#however. even tho i KNOW that the point of the demo is to be staged and a performance. i think some of the messaging is getting so mixed | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

brilliantfantasticgeronimo · 5 years

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re: cxg (s1-s4)

shows up four years late holding hot takes!!! what up!!! ☕ ☕☕☕aw yeah

@upslapmeal @fauxkaren @bisexualfelicity, lemme know what you guys think?

(this show practically asks you to go on many fake deep rants about it so proceed with caution lol)

oops, it’s 3 days later 🎶

I had always been on the target demo for this show. Musical theatre fan? chronic shipper? neuro-divergent tendencies? check, check, triple check. The question was never if I’d enjoy it, but how much.

First, I’m glad I held on to watching it until it was complete. When you vaguely know where things are headed that’s easier than learning to trust new writers week by week. And since this is a series that makes it necessary that you become hyper-invested..., it means every misstep is compounded by x1000 if you have a whole week to dwell on it. And I can picture myself being a lot more pissed at the (perceived) small mistakes if I hadn’t know the bigger picture via the episode titles before.

However, the filler aspect of some episodes did become more glaring on binge watch. At various points in the storyline I thought: “this would be stronger as a stage show than a tv show/without this much fluff” In fact, that’s what I thought ,from skimming the episode guide, that the concert special was going to be. An experimental, meta finale or meta retelling of the show with ‘screenplay and lyrics by Bunch R.’~ that played like an episode ON the stage. Like the two live show episodes on 30 rock- those breaking the 4 wall AND kept a foot inside it by keeping the characters IC.....

(god. just imagine: the last scene with Rebecca’s “and this is a song I wrote…” THEN it smoothly transitions to a live stage with Rachel Bloom on the same costume, the same piano, ready to rock it out?? ALL THE LAYERS THAT WOULD HAVE I weep for the wasted potential.).

this whole journey’s been... a crock🎶

s3 > s4 > s1 > s2

Reprise Effect™ is definitely in full effect here. S1/S2 were less hype than S3 but S3 couldn’t exist without the grunt work done in early episodes like “Josh and I are going to the beach!”. Like how the reprises themselves of those seasons were extra special just on the basis of being reprises... though, as mentioned above, s4 can’t be the top one despite the reprises because it had too many pointless filler episodes. Meanwhile, s1 is objectively very tight. Though maybe doesn’t “fit” as well with the rest of the story? Rebecca gets what she wants but not what she needs, because it’s too early in syndication... not many banger here either, for me. And s2 was the least enjoyable because of its reliance on...

the math of love quadrangles🎶

I found the main romantic story-line to be exhausting at points, instead preferring either the main friendship ones (Paula and Rebecca stuff, etc) or the side character stuff (Karen!! Father Brah!! TRENT!!!) I mean... it’s justified in that it was intentional, I guess. I probably sliiiightly leaned on #teamjosh the most because their relationship felt the most refreshing- Nathaniel and Greg were treated too much as archetypes, while I was crying from the emotional sincerity and earnestness of Dear Joshua Felix Chan🎶

(this also makes me glad to have missed the weekly discourse/ship wars because this seems to be an unpopular opinion lol)

(seriously Nathaniel tho was the worst for so long oh my god. “omg what if we pair the super feminist character with the machista privileged guy!! it will be SO ORIGINAL!!!” no. no it’s not pls stop.)(WHY SHOULD I ROOT FOR SOMEONE male,straight,and white in the one percent????) (no disrespect to Scott Michael Foster tho he’s truly a star) (salvaged the character)

And while we’re on the topic of ships... woah nelly I did NOT expect the high quotient of wlw vibes. honestly, the casual-bisexuality from like everyone in #thegirlgroup4evah was more powerful than the introduction of beth/valencia in s4, imo (my respects to fans who manage to write fic for that ship when Beth is barely even a character).

-heck, it got to the point that I was weirded out with that final pan-out across the room, and it shows people like Father Brah but not a single lady as a potential post-series romantic partner? wtf show, Rebecca might have started as “a 1.8 in the kinsey scale” but by the end she was AT LEAST a 2.1. Aprox. (then again, that might just be me (λ▀ˇ▀) ∫ ~**projecting*~**)

he’s suspiciously good-looking in ways that normal people are not🎶

Speaking of projecting....

The experience of watching this show really made me start to question the device of identification in stories. Specially rn with the whole ~identity politics / representation #matters campaigns~ stuff.

Yes, it is great to see yourself represented-. it’s healing, it’s cathartic to see Rebecca and co going through stuff that other series had never touched upon. That high from expecting A DIAGNOOOSIIIS is really spot on to the real life experience of going through that situation. It physically chips away some internalized stigma just watching it. yet like. at some point stories that aren't relatable become less engaging…I know, intellectually, that so much of the Jewish stuff was funny, but a lot of it just flew by my head? So like, how does that apply to other “representation” things? is our subjectivity so skewed-ed by identity that stories, that we can’t then care about worlds apart from ours? idk. I guess that’s kinda all being fake-deep sounding, but for those that plan to write stories for others I think it’s worth thinking about.

(oh, good! an abstract theatrical space. Now I can actually think)

The other meta point I wanted to make was about how I noticed that lot of the discourse and fanwank surrounding the character, was always reeling over whatever terrible mroal things they had done. Like Rebecca’s stalking, arson, manipulation, manslaughter, And I’m like dude... it’s... a comedy? it’s not real....? ofc if you were to look at what happened in himym/friends/whatever you would commit that those people should be in jail. But the whole thing is a fantasy! it’s an artifice! it doesn’t matter how much vicious brutality tom inflicts upon jerry, he’s never gonna actually hurt him!

So it was a real weird feeling whenever I saw discussions of old episodes and people being #scandalized by john treating rebecca like crap, or paula being an enabler,... like, I’m not trying to justify those things. the point is that it was all represented in a zanzy whacky comedy frame (with musical numbers!!!) AND specifically iyy created such a weird tonal dissonance when the show itself began treating those things as existing in the framework of our real world and under the rules of real world decency.

I mean, imagine this show without the music? it would be a totally different beast. And maybe works better towards the point they wanted to make with the story in the first place (”crazy” isn’t crazy, life doesn’t make narrative sense, etc) it’s like when they took off the claymotion filter off for the scenes that happened in Abed’s Christmas Special on Community. the darkness of rebecca’s life would have been much more palpable, and the points they were making, clearer.

(It would have been a lot darker tho)

(and I probably wouldn’t have watched lol after all I was mostly here fore those-)

(beat)

GRATUITOUS🎶KA-REOKE🎶 MO-MENTS🎶

in general, whenever i recognized the parody, it tended to lower my enjoyment of the number. Specially for some parody songs that aren’t connected to the story, and were more like recycled youtube-phase!bloom material.the buzzing from the bathroom, floods of justice being the biggest offenders,,, and another grip it’s that many songs could be stronger, but they for some reasons needed to have jokes always??? the end of the movie specially it’s so good and wise, and then the punchline is so much less powerful and takes away the universality of it that... :/ ://... whyyy

anyway, enough whining. The obligatory top 10 ahead.

