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wilcze-kudly · 6 months

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If worked for the team who made Avatar TloK. How would you rewrite TloK?

To be completely honest, rewriting tlok wouldn't fix all it's issues. Tlok just needed to have longer seasons, an actually established amount of seasons so they weren't pressured to make every single season a complete story for fear of not getting more time.

But let's say, hypothetically that I murdered mr Crabs or whoever is in charge of Nickelodeon and removed any studio meddling from the show.

My perfect world would include:

More filler episodes that focus on a singular character. Think Sokka's Master or the Painted Lady. The Krew are all fascinating characters with a lot of potential, however, due to the runtime of the show, their storylines are rushed... or completely nonexistent. Give me more details of Mako and Bolin's childhood. Show me emore of Asami struggling with her father's arrest.

I'd try to cut down on the westernisation of the show. I can see why these foreign aspects slipped in, since the closer the Avatarverse inches to our modern times, the more blurred the lines become. At least to my whiteass. I'd try to lean towards silkpunk, rather than the much more west based steampunk. It would be a fascinating endeavour to imagine what a world with mostly eastern influences would look like.

I'd make Vaatu the overarching villain/final boss of the story... it would require a bit of moving around of the timeline but I think I'd structure it as: Red Lotus> Kuvira> Amon> Vaatu. However I'd blur the timeline more. Make Amon a background threat in the eariler seasons, only for him to rise in popularity and power after people see what benders like Kuvira are capable of, for example.

This would also allow for certain villains to become redeemed or at least helpful in some way, later on. Mayhaps Amon and Kuvira team with the Krew to defeat Vaatu in some way.

Also, instead of destroying Vaatu completely, I'm leaning towards Korra absorbing him, in a way. Yes Vaatu is a dark spirit, but 'darker' urges are necessary for humans' survival and happiness. Korra embodies the duality of man very well. I think it would be a fascinating idea to see the Avatar become the embodiment of both light and darkness.

In general, making Vaatu and Raava more morally ambiguous, rather than the simple good spirit/bad spirit thing they had in the og show would be a fascinating concept.

I'd do my best to pull away from the show's original centerist narrative. Have Korra learn from the villains and make active changes to the world, showing her growth as an Avatar and person. Perhaps she's reluctant to see the Red Lotus' point of view at the beginning of the show, but sympathises with Amon at the tail end of the story.

Make the entire Krew queer. And talk about queerness more, in general. Have the characters have open conversations about queerness in their respective enviornments and cultures. Tlok already has a very queer undertone to it, even before korrasami became canon, but touching on this subject more overtly would provide great opportunity for characterisation and worldbuilding.

Have the story span several years. Watch the Krew grow up. Tlok works very well as a coming of age story even in its original form. Have Vaatu and his darkness and chaos symbolise the uncharted waters of maturity at the end of teenagedom. This especially works if Korra merges or accepts him like i suggested.

There... that's some basics. I think that most of my criticisms of the show could mostly be solved if the studio wasn't being a bitch but well. We can't have nice things, can we?

I took a while to answer this ask because it was genuinely such an interesting, but overwhelming question.

Also now I have wayy too many ideas about a potential tlok rewrite, so feel free to ask me about that if you want to hear me ramble.

#korra #bolin #mako #asami sato #vaatu #raava #amon #kuvira #red lotus #legend of korra #avatar #tlok #the legend of korra #avatar the legend of korra #atlok #lok

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waitmyturtles · 2 months

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I have caught up with Knock Knock Boys, and it is a DARLING KEEPER of a show so far (with some stumbles)

Post-travel drama catch-up continues on my front with Knock Knock Boys, which I picked up in part due to my permanent commitment to support the king, Seng Wichai, one of my top three Thai QL actors of all time. We're through episode 8 on this one, and

I LOVE THIS SHOW

and I hope it doesn't falter, I hope, I HOPE!

Highs and lows below. First of all!

This show is not shy about sexuality. Not NC-sex scenes, per se, but sexuality -- the sexualities of the show's characters. This is SO REFRESHING!

Every character is clearly depicted at a different stage of their experience and their physical and emotional readiness for new experiences. I love it. AND, those stages are used wonderfully and clearly to provide context as to how they're behaving vis à vis each other and their environments.

Part of the early fandom controversies around GMMTV's We Are focused on the show's declining to define, clearly, the sexualities of the young men in real-life terms. This is an endemic issue in Thai BLs, and has been since the birth of the television genre; it's also a common presence in university BLs in particular.

(This is why, early in the life-cycle of the Thai BL genre, Make It Right, as a school-based BL, was already so groundbreaking -- because it didn't hesitate to explore gay and queer life boldly. Compare that to SOTUS, which aired after MIR, which took a very deliberate step BACK from "saying gay." The genre has struggled with openly embracing gay themes since its start.)

The thing is, in real life, for MANY people, when you are a part of, or hang with, queer communities, being queer is a HUGE and central part of most conversations, along with sexual readiness, experience, CRUSHES, attractions, everything. Even one's internal hesitations, or maybe even internal homophobia, are up for discussion.

That's why I grab my pom-poms when I watch a show that doesn't shy away from much more realistic engagement, not necessarily about intimacy as a whole, but really more about the communal aspect and acknowledgment that humans are intimate creatures. When a show depicts people in a community -- especially a queer male community like the Knock Knock house -- engaging realistically about the various stages of struggles and acceptance unto themselves and others that they have about their intimate lives, and weaves interesting and coherent stories about those people, it's something, in this still-young genre, to celebrate.

Knock Knock Boys, with a few stumbles, is doing GREAT on this front. Almond is inexperienced, and suffering because of it! He's got an AMAZING friend and suitor in Latte --

LATTÉEEEEEEE!!!!

who likes, AND wants to support Almond in his growth.

I wanna take a second on Latte, and Jaonine Jiraphat. I love that Jaonine is Bright Vachirawit’s doppleganger (dopplenonger), but also, Latte is kind of like Sarawat's dopplenonger, too. When 2gether was airing four years ago, Bright Vachirawit didn't hesitate to explain publicly that his character, Sarawat, was gay-gay -- again, at GMMTV, which is not a studio that necessarily embraces gay-gay for its characters.

We have the same here for Latte as with Sarawat: Latte is UNABASHED, totally owning and in control of his sexuality, his preferences, and his popularity, all which Almond is paying attention to and learning from. And on top of that, Latte is such an empathic friend, not just to Almond, but to the intimacy student club that he speaks to with Lookpeach. It is a LOVELY storyline of how Latte, feeling comfortable in himself, can use that comfort to help others find themselves. THIS IS BIG, and wonderfully written. And, when Latte pulls back from getting intimate with Almond, because he knows that NEITHER of them are ready, and want it that way -- it was just such a great moment of Latte's awareness and empathy for the both of them. Latte, unless there's a stumble, will be going down in my books as one of the most admirable and openly queer characters I will admire (in my same book as the first openly pansexual homey, Frame from MIR).

I'm also loving the ThanwaPeak storyline, with fiancée Jane doing her thang to get her betrothed un-betrothed. I think the way in which this storyline is written is a bit more choppy: like with so many Japanese BLs that are predicated on endemic miscommunication, I think dropping hints without clarity as to Peak's issues with his family, and Thanwa's unknown struggles with Max, didn't help last week's episode, especially with Thanwa accusing Peak of not truly knowing him -- Thanwa, homey, you need to TALK about your issues with Peak in order for Peak to know them.

That being said, while I don't think I'm the biggest fan of Best Vittawin's acting, I think both Best and Seng are dancing around their characters' hesitations with intrigue and chemistry. Especially Seng: this is not his loudest role as compared to SCOY and War of Y, but the ways in which he can indicate interest in another person with a simple glance and a quiver of a smile is incredible. His acting is on another level, and I think Best may not be living quite up to it, but I can't really blame Best, because Peak as a character is having to figure out SO. MUCH. with a lot going on around him.

I'm looking forward to finally finding out what the exact deal is with Peak running away from Jane and his father, and to finding out whyyyyyy Thanwa would go back to a peeper? AND, was it really Max, not Almond, that leaked the clip?! These are good cliffhangers at this point in a series! These stories have been well-paced, sensible, and told in a sensible order, and we have some big reveals and decisions awaiting us.

This is not a complicated show, but it's a deep one, and it's not shy about telling big stories about growth, homophobia, the economic issues that many gay men face, and what decisions they need to make in order to afford and survive life. I love that this show bridges university life with working life, to tell stories about four young men in very real stages of their lives, being upfront and honest about it. I was not expecting much from this show at all when I first started, but I am LOVING IT, and would highly recommend it up until this point!

#knock knock boys #knock knock boys the series #seng wichai #best vittawin #jaonine jiraphat #nokia chinnawat #thanwapeak #lattealmond

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fandomgalore-blog · 1 year

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Just finished the series finale of Sex Education! I hate to see this marvelous show go, but all good things must come to an end. Here are some of my thoughts:

- This show had the best ending for all of the characters. The thing I admired most was how realistic it felt. Literally none of the oc’s ended up with anyone by the end of the show except Aimee and Isaac, Cal didn’t feel comfortable yet due to dysmorphia, Maeve will probably never know if her brother is okay, etc. I’m such a sucker for realism in shows when it’s done well, so I enjoyed that aspect

- Everyone had fantastic growth, but my favorite was definitely Ruby and the Groff men. Absolutely loved that they weren’t fully at their best potential by the end, but it’s obvious they’re trying, and I love them all for that

- I felt bad for Ruby and Maeve the most during the whole season. Both are facing loneliness in different formats

- I like that Maeve stood up for herself against the writing teacher

- I actually don’t like that a good chunk of the cast just straight up wasn’t there for the final season, but the show did a good job with the new characters filling in their spots

- This is a continuation of the first point, but I loved that Ruby didn’t end up befriending Otis by the end since she realized he’d always unintentionally make her feel bad about herself. Usually shows go for the happily ever after and enemies to friends thing, but this show kept it real. Good for you Ruby

- This show is really good at making antagonist. O pissed me off so much

-Loved Isaac and Aimee’s relationship a lot

- Adam was so adorable and so were his parents

-Such a sucker for the estrangement period Otis and Eric went through cuz that happens sometimes when two friends realize just how different they are

-Eric’s storyline was so much fun when it came to the whole Christianity Vs sexuality debate. I loved that they made god a beautiful black goddess (literally)

- Glad Viv got rid of that loser before it got worse

- I feel like we still didn’t get a lot of Cal, but that could just be me

- That was the most unserious yet serious funeral I’ve ever seen and that woman needs to be fired cuz how do you mess up the deceased’s name before the service in front of the dead’s daughter???

- I like the realism of Jackson’s father rejecting him. Sometimes the birth parents just don’t accept you. It sucks ass, but it’s something a lot of ppl unfortunately face when they search for their birth parent(s). Glad he has his moms at least

- This season made me realize how many enemies Otis has lol

- Watching Joanna and Jean’s scenes gave me life tbh

- I loved the protest for making sure the school provided proper care for disabled students. It’s ridiculous they didn’t fix the elevator or ensure deaf students are catered to when there’s alarms ringing, etc.

- The final scene was the perfect send off for this show

All in all, great season finale for a great show. I will miss this show with every fiber of my being, and I hope Netflix will create something as good as it in the future. I might add or subtract to this list, but for now, this is it.

#sex education #sex education finale #sex education series finale #sex education season four #sex education s4 #sex education spoilers #sex education season 4 #maeve wiley #otis milburn #eric effiong #adam groff #michael groff #aimee gibbs #isaac goodwin #ruby matthews #O sex education #Joanna Franklin #Netflix

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autisticlancemcclain · 2 years

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I would like to preface this by saying that I don’t think VLD intended for this nuance to be possible. When they originally made the characters and gave them their lions, I think they made them very one dimensional (hence why everyone’s outfit matched their lion colour), but I think they also started several background plots that drastically changed each character, to the point where they no longer fit the molds they were originally intended to be. That’s why Black Paladin Keith and Red Paladin Lance hit so hard. They were originally assigned lions according to the personality we saw in the first episode, and those personas changed so much and went through so much growth throughout the show that seeing them in their original lions would feel wrong. The change of lion was necessary to their growth as people and that is a fascinating storyline, one that VLD gets zero credit for because they definitely did not intend it (I know because if they did it could have been done way better and with way more nuance). Anyways. I present to you each paladin, what they want, and what they needed but could not get until they grew and accepted themselves.

PALADIN: Shiro

LION HE WANTS: Black

LION HE NEEDS: Green (or, honestly, rest)

Now this is a controversial take. Shiro? The natural born leader? The one who everyone listens to without question? Him? In Green? But hear me out! As much as he exudes an aura of someone who can provide answers, I have to ask — did he ever really, truly, want to be the person everyone relied on? I don’t really think he did.

From what we were shown, Shiro grew up ill. He grew up in a constant state, I would assume, of people telling him that he was incapable of achieving great things. I would imagine this would solidify in his head that he had to achieve great things, or else he would fail himself. I think that’s why he and Adam fought so hard. In an effort to keep Shiro safe (and as someone who may have known Shiro better than he knew himself but was incapable of articulating that in a way that was loving instead of controlling), Adam became one of the many people who told Shiro what he couldn’t do. And Shiro, who was desperate (interestingly, much like Lance) to prove himself, gunned for the position of leadership. And to his credit he performs this leadership exceptionally well! He knows how to comfort and steer people and gain their trust. But at the core of him, I think all Shiro ever wanted to do was explore. Look at his excitement for the Kerberos mission — as much as he, in part, accepted that mission as a show of strength and health, he is a nerd. He wanted to explore and he wanted to explore badly. Even throughout the show, he’s a dorky nerd who gets very excited to learn new things and meet new people. He’s intensely curious, intelligent, and inquisitive, so I think green would be his best fit. (Also, his biology and geology geek ass would love forest powers.)

PALADIN: Keith

LION HE WANTS: Red

LION HE NEEDS: Black

I have talked endlessly about this exact thing before, and I’ll do it again, but this time in more detail.

