I really Geeked out this episode

Multiverse, Earth 1, Earth 2, 52, it was a good day to be a Nerd.

So is that the Harison Wells of Earth 2 or a third Earth?

So some kind of War was mentioned, looks like Earth 2 might have had an alternate WWII.

Looks like Stein might be having Firestorm related issues.

I'm starting #MarkyMarkMartin

Silver St Cloud

A Batman love interest I never thought would make it into a Live Action adaptation.  Her playing in the fountain had me thinking of Ophelia from Hamlet.

I enjoyed the episode again, but I don't have a lot to say this week.  The Previews looks like Galavan is part of something bigger.

If they're gonna do more at Bruce's school I hope we see Eliot again, and maybe meet Roman Sionis.

I got more Batman Returns vibes this week.

Mothra Vs Godzilla makes a good Easter Movie

Which makes one wonder why I'm posting this during Halloween season?  Well it is a Monster movie, and while I've thought of this before it's now I felt compelled to blog on it.

First is the purely Superficial fact that it has a gigantic multicolored egg as a major plot point.

And the story has a Death and Rebirth theme to it.  One Mothra dies to live again through her offspring.

You're maybe thinking, doesn't all that apply to the original Mothra movie too?  Mostly they do, though the Death part is less literal.

But the key thing coming at it from a Christian perspective is that Godzilla as a villain of the movie could be seen a playing the role of The Serpent, and his Seed, thus a Genesis 3:15 tie in.

Mothra is very much the Messianic Archetype of the Toho Universe.

Majora's Mask speculation

I figure October is a good month to do a Majora's Mask post.

I watched Gaijin Goomba's 3 part video about Majora's Mask and Africa.  The first two parts were very good, like most of his videos.  But the third one about Majora himself felt like much more of a stretch, I'm afraid I don't really buy it.  I think a connection between Majora and Dionysus/Bacchus could make sense, Dionysus is frequently affiliated with such chaotic behavior, and via his connection to the stage with mask wearing as well.

I also enjoyed the Game Theory video about Link being Dead in Majora's Mask.  There is also a good counter video to that, which I lean towards.  But what interests me is while the Game Theory video was doing it in terms of Termina as a sort of Purgatory world, one could also argue it's all in Link's head during his dying moments.  Which is a genre I know a little bit about from what Brian Stableford discuses in his Afterward for The Vampire and The Devil's Son, published by BlackCoatPress.  His English Translation of Alexis Ponson du Terrail's La Baronne trépassée (1852).

I also can't help but be intrigued by the Stone Tower of Babel theory.

There are a lot of mythical themes in Majora's Mask.  The whole having 4 divine or semi divine beings at the four corners of the Earth is a common mythological motif.  One arguably included in The Bible in Revelation chapter 7 (which leads into Flat Earther arguments).

In Clock Town an annual festival is approaching.  I decided that since festivals are frequently based on the cycles of either the Sun or Moon, and Termina's Moon clearly isn't running on a normal cycle, to speculate on if this festival could be seen as linked to a Solstice or Equinox.

The three days over which the game takes place are days during which the daylight and nighttime hours are exactly even.  Now it's done that way for game play convenience, but still it does effectively make it very likely that these events are happening at an Equinox.

So next question is, is it Spring or Fall?  After you end the unnaturally prolonged winter on the Goron's Mountain there are clear references to it being spring there.  That doesn't necessarily prove anything about the seasons of the rest of the world, but thematically it does link the story of the game to Springtime.

The Roman Bacchanalia was in the Spring, as was the Athenian Urban Dionysia.

The speculation below is not at all stuff I think the designers had in mind, it's purely my own fun head canon.

As a Christian, Springtime festivals make me think of Passover, Purim and Easter.  A period of 3 days being relevant fits that even better.  And with there indeed being a theme of Death and rebirth involved, I figured why not have some fun with it.

After you beat the game is the Dawn of a New Day.  Which works very well in my mind to see as correlating to when Jesus Tomb was found empty early Sunday morning.

I believe that Sunday was April 9th, agreeing the traditional date of the early Eastern Church.  But the Western Church often believed that Sunday was March 25th, which is indeed about 3 days after the Spring Equinox.  Or some speculate originally that day was the Equinox but then somehow things got moved by a few days.

I support a Thursday Crucifixion model.  Which would place Jesus Death on The Cross at 3:00 in the Afternoon on the first day.  6:00 AM in the morning is when Pilate sentenced Jesus according to John 19:4.   However the theories of Wednesday proponents are perhaps most interesting here.  People who are Wednesday proponent while also believing days should start at Sunrise could easily see these three days as matching when Jesus was in the Tomb.

For traditional Catholics this makes the first day Holy Thursday, the second day Good Friday and the third day Holy Saturday.  But of course on Hebrew reckoning the days begin and end at Sunset not Sunrise. 

The Flash second season permier

I don't have much to say, it was good like I expected it to be.

The Flash may remains the most consistently good Superhero TV show, it all depends how Supergirl goes.  I'm not excited for the new CW spin off Green Arrow I expect will be better then last season but I'm not expecting much.

This set up on Zoom is exactly like how they set up Moriarty in the first episode of Sherlock.

I may still post on Gotham here more consistently because the Batman mythos interest me more.  But that The Flash is the better show I don't expect to change.

I hope this Garrick is linked to WWII (even if it's a different timeline WWII), I didn't like how Smallvile's JSA had no WWII connection.

The Last Laugh Reaction

Warning, this is a very Spoilery Reaction

I enjoyed this episode even more then the previous one.  I was quite impressed.

I want to comment on Theo Galavant.  The talk about his family having built the city and their legacy robbed has me more convinced then ever of a Court of Owls connection.  Not sure what it is but I think there certainly is one.

And by the end of the Episode I was definitely starting to get a David Xanatos vibe from the character.

And then there is Jerome.  

We suspected he could be a Red Herring from the start.  But then they started going all in on Jerome to start this season and we forgot that.  So that twist ending really hit me by surprise.  And the final ending shows it's not a waste, Jerome does play a role in how The Joker's legend begins.

My optimism from these last 2 episodes remains cautious.  I quite enjoyed how Season 1 started, and then it went down hill in the second half.

That said, there is a difference, one of the top issues I had with how Season 1 turned out did have it's warning signs from the start, the disjointedness of the plot.  But I held out hope because I'm fine with a season starting that way, it's how it brings things together for the end that matters, and Gotham did not do it nearly as well as True Blood Season 2 did.

Right now Season 2 of Gotham seems like it no longer has that problem.  A lot of the the Season 1 fluff is gone, what they cut isn't always what I'd have preferred them to cut out but still things are more focused now, and dropped characters can come back as long as they make sure they fit in right.

So I'm far more optimistic then I thought I would be at this point.  But come November I'll still be choosing Supergirl during the initial airing.

Dracula may have been a descendent of Antiochus Epiphanes

Wladisiaus Dragwlya, more commonly known as Vlad III Dracula, Vlad Tepes and Vlad The Impaler, was one of four sons of Vlad II Dracul, who had that surname because of his membership in the Order of the Dragon.

He is best known in the west as the inspiration for the name of Bram Stoker's infamous Vampire, Count Dracula. I agree with those who view that connection as in name only, but that's not for here. He is very important to the history of Eastern Europe regardless of the Vampire connection.

Much gets made on the Internet every now and then about claiming certain individuals are modern descendants of Vlad Tepes. From Robert Pattinson (which is funny because he played a vampire in the simultaneous most loved and hated vampire franchise of the past decade, haha) and Queen Elizabeth II of England, Scotland, North Ireland, Canada, Australia, and a bunch of other countries.

The British Monarchs can claim Draculesti Basarab descent starting with Edward VIII and George VI through their mother Mary of Teck. From what I've seen double checking the line in question, Mary of Teck seems to descend from Vlad II Dracul through Vlad IV Calugarul (The Monk), rather then Tepes.

I decided in light of all that to look into the ancestry of Vlad Dracula. The Vampire of Stoker's novel brags of descent from Attila The Hun, to me that's another inconsistency with the actual character of Tepes personality wise, still the possibly of Hunnic descent for Vlad exists, but that's not what most intrigues me.

Vlad II Dracul was the son of Mircea I who was the son of Radu I and Lady Calinica, also known as Ana Calina, Elisabetta Ana Calea, who was born Caliphie. Another son of Radu I was Dan I, founder of the House of Danesti who were rivals of Dracul and Dracula.

The ancestry of Radu I doesn't reveal much interesting, but Lady Calinica is a mystery. She outlived her husband by 56 years, was apparently born in 1367, and is described as a Byzantine Princess but without any elaboration on exactly how she fits into Byzantine Royalty.

John V Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor (on and off) from 1341-1391. Caliphie doesn't seem likely to be his daughter but possibly a granddaughter. His son Andronikos IV was born in 1348, and in 1355 married his wife Keratsa of Bulgaria. They had a son and two daughters, the two daughters nothing is known about,. John V's second son, Manuel II also had two daughters who's names are unknown. I think the odds are high that Caliphie is a descendant of John V, and if not almost certainly someone who shares grandparents with him.

Through Rita his grandmother John V is descended from the Hethumids of Cilician Armenia, who through Isabella of Armenia is descended from the Roupenians of Cilician Armenia. The Roupenians were a branch of the Bagratids of Armenia.  Isabelle also had descent from the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem who had their own connection to the Roupenians.

That's possibly not John V's only connection to the Roupenians, though the other is more disputed. He also descends from Stephen V of Hungry, the son of Bela IV of Hungry, the son of Andrew II of Hungry, the son of Agnes of Antioch, the daughter of Constance of Antioch, the daughter of Alice of Antioch. Who was the daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Morphia of Meliteni. Morphia was from Armenia and has possible descent from the Roupenians.

The Bagratid dynasty is famous for claiming descent from King David through the near relatives of Jesus of Nazareth. I've argued elsewhere that that claim could have more validity then people realize. But what's more interesting to me is the evidence (I've also discussed before) that the Bagratids are descended through the Arascids of Armenia and Parthia from the Seleucid Dynasty. The same dynasty Daniel 8 seems to link to The Antichrist via the person of Antiochus Epiphanes.

Baldwin II of Jerusalem was probably like most people born into French noble houses a descendant of Charlemagne, but I haven't been able to prove it yet, Wikipedia hasn't even taken his ancestry back to 1000 AD. A claim exists that he was a cousin of Baldwin I and Godfrey (who's descent from Charlemagne is well documented through two separate lines at least), but we have no way of knowing if that statement is true or just propaganda to support his taking the throne, and if true if the common ancestor in question would overlap with their descent from Charlemagne. It seems unlikely they were first cousins.

John V is also a descendant of Henry III of Barbant.  Who had descent from the counts of Flanders, Bolougne and Anjou.  As well as from Fredrick Barbarossa.

If Vlad Tepes is indeed a descendant of Charlemagne, then he is a descendant of the Seleucid dynasty, as I have documented Charlemagne's descent from the Seleucids.

For bonus reference I've decided to copy/paste below from material I saw on other sites about the genealogy of Vlad Tepes.

Windsor link to Vlad Dracula

Vlad the Impaler. Died 1507.

- Half brother of:

Vlad IV, known as Vlad the Monk. (1431 - 1495)

-Father of:

Radu IV Prince of Wallachia from (1495 – 1508)

- Father of:

Mircea the Shepherd. Prince of Wallachia. (1479 - 1560).

- Father of:

Princess Stanca Basarab of Wallachia. (1518 - 1601).

-Mother of:

Zamphira Logofat de Szazsebes. (Died 1602).

- Mother of:

Adam Racz de Galgo. (Living 1609).

- Father of:

Peter Racz de Galgo. (1583-1672).

- Father of:

Christina Racz de Galgo.

- Mother of:

Catherine (Katalin) Kuun de Osdola.

- Mother of:

Ágnes Kendeffy de Malmoviz (born 1727).

- Mother of:

Baron Gregor, Inczédy de Nagy-Várad (died 1816).

- Father of:

Baroness Ágnes Inczédy de Nagy-Várad (1788-1856).

- Mother of:

Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde (1812-1841).

- Mother of:

Francis, Duke of Teck. (1837–1900).

- Father of:

Princess Mary of Teck, later the Queen consort of King George V (1867-1953).

- Mother of:

George VI (1895 –1952).

- Father of:

Queen Elizabeth II (1926).

- Mother of:

Prince Charles (1948)

According to the books written by Radu R. Florescu and Raymond T. McNally

(DRACULA, PRINCE OF MANY FACES and IN SEARCH OF DRACULA, Dracula's tree comes

from:

1. *Basarab the Great (1310-1352)....

2. *unknown (research needed)

3. *Mircea the Great (a descendant of Basarab) ruled from 1386-1418.

