#meta ish

[snek-of-eden]

okay but like, jim and spock are NOT together in the original series if you look at the plot and their characters critically.

Fics and art where they are together in TOS are amazing and need to exist, but looking at the bigger picture of the movies (tmp, wrath of khan, sfs, even tvh) and now strange new worlds, it makes the most sense developmentally that they're not together in TOS. SNW is here now and teasing all this spirk stuff - the s4 hug, the handshake - but there's a really low chance it'll go beyond teasing because in their universe jim and spock are not together yet! their characters haven't developed enough to have that relationship on screen in a way that's fleshed out and true to their characterisations, and if SNW and Paramount actually try to get them together in snw season 4 I'll be disappointed.

Spock's whole journey throughout TOS is centred around his struggle with being half-human half-vulcan and wanting to overcome his emotions in order to become worthy, while also following a rebellious Starfleet path on a ship full of emotional humans. He's at war with himself for most of the original series, shown best in episodes like The Naked Time, This Side of Paradise and Amok Time. By the time The Motion Picture rolls around, he's gone to gol with the intention of purging all his emotions and is only brought back to Starfleet by the call of V'ger. Spock isn't in a place where he's able to justify a romantic relationship with Jim, or request/reciprocate one while still staying true to his (repressed as fuck!) character until at least the end of TMP.

Similarly, Jim goes through some major growth throughout the original series and into the movies, becoming a better, more just captain and developing his friendship with Spock, gradually seeing Spock's emotional struggle for what it is and learning all his little nuances. But Jim's also pretty repressed! He's the captain, the one in charge, the one who can't lose. As captain, he can't just form relationships with anyone and he holds a lot of professional boundaries. Even though Spock's rank as first officer would make a relationship between them legal, and even if Spock was emotionally available enough to initiate/reciprocate romantic affections, Jim's adherence to duty WOULD keep him from entering a relationship that early in the series.

They are, partly due to the 60s writing, incredibly repressed young men, and that's okay. Their story spans decades beyond TOS, and it genuinely works better as a love story if they are developing a strong and compelling friendship during the original show and their love for each other (whether romantic, sexual or otherwise) only comes to a head after V'ger and the TMP plotline.

so in conclusion, that's why i think Strange New Worlds would be fucking up bigtime if they make the Jim and Spock plotline of season 4 "we are attracted to each other and we're gonna have a conversation about it now." those men would NOT fucking talk about their emotions like that in the tos PREQUEL, amen.

[ascendedheavenly6]

i really wanted to do a meta out of nezumi and shion's second selves (past/brown hair shion and eve) because in my delusional mind, they kind of add like a complex dimension and dictonomies in the characters. in a sense that nezumi and eve are surface-level between sin and pure in their portrayals and perhaps reputation (rikiga and the west block praising eve whereas nezumi is snarky, sarcastic, manipulative, etc etc. but also, in extension of that - nezumi and eve can also be man and god split (?) (re: west block people asked for eve to sing to ease their pain (god) and nezumi's whole character arc is him surviving through the horrors and violence No.6 perpetuated (man)). I think these splitting images and perspective is really interesting considering that yeah it's all nezumi and his 'other selves' that shows different dimensions

with brown-haired and white-haired shion, my first thinking is between 'fear and anger' or 'indifferently reactive or reactively indifferent'. With brown-haired shion, I think he's more reactively indifferent and fear as a sheltered person with nothing but No.6 providing him with privileges, education and then really framed him as a criminal afterwards -- I do think in a sense that brown-haired Shion is aware of it but he's still playing a role in the system (reactively - to the No.6 ominous nature - indifferent - status). White haired Shion is more anger and indifferently reactive as he is more exposed to No.6's heinous crimes and then went in actions more, but he does it in a calm manner like when he's confronting Rashi and later on Yoming. I really think the indifferent and reactive thing is mostly motivated by this passage in volume 8 - Nostalgia

but yeah i really like exploring different dichotomies and contrasting between the characters selves within a single character such as nezumi and shion and I hope that this make sense dkljvwoiv

[bisexualshakespeare]

ok I wanna talk about Airk and Elora because I feel like some people believe their ep 1 incompatibilities are some kind of clue that he's bad because Elora is good? and that is just NOT on

First of all, Elora is not purely good. She is a whole person! The fact that she is gentle and friendly and loving does not take away from her also being cranky and stubborn and mean!

Airk is introduced as a playboy prince and Dove as the latest of his conquests but literally the FIRST thing we hear Airk say is that he's never felt like he does with Dove! And yeah on first watch we can say that's a line he might use on everyone, but on rewatch we know Airk isn't a great liar! He is being completely sincere.

