#and also problematic out the wazoo

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ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

THIS IS NOT A DRILL

GONG JUN SUGAR BABY UNIVERSE OFFICIALLY ON VIKI!

Come one, come all QL Corner to the Utter Insanity of post censorship, but already shot CBL at its height!

Come for Gong Jun Sugar Baby, stay for Daddy Body Guard, Artful Dodger and Femme Fake Boyfriend…

(Now who do I speak to at Viki regarding Like Love…)

Run don’t walk to the show that must be SEEN to be Believed…

[overobsessedfanboy23]

My Opinions on Every GX Ship

There is an absolute fuck ton of ships from this show since it has a big cast and is one of the older shows and there are some characters I absolutely will not ship with anyone. So I’m going to be excluding some ships, including some potentially popular ones, to avoid repeating myself. Even after excluding quite a few however, there are a ton of ships so keep that in mind before you click read more. The ships I’ll be excluding are as follows:

-Any Asuka ship. I’m pretty dead set on her being ace/aro.

-Any teacher/student or just adult/minor ship. I don’t think I need to explain this one.

-Any Supreme King ship. Because I just can’t get into that. The Supreme King in my mind is Judai after having a severe mental breakdown, he’s not his own character.

-Any ships with a huge age gap. (Ie: most Rei ships)

-Any ships involving manga or Tag Force only characters because I’ve never read the manga or played Tag Force. I’ve only seen the anime.

-Any incestual ship. I’m just not giving them the time of day this time.

-Any beastiality ships. Because those exist apparently.

-Most Amon ships because my reasoning for disliking most of them is just “x character deserves better than this canon abuser.” so any ships where that is my only thing to say about it are disqualified for the sake of avoiding repeating myself.

I might also drop some lesser known or lesser talked about ships if I have nothing to say about them. Also, as usual, I am not attacking any shippers when I diss the ships in question. You are perfectly valid to ship any of these pairings for any reason as long as you’re not hurting anyone. So now, let's begin.

Absquatulateshipping (Franz x Pegasus)

Franz is the guy who stole Ra in that episode and he’s one of Pegasus’s employees so there would be a power imbalance. Plus that Ra episode was one of my least favourites so I can’t get into this one.

Acceptanceshipping (Saiou x Misawa)

Yeah, this one’s understandable. Power imbalance out the wazoo, of course, since for the bulk of these two knowing about each other, Misawa was a brainwashed member of Saiou’s cult but as an intentionally problematic ship, it’s valid.

Achievedshipping (Jim Cook x Ryo)

I can't really see the connection here. Nothing against it though.

Afflictionshipping (Ryo x Yusuke x Judai)

I really like both of them with Ryo but Judai doesn’t interact enough with or have an interesting enough dynamic with Yusuke for me to care for that combination specifically. Not a bad trio though.

Afraidshipping (Judai x Iwamaru)

Iwamaru is such a minor character I had to look up who he is so he clearly didn’t leave an impression on me. So I can’t really justify shipping Judai with him over his far more appealing ships.

Aiboushipping (Judai x Winged Kuriboh)

Okay, this is the first ship I have to say I actively dislike. Winged Kuriboh comes off way more like a pet to Judai than a romantic partner so this ship disgusts me.

Aidshipping (Judai x Johan x Edo)

I love all three of these characters and Judai’s bonds with them are pretty well established and interesting. Edo and Johan didn’t directly meet face to face in the series but they could post canon and I imagine they’d get along. Hell, they’d probably hit it off well since they both have deep connections with their decks. So this ship gets my seal of approval. Can’t believe I never thought of it before now honestly. I like it a lot.

Alloyshipping (Jim Cook x Edo)

I don’t recall these two ever meeting (Jim was dead before Edo’s involvement in the Supreme King arc) and I’m not really sure what they would have to talk about. So I don’t really care for it but I’m not against it.

Altershipping (Kenzan x Sorano)

Another minor character who only appears briefly in season 4 but he and Kenzan were implied to have been good friends so I understand it.

Amuletshipping (Fubuki x Judai x Sara)

Sara’s a one off character so this connection always seemed really flimsy to me so I could never get behind it. Maybe if Sara had appeared again and we saw what her connection with Fubuki was I could understand that pair but I cannot get behind her and Judai whatsoever since I headcanon Judai as gay.

Angelshipping (Manjome x Sho)

I think these two are a classic case of “these two fighting over girls was secretly just them trying to impress each other.” Or at least that would be more fun. So I enjoy this ship in that context. It’s not quite a favourite though.

Anikishipping (Judai x Sho)

I have only ever and can only ever see these two as brotherly since Sho canonically calls him “big bro.” So I can’t get into this at all.

Annoyingshipping (Manjome x Ojama Yellow)

Oh my god, this ship was beta Aiball all this time-

Except I love Ai and don’t like the Ojamas. I don’t hate them, they’re just… there for me. Also, the Ojamas all call Manjome “big bro” like Sho and Kenzan do to Judai so I see this as a more familial relationship. In fact, Manjome seeing the Ojamas as annoying little brother figures almost certainly feels implied to me.

Antidisestablishmentarianismshipping (Judai x Motegi)

Motegi seemed stoned the entire time he was on screen so a ship involving him having a crackhead ship name makes sense. Can’t say I care for the ship though since he’s so minor.

Antiheroshipping (Ryo x Edo x Judai)

Don’t really care for Ryo/Edo for reasons I’ll get to. As for the Judai ships, they could work. I can maybe like this as a vee but as a throuple, it’s not my thing at all.

Antiqueshipping (Chronos x Camula)

Nope. This one’s just creepy and not in an interesting way. Shoutout to this duel for being the first time Chronos was ever shown as something other than a nuisance though.

Aoishipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Manjome)

I don’t think I’ve ever considered Ryo/Manjome. I think from Fubuki’s point of view, this would work out really well since he’s close to both Ryo and Manjome, and they’d both bring different energies to the table in his relationships with them. So it’s a fun idea.

Attentionshipping (Hell Kaiser Ryo x Misawa)

Not sure why this is specifically Hell Kaiser. All the others were just Ryo and I don’t think these two ever duelled before or after Ryo’s transformation but okay. This doesn’t seem like it’s shipped at all and I agree. Not my thing.

Attractionshipping (Judai x Johan x Sho)

Again, I see Sho’s dynamic with Judai as purely brotherly so I can’t get behind this. Even if I didn’t though, Sho seems like he’d be too insecure to consider a poly relationship. That's not Sho slander by the way, poly relationships just aren't for everyone.

Australiashipping (Jim Cook x Hayato)

Okay, this one’s just funny. They’ve never met and the basis for the ship is really flimsy but it’s funny so it gets a pass. I hope these two meet and bond over… Australian things. Like… dying in the 30+ degree heat every summer.

Backboneshipping (Kenzan x Manjome x Misawa)

I don’t really see the connection between these three. So it’s a nah.

Beastshipping (Fubuki x Kenzan)

Again, don’t see the connection.

Bickershipping (Kenzan x Manjome)

I can’t find anything on this ship, surprising for a two person ship between two major characters but oh well. It doesn’t particularly appeal to me anyways.

Bluntshipping (Ryo x Manjome x Misawa)

This just looks like a random assortment of characters from Judai’s friend group or his friend group adjacent to me. So it doesn’t really appeal to me.

Bondshipping (Johan x Yubel)

Okay so… I have some fanfics which can be considered to be an unofficial series where Judai is dating and travelling with both Johan and Yubel, leading to them inevitably interacting a bit. It’s mostly just in support of Judai but in the most recent addition to this unofficial series, Johan and Yubel have an admittedly fun dynamic and Judai is very chill with the idea of them being together, even teasing the idea.

So while the canon backing for this is awful and doesn’t work for me, I already have a narrative in which I can see it working: Judai dating both of them and Yubel going from begrudgingly tolerating Johan to having feelings for him. It’s not an idea I’ve written outside of Judai teasing it but it’s certainly an idea I’ve considered. So uh… I’ll get back to you on this one if I ever write that fanfic. For now, I’m conflicted on this ship.

Boreshipping (Jim Cook x Manjome)

Okay I would have no opinion on this ship except for the fact that one of its only posts on Tumblr is COMPLETELY UNHINGED and made me laugh in the most guilt ridden horrified way you can possibly imagine. So now Jim being one of bi disaster Manjome’s many victims has been seared into my brain.

Brothershipping (Judai x Kenzan x Sho)

BOTH of them call Judai “big bro” (which is really funny in Kenzan’s case since at first glance, you can easily mistake him as older than Judai since he’s way taller and buffer) so this is a big nope from me.

Bulletshipping (Judai x Tania)

I have no idea how old Tania is supposed to be. I assumed she was supposed to be an adult woman and that her having feelings for high school boys was creepy but people in the fandom… don’t acknowledge that? Or maybe assumed she was actually around their age and just not in school because… different culture? So… no idea what’s going on there.

Potential age gap aside though, this ship doesn’t work at all because Judai is so absurdly disinterested and immune to her flirting that it’s part of how he beat her. So this ship is a no.

Buryshipping (Yusuke x Honest)

Honest’s protectiveness of Yusuke came off as more parental than anything else. So I really can’t see this one.

Bushshipping (Jim Cook x Yusuke)

Damn Yusuke ships don’t get jackshit in this fandom. Jim didn’t appear in season 4, the only season Yusuke’s in, so they haven’t ever met, but I could see this as a new post canon bond that Yusuke seeks out as to have someone in his life that he can start over with who won’t judge him for his past. It’s a decent idea. I'm just not sure how it would work in practice.

Canvasshipping (Saiou x Hayato)

These two never met and I don’t really know how they’d interact so… not my thing.

Challengeshipping (Judai x Ryo x Manjome)

So… Judai with his two rivals. Manjome would be the dumbass of this dynamic, no question there and Judai and Ryo would take turns being the enabler and the one keeping the other two from getting themselves killed. …Yeah I can see it.

Changeshipping (Hell Kaiser x Ryo)

This is just Ryo with himself so… I’m all for advocating for self love but I kinda feel like this isn’t what the term means.

Chrysocollashipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Johan)

I enjoy both Ryo ships. I'm not sure how Fubuki and Johan would get along but I'm sure they could at least be friends for Ryo's sake. This is a functional and potentially cute one.

Claimshipping (Sho x Yubel) & Clawshipping (Kenzan x Yubel)

Yubel, I’d prefer if you didn’t get involved with Judai’s adopted brothers. That’s kinda weird. Big no on these ships.

Clearshipping (Judai x Johan x Yusuke)

Well, I’ve started shipping a polyship after a two on one duel between the trio in which the two set the one, who’s a confused angry lackey to a bigger villain, on the right path again before. Doing it again would be nothing new. I prefer other ships for Judai/Johan and Yusuke though so I don’t actively ship this.

Clustershipping (Fubuki x Sho)

This one feels a little too random for me to get into.

Coachshipping (Chronos x Daitokuji x Emi Ayukawa)

All three of these are teachers who I’d guess are around the same age. Seems like a pretty random selection of the teachers though so I’m not into it.

Coatshipping (Manjome x Yusuke)

The other YGO ships this name is used for stick out to me a lot more. This one is just… not my thing on its own.

Colosseumshipping (Dark Johan x Johan)

…this is either Johan x himself or Johan x Yubel in a weird paint so… uh…

Why?

Cometshipping (Jim Cook x O’Brien x Judai)

My darkest secret as a GX fan is that I have just… never cared for O’Brien. I don’t even have a good reason, he just doesn’t interest me as much as the other GX characters. So I can get behind both of the Jim ships in this throuple but O’Brien/Judai just… doesn’t work for me, especially since O’Brien ran like hell from him when he became the Supreme King.

Comfortshipping (Yusuke x Johan)

Kind of just my thoughts on the throuple again. However, it’s slightly less appealing because of the missing Judai. Judai makes everything better in my eyes.

Companionshipping (Judai x Orgene)

I prefer to ship Judai with more major characters. Plus this prince guy was almost definitely a seasoned adult right? Surely? *cries about Yugioh ages again*

Comparisonshipping (Mitsuru x Ryo)

According to Junko and Momoe, Mitsuru duels on Ryo’s level so that’s likely where this came from. Still, I hate tennis guy more than I can possibly express so I despise this ship.

Competeshipping (Principal Samejima x Ichinose)

Two competing principals? Yeah this is a funny crackship.

Competitorshipping (Judai x Manjome x Johan)

This one is good and cute and nice because Judai does indeed have two hands, and those hands can hold his cringe-fail rival and sweet boy spiritual companion. I like both of those ships so putting them together is great.

Complexshipping (Edo x Echo)

I mean Edo did care more about Echo than the person she actually loved did so that’s something I guess. It's a bit too flimsy for me though.

Contendshipping (Judai x Ryo x Misawa)

Don’t really care for Misawa with Ryo and I’ll get to the Judai pairings on their own eventually. All I have to say now is: there are better throuples.

Consolationshipping (Ichinose x Tome)

Uuuuuh. No.

Contactshipping (Judai x Neos)

Couldn’t blame Judai for wanting that cake honestly. Fun crackship.

Convertshipping (Saiou x Manjoume x Misawa)

Saiou shipping his brainwashed minions... Yeah, no that's just gross.

Copyshipping (Judai x Kagurazaka)

Okay, this was such a minor and/or forgettable duel that I forgot this character existed. GX has a lot of one offs, give me a break. And this one off wasn’t one I liked so I’m not into this one.

Cosplayshipping (Tome x Dark Magician Girl)

I really don’t get everyone’s crush on Dark Magician Girl. Never have. With how common it is, I see where this came from but it’s not my thing.

