Inchworm

Jenny and Ted discuss Tangle 6.4.

Episode Notes:

• The plan? Jenny loves to (not) see it even though it’s a bad idea
• Does the narrative demand Taylor lose this one? What if we really want her to win again anyway?
• Before we do any analysis, Jenny pitches a pun-based strategy: Waiters Undersiders
• We dig into the villainous nature of “embarrass them”
• Jenny introduces us to the boss: Bruce Whyne
• It’s chaos in Brockton Bay, villain-wise, and we can’t quite make out any bigger picture
• How $1.25M might change the Undersiders
• So… what would actually happen next if the Undersiders got arrested?
• Taylor’s identity as a hero comes up against the reality of the tangle
• The nature of her escapist fantasy has changed from triumphant to penitent
• She’s honest about the importance of her new friendships, even as she lies to herself about other things
• Reluctant props to Armsmaster
• Speculation about Lisa’s deal in this chapter
• All the heavy stuff aside, the Undersiders are a delight in this chapter
• Predictions

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-6-tangle/6-04/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Tangle 6.3.

Episode Notes:

• There's awkwardness! And sexual tension!
• We anticipate seeing why Taylor will stall on turning in the Undersiders
• The shit that's going down: Kaiser's gang and/or Bakuda?
• This caseworker knows how to wield her power
• Weird that Taylor doesn't connect the dots between Brian's apartment and his ill-gotten gains...
• ...or between Brian's future and her planned betrayal
• Oh hey, an authority figure who doesn't suck!
• Taylor's bad at the appearances game even when she tries
• Taylor actually does a pretty good job at talking on her feet in this chapter -- when she knows what she wants, and doesn't get too much in her head
• Wildbow's attention to detail works in both fight scenes and love scenes! Who knew?
• We're calling it: Brian is definitely interested
• Brian gets caught in the tangle of his two lives
• Why is Taylor such a grandpa about Aisha's outfit?
• Male gaze vs. female envy
• Is Brian up for the Aisha challenge?
• She seems fun, though, we like her
• Nice subversion of superhero secrecy stories
• What if Taylor ends up in a position where she can't betray the Undersiders?
• Does Brian even have any secrets? Because we're hearing a lot that he doesn't and it's making us suspicious

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-6-tangle/6-03/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Tangle 6.2.

Episode Notes:

• Jenny proves Lisa’s point up top: it’s hard to be into a guy when you’ve seen his worst qualities
• Nothing against Brian, but he’s too obvious (again, ironic!)
• Jenny is mistrustful of Lisa
• If we can trust Lisa, is her power affecting her potential relationships or is she mostly just young?
• The eponymous bead
• Conveniently, Taylor has already ruled out dating Brian due to logic and plain facts
• Taylor’s toughest riddle yet: what specifically makes Brian super hot?
• The missing piece Taylor needs to decide to stay an Undersider
• But what if Taylor doesn’t get to decide?
• Architectural metaphors
• Taylor’s discipline
• Noting how the extreme urban decay validates Taylor’s insecurities
• Is Brian really an open book?
• PIGPEN THEORY CONFIRMED
• Jenny picks up a puzzle piece that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere… yet?
• Random thoughts and predictions!

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-6-tangle/6-02/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Tangle 6.1.

Episode Notes:

• They descend into the darkness...but only literally, right?
• Brian makes Taylor talk like Buffy
• SomeBug is cute and all, but what happened to our beautiful WolfSpider??
• Lisa doesn't know why the Travelers are here and neither do we
• Lisa... so knowledgeable and yet so naive
• If this is an unprecedented level of cooperation, what will the new normal look like afterwards?
• We still don't know what this book is about, or even this arc
• What are the heroes doing, anyway, besides making life worse for everyone who lives in this part of town?
• On the other hand, maybe what the villains are doing isn't that great either. But how else do you rescue conscripted gang members with bombs in their heads?
• The narrative is giving Taylor a break on the whole villainous action thing
• Lisa's trying to sell her philosophy to the wrong buyer
• Brian and Lisa love Danny now. As do we

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-6-tangle/6-01/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.x.

Episode Notes:

• A “classic” interlude with guest host and “inchworm grandma” Claire!
• This interlude is so rich in theme
• Faultline founded this found family piece by piece
• More like Gregor the GOAT!!!!
• We see a level of maturity in Gregor and Faultline that’s lacking (for obvious reasons) in the Undersiders
• Faultline’s Paradox: the mercenary with a mission?
• Alas, the Smugline age gap
• How Gregor’s act of monstrous violence mirrors and inverts Taylor’s
• (Lack of) Consequences
• Wait, what’s Faultline’s name?!?
• Jenny doesn’t buy that the Manton effect is psychological or that being close to death is your best chance to have another trigger event
• The blessing and curse of power-related amnesia
• The perfect girl for Newter? We’ve found her!
• This is your brain on Newter
• Who’s behind powers in a bottle? Obviously, the government
• Would any of us drink powers in a bottle?
• Gregor wants to be sure of how he’s seen
• Is Gregor online?
• Navigating the world with a visible power/disability
• Gregor is the exact opposite of Emma
• Villains are great for the economy
• Newter's Patreon rewards
• A brief Labyrinth detour
• Revisiting the thematic richness of how people receive and are affected by superpowers in this setting
• Monstrous natures aside, “What you see is what you get” with Faultline’s Crew
• Arc 6 predictions!

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-x-interlude/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.10.

Episode Notes:

• A new ship has entered the harbor
• Do roaches have standby mode?
• We're calling it: Taylor's going to become Bitch's person
• Shipping aside, isn't WolfSpider the most interesting interpersonal relationship on the Undersiders right now?
• Hang on, why hasn't Lisa tried to communicate better with Bitch?
• Taylor's power expanded her brain... or something!
• Subtext becomes text as we dig into some parallels between cape powers, autism, and disability
• Capes, masks, and masking
• The possibility of Danny finding out is looming large
• Eyes and consequences
• How far up the temporal legs do the pants of responsibility go?
• Jenny's vision for Taylor's vision (it's bugs)
• With great healing power comes great violence responsibility?
• A brief (but relevant!!) Animorphs aside
• Please don't make us hate Coil's gang, Wildbow, pretty please
• We get shirty about pronunciations

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-10/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.9.

Episode Notes:

• Is this the best chapter so far??
• A well executed and more importantly incredibly cool use of power synergy
• Jenny’s first thought about what Taylor was going to do to Lung may surprise you
• What’s the difference between a villain and a brutally utilitarian hero?
• Does Taylor know how this will look to others? Does she care?
• Checking in on Jenny’s current feelings about Taylor
• Taylor’s brutality can be compared to Kaiser’s brutality and that’s a really bad look
• Jenny and Ted grapple with the moral trade-offs a bit since Taylor won’t
• What’s better than seeing hubris take down one awful supervillain? Seeing hubris take down TWO awful supervillains!
• Sundancer corner: her power and future team prospects
• Taylor saves Angelica!!!!
• We loved seeing Bitch rush in at the end
• We’re skeptical that Taylor actually ended things with Lung
• Predictions

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-09/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.8.

Episode Notes:

• Bugs doing stuff. Bugs doing stuff better than ever!
• Speculation about Taylor’s power and its effects
• Taylor takes stock and takes command
• What’s really motivating her? Tactics? Morals? Excellence?
• Taylor can’t reveal her motives to Bitch and may not even be revealing them to herself all the time
• Maybe Taylor would have had more luck communicating with Labyrinth than Bitch, actually...
• Sundancer the investigative journalist
• Bitch's pessimism about human nature
• The ups and downs of communicating with Bitch
• What does it mean if twins have the same power? (If they even do)
• Is Bitch really being difficult, or is she the victim of Taylor's mistrust (and narrative necessity)? Or is Taylor just getting too big for her b(r)itches?
• We're curious to see how Taylor and Bitch repair after these interactions
• Taylor likes to be in control
• Taylor's fear of drugs feels very true to life. Gonna be a problem for Newtbug
• What kind of dragon is Lung, anyway?
• Jenny hopes Sundancer turns into a sun

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-08/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.7.

Episode Notes:

• What well-described combat this is! Excellent layering of action
• Ted makes a great point about show don't tell even if Jenny doesn't realize it at the time
• The way in which Oni Lee’s power is like Taylor’s
• Coil's soldiers are no joke. Neither are guns
• All these villains are pretty heroic -- thanks in part to Taylor
• What is Labyrinth's power if not hallucinations?
• We're very worried about Brutus's eye
• I Just Found Out My Dad Is Gay: And In Love With Coil’s Sniper?
• Dire predicktions

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-07/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Hive 5.6.

Episode Notes:

• Taylor’s got her groove* back! (*bugs)
• And she’s SO COOL and innovative
• Newter enters the gladiatorial shipping arena and looks pretty great
• He also seems like a powerful cape, so why did he end up with Faultline?
• Or… are the heroes just total failures at recruitment?
• Jenny and Ted can’t agree whether the average Newter would even want to work for the government
• Ted tries to pin Jenny down on whether she finds Newter hot but she dodges the question
• Coil’s guys are doing their own thing
• The important “heart” skill of targeted small talk
• Taylor’s true personality is emerging
• Sundancer is open, authentic, and troubled
• Labyrinth is a labyrinth wrapped in a labyrinth inside a labyrinth
• Villains that don’t want to kill people stand out in our estimation
• We don’t put a lot of stock in Taylor’s theories about the ABB
• Predictions

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-5-hive/5-06/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow