The first time I was ever introduced to Christie was when I was 10 years old. My brother had Tekken Revolution on his Playsation 3, and I used to play the hell out of it after school. Revolution was like a demo version of ttt2, so there weren't a lot of available characters. I was surprised to find out she was my opponent, but only because I hadn't seen her before. It was like she was some kind of hidden character.
I noticed 3 things about her:
She's black or biracial.
She's dressed colourfully.
Her fighting style.
I had never heard of capoeira before playing Tekken, so learning about a fighting style that had African roots that resembled dancing entranced me. I was super into dancing (though not professional), and I grew up on martial arts films. I did some research here and there, and eventually, I grew an attachment to capoeira. I had never actually learned it professionally, but I do occasionally like to practice whatever I learned on the internet.
She's a black character, which means a lot to me (even though it's not about me). I had been using Xiaoyu as a self insert, and I still do. I was never able to do the same with Christie, and I think that's what makes her interesting. She was her own person, and someone I couldn't find pieces of myself in. Christie is bright, determined and mature. I think that was the difference. Her maturity. (I'm currently 20 years old, but I still have a long way.)
Her outfits were always colourful and sultry. It wasn't like Anna Williams, where it's dangerous, but more of a "product of environment" kind of way. Christie's outfits resemble what a lot of people wear in Brazil (according to the little research I've made), and have a party goer look to them. Some of her old concept art even gave me 'Rihanna' vibes. Brazil is an overall artisitc, warm and colourful country, so the developers did a very great job pouring all of that into Christie.
I had gotten super obsessed with Tekken, and did some deep dives, which led me to the 2009 film. I was pretty surprised that Christie was nothing like anything in the games, especially since she had a romantic relationship with Jin. On the other hand, her outfit was no longer colourful. Capoeira trousers are typically white, so movie Christie seemed to have a traditional approach when it came to her costuming. It's still, however, stylised to suit her playful and spunky personality (even though the film made her a completely different person. She was also played by a white actress. *Shaking my head*.). It could hint to her inexperience, and how she's not looking for revenge or greedier things, like everyone else, but is there for something as simple as finding Eddy. Or maybe even wanting to raise money for her grandpa's illness.
Back to her out of the blue and out of character romance with Jin. It hadn't occurred to me until currently on other potential relationships she could have outside Eddy. I understand that Christie doesn't have to have those things, especially since Eddy has an actual story. Thing is, why add her to the game if you're going to ultimately do nothing with her in the end?
Movie Christie is nothing like the game Christie, but at least the film was doing something with her.
You know what, let Christie have friends and romantic interests outside of Eddy. Tekken x Street Fighter doesn't count because that was heavily Capcom based.
I got some scenarios. Christie takes over the orphanage that Eddy runs, and enters the tournament to get some cash. She could cross paths with King, who visits his own share orphanages. Common ground. They both have good hearts.
Maybe even a friendship with Miguel. Christie kind of resembles Miguel's sister. They could be in a match, but he can't bring himself to lay a hand on her because of their resemblance.
EDIT: How could I forget, Bruce Irvin. She had one interaction with him in Tekken 5, and that's it? Romantic interest?
But yeah, that's all the info dumping I have for you guys.
Notes: I've decided to jump on the Bimbo reader bandwagon. I don't write nsfw or anything specifically 18+, so I won't be writing about short skirts or anything that has to do with revealing clothes. I grew up with Disney bimbos so my perception of them is probably warped, but I find this ship pretty damn cute and interesting so I'm writing my own.
Good grass, you loved make up. Fixated on it. That included anything that had to do with the colour pink, and whatever society decided was a girly thing. In the eyes of society you were very stupid, and it was thanks to your pretty face that you weren't bullied for it. That's what your old high school friend told you anyways, the two of you were no longer friends for a reason.
The way you walked around in your platform heels, glossed lips, painted nails, and new clothes. All of which were similar, but different. Ethan couldn't get enough of you. Granted, when the two of you first met he figured you would never give him the time of day, but you asked him to help you with your studies. He would've done your homework for you, but if helping you meant spending time with you then he would help.
You were surprisingly kind, although a bit of an airhead. A busty airhead. You were kind to everyone, kind of causing Ethan to get jealous sometimes, but you only had eyes for him. He's the one who helped you understand what was going on in class, and he's the one that protected you from Ghostface. You were his Sweet Dumb Thing.
A lot of boys you liked had a habit of getting tired of you once they clued in on how naive and high maintenance you were, but not Ethan. That's why you loved him so much. You started rewarding him with kisses, he wouldn't rub them off his face. It was your way of showing affection.
