#I think it's the only thing left to anti parallel Grace with | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

craziigamerchick · 4 years

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Tommy x Grace - Tommy x Lizzie Anti-Parallels

I wanted to make a breakdown post about how both relationships have the same things happen (baby, marriage, May, working for Tommy) but have totally different outcomes. This is really long. Just warning you.

lets start with season 1:

The church confession vs sidewalk pickup

Similarities

He sets them both up for failure. “You’re a good catholic girl aren’t ya?” and “That’s 8 bloody pounds.”

Offers them a job. Grace - book keeper and Lizzie - prostitute (she’s supposed to have quit). They both accept.

They both get upset when they realize he is calling them out. “you pull a pint like someone who’s thinking about it” “John will make his own decision but he will have all the facts”

The face caress. This actually what made me realize how similar these scenes were.

Differences

He takes Grace from the street to a church while with Lizzie he just stays on the street.

He’s happy Grace accepted the offer but upset Lizzie did.

When Grace gets upset and goes to leave he stops her but with Lizzie he lets her go.

Him and Grace kiss after the face caress where Lizzie slaps his hand away.

In the scene with Lizzie he constantly has the upper hand but with Grace, she knocks him off balance a bit “and perhaps mine”.

END RESULT: GRACE - Tommy leaves first and both are feeling pretty good. LIZZIE - Lizzie leaves first and both are upset

season 2:

Sex scene with Lizzie vs sex scene with Grace

Similarities

SEX. I think this is the only similarity but I could be missing something.

Differences

L&T are almost fully clothed where G&T are naked

L&T have groaning. G&T there is only music.

Lizzie does most the talking afterwards in their scene. Tommy does most of the talking with Grace.

Tommy leaves Lizzie right after and stays the night with Grace

The lighting is more warm with L&T and more cool with G&T

Pays Lizzie money and not Grace.

END RESULT: GRACE - he stays the night with her LIZZIE - he leaves right away

First scene after both women have accepted the job

Similarities

Tommy wants a letter delivered

Differences

Tommy tells Lizzie the information of the letter and she is actually the one that writes it. With Grace he doesn’t let her in on the details of the letter he wants her to deliver.

Grace is brought up in the scene with Lizzie (her letter from NY). Lizzie is not in G&T scene.

Tommy and Lizzie are together when scene ends. Tommy leaves during scene with Grace.

Grace asks questions. Lizzie none, just relays information.

Lizzie seems to be awed by who the letter is to (churchill) and Grace comes off as suspicious of him having her deliver a letter to his sister.

Grace over steps her bounds with the champagne and Lizzie does everything pretty much perfectly

END RESULT: GRACE - Tommy leaves and Grace is upset with him. LIZZIE - Tommy stays and him and Lizzie are in good spirits with each other

Using Lizzie at the end of s2 vs using Grace with Kimber (both are at the races)

Similarities

Tommy uses both women. Grace to close the deal with Kimber and Lizzie to get Russel alone.

He instructs them about their apparel. Lizzie to undo 2 buttons. Grace to wear a red dress.

Neither lady is too pleased with him and both let him know it.

Differences

Tommy makes it in time to save Grace from getting raped but not Lizzie

He never planned on saving Grace but did where as he planned on getting to Lizzie on time but didn’t

Once he seen what Kimber was doing to Grace he rushed in but when you could clearly hear what was going down with Lizzie and Russel, he kept at the same pace till he made it to them (wtf though. this will never fail to piss me off. like you can clearly hear Lizzie in pain and he can’t even run to her)

There was dancing and flirting with Grace but none of that with Lizzie. Lizzie tried to convey her feelings to Tommy but he wasn’t even paying attention.

Grace kept her voice a whisper when told what to do even when pissed. Lizzie raised her voice and even threatened Tommy.

Tommy kills Russel but not Billy Kimber (not then)

He tried to comfort Lizzie (she ain’t having it) but not Grace

Tommy made it to Grace because he came early where with Lizzie he would have made it in time even though he had to go around if he wouldn’t have went to Campbell to just to gloat about Grace’s feelings for him.

He put his plan in jeopardy to save Grace and put Lizzie in jeopardy to gloat to his enemy.

MY THOUGHTS: There has to be way more that I’m missing but these aren’t just one scene each and there is so many layers behind all of the scenes.

END RESULT: GRACE - Doesn’t get raped and leaves with Tommy. Lizzie - Gets raped and leaves separately from Tommy

Season 4

Lizzie with May and Grace with May

Similarities

both women have little snark fest with May over Tommy

May comes to the area both are already at

The women that start the snark are the ones that Tommy favors the least at that moment

Differences

May is the aggressor with Grace in her scene whereas Lizzie is the aggressor in her scene with May.

Grace wins/has the last word with May whereas May gets the last word with Lizzie

After L&M had words Tommy still tried to hook up with May but after G&M had words Tommy never tried to hook up with her again (while grace was alive)

Tommy is pissed with Lizzie about it but we never find out what he thinks about G&M

END RESULT: GRACE - Has the last word and May leaves instead of waiting for Tommy. LIZZIE - Lizzie doesn’t get the last word and May waits for Tommy

Pregnancy announcement

Similarities

both announce to Tommy they’re pregnant when he has other things on his mind

both tell him he’s the father and he believes both of them.

“a baby Thomas” and “a little you and me”

Differences

At first he tells Grace to pass it off as her husband’s but implies to Lizzie to get rid of it

He’s shocked with Grace and lost for words but just stone faced with Lizzie

Grace tells him I love you but Lizzie never says anything like that

He tells Grace he will figure out what to do later whereas he tell Lizzie how it’s going to go down right away

He gets lost in the moment with Grace but with Lizzie his mind is still stuck with what happened (killed 3)

He plans on Marrying Grace (after he doesn’t die) and plans on just giving Lizzie a house and Money

He leaves WITH Lizzie but leaves Grace to keep with his plan

MY THOUGHTS: Tommy isn’t in a good headspace for the news with either one. He seems happy about it with Grace but to me it’s more happy that she loves him than that she is pregnant. I don’t think he came across as unhappy with Lizzie but more like oh ok we’ll deal with it. I definitely think it showed the disconnect between Lizzie in Tommy this scene but more on that during this next section.

END RESULT: GRACE - He’s happy and the scene ends with them going separate ways with future unknown. LIZZIE - He’s not happy (not mad though) and the scene ends with them leaving together and future plans known

Garrison murders aftermath vs I killed 3 (during pregnancy announcement)

Similarities

Tommy is in a bad mental place because of what just happened

Both try to give comfort (Lizzie the handhold and Grace the hug)

Differences

Grace is able to bring comfort to Tommy (the closed eyes when they are hugging) whereas Lizzie tries but it doesn’t work.

Grace seen what Tommy did but Lizzie only heard about it

Grace brings Tommy comfort because they just saw each other murder someone and can understand what the other is feeling whereas Lizzie hasn’t done that yet and can’t connect on that level

Grace and Tommy are interrupted by Moss whereas Tommy breaks it up with him and Lizzie

Grace kind of puts Tommy in that situation whereas Lizzie has nothing to do with it (not directly at least but it did all start because she was dating Angel)

MY THOUGHTS: Grace brings Tommy comfort for this sort of thing because she’s seen him at his worst and vice versa and she understands. They just get each other on a deeper level. Lizzie tries to comfort him with the handhold but when she bends down to him they bump heads (ouch) and she doesn’t know what to say to bring comfort. They also don’t keep the forehead touch going on like G&T do. She brings up the baby but that’s not what he needs right at the moment. It’s telling right before she goes in to tell him, he is looking at Grace’s picture. Longing for comfort from the person who gave it to him before. This scene is where Lizzie also tells Tommy if he thinks she would get rid of their baby he doesn’t know her (showing he doesn’t really know her. which is also shown in the “WTF was that” scene about May). Yet, he’s told Grace they “know each other”.

END RESULT: GRACE - Moss breaks up their hug and Tommy is still upset and not hiding it. Then he walks her home and they share a cigarette (showing they’ve become closer as it’s more intimate). LIZZIE - Tommy breaks up the hand hold and pulls himself together even though he is still upset and drives her home but we don’t see it.

Season 5

Lizzie shoots gun vs Garrison murders

Similarities

Both women are wearing maroon

Both walk out with the gun and start shooting

Tommy is stunned both times

There are 2 other men involved

Tommy’s life is threatened both times when each woman comes out

Both shoot twice

Both save Tommy’s life

Happens at night

Differences

Lizzie doesn’t shoot anybody, just in the air but Grace shoots and kills one of the men

Lizzie speaks and then Tommy. For Garrison murders, Tommy speaks and then Grace.

Lizzie keeps the gun pointed at Tommy but Grace never points it at him (towards him at Byrne but not at him)

Tommy looks hurt that Lizzie is pointing gun at him and upset with Grace for shooting when he told her to just point

In the pub both men are IRA and at the house both men are Gypsies

Both men live with Lizzie but both men die with Grace

Happens inside with Grace and outside with Lizzie

Grace and Tommy get hurt but Lizzie and Tommy are both fine

Tommy and Lizzie help both men (Lizzie calls ambulance for Aberama and Tommy helps Johnny inside) whereas Grace and Tommy kill both men

Lizzie walks inside during scene and Tommy heads that way too but Grace and Tommy both just stand there till the next scene

Lizzie was shaking holding the gun but Grace was steady (she has training)

L&T sex scene in bedroom vs G&T sex scene at Ada’s

Similarities

close up on their faces at the beginning

the lighting is similar in color

the kissing is very audible in both scenes

the hand gripping the furniture

Differences

Lizzie lays down how things are going to go whereas Grace is trying to figure out

Grace touches Tommy’s face but Tommy is the one touching Lizzies face

Tommy focuses mainly on Lizzie’s body but focuses only on Grace’s face

the music is loud during G&T scene but low on L&T

heavy moaning during L&T during the sex but music takes over during G&T

G&T kiss most of the scene but L&T there is only a bit of it

Tommy throws Lizzie on the bed but walks Grace to the couch carefully

bed vs couch

there is some stripping in L&T but putting the clothes back on for G&T

Grace wants to make sure there is nobody else and Lizzie is ok with their being others as long as he follows her rules

MY THOUGHTS: The Lizzie and Tommy scene also reminded me of the May and Tommy scene from season 2. Lizzie and May are both wearing the same color of nightwear and they go the desk then the bed in both scenes. Which could also parallel the wedding episode where Grace and Tommy start kissing at the desk but move to the bed also. He is more gentle with Grace than the other two and there is more kissing. Grace is also wearing purple where the other 2 appear to be wearing light pink.

END RESULT: LIZZIE - Her and Tommy seem to have a deal in place about how their relationship is going to be going forward. GRACE - Her and Tommy’s future is still uncertain

Lizzie’s Birthday vs G&T Wedding

Similarities

A big party with lots of people at the arrow house

they keep guests waiting while they have sex

enemies are in attendance

someone gets shot

Neither woman knew about the enemy until the party

Tommy does business during the party

after sex we see both ladies pulling up their stockings on one leg

Differences

Tommy doesn’t want the Russians near his house but invites Mosely there

Worries about Grace being embarrassed and threatens his people over it but let’s Mosely embarrass Lizzie and says nothing (she has to save face by saying Mosely fell asleep early even though Lizzie just told Polly they fucked)

Polly is friendly with Lizzie but not with Grace

G&T dance but we watch other people dance (swans) instead at Lizzie’s party

the person that gets shot at the wedding dies but Linda lives

Lizzie interacts with the enemy whereas Grace doesn’t

Tommy tries to hide the stuff from Grace but doesn’t Lizzie

L&T have sex once whereas G&T have sex twice

Loud moaning during sex with L&T, none with G&T

Sex is fully clothed with L&T but with sex scene we do see G&T are completely naked

Tommy warns Lizzie about the enemy beforehand but Grace has to get the information out of Tommy after it’s started going down

Enemy has ties to Lizzie but Russians have nothing to do with Grace

END RESULTS: LIZZIE - Tommy gives her more information about what’s going on and gets comfort from her (they end the scene together). GRACE - Her and Tommy get interrupted during sex and he goes to take care of their son and look out the window (a sign of worry/anxiousness)

So that’s all the scenes but here are some other details where they are the same but opposite:

Had a child with Tommy. GRACE - a boy and named after a real actor. LIZZIE - a girl and Ruby because she might grow up to be an actress herself according to Polly (also Ruby is red and Grace was wearing a sapphire which is blue and we all know red and blue are opposites).

Tommy asks Lizzie if she wants to fuck (also uses that vulgarity on other women) but never uses that vulgarity with Grace.

Lizzie has threatened Tommy with a Gun 2x even though they have never been enemies but Grace who was his enemy never did.

In S5 Lizzie represents the black swan (she has it on her coat in episode 1) and Grace the white swan (there is an article about it). Now go look up the ballet Swan Lake....

Tommy has insulted both of them (”I still pay for it in my head” and “you’re used to be undercover”), Lizzie takes it while Grace smacks him.

Both are/were his wife. Lizzie is alive but Grace is dead.

His wedding ring with Lizzie is a plain one but a special one with Grace (can anyone tell me what’s engraved on it?).

He makes promises to both of them and breaks them. Lizzie gets angry and storms out whereas Grace says something about and Tommy makes her come with him (scene with RIP Charlie)

When the women order drinks, Grace ordered the champagne and Lizzie the Vodka tonic.

He’s given them both gifts. He gave Lizzie money as a gift in 4x1 and Grace the sapphire in 3x2

RANDOM OBSERVATION:

When Tommy introduced his wife to Mosley he called her Elizabeth (he calls her Lizzie right after that). Her and Polly are both standing there and both of their names are Elizabeth. It felt like that was on purpose by the writers (Polly’s actress even says she is like his wife but without the sex). His work wife (who he is related to) and real wife share the same name...ughh gross. I know Mosely already met Polly and everything but the writers love to show us about how Tommy and Polly are the Head of the family. It just felt wrong.

