15.4 - "Taylor Management"

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.8.Episode Notes:We're enjoying this thing where Taylor's gotten herself into another impossible scenarioWhat was Trickster's plan, here?A second Dinah! Whee!!Jenny wants Coil to come sailing through the doorWe have to assume the mayor WANTS to save the cityThe wrinkles of an inherently Protectorate-aligned mayorCapes really are hiding everywhereDid Coil set them up...Coil master plan theory craftingTaylor's poorly conceived succession planCoil's power always makes you wonderTaylor's just a terrible manipulatorTaylor's sense of cape feudalism has overwhelmed her understanding of villainyAlso she might be undervaluing her own lifeTaylor's living inside a trolley problemRationalizations to not back downA player who hates to loseTurns out the Travelers look way better against the background of the Slaughterhouse NineThe future of Taylor's swarm clonesTaylor's better at multitasking with her bugs than with herselfWe're already picturing these scenes in the Worm comicClassic Skitter understatementLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/colony-15-8/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.z.Episode Notes:Coil is the Doctor’s very special boyCauldron appears to be… benevolently unethical?They’re really trying to solve the world’s problems, but they’re also making a few of their ownCampaign staffer Rebecca sighs with relief that her beeper is on silent when President-elect Griffin sees Behemoth and pages AlexandriaCan we label Alexandria and co. heroes or villains or monsters?How many Siberians can you countenance to save the world?Doctor who?Victoria chose deathIs Doormaker Cauldron’s “pet”?Can we really believe the Doctor is being truthful with Alexandria?Ooh, a real psychic?Ugh, packing to move between Earths would be so annoyingThe role Rebecca constructed for herself, by herselfThe existential horror of a slow, nearly inevitable deathDoes Alexandria stop being a hero when she stops seeing herself as truly invulnerable? Or does she just become more human?The Lightness Of Being AlexandriaAre all of the powers actually finite, and it’s the strongest capes who are being affected first?How old is Alexandria and for how long?Every parent is Alexandria to their kids (except Rebecca’s mom, here)Alexandria is genuine about putting life above all things and comfortable with the idea that it makes her a heroHey if your plan is so good then why does Brockton Bay suck so bad?The doctor was the mother after all!It’s fitting that we have a skeptical teen to save us from the Deep State DaddiesThis isn’t Kim Stanley Robinson’s ParahumansCome on, Ted, do you really trust normal people with this kind of thing?We take a brief detour into Wordpress metadataOn the other hand, what could justify being so careless with the people they dose?Maybe access to powers commands a high price merely for leverageWhy doesn’t Alexandria simply prevent all trauma that could lead to villainy?Scrat’s Endbringer powersetWhy did Behemoth first show up in Iran?Can Alexandria and Jenny optimize Scion?Parallels to TaylorRebecca never got to play againShe should know as well as anyone that life is painThe Doctor, like Tattletale, always knew it was gonna be Plan BFor all the Doctor says she’s letting Rebecca choose, she seems very willing to put her thumb on the scales as much as she canHer Dark Suit MaterialsWhere’s my Hero / Eidolon Chicago origin story fic?Non-Reagan era politicsRebecca is using her time better than ClarkSpeculation on some of the mysteriesDetails and metaphorScraps of Manton’s backstorySure, set Victoria free, Amy! It’s just a few alterations to her body and memories. You’ll fit right in here at Cauldron.And look, the whole Case 53 thing is just really really despicable!So what did we learn about where the story is going? (Warning, Animorphs end of series spoilers!)Links:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/interlude-15-bonus-3/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss the Worm comics announcement.Linkshttps://parahumans.wordpress.com/2026/10/27/worm-is-getting-a-2027-comic-adaptation-with-idw-publishing/https://gizmodo.com/groundbreaking-web-serial-worm-is-becoming-a-comic-book-exclusive-2000830772

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.7.Episode Notes:Such good procedural stuff in this oneBug perception: the secret to pain toleranceWe want the parahuman medical proceduralMore bug innovationsThe limits of multitaskingMore Skitter philosophy wheeeeParian's maturity might be lending some much-needed perspective hereA questionable hatredDoes crime pay, Skitter?We've found the violence inherent in the systemIf Taylor's gonna be a benevolent dictator, she should be a better oneProtectorate pipe dreamsTaylor's still creating rationalizations for why she should get to live the life she wantsCape paternalismShould the leader also be the army?Taylor is a scary person inside a non-scary person inside of a scary personThis whole novel could just be a Freaks and Geeks remakeThe danger of becoming one of the kidsIt's tough to be a benevolent dictatorBryce is not one of his generation's more promising mindsReally sucks to be a person without powers in a world of capesAt least Taylor's sense of superiority is based on something??Great power, great responsibility...Links:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/colony-15-7/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.6.Episode Notes:They’re being unfair to Taylor!!!!Taylor was Taylor’s own worst enemy in this conversationWould it have been better if Sophia had come up?Flechette hearing about what Armsmaster did: huge, if trueWhy can’t Taylor have ALL the allies?What do y’all think of Jenny’s new ship?Who’s afraid of Lisa Wilbourn?Parian stands on her morals (dramatically!!!)