#tog analysis

[2-old-to-guard]

Trailer Analysis!!

Hello kiddos and welcome to The Old Guard trailer analysis!! This might beome multiple parts if they more than one trailer but for now it's stand alone.

I've linked the whole trailer on my blog so click on it to watch the whole thing:

So the first lines in the trailer are between Nile and Andy. This eases my fear that they were gonna sideline Nile in this movie. But from the beginnig of the trailer Nile is front and centre. I think there might be a flip of roles in them. I think Andy might be the naive one now whilst Nile is more cautious. With Quynh returning, I think Andy's love for her might blind her to traps. This is supported by a little clip of Nile saying "we're playing right into her hands".

Secondly, I think this scene might take place early in the movie and serves to set up Andy's character arc for the rest of the film. She's at peace with her life which will be immediately interrupted by the arrival of Akasha.

I also think this scene will be at the beginning of the film. Not just because Nile's line ("Didn't look that peaceful when you were shoving that guy out the window") references this scene, but also because it reminds me a lot of the Sudan mission from the beginning of the first film. Director, Victoria Mahoney, said there was gonna be a timeskip from the first movie to this, link here. So, they need a scene to establish the new relationships between the characters.

Also, aww Nile copying Joe's move from the first movie!!

So this scene is from the final battle (I believe) so I think this means that all the immortals, plus Tuah, make it to the end of the movie. I heard some rumors that Nicky might die but there six motocycles so unless something untoward happens I think he makes it. (Also whoever started that rumor why would you scare me like that!?!?!)

I think this is from the final battle as well, supported by the outfits they're wearing and the setting, so we know that Booker joins them again. I love to see Nile taking charge of the team and Andy letting her go first (a reference to the first movie). Also, bold move of Andy to let Booker walk behind her. This might be to show that Andy still trusts him even after his betrayel though he may need to prove himself.

So I think this is a flashback of some description. For the life of me I can't figure out who this is (if you can please comment below). I currently have three theories. The first is this is Andy's first death and rebirth as it looks like they're in mid-battle. The second is maybe after she escaped from the Witch Trials and killing the priests who took Quynh. The third theory is that this is Akasha when she was first turned immortal. Maybe as a way to flush her out as a character. But again, I can't tell who this is at all I'm sorry!!!)

This collection of shots blew my mind. Knowing that Akasha was there at Quynh's trial makes me think that she's always watching the immortals as a sort of spirit. I wonder how they're gonna explain why her hatred of Andy for 'choosing humanity over the immortals' when she let this SHIT happen. Like did she give Andy the choice to turn to the dark but when Andy chose to stay a hero that when she began to hate her??

I completley understand why people don't like Akasha character. You can find the post here. But I tHiNk I understand what they're trying to do. In the comics, Quynh (Noriko) was lost at sea during a shipwreck.

She was lost at sea for a couple decades before washing up on shore. She hid from the group, letting them think she was dead as she built a criminal empire. She reveals herself to the others when she has enough power to defeat them.

But with how Quynh's story has been crafted, this would seem impossible. Because of their budget, they couldn't stage a CGI shipwreck so went with the iron coffin. In the original script, Qunyh escaped the coffin at the same time the group was at Goussainville. But in the current, version, she doesn't escape until later. She doesn't have the same experience with the modern world that Noriko does and therefore wouldn't have the same pressence. In the first movie, many of Andy's fight scenes carried this aura of being the most skilled fighter in whichever fight she as in. Having Akasha be the "oldest of the immortals" means she has more knowledge of fighting and stragedy than Andy which puts her at a disadvantge. Furthermore, it explains how she was able to create an empire which she will probally have. Not that I am saying she was a good addition and why she HAD to be Uma Thurman. But I think this was a marketing ploy.

This scene supports my theory of trying to put Andy at a disadvantage. This library gives Library of Alexandria vibes and I think this is supposed to represent all the knowledge Akasha has but Andy has lost. Unlike Andy, who has been out in the world doing something with her immortality, Akasha simply watches, learns and records. This makes her a much different villain than the arrogant, irrational and ignorant Merrick.

This is the first lines for the other new addition, Henry Golding's Tuah. I first thought he might have been a traitor who was working with Akasha but I now think he's geniunley helping them. I can't tell but I think he's wearing a bathrobe in this scene so he might be a down-on-his-luck character who's brought into the fray and given a purpose. This also seems to take place in the library from the last shot so might take place at the mid-point, like late act 1 early act 2. I am curious as to his relationship with the others are. This might be a rather out-there theory but he may be a adaptation of Zeus, Andy's adoptive son. This would further the movies themes around paternal love, similar to Booker.

