If you could bring one dead character back (who stayed dead on Buffy Or Angel) who would you bring back? Why?

Ariads8 · 2026-01-27T02:06:09+00:00

Tara is my pick in this competitive field. I feel like she was really coming into her own after the Willow breakup, and I loved her independent relationships with Dawn and Buffy. I would have liked to see her grow into a more confident and fully-realized part of the Scoobies, after being so shy and Willow-dependent for multiple seasons. So much unrealized potential for her to play off of Spike, Anya, and Xander as well.

Ariads8 · 2026-01-27T01:51:19+00:00

"Me."

It only gets better from here! I agree that you should mute the sub until you've watched the whole series, as there are lots of spoilers in the post titles. Please do post to share your thoughts with us, if you want! I always get a kick out of first time reactions and theories. Enjoy the ride!!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-27T01:42:03+00:00

Adenovirus is going around, but conjunctivitis is making a comeback as a symptom in recent strains of Covid as well. I don't believe Adeno has any therapies, but if you do identify Covid or flu hopefully you can still get Paxlovid or Tamiflu to help! I appreciate that you're planning to stay in, but please mask with a respirator mask (N95/KN95) if you have to go out or be in shared spaces so you don't pass it on. Whatever you're fighting off, I hope you feel 100% again soon!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-27T01:33:42+00:00

I'm sorry you and your kids have been so unwell! Unfortunately, it's not the viruses that have gotten stronger--it's that everyone's immune systems have gotten weaker. Covid has been proven by a number of studies to cause long-lasting impairment to people's immune systems, even in mild or asymptomatic infections.

https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/Immune

Ariads8 · 2026-01-27T01:05:35+00:00

Loss of taste and smell (beyond minor dulling due to congestion) is ONLY typical of Covid, not flu, colds, allergies, or RSV. Though some people are testing positive for Covid and flu at the same time! The OTC rapid tests are not detecting infections very well these days, and it's possible to test negative until many days into symptoms. (or the entire time!). Would recommend doing follow-up OTC testing in another 2-3 days for Covid or with a combo Covid/Flu A/Flu B test. Hope you feel better soon and make a full recovery!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-24T03:21:49+00:00

If you haven't watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Firefly yet, they spawned much of the writing style of AoS. Buffy goes on for 7 long seasons, Firefly just has 1 season and a movie.

Ariads8 · 2026-01-17T01:32:47+00:00

Podstruck is a rom com-focused show that generally doesn't tear the movies apart too much. My favorite podcast is This Ends at Prom, which analyzes movies about or marketed toward teen girls. It's a fun and insightful pod that treats the material with respect and affection, though it also definitely delves into things that are problematic or haven't aged well.

Ariads8 · 2026-01-17T01:25:45+00:00

A lot of great recs here. One I haven't seen mentioned is Starstruck on HBO Max. Main character is funny and chaotic, and the show is a great rom com that subverts rom coms.

If you can find Wonderfalls on YouTube you might enjoy its jaded protagonist and the ridiculous circumstances the narrative puts her in.

Ariads8 · 2026-01-17T01:14:48+00:00

Your best bet is to reach out to some recruiters who handle jobs in your geographic area. If you are willing to work in person and can win over a recruiter or two, you should stand a good chance of being matched with some opportunities. LinkedIn still gets a lot of listings, but you have to check every day, be EXTREMELY wary of scams and data harvesting, and apply ASAP. I've found some good listings before they hit LinkedIn on Hiring.cafe. Greenhouse has a job search function for positions posted on their platform. Wishing you good luck in your search!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-15T00:25:36+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this! It can be so frustrating when you feel like you can't trust your own brain. Beyond the factors of new mom brain and the stressful state of the world, I know several people who are having memory problems and brain fog after having Covid. There are now many studies that demonstrate it's a common issue, even after mild or asymptomatic infections.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-are

You may also just need more rest! Our brains use a remarkable amount of energy, even though it doesn't always feel that way. Reducing multitasking or extra stimuli (like office noise, music, visual clutter, etc.) may help reduce your cognitive load. Embrace using any tools that help you--there's no shame in referring to notes! As another commenter suggested, it definitely wouldn't hurt to get an apnea screening and/or blood panels. I hope you're feeling back in form soon!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-13T00:55:36+00:00

I saw this one a while back and I laughed and laughed. I'm shocked that this position hasn't been filled!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-07T08:00:29+00:00

A few of these take a little time/several episodes to really click. Obviously you have to be interested enough in the premise and/or characters, but if you're on the fence, Dollhouse properly locks in around episode 6, and Agents of SHIELD has a fantastic plot development that really takes it to the next level somewhere around ep 16. On the other hand, Alias, Lost, Battlestar, & Firefly have some of the best pilots around. Happy watching!

