I love you Kevin Pollack, but Moishe Maisel sucks. Why the hell would you evict your daughter and grandchildren from their home because of something that your idiot son did?!
"content creator" is a corporate word.
this is from a real diary by a 13-year-old girl in 1870. teenage girls are awesome and they’ve always been that way.
Season 2 Spoilers below:
I just…I’m having a hard time with Crowley tempting Aziraphale to eat.
Like, we just established that Crowley is not capable of true evil.
And he and Aziraphale clearly know each other enough to have a dynamic. Aziraphale clearly knows Crowley enough to have faith in his fundamental hidden goodness. And despite all of his pretense, that faith means something to Crowley.
So…why tempt Aziraphale? It feels so…uncharacteristically sinister.
Is he trying to get Aziraphale to fall too? But why? Some part of him obviously likes Aziraphale.
Maybe he’s trying to prove a point? But what is he going to do if Aziraphale falls over this? How will he carry that for eternity?
Maybe he knows Aziraphale won’t fall, and that’s the point? But how would he know that?
What’s the point?
When she started quoting Lenny my heart broke 💔😩
Nina: I am not an early bird or a night owl. I am some form of permanently exhausted pigeon.
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Nina: I'm not funny, I'm just really mean and people think I'm joking.
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Crowley: So jellyshish-
Nina, laughing: JELLYSHISH!?
Crowley: You know what I meant!
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Maggie: Made you all playlists!
Maggie: Nina, yours has only heavy metal, and is dark like your soul.
Maggie: Crowley, yours has sad songs and blues to pair with your crippling depression.
Maggie: And Muriel has the ABBA Gold album.
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Crowley: I have met some of the most insufferable people. But they also met me.
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Crowley: Name a more iconic duo than my crippling fear of abandonment and my anxiety. I’ll wait.
Nina: You and me!
Crowley: *tearing up* Ok.
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Crowley: Nina likes to say ‘you can be part of the problem or part of the solution,’ but I happen to believe you can be both.
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Maggie: Today, Muriel said a swear word, so Nina said that they were going to wash Muriel's mouth out with soap. Muriel replied, “It’s okay, I like the taste of soap”. Turns out, they’ve been putting soap on their lips to blow bubbles.
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Crowley: *raises eyebrows*
Nina: Put those back down!
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Nina: Don’t be sad!
Crowley: Why not?
Nina:
Nina: I don’t have a good answer.
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Crowley, to Muriel: Please, picking locks is my specialty.
Crowley: *throws a brick through the window*
Crowley: Okay, let’s go.
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Crowley: While I'm gone, you're in charge Muriel.
Muriel: Yes!
Crowley, whispering to Maggie: You're secretly in charge, but I don't want them to feel bad.
Maggie: Obviously.
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Nina: Do you need help getting up?
Crowley: Nah, I'm cool down here on the floor.
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Crowley: My crush isn’t picking up on my hints.
Nina: What hints have you given them?
Crowley: Well, I think about them a lot.
Crowley: And sometimes I even think about talking to them.
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Nina: How would you like your coffee?
Crowley: As dark as my soul.
Nina: Got it, one cup of milk coming right up!
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Maggie: You know what your problem is?
Crowley: I only have one?
It’s a popular fan theory that Ten is a regeneration made for Rose. I have mixed feelings about the idea that he’s ’incomplete’ without her.
There’s also something kind of sweet about Nine wanting to become the pretty boy he thinks she likes or (if allowing himself to be self-loathing) deserves. It’s only sweet because he literally has to change.
The Stone Rose novel confirms that Ten’s accent in-universe specifically came from Rose. It’s a less extreme version of him being made entirely for her. Plus, it’s a cool sci-fi exploration of how humans pick up accents after long, continuous exposure. A very alien way to retain a quirk of human nature.
There’s something nearly Shakespearean and so acutely human about Ten’s arc. He loves, loses, grieves, heals, and makes new connections. He moves from ‘I exist for Rose’ to ‘I miss Rose and wish I could exist with her but I’m also allowing myself to care about these other people.’ Then he loses them. It drives him to unthinkable darkness, and by the time he claws his way into the light, it is time for him to die.
Is that arc any more impactful if he’s literally created for someone?
I don’t know.
