#;; a real champ here !! | promo

[twodragons-blooper-reel]

Let's roll the bloopers!

POST LIMIT: I LIVE

Hi there! It's @twodragonsinatrenchcoat I have several Pokemon IRL blogs in the rotumblr sphere and I wanted to make a sort of hub for them! Not just for organization and a spot to hold onto ask games I enjoy- but for meme and AU purposes as well!

I'll post ooc updates as well as jokes I have while writing here from time to time as well :3

I am also happy to do blog promos, I'm bad at looking for new blogs but send me an ask with the blog name or whatever and I'll reblog your pinned

Feel free to ask any and all questions pertaining to the blogs that are listed below!

Pokemon Irl blogs are listed under the cut, all are currently inactive

Active blogs are one I'm posting on actively, Light Activity Blogs are ones I'll reblog to occasionally and Inactive Blogs are blogs I have no intention of returning to in the near future.

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Active Blogs:

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Light activity Blogs:

@celadon-arcade-champ <- new blog. Character works at the Celadon game Corner, completely unaware that it's a front for Team Rocket :]

@disparate-traveller <- A faller blog about my character Diamond who yeeted themselves into Rotomblr to hang out with their bestie

@dersite-agent-jack <- I love Jack(Bec) Noir. So have a homestuck faller blog :]

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Inactive Blogs:

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If I'm answering a question about a specific blog I'll put it in the tags as "blog talk: [Blog name]"

I'm open to questions directed at characters, directed at myself, au talking- Just about anything honestly! This is just a fun sort-of hub for my pokemon blogs.

uhhh love y'all bye for now! <3

@rotumbeast <- The spirit of Rotomblr. Might be responsible for chaos

@piplup-at-naranja <- An in character liveblog of my playthrough of Pokemon Scarlet :]

@magical-girl-evoli <- An eevee magical girl! Because I'm not immune to brain rot

@hello-am-zacian <- A real life dog got Fallered and transformed into legendary pokemon Zacian. She's having a great time

@synthetic-radiance <- Cursed Chosen named Orion, Type:Null hybrid.

@psychic-type-appreciator <- Seraphina's sister Agni. She's less of a wet cat

@ghost-type-appreciator <- A Ceruledge hybrid blog :] her name is Seraphina! She's a wet cat

@clockwork-soul-heart <- Princess Steele! She's been trapped in a clockwork kingdom by a haunted doll for the last seven years of her life.

@drifting-rocket <- Kidnapped Aegis a couple times. His name is Drifter, he's a Team Rocket Executive. He's got so many issues.

@oreburghminingmuseum <- A blog about Aegis's caretakers and the museum they work for! Mostly an excuse for a place where I can post non-shieldon fossil pokemon art-

@fields-of-gracidea <- Vio! Branded chosen of Shaymin, Sawsbuck Hybrid, tasked with taking care of the younger brandeds

@sturdy-and-soundproof <- What you probably know me from! Aegis! Shieldon boy! I'm not sure how best to explain him besides he's cute. Has a whole slew of blogs related to him which are up next :)

@mareeplings <- My first pkmn Irl blog :D I dream of returning to it someday but I can't find the inspiration.

@snarling-maschiff <- a blog with a normal person running it as opposed to all my other blogs (whoops) They like dog pokemon!

@wayward-silver <- One of 13* Silver blogs, he's a mew taking the form of his past life. Was stuck underground as a ditto for like 20 years though.

@devilisinthedeinos <- A "Sleeby" named Eris who turned into a deino after getting top surgery. There's something else behind the scenes there...

@distortion-escapee <- A blog for my personal take on giratina, related to Dakota's blog.

@dakota-and-paris <- About a girl who has had way too much on her plate for thirteen years and will continue to have too much on her plate until I say so.

*there's so many silver blogs on this website i'm not gonna keep this number updated but that's how many there was when I made the blog

[spade-riddles]

To add on to that anon:

To be fair/honest? *We* knew these stunts were coming when she announced the new album. Plus, almost everyone is talking about the Beyoncé album right now and TTPD drops in about 3 weeks.

I wish she understood(?) she would have even more support if she would just be herself more often. The real Taylor is who we get to see every now during the Eras Tour that’s hilarious, relatable; accidentally swallows bugs. Gets stuck on the folklore house. Has a haunted piano that starts playing by itself because of rain. Lol

Then you have Taylor Swift™️, who we currently see that suppresses herself and her accomplishments to cater to her section of fans who chug the Travis bullshit at the expense of her other fans. Because THAT is what’s going to make *them* buy all the versions of the albums, etc.

Whatever happened to the days of actual promo that related to and revolved around the music? She wants the focus to be on the art, right? “It should be about the music and it’s not”….but she shoves the “personal” down our throats and takes the focus off the art and that’s why some people don’t appreciate the art like they should.

Give me a first single and a music video. An actual talk show interview. Not more routine staged pictures of you lying in dirt beside some man with his strategically placed hand on your ass to have something to talk about with his brother on his podcast.

It’s seems like she sometimes “dumbs” herself down to the level of whoever she’s “dating” at the time. Joe was the “love of her life” then they “broke up” last April and 5 seconds later, she was mouthing words to 🐀 on stage until June. Then she was celebrating “single girl summer”. Then she started this CAA promo run with Travis.

I’m not trying to be mean or harsh when I say this, but things like this don’t make her look like the heartbroken victim she seems to want people to think she is. Not when she’s openly associating with people like BM and JM.

It also irks me how some of her “OG” fans (the main ones who mock and harass other fans for *their* interpretations and *their* relatability to her lyrics) claim to know her. She’s their (parasocial) bestie who would never lie to them when they don’t know her at all. She has always said her truth is in her music, yet they don’t hear her screaming to be heard and seen (i.e., Antihero stage visuals).

They don’t notice how every time there’s a moment where Travis is being criticized, here comes an article saying how “Taylor” feels about it?

Like the one about how she “loves” his dad bod. Or the ones about how much money he’s spent on “wooing” her. Or the constant articles about him and how much money he paid for his house that he suddenly was able to close on about two weeks after they became public, even though he was a 2 time SB champ at the time and had been in the NFL over 10 years.

Sorry for the rant, but it’s frustrating because I get it, but then again I don’t. Because she is the most important piece of her brand and she just goes along with these things even when she doesn’t want to. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I can’t stand the guy. But it seems clear that she held off on promoting TTPD until after Beyoncé’s album dropped. There is no reason to crowd the promotion for both albums when they can each have their own spotlight.

[dilf-in-peril]

"Oh, you wanted the real Punk, you wanted Pipebomb Punk? Well, you got it, you got your pipebomb, your muffingate" [chuckles in the crowd] "and it was more real than anything I ever said up on stage in the WWE. You got the real Punk, Max, and just like y'all" [Punk gestures at the crowd] "you just couldn't handle it." [some boos] "No, I know this is difficult for all of us, but stay with me here, I have something to show you people.” [Punk takes out his phone] “My conversation history with Maxwell Jacob Friedman.” [MJF makes a dash for the phone but is held back by FTR, Punk is visibly amused now] 

“Monday, September 5th 2022, the night I punched Matt Jackson in the face." [crowd gasps] "Message from Maxwell Jacob Friedman, three in the morning: Are you okay?" [nervous giggles in the crowd] "Monday, September 5th, the same day, 5 pm: You stupid old man, why didn't you just keep quiet, you're ruining everything." [some cheers] "Monday, September 12th, 10 pm: You can call me if you want to talk." [faint laughter] "Tuesday, September 13th, 1 am, that's three hours later: Please respond." [loud laughter] "Tuesday, September 13th, 2 am, that’s an hour later: I hate you. Thursday, October 20th: I hate you so much. Sunday, November the 19th: I did it. I’m the champ. I wish I could have taken the belt off you." [mixed crowd reaction] "Saturday, December 25th, Christmas Day: Merry Christmas, Punk. I hope you have a lovely day and the arm is healing alright. See you soon? Christmas tree emoji, menorah emoji, red heart emoji." [devastating silence, cut to Max’s mortified face] 

"Y'all wanna know how many messages I have sent to Max in those fifteen weeks between my little backstage altercation and Christmas Day? Zero. Because I don't care about you, Max, you are nothing to me, you're not even a blip on my radar. You can scratch at my door, you can talk shit about me on twitter, you can quote my promos all day, copy my mannerism, copy the way I talk and walk, all in a desperate attempt to get my attention, but I'm still just gonna leave you on read." [crowd erupts into laughter, MJF is fuming] 

"Max, I once called you a less famous Miz, and I have to apologize for that. Truth is, you are nothing but a less famous CM Punk and now that the real CM Punk is back, the only thing that's giving you any relevance at all in this company, in this whole damn business, is the fact that you stole this belt from Jon Moxley, who shouldn't have been wearing it in the first place, because I am the rightful AEW World Champion. PG Punk is dead, but I am here and I'm old and I'm hurt and I'm tired of working with you." [crowd cheers] 

"And, Max, for your own good, I suggest you spend more time wrestling in the ring, and less time trying to get the attention of older men, because when you get that attention, this Sunday, November 13th, Chicago, Illinois at the Full Gear pay-per-view, you won't be able to handle it."

