The Rec Center #370
Hello everyone, and happy Femslash February 2023! We have our first F/F list this week, plus articles on Bluey and the Spice Girls, as well as some gorgeous Glass Onion fanart. — Elizabeth
new stuff
“The Internet Is Breeding Hordes of Adult Bluey Fans” by Amelia Tait at Wired
Critically-acclaimed children’s cartoon Bluey has attracted a loving fandom of adult viewers on TikTok—the latest in a proud lineage of toddler TV shows with a cult following.
“Inside the Absolutely Impossible, Iconic Spice World Bus, 25 Years Later” by Matthew Jacobs at Vanity Fair
“There should be five of everything. Five towels, five bathrobes, five toothbrushes, five clothes racks.” On the creation of the Spice World bus, which is now an Airbnb (on the Isle of Wight).
“It’s Time for a Departure From ‘Bottle Episode’” by Kathryn VanArendonk at New York Magazine
Look, maybe this isn’t really about fandom, but we need to do our part in the long, annoying battle to stop people from abusing the term “bottle episode.”
https://twitter.com/jack_vening/status/1615205620734652416
older stuff
“Staircases in Space: Why Are Places in Science Fiction Not Wheelchair-Accessible?” by Ace Ratcliff at io9
“The hundreds of thousands of fictional worlds built with all those staircases are a silent but persistent signal that disabled representation isn’t just a low priority, it rarely exists at all.”
tumblr & beyond
Glass Onion fanart by moonsun2010
Fanvid: An ode to unsettling dance scenes.
“it’s been exciting to learn about your bleak personal life and extreme political views”
as non-kpop fans, we are ENTHRALLED to learn about this lil phenomenon.
a jarring revelation about the background worldbuilding of The Last of Us.
fanfiction
We’re starting off Femslash February with a multifandom grab-bag; thanks to everyone who sent in a rec! — Elizabeth
“cleopatra” by dontaskmedude. 53K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: House of the Dragon; Ship: Alicent Hightower/Rhaenyra Targaryen
Recced by: anon
Backstory: What if Rhaenyra and Alicent found each other that fateful night, instead of Rhaenyra pursuing Ser Criston Cole? Or: “sometimes a family can be a lesbian, her stepdaughter, her gay husband, his lover and their eight children.”
Rec: Lovely retelling of HotD, with far less chaos and blood and a lot more love between two women.
Content warnings: Canon-typical homophobia, canon-typical violence
“Free Fall” by Static_abyss. 5K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Killing Eve; Ship: Eve/Villanelle
Recced by: solarfemm
Backstory: Eve is an MI6 agent who becomes obsessed with a certain blonde, Russian assassin Villanelle. This story takes place at the end of season 3, as Eve and Villanelle are deciding on their future, together or apart.
Rec: I love Eve’s characterisation in this and her backstory.
Content warnings: N/A
“Ronin Korra” by silkarc. 85K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Avatar: The Legend of Korra; Ship: Korra/Asami
Recced by: buddieboos
Backstory: This ship was my OG bi4bi f/f awakening. This is a bender historical AU with Korra as a wandering ronin who ends up defending the Sato estate against bandits.
Rec: I liked the slow burn and the way the setting suffuses everything. Ever since first reading it the atmosphere is what stuck with me the most.
Content warnings: N/A
“save sorry for another night” by usuallyproperlyhydrated. 2.3K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Kevin Can Fuck Himself (TV 2021); Ship: Allison McRoberts/Patty O’Connor
Recced by: inamamagic
Backstory: Allison and Patty dance a homoerotic, you-and-I-till-we-die dance in the series that explodes beautifully in this fic. It’s set right at the end of season 2, and they have a glorious argument that simmers into sex.
Rec: It’s an amazing short piece that captures their essence just perfectly - almost like a deleted scene. A must read for anyone who enjoyed watching Patty and Allison’s dynamic onscreen.
Content warnings: N/A
“sweet talker” by vesna. 19K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: MDZS/CQL (魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)); Ship: F/F Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Volleyball player Wei Ying really wants to be friends with the new player, Lan Zhan, on another team. Wei Ying is definitely not a lesbian but turns out she is.
Rec: As a lesbian who discovered my sexuality by reading women discover that they’re queer, this fic hits the spot. Not only an especially great example of straight girl Wei Ying discovering herself while trying to become friends with someone she thinks is so great, this also has volleyball! Sexuality exploration via recreational sports competition.
Content warnings: N/A
https://twitter.com/ottotonics/status/1618090395514335234
FINAL THOUGHT
That’s all, folks! Have a relaxing weekend! And remember—please send us your F/F recs throughout the rest of Femslash February! — Gav