#like there are so many cool people too! like daniel and joy and all the others

[sassyhazelowl]

As I enter another season of selling birds [to pay for my birds], I am already reminded of how many people are just incredibly annoying. It makes me never want to sell a single bird ever again LMAO.

#I used to work at a petstore in college #and this is taking me back in time #like there are so many cool people too! like daniel and joy and all the others #yesterday I sold some chicks to a woman/daughter pair that bought birds from me last year #they were SO EXCITED to get these guys #they've been waiting all week since they hatched to come pick them out/up #lady even tipped a bit extra #like these people are so fun to meet and give birds to #and even the people who are all business #have the right amount and come at the right time and don't play games #are fantastic love them too #its just that other 3rd that are the worst #ghosting asking a billion questions begging for discounts or freebies #uggh #makes me never want to hatch and sell birds ever again to avoid them forever

[nameless-ken]

Silent Confessions, Loud Masks - Billy Hargrove x Reader Series

(Please reblog!!!) Happy reading! Comment below to be added to taglist.

Word Count: 4.6K

Warnings: bullying, fight scene, cursing, the usual angst and fluff

Introduction | Chapter one | Chapter two

Masterlist

(song for this chapter <3)

The neon lights of the state fair illuminate the warm August night. You and Robin weave through the crowd, laughing and chatting as you take in the sights and sounds. Cotton candy vendors, Ferris wheels, and carnival games fill the air with excitement.

“This is my favorite time.The end of summer. The amazing smell of funnel cakes in the air.” You sniff the air, stomach grumbling. 

“Oh, you know we're getting some of those. But first, let's check out the petting zoo!” Robin shouts, excitement dripping from her voice. 

As you make your way through the fairgrounds, Robin spots Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan by a photo booth. You approach the group, exchanging greetings and catching up. Jonathan and your eyes meet. You used to see him around school, a familiar camera always hanging around his neck but not much anymore since he graduated last year. 

“Hey, Y/N right?” Jonathan introduces, holding his hand out to you. 

“Yeah, nice to officially meet you Jonathan.” The warmth of his touch lingers in yours for a moment longer than necessary. You never noticed how cute and shy he was until now. 

“Nice camera.” You compliment, pointing to the camera resting against his chest. 

“Thanks. Are you into photography too?” He asks you, leaning against the photo booth that Robin, Steve and Nancy are in, arguing over what expressions to do. 

“Yeah, it's a hobby of mine. I love capturing moments.” 

“That's cool. What kind of camera do you use?”

“Oh, I have a Canon AE-1. It's my pride and joy. What about you?” Jonathan's eyes light up at the mention of the camera.

“No way, I have the same one! It's such a classic. There's just something special about shooting with film, you know?”

“Absolutely! The whole process of developing the film and seeing the prints come to life—it's magical.” You enjoy sharing a moment of understanding, how easily the conversation flows effortlessly.

“So, do you have a favorite subject to photograph?” He asks and you take a pause, surveying the crowded fairgrounds, deciding your answer. 

“Hmm, I love capturing candid moments of people, especially when they're lost in the moment and unaware of the camera. What about you?”

“I think I'm drawn to landscapes. There's something serene about capturing the beauty of nature. It's like freezing a moment in time.”

“It sounds like we have a lot in common when it comes to photography.” 

“Um, speaking of photography, there's this local art show happening on Saturday. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?” You’re a little shocked at his forwardness and the invitation but smile in appreciation. “I mean, if you aren’t busy. I just thought you’d probably enjoy it and-”

“I’d love to!” You give his arm a squeeze in reassurance. Jonathan's shy smile widens at your enthusiastic response, a wave of relief washing over him.

“Great! It's at this small gallery downtown. I heard they have some amazing photography exhibits.”

“That sounds so cool. I’ve never been to one.” 

As the camera flashes inside the photo booth, capturing moments of laughter and silly poses, Robin, Steve, and Nancy emerge with wide smiles plastered on their faces.

“How many shots did that take to get one perfect pose?” Robin sighs and Steve chuckles, playfully nudging Robin as they join you and Jonathan.

“Hey, it's quality over quantity, Robin. Besides, we had to make sure we nailed the perfect expressions.”

“I don't know about perfect, but I'd say we definitely nailed the "awkwardly adorable" look.”  Nancy laughs along, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

As you all share a lighthearted moment, the atmosphere shifts abruptly as Billy and his group of lunatics make their presence known.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here. The freak show. Shouldn’t you guys be getting back to the circus?” Tommy, an old friend of Steve’s and Billy’s new sidekick blurts out with a laugh, nudging Billy in the side. 

You look at Billy, watching his body language and assessing what he’s going to do next after he “promised” you to be better. 

“Leave us alone. We don't want any trouble.” Jonathan surprisingly steps up first. But Billy and his friends show no signs of backing down, reveling in their torment.

“Aw, did I hurt little Jonathan's feelings? Maybe he should go cry to his mommy and freak of a brother.” Tommy responds tauntingly. 

Carol joins in, her laughter ringing out like a bell. “Or better yet, maybe he can take some pictures of his tears. I'm sure they'd make great art.”

Steve steps forward, his expression hardens with determination. “That's enough Tommy.”

You look over at Billy again to find his eyes already on you, looking down at your hand. You didn’t realize you grabbed onto Jonathan’s arm when he spoke up and haven’t let go since. You see Billy’s eyes narrow and jaw clench. 

Without warning, Billy shoves Steve, his jealousy boiling over into violence. Steve staggers back, caught off guard by the sudden attack.

Steve squares off against Billy, his muscles tense as he braces for the next move. Billy charges forward with a fierce yell, his fist aims straight for Steve's jaw.

Steve reacts quickly, dodging Billy's blow and retaliating with a powerful punch of his own. The impact sends Billy staggering backward, but he quickly regains his footing, his expression twisted with fury as a loud cackle escapes his mouth. 

In the midst of the chaos, you rush forward, attempting to intervene and pull Billy away from Steve. But Billy, blinded by his internal jealousy, lashes out wildly, narrowly missing you as he swings his fists in Steve’s direction again.

Nancy and Robin work together to pull Steve away. Steve's frustration mounts, his eyes burning with determination as he tries to break free and confront Billy once more.

“Billy, stop it! This is ridiculous.” You push at his chest as your friends take Steve away as Tommy and Carol run when you notice security getting closer. “Let’s go before you get us in real trouble.” 

Billy grabs your hand, leading the way to his car. “So now you don’t care if people see you with me? What was the problem back there? That was so uncalled for!” You exclaim, dragging your feet behind him as you make it to the empty field that’s been transformed into a parking lot. 

Billy drops your hand once you make it to his blue muscle car, lighting a cigarette and taking big puffs, blowing the smoke at thes sky. "How long have you and Jonathan been a thing?"

"What?" You stare at him in disbelief, crossing your arms in defense. "He's just a friend."

Billy scoffs, shaking his head, signature smirk gracing his roughed up face. "You're naive if you think he just wants to be your friend."

Your brow furrows as you struggle to comprehend Billy's accusations. "What are you talking about? Jonathan and I are just friends. Even if we weren’t, how is any of that your business?"

Billy's eyes narrow as he steps closer, his voice laced with jealousy. 

“Because... because I care about you, okay?” You take a step back from him, the intensity of his words catching you off guard. You know Billy enough to understand how he’s probably never said those words out loud to someone before. 

“Just forget it.” Billy runs a hand through his hair and opens his door, getting into his car and roars the engine.

“Billy-” He doesn’t give you a chance to respond, backing up quickly and speeds off, leaving you taken back by his admission. 

You stand in front of your mirror, fidgeting nervously with the hem of your dress. Robin flits around your room, pulling out various outfits and accessories.

“Okay, how about this one? It's cute and a little flirty, and perfect for a date at the art show.”

“It’s not a date, Robin.” You pout at yourself in the mirror, thoughts elsewhere as you try to shake off the lingering memories of Billy.

“Oh come on, the way you two were geeking out about cameras and shit. He’s so into you.” You force a laugh, but inside, your heart feels heavy with uncertainty. The moment of Billy's jealousy lingers, casting a shadow over your excitement for your evening with Jonathan.

‘Yeah, well, we're just friends. That's all.” Robin studies you for a moment, her expression filled with concern.

“Are you sure about that? Because it seems like there's something more there.” Robin asks softly, sitting on the edge of your bed with a pointed look. 

You shrug, trying to dismiss Robin's observation. “It doesn't matter anyway. Let's just focus on finding the perfect outfit, okay?”

Robin nods, sensing your reluctance to delve deeper into the topic. With a determined smile, she resumes her search for the ideal ensemble, hoping to lift your spirits and set the stage for an amazing night, regardless of what may or may not be brewing between you and Jonathan.

Jonathan's car pulls up outside your house, and you emerge, nervousness fluttering in your chest. Jonathan steps out of the car, a warm smile on his face as he approaches you.

“Hey, Y/N. You look amazing.” He opens the door for you.

You blush, grateful for his compliment as you climb into the passenger seat. “Thanks, Jonathan. You look nice too.”

As Jonathan starts the car and pulls away from the curb. You’re thankful for the conversation that comes easily between you as he drives towards the local art show, nerves slowly disappearing.

You both wander through the art gallery, admiring the various exhibits on display, pausing in front of a striking black-and-white photograph, lost in silent contemplation.

“This one is beautiful. The way the photographer captured the light... It's mesmerizing.”

“Yeah, I love how photography has the power to evoke such strong emotions. It's like a window into someone else's world.”

The silence between you feels nice, the shared appreciation for the art binding you together in a moment of quiet reflection. It’s refreshing to spend time with someone who shares the same interests. As you continue to explore the gallery, each new exhibit sparks conversation and sparks a deeper connection between you and Jonathan, solidifying this new bond formed through your shared love of photography.

As you both exit the art gallery, the crisp evening air greets you with the gentle hum of the bustling streets. You and Jonathan walk a block away to the local diner, one of your favorite spots in this sleepy town. 

As you and Jonathan walk inside, your eyes inadvertently drift to a corner booth where Billy and his friends are seated. You quickly avert your gaze, hoping to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. You both settle into a booth, hoping for once, Billy and his friends leave you alone. 

However, the air in the diner grows tense as Billy and his friends become increasingly boisterous, their voices rising above the ambient chatter. Your jaw clenches as you overhear some of their rude remarks, directed not just at you but also at Jonathan. You start to feel a surge of anger and frustration, but you try to maintain your composure for Jonathan's sake.

Jonathan notices the change in atmosphere and offers you a reassuring smile, silently urging you to ignore Billy and his friends. The tension in the air remains palpable, casting a shadow over the otherwise pleasant evening.

Jonathan tries to lighten up the mood and tells you the story of when Will got a lego stuck up his nose. You lean back in your seat, laughter bubbling up in response.

Billy's irritation mounts. He can't stand the way you look so carefree and happy in Jonathan's presence. With a determined stride, Billy stands up and walks over to your table, his smirk laced with malice as he takes a seat beside you, ignoring Jonathan's attempts to diffuse the situation.

"Billy, what are you doing?" Your voice is tinged with annoyance as you shoot him a warning glare, but Billy brushes off your protest with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Just thought I'd join in on the fun," Billy retorts, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Jonathan tries to intervene, his voice calm but firm as he urges Billy to leave you alone, but Billy refuses to listen. The tension in the air thickens as your anger reaches its boiling point.

"Billy, enough!" your voice cuts through the diner as you confront him head-on. "You always have to ruin everything, don't you? Can't you see that you're not wanted here?"

Billy's smirk falters, realizing how much he’s affecting you in the moment and stands up from the booth. “Fine but don't come crying to me when this little thing of yours falls apart.”

Your jaw clenches at his hurtful words, patience wearing thin as you rise from your seat, Jonathan following suit.

“We're leaving.” You respond icily, glaring at Billy and grabbing Jonthan’s hand, pulling him out of the diner and into the cool night air.

“Are you okay?” Jonathan wonders as you walk to his car. 

You nod, slight tears prickling at your eyes due to the frustration you feel with Billy. It’s becoming overwhelming the way he picks and chooses when he’s nice to you. 

“Yeah, I'll be fine. Let's just get out of here.”

As you settle into the car, the tension begins to dissipate, replaced by a sense of relief as Jonathan starts the engine and pulls away. The soft hum of the car fills the silence as you drive through the quiet streets, each of you lost in your own thoughts over the ruined evening.

“Thanks Jonathan. I’m sorry for how the evening ended but I had a nice time.” You give him a graceful smile as he drives up to your house. 

“Thanks for coming with me. We should do this again sometime, you know, without the rude interruptions.” 

“Definitely.” you laugh lightly, opening the door and stepping out of the car. “Thanks again.” 

“Goodnight Y/N.” Jonathan says softly as you wave goodbye and watch him drive away into the night.

"Goodnight, Jonathan," you murmur to yourself, feeling a sense of gratitude for his understanding and support amidst the chaos that is Billy Hargrove. With a sigh, you turn and head inside your house, hoping that the next time you and Jonathan spend time together, it will be free from any unwanted intrusions.

Your heart sinks to the floor immediately as you walk into school on Monday morning, spotting Billy at your locker. He’s never willingly appeared anywhere you are, especially at school where everyone watches his every movement. You are still upset about the way he treated you and your friends this weekend, it almost makes you sick thinking about it again. 

Without a second thought, you quickly turn, hoping to avoid any confrontation. But as you walk away, you can feel Billy's eyes burning into your back, and sure enough, you hear his footsteps quicken as he strides after you.

“Y/N, wait!” He catches some students' attention as he calls after you across the hallway. 

Your steps falter momentarily, but you quickly regain your composure and continue walking, determined to put as much distance between you and him as possible. But Billy is persistent, stepping in front of you and blocking your path.

“Y/N, please can we talk?” Your patience is already wearing thin as you push back.

“We have nothing to talk about, Billy. If this is about our book project, it can wait until after school.”

Billy refuses to back down, he grabs a hold of your wrist, pulling you through the hallways behind him. His grip tightening as he crosses the gym and pushes open the heavy doors leading to the small alleyway beside the gym. 

“Billy, let go of me! You’re hurting me.” You cry and Billy immediately lets go. 

“I’m sorry.” Billy spits out frantically, softly grazing your wrist with his thumb. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” 

All you can hear is your heart pounding in your chest as Billy pulls out a cigarette, the smell of smoke filling the air as he lights it, his actions speaking louder than words. You watch him silently, waiting for him to explain himself, but he remains silent, his eyes clouded with a mixture of regret and need.

“Billy, what do you want?”

He doesn't answer, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that sends a shiver down your spine. You take a step back feeling the cold brick beneath you, a surge of frustration and confusion welling up inside you.

“Why did you have to do what you did on Saturday? And to Steve? I was having a great time, and you just had to step in for no reason.”

Billy's expression softens slightly at your words. “Did you mean it when you said I ruin everything?”

