#he’s the most tragic character I’ve ever seen in a drama

[greatqueenanna]

So, with this tiny drama with Hans and sociopathy, I decided to ask a friend of mine, who has ASPD, what he thought of this whole situation with Hans. A bit of history - as you all know, I like Helsa, so back in 2014 when it was revealed that Hans was a sociopath, I went into research mode to try and discover more about this. That is where discovered Sociopath World, a website made for sociopaths to discuss how they navigate the world and to give advice to 'empaths'.

This is where I met my friend - we'll call him BG. BG is a clinical psychologist, film buff, and, as said, diagnosed with ASPD. Now, I didn't directly ask him about Hans at the time, I just asked him about the Hans - Elsa dynamic a lot without using their names (cuz, you know - I'm a shipper lol) we've been friends ever since, and I ask him all the time about film characters.

When I started talking about Hans and sociopathy more recently, I got an anon where someone questioned if I should be talking about this, so I decided to finally ask BG about Hans. I shared with him Jennifer Lee's comments, some posts within the Hans/Helsa tags, and of course recommended he watch the movie. To my surprise, he did it fairly quickly and sent me a reply today.

Few things to keep in mind - BG is very blunt, so sorry if you find some things he says a bit offensive or accusatory. Also, keep in mind (something he mentions as well) that he doesn't speak for everyone who has ASPD. Also, don't worry, he knows I'm posting his response here. I did edit a few things for privacy purposes. He knows this too.

Now, I originally wanted to include his response in my Hans and Sociopathy post, but to make sure that the post didn't end up being too long, I decided to place it here instead. His response is under the read more.

Thanks for contacting me, I always like evaluating people’s fascinations with ASPD. This is a unique one, a cartoon character. I’m usually asked to evaluate Elsa (spoiler, she’s not a sociopath) from this movie, so it’s a nice change of pace. Prince Hans is a sociopath. Let’s get into it.

So what we first have to establish about anyone trying to defend those with ASPD are their motivations. No one defends those with ASPD just for kindness's sake, not unless they have a positive experience with someone in their life (which is exceedingly rare with ASPD). Here, we’re talking about a cartoon character that was first established as a ‘good’ and then turns ‘evil’ for a shocking twist.

From what I’ve seen from this character’s fans, is that they focus heavily on the ‘tragic’ backstory of said character and the end-game motivations they have for him. Which in this case is the fact that they want to pair him up with other characters with their morality not being questioned. From what I’ve seen, that’s all they care about. They see an attractive character that they think has the potential to be paired with another, and they are upset that this attractive character has traits and behaviors that they are opposed to. Look, I know it sounds mean, but none of these fans would really care if the character was not attractive, charming, and easily paired with the female leads. That is the main motivation here.

I’m not saying they are not interested based on the character’s own merits and intrigue, they like to speculate about his past and childhood. But given the most popular depiction is him is with the female leads in a romantic sense, it is very obvious where the fans stand and why they are defensive of him. He’s attractive, he’s charming, he was really nice and chivalrous at first. But the reality here is that they are in love with who he is pretending to be. It honestly looks like the cases I deal with every day with real ASPD and Empath couples. The empath in the relationship is always making excuses for the sociopath, and I have indeed had cases where the empath denies the diagnosis. It’s really interesting to see this in behavior in fan spaces as well.  

Now, here’s the thing. I don’t really care about film representation. Most people I know who also have ASPD don’t care either. We don’t really care about the things that empaths place on a pedestal. We don’t care about role models or feeling accepted and represented. Empaths always make us out to be villains or funny anti-heroes because they can’t fathom our behaviors being used for good. It's a reality we face, especially in this day and age when feelings and being empathetic dominate the social world. There is no easy way to showcase a sociopath being a hero within empath standards. Our definition of a sociopath being a hero is getting what they want. Hans would be a great representation if he got what he wanted. Do I speak for everyone? No. But honestly, I question anyone who claims to be a sociopath and actually cares about empath’s feelings towards us, or bases their value on fictional characters like what empaths do. Especially since most people who have ASPD are not even diagnosed, they can’t exactly question a representation of something they don’t know that they have.

Let’s change gears towards the comments the director made. The critique you got was that there isn’t enough evidence to support a diagnosis of ASPD with Hans because the narrative doesn’t explicitly state it and we don’t know a lot about his past; so can’t make a genuine diagnosis. In most cases, that would be correct. However, the director makes it very clear that her intentions for the character was for him to be a sociopath. She wrote him with this intention and made sure to depict him in that way. Thus, we don’t need to see his childhood or even make a diagnosis based on his behavior. He is written and labeled as a sociopath, so he is one. End of story. Sure, we can critique how the depiction was handled, and even the motivations behind making him a sociopath, but it doesn’t change the facts of the character.

I went a little off track here, but I feel this needed to be said first and foremost. Let’s get back to the actual comments. She states that she has a sociopathic mind and that she was writing him based on these traits. She also stated later that Hans being sociopathic was more interesting. You can even see the excitement she has when the person she’s talking to says “he’s a talented Scoiopath” and she says “He’s very talented!” She loves this aspect of him. It's her pride and joy. She obviously thinks sociopaths are interesting and cool, to the point where she thinks she may have some traits. Here, we know her intention behind it was romanticization. Is it a bit weird? Yea. It’s weird. She's romanticizing a disorder so it's always weird. However, the depiction was still fairly accurate. Cartoony and villainized, but accurate.

Which I guess leads us to the actual depiction. He’s a very typical Sociopath. Not much else to say. He has the sociopath stare, he mirrors behavior, he hates that his brothers dared to ignore him, he jumps into danger without a second thought, and smiles when he’s about to commit murder on Elsa. It's kind of funny how accurate he is. It’s like watching a comedy show where they say something relatable and you can’t help but laugh. The director says that her stand-out moment for him was when he questions Anna’s comment of being ‘just her’. For me, it’s when he stands up after being knocked out by the blast, without even acknowledging that he’s in deep shit, and just says ‘but, she froze your heart!” I laughed so hard. Only sociopaths would do this shit. “Anna, how dare you. You should be dead.”

And that’s all I have to say. Thanks for reaching out, it was definitely entertaining and a nice break. Have a great day.

[the-daily-dreamer]

A thing I have seen basically no one say which feel super weird because we have been discussing this in narrative class since ep 1 (with a teacher that knows the books incredibly well). In most interviews and press you can see the actors leave clues that the blacks are way darker than the show is portraying them to be. If you look at the big picture they are preparing things for a big twist where it becomes plain that most characters are indeed terrible people and the rest are dragged down with them.

And to achieve that the idea of green=bad black=good needs to be front and center at the start. Portraying everything Rhaenyra and Daemon do in a positive light while making Alicent the villian (and cutting daeron from this season) only to turn it all around to a point where people in the audience either admit they arent that great or look like hypocrites. If they manage to do it right it is a powerful narrative device and one they can use to bounce off between showing the good and the bad on both sides.

I agree that this is likely the plan the showrunners have and the direction the actors are aware their characters are taking (no Emilia situation now). I also agree if this is done properly then it would be an extremely strong narrative tool to bring the darkness and light of both sides out. It would suit the family drama and tragedy aspect of this story incredibly well.

However, that is contingent upon two things. 1) It needs to be done well, and 2) Black fans aren’t too far gone to accept the faults of their side.

My fear is that even with actors fully aware of their character’s dark turns and these plans being set in motion early and well, team black will just…not care. They’ll excuse every and any action.

I don’t know if it’s a brainwashing thing or a pride thing, but Targ stans tend to refuse they have been or could ever be wrong. They did it with Dany and excused everything she did down to massacring a city because the small folk were “too far gone” and “needed to rise again from the ashes”, and now they’re doing it with Rhaenyra, and worse, Daemon. I’ve seen so many of them defending him choking Rhaenyra as “he’s grieving” or “he’s just annoyed at her inaction and trying to make a point”. Like???? WHAT THE HELL?!?! That’s still domestic violence.

This show has the potential to bring to light all the best and worst qualities of team green and team black to make a point about how power corrupts and destroys us all, and to detail how complicated and ruthless the Targaryen family can be. It’s about the Targaryens in their most brutal and tragic forms. Flaws on full display. I can only hope that Team Black is willing to admit they were wrong and accept that this is a story where everyone is a little bit right and a little bit wrong. But none of that matters because everyone is destroyed.

[hayleysayshay]

You know I don’t think I’ve ever rly done a post on why I like Mako, my forever blorbo:

He’s just the kind of neutral character I like and I think it’s because I really don’t have a strong personality and I tend to like characters some people think are boringg because they’re the straight man. Scott Summers was my favourite x-man lol.

He has weird eyebrows. It’s a plus for sure.

He has a tragic backstory, but it’s trauma that’s related to poverty. His parents were killed young and he’s been in a caretaker role since he was eight. That leaves him emotionally stunted. Emotional constipation is my jam. There is literally a post compiling all of the characters in the legend of korra crying, and Mako isn’t in it because he doesn’t cry. I think he needs a good cry.

Also his parents were killed by a firebender, he is a firebender, the show never explores this juicy source of angst.

He generally cares and is very protective over his friends. He doesn’t even really hide it, at the start of book 1 it’s clear he only cares about the people he cares about. This changes by book 4 when he sacrifices himself for the city. His world has expanded.

There’s a ruthless side to Mako, he can be a little dark, see how he threatened people for Korra in book 1 (and then Wu in book 4 lol?). He killed Ming-Hua and my own HC is that he was probs fine with because out of the four I think Mako is the most pragmatic (though tbh I don’t think we’ve seen all of what Asami can offer so maybe second most. Think Asami would murder easily).

I like his dynamic with Bolin a lot, and a lot of book 3 slaps because of this (ignore whatever the jail thing in book 2 because it’s just strange.)

I also like his dynamic with Wu which is why I’m a wuko shipper lol.

He is a very bad communicator. I think that’s neat, because communication is actually something people in general suck at talking, and I don’t ever really like people saying ‘just talk!’ A response to characters conflict, because people don’t just fucking talk to each other. Communication is hard.

Mako starts an eighteen year old who thinks he knows everything but really doesn’t. The only person he has had to rely on his entire life is himself, so his outlook on the world is very warped by his own perception of it, so I think he lacks introspection and can’t really relate to many people emotionally so he couldn’t understand Korra’s frustrations in book 2 (though yes to say Korra was also in the wrong). By book 4 he has grown more chill to trust and support Korra implicitly (who has also grown as well).

I love the breakups. Mako and Korra and Asami all seemed to like each other but never really understood one another. A lot of the issues between them were not just started by Mako (ppl forget Korra initiated the love triangle by kissing Mako without asking when she knew he had a gf) and it’s just teenagers being dumb and not being honest with eachother. I don’t think the writers set out do this in book 1 but by choosing to end the relationships in book 2 I feel like there was some awareness to the flaws present in the relationships. It is, accidentally, one of the more realistic relationships squabbles on a kids show. I love that shit because I’m weird.

All of this leads to this incredibly flawed doofus who means well. I think that’s blorbotastic.

Anyway because most of the fandom hate for the relationship drama is towards Mako I feel the need to defend him since it’s just not that bad. I also feel the need to explain every time that Mako dying would have been a very bad way to end the series, please guys, I will fight you in the streets over this.

None of this is very well explored in canon. I don’t think Mako is a blank slate character, a lot of his character is defined early on and is consistent, but it is not well developed beyond the initial setup at all. This is great for fanfic and it’s fun for headcanons. Hooray!

Because it’s underdeveloped your headcanon doesn’t need much time to work with canon as long as you actually watch the series.

[mahou-furbies]

Closing thoughts on Delicious Party Precure

(spoilers)

This ended up being a thoroughly meh season without that many strong points, but at least it didn't have disastrous flaws either.

I've seen some takes that the season was repetitive with the food theme, and while I agree to some extent, as far as I can see every Precure episode in every season is pretty repetitive so that's nothing new, and I can appreciate that the season had a distinct and memorable theme in the first place. And I think the food spirits are cute.

Meanwhile the other plot elements felt somewhat disjointed, like all the mascots have a similar design but only one of them gets a progressively older human form? And also a super special time travel power? And then they just didn't bother to write a mascot for Amane so she just stares awkwardly at nothing when everyone else says their teary goodbyes to their partners in the ending. Also the Lucky Cat statues were vital in the finale but I don't think they were set up enough for that level of importance (or maybe they were, it's not a secret that I don't pay full attention to Precure episodes so maybe this one is just on me).

There were no standout Cures for me this season, Kokone was my fave but I don't think I'll be thinking of her much after the season is over, Ran was teetering on the edge of being annoying, and Amane felt like a watered down version of Eas/Setsuna. Overall having the dark Cure being brainwashed into villainy is kind of a lame plot element if you ask me, there's no drama in turning her to the good side if she was never actually with the bad guys in the first place. And Yui was a super bland heroine to me, she's not the worst pink Cure ever but I struggle to think of anything interesting about her either. Or her relationship with her late grandma was sweet, but I think that's less about her and more about how a close relationship to a dead granny would make any character more lovable.

The villain captains didn't have a lot going for them either, though I did like the running joke how one of them thought their motto was lame. And his tragic backstory was that he felt excluded because he was unable to enjoy food together, and the solution is that the heroes push him into eating anyway and he conveniently likes it this time? That doesn't sound great. As for the main villain, at first I thought that his story of bitterness about feeling slighted by his furry mentor felt random and unrelated to the rest of the themes of the show, but then again sharing food was a major theme and his master plan was not to share any because he was left without as a kid, so alright that checks out.

Rosemary for best character but unfortunately he didn't get to do enough, though to be fair his portrayal was in line with other Precure major supporting characters so it's not really a flaw in this season specifically. Black Pepper was good too, the male characters had to carry the show for me this time around. Though it did feel a little weird how the Cures ended up being somewhat bystanders in the main story, when the most important character drama involving your main villain was between the men.

Also while I did like Black Pepper, that was only when not in relation to Yui because I really did not like their romance. This also isn't really a dig at DeliParty because "serious boy is not-so-secretly in love with the oblivious cheerful shoujo heroine" is a trope I do not enjoy in general. But even if I don't care for the ship, this kind of open endings where we're supposed to find it charming that the heroine remains oblivious really don't appeal to me either. Make them a couple or have her turn him down, or at least end with her understanding his feelings but saying she needs more time to figure out her own, I don't think this non-resolution is cute at all.

Overall this is going to rank pretty low on my Precure list, but at least things are looking up because I'm super excited for Hero Time next season!

[urheartsamess]

hey i’m really curious and looking for recommendations so can i ask what are ur favorite korean dramas? 🙏🏻🥺

hiii sorry it took me a moment to answer but *deep breath* sure hehe! gonna give u my top 5 and try to not scare u away by diving into deep analyses on why i love those so much! i tried to keep it simple!

my all time favourite is beyond evil it’s a thriller romance drama where a hot young man (juwon) is being coaxed towards the brink and almost ruins his life for a 40yo man (dongsik) who suffered more than jesus himself and the two of them occasionally solve crimes! im making a joke out of it but their dynamic is very meaningful and profound! it’s bitter it’s sweet it’s full of tension and compassion and understanding and Love is at the core of it all. it shows u that despite the misery despite the cruelty despite the sins and despite the violence choosing love but also life is the bravest thing u can do. it will change the trajectory of ur life! also acting legends yeo jingoo and shin hakyun deliver thrilling performances in it which will make u unable to look away! this show means the world to me!

then nr 2 comes my mister! it’s a drama to watch for healing and hard times! it’s a quiet and delicate love story between a man (donghoon) and a woman (jian) who make the other one want to Live again. it teaches u that u don’t need a reason to be kind in ur life that a simple act of kindness could mean so much to someone. their love is shown through actions through listening through subtle glances. it’s very poetic it also deals with universal themes like brotherhood friendship loneliness altruism depression vulnerability and perseverance. it fundamentally changed me as a person when i watched it the first time and it also solidified the immense love and admiration i have for iu.

nr 3 the red sleeve! the best sageuk ever made it’s abt a court lady (deokim) who values her freedom and making her own choices above all else and the future king of joseon (san) whose duty always comes first and the two fall intensely in love. it’s harrowing bc wanting them together u know u’re inevitably pushing deokim towards her downfall to sacrifice what she values most which is her free will so the drama tackles the power play btwn them bc san is often a fool and their respective love language is the opposite of what the other needs hence it’s just so good so tragic so heartbreaking! lee junho even won a baeksang last year for this role hes just so graceful and mesmerising in it and genuinely too good at acting! also deokim (played by lee seyoung) is one of my all time favourite female characters she will stick with me forever!

nr 4 strangers from hell it’s a horror romance drama where a tall hot dentist (moonjo) (played by our one and only god lee dongwook) gaslights and gatekeeps a broke aspiring writer with violent tendencies (jongwoo) into joining him so they can become gay cannibals together barely a day after jongwoo moved into their very shady residence full of psychos! closet made of glass for moonjo since he even makes jongwoo a wedding ring (a musty human teeth bracelet)! it’s insanely good i havent moved on since 2019! deliciously gory and creepy it’s aesthetically flawless on that part as well!

nr 5 is the guest! a little bit too underrated if u ask me which is a shame because it does so much for the horror genre! im grateful that the show introduced me to the ot3 of all time: a girlboss detective an overly kindhearted taxi driver and a hot priest (kim jaewook!!! screams!!!). the characters slowly bound with each other through their shared trauma and dedicate their whole life to defeat an ancient and powerful demon. so the power of their friendship is kinda everything and is the heart of the show. also the men are a little….. u know……. like episode 16 has one of the most beautiful scenes i’ve ever seen that is forever engraved in my memory! i hate them! i love this show so much just. so much!!!!!

[sterwerssunda]

Okayyyy here I go😭 THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

I have to talk about this movie. Because it is a masterpiece and I am going to rewatch it many times to study the nuances, so *some spoilers*

>>>

Everyone’s been fixated on Pedro Pascal and for good reason. Javi is one of the best written and acted characters I’ve ever seen, and there’s a constant tension because you just want to like him but you’re not sure if you should.

But this is a Bromance. And he’s only half the equation.

Nicholas Cage held nothing back for this movie, and what’s absolutely insane is that this isn’t really him at all.

*glances nervously at the industry before continuing

Nicholas Cage, from everything I can find, is a quirky, average person. He likes action movies. He likes acting. He prioritizes his family, and he likes to read books and sit in chairs with a cat. And that is the basis of his reality. Explosions, popcorn flicks, get paid, relax with the family.

But Nick Cage. Ohhhoho no. Nick Cage is a tormented artist, struggling with the weight of what it means to create fine art in a world that only wants car chases and guns. He cares about meaning and purpose and finding meaning in life. What it is to feel alive, why art even matters…he wants things to move him. And he finds his match in Javi.

AND THIS IS THE UNBELIEVABLE PART OKAY?!? I DO NOT KNOW IF HE EVEN KNEW HE WAS CREATING A SELF AWARE AND BITTERSWEET BROM-COM. I DON’T THINK HE UNDERSTANDS THE SCRIPT AND THE MOVIE BECAUSE THATS NOT ACTUALLY HOW HE THINKS.

So what this means. Is that Nicholas Cage, a basic oblivious white actor with some films on his IMDb, who won’t even watch the movie, has just created a poignant queer lighthearted hopeful tragedy without knowing it.

These people not only got permission to make it, but coached him somehow to deliver very believable performances, and managed to create GAY LA LA LAND, complete with the tragically “happy ending.”

