#could be bing an ben but i haven't read that

[that-sweet-thief]

just finished binge-watching season 2 of shadow and bone. my thoughts are mostly in disarray but the cringe is real.

this was an off-paced, haphazard fanfiction. it'd be just fine if the writers weren't paid for it but they actually are, so it's just... wow. I'm at best mediocre when writing in english and i reckon even i would do a better job of writing dialogue.

anyway, here's a list of my thoughts on the show, though it's more of a word vomit than a comprehensive series review:

no ivan or fedyor. immediate downvote for that alone. ivan should've survived so we could have a heartbreaking moment between him and fedyor across the two sides of the battlefield. i guess they thought there were too many characters and couples to juggle already. or maybe the actors weren't available, who knows.

costume design took a surprising turn for the worse: for example, nina's and zoya's dresses were eyesores. how anyone could make these two very attractive women look that frumpy i've no idea but they've managed. i liked sankta neyar's costume, sturmhond's coat aaand that's about it.

the settings were more varied, so glad we've seen a little of bhez ju. the introductory map-to-location shots were very helpful for people who haven't read the books, namely my gf who fell asleep halfway through the show. also, if the music had any tracks that weren't already from the first season i'll be incredibly surprised, it's that repetitive.

they've messed up nikolai as a character mainly because the actor misunderstood his assignment, though i don't know what else he could've done with the mess he was given. while he's still sympathetic, lovely and witty, paddy's nikolai thinks of sturmhond as just another disguise, rather than who he really is, to the point of gifting said disguise to mal. that's irreconcilable with my understanding of nikolai, whose real mask is the bastard prince.

tamar & tolya were better realised than expected. along with the exclusion of the soldat sol cult, their zealotry's scrapped which is a big win for them. i enjoyed their scenes, great casting too. though, as an ardent kanej fan, i cannot in good conscience support the blink-and-you'll-miss-it tolya/inej moment. tamar/nadia had maybe a minute of screen time but better than nothing.

sankta neyar was a pleasant surprise, great idea to show how powerful durasts can also be. people often disregard materialki so this was refreshing. what i liked about her is how formal, collected, old-fashioned she both appeared and acted, as if her manners and speech style were leftover from a few centuries ago, kudos to her actor tuyen do.

the crows' arc was... lacking in some way. maybe it's because pekka rollins' attitude towards kaz and his group is very different than how it was established in the books, here he was way too proactive and less secure in his position in ketterdam for some reason; anyway rollins' framing of the crows felt off to me.

the crows' character dynamics are interesting and the saving grace of the show, all kanej and wesper scenes were great. seriously, the tension of kanej & cuteness of wesper nearly destroyed me.

they did helnik dirty, of course, but that was a given.

freddy carter outperformed everyone this season, i really think out of all of them he's given the best performance, sometimes even better than ben barnes and that's practically heresy coming from me, his devoted fan since ages ago when i first saw narnia.

i kinda dig that they brought in a tidemaker (fruszi) who's practically an early version of zoya for the darkling's side but her death felt cheap. i mean, the crows arriving to help out nikolai and his team at the very last second was already eye roll inducing, but then nikolai shoots her in the neck? cheap. also, if she and zoya came to face off that'd be interesting since they share so many similarities. i personally don't think it will but if the series continued along with the darkling's canon resurrection, i wish she'd lived and replaced elizaveta, she certainly seemed devoted enough.

david and genya made me cry. that's all i have to say on them.

baghra... where do i even start with her? baghra's nonchalance, her one-eighty about deciding to help alina find more amplifiers is stark raving bonkers imho. yet at least most of her scenes weren't as bad as they could've been, her proving to mal he was the firebird and her saving genya as well as alina actually came across better than the ultra passive, constantly berating version in the books. her death felt less dramatic but more spiteful, though aleksander's reaction to her death was appropriately heartbreaking. ben & zoe sold it so well, my eyes actually welled up.

speaking of sasha, his death is soooo badly executed, it's impossible not to be pissed off at the way they filmed it. even the books were more sympathetic to his demise and alina herself showed much more empathy for him at the end. it's genuinely disturbing how they framed it, makes alina seem more like a villain than the reluctant hero she used to be. i guess it fits with the surprise ending: how she kinda becomes what she sought to destroy, poetic irony and all, but still...

aleksander's whole arc this season makes him seem more desperate and pathetic and so, less of a tyrant: he doesn't even take control of the country or more than a small group of grisha let alone become tsar, instead the apparat rules over ravka on behalf of the lantsovs till nikolai is coronated. he and his people constantly lose to some clever last minute thwarting by alina's allies. the only thing scary about him is the nichevo'ya, the shadow monsters, which in the books are entirely under his control and that of course makes it all the more terrifying. here though, sick and tired and dying, he's merely desperate and fearful. the lack of wins on aleksandr's part really defeats the purpose of the writers' continuous attempts at making him simply the most terrible, horrifying and supreme villain of gregverse.

nope, can't get over it, aleksander practically died in her arms in the books, here she just looks down at him like she's the villain. i guess she now is. oh and mal's retort to sasha about dying in her arms was somehow a foreshadowing, see, but sasha doesn't get that because he's evil, see? gosh, so patronising.

since they've constantly emphasised this season how it was the fold's and thus sasha's fault that grisha were persecuted (not that this explains the ceaseless mistreatment, endangerment and more often death that grisha face everywhere they go, of course, nor does it explain his backstory) i gathered they'd go for a retcon but i didn't imagine they'd exonerate baghra, the apparat and tie the border wars with shu han and fjerda to the fold's existence entirely. the reason the war broke out in the first place was because those countries' fundamental approach to grisha was to kill them or worse. that is what grisha persecution meant. and now... what, the war is over, just like that? i have no words.

also, the exclusion of the "don't let me be alone" line. now that I think about it, those writers should be fed to nichevo'ya.

alina, alina, alina... sure, she's a self-insert, so her motivations don't make sense anyway, but as sweet as jessie is and how hard she tries, show!alina is now an equally awful mess as book!alina. the two things i liked about her this season were her manipulation attempt through the tether and the ending where she goes a bit darkling. the latter, i really like. i wrote a fragment of a power reversal fic before but never put it up, might just do that now.

i'll admit: it's rather funny how mal dumps alina after losing his amplification because he doesn't feel the same way anymore. he doesn't know if it was him being an amplifier that made them love one another. see how easily he turns away from alina? if i were aleksander, I'd be laughing at her from the grave.