Which I also think the only reason Polly likes Lizzie for Tommy is because she knows she’ll never lose him to her. She knows Lizzie has no sway over Tommy and she can stay his true wife/partner. I say “true” because Tommy does tell Lizzie things but as we see in S5E1 he tells Polly more (and Lizzie is not happy about it).

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une-nuit-pour-se-souvenir · 3 years

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The Dragon has Three Heads

"Three heads of the dragon... yes... but the third will not necessarily BE a Targaryen..."

~ GRRM @ at some convention

The conclusion is simple. The heads of the dragon refer to people and while the two are Targaryens, the third might not be one.

We can ignore anything that says this group of things are of different things (for example, I've seen "two Targaryens plus a concept"), as that makes no narrative sense. The key is exactly that last sentence, the third one may not be a Targaryen, which implies the three heads are all people and that two are Targaryens and the third is not quite one. Therefore, these three dragon heads must refer to people associated with dragon, with two of them being Targaryens but the last one not necessarily being one.

The most popular theory is that the two Targaryens are Danerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, with the third being the youngster that claims to be Aegon VI Targaryen and appears first in ADWD. This identification ignores the narrative framework for both Aegon VI Targareyn and Jon Snow.

On one hand, Aegon is often associated with kingly imagery (for example, the chapter he's introduced starts with six chests, the kid himself is introduced as standing at a higher ground than the rest, and ends with a turtle who is said to witness the birth of kings), he's accompanied by a lot associated with his parents such as Jon Connington (his father's hand of the kind) and some dornish / royne people (his mother's land and culture). Another thing to note is that Varys introduces him as the real thing to a dying man.

Moreover, there is at least one "baby switch" story that shadows this one, a prince baby being switched with a nobody, sent away to protect against a Baratheon. In specific, Mance Rayder's son (the wildling "king") being switched with Gilly's son, then sent South for protection against another Baratheon, which is notably a plan concocted by Jon Snow (another of Rhaegar's kids, as if preparing him and the reader to "believe" such a scenario is possible).

On the other hand, Jon Snow's core character revolves around two facts, that he is a bastard and that he loves his Stark family. The reveal that he's not Eddard Stark's bastard but Lyanna Stark's child doesn't erase the latter, as he's a Stark through his mother. Still, the nature of Rhaegar and Lyanna's relationship may erase the former. If Jon is illegitimate, that doesn't erase the former, but if he's legitimate somehow (Targaryens are said to take multiple wives), that erases the former and replaces it another. It can go either way.

Moreover, there is at least one "legitimized bastard" story that shadows this one. In specific, Jon Snow is offered to be legitimised both by Stannis Baratheon (something that is a true temptation, as it would give him everything he secretely longed for all his life), but also by Robb's will as it names Jon Snow as his heir over sisters and that's only possible through legitimising him. It's my conviction that "the rule of three" applies, therefore that Jon will reject Robb's will like he rejected Stannis' offer, but will have a third legitimization opportunity and that this time around he'll acept.

To be more specific and in contrast with Aegon, who's introduced with kingly imagery, Jon is introduced with bastardy imagery. Bran introduces him into the narratve as his bastard brother, while Jon's first POV chapter starts with him musing that he's a bastard. While Jon has "kingly" imagery, it doesn't come associated with imagery from his father's side, and seems to be self-contained to the North (for example, the first inside joke is "kings hiding under the snow" or Mormont's crow calling him king while he's at the wall). Jon's hidden parentage comes along with prince imagery instead (for example, the anti-parallel with bastard prince Joffrey). With my conviction explained above, I do believe it will come to Aegon legitimising Jon as his heir until he has kids (a parallel to Robb's will). Most (if not all) foreshadowing falls into place. Aegon VI is king, Jon is the (bastard) prince. An example would be Sansa's "Glory to your betrothed," Ser Arys answered at once. (...) "He is the dragon's heir." which fits with Jon as Aegon's heir.

Combined, this interpreation suggests that the popular theory is actually backwards: Aegon VI is the real thing while Jon Snow is the Blackfyre (bastard Targaryen). This is in accordance to the way the text is presented.

House of Undying

"THe dragon has three heads" is referenced for the first time to Danerys Targaryen in a prophetic inducing Shade of the Evening tripping out at the House of Undying.

The man had her brother's hair, but he was taller, and his eyes were a dark indigo rather than lilac. "Aegon," he said to a woman nursing a newborn babe in a great wooden bed. "What better name for a king?"

"Will you make a song for him?" the woman asked.

"He has a song," the man replied. "He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire." He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany's, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. "There must be one more," he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. "The dragon has three heads." He went to the window seat, picked up a harp, and ran his fingers lightly over its silvery strings. Sweet sadness filled the room as man and wife and babe faded like the morning mist, only the music lingering behind to speed her on her way.

I'll say that whatever the House of Undying shows, may not be reality. Rhaegar wanting to fulfill some prophecy with three kids is not referenced anywhere else, except this moment which is the equivalent of a very bad drug trip. It's worth mentioning though, Ratgar saw a comet in the sky and thought he should impregnate his wife, against medical advice because she who was recovering from giving birth his first child. It could be, but it could not be.

Regardless, what's important to note is what's being prophetized. Much like GRRM's convention remark, Rhaegar identifies the three heads as people. So far so good. However, he also gives us an order: omitted Rhaenys as she was born already, Aegon in mother's lap, Danerys when Rhaegar looks up to "see" her at the door, then finally Jon when he says "there must be one more". On one hand, Rhaenys was murdered and Danerys is in this as well, so the conclusion is that the former "replaced" the latter in the prophecy. On the other hand, if this had been a real memory, than Rhaegar would have two legitimate kids at the time (Rhaenys and Aegon) such saying "there must be one more" suggests a third child (Jon), which goes well with GRRM saying "the third may not be a Targaryen". So in order, we have Aegon, Danerys, Jon.

Danerys later reflects upon what this prophecy means and comes the conclusion that these heads are supposed to be people. This is because the Targaryen coat-of-arms is a dragon with three heads, each head representing three Targaryens.

"The dragon has three heads," she sighed. "Do you know what that means, Jorah?"

"Your Grace? The sigil of House Targaryen is a three-headed dragon, red on black."

"I know that. But there are no three-headed dragons."

"The three heads were Aegon and his sisters."

(...)

"Prince Aegon was Rhaegar's heir by Elia of Dorne," Ser Jorah said. "But if he was this prince that was promised, the promise was broken along with his skull when the Lannisters dashed his head against a wall."

"I remember," Dany said sadly. "They murdered Rhaegar's daughter as well, the little princess. Rhaenys, she was named, like Aegon's sister. There was no Visenya, but he said the dragon has three heads. What is the song of ice and fire?"

(...)

"Your Grace," he conceded, "the dragon has three heads, remember? You have wondered at that, ever since you heard it from the warlocks in the House of Dust. Well, here's your meaning: Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar, ridden by Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya. The three-headed dragon of House Targaryen—three dragons, and three riders."

(...)

When Brown Ben left, she lay back on her cushions. "If you were grown," she told Drogon, scratching him between the horns, "I'd fly you over the walls and melt that harpy down to slag." But it would be years before her dragons were large enough to ride. And when they are, who shall ride them? The dragon has three heads, but I have only one.

(...)

"No dragon has ever had three heads except on shields and banners," Armen the Acolyte said firmly. "That was a heraldic charge, no more. Furthermore, the Targaryens are all dead."

"Not all," said Alleras. "The Beggar King had a sister."

(...)

"The dragon must have three heads," he wailed, "but I am too old and frail to be one of them. I should be with her, showing her the way, but my body has betrayed me."

The prophecies in ASOIAF are always misunderstood. Danerys is no exception, as she's wrongly identifing people and their motives. One thing is for sure in all these mentions though, the "dragon heads" are meant to be people and one of them is Danerys.

Danerys thinks these three dragons are supposed to mimic the original trio, with herself as Aegon and two men she'll take as lovers as the two sister wives. This is where the misunderstanding is, because it's obvious from the framework that is backwards.

These at least she could rely on, or so she hoped . . . and Brown Ben Plumm as well, solid Ben with his grey-white hair and weathered face, so beloved of her dragons. And Daario beside him, glittering in gold. Daario and Ben Plumm, Grey Worm, Irri, Jhiqui, Missandei . . . as she looked at them Dany found herself wondering which of them would betray her next.

The dragon has three heads. There are two men in the world who I can trust, if I can find them. I will not be alone then. We will be three against the world, like Aegon and his sisters.

Danerys is a dumb bitch and the text shows us exactly how. The idea of Danerys being betrayed comes together with the other two heads. They're not lovers, they're betrayers. It occurs again in ADWD as she's in the Dothraki Sea, contemplentanting if the "king" betrayed her and a wolf answers in the distance.

The framework fits this foiled scenario. The original trio was a man married to both his sisters, but only he became king (later, only the man could rule according to Targaryen law). In contrast, Danerys is a woman (foil) and both her brothers are dead (foil), whom are replaced with nephews that have a bigger claim than her (foil) and whom will not be involved / married with her (foil).

It's also thematically relevant and poignant for the trios to be foiled. The Targaryen king dynasty started with an alliance between three dragons, it's fitting that it ends with a war between three dragons. It's what they've been threatening all along with the Dance of the Dragons after all.

#anti daenerys targaryen #queue

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elriell · 3 years

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Thank you very much! I find it hard to cut them back and be less detailed to be honest. So let’s dive in to it, two quick points before we start;

There will be no hate here as every ship is valid, I simply going to explain why I believe Elriel is more likely to happen than Elucien. (IMO)

Secondly, if there’s one thing for certain with SJM it is that nothing is certain with her.

Of course like any reader I am nervous for what might happen but looking at it textually speaking I do not think we have much to worry about... Not to mention that if we look at SJM past behaviour we can extrapolate several things.

When Sarah falls in love with a character she is very willing to shift all plans to accommodate them, we have a good example of this with Rowan, once she began writing him she fell in love with him and Chaol was quickly pushed aside. I am sure she has done plenty of interviews saying as much from memory.

SJM Live

- Azriel has a lot of shit going on that we’re going to be able to see in this book.

- Azriel’s song is Mr. Brightside for the vibes. Not necessarily the lyrics. SJM is kinda obsessed with him and telling his story in the future.

- We’re getting to see more of Azriel’s cheeky humor in this one.

- SJM can’t wait to see theories after everyone reads Azriel’s pov. There’s a lot of crumbs that have been scattered around for his journey. [ref]

It is safe to say that in her own words Sarah is obsessed with Azriel, which gives us a good idea about who she wants to write about next. This is the same vibe we got off her when she was introducing Rowan to the TOG universe and I think it is a pretty easy assumption to believe the next book is Elain’s too.

Not to mention SJM is not afraid to shake it up and swap out the LI you think it will be, Chaol/Rowan & Tamlin/Rhysand. It is not far fetched to think she would do the same with Elain and Lucien. Not to mention the idea of such a repetitive story ARC like Mates (after Feysand and Nessian) could easily be avoided by doing something like a rejected-bond or second bond.

I really could not tell you what I think Azriel’s ARC/what he is dealing with is because we have so little information on him all I know is I cannot wait to read it all. He is easily one of my favourite characters, he is so mysterious to us.

I think Elain’s ARC is going to be all about choice. And we know from SJM that you can have more than one mate.

Elain said, her voice breaking. “It means nothing. I don’t care who decided it or why they did—”“You belong to him.”“I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”

“to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—“that is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn’t?”

As far as I am concerned if you look at all SJM couples from all her books there is always that initial Spark™ and I think that impartially if you look at Elain and Lucien they have not had it at all (bar maybe the moment he scents the bond), Elain is completely disinterested in him. In the bond as a whole.

“if it wasn’t for Vassa.” A twitch of the lips, a spark in that russet eye. “She’s doing well enough. Savoring every second of her temporary freedom.”

Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald.

See? SPARK, literally and figuratively.

You could even argue that she was you know, really struggling at the time the bond snapped in to place so it wasn’t the time for them but then we are given Azriel as a mirror to the situation and we see despite her troubles she is capable of interacting with someone without disinterest. Can and has been attracted too, can smile and laugh with someone despite being upset over Graysen.

Examples;

“You’re welcome to stay for the night,” I said, since Elain certainly wasn’t going to. Lucien lowered his hands into his lap and leaned back in the armchair. “Thank you, but I have other plans.” I prayed he didn’t catch the slightly relieved glimmer on Elain’s face.”

“Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm.

“And do what?” “Spend time with her.” “I don’t think she’ll tolerate two minutes alone with me, so forget about two weeks.” His jaw worked as he studied the fire.”

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports—likely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once he’d sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.

“You as well.” A sidelong glance toward Elain, swift and fleeting. “Both of you.” Elain said nothing, but at least she bowed her head in thanks.”

Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea, but I sent him a silent prayer of thanks for his kindness before Rhys and I slipped upstairs.

“There were only a few presents left—Lucien’s. [...] I handed Elain the small box with her name on it. Her smile faded as she opened it. “Enchanted gloves,” she read from the card. “That won’t tear or become too sweaty while gardening.” She set aside the box without looking at it for longer than a moment. And I wondered if she preferred to have torn and sweaty hands, if the dirt and cuts were proof of her labor. Her joy.”

“He cares for you.” “He doesn’t know me.”

“You don’t give him the chance to even try to do so.” Her mouth tightened, the only sign of anger in her graceful countenance. “I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male.”