And only some of the people watching will even know what they’re watching. It could be a buddy comedy to them. It could have a happy ending. Good for them, they have girls in their lives. But they’re missing the complete point of the movie.

And what kills me the most is the real villain is the audience. The movie is a baklava of layered subtext, with the “movie” they’re writing often referring to the story they’re in. And both of them want a “beautiful character piece,” but they both realize that the people, the industry…those people wouldn’t watch it. Wouldn’t get it. Wouldn’t support it. They decide with heavy hearts that it should then turn into a “Hollywood blockbuster.”

They want a nuanced gay love story, a drama, a poignant art piece. But the only way it’ll get made is if they cleverly disguise it as a guns and explosions movie. Because that will get people in the theaters. And there’s a devastation, a heartbreaking turn as the story shifts. They know it has to. But they don’t want to point guns at each other. They don’t want cheap explosions and kidnappings. But that is the way it must be.

ALL WHILE NICHOLAS CAGE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS. I really think he mostly did it because of the explosions😭

But I just know that Pedro Pascal understood the assignment. That Javi’s forbidden love wasn’t just about some random girl, it was about his icon. About the person he understood the most. The one who asked to trade shoes with him.

PEDRO PASCAL IS AMAZING IN THIS MOVIE BECAUSE HE KNEW ALL THE ANGLES. JAVI IS A CHARMING BUT THREATENING GUY WHO TURNS OUT TO JUST BE THE GAY SOFTBOY WE ALL THOUGHT HE WAS.

NICHOLAS CAGE IS AMAZING IN THIS MOVIE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CREW MANAGED TO PULL A HEARTSTOPPINGLY GAY PERFORMANCE OUT OF A STRAIGHT MAN WITHOUT HIM EVEN KNOWING. TURNING HIS MEMED AND CHAOTIC FILMOGRAPHY INTO THE BACKDROP FOR AN ACHING LONELY ARTIST PERSONA WHO WANTED ART AND LOVE AND TO FEEL SOMETHING AGAIN.

Sure, write your Javi x reader fanfics but don’t forget the Nick x Javi ones. Because this is a ship we need to protect. One that who knows how many people secretly fought for. A closeted masterpiece explaining why it can’t fully come out.

It was too short on purpose. It was fleeting and beautiful, and all our beautiful moments were exchanged for dark basements and kidnappings and guns, because that’s what the people crave. Mindless violence. Fast food stories.

SIDE NOTE IT’S ALSO HILARIOUS AND YOU’LL LAUGH SO MUCH LIKE HOWWWW

>>>

There are so many things that I know I’ve missed, and things I want to find once I own it😅

But here are bonus notes:

- the movie The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari is about an evil controlling man who makes an innocent pawn kidnap a girl.

- the movie Paddington 2 is about Paddington Bear being wrongly imprisoned and bringing the best out of his seemingly intimidating cell mates.

Already loads of theories just with that. Go dig up more. Study story and art and write the gayest shit you can. Fight for all the art. Because otherwise it’ll be taped over and replaced with what some grumpy old men with family money want just because they think they own everything. Ehehehe oh crud I’m gonna get cancelled. While I’m at it, yes. The title is a dick joke.

[halcyon-nitro]

Sorry it took so long I’ve been really busy then there was some family drama 😅

Kaina-

Everything but mainly her backstory. I love tragic characters she’s the definition of tragedy. I also love her snarkiness and sarcasm especially when she talks to all for one. I know it’s cause she was dead inside but I still enjoyed the sarcasm.

I wish she was in the manga more cause she’s the most interesting character to me

That one panel in the lovely lady nagant where she sees the children and her hands covered in blood and that one in 378. (And literally every panel she was in 379 that was the most badass thing she’s done)

Hmmm I don’t really have one I really liked every panel she was in.

Not really a situation but we literally know almost nothing about her time in Tartarus not even what her cell looked like. Solitary Confinement fucks people up and definitely is a major reason of why she joined All For One (cough*deadinside*cough)

Several actually I’ll list a few roleswap with Hawks and/or Chisaki. One where she joins the Shie Hassaikai. An au where she didn’t explode and ended up teaming up with Izuku. One where the commission still exists so she goes on a revenge quest.

Hawkeye I was actually watching it before I wrote this up and I thought of her when I watched one of the episodes.

I know I talk about InkoNagant a lot but my absolute favorite Otp with her is LadyMight I love their parallels.

InkoNagant

IzuNagant just no.

Hawks, Deku, or Chisaki

She needs hearing aids cause of using her quirk without hearing protections (the explosion from afo did her no favors), she loves plushies like this women has a plushie collection and everything (post war) (besides she deserves a plushie collection she’s been through some shit)

Chisaki-

His character design! I love it so so much! The mask is probably one of the coolest masks I’ve ever seen and his outfit is just 👌👌👌

Again how underutilized he is in my opinion he’s the best villian and honestly could’ve played a much bigger role.

When he recruits Rappa and the manga panel where his fingers divide the panels.

Hmmm I’m actually not sure I’m not the best at criticism honestly

His past

I was thinking one where he actually gets brought to grandpa yakuza or whatever by Nagant.

Hunter x Hunter

Chronohaul

Nemoto x Overhaul (idk there ship name could be cool I think)

OverDeku (idk why people be shipping deku with anyone)

Nagant

Hmmm I’m actually not to sure Chisaki isn’t one of those characters I think about a lot.

[cina-full-moon-xanadium]

it’s kind of funny where I’m at with Revice as a whole

- Sakura and Hana are very well-developed characters and also lesbians that I’m just overall very happy with as characters; even though they’re not doing a lot now that’s fine -- they had a very solid Heated Drama storyline that reflected all of Revice’s best themes and their finally hugging each other and Sakura helping Hana find a home is one of the happiest moments I have ever had with this franchise

- Genta is a fantastic take on the idea of Kamen Rider’s tragedy as a whole and finding both redemption and recovery -- while he’s naturally drawn into the battle as it’s found its way to his present, he’s managed to build his own life with the help of his lover and managed to give a good home to three kids that he dearly loves. It’s an incredibly appropriate storyline for the 50th anniversary

- Daiji has, right the hell out of nowhere; become a fascinating character with all his decisions spiralling from his loss of Kagerou and recontextualising everything we’ve seen of him until this point -- building a really interesting story about how your vices are as important as your righteous beliefs and just how bad doubling down on a belief of compromise can get

- The side characters are surprisingly decent! Tamaki in particular has a similar redemption/recovery arc to Hana that makes him a super charming part of the group, and Hiromi of course is an early-game legend who’s grown into a calmer, supportive figure for his community in a way that he never could have been before that development. Yukimi is a super fun older mentor and even some of the Weekend characters like Masumi and Ninninger Dad got some good moments

- Ikki and Vice, the main characters! ... are neat!

It’s... WILD, honestly. Even if Revice’s roadmap to these locations has been a bit bumpy, I’ve still felt the full force of all these characters’ developments and relationships and how they resonate with and reflect the overall themes of the show. It’s all really good stuff! But then Revi and Vice themselves don’t have a solidly-enough constructed storyline despite a lot of strong pieces being there, and it’s a big shame and probably the biggest thing letting the show down. These are the central characters that are supposed to be the driving force of the show and naturally take up most the screentime, but... they’re tragically just not as interesting as they should be and don’t match up to those around them.

[queer-and-dear-books]

Title: Never Been Kissed

Author: Timothy Janovsky

Genre: New Adult Fiction | Drama | Romance | LGBTQ+

Content Warnings: Mentioned Biphobia | Homophobia

Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Personal Opinion: One of my all-time favorite tropes is childhood friends that reconnect and become lovers. Wren and Derick give me that in this novel. They are adorable and soft and they leave me tenderhearted with almost every single one of their interactions. Another one of my all-time favorite tropes are happy endings and this serves one of the happiest epilogues I’ve seen in a book. So I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t.

Couple Classification: Wren Roland X Derick Haverford = Nerd X Prep

Do I Own This Book? Nope.

Spoilers Below For My Likes & Dislikes:

Likes:

- The most fabulous part of this book is when Wren and Derick promised to do better with their communication. That is all I’ve ever wanted in a book. And yeah, the lack of clear, honest communication at the start is tragic but the fact that they’d reached the point of wanting to do better and putting in the work to do better makes it all worth it, in my opinion. Plus, I absolutely understand why Derick chose not to tell Wren about the demolition given the circumstances. Likewise, I also understand Wren’s blow-up when he found out.

- The ending of this story is quite possibly the happiest that it could’ve been. Everyone gets what they want and it is magnificent. Wren is the new owner of Wiley’s Drive-In and he published a book! Derick reconciled with his family and was allowed to get any job he wanted (choosing to stay on as the social media manager at Wiley’s) instead of following in his dad’s footsteps. Alice was able to sell her place and she reclaimed her fame as a badass woman director. Avery and Stacia are still together, Mateo and Brandon are still together, Wren and Derick are implied to be engaged! I love happy epilogues and this was just so good.

- I’m glad Mateo’s firing wasn’t framed as something Wren did wrong. He was right and I’m so glad Mateo apologized for not doing his job properly. 

- Oscar is such a great side character. He sort of exists to elevate other voices and he fulfills that role perfectly. I love when a character does one job and does it well. That sounds weird but it’s true.

- The friendship between Alice and Wren was honestly just adorable. When they watched a movie together, I was deeply moved. Just seeing Alice open up to someone after being an isolated recluse for years is just so sweet. And it makes me so happy that she was able to reclaim her fame.

- I am a sucker for childhood friends to lovers. Wren and Derick have so much history together and it is adorable. I love the flashbacks because they meld so well with the story and it gives us so much more depth to their relationship. To how much Derick means to Wren even though Derick had hurt him before.

