#anlysis

Cos like, CRWBY acknowledge that these issues are vast, intergenerational and systemic. A recurring element of Blake's specific struggle is about how immense the task before her is but the vast challenges of these issues are underline everything .

They cannot be fixed by four teenagers who kind of have a lot on their plate right now already. What's more a "Very special episode" addressing it or "Fixing" it. Be it by unrealistically speedy activism or by killing "the right people" would only come off as disrespectful to the task at hand.

A decent comparison might be how how Reed Richards cannot cure cancer in the comics. On a purely technical level he may be able to but this would do nothing to magically fix cancer in the real world. Thus it would just end up feeling disrespectful to the subject matter.

The same logic applies here, maybe Ruby's silver eyes could erase evil, maybe Robyn Hill could kill all the elitist Atlesians or Blake magically inspire total peace and reparations by doing some activism. But none of these issues would b fixed by such things in the real world, not even close.

What if the suitors' part in Challenge is about her as well as them???

Cause think about it-

Time is fleeting, it's running out! Time to be the man of the house!

The Dream SMP is a collaboration between its members, to start. Since each “character” has its own “writer” there’s a certain amount of agreement needed between people to tell an emotionally satisfying story. No character is simply tossed out, (with, perhaps the exception of Schlatt, though I really enjoyed the way his story ended, but am desperately eager for a resurrection/possession arc) because each actor is personally invested in how the story will end for them. It’s group storytelling (a difficult, but deeply rewarding art) at it’s finest. 

But the actors and writers aren’t the only contributing voice in this story. There are literally thousands of other people who want some input, and they come in the form of artists, essay writers, and the Twitter trending page. 

And here’s the thing: They don’t have to listen to us. Technoblade didn’t have to say “welcome home Theseus.” Tommy and Technoblade didn’t have to team up. Philza Minecraft didn’t have to join the Dream SMP and create one of the most powerful moments in Minecraft history (“what are you doing” gives me chills to this day; I’m still chasing the high that moment gave me). But we asked for it. We said #whitelist philza and drew Tommy in Antarctic Empire skins. We said “they’re family,” and the sleepy boys said, “okay, we’re family.” Because it’s not just about them. And it’s not just about us either. It’s the incredible story we’re weaving together because they care so much, and we care so much. 

The moment in episode 8 when Viserys drops his crown on his long walk to the Iron Throne only to look up and see Daemon by his side was one of my favourite moments of the whole season. It really hit me like nothing else had thus far and I think it’s because of the way that it both heals the rift between the brothers that was established in episode one, and serves as a powerful cumulative moment in each of their individual journeys. 

Back during Daemon’s first banishment, Daemon hurled an accusation at Viserys that is very illuminating of Daemon’s motivations. It was that despite Viserys shuffling him around the small council and entertaining his excesses, Viserys had never fully embraced him as he should have, had never gave him his due as his brother.

Daemon wants respect, but more important is his need to feel truly wanted. For Viserys to express a desire to have Daemon by his side. He’s scared that even though Viserys may love him, he could make do without him. Conquering The Stepstones by himself was a way to prove his usefulness to his brother on his own terms, but that reunion didn’t last. After another long period of no contact, Viserys once again invited Daemon home, with a position at his court if that is what Daemon’s station requires. For the same reason he chaffed under Viserys all those years ago, Daemon refused.

This hole in Daemon cannot be filled with token positions on Viserys’s council. He wants to be embraced, not coaxed and placated.

On the other hand, Viserys’s main struggle this season was against his own weakness, which Daemon keenly pinpointed during their argument. Viserys’s aversion to conflict allowed others to erode his authority and endanger his own interests. He saw decision making as sacrificing one thing for another, so would prefer to not draw the line at all.

Viserys saw the lack of conflict in his reign as the reason he had never been tested, but it was actually evidence of his failure to set things straight and enforce his will. The test never ceased from the moment he named Rhaenyra heir.

Both of these two currents came together in episode 8. Viserys, despite being at his lowest point physically, summoned the strength to walk to the throne room and sit the Iron Throne one last time. He refused assistance from the kingsguard because he understood the symbolic power of climbing the steps to the throne alone. When the crown drops from his head, however, Daemon is there to help. He encourages Viserys up the last few steps but supports him only lightly, because he now sees that Viserys has found the strength inside himself to be king.

As for Daemon, he finally gets what he’s always wanted to; to walk by his brother’s side, to be leaned on, to be there when his brother needed him most.

