Danners

I was going to say “at least Cade has somewhere he could return to” about the Stilts but the end of the chapter stifled that idea. And that sucks, genuinely sucks. I think Cade would’ve welcomed a place like the clinic and getting to practice medicine in an environment where Sable was anonymous and safe, and this discovery shattered any hope of that. At least the Stilts holds the memory of he and Jared connecting for the first time and that isn’t something that can be stolen. Tarnished, maybe, when Jared’s confession comes but not obliterated. I don’t fault Jared for protecting the connection he’s found or the brotherly, maybe even paternal, bond formed with Sable. I can’t blame him from keeping the whole truth from Cade because Cade embodies so much of what he wants and what he gave up with Ezra. I’m not even worried about the complications Ezra could (and probably will) represent. He may have been Jared’s first kiss, and he may be a loose end, but he’s no longer a priority. He either works with Jared to help protect Sable or he’s a jilted ex-lover whose perception will lose focus around his former friend. I’m most worried about Sable continuing to be shamed, targeted, and victimized for abilities he was born with. Shamed even. He’s in his developmental years and this is behavior that will stick with him. My heart aches for his innocence. He heals and he shouldn’t have to feel bad about that. At any rate, never apologize for a long chapter! The story getting away from you and you capturing more of it at a time, that isn’t a bad thing. That’s a gift to us! Lean in to it by all means! Edit: god damn that was long. Sorry!

Also, and maybe disconnected, Miri may be the smartest member of the crew. She is certainly the most perceptive. I can’t wait for her to take our boy under her wing because, really, of all Naren’s new crew mates, she sees him for what he is and even his AI won’t be able to stop how she reacts. @Wayne Gray What are you doing to me?!

Do you suppose the benchmark for “adulthood” changed as the definition of independence changed or that the baseline for self-sufficiency lowered ? This is part of why Wayne’s setting intrigues me: Did our boy win his independence with his genius or was the bar lowered for wards of the state in the hopes that they would seek emancipation? Naren, from the reactions of his crew mates, seems to be extraordinary, and I for one look forward to him proving his worth beyond a (sort of pirated) program.

Something tells me Standon (and Wendell) will weigh in on the solidity of his and Naren’s relationship. It may be that our boy hasn’t had a real relationship before but Standon is a MAN and my intuition tells me that Naren may discover a vulnerability where his buddy is concerned. (Unless, of course, a torrid affair with Del is in the forecast. Naren better acquaint his ankles with his cheekbones in that case.) And, honestly, Wayne — was it ever any question that Aster is the power (bottom) in that pairing?

Can AIs get busy? Do they need to wrap it before they tap it? Will Naren’s neck bloat with an artificial pregnancy? These are the questions that only came to me after a couple shots of vodka. I’m happy Naren found himself a place to belong and a man to belong with. Regardless of whether or not he becomes a proud grandfather to Aster’s tamagotchi, he seems to fit in with this found mining family.

Crossing my fingers that both Melvins survive ‘cause drama! (And then, when the timeline displaced Guy resurfaces, he and Cadet Hollis can run away together for the spin-off pilot episode.)

NOOOO! Anyone but Tweek!

That’s right, Guy. Playground flirt with your heavily armored man. The Vex-lings are terrifyingly adorable. I was hoping, for Professor Flip’s sake, that one of them would’ve eaten the singing crab in his tank. This episode/chapter was overflowing with good vibes and had me smiling from beginning to end. Do we get a wedding tomorrow?!

A bittersweet ending but a promising beginning for Peter’s school year.

Again, what I got out of this episode is that Park waited outside Guy’s quarters because he wants to load him like a bazooka. And he has a heart. And a face! A human face! (That he wants to mash against Guy’s like he’s a manual detonator.) I’m touched by Liam’s refusal to hurt Byk, even more so that Park was the one to talk him down. Those two, Cole, Flip — they’re proof the crew is growing positively.

I’m worried for my namesake. His feelings for Peter seem more genuine and it’s like he agreed to be friends with benefits because it’s the closest thing to a romantic relationship he’s going to get from Peter. There’s a good chance he will get hurt. And Peter is on the rebound. Or a sociopath. I haven’t decided which. Hopefully the former. He’s had his life upended and he’s hurt, so he’s doing whatever makes him feel better. I have to wonder about what he really felt for Tyler though. The night before he was crushed and less than 24 hours later he’s happily taunting the boy into hating him. He has no hope that Tyler might change his mind or realize he made a mistake? You’re doing an absolutely great job of showing us how messy breakups can be. Peter is a mess and I hope this new group of friends can help him fix that.

It probably isn’t the case but what I got out of this episode is that Park wants to pump Guy like a shotgun. What a glorious chapter!

At least he wasn’t rufied but those edibles are about to be a double-edged sword when Kai can remember everything in the morning. It’s crazy to me how much more Fly means to Kai than the other way around. We’ll never know since he lost his phone but it didn’t seem like Fly thought to invite his supposed best friend to come hang out with his new friend group. And that’s partially why Kai became somber. I hate that; I’d be crushed too. The sooner Kai and River discover all the mutual interests they have, the better. That way Fly won’t have such a chokehold on the big guy’s even bigger heart.

Get wrecked, Karen.

Jesus, Kai’s history (and present, honestly) gets more tragic with every chapter. I’m beginning to understand why he so desperately wants to belong to someone and why that someone is constantly out of reach. First Sky and now River. Both will hurt him, one inadvertently and one very much on purpose. I just want to hug him and take the sad away.

Oop, she’s gonna chase them down like they’re the waitstaff of the restaurant that charged her full price for her appetizer. Like the valet who didn’t hand her keys back with the deference she and her Volvo deserve. Like the trick-or-treater who accidentally got two pieces of candy when her precious dumpling only received one. Run, Zodiac, run!

Huzzah, Sky passed the parent test. I’d suggest flying colors but hopefully June caught most of those with the towel. (Ew.) It’s nice to see Wyatt loosening up towards the end of the chapter and letting himself flirt with Sky a little. Of course he doesn’t see it as flirting but still, it’s progress! Speaking of progress: keep ‘em coming!

In the timeless war between teenagers and Karens, my money is always on the former. They don’t just break rules or disregard them, they reinterpret them so aggressively they make malicious compliance look like nothing. Tweek has the upper hand here. Let Karen have her bureaucracy; the Zodiac is perpetually on the verge of anarchy. Functional anarchy. Plus, like the above comments have said, the crew of the Texas will jump at the chance to depose Karen. Fear isn’t the same as loyalty, which is something I hope Karen learns the hard way.

Hollis, down on one knee on the beach with Tweek, totally missed an opportunity to re-propose with the blue ball cap. ”Let’s do it for real.” ”Okay, Captain.” On the hat goes over Tweek’s blonde hair instead of a ring on his finger. Cue our hearts quivering and Virellian socialites wetting themselves.

And a new Q joins the Continuum: G.

If/when First Officer Guy dies and Number 8 is printed, do you suppose he’ll retain the memories of his alternate? It’s possible, right? For the sequel episode…

This is me squealing delightedly.

Clearly Luna was trying to hurt Peter the only way she thought she could: by revoking their friendship. Too bad, in doing so, she showed her true colors. Raise your hand if you think she’ll be spiteful and do something to ruin Tyler’s reputation. Peter has a good head on his shoulders. Honestly, he’s better off.

Why do I get the feeling this was part of Tyler’s deal with Luna or a consequence of violating the agreement by being the bottom — cutting off all contact? “You can do this but…” I’d be worried. Message not delivered means Peter’s number has been blocked. Hopefully Luna has some answers since she put Tyler and Peter up to it in the first place. I wonder if she’ll feel any guilt if this ruined the boys’ friendship.

Sweet and a little sad. For all that this trip has brought them closer again, their future is still uncertain. It seems like Brick realized how much he still loves his husband but, until he’s willing to commit fully, there will always be another Vincent. I guess that’s the point. Pompeii has that effect on people. The two men, dying in a random catastrophe and now famously embracing. Devoted. I hope they do make a tour of it and in the end, like the Pompeiian couple, they never let go.