Cowboyshipping (Jim Cook x Johan)

Well I know where that ship name came from. They both see animals as their family (Karen in Jim’s case and the Crystal Beasts in Johan’s case) so they could bond over that I suppose. Oh and their mutual love of Judai. So I can get behind this.

Crystallizeshipping (Kenzan x Johan)

Random pair that I’m not into.

Crystalshipping (Johan x Sho)

“Stop dating my brother and date me!”

That’s pretty much the only way I can see this going down. And I love Spiritship and Judai a little too much to be okay with that.

Darkshipping (Hell Kaiser x Darkness)

…Yep. Hell Kaiser is such an edgelord that I can 100% see this. Just as a crackship but I can see it regardless.

Dealtshipping (Amon x Yubel)

Okay, this one’s funny so I’m including it. Amon was so terrible and abusive that even Yubel called him out on his bullshit and I find that simultaneously hilarious and badass. Yubel could put Amon in his place and I’d be all for it.

Defeatshipping (Judai x Osamu)

Another minor character but he and Judai were at least friends as kids. Ya know. Prior to Yubel putting him in a coma. Come to think of it, I wonder how a reunion post canon between them would go…

Okay, I’m gonna put a pin in this because I actually kinda want to write that. Not as a ship but just as a scenario it provides a lot of introspective potential.

Defuseshipping (Misawa x Yubel)

Pretty sure Misawa wouldn’t even consider them so no.

Destinyshipping (Saiou x Edo)

No. Saiou’s too old for him, I saw this as more brotherly.

Devilshipping (Light of Destruction x Saiou)

Like Darkness x Ryo, this one just… makes sense in a cracky way so I’m totally down.

Dingoshipping (Saiou x Jim Cook)

Too random for me.

Disastershipping (Darkness x Yubel)

No. Darkness forcibly stole Yubel from Judai and tried to make them hurt him. Bad. Mean. Give them back.

Distasteshipping (Manjome x Hayato)

I can’t remember these two interacting or picture a fun dynamic for them so this doesn’t appeal to me.

Distraughtshipping (Edo x Yubel)

I suppose in a context where Judai is dating both of them this could work, kinda like the Johan/Yubel. Plus this ship wouldn’t have the… negative history that Johan/Yubel does. So in a very niche scenario, this could work, although I’ll admit Johan/Yubel interests me more.

Divulgeshipping (Hayato x Yubel)

Way too random.

Dojoshipping (Hell Kaiser x Makoto)

No, this guy would just be bad for Ryo.

Drearyshipping (Ryo x Yusuke x Manjoume)

How many edgelords does it take to confess? None, they all just insult each other when trying to flirt.

This one’s hilarious so I’m down for it.

Durabilityshipping (Kenzan x Misawa x Judai)

Can’t remember Kenzan and Misawa’s interactions at all and Judai’s relationship with Kenzan doesn't come off as shippy to me. Not my thing.

Duskshipping (Darkness x Ryo x Fubuki)

Arc V’s Duskshipping is better but… again, it just… it just makes sense and I almost hate that it does.

Egoshipping (Edo x Manjome)

I see this one a lot and I assume it mostly comes from the season 4 episodes where Manjome is his employee. So… There's too much of a power imbalance between these two for me to get into it canonically honestly. Now, Manjome did get a ton of sponsorship offers that he could easily take and thus no longer be Edo’s employee so I think in a post canon situation, this… might(?) be fine. It’s just that the majority of their screen time together in the actual show is them being an employee and a boss so I can’t personally get behind it.

Eliteshipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Yusuke)

This one is great because they can confide in each other over their gifted kid burnout and varying experiences with Darkness. So I love it. I love the individual pairs (though I do have a favourite) and I wish we’d seen it on-screen as a trio more because what little we did get is so great.

Emasculateshipping (Chronos x Napoleon)

I mean I kinda got the vibe that these two are exes for some reason. So I guess I like it?

Employshipping (Pegasus x Samejima x Chronos)

A little too random for me.

Encoreshipping (Kenzan x Edo)

A little too random. What would these two even talk about? Judai? Is that all they share?

Endlesssshipping (Judai x Edo x Mizuchi)

Pretty sure Mizuchi’s too old for them so no.

Edit: So apparently Mizuchi is actually younger than Saiou. I wrote this bit when I thought she was older. God I hate YGO ages. Still don't like the ship though.

Endshipping (Judai x Yusuke)

Judai did help him return to the light so it’s… an understandable ship. Not as good as any of the gifted kid trio with Yusuke for me though.

Endureshipping (Saiou x O’Brien)

Too random for me. Plus I don’t really care for either of them.

Entrapshipping (Saiou x Misawa x Judai)

This seems more like something Judai would look at as a bystander and go “...why Misawa? Why?” Can’t get behind it.

Eucalyptusshipping (Yusuke x Hayato)

They never met and I can’t picture a dynamic so no.

Evolveshipping (Judai x Kenzan)

Gonna be disqualifying any other ships that include some combination of Judai/Kenzan or Judai/Sho and put it to rest here and now: I don’t like either of those ships because Kenzan and Sho refer to Judai as though he’s a brother to them.

Facultyshipping (Chronos x Daitokuji x Samejima)

I kind of feel like no one really liked Daitokuji? Or maybe that was just the students. Either way, Chronos is too good for either of these guys.

Fataleshipping (Tania x Camula)

…Okay this one’s kind of fun actually. Badass lesbians who can and will commit murder together.

Finalshipping (Hell Kaiser x Yubel)

I… I don’t know. I did joke about a Ryo/Yubel/Judai/Johan OT4 but… more for every other pairing in the ship than this one. I don’t know, I can’t really give an opinion on this one right now I guess.

Firewallshipping (O’Brien x Judai)

I’m surprised this wasn’t Yusaku and Ryoken’s ship name honestly. Anyways, what I said in the Jim/O’Brien/Judai section stands. Can’t get into this ship due to my disinterest in O’Brien.

Foodshipping (Judai x Hayato)

Like it platonically, can’t see it romantically though.

Foolshipping (Saiou x Judai)

Arc V’s Foolshipping was funnier. This one’s really not my thing because I honestly just don't like Saiou much. I find him mostly boring and I don't see anything between him and Judai. 

Fopshipping (Fubuki x Manjome x Edo)

I will discuss/have discussed the Manjome parts of this ship so for now I’ll just say that I have no idea how Fubuki and Edo would interact but I hope it’s funny.

Forgottenshipping (Misawa x Hayato)

…okay the ship name sold me on this. The two most forgotten major boys in GX as a pairing: they can bond over constantly feeling ignored. Perfection. Screw it, it’s my OTP for both characters now.

Formalshipping (Ryo x Hayato)

I mean… I could see this starting out with Hayato asking Ryo to tutor him or something and through it, they grow close. It could work. Not particularly my thing but could work.

Fossilshipping (Jim Cook x Kenzan)

These two can bond over dinosaurs and their fossils and stuff. That would be pretty cute actually. I’d like it more platonically but it could be a fun ship.

Frozenshipping (Saiou x Fubuki)

Victim of the light of destruction x victim of darkness? I could see that working after season 2 actually.

Furryshipping (Johan x Hayato)

Very unfortunate ship name. I can’t get into this one.

Fusionshipping (Ryo x Judai)

I like that Judai loses to Ryo. I like how Judai reveals Ryo’s biggest flaw: his belief that he’s already achieved perfection and can’t improve. Ryo also cares quite a bit about Judai, choosing to duel him as his graduation duel and later dedicating his final words to Judai rather than his own brother. They’re also two very opposing personalities that can play off each other well and they both suffered traumatic losses in season 2. I grew to really love this ship during my recent GX rewatch, it might be my third favourite GX ship overall. It’s just really cute to me.

Geniusshipping (Misawa x Ryo)

Not my thing.

Glareshipping (Ryo x Junko)

I think Junko may have had a crush on him? It wouldn’t surprise me. I can’t see Ryo requiting that though.

Gloryshipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Edo)

I kind of feel like any rapport these characters may have would fall apart when Fubuki finds out that Edo indirectly lead to Ryo having his downfall. So I’m not into this one.

Glowshipping (O’Brien x Johan)

Not my thing. Johan has more interesting ships.

Goblinshipping (Kohara x Ohara)

For one off characters, I actually really like these two and their rapport with each other. I don’t know if I particularly ship it romantically, but I can certainly see it

Grassshipping (Yusuke x Sho)

This just feels way too random for me. What would they even talk about? Touching grass?

Greyshipping (Darkness x Saiou)

Okay, this one’s just hilarious. When I said I like ships with opposing personalities, I didn’t exactly mean THIS opposing, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

Groupieshipping (Junko x Momoe)

Yeah sure whatever.

Guardshipping (O’Brien x Kenzan)

Not my thing.

Habitshipping (Fubuki x Judai x Manjome)

Fubuki and Manjome would be the dumbasses of this relationship, you cannot convince me otherwise. I know you all think of Judai as a dumbass, and he certainly can be hyperactive and reckless but Fubuki and Manjome, especially when they are together, share exactly one brain cell that only produces a non simping or duelling related thought once in a blue moon. Judai is the only one preventing them from jumping off a cliff. That being said, all three of them are dumbasses. Yes. Judai is just the designated driver when the other two go off and get drunk at a party. So I enjoy this dynamic.

Hangmanshipping (Saiou x Manjome x Judai)

Yet another dynamic I feel like Judai would just look at with concern based on the events of season 2. Very not my thing.

Harmshipping (Saiou x Yubel)

There’s two directions this could go: either they meet pre-Judai and Saiou realises that Yubel is sick with light of destruction disease and they team up against Judai. Or they meet post Judai and Yubel roasts Saiou. Either way, it’s funny and I approve.

Hasteshipping (Fubuki x Manjome x Misawa)

Fubuki and Manjome have a pretty established relationship in canon but I don’t really see Misawa adding to that? So not particularly my thing.

Hazeshipping (Darkness x Ryo x Judai)

Can’t really see this one since Judai straight up murdered Darkness.

Heroshipping (Edo x Judai)

Well Judai canonically called him cute and also they both use hero decks. They’ve got history and something to bond over and a competitive streak between them and even one-sided attraction, however fleeting or offhand it was for Judai. I can get behind this.

Hornetshipping (Misawa x Manjome)

These two feel like they’re only in the same friend group, or friend group adjacent, because of Judai. Their duel ended up getting Manjome kicked out of a the school for a while, I don’t feel like Manjome thinks of him all that fondly.

Hustleshipping (Chronos x Titan)

Titan was just a one off though he and Chronos had that one funny scene where Titan prevents him from seeing his back… it makes sense in context. Not my thing since he’s just a one off though.

Idolshipping (Ryo x Fubuki)

This one’s pretty fun. They’ve got very opposing personalities and lots of history and interactions in canon to back it up so I’m pretty on board with them as a ship even if it’s not my go-to.

Impassiveshipping (O’Brien x Ryo)

I can’t remember these two even interacting and they seem like they’d be way too stoic with each other. Not my thing.

Infernoshipping (Darkness x Fubuki)

This canonically has the narrative of being something toxic that Fubuki is struggling to pull away from and is repeatedly relapsing into so that’s really the only way I could see this as a ship? So definitely not something to romanticise. Yikes.

Influenceshipping (Saiou x Misawa x Edo)

Saiou’s a little too old for Edo in my mind and I don’t care for Misawa with either of them so I can’t get into this.

Insecurityshipping (Chronos x Napoleon x Kabayama)

More of the teachers. I’m not sure what mister Ra Yellow would add to this dynamic in all honesty so I guess I’m just neutral to this?

Jarshipping (Cobra x Yubel)

Can't really see this one since Yubel murdered him the second they could.

Jewelshipping (Manjome x Johan)

Little ray of sunshine Johan with emo boy Manjome I can definitely see, especially alongside Rival and Spirit. So this is a good one.

Joyfulshipping (Fubuki x Judai x Johan)

That’s a very fitting name since all three of these characters fall under the “saddest people smile the brightest” category. I love Judai/Johan. I can kind of see Judai/Fubuki and don’t know how Johan and Fubuki would interact. They could get along for Judai’s sake though.

Judgementshipping (Gravekeeper’s Leader x Sara)

Hard no. He holds way too much power over her and abuses that power by slapping her across the face. Bad.

Jurassicshipping (Kenzan x Sho)

Another one I got into during my rewatch. It’s a fun one, especially post-canon where they no longer have Judai to fight over and can realise “oh wait, you’re kind of cool actually.” Or even better: they liked each other the whole time and were garbage at expressing it. Great ship and stuff.

Keyshipping (Saiou x Judai x Edo)

Did I do this one already? I’m not sure. Don’t really care for either of them with Saiou though. Do love Judai/Edo but Saiou doesn’t add much to the dynamic for me.

Kiiroshipping (Kenzan x Misawa x Sho)

So… the three Ra Yellows of season 3? They were roommates and thus probably saw each other a lot that season before Misawa ran off. So… I can see where it comes from. Not sure what Misawa would add to the dynamic though.

Killshipping (Ryo x Johan x Yubel)

Part of my OT4. I think I’ve mostly covered my thoughts on these dynamics though, apart from Ryo/Johan which I’ll get to.

Koalashipping (Hayato x Sho)

These two seem more like brothers honestly.

Lateshipping (Yusuke x Yubel)

I mean I guess if Judai were with both of them I could see this making some sense. Otherwise it just feels too random.

Leftshipping (Darkness x Ryo)

This is just normal Ryo so it’s not a funny meme in my head, it’s just kind of sad.

Lithographshipping (Samejima x Pegasus)

They’re both garbage humans so I can totally understand this and get behind it.

Literateshipping (Fubuki x Jim Cook)

Another pair that I don’t think interacted in any substantial way So I can’t really see what dynamic they would have.

Lustfulshipping (Fubuki x Yubel)

This name and its implications are funny so it gets a thumbs up from me. I don’t think I need to explain why.

Majesticshipping (Ryo x Manjome)

I am… entirely unsure of this ship. I can’t remember any of their canon interactions so I have no idea how they’d interact. On the otter hand though, I’m not openly opposed to it. So… it's a maybe I guess?

Maskshipping (Fubuki x Yusuke)

YES. This is my favourite pairing for both of these characters honestly. Fubuki’s undying faith in him, coupled with his upbeat personality to contrast Yusuke’s reserved pessimism makes for such a fun dynamic. I love them so very much.

Meltshipping (O’Brien x Edo)

Well… they could bond over having dead parent trauma I guess. Not sure what else to grasp onto with this though so it’s not my thing.

Messengershipping (Saiou x Yusuke)

They are both former villains but I don’t really like Saiou so this isn’t my thing.

Mirroredshipping (Edo x Mizuchi)

Not my thing.

Mockshipping (Edo x Misawa)

Not my thing. Edo canonically thinks pretty poorly of Misawa honestly.

Nightshipping (Darkness x Camula)

Yes! What better partner for a vampire who feels safest in the darkness than Darkness himself! I have no complaints, this ship makes perfect sense.

Nihilityshipping (Darkness x Judai x Yubel)

No. Give Yubel back. They want to go back to Judai. DO NOT SEPARATE THEM.

Nocturnalshipping (Darkness x Fubuki x Manjome)

Really wish this was called Darkstormshipping since it’s Darkness x Stormshipping but oh well. The only way I can picture this is an AU where Manjome was also taken over by darkness and he and Fubuki go crazy together which sounds pretty fun. I’m down.

Northshipping (Edogara x Manjoume)

This is the gang leader guy at the North academy that Manjome beat. Honestly I don’t think Manjome has even spared this guy a passing thought since he returned back to Duel Academy so this one’s a nah.

Obeliskshipping (Chronos x Emi Ayukawa)

Not my thing.

Obsidianshipping (Fubuki x Manjome x Johan)

Not sure what Johan would add to this dynamic? But I do love him and I love Stormshipping so I can kinda see it.

Ojamashipping (Ojama Black x Ojama Green x Ojama Yellow)

They’re brothers so no.

Orangeshipping/Tutorshipping (Misawa x Judai)

Same ship, it just goes by two names apparently. Honestly Tutorshipping is better since it sticks out more. As for the ship itself, Misawa’s unique dialogue in Duel Links when Judai beats him is… pretty gay. I can see Misawa liking him easily, his dedication to beating Judai can certainly be read that way and I do enjoy a good rival ship. I like this one, just not as much as Judai’s other ships.

Orichalcumshipping (Jim Cook x O’Brien)

I can easily see this one after everything they went through together in season 3. They’re from different schools (I think) so it would likely be a long distance relationship and as someone in a long distance relationship, I relate pretty strongly. I dig this one.

Outbackshipping (O’Brien x Hayato)

Not as good as either of them with Jim. Could be fun in a polyship maybe though so I won’t dismiss this one entirely.

Outcastshipping (Yusuke x Edo)

Well… they’ve got the outcast thing in common, it’s right there in the name, and they were also both underlings to a greater evil. They could bond over that I suppose. Yusuke is prolly a bit old for him though so not my thing.

Peepershipping (Jim Cook x Yubel)

…why is it called that?

Why is that the ship name?

I’m concerned.

Anyways, I don’t ship it because I can’t picture a dynamic between them.

Personnelshipping (Samejima x Chronos x Tome)

So… the principal and his wife with that one cringe fail teacher. Nah.

Playshipping (Saiou x Gin)

This is the guy Saiou viciously punished for disobedience whom we never saw again… yeah can’t really ship it personally.

Portalshipping (Ryo x Judai x Johan)

Yes, I’m so very down for this one. Judai and Johan should absolutely induct big scary Kaiser Ryo into their relationship and attempt to fluster the crap out of him as he sits there more confused than flustered. That would be great.

Possessshipping (Judai x Johan x Yubel)

I have… sort of written this one. Multiple times, I’ve written Judai dating both Judai and Johan in a polyamorous situation but I haven’t written Johan/Yubel in a non-platonic context. So I love this as a vee and potentially like it as a throuple, though I wouldn’t know for sure. I like it in theory, but I'm not sure about it in practice. For now at least.

Primaryshipping (Judai x Manjome x Misawa)

One student of each dorm in a polyship sounds great not gonna lie. Destroy the elitism bullshit!

Principalshipping (Samejima x Chronos x Napoleon)

Huh. These three were all principal at one point weren’t they? Disapprove because Chronos gets character development later that makes him too good for these guys.

Prizeshipping (Samejima x Tome)

These two are canonically married aren’t they? Well you know what? They’re annoying so fuck this ship. /hj

Professorshipping (Chronos x Daitokuji x Kabayama)

Sure. The leaders of each dorm colour joining together in harmony and putting an end to Duel Academia’s elitism would be ideal. I ship it.

Proposalshipping (Abidos x Judai)

For a one off character and pairing, this is actually pretty cute and fun. I like how Judai calls him “your majesty” the whole time yet simultaneously treats him way more casually than you probably should treat a royal. And yet that’s exactly what Abidos ended up needing and liking. It’s cute, I love their duel and it’s a fun idea. I just admittedly prefer other ships.

Proshipping (Ryo x Edo)

I considered Ryo/Edo really briefly when first watching GX but uh… there’s a lot of unaddressed baggage between them and they’re a little far apart in age and places in life so it never really stuck with me.

Proveshipping (Edo x Hayato)

They both have daddy issues but it’s completely different breeds of daddy issues so I’m not sure how this would work.

Purpleshipping (Daitokuji x Chronos)

Chronos hates cats and Daitokuji is clearly a cat person with a cat so this definitely wouldn’t work out. Could be funny though.

Pyriteshipping (Ryo x Edo x Johan)

All three of these characters I ship more with Judai than with each other. That said, while Ryo/Edo is kind of a weird one for me, I can see both of the Johan ships here so it’s still a decent combination. I’d take it.

Quipshipping (Manjome x Kenzan x Sho)

The way I picture this is Manjome munching popcorn while Kenzan and Sho fight. Sounds pretty dysfunctional but also funny so I’m down for it.

Quizshipping (Judai x Tsugio)

I think I know exactly who that character is without looking it up just based on the ship name. But just to be sure.

*One Opera search later*

Yup. This was a one off duel but a really fun memorable one for a guy like me who loves game shows. Not my go to but I’m glad it exists and that it has this name.

Reapershipping (Juudai x Tachibana)

Another one off character, and one I don’t remember so I have no interest in this ship.

Rebirthshipping (Amnael x Daitokuji)

This is just Daitokuji with himself so nope.

Refinementshipping (Jim Cook x Misawa)

I don’t see the connection.

Reflectionshipping (Mizuchi x Mirror Mizuchi)

Again with the selfcest. No thanks.

Reflectorshipping (Darkness x Fubuki x Judai)

Ah yes. Judai murdered their lover. May the Darkness demon rest in pieces.

Can’t get into this ship in any genuine way, but at least it’s funny.

Repayshipping (Judai x Manjome x Yubel)

For Judai, I imagine this would work out just fine but it really does depend on Manjome and Yubel getting along and Manjome… is definitely one to hold a grudge. So I’m not sure about that. Could still work though.

Researchshipping (Yusuke x Misawa)

They’ve never met and I can’t really see a situation where they would. Not my thing.

Retconshipping (Darkness x Yusuke)

This would definitely explain some things about season 4. /jjj

Not my thing though.

Retireshipping (Edo x Manjome x Judai)

Pre season 4 or maybe even post canon, this is a fun combination of Judai and two of his rivals. Considering season 4 though, Edo is Manjome’s boss which I’ve mentioned is uncomfortable. Like I said earlier, if Manjome quit and took one of those other offers, it might be fine. So I’m mixed on this one.

Reunionshipping (Supreme King x Yubel)

Gonna actually be interpreting this as Judai and Yubel’s past lives. I don’t know if that’s actually what it is but a lot of these ship names don’t seem to be used nowadays and I’m using them more for organisation purposes at this point. Plus I just want to talk about Judai and Yubel’s past lives. We don’t know much about them, as we only see the one flashback but in that flashback, Yubel is willing to endure a horrific looking process and take on the form of a monster just to protect Judai. Meanwhile, Judai didn’t want them to hurt themself to protect him but after the fact, vows to love them forever. That’s just the right amount of touching and tragic for me and I really wish we saw more of these past lives. Maybe if the whole season had Judai having flashbacks to this past life and that scene in the season 3 finale was actually just the reveal that the person he was seeing the whole time was Yubel? I think that would’ve solved the problem people have of that decision of Judai’s being rushed. I never had a problem with it personally but this would have been better I admit. Anyways, I dig this ship.

Revealshipping (Edo x Sho)

Don’t see the connection here.

Rhymeshipping (Manjome x Junko)

I honestly always mix up Asuka’s two friends whose only interest is making sure GX doesn’t pass the bechdel test. I think Junko had a crush on Manjome though? If she did, then sure this ship makes sense.

Rivalshipping (Manjome x Judai)

Yeah, I like this one. Always enjoyed their dynamic after Manjome joined Slifer Red. It’s a fun one, though I’ll admit I prefer Fusion, Spirit, and Soul.

Rockyshipping (Jim Cook x Judai x Johan)

I love this one. These three are all the same breed of dork and canonically hit it off well so I’m very supportive of them as a throuple. It’s silly and cute and sweet.

Ruinshipping (Darkness x Light of Destruction)

I agree. These two should stop fighting and just kiss. For the good of the universe of course.

Sacrificeshipping (Amon x Echo)

This is a plotpoint: Echo repeatedly says how much she loves him, it’s pretty much her whole motivation, and Amon at the very least claims he loves her, because sacrificing a person he loves was the requirement to control Exodia. That being said, they are also very much intended to be an abusive relationship. Amon is intended to be selfishly using Echo’s love to benefit himself. It’s twisted and horrible and exactly why I like Amon as a villain: he’s irredeemably selfish and borderline sociopathic and all of that leads to a very interesting villain to root against. I think the way he plays off and contrasts with Yubel in their duel is especially fascinating and makes Yubel almost seem sympathetic by comparison, which is definitely important to set up. So I like this pairing’s inclusion in GX. I think it makes the story and Amon’s character stronger because of the fact that it is a toxic relationship. I would never genuinely ship it but I’m glad it was included in the series.

Sakoshipping (Winged Kuriboh x Ojama Yellow)

No thanks. Winged Kuriboh deserves better.

Saviourshipping (Jim Cook x Judai)

I agree. They hit it off well and Jim was even willing to sacrifice himself in an attempt to bring Judai back from the darkness that had consumed his heart, something he couldn’t do but O’Brien followed through with. I prefer it platonically but I can see it romantically.

Scepticalshipping (Manjome x Yubel)

Can’t see this working out on its own. Manjome would definitely hold too much of a grudge against Yubel to even consider this.

Seasonshipping (Yusuke x Edo x Johan)

This seems a little… random but I’m not against it. I love all three characters so seeing them interact would be nice.

Sempaishipping (Judai x Sorano)

I see more of a connection between Sorano and Kenzan though I’m not super into either with him being so minor.

Serveshipping (Saiou x Manjome x Edo)

Power imbalances everywhere with this one. Yikes no.

Sevenshipping (Darkness x Amnael x Don Zaloog x Titan x Abidos x Taniya x Camilla)

So basically the Seven Stars, with Darkness instead of Fubuki, all in a polycule? That’s funny as a crackship but definitely wouldn’t work out.

Severshipping (Fubuki x Yusuke x Judai)

Love Yusuke/Fubuki, as I mentioned, and I adore Judai though him with them are admittedly some of Judai’s weaker ships. I could still get into it though. Decent ship.

Shadowshipping (Ryo x Yusuke)

They were implied to be friends before canon and while we never got to see them interact in modern day, I can still see this ship. Having not read or seen any fanwork of them, the way I picture their potential dynamic is Yusuke’s sensitivity bringing out Ryo’s softer side which sounds really cute. I dig.

Shakeshipping (Fubuki x Misawa)

Not sure these two ever interacted? Though it’s definitely possible with how many episodes there are. Still don’t really see it though.

Shallowshipping (Fubuki x Momoe)

It would not surprise me if Momoe liked Fubuki. Her… best friend’s brother.

…I’m surprised that PMV doesn’t exist with either of Asuka’s friends with Fubuki. Don’t care for this ship though.

Shockshipping (Makoto x Sho)

No, Makoto damn near killed Sho’s brother a second time.

Showbizshipping (Fubuki x Edo)

Because Edo is a pro duellist and Fubuki has the attitude of a pro duellist? Yeah, I can actually see this one. Fubuki would be overly theatrical and get on Edo’s nerves which would be funny.

Shunshipping (Manjome x Misawa x Edo)

Can’t believe Arc V stole a name from a GX ship. Smh. /j

Manjome has duelled both of them but I still can’t really see this one.

Sidekickshipping (Kenzan x Hayato)

They’ve never met and just sort of fulfil similar roles in Judai’s friend group. At least that’s how I felt about it. It very much felt like Kenzan was replacing Hayato. Not my thing.

Singularshipping (O’Brien x Misawa)

They do both have calculating personalities but that’s about the only connection I can see. Plus I prefer ships with opposing personalities so this isn’t really my thing.