Your brow furrows in confusion, your memory flashing back to the heat of the moment inside the diner. “... I don't remember saying that…” Billy interrupts you, his voice tinged with bitterness as he stomps out his cigarette with his boot.

“Well, maybe you should, because it's true. That's what my dad has been telling me since I was a kid—that I ruin everything. And maybe he's right.”

The pain in his voice makes your heart break all over again for him. You didn’t realize how hurtful that can be to someone in his position. Your frustration slowly melts away as you realize the depth of his inner turmoil. You reach out tentatively, hand hovering in the space between them.

“Billy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.” He scoffs at your apology, eyes flashing with self-loathing.

“You don't get it, do you? You don't understand what it's like to feel like you're constantly screwing everything up. And maybe I am jealous, okay? Maybe I'm jealous because I'm afraid of losing you.”

Your breath catches in your throat at his confession, your own emotions swirling as you struggle to process his words. You reach out to him, hand brushing against his arm in a gesture of comfort.

“Billy, you don't have to be afraid. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here for you.” He meets your gaze. “But it’s not an excuse for acting like an asshole. You said you’d try to be better and then you go and beat up Steve. When will things change?” 

“Fuck, I know, Y/N. And I'm sorry for what happened with Steve. I messed up.” You can see the pain etched into his features, the weight of his struggles bearing down on him like a heavy burden. He leans one arm beside your head against the brick, face closer than normal. 

“I understand what you’re dealing with, Billy. But you can't keep hurting people because you're hurting too. You have to find a way to deal with your anger and your pain without taking it out on others.” Billy's shoulders slump, his expression weary as he runs his other hand through his hair, breath fanning out in your face, hints of mint and tobacco filling your nose. 

“I know, Y/N. I'm trying, I really am. But sometimes it feels like I'm drowning, and you…you make everything feel lighter.” He whispers, eyes closing and softly bumps his forehead against yours. 

“Come over after school. I’m giving you one more chance, Billy.” You give him another opportunity to show you he’s willing to try and be different, not just say it but do it. 

“I promise I won’t screw this up again.” Billy’s eyes meet yours intensely. 

“4 pm. Don’t be late. I have work later tonight.” You command and he steps back to put distance between you. You find yourself missing the warmth his body radiates. 

“See you then, little mouse.” Billy offers you a small, almost shy smile before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing against the pavement as he disappears around the corner. 

As Billy disappears from view, you can't help but cling to a sense of hope that your words have resonated with him, sparking a genuine desire to change. Despite the weight of his past actions, you can't shake the empathy you feel for him and the turmoil he endures every day. You're determined to be a beacon of light in his darkness, to show him the beauty and gentleness that life has to offer when given a chance. You know it won't be easy, but you're committed to walking alongside him on his journey toward healing and redemption.

As the clock struck the agreed-upon time, there was a knock at your front door. Opening the door, you welcome Billy in with a smile.

“Welcome to my humble abode.” Billy steps inside, glancing around the modest entryway of your small two-bedroom house. You motion for him to follow as you lead the way into the living room.

"Come on in. I'll give you the grand tour," You say with a hint of amusement, knowing there wasn't much to show.

He follows you through the living room, which doubled as your dad's makeshift office space, cluttered with paperwork stacked high in a worn-out armchair. Billy’s eyes scan the room before following you down the narrow hallway to your room, which serves as a sanctuary of sorts amidst the messiness of our humble home. Pushing open the door, you usher him inside.

"Welcome to my domain," You declare proudly, gesturing around the small space.

Your room was certainly a reflection of your eclectic tastes and passions. Photographs adorned the walls, capturing moments from your life that held special significance. Stacks of vinyl records and cassette tapes sat beside an old record player. Film rolls were scattered across your desk, waiting to be developed into cherished memories. Cameras of varying sizes and ages rested on shelves, each one a tool for capturing the beauty of the world around.

Books lined the shelves, their worn spines bearing the marks of countless readings. Yarn and crochet hooks lay strewn about, evidence of your latest creative endeavors.

You can’t help but watch as Billy takes it all in, his eyes widening with curiosity and appreciation. There was a warmth in his gaze, a recognition of something familiar in the midst of the unfamiliar.

"You've got quite the setup here," he remarks, his voice full of genuine admiration.

You smile, feeling a sense of pride in sharing a special piece of yourself with him. In that moment, you realize that despite the modesty of your surroundings, there was beauty and richness to be found in the things that mattered most to you. And you couldn’t help but admit that Billy has become one of those things. 

"Thanks," You respond, settling onto your bed with a sense of contentment and Billy joins you. 

As you delve into the next chapter of the book report, the quietness of your room envelopes you both like a cozy blanket. Billy pauses for a moment, looking around with a contemplative expression.

"You must enjoy the quiet," he observes.

"Yeah, I do. It’s nice to be able to bask in peace."

Billy's gaze lingers on your for a moment before he speaks again. "But it must get lonely, being here all by yourself most of the time."

"Yeah, it can," you admit quietly, meeting his gaze. "That's why I like books so much. They give me comfort and escape, you know? It's like I can lose myself in the words on the pages and forget about everything else for a while."

Billy nods understandingly, "I get that," he says softly and retreats suddenly from your bed, his eyes drawn to a box of photographs sitting on your desk. Curiosity piqued, he begins rifling through them, his fingers delicately handling each image as if afraid to disturb the memories captured within.

You watch him from the bed, pen pausing mid-sentence. The photographs were a glimpse into your past, a collection of moments frozen in time that told the story of your family's journey. Among them were pictures of a woman who bore a striking resemblance to you, along with snapshots of your dad, sister, and you growing up.

"That's my mom," You break the silence that has settled in the air.

Billy looks up from the photographs, his expression softening with understanding. "She looks... she looks a lot like you.”

"Yeah, she did. I got my love for photography from her," A bittersweet smile playing at the corners of your lips. "She used to take me and my sister on all sorts of adventures, capturing moments with her camera."

There was a heaviness in your words, a weight of sorrow carried by the memories of a mother lost too soon. You could see a flicker of recognition in Billy's eyes, a shared understanding of the pain of losing a parent.

"I don't have many photos from my childhood," Billy confesses quietly, his mind drifting to the lone picture of his mother that he kept tucked away in his wallet. "Just one of my mom. She left when I was ten."

You felt a pang of empathy for him, a deep ache for the loss he had endured. "I'm sorry," You murmur. 

Billy's eyes meet yours, a silent understanding passing between you. In that moment, you were not just two teenagers working on a book report and figuring out what this truly was between you—you were kindred spirits bound together by the shared experience of loss and loneliness.

"It gets hard sometimes, doesn't it?" Billy asks softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You nod, feeling the weight of his words resonate within. "Yeah, it does," The vulnerability of your shared pain forging a bond between you that feels both fragile and unbreakable.

And as you sat there, two souls united by grief and longing, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected connection that had blossomed amidst the quiet solitude of your room. In each other's company, the burden of loneliness felt a little lighter, replaced by the warmth of companionship.

"You're so polite with your sadness," he tells you, his voice gentle yet piercing. "It's like you don't want to ruin anything for anyone else."

His words struck a chord within you, stirring feelings of guilt and self-awareness that you had long tried to suppress. It was true—you had spent so much time trying to hide your pain, to shield others from the weight of your sorrow, that you had forgotten how to truly acknowledge it yourself.

"I don't feel the need to bother other people with my problems," You reply quietly. It was a defense mechanism, a way of protecting yourself from the vulnerability of opening up to others. But in doing so, you had inadvertently closed yourself off from the possibility of genuine connection and understanding.

Billy regards you with a mixture of empathy and concern, his eyes searching yours for any sign of need. In that moment, you felt a flicker of something stirring within—a longing for connection, a yearning to be seen and understood for who you truly are.

"You don't have to carry it all on your own, you know," His words are a gentle reminder of the strength that could be found in vulnerability. "Sometimes, it helps to share the burden with someone else." Billy sits back down beside you, thighs touching but you need more. You graze for his hand, softly running your fingers against the top of his hand and slowly turning it over. You trace his calloused palm, feeling him go tense, trying his hardest to not clench his fist together. You finally thread your fingers through his, squeezing a few times. You look up at him, his gaze locked on your hands, bound together and resting on his thigh. 

“You don’t have to carry everything on your own either, Billy.” Your whisper, and he repeats your words over and over in his head. 

And as you sit there, two souls united by grief and longing, you believe you both can find the courage to confront your pain and begin the journey toward healing together.

Taglist: @msbillyhargrove @uselessbutinteresting @milestellergfs @periwinkle-quill @ghostcastaway @iletmytittiestitty-russ @missingbillyhargrove @lotionlamp @billys-pretty-babe @isimpfortoomanypeople @rosey96

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove x you #billy hargrove x y/n #billy hargrove angst #billy hargrove x fem!reader #billy hargrove x female reader #billy hargrove fluff #billy hargrove stranger things #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove imagines #billy hargrove smut #stranger things #stranger things billy #stranger things x reader #stranger things x you #stranger things x y/n #stranger things billy hargrove #Spotify

[freddycarterus]

Help us save Six of Crows!

DONATE ONLY $1 TO HELP US REACH OUR GOAL! WE ARE GOING TO DO A BILLBOARD FOR SAB TOO!

On November 15th, Netflix announced its cancellation of the Six of Crows project, an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s beloved Grishaverse duology. Since then, there has been an outpour of grief and heartbreak online from thousands of fans, begging for a reversal.

The novel Six of Crows was first published 8 years ago, gaining critical acclaim and a massive fanbase. Over the years, its numbers have only grown. First appearing on screen in Shadow and Bone, the Crows rapidly became favorites among critics and fans alike. The fandom’s love for the ragtag crew from Ketterdam was so significant and well-known that the show diverges from the book’s canon to include them. When showrunner Eric Heisserer announced in March that a Six of Crows spinoff was in the works the fandom rejoiced, but since being canceled, the fandom's joy quickly turned into dismay and uproar.

With scripts already written, an immensely talented group of people both in front of and behind the camera more than ready to work, and a massive fanbase, it’s baffling that Netflix would choose not to go forward with the project. However, the Grishaverse fandom refuses to accept this fate. 

We refuse to accept that we will never see Inej Ghafa’s empowering backstory, the beautiful love story of Matthias and Nina, the dozens of famous lines that make us weep, or a single scene with all of our beloved Crows together.

We have organized this Kickstarter campaign to show Netflix that we reject this abrupt and heartbreaking end. For the cast, for the crew, for all of us that love this world and these characters, we will fight to see this story on screen.

Donations to this Kickstarter will be put towards the renting of a large billboard in Los Angeles demanding Netflix’s action in saving the Six of Crows series. If sufficiently funded, we plan to expand the campaign to other locations to further demonstrate our commitment. 

As exact details will partially depend on the success of this fundraiser, more information about the specific address and duration of the billboard(s) rental will come soon. For questions, keep an eye on this webpage or follow @freddybrekker on X for updates.

It is our hope that Netflix will be forced to listen to the fandom’s dedication to this series as well as our outrage at its cancellation. For our cause to be successful, we must be impossible to ignore.

Finally, we will leave you with words from our brilliant, dedicated and beloved cast of Crows.

“I feel like the fans, myself included, have been really looking forward to seeing the Six of Crows storyline come to life. It's just so, so cinematic, that storyline…It would be heartbreaking to get this close and then not get to see all six of them together." Freddy Carter

“I haven't had the same luxury of Inej's backstory yet, and I think they're saving that. I'm really, really glad that they are. I know the payoff for this, if it does happen, is gonna be absolutely an emotional wreck but in the most beautiful, exciting and exhilarating way.” Amita Suman

“I’m heartbroken by the idea that we won’t be able to finish what we started… I desperately wished to go further, and believe me those plans are special…The patience I’ve carried for that dream these past years has been beating in me like a slow steady drum, and yesterday it paused for the first time.” Calahan Skogman

"[Nina has] helped many people like me to love, like, and accept myself. I tried to stay true to her character.” Danielle Galligan 

“Growing up, I didn’t see that many characters like myself who were in big fantasy series, with violence or [who] even had access to fantasy weapons or got involved in big fights and battles…I think to see a character like myself in those situations is a really cool thing, it’s something that I actually don’t see often.” Jack Wolfe

"I think that I can speak for everyone here when we all really care about doing it well, and we are invested in its success… I think hopefully what you see is something that we are already proud of because we’ve put our blood, sweat, and tears into it. And it’s just a joy to do. So wherever it can go next, if we get the chance to keep going, then you know, we’re all game, we’re all excited to do it." Kit Young

#SaveTheCrows #SaveShadowandBone

“Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.” 

“Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.” -  Kaz Brekker, Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

No mourners. No funerals. 🖤

#shadow and bone #six of crows spinoff #campaign #kickstarter

[blamemma]

what you said about maxiel fanfics with endgame lest4ppen, yes, I agree. someone mentioned this before, but maxiel is slowly dying on ao3 while it seems to be thriving more and more on tumblr.

for me it's 50/50 because I don't mind where I'm reading, but here we have more one-shots and pieces of WIPs (which is good because it means authors don't feel the pressure to turn everything into a 50k story, so they can just post their ideas even if it's incomplete), but I personally LOVE longer stories, so I would love to read more and more about every single one of them.

and personally I just don't like lest4ppen at all. I understand the need to tag maxiel because daniel is the bad guy and the "shitty boyfriend" or whatever, but I just don't like seeing those stories 😬

will always preface asks like this by saying people can like what they like and find joy in whatever, i ain't gunna turn my nose up at anyone or anything, lestappen just doesn't make sense to meeee personally, but honestly whatever butters ur bread!!!

as someone who has dabbled here and there in this writing lark, for me there is a distinct difference in ao3 posting and tumblr posting....ao3 to me is formal, ur presenting something perfect, a fully-fledged story, a beginning a middle and an end (not in all cases but i just mean in general). most stuff i read on ao3 is fully-fledged nuanced ideas that the author has obviously spent hours of time crafting and experimenting with.

tumblr fic is inherently fun and blase and easier to throw out there into the ether and forget about really. tumblr fic doesn't need to follow grammatical rules or structure etc etc....it can just be a fun prompt game response or a quick lil fic that you had fun writing and wanna share with ur people?? both have purposes and both are enjoyable to write imo, just depends on what ur feeling and how much u want to expand on said idea??

when it comes to the maxiel of it all....idk how rude or pointed i can get here without getting into shit....so i'll try and word this gently....you have to keep the eco-system alive....i think comments and kudos are GREAT but honestly, if someone reblogs my fic with a fun few tags, i love that more, because in a selfish way, i might get 1 or 2 more readers from that because its going out to an even wider audience?? but its more than that!! engage with ur writers, message them on here and shout at them about their ideas, send them prompts, recommend their fic to ur friends...but i will stand by i think one of the best things you can do, if they make a fun lil post or graphic for their fic...reblog it...ur not only spreading the maxiel gospel, but ur also supporting that writer?? too many times on here i see people's fic graphics flop yet big blogs are leaving them comments on ao3 and look, EACH TO THEIR OWN and also i can sometimes be a bad reblogger dont get me wrong, but LIKE, there are some wildly talented authors on here who just need to be pushed into the limelight a little bit more??? idk if im wording this correctly, but sometimes there are fics that fall through the cracks because no one engages with them, and if ur an author who has put blood sweat and tears into that fic, ur not exactly going to be motivated to post another maxiel fic if u dont think ur going to get engagement from it (again, fic writing isn't necessarily about engagement or response, but let me tell u when i get a fun little comment or someone messages me about a fic i published, it inspires me to write more????)

maxiel is definitely alive and kicking, i follow some stunningly good maxiel authors, but at the same time, its about pushing forward those smaller writers as well and not thinking ur too cool for them???????????????

and so with that, this flufftober, kinktober, spooktober or whatever tober u are a part of, reblog the fic, talk about the fic and enjoy the fic

#if u can understand what i am trying to say here then well done cause i dont think i even do #mean thats a lie i do know what im trying to say but i know a lot of people would hate me if i said what i actually wanted to say :)) #anon #asks

[theladyragnell]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks....

