Movie, TV, Web Series, and Music Hot Take(s).

[Specter Von Baren]

The funny thing is, Nana was one of the exceptions to that rule. Contradicting how full of shit that genetics excuse actually is. The manga version is even worse, and contradicts the story and explanation even more.

I'd have enjoyed the story if it was centered around Nana. It would still be torture porn but at least if Nana was the main character it would have a message about having horrible, terrible things happen to you but continuing to move on without becoming a horrible person yourself (Like shit dude, she gets all four of her limbs torn off and keeps going! Hell yes I'd like to see a story centered around someone as strong as that.).

Like... to some, on a surface level, it might seem weird that I have such a negative reaction to things like Elfen Lied, but I like twisted and horrible things in my media when it's within the context of people overcoming them. Like in Corpse Party, there's a lot of horrible shit that can and does happen to people, but there's still some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, it's not hopeless and not everything is terrible. I love seeing people triumph over darkness, even if it hurts, even if it's costly, maybe because it makes my own problems seem so easy to overcome in comparison.

 

[Phoenixmgs]

That’s a contradiction, since open mouths will spread contagions far more than when contained to a mask. They don’t have to sneeze or cough directly on someone if it’s in the air anyways. I stopped reading when you said people take their masks off when they sneeze or cough. Just wtf.

And you think the mask blocks a significant amount of viral particles? Where's the study demonstrating this in the real world? I ask for evidence and never get anything back. You do realize that's how you prove things to be true or false vs just what you want things to be, right? It would be great if a simple mask would significantly stop a very contagious airborne disease, but that just isn't the case. How many countries or cities or states have had mask mandates and still got hit with massive covid waves? Far too many to count. I've never seen anyone cough or sneeze with a mask on unless it hit them rather abruptly.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

And you think the mask blocks a significant amount of viral particles? Where's the study demonstrating this in the real world? I ask for evidence and never get anything back. You do realize that's how you prove things to be true or false vs just what you want things to be, right? It would be great if a simple mask would significantly stop a very contagious airborne disease, but that just isn't the case. How many countries or cities or states have had mask mandates and still got hit with massive covid waves? Far too many to count. I've never seen anyone cough or sneeze with a mask on unless it hit them rather abruptly.

Bullshit.

Cough Etiquette: Why It’s So Important

If you’re sick, there are polite, considerate and safe ways to manage your symptoms, while also protecting those around you. Follow these tips for good cough etiquette.

health.clevelandclinic.org

A Guide to Sneezing and Coughing While Wearing a Face Mask

While wearing a mask, sneezing or coughing can be a nuisance. Here is a quick guide to help you deal with this inconvenience if it occurs.

ellessco.com

If someone’s that sick that they’re filling a mask with lung butter while coughing they should be home in bed. The reason mask mandates failed is due to certain countries and cultures being half-assed about enforcing it. Same with quarantining. Countries that throughly did both faired much better than those that didn’t. It’s not rocket science, and I’m done trying to explain it here like a broken record because in your case it’s clearly futile.

 

[BrawlMan]

I'd have enjoyed the story if it was centered around Nana. It would still be torture porn but at least if Nana was the main character it would have a message about having horrible, terrible things happen to you but continuing to move on without becoming a horrible person yourself (Like shit dude, she gets all four of her limbs torn off and keeps going! Hell yes I'd like to see a story centered around someone as strong as that.).

Like... to some, on a surface level, it might seem weird that I have such a negative reaction to things like Elfen Lied, but I like twisted and horrible things in my media when it's within the context of people overcoming them. Like in Corpse Party, there's a lot of horrible shit that can and does happen to people, but there's still some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, it's not hopeless and not everything is terrible. I love seeing people triumph over darkness, even if it hurts, even if it's costly, maybe because it makes my own problems seem so easy to overcome in comparison.

BTW, I recommend you watch the anime, Monster. It does the whole, nature versus nurture theme better than EL.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

So in line with my previous "hot" take about bad excuses for bad characters, let's talk about fan theories being bad excuses.

I don't mind fan theories in general. They can can be cheesy, but for some I know they add a little more to their favorite piece of media.

But this... this is fucking ridiculous.



A theory about why the Grand Inquisitor looks like shit in the Kenobi series. Just google 'grand inquisitor' if you don't know what I'm talking about. And no, this wasn't a satirical comment either.

Runner up to this is people claiming that the bad acting for the Reva character is, wait for it, on purpose!

 

[thebobmaster]

BTW, I recommend you watch the anime, Monster. It does the whole, nature versus nurture theme better than EL.

Hell, I recommend the anime Monster anyways. So freaking good.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

So in line with my previous "hot" take about bad excuses for bad characters, let's talk about fan theories being bad excuses.

I don't mind fan theories in general. They can can be cheesy, but for some I know they add a little more to their favorite piece of media.

But this... this is fucking ridiculous.

View attachment 6443

A theory about why the Grand Inquisitor looks like shit in the Kenobi series. Just google 'grand inquisitor' if you don't know what I'm talking about. And no, this wasn't a satirical comment either.

Runner up to this is people claiming that the bad acting for the Reva character is, wait for it, on purpose!