Smoochshipping (Sho x Dark Magician Girl)

This is the worst pairing that I have been presented with in this list, apart from the ones I disqualified. It’s fine when he’s got a one-sided crush but making it seem like he has a chance with this spirit he can’t even see feels like pure Dark Magician Girl fanservice which I have always found kind of creepy.

Snootyshipping (Ryo x Manjome x Edo)

They are all indeed snooty bitches. I know I have my problems with Manjome/Edo, but I’m actually down for this snooty throuple.

Soldiershipping (O’Brien x Jim Cook x Kenzan)

I like O’Brien/Jim but I don’t see what Kenzan even has to do with either of them?

Soulshipping (Yubel x Judai)

I may just be the biggest defender of this pairing and plot point on the planet. It’s definitely canon from Yubel’s end in the sub and at first, yeah, it seems extremely fucked up. Yubel seems almost delusional for the vast majority of season 3. The moment where it’s shown that they were in love in their past lives however made it click for me. Suddenly everything made sense to me and Yubel’s actions, which were also at least somewhat influenced by the Light of Destruction, were put into a different, more understandable light. It made sense to me. Reincarnation is something I genuinely believe in. This wasn’t some fantasy justification for Judai suddenly returning Yubel’s love, it felt real and genuine. Of course Judai has feelings for Yubel after memories of his past life returned to him: he isn’t just learning something he had no knowledge of. The way I saw it, all of those feelings and experiences from his past life were rushing back and hitting him all at once in that scene so it made perfect sense to me that he would choose to fuse their souls together. Yubel sacrificed something for him in their past lives and Judai loved them so much that he wanted to do the same to help them. Yubel was being tormented by the light of destruction. The strength of Judai’s feelings as expressed by his past life convinces me that he would absolutely want to put an end to Yubel’s torment, no matter what happened to him, just as Yubel did in their past lives. I get that to some people it feels rushed, I really do, and more could have been done to build it up without giving away this twist. However, the narrative gave me just enough for me to believe that Judai and Yubel’s love was genuine and powerful. It’s a beautiful scene to me. It shows love in its most powerful, most painful form and shows Judai’s growth excellently. I love this pairing and I always will, no matter what anyone says.

Spectrumshipping (Fubuki x Johan)

This one’s alright. I can’t remember them interacting on any level but I can still see it working out.

Spinshipping (Saiou x Johan)

I don’t like Saiou much in general so I don’t see any appeal of this ship.

Spiritshipping (Johan x Judai)

My… either second favourite or tied for favourite ship in GX. I have less of a personal connection to Spirit than I do Soul (though that being said the Spirit/Soul fic I wrote was what made me realise I’m polyamorous) but Spirit does have more moments between the two characters. They’re really about even for me. I love Judai and Johan’s interactions and bond in season 3 and 4. They’re very cute and sweet and get along really well. I love them.

Spotlightshipping (Fubuki x Judai x Edo)

Take what I said about Fubuki/Edo and add Judai. I love Judai. He makes everything he’s in a million times better so he makes this ship better too.

Squealshipping (Fubuki x Junko)

Same as Fubuki/Momoe. Wouldn’t care for it but it wouldn’t surprise me or even upset me.

Staffshipping (Daitokuji x Emi)

Don’t see the appeal.

Startershipping (Winged Kuriboh x Ruby Carbuncle)

Enemies to loves 100k slow burn startershipping fic when? This sounds so damn funny. I’m down.

Stormshipping (Fubuki x Manjome)

Honestly the first time I saw that episode where Fubuki gives Manjome advice on how to seduce Asuka or whatever, I remember saying out loud, “I think I’d rather ship these two.”

And to this day, I still do. It’s cute, they spend a lot of time together and seem like at the very least good friends. The “master” thing is a little weird but it’s funny so it gets a pass.

Strengthshipping (Saiou x Kenzan)

Saiou with the one guy who couldn’t be brainwashed into joining his cult? That would be kinda funny.

Stridentshipping (Kenzan x Ryo)

Don’t see this one since Ryo had already graduated by the time Kenzan was introduced.

Sturdyshipping (Kenzan x Misawa x Tania)

But. But why though? No.

Superiorshipping (Edo x Johan)

Yeah sure why not? There’s potential with this dynamic, partially through Judai, but also their connections with their cards.

Sweetshipping (Sho x Momoe)

I feel like this one is a big no for me since one of their only interactions is in the episode where Momoe, Junko, and Asuka all accuse him of being a pervert for an honestly justifiable reason. So nope.

Swoonshipping (Edo x Momoe)

It wouldn’t surprise me if she called him cute, Judai called Edo cute after all. It’s not enough basis for a ship for me though.

Tchotchkeshipping (Trueman x Pegasus)

Well they are both villains. Former villain in Pegasus’s case though and they have entirely different motives so I can’t really see this one.

Teachershipping (Samejima x Chronos)

I get where this comes from but I’m too far into my “hating the principal as a meme” joke to get into this, especially since Chronos improves overtime and principal guy just gets worse. Also, principal guy is his boss so there’s a clear power imbalance.

Tealshipping (Ryo x Johan)

This one I actually got into kinda recently. I don’t remember how, I think it was just from seeing posts of it on Tumblr randomly and thinking it was cute. Because it is. It’s big stoic emo Ryo thinking the dorky sweet creature that is Johan is cute. Opposites attract ships are cute to me dang it.

Tempshipping (Chronos x Daitokuji x Napoleon)

Daitokuji was very dead by the time Napoleon first appeared in the show so I can’t really see this one.

Tennisshipping (Mitsuru x Judai)

I hate Mitsuru’s guts though I admit it would’ve been both funny and horrifying if he pulled an Alito after his duel with Judai and jumped ship from crushing on Asuka to crushing on Judai.

Tetranshipping (Judai x Gin)

“For a white, you’re a pretty interesting guy.” That’s the only thing I remember and not gonna lie, it’s a pretty solid foundation. If only Gin hadn’t fuckin died.

Thirdshipping (Martin x Rei)

I like this one. Their interactions in canon are minimal but enough to convince me that they’re friends. They’re both so much younger than everyone else at the school (or at least I assumed that was the case with Martin) so I think it’s sweet that they have each other. Also they were friends in my trans Rei fanfic and I can’t help it.

Thoughtfulshipping (Misawa x Sho)

Sho kinda bullies him in season 2 which is what makes him eventually turn to the Society of Light so I can’t see this one at all.

Thundershipping (Manjoume White Thunder x Manjoume)

Manjome: *sees his brainwashed self*

Also Manjome: God I am so hot.

Yeah, that sounds like the cringe-fail Manjome I know. Still don’t like the ship though :P

Thwartshipping (Darkness x Saiou x Judai)

The harsh darkness and light of destruction fighting over the gentle darkness boy. That sure is something. Not my thing but funny.

Tigershipping (Misawa x Tania)

Oh jeez here we go. Never thought I’d tell this story.

The first time I watched GX and saw Misawa adamantly refusing the idea of romantic love, my first reaction was to headcanon him as aromantic. So… you can imagine my disappointment when he started randomly falling for Tania the more she flirted with him. Now, obviously, headcanons like that for me aren’t that serious, especially the aromantic ones. I headcanoned both GX Ryo and Zexal Rio as ace/aro for a while before going back on the aromantic part, likely because I’m not aro myself. Believe me, my problem with this ship isn’t a short-lived headcanon being debunked: it’s the fact that the first time I saw GX, I assumed she was way older than him. She looks like she’s in her 30s and Misawa is irrefutably a minor. Tania is a huge creep if she actually is that old. The fandom seems to disagree with me on that though and assume Tania is younger since this is a fairly popular ship. And I don’t think Tania’s age is ever mentioned so if that’s how you interpret it, that’s fine. I just can’t agree.

Toastshipping (Misawa x Johan)

I could kind of see it? I don’t remember them interacting but Johan can get along with just about anyone so most of his ships feel probable in my mind.

Toppleshipping (O’Brien x Yusuke)

Can’t see this one after all the shit Trueman, Yusuke’s… comrade(?) did to O’Brien.

Topshipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Judai)

…why is it called that? Whatever, I like all these individual ships so slapping them together sounds good to me. I dig it and stuff.

Traitorshipping (Saiou x Manjome)

Oh jeez the power imbalance with this one is horrendous. It could never feasibly be a healthy relationship. So I can't get into it.

Tremorshipping (Saiou x Sho)

This also sounds rather imbalanced, though maybe not quite as drastically depending on how you look at it? Still don’t like it.

Triangleshipping (Pegasus x Chronos x Napoleon)

Shoulda called it Threewayshipping /j

Not my thing though.

Truemanshipping (Trueman x Trueman Clones)

Okay I know I said no selfcest shipping but uh… it’s fine as a crack ship. This is a crack ship that I can get behind because it’s funny.

Twilightshipping (Judai x Dark Magician Girl)

Absolutely not. I hate shipping Dark Magician Girl, yes that includes Mana, with anyone.

Twitchshipping (Darkness x Judai)

Nope, that’s just a demon Judai killed.

Undeadshipping (Abidos x Camula)

Hey Abidos was at least somewhat kind-hearted. Camula though was just pure evil. So I don’t see how this would work.

Unfathomableshipping (Ryo x Fubuki x Sara)

Well that’s an incredibly accurate ship name because where the hell did this come from? That one-off line? That implied nothing about Ryo so this is just confusing.

Unmaskshipping (Judai x Ohara x Kohara)

I like Kohara and Ohara but more so with each other than with Judai. Judai has much stronger relationships with others that are more fun to ship. Not a bad ship, I just have other preferences is all.

Vanillashipping (Saiou x Ryo)

…I’m really really really really sorry, I truly am but I have to say it:

These two seem like anything BUT vanilla.

…and unfortunately, out of every Saiou ship, that means it has the most appeal to me, even if just in a stupid memey way.

Vertigoshipping (Fubuki x Junko x Momoe)

Shipping Asuka’s two female friends with her brother. Sure what could possibly go wrong?

Volcanoshipping (Darkness x O’Brien)

No. After how badly Darkness’s lackey screwed with O’Brien in their duel, this is a hard no.

Voltageshipping (Jinzo x Judai)

No, Judai deserves better than someone who tried to kill him.

Wallabyshipping (Jim Cook x Sho)

Nah, not my thing.

Waxshipping (O’Brien x Fubuki)

Don’t really see the connection here?

Wingshipping (Avian x Burstinatrix)

I mean admittedly, I would see this one if not for the Rei introduction episode where Avian and Sparkman berate themselves for falling for a girl.

Woeshipping (Fubuki x Yusuke x Manjome)

Yusuke having two cringe fail boyfriends who cringe fail date each other and him is pretty peak not gonna lie. I love it.

Yellowshipping (Kenzan x Misawa)

Honestly outside of sharing a dorm, they really don’t have anything in common? So this ship doesn’t particularly interest me.

Zooshipping (Fubuki x Judai)

Still really wanna know the story behind this ship name. We’re ending with a good ship in my eyes though. I like this one.

And now since I covered quite a few ships, here are my top 5 favourites:

#5 Jurassicshipping

#4 Fusionshipping

#3 Maskshipping & Stormshipping

#2 Spiritshipping

#1 Soulshipping

[gnar-slabdash]

I know some otherwise intelligent people that can't seem to appreciate "Leverage". How can this be?

I mean I feel like mostly the answer is "because different intelligent people naturally have different tastes" and also "one does not control the special interest." But here's a few possible answers just for kicks: 1. If you can't get them to START watching, are you sure you're meeting them on their level? I've been telling my bff about Leverage for years and he's never been interested. Then I remembered that he was never interested in MCR either until I showed him the Danger Days music videos, because what he IS into is apocalypse stories and comics and classic anime. BAM, he was obsessed. So I told him about all the people from STAR TREK who work on Leverage and he was like "WHY did you never tell me this before???" He still hasn't actually WATCHED it because he's just become a full-fledged Ivy League professor and also has ADHD up the wazoo, but now it's actually on his radar because I started where he's at.

2. If they've started watching and aren't getting into it, make sure they're watching in the CORRECT ORDER. As with a certain other halcyon 2000s show, the episodes were originally aired in the wrong order, and that's the order that streaming services usually retain (I believe the DVDs have the intended order). You can just google to find the right order, I usually find it in imdb's trivia section. How big a difference the change makes will vary by person, but for me watching int he wrong order made the emotional storylines make a lot less sense. Episode 3, for example, was SUPPOSED to be the Wedding Job, not the Two Horse Job. So it feels like she's really jumping the gun when Eliot's ex tells him he has a new family now -- really, he's known these people for like a month?? Well, that was supposed to come later. And likewise, this was supposed to be the point where Sophie freaks out because she doesn't know where her relationship with Nate was going. But because they moved THAT to later, it feels like she's happily settled into the status quo and then blows up out of nowhere. I legitimately didn't like Sophie at all when I first watched the first season, and it's NOT HER FAULT -- it's because they fucked up her emotional storyline by putting the episodes in the wrong places.

3. A lot of people fucking hate that the main character is a white male tortured asshole genius trope. Yeah there are lots of other characters they can focus on, but Nate is kind of a lot if that's not what you're into. I will never in my life UNDERSTAND not being into it because that trope is literally what got me into the show, but I realize I'm in the minority there.