You were at his room more often. So often that your teddies and heels could be spotted. Your friends pointed out that your shirt wasn't its usual shade of pink but one of blue. Ethan's blue. It was a Tuesday, so you decided to wear blue on Tuesday, which meant a trip to the mall. Ethan carried all the shopping.
You liked pretty things so it wasn't hard to distinguish what was yours and his, but you didn't bother moving anything.
You went on frequent shopping trips with Anika, who would get Mindy to carry her stuff. All it took was a simple kiss on the cheek and they both had the strength of a thousand Hercules'.
"Ethan? That generic nerd?!"
"He's my generic nerd!"
Not saying Ice Spice is a bimbo, but if I was one I would dress like her.
So I've just finished watching the ITSV and ATSV because I'm a late watcher, and when the movies came out I wasn't myself. I'm glad I took the time to watch them, although I had to buy ATSV online because it's no longer in the cinema. This means I got to watch my favourite scenes without issue. With that being said, I have a lot of things to get off my chest regarding both films, mostly with the characters.
Warning: Long post and slight bashing of characters and terrible screenshots.
I don't want to be one of those people who hate Gwen just to hate on her, and I don't hate or dislike her character, but right from the jump her vibe was just off. She felt like one of those characters that disliked the main character for no reason despite barely interacting with her/him (them). I know that isn't the case but I didn't like the way she was blankly talking to him. I'm using the word 'blankly' because I can't think of another word other than 'coldly'.
During the chase scene where Miles and Peter steal the computer, she comes out of nowhere and helps save the day. I was glad but at the same time what the hell. Anyways, Miles compliments her haircut and she snaps with "You don't get to like my haircut.", referring to when he accidentally got his hand stuck to her hair and she had to get half her hair shaved off, I understand getting angry about that. It was an accident, and Miles could've apologised (I don't remember him saying sorry), but she's acting like he did it on purpose.
To top it all off she knew he was like her, which meant she knew what he was going through as he was transitioning. Getting taller, hearing multiple voices, hands sticky, and all that stuff. So that means she's aware that it was an accident, and there's also the fact that she pretended to be a student at his school and hovered around him. She bumped into him on purpose knowing he was a fellow spider.
When you think about it, why didn't she try to get to know him and investigate with him about what's going on? She just left him to discover his spider side chaotically. She should know how scary and confusing that is, but not once does she attempt helping him out.
I'm gonna sweep it under the rug because they are teenagers, and even if they were adults they shouldn't be expected to be more sympathetic to each other. But you'd think she'd be a little bit more understanding. (Don't get me started on her going into his artwork and opening his collectable in ATSV)
Now, Uncle Aaron. I love his dynamic with Miles, the true cool uncle. His love for his generation of hip hop and us seeing Miles' taste of music. The graffiti art bonding, loved it. There were small hints that he was the Prowler. The 1610 Peter getting killed near where Miles and Aaron did the graffiti, Miles calling him while he's being chased by the Prowler, and the Prowler appearing in Aaron's home. I'm thinking "Where's Aaron in all this?" dun dun dun, he's the Prowler. I loved every bit of it. This also makes Miles different from other spider men, being the fact that his loved one ended up being an antagonist, and one scarier than Kingpin. There's no "With great power comes great responsibility." instead it's "In a bad person you can find good in them." Also, the inner torment that he was about to harm his own nephew is chef's kiss. Uncle Ben who?
Moving on to ATSV. It opens up with Gwen and her meeting Miguel and Jess. She looked at Jess and said "Will you adopt me?" Like??? Where yo mum at? I know she passed away, but still. You've only had one look at this woman and that's one of the things that comes out of your mouth? You don't know this woman! Jess sounds like one of those women that only talk with attitude no matter what so I had a hard time rocking with her, like what is her problem??? And she's fighting while pregnant... smdh.
Spot. Funny villain, I liked his banter with Miles, but he's a pu**y punk bi**h. He's blaming Miles for what he became, when he's the one that decided to become a mad scientist and work with other mad scientists under Kingpin. I'm pretty sure there's more to it than a bagel. Lesson is: once you become a mad scientist something happens to you. Norman Osborn became Green Goblin, 65 Peter (Gwen's home) became a monster and died, Shang Tsung got Rick Rolled by himself, you get the idea. Spot made himself like that not Miles.
So Gwen didn't talk to Miles for a really long time because of the whole Spider society thing. When you think about it, none of the other spiders he met did, and I get that they couldn't with the exclusion of Peni. But not one visit? Not one letter? Something??? Now Miles has a little short conversation with Hobie and admits that he only wants to get into the Spider society to talk to his friends and help out with defeating Spot. He just wants to hang with his friends, but Peni and Gwen decided not to do that.