[handsome-robot]

"Nobody watches ROH"

Maybe if some of these big name AEW guys who made their name in ROH and constantly make reference to it in promos and junk showed up on a random Thursday, it might bring some eyes to the product? You put all the ROH belts on AEW guys who never defend them on ROH. HUGE props to Eddie for fighting serpentico and giving him and Angelico a little post match segment. Athena is killing it week after week and Billie Starkz is a star in the making.

Where are the Hung Bucks? Are you guys too big for ROH now? Won't grace us with your presence? One Thursday night? You're already in the building where they tape it. Samoa Joe? Where you at? or maybe our aew world champion who is the current roh Tag champ. Can't come out and cut a promo real quick?

No one will want to pay for honorclub if you don't give them a reason to. Some of these wrestlers, if they wanna keep using ROH clips in their packages, should walk that walk and pop in here and there. The company still exists and is owned by your current boss and is filmed in the same arenas as the shows you're already on. You really don't have time to come do a little warm up match one night?

You don't even have to do throwback gear or anything, but that'd be really fun if you did, I think!

[vrankup]

elevating Your Online Business: Practical Strategies for Success |vrankup|

Yo, what's up, folks? Ready to dive into the world of leveling up your online biz? Awesome, because in this piece, we're gonna break down some real-deal strategies of digital marketing agency in noida that'll take your online hustle to the next level. We're talking about practical moves that you can start making right now to get those digital dollars flowing. So grab a cup of joe, get cozy, and let's unravel the magic of enhancing your online business – the GerryVee way!

Setting the Stage with a Killer Brand Vibe

Alright, fam, listen up. Your brand ain't just a logo and some fancy colors – it's the soul of your biz. Think of it like the personality that people remember and relate to. From your website to your social media posts, everything should scream "This is ME!" Be authentic, tell your story, and let those values shine through. Remember, in this crazy online world, being real is your secret weapon.

Smooth Sailing with Top-Notch User Experience

Imagine you're cruisin' through a website, and bam! It's slow, clunky, and just plain frustrating. Ain't nobody got time for that, right? Your website is your digital crib, and you want it to be cozy and easy to navigate. Speed it up, make it mobile-friendly, and slap on some clear navigation. When visitors feel at home, they're more likely to stick around and, you know, actually buy stuff.

Cracking the Code of Search Engine Sorcery

Let's talk about the wizardry of SEO – Search Engine Optimization. It's like casting a spell that makes Google say, "Hey, check out this cool site!" By sprinkling relevant keywords, crafting killer content, and snagging reputable backlinks, you're climbing the ranks of search results. And who doesn't wanna be on that first page? SEO's your ticket to being the star of the show, my friend.

Content, Content, Content – Be the Content King

Alright, hustle champs, listen closely. Content is the lifeblood of your online realm. Blog posts, videos, memes – it's all fair game. Share your wisdom, entertain, and educate. But hold up, don't turn it into a 24/7 sales pitch. People wanna connect, not just get hit with ads

Dazzling on Social Media Streets

Yo, it's party time on social media! These platforms are like the coolest hangouts where your peeps chill. So strut your stuff, share your stories, and interact with your tribe. It's a two-way street, so don't be shy to respond to comments and messages. Your business isn't just about products – it's about people, connections, and a whole lotta heart.

Unleash the Email Marketing Beast

Let's talk about emails, fam. Nah, not the boring ones – we're talking about emails that your subscribers can't wait to open. Build that email list by offering something juicy in return. Then hit 'em with personalized emails – promos, updates, and stories they'll love. It's like sliding into their DMs, but with their permission. And remember, automation is your trusty sidekick here.

Customer Love – It's a Lifestyle

Listen, champs, customers are the real MVPs. Treat 'em right, and they'll shout your praises from the rooftops. Be there when they have questions, resolve issues pronto, and make 'em feel like rockstars. Exceptional customer service ain't just a one-time thing – it's a lifestyle. Happy customers are your ultimate marketing team, spreading the word faster than you can say "sales boost."

Riding the E-Commerce Wave

Alright, digital hustlers, it's time to talk e-commerce. We're living in the age of online shopping, and your biz needs to ride that wave. Create a shopping experience that's smoother than butter. Clear product descriptions, slick images, and a checkout process that's quicker than a sneeze. And if an app fits your hustle, consider diving into the app world, too.

Numbers Don't Lie – Analytics Unleashed

Hold onto your hats, 'cause it's time to crunch some numbers. Analytics ain't just fancy jargon – they're the compass guiding your biz ship. Use web analytics to track what's poppin' and what's floppin'. Where's the traffic coming from? What's the conversion rate? This data's gold, helping you fine-tune your moves and stay on top of your game.

Team Up and Conquer

Last but not least, it's time to join forces. Collaboration is like a power-up in the online world. Team up with influencers, fellow businesses, and experts in your field. Guest posts, webinars, virtual hangouts – the possibilities are endless.

Bringing It All Together – You Got This!

There you have it, my fellow digital warriors – a crash course in boosting your online biz. From branding to collaboration, these moves are your secret weapons for climbing the ladder of success. Remember, it's not a sprint; it's a journey. Keep hustlin', stay true to your vibe, and adapt as the online landscape evolves. So go out there, rock your online biz, and let the digital dollars rain down, here comes a digital marketing agency in noida in the act.

A journey through the trenches of online business, GerryVee style. We've covered everything from branding swag to riding the e-commerce wave. It's time to unleash your inner digital hustler, armed with strategies that'll make your online biz shine. Now go forth, conquer the digital realm, and let those online dreams become your reality.

[theater-for-jocks]

okay let's rock and roll. in case you're curious i'm trying to order the names in terms of a) who is champ and b) if a is inapplicable, who is babyface in the feud.

Morgan v. Ripley: WOW i was expecting this to be hell in a cell but it's a standard match! OR DOES DOM IN A CAGE COUNT AS A STIPULATION?????? God that match render with him in the cage is so fucking funny. I keep seeing people saying “oh Liv definitely wins” but I don’t think it’s THAT clear cut? I only see her winning if someone interferes, and with Dom out of the question the only options are a) the other members of the clown show - who I think are more likely to interfere in the NEXT match - or b) someone else who has beef with Rhea but NOT with Liv (or at least LESS beef with Liv). I keep seeing people say Raquel Rodriguez because they were tag partners BUT from what I understand they were still faces at the time, and if Raquel has beef with Rhea then I’m sure she’d feel GREAT (sarcasm) about Liv basically becoming a discount Rhea. I think IF Raquel interferes, she starts in Liv’s favor but turns on her—doesn’t side with Rhea, to be clear, just decides she doesn’t want to help Liv—after enough time has passed for Liv to show her true colors. I think this also sets the stage for a Rhea/Raquel match at crown jewel to finish that story and then a Raquel/Liv feud after! So to summarize, Rhea probably wins. Honestly I’d feel less sure about this if the probable pre-shoulder plan for Liv to dethrone Rhea at summerslam (rather than retaining against her due to Rhea having to vacate and Liv winning the title off Becky Lynch) had happened but Liv’s had the title for. Like. Five? Six? Months? Respectfully it’s both okay to change and probably needs to.

Priest v. Balor: KICK HIS FUCKING ASS DAMIAN!!!! ahem. i'm not surprised by the lack of stipulation here given that it's their first real match since Finn joined the judgment day and the feud still has a long way to go! As far as who's winning.......see here's the thing. We're not getting two terror twins losses, not because "ugh they're making the judgment day look weak" but because the two of them are among the faces (no pun intended) of RAW. But it’s super unlikely they’ll BOTH win. And the Rhea/Liv feud has been going for ages. And there is PLENTY of time to cook with the Damian/Finn feud. So I suspect this match is the terror twins loss. We have time for funky stipulations later. Why did i start doing proper caps here. (Originally I put a note here about how I don’t entirely think finn “needs” to win here, but the amount of people I’ve seen who forget about this feud existing because of Rhea’s magical ability to reverse typical fandom sexism suggests otherwise, even if the forgetting has nothing to do with the feud itself and everything to do with external factors.) This is a secondary prediction but I feel like this match ends up being effectively three on one (b/c the rest of the boys mainly stick w/ finn). Maybe setting the stage for my banger jd collapse idea which also hopefully gets jd mcdonough out of the company FUCK that guy.

