that this is a very notorious occurrence, that should be studied more in this field!

Next we have a big one:

Brazil

Brazil's logo in 1990 and Brazil logo during the 2020s. See if you spot the mythological reference in there!

Brazil is one of the behemoths of the sport, even if in a bit of a transitory and bad phase nowadays, the national team of Brazil, (also called ''Seleção'' which translates directly to ''The Selection'' referencing its the top players being selected to be there) managed to finish in the top 10 during the last five World Cup editions. It is also the first team to win it 3 times, and also the first and only to win it 5 times, making it a team loaded with history. But also symbology, that blends with the World Cup and Football history itself, which in turn blends with Mythology as you will see in a minute.

Starting by the newer shield, it is simple. All the colors of the national flag can be seen in it, and every time the team win another world cup, they add one star to it. In the center we have a Pate Cross. The Pate cross does not have anything mythological involving it, it was just from the Christ's Order an Order in which the first person to discover the territory one day would become Brazil, was a part of. That is just it.

Honestly i don't fully understand the reason for it to be there, but apparently it is so important that the Brazilian Football Confederation itself made it against their rules to remove it? Fine i guess...

(source here)

But really, i think the one which is really here to be talked about is their 1990-1991 shield, in which we have the Jules Rimet trophy instead of the cross. And that is what makes this shield so interesting for us. The Jules Rimet Trophy was the first trophy of the World Cup, and it would be given permanently to the winner of the tournament that could win it 3 times first. Brazil did it with Pelé in 1970, giving the trophy to the country definitively and getting the tournament a new one, the one with a ball in the top which you all are used to see nowadays.

This shield while iconic, was very short lived... Sadly, it lasted less than a year!

The Trophy tiself represents no other than Nike, the Greek goddess of victory! Nike would help with war, athletics, debates and any other type of direct competition. Nike is more commonly associated with her iconic headless statue, and her wings always flying towards victory.

She is also usually depicted in myths as one of the first goddesses to offer help to Zeus in the Titanomachy, the war against the Titans. She then became an attendant to Zeus and Athena. There are some scholars who disagree on Nike's origin, was her part of Athens that became a whole? Or was always an unique goddess? It is hard to define for us, as both were important in the city of Athens, making it hard to distinguish.

Nike some times is described as the one who can judge mortals and gods in competition. Not only war, but music, athletics, or any given competition. She will always be on the side who deserves to win. Thus judging the winner as deserving. Nike was often described as helping athletes, and many times this is described as such. For instance here: Pindar Nemean 5 where it is said the Athlete Euthymenes of Aegina has ''Fallen in the arms of Victory''. This is a direct reference to Nike.

Nike also helped Zeus during his fight against Typhon, even protecting Zeus with her shield. This however only according to the Nonnos' Dionysiaca. The Theogony does not mention this happening.

If you go by the Homeric Hymns, describe Nike as being the daughter of Ares, while other sources like the Theogony says that Nike came from Styx and Pallas.

Whoever was her true parents, during the early 20th century, Nike became associated with sports and athleticism in general, having her image printed in Olympic medals. Olympic games that were initially started imitating the ancient Greek games, specifically.

Nike is so associated with sports nowadays, her image is always on the medals as in the latest ones, for the Paris 2024 games

Nike in the Olympic gold medal of 2024, and the Jules Rimet Trophy

So, when we come back to the 1990 Brazil shield, it all connects back to Nike, as if she was the patron of the team, guiding them to victory. Which makes extremely funny the fact that, the world cup after they removed her, they actually won it.

But in any case, i believe Nike could very much be brought back to the Brazilian Shield, since it has a deep connection to the history of the team and its past glories. The idea of Nike guiding the most victorious team back to its path of glory is extremely nice, and could be a very cool marketing campaign. But hey, what i know? I am just an amateur Mythology Scholar.

...

And that is mostly it.

I thought this would be a fun and quirky topic to talk about. I really enjoy how Mythology blends with our life and culture so well. For me it is fascinating, and i think this is a good example on how nice it is!

