Given my recent watching of Once Upon a Time, I've decided Monday posts will be dedicated to my thoughts on the new episodes of Once Upon a Time, which in this case is Season 6. Despite that I watched the first 4.5 seasons in a row last fall, I have never been this excited for a premiere, even though I loved how the first two seasons transitioned. That being said, I felt Season 5 was a bit of a trainwreck for me. I didn't like how Emma played out the role of Dark One, I didn't like Hades, and most of all, I unfortunately saw Robin's untimely death coming. The finale was perhaps the most exciting thing for me, and I'm coming into Season 6 with one hope: that Regina can move on from Robin and find peace and solace, with or without the EQ. My other hopes include Rumbelle being a thing again and getting some more Snow Queen and Regal Believer. I also want Henry to get some more hero time. And also, all those untold stories. I've been waiting, patiently, like all Oncers and I avoided even watching the teaser clips so I could enjoy the premiere. However, because I was also busy live-tweeting, I had to go back and watch a second time today. Below are just some of my thoughts and impressions on the ideas brought into this season in Episode 1: The Savior.
SPOILERS BELOW!
Rumbelle continues to suffer. I was originally a Rumbelle shipper when I watched the first season, sucked in by the fated "Skin Deep" episode (which I still love btw). But the passed two season of Rumbelle have been a trainwreck. The relationship epitomizes abuse at it's worst, and as a fan of Belle, I had really hoped that their relationship would end, strengthening Belle's character or continue with Rumpelstiltskin ending his Dark One ways and becoming a hero. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of Rumpel's brief walk through Belle's dream with Morpheus aka Baby Gold. Lots of people have been critical of Baby Gold's reaction to Rumpel but I see a hint of Rumpel in their son. He claims that Rumpel is going to mess up their family like his previous one (Rumpel has Seer gifts not given to him as the Dark One so maybe this was passed on?) as well as manipulating Belle (something Rumpel also frequently does). The whole scene together felt very rushed, but I'm curious to see the path Belle and Rumpel take individually since she left without him.
The Savior shakes. Once Podcast dubbed the hand tremors the Savior Shakes and honestly, I think it's a hilarious name, so I'm sticking with it. This isn't the first time I've watched a show that takes it's hero to a lot of extremes and then shows us the mental and physical toll it takes on them. The other instance I have personally watched was the 4th season of the Legend of Korra, where Korra was thrown over the by being forced into the avatar state and we got some insight into her recovery. Another example was Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. I love when heros are portrayed realistically, especially given the extreme and often times, unrealistic encounters they are faced with. I don't want Emma to fall back into defense mode, but I'm glad they are exploring her own unique variety of PTSD and I'm excited to see how it plays into being a Savior. I want know who is going to be her support outside of Archie. I know lots of people want to see her rely on Hook, but man, I'm dying for some better developments with her parents.
And finally, Regina struggles, like a normal human being. Of course, I'm saving my favorite for last. I honestly pay more attention to scenes when Regina is present, as she is the character I've been rooting for since the end of Season 1. We know the first episode starts immediately post-season 5 finale, so I was delighted when they showed us how Regina is coping with the loss of Robin and her new-found kinship with Zelena. Lots of viewers criticized Regina's lack of emotion at Robin's funeral and one of the Once Podcast's members also went onto to say her outburst in episode 1 felt OOC. Personally, I found Regina's new response to grief truthful and a good representation of how grief really feels. I've lost enough people in my life to see how people react to death differently. Her outburst, though somewhat driven by illogical thinking, wasn't uncalled for. In the scene in the office, we see Regina coping going back to the scene of the event and simultaneously having Zelena bring it back to herself. While both lost their true love that night, the deaths were under very separate circumstances. I don't want to say that Regina's loss is greater than Zelena's, but it's not the same. And its not the same for the audience either. I feel more sympathy towards Regina because we watched that relationship develop over two and half seasons, while Zelena's match with Hades felt rushed and at the expense of given Hades a motive and Zelena more screentime.
I like that we are watching grief happen (this has never happened in the show itself, ever) and knowing that writer's are bringing Sean back to do some scenes as Robin gives me hope that Regina will continue to explore those feelings and eventually come to terms with that loss and move on.
