#long time no kp gif :')

[ayesarun]

the many personas of kim theerapanyakul (x)

[magicaldreamfox1]

kinnporsche the series as faceless gifsets: ep 12 / 14

“I was just following my papa’s order.”

[daltoneering]

Significant colours in KinnPorsche: RED

kinn / vegas

[pharawee]

That's on you, you stupid boy! You only cause disaster! In this life, you'll never be able to beat Kinn. You and Macau aren't even worthy of being my sons.

[chocoberry-dream]

Me whenever someone on this app says that ji and ks aren’t close 🥲:

[waitmyturtles]

Turtles Catches Up With Old GMMTV: KinnPorsche, and Analyzing the KP Cultural Zeitgeist Edition (Part 2)

[What’s going on here? After joining Tumblr and discovering Thai BLs through KinnPorsche in 2022, I began watching GMMTV’s new offerings -- and realized that I had a lot of history to catch up on, to appreciate the more recent works that I was delving into. From tropes to BL frameworks, what we’re watching now hails from somewhere, and I’m learning about Thai BL's history through what I’m calling the Old GMMTV Challenge (OGMMTVC). Starting with recommendations from @absolutebl on their post regarding how GMMTV is correcting for its mistakes with its shows today, I’ve made an expansive list to get me through a condensed history of essential/classic/significant Thai BLs produced by GMMTV and many other BL studios. My watchlist, pasted below, lists what I’ve watched and what’s upcoming, along with the reviews I’ve written so far. Today, I conclude a two-part series on my thoughts on KinnPorsche, my very first Thai BL, and the impact that I think KP has had on the Thai BL industry since 2022.]

Top of the morning (or whatever time zone you're in) to ya! Yesterday, I ruminated on KinnPorsche's foundation in regards to how the show wasn't as innovative as newbie members of the Thai BL fandom, like myself, may have thought in 2022 -- but was rather a great example of a show that derivatively used a lot of excellent past Thai BL influences in order to make a newly stylized show that I think, for the most part, worked well.

Harkening back to the outline for these two pieces that I laid out yesterday, this post will concentrate on:

3) How I think KP has impacted how other studios approach, market, and write Thai BLs now, and 4) A quick passing thought on BOC's own continued influence on the Thai BL genre and industry since 2022, particularly by way of Dead Friend Forever.

Before I get fully into point 3, I wanted to take a second to offer one more thought on an element about the KinnPorsche series itself that I didn't unwind on much yesterday, and one that'll connect with point 3 in a second. I mentioned yesterday that I personally (in my own opinion, I am accountable here) don't think that some of the VegasPete elements of the show helped the show's flow and continuity at all times. After my rewatch, I think the show could have stood for more episode editing to better its flow. I very much know how beloved VegasPete are in much of the KP fandom (thanks so much to dear friend @wen-kexing-apologist for the conversations about this during my rewatch!), so I don't want to pooh-pooh very hard, because at the same time, I think Bible as an actor was valuable to the show regarding Vegas's interactions with Porsche -- that side storyline offered intrigue and depth particularly into Porsche's mindset at the end of the series. At the same time, I think the VegasPete scenes contained enough questionable takes on trauma and attraction that I think now contribute to the show's legend and status as a uniquely heaty drama, but (in my opinion, people, I own this!), I think some of those takes could have been removed, smoothed, or tamped down for editing's sake, vis à vis those questionable takes in particular.

Taking VegasPete's trauma-and-kink-driven storyline, and KinnPorsche's romps and unravellings, into consideration, along with the show's excellent use of comedy as a plot driver: I think that KinnPorsche has clearly had an impact on how subsequent "heat" BL dramas have been created and marketed since KP's run. I'm thinking in particularly of some big ones (heh heh), including 2023's Only Friends, and 2023-24's Playboyy (which I did not finish, FYI).

Heat -- and the increasing use and management of it -- has long been an important element of the Thai BL industry. Like I said yesterday, MaxTul (my beloved) were pioneers of it in Together With Me and Manner of Death, and MAME consecrated episodic heat in 2019's TharnType, and even introduced enough of it notably in 2018's Love By Chance by way of those awesome spicy AePete scenes. And the WONDERFUL Lovely Writer offered meta commentary about the dependence that the Thai BL/Series Y industry has on heat in order to drive in fans, oftentimes to the detriment of more interesting and/or fulfilling and/or emotionally complicated plots.

KinnPorsche's lengthy marketing, from its Filmania days in 2020 and 2021, to its eventual 2022 premiere through Be On Cloud, certainly helped to drive interest and intrigue in the show, from the debut pairing of MileApo, to the clear use of heat that the show was promising before its airing. (Red Peafowl could never.)

Looking at the moment we are in right now -- early spring of 2024, with the ability to look back on the conclusions of both Only Friends and Playboyy -- I see the influence that KinnPorsche had on these shows being HUGELY marketed as cutting-edge-entrées to a high-heat and high-interest slice of Thai BL, particularly for Only Friends, which was GMMTV's own first step into really high-heat territory.

Both of the shows ended in meh territory (and both shows were written by the same writer in Den Panuwat, who may very well have a monogamy kink). Both shows ended up putting pure monogamy on a pedestal, and seemed to judge extra-monogamous sex as a "mistake" that was worth rectifying through "true," i.e., monogamous, love.

I posit, and I'm glad, that KinnPorsche did NOT go this route. Extracurricular sex wasn't even in the show's genes anyway, but -- the heat that KP marketed at the time of its premiere was solely associated with the centralized romances of the two main pairings. KinnPorsche didn't have to get extra-monogamously messy in its bones (huh huh) in order to be hot -- and it makes me curious to wonder why shows like Only Friends and Playboyy felt the need to promote relational messiness as a way to hype up their heat, all of which kinda putzed out in the end run of both of those shows.

Of course, we've still had heat in many other shows since KP's premiere, including in directions that roundly surprised the larger fandom, such as Pit Babe's take on omegaverse, and maybe even the vets Earth and Mix getting hot and heavy in Moonlight Chicken, a direction that Aof Noppharnach has been known to not take for the sake of keeping the ratings on his shows kid-friendly. But I do find it interesting that the heavy promotion of Only Friends and Playboyy led the fandom to think that these shows were going to have progressive takes on sex and sexuality, when they ultimately did not (I'd even argue that both of these shows ended up being judgemental of sexual experimentation). And while I don't think KinnPorsche's takes on heat were necessarily progressive, I do think the marketing of their actors getting into that, particularly as compared to Apo's previous career path in leaving acting for a while, was notable -- and as well, the care that the show took to depict heat scenes with excellent cinematography makes many of those scenes so memorable today.

I want to make one final note about KinnPorsche's and Be On Cloud's general influence on the Thai BL industry, in that I'm impressed by their investment in generally good-to-great writing and directing. As I overviewed yesterday, KinnPorsche heavily featured veterans from across the BL landscape, and Be On Cloud's latest serial offering, Dead Friend Forever, continued that trajectory, having an OG BL director in Ma-Deaw Chookiat partly take the helm of that show. Very importantly, Ma-Deaw Chookiat has been the screenwriter and director of a number of seminal Thai queer films and shows, including 2019's Dew, and more impactfully, 2007's The Love of Siam, which is considered a harbinger of the television Thai BL industry, and a film that has notably influenced important Thai BL creators, especially New Siwaj, who doesn't hesitate to include references to LoS in many of his shows, including Until We Meet Again, My Only 12%, and more. Chookiat has also screenwritten and/or directed three shows written by the notable Thai Y novelist, Sammon, in DFF, Manner of Death, and Triage. Sammon has been on a tear recently, as she will be the screenwriter for BOC's upcoming drama, 4 Minutes, as well as Spare Me Your Mercy, the hugely anticipated BL drama starring Tor Thanapob and singer Jaylerr.