Keith was struck with a truly heartbreaking amount of trauma in a very short amount of time. He lost everyone he ever loved, quickly, and from what we could see of the flashbacks, his attempts to reach out for help were often met with disdain or even blame. This, I imagine, would paint a very specific picture of life for Keith: it sucks, and it is something that happens to you. Something you can’t control. That’s why he wants to red paladin — since he assumes there’s no control in his life, he acts out, he’s impulsive because he’s been conditioned unfairly to look out only for himself, trust no one for help, and therefore does not often consider or care about the consequences of his actions. With shiro as the black paladin, Keith does not need to offer support as the red paladin, and so in that position he can fully exercise his wild and impulsive tendencies. In fact Shiro was often the one supporting him, and so a lot of his impulses worked out for him. In the red lion he isn’t forced to seek change in himself — at most he is expected to work within a team, which is new, but because of the expectation of his wild tendencies, he doesn’t have to undergo much change.

As the black paladin, Keith is suddenly responsible for everyone else. He can no longer fall back on the idea that he cannot get help from others and he’s the only person he has to worry about. Now, not only is he looked to as the one to make decisions, he actively has to rely on every other person on his team — the black lion is the head, which means it’s held up by the body! Keith is as reliant on his team as they are on him. He now has to carefully weigh almost every single one of his decisions, and untangle the harmful outlook on life that was forced on him. He has to accept that he is not at fault for the trauma he went through, he has to learn how to love and trust. Also, his lack of desire for power makes him a better leader in the long run, because he is less likely to be corrupt because of it.

PALADIN: Lance

LION HE WANTS: Black

LION HE NEEDS: Red

As much as Lance does and obviously enjoy being the blue paladin, if he was asked, in the beginning, to choose one, he’d choose black. And we know that’s true because when he had the potential chance to be Black’s paladin, he jumped for it.

It’s because Lance desperately wants people to listen to him. Much like Shiro, Lance — as the youngest sibling and as someone who we saw face so much pointless and even cruel scrutiny — wants to prove himself. He wants to be the best, he wants to be on top, and most of all, he wants to be appreciated for what he offers. Many of his skills are under appreciated, because although he is unbelievably talented in the things he can do, the path life took him on does not place a lot of value on the skills he has. Dance & arts, tension-breaking, long-range fighting — all of these are often considered frivolous and/or expected to be quiet skills. These aren’t things that get praised in the setting of war or battle, and Lance, as someone who is very insecure, needs that praise and validation. As the black paladin his skills and decisions would have a direct impact on the people around him, which would prove an instant validation for him to see, and as the black paladin he would be free from any shadows (like Keith’s).

But, ironically, Lance’s skill aren’t suited for solo leadership, not the way he wants. Lance does have many skills of a leader, that’s true, but that’s why he’s so good at the red paladin — specifically Keith’s red paladin, although so long as he would have the position of right hand man (unlike Keith with Shiro’s leadership, which was very solo) he could work with anyone.

Lance grew up with people. He never knew a time where he was alone. He learnt simply by being alive how to mitigate fights as much as he learnt to escalate them, and how to work with people as much as intentionally upset them. There’s a reason Lance is so good at getting under Keith’s skin, and it’s because he can predict what would make Keith comfortable and is fiery enough to delight in the opposite. Lance can analyze incredibly well, and all of his ideas work best with a partner. He also would have the freedom, as the red paladin, that Keith had — to be as impulsive as he wants to be, but often isn’t, because he’s scared to shake his reputation. Lance, sometimes, visibly wants to go a little apeshit. He likes causing problems. He works well in chaos. But as the blue paladin or the person who is meant to go with the flow, he’s restricted from this desire, and it dampers his ideas and plans. When he’s allowed to think outside the box and move in unexpected ways, he comes up with excellent ideas and puts in new supports that take the team in different directions. Also, by being forced further into Keith’s shadow, he had to learn how to find his light himself, which helped him realize his own worth more than being a leader ever could. If he were to be in Black, he would find himself (due to his worship of Shiro and his lack of faith in himself) in Shiro’s shadow. If he were not forced to find his own worth, it wouldn’t matter which lion he was in, he’d never be able to prove to himself that he was ‘just as good’. By being in Red and as such directly compared to Keith in every aspect, he was able to realize that no, actually, he was individual and that individuality made him strong.

PALADIN: Allura

LION SHE WANTS: Red

LION SHE NEEDS: Yellow

This one was a lot harder to puzzle out.

Allura wants to be her father desperately. She wants to be everything he was. Like Lance, she has placed herself in the shadow of someone she could never be. From what I can tell, Alfor was a very impersonal leader — although he did love and care for his daughter, and presumably his wife, many of his decisions were ruled largely by logic. Allura, on the other hand, is passionate in everything that she does. She loves sparkly things and grand shows and she wants to know everything about everybody and be right in the middle of everything. Alfor wants his people to prosper. Allura wants her people to be happy. You can see Allura’s struggle especially in the beginning — Allura, when trying to emulate her father in her leadership, is kind of a drill sergeant. She is strict and has impossibly high expectations. But when she has the chance to be herself, she is bubbly and kind and excited. She wants the red lion because she wants to be like her father. She wants to hold on to what she has left of him, and is willing to bury herself to do it. She already has a position of unquestioned leadership in the castle, so it’s not necessarily the power she wants, but she doesn’t trust herself to be strong just as she is, so like Keith, she wants the red lion because that’s what’s expected of her.

But Allura likes being right in the middle of things. She likes being the support, likes hearing about people’s lives and doing what she can to help fix problems. She is the definition of a sunshine character, and as the yellow paladin would be able to be as strong as she is soft. Being the yellow paladin would also help her differentiate herself from her father and establish herself as her own person. This would break the heavy burden of expectation she has on her — instead of obsessing over what everyone wants her to be, she can be who she is exactly, and let that be what helps her move forward. The yellow lion would allow her to be as soft and emotional and grieving as she is, without compromising her ability to help guide and support her team and family that mean the world to her.

PALADIN: Hunk

LION HE WANTS: Yellow

LION HE NEEDS: Black

This was a hard one, actually, partially because it does provide some conflict with two people who would best suit Black. Hunk, though, is so versatile that he gets TWO lions that he needs.

LION HE NEEDS: Green

Hunk has a very strange reputation. He’s seen as the sunshine cinnamon roll, which is almost at direct odds with his actual character. Hunk is witty and dry and intensely distrusting. He is the epitome of kind, not nice. He has his suspicions of people and is very fond of his family while also being critical of them, which means that as much as he protects them and cares for them, he’s also willing to protect them from themselves. He’s the one to point out detrimental flaws that others gloss over. He is (mostly) tactful, of course, but he assumes his role as supporter means that he is responsible for pointing out and helping change poor behaviour — which, in fact, is the role of a leader. Hunk also has a very solid view of things in general. He sees situations for what they are and does not struggle to see through smoke and mirrors. He is also capable of being nuanced, even though he prefers things to be black and white. He’s good at taking other peoples feelings into consideration and caring for them while also helping them improve. As the black paladin, he would be able to exercise these abilities in full, as well as utilize his strategic brain to come up with several on-the-fly and reasonable tactical plans.

His surety as a black paladin is directly unlike his role as the yellow paladin, where he often falters due to his anxiety and struggles to be as preppy as he is expected to be. As much as he does like being in the middle of things, he also has a certain need for control, which could be carefully exercised with the black lion. The best way to cure anxiety is to see regular proof that you are capable of overcoming your fears, something that would be obvious in Black. (Also, if Lance were his red paladin, they would be able to utilize their previously established supporting roles and dynamics as leadership ones.)

Alternatively, however, Hunk would work well in the Green Lion. He is just as curious and inquisitive as Shiro and Pidge, although his anxiety and fear of the unknown frequently holds him back from discovery. That’s why he’s so reluctant to trust new people, why he sticks to what he knows. As the green paladin, he’d be the one who’s required to stick his hand out first, the one to mitigate his own anxiety and reckon with the fact that he is not as fallible as he believes he is. He would have to understand that he is capable of things outside of what he’s known to be. It would also help his natural distrust of new people become an intrigue, where instead of assuming new things are threats, he would expect and prepare for the threat while understanding the possibility of progress.

PALADIN: Pidge

LION SHE WANTS: Green

LION SHE NEEDS: Blue

The common theme among each of the original wants and placements is that the paladins force themselves into roles that fit their reputations and expectations. Pidge is no exception. She is curious, and she is inquisitive, but to some degree, that’s all she’s allowed to be. She’s constantly dismissed as a young girl who’s just looking for answers, and so I think that makes her desperate to prove that she’s capable of finding those answers, that she’s the smartest person in the room. In fact it’s when she’s backed into that corner of a one dimensional nerd that she becomes the most volatile. I think she resents that position she’s forced in, and perhaps the time she took over for her brother upset her ability to separate him and the persona she made of herself impersonating him from her real personality, wants, and desires.

But when Pidge is at her strongest, she is thinking about and working towards helping her family. Her greatest and most selfless moments come when she is sacrificing herself to protect those she cares about. Pidge sacrificed her entire identity to find her father and brother, and throughout the show often sacrificed her search for her father and brother to help the universe and the other paladins. Pidge’s greatest shows of strength are when she is protecting, caring, and supporting other people. Also, pidge is incredibly adaptable. Even at her most one dimensional — a coder and programmer — she is constantly hit with huge amounts of obstacles that she must work around on the fly. Most of her young life has been impossibly high hurdles that she’s had to work around. She doesn’t seek those problems out, but rather they are forced upon her, and she uses her resources and intelligence to work with them and eventually overcome them, which speaks more to her adaptability than to her curiosity.

Part of the disappointment in the later seasons of Voltron is that a lot of storylines and character arcs either felt unfinished or mishandled. Part of that is because by prompting so much change in the paladins and then introducing a visible marker of that change in the lion swap, but neglecting to actually flesh out those changes in later seasons, huge parts of the characters felt empty. Shiro was forced to take on a task way bigger than he ever wanted to have — did he ever get the time to find himself and his interests again before he was slapped into a new leadership role and married off? Keith finally seemed to find himself and feel comfortable in his skin as the black paladin — why was he sent away before he could enjoy it? And then why did much of the progress he made while he was away come at the detriment of his ability to co-lead with Lance? Lance had so many interesting arcs and relationships with the rest of the paladins and his own inner turmoil — why were these arcs muddled in the name of a forced romance and settling down on a farm? Allura got to move from an impassive leader to a fun young woman with her entire future ahead of her — why was she forced into a relationship she didn’t want and then killed? Hunk’s entire character was so interesting and funny — why was he immortalized as the caricature he was forced to play in the Coalition show that he hated so deeply, and forbidden from reaching his full potential? Pidge had a fascinating dynamic with the paladins in contrast with her own internal struggles — why was her development dropped as soon as she found her brother?

Dreamworks dropped the ball. But I’m happy to take the seeds they planted and care for them myself — to grow them into a diverse and interesting cast of characters that had deep and nuanced relationships with each other and the situations they were in. Also, I don’t know how to end this essay, so end scene.

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amayarblog · 7 days

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YA Book Reccomendations📚

Why read YA?

When on the hunt for new books, many adult readers overlook the Young Adult (YA) section. While YA books are mainly catered to teenagers, there is a long list of beautifully written books and series to help readers get out of their reading slump. With an array of talented YA authors with beautiful writing styles, there are endless options of YA novels to choose from, providing well written storylines and characters, while also sending powerful messages.

“Ace of Spades”(2021) ♠️

By: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

“Ace of Spades,” published in 2021, is a relatively new YA novel. If mystery books with a dark academia feel are your vibe, Ace of Spades, written by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, is a great option. This high-stakes thriller explores themes of race, privilege, and betrayal. Set in an elite private school, the story follows two Black students, Devon and Chiamaka, who become targets of a mysterious antagonist known as the “Aces.” This unknown figure reveals their deepest secrets, setting off a chain of events, uncovering dangerous truths.

As a reader, the story was both complex and captivating. It was not only a dark academia thriller, but it also carried some unfortunate realities many must face due to others who are hateful and cruel. While this is a YA book, “Ace of Spades,” as a phycological drama with sharp social commentary, makes a great read for more mature readers as well.

“Legendborne”(2021) 🗡️

By: Tracy Deonn

If you are looking for an entertaining, unconventional spin on a traditional story, “Legendborne” by Tracy Deonn would be a great next read. “Legendborne,” published in 2021, is a gripping fantasy novel that reimagines Arthurian legend in a contemporary setting. This YA novel follows Bree Matthews, a 16-year-old girl who witnesses a magical attack on her campus and uncovers a hidden society of descendants of King Arthur’s knights. As Bree dives deeper into this secret world, she discovers her own mysterious connection to it, struggling with personal trauma and her legacy.

This book is one of my favorite reads to date, mainly due the depth of the storyline, with many unexpected twists and turns. If you are a fan of modern fantasy along with rich world-building, diverse characters and a fresh take on classics, it may be worthwhile to pick up “Legendborne” from the YA section. Exploring themes such as heritage and identity, makes the book very thought-provoking and a must-read.

“Shatter Me”(2011) ❤️‍🩹

By: Tahereh Mafi

The “Shatter Me” series by popular YA author, Tahereh Mafi, is beautifully written and highlights themes that transcend age, making it a compelling read for adult readers as well. The first book, “Shatter Me,” follows Juliette, a teenage girl with a deadly touch, imprisoned for her lethal ability. Set in a dystopian future where a tyrannical regime rules, Juliette’s journey begins when she escapes from her confinement and finds herself involved with a secret group of rebels.

I was instantly drawn into the story, by the insight into Juliets mental turmoil as she lives with this deadly ability. “Shatter Me,” with its well-written characters, explores heavy topics such as trauma and identity, while including themes of self acceptance, personal growth and resilience. With a similar dystopian feel to popular YA novels such as Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” and Veronica Roth’s “Divergent,” the “Shatter Me” series is a great option for readers of any age, ready to binge-read their next complex dystopian book.

Happy Reading!

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yopak23695 · 2 years

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Top 10 Sites Like MangaOwl

MangaOwl is a user-friendly website that offers a wide variety of anime-related content such as anime movies, dramas, episodes, news, and more. Anime has become a billion-dollar industry and has captivated audiences worldwide for over a century. Anime enthusiasts enjoy the unique storytelling, character portraits, storylines, subplots, and character growth that make for an entertaining and educational viewing experience.

Is MangaOwl Safe?

