The Persian Slipper

To the fic writers, to the artists, to the meta writers, to the gif makers, to the fan video creators, to the cheerleaders, to everyone who brings joy to the fandom, this lovely letter is for you. 💌

The people who organise and run events like the RBB, keeping the fandom fresh and exciting and cheering artists and writers on!

The ones who give their time to make art and stories for zines and calendars that raise money for good causes!

The people who create and support events like the @ofmdcraftfair and @ofmdaction and @ofmd-buys-boats and all the countless other WONDERFUL AMAZING things that have raised thousands and thousands for charities!

The people who do such hard work for @adoptourcrew - always taking time to report events and provide such open and fair communication for us all.

The people who spread love and joy and positivity by doing things like Artist of the Week, celebrating both well-known and lesser known artists (writers/podficcers/meta writers etc) who all deserve love and support, no matter how long or little their time in fandom has been. And themed weeks like Gentlebeard Wedding Week or Rare Ships Week, which bring such fun and community spirit to fandom!

And, of course, @ofmdlovelyletters for just being really really NICE and kind, and spreading just a little bit of love for a fandom who has been through some really fucking tough times. 💕

And to every single person who cheers on, supports, donates, writes to and appreciates all of these things (and SO MANY MORE!)

Well, this really is the loveliest of lovely letters.

To all the fandom organizers, to the writers and the artists and the cheerleaders, to those who run and support philanthropical events like @ofmdcraftfair and @ofmdaction and @ofmd-buys-boats, to the people behind @adoptourcrew who keep us informed, to every single one of you who keep this fandom alive and thriving and a positive place to be, this lovely letter is for you. 💌

TLDR; OFMD Cancellation Anniversary; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Con O'Neill; Vico Ortiz; Samba Schutte; Kristen Johnston; Andy Rydzewski ; Additional Cast & Crew in LA Status; LA Fire Resources; Charity Raffle!; Love Notes; Daily Daby / Today's Taika;

Hey Crew sorry I'm behind again. With the fires happening my job is very busy and I'm a bit exhausted. Will try to catch up as much as I can tonight!

== OFMD Cancellation Anniversary ==

January 9th was the 1 year cancellation anniversary of our first cancellation of Season 3. So many of you folks shared some wonderful feelings and memories you had that day and since that day. It was an anniversary full of melancholy, but it was also lovely to see how much people got out of the fandom since then. Our friends over at @adoptourcrew also sent out some prompts to help us reflect about OFMD an what it means to us! Did you get a chance to share your thoughts?

Src: Adopt Our Crew Blusky

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= David Jenkins =

Chaos Dad has some not so great news, our Director of Photography, Mike Berlucchi lost his home in the Altadena fire. If you're interested in helping/have the capacity, you can do so at his families Go Fund me Page: https://gofund.me/01f98349

By the time this was posted, the donation goal has been met and then some! Well done Crew! Thank you for giving back to the folks who made our show so wonderful in their time of need!

David also shared the go fund me for another friend and sent love our way when @summerlinenss cross posted it on bsky <3. If you would like to/have the capacity, you can donate to Jamie & Carolyn here.

And more love from David

Source: David Jenkins Bsky

= Rhys Darby =

Folks have asked how LA folks are doing and Rhys and family are currently in AONZ so they are safe! We've also heard that the Darby family animals and house is still okay! In other news Rhys was interviewed on TheProject!

Source: Rhys Instagram Stories

Check out the full interview on Youtube! on Friday!

There's More BadJellyTV with Rhys clips!

Source: Rhys' Instagram

= Con O'Neill =

Radio Times wrote an article about the cast involved in SAS Rogue Heroes with a fabulous shot of our Izzy as General Montgomery! Radio Times Article

Source: Radio Times

= Vico Ortiz =

More OFMD S2 BTS! This time featuring Archie, Olu and Jim! Check it out over at Vico's Paid Patreon!

Source: Vico's Paid Patreon

= Samba Schutte =

Samba shared a video of him (and his wife Aria!) in a skit with Jean Claude Van Damme!

Source: Samba's Instagram

Also, Samba and Aria's kiddo turned one!

Source: Samba's Instagram

= Kristen Johnston =

Our dear Widow Evelyn sent us some puppy pictures to boost morale with the fires going on!