#mythology #mythology fun facts #blazescompendium

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halfusek · 1 year

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A question we all wanted to ask. Does Ink Demon-Joey conception work with BATDR? I know it 90% is, but still

honestly? yes and no.

i'm generally confused because in BATIM it seemed like they were leading up to revealing Joey as the Ink Demon -> then in Joey's apartment in BATIM we find on his board that note with "Me? Bendy!" which could either mean him thinking about portraying himself in the story as the Ink Demon or being bewildered at the idea -> then in Dream Comes To Life novel we learn that Joey and the Ink Demon have literally the same hand print. okay. -> and then in BATDR the Ink Demon doesn't even have even relatively human hands, not to mention all parts of his design that we associated before with the Joey=Ink Demon theory

so, what exactly is happening there? inconsistent writing? retcon upon retcon? incorrect execution of red herrings? (you can't use symbolism as red herrings. you just don't do that if you respect yourself as a writer and your audience that is supposed to interpret the symbolism)

well whatever is there that is happening, i don't think it matters much

the story of the cycle obeys the rules that seem to be defined by whoever is controlling the story. you could even write off these inconsistencies as Wilson being the one controlling it throughout BATDR and just making the story different

so yeah perhaps we just aren't... supposed to compare the symbolism in BATIM and in BATDR? maybe the books have their own symbolism as well as they seem to contain contradicting lore

so yeah here's what I think:

in BATIM the Ink Demon is Joey or at least symbolising Joey in the story and it's laid out more clearly as Joey is the one writing it

in BATDR the Ink Demon is not Joey but his behaviors still have some parallel to Joey's - for example Joey on one of the recordings says he walks around artists as they work, and the Ink Demon seems most active in the animation alley area where artists' desks are located. I think Joey and Bendy/Ink Demon still are tied by ties that "can't be erased" however as Wilson is controlling the story now, he doesn't understand this parallel so in the cycle controlled by him Ink Demon is "redesigned" just as the little Bendy is (isn't it weird that we see Audrey sketching the regular looking Bendy and not the one in these dapper clothes? where did they come from?)

I do think the links are still there but it's more that the Ink Demon represents Joey's dark past and bad things he's done that can't be erased anymore hence why Ink Demon is a purely evil creature

And then we have the little cartoon Bendy that we haven't seen in BATIM before, I think he is representing the Story Memory!Joey who is also a new addition to the cast - this Joey has hope in Audrey changing things to be better, in her choosing right and making this world a better place for everyone - and I think this "good" and hope could have brought out the pure cartoon Bendy

Also isn't it interesting how Ink Demon, cartoon Bendy and Memory!Joey appear in the game interchangably? I thought that was neat

But yeah in BATDR it definitely isn't anything like Joey straight up being the Ink Demon, just perhaps parallels and symbolism

#bendy and the dark revival #bendy and the ink machine #bendy spoilers #joey drew #the ink demon #bendy the dancing demon

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jasper-the-menace · 3 months

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So, as those of you who witnessed my spiral in my Chima Discord server know, I recently realized that my Tales of Chima series had some fascinating parallels with Egyptian mythology and divines therein, which is fun because that's one of the pantheons I worship and honor as a polytheist.

Well, I decided to be a lot more intentional from the get-go when it came to mythological and religious references in Chimahaven, starting with the surnames of our protagonists:

Emily and Onyx Zephyras: Derived from Zephyros, the Greek god of the west wind and one of the Anemoi. This gives them both a connection between the two of them to all four classical elements (with Emily having earth-as-plants and Onyx using steam magic, a combination of fire and water). It also gives Onyx a stronger connection to their elemental Prismari college.

Dennari Areia: Derived from the epithet Areia, meaning "the Warlike", used for the goddesses Aphrodite and Athena in ancient Greece. This emphasizes Dennari's combat magic specialty and ties her more into her Lorehold college. Her first name is also a reference to the denarius, the standard Roman silver coin introduced during the Second Punic War.

Eris Notus: Derived from Notos, the Greek god of the south wind and one of the Anemoi. This gives her a connection to both her air/wind elemental magic and the fire-based powers granted to her by her strange connection to the Phoenixes.

Scorm Imperator: Unlike the others, Scorm's surname isn't derived from a Greek or Roman god. It's instead derived from the scientific name for the emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperator, because that's what I've clocked the Scorpion Tribe as. This has nothing to do with his magic in this setting, he's just here.

Cragger Ponteid: Cragger's surname is derived from the Greek primordial ocean god, Pontos, who was the biggest ocean guy on the block before Okeanos showed up (and then later Poseidon). This ties Cragger back into his home swamp and into his water elemental magic.

Razar Pheletes: Razar's surname comes from an epithet for Hermes (Φηλητης, Phêlêtês, of which he is the only bearer) that means "Thief", "Robber", and "Rustler". It felt quite fitting, especially since Razar's magic is vocal instead of elemental in nature.

