Oh, yes. I was expecting this one:
[Source: Lauren Lyle's IG stories, posted today, July 11 2025]
As I also expected the very tired, very petty 'Slap a Shipper Friday' from the Trolling & Stalker Corner. It was meant to be. It was absolute kismet and, in a way, the perfect storm.
And it was, without a doubt, exactly what was expected to happen, for many reasons I will try to briefly sum up, knowing full well I am about to unleash a very, very bad remake of The Attack of the Clones, in my Inbox. So be it and fuck them.
Because, case in point, such are the rather primitive dynamics of this divided fandom: whenever the circus is back in town, shippers - these #stupid, #stupid creatures, isn't it? - are expected to whine, hide, lie and finally, to much of those wonderful (not!) people across the street's disappointment, resurrect. Conversely, those wonderful (not!) people's reaction is always the same, crude and rather boring: 'Slap a Shipper Friday'. So yes, primitive. But also as unavoidable as death and taxes: after all these years, people are either completely impervious (my case and not only mine), or disoriented. And the reason they are discombobulated is because their own projections and emotions are playing dirty tricks on their perceptions. Just so - yes, I know that irritates many to death.
The nerve. The entitlement. And the ignorance of how things are done, show-biz and PR wise are absolutely laughable.
I have many questions and many thoughts. And I am going to try and sum them up as briefly as I can.
It is not even a thing of wonder McGill was almost not spotted immediately by the harpies across the street. In fact, it took them almost one hour to start reacting, as the news of McGill being in the picture was starting to make the rounds amongst the Instacrowd:
Perhaps the reason is the same that gave me pause when I first saw that pic. Because, excuse me, but between his last, rather prosperously rotund picture from quite some many moons ago (cortisone was mentioned by some, but what do I know, after all?), this one looks like at least ten years later and twenty kilos less. This man looks older and thinner and, I am really sorry to say so, this cannot be a good look. On anyone. And this is exactly why I will stop any speculation on this topic, which does not belong here. Believe what you want, but don't fool yourself. The difference is sizeable, let's hope it's not tragic. Whoever might be on that pic, after all (I still have some residual doubts, because, of course, I am preemptively calling myself an imbecile).
On the other hand, let's consider the wedding event as a simple plot device in a narrative. Is it the first time it is used, to further agendas/plot lines?
The answer is no. It is the third time and every single time, albeit for different reasons, with rather mitigated success.
An event of this kind was used for the first time to consolidate the dwindling Flukenzie Floozy narative, when she and S took a couple of very contrived pics. This was, as Marple uses to say way 'before my time', but I do remember those pics I cannot even be arsed to retrieve, at the moment. Dental surgery ads looked more engaging, for sure, but it was hoped this would stop rising questioning and speculation. And not only from the Shipper side.
Then came The Remarkable Week-end, in August 2019. Enough said. It was also hoped it would miraculously make the entire shipper side disappear, considering the age and the cultural values of our majority . It didn't and I don't think I have to explain for the umpteenth time why it backfired.
And then we have this wedding, attended (unlike Grandma's), by both S and C, in the open. Now just imagine if C came alone. Oh. Ah. The speculation. The unwanted attention. Um, nope. Not exactly the kind of attention they wanted to elicit, in the first place. Plus, it is simply not done. C is, after all, for all intents and purposes, a married woman, no matter how you choose to look at this. And no matter how many times you keep yelling at this page, which sees the fracture between an inglorious sheet of paper and the farcical reality.
It was somehow important, therefore, that McGill would attend this wedding event in the open, unlike all that long, uninterrupted string of other social functions he might/might not have been a part of. After all, Season 8 is still not broadcast, contracts are still enforced, and all that (financially serious) jazz, leaving open the possibility of sequel movies (something that might be on the table). It was also important to show the OL cast's cohesion (remember the howling of 'they cannot stand each other'?), in a very 'nothing to see there, move on' kind of way. And it was, perhaps above anything else, predictible as hell. And this is why you'll see no bride in this picture: this picture taken at a collateral OL event is primarily for the OL's fandom's consumption and posted by one of the most beloved, credible members of the cast. Lauren, of course.
And perhaps it might (just a tiny 'might', here) be some sort of PR retaliation not only for those recent, nosy and lucky fans, but also for last summer's Taylor Swift Saga. No need to elaborate.
Body language, now. Let's take a closer look:
Distance between the Happy Couple (red arrow) looks greater than the distance between C and Rik the Groom. Strange posture, as if she would instinctively lean on Rankin (blue arrow)?
The only sign those two people might have something to share other than a jovial picture pose is C's posessing signature claw on McGill's shoulder. We've seen that before, on an Australian beach, I believe.
Brown shoes paired with a grey suit and Madame Fashionista says nothing? No tie and looking like the devil may care? At a wedding? Wow, the warmth is palpable, here.
Also: what the hell is McGill's hand doing under S's lovely tweed kilt jacket (my yellow, clumsy X marks the spot)? Clumsy as always, I suppose. But then again, where is S's left paw, that - as we can see by comparison with his right one - can, might and probably did reach far and, eh, wide?
I guess we'll never know. Also, not really needed. This staged pic is a comic fail.
Finally, I was expecting the usual 'remarkable week-end' type of charade from S. And I was not disappointed:
[Source: S's Instagram account, posted on July 11, 2025]
Yes, of course, 'wrong theme tune', since this -one more time - is an OL related event, after all. As I wrote not earlier than yesterday, they need all the traction and attention they can get for BoMB. A prequel, not a spin off, mind you.
But Ramin Jawadi's lovely Game of Thrones main theme also coveys another type of message and S is no stranger to a good double entendre, as far as I know.
So yes, these are my long thoughts and comments on yet another nothingburger. With all due respect, this is rather underwhelming. Ship on, ladies. 'tis not even a scratch.
PS: Love that demeanor, by the way. Macbeth tailored 100%.
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