#mango ramblings

[e-mangos]

Mango Ramblings: Charmed S2E1

The Tale of Two Harrys

Are we sure the Harry that came back is the original Harry and not Sexy c’m’here girl lemme whisper to you Dark!Harry pretending to be original Harry? The original was stabbed, died and came back to life in a grave. What was Dark!Harry doing while the original was dying then? Did he head back to his lair, drop into a meditative pose and start seductively carelessly whispering to Macy across space and time?

So many questions...

I see you, Charmed. Season one wasn’t my cup of tea. But you can’t tease me with Dark!Harry, Hacy and Demon!Macy and not expect me to come back!!

I see you Charmed. I see you!

[e-mangos]

Legacies S2E4

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Certainly not Hope Mikaelson. The Hope/Rafael dynamic has always been very interesting (to me at least) partly because of how Hope engages with Rafael. Here’s this “hot, broken, damaged” guy with a monthly visitor featuring fangs and claws. And here’s Hope, all “Oh, hi Mark. Rafael.” Hope treats Rafael like a delicate newborn toy poodle. Not to say that she’s condescending. She’s incredibly gentle and compassionate to a degree that defies his hair trigger temper. No mistake: Rafael, uncontrolled, is dangerous. No matter Hope’s insanely sturdy constitution, I’m quite certain that he can still seriously harm her in one of his outbursts. But this doesn’t seem to phase her. Of course, a good chunk of this is her own history with men who rip off heads first, and ask questions...never. But here, in this post-Malivore world where Rafael’s memories are allegedly locked away, it’s interesting to see this dynamic continue.

Contrast that with her dynamic with Landon. While incredibly sweet and fuzzy, there are also flashes of extreme violence. (Is it weird that this is what I enjoy about Handon?) In the season 1 finale, Hope snaps Landon’s neck. In this episode, Landon bashes her head into a cabinet (rude!). Of course, there were extenuating circumstances (saving the world; being possessed) in both cases, but good gracious, use your words, children!

Speaking of the bonsai-headed one, does Landon remember what he did while possessed? Rafael didn’t. Then again, his brain is in the doghouse—literally. Considering how Landon put off Josie’s invitation for happyhappyfuntimes at the end of the episode, I wonder if he recalls Hope’s pseudo-confession of their “epic love” and if that played a role in this decision to wait. He still seems quite invested in Josie and a part of me hopes he doesn’t remember if only to spare Jandon the pain, but knowing JP’s love for THE DRAMA, he probably does remember.

"Epic love." *snickers*. I sometimes forget that they’re teenagers—supernatural ones no less. So what plays out like a run-of-the-mill relationship, feels to them like the love of legends. Between Hope’s “we were in love” (for real?) and Lizzie’s dramatic breakdown over Sebastian, I had to take a moment to realize that it makes sense, because at that age, everything feels epic and legendary and world-ending.

Chekov’s gun, thy name is the hour glass of black magic that will inevitably break (or be broken) to bring about the end of the world. Or maybe it’ll save it? No secret that I hate Vardouchemus. I’m not here for any authority figure preying on children. The students aren’t stupid. They’re also not puppets. Don’t ab(use) them. But what if he’s doing it for the “greater good”? Assuming Caroline wasn’t high on the vampire equivalent of bath salts when she hired him, maybe he’s trying to stop Malivore too? Black magic unlocked Lizzie’s malivored memories. So what if black magic is the key to undoing Malivore for good?

#Rise Hizzie! Rise!

#JusticeforRafael. And some therapy...and more of those shirts.

[e-mangos]

Riddle Me This...

There are two prisoners. Clarke and Hooded Figure #2 Hoody.

One is the master of (his) cage. Hoody.

