There Was An Old Joke In The Once Upon A Time Fandom That You Could Put A Coconut And A Lighter Next

Oh hey look it’s that part of 12′s regeneration speech I quoted on one of those phone cases I just did :) 

(13′s episodes are still pay-per-episode on Amazon Prime but I’m very much looking forward to meeting her once they become free!)

Doctor, I let you go.

I should probably mention the main reason I was in a space pirate mood today: Skyvault. As a kickstarter backer I got to preview the pilot yesterday and today, and I am feeling all of the hype--I want to binge it but the show doesn’t even exist (beyond what I’ve seen) yet! 

[I ramble at length about my experience of and feelings about Skyvault below, with somewhat of a pilot review mixed haphazardly in. There shouldn’t really be spoilers but some may consider some of it as such so read with caution.]

I mean, to be fair, I knew a great deal of the pilot’s plot before seeing it, mostly from watching all of the Q&A’s Door Monster’s already done on it, and also partly from the audition scenes I got to read when I auditioned for it... a year ago already I guess, wow. Time is weird. (I didn’t get a part in it, if you were wondering, but looking back on my audition tapes, they were kind of a train wreck and I have definitely come a ways as an actress in the past year, though of course I have a ways to go.)

But yeah, it’s pretty cool having the forbidden knowledge of the audition scenes--obviously I won’t say much, but when Ian mentioned in the Q&A that Truman’s favorite soup would become a plot point down the line I actually had a pretty good idea what he was referring to, and (assuming I’m right) that was 100% my favorite scene to read for (even though I wasn’t actually in the age range of the character I was reading and so in terms of professionalism I probably shouldn’t’ve included that in the audition, but pretending to be that old woman was also the best acting I did so there were pros and cons.)

But yeah, that’s just to say I did already know a significant portion of what the pilot would be before watching it, which is probably why I must admit I felt like not a ton actually happened in it plot-wise. There were also definitely things I wanted to see developed more in depth--Jay’s relationship with his friend and worldbuilding stuff in particular. It did feel like it moved a little too quickly, although as Kyle explained in the Q&A the pilot isn’t going to be exactly how the first episode will be if/when they get picked up but rather a summary of the show which they’ll use to help sell it, which is reassuring. So, its main weaknesses for me were plot depth, pacing, and world-development, and I have confidence that those were either influenced by my knowing too much ahead of time, or among the things that they’re already planning to fix going forwards, so I think hopefully my current critiques of it will dissolve with time. It really just deserves to be a longer first episode than it was so it can develop itself better.

The best thing about the Skyvault pilot, I’d say, was the characters. I fell instantly in love with both Jay and Truman. At one point I referred to them both as “shards of my soul”. Jay is delightfully enthusiastic about everything and addicted to adventure; he is far too happy in the face of potential death. He’s the hero who has completely idealized and romanticized adventure and is just so deeply in love with it that he plunges headlong into danger and grins in the face of death traps. 

The only character I may love more than Jay is Truman. I said right away that he reminded me of a live action Milo from Atlantis, and in the Q&A they told us that Milo was one of the main inspirations for the character other than Ian (acknowledging my comment while doing so, which always feels great). Being deeply in love with Milo and all awkward adventurous academics, it was inevitable that I would love Truman, and he certainly did not disappoint. I don’t want to spoil it, but there’s a reveal with him that is brilliant and hilarious and beautiful. I also love how they’ve already displayed his internal conflict between earnestly wanting adventure and discovery versus his tendency towards fearfulness (“I’m done being safe.” vs. “The things we do are extremely dangerous.” “How extremely?”). 

To put it in Harry Potter terms, Truman is my inner Ravenclaw and Jay is my inner Thunderbird, and I love them both dearly. 

I will admit I don’t relate to Kat nearly as much, but I’m sure I’ll come to love her as time goes on. There was already a moment when she and Truman touched hands and I’m such shipper trash that I’m already fully prepared to ship it, haha. I mean I’m still flexible on ships at this early stage, but like, I’m ready. 

They’ve also done a great job with kickbutt female characters and diversity. There are already several women who display a range of strengths in different ways but who are all capable of handling themselves, and it bodes well for an epic series. 

It also has, of course, that signature Door Monster humor. The actors have done a good job of being characters based on the Door Monster cast but not exactly them, and the whole thing has DM’s signature inventiveness and I am so ready to find out more. 

And, yes, as I stated, this is primarily what caused me to go on a space pirate bingeposting spree today. 

Anyways, this review, like my Skyvault audition tapes, is a bit of a trainwreck, but I am now too tired to edit it properly so for now I’m just going to toss it into the merciless void of the internet. 

New official poster for Skyvault as the pilot enters post production

was going through my old edits and found this... when I say WE WERE ROBBED, I mean it all these scenes are canon, it's insane

I have recently discovered that cat cosplay is a thing. In fact, I think it’s my new favorite thing :)

“You’re just as sane as I am.”

This took!! Forever! Cause I lost the file! Pirates Part 2!!!

I still love the idea of a crowded group road trip in the sub! Except now Barbara will be holding her baby child in her arms instead of her belly. 

Also, in my ideal AU of this, Penn and Martin are crammed in there as well. It’s all the makings for the best road trip comedy ever, haha :) I mean, how can you top a band of supervillains roadtripping in a cramped submarine? There could be a whole spinoff series just of this! 

Ed is just going to have to make a few more calculations...

Are we there yet?!

No, but we will be in a few hours!