This shot is the cutest fucking thing I've seen in a while. I can tell this scene is gonna break and fill my heart. I've read a brilliant post about it here, so I invite you to read it. But overall, I think this scene is one of comfort. I think they might be comforting each other after seeing Quynh again. We sort of missed out of that in the comics so I would love a scene where Joe and Nicky talk about losing her.

Having, probally Akasha's men, be the ones to find Quynh insted of having her escape by herself, changes her whole story. Veronica Ngo's acting is SO good in this short scene. You can almost see Quynh become confused that Andy isn't the one she's staring at. One of the things that also puzzled me about her villain arc was the idea that she blamed Andy for her imprisionment. I felt like if Andy told her that she tried but couldn't find her it would convince Quynh. But having Akasha be the one to find Quynh and then manipulating her into believing Andy abandoned her would make more sense.

Got to love the manipulated manipulating. This is has clearly been filmed during 2022 insted of during the original filming process as Veronica and Matthias look slightly different. The audio doesn't match her mouth so it makes me think it's an overlay. I wonder what she was actually saying but it is probally manipulation.

This helicopter has been in all the promo for this movie so I wonder if this is when Charlize gets on the helicopter or if it's at a different point.

Another bit of evidence that supports Nicky's survival is this scene. If you look behind Joe, you can see the faint outline of Nicky's murder hoodie. So I'm convinced that he makes it to the end. This scene must also take place during the final fight, costume, location, etc.

I am officialy a child of divoce. I'm not sure if this is the first scene Andy and Quynh interact but it's probally the first scene they fight. Love Nile stood in the background like the 🧍emoji. I think she'll try to help but Andy will hold her back. Andy will let Quynh fight her as pennence. I also think Quynh is working for Akasha as a way to get back at Andy and the gang. My theories are she'll either join with the main gang by the end of the movie or she'll become the main villain for the third movie.

Ahhhh this scene confuses me and I can't figure out what it means. The depressed part of my brain thinks that Booker has also lost his immortality and his line "nothing that lives, lives forever" is him cracking a joke at his position. Or, this scene is meant to mislead the audience into thinking he's betrayed them again. Maybe he's working undercover with the villains and then switchs sides at the end of the movie. IDK, I have no theories guys it seems like it's just there to give Booker ANY scenes in this trailer.

OMG this scene make me scream out loud. I love that Nicky has no fear that Joe will catch him and Joe having no doubts about catching him. I think this scene might be a reference to the opening pages of the Force Mutiplied comics where Andy and Nile drive similar cars to the one Nicky is driving to escape the police. I love the retro car Joe is driving and it makes me think that they have been ambushed by Akasha's forces and just had to grab a nearby car, similar to Goussanville. Also, the car explosion early in the trailer!?!?!? I don't think Nicky and Joe die, as they ARE in the finale, but I think it's meant to show the upped stakes of the sequel. And the upped budget.

I have gone after this shot over and over to try and figure out who was stabbed. I know it's not Joe, Nile or Andy. I also don't think it's Nicky or Booker as neither of them wear rings like that. It's most likely Tuah as he's the only 'mortal' character left. I think this would be a truly tragic moment, especially if he is a close person in Andy's life. It would be a moment in the finale to give Andy an extra emotional push for the final fight.

I love the symbolism of Andy "hammering her bloody fists" against the glass almost like she's the one stuck in the iron coffin. I cannot figure out what she's mutters in this shot but it's clearly important. I wonder if the final fight is gonna be a trap as a subversion to the fight in the first movie.

As I was saying before, Uma Thurman's inclusion in this movie is a huge part of marketing given how much this emphasis this fight is given in the trailer. But it also works from a symbolic standpoint. I think Akasha is supposed to represent Andy's previous form, an immortal cynical violent warrior. But unlike Akasha, Andy has grown and become more optimistic and caring. In a sense, Andy is fighting herself. I also notice that Akasha looks tired so I think her power has been removed during this sequence, leaving her on the same level as Andy. I also wonder if she's also lost her immortality and so this will be a fight to the death. I also wonder if Andy will be seriously injured in this fight

Conclusion:

So here are my thoughts on the trailer. Feel free to add anything you noticed in the comments!! I'm so excited guys!!! I'm gonna be insufferable on July 2nd

[bigirldisaster]

Kinda wanna study Rachel and Khun’s relationship under a microscope

Spoilers for the anime, upto date w the webtoon

Actually gonna count how many times Rachel’s won against Khun overall

Not in order

- Getting on the hell train. I think we can even add on that Bam was so effected by seeing Rachel for the first time since she first attempted to kill him that he refused to listen to Khun or anyone else.