“You are his mate. Do you even know what that means?” “It means nothing,” Elain said, her voice breaking. “It means nothing. I don’t care who decided it or why they did—”“You belong to him.”“I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”

Again like I said, textually when we look at it all together Sarah is not exactly planting the seeds for them at all, now of course there is still time for that to change, and of course we only have a limited perspective but as a reader it doesn’t come across positively. Even if you consider Nessian who have been against each other from the start have had the seeds planted, even as they argued they had tension and emotion.

Sarah has given Elucien so little of anything positive or negative comparitively, it is like the are barely registered.

Not to mention she puts across Azriel as a candidate time and time again, and as a writer you would not do that for nothing.

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien.

“You know them better than I do. But I will say that Lucien is loyal—fiercely so.” “So is Azriel.”

“Why not make them mates?” I mused. “Why Lucien?” “I’d keep that question from Lucien.” “I’m serious.” I turned toward him and crossed my arms. “What decides it? Who decides it?”

“What if”—I jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—“that is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn’t?”

SJM is sowing doubt at every turn. Then to top it off we are introduced to Vassa through Lucien, and now we finally see him have a spark, blush, and speak of her with almost worship as Feyre points out.

“I …” Lucien fumbled for the words. Not out of some lie or excuse, I realized a moment later. Realized when he said, “I’ve been at the Spring Court every now and then. But if I’m not here in Velaris, I’ve mostly been staying with Jurian. And Vassa.”

“Not for long—not if Vassa has anything to do with it.” “You sound like an acolyte.”

Lucien blushed, glancing at Elain. “She’s got a foul temper and a fouler mouth.”

Now, I can understand the belief that Elucien could be endgame but you simply cannot deny that before that Elriel & LucienxVassa is going to have to be explored to a degree.

“Az ran a hand through his dark hair. “Are we …”Unusual for him to stumble with words. “Are we supposed to get the sisters presents?”

We also see both couples paralleled. I mean in all honesty I could go on and on and on, there is so many qoutes that I could add but this will just get longer and longer. I am going to link my full Elriel Analysis, and some other stuff about them and rejecting the bond below.

As for our fox boy Lucien!

I really like him, and I do feel like he has a very interesting journey ahead, between his true paternity, Vassa and the mating bond he has a lot coming up for him. I am excited to see where the band of exhiles might take us, despite Feyre’s mockery I am excited that after so long of not belonging anywhere he may have found people to call his own.

Look if Elucien happens after a genuine build up, I will be happy to read their journey, of course I will be very disappointed for Elriel because I truly believe they are the best fit but I am not against Elucien if anything I think Sarah is, more than anyone else.

Like I said I could go on for years, and honestly in 9 days hopefully we have a better idea of the future to base our opinions on.

I am tagging this Anti-Elucien, not that I feel it is but I don’t want Elucien shippers to have to see it, so if they blacklist the tag the can avoid the negativity ❤︎

[Elriel Meta] [Elriel Kindred Spirits] [Elriel Choice 1 & 2] [Garden] [Thoughts]

#elriel #acofs #acotar #elain archeron #azriel #elriel discussion #anti elucien #a court of wings and ruin #a court of mist and fury #a court of thorns and roses #a court of silver flames #meta #elriel meta #anti-elucien

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thomaslightwood · 3 years

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Grace and Tatiana parallel

I'm not sure where I'm going with this but bear with me

So, I was thinking about how similar Tatiana and Grace's situations really are. They both are women with abusive/uncaring parent who they're desperate to please. Who lost their family at young age and (supposedly) the only person they love and care about is Jesse.

But. And this is one big but. Grace isn't good person, I won't argue on that - not by choice though. She wanted desperately to please her mother, to prove her worth, to prove she deserves Tatiana's love. Yes, she emotionally manipulated James for years. Yes, she used her powers on whoever her mother told her. She even called herself a monster. There are a few things Grace wouldn't do. But she has a line. And this is Jesse. She would do anything for him, to bring him back, to save him. And because of Jesse, Grace opposed Tatiana. She said no for the first time to her mother, her abuser, basically to her master. Because there is one thing in the world, one pureness Grace would not touch - Jesse. “There was no world in which she could do what Tatiana asked, no world in which she could make filthy and horrible the only pure love she had ever known.” Grace would do a lot of awful things but she never ever would do something bad to Jesse. This is her line.

While Tatiana, the woman who claims she does everything to save her son and he's the only person she loves... she betrayed him. In a way she gave him up, by letting Belial possess her body. Tatiana doesn't care about saving Jesse as much as she wants revenge. She wants to punish the people who she claims are responsible for her trauma and awful life. If Tatiana can sacrifice Jesse, the only person in the whole world she actually gives a fuck about, then she has no line. Tatiana doesn't have a person in the whole world she would not sacrifice for her goals and this is what makes her a lost case. Tatiana is unsavable.

While Grace, despite all she did, she wants redemption. She said no to her mother for the first time and abandon her, she let James know the whole true and even left herself to the Clave's mercy. Grace had too much potential to become like Tatiana - bitter, obsessed with her pain and blaming everyone around her for it. But in the end she could escape her abuser. In the end she couldn't corrupt the only pure love she ever had - she couldn't hurt Jesse.

That's the difference between Tatiana, a villain, and Grace, an anti-hero. The first one couldn't face her own ugliness, her own mistakes. While the second choose to face the consequences of her actions even if this costs her everything - because Grace's line is Jesse and she could save her humanity for him. Tatiana couldn't.

#grace blackthorn #tatiana blackthorn #jesse blackthorn #coi #tlh #tsc #coi spoilers #chain of iron #chain of iron spoilers #the last hours #the shadowhunter chronicles #no one asked for this but i have thoughts on this book i can't help it #tlh parallels #my post

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thethiefandtheairbender · 4 years

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What’s the issue with zutara?

with the ship? nothing, beyond it being a tired ship archetype i’m tired of seeing, and it’s just not my personal taste, and i think they have a stronger bond as (narratively reinforced) surrogate siblings.

the rabid zk shippers? everything.

the way they demonize aang and the buddhist principles he upholds in ways that eerily reflect how ozai - head fire nation imperialist - sees them

they way they scream about thematic graces (zuko is fire and katara is water!!) and yet completely ignore how themes work in aang’s arc bc it dismantles a good chunk of their critique at him

ignorance of the fact the ZK fandom has spent the past 15+ years bashing aang for every little thing they could get their hands on (i have legit seen anti KA, pro ZK metas claim that bc aang doesn’t carry katara’s basket in 1x04 he’d never help her with chores... even though in 1x03 he started the campfire all on his own... smells like bullshit)

they think aang is an abusive manchild

favouring the loss of katara’s mother at the hands of the fire nation so hard over the loss of her culture because zuko can only relate to the first and aang can relate to both, but they can’t let that happen now can they

The horrific quantity of transphobia and hate they aimed at Mai.

Death threats being sent to Maiko shippers to the point where someone who moved on to the Marvel fandom still considers Zutara the worse experience and

i was a finn fan in the star wars fandom for 3+ years and flat out left the fandom because of how racist the reylo fandom was, and i actually think ZK stans are worse than Reylo shippers, too

the ehasz conspiracy they crafted that consists of 3 batshit beliefs: 1) bryke and aaron ehasz - head writer of atla - had a secret feud bc they disagreed on ships 2) bryke wanted KA & ehasz wanted ZK, 3) ZK was supposed to be canon but was foiled at the last minute by evil bryke

this got to the point where ehasz himself in the past couple of years had to debunk ZK interviews or information he apparently gave as false rumours

why the conspiracy is bullshit

taking quotes out of context of both lore and conflict in order to paint them as romantic

how unbearable and dominating they’ve been in the atla fandom, particularly on tumblr, until very recently. this comic is not an exaggeration.

claiming that aang assaulted katara by kissing her in “the ember island players” even if she’s reciprocated twice in the past, katara easily and immediately pulls away, tells him to back off, and aang does and berates himself

think that zuko using katara’s necklace against her is peak romantic foreshadowing bc it turns out her necklace is a betrothal one, but anything along those lines with aang - who weaved her a new one, gave it to her, and retrieved her old one from zuko, and got a kiss on the cheek from katara for it - is just reading too much into it / gets completely ignored

claiming that KA was only canon bc it’s “hero gets the girl” while ignoring canon ZK would have been that but in the most stereotypical way possible

the way they treat katara like a shallow teenage girl

claiming that mai is abusive and toxic, which is untrue, and ignoring all of zuko’s faults in their relationship (like extreme & physical jealousy and anger issues) because “zuko is a uwu good boy who deserves better”

ignore zuko’s entitled behaviour towards katara while demonizing aang for privately getting jealous two (2) times and then once he removes himself from the situation that’s upsetting him aang assumes that katara doesn’t have feelings for him and presents that to her as a valid option

the hyper focus on ZK parallels while ignoring that aang has all those same parallels with them too. Z and K both lost their moms? aang lost his parental figure too and also has a necklace to remember gyatso by. ZK both have alter egos!! yeah the blue spirit robs ppl and helps the avatar. aang’s kuzon and katara’s painted lady happen back to back and are both created to help the fire nation citizens who are suffering under their own government!! katara and aang even help each other do so!! you get the gist

a more objective reading of the scene they claim shows a profound understanding

how the stan ZK fandom operates with a cult like mentality

i could go on and talk about how they straight up ignore or misremember canon events (ie. “aang didn’t let go of katara in s2” except that he literally did, because had to let her go to access the avatar state, did so, and then was shot with lightning in the avatar state... it happened and is kind of a major plot point), harass other shippers and cast members and have for years, cross tag, etc. but i think you get the point

it truly is a case of “i didn’t even know this ship existed” to “huh okay not my cup of tea but i get the appeal” to “if i ever see this ship and the rhetoric that follows it ever again in my entire life it’ll be too soon”

#thanks for asking #anonymous #anti zutara #atla fandom #Anonymous

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aquariusshadow · 3 years

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Live!Blogging Legacies s3x14

Y'all...I'm scared. Lesss goooo........

hi clarke long time no see

man the actor who plays clarke does such a good job imo

romeo and juliet...rlly

hope as tybalt...hell yea

she really needs some help to get through this

"we have history together"...yes ethan...yes you do cries

did mg really go on a ripper binge because of everything that happened with ethan?

...stelena parallel's anyone?

HOSIE SCENE

hell yea finch you stand up for yourself!

im sorry im just captivated by lizzie rn

idk what to make of it but im vibin

also josie's outfit and hair <3 kaylee bryant is so gorgeous

the title makes sense now

lizzie you literally just defined all the characteristics of a cult

finch and jed are fighting over alpha status through a game of pool......anti climactic

josie nono bringing hope was a great idea cuz this is super sketch

.....i hope she's faking

man poor mg

he's really taking ethan's compulsion hard :/

"go blue yourself" -lizzie saltzman 2021 (or whatever the year the show takes place in)

omfg "all the wolves used to let you win" good job guys

finch is so gonna kick his ass

incredible

i do like how this is connecting back to triad

oh god wtf is that

so i guess mg didn't go on a ripper binge afterall

simultaneous talking

very creepy

very very very creepy

im too sleepy for creepy

then why tf would you use the same methods

oh of course we're doing human sacrifices

i envy finch's pool skills

lizzie i love you

you brilliant brilliant brilliant person

we're finally seeing a goddamn wendigo

"all ive ever wanted for you is happiness"- josie to hope

listen i do prefer handon and cleope, and im intrigued by hizzie, but little things like that bring me back to hosie

awwwwwww mg!!!!!!

its so nice to see him smiling and happy

OMFG LIZZIE

she looks cute in a panda suit hahaha

man i do enjoy jed and finch's interactions

so this is when/how mg comes back to the salvatore school

THEYRE ALL IN PANDA SUITS

OH MY GOD

this is so cute ahaha

wtf is in that triad serum good lord

"pandamonium"

"panda squad"

what

.............

alright

ill take it

darth vader

what a way to end an episode

I wish I had more to say tbh, idk if it’s cuz im out of it or that’s just how the eps are lmao. It’s so weird to think there’s only 2 episodes left of the season. I miss Landon and Cleo ahaha

ok lets see the trailer for ep 15 then cuz i need context for something

alright alright contexts helps alot. i'm hoping the ‘ethan and lizzie kiss’ is just because of the theme of the episode. thats my only saving grace with it

#legacies #live!blogging legacies #hope mikaelson #lizzie saltzman #josie saltzman #jed #finch tarrayo #mg #milton greasley #legacies s3x14

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twdmusicboxmystery · 3 years

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FTWD 6x15: U.S.S. Pennsylvania - Analysis

How did everyone like this episode? I liked it a lot, and basically what happened is what we’ve been predicting for several weeks, now.

***As always, spoilers abound for 6x15 below. Don’t read until you’ve watched!***

I said that they would probably set off one of the nukes, but not all of them. Clearly, it wasn’t going to be a nuclear holocaust or anything, because the TWD storyline is 6 years in the future compared to Fear, and we haven’t seen anything like that.

But in the end, they launched 1 missile that has 10 warheads on it. And Teddy specifically said it might be heading toward water. So we’re right on track with the idea of them poisoning the water this way.

Okay, let's get into details. We start with the wind blowing, and showing the church doors waving back and forth, and a rusted, decrepit merry-go-round. All of these things are foreshadows of what is going to happen. The events in this episode will probably play a huge role in the end of the world. Not just the zombie apocalypse, but potentially killing of humanity for good. Obviously, I don't think that's going happen. But I think all the people in TWD universal will be grappling with that moving forward.

We saw quite a few round wheels divided into three sections while aboard the submarine. Now, I get that this is just what submarines look like. They often use doors and hatches that make use of these wheels to open them. But we saw something like this in the background of almost every scene of the entire episode, and the camera focused on them lot. They really wanted us to notice it. They look a lot like one of the poison/hazard signs we often see. Again, not a big deal, but a foreshadow that what happens on the sub is going end up poisoning the water.

Side note: I looked up what these wheels on submarines that open, close and seal doors are called. They’re called DOGS. No lie. So we basically have tons of Sirius symbolism throughout this episode and especially all over the submarine. Just saying. :D

The basic gist of what happens here is that Morgan's group goes in and tries to stop the missiles from being launched. As I said, only one gets launched, which is better than all 23, but they don't entirely succeed because that one with the 10 warheads does go off. Some people wait outside, and others have gone to some sort of base or bunker to get schematics so that they can talk Morgan's group through where to go once inside the enormous submarine.

We learned that Riley was an officer on the boat, which is how he knows about all of this. Morgan goes down first, but Grace quickly follows. She stays near the hatch to use the radio and communicate between the group going deeper into the sub, because the communications will be cut off, and the people outside. They also learned that there might be as many as 150 walkers in the submarine because that's how many crew were in there and for all they know, the entire crew died in the sub.

I don't have any massive theories about this number but hundred and 50 is a 10x multiple of 15. And that just goes back to Gimple saying he has through season 15 of the show planned out.

I think it's interesting that the interior of the submarine is bright yellow. Again, this might be common for subs—I really don't know—but it's interesting that the outside of the sub is bright red in the inside is bright yellow.

Once they’re in, they start speaking to Teddy via the comm system. I thought it was interesting that once he realized it was John Dorie, Sr speaking to him, he got very agitated.

Strand and Morgan end up in one of the deeper rooms together, trying to find a way to where Teddy is. They learn that the radiation in the path they’re trying to take is very high and will more than likely kill them. Strand wants to find another way. Morgan doesn't. Finally, Morgan relents and goes with Strand, but they soon find themselves trapped with no way through.

Then Strand does something interesting. He basically throws Morgan to the wolves by kicking him towards walkers and leaving him there so Strand himself can escape.

On the surface, this definitely feels like a Shane moment. Strand sacrificed Morgan (just as Shane did Otis in S2) so he could escape himself. But later on, when Morgan makes it out okay, Strand says the reason he did it was because he knew if he pushed Morgan to the point where he had to survive and was on the verge of death, he’d find a way to do it, and Morgan did. So, he makes it sound like this was his plan all along.

It’s basically the, "it went the way it had to; the way it was always going to” theme. Even though no one actually says that, so there’s no dialogue parallel, that's basically what Strand is arguing here. But why would they put that theme here?

Let me explain. Understand, I'm really not suggesting that this is okay or that we should trust Strand in anything. He’s clearly okay with throwing people under the bus so that he can survive, which is not cool. I also do think that this is a massive theme and there’s symbolism going on here.

Morgan was thrown to a group of walkers who then surrounded and piled on top of him. That's pretty much with what we think happened with Beth except she was in the car and had that for protection.

And how did Morgan escape? They don't show us. We don't know. Very similar to when Rick got stuck in the RV in 6x03 and somehow miraculously escaped. I'm not saying all these instances are terribly realistic, but there’s a theme about being surrounded by walkers and that, for all intents and purposes, the character should have died, but somehow, they make it out alive.

So this is a very Beth-ish theme. In the episode, Dakota even says over the radio that Strand killed Morgan, which makes Grace cry. But then he shows up again. So, this is a very tiny death, fake out, and resurrection.

But there’s a more practical product of Strand’s actions here as well. Morgan manages to steal a bunch of key cards (yes, the “keys”) to the room Teddy is in. That would not have happened if Strand had not sacrificed Morgan and left him behind. They would have simply been locked outside the room and all 23 of the missiles would have been launched, more than likely resulting in some kind of nuclear winter. The ONLY reason they were able to prevent as much as they did is because Strand left Morgan behind.

See where I’m going with this? Much as with Beth, according to Father Gabriel was “sacrificed” and left behind, Morgan was, too. And he returned with the keys that saved everyone.

I really do think the same will be true Beth. It will be one of these things where only because she was left behind and knows what she knows about the CRM will team family have any hope of winning the war or surviving in the long term. That's the whole function of her arc of being left behind. It’s why we saw the keys at Grady in Coda. Because what happened there will be the key to saving everyone much farther down the line.

From a Christian symbolism perspective, let’s just appreciate that there were plenty of his followers who mourned him and thought him dead for good because they didn’t understand the resurrection angle. They were shocked when he suddenly stood before him again. Happy, but shocked.

That’s basically the effect tptb are trying to create here with both TF and the audience. That’s why all the misdirection and evasion. That’s why the death fake out. It’s a long game, but it’s really kind of genius.

Anyway, that’s why we saw this whole Strand/Morgan sequence in this episode. It’s a template for what happened with Beth.

Every time we see something like this, it also puts me in mind of what happened with Sasha. We don’t know exactly what it is, yet, but Father Gabriel, in 5x16, accused her of sacrificing one of their own. You could take FG’s entire speech from that episode and apply it to this smaller situation with Morgan and Strand and it would work across the board. So, whatever happened during those missing 17 days, Sasha is in Strand’s position in the template and did something to “sacrifice” Beth.

But I digress…

While standing in front of the door, Strand and Morgan also see a woman who looks like a civilian. Strand says she's probably one of Teddy's people because she's not wearing any kind of Navy uniform. She's wearing almost entirely blue with specs of yellow on her shirt.

The other symbol we saw a lot of here is walkers handcuffed to various places in the submarine. Some of them are handcuffed in their bunks. Others to the stations that were manning when they died. It reminds me of the random handcuffed Daryl found in S8.

In that case, there was no one in it, which suggests escape from captivity (*coughs Beth*). Here, the people are all still in handcuffs and they clearly died and became walkers. So, it's sort of a death while in captivity sort of theme. And I'm not sure how to relate it to Beth, exactly, except that it's an anti-parallel. But I'm absolutely certain it's intentional and we should take note of it.

It took two keys, which is important (2 Theory) to launch the first missile.

Teddy says that one is enough to get them started, and he doesn’t say exactly where it's going or what places he’s targeted, but he says they will be hard to miss. I’m hoping they tell us what the targets were in 6x16 next week. Since they’re in Texas, the targets may play heavily into Texas and Eugene themes. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

Then Teddy literally says this of where the missiles might be going:

"Maybe toward the water—oh." He goes on to say more. The “oh” is a realization of something. But it caught my eye that we had the water mention and the “oh” in the same sentence.

Morgan basically lets John and Riley go. This is the only super unrealistic thing I noticed in this episode. Why would you let them go so they can continue their evil plan? But clearly their time in the story isn’t up and the writers need them to be around for whatever will happen next.

Two more symbols to take note of before I end.

Morgan's ax is broken. I really think this is probably a symbol of the world he’s been trying to create being over. Remember that he put the ax outside the community as a symbol of solidarity and peace. Now it's broken, which means that peace is broken. And no matter what happens, they will probably never have the community Grace saw in her dream. It doesn't surprise me because I figured at some point, the characters from Fear will cross back over to the main show or else to the spinoff. This is just a symbol that the wonderful, peaceful world that Morgan was trying to create pretty much ended when this missile was launched.

Going back to the beginning of the episode when it showed the wind blowing through the church doors and the defunct merry-go-round (which represents his and Grace's relationship), this is why the symbols are so potent. It foreshadows that all the good things that they built up so far are about to end.

Finally, they started with 23 missiles in the submarine. They launched one. Which means there are 22 left. Check out @frangipanilove’s 22 theory for why that's so important.

How did everyone else like the episode? Did you see anything I missed?

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

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gronjon44 · 4 years

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SO I WATCHED THE STEVEN UNIVERSW FINALE

And since it's over, I'd like to give my final thoughts on most of the series, even Jasper now that I've seen how they ended her "arc".

I'm gonna list this in order of main characters, so this is concise.

Jasper-

I'm gonna get this out of the way now. Jasper was treated like actual shit and even I can see it. She got some redemption at the end I liked how they turned her into this trainer to help Steven deal with his anger. BUT I was hoping it would evolve and help Steven get through to her and make her open up. But instead she was shattered, turned into a Diamonds herald again, and then dismisses right at the end. I will respect Rebrccas decisions, but Jasper deserved much more then to be an emotional pin cushion for her poke into and never fix.

Garnet-

Garnet went though significant changes. She was very guarded in the begining, showing trust only between the gems really. But when she was split by Jasper she was forced to open up when Steven realized who she was. This opened the door to have her be more vulnerable, and strengthen her bond with Steven. And this went on throughout the series and I like how she was the first to initiate the hug that fixed Steven-Zilla (that's what I call him)

Amythest/Pearl-

I'm gonna lump these two together cause they kinda parallel each other, and you could fit Garnet with them you wanted to. Both Pearl and Amethyst were still caught up in the idea of Rose, and Amethyst never really knew Rose before so she always associated Rose as she was when she was born, Crystal Gem and a friend. She was also extremely immature, and I think that fed into Steven's immaturity, so she had to progressively get more adult and accept things were changing.

And Pearl was honestly a parallel of that, while also being an opposite. She did not relax, she was strict, she was secretive, and she had known Rose longest, as well as when she was still Pink. So she was caught up the most in the Gem Wars History. She had to open up the most and to learn to "live and let die" essentially. Or at least that's how I see it.

Peridot-

Peridot went through some of the most drastic changes. She was basically Spock from Star Trek, all logic and science, but more evil sociopath. But when Jasper was defeated, Peridot was left to her own devices and became a sort of Skeletor, plotting what she could do to defeat Steven and please Yellow. And it took her losing the status she wss given to figure out herself and be her own person (in her case litterally when her arms and legs were destroyed) She was able to separate herself from homeworld, and it took a long while for her to really become her own person.

Bismuth-

Bismuth wss someone I originally didnt care for at first glance. I understood her importance and wss ok with it. But when she first showed up I was fine with it. But when she was revealed to basically be a radical gem and Rose had to bubble her, I was hooked. And while her acceptance of Steven not only being Rose but also being Pink just seemed to quickly solved for me, I'll let it be.

Lapis-

Lapis is an anti hero who should not have just been accepted as fast as she was. I used to love Lapis and Lapidot, still kinda do.l, but looking at it now and what they did to Jasper as part of that, I cant ignore it. Yeah she grew as a person but it wasnt done properly. She almost killed Steven 3 times, broke Jasper emotionally with being a fusion for so long, and she never actually owned up to her faults I think. And her sudden reintroduction in the final battle of Homeworld and how she just, magically decided to be a better person felt forced. Just my own thoughts.

Diamonds-

Yellow remind me of the Dictator from the actual film Dictator , wanting to be better but treating it as face value. She is doing good but at litteral face value with changing a gems physical form. Blue to me is the same way, only trying to fix their in the moment emotional state. Honestly I think White was doing the most she could to help fix everything, since she was most at fault. She was letting herself become vulnerable to other gems to help them go through their problems and see themselves as they are, hopefully becoming better people. White in such a short time was doing more to help other gems then Yellow or blue.

Spinel-

Spinel got done dirty frankly. I love her inclusion in the end and I love her character, flaws and all, but they felt abandoned in the end. I'm assuming that Steven Universe Future takes place some months after the events of the film. MONTHS. The type of trauma and abandonment issues Spinel dealt with dont go away in sheer months, especially when it comes to 600 years worth of abandonment. And when she was with the diamonds she just seemed fine, devoid of any issues. She was hesitant to go with the Diamonds hell she openly denied Steven's immediate friendship offer and said "I need time to figure this out, and I cant do it here." I can't just accept that Spinel got through that as fast as she did, not without some underlying issues left over from her past. You cant change my mind on that sorry.

Greg-

Omg Greg my boi, I wanna give him a hug and hot chocolate. The idea he had a ruff childhood and felt he needed to leave how he did, and how his parents never actually responded to his letters, its heartbreaking and it shows why he raised Steven how he did. He had too many lmits and he wanted Steven to have none of those limits. And him being half Gem complicated it, making Greg unsure about hospitals, about traditional schools, it's why he just let the Gems take over as his "mother(s)" because he knew they could help. Of course that caused issues that cant be ignored. But it just shows you why he is the way he is. And it hurts it really does.

Everyone else-

No real comment on anyone else, Lars and Ssdie are both league's ahead of who they started as. The Off Colors are still a delight I wouldve loved more inclusion of them though, Onion and his family eh never cared much for them accept the mom cause she was awesome, no real thoughts.

Connie-

Connie is, a whole new person from who she once was. I think she, without Steven, wouldve become what Greg could've been. But Steven helped her, out of everyone, become something even better then who she was. And it even helped her parents become more open to both Steven as a person, and Connie as a growing person. I have no beef with her character development, she was done amazingly well.

And finally,

Steven -

Steven is... how should I put this, a mixed bag for me. While he most certainly grew as a person, mastered his powers and most of his responsibilities, I cannot say I like how he was treated this final season. Yes Steven Universe: Future was focused him moving on from the past, inevitable change, and learning things he never knew about before. Things felt too fast for him in that season, even if time was passing longer for him, it felt too short. His downfall from grace felt to sudden, his progression to becoming a sort of "Surogate Pink" was too jarring (still fun to watch I love the idea of it)

His training with Jasper even, yeah they played it out like he changed so fast, but THREE DAYS? In one episode? No I wouldve preferred he spend a month or so with Jasper, they show they're relationship, Jasper gets actual time to develop and become a character that we wanted her to become. Hell you could've still shattered her, and it wouldve made her becoming a diamonds herald again more heart breaking, and they could've spent time on helping her get over that mindset.

