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bunnylouisegrimes · 4 years

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Episode 9 Review (The Future: What Does It Hold?)

Tagging @coldsoba per request

This episode was a headache for me. I was anticipating it, and although it wasn’t entirely bad and it wasn’t the worst, I think this episode highlights all the bad aspects of this season and brings them together. It brings some of the good that this season brought out together as well, but it’s evident to me now that we’re reaching the end so far that the bad is outweighing the good. This episode has me worried about the future of the series, and angry overall. I’m concerned that if this series does continue and has a season 3, it won’t be good, and it will turn into a shit show like The Walking Dead did (they want a season 3, although, based on the low ratings and low viewership, AMC might cancel, no one truly knows yet, especially if BBC and all that other stuff helps boost it).

Before I start this review, I’d like to say right here and now: this is a pretty critical analysis, and possibly has a bunch of unpopular opinions, but I’m saying it anyways. I’m mad, I’m annoyed, and I’m ticked. Last week’s episode ticked me off, this... Oh, man... just know I’m cool if you disagree with me, but I’m hoping by the end you all understand why I feel this way.

Now, don’t get me wrong: like most episodes of this show from this season, despite entire scenes and plot points being bad, it has great moments to enjoy. Did this episode contain lots of action and intensity? Hell yes, and I liked that. Did it stay true to the book ending so far? In a few ways, yes. Pretty much all the ways it didn’t due to the changes they made that were already questionable were the things I didn’t like, which leads me to this: Do I like the direction the story is going, based on what we know and have so far? Hell no. Of course, we don’t know 100% the direction it’s going until next week’s episode, but right now, I’m very on the fence.

Because there is a lot of bad I’m going to discuss, let’s get the good out of the way.

Lou and Vic in the beginning, as per usual, are sweet and I love them. Tabitha and Lou’s interaction was sweet as well. Seeing Charlie frightened and shook was oddly cute, but also funny. And Wayne and Charlie’s interaction... I’m sorry, it was just adorable. I like the idea of Maggie and Vic going to Christmasland together, that was a good choice (although now... I’m uncertain).

To begin the negativity, we’ll start with Charlie and the house scene. I like Charlie confronting his own fears, it’s a very interesting concept. I find it kinda stupid and confusing Charlie wouldn’t know this house exists in his own mind, I mean, it is a part of his own mind, even if it was in the back of it. Why would he not know? Despite that, we’re gonna move onto the meat and potatoes. Now, Cassie’s POV, based on how she was presented in the show (which I still hate, btw, and I am greatly annoyed with how she is not the abuser she was in the book, but I’ve discussed this already a million times), makes sense. We get why she’s pissed, she should be, although I don’t think she understands that her ex-husband had all of this shit happen to him as far as creating Christmasland and becoming a vampire and all that by having a mental snap. It all happened due to his mental pressure. He didn’t have full control (if any control!) over that entire situation. It happened, his life depended on souls and energy from that moment on, and he had to make do with the shitty end of the stick being presented to him. Christmasland is both good and bad, and vampirism is both good and bad, and Charlie has to try to make do with what he can to give himself and his daughter happiness, and focus on the positives. Cassie could’ve maybe given him at least that credit, but she makes it out like, “You’ve brought her happiness in presents and candy, not making her a woman.” Uh... Cassie? Charlie and Millie became vampires out of his control. All this shit happened, how the hell could he reverse all of it? Is there anyway he could? It’s not even explained if he can, but the writers ignore this fact and make it out to be like, “Look, he’s so evil!” Writers, is there anyway he could change these things, even if he wanted to? “Well, no, not exactly, but look, he’s still evil!” So... you’re not even allowing him to have an opportunity to change, and then when he’s stuck in the situation and making the best out of it, even if it isn’t 100% the best way... he’s still super heinous and evil? “Yes!” Okay... whatever... see this is another reason why it annoys me how they’re writing Charlie as “the worst person in the world,” when really, he isn’t. He’s not an angel, but he is not as evil as this show wants to present. Pretty much all of Cassie’s criticisms are valid, but she could’ve at least given Charlie some credit. Nope! But the thing that really bothered me in the back of my mind was how much better this scene would’ve been had they actually written his backstory properly. I kept thinking how much better it would’ve been if an abusive Cassie comes back to haunt Charlie and taunt him, degrading him, and mocking him, how much more sense it would’ve made. And if Millie pointed these things out to him, it might’ve changed his mind some (he would think, “oh, even my daughter kinda agrees with the abuser”). It works here with the way they portrayed her, despite the point I mentioned about Charlie making the best of shit falling flat on Cassie’s end, but it would’ve been 1000% better if they made her an abuser and she scared Charlie, then Millie brings up similar points and Charlie’s POV starts to change a bit.