SIDE NOTE I GUESS: I keep seeing people saying that they’re booking the feud badly or whatever, but I think what’s ACTUALLY happening is that the nature of both the terror twins’ common enemy and the fact that Damian is currently a little more focused on kicking ass for Rhea’s sake b/c he’s an older brother type—hell, the entire “am I my brother’s keeper” promo spells that out pretty clearly!—combined with Rhea Ripley being Rhea Ripley and the other big raw feud being punkintyre means that it’s been in the spotlight a bit less. But it’s only been like eight weeks. There’s time to cook. Once the Liv/Rhea feud is over they’ll hit the gas pedal big time. And I will perish. Painfully. Also can they bring back that one really pretty ring fit I saw on Twitter (chel stop

ALSO WE’RE NOT GETTING THE FUCKING DEMON HERE. They seem to aim for more groundedness lately and that thing has to be EARNED, and it is too early for that. Triple H is not a perfect man but I love the focus on. Not doing as much supernatural shit. The Wyatt Sicks is the closest we’ve really gotten so far and even that isn’t like OH THEYRE POSSESSED or anything. Anyway I could MAYBE see them TEASING the demon but that’s like a match two AT BEST thing. Realistically it rears its head briefly the next time they fight.

NIA VERSUS BAYLEY: HI FROM AFTER THE LAST SMACKDOWN. OKAY. NIA WINS PROBABLY BECAUSE CONFIRMED HOST NAOMI TURNS ON BAYLEY. TIFFY CASHES IN FOR A LOT OF REASONS INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THEY REAAAAAALLY IRONED HOME THE WHOLE “she could cash in on someone else” THING. TIFFY WINS. RIP.

SIGHS LOUDLY. RHODES AND REIGNS VS SIKOA AND FATU. Also had to rewrite this paragraph because mister chel and I are kinda coming around on this, not because of the guys themselves but because Randy and KO are getting fucking pissed off and I think this is gonna make them turn heel. okay i had a different prediction but mister chel changed my mind so cody and roman win. OH GOD. ITS THE MAIN EVENT. IF I HAVE TO SEE DWAYNE FUCKING JOHNSON LIKE EVERYONE INCLUDING ME SUSPECTS,

Punk v. McIntyre: HELL IN A FUCKIN CELL BABY!!!! Punk probably wins here, in part because McIntyre does great as a losing heel and in part because Punk is doing great in terms of crowd reception. Side note I loved the bracelet plotline because it's such a nice use of fan stuff but I'm honestly glad it met its end. the plotline not the bracelet itself, the real bracelet is fine. also i ordered this last b/c it should be main event but the fucking rock continues to ruin my life.

time to start on bad blood predictions now that we got three confirmed matches...

[rredcrystal]

✦ @bluue-crystal ✦ Roxas ✦

                   𝕀 𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕞𝕪 𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕤                                                                    𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕒 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝

                               ✦ || Indie || Friendly || Semi - Selective ||✦

                   𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕀 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕤                                                                    𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕝

                                                                                  ✦ Hayner ✦ @rredcrystal ✦

[heartmix]

Charm Your Way-Jay White

Pairing: Jay White x gn!reader

Word Count: 700+

Warning: fluffy, I can't write jay white in any other thing but fluffy fluff

A/N: I HATE writers block. I feel so bad for not uploading anything because I told myself I was gonna write and publish the whole summer.

Masterlist / Wrestling Masterlist

"I only have you for one more night." 

He muttered those words making yourself snap out of whatever alternate reality you were in. You forgot he wasn't in the same company as you. You forgot he had his own company to go back to, he was the champion of that said company. You forgot it was just for a pay-per-view and everything would go back to normal Monday morning. It was Sunday night, your alternate reality was coming to a close real quick. 

"What, these last few months weren't enough for you." You squeaked out. Truth be told it wasn't enough for you. Even if he was the first NJPW guy to show up on AEW tv, it wasn't enough. You were selfish and wanted more. 

"The rest of my life wouldn't be enough." He charmed making you groan. Why did he have to be so charming? He was such a prick and everyone knew that but you only saw the charming side of him which is probably why it was harder to say goodbye till next time. 

"Hmmh, ever so charming with your words." 

"That's how we ended up in this situation in the first place ain't it darling." He mused with a cocky smirk on his face. 

When he first appeared backstage at AEW surprising the Bucks with a happy Adam Cole, he made an impression. Chatted up all his old friends, making them laugh while he was the loudest one catching everyone's attention. It caught your attention for sure. Part of you wanted to tell him to shut up and keep his voice down but the other part of you wanted to be friends with the dude. 

You had your eyes glued on him the whole time you were in catering, you couldn't help it. It's not like you were the only one, some of the girls were just as intrigued while some of the guys chatted about wanting a match, or rematch with him. As if he had eyes on the back of his head, he turned to your table with a smirk looking right into your eyes. Despite mostly the whole table looking at him he never moved his eyes from you. It was as if he was trying to charm you with just his eyes. It didn't work. As if he knew it didn't work he stood up and made his way over to you. 

"Hey, I'm Jay." He greeted the table for once looking at everyone but you. He greeted everyone else and saved you for last. 

"Hi, I'm Jay. Nice to meet you, future champ." He greeted you with a smile which took you back. Future champion? Well, that was certainly a unique way of greeting someone.

That greeting is what made you want to know even more. Watching him on the screen wasn't enough. Seeing him in the halls wasn't enough. You wanted, needed to be talking to him. Little did you know at the time was that he felt the same way. Your match was right before his tv promo and he needed to introduce himself. You staring at him was the perfect excuse to go up and talk to you. 

"So what do you want to do the rest of the night?" He asked snapping you out of your thoughts. What was there even to do on his last night here. 

"I don't know champ. That's totally up to you."

"Hmmh. Stay with me." He asked making you chuckle.

"Well, I was planning to stay the night anyways. Did you forget that we're riding to the airport together?" You reminded as you were confused about how he forgot about the arrangement. You both agreed to go to the airport together as you arrived at the arena. Sure it was more than 6 hours ago that he proposed it but still.

"I don't mean just for tonight. I mean after Monday morning. I mean while I'm all the way in Japan or traveling across the globe while you're here in the states. Hell, I'll fly you out to me just for a day if our schedules are conflicting. Just tell me that you'll stay." He begged, looking at you with sincerity for the first time. 

"You just have to charm your way to keep me huh." You smiled hoping he knew your answer. The first night you were scared to go on doing whatever this was with him. He had a reputation and everyone including himself knew it. Throughout the months he reassured you that he was actually into you, every chance he got, maybe that's why it was so easy to give into him. 

"I'd do whatever to keep you. You should know that by now." 

[eldesperadont]

you’re fancam made me fall in love and i don’t even know who he is

I suppose this is about my El Desperado fancam and even if not im still gonna use this to infodump about him! For anyone that saw him yesterday on Dynamite for the first time or whenever :D

El Desperado is one of NJPWs top Junior Heavyweight wrestlers and has held the belts for said weightclass several times now. He’s also one of their best talkers, deadass, i fell in love with this dude thanks to his amusing promos.

Some background info on him:

He trained and debuted in NJPWs dojo under his real name, Mikami Kyosuke, and spent a year on excursion, working for CMLL as a masked wrestler called Namajague. (and lost said mask in a match stipulation)

After that he debuted on NJPWs main roster as El Desperado (the first thing he did was gifting the jr champ a bouquet of black roses.) Despy started as a face but didnt have much success, ultimately turning heel and joining Suzuki Minorus group ‘Suzuki-gun’, learning their ruthless bastard ways.

Since then he's best known for his banger hatelove rivalry with Hiromu Takahashi (which is anything BUT straight, like seriously)

They have a 10+ year long history and some insane singles matches together which i can pretty much all recommend, my personal favourite is their BOSJ 27 Finals match (which i also made a video edit for here)

Other noteable things:

- he's in a great tag team with Yoshinobu Kanemaru, who he credits for a lot of his current success

- for the longest time he was our sad lil meow meow cause he would constantly joke about himself and allude to being a depressed drunk - after an injury he sustained in a match (and got a lot of unjustified backlash for) he came back more confident, calling his own shots, and its paying off! we love to see it

- he pretends that his CMLL persona Namajague is totally not him, that its a dude that lives in Mexico, and when CMLL/NJPWs crossover event comes around (which sadly didnt happen since the pandemic started) he performs as Namajague, its a lot of fun :)

- he’s a huge nerd. a dork even

[magicpotatoobsession]

GIVEN | 5 things I adore about Take-chan

There is no denying that I love my Given babies. But there is also no denying that I am godforsakenly

IN LOVE WITH TAKE-CHAN! 😍😍😍

Let's talk why Yatake Koji is literally husband, best man material, and the healthiest bean on the planet! As well as...actual evidence pointing towards how Take-chan potentially liked Haruki at some point! 😮

(anime/manga spoilers ahead!)

