Hey y'all! Just wanted to have a pinned post that includes what I'm writing and what I post on Tumblr. I personally find these sort of pinned posts extremely helpful when drifting through other accounts, so I decided to do one for myself.
Writing
Finished
Star Wars: The Bad Batch - Keeper's Arena
This story will eventually be available on FanFiction, but it is published via Quotev.
In Progress
Keeper's Arena (Book 2) - In the Dark
How to Train Your Dragon (Race to the Edge) - Traitor Among Them
I have the same username and avatar on FanFiction and Quotev: BibliophileSince2003.
Tumblr
Writing advice
Writing updates
One shots
Incorrect quotes
Fandom observations
Other
I may or may not post art in the future. You will find that I don't usually re-blog things, though I may like a post or comment. I'm very "picky" when it comes to what I include on my account; I could rant for hours about things, so I have to limit myself.
Interests
What am I into? Here are more specifics! Some of these are only film, only literature, or both.
Re-watched Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them again, and I just love Newt and Tina's relationship so much. I'm so glad their relationship wasn't rushed. I think when I first watched the movie I initially thought Tina was too "mean" to Newt, but then I realized she just had a serious demeanor in front of anyone, even her sister. She had also gone through a lot of hard in her life, so it was justified. I think she "needed" Newt's kindness just as much as he needed her stability.
One thing I noticed... Tina may be serious, but never avoided eye contact with Newt. She was such a present listener. Watch any scene with Newt and Tina, and you'll see her eyeing Newt carefully and thoughtfully. Even when they had their first conversation or when she's frustrated with him!
I also think this is why Newt compliments her eyes as being salamander eyes. Because he himself struggles with eye contact but she doesn't, I believe the rare moments he looks up he notices that about her eyes, because she was always holding eye contact. He didn't just find the color pretty. I think he appreciated the thoughtfulness and intelligence behind them, too.
Reader: Wow, you have really complex characters, you must be so intelligent with coming up with new personalities.
Writer: Jokes on you, I used that person *points* and that person *points* and that person I barely talk to and mostly just observe *points* and my Uncle Fred who drives me nuts *points* and mix it all together.
How To Train Your Dragon (Live-Action) In-Depth Review
The live-action impressed me.
In case you have any doubts about whether my opinion is worthy or not, let me "prove" I'm a huge fan of the franchise. Roughly 12 years ago, my siblings and I huddled behind a laptop to watch one of the many family-friendly movies our kind contractor had given us to watch while the house was being renovated on. One of those was the first How to Train Your Dragon movie. It had come out a few years before that, but we had never heard of it before. We were absolutely sucked in, loving every minute of it. I've seen the second and third movies. As teenagers, my siblings and I watched Race to the Edge. Several times over, actually. We quite literally grew up with Hiccup and Toothless.
I don't like remakes. In fact, I avoid them like the plague.
Before watching the live-action, I was extremely nervous. Besides the questionable casting choices, I didn't think it would give me the same emotions I had felt when watching How To Train Your Dragon for the first time 12 years ago.
I was right. It didn't.
Don't expect it to be better than the original. Nothing could ever improve what's already been done. So... I understand people not wanting to watch it, or at least not over and over again. Personally, I want my future kids to watch the original movies and shows before they're even aware the live-action exists.
Here's the catch. Just because the live-action doesn't beat the original doesn't mean the live-action isn't worth at least a little bit of hype. Predictable but nostalgic? Yes. What I didn't expect was the live-action's ability to capture my attention and give me new emotions. I felt as though I were in the world, which may seem obvious. That is one thing that live-action can surpass animation in, admittedly. It gave me a different perspective, and the realness of it was both exciting and thrilling, especially as an adult.
That's as general as I can get, but I'm not done yet! The rest of this post will be hidden for those who do not want to be spoiled. If you've seen the movie already or simply don't care, read on!
