Various Fandom Recaps/Ramblings/Picspams
Man, I feel like all the wonderful and awesome that my favorite shows have been giving me recently is almost too much. Like, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE SUCH HAPPINESS IN MY LIFE?!
Anyway, I have some thoughts re. my primary ongoing fandoms of the moment.
1. On No Ordinary Family-
Jim and Steph are adorable forever period.
Okay, beyond that I do have a few things to say.
Firstly, ETERNAL SADFACES for poor Katie who desperately needs time with her friends to cope with her recent break-up with Joshua. I already miss him. Please come back Joshua! I know I was really scared about you dating Katie at the beginning since, you know, you were the creepy killing-machine Dragon spying on the Powells for Dr. King but then you revealed that you were for real legitimately in love with Katie and I started to ship you and then revelations happened and GAAAAAAH IT ISN'T FAIR WHY DO ALL MY SECONDARY COUPLES IN THIS SHOW HAVE SUCH BAD LUCK?
*ahem!* Anyway... The ball gets rolling with some poor white-collar sap robbing a pharmacy and Jim stopping him. There is foreshadowing about what happens next in the episode via Jim being baffled at said poor sap committing the crime. George is all ready to prosecute the guy anyway.
Enter Sophie. And boy, do I have some words on her. I'll save them for later for now but I'd first like to say I'm really glad the writers had her going after George first. I dunno, somehow that makes her progression on to Jim better and easier to handle for me. It really drives in the fact that she's not hot for any of them, she just wants to manipulate whoever's most useful to her. (Also because the more time we spend with George besotted over her, the less time Jim has to be besotted over her.) So our mysterious blonde villainess does her Super Mind Control thing on George and the next thing you know, he wants to marry her.
Jim starts to notice George's weird behavior. His suspicions increase during the double date he and Steph have with George and Sophie. At which point Sophie turns her brainwashing pheromones on Jim, either to deflect his suspicions or because George is becoming useless and she needs a new fetch dog. Or both.
(And holy cow, I just realized that Steph and Sophie are both blonde, 's'-named girls. Poetic opposites ahoy!)
Like most males under love spells in sci-fi/fantasy type stories, Jim grows increasingly stupid and shows up at Sophie's place with flowers, almost the same time George does. In the ensuing fight, Sophie discovers that Jim has super-strength. She promptly drops George like a hot rock and turns her full manipulative powers on Jim.
...I initially thought I would be pretty okay with watching the Evil Temptress macking on one half of my OTP for this show, knowing that of course the Super Brainwashing would be revealed and that Jim and Steph would be back together and adorable at the end of the episode. I was, in fact, wrong in this regard. Even before the requisite shot of Jim and Sophie kissing while Steph watches helplessly and tearfully upon discovering, I was honest-to-goodness yelling, "BIIIIIIIIITCH! BITCH!" at the TV screen. Kudos to the writers for eliciting such a reaction from me despite my genre-savvy. *thumbs up*
Also, whoever wrote the confrontation/argument between Jim and Steph about Jim's abandonment of the family YOU ARE AWESOME AND I LOVE YOU. I hate infidelity, fictional and otherwise, and Steph's genuine hurt and anger and grief in this just tugs at my heartstrings. THIS IS WHY YOU DO NOT CHEAT PEOPLE.
Anyway, in-between ordering Jim to break into places and steal things for her Sophie has been having intermittent meetings with the mysterious Mrs. X (another Big Bad I'm assuming, higher up than even King) about doing away with King since he's attracting too much attention. J.J. also discovers that George has no recollection of ever meeting Sophie. Suspicions aroused, they go to her place and see that she's building a bomb. OH NOETRY!
Meanwhile Steph has been having a subplot involving giving super-serum to another of King's patients. Despite the nigglings of her conscience, she goes through with it, believing the man is square and knowing she can't get any closer to King and his secrets otherwise. There's a creepy bit before the injection where King attempts to "comfort" Steph. Knowing his completely unwholesome and non-OTP-friendly attraction to her I am eternally DO NOT WANT.
J.J. and George call her with their worries and tell Steph where Jim is. Turns out he's at the lab. Steph runs outside and there is DRAMATIC CONFRONTATIONS between her, Jim, and Sophie, in which I a) try reassuring Steph through the fourth wall, "It's okay! It's okay, Steph! He's just mind-controled! He loves you!", b) think not-nice thoughts in Sophie's direction, and c) yell at Steph to, "PUNCH HER! JUST PUNCH HER PLEASE!"
Steph has a better, more shippy way to solve things though. First she tells off Sophie ("Real love is more powerful."), then she follows Jim up to the roof with a FRAUGHT AND PASSIONATE PLEA. And she entreats him and begs him and talks him down AND THEN WHEN IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK SAYS, "I'll show you passion." AND KISSES HIM AND I FLAP MY ARMS IN EXCITEMENT SQUEEING BECAUSE IT WORKS. The brain-washing is broken WITH LOVE, Jim comes to himself with her kiss, recognizes he's been an idiot and apologizes, and then throws the bomb up into the air before it can explode. And the sparks rain down like fireworks and they kiss again in the prettiest shot ever and THERE IS NO CONTAINER FOR MY JOY.
Mrs. X meets with Sophie again, mildly put out by Sophie's failure. She smiles smarmily though and drives off, feigning indifference. Sophie goes to her car. I am nothing but satisfied when the camera pans down to the bomb strapped underneath it. GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU, YA TWISTED MANIPULATIVE VILLAINESS! YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR THE POWER OF LOVE!
During all of this craziness, by the way, Daphne has been having a cute and funny subplot about her boyfriend guessing that her family has superpowers and she keeps using her new mental control abilities to make him forget but he keeps asking her about it and so finally she just coughs up the truth. And he accepts it and her and there is heartwarming kissage and I squee.
Oh and then it's revealed that Steph's patient is a violent criminal. And can sprout claws from his hands like Wolverine. And is apparently Dr. King's new Dragon. And possibly will become a double-agent for Mrs. X. Yeah.
This show just keeps getting better and better. So looking forward to next episode. In the meantime though, NEED SCREENCAPS OF THE JIM/STEPH KISSES. COME ON INTERNET. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
2. On the Tales of Symphonia OVA-
ASFLASHFLAS!