Yeees, this is the parallel that immediately came to mind for me too! Oswald is speaking Ed’s language now :) Or perhaps he actually has believed in fate all along. 

Either way, I do hope Ed noticed and appreciated that particular turn of phrase. I think it’s reasonable to imagine he picked up on it, given how word-oriented he is; surely word choice like that doesn’t slip past someone who spends so much time and effort manipulating words via riddles. 

Anyways, I’m just thrilled to see them back together again :) Huzzah for Nygmobblepot submarine adventures!!

Fate

Mom: Why don’t you get out some cookbooks and look for a recipe? Let’s try making something different tonight. 

Me: Okay. *Goes to bookshelf and pulls out my Harry Potter and Doctor Who cookbooks* 

Yeeessss, this is perfect, haha :) I mean, in the second case, I’m pretty sure Jim would re-arrest the heck out of Ed regardless of Oswald’s lack of testimony, but that first scenario is beautiful and I can 100% see Ed doing a super dramatic reveal exactly like that.

I ramble about my feelings on the end of Gotham (and shows ending generally) below the cut...

I’m so not ready for Gotham to end, though. I still haven’t seen last Thursday’s episode, and tomorrow is opening night of the play I’m in so I won’t be able to watch tomorrow’s episode, either (not that I would watch out of order, but like, I could catch up tonight... but also I’m super tired between work and rehearsals and everything, and I don’t want to rush one of the only two remaining episodes of this show I’ve been obsessed with going on a year now). But... urgggh, this is that thing I always run into where I have trouble letting a show go. I so often wind up saving the last 1-4 episodes of a show I love because it’s just hard to finish it, to not have it anymore. I’ve seen all but the last couple of episodes of White Collar, Leverage, Psych, A Series of Unfortunate Events... It’s a thing I do.

But the trouble with Gotham in particular is, well, now I’m on tumblr. I haven’t been able to scroll through my dashboard in a week since the last episode aired and I’m trying not to spoil myself. I did open it a time or two, just to glance at it; just tonight I caught a glimpse of a gifset of Os and Ed hugging after Oswald’s eye wound (which I’ve known about for quite a while from the bts pics, interviews, and trailers) but the hug gave me FEEEELLS and I haven’t even seen the episode and I’m not ready but also I want to see it? Uggh once this play is over I’m just going to have to watch the last two episodes, if only so I can safely use tumblr again.

And also, I know this saving thing doesn’t actually make more of a show I love exist. In a way, I like the idea that there’s something more there for me to go back to, but like, in a way I’m depriving myself of part of the story. I know I should just watch the last episodes of things, but it’s so hard to let things go... I’m a hoarder in so many ways, including of unwatched final episodes, I suppose. But yeah, I’ll have to watch Gotham so I can go back to looking at tumblr other than in my old drafts and likes, I suppose.

Well, and I also know that I’ll enjoy a thing best if I consume it while it’s still in an active obsession cycle. Although, my obsession cycle with Gotham has been semi-dormant for a while since I ran out of binging to do, so I’m not the closest to it I’ve ever been, but it’s still giving me feels, so I should watch it.

This has been: I talk myself into watching the end of Gotham some time in the near future. We’ll see if I listen.

But anyways, if you see me on tumblr looking at spoilers tomorrow remind me to stop!! Haha. I have a huge backlog of drafts to process anywho. I should be working through those.

And also wish me broken limbs! Almost, Maine opens tomorrow!!

And, happy end of Gotham, to those witnessing it tomorrow. I hope it’s a good one...

Oswald and Edward; married in the time jump.

Stay with me. Oswald and Edward are seen working together in the time jump. If Gotham is going to suggest that they have been operating as criminals, doing illegal stuff together for years, wouldn't it make sense that the two of them would have exploited the heck out of Marital Privilege? The law that protects the confidential communications between spouses during their marriage from being used as a testimonial in a court case? Meaning that one can never be forced to rat out the other? What a dramatic reveal that would be. 

___________________________________________________________

Imagine it. After lying low for months, Oswald Cobblepot resurfaces and puts a grand scheme in motion. The GCPD knows its Oswald, so they grab The Riddler to question him because he likely knows all about said plan.

Riddler is in the cold interrogation room, all pristine in his green suit, bowler hat and leather gloves. Completely relaxed and in his element. Jim slams some files on the table and goes through how they know Edward knows what Oswald is up to.

All the while Riddler has this shit eating grin as he loosens his gloves, one finger at a time, as he listens to what Jim is saying.

“While I would love to help you out, Jim…” Riddler begins as he places his arm upright on the table, so his hand is almost eve level with Jim. A bit unnecessary but it allows him to be as dramatic as possible as he removes his left glove with a flourish to reveal a gold ring on his ring finger. “I’m afraid you can’t legally force me to testify against my… Husband.”

___________________________________________________________

“I don’t suppose you know anything about The Riddlers most recent escape from Arkham…?” a tired Jim deadpans to Oswald in the middle of a high-end restaurant, where the Riddler is blatantly seated across from Oswald. Martini in hand, smugly leading back in his chair, still in his stripped Arkham robes just to rub it in.

“I’m afraid I legally can’t say Jim” Oswald replies with mock sincerity.

The other ships will still be looking to us, to the Black Pearl, to lead, and what will they see? Frightened bilge rats aboard a derelict ship? No, no they will see free men and freedom! And what the enemy will see, they will see the flash of our cannons, and they will hear the ringing of our swords, and they will know what we can do! By the sweat of our brow and the strength of our backs and the courage in our hearts! Gentlemen, hoist the colours!