I don't mind at all! This is an absolutely HUGE question, though, so I am going to adapt it into a meme that goes around sometimes and just do ten favorite characters from ten different media properties I love, because otherwise I am going to sit here all day frozen with indecision wondering if I'm forgetting someone, or if each character is REALLY worthy of being top ten out of all the media I've consumed in my life.

This got long, so it's under a cut!

Murderbot (The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells): One of my favorite book series! And I love Murderbot so deeply for so many reasons. It's funny! It's being adopted into everyone's found family and doing so kicking and screaming! It cares deeply about people once it allows itself too! Runner-up in this property is ART, who I love dearly, but really, it couldn't be anyone else but Murderbot itself.

Keladry of Mindelan (The Tortall series by Tamora Pierce): Kel is so stubborn and kind and very subtly funny in a lot of ways, and she's my favorite of the Pierce heroines. She jousts! She adopts everyone and every beast that crosses her path! She gets up to shenanigans with her friends! Just a joy of a character.

Johnny Jaqobis (Killjoys (TV)): I love everyone in this wildly underrated show, but Johnny especially. I've got a weakness for the quippy best-friend-of-the-badass/support character type (see also: Foggy Nelson from Daredevil), and Johnny is such a perfect one. He's funny, he's badass, he pretends to be married to two separate people in the course of the show. What's not to love?

Maia Drazhar (The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison): This book is so good, and Maia is such a good central character of it. He's so kind, so determined to be good in a position that makes it hard to be good or kind, to build connections when he's been denied them his whole life and change things nobody thinks it's possible to change. I love him!

Xena (Xena Warrior Princess): With my love for quippy best friends, you might think Gabrielle would be my favorite, but no, Xena is a competent badass searching for (and, as she goes along, finding) redemption, which is another favorite character type. She's also a badass warrior who's not at all afraid or self-conscious of being emotional and expressing affection, which is a rare and wonderful thing.

Leia Organa (Star Wars): The original trilogy trio are all close to my heart, but Leia just edges the other two out. I've just always loved her banter, how she refuses to be cowed by any situation, and her super cool hairstyles. Very much a I-want-to-be-like-her-when-I-grow-up character since childhood.

Harriet Morton (A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson): One of my formative romantic books. Harriet's not too different from Maia, actually, only Maia before becoming emperor and thus not having much power to effect change! She's kind and brave about loving and quietly stubborn, and she's very much in the same type as

Fanny Price (Mansfield Park by Jane Austen): Mansfield Park is nobody's favorite Austen, and Fanny is nobody's favorite Austen heroine, and yet! (I do technically love Persuasion, and probably Anne, more, but I'm not nearly as defensive of either of them, so Fanny's the one I thought of first for this list). She's very much that same character type as Harriet, and I seem to love characters who are clinging to goodness when they don't have much else to cling to.

Alec Hardison (Leverage (TV)): He's so smart and so full of fun quips! And also hot, look, I can be allowed to be a little shallow here. Anyway, I love all the characters in this show, but Hardison absolutely wins out.

Danielle de Barbarac (Ever After): This movie is full of great characters, but I adore Danielle. Determined, good-hearted, willing to carry a prince out of a forest, reader of dense tomes, what's not to love?

#dnana 2809 blog #answered asks

[weclassybouquetfun]

Apropos of nothing.

Random luck of the universe, indeed.

FILM AWARDS SEASON CHECK-IN Part Deux - No Spoilers

THE GOOD GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY- People can like - or not like - what they want. I can only control what I like. But when I read about people who didn't like GLASS ONION I just think, "Do you just not like fun?" This is a fun film. It's hilarious. I think it improves greatly on KNIVES OUT, which I felt was overpraised. It loosens up Daniel Craig's Benoît Blanc giving him a personality instead of letting his accent do all the work. I found it very clever and entertaining and if Rian Johnson can continue to improve on these films, I would love to see more outings with the character.

THE MENU: Another fun film. Dark comedy directed by Mark Mylod (SUCCESSION) and written by late night comedy writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy ( which is remarkable because there is nothing less funny than light night comedy). Centered around a group of strangers who congregate for a night of high dining under Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes who can always be trusted to bring dry wit to the table). While I love Anya Taylor-Joy, I think too many of her characters - or rather, how she plays them - are too one-note; too cool and even-keel. Ralph Fiennes continues to be a delightful actor. BABYLON: A stunner. Maybe it's because I love Old Hollywood and loved all the touches and references to that era (Margot Robbie's character is a nod to Clara Bow, even using a quote attributed to Bow as one of her lines. Brad Pitt is drawn after John Gilbert; Jean Smart a Louella Parsons type).

The trailers can't do all 3 hours and 9 minutes of the film justice, but I think it encapsulates the journey the film takes.

People are already dismissing it as a fawning love story to Hollywood and they're not wrong, but it is a film that doesn't litigate the past. It shows all the seediness within Old Hollywood. The heartbreaking desperation of those who dreamt of being stars. It's an unconditional love of accepting an era warts and all. Margot Robbie gives it 1000% percent. Paramount is running Robbie as Lead and while there are some tremendous female lead performances this season -Olivia Colman in EMPIRE OF LIGHT, Danielle Deadwyler in TILL, Cate Blanchett in TÁR and Michelle Williams in THE FABLEMANS. While I want Danielle Deadwyler to win, I would be so happy if Robbie did. I can't imagine Emma Stone had this role before her. As great as Stone is I don't see that character as richly drawn if it had been another actress doing it.

More films. NO SPOILERS.

RRR: This film is what people meant by crowd-pleaser. My audience was so hyped during this film. Spontaneous clapping and cheers all throughout the film. We were all joined in our love for the over-the-top action, the comedy and the smiting of British soldiers. Like BABYLON, it's a bit over 3 hours but doesn't feel like it. The leads, the story, the action is outstanding. CGI? A bit dodgy, but it's so deliriously fun.

It is on Netflix but as their US distributor stated at the screening Netflix has dubbed it into Hindi instead of using the original Telugu, so if you want the real deal it is in theaters.

WHITE NOISE: I like films that takes big swings and this and BARDO: FALSE CHRONICLES AND A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS certainly do that and for that alone it makes me love a film. Noah Baumbach's adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel. It was once consider not filmable but Baumbach assembled a great cast to give it the old college try.

The cast makes it work. Much like Cate Blanchett in TÁR who masterfully delivers dialogue that could easily be sedam Driver is able to make it entertaining. Same with Gerwig, Don Cheadle...essentially the entire cast (which includes Andre "3000" Benjamin and Jodi Turner-Smith in small roles, and younger actors Raffey Cassidy and Sam and May Nivola (children of Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola).

Gerwig and Danny Elfman on panel.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT: Searing look at the brutality of a war and the folly of men who sacrifice people lives just for their own glory and gain. This is the first film role for Felix Kammerer who got it straight out of theatre school. He is devastating as a teen solider who realizes too late that he and his friends have been sold a bill a goods about the nature of war. Director Edward Berger (with Felix Kammerer and Daniel Bruhl who executive produced the film and has a role in it)

It's brutal but that's what I loved about it. War should not be glossed over and glamorized. THE PALE BLUE EYE: I am putting this in the GOOD pile even though it probably belongs in the MEH pile because I have never been disappointed in a Christian Bale/Scott Cooper collaboration. This could have been better as it drags in the middle, but it is a promising film and Bale is never not good.

Bale and Scott Cooper

Adaptation of Louis Bayard's novel about a retired detective (Bale) who teams up with a West Point cadet by the name of Edgar Allen Poe (Henry Melling, THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS, THE OLD GUARD, Harry Potter whichever film) to uncover the murder of a cadet. I liked the idea of a Sherlock-ian Poe but the film is a pretty straight-forward mystery; as grey as its scenery. But Bale and Melling (who is one of my new favourite actors) are so good. THE MEH THE SON- Florian Zeller's companion piece to THE FATHER. In a lot of ways this is a better film than THE FATHER because I preferred the performances in this more. I think Sir Anthony Hopkins chews the paint off of scenery and I felt he teetered on hamminess in THE FATHER, but he has one scene in this (and a standout scene in ARMAGEDDON TIME) that shows why he's so great...when he manages to not go full ACTOR. Vanessa Kirby is also impressive. However, for me it felt like the cast was trying to wring some emotionality from this dry, mediocre script and for that they should be applauded. On the merits of the story itself, I think PSAs have more heart. THE FABLEMANS - There's been some comparisons of Steven Spielberg's THE FABLEMANS to Alejandro González Iñárritu's BARDO: FALSE CHRONICLES AND A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS because both films are film à clefs, both films are viewed as indulgent (THE FABLEMANS at a 2 1/2 hours; BARDO 2 hours and 54 minutes (apparently there is a cut that has 20 minutes shaved off, but I saw the longer one).

But if I had to choose one over the other I would go with BARDO. Yes, it is so abstract at times, so surreal and yes, indulgent, but it's not safe. THE FABLEMANS is safe. It's covered in bubble wrapped and handled with gloves. It's behind protective glass it's so safe. For a movie about his love of film and family, Spielberg and co-writer Tony Kushner seems to keep the passion at arms length. But there were high points. Michelle Williams is terrific and the storyline about the parents is much more interesting than anything about young Steven...I mean, Sammy's, life. SHE SAID: This could have been and, perhaps, should have been a TV movie. My issue with the film isn't really the film itself. The acting is fine but staid (with the exception of Samantha Morton who only is in one scene and blows everyone else out the water), the story functional, not unlike reading an article. But it was hard to view the film on its merits when the absurdity of a film saluting the women who exposed Harvey Weinstein, yet it is coming from an industry that shielded Weinstein and rewarded him all the while. DEVOTION: Based on Adam Makos' biography "Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice" about the camaraderie between Ensign Jesse Brown and Lt. Tom Hudner (played by Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell, respectively)

In many ways I liked DEVOTION better then the other films on this list. It's a throwback to old war films which is to say it's not about battle, it's about friendship and duty and valor. Great chemistry amongst the cast, you completely buy the friendship between Brown and Hudner. It is it a solid film. Sony is really pushing it there have been tons of screenings like one hosted by JJ Abrams, another by Amanda Seyfried whose husband Thomas Sadowski costars (and is quite good in it).

#awards season #awards season 2022 #babylon #margot robbie #the pale blue eye #christian bale #daniel bruhl #all quiet on the western front #glass onion #glass onion a knives out mystery #devotion movie #white noise #adam driver #greta gerwig #bones and all #cmbyn fandom #bones & all

[rrxnjun]

CONGRATS ON UR MILESTONE U DESERVE IT SO MUCH🥳🥳🥳

oh my u got me blushing with that🥹🤭 but thank u for understanding💕 but i wish i wasnt this busy that i can barely open an app and just reply to someone🥲🥲

OH GOD IM READY TO CRY!! WILL GET SOME TISSUES WHEN U POST IT!!! although i'm kind of happy about it cuz i think i'm due to a good cry (also started to write my reply the day before u posted the fic and i couldn't finish writing it☹️ so now that i probs failed my exam this will be an amazing remedy)

OH MY LIEBESTRAUM MY BELOVEDDDD U JUST MADE MY DAY WITH SAYING THAT IM SO HAPPY OH MY GOD!!!!!🥳🥳🥳

im sure u did justice to them!!! but thats for sure that it was like 19736474 times better than the ones online cuz i actually understood ur one😵‍💫so thank u again!!!! and simple songs are the best i love them so muchhhh

THAT KINDA SOUNDS FUN BUT I UNDERSTAND THE ANXIETY PART CUZ I COULD NEVER DO THAT!!! the fact that u got so stressed u started to use german must have been a crazy amount of stress dude😧 LMAO IM GLAD IT MADE U MORE COMFORTABLE THO AND I HOPE U WILL ENJOY HUNGARY THEN🥳🥳 well there are definitely people who speak english and there are also many things written in english and if u need help with travel/public transport i can recommend u an app that u can set to english!! but the people are well kinda rude most of the times☹️ but my exchange student friend didn't really have any problems with anything!! she could only speak english and thai so she only used the app and in shops there is most likely a person with basic english knowledge and she didn't have a problem at all!! SO I HOPE I DIDNT CHANGE UR MIND ABOUT COMING HERE CUZ ITS VERY PRETTY AND STUFF!!!

GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST!!!! I HOPE IT WILL STAY STRESSLESS!! WELL MINE IS DEFINITELY GOING! CANT SAY ITS GOOD CANT SAY ITS BAD ITS JUST GOING🥲

oh my u are not annoying at all!!! i understand that so much daniel is such a lovely guy!!!

U SHOULD ADMIT IT TO URSLEF ITS FUN🫡 damnnn tbh very understandable jikjin is such a good song so ur spotify wrapped is going to be amazing😌 TREASURE MAP IS SO FUNNY!! although i don't think i ever finished it .-. but all of the ones i saw were so fun!!! AND ADMITTING TO BEING IN LOVE WITH MY BF JIHOON IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IS CRIMINAL /j also about the posts i saw u make about jihoon, i understand u so much dude🤭 that guy is just so amazing and cool and everything🥲

thank u for not minding them what u wrote means a lot;-;💕💕I HOPE UR DAYS A FILLED WITH JOY TOO U ARE AMAZING!!!!💖💓💝

(and also expect another ask about me yelling how much i love ur new chenle fic sorry not sorry🫣) (liebestraum anon💕💕)

THANK U SM!!!! ❤🤍 it means a lot🥺🥺 awh i wish u werent so busy either bc it must be stressful. i do have a lot on my plate too but im still on this app more than i should be so props to u i think😭😭😭

omg noOO ☹☹ i really did activate my inner john green at the last two scenes because of the looking for alaska reread but hopefully it doesnt bring tears altho it was a cathartic write for me bc i resonate w chenle sm 😭😭 (not on the rich part im very much broke). and noo ☹☹ i hope the exam went better than u anticipated,, however it really do be like that sometimes and remember that one failed exam doesnt define u and you'll do better next time!!!

havent made any progress w liebestraum since my last reply bUT the outline is all finished and i have a little something in my drafts to tease it however im saving it until im at least done w 3/4 of the fic to post it bc we both know how it went the last time i posted a teaser for it 🤡

DHSJSK im glad to hear that also i think it may be bc im the first slovak person actually fluent in english to try to translate the song 😭😭😭 (yael is popular w the younger generation i think)

I mean i was stressed BECAUSE of the german i didnt just randomly bust it out bc of stress 😭😭 the lady at mcdonalds understood eng thank god but the other one did not and was rlly rude abt it telling me to get german lessons ☹ first of all i DID,,, for 6 years‼‼ second of all do i gotta learn the language of every country i visit now??? U WORK AT THE MAIN STATION OFC TOURISTS WILL BE THERE. the only german words that left my mouth that day were hallo, winston blau bitte, danke and auf wiedersehen 😭😭😭😭😭😭 i was less anxious abt vienna bc i was like i mean i learned german so i cant be THAT lost but i dont know a single word in hungarian so that might be difficult- DJSJS however if those plans do come true i will hit u up and u can send me all the tips and tricks (and also your address so we can hang out /j)

"ITS GOING" GIRLIE THE WAY I FELT THAT

not admitting yet i need a week or two more and to actually learn their names bc i still struggle with jeongwoo junghwan and jaehyuk for some reason. DO THEY HAVE TO ALL HAVE J NAMES ????? i saw only a few treasure map eps but once i stan someone new i tend to go obsessive and watch most of the stuff thats out so pray for me 😭😭😭😭 also im happy to announce to you that your boyfriend is now OUR boyfriend !!!!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳 hope u dont mind sharing ❤❤❤❤ you cant just expect me to see a guy with painted nails and not fall in love with him like. come on. this was given.

hope u enjoy my fic and that i dont disappoint, im def looking forward to hearing your thoughts!! also i hope u have a nice evening and weekend, love you lots xx

#your ask just made my whole entire day #💌ask #liebestraum anon

[clonewarsarchives]

BOBA FETT IS BACK! (#117, MAY 2010)

Actor Daniel Logan talks about the return of the galaxy’s most ruthless bounty hunter and what it’s like to play one of Star Wars’ most popular characters in The Clone Wars animated series! Words: Jonathan Wilkins

Star Wars Insider: How long have you known you’ll be returning as Boba Fett, and how hard has it been to keep it secret?

Daniel Logan: It’s been a little over a year now. I was very excited and honored to be asked to come back and play Boba Fett again. It was tough to keep it a secret—very tough! Whenever people would ask what I was doing and if I had any upcoming projects, I wanted to say “I’ll be back as Boba soon! Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars!”

How has Boba changed since we saw him in Attack of the Clones?

Boba is older, more experienced and driven by the death of his father. In Attack of the Clones, Boba was still a little boy learning from his dad. His father was his whole world. Now he is alone and on a mission.

Was it a challenge to play the character younger than you actually are today? Did you watch Attack of the Clones again to prepare, and what facets of his character did you use?

I watched Attack of the Clones a few times, specifically to pay attention to the voice. Boba is around 12-years-old in The Clone Wars, so while I wanted to stay true to the original tone of his voice in the movie, I knew it needed to be a bit lower and more serious.

Do you think Boba Fett is a sympathetic character?

That’s a tough question. I think the fact that Boba was orphaned makes him somewhat sympathetic; but he’s certainly not helpless. He’s strong and learned well from his father. As he matures, he gains a great deal of experience and finds himself in some very difficult situations. He has to make some tough choices and doesn’t have the best influences in his life. Eventually, his actions shape the person he becomes in the original films—someone who even Darth Vader feels can be too cruel.

Boba Fett is a loner despite having thousands—and probably millions—of brothers in the shape of the clones. Do you feel that the fact his brothers serve the Jedi isolates him?

That’s one of the interesting things about him. Boba refuses to accept the clones. He thinks he is unique. In one of the episodes he says (quite emphatically) “I’m no soldier, I’m no clone!” He definitely feels that he is special and not connected to them.

How was the recording session? Have you done much voice-over work before?

The recording process was great fun. Dave Filoni was very helpful as a director. Just after Attack of the Clones came out, I was hired to do the voice in a New Zealand production called Takapu. I was the voice of Takapu, a gannet or seabird from Australia and New Zealand. Takapu was an animated character mixed with live film footage. It was an educational program to show viewers the different beauties of the various South Pacific islands. It still runs on New Zealand television to this day.

How do you like your animated self?

I love it! I have been a fan of The Clone Wars since the beginning, so seeing myself being animated is a great honor

What is it about the Boba Fett that makes him so enduring?

The fans! Without the fan interest, Boba would be just another bounty hunter. I think from the beginning he was something special to everyone with the armor, the helmet, all his amazing weapons, and the jet pack. Everyone wants to have a jet pack! He is just a very cool character.

You’re a favorite guest at conventions around the world. Does the constant fan interest surprise you?

Fans always surprise me in wonderful ways! It’s amazing to meet fans from all over the world. They are so kind to me and very spirited about Star Wars. From the very young to the very old, Star Wars fans are the best. I am so happy and proud to be a part of something that brings that much fun and joy to so many all over the globe.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve seen your image?

I would have to say on someone’s arm. I was at an event and someone came up with a picture of Jango and young Boba tattooed on their arm. My face being on someone else’s body was very interesting! It was a great tattoo and I was happy to see it. It was a wonderful tribute to the Fett family!

Do you have a favorite Boba Fett toy?

There are so many and they are all worthy of being a favorite. If I had to choose one, it would have to be the young Boba LEGO. It is really neat to be a LEGO figure. Plus, I really love the special hair they made for it! (cwa note: the first of three young Boba’s, from set 7153, is the only one in existence during time of interview)

Do you think you will ever play the character again?

I would love to play Boba Fett again. The character will always be an important part of my life and I am proud of that. He has given me the chance to travel the world, meet amazing people, and experience wonderful things. I would never turn down the opportunity to play Boba Fett in the future.

#Daniel Logan #Boba Fett #clone cadets #season 2 #insider #i117 #cast #the clone wars

[darlingpetao3]

Thank You For Ruining My Life: An Homage to Tom Cavanagh

“You’ve ruined all my future expectations of men.”

The costume-clad woman had the courage of steel to say this to the then 53-year-old actor, Tom Cavanagh of The Flash, in front of a ballroom filled with a couple hundred people. This brave utterance was spoken during the 2016 Fan Expo Vancouver convention during a Flash question and answer period with actors Tom Cavanagh and Candice Patton. In its third season, the show was undoubtedly still hitting its stride in popularity, and the room was packed to hear these two speak.

The brave woman whose turn it was at the microphone was referring to Tom’s role as Ed Stevens on the NBC 2000 hit, Ed. I had not known of this show previously, but having now heard such a proclamation intrigued me. “You’ve ruined all my future expectations of men.” That was a tempting notion, and as I continued to listen to this disarmingly charming and wittingly funny man steal the stage, Tom intrigued me even more. I’d watched him play three different versions of Harrison Wells on The Flash since the show’s premiere date, yet I hadn’t truly noticed him in a “life-ruining” way before.

Little did I know that Tom Cavanagh would not only eventually ruin my expectations for men as well, but he would change my life in other ways, too.

After the Q&A, I had this urge to buy a S.T.A.R. Labs T-shirt from one of the vendors at the convention. In my head, I thought I would purchase something so that I could have an excuse to talk to Mr. Cavanagh at his signing booth. Again, he intrigued me, and I wanted to experience more of his incredibly likeable personality. So, I dragged my friend with me to wait for what was maybe ten minutes in a queue. Shortly, I was paying the assistant for my autograph I would soon acquire. They wrote my name on a sticky note so that Tom would know how to sign a personalized message to me. And then, it was my turn.

His eyes sparkled when he turned his attention to me. I instantly had a feeling this was just the way he was naturally. Oh yeah, and I swear to God I’d never seen eyes that blue in my entire life. It genuinely stunned me.

“Hi!” he greeted me.

“Hi!” I responded, equally as thrilled. Tom admired the T-shirt I had brought and took note of my name on the piece of paper. I remember us joking together about the extremely lax security in and around S.T.A.R. Labs on the show, which prompted his message to me on the heather-grey cotton. He wrote my name, [followed by a heart!] and a very welcoming, ‘Come on by, just walk right in!’

I had official clearance from Harrison Wells himself.

I thanked him very much, leaving with my treasure folded over my arms. My friend and I walked towards the hall’s exit, and I couldn’t shake this feeling inside me. It felt strange—I couldn’t name it for the life of me. It felt like an odd fluttering with a simultaneous yet contradictory slightness of breath. My head was confused and would continue to be so for the rest of that weekend.

As I waited at my gate in the airport on that Sunday evening to head home, all I knew was that the moments at the con featuring Tom were the highlights of the weekend for me.

And that I was going to begin watching more of the other films and television shows he’d been in. What was the show the brave cosplaying woman had said ruined her expectations of men? Oh yeah, Ed.

Maybe I’ll start there…

***

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad…

In my house, it’s never really Christmastime until Michael Bublé croons through the speakers of the wooden stereo system in the living room. It felt especially festive as it was now Christmas Eve—a month and some change since the con. It was late, possibly ten o’clock. I was lying on the floor in front of the Christmas tree with my trusty laptop, a word document open. I was writing three holiday-song short stories featuring the new muse in my life, Harrison Wells. I wanted to be able to post them the next day, so my fingers were taptaptapping away.

I had written a handful of things before 2017, most of which had been Marvel-related, under my second, ‘rebirth’ pen name online. I was a little fish among all the grand and fabulous writers on Archive of Our Own, and in many ways, I still feel like that little fish. I was only just learning and feeling out the psyche of the Wells characters. Each one is so different. In my rewatch of the previous seasons of The Flash, I’d taken diligent notes, and as I’d later learn with each following rewatch, I would know them all—what they think, how they talk and behave—like the back of my hand. It was fun to suss out these guys, and I found that I was growing to love the act of writing even more.

One month later, in January, I would post all the stories I’d written thus far on Tumblr. I’d just created an account and, who knows? Maybe I’d get a wider range of readers on here, too.

Might as well give it a shot, right?

***

Wild horses couldn’t keep me from attending Fan Expo Vancouver 2017, especially when the big news dropped. Not only would Tom Cavanagh be attending again, but so would Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, and the convention-elusive star of the show himself, Grant Gustin.

Before the moderator for the Flash cast’s Q&A panel could utter the final thanks to the actors at the end of the session, I bounded from my seat and sped down to the photo op booth where the cast would be taking “Team Up” photos with fans. ‘Sped down’ has to be the most appropriate couple of words because I indeed felt like a true Speedster dressed head to toe as the small screen’s adaptation of Jesse Quick, the angsty and brilliant daughter to Harrison Wells turned superhero.

After waiting in a queue that felt like ages, I was next to stand with Team Flash. As I took a step forward, all of the actors’ and actresses’ eyes—the people I spend time with every Tuesday evening—were on me. I heard a familiar voice approve of my costume. It was Danielle.

“Tremendous.”

Grant even joked that he thought for a second Violett Beane, the actress who plays Jesse Quick, had shown up to surprise them. “I was like, what’s Violett doing here?” he said.

I stood in the back row, happily sandwiched between Tom and Carlos. I dared to let my hands rest on their backs, and I couldn’t contain my joy. Shortly after, when I received my near-instant physical photograph of the moment, I saw Tom had pointed at me. In my mind, it felt as if in his gesture, he meant, hey, look at this cool person. Haha. I couldn’t be further from it.

I would go on to further be uncool in public as I later found myself virtually shaking and almost hyperventilating in line for a one-on-one photo op with Tom. The guy dressed as Kid Flash behind me gave me a few encouragements of the “it’ll be okay” variety. As my turn finally arrived, the lovely man of the hour greeted me with a bright smile in recognition of my Reverse Flash T-shirt (I had done a quick change before this photo op because I had worn a Flash T-shirt for a photo with Grant).

“Great shirt!”

The internet comes up with many hilarious and fitting words, but none such so than the term “Cavanarms.” One of the said Cavanarms found its way around my shoulder in such a casual way. My hand rested on his back, and I have told anyone who will listen about how soft his sweater was. What was approximately a five-second interaction will stay with me forever. And to this day, I will always regret how I’m standing beside him in the picture—there’s a distinguishable gap between us. I could have been closer—should have been!—but I like to use the fact that I felt as if I’d combust into flames if I were any closer to the man.

Maybe I’d have another chance to combust later again that day because, believe it or not, this fan hadn’t had enough of seeing Mr. Cavanagh in person. And since he was appearing at the con for this day only, there was no way I was going to squander any opportunities. Besides, there was still one final thing left on my convention docket: the autograph. In my mind, going to get his autograph was an excuse to get to talk to him and simply be in his presence for longer than five seconds. Here, take my money. I’m a sucker, and I’m proud of it. I saved all year for this kind of thing, and Fan Expo has always been my ultimate nerdy Treat Yoself Day.

Plus, this year I came equipped with a question for Tom (something for which I may have prepared a little too far in advance).

“Which of your characters would win in a lawyering battle: Ed or Miles?”

Miles was Tom’s latest character from his newly released project Darrow & Darrow, a fellow lawyer as Ed Stevens (remember, the man who ruins women’s expectations of men?), whom he portrayed almost two decades prior. What I loved about Tom when I got to ask him this was that he was silent for a moment following the question. He was genuinely putting thought into my question. As he pondered, Tom continued to autograph the photo of us together taken mere hours ago.

“Ed. He would wipe the floor with that other guy. Like, Miles is great, but Ed has a rapier-sharp mind, you know?”

I wholeheartedly agreed with his answer and felt relieved inside for some reason. We thanked each other (as politely as two Canadians can) before I left him to pay attention to the next lucky soul in line. I made the mistake of casting my eyes downward at the signed photo.

Tom had signed two little hearts over the I’s in my name. He really needed to stop adding hearts to my things, or I was just going to melt to the floor. In fact, I started to make these strange noises as I tried not to completely maul everyone in front of me while exiting. My friend ushered me as fast as physically possible on our way out of the main hall. One man took one look at me and asked, “Are you okay?”

No.

“Yep!”