Going back to my thoughts earlier about big marketing of big BLs: we've seen some duds recently from shows that were marketed at a big tip, from OF, to Playboyy, to Idol Factory's The Sign. From what I've gathered from the Tumblr tag regarding The Sign -- it seems that show suffered mostly from a lack of editorial context and plot sensibility and tightness, and that there could have been a good show, if the show had spent less money on CGI, and more money on the script.

Be On Cloud seems to mostly be putting its money where its pen is. I say "mostly" as a caveat. Was the ending of DFF fantastic? No, and I totally admit as much: while the show mostly stuck to its slasher genre conventions (thank you so much to @lurkingshan, my genre guru, for explaining this to me), the show seemed to poop out in the end by giving us a PheeJin BL ship, instead of Phee's and Jin's gruesome deaths. Womp womp. The pull of BL, and the need for clean-ish endings for the fujoshi crowd, may still be too economically enticing for studios, including Be On Cloud itself.

But I'm optimistic for BOC's upcoming shows, with the talent and money they're putting into scripts and directing. And we know that BOC's first film, the non-queer Man Suang, was an important artistic point for the studio as it continues its investment in MileApo and experimental content to market within and outside of Thailand. It was important enough that Dead Friend Forever, emanating from the Thai BL world, took on an entirely different genre instead, and literally presented that back to BL fans on a silver platter. I hope 4 Minutes can tread similar experimental territory. And I'm glad to see Be On Cloud being able to invest in high-quality writing and directing after the publicly major obstacles the studio experienced last year during the Build Jakapan scandal.

From the time I discovered Thai BLs in 2022, to now: I would not have expected KinnPorsche and Be On Cloud to start such a journey in my personal drama fan life. As well, considering how many damn shows I've now watched from Thailand, I also didn't expect this rewatch of KinnPorsche to be so much fun. AND, I truly didn't realize I had this much to say about it -- but there was a lot of say, especially by way of how referential the original KinnPorsche series was, which touched my little nerdy BL heart.

With that, I say ta-ta to my entrée to this fun world of Thai BLs, and move on to the next one!

[OKAY! We are kind of back of the grind, although my ability to watch dramas has really been hampered by real life obligations and schedules. BUT: I'm trucking along through War of Y, and I have some fun rewatches coming up in The Eclipse (my first-ever GMMTV BL), as well as two new-to-me dramas in GAP (the first GL on the list, WOO!) and My School President, which I can't wait for.

I've made a few tiddly adjustments to the list below, including adding Dead Friend Forever as an important addition, and I'm deep in my giggles with 23.5, which I am LOVING. ONWARDS! For more details about the ongoing list, please checkity-check here!

1) The Love of Siam (2007) (movie) (review here) 2) My Bromance (2014) (movie) (review here) 3) Love Sick and Love Sick 2 (2014 and 2015) (review here) 4) Gay OK Bangkok Season 1 (2016) (a non-BL queer series directed by Jojo Tichakorn and written by Aof Noppharnach) (review here) 5) Make It Right (2016) (review here) 6) SOTUS (2016-2017) (review here) 7) Gay OK Bangkok Season 2 (2017) (a non-BL queer series directed by Jojo Tichakorn and written by Aof Noppharnach) (review here) 8) Make It Right 2 (2017) (review here) 9) Together With Me (2017) (review here) 10) SOTUS S/Our Skyy x SOTUS (2017-2018) (review here) 11) Love By Chance (2018) (review here) 12) Kiss Me Again: PeteKao cuts (2018) (no review) 13) He’s Coming To Me (2019) (review here) 14) Dark Blue Kiss (2019) and Our Skyy x Kiss Me Again (2018) (review here) 15) TharnType (2019-2020) (review here) 16) Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey (OffGun BL cuts) (2016 and 2017) (no review) 17) Theory of Love (2019) (review here) 18) 3 Will Be Free (2019) (a non-BL and an important harbinger of things to come in 2019 and beyond re: Jojo Tichakorn pushing queer content in non-BLs) (review here) 19) Dew the Movie (2019) (review here) 20) Until We Meet Again (2019-2020) (review here) (and notes on my UWMA rewatch here) 21) 2gether (2020) and Still 2gether (2020) (review here) 22) I Told Sunset About You (2020) (review here) 23) YYY (2020, out of chronological order) (review here) 24) Manner of Death (2020-2021) (review here) 25) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) (review here) 26) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For The Sake Of Rewatching Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (re-review here) 27) Lovely Writer (2021) (review here) 28) Last Twilight in Phuket (2021) (the mini-special before IPYTM) (review here) 29) I Promised You the Moon (2021) (review here) 30) Not Me (2021-2022) (review here) 31) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) (thesis here) 32) 55:15 Never Too Late (2021-2022) (not a BL, but a GMMTV drama that features a macro BL storyline about shipper culture and the BL industry) (review here) 33) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) and Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (2023) OGMMTVC Rewatch (Links to the BBS OGMMTVC Meta Series are here: preamble here, part 1, part 2, part 3a, part 3b, and part 4) 34) Secret Crush On You (2022) (review here) 35) KinnPorsche (2022) (tag here)  36) KinnPorsche (2022) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For the Sake of Re-Analyzing the KP Cultural Zeitgeist (part 1 here)

...interrupting the OGMMTVC list here to watch War of Y (2022) (watching) in chronology to decide if it gets listed...

37) The Eclipse (2022) (tag here) 38) The Eclipse OGMMTVC Rewatch to Reexamine “Genre BLs” and Internalized/Externalized Homophobia in GMMTV Shows  39) GAP (2022-2023) (Thailand’s first GL) 40) My School President (2022-2023) and Our Skyy 2 x My School President (2023) 41) Moonlight Chicken (2023) (tag here) 42) Bed Friend (2023) (tag here) 43 La Pluie (2023) (review coming) 44) Be My Favorite (2023) (tag here) (I’m including this for BMF’s sophisticated commentary on Krist’s career past as a BL icon) 45) Wedding Plan (2023) (Recommended as an important trajectory in the course of MAME’s work and influence from TharnType) 46) Only Friends (2023) (tag here) (not technically a BL, but it certainly became one in the end) 47) Last Twilight (2023-24) (tag here) (on the list as Thailand’s first major BL to center disability, successfully or otherwise) 48) Cherry Magic Thailand (2023-24) (tag here) (on the list as the first major Japanese-to-Thai drama adaptation, featuring the comeback of TayNew) 49) Ossan’s Love Returns (2024) (adding for the EarthMix cameo and the eventual Thai remake) 50) Dead Friend Forever (2024) (thoughts here) 51) 23.5 (2024)]

[kinnporsche]

here’s yet another kinn & porsche rec list! just like with the first two, this list is ordered according to length (from longest to shortest), and each is written by a different author! also, all currently incomplete fics have been marked with (wip). listen, when i tell you kp fics are literally piggybacking me through this year, i mean that shit. there are an insane amount of talented people in this fandom, we’re honestly so blessed. anyway, please be sure to read the tags, and show the authors some love! [part 3/?]

— echoes in my dreams by nuwildcat – explicit / 92k words

It’s been 10 years since the first Kaiju attack, humanity built the Jaeger program to fight them, and Kinn Annakin Theerapanyakun is one of the top Jaeger Pilots in the world. There’s just one problem—none of his co-pilots have lasted past a year with him. Enter Porsche Pachara Kittisawat. Somehow, this disaster of a bartender with no Drift experience shakes Kinn’s understanding of the Drift and changes humanity’s fate at the same time. Well, as long as Kinn doesn’t kill him first.