Source: Kristen Johnston's bsky

= Andy Rydzewski =

One of our Cinematographers, Andy Rydzewski is evacuated and safe from the LA Fires! So glad to hear it.

Source: Andy's Instagram

== Additional Cast & Crew in LA Status ==

Samba and Family Seem to be safe, no reporting of issues Dominic Burgess - Safe so far Damien Gerard - Safe so far Lindsey Cantrell - Safe so far

== LA Fire Resources ==

A lot of the cast & crew have been sharing LA Fire Resources on Instagram and Lindsey's been really active so I wanted to share something that I didn't realize (and I'm in the disaster aid sector for work!). I wasn't able to find the article she mentioned, but I did find a similar one more recently which I'll attach as well:

In Addition, I've been trying to compile some feeds on blusky for when I see cast & crew share information (and I make sure to vet it) when it comes to where to donate or community resources. LA Fires, Where To Donate LA Fires, Resources Something to keep in mind, for those trying to help, donation needs change on the daily, so if you're really looking to help certain groups (Ex: Pasadena Humane Society) be sure to follow their socials as they'll be the most up to date with what their needs are.

Thank you to all the awesome people who have been sharing ofmdbz, @summerlinenss, and everyone who's tagged those feeds <3

= Charity Raffle =

Our fabulous crewmate Irene Adler has put together this Charity Raffle to help support people affected by the LA Fires! Check out below how to enter and make a difference!

OFMD’S DP fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mike-and-danielle-rebuild-after-fire GOFUNDME WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california

Here are the stretch goal prizes!

Source: Irene Adler's Instagram

== Love Notes ==

Thinking of you crew, miss you.

Source: Swagvoid Instagram

Source: Twillostory IG

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

I thought this gif would be appropriate for this Recap. Miss you OFMD. Gif Courtesy of @hikarielizabethbloom!

TLDR; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Con O'Neill; Nathan Foad; Kristian Nairn; Samson Kayo; Brian Gattas & Connor Barrett; Damien Gerard; Articles; Fan Spotlight: TinyCrewBigDonations; NeverLeftPodcast; OFMD Advent Calendar; Love Notes

= David Jenkins =

David was out on Christmas Eve getting a tattoo in honor of his new baby Zosia and Kinga!

Source: David Jenkins Instagram

Also, in case you haven't seen yet, David has been writing some OFMD Fanfiction, or a Christmas Special since Christmas Eve on his Bluesky. Due to it spanning multiple days, and me not knowing when I'll get the next recap out, I'm putting in as much as I can now.

Source: David Jenkins Bluesky

= Rhys Darby =

Rhys spent the holidays in Aotearoa with the family!

Source: Rosie's IG

Another trailer for Badjelly!

Source: BadJellyTV

= Taika Waititi =

Taika also happened to be in Aotearoa for the holidays!

Source: VasJMorgan's Instagram / Mariana Vivanco's Instagram

= Con O'Neill =

Con had a beautiful message for everyone <3

Source: Con O'Neill's Instagram

= Nathan Foad =

Nathan's voiceover agents had fun doodling their clients! Can you find Nathan?

Source: Nathan's Instagram Stories

= Kristian Nairn =

Kristian is sending some updates on his new Spectrum playlists, Cameo's and orders from his website! Lots of love coming from our beloved Wee John <3

Source: Kristian's Instagram

= Samson Kayo =

Samson got into the holiday spirit and sent a Merry Christmas to all!

Source: Samson's Instagram Stories

= Brian Gattas & Connor Barrett =

Hornberry and Siegfried wish you a silly Happy Holidays!

Source: Brian Gattas' Instagram Stories

= Damien Gerard =

More updates on where Damien is online now!

Instagram / Bsky

And a sweet holiday message from him!

Source: Damien's Bsky / Damien's bsky

== Articles ==

Thank you to our dear friends over at @adoptourcrew for ore articles featuring OFMD!

Source: Adopt Our Crew Bsky

== Fan Spotlight ==

= OFMD Buys Boats =

Last on the list for the Tiny Crew Big Raffle Donations was: World Central Kitchen - David Jenkins - $US 1,779.07, £278.69, €611.91, CAD$82.81! Well done all! I ran out of images in this recap, but the next will feature all the awesome BTS Lindsey Cantrell shared with the @ofmd-buys-boats and the rest of the crew for everyone's generosity!

Source: OFMD Buys Boats Instagram

= Never Left Podcast =

Never Left Podcast's latest episode is about Fan Fic! Check it out on their linktr.ee!

Source: Never Left Instagram

= OFMD Advent Calendar =

The OFMD Advent Calendar has come to an end, and the kind @tillychmo gave everyone some lovely treats for the last two! Including Cameos from the crew! Thank you so much dear for highlighting so many amazing artists and writers this holiday season, and spreading joy and love from our cast! You're the best!

The 24th Door features @tillychmo's artwork! A very cute piece with the full revenge crew and more!

The 25th Door has cameos from some of our awesome Cast! Damien Gerard, Erroll Shand, Ruibo Qian! Wow! What a surprise! Check it out on Bluesky / AO3!

Source: OFMD Advent Calendar

== Love Notes ==

Well Lovelies, we're coming to the end of the year here. As I write this, it's New Year's Eve. I ended up being really sick for several days so I couldn't finish these on time (so sorry for the jump scare, I legit thought I'd be gone for a long while after two docs told me what they thought it was-- but luckily, no surgery for me). I'll try to be getting the last couple of the year out tomorrow if I can <3 I did want to mention, I know the David Jenkins fanfic/OFMD Christmas special is causing a bit of contention out there. Some folks are worried it's S3, and are either upset because it doesn't meet what they were expecting so far, or worried that because it's there, we're not getting an s3 at all. These are all valid concerns! For me, I like to think of what David's doing as a little gift to keep our hope alive. Whatever reason-- whatever comes of it, David cares so much about us that he's keeping us all engaged this late into the year. How many creators can we say do that for their fandom (let alone with a newborn)? Did you feel that same tingly feeling I did as we got more and more updates? It felt like watching an episode of OFMD again, for the first time, not knowing where it was going. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions, and as usual David is perfect with timing of specific revelations for maximum affect. We get to interact with him and all of our crewmates in the wee hours of 2024, and feel that same love and excitement that brought us together in the first place-- and I really do think that's such a wonderful gift. Seeing so many folks get excited, and brains firing off a mile a minute on new meta and new headcanons has been wonderful to watch. Whatever happens, whatever comes of it, we are getting to feel that unexpected excitement again. That little flutter of uncertainty-- that spark of joy and hope. So don't despair okay? Whatever happens, we still have our S1, and S2, and we still have each other-- and if we get an s3 out of all this too-- great! Whatever happens, we still have this insanely talented, and kind, and breathtakingly creative crew, and I am so very grateful for each and every one of you. OFMD changed my life for the better. You all changed my life for the better. You all changed SO MANY lives for the better, just by being you and sharing your love of this brilliant show. OFMD is the gift that keeps on giving, and I'm grateful David's trying to give us a bit more to play with for now, to do with as we will. Happy Holidays Lovelies and Happy New Year. May you get the rest and love you deserve, and all the things you desire this year.

Ed: oh cool, you know I love it when you have Boat Questions

Stede: hehe yeh :)

Stede: I was just doing a little refresher on the names of all the sails, but the the little-bitty one wasn't labeled

Ed: the jib?

Stede: no, the jib's the one at the front, right? I'm talking about the one at the back -

Ed: LOWER YOUR VOICE

Stede: uh. why.

Ed: because some people can't be trusted to be mature about this sail's name. that's all.

Stede: oh, really now, how bad could it -

Ed: it's called the spanker

Stede: pffft SPANKER???

Ed:

Stede: :D

Ed:

Stede: 😰 do you not like it

Ed: Stede. Love of my life. What is this

Stede: it's your birthday present!!

Ed:

Stede: did you not want. You said you wanted

Ed: i said i wanted an alpaca wool sweater

Stede: oh.

Ed: did you miss the sweater part.

Stede: yeah. Yeah I must have.

Ed:

Stede:

Stede: I can take the alpaca back. But he's really sweet. And soft, Ed, come feel how soft he is

Ed: he is pretty soft. For an animal