1. He is reliable as fuck

In the Given anime, Take-chan was hinted as the event organiser of the first-live as he asked the Seasons to play at the venue that Mafuyu worked at. So when Haruki was having a freak-out and asked Take if he could cover for them, he said,

This, my friends, is what we call, TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY.

Whenever there is a new band member, trust me when I say that it takes a while to adjust, even for professional musicians! Music is all about reading non-verbal cues and it's really hard to be in sync straight away with each another! Also, at this point in time in the story, we gotta remember Mafuyu had literally been learning music for like 3 months and probably only agreed to properly join the band for 2 out of the 3. Take-chan knew the risk of asking the Seasons (which we in the music industry would define as emerging artists) to play yet he still wanted to give them a platform to perform. WHAT A FREAKING CHAMP. And he delivered! He got the crowd going and gave them 2-3 extra songs so that Mafuyama could gather themselves! Bless that boi <3

In the Given Manga, it's not as clear that Take was related to the organisation of the event or even to Mafuyu's workplace, but he still said to Haruki,

"But if you need it, I'll cover your ass".

You seriously can't get more reliable than that.

2. He is an acts-of-service man

Take-chan should really bill Given for the shit does for them! Like this is lowkey a joke but not a joke 'cause dudeeeeee the amount of stuff that Take-chan did for Given for free is absolutely ridiculous! Let me just quickly run some numbers for you.

Staying up and editing a video from a live show?! Bruh, easily $800 - 1000 US minimum industry standard, even more if it's multi-angle with special effects and colour corrections etc. Video-editing is also his major, he's gotten his undergrad degree and if he's already working for a company, he would be charging industry standard.

Also he was performing in the live AND filming for the live?! My man, when do you catch a break?!

Next person who laughs should owe you at least 5000 yen, Take-chan! A professional photoshoot in a studio with lighting set-up and backdrop should at least be worth $1500 - $2000 US min. Oh my goodness, then Take-chan actually said

"Do they suck, do you not like them?"

My angel, you are a professional doing them SUCH A HUGE FAVOUR, Given should take you out to dinner 5 times over!

So that's a total of almost $3000 US worth of marketing promo material that he just did for FREE!

Ok ok ok I know that not everything is about money and that Kizu did mention that Take-chan "does make music videos for bands he's chummy with" in his character profile but I just wanted to point out that without Take-chan, Given wouldn't have the amazing video that got them the crazy amount of online votes which probably wouldn't have gotten them such great results in the first two rounds of CAC, and subsequently the opportunities and approaches from record labels.

Take-chan's support and reliability kickstarted Given popularity and will be crucial to the success of all their careers!

He was even the first one to follow Given's Twitter! I think this also shows that Take-chan's main love language is probably ACTS OF SERVICE, which is very cute! But he also practices all the other forms of love languages as well, my goodness Take-chan if you were real I would not hesitate and ask you out immediately. <3

3. Has his own opinions but doesn't internalise other people's problems

In one of the comedy panels at the end of Chapter 13, we find out that Take-chan's never been a fan of Akihiko but this little side story is really interesting.

I was chatting to @edragoon and @raine-kai way back in Sept 2021 about this panel and they said that the word that Take-chan used to describe Akihiko here is really interesting. It's not hate, it's also not dislike, as @edragoon puts it,

"that sort of feeling that you have for a person that you know isn't a bad person, but your vibes just don't check."

This is because from Take-chan's perspective, the way that Akihiko and Take-chan treated Haruki back then were completely different.

Take-chan was all ACTS OF SERVICE

Akihiko was all "TAKE TAKE TAKE from Haruki" (sorry I had to make that pun LOLL)

So of course our angel Take-chan was completely unimpressed with how Akihiko was taking advantage of Haruki, especially knowing that Haruki wasn't getting enough sleep already as it was!!! 😩

---

Western vs. Japanese "Personal Dislike"

The three of us ended up discussing something that was quite fascinating that I think more people ought to know!

In Western culture, when we dislike someone and we say it's personal, it can be seen as a big deal and can be akin to a form of hatred where one may feel like they have the strong urge to "avenge" or "revenge" something.

But in Japanese culture, not so much. Take-chan's dislike of Akihiko is personal, but it's more like "my dislike is my business. And I personally wouldn't hang out with Akihiko one on one or work with him. " So it's not as much of a big deal where he wanted to fight Akihiko but rather he wouldn't be at the mix if it wasn't for Haruki.

Do you see what I am saying? So Take is saying that his personal feelings towards Akihiko is his own so it shouldn't concern Haruki because Haruki is a grown man and can take care of himself. As much as he dislikes what Akihiko is doing to Haruki, Take-chan is NOT INTERNALISING Haruki's issues and trusts that Haruki can take care of himself. and Haruki appreciates him so much for it!*

*I'll discuss this in detail later.

(edragoon and raine-kai please feel free to add further or make corrections, you guys probably have a much better grasp on this than I do 🙏)

-> Also, Take-chan is perceptive AF, that very bottom line is a HUGE HINT that he had a feeling that Akihiko was using his good looks to use himself as a male prostitute to get money from women. (Take-chan and his big brain energy let me tell you).

4. He respects other people's boundaries

When I was younger, I was often consumed by media which portrayed love as "we gotta sacrifice this and solve our loved ones' problems for them".

Over the years, I realised how wrong that mindset is because adulthood is learning that you can't solve everyone's problems for them.

Take-chan is the definition of a healthy bean because he is so good at asking Haruki for what he needs as well as respecting Haruki's personal boundaries.

Firstly, In Chapter 18 after Haruki's illusion of Akihiko got shattered and he was really shaken, Take-chan immediately asks,

Take-chan KNOWS that Haruki's low self-esteem means that he is always directing his attention onto everyone else so he makes sure that as a good friend, he CHECKED IN on Haruki to make sure he's ok.

But he is so amazing because he didn't push it when Haruki didn't want to share the details. He RESPECTED Haruki's privacy and instead, makes a suggestion,

"Why not play support for another band as a breather?"

I love that! Rather than forcing Haruki to tell him and potentially making him uncomfortable, he took a different approach of making suggestions.

Same thing here, when Haruki came over to Take-chan's place after THAT INCIDENT,

1. Take-chan asked Haruki what happened 2 times.

2. But he noticed that Haruki was not listening. He respected that Haruki was not in the mindset to talk about it and didn't push him and just offered what Haruki needed.

Let's recap Take-chan's internal monologue.

They just sat in silence. Take-chan took care of Haruki in the best way he knew how. ACT OF SERVICE. Haruki was not in the space to share so he respected that and cared for his friend in other ways

offered him tea

gave him a haircut

GIFTS - brought him green peppers from the countryside

QUALITY TIME - checked up on Haruki

5. Take-chan has secure attachment style

Take-chan upon finding out about Akihiko staying over momentarily couldn't hide his true opinion of the guy, and he accidentally slipped lollllll. But then he PATIENTLY LISTENED to Haruki explaining himself as to why he decided to take Akihiko in.

3. Take-chan then said this,

SO FREAKING HEALTHY!

Take-chan is displaying important qualities in a healthy individual who has secure attachment style:

lost his cool for a second but able to regulate emotions and feelings and regain his calm

*showing TRUST in Haruki knowing that he knows best how to take care of his own situation.

*able to hold space and allow Haruki to open himself to him when he's ready

*And Haruki appreciates the heck out of Take-chan for it! You don't have to do everything or solve everything for the people you love. This is something that all the Given characters should learn from Take-chan! Everyone else feels overwhelming emotions and internalises their loved one's problems. Take-chan is so freaking healthy because he loves Haruki knowing that Haruki is just trying to figure shit out.

Trusting them and being there for them is LOVE.

Can I just marry Take-chan already? ❤️

------

Ok I have a theory....

Take-chan potentially romantically liked Haruki at some point

A lot of people think that Take-chan is straight and I dunno,

I always got a bi/pan-vibe from him.

I was so glad when I saw in one of @a-voice-of-my-own posts that he thought the same! After some digging for this meta, I actually have some proof as to why I feel that way.

A) The Hair Token

Take-chan and Haruki met in college because they share the same undergrad film major. In his character profile, Kizu writes

"Film editing - mixing both his interest and the chance to make money"

From this, it is clear to me that he is a man with ambition, dreams and goals, he doesn't care if he doesn't fit the status quo, he would rather retake his exam and do what he actually wants in life than conform to societal norms.

This is the cover of Chapter 13 and a picture of Haruki and Take-chan from 2 years ago. Take's hair didn't seem long enough to be tied into a man-bun back then....

From what we find out in Chapter 20, Take-chan cuts his own hair and now he can tie it into a man-bun.

Remember in Given, the growing of long hair symbolises hope for love to be reciprocated. (scroll to "Tokens in Given")

So the fact that Take-chan grew his hair a little but maintains it himself at a man-bun length could mean that he has always liked Haruki however

kept his feelings in check rather than let it get out of control because he understands his sense of self worth.

