A work had a controversial installment or arc, and it is widely regarded as bad for the story/franchise at large. Is it better for any future installment to retcon (hard or soft) and revert the status quo to pre-slump or to try to pick up the pieces without throwing the baby out with the bathwater, if one even exists?
Oogh. That's a tough one, considering how many questionable writing choices I'd personally scrub from existence if I had my way, but in general I think it's better to commit to the bit rather than constantly rewriting. Bad writing can be salvaged in hindsight - wasted characters can be strengthened in flashbacks, consequences of glossed-over tragedies can be explored later, dubious dialogue can be rendered profound through callbacks. Look at how Hayden Christensen's been playing Anakin lately and how much people like what he's doing - it doesn't make the prequels not lousy, but it does make them hold together a bit better in the grand scale. Half the fun of twists and reveals is how they reframe past plot points, and if a writer is careful they can add to a story in ways that reach back to the weak parts and strengthen them.
In contrast, the "never mind all that" school of writing makes it very, very obvious to the audience that the writers don't know what they're doing, or at least don't agree with each other, and spotting the hand of the author like that disengages the audience like nothing else.
Tbh I think Star Wars is a really interesting case study for this, since they've been playing both sides sidious-style for ages. Lucas kept digitally remastering the original trilogy and burying the version people saw in theaters, and nobody liked that - hence all the arguments about Han shooting first, because Lucas changed that after the fact to make him more uncomplicatedly heroic. Then the prequels were a mess, but accepting them as What Happened led to shows like Clone Wars (which overall slapped) and Kenobi, which wasn't perfect but did strengthen the characters, including Owen and Beru, who in the original were entirely flat spacefillers designed to die at Refusal Of The Call O'Clock. And bridging the gap between the prequels and OT gave us Rogue One, and then Andor, which are collectively the best star wars has ever been. But the sequel trilogy had AGGRESSIVE retcon-fights between Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, the most overt Never Mind All That I've ever seen - and NOBODY liked it.
Overall I think committing to the bit wins out, even if it's rough for the creators to look their past fuckups in the eye and find a way to make them feel intentional.
443 notes
·
View notes
With both Danhausen and Ethan Page recently announcing they're openly booking indie shows because they want the opportunity to wrestle, can we please have a conversation about how few people on AEW's roster get to actually do things and what a crying shame it is for everyone involved??
More under the cut so I don't clog the dash
At least when they used to run Dark/Dark Elevation and upload them to youtube it meant fans could see their favourites wrestle even if they weren't getting Dynamite time, some people were Dark staples and it gave wrestlers a great space to develop and show their skill as well as being a way for fans to form attachments to people on the roster not getting as much TV screentime
It's so disheartening talking to non-AEW wrestling fans who are curious about the company and telling them about your favourite wrestlers, then having to give match recommendations from the indies to check out because most of the talent on the roster is lucky if they get more than 5 matches a year on AEW (especially if you're after more than squashes and huge multi-person matches where they're spacefillers for the people who are the Actual Focus)
Not everyone can be the top talent, I get that. AEW just seems to use mostly the same people regardless of if they're the A-list or bottom of the card, which means the rare opportunities we get to see other people means those wrestlers have to try and win over the audience every time because they get forgotten and have no opportunity to build momentum or fan support, let alone tell any kind of story. It's sad watching someone from the roster finally get some TV time again only for most fans to go "who are they" about someone who's been with the company for ages
It also means that when injuries happen and multiple fan favourites who were getting more screentime aren't able to wrestle, there's less people who can step up and fill that void because fans aren't able to easily form a connection with the majority of the roster because you have to actively make an effort to seek them out. I watch everything AEW put out, and still there's people on the roster I barely know. For people who watch everything televised they're still missing out because of online only clips that never get shown to the majority of the AEW audience, there's so many great promos that make me really excited about a particular wrestler that most people never get to see in action. Anyone who is only tuning in to one show a week has no hope of connecting with the wider roster
