methodwriter85

When I first started doing the music recs, I felt like I had to keep to music that had come out within 3 years of the story time setting. After staying in the Y2K era like forever, I pretty much got over it. LOL. Although now that our characters are living in 2003/getting ready to enter the mid-2000's, I'm kind of chucking 90's music right now out of the playlist. 1980's nostalgia is in full-force right now in 2003, but the 90's music is passe. Anyway... Chapter 68 -When Stefan admits to his mid-life crisis. "The Circle Game" by Joni Mitchell -When Will and Patrick have their booty call. "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode -When Will helps Patrick get ready for his show. "Lucky Star" by Madonna -Patrick's show, which gets an eyebrow raise of approval. "Fascination" by Human League

It's kind of mind-boggling that JJ was literally named the best male figure skater in the United States of 2003 and he still can't get over his jealousy of Will and needing to find some way to "win" against him. He's not really like that with Darius but Darius seems to exist as the peace keeper of this trio of brothers.

Chapter 67 -When Will and Tony have friendly sex. "The Wanderer" by Dion and the Belmonts -When Will tries to convince Tony to make up with his boyfriend. "You'll Lose A Good Thing" by Barabara Lynn -When Will and Stefan and JP talk on their way to the school talent show. "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler -When Brad pulls up to the Menlo School talent show. "Locomotion" by Little Eva -When John's band performs "Puff the Magic Dragon." "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul, and Mary -When the kids perform 31 Flavors. "31 Flavors" by The Shirelles -When the actual lead singer of the Shirelles does a medley of their greatest hits. "Foolish Little Girl" "Soldier Boy" "Dedicated to the One I Love" "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" -When the cast performs "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" by Joan Baez -When the mooning happens. "Blue Moon" by the Marcels -When the crowd gives JP a standing ovation. "With A Little Help from Friends" by Joe Cocker -When Will is changed back into his street clothes, and he and Stefan set off for their trip to New York City. "Downtown" by Petula Clark

I liked that Will has reached the point where he can have enjoyable sex with Tony because in the end, he's just a friend with benefits and he doesn't want or expect more than that. The JJ/Luka flirting was cute. I believe they'll do the time-honored bonding ritual of bitching about a mutual ex-love interest. LOL

Somewhere in the wilds of Orange County, California, Private Tim has had a shudder go through his entire body and he's not really sure why.

Chapter 66 -At the Bryant fashion show, where JJ hangs out with Britney Spears. "Boys" by Britney Spears -When JJ and Luka flirt. "I love Rock N Roll" by Britney Spears -When they watch Luka's collection. "I'm a Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears -When Will notices Tony's car in the driveway, and has some mixed emotions. "Stronger" by Britney Spears -When Will decides to go for another round with good ol' Tony. "Oops, I Did It Again" by Britney Spears

True. John would probably just go to Arizona State and have a ball. Edited to add: I just realized JJ still hasn't mentioned any college plans yet. Could he be forgoing college, or at least taking a gap year?

Nice to see you posting again!

How to Cheat and Lie in L.A.: Vanity Fair article on the College Admissions Scandal Interesting stuff. Hey Mark, can we have John get designated as a fake water polo recruit for USC? LOL. Private Tim can have a cameo as a 20-something assistant coach who blows the whistle on the scheme.

He's so odd because the lone wolf thing really goes against the general vibe of his family. I did like his friendship with Carullo because I felt him getting nudged out of his comfort zone, at least a little bit.

Chapter 65 -When Brad and Jake have some mushy talk, and then have sex. "Bubble Toes" by Jack Johnson -When JJ reads the letter from John, who has moved on to Connecticut. "How You Mend a Broken Heart?" by Al Green -When JJ reads the letter from his dad, and fumes. "I Started a Joke" by The Bee Gees -When Will sets up a 3000 mile bootycall with Patrick Christian. "I've Got to See You Again" by Norah Jones

Chapter 64 -When JJ decides to shame Stefan in an email chain. "Whip It" by Devo -When Will goes on Zach on the phone and hangs up, then takes a quick but angsty shower. "Keep Me Hanging On" by Kim Wilde

I had a conversation with someone at work who went to Los Angeles and got to see Disneyland. He talked about how people from there think Disneyland was the best thing ever, but of course, it doesn't compare to Disney World. He was like, "I mean, to them, it's the only Disney they get, but my god, it's so small compared to Disney World." Then we had a conversation about its complicated relationship with Anaheim and the fact that Disneyland is just surrounded by neighborhoods. I like to imagine that if Private Tim had been there, he would have tried convincing my friend how much better Disneyland is over Disney World. LOL.