Yes he liked Haruki but he's not gonna chase after someone who didn't feel the same. All the stuff he does for Given the band isn't actually for Haruki but because Take genuinely likes Given's music. He has such a great sense of self that he's not the type to chase Haruki like that. If he does do something nice for Haruki, it's because he genuinely cares for him and loves him, he doesn't need any sort of reciprocation. He does it because it aligns with his values and purpose in life WHICH I JUST ABSOLUTELY ADORE BECAUSE IT'S SO HEALTHY. 😩🙏❤️

Take-chan let me be your wife please! ❤️

B) The Mario Joke

Ok I think maybe it wasn't just me that found it a bit ~fruity~ when Haruki was major blushing as Take-chan gave him the USB of the live-video that he stayed up all night editing lol. But it seems like a lot of people still thinks that Take is straight, which is fine. That could just be healthy masculinity. I accept that interpretation.

But ok ok ok hear me out. Scroll up to the Chapter 13 side panel where Take-chan, Haruki and Akihiko are at the date-mix!

Take-chan flirted with the girls using the Mario joke!

Scroll up again and go back to the Chapter 22 panel that I posted!

In chapter 22, Take-chan, consciously or subconsciously, flirted with Haruki by using the Mario joke!

AND AKIHIKO HEARD EVERYTHING!!! Remember Akihiko was there at the date mix too so he knew that Take's go-to flirt line is the Mario joke! 🤯🤯🤯

That's why in that same chapter, Akihiko began to open up to Haruki that things are almost over between him and Ugetsu!!! Akihiko wanted to heal Haruki's broken heart and reignite any remnants of hope that Haruki had left in him!

Also, back when Akihiko said to Haruki in Chapter 17,

"You're more popular than you think you are,"

I 100% believe that Akihiko, being also the incredibly perceptive bean that he is, was referring to Take-chan liking Haruki. 😎Bruh, trust me.

------

Take-chan's journey of moving on

Ok let's just get one thing straight. Take-chan may have had feelings for Haruki but he was never holding out hope for Haruki to like him back. He just wanted to care for Haruki and he continued to live HIS LIFE and follow HIS PASSION.

However Chapter 22 is a pivotal turning point for him. Of course he personally didn't like witnessing Akihiko staying with Haruki but when he realised that Haruki finally stopped running away from his problems, he supported that and he realised that

Akihiko staying with Haruki was good for Haruki's personal growth.

That's why he said,

"If Haruki's ok with it, Take-chan is ok with it."

MY GAWD someone give that man a cookie I love him so much. Take-chan's love comes in the form of understanding and trusting that Haruki knows what is best for himself and that if Haruki does need anything from Take, Take will be there for him. Guys this is true love, true healthy love. We may never full confirm if Take's love was platonic or something more but this is true love right here.

-----

Then comes CAC live where Yoru Ga Akeru had such a positive impact and changed EVERYONE - Haruki, Akihiko, Ugetsu, and that's also where

❤️ Take-chan and Yayoi met ❤️

Take-chan and Yayoi are literally so well suited and healthy for each other because Yayoi is also someone who has a great sense of self-worth. Let me know if you want me to do a meta on them, they are so interesting as a couple!

---

I also really love this Given Movie extras panel:

LMAO Take-chan has the exact same reaction as Uecchi which is HILARIOUS HAHAH but now Akihiko is a changed man and finally we see Haruki being treated how Haruki should be treated. Also notice the differences between Chapter 13 extras panel and here?

PAST Akihiko crashed at Haruki's house whenever and ate Haruki's food, basically taking advantage of Haruki. Yes Akihiko was fighting his own demons but he was not treating Haruki very nicely. Two things can be true at the same time.

PRESENT boyfriend Akihiko keeps in touch with Haruki round the clock because Haruki is Akihiko's home, buys Haruki coffee, never late to rehearsals and practises hard at music .... wait

Akihiko becomes a man with his own ambitions and goals .....a man like Take-chan!

I wonder if Akihiko not only got inspired by Mafuyu's song but also by Take-chan??!! He secretly looked up to Take-chan and after hearing that convo between Haruki and Take-chan in Chapter 22, he's like holy crap I need to start pulling my shit together or I am seriously gonna lose Haruki forever. This is quite a plausible "take"! 😛

In Conclusion,

my love for Take-chan could be that I am literally Yayoi as I also have an adorkable little brother so I can't help but see Uenoyama and all the other characters in Given as my babies. However, there is no denying that Yatake Koji is such a wonderful guy and should be someone we all look up to for inspiration on how to form healthy bonds and secure attachments with other people!

😍WE LOVE YOU TAKE-CHAN!😍

--- Masterlist of my Given Metas

If you like what you read, all I post is basically Given analysis content! Give my blog a follow to be notified of future posts! #metapotato

[cinenthusiast]

thoughts on dynamite & rampage 2/16 & 2/18

- punk & mjf promo was easily my favorite promo since the feud began. punk was on fire. mjf was, for the 1st time, speechless. and turns out the guy can emote! his eyes were SO SAD. dog collar match!!!! can we talk about how great & logical the storytelling is here? mjf, master of running out of the ring like a coward at a moment's notice. it gets overdone and frustrating. i'm thinking of that tag match with sting, darby, and punk (which i loved). he is known for playing that note. punk has been frustrated by how hard it is to actually face the guy in the ring. so they solve this and grant us payoff on this long standing basic heel beat by having punk win the tag match with mox and getting to set the terms, place etc. so what does he do? he brings the piper references full circle and decides on a match mjf can't run away during. they're going kinky for this ppv and i am 1000% here for it. and this is a match they've only done once in aew so it's not only an earned development, but it's really novel for them

- enjoyed the danielson/moriarty match a lot, also kicked up the sexual tension to new heights?!?! a technical face-off with moriarty showing he can go toe-to-toe with danielson while also highlighting that he can't threaten him as of now. he didn't have the violence he needed!

- mox isn't saying yes...but he isn't saying no! it looks like either way we get a danielson faction coming out of this. loved this promo from mox. danielson was essentially the jack nicholson departed gif the entire time, great stuff

- wardlow/caster was exactly what it needed to be

- page/cole promo was solid. i'm trying to figure out how they'll book this match besides obvious low blow attempts by cole. cole has a very predictable move-set and he's also ridiculously over, so i'll be interested to see how the audience responds to it and if they can make this match really compelling. hope they amp up the build with the time they have left. i'm excited for it, but they're not on fire right now. cole just seems so livid that he lost to cassidy that he's full-on in take me seriously mode. but they're having him go for page so quickly after that shift that it feels like they're pulling the trigger on this way too soon

- dug the inner circle match, largely for the drama of it. i have no idea where anything still stands but i was entertained by dumb jake hager screaming "Why?! Why?!" at his opponents. Jericho and S&O sold the hell of this. And can we talk about the EDDIE KINGSTON POP?!?!?! I love him so much. This guy has more raw charisma, more presence, realness, star wattage, than literally anyone that's a big deal in hollywood right now. it's kind of absurd.

- thunder rosa vs mercedes martinez - my favorite match of the week!!! this ruled. the match built and built with these shaky flubs or wobbles that they always worked through like champs, but that gave this match, which was no DQ to begin with, the feeling on a tightrope. it felt like we were always one degree away from total disaster and it was exhilarating. thunder on the guardrail, the table not opening right, thunder basically folding in half from that suplex off the top rope, mercedes slipping off the corner. this was unhinged and both women put in such a show for everyone. the exhaustion and hard-hitting nature. and then the end angle with thunder bowing and then mercedes hesitating and the beatdown after. great stuff. a cobra kai guy was there??? i hope we get a thunder/mercedes tag at some point

- sammy & darby. the two most AEW guys in the roster, 2 guys who just put their bodies through insane shit on the regular, so, despite my dislike of sammy, this absolutely delivered just like you'd expect. sick spots all over the place. about 3 or 4 times where i exclaimed "sir, how are you still alive". that apron bump. darby, i'm convinced you have no bones. and while the finish was convoluted, it's going to lead to andrade wrestling again and i CANNOT WAIT. it's been way too long.

rampage:

- cole vs 10 was fine. I have zero idea why this went as long as it did. I'm trying to understand why you'd have Cole go this long with a lower tier dark order member if you're trying to build him as a threat to page. 10 does nothing for me, but again, fine match.

- dante vs powerhouse. YESSSSSSSSSSSS. Powerhouse won!!!! So unexpected, I'm so thrilled. I know he won't win the ladder match at all, but it's great that he's getting a ppv spot in there, and we've got 3 big boys in this thing which should make for a really interesting match. i cannot wait. the two of them do great together so I coudl not have been happier with how this turned out.

