Dead Doesn't Mean Gone - A Haunting of Bly Manor Video Essay

[@SidPhoenix2211]

"In Paris, I was a sous chef. Which means they only let me chop vegetables" "In Paris, I was a sous chef. Which means they only let me chop vegetables" "In Paris, I was a sous chef. Which means they only let me chop vegetables" "In Paris, I was a sous chef. Which means they only let me chop vegetables" "In Paris, I was a sous chef. Which means they only let me chop vegetables"

[@nicko7488]

I AM EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE

[@ShubhamPatil-rl4jk]

I don't get it, why many likes and it also got pinned but whyyyyy??????

[@hannam1967]

@@frisater96 I kinda interpreted it as his bad excuse for why he abandoned the job. Since he doesn't initially want to talk about his mother.

[@hannam1967]

@@frisater96 Hannah might also just be misremembering what he actually said. You can't really trust memories. Or the writers just didnt Google sous chef 😆

[@iwanttobelieve2]

@@hannam1967 this!

[@trashraccoon2635]

mike flanagan saying he genuinely thought he and the team were making a happy ending and then finding out people are upset then going "i don't know what a happy ending is" is such a mood tho

[@juhlsghouls]

I think that’s why it was so sad, that even the “best” ending is still somewhat tragic. It’s realistic, making it sting just a little harder.

[@RoseEyed]

Honestly I thought the ending was happy though. Danni got to be with the love of her life for a decade and Viola got to be freed, along with every other ghost. It's just bittersweet like life

[@englishatheart]

Though*

[@songbird6414]

I will say, it was a slightly happier ending than I expected(I thought Dani would die like right at the beginning of the last episode Ngl) but god damn it’s still SAD

[@slsthewriter1299]

Honestly? I did think it was a happy ending. Bittersweet, of course, but I think this ending emphasized Dani as a really brave person who decided to _choose_ her fate despite everything that happened. Nobody else really chose to be stuck at Bly Manor, but she did, and I think that the fact that she sacrificed herself and made that choice is what freed everyone. Bly Manor was a death trap like the mouse analogy, but Dani forced herself into it just so other people wouldn't have to suffer the same fate. So yeah. It's happy cause Dani's the one who sat on the hypothetical mouse trap and said, "No. We're not gonna do that. So stop being an asshole, _Viola."_

[@philthemovieguy81]

I know a lot of people got kind of frustrated with Edmund for haunting Dani. Always showing up at the most inopportune moments. When we wanted him to the least. However, I never saw Edmund as a ghost per sé. No, instead I saw him as Dani's guilt. Taken shape and form into Edmund's "ghost". The guilt of feeling She was the one who got her best friend killed. And she carried that guilt everywhere, and the only time it would appear was when she looked in the mirror, for it was the one thing she couldn't bear to do, to look at herself and not be reminded of what she felt she had done. And when she could no longer avoid mirrors, Edmund as her guilt would appear to her whenever she got close with Jamie, as if it were reminding her that even her feelings for another woman haunt her. As she had been secretly struggling with even before during her wedding planning. That scene in which the young woman taking Dani's measurements for her wedding dress began to flirt with her secretly (though come on, not that subtle lol), was very telling in how much Dani struggled with how she really wanted to feel versus how she thought she Should feel with Edmund. So it was quite revelatory (for me anyway) to witness her guilt pretty much saying "Fine, you don't want to face me in the mirror, then I'll just stand here right in front of you." And that night she grabs the bottle of wine, gets drunk and goes out to the bonfire to burn the glasses, when she does face Edmund and says "I guess it's just you and me then." It's like she does come to a place of acceptance with her guilt, as if to say "Yeah, I see you. I acknowledge you. But I no longer choose to be afraid of you. I want what I want and what I want is to live my life and find love. With whomever I choose." It's just such a powerful moment to me, that the minute we no longer let our guilt run our lives, and we acknowledge its presence and accept it, it's when we can begin to live. Same thing with Henry and his guilt in the form of his doppelganger. He has had it with being imprisoned by his guilt and not only takes ownership of his mistakes but takes back control of his life in order to be the father and uncle he knew he could be.

[@babyraviolis2742]

This is exactly how I've thought about it!! The fun thing about guilt and trauma is it comes at the worst moments, if something is looking good there's a good chance those feelings are gonna come up right at that moment to linger and to make you question even the good times. Of course the physical manifestation of it is going to be frustrating to people because living it is frustrating! I've always loved how both series' use ghosts as not only as a real life spirit but also the spirit of a feeling, or to represent the deep inner thoughts of a character. In that regard that's why with some thinking I retracted what I had originally thought about the whole Henry deal. I originally thought it felt strange and out of place, how I also felt about Edmund originally, but it really is a game changer when you think of them more as physical representations rather than real, physical, deadly ghosts. Not any less real to the people feeling and living with them obviously but less real in the physical manor. The way both of these instances were portrayed was brilliant

[@philthemovieguy81]

@@babyraviolis2742 Yes, agreed! I think Steven says it best in Hill House, where he says "Ghosts are guilt, ghosts are secrets, ghosts are regrets and failings. But most times, most times a ghost is a wish." And people, even places, can be haunted by all those kinds of ghosts.

[@michaelandrews117]

Someone incredibly important in my life has suffered from severe trauma and PTSD. They have suffered from hallucinations just like Dani does and seeing it represented like this, immediately clicked with me.

[@samdaley8484]

I have two interpretations of Edmund - first is that he is fully just Dani's guilt, and the ghost itself has nothing to do with Edmund's soul, so to speak. But if he is a ghost, in the sense that he is really the spirit of Edmund, then I think I still understand him. I've actually been in the position of breaking up with my first boyfriend when I realized I didnt like men (not engaged, good lord) and you just feel like crap, and like a monster. Because they didnt do anything wrong - my boyfriend was a great guy, and it seems like Edmund was too. And in those first moments after the breakup they have to process that what they thought was a perfectly happy relationship is over, and it's all your fault, not theirs. So in Edmund's case, he's trapped in those sudden moments of percieved betrayal, never able to process his emotions and come to terms with it. We feel like that would be unreasonable because a normal kind person would work through that and not hold onto the anger (as my boyfriend was able to, on account of not immediately getting hit by a truck) but Edmund is trapped in those final moments. Until Dani finally confronts him and he can be at peace. Maybe it's still just the manifestation of guilt, or maybe it's a mix of both. God I love this director.

[@giugiulinda1]

the ghost of compulsive heterosexuality

[@blue_champignon5738]

Me starting Bly: "oh boy "I'm going to find every single easter egg ghost, try and stop me!" Me finishing Bly: *sobbing at 4am after powering through through the entire series*

[@danielaardila5081]

Yeah, same I thought I was gonna shit my pants but instead I sobbed like a baby for a week and almost sobbed again with this video.

[@roy.shrestha]

THAT'S ME. I finished watching Bly Manor exactly at 4 am. I was sobbing the entire time

[@ryanedwards7487]

This series gives you all the feels, doesn't it? Also, like the Hill House series (sorry, I didn't actually find the ghosts anywhere near as scary as the idea of a house that is basically a venus freaking flytrap for souls), the emotional beats, when they happen, drive the horror home all the more. I will say that this series' premise basically being a kind of supernatural dementia / Alzheimer's, is absolutely horrific. Seriously, I'd much rather die quickly as myself that feel who I am rotting away day after day until I'm a shell.

[@kateicoes]

Wow, fuckING SAME

[@laurahill9643]

This was me.