(but what’s a top 10? it’s just a fabrication of what songs people project the most to. it’s not like any top 10 could make a difference in people’s tastes... of course, I guess it could if you cared to make it so- but it COULD but i doesn’tbutitcouldbut idoesn’tb tu.)

10. What’s Your Story?: the third anectode almost made me fall out of my chair. The ratatas....and the way Rebecca goes all out with the cell-block choreography... /shook. Just an expertly done parody all around tbh.

10. Slow Motion: I missed the hype train for Let’s Generalize About Men so this is the song that takes its spot.

9. No One Else Is Singing My Song: surprisingly really comforting? asdfg. I legit feel less alone whenever I sing alogn to it. And, unlike “Nothing is Ever Anyone’s Fault”- it makes fun of this sentiment without totally invalidating it (”I am super unique!”). If they had gone all out and truly included the “entire company” it would be much higher in my ranking. But that’s impossible... logistically impossible (or IS IT. -says n*2)

8. The Darkness: crying, laughing, and also moved on an unspeakable level.

7. Anti-Depressants Are So Not A Big Deal: went a bit down after I read someone say “it’s just a glorified pharma-ad, isn’t it?” and that it was based on La La Land (I thought it was an original style of showtune not done in recent years). Still... damn. It’s a goddamn banger, man.

6. Without Love You Can Save The World: an anthem for frigid bitches like me :)

5. I’m Just A Girl In Love: the whole show’s thesis is one succinct glam package!! (gajillion extra points for Trent’s reprise) (#teamtrent).

4. I go to the Zoo: I showed a couple of cxg to my 15 year old cousin musical-hater cousin and it passed. Enough for me.

3. After everything you made me so (that you didn’t ask for): tbh up until this one most song had been great but nothing had really wow’d me. Of course, as a song, Paula’s original is great too. I just prefer this one for the huge pay-off it represents story-wise. This was the first song that really made me go zomgREPLAY!°1”. When the inevitable stage show comes out, this for has got to be the closing song of Act 1.

2. Love’s Not a Game: do u ever like obsess over those tiny bits in showtunes that just throw the f**** down S O hard compared to the rest of the song? which is usually great but not as much as THOSE glorious three seconds? ex: this happens to me with the “Then why choose fear?/I’m a New Yorker, / fear’s my life” during “Life Support” in the stage version of Rent......this song was like that, it was already epic and fitting for the best (imo) episode in terms of comedy. AND THEN!! it does that fucking GLORIOUS dark reprise of ‘The Group Mind Has Decided You’re In Love’- it took what was already a flabbergast group number .

1. I Could If I Wanted To: cleared my skin and cured my NPD.

memorable mentions:it’s nice to meet you (original and reprise), tell me i’m OK patrick, i feel like this isn’t about me, all the raps from give good parent to jap battle and omg i cant believe i watched a good “rap parody by white people”, love kernels, trapped in a car with someone you don't wanna be trapped in a care with.

aight that’s all props if you read all that. thanks @mutuals for the peer pressure for four years on this. i deserved that shame. #humble#blessed#teamtrent

#crazy ex girlfriend #meta #cxg #rebecca bunch #rachel bloom #sheesh this took way too long to write aksljdfd #and all for a bunch of hot takes that aint that hot tbh #they're more like tepid #lukewarm takes

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adieka · 3 years

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Some Clients Ask for an ROI Plan Before They Buy Your SEO Services

Yuan Heard that a lot. We all talked about ROI; if you have proven ROI, then the price does not matter much on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) charge…couple of things, we show the growth on keyword rankings, traffic/visitors, the leads on calls, and from web form submissions. so do you ask or get biz owners their monthly revenue $ to justify the proven ROI? How do you know and how much of the ranks, traffic, and leads becoming real sale $? We manage many eCommerce/online biz with store backend admin access. We can clearly see the ROI on $. for instance, 3M sale within 6 months with 100% profit margin. we can figure out the ROI. however for small/medium businesses (not with online selling/eCommerce), lots of time, business owners do not disclosure their $ number. so what your proven ROI looks like on your SEO work? 1 👍🏽 1 [filtered from 16 💬🗨]📰👈

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Lucas It's different for ever client. I try not to get bogged down too much on the accuracy of numbers in order to prove ROI (unless I can reliably obtain them) and instead focus on educating the client to see the intangibles and understand the ROI is there, with or without the numbers. If the client can see the growth in sales, and the growth in traffic, they naturally correlate the two and they see your value. Obviously, it's great to be able to track exact ROI, especially for your own experience and learning, but it's not always possible. For instance, I did an online reputation management campaign for a local business that had 5 reviews on Google, and after a year they had 190 five star reviews from real clients. And that's just Google. FB and Yelp saw similar results. They quickly overtook all of their competition and are now nationally recognized in their niche as one of the best. People travel from all over the US to work with them because of this. They were able to see an increase in phone calls, consultation requests, and new clients almost immediately after we started this campaign and once they saw the value in the work I was doing, it was a no brainer…But there is absolutely no way for me to prove how much money I made them. The point is, it doesn't matter HOW MUCH, it only matters that they can see the ROI exists.

Yuan » Lucas Thanks. Totally agreed!

Chris Edwards 🎓 I just talk to the client about the current state of affairs, sales from traffic etc average order value. I then ask how much of a difference another 20% of sales or an increase in average order value by xx% would make. NEVER talk SEO to a customer unless it's pure technical SEO fixing a problem. ALWAYS talk in £$ etc because that is a clear number they can understand and evaluate your costs against.

Yuan » Chris Edwards True. Just rankings on page 1 or top are meaningless if no leads and sales.

Petter First off, agree on what Key Performance Indicators (KPI)s to measure, how they should be measured - and sit down with the client to set values for those KPI-events. I strongly advice that you lower the value every time - with the client, because then you most likely did more for their business than what you're measured on (gives goodwill). How to find these KPI's? Phonecalls, emails and form submissions are fairly common. Newsletter subscriptions are also fairly common. Demo's, freebies and trials occurs with some businesses (for a reason). - Most businesses also has a sales-process that can help you identify potential KPI's that the website can contribute towards that might not be present when you start as well which means you can increase the different C2A elements you can apply to different stages of the customer-journey that will be counted towards KPIs and Return on Investment (ROI) on those. Then agree on attribution. Should you report on last-click only - or apply attribution models? And if you go with models - what's your worth if it's not last-click, and what KPI's should be included here? Lastly agree on timeframe for evaluation (this should ideally overlap contract renewal). But you should report on your ROI monthly, and make sure that the client knows that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn't like ads - and that in the beginning you should be reporting negative ROI's. You don't deploy SEO and see the results the next few hours (even tho some of the stuff we do is like that now).

Yuan » Petter Great insights thanks. Appears that you got pretty deep on these. Do you one tool or use multiple tools to track and report KPIs? Petter Google Tag Manager (GTM), analytics and DataStudio. As well as insights from Google My Business (GMB) (and other sources if it gets covered).