(Plus, I’d like to add that by doing that, you’re setting potential up for a Charlie redemption arch, and he wouldn’t have to die, Vic and Maggie wouldn’t have to die, and season 3 has interesting potential, and you still have your main characters that we enjoy).

On the topic of this scene, here is a take a friend of mine gathered from it that I definitely can see as well: The point they were trying to make in this scene is that Charlie is a coward. This is their interpretation of Cassie being ‘abusive,’ they didn't leave it out (her being angry at him) like we thought they would. They wanted to give her a concrete reason to hate him so much and call him out for his bad deeds. Also, this house, which was hidden away at the back of his mind, is a mesh of Charlie's fears and his guilt. Based on his facial expressions and his mannerisms, and how he forcefully held Millie, this was all out of fear and guilt for what he did to them that first time and how The Wraith pretty much consumes you. She's literally trying to tell his stupid ass that they can never leave, otherwise, they'll turn to static, which they will. Millie can't go anywhere because she's stuck there and Charlie knows because he was selfish, he robbed her of her future without intending to. Charlie is highkey a yandere, even for his own kid, but it makes sense because he's never really had anything, Also, as to why he’s sort of controlling in a sense: he's driven by fear and also anger if you think about it. Christmasland is how he projects and saving other children because he had a rough and traumatic childhood, he has some serious mental health issues. This I see 100% presented here too, which is a good aspect coming out of this scene. This season does show us a really vulnerable Charlie as they explore his past and give him a breaking point, which we like! But we both definitely agreed that they wanted to make Charlie more of a dick than needed throughout this whole season. Maybe these writers really wanted more drama, especially Manx family drama, through Charlie acting worse? Not so sure. Either way, it gets on my nerves, and it’s almost inconsistent with the narrative they want to spin. They keep going back and forth with “Charlie’s so sad” (which, I would agree, he is, but they even mess that up and somehow still make him look worse) and “Omg he is the worst person ever.” I hope I’ve explained myself well enough in this area, it’s a very complicated and convoluted topic that has me conflicted and annoyed myself.

I think most importantly, the thing that annoys me about all of this Manx family drama the most is: How tf are they gonna “live normal lives” and “escape?” Millie grabbing onto the ornament prevents her from disappearing, which really doesn’t make sense. I’m sure they’ll clarify it next episode, but how is she gonna become a woman and live a normal life? For Christ’s sake, Charlie can barely understand the modern world as an adult man! You think a kid like her is gonna truly enjoy it or understand it? I have my doubts on this and how they’ll write all of that. Plus, she’s a vampire! If she returns human and all the other kids do when their ornaments break, and this is something that confuses me even in the book... where will they go? Oh yeah, they’ll somehow find normal lives! Honestly, it would make more sense to have them move onto the afterlife. Are they gonna keep them human and alive to make them the stars of the show? That possible concept of, “Oh, the kids are gonna be the stars of the show now!” No, writers... just no. Nobody is gonna care about that. Again, it’s a possibility, and it’s a possibility I’m not thrilled by personally. I don’t want them to be the stars. They can be awesome supporting characters, but not the main focus. Idk man, I’m just saying right now, I’m not so sure how this whole concept is gonna work and I fear how they’re going to write it.

Next up: Wayne’s shitty behavior. Wayne is acting like a really big asshole, and it’s getting on my nerves. “He’s now a vampire!” I hear someone say. “Of course he’s acting this way!” Yes, but the reason why it’s especially annoying is because Vic keeps trying and trying to get the point across to him, and it’s all for nothing. We know Vic’s opinions and her heartfelt feelings for her son, and she ends up having to repeat herself when she might as well be taking to the wall. What’s the point? Filler? We already know Vic’s determination is strong. In the book, how Wayne was acting was better. He held onto himself, but he also didn’t, but Vic’s words managed to get across to him quite a few times throughout his journey. This would’ve been much better on screen, but the writer’s were like, “HA HA NOPE!” The scene that really angered me: what was the point of Vic making her speech (which was really nice btw) only for Wayne to not listen... you’d think that’d be the scene where he changes, but the writers decided to turn it into a shock value filler moment (similar to Chris’s death, which, btw, all this nonsense is making his death for near nothing). And, let’s not forget my question from last week.. where is Craig in all of this? Hmmm... guess he decided to take a vacation from helping his biological son, because he’s just gone! Why?! What was the point?! He better at least appear next week, but even then... too late now, buster! Probably should’ve been here earlier! I mean, for real, what was the point of Craig’s character at this point? What a waste of potential...