[@constanza722]

as a lesbian, i don't think this is an example of bury your gays either because both gay characters are given fulfilling roles and a fulfilling relationship, they were together for about 13 years after bly and lived very happily. the ending was a tragedy, yes, but it felt like a natural and organic conclusion, it didn't feel cheap or malicious or done for shock value

[@tortellinidoodle]

Agreed! What I also really enjoyed is how they never explicitly mention that this is a queer relationship yet it has a place in the storyline. The balance between those two things was insanely well done. They didn't oversexualize their relationship, they had true chemistry and were shown just living their day to day lives, and although their story ends tragically, I find this depiction absolutely beautiful. Signed, a fellow ledollarbean

[@LAMODÉLISTE]

Sooooo true ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

As a gay guy I second this, it's not a "bury your gays" at all. I think for the young folks who weren't alive for the 80s and 90s (ohmygod I'm so old...) having the characters so in the closet might not really land. It may even be largely confusing. But, shit, denying yourself and forcing yourself into a heteronormative relationship was very, very common back then. But I'm glad Dani and Jamie got to live their lives together. Not every relationship is a super happy ending. Some end in tragedy. I don't know, I felt the whole thing like a sweet sucker punch. I think because our lives are like waking nightmares anymore people want their entertainment to make them feel good and give them hope, but I appreciate these nuanced stories. They hurt, and they heal.

[@klmpore4334]

I can't speak for you or the LGBTQ community at all, but they definitely added that love story in there and very much so showed that it doesn't have to feel distracting because it's not heterosexual. I'm so ready with normalizing different ppls sexualities. And they did that in the show. Also loooooved her just tryna be human... she just had the ghost of her ex following her that experience broke her... Idk. I think the only way to like make people not say ignorant shit about ppl sexualities is normalizing it. It can be apart of the story because its life... idk don't wanna be rude either. I just really appreciated how they did it

[@cityman2312]

On the subject of story elements feeling cheap, what about how Danni dismisses the spectre of Edmond? It's like the Critical Drinker on KZbin, she just gets inebriated and tells the spectre to go away!

[@literaIIyshy]

Hannah Grose is such an underrated character and her and Owen's love story is one of the sweetest and most sad things I've ever watched

[@klmpore4334]

They made this perfect love story and then took it and it's so frustrating. That should have been the only real love story... and it was one, but it broke me when Hanna couldn't continue...

[@MUSIBE]

Agreed

[@stephen4649]

That was so sweet and sad. In a way, we lose every character at the end of a story; but I wish that they had given Hannah and Owen a less heartbreaking ending.

[@minaret1230]

Me too!!

[@christinamercaldo3858]

Me too! Yes yes! 😢

[@ginster458]

In Hill House the five kids are representative of the five stages of grief. here we have Hannah who denies her death, Viola who is trapped in her anger, Peter who bargains to find a way forward, Rebecca stuck in depression over circumstance until she finds the strenght to act, and Victoria Pedretti, yet again, accept it.

[@QuikVidGuy]

Victoria Pendretti Self-Actualization Cinematic Universe

[@fallenwarlock2418]

I haven’t realized that until now, now I’m sobbing

[@songbird6414]

@@QuikVidGuy WAIT SO WHAT THE FUCK IS LOVE QUINN IN THIS UNIVERSE

[@artemis_luna0435]

@songbird 64 accepting se are all shitty people haha jk

[@jafidayman4832]

I hated Rebecca so much lol, the guy kills you and you still go along with him.

[@Genuinelycrooked]

My favorite line in the season was when Dani says "People...mix up love and possession. I don't think that should be possible. They're opposites really: love and ownership." The way she says it is so casual; she hasn't put a lot of thought into it, and she isn't expecting validation. She's just stating what, to her, is obvious. To her, love is free, and freeing, and kind. That's what makes it possible for her to do what she does with Viola. That generous love is the neutralizing opposite of Viola's cruel possession.

[@nikebauschaum4714]

That is such a beautiful observation!

[@lauramcastro4897]

My favourite line is the one that pays off that scene so wonderfully; when Jamie begs Dani to take her, but: "Dani would not. Dani would never." And I BAWL, because Dani really would not. Cause Dani wouldn't confuse love for ownership.

[@TheFreshTrumpet]

@@lauramcastro4897 that line right there gets me every damn time. Glad it got a shout out here. God what a hauntingly beautiful scene that was, from the dialogue to the cinematography of the visuals, so damn good

[@izzyfox7575]

@@lauramcastro4897 I cried just reading it again! 😅

[@lovely1641]

Viola was determined to die on that hill of possessing the rights over the legacy of her generational home. And, while her intention started off as noble, due to circumstances out of her control (illness, superstition and financial ruin), it was warped into a perfect storm in the worst way. Even in death, she devolved into this seething angry beast that endlessly searched for the heir(her daughter) to bly manor and her symbol of familial pride and legacy for so long that she lost herself as she did in life

[@callysto_ii]

"Do you want company, while you wait for your beast in the jungle, do you want company" That has got to be the single most selfless show of love I have ever seen in any media ever. She knows with full clarity what she's headed for, the loss, the pain, the grief. Whether it's in a year, or in 20, but she's still offering herself, freely, it's that simple. The work of loving Dani is worth the pain of losing her, and that's all there is to it. And it's everything.

[@sleepy4475]

Its like a call back to the thing that guy had said in the first episode. That loving someone is worth the knowing that you'll lose them, and she still chooses to stay, even tho she thinks people are exhausting, and she still chooses to stay despite know for a fact she'll lose Dani in the end. Its such a simple call back but goddamn if it doesn't hurt

[@Rakuen9]

@@sleepy4475 That guy is Owen and he also knows that in the way where you know things because you've lived them.

[@frostfang1]

The difficult part is knowing when you need to keep holding on, and when you need to let go.

[@callysto_ii]

@@frostfang1 when the work of loving them isn't worth the pain of losing them anymore. If you are struggling with this right now, I wish you all the best, and hope you'll do what is right for you

[@Pete...NoNotThatOne]

Hold on, I’ve got something in my eye. No, I’m not crying, _you’re crying!_ SHUT UP!

[@matp8454]

As a gay person, watching a horror show where being gay only brings joy and love for a doomed character it is a relieaf. Usually being gay only makes things worst for a character in a show.

[@BlueGeen]

Well, it did make things worse for Dani at first- with Edmund and all. But, yes!

[@libya17freeable]

And because of gays in it I won’t watch it

[@sky-fb2br]

hey, when you say gay? what that is mean?.

[@BlueGeen]

@@sky-fb2br Homosexual

[@sky-fb2br]

@@BlueGeen you mean is just a feelings....?

[@theprincess3872]

Am I the only one who thinks that Dani did get a happy ending? Sure, she did die and she will eventually fade away and forget Jamie, but as shown with Viola and her rage/loneliness, ghosts cling onto their most powerful emotions. And Dani died for love.

[@Vi_Vi_1]

Totally agree. Dani got to live a life with someone she loved, got to save everyone, and got to know her life went to something good. Her love was so strong and good--we'll all die, but Dani got a pretty powerful life and death.

[@songbird6414]

I also assumed from the hand on her shoulder at the end that Dani hadn’t faded away in all that time. She was still just gently waiting for Jamie, as Jamie had waited to join her as she lived out the rest of her life.

[@mikkat8613]

But she will live and be trapped as a ghost forever, fading into nothingness

[@phnx2026]

@@mikkat8613 won't we all though? I think that was the point of the moonflower, that it's still worth it even if it is only there for a short time and will fade after...

[@Hawaiiansky11]

She ended the curse. That's what love does. She sacrificed herself to save Flora. That, too, is what love does. She shows us all what romantic and agape love look like and act like.

[@kittycattt93]

"Alcohol you later" was a brilliant joke lol

[@songbird6414]

His “assault and buttery” line followed by Dani’s exasperated face always gets me

[@moxiemaxie3543]

@@songbird6414 I thought it was batter-y 😆. Either way I wanted to marry Owen by the end and wished he could have had Hannah

[@songbird6414]

@@moxiemaxie3543 no it was a play on words where he’s saying the phrase “assault and battery” but switching it out with buttery to make it both corny and about baking

[@PYC334]

@@songbird6414 you guys forget about the salt! a-salt and buttery!

[@BlueGeen]

Oh, how I love Owen.

[@avocato8156]

The fact that Hannah kept “replaying” her first meeting with Owen as she came to grasp the reality of her situation.... that she always found him a comfort from the beginning... that Owen was a source of strength for her because she loves and is loved by him.... wait hold on

[@sushitadutta3097]

Stop making me cry dammit

[@ayanomar1408]

cane back to say i am still crying

[@clairepettie]

@@ayanomar1408 Literally spent the last twenty minutes sniveling. My husband in the other room probably thinks someone died. This is ridiculous.

[@RK-ep8qy]

The Womanatee awwwwww

[@lud3445]

Goddammit, Why are you making me cry ???

[@SidPhoenix2211]

Man, I can't tell you just how beautiful and tragic this show is. Also, it was so genuinely refreshing to see a character with Indian heritage be presented with genuine nuance, characterization, and depth, and wasn't just mocked and made fun of all the time.

[@harmonious_choir]

You referring to big bang theory?

[@wareforcoin5780]

They did it so well, I didn't even think about the fact that he's Indian. He's just the cook.

[@justineharper3346]

I love how natural Dani and Jaime's relationship felt as well. Nothing felt shoehorned in this show, which I feel happens a lot with minorities unfortunately

[@wareforcoin5780]

@@justineharper3346 Oh man, really? I felt like they gave us what should have been the emotional payoff, then developed the relationship. It felt so out of order to me, I was so confused about the whole thing. I feel like they should have had a few more "get to know them" scenes, _then_ given us the kiss, and then the garden scene. I guess that's just my preference, but it really felt off to me. I guess they could have had the bonfire kiss scene first too. Ah, there's so many different ways I would have done the relationship progression, I just can't get behind how they did it.

[@kei6400]

@@wareforcoin5780 i definitely feel your sentiment on having relationships progress a different way. But i think justine harper was referring to the fact that viewers can see dani and jaime's attraction to each other even before they kissed. By this i mean the lingering stares, awkward smiles with a little bit of lip biting, and just a generally flirty tension when they interact. I feel like in so much twist gay/lesbian relationships, that part of their interaction in the build up towards their relationship is always lacking. The best we get is a clandestine smile across the hallway, even tho these two people never spoke before. And specially with the "homophobic bully is actually closeted" trope being very much alive still. Imo at this point people just know who is supposed to be a twist gay because we know how cliche hollywood is at writing lgbtq+ characters.

[@blueroman5538]

The moment when I realized that Hannah had been dead from before we first even saw her was wild. Evreything just clicked, the reason she was always zoning out, the fact that she never ate, it was incredible

[@stephysteph8558]

Yesss her never eating was a good clue something was up especially as none of the characters had to spell it out for us. When she eats the batter in the flashback we're all going "Huh what happened between then and the present?"

[@ljb8157]

What a tragic way to exist. Flitting from one moment to the next. Never knowing what's going to be on the other side of that door.

[@All-ze9cl]

So was everyone able to interact with her because she was a ghost that they could see, and they didn’t know she was dead?

[@ljb8157]

@@All-ze9cl apparently

[@M.I.N.A.]

I think also specifically because she didn't know she was dead. Like Peter can pick up one of Floras dolls for a moment after he dies. When he sees his own body though? He realizes he's dead and looses that ability.

[@neonpinkqueen1403]

My favorite thing is that despite having a couple of the same actors in both series, the characters feel so distinct. I completely forgot Luke and Peter had the same actor. And I think that's really awesome.

[@BennyHarveyBigMan]

I loved Carla Gugino as Olivia, but the person who told her she could do a good English accent was an evil liar 😂 It's such a great series but every time she starts narrating I cringe so so hard! Henry Thomas wasn't much better 😢

[@scrollcaps]

Me watching The Haunting of Bly Manor Hannah sees wall crack: *No* Hannah spacing out: *NO.* Characters talking about Hannah's "disappearances".: *Absolutely not!* Stupid Peter calling her to the well to 'look down': *I FORBID THIS!* Hannah saying yes to Owen's let's runaway proposal: *Do my tears fuel your car, Mike Flanagan?!*

[@carmenthebookworm2393]

"Do my tears fuel your car" has got to be one of the most relatable phrases I've ever read ESPECIALLY relating to Bly Manor

[@estersilva7804]

"Do my tears fuel your car, Mike Flanagan?!" I LOVE THIS LINE LOL

[@broccoli896]

I spent a fair amount of the show wondering if the tragedy of Hannah and Owen wasn't gonna be that she had early onset alzheimers and that he would have to watch it destroy two women that he loved. The actual plot was just as painful though.

[@jacklightfoot1591]

People like Ladyknight are why good stories exist.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

Y'all gonna make me cry saying shit like that

[@cjemmeson109]

@@Ladyknightthebrave People like Ladyknight are why we understand how good the stories that exist are.

[@ellalawani1271]

Yes they are the reason why we can se other perspectives of issues and reflect

[@ww.DuzaFizz]

Her videos are just so clean-cut and understandable, while providing a personal view on it.

[@kay_soy]

One of the only essayists who makes me cry from how she expresses themes and characters, goddamn

[@nia4307]

One thing I keep thinking about is to know the origins of Bly and the ghosts that resided there, Jamie must have gone through quite the research. I just imagine, Jamie being so desperate for any kind of explanation at all, the reason behind her lover's death, that she just had to search and search for answers. Man, this show has absolutely RUINED me.

[@loreleiflare7388]

I think, and I know this is a stretch, part of her knowing the stories could be a part of that "dead doesn't mean gone" thing. I think she caries the ghosts of Bly Manor with her in some ways - at least those of Hannah, Rebecca and Dani - and that's what's allowed her to learn with such deep familiarity.

[@andromeda7758]

But I wonder how she would piece together things that occurred after violas death. Like what her inner room in purgatory looks like. Did Dani at times did violas memories? Or what was left of them?

[@All-ze9cl]

@@andromeda7758yeah Jamie becomes an omniscient narrator which I guess doesn’t make logical sense since she’s just a human, but maybe a theory could be that she is connected to the ghosts of bly manor because of how close her and Dani were. And I’m sure Dani filled her in on many of the other details that she couldn’t see because she wasn’t in the scene.

[@Religion0]

I haven't even seen the show, but Rebecca offering to feel the drowning for Flora actually had me crying. The love and courage to offer that when you know just how much it will hurt, but she probably couldn't have imagined doing anything else because she's a good person about to otherwise helplessly watch a child drown.

[@Vi_Vi_1]

That part, when watching it, killed me. There's something so desperately sad about someone offering another the only small gesture of love and kindness they can in a nightmarish situation--"i can't save you but i can protect you from this pain." Rebecca was so kind.

[@Cheezbuckets]

That moment damn near broke me because even after death, even after all her pain and torment and grief, Rebecca still loved and cared for the children so much she just wanted to do anything she could to try to spare Flora, she didn’t let anything that happened to her change her core compassion. For such a short exchange, it hurt like hell lmao

[@laurenroseanne8205]

And she did so even after Peter walked her into the water and then left her to go through the drowning part on her own :(

[@SingingSealRiana]

She is willing to relive her worst trauma to spare that child, it is heartbreaking

[@herefortheshrimp1469]

Ugh just reading this comment thread is making me tear up lol

[@KittyKing445]

Also another bit of foreshadowing I noticed was in Floras dolls, all the living characters are represented by average Barbie type dolls, while all the ghosts look as if they were handmade Including Hannah

[@charisleighmusic]

Including Dani.

[@kaitlynm9463]

Except Peter

[@elizabethdevido2081]

"Rhymes rather than repeats" What an excellent description!

[@sammcchicken2316]

ik wtf, I wish I could be that precise with my word choice

[@rkrokberg]

Like poetry, it rhymes

[@BreeIsFangirling]

That caught my ear too. She has such a beautiful way with words.

[@shelinam]

Very reminiscent of Mark Twain’s quote: “History does not repeat itself but it often rhymes.”

[@carmenthebookworm2393]

I love your whole spiel on the character of Peter Quint because sometimes I feel like some people don’t really get that when people give a villain an awful and tragic backstory, it’s not necessarily excusing their horrible behavior. I remember someone saying that Bly Manor failed at Peter’s redemption arc, but the fact was that they were never trying to redeem him. He was an absolute shithead and he wasn’t going to be forgiven for that. However, it is necessary to understand why he was like that in the first place so that you understand his character more. Knowing his story doesn’t mean you have to forgive him. In fact, like what was shown through Rebecca, you shouldn’t.

