#tired of the fanservice narrative

[mahoushojoe]

fmab fans are so fucking stupid about rose thomas in 2003 lmao

#you're allowed not to like the storyline but that doesn't mean it's wrong or problematic to have it. #like. FUCK all of you! #it's good it's well written it's not exploitative and it's purposeful #stop making your own preferences the moral compass of everyone else's opinions about this show #im so tired of people acting like the Good and Moral Opinion to Have is to think rose thomas 2003's storyline is problematic and bad #as if it was fanservice (it was utterly Not that) and not a clear and purposeful narrative choice in a carefully constructed story! #the show is literally about the horrors of war for FUCKS sake #fma03 #fma 2003 #fullmetal alchemist #fullmetal alchemist 2003 #rose thomas

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Hello BPP,

One of the thoughts I have had over the last few days, and one I hope doesn't offend anyone, is that shipping sometimes is founded in selfishness.

The reason I have come to this conclusion is the behaviour of a certain community that is quite vocal online in their displeasure over the content that gets produced. They have turned to focusing solely on the members they ship instead of grasping the emotional weight of the moments we get to observe. They immediately jump to the conclusion of a conspiracy against their ship, despite how non-sensical repressing said ship would be from a purely capitalistic viewpoint, and then use footage that was taken without the consent of the members and after their express wish for fans to not appear at the send-off to support their theory. I have heard of them furthering the narrative that their ship is real due to private moments yet these moments are either (a) debunked by those who are not sucked into the narrative or (b) obtained by sharing videos once again without the consent of their shippées.

But it isn't about the bond between JK and Tae for them but rather being right, about being the ones to see the truth - going against the grain - and whatever rhetoric they like to employ.

It's about the fetishisation of two attractive men being together, a comforting thought for what I imagine to be girls and women that would like to be in a relationship with these two themselves. Why else would they mostly focus on bashing a company and real human beings because they're not being catered to?

It is quite disturbing to consider how there's this willingness to cross boundaries of every type, including tweeting at an actual government branch and then accusing said branch of furthering fanservice. All of it is, as I stated at the beginning, selfish. There is no consideration for the feelings of the people they claim to protect, no media literacy, no acceptance of Occam's Razor, no interest in factual depictions.

I hope they grow tired soon, because it is tiring to even witness in the periphery.

---

Sorry for the quite stilted English, I've been watching too many video essays the past few days and I physically cannot turn off that filter.

***

It’s sad, amusing and concerning all at the same time, isn’t it? You’ve hit the nail on the head and yeah it applies to most shippers: taekookers especially but also many jikookers, and even solo stans, who resort to the same mental leaps when their expectations aren’t met. I agree with you and have said much the same several times in the last few years.

I don’t share your hope that they grow tired soon though. In fact what tends to happen is that they become even more unhinged. The more they invest into their theories and worldview, the more they take increasingly invasive steps to validate those theories. It’s sad and one of the worst expressions of sunk cost fallacy I’ve seen in fandom. The most we can do as fans is to check that behaviour when we see it in the fandom, and deplatform people building a following set on those ideas. And hope to god that the military does a decent job of ensuring their security while in service.

#Stitled English is the norm for me so sorry to everyone else loool #someone sent me an ask the other day saying they believe I’m Korean because of how my English sentences start with the object #similar to how sentence construction is in Korean #I’ve accepted my English is just hard to read and that I’m only semi-literate in English #Kudos to all my followers who put up with my ramblings lol #BTS #jikook #jimin #jungkook #BTS shipping #fandom shipping #shipping culture #bts army #bts fandom #fandom behaviour

[lnkedmyheart]

I don't know, I think its weird that so many people are trying to blame soukoku shippers for imaginary problems and acting like skk shippers have a gun to their head forcing them to do things.

Like I dont understand how Hoshikawa drawing 15 is a bad thing just because the same artist made beast just because YOU made up some headcanon in your head. I dont understand why any exploration of Dazai and Chuuya's dynamic in the past gets written off as Asagiri being forced to pander to the "yaoi loving fetishizing" skk shippers as if those two aren't major parts of each other's past and don't have a complex and deep bond. I get being overwhelmed by too much skk content when you dont like it. But to actively make up lies so it can justify your hateful narrative against a bunch of people just trying to enjoy content through made up non existent scenarios is weird as hell to me.

And it just rubs me really weird that skk shippers get written off as yaoi fangirls like many of us aren't queer people interacting with a queer ship. Or is yaoi fetishizing only limited to skk or other popular ships and not whatever ship the anti fixates on?

The number of times I have seen the mildest interaction between skk be written off as cheap fanservice and pandering to the skk shippers is insane. Chuuya appears and doesn't talk about Dazai? Cheap fanservice. Chuuya shows up for a plot relevant role? Cheap pandering. Dazai has a nice moment with any other character? Character development. Dazai is nice to Chuuya? Cheap fanservice. And the moment we got light novels and side manga adaptations of said novels for skk everyone just started raging at and bashing skk shippers and Chuuya stans like we were personally offending people that Asagiri decided that 1 of his many bsd pet projects happened to be about the past of a character who is a major part of Dazai, one of the main character's past. As if stormbringer, fifteen, dead apple and the dragon head prologue parts didn't add anything to Dazai's established character.

I am so tired of skk haters acting like they are the victims of neglect by Asagiri or acting like Asagiri, Hoshikawa and Harukawa are sobbing in a locked room and only getting slices of dry bread when they pledge allegiance to skk nation or some shit.

#personal #rant #just the sheer amount of bashing that has been going on in the fandom of this group because c was brought back to the main manga #the rage posts about how c being brought back is a bad thing #how him so much as breathing in d's vicinty is a bad thing #its almost like you hate the idea of their dynamic being treated as anything more than surface level hate #just so you can justify mocking and harassing the shippers and acting like tragic victims when they respond #and yes I know the shippers can be fucking annoying sometimes but if I an actual shipper can avoid them via careful curation so can you #today i literally saw a massive number of antis bashing a shipper for curating their experience by muting words they didnt like

[mrs-monaghan]

Honestly when i read certain things Tkkrs write, i get tired! How can such a large number of pple be so dumb? How? The move from one narrative to the next, one theory to the next, one lie to the next! How can you think TK are dating each other after watching them these past 10 years? How? Now u all are screaming about Tk outings and you are also desperately trying to prove Jikook is not real by claiming they don’t see eo! How would you know that? If Tae didn’t turn on that 2 minute Live at Jk’s place, would you have ever known he was there? Why do you think they show us or tell us everything? How stupid can you be to think you actually know everything going on in these guy’s lives? You claim Jikook is fanservice because they don’t hang out outside of work, and i want to ask you, where the fuck have u been all these years! Are you trying to claim that you haven’t seen all the photos and videos of Jikook hanging out all through the years? Are you trying to claim that you haven’t heard about all the times they were in each other’s rooms? Tae himself told us 3 different times that Jk and Jimin were together at ungodly hours of the night! How can u believe Tk are a thing when Jk is always with Jimin most nights? He literally called Jimin his all nighter friend! They literally told us they have the habit of staying up late at night together, not just them, Jhope said it too in his documentary! He literally mentioned Jk and Jimin always stay up at night! So let’s say Jk was actually dating Tae! When does he spend couple time with Tae if he is always with Jimin at night? When? Also, all through the years, we have always seen or heard of Jikook spending important days together! Valentines day 2017, the posted a tweet wearing matching outfits (a couples thing in korea), they also posted a tweet watching the first snow together (couples thing in korea) on valentines day 2018, Jimin came back to korea from paris and on the 15th, he was spotted with Jk and his friend sungwon hanging out! On Jk’s birthday, he was with Jimin ALONE at 4am, On Jimin’s bday 2021, he did it in Jk’s studio and Jk got a cake for him (something staff always do) and he wrote "you are my park filter" on the cake! On Jk’s bday in 2019, Jimin flew all the way from paris to celebrate with Jk for a few hours and get back on a plane to another destination! Tae was nowhere to be found! On Jk’s bday 2022, Jimin went to see Jk, but again, Tae was nowhere to be found! On white day 2022, a photo of Jikook and a friend hanging out at a restaurant was leaked, on white day 2023, JM was not in Korea, but Jk and Tae were, Jk went Live on white day for hours, showing that he was ALONE! JM wasn’t in korea, but Tae was! Why didn’t Jk spend the day with his “boyfriend”? Why does Jk keep being with Jimin on all these important days instead of Tae? Jk himself said that during their break in 2019, he only saw Jimin and Jhope! How can Taekook be a couple and they don’t even see each other?

Yes, these days Tk hang out alot! But how do those hangouts prove they are a couple? Why haven’t we ever seen them hang out outside of work before now? All through the years, we never ever heard or saw Tk hanging out once! Not ever! We saw Jikook so many times, we heard of them hanging out so many times through the years! But nothing of Tk! These boys literally went on Tv and decided to share with us that they had grown a lil distant! Yet you lot ignored it and started again with your narrative of bighit giving them a script to read, all these just because you cannot get urself to accept the FACT that TK are JUST friends! Whenever something was said or done that didn’t match ur narratives, you claimed the company was hiding Tk, or Tk were lying, or Jikook is a cover for Taekook, or you straight up sent alot of hate to Jimin! Did you ever stop for a minute to ask yourselves what if you were wrong? Did u ever ask yourselves why you were so triggered by Jimin being close to Jk! I guess you didn’t because you know that you wouldn’t like the answer! The truth is, deep down, you know that there is NO WAY TK is real after everything Jikook have done for and to each other. No way! The hangouts you guys scream about only prove that Taekook are friends and they are actively working on bridging that gap that was trying to form in their friendship! This is the first time, they are actually hanging out with each other, outside if work without other members! It had never happened b4! And this also proves that their conversation on ITS was true cuz we all clearly saw a difference with TK after that conversation! Y’all were claiming the company was hiding TK yet, you kept getting TK moments on official content! Make it make sense! When something doesn’t go ur way, instead of rethinking, you start throwing tantrums like children, calling everyone a liar, or hating on Jimin and calling him a homewrecker, or hating on Hybe! What the fuck is wrong with you idiots? Tae literally asked you guys to STOP!! You claim to love him and Jk yet you ignore them when they continually show you that they are just friends! Need i remind you that TK is the ONLY ship in Bts that has outrightly been debunked! Tae told you guys go get out of your imaginations, yet you vermin found a way to twist his words to continue deceiving new army! Y’all are disgusting for real! I ship Jikook but if any one of them ever does what Tae did, i would immediately STOP, regardless of what i think i know or have seen or heard! That is how you prove u love them! By respecting their words and not twisting them to suit ur bizzare narratives! You claim TK are a couple yet Jk sits in his house watching an almost 2 hour live of jimin while giggling and kicking his feet! Show me when he ever did something like that for Tae! You claim TK are a couple yet Jk keeps asking Jm to come for one reason or the other! You claim Tk are a couple yet Jk can’t stop talking about Jimin on his Lives! You claim TK are a couple yet Jk comes back home from hanging out with Tae, turns on a Live looking all sad and miserable, and telling army how he comes to us when he is feeling down or has alot on his mind, all the while listening to songs about missing someone! And the only person he has literally admitted to missing is Jimin, when he responded to Jimin’s “I miss you " post on weverse! Jk and tae are dating but Jk spends white day alone even tho Tae is in the country? TK are dating yet they alway go back to their respective houses after hanging out? Tk are dating, yet Jk spends a majority of his nights doing something with Jimin? Tk are dating yet Jk spends all important days like bday, vals day, anniversaries and traditional holidays with Jimin? Tk are dating yet Jk on most lives always looks lonely and sad? Tk are dating yet Tae has admitted more than 3 times to not knowing Jk’s hotel rooms when they were on tour but Somehow Jimin always knew? Tk are dating yet Jk and Jimin are “caught” going into Jk’s hotel room together when they were not aware of the cameras? BFFR!

l

You cannot fix stupid anon. We can throw all the logic in the world at them. But they will never accept reality. There are other Jimin and JK ships out there. And they believe in what they believe. Idk why, but they do. However they don't come to our spaces to try and infiltrate. That's why we're always calling out the vermin because they refuse to stay in their lane.

I cannot wait for 2025. If you think JK is fed up now, if you think JK hates them now, wait until MS is over and Jikook don't have to be cautious anymore. The ones that don't leave the fandom will have no choice. Because Jikook will be loud AF. You think 2019 was bad? You ain't seen nothing yet.

In 2 years they will have no choice but to admit they were wrong. And those who insist on Tkk being real will look like clowns. Especially if Jennie gets pregnant and then what? We know V is obsessed with kids. We know that's in the cards for him. We know Jennie can't be assed to put any effort in BP and is now pursuing acting?? Well that line of work is way more accepting of people dating than the Idol life.

A rude awakening is coming. And I will enjoy every single second of it. You can count on that. They are coming for you Army. They're gonna set the whole fandom on fire

It's better to be prepared coz Jikook supporters sure are.

#jikook is real #taennie is real #ask shaz #bts ask #jikook #jimin and jungkook #the vermin #jikook theory #jikook theories

[sweetescapeartist]

A DBS MANGA CHAPTER 102 REVIEW. KINDA...

Some stuff about chapter 102 of the DBS manga I don't really like/I want to quickly discuss. Meant to post this last month but didn't. I'm behind on a lot of things.

