In a shocking state of affairs, I actually watched a TV show all the way through!
I’m both notorious for (1) never having time to watch anything and (2) never finishing it if I do. Who watched seven episodes of Stranger Things and left the finale for a year??? Me. Who paused Game of Thrones Season 6 mid-way through for 12 months??? Also me. Who still hasn’t seen the Mockingjay movie Part 2 and has only watched the 3rd Harry Potter movie and no others?? ME.
Yeah ok ok, this is turning out to be a Shame Paper Fury post. So let’s calm down.
But I saw the wild hype around Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy and decided to fill the friendless void in my life by watching this dysfunctional superhero family have a series of emotional breakdowns and sibling rivalry for 10 episodes.
I am very glad I watched. It was super (LOL SEE WHAT I DID THERE) good! It was, however, super slow…like so s l o w. If I hadn’t cared about the characters so much, I would’ve been out, lol.
So 5 Really Fast Opinions:
✧ I loved Klaus and Allison the best, but appreciated the sheer condescension of Number Five’s smile.
✧ Luther is a big blonde hunk of toxic masculinity. I didn’t like Diego at first…but then I did. Vanya was predictable.
✧ I loved that it was diverse while I also am aware there were a lot of problematic elements.
✧ and holy heck why was it so slow and why did the assassins have so much screen time. oh my bored soul.
✧ but I’m over here forever fond of messy large dysfunctional families and add in superpowers and petty childhood arguments and some mindmuckery and I really want Season 2.
So I was sitting here trying to come up with a weekend post and I went, “Well a tag for this would be fun…” AND LO AND BEHOLD, someone had made one!
You can find the original booktuber’s video here!
PS. Like all book tags, feel free to use this one! Just credit the original creator.
1. Hello: name the best first book in a series.
When it comes to first books in series, I feel like I either (a) adore it the most of all, or (b) feel like it’s the worst. Lmao. Is there middle ground? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Like Shatter Me, for instance? My son, let us thank the world your siblings arrived to assure the world you were not a floppy asparagus leaf.
Anyway! While I gave every book in The Dark Artifices 5-stars, I think Lady Midnight was my ultimate favourite!! Just meeting Mark with his anxious breakdowns + watching Julian and Emma have their first kiss and being like “WOOO I FELT NOTHING!” out loud while inwardly they were all, “i am in love i want to die” + not everyone was totally broken yet so it was the funniest book in the series.
CHOCOLATE, MARK. NOT DRUGS.
2. The Hargreeves Children: name a big book family (dysfunction is optional)
“Uh, Cait,” you say, “is this not your book?”
Yes it is, good spotting. Look I have blogged for 7 years waiting for the day when I could slam my book on the table and say, “Look at this wholesome disaster I have made for you.” So I’m gonna keep bringing it up.
Plus The Boy Who Steals Houses is an ode to dysfunctional siblings. First we have Sam and Avery, who are such messes it’s actually a wonder they’re still alive. And then Sam gets engulfed by the De Lainey family of 7 kids and my oh my the level of chaos there is phenomenal. They are the siblings who threaten to kill each other but woah if anyone else messes with them, they join forces as A Solid Team.
3. The World Ends in 8 Days: if you only had eight days left, which book would you choose to be your last read?
hey now, don’t ask me to make decisions like this. I can’t even decide what to read when the world isn’t ending in 8 days. It would definitely be Call Down the Hawk except — IT’S NOT OUT TILL NOVEMBER. I would be the angry bitter person who stopped the apocalypse simply so it didn’t wreck my reading plans.
4. Space boy: name a character who plays the leader, but may not be cut out for it.
I love this question lmao because it’s so true. Luther was the WORST at “leading”, but a very accurate bossy older-sibling representation. So I’ll give him that.
As much as I loved Todd from the Chaos Walking books…he was…not leader material?! Like even at the end he wasn’t! And the villain is all grooming him for leadership and I’m like — WHY. WHAT DO YOU SEE. This kid was a follower right to the end!! He even spent most of book one following Manchee. MANCHEE IS A DOG.
5. Throwing knives: what literary weapon would you want in your arsenal?
Basically just the hardcover illustrated edition of Game of Thrones. If I dropped this, I could wipe out a small country.
6. I heard a rumour: name a book that has a misleading plot line.
I still admit I have no idea what was happening in Gilded Wolves. I really loved the characters! But occasionally I try to think about what happened and I’m just…
7. Klaus: name a book that involves the dead / ghosts / etc.
I love books with soft ghosts so much ahhhh!!! But since I’ve already mentioned Stiefvater (who has my favourite ghost ever) I will go with Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares. There is like ALL the ghost love there.