[chvoswxtch]

👋 hi, i'm back again already :)

i'm so glad i'm not alone in being completely feral for those set pictures. like it's insane what just seeing them has done to my brain chemistry. i saw them like an hour or so before i had therapy on wednesday and i felt like i was going insane for the rest of the day. the frank brainrot is real and i will be binge-reading ur fics again (bc i love ur portrayal of frank and i need that man in my life) and just UGH, i can't even explain how this man makes me feel without sounding fucking nuts.

and okay after finishing season two, i just, i have no words. i know that the fandom doesn't always love amy but genuinely, she has such a special place in my heart. and the lengths that frank went to protect her actually just made me want to sob. he absolutely melts my heart and i remember when i watched the start of season 2 all the way back in like september last year, i literally sobbed at the end of the first episode after he had that conversation about maria with the woman he met at the bar. like i am such a simp for this man, it's insane how emotional i get over it sometimes.

also i know you've watched criminal minds (the two fics u wrote were absolutely delicious btw) so i feel like you will understand this but pilgrim's actor being the same as will's just made it slightly hard for me to take him seriously. like the actor did a phenomenal job but i just couldn't help but see him as will. it was so jarring and also just a little bit funny. either way, i didn't hate the storyline as much as i thought but the connection between him and the schultz family did seem a little jarring? or like out of the blue? but i'm not sure if that's because of the writing or because of how long it took me to actually finish the show. but i think it was such an interesting way to connect the two plots even if it confused me?

then okay, like billy this season, he was a complete fucking psycho and usually ben barnes can make psychos be so hot but after he and dumont tried to like break frank by making him think he killed innocents, bro i was not on this man's side anymore. like i honestly was so mad at him. i haven't like been that mad at a character in so long, i was concerned for myself. honestly, i could have strangled billy in that moment. also dumont was just such a kind of dull character? i think the scene in like episode 12 when dumont and madani are having that conversation about like the trauma she (and billy and frank) went through was so good but that was like the most interesting i found her. i'd love to know your thoughts on her!

and like madani? i can't talk about madani without going too feral. like her and frank are my definition of bisexual panic. any time they are on the screen together, i go insane. the thought of the two of them actually is just- it's too much. i feel like madani doesn't get a lot of love in the fandom which always makes me sad because she is (to me) a literal goddess. but anyway.

i have so many more thoughts (mainly about how much i love frank and how fucking good a job jon does at portraying him) but this is already such a long message. i am SO sorry, i can do nothing but apologise

(the only reason it's so long is because none of my friends have actually watched the punisher so i have no one to talk to. sorry court <3)

i'm gonna ramble below the cut with you, please step into my office <3

those set pictures are ruining my life. like it still feels surreal that it's happening?? but i'm so happy they listened to the fans and seem to be taking the reboot seriously. also I know how protective charlie and jon are over matt and frank, so I trust they're making sure it's done right. akjdfhdfh you're too nice to me pls

I loved season 2, personally. it felt a little rushed, but I think that has to due with the fact that they planned more storylines and got cancelled because of the disney plus thing. I liked that we got to see a more fatherly side of frank with amy because it added so many more layers to his personality. we got to see it with the micro's kids, but we got to see it so much more with amy and I loved that

OMG WHEN WILL SHOWED UP I WAS LIKE SIR WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?? WHERE IS JJ??? it's so funny you say that bc the first thing I saw that actor in was a horror movie and then criminal minds but I always think of those two when I see him lmao. the pilgrim/schultz storyline was a little strange but again I think it's one of those things where they planned for more and weren't able to do it with the cancellation

I did not care for dumont's character at all to be candid. I don't really feel like she added much to the storyline. my main complaint about billy in season 2 is he still looked too pretty LMAO. like I get it, it's ben barnes, they can only do so much, but frank rocked his shit too hard for him to have a few scratches. I would've preferred to see him be more evil and psycho and bloodthisty for revenge but that's just me

DINAH MADANI THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE. she and frank are the definition of bisexual panic. she's just...like that scene of her and karen in the conference room when she's asking her if she knows anything about frank being alive?? karen is a stronger woman than me bc I would've let her bend me over that table. dinah doesn't get enough love in this fandom and that doesn't sit right with me and I feel it is my civic duty to keep the thirst for her alive

pls don't apologize! I am happy to chat about frankie anytime :)

[angieloveshua]

It's been five months since I've finished reading Bing An Ben, and I haven't fully recovered from it. To this day, I couldn't find a book that could fill me emotionally, not as much as Bing An Ben. I like the characters, but I don't feel like dying from them. I like the story, but it doesn't kill me.

I think I will be like this until Meatbun releases her new novel.

[thisdiscontentedwinter]

I'm so glad you like Tau from Heartstopper, he is like the most precious ever. I love the rest of the characters too, except for Ben, he can go and stay in the closet, literally.

Honestly, I have watched so many great Asian lgbtq series (Bad Buddy, Not Me, KinnProsche) this year I feel the western offers are like way beyond the curve.

Especially "Not Me" had a story line I would totally enjoy reading in a novel. It never took off too much in fanfiction, KinnPorsch however is pure insanity and gold for fanfiction. After your discourse on characters and their arcs this one so far is hitting out of the ball park.

And it has the perfect irredeemable bad guy in Vegas (the actor is hot!!! I mean if so evil why so sexy)

I could write a whole dissertation on his relationship with Pete, but right now it would be most incomprehensible screaming.

What shows have you enjoyed lately?

DW: I haven't been watching many shows at all, unfortunately, Mostly because I'm a binge watcher, and I can't watch an episode and then wait a few days and watch the next one. No! If it's a good show I must watch it all now. Immediately. Even it I'm here until 6 am to do it!

So, because I have a bunch of deadlines to meet right now, I'm avoiding anything that needs too much of a time commitment.

But thank you for these recs of awesome Asian shows! I'm adding them to the list!

[veronaprincess]

So.......I had another weird Ben Mears thought at work. I don't know if it's because I decided to binge watch Stranger Things with my mom a while back, but a certain Stranger Things scene has me thinking (be forewarned, very heavy cannon divergence).

Ben, Jimmy, Matt, Susan and Mark are the heads of the Salem's Lot vampire hunter coven who are in charge of keeping the area free and clear of any kinds of vampires that might be running around. One night a particularly annoying species decides to cause trouble for everybody and it's complete chaos, yet there's one thing that the guys and girls all notice right off the bat (pun intended).......this particular species is repelled by loud and obnoxious noises.

So the guys get to thinking and Matt suddenly gets the idea of "hey, what do most people consider to be loud and obnoxious? Rock music." Unfortunately there isn't alot of sound power in the living room stereo but Mark realizes that a member of the coven has a bunch of electric guitars and amps in one of the storage sheds and something else clicks.

Everybody goes up to the roof, hooks up what they need and Ben's a little unsure if the plan's gonna work but Mark assures him that this is the most loud and obnoxious thing they could think of. Ben and Mark all lead them as they proceed to jam out "Master of Puppets" by Metallica from the rooftops and sure enough it scares the ever living shit out of the gross looking creatures.

Meanwhile from the porch, Susan and one of the girls who's taken in with Jimmy are rolling their eyes like "leave it to the men to create a diversion" while little Randy and Ben and Susan's little boy are both headbanging, sticking their tongues out and making little devil horns with their fingers like "DADDY ROCKS!!!!"

I am so sorry if this comes across as a weird thought, this is a favorite scenario of mine that I couldn't get out of my head. Plus I mean c'mon, Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears is gonna live rent free in my head forever (lol). As long as you at least get a good laugh out of this, that's all that matters to me.

Oooh I lived for their teamwork in the novel, oh my, I loved every scene they had. ( I mean... the sad ones hit me hard but yeah...:)) Just the thought of all of them being alive and working together against the evil makes me so so happy~

(Can'T wait to re-read the novel, actually *-*)

Thank you for sharing it with me~ (although I haven't finished stranger things, yet, but thanks to tumblr I can guess which season you were talking about when you got this idea haha)

[irishseeeker]

Any advice for the people who are disappointed by S2 plotlines? I literally think the only redeeming factor of season 2 are jonathan and simone (amazing chemistry which I genuinely think will maybe be enough to make me ignore everything else) and the other cast members.😭😭😭 i also enjoyed a few moments. Im tryin the push it down your mouth until it becomes good method. I guess i loved the book too much. But I still cry every time i rewatch the ending thinking “HOW COULD THEY (The writers) DO THIS TO ME”. I got this advice from tumblr saying to think of it as an AU fanfic. Do u have any advice to give?

Hi! First of all, I'm really sorry. It's genuinely heart crushing when you love something so much and it's not the adaption you imagined. Especially when it goes as off course as S2 did.

I completely get what you mean-when I first finished it, and I binged straight it in a day, it wasn't happiness I was feeling. It was a weird mixture of shock and devastation, which began from the minute Anthony proposed to Edwina and I knew whatever I had hoped for was absolutely not going to happen and what was actually about to happen, but also happiness from K&A and internally (and externally) screaming as they did have a lot of incredible moments and Simone and Johnny could not have been more perfect. I loved them as K&A but I felt very let down by how they were treated as characters - particularly the dismissal of Kate's trauma and how they were both treated horrendously by their families.

Too much Fetheringtons and too little Bridgertons, and the Bridgertons were just so mean to each other at times? Compared to S1, it was a big shift.

There were things I loved though and I am really trying to focus on those elements of S2!

For advice, I've found a lot of comfort in fanfics. I would read pre-S2 fanfics to avoid any show content. Nothing really from S2 will be in them and there's so many wonderful fics on AO3-whether it's Canon, Canon Divergent or Modern AUs-with nothing to do with S2. I would recommend everything by these incredible writers- ironsidee, @yetanotheremptypage, @grantairesbottle, @wagamiller, @wall-e-nelson, @deadmunds-ghostbee, prncesslene, @jake-amy, red_rocks - I could read them forever.

If there's one comfort fic and S2 fixer to read, read a thousand cuts by @wall-e-nelson . It's the greatest fic you will ever read. It's phenomenal. It just explores every single inch of Anthony as a character and every nook and cranny of his relationship with Kate, his parents, his friends, his siblings-it's just beautiful, wonderful and absolutely heartbreaking in the best way possible. It's honestly a love story to TVWLM, to Anthony, to Kate and every single Bridgerton. A Hall of Fame fic until the very end.

Maybe a re-read of TVWLM? I haven't yet but I definitely plan to!

I think focusing on the wonderful content that has come from S2 and ignoring the parts you don’t like-the K&A edits, the Bridgerton edits, the gifs and the wonderful fics too! 

S2 was an AU fanfic tbh. I'm very intrigued to how they're going to adapt the rest of the books as the Duke and I did keep the plot but TVWLM just didn't whatsoever. I hope they do but anything seems to be on the cards. The main couple for next season seems unclear atm from what they're saying but I hope they stick with Benophie. I hope they keep the essence and plot of AOFAG but I can see them integrating Sophie a lot more into the Bridgertons when she begins to work there which I wouldn't mind and also changing Benedict's behaviour as he was quite problematic in his book. I just hope they don't change everything again. Ben's storyline and ending and the Cowper screentime seems to be a Sophie nod, anyway.

I hope you find some joy in season 2 <3 and I hope this was somewhat helpful. Take care! <3

[wheredemdokis]

[tastebreaker review] Law School (no spoilers)

Sometimes, I wish I could have a shrine for all the cerebral media that I consumed, because it definitely is my favourite archetype. Death Note was a masterpiece that I hungrily binged in one day - similarly with Psycho Pass (though I haven't watched the second season due to most of the reviews I have read). This extend well into non-anime media for me - State of Play (with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams) remains one of my favourite movies, Inception and, well, honestly anything by Christopher Nolan, and I have recently began watching The Matrix as well.

And so, the thirst for real mystery and brain games was quenched when I started watching Law School, with Kim Myung-min, Kim Beom and Ryu Hye-young, directed by Kim Suk-yoon. Needless to say, throughout the whole trip, I was hooked, counting down days until the next episode came... but towards the end - an unpopular opinion - I was actually quite disappointed.

And so, before you start your cross-examination, allow me to present my findings first.

- How did I start watching this?

My friend and I were looking around for something to binge on Netflix and forget about COVID-19. This series popped up, and the moment I read the title, my sapiosexual senses were tingled.

- And how was it?

Very good!... until the ending came. ;w;

- Genres & overarching themes?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological

Overarching themes: murder mystery, law vs justice, intelligence (as in, the characters are all really smart hahah)

- Plot: 4/5

It could have been a high four, near five if it wasn't for the ending, frankly. The first episode started out with Professor Seo Byung-ju of Hankuk Law School dead, and the spotlight shines on Professor Yang Jong-hoon (the man in the poster above), the first suspect. But was it really him? From then, the mystery unfolds as our favourite study group (who shall be very well elaborated on later in this review) launches itself into investigation for true justice.

The series started out extremely strong in my opinion, with its first few episodes filled with twists and sub-plots that were waiting to get wrapped up. Every episode just leaves you gripping on the sides of your seat in suspense. It really makes you doubt every single person that appeared on-screen and watch out for anything that happens - the show uses the Chekhov's Gun trope really well. As the knots become unravelled, we gain more depth into the characters. However, as we near the end - about two-three episodes for me - the show started to lose its thrust, falling into a comfortable stereotype that made things rather frustrating.

One of the major advantages of Law School, in my opinion, is its ability to twist and turn everything. It prompts the viewers to realize that when the case is really examined in a whole different angle, with more and more evidence coming to light, everything changes. The use of different suspects' stories being told in each episode is a pleasure to watch - the viewers feel like an omniscient judge, overseeing the motives and evidence to draw out a conclusion for themselves on who might be the murderer. The series prompts the viewers to think, which is a trend I really like. It's also interesting to question why characters do certain things they do. Professor Yang Jong-hoon (my favourite character!), for example, is a very... chaotic (haha) character, who keeps on surprising people with his actions - yet, his actions are all elaborate executions of his strategy, a whole plan that he has concocted which accounted for multiple steps ahead, thanks to his extremely sharp vision of what could happen. Thus, it is extremely satisfying when everything falls into place as Yangcrates (a nickname he earned due to his Socratic teaching) explains everything that led up to a particular tense moment where the truth was unveiled.

Yet... this very trope had its downfall near the end. The murderer was so heavily shadowed on in the beginning that the viewers would have expected the murderer to be someone else completely unexpected, a mastermind that pulled the strings behind all the proceedings. Yet, the murderer and the mastermind behind the murder were someone so... I dare say, unimpressive. I mean, this particular 'mastermind' behind the murder fell into so many traps! The murderer was definitely my major disappointment - the villain was a weak character, an unsatisfying antagonist that the intelligent heroes, once having figured who he/she is, didn't even break a sweat to bring to light. The last, final twist that was supposed to be the most glamorous of them all, completely knocking the viewers off their feet, fell completely flat.

Secondly, whilst having a lot of sub-plots still remains a favourite trope of mine as I'd expect everything to wrap up nicely near the end... well, it didn't. Whilst most sub-plots were hastily answered, there was one particular sub-plot which was just left completely unaddressed (for those who have watched it, it's about J****s), and unless they're hinting at a second season where this would be further elaborated on, this was a dead-end sub-plot, a plot with no elaboration or continuation whatsoever.

Overall, the plot was breathtaking in the beginning. It lost momentum very near the end, and wrapped everything up with an anticlimactic last episode.

- Characters: 4.7/5

Definitely the strongest set of characters I've seen in a Korean drama, frankly. All characters were so well utilised, each having their own quirks and flaws which were delightful to watch. Everyone was so, so intelligent, that they honestly were the main fuel to the series, our main stars.

Allow me to first start off with my favourite character, Professor Yang Jong-hoon. Stoic, yet with an extremely savage side that he does not hesitate to show to anyone of any ranks or social standings, Yangcrates carefully plots everything, always thinks, questions, and then thinks even more. Intelligence-wise, this man is most definitely the smartest on-screen persona I've seen in the Korean drama franchise - able to see miles ahead and figure out all the answers down to their root, he is someone that definitely earns all the respect he has, from both his students and viewers alike. Personality-wise, this man is equally interesting as he is smart. With a cold exterior, Yangcrates does not take any bullshit (cue a particularly funny water spitting scene), and does not hold back harsh words to point it out. Yet, underneath this cold exterior is a burning desire to find the absolute truth, which would in turn bring justice to ones who have been wronged (refer to a particular lecture-like speech he made in episode 10), and a passion for teaching his students. He secretly cares for his students a lot, and expresses it in his own way.

Next, our favourite study group - a group of capable, enticing individuals. Firstly, we have Han Joon-hwi, a complex character that always pursues justice and fairness. His intelligence shines through with the way he, firstly, is able to take advantage of his sharp understanding of law into the case, and his careful processing of the evidence he gathers during investigation. Whilst he always keeps a cold head when needed, he has an equally warm heart, genuinely caring for wronged and innocent people. His expressions were all extremely raw and did not feel fake at all - really, props to his actor. More on this later.