Also, I hope they put the opening of Aziraphale’s book shop in. It was deleted from the first season, but it’s such a great “crowley being mischievous and also needing Aziraphale more than anything” scene.
I’m thinking about how one of Leia’s love languages is most likely touch. For all of her reputation as an ice princess, she is very physically affectionate.
We see this on the Death Star when she kisses Luke for luck, and again when she hugs Han after surviving the trash compactor. She hugs both Han and Luke and does not let go after they return.
Then, in Empire, you see Leia being very unafraid to enter Han’s physical space. If you notice in the med-center on Hoth, it isn’t Han putting his arm around her that makes her pull away, it’s the words coming out of his mouth that make her jerk away. Then, we get to the big kiss on the Falcon, and once again, Leia (despite her protests) doesn’t actually seem all that uncomfortable with his proximity, rather the feelings she has for him. But the kiss happens, and suddenly it’s zero to 100.
For real, Han probably got whiplash. All of the sudden after three years of dancing around each other to the point that he was almost going to give up, suddenly Leia is everywhere. Putting her hand on his shoulder, kissing his cheek. And he also registers this, because on Cloud City he is always reaching out to hold her hand, give easily give her forehead kisses. The moment there’s danger, the first thing he does is reach for her. Then after he returns from what is probably the worst first meeting with your girlfriend’s dad EVER, the first thing Leia does is just start stroking his hair. The last thing she does before the carbon freeze is kiss him. The movie ends with her in Luke’s embrace, seeking comfort when she is vulnerable.
Then, there’s ROTJ. From the minute they’re reunited, Leia is always physically affectionate with Han. We get another shoulder touch in the shuttle. On Endor, he picks her up and spins her before kissing her after he doesn’t get eaten by Ewoks, she curls up to him during story-time. After Luke drops the bombshell and dips the only thing she asks Han to do is hold her. Leading to the end of the film, where there’s that shot of him just cocooning her in his arms.
Anyway, just some thoughts on my favorite rebel princess and her nerf-herder.
Benedick : Am I right, Beatrice?
Beatrice: I’m almost certain you’re not, but to be fair, I wasn’t listening.
Hero: The salary of a clown is 51,000 dollars.
Hero, gesturing to Beatrice and Benedick fighting: And yet these idiots do it daily, and for free!
Friar Francis: *watching the squad's shenanigans with concern* Do you feel like this has gotten out of hand?
Imogen: I don't know. Feels normal enough for a group that's on 911's blocked callers list.
Benedick: I have been tricked, I have been backstabbed, and I have quite possibly been bamboozled.
Benedick: Why are you burning our marriage certificate!?
Beatrice: Good luck trying to return me without a receipt.
Hero: While I'm gone, you're in charge Claudio.
Claudio: Yes!
Hero, whispering to Beatrice: You're secretly in charge, but I don't want them to feel bad.
Beatrice: Obviously.
Beatrice: What do I get?
Benedick: A night of fashion, mischief, mayhem, and possible death.
Beatrice: Ooh, check, check, and check; not sure about that last one.
Benedick: It won't be you.
Beatrice: I'll get my coat.
Hero, pointing a camera at Beatrice: There they are, our sweet baby.
Beatrice, holding a cigarette and a beer: What-?
Beatrice: I didn’t even realize how sarcastic I was being. It’s starting to become a problem, I think.
Claudio: I sort of did something and I need some advice, but I don't want a lot of judgment and criticism.
Beatrice: And you came to me?
Claudio: Hero, what does IDK, ILY, and TTYL mean?
Hero: I don’t know, I love you, talk to you later.
Claudio: Alright, I love you too, I'll ask Benedick.
Hero: Wait- Claudio, no-
*At the police station*
Beatrice: Hi, I’m here for Benedick.
Police officer: Who’s Benedick?
Beatrice: Ah, you must be new.
Beatrice: All in all, a 100% successful trip.
Hero: But we lost Claudio.
Beatrice: All in all, a 100% successful trip!
Beatrice, to Claudio: Are you peanuts? Because I want to boil you alive.
Hero: I left instructions for everyone while I'm gone.
Claudio: Mine just says "Claudio no."
Hero: I want you to apply it to every possible situation.
Beatrice: I didn't drink that much last night.
Hero: You were flirting with Benedick.
Beatrice: So what? They're my partner.
Hero: You asked if they were single.
