The Rivers Flowed Clear and Blue

At last providing a definitive answer to fans’ endless speculation, Sopranos creator and executive producer David Chase confirmed Tuesday that Tony Soprano died at the end of every episode in the series. “People have been asking me for a clear answer for a long, long time, so here it is: Yes, all 86 episodes of the show end with Tony Soprano dying,” the seven-time Emmy winner says in a newly released director’s cut of the behind-the-scenes documentary Wise Guy: David Chase And The Sopranos, revealing that the fictional mob boss was fatally shot, strangled, stabbed, bludgeoned, incinerated, and blown up over and over again throughout the show’s six-season run.

In depictions of things happening before the Pact, we've seen quite a few witches with brimmed hats, and no judgment was made on their methods. But in the current era of the story, a brimmed cap pretty much signifies hidden agendas. That if you hide your face it means that you have something to hide.

And despite being quite simple, it's also quite brilliant. One single change and the narrative can immediately point us towards something. It's interesting because pretty much all of us are familiar with the depiction of a witch in a brimmed hat. But suddenly, the intensity of that meaning in the story immediately catches our attention.

That is to say, I want to point out that brims are a symbol of hidden agendas. Not necessarily evil morals.

(manga spoilers under the cut)

ID: A four-page comic in a limited blue-orange palette of Ben and Blue J. They are surrounded by branches that bloom over time. Page 1: They read together. Blue J points out the image of a blue jay in a book. Ben hands them a jay-feather necklace. Text: "And if you ask what bird I want to be, I'll say a blue jay". Page 2: Ben and Blue J walk; Blue J looks up at Red Jack, before turning and putting their arm over Ben's shoulder. Text: "If you ask what time I want to leave, I'll change the conversation". Page 3: Ben leans in with his hand on Blue J's shoulder; close up of their face and their hand as they kiss him back. Text: "If you lean in close and kiss me, I won't mind". Page 4: Blue J holds Ben and kisses him on the cheek. Text: "I'll probably respond in kind". End ID

okay caveat that I can't eat dairy and I mostly avoid meat. so this is gonna be HEAVY on their vegan offerings. I eat a lot of tjs frozen meals because they are 1) generally tasty and 2) I can make them for myself when my spouse is at work/practice!! love to feed myself. also all of my rankings are going to be kind of high on logistical constraints since that is top of mind for me personally. if I had energy to cook I would not be eating frozen meals.

5. japchae fried rice

I'm including this on the list even though I generally don't make it myself because it's better on the stovetop. but it IS really good. I love japchae I love fried rice and the combo is great. you can't go wrong with glass noodles. obv best enjoyed with a fried egg on top.

4. spicy peanutty noodle bowl with chicken

I actually haven't had this in a while- maybe our tjs isn't stocking it anymore? but it's tasty! the noodles are a nice chewy udon-y texture and the flavor is great. it's not super spicy either but it has a little kick. you'll notice some little flecks of mystery greens but it's bok choy, a delicious brassica and not an evil one.

3. jumeokbap

these are filling the place formerly reserved for kimbap in terms of easy food I can eat during a flare. they're a little fussier than kimbap due to being a whole rice ball you have to eat with your hands (and that kind of falls apart as you eat it) instead of a chopstick situation. but they have a nice smoky/sweet flavor. also must subtract points for how they're individually packaged it's a LOT of plastic.

2. thai vegan green curry

respectably spicy so I can't eat this if I'm in a flare but the rest of the time the spice level is perfect with the coconut milk. filling, the tofu sheets are yummy, I like the green tomato(?) vegetables in here. it's a little fussy when microwaving (the curry tends to bubble over, and you can't eat it right out of the package because there's not room to add the curry to the rice.)

1. veggie biryani

the king of foods. lots of protein lots of sodium lots of fiber. the dumplings are really tasty and a nice little texture break from the rest of the rice. does not require me to get an extra dish out. I always feel better after I eat this, probably because of the salt. but maybe also because it's yummy. (vegan tikka masala is also good but I'd put it at #6.)

honorable mention:

kimbap

these have been my go-to meal for a calendar year because they take two minutes to microwave and can be hosed straight out of the container, they never set off my stomach even when I'm nauseous, and also they don't take a lot of space in the freezer. unfortunately if you eat something like once or twice a week for a year you will become sick of it and so the kimbap has had to exit the rotation 😔

late lamented:

meatless meatballs

I MISS THESE SO BAD. they made making a filling meal out of leftover pasta so easy and they were high in iron AND really cheap 😭 when I found out they'd been discontinued I went to the trader joes website where they have a form where you can beg for them to bring something back and I filled out that form on my knees

some non-freezer favorites also:

- the coconut chickpea pouches (plus frozen rice or naan.) they also have a khichdi pouch (I think it's kitchari on the label?) which is perfectly servicable khichdi but not how my friend's mom makes it, and thus inferior.