#break 'dem rules

[neonnewitch]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxpM7rcavDo)

Instead of the chords provided in the original song, I played [C F, Dm F C G, C F] on ukulele.

Thank you, The Candle Wasters, for bringing us this wonderful webseries and all these amazing songs!!!

[snuffembuzz]

THIS IS THE ENDING WE DESERVE!

[icecreamstripes-blog]

In which we are the rules.

[icecreamstripes-blog]

Personal note on “Break ‘Dem Rules” & Lolilo

Weirdly, Break ‘Dem Rules is like a full circle for me personally. One of the reasons Lolilo struck such a chord with me, is that I’d liked someone on and off for 5 years, maybe 6. It seemed like he would flirt with me on the few occasions we spent time around each other (same wider friendship group). Then a group of us went for a holiday by the sea for a few days. There it really seemed like he was interested. He flirted a lot. So did I (which I don’t normally). I thought something was going to happen. I think (in retrospect) he was just having fun, holiday fun. He wasn’t in a great place at the time and I didn’t know how much, so I think maybe he just let himself run with it, not knowing me well enough to know that I don’t do that, even when I like someone. He probably thought it was just a bit of fun/normal for me too. I’ll never know, because he later got together with someone and now they are married. 

One of the reasons I was originally so into Lolilo was wanting to see it work out for someone. Wanting to see that all that crazy flirting and eye contact could work out, could actually lead to something. In the fictional world, I could rely on seeing it happen, and that would be cathartic (although as Lolilo progressed I had my heart in my mouth several times!). 

In Break ‘Dem Rules some of the walking up hills near the sea especially reminds me of the place we were on holiday, when I was so happy and so scared, hoping (imagining) that we could be on the edge of something. It’s weird because none of the other episodes have visually reminded me of that time, but this the last one does. 

Side notes: They got engaged around the start of Lolilo and one of the big moments in Lolilo happened on their wedding day. So yeah, Lolilo has been a weird journey, but strangely has really helped me through a challenging half year. Maybe that also explains why I’m not as sad to see Lolilo go as I thought I would be. I’m ready. 

[icecreamstripes-blog]

Break ‘Dem Rules

...and I’m not sad, because I loved it. The break between FAREWELL and Break ‘Dem Rules helped with that, because I knew we only had one left and I was expecting something largely like Break ‘Dem Rules (A song, something nice, a more positive ending than “FAREWELL”). Maybe the sadness will come later, but it feels nicely rounded off. I know I should be sad to say goodbye, but not only had I accepted it, but the sense that I still don’t know everything both makes me feel like there is more to come (Q&A, clue hunting etc) and what I want more of is the past, not the future. Sure, I would really have liked to see one more Pedrazar fluff video. I would really really really have liked to see that after the long journey, but I get why that won’t happen. I don’t know... this is more of a processy-post than a sharing my thoughts with others in a semi-coherent way post, but there you go. 

[icecreamstripes-blog]

Thoughts on “Break ‘Dem Rules”

When you think about it, "Break ‘Dem Rules” seems like the only possible ending now, lol. 

Separately - I still have my knowing needs. The realism is great (see @anonsally ‘s post ) but this is me irl, I like to know things. If there was ever a case for publishing characters diaries, this is it! (Not going to happen). I love that @beatriceeagle and @marydebenham are still finding clues. I’m waiting for the Q&A in the hope that some things will become clearer. Although, I also have a fear that as the Candle Wasters have had such a commitment to storytelling in a specific style, that they will answer technical and real world questions but not plot questions. Which I would respect but I’m still hoping it won’t be true.

I’ll have reflections on the whole series later I think, but I wanted to comment on “Break dem Rules” first. It is beautifully shot, aesthetically so pleasing, I love that there is a focus on the whole flat and only the flat (although I was hoping for a little more Pedrazar fluff first, but I know it’s not exactly necessary). I like the nod to Pete-Balth with that little I can’t keep my hands of you hug, and the look on Balth’s face is great too.  It’s so fitting that it’s a song, and of course a Balthy song. The dancing is just awesome, to see them messing about, having fun etc. I’m slightly confused about the comment in the last video about them all going off to be beside Leo’s bedside, especially as Ben is in this video, and part of me says just let is go, but then I remember the Candle Wasters are continuity heroes. Maybe it was (in world) filmed before FAREWELL & FEATHERS? (Does anyone have any thoughts on this?) 

Also, Peter throwing his coat off right at the end just seemed like a silly moment/mistake at first, but the more I watch it and see he is the only one wearing one, I think that’s symbolic too. Oh the CW’s, you guys are so into your little clues and symbolism (and we love it!). It makes me wonder how many we’ve missed! Many I suspect. I even think I can see a progression in Pete through this video (from awkwardly going along with it/feeling self-conscious at the start, to having fun with it as it goes on) but that could be my imagination! 

I was thinking about the description too. It’s funny when you think that all of this was uploaded on Pete’s channel (the whole series). I never really thought about that before. Partly, that that is a clue that he was the main character with the main arc, even at times when that wasn’t obvious. Partly, that in world, he could have stopped it at any time. Ben may have had control of the footage (and could have posted it somewhere else), but Pete could have changed the password on the channel at any point. He could have taken videos down. He could have taken PUNISHMENT down. I’m not sure if this is as important as it seems just now, but again - the CW’s don’t do anything much by mistake as far as I can see. Everything they do/put in has a purpose.