Love Island S7E16 Debrief

 

    The girls all sit with TJ, and the guys sit with Andreina. Jeremiah says Andreina is his type to a TEE. Iris and TJ are playing eye tag lowkey.

    Andreina’s eye is caught by Nic (in a cute way) and Jeremiah (in a sexy way). TJ’s eye is caught by Iris and Cierra. Jeremiah is literally cheesing over Andreina--- hard. 

    Cierra is a good conversationalist; she’s able to form strong bonds with people. She bonds with playing similar positions in softball to TJ’s baseball playing. It's a sweet moment.

    PEPE AND HUDA?!!?!! 

    Huda pulled Pepe for a chat. You know what, hell yeah!! At least it’s not Jeremiah. I know they’re open, but I’m confused why Huda didn’t tell Hannah she wanted to explore, seeing that Hannah was Huda's biggest defender in the villa, always rushing to her side with all the Jeremiah stuff. 

    Andreina and Nic share a chat. Her accent is low-key everything. Nic seems to think so too-- blushing and kidding around when she calls him by his name.

    Later, Cierra tells Hannah that Huda pulled Pepe for a chat, and Hannah is clearly surprised and, albeit, shocked. Hannah is upset because she thought she was a friend of Huda's and was there for her.

    NIC AND CIERRA WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT—

    Ace and Nic chat… Nic tells Ace that he and Cierra... you know. 

    During the "What’s Your Beef" challenge... Amaya was in a confessional with Austin. She goes on to say that the two of them know there’s nobody else who can get between their connection, to which Austin winks. Shadyyyy. I think he's overwhelmed because he wasn't used to having his sole attention focused on him by one person, which is why he was probably compelled to keep pursuing Chelley in the love triangle. 

    Huda can’t take challenges lightly; she admits that the more she gets milked, the more it hurts. And honestly, I’m sensitive af, so I'd take everything personally. 

    OOP HUDA PICKED PEPE…. Hannah’s meanwhile had that "smile and clap!!" mentality. But anyway, that milk challenge was so nasty; I recoiled every. Damn. Time! It reminded me of a twisted version of a mother bird feeding her chicks by regurgitating food into their mouths. This was nasty.

    Amaya and Austin… I fear she likes him way more than he likes her! He admits that he’s uncomfortable around her in a confessional. It’s shocking seeing the difference in their perspectives. As I mentioned earlier, Austin's previous coupling with Chelley might still be on his mind, and he's comparing how different the relationship felt, as well as the partner. 

    Huda pulled Hannah in for a chat (finally), and they basically said they have each other's backs once again. Huda also promised to let Hannah know if she pulls Pepe again in the future.

    Nic and Andreina are hitting it off as well as TJ and Cierra. All the while, "Casual" by Chappel Roan is playing in the background. Mind you, this is a day after Nic and Cierra, you know. Production, you KNOW you cooked with that, right? Especially with the part of the song “you said, ‘baby, no attachments.’” DANG.

    Huda is chatting with TJ, and she's really flirty. You know what, hell yeah. They have a flirty energy, but don’t really talk and get emotional like Cierra and TJ.

    Later, Amaya initiates a good conversation with Austin (I hope they continue this if they want their relationship to work). She says he’s the type to say when he’s uncomfortable, and she asks if there’s anything he wants to say. She isn’t accusatory, and she’s very sweet. He says he’s got to figure things out because he isn’t used to this much affection, and she says she understands.

    Andreina admits to Jeremiah that she hasn’t dated any guy ever. She’s never had a boyfriend, and she doesn’t get it either. Jeremiah’s shocked too, he admits he’s only had one relationship before. She says she’s not the kind of girl who has one-night stands. The two eventually share a crazy, slow kiss. Jeremiah is cheesinggggg! I haven't seen him this giddy around another islander yet!

    Regarding the vote, I voted for Nic as my favorite guy (it was hard, but he’s the most emotionally intelligent, and I appreciate how he spoke with both Jeremiah and Huda in their situations). I was between putting Amaya and Cierra for the girls, but I put Cierra. But to be honest, I think they're all my favorite! The end of the episode claimed that the islander with the fewest number of votes will be vulnerable and in danger of being dumped. I have a feeling it's going to be Huda because of her editing and the rocky episodes with Jeremiah, which have left a sour taste for viewers. Until next time, though!

Love Island S7E15 Debrief

   

 I was waiting, and when I mean waiting. WAITING to finally debrief after all the Huda and Jeremiah stuff was over to finally get into a full-on debrief! I'm confident in Huda's redemption era (no more interrupting over islanders' chats, I hope!). I realize there are fifteen episodes in, and I'm finally posting an overview and reaction to the newest episode...but lord, I was getting fed up with Huda and Jeremiah's coupling. So, to be matter-of-fact, yes—I will be actually reviewing each episode from here on out, minus the aftersun ones. 

    The episode began with Jalen's exit, before swiftly transitioning to a conversation between Taylor, Olandria, and Huda. It seemed like the notion of a "girls' girl" and a "sisterhood" was stopping the other girls from checking Huda. Of course, we, the audience, aren't able to know 100% of the story, as we only receive the final edit from the production. That being said, I assume the other girls don't want a bad edit if they didn't stand by Huda. Back to the chat between the three! Thank GOD Taylor and Olandria checked Huda after that recoupling. Olandria backed up Iris, too, telling Huda it was unnecessary to come for her, to which I cheered! Iris walked into that villa like a lamb to the slaughter!! Taylor clutched up too, I can't lie, he discouraged Huda from getting into it with Jeremiah. 

    Chelley and Ace interacted after the recoupling, finally as a couple. There have been some rumors on TikTok claiming that the two know each other more intimately than they suggest, beyond simply bumping into each other at a bar. Some people even claim that they're playing the game to win that $100,000 prize. I can only say, "Time will tell..." 

    It seems the Chelley, Austin, and Ace love triangle is finally quelled (for now)! Austin and Amaya are a couple, and honestly, watching the two interact reminds me of a conversation on the playground. "Amaya Papaya" and her "Austin Boston" make me cackle. Amaya and fellow islander Nic are the two healthcare professionals on the island, and I like how they check Huda's behavior and de-escalate situations. The same cannot be said for Amaya and Ace-- those two get at it like Tom and Jerry, but even they have their moments. 

    I'm still unclear how much Huda could hear from listening in on Jeremiah and Iris' conversation in the speakeasy, but the girl was definitely eavesdropping. She's proven to be a good one at that! It reminded me of all the times I'd sit on the top of the staircase and listen to my family gossip (sometimes about me, but also other people and issues). I truly thought she was FINALLY going to talk to Iris, clear the air, and apologize when she came in and asked to interrupt the chat. She'd feel clarity and get closure, but oh well. Instead, she talked to Jeremiah, asking Iris to leave. From there, Huda goes into whether she's partly to blame for the toxicity of the situation. Girl... Neither of them was good for each other, but still. I commend Jeremiah for not protesting when she said he was also partly to blame, but I don't want to infantilize Jeremiah (he's a grown man, but I do like that he didn't argue back and deny). Taylor then popped into the door (I'm sure he was waiting for her to start name-calling), and Huda told him she had the conversation under control, so he left. In a confessional, Huda admitted that she and Jeremiah might be finished. MIGHT?? Please, lord, spare us from this. 

    After the chat, Amaya stood on business! She told Huda that she thought it was inappropriate for her to have asked Jeremiah for a chat, all the while interrupting his conversation with Iris. Huda claimed it was the final thing, and I'm hoping for her and Jeremiah's sake (as well as my own as a viewer) that it IS the end of that relationship. I'd like to preface this by saying I won't delve into the details of what happened between Hannah and Pepe. When the lights went off at night... anyways...

    The next morning, Huda and Cierra's conversation really stuck out to me. Cierra admitted that she was torn between standing behind Jalen over Huda in the recoupling, but she wanted to allow Huda to find love and have another chance. In my mind, however, I'm wondering what other bombshells will emerge and immediately pair up with Huda after witnessing the last couple of episodes. 

    When the text came in that Megan Thee Stallion was coming in!??? God, to tell you I was FLOORED! Absolutely gobsmacked! I NEED to know who she voted for in the recoupling with Pepe, Iris, and Jalen. I loved her authentic character in the confessionals and sharing her favorite moments thus far. 

    The challenges!??? Ace and Huda going against each other first?? Production was soooo messy for that!! After Ace admitted earlier that he only stood behind Huda because he said in his conversation with Chelley earlier that he didn't see Jalen putting any effort into his connection with Olandria. Damn! I assumed it was because of his friendship with Taylor and Ace's desire to eliminate the competition, but oh well. My Nic and Olandria heart!! The crumbs production is feeding us! Olandria ATE DOWN on the challenge. I still don't believe that Taylor won against Chelley in a twerking competition when Chelley was up close and personal with Megan!! I don't get it! Meanwhile, Taylor and his crazy faces had me cackling; He's kind of charming in a funny way. The puzzle-building competition did NOT prepare me for the bombshells. Oh my sweet heavens. Oh my jeez. Andriena!???? Her entrance will go down in history. When Pepe spoke some Spanish to her, I was nervous for Hannah... Andriena, being a Dominican Spaniard, and Pepe, being a Cuban Spaniard,... production definitely saw Pepe lock in with Hannah and decided to swoop in by adding Andriena. For the other bombshell, TJ, well, he's okay. I have to watch for more, but I did see something brewing between him and Iris in the promo for the next episode. But that's it, those are my thoughts, I will clock in once again for episode 16!     

Sleepless and Entranced: A 5AM Review of The Song of Achilles

 

Intro

    What's up! Currently, it's 5AM, and I've just finished The Song of Achilles. Funnily enough, I finished the book out of spite (to fix my sleep schedule through an all-nighter). Instead, The Song of Achilles entranced me and captivated me, and all the other synonyms describing the state of having one's attention captured. Reading the book at this time was truly immersive, and I was not overcome by the clutches of sleep, nor did I acquiesce to my tiredness. To say I'm surprised is the understatement of the century, but I beat sleep thanks to this book. With the warm light of a trusty IKEA lamp, I was able to fully delve into the story of Patroclus and Achilles, as well as other characters that lingered.  

Short Book Summary (No Spoilers!)

    Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles assumes a first-person narration through Patroclus, a young prince exiled from his homeland after an act of violence. Achilles awaits Patroclus in Phthia and is proclaimed aristos achaion, or "the best of all the Greeks." He's the son of the fierce, harsh sea goddess Thetis and the mortal king Peleus. The two forge an intimate connection despite the risk of invoking the nemesis. 

    The pair train with Chiron in the fields of war and medicine, but their edification is disrupted by the news of Helen of Sparta's kidnapping. Thus, the heroes of Greece are promised prizes of material wealth and glory upon sacking Troy in her name. Achilles joins the cause after the promise of a glorious destiny, and Patroclus follows. 

    Miller's writing is brilliant and lyrical; Her prose has a softness to it that makes the brutal moments feel deeply human. It's rich with emotional undertones and reads both like a love letter and a requiem. 

Warning: Spoilers Below

What I Liked: Characters

    The characters of Patroclus and Briseis enamored me. While Patroclus was presented as an awkward, gangly, exiled prince, his internal dialogue and thoughtful nature won me over. I picked up this book expecting a story solely centering the well-accomplished and lauded hero, Achilles. His impact on the narrative truly astounded me. I was verbally dissuading Patroclus from joining the war when he begged to fight in Achilles' place. Patroclus was never bred for war, but he picked up training from his days accompanying Achilles in his training. Patroclus fearlessly fought clad in Achilles' armor, slaying Sarpedon, second to Hector on the Trojan side in terms of power and military prowess. Sadly, Patroclus falls in battle after attempting to scale the Trojan's wall, immediately disarmed and weakened by Apollo. He was wounded by Euphorbus with a spear and ultimately stabbed by Hector. As a result, Patroclus' demise inspired Achilles to rejoin the war, seeking vengeance for Patroclus' death. Thus, the connection between Patroclus and Achilles was a highlight of mine. 

    Briseis, an Anatolian woman, was taken by the Greek army as a spoil of war. She was gifted to Achilles, but when Achilles defied Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief of the Greeks, he confiscated her from Achilles as punishment. My liking of her character stemmed primarily from the friendship she shared with Patroclus. Briseis quickly learned Greek and even grew a crush on Patroclus, though it was futile and one-sided due to Patroclus' love for Achilles. In Patroclus' final moment with Briseis, she sincerely promises Patroclus that if their camp falls to the Trojans, she will claim Patroclus as her husband to potentially stop the opposing forces from killing him. Before the sacking can occur, Patroclus takes Achilles' armor and falls in combat. When Achilles eventually dies from Paris' arrow, the new aristos achion, Neoptolemus, known as Pyrrus for his fiery red hair, is predicted to be pivotal to the fall of Troy. It cannot take place without him. Briseis begs him to honor Patroclus alongside Achilles and fulfill Achilles' dying wish of being beside his lifelong companion in death as well. Pyrrus, ever so cruel, refuses, and she tries to kill him, but he evades her and kills her with a spear after she attempts to flee into the sea. 

What I Disliked: Pacing

    The shift in the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles at Phthia was slow to develop and finally caught my attention when they went to Mount Pelion under the tutelage of Chiron. While the novel was chock-full of poetic voltas, or shifts, the transitory phase before the sudden turn of events was slow to burn and made reading a chore for me. That's to say, I was still able to finish the book because of the poignant climax; it's just the beginning that made the story slow to unfold. 

Discussion Question + My Answer

    After finishing the book, I noticed a collection of discussion questions tucked away in the back. One in particular struck me:

"9. What is the significance of song and music in the novel?"

    The title itself, The Song of Achilles, is a direct nod to music and storytelling. This theme becomes especially powerful in the final scene, when Patroclus, even in death, tells Achilles' story to Thetis. The act of reminiscing becomes a song, an elegy that ensures Achilles' legacy lives on.

    Music also appears in subtle ways throughout the novel. Patroclus recalls his mother's lyre after her death, a memory tied to warmth and a sense of connection. That same lyre is given to Achilles when Patroclus arrives in Peleus's kingdom as a "payment" for harboring an exile. The lyre becomes a symbol of Patroclus' past as well as a physical representation of his bond with Achilles and their shared space and history.

    In a particularly emotional moment, Patroclus is hurt by Achilles' decision to give Briseis to Agamemnon. He's filled with immense, foreign feelings of rage and betrayal by Achilles that he considers smashing and destroying the lyre in their shared tent. Thus, the lyre is established at that moment as not just an instrument but something tied deeply to Patroclus' mother and Achilles. The impulse further reflects how music isn't reduced to background noise but rather a tool of memory, grief, love, and even anger. 

Closing Thoughts

    I'd recommend this book to mythology lovers and mature audiences who can appreciate the nuanced conversations about the portrayal of ancient women, war, and love. This book is not necessarily an easy beach read and is best suited as a late-night escape. The late hours, especially, contribute to the novel's deep, emotional mood. I found that I could become engrossed when there was no outside noise, leaving me with just the quiet and my thoughts to process this heavy, poignant story. 

    

An Introduction Through Trinkets/Collectibles

 Hi! I'm Neha. My About Me page gives a brief introduction to who I am. To clarify, I'm an avid collector of trinkets, and I'd like to start with that. 

I created this blog because I wanted a digital space where I could access all my thoughts and ramblings. I've gotten into journaling, but I haven't felt motivated to write. I believe this blog will provide me with the perfect space to rekindle my passion while also exploring other interests of mine. A space to put it all somewhere and to write about what I love, even if what I love is a piece of plastic from a capsule machine.

Here are the trinkets I own and what they remind me of:

⟡Sqwishland Sheep: I got this trinket from the local Marsh near the Kumon where I'd cry at! I was a first-grader on my merry way with my dad after miraculously passing a unit test on long division (I still have no clue how I managed that, but yay to 6-year-old me!). I went to the capsule machine, and my dad allowed me to use some spare change for a squishy animal. What came out of the machine was what sparked my love for small but meaningful keep-sakes. I'd make comic books where the muse was this minuscule sheep (I named her Sam). I'd take her to school, I'd keep her safely tucked in my pockets, and I'd clutch her in my hand for good luck for future Kumon tests. Sadly, I lost her after a Diwali celebration the following year when I entered second grade. It was devastating, truly! I'm not joking when I say it's the first time I experienced a loss so deep that it shook me to my core. If I did still have her, I would rub it one last time for good luck. 

⟡Smiski: These funny-looking green guys are a personal favorite of mine! The Smiskis come in a variety of series, my favorite being the museum series (though I have yet to collect them!). I got my first one from a bookstore on a trip to New York with my parents in the seventh grade. My mom didn't understand the appeal of the "weird green thing" I'd hold in my hand during shared meals, but I couldn't explain to her the unabridged joy he gave me. I didn't bestow a name to my Smiski because soon after, I had collected five new Smiski friends. The Smiski in the image, pushing a paper crane I made, has seen restaurants, museums, and every corner of my bedroom. I definitely plan to collect more, but I'm debating whether to name the ones I already have. Names have power, all that stuff. So I say, "To be determined!"

This blog is for people who also have rituals for everything they do, engage in the same media I do, and rewatch the same TV shows for the umpteenth time for familiarity.

So welcome and enjoy!