Casting
The live-action Hiccup (Mason) was nearly perfect, in my eyes. He nailed the timidness and compassion of young Hiccup and his relationship and interactions with Stoick, Gobber, and the others. Now, I do wish he were more sarcastic. Next to the twins, Hiccup is known for his humor. When Mason joked, it was rushed. Sarcasm is supposed to be natural and dry, making the audience laugh abruptly. Additionally, I hope we see him become the leader we all know and love, especially as Astrid and the others lean on him more.
I was most concerned for Astrid. I still prefer her blond look, but I'm biased. I'm blond, and I don't see very many positive blond characters in movies, shows, or books. Any time a character's look is altered in a remake, that actor or actress has to work twice as hard to be an accurate representation of the character. A person who looks and acts how they're supposed to will always be more satisfying, but personality is most important. If they look like a different person, they must convince the audience otherwise. It's not an easy thing to do, and it usually backfires. The live-action Astrid (Nico) surprised me in a good way. She's a bit of a bully and she's serious. Granted, I wish Nico had a little more energy or drama, as that would have made for an amazing transformation, as it is in the original movies and shows. However, if she's really focused on her goals of being a dependable warrior, the serious demeanor is more realistic. I can only hope that she gains a softer spirit later on. I loved seeing Astrid keep her bold energy but become more feminine in the original movies and shows, and I can only hope that live-action Astrid will be the same. We can't really know until the live-action for the second movie comes out. After all, the more her relationship with Hiccup grows, the more she will depend on him to lead while remaining comfortable in her own skin, not having to prove herself but simply being the Astrid we all know and love.
The live-action Fishlegs (Julian) had very few lines. Sometimes, it was hard to understand him. Julian spouted off facts perfectly, rambling on whether others listened to him or not. Fishlegs is also known to be compassionate but skittish. It's too soon to judge whether or not Julian will achieve those personality traits, but I'm hopeful.
The live-action Snotlout (Gabriel) is perfect. Nothing needs to change. The minute he started talking, I had a huge smile on my face, even though he had just insulted Hiccup. Gabriel brings arrogance and quick insults to the table so naturally that you'll forget you're watching the live-action. Gabriel, thank you. You are setting a wonderful example.
The live-action Tuffnut and Ruffnut (Harry and Bronwyn) are beyond disappointing. I'm sorry, but it's true. They don't look like twins. When Ruffnut said "our mother can't even tell us apart" I wanted to laugh and groan simultaneously. Respectfully, is their mother blind? Beyond that, they simply weren't funny, and that's what they're known for! I could barely catch what they were saying, and it was very unnatural. As someone with siblings myself, sibling humor means bouncing comments off one another extremely quickly. Adding to the chaos, in other words. Insulting each other, at times. Exaggerating and being loud, in the right circumstances. Tuffnut and Ruffnut were hardly together. In fact, the emphasis seemed to be on Ruffnut trying to team up with Astrid because they're the main female characters. What happened to the iconic twin tuition? What happened to their inseparable sibling bond? What happened to their quick, unhinged comments?
Gerard Butler. Brilliant. You could literally tell he was the most experienced actor in the entire cast. Absolute king.
The live-action Gobber (Nick) did pretty well. Honestly, my brain is going fuzzy because I can't stop thinking about how the twins deserved so much better.
Creativity
The live-action was practically a copy-and-paste version of the original. Honestly, if you're going to do a remake, especially a remake of a movie near and dear to so many people's hearts, that's the way to do it. Again, I don't normally like remakes. I still hope we'll finally get good, original ideas in the future.
They added a few things, but it didn't change the overall plot. I wish they had included the scene of Hiccup figuring out dragons aren't fireproof on the inside with the Terrible Terror, but it does make their fight with the Red Death more thrilling. Without that scene, the live-action Hiccup had to think quickly in the heat of battle, which abruptly demonstrate early signs of bravery and observational skills.