Fannon is great for painting the grays of a painting with color, it is not great for filling in the holes in the canvas. (Edit: Made the analogy better)

 

[twistedmic]

So in line with my previous "hot" take about bad excuses for bad characters, let's talk about fan theories being bad excuses.

I don't mind fan theories in general. They can can be cheesy, but for some I know they add a little more to their favorite piece of media.

But this... this is fucking ridiculous.

View attachment 6443

A theory about why the Grand Inquisitor looks like shit in the Kenobi series. Just google 'grand inquisitor' if you don't know what I'm talking about. And no, this wasn't a satirical comment either.

Runner up to this is people claiming that the bad acting for the Reva character is, wait for it, on purpose!

That people are bending over backwards to defend, even praise, the poor writing, bad characterization and attempted retcons Disney+ Star Wars shows after viciously attacking and belittling nearly every aspect of the sequel trilogy indicates, to me at least, that the real problem they were mad about a black guy and a woman being main characters over the white guy.

 

[thebobmaster]

I do hope you aren't saying anyone who likes the shows more than the sequel trilogy is wrong/racist...

That said, I'm not as crazed as some people are about either thing. I think the shows so far have been mostly enjoyable, but flawed (some more than others, hello Boba Fett), and the sequel trilogy was overall more mediocre, but with a peak right in the middle (yes, I really liked The Last Jedi. I guess that makes any of my other opinions on everything ever invalid now).

The stuff I posted? Truly how I feel. The stuff inside the parentheses? How both fans and fan-bashers make me feel about my opinions.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

That people are bending over backwards to defend, even praise, the poor writing, bad characterization and attempted retcons Disney+ Star Wars shows after viciously attacking and belittling nearly every aspect of the sequel trilogy indicates, to me at least, that the real problem they were mad about a black guy and a woman being main characters over the white guy.

???? Huh? I see people that hated the movies also hating the shows. What are you talking about?

(Also Kenobi has a scene of Obi-Wan sneaking a child out of an Empire base...... by hiding her under his trench coat, no, I'm not exaggerating or making that up. How on Earth is the writing THIS bad with such huge budgets?)

 

[BrawlMan]

I do hope you aren't saying anyone who likes the shows more than the sequel trilogy is wrong/racist...

That said, I'm not as crazed as some people are about either thing. I think the shows so far have been mostly enjoyable, but flawed (some more than others, hello Boba Fett), and the sequel trilogy was overall more mediocre, but with a peak right in the middle (yes, I really liked The Last Jedi. I guess that makes any of my other opinions on everything ever invalid now).

The stuff I posted? Truly how I feel. The stuff inside the parentheses? How both fans and fan-bashers make me feel about my opinions.

I remember you saying you love and enjoy Last Jedi. I did the same as well. Rise of Skywalker pretty much killed nearly all my interest in Star wars. Once it was found out that they had no actual plan, and we're just flying by the seat of their pants, it totally vexed me. Double Toasted called this out all the way back, since the trailer for the second movie. I heard the shows vary in quality, but I just don't care. Aside from Visions, nothing holds my interest. If Disney does not care, then why should i?

Speaking of bad characterizations: I highly doubt this is much of a hot take nowadays, but Star vs. The Forces of Evil had writing on the wall of seasonal rot since the end of the second season. When the original writer left to work on other shows for a different network, it was already tumbling down. The forced and predictable romance, most of the main cast becoming unlikable or unsympathetic and out of character jerks, bringing characters that didn't need to be in the third or fourth season, and should have just been left alone, and a really bad ending.

Hekapoo sucks as a character, and there's nothing redeeming up about her. Not even arguably. It's kind of hard to feel anything for her, and little respect when she's part of an ancient conspiracy that's been using and abusing systemic racism on people. The only reason why she still has fans, is because most people simp for her. Yeah, semi chubby hot looking demon chick, but I like my animated ladies and guys to have some class.

It's been argued she's not supposed to be seen as that sympathetic (Star hates her, yet Marco & Hekapoo out mutual respect, but I don't buy it for a second), but it still doesn't change the fact Hekapoo does not do much to help way afterward. The best she does, is at the end where she opens a portal for the cast members to take on the final big bad, while she waste away at a bar knowing all the magical disappear when the villain is defeated. Screw you. You and your little cabal of conspirators caused all this mess to happen in the first place! Own up to your mistakes and actually fix them! Even if it costs you your existence.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

Fannon is great for painting the grays of a painting with color, it is not great for filling in the holes in the canvas. (Edit: Made the analogy better)

Same thoughts. Fan theories should add to things, not make up for the writer's shortcomings. Although, I have to admit that in my younger days I probably would have done something similar. Still, the theories I've seen for this show are out of this world crazy. It really is a testament to how bad Kenobi's writing is when people's first reactions are to either write a better version of a scene or rationalize a poor plot point.

(yes, I really liked The Last Jedi. I guess that makes any of my other opinions on everything ever invalid now).

Why yes, yes it does. Shut up.