As for our dearly beloved Evil Queen, the scene was brief and again, Zelena's reason for getting mad at Regina I'm sure will provide an interesting conflict inside of Zelena. To be honest though, I looked at the promotional images for Episode 2, and I'm more excited for the EQ to team up with Mr. Gold. Golden Queen is my favorite brotp.
TL;DR: All in all, I'm very hopeful for the season. The pre-show told us we'll be getting glimpses into more untold stories, including Cinderella (so maybe Anastasia is coming back????) and I'm absolutely in love with Mr. Hyde, skeptical but in love. What were your thoughts on the episode? Any moments that dragged you back in or encourage you to keep away?
Monday, September 26, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
I only had 3 teachers in elementary school.
I remember a lot of things from my child hood. I could tell you about the time I flooded the bathroom and my dad had to go into the crawl-space of our house to fix the problem, or about the one guard director I had that refused to learn anyone's named and instead used pet names. Sometimes, I can place those memories in a time and place, but a lot of my earlier memories I cannot give specific years in school that I remember them.
This is because, although I went to a 6-year elementary school, I only had a total of three teachers. My family had the fortune of being able to put their two daughters into a new elementary school across the street because the township had grown. My first-grade teacher was Mrs. H. She was a stern, older woman with curly black hair and she kind of looked like my grandmother when she was younger. I don't remember much of 1st grade except that my best friend had a bowl cut that year and that I was not nice to boys (big surprise). Now, at my elementary school, it was traditional to have the same teacher for 2nd and 3rd grade, and I was rewarded with Mrs. E. My sister also had her, so Mrs. E got my mom for years of pretty much helping every holiday party (my mom loves cooking and coming up with games for parties). I have a few distinct memories from being in Mrs. E's class but I cannot place them in one grade or another.
When I moved into 4th grade, things got a bit strange. I was placed in Mrs. M's class. At first, I really wasn't fond of Mrs. M. She made us write everything in cursive, even though other classes in 4th grade let their students switch back and forth. As the end of the year rolled around and summer passed, I was hoping to receive a letter in the mail saying which new teacher I would have for 5th grade, only to find out that because of the size of my class in particular, Mrs. M had moved up to teaching 5th grade and was going to be my homeroom teacher (in 5th grade you had two teachers). Luckily, besides homeroom, Mrs. M taught math and science for that year, mostly shutting out cursive. Turns our cursive is useless in math (surprise). I got along much better with her that year, but I was also a fan of my other teacher, Mr. B, who taught English and history.
So finally hitting 6th grade, which was exciting for every kid who went to that school because that year you practiced rotating classes, much like you would for middle and high school. But we also got a homeroom teacher. And by the end of 5th grade, I knew who I was going to get, because my class, again, was huge. And Mrs. M was my homeroom teacher again (and she was my writing teacher that year D: ) but by this point, I was pretty used to her style of teaching, even if I had to write in cursive. Luckily, because 6th grade was split between 5 teachers, it was hard to feel like you had any single one of them as a main teacher, I got along pretty well. Most of my peers didn't have this happen, but I always found it odd.
I was musing about this because I've started writing down memories from when I was a kid, so that I could keep them near me as I get older (I've only started journaling in middle school) but it's been difficult to place what year they occurred because of this reason. Maybe I will post some of those stories here...you never know.
~Ame
This is because, although I went to a 6-year elementary school, I only had a total of three teachers. My family had the fortune of being able to put their two daughters into a new elementary school across the street because the township had grown. My first-grade teacher was Mrs. H. She was a stern, older woman with curly black hair and she kind of looked like my grandmother when she was younger. I don't remember much of 1st grade except that my best friend had a bowl cut that year and that I was not nice to boys (big surprise). Now, at my elementary school, it was traditional to have the same teacher for 2nd and 3rd grade, and I was rewarded with Mrs. E. My sister also had her, so Mrs. E got my mom for years of pretty much helping every holiday party (my mom loves cooking and coming up with games for parties). I have a few distinct memories from being in Mrs. E's class but I cannot place them in one grade or another.