Ameet If you can't measure, still provides the result and satisfies client expectation, he/she will continue to pay you. If not, there's you miss the client! Yuan Agreed. Some clients do not want to share any sale data. So we can only track some Key Performance Indicators (KPI)s and see their trending Meakin Simple conversation with client "If you don't want to share sales data that's completely fine. But obviously it's going to be harder for me to demonstrate an Return on Investment (ROI)." In either case, have a monthly check-in to discuss progress. This way they will soon let you know if they're not getting an ROI and you can help them troubleshoot. 📰👈

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These may satisfy you: » Motivating a Company to Invest in Backlinks but Difficult to Prove the ROI » A Client doesn’t Care about SEO Data. A Client Only Cares about Sales Improvement|ROI. Are Both Statements Often Right? » A Client has got the ROI and Great Sales | the Site Already Rank for Most Of the Keywords in the Top 5 Positions | the Client Wants to Cut My Services | No Contracts » Someone Asked for Legal Advice. S*He Wanted to Cancel a 12-Month SEO Contract Due to ROI Unreached After the First 3-Month » ROI in SEO Goes Down, but the Cost Goes Up? I Consider Shifting to Google PPC

#ROI in SEO #return on investment #seo client #seo services

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goldenscript · 7 years

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bffs to lovers!kino

literally the sweetest sunshine of a best friend that you could ever ask for

kang hyunggu, a dancing and music prodigy who can sing, dance, and rap,,, like who knew? well, ofc you did

you’ve known him long before he was accepted into his music academy and hit it off really well all over the place

he’s not signed or anything yet but he should be - actually, he wants to get his degree first before he focuses on all that stuff so on top of music he’s being extra studious

anyway hyunggu and you have been bff’s since you two were kids, you two were inseparable after being seated together and since then it’s just been you and him as two peas in a pod

as you two grew older,,, like into 5th grade and onward, you noticed his affiliation for music and how much he adored being able to sing and play instruments

the way he lit up at the sound of music was more than enough of a telltale sign that he was meant to play and perform

you just knew,, and you’re certain a part of him knew too

he just needed a push from someone

his parents couldn’t really give him the money to play piano or anything, so they weren’t an option

however, the music teachers at your school helped him raise funds because they saw so much potential in him like you and even though he said it wasn’t a big deal if he couldn’t get lessons, you knew it was

he did a bunch of yard work, house work, lots of side jobs that could help him fund that dream of his and he saved up A Lot

sometimes when he wasn’t looking you’d put in a few bucks of your own allowance to his little lessons fund too

instead of giving it to him directly because the last time you did he got really upset, you would give it to the teachers and made them promise not to say a word about it

so you continued to encourage him to keep pursuing his music despite how shy he was with any of it,,, like talent shows? nope. showcases? Heck no

your middle school music teacher begged you to convince him because to no avail the poor shy boy just couldn’t find the gets to get on that stage with other people watching him

you knew how much he wanted to perform and share music he had trapped in that little notebook of his and you just,,,

you made it a goal of yours to convince him

you wanted to give him that strength to do it not only by talking to him about all his anxieties so he’d feel lighter but also by showing up to every single practice

you would always stay up with him to listen to his latest piece and you even showed up to his first performance with a rose because you couldn’t afford a bouquet but he loved it

he really began to love music and performing and the idea of making it a career really dawned on him when he was contacted by a scout for a big arts academy

next to your support, he decided to take a music career path more seriously just to show his parents that instead of running a grocery store with them that he wanted to make music and write lyrics and sing and all that good stuff

they were pretty skeptical because practicality and tbh they actually hadn’t seen him perform

he was also so shy to mention it to them because it was always about the store with them so you told them about it and it was a later performance that would really seal his fate in the music world

he performs this song about growth and doing better things and it’s just so beautiful with his voice and the melody and he hit this gorgeous high note,,,, like he automatically got that scholarship

you and his parents were so proud,,, y’all even cheered the loudest and as embarrassed as eighth grader hyunggu was, he was so elated that you three were there

in the end, they decided to support him and his decision to accept the scholarship to the arts academy in the city and it dawns on the two of you what this meant

school of performing arts in seoul (SOPA for short) meant bigger and way better things for him and you didn’t want that to be wasted just because he would be leaving

despite how visibly torn he was at first, you definitely talked him into going because you absolutely refused to be the reason why he didn’t follow his dream

so in those for years you exchanged a few words and saw each other in the beginning

sometimes you visited or he visited but a lot of the time you had to go there during his free time which began to get sparser and sparser as the school drew on

and eventually he just grew busier and busier to the point where visits didn’t happen anymore

you’d get a few texts every now and then - eventually those stopped too

at first, it hurt a lot to know that he couldn’t respond but you also understood that the workload there is vastly different from your average high school and if he wanted to keep a spot there then he needed to put 110% in

plus, over the years, his stuff was taking off - from performances to demos to even melodies because his producing was just as good as his singing and dancing which you actually had no clue about

at least until your old music teacher saw you volunteering at the middle school and watched some videos at you and you were just,,, in awe because he really became something amazing like you knew he would

you didn’t have any hard feelings over all - his parents often gave you updates about him since he did his best to send them some updates every now and then and it made you happy

you even enjoyed his music, often sending him a few encouraging messages even if they weren’t answered since he just needed to know you loved it too

your graduations fly by but by then the two of you have gotten new phones and numbers so you just hope he’s doing well

his mom tells you he is before you leave for uni and she even drops a few hints that he’s asked about you too so it makes you happy that he’s still thinking of you

she reacts a little funny when you tell her you’re going to seoul university but you brush it off since you were absolutely certain that hyunggu would wind up getting signed after high school but guess what??

you both wind up at the same university!!!!

you actually had no clue all that fall and winter quarter, only sparsely hearing about how knnovation was at the school but it slips your mind that this is kino aka your childhood friend hyunggu

until,,,,,

you’re both in music theory that spring!!!

he kinda ok really sucks LOL

it’s almost appalling how badly he’s doing in the class since he’s such a superstar in the underground music world but when you see him with his tufts of dark hair and the tip of his tongue at the corner of his mouth,,, you swear he looks familiar

you don’t really find out until a few weeks into the class that it’s him until the professors asks to see you and him after class

at that point where you finally get a good look at him and he gets a good look at you, you both recognize each other immediately

and you’re both like !!! “omg it’s you!!!”

the professor just laughs at you two and says “well it’s good thing you know each other!!” and he turns to you like “can you pls tutor him??”

hyunggu’s pretty sheepish about saying his grade but he looks at you pleadingly since you’re actually the top student in the class and you’re like “yeah ofc!!!”

so you both get reacquainted and shyly exchange info for studying

tbh this winds up being excuses to wander the city together and you attempting to explain certain concepts to him

he sorta gets it but he gets really distracted bc holy fuck you’re so cute and so sweet and he feels like crap for hardly messaging you back but you actually have no hard feelings and it makes him feel worse so you’re like !!! “ace the next quiz and i’ll forgive you”

and he gets really cutely determined and feels his heart singing like it did before he left you and in truth he kinda stopped responding to you bc he always got these weird fuzzies in his tummy and you consumed his mind a lot,,, it was really distracting

it wasn’t until he was older that he realized he really liked you and seeing you again reignited those feelings!!!!!!!