Laval Vestalia: Derived from the ancient Roman festival of Vestalia, which ran from June 7th to June 15th and honored the hearth goddess Vesta. Since Laval has the most prominent fire elemental magic of our protagonists (besides possibly Onyx), I felt that depicting it as the fire of the hearth was a pretty neat idea. There's a lot of focus on fire as destroyer in element-based media, so I wanted to take a different angle with Laval's magic.

So, building on this, most of the symbolism I'll use for Chimahaven will be rooted in Greek mythology/religion (of which I identify most closely with in my honoring), while adding some from later Roman mythology/religion for a little extra...texture, we'll say.

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thelittlecoughsomewhere · 5 months

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So I'm now gonna give you my thoughts. I will try my best to keep it chronologically but we'll see how that's gonna go

so first of all I have my blorbos back and that's FANTASTIC and nothing can take away from that. So even though I have criticisms I want you to know that I loved this episode and these specials will be very dear to me, no matter what happens

I'm not gonna lie, the fourth wall break did not work for me. was goofy

THE NEW INTRO OMG love love love love it

the tone of the episode was a little bit too comedic for me and not sincere enough. The acting of both Tennant and Tate was also a bit too overacted sometimes, almost as if the director had children in mind as target audience. The pacing was too fast, the episode didn't allow the emotional beats too linger.

I loved getting to know Shaun and Rose and hope we will see more of them in the next specials (But I think they won't be in the second special)

Love Shirley, hope we will see more of her. (maybe UNIT spin off) Ruth Madeley is a great actress. (I know her from RTD's Years and Years)

I loved seeing Sylvia again, I absolutely love the redeemed her. She was so fiercely protective of Donna. (good on her for punching the Doctor) And she is a great grandma to Rose, even though she is learning. I love that Rose has a supportive family.

The plot with the meep was fun (Unfortunately I got spoilered and knew that the Meep was a villain in the original comic). The practical and special effects were on FIRE.

The dramatic "Why does it have to be this scene?" + the return of the DoctorDonna + Donna seemingly dying in the Doctor's arms = Good stuff and obviously everything I waited for during this episode. But I am disappointed that Donna didn't confront him with the fact that he went aginst her expressed wishes when he wiped her memories in Journey's end. (maybe this topic will get discussed more seriously in Special 2 but I try to not get my hopes up). I get it, there was no time for a long conversation in the scene where literally all of London was at stake, yet Russel did take the time to let her be angry about the lottery ticket, but he portrays her anger in a comedic way

speaking of the lottery ticket: I think this is the only point of the special I am truly miffed at. I loved the fact that Donna gave the money away because of course she would. And when she said that she knew that people out there where in pain and need and would need it more than her and giving it away felt like the sort of thing "he" would do I took 2 things away from it :

2. I know I'm probably the only one but I thought she meant her dad when she said "him". The lottery ticket is symbolically a present from him and in my personal headcanon Sylvia and Wilf told her some kind of story that tied the lottery ticket to her dad to honour him.

1. the experiences with the Doctor did have a lasting impact and changed her. And this character development from season 4 was not totally eradicated. The Donna we know from season 4 would give away the money of course she would.

But no, DoctorDonna is mad at him because she gave away the money to be like "the Doctor", her subconscious memory loop made her do it. This takes away from Donna's character and from her autonomy. Also it makes the scene too comedic which gives me whiplash when the scene turns tragic

I don't like the fact that the timelord consciousness in Donna was activated by a sequence of words. (Can't explain why, I just didn't enjoy that)

The metacrisis is solved because the metacrisis energy is shared by both Donna and Rose. Neat, I like that. (The idea of solving the metacrisis by having the time lord consciousness be passed on to Donna's child is almost a staple in fix-it-fics, so I guess as a fanfiction reader and writer I feel vindicated). In an earlier post of mine I wrote about the fact that I hated the idea that Donna influenced Rose's name, but I'm fine with the name now because she chose it herself. Having Rose's trans identity be influenced by her time lord heritage surely is a bold choice by Russel. I think he will make a lot of bigots angry but I have also already read posts from some trans people who didn't like this story beat. I personally liked it when I watched it, it felt like everything was fitting into place. But I want to let the story linger for a few days maybe I will change my mind. I will say I like that Russel takes risks with his writing choices.