When I got into AEW, I decided to start watching the live stuff as it aired and simultaneously rewatch everything AEW put out from the beginning until I'd caught up, but realistically most people don't have the time to do that. Unfortunately, doing this is the only way I've seen most of the roster do anything! It sucks as a fan to wait for a card announcement knowing your favourites aren't gonna be on it because they never are, and it sucks just as much for the wrestlers. Becoming All Elite should be an incredible opportunity to reach a wider audience, to show people what you can do and it's a shame for the fans and the roster that for most people that isn't happening. It's damaging the company and it sucks the enthusiasm out of your fanbase and your wrestlers
I miss Dark/Dark Elevation. I want to see everyone get an opportunity to make me love them, make me hate them, impress me with what makes them unique. AEW right now is at a point where if you dislike certain people/factions and aren't interested in watching those specific matches/promos, if they're some of the people getting major screentime you might as well not bother with half the shows because they're going to be there constantly. I say this as someone who has very few things in AEW that for me personally have go away heat, but look at the reaction to when we have to endure yet another 10 minute Callis promo... All I see is "free X wrestler from this storyline" or "this could've been a women's match." I'm sure there must be people out there who love it, but I don't personally know anyone who actually enjoys it, which is one of the major downsides of giving a huge platform to specific people with slots on Dynamite and Collision, while making everyone else fight for scraps. Seeing people you love constantly getting passed over in favour of the same people every time makes people bitter, and not just the audience at home. Fans deserve better and so do the wrestlers
I will say as an aside, thank you RJ City for doing SO much heavy lifting with Hey! EW to allow wrestlers a chance to showcase their personality and give fans a chance to connect with people who maybe aren't getting the opportunity to reach an audience on AEW programming. Every single episode of that show makes me have a more positive opinion of the wrestler featured than I had going in and someone I didn't care about has won me over on more than one occasion, I sincerely hope it continues so we can eventually see the entire roster on there
37 notes
·
View notes
Lucky number seven 🎲✨ (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6)
Oh yeah btw there is a considerable amount of Edgar/Scriabin this time around so like - look out for that I guess lol
[MAY9] Thinking about healing plane Edgar had me very excited, big anticipation and looking forward to seeing him hehe ♪
[MAY16] I didn’t plan for it, but Incoming was basically the prototype of trying out minicomics with sketchier panels - it was a good start! You can also see more of the panel differences in the stream itself, Nny’s hair probably being the biggest one haha
[MAY16] Speaking of - since Scriabin’s expression was central to this panel, it’s interesting to me to see the original draft vs. the final version
[MAY18] I ended up with this mini in multiple stages of completion because I was struggling with it which made for some interesting progression-style gifs!
[MAY18] I think this one was definitely the most extreme out of all the panels, just pop! There they are
[JUN8] Shy Lady!Edgar ♥ Too hot out to wear much, but too embarrassed to show off ✨
[JUN8] Lady!Scriabin getting into mischief she shouldn’t and bothering Edgar, the usual. I love writing out keysmashes, there’s something very funny about it to me
[JUN13] Mwah mwah mwah, so many hearts and happies 💕
[JUN14] And Also With You hands ♥ I made myself a little cheat sheet of the order the shackles attached themselves, I wanted to make an injury index as well but couldn’t swing it, maybe next time
[JUN14] A set of Vargas-style eye expressions! Specifically Edgar, or at least his body
[JUN14] A couple of pleading and contrite Edgars; got the image specifically as a spacefiller, it all worked out exactly as planned haha
[JUN29] I wasn’t kidding, I was very 👀✨💕 about his shirt riding up lol
[JUL2] Possibly the best bonewings I’ve drawn so far, I almost wish they were more of the focus haha. Well they are here! Central and important ✨
[JUL17] I still so love how goofy Demon!Scriabin is, casual and light! Doodling him spinning his tail was fun ♪
[JUL2] They still fight like cats and dogs, natural enemies and counterparts. The chains are just an additional directional tool, it’s all in the utilization
[JUL9] The aforementioned sketchy scratchy minicomic project, finally in full swing! The first one had them quietly interested and in agreement ♪
[JUL9] Well, at first anyway haha
[JUL9] They just can’t help themselves ♥
[JUL9] He’s baby your honour
[JUL17] No one likes a peeping tom, Scriabin!
[JUL17] Come run away with me to a convent with only a bunch of other women come onnnnn, we can totally pretend to just be devout about it ♥
[JUL17] What was I watching, I think it was an r/sapphoandherfriend video and there was a statue of two topless ladies kissing in the background of a failed proposal of a gentleman to the lady who owned said statue lol; an extremely cute pose on top of the environmental storytelling haha
[JUL17] More kisses, sleepy, fuzzy, out-of-it kisses
[JUL18] This was meant to be the original shape of Scriabin’s sheer shawl(?) in the digital Drider doodles but I unfortunately combined the layers before I meant to :’) At least I got to draw it here! Spiderweb design 🕸
[JUL18] @lunavos made mention of Scriabin holding onto Edgar with all his spare legs and mentally I was like “Funny you should say that-” haha, I’d only drawn as much maybe a day or so beforehand!