Moving on, I'd like to talk about Miles' walk through within the spider society. They acknowledge Gwen and only Gwen, they don't bother saying hi or even looking at Miles. It was like Miles wasn't even there. Never thought I'd say it, but these Spider men are arse holes. I also got annoyed at the way Jess was talking to him, I get that he's not supposed to be there but she needed to chill.
This anger went when Miles bumped into Margo, and she looked like she was about to lose her cool but she lightened up once she saw who it was, a complete stranger. I'm not a MargoMiles shipper, but I don't mind it (granted so long as they are the same age).
So the scene that goes 0 to 100 quick: I watched a bunch of memes and edits that painted Miguel as racist and I didn't understand why, and thought it was like a Millie Bobby Brown situation. Re-watching the scene where Miles meets Miguel I can see why.
All the other spidermen showed up to gang up on Miles.
"You can't ask me not to save my father."
"I'm not asking."
And hit him with this.
While Miles is freaking out at the sudden imprisonment we can hear Miguel say "We just need to hold him a few days." They were treating Miles like a criminal and/or a confused wild animal. And then Miguel had the nerve to say "All he had to do was listen." when Miles escaped them. I don't think Miguel is racist, but the memes I will support.
Hobie was looking out for Miles as soon as he met him, and I love that so much. He knew Miles wasn't like the ones in the spider society, and made sure to tell Miles to be better. Gwen didn't do that. She did, but she didn't if you know what I mean. She followed along with the crap Miguel was spitting.
And then there was the chase scene. Bro had a bunch of spider men chase Miles and not one of them could catch him. That is the biggest L I've ever seen. One 15 year old boy, and he didn't use his other 2 powers until after Miguel slammed him onto his back. Miles was not playing. Also, Miguel was endangering the lives of people who were driving. And yes, Miguel's at fault and not Miles.
They gave Miles crap just because he didn't want his dad to die, unlike Miguel who actively replaced the life of his other self. Gwen was really going to let her dad die, and Peter B tried to justify it by saying their uncle's death made them who they are. Pavitr was just supposed to get over his love interest's dad dying? They knowingly let that happen.
Miguel calling Miles an anomaly is mega projecting. Miles becoming Spiderman wasn't on purpose it just happened, and that's always how the story goes. No one is simply meant to be Spiderman, they just become him/her. It's also funny coming from a man who crawled on all fours chasing down a teenager.
42 Miles. Prowler Miles. Gonzales. Kilo Immorales. I love him already, can't wait to see the next film where we'll see him in full action. I love how we as a fandom collectively agreed that these two would have a sibling dynamic even though we've only seen 42 Miles for like a minute. I love the Boondocks comparisons as well. I need 42 Miles to hate everyone. I need Miles to be full of rage in the 3rd film Adult Gon style. Prepare for double and make it double.
In conclusion, I should've watched these films when they first came out, they are so great. The art, the incorporation of hip hop and correctness of Afro related backgrounds and the storyline. I honestly felt like Miles was a great representation of the new generation. I saw myself in him, and not just being black but the graffiti and finding out that a family member of yours isn't really a good person. I don't do graffiti or art but I do find them beautiful whenever I see them. Also, the Air Forces. Step aside Peter Parker, we have a Spider man with more drip.
I had a dream that Illumi and Hisoka switched bodies, and Hisoka, speaking from Illumi's body was talking about... something(?). I can't remember what they were talking about. Illumi was less talkative and more observant.
Their nen switched as well, thankfully. Hisoka was able to use Bungee Gum even through Illumi's body. Thing is, when it was time to use their abilities in a fight, Illumi didn't use his needle men, he used a nen gun.
It turns out, there was a third party to the body swap, and that was Kikyo Zoldyck. Kikyo was able to mimic Illumi's mannerisms, but was able to recognise that she wouldn't be able to copy his way of speaking. Kikyo isn't aware that she's crazy, but she knows she cannot talk without screaming. The cold energy around her (him?) couldn't be denied.
Illumi was in Kikyo's body, or potentially may even have been in another body.
From what most Tekken enjoyers understand is that the Devil gene was retconned. But what if there was a way to watch all endings and past revelations without getting confused? Which brings my presentation.
How the Devil Gene in canon still works after Tekken 7
To be clear, I haven't refreshed my memory of what went down in the storyline but I remember the basics, so feel free to call out any incorrectness. Most of this is just a ramble and I wanted to show it to anybody who would read it, along with using a bunch of gifs for artistic reasons.
When Kazuya was a small boy his father (Heihachi) threw him off a cliff, in Tekken 7 it is because Kazuya tried to fight him after Heihachi killed Kazumi, his mother. The reason Heihachi killed her is because he found out she came from a family of devil genes (or something).
I don't think Kazuya was raised to know what the Devil gene was, so when Devil made himself present he naturally made a deal with Kazuya out of instinct of knowing what itself was but not the family history. Kind of like a kitten having the same tendencies as its parents but was taken from the litter and mother it belonged to. I think you guys know what I mean here.