- End of the Dallar Show where Rachel had Yura transport everyone that mattered to her out, Team Bam almost died if not for Yuri, Khun’s trust in Hwaryun and his quick thinking

- Exploding Khun’s heart, frankly an incredible defeat since it took Khun out of the game for two years and Bam had to return to FUG. Out of everything Rachel has managed to pull over Khun I think this is really high on the list specifically cuz it effected Bam so much and we know Khun can never accept something that hurt Bam

- Rachel killed Gyetang and paralyzing Dan, she literally played the long game for this. Insane.

- helped start a war by literally selling Khun off

Some continuous wins Rachel has over Khun

- she knows what Bams past is, I feel like she’s the few people who actually knows what Bams place in the tower truly is, over Garam and Jahad even. I am willing to bet she might be the only person who actually knows every single thing about Bams past. The reason I say over Jahad is because I doubt Jahad is going to bother with the smaller details of Bam w his parents but Rachel being the kind of person she is would probably fixate and remember things like that

- Rachel has the ability to traumatize Bam in a way Khun cannot protect Bam from, shes done this repeatedly. Pushing Bam off again, stabbing Khun, knowing about Bams past that Bam doesnt know so he can never know for sure if shes lying or not so he has to listen

- and of course, ‘killing’ Bam at the end of S1

Khuns wins

- dallar show by humiliating her w the coin toss

- Bam actually ending his relationship w Rachel after Khun is stabbed, specifically because it was Khun Rachel hurt Rachel has hurt Bam himself NUMEROUS times, killed Khun’s teammates, endangered Team Bam many many times etc, but its her targeting Khun that finally ends their relationship. This is what lets Bam focus on himself and finally truly stop chasing after her voluntarily which is a HUGE win for Khun. Khun gets to keep Bam, Rachel ends up in her words: choosing White who loses to Bam several times. In other words, to her, she got the short end of the stick with Bam while Khun got someone who is likely to become the strongest person in the tower.

- sending Wangnan and Ehwa in the White Mirror on the Hell train

- Hwaryun actually leads Khun to the right places lmfaooooo, this is insanely funny to me. I highly doubt Hwaryun actually led Rachel where Bam needed to go and instead just led Rachel down a path that would keep Hwaryun alive long enough to reach Bam herself. Khun doesn’t even like Hwaryun but there is mutual trust there that keeps them in the same level.

- Poe Bideu Gustang trusts Khun, he fucks around w Khun’s lighthouse knowing Khun would never leave Bam and saves Khun while giving Rachel a fake bracelet that nearly got her killed

Am…I missing some wins or is Khun actually not beating Rachel as often as he sounds like he is?

Cuz the wins Rachel has are actually really strong ones and it has started to feel like Khun is underestimating her. That being said I dont think anyone can estimate her connections cuz she is shockingly good at getting people to help her. Even if she ends up being a pawn in the end, her goals are usually met, Gustang being the outlier. Hwaryun picking Bam over Rachel still did not stop Rachel from finding other helpers in FUG, and she only got these connections thanks to her earlier arrangement w Hwaryun

Khun is incredible at planning and his skills w the Lighthouse are incredible, hes great at negotiating and working under pressure but I think when it comes to Rachel he’s bested thanks to her ability to make connections

All the connections team Bam have are thanks to Bam or Wangnan, Khun even makes a point in the webtoon that Wangnan has the ability to make anyone want to follow him and thats what makes him a crucial teammate. Khun is aware he doesnt have that and understands the value of it

That isn’t to say that Khun isn’t good at making connections either, but he makes them having the other party owe him something, Rachel does this too like with White, but…

Rachel spent years nurturing Bam to be dependent on her, somehow became good friends w an Idol and member of the ten families, Yura Ha, is well connected in FUG enough for them to help her constantly, and is somehow friends w Bellerie who is literally starting a war w the ten families

Like this girls connections r bat shit insane and unpredictable and I think its this skill of hers that puts Khun at such a huge disadvantage

Khun knows how to get people to act under pressure but not so much at gaining allies himself, every ally he has is thanks to Bam or another character. The few who arent(Shibisu, Rak, Hatz, Endorsi, Anaak) i would argue started from Bam and expanded to Khun

Khun has the Lo Po Bia Princesses but thats through favors, he does have one Family Leader fairly supportive of him w Gustang which is also insane but Gustang can change his mind if he feels like it. He doesn’t cuz he knows that Bam would never support him if he doesnt help Khun, that being said Gustang actually does respect Khun(and Endorsi) for beating Bellerie and getting to the last stage in the chess game. Yuri Ha Jahad would help Khun anytime thanks to his closeness to Bam but note that Khun doesn’t trust Yuri(I think theres no reason why he shouldn’t cuz Yuri gains NOTHING from supporting Bam and genuinely wants whats good for Bam so in theory the two could actually get along well since neither wants Bam to be used).

But Khun does get allies thanks to his intellect, people help him cuz they respect him. Rachel…I wonder why some characters help her, Yura Ha especially since Rachel treats her like shit.

By the way, I don’t mean that Khun doesn’t have massive wins in general, he absolutely does, i just mean with respect to Rachel. If there are more wins I forgot feel free to add onto this.

[ralthings]

A Give-and-Take Relationship

I found this really great analysis on Khun Bam relationship on Lofter, by ytaamiacthoi. Thought I’d translate it here for everyone to see. 

This was posted after S3 Ch66. Do not read if you have not caught up yet. 

The translation begins. 

SIU is really good in this. There’s always contrast in the development and expression of their relationship. 

For both of them, their feelings always mirror each other, there’s give and take between them, I refuse to believe that it’s not carefully crafted on purpose, even how they overcame the traumas of their past are compared with each other. Let’s not go into details here, but start with more obvious examples. The ones that left a deeper impression on me are these three incidents, for instance, the two times when they hugged each other (of course even when SIU didn’t draw it out they probably hugged countless of times before this) 

Bam rushes towards Khun. 

Khun rushes towards Bam.

Doesn’t it feel like returning home? It’s totally rushing back to where you belong.

When both of them run towards each other, they adapted a pose of acceptance and support. In the first instance, Khun just recovered and didn’t want Bam to worry. Similarly, Bam didn’t want Khun to worry under those circumstances. 

On the other hand, Hwaryun and Bam is kind of like how Isu is to Khun. They’re both “friends” or “sibling”-like characters whom they share a close bond and can have heart-to-heart talks with.

Hwaryun’s famous quote: Hey, it was Khun, not me!

Bam didn’t think that Khun made him do it. Whatever Khun says, he’ll accept it all. Basically Bam wouldn’t blame Khun. It clearly shows that Khun has a different status in Bam’s heart. 

This concept also reappeared later, unusually conspicuously, in Bam’s attitude towards “Khun using the dead souls to revive White”. 

Everyone knows about this double standard Khun applies:

[TN: author refers to the fact that Khun refused to let anyone touch his head, but pats Bam’s head like there’s no tomorrow] 

Next let’s look at how important they are towards each other: 

Khun expressed his fear in losing Bam, and made a request. 

This is the first time Bam explicitly made a request of Khun. And the main point Bam focused on is Khun’s safety - White isn’t a nice person after all: Bam is also afraid of losing Khun. 

It’s a little different from the request to climb the tower together. Here, it’s more like both are making a request during the process of fostering an intimate bond, telling the other half your needs, in order to fortify the relationship. 

Khun’s love has the characteristics of sacrifice and contribution, while Bam’s has the characteristics of “acceptance”. Acceptance meaning - I know all of your strengths and flaws, but I will embrace them, and I won’t dislike you for them. It’s not about liking you because of what you did, but accepting all of you because it’s you. 

Personally I think Khun is attracted to this aspect of Bam: Khun also needs salvation. He needs to be valued as he is, to be loved as he is. And not to have his value judged by his abilities, or whether he is useful to others - Bam gave Khun this sense of security from the very beginning. With his actions, Bam showed Khun that he is irreplaceable, and one of a kind. That Khun does not need to be a tool, or to desperately showcase his “usefulness” to others. That Bam can forgive and accept all of Khun, and that Khun’s existence is the most precious part about him. 

And when Khun wants retract into his shell, Bam would reach out to him gently.

Bam is very careful. He doesn’t want to lose Khun, but he is also very respectful of Khun’s wishes.

At any rate who asked Khun to only fall for this lmao

But firstly Khun is already used to doing this, and secondly Bam appears to be kind to everyone (although the reasons for doing so are different), a lot of people helped out as well. Both their relationship are gradually developed throughout the years. 

Why is that Bam always reaches out to Khun at the right time? Because whenever Khun gives his attention to Bam, Bam would immediately pick up on it. Bam would always give his undivided attention to Khun. Whether there’s something wrong with Khun, whatever Khun needs, Bam is able to tell at first glance. (It’s a type of instinct developed from attentiveness, understanding and trust over the long term) Just because Bam doesn’t say it, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know.

Take note, that Khun responds to tenderness rather than tough love. Both their emotions are connected, whenever Khun blames himself or self-reflects, it’s often built upon him noticing Bam’s concerns / worries about him. (For the rest, it’s when Khun experiences helplessness towards Bam’s sufferings, that is Khun’s intrinsic concerns and worries for Bam).

And Bam had, before this, sacrificed himself for Khun for as long as six years (to protect Khun and others, he stayed by himself in FUG. This is something Khun will always remember). 