All those folks saying True UI is Goku's strongest form... The upcoming chapter says otherwise. Goku uses the silver haired UI form & Beerus apparently views that as Goku at his strongest. Heck, Goku calls it his best move. Good job Toyo for creating True UI (black hair) and confusing fans to believe that was stronger than Mastered UI (silver hair) when in reality True UI is simply UI Sign (black hair) that changed how UI works so it matches more closer to how the anime depicted the technique. UI Omen in the anime allowed Goku to use his emotions, but the more control he has over them, the stronger he becomes until he transforms into Mastered UI. UI Sign in the manga was depicted as Goku needing to be emotionless & stated that emotions hinder the power. This was from the ToP Saga all the way until Toyotaro "created" True UI to function off of controlled emotions like how the DBS anime always has & gave it Omen the name "True Ultra Instinct." [Link to a long post that I paraphrased, so you ain't gotta read it unless you're really interested.]

I get tired of the same expressions in this Super Hero Saga. Its a pouty or surprised face accompanied with an oval shaped mouth. Toyotaro is overusing the hell out of that. Here's a compilation & I left out like 4 other panels with this same expression. (There's more in CH 103)

I saw ppl talking about the poses when Goku & Gohan fight look cool.... Looks pretty stiff imo. At least from what I've seen. Lacks a feel of movement. And you don't even see most of the fight. It doesn't make it cool imo. We've seen MUI in action against powerful opponents. If MUI Goku & Beast Gohan are close to equal strength, why not show actual combat between the two other than the aftermath of clashes? There was more attention to choreography with Gohan vs Trunks & Goten than there is with Gohan vs Goku. (Chapter 103 does better with the combat for Goku vs Gohan)

Toyotaro doing the "this form is called such & such" is weird for me. Seems like he's trying to hype up Western fans or something. Like when Goten & Trunks name Gohan's potential unleashed form "Ultimate." Its just dialogue for the sake of some sort of fanservice. Some ppl will like it, others wont. I just wasn't a fan of it. Feels like its placed here just for fanservice. If they called it ultimate & didn't draw too much attention to it, I would've prefered that. Its naming it but not stopping the narrative flow.

Also wasn't a fan of Goku asking Gohan is his new power was SSJ2 or SSJ3. Goku knows dang well Gohan's Potential Unleashed form is far stronger than SSJ2 & was stronger than SSJ3. He should've just asked "So, what's this form of yours?" and leave it there.

Some Vegeta fans are calling him a proud uncle when he smiles at Gohan & Goku about to spar. No, he is a Saiyan who is ready to see a good fight just as Broly smiled when he watched Goku & Vegeta fight. Is there some pride there? Yes. But Vegeta ain't no uncle figure to Gohan. That's Piccolo & Krillin.

Why are Carmine & Soldier 15 there on Beerus' planet? Goku could have just had his sons & Trunks put a hand on his shoulder then teleported. And why would Gohan see Carmine & 15 who shot at his home & at him, turn Beast out of anger, then hop into the same vehicle as them as if he forgot what happened in the last chapter? It was literally a few seconds ago.

This was just for them to record Goten & Trunks in their costumes (can they even keep up with how fast they are moving?) And it just seems like a plot device that won't matter at all. Anyone remember 7-3 in the Granolah Saga?was there for a moment & served no purpose other than a reference. I bet this with Carmine is for a simple joke to be quickly thrown aside.

#dbs manga #dbs #goku #gohan #dbz #db

[se-run]

hi i have a hot take i want to share with the class. im so tired of pretending malleyuu isn't ruining malleus' character.

i do like malleyuu a lot (especially manga yuus!) but the constant otome jokes and people ACTUALLY believing that malleus is in love with yuu are seperating the fandom from reality. every single one of malleus' "romantic" lines can be very easily explained with the fact that he has been ISOLATED and FEARED his whole life that he clings to the very first person that shows him proper respect (not fear) and kindness. the entire narrative of malleus and yuu being friends is used to build up to his character arc. this exact same behaviour of clinging can be seen between malleus and lilia aswell (book7)

i also find it a little ridiculous that the fandom took this ship too far that people ACTUALLY thought book 7 would be a malleyuu thing. diasomnia?? the dorm about FAMILY??? wouldn't be focusing on malleus, lilia, silver and sebeks relationships?? and instead on the random ass isekai student??

you guys seriously shouldn't let some fanservice lines get you to the point where you believe its actually a canon thing. also i won't name any names ofc but the way some of you show malleus being 'possessive' over yuu being friends with ace and deuce is so creepy.

(again, NO hate to malleyuu shippers. you guys keep being you (or yuu. haha))

#sorry if i spelled anything wrong i wrote this in a hurry lol #i also never mean to hate but im kinda getting REALLY sick of people mentioning malleyuu in posts about malleus and other characters.. #did i eat with this one? i don't know #also the fact that some people thought book 7 would be about malleus and yuu rather than the diasomnia boys together was funny i giggled #toodaloo #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland book 7 #malleus draconia #twst yuu

[sepublic]

I love the Castlevania show, but I can't help but be miffed by how much of the source material and colorful bestiary the show tends to ignore in favor of more vampires. I love characters such as Striga and Morana, but then you've got fairly generic ones like Dragan or Nikolai, who are just there to be obstacles and don't have any real personality themselves.

It's just a little confusing, because why do the writers keep trying to come up with OCs when they have plenty to pull from the actual games? In the games, vampires themselves are actually very rare; They're usually only represented by endgame bosses like Dracula, Bartley, Brauner, etc. Otherwise, the vast majority of enemies are night creatures, ghosts, haunted suits of armor, and the like.

But instead of embracing the weirder monsters like the Minotaur or Werewolves, the Castlevania show keeps defaulting to regular old vampires who are basically just humans with pointy ears and teeth. The show keeps defaulting to Vampire melodrama, like it's trying to emulate other pieces of Vampire media, instead of embracing what sets Castlevania apart from those stories. It has a concerning lack of weird castle exploration for a show called Castlevania.

Skeletons only appear in one scene, and I'm sorry but a common staple of a series should not be reduced to a mere fanservice cameo. It's like the Resident Evil live-action films making everything about zombies and reluctantly including a Licker as the ultimate monster. It's like if the Super Mario Bros. Movie barely had Goombas, they made the show too normal from the source material.

That isn't to say the source material is a perfect narrative, far from it; It can get pretty damn repetitive at times, especially with certain character roles and dynamics. I'll die on the hill that Annette's reimagining was justified, and Ortega and Hugh Baldwin are admittedly less interesting versions of Maxim Kischine.

The repetition makes sense! Castlevania's priority is gameplay, and each installment is meant to be its own thing. But when you're doing it as a TV show, a story, and having each story arc play a part in a larger narrative, you have to mix things up in terms of story and characterization, because you can't rely on different gameplay mechanics and levels to differentiate entries in an animated show.

But all that said, it's tiring how much the show will ignore aspects that wouldn't conflict with the writing at all in favor of more generic vampires. I don't want to see vampire politics and melodrama, but it's infinitely more interesting if its melodrama and politics between slimes and minotaurs!

I dunno, it feels like the show is limiting itself on an aesthetical level. What difference does it make in terms of writing if there's a flying Medusa head, or an Axe Armor? I think the writers are afraid of coming across as 'corny' as if Castlevania itself isn't crazy and anime as hell, but this just makes them come across as lacking sincerity. It's like how people complained about a bunch of 2000's movie adaptations of superheroes watering down everything to be more 'serious' and 'realistic' and 'believable', but it just made it grey and boring and cut away what made it unique.

The writers could've easily replaced characters like Dragan with, say, Sir Grakul from Super Castlevania IV, or had freakish looking night creatures be the ones to monologue (instead of treating Flyseyes as the one exception). There's acceptable departures from the source material, and then there's just straight up ignoring it, and then going out of its way to make up new things when stuff is already there to use. It's not as if the animators struggle with animating non-humanoid beings, considering how many unique night creatures they've come up with. So can we please stop being lowkey embarrassed of the source material???

It'd honestly make the show so much more memorable if we got to see Richter fighting a Skull Knight or Mummy. It's just so much wasted potential, especially when they ignore game Richter's compelling narrative of a Fallen Hero, in favor of making up something completely different. I can understand revising protagonists who barely have anything to them, like John Morris from Bloodlines, but Richter HAD a meaningful storyline to expand on, and one that deconstructs his role as a vampire hunter!

Given the show's attempts to be a grittier deconstruction and its suggestion that killing vampires isn't 100% good, I don't know why they didn't go with the idea of Knight Templar Richter whose desire to be needed in battle leaves him vulnerable to Shaft's brainwashing. The deeper, character-driven writing does not have to be mutually exclusive from fantastical and weird elements.

#castlevania #castlevania nocturne #castlevania netflix #netflixvania

[a-typicalsmoothbrain]

So...

I decided to watch Jesse Cox's playthrough of the End of the Road update and I can summarize my feelings with one word. Fuck.

More thoughts under the cut. (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Before I say what I think, I'd like to say that I'm glad I saw his video instead of playing it myself because lemme tell you... some of the events esp. the cave and motel were LEGIT unnerving and it was hard enough to watch even with commentary. I don't wanna know what it's like to actually experience it alone. Beautiful Glitch could make a full-on horror game if they wanted.

Now, for the main event.

I'm just... gobsmacked. I have never seen a piece of media that left me so utterly speechless. This is probably one of the best meta stories I've seen yet. I'm usually tired of meta and forth-wall stuff in modern media, but man they pulled it off here so well.

The events that reference old lore and stuff from the previous games, as well as locations like the pillars being used to explore the themes of narrative and fictional characters was so brilliantly done and the call-backs are what I consider it the best way to deliver fanservice.

And the ending. Holy shit the ending.

The goodbye, the final images and credits song just shook me to my core. The ending completely ties the entire playthrough together to culminate into something so fucking effective.

I'm feeling blue now, because now whenever I'll see Polly when I play Roadtrip or see her in future or previous games, a part of me will always know that that version of her will never be the TRUE her.

It's sad, but also kinda beautiful in a way. Because the real Polly's now out here... building her own pillars. And she, along with every character in this franchise will still be 'alive' no matter what as long as we keep 'em in our hearts.

End of the Road is a fucking superb ending. Kudos to Jesse, Beautiful Glitch and everyone else involved for creating and being part of something so amazing.

Until then, see you all on the other side.

#monster roadtrip #end of the road spoilers #/thoughts #it's kind of a long one #im fine *lies in despair* #ill need a little while to recover #also im sleep deprived so yea #monster prom

[tarisilmarwen]

Rebels Rewatch: "The Future of the Force"

Adventures in babysitting, Rebels edition!

You already know what I'm going to say, I never get tired of the pretty planets in this show.

This baby is named Alora, a bit of a Shout Out to Lucasfilm's underground cult classic Willow. No I have not watched the new show I have... not heard good things.

That it's Alora's grandmother that's the one traveling with her brings up some ah... disturbing Fridge Horror regarding her parents.

My theory: They 100% dead, Inquisitors already shanked them.

Ohhhhh you can tell from the horror in grandma's eyes she knows exactly why they want the baby.

Well nice to know Seventh Sister is equal opportunity Bad Touch.

Aaaaaaand there goes Fifth, murdering all the witnesses.

Zero fanfare, just to punctuate the horror of that moment.

After five episodes of doing other stuff offscreen, Ahsoka finally decides to pay the main narrative a visit. I did and do still appreciate that the writers kept Ahsoka to a minimum, like Vader, knowing full well her presence would overshadow and overpower the others. Despite how easy it would have been to fanservice TCW carryover watchers by giving her tons of screentime, she stays mostly as a tertiary character throughout.

Which is why cramming what is essentially the Rebels sequel material into a show where she's the headliner annoys me.

Ahsoka and Kanan quipping about how neither of them are technically real Jedi is both cute and sad.

Ahsoka still deeply in denial about what she sensed when scanning Vader.

Lol this whole moment. Love Ahsoka's fond little headshake.

Love this city design, got a very St. Basil's Cathedral in Russia aesthetic to it.

Some of that influence in the music here too.

Oh wow, Zeb jumps out of the Phantom before it's even finished landing, lolol what a drama queen.

Bit sloppy to leave the transport hanging in that planet's airspace, unless the Empire plans to blow it up later.

Even without showing any of the bodies you know everyone on that transport is pretty much dead. It's really only the limits of the rating that prevent us from actually seeing them.

Grandma looks a lot paler here, I don't think she survives much longer past this point.

I talked about it before in "Always Two There Are" but I love subtle little bits of continuity like this, Zeb learning binary in order to understand Chopper, since he had such a hard time before.

THIS HITS A BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT.

All I'm thinking is, "How long have they left that poor baby there?! Oh gosh she must be so hungry. Is there AC in there? Did they change her? I bet they didn't even change her, the bastards."

This whole episode reminds me SO strongly of the arc in TCW when Sidious contracted Cad Bane to steal Force Sensitive children for him. Would not be surprised if they were being used for the exact same purpose.

Is it me or do a LOT of Force Sensitive children seem to be born to impoverished single mothers? I wonder if it's a deliberate narrative choice sometimes, to lean into the adoption metaphor that being given up to and raised by the Jedi Order often is.

He's so empathetic Imma cry.

Chopper's actually doing a decent job of keeping Alora happy lol.

Lol, Zeb being grossed out by the Ithorian baby.

I think he's adorable, personally.

Maybe it's the mom in me but Zeb holding Pypey is just... super cute.

He's actually holding him mostly right, giving him plenty of support.

Pypey is just sensitive enough to recognize the danger the Inquisitors pose to him. :(((((((((

A very fragmented "Shenanigans" cue here, barely more than a few notes. Almost as if the danger is stifling the fun and whimsy that leitmotif usually signifies.

It's Ezra that recognizes the ID9 Seeker and makes Kanan stop, and they move in a very nice synchronized way to hide from it here.

Underrated Papa Wolf Kanan moment: Kanan yanking Ezra back from the hallway junction just before the Inquisitors get within eyeline.

I shouldn't laugh but this whole scene with Zeb and Kanan and Ezra having no clue how to calm Pypey is so relatable.

(Babies be temperamental and sometimes you just gotta hold 'em.)

There are so many little cute background moments of Ezra snuggling Pypey or making faces at Pypey aaaah they're so cute.

The detonator Zeb dropped gets flung back at them, Fifth's doing no doubt.

Kanan keeps putting his hand on Ezra's back on the stairs, it's sweet.

Fifth and Seventh sniping at each other lol.

Here's one of the moments of background Ezra being adorable with the baby.

<333333

Ezra gets agitated when Kanan suggests he's going to be luring the Inquisitors away, ouch, poor boy's still not over the thing in "Call To Action".

Friiiiiick Ezra sensing Pypey's fear and Pypey sensing Ezra's and them stuck in a cyclical loop. :((((((

I too ramble at my infants like this. Lol.

Ezra unlocks the secret to calming babies: Being calm yourself. <3

Obligatory "Seventh's voice actress is married to Kanan's voice actor" mention.

The smoke effects on this show continue to be excellent.

Someone, I think it was @pep-no, theorized that Pypey's special ability in the Force might be compelling honesty. That or connecting with Pypey made Ezra more emotionally open, because he normally would be smarter than to blurt out where the Rebellion is hiding in a spot where he suspects Seventh's seekers might be listening.

(Then again, Ezra tends not to have any kind of filter around people he trusts.)

I definitely think there's room for that interpretation, given Ezra's floating, distracted gaze.

Kanan does really well in his brief clash with Seventh.

Zeb hauling him like a piece of luggage is still funny tho.

I love this environment. Feels very downtown LA.

A very heroic muted trumpet version of Ezra's theme as he steps forward bravely here.

<333333

Protective little badass.

Also love Pypey being entranced with the lightsaber and trying to touch it. Baby no.

I love this cue. I haven't watched enough Clone Wars to discern if it's a carryover theme but it's awesome.

Ezra's confidence in Aunt Ahsoka. <333

*grumbles* Stupid auto anti-epilepsy features, it makes it so hard to see properly here.

I do like how effortlessly Ahsoka deals with the Inquisitors here.

<33333

Chopper spinning the babies, awww.

Love how the ID9 comes to perch on Seventh's palm, it's so weird and animal-like. Like she's holding a jellyfish.

Ciffhanger reveal DUN DUN DUN.

This episode is so cute. It doesn't really effect much, besides emphasizing how dangerous a world it is that new Force Senstives are being born into (even moreseo than when there was a Jedi Order to take them in and shelter and protect them) and leading into the next episode's plot but it's a fun little romp with our characters and I just find it sweet and heartwarming.

Which we needed before the next episode's plot-heavy-ness.

#star wars #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #rebels rewatch #liveblog #i get a bit of mom germs on this one sorry

[lucy-and-rebecca]

Why I think it's high time Natsu and Lucy got together

One of the first post I made on this blog was two years ago when NaLu made it into tumblr's top 100 ships that year. I made another post last year when they made the list. Now after another year I'm making this post because they didn't make it into the list this year.

Now I understand that whether a ship makes it into the top 100 on a platform like Tumblr says absolutely nothing about the ship, but it does say something about the fandom around that ship. When NaLu did make it into the list it felt good, not because it meant the ship was somewhat popular but rather it meant the fandom was active. It meant people still cared.

And I understand that there are still a lot of talented people making art or doing analysis or just sharing their thoughts on NaLu but there is very little to talk about. The fandom is tired and frustrated, rightfully so. NaLu not making it into the top 100 is a reflection of that.

Seeing that list come out made me realise that it has been two years since I because active in the fandom, which was around the time I started reading 100 years quest. Two years.... of absolutely nothing.

Let me make one thing clear, I don't doubt Natsu and Lucy will end up together. You have to misunderstand so much of fairy tail to think they might not end up together. I'm not worried about if it will happen, I'm worried about when and how.

100 years quest has given NaLu fans scraps. It has given us one or two good moments and a few panels of Lucy saying Natsu's name with a worried expression on her face and a sea full of fanservice and absolute nonsense. Now I love slow burn, I really do but NaLu is something beyond that.

Male dominated fandom spaces like the fandom for a shonen manga have a tendency to look down on romance and shipping. Shipping is seen as something awful and sheer act of shipping two characters together means taking something vital away from those characters and reducing then to nothing. If you have been in shipping fandoms for a while I'm sure you would have come across posts or comments like these.

But the simple truth is, romance is part of fairy tail. It Always has been. It is part of the story and it is part of the characters' lives. Even though Gruvia also deserves more screen time I absolutely love the incredible positive influence Grey and Juvia had on each other. Seeing Grey slowly turn into someone who can be open about his feelings for Juvia felt great to wach. Gruvia fans have also written some of the best analysis of the characters in fairy tail that I've ever read. Romance has been unarguably vital part of both of these characters and both of them would be worse version of themselves without it.

Gruvia scenes also make a bit jealous. Because that's what NaLu is missing. Natsu as a character doesn't change that much. We learn more things about him but he rarely grows as a person. Whatever growth he had in the series is tied to Lucy. Natsu's effect on Lucy is a lot more clear but I think that's because it's easier to notice Lucy becoming more agressive than Natsu controlling himself.

The lack of romance has been detrimental to both Natsu and Lucy as a character. Romance and romantic relationship are part of most people's life and neither of them had the opportunity to properly experience that. They are the main characters of the series and for them to truly grow as characters they need to make progress in their relationship.

Romantic relationships takes time and effort and having the main protagonist go through all of that as they are on the 100 years quest can make for a really compelling narrative. But we aren't getting that because NaLu is reserved for last. I'm afraid they will get together in the final chapter and live "happily ever after" but there is no such thing as a happily ever after. Two people officially getting together is not the end of the relationship. Figuring out how to make a proper romantic relationship work will also help them grow as people. If they got together in the last chapter we will miss out on that.

If Natsu and Lucy only get together in the last chapter, their stories, their growth will feel incomplete. A romantic relationship will be good for them and it needs to happen as soon as possible.

#fairy tail #nalu #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #ft #fairy tail 100 yq #fairy tail 100 years quest #hiro mashima

[juliapark13]

I find it extremely funny how Tkkers are always like “TKK scares you” yet they are the ones who h@r@ss anyone that post or talk about Jikook. They are the one’s whining of ever Jikook interaction no matter how big or how small the interaction is. When Jikook rode on the ATV together in ITS2. Even though we did not see them in the actual episode and HopeKook also rode on the ATV together, Jikook is what bothered them. In the BTB, all JM did was give JK a hug and that made them call JM a a*user, say he is h@r@ssing JK and saying he was R wording JK. JM commented to JK live-streams like the other members did and yet JM cute little comments made Tkkers mad. They got mad a JM for donating to charity. They got mad at JM’s dad and sent him death threats for being supportive. Even when JK is not involved they still drag JM. He went to support Hobi at Lollapalooza and he got hate for that. He went to support Yoongi and he got hate for that. When they get TKK moments they STILL feel the need to flock to Jkkers comments and talk about it. For some people that are 100% sure TKK are dating and Jikook are fanservice, or are just brothers or are just friends (can’t stick to one narrative) they sure do get bothered by simplest Jikook interactions. Most Tkkers are straight teenagers we no idea on what an actual HEALTHY relationship looks like or straight adult woman with a bad love life. The amount of Tkkers on twitter I have seen that hate on JM are ran by women in their 50’s with children and/or grandchildren is so uncanny. Tkkers make homophobic comments about JM yet ship TKK. They make horrible comments about how feminine JM looks but yet draws Tae in their fanart that exact same way. I saw a Tkker comment on how JM needs to enlist so he can toughen up and become a “real” man.

It’s ok Tkkers we know you see how differently JK treats JM vs Tae. Did a whole livestream dedicated towards him but can’t even mention Jinny’s Kitchen. That is why y’all are so quick to throw JK away until he does something that y’all like. Y’all called him a liar on his birthday because he said that he did not see Tae after y’all thought Tae came back for JK’s birthday. When he didn’t y’all called JK a liar and some said that Tae was to tired that is why he did go see him. Yet he can fly home early to attend his friend’s movie premiere? JK is a puppet to Hybe until he does something with JK. Do y’all not hear how dumb y’all sound or is it that y’all just choose to ignore what is happening in reality because it messes up your fantasy? The issue is not that y’all ship TKK no one cares about that. The issue is you lots won’t even let JM and JK near each other without spewing the fanservice or hiding TKK narrative. If you all would ship TKK without hating on JM and Jikook then Vminkook as a whole would be getting hated it, but you lots just can’t except that JK actually likes JM and he does not hate him like y’all want him too. If you all accept that JK likes JM then you would have to except that JK made GCFT because he wanted to not because he was forced too. Y’all would have to accept that he did a whole live dedicated towards JM because he wanted to not because he was forced too. You would have to accept everything that JK did was on his own free will and not because the big bad company and JM forces him too. Then, after you accepted all of that you would be faced with the fact that since 2013-present day, you have hated on JM for absolutely no reason. Yet, because you don’t want to actually acknowledge that JK like JM and that you all hate JM for no reason, we all are stuck with some smelly ass flies that won’t go away be they don’t want their fantasies to be ruined. As I said before ship TKK we do not care but hating on JM and Jikook when it’s obvious that Tae and JK (especially JK) loves JM is what pisses us off. As I mentioned in my comment, you will find a hell of a lot more Jkkers posting and loving TKK then you will Tkkers posting and loving Jikook. Now ask yourself why…anon? Tkkers try extremely hard to make Jkkers seem like the villains when in reality I would everyone hates Tkkers. Why? Because you all token Stan any member to hate on JM which then ends up get the other members dragged.

My advice to Tkker (though they won’t listen) if ya leave JM and Jikook alone then TKK will be left alone. But for some weird reason, you all can’t do.m that. Y’all are that insecure of TKK not being real you have to hate JM and blame him for why TKK does not act like a couple.

They are mad every single time when they see jikook interact, because their imaginary ship is based on proving jikook isn’t real.

They say jikook is fanservice every single time because otherwise how would they explain everything? They know it.

They hate Jimin so much because he is a threat to their fantasy and they see Jungkook loves him.

If they were able to focus on their ship, there wouldn’t be any ship war. But that’s never gonna happen.

They surely are insecure and yes, they are also homophobic. Self-awareness doesn’t exist.

It’s so boring at this point.

[ilbenmalpensanteus]

This drabble is an original work by @mixu and me for Day 15 (prompt: Celebrity/Icon/Model AU) and 26 (Holding hands) of snsmonth.

You can find it in Ao3 as well:

Enjoy ✨

Shall the world see where we belong

Naruto breathed in deeply, his fingers squeezing Sasuke’s.

“Are you okay?” His boyfriend inquired softly, his thumb stroking the skin of his palm in small circles.

The blonde nodded, his free hand rising to loosen the red tie slightly — he was about to fucking choke on that shit.

Sasuke pecked his cheek gently, “If you want, we can wait until-”

“I’m sure.” Naruto’s eyes locked with the dark depths of Sasuke's ones.

He was so tired of waiting. So tired of people speculating about their personal life, of acting for fanservice’s sake. He was so done with girls, and boys and everyone in between in the fucking world looking at Sasuke as if he was an available hot piece of ass-

His jaw clenched.

Ok, admittedly Sasuke was hot — and he got a really kind piece of ass too — but that was Naruto’s property!

So, it was high time to state his claim. Publicly.

“Let’s do it, bastard.” He declared.

Sasuke’s smirk widened and he kissed Naruto’s lips one more time before opening the door and striding out of their limo. The crowd erupted in excited yells and disperate shouts of Sasuke’s name — Naruto took in one last steadying breath.

Squinting to make his eyes adjust to the flash of cameras, the blonde neared Sasuke — their fingers interlacing immediately.

Naruto opened his eyes again, side-glancing him. Skin burning, he took the Uchiha’s hand to his mouth, grazing his lips on the pale wrist.

The people's chaotic enthusiasm skyrocketed and Naruto wondered briefly if Kakashi and Jiraya would kill them that very night or would have to wait until next month’s premier.

But, truthfully, he really didn’t care.

The whole world would have finally understood Naruto and Sasuke only belonged to each other.

Did you like this brief narrative?

Leave your thoughts, don’t be lazy like Shika!

#snsmonth23 #sasunarumonth23 #day 15 #day 26 #holding hands #idol au #model au #actor au #sasunaru fanfiction #narusasu fanfic #sasunaru #sasunarusasu #narusasunaru #narusasu #fluff #jealousy #ao3fic #ao3 link

[seeingteacupsindragons]

Hello hello

Sorry for the intagible rambling below for I ask this in a confused? hurt? but also intrigued? curious? state.

I glimpsed a twt that seemed frustated that ynm went ~too~ into the homo in recent chapters and seemingly finished the mystery/crime plot that drew them in the first place (seemed like they're also too mad to continue reading the new chapters themself).

It makes me thinking... if you're not searching/sensitive for a hint of sherliam (or not a mlm shipper), do you think sherliam confession from end of milverton - london bridge arc is a shock and out of nowhere? Because believe me, even as a shipper myself I can only believe sherliam progression when I read the manga. It's too abrupt in the anime for me.

Also what do you think/predict about ynm arc next? Do you think there could be enough mystery to satisfy early fans like them even though the crime arc is over?

I think if people don't want to read something anymore, they shouldn't. Human lifespans aren't long enough for a silly, edgy manga to be worth people's time if it's not for the fun of it, and frankly, I'm super tired of people complaining the series did something they didn't like in my Tumblr inbox anyway.

