The StoryTinker

This is it. Season finale and it's gut-wrenching. Prepare yourselves. Goliath meets Poppy over the phone and it's bittersweet. We learn about Tora's fear of spiders, and Poppy asks if they're brothers. Turns out... they're TWINS. This explains so much. Dawn has arrived. Goliath's captor comes. Tora and Poppy clutch each other as the worst happens. Goliath goes out happy that after a life of betrayal, he did one thing right for his brother. Tora tells Poppy about Goliath and seeks a cigarette, but Poppy wants to distract him by climbing on his lap. We switch scenes to Tracker #6. The jerk on the train apparently has been following them and is reporting to Cat Lady, also known as Courtney. And Courtney is reporting to... none other than CORDELIA, who calls Poppy "young mistress." !!! What a season finale! What heartbreaking and shocking twists! We discuss Goliath's character and his and Tora's relationship in depth, and freak out and are generally sad. ❓

As Poppy showers, Tora receives a call. IT'S GOLIATH. Tora is in shock and asks him where he is. Goliath says he's in Malibu, but it's clear he's very far away and in a dingy jail cell. He looks out the window and sees the incoming dawn. We can all guess what that means. Tora wants to come get him, but all Goliath wants to do is say he's sorry. He is moved to learn that Tora came to get him that day that he called. We flashback to Tora's memory of how Goliath ratted him out and got him imprisoned in return for a clear record and wishful thinking. He visits Tora in jail and is completely oblivious and unrepentant. Years later, he comes to pick up Tora, very far removed from the clean civilian lawyer he said he would be. We discuss Goliath's personality and Tora and Goliath's relationship.

Poppy and Tora travel on the train, a heavy weapons bag between them until it conks Tora in the head. Poppy then nestles into Tora and continues with her memory of watching the GoPro footage in her helmet of the night before Agnes left. Agnes tells Robert that she's given Robert 6 years to figure "it" out, and that she's leaving Moonbright tomorrow, AND also that Robert can keep Poppy with him since she never wanted her anyway. Ouch. Ouch. And ouch. We discuss the case from various angles, trying to understand both Robert and Agnes' points of view. Poppy wakes up and we discover that she had been kidding back at Moonbright when she told Tora she was part of the mafia. Psyche! Tora argues with a train passenger and throws a shoe at him. They stop off at the BlueCa77y (COUGH COUGH) hotel where Tora bandages his wound while thinking of Poppy showering. ONE BED!

Turns out Agnes has another whole family! Poppy finds the conversation too hard to handle, and hangs up. Tora lets it go and dresses Poppy, telling her they're headed to a safe place - his hometown. He charms the security guard into letting his bag go, for which Poppy punishes him by sitting with the bag sandwiched between them. As she dozes, she recalls a memory of finding her helmet with a secret camera attached, and of hitting the play button... ❓

I'm a huge fan of Tim and Valerie's podcast, Whiskey with Witcher, so I'm thrilled that they agreed to come on and answer 21 fun questions about Netflix's Witcher Season 3! Let us know the answers to your questions as you listen!

Tora and Poppy "borrow" one of the Altan guards' car, having left their disposable car in a bush. Quincey is uber relieved at Ivan and Oyuu's presence. Tora and Poppy eat breakfast at a diner, where Tora finally confronts Poppy with the real question: Who is she, and why is everyone after her? To get the answer, Poppy calls..... HER MOM!!!

Quincey waits nervously for Tora and Poppy, only to notice several armed people ambushing them outside the elevator. Faced with no other choice, he revs his car and slams into them, just in time for Tora and Poppy to step innocently outside the elevator. He panics, wasting precious moments as more armed people swarm around them. Quincey once again uses the car as a weapon and then hightails it out of there, only to slow down like Granny to hear himself being praised by civilians. Tora asks Poppy to patch him up in a touching reversal of his earlier rejection, while Quincey struggles not to eye Poppy's butt. Tora plays up their sensuality in an attempt to get Quincey to move faster. ❓

Quincess hears a buzz and first think it's his phone, then a BOB. Nope, it's the chopper that has got Poppy paralyzed, about to get blown to bits, until...Tora to the rescue! He snipers the machine gun so that it blazes the heck out of there, and also manages to instantly vanish and swing back into Quincey's apartment. For all his efforts, he is rewarded with Poppy smacking him in the face with her lethal pillow. He packs for her while Poppy is glued to his back, and then we get the most beautiful image ever: big tough Tora who 5 seconds ago said he didn't love Poppy, on his knees, nesting his head in Poppy's chest, admitting to her he needs more time.

Poppy knows Tora is lying to her and slams her way out of the room. Tora thinks back to his memory of his mother after learning his father died to save her. We learn that a Congressman who was a descendant of Narin's last monarch was killed and Tora's dad took the fall for his mother. His mother tells Tora about the curse we know from Asura's Bride, a curse he now remembers when faced with Poppy's love. Outside, a rejected Poppy makes fun of Tora, but is frozen when a chopper flies close to the apartment, armed with a machine gun and evil intent.

Tora shocks Poppy and readers with his guitar playing and singing skills. He lets his feelings show and Poppy sees them, reaching to comfort him. He asks if Quincey told her what he does, and she says she does. Tora is incredulous that she is still there. So incredulous that he traps her underneath him and proceeds to kiss her senseless. Poppy thinks about Tora's potential punishment and begins to spiral and ask him random questions before bursting into tears. Tora thinks she is worried for herself, but then she drops the L bomb: "I love you, Tora." Tora immediately thinks of his impending doom and the pain his mother experienced, and withdraws. He then rejoins with cutting words and we are left there.

Quincey shows Poppy her room, which is also where Benjamin slept. Quincey avoids talking about the day's events, and we learn that today was actually not D-Day. So what is? He urges her to check on Tora, which Poppy does, tripping over Tora's weapons on the way. Tora is rude but Poppy is patient. She plays with Joe's guitar and notices her old strawberry hair tie, which Tora reclaims. His hyper-hearing notices Quincey eavesdropping at their wall, taking notes for his novels.

Gyu leaves and things get awkward in Quincey's apartment - for Quincey, at least. Every move is filled with innuendo and poor Quincey does not stop blushing. Quincey has also been tasked with the difficult job of telling Poppy that Tora is a hitman - but a "good one." Just as Quincey's limit is reached, Tora comes in with the bad news - he found Vincent's DVD... but not his. Quincey deals Poppy the heavy news that the penalty for his work is... death.

To get out of a sticky situation, Kieran decides to go for the jugular and tell Will and Kym that he and Lauren are... DATING. Kieran pretends to be bashful but isn't pretending when he says he couldn't forget her eyes. The two then taunt each other with increasingly embarrassing "admissions." They split up, and Will heads to his parent's comfortable home, where he is kind as ever to the maids. He braces himself, and enters a room, where a blurred word stuns him. ***

Ghoa is overcome with emotion upon hearing from Oyuun about how the meeting went. Quincey returns to his apartment where Poppy and Gyu are waiting for him expectantly. Quincey is at the beginning of an emotional freakout. Tora, meanwhile, has received pages from the notebook from Gyu, and knows where to look for Balthuman garbage. He finds the CD and destroys it, cutting off ties with Vincent as he does. But.... turns out he doesn't know where the second one is. Will he have to get the notebook off Gil to find out? ***

We find out that Scharch is Martin's son. Quincy and Tora try to prove that Scharch is working against the clan by showing a picture of Scharch with Mr. Lam, which causes Scharch to accidentally self-incriminate. Tora, holding a gun to Scharch's head, flashes back to Martin holding a gun to his own little child head, taunting him for thinking that Vincent is his father. We are heartbroken, but Tora holds on to the light that Poppy lit for him. The clan elders warn Vince to take care of the notebook. Tora promises to do so tonight and storms out rudely, leaving Quincy worried.

We learn more about Quincy's family tree, where Oyuun, his grandmother Khulan's sister, marries Vincent's Uncle Ivan. So a double marriage between the Altan and Balthuman families. Oyuun and Ivan do their best to subtly patronize Vincent, and we hear about the first Ivan Balthuman, who may come into play later. Quincy takes the momentous step of becoming clan leader. When Vincent protests that Quincy is too soft-hearted, he calls on Tora to demonstrate that he will be his right-hand man. Tora does this by shooting Yadori. While it's good riddance to bad trash, it also takes Tora right back to the violence he stepped out of. We flashback to Poppy and Gyu accidentally finding something interesting in Louise's SD card.

Word is out on the street - Poppy's numbered. Uh-oh. Vincent realizes he's been played and is furious at Tora. Scharch leads in Nicholas and Yadori to show Vincent proof that Tora is involved in the notebook. The geniuses are about to take out their photo when Quincy walks in, trying to save his friends. Martin protests and Quincy reminds him who he works for. Vincent shames Quincy, who still tries to protect Tora. But turns out Oyuun saves the day through a surprise visit. Why is she here? Is she connected to Poppy? Answers await!

Lauren begs Will to go on shift but Will refuses, so she spends her time in the office ruminating over the information she heard about her parents' driver. She goes to the archives to investigate. Kieran is there and wants to help her (definite guilt there). Hermann enters, praises Kieran, and searches for Lauren. Kieran is a dumb-dumb and gives away her location but luckily Hermann thins he's joking. Kieran tells her about March's investigation and invites her to investigate with him tomorrow at Greychapel. Kym and Will overhear them making plans and want to know what's going on, especially in light of their suspicions. So Kieran tells them that.... THEY'RE DATING. ***

Lauren contemplates their night in the closet and the information they learned, never noticing that someone is trailing her and snapping a picture. IS IT DYLAN??? At the office, Kieran is scoring points by sweetly serving coffee. Kym shamelessly flirts with him and irritates Will. Lauren arrives and cannot compute. March calls Will and Kym out to instruct them to try to uncover Lune's identity. Kym feels bad and suspects Lauren. Kieran overhears. ***

Lauren and Kieran realize they will have to wait until 3 am to leave the closet. They snipe at each other until Lauren realizes that Kieran too, planted a bug in the room and goes crazy. Surprise surprise! Lauren starts thinking about Kieran choking her, shakes it off, and tells him to stay away. Kieran feels bad. Lauren takes notes while Kieran does his best to be inconspicuous. They discuss the little they know and Lauren feels overwhelmed by her responsibility to defuse the potential tragedy. Kieran sees her anguish, struggles with himself, and then decides to talk to her. He promises that he will not endanger her friends, and apologizes for his behavior after the tower attack. Lauren doesn't say anything. At 3 am, they break free and part. Meanwhile in Lauren's room, Uncle Tristan surveys Lauren's work and wonders "What is your angle, Lauren?" ***

Lauren and Kiera discover that great minds think alike, and that they have more in common than they'd like to admit. They both creep next to the door to listen in on the meeting, hilariously pantomiming to each other. They learn about an immense shipment of nitroglyceride and a hideout for its storage. As the messenger leaves, Lauren spots a tattoo on his wrist, and also his sudden disappearance. Lauren and Kieran try to avoid incoming people, only to lock themselves in a room where none other than Lady A falls upon them, crying for her bebrusseled butler. They madly dash around, narrowly escaping when Lauren pulls them into a storage closet, whereupon there are promptly locked in. ***

A young lady knocks on a door, only to met by Brian's crazy eyes. She realizes that she DOES have the right house, only to watch a helmeted Poppy crash into the bushes. She calls for help and Tora geniously kidnaps her into the house, where Jacob and the thuglets are partying their little hearts out. Meg chastises Jacob while Gyu uncorrupts the SD card. Poppy role plays with her phone, and Tora gets a phone call from Quincy that makes him tell Gyu to squirrel Poppy away at Quincy's place. Tora and Quincy seem to both be heading towards Vincent, who is mad...

(Apologies for the audio quality) We flash back to Louise in the basement, watching Gil use the code name “Shane” to get rid of her body. Shane, of episode-5-hire-thug-to-break-into-Goliath's-apartment fame. We also learn that Gil and Scharch intercoursed in the basement with LOUISE'S BODY BAG RIGHT THERE. Louise tries to escape and then decides to play dead, using a rat for the stench. We hear her heartbreaking thoughts that maybe this time, Gil will change.  Back on the boat, boat rental lady tells the cops to report that they found Louise once Louise tells them that Tora and Poppy saved her life. She drives away while thinking that her baby didn't make it. We see that Louise has handed Tora something from her phone - an SD card. ***

Louise recovers in the boat with Poppy and Tora. Louise asks if they are dating but Poppy denies it. Lousie remembers Tora's tattoo and freaks out, because he is associated with the people who tried to kill her.  Tora stops Louise in her tracks, defending Poppy's honor. Poppy comforts Louise and tells her who she is, reassuring her that she isn't on Gil's side.  Tora gives Louise the purple dino as the cops pull up, seeking statements from them all. Implications for the future unknown. Louise remembers hiding in the bodybag and overhearing two lovers, Gil and…. Scharch. The joy.