- serena deeb. who will be the eventual one to break the 5 minutes i wonder? see, last week when they started this I was happy because it was like "wow, 2 women's matches (even one as short as this) on one show, that's great!" but now this week they used it to simply fill the women's quota entirely. so that sucked. if this is a new pattern i'm going to be very annoyed

- trent & jay was really great. ok, VERY into jay white. i have no experience with him and am so unfamiliar with what the specifics of a new japan match are outside of the ways it has shown up in aew, but i love how even this match was. trent took some crazy bumps, jay's character work was really fun. i need the best friends to disband, i just cannot stand this faction and i have no idea what it does for trent to be in there with them. he needs to be his own guy

[peepspersonalperspective]

MY PICKS: Top 10 K-Dramas

Disclaimer: These are totally subjective choices and I've justified them as per my preferences. Consider them friendly recommendations and let me know if you disagree. Also, I've discovered the wonderful world of K-Dramas over the last couple of years and they've really evolved not just in storytelling but also production value so I personally prefer the more recent ones. So for example I haven't put a very popular pick like My Love from the Star simply because I've seen better stuff since (don't shoot me). Anyway, 가자!

MEMORIES OF ALAHAMBRA

This is my first recommendation for anyone who's just starting out watching Korean television content simply because it's so different from what new viewers expect it to be. It's so gripping and thrilling. I would expect nothing less from Song Jae Jung's writing.

So it's a sci-fi show, set in Spain, about an augmented reality game, that seems to have physical implications in the real world, sending the lead, Hyun Bin on a rollercoaster ride to find answers. Exo's Chanyeol has a recurring role as the game developer, so that's exciting too. I learnt that he was cast because of his love for PubG. Lol.

Every episode will leave you wanting more, and you'll find yourself as desperate to search for answers as Yoo Jin Woo (Hyun Bin).

Granted, mid season, it gets a little complicated, especially with newer nuances of the game unfolding, but fret not because the characters are discovering the secrets of the game with you. So they're as confused as you would be, and that's why this show is so good! More so because the graphics are excellent! You can tell they really spent money on ensuring high quality work. You will really feel like you're part of the game with Yoo Jin Woo.

Anyway, if you are an EXO-L, or you like gaming, sci-fi, thriller and Hyun Bin, this show is great!

2. W - Two Worlds

Another piece of awesome from Song Jae Jung. I would still rank this show a little below Alahambra, because I think the makers made improvements from this sci-fi drama in Alahambra, in the sense of storytelling. Still, W is just as intriguing.

Oh Yeon Joo (Han Hyo Joo) gets sucked into a comic book where she falls in love with the lead character of the comic book, Kang Chul (Lee Jeong Suk). Sounds like a typical romance drama right? Don't be fooled because there are many many twists and turns along the way.

I feel like there is metaphor in there somewhere about existentialism, the creation and destiny. But maybe that's just me reading into things.

Lee Jeong Suk is extremely desirable as Kang Chul, unsuspectingly charming and endearing, and Oh Yeon Joo is an absolutely relatable character, and how she deals as an ordinary girl thrown into extraordinary circumstances is genuine.

I would say this drama is wholesome, with sci-fi, suspense, thriller, action, romance, filial relationships, and more. And while it's usually difficult to jam pack all this into one show without screwing it up, W emerges exceptional.

3. Extraordinary You

This show is so cute! If you want just a light hearted, quirky show, this is the one for you.

It's about characters in a cartoon becoming aware of their existence in a cartoon. But don't worry this is NOTHING like W.

The best part about the show is that it's not about the main characters of the said cartoon. It's the story about the extras finding their way in that world, hence the pun intended in the title. The main characters (of the cartoon) are actually the most dull, because they are bound by the laws of stereotypical high school romance. But the real stuff is happening on the sidelines, with Kim Hye Yoon as Dan Oh and Rowoon as Haru.

Dan Oh is a hilarious character and Kim Hye Yoon does a fantastic job of switching emotions when she's in and out of a scene in the cartoon. One minute she goes into character mode, next minute she's bitching at the sorry fate of her character when she wakes up, to the astonishment of the characters surrounding her (who aren't aware of their reality yet).

Rowoon has a quiet charm about him that perfectly complements Hye Yoon. Check it out for a chuckle and a taste of something different.

4. Crash Landing on You

This show is hard not to like. Apart from the poorly picturized tornado carrying our leading lady over the border to North Korea, this show is a wonderful Netflix and Chill kind of show, I think.

The cultural disparity between the South and North is interesting to watch and also entertaining. Like when they mention buying mobile games at an App store (a literal application store in a Pyongyang market).

Ri Jung Hyuk (Hyun Bin again) and Yoon Seri (Son Yejin) are such a delight in comedic, romantic, and dramatic scenes. But the scene stealer for me was Yang Kyun Won as Pyo Chi Soo, and his unshakeable nationalism that he is ready to set aside for some shampoo and conditioner.

The interesting thing is going into the show, you have an idea of the longevity, so ofcourse, Seri's journey back to the South ain't going to be easy, also her relationship with Ri Jung Hyuk is doomed, and yet you find yourself rooting for them at each step, crying with them during their failures and crying with them even in their triumph. But the most tears were shed for the least expected character, who simply left us all heart broken.

5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

In a world where women are expected to behave and look a certain way to be considered attractive by someone they're vying for, here's a food hogging, tomboy, weightlifting champ, with her first crush.

The premise may rope you into the show, but midway you realise that the heart of the show is in its characters, and without realising you become so invested in them that you feel their fears, insecurities, and cherish their victories with them.

This coming of age show really relishes on the quirks of each character, friendship, love and aspirations. It's not a very dramatic story which is probably why it didn't rate very high during its broadcast, but that's part of its charm, and that's why it's been able to gather a significant cult following since.

Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk portray the most sincere friends and eventual couple. Their relationship blossoms in the most organic manner and it's so heartwarming. They're not cheesy or unrealistic; they even beat each other up! I don't think I've seen that level of comfort portrayed on screen so well before.

Watch out for guest appearances by Ji Soo and Lee Jeong Suk.

6. Strong Girl Do Bong Soon

I'll be honest, this recommendation is mainly for Park Hyung Sik. He's amazing in the show. And there could be no better supernaturally strong petite girl than Park Bo Young, either.

So there are actually a lot of things happening in the show, story wise, but I promise it all comes together in the end. There is quite a build up and I'm happy that it pays off adequately.

This is like a superhero show with all the spices and flavours of a Marvel movie, but K-Drama style. There's an invincible villain, some idiot gangsters for comedic value, romance (a love triangle infact), functional training, a point of lost hope for Bong Soon, and then her resurrection as a superhero.

It's all there, and more.

But Park Hyung Sik.....

7. Itaewon Class

This recommendation is simply for the refreshing change of representation on TV. I know a lot has already been spoken about it already, but I have to admit that that's what sets this revenge drama apart. That, and the music. Dayum, Start by Gaho is so catchy! And let's not forget V's Sweet Night.

This show starts off slow but give it 3 episodes before it gets to the real shit.

Park Saeroyi is almost too good to be true, and in that lies his shortcoming. His character is so strong that while watching him I forgot that Park Seo Joon was acting. And despite some unnerving moments I found myself rooting for him. He has some strong motivational lines too, like about his choice for a better life. His determination is almost unreal, as he goes on to take down his mortal enemy.

Some of the best scenes, though, are of Jo Yi Seo (Kim Dami), a sociopathic enterprising genius. She was the one who actually kept me hooked to the series. She added some much needed flair to the show, and as it appears to Park Saeroyi's establishment.

Actually, every character was strong, every character had a strong backstory and motivation for the action, and most importantly they never broke character.

Watch out for Park Bo Gum's special appearance.

8. Love In The Moonlight

Speaking of Park Bo Gum...

This show is all kinds of weird in the best way! A girl pretends to be a palace eunuch and falls in love with the crown Prince. That is so messed up!

But that's the fun part! And Park Bo Gum and Kim You Jung make it a wonderful ride. Full of quirky romance, political conflicts and hidden identity issues, this show is addictive af!

And even though this wasn't in the show and was just a promo, be sure to watch Park Bo Gum's Bombastic dance. It's adorable!

9. The Third Charm

I'm sure this is my least popular recommendation. But something about watching this show was so cathartic. I highly recommend it for those who may have gone through heartbreak ever in their lives.

This is probably one of those rare times when I was lost in the story instead of Seo Kang Jun's eyes. Hehe. This story is about an on again off again couple and their journey through life together and apart.

This was meant to be a healing drama, and it really does take you through the emotional evolution that comes with growing up. I think it's the perfect medicine for a healing heart.

10. It's Okay Not To Be Okay

This show! This is my current obsession. Kim Soo Hyun's comeback couldn't have been more perfect. Seo Yeji couldn't have been a more perfect casting. And the two leads couldn't have had a better chemistry.

