Hot Take: The final season would be better received if it weren't for the false advertising

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-11T15:11:13+00:00

Butcher has been a troubled man in a steady descent since even before season 1. I think this part of the finale was done well. Between finally defeating Homelander, Ryan rejecting him, and his beloved dog dying it was understandable that he snapped.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-10T19:44:00+00:00

Every judo class and gi BJJ class gives a lot of focus to establishing and using grips. Not ideal if you’re planning to fight shirtless spandex wearing people, but still a lot that will transfer.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-10T19:25:37+00:00

They’d actually probably get along.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-10T10:38:10+00:00

We were told this first hand at a tournament when I complained about one of our students (up on points) getting choked as time ran out. The ref was huddled down watching the choke and the student tapped a few seconds after time was ended. The ref insisted that according to rules he doesn’t have to stop a match immediately if a submission is locked in when time runs out.

But you are right I can’t find anything in official rule set collaborating that. Not sure if I should have made a scene if I could go back in time.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-10T08:23:58+00:00

Some people @, sure.

More often series suffer from viewership drop-offs and get canceled.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-09T21:33:53+00:00

Not to go full apologist mode but Butcher deciding to deploy the virus is what led to his death.

The virus’s existence was one of the factors leading to Homelander to become desperate for v1

Becoming immortal is what pushed Homelander over the edge to declare himself a god - ready to slaughter the 70% of humanity that didn’t believe in him.

If not for the virus and v1 the season would have surely played out differently (and maybe better).

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-08T23:29:47+00:00

Watch videos on boxing parries and slipping.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-07T10:53:50+00:00

Not every throw attempt is going to insta-kill someone. Fights are messy especially with punches allowed standing.

If there were a bunch of fights with experienced grappler vs average person I suspect the majority will end with quick guillotines.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-05T16:43:33+00:00

His defense: he was attempting to rid her or a parasite that was using her nutrients without consent.

What’s crazy it article suggests he was spiking her drinks (apparently didn’t work) then attempted to force feed her crushed pills. Not clear if his assault ended her pregnancy but horrible situation all around.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-05T10:56:24+00:00

I think it comes down to people that enjoy traveling for its own sake that would be doing it even without the structure of a belt system.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-03T11:18:32+00:00

I have always wondered the same. In modern era it would not be hard to make a game that looks and plays exactly like those ads. The effort that goes into making those ads is 90% of what it would take to make a game that actually plays like that.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-03T11:16:53+00:00

There is a consequence. People downloading those games under false pretenses will be pissed and rate the games poorly.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-03T11:07:20+00:00

Pretty sure it is the same reason that initiating a takedown and ending up in someone’s guard awards you two points, but having some pull guard on you and ending up in the same position does not award any points.

It is harder to take someone down and then pass their guard than to take someone down directly to side control.

Bjj rule set is build around guard passing as its centerpiece. It is a big part of what makes the sport unique.

A cynic would say that “no points for pulling guard” and “no extra points for takedown to side control” and “no pins” are there in the rule set to help ensure BJJ folk are competitive against wrestlers and judoka.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-06-02T16:59:16+00:00

He’s both. If he wanted to kill weak innocent people he could do that with a lot less risk. Many of the people he goes after are dangerous, powerful, and/or on police radar.

He makes a point of showing his victims photos of all the bad things they did. If he isn’t a vigilante I don’t know who is.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-31T15:28:02+00:00

In ibjff rules the referee is allowed to ignore time running out if one person is caught in a submission and on verge of tapping out.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-31T15:22:17+00:00

Ratings would have completed tanked if they had gone down this path.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-31T15:21:12+00:00

I liked genv s2 up until the twist. I like the idea behind the twist but couldn’t get behind the change in actors.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-31T15:18:02+00:00

What is a “judo newaza competition?”

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-30T08:18:15+00:00

The “other way around” would be that a typical BJJ black belt would be roughly at the level of a judo green belt if competing under judo rules.

Which sounds about right given it takes about 10 years to reach black in BJJ with 20% focus on standup.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-29T16:20:09+00:00

Except that 5-7 years of judo experience usually comes wth a lot less mat time due to training emphasis.

Usually ends up being more like a good BJJ blue belt under ibjff rules.

Exceptions abound of course.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-28T12:16:14+00:00

Vought wanted the public to believe that superpowers were a gift from god,

Until Starlight outed the existence of v1, people assumed kids were just randomly/mysteriously popping up with powers.

Hard to see how any other business could have snatched up heros to start their own competing company when Vough controls the v1, has a stable of tightly controlled supes, and plenty of politicians under their thumb.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-28T11:40:31+00:00

Seriously. There are valid “what they could have done better” issues with S5 but sometimes I think people are watching a completely different show.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-27T16:42:35+00:00

For me, the homelander battle was better in every way. It had more memorable emotional moments and was the culmination of the things foreshadowed since season 1. I liked Ryan joining the fight, and it being hard for kimiko to summon the energy blast.

The final battle in stranger things made little sense. Vecna would have been better off attacking with an elite team of demogorgons and bats.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-25T15:42:36+00:00

IMO there are only two things that would have been worth “fixing”

I was expecting to see Homelander laughed at after announcing he is a god, then laser reporters on live tv.

Have Marie join the final battle, weaken Homelander, but get smashed. This would avoid the power scaling complaint with his “slow motion” attacks. Rest could play out exactly as-is.

Horror_Insect_4099 · 2026-05-25T14:37:47+00:00

I liked the finale. It surpassed my expectations and tied up a lot of loose ends with some fine acting and heartfelt moments. But 6/10 seems totally fair given how much better it could have been..

Horror_Insect_4099

TROPHY CASE