The other returns home without power. Clarke

The sins of the father are visited upon the daughters here and not here. I’ve been operating on the assumption that Malivore was created to save humans from mythical creatures. But why would a vampire, werewolf and a witch band together to save humans? Werewolves and witches don’t really need humans. Vampires can survive on animal blood. What if, rather than being the supernatural world’s monster trash compactor, Malivore was created to imprison one specific supernatural or a collective (e.g. a trio of beings)? Perhaps Hoody is a female supernatural imprisoned for her father’s sins and is now hellbent on freeing her two sisters? It would be cool to see a showdown between the Legacies’ Charmed Ones Hope and the twins and three powerful female supernaturals.

A new hero rises but can be felled by the golden arrow. Landon’s phoenix days are numbered, ya’ll.

The wolf among you has many faces. Rafael? Are we finally going to see the consequences of season one’s mind split as well as his time stuck as a wolf? Has he developed other identity(s) to cope with all this trauma? Is there a dark!Rafael on the horizon? Your boy was very cagey this episode (”What else did the Sphinx say, my guy? Speak up, now.”). He did conveniently convince Landon to leave the safest place for him...

When time fractures, darkness overwhelms. This one is harder to peg. Maybe it’s referring to twilight--the transition between day and night? Or is it more literal--the hourglass? When the hourglass breaks, the black magic spills out?

But the greatest destroyer of all is love. Evil cupid?

[e-mangos]

Mango Ramblings: Legacies S2E2

I like Handon--for Hope. For me, it’s the vanilla ice cream of relationships--sweet, nostalgic, but ultimately very bland. Even so, Landon is who she yearns for and seeing her cry over the "boy she loves" not knowing she exists pains me, because Hope, despite her amazing Mary Sue talents, is still just a kid. A kid who fell in love and is still there. I'm team Handon as long as Hope is. We must protect the Marshemellow!Tribrid at all costs.

Can we get a stadium of applause for DRR's acting? She really took me through the gamut of emotions--all while looking pretty damn good for someone who’s allegedly been combing the woods hunting a troll. To top it off, that scene with Alaric. Oof. I didn't think my first #uglycry of the season would be so soon! For a girl who has lost everything to then lose her identity and place in the world is too much. Someone give this girl a hug, some ice cream and a new shirt.

Speaking of places in the world, Josie needs to take a stadium of seats. I'm usually soft on both twins, but if there's anyone that needs (positive) discipline and not pandering discipline ala Headmaster Vardouchemus, it's Josie. Folks usually point at Lizzie being the uncontrollable, destructive--bitchy twin--but Josie has proven time and again that she can be just as bad. If not worse. And no one checks her on it, because Lizzie is the perfect screen. Josie not only possess a natural talent for dark magic, she’s also inclined to it. She likes it. The power. The rush of being in control; of being able to affect someone else with just a thought. People assume she's weak willed, only to forgot that some of the evilest people have also been the folks willing to appear weak while manipulating things from behind the scenes. When Josie wants something, she goes for it, consequences (who started the fire and spread a rumor about Lizzie’s mental health?) be damned. And Josie wants Landon. Hosie fans need to prepare for Josie v. Hope.

Season 1 Landon felt like a prop--a means of showcasing Rafael's loyalty and Hope's humanity. Through Landon, we got to see a softer, more vulnerable side to the Lonely Girl. We got to see a Hope who smiled more; laughed more; lived more. We got to see Hope fall in love--a very human and very teenage thing to do. Season 2 Landon, so far, is shaping into a mildly interesting person. Maybe we’re finally starting to see who he truly is? I'm digging S2 Landon. Plus Aria is such a emo!cutie, my heart warms seeing him on screen.

As much as I root for MG, I don't really see Mizzie. It seems like puppy love to me. That being said, I'm not sure if I'm buying Sizzie just yet. While He of the Wicked Cheekbones Sebastian is crazy hot (Plec legit express ordered a Damon/Elijah love child), he also felt cliched, albeit intentionally. He felt like he was "playing" at the old world vampire: the sultry looks, the use of the full name (his voice, yall. Damn.), the coy push-and-pull. I mean my body was all for it (year of yes indeed) but my brain is confused--and amused.

#JusticeforRafael. That is all.

[e-mangos]

Mango Ramblings: Charmed S2E2-6

Oh Harold. Harold, Harold, Harold. How silly of you to think a wee knife would be enough to rid you of horny sexy dark!Harry. While I was impressed with his gumption, as soon as Harry admitted that he’s only half of a man, I knew they wouldn’t knock off his shadow so quickly. My guy gentlemen, don’t you know you’ve gotta embrace your dark side? I’m 100% sure this season will feature a merge between the two. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if qualities of one started bleeding into the other; and Dark!Harry starts to go soft and our Harry starts to get edgier, the lines between them blurring so badly they become double agents.

I get the inkling that a part of Harry’s reluctance to initiate a romantic relationship with Macy (besides crossing the line between charge and whitelighter; and fearing Mel’s judgmental wrath lol) boils down to his own insecurities about not being a “real” man because he isn’t whole. He tells Mel and Maggie that humans are human because of the balance of good and bad, conveniently excluding himself from this observation.

I’m struggling to understand why in the world the so-called paragons of virtue and wisdom would ever think splitting people in half was the best way to create whitelighters. IIRC, OG!Charmed, whitelighters were individuals who died bravely and then were given new life as “guardian angels” for witches. In this iteration, it seems like anyone can be a whitelighter since the Elders are able to simply remove all that pesky “bad” (aka the humanity) from their favorite lapdogs? It’s hard to say because the show hasn’t firmly established whitelighter lore.

Speaking of, it’s one thing to turn the status quo on its head–but, I dunno guys, maybe I’m crazy–should’t you establish a status quo first before you toss it to the wind? Otherwise there’s no emotional weight to any of these “grand” changes. The girls losing the Book of Shadows; the house, losing their identities, Harry being the “last” whitelighter. None of it matters. None of it hurts so good because we haven’t firmly established why those things are vital to their stories. This brings me to my biggest issue with Charmed: the lack of mythos.

For a show about magic and magic creatures, the world building is pretty…mundane. The world feels hollow so the characters feel hollow; one-dimensional. Conveniences and tropes (*cough*Abigail*cough*) just floundering about in the dark until they happen to bump into one another. I probably wouldn’t dislike Abigail so much if we weren’t already filling the quota for “the-only-way-I-communicate-is-through-sexy-whispers” with dark!Harry. Hell, beyond dark!Harry and the erotic cat-and-mouse Dacy scenes (which Rupert and Madeline are carrying like champs!), this season has been lackluster. I know what the big plot points are (1.powers 2. stop the mysterious shadowy “big bad” most likely a woman they’ll meet and befriend) because I’ve been told. But the show hasn’t done much in terms of showing me why these are the big story arcs. The Big Bad doesn’t feel all that big or all that bad. There’s no suspense. What happened to becoming leaders of the magical community? Who are magic folks turning to now that the Elders have gone the way of the Dodo? Does no one think it’s weird that the famed Charmed Ones are suddenly gone?

Edit: This is up to episode 6. I’m so behind I don’t even remember what episodes are which anymore

[e-mangos]

Mango Ramblings: Bros before Hope

What if Rafael remembers Hope, but hides it?

If there’s one thing that Legacies has established about Rafael’s character it’s his animal magnetism loyalty to family--namely, Landon--and his tendency to avoid people issues. By pretending to not know who Hope is, the giant elephant in the room (his feelings for Hope) can’t get in the way of his brotherhood with Landon or his friendship with Hope. Rafael is That Bro™️. He may like Hope, but he loves his brother and he’s shown in season one that he’s willing to bury whatever feelings he may have caught in favor of Landon’s happiness.

Oh and #JusticeforRafael. That is all.

[e-mangos]

Legacies: Twin Off & Alternate Realities

I wouldn’t be surprised if Lizzie is forced to take Josie’s life, ultimately fulfilling one of the Jinn-i’s alternate realities.