This show is all kinds of whimsical and I love it. Also a healing drama, this show deals with.... Baggage....to put it simply. Some baggage may be bigger than other baggage, some even irrevocable. But seeing all the characters overcome this baggage is so fulfilling.

But the charm of this show is in Ko Moon Young's (Seo Yeji) craziness and the Tim Burton-esque setup, that really makes one perceive fairytales in a whole new way. I mean I always knew that fairytales were sanitized German folklore, but I never thought to find a very different messaging from the material. The parables are ingenious, and it really is a pleasure to watch each and every person on this show.

Special mentions: Goblin, Reply 1988, 30 but 17/ Still 17, My ID is Gangnam Beauty, Hotel Del Luna

[handsome-robot]

I agree with MJF that people shouldn't be out here hitting crazy bumps every night BUT

That was a joke match on a PPV paying tribute to Inoki. I say this because I was excited to see what they were going to whip up to make me believe MJF could win in a 2 on 1 scenario. I hold MJF to a very high standard because he's the champ rn but also because I know he can do better.

That match should've looked like more of a struggle for him. He barely broke a sweat. The righteous earned their shot at the titles in a four way match. Weeks of building. Adam Cole gets injured and rather than relinquish the titles or get MJF a partner to make it a fair fight they just turned it into a joke match.

There are ways to let MJF win in that scenario and make it look real. The righteous are supposed to be these nasty violent men. They were floundering around out there like idiots. Falling for every distraction Max threw out.

Danielson talked at the all out scrum about smoke and mirrors and Ricky carrying him through their strap match, and that appeared to be a real war between those two.

You put in the work and orchestrate a match that feels real. Make me believe you earned those belts. The story we were told in that match was not that Max overcame the odds to protect Adam's belt but rather that Tony Khan had no intention or inclination to put belts on the righteous and we all should've just known max was going to win.

Did nothing to serve the Righteous and it honestly hurts the titles and RoH since here's ANOTHER team that won't ever show up on a Thursday night to defend. They are prop belts for Adam and Max right now.

Adamjf would bring some fresh eyes to RoH, this product that "no one watches" if they showed up here and there for title defenses. If the Hungbucks would appear and defend their six man titles. If CM Punk had showed up ONCE to this brand that he constantly made references to and had a match. The people might stop treating ROH as a non-entity if the owner and all the stars who work for him do first.

They do the RoH tapings before and after their live shows. Everyone is already in the building, they don't need to do any extra traveling. Just, on a night where a guy is doing an in ring promo for the show but no match, have em do an RoH fight!

What do I know tho? I'm not Booker of the Year.

[danwhobrowses]

WWE Royal Rumble 2021 - Initial Thoughts

I know I’m late, but employment is still a thing, and I had to prioritize that over an all-nighter, but it’s time for the Royal Rumble, one of the more exciting shows of WWE’s schedule, so let’s get on with it!

Spoilers for Royal Rumble, you have been Warned

I might not invest too much in kickoff matches but the Women’s Tag Match was not a good time

It was fine before the end, but who the hell decided that Charlotte should control 90% of the champions’ offense and have the hot tag!? Asuka is the RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION, not Charlotte. After the tag Asuka literally had one spot and she was dead, completely taken out of the match for *checks notes* being thrown over the Announcer’s Table...you know that thing several wrestlers come back from easily.

The finish was just too much too, Ric distraction didn’t work, Lacey distraction didn’t work, Kirufuda Clutch didn’t work but then the brass knuckles did. Too much.

And why TF are we putting titles back on Nia!? We should’ve just given the titles to the Riotts, or the winner of the Women’s Dusty Classic. It also cuts me deep that Asuka and Shayna are treated this way, even as champion Asuka is a side character to Charlotte T_T

Main show though and I don’t like the package and interviews between entrances

Drew vs Goldberg was just...meaningless.

It was cringy enough that Cole had to spout drivel to make 60 year old Goldberg seem strong but to have Drew be ‘injured’ by a barricade spear - something much more tired wrestlers have and will get back up from in less time and continue a longer match - was daft. Also saying that Goldberg’s spear or jackhammer is the best move of all WWE is stupid, it was a WCW thing

Thank God Drew Won, but the post-match does remind you of the meaningless circumstances this feud came about. Suddenly Goldberg is okay with Drew’s same manners of respect

I mean, Carmella’s entrance and gear is cool, but do you think it eats at Corey a little that Carmella’s ‘behind the curtain’ bit is a tad...red light district?

Sasha’s promo didn’t hit for me unfortunately

Reginald didn’t deserve to be ejected for that! He caught Sasha and get beaten up for it

Jesus Carmella! Sasha got barely any of that dive

Screeching and faffing aside, Carmella got a good showing...I do hate quick tap outs in title matches though

Sami cuts a good promo, but his content wasn’t exactly the best. New Day are hardly the management’s faves, it’s taken this long for E to get a singles run, Fans literally had to Yes Movement their way into giving Kofi the world title.

New Day’s Brodie gear was good though

Bad Bunny as the ‘Biggest Latin Artist’? Is Cole for real? I didn’t even know who he was before today

If the song is about Booker T then why is he dancing around GI Bro?

Come on Book, you hang on the Sucka! That’d be like if the Rock just went ‘If ya smell what the Rock is cooking’ without the drags or pauses

Ric’s ‘with a tear in my eye’ promo was after the Rumble though...

It’s actually a sad stat that just over half of the Rumble winners win titles

No Morrison segment for the escape spot!? He did it as much as Kofi dammit!

Sorry Greatest Royal Rumble is not canon for me

This Stat Attack has taken far too long

I’m okay with Mike Rome but couldn’t a woman have announced the Women’s Rumble? Where’s Lillian at!?

NAOOOOOOOMIIIIIIIIIIIIII GIRL WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?

That hair is amazing as well

I know you can’t say it, but we all remember that Benoit won the rumble in the first two as well

Was...Bianca wearing earrings on her entrance, she looked like she was taking them off

Billie actually had the right idea, can’t be in the match until you enter the ring, it’s clever stuff

That tank did not look like it was meant to turn that direction XD

It actually surprises me every time how tall Shotzi is, I always imagine her short

Billie no...not with Shayna

The piped boos are highly unrealistic to boo even a heel Toni Storm

Shotzi eliminated and then horrible singer Jillian comes in? Urrrrgh, Bad Singer Jillian was terrible

Wrestling wise she hasn’t missed a beat though

Billie’s surprisingly being a highlight here with actual narra-OHMYSHITITSVICTORIA

Gear was a bit meh but Victoria definitely can still go

Oh Peyton the purple looks good on you, and her Widow’s Peak was not bad at all

Ah, good for Santana, for a moment I thought it said Santina and got a very bad chill

Damn Liv, Speed Machine!

Ooof, the betrayal is real Billie

THIS IS MY BRUTALITY!

Somehow I’m genuinely upset by every elimination so far, good job!

Aaaaaand then they got rid of Victoria and brought on Charlotte to immediately take out Rhea -_-

That was a clever move from Bayley but damn Ruby landed hard

Are we seeing a Bayley/Peyton team? Or is she just eliminating the Riotts for revenge for Billie, but also Liv Nooooo!

Torrie now, eh okay

Ouch for Dana

Lacey...no, this ain’t working

Poor Peyton, her elimination was a side chapter

And we missed Bayley’s elimination!? For Shame

Mickie! Good to see ya! Aaaaand being beaten by Charlotte...

Nikki Cross is back too! Hopefully they find a good story for her

Alicia Fox? I guess she sobered back into the good gra...R-Truth? No

Oh yeah, Humberto is a thing

Jerry shut the fuck up!

The 24/7 stuff was super unnecessary, we did not need to take focus off this match

Lacey eliminating Mickie, rude.

Dakota should’ve gotten more time, she barely lasted a minute

Reginald again deserves better

See Tamina vs Rhea would be exciting...if Tamina was booked better

Naomi’s chemistry with Bianca is really insane right now

Lana *reminded of her feud with Shayna and Nia* Also Lana *goes for Rhea*

That was a hard tackle on Alexa by Rhea...aaaaand she’s eliminated mid ‘transformation’ a bit worthless for me

Road Warrior Ember Moon! And right into the Eclipse that’s the good shit

Baszler probably shouldn’t have eliminated Lacey story-wise

The Betrayal is real for Tamina as well

What’s with the crazy camera cuts!?

Nia eliminating Baszler? Nah...

