marvelling-at-marvel-blog

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Richmond weird/funny interview idea.

I was going to write this as a fic but then realised I would have to try to figure out how y'all do awards shows and what they are called and gave right up.

So in AFL (Australian football), we have this awards night for the best player in the league that year and most of the other big awards (called the brownlow). It basically means all the biggest players in the league come together to this award ceremony. And on the red carpet, they do interviews and stuff for radio and tv. Pretty normal stuff. Most the time, it's what are you wearing, how do you think your year has been, who do you think will win blah blah. But there is this one segment a radio station came up with entitled 'sh*t brownlow questions', and the interviewer just asks completely random and stupid questions for fun. And it's hilarious because these players are just so out of depth with the random questions.

Now I cant get a Richmond version out of my head.

Like they go to an awards show, all dressed to the nines and there is some interviewer there who decides to ask random questions for entertainemnt on his channel, when all the guys are expecting the usual questions and it starts of pretty well and funny

Interviewer: Hey Dani, just a quick question. Would you rather fight 1 Isaac McAdoo sized duck or 100 duck sized Isaac McAdoo's?

Dani in his chipper demeanour: oh I wouldn't want to fight any version of Issac at all he is such a great guy, and I love him....

Dani suddenly going serious and grabbing the mic and looking straight down the camera: But if I had to chose, I would go 1 duck sized Isaac because 100 tiny Isaac's would be too many Isaac's, they would completly overwhelm you and tear you apart!

Interviewer: Hey Colin, just wondering do you do your tax returns as soon as you can or wait until just before the cut off date?

Colin going pale: oh no. When are the tax returns due? I don't know when the last time I did my taxes was......

Interviewer asking like this is going to be a football question: Hey Sam, we are getting to the serious end of the season now so I was was just wondering, who do you think will win..... this seasons Lust Conquers All?

Sam with his serious face at the beggining of the question laughing by the end: Oh Janet for sure but I think I would be a amiss if I didn't mention Jamie was robbed last season.

Interviewer: Hey Roy, just wondering.....

Roy barley glancing at him as he walks past: Nope not doing it, f**k off.

Interviewer: Hey Richard, so the big one is coming up, Wembley Stadium, 90 000 people, just wondering........ did you manage to get Taylor Swift tickets?

Richard without blinking: Yes, yes I did.

Any question asked of Ted, Ted is just ecstatic, takes it 100% seriously, and is generally happy to answer.

The interviewer joking pulls out a cross word from the paper and asks for some help from Beard. Two minutes later, he has a completed crossword, and he just looks at it in astonishment.

Then the interview goes off the rails a little.

The Interviewer asks Jamie a random queation about history but instead of stumping him Jamie lights up and peoceeds to give an in-depth answer with alarming detail and the interview now knows more than he ever needed to on the subject. (This makes Roy even more unhappy because Jamie is now going to 100% talk his ear off about this for the rest of the night, just info dumping on him. Let be real he secretly loves it)

Interviewer: Hey Moe, just wondering if you had an opinion on the election in (insert random country here, most people wouldn't know about the elections of).

Moe: automatically goes into lecture mode about democracy and the evil's of government  and gets so passionate and loud aftet 5 minutes of it Issac needs to come and save the reporter who eyes are as wide as saucers and is questiong everything.

Like, I can just imagine the chaos of the AFC and their personalities in a segment like this. The fans would go crazy for it, too

#jamie tartt #afc richmond #colin hughes #isaac mcadoo #roy kent #ted lasso #ted lasso meta #richard montlaur #coach beard #jamie going on one of his info dumps #bumbercatch getting very passionate and intense #i would not want to fight 100 duck sized Issacs ever #funny interview questions #Richard absolutleg went hard for those tickets along with some other of the boys #roy is not having a bar of this #dani is too sweet but also knows what his about #moe bumbercatch

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Did any one else have the experience of frowinf up in the late 90s/early 00's where Disney had the vault.

Not only where you only able to get Disney movies on VCR when out the vault they also charged crazy prices for them. As a child who grew up in a family without a lot of money. Getting to own any of the Disney orginals was like winning the jackpot. I was lucky enough to have Aladdin and Little Mermaid as I was obsessed with mermaids. (My grandmother did accidently buy me an animated Hans Christian Anderson original version first by accident. Let me tell you 8 year old me was horrified)

BUT while Disney orginals where crazy expensive when you could get them out of the vault, the direct to VCR sequels WAY cheaper and actually really good in their own right. So that's what I had as a Disney obsessed child.

