[dr-lizortecho]

for clarification purposes, when I say “I didn’t like Liz/Max/Echo’s end” I am not in fact talking about their final scene, but the entirety of their final season, because of the way they wrote their story arcs and completely disregarded them, and ended up using all that ‘character development’ for drama and not any actual development

[beautifulcheat]

Yes, exactly this.

And like I'm not as incensed as you are, I'm more just exhaustedly irritated by it, because the whole season was like this. And I'm annoyed by people who seem to want to convince me that this is so obviously a good on-screen end for Echo.

Max spent a decade in a job and a town that he didn't even register as a prison because he was waiting in the last place he'd seen Liz for her to come back.

Max had dreams. He was going to be a writer. He was going to travel. He had those dreams separate from Liz, and then when he heard her plan was to travel too, he wanted to go with her. But then he couldn't, and so he waited. He stayed with his family and he waited for Liz to come back with only the thinnest hope she ever would.

And now we have Liz paralleled to Max -- in a job she doesn't like, ignoring what she was really meant to do, waiting in a town she's always felt trapped in for the man that she loves. It's a perfect narrative parallel and one that... sucks for me.

Max's (at the time) unrequited love for Liz was a tragedy. One of those sad, quiet every day tragedies that we rarely process as such because they come in the beginning of a story, not the end of it.

Liz's on-screen ending is, too, tragic.

And just because we have the hope and expectation that Liz and Max will reunite, it doesn't make the ending less of a tragedy.

And the ending ignores so much of their character and growth throughout the show, and it also ignores parallels that would have been so much more compelling for them as a couple! Wouldn't it have been stronger for Liz to follow Max, breaking their pattern once and for all? Keeping the promises that Max had made to her, not to let her run away, to follow her?

Liz is not the waiting type, and saying that she should be really rubs me raw. It was Not Good when Max did it, why would it be better for Liz to do it! What balance is to be found in Liz staying there? What is the point, what is the purpose? The show doesn't give us enough to make it clear. So now it just feels like she is as unbalanced as she was in 4x01, desperately searching for a way to feel like herself while giving up most of her dreams to be with Max on what she thought was his terms.

And they could have so easily had this ending and had it make sense.

Oasis could be canonically hostile to humans. (Though the aliens did just fine on Earth so that's paper thin). Liz could have science she needs to do (healing Alex? *Healing Mimi*? I will never forgive them for killing her??). Any number of reasons could have been given for Liz to stay but they weren't. And that matters.

And do not get me started on how enraged this season has made me on behalf of Isobel we will be here all day.

Anyway. It's fine if the ending worked for some people. But I'm real tired of being told that the ending was wonderful and beautiful and transcendent, and Echo shippers/Liz & Max fans should suck it up and understand the ~narrative~parallels~ because it wasn't good for me. Not at all.

[maxortecho]

Honestly this fandom will dislike Echo/Max the majority of the time (or the entire time) and now turn around saying this is a good or logical ending to them (when it’s not even a good stepping stone for their characters). They will spend the whole season with nothing positive to say about Liz/Max/Echo’s narrative until the Liz/Max/Echo fans are clearly unhappy. Bottom line is they don’t care, it’s transparent, and I don’t care about their input 🤷‍♀️

But yeah the ending was unearned. Yes, Max’s endgame has always been to embrace his destiny and his powers—I have been the biggest champion of that endgame for him! But the operative word here was always EMBRACE. What they gave us in canon was Max RESIGNED to his destiny. Max’s arc called for him to become enthusiastic/empowered by his destiny in the end after a lifetime of running from it; him going to Oasis is absolutely meaningless to me when he doesn’t actually want to go.

Liz once again loses her partner, crossed ethical boundaries to a bad result, and her science career is an unresolved afterthought. Liz is terrified in 4x01 that allowing herself to be emotionally vulnerable will hurt her. “Liz’s arc calls for her being ‘left’ because that’s what she fears” except we already did this in 1x13 - 2x05. Liz has already gritted her teeth through ‘being left’. The next logical step for Liz’s character in S4 was for her to fear a repeat of this heartbreak and then be proven wrong. Her character needed to learn something different about her relationship than what she believed in 4x01. The last time Liz let herself be truly vulnerable (Max doing a handprint into her emotions during sex), she was then traumatised; this time Liz needed to risk being truly vulnerable again and have her misbelief (she would be hurt again) disproved.

Liz has “waited” 10 years for her own destiny: pursuing science and discovery with her soulmate by her side supporting her. Her destiny was postponed 10 years ago by tragedy and trauma and… now she is yet again being made to wait. Max told her in 1x06 that he wanted to “change his plans for her” and we end the series with never seeing that wish fulfilled.