— instinct by thewayside – explicit / 90.5k words (wip)

Not everyone has an instinct, an animal self that lives inside a person, born from their souls and forged to live in their flesh. Hundreds of years ago it was common to have bears, rabbits, fish, and lions, a menagerie of animals—but now, as time and dilution of bloodlines has increased, the most common thing to have is nothing at all.

— two shots by martynax – explicit / 81.8k words

“So I’m supposed to end a mafia dispute?”

“Something like that,” he mutters, wondering if he’s making a mistake, revealing it to Porsche so soon. Nothing is set in stone, after all. But he has a gut feeling that the man appreciates honesty and simplicity much more than intrigue and schemes.

“Then why don’t you kill him yourself?” Porsche questions, but that is going to stay a secret from him for now. He won’t give Porsche ammunition to get away from the deal. If he says he’s trying to keep it a secret from his father, he could find a way to get in contact with him and fuck things up for Kinn. It may be far-fetched but Kinn’s not taking any chances.

“How about you answer one of my questions?” He asks, cocking his head slightly to the side.

“Oh? You show me yours, I show you mine?” Porsche teases him. The raised corner of his mouth and the twinkling in his eyes makes it clear he’s making allusions to their dicks.

“I know mine is bigger, there’s no need to compare. You would just embarrass yourself,” Kinn tells him with a smirk of his own, helpless against the pull Porsche seems to have on him. Porsche laughs, clearly surprised at the comment.

— ‘til the fever broke by vesna (mrsronweasley) – explicit / 63.6k words

In a world where having a sex slave is a status symbol, Kinn’s father gifts him with a slave.

— stumbling to the edge ‘series by firerisingoverthehills – mature / 51.4k words

Kinn doesn’t kiss. He just doesn’t. Not since Tawan and how that whole shitshow ended. Porsche must read something on his face, because he actually bridges the gap between them. He sets a hand on the seat next to Kinn’s thigh and leans into his space. His knee is up on the seat, the other leg hanging off it. He leans in close enough that Kinn can feel his steady breaths on his face.

Kinn is going to tell him. He’s going to lay down the rules. Tell him that he doesn’t kiss. That he doesn’t like to be challenged. He’s going to—

And then Porsche kisses him and Kinn... Kinn doesn’t stop him.

(Or: An AU where they meet in a slightly different way, Kinn still falls head over heels though.)

— xxx curious straight boy ‘series  by mirrorofprinces – explicit / 34.2k words

“Porsche is extremely close to signing. In fact, he has a final meeting with the execs on Monday morning. The only condition is that he wants to request his first partner, and it’s you.”

Kinn takes a long drink of his whiskey, sets the glass down, and runs his tongue over his teeth. “So you had to meet with me, urgently, to tell me that a beautiful boy wants me to fuck him, thinking I’d say no.” He drums his fingers on the bartop. “Which means there’s a catch.”

— the house don’t fall (when the bones are good) by bytherirveriwept – explicit / 11.3k words

The reality of Kinn is at times a grasping, hungry thing even when he is standing still.

(Or: Porsche and Kinn are the Theerapanyakun agency’s best team. They live in each other’s pockets and share their deepest secrets. But when Porsche takes on the role of bait in their latest mission, it throws their entire relationship into a spiral.)

— gone was any trace of you by kurtstiel – explicit / 11.1k words

Kinn is looking at Porsche like he’s seen a ghost. Porsche blinks and the haunted expression is gone, Kinn smoothing it over with something neutral, but there’s still something fragile at the edges of it, like a crystal figurine balanced on a ledge. Kinn’s body relaxes in a way that’s purposefully casual, tucking his outstretched foot back onto the bed.

“You were in the bathroom,” Kinn says. He phrases it like an answer rather than a question.

(Or: Porsche left Kinn in their bed with nothing but a note. In the aftermath of the shootout, Kinn can't stop thinking about it.)

— quis custodiet ipsos custode by concernedlily – explicit / 8.1k words

Porsche props his chin on Kinn’s chest, on his favourite spot in the valley between his pecs, and peers up at him. “Tell me? I’ve never seen you have a nightmare like that.”

He toys with the edge of the bandage wrapped awkwardly around Porsche’s shoulder. It’s a knife wound, scored shallow but long down from his collarbone towards Porsche’s nipple, which is certainly in Kinn’s top ten parts of Porsche’s body and probably top five, and not to be endangered under any circumstances. Porsche had tried to treat it himself and Kinn had dragged him to the medical wing and supervised the stitches and the bandaging himself, mentally cursing out the minor family’s men for a crowd of incompetents the whole time. “Deng. He was… the first bodyguard who died for me.”

— cliff jump ‘series by airgiodslv – explicit / 7.3k words

“You know the rules, then?” Kinn asks.

Porsche looks amused, like he can tell how badly Kinn wants to wreck his composure. “No kissing, no marks on you, bubble bath first,” Porsche recites easily. “I read your notes file.”

Kinn is almost certain Porsche isn’t supposed to tell him the escort agency keeps a notes file.

(Or: An AU in which Kinn requests an escort for the night, and gets Porsche.)

— love on the water, love underwater by butterflylungs – explicit / 7.3k words

The golden light of the sun washes over him, rays catching in his dark hair, caressing his skin. Porsche would do unspeakable things for this man, and the fact that he’s been neglecting him in favor of work bothers him more than he can put into words. He misses Kinn with every breath, with every heartbeat, and he wishes he didn’t have to spend so much time away from him.

(Or: A day off, a surprise trip, and the dreams they’ve had to let go.)

— forward is the doing by daltoneering – explicit / 5.5k words

He exhales an acrid lungful, and opens his eyes. Right here, in the electric scarlet of the evening, they had made their choice. Design had shaped them for too long; now, the broken glass on the floor shimmering like a thousand stars to wish upon, Porsche lives by decision.

The door into the bar spills a shadow out into the light of the yard, and Porsche reaches for Kinn with simple instinct: their hands meet in the gloaming, and Kinn folds himself around Porsche’s side like a coat, or a blanket.

(Or: In the red-blue neon of the lights behind Hum Bar, Kinn and Porsche chose each other—and what better way to explore the meaning of that than through devastatingly tender-horny sex?)

— i’m the only one at the end of the day by kinnpornsche (bloodyinkwells) – explicit / 5k words

“I know this is a revolutionary idea, but maybe you could trust your boyfriend to not be cheating on you every time you see him with another man.”

“What is it from?”

“Instead you just assume I’m a slut,” Porsche barks, and then his voice softens. “When I’ve only ever been loyal to you, and you know it.”

(Or: Porsche flirts with someone for a job. Kinn doesn’t take it well. Porsche talks back.)

— no one does it better by midnightfreeway – explicit / 2.8k words

Kinn takes comfort in being in control. Control is power; control is freedom. It allows him to act on his own initiative. It brings him pleasure in a world where danger lurks around every corner. Kinn has no idea who he would be without it. An empty shell of a man, a puppet with someone else pulling the strings.

But it gets tiring, always having to fight for your own survival.

— cravin’ by yeetlegay – explicit / 1.8k words

It’s only when Kinn is two knuckles deep in Porsche’s ass, his teeth buried in the meat of his thigh, that it occurs to Porsche he probably isn’t that straight.

[nuwildcat]

10 QL people I want carnally aesthetically

Sooooo as your local ace, I couldn't complete the lovely tag from @sunshinesanctuary with carnally, cause....I don't think that way. BUT with a little chit chat in DMs with @luckydragon10 I was able to cobble together a list of aesthetically pleasing people from Queer Love series.

Cool I'm going to start with the two who lured me into Thai BL cause why not.

**note the following gifs will not be the most flattering, but instead the most hilarious ones I find on tumblr's atrocious gif search.