The worst part imo from this entire episode: Okay, so the writers make Charlie an even worse villain, even giving him those subtle sadistic undertones even as Vic is trying to talk to Wayne (alright, I get it, there’s that element to “saving” Wayne that’s vengeful when it comes to Charlie, but it’s honestly just too much darkness; it’s almost out of character, especially when it’s in a scene like this. I get it, he likes the idea of getting revenge on Vic, but does he have to be THIS dark? That laugh he gave was funny, yes, and I couldn’t help myself but laugh just because of how stupid it sounded, but looking at the reason why he laughed... if anything, he would’ve stood there with a smug smile and say something like, “I told you he loves me more.” They make him way too dark and it really takes away from the fact he is a villain with moral code, but these writers have seemingly forgotten that with the exception of the one scene in episode 7 where he condemns Bing’s rape. Of course, the rapist might be getting a redemption arch anyways, not Charlie, but uh... moving on from all that past shit!). Yeah, as I was saying, they make Charlie darker. Okay, let’s forget my opinions on that for a moment: the characters have the opportunity to make him, this super evil and irredeemable villain, weak to the point he couldn’t get up at all... But Maggie stops him from being in this state? WHAT?! That shit is very out of character for her, and it’s very out of character for Vic to just stop! Vic would’ve persisted, and if the roles were reversed, Charlie would’ve persisted. That’s the thing about them both: they are persistent and protective about their kids. Why did Vic need to stop? “We need to find your son!” MAGGIE! You’ve both tried multiple times already! Focus on Charlie when you have the chance! How stupid are you two?! And better yet: Why would Vic drop the weapon?! She would’ve grabbed it!!!! What the hell is this shit?! I can’t even express how stupid this is... I get you can’t exactly kill him, but you could make absolute certain he would be subdued and unable to even have the chance to get up and grab his weapon. But nope! They need to attempt for the thousandth time to save Wayne in the exact same way, when it has shown not to work. You’d think they’d at least attempt to think of something else, even if their options are limited, but nah, we’re gonna do something very out of character instead... why?

Things aren’t looking too good for Maggie, so I have to ask: is Maggie gonna die? And if so, that is beyond fucking stupid. They set up the potential for a plot with Tabs and Mags for the third season. I didn’t pick up that they officially broke up, rather just separated for now, and... for what?! If she’s seriously gonna die, I’m gonna be extremely pissed. That wasted potential and insult to her character would be so fucking stupid. Yes, she dies in the book (in a different fashion, and it’s probably not that great how she goes there either), but look at all they’ve done for her character, especially giving her a girlfriend, a character that’s become even more important. Her death would be questionably more insulting here for sure!

Overall, while there were things I liked about this episode, I am majorly disappointed and concerned for the future of the series. I’m afraid it will take directions that are not good, and if it does continue, I am afraid it will be a living dead show of sorts. I think the only true way this show can carry on and be good is if all our main most important characters (Vic, Maggie, Charlie, Lou, Wayne, and Tabs) are all alive. Now, Vic and Charlie might be the only exception to this, just because they both do die in the book, and although even that is rough and not the best, it is expectant and I think this show can still be good with Maggie, Lou, Tabitha, and Linda taking care of Wayne (I’m not gonna go into the potential with Millie in this scenario because that’s a rocky topic lol). But if this show follows the path of TWD, where we have a whole new cast of characters you’re not really gonna care about and all the old cast you got to know and love is just gone... that’ll be the cherry on top of this shit sundae. I am excited for the concept of exploring the world of other Strong Creatives, as many rumors speculate the next season will contain, but if the show that explored the world of zombies failed by getting rid of pretty much their whole old cast... what about this show? They’ve already messed up quite a few things I don’t like this season I’ve discussed before, and if they go the route of doing anything that can get worse... I can’t describe how disappointing it would be. Not saying things have to be perfect or my way all the way, but it has to be generally good and enjoyable for everyone. Growing attached to a cast of characters only to erase many of them and focus on a new one is not a way that is good and enjoyable for everyone. AMC: This happened with TWD; for the love of God, don’t let it happen with NOS4A2.

As I said in my last review: let’s hope next week is better, and AMC, for the second time in a row, doesn’t deliver a disappointment of a show.

