I found a couple of things I don’t see enough people talk about, so welcome to another one of my rambles. Indulging.
We all felt this cold-sweat fear drop our hearts to the void, yeah? It wasn’t till someone speculated that the reason Caine seemed so suspicious wasn’t (just?) because he thinks Kinger will delete him or something, but because:
Because he thought he abstracted? But that brought another idea, was the reason why Kinger forgets A LOT and seemed so out of is not only because Caine caused the flashing lights to make him forget ON PURPOSE (and also the trauma), but to make him LAST. If he DOESN’T remember EVERYTHING, then he won’t ABSTRACT FASTER.
“I thought I lost everything. But then… you showed up.”
“And my outlook just..changed.”
Want to also mention from episode 6, THIS moment. Girldad kinger,,,Queenie would’ve loved you if she met you earlier rags,,
Also, WHY is no one mentioning that Ragatha was with OTHERS in the supposed office of C&A? (I thought before that ‘Abel’s’ story must have some truth to it, I mean you don’t just conjure up ALL of that out of nothing, right?) Some people were with her, did they leave her? Or is it really the ‘a copy of the real crews consciousness in the circus’ theory? Or did she suddenly go limp and the people had to dip or else?
That’s right, Bunny. No sulking or depression, you’re part of the group now. Yes they don’t like you but they don’t hate you as much. (They even didn’t react in the lounge scene to his negative comment.)
Love that they acknowledged this, yes they don’t get along BUT they draw the line somewhere. They tolerate each other. Jax looks so surprised to even be included in this, or even cared for despite the shenanigans he pulled since the beginning (yeah, he is unpleasant. There is character development!.)
Speaking of character development! I LOVED this, LOOK AT HER! She used to be known as the teary-eyed anxious jester at the beginning of the series and now? Look at the scene, while Ragatha attempts to distract Caine she’s PREPARING TO TRASH HIM. Not only did she gain enough confidence to do so, but that same observational speech she shouted gave the others enough courage to do the same! Just to buy Kinger some time! (And let out their emotions and frustrations.. we know how that ended.) genuinely LOVED the development in this show for everyone we should acknowledge it even more. (Their expressions and animations too!)
The fact only he and Ragatha are the only ones with these cups. The way he runs his two fingers on the surface of his and what do you mean you haven’t been up here in a while? (Ribbit and Kaufmo.)
This.
The moment she came back with that exact same expression, and stance, and knives, it had to be related to the teaser.
ohhh Caine.. Bubble I’m starting to be convinced you are the blue orb at the beginning of the episode just messing with Caine as payback. He sees everything as a problem for him to fix and solve so they can run smoothly, he doesn’t understand what he did wrong even when he’s actively harming others (doesn’t make it any less wrong. He still purposely tortured them.) Also:
"You really were the lesser of the two."
..who. The orbs? Queenie and Kinger??
They’re no longer in the outro. (Bubble and Caine.)
The password being ‘Queenie123’. and also the computer asking
‘On what grounds are your Authority?’
And Kinger typing ‘daemon’?
This show, the designs, development, story, everything. Truly kudos.
Okay so am I the only one who didn’t like the fact that Hazel’s friends now know about the fairies?
Because like, how do you go on from that? Maybe it’s because I never really got attached to her friends the same way I did with Dev, but it’s just racking my mind over how the episodes in season two will go.
It kind of feels like them knowing about the fairies will only cause troublesome situations like “oh it’s fine! Hazel can just wish us out of this mess” or “Hazel can you wish this for us please?” Which will probably cause a lot of problems, and there’s no going back from that.
It could be because on every site I watched FOPANW for free, it’s missing “The Wellsington Hotellsington” episode which I’m pretty sure is the episode where Winn gets formally introduced, and the trio’s friendship cements. I’ll probably have to buy that episode since websites don’t want to add it for some reason…
But now Season 2 most likely will be focused more on the trio and their shenanigans, so I don’t knowww… I’m really biased though, I love Dev as a character and I love his and Hazel’s dynamic (before the whole taking over fairy world thing)☹️
I like Jasmine and Winn but I just don’t care for them, you know?
And onto Hazel’s brother Antony, he’s cool and all but why does he need to know about the fairies?
Like I know this makes it SO much easier for Hazel, and it’s basically a huge weight lifted off of her, but story wise?? Eughhh I don’t know😖
I mean, if they explore his and Deja’s relationshipppp hmmm okayyyy😋😋 But I just know how they’d segue way into that, and thinking about it makes me uncomfortableeee!!
Basically what I’m saying is, I CAN’T WAIT FOR SEASON TWO AND I HOPE THERE IS MORE DEV CONTENT!!!