10. Tan (Max Nattapol) - Manner of Death

What can I say, I like a good cheeky monkey who has no idea what to do with the pretty man that has just kissed him. He has his little shit face on here, and that's about all it takes to lure in my ace heart.

9. Bunn (Tul Pakorn) - Manner of Death

What an orange cat of a man. Like, what were you thinking was going to happen (spoiler he was checking for a gun I think? sus little bean) but that is a horrible way to go about that. Charmed the shit out of me from the get go, he absolutely deserves to be on this list. Also that shirt is doin' werk.

8. Phupha (Earth Pirapat) - A Tale of a Thousand Stars

Right, so, as far as aesthetics go, this man is already pretty, but then they stuck him in a uniform, and I've always been a sucker for a uniform. He gives gremlin vibes this entire show, despite the serious face that is just stuck like that. (I am starting to sense a pattern...).

7. Prapai (Fort Thitipong) - Love in the Air

What does this man do? Seemingly, nothing. He has way too much time on his hands and a clearly overworked secretary, but I will say the lack of brain cells and puppy dog eyes kinda worked for me. (not enough to finish the series, but I was digging him).

6. Jang Jae Young (Park Seo Ham) - Semantic Error

I love how freakishly tall this man is. Once again I have found an absolute terror of a man (this one totally has a golden heart) and latched onto him instantly. The fact that he came with a built in size difference is just the icing on the cake.

5. Choi Yu Na (Song Ji Oh) - Semantic Error

Ummm. Yeah Imma just let that gif speak for itself. Immaculate babe, just keep doing what you're doing.

OKAY from here on it's just KP I don't know what y'all were expecting otherwise.

4. Tay (Us Nititorn) - KinnPorsche the Series

My love affair with Tay is long standing and undying. This is the best I could do to find a silly gif of him. Honestly I think that speaks to why he is so high on the aesthetic list. Poor man lost in a google coin toss to Big 😭

3. Big (Nodt Nutthasid) - KinnPorsche the Series

That right there ladies and gentlemen, is peak bodyguard performance, losing your shit over the new kid. All jokes aside there's something about this man's face that makes me wanna stare at it from like every angle. Give this man another role so I can stare at him more, please.

2. Porsche (Apo Nattawin) - KinnPorsche the Series

Ahhh Apo and his amazing faces. There is a unique ability to demonstrate just how little is going on in a character's head, and Apo has it DOWN. Porsche my darling, aesthetically your a freaking masterpiece, but baby if you think too hard you might hurt yourself. (Yes I am aware the theme is getting worse). THAT BEING SAID. Holy shit when you clean this boy up he is a force to recon with. That green suit??? it haunts me. Aesthetics on point with this brat.

Kinn (Mile Phakphum) - KinnPorsche

Right so this last one was actually hard to pick between Porsche and Kinn, buuuuut if I'm going form a character aesthetic approach I have to give the #1 spot to Kinn. My man slays through the majority of this show with suits on point, and cocky faces galore. I kinda hate him a little bit for how long I had to scroll to find an unflattering gif. EVEN HERE HE LOOKS GOOD he just got his dick sucked too hard in a helicopter to pull off suave. *throws hands up in the air* I just wanna put him in my pocket and take him out and shake him every once and a while.

I am very late to this game but I am going to inflict this on a couple people I think who haven't been tagged and whose answers I would find amusing. @lady-guts @fairhairedkings @medievalraven @stoeptepel @dr-lemurr

Please feel no obligation to participate I just think y'all would have good hot-takes.

[glystenangel]

Comfort for Two

Soft&NB!Kurapika x Afab!Reader (Canonverse)

summary: kurapika comforts you when you're on your period and you return the favor

tags/warnings: 18+ blog but this story is 100% floof, reiterating that kp is nonbinary here bc i like it, period comfort, mentions of not eating and pain, general comfort with slight angst, cuddling and kissing, kinda corny, kurapika LOVES you like really loves you

~1.7k words

thank you for reading and enjoy <3

_________________

“Is it okay if I come in?”

You can hear Kurapika’s hopeful voice accompany light knocks on your door.

“Yeah. It’s open.” You groan, flipping over the heat pad on your stomach.

The muscles of your stomach remain twisted in pain, and you barely notice when your bedroom door swings open.

“Hey.” Kurapika leans against the doorframe, their gaze fanning over your curled up body with sympathy.

Their posture is perfect and upright, with their arms crossed over their chest and not one blond hair out of place. Kurapika always looked pretty and presentable, in crisp clothing and a rigid sense of duty that kept their jaw and shoulders tense. You remember that the first time you had met, you were so nervous that you could hardly speak. Even after all this time, looking at them makes your heart swell with a combination of nerves and affection.

“Hey.” You deadpan, the greeting is hollow and miserable as your voice crackles at the end.

They make their way over to you, shaking their head and laying a gentle hand on your head once the plush space beside you sinks underneath their weight.

“Have you eaten anything today?” They start stroking the space behind your ear, frowning when your scowl deepens and you close your eyes.

“No, I don’t feel good. Sorry. I know you hate it when I do this.” You mumble the last part, knowing your low energy always makes your normally calm and cool partner fret. Even when you know you’ll recover in a couple of days and feel good enough to eat then, Kurapika works themselves into a frenzy, sometimes coaxing you for hours to at least eat a cup of brothy soup. It’s a bit funny, because they remain as stoic as ever, but check in with you every ten minutes. All furrowed brows and careful hands overlooking your condition.

You couldn’t help your sickly state whenever you were on your period, and you felt bad that they had to attend to you while juggling being a professional hunter.

“You don’t have to apologize, it’s okay if you don’t want to as long as you eventually eat. And, I still like you.” A bemused tone decorates their reassurance, and you afford them a small smile as you lean into them.

“I know, I just don’t like making you worried over me. You already have a lot going on, so I don’t want to add more to your plate.” You sigh, fiddling with the buttons of the heating pad controls.

Kurapika is silent for a moment, and you cautiously peer up at them.

They’re looking at you with an expression you can’t quite place, and you wonder if you should ask them what they’re thinking about when they pat your side.

“Can you move over a little? I want to lay with you.”

The ask makes your heart flutter.

Kurapika then pats you again in epiphany, “Ah wait, don’t move. Here, I’ll move you.”

They move to stand, kneeling beside the bed and holding their arms out. The chains around their fingers sway in waiting.

You wordlessly allow them to carry you, wrapping your arms around their neck and trying not to wince when they easily tuck their arms underneath you to lift you up.

“Alright,” They kiss the top of your head before settling back down onto the bed, holding you close.

You end up laid on their chest, your cheek resting in the nape of their neck as they rub your lower back. They knew that was where you usually hurt the most.

Kurapika’s long exhales brush across the top of your head, “How are you feeling now?”

“Definitely more comfortable. Thank you, you’re so good to me.” You reach out to kiss the side of their chin, the closest area to their lips that you can muster the strength for.

A grin forms across their features, subdued at first, and then their entire face surrenders. The happy sight is something you never hesitate to cherish, the rarity of being witness to it never lost on you. Your favorite part of their smile was how wide it could get, and how it always reached the shine of their eyes. It was like watching the clouds part to reveal the sun. Dreary gray splitting into shimmering ribbons of gold.

“What about you? How are you feeling?” You tuck your chin back into the curve of their neck.

A drawn out sigh leaves them and their expression instantly neutralizes. Kurapika pinches the high bridge of their nose with more frustration than you thought they could possess at the moment. 

The shift in mood hurries apprehension into your throat, “What is it?” 

They shake their head, but you place a placating hand on their cheek, turning their face to meet your gaze. Their skin is pale underneath your fingertips, much colder compared to the warmth nestled between your entangled bodies.