When I moved into 4th grade, things got a bit strange. I was placed in Mrs. M's class. At first, I really wasn't fond of Mrs. M. She made us write everything in cursive, even though other classes in 4th grade let their students switch back and forth. As the end of the year rolled around and summer passed, I was hoping to receive a letter in the mail saying which new teacher I would have for 5th grade, only to find out that because of the size of my class in particular, Mrs. M had moved up to teaching 5th grade and was going to be my homeroom teacher (in 5th grade you had two teachers). Luckily, besides homeroom, Mrs. M taught math and science for that year, mostly shutting out cursive. Turns our cursive is useless in math (surprise). I got along much better with her that year, but I was also a fan of my other teacher, Mr. B, who taught English and history.
So finally hitting 6th grade, which was exciting for every kid who went to that school because that year you practiced rotating classes, much like you would for middle and high school. But we also got a homeroom teacher. And by the end of 5th grade, I knew who I was going to get, because my class, again, was huge. And Mrs. M was my homeroom teacher again (and she was my writing teacher that year D: ) but by this point, I was pretty used to her style of teaching, even if I had to write in cursive. Luckily, because 6th grade was split between 5 teachers, it was hard to feel like you had any single one of them as a main teacher, I got along pretty well. Most of my peers didn't have this happen, but I always found it odd.
I was musing about this because I've started writing down memories from when I was a kid, so that I could keep them near me as I get older (I've only started journaling in middle school) but it's been difficult to place what year they occurred because of this reason. Maybe I will post some of those stories here...you never know.
~Ame
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Parking Lot Stalker
Despite what the title says, I do not mean a malevolent stalker, but rather the stalker several tardy people become during any given school day at Ohio State University. You see, the university oversells itself on parking passes for the year, and everyday when undergraduates, staff and faculty proceed to campus for their daily classes, meetings and work, those who arrive after 9 am inevitably face the competitive battlefield that is the main campus parking lots.
It's nearly impossible to get a space after 9 am on main campus, with 9:30 being the limit as students forgo their earlier classes later in the semester, but around 10:30 to till lunchtime, those who are tardy can usually stalk their prey (some crazy person leaving campus) for a spot closer than having to park across the river, or worse, West Campus.
I actually play this game quite often, as I prefer to get to work a little later and stay after evening rush hour, and trust me, it's worth it, especially in the Fall. I have to say, I've gotten pretty adept at locating a student heading towards their space and leaving. Other times, I stalk the medical campus parking lot in hopes that an early morning nurse or doctor is off to an early lunch.
Why not just park across the river you ask? I'm terrified of spider bridge. I'm not actually sure if the bridge from Ag campus has a name, but I started calling it spider bridge when I noticed that it is covered in spiders...all the time. It's especially terrifying when you leave later in the evening and the moths are attracted to the lights on the bridges where just about every spider hangs out, waiting for dinner.
So instead, I'll creepily follow on the heels of a student to their parking spot and patiently wait for them to back out and leave. It's not the best way to live but until I desire that 11 hour workday again, so it goes. If you spot a silver Malibu following you someday, do not worry...I don't care who you are, I just want your space.
~Ame
It's nearly impossible to get a space after 9 am on main campus, with 9:30 being the limit as students forgo their earlier classes later in the semester, but around 10:30 to till lunchtime, those who are tardy can usually stalk their prey (some crazy person leaving campus) for a spot closer than having to park across the river, or worse, West Campus.
I actually play this game quite often, as I prefer to get to work a little later and stay after evening rush hour, and trust me, it's worth it, especially in the Fall. I have to say, I've gotten pretty adept at locating a student heading towards their space and leaving. Other times, I stalk the medical campus parking lot in hopes that an early morning nurse or doctor is off to an early lunch.
Why not just park across the river you ask? I'm terrified of spider bridge. I'm not actually sure if the bridge from Ag campus has a name, but I started calling it spider bridge when I noticed that it is covered in spiders...all the time. It's especially terrifying when you leave later in the evening and the moths are attracted to the lights on the bridges where just about every spider hangs out, waiting for dinner.
So instead, I'll creepily follow on the heels of a student to their parking spot and patiently wait for them to back out and leave. It's not the best way to live but until I desire that 11 hour workday again, so it goes. If you spot a silver Malibu following you someday, do not worry...I don't care who you are, I just want your space.
~Ame
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