The scene that made me roll my eyes was when Rose and Donna said "There's a way to get rid of it. Something a male-presnting Timelord will never understand: Just let it go". Come on, this was cringe. This line actually sounded like something Moffat wrote for River Song. The reason this line annoys me isn't even because it presents female-presenting people superior/different to male-presenting people. It annoys me because it's lazy writing. Russel clearly didn't spend a lot of time thinking about the metacrisis problem and working out the mechanisms behind it. I have read dozens of fanfiction that solved the metacrisis in a much more complex and thus more satisfying way

The new Tardis interior is stunning. It's big and spacious with a lot of ramps. IT IS TOTALLY WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE. It's so clean and sterile and all-white, though which makes it feel less homely. Love the fact that the panels can change colour, hope they do that often.

#doctor who spoilers #doctor who #donna noble #fourteenth doctor #rose noble

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sepublic · 2 years

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Labyrinth Runners

…Okay, so there wasn’t a literal labyrinth involving weird stairs, but it was a SYMBOLIC one of Gus’ psyche! Seriously, this kid literally has the ability to manifest his own Silent Hill if under significant distress… That sounds like a freaking nightmare and it sounds like Gus is canonically mentally ill? Like… His own illusions messing with his sense of reality seems like a metaphor for an actual mental illness, schizophrenia perhaps? I’m no expert but that is some NEAT rep if that’s the case!

Seriously, I love how this episode just tied together and culminated Gus’ arc so succinctly! And not only do I appreciate the continuity of him being Augustus in the flashback (Gus as a name came from Luz!), but also Abomination Willow and their meeting! Just… this episode is all about belief and appearances and trust, tying so thematically well into the theme of illusions! I love it SO MUCH… How Gus just has that duality of being an illusionist with impostor syndrome, feeling like HE’s the one who keeps getting tricked; Thinking of himself as a fool, he made up with Mattholomule sure, but he and the Glandus kids and even Hunter left their scars on him!

And it just plays into this lack of belief in Gus about himself, because this episode is all about reality and how doubt, in oneself and/or others, can mess with your sense of reality… Which uh, HITS CLOSE TO ME. Like Amity doubting Willow’s ability and that messing with their ability to coordinate, Gus doubting his own abilities, Hunter being terrified of what’s the truth; I EVEN GOT TRICKED MYSELF! By Adrien Grey… Adrian Gray? Adrien Gray? Adrien Gray? The end credits list him as Graye Vensworth as something like that, but I assume that’s a holdover from concepts… The end credits have been wrong before; Either way, is this dude a reference to Dorian Gray???

Who, y’know, had a painting that sort of hid and absorbed his true hideous appearance as a reflection of his true nature, until it was destroyed and all that ugliness went back to him! So maybe that’s what Grey/Gray was horrified by… I’m still wondering/thinking if he’s got a concealmeant stone or something similar to hide a true demonic appearance that he’s ashamed of, dude gives me movie director and Hollywood vibes, so it makes sense for him to be insecure, as a darker take on the twins and their concealment stones! And also I just… LOVE that sort of characterization of Gray as a director! I was hoping for a matador/minotaur and there’s still room for that reveal, but this was fun as well!

Seriously, I love how Gus and Hunter BOTH give each other speeches and contribute to each other’s development… I love his trend in Hunter episodes it’s so compelling and builds off of past development to further additional development for our protagonists but a new character as well! Amazing… Also, I love how Willow really helped GUS, it goes to show how she’s always been helping and uplifting others in her own way, even when she was the meek half-a-witch, and how people always underestimated that part of her! Which then extends to her plot with Amity…

YES YES YES I love the show exploring how Amity and Willow aren’t quite there yet! And Willow wanting to be seen for who she REALLY is, which ties to Any Sport in a Storm AND this episode’s themes! And I ADORE how the show acknowledges and gets into Amity’s mistake back in their childhood; Making that decision for Willow without consulting her, assuming her as too weak and needing to be protected without considering her friend’s agency and choice! And Willow finally getting to flex that by pointing out that Amity has always seen herself as someone PROTECTING Willow because admittedly, she sees Willow as weak… And THAT underestimation led to their split!

God I freaking love that. That’s so compelling. It kinda reminds me of how Raine is making a similar choice for Eda and her kids, though it’s a bit more understandable since the kids are involved and Eda ALSO doesn’t want them to be hurt… But still, Lumity and Raeda parallels? Speaking of which, I guess Lilith and Eda managed to escape… I think that’s the implication. Again, I love the show discussing how Amity loved Willow but never quite respected her due to Willow being a late bloomer, and how that’s at the root (heh heh pun) of their conflict.