“It’s just been one of those weeks.” They dejectedly admit, looking down and then flitting their vision back up to your concerned face. Conviction lies in the stern lines of their face, but every edge seems weaker than before.

The most heartfelt wish you have is reserved for them. Impossible as it is, you wish that tragedy had never placed its burdensome hand on their life or their family. They were too honest, too infallibly sweet in spite of their cool demeanor to have suffered so greatly.

Understanding crosses your features and you hug them tightly. The smell of clean shampoo and fresh linen fills your lungs as they wrap their arms around you, burying their face into your shoulder. They always hugged you as if they needed it more than you.

Their lips move across the surface of your shoulder, “I’ll be okay. I’ve lived with this resentment for a long time. It’s part of me at this point. I’d rather make sure you’re taken care of right now than talk about it even more than I already do. You don’t deserve that.”

You minutely shake your head, “I don’t mind.”

Kurapika is silent for a contemplative moment, though you know to be patient. 

Finally, they speak again.

“It’s just been difficult lately. I don’t like how it feels, but I don’t want the trail to get cold,” They mutter, “It can’t get cold.”

Their tone is determined and filled with that desperate grief they’ve clung to since you’ve known them, but their grip on you remains gentle and secure.

You pat their head, hoping to comfort them, “It will get better. There’s no one more capable than you. I know it gets to be too much sometimes, but you’re not alone anymore. Remember that, and in the meantime…treat yourself kindly and trust that the timing will be right.”

They don’t attempt to reply, simply letting out a deep breath and easing further into your embrace. You simply breathe with each other, cheeks pressed together and resting in the quiet of the bedroom.

When you think your partner may have fallen asleep, suddenly their cadence washes over you again.

“You are one of the only few people that still make me feel human. That I still have the potential for goodness even after killing day in and day out. Even if it’s for a cruel reason like revenge, you stay with me. Think highly of me.”

They loosen their hold on you, drawing back to vigilantly examine your expression.

“I know I overthink, especially when you’re suffering like this. But…I’m just afraid of losing you.”

It is a fear Kurapika expresses to you often, especially in the vulnerable moments after you’ve been caught in the crossfire of a hunt or when they were seriously injured and unable to keep you safe until they were fully healed.

“That won’t happen.” The truth of it sits solidly on your tongue.

Separation is inconceivable, so much so that you are convinced that even if you died you would find some way back to Kurapika. 

“Oh? So sure?” Kurapika questions as they lean forward into your space, and heat rises in your cheeks at their teasing lilt.

“Very. I’m afraid of a world without you too, so we have to protect each other, right?”

The sentiment makes them find your hand to lace your fingers together.

“I’ll always protect you. You are part of my family now. I adore you more than you’ll ever know.”

The famed red glow of their eyes ignites around usually dark irises, scarlet intensifying their stare and filling you with mutual emotion. Their eyes looked just like they had when Kurapika first confessed to you, and when you first told them that you loved them and they said it back right away. 

You can hardly resist kissing them, so you give in. Kurapika returns it without hesitation, petal soft lips on yours and their hand warm against your palm. The rapid beat of their heart can be felt where their wrist presses against yours, and it’s so endearing you have to keep kissing them until your mind dissolves on their lips.

You pull away, seeing your shared bliss in the ruby of their eyes. Words will never be enough to explain how you feel about them, but you keep trying regardless.

“You are all I have ever hoped for. I would never want to be anywhere else, but here with you, Kurapika.” The confession from you is so sincere it makes your heart ache in your chest.

Seeing Kurapika soften as you speak makes you realize that any kind word from you is enough for Kurapika. More than enough even.

They lift your hand to their lips and kiss each knuckle. The honey color of their eyelashes nearly touches the tops of their cheeks when they close their eyes, and you can’t help but be in awe of such beauty. Once they finish their devoted administrations, they peek at you over the shape of your hand and you move to touch the outer corner of their eye.

“Your eyes won’t stop glowing. You must really love me, huh?”

They shrug, blond hair brushing the top of their shoulders and nonchalance overtaking their cadence.

“Maybe.”

The crimson radiance of their eyes never dims. 

You beam at their obvious inability to hide how much love they have for you, and you close the gap between you two with another fond kiss.

After you move apart, you stroke a tender line across their cheek.

“Thank you, I’m feeling much better now.”

Kurapika nods, and then blesses you with another smile.

“So am I.”

_________________

End Notes:

LET THEM BE LOVED AND HAPPY I BEG OF YOU TOGASHI😭😭🙏

[houseofbrat]

For the record, I wish Kate well and a speedy recovery for whatever problem she has been admitted to The London Clinic for.

Because I do not believe for one second that she was admitted for "abdominal surgery." That was "planned." And needs to be in the hospital for 10-14 days, even though it's "non-cancerous."

Once you've eliminated surgeries related to cancer, then you've eliminated a whole bunch of surgeries that have long recovery times.

Hernia surgeries don't require three months of "recovery," and in the US, they certainly don't require you to be in the hospital (aka germ factories) for 10-14 days.

I suppose being in the hospital on iv antibiotics for a diverticulitis procedure is a possibility, except that the recovery from any kind of diverticulitis surgery is A LOT LESS than three months.

Easter is on 31 March 2024. Saying she won't do any public duties UNTIL April is two and a half to three months of "recovery."

And no, hysterectomies do not take that long to recover from.

Just ask Camilla.

12 APRIL 2012 The Duchess of Cornwall is to have a hysterectomy, it was announced last night. Camilla will undergo surgery to remove part or all of her womb at the beginning of next month. She will spend around four days in hospital then a further six weeks recovering. The 59-year-old duchess will still go on a ten-day visit to the Gulf states with Prince Charles, beginning next Monday. It is thought royal gynaecologist Marcus Setchell will carry out the operation at the private King Edward VII Hospital for Officers in London soon after she returns. She has cancelled a string of engagements.

That's right.

Clarence House announced when Camilla would be out of the public eye BEFORE the surgery happened. Not after she was admitted to the hospital.

Somehow Kate's "abdominal surgery" was "planned," yet William's entire schedule needs to be reworked all of the sudden? As in, announcing today that he needs to not do any public duties for a certain period of time until Kate is okay at home. Hey, it's not as if Kate has two parents who are retired. Two siblings. Other relatives. Or a nanny. Housekeeper. Other staff. Etc.

Because if this really was a "planned" surgery and not a sudden emergency, then why were KP comms teams leaking a trip to Rome less than a month ago?

And Russell Myers was leaking that Will & Kate were going to go abroad to visit the British military LAST WEEK???

Someone isn't being honest about what is going on, and it's definitely not me.

It sounds to me that The Princess of Wales had a nervous/mental breakdown and needed to be hospitalized. Except that they can't say that, so they're going with "planned" "abdominal surgery."

Because if it really was "planned" and not cancerous, then why wouldn't William be able to do an engagement here or there over the next few weeks? If the KP comms team is going to pretend that this is just a routine surgery--not urgent or emergent--then why is their behavior NOT matching the statements?

Crown Prince Haakon does engagements even when his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been ill.

Prince Albert works even when Princess Charlene has been ill.

But William's ENTIRE schedule needs to be reworked even though Kate's parents are retired and she has two siblings nearby and other friends and relatives? (And and other helpers...)

Yup. There is another announcement coming soon.

Not one that anyone else in the world is expecting--well, except for @mysteriouslytransparentwitch and myself.

It's that Dragon energy already coming in even though the lunar new year doesn't start until 10 February. That Green Dragon is bringing lots of surprises with it.

Super cold in the USA. Volcanic eruptions in an area of Iceland that hadn't had anything in 800 years.