The part where chibitaly talks about how Rome was all covered in scars and suffering bc of how big and dispersed his empire was:

Is it painful to be an empire? Does it feel like being pulled in a million directions at once? Do you have to focus to keep your thoughts straight?

Are there nations who don't want to empires, but are made to be so who are then relieved when it falls? Are there nations who crave power and the place that leads them is to this pain that they have to weigh against what it is they're doing? Do nations that want to be empires all know this is the case and try anyways?

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @peggyseditorial​

Many things stand out about The Wolf Lord's Lady. Particularly in how it opens--with our main character's life completely falling apart. Her family, dead. Her lover, a spy. Her only options are living a life of solitude in a monastery or death. She chooses death, embracing the burdening sins of her family. All while putting on a cruel persona as a means to make her death appear justified for the new Lord, Kaid, to remain unquestioned in his decisions. Had she remained alive, there would have been ongoing political unrest. Kaid knew this, yet still offered her life. She also knew this and made the decision he couldn't by sacrificing herself, committing the most meaningful deed of her family's reign.

It sets up a very solemn story, which stands out in our current rebirth-genre where the "villainess" main characters are given a second chance. Most reborn villainesses quickly find themselves in some sort of court-drama on the path to saving themselves while also finding love. Our leading lady, Shirley, however, is seeking neither of these things. Instead, she's accepted her family's crimes and feels that she has a duty to pay for them by pursuing a quiet life in the church. This is her seeking redemption for turning a blind eye to her family's horrendous sins. It's hard to swallow as we see how beloved she was by servants and others despite her family's deep injustices against the people around them and those under their domain.

In her new life as Shirley, she is an orphan raised by the church. But through some series of events that happen before she reaches adulthood in their society, she's been sent to work in the current Lord's home. This is where she reunites with her former lover, Lord Kaid, formerly known as Helt.

While some may see this as the set-up for a romantical tale of reconnections, I see the story more as a redemption tale for both Lord Kaid and Shirley, who must face their past traumas lives to continue a renewed one, which can make the story difficult to read.

Both Shirley in her past life and Lord Kaid in his current life have done great deeds for the good of the people. They are virtuous people who struggle deeply with the darkness of the decisions they made in their past. They struggle to forgive themselves for their mistakes and choices--Shirley for not trying harder to work with her family to make them better nobles and people. Lord Kaid for not saving Shirley, who was his lover and, in his eyes and the eyes of many who once served her family, a good person undeserving of her fate.

They are haunted by these memories, and thereby awaken them as metaphorical ghosts. 

For Shirley, this plays out in her reflections on the past as she is forced to re-live life in the place she once grew up now as a maid instead of a noble lady, all while serving the man she once loved. The very man who betrayed her and helped murder/execute her loved ones. The ghosts she sees are the memories of her family and their choices compared to his, such as when she reflects that they never invested into their people's businesses, unlike what Kaid has done for them.

Kaid also sees some ghosts of their past as we see short moments from his perspective that always seem to focus on Shirley's eyes. Even though the story points to moles being the identifying factor for a person who has been reborn, each time we see things even slightly from Kaid's perspective, the focus is on Shirley's eyes. Perhaps this is because “eyes are the window to the soul” that the focus is placed here as we get a lot of close-ups in this series to make one feel the truth and weight of that sentiment. In chapter 1, we see close-ups of the wreckages and horrors of Shirley’s past life in her eyes. We also see multiple close examinations of her face to show the range of different emotional expressions she’s experiencing. 

In chapter 2, we get another close up of her face and eyes, showing similar shading:

Each time we get a real look at Shirley's face from Kaid's perspective, he stares at her intently and seemingly focuses on her eyes and into her soul, which leads his expressions to turn dark--not out of anger but out of guilt and possible despair at her loss in his life.

Once it is confirmed to Kaid that Shirley is the former lady he loved, Kaid tries to make amends by behaving like the servant Helt, but Shirley doesn't accept that very well--after all, she is now a maid and he is the Lord. 

Their relationship can never go back to what it was, ever, and she accepts that. She helps Kaid accept that too. For a moment, the story feels finalized at the end of Chapter 7, when the two find forgiveness for their respective counterparts in this tragic ordeal. 

It’s a beautiful scene that I appreciate coming to a close before the dramatic events of other reincarnators entering the story. 

I look forward to seeing how this story continues now that our two central characters have at least found each other's forgiveness for what they view as their own mistakes. Now I hope to see them officially forgive themselves. 

What do you all think?

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