But seriously, care to explain what specifically you enjoyed about TLJ? My dislike for the movie was pretty retroactive, I came out of the theater more or less happy with it. The next few times though, I became more and more underwhelmed. Looking back at the movie, there's just... nothing in it really. At least nothing in it that hasn't been done better before, in my opinion.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

Same thoughts. Fan theories should add to things, not make up for the writer's shortcomings. Although, I have to admit that in my younger days I probably would have done something similar. Still, the theories I've seen for this show are out of this world crazy. It really is a testament to how bad Kenobi's writing is when people's first reactions are to either write a better version of a scene or rationalize a poor plot point.


Why yes, yes it does. Shut up.

But seriously, care to explain what specifically you enjoyed about TLJ? My dislike for the movie was pretty retroactive, I came out of the theater more or less happy with the movie. The next few times though, I became more and more underwhelmed. Looking back at the movie, there's just... nothing in it really. At least nothing in it that hasn't been done better before, in my opinion.

There's a Youtuber that I almost feel a spiritual connection to because he'll watch something that's bad and then talk about all the ways they could have made it better with some tweaks and he always sounds so disappointed as he's pointing it out. He did that a lot for Kenobi.

 

[thebobmaster]

Same thoughts. Fan theories should add to things, not make up for the writer's shortcomings. Although, I have to admit that in my younger days I probably would have done something similar. Still, the theories I've seen for this show are out of this world crazy. It really is a testament to how bad Kenobi's writing is when people's first reactions are to either write a better version of a scene or rationalize a poor plot point.


Why yes, yes it does. Shut up.

But seriously, care to explain what specifically you enjoyed about TLJ? My dislike for the movie was pretty retroactive, I came out of the theater more or less happy with it. The next few times though, I became more and more underwhelmed. Looking back at the movie, there's just... nothing in it really. At least nothing in it that hasn't been done better before, in my opinion.

I think what I liked most about it was how much it subverted the normal Star Wars stuff. It wasn't the heroic underdogs bravely rising up to defeat the Empire. Most of the film was just the remains of the Rebellion trying desperately to not die, and even the grand scheme of the rebellious Poe/Rose/Finn ultimately didn't mean too much, because Admiral Holdo actually did have a plan, she just didn't share it with Poe because...well, why would she, given that he was insubordinate to Leia?

And while the next movie basically did away with this (and it's one of MANY issues I have with Rise of Skywalker), I loved the reveal that Rey's parents were...nobody special. It meant that the right person in the right place was all that mattered, not some grand destiny or it being in her blood or whatever. And while I definitely had issues with how Snoke went out, I thought the fight immediately afterwards was great.

Finally, I will never not enjoy smart-ass Luke, or Benicio Del Toro in basically anything.

 

[Drathnoxis]

It's something I've heard many times on a writing podcast I listen to. Having your characters be proactive is the easiest way to make readers interested in them. It's why so many stories resort to big fight scenes or action filled chase sequences, because stuff is happening and people are doing things and why quiet introspection is hard (But rewarding) because you always have to watch out that you don't become boring with characters not doing anything or getting anywhere. Unfortunately, proactivity can also cause audiences to be tricked (Whether by the writers or themselves) into thinking a character is well written simply because they are doing something. "Wait, how did this character figure out the hero's trick in 5 seconds when they've never been shown to be smart before?" "WHO CARES! Wasn't it badass when they suddenly flipped everything on its head?!"

Just because there's action doesn't make the characters proactive. They can be entirely reactive in defending themselves or chasing the baddies when they see them.

Edit: To further clarify the point I was trying to make. I feel that it's important to make a distinction between an active character and a proactive character, because many stories do not seem to grasp the difference. A reactive character will chase the villain when they see them, but a proactive one will take steps to track them down. A reactive character will defend themselves when attacked, but a proactive one will initiate the fight. They are both active in the sense that they are doing things and stuff is happening, but a proactive character makes the things happen, while things happen to a reactive one.

I would also maintain that a character is not proactive for figuring out the hero's trick in 5 seconds unless they were shown to have actively taken steps previously to gain the required skills or knowledge.

After all the definition of proactive according to dictionary.com is:

Serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or challenging one; anticipatory:

 

[Drathnoxis]

The fact that it's 2022 in the Simpsons world and everyone has smart phones and instagram but Bart is still in 4th grade bothers me. The episode I saw had Bart and Lisa say "what's a VHS?" What are you talking about?! You used to watch them all the time!

 

[Specter Von Baren]

Just because there's action doesn't make the characters proactive. They can be entirely reactive in defending themselves or chasing the baddies when they see them.

..... Yeah?.....

 

[BrawlMan]

The fact that it's 2022 in the Simpsons world and everyone has smart phones and instagram but Bart is still in 4th grade bothers me. The episode I saw had Bart and Lisa say "what's a VHS?" What are you talking about?! You used to watch them all the time!

That's what happens when you don't age the characters. South Park, Family Guy, and King of the Hill all suffer from the same issues. It's why they get less interesting as time goes on. King of the Hill though, I never cared too much for to begin with. Especially when it got obnoxious and later seasons. It's always why I prefer shows where characters can age, and not be a whole bunch of flashbacks or flash forwards.

 

[Drathnoxis]

..... Yeah?.....

Yeah.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

Yeah.

I know right?