#txtpo

[constantbellpepper]

and for my next trick... i will be drinking cigarettes and smoking black coffee !!!

[bonestructureandcontempt]

I saw this thread on Twitter talking about Mary Linton and how she treats Arthur, and I realized that I think Mary kinda IS who fans who hate Abigail think Abigail is. Mary is not the nicest person to Arthur. I don't think it's on purpose, necessarily, but I do think she thinks herself better than him, and it's good for both of them that they don't become a lasting couple.

To be sure, Mary and Abigail definitely challenge Arthur and John, which makes sense. Any relationship is gonna have that. I do think the reason why John and Abigail last and Arthur and Mary don't is because Abigail is from the gutter as much as John is and though she may have high-faluting dreams and aspirations, she does know what it's like to be poor and on the fringe of society. Mary and Arthur are from different sides of the track, Mary knows it, Mary judges Arthur for it, but also knows when doing things the "right way" doesn't get what she wants, Arthur can and will help her, only for her to reject him again because of his outlaw lifestyle.

[bonestructureandcontempt]

Me during Waverly Hills: Yeah, this is fun and I'm trying to be open-minded but I just don't find Ryan's evidence compelling. I guess that makes me a Shaniac...

Me during St. Ignatius: What the FUCK

[bonestructureandcontempt]

Johnny: I just think we should consider doing other things than petty crime

Everyone in the Lost: LISTEN HERE, YOU [antisemitic slur]

[bonestructureandcontempt]

I'll always be grateful to serialized dramas like Sons of Anarchy/Mayans and Justified for inhabiting the space that's like, too edgy or clever for shows that your grandparents watch but too trashy or middlebrow to be considered "prestige" television.

[bonestructureandcontempt]

I've been meeting with a rabbi. She's got me reading this heavy textbook by a prominent halakhist who's been dead for over 40 years. And she tells me I'm a great student.

I've been to a temple service and will go to more as my work schedule permits.

I'm really doing this. This is for real. No more wishing and wanting and what ifs.

I'm going to be a Jew. I'm going to do it with or without my family's approval. I'm not denying myself this any longer.

I can't tell you how happy I am.

[bonestructureandcontempt]

Me: I watch The White Lotus for the hot lady

Other people: Oh yeah, Alexandria Daddario, right?

Me:...Yes. The age-appropriate, conventionally attractive lady. Definitely not -

[bonestructureandcontempt]

Abigail, Abigail, Abigail. I love her so much.

However, I do think she suffers from "Wife/Mother Written By Men In Thing About Cool Guy For Men" syndrome. Where she has reasonable objections to things Cool Guy does but because you are meant to see things from Cool Guy's POV, she comes across as a shrill bitch. The Skylar White of videogames.

I'm trying to balance like, textual character flaws and flaws in the writing and differentiate between the two. I'm gonna try and break it down like this:

[Textual character flaw] Abigail is, for all her experiences, a dreamer who wants more for herself, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does make her naive about her and her family's situation and I think she doesn't always handle reality in the healthiest of ways.

[Flaw in the game's writing] John and Abigail's relationship has a lot of telling and not showing. If you pick up on snippets of their backstory, there is all this interesting stuff that I think should have been followed up with meaningful interactions the player can have. I wish you could have conversations with Abigail as John like you could as Arthur, I feel like as a couple they should like, talk. But I feel like that's relegated to cutscenes where they just kinda snipe at each other, and then you go do a mission. I'm generalizing a bit, but that's the vibe I have.