- Their present day interactions were adorable too though. The best part was probably the cuddle session on the couch in the basement after watching a bunch of POV Disney ride videos. It’s so unique to this book and it’s so tender and soft. And the fact that Derick was upstairs in the morning making pancakes just fills me with that domestic sweetness that I love.

- Demisexual representation! I love ace rep of any kind really but that conversation between Wren and Brandon was just so insightful. And I love that there is no shame surrounding Wren exploring his sexuality in his twenties.

Dislikes:

- Wren sometimes frustrates me. Mostly when he flat out ignores Derick or tries to stop Derick from talking. He admits that he should not have done that so I forgive him somewhat. But it’s still frustrating that he did that at all. I’m actually more willing to forgive him for the second time he does it. Because the first, when Derick tries to apologize for ghosting Wren, was just unnecessary. It went on for so long and for what. 

- Mateo being a bad employee just sucks because I just got so annoyed with him. It made me wonder how he was going to act like a friend to someone who got him the job when he won’t even do it properly? And how is he gonna act like it’s not his fault for almost causing an accident when he’s literally staring at his phone during work! He should’ve been reprimanded earlier but I get not wanting to cross blurred friendship/co-worker lines. 

- Derick ghosting Wren sucked! I think this one is personal though. Because it is my absolute worst fear. I’m a socially anxious person and I love my friends. And it was pretty obvious that Wren and Derick were really close up until college. So the ghosting just rips my soul out and tears it into shreds. Then Derick said he didn’t feel the same way but then sent those mixed messages and it was just infuriating. He made me feel frustrated. And I do not like that in a love interest of a book. If they frustrate me, in the beginning especially, it’s difficult for me to see them as good for the protagonist. Even if Wren says they help each other be better, I just… ugh. Communicate better! Thank fuck he promised to do that.

[wlwocprincess]

your turn now 🔥 for euphoria

NGL I have been staring at this ask for so long because I had no idea if I had too much to say or too little . . . First of all, I think it would’ve been best if it was just a show about Rue and Jules, simply because they’re the best written as they are the ones that Levinson has most heart in when he’s writing. Hunter got a lot of control with Jules’ character and obviously, Levinson quite literally based Rue on himself (and there’s nothing wrong with that!) They’re undoubtedly the strongest parts of the show and the ones that receive the most praise while also having its best actress (calm down, I think the other actors are good but Euphoria still has its Emmy nominated and winning actor without them, sorry not sorry) The other stories kind of just feel. . Like stories. My favorite character is Maddy but me liking her doesn’t and never has necessarily made me think she’s well written. Every character felt hollow to me, they were an archetype and a tragic story with the exception of Nate, who is (or might be since it’s always going to be unclear) The Closeted Toxic Masculine Guy who also happens to be the most mustache twirling cartoonish antagonist in an adult show I’ve ever seen. Jacob Elordi does his part to give Nate depth and nuance but. . . Nate is almost completely devoid of it on paper.

Because I never really allowed myself to get invested in the characters or their stories, I never really cared that much when people cried “Character Assassination” or “OOC” or when Sam dropped entire storylines or character arcs for the sake of cheap drama. That cheap drama was entertaining to me. I knew it wasn’t well written but I never expected that from Euphoria at all, so it allowed me to enjoy it when Sam’s strategy became just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what was hitting the fan. It was fun to watch.

I know a lot of people are tired of this criticism because of how common it is but yeah, Euphoria should’ve been set in college. It’s not that necessarily the youth isn’t important to these characters, it is, but life doesn’t end at 20 and everyone knows that. The teenagehood of the characters really doesn’t have that much of a baring, even if the parents play important roles, it’s not exactly for their ability to parent or supervise their kids. It’s like almost every teen drama out there, everyone is played by a gorgeous actor in their 20s long passed their awkward teen stages, nobody has parents on top of them, nothing specifically about /high school/ that can’t be replaced with any other educational setting is really involved, they do all these things underage they would simply be able to do if they were a few years older. . Also yeah, things like sex, drugs, and alla dat can be explored by teens at a young age but there is no realism in curated media and also these topics don’t become untouchable once you hit a certain age. Like, for a show that says it’s not for Gen Z and is supposed to be explicit the insistence that they remain seventeen is just a red flag more than anything else.

Okay, last of all: It’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing shows out there. It’s pretty, it’s sparkly, glittery, the cinematography is gorgeous, it’s a feel through your eyes type media with a great soundtrack. It deserves praise for that but I do feel it is overrated.

[janecrockeyre]

scum villain is a greek tragedy disguised as a regular tragedy disguised as a comedy disguised as a danmei

this is going to be long, and this is only PART ONE.

a.k.a, Analysing the plot of Scum Villain’s Self Saving System through Aristotle’s Poetics, because I Have Mental Issues

Part One: Introduction and the Tragic Hero

Scum Villain’s Self Saving System is a tragedy disguised as a comedy, unless you’re Shen Yuan, in which case it’s a mixture of a romance and a survival horror. It's a fever dream. It's a horrible, terrible book that made me feel new undiscovered emotions when I finished reading it. 

The thing is... SVSSS shares characteristics with some of the most famous tragedies in the West, such as Oedipus Rex, Medea, Antigone, the Oresteia... if you haven’t read these, I’ll explain everything. But the gist of my argument is this: SVSSS is the perfect tragedy. In triplicate. 

Tragedy as a genre is old as balls and so it has meant slightly different things to different people over the last few thousand years. I'll be focusing on ancient Greek tragedy, which was performed at the yearly Festival of Dionysus in Athens during the 500-350s BC (give or take a hundred years). Aristotle, when writing about this very specific subset of tragedy, had no idea that one day Scum Villain would be written, and then that I would be using his work as a way to look at Shen Qingqiu’s Funky Transmigration Mistake. Anyway!

Greek tragedy greatly influenced European dramatic tradition. I have a lot of opinions about white academics idolising and upholding the classics as the "paragon of culture" but I'll withhold them for now. I have no idea if MXTX has read Greek tragedy or not, so don't take this as me saying they are writing it. 

In my opinion, tragedy is a universal human constant. We are surrounded by pain and hurt and none of it makes any sense, so we seek to process that pain through drama, art, literature, etc. We want to understand why pain happens, and how it happens, and try to make sense of the senseless. The universe is cold and cruel and random. Tragedy eases some of that pain. 

On that note: Just because I am analysing Scum Villain through a Greek lens doesn't mean that it was written that way. I'm pasting an interpretation onto the book when there's probably a very rich and deep history of Chinese tragedy that I just don't know about. If you ever want to talk about that, please, god, hit me up, I would love to learn about it!! 

Anyway, tragedy. MXTX is excellent at it! Mo Dao Zu Shi? Painful dynastic family tragedy. Heaven Official's Blessing? Mostly romance, but she managed to get that pure pain in there, huh? 

But in my opinion, Scum Villain holds the crown for the most tragic of her stories. MDZS was more of a mystery. TGCF was more of a romance. Neither of them shy away from their tragic elements. 

Scum Villain would fit right in between the work of Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. How? Let me show you. Join me on my mystery tour into the world of "Aristotle Analyses Danmei..."

Part One: The Tragic Hero

What is a tragic hero? Generally, Greek tragic heroes are united by the same key characteristics. He must be imperfect, having a "fatal flaw" of some kind. He must have something to lose. And he must go from fortune to misfortune thanks to that fatal flaw. 

There are two (technically three) tragic protagonists in SVSSS and all of them are tragic in different but formulaic ways. Each protagonist has their own version of “hamartia” or a “fatal flaw”. 

Actually, hamartia isn’t necessarily a flaw - rather, it is a thing which makes the audience pity and fear for them, a careful imperfection, a point of weakness in the character’s morality or reasoning that allows for bad things to happen to them. For example, in Oedipus Rex, the king Oedipus has a “fatal flaw” of always wanting to find the truth, but this isn’t exactly a flaw, right? Note: this flaw can be completely unwitting, as we see with Shen Yuan. It can also be something that the protagonist is born with, some kind of trait from birth or very young. 

Shen Yuan

Shen Yuan’s “hamartia” is his rigid adherence to fate and his inability to read a situation as anything but how he thinks it ought to be. He believes that Bingmei will grow into Bingge, and it takes several years, two deaths, and some truly traumatising sex to convince him otherwise. 

Shen Jiu

Shen Jiu’s fatal flaw is his cruelty. It is his own sadistic treatment and abuse of Binghe which directly leads to his eventual dismemberment. This is kind of a no-brainer. Of course, it isn't all that simple, and as an audience we pity him for his cruelty as much as we fear it because we know it comes from his own abuse as a child. This just makes him even more tragic. Delicious. 

Luo Binghe

Luo Binghe’s fatal flaw is a complicated mix of things. It is his position as the “protagonist” which compels him to act in certain ways and be forced to suffer. It is his half-demonic heritage, something entirely out of his control, which sets in motion his tragic reversal of fortune when he gets yeeted into the Abyss. He also, much like Shen Yuan, has the propensity to jump to conclusions and somehow make 2 + 2 = 5. 

As well as having their respective “flaws”, all three protagonists match the rough outline of a good tragic hero in another way: they are in a position of great wealth and power. Even when you split the different characters into different “versions”, this still holds true. Yes, Luo Binghe is raised a commoner by a washerwoman foster mother, but his dad is an emperor and he also ends up becoming an emperor himself. 

Yes, Shen Jiu is an ex-slave and a victim of abuse himself, but Shen Qingqiu is a powerful peak lord with an entire mountain’s worth of resources at his back. 

Shen Yuan is a second generation new money rich kid. 

Bingge is a stereotypical protagonist with a golden finger. Bingmei is a treasured and loved disciple with a good reputation and a privileged seat by his shizun’s side. 

