If Luka Ends Up Being The Supreme, I'm Gonna Sue Thomas Astruc.

How far can a person bend before they break and how long can the broken be wielded before they turn double edged?

This season was so devastatingly beautiful, but ironically, the metaphorical crown wouldn't be heavy if the gemstones didn't dig into the head of the wearer.

Sometimes, the line between mercy and cruelty can be thin.

The reason WHY Claudia resonates so deeply with Aaravos' story is because it's a mirror that she finds herself in. She IS the daughter in the story but not the one who pays the price. No, that was paid by her father... her father, who was brave enough to do what Aaravos couldn't. What's heartbreaking is that she doesn't even realize what she's discarding is the same thing Viren chose to embrace in death; his humanity.

The loss portrayed was so unsettling...

To even the loss we felt as the audience, seeing what made Viren who he was... his own son, to seeing what he made himself and the loss of what could've been and how his death proved the one thing we didn't want him to show... him having a human heart. And that's what this show did magnificently... it made this audience root for people against our will.

From the unfinished story of the lovers forever frozen in time to the mournful ballad rayla sang to console the stormbringer.

The only thing left to see is how these weapons charecters are to be utilized.

How callum will embrace his darkness and if Rayla will be able to kill him if need be. Or if promises will not be the only things to be broken next time.

House of the Dragon, Episode 8:

Not Alicent thinking that Viserys was talking about her rapist firstborn while he answered Rheanyra's question on his deathbed, regarding her being the 'prince' that will unite them as one, especially mere hours after we see them being hospitable after years.

Syrax providing Daemon and Rheanyra's children with three eggs, for their three children, befitting their station as trueborn children of dragons.

Funnily enough, Daemon being a classy malewife and manslaughtering Vaemond Velaryon for badmouthing Rhaenyra (all true, by the way), screamed Will Smith Energy (not that I condone what he did in any way).

Lastly, wondering why Aemond Targaryen's actions seem so familiar, why his mannerisms are something that remind us of someone we've witnessed before? Me too! Each and every action, sly retort, and taunt, gives the viewers of Daemon Targaryen in his prime, impulsive, agitated, and having a keen taste of violence.

But where Daemon's actions reflect underlying hurt, and the urge to protect and safeguard his family, Aemond's actions are a result of his dysfunctional upbringing and the deep seethed wounds caused by the callous words of his own blood at the time he didn't have a dragon, and thus, no proper position as a dragon himself.

"To nurture is to grow, and to grow is to conquer."

The following poem is a tribute to my parents, who have worked to the bone for my sister and I, who have loved us and made us capable enough to make our decisions, making us the people we are today...

Mid-day Memories

Like sentenials they stand, like palisades they preserve,

No wound the barbarous realm causes them, they deserve.

They fight for our rights, for my sister and I,

They fight for our future, so that no-one can deny.

She sits through the ephemeral daylight hours, she sits deep in thought,

Worrying for our battles, many gray hair which have brought.

Like gentle whispers of gales that thread the mellow fields,

Her hands, they soothe the cracks that materialize at the confidence we refuse to yield.

The path he voyages invites many a foe,

To heal he journeys, to dispel all woe.

Like the midnight moon, he stays awake,

Enduring all the afflictions for our sake.

Like the wolves that howl at the plenilune,

He plays for us his sweetest tune.

They sit alongside till our sorrows fade,

Stories they spin together to distract, endlessly cascade.

Sings tirelessly each note the way a nightingale,

They mould us for the world, guide us in the way for the sightless, the brail.

The Demiurge of Destiny

The silence seeps out of the earth and into her bones.

The darkness creeps, it creeps close and into her soul.

She stands still, unyielding but nonetheless alone.

Her strength comes from those who live down below.

Living in an idyllic fantasy, free from any woe.

As she lifts with her petite hand, the shield to palisade,

The mephistophelian misery that obscures their fate.

She receives no recognition, for in history she has never been portrayed.

She adorns no gowns, no ornaments present in her locks that cascade.

Yet, her eyes they hide behind the vizard as she attends the ephemeral masquerade.

To watch her principles, to keep them safe.

The fires burn bright inside the ostentatious room.

Yet, in her veins, the cold blood morbidly looms.

She makes herself unobtrusive to the human eye.

As she stares at the cacodemon, its flesh charred and dry.

They battle fierce and they battle fast.

Each time they clash, one of them nearly falling apart.

Both fought the other trying to outlast.

The hellion sneers and questions her act, it taunts her, it taunts the people behind her back.

'You fight for them? These people there?

Who burnt your home without care?

Who turned the forests dark with despair?

Who'd agonize in the hurt ne'er?'

She inhales closing the apertures of sight,

Her heart in agony, her mind in plight.

Yet, her body stands, it stands to defend,

Staring at the demon she wills to rend.

'It matters not what my heart decides,

It matters not if the rivers run dry.

Gods are gods till the men decide.

And for these men, I shall lay down my life.'

The night dawns as she enters her hearthstone.

