#selma karsh

but re: the villainess bit—i wonder how this is going to work like in the long run. isabelle seems like a genuinely (naturally?) kind person, so like, is she just going to be mean around monica or is this a 24/7 thing? is she really okay with having that kind of reputation? well, i'm sure a large part of her being okay with it is due to admiration and gratitude, but i wonder if those feelings will ever waver, esp if monica's apparent progress on her mission doesn't seem like much

ngl i screamed when felix first spoke like??? the delivery?? the silence?? and his voice too like fhdsjkf there's this slight texture to it that sounds soothing, but is also kind of deceptive? i am a fan 😍

the way they did the introduction to the student council was really nice. the scene is structured nicely, and because an actual event is happening (and not just exposition or filler-esque conversation), it doesn't feel unnecessary. the vibe is also really interesting: it's ominous and threatening, which makes sense since they're confronting a villain and said villain is on this downward mental spiral. but with everyone else in the light and only felix in shadow, the visuals sort of communicate that felix isn't a straightforwardly good character and that we should expect these moments of darkness in him as the story goes on. like, look at this! it doesn't seem very good guy vibes despite what's happening in the scene (also gotta appreciate the percussion in the scene sounding like a heartbeat! really adds to the tension)

"royal in name" so what is he adopted or something? or was that in reference to the duke, who may have only married into royalty...?

oohh so i appreciate that isabelle isn't this all-knowing type character. the way she introduces the boys helps us infer the kind of families they belong to, and her not knowing cyril was also used as an opportunity to add some world-building by introducing the student council badge thingy, which i assume will be relevant later

but like the way cyril is introduced is giving this vibe of him belonging to this family who's always been in service to the royal family but in the shadows? the way he acts around felix also adds to that impression. if we're going with the usual stereotypes, he'll be one of the last to warm up to monica? or maybe something big is going to happen through which monica manages to gain his trust?

hmm i feel like lana liking nice things and knowing a lot about them is less bragging and more a reflection of how much she values those things. it actually makes her seem knowledgeable and worldly rather than shallow, esp since she's using them to try to connect with monica

oof those fade to black transitions. i'm not much of a fan, but they get the job done

this is perfect. no notes. i don't care how many times they reuse this, it will always be a gold star from me 😌 also just the way the music abruptly ends whenever she goes back to reality fhdjskfh love it!!

monica has such big shoujo manga instincts tho like when taking a break from finding felix, she stumbles into this rose garden where she happens upon the very person she's looking for? 😂

"who on earth would put their lunch in their pocket?" you, sir, have clearly not known the wonders of a well-wrapped sandwich and a bag of sliced fruit (unrelated but look at those pockets! they look so big pls they can prolly fit two phones or smth)

oh god he's beautiful 😳 also the lines look so delicate and just add to the softness and beauty of his features

i know she's really skilled but her reflexes are impressive even tho she was clearly caught off guard by felix

THIS SO EXTREMELY VALID OF HER HFJDSKFHSK god i love monica fr

"don't go blurting out weird stuff again in public" okay. this could very well have been any one of her normal math geek moments, but did she perhaps say something (that maybe really was just a math geek moment for her) that led to her father and whoever this other guy is getting in trouble?

"such beautiful hands" 👀

stop. why is the cat hot. althooo this is the third (to my memory) cat to human transformation that ended up with a hot guy so idk why i'm still surprised atp

her room being in the attic is really useful tho like it prolly is a good vantage point for surveillance and stuff

"it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside" it's so refreshing when an ore-sama character is like nero here. he clearly thinks highly of himself, but is also still caring and doesn't put others down in the process

fhdjskfhs not her hiding in the curtain pls 😂

i'll let this speak for itself

felix looks so small in his desk. the perspective is part of it, and maybe the table is really just that big, but he looks a teensy bit too small? i think? i'm prolly wrong

well... at least now she's close to the prince? that's something? 😂 i mean, i think the situation does help since she has a reason now to snoop and stuff and they'll just think it's because she's trying to catch the accomplice (which lowkey intersects her job anyway?)

these are so precious btw