I actually prefer the Little Mermaid 2 to the original (I never understood why Ariel wanted to go to the human world, but 100% got Melody wanting to live in the sea. I love the Lion King 2 just as much as the first, the music in it just hits. I saw Lady and the Tramp 2, Cinderella 2 and Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas special years before I saw the orginals. (I actually did not know the beauty and the beast xmas edition wasn't the original, and that was embarrassing to learnbwhen talking about the movie).

When I try to explain to people why the sequels to these movies are so important to me and while I will fight people over them saying their bad peo0le don't get it.

But this was my escape as a kid. The sequel made my childhood, and I am so grateful. Maybe the animation isn't as marvellous ans ground breaking as the uber expensive orginals. But they were WAY more accessible.

I am currently watching the little mermaid with my niece (2.5yrs) and she is also way more entranced with the sequel as well.

It just wild to me to think about how easy access to all Disney movies is these days and how much Disney really made there master works inaccessible to certain social groups back in the 90s/00s. Disney has always been about money, not childhood magic. If it was, they would not have vaulted thier movies to be able to jack the prices and make them almost inaccessible to a whole social group.

Long live Disney straight to VCR/DVD sequels.

#disney #little mermaid #Disney Vault #was the worst #imagining not being able to buy a movie for 10 years #and then when it is finally out #the price is crazy expensive #lion king #disney sequels #are ACTUALLY good #childhood memories #disney is classist #vcr #dvd #Jams Christian Anderson Little Mermaid orginal story was scary AF to a 8 year old #will never forget the every step feeling like stepping on knives

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

The thing about S1 Jamie that I think is interesting is I think on rewatch there is some insight as to why Jamie went so hard on the bullying of Sam. (Not gonna be defending Jamie's treatment of Sam just looking into maybe why). Because out of all of the things Jamie did is season one. The one that seems hardest to understand or really forgive is his treatment of Sam. The first time around, you couldn't understand it. Sam is legitimately the kindest man in existence. (I know as a stroyteller it was the easiest way to really get us to dislike Jamie and really make us more understanding of Roy's treatment of Jamie which to be frank is not great and understand Ted's fruatrations with him) and Sam just keeps trying with Jamie.

But know I think it far to say thay S1 Jamie was jealous of Sam and his easy going, happy, postive nature. I dont think he was aware of it though.

Season 1 Jamie is so interesting because on paper, he had everything he thought he wanted. But I dint think he was overally happy. But yeah it seemed to be all his way

1. He played for the team he grew up supporting and dreamed of playing for. I imagine his first time stepping on that fiels in that uniform would have been monumental. Sure, maybe he wasn't a starter, but he got some minutes and the unspken agreement that in a few years, he would be a star.

2. I imagine he was initially disappointed to be loaned out, but then he learns he is being loaned to Richmond. Yeah they suck, but he gets to play a full 90 minutes, is basically going to be the best player, kick most of thier goals and he gets to be team mates with Roy Kent (he dreamed of playing against him one day, with him is a dream come true, I really think pre show Jamie would have been so excited to play with Roy Kent and was so disappointed in how it turned out). Plus, it has the added advantage of getting him away from his dad. And once his done his loan, he can come back to Manchester. This is his chance to get away from it for a while and be the star

3. He meets and gets to date Keely Jones who his always had a crush on. Dhe is literally a dream girl for him

So he should be happy right. His got everything he wanted, but it's not going the way he expected because.....

1. Roy Kent hates him (in my mind Roy was standoffish from the start, heres come this whizkid who was everything he used to be and slowly losing. I think Jamie came in at 100% and immediatley put Roy on the back foot). Jamie tries with Roy but the more it doesnt work the more Jamie goes OK, if I cant make him like me I will show him I am better than him. Hence the beginning of that relationship.

2. Yeah his away from his dad and his killing it at Richmond, scoring their goals, winning them matches but it only seems to be winning over half the team (he can't see yet his attitude is what is stopping the other guys from liking him). And the team still isn't doing great even with him. Plus he may be away from his Dad but his relationship with his mum feels like it in a werid place which sucks cause she is his favourite person ever.

3. And Keeley seems to be where its going right but sometimes it feels like his a bit of a project for her. And I think he has heard people (like Roy) question why she is with him.

And let's face it, he is still likely hearing from his dad when he doesn't perform up to his standards.

And then heres Sam. Who (at this point in time) isn't playing well, isn't scoring goals, not massively contributing to thier wins and yet he seems so genuinely happy all the time and everyone loves him, Roy Kent seems to like him and is friendly with him, complimenting him (which he has never done to Jamie). Sam is so open and kind he has probably talked about his dad in the locker room, and his relationship with his family seems perfect and that must gnaw at Jamie because all he ever wanted is to make his dad proud and his pretty sure he will never achieve it because the man is a d***k who is impossoble to please, yet Jamie never stops trying and things are werid with his mum which he hates. But all he hears when its brought up from Sam is how great his family is.