She brings up the rumors of his, say, hunting habits, and he doesn't deny them and the fact that they're not just rumors clearly is bothersome to Dove. Now we don't know what exactly those rumors are but later, Kit says Airk jumps from one girl to another as soon as he gets bored. So the thing Dove is worried about isn't necessarily that he's been with a lot of people (no slut shaming here), but that he leaves when he's bored. We know she wants to be special and appreciated, and a little bit wants to be a princess, so she's worried that she isn't going to get those things because Airk will "lose interest".

So when she sees Airk talking to the countesses at dinner, her immediate thought is "damn he's lost interest, this isn't going to work out because I'm not special enough". Now, Airk isn't actually flirting with them and Dove wouldn't have been able to hear anything from the distance she was anyway. But her insecurities come rolling out because that is the struggle she's having the whole season. Am i special or am I nobody?

Airk is having his own struggle with whether or not he's special. He and Kit are both late but Airk is the only one trying to pacify Sorsha. He thanks every servant he passes by. He charms the people at his table. He goes to Graydon after Kit makes a scene. He tries over and over to get people to like him and it seems like he's pretty good at it. It seems like the girls are an extension of that. Putting on charm and trying to get attention, and maybe he loses interest when he doesn't have to try anymore.

When he's in the Immemorial City, Lili makes him try to get her to like him. She didn't just immediately fall in his arms as a damsel in distress because that isn't what he wants. Airk wants to put in the effort and find and angle so he can say 'there it is! I did it! I broke down your walls and now you find me charming!' (and yeah he also wants to make out obviously i mean can't blame him)

Then the final scene with Airk and Dove, she sends him off with "let our love be your strength!" to which he goes ??? ok??? And this is nicer than what happens when she tries to pull it on Kit who basically calls her a moron. The Tanthalos twins don't believe love can save the day until they are forced to. Until it's love wins or we lose. And if Kit can change her mind, there's no reason to believe that Airk's flaws are set in stone. And just because Airk and Elora won't end up together forever doesn't mean they didn't have real feelings for each other! Elora crossed the world for Airk because he told her she was special. And he was fucking right!

[meillianna]

never agreed with the whole Jaune is a self insert character notion. I mean for one it's usually coming from a place of bad faith critics, (sometimes insecure shipping circles too but I don't feel like unpacking that today). But also... His character has surprisingly been through a lot of shit. Every opportunity they can to inflict emotional damage onto Jaune is always taken. Thinking about it, he never felt like a self insert to me... Because most self inserts I've seen are for fulfilling fantasies that the writer(s) want.

Losing Pyrrha, dealing with his own self doubt and inadequacies, having to kill Penny... Getting stranded in the ever after for about twenty plus years and going slightly insane... damn what a whump champion; self insert... oh no no no no no... it's simpler than that, He's the writers' favorite character. (Or at least that's how I see it)

Now, if you ask me if there actually is a self insert in rwby, I would say yes, there was. But in my opinion, it's definitely not Jaune.

[elegantwoes]

Contrary to what some might believe the fanon interpretation of Cinderella isn’t the slight they think it is to her. I mean take a look at her situation. If we go by aesthetics of the Disney movie the story takes places in 1800s England, Cinderella’s family estate has been taken over by her stepmother, she’s forced to do unpaid labor the whole day, and though it hasn’t been said out loud it’s likely her education had been put to stop the moment her father died. Meaning Cinderella has no title, no estate, no money, and no formal education. If she tried to run away there would be no resources to help her.

Cinderella is quite literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. The only realistic way that Cinderella could get out of her situation is by marrying and marrying well. So while marrying a prince might not have been Cinderella’s goal when she went to the ball, I think that there’s nothing wrong if that was her intention. In this scenario she does the opposite of what she is accused off (i.e needing to be rescued).

In fact in canon Cinderella saves herself too. The only reason why the fairy godmother comes to her to fulfill her wishes is because she never stopped believing, she literally says that to Cinderella. And the reason why the mice, the birds, and the dog go so hard for her is because she saved them and showed kindness to them first.

So whether in fanon or in canon Cinderella doesn’t need any saving.

[dorianbluee]

AMC Daniel Thoughts

Ever since the changes to Daniel’s character in the AMC show have been revealed, there have been many mixed feelings about it. Personally, when I learned about the casting, I was pretty surprised and dismayed. However, I am very intrigued by what we’ve seen of AMC’s Daniel so far. Bogosian is a talented actor and him and Anderson have worked together to create an interesting new dynamic between their characters. The line “I’m not your fucking boy” really drew me in, for example. Daniel’s anger and resentment were palpable. It’s a different facet of his character and a hard-baked cynicism that we’ve only seen in canon before during Devil’s Minion. 