PLEASEE don’t have Dev just be a one off antagonist☹️☹️
The theory that Dev keeps his memories because of his shades (and also his similarities to some other rich kid that was in the original series of whom I forgot his name) is cool, but also awkwarddd— because what does he do with that information?? Like okay buddy, you remember. Now what? He never had the best relationship with Peri in the first place!! I’d prefer if maybe season one went on WITHOUT Irep interfering or at least appearing but not appearing again until the next season, because THEN Dev and Peri could’ve connected at least a little, and Dev could have more realizations about “maybe I don’t need my father’s approval” or something— then in season two when Dev goes on a spiral or something, let’s say his dad ticks him off;
Dev tries to have a heart to heart with his dad after Hazel and Peri push him to,
“I feel like you don’t care about me, and all I want is for you to be proud of me—“
And his dad is like,
“Come back to me when you do something I can be proud of.”
SO THEN he becomes bitter at Hazel and Peri for “making” him go do that, and turns to Irep to take over Fairy World.
Eughhhh but this is a kid’s show after all, and they want to cater to their attention spans so a show that takes a while to fully flesh out their characters would probably go right over some kid’s heads (or not, they could probably become smarter.)
I still love the show, and fanfiction exists for this exact reason—
I guess that’s enough of my Ramb-Lee’s for now, if anyone wants to talk about FOPANW, I’m here😝.
I’ve been listening to Narcissus Under the Knife by Jessica Law. I’ve been feeling very Normal about Narcissus Under the Knife by Jessica Law. I’ve been writing an analysis-ish thing about Narcissus Under the Knife by Jessica Law. I’ve also finished it, and if anyone wants to read it, that’s what this is. So. TW: mentions of mental health issues, namely Orpheus’ depression and Narcissus’ extreme Narcissism. Also plastic surgery. Also this is basically just incoherent rambling.
You have been warned.
Narcissus Under the Knife is a song by Jessica Law. It’s based on a fiction by the Mechanisms called Orpheus and Narcissus Go on a Trip to the Seaside. It (Narcissus Under the Knife) is written in first person from Narcissus’ perspective. Instead of talking to someone, or telling a story of some kind, it’s Narcissus’ own thoughts and reflection about his relationships, with Orpheus, his friend, and Echo, his ex, as well as his own relationship with mental health and his appearance.
My mind was ringing with echoes
When I told you to let go
When I sent you from me
The first verse is about Echo. In Orpheus and Narcissus Go on a Trip to the Seaside, Narcissus tells Orpheus about Echo, his ex from seven years ago. He says that he only realised that he truly loved her after she’d left him, saying that he loved his reflection more than he loved her, and had thought about her ever since. Orpheus said something about him only loving her once she became unattainable, but Narcissus never addressed this with anything other than a glare.
Now sitting here at my mirror
With the light getting dimmer
I can see myself clearly
You see, it’s ironic because the lights are getting dimmer. But it’s also ironic because his mirror is broken. Narcissus said that Echo broke it when she left, and that he never got around to getting it fixed. But, in the fiction, Orpheus thinks he sees an older, more beaten down and aged version of Narcissus for a moment in the reflection. He chalks it up to the drugs he’s on and the lack of nutrition, but that’s likely similar to what Narcissus sees in the mirror: a combination of how he looks and a distorted version, what his mind shows him.
And I'll never reconcile
Those bright eyes and flashing smile
With the mind that whirs and winds
And finds fault in all I see
But I think I'll stay awhile
Sit and stare and sulk in style
When Narcissus looks in the mirror, he sees himself. Sometimes how he physically looks. Sometimes his mind’s own version. Physically, he’s very attractive, young, obviously upper class. However, all he can see is what’s wrong with him. Yes, that makes no sense with what I said earlier about how sometimes he’s seeing what he actually looks like, but that’s why he can’t fit that version of him that everyone else sees with how he sees himself. He looks in the mirror, and what he sees is different from what he is. A young man with years and years ahead of him, perfect. Nothing about that is meant to imply someone who stares in the mirror for hours looking for faults. And it doesn’t, since no one is that kind of perfect without any insecurities.
And I never said that everything would be the same
And I never promised I would be OK with change
And I never meant to hurt you
But if you feel no pain, then
That's enough for me
That's enough for me
Here, Narcissus is struggling with change. He knows it happens, and he isn’t denying that, but that doesn’t mean he’s alright with the changes in his life. This whole verse could be about Echo or Orpheus, and it’d fit just the same. Echo left. It’s unclear if he actually realises that he hurt her, but either way he didn’t mean to. (Doesn’t make it okay, but there’s a reason Narcissism is called Narcissism.) And if she wasn’t really hurt by him (his perspective. Obviously that hurt her feelings), then he has a chance of her coming back. It also fits Orpheus because of Eurydice’s death. Since she died, Orpheus got careless, depressed, suicidal. He changed, and Narcissus wasn’t ready for it. And at the end of Orpheus and Narcissus Go on a Trip to the Seaside, Narcissus is actually the one to suggest that Orpheus try and get Eurydice back from the Acheron. Because Orpheus ended up dying before he could do anything, Narcissus never found out if it worked or not. So there was equal chance of his suggestion failing, hurting Orpheus more, and of it succeeding, in which case Orpheus would feel much better.