Married: Princess Maria of the Hungarian noble family of Tolmay. Maria

also related to the Cilli family. Barbara Cilli married Sigmund of

Luxemburg(she was his second wife), who was influencial in helping the

offspring of Mircea. In fact, the Count of Sigmund had Vlad live at his court

3. Radu. His son was Dan II.

4. Mihail - Mircea's only legitimate son.

4. Alexandru Aldea, Prince of Moldavia

4. *Vlad II, Dracul (The Devil) Born: before 1395 in Wallachia

Prince of Wallachia 1436-42; 1443-47

Educated in the court of Sigmund I of Luxembourg.

Married Princess Cnejna in 1425. Cnejna was the sister of Prince

Ilias Bogdan II, father of Stephen the Great.

5. Mircea B: 1428 in Germany D: 1447 (buried alive)

5. Dracula, Vlad Tepes "The Impaler"

B: in Wallachia

Prince of Wallachia 1448, 1456-1462, 1476

Married (1) a Transylvanian noblewoman ... who later committed

suicide when their home was captured by enemy forces.

(2) Ilona Szilagy, relative of Matthius Corvinus, King

of Hungary.

5. Radu III, The Handsome (1438/9-1500)

Prince of Wallachia 1462-75

5. Mircea, son by another mistress.

5. Vlad (Mircea) the Monk (?-1496) Son of Catluna, later Mother

Euphrasim, an Abbess. Vlad the Monk had a son Mircea (?-1486)

6(1) Mihnea :the Bad"(son of Vlad the Impaler)

Prince of Wallachia 1508-1510

M: (1) Smaranda (2) Voica

Children of 2nd marriage were: Milos and Mircea II.

6(2) Vlad Dracula, claimant to the Wallachian throne. His son was

Ladislas Dracula.

6(2) Unknown son who died in about 1482, and lived with the Bishop of

Oradea (no heirs)

7 Milos (son of Mihnea "the Bad") nothing is known about him.

7 Mircea II (son of Mihnea "the Bad") Ruled 1509-1510

co-regent with his father in 1509

M: Maria Despina

7 Ladislas Dracula(Son of Vlad Dracula, gson of Vlad the Impaler)

M: a member of Vass de Czege Family. They had land in Banat

8 Alexandru II Mircea (Son of Mircea II) Ruled from 1574-1577.

M: Catherine Salvarezi

8 Peter the Lame, Prince of Moldavia (Son of Mircea II) 1574-1577

M: (1) Maria Amirali

(2) Irina the Gypsy

Heir = Stefanita 

8 Ladislas, Dracula de Sintesti (son of Ladislas Dracula)

(patent of nobility 1535)

M: Anna Vas de Crege

8 John Dracula

M: ?

(patent of nobility 1535)

9 Mihnea II "the Islamized" (son of Alexandru II Mircea) Ruled from

1577-1583

M: (1) Neaga (2) Voica

9 Stefanita (daughter of Peter the Lame)

10 Radu Mihnea (son of Mihnea II "the Islamized)

ruled intermittently 1611-1623 in Wallachia and Moldavia

M: Arghia Minetti

10 John Dracula de Band (Had land in Szekler) 

M: Anna (no heirs)

10 Daughter of George Dracula

M: Getzi family, which kept the Dracula name. Had land in Borgo

Pass

This line dies out in the 17th century...

11 Alexandru "the Cocoon" (?-1632) (son of Radu Mihnea) Ruled 1623-1627

as 

Prince of Wallachia. Prince of Moldavia 1629-30.

D: 1632 without known heirs

M: Ruxandra Beglitzi

11 Mihail, Radu Gioan Bey (?-1660),(son of Radu Mihnea) 

Prince of Wallachia 1658-59

End of male line of Dracula

From Wikipedia

An article in a Romanian newspaper in the 1950s acknowledged the death of the last direct male descendant of Radu Mihnea Voda, Dumitru Radulescu(Radu)- a church, artist painter. However, it is not widely known that female descendents of Radu Mihnea do in fact still live in Bucharest. In fact, the bloodline extends as far as a 10th generation, through the continuing linage of the sister of Dumitru Radu, Rozalia Matilda Radulescu (Radu). She married a pharmacist Gheorghe Moraru and had five children out of which only two survived, Matilda Virginia and Maria-Florica.

Have a fun October, Halloween is approaching.