Then, we have the two girls - Kang Sol A and Kang Sol B. Don't be fooled by their names - they are very much polar opposites. Whilst Kang Sol A is excitable and wears her heart on her sleeve (sometimes a bit too much), Kang Sol B always keeps a cool head, sometimes taking it to the extreme. I do admit that if I had to pick out of the two, though I love both of them very, very much, I'd probably lean a bit more towards Kang Sol A - even though she definitely gets on my nerves sometimes because of her overload of emotions that could be disruptive, she has her frequent bouts of creativity and "a-ha!" moments that display her underrated intelligence (I'm always soft for underdogs that are underestimated by everyone, only to turn the table on them later). She is also an extremely loyal friend and a very generous individual that isn't afraid to place herself in danger just to help others - overall, a very warm person. Kang Sol B, on the other hand - perhaps due to her family environment - does not really taking other people's emotions into consideration, though I really, really admire her for her intelligence, her ability to always keep a calm head (making her the blue counterpart to Kang Sol A's red), as well as her straightforwardness which has proven many times to be necessary to push the case forward. She does have a soft spot, though - a very adorable one at that. These two make an extremely adorable pair of friends.

My favourite student of the study group must be Seo Ji-ho. I'd say he's a less intimidating version of Kang Sol B hahah - cool and composed, Ji-ho is a reliable member who always pursues logic and reason first. He is also driven to achieve his goal and, like Joon-hwi, utilizes his deep understanding about law very well to solve his own case, his sub-plot. Though his sub-plot eventually was wrapped up as an open ending, it was a nice sub-plot to watch. Not to mention his dynamic with Joon-hwi is very adorable as well - the two really balance each other out.

Other students also have their own quirks and flaws, but for the sake of this review's length, I won't elaborate them as much - but I will say they are all a delight to watch, adding their own personal elements to the overall study group. I will definitely miss this set of characters so, so much. ;-;

- Acting: 4.4/5

Frankly, perhaps because of some K-drama series I have watched, I had a problem with acting in some K-drama series - the actors and actresses did not feel genuine, and they either overacted, pushing their expressions to the extreme, or underacted, simply being way too... stiff (some of my personal favourite actors and actresses so far are Kim Seon-ho, whose theatrical experiences probably really helped with his very natural acting, Jo Jung-seok, and Kim Hye-yoon, an actress who impressed me with both of her most popular series - hope to see her versatility shine through with more diverse roles though). This series, however, is a definite favourite of mine in terms of acting. Firstly, Kim Myung-min is a veteran actor that deserves so much respect - he basically morphed into Yangcrates. I absolutely loved the way he delivered his dialogues - very long ones! - without even so much as taking a breath in between - it was smooth and the flow was excellent.

Kim Beom also became one of my favourite actors after this series - the way he handled his role was so good, his expressions, actions, everything. I noticed that he's very good with his eyes, if that's the right way to put it - he is very good at displaying emotions with them, all emotions ranging from sadness to adoration (towards a particular someone *wink*). It's a top-notch skill, really, and I'm glad to have seen him on-screen. Similarly, Ryu Hye-young impressed me so, so much that I shall add her to my list of favourite actresses as well - I can't spoil, but she is really able at... altering her vibes, yes. She seems to have studied her character really carefully too, being able to bring all Sol A's quirks to real life. Other actors and actresses were amazing, but for me, these three definitely shone.

- Doki moments?

Ah. Definitely some between Sol A and Joon-hwi, as a lot of other people have commented. From the way they tease each other to the way he cares about her every little thing, the way he stares at her, the way his whole demeanor just changes around her and the way she unknowingly influences him so much - they do balance each other out really well, Joonhwi being the cool to Sol A's warm. I do find myself thinking Sol B and Ji-ho would be rather compatible as well (also, them being study rivals in high school? My rivals-to-lovers side is ready).

- Enjoyment: 4/5

Again, could have been higher if it wasn't for the ending! But yes, overall, a whole trip worth embarking on.

- Overall: 4.2/5

Really, could have been higher... but yes, still an excellent show. I just hope they could have had more episodes to really wrap everything up nicely and maybe throw us one final, absolutely ground-breaking twist.

- Watch it or neh?

Yes, please do watch it! And let me know how it goes, too. ;3

[doorbloggr]

Saturday 22/5/21 - Learning When it is OK to Drop a Series

The way I consume shows and books makes it difficult to keep a constant schedule of entertainment. I am very guilty of binge watching/reading, when I start a series, I will watch up to ten episodes in one sitting well after midnight. Then i sit around for weeks at a time putting off starting the next thing, knowing it too will take all my attention for a few days.

Unfortunately this binge behaviour means that I have often been a poor judge of character when it comes to whether I should finish something. Hey I'm already 10 episodes into this show, might as well watch all 24 episodes. And that has meant I've got a number of series on my Finished Anime List that I sort of feel wasted my time.

Higurashi is moe-horror, a very specific flavour of anime/manga where the characters and themes are cute on the surface but there is abuse, murder and monstrosities when you get even skin deep.

The true catalyst for this epiphany was an anime called Higurashi: When they Cry NEW. I followed up on it after a streamer I watch said the original series was one of their favourite anime. The show is a psychological and physical horror, and as I've discussed in previous blog posts, my domain is usually Slice of Life, so... a far cry from my comfort zone. I told the two friends I get anime reccomendations from that I was watching it and their reaction was very telling of signs I shouldve read.

The friend who suggests me Slice of Life and Isekai/Fantasy anime told me that he would never touch an anime like Higurashi with a ten foot pole. The friend who suggests me Fan Service and Horror anime told me that she tried to watch Higurashi but thought it was pretty dumb and hard to watch.

I continued to watch the show, I was 8 episodes in, and wanted to see if it got better. At 17 episodes, I was questioning again whether I should drop it, but I was almost done, so why not just finish? I regretted that.

This post is not a recommendation against Higurashu by the way, but my opinion is, if you're ok with very visceral gore horror, heavy themes of abuse, and looping stories that only get scarier with each retelling... hey, Higurashi could be for you, but in hindsight, it wasn't for me.

After I finished Higurashi, I caught up on Log Horizon, an anime I am very familiar with and enjoyed a lot.

After watching Higurashi I vowed to myself to only search out anime I know I'll be interested in, or take on suggestions from my friends who know what I like. Since Higurashi I haven't chosen to drop any series, but I also have only watched one Isekai and three Slice of Life's since then, and I thoroughly enjoyed all start to finish. But to safeguard myself against future bad binges, I'm gonna end this post with some advice to myself, and others, on how to ensure your media consumption is enjoyable.

1. Keep records and check for patterns

On my phone I have a Notes file detailing all the anime I've finished. I mostly do this because I have an obsession with documenting my habits and looking back, but it also helps as a way to reflect on what type on anime I have enjoyed in the past.

If you have a record of what you have watched, you can look over the list and find trends. Then you choose new series that have a lot in common with your faves.

I have enjoyed many romance anime, and the one mecha anime I've seen, Guren Lagann, I enjoyed a lot. So when heard that Darling in the Franxx was a mecha anime with romance, I was veryyy interested.

2. Swap stories with friends

On the list I discussed above, about 80% of the anime I've watched were recommendations from friends. It's like a learning AI, but with real people. Friends give you a bunch of anime to watch and you tell them which ones you enjoyed. Then they can get back to you with anime they think you'd enjoy based on past preferences.

Ben-to was an anime I recently watched because a friend told me it's just the type of show I'd enjoy.

My friends have gotten really good at recommending me anime that I enjoy because I've told them when I'm watching a new show and whether I like it or not. Because of my long dry spells, I dont watch a tonne, but I also give my own recommendations back and they've enjoyed my suggestions.

3. Unsure? Four episodes

Ages ago, I was watching a podcast run by 3 streamers called LewdCast and they had a segment where they had an anime bookclub; basically they'd come to each podcast having watched an anime and discuss whether they liked it or not. But having to watch an entire series per week not knowing whether you'd like it is exhausting. So their rule was to watch the first four episodes.

Food Wars was actually a recommendation from LewdCast that I was very hooked into by Episode 4, so I watched the entire series and it is still my fave anime this year.

Episodes 1 and 2 are usually world building and introduction of themes and characters. So dismissing an anime after the first episode isn't giving it a proper chance. But after 4 episodes, the themes have been established, you're introduced to core characters, and you've been given a glimpse of what the flow or hook of the show is. You're at least partway into an arc and you understand how the show will operate overall.

Some people will tell you, "Oh this show is a slow burn, but it gets really good deep into the first season", but the truth is, if you're hating it or not hooked after 4 episodes, it's probably not worth it. If a friend I know tells me, "trust me, you'll enjoy this", then I will probably stick with a show I'm on the fence with more then 4 episodes. But if you sought out a show on your own and you don't know if you'd like it, give it four episodes. If you don't wanna finish it after that, drop it.

[forever--rain]

i was gonna send you Doctor Who too, but you know what? fuck it, I haven't spoken to someone about FRIENDS in a very long time, so yeah. (unless you wanna do both which is also cool)

Banshee, I will DEFINITELY talk about Friends!

my favorite female character: Rachel. I'm too much of a Monica to like her best (it's hard looking at a character like Monica and realizing, "Oh, god, I'm her." Because I never wanted to be a Monica) and even though I adore Phoebe, I could never relate to her enough. I loved Rachel's story arc. She went from this spoiled princess who just wanted to be taken care of by her husband to an independent woman with her own career and I loved that for her. I loved watching her dump Ross because he wouldn't support her and she was uncomfortable with his rage/jealousy issues. I loved watching her decide to have Emma even though she knew it would be hard. I really felt like she found herself as the show went on and I still do despite how...chaotic the show got in later seasons. (Favorite secondary female character: Janice)

my favorite male character: Chandler. I feel like Chandler, much like Rachel, was just trying to find himself. Would I say that he did? Eh... But I like that he had moments with the others where he able to be vulnerable and he really was a good friend to all of them. He may have been sarcastic and he may have messed up a lot, but he always tried to be there for everyone. He was a rock. And Chandler and Rachel are possibly one of my favorite platonic pairings on the show. (I also loved his friendship with Phoebe.) (Favorite secondary male character: Paul Rudd as Mike Hannigan. Who can forget the Princess Consuela/Crap Bag fiasco?!)

my favorite book/season/etc: Season 3. The cast's chemistry was really coming together, the storylines were still pretty solid, and it was a funny season overall! I mean, it's the season with "The One Where No One's Ready," Frank Jr. shows up, Ugly Naked Guy may have died, Joey and Rachel read each other's favorite books, Rachel quits the coffee house and dumps Ross' ass, and they go to the beach! (Plus, I really liked Pete. Y'know. Before he went insane.)

my favorite episode (if its a tv show): "The One with the Embryos" because we get all the chaos of Frank Jr. plus Chandler and Joey competing with Rachel and Monica to see who knows whom better. There are so many great quotes from that game! ("Who was Joey's imaginary friend?" "Maurice!" "What was his occupation?" "Space cowboy!" "Miss Chanandler Bong." "What is Chandler Bing's job?" "HE'S A TRANSPONSTER!!!")

my favorite cast member: Lisa Kudrow. She really took Phoebe's character and just owned it.

my favorite ship: Phoebe x Mike (and it's not just because I love Paul Rudd, okay? Mike really embraced Phoebe's personality and wasn't afraid to push back and give her a run for her money)

a character I’d die defending: Rachel

a character I just can’t sympathize with: Ross. He wasn't great at the start and he just got worse as the show went on. Ugh.

a character I grew to love: Susan. I know she gave Ross a lot of shit and was "the other woman," but to be fair Ross made some very homophobic comments and was a complete dick to her and Carol. I found Susan to be funny and she put up with a lot so that she could be with Carol and be a mother to Ben. None of it could've been easy for her either. (Runners Up: Gunther and Janice)

my anti otp: Ross x Rachel. Rachel could've done so much better. (And... I'm gonna say something controversial... I'm not a big fan of "Mondler" either.)

Ask me about a thing I'm into!

[seven-oomen]

Christopher Smith : A dual sword of upbringing and mental illness

I've honestly been thinking about this character quite a bit. Rewatched the Peacemaker show a few times to get a good feel of his character.

I've also gone through his comic book character wikis.

