#some salt

[hg-anna]

The nice thing about soup is that it's literally just water that you threw a bunch of stuff into.

[sundercr]

[ahsoka-in-a-hood]

Ursa Wren is giving me Satine vibes aesthetically

Like oh it's funny to see that former deathwatch member Ursa Wren head of Clan Wren also has a title (Countess), an aristocratic accent, a big ass mural of of herself in her throne room, and a somewhat similar architectural style to Satine's Sundari and Kalevala

Almost like Satine was pretty culturally traditional (which is stated in tcw lol but widely ignored) generally and her thing was political and specifically about the rule of violence

(Ursa Wren is a cool character. i'm surprised i haven't seen the kind of discourse around her the kryze sisters always get considering her similarites and connection to both.)

[fieriframes]

[OKAY, PICO DE GALLO. YEAH. SOME DICED ONION, TOMATO, CHOPPED CILANTRO, MINCED JALAPEÑO--JUST RAW, BEAUTIFULLY RAW. AY. SOME SALT, AND THEN WE'LL JUICE SOME LEMONS. OKAY, MIX IT UP? YEAH.]

[sourtimesmachine]

People being salty about Dean tap dancing in a dream like he hasn’t been singing to Air Supply and wearing old west costumes and play acting Dr. Sexy and yelling at pigeons as a dog-man and doing an Eye of the Tiger music video and teddy bear doctoring and playing with swords in a dead guy robe and literally turning into a Scooby Doo cartoon like y’all this show has been Like This since 2005

[ralfstrashcan]

You know what is the most fucked up thing about the show being centered on the Shadowhunter's side? They forget about some details of the Downworlder's side, which becomes totally convenient for plot reasons, but absolutely horrible for the characters. The Warlocks have the Spiral Labyrinth, a place located in a separate dimension like the Seelie Realm. And different from the Seelie Realm, only Warlocks can enter there. It's even punished by death to tell another race how to get there. If Magnus' solely interest was to protect the Warlocks, why he didn't take them there? It doesn't make sense to go to the Seelie Realm if they have an entire place for them. Of course the Vampires and the Werewolves are a different issue, but still. For plot reasons, his alliance with the Seelie Queen was just the beginning of Magnus' downfall. First his job, and then his magic, his home, and ultimately his love. This seemed more a gratuitous Magnus' whump. He suffered a whole hell and then went back to his life as if nothing have happened. Wtf. It wouldn't surprise me if the writers/producers didn't even know or forgot about the potential of the SL. One of them did confirm that they forgot Alec got hurt in the end of 3x10 and this is why he appeared as if nothing had happened in 3x11 😒

I’m absolutely with you, anon! I didn’t get very far with the books so I actually had no idea the Spiral Labyrinth was located in a separate dimension. If I recall correctly (which I do because I looked it up, haha, the power of research!) the Spiral Labyrith is mentioned in the show a whole two times, once in 1x04 when Magnus orders more shields for his loft and once in 3x09 when it’s relayed that Lorenzo said he’d put every warlock who doesn’t obey him into the SL’s dungeons. So, that wasn’t a lot to go off of XD I also wouldn’t be surprised if the writers themselves weren’t entirely clear on what the SL can, where it is, etc. but you’re right, if it was a solid option to flee the range of the angel’s wish then it makes no sense for Magnus to take that foul bargain that the Queen offered. Why should he, when he can keep his people safe without having to compromise his autonomy?

Then again it really wouldn’t be the first time that illogical / ooc stuff happens in this show for ~more drama~ right? Hah.

The fact that the show so clearly focuses on shadowhunters is a source of many of my grievances. Not to repeat myself, but at any given moment I want to ask “Okay but where is Cat?? Why is she not there alongside Magnus fixing shit??” and the show never gives a satisfactory answer. It’s the reason why there’s no casual downworlder bonding shown if it doesn’t serve a (shadowhunter) plot. It’s why Magnus especially is so isolated despite, on paper, having a support system that allegedly cares about him. (Yes, he does this to himself to some extent, but tbh from both Cat and Raphael I get definite vibes of ‘ok i’ll let you get away with this for a short while but when it reaches a certain level i will kick down your door and refuse to let you drown in your misery and depression’ but what we get from the show is ‘what, you lost and regained your magic since the last time we saw each other? hah, i didn’t even know because i didn’t bother to check in with you oops.’ That’s... not the same.)