Then along comes the new gaffer who Jamie can't even understand why he is coaching, but he also seems to love Sam and wants him to be the decoy so Sam can kick the goal. Even though Jamie knows if he kicks it, it will go in.

Now we all know the reason Sam is liked is because he is an amazing, kind hearted, dedicated person, but I think S1 Jamie is so jealous and does not even know it.

Because S1 Jamie is still living with the notion that being the best in the most important thing ( thank you James Tartt Sr) so to Jamie he is out here busting his ass at training to be the best, scoring all the goals yet Sam seems to be the one who is living what he thought his dream time at Richmond was going to be. And I know I mention it but I think it is a big thing for Jamie, the harder he tries the more Roy seems to despise him, and take enjoyment in his embarrassment.

And S1 Jamie in all maturity handles his jealously by trying to make Sam feel as bad as he is feeling. Which Jamie, baby. That's kindergarten mentality. And poor Sam actually thinks Jamie is a great player and would love to learn from him in the beginning and isnt having a great time either.

But yeah. I dont think Jamie ever disliked Sam. I think he was insanly jealous of him all the time and didn't know how to handle that or even admit it himself.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Apologies for my rambles.

#ted lasso #ted lasso meta #jamie tartt #jamie is such an interesting charchter #sam obisanya #roy kent #james tartt sr #is and absolute ahole #jamie was incredibly jealous of sam #you cannot convince me otherwise #Jamie dealt with his jealously with anger #i do think season 1 Jamie felt empty even though he thought everything was going his way #i want to hug him #but also scold him for his actions #he really just neede proper guidance #not thay he would let anyone help at that stage #i also think his disappointment at his relationship with his idol roy was real #boy dreamed of being like Roy Kent only to find Roy Kent hates him #ouch #royjaime #because this 100% ends there to me

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

One of the things I liked about Ted Lasso was Jamie's childhood room in season 3.

I am not talking about the posters on the wall, which is fantastic, but I mean the actual room. It actually looks like a room a child in a lower income family grew up in. How often do you watch a tv show and see characters' childhood or teen rooms with these big ass beds, or loft like rooms, rooms the size of main bedrooms or having the design and look of an almost professional level desginer. It used to drive me insane growing up watching characters on tv who were meant to be low or lower middle income have rooms I could only have dreamed off, or living in houses/apartments that would just be insanly high in rent or to own.

But Jamie's room is realistic of what a small home or council home room of a well loved child would look like. A single bed, a small tv, littered with childhood mementos. Maybe a little childish if teen Jamie spent a lot of time there but Jamie strikes me as always being out on the football field and not ashamed to have a room full of his childhood memories, especially in his mothers house.

Ted Lasso does a great job of keeping these characters real to life, and I think this is a great example of that.

#Ted Lasso #Jamie Tartt #Ted Lasso Meta #his room is just so true to him #even the little trophy cabinet #Jamie 100% slept on football bedsheets till he moved out in his late teens #and had no shame about it at all #I respect that Jamie is just so loved in that house and that makes me so happy for him #baby boi deserves it #realistic rooms are important #most kids have small rooms and single beds for a huge chunk of their young life

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Today I have done a lot of thinking about fictional charachters because...well my day has beeen horrible and its been better than thinking about that.

I saw a clip of shameless S1 where Mickey is dirty and unclean and I remember how a lot of people have said maybe he didn't really care until Ian came along or started to try for Ian. And sure, that may be part of it, but in my experience, there are so many other reasons people are unclean for, and I think a few would apply to Mickey.

1. I think part of the reasons he is reguarly covered in dirt is that being dirty tends to hide or blend in bruises. It is not going to work completely but enough to make people wonder if that is dirt or a bruise, or if they are seeing it properly. I imagine Terry wasn't light handed in beatings, and the kids were expected to cover for it. While teenage Mickey could say he was in a fight younger Mickey would have easily used that just some days old dirt excuse.

2. Lack of hot water or just water in his house. I don't think paying the bills on time was high on Terry's list either, and we know the house was basically a dump. It wouldnt surprise me if they reguarly had no hot water or if they did it run out quickly with the old water heater and you did not want to be the one causing Terry to have a cold shower. Or he saved the hot water for Mandy because he knows she actually really cares about her appearance and being clean

3. As a reason not to have to be with girls. In his first episode, Karen mentions that maybe Mickey is coming to find her to ask her out again and then says basically says along the lines of "I wouldn't because he smells like shit.' Being unclean and dirty means girls are less likely to want to go out with him, so he can ask the girls who he knows will say no then have it be that they are a b***ch who said no, or she don't know what she missing. He comes out of looking like her really doesn't care he got turned down but still leaves the impression his into girls. It is like a protective layer

4. I think caring about your appearance and the way you're dressed is something Mickey's dad would find pansy. Which Ugh, Terry is the worst.

