The Magicians s4e05--WTF
Feb. 22nd, 2019 01:22 amEverybody, my work schedule got crazy so I haven't been keeping up with my TV, but I got caught up on The Magicians today and:
( Spoilers for the most recent episode! But be honest, we all saw it coming, or perhaps wished it into being: )
Someone talk to me about this please!
( Spoilers for the most recent episode! But be honest, we all saw it coming, or perhaps wished it into being: )
Someone talk to me about this please!
The discussion post for the first episode is here, and you can find my first impressions in a comment there. Most minor of spoilers: I'm SO glad Margo got her eyepatch back.
so I volunteered to co-mod
the_magicians. Come over and talk to me about this dumb show please. I need an icon of Eliot Waugh.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Weekend Round-Up: this one got long
Jan. 19th, 2019 01:31 pmReading:
Just like everyone else, I was super excited to grab
astolat's neat bookmarklet which automates quoting posts in a Dreamwidth entry, and then use it to signalboost the post in which it appears:
astolat posted: SignalBoost bookmarklet
There's a great conversation going on at
fictional_fans about fic summaries--what works to grab readers and what really doesn't. This is a good comm to follow for general fandom-related conversations, and definitely has the kind of critical mass that most DW comms don't really at the moment.
fictional_fans posted: summaries
I recently tripped over this really helpful guide to using HTML in your Dreamwidth posts, from which I have stolen the horizontal bar dividers in this post! I gotta say, one of my favorite things about Dreamwidth is jumping back into the pre-Web 2.0 world of threaded comments and manual HTML. It feels so comfortable, like a nice warm bubble bath. I have to keep up a Twitter & Instagram presence as part of my professional life, and I really struggle with both of those platforms--never sure what the etiquette is or what I should be taking pictures of! I much prefer noodling around with text and formatting like it's 2003 again and I'm making a Geocities website in computer lab.
sylvaine posted: HTML Basics for Dreamwidth Posts
Great breakdown of the many common issues with (particularly TV, but also other forms of) media representation of het relationships. Straight culture is weird.
melannen posted: Thoughts on canon het
Some really interesting thoughts on the semantic qualities of whisperspace (i.e., footnotes or Tumblr-style "talking in the tags"):
greywash posted: but what does whisperspace mean to YOU?
Watching:
Still chugging through The Magicians season 2! I was hoping to catch up in time for Season 4 to start airing next week, but that seems unlikely to happen, especially since the semester just started for me and I have an insane number of commitments this semester (teaching two classes I've never taught before, editorial responsibilities, & coursework!).
I also caught Annihilation last night. Verdict: great performances (especially from Natalie Portman and Gina Rodriguez), some very cool visual motifs, and a total lack of coherent or effective storytelling. I was zero percent surprised to find out that it was written and directed by the same guy who did Ex Machina, which I also hugely disliked. At one point around midway through Annihilation, my wife and I turned to each other and said to one another, 'oh my god, whoever wrote this dialogue should be shot.' It's awful! I can complain more specifically and at much more length about the many, many problems with this movie, so please hit me up in the comments if that's a conversation you'd like to have.
Just like everyone else, I was super excited to grab
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Okay, here is the little bookmarklet -- it's pretty limited, but it serves my own laziness, so I share it FWIW and if anyone has the time and wants to upgrade it, go for it and drop me a comment and I'll (ha ha) signal boost any new versions!
There's a great conversation going on at
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
What makes for a good fic summary? Is there anything that can get you to click when you might otherwise not have been inclined to?
Conversely, what types of summaries do you like least? Are there summaries that will make you skip a work even if it's tagged with all of your favorite ships and tropes?
I recently tripped over this really helpful guide to using HTML in your Dreamwidth posts, from which I have stolen the horizontal bar dividers in this post! I gotta say, one of my favorite things about Dreamwidth is jumping back into the pre-Web 2.0 world of threaded comments and manual HTML. It feels so comfortable, like a nice warm bubble bath. I have to keep up a Twitter & Instagram presence as part of my professional life, and I really struggle with both of those platforms--never sure what the etiquette is or what I should be taking pictures of! I much prefer noodling around with text and formatting like it's 2003 again and I'm making a Geocities website in computer lab.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I'm writing this basically because I hear from everyone using it that the real text editor is terrible and also because I'm hoping that less people using it means less weirdly formatted entries on my reading page. The beta entry page is brilliant and I think using it will be a happy-making choice for most people, but I also understand that HTML can be an intimidating prospect, so I will try to make that a little bit less so!