All in all, Steven's character development was fun, but left much to be desired.

All in all, while the series as a whole was enjoyable, it was by no means perfect. It had many ups, plenty of downs, and I think it's a good example what to do and what not to do when writing an growing narrative. Rebecca Sugar rushed Steven Universe: Future too fast, she left many ends open ended and unanswered, and I give the final season a 6 out of 10.

This is all personal preference so hey let me know if you disagree.

#steven universe #corrupted steven theory #pink steven #suf steven #steven universe pink steven #steven universe little graduation #steven universe lion #steven universe final season #steven universe future #su garnet #su greg #su amythest #su peridot #su lapis #su pearl #su bismuth #su spinel #stevenel #su stevenel

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ginmo · 5 years

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I’ve seen people say that while they admit that there are romantic feelings on both sides for JB, they don’t think they’ll ever be together romantically or sexually. Someone said that their relationship is about honour and duty and that Jaime will probably knight Brienne and then return to Cersei (they specified, ‘but as an enemy’). Another said that they prefer for Jaime to be alone if he survives this ordeal bc he needs to heal from his toxic relationship. Can you counter this? :(

Of course I can because that argument completely ignores the point/message of Brienne’s character lol. You cannot read her chapters and come away with that take, unless you truly are dense af.

I’m going to be linking to some of Chicky’s “organized rants.”

Jaime and Brienne is a love story. (

Their individual character arcs involve honor and duty but there’s also a huge emphasis on love. I don’t know why anti arguments act as if the author is writing just one theme. I would say, “this isn’t a YA series” but even YA novels have more complexity than what people reduce Martin’s writing to.

I mean… love is a central theme to both of their characters. They are both ultimately driven by love, and they both have parallel arcs that juggle the relationship between love and honor, exploring how they relate and interfere. I’m not going to go into much detail though, because it has been done a million times, but I’ll speak a bit about the love aspect.

Brienne felt unworthy of being a lady because of the mockery she endured as a woman. So, after falling in love with Renly and “the bitter tears she shed the night her king wed Margaery Tyrell,” she left Tarth to be a knight in his KG, because that was the only way she could marry him. Brienne doesn’t reject being a lady because she hates the idea of it, she ran away because she felt she couldn’t be one. She wasn’t willing to settle for some dumbass who treats her like dirt, so she clung to her more masculine traits and used them to get ahead and be beside a man who treated her with respect and kindness. She was… literally introduced to the readers (and viewers of the show) on a romantic rejection plot line……………

And yet, when Renly cut away her torn cloak and fastened a rainbow in its place, Brienne of Tarth did not look unfortunate. Her smile lit up her face, and her voice was strong and proud as she said, “My life for yours, Your Grace. From this day on, I am your shield, I swear it by the old gods and the new.” The way she looked at the king—looked down at him, she was a good hand higher, though Renly was near as tall as his brother had been—was painful to see.- ACOK

Brienne was on her feet as well. “Your Grace, give me but a moment to don my mail. You should not be without protection.” King Renly smiled. “If I am not safe in the heart of Lord Caswell’s castle, with my own host around me, one sword will make no matter … not even your sword, Brienne. Sit and eat. If I have need of you, I’ll send for you.” His words seemed to strike the girl harder than any blow she had taken that afternoon. “As you will, Your Grace.” Brienne sat, eyes downcast.- ACOK

Brienne dropped to her knees. “If I must part from Your Grace, grant me the honor of arming you for battle.” Catelyn heard someone snigger behind her. She loves him, poor thing, she thought sadly. She’d play his squire just to touch him, and never care how great a fool they think her. - ACOK

Like Brienne, Jaime left his role as heir out of love, to have a chance to be by Cersei’s side as a member of Robert’s KG. Do I even need to go into Jaime being a serious romantic and love being at his core?

I will quote this tweet from @usefulspinster every time this is brought up because it honestly can’t be put any better.

“GRRM has a character for who love has been a cruel joke and one that takes love very seriously and pointed them at eachother. If you don’t understand how that’ll play out, I can’t help you.”

And I’m going to say this for the millionth time:

GRRM literally said his intent with their relationship was to take the traditional format of Beauty and the Beast (A ROMANCE) and switch the roles and genders.

“But he is subverting it by making it platonic”

Except… no… because MAKING BATB PLATONIC DEFEATS THE ENTIRE FUCKING POINT. He is subverting it by switching the roles and genders, something that is never explored with this tale. THAT’S subversion. He isn’t changing the theme and message of the tale. FFS, subverting doesn’t mean changing the entire core.

BatB as platonic DOESN’T WORK. The core of the tale is about being ROMANTICALLY DESIRED AND TRULY LOVED despite your appearance. Not, “you can make a good friend even if your’e ugly! :D” because uh… when they do form a relationship with someone, they often remain as just friends anyway because of their appearance???? lmfao fuck.

Brienne’s problem isn’t focused on making friends. She had her father, Catelyn, Pod, even to an extent Hyle. They didn’t look at her and scream and run away, never being friendly. In her POV she isn’t sitting there reflecting on how she is so friendless and all she wants is a bff. You know what’s constantly repeated over and over again in her chapters? Her romantic undesirability because of how ugly she is. Oh wow that sounds kinda like… I DUNNO?! THE CORE OF BATB?

(Not only that but one of GRRM’s is actually a romantic and one of his favorite fantasies is BatB. He even had a television called BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and he was angry that he had to kill off the woman because it ruined his romance story.)

Anyone who has read her chapters, and isn’t lying about reading them, can see that she’s head over heels in love with Jaime.

Now, read the bet and tell me romance isn’t a part of her arc.

“yet now…”

We’re hit over the head with it so often that it’s impossible to miss.

People who don’t see the romance arc are either a) choosing not see it because it ruins their headcanons or ships or b) Brienne isn’t the typical character to have a romance arc that’s serious and isn’t there for comedic relief. She’s ugly and a female warrior and people are conditioned to see those types of characters as either love-less out of choice, or having romance not even come up for them. It also plays into the whole “love weakens a strong female character” bullshit, and they don’t even realize that’s what’s happening because for most people it’s unconscious.

The seeds for the Jaime and Brienne relationship trajectory are found in both of their POV chapters, but at least half of the JB relationship is explored through Brienne’s chapters. The laughable out-of-context meta you see is from antis who have other motives, have lied about reading her POVs carefully because boring, and some even admitted to not reading Brienne’s POVs at all.

#gm answers #jaime x brienne #excuse my many typos #I am aware if them #severely cracked phone screen

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upthehillask · 5 years

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i’d love to hear your cursed child opinions!

Oh boy, well now you’ve unleashed me :D lol I don’t know if you’re interested more in what I loved or in what I’d critique, so I’ll go for both I guess? And you can read whichever you like :) But tbh you won’t hear anything new from me that you haven’t heard other fans talk about. Anyways, here are my thoughts on the actual play: [Spoiler alert I guess!]

Things I loved:

- THE MAGIC!!! The effects were EVERYTHING. The time warp, the telephone booth, the floo, the underwater, the dementors, the writings on the walls, and so much more… Really cool!!! And I loved the whole vibe and aesthetic of the play too, it felt authentic and fitting! THE SWISHY CLOAKS!! I want them!!

- The scenes I especially enjoyed were Harry’s nightmares, glimpses into his past and scenes from the books in general. I think they executed those quite well, made me really soft! Especially the scenes of little Harry in his cupboard and also him in the graveyard. Gripped my heart. Oh, I also loved that they finally showed Cedric in the end, he was so perfect!!

- Draco. Yes yes yes to dad Draco. Still bitchy, pretentious, and petty, trying so hard to play cool and tough, but a pained softie deep inside—we STAN. The relationship between him and his son I CRI EVRITIEM!!! Draco in the alternative timeline letting Scorpius do what he believes in, Draco in the real timeline hugging his son, I LIVE. And oh my god that scene where Draco walked in to Harry crying.. GOD. Yes emotions, yes vulnerability, yes bonding, yes yes yes. (Though I still can’t get over the ponytail. Would’ve been more than fine if Lucius hadn’t been portrayed with long hair lol)

- I loved Albus!! He’s a good Slytherin boy! That’s all I have to say. He’s a good friend and son who tries his best. I liked him a lot, more so now after watching the play. He really did remind me of Harry in a lot of ways. (Also, unpopular opinion, but I always loved Albus Severus’ name and I always will, fight me.)

- And just all the dad-son relationships, parenthood themes, friendship between the boys, related conflicts… Loved all of them. Touching, inspiring, couldn’t get enough!

- McGonagall was fcking ON POINT. Fcking QUEEN. Get it girl. Show em how to understand and respect children 👏👏👏

- I really loved Snape too! It was nice to finally see him being his self that only Dumbledore got to see in the books. I loved his demeanor too. I know actors change, but the one I saw portrayed Snape in a way that felt more canon. As much as I love Alan Rickman, he was a bit too graceful and sophisticated for canon Snape. In the play, however, Snape was kind of more rough, more rash, less pulled together in a way that he spoke and moved. It’s subtle but I lived for that. Also he was finally short. Yes.

- I feel like I have to mention Harry too. I actually quite liked him, so I’m gonna put him under this list as well. Yeah, that one scene where he threatened McGonagall into strict surveillance of his son is a bit much, errr 😅😅😅 But overall, I like the idea of him struggling as a father, making mistakes and learning from them. He’s a good egg.

- Ron and Hermione, my babies!! I had issues with Ron’s characterization, but I did mostly enjoy the portrayal of their relationship. I liked that their roles within the play were mostly to be together or to find their ways to each other. Since so many fans are against their ship, I was really excited to see them. And I just loved Hermione in general. They got her characterization almost on-point too, I think. I just love her 🥰

- In general, I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue. I liked all those strong, emotional one-liners that make you gasp. Harry saying things, Albus saying things, Scorpius, Draco, Ginny, others… There were good examples of lines they’d say that perfectly articulated everything that they embodied or felt or were dealing with. Well done there.

Okayyy I’m sure there’s more I could think of, definitely, but I’ll stop here since this is already a lot 😁

Things I questioned:

- So the one single biggest thing that I am the most critical of has to do with the plot itself, and it’s about Cedric turning into a Death Eater. I’m sorry but I just can’t. I could write a whole essay on how this makes no canonical sense (and I probably will if you ask me lmaoo), but to sum it up, Cedric eventually turning bitter and evil because he was publicly humiliated directly contradicts his canon character development. Cedric’s humility, kindness, and fairness are the core qualities around which Cedric’s personality was developed in the books. He almost explicitly places popularity, glory, and reputation second, and that’s critical, because if failure and humiliation were to affect him so drastically, his primary core values needed to be broken down and changed beforehand, but they never weren’t. So presenting the Triwizard incident as the turning point for him does not make any sense, and as a result the rest of the narrative falls apart. This is a plot hole and hasty writing.

- Yeah, Bellatrix having a child is still kinda weird 🙃🙃 I just hate that because in the books Bellatrix played the archetype of this anti-mother, the antithesis of motherhood and motherly love. I feel like having her voluntarily bring a child into this world destroys that symbolism. It makes me unsatisfied.

- I had some issues with the very beginning and the whole “montage” of events leading up to the fourth year. I found it overwhelming and disorienting, even though I’ve already read the script and knew what’s going on. Still, I felt like I was hit by a train, watching all the fast-paced scenes, cliché chaotic small talk going on, years going by… It felt messy for some reason. I feel like I need to watch it again in order to fully catch up and process everything I saw, and that’s not a good sign. But I didn’t hate it, I just wish we were more eased into the story.

- Scorpius. Now listen. When I read the script, Scorpius was my favorite character. I LOVED him, this awkward nerd who loves his dad and best friend with all his heart. The way I grew to imagine him was quite not how he was portrayed in the play. I know the dialogue and everything’s all the same, but idk, Scorpius in the play was way more hyper, bolder than I pictured, and worst of all, he was going out of his way to be this wannabe player. He seemed so all over the place, even acting a bit arrogant sometimes, celebrating moments of over-confidence, chasing after girls, trying to be everything BUT himself. But that honestly might just be my takeaway alone. There’s nothing actually wrong with his character, I just found myself slightly disappointed with him in the play specifically. I wish I could see the play again to actually analyze things more thoroughly to explain why I feel this way, but I can’t. I still like Scorpius, but a different version of him. (tho damn did I love those skinny pants on him lmao 👌👌)

- Moaning Myrtle. Like, I laughed, it was funny, but it just wasn’t very tasteful lol and I was left feeling a bit uncomfortable from the idea of this young murdered girl writhing and thirsting over literally everyone. The play really blew that out of proportion and idk it’s kinda awkward when I think about it 😅 And in general, there was just so much thirsting… with Rose, Polly Chapman, Delphi… Not to mention Albus kissing his AUNT… Like damn chill JK please 😂 Weird cliches and teenage hormones aren’t the only source of comedy okay?? 😂😂😂 Also, speaking of Myrtle, I kinda wish there was something mentioned about Draco having had been friends with her in sixth year. Idk it would’ve been nice to see that relationship somehow reminisced since we didn’t really get to see it :)

- Craig Bowker Jr... If he was supposed to be a parallel to Cedric, both being the spare, why did he get literally zero attention?? We don’t really know who he is, we don’t see anyone hurting because of his death, he’s killed with such apathy. We don’t even see his parent grieving, like we saw Amos (who also happen to be an integral part to the plot of CC!). The whole parallel is so incomplete. Poor Craig and his unsymbolic death..