I get it, to some extent. Unlike us blessed fanfic writers who enjoy a lot of freedom the show’s script works with some very specific constraints, especially time constraints in both the time they have to i) come up with a plot and ii) the fact that the plotlines have to be choppable into nice 42 minute segments.

(I fondly rememer The Untamed which took one look at concept ii) and said “Screw this, so what if I have to cut off the actors mid-dialogue at the end of the episode, I have a story to tell and nothing is going to stop me from doing that” and I deeply respect that.)

The way I see it there are two (ok more but let me focus on two) opposite ways to approach the construction of a story: You can a) develop a plot, and the characters and worldbuilding have to bow to this or you can b) put the characters and worldbuilding into an open space and wait and watch what plot unfolds if you leave them to their own devices. It is clear that sh follows approach a). Which is fair because the plot needs to meet certain requirements to work in this format and if you do b) that is just not guaranteed. But it’s also clear that this kind of building a plot is pretty susceptible for (periodical) ooc behavior, screwing over your own worldbuilding and dumb plot convenience.

I’m not saying it’s impossible to develop a plot going off of a) that doesn’t feature ooc behavior, worldbuilding contradictions and plot convenience but it requires a lot of careful planning.. and here we very quickly hit time constraint i) because the writers are under a lot of time pressure. I’m not an expert on how much goes into a production process but I know it’s A Lot and honestly, if the writers legit forgot that they granted one of their main characters a near death experience in last season’s finale then that really says everything you need to know about the amount of pressure they’re under.

This seemed more a gratuitous Magnus' whump. He suffered a whole hell and then went back to his life as if nothing have happened.

Mood. I’ve never particularly gotten into it, but it is a universally acknowledged fact that Magnus regularly gets benched in his own storyline (and then gets a dramatic scene to save everyone... but no one appreciates him...) right? I don’t need to explain this further.

And on top of that portraying long term consequences of things just isn’t a strength of this show. Case in point: No consequences of the (almost) downworld rebellion at the end of 2B, neither on the side of the downworld nor the clave. They all just ignore it as if it never happened. I feel like this partly translates to the characters and their interpersonal relationships as well. They experience something grave, might suffer for an episode or two and then they (mostly) reset. It can get frustrating ngl.

[wendibird]

SPN 15X18 Observations

Let me preface this by saying, I apologize ahead of time if I and/or my notes seem a bit cynical. I’ve had a rough week. (I think everyone has.) But for whatever it’s worth, here are my notes, observations and meandering thoughts on tonight’s episode.

Oh, one more thing though. For episodes 19 and 20 (and anything really to do with them) in addition to my usual tags for the episodes and season, I’ll be tagging them with #dontspoilthefinalhunt for any who wish to avoid spoilers for them.

Pre-Episode thoughts:

So, I’ve heard enough rumors already to know that mooooost likely Cas is going to die this episode. And let me be clear, he’s my second favorite character in this show after Sam. But I have trouble feeling strong emotions for something when I go in knowing that I should. But I’m going to try to go into this one with an open mind. 

Also, in the past I liked Billy as a character because though she still had some biases, she still seemed mostly neutral, like OG Death had been. And from previews it looks like maybe they’re turning her into an outright villain like they’ve done with God? Yey. 

- Where’s Chuck? Did he just bampf off?

- So he’s gonna blow up in the Empty?

- Yep.

- So now Dean cares about him? (Jack)

- Poor Jack. He doesn’t get what’s going on. 

- Yey! Jack is back! 

- “You’ve snapped me out of worse.” When?

- They’ve prayed to Michael? Yey for not overlooking options! (Not being sarcastic.)

- Charlie!!!! And yey she has a girlfriend! (Are they gonna kill her?) 

- Aaaaaaand there she goes.

Commercial thoughts:

So, I get the whole narrative idea of taking a character that everyone assumed was kinda on your side and revealing that they were always working towards their own interests. I get it. And it can be effective. I still don’t like it with Billy. 

I’m glad Dean said what he did to Sam. Even if Sam says (and probably thinks) that he doesn’t need to hear the apology, sometimes it needs to be said anyway. And I think saying it all helped Dean a bit too. He needed to know that Sam understood. 

