My 2021 media consumed so far
Jun. 21st, 2021 12:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
darkrosaleenFor boring real life reasons, I've had much more free time in 2021 than I did even in 2020. I'm apparently coping by binge-consuming every piece of media on my to do list. Some of them are developing into fandom interests, so I figured I'd dump them all in a post.
BRIDGERTON
Canon thoughts: I was really digging this ridiculous, sexy show until the lead couple got engaged halfway through and the plot became an endless string of dumb arguments dragging them apart so they could mistakenly decide the other one hates them and then dramatically come back together. I was much more interested in the family drama and side characters than the main couple, although Simon and Daphne had scorching chemistry and their flirty fake engagement arc was delightful. I'll probably watch the second season because I loved Anthony, but I have low expectations.
Fandom thoughts: I was all on the incest and Simon/Anthony homoerotic experimentation train. Anthony was my predictable fave (boiling over with anger and passion, chest hair, hot mess with the emphasis on hot) and I want to see him having messy, needy sex with his siblings and school friends. I wrote some Benedict/Lady Danbury crossdressing for Kink Lucky Dip, a fun ship I would never have thought of myself.
THE BORGIAS
Canon thoughts: One of the best "sexy violent historical cable drama with lush expensive costumes and steamy political intrigue" shows I've seen. The casting is phenomenal and everyone has amazing chemistry. I don't know enough about the historical period to vouch for accuracy, but I thought it played with the salacious Borgia rumors like incest and poisoning in a way that was sympathetic and compelling. Third season tapered in writing quality a bit (three of my favorite characters were written off and a bunch of super boring side characters got loads of screen time), but season three also had some of the most fun character developments for Cesare and Lucrezia, so it evens out.
Fandom thoughts: I knew Cesare/Lucrezia was an incest juggernaut, and I knew the basic sketch of their historical relationship, but I was unprepared for just how handsy and affectionate and obsessed with each other these two were from their first appearance in the first episode. One of the swooniest, most intense ships I've gotten into recently. I also ship both of them with their bad brother, their dad, and Cesare's pet assassin. I wrote an always-a-woman Cesare drabble sequence for Multifandom Drabble.
STRANGER THINGS
Canon thoughts: The first season was really fun and spooky and nostalgic, even for someone who doesn't remember the eighties and wasn't allowed to watch Steven King movies as a kid. Season two was a bit less tight, but that's when we actually meet Will Byers and watch him go through an amazing monster corruption arc, and he instantly became my favorite character. Season three was a lot less tight, but I still thought it was fun--I thought the bratty horny teen dating drama was funny and accurate, and I liked Billy's role and characterization a lot better in this season. My main complaint was that the kids didn't all reunite until the final battle when no one was talking, and that Will's Mindflayer connection wasn't abused enough (although it was fun to see it singling out El for special attention--I hope we get possessed traumatizedattracted to Mike Wheeler monster twins Will and Eleven).
Fandom thoughts: I totally expected to ship Steve/Nancy/Jonathan because I've never met an OT3 I didn't like, but for some reason they didn't grab me. I loved Nancy/Jonathan a lot before they actually got together, but didn't love their writing as a couple. I ended up shipping the kids way more than I expected, oops. Mike and Eleven were adorable, Max and Lucas were really fun and sweet, and Mike/Will had me when Mike spent season 2 doing for Will what Nancy did for Jonathan in the finale. I could be convinced by any ship in the kids group, but the OT3 that got me was Will/Mike/Eleven, a big-hearted extrovert caretaker and the two weird quiet damaged people he loves. I wrote Will & Eleven gen because Will should wear hot pink and feel confident.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Canon thoughts: I'm halfway through season one and enjoying it a lot. The cast is great, the tone is really fun and dark with a lot of messy adopted-siblings-but-not-really relationships. I'm partial to Diego and Five, but I'm still getting a feel for it.