Hero: And then you cried when they said they weren't.
Claudio: I only have 6 weeks left to live.
Don Pedro: Oh my god, really?!
Claudio: It's just a guesstimate based on the choices I've made.
Leonato: I just found out from Hero today that when Claudio died and the service did the 21-gun salute at their funeral, Beatrice said, “They should aim at the coffin to be sure.”
Beatrice: Benedick and I got married!!
Hero: Don't share your personal problems with everyone.
Beatrice: Claudio, this morning, I called you abhorrent and reprehensible, and I’d like to withdraw that statement-
Claudio: Aww, thanks-
Beatrice: But I can't. Those are the 2 words that best describe you.
Beatrice: Hey, quick question. How petty am I allowed to be?
Claudio: Benedick, why are you standing in front of the fan?
Benedick: I’m waiting for Beatrice to look into our window when they come home. When the fan is blowing on me, I look like a fancy supermodel.
Claudio: You want Beatrice to think you’re a supermodel?
Benedick: Giving them eye candy is the least I can do. It’ll probably be the best part of their walk!
Claudio, sarcastically: You’re selfless.
Benedick: Thank you for noticing.
Hero: *trying to get five seconds of sleep*
Beatrice, poking Hero’s arm: Hero Hero. Hero. Hero.
Hero: WHAT?
Beatrice: …We’re out of Capri Suns—
Claudio: *working in a flower shop and minding their own business*
Benedick, storming into the store and slapping $20 on the counter: HOW DO I PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVELY SAY “FUCK YOU” IN FLOWER???
Claudio: Hey, Benedick? Can I get some dating advice?
Benedick: Just because I'm with Beatrice doesn't mean I know how I did it.
Beatrice: I hate you.
Benedick: Well, according to this picture I drew of us holding hands, that is untrue.
Benedick: Beatrice and I are no longer dating.
Beatrice: Benedick, that’s a horrible way of telling people we’re married.
Claudio: How is the most beautiful person in the world?
Hero: *blushing* I—
Benedick, butting into the conversation: Beatrice is perfect, thanks for asking.
Humans, Gods, and the Timelord caught between them:
AKA the beautifully optimistic view of humanity by a Time Lord
Nine says he would make a very bad God. Ten says a Time Lord with too much power would become vengeful.
They’re both right.
Time Lords are alluded to as very uncaring, very aloof people. By the Time War, they are apparently just as bad as the Daleks. The Doctor runs from them for a reason.
Because when they are Gods they are terrifying. But the Doctor’s terror always stems from too much emotion rather than too little. The end of Dalek is Nine’s darkest moment. He holds a gun on Rose while she is showing mercy because of the traumatic loss of Gallifrey.
Loss makes Ten in particular…frightening. After losing Rose he nearly commits genocide again in the Runaway Bride.
The moment of Godlike arrogance in “Christmas Invasion” where he changes the known future of Harriet Jones’ tenure has devastating consequences, allowing the Master to come to power. It’s a great reminder of what happens when the Doctor is given too much power.
The Time Lord Victorious is terrifying because it is the Doctor losing everything over and over after rebuilding himself twice.
For the first time, the Doctor feels like he is owed something.
But what is also terrifying is just how human the selfishness is.
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Of course there are moments when they are presented as Godlike that are purely heroic.
Ten’s in particular stand out against his almost unnerving humanity.
I love his “I’m the Doctor” speech in Voyage of the Damned. It’s clearly him doing the equivalent of psyching himself up before a game, because nothing he says is going to mean anything to the people he’s protecting. It’s a short, simple moment holding so much weight.
Nine has a wonderful way of pointing out the best of humanity to help Rose discover space to find empowerment, just as Ten does for Donna. Nine does it for the couple in Father’s Day. There’s a wistful, non-malicious envy in his reaction to the magically mundane story of how the couple in the church met.
Ten takes this wistfulness and runs with it. There’s something so beautiful and so deeply tragic that he is the Doctor who chooses shoes meant specifically for running.
There’s this sense with Ten that he not only loves humanity, but desires to be human. From embracing certain forms of domesticity, to the devastating way he processes grief.
Obviously, he knows when he is weird, he also just doesn’t care about social niceties. However, he might be a genius, but he doesn’t understand every intricate detail of human experience.
Although it’s usually called out for comedy, it’s best utilized for drama.
