Caroline Siede

A tribute to Lord of the Rings and Mamma Mia 2

Every thought I had watching the rest of ‘Bridgerton’ season four The show's Cinderella season comes to a close

Dearest gentle reader, please join me for a carriage ride through the back half of Bridgerton's fourth season.

Had to pause before the reunion to watch some old Johnny Weir programs and, wow, I forgot how much there really is just a direct line between his skating style and Yuzuru Hanyu.

Shout-out to the figure skating fanatic who put that Bolero needledrop into tonight’s Traitors finale! Absolutely genius.

Every thought I had watching the rest of ‘Bridgerton’ season four The show's Cinderella season comes to a close

Dearest gentle reader, please join me for a carriage ride through the back half of Bridgerton's fourth season.

Alysa Liu has now hit 5.7 million Instagram followers—that’s more than Michael Phelps, Ilona Maher, Suni Lee, Shaun White, or Lindsey Vonn. Still chasing Simone Biles (12m) and Usain Bolt (13m).

I’m gonna be honest, it read so “theme park pirate” to me that I’m not sure I even realized he was going for Irish…

But, in that case, the primary target of the question should actually be men and how they’re engaging with the genre/story! Whereas I feel like the conversation keeps getting stuck on psychoanalyzing women, even though that part feels so self-explanatory to me

They just feel like two different conversations to me. “Why do women like this?” is such a goofy, reductive question. Whereas “What makes a queer romance authentic? Is the story losing something by trying to appeal to women? How do men engage with the romance genre?” are much more interesting Qs.

And I think that’s totally valid too! I don’t think gay romances *should* be primarily aimed at women. But, as it exists now, the romance genre as a whole has always been primarily aimed at women, so “women like a romance show” doesn’t feel anymore shocking to me than “men like an action one”

“Women like watching handsome men be sensitive in the romance genre” is one of the most basic tenets of human art! The go-to joke of every ‘90s sitcom!! The building block of multiple literary and cinematic genres! I really feel like we’re all overthinking this one…

“Why are men confused by women enjoying a gay romance show?” is actually the more interesting question to be asking! Nothing about this is a new phenomenon, you just haven’t been paying attention to the female experience?

You might as well be asking “Why do women like Lord of the Rings even though most of the characters are men?” Like, dude, we are taught to relate to and empathize with male characters from the moment we’re born!! It’s men who aren’t taught to do that with female characters!!

Tbh, the question “Why do women enjoy gay romances?” is built on the assumption that when women consume fictional stories, they only ever relate to the female characters. But, actually, only relating to characters of your gender is a male privilege that women don’t get!!

Game of Thrones is a dumb show people think is smarter than it is. House of the Dragon is a smart show people think is dumber than it is. And A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms works because everyone understands exactly what it is.

And Alysa Liu has now hit 4 million Instagram followers (!!!). That's more than either of the Heated Rivalry boys, and I'm pretty sure more than any other figure skater has ever had.

My deranged Insta reels feed has informed me he did 🙏

The difference between Terry Gannon’s genuine chemistry with Johnny and Tara vs. the crew they had him with for the Opening Ceremonies is crazy.

Johnny and Tara commentating the Olympics closing ceremony and not knowing any athletes but the figure skaters—they’re just like me!

Aww, they asked Evan about Madi in his pre-closing ceremonies interview and he made sure to point out that his fellow flagbearer Hilary Knight just got engaged and her fiancée will be there too. Between this and how he comforted Amber in the team event, truly the sensitive king of the Olympics.

Alysa Liu (who came in sixth at the last Olympics!) had 290k Insta followers a month ago. Today she just surpassed 3 million. Really feels like her win could kick off a whole new figure skating renaissance in the U.S.

Some of the worst cinematography I have ever seen at that gala event, but a joy nonetheless! If you fell in love with figure skating at these Olympics, you can watch most of these people skate again at Worlds in just a month (March 24-29th). If not, see you again in four years!!

I don’t know what Riku and Ryuichi’s deal is, but I spent that whole performance yelling “Kiss!”

Committing to your King Fu Panda themed gala skate after you unexpectedly win a gold medal IS the Olympic spirit. 👏👏👏

(Okay, but I kind of wish he had just done the Running x Hope gala skate he did at Nationals…)

Also, I feel like that’s the most emotional I’ve ever seen Evan skate?!? Their “Fields of Gold” moment for sure.

And what if I said the Chock and Bates bedsheet makes me cry everytime??

So many insane things happened this Olympics that I feel like we didn’t fully process Yuma Kagiyama winning his expected silver medal in the single most chaotic way imaginable.

The true Olympic medal is getting selected as one of Niina Petrõkina’s Cell Block Tango murder victims.

Love that Team Italy served up gently choreographed art and Team USA served up “routine you made up in your parent’s basement.”