Animation
Toothless' design is nearly perfect. I think a lot of people expect a smooth, narrow look, but considering the fact that they are scaly, large, powerful creatures... I can see why they had to animate Toothless slightly differently to "fit" the realistic setting. Sure, Toothless is a bit slower, but dragons aren't feathers. Additionally, it's a cinematic fact that people usually appreciate slower fighting/flying scenes, as they are less grading on the eyes. Because Toothless is so young in the first movie, I can accept him being clumsier. Who knows? In the future, maybe he'll gain more speed.
Stormfly is very different but vibrant in color and more dragon-like. In the original, the Nadder's head is comically round. The live-action Nadder fits in its setting without taking away the important details.
Meatlug and Barf and Belch are good.
Hookfang? Oh. My. Gosh. I loved the design! The eyes are, well, in a better spot. It honestly makes the live-action Monstrous Nightmare more terrifying, and it's supposed to be an aggressive, powerful dragon. When Hiccup says "only the best vikings go after those" and you see the live-action Monstrous Nightmare face coming into view, bursting into flames? Yeah, I believe you now, Hiccup. Original Hookfang, I love you, but your crab eyes aren't scary.
The only scene that seemed choppy animation-wise was the scene with Hiccup and Toothless falling as Hiccup is learning to fly with him. The silence was a nice touch. However, when Hiccup fell, his body and limbs were flailing around at unnatural angles and he was falling very quickly very abruptly. Now, I had watched the new Mission Impossible movie the week before, and I've watched all the Mission Impossible movies before that, so I understand that there will be flaws in animation. However, it just seemed like an unrealistic fall compared to "real" falls I've seen in movies.
Also, the scene when Hiccup and Toothless crashed into the dandelion field? If I remember correctly, Toothless partially landed on his back. It looked as though Hiccup had or should have broken his back. In animation, it's easier to accept the unrealistic falls, jumps, and other movements. I feel like this particular scene could have been improved somewhat; I think Toothless would have been perfectly willing to take the brunt of an impact like that. The animators also could have made it less awkward and more believable.
Well, that's all! I'm genuinely curious if others share the same thoughts as me. After all, most of the reviews I see are "it was perfect" or "I don't care and I'm not going to watch it." I think both are extremes; no movie is perfect, I can usually find at least one or two errors, but I won't be entirely negative without seeing something for myself.
I've been a reader and a writer for a little over a decade. I get it. On the reader side of things, you discover amazing stories. You immerse yourself in more of the author's work. You might even take a break from writing. Reading is an excellent way to "study" literature, but there is a huge danger that comes from too much reading and not enough writing... writers may plagiarize more than they realize. It's not a crime to admire the style and story details of an author. Many writers "borrow" ideas from other writers. However, for the majority of your own writing, you want the story to be unique. You need to develop your own style.
You shouldn't abandon reading for the sake of writing. You can, however, practice healthy tips that will keep your story from sounding like every other story.
Branch Out
Don't limit yourself to one genre, a handful of writers, or a certain aesthetic. If your mind is occupied with a plethora of imaginative scenes, it's a lot harder to plagiarize. If you do "borrow" ideas from a multitude of writers, it will sound more original than basic, cliche ideas from a few authors, depending on how you mix it. Add your own thoughts and plot twists, too. The more you force your brain to think, the more creative it will become.
Breathe
Do not read right before you write. Give yourself some time to breathe, letting go of your favorite scenes. You don't want it sneaking into your work. It doesn't matter if you are gradually working through a book or if you've just finished one. It's in your mind, whether you like it or not. Start writing the next day, pretending your reading never happened. Sure, you can be inspired by what you just read, but let it be fuel, not a means to plagiarize.
Fan-Fiction
This may sound dumb, I know. Some people call fan-fiction lazy. I call it practice. A writer can still use their creativity to come up with unique characters in fan-fiction. Additionally, it's extremely hard to stay true to an unoriginal character's personality. You don't want to change what's demonstrated in that particular fandom, but you also want to have fun and add twists and turns, too. While it sounds as though fan-fiction would only help plagiarizing along, it's not true. Depending on how you write, of course. Go crazy with the original plot. Anything to satisfy your love of reading while still practicing writing. That fan-fiction may never meet the eyes of another person, but it doesn't have to.