I’m glad Jack’s back though!

- Oh Jack. You’re worth more than your death. 

- I’m glad Cas is saying this, but sadly, I think the “we” only applies to him and Sam. 

- So Jack is powerless when he came back? Did the bomb thing burn out it all out?

*is confused*

- Yey! Eileen! (Please don’t have her just vanish….)

- I’ma cry….

- Oh no……

- “If I let myself go there I’ll lose my mind. I can’t go there right now.”  

- Oh Sam. Always trying to push down his feelings because there’s other shit going on. 

- Hug!!!!!!!

- Sam’s gonna drive Eileen’s car. Just shoot me now….

Commercial thoughts:

So yeah… Wonder what Billy’s plan is here with this random picking-off of people but not like, all at once. She COULD do it all at once, she has the personel. (The Empty didn’t kill all her reapers.) 

I think she’s setting her own kind of trap or something. 

Also, I take it Chuck just vanished? They didn’t say anything about it but that seems to be the impression given.

Still pisses me off though that after bringing Eileen back and only half-assing her role they just had her vanish. (At least Rowena’s in charge of hell, so if she wound up down there again, she SHOULD get a better shake than she did the first time.) 

- Donna!!!!

- Eileen’s Car…… *cries* 

- Sam’s got so much emotional stuff going on this episode. He’s got this grief for Eileen in the background and he’s worried about Jack and trying to help him, and trying to save all these people.

- OUch……. Double ouch. (Were in references to the expressions on Sam’s face when Donna first comforted him about Eileen and then Charlie made her comment about not wanting anyone else to go through what she did.) 

- (Yes, I’m worried about Dean and Cas too.) 

- Sam’s still their “Chief”.

- That's weird….. Why does his touch kill plants? (Not people at least.)

- Yeah, she (Billy) was waiting.

- Oh dear…..

- So what IS causing this?

- NO! NOT DONNA!

- WTF?!

Commercial thoughts:

So Chuck is doing this? I mean, it makes sense. He’s gotten petty enough. But now what? 

Also poor Sam. I mean, he tries so hard to save people. And time after time it just doesn’t work out. It could be seen as part of “Chuck’s Plan” because of how he wants his big story to go. So now I guess he’s just being more direct about it. Sam isn’t allowed to do well unless it’s been authorized by the Narrative. (AKA, him.) When he tries, he just gets shown the error of trying. (But he’s beaten down if he doesn’t try too. Like S8.) 

Also still don’t like how Billy’s character has changed.

- She thinks she’s Freddy Kruger?

- Heart attack? His first “death” was supposed to be his heart. (In “Faith”) Wonder if that’s intentional here?

- Oh god… please don’t tell me they’re going to…. 

Commercial thoughts:

Okay. I don’t ship Destiel. At all. I’m not an anti though, cause I’m firmly a ship-and-let-ship kind of person. 

But that scene while very heartfelt just didn’t do anything for me because it felt more than a bit like revisionistic history. However, I will say, congrats to the Destiel fandom. They killed Cas, but that scene was definitely for you all. 

They’re killing off so many people though it’s like… this is one of my problems when I’m going into a situation where I’m “supposed” to feel a certain way. It makes me awkward. (Like the Episode “Lebanon”.) 

- Gah, poor Sam. 

- WTF?! Is Chuck taking everyone in the world? 

- FUCK?! THAT’S WHERE THEY’RE LEAVING IT OFF?!?!?!?

Okay, so my hope is now, since they’ve gone THIS far with what Chuck is doing, that unless the ultimate resolution of the story is going to be “everything goes away forever” they’re going to have to leave some way to bring people back. 

I’ll be honest, I had trouble connecting emotionally with this episode. But that may not be the episode’s fault. I’ve been working some long hours lately and I just today found out that someone I work with has tested positive for Covid. (I just got tested today.) Plus with all the election stuff still going on, there’s a lot of real-world things on my mind. 

Also, as I said, knowing that these are the final episodes, it’s pretty much a given that things are going to ramp up. (And the people involved with the show have been telegraphing the hell out of Cas’ death, so it wasn’t unexpected. And I get it. Some people really do need that time to prepare emotionally and adjust their expectations.) But I still feel like a lot of the things they’re asking/expecting us to care about, they haven’t put the actual effort into the storytelling to make that happen. I love the absolute shit out of Eileen, but for most of this season she’s been written as little more than an accessory to Sam. And just so he can have some “feels” about someone. And then she gets vanished without so much as a last glimpse of her? (And this episode was filmed before everything closed down due to Covid.) 