Bam is also first person to place unconditional trust in Khun.

Since before it all began, Khun had already received very precious things from Bam. 

To be honest, Bam’s powers had a similar quality - absorption / acceptance. Examples: extremely fast learning speed (acceptance of knowledge), the souls from White, Thorn, Red Thryssa etc. (makes it like a minimart....) I think perhaps the quality of the irregulars’ powers have some connection with their personalities. Of course this is not the main point. 

Bam’s acceptance towards the others is different from Khun. Back when he just entered the tower, he exhibited this quality fully. When Black March asked if Rachel is the most beautiful woman in the tower, Bam replied: 

For the current Bam, this place is already taken by Khun. 

Khun isn’t as perfect as his appearance; impatient, likes to complain, always lies to himself, but these doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change the fact that Khun is the most precious person to Bam. 

Bam also expresses his acceptance and accommodation towards Khun in their relationship. On one hand, Khun always goes with Bam’s decisions; but in terms of emotions, Bam goes with Khun’s. Whenever Khun wishes to provide, Bam would accept all of it, without any hints of rejection. Khun needs Bam to need him; accepting Khun’s providence is the best reciprocation Bam can give to Khun. Bam gave Khun a form of acceptance without words. Khun didn’t want Bam to know, and Bam, knowing this, didn’t look too deeply into it. But in reality Bam understands this clearer than anyone else. 

When Bam faces others, he’s actually the type to keep a distance, and not accept others easily, nor rely or depend on others. If Bam’s acceptance towards the others originate from his values of respect and quality, his acceptance towards Khun stems from the fact that Khun is too important to him. 

Khun’s emotions towards Bam is very well expressed in the original webtoon, so it won’t be elaborated much here. But an important point is: Bam gave Khun a sense of “security”, as if he became a “person”. Khun also gave Bam a safe harbour, and helped him achieve his growth. They help each other become a better version of themselves. They look out for each other’s real selves, their fragility, and work hard to understand and accept each other. 

There’s a need to repost this screenshot again: 

If it wasn’t for the fact that this is honestly extremely dangerous, that one wrong move and Khun could’ve been eaten by White, Bam would probably just go along with Khun and pretend not to know about this. 

Because Bam knows that Khun doesn’t want him to know. 

And Khun also probably guessed that Bam knows Khun doesn’t want to let him know. 

And Khun immediately knew the hidden meaning between the lines, he knew what Bam was trying to say as soon as Bam spoke the above lines to him: Khun, I still ended up using the souls’ power, what should I do? 

A very helpless feeling. It’s a concern towards Khun, an assurance towards Khun, an understanding of Khun. (1. I know you did this for me. 2. I understand you, it’s alright even if you did this, I won’t hate you, you are still the most important person to me), and also a help signal to Khun (even I didn’t notice Bam’s sign for help). 

Only Khun could comprehend Bam’s thoughtfulness, his kind but sensitive heart, and his lack of security. Khun understood that, and took the initiative to reach out. Similarly, he told Bam, and held him: Don’t be afraid, I’ll forgive you, and accept/embrace all of you. 

Bam also understand Khun too well. They need each other, hopes that they will be needed by each other, and also knows what they have done for each other. 

When Bam is hurt, he actually likes to retreat to himself, like a crab or snail - he needs a gentle tug, not a rough one - to come out of it. 

They honestly understand each other’s feelings

Last point - when Khun began to hug Bam, his body was leaning forward. But as you read, you’ll realise that Khun gradually straightened his back, and Bam finally grasped Khun’s back tightly. This means that with Khun’s initial hug, Bam relaxed from an uptight state, and wilfully buried himself into Khun’s embrace, to consciously seek help from Khun. In front of Khun, Bam easily let his guard down, instead of trying to push through. Khun also accepted Bam’s display of weakness; just like how Bam naturally accepted all of Khun. At this moment, they are not in the middle of a war, just them in each other’s tight embraces. This is a space that belongs to just two of them. 

Here Khun was still actively pulling Bam into his embrace

Here, Khun had straightened his back, and Bam was basically burying himself into Khun’s embrace.

Khun’s back is straightened. 

Perhaps the shift in stance and center of gravity symbolises the state of their emotions as they journeyed together. Their relationship is dynamic, spiralling upwards, and here it achieves its balance. 

Ahh they basically assimilated each other into their own lives

I really think Bam probably cried

Bam wouldn’t do this to any other person. 

And among the reasons for Bam’s feelings of self-blame, it likely includes his guilt towards Khun. It’s him who gave Khun no choice but to face such danger, but even when faced with this choice, he really doesn’t want to lose Khun at all. How helpless, perhaps it’s only through the embrace that they can truly acknowledge each other. 

At this moment, the hug is more than a thousand words. 

To add to this, I’ve read stories where there are various stages of relationship during a disaster - when they don’t know each other well, the girl would probably say “don’t leave me alone”, after a while, she’d probably say “just leave me and save yourself”, but at the current stage, the girl doesn’t need to say anything, because she understood the importance of trust in each other. 

Khun and Bam probably reached this final stage: they work with each other, need each other, trust each other, rely on each other. They won’t leave each other from now on, because they are already inseparable. 

You ask what kind of relationship this is? It’s just this, really can’t fit a third party in so what’s the difference in definition. At any rate their relationship can be of any nature, play any role for each other, but basically they are the only one in each other’s lives. 

I really suspect that Bam’s acceptance towards Khun had reached the point where no matter what Khun wants, what Khun becomes (in terms of relationship), he would accept it gracefully (as long as Khun needs it). Even though Bam’s acceptance seems to have no ceiling to it, but Khun wouldn’t abuse it. Khun seems to approach his relationships with some sort of sacred, selfless sacrifice, he wouldn’t think about tainting his sacred relationship with Bam. Sorry I’m a little delusional here. 

But who says Love is only limited to romantic love. I think they can be anything for each other. No matter what, they are the most important, and the most special in each other lives, something that’s irreplaceable by anyone. 

They can stop climbing the tower, but they can’t not have each other.

In the end:

Contrast before and after the hug:

Before the hug:

Bam is completely disoriented. 

(Yama comments that he’s in an excellent state. Just look at his face how is this state excellent at all lol)

After the hug:

Bam is obviously much better. Determined and calm. Maybe this is the power of love? 

Actually objectively speaking, it’s the right decision to continue attacking the Nest right after. Hwaryun’s verdict is the the same as what Khun usually would’ve taken for others, what Hwaryun said is also what Khun usually would’ve told others. But in this case, the person in question is Bam. 

You can’t think straight when it’s the person you care about.

Adding Hwaryun’s comments: 

[elamae56]

The Old Guard thoughts - Copley as the bad guy

So on watching the film through again, it occurs to me how much of a bad guy Copley actually is.

Because he set up that kill floor scene, to get proof of The Old Guard’s immortality and essentially sent all those fighters in the compound to their death. The guards and then the team that is ordered to execute them when they get down to the underground room.

What did Copley think they were going to do, how they were going to react? He knew that they would fight back with lethal force, of course they would. Yes, these were hired mercenaries most likely, knew the danger they were signing up for, but still, Copley *knew* there would be deaths to get into the compound, knew what would likely happen once they revived after their ‘deaths’. He says in the car scene with Merrick that “there was an unanticipated amount of carnage.” What the hell else did he expect? They’d resurrect and then just toddle on their way? They’d just been murdered, obliterated in seconds by automatic weapons. Of course they are going to fight back and with lethal force. They were sent there to rescue kidnapped young girls, aged 8 to 13, from people who were trafficking children. They’ve just been executed and he didn’t expect ‘that level of carnage’? This man was in the CIA?

Plus, as Nile herself points out, he did all that research, saw how much positive change and good they had done for the world at large over such a relatively short amount of time (said himself at the end about expanding that to take into account how old they are and all the things they don’t have written/visual records to see - and he still turned them over to Merrick??? For the chance that their physical bodies might hold some miracle cure for worlds disease? I applaud him for his aims but he really did not check the box for ethics whilst charging down this path of ‘gift to the world’.

Also being in the CIA and he trusts a big pharma CEO??? Upset, emotional over his wife’s death yes, okay, but still, at some point in all of this, some sort of conscience, some sort of moral enlightenment must have crossed his mind. The behaviour he must have seen from Merrick, the thought of how exactly they were going to retrieve this miracle of science from individuals who were brought in by force against their will.

There are some aspects that show, I don’t know how you’d term it, like where Merrick asks Keane if they could remove the handcuffs, as though he thinks they’re going to be happy to volunteer for what he’s asking them to, rather than being gassed, knocked out and kidnapped (plus their friend blown to pieces). Where Copley says he might be able to get one, like maybe the kill floor was the evidence and then Booker would be the guinea pig, however shortsighted that is. Once Merrick sees there are four, it’s very likely he’s going to want them all. His whole business is set up around competition. It’s a business. But ultimately he must have known how it would end up. Unless that’s the benefit of the audience’s view, our hindsight.

There’s a lot of explanation and emotional reasoning for what Copley and why. Grief over his wife and knowledge of this people with the gut of immortality but ultimately he still made the decision to sell these people out. People. Not a commodity or a medicine or a drug. People. Without any other knowledge about them or how the immortality works.