Evaluate
Many read for entertainment, which in turn encourages writing for entertainment. If you are simply a reader, it doesn't really matter. If you want to be an engaging writer, you should be aware of what you consume and how you consume it. Think about what you're writing as you're writing it. You glance at the paragraph before... is it sounding like someone else? In the dead of night, right before falling asleep, you think of an idea that you quickly discard, realizing it's been done before. The next morning, you figure out a way to make that idea more unique. If you are treating every word you put down as a precious piece of your puzzle, you're bound to get excited over your work. Eventually, you'll get so excited... you almost forgot about the writers who inspired you. Chances are, you'll re-read sections and laugh over how bits and pieces of other stories made their way into yours, but no one besides you would know, because you changed the expected outcome.
Write!
Force yourself to write. I'm not a mood reader myself, but I know many people are. When it comes to writing, don't let mood control you. Write whether you like it or not. Something, anything. You don't need "just the right book" before writing your own work. Keep the two separate. If you read certain books when you feel like it, there are no issues. If you do the same for writing, gradual plagiarism may follow, or expectant readers will grow tired of your progress. For your own sake, be consistent.
Oh my gosh, I have a feeling I know why you tagged me.
Back when I was on Wattpad, I did the exact same thing but with Ahsoka. I guess it's time to bring it to Tumblr. I find it hilarious that other people are doing the exact same thing.
I was a girl in the village doing alright
Then I became a Jedi overnight
Now I've got to figure out how to do it right
So much to learn and see
Up in the temple with my new family *links arms with Anakin and Rex*
In a place that's just for force wielding
A whole chaotic world is waiting for me
I'm so excited to be
Ahsoka the first
I'm finding out what being Jedi's all about
Ahsoka the first
Making my way, it's an adventure every day
Ahsoka
It's gonna be my time
Ahsoka
To show them all that I'm Ahsoka the first
*confetti*
My fellow writers... are you writing a novel in which there is a key leader? Perhaps it is the protagonist himself/herself, either training for this role or having the role thrust upon them. Perhaps it is an oldest sibling, fighting to protect their youngest siblings. Perhaps it is a "chosen" leader in found family, taking the role seriously and effectively.
There is one thing I've noticed about leaders. Not just that, but good leaders. Leaders that readers can genuinely admire and want to support.
Leaders rarely grieve while their followers (non-leader characters) grieve; they sometimes rarely grieve at all. Much of their grief is buried or separate from their actions. After all, they are human.
As an oldest sibling and an older person in most of my past and current friend groups, it's assumed I know what to do in tricky situations. I really don't mind, but it does effect even the most confident of people. When my siblings or friends are suffering, that is not the proper time for me to rant about a situation I'm dealing with. Honestly, I bury many of my burdens. I find it much easier to comfort others than to comfort myself. This isn't healthy, but I suppose everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. On the rare occasion that I do break down, I'm usually alone. If I were to do it in front of my siblings or friends, they would be very concerned and/or uneasy. I remember hurting myself so bad (I usually laugh when I'm in pain) that my siblings genuinely didn't know what to do.
Anyway, I feel like this is an important quality, and this thought process has really helped me when I have to write leaders in my own writing.
Sometimes, real life experiences really do help fuel your writing. I hope this advice helps at least one writer. I wish you all the best!
It has been so, so long since I've watched this show. I grew up with it as a kid; I remember being traumatized by the rat king. As a kid, I don't think I watched all five seasons, but I did watch a good deal of it with my siblings. Well, my youngest sibling started watching it for the first time, and eventually my other sister and I decided, well, why not?
We very quickly became invested. It brought a sense of nostalgia. Not only that, but we could appreciate the characters more than we did before. We could relate to a specific one. For me, it's Leo. Even better... I have three younger siblings. It's almost strange how my siblings and I "match" the personalities of each turtle, and in proper oldest to youngest order, too. Obviously, the personalities aren't a complete match. Additionally, the genders are different. I have one brother and two sisters.
Still, Leo has many "oldest traits" that I could feel on a personal level. I can't even count the amount of times my sister and I pointed at the screen and laughed "that's so you!" or one of our other siblings.
The sibling banter is absolutely top notch. It's savage (as it should be) and creative. My siblings and I are very close, so we know what proper sibling banter should look like. Despite the banter, I really appreciate the show including a loving bond between the turtles. They would do anything for each other. When their sibling is badly hurt, their cries are so raw it physically hurts to hear. They lash out or protect.
The plot, while occasionally cliche and predictable, is interesting and action-packed. The turtles don't win every battle, of course, and they suffer through so much. The finale for each season is gut-wrenching every single time.
We're not going to talk about the romance. *gags*
Oh, I have my opinion on the romance, too.
There's just something about 2000s or 2010s shows (animated shows included) that really capture your attention.
This is a kid's show, but the producers didn't shy away from gritty, traumatizing details.
Honestly, if you're super bored and like action-packed shows, even if they're animated, you should seriously check it out.
Why The Selection Isn't Dystopian (Including Other Trending Books Like It)
I cannot understand for the life of me why The Selection (book series) is labeled as dystopian, including other romance novels that I have or haven't read but have heard about.
Now, I am a firm believer in not judging something unless you've done the research, mulled it over, and know what you're talking about. So yes, I have read the entire Selection series. I have read other dystopian series. I am a huge fan of the dystopian genre as it gives something for the protagonist to fight for. My favorite dystopian novels include The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, 1984, The Giver, and Arc of a Scythe.
Let me start by giving a definition. Dystopian is a genre that depicts a grim society in the state of decline to make a statement about our world. The statement should be important and truth-centered. Dystopian novels focus on human nature both physically and mentally. Politics, philosophy, culture, corruption, and brutality within the story help drive or hinder human nature and beliefs.
Dystopian done poorly will heavily emphasize emotion and childish anger, especially towards those in power. The statement is weak or unimportant. The setting is semi-cruel. The underdogs are good, and authority is bad, which is incredibly shallow.
I don't like love triangles to begin with, but I decided to give The Selection a shot. I almost didn't finish it. America comes from a "cruel" setting, but it isn't that cruel compared to other books I've read. Not only that, but most events take place at the castle. Most of the time I wondered what the point of the story was, other than the curious desire to know who she would pick. Deep issues are brought up, and America stands up for her beliefs, but they are so brief and cliche that it was difficult for me to grasp whether there was more to it than just poor people versus rich people.
Talk about childish behavior. America drove me absolutely insane at times. In most dystopian novels, yes, the protagonist suffers from a great deal of internal dialogue. However, the reader is not left hanging. There should always be something tangible and secure a protagonist can cling to in the midst of pain, which is something the readers can grasp, too. America's behavior is contradictory. Her mood changed so fast I didn't know how to approach her personality, if she had any. The politics, history, and culture illustrated in The Selection are practically nonexistent or contradictory, too.
The thing that bothered me the most? The rebel attacks. They were underwhelming. Sure, they got worse and worse. Yes, we see some suffering, but America is rarely involved. A protagonist in a dystopian novel should be deeply involved in the conflict. Front lines. First-hand experience. And if not immediately, then soon. How else can a writer communicate the statement? You can not put a word on paper and expect a reader to see said word and assume the genre is dystopian. You must show the reader.
I love this genre too much to see it die or be butchered. Remember... romance doesn't always have to be present.
Optimus dances like they did in the 50s. Classy and simple. He doesn't dance unless he knows (or thinks) no one is watching. I would like to believe, though, that he wouldn't mind dancing in front of Elita.
Imagine, in Transformers Prime...
*Miko blasts music at full volume; Bumblebee is the first to jump in and rock some epic dance moves*
*Optimus observes from a distance, then excuses himself*
*Ratchet rolls his eyes and gets back to work*
*Ultra Magnus watches in confusion*
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Jack, Raf, and Smokescreen (a terrible dancer, but he does his best) join Miko and Bumblebee*
Later, the group goes out to scout; Ratchet and Optimus hang back. Ratchet is weary from working and tells Optimus that he needs to take a quick break. He leaves the base. Optimus considers the speakers a minute. He surveys the base and double checks the cameras. Finally, he gets the speakers to work, but it switches to a different album Miko rarely plays, as she prefers rock over older music. 50s music comes on. Optimus nods his head and taps his feet. Again, he surveys the base. Then, he starts dancing the way they did in the 50s. Well, the way humans do. He's good at it. He smiles a little bit.
Meanwhile, the others get back to the base. Jack hears the music playing and throws his hand out to stop Miko before she can sprint into the room. Arcee cocks her head and wordlessly tells the others to be quiet. Ratchet peers around the corner and stares in shock. Eventually, they all stare in shock. They whisper to each other.
Smokescreen: Our leader is more impressive than we thought.
Miko: I am never deleting that album.
Not wanting to embarrass Optimus, they hang back and wait until the music stops, then casually enter. Optimus awkwardly stands to the side. The others get back to work, and Optimus gradually relaxes and asks them whether they saw anything out of the ordinary. They shake their head and converse for a bit. Miko turns the speakers on, and 50s music comes back on.
Miko: Huh. I forgot I had this album.
Optimus: It is good to extend your knowledge on a variety of... musical tastes.
Miko: You know, Optimus, if you ever did dance, I think this would fit you well.
Optimus: Hm.
Still, he smiles. The others have to hide their smiles.
Not only that, but Peter Cullen probably grew up with this kind of music.
I'm here to discuss whether "new" Ninjago is better than "old" Ninjago, or vice versa. I see so many opinions float around, and some comments people make are extremely harsh or confusing. For my own claims, don't worry, I'll back them up with evidence and genuine consideration.
I would like to start by saying that I started watching Ninjago when it first came out in 2011. I was around 8 years old at the time. My younger siblings soon became invested in the show, and we watched it together. There are seven seasons total that I would consider "old" Ninjago that aired from 2011-2017. About a year later, what I would call "new" Ninjago aired with seasons 8-15. Dragons Rising is the current Ninjago show.
I have almost finished Dragons Rising. So, yes, I am aware of all the little details and therefore ready to provide my own thoughts. I am an old Ninjago fan at heart and grew up with the show, but if I'm to have an opinion about what's new I might as well know what I'm talking about.
New Ninjago fans say that old Ninjago fans are "blinded by nostalgia" and old Ninjago fans say that new Ninjago fans don't understand the point of the show.
Ok, first of all, is "old" Ninjago perfect? No, of course not. The fight scenes are extremely slow at times. The animation? Less detailed. As a kid, I didn't really care. As an adult, sure, it's painful to watch. However, animation is such a small part of any show, and there is more to life than things that are aesthetically pleasing, especially when it comes to criticism. On a deeper, plot-centered level, "old" Ninjago surpasses "new" Ninjago. You cannot watch "old" Ninjago and tell me that the plots aren't creative and exciting, with a good balance of humor, brotherhood, and pain. "New" Ninjago, for the most part, was pretty decent and added depth to the characters. I liked Lloyd's new voice actor. Some aspects of "new" Ninjago irked me, like Kai's lack of emotion when Nya quite literally became one with the ocean, Kai losing his powers yet again and wallowing in self-pity, or Cole becoming more and more of an insignificant character with few lines, save season 13.
The biggest thing, though, was lack of creativity and a shift in character development that is unneeded or backwards. Characters can develop, sure, but they shouldn't be an entirely new personality without cause. The ninja were extremely weak or extremely overpowered. In reality, they should remember most of what they've learned and continue to grow.