he invites u to his dance competitions and singing recitals and you go to like every single one with roses even tho he tells u not to but you’re like u never invited me to the ones in high school so i need to make up for lost time

and hearing that, makes him feel even more !!!!!!!!!

and anyway he winds up acing his exams with your help and his own determination to impress u

and in all that time of studying and getting reacquainted, you two have gotten so close, knowing each other’s lives like you were never separated,,, and he sees just amazing you are and how much it makes him never want to see you go

it also shows him just how much you’ve affected him because he’s reminded of those nights in high school where all he could about was you and how much he wanted to text you back and all that but he was scared

he heard horror stories about best friends falling out because one of them fell for the other and how drastically different things were

like even worse because it becomes painfully awkward and imagining a life like that with you?? hurt,,, a lot,,, so he just stayed away

he hoped the feelings would go away

and for a while they did but it was never enough for him to forget you or remember your phone number even when he’d get a new phone

each performance, he’d remember you there with a single rose and it’d always make him work harder

it was sort of his thank you to you for encouraging him and giving him strength to perform

one night you two are just hanging out watching some movies and you look over at him with this gorgeous twinkle in your eye and say, “i’m really glad that you’re in my life again, hyunggu”

and instead of responding, he kinda just leans in to kiss you but he’s about to pull back since ??? ‘@ me wyd!!!!’

but

tHEN

you kiss him

it’s really brief and quick but your lips are tingling and so are his

and when you pull away to say, “i’m really really really glad - god i’ve been dying to do that!” he gets so flustered and happy and he admits that he has too

of course, he’s a lil embarrassed that you did it first but he’s like “how abt a date then?”

you break out in a beautiful smile and agree before you cuddle in his arms and continue watching movies

just to really encapsulate your relationship with hyunggu, i just wanna say you two balance each other

he’s prone to overthinking and wondering if what he’s doing is ever good enough but you are always there to encourage and lend him some strength because you believe in him more than anyone in this entire world

and for you, you’re prone to overworking yourself because you want to have a good future and sometimes you tend to take on more than you can handle or you always strive for the best grade and sometimes you get so burnt out but then hyunggu’s there

he’s a sweet soul and he’ll always tell you to take it easy, sometimes taking you away from your desk just to have a break because those dark circles and your growling stomach are all telltale signs that You Need To Rest

he’ll even sing you a lullaby when you want to sleep but can’t and he can’t help but break out into a beautiful grin because you recognize it as a song he sang to you when you were in middle school

and he admits he wrote it for you

because next to giving him strength, you really motivated him to do better,,, you always have

him going to college wasn’t just something his parents suggested, but it was something that he knew even you would talk him into because of your value of education and working for something

he admits that you showed a lot and taught him a lot and it puts you in awe because even though he was really busy with his music,,, you were still on his mind

and honestly it makes you feel even more love for him because he’s truly a loving soul who only wants the best for people he cares about

it’s the night after finals when you’re exhausted and way too lazy to go anywhere but your dorm

he comes over and asks how they went and he laughs when you groan but open your arms up for his usual cuddles and as you both lay there, staring up at the ceiling for nothing in particular,,, you tell him,,,

“i love you”

it takes him by surprise because he’s thought of telling you and thought of the idea of loving you and it really struck him when it hits him that he really wouldn’t be where he was without you

he tells you that and as you’re at a loss of words, he presses his lips to your forehead and hums that song of yours and says “i love you too”

#kino x reader #kino scenario #kino fanfic #kino scenarios #kino fluff #hyunggu fluff #pentagon scenarios #pentagon fluff #pentagon fanfic #pentagon kino #emswriting