I can't really speak for what it's like for someone who isn't a shipper because...uh...well. But, I find that people who don't want or expect something to be gay or have queerness or whatever, are really, really, really good at ignoring very obvious signs of it happening. Which, in the YuuMori manga? Was pretty blatant pretty early on.

Sure, I didn't expect it to get as explicit as it did, but the series was pretty quick to hang off their relationship, and their relationship was pretty, "Special, excited, fond," from the get go. My inbox for the past two and a half years has been a fascinating dissection on "people have no reading comprehension and some people don't want to."

(Reading comprehension is a learned, trained skill, and not everyone is good at it and very few people start good at it--I am good at it, so I don't mind helping and analyzing, but sometimes I'm fascinated to see what the other side does--but it's nice when they come hang out here trying to learn)

I remember people complaining the culmination of The Final Problem was too fanservice, which is wild when you consider that was the resolution of the climax of the series--it was the major confrontation and turning point of the crux of the series. A thing like that simply can't just be fanservice. It's too vital to the structure of the narrative.

But that is also to say that people have been complaining it's "too gay" for literally years now.

I think YuuMori is also very good at twisting expectations on their head, which is great if you're into that (me). If you wanted something very specific, maybe it's less satisfying.

Also, are they upset that...the narrative arc...ended? Because that's what good narrative arcs do.

I can't speak for what the next arc does. I expect spy shenanigans myself.

#Yuukoku no Moriarty #Moriarty the Patriot

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Wow, I just found out (through report accounts) that Tkkrs are every where, every platform, from Twitter to Tumblr to tiktok to IG to YT... With thousands of followers. And all their accounts are focused on hating Jimin. Spreading narratives like fanservice, Jk is uncomfortable blah blah. I don't know how there are so many of them. It's ridulous now. They are like bed bugs, infestation. I'd never understand how thousands of people believe a lie so easily. Anyone with 2 working brain cells and a pair of working eyes can tell Taekook are not fking e/o.

How is this new information? Of course they are everywhere? What, you thought they do this only on twitter? They have access to other platforms just like everyone else and they do it in order to fulfill their purpose. The usual narratives of JK being uncomfortable and fanservice are not even that bad compared to what else they say. Because it's one thing to not like the person and to really hate when they show up and it's another to make claims without any doubt, of abuse, sexual favors, predatory behavior and the like. Now that's the next level of actual hate which is a constant situation and it will happen again and again. These people won't change their mind, they won't stop, they have a purpose and they will have the platforms to spread all that.

And this type of stuff, particularly having to hear about it almost daily, is one of the reasons why I feel so done with all of it. Nothing changes, we know it's fucked up, we are outraged and we express that here and on twitter and then the next day, it starts again. Like we're all mad people talking about the same thing, over and over again, as if there's ever going to be a different outcome. Radicalized people driven by pure hatred, in large numbers, will have the upper hand. And perhaps one day, something will change. Something that will knock them down. I don't know what, I don't have the answer and I'm tired of it.

#bmt asks #tkkers #bts army

[beevean]

Let's do this: top 10 most hated NFCV characters counting both shows

As a bonus, if you're willing to: top 10 worst episodes

I think I did a top 5 worst characters for both shows but I can do it again :P

11) Drolta. She doesn't do anything egregious, in fact she's kind of tolerable, but she stole Isaac's drip. And for that, I will forever be salty :) (also yeah I couldn't decide for #10 so I added one, whatcha gonna do about it)

10) Sumi and Taka. Ah yes, these two Japanese people who look identical are most assuredly not related, they are just Japanese! Aside from that, they are the emblem of S3's utter failure: they add nothing of importance except for a gratuituous (and OOC) rape scene that is supposed to send the message "humans suck, trusting is for fools"... that in on itself doesn't change a thing, because Alucard is fine afterwards. But hey, you got your bi rep! Aren't you happy with this show's representation? :)

9) Emmanuel. This guy is just stupid. Just because you lampshade how absurd it is to ally yourself with vampires because you think the Revolution is "godless", it doesn't make it any less absurd. We're still at this level of shallow, childish CHURCH BAD.

8) Sypha. You're not cute when you insult Trevor. Stop it. I remembered her being nicer than she actually was :( during the rewatch she was painful, constantly complaining, defending Alucard from Trevor rather than the other way around (but still ditching him when he needed company because yay adventures!!!), and acting bossily with her bf because that's the only kind of character they can write here. Also she's OP af and that's not fun.

7) Maria. Does she even have a personality beyond stereotypical Twitter communist teen? Good god girl shut up you are nothing more than useless backdrop!

6) Carmilla. In theory, she could be an interesting unapologetic female villain who reacted to her trauma with rage rather than sorrow, a female Dracula but even pettier. In practice, she is the parody of a radfem written by a man with zero respect for women, so you can imagine that she isn't exactly nuanced. I hate that Dracula and his boytoys were made to be absolute dumbasses for her to win, only for her to conclude effectively nothing. villain.exe

5) Alucard. You absolute cunt. Am I supposed to like, or worse being attracted to, this piece of shit who spends his time insulting Trevor and treating him like dog shit under his shoe? He has zero of the effortless charm of the real Alucard, but I'm supposed to root for him because he's hot when he cries all boobily. Fuck off with your disingenous fanservice. (also his design is atrocious and the artstyle doesn't flatter him at all)

4) Erzsébet. Literally an OC made by a 5 yo. Look at her! She's so cool and special! She's older than Dracula, stronger than Dracula, more evil than Dracula, more dangerous than Dracula, and she turns into an invincible Sun Thundercat! Yeah good job, but you forgot to give her a personality.

3) Annette. She is not a character. She is nothing more than accurately engineered discourse bait. I refuse to acknowledge this shallow attempt at "badass representation" that I am supposed to like on the sole basis of her race and gender. I am so tired of Stronk Women that are actually giant assholes, all flash and no substance.

2) Isaac. I will concede that he has the most coherent character arc of all characters, but aside from that, he pisses me off something fierce for how overrated he is. Forgettable design, pretentious as fuck, spouting faux-philosophical quotes to hide how petty he is, basically a jihadist in S3, wakes up one day in S4 and suddenly he's Muslim Jesus, disgustingly OP because the narrative finds every way to suck his shiny dick... and his amazing arc that everyone praises him for, the thing that makes him "better than that stupid gay joker from CoD"? It's just a worse version of Hector's from the mangas, which left him Hector here with no arc to speak of. Get him out of my sight.

1) Lenore. Her concept is great. She is an intriguing foil to both Carmilla and Hector, and incarnates an unique type of villainy: she is amoral, kind for her own selfish purposes, with understandable goals but willing to do anything to achieve them. I want to like her. Too bad she is a disgusting, repulsive, inconsistent, bratty rapist that I am supposed to feel sorry for because oh, she's not so bad after all :) she did everything for Hector's own good :) she's not actually evil :) she deserved to smooch the man she raped into slavery, don't you feel bad that she sunned herself like a selfish coward :) Lenore begs to be rewritten by someone who doesn't jerk off to abusive dommy mommies, but in her canon state, she makes me ill.

