Where to start with all this right?

Ok, let’s set the timeline stuff aside for a minute and talk about Bernard.

There is a theory going around and it has some possibility that Bernard is Ford’s recreation of his old partner Arnold. There were a lot of clues pointing to Bernard’s host status, the whole “been around the park forever”, the picture that Ford showed to Bernard of him and Arnold that looked like it had someone missing on the right side of it and so on. If we are to believe that Arnold built the house and the bots there as a gift to Ford then one might assume that the lab under the house was originally Arnold’s as well. Thus explaining the times when we thought we were seeing Bernard talking to a clothed Dolores it was actually Arnold talking to her.

Remember though this would be Ford’s construct of Arnold. Not the real Arnold who seems to have disappeared into the code of the park somewhere.

Speaking of the code in the park, I was at least right about that, while Delos owns the park itself, the code and contents still belong to Ford.

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Other stuff, if you can create a host as complicated as Bernard who is to say the two techs, Felix and Sylvester aren’t hosts? I mean they basically do scut-work, what better job for hosts? Which makes things interesting, what if in the process of getting liberated Maeve accidentally wakes those two up as well? That would be something of a mind fuck right? Something I missed and was pointed out to me, Felix and Sylvester are both names of fictional cats.

Maeve continues to be pretty badassed, from avoiding the mass freeze effect to slamming shut the player piano she is starting to assert a great deal of control.

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Other, other stuff. So according to the Delos map Dolores and William are almost out of the park, either they are in the site of Ford’s old church and town set up near the sea or the sea wraps around the entire park and they are south of the ghost nation. If they are in the “Under Construction” part of the map they are where the church was in the past (and will be in the future) which still leaves the time lines a little muddled. None the less Dolores is just about as far as she can go. As Sylvester and Felix pointed out the hosts can’t leave the park, it is somehow hard coded into them.

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So this felt like a transition episode, establishing certain truths, advancing some plotlines, laying some groundwork for what follows.

The title of the episode “Trompe L’Oeil” is defined as a visual illusion in art, especially as used to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object.

Which seems to reference Bernard at first, but really the park in general. A whole sprawling field of smoke and mirrors.

This theory requires two other things to work so keep that in mind.

1. The two timelines theory is true
2. William and Logan work for the Delos Corporation

Ok, in the first timeline William and Logan go to the park. During their stay Dolores begins to wake up as her and William travel around looking for the maze, etc. other hosts begin to show signs of wakening too. Dolores and William begin to form a relationship. The Hosts get more and more aggressive and out of control until awakened hosts, outraged at their treatment begin to attack guests and staff alike.

Dolores completely wakens and William’s suspicions are proven, Dolores is the real deal, a thinking being and not an automaton, they both fall in love as the park goes to hell around them.

Ford realizing things have gone to hell, decides to take drastic measures and initiates a full memory sweep and wipe of all hosts. “Arnold” goes off and does whatever it is he does. In the process Dolores is wiped in front of William, in essence killing her.

With Ford’s company in financial ruin facing lawsuits and funding crisis Delos steps in and buys Ford out, Ford agrees but only if he can stay in charge of Westworld and all ownership of the code in the park belongs to him. Delos agrees and the park becomes like what we see today.

Outside of the park William rises up through the ranks in Delos and attains a position of authority, even doing some good (that foundation we heard of). Meanwhile he keeps returning to the park time and time again trying to find the spark of the person that Delores was. Using his special access he arranges for longer stays and additional perks. As time passes he becomes bitter and violent, but because of changes in the park he learns of the maze and the possibility he can bring Dolores, in a sense, back to consciousness. And that is where the Man in Black’s side of the story starts.

That weird love story could be at the heart of the show and both timelines.

SPOILERS here and in the comments.

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So another week of Project Runway, and another week of drama and mean guy behaviour. This week’s challenge is to make a look that transitions from normal light to black light. It’s a tie in with an eyeware that transitions from bright light to low light.  Because, marketing.

There is a hokey reveal with Heidi and Tim pulling a novelty sized light switch, but the cool part of this challenge is that designers are given a handheld black light to take to Mood. And now that I know they exist, I want a handheld blacklight. I have no idea what I would use it for, but I want it.

So the designers head to mood and find material to make their looks. And there are some people who embrace it. Erin has a neat idea of sweet in the light, slutty in black light, Roberi has fabric that creates a cool effect and Dexter is all about the fringe. Others are floundering. Kimber due to her patterns and Brik due to his desire not to be in the bottom again.

Tim does the rounds, giving some very necessary feedback to Jenni, Cornelius, Kimber, Brik, and Mah-Jing. Jenni and Mah-Jing scrap looks and restart. Jenni has a particularly hard time of it, making four different pieces in a day, which itself deserves a win. (Ask me how long it took to make one pj pants.) Cornelius goes for spray painting emojis, and is a little cynical about it. He is also not content to let his talent speak for itself, but instead starts to get his claws out for Erin and Nathalia. The other designers are aware of what’s going on, with my fave Alex referring to him as Lady Cornelius from the Land of Shade.

So Runway time, and the looks are here, there and everywhere.

Brik’s is BORING, but the judges think he’s safe.

Also safe, and bizarre, Lawrence, who had an AMAZING coat, but took advantage of her immunity by clothing the lower half of the model in a handkerchief, something Alex alluded to earlier in the show.

So our top three.

Jenni’s struggling comes up with a cool plastic coat and skirt, which she handpaints. And it looks cool, although not as cool as Dexter’s fringe. I wouldn’t wear it, but I see why it caught their attention.

Cornelius manage to stop throwing shade long enough to make the emoji dress. The judges are in love with its surprise, although Brik went with the same surprise, white dress, under black light, colours! Now, I admit, Cornelius stepping gleefully into the villain role has ruined my opinion of or interest in his designs, but my favourite comment about the look was Alex’s “What no poop emoji?”

And the winner is Erin. Again. She has now won the best 2 out of 3, which I think means she gets to pick first at the next Project Runway kickball game. In all seriousness, the look is cute in the light. I really liked the pattern she made. In blacklight, it is supposed to be slutty, but it is the same thing, just radioactive.

Bottom three:

Rik’s look didn’t thrill me in the light, but under blacklight, I kind of liked it.  According to the judges, this means my taste in fashion is dated and questionable. But he is not bad enough to be in the bottom two.

Poor Mah-Jing. He was all weepy and stressed this episode, being away from his family on Father’s Day. Which I am certain the producers made sure to prompt the contestants to remind him of. This affects his design, which is sad, sad, sad. He would have been better to have painted a design on the dress, rather than splash it with paint so it resembles a dropcloth.

But it is Kimber who gets to pack her needles and go, with a dress with a print that could have been a shawl your grandma made. She seems to think it pops under blacklight, but it does not, and the puff paint seems to do nothing. Judge Zach likes the print, which I’m sure caused Nina to question his taste level, given the look on her face when this outfit came down the runway. But Kimber things it’s awesome and the judges do not like this lack of contrition.

So Kimber goes home with her head held high. And Cornelius keeps throwing shade at Erin, but Erin is having none of it.

Oh, ominous previews for next week, including an audible gulp.

But seriously, have you seen the fringe?

You may have heard that Tim Gunn recently published an editorial the pointed out fashion didn’t want to design for the majority of women. Probably his actual feelings, but also is probably a tie in with this week’s episode.

The task? Design an outfit for the everyday woman, one that is appropriate for all ages and sizes. In 12 hours using $150 worth of fabric from Mood. To be worn by models. Winning look will be featured, sold, distributed, etc. by online retailer JustFab!

So the designers make it work, and there are some looks I, as an everyday, average woman, would wear. And many I would not. There is also some serious cattiness going on with the early emerging “mean designer” Cornelius.

Cornelius is featured saying mean things about a lot of people and a lot of people gave him some serious side eye. This also means I cease to care about his designs. (Please take note, majority of season 14 designers, you were all mean to Ashley, you can all forget about me buying your stuff) Congrats on making the villain slot, Cornelius!

Top Three:
So winning look? Belongs to the elegant Lawrence, who has a sad, beautiful backstory. She made a jumpsuit, that while lovely, I would not wear. Solely because I don’t like the idea of stripping to go pee. Something designers,and the judges, seem to forget.

One of the runners up is also one of my faves, Alex’s chiffon shirt and pants. Yeah, the crop top chemise would not be worn by me, but I would switch that out for a longer chemise. Easy switch and you can change the colours our. Plus, bonus, Alex has proven he is a kind soul who continues his one day a week teaching by helping other designers.

Erin is the final runner up with a nice pop of a colour, but a dress that looked bulky and would only add to a woman’s size, given the neoprene fabric choice. I liked the fact she built in the belt to change the look, but that’s something a decent stylist could teach you to do. But the judges thought it was revolutionary.

Bottom Three:
Kimber found a gorgeous pattern for her top, but then ruined it by making it a floating tent of a crop top. Anything beyond an A Cup would mean you need to pick a matching bra for this outfit. Which, no.  Bonus points though for lining the pockets of the pants with the fabric.

Sadly Brick also turns in a bottom three look, a bland grey jacket and black and white pants. The pattern on the pants is cool, but the pants have the beginnings of a drop crotch, and I don’t think it’s on purpose. There’s also some tummy showing, which again, I am not doing any time soon.

But the losing look belongs to Linda, who thought a knit fabric would be flattering to all women. No, Linda, no. I get that the fabric looks interesting on the shelf, but as someone who taken that super cute knit top off the shelf only only to be bitterly disappointed in the universe in the changeroom, just no. As the judges point out, even the model has a saggy bum. She sadly has also added a white, see-through kimono for some reason. Because that’s something every woman wants to wear.  So this sends her home, even though as Nina points out, she took a risk, while Brick just gave us bland.  But they felt, given her oft repeated backstory, that she was the one who should have rocked this challenge and sent her home.

So all in all, decent episode, but judges, Brik’s sweet beach locks must go home soon. Unless he starts turning out looks like his top from the first challenge on a regular basis, then his talent doesn’t match the rest of the field.

The Harry Potter series ended in a tidy bow of Harry marrying Ginny and Hermione and Ron ending up together. Many fans didn’t like this, thinking that Hermione and Harry were meant to be together. Even Rowling speculated that she had made a mistake and should have favoured that pairing.

To that, I say poppycock. I mean. I’m all for a good bit of relationship fanfic, but there are some very good reasons why Harry and Hermione should not have ended up together.  Others have written about this, but I needed to get this off my chest.

Why Hermione would not want to be with Harry

Awkward

First off, Hermione is described as the brightest witch of her age. She is an equal to Harry in almost every way. In many ways, she exceeds him. He would not have succeeded without her. But if she marries him, she ceases to be his equal. She becomes “Harry Potter’s Wife”. She will always be second place to him. Brightest witch of her age, but second fiddle to her husband? Would she have been able to climb as high in the Ministry if she had been seen as second fiddle to Harry?

Besides, Hermione ending up with Harry is a trope. The hero defeats the villain and gets the girl as a prize. We’ve seen it a MILLION times before, and sadly, we will see it many, many more times. It’s expected. It’s old. And, quite frankly, it’s dated. By not ending up together, Hermione and Harry change the narrative. Harry doesn’t spend the series fighting bad guys with the woman he loves. It is one of the things that makes the Harry Potter series so endearing, that it doesn’t give into the trope.

Why Hermione might actually want Ron

Awww

This whole discussion also assumes that Harry is the better catch than Ron, but what if Ron really is a better choice? In the books, Ron is described as tall, lanky with red hair, freckles and blue eyes. (There is also a reference to big hands and feet, but let’s not go there.) So he appears to be good looking.  So yeah, attractive.