Also WOW… That was SUCH a dick move by Grey. Gray? Whatever. Like… Not only pretending to remove sigils but actually applying them, which I SAW… Love how we speculated him as a potential ally and Grey used that against us, it’s so meta! Because at this point the audience is inclined to believe there are other coven heads in on the rebellion… But no this is too good to be true! The way he presents himself as disheveled like he barely escaped to garner trust, similar to Hunter’s own appearance…

I YELLED WHEN EDRIC WAS BROUGHT UP! That fucker! Ed my boy you’re safe… AND HIM AND VINEY AND SKARA AND MATTHOLOMULE AND JERBO AND BARCUS!!! I was so resigned to no Matt content BUT THEN HE WAS THERE. With a birthday photo with Gus??? He’s a dual-track ILLUSIONIST, GUSTHOLOMULE REAL! He was a riot, just immediately accepting the worst but also insisting he could take on Hunter. This may also be a coincidence but Emira also called out Hunter as sickly, which given how she’s a healer now, makes sense!

TWINS AND DETENTION KIDS!!! It was subtle but made SENSE, they’re multi-track now; Edric is beastkeeping and potions too, Emira just healing! Edric and Barcus together… Viney and Emira share a track, HERE’S HOW VINIRA CAN STILL WIN!!! And Skara my baby girl… No Boscha, guess she skipped school? BUT STILL I LOVE THIS! I love the show introducing more dual-track kids it makes SENSE, and Mattholomule among them too! And he actually did decent against some covenscouts!

That all-out battle of kids VS covenscouts was AMAZING… The culmination of mixed magic like Jerbo’s plant-abomination or Amity and Willow’s… I like that we got to see the covenscouts flex magical spells and really put up a fight! And Amity and Willow taking down an Abomaton together, a symbol of the Blight parents’ control and influence… Her deciding she has to talk to her parents later on; I LOVE IT! We finally get to see an Abomaton properly taken down in a straight fight, Amity and Willow, especially Willow, really are powerhouses; Keep in mind Amity and Luz lost, partially because of the deal with Odalia, but still!

Also love the detail of Gray’s little mirror helping him see through illusions, and seeing a Coven Head take interest in one of our protagonists with a matching track… Grey seems fairly straightforward in that there doesn’t seem to be any particular irony to him, but we’ll see. Terra’s irony didn’t become too apparent until her second appearance (technically third, but her bit in Any Sport in a Storm barely counts). I love how Gus being a prodigy comes into play, how his self-doubt makes him unsure if he can believe in even his own CHOICE of magic track… This episode really is SUCH a character study for Gus that informs where he came from in each plot beforehand! It ties it all together from a root source… My favorite.

AND HUNTER! God Grey really went for THAT against Hunter, using Belos against him and even stepping on the kid… Guys I think we have a new Coven Head to match Terra in how much the fandom hates him! And Severine(?), she sounds like she was voiced by Dana and I love her; She’s like the female Steve, their names are even kinda similar… Will we see her AND Steve next episode at the Knee, with King? I love that this demon covenscout with notable ears, actually horns it turns out, gets to reveal herself and make a stand! I love her so much. We gotta ship her with Steve now, especially since Lilith is aro and Belos is 100% racist against witches.

Love how the episode really set us up to be suspicious of everyone who saved Hunter… Like this theme of illusions and trust and belief, doubt; It also applied to him in whether he could trust anyone else after his own uncle betrayed him! And I’m glad he wasn’t fooled by Belos’ lie of ‘being worried’ about Hunter, he knew from the start that Belos didn’t suddenly change his mind, nor did Hunter lie to himself. The idea of truth, false appearances, trust, belief, doubt… The themes were IMPECCABLE this episode, as befitting an episode all about illusions, and tying to characters who all struggle with this thing!

Seriously though, Gus’ whole thing… It’s like Willow’s, so I guess that’s another thing for them to bond over! Guess those mentally ill kids got the glowing eyes and powerful, instinctual magic they can’t control… Gus might start to be able to, though! And I love his little glowing eyes or just eye, I love the idea of one eye that sees one thing, while the other eye sees another, I have an OC like that and it’s SSSOOO much fun! And I love how Gus not recognizing a fake Willow while Hunter does actually affects him like it should, makes him feel like an idiot; Which, Hunter def knows and thinks about Willow’s feelings towards him, more than Gus thinks about how Willow feels about Hunter. So there’s that understandable reason for the discrepancy!

