Enter Sym-Bionic Titan

[enemyofperfect]

I have what I thought was a pleasantly mild-mannered cold, but it's clung on for something like ten days at this point. I wonder if you can get a watered down version of the flu if you were vaccinated against it?

Looks like the CDC thinks yes: "Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick." That's cool to know! I'm definitely happier now than I remember being while sick with the full-strength version.

Anyway, have some belated Wednesday reading and watching.

READ

I finished Castle in the Sand DesdemonaKaylose and neveralarch, which was just as much of a dysfunctional delight as you'd expect from a story where Megatron and Rung get conjunxed while Starscream, the third in their triad, organizes the reception, and yes, that does include violence as foreplay. But in a kind of adorable way?

I also read the tiny and lovely My Hogwarts Will Be Intersectional Or It Will Be Bullshit by swingandswirl, written in direct response to JKR being unpleasantly transphobic on twitter this past week, and skimmed through Magical Metamorphosis by EontheDragonMage, which is a lovely Goblet of Fire rewrite in which Harry Potter realizes she's a girl, and a lot of other little injustices in the stories are worked out along the way as well. As of this writing, it's also a WIP, but it's just reached the end of the school year, so I didn't feel too unsettled when I got to the end of chapter 17.

And then there's the very strange historical omegaverse hockey RPF written in the aftermath of an abusive marriage and wreathed in religion. Maybe I shouldn't say it's as strange as all that: if it were written about fictional or original characters, I probably wouldn't even blink. The concept of male omegas existing as a reminder of God's promise to Noah after the flood is honestly a delightful bit of worldbuilding, and actually, it's not like I haven't read omegaverse hockey RPF before. Maybe it's a combination of the past marital assault (sexual and otherwise) and the fact that it's RPF that's getting me? Maybe it's just a cumulative effect, each unique feature of the fic piling atop all of the others until even my seasoned fannish brain boggles slghtly?

Anyway, This Time Next Year by Oplopanax is, in its unique way, one hell of a read, not that I'm more than a fraction of the way into it. Mind the "whitewashing of history" tag -- it takes place in a version of the American west, so far without any particular mention of the people the land was presumably stolen from. But it's certainly vivid, and surprisingly funny given how bleakly it starts. I'll keep you all posted, I guess?

VIEWED

I don't usually think to include works of visual art in these posts, but Honk by vass, which comments very wryly on the ongoing drama regarding the AO3's Hugo award, merits an exception.

WATCHED

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse spoilers:

This movie is a visual and auditory delight -- I loved the colors, the sounds, the written sound effects, the art! I also loved Miles, and how hard his dad tried to show him more understanding. Jake Johnson's voice was incredibly distracting, but I loved Lily Tomlin as Aunt May. And even though she was evil and all, I kind of had to love Liv, too. She was just so great!

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel spoilers through episode 3x01, "Strike Up the Band":

Well, I'm thrilled about Susie managing Sophie Lennon now, and she gave a damn good speech about it too. Lenny Bruce is a sweetheart, and so is Shy Baldwin. Other than that, I think I continue to feel cranky at most of the characters, although I was surprised by how much Benjamin Ettenberg grew on me.

I'm still hard pressed to categorize this show, but it hasn't stopped me nominating it for Chocolate Box.

Sym-Bionic Titan spoilers through episode 1x03, "Elephant Logic":

I decided to give this show a try after I saw a twitter thread singing its praises. Three episodes in... idk, it's kind of cute? I feel like not much has happened in it so far. I mean, sure, a couple of aliens and a robot crash landed and are trying to pose as high school students, but... even so. Am I being unfair to every new show I try out lately because my seasonal depression has rendered me anhedonic? Maybe I am. It's short and undemanding, though, so I'll probably give it another few episodes at least.

Comments

[st_aurafina]

My Hogwarts Will Be Intersectional Or It Will Be Bullshit is delightful, and a balm after what JKR said. I love fandom sometimes.

[enemyofperfect]

Very much yes to this. ♥

[rionaleonhart]

I've also got a mild cold that's been around for eleven days now! Maybe it's going around. (If you're curious, I haven't been vaccinated, so I don't think mine is mild flu.)

Into the Spider-Verse is such a good film and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[enemyofperfect]

I'm sorry you're sick too, but thank you for the anecdata! It's always vaguely reassuring to feel like I have some idea what's ailing me.

And thank you as well for the reminder to go dig up your Into the Spider-Verse post! I absolutely must consume as many feelings about this movie as possible.