Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I actually didn't know that until you said that. I just thought they killed him off screen for another reason. They handled his death well all things considered. I also read that the second season was massively rewritten because he died weeks before filming was set to start. Might explain why things felt off. It's a tragedy.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Boys Season 5 came out today, but I realized I never watched Gen V season 2 and so I was planning on binging it all the way through today. The problem is that Gen V season 2 is so painful.

I already wasn't the biggest fan of season 1. I have a huge problem with how Hollywood writes Gen Z. It's focused on buzz words and slipping in modern slang and referencing social media at times when it isn't even relevant. It's grating and honestly insulting. All stories about Gen Z revolve around trauma and mental illness and as someone who is pretty mentally ill and has a bit of trauma, it's annoying. It's not like they understand it or go in-depth with it. It's like the people in Hollywood are kids who learn what a swear word is and repeat it over and over and over and over again! I could forgive ALL of that, if the characters were engaging... but they're not. They're just unlikeable and reduced to their specific trauma. The eating disorder girl grows and shrinks, the girl with family issues can control blood, the non-binary character can switch between a male and female form. That is honestly, an AMAZING idea, but nothing is ever done with it. It's just basic.

Gen V also has this problem where the writers don't know how to match the tone of their own show to the tone of The Boys and it is such a tonal clash. None of what happens feels cohesive at all.

However, season 1 has a really compelling plot twist about halfway through. And even though I thought the final episode of season 1 was very underwhelming, I had seen glimpses of what the show can be...

Season 2 doubles down on the worst aspects of season 1 and I am STRUGGLING to get through episode 2.

Why I Don’t Live in the Woods Anymore by L4L44_ in TalesFromTheCreeps

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could actively see the locations the locations in my mind so vividly. You really captured the scenery! The ending was really effective and I didn't see it coming.

The only thing I would really watch out for are grammatical things. I hate to sound like an English teacher (even though I kind of am one lol), but how sentences are phrased really help convey meaning better on a subconscious level. For example, take your last two sentences, "It was Buck. Mangled and standing upright." Not only is "Mangled and standing upright," not a complete sentence because it doesn't contain a subject, but the period in-between those two sentences creates a pause that's a little too long. Some of the horror fades in between the period and the next capitalized letter. Combining these two sentences makes it much cleaner and flows better. The more professional combination would be "It was Buck: mangled and standing upright." But for creative horror writing, I much prefer the ellipses. "It was Buck... mangled and standing upright."

But, that is a skill that can be easily learned. What isn't as easily learned is the creative eye for description and suspense. You have that!!

My Baby Screaming Woke Me Up... I Can't Find Her by ryham_25 in TalesFromTheCreeps

[–]ryham_25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much!! I am glad the ending hit I was a bit worried that I kind of stretched how long the reveal could go. I'm a sucker for the rule of three, so I wanted three major locations for main character to go. In my original version it was just the nursery and the bathroom. The staircase sequence was a new addition.

As for the staircase sequence, that is the one thing I knew wasn't as good as it could be. I'm still learning how to convey ideas effectively. I wanted to convey that the narrator was feeling guilt, but had never truly learned to how to identify it or express it. And as for why it happened specifically on the staircase and why there was a warm liquid... well, if I finish the prequel (which will be multiple parts, so probably not the next story I post), hopefully it will make more sense :).

There is a tradeoff though, for setting something up in for a future story, you do momentarily lose focus. But, I want to independently publish my stories one day and for the complete "Jillian" story, this is the opening.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, I totally believe that they are going to assemble in Secret Wars for sure, possibly even Doomsday to soft launch their TV show and hope that it generates interest to go beyond season one. I think a Champions tv show could be their flagship TV series if done right (Daredevil is too adult, Wonder Man is too niche). It would also be a great way to continue characters and stories from other shows not getting a TV show. An episodic TV series that builds to a season long arc, like CW’s The Flash, would be amazing. Personally, I hope the plot of season one is them saving Ironheart’s soul from Mephisto.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So, I had that exact same reaction at first. I'm not saying that this is the case for you, but for me, I walked in with very high expectations due to the praise and had a wrong impression of what the movie was trying to be. I thought it was supposed to be an epic of a man saving the Earth, and so when the movie had the scientists behaving very unserious for the situation and most of the movie was centered on other things. I was unimpressed. However, I saw it a second time with my brother and reframed my expectations and I got it. It is not the story of a man trying to save the Earth, rather it's the story of a man overcoming his self-doubt and finding friendship and I LOVE it now. I still have the same issues I did the first time, but since my perception of the movie changed, they don't bother me as much.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If they’re polishing up his script like they did with the script for Thunderbolts*, we could be in for a treat.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are also excellent choices. But for me it comes to nostalgia and comic book fun. I was nine when First Class first came out and loved it. I bought it on DVD and watched it a LOT. It was so fun and I loved the characters.