The second I made it out of the herd, I broke out into open space. First came the minor hyperventilating. Then came the squealing followed by laughter. Top it off with various fangirlish comments of, “He’s so beautiful!”, “His eyes are so blue!” and “I love him!” and I was probably quite the sight to see (but at a convention, that’s considered normal!). My friend smiled on as she let me express everything that I had to keep inside until I had the right time to expel my emotions. I was on cloud nine. Ten, if at all possible.

The next day would be the con’s final day, which I would attend alone. My friend needed to catch the ferry in order to prepare for her courses the day after. I did a scan of the convention hall one final time in case there was something I missed purchasing. Afterwards, I sat on the cold hard flooring of the convention centre hallway for a bit of a break. I was wiped out. With my phone in hand, I smiled at the messages from this one Tumblr blogger who had been following my posted adventures at the con. I had seen and replied to many of her comments on my stories I’d written thus far, and I enjoyed her matching enthusiasm for Tom and The Flash in general. I felt her to be a kindred spirit. I had no idea then that I was chatting with one of my future best friends, L.

***

I spotted her.

She was wearing an identical shirt to the one I had on—a light grey T-shirt with a sequinned Spider-Man mask in the corner, which around it read, We met on the Web. A giddy me couldn’t wait for the short escalator ride to end. Her back was to me and facing the baggage claim, so here was my chance to surprise her instead.

I towered over my friend, E, and donned a low, authoritative voice.

“Excuse me, Miss, can you come with me?”

She squealed a greeting to me and I returned it as we hugged for the very first time after two and a half years of online friendship. We would still have about two hours to kill until our mutual Tumblr best friend, L, touched down at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport from across the Pond.

Something I noticed was that E and I carried on talking during our wait like it was second nature, that we hung out like this all the time. Whereas when I met L in person for the first time the year previously, our first meeting was that of quiet, delighted shock, unknowing how to react to one another’s physical presence. It almost felt like a fantasy. The closest thing we’d ever gotten to this was visiting over video chats! I’m not sure what each of these different reactions in these separate meetings meant, but what I do know is that I’ve never had such strong female friendships such as these—so full of uplifting support and love for one another. They are the greatest ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

And as a searching L eventually turned the corner to meet us in the Arrivals terminal, I caught sight of her Tom & Grant bandana tied around the handle to her carry-on bag. It was an item she had received in return for helping fund the short film produced in 2018 (I’d bought the ringtone). Seeing the accessory jolted me to remember that the former of the titular short was the reason for this long-awaited get-together holiday in the Windy City in the first place. Tom Cavanagh, unbeknownst to him, had just officially united three online friends, each from a different country, to spend six full days of in-person bonding and a whole lot of fun.

***

I should have been shelving books.

I should have been doing a lot of library-related tasks, but my head was elsewhere. Anywhere other than the small-town public library where I work. Instead, I sat on the carpeted floor of the Junior/Young Adult section with my phone in hand and a dreadful article title staring back at me.

“The Flash: Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh to Exit after 7 Seasons.”

My world felt like it was falling apart.

Tom was leaving? There had been rumours and wonderings spreading around the fandom regarding whether he was leaving the show. With a storyline ending with a monumental sacrifice and a time-travelling man saying his farewells, it all seemed to point to the fact. I should have known… I could have rivalled Supergirl as being the Paragon of Hope after all the optimism I doled out to my followers and friends who would come to me worried Tom would exit the show. I would always give reasons to deny such a thing could happen, claiming that I’d believe when I saw it.

Well, there it was, and I definitely saw it.

One could feel the ripple effect over the internet of the shards of broken and riled-up hearts around the world.

Tom’s exit was on his terms, having not felt challenged by his character’s plotlines, as mentioned in a recent Entertainment Weekly article. As a viewer—and I am a viewer (Mike and Tom Eat Snacks, anyone?), it has been increasingly difficult to look past the missed shots made by story editors and showrunner, so understandably, the actor would want to seek something more exciting and meatier. That said, Tom has always shone on-screen and taken what he’s been given in stride. He turns unearthed material into diamonds and indeed shines on screen. Steals it, even! Tom easily makes the episodes he’s in better, and when he’s missing, you feel the loss. The few episodes of Season 7 without him only give us a tiny hint at how the show will be without him going forward. It much resembles when you might bring out your favourite jigsaw puzzle, only to find that the one piece you need to complete it isn’t there.

***

On a personal note, as I write this, I am roughly 20 followers away from reaching a milestone of 2,000. I have written well over 200 stories for The Flash alone (whether they be short or long, one-shots or chaptered), and goodness knows how many words I’ve generated altogether over the course of these many years with inspiration from the show and my favourite character. I’ve written and co-written novel-length stories, one monumental Wellsian story of which was done alongside L and E (almost solely done through alternating text messaging in the app, Line) that reached over 108,000 words and consisted of 42 chapters. And when I’m not writing for my blog, I’m also working on trying to accomplish my dream of becoming a published author. Just as I thought before I launched my Tumblr blog, I think again now: Might as well give it a shot, right?

***

I have watched virtually everything Tom has been in that I could get my hands on, both physically and electronically. Sure, a few titles are out of my reach and probably lost to the very early 90's forever, but from what I've seen through Tom's filmography is enough to know that he can do anything. He can play the romantic leading man that will make you fall head over heels for him or a deranged killer that will have you genuinely scared of him. That is talent. Tom always brings something new to the table from each role to the next, and (when he's not playing those psycho killers) you can't help but admire his craft.

Not only is his acting stellar, but from what we as fans have gathered on the man, Tom has got to be one of the kindest men in the business. His humour and sheer ridiculousness could get anyone through a tough time (we’ve seen plenty of bloopers and behind-the-scenes videos to prove this!). He has clearly bottled and stored an endless supply of Fountain of Youth™ and each year continues to wow us with his handsomeness. Tom is charming, dedicated, and yes, arguably holds the world record for Bluest Eyes.

In my eyes, Tom Cavanagh gave me the two best friends I could have ever asked for, as well as plenty more lovely friends I’ve continued to make online. (One day, I hope to meet him again so that I can tell him in person how because of him, I’ve met such very important people in my life). Through Tom, I have truly found my passion for writing, and in doing so, segued me to dare to dream of becoming a published novelist. I wholeheartedly believe all of this would not have happened if it weren’t for those first series of events that led me to meet Tom and love and admire him immensely. He is indisputable proof that there are indeed men like him out there. Indeed, he did ruin all of my future expectations of men. He ruined my life in the absolute best way and I am eternally grateful.

I am very much looking forward to what Tom will do next. I think it’s rather needless to say that I will follow him in his career, as he has gained a devoted fan for life. He represents so much to me and so much of it I have gained since meeting him that fateful day, when I thought to myself, Maybe I should buy this T-shirt and get this guy to sign it. Wherever Tom goes in life, I’ll be here to cheer him on.

I have a pretty good feeling plenty of others will, too.

#i don't exactly want to tag this with his name #but this is a personal essay of sorts regarding tom cavanagh's effect on my life #if you decide to read I hope you enjoy it!

[letterboxd]

Love Thy Neighbor.

With her nineteenth-century American romance, The World to Come—starring Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby—screening now, director Mona Fastvold talks to Ella Kemp about the need to create images, striving for ASMR storytelling, and just how much we owe Terrence Malick.

“We’ve seen a lot of movies during this time period in America about what the husbands were out doing… but they had wives who are at home, living their completely separate lives. What were they up to?” —Mona Fastvold

In the American Northeast in the nineteenth century, life for farmers’ wives is physical, lonely, subject to both the extremes of weather and their husbands’ moods. When Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) become neighbors in The World To Come, their lives become infinitely more bearable.

What unfolds is a careful study of the ways affection and understanding can bloom in the most unlikely places. Based on Jim Shepard’s short story of the same name, Mona Fastvold’s desperately romantic film starts where Abigail’s diary also begins: with a new year, and new neighbors. Through lyrical voice-over and closely drawn scenes, Abigail tells of how, in the wake of unimaginable loss, her life is cracked wide open by the arrival of effervescent, free-spirited Tallie. She speaks of grief and exhaustion, but also of astonishment and joy.

Katherine Waterston as Abigail and Vanessa Kirby as Tallie in ‘The World to Come’. / Photo by Vlad Cioplea

It’s a story felt through whispers as much as kisses, framed by the blustery winds of the East-Coast frontier—and by the spectre of their husbands (Casey Affleck as the downcast Dyer, Christopher Abbott as the jealous, disturbing Finney) finding out about their new love. Fastvold gives each character just enough attention to let the relationships that matter most rise up all on their own. She does so with words, poetry that somehow feels alive, and with music—specifically, a stunningly passionate clarinet soundtrack.

The World to Come won the Queer Lion at Venice last August (where it miraculously had an in-person premiere), and won many more hearts at Sundance in January. It’s Fastvold’s second film as director, after 2014’s The Sleepwalker, which also starred Christopher Abbott, and was co-written by Fastvold’s partner (and Vox Lux director) Brady Corbet.

What did you feel when reading Jim’s story for the first time? Mona Fastvold: It was a home I wanted to move into. It was this feeling of thinking, ‘This belongs in my universe, and I belong in this universe.’ And I all of a sudden had a few images that I felt a very strong need to create. The first thing that I felt really compelled to do was creating this physical expression of joy after the first kiss. I had this image of Katherine in this wide shot, completely open and just exposed. And I was really compelled to shoot her in the snow by the grave as well.

I also wanted to frame her being tied to the house with a rope, working her way through the snowstorm. There was a lot of amazing text and maybe fewer images in the script, because it’s written by these two really wonderful writers and authors of novels, not so much screenplays. So it’s not a very technical screenplay, and there were a lot of things left to me to work out, which I enjoyed. But the foundation was this really good text.

Mona Fastvold on the set of ‘The World to Come’. / Photo by Toni Salabasev

The text is so striking, in the way it’s so verbose but never feels stiff. How did you keep the words intact while bringing these emotions to life? I cast some really good actors, so that helps! Then when you’re working with this kind of text, it’s not really a text that you can improvise or play around as much, you really just need to honor it. For me it’s really about finding the movement that will support the beats of the text. I like the edit to be motivated by a gesture, something that says, “I want you to look at this”. I’m trying to make the rhythm more exciting. Ping-ponging back and forth is less exciting to me.

When rehearsing, we’d create movement either physically, or find changes through long pauses already in the text, and then upon finding those organic beats I’d figure out with my DP how we can stay in one take for as long as possible, until we find that moment which motivates a change. I never like there to be a camera movement just for there to be something cool visually. And there’s all this subtext in the text, all these messages Abigail and Tallie are trying to send to each other. When are you being direct? When are you being understood? When are you not?

Particularly in recent years, we’ve been fortunate to have a number of films that reframe period pieces about forbidden lesbian romances. Why do you think we keep coming back to this kind of story? A lot of people feel compelled to say these stories have always been there, and to claim that part of history. It’s not modern, it’s not a new thing, but it’s just that these stories have not been told much. Especially a love story that takes place among farmers. We know a little bit about upper-class stories from some literature, but not that much from that time period. So part of the appeal for me was to say: this is a part of history. Even though it’s not a story about Napoleon, this story about these two quiet, introverted women is still worth exploring. And we’ve seen a lot of movies during this time period in America about what the husbands were out doing. I’ve grown up watching these movies, but they had wives who are at home, living their completely separate lives. What were they up to?

Finney (Christopher Abbott) reads Tallie’s mail. / Photo by Vlad Cioplea

You mention the husbands—I felt watching this film that it was set in a very different world to the likes of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which a lot of people loved precisely because of how few men were in the film. But here the husbands play a really important part within the story about these two women, helping to convey their frustration and limitations, without taking over. All characters in a story deserve equal counts of love and attention from the writers, directors and actors. It was incredibly important to portray the men with as much nuance as Abigail and Tallie. It makes for a more interesting story for them, that their relationships with their partners are complex—they’re not just these male archetypes who are terrible and awful. Dyer was an interesting character, in that he’s striving to understand even though he doesn’t quite. And he had different ambitions as well, but this is the situation he’s in, and he’s chosen a practical partner who he respects, and I guess loves and cares for. But they’re running a farm together, they’re business partners as well and depend on each other for survival. When he says “I’ll die without you” it’s quite literal, in a way. I wanted to break these characters open and make them more difficult to deal with, for themselves and for the women as well.

Your picture includes a beautiful, and really unexpected score by Daniel Blumberg—particularly in the use of the clarinet, which feels like its own kind of narrative. Can you talk me through the process of weaving that into the story? I brought in Daniel even when I was developing the script and working on casting early on. I kept listening to ‘Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet’ by Igor Stravinsky, and somehow the instrument felt really connected to Katherine’s voice-over. It was important that the voice-over was not slammed on top at the end. It’s there, I hope, to have a bit of an ASMR effect where you feel it draws you really close to Abigail in a hypnotic way. That you feel like you get this intimate experience of that character by having access to her life even if it doesn’t explain things too much.

So we wanted to have the score speaking to the voice-over, which we recorded long before we started shooting as well. We would play it on set and Daniel would come in and play music there. So constantly being in dialogue between the text being read and the music being played was an important part of the process.

It’s time for some Life in Film questions. What is your favorite ‘forbidden love’ story? A film I really love, which inspired The World to Come, is Olivia. It’s from 1951 and it’s directed by Jacqueline Audry, and it was one of the first lesbian on-screen kisses ever captured. It’s a great movie directed by a female director when that wasn’t so much of a thing. It was an important trailblazer for this film.

Marie-Claire Olivia and Simone Simon in Jacqueline Audry’s ‘Olivia’ (1951).

What’s your favourite “Dear Diary” movie, the one that best uses a confessional voice-over? Terrence Malick pretty much cornered that market with some beautiful, beautiful attempts at that. We definitely have to pay our respects! Particularly Days of Heaven is pretty amazing. The voice-over work there is extraordinary.

What is your go-to comfort movie? It’s funny because I was asked that a while ago and normally I would just be like, “Anything Nancy Meyers makes is just so lovely”. She makes these films that are just like candy. But during the pandemic, it’s just too hard to watch these cozy movies, because it just makes you feel depressed. So right now, the film I’ve watched the most in my lifetime is Eyes Wide Shut. I also find it to be a Christmas movie… If it’s on anywhere, I’ll always leave it on, or just watch a little piece of it.

What should Letterboxd members watch after The World to Come? First of all they should watch Olivia if they haven’t seen it, and then the other day I watched Martin Eden—it’s an incredible movie. So beautifully made.

What is the one film that first made you want to be a filmmaker? I grew up watching a lot of movies. My family are cinephiles and I’ve always loved films. I grew up on a steady diet of Ingmar Bergman’s films during my teenage years, and Tarkovsky too. Seeing those films made a really big impression me. But what really inspired me in many ways was seeing Claire Denis’ films. The way she approaches storytelling is so intuitive. It’s so exciting. That resonated with me, and later on I recognized some of that in Lucrecia Martel as well. I just love how she handles time and logic and character.