JJ pulling the fire alarm was hysterical. I love what an immature little shit he is sometimes. LOL. He lives this high-powered lifestyle where almost everyone he associates with is well past college aged, but then he does shit like this where you go, "Oh, yeah. Dude's still in high school." I don't really put John as the bad guy here because he's been pretty upfront with what he's able to give JJ, but again, JJ's still a kid. JJ would probably be better off messing around with kids at his school but again, he doesn't really associate with anybody his own age save for Will and I guess the Olsen twins? He's kind of a kid playacting in a very adult, grown-up world but not really able to go back and hang out with friends his own age.

Chapter 63 -When JJ and Carullo have their moment. "Transatlanticism" by Death Cab for Cutie -When JJ walks into another Stefan party, then finds John having sex with somebody. "It's Raining Men" by Geri Halliwell -When JJ decides to put the alarms on, ending the party. "Freak Out" by Le Chic

18-year old Alisdair:

Chapter 62 -When Stefan gets to NYC and tries to talk some sense into JJ. "Head over Heels" by Abba

That's the closest I've ever gotten for approval on a Darius so I'll take it.

I mean, to me, this is Chris Evans: So him being Captain America seemed odd, but it worked, and worked extremely well.

Avan Jogia as Darius? He does have a very cool vibe to him.

This should be interesting. Robert Pattinson reportedly in talks to play Batman in 2021 Batman movie I guess if you finally want people to stop seeing you as Edward Cullen, this is the way to do it?

I'm pretty engaged with all three stories, although I'm really curious to see the fight scene where Becker tells Kevin that his mother pays more than 8k on a dress that she'll wear once from Kevin's perspective because you know how much that had to piss Kevin off. You do a pretty good job here of outlining why Kevin broke up with Becker. It was pretty much asshole behavior that he only visited him like once given that DC and NYC are only about a 4-hour train ride away. I also kind of liked the callback to Kevin saying all 3 names again when describing him as Peter Adam Becker to his friends, because it's this weird identity thing that I'm pretty sure Kevin has picked up on. He might be the only one who has, because Becker REALLY compartmentalizes everybody in his life. The only one from his "Peter" life who has seen it in action in Justine, and I think she's just shrugged it off as a weird quirk in her big brother. As for Kevin's episode of the O.C. (what a great reference given that Kevin would identify with Ryan Atwood), I loved his "mentor" basically telling him the cold hard truth that Nick is a lost cause. It looks like Nick is so much of a loser at 18/19 that he doesn't even seem to roll with the guys he bragged about at 14. Sometimes people are just lost causes. The Matt stuff is fun as well, although we know it's not going to end well. Loved the Abercrombie reference- I don't think I ever see current teenagers wearing that kind of stuff now. As kind of a broader perspective, we are looking at a time right before the Great Recession, so Kevin's class issues are really interesting to look at.

I also wish Private TIm showed up here, because man I want to pick his brain about the USC admissions cheating scandal. I've always gotten the vibe that he has close ties to that school.

TIL that there's a subculture of adults who participate in what they call "Disney Bounding", where they dress up in outfits inpspired by Disney characters but not actual costumes, because Disney bans adults from wearing costumes. (Which makes sense- you don't want kids following strangers in costumes, and you don't want non-employees being thought to be employees.) God, I wish Blue still showed up here. I wonder if he's ever dated a guy who was like super-obsessed with Disneyland.

I don't know if Private Tim still lurks, but I thought he'd enjoy this photo of Downtown Pasadena that someone posted on Reddit: