Anonymous asked: Okay so I'm super into weird, sort of fucked up interpersonal/political(/sexual?) dynamics so NEEDLESS TO SAY a lot of what you've said about Borgias sounds pretty up my alley, but can you give me a rundown before I sit down and burn through three seasons? Also, is it on Netflix, and if no, where can I find it?
The Borgias is AMAZING, ON NETFLIX, AND FULLY AND 110% MY JAM, but that said it is super niche and I am super niche which is why I love it so. I will attempt to give you the rundown objectively!
Things the Borgias contains: -crazy renaissance political intrigue -apparently the marketing slogan for the show was “the original crime family”, which is 100% true. There’s a very heavy mafia family vibe, and it’s not just because they’re Italian. -brother/sister incest. Incest between consenting adults, but incest all the same. (Also, to be fair: the incest Vibes start when Lucrezia is still fifteen, although the characters don’t do anything about it until years later.) -very graphic violence. Think Game of Thrones and Hannibal? (Although with a few exceptions I think the violence skews more GoT than Hannibal.) -multiple graphic rape scenes. They’re not filmed super grossly, in that awful Game of Thrones way, but they’re still graphic rape scenes. -non-graphic yet still deeply disturbing medieval torture! -three (3) canonically queer characters, one of whom is in a major supporting role -so much murder -so. much. murder. -queer sex scenes, although you have to wait a while for them -sex scenes featuring Cesare Borgia and Lucrezia Borgia, which is AMAZING -sex scenes featuring Jeremy Irons, which is less amazing, even as I actually really love his lecherous pope -for a while, Luke Pasquilano being often shirtless -Giulia Farnese’s legs, which are Quality Legs -a badass warrior queen who at one point throws her dress up and threateningly flashes her map of tasmania at her enemies
I feel like this is more or less the objective rundown? The unobjective rundown goes like this:
The Borgias contains: -MICHELETTO CORELLA, LIGHT OF MY LIFE -CESARE BORGIA, FIRE OF MY LOINS -LUCREZIA BORGIA, MY SIN MY SOUL -DECADENT AND LUSH CATHOLIC ICONOGRAPHY (IE PEARL-STUDDED CRUCIFIXES AND BLOOD-RED CARDINAL’S VELVET AND GIMME THEM GOLD COINS GIMME THEM COINS) -GOOD PEOPLE DOING TERRIBLE THINGS FOR LOVE -BAD PEOPLE DOING TERRIBLE THINGS FOR LOVE -GOOD PEOPLE BETRAYING THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE BECAUSE OF THEIR TERRIBLE AMBITION -BAD PEOPLE BETRAYING THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE BECAUSE OF THEIR TERRIBLE LOYALTY -EVERYONE BETRAYING GOD AND DESPERATELY WANTING GOD AT THE SAME TIME. THEIR FAITH AND THEIR TERRIBLE LOVE LIVES FOLLOW SIMILAR TRAJECTORIES. -LUCREZIA’S SMALL SHARP ODDLY FRIGHTENING PEARLY TEETH -CESARE CALLING MICHELETTO “MY SWEET ASSASSIN” -MICHELETTO BENDING OVER A LITERAL RACK AND CALMLY ORDERING CESARE TO BEAT HIM -CESARE’S OVERWHELMED AND HUNGRY EYES -LUCREZIA’S SULKY MOUTH AND CHILD’S HANDS AND EQUALLY HUNGRY EYES -PEOPLE SO TERRIBLE THAT WHEN THEY ARE GOOD, THEIR GOODNESS SEEMS TRANSCENDANT -I HATE, I LOVE, I DON’T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS, BUT I BURN.
alright buckle up motherfuckers, i’m about to school y’all about this wonderful show called Leverage.
let’s start with the premise: they’re a bunch of criminals who come together to work as a team and to “pick up where the law leaves off.” aka: they do illegal shit to legally take out the bad guys, i.e. framing/ruining the reputation of/revealing actual law-breaking by embezzling rich politicians, dirty cops, corporations doing secret shit on the down-low, etc.
each episode is a different bad guy they need to take down for doing something terrible, and each episode they come up with a different scheme to take them out. the team consists of: the hacker, the hitter, the grifter, the thief, and the mastermind behind all their plots. they’re all thieves at one point or another, they all grift, and they all contribute to the plan, but these are their Roles. i’ll go more in-depth on the characters in a sec.
now, i know what you’re thinking already: “wow bruh this show must be edgy af, being about actual criminals doing super illegal shit???” bUT NO. THIS SHOW COULD HAVE BEEN SO DARK BASED ON THE CONCEPT, BUT IT’S LITERALLY THE NICEST, MOST ENJOYABLE SHOW EVER.
it’s also SERIOUSLY unproblematic????? like to unrealistic levels. like Nate’s alcoholism is treated with respect and not just something he “gets over,” but despite his issues, he’s held accountable for when he’s a dick, Parker is pretty clearly neurodivergent and she’s never!! forced to be anything else!!!! anyway i could go on and on.
he’s the mastermind, he’s brilliant and the genius behind each of their convoluted plans. he’s a jerk sometimes, and grouchy, but he’s got good reason, and he NEVER crosses over into “angsty white man justifies his assholery because of his Issues.” he used to work for an insurance company tracking down criminals and thieves before A Thing happened and he became the Dad of a group of them. he makes bad life choices, so i relate. also his son died and he has a rad ex-wife and he struggles with alcoholism. we love him.
she’s the grifter. she’s a great actress but only when she’s breaking the law it’s a running gag. she’s terrible on an actual stage l m a o. she’s the Mom of the group, and she and Nate are lowkey flirting the entire show. she tells it like it is, but is v compassionate. sassy af. british af. would probably console you about your husband leaving you before stealing your rare artifacts. high-class which shows in the fact that she was primarily an art thief before joining the team. i wouldn’t trust her with my jewelry, but i’d tell her all my secrets, and tbh that’s the best summary of her character that you’ll get.
hooooooooooo boy. where do i begin to describe Eliot Spencer? wel, for starters, he’s the “hitter” of the group aka he beats people up when they can’t sneak their way in or out of a place. or when things go wrong. he’s super fucking badass oh my god??? like i’m pretty sure there’s maybe only one or two times in the ENTIRE. SHOW. that he can’t win a fight?? he also has a Super Secret Dark Past bc he used to be a hitman for hire, which he regrets deeply and is happy to have changed bUT AGAIN!! IT’S NOT A WHITE MALE ANGST THING. he isn’t obsessed with attoning for his actions and his scenes aren’t eaten up with Angst and Melodrama. he also has anger issues, but again, it’s not the same stereotype that you’re used to. he controls it, and he never takes it on on anybody who doesn’t deserve it (aka the bad guys). he gets around with women but he’s not sexist?? he cares about his partners.
also he’s a hardcore chef and will Fite You about food. anyway Eliot is basically the Broody White Man With Dark Past trope turned on it’s head. he’s lovable and sarcastic and could kill a man but would prefer to make you an Omelette Du Fromage or some shit.
this is my baby. he’s a nerd and a geek and I Would Die For Him. he’s basically everything that’s good and pure in the world. the epitome of a cinnamon roll. he’s sweet and gentle and wouldn’t hurt a fly–unless that fly is a corrupt ceo personally doing dirty business, in which case that motherfucker is going down with the help of his epic hacking skills. btw did i mention he’s the hacker? yeah. he’s super fucking smart and his sense of humor could rival the sahara desert in dryness. he always makes star trek references and he has a gr8 fashion style and he irritates Eliot to no end, lmao. #platoniclifepartners, tbh. did i mention he’s the sweetest person ever? no? he is.
she’s the thief, and predictably, she loves money and expensive things. tbh she’d probably stab you faster than anybody else on the team would (and has) but also she is smol and needs to be protected. she’s a killer rabbit. she’s an oddball and in the beginning, most of the others don’t know what to make of her, but they grow used to her. she’s nd af, probably autistic, and Does Not Understand Socialization. same, Parker, same. guess what? she’s never forced into acting like somebody she’s not!! when she has to be the grifter for the con job and interact with people, she’s patiently coached by Sophie, who never belittles or mocks her, and explains it in ways she can understand. she’s weird and i love her.
did i mention how unproblematic this show is? i did? well too fucking bad because i’m gonna say it again: this show is so unproblematic. like what i already said with Nate’s addiction and Parker’s neurodivergence, but wAIT! THERE’S MORE.
Eliot hates guns–detests them–and won’t use them, he’s like constantly grabbing the mooks’ guns and unloading them and tossing them somewhere and it’s basically a huge trigger for him. and it’s always respected. also there’s scenes where like in the middle of a job Parker has to change into a costume and neither of men who are attracted to her–Eliot and Hardison–sneak a peak at her. they both look away during that shit and there is like, never any gross sexist jokes about it. or other things. i love it. also any romantic relationship that develops takes season of growth and shit. there’s nothing particularly Gay, but while heterosexual, it’s not Het.
the recurring antagonist is played by Mark Sheppard, a character called Sterling, who is basically a lawful good Crowley.
also one time they stole an entire country.
Leverage is fucking rad, and the concept is amazing and it coulda been so edgy and shit, but it’s literally so pure and sweet and friggin hilarious and about a bunch of people becoming a family and you need to watch it, my friend. now.
like immediately go google a page to watch it i’m not fucking kidding do it.
Anonymous asked: Sorry go bug you, I just wanted to ask--what's Westworld? (your recs are always so fantastic and so much better than anything google could give me)
YOU ARE NEVER BUGGING ME, I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT STUFF I LOVE.
So. Westworld. First off: have you seen Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse? If no, proceed and read this pitch. If yes, second question: did you like it? If no, you won’t like Westworld. If yes, don’t even BOTHER with this pitch, just watch the show.
A quick disclaimer: Westworld is a brand spanking new show on HBO based on the 1973 movie of the same name and, HBO being HBO, they do what they fucking want, so this show…like, it’s a really good show, I really like it, but if you can imagine a trigger warning, it’s probably attached to this show. Sex, murder, rape, blood, gore, etc. This show is FUCKED UP. Ergo, the cut.
Anonymous asked: what exactly is that show with "Eliot"? I know him as Jacob Stone from Librarians, but all of a sudden I'm seeing this show on the librarians blog and other places but I have nO IDEA WHAT IT IS
It’s called leverage and it will change your life.
If you’ve seen the show Hustle it’s kind of like that but better. Which is saying something because Hustle is really good.
The premise:
A con artist, a hacker, a hitter, and a theif turn from a life of pure crime, to a life of crime for a good purpose, led by a former insurance investigator.
They target the rich and powerful that are picking on the little guy, and basically set them up due to their own greed and selfishness.
Then stand there and watch while the mark implodes on itself
The team:
Former insurance investigator, turned Mastermind and crime dad.
Is much smarter than he looks. Somhow manages to herd cats (aka his crime children) and get the job done, despite being a human dissaster.
Con artist, art theif, and crime mom.
Is the most incredible acress to grace this earth, when she’s not actually trying to act.
seriously don’t let her act on stage.
genius hacker, fountain of snark
giant adorable nerd.
Also pretty much the best dressed on the show which was refreshing, because as the huge computer nerd, that’s usually the stereotypical role of social outcast loner. Hardison has the best style and the best actual inter-personal skills and empathy of anyone on the show. Sophie can manipulate people, but hardison actually understands people. And cares about them. Biggest heart. Ray of sunshine.
parker my homegirl. Best thief in the world.
socially awkward and you never quite know what she’s going to do next. It could be eat cereal. It could be blowing up the building.
My dear eliot. The “muscle.” But also…the secret brain.
he’s much, much smarter than he looks. And everyone, including his team at times, underestimates him.
that’s code for “i love you”.