- Ok I am obviously elaborating way too much so let me just quickly summarize the rest of things I don’t actually hate but might wanna rant about: RON IS NOT A JOKSTER—GEORGE IS. RON IS A FIGHTER. HE IS ALSO HARRY’S BEST FRIEND, NOT HERMIONE, BUT HE WAS MADE USELESS AND UNNEEDED, WHICH IS HIS ACTUAL WORST FEAR, SO WHO THE FUCK DARED. ROSE IS MORE THAN A BITCHY ROMANTIC INTEREST AND A BAD FRIEND. WHERE THE HELL IS HUGO. GINNY’S EVEN COOLER THAN SHE WAS PORTRAYED, I PROMISE. THE SURPRISE SECOND TIME TURNER ERRRR LOUSY PLOT DEVICE I’M SORRY. LACKLUSTER PLOT IN GENERAL, THE ONLY ACTUAL TWIST IS DELPHI’S REVEAL—NOT ENOUGH, JKR KNOWS BETTER THAN THIS, THE BOOKS WERE FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS (but that’s kinda okay with me because the relationships between characters in CC really made the whole story worth it).

Alright enough :’D I’m not actually upset, just exaggerating haha Because overall, I liked the play. I wanna see it again. And I wanna analyze it more, too. I’m so excited I finally got to watch it. It’s far from flawless, but I’m still happy with it overall and want to approach it positively! Sure, I’ll rant when it’s ranting time, but I do love it (:

#the cursed child #cursed child spoilers #Q&A #Anonymous #upthehillask

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onwesterlywinds · 5 years

Text

Words Upon the Scales

The Prima Vista hung in Kugane's sky with as much presence as Bismarck. Priscilla had left her on Tasogare Bridge only for a moment while she ran off to find dango, and Ashe could not begrudge her the indulgence: she, too, wished for something to take her mind off of the massive red barge that seemed to obscure so much of the horizon.

And then there was nothing left to do but to greet their informant.

They strode to the airship hangar together, the Ala Mhigan and the Garlean, speaking not at all; Ashe found herself grateful for the skewered sweets that Priscilla thrust into her hand and the silence that eating afforded them both, at least until the sugar threatened to invoke mutiny in her already nerve-racked stomach.

At the airship hangar, a woman in decidedly Garlean clothing stood watch in a corner by the ticketing booths. Ashe signaled for Priscilla not to approach at once and instead surveyed her to determine whether or not she seemed to be relaying word of their arrival via any sort of hidden communication network. But the woman remained staid, hands clasped before her; Ashe could determine no means by which she might have alerted anyone to their arrival in advance. Sure enough, as Ashe pushed her way through the crowd with Priscilla at her side, she thought she saw the woman's eyes widen.

She nodded to the ship still in the distance. "I daresay that ship behind us is as red as a Galbana."

The woman took in a deep, shaking breath. "Indeed so." Her voice was light, accented; Ashe turned to Priscilla, but nothing in the woman's face registered recognition. This, then, was not their informant. Still, the woman ushered them past a gate and onto a small shuttle - one that would bring them aboard the Prima Vista.

As the shuttle left the hangar and crossed over the placid sea, Priscilla slipped one of her hands into Ashe's own for only a moment before she recoiled. "Do you always sweat when you're nervous?" she quipped.

Ashe scoffed but wiped her palms upon her jacket.

For all her qualms about boarding a Garlean vessel, the Prima Vista thrummed with a far different energy from her expectations. Even before she had exited the shuttle in full, she could discern none of the magitek that so obviously powered the ship; Priscilla, too, surveyed the marvel of engineering with a fond sort of smile. The harsh blue glow of ceruleum was all but absent, and the broader mechanisms were silent in their operations. The only audible sounds were those of life and laughter.

Priscilla had been right: this was a strange place for any informant to hide - or perhaps it was among the best. She strode through a set of double doors leading to a central workshop area and found artistry in every sense of the word. There was a breathtaking sort of magic to the place, what with the massive dioramas along the ceiling and walls, and outlandish costumes strewn about, and scores of people moving and speaking with such volume and grace. Ashe felt as though she had stepped into a different world entirely - one ruled by chaos, in which Garlemald brought joy to the world rather than misery.

And then her eyes fell upon a small woman in a far corner, only barely visible from behind a rack of silk fabrics but nonetheless conspicuous for her Ala Mhigan face-

"ALMA!" she screamed.

Her cry made hardly a dent in the commotion throughout the workshop, but the woman's head turned from her tasks. Ashe barreled past a wide-eyed girl, nearly upended a man scribbling furiously into a book, to reach this person from whom the Black Shroud had separated her over twenty years ago.

The woman did not lift both arms to embrace her, laden as they were with yalms upon yalms of fabric. When Ashe had at last sprinted the length of the workshop, her own empty hands found the woman's shoulders; she merely held her there and could do no more, because now she was sobbing - sobbing as she had cried so rarely throughout the years since Ala Mhigo's invasion.

"My dear girl," the woman whispered in their native tongue. She placed her right hand on the side of Ashe's face and Ashe leaned into the touch, starved for it and for the memories that that simple gesture brought back to the fore of her mind. "I wept much the same when I learned the name of she who had killed Gaius van Baelsar."

Most of the attending thespians had since returned to their business, or else had pointedly turned away from the emotional scene transpiring in their midst. Yet someone approached from behind and Ashe gave a start, relieved to find only her companion.

"Priscilla," she said, trying and failing to stem her tide of tears with the back of her hand, "this is my aunt."

Priscilla nodded. "What a coincidence. This is my informant." With that, the Garlean began to bawl.

Malla, her aunt had insisted on being called in public. Not because Alma was dead, but because there was already an Alma aboard the Prima Vista. She brought Ashe and Priscilla to her quarters: a converted tailoring space on the ship's port side, cramped even for one person. There, in whatever semblance of privacy they shared, she apologized to Priscilla for her earlier secrecies and introduced herself as Alma dus Velius. She spoke the title with such assertion that Ashe squirmed.

"I first came aboard as a means of offering what intelligence I could to the captain," Alma explained. She sat upon her bed with several yalms of heavy silk still draped across her left arm. "But most days, I help with the costuming. The Majestic's best costumer elected to remain in Garlemald."

Priscilla nodded knowingly to this statement, but the intricacies of the Majestic's relationship to their home nation remained lost on Ashe. "And the captain is... with the Dalmascan Resistance?"

Alma shook her head. "Not in the least. Jenomis' goals... run parallel to the Resistance's, and he's as anti-imperial as any highborn Garlean can be. Not unlike your friend." She gave a gracious sort of nod to Priscilla, who mimed a curtsy in her trousers. "Yet while Jenomis would doubtless welcome the Riskbreakers, he does not yet know that I have reached out to you."

"You're acting alone, then."

She hesitated, her somber face drawn further into a frown, but Ashe could detect no semblance of a lie upon her features. "My summons is at the behest of a single leader of the Dalmascan Resistance: one who realizes that their movement may only succeed with the help of those with proven victories against the Empire. Even so, I am not an official member of the Resistance. Rather, I've spent the better part of twenty years feeding them information on Garlean movements... while I worked alongside a dear friend."

"Twenty years," Priscilla repeated. "And Dalmasca has been occupied for more than thirty!" She pivoted to face Ashe, hands on her hips, and let out a single nervous laugh. "I don't mean to question your methods, Ashelia - but how does one even begin to remedy such a thing?!"

And Ashe could find no fault in the question. She herself stood in silence for several moments, until she lowered her eyes to the deep purple quilt upon which Alma sat, bound in an achingly familiar whipstitch. "You take down the man responsible."

Alma nodded. "And do you know of the man responsible?"

"Legatus..." She had heard it often enough over the years, though only ever as a passing reference: over imperial broadcasts, amid extensive reports, within a magitek holding tank. "...van Gabranth."

"I have served under Legatus Noah van Gabranth for five years," Alma replied. "And in that time, not a single detail has escaped his notice. The man is strategic, ruthless - but above all else, he is devoted to order and its maintenance. He has ruled over Dalmasca as viceroy since the bell of its subjugation, and his intelligence department - the 9th Bureau - consistently outperforms the Frumentarium in every respect. Yet I happen to know that van Gabranth will soon depart Rabanastre, the seat of his order, to attend to a highly confidential mission in Valnain. What this mission is, I do not know - yet it presents the Riskbreakers with an opportunity to reach Dalmasca's capital. And after all, you do have a habit of breaking into even the most fortified locations and emerging unscathed."

The memory of her Garlean capture came to her once more with a shiver. "Not always unscathed," she murmured.

Alma stared up at her with violet eyes identical to her own. "One final supplication, then: I was never one to believe in fate, even before Ala Mhigo fell. But it has struck me so strongly that our reunion should intertwine with Dalmasca's freedom; there are coincidences that line up too well to be anything but destiny." She nodded toward the door that led out to the hall, and to the workshop beyond. "The red-haired girl whom you encountered is Alma. Her late mother, Tia. And the one who has requested that the Riskbreakers come to Dalmasca bears the moniker 'Princess Ashe' - Ashelia, after Dalmasca's heir, murdered thirty years ago."

Priscilla let out a whistle. "Whoever wrote this one really loves their parallels," she quipped. "Or maybe this is all some big faerie tale: another set of actors to finish their namesake's work. Poetic."

For the first time, a smile - sad, as though the very action pained her - crossed Alma's face. "You loved your father's faerie tales as a girl, Ashelia - though you would be forgiven for thinking less of them now." With that, Alma stood, throwing the silks across her shoulder to reveal a dark metal prosthetic arm with a hand like a claw. "Think on it. Above all else, you are Grand Steward, and you have done far more against the Empire than I ever could. If even Ala Mhigo's liberators feel themselves incapable of this task thirty years in the making, I will surely not protest otherwise."

"I'll consider any ways we might be able to contribute," Ashe promised. Her heart soared at the mere prospect of continuing the fight, of beating back the Empire ever further, of empowering others to succeed as Ala Mhigo had - but she would first need to return home, to tell her family of all that her first glimpse at Dalmasca had had to offer.

"Your mother," Alma said then, as if she had sensed her thoughts. The two words pulled her from her reverie, back to her aunt's apprehensive, tear-filled eyes. "What became of her?"

And though the answer was as painful as ever, for the first time, the answer alone did not bring Ashe to weeping.

"She has never stopped missing her sister." She glanced over her shoulder to assess her companion's reaction to the words that she knew would need to be spoken, committing her once and for all to the secrets worthy of her family. "And neither has my father."

#Ashelia Riot #Priscilla Scaevola #Phantom Pains RISK

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a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives · 5 years

Text

Ready for lift-off

Espionage thriller Summer of Rockets is the first screen work from acclaimed writer/director Stephen Poliakoff to draw on his own life, set in 1958 at the height of the Cold War. He and executive producer Helen Flint talk to DQ about merging fact and fiction.

As a writer and director for the screen over the past four decades, Stephen Poliakoff has been behind work that has amassed numerous Bafta, Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody awards. The playwright, who learned his craft in the theatre, counts series and films such as Perfect Strangers, The Lost Prince, Friends & Crocodiles, Gideon’s Daughter, Joe’s Palace and Capturing Mary, as well as recent dramas Dancing on the Edge and Close to the Enemy, among his extensive credits.

Yet for all his fascination with the past – among many examples, Dancing on the Edge trails a black jazz group in 1930s London and Close to the Enemy is set in the aftermath of the Second World War – his latest series is the first to draw on his own family and life experiences.

Written and directed by Poliakoff, Summer of Rockets is a semi-autobiographical drama set during 1958, a year that marked the height of the Cold War as fear and suspicion clashed with the start of the mobile revolution and the Space Race. It was also the last time debutants were presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and the year of the Notting Hill riots in West London.

Stephen Poliakoff, writer and director of Summer of Rockets, pictured during filming

Poliakoff says the fact it is partly based on his own life marks Summer of Rockets out as “significantly different” from anything he’s done for the screen before.

“My first real memories are from this time – I was five in 1958 – so I could feel, even as a small child, the apprehension in the air, the feel of nuclear war,” he says. “The Russians were the enemy and yet I was half-Russian, so that made me feel an extraordinary sense isolation as a child. I was also sent to boarding school, as we see in the story, and was the only Jewish boy there. That was why I was drawn to this time.

“There’s a lot of resonance for us now, as Russia again seems to be our enemy and there is also unfortunately, tragically, anti-Semitism in Europe and it’s coming back to the UK. Well, it never goes away. But above all, it was a sense of the absolute epicentre of the Cold War; the fact nobody could be trusted, especially if they were foreigners.”

Another parallel between that period and today, he notes, is the “humiliation” of the Suez Crisis in 1958, which left Britain “a laughing stock” on the world stage. “Things have happened since I’ve written the piece and we’ve become a laughing stock for very different reasons, with people harking back to a sense of our past glories, which also plays a part in the story,” Poliakoff says. “This is not a story about Brexit or a metaphor for it, but nevertheless there are resonances in the piece.”

Toby Stephens (Black Sails) stars as Samuel Petrukhin, a Russian Jewish émigré modelled on Poliakoff’s father Alexander, an inventor and designer of hearing aids, whose clients include former UK prime minister Winston Churchill. The series also focuses on Samuel’s wife, Miriam (Lucy Cohu), and their children, Hannah (Lily Sacofsky) and Sasha (Toby Woolf). In the show, having developed a new paging system for hospitals, Samuel is is approached by the UK’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 to demonstrate his work.

Set in 1958, the series stars Toby Stephens as Samuel, who is based on Poliakoff’s father

However, it’s not his inventions the agency (led by Mark Bonnar’s mysterious Field) is interested in but his fledging friendship with MP Richard Shaw (Linus Roache) and his wife Kathleen (Keeley Hawes), who also introduce him to Lord Arthur Wellington (Timothy Spall). As Samuel’s life becomes intertwined with his mission, he is left to question how far he is willing to let things unravel for his cause and who he can trust.