Looking is all I am doing
I would face my own ruin
If these looks didn't stay
Narcissus’ entire livelihood relies on his physical appearance. His job is people being attracted to him. His job is how he gets the money to throw fancy parties. (And, as is implied in the fiction and later in the song, plastic surgery). His fancy parties get him exposure, and exposure helps him keep his job. HE DOES NOT HAVE BACKUP MONEY. If he loses his looks, he loses everything. Also, the “Looking is all I’m doing” bit is a reference to the original Narcissus myth, where he has a pond instead of a mirror. Touching his face in the water would cause ripples that would ruin his otherwise perfect reflection. In the song, it’s less of an actual thing that could happen, as just touching his face or reflection couldn’t actually do anything to ruin how he looks. It’s just his fear that if he disrupts his perfect reflection, it’ll shatter everything he’s done to maintain his appearance.
I can't decide if I miss you
There are more pressing issues
Like remaining this way
So I think this bit is more about Orpheus than Echo, but could, again, be about either. About Orpheus: his best friend is missing, likely dead, possibly having killed himself, and Narcissus can’t stop maintaining his appearance for long enough to think about him. About Echo: Narcissus has spent so long keeping himself looking the same for when he thinks Echo’ll be back that he hasn’t thought about whether or not he actually loves her/wants her back.
And I'll never sympathise
With that place behind my eyes
Cells that order me to lie
And buy time with money
But I'm kind of mesmerised
By the face they hide behind
Narcissus’ actual reflection is perfect. Just like his face. But this is a mix of the actual reflection and his mind looking for something wrong. The something wrong here is what he sees behind his eyes. Y’know the whole ‘the eyes are a window to the soul’ thing? Pretty sure that’s the reference. Narcissus looks at his soul, who he is as a person, who he really is, and he doesn’t like it. The cells are his actual cells. He’s ageing. There’s a bit more allusion to him getting plastic surgery here, because it costs money and plastic surgery can hide ageing. So he’s forced to alter his face artificially in order to look younger. A sort of lying. Then the last two lines are him admiring his face. For anyone who’s ever dyed their hair, it’s kinda like the bit of time right after it’s been dyed where you pull it in front of your face because it’s a new colour and that’s interesting. He doesn’t feel like it’s his face. It’s a marvel, it doesn’t change, it’s constantly new.
And I know I need someone who feels and thinks the same
And I know that person isn't real and can't be named
And I never meant to spurn you
But if you feel no blame, then
That's enough for me
That's enough for me
The needing someone who feels and thinks the same is because he knows it would be good for him to talk to someone who went through/is going through what he’s going through. But there isn’t anyone he can talk to. (In the fiction, Orpheus thought about how he could have helped Narcissus, but wasn’t in the right mental state to be able to.) The spurn bit: he ignored Echo in favour of his own reflection, and he sort of did the same to Orpheus. Not as much, but he did leave him waiting three hours. But if they don’t feel any blame, then that’s good enough.
I know they'll soon come and get me
You would never have let me
Reach the state I'm in now
Narcissus is going to end up in an asylum. He knows it. Orpheus knew it. He believes that either Echo or Orpheus could have helped him get better.
Counting the cracks in the pavement
One more day of enslavement
To the lines on my brow
He counts the cracks, he counts his wrinkles, he only steps on the black tiles in his house. Every day he sees something new wrong with him, namely wrinkles, and hyper focuses on it. All he can think about is his imperfections.
Just another little tweak
Rolls the clock back one more week
If I could I would rewind the time I was with you
All those years I can't reclaim
But my youth I shall retain
So this is the big plastic surgery thing. “Just another little tweak” and all. One little change, and he’s so much younger. And the “my youth I shall retain” bit. He’s using plastic surgery to look younger. Obviously. Kinda. Already implied that. Whoop. But there’s more Narcissusism here. The 3rd and 4th lines are basically him saying that if he could take back all the time he spent with Echo/Orpheus in favour of his youth, he would.
And I'll never have that natural glow or natural grace
And I'll always have to cast my spell in other ways
And these dotted lines are painful
But that's the price I pay, and
That's enough for me
That’s enough for me
That’s enough for me.