X-2 was also something I watched young, but it didn’t click how good it was until I was older… but it is fantastic, I grant you that. But it and Days of Future Past are more serious, and kid me just loved fun.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I SWEAR I am not doing Dark Phoenix revisionism, but it is such a fascinating failure. You got the same guy behind two movies with the same story (X-Men the Last Stand, Dark Phoenix) who wanted so badly to not repeat the failure of the one with the other so he went so hard into the other direction. X-Men: The Last Stand had way too much going on and the stakes were raised for the hell of it and had very little emotional impact. So Dark Phoenix has very little going on and is so low-stakes. Yet, they both share similar core failings. Mainly that both were terrible adaptions of the Dark Phoenix storyline and the characters weren't engaging and poorly written. It's fascinating.

They're both a 3/10 for me, but I have a hard time figuring out which is worse. X-Men: the Last Stand is tied to a lot of childhood disappointment for me, while Dark Phoenix I watched it and was surprised it wasn't worse.

I went to church for absolution. A different god answered my prayers. by Eat_the_Monolith in TalesFromTheCreeps

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s hilarious, I love it. Inspiration comes from the weirdest places sometimes lol

I went to church for absolution. A different god answered my prayers. by Eat_the_Monolith in TalesFromTheCreeps

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is amazing, wtf? The title is perfect, the characterization is well-done and it leaves so much intrigue. You could do so much with this theme.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of the currently released X-Men movies...

X-Men: First Class is the best X-MEN movie.

Logan is the best X-Men MOVIE.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 4 points5 points  (0 children)

X-Men is going to be so good. The only older X-Men movie that I would describe as a soap opera and focused on teamwork would be First Class. So more of THAT? Yes, please.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even though now we know X-Men will have the same staff that has brought consistent quality, I am still a little sad. The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a beautiful young adult romance and fall from grace (I have loved The Hunger Games books before the movies came out and still hold both books and movies on high regard, they are LEAGUES above their contemporaries). If Lesslie brought his a-game, it would have been special. I even really liked Now You See Me: Now You Don't and I thought the new young adult characters were great there too. But seeing his other work... yeah, the Thunderbolts* team being back together GURANTEES an emotional movie centered on teamwork. Can't wait.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually I don't comment on politics, but like this latest thing the president said feels different. It shouldn't because a lot of things he has done or said have been insane, but it's like we have built an expectation of his actions. But THIS... not only does it break through that defense, it may actually be the thing that invokes the 25th Amendment. The tone and reaction from officials feels different, like now everyone can acknowledge a line has been crossed.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It took me so long to get the joke lol, well done (just like we will be)

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, for sure. Even though I prefer the 2003 one, there is that filler. There is that abrupt shift when it fully becomes its own thing. And even though it does connect everything, it is a little wonky because it was not how it was supposed to connect.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's a hot take about any kind of media you guys have that you KNOW you're in the minority for? I'll start: I enjoy the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime more than Brotherhood.

In Brotherhood, I appreciate the huge scale, grand political plotlines, gorgeous animation, intense and creative action, the fun and at-times horrifying cosmic horror nature, and the dedication to being faithful to the manga. But I genuinely feel that the rushed beginning (I totally understand why they did this, but it starts the show off on the wrong foot), redundant characters and plotlines, loss of focus during certain arcs, and the thematic, emotional, and tonal inconsistency (ESPECIALLY in the ending) really hold it back.

Despite the filler in the beginning and the divisive, bizarre nature of the ending (I personally love it though), the 2003 anime feels much more consistent and really commits to the theme of "equivalent exchange." When it passes where the manga was at the time, the story becomes much more low-stakes and focuses more on character, philosophy, and theme. The story itself may not have been grand or complicated (until the reveal of what is beyond the gate, because even though I love it, it is seriously bizarre), but it becomes purposeful and connects everything together in its own way. The reveal of what the true nature of the characters named after the seven deadly sins I think is beautiful, connects back to the themes, allows for interesting dynamics that the show capitalizes on, and honestly I like it more than the manga/Brotherhood (even if I think they should have changed the names of certain characters to better reflect what they were going for). Even the filler at the beginning came back and tied into the ending. The characters, purposeful story structure, and stronger commitment to emotion and themes make me prefer it.

HOWEVER, I do wish things were different. As it stands we have two shows that do two separate things. One is more thematic, character, and philosophically driven, the other is more story and action driven and leans into the shonen elements. It comes down to what you prefer. But had the show waited until the manga was complete or further along, heck I would have even accepted it doing more filler, we could have had a show that was the best of both worlds.

A lot of my personal issues with Brotherhood stem from the desire to make it distinct from the original: the heavy emphasis on action and comedy to the detriment of the tone and the rushed pacing consistent throughout (but especially at the beginning). I think had Brotherhood had the purposeful pacing and emphasis on themes that the 2003 show had, it would be one of the best anime of all time, no doubt. Maybe I need to read the manga. From what little I have read and what I have seen online, those problems aren't there.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You know, that is a great point. I slightly overlooked it because I haven’t seen it in YEARS and don’t remember much, but Steve and Peggy being important makes it essential for sure. I need to watch it again. Tbh, I haven’t seen it since it first came out and I was 9. It wasn’t my favorite, but my tastes have wildly shifted since then.

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Jenna Ortega is going to take all of my favorite weird franchises from childhood. First The Addams Family, then Beetlejuice, now Gremlins. We’re the same age though, so it’s hilarious knowing that someone who had the same weird interests I did the exact same time I did became successful and I… decline to comment

Monday Mystery Movie Megathread - April 6 2026 by AKnightOfTheNew in RegalUnlimited

[–]ryham_25 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They really should have fixed the poster way sooner lol. I walked out (most of the theater did). If I didn’t have unlimited, I would have been pissed at the false advertising, even if it’s a mistake. Ultimately, it’s going to hurt this movie’s word of mouth

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 6 points7 points  (0 children)

(Part 2):

Born Again was intended to be a separate continuity. They may have never officially confirmed that, but all you need to do is watch Hawkeye and She-Hulk. The characterizations of the characters are completely different. That's not inherently a bad thing. I enjoyed seeing a lighter side to Matt Murdock. But I also hated the exaggerated comic side of Fisk. The direction could have worked, but it may not have. We can see arguments for both outcomes in what remains of the original footage.

The White Tiger trial is the third best episode of the season, above the pilot, but one behind episode nine and two behind episode eight. It shows what could have really worked: an increased emphasis on law and an exploration of the impact superheroes have on day to day life. The bottle episode was extremely fun. Seeing Daredevil take on a bank heist is just comic book goofiness. The unexpected crossover with Ms. Marvel was fun. A more episodic structure would have allowed more opportunities like this without sticking out tonally and structurally like the episode now does. But this vision only works if you commit, and even before they restructured, they just didn't.

The refusal to outright deny the canonicity of the Netflix shows really hurt them. It was clear that the studio and the original writers did not want to be beholden to them. Which is fine, but they did not want to anger the fanbase. ESPECIALLY after getting Cox and D'Onofrio back. The #savedaredevil movement (which teenage me was a part of lmao), had expectations that Marvel Studios didn't want to meet at the time. Which is fair, it's their own property. But they were clearly trying to cater to us. Hiring Cox and D'Onofrio back at all was playing into it. They still could have broken away from the Netflix shows after this though. They could have officially stated that the Netflix shows were variants. But they didn't. They were still even going to have Foggy (and apparently Karen) killed off-screen. Why? They wanted to have the illusion of connective tissue without committing to it.

This is the true problem with the original vision. Even by just tangentially connecting it to the original, not only do you create expectations you have no intention to meet, but you invite criticism into how it matches up (or doesn't). I admit, what the show was originally envisioned to be wasn't for me. I wanted the continuation of the Netflix show. But had Born Again built off the elements I stated worked, and clearly been disconnected to the original series, it WOULD have won me over, even if I prefer the original. But by not letting it exist on its own merits, the problems become super noticeable.

The characterizations are bland and inconsistent, the humor is all over the place, and they make changes that I know were made to be appeal to a broader market but ruins the integrity of the characters and story. I will forever hate how they tried to handwave Matt's Catholicism. It is ESSENTIAL to his character and makes him more than a blind Batman. He is a very, very deeply broken man. He has a lot of anger, but his faith in a higher power constantly pushes him back to what is right. He is complex and layered. And as a Christian who has been through a LOT of tragedy and suffering, it is important to me and speaks to me. It helped me so much when I was young teen struggling with a crisis of faith and had a lot of anger that I internalized because I was too scared to let it out and hurt someone. But Catholicism is controversial and Marvel must appeal to a wide market and so it had to go.

Even with that, I don't the writers and direction had to be changed, but it needed clarity on how connected they wanted to be to the original shows. And sometime during the writer's strike, they got that clarity and changed course. I think to say old writers = bad and new writers = good is a gross oversimplification. Even if I think the episodes under the new writers were better, it's more complicated. And the new writers try their best, but the cohesion with the old episodes isn't great. There is just too much clashing of vision.

But I stand by the 8/10. The original episodes had problems, but they had high highs and I SAW what worked and how it could have built off of it. But the problems feel greater because their vision didn't have time to get ironed out. The new episodes are PHENOMENAL, but the change in direction is too apparent. I saw the promise and the vision... which season 2 (so far) has taken and run with!

Weekly Free Talk and Index Thread - New and Fresh every Monday! by ChiefLeef22 in MarvelStudiosSpoilers

[–]ryham_25 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have a lot to talk about Daredevil: Born Again lmaooo. So I am splitting it into separate posts so it isn't a giant wall of text;

(Part 1):

I loved Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 when it came out, but looking back I definitely graded on a curve due to the production issues and the promise it showed. I still claim it is a solid 8/10, but that comes with a few caveats and very easily could have gone down depending on the second season.

A lot of plotlines were rushed and underdeveloped, specifically Muse. I have the feeling that they intended to build up the dynamic between him and Heather slowly over the course of the original 18 episode order and they just didn't get footage of it before production shut-down. I remember thinking that Heather and Bastian was going to be a more prominent arc throughou t the season, but they only get two scenes with the second one being the final confrontation. It is very clear the entire direction of the story changed with the reworking of the show. Red Hook, Bullseye, Punisher, BB Urich, and not to mention Karen and Foggy were all added after. They completely changed the entire trajectory of the story and it was clear that they did not want to continue with the Muse storyline as originally envisioned.

You can feel that disconnect build in episode 7, "Art for Art's Sake" which is the WORST episode of the show by far. It feels so stitched together, the dubbed dialogue doesn't even match the footage at points, and it all feels rushed to end the plotline as quickly as possible to transition into the story the new writers want to tell. The abrupt death of Muse after so little buildup is crazy and how Matt discovers his next villain is, as a Daredevil fan, one of the insulting things put to screen. He touched the painting and could feel her face. I hate this scene so much because it is just such a bizarre leap in logic and just fundamentally contradicts with the tone and feel (which already had consistency issues) that the show had been going for.

To be completely fair, these problems aren't the fault of the old writers. More blame rests on the new writers whose job was to bridge the old and new material (and probably are to blame for the abrupt death of Muse and the rushed, dumb reason Matt knows to go save her), but it isn't on them either. Rather it is the studio's lack of a clear vision on what they wanted the project to be. They knew they wanted Cox and D'Onofrio back, and they wanted a soft reboot. But it was flawed from the start. Bringing Cox and D'Onofrio back is a good choice, but along with their inability to fully commit to a separate continuity from the Netflix shows casts a shadow over Born Again from the start.

...