Postpartum (adjective) The period after childbirth [Post-Par-Tum : /ˌpōs(t)ˈpärdəm/] “Many women can experience postpartum side effects, such as depression” [SPOILERS, and MINOR spoilers for neon genesis evangelion] i essentially had this episode spoiled before i started the show. i went into the first episode knowing lem would be killed, and being fairly sure that shane would be the perpetrator, probably to both of their dismay. i even knew that it took place during the night, and that he would end up fleeing from an RV. but still, when the scene actually played out, i couldn’t hold myself back from crying. [i promise this is important] despite being very different shows, the structuring of neon genesis evangelion is comedically similar to the shield. in their first half, both of them flaunt their expression-filled characters, putting them on consequence-less missions that can sometimes feel like filler, but still manage to get you more and more attached to the cast. finding someone who didn’t somewhat like asuka, or didn’t feel any sympathy for shinji by episode 16 is extremely difficult, the same way it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t love seeing dutch succeed, or hate to see lem struggle morally by 5x1. the lack of consequences may make their adventures seem insignificant, but overtime, the stakes get higher and higher, and the envelope for where the show is willing to go is pushed further. at both of these shows halfway / ~60% points, something clearly changes. the subtle, darker themes of each show slowly become more prominent, until the episodes feel enveloped in them. the tone gets heavier and our characters feel less stable. once unimportant conflict used for banter becomes serious and impossible to ignore. the show begins to develop into what people know it as. when one notices this tone change is of course subjective, but 5x8, where the likeable protagonist becomes viewed by us (even just momentarily) as a manipulative monster, was where it completely hit for me, and i think where it hits for most people. but, most important, with a darker tone comes a more serious story, and with a more serious story comes consequences. the first time these consequences truly show, the first time the show completely commits itself to its new identity, is generally a few episodes after the reality of the new atmosphere completely sinks in, with evangelion’s being x18 and the shield’s being 5x11. i didn’t understand this going in. i had noticed the show had taken an obvious turn once this season had started, i’d noticed the dramatic tone shift in 5x8, and i still didn’t understand. i did not cry at lem’s death because it was sad, or well-acted, as much as it is both of those things. i cried because i realized what the show was doing. it begun slowly occurring to me throughout the episode, but it was only once shane began crying, looking over los angeles, that it hit me and a pit formed in my stomach. the show is committed now. this cast of characters i’ve grown to like, who’ve always managed to escape their inescapable scenarios, are now playing a completely different game with completely different rules. i cried because the metamorphosis from a carefree to dark was completed, and the shows true form had finally developed. although the quality of writing of both shows drastically improves once this creation is over, you come to miss the lightheartedness of how it used to be. when shane looked over the buildings of farmington, and cried telling lem about his new baby, i realized i was saying goodbye to the heart of this show, and i’m not just referring to lem: i’m referring to the compassion of the strike team and the way they always avoided trouble, the entertaining and mentor-like duo of dutch and claudette, the way they would have to work together despite their differences. how vic constantly teased dutch, shane and lem’s constant bickering. i cried because it hit me that i would never see any of these things again. with lem’s death, the birth of this show is truly complete, and with the show now truly developed, truly committed, we enter a new stage. Postpartum (adjective) The period after childbirth [Post-Par-Tum : /ˌpōs(t)ˈpärdəm/] “Many women can experience postpartum side effects, such as depression” ////////////////////// both 5x8 and this episode are easy top 12 - 10 of all time for me and are very likely going to be constantly changing in position for a few weeks. this is the episode that officially made me decide that, once i’m finished, this will no matter what be placed in my top 4 favorite shows. would also like to briefly say that this episodes title is “Postpartum”, not “Post Partum”. and if it were to be two words, it would be “Post-Partum”. who spelled this bro 😭 i’m not really sure what else to say, outside of thank you to the serialzd community for putting me on. my discord is shaww01 and if any of you need help i am always here. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT MY KITTENS!!!!!! ALSO SORRY TO MENTION BUT GO LIKE MY EVERY SHIELD EPISODE RANKED LIST 😼😼😼😼😼😼