Season 2 Spoilers:

No actually.

First of all, Joel. He cheated on his pregnant wife. That’s the first thing we learn about him. But that’s not why I dislike him. I have way bigger issues. We learn that Midge said no when he asked her out, and he didn’t accept this. He tells her that their song is “You Belong to Me” which is so creepy. He judges her drink choice, saying he’ll “fix it”. Amaretto sours are known for not having a lot of alcohol, so it’s kind of concerning that he’s judging her for something that doesn’t lower her inhibitions. He criticizes Midge for things that aren’t her fault (show sweater, him bombing). He introduces the kids to Penny without Midge’s permission, then gets mad at her when Benjamin surprises her at the park. The first thing Midge says is that she needs to clear it with Joel, but Joel doesn’t believe her and just yells at her and accusing her of leaving him. The audacity and double standards are unbelievable.

He lies to her about having no money and not owning their apartment.

He plans to move across the country, knowing that he won’t see the kids. He brings his very young children to live in a factory which he himself points out is full of dangerous, flammable chemicals and sharp, heavy machinery. He doesn’t want Ethan to see a therapist when he’s having sleeping problems. Everyone forgets about these events, which bothers me because everyone rags on Midge’s parenting but never Joel’s.

He never apologizes for what he did. After he and Midge sleep together in 1.8, he acknowledges that he didn’t apologize, but never actually does. Then he has the gall to say that he left because she was “a lot” and claim that he “never really left”.

What’s also concerning is that the minute after Midge puts her rings back on, she starts measuring herself. Part of this is definitely just the time period and definitely her mother’s influence, but it’s interesting how the two correlate.

Deep down, Joel is an insecure child who can’t let his partner be better than him. That’s why he has that fight with Mei about the liquor license. He says in season 3, that he knows he likes “conductors” but then gets upset when they act like conductors.

When he sees Midge perform for the first time, he throws a fit because Midge is good. She tries to work it out, but he just walks away, then refuses to get back together because he’s insecure. To be fair, I do absolutely understand his position here, I just don’t like how he left Midge in limbo about it. (She mentions that he won’t return her calls). Yet, he still tries to tell her where to live because he’s controlling.

Now, I like him considerably better in seasons 3 and 4. His Catskills characterization is actually really great. His support of Midge in court is actually really nice, and I like that he comes to her defense with the panty pose picture. His support of her career is actually really great and his relationship with Mei is really interesting and does a lot to make me like him.

Then we get to the Vegas episode. They wake up together and he feels guilty because of his relationship with Mei. To be fair, I don’t think that this is cheating because it’s clear they haven’t had the exclusivity discussion. I also understand why he is frustrated with the situation, however none of that is any excuse for how he treats Midge. Midge is joking about the situation, since there’s obviously nothing they can do about it now. He tries to slut shame her for “entertaining herself on the road”. Now, Midge isn’t doing that, but even if she was, that is her business. And he is no position to judge promiscuity after having flings with all of the factory models in season 2. Once again, the double standards are absolutely ridiculous.

I do wish he had told Midge about the money situation with Susie, and I blame both of their characters for keeping this serious issue hidden.

In season Season 4, I like him. I like that he wants to support Mei. This is really when I started to engage with Joel. He has great moments in season 2&3, but Season 4 has them on display more often.

Then…we get season 5. He blames Midge for Mei leaving and ending the pregnancy, something that I already analyzed earlier. He acts like he deserves a medal for being concerned that Midge is owned by the mob. He’s trading pictures of his ex-wife (specifically revealing ones where she looks younger. Ew). But the thing that bothers me most, is the set that he does at the beginning of 5.2.

He degrades her onstage, mocking her for not spending enough time on his jockey shorts. She was busy raising your children and cooking your brisket asshole. The worst part is, he does it for revenge. He says “turnabout is fair play”. Midge never talked about him for revenge. She did it because she was sad and embarrassed and needed a way to vent, because there’s not a whole lot of people in Midge’s life that actually listen to her.

All that said, I think Joel is really interesting. Michael Zegen does a great job portraying Joel with complexity and humanity, and people who send him hate mail are…rude to say the least.

However, the reason I hate Joel from a narrative standpoint, is because Midge is never able to truly get over him. He is not good for Midge, and deep down, he’s a selfish, spoiled brat who is only happy when everything is perfect for him.

Yes I’m a huge MidgexLenny fan, but I knew that wasn’t going to work. I wanted to see Midge happy yes, but not in such a reductive way. I wanted to see her stop her dependence on Joel, see her independent and thriving. That’s why Joel’s double standards bother me. He doesn’t want to be with her, but he also doesn’t want her to move on. He can move on, but she can’t.

Secondly, I hate what they did with Susie.

The gambling thing resurfacing made no sense to me. It was never even implied that she started gambling again after she lost all of Midge’s money in season 3.

I hate the fact that she went to Joel she never told Midge about it.

I hate the way she wasn’t the one to get Midge out from the mob and never told Midge about the situation. I don’t like the direction they went in with Nicky and Frank. I liked it better when they were actually supportive of another Rockaways kid. I’m not saying that they couldn’t have asked to get a taste, but they could’ve done it another way.

I hate that Susie couldn’t get through to Midge in season 4. Susie from seasons 1-2 would never have let Midge tank her career like this.

