#robertarryn

Gosh, I really hope you're right.

I mean, he was totally lying about Ooishi in that one interview, so maybe...?

For what it's worth, while I was first watching the episode this week, I actually didn't even blink at Satoko's (most blatant yet) confession. I just mentally filed it away as more teasing bait. Another ~it's love, but only as a friend~! moment. Sigh.

It was only on reading other people's reactions to that part of the episode that I was able to even see it as a romantic love confession. Which it totally is! There's some great analysis on Reddit and Twitter about how the word choice is no different from a male/female romantic declaration of love!

I just... I feel like I've been disappointed so many times, I've retreated into the opposite attitude from where I was before. I can't bring myself to believe that's actually what the show is going for unless it becomes impossible to deny.

I mean... I think people just don’t care? Richie is their fave, and they want Eddie to be his baby boy, so they treat him accordingly. Then as reddie gets super popular, more people are imitating the popular fan perception of Eddie than interpreting his character from the source themselves, so it’s like a game of community telephone. 

3. Top 5 Characters?

Nellie Crain

Theo Crain

Luke Crain

Steven Crain

Olivia Crain

5. Top 5 Romantic Ships?

I don’t really have any romantic ships from this show, especially since the romantic ships weren’t really the focus of the show. I did like Nellie and her husband’s relationship, that was very sweet, and also Hugh and Olivia’s relationship before the house drove Olivia mad.

7. Top 5 Platonic Ships?

Steve/Shirley/Theo/Nellie/Luke

Nellie/Luke

Luke/Steve

Theo/Shirley

Hugh/Steve

12. Character You Can’t Understand?

Shirley drives me crazy. Her hypocrisy when it comes to what she believes happened between her (lesbian) sister and her husband when she had actually cheated on her husband was insane. I also had issues with how cold and closed-off she could be and how judgmental she was of Steve for writing about their experiences at Hill House.

13. Best Written Character?

Every character was incredibly well-written but I think Theo and Steve probably had the best characterisation and the most depth to their characters. Steve in particular I found to be a really compelling character with a lot of different layers to him.

14. Worst Written Character?

As it stands now? Well, I’d say the ask I answered here is still pretty accurate - Saimota and Oumota, Kaemugi, etc being some of the bigs ones with others listed there as well. There are a few characters I still don’t know that well (ex Tenko, Rantaro, Ryoma) too who I can definitely see that changing for, but for the most part I basically want to give both Kaito and Kaede a harem lmao -

Shuichi doesn’t need help he already has super protagonist powers and the Skeleton Key of Love

THIS ONE I LIKEWISE PRESENT WITHOUT COMMENTARY BECAUSE I DO THINK MY CHOICES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:

1. “The Rose Signet” episode 34

2. “Wakaba Flourishing” episode 20

3. “Someday, We Will Shine Together” episode 39

4. “The One to Revolutionize the World” episode 37

5. “Unfulfilled Juri” episode 7

ooooh shit uh

In no particular order:1) Pepper Potts. 

2) Jane Foster

3) Gamorra

4) Natasha Romanov

I find that theory at least a little stronger than the straight "Satoko is jealous and lonely" theory!

Though even if "Rika dies in the future" is part of the solution, it still has some major holes.  If Hanyuu is involved, why not restore Rika's memories of the death that triggered everything? If Satoko was planning to explain things, why cause Rena to go L5 first?  And even then, if Satoko told Rika she would die in the future, why wouldn't Rika trust and work with her best friend?

Regardless of the backstory, though, I think Satoko trying to explain herself in Onidamashi and it ending in a fight is very plausible.

Also come to think of it, even if Satoko didn't explain anything, Hanyuu could have saved Rika a lot of trouble by giving her the memory upgrade that first loop.  Or, of course, telling her about Satoko when she talked about the Onigari.

Did Hanyuu not know Satoko was the other looper? Did Hanyuu know but she didn't have the courage to tell Rika her best friend was behind it? Or was Hanyuu working with Satoko?

HONESTLY

And it’s strange because, you know, I’m still not 100% certain on him, but I have to say one of the most interesting things I’ve noticed is how hypocritical he is on lying - but not in a ‘oh, it’s different if it’s me ~’ kind of way, but almost like, no, no, I’m the Ultimate Supreme Leader™, you are the Ultimate Detective, so lying and deception are tools I’m allowed to have in my arsenal and you are not. Stay in your lane!!!!