Tora and Poppy leave the island and we learn that Tora used to drag race. Louise watches them leave in desperation. When Poppy takes photos of Tora to justify her “photoshoot” lie, she notices something off about a photo she took. They return to the island and find Louise, who in a daze, notices Tora's Balthuman tattoo.

If you're looking for an incredibly profound story about human failings, guilty, mental health, trauma, and broken relationships, this is the story for you. Does it help that it comes along with a heaping pile of spice? Yes, it does. Comedown Machine by Amapora is one of the best webtoons I've ever read, and Emily, Lily and I were so glad to discuss the major themes of Season 1: self-hatred, abuse, guilt, manipulation, and transformation. Keep an eye out for a video on Season 2!

Tora and Poppy are out on the seas and Poppy is acting all cute. When the seas get rough, Tora gets stressed and snaps at Poppy, who, turns out, is only trying to get him a life jacket. Whoops. They reach the island and search for Louise. Poppy trips and Tora is an idiot about periods.

Poppy decides to ignore all the whispers and rushes after Tora, who is hesitating outside the store, owned by retired police. Poppy comes to the rescue and barges in, all cheery. The woman at the counter is skeptical of Tora, but Poppy jumps to his defense with a contradictory but semi-plausible story. He grabs her hand and this time she is the one to release it. The woman isn't convinced but she rents them a boat nonetheless. Louise, meanwhile, is in dire straits on the island but can still joke. She clutches her stomach in pain and collapses. Let's hope help comes soon.

Poppy struggles to acknowledge her Daddy issues as they discuss the viability of their body-search plan. They arrive at Narin City Southern Pier and see a shady boat rental, which Tora whizzes past. Popy gets excited by the couples event and then resigns herself to waiting in the car, but is excited when Tora recruits her help.  So excited that she is very loud, and receives Tora's fingers shutting her lips down. A nearby couple is concerned, and Poppy ensures they know that she and Tora are a couple by grabbing his arm. Poppy excitedly looks for a boat rental, and Tora releases her arm, unleashing a torrent of judgmental whispers from passers-by.

Poppy and Tora screech their way into Ares Street. Duly guarded, Poppy receives a key from Tora but assures him that she will wait for him. Tora shows her his new tattoo on courage, one that Poppy inspired. They kiss, and Tora heads off to his mission.He pushes the frightened Patrick around, asking for the body. Meanwhile, a frightened Poppy is being harassed by a bunch of thugs surrounding the van. She tries to steel herself by repeating Tora's tattoo over and over. Tora comes in the van in his massive helmet, and Poppy, not knowing who he is, tases him repeatedly. Back at the motel, the lovebirds come out to see a bloody Patrick, claiming he told him everything.

Poppy asks Tora to help her investigate what happened to Louise. Tora tells her the extent of their interaction, and Poppy, determined to assuage Tora's guilt, decides that she must pursue this. The ghost prompts them along by emitting smoke and banging on the message that says “Go!” Preparing to go, Poppy comes out wearing Jacob's clothes, and Tora gives her safety warnings. In return for his help, Poppy promises to wear the maid outfit for a week - a great reward. We also have a long discussion on 00s fashion. ***

We review Poppy's very very very busy weekend, and slide straight into a very scary scene with Poppy in a car surrounded by menacing thugs. At the same time, we see a scrummy motel with some “lovebirds” and an impatient future lovebird interrupted by a tall man wearing a very hot helmet. We go back to earlier that evening, where Poppy asks Tora if he's serious about having killed Gil's wife, Louise. Tora is highly uncomfortable with the conversation and jumps out to the bathroom, but hands out an olive branch in the form of his papers.  They review Gil's calls, and Tora thinks Louise is a goner, but a few panels at the end of the episode make us think otherwise… ***

Bundin was in the area, so we decided to ask each other 10 fun #PurpleHyacinth questions! What did you answer for the questions? Let us know! #PurpleHyacinthWebtoon #Webtoon ***

Two men enter Lauren's room while we continue hearing March's lying words. Lauren recognizes Zephyr from the Circus Royale, attacks both with a toilet seat, and escapes.    Meanwhile Will and Kym work together to take out a sniper, with March NOT COVERING FOR THEM THAT LIAR and sneaking down to the hold, for what purposes we don't know. Kym is delighted to swing off the crow's nest, but when Will is hanging from a mere rope, can't bring herself to shoot the PS member cutting it, emotions overwhelming her.   Lauren dashes into an empty building to escape, where her past catches up to her, and images of the ATST and the factory all blend together to induce panic and very cinematic images. ***

Kym and Will ty to pretend that March didn't just straight up lie to them, and jump into the fight, where March is fighting along with the rest of them. Kym and Will exchange a sweet look during the fight, which makes us want lots more of them. Lauren thinks back to March's words in the cemetery and to Hecate warning her about a betrayal from someone close to her. We debate if March is the betrayer. Lauren has Will totally casually ask March some pointed questions. He keeps lying, inadvertently letting them know that the PS has more weapons shipments planned. Lauren hear two sets of footsteps coming down the stairs. Turns out her two guards are dead and someone is at her door. Who could it be? We speculate, and being the sick PH fans that we are, hope for a kidnapping. ***

Turns out Lauren is actually being cautious, and is holed up with a radio in a dingy room. She contemplates Kieran's worry for her, and makes a logical jump straight to the protectee.   We see that she suspects it's Dylan, but can't bring herself to ask.   She hears about March's supposed double agent status, and is immediately suspicious, reviewing their recent conversations in her mind.   The ship comes in, and turns out, they knew they were coming. The APD is under attack.    March fuddles around, and Lauren urges Kym to ask March a direct question. She does, and he LIES and breaks our hearts.  

The Phantom Scythe holds a very revealing meeting, in which we learn that they are aware of Lauren and Kieran's indisgressions.... but the leader has his own plans for them. Redcliff shares (part!) of his experience and plan for the royals with the PS, but, like LITERALLY everyone, we have no idea whose side he is on, aside for his own. The leader walks out with Apostle 4 and Messenger 7, with plans for Kym and Will, as well as our beloved Kieran. We do some speculation. At the dock, Tristan is there with Will and Kym, as well as March, who has infiltrated the PS and is now possibly a triple agent. And guess what? Nosybody Lauren is listening in as well. ***

William is with the Darcys, trying to comfort the, and brings up the possibility that the murder was staged. Meanwhile, Lauren, who is very good at following instructions, keep herself on the down low by walking through the town square, picking up a paper about last night's arrests. Oh, look, she isn't actually being followed! This time. She very cautiously goes straight to the cave, where Kieran begs her to hide. With his hand on her shoulder. Which Lauren moves TO HER HEART. Beneath the palace, a tortured Redcliff is willing to cooperate with the royals - but is he trustworthy? And whose plan is this anyway? Sandman, in his cell, begins to write Lauren a letter. Stay safe, Sandman! ***

We begin with the APD making arrests, and move to a broken Bella about to step out. Her plans are thwarted, though, by the APD, who mange to capture and tranquilize her. Tristan meets with Sandman in his cell and thanks him for his information. Bella, during interrogation, doesn't (yet) give away Kieran's identity, but does reveal that she was about to kill him. We worry about him! Next, we move on to Redcliff's opulent mansion, where a cloaked figure awaits Redcliff in a carriage and politely kidnaps him... and reveals herself to be the Queen. What's up her sleeve?

We are screaming puddles. On the bridge, Kieran admits to Lauren that Lauren gave him hope, but that he is scared that the Phantom Scythe will use Lauren to blackmail him. Lauren

In which all our predictions come true! We see Kieran in the mirror, flashing us back to his last mirror trauma, and seem to prepare for his assassination... only to invade Lauren's room instead. In wonderful contrast to all his previous experiences, Kieran turns to Lauren for help. They pay a nocturnal visit to Darcy, who is delighted to participate in her own kidnapping. We learn more of her motivations and beliefs and that she knew Bella was a PS assassin! This chapter was all we could have asked for! ***

The scene opens on a magnificent home. A piercing scream is heard. The household rushes to the source of the scream only to see a maid, horror-stricken, pointing at Darcy's bedroom. It is blood smeared, and a heart lies on the bed near a purple hyacinth. At the APD, Lauren and Will overhear the details of the murder. They are both horrified, and Will rushes out of the room. Over at Redcliff's mansion, Bella is giving Redcliff a well deserved beating. Redcliff takes an awfully long time to defend himself given the beating he is getting. At knife's point, he finally tells Bella that Darcy was a spy working for the Queen and that the leader had been the one to order her death. Redcliff then tells her that Darcy could never have loved her. Bella rushes out of the room and sobs at the balcony, completely devastated. Under the same starry night, Lauren walks towards Kieran on the bridge, her face grim. But it breaks into a smile as she congratulates him on failing his murder. She knows. ***

In honor of Blood Origin's release, we finally publish our interview with Witcher actor Chuey Okoye (filmed back in March!), talking about his acting career and his time on the Witcher set.

Things go full circle. Kieran and Lauren have a date at the very cafe where he first saw her. This time, Lauren is having a great time, and no lies are said. Their date is magnificent and we drool. And wonder if they are being watched. At the palace, the naive king is shocked, shocked I tell you, to learn that Redcliff is an apostle. The king suspects Stephan who confirms himself to be as a horrible a dad as we thought, and Dakan casts many side eyed glances. We doubt the queen as well. Dakan admonishes them for not listening to the people, and proposes his plan... which of course we don't get to hear. Kym and Lukas are released from the hospital into the loving arms of their friends, who joke and banter and generally act silly in the glowing sunlight. Kym's dad is hot and Lauren notices that Kieran is happy, and possibly stays up all night mulling him over. Meanwhile, poor Kieran goes from love and laughter to grimy darkness, and a mission to kill a royal spy... Who is it? ***

Dakan and Tristan talk about the operation and the PS mole. We debate. Dakan asks Lauren to be careful and we think she will try - for about five minutes.   Lauren sits in Hermann's office, anxious, when March comes in. They have a very red-filled conversation about the Phantom Scythe and Snapdragon, and we try to sus out March's angle. Lots of live detective work going on!   March is about to open up when of course, Hermann interrupts - but with good news! Lauren is reinstated as a detective!   At the end of the day, Lauren heads to the archive to tell Kieran the good news. Kieran is thrilled for her and grabs her out to celebrate. We love it! ***

Kym and Will have a sweet conversation and exchange sweet looks in the hospital, just before Blaire is poisoned and the APD conduct a two hour search for the killer.   A proud Kieran comes to check up on Lauren, and speculates as to whether Hermann or March is the mole. We speculate as well.    Meanwhile, Tristan is at the Devil's mine, and finds the weapons cache in a deep chasm. ***

Lauren, March and will encounter the messenger tousling with Blair. Will runs after the messenger only to discover it is none other than his brother Rafael. DRAMA.   At the hospital, detective Lauren interrogates Blair and builds her case to great success, garnering even Herman's approval. She not only gets him to admit his guilt but also discovers the location of the Phantom Scythe weapons cache.   Lauren relates all this to Kym and Will, and we wonder about March's identity as well as the "he's dead" line once more.   A nurse steps out of Blair's room and immediately a Code Blue is triggered. We get a glimpse of the nurse's eyes (and Soph's author note) and we know it's Bella. ***

Kym remembers good times with her sister Daena, and cries over Will's music box gift.   Lauren inspects Morgan's room and discovers there is more to her than she realized. She interrogates numerous people, using her lie-detecting skills to uncover people who she will have to return to later.   Despite some people's reticence, she manages to uncover Morgan's killer, only to dodge a bullet when going to his apartment.

Will visits Kym in the hospital while she is sleeping, brings her a music box, and shares his feelings. In the cave, Kieran suggests that Lauren wants to sleep with him, and even does an unacknowledged hair tuck! They agree to meet tomorrow. At the theater, Lauren gives Will a box of Thalia's possessions, and is about to tell him about Rafael when they are interrupted by March. They discover that the mirror is a door leading to a photograph development room. ***