Related content

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Follow Bleecker Street on Letterboxd

Follow Ella on Letterboxd

‘The World to Come’ is currently in select US theaters, and will be available on demand from March 2, via Bleecker Street.

#mona fastvold #the world to come #katherine waterston #vanessa kirby #casey affleck #christopher abbott #period romance #period film #period cinema #forbidden love #lesbian cinema #lesbian film #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbt cinema #lgbt film #sundance #sundance film festival #venice #venice film festival #queer lion #queer cinema #queer movies #queer romance #letterboxd

[zhowongli]

hello! i started a new thread because the other one (+ this one) got really long, so sorry! but i guess this is my love letters to you guys because you’ve made my tumblr experience so, so much better && i’m grateful for all of you guys + all of my mutuals and followers!!

first of all, @himawari-senpaii thank you so so much for your kind words! meggi, i love your sunflower motif because it suits you so well! sunflowers make me smile whenever i see them, and it really brings me so much joy to see you on my dash/notifs. your tags are always so fun and sweet. thank you for tagging me in this 🥺 

@animoozies connie, where do i even start? you were my very, very first tumblr mutual on this account! i’m so thankful you reached out to me before, and you’re still checking up on me even now. words can’t describe how much i adore you + how appreciative of you! when i see you on my dash with your stories, i always end up cackling because you’re so fun. idk how you do it working all those hours + going to nursing school, but you is a mf boss ass queen!!

@hoekaashi ash, my queen!! my tag for you is my day is blessed because ash ✨exists✨ because that’s honestly how i feel about you. i am truly blessed with your kindness, your humor, your friendship, you. thank you for always keeping me company through our struggles in pharmacy school! you are one of the realest people i know, and i feel so honored that you always send me random kenma pics & fics you think i’d like 🥺

@kanao annette, the other half of my soul, my whole heart, my literal soul sister. you are one of the biggest blessings i’ve received this year, and i honestly don’t know where i would be without you listening to my dumb shit and supporting me through all my mess LOL. thank you for validating me all the time, even if it’s just stupid stuff like enabling me to buy all the random stuff that i’ve been thinking about LMAO. i love how we are always ✨speaking✨ and  ✨manifesting✨ good things in our futures together. i literally feel like i can talk about any and everything with you, and i love that about us 🥺 i am manifesting that beach vacation 2021 for us, okay!!! 💖

@sapphitedreams leo, my cutest menace in the kitchen 💖 thank you for reaching out to me when i was too shy to reach out to you uuuu. you’re such a chaotic calm in my life, and i love your energy. i am constantly in awe with how adorable, supportive, and creative you are! even though you bully me sometimes and only make things for characters’ birthdays, you are so so talented and it floors me every time i see your creations because they are so amazing idk how they’re real. i hope you are able to get some rest even if you have to work during your break (& i hope you don’t accidentally fall during work anymore smh HAHAH)!

@onefortyninecm danielle!! my love!! i know i mention this before, but i am always so so inspired by you. you’re so tiny, but you have such a big heart and soul. you’re so beautiful inside and out + your humor is god tier. i’m so glad you were the very first person i’ve ever commissioned from (& spiraled me into comissioning indulgent kenma art HAHAHA), and i’m still amazed by your talent and kindness every time you post something new omg. i still can’t believe you DREW ON YOUR PHONE what the heck!! you’re so talented it’s crazy HAHA. i’m always thinking fondly of you + dandy wedding in a pumpkin patch 2021, okay thanks. 

@p-irozhki rissa!! i am so blessed with all the gifs you create and all your content on my dash! whenever i think of you, i think about all the smol icons you use because to me, you = cuteness = i wanna hug you so much!!! i think i already said it, but i’m always so thankful when you read all my self-indulgent fanfics and leave kind comments on them 😭 thank you for culturing me about mangoes HAHAHA. there’s never a bad time with you, and i’m thankful we got to meet this year!

@hoshino-a lena lena! you actually have so much bde that i am in constant awe by you. you are such a baddie & i have this like clear imagine in my head of you with crisp and clean vibes + the skies from your pfp on discord, hehe. i love you and all your brain rots about your exes. at this point, every time i see semi, my first thought is “ah it’s lena’s ex” and whenever i hear some sad song, i would be like “omg it’s lena ab her ex semi eita” LMFAOIOAGJDLA. i love talking to you because your energy is just immaculate + i just love your presence 💖 also please get some sleep because do you even sleep 😭 

@myelocin nic!! you’ve painted my world in so many iridescent shade so life, i can’t even begin to describe how much you mean to me. you works are just so beautiful so imagine how much i shrieked when i saw you followed me LMFAOOADIGDALJ i love that your blog is your safe space because it has become a place of comfort for me as well (and i’m going to miss you so much when you leave 😭😭). your makki brain rot is so strong, and sometimes i think about makki and you making dinner and teasing each other and throwing flour at each other or something idk. this is nic’s world now and we are all living in it tbh. 

@tsu-kiss nina!! you are someone i find such comfort in. i’m not really sure if that even makes sense LOL. but your blog and you are a source of comfort for me. in my head, you have such an older sister vibe even though i’m older than you LMAOOADGHDAKJ. i hope life is treating you well because you deserve all the best!! seeing you thrive makes my heart so full 🥺 i love you so much!!

@souheii lisa!! i kid you not, the first time you dropped an ask in my ask box, my heart skipped a beat because you told me you love me and i love you and you are so cute and i cri!!!! i know we don’t talk often, but every time i see you on my dash or in my notifs or when we do talk, it’s like a little shot of serotonin every time :”) thank you for being such a lovely human being mrs. iwaizumi hajime, 27, althetic trainer😭

@ultkags​ cas!! my first child 💖 i know you’re on a hiatus right now because school really, really sucks BUT you are seriously one of my biggest blessings. you are literally my ray of sunshine because every time i talk to you, i gain so much warmth and energy from you. every time i see your edits, it absolutely AMAZES me because i literally don’t know how i am able to see all your edits FOR FREE?? all your thoughts behind the composition and symbolism for each piece is CRAZY. please remember that i’m always your biggest fan + i love you so so much. please take care and remember to drink water and get some rest!! your grandma is always here to send you love + forehead kisses because this grandma can’t bake :(

@u-make-my-heart-tsumtsum​ ree!! hi, i know we’ve only started talking recently but i love how open and warm you are. our love was so strong that even tumblr tried to stop us 😭 conversations with you are always so easy and lovely, and you are just such a cool person!? i love reading all your thoughts (& i can’t wait to dive into your masterlist after school ends because we live for fluffy tsumu content 😭). i’m not sure why you even follow me, but i adore you so much!!

@neonghxst​ el, where do i even begin!! you are such a lovely person, and i literally have no other words to say because you always leave me speechless. your writing is so so gorgeous, and you are so so beautiful. i love reading all your stories because they truly leave an everlasting impact on me, and i love reading your interactions + just seeing you on my dash. you are so thoughtful, and you take care of everyone around you so well. i hope that you are also giving yourself the same treatment because you deserve all the best as well! remember to drink water in between your coffees and get some rest as you go into your final 2 weeks of the semester!! 

@und3lla​ maliha! hi love! i know we haven’t spoken much or in a while, but i really do always think of you randomly. you were one of the first mutuals i made && you are such a sweet soul. i love how every time we talk, it really fills me up with happiness. thank you for just being such a lovely person && you truly are one of the softest people i’ve met. thank you <3

@deadontheinsidebut angel, my dumb ham, my queen, my hoe (heaven on earth), my everything. i know you are also on a semi-hiatus right now because everything that’s going on, but i hope you are properly taking care of yourself >:( i’m always here to remind you to drink some water in between your coffees and teas and to GET SOME REST. you are so so driven, and i really admire how open and friendly you are. you truly are your namesake because you are literally an angel, and i always feel so blessed to be in your presence (even if you bully me sometimes for being a boomer 😔). words can’t describe how much i love you and care about you && i hope that you are able to find what you’re looking for during your break! 💖

@rumprich​ ananya! hello! i am so thankful to see you and all your content on my dash. you have so much creativity, and all your edits are so aesthetically pleasing to look at? like it’s so light + pretty!! i’m so so grateful that we are mutuals somehow because ahhh i really don’t deserve you. you are so adorable, and i truly am blessed to see your presence! 

@yuki-souma​ vee! i know we only started talking very very recently, but you are so much fun to talk to! i love how diverse our conversations are, and i love that we have similar favorites, and even when we don’t, it’s always a fun conversation that i look forward to! i love how open and inviting you are, and i’m really grateful that we are mutuals + i love and appreciate you so so much! 

@owlywrites​ owly! hello! you are seriously one of the most supportive souls i’ve met on this website. your kindness and drive to learn always leaves me speechless because you’re so amazing. thank you for being so kind to me, and i hope you extend that same kindness to yourself! don’t be so hard on yourself and remember to take breaks and take care too. you are such a beautiful soul, and i hope you’ll remember that i’m always here to support you!! 

@graphicstills-in-motion hi arianne! thank you so so much for always being so kind to me. i don’t know what i did in life to deserve you, but i must have done something right to have someone so kind like you in my life! thank you for being such a sweet soul + always boosting everyone around you up. your kindness is definitely contagious! i love seeing your edits and reading our conversations because there are always so many thoughts put in. thank you <3

@applepienation​ justine! thank you so much for always checking in on me whenever i post random shit on my dash. i really do appreciate you and all that you do for not just me, but also for everyone around you. you are such a ray of sunshine, and i’m so thankful that you’re in my life! i know uni is crazy for you right now, but i hope you’re still taking time to take care of yourself! sending you lots of love and positive energy!!

@touyax​ drake! hi love. i absolutely LIVE for your tags LMAOOADJGALD. they are literally my thoughts but you just typed them out HAHAH. i’m so thankful that i get to see your beautiful content on my dash, and i’m always in awe by all your edits! thank you for always being such a fun person + never leaving me feeling like a fool whenever i post ask games LOL. i love and appreciate you so much! 💖

@kagehjna​ ilayda! my kagehina supplier 🥺🥺 i love seeing your presence on my dash because you truly post all the best things! you are such a lovely person + i love reading your tags HAHA. you are truly a joy and we will definitely have matching kagehina icons one day okay 😭😭 12/7 is finally here/coming SO I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! thank you for always blessing me <3

@sadaharus hi mei! you are literally the definition of softness to me. all your content and edits are just so soft and beautiful, and i love seeing everything you post. you are my main gintama supplier HAHA. i really appreciate how kind you are + how you’re always so sweet to me. 🥺 i know it’s kinda funny how i started following you because of a random ask game, but i’m so so glad i did because i always feel so thankful you’re here! 

@fake-charliebrown charlie! my little sprout babie!! i have so much admiration for you because you have so so much talent! your style is so distinctive, and i love that!! it’s so soft + vibey, and i’m honestly so so amazed by it all. not to mention, you have the best haikyuu thoughts! thank you for sharing all of that with me! i’m thankful for you, thank you <3

@itachihaa​ ay! my froggy princess 🥺 thank you for always being so kind to me + having the patience to deal with how slow i am to responding!! i’m really appreciative of you always because you make/have so much beautiful content and you are so so sweet as well!? and the way you call me miss starlight 🥺 that makes me so soft like!! uuu i love you. 

@stardust-make-a-wish​ star! you are so so adorable!! i LOVE reading your tags because they make me feel so fuzzy and soft but also relatable HAHA. your presence is such a joy + thank you for always interacting with me even though i just spam random stuff LMAO. i love how thoughtful your answers are + how much you love cake/sweets (very suiting because you are so sweet 🥺). thank you for being interested in me even though i am the one asking you questions! 

@karasu-hoes​ daisy! hello! i have so much admiration for you because you have so much creativity and kindness! like your events are so cool and unique + your writing is so beautiful! i love reading your feral thoughts + all your work. i also really love reading your witching hours!!! thank you for blessing me with you 🥺 you are always so kind + i love how much you care about your friends and the people around you. i hope you’re taking care while renewing your teaching certifications! 💖

@frailuta nico! hello love! i know we haven’t really spoken before, but i just want to know i love you so much. you make the most beautiful gifs + i truly am in awe every time you post something. life is tough sometimes, but you are tougher! sending so so much love and positive energy to you + please remember to take care! <3

to all my mutuals and followers: thank you so so much for sticking with me and my mess of a blog. i honestly don’t really contribute much to anything, but i’m so thankful you guys are still here! thank you, thank you, thank you! i love and appreciate all of you guys + my ask box/messages are always open if you want/need someone to talk to 💖 thinking fondly of everyone today + so much love to you guys mwah mwah!

#text #this got really long but #i am really truly thankful for everyone of you #i have so so much love for you guys #sending all my love and positive energy to you guys #i'm so sorry sometimes i'm really slow at responding but #i really do think of you guys!! #love you all mwah mwah

[kiyoo-omi]

from my love to you

Hello moots and followers! I just want to say happy new years and heres to 2021 treating us right. I’m not too good with words tbh but here I go!

I really can't believe I'm in a position to know so many great people on here! I’m so thankful that each and everyone of you are so welcoming. Every little likes and reblogs mean so much to me as as artist. But interacting with me makes my day so much better and brings such the biggest smile on my face! I’m so grateful that you guys even bothering interacting with me. I wouldn’t have continued this blog have it not been you guys!! I appreciate it so much and it means the world to me. You guys makes me strive to me a better artist (and writer)! I want to be able to make you guys happy and I hope whatever I do on my blogs bring u guys joy as much as it does me!

I hope to be better moot for everybody (cause I’m just a little too shy to interact with you all) Thank you so much for giving me a place in this community and I love you all!

To my lovely friends!

@lavenderpisces

JEN! MRS. BOKUTO! MRS. AIZAWA! MY BABY MY LOVE MY ANGEL CAKES LIGHT OF MY LIGHT APPLE TO MY EYEE! BOKUJEN AND SHOUJEN SUPREMACY UP IN THIS THIS BITCH 🤪! Aaaahhhh bby I don't know what to say but I love you so much!!! I know I don't show my appreciation as much lately or its been a while! But you are literally a light to my life and I value our friendship so much! I remember our baby talks on here and can’t believe here we are today! I'm counting five/six years girl and I want to celebrate every new year together until we are old as hell. I love when we fangirl, I love our little movie nights, I love getting you gifts, I love daydreaming about our future together and I hope you do too??? Please know I'm literally here for you, I would fight the world and book a ticket there for you if u ever need me to too. Just say the words! Please don’t ever hesitate to hit me up if you ever need to. I hate whatever you you are experiencing that makes you sad, I wish I could be there to fight it away for you! I know this year hasn’t been too nice, but please know that I’m literally just a text or call away! You are my priority. I can't wait for the day where we can see each other one day! I love u so much!