FLLLEEBBLEAAFANL!
GLLAAABEERGLEK!
SO YEAH WATCHING THIS EPISODE WAS PRETTY MUCH THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY.
Ignoring for a moment how off the rails it went in relation to its adaptation of the game (and believe me it went off the rails like WOOSH!), this episode was made of the purest concentration of awesome and epic shipper squee that I have seen in a long while. I think the last time I was this deliriously happy with an ending episode (can't really call it a season/series finale since there's supposed to be two more episodes covering the reunification of the world arc) was back with Avatar: The Last Airbender or Numb3rs. No Ordinary Family obviously does not count in this regard since it hasn't had an "ending" episode yet and anyway it makes me this deliriously happy ALL THE TIME.
So let's just dive right in shall we?
As before, there are no English subtitles for me to read so I don't know exactly what they're saying, but I still have a very clear idea of what's going on.
We open with a quick bit of Soulless!Colette in her jar and Rodyle being hissy and then skip right to the middle of the battle we left off with last episode, outside with the Tales gang minus Lloyd. (Who is still inside freaking out that Kratos is his father. I actually predicted the episode would pick up there instead, but hey.) The Renegades are still battling the dragons, including the BIG HUGE ONE. Zelos proposes something that makes the rest of them "Ugh." for some reason and there is some brief instruction-flinging before the group of them get into position.
AND THEN RAINE CASTS AGGREGATE SHARP ON PRESEA'S AXE AND REGAL'S SHIN GUARDS.
AND THEN PRESEA SLICES THROUGH A SMALLER DRAGON, DODGES THE BIG DRAGON'S STREAM OF FIRE IN MIDAIR, AND THEN SLICES THE HORNS OFF ITS FACE.
AND THEN GENIS SWOOPS IN, CASTS AIR BLADE, AND PICKS UP PRESEA.
AND THEN REGAL DROP-KICKS THE WHOLE FREAKING DRAGON.
AND THEN SHEENA CASTS A BINDING SPELL AND YELLS TO ZELOS.
AND THEN ZELOS CASTS DIVINE JUDGEMENT ON THE DRAGON KILLING IT AND EARNING MY ETERNAL LOYALTY. I LOVE YOU ZELOS. YOU ARE BAMF AND AWESOME.
(Lol, and Sheena says something that sounds like, "Uh Zelos? That... was kind of overkill.")
The Tales gang swoops in and enters the facility. Things are starting to go haywire and fall apart in there. The group discusses what to do and where to go I think, and Lloyd and Colette's names are mentioned. The group splits up, Sheena and Zelos going off together (Yay Sheelos!), and Genis and Presea having a brief cute moment (Yay Gesea!). Now where's my Colloyd dammit?
Fade out and then back in on Lloyd, who is wearing the exact expression I expected him to. Namely, the same shocked and disbelieving "WAIT A MINUTE I NEED A MOMENT TO TAKE IN THIS PLOT POINT." expression he had on his face last episode. LOL Lloyd. The Japanese here is actually simple enough for me to understand most of it, which is pleasantly surprising. Lloyd says (roughly), "It can't be... Kratos is... Kratos is my father... I don't believe it... I don't believe it!" And Yuan smirks and is all like, "Ha ha look at that, your own son hates you." Lloyd asks something else, sounds kind of like "What are you doing Kratos?!" and then HOLY SHIT WHAT THE HELL YUAN?! HE JUST DELIBERATELY SLICED UP LLOYD'S BACK AND THERE WAS BLOOD OH MY GOSH. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Yuan talks about Slyvarant and Tethe'alla and mana and proceeds to monologue and make his demands for Kratos to release Origin but I'm still sore that he hurt my Lloyd so I just glare at him through this part. And I glare at Kratos too because HAVE A REACTION DANGIT YOUR SON IS BEING SLICED UP IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES DO SOMETHING BESIDES STARE! Lloyd continues to question both of them, feeling betrayed. He yells at Kratos, asking him "WHY?!" and saying Colette's name in a way that makes me squee.
Meanwhile, the place continues to explode. And cut to the opening. Huh, wow, that was a long intro. Or... maybe not, the first Tethe'alla episode had that whole Lloyd recap monologue plus a Zelos flashback and a fight scene with him and ninjas and Regal. Since I've already seen the opening plural times and it is not relevant to my interests I skip past it.
Fade in and the Renegades are storming the fortress. Plural Desian flunkies are dead. And Kratos has just saved his son's life. Poor Lloyd still has that expression of WTFBBQ?! Kratos asks if Lloyd's okay. I... actually liked this scene more in the game, when Kratos takes an energy blast from Yuan for Lloyd. But whatever, this works too. Lloyd has a few flashbacks of father/son-ish moments he had with Kratos. Kratos gets up and sprouts his wings, and so does Yuan, and the two face off and glare at each other. Lloyd does most of the talking, and I don't know what he says but he sounds extremely anguished and woobie about it, so I just want to cuddle him.
...and then he hears Colette's voice encouraging him. Um. Okay. I can roll with that. We cut to her and then zoom into her eye and she's in some kind of symbolic mental prison curled up on the floor, adorable and crying. And my heart wrenches because GIRL I HAVE MISSED YOU. Colette gives Lloyd (I assume) the heartwarming speech she did in the game about how he's still him whoever his father is. Aww.
Zelos and Sheena find them. And Zelos is pissed. Wow. No idea what he's saying (keeps repeating "shinjiru" and variants if that helps) but man, his rage is a thing to behold. Sheena even stares at him with dramatic shiny eyes. Kratos says something, maybe explaining something about Colette (he uses the word "miko", meaning "priestess" and "Chosen"), and then Yuan tosses his big double axe toward Lloyd and Kratos deflects it and the two start fighting. Sweet. Kratos tells Lloyd to go. He hesitates, and then Sheena yells at him that Colette's waiting. (Go Sheena!) Lloyd pulls himself away and he, Zelos, and Sheena run off and leave the angels to their fight.
Cut to HOLY CRAP! Uh, I mean-Raine, Regal, Presea, and Genis all stuck in an energy field in the room where Colette's tube and Rodyle is. And he's gloating, of course. And pressing a button that makes Colette glow. Blah blah Martel something and quick shot of Colette in her prison, melting into the floor and sinking deeper into the waters of unconsciousness. NO COLETTE NO! NOOOOO! CRAP AND THEN SHE SAYS, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry everyone... I'm sorry." NO COLETTE DON'T DIE! WAKE UP!
Now Presea says something and ASFHAKLSFH SHE'S GETTING UP! SHE'S STANDING UP AND FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY HOLDING HER DOWN WHILE YELLING AWESOMELY AT RODYLE AND CHARGING FORWARD STEP BY AGONIZING STEP OMG PRESEA YOU ARE A BADASS FOREVER. Rodyle increases the power, bringing Presea back to her knees briefly. BUT THEN SHE GETS BACK UP AND MAKES IT OFF THE PLATE INTO THE CLEAR AND RODYLE FREAKS LIKE THE SPINELESS GIT HE IS. PRESEA LIFTS HER AXE AND I'M LIKE, "HOHOHO SHIT SHE'S TAKING REVENGE ON RODYLE." AND SHE BRINGS IT DOWN-
On the control. Which frees the others. Go Presea!
Presea collapses and Genis calls her name cutely and then Zelos, Sheena, and Lloyd arrive. Upon seeing Colette, Lloyd yells her name and charges right in and PUNCHES THE SHIT OUT OF THE GLASS POD BECAUSE APPARENTLY HE CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE CONVENTIONAL MEANS TO FREE HER. WHILE YELLING.
...Lloyd runs very hot-blooded I guess.
Oh... oh man this part right here PUNCHES ME IN THE GUT. THE BACKGROUND GOES ALL WHITE AND THERE'S JUST LLOYD AND COLETTE, FLOATING THERE IN THE WHITE VOID WITH THEIR HAIR BLOWING, TO SOFT PIANO MUSIC. AND LLOYD GIVES COLETTE HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT PENDANT, WITH THE KEY CREST BUILT INTO IT. JUST... PUTS IT AROUND HER NECK AND... And there's a quick shot of Zelos and Sheena cheering. Cute. BACK WITH LLOYD AND COLETTE, AND LLOYD IS SMILING AND TELLING THE STILL SOULLESS COLETTE ALL ABOUT HOW HE MADE IT. AND WE GET A FLASHBACK OF THE PROCESS.
GAH I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS. I'M GOING TO TEAR UP. I'M GOING TO-
HUGS!
<3333333
OH MY GOSH LLOYD IS HUGGING COLETTE FROM BEHIND I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS LEVEL OF OTP. THE CAMERA IS SWIRLING AND-
Wait a minute! Was that-?!
HOLY COW, CONFIRMED ONSCREEN COLLOYD KISS?! (Sort of. It does that annoying Japanese thing where they crop it so you can't actually see their lips touching but there is no way that is not a kiss with how close their faces are.)
......my brain... she is broken. I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE OTP. TIME TO WAKE UP COLETTE. LLOYD IS KISSING YOU WITH THE POWER OF LOVE AND OH MY GOSH HER EYE IS STARTING TO RETURN TO NORMAL OH MY-
And then a switch is thrown that turns up the machine, making Souless!Colette's eye go blank again and inner!Colette curl up in pain, re-enforing the mental prison with bars of ice, and generating another stasis field around Lloyd and Colette.
...
NOOOOOOOOO NO! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! WHY?! THEY WERE KISSING AND COLETTE WAS JUST ABOUT TO-AND THEN-AARRRRRGGGGGH! RODYLE YOU BASTARD I WILL KILL YOU! YOU RUINED THE MOMENT! I. WILL. KILL. YO-Oh Zelos did it for me. THANK YOU FOREVER ZELOS I LOVE YOU.
Zelos yells to Sheena who is at the controls and I guess can't get them to shut down. Crap.
AND THEN PEOPLE START TRYING TO BASH THEIR WAY INTO THE FIELD. ZELOS, AND THEN REGAL, AND THEN GENIS CASTING PRISM SWORD WHICH IS AWESOME BUT NOTHING WORKS. CRAP AND NOW THE PLATFORM'S MOVING WHAT IS GOING ON METAL TENTACLES WHAT. WHAT. OH NO. NONONONONONO THEY'RE YANKING LLOYD AWAY FROM COLETTE! AND ONE CLAW IS REACHING FOR HER PENDANT!
NOOOOOOOOO! WAKE UP COLETTE WAKE UP!
AND LLOYD JUST KEEPS ON SCREAMING HER NAME AND THE CLAW IS YANKING ON THE FRAGILE LITTLE CHAIN OH MY GOSH I CAN'T WATCH THIS I AM BAWLING WAIT-DID...? DID COLETTE JUST SPEAK? COLETTE JUST SPOKE. COME ON COLETTE YOU CAN-NOOOOOOOOOOO THEY BROKE THE CHAIN THEY BROKE THE CHAIN THEY-
!!!
COLETTE REACHED OUT AND GRABBED THE PENDANT!
OH MY GOSH AND SHE'S HAVING FLASHBACKS AND STUTTERING OUT HER AWESOME LINE FROM THE GAME, "THIS IS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT LLOYD GAVE ME!" AND THE ICE BARS ON HER SYMBOLIC MENTAL PRISON ARE BREAKING AND INNER!COLETTE JUST OPENED HER EYES! NGAAAAAAAH! AND HER ANGELS WINGS SPROUT AND SHE'S FREE! AND LLOYD RIPS HIMSELF OUT OF THE METAL TENTACLES AND THEY CALL EACH OTHER'S NAMES ALL CUTELY AND LEAP FOR EACH OTHER IN SLO-MO WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED! NNNNGGGGHHHH-
BRB CRYING LIKE A BITCH.
D'AWW AND LIKE THE KLUTZ SHE IS COLETTE TRIPS. BUT LLOYD IS THERE TO CATCH HER. LOL AND THEN ZELOS COOS OVER HOW CUTE SHE IS AND SHEENA PINCHES HIS CHEEK JEALOUSLY. AND THEN LLOYD WELCOMES COLETTE BACK AND SHE GIVES HIM HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE, THAT HE MISSED SO MUCH.
And now we're back with the Kratos vs. Yuan fight and they're talking about something.