4. Gotta get a little more serious now. One thing I appreciate about the Leverage fandom is we usually don't get hung up in arguments about what's problematic about the show and what issues people "should be talking about." We realize it's a show from the late 2000s created by a couple of white guys and it's not perfect, and then we focus on all the great stuff it was able to accomplish anyway. I LIKE that. BUT. It means when we go to recommend it to people, we sometimes oversell it. "It's a queer poly band of thieves trying to take down capitalism!" Well, no, it actually isn't. Just because JR likes to talk about how the OT3 is so totally canon actually doesn't make it true. He says he did everything the network allowed him to do, but now that he's making Redemption the way it is, we can guess that's not entirely true either. I think there are actually no canon gays except that one lady cop. And speaking of cops, there are a lot of those, and they're sometimes corrupt but they're very often good guys and sending the bad guys to jail is very often written as a major win, and that is understandably a problem for a lot of people. And finally, they are not actually trying to take down capitalism. I think it was Latimer who told them that they were actually just trying to REGULATE the system, not take it down -- and HE WAS RIGHT. They're trying to fix the system by taking down the Bad CEOS and replacing them with Good CEOS, which is an easier sell on 2000s network TV than it is to a new watcher today. There are other issues that might be more problematic to some people, I'm just using these ones to make my point that some of the most commonly mentioned selling points of Leverage aren't entirely accurate. So just be realistic when recommending it to avoid some serious sticker shock.

[answrs]

makima-s-most-smile

Insert the 'What?' Meme. Did I miss something?

@makima-s-most-smile oh you lucky bastard for not having encountered this (jk jk).

(the tags on this post, for reference)

#anti nonsense #christ the brainrot has spread deep #yeah you get three guesses and the first two don't count it's the pla fandom children* again because who else would it be 🤦 #*gods i fucking hope it's only twelve year olds doing this. i know it's not but let me exist in a more sane world for a moment please. #i have never seen a fandom so violently obsessed with yelling about a pairing where half the ship legit doesn't even exist in the source medium #I am BEGGING y'all to be fucking normal. #the bar was set so low and you're digging into the earth's core to go under it

I’m gonna just tldr sum up the drama for other people just tuning in with unknown level of knowledge on this absurd level of nonsense too:

*DEEP BREATH* OKAY SO! tldr there's a giant moral panic in the legends arceus fandom from purity culture/antis about a super niche incest pairing of side character warden ingo and his (notably absent) brother emmet. except the sheer SCALE to which this spitting, vitriolic (...and performative: see the giant shitfest when japanese fanartists started blocking people with ‘proship dni’s and suddenly those dnis ~mysteriously disappeared~ like hmm! might be something there!) hatred means that basically any fluff piece that gets posted also comes with a giant “ALSO I KILL INCEST SHIPPERS I MUST CONSTANTLY REMIND EVERYONE OF THE FACT AN INCEST PAIRING EXISTS WITH THESE TWO CHARACTERS FUCKING ON ANY AND ALL G-RATED FLUFF PIECES”

yeah so that’s the background. like ive literally seen fics of the teen sidekick getting railed by the entire adult cast float around but nah, it’s only this one, niche pairing that gets plastered all over the tags on the genfic tags on ao3. (which, again, shows how performative out the wazoo it is with these people. seeing ‘proship dni’ tagged on a fanfic on archive of our own, the site literally built by a wincest shipper to host Problematic™ Content™™ the first time absolutely sent me... but the six hundred times after that were much less funny. also the death threats that some come with. yeah. not funny.)

anyway i noticed it started spreading into parental ingo&protagonist fics where emmet is literally not even mentioned whatsoever a few weeks ago. and now i have found at least one fic that’s at the point where neither character involved in the pairing are even present in said media. and the fucking ‘bLaNkShIp dNi’ tags are still there.

[andoqin]

Heroes

Well, I’ve finally got some time off and I finally started Heroes.

Caps incoming bc ohhh this show is gorgeous and at least for ep 1 the writing is snappy, the symbolism palpable and the action and mood remind me of the best Wuxia classics.

We start out our story with a storyteller singing a song at night and a somewhat bedraggled looking Wang XiaoShi walking past, remarking that the song includes people he knows very well and that he is on his way to bury the most important person to him (contained within a black box he has fastened to his horse). They remark they met some 10 years ago and already I like the set up, bc I like stories within stories (well sorta, it’s not explicitly framed as such) and we go back 10 years when WXS was but a bright eyed and bushy tailed strapping young lad on his way to make his mark in the JiangHu.

Because this show is not subtle with its narrative set ups he is now charged with carrying a white jade box, the McGuffin that will bring us through the first episode.

WXS looks innocent enough but as the episode reveals he’s as deadly a fighter as anyone if the need calls for it, so him being sent off to deliver a message that might ~overturn the JiangHu at least feels somewhat deserved. 

Along the way he meets two new friends:

A pretty girl named Wen Rou, who knows how to make an entrance and

Bai Choufei (as we later find out his name is). I can already tell he’s going to be a Problematic (tm) fav, he’s got ambition and skill out of the wazoo and his broad shoulders are barly capable of holding on to the chip he’s keeping there when it comes to becoming famous.

Tavern shenanigans happen, as they must and mmmm the show really knows how to set up the wuxia mood.

This dude is a whole ass mood bc he’s got like the single braincell amongst the mob characters

More McGuffin related shenanigans happen and our main characters are in equal parts cute, hot and competent, although Wen Rou is not as competent a fighter as the other two guys, but she’s not without resources.

She is also ridiculously pretty and I cant wait to see the actress in Seven Lifetimes Love or whatever the english name is.

She also has no concept of personal boundaries, which is not sth that WXS seems to mind too much hahaha.

Thankfully BCF and WXS decide to be on the same side and then we get an incredible sequence with great visuals, editing and some neat wuxia fighting on top.

Honestly these caps barely do it justice because the scene is underlaid with a great sweeping acoustic OST.

Afterwards BCF and WXS go back to the (wrecked) tavern and BCF tells WXS he should ENTRUST HIMSELF to BCF which not being me he doesn’t jump at the chance to but WR also basically calls dibs on WXS hahaha.

Then some more SYMBOLISM happens (Lei Chun - the woman who basically organised the town massacre for the McGuffin loses her faceveil while looking at the sea, BCF catches it for one second before it’s blown away by the wind) and then our intrepid little trio makes the journey to the capital so WXS can fulfill his quest.

Meng Ziyi is also ridiculously pretty!

This is here because it always amuses me to think of the minutes when they’re crawling up/down these rocks to get to that place, must look so undignified lmao.

on their way they meet - of couse - the storyteller and WR tells him her two companions are gonna be FAMOUS some day and i’m sure she’s right.

[dragynkeep]

think I've been shadowbanned, but to light the match that burns Tumblr down: Bumblebee for the ask game?

send me a ship & i'll make it problematic.

canon legit already did this for us but off the top of my head : emotional manipulation, white saviourism, racism in the relationship, infantilizing yang's disability, lack of communication, toxic as all hell, emotional co-dependence out the wazoo. also yang shoved her into a table so clearly physical abuse too huh :// [/j]

[animebw]

Short Reflection: Call of the Night

Genuine question: is the Monogatari series still relevant in today’s weebdom? I know when I started getting into anime back in 2017, it was still hot on everyone’s mind. But now that it’s finished airing, I wonder if Shaft’s decade-long arthouse supernatural romantic dramedy still holds the same pull it used to. Will weebs of today and tomorrow still hold it in high regard, or are we leaving it behind for greener pastures, preferably pastures with at least 90% less child molestation? Perhaps only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: as long as longtime series director Tomoyuki Itamura is still putting out new work, the spirit of Monogatari will never truly die. And if you’ve been missing that magic in your life, then Call of the Night is here to fill the hole left by its absence. A vampire story set in the supernatural underbelly of ordinary society that’s sort of but not really about romance? Check. Dialogue that crackles with the snap of a writer perhaps a little too impressed with himself? Check. A trippy, gorgeous visual aesthetic that paints the normal world like you’ve never seen it before? Check. Problematic elements up the wazoo? Oh, you better believe that’s a check. Monogatari may be gone, but Call of the Night is proof that its spirit will live on for quite some time to come, for better or worse.

So, the story. Ko Yamori is an average fourteen-year-old kid, does well in school, gets along with people, perfectly normal and content. Until one day he just... isn’t. Suddenly, that normalcy he built his life around starts to feel suffocating and unbearable, the mores of normal life a prison he yearns to break out of. So, he does what any rebellious would do: he stars going out in the dead of night, wandering the empty city streets that were so full and bustling in the day. In this weird nocturnal universe, both familiar and alien, Yamori finds an escape from the pressures of society, a place where he can just exist. He also finds vampires. Or rather, he finds a vampire: the flighty, snarky Nazuna Nanakusa who eagerly pulls him deeper into the night’s siren call. She’s as much of an awkward mess as he is, albeit in different ways, but the two of them find an extremely powerful comfort in each other. And Yamori, feeling more alive at night than he ever did during the day, decides to become a vampire himself, an eternal denizen of the early AM alongside Nazuna. The catch? In order to become a vampire, Yamori has to be in love with Nazuna when she sucks his blood. And there are few things that Yamori feels less of a connection to than romance.

It’s certainly a unique take on the vampire mythos: what happens when a supernaturally beautiful undead and a confused aromantic delinquent decide to start hanging out? And while Call of the Night is certainly a horny show- if you’ve seen Monogatari, you know exactly the kind of lavishly detailed body part fanservice you’re in for- I appreciate how low-key it keeps most of its sexual elements. Sex is part of the equation, but rarely in a distracting way; the real appeal comes from the complicated emotions and relationships that grow among its cast. Nazuna and Yamori aren’t the only ones awake at night, after all, and as the show goes on, we meet a wide cast of characters with their own reasons to shrink from the light of day. Stress at work, alienation from classmates, the thrill of a new experience, wallowing in misery... the night in Call of the Night is at once a fully fleshed-out setting and the thematic crux behind its ruminations on society. Night is where people go to be free, to escape, to leave everything behind and start fresh. But it’s also where people go to sink, to succumb, to stagnate in an entirely new way. Sometimes, it’s all of those things at once. Who’s to say what drives people to leave the waking world behind?

And Call of the Night is at its best when it’s leaning into that ennui. As a grand metaphor for societal alienation, there is so much powerful and captivating about, well, the call of the night. It’s a beautiful portrayal of the myriad of reasons we seek to leave the familiar behind, and the unexpected discoveries we make when we step into the unknown, for good or ill. It’s wandering a place you’ve never been before and letting yourself just happen upon whatever comes your way. It’s discovering a new subculture and finding a community there among like-minded weirdos and outcasts. It’s the unexpected rush of danger when you realize that this new, exciting world has problems just as terrifying as the one you left behind. And it doesn’t hurt that the character banter is uniformly fantastic, the music is a lo-fi-beats-to-relax-to masterpiece, and the gorgeous color palette makes for the single most alluring nightscape I’ve ever seen. Seriously, the way Itamura brings life to the empty 2 AM streets and overexposed city lights is some absolutely mind-expanding shit. It makes me want to wander a city’s streets at night myself, experiencing the same entrancing pull as any of these wallpaper-worthy shots.

But like I said above, it wouldn’t be in the spirit of Monogatari if there wasn’t some cringe-ass problematic content amidst all this artistic genius. The most obvious issue is the giant, raging Oedipus complex this show has; it reeeeeeally likes to build sexual tension between the fourteen-year-old protagonist and the very adult vampire women in his orbit. It’s never specified exactly what age all the immortal bloodsuckers are, but they definitely all read mature in an often fetish-y way, Nazuna included. Which, you know, there’s always gonna be some unavoidable issues when you’re writing a story about a human in love with an ageless being who can live for hundreds of years, and vampire fiction isn’t exactly new to this territory. So on the one hand, I can’t really blame Call of the Night for wearing its onee-san kink so proudly on its sleeve. But by the time you reach the final arc and there’s an actual human woman putting the moves on Yamori, it starts to feel like author Kotoyama has some serious childhood issues he needs to work through.

That said, there’s another issue here that’s a lot more subtle, but also makes me a lot more uncomfortable. Let’s cut right to the chase: Call of the Night has a weird habit of bringing up something sexist and predatory that men do to women, but writing it in a scenario where it’s kind of the woman’s fault. The gyaru vampire has a stalker who literally tries to break down the door of the karaoke both she’s in, but he quickly realizes his mistake and it’s portrayed more as the gyaru’s fault for listlessly going through relationships and not giving them that much thought. There’s a subplot about someone taking sneak photos in a changing room, but it turns out it was just one of the girls taking photos of herself to try and boost her online popularity. The final arc kicks off with an attack from a savage vampire that has some very loaded imagery of him attacking and menacing Yamori’s female classmate Akira, but he’s dispatched with a peaceful goodbye and it’s implied he was led astray by a female vampire who turned him into a monster. Time and again, this show sets itself up to comment on misogynist attitudes and actions, but backs off from it and makes it all about some girl’s mistakes leading to this point. And I’m genuinely not sure if Kotoyama was doing this intentionally, didn’t realize the implications, or wanted to explore this theme but chickened out. Either way, it’s a weird noxious undercurrent that isn’t immediately obvious, but becomes impossible to ignore once you’re aware of it. I’m not asking the horny vampire show to be some grand feminist statement, but it would be nice if it didn’t feel so dumb about gender roles, especially since a big part of its finale explicitly calls attention to the limits of gender roles and the importance of moving beyond them, Kind of a mixed message, that’s all I’m saying.

But you know what? if I could stomach the worst of Monogatari’s missteps to enjoy that show on its own terms, I can stomach this. Call of the Night may have its missteps, but it’s one of the most engrossing shows I watched all season, as eclectic and singular as its older sibling before it. It’s a deliciously captivating look at what inspires people to throw off the shackles of conformity, and what new questions one finds to ponder after crossing to the other side. It’s an alluring show about the nature of allure itself, and it mesmerized me like few anime ever do. So why not answer its call yourself? You might just find something beautiful waiting beyond the boundaries of the ordinary. And I give it a score of:

7.5/10

Next time? The big masterpost of all the other anime I watched this season. See you then!