Minya also controls ghosts, kind of like Klaus. But while Klaus is soft and chirpy, Minya would eat Klaus for breakfast. She’s, like, six years old. He would be terrified of her.
8. The Boy: recommend a book that plays with time (whether it be in dual timelines, involving time travel, etc.)
Here is a secret: I actually don’t love time travel books. It’s just…?! It almost always frustrates me when you go through this plot and then BOOM — it ends and “by the way, none of that even happened.” Then why did I read it, mate. Go waste someone else’s eyeball usage.
But hey, Illuminae messed with time and dimensions and…WARP SPEED BLACK HOLES ALTERNATE REALITIES STUFF?!? And I love it! There’s always that one book that, when you say “nah I don’t like that sort of stuff”, you fall in love with this one and it makes you a liar.
9. Vanya: name a character who has buried potential.
I’m going to say Alina because I just finished a total Grishaverse reread (I’m finally onto King of Scars!) and omg I love her but she could have been frightening okay?! (Here we see Cait pause, look regretfully at the concept of being Nice. And then toss herself headfirst into the darkside.)
Like Alina ended up craving power but I kind of wish she’d gone more badass with it?! She stayed weak and vulnerable the whole time which was just annoying.
10. Luther and Allison: name a questionable book couple, and why you do or don’t like them.
Oh wow these two made me uncomfortable.😂 They were adopted so it’s not incest! But yeah, I am all for this ship to never sail thanks.
I also never shipped:
➸ Alina and Mal from the Shadow and Bone series
➸ Starr and Chris from The Hate U Give (she deserved better ok)
➸ Ron and Hermione 🙄
➸ Jess and Morgan from Ink & Bone
➸ Kaz and Inej from Six of Crows (oops)
11. Hazel and Cha Cha: pick a deadly book duo.
I shall go with Kell and Lila because they are glorious and terrifying. Although I maintain Kell is a soft waffle and Lila is like when you burn toast, look at it, and then burn it again until literally Hell says, “Is that my lost child, Charcoal???” Because that’s Lila. She’s terrifying but we love it.
And Kell can still hold his own! Sometimes…! Other times he’s lying on the ground coughing up blood and Lila is rolling her eyes while she has to sop up that mess.
12. Goodbye: What’s the best finale?
Oh I hate finales. 😫😂 They’re so stressful?! And I always have really high expectations. But here are some that went down amazingly and I will stand atop a roof and recommend them forever:
have you watched the Umbrella Academy? who are your favourite characters?
and tell me a popular book couple that you *Don’t* ship! or if you like book beginnings or endings better?
i am honestly just sitting here waiting for your book cait I NEED IT IN MY LIFE ALREADY!!! while i haven’t watched this, the tag looks interesting and YAY CALL DOWN THE HAWK IS OUT IN NOVEMBER!!! thats not far… KIDDING ITS TOO LONG! i have three books i’m super excited for this year – yours 💜, tell me how you really feel, and then rebel in october. ALSO WAIT i can forgive you for not shipping kanej but like,,, who is your ship then? BECAUSE IF IT AINT MINE, THEN I WILL BE SLIGHTLY MAD and still share cake with you and celebrate about TBWSH 💛💛 (also i have seen mixed thugs about the release date… when is it for australia?)
love you always cait, cannot wait to see the magic in TBWSH and read a new novel from you xxxx
It’s sooo long away ahhhh, I need it nooooowWWW. 😂 But also I will wait forever if it just means more Stiefvater books. (Omg I’m really honoured mine is on your excited-for list!! That makes my day!) And I just don’t ship Kaz and Inej with anyone.😂I think they need healing, separately. And I like the other two ships of the series!
Oh TBWSH is like the 4th in the UK and the 9th in Australia. 😂 Don’t ask me why. I don’t know anything.
I knowwwww!!!!! I still have two books in the Raven Cycle to go though… so its kinda lucky? (I honestly cannot wait) *nods* okay.
Thanks!!! I was getting so confused 😂
I’m totally the same way with tv shows! I’m also so forgetful, so I end up starting a show, getting distracted, going back to it in a year and having no clue what’s happening, needing to start again, and then getting to basically the same point I did last time before getting distracted again. This is why I haven’t finished a show in, like, 4 years 😛
I haven’t seen the Umbrella Academy yet, but it seems interesting enough. I’ll have to give it a try when I’m not so busy.
And omg, yes, if the apocalypse comes before November 5, can we all band together to hold it off until Call Down the Hawk?? Because there is no way I can die before getting more Ronan Lynch.
As for popular book couples I don’t ship, I can’t really think of any? I guess I could just be boring and say that I hated every relationship in Harry Potter, but I feel like they’re all pretty polarising, so that’s not really anything shocking (UNLIKE YOU NOT SHIPPING KAZ AND INEJ, BECAUSE WHAT?!?! I would LOVE to hear why, because that is literally unheard of).
And I don’t know, it usually depends on the book, but I kind of like beginnings more? I’ve just always enjoyed the feeling of starting something; having infinite possibilities in front of me and knowing that there’s amazing things to come. Plus, books don’t normally emotionally wreck me until further towards the end, so I’m usually safe in the beginning (though tbh, I low key love it when books rip open my heart, but that might just be me being masochistic lol :P).
ok I’m just glad I’m not alone with this 😂 it’s just…there’s so much to do!? I’m so bad at finishing things. Which is why I’m just SO PROUD of myself right now lmao (the bar is very….low). So when you watch this in 10 years time 😂 I hope you enjoy it!
But seriously right? No world endings until we get the Dreamer trilogy. We will fite back the aliens and protect Maggie Stiefvater’s writing space at all costs.
And yeah I’m with you on HP! I love it, but the romance is the weakest part. Oh and ooff I have lots of thoughts about Kaz and Inej and I love both of them fiercely, just not together. There’s just a line in Six of Crows where Inej literally says Kaz isn’t enough because of his mental illness. Like there are a zillion things to hate him for (being a criminal!? to start with!?) but when she says he’s “not enough” because he can’t touch people, it just hit me all wrong. Sorry!
I swear there are plenty of ships I don’t like but right now my brain is evading me. I was never a fan of Blue and Adam together, though. As for beginnings and endings it really depends on the series. I think I have to go with beginnings because most of my favourite books are the first in a series. Also I have trouble letting go so endings hurt me 😅
Yeah Blue and Adam didn’t really work 😂 but we all kind of knew it wouldn’t. We were just humouring them trying to defy fate. :’)
A hahahaha don’t worry I don’t finish tv shows either. I haven’t finished Sherlock, Dr who (I stopped at the last season of Ten) (I don’t want him to dieee) and Agents Of SHIELD (I hated it- I figured out entire plot after three episodes)
I don’t ship lots of people. Why ship them when they can have peace?!?!
I don’t ship Wolfstar. Ew… Sirius and Remus can be best buds leave them alone.
I love book beginnings and hate the end cause
1) a book I (hopefully liked) is over
2)) PEOPLE DIE OR ARE IN PAIN (JKR) (like cmon I loved Remus)
3) the beginning is full of happiness usually. My characters are whole…. (But not for long….)
OH SHERLOCK…another one I should finish.😂 I’ve never even seen SHIELD or Doctor Who oops haha. It’s just hard to fit everything in? And to stay focused.😂
Endings are hard because everyone ends up crying, us included.
I have not watched this show nor heard much about it but from what I’ve heard I’m mildly interested? Like it seems everyone says they like it but find it a wee bit problematic.
Ok so this would shock any 2012 fangirl: I didn’t really ship Four and Tris from Divergent. I’m sorry they were cute in the first book but what’s romantic about
Tris: *keeps giant secrets from Four, lying directly at his face for the majority of Insurgent*never apologizes*
Four: *gets angry at Tris for lying*until Allegiant when he’s angry at Tris for being more speshul than he*
yes exactly! It’s that kind of muddy middle-ground where it’s good but there are just a lot of uncomfortable things about their decisions and they can’t be overlooked? But I still recommend it. And lol I wasn’t wild about Tris/Four either tbh. And even LESS after the show came out because Four looked like 30 and Tris about 12 and it made me uncomfortable the whole time. They were really bad for each other though, let’s be real. 😂
The Raven King was such a good last book!! If I only had 8 days I’d definitely read Call Down The Hawk if it was out!! But I’d be stressing because I’m such a slow reader and probably wouldn’t finish before the world ended and id be rolling over in my grave.
I’m so glad you love The Raven King too! SO MUCH BRILLIANCE. But also stress haha. And we’ll just put off the apocalypse forever until Maggie Stiefvater finishes writing everything. Simple.
But yeah staying focused with shows is just so hard???
I also started TV shows and then just stop like, I started Lucifer and stopped mid-way through season 2. I started The Umbrella Academy and stopped on episode 2 (which is getting me yelled at by some people who want me to watch it) but yeah. Staying g on track with shows is hard. Its hard to stay focused on them. I get distracted.
*screeches in fangirl* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I LOVE UMBRELLA ACADEMY SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the graphic novels, and when I saw they were adapting, I was like: ‘As long as they do Klaus right!’ and he’s amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love him, so very, very, much. *squees*
Also, the kid who plays Number Five is scary talented, no?
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT!! And it makes me want to read the actual comics now. Klaus is just The Best. And omg FIVE IS SO TALENTED. Like he was hands down the best actor there…and he’s like what, 13 or 14?!
The kid who plays him was 14 at the time of shooting & is 15 now. He’s got a music career and is a UN Goodwill Ambassador, plus is taller than me, Life is not fair, clearly!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head about 18 times and built yourself a new bookshelf here. (Congrats!!)
a) Klaus was the best of this series. I also like Ben and Number 5.
b) the De Lainey’s are amazing (but I think you already know this). Moxie, Jeremy and Mr De Lainey are my faves.
c) Luther was the WORST. Also, it annoyed me that he was the ‘older brother’ stereotype because they were LITERALLY THE SAME AGE. Also, he was only called Number 1 because he was the first one adopted. If Diego was the first one adopted then he would be Number 1. And he’s a far better leader anyway. Their numbers had no relevance on them as people, except psychologically in how they viewed themselves as ranked. (Sorry, Luther and his macho-bullshit really annoyed me.)
d) Gemina was one of the best things I finally read last year. OMG so good!!
e) Luther and Alison were so bad. I do not approve.
f) Ron and Hermione were a big fat no for me as well. I was ranting about it on a post the other day… basically Ron should have died instead of Fred.
g) I also didn’t like Kaz and Inej. I just… don’t get it??
Thanks for letting me rant this out a bit!! 💕
omg you make me laugh 😂😂 but YES! I’m glad we have so many opinions that are the same here!! particularly your b) point because, yes. Mwahahha. I am totally biased but the De Laineys are just my everything. 😘
(Also glad you don’t ship Hermione/Ron and Kaz/Inej either?! Because I feel like everyone does and I’m just I DON’T.)
Glad I can make you laugh!!
I am very very very excited for The Boy Who Steals Houses and to discover this wonderfully weird family, too <3
I'm with you about The Gilded Wolves, loved the characters, but the plot had me a tinyyyyyyyy little bit confused at times, too haha. AND YES to Lila and Kell, such a deadly, amazing duo, I love them so so much!! <3 <3
At first, I was so nervous about a 3rd book in the Lara Jean series, but I'm glad it exists because it was the perfect, bittersweet ending we needed for Lara Jean's story <3
Wonderful answers! <3
omg thank you Marie 😍 *happy shimmy* I’m glad TBWSH is one you’re excited for! And yes the Gilded Wolves was just that *tiny* bit too confusing? But I’m hopefully going to reread it so maybe it’s the kind of book that needs to be absorbed? haha.
Lara Jean is AMAZING and I love her universe so much!!
Everyone seems to hate Ron and Hermione but I was fine with them – I hated Harry and Ginny because it just a carbon copy of James and Lily?? I admit I ship(ped) Drarry but since I knew that wasn’t going to happen I would have preferred Harry to end up with Luna.
Another couple I really did not ship is from Black Dagger Brotherhood (adult paranormal romance). V should not have ended up with Jane, damnit.
Yeah I didn’t like Harry and Ginny either.😂 And actually I mostly see people LOVE Ron/Hermione and I’m always like ???? I don’t see the chemistry at all.😂
I am on episode 2 of the umbrella academy but I am loving all the characters!! I would be further but I am watching it with my sister and her social life keeps getting in the way haha!! Klaus is my favourite character at the moment!!
I love the dysfunctional family story so that just makes me even more excited for your book coming out in April!! *big YAY*
Also I can’t wait to read call down the hawk too— so excited. Also stopping the apocalypse so it didn’t disrupt their reading plans sounds like a book I would read!! haha!!
I know what you mean– normally I am not a big fan of time travel stories but then I watched the show timeless (which has now ended *cries*) and I actually enjoyed a show about time travel and I couldn’t believe it!!
Also I prefer beginnings to stories because endings are hard— all I can think of is I am never going to get to read new stuff with the characters and I just forget what being ok is. But I liked endings when they has been excellent character growth because I love seeing how far they’ve come!!
ahha that’s awesome you’re watching it with your sister! Although tbh sheesh @ her for daring to have a social life. Smh. 😂 And SO much yes for the dysfunctional family dynamic. It’s just the best trope lmao.😂
Ack yes, I sometimes procrastinate endings because I don’t want everything I love to die.😂
I really need to get started on this show! I’ve seen so much hype around it and it’s only 10 episodes anyway, so I should be able to binge it really quickly. I didn’t like The Chaos Walking at all, so I agree that Todd is not a leader material. He’s so annoying and can barely survive on his own! For the ghost prompt, I could only think of The Raven Cycle xD
Yeah just 10 hours! I mean, it feels a lot when I say it like that lmao. 😂 Aw I loved the Chaos Walking books though eep. I just didn’t think Todd was a leader.😂
I just have to say I haven’t watched Mockingjay Part 2 either and I bought it the week it came out. 😂
omg but are we ever going to be emotionally PREPARED for that?! *wails*
Oh my god Morgan and Jess are SOOOO boring 😭 JUST MAKE IT STOP. I DO NOT CARE.
AHHHHHHH I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE BIG MESSY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY IN YOUR BOOK!! (Which I *finally* preordered today!)
Also I’m um… still not getting notified when you post? Just so you know… 🙁
I know right?! The only real ship there is WOLFE AND SANTI. Everyone is just meh. 😂
And yeah I kind of don’t know what to do about the email notifications…It’s broken for sure.
Tbh I know there’s another couple in this series, but I legit can’t remember who it is because Wolfe and Santi are the only ship I care about 😂
Omg, I LOVEDDD this show. Honestly, I probably like it too much? I’ve been raised in a family where we have a heavy culture of rewatching our favorite movies and TV shows constantly, but so far I’ve watched the first episode of Umbrella Academy *6* times. Which may be 5 times too many. But to be fair, 4 of the 6 times I rewatched it, I was rewatching it with someone I was trying to introduce to the show, so I think it doesn’t count.
I don’t really ship Alina and Mal, or Jess and Morgan. I”m also am not a fan Juliette and Adam from the Shatter Me series.
DUDE, 6 TIMES?!?😂 I was just proud of myself for finishing it once haha. That’s awesome though! I think it’s good to just really enjoy things!
And yes, definitely glad that Juliette and Adam was a ship that didn’t go.😂
I’m not as big into tv series either as I probably could be … I hate how so many change half way through, or are all drama. Mostly I don’t like how much time they consume … I barely have time for books 😂 but I watched “Umbrella Academy”. It was definitely slow, but I enjoyed it.
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yeah sometimes they start off good and get bad…or vice versa?! It’s hard to find shows that are consistently good.😂 Especially if they last FOREVER. ahha. I’m glad you enjoyed this one…and also that I’m not the only one who wishes it was faster.😂
I have not watched it! Actually, I’d not even HEARD of it until this post? Oops? BUT I will add it to my Watch List! It sounds quite fun! Okay so I am DYING at your analysis of Todd because um YES? The Manchee thing cracked up too because… well, it’s true 😂 Also you are right about your own book because the De Laineys are 100% the family I would have chosen and like, it’s cool if you write another book about them, ‘kay? Also watch Mockingjay 2, what even!?!?
It did make a bit of a splash on twitter originally!! Also I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking Todd wasn’t a leader lmao. The whole time they’re like “YOU’LL BE A GREAT LEADER TODD” I’m like, mate, what are you seeing that I’m not. 😂
afjdsklafd I’m so glad you loved the De Laineys *happy cries*
(I don’t WANT TO SEE THEM ALL DIE in Mockingjay. I’m not…strong enough.)
AHH I absolutely love the umbrella academy!! I mean comparing to other tv shows its not that slow already haha. I would definitely be trying this tag later on YAY!
I maybe just watch faster moving shows haha. I’m glad you loved the show!
I love Umbrella Academy! Klaus is definitely my fave, closely followed by Five. I think these two were the most entertaining characters. I also so totally loved Diego! But, while I did like Allison, her and Luther were just… ew. My friend and I are still debating whether or not it’s incest because she thinks they’re adorable but like… they literally call each other brother and sister, and I think the fact that they’re adopted doesn’t change their siblingness, despite not being related by blood. But anyway! I still did love the show, and will definitely rewatch it soon (skipping out all the boring parts though lol)