#nos4a2 #nos4a2 vic #nos4a2 charlie #nos4a2 maggie #maggie leigh #charlie manx #vic mcqueen

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gffa · 7 years

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Sometimes it’s easy to lose track of how amazing STAR WARS fandom can be, when there can be so much awful behavior by fans that never seems to end. But then you fling yourself back into reading fic and maybe not all fic all across fandom is perfect, but some of it is so incredibly talented and some of it is so incredibly good spirited and some of it is so incredibly fun that you remember, ah, yes, this is what makes fandom so much more than worthwhile. FIC SAVES ME EVERY DAY OF MY FANDOM LIFE and bless it for that. Fandom is amazing. ✦ Bitter Confessions by FireflyFish, obi-wan/anakin, 4.7k Obi-Wan Kenobi is having a secret affair with Satine Kryze and Anakin Skywalker is trying very hard to be okay with that. Until Satine ends the relationship because she’s tired of sharing Obi-Wan’s attention with a mysterious third person. ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan, 30.1k wip During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone. ✦ Little Notes by Dragons_Heart, obi-wan/anakin, modern au, 1k The idea of the secret admirer has been around for decades, possibly centuries. They never speak directly, but instead choose to leave little notes for their love to find. They only dream that one day they’ll be together. ✦ to prove it so by retts, obi-wan/anakin, force ghosts, 3.5k ‘Then it was real, my Padawan.’ ✦ Don’t Let This End by SoftlyFocused, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 4.9k Anakin is frustrated by how devastatingly handsome Obi-Wan looks at one of Padmé’s political parties, he gets drunk to cope. Obi-Wan is frustrated with how needy and demanding Anakin has been, he gets drunk to punish him. Both of them really need to release some tension after this seemingly endless war. ✦ Four Letters, Starts With L by frodogenic, anakin & luke/mara, 3.2k A fluffy oneshot set in the Limpet AU. A terrorist attack, a medcenter, and the unpredictable consequences of a certain four-letter word. ✦ the sanctity of dreams by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin & bail, ~1k Right before reaching Zigoola, Obi-Wan receives a transmission from home. ✦ closing in by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin, 1k Anakin and Obi-Wan were already long gone at that point, as their souls had perished together in the lava and amidst the acrid smoke; and all there was left was their shells, empty, remembering fragments of happier times that had long since passed. ✦ Helpless by DonkerRood, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, bondage, d/s, 1.9k Anakin finds himself helpless. ✦ just a little bit by retts, obi-wan/anakin, 1.9k Anakin took a deep breath and leaned into Obi-Wan’s space. Obi-Wan kept his ground and arched a brow at him. This was curious. ‘I like being tied up,’ Anakin whispered conspiratorially. Obi-Wan blinked. 'I beg your pardon?’ ✦ Young Lust by Writer_Markilyn, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka, NSFW, modern au, 19.1k Obi-Wan is only human, he sometimes forgot to turn off the stove, spent all his money on coffee, or even forget to change the oil in his car that now sounds like it’s going to explode when he turns it on. He ends up finding a mechanic shop that luckily isn’t too far from his home, and when he arrives, he lays eyes on a messy haired, oil streaked mechanic, with bewitching blue eyes, and it’s in that moment, Obi-Wan knows he’s a goner. ✦ slices by springsoldier (ladydaredevil), ahsoka/barriss & luminara & cast, modern au, pushing daisies au, 1.7k In which Barriss bakes pies and wakes the dead and Ahsoka is her alive-again childhood sweetheart. ✦ Tiny!Obi-Wan and the Red Man, Part 6 + Part 7 by phosphorescent-naidheachd, obi-wan & qui-gon & mace & cast, 2.2k wip ✦ to be made right by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka & cast, 10.1k Anakin is not angry; Obi-Wan is dead, and he feels hollow. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan realizes his mistakes, and Ahsoka is left to clean up the mess. full details + recs under the cut!