[astridabove]

am I the only one who just enjoys shipping and sends off a “you do you” salute to the ships I don’t like?

that was rhetorical; I know I’m not the only one lmao

i’m not cool with incest pairings in fiction. so I don’t participate in that content 🙃 looking at you anna x elsa shippers haha. I don’t get you at all but you do you ✌🏻

another thing: am I the only one who doesn’t really care if a ship might be *a little problematic* in canon?

again that’s rhetorical

because sokka/azula holy hell I would never get behind it in canon, but it’s fire when written well and the art is *chef’s kiss*

and I get that disney has representation problems out the wazoo, i’m not about to harp on their genius, but I still adore loki/sylvie in canon and will not stop. i’m not hurting anybody by liking a pairing. i’m not perpetuating bad representation by *liking a pairing* ffs.

and I’m still iffy on sesshomaru/rin but you know what? oh well. i still like yashahime. anime be weird anyway. ffssss.

am I just old or

sincerely,

a survivor of the atla shipping wars from way back when

as well as the inukag vs inukik vs sesskag wars

and maybe also the team edward vs team jacob wars if I’m being honest

fiction is NOT reality and that’s ok

make love not war ✌🏻

[romeave]

regarding submissive uwu breedable zane ro’meave

although zanvis typically accredited with it’s creation, submissive uwu breedible zane ro’meave (which will henceforth be referred to as SUBZ for my own sake) was a plague that affected all zane x dude ships in the aphmau fandom. fics that include SUBZ usually depict zane as a vulnerable, too pure for this world little bean that the other party (typically travis or gene) is free to either fix or fuck with. these fics were often written by a younger demographic and tended to feature a number of problematic tropes, triggering topics, and demonization/infantilization of mental illness. also SUBZ kept turning into a neko. just constantly. all the time. catboy hours out the wazoo.

but, those are all issues that apply to any mlm ship in any fandom. i’m here to talk about my issues with SUBZ, not a systematic issue that an essay on BakuDeku or SaiOma or Gacha kids or general fandom could explain much better than I ever could. my account is called zane-romeave, don’t expect too much more than zane content.

there isn’t anything too wrong with zane being uwu. zane has been uwu as early as his first appearance. i’m not going to deny my lil guy to sip his lil tea and get his lil beauty rest and tell aph that no one will trust his word over hers because he is just a lil guy who has done nothing wrong, uwu.

but zane ro’meave is not a submissive lil bottom why tf is that the popular interpretation of his character.

i don’t really know what more to say about that he straight up just, is not. zane doesn’t just roll over like an obedient dogboy at every minor inconvenience. i have no idea who this fictional man is that you are all talking about but he is not my asshole catboy zane ro’meave. he’s power hungry and thrives when in control. if given the opportunity he will gladly turn whoever into his lil puppet. he will achievworld domination if it costs him his left eye.

and this isn’t even just my silly little headcanon it’s the most consistent part of his characterization. mcd zane....exists. mermaid tails zane works for tavari to complete his end goal of being a larger crab. mystreet zane rarely helps people if there's nothing to gain, often adding humiliating favors to his negotiations (ex. refusing to help kc with anything ever again unless she follows all his advice exactly). even lil baby sophomore zane in pdh s2 chose to commit a crime and pin it on the sks so he can save the day in the end so they are both indebted to him and think he is badass. this was a response to making him cry. zane ro’meave could kill god.

SUBZ, by nature of being submissive, could never do any of that! He’s written to be pathetic and vulnerable, an overly passive permanent pity partier so the other party can swoop in and save the day. SUBZ is often the target of a sad and tragic backstory but is rarely, if ever allowed to stand up against whatever it is that’s harming him currently. you see, if the other party magically solves all the issues with their big muscles, SUBZ will instantly fall in love and get mpreged and they will live happily ever after as a nuclear family. if that doesn’t happen, SUBZ will just die a tragic death. How is SUBZ supposed to kill god if he’s physically unable to hurt a fly?

i do understand that i have made out zane canon to be a bit of a heartless monster who shouldn’t be in any kind of relationship. however, the power thing is also what makes zane great for both platonic and romantic ships. once zane warms up to a person, he develops a protective devotion unmatched by the divines themselves. a passionate young man, zane will do whatever it takes to keep the object of his affection safe and happy, prioritizing them over others and himself — not in a SUBZ way he’s just got low self importance — because they deserve it. although he isn’t outwardly affectionate, it is with genuine love and care that he tries to be the zane the other party wants him to be.

SUBZ can not love. Not with the instensity and passion that Zane can love.

SUBZ would never think to threaten aaron because SUBZ wants aph to have the guy of her dreams. SUBZ would not break all of his codes and help someone just because aph wants that of him. SUBZ wouldn’t try and change himself for the better at aph’s bequest. SUBZ wouldn’t have to psych himself up to ask to take this relationship slower because he knows it would upset his partner. If faced with a traumatic life or death situation in which he’s kidnapped, gets turned into a mindslave , discovers ghosts exist and want to hit that, and garrothed, SUBZ would not bottle all that up and beat himself up over being unable to protect his best friend from a similar fate.

not saying that’s healthy or anything (it is not, btw) just saying that SUBZ is a piece of printer paper so devoid of zane he’s practically a different character. by ignoring zane’s weird power thing, you’re ignoring 80% of your zane. you’re left with nothing but ponies, cupcakes, and a list of traits without any meaning or motive behind them. that’s not a character, that’s the opening to g4 MLP.

TL;DR: Zane Ro’Meave is a chad alpha male who makes anyone else look submissive and breedable by comparison

[shadowfae]

Not trying to be rude, I am just a little confused. “People were already afraid of sharks when Jaws came out. It amplified that fear and fed back into reality.” So why would fiction romanticizing pedophilia not amplify and feed back into reality? Also, have you read Lolita? Again, I just need clarification because I’m trying to genuinely learn the arguments so I can find where I stand

I have. And it was a horror story with an unreliable narrator. That was also how it was intended, and I’m a little surprised not everyone got that. You know what it did? Take pedophilia from something never talked about and taboo and brought it into the international limelight to be studied and talked about, because suddenly pedophiles could be well-liked priests and good people everyone likes, not just always some scummy guy in an alleyway. It was monumental to help victims, because suddenly they could be believed. No big “oh okay pedophiles and giving children horrific trauma is okay now this book I read said so :)” happened whatsoever.

As for why Jaws did what fanfiction doesn’t: people already were afraid of sharks, and my fics that don’t top two hundred views and ten kudos aren’t being seen in theatres worldwide, and seriously dude how many people do you think are secretly okay with pedophilia in real life???

If fanfiction was going to normalize anything, Game of Thrones would have normalized it. And if you won’t go after GRRM, don’t go after some queer writer who doesn’t get paid to deal with your shit. GoT has incest and rape and pedophilia up the wazoo, and none of it’s tagged, and yet somehow people aren’t falling over themselves thinking dragons are real and it’s okay to fuck your sister.

Almost like fiction isn’t likely to change your mind unless you were already open to it, and it’s far more likely to validate what you already know, and if you’re reading fanfiction looking for a moral to the story... there is something wrong with you, dude, and I the writer am not obligated nor going to help you work through that. Maybe try an English class for third graders that makes you do basic literary analysis. And that probably sounds harsh, but it has to be. I do more work than fucking Game of Thrones to ensure people don’t get hurt if they want to read my fic, and I get called one of the worst things to ever fucking accuse someone of in return. You know if you call someone a pedophile in real life, they usually lose their job? You know that sort of accusation ruins people’s lives? You remember that? You haven’t forgotten it and reduced the meaning of a horrific child predator and abuser to someone you don’t like on the internet?

I do nothing the average YA author doesn’t do. I am going nowhere that hasn’t been gone before by people far more mainstream. And nobody has a problem with them, so if you’re gonna have an issue just with me and not them because I write fanfiction... Your misogyny and queerphobia is showing. Misogyny, because what is fanfiction if not women’s writing (and I acknowledge that as a man); and queerphobia, because this argument LITERALLY ONLY HAPPENS against queer writers. You’d forgive whatever show by and involving white men of all their sins, of course they can’t be better, but shred every queer thing to bits if it isn’t perfect. Dream Daddy, Thomas Sanders, Steven Universe, you fucking name it - it’s all Problematic and Secretly Pedophilia and Secretly Fascist Propoganda because it’s queer and not picture perfect with a moral for babies.

I’m not mad at you personally, anon, but there’s no other way to demonstrate how fucking asinine this entire thing is. If someone’s looking through my fic for a moral of the story that can be applied to real life: get lost and go read a book for five year olds. I’m not writing for you.

[fallout-drabbles-n-stuff]

Companions and their mental health statuses?

(Wrote this while listening to a Spotify playlist named "going absolutely fucking apeshit" anyway- I'm gonna split this up by what I think character wise...and then my experiences with these seggsy bitches in game bc boy, it's been wild)

Cait:

•Sufferer of severe trauma throughout her life.

•Shit just gets worse

•Fights for her life and has a strong love for psycho before a special someone convinced her she is worthy of being loved

•Trust issues out the wazoo..for sadly, good reasons.

•Maybe not the worst on the list, but definitely up there.

In game experience...

•GOD DAMN FALLOUT VERSION OF LYDIA- like seriously? Gtfo the doorway! I'm getting blown up!

•Hates everyone and everything except sole and breaking the law.

Curie:

•Actually not all that bad...except for secret abandonment issues.

•Usually masks it by burying herself in research.

•As far as these poor bastards go, she's probably one of the most mentally stable- which is scary.

In game experience.....

•Sweet Frenchie with asshole pets.

(I don't travel with her often 🥲)

Danse:

Pre-Blind Betrayal-

•Confirmed sufferer of PTSD

•Blames himself for the death of several team members.

•Evidence points towards un-talked about alcoholism.

•Seems to be attracted to power armour..

•Not very good but not the worst on this list..

Post-Blind Betrayal-

•Same as above but add on identity crisis times a thousand and two.

•Will literally kill himself (or let you kill him) if you don’t convince him otherwise.

In game experience....

•Fucking goes apeshit, pre or post BB

•Completely unaware of his surroundings unless it has to do with vertibirds flying over head, then it's time for guerrilla warfare. "Fate has decreed that you must die!"- he speaks, drawing a laser rifle.

•Has been caught on multiple instances doing drugs out of the drug vending machine in Nuka World despite clearly being against them.

Deacon:

•Probably one of the more mentally fucked.

•Lost his wife in front of his own eyes in a notably terrible way.

•Escapes his deep seeded pain through his elaborate schemes, justifying it by telling himself it helps his organization.

•Still feels like shit every waking minute.

•Cant really allow himself to get close to anyone because of his experiences.

In game experiences...

•Asshole

•Jumpscare king, mainly because I didn't know he changed outfits THAT often.

•Doesn't like physical affection???  Shit that actually makes sense..

•Stalker.

Gage:

•He's pretty "meh" on the sanity scale. He's ruthless, but he's entirely stable besides his attachment issues.

•Trusts too easy and hates himself for it...also tries to make himself not be that way and for the most part, it works!

•Problematic raider.

In game experience...

•Makes stupid comments at inappropriate times as though he wishes for the enemies to murder us

•Thinks that walking through walls is entirely possible and gets stuck every time I run with him

Hancock:

•The actual worst on this fine list of mentally messed up individuals.

•Self worth is just nonexistent despite being a pretty all around decent guy

•Uses drugs to cover up terrible trauma to the point of putting himself in the greatest danger just short of dying

•Oh yeah, doesn't mind death actually.

•Doesn't feel worthy of anything deep down.

in game experience...

•Shoots sole for stealing shit in the third rail

•Unhinged

•Sits for hours

Macready:

•Lost his wife in a horrific way

•Only has his son, who he is convinced is going to die sooner than later because of something he can't control

•Willing to do everything if it means caps to send to his sick child

•Doesn't really have a place to call his "home"

•Reckless and unforgiving

In game experience...

•Being nice? How dare you speak such ill language.

•Kleptomaniac

Maxson:

•Does as good as a boy his age with all of the responsibility possibly could.

•Just imagine- your dad died when you were super young. Your mother shipped your ass away. The people you loved like family died all around you. Now you're stuck in foreign land and have no fucking idea where to begin, only that you have to mobilize these fuckers you're in charge of and remain a good leader...

•Still not good enough? Okay, pile on insomnia, alcoholism, and the thought that you have no one alive that truly loves you as more than just the "elder". Oh, but you eventually got to spit out some kids somehow because you're the last of the great "Maxson" line...

•Also not exactly on the "stable" side..

In game experience...

•Stares intently down the Prydwen command deck with his hands behind his back..for hours.

•Never wants to chat :(

•Long winded and short sighted, bad combo..

Nick:

•Has to deal with not only demons that technically aren't even his, but after "reunions"- Kellogg's fucked up self haunts him. He keeps it to himself and suffers silently.

•Deals with the pain of knowing there will never be a place where is truly just himself. He's a man trapped inside of a metal cage..and yet he's not even really "that" man, is he?

•One could easily understand how he has some issues too.

In game experience...

•Cigarettes? Yes.

•Oh, Youre in a fight? Seems like a good time to tighten the bolts in my hand right about now...

•Wields a flamer like a champ.

Piper:

•Surprisingly..has the most sound mental state out of all.

•Is a little obsessive tho

•Has had to adapt to the role of sibling and parent to her younger sister, which isn't easy for anyone.

