#jortles

I could say a lot of interesting insightful things right now but honestly, I'm just stuck AT:

I think we all called it -- and you know I'm glad -- I'm glad this is something anyone can guess because they did seed it.

And it's not something they pulled out of thin air.

I liked the detail about how the helmet helps Qimir keep the Jedi out of his head, and that he's gone a long way to kill everyone who saw his face because he blames it on the Jedi rule that he as a Sith can't exist.

But most of all I am so happy for Manny Jacinto -- I'm glad he's not stuck playing the same hot jock.

This time he's a hot Sith. The first ever Sith character I've been attracted to.

Congratulations to me, specifically.

the fact that i live here. badumtush.

1. THE ANIMALS.

The one thing I hate most is when international peeps tell me they’ll never come to Australia because “I’ll die the moment I step a foot out of the plane!” in reference to our animals. Number one: brown snakes are not everywhere. Number two: if an animal bites you, you probably deserved it.

I remember wanting to go to school early so I could see the kangaroos on the sports fields. I get excited when I get to see kookaburras in our trees when walking. While they’re definitely not chilling out everywhere waiting for us to see them, I think it’s pretty cool that you get to see them even in the bush by the suburbs. Our animals are awesome. 

2. THE BEACHES.

We have prettier beaches than America and that’s just a fact, sorry. Beach life isn’t as prevalent as the movies want to show you (or bush life, for that matter) but our beaches are awesome. I remember working right near Cronulla beach. Even though I’m not a beach-goer, I just had to go walk on the sand and in the water right after a really busy event. They’re big and nice and the sand is always soft. Fiji has the best beaches, though; nothing can top that crystal clear warm water.

3. THE BUSH.

The best thing about driving anywhere in Australia that isn’t to the city is the bush. It’s one thing I took for granted when I visited America. You see genuine bush everywhere. I’ve driven down south to the donut van (side note: there’s a cool donut van where you can get fresh donuts and it’s delicious, even though these donuts are just like any other donut) and on your way there, all you see is bush, bush, bush, ocean.

4. THE SLANG.

No one can top bottle-o, thongs, sanga, having one word mean multiple things... My fave: boofhead. I love confusing Americans (since I mostly talk to Americans). I especially love referring to thongs and having people think I mean the undies.

5. THE CULTURE.

Not necessarily the Aussie culture that promotes we’re lazy bogans or anything, but the fact that we have the oldest culture in the world. Aboriginal culture isn’t properly respected or cherished. A good percentage of our streets and locations are Aboriginal names, yet we as a country don’t seem to appreciate that. But I don’t want to go on a whole negative spin here. I like that Australia is home to the oldest culture in the world, and that there are bits and pieces of that culture still found in the bush and in specific locations. I think that’s pretty cool and important.

i hate you. disclaimer: i don’t like elijah past TO season 1, so no moments from there. :) gonna give you some rambling meta bc i know how much you love that. did i pick moments? who knows, who cares, have some elijah thoughts.

1. ANY TIME THIS FUCKER THROWS SOMETHING AT A BUILDING. COINS, ROCKS, AIR. Elijah used to be one scary motherfather. The way he just calmly gathers these items and just throws them without much stress? Yes, Klaus throws a picket fence through the GIlbert front door during the Season I Shall Not Name, but Elijah was the first OP vampire we ever met. He was formidable, calm, composed, and has a great arm. He set the standards for the Originals (which I feel like Plec totally undermined after season 2). I miss this Elijah so fucking much.

2. 2x19: Klaus. His interactions with Elena. Him walking into her room and touching her things. Him believing that she’ll flee and abandon him just like Katerina had. That episode is so exposing of Elijah because he projects Katerina onto Elena and expects Elena to behave as Katerina did, but Elena doesn’t have the same trauma as Katherine (which you know since you let me rant about this all the time) and so expecting Elena to be Katerina is unfair to both women. (Let’s also remember that Elena daggered Elijah, betraying him similarly to how he views Katerina did, but because Elena needs something from him, she comes back. The fact she comes back is the difference.)

This episode and his interactions with Elena and memories of Katerina solidify the fact that Elijah is on a path of redemption with Klaus’ curse. He wants to do right by the doppelgänger; he wants to do right by Tatia and Katerina. He can’t fail the doppelgänger again; he can’t have another dead woman on his hands (even though Katerina is very much alive and thriving). Why doesn’t Elijah just kill Elena? Because he wants the best of both worlds: redeem himself as the hero of the doppelgänger and redeem himself as the hero of Klaus.

He drops so many info bombs during this episode and he remains so calm, so poised, because the Elijah we see is a facade of who he really is.

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3. Elijah chasing Katerina in the gardens. When you think about it, it’s such a human moment for Elijah. As a monster, his entire gameplay is cat and mouse, but he finally has a mouse that he doesn’t want to catch, because if he does, “the game will be over.” I always think he’s quietly referring to the sacrifice, which Katerina is unknowingly playing within the confines of at this point. Once she’s caught by he and his brother, the game—the wait for breaking Klaus’ curse, of Klaus feeling like half a man—will be over.

“I don’t believe in love, Katerina” is also such a great moment because “humanity is a vampire’s greatest weakness” and love is often associated with humanity. The way Elijah speaks to her in those moments is just so sad. Katerina has been able to reach a part of him he felt was dead for so long. It’s why he defies his brother and tries to save her. Katerina, a human girl, pities him, one of the greatest creatures in the universe, because he doesn’t believe in love. Their story probably begins with him pitying her, but Katerina Petrova fucking turns the narrative around onto him. It’s so fucking great.

They’re also dressed in earthy tones, which I love a lot.

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4. 4x18: “What kind of man would I be if I didn’t try to find my Katerina beneath his Katherine facade?” is a quote that tells you all you need to know about Elijah. I have so many thoughts about it but I always view this as his admittance that he cannot accept someone like Katherine can be the woman he craved and coveted so long ago. He’s a romantic, even though I definitely believe he’s attracted to damsels in distress and very much feeds the Madonna/Whore complex that is often shoved onto Elena/Katherine.

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But this episode is so good. Changing from “Katerina” to “Katherine”, him believing that Katherine can handle herself... It’s a pity the middle of the episode fell flat for him because his disbelief in Katherine exposes a wound in him that HE hasn’t healed properly. If you can turn against someone you love because someone told you about something awful they did, you have an immature view of what love is. It’s not about someone meeting all of your standards, it’s you loving them and their flaws. It’s about understanding them; Elijah does not understand Katherine, and it’s a fucking shame. Contrary to popular belief, his rejection of Katherine is a comment on Elijah, not her, and it’s a poor one. (This episode would’ve been brilliant IF the Katherine/Elijah story ended up with them together and him understanding Katherine = Katerina and she was always Katerina.)

5. “Gentlemen. Shall we?” Literally a boss moment in TO. The suave, the calmness, the fact that he is in a fucking suit. He’s smirking. He knows he’s going to kick your ass and not get blood on his suit but definitely splatter it on YOUR clothes. Elijah is frightening and this scene captures his posture and composure so freaking well.

I miss the Elijah who would touch his suit and try and flatten it out. I miss the Elijah who would clean his hands with his handkerchief. This is a true boss moment.

An honourable mention is his interaction with Katherine and Stefan in the tomb and I have so many stupid thoughts about it, but my thoughts on that is covered by #2, #3 and #4, hence why it’s an honourable mention.

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i don’t know how to make gifs work in posts, but the still and gifs are amazing! please give the makers some love and reblog.