Blood trickles from her side as she suppresses a groan.

Shadows that loom chilling her down to the bone.

Fatigued and weary as she looks at the moon that shone.

She fights her battles, she sits on her throne.

She looks after the humans like they're young saplings she had sown.

She looks out to the horizon and into the unknown.

Shield in her hands, protecting on her own.

HotD episode 8 reminded me of thunder; when quiet, it's easy to forget it's there, but one must never mistake it's silence for weakness.

The entire episode was raging, in it's own subtle way. Littered with silent imagery and all in all was breathtaking.

We see that Rhaenyra, once again wears Daemon's necklace but only in his company, she always chose to wear a different one when in court as if change into battle gear.

When Viserys walks into the throne room, we see his hunched, bent figure which gives us a glimpse of Rhaenyra standing ahead, head high, in front of the throne. We see this again when Viserys steps down from the throne.

We see how Alicent stands outside Viserys' bedpost, only coming in to feed him milk to poppy, to Weaken him. While Rhaenyra sits beside him, to assure, to strengthen. The way Rhaenyra silently weeps while thunder roars behind her.

I LOVE how all the men around Rhaenyra know that the women are strong and capable but never hesitate to defend them. The way Viserys wanted Vamond Valarion's tongue but Daemon claimed his whole head as revenge for speaking against Rhaenyra, how Jace was ready to attack- no, tear apart Aegon for how he disrespected Baela but also, respected her enough to stop when she said so.

The episode also carries several ironies on various fronts.

The way alicent described the star symbols as a sign of presence of higher authority but in the end, after her conversation with Viserys, convinced herself to be the higher authority.

The way the entire scene with the toasts started as seeming genuine to becoming malevolent until the room boiled over with the words 'each of then handsome, wise and strong'

And finally, the way Viserys reach out to the heavens on his deathbed, seeming reaching for Aemma having only two words on his mind... my love.

I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely in the show.

HotD episode 6 was astonishing, I had been unsure of the flow now that the first segment was over but I have been left completely satiated.

My mind was raging by the end of the episode and I couldn't help but awe at the subte portrayals the show holds mastery over.

Once again, the main theme of how a dragon can never be subdued is reflected so calmly yet powerfully.

The true power of House Targaryen over House Valerion.

We first see this in the conversation between Daemon and Leana at the table with the other lords. Laena's wish to decline the offer is ever so silently disregarded. The frame where Daemon's hand rests on top of Laena's, wearing a ring which symbolizes royalty.

We see this yet again, when Rhaenyra has been holding back her anger (even having tears in her eyes) and finally unleashes on Laenor and commands him to remain at her side.

The episode also reflected certain cruel ironies...

Alicent's children only wearing green, symbolizing their mother's banner of war still stands proud while Rhaenyra's children wear blue... the color of Ser Harwin's eyes.

Ser Harwin's created life due to his affliction with a dragon (targaryen), yet rather than being protected by it, he was killed by fire. (I really loved seeing him as a father and I wish we could've gotten more scenes of him with the boys).

Alicent trying to bring back Otto Hightower as the hand only gave light to one cruel fact...Even partiality is fair when it's in favor of our own.

Laena's death was by no means less than that of a dragon rider. While the battle she fought was different, I'm glad Vhagar honored her command. (Her death really brought me to tears) Nevertheless, I'm glad that Daemon refused to make a choice on her behalf. Atleast in that sense, he is better than his brother.

I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely on the show.

Link to previous post:

https://at.tumblr.com/strollthroughstars29/coming-to-the-feast/hzcat81w8qxu

My thoughts on

The Midnight Club (2022)

I just finished watching The Midnight Club last night and couldn't help feel how it was like a beautiful work of art left unfinished. When I started the show, I was really impressed by the way the foundation was laid but several things were left unexplained but we'll get there later.

First off, let's talk about the true essence of the show; the stories. While I absolutely loved the way the characters expressed their unconscious/concious desires through the stories knowing that they wouldn't come true, that the future they paint will continue to remain trapped behind words, I couldn't help but feel that we could've been introduced to this world in a better way.

By the time we learn about Natsuki's story regarding the Japanese myth, it's already progressed into a "frenzy of jump scares" which completely ruined the atmosphere for me and I found myself wanting it to be over as soon as possible.

The next thing I wish to address is Ilonka's character. She is a complex teen who is unable to accept the terminal nature of her life and that she cannot be saved. Initially, I liked her drive to survive but as the episodes carry on, we see her completely lose herself in the desperate attempt to grasp what's left of her life. Her character itself had multiple flaws which were further enhanced by the fact that so many things about her were left unexplained.

Why was Ilonka having visions?

Was it because of her medication? Maybe. But it could also, be due to her being most open to the spiritual aspect of the place. She openly sought to achieve wellness through the nature and was engrossed by the past which might've manifested in the form of visions. Maybe her sharing these thoughts with Kevin was the reason for his own visions.