NO, I'M SORRY, YOU JUST HAD EPIC COLLOYD REUNION OF LOVE, YOU CANNOT GET ME TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS IN THIS EPISODE.
Tee! Well okay, I can spare some caring for the adorable Sheelos punching and Colette hanging on Lloyd's waist adorably on the Rheiards.
Fade out to Yggdrasil in his throne room conferring with Kratos and Pronyma. And then something with the Tales group in the throne room of Meltokio, talking with the king and the Pope (well, okay, the Pope does most of the talking, likely complaining about something). After the epicness we just had a few minutes back all I hear is Blah Blah Blah and I'm bored. A more interesting scene then pops up, but it's very dialogue heavy so I have no idea what's going on, just that everyone is adorable and having cute interaction and Sheena is blushy and Zelos is hilarious. Lol-ing forever.
EEEEEEEEEE! AND NOW THEY'RE IN FLANOIR! OMG FLANOIR COLLOYD SCENE! NGAH! COLETTE! WHY ARE YOU SO FREAKING ADORABLE?! Lulz and Sheena's after Zelos for some reason. This OVA just overstuffs me with shippy goodness.
*sits and basks in the pretty*
*squees over Lloyd/Colette hand-holding*
S'more stuff happens with various people having poignant flashbacks. Zelos is confronted by Pronyma. And then Raine and Genis stumble across Mithos. DUN DUN DUN. Pan up to the sky, fade out, cue credits and awesome credits song. The Tethe'alla arc has concluded. And the story will pick up with the World Reunification arc... sometime later. Me, I don't even mind how long the wait'll probably be for those last two episodes. This episode has made me QUITE happy.
3. On Young Justice-
Obligatory picspams ahoy.
I've already mentioned how much I love the Scenery Porn in this show, so I won't bother repeating myself.
OMG BANE! BAAAAAAANE! *fangirls*
DAMMIT CARTOON NETWORK! Move your ads so I can read the subtitles!
Hello Shimmer and Mammoth.
HOLY SHIT WHAT. WHAT. WHAT THE HELL. NIGHTMARES FOREVER.
Heck, even Bane is disturbed.
Shots I just thought looked cool.
Lol @ Wally's constant munching of food.
Oh yeah. M'gann is awesome.
And adorably inept at flirting.
"I should be leader!"
"You're thirteen!"
"So?"
"Dont you want to lead?"
(shakes head) "You?'
"After the Mr. Twister fiasco?"
"You did okay." (smiles)
D'aww-ing forever.
"Bitches don't know about my super-hearing."
Hacking time!
...yeah, Aqualad continues to be ridiculously pretty and badass. I heart him.
"Testing... testing... can you hear me now?"
"You know it beautiful."
Kid Flash's endless hearting of Miss Martian is ENDLESS LULZ.
Hooray for Big Brother-ish moments between Kaldur and Dick!
Uh Robin? I think you're in a little bit of trouble there dude.
"Oh yeah. I totally just swiped the detonator and planted some explosives on the plane so we can blow it up and stop the shipment from leaving."
Isn't this the second time you've been pinned down by a foot Robin? I'd worry about that.
Not many can look the Bat straight in the face without flinching.
Lol the team's shock when Batman actually says, "Good job."
Obligatory creepy bit with The Light, and one of them is totally The Brain you guys I swear.
Metropolis is so pretty.
Awkward Superboy-Superman conversation is awkward.
I just want to hug him for this bit. He's so sad-looking.
D'AWW!
Black Canary: Kicking the asses of upstart teenage heroes since 2011.
Oh Robin! You adorable irreverent giggler you!
Hello again Aqua-hotness.
Holy cow they actually plot out where Gotham is on a map. Cool.
We need to talk bud.
Oooh...
Admit it. Young Justice's motorcycle gear is awesome.
Fly my pretties! Fly!
Young Justice, being awesome.
"Hey Aqualad. Yeah we just got ambushed by robot monkeys and Superboy ran off after them. Relay instructions?"
"Do your hacker thing."
"Roger that."
Robin's worried face at the Amazo parts heading for Gotham.
Hello there Bruce. Looking mighty fine.
Yeah, about here is when it's appropriate to say, "Oh crap."
AWWWW DORKY MATHLETE ROBIN!
Wally saved by early cameo of Artemis.
Totally ships Superboy/Miss Martian.
Team shots are always fun.
"So what's this huh? You guys been babysitting us?"
"...apparently not."
*CONSPIRATORIAL GLANCE*
"Remember hon, I'm always here if you need me."
+1 for Black Canary Motherliness.
Woah. Roy got hot all of a sudden.
And now suddenly I'd give anything to be that girl.
*SHAMELESS FANSERVICE TIME*
Holy cow Robin, thirteen-year-olds should not be that hot.
Lol poor Wally has to go to school while everyone else frolics at the beach.
Blatant fanservice is blatant.
"SWEET FREEDOM!"
"What's up? I'm Artemis and I'm awesome. Worship my aura of badassery."
"Hi. Never heard of you. And totally hot for you already."
"I feel slightly replaced."
"Wanna make something of it punk?"
"Come on man, we still want you on the team."
"So yeah. This is your mission."
"Piece of cheesecake."
"You know I can still hear you."
"D'oh!"
<3 Telepathic arguments are endlessly hilarious.
...Uncle Iroh? What are you doing in the League of Shadows?
At long last, the YJ girls together!
OH NO WALLY!
CHESHIRE!
*fangirls massively*
*immediately ships Red Arrow/Cheshire on principal*
"That... was closer to a shuriken than I ever want to be in my life."
VANISHING ACT.
Awwwww cute.
"Besides, I can't be mad at you." *You gave me mouth-to-mouth.*
*WE HEARD THAT.*
"Dangit!"
LOL.
"Don't worry about Wally. He'll come around."
*I can HEAR you glaring.*
Robin almost lets slip Wayne Industries' connection to Batman.
Artemis faces off against Cheshire.
While Robin runs off to stop the Fog.
"Meep!"
Superboy vs. laser, Superboy wins.
Hel-lo strangely hot shaggy-haired Jade. You and Roy will make the hottest couple ever oh my gosh.
"Darn. Apparently I know you."
Welcome to the team Artemis.
"So yeah, if you ever hurt my friends, you're pretty much dead."
And thus, I actually begin to like Roy.
OMINOUS FORESHADOWING OF DOOM.
Anyway, I have some thoughts re. my primary ongoing fandoms of the moment.
1. On No Ordinary Family-
Jim and Steph are adorable forever period.
Okay, beyond that I do have a few things to say.
Firstly, ETERNAL SADFACES for poor Katie who desperately needs time with her friends to cope with her recent break-up with Joshua. I already miss him. Please come back Joshua! I know I was really scared about you dating Katie at the beginning since, you know, you were the creepy killing-machine Dragon spying on the Powells for Dr. King but then you revealed that you were for real legitimately in love with Katie and I started to ship you and then revelations happened and GAAAAAAH IT ISN'T FAIR WHY DO ALL MY SECONDARY COUPLES IN THIS SHOW HAVE SUCH BAD LUCK?
*ahem!* Anyway... The ball gets rolling with some poor white-collar sap robbing a pharmacy and Jim stopping him. There is foreshadowing about what happens next in the episode via Jim being baffled at said poor sap committing the crime. George is all ready to prosecute the guy anyway.
Enter Sophie. And boy, do I have some words on her. I'll save them for later for now but I'd first like to say I'm really glad the writers had her going after George first. I dunno, somehow that makes her progression on to Jim better and easier to handle for me. It really drives in the fact that she's not hot for any of them, she just wants to manipulate whoever's most useful to her. (Also because the more time we spend with George besotted over her, the less time Jim has to be besotted over her.) So our mysterious blonde villainess does her Super Mind Control thing on George and the next thing you know, he wants to marry her.
Jim starts to notice George's weird behavior. His suspicions increase during the double date he and Steph have with George and Sophie. At which point Sophie turns her brainwashing pheromones on Jim, either to deflect his suspicions or because George is becoming useless and she needs a new fetch dog. Or both.
(And holy cow, I just realized that Steph and Sophie are both blonde, 's'-named girls. Poetic opposites ahoy!)
Like most males under love spells in sci-fi/fantasy type stories, Jim grows increasingly stupid and shows up at Sophie's place with flowers, almost the same time George does. In the ensuing fight, Sophie discovers that Jim has super-strength. She promptly drops George like a hot rock and turns her full manipulative powers on Jim.
...I initially thought I would be pretty okay with watching the Evil Temptress macking on one half of my OTP for this show, knowing that of course the Super Brainwashing would be revealed and that Jim and Steph would be back together and adorable at the end of the episode. I was, in fact, wrong in this regard. Even before the requisite shot of Jim and Sophie kissing while Steph watches helplessly and tearfully upon discovering, I was honest-to-goodness yelling, "BIIIIIIIIITCH! BITCH!" at the TV screen. Kudos to the writers for eliciting such a reaction from me despite my genre-savvy. *thumbs up*
Also, whoever wrote the confrontation/argument between Jim and Steph about Jim's abandonment of the family YOU ARE AWESOME AND I LOVE YOU. I hate infidelity, fictional and otherwise, and Steph's genuine hurt and anger and grief in this just tugs at my heartstrings. THIS IS WHY YOU DO NOT CHEAT PEOPLE.
Anyway, in-between ordering Jim to break into places and steal things for her Sophie has been having intermittent meetings with the mysterious Mrs. X (another Big Bad I'm assuming, higher up than even King) about doing away with King since he's attracting too much attention. J.J. also discovers that George has no recollection of ever meeting Sophie. Suspicions aroused, they go to her place and see that she's building a bomb. OH NOETRY!
Meanwhile Steph has been having a subplot involving giving super-serum to another of King's patients. Despite the nigglings of her conscience, she goes through with it, believing the man is square and knowing she can't get any closer to King and his secrets otherwise. There's a creepy bit before the injection where King attempts to "comfort" Steph. Knowing his completely unwholesome and non-OTP-friendly attraction to her I am eternally DO NOT WANT.
J.J. and George call her with their worries and tell Steph where Jim is. Turns out he's at the lab. Steph runs outside and there is DRAMATIC CONFRONTATIONS between her, Jim, and Sophie, in which I a) try reassuring Steph through the fourth wall, "It's okay! It's okay, Steph! He's just mind-controled! He loves you!", b) think not-nice thoughts in Sophie's direction, and c) yell at Steph to, "PUNCH HER! JUST PUNCH HER PLEASE!"
Steph has a better, more shippy way to solve things though. First she tells off Sophie ("Real love is more powerful."), then she follows Jim up to the roof with a FRAUGHT AND PASSIONATE PLEA. And she entreats him and begs him and talks him down AND THEN WHEN IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK SAYS, "I'll show you passion." AND KISSES HIM AND I FLAP MY ARMS IN EXCITEMENT SQUEEING BECAUSE IT WORKS. The brain-washing is broken WITH LOVE, Jim comes to himself with her kiss, recognizes he's been an idiot and apologizes, and then throws the bomb up into the air before it can explode. And the sparks rain down like fireworks and they kiss again in the prettiest shot ever and THERE IS NO CONTAINER FOR MY JOY.
Mrs. X meets with Sophie again, mildly put out by Sophie's failure. She smiles smarmily though and drives off, feigning indifference. Sophie goes to her car. I am nothing but satisfied when the camera pans down to the bomb strapped underneath it. GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU, YA TWISTED MANIPULATIVE VILLAINESS! YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR THE POWER OF LOVE!
During all of this craziness, by the way, Daphne has been having a cute and funny subplot about her boyfriend guessing that her family has superpowers and she keeps using her new mental control abilities to make him forget but he keeps asking her about it and so finally she just coughs up the truth. And he accepts it and her and there is heartwarming kissage and I squee.
Oh and then it's revealed that Steph's patient is a violent criminal. And can sprout claws from his hands like Wolverine. And is apparently Dr. King's new Dragon. And possibly will become a double-agent for Mrs. X. Yeah.
This show just keeps getting better and better. So looking forward to next episode. In the meantime though, NEED SCREENCAPS OF THE JIM/STEPH KISSES. COME ON INTERNET. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
2. On the Tales of Symphonia OVA-
ASFLASHFLAS!
FLLLEEBBLEAAFANL!
GLLAAABEERGLEK!