I mean, his reaction STILL tore me up, because Jared is that damn good at conveying those emotions. But once again, like LAST time they killed her off, it was amongst so much other shit that there’s barely time for him to even feel it. In fact, he even said that he couldn’t because of what else was going on. And by the end of the episode pretty much everyone else in the world is Thanos-snapped too? 

And I get it, this episode is clearly not about her. It’s about the whole situation. It just still feels like a disservice to the character.

And speaking of disservices to characters…

So, about what Cas said in his speech/confession to Dean. The revisionistic retelling of history has been strong this season, but that was especially bad. We know from past episodes that Cas has ALWAYS had “a crack in his chassis” and always had sympathy and love for humanity. We know that he cares about a lot of people, and has put a lot of effort into becoming a better being. (Just a few episodes ago he talked about how he truly found his purpose when he became a father. And he also had talked about finding his true family.) But no. Apparently all of that character development was just because of Dean. What bothers me isn’t that he told Dean “I love you.” What bothers me is that it truly feels like Cas’ entire character was reduced to one half of a ship. 

Okay, and what also bothers me is that Sam was literally an afterthought in all of that. When for most of these years, Sam has been the one who’s been the most supportive and understanding of Cas. Sam is the one who lately has had the closer connection with him. But naw. He ain’t important, except as an extension of Dean. 

And I get they were trying to throw some fanservice to that corner of the fandom, especially since Cas was slated to die 3 episodes before the end. But they could have done it better. I’ve read fanfic that handled Destiel in a more believable way. (I was reading for the Saileen content as they’re often put in as a sister-ship and it can be hard to find fic of them without it.) And technically this wasn’t even requited. Dean looked more shocked than anything, though I admit that's up to interpretation. But someone in one of the discord servers I'm in posted a picture of that part of the script for this episode and it outright said in the directorial notes that Cas said what he did knowing that Dean didn't/couldn't return his affection the same way. So, there is that.

There were other aspects of the episode I also had thoughts on, like, wtf is up with Jack not having his usual powers but wilting plantlife? Some extension of the bomb-thing? Is he radioactive now to anything with “Celestial energy”? But wouldn’t that have made him give Cas problems too? Or is this supposed to be indicating something else? Amara did that too before she started turning lighter, back in Season 11. Is he somehow turning into the Darkness? Or did he come back from the Empty partially possessed by Lucifer? Gah. I don’t even know. I’m just throwing ideas at a dart board now. *LOL* 

And at this point, wtf CAN they even do against Chuck? I really don’t know. I’m hoping the next episodes are better, but I know 19 was written by Buckleming and they don’t have the best track record. True, a few of their episodes I’ve actually enjoyed. But sometimes they fall short on writing the Brothers Winchester. 

Anyway, I think I’ve probably rambled enough for now.

[curiousscientistkae]

im rambling a little bit just thinking of Carmen Sandiego

idk what went on when making it like idk if Netflix was like dangling seasons/eps so they didn’t know what they were getting, i dunno if Covid was an issue during the time, etc so I will admit

the ending was rushed. I dont mind the letter as much as others? personally (i do need to rewatch it just to see if i missed something lol) think like during those two years everyone was still in contact. Carmen just wasn’t active and Zack then just made that comment just because but to each their own and I get why people would be upset

but everything else yeah we could have had a one season for just how VILE came to be and then one season with Dark!Carmen. And I wish we got more with her mom but ya know

after being burned and back stabbed by s/pop and then getting spat in the face while down like me being hurt by it I somehow was in the wrong for that, Carmen’s ending is nice. Its not perfect, B- in my books cause it still was pretty good, but it just

felt so nice after dealing with s/pop. Not to mention, my (grey)aroace ass is overjoyed no one got together. (ahahaha s/pop you fuck im sorry im slightly salty now) its just so nice also.

Carmen Sandiego is a soild show. I would rec it to others but with the warning the ending is a bit rushed. Again idk if something happened like Netflix being dicks or the virus or maybe they just flopped with the ending! But, its a good good show and I am happy it’s around