Last verse! He can’t have a natural glow or grace because his looks aren’t natural. So everything he does has to be accentuated by something artificial in order to keep up the facade of effortless beauty. He has to spend hours on makeup and hair. He has to pick out fashionable clothes. He has to walk right, he has to speak right, everything he does, he has to do because if he doesn’t, people will see right through him, right through what he wants, no, needs them to see. Anyways, next line! More plastic surgery shit! When someone gets plastic surgery, the surgeons draw dotted lines around the area they’re doing surgery. The dotted lines are guide lines. The price he’s paying is both the price for the surgery, and also the ever so slight price on his soul that comes from living longer than he should have. Which makes sense for something related to the Mechs. Themes of the consequences of extended life and life in general are common themes in their stuff. If someone who’s reading this somehow hasn’t listened to them, Then What Are You Doing, Go Listen Now. Anyways, continuing to look young and pretty is all Narcissus feels he needs. It’s reaffirmed by the fact that he only says “That’s enough for me” three times, one of which as the last line of the song. Every other time that line has popped up, it’s been sung twice. Like he’s trying to convince himself. But here, it’s sung three times. I’m taking it as convincing himself, convincing himself, convinced. Especially since the last one’s sung differently than every other time he sings that line. And there’s nothing else he needs to say after that. The whole song has been building up to and backing away from a sort-of admission of his own obsession, and now that he’s finally said it, there’s nothing else to admit.
Also, I really like that the song’s slow with lonely-ish melancholy vibes. Really lends to the contemplative aspect of it.
Wow! You stuck around! Wasn’t expecting that for my nonsense!
ok so i’m maybe hugely obsessed with dancing with the stars and SCREAMING at tonight’s finale!!!!! and i have to say if i see ONE (1) more person bitching about how the judges are “favoring” charli bc she’s trained???? no they’re favoring her bc she’s a better dancer than the other three, adore them though i do. and does it make the most sense to have a celebrity trained in dancing on the show? no! but i didn’t see ppl complaining when jordan fisher was on… almost like it’s more fun to hate on a teenage girl… 🤔🤔🤔
Okay so I can’t fit ALL my screenshots here so I’ll focus on the ones I found most interesting. I will not apologize for shamelessly rambling, you WILL listen. Also this is not in order of the events.
(funfact: all of them scenarios were my favorite)
NORI FLASHBACK I REPEAT. R.i.p to the “intern”.
Can I just say I find it cute how similar Uzi and her mother are? Look at the band posters and her music tastes, plus the drawings (there’s one also on the desk!) but I did not expect her to be a heart-core remain of her old body.
BLONDE TWINS ARE BACK. THEORISTS YOUVE DONE IT AGAIN.
This moment
I did not ask to be hurt for a fraction of a second
I would scream too if I saw a trauma ghost of my past-life crush standing in front of me. Seriously though, this moment was funny
SO YOURE MEANING TO TELL ME, THEY WERE NOT JUST PROGRAMMED TO WIPE OUT ALL WORKER DRONES.
BUT ALSO THE HUMAN RACE. It unexpectedly makes sense?! Because back at episode 5 “home”, the absolute solver took cyn as a host to MURDER all humans at the gala. AND NOT ONLY DID THEY SUCCED HERE.
THE SOLVER FREAKIN. KILLED TESSA AND USED HER SKIN AND BODY??? THEORISTS HOW THE HELL DID YOU PREDICT THIS. TESSA WAS NOT TESSA. (Also this is a nice callback to Liam’s old works)
LOOK. THE SKIN-MASK. THE ARMS. THE FACE. POOR TESSA.
This moment made my heart race. When I tell you I GASPED. At first shocked by tessa being vague and kinda of a douche. And then N freakin- KILLING HER?? (That was before finding out it was the solver) girl didn’t even finish her sentence before he SLASHED her throat. AND N FREAKING OUT OVER IT FOR A SECOND. MY BABYS. MY FUCKED UP FAVORITES.
KHAN IS BACK AND I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPIER. Lizzy and Thads confusion (mostly Thad’s) were funny.
Look at him so used and casual about the solvers powers (which raises a question) and thad and lizzy panicking in the backgrounD. Also him fixing the railgun?? And he KNEW about uzis cannibalistic tendencies? Did he notice or he saw NORI eat humans? And the fact he complained about her “nightcore” music taste. She’s just like her mom
Best not to ask Thad.
WHEN I TELL YOU IM IN DENIAL OVER DOLLS DEATH.
I WAS SO SCARED I THOUGHT THE SOLVER TOOK HER (doll) AS A HOST?? I AM IN DENIAL. I TELL YOU. UZI IS TRAUMATIZED. EVERYONE IS TRAUMATIZED. UZI SHES WARNING YOU.
THEM. THEM. IM. SCREAMING. THEM.
Even as a heart, a mother is a mother. She’s right tho Zi. (Also when she told N she knew Doll was infected with the solver. Nori. You’ve got some explaining with so little time to do so.)
J is back and I have NEVER been happier. Again. Also her “PRIOR HAZARD” message when seeing the RAILGUN khan fixed. GIRL IS NOT HAPPY TO SEE IT.
