What I mean is... Anybody can look at a population map and understand there's more people in the city. But it's hard to comprehend that 100x density factor. There are more people living on a single city block than there are in your whole town!

Before Sunrise/Sunset seem like a slam dunk for @themountaingoats.bsky.social. Linklater in general (Slacker/Dazed/A Scanner Darkly) is strongly Darnielle-coded.

I think this is why the vampire line is there. He's choosing to TRY not being a bottomlessly-needy ghoul.

IMHO taking the free flight home and not staying in Japan to fight his way into the tournament is showing you that he's stepping back from his mania. It's hard to believe that character won't continue being obsessive and manipulative in other ways, but he's making a different choice in that moment.

This. He doesn't get a tragic ending but he also doesn't achieve his dreams. His redemption by accepting paternity is a bit of a stretch but there is growth/change in evidence.

This is a memorable counterexample

"It's called a confidence game. Why? Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine."

youtu.be/N27gumJNHP0?...

What's the deal with LeBron at 37 outscoring anyone ever (including himself) at 33-36? Those are very normal "late prime" years to play.

2025 Headline of the Year nominee (November)

2025 Headline of the Year nominee (June)

Aside: John McClane definitely voted for Trump but does not share his belief that drug trafficking is fine as long as it's done by right wing autocrats.

In Die Hard 2, the McClanes do not learn any lessons about appreciating each other or putting family ahead of career. In fact, they don't experience any personal growth of any kind. They are just repeatedly proven right that bureaucrats and TV journalists are pinheads.

But it is increasingly difficult to actually mail one.