In that reality, Alaric claims Lizzie “went dark” and killed Josie. I assumed Lizzie had an episode and accidentally killed Josie. Now I’m wondering what triggers this episode? Also if we’re to believe that Josie is the stronger twin (as of the moment), how was Lizzie able to overpower her so thoroughly? Maybe it wasn’t an accident? Maybe it was calculated. The twins are so intertwined that I can see Josie pushing Lizzie to stop her from doing something irreparable ala Logan and Jean in X-Men: the Last Stand.

Regardless, Alaric needs to step up for the twins. That shot of Josie running after the MFH bus just as the gates were closing like some Victorian soap was silly (she couldn’t have rang his cell?!?), but also telling. The girls are, in some ways, parentless. now with him in MF and no Caroline, they’re left to their own devices. For someone like Josie who thrives on “taking care” of people and “fixing” things, idle hands are the devil’s playthings.

[e-mangos]

Mango Ramblings: Charmed S2E7

Demons and witches getting their naughty on should be sexy, suspenseful, thrilling. I’m trying really hard not to compare, but Cole and Phoebe was all of the above and so much more. Hell, Dark!Hacy scenes leave me flushed. Maggie and Parker? Not so much. Part of it is pacing. Marker scenes lack spark–that quick back-and-forth banter layered with innuendos, threats of bodily harm, unspoken declarations of love. They look, feel and sound like school children bumbling through grade school first love than a true “forbidden love.”

That being said, I’m going to give Marker a chance, if only because demon Parker seems a smidge more interesting than demon in denial Parker. Plus, I’m here for the girls having happyhappyfuntimes, especially with the perpetual tease that is Dark!Hacy. Though me thinks these kids aren’t doing it right if Maggie’s eye makeup stays in tact. What I’m not as thrilled about? A potential Marker marriage. This is a reboot not a rehash. Why are we revisiting the “good” witch shacking up with the “bad” demon trope? Do the writers have nothing else for Maggie?

I’m glad Kat’s gone. Nothing against the actress, but the character felt like a placeholder; a test run for a potential love interest for Mel. Now that she’s gone and has conveniently bequeathed the store to Mel, I hope Mel’s plot line will progress beyond being Mel the Witch Explorer and her handy dandy Fanny Pack of Potions™ and her conveniently memorized Book of Shadows. Honestly, I’d be OK if Mel didn’t have a love interest this season and simply focused on growing as a witch. If she does get a love interest, I beg of you, casting director, pair her with Jada a witch or mortal she actually has chemistry with.

Why didn’t they use one of their handy dandy potions from Mel’s Fanny to knock Jordan out while Harry steals the ring? Or make Harry invisible while he steals the ring?I would think the two most levelheaded of the four would be able to concoct a better plan, but I can forgive their sloppiness. It’s hard to think straight when you’re lusting after your partner. I can’t complain because somehow Jordan had more chemistry with Macy than Maggie. Speaking of Jordan, so the witch (rightfully) cursed the Chase men? How does the ring play into this? How was it able to start Maggie’s new ability? Why won’t it work for the rest of the sisters? I would’ve preferred Hacy delving into this over a boxing lesson.

I may be in the minority but EdgeLady Abby grates on my nerves and I’ve finally figured out why. It’s the actress’ delivery. I get it. You’re sexy. You don’t even have to try. It just trickles out of your pore-less skin. Whenever Abby’s not laying it on thick, I enjoy her character. Her fake confession in the dungeons was brilliant. I cackled with glee as she strung Marker along (chief, if you can’t tell when your sister and right hand man are screwing you over, you definitely should not be anyone’s overload). I’m actually looking forward to the delicious mayhem I hope she causes in her ploy to screw over Parker, especially now that her sights are set on Harry. None of this will end well for Abby, me thinks. If there’s one thing that triggers Macy it’s her sisters in danger (Woo boy, Abby best make sure she save them apples…)