One thing all of them have in common is that Chris's weakness is mental illness.

And today I'm going to break down my analysis of his mental illness.

Now in the wiki Chris's mental illness is described as Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia.

I haven't read the comics so for the comics, this may be true.

For the tv show however, I have to disagree.

See, Bipolar disorder is described as the following:

People who live with bipolar disorder experience periods of great excitement, overactivity, delusions, and euphoria (known as mania) and other periods of feeling sad and hopeless (known as depression). As such, the use of the word bipolar reflects this fluctuation between extreme highs and extreme lows.

To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania.

To be considered mania, the elevated, expansive, or irritable mood must last for at least one week and be present most of the day, nearly every day. To be considered hypomania, the mood must last at least four consecutive days and be present most of the day, almost every day.

Now we don't get to see Chris during weeks of his life, only short periods of several days. But during this time, his mood seems to fluctuate from regular quiet moods to hyperactive, feeling like he has to prove something, to outward crying on his bed. None of his highs seem to last more than several hours at the most.

So based on what we actually see, I find bipolar disorder unlikely for Chris.

There is a similar mood disorder, however, that is more likely and it's often confused for both Bipolar and CPTSD.

It's borderline personality disorder (BPD).

BPD is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion, as well as marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

Chronic feelings of emptiness

Emotional instability in reaction to day-to-day events (e.g., intense episodic sadness, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

Identity disturbance with markedly or persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsive behavior in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)

Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

Pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by extremes between idealization and devaluation (also known as "splitting")

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-harming behavior

Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.1

Based on the list, Chris hits 5 of the criteria. Which would be enough for a BPD diagnosis.

But hold on Ben, I can hear you thinking.

Couldn't this be CPTSD? A lot of these symptoms are also caused by CPTSD.

And yes, you're right. They could be.

The key difference between BPD and C-PTSD is that symptoms of BPD stem from an inconsistent self-concept and C-PTSD symptoms are provoked by external triggers.

A person with C-PTSD may react to or avoid potential triggers with behaviors similar to those that are symptomatic of BPD. But even if their self-representation is extremely negative, it will be consistent. This differs from the inconsistent self-representation that characterizes BPD.

Chris throughout the show clearly struggles with his identity. So much so that he holds onto the one identity that he knows, Peacemaker, with an iron fist and tries to convince people that he's a good guy. But deep down, as the show progresses and we get to see Chris as an individual it becomes very clear, very quickly, that Chris has no idea who he really is outside of his father's influence.

And all of his anger, lashing out, crying episodes, they all happen after someone breaks down a part of his Peacemaker character, or question his beliefs.

His trigger comes from inside himself, not necessarily by an external factor like a sound or an image. It's his own sense of self (or lack thereoff) that triggers these reactions in him.

Now that's not to say he couldn't ALSO have CPTSD, it's possible, and as always, we're looking at moments of a characters life instead of the entire picture.

But that's my two cents on it now that I'm looking into this and breaking it down.

Chris's bio also shows him as having Schizophrenia.

I'm guessing this is purely because of his hallucinations. But as a wise man once said;

A hallucination does not schizophrenia make.

Hallucinations alone are not Schizophrenia. Hallucinations alone is not Psychosis either.

Now this could be because of events in his comics, and that's fair. However it's also on his wiki for the show. But in the show itself we only see Auggie as a visual and auditory hallucination. Chris doesn't seem to engage with Auggie in any way or is at least aware that he's not really there.

He hasn't crossed into delusion yet.

For a schizophrenia diagnosis Chris would have to meet two of the five symptoms on the list AND at least one of them has to be:

Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech.

1) delusions, 2) hallucinations, 3) disorganized speech, 4) disorganized or catatonic behavior, and 5) negative symptoms.

As of the shows finale, Chris only has hallucinations, but no delusions or other symptoms of Schizophrennia. Now that may change as the show progresses, but it's important to note that the TV version of Christopher Smith, is not there yet.

His hallucinations are trauma based, which is in fact, extraordinarily common among people with trauma based disorders. (BPD, PTSD, CPTSD.) About 52% of all individuals with Trauma will experience some form of hallucinations throughout their life.

One thing is very clear, Chris's mental illness stems from his upbringing.

Chris Smith was born in 1981 in Evergreen, Washington to Auggie Smith, the cruel white supremacist supervillain "The White Dragon" and leader of the Aryan Empire. Auggie trained Chris and his older brother Keith to be perfect killers practically from birth, training them every chance he could. Chris and Keith grew very close in their relaxation time, causing Chris to develop a love for rock 'n roll. One day, however, Auggie made his sons fight for the Aryans' entertainment, and Chris punched Keith in the head, causing him to have a fatal seizure. Auggie then lost all approval and respect for Chris, which, combined with his twisted ideals and constant training, caused him to grow up patriotic, gullible, and oversensitive.

Chris became obsessed with the idea of peace, and eventually donned a red, white, and blue costume and a chrome helmet, both adorned with a dove, and became the arrogant, violent vigilante known as "Peacemaker".

His upbringing was traumatic, stripped him of every sense of self that he had, and made him see himself as someone who will never be enough. Making him doubt himself at every turn. (Though he tried to hide that for a very long time by overcompensating and being a douchebag.)

But it is clear in every interaction that Chris has had throughout the show, that everything he is, everything he struggles with, stems from a traumatic childhood.

That does NOT excuse ANY of his behavior. He needs to learn and he needs to grow. And I for one, am looking forward to what Season 2 will bring us.

