#and i don't understand how so many dudebros idolized this guy when so much of what he does is so pathetic

[calamity-bean]

Sorry, I'm just still reeling from the fact that Walt says "I am the danger / I am the one who knocks" in the very same episode as Skyler's "Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family," and yet the former became iconic and famous and endlessly parroted while I have NEVER heard any fan quote the latter before.

The context of those iconic Walt lines is not even cool. He's just an insecure little man putting on a mean growly voice to yell at his wife in their bedroom because she dared express concern that he might get murdered like one of his colleagues — a situation that was only on her radar in the first place because he couldn't bear to let a dead man get credit for his ~gEnIuS~! I'm not saying that that reaction wasn't in-character for him, I'm just saying that I don't see anything badass about a grown man throwing a temper tantrum because his wife, without even knowing she was doing it, dared to contradict the mythos he's built around himself: this Heisenberg persona, this version of himself who is cool and powerful and incomparable and in control.

And Skyler's response?

Skyler digests what he's told her, the implications, the idea that her husband is not merely a criminal but apparently a very dangerous one. And then she looks "the danger" unflinchingly in the eye and coolly, calmly makes it absolutely clear that she will stand up to him. That she sees through his version of "protecting their family" for the self-aggrandizing excuse that it is. That she is not under his control.

That's so much more badass. What the fuck.

#my fury at all the misogynistic hate skyler got from viewers back in the day grows with every ep #and i don't understand how so many dudebros idolized this guy when so much of what he does is so pathetic #like i can understand enjoying his brand of pathetic (though i dont) but ive heard so many ppl (mostly guys) talk like he's so COOL #calamity watches brba #op #brba #skyler white #1k

[spongki]

Minutes into the 'Never Meet Your Idols' podcast (featuring Nick Valensi of The Strokes) on Spotify, they briefly bring up the "cute, Italian chef one from Queer Eye", which is obviously none other than Antoni Porowski, and I can't remember whether or not they mention the fact that he's an avid fan of The Strokes but in case you don't keep up with the Netflix makeover series where he showcases his dozens of Strokes and other early-aughts band shirts—it is indisputable that he is.

Credit

My short attention span then drags me away from the Valensi podcast I was suppose to tune into and brings me to the Queer Eye cast's Pitchfork Over/Under episode instead and I'm just wildly amused at how there's so many LAYERS to this part of the interview where they're asked (as a collective, yes) whether they think The Strokes are overrated or underrated (that's the basic mechanics of this segment). Everyone shoots Antoni a look knowing he's a massive Strokes fan but Jonathan Van Ness initiates—"If it's not Beyoncé, everything is Simon & Garfunkel to me" (valid). Then Antoni starts, arguing that The Strokes are underrated to which Tan France disagrees with and says something along the lines of "No, they're not. They're popular! Everyone knows them." (The thing is there isn't really an established definition of Over/Under on the show, it might mean the bad-good dichotomy, or overrated-underrated in the literal sense). Antoni then ignores him and goes full geek about the band and talks about their impact and significance during the noughties, basically the similar "script" and shower of praises any fan or casual listener says about The Strokes—you know how it goes: how they jumpstarted the post-punk/garage rock revival scene, how no one was making music like them during that time and everyone just came after... that kind of stuff.

Tan rubbing on Antoni's ear to calm him down while the rest of his friends bully him for being a Strokes fanboy, lmao.

Look at him. He was WAITING for that moment all his life. All of which are perfectly understandable as a Strokes fan myself.

The point is that this is so goddamn relatable especially when you're the only gay person within the group with more "hetero" interests—this is EXACTLY what it's like. Not to say that The Strokes is a straight dudebro band because if my memory serves me right, they were made for the rockstar dudes with "sensitive" souls and androgynous styles who get too much pussy that they get upset about it so they turn women down and walk into a wall immediately after*. Which is, to say, a different breed of straight guy, perhaps bicurious, but a straight one nonetheless. Yet even outside of the gay context, being that guy who likes "indie" bands that are defo not indie but are not listened to by your average person you just have the urge to defend your hipster tendencies all the time like I DON'T THINK THEY'RE OBSCURE, OKAY?! I JUST THINK THEY'RE UNDERRATED. IN THE SENSE THAT... and everyone else just groans and rolls their eyes.

Antoni, from one queer epicure and indie rock music fan to another, I see you.

#queer eye #antoni porowski #the strokes #indie rock #garage rock #noughties #aughts #nick valensi #garage rock revival #post punk revival