And Princess Basement Baby!

Because Wales fandom ARMAGEDDON is almost upon us.

And is the Wales fandom prepared for it? Nope.

[yesimacreepweirdo]

So it's been a LOOONNNNGGG time since I've watched KP, and trust me, I plan on doing a re-watch, but I wanted to ask the Fandom when they think Drakken and Shego got together?

When I was a kid, I assumed it was after the graduation episode, but from what I remember of the show, I think it was before that. I don't think it was a full blown relationship until after graduation, but they were definitely hooking up long before that.

Personally, I would like to think it happened after Emotion Sickness. Once Shego is off the moodulator, she and Drakken are awkward at first. They don't know how they are supposed to respond to everything that happened. Drakken attempts to talk about it, but he is naive and oblivious and doesn't quite know how to handle social situations. Shego would try to ignore it, and when Drakken attempts to bring it up, she gets angry or blows him off. This builds tension between the two, and I like to think they just hook up. Shego would be the one to kiss him first, and he would be scared she's on another moodulator, and she would be annoyed that he thinks that. After the first time, they don't talk about it, and they go back to normal until they have built up tension again and release it. Their relationship drastically changes after this, but neither will acknowledge the change. They don't label it. They just get together and then act normal. The henchmen definitely know, but they keep that to themselves because they are scared of Shego.

This would explain Shegos jealousy in the Mad Dogs and Alien episode (if I'm remembering that episode correctly) because they are totally hooking up, but she refuses to acknowledge her actual feelings, which is why she was so hurt when Drakken replaced her and why she was aggressively denying that anything was going on with her and Drakken when Kim brought it up.

Thoughts? Comment and let's talk about it!

[deliciouswastelandgoddess]

Acting via Micro-expression - Mile's Kinn

A case study of acting techniques

Also read:

Apo's Porsche

Build's Pete

Bible's Vegas

I think everyone agrees now that Mile and Apo are actors of remarkable talent but I continue to be floored by how well Mile employs micro-expressions to say so much in such little time.

One of my favourite scenes is this one where we can't even see his whole face with the sunglasses but it's his intent is crystal clear. He is not judging Porsche for his shyness but he is also not accomodating it. He is gentle but stubborn, even slightly bemused and infinitely understanding. We are here, we are proud, we are not going to hide - that's what he is telling Porsche and us the viewers solely through the set of his eyebrows and mouth. I won't even go into the details of how important this is in the context of LGBT pride.

Another favourite is this one. Kinn is hurt because Porsche is hurt and he is the reason for that hurt and he knows it but he can't do anything about it. He in guilty but also pitying himself - selfish of him considering the situation but he's human. Mile is not even moving here but you can see the slightest shift in his gaze. Again a masterclass in acting.

This is one of his longer scenes and he's very clearly moving his face but Mile is still able to convey 10 different emotions with very little expression - fear, disbelief, confusion, reluctance, even slight frustration.

Hell Mile is even good with comedy which in my opinion is a very tough acting gig if you don't have a natural inclination for it. He embodies the disgruntled awkwardness of Kinn perfectly here. To add, he is doing the "acting of acting" bit here, meaning Mile is enacting Kinn and Kinn is acting in front of Porsche (his smile) while simultaneously acting in front of his friends that isn't interested in Porsche. this is scene is peak subtle comedy.

Just- look at this. How seamlessly Mile transitions from horny playfulness to.. not sad exactly... a resolved fear is what it feels like to me. as viewers we never lose the beat of Kinn's emotions, not even for a moment. Considering the setting, this is exceedingly domestic and intimate. It's painful to be in so much love, painful to want to protect someone and but not being able to. He is afraid and fond and in love and even a little guilty and you feel that in less that 3 seconds, without words without any big emoting on Mile's part.

Any other actor would do this scene with double the flourish and half the impact. Mile's Kinn is suave and badass but he is not without humour. Mile is able to perfectly balance grace/elegance and comedy here.

Another scene of complex emotions - Kinn is smiling but it's such a sad smile. he knows that things have not been made right with Porsche. Porsche has accepted his apology but not because it was a good apology but because of Porsche's personality. Kinn realises that but also understands that now is not the time to push him. There's sadness, there's also guilt, there's also an immense sense of protectiveness over Porsche. Kinn wants to protect Porsche, ironically from himself - his past self. There's pity and this time not for himself but for Porsche not just because Kinn loves Porsche but because its human to empathize with another's pain.

Don't think I even need to mention this moment. This is the stuff of legends now in the KP fandom so won't elaborate much. His desparation is palpable - almost a physical thing, extremely viscose. Again, most of his face and eyes are hidden, we can only see half his face and one of his eyebrows.

Bonus:

This gif here to emphasize that it's not just micro-expressions that Mile is good at. He is good with the emotive bit of acting as well. You can almost feel the relief of quenching your thirst after a long spell of dehydration.

PS: corrected some grammar

[silviakundera]

gimme more post episode 14 KP fic where Kinn/Porsche get to be fucking extra & intolerably romantic at all times while running their organized crime syndicate. Straight up 90's era Addams Family, Addams Family Values Gomez/Morticia style intense about each other.

I want them making the other crime lords deeply uncomfortable

but also uneasy af about the possible mortal peril of not acting like this all 👌very 👌 OK 👌

because lbr at this point Kinn has a bit of a REPUTATION of just shooting motherfuckers in the head during meetings, it's kind of his thing, and no one wants to be That Guy so.

ALSO it's v v important to me that all of the bodyguards & henchmen ship it.

at least half of them are not exactly yay gay pride but they are 100% pro not dying. Considering how much blood was spilled over the major/minor family feud in the last couple years, it's a goddamn revelation when it hits that as long as Kinn & Porsche are disgustingly sappy husbands no one has to get shot. They realize one day they can even call each other for BACKUP omg. This is amazing. It's like you have.. double the amount of guns & man power..?? Let's pick fights and fuck people up!!!

and that's how the Theerapanyakun empire actually becomes exponentially more aggressive & rules Bangkok with an iron fist because of true love. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[wtficedance]

On Rhythm Dance Rules

As we wrap up the month of August (crazy how fast it went by), we have gotten a sneak preview of what new rhythm dances look like at summer sectional events as well as Lake Placid. And as I type this JGP Bangkok kicks off and we will get a wider picture of the wide variety of interpretation and composition we will see at the junior level. While there is a lot of focus on the 80s as a theme--much more of an "original dance" sort of construct--the technical changes are in many ways more interesting.

Notable changes to the "well-balanced" composition requirements for the rhythm dance this year. Both juniors and seniors may have any part of the body touch the ice during their midline or diagonal StSq provided it does not last more than five seconds, and the entry or exit edge of a difficult turn which temporarily changes overall direction of travel shall not count as a retrogression. For example, a skater could hold the exit edge of their bracket long enough 75% of a semi-circle is completed and the exit velocity points in a completely different direction.

On the junior level:

One of the two pattern sequences will be skated using the steps of the opposite gender.

On the senior level:

The ChRS (choreographic rhythm sequence) from last season which was essentially a ChSt (choreographic character step) has been re-defined to be essentially a choreographic pattern, where the team is required to skate the Silver Samba pattern. Last season, there was an unrestricted number of stops in the ChRS as long as they did not last longer than five seconds, this year none are permitted. Only one skater is required to do the steps at all times, i.e. steps 9-47 must all be skated but partners can switch between the man's and woman's steps and only one partner is required to maintain continuity. The silver samba ChRS must be skated at a MINIMUM of 100bpm, separations can not be wider than two arm lengths and/or last longer than two measures of music.