5. I don't think some people really understand how vulnerable being naked in a place you dont feel safe in is. I feel like if Terry is mad, drunk, or just desires it, he would be more than happy to come for you. Being naked and unprepared is not a fun thought. So Mickey saves his showers for when he is sure his alone becauze like hell he is trusting that flimsy lock on the door (if there even is one cause Svetlana just walks in with a hammer on Ian)

Sure maybe once Ian comes along that is more incentive to be clean and presentable but I think he really starts to be clean is season 4 onwards where he knows and admits how much Ian means to him and that he loves him, no longer has go pretend to be into girls (his out or he has the excuse of his married) but also when his dad is in jail and maybe the bills are getting paid, maybe he feels safer in the house.

I just hate the common thinking of, that person is unclean because they don't care. That is rarely the real reason in my experience.

#mickey milkovich #ian gallagher #gallavich #mandy milkovich #season 1 shameless #there is almost a reason why people are unclean #protective responses to neglect and trauma appear in many forms #shameless meta #meta #no doubt he wants to be better for Ian as well #but I dont think that is the only reason he suddenly became clean and cared about his appearance #i love Mickey so much #Season 1 and 2 Mickey hold a special place in my heart

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

I really don't understand the hate for Debbie in Shameless.

Is she perfect? Nope. Does she make mistakes? Yeap. But that is literally the whole point of Shameless. It is literally in the name of the show, and I really don't think she is worse than any of the other Gallagher's or really most characters that stick around long enough. They all have trauma that comes out in different ways, and they all have moment where I hate their actions.

Debbie just feels like the kicking bag of the show and fans. She makes some mistakes, but you can't deny she loves her family and does her best for her daughter.

The bit that really gets me is how her family talk about her in the last two seasons. Lip a d**k about selling the house and refusing to see it from any other point of view, he also unfairly yells at her for Franny situation. She legit left that house receiving a yes when she asked someone to take Frannt to school. The two yeses weren't directed at her, but she did wait for an answer and didn't just leave Franny.

And maybe the part that most got me is the way Ian talked about her after the discussion.

'We don't hate each other, we all just hate Debbie'

'I promised never to let Debbie think she is right'

Meanwhile, Debbie says Ian is her favourite sibling and that she is going to miss living with her family. She really is their punching bag in the later season.

It's wild that the person who seems to treat her the best in that house is Mickey. I think he enjoys her candour and thinks she is hilarious. Plus, she made Franny, who he adores.

If y'all wanna watch a show about trauma and growing up disadvantaged and the effect it has of people but then hate when you see a representation of that, then I really don't know what to say.

#debbie gallagher #shameless #shameless meta #Debbie tries so hard #Lip and Ian need to check the way they speak to her and about her #trauma results differnt ways #Debbie just really loves her daughter and family #mickey milkovich

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Another Ted Lasso, Jamirle Tartt obersvation. And there might be a few as I rewatch and blog my thoughts out there, because I love Jamie and his arc.

In season 2, when he comes back, it is his first time back in the locker room. He steps up and apologises, and the team pretty much tell him all that he needs to apologise for and why they dont like him pr want him back. And to be fair, most of them were valid reasons and things he should apologize for cause he was a prick. Like calling Colin a worm, or hitting on Bumbercatch's mum in front of his dad (even if that is a little funny And he probs meant nothing by as flirting and shwoing off, that's just his personality).

But the part that seems really unfair to me is that Issac blames him for getting them regulated, and the whole team jumps in to agree. And shout at him for it.

Yeah, Jamie didn't do anything wrong in that scenario, and he doesn't owe any apology to anyone for that. His a professional football player, and his job is to play the best he can for his team. His team was Manchester City at that time. He owed it to his team mates, coaches and the fans to give a 100%. He didn't get you regulated. Your season performance did.

I get it felt personal and maybe he took some joy in it. (I don't blame him for that eithier, from Jamie's perspective, (which is a separate post I want to make as I think his season 1 storyline is a completly differnt story in his eyes.) He got pubically benched for not being a team player, told to man up and get over himself, he did that and shared personal information and tried to buy into the Lasso way, only to get told the next morning he was getting sent back to Man City. We know it wasn't Ted who did that, but he doesn't. To him, he did what was asked and then got sent away anyway. If I was him I would want some instant caramel too.) and I mean my team I go for has lost a final in over time, after the siren to a free kick and I don't have a lot of love for the player from the other team who did it cause that hurt to watch but I don't blame the player.

So yeah, Jamie owes apologies, and I get the 5eam aint thrilled to have him back at the beginning, but no one should have made him feel bad for the Manchester City game. Jamie also didn't hurt Roy in that game. Roy hurt himself in a legal tackle. Jamie did nothing wrong that game.

#jamie tartt #ted lasso #blaming someone for literally doing thier job #he was a prick for many other reason though #jamie is such an interesting charchter #richmond #regulation still a werid idea to me #the little smug kiss he blows to roy was so prattish #i don't blames him for how he treats roy #they are both mean to each other

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Rewatching Ted Lasso and I noticed this time that Jamie does his putting his hand into his shirt and twisting when he is nervous or upset the whole way through from season 1. I really only noticed it in the later seasons, the first time. It's a self comfort thing. I adore that on him.

It makes me wonder how many tops Jamie has gone through while at Richmond. Like I imagine, he has streched so many out tops and in my head, poor Will is doing the laundry and putting aside another yet streched out top. And I mean the tops and uniforms are branded so they always have to look good so it is replaced whenever one is streched too far.

I imagine Higgins bringing up to Rebecca that they are going through a lot of Richmond wear, especially number 9 guernseys and the long sleeved unifroms with thumb holes. But his thier top player and thier biggest brand allure so not much to be done but make sure his looking his best in the gear.

All the boys know not to lend Jamie a hoodie or a top if you are overly attached to it because he will return it stretched and not even notice. Because while he treats things lent to him with the utmost respect he doesn't even realise he does it.

I imagine Roy lent him a top after 4am training once and now his charcoal grey top is loose in the stomach, so Jamie can just keep it the muppet.

Finally, after going through so many, Keely just suggests they auction of his match worn shirts to recoup some of the money. Fans go crazy for it. They amke enough to replace his tops and then some.

#jamie tartt #ted lasso #keeley jones #roy kent #the thumb holes are adorable #i do the excat same thing #but it is way more adorable on Jamie #self comfort in any way is a good thing

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

I finally watched Ted Lasso, I held off so long because....well I don't like soccer. I am an AFL (Australian Football fan) through and through and can't get into to other sports but I was convinced by friends and random clips I saw.

I just fell completely in love with this show. It is not perfect and has it slumps ...but it so funny, smart, heartwarming, has fantastic charachters (one of the few shows where I liked almost everyone) and has a message and theme run through out the series woth the ability to make great callbacks. This show was at its best when it was an ensemble show. In the locker rooms, with the fans. With family.

But the two things I truly loved about it is

1. It nailed what it is like to be a fan. All the scenes of the crowds, the locals at the bar, the 3 boys. Heck, even the love and hate relationship the fans have with the coach and players. They nailed showing how a football team can be a family and a community. The show made me care if Richmond win or lose. That's why I love my football and my team. For the 4 quarters of my game we are all family, it's about the love of the game and the highs and lows. Ted Lasso did this fantastically

2. This show had one of the best character redemptions and growth arcs I have seen in a show in a long while. Watching Jamie Tartt grow throughout the seasons was amazing. He went from my least favourite character to my favourite. And all through this, he grew and worked on himself, in what felt like a really honest way. I could watch him for hours. Ted Lasso and Phil Dunster should be incredibly proud of what they created. He was portrayed so incredibly well.

I also aspire to be Roy Kent.

I also still do not understand the offside rule. I did learn what relegation meant in this sport. So learning at least.

#jamie tartt #ted lasso #roy kent #it's about family #about community #one if the better shoes I have seen in a while #kudos to Jason Sudeikis #funny and heartwarming #still soccer to me #phil dunster

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

The one thing that I don't get about the movie is the change in order drom when Alex gives his speech. I think the speech is beauitful but in the movie he does it before he sees Henry again.

So when the King comes in and does his whole asshole thing 'we can pretend that this was just a hack or fake news' it really makes no sense. Because Alex and by extension, the White House, have already publicly confirmed the relationship to the whole word. So by doing this the Crown are basically suggesting they think everyone in thier country is just absolutley ignorant and doesnt have access to media, or he is completly comfortable in calling Alex and the white house and by extension America liars which is basically going to ruin things diplomatically between the two countries. There is just no way that was a feasible option for the crown after the speech was made.

It is just the one thing in the movie that seems like a small change. In the book, it makes complete sense why the Queen would make that move, as wrong as it may be. In her eyes, they could cover this up. In the movie, it doesn't at all. It had passed that point.

It makes me wonder about the intelligence of the king which is sad cause part of what makes the quren so intimadating is the book is that she is cunningly smart in her moves and cares about the Crown more than her family.

Really think the king scene should have happened before the speech.

#red white and royal blue #rwrb movie #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #why change something like that #it made the king look stupid

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

After the longest day when everyone kept asking for a favour right that changed my plans (for real no one ask me to watch any toddlers anytime soon.), I finally got to watch Red, White, and Royal Blue a solid 10 hours after I planned.

I loved it so much, guys, but I also felt disappointed a little. I think it was just a little to rushed. I understand why, it is a movie and you only have a certain amount of time to tell the story (also why i understood characters like June where cut, because she is awseome but in the sense of the movie she and Nora served the same purpose) but I loved the journey to love we went through with Alex in the book and the exploration of thier relationship and I felt like the elements of it was there but I wanted more. More time to see that grow.

I also HATE when movies or tv shows advertise scenes that are not in the movie. Why put the kitchen scene out there in the trailer only to cut it. I found myself wondering if I had day dreamed off and somehow missed it. I mean, if you need to cut, then fine, but don't put it in the goddamn trailer if ya ain't gonna use it.

Where this movie shined was with Alex and Henry. Hats off to those two. Thier chemistry was great. Nick did an amazing job portraying Henry and all his vulnerabilities and struggles. I always felt so much for Henry and I feel like Nick understood him. That man can tell a story with his face.

And Taylor blew me away. Because heres the thing. I think Alex is a hard role to play. His loud, confident, funny and sometimes cocky and really loveable. But play that wrong, and he could have come of cocky and annoying, especially at the beggining but that was not an issue. In the book, we get to hear his thoughts and understand him. In the movie, it all comes down to Taylor, and he does an amazing job.

I loved the V&A scene so much and as much? It's where you can really feel the love between them and as I would have loved your song, I think I can't help falling in love with you, was a beautiful choice.

The dock scene for me was the perfection of the movie. Alex, dreaming of their future together and the quiet devastation of Henry as he realises was actually amazing. In the book this always got to me as it was the moment to me Henry realised to Alex this all had a end date. The hiding, the need to keep it all a secret. After the election was done, most of the danger of being exposed was over for Alex. Presidents can only serve 2 terms so elections wouldn't be a thing again, he was already out to everyone who mattered most to him. For him next year was freemdom when for Henry, he was born into royalty and that necer ended or went away, this was Henry thinking in his head that he could never give Alex that happiness and freedom and he was heartbroken.

Also.

-Both Amy and Zahra where amazing. Nailed it.

-Feel like we needed more Shaan, Bea and Pez

- the sex scence was beautiful, but I am low key obsessed with the tack room scene. When Alex lifts Henry in his polo uniform on to the tbale is perfection.

- I feel like the friendship to lovers part was the most rushed. I would have loved to see another 5 to 10 minutes dedicated to that as I think it would have enhanced the beginning of the romance.

- I now they had limited time but I really wosh they had talked more about how mich Henry losing his dad defined him and shaped him.

- I wanted more pet names 😢 happy we got some but still.

- More David was needed. Enough said.

- I found the line 'I was four when I realised the whole of England knew my name, and I would never know theirs' really poignant. Could you imagine how watched you would feel all and the expectations you would be aware of all the time growing up like that.

- At the end of the day it wasn't perfect and it was missing some things that I think where important but this was an amazing movie that I would reccomend to anyone.

#red white and royal blue #rwrb movie #spoilers #henry fox mountchristen windsor #alex claremont diaz #taylor zakhar perez #nicholas galitzine #loved it #rwrb

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

While I love the idea that even in Henry and Alex's world, the line 'History, Huh?' Is iconic. I don't love that it is basically a leak from their own private emails. I feel like looking at t shirts made of it would be a reminder that the world got to see some of your most private moments, but maybe that's just me. I would prefer it be 'his my choice'.

#red white and royal blue #henry fox mountchristen windsor #alex claremont diaz #waterloo letters

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

This is so true. The truth is Merlin had all the true power in that relationship even when at first glance it seems the opposite. He got to make all the important informed decisions, and he always knew more than Arthurand had the love and trust to imsway Atthurs opinions. It is like he had the full picture while Arthur got a roughly half done sketch. And the turly tragic thing is that all of Merlin's decisions made to protect Arthur contributed to his demise.

Arthur kindness led him to love and trust too openly and to look for the good in people only to be constantly betrayed, lied to and let down, including discovering that the one person he always loved and trusted beyond all had lied to him this whole time. He still forgave him for that, and Merlin's fight with destiny led him to become hardned and weary and willing to forsake all for Arthur's well-being only for his decision to end up being factors that led to Arthurs demise.

It's a true love story and a true tradegy and season 5 just breaks me.

(Not from the same anon) From Merlin BBC, what do you think are Arthur and Merlin’s greatest personality strengths and weaknesses? Why? What do you love about their dynamic? Sorry if you've answered this before.....

hi anon. this is gonna be a bit shorter than the bkdk one simply bc I'm defending my master's thesis today and stress is eating at me.

the interesting thing to me about Arthur and Merlin individually is that their greatest strengths are also their greatest weaknesses.

Arthur: Arthur is very kind, as I've mentioned in a recent post. And both his greatest strength and weakness stem from that. Because he is kind, he has a great sense of justice. Arthur is very fair and open-hearted, which impacts his leadership positively. That's what makes him charismatic and what brings him the support of other characters and his people. He has this childlike pure-heartedness that Uther couldn't take away from him.

But Arthur is also too kind, too trusting and this is what gets him betrayed every. fucking. time. He always sees the best in people, and people take advantage of that. Also, he is too impressionable. His heart is in the right place, but for some reason he always ends up following someone else's input (Uther's, Agravaine's, or Merlin's).

So yeah, Arthur's greatest strength is the way his kindness informs his leadership. His greatest weakness is how it impacts his judgement.

Merlin: Merlin's greatest strength and weakness both stem from his resolve, though his devotion to Arthur also comes into play when considering his weakness. Merlin's greatest strength is in his ability to act on his decisions. He has trouble making choices, quandaries are like his specialty, but once he's made his mind he's not gonna back down. Merlin gets things done and lives with it. That works well for the Arthur-Merlin dynamic because he takes on himself what Arthur can't condone or what the narrative can't have Arthur condone if he is to remain the fair and pure king.

Merlin's resolve though, paired with his devotion to Arthur, makes him shortsighted. Merlin makes the worst choices without thinking clearly because the only thing in his mind is Arthur's well being. And the way his resolve plays into it makes it worse because of course he doesn't half-ass anything, not even his worst decisions. I don't think it would be wrong to describe Merlin as obsessive in that way. obsessive regarding his destiny, which just progressively morphs into obsessive regarding Arthur's life. the disir has shown how season 5 Merlin would throw destiny out of the window if it meant protecting Arthur.

Anyway yeah Merlin's greatest strength is how his resolve makes it possible for him to act proficiently and efficiently. His greatest weakness is how this resolve applies to his relationship with Arthur making him rash and narrow-minded.

the dynamic: Arthur and Merlin are my favorite dynamic of all time I think, and also my personal OTP. I don't think I can cover all the reasons why in this ask, maybe it would demand a post all on its own. But here's what I've got in bullet points:

I love tragedies, especially the "it was always gonna end this way" kinda ones. and the angst is just top tier with this one. like what do you mean you guys were your own downfall. love it.

in par with the tragic aspect, I love the destiny aspect. because like. They feel larger than time. Merlin is still waiting for him. Arthur will come back. They are part of a legend. And I don't usually enjoy the soulmate trope. but Arthur and Merlin work because the destiny thing isn't actually what keeps them together. Arthur doesn't know about destiny, and Merlin would forsake destiny for Arthur in an instant. It's like destiny said you two are gonna be soulmates and they were like fuck you but yeah. we're gonna transcend everything but not because you made it so. And I'm here for human beings and their feelings overpowering time and the narrative.

What I also like in the dynamic in itself is the casual intimacy that we get. It's mega satisfying to me as an audience to see a dynamic work on a day to day basis. The give and take is immaculate whether it's about banter or saving each other's life.

In the same vein, I'm here for the complexity of the power imbalance. Because at first it appears that Arthur is the one in charge. But the more you watch the show the more you understand that Merlin is actually the one in power in the relationship. And it leaves you wondering about the healthiness of it all, about the equilibrium of it all, and it leaves you in a grey area that just feels so good.

Well this wasn't actually that short. I'm gonna leave things here for now.

take care, anon. thanks for the ask <3

#merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #power imbalance #Merlin makes such bad decisions #bbc merlin #Poor Arthur never gets true free will

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

Constant travel, work, different time zones, solving others problems like I am a travel agent on top of everything else and being non- stop on the go means for the first time in years for 9-1-1 and EVER for lonestar I am behind.

I haven't seen any of the new season of 9-1-1 or any of Lonestar past ep 4 of this season.

I am officaly tired, cranky and trying to explain to people you are emotionally distraught you can't watch the Tarlos wedding in real time and spend the next few hours on Tumblr is apparently not a way to make peope think you are are stable. Let alone explaining that yes, you are grumpy because 9-1-1 was on last night, and you are invested in EVERY storyline and missing it.

I am hoesntly devastated as I have been waiting for this wedding for years and spoilers are everywhere.

So everyone enjoy this and now I am an insanley jealous.

Ahhh!

#9-1-1 #911 lone star #i just want to watch Tarlos wedding #i miss my Carlos #and my Eddie Diaz #and the powerhouse that is Grace Ryder #carlos reyes #buddie #tarlos

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

So following tonights episode you can not convince me that games night isnt a thing Buck, Eddie and Chris do. I feel like when Eddie had his Technology Freakout a few years ago they moved to board and card games for a while and even though Eddie has relaxed since then and video games is still a thing they do they now also love a old school game night. Be it Scrabble, Bogle, Jenga, Mouseteap and on the odd occasion Monopoly (it's an odd occasion because Eddie can get ruthless, but Scrabble ain't no light game eithier because due to Bucks research binges he knows the most random words).

As much as they love thier video games night they discovered they found there was something really fun about being disengaged from techology and just being together and playing as thier little family. Chris loves beating both Eddie and Buck and both Eddie and Buck enjoy showing Chris the games they used to play and now this is just as much a tradition as video games ❤️

#9 1 1 #911 spoilers #eddie diaz #evan buckley #buddie #christopher diaz #games night #board games #prove me wrong #you just can't

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

To the many peoole who think Billy is a irredemable characther and completly beyond redepmtion or deserved to die. Cool. Have your opinion but I would suggest that those people never go into the field of child protection or working with abuse victims. The thing about abuse victims, especially child victims is that anger and lashing out are very normal behavioural reactions. They model what they see, they use toughness to protect themselves or to convince the world they don't care. It self protection and survial.

This is a kid who gets beaten by his dad, got left by his mother and never understood why she didnt take him too, left to the hell she was trying to escape from. Got a new family thrushed upon him where it felt like this new sister got treated better than him for no reason and at the time of his death was still living in that horrible situation. He was still a kid when he died. Now does that excuse his actions and they way he treated Max or any or the rest of themm No it doesn't. Is Max entitled to how she feels about him? Sure. She has her own trauma. But was he evil? Nah, he was a scared, lonely kid who never got to explore the world outside his abusive life. Who obviosuly has enough good in him to sacrifice himself at the end, who seemed like he never truly wanted to hurt anyone judging by how upset he was.

In my opinion the way many see Billy is sympathetic of how we treat kids going through these situations. It is easy to feel sympathetic and wanting to help the kid who is showing the signs we expect of trauma, the ones we feel just removing them from the environment and showing love will magically fix. Its easier to look at season 1 Eleven who hid and didnt speak, (also valid reactions to trauma) but the truth of it is that the Billy's are far more the norm in these situations than we think and I have worked with many and not a single one was irrredemable or beyond growing for the better and there is not a single kid who deserved what happneed to them. Billy is no differnt. I really think he could have grown as a characther and had the potential to be able to make up for his actions and forge a relationship with Max.

Anger and lashing out is one of the signs of abuse we we are taught to look for. So if you are someone who is abuse victim and sometimes the only way you can deal with it is to lash out and get angry just know you are not bad or beyond help, and I am proud of you for surviving the best way you onow how and for wanting to change. You are dealing with your situation the best you can and you can grow. Your are more than a sum of your worst moments. I ❤️

The characther of Billy deserved way better than Season 4. Why do that to him? Uhh!

#harringrove #billy hargrove #abuse isn't pretty #why stranger things why

[marvelling-at-marvel-blog]

As much as I love 9-1-1 and this epidose was percefction the consistency of staffing just annoys me.

So in season 1 they never mention it or seem understaffed but then add Eddie in season 2 as Buck's partner. Fine, I assume there was a spare spot for him and I am going to pretend they where legally allowed to work one down or a fill in staff was around. Then Ravi comes in and joins the crew but no one leaves and I mean his rookie year is up now so yeah he joins the full fledged crew. Then Lucy joing to replace Eddie which makes sense but when he comes back she just remains. Bobby, my man what is your staffing ratio? Am I just meant to believe that a whole bunch of people in the other truck that sometimes follow you and who mill around the firehouse never interacting with the core group (guess thier family adjacent?) are leaving sporadically? Or does Bobby just get to roster at will. Like he contacts Chief Alonzo and says sorry sir I need more money, you see we have added to our fire family again.

#9-1-1 #fire family #bobby nash #evan buckley #eddie diaz #hen wilson #chimney han #can not see the logic #lucy donato #just what