MangaOwl is generally considered a safe website with a good reputation online. It is trustworthy, virus-free, and has no malicious content. However, users may encounter suspicious pop-up ads when streaming. To ensure safety, avoid clicking on or accepting any files from the website. Most browsers have built-in security measures that prevent automatic downloading.

If you're looking for a safe and reliable site to read manga for free, try MangaHub. This digital Japanese manga website provides users with a diverse selection of top comic novels, covering a range of genres such as action, comedy, drama, and more. MangaHub is a great alternative to MangaOwl if you're on a budget and can't afford to buy comic books.

Here are some alternative phrasings:

Mangastream

MyReadingManga is a free website where you can read Bara, shota, furry, yaoi manga and doujinshi online for free. While this site is not suitable for children under 18, it is a great choice for adult manga fans who want access to a wide range of stories. You can keep track of your favorite manga stories and use MyReadingManga as a library.

Another great MangaOwl alternative is MangaKatana, a website that offers free online manga reading. With a vast collection of manga and daily updates, MangaKatana is an excellent choice for fans who want to stay up to date on their favorite series. You can read manga adaptations of popular shows and movies without having to search for them on different websites.

Looking for alternatives to MangaOwl? Check out MangaReader, a free online library for comics and manga. You can keep track of your favorite manga stories and access a wide variety of genres, from action to romance to supernatural. MangaReader is popular in multiple countries, including Japan and China.

MangaNelo is an excellent alternative to MangaOwl for those who want a diverse selection of manga genres. This website offers free access to a broad range of manga, from shoujo-ai to manhua to webtoons. You can also find an extensive collection of pornographic works on MangaNelo, so be aware that some content may not be suitable for young readers.

Mangastream is a website that offers a vast selection of comics and serves as an excellent alternative to MangaOwl. It has a straightforward user interface that allows users to bookmark their favorite manga for later reading. The website is known for its extensive comics archive and regularly updated comic content. It is a one-stop destination for comic readers where they can access history, read manga in other languages, and explore all versions of comics all in one place.

Website: http://mangastream.mobi

Mangatx

Mangatx is a free website for reading Manga, Manhwa, Manhua, and Novel online. The website constantly updates its database of the latest comic books, making it an excellent alternative to MangaOwl. If you are a big fan and want to stay up-to-date, you can use it as a library to find your favorite manga stories. It is the best place to read manga online.

Website: https://mangatx.com

MangaBat

With over 70 distinct manga categories, MangaBat offers diverse stories and genres. Your manga may also be uploaded and shared. This website’s significant advantage is allowing people to leave comments on a wide range of manga. MangaBat provides something for everyone, no matter what their interests are. You can get all the information you need about a character or the latest series chapter right here. It is one of the most reliable and safe MangaOwl alternatives site to read manga and comics online.

Website: https://manga-bat.com

For the most extensive collection of Japanese manga, check out MangaRaw. This free website offers a wide range of comics, including popular titles like Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball Z. You can also read certain manga comics in Spanish. MangaRaw is a great MangaOwl alternative site for manga enthusiasts who want access to a vast library of comics.

Is MangaOwl Legal?

MangaOwl is an illegal app and website for reading manga online. The legality of online streaming sites varies from country to country, and some have yet to determine their legality. To protect your privacy and avoid illegal usage of free manga sites like MangaOwl, it is recommended to use a VPN.

Finally, SkyManga is a popular MangaOwl alternative for webtoon and manga readers. You can read manga for free on SkyManga, and the site's chapters are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can read on the go. If you want to support the site financially, you can do so as well.

Website: https://skymangas.com

What are the most popular manga on MangaOwl?

MangaOwl offers a vast selection of popular manga that you can read, such as Painter of the Night, Dangerous Convenience Store, Under the Green Light, Hana and the Beast Man, Touch to Unlock, No Love Zone, Pearl Boy, Hold Me Tight, Karina's Last Days, The Secret Life of the Demon King, Stranger Than Friends, The Kept Man Strikes Back, Mad Place, Sexercise, No Better Than Strangers, Seashell Boy, Even If You Don't Love Me, The Man Who Saved Me from My Isekai Trip, Rent a Girlfriend, The Unquenchable Mr. Kim, and many more.

What languages of manga are available on MangaOwl?

MangaOwl is an illegal website that releases new manga within hours of their release. You can stream English manga on this website, and it also provides the latest Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and French manga. All manga content is available in high definition (HD). Additionally, it allows you to download manga for free.

Final Thoughts

MangaOwl provides all popular manga series, and new manga is added daily to keep fans updated on the latest releases. It is a competitor to MangaReader but offers additional tools, features, and services with no limit. It provides manga for over 25 manga categories, allowing you to read your favorite manga from its extensive library. It is an online manga and manhua streaming service that you can use for free. Alternatively, you can consider MangaOwl alternatives to read your favorite manga online for free.

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pagebypagereviews · 1 month

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In a world inundated with self-help guides and philosophical tomes that strive to explain the meaning of life, **"Funny Story"** by Emily Henry offers a refreshingly unique approach. It is not just another laugh-out-loud novel destined for the summer beach bag; it's a masterfully woven tapestry of humor, human connection, and deep societal insights. Readers will find themselves not just chuckling, but truly reflecting on the ironies and idiosyncrasies that make our everyday lives both perplexing and endearing. With its whip-smart dialogue and endearing characters, "Funny Story" transcends mere entertainment, emerging as a poignant touchstone for anyone looking to navigate the oftentimes murky waters of modern relationships and personal growth. Beyond its immediate appeal as a cleverly written story, **"Funny Story"** addresses common life struggles with unparalleled authenticity and wit. Emily Henry tackles themes of identity, love, and self-acceptance, evoking a deep sense of empathy in her readers. The book deftly balances humor with heartfelt moments, providing solace and clarity in our chaotic, ever-connected world. As such, it stands as an important counterpoint to the pervasive cynicism of contemporary culture, allowing readers to find humor even in their most challenging experiences. This novel doesn't just entertain; it offers a comforting reminder that it's okay to find laughter amidst life's turbulence, making "Funny Story" a vital read for anyone seeking a bit of light in their intellectual and emotional journey. ## Plot The plot of "Funny Story" is a brilliantly woven tapestry of humor, drama, and unexpected twists. The narrative follows the protagonist on a journey that is as hilarious as it is poignant. The author skillfully balances comedic elements with deeper, more emotional undertones, resulting in a storyline that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. For instance, a key plotline involves a series of misunderstandings that lead to a comedic chain reaction, ultimately culminating in a surprising and heartwarming resolution. The pacing is well-maintained throughout, ensuring that readers remain engaged and invested in the characters' fates. ## Characters The characters in "Funny Story" are masterfully crafted, each one bringing a unique flavor to the narrative. The protagonist, with their quirky sense of humor and relatable flaws, serves as an anchor for the story. Supporting characters are equally memorable, from the witty best friend to the eccentric neighbor, each contributing to the overall comedic tone. The author takes great care in developing these characters, ensuring they are multi-dimensional with distinct personalities and backstories. For example, the protagonist's interactions with their best friend reveal layers of their character, making their personal growth throughout the story feel authentic and impactful. ## Writing Style The writing style in "Funny Story" is marked by its clever dialogue, vivid descriptions, and sharp wit. The author employs a conversational tone that makes the narrative accessible and engaging, while also using humor to highlight the absurdities of everyday life. The dialogue is particularly noteworthy; it flows naturally and is laced with humor, often driving the plot forward and deepening character relationships. Descriptive passages are rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the settings and situations the characters find themselves in. For instance, the author’s depiction of a chaotic family dinner is both hilarious and relatable, filled with detailed observations that bring the scene to life. ## Setting The setting in "Funny Story" plays a significant role in enhancing the narrative. The story is set in a small town that is brought to life with meticulous detail. The author creates a vivid sense of place, from the bustling main street to the quaint, quirky homes of the residents. This small-town backdrop serves as the perfect stage for the humorous and often bizarre events that unfold.

For example, the local café becomes a central hub for the characters, its cozy atmosphere and colorful patrons adding depth and charm to the story. The setting not only provides context for the plot but also enriches the overall reading experience by immersing the reader in a vividly realized world. ## Unique Aspects "Funny Story" stands out due to its unique blend of humor and emotional depth. While it is undeniably funny, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout, it also tackles serious themes such as personal growth, relationships, and self-acceptance. This duality is handled with finesse, ensuring that the humor never undermines the more poignant parts of the story. Another unique aspect is the author’s ability to create humor from ordinary situations, turning mundane events into comedic gold. The use of humor to address life's challenges and idiosyncrasies is done in a way that feels fresh and original, distinguishing "Funny Story" from other books in the genre. For example, a routine trip to the grocery store becomes an uproarious adventure, filled with unexpected encounters and humorous mishaps, showcasing the author's talent for finding humor in the everyday. Similar to Funny Story Book Review Pros Cons Humorous Content: Engaging and entertaining, making the book a fun read. Relatable Characters: Characters that readers can connect with, enhancing emotional investment. Easy Read: Simple language and straightforward narrative structure, making it accessible to a wide audience. Positive Reviews: Generally well-received, providing social proof of the book’s quality. Illustrations: Accompanied by amusing illustrations that enhance the humor in the text. Predictable Plot: Overly simple storyline, which may reduce engagement for some readers. Lack of Depth: Insufficient character development and plot complexity, limiting its appeal to more critical readers. Repetitive Jokes: Humor may feel repetitive, diminishing its impact over time. Style Over Substance: Focus on humor can overshadow deeper narrative elements, making it feel insubstantial. Specific Audience: Targeted towards readers with a specific taste in humor, potentially alienating other readers. Impact on User Experience Engagement: The humorous content and relatable characters create an engaging experience, ensuring readers are entertained and invested in the story. Accessibility: The simple language and straightforward plot make the book accessible, providing an easy read for both children and adults. Emotional Connection: The humorous elements and relatable characters allow readers to form an emotional connection with the book, enhancing enjoyment. Varied Reader Response: Predictable plot and lack of depth may lead to lower satisfaction among more critical readers seeking a more substantial read. Enjoyment vs. Criticism: While many readers will enjoy the light-hearted nature, others may criticize the book for its repetition and lack of narrative complexity. Visual Appeal: Illustrations add visual appeal and enhance the reader’s enjoyment by complementing the humor in the text. Target Audience Perception: The book’s design to cater to a specific taste in humor may limit its wide appeal, affecting overall user experience based on individual preferences. Author Reputation When considering a funny storybook, evaluate the author’s reputation. Examine their previous works and look for consistent quality in their humor and storytelling. Authors with a strong track record of well-received books are likely to deliver a funny and engaging read. Research online reviews and ratings to gain insight into the author's style and reliability in producing entertaining content. Genre and Sub-genre Identify the specific genre and sub-genre of humor that aligns with your preferences. Humor can vary widely from satire and parody to slapstick and dark comedy. Understanding the sub-genre will help ensure the book matches your sense of humor. If you have a penchant for subtle wit, a satirical story might be more appealing than a book heavy on physical comedy.

Target Audience Consider the target audience of the book. Some funny storybooks are tailored for children, with age-appropriate humor and illustrations, while others are written for adults with more mature content. Verify that the humor style is suitable for the intended readership to avoid any mismatches. Storyline and Plot Structure Evaluate the story’s premise and plot structure. A strong, engaging storyline complemented by humor can enhance the overall reading experience. Look for books that have a compelling plot with well-developed characters, as this can make the humorous elements more effective and relatable. Reader Reviews and Ratings Consult reader reviews and ratings on platforms like Goodreads and Amazon. Reviews can provide valuable insights into the book's strengths and weaknesses. Pay attention to consistent compliments or complaints about the humor, pacing, and character development. High ratings generally reflect a book that resonates well with its audience. Sample Chapters Before purchasing, read sample chapters if they are available. This can give you a firsthand experience of the book’s writing style and humor. If the samples make you laugh and engage you, it's a good indication that the rest of the book will deliver similar enjoyment. Illustrations and Format Consider any illustrations and the book’s format. Illustrated funny storybooks can enhance the reading experience, especially for children. Check the quality and style of the illustrations to ensure they complement the text. For adult readers, formatting elements like font size and layout can impact the overall reading comfort. Book Length Consider the book’s length and your reading habits. Some readers might prefer shorter, quick reads that can be enjoyed in one sitting, while others may want a longer book with multiple humorous chapters to savor over time. Ensure the book’s length aligns with your reading preferences to maintain engagement throughout. Price and Value Compare prices and assess the book's value. While looking for the best deal, remember that the cheapest option may not always offer the best quality. Factor in the book’s overall content, the author's reputation, and reader reviews when determining its value for money. Consider both new and second-hand options for potential savings. Publisher Credibility Check the credibility of the publisher. Established publishers with a history of producing high-quality books are often more reliable. Look for publishers known for their humor and comedy collections, as they are likely to maintain higher standards in quality and content. Additional Resources Explore any additional resources related to the book. Author interviews, book trailers, and website excerpts can provide more context about the book's humor and style. These resources can offer a deeper insight into what to expect, helping make a more informed purchasing decision. ```html FAQ What is a Funny Story Book Review? A Funny Story Book Review is a critique or evaluation focusing on the humor and comedic elements of a particular story or book. It assesses the effectiveness of the jokes, puns, and overall wit within the narrative. How do you determine if a book is funny? Determining if a book is funny typically involves looking at the author's use of language, timing, and context for jokes, as well as how these elements resonate with the reader. Personal taste and cultural context also play significant roles in humor perception. Can I submit my own funny story for review? Yes, many book review websites and platforms allow authors to submit their work for review. Make sure to check the submission guidelines and criteria on the specific platform you're interested in. Are Funny Story Book Reviews subjective? Yes, reviews, in general, are subjective because they are based on personal opinions. What one person finds hilarious, another might not find funny at all. Reviewers use their own sense of humor and judgment to evaluate the book. Do Funny Story Book Reviews contain spoilers?

Typically, reviewers try to avoid major spoilers. They aim to give enough information to convey why the book is funny without revealing key plot points or punchlines. However, some minor details might be discussed to illustrate examples of humor. Where can I find Funny Story Book Reviews? You can find Funny Story Book Reviews on various platforms such as Goodreads, Amazon, book review blogs, and websites dedicated to humorous literature. Social media and discussion forums are also great places to find recommendations and reviews. Can a book be both funny and serious? Absolutely! Many books blend humor with serious themes, using comedy to provide relief or to highlight certain points. This mix can add depth to the narrative and make it more enjoyable for a wider audience. What should I look for in a good Funny Story Book Review? A good Funny Story Book Review should provide insight into the humor style, give examples of what makes the book funny, and offer a balanced critique. It should also indicate whether the book might appeal to your sense of humor. Are there specific genres for funny books? Humor can be found in many genres including comedy, satire, parody, and even within non-humor genres like romance, fantasy, and mystery when authors use witty dialogue and situations. The key is how the humor is integrated into the storytelling. ``` In conclusion, "Funny Story" is an invaluable choice for readers seeking a delightful escape into a world brimming with humor, wit, and unforgettable characters. This book not only provides endless laughs but also delivers profound insights into the human condition, making it a literary gem worth every moment spent turning its pages. Its cleverly crafted narrative and sharp dialogues ensure that readers are continuously engaged, leaving them with both a smile and food for thought. Whether you need a good chuckle or a meaningful story, "Funny Story" offers a perfect blend of both, proving that humor can be as enlightening as it is entertaining. Don't miss out on this exceptional read that promises to elevate your spirits and broaden your perspective. Other Funny Story Book Review buying options

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satellitetvcompany-blog · 3 months

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The Ultimate Guide to Tween TV Shows: Entertainment for Growing Kids

As children grow older, their taste in television evolves. They move from simple animated series to more complex narratives that cater to their burgeoning interests and understanding of the world. Tween TV shows, designed for kids aged 9 to 12, offer a perfect blend of entertainment, education, and relatable content that resonates with this unique age group. This guide will explore some of the best tween TV shows, highlighting their themes, characters, and the values they promote.

Why Tween TV Shows Matter

Tween years is a critical developmental period. Kids are beginning to form their identities, seek independence, and develop more sophisticated cognitive and social skills. TV shows for tweens not only provide entertainment but also serve as a mirror to their lives, reflecting their struggles, joys, and the complex world around them. These shows often address themes such as friendship, family, school life, and personal growth, helping tweens navigate this transitional phase with relatable characters and storylines.

Classic Tween TV Shows

Lizzie McGuire

Overview: This iconic show follows Lizzie McGuire, a typical middle school student, as she navigates the challenges of growing up.

Themes: Friendship, self-acceptance, and the trials of adolescence.

Why It's Great: Lizzie's inner thoughts, often portrayed through an animated alter-ego, offer a humorous and insightful look into the mind of a tween.

Even Stevens

Overview: The series centers on the Stevens family, particularly the sibling rivalry between Louis, the mischievous younger brother, and Ren, the overachieving older sister.

Themes: Family dynamics, individuality, and humor.

Why It's Great: Its blend of slapstick comedy and heartfelt moments makes it a timeless favorite.

Modern Hits for Tweens

Andi Mack

Overview: Andi Mack's life takes a turn when she discovers a family secret that changes her perception of her identity.

Themes: Family secrets, friendship, and self-discovery.

Why It's Great: The show addresses real-life issues with sensitivity and provides a diverse representation of characters.

The Thunder Mans

Overview: The Thunder Mans are a family of superheroes trying to live a normal life in the suburbs.

Themes: Balancing ordinary life with extraordinary powers, sibling rivalry, and responsibility.

Why It's Great: It combines the excitement of superhero elements with the relatable dynamics of family life.

Educational and Inspirational Shows

The Magic School Bus Rides Again

Overview: A reboot of the classic series, following Ms. Frizzle’s sister, Fiona, as she takes her class on magical educational adventures.

Themes: Science, exploration, and curiosity.

Why It's Great: It makes learning fun and encourages kids to explore the world around them.

Project Mc²

Overview: This series follows a group of girls who use their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) skills to solve problems.

Themes: Empowerment, intelligence, and teamwork.

Why It's Great: It promotes STEM education and shows that being smart is cool, especially for girls.

Fantasy and Adventure

Gravity Falls

Overview: Twins Dipper and Mabel spend the summer with their great-uncle in a mysterious town filled with supernatural occurrences.

Themes: Mystery, adventure, and family.

Why It's Great: Its complex, serialized storytelling and witty humor appeal to both kids and adults.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Overview: In a world where people can manipulate the elements, young Aang must fulfill his destiny as the Avatar to bring peace to the world.

Themes: Destiny, friendship, and balance.

Why It's Great: It's praised for its deep storytelling, rich world-building, and character development.

Comedies That Deliver Life Lessons

Diary of a Future President

Overview: This show chronicles the middle school life of Elena, a Cuban American girl who dreams of becoming the President of the United States.

Themes: Ambition, cultural identity, and perseverance.

Why It's Great: It offers a positive role model and emphasizes the importance of dreams and hard work.

Alexa & Katie

Overview: Best friends Alexa and Katie face the highs and lows of high school while Alexa battles cancer.

Themes: Friendship, resilience, and support.

Why It's Great: It tackles serious issues with humor and heart, showcasing the strength of true friendship.

Inclusivity and Diversity

Degrassi: Next Class

Overview: The latest iteration of the long running Degrassi series, focusing on the lives of students at Degrassi Community School.

Themes: Teen issues, diversity, and acceptance.

Why It's Great: It doesn't shy away from tough topics and provides a platform for diverse voices and experiences.

The Loud House

Overview: Follows Lincoln Loud, the only boy in a family of eleven children, as he navigates the chaos of a large household.

Themes: Family, diversity, and problem-solving.

Why It's Great: It features a diverse cast and represents various family dynamics and backgrounds.

Conclusion

Tween TV shows play a crucial role in the entertainment and development of kids in this age group. They provide not only a source of enjoyment but also important lessons and reflections on real-life experiences. Whether through comedy, drama, fantasy, or adventure, these shows help tweens understand the world and their place in it. With the variety of high-quality programming available today, there's no shortage of excellent content to keep tweens engaged, informed, and entertained.

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nandaaja2 · 1 year

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Detailed criticism of Denny Ja's selected work 24: Trilili birds

In the world of literature, criticism of artwork is common. This criticism aims to provide an objective and build view of a work, so that the writer can improve and improve the quality of the work. In this article, it will be reviewed in detail the selected Denny JA 24 work entitled "Trilili Birds", and give constructive criticism to it. I. Introduction Denny JA 24's chosen work entitled "Trilili Birds" tells about the journey of a young man who is looking for his identity through an adventure full of surprises and difficulties. In this work, Denny JA 24 tries to describe the picture of Indonesian society which is sometimes difficult to understand by the younger generation. II. Character analysis One of the strengths of this work is the depiction of strong and complex characters. Denny Ja 24 managed to present the main character who has a deep emotional journey. However, there are some weaknesses in character development. Some supporting characters feel shallow and do not get enough attention to be developed more deeply. III. Plot and story line The storyline in the "trilile" has a pretty good strength. Denny Ja 24 is able to present an attractive plot and full of surprises. However, there are several parts in the story line that feels too slow and does not make a significant contribution to the development of the story. This makes the reader sometimes lose interest in reading this work. IV. Writing style and narrative Denny Ja 24's writing style in "trililes" can be said to be quite unique and interesting. He uses beautiful and descriptive words to describe every scene and atmosphere in the story. However, there are some parts that feel too long and excessive, thus disturbing the smooth flow of the story. V. Themes and messages The main theme raised in "Trilili Birds" is the search for identity and personal growth. Denny Ja 24 managed to describe the emotional journey of the main character well, and convey a strong message about the importance of understanding and accepting yourself. However, there are some sub-themes that feel less connected to the main story, making it feel less focused. VI. Conclusion Overall, "Trilile" is a work that has great potential. Denny Ja 24 is able to present a strong character and arouse the emotions of the reader. However, there are some weaknesses in the development of supporting characters, the storyline that is sometimes slow, and the style of writing that is sometimes excessive. Even so, this work still gives a strong message about the search for identity and personal growth. In this detailed critic of, we hope that Denny Ja 24 can consider this input to improve the quality of further works. Criticism is not to bring down, but to build and encourage writers to continue to develop. Hopefully Denny Ja 24's works in the future will be more inspiring and arouse the reader.

Check in full: detailed criticism of the selected work of Denny JA 24: Trilile Birds

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yurimother · 4 years

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The Best Yuri of 2020

2020 was hell in every way, and many of us are looking forward to new possibilities and advances in 2021. However, the year brought us many small moments and gifts worth celebrating. Among these, the explosive growth and change within the Yuri genre are among the most precious and most outstanding achievements. This second century of Yuri opened with a bang, as phenomenal new works, creators, and moments made their mark and helped change the future genre.

This annual list is a celebration of just a handful of the fantastic titles, people, and events in Yuri. There are likely some even greater ones that did not make the list because there is so much content in both English and Japanese that even I cannot keep up. However, among the troves of treasure, these titles stood out as shining examples of Yuri excellence. Some were released this year, others were recently adapted into English, and still, others are established titles that rose to prominence to dominate the conversation and my mind this year, but every one of them is worthy of being on this list and in your heart.

Here is the Best Yuri of 2020!

15: The Curse of Kudan Remastered

Japanese Yuri visual novel developers show no sign of slowing down as they continue to push to new heights and try new ideas. These are the same amazing people who brought us the delightful educational Yuri game The Expression Amrilato and the hilarious and surprisingly queer OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbando’s. However, this most recent release, The Curse of Kudan Remastered, is their best work yet. Released near Halloween, this game brings a new edge of dark mystery and the occult to Yuri audiences worldwide.

The Curse of Kudan is available on MangaGamer, JAST USA, Denpasoft, and Sekai Project.

14: Adachi and Shimamura

English audiences were finally treated this year to Hitoma Iruma’s long-running and wildly successful Yuri light novel series, Adachi and Shimamura. Although the story struggles to gain traction, dedicated readers’ have their patience rewarded with a sweet tale full of gay pining. Alternatively, you can jump into its stellar anime adaptation, with gorgeous visuals and realized characters you will actually be willing to put up with the annoying Yashiro just to see where the title characters go. The series shows no sign of slowing down either, as the manga adaptation is coming to Western audiences next year.

Adachi and Shimamura is available to stream on Funimation. The light novel series is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3rTSZTK

Honorable Mention: Happy Go Lucky Days

The OVA adaptation of Fragtime got most of the attention this year. Still, director Takuya Satou and Pony Canyon also gave us this much-overlooked “love is love” anthology movie based on Takako Shimura’s manga (Sweet Blue Flowers, Wandering Son). The first short in the film, “Happy,” is easily the best Yuri anime of the year. It follows the beautiful yet realistic queer love story of two women hooking up at a mutual ex-girlfriend’s wedding, only for the relationship to blossom and warm viewers’ hearts. Sadly, while stylized, the budget demanded the animation cut a few too many corners. Additionally, the subsequent stories are at best tedious and at worst alarmingly problematic, which is why Happy Go Lucky Days only gets an honorable mention.

The OVA is streaming on HIDIVE

13: Mieri Hiranishi

The Yuri scene has many colorful creators with a breadth of different ideas and stories in the genre, yet few have provided as much humor and joy as Mieri. This talented creator spectacularly tumbled into the scene with her manga essay The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Straight, which embodies the brutal honesty and realism of Nagata Kabi and matches it with exaggerated hilarity. She continues to chronicle her painful struggles of being a butch girl in love with butch girls in the monthly series The Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend. Alternatively, you can follow her on Twitter for just as much heart and laughter.

Read The Girl that Can’t get a Girlfriend on Tapas and Webtoon.

12: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

My Next Life as a Villainess has what can only be described as volcanic bisexual energy. Every character protagonist Catarina Claes encounters is entirely enthralled by her. Of course, she is far too preoccupied with her quest to avoid doom flags and change her ultimate fate to notice any romantic interest. The series is rewarding and well structured, as views are just as focused on how Catarina plans to avoid certain doom as they are with the various romantic misses her band of companions cooks up. While the “friendship ending” did not capitalize on its Yuri potential, it was perhaps the most satisfying possibility for this crazy harem, at least until season two comes out, which looks, unfortunately, to be significantly less queer.

My Next Life as a Villainess is streaming on Crunchyroll

11: Love Me for Who I Am

Kata Konayama’s manga series is less Yuri than a general LGBT work, but it has a lesbian character and explores her identity and struggles in great detail. Few titles before have captured the exciting and nervous waves of emotions that young people feel as they explore gender and sexual identities and try to find themselves. This heartfelt and extremely queer series rubberbands between cute moe dress up to tragic and gripping backstory, keeping readers on their toes the whole time.

Love me for Who I Am is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3rTSZTK

10: A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986

Oracle and Bone’s debut visual novel, A Summer’s End, is set in a vibrant and electric 1980’s Hong Kong. Drawing inspiration from classic Asian cinema, music, and fashion. The worlds of Michelle, a young office worker, and a free-spirited woman named Same collide. The two struggle to comprehend and accept each other’s feelings just as they struggle against society’s expectations and prejudices. An incredibly thoughtful and touching adventure, the creators incorporated vital contemporary elements include Asian LGBTQ rights and growing political unrest in Hong Kong, into this illustrious game.

The visual novel is available on Steam.

Honorable Mention: Goodbye, My Rose Garden

In the same vein as A Summer’s End, Goodbye, My Rose Garden is a beautiful period piece that incorporates LGBT views into its shattering narrative. The story follows a bright-eyed immigrant, Hanako, wanting to make a new life in England as an author at the dawn of the twentieth century. She takes a job as a maid to noblewoman Alice, but their relationship takes a turn when Alice asks Hanako to kill her. This poignant tale is beautiful and an honest depiction of love and its conflict with responsibility and society.

Goodbye, My Rose Garden is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/3hFSyaG

9: Shio Usui

Usui’s hit Shaikaijin Yuri manga Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon could easily take this spot even though it is not even out in English until February 2021. The manga is already making waves and receiving constant praise. The characters and their journey to discover love and self-acceptance are as charming as they are relatable and grounded. However, it is the creator, Usui, who really deserves acclaim. Not just for their work on Doughnuts, but having a second serialized story, Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita, in monthly Yuri magazine Comic Yuri Hime simultaneously. It is even more remarkable when you consider these two iconic stories are Usui’s first long-running works, as they only contributed one-shots before.