Additionally, the two-step per partner PSt must consist of a back entry Rocker, Counter, Bracket and Forward Outside Mohawk, removing the 2Tw as an option for level and solely for choreographic transition. The PSt and Style B StSq can be skated at any tempo, so either can be at the same tempo as the ChRS or neither.

Rocker Foxtrot (remixed)

As usual, juniors this year will skate two pattern sequences: steps #1-14 of the Rocker Foxtrot. But in one of the most interesting changes the ISU has made in the last two quads, 1RF will be skated as normal but in 2RF, skaters will be expected to skate the steps of the opposite gender. Rules around holds throughout the pattern have changed as well. In 1RF, the "typical" pattern, couples must maintain "Prescribed Holds during Key Points [and] Variation of Holds outside of Key Points." In 2RF, where opposite steps are skated, the skaters must also maintain the switched tracking and positioning and must maintain "Recognizable Holds during Key Points except Hand in Hand [and] Variation of Holds outside of Key Points."

The key points are seen below. For both patterns, the woman is evaluated on KP 1 and 3, the man on KP 2 and 4. This is why KP 1 & 2 are switched between the two sequences. For steps 11-13, they are identical but the skaters must MAINTAIN tracking, i.e. the man's steps for 11-13 place him to the left of the woman, so for 2RF when the skater's have swapped steps, the woman must be on the left side. Required holds for the key points are any closed hold variation for KPs 1 & 2 (steps 5-7) and any open hold variation for KPs 3 & 4 (steps 11-13).

All quotes in above paragraph from communication #2560.

Silver Samba

The last time the silver samba was a "compulsory pattern" in the short dance was 2014-15 on the junior level. The key points, found in ISU Communication #1857 are below:

It should be noted, that even when structured according to key points, the silver samba is primarily composed of various "simple" steps like swing rolls, three turns, chasses, slip steps, etc. It is not like the Tango Romantica where there is a lot of emphasis on difficult turns. What makes the silver samba a challenging pattern is the variation in timing, going from a steps which last half a beat to full to two beats and back to half beats rapidly. The timing scheme for the Silver Samba is below.

While the ISU has not placed any timing restrictions on specific steps, like there would be in a compulsory pattern KP, maintaining an overall sense of rhythm and tempo is important as steps 9-47 should be skated still on the 4 beat musical measure structure. While there is not a specific "duration" requirement listed, my understanding based on the programs we have seen so far is that the overall pattern should not significantly differ in duration from the number of measures in the original silver samba.

What kinds of results will we see resulting from these changes?

As opposed to last season's latin programs, expect to see much faster programs with significantly more ice coverage. With a 100bpm minimum and a pattern which consists of many half beat steps, this is the first time we are seeing a truly large tempo change in the rhythm dance. With the switch from style A to B step sequences over the past decade, skaters have increasingly and universally switched to slower more exaggerated step sequences, with a rocker for instance taking 2-4x the time that it might have taken previously. This is good for the demonstration of edge control for instance, but results in a lot of homogeneity across very different styles. With the silver samba, even if it is not difficult turns, skaters are being forced to show both a high tempo step section and then the more sedate and extended midline/diagonal style B and PSt.

In my opinion, the difference is night and day with program quality. Even just at the beginning of the season. The "freedom" offered by the ChRS still ended up with every single team having largely the same construction: stop, a cha cha New Yorker, stop for stationary footwork, maybe a samba roll, a twizzle or in place spin, and one or two mini-lifts. IMO, it was exceedingly boring and similar across the discipline, including across the different camps. By mandating a pattern, and encouraging teams to add in steps, new positions, different changes of hold, switching of traditional lead and follow steps, teams are not only forced to differentiate themselves with originality but they are also forced to demonstrate clear skating skills like edge control, power, posture, ice coverage, extension from center of gravity, and edge depth: the entire goal of a pattern comparison. In many ways, the ISU might have been inspired by Caroline Green/Michael Parsons's inverted Midnight Blues pattern with back-to-back holds as a method of differentiating themselves.

In juniors, I think this change is going to result in so much creativity and expansion of skillsets. While not all 2RF sections have had the woman leading, it certainly opens the door for both skaters to learn new aspects of partnering. By allowing variations in holds outside of the key points and requiring closed hold in the KP, it allows skaters to demonstrate creativity while also maintaining a baseline level of difficulty and similarity.

Where do we go forward from here?

Rhythm vs. Original

The ISU has reached a new intermediate between what was formerly the rhythm dance and the older original dance with this new format. What kinds of themes the ISU would use going forward and what combinations of patterns with said themes, in many ways need to be spelled out. Beyond the obvious decades (60s, 70s, 90s, etc.) what kinds of themes would the ISU consider? And how would patterns like the Paso Doble or Viennese Waltz be matched to these new themes?

If I could offer a few suggestions:

Swing: teams must incorporate a social dance rhythm (lindy hop, shag, charleston, jive etc.) with a pattern of quickstep

Nuevo Latin: new Latin rhythms, teams must select one to two Latin rhythms that have not been skated as compulsories (no samba, rhumba, or cha cha) with a pattern of Torville/Dean's Rhumba L'Amour (debut pattern)

Folk Dance: like 2010, teams must incorporate a folk dance element that represents their country or culture and skate the Yankee Polka

Percussive: teams must rely on a primarily percussion driven dance style like flamenco, paso doble, tap dance, Irish step dancing, South Indian bharatanatyam, etc., pattern of Paso Doble

What elements should the “short” include? How should they be scored?

Additionally, while I think the ChRS pattern format brings an element of overall evaluation of a pattern in size, ease of skating, unison, etc. that the key point system missed. There is room for both. An alternative format to the RD could be:

1 section of Pattern (KP system)

1 section of Choreographic Pattern (ChP which is equivalent to ChRS but maybe more clear), teams skate either the alternate section of the pattern or the same steps according to this year's rules which incentivize creativity and style. Maybe with the addition of Mandatory Contact

1 Style A Midline/Diagonal StSq which is composed of two parts: the 4 turn OfSt and the remaining 5 difficult steps and turns. Teams are required to skate one part in hold and one non-touch.

Lift

Twizzles

While the ISU has dropped the ball on coordinating new pattern dances from partial step sequences, perhaps a new, CONSISTENT system can be implemented, where in alternating years there is a PATTERNED short dance (see above) and on the off years there is a COMPULSORY short dance, where skaters are not assigned a pattern, but rather key points which they must incorporate into one or two Pattern Dance Type Step Sequence:

Replacing sections 1 and 2 above, 1PSt incorporates KP 1-4 and 2PSt has an alternative set of key points. Examples below:

KP 1 is a turn cluster: RBO Rocker, RFOIO, RFO Counter, RBO-LFI S-Step (Chocktaw)

KP 2 is a turn to skating position: LFO Rocker, LBOI to both partners in difficult skating positions (e.g. spread eagle, besti squat, spiral, hydroblade, lunge, side lunge, shoot the duck, etc.) on any edge

KP 3 is step based: 5 different chasses, progressives, or slip steps while doing 3 changes of hold to non-baseline holds (cannot do just tango or killian, has to be crossed or high killian, reverse foxtrot, a difficult hand-to-hand, or another creative variation)

KP 4 is synchronicity based, skaters must execute the corresponding turns: Partner A does LBI Counter to LFIO 3turn to LBI bracket while partner B does LFO counter to LBOI to LBI Bracket.

These turns would rotate every year and the tempo range would be decided based on the theme. Of course, these are only suggestions, but this technical apples-to-apples comparison might be helpful when using a decade theme like the 70s which covers such a diversity of sounds that establishing a pattern to suit the overall vibe of the decade might be difficult. I do think it would be helpful if the ISU established a general direction for how the original/short/rhythm dance is going to evolve with time.