Dragons Rising is - pardon my aggression - a piece of crap. Now, I think it had promise in the beginning, and I was excited with the introduction of new characters.
Arin and Sora have distinct personalities and interesting backgrounds. It went downhill pretty quickly. I dislike Wyldfyre with a passion. A Kai and Skylor alliance would have been better. Not only does Wyldfyre act like she's consumed ten energy drinks, but she's wrecked Kai's personality. Their banter is humorous and realistic, but shouldn't Kai know how to handle an impulsive person? Lloyd was practically their little brother in "old" Ninjago. Kai was impulsive and confident in his own actions, perhaps even a little "mean" to Lloyd when Lloyd needed a serious wake up call, but he never purposefully put Lloyd in danger. He was willing to take the hit in a lot of situations. Now, we see him running away screaming his head off while Wyldfyre is throwing hands. Kai... you've faced worse than a giant rock monster, buddy. The humor in Dragons Rising makes me want to tear my hair out sometimes. I get it's a kid show, but they could do better. "Old" Ninjago had some pretty grim details, but there was always a ray of hope or humor that just made sense in the moment. Mainly, the ninja being true brothers and absolutely roasting each other. In comparison, the humor in Dragons Rising is forced and cliche.
"Why would you touch the scary painting, Jay?"
"I didn't know it would do that, Cole!"
Compared to...
"I guarantee the sewers won't have any security."
*cut to them being chased*
"I was wrong!"
I'm not saying that "old" Ninjago doesn't come with its own share of cliche humor, I'm just saying that it's significantly less compared to Dragons Rising. It's also sprinkled, not dumped.
So, Arin and Sora get the spotlight, and the ninja seem to weaken more and more every day.
If you're a new Ninjago fan, I can see why Dragons Rising wouldn't bother you, though I would question your sanity if you found the cliche humor even remotely funny every single time. But the ninja aren't themselves. "Old" Ninjago gave us characters with exaggerated personalities for a reason, and "new" Ninjago provided some interesting plots with improved animation. "New" Ninjago is where it should have ended, and Dragons Rising can rot for all I care. The more I see Dragons Rising ignore or discount previous lore, the less I want to give it a chance.
Here's a little theory for you to mull over; I sincerely wonder whether I am alone in thinking this. I could also be heavily exhausted over and influenced by the papers I had to polish off for some of my college courses, or perhaps motivated by the fact that I am re-watching The Bad Batch because most modern shows these days, in my opinion, disappoint. At any rate, here it is.
Why do we like the Bad Batch so much? What makes them relatable and/or realistic?
Upon meeting Omega, most of the Bad Batch behave in a very dad-like manner. This is not surprising, no. Plenty of memes and incorrect quotes have stemmed from this simple observation. They don't have all the answers and they don't know what to do with Omega half the time. That's the thing about dads... usually, they're just "winging it" and trying to do their best. Moms come with a built-in instinct to nurture. Dads come with a built-in instinct to protect and lead. Sometimes, dads aren't quite sure what to do with a crying infant or a struggling teenager.
Let's not forget... Hunter and the others are soldiers. That isn't to say they can't be kind or gentle; even the toughest men have their weak points. As a military brat, though, I have noticed that such a profession can mold a man, and at times they forget to "turn off" their seriousness when at home after having dealt with extremely hard situations. I really appreciate that the producers of this show didn't change Hunter and the others just to make them more approachable from Omega's standpoint. If they do change, it's gradual.
Do Hunter and the others think about the consequences of bringing Omega into their lives? *eyeballs toothpick man* With exceptions, of course. Well, until season three. The answer? Absolutely not. They believe they have the strength and ability to keep her safe, as most dads would. They believe they will always have that strength and ability. Let me break it down for you and give you a look into the brain of a dad:
Dad: *involved in a dangerous situation*
Dad: I can do that.
Dad: *remembers their child is with them*
Dad: Oh. Well, I guess becomes a life lesson. I've got you, kid. Just... don't tell your mom.