@coralpeachcalm

MIMI! HI!! Asdfghjjkkll sorry if this is a little awkward but I'm so glad you were one of the first person I have had the pleasure to meet! I don't remember who reach out to who but I’m so glad one of us did. I remember us fangirling so much back then! Thank you for being so supportive on my art and literally anything, and I’m so glad to have found you again! Here's to 2021 treating you right! I value you so much and I love you!

@seijuroww

Hi cameron! I hope you’re doing well lately! I just wanted to say holy shit! Im so proud of you and what you’ve done an accomplished! Just seeing you’re growth and journey has been so awe-inspiring. I hope you’re happier lately and im just so happy for you! Please know I’m here for you if you ever need help! I love you so much! 

To my lovely close mooties! 

@chibishae34

Hi SHAE!! Thank you for being one of my biggest supporter back on dinnachusart and just constantly liking and reblogging my works. You don’t know how much it meant to me being a small as artist and trying to scramble for a crumb of notes (XD lol). Sorry if I don't have much words to say I'm just so thankful that you were able to see me grow as an artist and i hope you still do!! Thank you for also being my penpal and please expect something hopefully this month! Here to 2021 treating you good and spending it together!

@datech

HI DIANA!! It’s the way you have my heart! You’re so sweet and adorable, you interaction in anything can brighten up anyones day. I'm still so surprise that were moots! It blows my mind cause I really admired you and your writing and I was intimidated by you!! Now look at where we are now! I’m ur disamu art dealer asddghhjkklldd.Thank you so much for your support on my art! It really does means the world and your comments are absolutely everything. Thank you for being one of the reason I stay on here! Cheers to 2021 love you and you deserve the best!

@sanriobimbo

HI PLUMMIE! PRETTY PLUMMIE SOULMATE!!! I'm so happy and glad we were able to hit is off so well! You’re one of the person I can feel so at ease with! I love our interactions and me just joking around with you lol! Just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you! Don’t ever doubt your writing please! Its the greatest and the world to my eyes! Make sure you take breaks and don't ever force yourself to provide or write! You simple being here is the greatest thing to happen to everybody you’ve come across! You deserve the world and imma fight 2021 if it ever crosses you! Love you lots plummie!

To my mooties who I'm so thankful that you even follow and interact with me!! I be fangirling and get so happy when you do! just know I love you all and appreciate you so much! I hope to see you all grow andsucceed to the absolute best in your life! Love you lots! Cheers to 2021. 

(In no particular order! I’m sorry if I sound repetitive. I’m sorry if you don't considered us moots ill take u off if u don't wanna be on here!)

@tsumtsumland : hope you doing well! Love you lots and ahhh im so thankful for you!! I love interacting with you! thank you for being my penpal and I hope to see more of eachother! I hope 2021 can be kind to you! 🤲🏽🥺💞💞💞

@midnightweeds: hi weeds! I just wanted to say im so grateful for you! Thank you for being so generous and lending a hand when i needed it the most! Thank u for sending me sakusa pictures as well! 🥺💞

@atsumuse: hi lay! ur such a cool person and I admire u so much! I hope 2021 treats you well! I love ur writng please its the best. 🥺💞

@tsukkis-crybaby: hi felicity! ur so beautiful and thank u for our interactions togther! I love seeing you on my dash and inbox! I hope 2021 is a good year for you! kisses for you!😘

@amberalisa hi alisa!! I hope ur doing well! I really love ur suna fic and can’t wait for your other one! happy New Years and I hope this year is a good year for you!!

@hisoillusandwich: hi Mae!! 🥺💞 ur sakusa fic is one of my favs and omg the fact ur interact with me at all my heart! here to 2021 being good to u beautiful!

@prettysetterbaby: hi jj!!! *screaming* you are so beautiful and deserve the utmost best in life! I love seeing you on my dash! thank you for being such a great person and supporting my art! you are so loved and I’m wishing nothing but the best for you! 2021 better treat you right!

@bucketofforks: hi hi bof! I’m so grateful for your interactions! they bring such smiles and laughs, I hope 2021 goes good for you!

@hq-trashies: hi kaley!! love seeing u on my dash sorry if we don’t interact as much! But you are such a beautiful person! Thank u for your book recs! send more my way haha’ I hope 2021 goes well for u!!

@velvesagi: hi jem!! Love seeing u on my dash!! thank u for ur interactions they mean a lot! Here’s to 2021 being a better year for you!

@sunaswife : hi knifey! I found you through ur suna series and I really love it!! I hope 2021 is a good year for you! Thank u for even interacting with u, pretty sure I was fangirlibg! Lol

@lovingnekoma: hi artimes! thank u so much for your interactions! they really do brighten up my day! I hope to be a better mutual to you! I hope 2021 can be ur year!

@inxriyama: hi bunny! 🥺🤲🏽💞💞💞really love ur writing and really enjoy our small interactions together! Here’s to 2021 being a good year!

@kurooblesse: hi tesh! I hope ur doing well and ughhhh please ur writing!! 😩💦 🥴 gives me the hots! Here’s to 2021 being good to you!!

@kenmasbb: hi tia!!! gaawwddd ur writing!! Please give me room to breathe! I really love our interaction and I hope u doing well and happy 2021!

@rintarhue: hi Kopi!! ur smau series are the best and ur rin one is so creative!! such a great writer and I hope to see more from you! here to 2021 being a good year to you!

@shoyosun: hi Marta!!! your art is so cute and can’t wait to see more of it!! thank u for being such a sweetheart and I hope we can interact more! cheers to 2021 being a good year!

@omijime: hi nini!! your so adorable and omg thank u for interacting with me! It means a lot! I hope you Samu, and suna have such a happy 2021 together!

@dxddykeiji: hi Sammy!! I know we don’t interact as much!! but I enjoy seeing you on my dash! thank you for being my moot and I hope 2021 is the best for you!

@radiantful: hi Martha! I’m so thankful for your interactions they brighten up my day! I hope 2021 is good to you!

@ukeishin: hi Celeste! thank u for poppin in my inbox here or there! I love our little interactions and hope we can interact more! I hope 2021 will treat you right! U deserve it!

@ladyrenart: hi Lena! I love your popping in my inbox! they make me smile so much! I appreciate you so much! cheers to 2021 being good to you!

@toniiihime: hi toni!! your so beautiful and your drawings are so cute! I can’t wait to see more! Can’t wait to see you grow! 2021 is ur year!

@aiiishiiiteru: hi nona! I know we don’t interact as much but I looove ur writing!! I’m screamed when u followed back XD! Cheers to 2021 being a good year for you!

@mi-yams: ren wifey!!! I love our interactions together!! you’re so fun and cute! I hope 2021 treats u well!

@darlingoshiki: hi saint! I hope 2021 is good to you! Thank u for popping in my ask here or there and I enjoy seeing on my dash!

@helloaisabelle: hi aisy! I love ur writing!! ur national team got me 🥴🥵 thank u for your interaction and I hope we can interact more! I hope 2021 is the best for you!

@onefortyninecm : hi Danielle! I’m grateful for interactions together m! Your art is amazing!! and you deserve all the love coming your way! you’re very beautiful and I hope I can be a better moot! here’s to 2021 treating you good! 🥺💞

@picassho-18​: hi Kate!! just wanted to say thank you for your support and I love seeing you inbox abs post! Wishing 2021 the best for u!

@inarizakicafe​: hi ni! I know where new moots. But I absolutely love your writing! I hope to interact more with you if that’s okay! cheers to 2021 to be a good year for you!

@itzdaichi​: hi lovely!! I just wanted to say your so sweet and adorable! Your interaction bring so much joy to me! I hope 2021 treats you right!

@tsukkikou​: hi kou! I really love our interactions and thank you for popping in my inbox for a while! It makes me really happy and I hope your doing well!

@suhkusa​: hi hi guys! Just wanted to say I love your writing and I hope 2021 is good to the both of you!

@sunseteyes​: hi gel!! ur so beautiful and I know we don’t interact as much! but I love when we do! I hope 2021 is a good year for you!

@alto-march-of-death​: hi al!! I appreciate our interactions and thankful that you even do in the first place! I hope to be a better moot and wishing 2021 is good to you!

@churochuu​: hi chuu!! I love our first interaction together!! you're art is so cute and adorable! 2021 better treat you right!

to my lovely anons and character interactions whoever you are. you guys absolutely have my heart. im so thankful that you guys even do this for me?? i feel like i dont deserve it. you guys make my day so much and i hope 2021 treat you so good. you dont know how much you guys are appreciated by everyone! love you! 

thank you to everybody for making the remaining month of 2020 one of my best! i love you all! 

#dinas appreciation #dinas letter #happy new years!

[variousqueerthings]

thinking about these awesome tags from @catzy88​ and wanted to just speak to essentially what they talk about and one of my favourite writing choices of the show (so far, considering my predictions for what’ll happen moving forward):

and it’s Johnny’s two-steps-forward-one-step (sometimes several steps) -back journey. 

1. Introduction

there’s a few of things that happen on the show that get wrapped up in a semi-fantastical/wish-fulfilmenty way (Miguel recovering from his back injury like he does, Daniel sorting out his dealership problems with Doyona, etc.) and I’m not mad about it, it fits in with the generally optimistic tone of the show + various circumstances that surround these choices, so they’re not one-note writing decisions - 

ex. aftermath of Miguel’s surgery will continue to be explored on s4 so it’s not done and over with without consequences versus the way Daniel’s journey to Okinawa is about healing in various ways, so that deus ex machina fits in with the tone of that storyline. People’s mileage probably vary, but I think it’s all relatively well-balanced (pun not intended) with the deeper, less-easily-fixable issues and character dynamics that the show explores.

2. Johnny’s Story

If everything on this show were easy it wouldn’t be so watchable. Which is where Johnny comes in (amongst other characters, but I’m gonna focus).

in contrast Johnny’s journey for three seasons has had a lot of good intentions - help Miguel, get his life in order, forgive and forget the past, mend his relationship with Robby, be generally better to himself and others - and the majority of it’s gone pretty badly. 

I have predictions that there’ll be a flip in s4 and Daniel’s going to spiral more obviously, while Johnny’s going to be healing/functioning somewhat better. I also think it’s important to show him failing despite being in a better place than end season 2/beginning season 3. And failing again. And failing again. 

Johnny (and Daniel, but I shall focus!) doesn’t come onto this show with easily fixed issues. He’s likely been an alcoholic since he was in his 20s, he’s isolated to the extreme, he can’t hold down a job, he’s still under the thumb of his stepdad, and his relationship to Robby is non-existent at best. 

In 100 different ways he’s trapped and he’s so trapped that he can’t even envision being less trapped. Starting the dojo is a fluke, combined by meeting and saving Miguel and wanting to spite Daniel. He’s not planning on “getting better,” hell, he doesn’t even think that he has a problem that can be fixed to begin with. Up until this moment life has largely just happened to him and his decisions have been reactionary (and if there were times we don’t know about before now where he tried, he obviously failed)

His thinking clearly goes something like this: “I’ll make this kid not get beat up... and I guess now I’ve got a business so I need other kids? and now I care about this kid I guess, oh and his mom’s pretty nice (and pretty) too... and now I’ve got a business I can buy Sid out, that’s cool... ” etcetcetc. (still reactionary to an extent, although that gradually changes) right up until the tournament happens and he starts to have to face some of the shit he’s been telling these kids and Robby’s with Daniel and Kreese has reappeared...

I’d argue it’s not until mid-ish season 2, when Kreese reveals he’s homeless and Johnny decides that their forgiveness is tied into one another and especially when Tommy dies (still got one thing I don’t... time) that he actually really starts thinking about what all of this means for him longterm, that he can and should want for the future and that he has real responsibilities to do so because of others. It’s also the first time he properly admits that it’s not just “the tournament as a single event,” but the whole philosophy that he was taught that fucked him up (which is scary, because then he’s gotta admit a whole bunch of other stuff - that he has deep-rooted issues and that he needs to try to get better. That he’s both a victim and a perpetrator of this cycle. That just saying things are shit and won’t ever change won’t cut it anymore).

And just as he begins this thought-process and is incredibly vulnerable because of that everything goes to hell.

All of the structures Johnny had been building were on sand, right up to the choice to handshake deal on the dojo, and they all come crashing down spectacularly all at once in the season 2 finale.

Back to square one.

3. Square one (but not really)

This is amazing! It’s giving us a narrative on top of the more fantasy-like narratives that goes: “Not everything can be fixed easily just because we want to fix them,” and, “some things need to fail so that the next time you try, you try better!”

It’s not square one at all. 

A whole bunch of shit that Johnny was carrying with him without being able to voice in the first season is now out there, in the open. The ugliness needs to be exposed before it can be healed and (as myself and so many people who’re dealing with xy and z know) when you first “discover” what’s fucked up you can feel like everything’s worse. Your ability to deal with that thing can get a whole lot worse. 

Johnny relapses into a version of himself that on the surface looks even worse than in s1, but actually he’s way more open to change, he’s got reasons to get back up again, even if it takes a moment for him to pull himself together to actually do that. It takes pretty much all of season 3 for him to get there (and that was necessary too), but now he’s there he can start from a much stronger place than he previously did.

And there’s so much he’s still not facing - can you imagine the fallout when he has to deal with being an alcoholic? 

Johnny as a character has made so many mistakes (note: I’m not a fan of using the word “fault” as a descriptor for characters (as in “whose fault is X”) because they’re fictional and it’s more about motivations than tracing faults) and those mistakes make a whole lot of sense to his character - a broke, drunk, traumatized guy with more failings under his belt than you can count. 

I confess, I’m not sure how I feel about him not visiting Robby in juvie from a writing perspective, however it’s on the show, so now we get to analyse how it can make sense - which, considering that Johnny isn’t good at prioritising - and as an ADHD that’s a mood - it can totally work. Is it very bad? Yes. Does it sound like something Johnny would do when faced between an easy-fix of his relationship with the Diaz family and his much more difficult and complicated relationship with Robby? Sigh, yeah... unfortunately parenting Robby is the biggest fear he has... it’s not pretty, but it’s not meant to be...

4. Anyway, TL;DR 

I’d have felt cheated if Johnny could just magically “become” better - both mentally and in his relationships to others. He’s made big mistakes, has a lot of unresolved mental health issues, and - ironically - has chosen flight over fight for so much of his life that “simply wanting to become better” being  enough of a motivator to change all of that around would’ve been unrealistic for his character and unsatisfying for a longterm plot in which we see how difficult it is and (hopefully) get to revel in the continued upwards journey despite that.

Also it would’ve been kind of insulting to these journeys in real life (to do a little conflating for a moment). 

Trying to make good is admirable, but it sure isn’t easy and it won’t always work, especially if you don’t know where to even start.

The joy of his story is in seeing someone continue to try despite that.