What they gave us in canon was Liz choosing vulnerability and then ONCE AGAIN having her heart broken. It’s not the right ending for her and—even if we had a S5–it’s not the right next step for her character either.

[ladynox]

i'm still annoyed about max's story. Grossly mishandled when the writers can't pod/kill/kidnap him out of the story, but mostly ignored. and now this finale.... it is utterly ridiculous that max assumed he was gonna go through the stargate alone and was mostly correct. like i'm glad that dallas went with him but it's unbelievable that michael and izzy weren't there to at least see him off. Or, you know, go with him. It's not like isobel doesn't share a psychic connection with max. not like both izzy and michael haven't endured max's chronic martyr syndrome and don't recognize the signs.

one of those signs being max giving his typewriter to michael like he's never coming back. it's just all ooc behavior for everyone. b/c by god the writers want open endings with tearful goodbye proposals, and trucks driving off into the sunset and fireside snuggles, and they are gonna get it.

[maxortecho]

Tbh this show hasn’t known what to do with Max or how to write a clear arc for him since 1x13. Max’s story narrowed its focus to only his powers, and then that story was derailed by how to postpone him accessing those powers—as you said, he’s dead/powerless/podded/kidnapped to avoid addressing the corner that the show perceived itself as being written into.

There were a lot of Max stories outside of his power that could’ve been addressed along the way—his childhood trauma, his writing, his place in the Roswell community (as a sheriff and then not). But the show only saw him for his powers and didn’t know how to write beyond that.

And yes Max’s depression/suicidal tendencies were never addressed or worked through, so it’s disheartening just how much it feels like he is abandoned to this destiny (on a planet-saving scale!) without any support.

[wunderlass]

Coda

I hate how it ended for Echo. Here's how I fixed it without them having to spend any more time on the final scene. Thanks, as always, to @maxortecho for the beta work.

The desert air is cold and sharp on Liz’s cheeks, adding to the sting of tears clinging to her skin. She hates how they cloud her vision as she takes in what will be her last sight of Max for nobody knows how long. It could be weeks. Months. Forever.

Dallas is already on the other side of the portal, surrounded by unearthly structures in gleaming crystal. Waiting patiently for Max to join him, for their work to begin.

Max is framed by the stone archway of the portal, dark hair lit by the glow of the strange light filtering through from Oasis. She ought to be fascinated by what’s on the other side of it, but she can’t bear to tear her attention away from Max. He’s stoic, but she sees the sorrow in his eyes. It feels like he can’t look away from her either.

“Guess we have to wait a little bit longer for that road trip,” she whispers, the words hoarse and stricken around the knot in her throat.

He nods, his mouth tight in that way she knows signals that he’s trying to keep his emotions inside. He’s trying to be strong for her sake. “When I get back. We’ll go to the ocean then,” he promises.

The console hums behind them, a warning that its fuel will soon run out. And yet Liz can’t bear to let go of the moment. Of Max. Not yet.

“Do you think there are oceans on Oasis?” she asks, as if her words will slow time and keep Max here with her. “If you’ll get to see those.”

“I guess I’ll find out,” he whispers, and there’s no enthusiasm to it. She understands why. He’s not going to Oasis to explore, to discover what the planet has to offer, the way she would. He can’t do that without her by his side, because he has to come back to her as soon as he can. If Liz was there, they could take their time. They could stand on the shoreline and marvel at pink or yellow or silver water.

Her breath hitches. She’s momentarily stunned by her own cluelessness. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? 

“I could come with you.” The words are out before she has chance to fully think them through. “I could find out with you.”

It’s as if a light has switched on behind his eyes, and his own response is breathless. “Are you sure?”

It doesn’t take a moment to think about it. Beyond that simple idea, the simple resolution of still being able to be with Max, of not being separated by galaxies and light years – there’s all the discovery to be made. A new planet, uncharted by humans. Unvisited and unseen. With him.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” she says, then adds on, as if Max might need persuading. “I could help. I wouldn’t just be tagging along.”

But Max needs no persuading, his face splitting in a broad smile. “This could be our road trip,” he says, reaching out for her.

She reaches back without thinking, clasping hands. A moment ago they’d been saying their goodbyes, but now both their gazes turn to the portal. It doesn’t need any further discussion. Nothing has ever felt more right to her, except perhaps the moment she’d kissed Max for the first time.

“Ready?” she asks him anyway, taking her first step towards the portal. His mouth lifts in a giddy grin, and she wipes away the remnant of her tears with her free hand.

“Ready,” he agrees. There’s a beat, a silent rhythm between them, then they take that step together, crossing the threshold into another world.

See this is how you make a super quick tweak to the ending and make it happy, if you aren't a complete hack.

[angsty-nerd]

It works. Cheap, quick, easy. No fuss. And true to the characters. This show always should have ended with Max and Liz on an adventure.

Thanks for busting something out and making me smile, @wunderlass 😘

[adiwriting]

Perhaps if Max had uttered a *single* word about actually wanting to go to Oasis to find himself and fulfill his destiny, I would feel fulfilled. I understand what the show was going for. He spent his life scared of who he was and denying it. At the end of his journey we wanted him to embrace that side of himself.

But reluctantly going to save Oasis and leaving Liz behind to do so isn’t exactly a happy ending for me. He didn’t chose this. Not really. He was forced into it out of a sense of obligation. A *single* line about wanting to learn more about himself to be able to accept himself, something. Anything. I’d be happier.

😔

[soberqueerinthewild]

Max doing what he thinks he should out of a sense of obligation is literally where he was in season 1 episode 1 when he told Liz he was a cop so he could sleep at night, doing it as penance. He always thought he needed to be the protector of max and isobel, and now he’s just going to be the protector of the planet. That doesn’t feel like growth to me

[maxortecho]

It’s sad because my endgame for Max has always been him accepting himself and his powers with a sense of joy and gratitude. I was okay with him sacrificing his powers earlier because what his character needed was realising that losing part of himself didn’t make him happy and he actually missed being his whole self.

Instead Max sacrifices his powers in the pursuit of happiness, safety and simplicity, and he is shamed by all of the characters for doing so. Every episode since 4x06 he’s been called weak. He’s told his own happiness is an inconvenience to everyone else. He is guilt tripped into taking his powers back, and he does it not because he actually wants to but because everyone is unhappy with him and he feels he has no choice. Similar to him being created by Nora and seen as an object to fulfil a purpose, even if they have to literally chain him to it—Max is again valued for his “destiny” and what his hands can do over his actual personhood.

Max sacrificed his powers because he wanted to be with Liz; he took his powers back because Liz said she didn’t feel safe anymore. This decision is paired in an episode where he tells her “I will always be by your side”. Because that’s what he wants. But that’s not what either of them gets.

Somehow, inexplicably, it is Isobel that pushes and pushes at Max to accept this vision to go and save a planet that used and abused him (it was already dying 80 years ago. And for some reason he’s not even allowed 48 hours to emotionally or strategically prepare to leave).

Like 4x12, Liz is once again heartbroken that Max needs to leave, but she states that Max needs to “accept his destiny/powers” even though it fundamentally makes him unhappy. Somehow, inexplicably, Liz prioritises Max having his powers over everything else including what he actually wants or her being with him. Despite him saying over and over that he values being with his loved ones more than having any powers or destiny.

Michael and Isobel don’t go to the portal to support him. Max is surprised that Liz even shows up to say goodbye. Why?

He sacrificed his powers before because they stood in the way of him being with Liz. The natural conclusion to this arc would be Max believing his powers are not a punishment. However in the end his powers are more of a punishment than they’ve ever been: having to break Liz’s heart, leave his family, leave home and Earth. He hands over his typewriter as the last symbolic act, of not being able to hold onto any of the things about himself that actually make him happy or who he is.

[saturnslight]

my echo edit is out! hope you’ll like it<3

[lsyoung28-deactivated20230216]

This is beautiful!! How can you not think they have the greatest love!!

[angsty-nerd]

This definitely helped! Kudos to @saturnslight

[angsty-nerd]

Per my last post, I’m a wee bit drunk right now, so please don’t hold this against me. But…

THE VAST MAJORITY of my Echo shipper friends are like…super bisexual. Like, to the point where their oogling of Jeanine makes me a bit uncomfortable.

Because I am super duper ACE.

So when I’m emoting about the finale it doesn’t mean that it’s a straight thing.

Just because we find Echo more compelling than Malex doesn’t mean it’s a straight vs gay thing.

So please get off your high horses and let us emote over how awful that ending was for us.

And please, please, PLEASE take a moment to consider how you would feel if Michael made that choice. Or Alex died. Because pretty much that’s what we got.

[angsty-nerd]

Also, yes this is all tonight.

[angsty-nerd]

So… I’ve spent the last 4 years in my little Echo corner of the world, watching this fandom lose their shit over what they felt like the show doing Malex dirty. And all through it I’ve had one prevailing thought, “these people are clearly watching a different show than me if they think that a side pairing deserves better than what they’re getting”.

This morning I had a little epiphany that put it into the best context I had yet to date: there are two shows. The Malex show and the network’s show.

All this time I had thought that the writing team was writing the network’s show. But the last few episodes have proven me wrong. Because in 4x11 they found out that they were getting cancelled. And now that it’s all said and done, it’s clear to me that when they found out they were done, they decided to close out the Malex show. And Echo was the network’s show.