[JUL18] Just rests his entire body weight onto his oh so helpless human victim ♪
[JUL19] Continuing the trend of starting and then just not finishing pose ideas lol, I ended up losing steam because I think I had dialogue in mind? But I didn’t write anything down so I don’t actually remember :’D Floating Scriabin is always fun tho ♪
[JUL25] Not art, but I jumped back into Tomodachi Life for like, five seconds to quickly make an Edgar Mii because it is my mission to make the Vargases in as many character-customizable/life sims as possible. Unfortunately I literally only had one apartment left open so no Scriabin this time around :( Let’s just say this is while he’s still hanging out in Edgar’s head; I have given him at least one speech line to indicate that Edgar’s talking to him in there lol
[JUL29] It doesn’t count as long as you declare it first! I’m quite pleased with Scriabin’s expression in the second panel, cute ♥
[JUL28] Felt very inspired by WASU_ART’s extremely cute paper dolls and made a base ♪ Does it defeat the purpose of a live-action animation tool if I make a vector with a static pose? Hmmm
[JUL30] What you mean you don’t just casually draw softcore at the library using their scrap paper and pens? I made sure I was away from any potentially bothered eyes lol dw
[JUL30] A healing plane Scriabin for a warmup, what a floof <3
[AUG1] Another panel from the scratch project, I’m so amused with how his face turned out lol
[AUG1] Kiss-dip Edgar, it’s a good way to trick him into hugging him/holding onto him for dear life
[AUG1] And, done! What do I win? Even for just a sketch, I’m quite pleased with the depth on his shaded arm haha
[AUG1] I unfortunately had to scrap this one because I wrote down a specific injury and then forgot it when I went to draw, so it’s more like an offshoot of Restful Dreams - the expressions still turned out nice tho so here they are ✨
[AUG1] Scriabin yelling at a very aggressive scribble, I mean Shmee. Poor Todd, trying to play peacekeeper between them ♥
[AUG1] He just completely deflates in water, amazing ✨ It’s always fun to draw soaked-over-the-head stuff, it’s so silly haha
[AUG5] A handsome Edgar in a nice jacket and turtleneck combo - even tho he was drawn in Summer, just gotta give that Autumnal vibe
[AUG5] How many doubles would Edgar realistically need or have? Time to go thrifting for the less obvious necessities!
[AUG5] A brushed and put-together Scriabin taunting Edgar into fluster? He’s just too handsome, right?
[AUG5] A digital Scriabin that I had a lot of fun with the composition of - the string comes from offscreen and cuts him off like a panel but it’s not a panel! Magic ✨
[AUG6] Scriabin has Edgar’s attention taken away from him for two seconds and he gets So Mad about it haha
[AUG6] Cornered and kissed, what a terrible fate 💕
[AUG6] Ladies do be shopping tho. They’re so tall! They must get asked to pull stuff off the top shelves all the time
[AUG6] If ever chocolate was an essential item, it would be now
[AUG7] Don’t pick on Edgar, she doesn’t always think through her statements! Just because that makes it easy to twist her words!
[AUG7] Hugs ♥ Hugs for Edgar ♥ Time for Scriabin cuddles ♥ No hope of escape ♥
[AUG7] Exit, pursued by Scriabin. You can’t hide from him, Edgar!
[AUG7] Now poke me back
[AUG7] Maybe if you stopped being mean to each other you wouldn’t keep being mad at each other? No? Okay cool
[AUG9] An Eros and Apollo-style Scriabin, specifically based on the frame around 0:53 - super fluffy! And oddly sludgy (And definitely not at all inspired by the post that introduced me to this song in the first place, Scriabin could never be described as egoistic! Lol)
[AUG12] A mini I don’t plan to finish, but it’s still cute
[AUG12] Come on, Edgar, you know he’s playing you
[AUG12] So excited ♪
[AUG12] Y’know Edgar, I think that might have been a trick actually
[AUG12] Seeing something he shouldn’t be seeing! You know the verse about plucking out one’s eye if it causes you to sin? Does that mean his main, already blank eyes or...?
[AUG13] I cut the punchline ‘cause it gives away the entire joke, but I do love Edgar’s sleepy indignance and Scriabin’s *scandalized gasp* lol
[AUG13] Out using a library computer perhaps, got a lot of studying to do
[AUG13] “I was way faster when I was a computer!”
[AUG13] Scriabin and Jake discussing stuff that Edgar’s too uncomfortable with ♪ There’s so much to learn!
[AUG15] I really like the composition of this one hehe
[AUG15] I ended up scrapping this pose but her face really did turn out very cute ♥
[AUG15] Lady snuggles ♥ Scriabin’s close to listening to her heart 💕
[AUG20] Was struck with the image of them holding each other’s chibi counterparts - they’re both so round and tiny!
[AUG21] What ended up being a single panel continuation of Outgoing, he’s gotta be in there somewhere!
[AUG22] Ladyverse Biblical Vargases 💕✨ What no I don’t already have a song picked out specifically for them you can’t prove anything
[AUG22] Casually sloppy Lady!Scriabin ✨ An open pose is very cute
[AUG25] Uncomfortable Edgar, inching away so as not to alert the invitation-extender :)
[SEP17] Somebody asking him about his scars just one too many times, can’t believe this was inspired by Spamton of all things lol
[SEP17] If he can smell “sad” you better believe he can smell other things too ♪ I’ve written down Edgar saying “That’s not a smell” more than once, why do I find it so funny lol
[SEP20] Guess what someone was doing right outside our window :)
[SEP20] Confrontation?? No way! But Scriabin knew that haha ♪
So that’s the end of May through September! A few different kinds of styles, digital stuff, longer projects - branching out :0 It’s fun to see :D
96 notes
·
View notes