Brn2bwild

I don't want the girls to kill Ben, but at the same time, this is a group that eventually kills and eats their own for sport or ritual, as shown in the pilot. In order for them to get there, they have to get much, much worse as a group. If the show starts pulling punches and having people be spared and tries to make it so Pit Girl's death was accidental or somehow not the girls' fault, then the showrunners will get lambasted with complaints that this show is all hype and no real substance. As terrible as it is to see the mob forming at the end of this episode, it's also something that unfortunately has to happen for them to get to the Pit Girl phase (at that point roughly six months away).

As an aside, I enjoy watching Van and Tai in both timelines, but it feels like watching two separate couples. I have trouble reconciling smug, self-serious Younger Tai with the more irreverent, slightly goofier Older Tai from this season. Same with strong, impassioned Younger Van and more delicate Older Van.* I realize some of this is about showing the gap between the younger version and the older version and how they got there, but I have no problem making the connection between Younger and Older Nat or Younger and Older Misty. Older and Younger Shauna seemed more separate too, but this season they seem more connected. * Lauren Ambrose has a stronger physical resemblance to Liv Hewson, but IMO the absolute perfect casting for Older Van would have been Sarah Snook.

Did I miss something about why Shauna hated Coach Ben so much? Other than that he wasn't there to help her during delivery and he was horrified by their cannibalism? She above the others seemed determined that he should die. Melissa in the past timeline seems unhinged, so I can definitely see her taking revenge on Shauna in the present. I don't think Shauna killed Lottie in the present, but I could see Callie putting two and two together and thinking Shauna killed her because they were both in New York.

Does it seem weird that Adult Tai and Van were watching PeeWee's Playhouse? Maybe Van was into it as a child, but I can't see Tai of any age enjoying that show. ETA: Also, it strains credibility that the ice cream shop that closed years ago would not have been taken over by another business.

I don't think that was Misty's work. Maybe Melissa (or Walter?).

Some might be frustrated with the slow-burn nature of these episodes, but I loved it. Everyone seems to be on drugs in both timelines. And welcome back, Jackie!

Sixth grade for me. People (girls and boys) start being terrible at a very young age.

Was the tall thin girl with long black hair, who seems like she'll inevitably be Pit Girl, on the show before this season?

Mari getting the hot chocolate brought to mind Jackie's S1 hallucination where she got hot chocolate from the group. Could this be a sign of Mari's impending death?

Wherever she and Sammy are, I hope Steve the Dog is with them. It's interesting we haven't seen Adult Tai's "other self" yet this season. Perhaps because it feels like rational Adult Tai and Other Tai have merged somewhat this year? I love that theory! Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if at some point this season, Ben visits the camp and finds out there are no huts and everyone has just been sleeping exposed on the ground.

I have reservations about being able to judge a whole season by its first third.

Finally I have good plans for Valentines Day. I can't wait!

I rewatched S1E9, and Front Man talks to Gi-hun in an unaltered voice after Gi-hun wins the game. How does Gi-hun not recognize that voice later? Between the voice, the 001, and his calling Gi-hun by his name, you would think there'd be some suspicion, and he wouldn't be so quick to trust Front Man to lead part of the rebellion.

I thought the deal with In-ho was that he was a previous winner and ended up disappearing and working for the organization. I got the sense his wife died sometime during/after the first time he was invited to the games.

My fanfic wish is that following the last scene, Sam Wainwright offers to become a business partner of George Bailey's, the Building and Loan goes national, and then international. So that desperate evening ends up getting George what he wanted... it just took longer than expected.