Use the Falchion

Most Impactful for the franchise: Iron Man 1 (proving this might work and drastically changing the public opinion of a character) closely followed by Avengers 1 (proving this DOES work and destroying the box-office) and then Cap: Winter Soldier (helping everyone who doubted after IM3 and Thor 2 that this still works and the path ahead is solid). Most Impactful outside of the franchise: Black Panther ('nuff said) Best MCU film: I personally try to rank things by tiers, but if I have to pick one, I'd say Cap: Winter Soldier. Surprise, great characterization and fun new characters, great action and interesting theme. It also set the course for the rest of the Infinity Saga, with the writers and directors basically being handed the keys to the kingdom.

I saw it opening night and haven't seen it since unfortunately. Endgame was a buffet of a movie in all the best ways. It's not the best superhero movie or even the best MCU movie IMO, but it doesn't need to be. Endgame is the best finale a love-letter to everything that came before it, and in that sense it is a perfect movie. Could things have been done better? Of course. I don't personally like all the choices they made, but those are pretty minor quibbles. Overall this movie was the capstone the MCU deserved and needed. I worry a bit about the future of the MCU because we've been working towards this finale for 7 years more or less. It's a weird mix of excitement and fear, not really knowing where the road leads (in terms of the next big myth arc; we know about individual movies yet where that leads us is unknown at the moment). But In Feige We Trust.

I like both of these theories! Keep the crackpot full!

Mistborn Theories! Stormlight Theories!

So this is more of a question for the future, but when the Dark One podcast and tv show come out (I'm guessing around fall 2020), will Shardcast have weekly podcasts for this in addition to their other ones? Or will there be a separate podcast panel for this universe and Shardcast handles the overall series/season reviews? Just curious, but I also guess we'll have to wait for more information about the show too!

Sanderson is working super hard and super fast on this book! I wonder if that means that it's flowing a lot easier for him, if he's devoting more time to it (his creative writing class should be just about finished, right?), or if it's simply a shorter book (relatively speaking. I doubt any of the books except maybe Book 10 and maybe Book 9).

I don't dislike the Starsight cover. I think it's a good cover, but I think I actually liked the US (and UK!) Skyward one a little more. It felt more...realistic I guess? This one feels almost too cartoonish for me. And I personally was hoping for each book to have a catchphrase like how Skyward had "Claim the Stars," but that's on me, not the book. And who knows, it might have one, just not on the front cover. Overall, it's not my favorite Sanderson cover, but it doesn't need to be. If someone's buying this book it's because they (or someone they know) has read Skyward and enjoyed it. And I definitely did.

Teft, Skar, and Lyn are the most likely to die IMO. But I hope none of them do! I like them all too much.