#johnny lawrence #cobra kai #robby keene #cobra kai meta #my writing #oh hey I wrote just straight-up meta without going halfway narrative about it #ramblerambleramble #i love characters who fuck up over and over again

[itwoodbeprefect]

as someone who lived thru mcdanno, what are ur expectations for buddie? (fellow clown here)

fjdkfd god, i do love that question, thank you, but prepare yourself for too many words and perhaps not the answer you want to hear.

first off, i feel like i barely even really lived through mcdanno. i came in around the time season 9 started and caught up midway through, so at that point there had been a full eight and a bit seasons to very clearly set the tone on that show and in steve and danny's relationship, which is queerbait, times ten. i literally never expected anything else, and i fully knew what i was getting into from the get-go. h50 is also a show i'd place politcally either in the center or right of center, often aimed at more of a boomer audience (oh god that episode about the "millenial" vloggers who weren't even millenials HAUNTS me) and with a number of queer characters i could (extremely literally) count on my hands, of which by far most either get a) one single speaking line (if at all), b) killed or c) exposed as a criminal. overall it's not a show that's kind to queer people, is what i'm saying, and it was never very interested in being so.

911 on the other hand... is very similar in some fundamental ways, hence the huge overlap there seems to be in steve/danny people and buck/eddie people, but it's also very different in many other ways. it only has four seasons so far, of which eddie has only been present for three, and the ensemble cast is WAY more an actual ensemble than in h50, which is also supposedly about a kind of found family but is in reality most of the time the steve-and-danny or even the really-just-steve show. mcdanno just gets so much more airtime, both by existing number of seasons and by minutes on screen per episode. the 911 setup is not a bad thing whatsoever (i wish h50 had done more of that! daniel dae kim and grace park DESERVED more of that, jfc) but it does mean that honestly, when i started watching 911 with h50 fresh on my mind and all the comparisons i'd seen on tumblr, i was like, yeah, okay. i see why people might ship it, but compared to mcdanno buddie has barely any setup at all. (i'msorrydon'thateme.)

and this is where i might accidentally be getting controversial, and i'm sorry about that too, because i really don't mean to put a damper on anyone's joy, but while i agree that buck/eddie can be fun to explore as a ship, i just... don't necessarily think it's going to happen on screen? and that's okay. there is absolutely nothing wrong with shipping something that isn't canon and that might never be canon! that's totally cool! the only problem with that is when you start expecting something to happen in canon and you end up getting disappointed if it doesn't, because that hurts and getting hurt is no fun at all, and that's what worries me a little about buddie and 911 fandom. when i look at the tags some people seem... very convinced. and i get that too, because when a whole bunch of people are analyzing a show for hints of a specific ship, it's very easy to get swept up in it and it's a kind of echo chamber in which you all agree that it would be good and make sense and how could this not be what they're planning considering all you're seeing? but i'm just not sure, in this particular case, whether the rest of the audience and the writers are seeing the same thing, and i feel like there's a bit of a buddie hype going on based on what (to me!) in all honesty doesn't seem like that much evidence in canon, which just scares me a bit.

again, certainly not trying to tell anyone they shouldn't be having fun with buck/eddie (you should!!!) or that there's nothing to go by in canon, but just. please be careful with expectations from that canon? if something happens, that's awesome, and if it never does, that's also okay. it doesn't mean you're crazy, but it also doesn't mean the writers or showrunners or god forbid the actors are evil people who have been stringing you along. i get how loaded this can be, especially because there is such a huge history of shows not going for queer relationships purely because of homophobia, and it can be easy to read that into this situation, but this show already HAS a huge number of canonically queer main and recurring characters, who are all awesome and written as actual people with lots of friends and sympathetic storylines and hero moments and i don't think, honestly, that accusing 911 of homophobia or queerbaiting or bad writing for not making the two men fandom has latched onto go canon is going to, well, accomplish anything, except foster bitterness and ruin something for people that they used to enjoy.

all of that being said, and not to fly directly in the face of everything i just said, but... it could happen. i'm not saying it couldn't. coming back to that thing about h50 and queer characters, 911 is very incredibly wildly different in its treatment of its characters, and they DO have queer characters. they have A LOT of queer characters, to the blessed point where "character b can't be queer because character a already is" definitely doesn't apply, which it has many times in the past even if there is someone not straight in the cast of some show. so i mean. maybe! it's possible! 911 is not h50 at all, and that's a very good thing imo because as much as i enjoy mcdanno, h50 is honestly lowkey unwatchable as a show to me sometimes.

so, essentially, my personal expectations for buddie as a romantic thing in canon are not high, but i guess higher than they ever were for mcdanno, because at least buck and eddie are on a show where it's a remote possibility. i think it would be great - a queer slow burn on tv, that would be amazing - but i also think the show and buck and eddie's relationship would still be great if they never did it, and that all the other queer characters they already have probably deserve a lot more attention from fandom if queer rep is really what it's about, because hen and karen and josh and michael and david are all right there, and that's not even getting into lone star with paul and tk and carlos. mostly though i think that i don't want people to get disappointed. nobody ever expected anything to happen in h50, and that gives a kind of freedom of certainy that there isn't in 911, which makes me a little nervous for this fandom and the people in it. not to sound preachy, but be safe, have fun, and make sure that things keep being fun for you, because that's what fandom is about. if they're not, it might be time to take a break, and that's okay - it's normal to get really invested in something you enjoy, but please also put your own enjoyment and comfort first. (and it's still totally okay and can be a lot of fun to ship something that isn't canon.) ❤

#not so sure i should be tagging this as anything so i won't #* #ask #anon

[mayasdeluca]

The episode was a bit underwhelming Imo, I expected some kind of cliffhanger (maybe the guy coming back with a gun for revenge on Vic and accidentally hurt someone or something and causing some kind of drama) but I guess they wanted to leave some sense of calm and joy before the incoming storm

Also Grey is getting worst to watch especially when he tries to be dramatic and authoritative he doesn’t have the range and his volume is all the way up when he acts he literally overact every single scene, he’s like he wants to look fierce and cool and dramatic at the same time but doesn’t know what is what and how to how

He’s the kind of actor good for a CW teen drama and that’s how he still acts,I know that ABC isn’t showtime or HBO but it still have some kind of good reputation and standards with their actors

The fucking hands, he tries too much, look at Barrett Jesus she say so much with so little she balances her emotions so well, you can actually feel her pain, honestly won’t surprise if she’s the next to go to do bigger and better things!

Danielle could also have her own show and I noticed Maya character has been pretty flat so far, maybe it is on purpose but I feel like something is missing with her storyline she became kinda like a passive witness around the events at the station, maybe she’s trying to fly low after all the chaos of the past season, but I miss her being badass, she barely have any action outside Carina relationship, don’t get me wrong I love it even if it feels a bit rushed, but hopefully she’ll get back to be more herself later on!

I think it may have been a conscious choice from the writers, maybe give more storyline to other characters: hers and Andy were pretty predominant last seasons

I like what they are going with Carina, I hope they keep going in that direction!

I’ll rewatch it but these are my two cents so far

I have other things to say but in case you haven’t watched i don’t wanna spoil too much

Underwhelming is the perfect word! That's why I didn't have much to say afterwards. I was expecting a little more for a midseason finale and I mean the plot with the guy and the cars was good but it doesn't really affect anything with the station long term and there weren't any cliffhangers so? And now we have to have a stupid crossover that's Owen related when it comes back.

The stuff with Vic and Crisis One was...interesting. Definitely frustrating to watch but understandable since she's clearly not stable right now and went back to work too soon. But I think Jack of all people has no business telling anyone how to act or what to do considering he hasn't been sober since Dean's died pretty much and has just been a miserable wench so who is he to tell Vic what to do or how to act? It was super hypocritical. (And yes, his hands were so distracting again in that scene and I just feel his acting is very forced at this point and it's getting very hard to watch.)

I never had much interest in Jack to begin with and then I didn't like him at all and then I was starting to warm up to him but now I can't bring myself to even care or want to look at him on screen because of these acting choices. It was never this bad or clearly I didn't realize it at first but whatever it is, it's getting too cringe for me.

It does seem like Maya is taking a backseat a bit, I wonder if it's because she isn't captain anymore and because they're focusing on others. I mean with the addition of Station 23 also, it's just way too much and way too many characters too. Hopefully with all this talk of the investigation we finally get some actually info/screentime on it and maybe that will progress her storyline a little.

I like that they're finally doing more with Carina too so hopefully they continue that! I have a feeling eventually she's going to deal with some sadness or trauma because they love making her suffer and things have been very happy lately but hopefully I'm wrong and she'll be pregnant very soon :)

#asks #anon #station 19 #station 19 spoilers

[astrolornb]

hbd to Hayao Miyazaki! (Capricorn sun/Aries moon)

Iconic animator, director, and screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki (b. January 5, 1941) turned 80 years old on January 5, 2021.

Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and acclaimed for his whimsical and fantastical animated feature-length films. He is known for writing stories with environmental and social messages, which often centre independent girls as protagonists.

His first breakthrough directorial film, Nausicäa of the Valley of The Wind (1984) follows a young princess who fights to defend her home community from war and environmental devastation in a post-apocalyptic world. Miyazaki adapted this screenplay based on a manga he wrote.

To be frank, I find I can’t really watch this film anymore (after having watched it maybe 3 or 4 times?), with the amount of war and fighting in it (the accompanying music is also kinda intense). However, this was once my favourite film by Miyazaki and I still recommend watching if you haven’t already seen it.

Today, Spirited Away (2001) and Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) remain some of my favourite films.

In Spirited Away, a ten-year old girl named Chihiro must save her parents from the spirit world by overcoming obstacles in a bathhouse full of spirits and outsmarting a powerful witch. I think this film both fascinated and slightly scared me as a kid, but I’ve grown to love it more as an adult. This description truly doesn’t quite do the film justice as the cast of unique characters each add a different twist to Chihiro’s journey towards bravery.

In Kiki’s Delivery Service, a young girl must leave home to train as a witch as per the traditions of her village. However, she starts to lose her powers when on her own and must regain them in order to survive. Kiki was truly an angsty teen of her time. As an entrepreneur, she basically delivered bread UberEats-style on her broom, to boot!

How many other teenage witches can you name who fly across the sea while listening to the radio? I once dressed up as Kiki for Halloween.

The above mentioned films were all written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

When I found out Miyazaki’s birthday, it came as no surprise that he was born as a Capricorn. I say this in reference to watching the NHK docu-series “10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki,” which highlights his obsessive and regimented work schedule and habits, reeking of Capricorn stereotypes.

“Placing value on the act of working hard is an incredible mistake…Working hard, it’s just something you do. If you don’t, nothing worthwhile will come about.” - Hayao Miyazaki (source)

Capricorns are Earth signs who are passionate and driven, above all else.

I don’t know about you, but in my life, Capricorns are always grinding (staying on top of everything!). These include successful artists and freelancers who are committed to their practice and communities (often while working multiple jobs), pushing through law/grad school during a pandemic, and dedicated to showing up and caring for their friends and family.

Tweets by astrologer Danielle Ayoka (@mysticxlipstick)

Maybe this devout sense of purpose and passion is what makes them come off as so wise beyond their years.

Capricorns are the epitomy of old souls. Their practicality makes them seem like a grandparent, regardless of their actual age.

“I’m so excited!” Miyazaki smiles with grandpa joy as he releases the tape from the video camera that he installed in his car to record as he drives. A little strange, perhaps, yet in the first part of the docu-series, it truly offers a pragmatic glimpse into his approach to work. (In this case, the study of daily motion.)

Screencapture from 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki by NHK

Of an emotional nature, another Capricorn stereotype is that they come off as cool and distant. In the same docu-series, viewers later witness Miyazaki walk out of the middle of his son’s film premiere. Ouch.

For Miyazaki, quality of work > everything else.

Tweet by karen han (@karenyhan)

In the documentary film the Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013), viewers watch Miyazaki going off on a team of animators, even making some cry after giving his feedback.

Capricorns set high standards. More so for themselves than for others though. However, beyond his Capricorn sun, Miyazaki has an Aries moon. The moon represents a significant emotional aspect of our inner selves.

What does this mean? According to the AstroTwins,

Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of aggression and war, which can make you temperamental and straight-up combative. With your fiery emotions, you get frustrated easily, blowing up at the slightest provocations. Although your temper tantrums pass quickly, you don’t always realize how much havoc your rage spells can wreak. The fallout could take years to live down, if the bridge isn’t permanently burned.

...

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and this moon sign makes you an initiator who likes to be number one. A warrior at heart, you’ll courageously champion any cause, project or person you believe in. You have a star quality, but your competitive streak can be fierce! 

Hayao Miyazaki’s birth chart (via astro-charts.com)

This combination of steadfast hard work (Capricorn sun/Earth sign) and fierce independence (Aries moon/Fire sign) likely contributes much to how Miyazaki has attained his status as such an accomplished filmmaker and artist.

While this blog post is a tribute to the great Miyazaki, it is also an acknowledgement that he is an imperfect person, as we all are. Humans are complex creatures. Like so many of us, he is someone who has caused hurt and someone who has experienced significant loss. And, at the same time, he is someone who has created so much beauty, too.

Screenshot from The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)

To many fans disappointment, Miyazaki retired from filmmaking after The Wind Rises (2013). However, in true Capricorn style, he has returned to work and emerged from retirement to direct a new film titled How Do You Live? which he intends to dedicate to his grandson.

With this forthcoming film, the Studio Ghibli animators have been tasked to draw more frames by hand than ever before. In the slow and steady Earth-sign-led process, they are producing a single minute of animation per month with a team of 60 people.

Studio Ghibli producer and general manager Toshio Suzuki says, “That means 12 months a year, you get 12 minutes worth of movie. Actually, we’ve been working on this film for three years, so that means we have 36 minutes completed so far. We’re hoping it will finish in the next three years.” Wow.

In Japan, an 80th birthday is referred to as the “umbrella celebration” (sanju 傘寿) in reference to the shape of the characters. The abbreviation of the character for “umbrella” (傘) can be read as “80″ by overlapping numbers 8 (八) and 10 (十).

Astrology writer Gala Mukamalova, once wrote about the power we give years. In an astrological love letter, she offered this to our hardworking, stubborn goat friends:

“But you, Capricorn, you who are still here, still wind howling through trees, still a leaf clinging to this life—forgiveness is something you can learn. How to give it, yes, but mostly how to receive it.”

Despite how much I enjoy projecting onto famous people based on their birth charts, I don’t truly know all that haunts Miyazaki or drives him to create as an artist, a son, a father, and a survivor of war.

Yet still, I hope this year may allow Miyazaki and his Capricorn sun to pursue forgiveness of self, whatever that may look like. I have no doubt that he will continue to find success with his work to come. Hopefully his Aries moon can tread lighter and enable him to act more kindly towards his studio team, too. After all, it is 2021.

Happy 80th birthday, Hayao Miyazaki. ☂️

#hayao miyazaki #studio ghibli #astrology #capricorn #aries moon