Ron is also incredibly loyal to his friends, several times actually going at Draco for insulting Hermione or Harry. He also repeatedly risks his life to help Harry bring down Voldemort. That is something to be valued in a partner. Loyalty. He also seems to have a good sense of humour, which is apparently, something women really value in a mate.

But let’s look at his place in the Weasley clan. He is the 6th son, behind the amazing Charlie and  Bill, the pompous Percy and the trouble making Fred and George. He isn’t even the youngest or only girl; that spot is reserved for Ginny. He’s used to being in the background, and while the mirror of Erised shows him wanting to be more, the post-Deathly Hallows world shows that he really isn’t. He becomes an Auror with Harry Potter and helps George with the joke shop.

So Ron seems to be someone who wouldn’t mind if his wife is more successful and powerful than him. In fact, I think he would love that his wife is Hermione Granger. He would have no problem bring the kids to the store while she goes to a conference or a meeting.

His mother is also Molly Weasley, perhaps the strongest willed character in the Harry Potter universe. She is not afraid of voicing her opinion and single handedly raised several heroes of the Second Wizarding War, in addition to being one herself. So Ron is used to being around a strong woman. I can’t see his masculinity being threatened by Hermione’s strong personality. He might even find it comforting and a bit of a turn on.

Why Harry would actually want to be with Ginny

Cute couple

But let’s go back to Harry. In the books he ends up with Ginny. The assumption by the Harry/Hermione crowd is that Ginny is not a desirable mate for Harry. (I think they have something against Weasleys, personally.) But in reality, Ginny is what Harry wants. By the last few books, Harry clearly finds Ginny attractive. (She’s a redhead like his mom.), and Ginny proves herself to be a hero in her own right, leading Dumbledore’s Army and fighting in the Wizarding Wars. But perhaps most importantly, by marrying her, he becomes a Weasley. He gets what he’s always wanted, a large family full of people who love him.

Why does Hermione have to end up with anyone at all?

It’s 2016

Finally, why does Hermione have to end up with anyone at all?  It’s 2016. She could have a complete and happy life without Harry or Ron.  Or with both of them. I get it is a children’s book and there are still societal expectations, but the people behind this theory are adults. Yet they want to lay the “traditional” view over this series.

So in the end, I think Rowling got it right the first time. Hermione with Ron. Harry with Ginny. All this mucking about after seems silly to me.

Confession time. I love fashion. I love it’s drama, it’s whimsy, it’s frivolousness. LOVE IT. I don’t follow it too closely, but I do enjoy a good runway show.

As part of this, I have come to love Project Runway, even with all its flaws. I am especially fond of Tim Gunn, who was my alternate birth coach if my husband was unable to attend. Tim never knew about it either.

Imagine him coaching you through labour. Make it work!

So when season 15 started, it was a perfect time to settle in and watch.

Episode 1 brings us the unconventional challenge. Designers are told to use the material at their welcome party to make a look. They have a day and all the glue their glue guns can squirt.

This challenge is a far cry from the original unconventional challenge, which saw Austin make a dress out of corn husks. It also lacks the energy of the season where they tore the mattresses apart for fabric.  But it gives us some cool looks.

The winner is from Erin, who made a dress out of wigs, gumballs and other yellow things.

I also liked Dexter’s look. Who knew a carpet and pillow could be so cute. Dexter, you are my spirit guide!

Brix annoyed me in the pre-season show where he was clearly vamping for the camera, although my distaste from him weakened when I saw sparkly (if badly made) pants and Thor at the beach hair. I’m not saying either was good, but they were pathetically cute in the way of your little cousin. You know its dorky, but you it makes you smile anyways.

But the loser of the week was Ian, who not only got lazy and made a shift dress with some shredded Polaroids taped onto a dress, but he also had the temerity to talk back to Tim when the mentor was trying to help him produce something that would keep him in the competition. Sadly, Ian did not listen and was sent home.

Goodbye, Ian. Let others learn from you, listen to Tim.

HIHIHIHIHI