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spotlightsaga · 7 years

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Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... Riverdale /S01\/E10\ Chapter 10: The Lost Weekend Airdate: April 13, 2017 @cwnetwork Ratings: 0.872 Million :: 0.32 18-49 Demo Share Score: 8.5/10 @riverdaleseries @archiecomics TVTime/FB/Twitter/IG/Tumblr/Path/Pin: @SpotlightSaga **********SPOILERS BELOW********** Four Months late isn't too bad, right? See, in Miami, it's never cute to be the first person at the party, and really the party never ends until someone actually says it does... And clearly the Riverdale Party is still very much in full swing. So consider this 10th Entry 'Riverdale Revisit'; the after party to end all after parties. Of course, we're going to be set up for S2 when it goes live. This is definitely not one of the tv shows that Spotlight Saga will be dropping in the coming, world famous, 'fall tv' season frenzy. But don't get it twisted, there are many on the chopping block... OUR chopping block. We're looking at what gets our blood pumping and our thoughts racing, giving us something more to talk about than "Last Night on ___insert uninspired show number #45 here___." 'Riverdale' has made a massive stir across social media and of course on The CW & their worldwide dominating partner, Netflix, as well. I love that due to streaming, the new large amounts of cash pouring in from its subsequent deals, and actually several generations full of 'cord cutters', there are no longer rules to watching and writing about television series and films... Get to them when you can, some will watch them live, some will stream them later, some will wait until they can binge them all at once like a Weekend Warrior with a pocket full of Ecstasy and a head full of hallucinogens. It's our world now, and CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and more (or less) importantly 'Nielsen Holdings', no longer control what, when, where, why, and how much. Smell that? That's the sweet smell of change... And the remnants of murder and sticky maple syrup, obvi. Ive been extremely careful not to overpraise 'Riverdale' in the past. Similar series have only led to frustration or feelings of complete frustration. Its hard to know what to expect from a show like this in the near future... We all saw the demise of similar series like 'Pretty Little Liars' and other shows that run through the same type of vein... Kind of like many of the other ones attempted over at the now defunct ABC Family where PLL first started. Like The WB, UPN, and now The CW, ABC Family has also gone through a newly rebranding process that didn't do much to help the sinking ship they now call Freeform TV... A network that only 'The Fosters' and its cheesy sister show 'Shadowhunters' seem to be keeping afloat. We aren't being negative, we're being real... And when you're at a party, or in this case, 'After Party', you've got to be real. You just gotta... Even if no one ever wanted the party in the first place. If you don't know what I mean, let me spell it out for you. Ready? Set? Spell! Ah fuck it, we'll just spill the tea... 'Let's have a Kiki! Lock the doors tight!' I sometimes wonder if my obscure pop culture references I often sneak into these articles ever actually connect. They probably don't, but to that one person that got it, FUCK YEAH! It's the birthday of Jughead (Cole Sprouse)... And much like the very similar, fellow female counterpart, Sheila the She-Wolf, another introverted style character from 'Riverdale's sister show on Netflix, 'GLOW'... Jughead is not really into parties and/or making a big fuss about a birthday or bringing any unnecessary & unwanted attention to his person. Unfortunately for Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead isn't really big on camaraderie, most definitely not in the spirit equivalent to the 'Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling'! The reasons behind throwing these two characters' each their own impromptu birthday bashes on their respective tv shows are done for totally different reasons. With 'GLOW', it was slightly annoying at first (for Sheila, anyway), but eventually it turned from an apprehensive & anxiety filled event to a touching, sweet moment, where a closed off character had a major breakthrough that was captured in the perfect beam of light, allowing a significant development and enabling an insight into another character's backstory, bringing the whole cast together for the most part. In a great juxtaposition, on 'Riverdale', the psychology behind this one is actually much, much different... It's still got the 'trepidatious yet possible potential for a surprise moment of gratification' aspect down to a certain degree, but it doesn't go down the path of the balmy & charming. The reasoning behind Betty's sudden obsession to give Jughead the party that he never wanted, and the background as to why he's so against the idea in the first place certainly doesn't inspire camaraderie or any kind of 'feel good' moments, especially at the party itself. If anything, the intent is slightly bordering on the side of creepy. Riverdale?! Creepy?!? Yup! Keep up! It's only getting creepier. You see... We've been up on 'Riverdale' and then back down, and then back up and down again... And I think everyone here will openly admit that it's mostly due to a shaky CW track record, as well as similar networks just like it, though there has been a few inconsistencies outside of this oddball tone & beautiful color scheme we're always raving about. However, when the show fully embraces its complete and total anomalous, almost freakish eccentricities, we all just fall right back in love with the show again. It's episodes like 'Chapter 10: The Lost Weekend' that completely make us forget about past network follies and shows like PLL completely losing their way after gaining our trust and enthusiasm in its beginning stages. Reinhart is effortlessly serving up 'Bizarre, Bilateral, Betty Bananas' like a full-on, award ready, seasoned vet. Seriously, I don't want to blow too much smoke up the kid's ass, but I'm pretty sure her breakthrough performance here would even make the likes of decorated actress such as Nicole Kidman proud. Betty Cooper has a duality that Reinhart not only highlights with strong, hearty performances... But it's also the efforts of Director Dawn Williamson, a phenomenal Art Department (you guys KICK MAJOR ASS), Cinematographer Stephen Jackson (this guy was award-worthy in this episode), and Costume & Wardrobe (hell, everyone involved in the smallest, minute details) framed from shot to shot... The absurdity of how tight & perfectly situated her ponytail is, how hard she clenches her hands (leaving scratch marks on her palms), even the way she holds the cake & dawns the signature 'Jughead Crown', to whoever made the call of having those weirdo party goers in horse masks in the background - Good call, guys! That was freaking CRAZY! It's all those little things that make the picture such a pleasure to watch... Turning what seems like a normal teen drama at first glance, to a finely tuned, surprisingly compelling theatrical spectacle. The crazy is in full on abundance, though... It's not just Betty. Suddenly after a string of a few disappointing episodes, I come back after a break and either see things in a totally different light, or it could be that this was just slowly building right under our noses the whole time, or *the most plausible of all three options* is that the ironically lowest rated episode of the series, according to the great analysts over at Nielsen, is actually the most technically sound, character driven, insanely atmospheric entry of the entire 1st Season. Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) finally lets go of some deep resentments she's been bottling up and goes after Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch). This is a task that I wouldn't suggest to any person of sound or capable mind to attempt in any way, shape, fashion, or form. The act is crazy in and of itself, and pissing off the 'Ravishing Redhead' that literally wears the letters 'HBIC' on the back of her cheerleading uniform, that's 'Head Bitch in Charge' for anyone too young or too old to remember Tiffany Pollard of VH1's 'I Love New York', is obviously going to lead to a backlash that Veronica won't likely forget. Sure she might get her big 'W' now, but we must remind you... There's no 'W' in 'HBIC'. Meanwhile, Cole Sprouse & Skeet Ulrich, who plays Serpent Gangster FP Jones & Jughead's father on the show, are literally close to actually convincing me that they are really father and son in real life. The little ticks and nuances that they share are out of this fn' world insane. Either these two have spent a week in a trailer together mirroring their every move or we seriously need to ring in Maury Povich for a DNA Test! Oh, and apparently there's some guy on the show named Archie Andrews (KJ Apa)... The only drawback is that they've failed to make the main protagonist (is he tho?) even remotely interesting. He's good looking, but he's not a convincing redhead, and I'm still not hooked into his arc. Hey, that's ok... Enter Mary Andrews (Molly Ringwald - ChaChing!), Archie's long lost mother. So nice of you to finally drop in, Molly! Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) is ready to finalize the divorce, but we're just biting on all the possibly juicy dramatic scenarios! Who is Archie again? Back at the party, that burgeoning rivalry between Veronica and Cheryl hits its boiling point when Veronica gets a bit too carried away and accuses Cheryl and her deceased brother Jason (Trevor Stines) of having an incestious affair. Ah, gotta love seedy underbelly of the United States! The more money, the crazier the family!!! Oh but there's more! Good ol' All-American Chuck (Jordan Calloway), who actually WAS almost boiled alive, attempts to out Betty on her 'Dr. Jeckyl/Ms. Hyde' issue that surfaced when a hot tub prank got a bit too out of hand earlier in the season. To our surprise, and viewer delight, Jughead and his Dad actually had a moment, which was completely unexpected, yet felt completely real. Like I said before, Ulrich & Sprouse have stellar chemistry, and the writers seem to know this and obviously derive great pleasure in giving us this moment where the two aren't at total odds and Jughead not only carefully considers, but actually takes his biological father's advice... Providing solid proof that the series isn't trying to meander or stretch out any unnecessary storylines at all. No disrespect to fans of other series broadcast on The CW, but clearly this isn't 'The Flash'. These storylines seem to be heading into important territory at a reasonable pace, and not just hanging around to fulfill an episode number requested by an executive to make sure ad-space quotas are filled... Although I have considered that this could be an issue that the show could run into in its expanded 22-Episode Run that it's been greenlit for S2. There's plenty of juicy drama to go around, but when we see that drama making moves instead of being drawn out, then you know you've got a potentially good show on your hands. For now, 'Riverdale' is back on a solid trajectory, delivering what appears to be a set-up episode for the impending S1 finale... A set-up episode that was easily the most consistent entry to date from start to finish. The impression that an episode as good as this exists to move its characters like chess pieces, seemingly just to put everyone in place for the final three episodes is an exciting notion for the last 3 hours of S1 of 'Riverdale' to come!

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andreaeppolitoevents · 4 years

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How to Choose Your Wedding DJ by Special Guest Digital Dave

The art of being a Wedding DJ has greatly evolved over the past 20 years. Prior to 2000, there weren't vast differences between most DJs or DJ companies. Most DJs owned comparable sound and lighting systems, had comparable music catalogs, had a similar performance style, and were, for the most part, in the same ballpark with regards to pricing. Fast forward to 2020, and you can find wedding DJs ranging in price from $500 to in excess of $10,000, some of whom focus primarily on DJing, some of whom focus on MCing and some of whom have productions that will rival a small concert venue. When you think about the diverse range of styles, pricing, and services offered, selecting the right DJ can seem intimidating. Unfortunately, many planners don't deep dive into the process of helping their couple select a DJ nearly as much as they should. DJs are frequently among the last vendors booked for weddings, even though a DJ's contribution to the reception's success is so significant. According to a recent survey on Brides.com, newlyweds ranked "DJ/band" third in importance in what "actually made their wedding truly unforgettable" behind only their venue and photographer. Have you ever been to a wedding where the dance floor was overflowing the entire night? Have you ever been to a wedding where the dance floor was empty the majority of the night? My guess is that you've probably experienced both, and those experiences alone should reinforce the importance of helping your clients select the right DJ for their wedding.

The reason I say "the right DJ" and not "a great DJ" is because in 2020 DJing styles vary drastically from DJs who are on the mic out on the dance floor most of the night to DJs who are of a high caliber nightclub style that creatively mix songs to everything in between. Some DJs play the "shoe game" or set up the "tunnel of love" - not remotely my style. Some teach line dances, while others hate them. Some DJs have enough gear to set up for a 3,000 person concert while others travel light. I know successful DJs that play mostly cheesy "wedding music" and others who can cut a new Drake song into the mix in a way that is unexpected and fresh. That's me. I'm the guy who isn't afraid to cut an old song with a new because I know it will invigorate the crowd. The point is that all of these DJs - the one with a half-million dollars in gear, the one who plays the "shoe game" and the nightclub-style DJs - they all may have all 5-star reviews on The Knot or Weddingwire. They all may be great DJs in their own right, but that doesn't mean they are the right DJ for you.

Whether you are a planner helping to guide your clients towards a DJ for the evening or a couple booking directly, it is essential to do your homework. You need to know that your DJ understands your vision for the reception and can play to it. To help you deep-dive into the many different types of DJs that exist, I will highlight some critical stylistic differences while underscoring common traits that you should find in any DJ. I want to emphasize that there is no right or wrong in most stylistic areas, but there is a right or wrong style for each individual's wedding. I'm also going to explain my own methodologies to show how easy it should be for DJs to describe their style.

Mic Work/Interaction:

At most weddings, a part of the DJ's job is also to talk on the mic. Some DJs perform and also work the mic. Other companies offer a team service with one person acting as the DJ and one serving as a separate MC. There is no right way to do this, as long as you're confident that the person handling the MC duties is competent.

The variables when it comes to mic work are in tone/inflection and frequency. In terms of inflection, some DJs have a serious or professional tone while others are more light-hearted. Some DJs lean towards comedic delivery, some make every announcement in a stadium PA timbre, and others are more conversational. When it comes to frequency, you will choose between minimalists who speak very rarely, only making essential announcements and others who want to interact with the crowd. Some performers tell jokes, others want to play games or teach dancers, and some actually get into the crowd, coming onto the floor to sing and dance with the couple and their guests. Consider which you prefer. Do you want a light touch or heavy interaction? Are you a couple seeking a happy medium? Make sure that your DJ's tone and the frequency of their interaction match your couple's wants.

Take my style, for example. I consider myself middle of the road when it comes to inflection. I speak primarily from a conversational tone but will be a professional tone with an announcer feel during moments such as the grand entrance. Regarding frequency, I'm a minimalist and only believe in talking on the mic when necessary. Once the dancing begins, I hardly ever touch the mic unless it introduces a formality such as a bouquet toss that needs to be announced. I do not believe that talking, playing games, and teaching dances are appropriate in the luxury market. Ultimately, however, there is no right or wrong answer. Just be sure that the DJ's style is symbiotic with your desires.

Cocktail Hour/Dinner Music:

Different DJs have different approaches toward cocktail hour and dinner music. Some request a lot of input from their clients, while others have a standardized set they fall back on. I realize that many weddings have live entertainment for cocktail hour and/or dinner, but having a DJ play at one, if not events, has been a trend for several years now.

I do not believe in standard lists. Every couple is different and deserves to be treated as such, especially in the high-end market. At a luxury wedding, every detail must be curated, including the cocktail hour and dinner music. Thos hosting a six-figure wedding should not be "served" the same playlist that the DJ played during his or her last five weddings, whether during cocktail hour, dinner, or dancing. While interviewing DJs, confirm that they are open to your suggestions and that they have an understanding of the genres you love. For example, indie couples may want to hear from artists such as Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Couples with soul are going to lean more towards an artist such as Sam Cooke, or maybe the classic jazz stylist of Nina Simone. Those who lean toward the classics may prefer the big band sound of Sinatra or Bublé. Your prospective DJ doesn't need to have a massive library of each genre that you want, but they do need to know the basics and understand the context of the songs and artists.

When working with a couple, my process allows couples to select genres and specific songs for both the cocktail hour and during dinner service. Sometimes, this time frame isn't a priority for our clients. Instead of working with me on a full playlist, they select a few songs and trust hat I can fill in the rest. This is where musical knowledge and context becomes essential. If you opt to do this, understand that you are trusting your DJ to function as a real-life Pandora or Spotify. They need to process your input and then read the crowd in real-time, updating the playlist based on the feedback.

Again, I will use myself as an example. While I consider myself quite knowledgeable in most areas of music, I specialize in eras of neo-soul, soul, jazz, R&B, love songs, and big-band for cocktail hour and dinner service. I am also very well versed in post-2000 acoustic, indie, and deep house. Country music, however, is my weak point.

I love incorporating covers into dinner music. For the right client, I will include a Latin soul cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" and a brass band cover of Outkast's "Spottieottiedopaliscious." A Paul Anka big-band cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is incredible. (Yes, you read that correctly. Paul Anka and Nirvana. It's a real thing - look it up!) These covers all offer a unique interpretation of a classic and can get heads bobbing and feet tapping. I cannot emphasize enough how frequently I get compliments about dinner music because there is no such thing as background music. Each song played is setting the stage for the next part of your night. Make sure your DJ treats each track as such.

Dancing Music:

The biggest focus for couples and planners is always the dance party at the reception. The days have long since passed where you could look at the "Top 200 Wedding Songs" and presume that almost any DJ's set would include 90% of that list. I have DJed a wide variety of weddings over the past ten years. Some were virtually all 90's music while others were very pop-punk heavy. I even DJed for couples that only wanted EDM and hip-hop music. I was initially nervous about how the older guests would respond to that playlist, but it ended up being one of the best receptions I have ever played.

Most couples value an approach of mixing it up and playing music from multiple genres and eras to ensure all of their guests enjoy themselves. Most DJs, including myself, share this mindset. As with all elements, however, there are other factors to consider.

1. Does the DJ mix music?

I know I said that there's no overall right or wrong answer when it comes to a DJ's style, but this is one area in which I believe there is a right way to do things. In all circumstances, your DJ should mix (or blend) music. This is the art of transitioning from one song into another song. Mixing helps you maintain the tempo and keeps the beat continuously going as opposed to abruptly changing (or worse, stopping) between songs. Stopping creates an awkward vibe and also may cause guests to leave the dance floor.

In today's culture, your DJ must know how to mix. I most definitely mix, scratch, and blend. Be sure that your DJ knows how to do this as well.