[@coltoncottrell4223]

The subtitles are a big part of why I love this video. [Peter](full of shit) "I'm sorry, but I had to" made me cackle

[@morganleanderblake678]

I have to say my favorite "period" bit of this show was Dani's hair. They did PERFECT work with her hair. All the styles just... Chef's kiss, I was transported to when I was 5 again.

[@andreajunie6283]

my own two cents on bury your gays: i think the fact that bly manor is a self-contained, one season story is part of the reason why i didn’t feel like it was an example of bury your gays. the viewers know that we’re only getting this one season with the characters anyway, and that their story has to end somehow. so when one character dies at the end, it actually feels like a conclusion to a love story that the narrative was committed to telling. it feels different when a gay character is killed off and then the show continues for 5 more seasons (looking at you the 100) because that’s when it feels like the writers just discarded the character because they couldn’t commit to having a gay character on screen. there’s more to this obviously but i just wanted to say that. love the video btw!

[@chandrawagner4061]

I love your take on "bury your gays" and how, in this, we got a conclusion rather than a write-off. I do have a small defense of the 100, however. 1, Lexa's actress was leaving the show, so they wrote her off (I hate the way they did it but understand why they had her die). 2, Jason Rothenberg apologized for, and, I think, really regretted the way they wrote Lexa off. And the one and the only thing that makes me believe that is that Clarke never had another romantic relationship after that (she had an extremely short sexual relationship with Niylah, but that wasn't a real relationship imo). Bellarke would have been so easy to fall straight into. I'm Clexa forever, but Bellarke was second and I always thought they would go that route eventually but they never did. Clarke never gets over Lexa. Part of her protecting Madi from the Flame is protecting her from Lexa's fate. Lexa's ghost/memory helps her in season 4 and I felt Lexa's presence with Clarke a long time after she died. And that felt like the show stating, Lexa was the most important relationship to Clarke. Now, I could be completely wrong about this being a way to "make up for" "burying" Lexa. Maybe it would have been less bury your gays if Clarke actually built a relationship with Niylah or another girl. Maybe there is no way to make up for it once you've committed to it and done it. But to me, it feels like the show stating how important Lexa and that relationship was... (please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm kind of just rambling and I literally only just thought of this after reading your comment, so there's most definitely flaws here lol... I just love the show despite its many, MANY flaws)

[@tylergannon7398]

Well Dani did have the most successful relationship in the show. It felt more like a natural end to a life of someones time being up after years rather than a premature and tragic death before the relationship ran it’s course. I will say if Dani would have died the way Hanna did I would feel like it would fall into that trope

[@leagrillet]

@@chandrawagner4061 I totally agree with you. I'm still upset about Lexa's death, she at least deserved to die in battle or something, but what you said is all true. She was never forgotten 💔. I still feel like in Bly, Danny didn't have to die

[@ysaethwr]

I see what you’re saying, and I do agree that it felt like a conclusion to the relationship. However, I still wish that the conclusion could be a happy ending where the women aren’t dead, alone, or sad. Why can’t I have a story where they’re alive, together, and happy? I can count on one hand the number of films and/or books I’ve encountered where that’s the case. So, yes, the way Dani’s storyline ends in this show does make sense and it’s a good story arc, but I’m Tired and finding it harder and harder to be entertained by these narratives, or even want to engage with them anymore. Doesn’t leave a lot of hope.

[@wiinterflowers4277]

@@tylergannon7398 That's one thing I hated about the show. I didn't buy the buildup between Dani and Jamie's relationship. In season one, I bought Theo and Trish's relationship because it ties into Theo's arc. Theo isn't a fan of being touched because it ties in with her insight. And given how what Theo went through, her love with Trish felt earned and never forced because Theo deserved happiness. With Dani and Jamie, you don't get *ANY* of this. It was more of a "I hate men." trope

[@sofiavenegas9538]

If you think about it, Dani and Jamie really had a happy ending if you compare it with the other characters. The thing is, people kinda forget that we are mortal. As Jamie said in her monologue: “...is a fact, we’re mean to die...”. So yeah, Mike Flanagan is right. It was a happy ending for them, and their relationship was like a moonflower.

[@Danxoxox]

I never thought of comparing their relationship to a moonflower but you are so right❤️

[@catinthetrash9776]

In my opinion, that one singular moment where Owen turns to face the camera and screams something about Miles is the scariest, most disturbing moment in the entire show. The fact that it's the only part that breaks the 4th wall makes it feel all the more haunting, and kind of makes you question your own sanity for a moment. It's so brilliant.

[@Eve.003y]

Uh? I don’t remember that. Could you please tell me the episode where it happens? It sounds really scary and I would like to see it :)

[@syd8897]

@@Eve.003y same!!

[@katiekool0]

@@Eve.003y it happens in the video at 37:47

[@Eve.003y]

@@katiekool0 thank you so much :)

[@JMBAD_art]

I got full body chills just watching that clip on SILENT in this review

[@CMY_Kat]

The tragic and bittersweet part of Hannah, Rebecca, and Dani is that despite all of what happened, the last act they ever did was out of selflessness to protect their loved ones. The last thing Hannah did ‘alive’ was send Jamie and Owen to help Flora and Dani. The last thing Rebecca would’ve done was relive that traumatic event so that Flora wouldn’t have to experience it. And the last thing Dani did was sacrifice herself to protect the one she loved.

[@RachaelTheFirboldDruid]

Jamie: "Do You want some company? While you wait for your Beast in the Jungle?" Me: "That's one of the most romantic line's I've heard in a while."

[@charisleighmusic]

Same.

[@oddeyes9413]

As a person with a mental illness that can make me erratic as hell, I felt that statement in the pit of my soul. It weirdly made me hope someone would be willing to do the same for me and I for them one day. Even if it's just as heartbreaking as their story in the end.

[@jessicas.4139]

@@oddeyes9413 there's hope. I don't know how, or why my husband, and I found each other, but we're here, and we're together while we wait for our beasts in the jungle.

[@merystrider2675]

When you confirmed that the last thing Hannah was going to say was “the rest is confetti” I really broke into tears, she was my favorite character and episode 5 was so brilliant and that line from Hill House still gets me, I just 😭

[@elimidd6626]

I think Hannah stayed partly from her denial but also to protect the children. They lost their parents, they lost their au paire, even if he was a bad influence they lost Peter, I imagine she didnt want to put them through another loss. Their uncle was absent, owen and Jamie couldnt devote their time to caring for the kids, no one wanted the au paire job now, someone had to stay and watch the children. I just get this deep feeling yes, hannah was in denial about being dead, but it was for the sake of protecting the children.

[@frie-anne4109]

The way Rahul Kohli brought the line "Something is wrong with Miles" always gives me chills Miller and Kohli really were powerhouses throughout the whole season and up until their episode, I was more a passive observer than active watcher. Pedretti and the rest did wonderfully, but horror isn't my genre and I often have trouble watching it as intensely as other stories. It also helps that I'm quite a fan of monologues (or dialogues which have a similar feel)

[@Beanhill_94]

I love that line. It’s so powerful.

[@fenrirslayer06]

My bf was one of those who didn't like Bly because it wasn't "scary." But that episode with Hannah and her realizing she's dead...that was so terrifying to me. The absolute confusion and sadness of it had me ugly crying for a bit. Broke my heart and I'll never forget it.

[@lovely1641]

I mean it is horror just not your generic pop up/jumpscare horror that's become so common now

[@Ananyaaaya]

Hill House Is definitely on the scary side but bly is beautifully tragic :')

[@Vhlathanosh]

Didn't like it either, kept sleeping through it. But Hill House, now that was something.

[@evitaviitala6189]

i didn't love bly manor either. it had good aspects, but i was bored a lot of the time, meanwhile hill house never lost my interest.

