probably overanalysing newsies

22 | she/her @exhaustedcaterpillar

[racetrackmybeloved]

is it time to rewatch newsies

[sourstiless]

santa fe in 1992 newsies is so melancholic and makes me emotional. like people say that the song is kinda dreamy and whatever, but honestly it always just felt, sad. the song itself is less about santa fe, and more about jack trying to convince himself that he doesn’t need or want a family, and that he doesn’t long to feel loved by someone. santa fe is just a dream that he’s put in his head to fill a void in his life, he doesn’t actually want to leave. the song starts and ends with him singing about how he’s “glad” he doesn’t have a family waiting for him, as a way to convince himself he’s okay with being alone, even though he’s not.

it’s not an angry, or explosive song. it’s just kind of heartbreaking. and christian bale’s voice being a little raspy and rough around the edges just adds to that feeling of sadness and youthfulness. that’s also one of the things i hated that they changed in the broadway musical. i always found that the emotion in the 1992 version of santa fe was the reason i preferred it to the broadway musical. it just felt a little more authentic to me.

[lousy-old-shrimp]

“He doesn’t actually want to leave”

Remember that scene when he and Sarah were on the rooftop? He prompts her, “I mean, there’s nothing for me to stay for, is there?” and “Sarah? I’m just not used to having whether I stay or whether I go matter to anybody. I’m not saying it should matter to you. I’m just saying, well, does it? Matter?”

He is LOOKING for a reason to stay. He WANTS a family, and thinks he can find one with David and Sarah and Les. The only time I disliked Sarah was when she didn’t answer the above part and acted like he was joking. Jack! Wants! To! Stay!

[sourstiless]

YES !!! THIS !! when he and sarah were on the roof he was practically begging for her to tell him not to leave. it’s not that he wanted to go to santa fe, it’s that up until he met the jacobs’ family, he thought santa fe was all he had left. he just wanted a family.

my biggest complaint about the live musical was that they stripped away so much of what made you remember jack, and the rest of the newsies, were just kids.

[seizethedayorstaygoldidk]

a newsies quote i feel we don’t discuss enough is actually from medda, in the scene before watch what happens reprise

“If you’re going somewhere, and it turns out not to be the right place, you can always go somewhere else. But if you’re running away, nowhere is ever the right place.”

it holds a special place in my heart

[sarahjacobs]

one of theeeeee most javid dynamic defining scenes it is so easy to write david off as a stick in the mud, but david is JUST as insolent as jack, just better at masking, is all. when jack volunteers david to go to brooklyn, it's half a joke at david's expense, but mostly, it's a test of guts. from the script: "jack grins, challenging him. david comes right back at him." puts on his most sincere tone to go with his, well, you're the leader, jack, as he touches jack's arm. and all that wide eyed earnestness falls away with david's shit eating grin at jack's discomfort like david will always give as good as he gets, and that's why they work so well together, that's why jack likes him 💘💘💘

[wassupmygays]

listen i think i need to ponder on Davey and his very probable trust issues after the whole strike. i mean just think abt it.. the kid who seemed to take him under his wing, who he now trusts to help lead this whole strike, seemingly scabs and betrays them for some petty cash. and then, once jack comes back and is seemingly back on their side, he still wants to leave them all behind

and in the movie its worse. davey thinks denton just tosses their cause to the rats for a better gig. jack scabs and we never see him explain that pulitzer was threatening Everyone, not just him. and then when jack returns to the cause, he really does just leave. he gets in Roosevelt's carriage and leaves. and then he returns the next day to cheering and smiles like nothing happened.

but really. its gotta be hard to truly trust someone immediately after all of that apparent side-switching and deserting. even if jack always came back to daveys side every time, who's to say he wont do it all again?

[make-friends-with-the-rats]

you know, we don't talk about the change from "it's only the beginning papa! The longer I work, the more money I'll make" "you only work until I get back to the factory and then you are going back to school like you promised" to "don't even think it! When pop goes back to work we go back to school!" nearly enough as we should

The two might be functionally the same, but narratively they couldn't be more different

[this-is-macy]

I've seen a lot of people say that it's fucked up that Crutchie had to sleep on a top bunk in the Refuge. I have a different perspective on this.

Remember, this guy is used to sleeping on a rooftop. I personally think that he chose a top bunk in the Refuge because that was the option most similar to sleeping right out in the open in Jack's penthouse in the sky. 😭

[str4wb3rry-newsboy]

fuck this david jacobs for president 2028

[jackmkelly]

real talk having the coolest escape with your baby brother and successfully staying away from the refuge for nearly a year only to be seen by snyder and having to take off running & thinking you’re being smart by hopping on a wagon and That being what causes your brother to slip and die is a crazy concept to come up with and scrap. not letting that slide.

[this-is-macy]

If there's one thing about Jack Kelly—the man will fight some laundry just before having a romantic conversation with a pretty woman on a rooftop.

[make-friends-with-the-rats]

this shot always cracks me up because you have David in the foreground with all his buttons done up, singing a reprise of his teamwork makes the dream work song and then there’s Jack with one (1) button buttoned, his man tits out, and a face that says he’s out for blood and you WILL be soaked for Crutchy

and David is none the wiser

[yepthisiskay]

videos from last nights show!!

newsies explained part one:

newsies explained part two:

santa fe:

[starlightandmusings]

newsies fic recs (from an english major):

no hate to those who like the 5+1 and just one bed tropes, but they're just not my cup of tea. (i have been called a hater.) instead, here are my favorite ao3 newsies fics, ones with intense originality, lyrical prose, and in-depth character studies. (;

canon era:

among the roses green by TheBarkeep. a jatherine retelling of the ballad of tam lin, featuring a gentle davey, tumultuous katherine, and poignantly-drawn jack. oh and whump, always. word count 66k.

Sacrifice by Efstitt. this fic is my roman empire. mayer jacobs and jack kelly have a history riddled with pain, and jack has to battle his demons to let himself be loved. oh, and the refuge has a fight club. word count 15k.

keep the earth below my feet by scarlettroses. i'm a sucker for race & jack friendship, and here, race is a prizefighter. jack is there to drag him out of trouble, forever and always. word count 2.6k.

tryin' to talk with a fist in ya mouth by Somanywords. jack kelly's full backstory, chronicling his grief, his darkness. featuring intense PTSD, art as a form of therapy, and emotionally intense prose. word count 15.5k.

Jack's Self Portrait in Apologies by Em_313. a different angle on jack's backstory, captured in snapshots of regret. meticulous period research in this one, as well as a whole lot of bloodstains and death. word count 3k.

cardboard crown (jack kelly, a life) by stars_and_sunflowers. this is my own take on jack's story. featuring a fight club, a debt-riddled race, and irish catholicism. in-progress, current word count 16k.

Escapes by Efstitt. jack has just broken out of sing sing, and he lands smack dab in the middle of the pulitzers' summer estate. cue savagery, a pretty heiress, and a compassionate spot conlon. word count 30k.

On the Road by Efstitt. sequel to escapes! ever more whump, this time in the context of a road trip. jatherine is endgame, and the plot is dazzlingly engaging. and, as always, brilliant characterizations. word count 56k.

Just Hold On Kid by flyinghome21. another jack kelly backstory (do you see a pattern?) flashes of years gone by; i was really captured by the way the plot moved, the highlights of what made jack tick. word count 27k.

melt your headaches, call it home by floodlights. latino jack kelly. jatherine. classism/racism, violence, startlingly lyrical prose. do i even need to SAY more. i want to eat this fic. one of my all time faves. word count almost 5k.

Best Laid Plans by TheBarkeep. ashkenazi jewish jacobs family rep! this one features a soft davey jacobs falling in love with a sex worker, jatherine sweetness, and teenagers bearing the weight of the world. word count 128k.

Jack and the Baby by tuppenny. cute one-shot told in jack's vividly unique, endearing voice -- he steals a baby in the summer of 1891. carefully researched, wonderfully executed. word count 5.6k.

of cowboys and princesses by TheBarkeep. little jack and charlie meet each other in an orphan asylum. jack is a fierce protector, charlie a wistful dreamer. this one made me cry. word count almost 3k.

(now would be a good time to get up, stretch, drink some water. will i ever stop yapping? eventually.)

modern au

No Way by Efstitt. this and the sequel have my brain in a stranglehold. foster care au ft a severely traumatized jack, charlie and jack gorilla glue familial love, stunning plot twists, horrific whump, mayer jacobs for king of the universe now and forever. this one made me cry like a baby.

Just Hold On, Kid by Efstitt. the sequel. i am getting these two as bound books by the end of the year. davey is doing an investigative report on the refuge just as jack gets sent back, and mayer won't let something like trauma or distance stop him from loving his boys. in-progress. current word count 56k.

Medda Crusade by sunkissedstar. this series is the perfect blend of fluff and angst, focusing on baby jack and his trauma in foster care, and medda showering him with mother love. series word count is 10k.

to be updated! i am currently reading hell is a sober crawl by glitter_ink which came highly recommended. thanks for coming to my ted talk enjoy <3

[tending-the-hearth]

bway newsies i will never forgive you for removing patrick's mother from carrying the banner and replacing it with funnier lines her part is so heartbreaking and is SUCH a good way to cut through the silliness of the first few minutes of the movie and highlights the actual struggle of the newsies

[racetrackmybeloved]

i should rewatch newsies

[racetrackmybeloved]

the newsies cast still being buddies a decade later brings me SO much joy

i dont look through their stories often anymore to but decided to yesterday and was so glad that i did

alex wong (OBC sniper), adam kaplan (2013- morris and jack u/s) and michael fatica (OBC swing/dance captain) going on tommy bracco (OBC/livesies spot)'s bachelor trip?? adorable. (also, tommy and joey having a 'bachbill' made?? iconic shit)

jack sippel (toursies mush, livesies darcy/kenny), kaitlyn frank (toursies kath u/s) and demarius copes (toursies henry) posting on their stories for josh burrage (toursies/livesies jojo)'s birthday? adorable

ben cook (livesies/toursies race) and iain young (livesies/toursies finch) being at josh burrage's birthday party? adorable (iain is in the back in the burgundy tee and ben is carrying the cake!)

in conclusion i love them

[afireformyheart]

Age of Madness rock version of Santa Fe 🔥🔥🔥