Once again, Alex Borstein is phenomenal as the character. My issues come from how the characters are being written.

I have a lot of issues with Midge in seasons 4-5. Like a lot of people, I am disappointed with the current trajectory of the show.

However, when I share my thoughts, whether they’re positive or negative, I am doing so because I have opinions that I want to share. I am not trying to diminish anyone else’s enjoyment, but rather engage critically with media I care about.

Season 5 Episode 6 spoilers below:

Gotta love how Joel went behind Midge’s back to solve the problem with the mobsters. He could’ve shown her the book or went back to her to raise his concerns again now that he had tangible proof. But no. It’s Joel, so he has to lie and go behind her back about stuff that pertains to her own life. This man has learned absolutely nothing.

Also hate that he’s trading pictures of her in prison. He specifically asks for the panty pose picture which is so gross. He got mad at someone for having it in S3 but whatever.

I almost rage-quit when Midge said she was still in love with Joel. I still hate her romance plots this season. Gordon is gross. The stalker guy is gross. Joel still sucks. The guy literally blamed Midge for Mei leaving and ending the pregnancy. Yeah Midge was probably still a little jealous since Joel was such a huge part of her life, but there’s a lot of concern for her children driving it as well. “I don’t want them calling you mom.” Is a line that especially has a lot of insecurity behind it.

I guess the rest of the episode was okay. Unsurprisingly, Alex Borstein was great, but I am totally on Midge’s side in regards to her fight with Susie. Susie should’ve told Midge the truth.

I almost cried at the ending.

I miss Lenny. But that’s why we have fanfic.

Also, I know it was a joke, but Midge says she and Susie had sex in Pensacola and refers to their fight as a “break-up”…so…I want to see that story.

"content creator" is a corporate word.

we are artists.

you know what the amazing thing is about the multiverse? everyone’s otp can happen. so please stop hating on people who don’t ship the same couples as you and also please stop posting hate about ships in their tag just use ‘anti shipname’.

Her lucky numbers are 46, 24, 11, 6, and 5.

Let’s do the number meaning for it.

The Bastile Summarized:

Aziraphale: I cannot speak French and I refuse to dress like someone that isn’t being actively guillotened right now. Also, I can’t perform miracles.

Aziraphale: Time for crepes, brioche, and a stint as damsel in distress.

Crowley, aka the one who turned Aziraphale into a hedonists: I have regrets.

Crowley: Are we going on a date or wot?

Joel: Zones out while Midge is talking.

Joel: Remember when you met my parents?

Midge: Remember when we fought in the back of a cab because I was doing something for you because you didn’t properly communicate your needs?

Joel: Remember when I cheated on you while you were pregnant?…anyway, want to get a drink?

Midge: Sure

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Okay, the reunion was cute but it felt like a season 2 plot. Plus, it didn’t really go anywhere. Also, what happened to Marcie and Janie, the friends Midge specifically mentioned in S3E5? Eh, I guess ASP just forgot.

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Awwww Abe! I love this man. Recognizing his mistakes.

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Oh, I guess this is a way to use your lesbian characters? It’s not…a great one…but it is one.

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Oh. Oh no. Oh no. Is the cliffhanger about Abe? Is he not going to be able to see Miriam…I really hope I’m wrong but…wait, Esther says that she and Abe were close so…

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.

I hate AI

Imagine a world where we use AI, not to make the rich even richer, but to smash the whole system that keeps us stuck in this endless cycle of pointless work. A world where AI takes over the boring, soul-destroying jobs we’re forced to do just to survive—jobs that the wealthy created to keep us tired, distracted, and always working for them. Instead of AI being used to track us, control us, and make money off our every move, it could be used to give us the basics that everyone deserves—food, housing, healthcare—all for free. We could finally live a life that isn’t just about working to survive, where we can actually focus on things that matter: art, creativity, connection—all the stuff that makes us human. We could escape the grind and the greed that keeps us trapped in a system built to exploit us. The problem is, right now, AI is just another tool for the rich to control us. They use it to track everything we do, make us buy stuff we don’t need, and keep us working longer hours for less. The people in power want a world where only they win, even if the rest of us suffer. That’s the AI they’re pushing—the cold, calculating kind that’s all about keeping us in line. But it doesn’t have to be like that. The kind of AI we need is decentralised, open, and accountable to us, not the greedy few. It should work for us, not the systems that abuse us. And if we want this future, we need to face it head-on: sustainability is the bottom line. Whether we stick with this capitalist nightmare or move toward an AI-driven utopia, AI will play a part in it. But if it’s going to be in our world, it has to be sustainable—because if we don’t make it that way, the planet itself will pay the price for the greed of a few. We need to make sure we have a world worth living in, and that starts with taking the power back from the ones who’ve sold us out.

Several million real ass human occupations paying 3 crisp dollars and a pat on the ass to experience literal sisyphean torture and live in a cardboard box and you spent several small countries in money to build a robot that can shit out badly written books that nobody has the money to buy, the time to read, or the learned intellectual capacity to analyze critique and learn from

The next person who tells me to save time with an AI crapbasket is getting a Canon LS-100TS 10 digit calculator shoved up their ass

ai does not belong in creative spaces. period.