✦ Bitter Confessions by FireflyFish, obi-wan/anakin, 4.7k Obi-Wan Kenobi is having a secret affair with Satine Kryze and Anakin Skywalker is trying very hard to be okay with that. Until Satine ends the relationship because she’s tired of sharing Obi-Wan’s attention with a mysterious third person. Oh, this was such a lovely piece because it’s so incredibly true to Anakin’s character, that he’s consumed by this storm of feelings, that he’s so incredibly unfair to the people around him, he stomps right over the boundaries they’ve rightfully set up for themselves, because he feels things so intensely and cannot let them go. That Obi-Wan has made it clear he doesn’t want to talk about this, yet Anakin forges ahead anyway, that he knows full well that this is hurting his friend and their friendship and does it anyway, yet you cannot help but have sympathy for him and understand why Obi-Wan loves him so much. Because Anakin, mess though he may be, perfectly written here to show that anger and the dragon that lives in his heart, a metaphor that is used just the right amount, is still this incredible alive person, this brilliant star in the sky that Obi-Wan loves so very much. So, I would have loved it just for Anakin being unfair and selfish and so, so sympathizable! But, oh, Obi-Wan, who tries so hard to be gentle yet firm with him, who has every reason to think that the truth would only hurt their friendship, who has put up with so much and will reach a breaking point here–such good characterization, oh my god. Especially when you realize that Obi-Wan is always warm and kind with Anakin, but that moment when he’s truly angry, Anakin gets a taste of the lethal and predatory side of Obi-Wan that has always been part of who he is. The moments where he stalks towards Anakin in fury or where he backs Anakin up against the wall, those are beautiful and appeal to my id like you wouldn’t believe (SO HOT OMG) but also are used to show just HOW MUCH Obi-Wan is kindness with him, that contrast shows exactly how different he usually is with Anakin. But this is a happy fic and it has such warmth and kindness in the end, there’s a great line from Obi-Wan that’s utterly sparkling and perfect, there’s so much of Anakin being a mess in a way that should make me want to smack him, but instead just makes me want to wrap a blanket around him and feed him a cookie, which is exactly how I should respond to his character. It’s a shorter fic, but it was so pefectly made for me and so lovely and just a really, really great thing to pick up and enjoy! I LOVED IT SO MUCH. ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan, 30.1k wip During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone. Chapter 6: This is an update rec and will focus on this chapter, rather than the fic as a whole. As always, my thought whenever I finish a chapter of this story is, “Noooo, why does it have to end there, I want to keep reading!” And this is a chapter that’s about Anakin and Isten’s interaction, as well as the growing mystery of whatever creepy thing is happening in the house, and it’s all just so very lovely. There’s a sense of something shifting and roiling with Anakin here, he’s unsettled and I can really feel it in everything he does, whether it’s tossing and turning in bed at night or in his angry conversation with Isten. Whether it’s the house getting to him or being confronted with things he doesn’t want to think about (my answer: PROBABLY BOTH), it’s getting under his skin and let me tell you about how much I love Anakin Skywalker being a mess and being contrasted against the Sith version of himself and not wanting to hear what he has to say or feel how much more settled that version is in his own skin. The nightmares that haunt him (which are beautifully used here, how that’s something that still lingers in his heart and drags him down again and again, how it claws at him), the darkness that terrifies him, the way he feels like he’s not really in control, all of it is building and, oh, I’m so entirely here for that. The insights Isten has into Anakin’s character, what he utterly understands about the person who is a mirror image of himself in a lot of ways, is fascinating, because it’s true–for all that Isten has Fallen, for all that one shouldn’t trust him, for all that he’s probably capable of terrible things, that just means that he knows how to face the truth and turn it into a weapon that cuts and undermines Anakin, he knows how to hurt with it. And the unsettling thing about the dark is that it’s not always 100% wrong, especially why he isn’t bothered by the house, but Anakin is. That he’s right about what Anakin wants when he acts out, how desperately he wants attention, how giving himself over to the one he wants will stop the noise–and, whatever else Isten may or may not be wrong about, he’s not wrong about that, when he himself is proof of it. And, oh, that contrast, that parallel between these two Anakins, that’s so good for me. Of course, there’s still more going on. The house and the shadows that are slowly creeping forward are more pronounced now, even if the character themselves don’t see them. It’s slow and insidious and there’s something there, but you can’t put your finger on it yet and it’s beautifully creepy. And I still have no idea what drew these people together, if the Sith versions are just id made flesh or if they’re something else, I don’t know what they want or which of them is telling the truth about who Fell or if both or neither are, and there’s a growing closeness between Jedi Obi-Wan and Jedi Anakin, partly sparked off by seeing these other two together and the lust that inspires in both of them, but also because they’re