Another aspect of the show I really wanted to see were the stories coming together in the end (as we had in the haunting series) but was really underwhelmed. There were too many plot holes which raised a lot of questions.

Who is Dr. Georgina Stanton?

In the final episode, her ties to the Paragon are hinted at. I personally found myself drawing ties between her and Regina Ballard (Aceso). Regina, upon performing the ritual had lost her hair which kinda made me think if Stanton had also tried to do the same for her son (resulting in the loss of her hair, being the only survivor).

Who are the old ghosts?

This really got me scratching my head finding answers. Maybe they're yet again manifestations of the negative emotions arising in the kids but I'm not sure. Also, how is Kevin connected to the old woman and why does Ilonka keep seeing her where Kevin is?

All these are left unanswered which really irks the viewers to know more.

(I have not read the books and all my interpretations are solely based on the show)

Me, everytime I see Gabriel Agreste on screen:

Transmission left me in such a daze that I had to make a second post about it!

The fact that Adrien was okay with throwing his own pictures in the trash because he wanted to respect her wishes but couldn't tolerate Marinette saying bad things about her own self.

While I have nothing against either Alya or Zoe having the miraculous... wasn't the whole point of the Kwami of luck/destruction that their holders must complete one another??? HOW CAN THEY JUST BE GIVEN TO RANDOM PEOPLE?? (I can be super off mark with this)

I LOVED the parenting parallels throughout the episode

Natalie recognized Adrien's distress and acted as a MOM in her own right and even warned Gabriel to not use his son for once.

The scene when Tom and Sabine just slowly shut the trapdoor upon realizing that their daughter needs to have this moment.

And then we see Gabriel... who not just saw his son's sorrow as an opportunity twice but also manipulated him into wearing the Alliance ring (God, I hate his so freaking much)

(Look at his creepy smile. GET HIM AWAY FROM ADRIEN ASAP)

And finally, WHY DOES GABRIEL'S ALLIANCE LOOK LIKE EMILIE IN A WEDDING DRESS???? This man is SICK.

My other mlb rants:

Emotion l Illusion l Perfection l Protection l Elation l Passion l Transmission (Part 1) l

HotD episode 10 was a masterpiece, one I both adored and hated. The entire episode felt like a dream of being chased yet having the feeling of not being able to run at all.

There were so many things I wish to highlight. But first, the ironies:

The cruel irony of how everyone had to lose something to attain the crown. While Viserys lost his body, Rhaenyra lost her child (and recieved the crown in front of the pyre)

The way that Daemon ignored Rhaenyra's gut-wrenching calls to him but was the first to bend the knee, fulfilling his role as her ally but failing as her companion.

The fact most predominantly shown was how without the dragons... Targaryens are nothing. To think that the Dance of Dragons began because of a Dragon refusing the command of their rider.

The way Rhaenyra, even through her pain, made it a priority to inform her sons of what had happened in order to save them the pain.

There were also so many parallels in this episode.

Both Daemon and Corlys refusing to acknowledge that they weren't the only ones who have lost a child (completely sidetracking the sentiments of their spouses to have their overdramatic diva moments).

Rhaenyra stripping Otto of his pin, the same way her father did.

Daemon crowning Rhaenyra, the same way he put the crown on his brother's head.

And finally, Rhaenyra receiving the crown standing in front of the burning pyre of her child facing away from it, and in the end... recieving the news of Luke's death standing alone, facing refusal of her claim as a ruler in front of a fire, looking towards it rather than away, thus disregarding her desire to not be a queen of the ashes... now she wishes to set it ablaze herself.

All in all, it was a fitting end to season one and I can't wait to see how season two turns out.

(I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely on the show)

Previous

The Unsung Heroes

He lifts on his shoulders,

The weight of all our sins.

He does not know where his journey began,

Nor how it would end.

He wraps his arms around his sister,

He lifts her off the ground.

Promising to return safely.

A silent wish to which he felt bound.

He kisses his mother's wrinkled forehead,

Cherishing each moment,

Like an extraordinary treasure,

He had just found.

For, far away he would be,

From his family's loving embrace.

Staring at the snow-capped hills,

Or the depths of the sea.

He thinks aloud on peaceful nights,

When the winds lull him to sleep.

'Honor I'll bring to my mother,

The promise to my sister, I'll keep.'

A broken promise, an open wound,

He lies on the ground.

The sanguine hue of his blood,

Cakes the mud around.

I pray for those who stay awake,

In the darkest hours of the night.

Who live and fight for our sake,

Regardless the pain and the plight.

The silence cries, it cries for them,

Those who left behind their names.

A soldier dies, he dies condemned,

Becoming a distant face in a wooden frame.

His sister asks why her brother,

Was mercilessly slain.

His mother's screams echo,

As she screams in disdain.

Heavy breathing, bloodshot eyes,

Where did they go wrong?

Clutching his badge to their chests.

Walking on their own.

After the war, he didn't return,

And they were left alone.

Oh, mighty warrior, our fearless protector,

Never were you wrong.

In the hearts of those who love you,

Always will you belong.