The question I have today about this is: What do we want for Kaladin out of this relationship? Happiness, of course, but beyond that I think there might be a trend: Character development - those who want to see Kaladin grow in ways that may or may not push him towards the Fourth Ideal or just acceptance of his new status tend towards Jasnah. Work-life balance - Those who want to see Kaladin become...not less of a soldier/protector, but more than that - someone who gets to live the lives of those he protects - seem to drift towards Tarah. It makes sense, given that she's a big mystery in terms of Kaladin's army time. Companionship (in the sense that they will ALWAYS be with him) - Those who want Kaladin to just be happy with who he is and can complement his new life in all its stages might gravitate towards Syl. Due to how the KR work, Syl seemingly has to be within a certain radius of Kaladin in the physical realm (although there's a high chance I'm wrong here) and she's Kaladin's #1 cheerleader when it comes to him and happiness. "Opposites Attract" or the Zutara* Effect - Those who like the intimacy of the chasm scene, the great chemistry between the two, and the overall feelingness of their relationship choose Shallan. As stated before, I'm a Jasnadin fan. Kaladin's character growth is something we all want to see, and experiencing it with Jasnah is probably one of the least tragic ways to go about it (since if it is the whole "you can't save everyone" theme, the other major popular theory is that Lirin dies). It also gives us more Jasnah without explaining too much of her backstory. Granted, Jasnah learning to rule does that too, but learning about a more non-family-related...softer? warmer? side to our favorite Alethi queen could work as well. It lets us see more facets of Jasnah without having to explore her headspace too much and without the adoration or familial bonds from characters like Shallan or Dalinar. Tarah is an interesting case as I too would like to see a Kaladin who has a better, shall I say rhythm of life. But I don't think that'll be Kaladin's lot in life. Kaladin reminds me a little of the MCU's Captain America around the time of Age of Ultron and beyond. He's a soldier who gave up that chance of living a normal happy life; it doesn't mean he doesn't have friends or people to protect. It's just that he's focused on the big picture. Syl is the least likely of the currently potential three to happen, but might be the most rewarding if at the end Kaladin sacrifices himself and becomes a cognitive shadow. Actually, if the Heralds are like cognitive shadows, does that mean they can...form...bonds...with spren? I'm not saying I WANT to see human-spren relationships, but it would be a fun area to explore. Okay, maybe I am curious about it. Either way, assuming Kaladin doesn't somehow fly to Braise or lead an exodus to another planet or something, him taking the place of a Herald or becoming one and getting a happy ending with Syl would feel like a nice book-ends. I'm not gonna talk about Shallan because 1. There is nothing I can add to this discussion, and 2. She's married. Let's let her explore that life. Overall, Jasnah gives the most room for character development and characterization; Tarah has had the most foreshadowing (unless that Death Rattle about the tower, the crown, and the spear actually reflects Kaladin and Jasnah) and is the most likely; Syl gives the most...Cosmere-related answers? She gives a lot of book-ends IMO.

So the title is a little mislead, but I thought we could do a thing where we take a Cosmere quote and modify it for humor's sake. So "What's the most important step a man can take?" becomes "What's the most important soufflé a man can make?" or "What's the most important pie/cake/bread/pastry a man can bake?" or "What's the most important egg a man can break?" But the answer is always "The next one." What other quotes can you do this to?

I think Kaladin is one of the best people to send behind enemy lines if you're trying to start insurrections or rebellions. Making friends and alliances comes as naturally as breathing to Kaladin (or so it seems), and he's great at making any group a respectable fighting force with a little help and some time. Besides, most of Bridge 4 seems to be doing pretty good in terms of their own oaths and progression, so they can help out on the front lines while Kaladin goes around the back and starts rebellions there. In terms of stealth and missions of that sort however, you're absolutely right.

Who knows, it might still happen! My favorite unlikely theories were always unlikely due to their tinfoil/crackpot nature, but I've had this theory that Larkin are/were the Dawnshards, so there's that. Edit: I forgot to add that I think some of our main cast might end up with the Honorblades by the end of Book 5. Maybe. It's unlikely, but I like those types of theories!

That was a great read, but now I'm not sure I wanted to know about Kaladin at the end. Either way, it looks like Lirin and Hearthstone will be playing a larger role in the present time, and the book will start with a bang.

Hail Hydra -Collected Betabachah 1172, 10 seconds pre-death. Subject was a lighteyed politician, later found to have ties with the Sons of Honor.

This cracked me up way too much. Like a giant pile of strawberry jam. Too good!

Oathbringer: Odium: Give me your pain. Dalinar: Sure! Phew, thanks man! That's a load off my back.

Sunday is for non-Cosmere days, so that everyone can take a break from theorizing and just enjoy the story (edit: not to say that theorizing isn't enjoying the story...re-phrasing, I should say Sunday is to enjoy the ride and not worry about predicting the end of the road for non-Cosmere stuff...y;all get what I'm saying...).

Shallan is married. Whether we think that's a good choice or a bad one, I think we should let her explore that terrain for a while. But I do have a question - people who like Shalladin, who is your Number 2 pick for Kaladin if Shallan stays with Adolin? As an aside, I've vocally been a fan of Kaladin x Jasnah, but there was a theory either here or Reddit saying that the story of Fleet actually foretold Kaladin's fate, and that in Book 5 he'd die but stay as a cognitive shadow. Or something like that. If that happens, I'd totally support Kaladin and Syl getting together. But otherwise I'm on my Kaladin x Jasnah ship (at least until we learn more about Tarah).