•Often delves into her work, sort of like curie, to avoid dealing with the pain of her parents no longer being there for her or nat.

In game experience..

•Hey kid, want some Nuka-Cola?

•Mayor McDonough shall die, even if it means execution by the hands of everyone else in Diamond City.

Preston:

•Has canonically admitted to considering suicide.

•Is holding onto the last threads of hope he has with a fucking death grip.

•Definitely not of the best mental state

In game experience...

•Doesn't know how to properly use furniture.

•Can hear sole coming from a mile away and is already getting the map out for the next settlement

X6-88:

•Emotions? Is that a snack?

•Seriously though, he has been "reset" so many times that sometimes-he doesn't even realize it- he doesn't even know what "he" is. Every aspect of who he is..it should be gone, he's a machine and he knows it...why does he still feel like a person?

•Short story, he hates life. He hates being held captive and being used like a damn hound to hunt down those who were smart enough to run- those of which he envied and didn't even realize he did. Hey, he's just a machine though- it's his job and he knows better than to revolt.

•Violence is the freedom he feel he has. He can kill and track in any way he wants, so long as it is successful and what the Institute deem appropriate. It's horrible, but he doesn't realize it- and at this point he doesn't care. The death of another and the way they die by his hand is just his way of expressing who he is deep down.

In game experience...

•Oi, you don't like the institue? FUCK YOU

[spaceshipkat]

i think so much of writing respectfully and inclusively is being aware of what you’re putting down on the page. what do i mean by this? what better author to focus on than sj///m, right? i’ll start with CCity on this, since it’s the one where it’s most obvious she’s trying so hard to fix her mistakes, but the problem always comes back to her fundamental misunderstanding of why and how her shit is problematic in the first place and what she must do to fix said problematic shit. 

i’m sticking this under a cut bc, surprise surprise, i rambled 😌

take, for instance, Hunt: i think it’s pretty widely-accepted he’s coded as a MOC, (potentially an Asian-coded man) since he’s given “golden-brown skin” and “angular” eyes. sj//m was trying to be more inclusive by writing him in such a way that he shouldn’t be perceived as white, but what she failed to realize is two big things: 1) the fact he’s a slave of centuries who is constantly tortured, mutilated, and manipulated by his oppressors, and 2) the fact he lusts after and is demeaned by Bruce, a white girl. furthermore, Bruce constantly makes comments about how Hunt should fight back, shouldn’t allow himself to remain a slave, and taunts him into either disobeying Micah (the man he’s enslaved to) or killing for her. it’s made clear time and time again that Hunt doesn’t like that he’s an assassin for Micah, and yet there are so many instances of him wanting to kill or hurt someone for Bruce, which not only makes his characterization inconsistent, it plays into the problematic trope of the dark-skinned aggressor (a trope that sj///m seems to be particularly fond of, what with the Illyrians). 

(on the topic of Hunt, a quick side-note: the idea of the “alphahole” that comes up again and again in CCity and that antis have critiqued up the wazoo (though not with the “alphahole” colloquialism until CCity came along, but i don’t think many antis actually use “alphahole” as anything but a joke when talking about her obvious love of the hypermasculine alpha male). sj///m is clearly trying to call out her past mistakes and work to rectify them going forward, but she completely fails bc she only succeeds at 1) mocking her readers, who are often fans of hers bc they like the alpha male douchebag sj///m is infamous for, and 2) making herself sound like an idiot when she calls out “alphahole” behavior while actively writing “alphaholes” and making them (possible) endgame love interests (i say possible bc it’s anyone’s guess if sj///m will actually subvert everyone and their mother’s expectations by making Hunt endgame). Hunt is an “alphahole,” even if he’s not quite as bad as riceman or rowboat and even if sj///m thinks she’s not actually writing an “alphahole”. with his aforementioned behavior toward anyone who’s mean to Bruce (aka wanting to kill them for her), he still falls under the “alphahole” category.

but i digress.)

another example of sj///m writing without being aware of what she’s actually putting on the page is her inclusion of queer rep. sj///m queerbaits quite a lot with Danika, thanks to lines she has involving Bruce and her relationship with Bruce, not to mention how many times others wonder if Bruce and Danika are “just” best friends and not actually lovers. we have Hunt wonder about it, after all, several times iirc. one that stands out the most is when he says that they have to be more than “just” best friends because Bruce doesn’t mourn Danika like someone mourns “just” their best friend, thus implying that Bruce is mourning Danika like a lover and/or spouse (bc obviously people can’t be torn to pieces over losing their best friend in a horrific attack, right?). 

here’s some lines that have romantic connotations bc i am nothing if not a historian who likes citations: 

page 38 of my ebook: 

Danika just said it. “If he grabs his phone to check his messages before his dick’s barely out of you again, please have the self-respect to kick his balls across the room and come home to me.” 

page 45 of my ebook: 

But it was Danika’s added “Love you” as [Bruce] slipped out into the grimy hallway that made her hesitate with her hand on the knob. 

It’d taken Danika a few years to save those words, and she still used them sparingly. Danika had initially hated it when [Bruce] said them to her—even when [Bruce] explained that she’d spent most of her life saying it, just in case it was the last time. In case she wouldn’t get to say goodbye to the people who mattered most. And it had taken one of their more fucked-up adventures[...]to get Danika to utter the words, but at least she now said them. Sometimes. 

page 258 of my ebook (aka the line of Hunt’s i referenced above): 

The silence pressed on [Hunt] enough that he asked, “Were you and Danika lovers?” 

He’d been told two years ago that they weren’t, but friends didn’t mourn each other the way [Bruce] seemed to have so thoroughly shut down every part of herself. The way he had for Shahar. 

[...]

Hunt turned in place as [Bruce] padded around the other end of the kitchen island, flinging open the enormous metal fridge to examine its meager contents. “No,” [Bruce] said, her voice flat and cold. “Danika and I weren’t like that.” 

page 696 of my ebook: 

[Bruce] swallowed, looking at the ground that was not earth, but the very base of Self, of the world. She whispered, “I’m scared.”

Danika grabbed her hand again. “That’s the point of it, [Bruce]. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow. It makes everything that much more precious.” She took [Bruce’s] face in her hands and pressed their brows together. 

page 700 of my ebook (and i was torn on including this one, but it’s from Danika, so i think i should): 

Danika had whispered, “I love you,” before fading into nothing, her hand sliding from Bryce’s.

page 703 of my ebook (also torn on this, but it does sound a little queer, so): 

But it wasn’t okay. Not even close. What had happened, what [Bruce had] done and revealed, the Horn in her body, all those people dead, Lehabah dead, and seeing Danika, Danika, Danika—

Her breathless words turned into pants, and then shuddering sobs.

also, not for nothing, but the fact Danika dies without an actual male love interest to make Her Straightness Obvious kinda also implies she’s queer, but *sips tea*

furthermore, there’s the way sj///m writes Fury and Juniper: we see the two women together in one scene, in which Juniper is fetishized and goes to sleep with some random guy. for the rest of the book, they never interact on-page and thus we are never given the chance to see their dynamic, which would provide crucial context clues to what their relationship really is by the time this exchange happens between Fury and Bruce on page 494 of my ebook:

“And yet you can still talk to Juniper?” Bryce’s throat closed up. “I wasn’t worth the risk to you?”

Fury hissed, “Juniper and I have something that is none of your fucking business.” Bryce refrained from gaping. Juniper had never hinted, never suggested—“I could no sooner stop talking to her than I could rip out my own fucking heart, okay?”

“I get it, I get it,” Bryce said. She blew out a long breath. “Love trumps all.”

i’ve talked about this scene to death, but this is written in such a way that it can be read as “just” best friends or as two women in a romantic relationship, depending on the reader. the fact that Bruce “gapes” (which faerug also does to Mor, and which i talk about below) implies that being openly queer isn’t accepted in this world, that it’s not very likely you’ll see two women holding hands as they walk down the sidewalk or kiss at a romantic restaurant. it also implies that Bruce, no matter that she says about “love trumps all,” might not be as accepting as sj///m would like us to believe. maybe sj///m has never had a friend come out to her before, but if i came out to someone and they gaped at me (and i’ve come out to several people several times now, both about my sexuality and my gender, so i have some experience here), i don’t think i would be very happy with them/want to remain their friend. 

on the note of queer rep in sj///m’s work, Mor is another fantastic example of trying to be inclusive through a response to criticism without sj///m being aware of what, exactly, she’s writing. Mor comes out because faerug all but forces her to by not shutting up what a good guy Azriel is and that Mor should just give him a chance. that right there is fucked on so many levels, not just because Mor is a lesbian, but bc she’s supposedly faerug’s friend. no one should ever force their friends to date someone they don’t want to (i’ve had this happen to me! i had to literally snap at my friend to get her to back off bc i wasn’t going to go to the dance with this one guy who ignored my every rejection and bought us tickets to winter formal, just bc he’s a nice guy and i might like him if i gave him a chance), but i don’t think sj///m could figure out how else to write Mor’s coming out scene, largely bc she has no fucking clue how disgusting the scene we’re given is. the problem with Mor being a lesbian is threefold: 1) she’s a woman who was tortured by her father and left to die bc she was no longer a virgin; 2) Azriel spends centuries lusting after a woman who makes it clear time and again that she does not reciprocate his feelings and yet he cannot take the fucking hint, so much so that sj///m has to now dangle Elain in front of him like a piece of meat to get him to let go of Mor; and 3) sj///m was obviously setting up Mor and Azriel to be an endgame couple in ac0maf, as evidenced both in canon and in her pinterest board: 

even stans picked up on it, what with their vocal outrage over how Mor “led Azriel on” for centuries instead of just outing herself to a man she obviously does not feel safe around, and posts like these: 

and fanart like this: 

the tl;dr of this ramble is this: if you want to write inclusively and respectfully, you have to be 100% aware of everything you’re putting on the page. when people ask for advice on this kind of thing, my first comment is to always say they’re already on the right track bc they’re already thinking of this, rather than being unaware of problems bc a state of unawareness is where the problems begin to appear. Hafsah Faizal has talked about this before on her twitter (i wish i could find the tweet, but this is from eons ago), but if you write a character of color when you yourself are white, you have to be wholly conscious of how your white character talks to this character of color. if the character of color is constantly yelled at or ordered around or ignored by the white character, that’s a big problem. if you write a queer character when you yourself are straight, you have to be conscious of how your queer character comes out, is perceived by the reader, and is treated by the straight character. if the queer character comes out by comparing their bisexuality to forced prostitution, as is the case with Aedion and Lysandra in t0g, that’s a big problem. 

the moment you share your work for public consumption, it no longer matters what your intentions are (something sj///m has a lot of trouble understanding, hence why she over-explains everything in her interviews and on tours, not to mention why she force-feeds us her opinion of her characters in canon so we’re forced to share the exact same outlook on them) bc all that matters is what you’ve put down on the page. your words, at that point, have no choice but to speak for themselves, and if they do any of the above, your work is going to come under warranted critique, and unless you learn from that critique and do more than half-assed jobs to write more inclusively and respectfully, you’ll run into the exact same problems that sj///m has with CCity. 

[fanonical]

on the whole i agree with you, but draco and hermione are the same race: white. he does not racially bully her, he bullies her. equating "pureblood" and muggle borns to a race issue is insulting to actual real race issues that do exist both irl and within hp. it's more akin to a class issue, draco is an elitist who looks down on hermione because she isn't one - it's like when royals used to only marry other royals. so please stop saying it's racial bullying when it isn't.

“it’s more akin to a class issue” – no it isn’t??? Hermione’s parents are fucking dentists, she has money out the wazoo like the Malfoys; she is decided to be worth less than “purebloods” because of a genetic component of her heritage.

i agree that perhaps comparing into to racism isn’t necessarily the best comparison, but pretending it isn’t absolutely what Rowling was going for is… nonsense. it was absolutely meant to be her universe’s version of “race”. Being rude to people based on economic class already exists in Harry Potter – the Malfoys are horribly bigoted towards the Weasleys due to the difference they have in money, even though both are pureblood families – but regular normal non-magical racism doesn’t exist in the Wizarding World, by Rowling’s own admission.

EDIT: yes, i’m aware there that anti-black racism happens in a scene in Harry Potter; i’m almost 100% sure Rowling didn’t intend for it to be perceived that way (even though she’s a racist idiot for thinking that) so i think even though we see racism HAPPEN i’m pretty sure her statements later suggest that like, anti-black racism isn’t really a feature of her world which is.... its own problematic kettle of fish

also, Hermione canonically is black. so.

[thoughtsofatck]

I’ve Never Felt More...American

15 February, 2020

Location: Taiping, Perak

Three weeks in location! I spent time thinking about whether I wanted to post “More American” or “Less American” first. As the program progresses, I think I will have had more time to process all of the emotions and reflections that I had when first starting the program in Kuala Lumpur to post “Less American”. Therefore to start this post, I feel that many of my fellow ETAs and I will be able to relate on so many of these situations and dissimilarities between the two countries.

Growing up in the United States as a first generation Asian-American, there are certainly many traits and behaviors that were taught to us as children that we lead in our own lives to this day. Of such peculiarities are things like having a plastic bag of plastic bags to be used as trash bags later on (economical right!), and having a ton of tupperware - I have tins and containers out the wazoo here.

In conjunction, growing up in the United States, we unconsciously have adopted many traits and behaviors that are distinctly American regardless of our ethnic origins. One of these is the concept of time - Americans are notoriously on time for all meetings, events, and appointments. Malaysians however, well run Malaysian time. This means arriving anywhere from 20-40 minutes late and sometimes even 1-2 hours later than expected (in extreme cases). Understanding the implications of meeting at 2pm (read: 2:30~) has saved us from wasting so much time being confused and waiting and looking awkward. 

