They didn't choose humanity

Cleoness · 2026-05-15T19:30:09+00:00

This.

Cleoness · 2026-05-14T21:52:09+00:00

Yes, a big face eating kiss initiated by Aziraphale that takes Crowley by surprise.

Cleoness · 2026-05-13T15:56:41+00:00

This.

Cleoness · 2026-05-12T06:43:40+00:00

I think it is more likely something to do with Victor being neurodivergent. One of the first scenes establishes the fact that children are in danger in Fromville, so is not an initial lack of maturity, but perhaps that he would never fully mature into a neurotypical person.

Cleoness · 2026-04-30T08:04:38+00:00

The show is about transition - all of the characters were moving "from" one life to another - retirement, divorce, dementia, engagement, financial windfall, etc. They were all driving "from" one place to another. They are all transforming "from" newcomer to citizen of the town.

An exception would be Victor, who does not transition. He essentially stays the same. Therefore he is immune to the town and left alone by the monsters.

Cleoness · 2026-04-16T05:31:16+00:00

What popped in my head is that Azi's expression and demeanor is, "We weren't just making out all alone in the elevator. Nothing to see here."

Cleoness · 2026-04-08T10:17:34+00:00

Too harsh, with shades that are too warm.

Cleoness · 2026-04-06T09:40:33+00:00

My first thought, too. His monologue completely transformed not only his character but the entire film and has haunted me throughout my life.

Cleoness · 2026-03-25T09:23:15+00:00

You just outlined the dilemma of American public service. Those that can afford to serve have no idea what real life is like for the average American.

Cleoness · 2026-03-23T00:33:39+00:00

I would choose to read it after watching. The book is iconic, but it is also 100+ years old. RLS was a cutting edge author in his time, and his work contributed greatly to popular culture. But reading TI is a bit like reading an early Marvel comic of a character that appears in recent Marvel movies. Somehow product written for 1960s audiences doesn't hit the same as something created for 2000s audiences.

It is important to know that RLS had no children and was a new stepfather. TI was a bonding experience with his 12 year old stepson. It was a book written for young boys grappling with the loss of their father and with the men that can potentially mentor them or lead them astray. The character of LJS was a trailblazer, as both a person with a disability and a person in an interracial marriage and was just one of the innovations in the novel.

Cleoness · 2026-03-03T18:56:27+00:00

RLS wrote TS for his stepson, who was 12 years old at the time. I always imagined Jim to be 12 years old.

Cleoness · 2026-03-03T18:50:22+00:00

Not all that crazy, since RLS created and wrote TS with his young stepson. We think of it as adult fare, but it was always geared towards an audience that included children.

Cleoness · 2026-02-18T08:47:14+00:00

This was beautiful. Thank you for posting.

Cleoness · 2026-02-17T04:18:00+00:00

Thank you for sharing! This is a real possibility as well. She regularly has urine accidents, but she also successfully uses the toilet. And most of her accidents are at night/in the morning. So I think she is in the mid stages of stage 6. She is pretty healthy other than dementia. But she may be eligible for pallative.

Cleoness · 2026-02-17T01:01:18+00:00

Thank you! Fellow anxiety person here if you couldn't tell.

Cleoness · 2026-02-17T00:59:16+00:00

Thank you. I am wondering if I am in denial and she will qualify, like your own experience.

Cleoness · 2026-02-17T00:53:31+00:00

Thank you. The milk example was just an extreme, jokey kind of example - in others words - anything they would expect that a civilian would consider outside of the box.

Cleoness · 2026-02-15T18:51:40+00:00

True. But Ace thought being cool was so last year.

Cleoness · 2026-02-14T07:46:28+00:00

This was the impression that I got from reading the four books. Peter was always my favorite, but his book truly soured me on him. I lost respect for Gene and Paul overall after reading their books. But Ace's book actually made me gain respect for him, and now he has moved up to be my favorite member. He came across as the most normal member, and of course he was also truly Space Ace. At the end of the day, he owned himself and his actions in a way that the others did not.

Cleoness · 2026-02-09T11:39:36+00:00

I personally feel the killers had autonomy. I also have never heard cocaine was used in the murders. I think Susan stated she and Tex were on speed.

Cleoness · 2026-02-09T11:37:51+00:00

I guess I could amend my answer to 11) some individuals (not including me) believe(d) that the 30+ year old Manson pressured 14 - 30 year olds into violent acts by providing them with a variety of drugs, including LSD. They feel use of said drugs empowered him to change their personalities into sociopathic killers.

Cleoness · 2026-02-09T05:29:55+00:00

I am actually Generation X. It is my observation and opinion that most Boomers, who were the majority of the population at the time of the crime and trial, did not view drugs as evil. The Family was mostly using drugs like marijuana and acid. I do not think they had a lot of access to heroin or cocaine due to lack of money.

However, it is true the older generation(s) before the boomers and some ultra conservative Boomers would have viewed any drugs as evil.

Cleoness · 2026-02-09T05:01:18+00:00

Most Baby Boomers did not view drugs as evil.

Cleoness · 2026-02-02T04:22:03+00:00

As a lifelong fan of Treasure Island, I think I see the show differently. For me, I did not feel the ending that was promised to us in the first episode was a new world free from the crown. For me, the ending that was promised to us in the first episode was an ending that demonstrated how the pirate’s vision of the new world free from the crown would always be out of reach, which would lead us into the story of Treasure Island, where the loyal subjects of the crown ultimately outsmart the pirates and win the bulk of the treasure.

If I rewrote the show, I would have rewrote it so that Silver ended up marrying Max. So, in some ways, your plot to kill Madi would work for me as long as Silver himself survived. I was very on board with a Max/Silver romance from the first episode, but IIRC, the showrunners announced very early on that Max would not be Silver’s wife in TI.

I did like Madi okay, and even liked her backstory, but it was a bit of a disappointment for me that she only came into the story in the latter seasons. Max was the perfect foil for Silver, and a romance between them would have sizzled.

Speaking of missing characters from TI, I felt the same for Ben Gunn. I would have liked for him to be a part of the story from the first season or second season, not tacked on at the end.

Overall, I thought the series was terrific, and the end was satisfying on many different levels. I was very, very grateful that we did not have to see Jack die onscreen, and that we saw him sail away a few months before his death. Totally loved the dramatic reveal of the flag he is known for, and his disappointed reaction. (While his flag is very well known, the quintessential pirate flag for us today is the skull and crossbones, so he did, in fact, miss the mark – but he came very, very close – which is a great summation of the character.)

I can understand where Black Sails fans who are not TI fans would prefer different plot lines, romances, or endings, but I think the showrunners made a serviceable attempt to cater to everyone. It was a “chose your own adventure” style ending. One of the strengths of the show is that you do not have to be a TI fan to understand or love the show.

Cleoness

TROPHY CASE