It was Poliakoff’s discovery that his father had been suspected of bugging Churchill’s hearing aid, a revelation he first heard when a journalist contacted him about newly released government papers in 2007, that sparked the story behind Summer of Rockets,

“It took me a long time to think about writing it because it meant revisiting my youth and a very traumatic time at boarding school,” he says. “I also tend to write slightly away from my immediate family experience because I find it easier to invent like that. But, after quite a considerable while, because the story kept haunting me, I broached it to the BBC.”

His father’s work, he explains, is truthfully reflected in the story by his hearing aids business, the deaf workers he employs in the factory and his invention of the paging system, which he created for St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

“But I always saw that as a jumping-off point for Keeley’s side of the story,” Poliakoff continues. “My father was besotted with everything English; he was a real anglophile. He was a Russian Jew but he wanted to be an English gentleman, so there’s the story of him being involved in this English upper-class family who have their own darkness and trauma hidden away in a magnificent house. They have charm and grace, they entertain people, but this covers a deep unhappiness.

“My father would have loved to have been entertained in such a house, so that was what led me from that jumping-off point for the fictitious side of the story, but it’s based on the sort of things my father loved and was attracted to by English life and aspired to. The story curve shows Samuel learning that he doesn’t want to be the perfect English gentleman.”

Bodyguard and The Durrells star Keeley Hawes plays Samuel’s wife, Miriam Richard’s wife, Kathleen

Through the first episode, the story is laid bare against the backdrop of rockets being launched and rising anxiety over what might lie ahead, coupled with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that stem from the still-raw fallout of the Second World War. Samuel’s technological achievements also shine a light on how industry was set to move forward rapidly over the next decade.

“When you have six hours of television drama, it’s a big canvas. The joy of longform is that you can build a complex world and you can delve deeper into character than you can in a two-hour movie,” Poliakoff says. “It’s great to try to be ambitious when you’re given that length of screen time.”

Helen Flint, MD of Little Island Productions and Poliakoff’s long-time producing partner, admits the writer’s outlines need very little development as they are often fully formed, “very detailed and very ambitious” by the time she becomes involved.

“The thing is to identify where and how you’re actually going to make it happen,” she says. “Both of us have been around far too long. Therefore, between us and the heads of department, we can work out how to put this on the screen, which is our craft.”

With all of Poliakoff’s work filmed on location, the first task on Summer of Rockets was to find the house belonging to Richard and Kathleen Shaw, which is a constant presence during all six episodes. They eventually settled on Benington Lordship, a grand setting close to Stevenage, 35 miles north of London, which is notable for the Norman keep adjoining the 17th century house and expansive gardens.

Catastrophe’s Mark Bonnar plays the head of MI5

“The other important thing was when to film it, because getting lucky with sunshine in this country is not a given – so the schedule is everything,” Flint says.

Finding London streets that could double for the time period also proved problematic, with the slums of Notting Hill in 1958 far removed from the affluent neighbourhood it is today. Another set piece saw a queue of 1950s cars lined up along The Mall, leading to Buckingham Palace, which was filmed early in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists usually occupying the area.

“It takes a huge amount of work, more work than anybody would imagine, weeks and weeks, and then huge amounts in post-production just to paint out silly lines and stuff like that,” Flint says of filming in London. “After that, it’s all of the countryside, the driving [scenes] and the minutiae. But because we’ve got a cast that is working all the time, we have to try to jigsaw them all in, which is very complicated at certain points. Once you have those actors, the schedule is dictated by that. Then other problems come to the fore because if they’re not available, you can’t do the locations. London exteriors are the hardest, and then piecing it together is a massive jigsaw.”

In some cases, however, the reality on which some of the series is based was too extreme to be dramatised. Poliakoff decided to tone down scenes where Sasha is at boarding school, as his own experiences at school were too “draconian” to be depicted exactly as he remembered.

Summer of Rockets debuts on BBC2 tomorrow

“When I started writing it, I realised it had to be more interesting and more inventive than the actual thing I experienced, which in reality was relentlessly grim,” he says. “A little bit of that was fine, but I didn’t think an audience would stand for that being repeated in each scene. So, oddly enough, the bit that was closest to reality was the most difficult to write.”

The series sees Poliakoff reunited with Stephens, who starred in his 2001 family reunion drama Perfect Strangers, while this was his first time working with Hawes despite having known her since she was just 19. “She starred in my wife Sandy Welch’s adaptation of Our Mutual Friend 20 years ago,” he recalls of the actor, who has recently starred in Line of Duty, The Durrells and Bodyguard. “I’ve known her for some time and we’ve always wanted to work together. She’s phenomenal in her role, which is a really very juicy role, so I’m thrilled. I think she gives one of her greatest performances.”

Following Summer of Rockets’ launch on UK pubcaster BBC2 tomorrow, all six episodes will be made available on the pubcaster’s VoD platform iPlayer. The drama is distributed internationally by BBC Studios. “‘Bingeable’ is not the prettiest word but, actually, I think my work was born to be binged,” Poliakoff notes. “People over the years have always told me they’ve sat down to watch something like Perfect Strangers, which is only four hours long. They tend to watch the first part and then they’re there four hours later.

“So I very much hope the story has that effect. It does have quite a powerful story that gathers and evolves and changes. It’s great for people to watch it in a linear way or in an immersive way. Either way, I hope people will really get into it.” - Michael Pickard (Drama Quarterly)

#toby stephens #this writer got wrong with kelsey's name #it is kathleen not miriam lol #jeez #summer of rockets #interview

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harpermcintyredeservesbetter · 6 years

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So, in an effort to compartmentalize my feelings about next week’s episode, I have written down all my theories about characters who could possibly die in the finale. Don’t read if you don’t want to think about any of the tagged characters dying. Theories under the cut. Will be edited to add more points as I rewatch over the weekend.

Madi Dies

Let’s start out with my subjective opinion for this one; Madi feels like a one-season-only character. Literally every time I see her I think of Maya. Maya was on the side of good, yeah, but she was basically flat and two-dimensional. She wasn’t much beyond a love interest and occasional plot device. There was no reasonable way for her plot to continue on beyond season two. Madi seems to be the same way. Madi has been used as a plot device to give Clarke a motive to become completely ruthless. And beyond that, I don’t see how the writers would extend Madi’s arc past this season at the moment.

“Commanders die.” Lexa and her death have been brought up too many times for comfort. Also, the uncomfortable parallels between Lexa and Madi might be foreshadowing?

Possible Scenario #1: Madi goes into battle as the commander with Wonkru’s army and dies. Will be done if the writers really wanna break Clarke.

Possible Scenario #2: Madi is left behind to lead what is left of Wonkru. Probably more likely as the finale is supposed to be “hopeful” and wouldn’t cause Clarke nearly as much pain as Madi dying.

Abby Dies

Abby has hit rock bottom, then somehow dug twenty feet deeper. The Redemption By Death ™ trope is quite likely because so far this season Abby has been responsible for not only cannibalism and forced cannibalism, but she has also abused a daughter figure for drugs and advised her biological daughter to abuse her daughter in a misguided attempt to keep her safe. Literally watched two men get eaten alive and did not care as long as she got her pills. I know there’s probably more but we’ll just leave it at that for now.

Paige was left off a cast list for season six.

I’m really struggling with how she might die next episode though. My current guess a role reversal from the season two finale, with McCreary killing Abby to hurt Clarke.

Echo Dies

When has this show let Bellamy have a happy romance, ever? Literally the only girl on the show to ever sleep with Bellamy and survive is Raven.

Tasya got promoted to series regular, despite playing a relatively minor character before season five. This feels very much like how they promoted Zach McGowan to series regular in season four only to kill off Roan ten episodes in.

Echo has been in a dangerous position all season between being a spy and being exiled. Not outside the realm of possibility that either of those things might get her killed.

Tasya was left off a cast list for season six.

JRoth has been trying very hard to get the audience to like Echo. (And failing, jeez he really sucks at PR) Perhaps because he wants her death to be more heartbreaking?

Honestly there’s so many different ways I can see her dying I’m not going to list them.

Murphy Dies

Murphy’s arc this season has literally revolved around him becoming a better man both for himself and Emori, which screams Redemption By Death ™ to me.

Richard was left off a cast list for season six.

Richard said his advice to Murphy this season was to “duck.”

There’s a picture BTS picture of Richard with his stunt double and both have neck wounds.

Bob said the finale would be the perfect series finale, and I’ve always thought they’d kill off Murphy in/right before the finale because of the whole survivor/cockroach thing.

Would be the perfect (heartbreaking) end to the whole Memori break up/make up drama, so I assume if he does die Emori will be with him in the final moments. Right now I have three (very specific) different theories about the scenario:

Scenario #1: Murphy is injured and can’t make it to the ship. He begs Emori to leave him and she does (”Survivor’s move”) . We hear/see McCreary’s people and the scene changes. It’s assumed he dies.

Scenario #2: Murphy is injured and can’t make it to the ship. He begs Emori to leave but she says behind with him (Probably a “your home is with me” parallel?). We hear/see McCreary’s people and the scene changes. It’s assumed they die.

Scenario #3 also known as dear-God-don't-crucify-me-for-this-one: Murphy is injured and can’t make it to the ship. He begs Emori to leave. We hear/see McCreary’s people. Emori mercy kills him a la Flarke to prevent McCreary’s people from being able to torture him. (I’m really scared for this one because it feels like it’s been too long since we’ve had a mercy killing)

HOWEVER, on the opposite side, it seems way to obvious to put his death in the promo, especially for a show that doesn’t usually spoil major character’s deaths like that. So I don’t know.

Monty and Harper Die

Look I’m putting them in as one entry because they really haven’t had any plotlines outside each other this season. I feel like it’s neither or both atm.

Also “die” is a loose term here right now because I don’t think they’ll necessarily die, but I do think they’ll get left behind. There has been too much foreshadowing for them not to be. Obviously I don’t want to see them go, but honestly, I’ll be really confused if they aren’t.

Starting with all the dialogue clues:

Monty straight up says he doesn’t want to leave space; both are tired of fighting.

Either in 5x01 or 5x03 either Shaw or Diyoza quote Matthew 5:5 aka “Blessed be the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Monty and Harper are literally the only two characters left on this show that can remotely be considered “meek.”

“Let’s show them how to live.”

“Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.”

Monty’s line about deserving the valley if they have to fight to get it.

To be continued as I go back and rewatch the episodes because I know there are about 50 different lines that can be considered foreshadowing for this theory.

Also Emori has seemed to replace Monty as second-smartest-person-in-the-room-behind-Raven which, honestly, feels like one of the only reasons the writers have kept Monty alive as long as they have.

Octavia Dies

I feel like this is the least likely right now, which is unfortunate because the writers put so much work into making Octavia a villain that it feels anti-climatic to give her a quick little redemption arc.

I’m not going to go to far into this one right now but this theory is pretty much in the same vein as Abby’s: fall from grace, poor life decisions, then Redemption By Death ™

Misc.

Eliza, Bob, and Henry Ian Cusick are all confirmed for season six. Pretty sure Lindsey is too.

There has been A LOT of character development put into Shaw and Diyoza. So either they’re continuing on to next season or the writers finally learned how to right compelling side characters. (See also: My one-season theory under Madi) Also, Eligius 3 seems like a future plot point, I’m pretty sure CW censors don’t allow for them to kill a woman as heavily pregnant as Diyoza, and Shaw seems to fall under Plot Usefulness ™ as he is the only one who can fly the ship, which also seems important for the time being.

I’m going to go ahead and say that Miller, Jackson, Niylah, Gaia, and Indra’s fates are all up in the air because right now it really feels like a 50/50 chance.

I’m pretty hopeful that Emori will survive, too, since she has gotten a lot of character development and a decent amount of plot relevance this season.

McCreary is definitely not carrying on to next season.

#oh dear god i suck at tags #the 100 #madi griffin #abby griffin #echo the 100 #john murphy #octavia blake #monty green #harper mcintyre #the 100 theory #the 100 theories

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alexiethymia · 7 years

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My Thoughts On Jonsa and Jonerys

[SPOILERS ABOUND]

Jonsa shipper here; no need to explain how it came to be, I’m sure it’s the same as with everyone else. On-screen chemistry then wham-bam-slam. Funny thing is, I didn’t really ship anyone in GOT, and like almost everybody else, I thought J and D would end up together based on the title, but it really wasn’t relevant to me you know? I’m not going to make any metas. I’m not here to make some grand declaration that Jonsa will be end game since I don’t have that much faith in the show writers, and I tend to tread on the side of caution, plus I have a lot of could-have-been OTPs so my heart’s already taken a beating. But here’s the thing, I’ve probably read all of the Jonsa metas out there, as well as the spoiler leaks. These are just some of thought why I think J*nerys shouldn’t be quick to call canon so fast. I tried to be as objective as possible, but obviously bias will be present. No hate either on the ship. If they end up together I’m not going to spew fire out of my mouth, just that there are some things...

- First off, I believe boatb*ng will happen. I even believe J and D will fall in love. And (as bitter a pill as it to swallow) I’m also preparing from the Rhaegar and Lyanna parallels. However the leaks also say that Dany being barren gets brought up in this season. You think that little tidbit won’t factor in Jon’s decision to do the do with her? I’m not saying feelings won’t come into it, but you’d be in denial to say that Jon who’s always been afraid to father a bastard won’t be tempted by the prospect of no consequences (oh Jon how wrong you are; we all know this is gonna bite him back hard).