So I guess I’ve been wrong this past 4 years. I guess I wasted my time. Because I thought I was watching Roswell. A story that has always been about Max and Liz. But it turns out that I wasn’t. I was watching the Malex show. And this fandom got everything they wanted and we got fucking shit on.

[auburnhair]

Chuck vs The Goodbye (5x13) - Final Scene, The end (by robertlf3)

—

Watching this while eating Angle Food cake on Valentines Day… 

:( 

[angsty-nerd]

As sweet as it looks in standalone form, this is really really what I need to NOT happen in the RNM series finale, ok? Yeah.

[angsty-nerd]

The Great Divide Part 7

Apologies fandom… this is many many months overdue. But I HAD to post today to celebrate @lsyoung28 ‘s birthday!! Woooooo!! Happy birthday Lisa!! Enjoy!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28476075/chapters/69775341

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[angsty-nerd]

Hey, just wanted to check in and see if you’re watching the new season of Roswell?

Hey Nonny!

Apologies…I’m the worst. Yes I’m watching, but I’m out of practice at the whole Tumblr thing and kind of generally frustrated by the fandom, so I’ve just been hiding in my little corner watching this season.

Generally I’m enjoying this season except for that one stupid episode where they literally forgot who Max is and had him lying and sneaking around and generally just being off for the whole episode. Thankfully that was just an outlier. Still trying to decide if it was bad writing or bad direction that’s to blame for that one.

Generally though, the plot has been interesting and I’m excited to see where it goes, and counting down to the day that we get our series finale/Echo wedding.

If you do ever want me to comment on anything specific, go ahead and send me an ask. I’ll try to pay a wee bit more attention as we get into this final stretch.

Oh and I’m still working on The Great Divide and will definitely be finishing it. Apologies for my slowness.

[lsyoung28-deactivated20230216]

Max and Liz - Echo fan video RNM

Song- Amazing Eyes by Gold Old War

Inspired by the one and only @angsty-nerd

[angsty-nerd]

You know what’s cool? When you’re listening to music and you suddenly get overwhelmed by Echo feels so you message your buddy about it, and a few days later, this shows up in your inbox!! I have such great friends! 💚💛. Thanks @lsyoung28!! You are wonderful!

[lizortechoweek]

LIZ ORTECHO WEEK | 2022 #lizortechoweek #lizweek2022

★ ONE MONTH TO GO ★

Join in smothering our lead with love January 9–15, 2022. You can fill one prompt, a few, or all + interpret as freely as you please! Just remember to use #lizortechoweek or #lizweek2022 so we can find and reblog your posts!

DAY ONE • setbacks / breakthroughs

DAY TWO • armor / amor

DAY THREE • history / hindsight

DAY FOUR • friends / foes / family

DAY FIVE • free day

DAY SIX • jeanine appreciation

DAY SEVEN • pilot anniversary

Happy creating!

[lsyoung28-deactivated20230216]

Made a little Jones video

[fennecshandgf]

hi i made a uquiz

what are your chances of surviving the end of the world?

[angsty-nerd]

50%

yeah toss of a coin here ngl. you're not really stupid, but you don't enjoy using your brain a lot and you aren't really going to start just because of the apocalypse. you probably get all your news from tumblr and you probably dislike fruits. you don't have an instagram and you hate business majors(mood)

[mikkeneko]

if there’s one self-care skill I really wish fans would develop – especially fans of continuing media, where you get into a thing before it’s finished – it’s the ability to say “this is no longer the story I wanted it to be” and walk away

(and I am not exempting myself from this! there are definitely periods in my past media engagement which would have been less negative for my mental health if I’d been able to do this, rather than banging my head in increasing frustration as the story veered further and further away from what I had always thought its arc was supposed to be.)

you gotta marie kondo this shit. if the story no longer sparks joy for you, then let it go. and you can grieve for that! that loss of potential, that happiness you might once have had with it. you can be frustrated and sad and bitch about it in your group chat. but you have to let it go.

because the alternative is trying to force the creator to change course to comply with your  vision and historically? the success rate of that is very, very low, and far more statistically likely to result in the destruction of the thing entirely. which might sound tempting and satisfying in those moments of frustration but in the end, honestly, is not going to make you any happier. (and is definitely  going to make other people  unhappier.)

what will make you happier is finding some other story that is more like what you wanted. because it’s a vast vast world out there, and people are creating stories and media faster than ever. yes, even queer media, yes, even PoC driven/led media. no one person will ever be able to consume them all. find something out there that brings you joy, that is the story you wanted. and the rest? let go.

[maxortecho]

When’s the first time you were in my bedroom? I’ve never been there.