In a tragedy, having this kind of good fortune at the beginning of your story is dangerous. Chaucer says that tragedy is (badly translated into modern english) “a certain story / of him that stood in great prosperity / and falls out of high degree / into misery, and ends up wretchedly”. If we follow this line of thinking, a good tragedy is about someone who has a lot to lose, losing everything because of one fatal point of weakness that they fail to address or understand. 

If we look at Shakespeare, this is what makes King Lear such a fantastic tragic protagonist. He is a king in control of most of England, who from his own lack of wisdom and excess of pride, decides to split his kingdom apart to give to his daughters, favouring his murderous, double crossing progeny, and condemning his only actually filial daughter to death. He loses his kingdom, his mind, and his beloved daughter, all because of his own stupidity.

This brings us to:

Part Two: Peripeteia

This reversal of fortunes is called peripeteia. It is the moment where the entire plot shifts, and the hero’s fortunes go from good to bad. Think of it like one of those magic eye puzzles, where you stare at the image until a 3D shark appears, except you realise the shark was always there, you just couldn't ever see it, waiting for you, hungry, deadly, always lurking just behind that delightful pattern of random blue squiggles. 

Each tragic hero has their own moment of peripeteia in SVSSS, sometimes several:

Shen Qingqiu

In the original PIDW, SQQ’s peripeteia presumably occurs when he finds out that Bingge didn’t perish in the Abyss but has actually been training hard to come and pay him back. There’s really not much I’m interested in saying here - as a villain, OG!SQQ is cut and dry, and the audience doesn’t really feel any pity or fear for him. As Shen Yuan often mentions, what the audience feels when they see OG!SQQ is bloodlust and sick satisfaction. There is also the trial at Huan Hua Palace, which I will talk about in Shen Yuan’s section. 

Shen Yuan (SQQ 2.0)

One of SY’s most poggers moment of peripeteia is the glorious, terrifying section between hearing Binghe for the first time after the Abyss moment, and getting shoved into the Water Prison. 

“Behind him, a low and soft voice came: “Shizun?”

Shen Qingqiu’s neck felt stiff as he slowly turned his head. Luo Binghe’s face was the most frightening thing he had ever seen.

The scariest thing about it was that the expression on his face was not cold at all. His smile wasn’t sharp like a knife. Rather, it showed a kind of bone-deep gentleness and amiability.”

This is the moment of true horror for Shen Yuan, because he knows what happens next: the plot unfurls before him, inevitable and painful, and he knows that death awaits him at Luo Binghe's hands (lol). Compare it with the bone deep certainty with which he faces his own downfall during the sham of a trial later in the chapter (I’ve bolded the important part):

“In the original work, Qiu Haitang’s appearance signified only one thing: Shen Qingqiu’s complete fall from grace. [...] Shen Qingqiu’s heart streamed with tears. Great Master… I know you’re doing this for my own good, but I’ll actually suffer if she speaks her words clearly. This truly is the saying “not frightened of doing a shameful deed, just afraid the ghost (consequences) will come knocking”!”

After the peripeteia is usually the denouement where the plot wraps up and the threads are all tied together leaving no loose ends, but because this tragedy isn’t Shen Yuan’s but the former Shen Jiu’s, it’s impossible to finish. 

Shen Yuan cannot provide the meaningful answers that the narrative demands because 1) he doesn’t have any memory of doing anything, and 2) he wasn’t the person who did them. Narratively, he cannot follow the same path as the former SQQ because he lacks the same fatal flaw: cruelty. 

This is why Binghe doesn’t kill him - because he loves him, rather than despises him. And this is why Shen Yuan has to sacrifice himself and die for Luo Binghe in order to save him from Xin Mo: because the narrative demands that denouement follows peripeteia, and SQQ’s fate is in the hands of the narrative. 

(Side note: I believe that this literal death also represents the death of OG!SQQ's tragic arc. The body that committed all those crimes must die to satisfy the narrative. SQQ must die, like burning down a forest, so that new growth can sprout from the ashes. After this, Shen Yuan's story has more room to develop instead.)

It must happen to show Bingmei that SQQ loves him too. And this brings us to Bingmei.

Bingmei

Bingmei has two succinct moments of utter downfall. The first is a literal fall - his flaw, his demonic heritage, leads his beloved shizun to throw him down into the Abyss. From his point of view, SQQ is punishing him simply for the status of his birth. He rapidly goes from being loved and cherished unconditionally, to being the victim of an assassination attempt. 

He realises that he is totally unlovable: that for the crimes of his species that he never had a hand in, he must pay the price as well: that his shizun is so righteous that no matter what love there was between them, if SQQ sees a demon, he will kill it. Even if that demon is Bingmei. 

The second moment is when SQQ dies for him. Again, from his point of view, he was chasing after a man who was struggling to see him as a human being. Shen Qingqiu’s death makes Bingmei realise that he has been completely misunderstanding his shizun: that SQQ would literally die for him, the ultimate act of self sacrifice from love: that SQQ loved him despite his demon heritage. 

Much like King Lear holding the corpse of his daughter and wailing in sheer grief and pain because he did this, he caused this, Bingmei gets to hold his shizun's cold body and cry his eyes out and know that it was his fault. (Kind of.)

(Yes, I’m bringing Shakespeare into this, no I am not justifying myself)

Maybe I'm a bit sadistic, but that scene slaps. Let me show you a comparison of scenes so you get the picture. 

Re-enter KING LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his arms; EDGAR, Captain, and others following

KING LEAR

Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so

That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever!

I know when one is dead, and when one lives;

She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass;

If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,

Why, then she lives.

[...]

 KING LEAR

And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life!

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,

And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,

Never, never, never, never, never!

Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.

Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,

Look there, look there!

Dies

Versus this scene in SVSSS: 

Luo Binghe turned a deaf ear to everything else, greatly agitated and at a loss of what to do. He was still holding Shen Qingqiu’s body, which was rapidly cooling down. It seemed like he wanted to call for him loudly and forcefully shake him awake, yet he didn’t dare to, as if he was afraid of being scolded. He said slowly, “Shizun?”

[...]

Luo Binghe involuntarily held Shen Qingqiu closer.

He said in a small voice, “I was wrong, Shizun, I really… know that I was wrong.

“I… I didn’t want to kill you…”

PAIN. SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL PAIN. Yes, I know Shakespeare isn’t Athenian, but he was inspired by the good old stuff and he also knew how to write a perfect tragedy on his own terms. Anyway. I’ll find more Greek examples later.

This post was a bit all over the place, but I hope it has been fun to read. Part Two will be coming At Some Point, Who Knows When. This is a bit messy and unedited, but hey, I’m not getting paid or graded, so you can eat any typos or errors. Unless you’re here to talk to me about Chinese tragedy, in which case, please pull up a seat, let me get you a drink, make yourself at home.

ps: if you want to retweet this, here is the promo tweet!

[lestwritewhilewaitingforajobcall]

The Spark That Split the Seas - Poseidon x Reader x Thor

(A/N)

Hey guys I’m back! I’ve been grinding hard for a new character that I’d gotten in this game, Genshin Impact, so I’m sorry for the absence! Anyways, as always, I want to thank you all for the support on my past two stories and on my account, I truly appreciate every one of you! On a story-related note, since I’d mentioned on my previous post that I had a lot of Poseidon x Reader x Thor fics written in my drafts, I decided to post one so you guys could also join me in the feels! Any feedback would be appreciated! This was originally shorter than the final story you’re seeing now, as I’d first only written their dialogues, but as usual, I excitedly itched into making a story out of it!

This is for entertainment only. Record of Ragnarok belongs to Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui and Ajichika. I also do not own you, the reader.

The Spark That Split the Seas

Poseidon x Reader x Thor

For more than all the millennia the gods and other species alike had known the lonely kingdom of Atlantis, never once did the crashing waves gave way to the chirping of the largest Albatrosses until now. Otherworldly flying creatures joined with the familiar exclusively earthly ones in enjoying the ebb and flow of the ocean, albeit this time, the hungry ocean appeared more satiated and seemed to follow a regular pattern ‘from sudden crash to a long calm, to crash again then back to another lengthy calm;’ life in the sea rejoiced in this odd occurrence.

Beautiful yellow sun rays poured through the stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope pattern on the large interiors of the kingdom ruled by the god of the seas, and catching the reflection of his nonchalant visage. The long, elegant dining table filled with every kind of seafood delectable imaginable also fell victim to the light, along with a figure that sat down opposite, whose invitation was clear.

Hidden from this heavenly atmosphere were the prying eyes of a little messenger bird who stood unobtrusively behind one of the tall pillars near the far end of the room, halting his slide just in time to witness this miracle:

The living bearer of the most fearsome title, the ruler of both this grandiose palace of the most precious gems and coral and all the oceans and waters, the almighty Poseidon, though against all reason and self-proved authority whatsoever, against the epics of Greek poets, was indulged, seemingly willingly, in the pleasure of having another’s company. In the shadows, Hermes’ red eyes shot wide open in shock.

Poseidon, the ever abrupt and rude god who had deemed most beings to be below him, received a guest, a still breathing one at that.

What in the gods’ name?

In a tone of haughty contempt, a grunt escaped from Poseidon’s lips. Finishing chewing the last bite of delicious food in your mouth, you nodded your head in earnest agreement with his point. Your next words were uttered with the firmness of an old sage who had all the answers, your beliefs shaped by the countless lifetimes you had lived.

“Existing is painful.” Your shoulders bobbed with your chuckle.

Although Poseidon felt a small measure of relief−a feeling that by habit had always been easy to brush-off with a condescending thought, his face betrayed nothing as his stoic features remained still. “If you agree, then why not allow me to kill you this instant?” As if to emphasize his strength, the crashing sound of dreadful combat between waves and rocks rang in the air, and you almost wished that a low rumble of thunder accompanied it, finding beauty in its loud peals, and additionally giving a volume of inspiration to Michelangelo below.