8: Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka

Bloom Into You is possibly the most iconic Yuri series in the past decade, and while the manga deserves its own place on this list, the best thing to come out of the series as a whole is easily the light novels. This trilogy by Adachi and Shimamura creator Hitoma Iruma dives deep into supporting cast member Sayaka. Readers are treated to a delightful journey as she discovers her sexuality, experiences heartbreak, and finally finds herself breaking free and falling in love. With the help of gorgeous illustrations by Nakatani Nio herself, Iruma masterfully captures Sayaka’s unique voice and emotions in this wonderful series. Whether a fan of the originals or not, every Yurijin must check out Regarding Saeki Sayaka.

The light novel series is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3hFSyaG

7: Our Teachers are Dating

The best a Yuri can get. This workplace romance follows two teachers at the start of a new relationship taking nervous yet enthusiastic first steps, including saying I love you, going on their first date, and even sleeping together. It is so heartfelt and salacious that readers will squeal the whole time. Additionally, our heroines are supported in their relationship by everyone they know, their students, colleagues, and even the principal. It is a perfect world for these two lovebirds! Our Teachers are Dating would easily be number one or two in any other year, but the competition is fierce in 2020. So even though this is only number seven, it is still a master class Yuri manga.

The manga is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/38XY3O9

6: Amongst Us

Who would have thought that a comedy alternative universe story spinoff of a fantasy action series would be the single best Yuri webcomic this year? Shilin’s astounding artwork illustrations the hilarious and irresistible journey of girlfriends Blackbird and Veloce. These two eccentric young women get into all kinds of everyday mischief that bounces between tender and touching romance, completely outrageous comedy, and downright thirst-inducing sorcery. Seriously, you should buy the first volume for Veloce’s back muscles alone. The storyline skips between time, but both their established relationship and their meeting as teenagers are adorkable and captivating.

Amongst Us is available online free on Webtoon and the comic’s website. The first volume is in paperback on Shilin’s site.

Honorable Mention: Éclair

There are a lot of Yuri anthologies out there, and they have done some beautiful things. Many focus on themes like Syrup. Others collect a series of stories by an author into one bound work. However, out of all of them, Éclair is the most successful. ASCII Media Works took some of the genre’s most extraordinary creators and let them do whatever they wanted, and the results are spectacular. The incredible talent behind Éclair somehow packs a full volume’s worth of story and character into just a few pages with every chapter. While the first volume came overseas a few years ago, Yen Press gave Yurijin a gift this year by releasing the entire rest of the series in which readers can get lost.

The anthology series is published by Yen Press - https://amzn.to/38XY3O9

5: I’m in Love with the Villainess

A small trend of isekai Yuri with villainesses emerged recently, and I honestly had few hopes of I’m in Love with the Villainess. The series is pretty popular, but I often find that this does not denote quality, and with isekai having some institutional issues, I suspected this would fall flat. Then the volume three cover showcased an incredible accomplishment, allowing for a lesbian relationship to blossom into a family with children, and it blew me away. Finally, I read volume one and realized that the series has incredible character, some of the best world-building I have ever seen in a light novel, thoughtful discussions of inequality and societal issues, and most impressively, open and frank discussion of queer identity and life Yuri has ever seen! This one is something special.

The series is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/3nedvdZ

4: The Last of Us Part II

Yes, I know this one is not Yuri and that a portion of the population despises this game and will likely be exceptionally angry at me for including it. However, I maintain that it was an incredibly challenging masterpiece. Naughty Dog did not take the easy route out and delivered one of the most devastating media experiences I have ever seen. As I said in my article about the game, playing it changed me, and it sticks with me to this day. The Last of Us Part II earns its spot on this list because it pushed boundaries more with LGBTQ inclusion than any other AAA game. From brave inclusion of LGBTQ themes to queer characters and storylines at its center, the game changes gaming and it will never go back.

The Last of Us Part II is available on PlayStation 4

3: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

She-Ra feels like the culmination of all the LGBTQ progress western cartoons have made over the past few years. From The Legend of Korra to Steven Universe, young people are finally seeing more LGBTQ people represented on the small screen. This epic fantasy concluded with an amazing and powerful lesbian romance, delivering on its queer promise and revolutionized representation in a trope-defying crescendo.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is streaming on Netflix

2: The Conditions of Paradise

The greatest single Yuri work of all in 2020 was the English release of Akiko Morishima’s breakthrough manga, The Conditions of Paradise. Initially released in 2007, this anthology detailed the love between adult women. It was in every way a manga ahead of its time, and seeing it finally get a small piece of the recognition it deserves overseas is a true gift. The fact that we can own this legendary piece of Yuri history and Morishima’s other anthologies is nothing short of a blessing from the Yuri goddess.

The Conditions of Paradise is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/38bh4xq

Honorable Mention: Otherside Picnic

This eerie sci-fi horror series combines the best of pulse-pounding thrillers, complex and intelligent hard science fiction, and exciting Yuri romance. Author Iori Miyazawa spends as much time crafting a well-paced and intriguing narrative about a mysterious world where occult creatures roam as he does establishing two believable and grounded heroes in Sorawo and Toriko. The romance between the two may be slow to start, but their chemistry is undeniable and as the stakes and story build, so too does their relationship. Not only are the light novels incredible, but the series’ manga adaptation is coming soon to the West as well as an upcoming TV anime in early 2021.

Otherside Picnic is streaming on Funimation. The light novels are published by J-Novel Club - https://amzn.to/3niiv1g

1. Yuri subgenres

For a long time, Yuri was not a genre of its own, but elements of romances or bonds between women found in other works. Now, thanks to an increasing library of works, the advent of social media, and a wider audience, Yuri is a genre on its own, with many creators telling different stories in different styles. However, 2020 saw the continued emergence of something extraordinary, subgenres. Yuri is now so vast, we can actually categorize the works within. Depending on their characters, like classic schoolgirl romances or spicy shakaijin office affairs, their world, such as fantasy or isekai series and thrilling science fiction adventures, and even other elements within. One of my personal favorites is the feminist Yuri that emerges from titles like Sexiled, where women celebrate the accomplishments of other women and dismantle power structures stacked against them. Now, no matter what kind of Yurijin you are, there is something for you to love.

I am happy to leave 2020 behind, but I bring with me a renewed love and admiration for Yuri. 2021 looks to be a somehow even better year for the genre, and I am thrilled to experience every minute of it that I can. Yuri has transformed into something far greater than I ever thought it would be, and let us all enjoy its evolution and expansion together in 2021.

#yuri #manga #anime #top 10 #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+#queer #gay #girls love #gl #adachi and shimamura #otherside picnic #lists #2020 #happy new year #2021 #new year

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xaibaugrove · 3 years

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Everyone in the Krew is Problematic

I was inspired to go on this rant by someone who recently brought up a question in a server I’m in, asking why so many people in the fandom seem to hate Mako and Makorra and why. This wouldn’t be the first time I defend Mako and it most likely won’t be the last, but it might be the first time I tear him and everyone else in the Krew down in the process, only to bring them back up. Hear me out though.

I think I’ve totally accepted that a lot of people in this fandom will always hate Mako and that I will have to perpetually defend him, I understand that this is the relationship I’ve chosen with this world. But what I still will never understand are the reasons why people hate/dislike him because compared to how much they love other characters in the Krew who honestly aren’t that much better than him (in some cases, even worse!), it doesn’t make any sense.

Let me also preface this by saying, I love these characters with all my heart and soul, probably more than I should love fictional characters, but this is the life I live and with that being said, I am going to tear them apart just to prove a point. Okay, here we go.

MAKO

Most of his detractors list the usual criticisms, which are valid when isolated. He cheated on Asami, he lied to Korra, he was a terrible boyfriend and essentially he treated the women he claimed to love or care about horribly. Gee, it’s almost like the man was a teenager with no experience in having long-lasting, healthy relationships and was raised in the streets by gangmembers while doing anything to survive and provide for his younger sibling after seeing his parents killed right in front of him and suddenly being orphaned…

I think Mako has been torn down enough, so I won’t get too deep into the tearing down part for him. It really does baffle me how someone can claim to be woke and not comprehend how someone coming from poverty could possibly be a product of their environment. Like, does everyone think that poor people automatically have hearts of gold and turn out like Little Orphan Annie? Why are people surprised that when someone has a shitty life, they might do shitty things?

Also, sooo many people love Zuko, who actively tried to cause harm to Aang, Katara and Sokka numerous times, and sympathize with his troubled past. But like, sure Zuko had an abusive father and his mother peaced out of his life for whatever reasons but at least he had his uncle. Mako had his parents for maybe 8 years before they were murdered in front of him and then had...no one for the next 10 years? Except for Bolin, sure, but no other parental figure in his life. Dude literally had to become him and his brother’s own parent and joined a gang to survive, and after all that, the worst he does is acts as a bad boyfriend toward Korra and Asami and he is instantly thrown to the wolves. Something doesn’t add up. It’s just...I don’t get it.

Yes, the way he treated people was bad, but people can grow? That’s a thing humans can do. And he was a teenager, my god. No, we cannot allow our past to be an excuse for how we treat others, but we have to be aware that there is a growth process to being human. And being human in and of itself, isn’t pretty. You think Mako is problematic? Don’t get me started on your fave.

KORRA

Ok, I love this woman to death but she is ridiculously problematic. She pursued someone in a relationship and essentially forced Mako to cheat on Asami by kissing him against his will, that’s already pretty awful and shows a lack of empathy on her part, also kissing people without their consent is no bueno. But also I just have to say it for the people who might not know this. One of the fundamental reasons why Makorra didn’t work was because KORRA WAS ABUSIVE. Okay? It wasn’t just that Mako was inadequate at relationships and didn’t know how to people, it wasn’t that she was secretly confused and wanting Asami the entire time (biphobia at it’s best) one of the main problems in the pairing was that Korra was crazy abusive towards Mako. Seriously, why don’t I see this more often in those discussions??

If we need examples, I have dozens. Honestly, it’s really easy to see how terrible Korra was to Mako, I’d actually argue that she treated him worse than he treated her. I mean, they were both terrible to one another, but in Korra’s case she went through the motions of being completely infatuated with your first teenage crush, getting with said crush, then crashing and burning once you realize that you have no idea how to treat a romantic partner so after the butterflies wear off you subject them to all the wonderful aspects of your anger issues. Not only did she scream at Mako during every argument they had, she also threatened him with bodily harm if she got really angry. Remember how their relationship crashed and burned in Book 2? Here are the things that Korra did during that time. Let me reiterate, this was not okay.

Mako is visibly shaken by this!

This woman burst into her boyfriend’s place of work and violently kicked his desk out from in front of him with all his coworkers present. That is not normal behavior. That is a red flag. And after she came back, had amnesia or whatever and forgot they broke up after that scene, let’s not forget that Mako was legitimately Afraid to break up with her again. Korra made her partner frightened that they might suffer bodily harm if they upset her. Again, and I can’t stress this enough, this is not okay!

The little scene in Book 3 when Korra is lifting Mako like 100 feet off the ground with airbending while he’s screaming in fear just to make Asami laugh is cute, right? I’ll admit, I loved that little moment too, it’s one of the only instances of Korrasami development that we got, but also, there were sooo many things wrong with that scene lol. Not only does Korra terrify Mako for literally no reason, it’s also sort of just her continuing to exercise some degree of power over him for her own amusement. Almost like a subtle reminder to him saying, “I am stronger than you in every way and I can break your femur like a twig if I wanted to… but I won’t, so look how much fun we’re having!”

Now of course, there are reasons why Korra acts like this. She was isolated for almost her entire life and never learned how to treat people and be around people. The Avatar is human because they must live amongst the people they protect and that helps them develop empathy and cherish life. The White Lotus deprived her of that fundamental aspect of her duty as the Avatar and it showed throughout the beginning of the series. Clearly, she was young, didn’t see how her actions could negatively affect others and hurt the feelings of not just her partner but also friends and family (she was really awful towards a lot of people in her life!). But as the series went on, we see her having less outbursts and learning to control her temper more.

One can only assume that she does not have the same behavior with Asami because for one, I don’t think Asami would play that shit, she seems like she would electrocute a bitch in a heartbeat and not hesitate if needed, but also Korra is not the same shitty partner she used to be as a teenager. Again, kids do stupid things. Adults do stupid things. And we learn and we grow. Korra will probably make some more mistakes in her relationship with Asami. I don't think anyone can have one bad relationship and suddenly learn all the lessons they can from it and have a perfect one the next go around. I can totally picture Korra losing her temper and raising her voice at Asami if she gets frustrated and forgets who she’s dealing with. Managing anger issues is hard, I know this from experience, and it doesn’t magically get easier. Of course, if Korra does pop off, Asami would definitely put her in her place because she’s a bad bitch who doesn’t take anyone’s shit, next character.

ASAMI

You know her, you love her, you fantasize about her and you probably have her on your list of fictional characters you would totally bang if you had the chance (I know I do), yes, even your best girl is problematic. It’s interesting to me that a lot of people sympathize with Asami and very few openly criticize her (so few that I’ve never seen anyone say a bad thing about her). What’s there to criticize though? The poor girl was cheated on by Mako, had her feelings disregarded by Korra, who claimed to be her friend but pursued her then-boyfriend behind her back and then made up for it by simping for her for the rest of her life? Also her mom was murdered when she was just 6 years old, her father threatened to kill her once and physically abused her, then died right after they started repairing their relationship, essentially making her an orphan at the ripe age of 22. Suffice it to say, Asami has been through it.

So, how could she be problematic, you ask? Why, of course, through the classic Bryke technique of romance progression in storylines called Kissing People Without Their Consent

To be honest, I did gloss over this with Korra, simply because there were sooo many other issues with that woman and I just couldn’t go through every single one in as much detail but that doesn’t negate how serious this whole sneak attack kissing thing is. Sure, Asami is very emotional and lonely and sort of desperate too, (it's a little sad, really) but Mako is clearly uncomfortable and completely caught off guard by the kiss. This is also the second time this happens to him in the series! There are a couple factors that might contribute to why Asami does this and acts this way, maybe Korra’s general awfulness rubbed off on her (don’t make a dirty joke) but this is still wrong.