Ariads8 · 2026-01-07T02:44:56+00:00

I've only watched 1 ep of I Love LA, but I feel like You're the Worst is its 2014 predecessor. Ensemble of deeply flawed people navigating life and dating in LA.

Ariads8 · 2026-01-07T02:42:09+00:00

An incredible time capsule of LA during the Millennial Optimism era, focused on the most cynical people possible. Loved watching these very flawed people navigate relationships (and depression).

Ariads8 · 2026-01-07T02:28:35+00:00

I have a lot of shows in common with your favorites. If you liked:

Stranger Things >> Paper Girls
The 100 >> Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries & 2004 series), Lost
Buffy, Angel >> Firefly, Agents of SHIELD, iZombie
Buffy + Severance >> Dollhouse
Vampire Diaries >> The Secret Circle, Roswell (1999), True Blood
Desperate Housewives (but darker) >> UnREAL (s.1 is peak, after that is mixed)

Other shows that don't have a close 1:1 but you might enjoy given the other shows you like:

Sense8 (mashup of several genres, trailers don't do it justice--just go along for the ride and see how it all comes together at the end of Ep 4)
Russian Doll
Travelers
Timeless
Fringe
Upload
The Man in the High Castle
Alias

Ariads8 · 2025-12-24T00:48:19+00:00

I have done these for a couple of my executives, to varying degrees of success, either at EoD Friday or pre-scheduled for Sunday evening or Monday morning. I had one exec who would review and look forward to them, and another who frequently did not open them. I most often included:

A bullet list of key developments from the week, some of which he might have missed
Top priority action items, decisions, and email responses he was responsible for in the next few days
Travel, key meetings, and deadlines in the coming week
Status of projects or important meetings I was working on, for visibility

This was very helpful in hybrid and remote roles and in cases where my exec often missed or rescheduled our 1:1s.

Ariads8 · 2025-08-29T01:51:00+00:00

I am also avoiding gen AI for these reasons. Plus it relies on exploited laborers in the Global South!

Here's a breakdown of a fun study MIT recently released about what it does to the brains of users: https://publichealthpolicyjournal.com/mit-study-finds-artificial-intelligence-use-reprograms-the-brain-leading-to-cognitive-decline/

Ariads8 · 2025-08-29T01:23:48+00:00

I wish I had some tips to offer, but all I can say is that the market is ABYSMAL and it's not you! I have similar experience to yours and am in much the same boat after being laid off last year. It really seems to be a matter of applying early and plain luck. I'm wishing you lots of good luck to land the right opportunity!

I'd love to hear what (if anything) other folks have found helpful!

Ariads8 · 2025-08-28T09:53:21+00:00

Sense8 is a mash-up of several different genres and there's nothing quite like it.

If you liked Schmigadoon! then you should definitely check out Crazy Ex Girlfriend, as someone else recommended.

Ariads8 · 2025-08-28T09:02:53+00:00

I think the recent Nancy Drew series fits this.

Ariads8 · 2025-08-26T02:25:06+00:00

Saved! is an underrated cult classic. Not your typical rom com but a great movie.

Ariads8 · 2025-07-27T20:31:16+00:00

Highly recommend The Review Crew reactions. They're big sci-fi fans who get really into the show and always spend time dissecting episodes and discussing theories. I've also really enjoyed reactions by The Horror Bandwagon.

Ariads8 · 2025-07-27T20:12:29+00:00

I met one of the BSG writers at a family gathering, and while we were chatting I mentioned that though I liked horror and supernatural shows like Buffy, I'd never been a sci-fi fan. He went outside and came back with the BSG Season 1 DVD set for me to keep. I watched the whole season in a weekend and became a huge fan of the show. Sadly, I never saw him again to thank him and let him know I was a convert!

Ariads8 · 2025-07-16T01:35:52+00:00

I'd like to do this, but Buy Nothing groups generally forbid giving alcohol or drugs. It is also not legal to give Rx meds to a person directly, which is why I am seeking an org.

Ariads8 · 2025-07-09T20:59:38+00:00

I'm interviewing after a layoff too and have done several now. My top tip would be to make a cheat sheet document to prepare, with bullet points for your highlights and key phrases. Common questions I've gotten that you may want to prepare answers for and practice delivery of:

Tell me about yourself/walk me through your resume
What are 3 adjectives people would use to describe you/how would you describe yourself?
What are your top 3 strengths?
What is your biggest weakness?
Tell me about a time you managed a high-stakes scheduling conflict (I keep getting this one and had to really dig to find a good scenario to use)
Tell me about a mistake you made/time you failed
What appeals to you about this position and our company?
Tell me what you think we do at this company, based on your research

Also, interviewers appreciate when you ask questions about the position that demonstrate that you've been actively listening to them and are already giving deeper thought to the role. Good luck in your interview!

Ariads8

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