in a situation that unsettles them and it’s natural to look to the other to or for help. And, oh, the ending of this chapter got me, I didn’t see it coming, but it was built up to perfectly and it made so much sense with everything Anakin felt up to then and Obi-Wan’s response to Anakin gave me a ton of feelings. Because it’s always just Anakin that he thinks this way for, that he wouldn’t care as deeply about someone else, he wouldn’t have such sympathy for someone else, he wouldn’t draw the parallel (because they’re not the same thing) for anyone else, he wouldn’t say what he does for someone else, just Anakin. And wrapped up in the darkness they’ve been forced to confront, it’s a beautifully built narrative element, all added to how it’s Anakin crying on Obi-Wan and that’s just like one of the easiest ways to my fannish heart, especially when it’s so beautfiully written. ✦ Little Notes by Dragons_Heart, obi-wan/anakin, modern au, 1k The idea of the secret admirer has been around for decades, possibly centuries. They never speak directly, but instead choose to leave little notes for their love to find. They only dream that one day they’ll be together. This was a short and cute modern AU where Obi-Wan is leaving notes for Anakin and it’s just pure adorable fluff, not even really angsty for all that it’s about pining. There’s not much resolution here, it’s just about the pining and the cuteness of it, that sweet period of just holding feelings you have for someone else and enjoying the mystery of it, but it’s really enjoyable for being exactly that! It’s utterly cute and a fun read to pick up when you want something soft and adorable. ✦ to prove it so by retts, obi-wan/anakin, force ghosts, 3.5k ‘Then it was real, my Padawan.’ Oh, I really loved this a lot, it’s such a lovely look at just after Anakin’s death, that it doesn’t matter if the Force works this way or not, it’s about the emotional story being told and what it says about Anakin Skywalker, as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’s hard to explain the solidity of this piece, how warm-hearted it is and touching it is, because it seems like a fairly simple thing on the surface. But it says so much about the characters, what they want in their hearts, the things Anakin years for and is terrified of, the things that Obi-Wan wants to do for Anakin, how much he loves this person, even after everything Anakin had done. The scenes themselves, just as nothing more than scenes in a story, are lovely to read, as Anakin is a Padawan again and has such a tremendously good, warm day, but the deeper meaning for both characters is what really got me here. It was heartwrenching, but in such a cathartic, hopeful way. It’s something of an honest look at Anakin’s character, that he was a monster, but that he’s let it go, and what’s left behind is still him and he’s loved. And Obi-Wan will lead him again, will take care of him again, and I’m not explaining this well, but the fic does a beautiful job of it and got right at my feelings on the whole thing. ✦ Don’t Let This End by SoftlyFocused, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 4.9k Anakin is frustrated by how devastatingly handsome Obi-Wan looks at one of Padmé’s political parties, he gets drunk to cope. Obi-Wan is frustrated with how needy and demanding Anakin has been, he gets drunk to punish him. Both of them really need to release some tension after this seemingly endless war. Ah, this was a lovely thing to read this morning, it’s soft around the edges in a way that makes my heart warm and feel entirely soothed, because they’re drunk and affectionately bantering but also genuine with each other, until Anakin can’t take the gentle teasing bites and touches and needs more and Obi-Wan finds him so devastatingly beautiful, is obviously just so completely in love with him, that it’s only so long he can hold out before having to touch him more, too. It’s just this really kind-hearted piece with some really satisfying sex, as Obi-Wan gently holds him down and opens him up until Anakin promises to be good and is writhing on his fingers and so, so gorgeous. Until Obi-Wan finally slides into him, Anakin nearly shaking apart with how much he wants this, and Obi-Wan keeps taking him apart, layer by layer, until there’s nothing but this in Anakin’s head, how much Obi-Wan loves him, how good Obi-Wan feels in him, how much he wants to hold back to make this last. It’s lovely and kind and ridiculously hot and satisfied my need for banter and the two of them in a situation where they can be drunkely affectionate and to just fuck the noise ouf of Anakin’s head, for Obi-Wan to have this chance to express his affection this way, to help this dear one he loves so very much. But also really, really nice sex, like that’s exactly what I’m here for, it’s so good for me. ✦ Four Letters, Starts With L by frodogenic, anakin & luke/mara, 3.2k A fluffy oneshot set in the Limpet AU. A terrorist attack, a medcenter, and the unpredictable consequences of a certain four-letter word. It would probably help to at least be familiar with the rest of this universe to understand the set-up, but other than that, this stands well on its own and it’s a fun read about Vader fussing over Luke and trying to deny his feelings, while also cat fighting with Mara. I really, really enjoyed Luke especially in this fic, he’s such a good person, but he’s not a pushover, that balance can be hard to strike sometimes, but it’s perfectly done here, and it’s so easy to see why these jaded, cynical, bitter people love him so much. And I really love this Luke/Mara dynamic, it’s so wonderfully them, even when it’s not really the point of this fic, and it