Saccharine

But the child cries and wearies itself with crying. Varka sees again the muddy road, the men with satchels, Pelageya and father Yélim. She remembers, she recognizes them all, but in her semi-slumber she cannot understand the force which binds her, hand and foot, and crushes her, and ruins her life. She looks around her, and seeks that force that she may rid herself of it. But she cannot find it. And at last, tortured, she strains all her strength and sight; she looks upward at the winking, green spot, and as she hears the cry of the baby, she finds the enemy who is crushing her heart.

The enemy is the child.

What if I take all this stuff off and I'm still a piece of shit?

First off, KELLI IS BACK FULL TIMEEEEEE 🎉🎉. I've missed her at the 1-6 so muchhhhh!!!!

I can't remember the last time there was a female perp, this one is pretty fucked up. Also, Danielle MacDonald!! I've seen her in Dumpling, she's awesome!

Carisi's reaction to hearing about what happened to the doulas is so relatable, I was the same.

"I can also make empathy a weapon." YES LIV, GET HERRRR!!!

OH SHIT HER LAWYER IS LINDSAY MENDEZ!?!? 😱😱 ELPHABAAAAAAAA!!!!

Ughh, nooo, don't drop the SA charges?!?! The double standard is crazy this episode.

"Congratulations on not murdering her" PFFT, CARISI- 🤣🤣

The Tourist though, is pretty great. I love Danielle Macdonald in Dumplin', but what I like even more about this one is that while her struggle with her own weight and self-image is a part of her character and her story, it's a pretty small part overall. Most movies or books I've seen with plus-sized main characters make the entire storyline surrounding their weight and self-esteem issues. This has action, mystery, comedy, romance, all of it. It's a storyline with two people who go through a bunch of shit together and it draws them closer together, and it could be any two people in the world, but it just so happens to be a very conventionally attractive man and an unconventionally (by Hollywood standards) attractive, plus-sized woman who looks unlike anyone else ever put into a role like this one.

Reminds me a bit of Melissa McCarthy in Spy or Rebel Wilson in Isn't it Romantic, where the plus-sized woman has hunky, hot men as love interests with little-to-no question or fanfare. Just men and women who like each other, which I think is nice, just like in any other story. It's not just looks either, Helen(fmc) is also a very quirky, awkward, compassionate character too. But for once, it's not just a comedy and it's a running show, not just a one-time movie.

Idk, there's a lot I like about it and it gives me some hope for the future. Maybe post-strikes we'll see more diverse representation, specifically in romance.

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You