2. Does the DJ have a demo mix that they can send you?

While wedding planning, you will undoubtedly have a menu tasting and a cake tasting. You will look at photos from your photographer and sit for engagement photos. You may even do a demo of your flowers, yet most couples book their DJ without so much as listening to a sample of their work. Do not rely solely on marketing and a sales pitch. DJs worth hiring should have mixes available that will allow you to sample their work and hear their style before booking. These sets may not identically mirror what a DJ would sound like the night of your client's wedding, but they can exemplify a DJ's mixing and programming style. You can also communicate which of a DJs mixes you like best, which instantly gives the performer an idea of where a client's tastes lie musically. Mixcloud is currently the most common platform in which DJs host their mixes.

For example, you can explore my mixes online. I have mixes ranging in style from Motown to 80's New Wave to current hip hop and everything in between. Visit mixcloud.com/djdigitaldave

3. Is a DJ's mixing style compatible with your client?

In recent years there's been a movement in the DJ community called "quick mixing." Quick mixing, as you might be able to discern from the name, is mixing quickly from one song into the next, sometimes playing as little as a 20-second chorus of a track before transitioning to the next song. Some DJs do not quick mix at all, playing a full 3 minutes of their songs. Some DJs frequently quick mix, while others try to employ a healthy balance between the two styles. This stylistic difference isn't a make or break decision for all couples. However, I have met couples over the years who request one method over another. So, while it may not be a deal-breaker for each individual couple, it's definitely an area worth exploring.

Personally, I favor the middle of the road approach. Newer songs and more popular older songs I tend to play a little longer, although I still rarely play the entire song. With a 90's hip hop or alternative rock, I often do a quick mix. I also like to employ some advanced DJ techniques such as wordplay, which is when the lyrics of one song relate to the next. An example of this would be playing Miley Cyrus' "Party In The U.S.A." and at the lyrics "…and a Britney song was on" mixing into a Britney Spears track. This a more advanced artistic skill, one that you won't discover among many DJs. However, if you find a DJ who's capable of advanced mixing techniques, it can add an additional level of "wow" to the evening's soundtrack.

4. Is your DJ programming style compatible with your style?

This is the area in which it is of utmost importance to make sure that a DJ's style aligns with your needs. Sure, you can and most likely will request songs. It is the way that a DJ plays those requests that can make or break the night. This goes back to a DJ getting into a Pandora or Spotify mindset. Your artist needs to be educated enough to know that "if the couple or guests like songs x and y, then they will probably also like song z."

As with cocktail hour and dinner music, your DJ needs to have context for the genres that are preferred to play a great set. Ask a potential DJ what styles of music they are proficient in or if they have any favorite genres to play. Some DJs "checked out" musically in 2005. These DJs may still download and play newer songs, but they have no context for those songs or the emotion that a 28-year-old may tie to them. If your couple wants predominantly older music that may not be an issue, but many couples today, later in the evening, want to hear a lot of their favorite songs from the past 10 years. You want a DJ who is not only familiar with these songs but who understands the impact that they have. Follow the same steps you followed for cocktail hour and dinner music to again ensure that your DJ is knowledgeable about the genres your client wants to hear during dancing.

One final significant touchpoint that you must address when it comes to ensuring a DJs programming is simpatico with your palette is the level of "cheese" that a DJ brings into his or her sets. There are still working DJs out there that go to old-school cheesy wedding music such as "Celebration" and the "YMCA." Other DJs prefer the new school classics such as Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" and Pharrell's "Happy." Finally, you have DJs (such as myself) who try to avoid the stereotypical wedding music as much as possible. This doesn't mean I'm playing obscure songs, it just means I'm playing songs that are, in my opinion, a little more tasteful. Some of my go-to throwback artists include Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Hall & Oates. I like to incorporate modern artists such as The Killers, Jay-Z, Drake, and Justin Timberlake. They are all very iconic, recognizable artists, none of which would be considered cheesy.

I want to reemphasize that my proclivities are not meant in any way as a critique of DJs that aren't in my lane. I've always believed that the world would be a sad place if everyone's music tastes were the same. There are many couples out there that want to hear "I Gotta Feeling" or "Happy" maybe even more than want to hear "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" or "Mr. Brightside." I don't want anyone to agree with me. I only want people to be educated enough to find the right DJ for themselves. If you happen to find a DJ that you love, but you have a few special requests, definitely ask! My personal policy is that I will specifically play songs that are direct requests of the couple. And for the record, just because I tend to stay away from traditional wedding music doesn't mean that I won't drop the occasional "Shout" if the moment is right.

5. Can I incorporate live musicians?

The fusion of live music and DJs has been gaining popularity in recent years. From drummers to saxophonists and violinists, the concept of live music mixed with DJing has become increasingly visible at luxury weddings. The fusion concept is a great way to add uniqueness to your wedding, and it tends to have a broad appeal to guests of all ages. If you are interested in fusion, find a DJ that has musicians that he or she works with regularly. This will result in a more cohesive experience.

The right DJ has the power to fill your wedding with meaningful moments and a packed dance floor. I wish you the best of luck in finding the right wedding DJ and maybe discovering some great new music along the way. My best wishes to you and keep dancing!

- Dave Lander

Owner, DJ Digital Dave LLC

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droory · 6 years

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muh thoughts on smash and what may be added

characters:

nintendo likely still has all the data from the smash ballot for smash 4, so shovel knight, shantae and others (and hell even isaac) have a chance based on however that went

i feel like king k rool maybe has a chance since hes at this point the only villain from “iconic” nintendo games thats not in smash

possible xenoblade 2 rep?

i fear there might be more fire emblem stuff, not that i particularly mind but id like others

an alolan pokemon maybe?

echoes:

pauline maybe? jeanne for bayo, funky for donkey, chrom for ike, shadow/metal for sonic, i doubt ryu or cloud would even tho theres a few in their games who are echoes

skins:

there might be alt costumes for some based on ridley having 8 different palettes but being able to have a meta ridley look too, marios builder and wedding outfits seem to fit into those 8 palettes too but some things couldve been restricted in the demo? so he could have 8 + those outfits

if thats the case it’d be neat for the other characters to get a similar treatment (link’s alt outfits/masks/etc, different zelda/ganon incarnations, the various metroid power suits, octoling variants for inkling, james mccloud, blood falcon, big boss, miss pacman and so on) if bayonetta and cloud could get that treatment last game i dont see why not for more characters this time

stages:

if everyone’s back itd be cool for all the old stages to come back too (poké floats or brinstar depths anyone?)

new stages are likely dependant on more new characters, but a mario odyssey a botw castle/beasts, alolan pokemon league, there’s a lot for most franchises as is so adding more may be too much

stage conversations are hopefully coming back with snake and palutena, would be nice if starfox stage conversations were a little more on topic to the characters at the time, and maybe callie/marie/pearl/marina could show up for inkling conversations

modes:

story mode would be nice but i doubt it, as long as there’s an adventure mode i’ll be happy

all star mode will be so damn difficult if its back with all the characters, will be a fun time

that dungeon run mode from the 3ds version was fun but its a shame it was only on 3ds so it’d be nice for it to be in ultimate