Anyway, that was a very long and rambling post which is the result of watching this film for he umpteenth time and going gaga over CompetentSniper!Nicky and his spotter husband. And it made me think about the other guys and how they had no idea who or what they were up against. Someone else wrote a post about Copley as the bad guy and put it much better than me, so do please link me if anyone knows that post.

[foxfairyreads]

Rowaelin mating bond in HoF

When Aelin is with the valg princes during the battle at Mistward and gives in to the darkness, Rowan hears a voice beckoning him to the darkness.

“he started hearing soft, warm, female voice, beckoning to him from the darkness- that voice he had spent centuries forgetting”

He assumes the voice was Lyria- and why wouldn’t it be? The voice is the mating bond. Just not with Lyria, like he thinks. With Aelin.

“He knew Aelin was alive, because during all these weeks breathing each other’s scents, they had become bonded. She was alive, but in any level of torment or decay. That was why Gavriel and Lorcan were holding him back. If they didn’t, he would run to the darkness, where Lyria beckoned.”

Where Lyria beckoned. Poor little birdie was so broken by Maeve that he didn’t even think that it might not be Lyria calling to him. That the bond with Aelin was something more than being Carranam or from being around eachother so much.

Lorcan and Gavriel knew. They would have recognized the scent. But like Aelin in QoS and EoS, they don’t mention it for fear of hurting Rowan, who thought he had found and lost his mate already. They couldn’t let that happen to him again. So they held him back.

I’m sorry I just have a lot of feelings about Rowan

[2-old-to-guard]

THE OLD GUARD TRAILERS COMING OUT TOMORROW

Omg guys!!! The trailer comes out tomorrow, I'm gonna be insufferable and I will be analysing every second of it. Stay tuned!!!

[bigirldisaster]

Am I gonna finally make a post analyzing Bam’s character? Maybe

I’ve actually been wondering cuz there was exactly one time I decided to check out Naver/the korean ver of TOG and the comments were: probably the cruelest I’ve seen? It felt like a cesspool of hate where everyone was complaining about something or the other and it was so bad that I was legit thinking how on earth does SIU continue writing if all his comments r about how awful his writing of Bam is or how everyone only wants to see Khun and that they dont care about the effort he puts into his art

But anyway after reading that Ive been thinking for months that I want to actually sit down and study Bam’s character a bit as a fuck you to all the hate

I do have some issues with his character which I def talk about below but i can assure you Im not gonna be just hating on him

Actually this is gonna be really long so I’m just gonna start linking them in different posts

Spoilers for anyone not caught up on the webtoon

Lets talk about the positives first or like moments where it felt like Bam really is putting his money where his mouth is

He’s choosing to ignore FUG’s fate for him and chooses paths that will keep his loved ones closest to him - I think its incredibly admirable that he does this knowing that FUG’s goal is to overthrow someone who in the Tower’s eyes is hindering growth, is needlessly cruel(Workshop Battle Reflejo remember losing his eyes and his family just for accidentally(or not) looking at a Princess comes to mind, Traumarei wiping out entire branches of his family if he didnt like them), is a tyrant(Idk what else to call Jahad after that whole thing w the Hidden Grove and Sir u cannot just ‘declare’ urself King one day and then start killing people when they disagree). Back to Bam, its incredible and I think a good thing to show of someone choosing a path of their own than just listening to the cries of people who as even Urek said, have nothing to do with him. That sounds horribly cruel but hear me out: Bam doesnt know ANYTHING about the Tower when FUG takes him, what he knows is that his friends are being held captive and FUG is behind it, FUG is doing this because they cant kill Jahad themselves. I am beyond 10000000% certain that if they had just explained to Bam from the start and never put his friends on the line that Bam would have been happy to help them fight Jahad. We have seen Bam go out of his way to help characters for no reason beyond his own sense of compassion and empathy(literally the entirety of Tower of God/Bam sticking his neck out for Traumarei and Gustangs family members and telling the heads to stop fucking with their families lives) those families asked for help but note that none of them were holding Bam’s friends as hostages. Laura Lo Po Bia just ASKED for help, she didnt do anything to pressure Bam to help(if I remember correctly). If you want another example we can just look at Bam vs White in the Hell train w Bam saving Whites comrades.

If FUG hadn’t fucked w Bam’s friends, they WOULD have had a willing Slayer Candidate but they didnt.