Now for the episodes :P

10) The Great Work (S4E7): I never watched it because it's boring as shit, which speaks of the terrible pacing of this show and especially S4. I know it has the infamous "vampires dislike crosses because their vision is fucked up" scene lmao

9) The River (S2E6): It's the episode where the zombie bishop resurrected by a dark necromancer who is now working for a vampire with plans of enslaving mankind is apparently favored by God to the point of being able to bless water. Do I need to say more? Well, it's also the episode where the heroes suddenly remember they are supposed to do shit and hack into Dracula's castle, and the episode that fully cements Dracula as an ineffectual pathetic antagonist easily manipulable by the real villain, no I don't care that he's kinda cool in For Love. (at least the scene with Carmilla avoiding the river and the castle is fun to watch)

8) Bless Your Dead Little Hearts (S3E1): The beginning of Alucard's and Trepha's plotlines, two utter mindnumbing wastes of time, and Hector's plotline, which is the show beating me over the head with a nail bat while screeching "LOOK HOW PATHETIC HECTOR IS! LOOK AT THIS PITIFUL WET CAT! LOOK AT HIM COWERING NAKED IN A CELL EATING MOLDY BREAD! FEEL SORRY FOR HIM!". Just unpleasant for all sorts of reasons.

7) It's Been A Strange Ride (S4E10): Trevor miraculously survives Death! Alucard is happy to live with his new bossy gf as if nothing ever happened! Lenore suns herself just for a final kick in the balls to Hector, whose character will forever be remembered as "useless simp"! And most importantly, Dracula and Lisa get to live again as if the dude didn't just try to exterminate mankind, and they will have endless kinky sex until she dies while Alucard will forever mourn his parents but no one gives a shit about that because we love to piss on the games! :D

6) Old Homes (S2E2): It has the double combo "Alucard being the biggest moistest cunt to Trevor while we're supposed to laugh at this hilarious banter" and "Carmilla girlbossily girlbosses all over Dracula who can't even punish this vampire who insults his wife in front of everyone, establishing herself as the cooler villain"! Joy!

5) The Good Dream (S3E6): "Walkies! :D"

4) Back In The World (S4E5): It's the one with the infamous "Oh, shush, you were having fun" :) and all the Lenore apologism that follows :)

3) You Don't Deserve My Blood (S4E6): I get it. Isaac is Jesus and I should drop to my knees to suck his entire dick. Good thing this is his last appearance. Other than that, this episode is the last nail in the coffin for what was left of Hector's character, who is revealed to have been working to resurrect Dracula (a complete spit in the face to everything he stood for in S2) and also chooses to stay with his rapist instead of seeking true freedom.

2/1) The Harvest (S3E9)/Abandon All Hope (S3E10): It's hard to separate the two, and I wouldn't know which one is worse. The Harvest is infamous for being half boring fight scenes, and half "hot" sex scenes that are actually rape by deception: the entire episode is simply uncomfortable to sit through, not helped by the shoddy editing. Abandon All Hope is the season finally dropping its final message: "the world sucks, and you will be betrayed". Everyone except babyboy Isaac is left traumatized and cynical because we are so fucking edgy, we are just like Berserk fr fr. And, of course, in retrospect, Alucard and Hector's endings piss me off even more as all of their pain was for fucking nothing :)

(Nocturne is completely forgettable and doesn't reach the peaks of NFCV so it deserves its own ranking)

#anti netflixvania

[barbiegoestothemovies]

Scream VI: A Review

Scream VI is a movie whose existence is questionable at best. After twenty-plus years of awful follow-ups, and a fifth movie that attempted and failed to recreate the magic of the original, a sixth Scream installment definitely makes the series feel as if it has outstayed its welcome. Watching this movie in theaters seemed to be a gamble, and waiting for it to hit streaming on Paramount Plus was the apprehensive next step... and I'm shocked to share with my readers that Scream VI has exceeded my expectations in almost every respect.

Pros:

This iteration of the Scream franchise has successfully helped me appreciate the new cast as an ensemble

High doses of adrenaline are injected into Scream VI. The setups of every death scene are incredibly creative and inspired, taking place in locations we've never seen before. Some of the best locales include a convenience store, a rooftop ladder, and a train station filled with costume-clad passengers

Easter eggs from previous installments are cleverly laced throughout the movie, and this film introduces diehard fans to one of the coolest ideas in the franchise: the Scream shrine

After almost two decades, we finally see what it's like to have beloved legacy character Gale survive a Ghostface attack

A sense of dread is established that, despite moving across the country, Ghostface will follow the main characters no matter where they go

Spoilers: Violence is elevated to levels we haven't seen since the first movie (characters are disembodied and half of one character's face is clipped off after a fall from several stories in the air)

The history of Ghostface is briefly discussed in a cool, detective-style layout

Hayden Panettiere returns to reprise her role as Kirby from Scream IV

The climax of this movie is much more exciting and cathartic than Scream V's

Neve Campbell is written out of this movie entirely and this spares the audience the torment of having to watch her be killed as Dewey was in the last film

Cons:

The twist regarding the killers' identities in the end is lame. I love the idea of incorporating three culprits into a Scream movie -- it's territory that has not been explored yet -- but none of the characters who are revealed as Ghostface have strong or memorable enough presences to make them believable murderers. Perhaps this is the idea, but it severely undercuts what is supposed to be a surprising moment for the viewers

At this point in the franchise, there have been literally three pairs of killers exposed throughout the Scream series. Despite this detail literally being spelled out in the narrative, the characters only suspect one person to be the perpetrator of every death in this film. At this point, the Core Four should be aware enough of their circumstances to be cautious of more than one suspect. This is an especially interesting note considering that Mindy, a substitute Randy character, is constantly explaining horror-related patterns and tropes

Yes, I am satisfied to know that Sidney is not put in danger in this movie, but she is one of my favorite characters and I still would have loved to see her return for this latest feature

The opening is relatively weak and introduces red-herring antagonists who are axed as easily as they are introduced

After 28 years, the Scream formula has become a bit tired. Perhaps this is just a trend that exists throughout the horror genre, but the tropes in the Scream series feel particularly monotonous. This is also odd when you consider how often the franchise mocks their counterparts for doing the same thing

Verdict: From a storytelling perspective, Scream VI is not as impressive as the original. It sometimes reads as an overblown piece of fanservice, but it is still a refreshing return-to-form, and lovingly pays homage to what made this series so popular. Scream VI has been the only franchise sequel to fill me with a warm sense of nostalgia, and reminded me of why I fell in love with these movies in the first place. It is a more-than-worthy follow-up to the first film and almost makes up for two decades worth of mostly-terrible sequels.

#scream #ghostface