- BUT, I don’t think it’s a cause for celebration that all of the above are happening in S7. If it had happened in S8, and S7 was more focused on subtly deepening the relationship between J and D (cough*likejonsa*cough), then as a js shipper, I would have been REALLY worried. Doing both the sparks and the fireworks in this season seems just fanservicey. WHICH IS THE WHOLE POINT. A large part of the audience wants to see this fated prophetic romance between these two heroes after their parallel journeys. But then as I am aware of, D&D only came to know of the ending from GRRM recently. That’s why we got S6. Not saying that it’s proof that Jonsa is endgame, just that D&D set up the foundations for both ships to have a good chance of happening. As to which one is the ‘red herring’ remains to be seen.

- As I was saying, with the big tryst over and done with in S7, what’s left for J and D in S8 then? Them overcoming the barriers and perceptions of people around them to find their happily ever after? Please, ASOIAF isn’t a love story, as much as we shippers would like it to be. Plus they ain’t got no time for that with the Winter War now upon them. I’m curious to see where their ‘romance’ will go come S8.

- Here’s the other curious thing from the S8 ep 1 leaks. It’s SANSA who’s angry and mistrustful about Dany. It’s SANSA who asks Dany if she and Jon are now in love (SHE DOESN’T GIVE AN ANSWER EITHER WAY) and it’s SANSA whom Jon sought to bring aside and talk to about it. (How does this look like to you? Cause to me I find it very curious that it seems like Jon is placating Sansa. Why wouldn’t he talk to the whole Stark family about Dany? Why Sansa first?)

- And then as a cliffhanger for that episode, Jon finds out about his true parentage. See, where I’m getting at is no one knows what happens after Jon learns about his true parentage. No one has any leaks further than that. He’ll know Sansa is his cousin and Dany is his aunt. How will Jon feel that he did the horizontal tango with his aunt? And if we JS shippers read those subliminal hints in S6 and S7 correctly, how would Jon deal with knowing Sansa isn’t really his sister? Will he come to see her differently? Has he already, and has he been avoiding or suppressing those feelings?

- So with respect to shipping (aside from the whole identity crisis), it’s either going to be focused on his angst about his illicit love with his aunt and the dilemma of his love for her and the Stark values he was raised with, or him now possibly considering a viable marriage with Sansa Stark (bec. honestly it would solve all of their problems about rebuilding the North). MY POINT IS THIS: THE CURRENT LEAKS IN NO WAY SANK THE JONSA SHIP. Jonerys may be canon in future episodes, but they’re not necessarily endgame. It’s all up the air. We Jonerys and Jonsa shippers are all in the same boat, as much as some may not like it.

- Finally, I admit that I was bit threatened (I’m being as honest as possible here) with the Rhaegar and Lyanna parallels to Jonerys, but to be fair Jonsa peeps, we got Ned and Cat. There has to be a suitable epic parallel for the two mains of the show. On the other hand, Rhaegar and Lyanna could also parallel Jon and Sansa respectively, what with the handsome prince (that Sansa once yearned fo), but without the courtly grace, in the Targaryen, Jon. And the renowned Stark beauty which caused a war in Sansa. I mean the original outline had JonArya romance, and Arya has been paralleled with Lyanna multiple times. If Sansa really is taking Arya’s place in that storyline, the parallel would be complete.

- Finally, finally, what I’m looking for in a possible Jonsa end game isn’t really a lust-fueled, passionate encounter. I’d be happy with a semi-ambiguous ending with both Jonsa and Sansa in Winterfell and side-by-side, along with Arya and Bran, because honestly they’re the best rulers the North can have. For a lot of the antis, what they don’t understand is what attracts us shippers to SS Jonsa is not just the aesthetic or the ‘love’ story, but really how thematically both characters fit together, complete each other’s narrative, and their ending would be one eternally satisfying as it fits the overall theme of the saga (if a happy ending for the Starks is what GRMM is going for; it can all end bittersweet or a tragedy for all we know).

- Finally, finally, finally (last one I promise), I find it laughable how the biggest ‘attack’ on the ship is that it’d be incestuous? Like, hello, do you know how many countries actually legalize marriage between first cousins? And step-siblings too? This isn’t just a medieval concept. Even my own ethnic group accepts marriage between first cousins. I bring up step-siblings because the other big ‘attack’ is that Jon and Sansa were raised as siblings, as if that were more squicky than actual blood relations (but you know it’s ok, cause they didn’t know). Um, no, Jon and Sansa may have been raised in the same house, but they weren’t raised as siblings. If that’s your definition, consider Theon as someone raised with Sansa like her sibling. But no one bats an eye at shipping the two. Jon and Sansa were raised like step-siblings at most.

#jonsa #jon snow #sansa stark #daenarys targaryen #game of thrones #got #asoiaf #house stark #house targaryen #ramblings about game of thrones

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nebris · 5 years

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Her Grandfather Founded the Westboro Baptist Church. Twitter Helped Her Leave It.

To understand her own extreme beliefs, Megan Phelps-Roper began listening to people who reached out to her on social media

Megan Phelps-Roper’s conversion began on Twitter. Phelps-Roper is the granddaughter of Fred Phelps, the founder of Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kansas. Westboro is infamous for its anti-queer protests at the sites of military funerals and other tragedies, deploying church members to hold up signs that say, “Thank God for dead soldiers,” “God blew up the troops,” “Thank God for 9/11,” and “God hates America.”

In 2008, when she was 22, Phelps-Roper started a Twitter account for the church, where she quickly gathered followers by replying to celebrities and politicians and asserting the church’s hateful message. But Twitter was also where Phelps-Roper’s understanding of faith, God, and identity began to change. In her memoir, Unfollow, Phelps-Roper tells the story of her life in the church and how the dialogue she encountered on Twitter caused her to leave her family and her entire way of life.

Like Phelps-Roper, I also grew up as a fundamentalist Christian and have struggled to come to terms with the faith that raised me and the faith I have now. I recently spoke with her about her conversion in reverse as well as Christianity in America today and the potential for grace and atonement.

Lyz Lenz: When people hear about organizations like the Westboro Baptist Church, the reaction is often: just leave. But it’s more complicated than that. For you, your church was your family; it was your whole world. What did it mean to leave?

Megan Phelps-Roper: If organizations like Westboro were universally bad, they wouldn’t exist. There had to be some draw, and at Westboro, there was a lot of draw. The church was almost entirely made up of my extended family, and everyone in the church felt like family. We did everything together: We had dinner together, played video games; we read books and watched movies together. You were raised to be willing to do anything for one another. As long as you were a member of good standing, there was this incredible sense of love and belonging. In many ways, it was really beautiful.

These were the people who brought you food when you were sick. They threw baby showers and weddings. Westboro was your whole life. After you left, who were you?

I was indoctrinated. I shied away from using that term for a while, but the fact is, it’s true. I was taught that our beliefs were the infallible words of God. The paradigm was just so strictly ingrained into my brain. The idea of deviating from it was absolutely terrifying. What leaving means is you are going to be cut off from this community that is your everything.

Also, you’re going to hell.

At Westboro, the depictions of hell are extremely vivid. The only thing that changes in hell, according to the church, is your capacity to feel pain. As the capacity to feel pain increases, so does the pain. It’s absolutely terrifying. I believed God was going to curse me for having left this group of people. I was terrified I was going to get in a car accident, or I’d get some terrible disease. I believed there was no chance I was going to make it to old age.

I think for people not raised in a fundamentalist church, it’s hard to understand how the concept of hell is used as a tool of control.

My husband had a very difficult time understanding that we really believed in hell. He really thought we were all just pretending because this was what was required of us. But it was a very real fear for me.

What do you think people in America need to understand about religious fundamentalism?

That people can choose to believe differently. I was 26 years old when I left. Technically, I had the legal choice to leave when I was 18. But because of the way I was raised, leaving made just as much sense as cutting off a limb and then jumping into shark-infested waters. That’s how we saw the world, as this evil, corrupt place. And Westboro was the only refuge from that world.

Do you think that Westboro is an aberration in the world of Christianity? Or do think it’s an extension of what white Christian America says about faith?

There are aspects of Westboro that are, of course, more extreme in the way that certain religious practices manifest. But the idea that the Bible is the infallible word of God, that it’s unquestionable — this is common. Some people cannot believe there is an alternative interpretation of the Bible aside from their own. I was really shocked after I left and started talking to Evangelical Christians who were different from those I met in Westboro.

I remember going to a Lutheran church where there was a sermon about the apocalypse. The pastor told us the apocalypse is a metaphor, that it’s something we inflict upon ourselves and each other, and that the second coming of Jesus happens inside our hearts. I was like, “You can say that?”

Absolutely! That’s what I write about, the idea of epistemological humility. You can have strong beliefs, but people need to understand our perspectives are limited and that there is still more to learn. This kind of thinking is not at all limited to Westboro. I wrote about going into a casino after leaving the church and talking to a bartender, and she described the Westboro-like beliefs that her mother had taught her. Westboro is really well known because of its unique, extreme beliefs. But all across the country and around the world, it’s really unreal how common these things are.

So how do you get someone like you to leave?

I gave a TED Talk a couple of years ago detailing the strategies that helped change my mind. If you want to reach people on the other side, don’t assume bad intent on their part — they came to these beliefs based on a lifetime of experiences. Instead, ask questions.

One of the positive things about looking at extreme beliefs is that it highlights the fundamental problem with thinking that way. Taking these beliefs to their somewhat logical extension, people can see the parallels; they can see the similarities and realize, “Wow, that is not what I believe.” That’s the experience I’ve had too.

You encourage people to have a dialogue. But dialogue can be dangerous if you are queer or a person of color.

I’m always very careful to say that it is incumbent upon every individual in every situation where you have an opportunity to reach out to do it. I still reach out to my family in Westboro. I do it in interviews and on Twitter. But I also do it privately in messages that don’t get a response. I miss them desperately, but sometimes it’s just too painful and unsafe to reach out.

What I’m advocating for is that more people reach out across these divides. But for whatever reason, if you don’t have the emotional resources or you can’t or don’t want to develop the skills to do it, I completely understand that.

What I found so compelling about your story is that you were actively making Twitter a toxic place — but it also became a positive place for you.

I often say things like, “Twitter is a cesspool because we’re making it a cesspool.” And social media companies can do something to improve it. But I also think we’re looking for a technical solution to a cultural problem.

We need to be deliberate. We can decide to follow people we disagree with, consider their ideas and why they think the way they do, and be willing to engage with them.

That was the difference between the people who changed my mind on Twitter — the people who were willing to listen, have a conversation with me versus the people who just wanted to shame me. And again, I completely understand why people wanted to shame me. I was doing really shameful things, but I couldn’t see that they were shameful because of the environment that I was in.

I heard someone define shame as the feeling that we get when we violate the norms of our community. For me, that was a huge aha moment. I had grown up learning to celebrate death and tragedy because that’s how Westboro responded to bad things that happened. When I look back, how absolutely disgusting and backward is that? When I went on Twitter and all these people were trying to shame me, I knew I wasn’t part of their community. I felt like they were evil.

This dynamic is now playing out across our polarized country. We’re not recognizing that if you try to shame people, they’re not going to be moved by your shame to feel shame. They’re going to be motivated by your shaming to keep doing what they’re doing. It really just pushes them deeper into these beliefs and into their own communities. It’s one of the hardest things in the world to be willing to empathize with a person in a moment when they seem not to deserve it the most.

I want to understand how you see forgiveness. You did do things that were really harmful to other people, and now you’re back in the public sphere, saying things and asking people to listen to you again. How can people trust you?

For a long time after I left the church, everything I did was something somebody asked me to do. I didn’t talk about my experience unless somebody said they wanted to hear it. After having spent my entire life telling other people how to live, I was wary of stepping back and telling people, “Okay, I figured it out.”

I wrote about this in the book, but I went to a Jewish festival where I learned the concept of Tikkun Olam — repairing the world. I understood that I and my family have added to the brokenness in the world, and it’s up to me to try to find a way to repair some of it.

How do you define your faith today? Do you go to a church?

I am not religious anymore. I don’t want to say I’m not a believer because I’m still such a passionate believer in so many things. It’s just not in the divine or supernatural; it’s in humanity, hope, and grace. That concept of grace, that’s the epigraph of the book, is this line from The Great Gatsby. It says, “Reserving judgment is a matter of infinite hope.” And to me, that is the concept of grace. It’s the idea of seeing other people and being on a journey and that there is hope for them tomorrow or to change over time. We know that we grow and change all the time.

Grace is a very religious concept. How does your concept of grace now differ from the one you were taught in the church?

My mom had a two-word definition of grace: unmerited favor. I was taught that is the grace of God. You deserve nothing. You deserve nothing good. You deserve death and hell. And it’s only by the grace of God that any good, any human being, has any hope. But now I see grace as a posture of generosity for ourselves and other people to understand when people do things that are wrong.

I feel like the recipient of so much grace. What we did to people in their most grievous, vulnerable moments, being outside of those funerals, praising and thanking God that this person was dead and that it was the judgment of God — I had done this to so many people, and for them to be willing to see me with grace was absolutely unreal to me. That was the thing that really gave me hope after I left.

What does that atonement look like?

I don’t like to talk about the financial aspect, but giving is one way. It’s reaching out to my family and trying to help them find better ways. Not just because I want my family back but because they still affect so many other people.

It is helping other people escape similar destructive ideologies. Every opportunity that I have been offered, I have tried to take advantage of. I want to use these experiences to be a force for healing rather than what I did for so many years, which was contributing to people’s pain.

Written by Lyz Lenz Author of God Land. Columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The book Belabored is forthcoming from Bold Type Books in August of 2020.

https://gen.medium.com/her-grandfather-founded-the-westboro-baptist-church-twitter-helped-her-leave-it-2de5a4266dcc

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