(How old is Taylor now?)How To Make Friends And Influence People (By Spending Two Hundred Thousand Dollars)Can Taylor deal a better hand to Sabah than the one she was dealt herself?Taylor and Lily both want hero to mean somethingThe fantasy of evidence that can change mindsWas Lily upset by Taylor’s accusation or Sabah’s shout?Lily’s gonna find that armbandDefining the relationshipThe minions won’t stealThis offer is way more Skitter than UndersidersTaylor doesn’t know Victoria’s fateThe Fanary ArcOdds and ends and predictionsLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/colony-15-6/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.5.Episode Notes:A very upsetting cliffhangerWhat's a little attempted seduction to the dark side between capes?We do see Flechette's point (get it?)Just a little cape chauvinism at playBallistic's murderous intentionsA real down chapter for our girlWhat's Taylor even offering Parian, here?It's tough being a hero in villain's clothingPeople Taylor loves!!Some very low persuasion rolls on Taylor's partTaylor wants to be feared and trusted at the same timeWe're disappointed in BallisticIt's a low point when you're coming off worse than RegentIt's tough to be a gunLoyalty, or conflict avoidance?Wither our Traveler friendships??Mysteries and crises...Taylor quotes of all timeTaylor is actually good at being unpredictableMurder timingChekhov's many gunsLisa wants to be the power behind the throneGet some better advice, LisaSecond trigger event speculationVictor is a bad guy to have around, actuallyBe more like Taylor, everyoneLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/colony-15-5/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.4.Episode Notes:Bad news in Skitter vs. Coil is good news for the narrativeIn which Brian channels JennyTaylor can’t shake the desire for her excellence to win outWho’s the rat?Why has Lisa been pumping the brakes? Is any of this even authentic?Did Coil send Imp on this mission and then she used her power to get out of it?Why kill Taylor today? This week? And what does Coil expect will happen next?Come on, Lisa, tell us the Travelers’ secrets already!!Do the Travelers have any better options than their current situation?Can everyone with chain of custody of Victoria’s body successfully pass the blame to Amy?We yell at Dragon and Colin for their ongoing absenceCape chauvinism and what the unpowered have to offerWhether or not it’s a good idea to keep kissing Brian, we want Taylor to be happySmelly BrianTaylor is Allie Brosh’s helper dogTaylor respects AishaSkitizen ParianOne thing we can thank Jack Slash forWhat’s the Oliver twist?State of the CoilitionLook, taking compliments is really hardPredictionsLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/colony-15-4/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.y.Episode Notes:The demise of Jenny's secretly evil theoryHugs are more comforting than superpowersBrian's power knew he needed to start getting support from other peopleMaybe he should try getting some from AishaTaylor's a good person to show your worst self toAlas for older sibling fixed mindsetsPower synergiesWe've probably got some PTSD here, folksThe common ground of hypervigilance Let's talk about the kiss!Somebug reaches new heights of canonBut maybe it's still a little bit complicatedThe limitations of being the protectorThe evolution of the little sister slotWho's Brian gonna be if he doesn't have to protect Aisha?Second trigger event revelationsScion stops wars, it turns out!Spoilers for WatchmenPowers as something to be containedWe missed a Skitterland barbecue!A belated happy working songGrue wasn't enoughNotes for the inevitable Worm animated seriesThe eventual internalization of Taylor's confidenceSometimes you need a little sensory deprivation to open up to someoneJust some good old bug philosophySupervillainy is just another day in the officeRelatable mental statesLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/interlude-15-bonus-2/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.3.Episode Notes:As far as we can tell, Imp’s power can’t affect readers the same way it affects TaylorSorry, Taylor, it’s favor timeLisa is reasonable but not fully believableShe can fake a grin but not a frownLisa had Taylor’s number though: she just wanted to be included in the atrocityHonestly maybe “defeat and kidnap Victor” was plan B to “Chosen ceasefire and Coil recruits Victor” until 15.2 made clear to Lisa that it wouldn’t go over well with Aisha and TaylorLisa is a horrifying and villainous opponentA mortifying ordeal of being known for an eyeWhat happens when somebody calls Taylor’s bluff?A brief remembrance of the Victoria-that-wasWell, doesn’t Regent have to use his power, Taylor?Do we trust the Regent Taylor sees? Even after his interlude?Moral accommodations for Regent and “conscience accommodations” for TaylorThis is a classic Animorphs argumentLisa is the best at debate and Regent is the worstThe Undersiders’ rep is definitely going to be a narrative problemVictor couldn’t have acquired empathy and compassion with his power by now?Victor sucks, but also Othala sucksWho would even be making up rumors that Taylor is Jewish anyway????Ted concedesLisa’s Potemkin justificationsThe humor in this arc is greatIt’s fun to see someone mostly unaffected by Lisa’s bullshit… and for Lisa to win anywaySmall observations and predictionsLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/colony-15-3/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Jenny and Ted discuss Colony 15.2.Episode Notes:Who's chosen and who's pure, here?Trio traumaThe fault in our UndersidersA slightly less easy case for body controlA questionable hierarchy of acceptable targetsHelp us with our portmanteaus, listenersThe harem continues, perhapsRegent and Imp have some real personalities to contend withAn impreg by any other name...A potential Brian-Genesis collabParametaphysical speculationImp is borrowing bits of lots of people's roles right nowRaggedy Aisha Undersiders > OthersidersAre the Chosen really more dangerous than Coil right now?Also they may not have been defeated yetA multidimensional NightPlayacting at civicsWe're squeamish like TaylorDo we root for Shatterbird?Jenny doesn't know about the GrinkThe Undersiders have a lot of leadersThe perils of a time crunchTaylor has some real manager energyTaylor the secret tinkerSome Taylor quirksLinks:https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/colony-15-2/https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow