https://blacknerdproblems.com/my-starfinder-character-and-i-share-notes-about-self-and-certainty/

A Brief Prelude

Transcribed from my RP Discord…

Me: Our decisions will have consequences and I am both terrified and excited for what comes next.
My GM: This has given me an idea.
Me: Did… did our decisions not have consequences before?
My GM: There are now new consequences.
Me: Oh no.
My GM: There were… less circumstances in the final encounter. Now there are more. Be brave. Be bold.
Me, internally and externally: %$#@.

A Brief History of Me and the Tabletops

Tabletops are where I explore my identities. Tabletops are where I take stock of who I am and what I have done. On the weeks where I felt more dejected, the promise of my alter ego’s adventure was usually more than enough to get me through. Because they never gave up. They may have died, but they never gave up.

I cannot tell you the names of every single PC (playable characters) I have ever played, but I can tell you at least one story about each. I can tell you every thought going through my head as I Random Number Generator-ed my avatar into existence even if I can’t remember the stat blocks. I can tell you the type of person that I was and the exact moment I stopped being that person and moved on. Sometimes, it was the dice telling me that this wasn’t meant to be. Sometimes, it was the dungeon’s master decree. Sometimes, it was me in a moment of quiet revelation. That last one happened a lot in my Starfinder campaign from when my first Skittermander PC sacrificed himself for refusing to rat out his crew and this type of pensive self-sacrifice happened often.

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Skittermanders are great. That is all.

A post shared by Mikkel Snyder (@chimericnotion) on Dec 19, 2019 at 4:15pm PST

There is a fundamental difference between the tabletop and the video game screen. I’m the type to become attached to any characters that represent me. I’m obsessed with this idea of the “persona,” the masks we wear and present to others. The visage we project in attempt to give us strength. We become Shepherd. We become our Guardian. But those PCs adhere to the rules of a distant realm, a developer with static options.

On the tabletop, there are rules, but those rules are easier to bend and break. The book is just a reference, and the world is collaborative and if you ask nicely enough, there can be some concessions, a trade off, a discussion. The lack of a graphic cards means that it also exists solely in our heads. You are your character: their voice, their conscience, their guide…until you’re not.

And like in any fiction, there is a point where the character becomes a separate entity from you, still closely entangled, but not quite the same anymore.

Some Time, Right Before The End…

After two and a half long years, my Starfinder campaign has reached the last act, the final confrontation with the Big Bag, the Grand Maw, intent on devouring this universe and leaving nothingness in its wake. In the moments before the final encounter kicks off, my character makes an uncharacteristic call for divine consultation. See, Pasatsat Multo (loving called Alt-Satsat) is a Maraquoi Witchwarper. The maraquoi are a species of macqueue looking alien with large bug eyes. The witchwarpers are spellcasters trained in piercing the veil of infinite realities, able to manipulate the environment and peer into the countless realities.

Alt-Satsat, as the name hinted at, is the alternate reality version of Satsat Mutlo, a Maraquoi Operative, who joined up with the Advent Calamity as a means to gain access to certain places he could not alone and had once listened to Baku’s 18 hour long podcast (a nod to Old Man Henderson). When news of a potential way to combat the Grand Maw by ascending to godhood presented himself, Satsat (and by extension me), took after his inspiration and took the gamble to try and become something greater. He (and I) knew that his specialized skill set of stabbing things would not be enough in the final battle. He had to become more, and alas he failed, and instead blazed a trail for Pasatsat to follow.

Alt-Satsat’s reality was consumed by the Grand Maw. Under Alt-Baku (who through vague narrative choices managed to survive up until the end of days), he trained his compound eyes to each of the realities the Grand Maw consumed, and has been bringing fragments of the doomed worlds to combat the evil that exists in this one. This world has a chance, ever so slightly, to be saved, and Alt-Satsat wants to take it.

Pasatsat Multo knows that gods are real in his universe, but he has not worshiped any. He has never really felt the need to, even when faced with oblivion. Still, in this moment of uncertainty, he calls out and instead finds me.

He asks, “Are you Ibra?”

Ibra is the god of balance, and I’m neither godly or balanced, I reply. No, I’m you. Or rather, a version of you.

He is confused, as he has the right to be.

“I do know why you’re here though. Like the previous version of yourself, you seek knowledge on how these things end,” I reply, “and funnily enough, I don’t know how things will end either.”

Alt-Satsats simmers, “how exactly is that funny?”

“Because you exist because I am so uncertain myself. You, Witchwarper, represent everything I wish I had. The ability to understand how the myriads of every which way unfolds, to see the alternate outcomes just before they happen, to change reality in the smallest ways. You’re a metaphor for catastrophic thinking, for seeing the worst outcomes, the greatest fears come to past, and you’re a metaphor for the deep breath that prevents me before spiraling out. Roleplaying you has given me such a strange courage. The bravery to ask a question and be ready for whatever the response is. To watch the waveform collapse. To remember to take stock of the moment and not just the written past and nebulous future. It’s funny, because even with the ability to see beyond the veil, the only thing certainty in your uncertainty and your only response is to push forward because that’s the only response that works.”

There is a pause. He chuckles, “I guess that is funny… But still, I want to know if there’s any respite for me and companions in the future.”

I break the bad news, “you were actually supposed to have a Beach Episode, but the Advent Calamity decided to beat the evil pirate instead.”

“What’s a beach episode?”

“For you, a chance to rest in some hot springs with your compatriots.”

“I think I’m glad I fought beside them. I think I’m glad I’m fighting beside them. I am certain of this.”

“I know.”

Take a (Deep) Breath

The conversation with myself in my head ends, and I’m back at the tabletop with my best friends. I remember to take a deep breath before confirming that Alt-Satsat got his divine pep talk and is ready for the next session: the final boss.

I laugh to myself because it’s funny how I sometimes forget to breathe. I get so caught up with all the variables, all of the pathways, all of the what-if’s and could-have-been’s, and sometimes forget the most natural thing: to breathe, to feel the air enter and exit the body, give the brain a chance to rest from parsing out an endless count of binary tree branches.

My PCs tend to be representations of my anxieties at a particular time, a test case for how to deal with anxiousness in the sandbox of a game. And Alt-Satsat is just the latest character to help process all the catastrophic thinking I was running in my head yesteryear. And I don’t know how the game or life will end, but I guess I do know one thing I’m certain about.

Our decisions will have consequences and I am both terrified and excited for what comes next.

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https://blacknerdproblems.com/my-hero-academia-recap-bright-future/

Season: 4 / Episode: 14

The raid against the Shie Hassaikai was successful. Deku tapped into One for All’s power at 100% thanks to Eri and managed to defeat Overhaul with a pocket healer/terrified girl tied to his back within nothing but their senpai’s cape. But the mission was successful, although it was not without its cost.

After a recap of Deku’s little fight clinic, we get a quick glimpse of Suneater saving Eraserhead and the hero groups slowly starting to regroup underground. Topside, Eri’s unable to properly control her power and we get one last glimpse to the twisted psychology that is Overhaul before Eri’s reverts Overhaul (and his henchmen) to his original states, giving Uravity a chance to apprehend him with the patented Gunhead Martial Arts. Eri’s reversion continues to plague Deku, but thankfully Eraserhead is able to stop him from getting erased from existence.

The battle’s over. And now the aftermath begins…

Heroes and villains are taken to their respective hospitals (which of course, there would be separate hospitals for heroes and villains). Wounds are triaged and damaged is assessed. Most everyone is relatively fine, spare Sir Nighteye who doesn’t have the brightest prognosis with the gaping hole in his midsection. But he seems more shocked about how Midoriya was able to twist the future. But by 9:15AM, the rescue is a confirmed success.

However, the day is still young, and Overhaul’s police escort has a run with the League of Villains who continue to prove they are every bit as dangerous as you’d expected an organization named the League of Villains would be. After completely destroying the convoy, the League of Villain and their leader Shigaraki proceed to dismember Overhaul so that he will never be able to use his quirk every again, and then steal the quirk erasing bullet for good measure. Talk about brutal.

Back at the raid site, the post-game statistics are compiled. Four houses were collateral damage, but thankfully only three civilians were injured, and even then only just scratches. Part of it was the fact it was a weekday morning in a residential area and part of it was because Deku took the fight to the goddamn skies and then back to the pit like the soon-to-be pro. Deku ignores the fact that his arm is messed up again, and we see that most of the heroes are en route to a healthy recovery. Eri’s a little feverish and under quarantine, but Eraserhead reassures Deku that she’s going to be taken care of. However, there is one bit of somber news.

As Deku is ushered to the basement level of the hospital, he is greeted by a surgeon, Recovery Girl and All Might who all inform him that Nighteye is not going to make it to the morning. What follows is a tearful reunion between Hero and Sidekick. Sir Nighteye and All Might makes amends and realizes the future is not as immutable as he once thought, and that all of the energy from the heroes’ intent to save Eri managed to twist fate. But Nighteye’s final act Nighteye tells his greatest pupil, Lemillion, that he’ll become a finer hero than anyone else and then telling everyone to smile, because other society would not have…

 

Watching My Hero Academia? Check out BNP’s other reviews of the series here.

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The post My Hero Academia Recap: Bright Future appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/understanding-medicare-part-c-and-what-it-covers/

What is Medicare Part C?

To understand Medicare Part C, commonly referred to as  Medicare Advantage, it is important to know that it is an alternative to Original  Medicare and is run by private insurance companies. Medicare Part C provides everything Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and  Part B (medical insurance) do, in addition to offering coverage for things like vision, dental, hearing, and prescription drugs. Medicare Part C is optional and there is no penalty for not signing up.

As long as you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, you can enroll in Medicare Part C. Just like enrolling in Parts A and B, signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan and/or a Medicare prescription drug plan can occur during a seven-month period that:

• Starts three months before the month you turn 65

• Includes the month you turn 65

• Ends three months after the month you turn 65 

If you join	Your coverage begins
During one of the 3 months before you turn 65	The first day of the month you turn 65
During the month you turn 65	The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan
During one of the 3 months after you turn 65	The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan

Each year, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There’s a fall Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or drop your plan and return to Medicare Part A and Part B. This period is called the Annual Election Period (AEP), and it runs from October 15 – December 7.

On the other hand, you may have waited to sign up for Medicare Part C if you were working for an employer when you turned 65 and had healthcare coverage through your job or union, or through your spouse’s job. This would allow you to enroll in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which is 63 days after the loss of employer healthcare coverage.

Who is Eligible for Medicare Part C?

Any Medicare beneficiary, regardless of age, can purchase Medicare Part C. However, you must be already enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in order to be eligible for Medicare Part C. Additionally, you must reside within the service area of the Medicare Advantage plan you want.

Here are the criteria for Medicare Part C eligibility:

• You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and B. Many people think they can drop Part B if they enroll in a Medicare Part C plan; however, this is wrong. If you drop Part B, you will immediately be kicked out of your Part C plan.

• You need to live in the plan’s service area. This Medicare Part C eligibility will be based on the address that you have on file with Social Security. You must choose a plan that operates in that same county. Some plans will be specific to only one or two counties, while others might span the whole state.
• You must not have end-stage renal disease. This is the only medical question on the Part C application.

Note that Medicare Advantage plans have election periods. This means that you can enroll in the plan during your Initial Enrollment Period or during the Annual Election Period in the fall. There are also certain Special Election Periods  for certain circumstances like moving out of state and losing your plan. In this scenario, you would be granted a SEP to enroll in a plan mid-year in your new state.

Types of Medicare Part C Plans

There are three plans associated with Medicare Advantage. They are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans.

With HMOs, a primary care doctor in a network is chosen by you. That doctor will be responsible for your care and give you referrals to see a specialist.

PPOs have network and out-of-network doctors that you can see and facilities you can use, often without a referral.

A PFFS plan determines whether it will accept Medicare insurance, how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers and hospitals, as well as how much you must pay when you get care. This plan does not require you to choose a primary care physician and you do not need a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist.

	HMO	PPO	PFFS
Primary doctor	All of the doctors are in a network and your primary doctor is chosen by you. Doctor referral to a specialist is required.	Network and out-of-network doctors you can use without a referral	No requirement to choose a primary doctor. No referral needed to see a specialist.
Out-of-pocket costs	Minimal as you are using doctors in a specific network.	Higher as you have more choices of providers. You can see a doctor inside or outside your network, but if you stay inside your network, you will pay less.	Depends on whether the provider accepts your insurance. As a result, you will need to get written acceptance before each service or risk paying the bill in full.
Emergency coverage outside the U.S.	Yes, limited coverage	Yes, limited coverage	Yes, limited coverage

 

Medicare Part C Costs

The extra coverage provided by Medicare Part C is good, but it does come with extra costs. You can’t opt out of Medicare Part A and Part B, so keep in mind that if you decide to enroll in Medicare Part C, you must pay for it and continue paying the Part B premium.

Medicare Part C premiums vary depending on the type of plan and the state you live in. The average monthly premiums are usually lower than what you would pay for Medicare Part B. However, you still have to pay your annual deductible, copayments, and coinsurance for your Part C plan.

Each year, plans establish the amounts they charge for premiums, deductibles, and services. Only some Medicare Advantage plans have an annual deductible, in addition to the standard Part B deductible. Plans that include prescription drug coverage may charge another deductible for drug coverage.

Copayments are for specific services such as doctor visits. Usually copays are a flat dollar fee. Some types of plans charge higher copays to see providers out of your network.

Each Part C plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services including whether you need a referral to see a specialist or have to go to only doctors that belong to the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care.

Keep in mind that these rules can change each year. However, what you pay may change only once a year – on January 1. To learn more about Medicare, head over to Medicare.gov. To learn about Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Prescription Drug plans, request a free quote.

https://nerdist.com/article/best-hugs-movies-tv-national-hugging-day/

Happy National Hugging Day! This completely made-up holiday (aren’t they all made up anyway?) is all about wrapping your arms around someone to spread joy, give comfort, show support, or celebrate something incredible. When it comes to TV and film, hugs are a powerful medium to convey strong emotions and signal to the audience that two or more characters have a profound connection with each other.

This method works for pretty much any story, even those in genre that sometimes feature sci-fi or fantasy elements. A well-placed and needed hug is a grounding force that is relatable for pretty much every viewer because we have all benefited from a wonderful hug. It’s hard to not feel something in the pit of your stomach when these embraces happen – even if you aren’t personally into hugs.

There are countless TV and film hugs in existence, but there’s something about these hugs that will really give you an array of feels:

Carol & Daryl

via GIPHY

The Walking Dead may miss the mark on some things but the show’s emotionally-charged reunion hugs are always on point. The zombie apocalypse series ushered in its fifth season with Carol’s destruction of Terminus. The previously banished group member revealed herself near the end of the episode, causing a surprising wave of emotion to come over her close friend Daryl.

He ran over and quickly scooped Carol into his arms for a warm embrace. Daryl briefly breaks away to reveal teary eyes before laying his head softly on her shoulder. Ahhh, the feels! Years later, it’s still one of the most memorable Walking Dead scenes.

Sansa & Jon

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In Game of Thrones, Ygritte told Jon Snow that he knows nothing, but that’s not true. The guy knows how to give some excellent hugs. One of his best hugs was with Sansa Stark, the not-really-half-sister whom he didn’t get along with at the beginning of the series.

Sansa and Jon’s years of separation, trauma, and betrayal along with a fear that every Stark was dead pushed all previous feelings aside when they saw each other. There was only happiness and relief to see another family member.

Tenth Doctor & Sarah Jane

The Tenth Doctor is the most hugging and feels-having incarnation ever. So, it’s no surprise that he is one half of one of the best Doctor Who hugs. He’s reunited with the incomparable Sarah Jane, who hadn’t seen in him half a dozen regenerations.

After finishing a mission together, The Doctor says goodbye to his Sarah Jane and gives her a big hug before taking off in the TARDIS. David Tennant and Elisabeth Sladen deliver the moment with absolute perfection. It’s a lovely bridge between the Classic and Modern eras of the enduring series and hits even harder considering that Sladen died in 2011.

Rocky & Adonis

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Rocky’s quiet existence changed unexpectedly when Apollo Creed’s son Adonis appeared in his life. The pair built not only a working relationship, but a father-son bond along the way. So, when Adonis and Rocky embrace each other right after the final round bell rings during the Conlan fight, it’s clear that this moment is so much bigger than who wins the title.

It’s about Rocky finding life again in the boxing world and beyond as he guides his deceased best friend’s son towards greatness. And Adonis comes into his destiny as a legit fighter worthy of carrying on the Creed legacy on top of taking care of Rocky during his treatment. They not only complete the fight but they also complete each other.

The Stranger Things crew

The final minutes of Stranger Things 3 are some of saddest scenes in the entire series so far.  The show shocked fans by revealing that Will’s family and Eleven were leaving Hawkins, Indiana to start a new life.

Watching the kids all hug and say their goodbyes is sad for so many reasons. There are a lot of relationships being shifted in this moment—Will and his buddies, Mike and El, Max and El (really, Eleven with everyone), and Nancy and Jonathan—and its going to change these kids in major ways.

It’s a bittersweet reminder of our own childhoods and how we didn’t realize that there would be a final day to us going outside to ride bikes with friends, playing at the park, kissing our first love, or hanging out at arcade on Saturday. And Hopper’s voice reading his letter to El makes it even more emotional.