Dad: *keeps an eye out for anything suspicious*
Kid: *perfectly content*
I've heard it said that dads don't say "I love you" but show they love you. I personally have experienced both, but given the seriousness of most dads... I can see how that would be the case. At the very least, their actions speak louder than words. The Bad Batch are very much this way towards Omega. They put their lives on the line. They want to make her happy. Wrecker assembles a spot for Omega to call her own on the Marauder. Tech grabs her before an explosion can reach them. Echo has hugged Omega the most. Hunter is usually within three feet of Omega at all times.
The subtle gestures of kindness captivated all our hearts, I know.
Why?
It's Star Wars, a fictional universe. It's not complete fiction, though. Hunter and the others represent a specific kind of love. Fathers may be cautious and unsure at first, but eventually they want the kid by their side for everything. We've all seen the videos of dads using infants as pretend machine guns or making them dance, the kid's neck rolling lazily. Gently, of course. If they can't protect the kid from everything, they use themselves as a shield, which extends to good mothers, too, though that's not what this post is about.
Hunter and the others may be soldiers, but they embody the very spirit of fatherhood. This was such a wonderful theme to see develop despite the grittiness and action.
Phew, I feel like there was more I wanted to say, but I'm tired, so you're spared from more rambling.
Kai: This is going to be a piece of cake.
Cole: *wakes up*
Cole: Cake? Where?
Kai: *points to the villain*
Kai: He's going to get it.
Cole: *chases villain*
Lloyd: For once... one of Kai's cringe sayings actually worked.
Zane: I fail to see how that worked at all.
Jay: Don't think too hard on it, Zane.
I just thought of something sad. Now, my fellow fans, you will suffer with me. I apologize in advance. Also, if you haven't seen Transformers One yet... this is your warning. Spoilers are present!
Orion, D-16, Elita, and Bee were given t-cogs by Alpha Trion. D-16 became a tank, equipped with a massive gun. Orion received smaller guns, but they can only be used in his vehicle form. At least, that's the only time we see them in use before be became Optimus Prime.
That means Orion had the ability to defend himself when he was trying to stop D-16 from killing Sentinel. He took punches to the face. He fell to the ground. I think it's safe to say that Orion knew D-16 would resort to violence, and yet...
He never fired at D-16.
He could have seriously hurt his friend, or at least slowed him down. I think Orion hoped D-16 would stop, evaluate the situation, and consider how to best deal with Sentinel. Orion didn't think D-16 would fire on him... why else would he get in D-16's way? Or, maybe he wanted to keep D-16 from succeeding in his task, which would taint his reputation. Maybe Orion acted recklessly and wasn't really thinking, but I highly doubt that. There was purpose behind it.
Hurting or killing D-16 wasn't his priority, even if he had the ability to use force.
He still held out hope that his best friend would come back. He hoped hesitance and critical thinking would come to the forefront of D-16's mind.
Orion only fights when he has to, even in the bleakest of times. His words are powerful for a reason.
So yeah, now I'm sad. Orion cared more about his friend's condition than his own.
Orion: So, you gave us the ability to transform. I'm sure you made some thoughtful adjustments, nothing too major.
Alpha Trion: Bee has knife hands.
Orion: He's a kid! Have you seen his energy?
Alpha Trion: *shrugs*
Orion: Well, I guess that's not the worst thing.
Alpha Trion:
Alpha Trion: D-16 is a tank.
Orion: WHAT? You literally witnessed his mediocre anger management skills. Do you know how many ways that could go wrong??
Alpha Trion: *flinches*
Orion: *groans*
Orion: At least tell me you gave Elita and I the ability to defend ourselves, too.
Alpha Trion: Well, you have guns, but they're really tiny, and they can only be used in vehicle form.
Orion: I'm going to kill you.
Alpha Trion: Oh, look at that... the enemy is breaking in! Better take care of it and I'm sure I'll probably die anyway haha... NOW GO!
