Today's Episode... (Spoilers, obviously) (And a little ETC Preview) · 2:16am Feb 16th, 2014
I'm not going to say this episode was my favorite of the series (although I would say it's probably in my top 5.) I am not going to say this was an episode that was "brilliant." I'm not going to say that this episode was one of the greatest episodes in television history (that goes to MST3K's Puma Man)
But guys... god damn if this episode wasn't really, really, REALLY important to me.
You may have noticed I've been MIA a lot over the past few months, popping up only to post a new chapter of ETC or, in one case, take that chapter down. A lot of you may know that I suffer from an anxiety disorder, which sometimes can manifest itself in the form of depression. This depression has never been something very deep, something that effects my ability to function, thankfully, but it can certainly get me down.
The past few months have been winter up here in Seattle, where our days last roughly 10 minutes and it's cold and miserable. As such, I became sorta down. And when I became down, the absolute worst thing happened; I lost contact with my friends. Not just ones I talk to online, but real life ones. I became a hermit. Like Oro, but not an unstoppable fighting machine.
Oh Oro... you are so annoying to play against online. Also I think you have jaundice.
I don't know why, but just over the past few days it REALLY caught up to me, and I've been super miserable. It sorta came to a head this morning when I just woke up feeling like absolute crap.
Then... I watched this episode.
Guys, there was something about it. Something about an episode that really dealt with anxiety. An episode that basically said that you should face your issues head-on, because sometimes, getting out of your comfort zone is what will bring you the most happiness.
God DAMN is that true.
After the episode finished, I realized just how deep in my comfort zone I had gotten. My 'comfort zone' is just being at home, playing video games, going to work Monday through Friday. And while it might be comfortable, I can only stay in it for so long until I realize how much more I can be doing.
So after the episode, I contacted my friends, and am likely going to Karaoke with them Thursday, hopefully breaking me from this semi-rut I've been in.
I've never had a response to an episode quite like I had to this one. I've enjoyed episodes, I've thought some were really great... but this one really got to me in a way others haven't.
So, yeah. Just wanted to apologize for not being around a whole lot, but thanks to that episode, I'm feeling a whole lot better.
Now, to make up for the long wait it's caused, I thought I'd give you a short, 3-paragraph preview of the early part of ETC Chapter 16: The Talk:
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“You have no idea how good this feels,” he finally said. “Ever since that farce of a public forum, I have been waiting. I knew that rebellious scum like you always go too far, always get too desperate to make a statement, and that eventually you’d do something that not even my forgiving aunt could let happen.” Blueblood stepped even closer as Octavia cowered back a bit. “I should thank you, actually. I haven’t had to make a royal arrest like that my whole life. They’re really quite rare; the captain of the guard is usually quite expedient in upholding the law. You were able to enliven my day a little bit. Now come with me.”
Octavia slowly began to stand up, but Blueblood grabbed her by the hoof and pulled her up the rest of the way. He had only taken a few steps when he paused in the doorway. He slowly turned back around and locked eyes with Octavia again, then stepped forward until they were nose to nose. There was an awkward silence as Octavia’s heart pounded and Blueblood’s eyes scanned up and down before he snorted.
“Take your mask off.”
And this...
THIS is why I like ponies so much.
They speak so true to such things at times.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Blueblood's 'path of justice' has really become his white whale.
Return of the Joke, Flutterguy Strikes back.
This is quickly becoming one of those cases where I didn't much care for an episode at first, but my fellow fans' reactions help me warm up to it. This reaction, especially. Glad to hear it's helped you out so much.
1839569
That...
Was exactly my reaction.
PSYCHIC MUCH
Enneways, oooh, karaoke!
Yeah, I'm in the same boat you describe as your comfort zone. It's so easy to just survive day by day, making ends meet, doing only what needs done to get by, and indulging in vapid escapism during free time. Work, home, and gaming. It's all I've been doing for the past few weeks.
On the outside it can look like laziness, or at least that's what others have ascribed it to over the years, but it's really a particular sort of worry. A worry that all these projects--art ones, writing ones, so on--will not live up to my expectations. So I let these worries grip at me a little too hard and it's easier to just try and ignore their source. And even though I'm fully aware that I'm just playing at avoidance, that understanding doesn't really help. In a way, it kinda makes it worse.
Sorry for rambling on here a bit, it's just that your post kinda hit at something in me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts; I caught a similar message from the episode that you did but I might need to watch it a few more times, maybe it'll stick.
The weather here has been pretty miserable, you got that right (but at least it isn’t snowing).
Glad to hear you got yourself out of your funk; it’s a tragic thing, falling into one. Now, if only the sun would come out and stay there….
Glad to hear you're getting out of your funk! It is way too easy to get comfortable just getting by. Having to put in effort to keep your friends is weird. But all good things are worth fighting for, right?
Puma Man, he flies like a moron!