Fandom thoughts: I know this is fertile ground for incest shipping, and I can tell I'm going to ship all of it, especially Luther/Allison and Klaus/Ben and Diego/Klaus. I feel pretty strongly that Klaus is a dom and Luther and Diego are subs, and I have a feeling that's not a popular opinion.
BRIDGERTON
Canon thoughts: I was really digging this ridiculous, sexy show until the lead couple got engaged halfway through and the plot became an endless string of dumb arguments dragging them apart so they could mistakenly decide the other one hates them and then dramatically come back together. I was much more interested in the family drama and side characters than the main couple, although Simon and Daphne had scorching chemistry and their flirty fake engagement arc was delightful. I'll probably watch the second season because I loved Anthony, but I have low expectations.
Fandom thoughts: I was all on the incest and Simon/Anthony homoerotic experimentation train. Anthony was my predictable fave (boiling over with anger and passion, chest hair, hot mess with the emphasis on hot) and I want to see him having messy, needy sex with his siblings and school friends. I wrote some Benedict/Lady Danbury crossdressing for Kink Lucky Dip, a fun ship I would never have thought of myself.
THE BORGIAS
Canon thoughts: One of the best "sexy violent historical cable drama with lush expensive costumes and steamy political intrigue" shows I've seen. The casting is phenomenal and everyone has amazing chemistry. I don't know enough about the historical period to vouch for accuracy, but I thought it played with the salacious Borgia rumors like incest and poisoning in a way that was sympathetic and compelling. Third season tapered in writing quality a bit (three of my favorite characters were written off and a bunch of super boring side characters got loads of screen time), but season three also had some of the most fun character developments for Cesare and Lucrezia, so it evens out.
Fandom thoughts: I knew Cesare/Lucrezia was an incest juggernaut, and I knew the basic sketch of their historical relationship, but I was unprepared for just how handsy and affectionate and obsessed with each other these two were from their first appearance in the first episode. One of the swooniest, most intense ships I've gotten into recently. I also ship both of them with their bad brother, their dad, and Cesare's pet assassin. I wrote an always-a-woman Cesare drabble sequence for Multifandom Drabble.
STRANGER THINGS
Canon thoughts: The first season was really fun and spooky and nostalgic, even for someone who doesn't remember the eighties and wasn't allowed to watch Steven King movies as a kid. Season two was a bit less tight, but that's when we actually meet Will Byers and watch him go through an amazing monster corruption arc, and he instantly became my favorite character. Season three was a lot less tight, but I still thought it was fun--I thought the bratty horny teen dating drama was funny and accurate, and I liked Billy's role and characterization a lot better in this season. My main complaint was that the kids didn't all reunite until the final battle when no one was talking, and that Will's Mindflayer connection wasn't abused enough (although it was fun to see it singling out El for special attention--I hope we get possessed traumatized
Fandom thoughts: I totally expected to ship Steve/Nancy/Jonathan because I've never met an OT3 I didn't like, but for some reason they didn't grab me. I loved Nancy/Jonathan a lot before they actually got together, but didn't love their writing as a couple. I ended up shipping the kids way more than I expected, oops. Mike and Eleven were adorable, Max and Lucas were really fun and sweet, and Mike/Will had me when Mike spent season 2 doing for Will what Nancy did for Jonathan in the finale. I could be convinced by any ship in the kids group, but the OT3 that got me was Will/Mike/Eleven, a big-hearted extrovert caretaker and the two weird quiet damaged people he loves. I wrote Will & Eleven gen because Will should wear hot pink and feel confident.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Canon thoughts: I'm halfway through season one and enjoying it a lot. The cast is great, the tone is really fun and dark with a lot of messy adopted-siblings-but-not-really relationships. I'm partial to Diego and Five, but I'm still getting a feel for it.
Fandom thoughts: I know this is fertile ground for incest shipping, and I can tell I'm going to ship all of it, especially Luther/Allison and Klaus/Ben and Diego/Klaus. I feel pretty strongly that Klaus is a dom and Luther and Diego are subs, and I have a feeling that's not a popular opinion.