Sources:

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-do-differences-between-bpd-cptsd-affect-diagnosis-0802184#:~:text=The%20key%20difference%20between%20BPD,that%20are%20symptomatic%20of%20BPD.

https://www.verywellmind.com/bipolar-and-borderline-personality-disorder-425418#:~:text=People%20with%20bipolar%20disorder%20tend,few%20hours%20at%20a%20time.

https://www.verywellmind.com/borderline-personality-disorder-diagnosis-425174

https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Christopher_Smith_(DC_Extended_Universe)#cite_note-TSS-5

https://www.verywellmind.com/relationship-between-ptsd-and-psychotic-symptoms-2797525

[siren-virus]

More time asks :D I little but not too late, better that than the last few that I've been sending you that I take like 15 days to send XD

Flee: How was life for the trio before meeting? We know little of Leo considering the status of mutants in the world, and a bit of Tristan thanks to his sheltered life in the Domes, but it's still not enough to have an idea of how things were before the big adventure began; not to mention the fact that we know almost nothing of Robin's life before meeting the other 2, unless of course that's spoilers and that's why you don't say anything about it. That or you haven't thought about it, also a valid reason XD

SWUP: What did Vicky study before being kidnapped by aliens and becoming an Unicorn? and how are the lives of the rest of the cast now that there is the permanent presence of aliens duking it out near their work places and living arrangements? I imagine at the very least that the construction companies would send gifts to Vicky if they ever learn that she's the one fighting all the aliens that come to cause trouble, considergin that all the destruction the battles cause will make the companies get jobs very easily XD

Other: Would you mind if in the next ask I send a question about Luckycat!Ben AU? I'm starting to run out of questions for Flee and SWUP and I'd like to keep consistent with my personal schedule of things to ask you, though if you're still a bit burned out about that AU I can find a way to make more questions about other stuff.

Like for example, you mentioned Gecko before, but I only know that that's a game you're working on. What is it about? And how is the progress on that?

AHH SRY FOR THE DELAYED RESPONSE

Been a bit flat

Also take your time with the asks, you don't have to force yeself

First up FLEE

Before the Trio met;

Leo lived in a burrow with his own colony of mutant hyrids, his job was mainly to seek out drinkable water and food sources, having the capabilities of flight are very valuable amongst hybrid societies. He wasn't too popular with his home burrow, seeing as he's kind of a angry shit. But he's very good at what he does. However he left his home for new things. A very selfish act, especially cause he left his few friends behind.

Tristian lived with his family (three siblings all older and his mum and dad) in the dome, attended high school, and was on a his way to a first class university which was practically next door. He wanted to study vetrinarian science because he has a love towards animals. But his dad was pushing him towards a more political role. His parents showed a lot of favouritism towards him, and with his book smarts and outgoing personality he would've made a perfect political candidate.

Robin on the other hand, it's basically spoilers but I'll give you a small hint, she was found by Leo and Tristian amongst the ruins of an isolated barn.

Don't worry I've actually thought about their pasts a lot, still developing them of course to make them seem a little more realisitc and a little more appealing and relateable to an audience (well as relateable as a post apocalypse is....)

I really want to have appealing characters, personality wise- it's hard, it'd probably be a little bit more easier if I did some reading but

ugh

reading.

SWUP

She just graduated highschool, got one of those (i forget the word) ya know you study really hard in school, applu to a prestigious university and it's all paid for by the uni because your smart? brain doesn't compute with words i s2g!!!

She was going to study bio engineering- she's also quite smart. Too bad the whole unicorn thing destroyed her life haha! I love ruining my characters.

James (pending name still) loves the ideas of aliens fighting. Big comic book nerd he is. Sara, is quite worried, but happy there's a cute unicorn lady protecting her shop. (unfortunately I haven't developed many characters ahhh) But James' dad hates it, this unicorn is destroying property, and taking his job away. She's too destructive.

Probably they would send gifts- maybe also bribes. "destroy that house and we can build 20 apartments." But once again Vicky will not reveal her identity, James has warned her that it could have severe financial consequences.

I'm kinda blank on the Luckyboy/nekomata ahhh in fact im blank on all Ben 10- but I'd still love to talk about it- I'm so quiet irl about my interest it's kinda fun to talk.

Ah GECKO, so that's actual an animation- I've developed it so much more- I usually go through phases where I just binge on the development. I made a pilot/trailer thing of it last year

https://youtu.be/5jz1FWiW-uI

Gecko is (omg I actually have a genre for it) Supernatural/action thing about a guy named Mac who has a symbiotic relationship with a talking Gecko- that grants Mac higher strength and speed and all that jazz.

You might've seen a few drawings of Crystal around - ngl she's the only character who's design I'm happy with.

Kai and Mac are back to the drawing board- it's so hard to design them tho AH

I wouldn't call myself a perfectionist but I think I'm close to it.

[theaberrantwritergirl]

UPDATED: Nightshade & Sakura - Chapter 13

こんにちは、lovelies. <3 I hope you are all doing great! This is your PSA that Chapter 13: 再出発 - Sai Shuppatsu - Restart of Nightshade & Sakura has been posted!

Links: Archive - https://archiveofourown.org/works/15196535/chapters/40947968 | FanFiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12998499/12/Nightshade-Sakura

Excerpt: “Home early, not slurring your words. Where’s Ben and what have you done with him?” Yuki smiled.

“Dead for eight years, but you and her insist on bringing him back.”

She smiled wider, nudging his arm. “You’re so melodramatic. Changing your name. Ben Solo is dead? Really? Changing your name doesn’t change who you are.”

“Yeah.” He wished it did, wished it worked that way. It would transform everything—his past, who he was, make him the man he needed to be for Rey and his son. He wished it was a simple form he could fill out and submit to the government. Application To Change Who You Are. Approved and stamped in red ink.

Final notes: I want to say thank you to those that have stuck with me through the heavy angst and have consistently encouraged me or simply left their thoughts and reactions. At times, I've felt alienated for writing this type of Reylo and story. So, you are all great in my book. Beta'd as always by Bex. <3 This story is ALMOST finished! To the binge readers wanting to read it as a completed fic: We're almost done. Yay! FYI: If you are a Reylo writer, I'm considering making moodboards for anyone that wants them just as sort of a fun thing. I haven't offered them before because I'm an unhealthy, slow perfectionist. I'm just curious to see who might be interested. Have a wonderful day. Reblogs are greatly appreciated! @doingthingswithabby @shestoolazytologin @kathknight @ellypinco @wayofthepathfinder @daisyridleysface @thetwinsunsoftatooine @mysticserenity20 @sofondabooks