Bottom line:
Every.Single.Character has an incredible, organic character arc. And make progress that you could never see coming in season 1.
It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. A lot.
Watch it.
Stress that there is “only” five seasons, even though it finishes perfectly and wraps up better than almost any other series i’ve ever watched.
Watch it again.
I am now quite intrigued…
Oh dear lord do yourself a favour and watch this show. It’s fucking AMAZING. Every problem it tackles is real, the character development is realistic and well-written and you just can’t not love the team.
Also, Parker is not just socially awkward, she’s confirmed autistic - by word of god, the actor was portraying Asperger’s syndrome, but it’s a really good, realistic portrayal with no stereotype in sight. And the show writers gave us a canon OT3 in the last episode of the show. Which means that there is CANON-COMPLIANT fanfiction of an autistic, asexual, poly Parker that has me crying with joy.
This is my absolute favourite show, and it’s basically 5 people who become Robin Hood for a living. With puns, and snark.
concept: a TV show runs for a decent number of years. More than four. The characterizations stay consistent. The writers don’t do anything wildly inappropriate like excuse rape or abuse. No one you’ve invested hours upon hours of your life into has their story reduced to a “shocking” death scene that has no meaning beyond that shock value. The quality of the storylines don’t take a sudden, strange spiral downward. When it ends, you leave it feeling bittersweet. Sad that it’s over, but glad you got to experience it and take a journey with some people who you came to care about.
Leverage.
You are thinking of the show Leverage.
Concept: four criminals (hacker, hitter, grifter, thief) and an honest man (an ex-insurance investigator, and the mastermind of the group) band together and pull Robin Hood-esque cons on rich people and corporations who take advantage of middle and lower class people.
Run time: five seasons.
Gorgeous development of the five main characters, two women and three men. One of the women is in her forties and acknowledged as crushingly beautiful by literally everyone and brilliant with people. The other one is in her twenties and Word of God (the creators) says that she’s on the autism spectrum and she’s insanely talented and you will adore her because she is adorable. One of the men is an ex-military ‘retrieval specialist’ who low-key just wants to cook and protect his people and will honestly murder you if you hurt a kid. The resident computer genius is, direct quote, “a 24-year-old with a smartphone and a problem with authority.” Also he’s black and the racism issue is brought up when their marks are rude to him. He’s literally a tol puppy who just wants to play with his toys and his friends. The dude in charge is just flat-out brilliant and kind of an asshole and kind of a mess and it’s hard not to like him.
Anyone who tries any shit with the women pays immediately and dramatically–one dude straight gets stabbed with a fork when he comes onto the younger one (Parker), and she vaults out a window. She’s my hero. One of the men, Eliot, is an acknowledged womanizer and he treats every woman he sleeps with like a queen and is ready to fuck you up if you even kind of insult any of them. Also, he is canonically great in bed and all of the women are totally good with the one-night-stand thing. The other woman, Sophie, uses her sexuality like a finely-tuned instrument when she’s conning people, and she’s never judged for it.
All of the main characters are treated amazingly well. Parker’s backstory is acknowledged to include child abuse in foster homes, and she’s never treated as broken or crazy (the closest anyone comes is that two of the others affectionately call her crazy when she does death-defying stunts). The mastermind–Nate–got into this shit after his son was diagnosed with cancer and his very wealthy insurance refused to pay for his treatment, leading to the son’s death. His grief, and the alcoholism he fell into as a result, is handled with a grace and gentleness that breaks my heart every time. All of them have complex backstories and relationships and identities–Sophie, who uses about a billion aliases, has a whole plot about having to figure out who she is under all her fake identities.
The stories are as glorious and thrilling in the fifth season as they are in the first–in fact, I would say the fifth season might actually be the best. There are two interracial relationships canonically onscreen for quite some time (Sophie/Nate, Parker/Hardison), and Word of God states that the popular OT3 Parker/Hardison/Eliot is confirmed by the events of the final episode.
The only complaint I have about this show is that it’s not longer.
