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I can't believe Arcane is ending forever in like two days 😭😭😭

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Second week of Arcane S2: if I had to choose one single word to describe these three episodes, it would be unexpected. They were so full of surprises and twists and impactful moments. This time I did get the feeling that a lot of these storylines were probably meant to be developed over more seasons, but by putting all of them in just two you get this breakneck, heart-pounding pace. Can't wait to see what wonders await us in the final week.

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Beyond Goodbye

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

Beyond Goodbye (2024, Japan)

Director: Hiroshi Kurosaki

Writer: Yoshikazu Okada

Mini-review:

I feel divided about this. On the one hand, the cinematography is really nice and the locations are downright stunning. And the entire cast is great too, especially the leads; these roles play to all of Kentaro Sakaguchi's and Kasumi Arimura's particular strengths. On the other hand, the plot didn't fully convince me. The conceit makes for a very interesting portrayal of grief, but the whole thing was just a bit too... odd for me. It didn't help that I kept feeling bad for the male lead's wife, even if the central relationship isn't exactly a romance, not with the foundation it's built on. So yeah, I can certainly appreciate Beyond Goodbye's aesthetic, acting and directing, but I'm not quite too sure about the rest.

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He's definitely found his style and it suits him so much 💜💜💜

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Look Back

Movies watched in 2024

Look Back (2024, Japan)

Director & Writer: Kiyotaka Oshiyama (based on the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto)

Mini-review:

I went into Look Back knowing next to nothing about it, besides the fact that it's based on a manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto (whose work I adore). And I'm so glad I managed to avoid all spoilers, cause it's such a surprising experience. It's a very simple story, actually, but it's told in a way that feels very impactful. Add to that the final stretch, and you get something truly special and unforgettable. Still, at its core, it's a testament to the power of art and storytelling, which will strike a chord with anyone who has dabbled in writing or drawing at some point in their lives. Also, it's just an hour long, so it flies by. Lastly, I can't finish this review without giving kudos to Studio Durian for the beautiful animation work, and to Haruka Nakamura for her gorgeous score. All in all, this movie is easily one of the best I've seen this year.

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I can already tell this will be as magical as The Astronaut. Can't wait for Friday!!! 💜💜💜

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A pretty good song, as always. And I'm really looking forward to the upcoming performances, cause that choreo is 😳😳😳

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Now that's how you do an awards show performance. The intro was so f**king awesome! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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First week of Arcane S2: I didn't think it was possible, but this season might end up being even better than the first. The action scenes are stunning, the writing is brilliant and the lore is richer than ever. Also, that scene in episode 3 might be one of the most mind-blowing animated sequences I've seen in my life. Can't believe I have to wait another week for round 2 😭😭😭

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Mr. Plankton

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

Mr. Plankton (2024, South Korea)

Director: Hong Jong Chan

Writer: Jo Yong

Mini-review:

As I mentioned in a previous post, Mr. Plankton was my most anticipated k-drama of the year. And, while I liked quite a few things about it, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed. For starters, both the plot and the tone are kind of all over the place. There was a lot of potential in this story, but I think the writer didn't know where to put the main focus. Also, the male lead is rather unlikeable, to the point that not even Woo Do Hwan's immense charisma can fully save him; he's definitely an interesting character, but sometimes it gets hard to root for him, especially during the first half. Still, the entire cast delivers powerful performances and the show's sense of humor is pretty funny, so the whole thing ends up being a highly entertaining experience. It wasn't the life-changing drama I expected it to be, but I enjoyed going on this crazy trip with these characters.

P.S. I used this random poster cause the official one is ugly AF.

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Why did a 15-second teaser make me blush so much? 😳😳😳

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Damn, can I just mention how amazing they sounded on this show?

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Ooooooh, both the lyrics and the MV for the English version came out so freaking nice. I think I might prefer this one, even! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

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Thinking about this tweet every time I see/hear about the Harris vs. Trump polls being close.

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The On1y One

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

The On1y One (2024, Taiwan)

Director: Liu Kuang Hui

Writers: Wang Yu Chen & Liu Kuang Hui (based on the novel by Mu Su Li)

Mini-review:

Okay, why did nobody tell me the director of Your Name Engraved Herein had made a whole-ass gay drama? Just from that fact, I already knew I would love this. It certainly has more of a BL vibe compared to the movie, probably due to the source material, but it still manages to avoid basically all the toxic tropes and stereotypes. I really appreciate when these type of dramas take as much time as necessary to properly flesh out the characters and their bond, which is what you get here. People looking for constant romance will be disappointed, but the leads have fantastic chemistry, and seeing their development is exactly what makes it special. But truly, the characters are so relatable; the show uses them to make some beautiful reflections on life and youth. My biggest complaint is that the pace does get a bit too slow from time to time. Still, The On1y One is a gorgeously made drama and I definitely hope that second season happens.

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There's something incredibly lovely and pleasant about the song and the MV, but I hate that it's so short 😭😭😭