was just an incredibly fun read! ✦ the sanctity of dreams by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin & bail, ~1k Right before reaching Zigoola, Obi-Wan receives a transmission from home. This was short, but a lovely little addition to the Wild Space book, where Anakin is a complete mess when he fears that Obi-Wan is going into danger and maybe won’t come back, where Obi-Wan remains strong for Anakin, because that’s what he needs, because that’s who Obi-Wan is, and it just slips between the pages of that book very nicely (though, you can read it without having read the book) and was a nice treat today! ✦ closing in by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin, 1k Anakin and Obi-Wan were already long gone at that point, as their souls had perished together in the lava and amidst the acrid smoke; and all there was left was their shells, empty, remembering fragments of happier times that had long since passed. A post-ROTS short fic that’s lovely and all about the hurt of how these two lives have crashed and burned. I don’t usually read “all hurt, no comfort” fics, but shorter ones I can handle and I do enjoy some good angst about how fucked up everything was by the end, especially if Vader’s just miserable about the wreckage of what he’d hoped for, because it’s really cathartic and heartbreaking when done right, like it was here. ✦ Helpless by DonkerRood, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, bondage, d/s, 1.9k Anakin finds himself helpless. Oh, this was really, really lovely and such a good read for me, because it’s all about Anakin’s getting tied up and sinking into subspace, where all the noise in his head just goes away, where he doesn’t have to be anything he’s not, where he doesn’t have to many any decisions, where he’s utterly trusting in the hands that are holding him and can just let everything go. I would have picked this up for just the pretty sex, but I wound up loving this aspect of it just as much, that this is an Anakin who can find some quiet, this is an Anakin who is getting what he needs, this is an Anakin who can trust that Obi-Wan loves him and would never hurt him and so Anakin can turn over control to his Master. This is an Obi-Wan who is entirely focused on Anakin, on giving him what he needs, telling him what he needs to hear, being incredibly vigilant about how it’s going for Anakin, and why the d/s relationship works so well for them–because Obi-Wan wants to help Anakin and Anakin wants to have his head cleared out. That Anakin can push back initially, can go against the rules, can be demanding and greedy, can push his hips up for what he wants, knowing that he’s supposed to be still and quiet, and it leads to holding Anakin down so he can’t do more, which just leaves him feeling held and secure. But also, you know, Obi-Wan gently and surely opening Anakin up with his fingers, then sliding slowly into him, telling him how good he is, takes his time gently fucking Anakin until the pace builds and even then it’s unhurried, this will go on all night, and, yeah, okay, I was really very here for that as well. A straight shot at my id as always, but also what it says about Anakin’s character and the relationship between these two characters, all of that was so good. ✦ just a little bit by retts, obi-wan/anakin, 1.9k Anakin took a deep breath and leaned into Obi-Wan’s space. Obi-Wan kept his ground and arched a brow at him. This was curious. 'I like being tied up,’ Anakin whispered conspiratorially. Obi-Wan blinked. 'I beg your pardon?’ This was adorably funny, as Anakin can’t stop telling Obi-Wan about his kinks (and, yes, yes, Anakin likes getting tied up and/or spanked and/or getting rimmed to hell and back, yes, he does) and Obi-Wan is just so entirely put-upon, like this is just another day of dealing with Anakin and he walks the line of handling this as well as anyone can versus not actually engaging with Anakin on this, in that way that’s so Obi-Wan, where he’s really more weak to that pouty look on Anakin’s face and worried about what’s going on with Anakin to be behaving so oddly like this and just some really cute, funny banter. I’m usually on the demi!Anakin train, but I will happily throw that out for Anakin being high as hell and unable to stop talking about his adorable kinks and for Obi-Wan’s delightful banter right back at him, while also obviously caring deeply about him. ✦ Young Lust by Writer_Markilyn, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka, NSFW, modern au, 19.1k Obi-Wan is only human, he sometimes forgot to turn off the stove, spent all his money on coffee, or even forget to change the oil in his car that now sounds like it’s going to explode when he turns it on. He ends up finding a mechanic shop that luckily isn’t too far from his home, and when he arrives, he lays eyes on a messy haired, oil streaked mechanic, with bewitching blue eyes, and it’s in that moment, Obi-Wan knows he’s a goner. It took me a bit to get into the swing of this fic, but by the time Obi-Wan and Anakin were in a relationship, the fic hit my id right straight in the feelings and didn’t let up on it. It’s a fic that whole-heartedly embraces a lot of tropes of modern AUs, which I think helps to know ahead of time, it put me in the right mindset for the fic and by the halfway point, I was just having a ton of fun with it. That and the super, super ridiculously id-pleasing sex, so many times that Obi-Wan would either gently and teasingly open Anakin up slowly before fucking up or so many times that he’d flip him over and grab hold of him to fuck back into him again or he’d spread Anakin out over the table and wrap his legs around Obi-Wan and fuck him hard and