Also that Illusionist teacher… I’ve liked her a lot since her first appearance and this episode confirms she’s chill! I want a name for her too, like the Demon Hunters. I love the random side and background characters who still have actual stories and lives going on that will occasionally surface to the focus of the plot! Maybe I should ship her and Bump… Just kidding, maybe? And Bump with Frewin. Remarkable. Spectacular. This episode was EVERYTHING and it had a bit of angst but in the good way where it’s followed and resolved by comfort, which is a RELIEF after Hollow Mind and Edge of the World ended without a clearcut answer nor resolution for those traumatized kids… And as some correctly guessed, this episode takes place in another POV entirely, for the dramatic tension of wondering how the Owl gang is doing! Guess we’ll find out soon enough…

Also, it couldn’t have been THAT long since Hunter showered, right? Labyrinth Runners takes place the same day as Edge of the World, or the day AFTER, if the covenscouts raiding the Owl House was near the end of the day, since Willow had to have seen this before her school day began today; So it’s only been… A full day and a half since we last saw Hunter. But then again he’s a desperate teen in the woods, I can fully believe he got that filthy that quickly. And I love Luz messaging Amity again!!!

Grey also acknowledge the Galdorstones... Seems Gus may have bared his soul a bit there, embarrassingly; But I wouldn’t be surprised if this was buildup to a Season 3 rematch where Gray assaults the Looking Glass Ruins, and Gus and Mattholomule and anyone else have to stop him! Alas... ALAS...!

#the owl house #gus porter #augustus porter #adrian graye #willow park #amity blight #the owl house hunter #analysis #meta

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astrolovecosmos · 2 years

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~Virgo Season~

Many Virgos out there may not identify as being overly neat and organized, humble, or modest. Their symbol the “virgin” tends to cause a lot of debate and frustration. For Virgo Season I’ve tried to boil down some of the essence of Virgo, associations and traits that can be applied in a greater sense.

Self-Improvement: Virgo’s association with perfectionism and criticism is mostly tied to a desire to always be improving upon the self. This can take many forms from being the best at a sport or acquiring wealth and status. Venus in Virgo may always be out to be a better partner or find the “perfect partner”. This Venus may secretly or even openly obsess over romance novels or celebrity crushes, indulge in debates about relationships, or maybe always overthink things with their love interests in the name of improvement. Virgo MC may be a workaholic or always focused on getting to the next step in their career. Virgo Ascendant or Sun is where heavy perfectionist traits may shine through in the personality and expression. Virgo’s goal of self-improvement may come through by being the smartest in the room, the most skillful, or even the most kind or virtuous. This tendency can create a very complex individual who is more than just the critic.

Analytical Mind: Virgo is highly associated with a sharp mind (which typically is associated with air) but also practicality (usually associated with earth). They can be as clever and curious as a Gemini or methodically, scientific like an Aquarius. Their pragmatic side may mostly create someone who is always trying to find order and make sense of people and the world. Sometimes this could even come out artistically, trying to give structure to life’s chaos with fantastical interpretation or rules. You can’t talk about Virgo without talking about their keenness or studious side. They may easily be labeled as “book smart”, but there are different intelligences out there a Virgo could have. When you try to pinpoint a Virgo with just skills in test taking, budgeting, or conventional business you miss their natural quickness and dangerous observational skills.

Helping Hand: When you look at Virgo’s associations, archetypes, and how people generally write about them you get a picture of a supporting role. They are always the worker, servant, helper, healer, teacher. But Virgo really is an MVP. They are associated with cooperation, flexibility, volunteering, efficiency, intelligence, teamwork, learning, teaching, and crafting. They are holding up the world in many ways, or even building it. They are connected to the 6th House - the house of our everyday. What’s interesting is Virgo is not only easily overlooked in astrology culture but is associated with easily being undervalued or underestimated. Sagittarius tends to get associated with underdogs, Pisces victims, saviors, or martyrs, and Gemini with tricksters but also the childish or impressionable. While Cardinal and Fixed signs may be easier to view as having main character energy, mutable signs have themes resembling famous character arcs. Maybe mutable signs are all about the strength in change and adaptability. There is something always needed from or useful about a Virgo (they need to be careful of always wanting to feel useful or needed). They can take pride in or find fulfillment by being there for others. Sometimes this may come from some sort of complex but other times it comes from a genuine desire to connect and care.

#virgo #zodiac #astrology #virgo season

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