BOARD THE PLATFORMS!!!!

also reminded myself of race to the finish which i always enjoyed so thats be fun

those mini challenges from melee were a good source of competition between my brothers and i so it’d be fun to have back, smash 4′s kinda fulfilled em too

home run and wire-frame fights i hope, the home run was a constant fun battle in my family

i enjoyed the special orders modes in smash 4, was sort of like a fusion of all star and the mini challenges

theres been a lot of “trophy games” throughout smash so I don’t really mind what they do with that

hopefully they continue to improve on the stage builder mode, with the switch portability and connectivity it’d probably be easier to share and receive user stages or something

idk this became kind of rambly so im gonna drop it there, i know it’s asking a lot and frankly i dont expect half of it but giving that it’s bringing back “everyone” itd be neat to have “everything” brought back too

#droo post

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spotlightsaga · 7 years

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Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... The Mist (S01E02) Withdrawal Airdate: June 29, 2017 @spike Ratings: 0.496 Million :: 0.15 18-49 Demo Share Score: 5/10 @paramountpictures TVTime/FB/IG/Twitter/Tumblr/Path: @SpotlightSaga **********SPOILERS BELOW********** There is something in The Mist, we can be 100% sure of that, and so can all of these characters now, right? No more playing stupid... No more rash decisions outside of the norm of idiosyncratic human behaviors (which leaves a wide gap of opportunities anyway)... And despite the show's flaws, 'The Mist' seems to know that... Not that there's just something in The Mist, but a whole lotta something in there lurking about. We've established that the budget isn't exactly high, there are few decent special effects, but mostly the majority of money was probably spent on Frances Conroy's salary (unless she owed someone a favor). Honestly that's not a dig, or us trying to throw shade, it just feels like a cold hard fact. 'The Mist' is low-budget, but that's not necessarily something that will keep it from engaging its audience... SyFy and The CW have made entire armies of viewers that are faithful to their respective networks on series that aren't exactly paid for with top dollar. To make a successful season with the ingredients that they have at their disposal, it will ultimately fall back onto the building of tension through storylines that are familiar to the audience, but packing slight unexpected twists in small, subtle ways that pack heavy punches. Most of us have read the story and seen the film, (and without giving away spoilers to those that haven't) we KNOW things and its clear that 'The Mist' isn't necessarily deviating from that core narrative, the heart of the story that gives this specific tale it's own unique identity... But that doesn't mean they can't toss some screwballs here & there to throw us for a loop. Capitalizing on periods of extreme anxiety will also be of upmost importance and 'Withdrawal' does a better job at framing cinematic style camera shots to help accentuate the tone & atmosphere than what we saw originally executed in the 'Pilot' episode. David Boyd is directing this second installment of the serial horror drama and he lends his eye for award winning cinematography and camera work, but he doesn't exactly lead the cast past weak running dialogue in what is an otherwise decent teleplay, written by Peter Macmanus, a man who's still honing his chops in the industry as a writer... Most recently on USA Network's 2-Season ode to paid marital affairs, 'Satisfaction'. Keep in mind that 'Satisfaction' is the only other series that Peter Macmanus has ever worked on. We're just not going to get explosive dialogue and fiercely staged friction from the man at this point in his career (and it wouldn't be fair to expect that), even though Boyd does his best at exploiting those moments that Macmanus left wide open in writing. That's not to say the rest of the teleplay doesn't do it's job and serve its purpose to the degree that it's needed to keep the audience right there with it. If 'Withdrawal' is anything, it's proof that 'The Mist' does have what it takes to overcome its own handicaps... Eventually. It stumbles through the episode, but ultimately comes out as a catalyst to further the core narrative in a respectable and visually somber, but glossy manner. 'The Mist' is known for its over-the-top characters. Marcia Gay Harden turned up the volume on her version of the religious fanatic turned prophet, Mrs Carmody in the 11-times nominated, 2007 film adaptation. The character is iconic and won Harden both a Saturn & Fright Meter Award, literally taking home a prize in every category she was nominated for. However 'The Mist' is very different as a film compared to the tv series when it comes to characters, which isn't necessarily a bad thing... Essentially we want something new from 'The Mist', and even tho there are echoes of familiarity, the show is certainly bouncing to the beat of its own drum. We still have what seems to be a strong military tie-in as Eve (Alyssa Sutherland) found out on her short, but violent expedition with the soldier that she quite literally drew the short end of the stick to go on in a chance game of drawing straws that the group should be grateful didn't end badly. Of course they know it wasn't pretty but Eve hides the details from her fellow mall-mates. Why? Possibly to not make matters worse & tensions run even higher... Alyssa Sutherland is just fine in her role, but her fellow top-billed cast mate, Isaiah Whitlock Jr, feels like a strange fit for Mall Manager, Gus Bradley. He plays out the the 'timid manager' schtick well. There's some nuance in there that may ring a bell with certain people who have similar bosses or work with people that desperately want to be in charge, but don't want the responsibility and 'risk vs reward' factor that goes hand-in-hand with the position. We've all seen Isiah Whitlock used to his best potential in shows like 'Veep', 'The Wire' and even several of Dick Wolf's 'Law & Order' entries, but here it seems like either he is having a hard time finding a balance between cartoonish caricature and 'true to life' pseudo-tweener, with a deep base in reality or simply not blending in well with the rest of the greener cast. However, if he's gearing up for a brutal death scene, then he's in the right zone, at least. Since Whitlock is a veteran and proven to be a great asset as an actor in the past, let's not count out that he's just been given aimless direction. This is entirely possible, especially considering the man behind the lens, David Boyd, normally focuses on exactly what that lens shows it's audience instead of taking on the much different, but equally as respectable role as Director. I also don't want to take away from Boyd, as his eye truly lends a fresh feel to the series that just wasn't there in the 'Pilot'. Ultimately, 'The Mist' doesn't make great strides as a series in 'Withdrawal', or even fully explore its episode's namesake through its chemically dependent character, Mia (Danica Curcic), who will hopefully lend as much as she possibly can in the show's future. Mia has a lot to give the show as a character, especially when it comes to uncertainty and a neurotic headspace that will surely add to the tv series' atmosphere... And Curcic appears to be more than up for the task, giving us small but impactful glimpses into what she can do if handed the reigns. AMC's 'Fear The Walking Dead' took its character Nick through hell and back, spotlighting his addiction issues in a slowly crumbling post-apocalyptic world during its freshman season. This could've been 'The Mist's chance to give 'FearTWD' a run for its money with Mia, but instead it bounces back and forth through different sets of characters, making sure leads like Alyssa Sutherland and Frances Conroy (who just so happen to be in two separate places) grab the most screen-time. 'Withdrawal' is beautifully shot... It's foreboding, dismal, brooding, and morose... And even though we are unable to call it successful overall (as of yet), it's easy to see where the potential of 'The Mist' hides in untapped pockets of germinating steam, waiting for the right team of creative minds to bring the show to life.

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