AND that’s...pretty much it. Kissing people without their permission is a big no no, though. Not wanting to gloss over that, but Asami really is a good person who just did a not-so-great thing. Getting burned by Mako twice probably made her a little less inclined to be as forward with anyone though, and it looks like she now takes her time and is patient in her relationship with Korra. It even seems like Asami is the only person Korra is afraid to upset, as Korra does seem more gentle and calm when around her. And who knows? Maybe Asami living a life where a majority of the time she got whatever she wanted when she wanted it might have also influenced her to be more assertive or even imposing within her relationships.

If anything, those three fools getting into relationships with each other just showed how not ready they were to be in relationships in the first place and also how not okay they were.

BOLIN

Originally I titled this as “Everyone in the Krew is problematic (except Bolin)” but then I remembered that Bolin totally kissed a woman without her consent so I deleted the shit out of that!

This asshole looks genuinely pleased with himself after essentially assaulting Ginger. Not a good look.

Sure, Bolin is baby. He will always be baby to me. But that does not erase the fact that he also actively supported a fascist dictator. Not only was the kissing without consent thing bad, but there’s also that. No matter how many times people around him warned him about the fact that he was on the wrong side of things, that he was helping someone who was putting people into concentration camps...Bolin wanted to believe the best of Kuvira. He ignored obvious signs that the woman was a dictator committing human rights violations like crazy and you know, there’s gotta be a reason for that too.

Maybe Bolin wanted to feel like he was doing something good for once. When you think about it, with his role as the comic relief in the Krew, and sort of constantly being infantilized by his older brother, I wouldn’t be surprised if the man developed some insecurity in his ability to do anything good or useful for anyone without screwing it up in some way. In Kuvira’s army, it seemed like he was actually taken seriously, he felt like he was doing something that mattered. Korra had being the Avatar, Asami had her business and mindblowing philanthropy (honestly, her ability to be as charitable as she is profitable is insane) and Mako had his police work (ACAB, tho). Bolin had...the role of being a joke. A superficial actor. A former pro-bending meathead.

Bolin lived his entire life following after his brother that once they were adults and Mako finally decided to live his own life for once, it left Bolin completely lost. And lost young men are perfect recruits for fascists.

So, in conclusion, my whole reasoning behind destroying the integrity of my favorite characters is to prove a huge point. All of these characters are problematic. They have flaws, some bigger than others (looking at you, Korra. Just...wow), but ultimately, even if your fave is problematic... that’s okay. A lot of people, mostly younger people it seems, are really obsessed with being right about everything that they do and stan. And that’s a wonderful thing, so much change has come about by the younger generations calling out people who do fucked up shit, don’t want or try to improve, and get away with it. But it’s also caused a lot of people to be unforgiving and completely unwilling to acknowledge when people do improve and try to be better.

Personally, I love my problematic Krew because having issues that you’re constantly working on internally is human. It’s human to make mistakes, it’s human to grow from those mistakes. And it’s inspiring to me, who is wholly imperfect, to see myself reflected in fictional characters who aren’t perpetuating unrealistic ideals of human nature, characters who are messy, crazy and ultimately human.

As one of my favorite manga artists and queen of impeccable character creation Rumiko Takahashi once said:

“I think that perfect people are not very interesting.”

And I will always wholeheartedly agree.

#long post #rant #tlok #the legend of korra #korra #asami sato #mako #bolin #avatar: the legend of korra #back on my random bullshit i guess

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aro-comics · 3 years

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Fashion Analysis (Part 2: Outside of Amatonormativity Alone)

[Note: This post is a part of a series analyzing self-expression, fashion, aromanticism, and how they interact with other parts of identity. For full context please read the whole thing!]

Outside of Amatonormativity Alone: Sexism, Homophobia (and/or Transphobia), Racism, Ableism, and Other Factors That can Impact Self Expression

My comic was originally meant to be a light hearted joke. I’d always been told I’d want to dress up one day, be pretty and feminine once I fell in love with a boy (BLEGH). I was so certain that I would never do that, and now … here we are. I put lots of effort into my appearance, present feminine, all in the hopes I’ll impress a very special someone - a potential employer at a networking event. I think there’s a certain irony to all of this, and I do find it funny that I managed to both be wrong and completely subvert amatonormative stereotypes!

But having the chance to think about the whole situation, I realize now that my changes in presentation reflect far more. The pressure I felt to dress differently are still influenced by fundamental forms of discrimination in society, and I would be remiss to not address these inherent factors that were tied with my experiences alongside my aromanticism. So in this section, I will briefly cover some of these factors and summarize how they can influence people’s self expression as a whole, before discussing my own experiences and how these factors all intersect.

Sexism

The pressure on women In This Society to uphold arbitrary norms is ever present and often harmful, and while I wish I had the time to discuss the impacts of every influence the patriarchy has on personal expression, to even try to cover a fraction of it would be impractical at best for this essay. Instead, since the original comic focuses on professionalism and presentation, this is what I will talk about here.

Beauty standards are a specific manifestation of sexism that have a deep impact on how people perceive women. It’s a complicated subject that’s also tied with factors like capitalism, white supremacy, classism, and more, but to summarize the main sentiment: Women are expected to be beautiful. Or at least, conform to the expectations of “feminine” “beauty” as ascribed by the culture at large.

They also tend to be considered exclusively as this idea that "women need to be beautiful to secure their romantic prospects, which subsequently determines their worth as human beings. The problematic implications of this sentiment have been called out time and time again (and rightfully so), however there is an often overlooked second problematic element to beauty standards, as stated in the quote below:

“Beauty standards are the individual qualifications women are expected to meet in order to embody the “feminine beauty ideal” and thus, succeed personally and professionally”

- Jessica DeFino. (Source 1)

… To succeed personally, and professionally.

The “Ugly Duckling Transformation” by Mina Le (Source 2) is a great video essay that covers the topic of conforming to beauty standards through the common “glow up” trope present in many (female focused) films from the early 2000s.

“In most of these movies, the [main character] is a nice person, but is bullied or ignored because of her looks.”

Mina Le, (timestamp 4:02-4:06)

Generally, by whatever plot device necessary, the ugly duckling will adopt a new “improved” presentation that includes makeup, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe. While it is not inherently problematic for a woman to be shown changing to embrace more feminine traits, there are a few problems with how the outcomes of these transformations are always depicted and what they imply. For starters, this transformation is shown to be the key that grants the protagonist her wishes and gives her confidence and better treatment by her peers. What this is essentially saying is that women are also expected to follow beauty standards to be treated well in general, not only in a romantic context, and deviation from these norms leads to the consequences of being ostracized.

The other problematic element of how these transformations are portrayed are the fact that generally the ONLY kind of change that is depicted in popular media is one in the more feminine direction. Shanspeare, another video essayist on YouTube, investigates this phenomenon in more detail in “the tomboy figure, gender expression, and the media that portrays them” (Source 4). In this video, Shaniya explains that “tomboy” characters are only ever portrayed as children - which doesn’t make any sense at face value, considering that there ARE plenty of masculine adult women in real life. But through the course of the video (and I would highly recommend giving it a watch! It is very good), it becomes evident that the “maturity” aspect of coming of age movies inherently tie the idea of growth with “learning” to become more feminine. Because of the prevalence of these storylines (as few mainstream plots will celebrate a woman becoming more masculine and embracing gender nonconformity) it becomes clear that femininity is fundamentally associated with maturity. It also implies that masculinity in women is not only not preferred, it is unacceptable to be considered mature. Both of these sentiments are ones that should be questioned, too.

Overall, I think it is clear that these physical presentation expectations, even if not as restrictive as historical dress codes for women have been, are still inherently sexist (not to mention harmful by also influencing people to have poor self image and subsequent mental health disorders). Nobody should have to dress in conformity with gender norms to be considered “acceptable”, not only desirable, which leads us to the second part of this section.

Homophobia (and/or Transphobia)

So what happens when women don’t adhere to social expectations of femininity? (Or in general, someone chooses to present in a way that challenges the gender binary and their AGAB, but for the sake of simplicity I will discuss it from my particular lens as a cis woman who is pansexual).

There are a lot of nuances, of course, to whether it’s right that straying from femininity as a woman (or someone assumed to be a woman) will automatically get read a certain way by society. But like it or not, right or not, if you look butch many people WILL see you as either gay, (or trans-masculine, which either way is not a cishet woman). This is tied to the fact that masculinity is something historically associated with being WLW (something we will discuss later).

This association of breaking gender norms in methods of dress with being perceived as a member of the LGBTQ+ community has an influence on how people may choose to express themselves, because LGBTQ+ discrimination is very real, and it can be very dangerous in many parts of the world.

I think it’s very easy to write off claims in particular that women are pressured into dressing femininely when it is safer to do so in your area; but I really want to remind everyone that not everyone has the luxury of presenting in a gender non-conforming way. This pressure to conform does exist in many parts of the world, and can be lethal when challenged.

And even if you’re not in an extremely anti-LGBTQ+ environment/places that are considered “progressive” (like Canada), there are still numerous microagressions/non-lethal forms of discrimination that are just as widespread. According to Statistics Canada in 2019:

Close to half (47%) of students at Canadian postsecondary institutions witnessed or experienced discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity or sexual orientation (including actual or perceived gender, gender identity or sexual orientation).

(Source 3)

Fundamentally this additional pressure that exists when one chooses to deviate from gender norms is one that can not be ignored in the conversation when it comes to how people may choose to express themselves visually, and I believe the impacts that this factor has and how it interacts with the other factors discussed should be considered.

Neurodivergence (In general):

In general, beauty standards/expectations for how a “mature” adult should dress can often include clothing that creates sensory issues for many autistic people. A thread on the National Austistic Forum (Source 6) contains a discussion where different austistic people describe their struggles with formal dress codes and the discomfort of being forced to wear stiff/restrictive clothing, especially when these dress codes have no practical purpose for the work they perform. If you’re interested in learning more on this subject, the Autisticats also has a thread on how school dress codes specifically can be harmful to Autistic people (Source 7).

In addition to potentially dressing differently (which as we have already covered can be a point of contention in one’s perception and reception by society as a whole), neurodivergence is another layer of identity that tends to be infantilized. Eden from the Autsticats has detailed their experiences with this in source 5.

Both of these factors can provide a degree of influence on how people choose to express themselves and/or how they may be perceived by society, and are important facets of a diverse and thoughtful exploration of the ways self-expression can be impacted by identity.

Also, while on this topic, I just want to take a chance to highlight the fact that we should question what is considered “appropriate”, especially “professionally appropriate”, because the “traditional” definitions of these have historically been used to discriminate against minorities. Much of what gets defined as “unprofessional” or otherwise “inappropriate” has racist implications - as an example, there is a history of black hairstyles being subjected to discriminatory regulation. Other sources I have provided at the end of this document (8 and 9) list examples of these instances.

Racism (being Chinese, specifically in this case):

For this section, I won’t be going into much depth at all, because I actually have a more detailed comic on this subject lined up.

So basically, if you were not aware, East Asian (EA) people tend to be infantilized and viewed as more childish (Source 10). In particular, unless an EA woman is super outgoing and promiscuous (the “Asian Bad Girl” stereotype, see Source 10), IN MY OPINION AND EXPERIENCE it’s easy to be type casted as the other end of the spectrum: the quiet, boring nerd. On top of this too, I’ve had experiences with talking to other EA/SEA people - where they themselves would repeatedly tell me that “Asians are just less mature”, something about it being a “cultural thing” (Yeah … I don’t know either. Maybe it’s internalized racism?).

Either way, being so easily perceived as immature (considering everything discussed so far) is also tied to conformity to beauty standards and other factors such as sexism and homophobia, which I believe makes for a complex intersection of identity.

[Note from Author: For Part 3, click here!]

#NotAComic #Fashion #FashionAnalysis

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capricornlibraries · 3 years

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4 years and a hell of a lot of heartache

“This is what I thought I thought you'd need me This is what I thought so think me naive I'd promise you a heart you'd promise to keep Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep” (“Prelude 12/21” by AFI)

The anniversary of the day she left this world has come and gone for the fourth year in a row. Her absence no longer brings me sadness, but the thought of all she has and will miss does. My growth as well as everyone else’s has been so amazing these past few years. Sadly, I don’t think, if she was still here, that that growth would be as admirable. I think it’s the appreciation for the growth. A certain embrace of life that only happens following the death of someone close. I see death as more of a blessing than a curse. It starts out in a devastating way, but much like fire, there’s a following rebirth. There’s a reason Uranus follows Saturn. “How beautiful… the agony in the moment of destruction” (Sailor Saturn, Sailor Moon, vol. 8).

The day she died was a new moon. This year it’s full, in the sign of Aquarius, the water-bearer she was born under. Pluto cozied up with my Venus, Neptune winked at my own in 13 degrees, and Saturn hit my 3rd house cusp going backwards. The day of her deathiversary, the moon peaked full right where her natal Saturn nestled in her chart. How saturnine.

How strange it was that we both owned Saturn cars, hers white, mine black. She an Aquarius with her Saturn in Aquarius, me a Capricorn with my Saturn in Capricorn. When she died, my sun began its progress into Aquarius. The beginning of my Saturn return would soon follow. In the following Aquarius season, my journey into seriously studying astrology began, and so did the reclamation of my life.

I loved her so much that I would have taken a bullet for her. But that passion wasn’t returned and therefore unhealthy. She wanted me to love her for so long, but as soon as I was ready to commit to those feelings, she rejected me. I’ve matured enough to understand that we were both just queer, neurodivergent children in high school exploring ideas of sex and love through the lens of puberty and the closet in a world where we were outcasted. At the time though, I felt so scathed, that I was simultaneously angry and heartbroken. Angry enough to live a life through spite, depressed enough to die from a broken heart. It hurt so much to see she didn’t need me, and she didn’t want me. I listened to Pink’s So What on repeat. I dived into fandom to keep my thoughts occupied. She haunted my dreams every night for a year and a half. She still makes appearances in them even now.