Despite your gaze being unrequited, you were sure you had the god’s attention. Since arriving here, Poseidon noted that your expression had always been smoothed into a calm, smiling one. “If you had intended to kill me, we would not be having this conversation right now.”

Poseidon sat rigid and silent.

“It’s a comfortingly tragic drama, my circle of life. I may not have been lucky to acquire a life as long as that of the gods, but I have definitely lived more times than you have.” Your words were so nonchalant, for a second there Poseidon thought you were kidding.

“That is for the simple fact that you mortals are weak, pathetic.” Lips as pink as young petunias touched the clear edge of the wine glass as Poseidon’s eyes closed, content to give over to listen.

“Yes, we are.” You paused. “But because of this frailty, we learned to adapt, evolve.”

“There is no need for evolution if you are perfect from the moment of conception. Hence why gods such as I, will always be above you.”

“You’re correct. Humans will never become gods after all,” Again, Poseidon found himself absorbing your words like a sponge. At the same time, he experienced an occasional sharp prick at the edge of his emotions, as if signaling him to pull back. “The same as gods will never become like humans.”

“Extremely foolish of you to think that trash is worthy of the shiniest Orichalcum. Your race has been created by us, for us, and will therefore always be inferior.”

“Humans are inferior in all aspects, this, is a fact. It is hence no accident that there is a history of rebellion and consequently, a false notion of superiority. But to be able to look beyond this, is to understand that we never truly intended to surpass animals nor the gods themselves. The nature of our desire: everything was meant for either survival or man’s search for meaning.

“We are by nature flawed and inconsistent creatures. And as you have no doubt seen for yourself as well, despite reaching all our goals, achieving our wildest dreams, we have never reached a position where satisfaction is achieved.” Keenness made your words sound almost heroic. There was a twinkle in your eye and a lilt in your voice, and Poseidon found that now he had a much clearer picture of your reputation for an irrepressible desire to see what is beyond your reach as you questioned: “If I may ask, as I have seen the gods share this sentiment of looking for meaning, do you feel an inkling of the same?”

When Poseidon had put the wine glass down, he hesitated a moment, his supposedly closed mind wavering between doubt and certainty. He would never come to understand this, nor admit to feeling this dissonance, but at last, he shook his head at his consideration, trying to reduce the unpleasantness he felt by the same way he had always used to get out of extremely rare difficulties.

“Do not disrespect me, mortal.” He knew himself that it was an empty threat.

“Those were never my intentions.” You bowed with great respect, but there was at the same time apparent in your manner the consciousness that while Poseidon would never in any way confirm your statement, he did not necessarily refute it. Your heart rose in gratitude as you regarded him with a look of affection, believing in your intellectual companionship.

“Lord Poseidon, as the fearsome god of the seas, what is the meaning of life for you?” The god surveyed your reflection in one of the golden plates, and maybe it was because he had acted in a charitable way towards you, but he saw brightness, a refreshing difference, as if there were no heavy shackles to weigh you down.

“My husband has always been in search of a worthy opponent. What about you?”

It was like a pin came dangerously close to the rational bubble of Poseidon’s beliefs. But then your words penetrated his mind, and he berated himself for almost falling prey, yet…

“Perfection.” Poseidon blurted out loud, full of self-indulgence, but uncomfortable with the thought of pity reeking from his pores, a role that was clearly uncharacteristic of him.

Tilting your head, your brows meshed inquisitively upon hearing this. “This presents the conundrum; you are already perfect, as should all the gods. Since you have explained, gods have always been pristine, perfect, the moment you all were born.

“So, if you have already achieved the meaning and purpose of your life, what is there left to live for?” There was something entrancing in your guileless form, and Poseidon was displeased that another should feel such an interest in your wise, unguarded character. “And if gods have already reached perfection, why is there an endeavor still for the dross of earth?”

For the first time in Poseidon’s life, he was receptive of contraries. Not one single time, had he ever been in the position where he listened, much more considered the act of interpretation. What he said goes, but for some frustrating reason, he was coming to terms of mutual respect; whenever he was sitting opposite you, chin in hand, the more he caught the flame.

Quickly, he stopped that train of thought and he seamed his mouth, stoic. Only his eyes betrayed a spark of defiance. “Stop asking ridiculous questions.”

Again, you bowed. “I apologize if I have overstepped such boundaries.”

“You better be.” With a look of eager inquiry, Poseidon asked, “Why are you not afraid of me? Is it because you are confident Thor would protect you?” One thing that distressed him was that the more he was alone with you, the more he saw your hands, always ungloved, noticed the wedding-ring on your finger. That closed circle excluded him, his face registering the insult. “As expected from a repulsive weakling,”

“No. I know he would be there for me whenever I should need him, and also the times when I don’t.” You said still a smile on your mouth.

Although you were unaware of the eagle eyes that were watching your every move, you had the instinct. You did not need all the information, and you had nothing to hide. Your shoulders were loose, back wasn’t ramrod straight and you exuded a carefree attitude. “The sole reason why my fears have dissipated is because perhaps, I enjoy your conversation.”

To say this whole exchange took Hermes by surprise would be an understatement. After the initial expression of shock, he laughed lowly.

You continued, “I have already accepted your beliefs. No one is entitled to those except yourself.

“If I were to die from imparting what my beliefs are, that is simply fate, a tragedy, but nonetheless, fate. Of course, I would try my best to avoid disappearing from this lifetime, seeing as I have made a promise with my husband, to continue to fight for my life, shall needed, until the very end.” Poseidon’s grip tightened the slightest bit.

“I believe that despite our obvious differences, we are simply two being who each have our own unique experiences that shape our views and beliefs. For hundreds of millennia, I’d seen calamity from all angles; mainly conflicts over a universal truth,

“But so long as there are questions, there will never be one solid concrete truth. And I’m okay with that.” You concluded.

Compliments never rolled off Poseidon’s tongue easily, since in his view they were nothing but hollow words. But this time, he could hardly slip a word in bad taste. He thought it pleasant to hear you, but it could not distract him from the uninvited presence in his throne room.

“You’re a heretic.” His usual strong voice beckoned your attention, discerning the sternness on the table of his expression to be forced. No matter, you had just enough of a last glimpse to see his face looking younger in repose.

“I have been labeled as such.” You noticed the unique rhythm of the crashing waves seemed to have settled along the sand grains, and you admitted it was so beautiful and timeless.

“You’re dismissed.” Poseidon believed in being straightforward with affairs. Since the conversation has ended, the final interchange of words was not likely to be a substantive one. Though this was his original reason, the face at the forefront of his mind right now was not yours but Hermes’.

You stood up and curtsied to show your gratitude. “Very well. It was splendid to be in your company this afternoon.”

Blue eyes followed you as you began walking away, and he watched you until you went out of sight when you began to ascend the Skíðblaðnir, a ship so completely reserved only for you by the Kingdom of the Norse. Then Poseidon’s ears turned toward the messenger’s direction.

Hermes quickly dashed to Poseidon and knelt to greet him with such a great respect akin to the expectations all elderly gods have always expected of their younger ones.

“We gods are perfect beings from the very start; therefore, we do not plot schemes nor engage in disagreements.” The implication registered with a jolt, and Hermes felt his mouth open as the real reason for your invitation became clear. He fought the urge to look at where Adamas had died brutally as a lowlife, not failing to recognize that this was the exact opposite of that faded history.

Finding quiet when Hermes immediately left, the god of the seas stared at his dominion, taking deep breaths of the air, not feeling the normal icy sting carried by the ocean. Over again he dwelt upon in his conversations with you, interested to find out if the Norse god of thunder had been able to sustain a similar type of conversation.

The very first quiver of interest sparked through Poseidon and though he did not recognize it nor perceived it, he understood the most important things, the only ones he ever needed to:

You did not seek validation nor attention. You had no fear of death, neither of the hardships of life.

Your depths of wisdom were unparalleled throughout the realms, which he would comment on its wasted potential, however, he knew Hermes already understood that part of it.

And the god of messenger did, as the word got around slowly but surely:

“There would always be those who dare to brave the ocean’s roar, but there was only one who withstood it.”

[halveablock]

maki

i just wanted to properly verbalize exactly why i love maki so much. in particular, the way her character development is shown through her design. i suppose this is a bit of character design rambling. contains manga spoilers up to chapter 149.

to be quite honest, maki didn’t catch my eye that much when i first read jujutsu kaisen. she felt awkward actually; design-wise, it felt like gege couldn’t commit to a type of feeling. her style felt just vaguely unkempt and bit feminine, but had no real identity. part of that is the characters are all in dark uniforms, but they can be customized to give off a certain feeling. yuji, for example, wears hoodies not because he’s a hoodie guy but because he can be indecisive (volume extra).

but this all changed once i saw this infamous chapter cover:

i immediately went: shit, i wish maki actually looked like that. she didn’t really have this masc energy until this chapter cover. (and then upon rereads, maki really captured my heart...) there, i saw what maki could be, so i was wondering why her pre-shibuya design felt so dissonant to this image, which felt perfect for her.

i think gege decided on her “aesthetic,” so to speak, once he designed toji. not that toji wasn’t designed or concepted before, but it’s possible that gege hadn’t thought to push the toji-maki parallels that early until his design was finalized, since this is just 2 chapters before his appearance. and she has gotten only closer and closer to him in aesthetic until in chapter 149, gege blatantly draws a side by side comparison to make sure you really saw it, in case you hadn’t realized it yet.

it’s interesting then that with ogi’s appearance, maki’s previous ponytail had some meaning.

the way the ponytail is drawn is virtually identical; it’s as if maki was striving to be her father, in a way. i imagine the image of strength she had in her head was ogi before she saw toji on the beach: there, she saw what she could become. (btw, i don’t think it’s a coincidence that she meets toji on the beach as her old self, and then says good-bye to mai on another beach as her new self)

gege most likely designed maki first then ogi, so i think giving him a ponytail was definitely intentional to indicate the shift in maki’s understanding of what she could be.