fast right there and it was all so enthusiastic, like it was super hot already but then Anakin was just so happy to have Obi-Wan’s attention, to be filled up with him, to have everything else out of his head for awhile! I will always enjoy sex that makes me happy for both characters! But, seriously, though, they had sex like five or six times in this fic and I’ve stillgot that image of Obi-Wan fucking Anakin on the table in my head. Or all the times that Obi-Wan almost finished in him, only to pull out and flip him over so that he could push back in harder, Anakin pushing back against him for more of it, his hands scrabbling for purchase anywhere he can get, a whine in the back of his throat for how much more he wants. Like, okay, give me a minute to recover after that! It’s also a fic that comes with a lot of the two of them just being instantly attracted to each other and the fun trope of bad communication that leads to a breakup and then reunion sex where Anakin’s not going to forgive him immediately, okay! Except he still really does want Obi-Wan to fuck him! And it’s just so damn much fun that I loved every minute of them both being totally over the moon for each other. It’s just a really pleasant, happy-making fic, sexy times, enthusiastic fic that was a solid length and was pretty much exactly what I wanted to read. ✦ slices by springsoldier (ladydaredevil), ahsoka/barriss & luminara & cast, modern au, pushing daisies au, 1.7k In which Barriss bakes pies and wakes the dead and Ahsoka is her alive-again childhood sweetheart. I didn’t mean to get sucked into this fic, I’m generally not at the place with Ahsoka/Barriss where I want modern AUs, but I was lured by the promise of Obianidala, and just… got swept up in this, which has really lovely writing and just does a great job with Barriss’ quiet yet intense personality, how she’s so withdrawn but feels things so intensely, and it somehow just really captured the atmosphere I want for these characters, both in her relationship with Ahsoka and Luminara. Plus, the Obi-Wan/Anakin/Padme stuff was cute and I’m glad to have found a fun little fic for one of my favorite f/f pairings! ✦ Tiny!Obi-Wan and the Red Man, Part 6 + Part 7 by phosphorescent-naidheachd, obi-wan & qui-gon & mace & cast, 2.2k wip When an intruder with a red lightsaber invades the Temple creche, 6-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi’s life is set on a new course. But taking a different fork on destiny’s path doesn’t necessarily alter your destination… This is an update rec and you can follow the links for the previous parts and, oh, man, I really do enjoy this story! A lot of it is tension here, as they’re chasing after a kidnapped moppet!Obi-Wan but LET ME TELL YOU about how much I love moppet!Obi-Wan and how, even as a kid, he was getting tangled up in Sith plots and hijinks. I’m glad this is still being written and look forward to more! ✦ to be made right by SpaceTimeSkywalker, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka & cast, 10.1k Anakin is not angry; Obi-Wan is dead, and he feels hollow. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan realizes his mistakes, and Ahsoka is left to clean up the mess. Oh, my god, this fic was one beautiful revelling in Anakin’s depression after Obi-Wan’s apparent death, how withdrawn and devastated he is, which appeals to me for the shipper feelings, of course, it was so good on that front, what it said about how desperately Anakin loved him, what it said about Anakin’s character and how emotionally unstablized he is by this (even more than he already was), and about Obi-Wan’s growing concern for Anakin when he doesn’t see him around during the undercover mission, how deeply worried he is, and how Anakin’s reactions (and sometimes lack of them) change the course of their relationship and possibly everything. I went into this fic for all the feelings it would give me about Anakin crying or sleeping in Obi-Wan’s bed or the other Jedi being worried about how deeply Obi-Wan’s loss affected him, but I got something that was even more satisfying than that. And it’s really good-hearted and caring about the path it takes the characters on as well, it comes from such an obvious place of love. I hate when I have to bail out of a fic because it’s not how the characters themselves would act or because it gets too preachy or mean-spirited, but this one was really nicely considerate of the characters’ motivations and reasons, it had me believing that, yes, this is how the characters would act! When Obi-Wan comes back to Anakin, he realizes he made a mistake, but so much of the narrative is about Obi-Wan’s tendency to blame himself in ways that he’s not always a reliable narrator about, and there’s nothing but sympathy for everyone who’s in this shit war they’re all in, they love each other and that shines through here. And I loved it for that, but also that it’s used to bring things to a head in a better way than they did in canon, that it’s used to lance open a wound that was already festering, that it’s used to make certain things rear their head because they needed to be said here, not later, that they find their way back to each other in the way that they would. The final scene had me letting out this breathy, happy, satisfied sigh for how perfect it was, how things that didn’t matter were set aside, how of course Anakin would forgive him here, how it was just the right amount of apologizing versus confessions versus turning towards something better. It was so good for all of that.

#obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #obikin #ahsoka tano #fic recs #star wars fic recs

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