I theorise that the gene itself isn't present until something tragic and emotionally distressing activates it. At least that may be the case for those with it who go untrained not knowing that they have it, I don't know how it must've been for Kazumi. Devil Jin was activated through stress, and whilst Jin was in his teens, while Devil K grew with Kazuya.
Dude's mum just disappeared and the person that's supposed to protect him betrays him with the actual intent to harm. I think Heihachi throwing Kazuya was kind of a disciplinary thing, because Kazuya still grew up with Heihachi, while Jin was left for dead. But Kazuya was 8-10 (poor memory) when he got thrown off, so his emotional/mental tolerance was... lesser. Not to say Jin losing his mum at an older age wasn't just as traumatic, but teenagers and children are different. Jun's presence also must also have something to do with it, as Devil Jin tries to resist her good powers.
Devil Jin must've been waiting to appear for quite some time, in the back of Jin's mind watching everything. What we know of Devil Jin is that he's an absolute menace to society and a typical delinquent teenager. He's very playful in comparison to Devil Kazuya's maturity. He takes his time being a menace, knowing Jin would take control eventually. TTT2's special win poses between Devil K/Kazuya and Devil J make Devil K/Kazuya look a disapproving father. From DJ firing his laser out of control and flying away, with DK either crossing his arms or showing no reaction.
In Tekken 4 the Devil in Kazuya says that he lost a part of himself and wants to take it back. In a way, when you put in the whole genetic thing he's kind of not wrong. Devil K is acknowledging that he has a son but not to the full grasp that he should. We all know how DNA works, reproduction, ect.
Devil K however believes that 'part of himself' should be taken back, not getting that the gene is in Jin's blood. While I do believe Jun was protecting Jin, I don't think that's why his body rejected the gene getting taken away. Now, as seen with Kazuya's TTT2 ending he can absorb the evil off others for his own gain which is what he did to Unknown. Thing is, Unknown is more of a possession rather than an 'in the blood' situation. Sure TTT2 isn't canon, but it has shown 'what if' scenarios. Not only that, but we see Zafrina use Azazel's ball thing for her own use.
So the Devil gene is still a thing, and it started out as just that, a gene. They can take power away from other forms of evil, but not their own family members. That may have been why Kazumi wanted Kazuya killed, because Devil couldn't be taken away from him, and she's no Jun Kazama or Angel so it's not like she could take it away from him. Not to defend her or anything, just saying.
Chaos Reigns was ass, but I'm still digging the Ancient Mexican vibe Titan Havik has. (I don't want to incorrectly assume that it's Mayan or Aztec).
I never really thought of Havik's Midway design, and I've heard others say they don't like it. The only thing that really struck me about him was his face, and I've always liked his hoodie. But Titan Havik being introduced with an Aztec or Mayan looking appearance really caught my attention.
If they were going for that vibe, then the Chaos costumes should've been that as well.
I know that the whole point of Chaosrealm is that there's no law to it, that it's not supposed to look like a functioning world, or anything really, but the whole Native Mexico could've been something.
Kotal Kahn already has an Aztec-ness to him, and we know that Havik's abilities are blood based, so it could add another element to the whole blood magic thing, like introducing possible similarities or something. Like blood sacrifices were influenced by Chaosrealmers, or that there are temples that tell history of Chaos worship that was honoured with blood sacrifices.
"The Aztecs thought you were Bullock." - Nightwolf mk11
"A mistake I embraced, Nightwolf." - Kotal Kahn mk11
"What did it get you, playing god?" - Nightwolf mk11
Maybe that's too tacky, and just hvae this thing where Chaos once had a cult following, and Havik (Dairou) wants to bring that back and does a bunch of stuff. And then he works alongside Titan Havik to restore chaos, but then they both realise that they have different agendas and interests, as well as a different idea to what chaos means.
Dairou's chaos is about freedom and resistance against oppressors, though a twisted form of it. While Titan Havik is about dominance, open mindedness, and just doing the sillies. Maybe that's the same thing.
Think of them as Gyaru and Punk, both started out as a protest against society, with both of them under different pretences. Gyaru was against beauty standards, but Punk was about being against societal norms and conformity, but was also a fashion trend.
Now that I think about it, Titan Havik is 70s punk, but Dairou Havik is modern punk. Or maybe it's the other way around.
Dairou is political, Titan is fashion.
Kenny was my self insert, and I smiled when Mike complimented Kenny after he caught the chicken. Missed opportunity to have Mike be his new mentor figure, especially with the Terry Silver connection.
If they do end up doing a spin off of Cobra Kai somehow, hopefully they do that.