SO YEAH WATCHING THIS EPISODE WAS PRETTY MUCH THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY.
Ignoring for a moment how off the rails it went in relation to its adaptation of the game (and believe me it went off the rails like WOOSH!), this episode was made of the purest concentration of awesome and epic shipper squee that I have seen in a long while. I think the last time I was this deliriously happy with an ending episode (can't really call it a season/series finale since there's supposed to be two more episodes covering the reunification of the world arc) was back with Avatar: The Last Airbender or Numb3rs. No Ordinary Family obviously does not count in this regard since it hasn't had an "ending" episode yet and anyway it makes me this deliriously happy ALL THE TIME.
So let's just dive right in shall we?
As before, there are no English subtitles for me to read so I don't know exactly what they're saying, but I still have a very clear idea of what's going on.
We open with a quick bit of Soulless!Colette in her jar and Rodyle being hissy and then skip right to the middle of the battle we left off with last episode, outside with the Tales gang minus Lloyd. (Who is still inside freaking out that Kratos is his father. I actually predicted the episode would pick up there instead, but hey.) The Renegades are still battling the dragons, including the BIG HUGE ONE. Zelos proposes something that makes the rest of them "Ugh." for some reason and there is some brief instruction-flinging before the group of them get into position.
AND THEN RAINE CASTS AGGREGATE SHARP ON PRESEA'S AXE AND REGAL'S SHIN GUARDS.
AND THEN PRESEA SLICES THROUGH A SMALLER DRAGON, DODGES THE BIG DRAGON'S STREAM OF FIRE IN MIDAIR, AND THEN SLICES THE HORNS OFF ITS FACE.
AND THEN GENIS SWOOPS IN, CASTS AIR BLADE, AND PICKS UP PRESEA.
AND THEN REGAL DROP-KICKS THE WHOLE FREAKING DRAGON.
AND THEN SHEENA CASTS A BINDING SPELL AND YELLS TO ZELOS.
AND THEN ZELOS CASTS DIVINE JUDGEMENT ON THE DRAGON KILLING IT AND EARNING MY ETERNAL LOYALTY. I LOVE YOU ZELOS. YOU ARE BAMF AND AWESOME.
(Lol, and Sheena says something that sounds like, "Uh Zelos? That... was kind of overkill.")
The Tales gang swoops in and enters the facility. Things are starting to go haywire and fall apart in there. The group discusses what to do and where to go I think, and Lloyd and Colette's names are mentioned. The group splits up, Sheena and Zelos going off together (Yay Sheelos!), and Genis and Presea having a brief cute moment (Yay Gesea!). Now where's my Colloyd dammit?
Fade out and then back in on Lloyd, who is wearing the exact expression I expected him to. Namely, the same shocked and disbelieving "WAIT A MINUTE I NEED A MOMENT TO TAKE IN THIS PLOT POINT." expression he had on his face last episode. LOL Lloyd. The Japanese here is actually simple enough for me to understand most of it, which is pleasantly surprising. Lloyd says (roughly), "It can't be... Kratos is... Kratos is my father... I don't believe it... I don't believe it!" And Yuan smirks and is all like, "Ha ha look at that, your own son hates you." Lloyd asks something else, sounds kind of like "What are you doing Kratos?!" and then HOLY SHIT WHAT THE HELL YUAN?! HE JUST DELIBERATELY SLICED UP LLOYD'S BACK AND THERE WAS BLOOD OH MY GOSH. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Yuan talks about Slyvarant and Tethe'alla and mana and proceeds to monologue and make his demands for Kratos to release Origin but I'm still sore that he hurt my Lloyd so I just glare at him through this part. And I glare at Kratos too because HAVE A REACTION DANGIT YOUR SON IS BEING SLICED UP IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES DO SOMETHING BESIDES STARE! Lloyd continues to question both of them, feeling betrayed. He yells at Kratos, asking him "WHY?!" and saying Colette's name in a way that makes me squee.
Meanwhile, the place continues to explode. And cut to the opening. Huh, wow, that was a long intro. Or... maybe not, the first Tethe'alla episode had that whole Lloyd recap monologue plus a Zelos flashback and a fight scene with him and ninjas and Regal. Since I've already seen the opening plural times and it is not relevant to my interests I skip past it.
Fade in and the Renegades are storming the fortress. Plural Desian flunkies are dead. And Kratos has just saved his son's life. Poor Lloyd still has that expression of WTFBBQ?! Kratos asks if Lloyd's okay. I... actually liked this scene more in the game, when Kratos takes an energy blast from Yuan for Lloyd. But whatever, this works too. Lloyd has a few flashbacks of father/son-ish moments he had with Kratos. Kratos gets up and sprouts his wings, and so does Yuan, and the two face off and glare at each other. Lloyd does most of the talking, and I don't know what he says but he sounds extremely anguished and woobie about it, so I just want to cuddle him.
...and then he hears Colette's voice encouraging him. Um. Okay. I can roll with that. We cut to her and then zoom into her eye and she's in some kind of symbolic mental prison curled up on the floor, adorable and crying. And my heart wrenches because GIRL I HAVE MISSED YOU. Colette gives Lloyd (I assume) the heartwarming speech she did in the game about how he's still him whoever his father is. Aww.
Zelos and Sheena find them. And Zelos is pissed. Wow. No idea what he's saying (keeps repeating "shinjiru" and variants if that helps) but man, his rage is a thing to behold. Sheena even stares at him with dramatic shiny eyes. Kratos says something, maybe explaining something about Colette (he uses the word "miko", meaning "priestess" and "Chosen"), and then Yuan tosses his big double axe toward Lloyd and Kratos deflects it and the two start fighting. Sweet. Kratos tells Lloyd to go. He hesitates, and then Sheena yells at him that Colette's waiting. (Go Sheena!) Lloyd pulls himself away and he, Zelos, and Sheena run off and leave the angels to their fight.
Cut to HOLY CRAP! Uh, I mean-Raine, Regal, Presea, and Genis all stuck in an energy field in the room where Colette's tube and Rodyle is. And he's gloating, of course. And pressing a button that makes Colette glow. Blah blah Martel something and quick shot of Colette in her prison, melting into the floor and sinking deeper into the waters of unconsciousness. NO COLETTE NO! NOOOOO! CRAP AND THEN SHE SAYS, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry everyone... I'm sorry." NO COLETTE DON'T DIE! WAKE UP!