I like that Bam walked away from Fug after knowing why he was being forced to train under them as I read it as Bam leaving his abusers behind. CUZ THATS LITERALLY WHAT FUG DID TO HIM, Bams whole fucking personality changed thanks to FUG, he himself hates the ver of himself that FUG turned him into. I dont think I need to elaborate on that, we got the Hidden Floor arc to prove it. I point this out is cuz a thing abusers do is raise the stakes so you feel morally obligated to stay, eg: abusers trapping women by forcing them to get and stay pregnant saying that its best for the Child. What FUG was doing was essentially that in part so Bam choosing to leave and fight to leave is an incredible showing of fighting for your freedom even when your abusers keep making it sound like ur the worst person alive for leaving. Also, they took Bam and clearly dont touch Urek, they took Bam who was literally brand new to the tower, had no time to assess the Tower for himself and make even his own fking personality, they literally took Bam at his most vulnerable AND impressionable for a reason. Bam was weak and didnt know how hsi powers worked, he’s kinda perfect for the job, you dont see them doing anything like this with Urek because they know it would not work with him. Bam was kinda the perfect victim, so yeah I think Bam rejecting FUG is fking perfect even if it does come at the price of the Tower staying under Jahads reign, you do not solve abuse with MORE abuse, ESP when there WAS a way to get Bam to naturally help.

Bam leaving FUG was one of the strongest displays of his Values and I will die on this hill okay?!

Anyway thats enough FUG bashing lmao FUG is still cool but yeah theyre real fucked up

Once I have other posts out I’ll link them together(i also gotta learn how to do that)

[saveforthelasttime]

#togspoilers

The Snake Man and Laura’s first met scene is paralleled to Bellerir and Khun’s first met.

And we know that scene of The Snake Man and Laura is about The Snake Man met Laura and fell in love at first sight with her.

The Snake Man and Laura’s scene started with the Snake Man met Laura, then he saw her face and fell in love with her. And if we read the chapter where Bellerir and Khun met from the bottom to the top, we will see that these panels of both scene are formed similar to each other and from there we might understand what is really SIU’s intention and what Bellerir really felt at that moment he saw Khun.

The scene started with the Snake Man wanted to see Laura’s face, so he moved closer to see her. If we read the Bellerir’s scene from the bottom to the top, we will see that Bellerir did the same thing like the Snake Man. He called someone to lower the platform so he could see Khun’s face more clearly. The texts (and context) from the Snake Man’s scene are matched perfectly with the Bellerir’s scene.

Then we see both the panels of them looking up/down to Laura and Khun:

The angle of both scenes are similar, the only difference is that Laura is in a higher position even though she is not as strong and powerful as the Snake Man, it showed that she is the one who will take control in their relationship. Otherwise Khun, who is more weaker than Bellerir, and is in the lower position than him. It shows us the gap between them and tells us who will have more powers in their recent relationship. But We can see that because the Snake Man has fallen in love with Laura, she then has more power in their relationship than him, so this can be a foreshadowing that Khun will be the one who has more affection on Bellerir in their relationship later on. Then in the next panels, we see the Snake Man and Laura’s faces, which are similar to Bellerir and Khun’s scene, we see Khun and Bellerir’s faces up close:

Laura is beautiful and Khun looked confused but that does not matter, what matters is if we match the next panel, we will see how The Snake Man really felt when he saw Laura and it would possibly be the same to how Bellerir really felt at that moment he saw Khun:

Do you see that? Bellerir’s face? The text? The first time i saw his expression I was shocked. It wasn’t only because the “mew” thing but that I couldn’t believe SIU would do it that clear. The “mew” scene wasn’t just implied the sexual tension (which heavily showed us all in the season 3 theme), it was also implied a romantic subtext in it which was decided to be hide under the sexual thing by SIU to make Bellerir’s character felt “sick”. From what i get after seeing this parallel, the real hiding subtext is that Bellerir made that face isn’t because of Khun’s mew, he made that face because he saw Khun’s face and fall in love at first sight with him. And if we ignore the sexual tesion of whatever is that, Bellerir is just a nerd who wants to be like his father but doesn’t really know what to do. I think Gustang is just the same. I read somewhere that SIU said Gustang got into women and cigar just to show Blossom that he was fine without her (which he is not). It’s just their acts to hide their true feeling after all. And lastly, after that we saw both the Snake Man and Bellerir made up their mind, the Snake Man chose to help Laura protect her child, Bellerir chose to get Khun out of that prison (to another one, poor Khun):

Do i need to say something more? These panels are just formed the exact same way. It’s not even subtle anymore. If i flip one of them? Here we go:

They looks just the same. I don’t have anything more to say because it is pretty clear here. I wonder it will be easier to make people think some characters are sick/obsessed with someone than make people think that they are just in love?

Finally, I did this analysis is just because i want to write about some romantic subtexts in TOG - which always have been there in the story and show my admiration for SIU, who made those wonderful parallels and gave this story so much effort and love!Thank you for reading my Ted Talk!