Furthermore, as a teacher in the United States, we constantly hear about the boundaries that we need to keep in place between student and teacher and even between teacher and teacher. Work life, personal life, and social life generally do not mix in the States but in Malaysia, these overlap immensely. In a culture that emphasizes community, it’s almost as if teachers and students become friends (somehow while still maintaining a level of respect and authority that is designed in their roles). Social media between teacher and student is strictly prohibited and can get both parties in serious trouble but here teachers and students follow each other and keep updated on each others’ lives, message outside of school and meet up on the weekends. Perhaps this is the way that teachers and students build relationships - students (and teachers) post what they want voluntarily instead of being pulling answers out of students in the States. So many of my school activities are focused on building relationships through interests/opinions, and finding ways to incorporate my students’ likes into the work they do. Since the curriculum is so tight, there isn’t much room to truly get to know students during school time. This is also likely why there are many awkward and overly personal questions we as ETAs get in the first few weeks (dare I say all year(?)) since the concept of personal vs professional (from the American framework) is blurred. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked if I’m married yet, what my religion is, my age, and my salary under the program. Any American reading this is surely horrified of the social boo-boos being committed here but all of these questions hold cultural significance in reference to honorifics, dietary restrictions, and class designation - general taboo topics outright in American culture but necessary to properly identify (and respect) an individual in the distinct boxes that Malaysians have created. The difficult part is that, as Americans, we inherently lie outside of these boxes and it can be difficult to label us in these pre-defined boxes that offer surface level identification but also differ in our individualized underlying reasoning for identifying a certain way. Vegetarianism is very common in Malaysia, observed by the Hindus in the country. Many Americans are also vegetarian for certain dietary requirements, ethical reasoning, and environmental causes that have no correlation to religion. As the weeks progressed, I realized that by me saying that I do not eat pork, many of the teachers assumed that I was also Muslim - a logical but false conclusion to my truth. 

Here comes the fun part.

Y’ALL. Squat toilets. Listen dear reader, please laugh, but nothing could prepare me to use squat toilets. As a first time traveler to Asia, I’m glad that I was alone for no one to witness the confusion, horror, and bewilderment on my face pushing open the stall door and seeing a step platform with aptly-fashioned hole in the floor.  Anyone who has travelled to Asia must have come into contact with these before and certainly has their own mental question marks to how to properly navigate this situation. No Western toilet, no toilet paper, and just a water hose (sometimes called a cebok). Some places just have a huge bucket and a water dipper. For the majority of us ETAs, this was a point of discussion because none of us knew what to do and were afraid to put ourselves in a situation that would ultimately make us very uncomfortable if not executed with true precision. It is not as if we could ask a local to teach us the proper way without flooding the place or giving ourselves a leg cramp. Wikihow(?). To the ETAs that have these “squatty potties” in their houses, I don’t know if you’re using them - but I salute you in navigating this new contraption. For future ETAs in Malaysia or Asia in general - BUY travel tissues! S/O to Watsons (a Malaysian pharmacy chain) because they’re economical and come in packs! For reference - I have yet to take the risk using this type of toilet and pray I never encounter the chance. 

Even coming to Malaysia from different locations in the US and different home living situations and ethnic backgrounds, I fundamentally believe there are so many ways that we as a cohort are bound together by - namely our openness to say what we think (freedom of thought and expression) and our commitment to individuality and our personal beliefs. As I discussed previously in a post about losing a lot of control in our lives, the way we think as Americans is a part of us that we get to keep but need to share cautiously. We tread this line between planting seeds of thought-provocation or committing social-cultural offenses. Even as a Malaysian-American, there are so many nuances that make it difficult to determine the appropriate response simply because of who I’m talking to. No generalizations can be made. Additionally, there are so many situations that as an American, I have not experienced and have no prior knowledge on to offer advice or even navigate myself. In the three weeks since beginning school, I think of a plethora of examples where I’ve had to recognize my own framework of thinking and respond in a way that (hopefully) wouldn’t offend who I’m speaking to and also not infringe on my own identity, beliefs, and desires for my time here. And believe me, it is not easy to protect and respect all of the facets of who we are and who we are interacting with. 

With that in mind, I resonate with a quote from J. William Fulbright**. “We must try to expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy and perception, and there is no way of doing that except through education.” In the cases where I’ve had to explain my way of thinking and/or my uncomfortability/disapproval to things viewed, said, or experienced, I attempt to do so in a way that shares what I am used to or believe and why I feel it is important for me to keep as an individual, especially when it seems encouraged for me to take part in. At the same time, I also ask for them to explain to me why certain occurrences happen - rather than their viewpoint on the subject. In this way, both of us feel validated in our contexts and neither of us is dismissed in the cultural and social exchange. Many times I feel like it is easy for us as Americans to write off cultural practices as simply weird or “just different” but all practices are logical and serve a purpose that we at guests in this country may not be aware of. I invite my fellow ETAs to seek out why confusing practices exist and not label them at face value. Many of my teacher colleagues have done the same in areas such as my teaching practices and eating habits. Without judgement, I’m able to explain my rationales and they respect them. If it is important enough to them for me to adopt/fulfill a cultural practice, they surely make it known. 

**I also recognize the problematic historical views of Mr. Fulbright and wish to explain that I do not support the mentality and viewpoints presented by him in many speeches and articles of legislature. 

[thecaffeinebookwarrior]

Can we talk about creators using minority characters as a marketing strategy? Like, creators who talk so much about how diverse their work(s) are and barely talking about the plot of it?

I personally don’t have an issue with people talking about diversity in their works, if they have a respectfully depicted cast of authentic, diverse characters to back it up.  True diversity is rare, and creators – particularly marginalized ones – are often excited about it.  Some people do use diversity as a marketing tool, but I’m willing to at least partially give them the benefit of the doubt.

Creators who ramble on and on about the diversity of their work and then cheerfully serve us a dead lesbian, a gay man as a fashion accessory, a token Black person who ends every sentence with “dawg,” and a Strong Female Character with exactly two personality traits, are the bane of my existence.

Another unrelated pet peeve, however, is when people assume diversity automatically equates to good media.  I say this as a queer, nonbinary woman.  Even if a piece of media has diversity out the wazoo, I won’t read or watch it if it the narrative structure and character development are shit.  I stopped watching Orange is the New Black, a show full of lesbians and people of color, because it appeared to be spiraling into a series of desperate bids for shock value (and also, Poussey.  I’ll never forgive them for that.)  DIVERSITY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY.

Similarly, “problematic” content (an asinine word for critiquing media, as all media has problems) or media that lacks diversity can be Good Media, with compelling plot structures and characterization, and I can still enjoy it while being aware of its flaws and taking notes on how to do better.

In short, diversity something I value immensely in my own work, but it isn’t a substitute for compelling characters, motivations, and plot.  Both creators and consumers must think critically about media on a case-by-case basis, and diversity ceases to be meaningful when it’s treated as a get-out-of-jail-free card for subpar content.  

I hope this answers your question somewhat!

[lunafeather]

Top 5 ships that should have happened and Top 5 ships that should NEVER have happened

Anon, this is fucking hard and that’s why it’s taken me a week to answer. It was also a really good one. You’re gonna get descriptions for everything!

Top 5 Ships That Should Have Happened

1. Wynonna x Dolls (Wynonna Earp). For fuck’s sake, it was a perfect slow burn between two messed up, truly good people. They had chemistry, they had humor, they had each other’s backs. They are seriously one of my OTP’s of OTP’s. Xavier Dolls is one of if not my absolute favorite character of all time, and he still deserves better than what he got. He deserved to fall in love with Wynonna, he deserved to know she loved him, they deserved to find happiness with each other and their found family. I’M STILL MAD ABOUT IT.

2. Jack x Elizabeth (Pirates of the Caribbean). STILL MAD ABOUT ELIZABETH SWANN’S ENDING, GONNA DIE MAD ABOUT IT PROBS. Look, Will is nice enough and whatever, but Jack saw who she really was and stoked that fire. She’s a fucking pirate, not a little mom who sits on an island with her kids waiting for Daddy to come back from sea every 7 fucking years. Jack and Elizabeth had chemistry out the wazoo, they would have OWNED the 7 seas. Please pretend Jack isn’t played by Johnny Depp but still looks like he does.

3. Jane x Maura (Rizzoli and Isles). I was so done with this show’s shit that I almost buried all my memories of it lmao listen. LISTEN. Maybe Sasha made it gay on purpose. Maybe they had no idea what they had on their hands. I don’t know. All I know is that there is so much chemistry between Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon that you could power the United States for 10 years. THE LOOKS. THE TOUCHES. THE FLIRTING BANTER. This show was painful to watch. This show is also one of the absolute best examples of actual queer baiting. It pains me to think about the “bound for life” promo poster. IT PHYSICALLY HURTS. These two are god damn soul mates and you can’t change my mind. Fuck JTam. They did their level best to not let it be gay, and yet they somehow failed.

4. Jackson x April (Grey’s Anatomy). Lord have mercy, I know this ship technically DID happen, but it should have fucking KEPT HAPPENING instead of all the god damn bullshit that happened instead. Slow burn, friends to lovers, perfect for each other. Ugh, I stopped watching the show because of the crap they kept putting these two through. THEY WERE SOULMATES. At least they didn’t kill April off I guess???

5. Katniss x Gale (The Hunger Games, books). I am still so god damn mad that this series ended with Katniss marrying Peeta and having his babies and settling down like a little farmer girl (this is apparently a trend in media). Katniss and Gale were best friends and should have ended up together. He understood her. I just… I really hated the second half of Mockingjay. I think the author just stopped getting her own characters?? Gale’s narrative made no fucking sense! It wasn’t who he was! She turned him into this violence, for-the-greater-good asshole just to make it easier for Katniss to end up with Peeta and I’m always gonna be mad about it.

Honorable Mentions:

Clint x Natasha (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Why have Nat wear a fucking arrow necklace? Why throw away that chemistry? Why randomly create and insert a family for Clint?? It makes no sense, Joss Whedon can go fuck a cactus.

Elliot x Olivia (Law and Order: SVU). We could have had it alllllll. And we almost did. At the end of Season 8, I really thought they were gonna do it. They didn’t. I stopped watching.

Mulan x Aurora (Once Upon a Time). STILL MAD ABOUT THIS.

Top 5 Ships That Should NEVER Have Happened

1. Lorelai x Christopher (Gilmore Girls). I literally stopped watching the show because Lorelai slept with Chris at the end of Season 6. I mean, Season 6 was just not written well AT ALL to start with, everyone was super out of character. But for Lorelai to run to Chris when Chris was such a huge sore spot between her and Luke? When her parents had been pushing Chris on her their entire relationship? When she had repeatedly hidden her conversations with Chris from him? When he (rightfully) was worried about her connection to Chris? Like, yes Luke sucked for hiding April and for delaying their wedding indefinitely, but jesus. Cheating on him with your ex and the father of your kid? Fucking low. I still can’t watch Season 7. Some people say she needed to be sure that her and Chris would never work – I say that how deeply she loved Luke should have shown her that.

2. Wynonna x Doc (Wynonna Earp). Ohhhh boy. Look, I would have been cool with them just hooking up a couple times, but the second this shit turned romantic – nah. They are too alike to EVER work as a romantic couple. He literally knew and was likely romantically and sexually involved with her great great grandfather. Doc should have been written as the father figure Wynonna so desperately needed. Barring all that, when she got pregnant, they could have gone the progressive route and been like, alright, we obviously aren’t good as partners but we can definitely coparent this baby since you are obviously in love with Dolls. BUT NO. We have to have a fucking love triangle (oh I’m sorry, a not love triangle that is oddly shaped like a fucking triangle). Ugh.

3. Rose x Finn (Star Wars). Nope, no. Uh-uh. Nopers. No chemistry, no time, no lead up. Rose hero worshipped Finn and came crashing down and suddenly loves him??? After like 2 days??????? Finn who showed no interest in her because he is clearly in love with Rey???? God, fuck this. Fuck The Last Jedi. Give Rose Tico the substance she deserves.

4. Jane x Casey (Rizzoli and Isles). If you’re gonna force Jane to be straight, at least pair her with a decent dude??? I kind of shipped her with the police guy in season 1 (can’t remember his name, Donnie Whalberg played him) because he took her sass in stride and was attracted to all her tomboyish BS. I thought they would have been good if she just HAD TO BE WITH A DUDE. But instead we’re gonna pair her with this manipulative, gross, christian-values-but-only-so-we-can-say-christian-values veteran dude? Who treated Jane like an accessory and not the badass boss detective she was??? Fuck that. It still pisses me off.

5. Rachel x Joey (Friends). Look. I shipped Ross and Rachel when this show aired. I still kind of do even though the ship is so problematic it hurts (their chemistry is insane, y’all.). But for serious? You’re gonna put JOEY and Rachel together?? Really?? I checked out during seasons 9 and 10 because of this. I mean, first of all, how gross for Joey to just go with the whole proposal snafu despite knowing how Ross felt. How fucking selfish. Second of all, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc have literally no sexual or romantic chemistry of any kind. It was so forced, it was so awkward, I still can’t watch reruns of this time in the show because it is so painful.

Honorable Mention:

Ted x Robin (How I Met Your Mother). WHAT KIND OF MISOGYNISTIC HETERO BULLSHIT VOMITED ONTO THIS SHOW, I DON’T EVEN GO HERE AND I KNOW THIS IS WRONG. Straight white whiney Nice Guy™ Ted should have ended up alone.

Put “Top 5″ anything in my ask and I’ll answer!