Honestly, there is still a lot of anger, but there’s more sorrow and repentance. I’ve done shadow work to see where in our relationship I was toxic. I was overcontrolling, overbearing, and could be quite cold. I wish I could tell her I’m sorry for how I was, but I wonder if she would have ever done the same for me. She only ever apologized when she felt cornered. She lied to me a lot and gaslit me when I would figure out what she fibbed about. It would get to a point that I would have to provide scrupulous amounts of evidence, but then that’s when she would say the reason she didn’t ever tell me the truth was because she was afraid of my reaction, then later, accusing me of implying she couldn’t do anything right. At one point after the heartbreak, we talked to each other, and I had thought she had said sorry to me, but then ghosted me after that interaction. Months later, my friend had ran into her and she had mentioned me. My friend mentioned how she didn’t talk to me after she apologized to me, to which she replied “I didn’t apologize because I had nothing to be sorry for.” So I feel like even if I could apologize to her, face to face, or through text now, that she would have accepted it but would have returned no apology, and in fact, would have used mine as her high horse, leaving me to think it was all my fault in the end, instead of a combined effort of miscommunication and teenage angst.

Her death placed her on a pedestal amongst her friends. They’ve all been so devastated from her loss, understandably, but in such a way that all they remember was the good and none of the bad. She backstabbed a lot of people throughout the years; she could be pretty two-faced when it needed to benefit her. And maybe that’s just how people approach death. They only want to remember the good. But it’s difficult for me, when she caused me so much pain, to only ever hear about how wonderful she was. I feel like a recently divorced, ex Mormon who had to leave an abusive relationship with all the calamity from church goers insisting that they’re betraying god. I know that they all loved her, hell I did too, fiercely, but she also hurt me, and I am so tired of having to keep that part of me locked away because it’s a version of her that doesn’t fit the narrative everyone has made of her. She already made me seem like the toxic one ever since we broke up in high school, and now I feel like, if I were to speak my truth, I would face only backlash and accusations that I am lying, seeking attention, and playing the victim.

For three years, from about 8th to 11th grade, we resided in our imaginations in a fantasy world we had created together with up to 100 characters, different planets, and enmeshed relationships. We filled notebooks and email inboxes of roleplays back and forth to each other, as well as getting together before school, at lunch, and after school speaking the roleplays out loud to one another. This was how we communicated our feelings to each other, getting lost in emotions as we went from intense plots to slice of life storylines. If only I could share our expansive world to everyone, they would see how beautiful our creation was… but every time I try to write those stories, I find myself lost, wishing she could assist. She was my muse, another part of me, and I loved her with every fiber of my being for so long. But I also hated her because of the power she held over me, the way she left me behind to fend for myself as she rebuilt her life without me so easily. I still feel like I am easy to throw away, and it disrupts all my relationships to this day. I will try to get close but then shy away, feeling like people are better off without me. For others, she was the light of their lives and now they can’t face the darkness she has left behind. For me, she was pain and suffering, and I had fallen in love with the darkness.

So I use this full moon to release these pent up feelings, emotions that ran deep from her death on the Leo new moon 4 years ago. I have since then faced some of the darkest parts of myself and embraced them, dived into myself to reach a hand out to my inner child who I am still learning to soothe and let their voice be heard. I want to be able to speak my truth without feeling afraid. I want to be taken seriously, seen as someone who is capable and smart. I am a great friend who didn’t deserve to be thrown away; I deserved compassion and understanding in my weakest moments. The person she left in senior year of high school deserves to have their voice and story heard, even if it’s years later, and she is gone. I release the anger, the pain, and the sorrow. I embrace loving myself and speaking my truth. I loved her, but I also hated her, and both those parts of me deserve recognition and compassion. I know my worth now. I am worthy, I am loved, I am wonderful. I am a light in people’s lives; I have faced my darkness so I no longer need to see myself as only a shadow; I am both the shadow and the light. I may be saturnine, but I have Jupiter in Leo in my 10th house. The expansive, abundant planet in the sign of creativity and generosity shines above me, as I hold Saturn close to my chest. Maybe Saturn appears first, but don’t be afraid, because Jupiter lights the way towards bigger and better things.

#my thoughts #full moon in aquarius #a dose of sadness a heap of anger #i am beginning to move on #i deserve to be happy i am worthy i am loved

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mrsgreenworld · 4 years

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Sen Çal Kapımı Episode 17 aka Expect The Unexpected

I know I have been quite slow with the reviews lately. I guess real life just got busier and messier. But my thoughts are always with the show, with our two crazy lovesick kids. I make sure to watch each new episode live, keep up with new fragmans.

I remember before episode 17 aired, after having seen the fragmans, I was ready for another filler episode. I was also a bit frustrated that instead of moving the storyline forward they decided to randomly throw in the pregnancy scare trope. However, the writers managed to surprise me with the episode that I hadn't expected much from. I also believe we might have got a bit of foreshadowing as well as an important catalyst to finally move the story forward.

But let's discuss all the good and bad in detail.

The things I loved/liked:

☑️ how balanced this episode was: the transition from the lighter and funnier first part to a more loaded second half with some longing between Edser, completely unexpected turn of events at the party and finally - that gut-wrenching final scene; everything was done at the right pace, at least it felt that way to me; they didn't drag on the pregnancy misunderstanding, it was resolved in one day which I was more than happy with (it could've lasted for days 😬);

☑️ Serkan: my baby is back where he belongs - among all the things I loved about the episode 🥰❤️

honestly, Serkan and his response to the whole situation was one of the main highlights for me - it was hilarious, it was adorable, it was sweet, it was loving;

I have already mentioned before that I absolutely love how attuned to Eda Serkan is; this episode wasn't an exception; do you remember the moment he realised something was up? it literally took a comment from Leyla to Eda about tea and our boy's eyebrows immediately furrowed in confusion and suspicion; and when he came up to Eda to tell her they would work together and asked if that was okay - of course he noticed how Eda's face changed before she left for the bathroom; and a concerned hubby that he is he asked Leyla what was wrong and then instructed her to keep tabs on Eda - swoon 🥰😍

that phone call to the family doctor and his face when he heard the doctor mention pregnancy - 🤣🤣🤣🤣

and then his comment about Ebola completely cracked me up - he's such a hypochondriac 👀😬🙈😂

his bathroom meltdown - comedy GOLD! Kerem was spectacular in that scene, his facial expressions as well as that "NE???!!!" - worthy of a standing ovation 👏👏👏 and it proves what a great actor he is in both funny comedy moments and loaded dramatic scenes; it gets me rolling on the floor when he juggles all sorts of facial expressions and I drown in my own tears when he cries;

then there were tiny adorable moments that, I think, really spoke volumes yet again what sort of person Serkan is - kind and caring, someone who loves deeply; when he told Eda not to sit down so fast, when he asked if she was hungry, tried to make her sit down, was worried that she was cold, took unhealthy snacks from her and got her fruit and nuts instead, was making sure she was comfortable, kept glancing at her stomach - all that was a sneak peek at what Serkan Bolat will be as a father; he will be such a mother hen and when Eda is actually pregnant I swear he will be the one more hormonal 🤣😂😆

I loved that he shared his suspicions with Engin;

his reaction when the misunderstanding got cleared up - I was rolling on the floor 🤣🤣

and while he was relieved it didn't look bad on him; it wasn't a type of relief when a person doesn't really want kids or doesn't want them with this particular person and thinks "oh, that was close!"; I am sure when it comes to Eda Serkan wants to make their own football team of Mini-Bolats; he wants this woman to have his children - I believe it without a shadow of doubt; however, I am also sure that, given the current situation Serkan and Eda are in, Serkan wouldn't want to tie Eda to himself like that;

the party - when he saw Eda in the dress he had bought for her 🔥🔥🔥🔥; I am sure he was useless in the conversations he was trying to make because his focus was entirely on Eda, he was following her every move with hungry eyes; damn, Sir! at least try to be a little more discreet 😏🥵

I loved how he asked Eda point blank if she had chosen the dress on purpose - he wasn't even trying to hide how affected he was;

and finally - of course there was that final scene with Serkan when he completely LOST IT; honestly, watching him break down like that - gave me chills;

we had never seen him like that; it's a well-known and established fact what kind of a person Serkan Bolat is - he's a control freak who can and is good at keeping his emotions in check, he doesn't express his feelings easily or even at all that's why he comes off as a cold and emotionless robot; so can you imagine how bad the situation has to be for him to lose it like that and not in the privacy of his home, where he's alone, but in the office, with all his employees and friends as witnesses?

the situation is really Serkan's worst nightmare due to the number of reasons:

1 - Serkan is a control freak (as I have already mentioned many times) and being in a situation where he cannot control something is hard for him psychologically;

2 - Serkan is a perfectionist and perfectionism often stems from the fear of making mistakes because a person was raised this way, wasn't allowed to make any mistakes as a child; we have even heard it from Serkan himself in one of the conversations with his father - he grew up thinking he had no right for mistakes, thinking that he must have done something wrong for his parents to just send him away;

3 - the cruel irony of this situation being so similar to what had happened to Eda's parents;

of course no one died but it could have happened; then Serkan would have turned into his father (in his own mind and eyes); it's just like Eda's parents all over again; can you imagine what kind of thoughts were going through his head? how he's cursed or something, that he really doesn't deserve Eda, that his family taints everything it touches... 😭💔

Kerem's acting in the last scene was truly one of his best and strongest Serkan moments👏👏👏👏;

☑️ Eda: one of my absolute favourite things about our girl is that she keeps her word; there are not many people who do this in life (while I myself try to keep my promises I, unfortunately, often fail);

I was so proud that, no matter what's going on between herself and Serkan, Eda didn't refuse to help Aydan and promised that they would work on her phobia together;

I also loved Eda's idea with the virtual tour around London - very creative and thoughtful way to help Aydan get out of the house without actually leaving the house because baby steps, this cannot be rushed, this type of problems don't go away at the snap of our fingers;

while I find it a bit strange that Eda volunteered to babysit a random couple's child (me and Serkan both, he also said that he doesn't understand Eda 🙈😆) it's another great manifestation to the type of a person she is - kind, loving, generous, ready to help even complete strangers; moreover, the whole situation with the baby allowed us to sneak a peek at Eda as a mother;

and speaking of that scene where Serkan said he didn't understand Eda and wanted to know why she would agree to help people she didn't know - I freaking LOVED how unapologetic she was when she said it's who she is; so he either accepts her for who she is (the way she accepted him) or he can be on his merry way; that's such a joy to watch - a woman who's not sorry for who she is, who loves and respects herself and demands the same respect in return 👏👏👏💞💞💞;

finally, there was the final scene but before that there was also a small moment after the roof had collapsed, when they were still at that house - everybody had left and Eda asked Serkan if there was something she could do, if he wanted to be left alone; she gave him what he wanted and needed in that moment;

but the next day, in the office, after having witnessed his breakdown Eda shows her unwavering belief in Serkan; I loved how she was able to put aside her hurt, maybe to an extent even her pride, and come to him; how she didn't back down and in that moment refused to leave him alone because she knew that wasn't what he needed, he needed her; and she was there, she was there when it mattered;

☑️ Edser: these two idiots are broken up but I swear they couldn't look or act more married; that's basically what we got in this episode - a flashforward of sorts where Edser are married with a kid and expecting another one;

however, this episode also provided us with some longing and lots of UST at that party;

and again there were subtle nods to them being soulmates, which manifested itself in how attuned to each other they were (Serkan with the pregnancy, Eda at the end of the episode) and also the parallel scene at the very beginning with both of them boxing - the same choice of activity to take their minds off of each other (it was also hot as hell 🔥🔥🔥🥵);

☑️ Aydan: OMG CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

yes, Aydan made it into this category!😱😲

but the writers had really been doing a good job with her and actually showed character growth;

at the beginning of the episode when Eda confronted Aydan about what she had overheard Aydan tried to make something up and said how it was her who had convinced Serkan that they were wrong for each other; what I really enjoyed in that moment was how uncomfortable Aydan looked while saying all those things; it was basically written on her face that what she was saying wasn't true, that wasn't how she felt, she understood that it would hurt Eda to hear that and she didn't want that; it's such a stark contrast to Aydan from episode 11; does anyone remember episode 11? well, I do, perfectly well; I was ENRAGED; Aydan back then said how Eda was not the right match for her son, she was cruel and she didn't even give a flying flip that her words were hurtful for Eda;

it was also nice to see how humbled Aydan was while receiving Eda's help;

☑️ Engin: basically the fact that he continues being the best best friend ever and his reaction to Eda's possible pregnancy - PRICELESS!🤣🤣🤣

I think Engin is the second (after Eda) and the last person who can get away with pulling Serkan Bolat by his cheeks 🙈😆😂

I also really enjoyed Engin's dig at Serkan's character and how he hoped his nephew/niece wouldn't take after Serkan 🤣🤣🤣;

The things I didn't like / was annoyed with:

❎ Efe: oh, he's one bad motherfucker!😠😡🤬😤

from pretty much openly threatening to teach Serkan a lesson to actually fucking up those blueprints and setting Serkan up - THE *UCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?

it was clear from the phone call with his secret partner that he hadn't planned for it to go like that but still his intentions had clearly been far from good and he deserves whatever is coming his way; like Serkan Bolat coming for his head and ending his career 🙄😎;

❎ Pırıl and Engin: the whole jealousy thing was so far-fetched and tiring to watch; to me Pırıl seemed a bit too territorial, it's quite obvious that Engin had only eyes for her; Engin was too oblivious and honestly I feel bad for him because the writers turn him into a bigger idiot (when it comes to women) with each new episode;

❎ Selin: the same thing over and over again, in each new episode she's unbearable; she just walks around with bitch face, complains about everything and everyone but ultimately serves zero purpose;

this character is so focused on herself that she didn't even seem bothered by her conversation with Efe where he basically threatened Serkan; there was a poor attempt with that "should I be worried?" but it was enough for Efe to just smile at her and she let it slide 🤦🤷;

in that scene at the office with Ceren and Ferit the behaviour she demonstrated was the one of a pre-schooler or maybe immature teenager but definitely not of a grown-up woman;

❎ Ceren and Ferit: while they started out really well, I enjoyed their first meeting, then it got weird and their interactions became awfully uneven; Ceren is really overdoing this hot and cold thing;

while I liked how Ceren stood up for herself after Selin's outburst, I think all of that should have been said to Selin's face, not Ferit's.

And that's pretty much it! Finally!🥳🥳🥳

P.S. Wanted to post my episode 18 review today as well, before episode 19 airs, but it's still not ready, need to cut down some stuff cause it's turning into a freaking monster 🤦😱

#sen çal kapımı #sen cal kapimi #sck #sen çal kapımı episode 17 thoughts #sck episode 17 #edser #eda ve serkan #eda x serkan #eda yıldız #eda yildiz #serkan bolat

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thezodiaczone · 4 years

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Pisces Compatibility

PISCES + ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) Aries is the zodiac's first sign, Pisces its last. You're the Alpha and the Omega, the dawn and the sunset. You're as far apart and as close together as two signs can get. Although your differences are vast, you also have a broad expanse of material from which to fashion your relationship. Your polar positions can actually make you a great match. Aries loves to be adored and spoiled, and generous Pisces will give everything in the name of love. In Pisces' worshipful gaze, Aries feels brilliant and boundless, and his insecurities melt away. This is important for the sensitive Ram, whose "wounded soldier" archetype is healed by the Pisces nurse. In this relationship, Aries is free to follow his natural hunting instincts; Pisces prepares a banquet from his conquests. The danger: You both have vivid imaginations, but with two dreamers at the helm of this romance, the ship can veer off course. Aries is a take-charge leader, but needs a strong second mate. Bravado and confidence don't come easy to insecure Pisces, who falls into feigned helplessness under duress. Moody spells are common for your signs, and digging yourselves out of emotional ditches can be a challenge. You'll need a council of advisors to help you manage aspects of daily life—accountants, lawyers, coaches, therapists. Aries can be naturally aggressive, where Pisces is passive or passive-aggressive. You'll need to adapt your communication styles in order to be heard.

PISCES + TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20) ♥♥♥♥ This is a lovely match of two pleasure-driven sensualists. Taurus is ruled by beauty planet Venus, and Pisces is governed by enchanting Neptune. You both love gourmet food, wine and culture, and you make a creative couple with sophisticated flair. You never run out of things to discuss, whether it's the latest New Yorker piece, art theory, or the obscure band both of you love. In the bedroom, the lusty Bull is happy to enact any fantasy that Pisces' boundless imagination conjures—and there will be many. Domestic bliss is assured, and your fussy decorating styles will match perfectly, much to your snobbish delight. For the long term, you'll need to regulate your energy with each other, or you can lapse into a master-and-servant dynamic. Passive-aggressive Pisces must become more assertive, and forceful Taurus should relax his domineering ways. At times, Pisces' secretive spells can cause fissures in the foundation, arousing suspicion in possessive Taurus. Even if what Pisces is hiding is inconsequential, the act itself destabilizes the relationship. Emotional manipulation infuriates the Bull, who prefers everything above board, and hates to be blindsided. However, Pisces can't always verbalize his complex feelings as quickly as Taurus demands. Too much forcefulness can intimidate the gentle Fish, sending him swimming into unreachable depths.

PISCES + GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20) You're both dual signs: Gemini is the Twins, and Pisces is symbolized by two Fish swimming in opposite directions. You're pop psychology's poster children for commitment-phobia. Are you in or are you out? It depends on the day, the mood, the cosmic alignment. Obviously, this is no way to run a relationship—but wait. Here's a golden chance to peer into love's looking glass and see your own shadowy Id mirrored back. Yes, your psyches and hang-ups are as bizarre as Alice's rabbit-hole tumble into Wonderland. Pisces, you really can be as needy, emotionally exhausting and manipulative as Gemini says. Gemini, you are indeed capable of being a double-talking, evasive ice-tyrant with a heart like polished marble. And…so what? If you can actually own your dark sides—which we all have—you're also capable of spreading tremendous light. You must negotiate your differences with transparent honesty, though. Pisces is an emotional Water sign; Gemini is an intellectual Air sign. Unless you balance the proportions, Gemini drowns in Pisces' undertow and the zodiac's Mermaid suffocates from breathing too much oxygen. Gemini must strive to connect emotionally, and Pisces will need to lighten up. Perennial dissatisfaction is also a killer. Don't say you want something, then refuse to be happy when your partner provides it. Gratitude is an intimate act: it requires you to acknowledge that your partner can reach you, a vulnerable place. Two words to save your relationship: "Thank you" and "You're right."

PISCES + CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22) ♥♥♥♥ You're a pair of softies underneath it all, even if the world sees a hard Crab shell or a tough, scaly Fish. Alone with each other, your compatible Water signs are as tender as can be. You're both compassionate and nurturing, soothing each other with sustenance and sensitivity. There's nothing a stick of butter, cookies made from scratch, or a nice after-dinner cordial by the fire can't solve. Romantic and sensual, you love to pipe classical music through the sound system, light the candelabras and whip up a gourmet feast side-by-side. Hours of kissing and foreplay will follow. Though your relationship is a refuge, it can also become a fishbowl that limits your growth. You absorb each other's fluctuating moods like a sponge, so get out of the aquarium-for-two. With your refined sensibilities, you're excellent patrons of the arts, so head to museums, gallery openings, concerts, and dance performances. Fling open your doors for dinner parties that toast an artistic friend, an esteemed poet, or a relative's good news. This satisfies your nurturing instincts, and invites new energy into your space. You must both learn when to let go of grudges, since you can be passive-aggressive and play the victim when your feelings are hurt. Slammed doors, sulking and brooding must stop. Don't excuse bad behavior with psychobabble, either (e.g., "When you said that, it reminded me of how my mother couldn't love"). Grow up, will you? If you've been cruel, simply say "I'm sorry" and offer a long hug. The power of touch can heal anything between you, too.

PISCES + LEO (JULY 23 - AUGUST 22) Your signs are very different, but you can eventually gel into a lasting relationship. Pisces is a flowy, sensitive Water sign who needs a decisive mate. Confident Leo, a Fire sign, is a natural leader, eager to rule the relationship. Because Pisces takes longer to articulate his needs, Leo could mistakenly assume he's got the upper hand, and that Pisces is content to follow. Not so fast. In your own ways, you both wear your hearts on your sleeve, but you need to tune into each other's sensitive spots. You're incredibly romantic, and the tender passion between you is great in the beginning. However, you may hit a dry spell when it's time to get truly intimate.

Secretive Pisces feels so vulnerable when his soul is exposed, and may lash out at Leo in an unconscious reaction to the Lion's strength—for example, criticizing Leo's appearance, weight or intelligence. These cruel barbs are actually just a projection of Pisces' own self-doubt, but they plunge a thorn in the Lion's paw no less. Pisces must work through the tedious knots of his insecurities, which lay deep in his psyche. Leo is a powerhouse who can run the show with his eyes closed, but he'll do best to step aside and give the Fish his chance to shine. Shy Pisces is a true creative force, but his brilliant imagination and keen intuition can be eclipsed by showy Leo. Work through this. Luxury is a weakness for your signs, and you love to indulge. You may need to take courses on money management together, or team up to make a fortune so you never have to worry about it.

PISCES + VIRGO (AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22) ♥♥♥♥ Virgo and Pisces are two of the most powerful healers in the zodiac. Virgo is an Earth sign, clinical and data-driven, always there with a practical answer and a helping hand. Water-sign Pisces has emotional compassion, the ability to empathize and absorb other people's pain. You're opposite signs: Virgo is the doctor; Pisces is the nurse. You can teach each other a lot, doing much good on the planet along the way. Virgo is the zodiac's giver, performing acts of selfless service (Mother Theresa is a Virgo). However, it's hard for Virgo to receive, since he views "neediness" as a weakness in himself. Enter Pisces, ruler of the zodiac's receptive twelfth house. The Fish knows how to surrender boundaries and allow people's energy to flow in. Pisces teaches Virgo that accepting love is a generous and selfless act. It opens the door for others to be their greatest selves, to discover their power through contributing.

At times, Pisces' emotional nature can overwhelm Virgo, leaving him ungrounded. You both need doses of solitude to reconnect with your souls. Writing, playing music (especially classical compositions or Gregorian chants), painting and creativity is healing to you both. This relationship also brings out your spiritual sides. Meditation, yoga and metaphysical study can open up great psychic channels. These practices also prevent unhealthy addictions, which your easily-stressed signs may adopt as a means of self-medicating. Watch out for secretive tendencies, which you both have as a result of perfectionism and insecurity. Communicate openly, or air your "shameful" skeletons to a confidante—otherwise, you'll beat yourselves up unnecessarily, causing distance in the relationship.

PISCES + LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22) Drifting into a dappled dreamscape of your own imagination, your poetic souls entwine against astrological odds. Libra is an Air sign and Pisces is a Water sign; together you can stir a gentle sea breeze or drown in your own sexual tsunami. But oh, the romance is worth it. Like any good bodice-ripper, there's passion, intrigue and mystique to spice up this storyline. You can get lost for days in a decadent meal, a gorgeous sonata, each other's luminous eyes. While the cynics gag, they secretly envy your enchanted, oxytocin-addled bliss. Living in a fantasy is fun for your signs, and gratification eclipses all boundaries and structures. Another Sancerre, an hour less sleep—it can all be justified in the name of pleasure. It's when reality steps in that things get hairy. After waking past noon in your umpteenth limb-and-linen tangle, you remember that pesky paycheck, your stuffed Inbox, the unopened mail. Oops. Hung over and wholly unequipped to deal with the overwhelm, you lash out at each other. Without outside contact and obligations to anchor you, you can both descend into bouts of moodiness, indulgence and even depression. Balance—the Libra catchphrase—must be practiced early on.

PISCES + SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21) ♥♥♥♥ You're both "spiritual beings having a human experience," Finding an equally sensitive, divinely connected soulmate feels like coming home. Scorpio and Pisces are compatible artistes who love music, drama and romance. Like a lighthouse for two ships adrift on the emotional high seas, your relationship is an anchor and a haven. However, it's not immune to the turbulence caused by your secretive, Water sign natures. Emotional withdrawal is a self-protective act you've both honed over the years, but this tactic backfires when used against each other. The trick is learning to catch a bad mood when it starts, then processing the feelings instead of lashing out. Once the righteous anger and wounded egos kick in, you're like two runaway trains waging a war of domination and submission. Scorpio control tussles with Pisces guilt, Scorpio withholding wrestles Pisces evasion, and so on. Yet, you both want the same thing: a partner who inspires absolute, unshakeable trust with a money-back guarantee. What you need to learn is how to give it before you get it. To adapt the saying, be the change you want to see in your partner. It will keep you together for lifetimes.

PISCES + SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21) What happens when the most sensitive, tender-hearted sign (Pisces) links up with the most insensitive, tactless sign (Sagittarius)? Disaster, unless you handle each other with extreme care. Romantic Pisces is a Water sign who craves deep emotional bonding, while independent Sag is a Fire sign who feels smothered by too much of the touchy-feelies. You'll need to balance your most distinctive traits and parcel them out in measured doses. Your communication styles don't work together naturally either. Sagittarius is honest to a fault, dishing the unvarnished truth and heavy-handed advice (usually unsolicited), then whistling while Pisces weeps. Indirect Pisces would rather flee to Katmandu than face conflict, but standing up to Sagittarius requires it. Pisces is prone to passive-aggressive tactics; yet, subtle cues and hints will sail right over Sag's head, while the Archer's arrow of truth spears the Fish's heart. What do you have in common? You're both skittish about commitment—namely, the terrifying idea of being "trapped." Since Pisces rules fantasy and Sagittarius rules adventure, you can neatly escape the daily drudge together—at least until reality comes crashing down. Still, life is always tinged with magic when you're together, and the bedroom remains an enchanting space of divine communion for you.

PISCES + CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19) On the surface, you might seem like an odd match—imagine a Harvard MBA in Armani dating a paint-splattered artist in Oshkosh. Yet, your signs pair well, even if you don't want to admit it. With classic good looks and a dutiful nature, Capricorn fits neatly into the system. Pisces is a flowy Fish who excels at playing the the artsy rebel, the indie darling, the adorable mess. By comparison, Capricorn seems structured and regimented—but appearances deceive. While Pisces may delight in coloring outside the neat lines Capricorn draws, the real surprise is that Capricorn is the bigger freak behind closed doors. Capricorn has a dominant, even cruel streak that can play out in the bedroom (not that submissive Pisces doth protest). Leather, whips and kinky fun—it's all fair game. You both love to find lesser-known wine, music, and art, a pride yourself on having cultivated tastes. Together, you can traverse the tony uptown spaces to the lowbrow dives, discovering cultural jewels wherever you go. Your diverse strengths could make you great business partners, too. Open a gallery, with Pisces as curator and Capricorn as financial backer.

PISCES + AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18) Old and new come together in an interesting combination. Pisces is an ancient velvet boudoir with dripping candles and fainting couches; Aquarius is a modern, steel-and-glass construction heated by solar panel. Yet, this strange match can work if it's built around a shared cause or passion. You're both die-hard humanitarians, and if you share a common vision, you'll stay together for life. Pisces is a Water sign, more emotional and complex in nature than Aquarius. Contrary to myth, Aquarius is an Air sign (not Water), though it's symbolized by the water-bearer holding an urn. The lighter Aquarian touch lifts Pisces out of the murky, depressive swamp, while enchanting Pisces adds tassels and trim to Aquarius' cold, clinical reality. You both morbidly fear being trapped in a boring, conventional commitment. Since you can never really figure each other out, the attraction stays strong. A little mystery will keep you fascinated, though too much (ahem, Pisces) will make the relationship way too much work for Aquarius.

PISCES + PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20) You love each other; you love each other not. Pisces is denoted by two fish swimming in opposite directions—one toward security, the other to freedom. Such tender bait is a fellow Fish who's equal parts commitment-phobe and serial monogamist! As partners in paradox, you'll play nursemaid, Shiatsu-ist, and sous chef to one another, doting until it hurts. Then, of course, comes the Great Escape—intimacy overload strikes, but you feel too "guilty" to ask for a night off from gazing into each other's eyes as some angsty singer-songwriter pipes through the iPod. Instead, you fly into a passive-aggressive panic, turning on each other vis a vis a good self-flogging. "It's not you, it's me," you call over your shoulder as the door shuts behind you (read: "I'm too gutless to demand better foreplay"). "I'm such an awful person—you deserve better," Pisces laments (translation: "You suck"). The real problem isn't your chemistry, it's that you're both so damn indirect. Communication is the 101 cornerstone of a lasting relationship, and if you keep walking on eggshells, you'll end up resentful, depressed (anger turned inward) or eventually exploding with rage. With the right prescriptions, a good therapist and maybe a couples' karate class (think: the socially-sanctioned chop to his midsection that you've been dying to deliver), you can swim together like happy little minnows forever.

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