While a brunt of the criticism towards the character has been about aging him up, since the release of the first episode, accusations of “straight-washing” have been thrown around. While I can see why people would think that, there’s clearly a lot more going on underneath the surface. It’s rash to assume so much from the first episode. I believe the showrunners are turning the tables, so to speak, with Louis being confident in his sexuality, but Daniel being in denial or closeted. He’s purposely acting dismissive and cagey, perhaps seeing his queer feelings a part of his life he doesn’t want to revisit, much like his addiction. Louis purposefully baited him with his remark about the gay bar and will probably continue to do so. Much as Daniel is still fascinated with Louis, Louis is incredibly curious about him too. There’s unresolved tension between them in many forms, which may include romantic/sexual. 

Automatically assuming Daniel is straight based on what he said is careless. Even if he did have relationships with women, he very well could be bisexual. After all, in canon, we know that he sleeps with men and women. While I respect peoples’ headcanons of him being gay, because that is a compelling reading, that has never been made explicitly canon. 

In essence, Daniel’s character is largely a blank slate. In the books we never learn his backstory, which leaves the showrunners a veritable sandbox to play in. Based on the interesting story they’ve created for Louis, I’m excited for what they have in store for Daniel. This is an opportunity for fans as well, because Anne Rice basically abandoned his character after the Queen of the Damned. She treated him as barely an afterthought, infamously not even remembering the right spelling of his name. It is a shame that “the boy” who started it all was left almost completely obscured, besides a few scant mentions. 

I’m confident that there will continue to be things about his new character that I don’t like or will find jarring. At the same time, seeing him expanded upon will be interesting and I don’t think they’re going to let his remarks from the first episode stand. 

I’d love to discuss this further and feel free to disagree (respectfully). 

[sunnydalebimbo]

I know we all have lots of problems with Tara’s death, but my main issues is that Tara’s death never even gets to be about Tara. We get literally no grief from the other Scoobies. Sure they all weren’t close, but Buffy? Dawn? Dawn who found Tara’s lifeless body on the floor and sat with it for hours. Dawn who adored Tara, especially since Tara was pretty much the only person who listened to and (stably) cared for Dawn for over a year? Dawn doesn’t grieve for Tara? Doesn’t feel angry all the time and she can’t understand why? And Buffy, who was helped by Tara at her lowest, who broke down sobbing in Tara’s arms when she could barely show any emotion to the rest of her friends, felt nothing? Didn’t feel alone all over again? This didn’t add at all to Buffy’s feelings of helplessness? God, Even Willow doesn’t ever really mourn. One visit to Tara’s grave does not equate healthy mourning. We needed a Willow who thinks of Tara every time she touches a crystal, Willow who can’t eat Tara’s favorite cereal without getting choked up, Willow who comes across the flower she used to erase Tara’s memory and breaks down sobbing because she’s so sorry. Grief doesn’t take on any one form, but jfc Tara didn’t get any form.

[softpadawan]

what do you think of kanan+maul or ezra+maul?

I am here for it, let me tell you. Maul/Kanan, Maul/Ezra, Maul/Kanan/Ezra, queue up Queen’s I Want It All because I certainly do.

Maul whispering lurid enticements into Kanan’s ear? “Your skills are lacking for a Jedi of your years. I can show you how to make up for it,” he says as he gently slides his hands over Kanan’s shoulders? Yes, please.

Maul seducing Ezra closer and closer to the Dark Side and turning him into his obedient little pet? Or kidnapping an unwilling Ezra and keeping Kanan as his blinded hostage in order to prevent Ezra from escaping because Maul swears to execute Kanan if Ezra makes a wrong move? Unf ♥

I’m here for all the angsty, darknasty stuff as well as the G rated stuff, too. Like Kanan and/or Ezra teaming up with Maul and pulling him just a leeeettle bit closer to the Light. Or Maul actually opening his heart(s) and learning to love because of Ezra, forgetting his lifelong plan of vengeance and embracing a new path, a new purpose. I have at least four (4) fic ideas where something like this happens and they’re almost all platonic, so I guess you could say that, like Kanan and Ezra’s relationship, I love the dynamic of these three characters whatever form it takes.

I really wish there was more Kanan/Maul art, though. And Maul/Ezra art, for that matter. One of my first-ever explicit artworks for Rebels (drawn in October 2020) started out as a threesome between Maul, Kanan and Ezra, but I eventually cut out Maul entirely (better than cutting him in half lol) and just focused on the Jedi.

I also have one (1) Maulezra fic under my belt with plans to eventually write more someday. You can read it here on AO3; please mind the tags and warnings. It’s dark, dubcon, and very, very explicit.

So yeah, I’m definitely down for Maul/Kanan and Maul/Ezra. Great characters with complex and fascinating (and tragic) backstories, put them it a bottle and shake ‘em up and I’ll drink that juice like I’ve been stranded on Tatooine for a month 🍹