#random fandom thoughts

[marshmallowwitharubberband]

MDZS already had very three-dimensional and complex characters that felt very human, but I like how CQL's actors layered on even more complexity to make everyone more *approachable*. Or maybe it's because seeing it on an actual human face is different from imagining it from written words, but, still, some examples:

Lan Xichen. My favorite in the drama. He is canonically calm, conciliatory and kind of a people pleaser. But I love how Liu Haikuan chose to highlight how Done™️ he is with this role and with everything. You can feel the "here we go again" energy CASCADING from him every time there's more conflict he has to mediate. Thanks to him, I headcanon that Xichen closes his eyes so no one can see him rolling them.

Let's get Jiang Cheng out of the way. Friendly reminder that in this house we hate JC discourse—both pro and against— so keep it away. However, I do think a lot of the Bitter Grape defenders came to be thanks to Wang Zuocheng. He really amped up the awkward little bro who just wants to be included, and the sad and pathetic adult who still just wants to be seen but wears his anger as an armor. Zuocheng really highlighted JC's wet stray cat qualities and it made him far softer that the book's prickly asshole. (It also helps that he got more screentime so we got to know him more).

Wen Qing is another one of my favorites, because book WQ is a no-nonsense doctor hardened by her environment and making difficult choices without batting an eye, most of the time. In CQL they did soften her so she could be a potential love interest (and let's leave it at that), but I also like how Meng Ziyi plays her in a way that you can feel her perpetual worry, how underneath her serious professional mask, she is just Stressed ™️ 24/7.

Jin Zixuan is also an interesting case because, in the book, he strarts off as a haughty nepo baby until it's later revealed he's just socially awkward. In the show, the social awkwardness is palpable from day 1. He acts just like my autistic bestie when he's trying to mask too hard. Now, I'm in no way diagnosing the character nor the actor, I'm just saying Cao Yuchen NAILED the "how do I people?" behavior perfectly.

We won't talk about Lan Zhan and Wang Yibo's master class on micro-expressions or we'd be here all day.

We also won't talk about Xiao Zhan's acting because *I* could be here all day. My Shaylas.

But let's close with Wen Chao because oh my god. Wen Chao was supposed to be cartoonishly evil with zero redeeming qualities, just a chew toy to hate. Casting a comedian for the role was such a brilliant choice, he nails the cartoonish part perfectly but he also made Wen Chao entertaining to watch, he's still believably evil and despicable, but he also kinda steals every scene he is in. It's so cool to see.

[redstarfish-art]

I think the most hilarious thing about the HoO giving Nico a boyfriend that is essentially the male equivalent of Annabeth (blonde, snarky, doesn't accept his pessimistic BS) is that Jason was literally right there. XD

[random-dragon-exe]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it so sweet how we see Cosmo be so loving and caring towards Peri.

Look, I don't remember that much from the OG show, but from my memory, we always see Wanda in that motherly role, so seeing Cosmo act as the equally caring father is just really adorable to see.

I mean sure, they're slightly embarrassing him, but it's cute and a refreshing take on Cosmo in this show.

You know, compared to the OG show where this happens:

Also, I love how Cosmo was the one to instigate the fight and went into protective father mode.

IDK, I just think it's so adorable to see that despite not being the brightest, he has a sweet heart and is a family man.

[elinorjaneofmanyfandoms]

On and off, I've wondered whether it was Kanan's or Hera's idea to assign the call sign of Spectre-1 to Kanan. Based on their personalities and values, I'm betting Hera came up with the theme naming (Ghost, Phantom, Spectres), and it was Kanan's idea to adopt the Spectre-1 call sign to draw attention away from Hera.

[afewnovelideas]

Random fandom thoughts... (Batfam/Addams Family crossover)

What if the reason why Jason Todd came back from the dead and how the Batfamily survives so many crazy "near-death" situations is because they're secretly a branch of the Addams Family... through Alfred Pennyworth?

Picture this... Alfred Pennyworth is one of Gomez's uncles. He became close friends with Thomas and Martha Wayne as he does, to the point where they fall in love. Unfortunately Thomas and Martha still get murdered. While an inconvenience to be separated from his dear loves so early into their courtship, Alfred promises to raise Bruce as if he was his own son during a seance with Thomas and Martha until they can be reunited again.