Now Presea says something and ASFHAKLSFH SHE'S GETTING UP! SHE'S STANDING UP AND FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY HOLDING HER DOWN WHILE YELLING AWESOMELY AT RODYLE AND CHARGING FORWARD STEP BY AGONIZING STEP OMG PRESEA YOU ARE A BADASS FOREVER. Rodyle increases the power, bringing Presea back to her knees briefly. BUT THEN SHE GETS BACK UP AND MAKES IT OFF THE PLATE INTO THE CLEAR AND RODYLE FREAKS LIKE THE SPINELESS GIT HE IS. PRESEA LIFTS HER AXE AND I'M LIKE, "HOHOHO SHIT SHE'S TAKING REVENGE ON RODYLE." AND SHE BRINGS IT DOWN-
On the control. Which frees the others. Go Presea!
Presea collapses and Genis calls her name cutely and then Zelos, Sheena, and Lloyd arrive. Upon seeing Colette, Lloyd yells her name and charges right in and PUNCHES THE SHIT OUT OF THE GLASS POD BECAUSE APPARENTLY HE CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE CONVENTIONAL MEANS TO FREE HER. WHILE YELLING.
...Lloyd runs very hot-blooded I guess.
Oh... oh man this part right here PUNCHES ME IN THE GUT. THE BACKGROUND GOES ALL WHITE AND THERE'S JUST LLOYD AND COLETTE, FLOATING THERE IN THE WHITE VOID WITH THEIR HAIR BLOWING, TO SOFT PIANO MUSIC. AND LLOYD GIVES COLETTE HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT PENDANT, WITH THE KEY CREST BUILT INTO IT. JUST... PUTS IT AROUND HER NECK AND... And there's a quick shot of Zelos and Sheena cheering. Cute. BACK WITH LLOYD AND COLETTE, AND LLOYD IS SMILING AND TELLING THE STILL SOULLESS COLETTE ALL ABOUT HOW HE MADE IT. AND WE GET A FLASHBACK OF THE PROCESS.
GAH I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS. I'M GOING TO TEAR UP. I'M GOING TO-
HUGS!
<3333333
OH MY GOSH LLOYD IS HUGGING COLETTE FROM BEHIND I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS LEVEL OF OTP. THE CAMERA IS SWIRLING AND-
Wait a minute! Was that-?!
HOLY COW, CONFIRMED ONSCREEN COLLOYD KISS?! (Sort of. It does that annoying Japanese thing where they crop it so you can't actually see their lips touching but there is no way that is not a kiss with how close their faces are.)
......my brain... she is broken. I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE OTP. TIME TO WAKE UP COLETTE. LLOYD IS KISSING YOU WITH THE POWER OF LOVE AND OH MY GOSH HER EYE IS STARTING TO RETURN TO NORMAL OH MY-
And then a switch is thrown that turns up the machine, making Souless!Colette's eye go blank again and inner!Colette curl up in pain, re-enforing the mental prison with bars of ice, and generating another stasis field around Lloyd and Colette.
...
NOOOOOOOOO NO! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! WHY?! THEY WERE KISSING AND COLETTE WAS JUST ABOUT TO-AND THEN-AARRRRRGGGGGH! RODYLE YOU BASTARD I WILL KILL YOU! YOU RUINED THE MOMENT! I. WILL. KILL. YO-Oh Zelos did it for me. THANK YOU FOREVER ZELOS I LOVE YOU.
Zelos yells to Sheena who is at the controls and I guess can't get them to shut down. Crap.
AND THEN PEOPLE START TRYING TO BASH THEIR WAY INTO THE FIELD. ZELOS, AND THEN REGAL, AND THEN GENIS CASTING PRISM SWORD WHICH IS AWESOME BUT NOTHING WORKS. CRAP AND NOW THE PLATFORM'S MOVING WHAT IS GOING ON METAL TENTACLES WHAT. WHAT. OH NO. NONONONONONO THEY'RE YANKING LLOYD AWAY FROM COLETTE! AND ONE CLAW IS REACHING FOR HER PENDANT!
NOOOOOOOOO! WAKE UP COLETTE WAKE UP!
AND LLOYD JUST KEEPS ON SCREAMING HER NAME AND THE CLAW IS YANKING ON THE FRAGILE LITTLE CHAIN OH MY GOSH I CAN'T WATCH THIS I AM BAWLING WAIT-DID...? DID COLETTE JUST SPEAK? COLETTE JUST SPOKE. COME ON COLETTE YOU CAN-NOOOOOOOOOOO THEY BROKE THE CHAIN THEY BROKE THE CHAIN THEY-
!!!
COLETTE REACHED OUT AND GRABBED THE PENDANT!
OH MY GOSH AND SHE'S HAVING FLASHBACKS AND STUTTERING OUT HER AWESOME LINE FROM THE GAME, "THIS IS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT LLOYD GAVE ME!" AND THE ICE BARS ON HER SYMBOLIC MENTAL PRISON ARE BREAKING AND INNER!COLETTE JUST OPENED HER EYES! NGAAAAAAAH! AND HER ANGELS WINGS SPROUT AND SHE'S FREE! AND LLOYD RIPS HIMSELF OUT OF THE METAL TENTACLES AND THEY CALL EACH OTHER'S NAMES ALL CUTELY AND LEAP FOR EACH OTHER IN SLO-MO WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED! NNNNGGGGHHHH-
BRB CRYING LIKE A BITCH.
D'AWW AND LIKE THE KLUTZ SHE IS COLETTE TRIPS. BUT LLOYD IS THERE TO CATCH HER. LOL AND THEN ZELOS COOS OVER HOW CUTE SHE IS AND SHEENA PINCHES HIS CHEEK JEALOUSLY. AND THEN LLOYD WELCOMES COLETTE BACK AND SHE GIVES HIM HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE, THAT HE MISSED SO MUCH.
And now we're back with the Kratos vs. Yuan fight and they're talking about something.
NO, I'M SORRY, YOU JUST HAD EPIC COLLOYD REUNION OF LOVE, YOU CANNOT GET ME TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS IN THIS EPISODE.
Tee! Well okay, I can spare some caring for the adorable Sheelos punching and Colette hanging on Lloyd's waist adorably on the Rheiards.
Fade out to Yggdrasil in his throne room conferring with Kratos and Pronyma. And then something with the Tales group in the throne room of Meltokio, talking with the king and the Pope (well, okay, the Pope does most of the talking, likely complaining about something). After the epicness we just had a few minutes back all I hear is Blah Blah Blah and I'm bored. A more interesting scene then pops up, but it's very dialogue heavy so I have no idea what's going on, just that everyone is adorable and having cute interaction and Sheena is blushy and Zelos is hilarious. Lol-ing forever.
EEEEEEEEEE! AND NOW THEY'RE IN FLANOIR! OMG FLANOIR COLLOYD SCENE! NGAH! COLETTE! WHY ARE YOU SO FREAKING ADORABLE?! Lulz and Sheena's after Zelos for some reason. This OVA just overstuffs me with shippy goodness.
*sits and basks in the pretty*
*squees over Lloyd/Colette hand-holding*
S'more stuff happens with various people having poignant flashbacks. Zelos is confronted by Pronyma. And then Raine and Genis stumble across Mithos. DUN DUN DUN. Pan up to the sky, fade out, cue credits and awesome credits song. The Tethe'alla arc has concluded. And the story will pick up with the World Reunification arc... sometime later. Me, I don't even mind how long the wait'll probably be for those last two episodes. This episode has made me QUITE happy.
3. On Young Justice-
Obligatory picspams ahoy.
I've already mentioned how much I love the Scenery Porn in this show, so I won't bother repeating myself.
OMG BANE! BAAAAAAANE! *fangirls*
DAMMIT CARTOON NETWORK! Move your ads so I can read the subtitles!
Hello Shimmer and Mammoth.
HOLY SHIT WHAT. WHAT. WHAT THE HELL. NIGHTMARES FOREVER.
Heck, even Bane is disturbed.
Shots I just thought looked cool.
Lol @ Wally's constant munching of food.
Oh yeah. M'gann is awesome.
And adorably inept at flirting.
"I should be leader!"
"You're thirteen!"
"So?"
"Dont you want to lead?"
(shakes head) "You?'
"After the Mr. Twister fiasco?"
"You did okay." (smiles)
D'aww-ing forever.
"Bitches don't know about my super-hearing."
Hacking time!
...yeah, Aqualad continues to be ridiculously pretty and badass. I heart him.
"Testing... testing... can you hear me now?"
"You know it beautiful."
Kid Flash's endless hearting of Miss Martian is ENDLESS LULZ.
Hooray for Big Brother-ish moments between Kaldur and Dick!
Uh Robin? I think you're in a little bit of trouble there dude.
"Oh yeah. I totally just swiped the detonator and planted some explosives on the plane so we can blow it up and stop the shipment from leaving."
Isn't this the second time you've been pinned down by a foot Robin? I'd worry about that.
Not many can look the Bat straight in the face without flinching.
Lol the team's shock when Batman actually says, "Good job."
Obligatory creepy bit with The Light, and one of them is totally The Brain you guys I swear.
Metropolis is so pretty.
Awkward Superboy-Superman conversation is awkward.
I just want to hug him for this bit. He's so sad-looking.
D'AWW!
Black Canary: Kicking the asses of upstart teenage heroes since 2011.
Oh Robin! You adorable irreverent giggler you!
Hello again Aqua-hotness.
Holy cow they actually plot out where Gotham is on a map. Cool.
We need to talk bud.
Oooh...
Admit it. Young Justice's motorcycle gear is awesome.
Fly my pretties! Fly!
Young Justice, being awesome.
"Hey Aqualad. Yeah we just got ambushed by robot monkeys and Superboy ran off after them. Relay instructions?"
"Do your hacker thing."
"Roger that."
Robin's worried face at the Amazo parts heading for Gotham.
Hello there Bruce. Looking mighty fine.
Yeah, about here is when it's appropriate to say, "Oh crap."
AWWWW DORKY MATHLETE ROBIN!
Wally saved by early cameo of Artemis.
Totally ships Superboy/Miss Martian.
Team shots are always fun.
"So what's this huh? You guys been babysitting us?"
"...apparently not."
*CONSPIRATORIAL GLANCE*
"Remember hon, I'm always here if you need me."
+1 for Black Canary Motherliness.
Woah. Roy got hot all of a sudden.
And now suddenly I'd give anything to be that girl.
*SHAMELESS FANSERVICE TIME*
Holy cow Robin, thirteen-year-olds should not be that hot.
Lol poor Wally has to go to school while everyone else frolics at the beach.
Blatant fanservice is blatant.
"SWEET FREEDOM!"
"What's up? I'm Artemis and I'm awesome. Worship my aura of badassery."
"Hi. Never heard of you. And totally hot for you already."
"I feel slightly replaced."
"Wanna make something of it punk?"
"Come on man, we still want you on the team."
"So yeah. This is your mission."
"Piece of cheesecake."
"You know I can still hear you."
"D'oh!"
<3 Telepathic arguments are endlessly hilarious.
...Uncle Iroh? What are you doing in the League of Shadows?
At long last, the YJ girls together!
OH NO WALLY!
CHESHIRE!
*fangirls massively*
*immediately ships Red Arrow/Cheshire on principal*
"That... was closer to a shuriken than I ever want to be in my life."
VANISHING ACT.
Awwwww cute.
"Besides, I can't be mad at you." *You gave me mouth-to-mouth.*
*WE HEARD THAT.*
"Dangit!"
LOL.
"Don't worry about Wally. He'll come around."
*I can HEAR you glaring.*
Robin almost lets slip Wayne Industries' connection to Batman.
Artemis faces off against Cheshire.
While Robin runs off to stop the Fog.
"Meep!"
Superboy vs. laser, Superboy wins.
Hel-lo strangely hot shaggy-haired Jade. You and Roy will make the hottest couple ever oh my gosh.
"Darn. Apparently I know you."
Welcome to the team Artemis.
"So yeah, if you ever hurt my friends, you're pretty much dead."
And thus, I actually begin to like Roy.
OMINOUS FORESHADOWING OF DOOM.