Great breakdown of the many common issues with (particularly TV, but also other forms of) media representation of het relationships. Straight culture is weird.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
First, here are many, many ways that canon screws up canon het:
Some really interesting thoughts on the semantic qualities of whisperspace (i.e., footnotes or Tumblr-style "talking in the tags"):
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I think it was out_there (though—correct me if I'm misremembering) who brought up ye olde footnote style of whisperspace, which was/is big especially in fandoms like Good Omens where footnotes are used in the original source as a tone-shifted aside. And I think that those two things—"tone-shifted" and "an aside"—are a big part of it . . .
Watching:
Still chugging through The Magicians season 2! I was hoping to catch up in time for Season 4 to start airing next week, but that seems unlikely to happen, especially since the semester just started for me and I have an insane number of commitments this semester (teaching two classes I've never taught before, editorial responsibilities, & coursework!).
I also caught Annihilation last night. Verdict: great performances (especially from Natalie Portman and Gina Rodriguez), some very cool visual motifs, and a total lack of coherent or effective storytelling. I was zero percent surprised to find out that it was written and directed by the same guy who did Ex Machina, which I also hugely disliked. At one point around midway through Annihilation, my wife and I turned to each other and said to one another, 'oh my god, whoever wrote this dialogue should be shot.' It's awful! I can complain more specifically and at much more length about the many, many problems with this movie, so please hit me up in the comments if that's a conversation you'd like to have.
Weekend Round-Up
Dec. 30th, 2018 04:07 pmReading:
There is SO MUCH YULETIDE FIC, I love this time of year! I'm waiting to make a full rec post until authors' names are revealed, so I don't have to go back and edit the entry later, but I have to direct you guys to this one in particular ASAP:
This story is nice and long, and full of *chef's kiss* beautiful pining. Plus deadly spiders, solid gold bras and hot Olympic athletes.
I also accidentally tripped over, and then obviously had to reread, this classic of Yuletides past:
Watching:
I already watched
longnationalnightmare's Queliot & Margo supercuts of all three seasons of the Magicians, and decided the one thing they were missing that I actually cared about was Penny, so now I'm watching the actual show (for my sins). Up to S1E12 now, and I love Penny, have skipped everything with Julia in it (made very convenient because all her scenes are lit blue), love Eliot exactly as much as I already knew I did, and have enjoyed watching Margo really come into her own as a character. This show is trashy but lovable, exactly how I like 'em.
(So far I've been tracking Penny's characterization based on his outfits. The more chest is showing, the happier he is. When he buttons his shirt up all the way, SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG.)
Re: Eliot's appeal, there is also a great recent meta post from
greywash about why he's such a compelling character!
And final question for you all: are there any good active Magicians comms out there? I would love to chat about Season 4 as it comes out next month, but I suspect running one comm is enough responsibility for me.
There is SO MUCH YULETIDE FIC, I love this time of year! I'm waiting to make a full rec post until authors' names are revealed, so I don't have to go back and edit the entry later, but I have to direct you guys to this one in particular ASAP:
the pleasure principle (15122 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil, Chidi Anagonye, Simone Garnett, Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Sharing a Room, Sharing a Bed, Season/Series 03, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Fingering, Multiple Orgasms
Summary: "When Eleanor makes the offer, she doesn’t expect Tahani to actually take her up on it. A woman like Tahani Al-Jamil is not going to stay at a tourist trap motel with Eleanor Shellstrop, Arizona trashbag."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil, Chidi Anagonye, Simone Garnett, Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Sharing a Room, Sharing a Bed, Season/Series 03, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Fingering, Multiple Orgasms
Summary: "When Eleanor makes the offer, she doesn’t expect Tahani to actually take her up on it. A woman like Tahani Al-Jamil is not going to stay at a tourist trap motel with Eleanor Shellstrop, Arizona trashbag."
