Cherish these Times

Fandoms: Doctor Who, Sherlock, Community, Jane Austen, and others. OTPs: John&Teyla, Doctor&Rose, Sherlock&Molly, Ted&Rebecca, Alice&Luther, Jeff&Annie, House&Cuddy, Brienne&Jaime, Daniel&Betty, Arthur&Guenièvre, Jack&Phryne, Siegfried&Audrey

[meanbuddhist]

*turns my attention inwards* mmmmm. no *turns my attention back outwards* oh god

[bonivers]

going on a guilt trip do yall want anything

[secondbeatsongs]

if you really cared about me you wouldn't have to ask

[cherish--these--times]

Oh man. I'm just so tired. Things have evolved so quickly in my lifetime, a new existential threat appears to emerge every other week and it feels like our generation's actions are going to determine whether the human race is going to make it or not and most people have absolutely no control over that shit and absolutely nothing to do with it. I did not sign up for this shit and neither has most of us and somehow we must cope with the consequences of the actions of a few absolute bellends. Give me a fucking break.

[cherish--these--times]

Ted Lasso, The Gilded Age, All Creatures Great and Small (probably) and Rivals... Second half of 2026 is looking goooooood :D

[cherish--these--times]

Any other Rutag fans also loving The Thorn Birds? Let's bestow a big thumbs up to The Thorn Birds. They even had the Hot Priest™ "Oops I fell in love with a woman please don't be mad God" trope decades before Fleabag lol

[kennymccorny]

The moment it all started. 16 year old me wasn't ready for the best unintentional slow burn of my life.

[cherish--these--times]

The goofy smile I got seeing this. Truer words have never been drawn.

[mathilde-with-an-e]

It has arrived!!! Told you something was cooking. Dinner is served, and on the day they announced season 3 no less! This is a good day.

This is a project with a deceptively simple concept: What if rutag was a movie? What would the trailer be like?

Or as an avid fan and creator, how could I make myself bask in the Yearning™ all over again? How could I get all the feels as if for the first time? This is the result. Please bask in the yearning with me.

[orteil42]

given the current climate this pride especially i feel i must mention that i love my trans friends, i stand with trans people in the fight against transphobic legislation and those who would enforce it, and this blog is not a good place for you to be if you do not vibe with that

[transmascmarypoppins]

why is this post completely broken in every way imaginable

[cecilsrandomeverything]

Broken notes… deactivated account… removed image….

Finally, we have them all.

[spacefinch]

In addition: OP’s name is just… gone. No “[insert username]-deactivated[insert a bunch of numbers]” as is the standard for deactivated blogs.

Just the world “deactivated.” Look upon their post, ye mighty, and despair.

[chatblancofficial]

It’ll be almost impossible to find this post unless it wanders across your dash.

[huewrite]

It wandered across mine. I shall help it travel forward.

[gossamermouse]

this is not a place of honor

[jackviator]

[dinosaurana]

Oh hey post of Ozymandius, good to see you again standing on your feet in a desert where no one remembers you

[cherish--these--times]

You know a show is good when they manage to make me root for a bloody Tory.

[cherish--these--times]

Hannah Waddingham for Entertainment Weekly

I beg your unbelievable pardon lady?? STOP TALKING LIKE THAT I CAN'T TAKE IT―

[cherish--these--times]

I think it’s pretty simple tbh…he’s dead set against doing Ted/Rebecca. Jason and Bill and Brendan have said time and time again they’re proud they went the platonic soulmates route because it was an antidote to the ‘social conditioning’ of expecting the two leads to be together. It’s never happening. But they know a huge part of the audience shipped them so they baited it for ratings. They probably won’t do it as much now both are getting love interests. Or at least I hope not, it’s mean.

I think it’s a weaker series than it could’ve been because of their stance though. The Ted and Rebecca parallel journeys are the core of the show. I mean Roy/Keeley is a very lovely ship, but it’s a subplot, it’s not catalysing anything or driving other stories. Ted/Rebecca catalyses. But they had to artificially keep Ted/Rebecca apart on screen after S1 to prevent people reading it as a romance, and it structurally wrecked the show. You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

I’m also sorry to say it, but while I think Hannah W is just about the most beautiful woman on the planet, I think if she was 10 years younger and 5 inches shorter they’d have gone for it and I think it’s pretty blatant how his new love interest from the trailer is petite, younger looking, and Rebecca’s physical opposite.

Thanks Nonny. They really shot themselves in the foot with that first season, didn't they? And frankly, with the Bantr fake out, too. With the shots of them texting and smiling at their phone back to back. I didn't even ship them until then...... You can't do that and not expect the audience to, at the very least, entertain the idea and see the potential. Then cementing it with Rebecca sniffing out Ted's panic attack and September 13th.... Seriously, what were they hoping to accomplish here??? Seriously???? They barely interacted for the rest of the series after that so what was the point?? Where is the friendship and camaraderie and being each other's rock and adviser and companion?? The platonic soulmatism of it all... Nowhere......... I do not understand this show. AT. ALL. I really don't.

You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

That's it!!!! That's what the last two series felt like. The Tedbecca undercurrent was soooo strong and you could feel it and yet you could also feel that the writing was doing its level best to swim upstream to fight it. Madness.

What you're saying about Hannah W's physique is fascinating to me because you're right, she's not the conventional Hollywood leading lady, she has her own brand of beauty (and I defy anybody to claim that she is anything other than an absolute Goddess). So isn't that interesting that she's been somehow disqualified from being Ted's love interest?

She and Ted do not fit into the idea of what a lead romantic couple traditionally looks like. That is true. And doesn't that say it all about how narrow the window is for what is deemed acceptable in Hollywood? Even when both leads are beautiful people by any metrics. So..... I only have one question.

Who's socially conditioned now?

[sadiesingssongs]

I hope Hannah's height, age, and stature hasn't actually disqualified Rebecca from being a love interest to Ted because that would directly contradict things that Hannah herself has said that Jason said about her height not being an issue. I think the anti-romance stance is more a symptom of "prestige TV" in general. I think especially with the age of streaming, tv producers and execs are trying to appeal to the male consumer, so romance is shunned as cliche because it is something female audiences value.

[cherish--these--times]

Ain't that the truth.... How sad is it that I hope that this is the reason?? LOL Depressing times......

Romance clearly is not the issue for the show though, just it being between the two lead characters. Which has been done time and time again, true. But why establish their cosmic connection and do absolutely fuck-all with it then?? I'm so tired lol

[sadiesingssongs]

Jason, Brendan, Bill: They have a cosmic connection but we want it to be platonic because it must appeal only to the dudebros 😎

[cherish--these--times]

Yes because dudebros can't possibly be into romantic soulmates... *cough* social conditioning *cough*

[cherish--these--times]

I think it’s pretty simple tbh…he’s dead set against doing Ted/Rebecca. Jason and Bill and Brendan have said time and time again they’re proud they went the platonic soulmates route because it was an antidote to the ‘social conditioning’ of expecting the two leads to be together. It’s never happening. But they know a huge part of the audience shipped them so they baited it for ratings. They probably won’t do it as much now both are getting love interests. Or at least I hope not, it’s mean.

I think it’s a weaker series than it could’ve been because of their stance though. The Ted and Rebecca parallel journeys are the core of the show. I mean Roy/Keeley is a very lovely ship, but it’s a subplot, it’s not catalysing anything or driving other stories. Ted/Rebecca catalyses. But they had to artificially keep Ted/Rebecca apart on screen after S1 to prevent people reading it as a romance, and it structurally wrecked the show. You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

I’m also sorry to say it, but while I think Hannah W is just about the most beautiful woman on the planet, I think if she was 10 years younger and 5 inches shorter they’d have gone for it and I think it’s pretty blatant how his new love interest from the trailer is petite, younger looking, and Rebecca’s physical opposite.

Thanks Nonny. They really shot themselves in the foot with that first season, didn't they? And frankly, with the Bantr fake out, too. With the shots of them texting and smiling at their phone back to back. I didn't even ship them until then...... You can't do that and not expect the audience to, at the very least, entertain the idea and see the potential. Then cementing it with Rebecca sniffing out Ted's panic attack and September 13th.... Seriously, what were they hoping to accomplish here??? Seriously???? They barely interacted for the rest of the series after that so what was the point?? Where is the friendship and camaraderie and being each other's rock and adviser and companion?? The platonic soulmatism of it all... Nowhere......... I do not understand this show. AT. ALL. I really don't.

You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

That's it!!!! That's what the last two series felt like. The Tedbecca undercurrent was soooo strong and you could feel it and yet you could also feel that the writing was doing its level best to swim upstream to fight it. Madness.

What you're saying about Hannah W's physique is fascinating to me because you're right, she's not the conventional Hollywood leading lady, she has her own brand of beauty (and I defy anybody to claim that she is anything other than an absolute Goddess). So isn't that interesting that she's been somehow disqualified from being Ted's love interest?

She and Ted do not fit into the idea of what a lead romantic couple traditionally looks like. That is true. And doesn't that say it all about how narrow the window is for what is deemed acceptable in Hollywood? Even when both leads are beautiful people by any metrics. So..... I only have one question.

Who's socially conditioned now?

[sadiesingssongs]

I hope Hannah's height, age, and stature hasn't actually disqualified Rebecca from being a love interest to Ted because that would directly contradict things that Hannah herself has said that Jason said about her height not being an issue. I think the anti-romance stance is more a symptom of "prestige TV" in general. I think especially with the age of streaming, tv producers and execs are trying to appeal to the male consumer, so romance is shunned as cliche because it is something female audiences value.

[cherish--these--times]

Ain't that the truth.... How sad is it that I hope that this is the reason?? LOL Depressing times......

Romance clearly is not the issue for the show though, just it being between the two lead characters. Which has been done time and time again, true. But why establish their cosmic connection and do absolutely fuck-all with it then?? I'm so tired lol

[cherish--these--times]

I think it’s pretty simple tbh…he’s dead set against doing Ted/Rebecca. Jason and Bill and Brendan have said time and time again they’re proud they went the platonic soulmates route because it was an antidote to the ‘social conditioning’ of expecting the two leads to be together. It’s never happening. But they know a huge part of the audience shipped them so they baited it for ratings. They probably won’t do it as much now both are getting love interests. Or at least I hope not, it’s mean.

I think it’s a weaker series than it could’ve been because of their stance though. The Ted and Rebecca parallel journeys are the core of the show. I mean Roy/Keeley is a very lovely ship, but it’s a subplot, it’s not catalysing anything or driving other stories. Ted/Rebecca catalyses. But they had to artificially keep Ted/Rebecca apart on screen after S1 to prevent people reading it as a romance, and it structurally wrecked the show. You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

I’m also sorry to say it, but while I think Hannah W is just about the most beautiful woman on the planet, I think if she was 10 years younger and 5 inches shorter they’d have gone for it and I think it’s pretty blatant how his new love interest from the trailer is petite, younger looking, and Rebecca’s physical opposite.

Thanks Nonny. They really shot themselves in the foot with that first season, didn't they? And frankly, with the Bantr fake out, too. With the shots of them texting and smiling at their phone back to back. I didn't even ship them until then...... You can't do that and not expect the audience to, at the very least, entertain the idea and see the potential. Then cementing it with Rebecca sniffing out Ted's panic attack and September 13th.... Seriously, what were they hoping to accomplish here??? Seriously???? They barely interacted for the rest of the series after that so what was the point?? Where is the friendship and camaraderie and being each other's rock and adviser and companion?? The platonic soulmatism of it all... Nowhere......... I do not understand this show. AT. ALL. I really don't.

You can feel the writers fighting against the natural course of things.

That's it!!!! That's what the last two series felt like. The Tedbecca undercurrent was soooo strong and you could feel it and yet you could also feel that the writing was doing its level best to swim upstream to fight it. Madness.

What you're saying about Hannah W's physique is fascinating to me because you're right, she's not the conventional Hollywood leading lady, she has her own brand of beauty (and I defy anybody to claim that she is anything other than an absolute Goddess). So isn't that interesting that she's been somehow disqualified from being Ted's love interest?

She and Ted do not fit into the idea of what a lead romantic couple traditionally looks like. That is true. And doesn't that say it all about how narrow the window is for what is deemed acceptable in Hollywood? Even when both leads are beautiful people by any metrics. So..... I only have one question.

Who's socially conditioned now?

[cherish--these--times]

Jason Sudeikis on Brett Goldstein's podcast after season 3 aired.

Ugh.... I started listening to this after the teaser was released cause I felt in high spirits and wanting to dive back in....... Thanks I hate it. We're fucked aren't we? Tedbecca is never happening. It's OBVIOUSLY what he is referring to here. I could cry for how much of a waste this was. That and Brendan's "OF COURSE NOT" to Nick Mohammed when he asked if Tedbecca was gonna happen.... I knew the signs and I ignored them all. The delulu was strong on that one but that is the cold shower I did not see coming today. If that was his mindset when the series concluded, then everything we saw (that fucking green matchbook in Ted's pocket.... Honestly FUCK. OFF) makes officially zero sense to me. I'm so confused. This show drives me insane.

[heraldic-thunderbolt]

I am a huge fan of retiring to my quarters

[cherish--these--times]

Rebecca was reunited with boat guy at a really vulnerable time…she was brave and laid her heart on a silver platter to Ted and it didn’t work and he had to leave, and he didn’t really do it while making sure she knew the depth of emotion (platonic or otherwise) was equally felt. Then she walks outside while reeling and there like magic the pilot is, after she’s spent a season grasping for psychic signs of her happy future life. Plus there’s a little girl involved who Rebecca fixated on before even noticing boat guy.

All that to say I’m not remotely surprised if Rebecca who is very much an all-in kind of person pours all that excess emotional energy into making this relationship work come hell or high water. It also wouldn’t be OOC for Rebecca to give more of herself than she’s getting in return - obviously Rupert is the best example, but she was also a better friend to Ted and Keeley in S3 than they were to her.

Could not agree more. Beautifully put. I particularly like what you said about how distraught she was when boat guy magically appeared. She had basically left her heart at the departure gate. It's serendipitous to see him in that moment but also a very weak foundation for a lasting relationship. It's not based on anything real. Just wish-fulfilment and wonky predictions from a dubious source. The fact that she saw him again in that moment feels like nothing more to me than a brittle plaster for the gaping wound that Ted left behind.

Ted is the answer in so many ways. Not the least of which being that, should they let themselves go there, Ted would return her affection tenfold. Cause that's who he is. And that's what she deserves. And he also has the power to provide the family (and child) that she so clearly craves. Equally, Ted also deserves to be doted on and loved absolutely, entirely, for who he is. Rebecca can be that. IS that. At this point I really am not holding my breath but I also cannot help but keep hoping, cause this show would truly become a thing of absolute beauty.

Love your last line as well. Very, very true.