But for overall changes? The Scale of Values needs a major makeover.

Scoring Shenanigans

Ice Dance scoring needs to be re-vamped. One of the most important parts of making figure skating scoring accessible to the public is the ability for the general viewer to discern "tiers" of scoring: e.g. what range do medalists vs. top 10 vs. top 20 teams score? With current seemingly unending score inflation, in the last decade ice dance has gone from scores 70-77 placing top 3 in the short program to scores 87-93. From 2011-2014, almost without exception the top two scores were 73-77, third rounded out in that low 70s range, and 60 points was essentially the cut off for top 10 scores. There was consistency from season-to-season that was understandable for both the general viewer and an avid ice dance fan. From 2016-17 to 2022-23, the top score in the rhythm dance went from 82 to 93. In fact, there was more consistency from 2017 Worlds to 2019 Euros top scores (82 to 83) with an entire revamp of the GOE system and rhythm dance composition than there was from the 2018-19 GP season through the 2022 Worlds (P/C led the field for both, scoring 84.13 at 2018 GPFrance and then 92.73 at 2022 Worlds). That doesn't even cover the changes over this past season. With the retirement of the undisputed top 3 teams from last quad, the RD record was still broken yet again at last Worlds! And this is despite constant downgrades in the technical robusticity of elements over the past decade and a half. This is even more obvious in the free dance, where top teams have gone from scoring 105 points to 140 points in just a decade.

We heard a lot of arguments last Worlds and WTT that the changes to the code merited a new world record in the RD after widespread disbelief that such a recent, and authoritative world record was broken. But despite the fact that I don't think a single person who regularly watches ice dance could argue that Chock/Bates this season ever out-executed (or even comparably-executed) Papadakis/Cizeron on Pattern Dance Type Step Sequences, a typical Style B step sequence, or twizzles. Much less teams like Hubbell/Donohue or Sinitsina/Katsalapov who never broke 90 points internationally. Yet, at World Team Trophy, C/B were awarded the same unweighted GOE +4.85 as P/C for their twizzles. C/B most definitely benefited from a weaker code, getting 9.07 free points for a ChRS (7.07 in GOE) which inched across the ice as opposed to a level 4 Midnight Blues pattern which earned just 1.72 points more (3.44 in GOE), but this rampant inflation can be accounted for in both recency bias in the retirement of top teams and in a warped scale of values.

Nowhere is this warped scale of values more apparent than for current Style D pattern dance type step sequences, where skaters who execute just two difficult turns/steps each earn, are rewarded more heavily than for any other element in the RD. Why on earth does an element where each skater only has TWO DIFFICULT STEPS AND TURNS merit 9.45 points base value, 15 points with +5 GOE? Style B step sequences where each skater has over twice the technical content have 8.96 base value, 14 points with +5 GOE. One foot sequences in the free dance with +5 GOE max out at 9.68. It is the ice dance equivalent of a double axel being valued more than a quadruple jump.

The ISU needs a return to baseline, wherever that threshold is decided to be, where scoring tiers can yet again be defined and the scale of values can be retroactively revamped according to difficulty and weighting of each element in a program. Because the current system? Feels a whole lot like this.

[discluded]

I’m 😭 know I get the snake joke when they asked Apo about kissing Mile lmao (this whole thread) idk what todo with this info

https://twitter.com/jsaturfiles/status/1563481374228508679?s=21&t=AMC2YXZLS7DPz3QwKzzMaw

Nonnnyyy!! Thank you for giving me the chance to talk about something I've wanted to talk about for a while, which is how good MA's acted kisses are. And it's good acting too! But first,

I spent a bit of time trying to figure out who the person being translated was (apo_mytype), and it looks like they're just a fan. But their comments resonated so much with people the twitter translator (jsaturfiles) got asked to translate/share. I'll post it here so people don't have to go to the tweet:

ive seen #MileApo in kissing scene workshops since the filmania era, their kisses are so real. apo said before that p mile wasn’t yet good at controlling himself. so every time they kissed he wouldn’t stop until apo nearly fell on his back. but apo couldn’t even fall because p mile was gripping his arm.

back then p mile’s body was very thick (he’s still thicker than apo today) one of his arms could wrap around apo’s entire body like a snake wrapping around it’s prey. from kissing in filmania to kissing in boc. by the time kpts ended #MileApo probably kissed 100s of times. let me ask for real, have you guys ever felt anything for each other at all? even some little thing?

some couples have been together for their whole lives and don’t kiss as often as #MileApo (reffering to them in the series)

Now let us take a very necessary break to watch some Filmania era kissing

(mobile is a PITA so here's video 1 and video 2 if they don't show up)

***

The Art of a Good Kissing Scene

For anyone (no one) wondering "Kyuu, how the fuck do you know so many things about everything" the answer is 1) I don't know shit, 2) I have ADHD, and 3) I spend a lot of time just learning things about I find interesting. Like watching a lot of videos like the above.

The coach basically breaks down a list of things she's looking for in good/bad scenes, including 1. prelude (setup), 2. breath (pause before the kiss -- it's a moment of dramatic tension to set up the audience), 3. rhythm of the kiss, 4. dialogue/chemistry/moment/surrender (checking in with each other).

And she specifically compliments Jonathan Rhys Meyers' ability to create a private moment (13:39) of intimacy in a crowded place to establish the context for the kiss. So there is actual acting technique in how technically good on-screen kisses are, and also specifically how good Mile and Apo make KP's kisses.

I adore all of KP's kisses, but I specifically want to talk about how good their first kiss in episode 3 is.

The thing is, it's obviously not the first time MileApo have kissed, and certainly not even the first time they've kissed as Kinn and Porsche, but they have to sell to the audience the authenticity of it being their first kiss in the context of the events of the show -- the hesitancy, the heart in your throat jolt of tension, the tenderness and chasteness and longing and release of the first kiss.

(cr smittenskitten for the gifs! here's another edit of this extended...tumblr glitched on let me add more pictures?)

And you know it's good acting because they can recreate this exact same tension, breath, longing, and relief of tension live in one take

(video link for those suffering mobile like me)

It's so good in that the setup is both anticipatory and surprising at the same. Watch both happen...This youtuber's mom was even able to count down to their kiss.

Perth (Ken) has talked on his channel about how shows are filmed non-sequentially and it's up to the actors to know their characters well enough to know what's going on with them in that scene. Since the first kiss on the pier was physically in the same place as where they ended their first date in episode 8, they likely shot those on the same day or very close together. So MA had to know their characters' hearts very well. And their trust in each other, in taking each other's small cues, is what builds in the authenticity of watching Kinn and Porsche falling in love.

So yes, all the practice helped, but their kisses really do feel special. Mile and Apo constantly sell to us how special it is.

And that's what we call acting, baby. 😩💦

Let's just say it's probably good Mile had a whole year to get all of that hunger out of his system first because KPTS Episode 3 Kinn was way more respectful than Mile was haha.

(if you keep asking sending me anons, I will eventually run out of interesting things to talk about!!! 😅)

[thewales]

From Royal fashion police. I guess you can't hide your true self for too long. The delusion is real but the laugh is incredible

"Setting up a new website from the office of DDoS, Harry returning to UK to meet Charles with full security protection, involving Commonwealth (Jamaica MP, Canada First Nations) now Mayhew, Meghan's style reminiscent to her Royal days, meeting up with Clare Waight Keller, etc ...It's just too much of coincidence to all these are lined up the way they are. The narrative first sate by Kate Mansey from The Times kicked off the "will they come back?" and it's not dying off. The pushback seems to be mainly by led by KP. It does sounds to me like it's BP vs KP with a game of thrones. I guess time will tell what else these will eventually lead to"