[@SingingSealRiana]

There are different Typs of horror and some need you to actively think and sympathise with the characters cause the horror ließ in their experience, not some shocking visual. For me jumpscare does not work and gross visuals only make me nauseous but do not evoke any horror... But for someone else who is a more passiv and visual watcher pretty much the opposite is true... Makes it hard to anticipate what is scary for someone else... To me a song for lya was increadably effectiv as horror, cause the fear of lonelyness hits me harder then most monsters do

[@orvilgrunmeier7559]

Viola is probably my favorite horror movie ghost. A lot of haunting or possession movies have main ghost antagonists that just mess with the other characters and spook them but don't really pose a physical threat to them. Viola bodied people like a slasher villain and it was awesome.

[@All-ze9cl]

She literally just snatched them and left so many people in her wake. The only thing I have trouble believing is that she could leave Henry unconscious within five seconds of grabbing his neck but was able to drag Dani around for a solid minute without her passing out. You do kind of have to suspend your disbelief for that

[@CanelaAguila]

The thing that stayed with me the most after Bly Manor was the concept of past loves as ghosts. Of how at one point you might not remember things anymore, but the impression stays as a ghost would. It made me think of all my friendships and loves that have ended in one way or another, and while I hardly remember the individual moments we spend together these people still left a positive impression on me and I "remember" them fondly even though I don't remember what we did together

[@LostCosmonauts]

Are you getting more brave watching all these horror series, Ladyknight?

[@iwanttobelieve2]

Its in her name.

[@ladylordeve]

Can't wait for the hereditary essay

[@SchulzEricT]

@@iwanttobelieve2 Her name is aspirational.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

ye

[@MorriganKingma]

As she said in the Haunting of Hill House essay, it's being brave in tiny increments

[@caitie8921]

Don’t watch hereditary or midsommar if gore really bothers you, they both have some of the most realistic and emotionally affecting gore I’ve seen in horror, even if it’s limited to one scene. And bly manor definitely wasn’t bury your gays, they got their happy ending for years but the relationship was lost to the passage of time, which happens to all of us sooner or later.

[@shakthiganesh5117]

I haven't watched Midsommar but Hereditary is fantastic.

[@ae4839]

Midsommar kinda traumatized me LMAO

[@abrilri4633]

The scene were Owen breaks the 3rd wall was so disturbing and scary to me, even more than any jumpscare. What a great show.

[@All-ze9cl]

Out of all the characters, Owen is the last one I’d expect to do that, but it does make sense since it’s Hannah’s memory and he is most important to her

[@congreve_cap]

SAME I watched it for the first time yesterday and that moment had me jumping out of my skin more than any other scare! 😭 I was prepared for spoopy ghosts, but Owen suddenly turning to ME the viewer to yell Miles’ name, it’s so jarring and unsettling. Such a different kind of scare but it works so well!!

[@genevamaybe]

Something I love about that final shot is how it echoes and reinforces the sentiments from earlier in the season and earlier in the episode itself. Love is not possession- and Dani's hand resting gently on Jamie's shoulder, keeping her company through the night, is a brilliant visual representation of that.

[@All-ze9cl]

Yes! It’s a calm and warm show of affection, because Dani is able to understand that by separating her and Jamie, she is doing what is best for the person she loves even if it is painful for Jamie. They would eventually forget each other in death and it’s not right to take someone down with you just because you don’t want to be separated from them. Dani always had Jamie’s best interest at heart, even if it doesn’t seem crystal clear at first glance.

[@oddleopardkai5949]

I hadn’t even considered how Dani’s suggestion that she could “make a difference” ties into how she literally saved the children’s lives. Something about Dani’s sacrifice reframed through that made me cry even more than I already was (Bly Manor made me cry many times). It makes so much sense though! Thank you for this piece and analysis! I love your videos and am so glad you did one on Bly Manor. It’s such a beautiful piece of emotional storytelling.

[@bcross9109]

"But Dani wouldn't. Dani would never." always BREAKS me. Especially with the contrast between her pure love and Peter Quint dragging Rebecca Jessel down and making her feel it. Also OMG at your face reveal (?!)! You've been one of my fave video essayists for about a year (since MASH) and going from total mystery to the big IM SAD smile at 1:17:48 is EVERYTHING ok. Your Hill House video was rad as hell and i'm super glad Flanagan responded to it, you totally earned that! It probably converted a lot of people (I bounced right off the first episode until you convinced me it would tie together)

[@zarabee2880]

This was the bit I started ugly crying! That’s the thing about Mike Flanagan, he explores tragic horror Bly is expressions of love, toxic love, familial love, platonic love, unrequited love, true love I’m weeping

[@TheLovelyLadybug]

“In Paris, I was a sous chef” has the same energy as “Hey. You’re awake.”

[@loladgomez]

Im so happy that Rahul is getting such good work, i’ve loved him for so long that seeing him get high profile acting work makes me feel like a proud parent haha

[@AW-uv3cb]

He was so good in Bly and Midnight Mass! I love Owen's character - of course there's the way they wrote him, but Rahul delivers it in such a way that Owen is always such a soothing, comforting presence.

[@veltai2197]

I LOVED HIM IN IZOMBIE :DD

[@davidhimmelfahrt3732]

Nice actor. Like him. His performance in Midnight Mass was pretty decent too.

[@meighan7084]

I love that I was like “I’m gonna listen to this while I fall asleep” it is now 3:30am and I am wide awake watching with tears down my face. fantastic video. Thank you

[@ateam404]

Same! It’s 3:18am lol

[@anar407]

haha same! to me its 2:58am

[@elena2451]

Same here and in a few hours i need to go to work and i haven't slept at all :))))

[@justineharper3346]

Dementia is terrifying to me, so the theme of them being trapped in memories really creeped me out. I thought this season was just as good as Hill House. Not quite as scary for me, but just as moving. I actually think this season affected me more emotionally. I haven't had a show break my heart like this since I was a teenager 15 years ago and Spike died on the series finale of Buffy 😂 I just think Dany and Jaime's love story felt so natural and absolutely beautiful. It devastated me to see them apart

[@Hawaiiansky11]

I felt like it showed us all the ways we 'disappear.' Either through disease, dementia (Owen's mother) old age, quickly without a chance to say "Good-bye," (Peter, Charlotte & ____), lingering (Hannah), losing our true selves through trauma and abuse (Peter's childhood humanity), leaving with a new lover as Hannah's husband did, being taken over by evil (Miles), when we choose to become bitter over our past and take revenge out on innocents, or being taken physically against your will like Flora until she was saved. But once we love and are loved, we stop disappearing (Viola), and come back to life in others; hearts and stories.

[@CreativeC13]

I watched it while severely concussed and dealing with memory loss, so to say it hit hard would be quite the understatement 😂

[@kimieamaya-dunkin643]

the most surprising part of this whole series was the little girl also being peppa pig

[@SWAGTACULAR314]

What?????

[@christiannightshade5886]

@@SWAGTACULAR314 the actress who plays Flora voices Peppa Pig

[@kimzgal]

knowing this in the midst of completing the series helps a little with the terrifying scenes 😀

[@oddeyes9413]

That moment of Rebecca's ghost crying by the water... oh my God that is visceral. I've been watching your videos because I have anxiety issues related to familia death, so I watch you first before I try to watch these.

[@EldritchCloak]

I think much like Henry's "ghost", Dani's "ghost" wasn't really a ghost. But rather, it's a metaphor for how her guilt over the death of her ex-fiance was haunting her.

[@MTWrestlingReview]

I absolutely see that point of view, I like to the Devastation of learning your forever doesn’t want to he anymore and the pain in that and death immediately after is enough for a haunting. But also to agree with your point she was “haunted” before she got the glasses and when she got rid of the glasses it effectively “moves on” from the grief of that.

[@elimidd6626]

Yeah, it's hard to tell since the show chooses to show you Edmonds reflection, but I took it more as Dani was haunted by the memory and trauma, not by a literal ghost. But I like that it's ambiguous enough one could go either way on it.

[@tananario]

I don’t.

[@6Haunted-Days]

It showed MANY times it was NOT some silly figment of her grief. Christ most people have zero ability to be even mildly observant 🙄

[@EldritchCloak]

@@6Haunted-Days i can understand ur opinion

[@skylarstarr3973]

It doesn't matter how many times I watch this. Each time, I cry at a different part, empathizing with a character I didn't think I could. This time it's Peter. Stuck in a memory with his uncaring mom. Recalling what it felt like for her not to care, not to love him. It cuts deep.

[@Majestic7274]

Can’t wait for Henry James to drop his next mixtape that shits gonna fire as hell

[@arcanistnpc4751]

A neat detail I noticed on my second viewing of Bly Manor: Carla Gugino's accent. Because it would have been too obvious if she had a Northern English accent right away but she still had to hint toward it or else it wouldn't have felt right. So what she does is pronounce only certain sounds with a Northern English accent, but always the same. It's a lot more noticeable in episode 8 since she speaks so much (listen to the way she ways "becoming" at 1:12:59) I absolutely didn't notice it on my first viewing but once I knew the narrator was Jaime and I knew to pay attention to it it was impossible to miss.

[@PoojaKunaparaju]

did u know amelia eve and carla worked on her accent together ?? amelia sent her recordings of how to pronounce words and carla copied her. idk i thought it was a cute little detail to add. and ur point is EXACTLY what haters missed when they were judging carla's northern accent and saying it was SO BAD. cuz the whole time she was trying to keep it a secret that she was jamie but still sound somewhat english. not to mention the fact that she's been in america for quite a while and im sure living with dani and hearing the american accent all the time could have possibly affected hers over the years.

[@arcanistnpc4751]

@@PoojaKunaparaju I didn't know they had worked together but it just makes a lot of sense!

[@joshecdiaz8741]

I just wanna say: From the bottom of my heart, this is your best video yet and I loved every heartbreaking second of it. The fact that you got to interview Mike was such an endearing surprise, seeing you talk about grief across so many stories I've seen and read, it was like having a mirror pointed to my soul. I've been grieving the passing of a family member for years and watching and reading these experiences felt so cathartic, and having one of my favorite video essayist talk about it warms the heart. And honestly? I broke down in tears when you gushed about Gris, I felt like I was the only person who's played it and seeing you add it here was the punch to the face that made this my favorite. Seriously, thank you, and I can't wait for the next video. P.S. Please leave the old upload on patreon, that GPU kinda became a hilarious meme given the passive aggressive jogging walk Hannah makes to the well.

[@groofay]

Gris does not get anywhere near the recognition it deserves. For such a small game, the catharsis I experienced playing it was massive.

[@ireneb.9975]

Hannah’s story broke me. She is such a kind, unassuming “wallflower” type of character who has been through betrayal and heartbreak and seems resigned to a quiet life of taking care of the manor and helping with the kids and then she agrees to do something bold and take a chance on a new lease on life with Owen in Paris only to realize she is dead and trapped…her story just broke my heart. Even more than Dani and Jamie.

[@adelepasserini2357]

Very random fun fact, Perdita in Italian means Loss. It's sadly fitting

[@carmenmercedes9903]

and pongo means found i believe

[@Religion0]

@@carmenmercedes9903 oh. That puts a whole new emotional spin on 101 Dalmatians.

[@adelepasserini2357]

@@carmenmercedes9903 It actually means "I put"/"I Place" but it's also a type of play-do like game that's pretty famous here in Italy!

[@paraxelsus6548]

in latin in means lost or desperate, sooooooo...

[@carenann918]

Dani: lukewarm to her fiance, but hot to trot for the dress fitter...

[@latedala07]

When that scene happened I looked at my partner and went, "GAAAAAAAAAY!" I was so delighted hahaha

[@songbird6414]

Lol when the scene happened(I already knew about Dani lol it was pretty obvious as soon as Jamie stepped on screen) all I could think was “the audacity of this bitch” about the dress fitter😂

[@Stellarwinter]

Crying by the end. I'm fine, I swear.

[@RealBradMiller]

You're not crying! I'M crying! 😭😭 Wait, wut. XD

[@luciedeblieux9583]

same ❤️ i’m literally sobbing bc of hannah

[@moxiemaxie3543]

I was so salty by the end. I knew what all of them were feeling because I've been in all their situations. I've dated a Peter, I had a love that couldn't go on like Owen, I had A bf who just ghosted like Hannah and I lost someone to the beast like Jaime/Dani

[@Advent3546]

This effect requires a second comment to accelerate the algorithm

[@miramorrigan5464]

Another comment to appease the Algorithm Gods!

[@Cherriheart]

🙏👍

[@danielaardila5081]

Yeahh!!!!

[@bumblebramblebranch]

this video came up in my recommendations and i’d thought i’d listen to it while doing chores, ended up on the couch crying about owen and hannah yet again. people who say bly manor wasn’t scary are afraid of the wrong things imo

[@itwastheegg]

I haven't cried in months but when you got to the part about them being domestic and getting married and not knowing how much time they have but knowing they love each other I literally started balling. I didn't expect for that to happen. I'm gay and I understand what they mean and this is why the world needs more gay media.

[@sailorstickybunz]

I'm so glad she explained how the series handled peter quint so plainly and yet so thoroughly. It's so important that we point out that yes! Your story CAN have absolutely shitheels! But your story needs to condemn that behavior and Bly does an AMAZING job of saying "People aren't just evil for the hell of it, hurt people hurt people. But that doesn't make it ok"

[@elismart3252]

Good essay!! and YOU GOT TO INTERVIEW MIKE FLANAGAN THAT'S SO COOL CONGRATS!!!

[@danielep.4076]

Not sure if you noticed it, but Henry's soldier friend was one of the background ghosts! I enjoyed that henry bringing him up to flora meant that this bg ghost was being given a story for the audience as well!

[@carmenmercedes9903]

where can you see that? im not very observant lol

[@danielep.4076]

@@carmenmercedes9903 no worries! I'm not very observant either, I found this out through others. There are multiple instances (there are multiple videos out there which point them out), but the one that sticks out to me is in ep 3 when peter and rebecca are talking in the evening at the table with a storm outside, and at one point lightning illuminates the soldier in the background on the right! It's a very cool hidden ghost

[@GodOfMoonlight]

You gotta love Dani, she had COURAGE. It’s amazing, I’m inspired to be half or ‘god send’ MORE ,of her caliber

[@TheNormExperience]

“And this recreation of Owen in her memory knows more than she does - like her subconscious is trying to get through to her.” I always really liked how they showed this because it felt like Hannah trusts Owen more than herself, in more ways than one. It’s not just that she’s grasping at straws doubting her memories as they all bleed together. It’s also how he as a separate person is as trusted to her as herself because she loves him. Almost like how when people talk about giving your heart to someone else to take care of; in this instance Owen plays the curator of not just her memories, concerns, current events, but also the bits that make her, HER. The unalterable things that Hannah clings to, to remind herself who she is. And he seems to know that even clearer than she does, actually reminding her of who she is in this scene. Knowing her better than she knows herself. Especially because we know that when Hannah’s husband left, and it threw her world, her understanding, so completely that suddenly everything she counted on could no longer be counted on the same. To give her heart to someone again so completely makes us the audience trust that Owen is not pushing her past comfort without reason, but for something truly important that she, and we as the audience, are missing, and NEED to know. Which makes the payoff so incredibly heartbreaking and powerful...and again, when Hannah can finally admit it to herself again, it’s only in that same memory with Owen - because she trusts him. And that second where she realizes it and becomes totally alone...there just aren’t even words. God I love this show. When explaining it to people I always try to highlight that it’s really a love story (or many), just told in a haunted house. Not a ghost story that also has a love story. It’s the characters and their connections that make us care, and stop the ghosts from being scary by the end. Because everyone who is dead, was once alive. Was once a whole person that was born and loved, and that makes it less scary, and more so...just sad. On a more personal note I think the reason these specific scene resonate with me so completely is because the man I love did die and afterwards everyone wanted me to talk about it, talk through it y’know? The problem is that the only person who would understand, the only person I would want to talk to about it, was him. Because I knew him well enough to know exactly what he would say even though he wasn’t here. It just made it harder to have the one person who could help you through a loss like that be the person who is lost. And yet, it also helped. Because, in the same way I call Bly Manir a love story, in the same way the show runner thought he’d given Dannie a happy ending...I loved so much and so well, because they were so remarkable to me in every way that I drank in every moment I got to spend with them, and they loved me the same. And many people never get that. So I was very, very lucky to get that chance, and even luckier to know that in the moment, not just after it was already gone.

[@Hawaiiansky11]

I mused a long time ago, "All love ends badly." Either you split up or you stay together until someone dies. I think what matters, then, is to give it the best you have, to love fully, completely, and receive their love for you, until the inevitable. Is it worth it? In my case, my beloved died as yours did, but many years after he and I were cruelly ripped from one another's arms. I find that I have rediscovered him, and my love for him, and now grieve him as if I'm his widow, which in a way, I am. We were engaged. We never technically broke up. We never gave each other's hearts back after offering them to one another. We never stopped loving each other. I trust I'll soon be able to go an entire day without crying, but I am absolutely certain that nobody else on this earth will ever mean what he meant to me. What I can take comfort in, is that I was always kind to him, despite his mistakes, my confusion, and wicked people in both our lives. If my memory serves, my last words to him while he was here were, "I will always love you, no matter what." I am humbly thankful to God for that. Being a Christian, I trust that he and I will be reconciled when I too am called Home. I'm not asking for death, but I am looking forward to being back in his arms again...the most amazing arms I have ever known. It was a gift and blessing to have his attention, time and love.

[@reranger21]

Please for the love of all that is good and holy, do NOT become more succinct! I LIVE for your long content!!!

[@anastasialovesoranges]

Yeah! I became so spoiled by wonderful content creators here that now I just don’t bother if a video is less than 40 minutes

[@JMBAD_art]

@@anastasialovesoranges - I do this too, how times have changed lmao

[@abigailgrace8160]

Just found your channel a couple days ago and I loved you immediately- and ^^^^ is one of the reasons why. I Want to sit and watch your beautifully human and poetic videos ❤

[@seinesalz]

I know i shouldn't have been surprised that you weren't, in fact, a stick person when you showed the clips from your interview... and yet, I was.

[@carmenmercedes9903]

saaaaammmmeeeee

[@ProdigousKal.El.]

Watching Hannah jumping all over her memories that one episode immediately reminded me of when Nell said time is falling all around us like rain or confetti

[@AxelaxiB]

Time is more of a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey....stuff.

[@ProdigousKal.El.]

@@AxelaxiB have you seen haunting hill house?

[@ProdigousKal.El.]

⁠@@AxelaxiB have you seen haunting hill house?

[@ProdigousKal.El.]

@@AxelaxiB have you seen haunting hill house? thats where thats from

[@DarkDragonDMS]

I also feel that Hannah’s episode is also how she experiences the events in the show. A lot of scenes that she’s in she seems disoriented and has no idea how she got there. We find out later this is due to her being dead. As we heard in hill house, time for the dead is like rain. Constantly pulled through time to experience either things that have already happened, are happening now, or may yet happen still.

[@UsorThem07]

When Henry was talking about having a soldier friend in the house when he was young I got super exited, at one point in the series there's a thunderstorm and at while the characters are talking it's lighting up a room in the background and you could see a man in a oldfashioned soldier uniform in it. That could potentially be his friend!

[@Beeseasons]

Holy HELL I rewatched the Hill House video essay yesterday, it’s low key become my comfort video even though I’m a fellow scaredy-cat. This is a gift from the goddess thank you!! After watching edit: I’ve not done this before but I needed to add... the hill house video essay definitely made me shed tears by the end. This... the last section destroyed me as much as watching the show did- seeing everything put together and reiterated made be ugly cry for the last ten minutes. Full on bawling, I haven’t cried this hard in a very long time. Thank you

[@charliespuhler8926]

Oh thank god i thought i was the only one who rewatches the hill house video for comfort.

[@meganthedoorman2672]

Dude same. When I finished this video I was inconsolable sobbing. Everything about the essay was so wonderful and the messaging and storytelling of the series is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking.

[@MarkHyde]

I love that the horror is driven by the choices of characters in the story - not anything external. :)

[@Disthron]

About the anthology thing, I have to say, I wish they had taken the same rout with Stranger Things. Like I would have loved to have seen a take with 80's AI stories like Daryl or Short Circuit.

[@Tricksterbelle]

I was saying that all throughout the first season. "I hope they do for girls and Labyrinth what they did for boys and Stand By Me!" But alas...

[@Disthron]

@@Tricksterbelle Yea, they could have mixed and matched all kinds of cool stuff.

[@AC-jl7hb]

OMG, yes! That would have beed great!

[@lzmunch]

I heard that this was the plan originally but then the characters from season 1 were so popular that they rewrote the second season. It was originally gonna be about the indian girl, which is why that random out of place episode is there (they had already aired some teasers). Might just be fan speculation though.

[@wilkobye9533]

I feel like with how heavily the show focused on illness and fading the "dead doesn't mean gone" kind of also gets turned upside down "gone doesn't mean dead" with viola holding on to life so desperately but already starting to errode and fade while still technically alive and with the speech Owen gives about his mother where in the end she had already been gone for a while and then Dany who was losing her grip on herself and thus decided to accept that she was dying. I think the grief this show is about is less about the loss of someone who's already dead but of slowly loosing someone, maybe even yourself, kind of like hannah who is struggling to accept that she is dead which is symbolic maybe of someone who is terminally ill and trying to accept they will die, to illness and grieving someone who may technically still be alive but who you're watching as they fade away. Idk if this makes sense i just feel that's what the show is about. I think hannah is an intentional parallel to the lady of the lake where they both deny their deaths and struggle as they slowly fade away but hannah was loved well the entire time while viola was isolated...

[@kaitlyngardner4478]

The quip of “I would like to get off this cliff now Michael” never fails to make me laugh and I’ve watched this like 10 times because it’s so well said

[@aribowman]

It became unavailable while I was in the middle of watching it and I got real sad Glad it's back up

[@elizabethsaltmarsh8306]

Same - I was at the end and tried to like, then was told it had been removed. Womp womp. Fortunately YT let me finish it without a break.

[@Regmuslima]

same here

[@MeganTurney05]

The episode where Hannah realises she’s a ghost is my favourite of the show, it was so sad and well done. The haunting is one of my favourite series ever!

[@myrasis]

as someone who lost their grandmother with dementia last year, who had had it for years and was turned into an utterly terrible person due to it, this show and owen's story in particular hit REALLY hard. it's difficult to explain to someone who hasn't dealt with dementia what seeing someone fade away because of it feels like, and i think the show captured at least a bit of it. thank you for making these videos, you articulate some things that i just can't put words to.

[@luciacastro272]

i completely agree- my mom was diagnosed with dementia around four years ago, and while she's not dead she's moved somewhere so I hardly see her anymore. The feelings that come because of it are so so hard to articulate and describe to anyone who hasn't gone through it, but my dad and I watched this show together and agreed that it captured the emotions wonderfully.

[@coffee_gremlin]

This is exactly what killed me in this show, my papa had dementia and seeing him deteriorate ripped my heart apart. He passed in 2019 and it was a bittersweet sort of relief. I really sobbed for the first time when I heard Owen talk about it. The bad that gets glossed over but also the messy good moments that are missed. It hits hard. They wrote the dementia storyline so well.

[@melissapatterson3218]

This

[@DarkRelm22]

god i cannot explain how comforting video essays are... I'm so glad I'm back to watching these.

[@jackysally4evah]

Wait! Hang on! I followed you on tumblr some 5-7 years ago. You were one of my favorite people there!! Didn't you write pacific rim fics on ao3? I love your video essays. It's so cool to hear your actual voice after all these years. I love all of your content! I might be mistaken, if so, sorry...

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

I definitely wrote Pacific rim fics you aren't misremembering

[@zircobyte]

I just want you to know I think about this comment daily and it is my favourite on KZbin lmao, your enthusiasm over seeing what, to you, may feel like an old friend or acquaintance is incredibly endearing! I hope you have a wonderful day

[@RoseEyed]

My grandmother died after having dementia for 20 years a few weeks ago. I was really young when she was diagnosed and ended up being the one who babysat her after school. I don't really remember what she was like before. I wasn't old enough to, but I was just old enough to know that something was wrong. Kids aren't supposed to have to hide food from adults so they don't keep eating. They aren't supposed to have to tell them how to drive home because they forgot where they were. They aren't supposed to get yelled at for refusing to tell them what they want to eat for the 3rd time. The older I got the more she declined to the point she had to be fed, bathed, wiped... and then pushed around in a wheel chair. Watching Owen's reflections after his mother's funeral hits differently now. Bly Manor is definitely more scary than the Haunting of Hillhouse, at least existentially. I remember looking at the photos of my grandmother at her funeral and thinking how beautiful this stranger was. How SMART she was. And I couldn't help but wonder, what happened? Where'd she go? Hearing all the good memories my family has is like hearing about a stranger I never knew. All the dark parts scrubbed away. They had to be. I think that's the only way they could mourn. Because the thing that was left behind wasn't worth mourning: a ghost, an ugly ugly mummified ghost that couldn't even remember how to digest food or water. But that ghost and it's dark parts all I ever really got to know. Being one of those ghosts, feeling yourself losing the few anchors you have as you repeat the few things you can hold onto is a fate worse than death. I completely agree with Jamie. I'll kill myself before I let something like that happen to me.

[@stalfithrildi5366]

Thank you for this comment. This week my dad got his diagnosis of Alzheimers and I know that we'll both be lucky if his emphysema gets him first. I hope that you've been able to live happily in the time since your nans passing, as by caring for her whilst a child you have earned that over and over.

[@acustic36]

How am I crying so hard and I've never even seen the show...

[@sopranophantomista]

Welcome to a Lady Knight essay. Please enjoy the emotional rollercoaster and keep your hands inside the ride at all times.

[@temirab.5891]

I’ve seen it an I accept the fact that I shouldn’t watch this stuff because I can’t help from sobbing. I need to stop watching sad things

[@memequern8087]

I acctually find it funny while normally I'd be right there with you on the "DONT GO THERE!! ACT LIKE A PERSON" when it comes to horror movies. But as someone who's not exactly neurotypical myself Dani's behavior when confronting the spooky stuff of the manor made all the sense in the world and was SUPER relatable 😄. When your brain plays tricks on you from time to time you learn to bravely but cautiously examine things closer as you know that no matter how strongly you may be feeling about this it's probably nothing 😂.

[@SonjaPond]

BRUH I feel ya. When I was a child with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, I was VERY afraid that nefarious things would be hiding in the dark… so I had to teach myself to fight instead of collapse. I would just run into the bathroom and pull back the shower curtain, ready to punch a ghost.

[@ArrowOdenn]

Fun fact: Henry is right when he uses the term "nanny" to describe Rebecca. Au pair is only used when the carer is from a different country - so Dani is an au pair, but Rebecca isn't. There's some weird mixing of language like that in THOBM. "The MATH didn't work..." we say maths in the UK. Cake batter is called cake mixture, so Owen's joke about Hannah being a battered woman wouldn't have landed at all, they would all have just looked at him... But then, it's by US writers and for a US audience, and the UK viewers know what they mean, so...

[@cristinam8600]

I completely and unexpectedly broke into cackles at "A Henry James Mixed Tape" and "Henry James: Simply the Best." Thank you!

[@lulucanpy3513]

"I don't think every gay character who dies is an example of this harmful trope" Thank you thank you thank you. Claiming the opposite really robs stories, narratives, and character arcs of nuance

[@AxelaxiB]

When ***SPOILERS**** DOCTOR WHO : WHEN bill potts dies it was so hard hitting for me. I always cry when bill tells the doctor thank you for seeing me for who I am even when I'm not the same as everyone else. I love when the doctor thanks bill and tells her thank you for everything you meant to me

[@kettleworks]

Your comments about how so many characters are haunted by loss and by loss of innocence, love, and life at 1:29:30 really reminded me of this fantastically fitting quote I saw a while back. IIRC it was by a guy called Robert Anton Wilson and it goes: "Under the present brutal and primitive conditions of this planet, every person you meet should be regarded as one of the walking wounded. We have never seen a man or woman not slightly deranged by either anxiety or grief. We have never seen a totally sane human being." I haven't actually watched this series, but it really does seem like a great exploration of how even the smallest of traumas can leave us with a grief of some kind, for what is now lost and no longer accessible to us, even though it might constantly linger

[@cjemmeson109]

You know it's a good interview when the interviewer asks a question and the interviewee is delighted. You two look like friends chatting, and it's wonderful. Great video as always!

[@ajf1807]

my grandma passed away a couple of weeks ago and i've been sitting in the difficulty of that grief (complicated by her relationship with my mom, by our geographic distance, and by her slowly forgetting things and losing memories at the end) and rewatching this & the hill house video really reminded me of how okay it is to have any number of reactions to losing a loved one. these are incredible shows but also the way that you talk about them is so thoughtful and means a lot, especially when going through something so raw. thank you again

[@hairoku]

I hadn't realized it until you took the pains to highlight the fact of Viola and Perdita saying that she would not go and the laying of the clothes and roses in the chest were like spells but that chest literally did carry a piece of her in it, it was like an anchor, a lich's phylactery, a Horcrux to use somewhat more familiar terms. Freaking brilliant.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

So fun fact a phylactery is actually a traditionally Jewish item, It's typically worn by Jewish men who are wearing tallit and tefillin for prayer. I think the phylactery Is technically part of the tefillin. It's a little box with I'm pretty sure a scroll in it that's got some prayers written on it or something. The fact that d&d decided to make this object something used by evil liches and whatever is extremely problematic. I know you didn't know so now you do. Maybe avoid talking about phylacteries In relation to liches going forward? Tell your friends about it too if you like ✌️

[@hairoku]

@@Ladyknightthebrave You know, I absolutely did not know that but it makes total sense. D&D has cribbed liberally and with little care to the sources from myth, folklore, history, and culture from around the world. Thanks, you're the best.

[@clarence5211]

the altar of the dead episode REALLY hit me hard. it scared the shit out of me, but not in a regular horror way. it was just so confronting to see what i assumed to be representation of dementia, with alzheimers running in my family. the way they filmed that episode was just amazing, it was so disorienting, terrifying in a way that was so subtle yet so real, and just leaves you sad rather than on edge

[@gorimbaud]

I loved Rahul Kohli in iZombie. Always glad to see him show up in other places!

[@tigerlilly9038]

SAME ❤

[@hanthologie]

The way you just love to bits all the things I love and also similarly feel compelled to write essays (very good essays!) about them For Fun but you've made a whole channel and etc. out of it........... There was a thought here but I lost it somewhere. The GPU didn't let it render. Love your stuff ♥

[@l0s_]

the first time i watched the ending i kept my eyes on the door and i missed dani's hand so imagine how i felt thinking she never showed up lmao

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

NELL: "Our moments fall around us like rain, or snow. Or confetti" That is such a beautiful line.

[@chatpuns]

Please never be succinct because you are one of the few people I can listen to and end with a happy, sad and hopeful view of the world, and then watch it again a month later and still feel the same.

[@gabbie7265]

I was so sad when this vid disappeared, I've been anticipating it for so long

[@tlynnclemons8316]

I remember watching this the first go through and when the faceless lady grab Peter I jumped. After settling down I went back and rewatched it and realized how funny the scene actually was. Like the faceless lady YEETED him to death; strong armed him. 😂😭😂

[@khadijahkaffo3986]

probably the scariest moment along with dani getting grabbed

[@carmenmercedes9903]

omg so true

[@aiyukikosama]

That last scene in Bly Manor, that entire last episode, is what really touched me the most. That pulling grief, the way that Jamie waited every night for Dani absolutely gutted me in the best way. I cried for ages afterwards and it filled me such a fullness and sadness in my heart and kept my mind spinning for days afterwards. 'The Haunting Of' series has been one of my favorites since they released. I don't think another series could pull at my heartstrings the way this series, this season in particular, does.

[@timpage9424]

As someone who just got married a little over a year after this show released. The final episode wrecked me. Especially the fear that girl has about tethering herself to someone she loves and being scared about losing him.