Nine has that beautiful “It was scared!” moment.
Sometimes it’s given less focus, and simply slipped into dialogue.
Nine calls humans stupid apes in high stress situations, and apparently he insults species when he’s upset. Even Ten, who is known to love humanity, also pretty regularly disparages them. In his first appearance he calls us monsters. He makes one-off comments disparaging humans in Rise of the Cyberman, Army of Ghosts, 42, Human Nature. and the Poison Sky.
Planet of the Ood is one of the rarer times that he goes out of his way to highlight human cruelty to Donna.
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Series 3 has lot of interesting moments.
In “Smith and Jones” he has a long scene which he (intentionally) pretends to be human. He creates this domestic fantasy where he’s got a wife and a home where he brings people round for dinner. Even more interesting is that this is his suggestion to “help” the villain appear more human.
In Human Nature we see the Doctor literally become a human. He falls in love and allows himself to be a product of the times. His moments of heroism are supposed to be the Doctor leaking through, but are passed over off as “ordinary humans being capable of extraordinary things”. He also allows himself to be swept up by the environment as opposed to standing against it as the Doctor would. John Smith’s incredibly horrible treatment of Martha being the prime example.*
His stoic and remorseless punishment of the Family contrasts with his mostly sweet human persona. He tries to convince Joan that he’s capable of the same love and compassion but she disagrees. I agree with her, I think John Smith and The Doctor both want to be in love, John just didn’t have all the emotional inhibitions that the Doctor does.
She also points out the Doctor’s failure to account for possible casualties just so he doesn’t have to have more death on his conscious. Once again, I agree, this was a massive oversight on his part.
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Midnight. This episode is genius for so many reasons. It is the Doctor’s most dire misunderstanding of humanity, as well as the Doctor’s most personal look at being on the receiving end of humanity’s worse impulses. He begins socializing like a normal, if enthusiastic person. But once the mystery begins…it is the best, most subtle example of the Doctor’s pathological need to understand things and his tendency to assume authority over others. Only this time he goes too far. His leadership turns to hubris. So many times, he goads people into risking their life to sate his curiosity. He knows humans are curious and takes advantage.
He keeps talking to the entity but declares no one else should. Part of it is that human bit, curious and wanting to help a possessed Skye who he bonded with earlier by talking about missing Rose. The rules keep changing though, and even he is scared. They call him out for his hubris, while growing increasingly paranoid, especially when discovering he’s not human. He gets frustrated at the descent into the worst of humanity and without thinking, he snaps “because I’m clever!”
He knows what he’s done so impulsively: thrown away the last bit of goodwill he had. He can’t talk his way out anymore.
And this is the most alone and most afraid the Doctor has ever been. It’s the most horrific near-death encounter for him: his inability to be enough like the humans he loves brings the absolute worst out of them.
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The Doctor says that it something human to believe two contradictory things at once.
The Doctor, ironically enough, believes two contradictory things about humans.
He believes, at least when disappointed in them or in his lowest points, that humans are monsters. (It’s the reason Fourteen gives that randomly cynical speech in The Giggle. It isn’t all humanity he believes this of. He’s talking to himself because he’s mid breakdown. He’s not 10, he’s softer and more splintered).
But he doesn’t believe that. Not really.
“I was made homeless…and there was the Earth.” - Voyage of the Damned
There’s a reason that the Doctor who has all of time and space always returns to Earth.
In the End of Time, Ten and Wilf have a scene where they sit and talk about their relationship and war and Time Lords.
And the Doctor tells Wilf he’d be proud to be his son.
It’s the Doctor’s most intensely vulnerable moment. He is so terrified that he agrees to carry a gun. (He also does this to make Wilf feel better. This is the last era that I feel understands how The Doctor feels about guns. It makes sense to the character and the arc he’s on at this point and this point only. He doesn’t even use it and ultimately won’t do anything against the enemies he’s facing).
This scene strips down the Doctor like no other scene. And it’s in this scene that the Doctor tells us the only thing you need to know in the end about how he sees humans. How for all he says otherwise, humans are the beings he sees as aspirational, the ones he, a Time Lord, looks up to.
Wilf says, “We must look like insects to you.”
Ten smiles tearful but genuine. He shakes his head slightly. And he says:
“I think you’re like giants.”