What happens when Tahani does, in fact, take Eleanor up on her offer to stay with her in her Sydney motel room.
I also accidentally tripped over, and then obviously had to reread, this classic of Yuletides past:
Four Seasons (4147 words) by Toft
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Oglaf, Old Spice Guy (Commercials)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: The Lesbian Mercenary/The Snow Queen
Characters: The Lesbian Mercenary, The Snow Queen - Character, Old Spice Guy (Commercials) - Character
Additional Tags: Chromatic Character, Casual Sex, Crossover
Summary: Four seasons in the life of the hot lesbian mercenary. Mjules' letter links to the relevant comic strips.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Oglaf, Old Spice Guy (Commercials)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: The Lesbian Mercenary/The Snow Queen
Characters: The Lesbian Mercenary, The Snow Queen - Character, Old Spice Guy (Commercials) - Character
Additional Tags: Chromatic Character, Casual Sex, Crossover
Summary: Four seasons in the life of the hot lesbian mercenary. Mjules' letter links to the relevant comic strips.
Watching:
I already watched
(So far I've been tracking Penny's characterization based on his outfits. The more chest is showing, the happier he is. When he buttons his shirt up all the way, SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG.)
Re: Eliot's appeal, there is also a great recent meta post from
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
And final question for you all: are there any good active Magicians comms out there? I would love to chat about Season 4 as it comes out next month, but I suspect running one comm is enough responsibility for me.
2 vid recs + 1 fic rec
Dec. 7th, 2018 07:15 pmDie Young by
longnationalnightmare
Fandom: The Magicians
Relationships: Quentin Coldwater/Eliot Waugh
Characters: Quentin Coldwater, Eliot Waugh
Summary: i was gonna die young / now i gotta wait for you, honey
be yourself my ally (15531 words) by
imperfectcircle
Fandom: Wonder Woman
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Etta Candy/Diana (Wonder Woman)
Characters: Hippolyta (Wonder Woman), Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship, Huddling For Warmth, accidental animal acquisition, Pampering, Fluff, only the faintest hint of plot
Summary: “That’s all very flattering,” Etta says when Diana has finally run out of steam, “but surely you have more qualified candidates than me?”
“You are of the world of men.” Diana looks a little embarrassed. “But not a man.”
Bonus: I'm also catching up on season 4 of DC's Legends of Tomorrow (having not seen any previous seasons). It's... not good. BUT they have Maisie Richardson-Sellers playing a swaggery kinda butch shapeshifter lady who IS good... at wearing leather pants and being hot. So I would recommend the show for specific reasons but not in general.
Fandom: The Magicians
Relationships: Quentin Coldwater/Eliot Waugh
Characters: Quentin Coldwater, Eliot Waugh
Summary: i was gonna die young / now i gotta wait for you, honey
Notes: This vid is legit, and the song is really catchy. Captures motion really well.
Parachute by thingswithwings
Fandom: Leverage
Relationships: Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer
Characters: Alec Hardison, Parker, Eliot Spencer
Summary: I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you.
Notes: Now I want to watch the show, if they really touch this much!
be yourself my ally (15531 words) by
Fandom: Wonder Woman
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Etta Candy/Diana (Wonder Woman)
Characters: Hippolyta (Wonder Woman), Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship, Huddling For Warmth, accidental animal acquisition, Pampering, Fluff, only the faintest hint of plot
Summary: “That’s all very flattering,” Etta says when Diana has finally run out of steam, “but surely you have more qualified candidates than me?”
“You are of the world of men.” Diana looks a little embarrassed. “But not a man.”
-- Diana and Etta go back to Themyscira.
Notes: This is super super sweet and features one of the best plausible misunderstandings I've ever seen. And it wasn't anachronistic! At no point did I have to nope out because of historical mistakes! (I'm real picky. Ask me about elasticated underwear in Peggy Carter WWII era fic.)
Bonus: I'm also catching up on season 4 of DC's Legends of Tomorrow (having not seen any previous seasons). It's... not good. BUT they have Maisie Richardson-Sellers playing a swaggery kinda butch shapeshifter lady who IS good... at wearing leather pants and being hot. So I would recommend the show for specific reasons but not in general.