Rocky & Creed

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Who doesn’t love to see Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed go in for an awkward hug during a training montage?  This Rocky 3 moment is funny, cheesy, and shows how their relationship progressed from being rivals to the two best friends in the boxing world.

The franchise didn’t know it but this scene parallels perfectly with Rocky training Apollo’s son Adonis, especially when they hit the punching bag together.

Bellamy & Clarke

Does anyone on TV hug more than Bellamy and Clarke? The 100‘s loyal fandom has shipped this pair for many years and it’s easy to see why they love Bellarke.

Clarke and Bellamy have more than a handful of loving embraces over six seasons and will likely hug (and maybe kiss) at least once more during the show’s upcoming final season. Until then, a throwback hug from season two can be everyone’s happy fuel.

E.T. & Elliott

We all knew that E.T. would have to go home, but we didn’t know it would be such a sad goodbye. The friendly alien and Elliott bid each other a tearful farewell before E.T. wraps him up in a warm (and kinda long) hug.

The hug is sweet enough but the sweeping music is what really hits you in the face with all the feelings. Thank you John Williams for destroying us all.

Iceman & Maverick

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It’s always awesome when competitors become comrades. Maverick and Iceman’s final fight was filled with uncertainty because of the former’s lack of confidence but they stick together and come out on top of a dangerous situation.

The pair touch back down and give each other the most triumphant of hugs before Iceman says his classic line to Maverick—“You can be my wingman anytime!” The best part is, this duo is reuniting onscreen again in Top Gun: Maverick this year.

Buffy & Angel

Why does this scene still hurt in 2020? Buffy had to make one of the worst decisions ever when she had to kill her love Angel. She gives him a hug, kiss, and some final loving words before stabbing him through the chest.

It’s certainly not a hug that anyone wants but it was effective and made sense in the story. Love hurts.

Samwise & Frodo

What do you need right before your impending demise? How about a hug and kind words? Lord of the Rings besties Frodo and Sam hold each in an exhausted and melancholy way as they wait for what they believe are their final moments.

Everything about this scene is perfection: Sam’s emotions over Rosie, Frodo saying he’s glad to be in the midst of fire with Sam, and a happy ending with Gandalf sweeping in to save the hobbit pals.

Han, Luke & Leia

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This joyous Star Wars hug from A New Hope should be played on a loop. Luke runs to hug Leia, Han runs up to hug Luke, Han kinda smacks Luke in the face, and then Leia gets in between them for a group snuggle.

There may always be some kind of star war going on, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for a happy hug!

Tony & Peter

Tony finally reciprocated the hug that Peter Parker awkwardly thought he was going to get in the car that one time, and its the best. It was Tony’s first time seeing Peter after he got dusted in Infinity War and his love for the kid couldn’t be contained. Peter’s talking 1,000 words per minute but Tony reels him in for a hug anyway. You can feel all five years of Tony’s pain and emotion and suddenly there is dust in your eye.

Jenny & Forrest Gump

Jenny’s life was tumultuous but one thing was always good to her: Forrest’s unconditional love. His unexpected reunion with Jenny at the “March on the Pentagon” rally is one of the most wonderful moments in Forrest Gump.

Watching Forrest dive into Washington D.C.’s Reflecting Pool in full uniform to meet a hippie Jenny almost erases all the times she broke his heart.

Dion, Mark & Nicole

Raising a curious kid with super powers is no easy task. It’s even harder when you discover deeper truths about your presumably deceased spouse Mark and his best friend. Raising Dion took fans on a twisty trip through the eyes of the young titular hero and his mom Nicole with an engaging story leading to one sentimental moment.

They are briefly “reunited” with Mark for a family hug. It’s emotional, yet hopeful as Dion vows to find a way to bring his father back before his image disappears.

Lito & Hernando

Sense8‘s time was far too short but it gave fans so many rich relationships. There are a ton of fabulous hugs in this series but one of the best is Lito & Hernando’s passionate hug and kiss during PRIDE.

It was touching to watch Lito, an actor who finally felt free to publicly declare that is is a gay man, bring his partner Hernando onstage in front on thousands of people and openly show him affection.

The moment is so freeing and validating for the character but surely for many fans watching who may not be famous actors but were not comfortable or didn’t feel safe enough to be their full selves in front of the world.

Dean & Sam

The Winchester brothers are big-time huggers. Supernatural in is the final stretch of its epic 15 season run so there are far too many great Dean & Sam hugs to pick just one.