at any rate, post-shibuya, i think gege had fully embraced the masc style for maki, while keeping up with his high waist fashion obsession for the ladies. he may have also felt creatively limited by jujutsu tech uniforms, so he probably wanted to break some rules around that. the cape gives her a strong leadership look as indicated by her role among the students and a distinct silhouette so i think maki will keep it despite not having it on at the end of ch149.

maki’s new hair has the double function of getting closer to toji while making her look even more identical with mai. a crossroads of sorts: she could either become like toji, or stay in the bottom with mai. we all know what happened at that, albeit it wasn’t really her choice. in another sense though, she became both, gege deliberately putting both maki and mai in their sleeveless outfits (remember maki still had her cape on after waking up, before shedding it in the epic spread) in the beach scene to convey this merging even more.

as for her writing itself: on the surface, she’s a “strong” female character: stubborn, sassy, ambitious. an action girl, if you may. but the recent chapters showed that she’s actually filled with doubts and that a lot of this attitude is airs she put on to live as a self-affirmed human being since her family could never give her that affirmation. her choices, too, were driven by her fierce love for her sister, something she couldn’t openly express for fear of her sister facing even more prejudice.

and just in the meta sense, she’s everything i’ve ever wanted out of a female character in a shonen manga. i’ve seen her type of character for sure, but not really in a shonen: her abused history, insane family drama including a complicated relationship with her sibling, these two chapters becoming her tragic origin story, the way her trauma is carved into her skin with the burns and the eye scar, the way her trauma is reflected in her characterization without her succumbing to it. the way she constantly echoes an existing feral, violent male character, suggesting that she will embody similar traits. the way her goals were centered around her ambitions, but underneath that, her sister as her core motivation; the way the plot actually impacts her goals, and how they are now changed to destroying everything, including the family, the system that refused to acknowledge her.

in short: i love you with my entire heart maki, and i can’t wait to see where you go next.

[lawisnotmocked]

Hello sir. You will probably either find this deeply offensive or hilarious but lately I have an obsession with the character of Javert as I recently watched the 2012 Les Mis because “oh the memes about it back in the day were classic.” Yes I am serious sometimes I watch movies just because I liked a YTP of it. Then I find out that in addition to being perfect meme fodder, Javert has a weird one-sided (??) pseudo enemies to loves dynamic with the loaf of bread guy (I did not know his name until like three days ago to me he was always just the guy who sang “I stole a loaf of bread.”)These types of characters who give vibes like they’re lgbt, have dog or cat-like qualities, and are overly dramatic typically become my Blorbos (a similar example would be majima from RGG who’s also a crazy dog-like man who attacks his crush.) SO what I am requesting is could you please give me your crack headcanons about Javert? Like funny shit about Javert. If you have recommends for crack fics about Javert I’d appreciate it, bonus points if any of the headcanons/fics are Valvert cuz idk I just find them really funny together. Prob mostly because of the memes not gonna lie. If you could also educate me on Valjean and Javert’s mannerisms in the Brick I would be most appreciative because to be totally real with u… I’m so sorry but I don’t wanna read or watch parts that are not about him or loaf guy 😬 (ya I kno shame on me and all that…) but I need to know more about how they act so I can make hideous crack fics of my own. Thank u 🙏🐶

First of all anon how does it feel to be the funniest person on the internet this is the best ask I’ve ever received :’3

Even without crack headcanons brick Javert is just absolutely hilarious as a character?? I feel like a lot of adaptations try to take him too seriously and like yeah he does have a serious and tragic aspect to his character but he’s also a very fruity drama queen who has like 0 awareness of his surroundings, acts like a feral dog on crack and has this weird magic power that allows him to know people’s real identity no matter how well disguised they are. (I maintain that les mis does have a form of magic system in the brick but it’s more like mundane mostly useless superpowers?? Like super strength that just makes you a little bit more strong that an average person, or really good instincts or something. Anyway lol)

Some Actual Canon Facts about Javert from the brick are:

- Is implied to have the soul of a dog

- Bares all of his teeth when he smiles

- Fucking hates reading but does it anyway

- Keeps a snuffbox on him at all times and snorts snuff after he feels like an arrest has gone well

- Dissociates for a solid 5 minutes and misses the entirety of a conversation bc someone said something he didn’t agree with

- I know the ‘you need to punish me Mr Mayor’ scene is in the movie but it’s so much funnier in the brick :’3

- Accidentally sets his coat on fire by standing too close to the stove

- Announces himself to Thenardier’s criminal gang who he’s about to arrest by making a stupid joke

- Tells Thenardier that he can shoot him if he wants because the gun will just misfire. Thenardier shoots him and the gun misfires.

- Doesn’t really have any friends and his coworkers don’t like him either because he doesn’t take bribes and refuses to work with criminals to catch other criminals

- There’s an entire Code Of Symbolism in the brick thats purpose is to represent how horny Javert is, which I wrote about here along with some other Javert related stuff

This man is just a fucking disaster honestly :’3 I headcanon that’s he’s ADHD, autistic, severely depressed and probably has some form of childhood PTSD?? But I’ve also seen other people headcanon that he has BPD or OCD and honestly all of them are good hcs because he’s absolutely neurodivergent.

I absolutely understand not wanting to read the whole brick if you only care about two of the characters lol, but the Hapgood English translation of the brick is public domain so I’ve linked a couple of Javert chapters you might find funny!

Javert’s introduction | punish me mr mayor | Javert lends Marius two pistols he never gets back and burns his coat on the stove | Javert arrests Thenardier and tells him to shoot him

Brick Valjean is also a chaotic bitch but he’s less camp and more like a cryptid with PTSD. Off the top of my head he:

- Sews money into the inside of his coat when Cosette is young

- Keeps the rest of his money buried in the woods

- Accidentally convinces some townspeople that he’s the devil by sneaking around said woods

- Stuffs his pockets with wigs and disguises in case he ever needs to make a quick getaway

- Someone tries to rob him and he tackles them to the ground then lectures them on how they should let god into their heart and stop stealing

- Holds a hot poker against his arm when Thenardier tries to extort him for money to intimidate him

- He just really loves Cosette this isn’t a funny or anything he just really loves his daughter and wants the best for her

In the brick Javert also doesn’t even actively seek out Valjean?? They go years without thinking about each other then they run into each other again in the weirdest circumstances and go ‘omg not this weirdo again 🙄’

As for my own favourite crack headcanons :3c

- Modern au Javert is a furry. His fursona is a wolfdog called Orion :-)

- [NSFW] He’s unironically into vore

- He wants a fursuit very badly but he can’t afford it until he’s dating Valjean and Valjean buys him one

- Valjean doesn’t get it but he’s glad his partner is happy :-)

- [NSFW] In my ideal Javert lives modern au he quits the police, goes to therapy and joins a kink group because I think he’d thrive in that environment 😌

- Valjean has like 5 fake driver’s licenses

- Javert will literally comment on how hot he finds a man and still doesn’t realise he’s gay until he makes out with Valjean. Thinks he’s straight even though he’s never been attracted to a woman before. Is literally that unaware of his own feelings.

- Valjean has no fashion sense. He dresses so bad that it comes full circle and it looks like his outfit clashes intentionally. Cosette is horrified.

- Javert is awful to watch movies with, especially detective movies, because he talks the whole time and points out all the inaccuracies

- Valjean never makes eye contact. Javert makes too much very intense eye contact.

- No one invites them to events because they’re awful together. Javert shit talks people’s outfits or decor very loudly to Valjean and Valjean hates socialising and doesn’t want to be there

I don’t think I know any good crack fic bc I mostly just read angst lol uwu’’ but if anyone has any suggestions pls feel free to add them!! I’ll add links if I think of anything though 😌

[ablazenqueen]

hihi!

im someone who’s super new to Asian dramas and especially bl in general…

as someone now broaching these waters and generally interested, could you give me any recommendations?

ive fallen into the rabbit hole that is bad buddy- even though I still have no clue how…

and i know for a fact that im enjoying bad buddy.

ive followed like- a scary amount of people since… because im genuinely invested now.

and i always see these pretty gifs and everyone fangirling (or boying) over everything.

but I have no clue where to start! *cries* :(

i know ive seen a good fee gifs for was it bad and crazy?

i think ill enjoy it.

going off of that… can you help me? give me a few recs to ease me into the waters?

lots and lots of love,

gabi.

<3 <3 <3

Hey Gabi, thank you for the ask! I hope you’re having a lovely day!

Fell into the Bad Buddy rabbit hole too, huh? Can relate, my friend, can relate. Luckily, you have one of the most delightful fandoms here to keep you company!

Now on to the actual ask part of your ask, I think you just asked one of my favourite questions ever. I live for the day someone requests show recs from me. Which is to say that I have a rec list all ready to go and I’m 110% prepared to answer this. And I’m delighted to be your guide on this journey!

The one thing I’ll note, however, is that I usually personalize my recs to the person I’m giving them to (I take reccing very seriously) so, since I don’t know your personal tastes outside of Bad Buddy and potentially Bad And Crazy, I’ll just be recommending some of my own personal favourites and shows that I think are especially good for gently introducing you to the BL genre. I hope that’s okay! And don’t worry, I’ll keep this as spoiler-free as possible (nothing past the first ep of the show, pinky promise).

First thing’s first, you’ll see as you start to watch more Asian LGBT dramas that the style and tropes vary from country to country. I’m personally more a fan of Thailand’s cheery, lighthearted approach to BL/GLs but I know some people prefer the more natural displays of physical and sexual intimacy (passionate kisses, sex scenes, etc.) in Taiwanese shows. Korean’s style is typically quite pretty but they struggle to pull off any form of physical intimacy (lots of cringey kisses, lemme tell ya). Pinoy BLs are… harder to describe? Still a good time though. And I haven’t seen enough Vietnamese shows to find any I’ve personally liked so far (the only theme I’ve noted with Vietnam is camerawork and audio that makes me crinkle my nose, the directing isn’t my favourite but I think that might be due to low production budgets). But my biggest deciding factors in choosing which shows make it to my rec list are: a romance that’s genuinely easy to root for (healthy, believable, eager, consenting), entertaining to watch, and no creepy consent issues (tragically quite common and I’m very picky about this, which really cuts down the list).

So I’ll give you at least one example of each. And you only mentioned BL so I kept the list strictly to BLs but feel free to shoot me another ask if you want GL or just plain ole Asian drama recs too! My list for those is much smaller but I do have a list if you’re interested.

A Tale of a Thousand Stars

Origin: Thailand

My Thoughts: Personally my go-to when I introduce my friends to BL. The story is compelling, I love all of the characters and their development, it’s one of few BL I can think of that doesn’t have a side pairing and I think that’s a good thing, it helps you focus on the main ship. Beware though, it’s a tad angsty. (But with a happy ending!)

Vague as Possible Synopsis: After receiving a heart transplant from a volunteer teacher, Tian decides to follow in her footsteps and become a teacher in the village where she taught. There he meets the villagers, who are slow to trust, and Forest Ranger Phupha, a well-intentioned pain in the ass.

2Gether

Origin: Thailand

My Thoughts: I absolutely love the premise and the tropes in this one! It has fake dating, it has all the music tropes (I’m a huge sucker for music tropes), and it’s just really fun. (I have my gripes with this show, especially the second half but I won’t get into it. This is a rec list, not a pros and cons list. If someone wants my in-depth Things I Liked vs Things I Didn’t for this show though, let me know, I could ramble for days.) And I would highly recommend watching the second season. I haven’t finished it but I’ve heard that it fixes some of the things I didn’t love from the first season (and it’s directed by Bad Buddy’s director, our Lord and Saviour, P’aof).

Vague as Possible Synopsis: Tine, our lovely protag, is sick and tired of this guy who keeps flirting with him so he enlists the (initially reluctant) help of a musician named Sarawat to ward the guy off by fake hitting on Tine.

Cherry Magic

Origin: Japan

My Thoughts: Wholesome fluff to end all other wholesome fluff. The main pairing is to die for, they’ll give you cavities. And I love the little friend group they establish.

Vague as Possible Synopsis: An office-set romance in which our adorkable protagonist Adachi wakes up one day to find out he can read minds. Oh and also accidentally finds out through said mind-reading ability that his superstar coworker has a huge crush on him. Cue shenanigans.

Light On Me

Origin: Korea

My Thoughts: Pretty. I already said Korean dramas were pretty, right? This. This is what I mean (also Color Rush but I have mixed feelings about that show). Just the way it’s shot is really nice. It’s also wholesome and the characters are very loveable and their development is top tier!

Vague as Possible Synopsis: Lifelong loner-by-choice Taekyung decides one day that he wants to make friends. His teacher recommends joining the student council where he’s met with… mixed responses.

Be Loved in House: I Do

Origin: Taiwan

My Thoughts: The bestie quartet is amazing, I love them. Good main ship, two good side ships. There’s a cat so gold star for that.

Vague as Possible Synopsis: The employer of the company Shi Lei works at quits and is replaced by Yu Zhen, whose first decree upon walking into the office on his first day is that employees are strictly prohibited from dating. This doesn’t sit well with the employees in question so Shi Lei sets out to convince his new boss to abolish the rule.

Gaya Sa Pelikula

Origin: Filipino

My Thoughts: Really like the rep and discussion of queerness in this one. And the use of the fake dating trope. This is probably my least favourite on this list but it’s probably also my favourite Pinoy BL. Although #My Day was cute (if a little read: very weird).

Vague as Possible Synopsis: Well. There actually isn’t much plot to this one. Pretty much all you need to know is that it’s fake dating (my beloved).

Manner of Death

Origin: Thailand

My Thoughts: This one is probably my all-time personal favourite (aside from Bad Buddy which is shaping up to be one of - if not THE - top rec on my list) because murder mysteries are my cup of tea. However, it’s probably not for everyone (but you did mention an interest in Bad and Crazy so I’m assuming that means you like crime shows?) and it’s definitely not typical for the BL genre. I probably wouldn’t watch this first. But if you’re a fan of murder mysteries and crime shows like I am, this is a definite rec (maybe watch a few others on this list first though).

Vague as Possible Synopsis: Dr. Bunn is new to town. He’s a coroner. There’s a murder. There’s a mystery. Boom. Done. That’s the plot. (Hire me, MyDramaList, aren’t my summaries amazing?)

A few others I liked for some reasons, disliked for other reasons, but wouldn’t not rec:

My Engineer (Thai, cute as hell side ships, personally not a fan of the main ship)

My Gear and My Gown (Thai, convoluted but sweet romance, pacing issues)

Hello Stranger (Pinoy, cute, I’m just not a fan of the video-call format)

#My Day (Pinoy, really weird but good, takes you some time to warm up to the love interest)

I Told Sunset About You (Thai, it’s amazing, there’s just one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, but I know it’s very well-loved in the BL fandom and I generally quite liked it)

Kieta Hatsukoi

Origin: Japan

My Thoughts: Okay, I hesitate to recommend things before they’re done airing but Bad Buddy and Keita Hatsukoi have been my two exceptions to this rule. As with Cherry Magic, this is wholesome and heartwarming as hell, the friendships, the romances, it’s all adorable.

Vague as Possible Synopsis: Due to a misunderstanding, Aoki’s desk neighbour ends up thinking he has a crush on him and he can’t deny it without throwing his friend under the bus. Shenanigans ensue.

I hope this won’t come as a surprise but from what I can tell, it looks like Bad and Crazy is going to be an implied but not canon m|m (censored) romance. It’s listed as a bromance. (I don’t know if you were expecting it to be a BL, personally I’m probably going to watch it anyway.) But! If you want to watch an upcoming crime show that’s actually a BL, I’m personally suuuuper hyped for Not Me, which comes out this Sunday! The trailer’s on YouTube if you want to give it a look. Other upcoming BL shows on my to-watch list that you might be interested in - if you prefer watching things as they air - are Kinnporsche (presumably airing in April) and Enchanté (presumably airing… eventually? some people have been guessing it’ll take over Bad Buddy’s time slot so we’ll see), trailers also on YouTube.

I hope this helps!

[discountalien-pancake]

Favorite asian shows and movies I’ve seen so far, ranked in order of most to least tragic:

My Country: The New Age (kdrama) - compact period drama about a turbulent transition of power in medieval Korea. Childhood best friends turned enemies due to social inequality and interference from hidden players. If you believe the true romance is between Hwi and Huijae, I would like to introduce you to a Nigerian prince. Beautifully shot, lit, and costumed. The music is perfection (and available in spotify). Hands down the best fight choreography I’ve ever seen. Throwaway lines and small moments from earlier episodes come back to haunt you. Starcrossed soulmates try and fail to sever their bonds.

Song Lang (viet movie) - a movie about a (fictional) rising star of traditional vietnamese opera and a gruff debt-collector with his own personal ties to the artform. Incredibly well-crafted loveletter to vietnamese opera and 80s sai gon. Produced by Ngo Thanh Van (yes, Quynh from the Old Guard NTV). Honestly one of my fave queer movies ever, though the romance is only implied. Doesn’t have the same flavor of being made for the straight cis female gaze that chinese danmei do. Starcrossed first love that leaves a mark on the soul. My parents loved it.

Move to Heaven (kdrama) - even more compact contemporary drama about an autistic young man who loses his father. His deadbeat uncle moves in as his guardian, and shenanigans ensue. The episodes roughly follow a Monster of the Week format, each focusing on someone who has passed away and going through the things they’ve left behind in order to give the deceased a voice. Meanwhile the protagonists have to confront the loss they’ve experienced in their own lives. Warnings for some ableism that is addressed as the characters grow. A bittersweet, beautifully crafted story about love, grief, and closure. You will cry. Bring tissues.

The Yin Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (chinese movie) - folks, it’s gay. A giant evil snake is reborn and a young yin yang master has to join forces with a demon-hunter to stop it. The problem is Qingming is rumored to be the son of a fox demon, while Boya’s mother was murdered by a fox demon. Black/White lovers. Fan Gay and Flute Gay. Enemies to soulmates speedrun. A high fantasy chinese drama that doesn’t fall victim to trying to pass off a couple of scrawny prettyboys as martial arts masters (sorry, word of honor, but i could snap those boys like twigs).

Romance of the Tiger and the Rose (cdrama) - 24(?) episodes, ridiculous good fun about a scriptwriter who falls into her own story (yes, i know, just trust me on this one). Unfortunately her character is slated to die in the third episode, and she has to think on her feet to save herself. Murder husband absolutely adores his schemer wife. One questionable scene about midway through ep 19(?) that has its purpose but is definitely deeply uncomfortable and upsetting. You’ll know it when you see it, and you can skip 30 seconds and continue without any issues. Otherwise it is a wonderful commentary on gender roles, family bonds, and social norms.

BeLoved In House: I Do (taiwanese) - 12 half-length episodes—we do not talk about episode 13. Short and sweet, ridiculously trope-filled gay romance about a young executive who takes over as the art director of a small jewelry studio. He immediately makes an enemy of the head artist by implementing a very stupid rule: employees are forbidden from having romantic relationships. Oh, and they were roommates. If you find the secondary romance bland, forgettable, or uncomfy, no worries! They are almost entirely irrelevant to the plot and you can fast-forward through all of their scenes! Definitely is intended for a straight cis female audience but also has a very sincere message that love is love.