Fair point on Dalinar and Navani. I'd count them as a little different, since they've already worked through most of their relationship issues - the problems they face are mostly outside of their marriage (and societal norms/customs), but fair point! And thanks for fact checking me on Adolin and Sadeas! While maybe discounting my idea about Sadeas being the main aggressor, it does validate the idea that Adolin and Sadeas' conflict has been an ongoing arc, and will continue to be so.

I totally forgot this last time, but one of my big theories was that Book 5 would end with the Highstorms dying out/Honor's investiture would be closed off from Roshar. Whether or not the Everstorm is still going I don't know. They'd have to find a new way to live for the time-skip, and then in Book 6 Lift (and potentially Renarin) would go on a journey to find a way to bring back the highstorms. I feel like it'd have more tie-ins to "the girl who stood up" but I'm not sure how yet.

I should clarify. As a Jasnadin person I could see Jasnah rolling her eyes. If it's Tarah, I'd imagine (from what little we know of here) a little more accepting and willing to go with the flow. Azure would be unfazed, and Shallan would - after getting over her embarrassment - join in and troll Kaladin.

I don't want to get into this fully, but as others have mentioned, your username belies evidence to oppose your fears. Also, Dalinar's actions at the end of OB kinda say otherwise. Probably. But is this really a problem? We've seen normal Radiants, we've seen unique Radiants. This would fall in the latter category. Or another way of looking at it is that this is Brandon's shortcut to letting many people revive blades that we already know are around...or...well, I'll save the last theory for a tinfoil one I don't think he'll ever be a "true" Radiant, but he could be an atypical one like Renarin and Lift. I think Sanderson plans to explore the problems that occur within marriage here. Sanderson's expressed annoyance with the idea that character (mostly superheroes but characters in general) never get married until the end, and if there's more they never stay married because the writers didn't know how to show the couple overcoming obstacles together. So if I was a betting man, I'd bet that this is the next challenge Adolin will have. I'm sure it will, but this arc is a slow-burn, paced out over 4-5 books. This arc didn't start at the murder of Sadeas - it started when Sadeas betrayed Dalinar. And it probably won't end until Book 5. So we might not have seen consequences yet, and they might not be the "dark torturous brooding" ones people thought they'd be before OB, but they will come. Fair point, a growing area for Adolin. I can only remember two instances where Adolin actually lost his temper: the first when yelling at Dalinar about his visions in public (anger born out of worry). The second his murder of Sadeas (which wasn't exactly unprovoked, give Sadeas had tried to murder them, betrayed them, gotten thousands of their men killed, attempted to undermine and humiliate them, and admitted to Adoline he'd do it again, and again, and again). Maybe you count his talks with Ialai, but again, not entirely sure. I mean, do you bring all the unnecessary baggage of your previous relations into your next one? Do you bring your ex's into your marriage? Why they're all ex's is something that pretty much everyone in-universe understands, but given everyone's reactions, it's not some horrendous thing (aside from cheating, which is, and Adolin is probably guilty of due to forgetfulness). And I get it, your points are sarcastic. You don't like Adolin. But Adolin isn't the most heinous character in the books, nor is he perfect. He's rich, a little entitled (however due to major societal shifts that's changing), but a genuinely good guy. Not perfect, but definitely not a Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Other Book 4 predictions...Rysn will show up somewhere interesting, we might finally see a Stone Shaman, maybe a skirmish between Bridge 4/Windrunners and the Skybreakers?

And now I feel like whoever Kaladin was...with...would probably be more amused by Syl's enthusiasm, regardless of whether Syl is audible or not.

Isolated I don't celebrate/ the joys found in pride./Excluded,/proud, I find joyous/celebration. Don't! I'm isolated. A cruddy ketek for a cruddy mood.

Inkspren feel like they'd be a wine to me. Like, blackberry wine or something. Honorspren would be a steak (what cut depends on the spren) Cryptics would be like those jellybeans from Harry Potter Cultivationspren would be broccoli or Brussel sprouts or some other leafy green vegetable that kids would need to eat but be sure to hate.