Thankfully, YouTube channel Wayward One has complied a great list of the creature hunters best hugs. The order is up for anyone’s interpretation but its always touching to see guys subvert stupid stereotypes about it being “unmanly” to hug. Hugs are for everyone!

Hermione & Harry

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Hermione and Ron may have made the eventual romantic connection but her friendship with Harry is just as awesome. They have hugged quite a bit over the years but there’s no hug quite like Hermione running to greet her bestie in The Philosopher’s Stone.

It’s joyous, adorable, and a reminder of how much these magical kids have grown since this movie dropped nearly 20 years ago.

Lila, Ruth & Bo

Fast Color is a unique story about three generations of super-powered Black women and girls. There is a lot of action, heart, and, yes, a couple of hugs in the mix.

The best one comes in the final scene when Bo offers herself to the scientists who were after her and her daughter Ruth and  holding her granddaughter Lila hostage.

Lila’s tearful embrace towards Bo before running into the arms of her mom caps off this brilliant saga of power, reconciliation, love, and sacrifice.

Red & Andy

The Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest friendship films of all-time. It’s not an overly sentimental story but rather the natural progression of a bond over time between a framed man and someone who offered him friendship during the most dire season of his life.

Red and Andy’s reunion and hug in the final moments is the perfect happy ending after years of abuse, pain, and hard times in prison. The camera is actually moving away from them as they embrace, but fans don’t need to see their faces to feel the impact of this scene. It’s clear that they are happy and ready to spend the rest of their lives in paradise…together.

Mulan & Fa Zhou

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Mulan certainly brought honor to her family by taking her father’s place in war. She brought gifts back to Fa Zhou in hopes that he would be proud of her accomplishments. He places them aside and bends down to give her a hug.

Her father says the greatest gift and honor of all is having her as his daughter. Awwww.

Spock & Uhura

Spock and Uhura’s romantic relationship was a welcome element to the 2009 Star Trek film. Uhura brings him in for a tender hug after he loses his mother and his home planet.

Spock initially has a stoic expression when Uhura puts her hands on him but he briefly melts into her hug before asking her to make sure his comrades continue to perform admirably. If there was ever a time to be “emotionally compromised,” it is during this moment.

Tyrone & Tandy

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The Cloak & Dagger duo gave fans two layered and complex teen superheroes. Tyrone and Tandy were infamous for arguing and making mistakes as they tried to figure out their complicated regular and hero lives but they were undoubtedly each other’s anchors.

They initially couldn’t come in close proximity without their powers repelling, which made it even more sweet when they were finally able to hug. That means every single time they embrace each other is the greatest Ty and Tandy moment.

Honorable Mention: Will & Uncle Phil 

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air doesn’t fall into the geek/nerd/sci-fi realm but it’s impossible to have a National Hugging Day list and not include this gem of a hug. It is perhaps the greatest TV embrace of all-time and will make every human cry.

Will’s feigned indifference over his father leaving him once again quickly flows to anger, confusion, and eventually pain as he parses through his heartbreak in front of Uncle Phil.

The “Why don’t he want me, ,man? ” line followed by Uncle Phil’s fatherly embrace is the most memorable moment from the show and still touches the hearts of fans over 25 years later.

Honorable Mention: Blanca & Damon

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The groundbreaking FX series Pose has picked up where documentaries like Paris is Burning left off by exploring ’80s and ’90s ball culture. As Blanca expertly explains to Damon, balls are a gathering and celebration of those (specifically LGBTQ people of color) who are not welcomed nor celebrated anywhere else.

The people in the community formed houses aka chosen families dress up and walk in different categories in hopes of snagging trophies and securing legacy. Damon, a gay teen discarded by his parents, is taken in by Blanca, a trans woman whose HIV diagnosis pushed her towards building a legendary house.

She pushes him to his dance dreams and he eventually travels the world. But, when Blanca is hospitalized, her baby boy wastes no time surprising her at the hospital with a big hug.

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Hugs are an essential part of the human experience. They give us hope in the shadow of fear, love in the midst of heartache, and an additional boost of joy and confidence. A hug is a greeting, a goodbye, a sermon, and a love letter depending on when they happen. This is why they are so prevalent in pop culture pieces. Today is a great day to ask a loved one for a hug or dish one out to someone you adore (just make sure you ask first!).

If you haven’t passed out from the overflow of feelings, let us know your favorite TV and film hugs in genre.

Featured Image: Gene Page/AMC

The post 26 Pop Culture Hugs to Celebrate National Hugging Day appeared first on Nerdist.