So Alfred raises Bruce as he would an Addams child... Which explains how it becomes normal for Bruce to become Batman. Even though not related by blood, adoption is quite valid in the Addams family tree, so the benefits and quirkiness transfer over to Bruce and all his eventual children.

Alfred has always been close to the family of Gomez... They also have a home in New Jersey after all. Bruce grew up alongside Gomez and Fester from time to time, and though technically they are cousins, they are as close as brothers.

Oh... Within the family, whenever a new child is born or adopted, it's always a given that there will be a family reunion held to welcome the new addition to the family. They are set up like galas, but are exclusive to the extended Addams Family.

They are the only real galas that Bruce and Alfred look forward to planning and attending... And eventually the children too after the chaotic first presentation galas each one has.

Oh... And how is it that Bruce and his children can come back to life after apparently "dying"? It's an Addams family tree trait/quirk that the parents can't usually outlive their children. So because Alfred is Bruce's father, it increases his chances of coming back from the dead or surviving through insane luck. That goes double for his kids.

[optiwashere]

Eh, fucking whatever. Posting so it doesn't fester. Hopefully this is one of those "smoke cloud on the horizon" posts for you.

The blanket “all trans women topping makes me feel icky” genre of rant is rearing its head a lot more often recently. It’s kind of a constant, but it pops up frequently. Some folks who say this also just so happen to forget that there are plenty of trans women who have vaginas. We know what you mean to say, so say what you mean.

Trans women are women. Women have varied sexual desires (or lack thereof) and sexual preferences. Some women even enjoy BDSM! I'll leave this bit open-ended as an exercise for the reader.

IRL point: in the meat dimension, whether it be in kink spaces or in general queer spaces, it’s usually a non-issue between parties that already want to fuck. Bottoms will try to find tops. Dommes will try to find subs. The people operating somewhere between the ends of those spectra will try to have their fun, too. There will be awkward encounters of mismatch, and it’s fine, assuming it stays at the “just awkward” stage.

Fannish point: talking about and considering fandom-wide trends that lean towards certain depictions is great, but do so with the understanding that you alienate a lot of people when you generalize sexual preferences in a purely negative light. That last part's key to my issue with all this.

The fucked up thing is I vibe with the good faith intent behind many of the folks making these arguments. Unfortunately, when I write A, and A is held up as a Cultural Woe that warrants inspection and subsequent curtailment, then it leaves behind a sort of rejection. What is the point in sharing A in that environment? Hell, B’s starting to seem kinda unfun to share, too.

Sure, not every post on the internet is about you. That’s obvious to the sensible. But when you’re a trans woman that really actually enjoys topping, and you happen to write a decent chunk of fic that features trans women topping… well, then it actually is kind of about you. It especially sucks because there's a marked difference between writing a trans woman who tops and "objectified top machine without internality."

Either way, I’ve always vocally supported any transfem that wants to write about her favorite trans headcanons. Try not to let this same old, same old gum up your brain. Go write that woman getting railed/railing someone. It should exist because you want it to exist. I wanna read it.

p.s. writing/having kinks centered around objectification is also—surprise—fine!

[dimsunstuff]

the bar is on the floor

A morally gray character steps over it rather than picking up a shovel

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

My personal biggest red flag that I see on Tumblr, regardless of the fandom that I’m focused on that day, is when I see a post about how two characters have “sibling energy”. I’ve been on this site for so long that my first reaction to seeing this kind of post is to assume the poster doesn’t actually have siblings.

It’s mainly because a lot of times (not every time, just most of the time), the two characters that supposedly have sibling energy clearly have a romantic interest in each other. It gets even worse when the evidence for the “sibling energy” are things that actual siblings wouldn’t do but two people who are romantically interested in each other would do.

Just as an example of what I’m talking about, I remember seeing this post about how the user was confused that Robert and Invisigal of Dispatch were intended to be a potential pairing since they thought they had a sibling connection. Just as a reminder, in their first meeting in the game, even if this was said jokingly, Invisigal said that Robert made her wet. As someone who actually has a sister, if my sister made that joke to me, she would need to have a long, uncomfortable talk with our parents.