Hold on Cole, baiting Nia over the ropes isn’t a ‘tremendous elimination’

The betrayal is real for Lana too, Nattie sure shrugged off that double assault

I get that the narrative is that Charlotte has beaten both Bianca and Rhea before, but to hang against both of them after already being in a match and hanging on from two apron attacks was daft. Stop making her super strong, she’s mega talented yes but giving her the Brock Lesnar energy does her no favours

That close call though with Rhea and Bianca was great, need more spots of two wrestlers about to be eliminated at the same time

The final bit of chain wrestling too was great, that’s what you need at the final part of a rumble, the mini-match

I had Rhea as my win prediction but am more than happy for Bianca, who was my second choice. Winning at No. 3 is great and her emotional promo just gets her more over. Bianca vs Sasha’s gonna be wild too

Overall the Women’s Rumble was good, most of the women got shine and there were a few mini stories too, do wish that more time was given to some women and that Sonya was in the rumble but the returns were good and most of the eliminations got me good

Miz talking about guaranteeing a championship run like he didn’t lose the last cash-in and didn’t have a chance to cash in previously this night when Drew was ‘reeling’ from the barricade spear.

I reiterate that I wish Sonya was in the rumble, but do like her endorsement of Bianca

Again, this 24/7 stuff is wrong place and time right now

Last Man StANDing Match for the UniVERSal Championship

Cole, there is Champion’s Advantage. Triple H vs Michaels Last Man Standing, neither men made the 10 so Trips kept the title, 17 years ago. Royal Rumble 2004.

See, this is where a Finisher Spotfest works, because it’s not about pinfalls it’s about keeping people down

The camera switches are not doing good on this portion of the side of the thunderdome

Yes, attacking the knees, this is the Cerebral ‘rope breaks with his pinkie finger’ Owens I like to see

Ooof the Golf Cart, a la Kane and Stadium Stampede

Why is this training area just like a second arena

Lil’ running ref in the background

Right into that conveniently placed mini-ladder

Not the forklift! Think of Judy Bagwell!

Oh that curtain is the thing Becky took a photo of! I mean she was always gonna be backstage

Corey before the match ‘there must be a winner’, Corey after Owens went through the stage LED ‘The ref should consider stopping the match’

Did the Ciampa move there to stand up

I don’t think you’re allowed to use a Ref Bump that way

Then the Second Ref restarts the count and stops at 5!? If this doesn’t come back next SD it’ll be a misstep

It was a physical match, not the best I think the finish brought it down. The problem is that KO has lost 3 times now and the last time is a botch finish, and we can’t have him lose again - the poor guy needs a win

ON THIS DAY, I SEE CLEARLY!

I will say this immediately, revealing Edge and Orton as 1 and 2 beforehand was a terrible idea, just because you don’t have a live crowd doesn’t mean the people watching from home can’t be surprised

‘Number 3 is the worst number to draw on average’ - Belair just won at No. 3

Ali at 4? Then went after Edge and not Orton?

Sami, just don’t get in Orton’s face

Refs what are you doing? No rules in Rumble, where were you with Nia and Shayna with that logic

‘What does Shin need to do to be more successful?’ - for one not face AJ Styles, he is still a tag, US and IC champ as well as a RR winner, that’s quite successful

Carlito finally shows after the Legends Night tease and yes those are some abs

So...Randy’s just sleeping with this knee injury

Big E enters with some snappy camera angles again

I was hoping for more Ali - especially since Ricochet came immediately after - buy angry E was nice to see

Wait is that Elias’ entrance? Where’s the guitar strum?

Priesty, wonder if this is his main roster call

What DJ leaves his equipment on stage anyway?

‘The biggest star in the world in the music business’ - for real?

‘I’ve heard of flying squirrels but flying bunnies!?’ - Corey you need to watch Tokyo Joshi Pro, they got a flying sugar rabbit

To quote Ross Tweddell, MMMmmm Riddle...does not do it for me

Stop with the camera cuts I beg of you!

Mayor of Knox County!?

Ricochet eliminated by Kane, le sigh

The betrayal is real for DBry

Big Elim for Priesty though

‘Now it’s a Royal Rumble’ - reminder that Edge is a KOTR winner too, and that Nakamura is the King of Strong Sty-oh and Corbin eliminated him :/ what was the gauntlet about if you’re gonna Corbin him?

Otis’ new gear is slick

aaaaand Corbin’d again

Big Dom Fuck im Uhhhhhh Spinebuster’d

Damn he got him though

Dang that bounce sound from DBry

Bobby no why you gotta do Dom like that!?

Hurricane back from his Gangrel crossing and disposing Sammy Guevara’s broken body in Elite Deletion to do another rumble

One of these days, he’ll hit that Chokeslam and shit will go wild

Christian! This time getting the more emphatic reaction

Oh that smile, that hits you in the chest cavity...then Riddle ruins it

Rey comes in and WWE made him an advertisement ¬_¬

Edward James Omos what are you doing? well...I know what he’s doing, IC feud between AJ and E

Edward James Omos fuck you for eliminating Rey

The betrayal is real for Shamu

Cole how did you know it was Seth before his entrance hit?

I don’t think we were supposed to pick up Shamu welcoming Christian back but that was sweet

Then finally BWOAR

And Bwoar eliminates Cesaro, what was the point of his push? (it’s because his contract’s nearly up isn’t it?)

Again with the camera switching

Seth No! And where’s the boos pipe music!? DBry was a heavy favourite, that would’ve caused heat

Can’t believe Mmm Riddle lasted ahead of DBry

I didn’t forget about Orton, but the finish was good, that Orton tease got us good

It was a decent rumble, in hindsight you could tell Edge was winning given how they put express focus on Michaels winning at number on in the stat attack, Edge being face in peril for the first 10 entrants and Cole reminding us how long Edge has been in there

I don’t at all hate the end result, though I do question whether it was the best choice in the long run. Edge had his rumble win returning from injury already and throwing more legends at Drew does imply a heavy lack of depth in the current roster. Edge didn’t really need the win, but I’m not disappointed in him winning

The Men’s Rumble itself wasn’t as good as the women’s I don’t think, a lot of favourites of mine were unceremoniously dumped out quickly, any layered storytelling didn’t get enough time and it did feel a little by the numbers, almost a microcosm of modern WWE booking

Overall it was still a decent PPV, happy with the winners of the rumbles and that’s mostly all we need from a Royal Rumble. The Road to Wrestlemania starts here

[makemadej]

So today two of my worlds collided in the best way: Ryan and Shane were guests on one of my favorite podcasts. I was totally blindsided by this since there was no promo for it whatsoever (who knows why, maybe they forgot when the release date was, maybe they’ve been taken captive by skeletons, maybe they’re just terrible at promoting themselves), and it killed me that I couldn't listen to the whole thing until after work. It's over two hours long and podcasts aren't everyone's cup of tea, so I'm capturing the ghoul boy highlights here for anyone who wants them.

Wine and Crime is a weekly podcast hosted by three ladies who are feminist as fuck and pair a different crime with a different wine each episode. This time, the theme was Pandora's Box crimes, aka "crimes that were only supposed to be minimal but ended up being a shitshow." Inevitably, they paired it with boxed wine.

Enter the ghoul boys.

Ryan, on Franzia: I do enjoy slappin' a bag Shane: I've seen Ryan slap some bags in my day. [...] Ryan: Shane has to tell me to stop slapping the bag sometimes Ryan: I used to do this thing in college called Tour de Franzia. It was like a drinking game, but it was an obstacle course, and at every checkpoint you had to slap the bag. [beat] I made great decisions in college.

Ryan: You say "nice stream" to the sound of liquid being poured into something, it maybe is not the best...it may not communicate well over audio. Shane: Hey, nice stream Ryan: Nice stream. That's what I say every time I go up to a urinal. To any guy. Tap him on the shoulder. Shane: Men in public bathrooms, we all compliment each other's streams. Ryan: Yeah. It's best if you whisper it. At close proximity. I get really close so he can smell the Popeye's on my breath that I just got at the terminal and I whisper "nice stream."

Ryan: We're drinking the 14% Four Lokos seltzer over here [borderline unintelligible banter about playing Edward Four Lokos hands]

Ryan, on the description of himself on a "which BFU guy are you" quiz: That sounds like the description of a golden retriever.

Shane: I know there's one quiz that was popular where the description [of me] was entirely wrong.

Ryan, increasingly high pitched: A fan sent you all these goat parts?

[What is your favorite wine varietal?] Ryan: Hmmmmmm... [Do you know what a varietal is?] Shane, with gusto: No!

Ryan: Wine to me is just wine at this point. I'm not that far on my wine journey. I was a beer guy that's transitioning over into wine. Shane: Well, it sounds like you're not doing a very good job. Ryan: You know what, I said I am LEARNING, Shane. So why don't you get off your high horse and tell them what kind of wine you like? Shane: I don't even know! Ryan: Mr. "I don't know what a wine varietal is" Shane: Yeah. But I don't call myself a wine guy Ryan: I never said I was a wine guy! I said I was-- Shane: You were like, "Oh, have you see that Netflix documentary, Sommelier?" Ryan: First off, I didn't say it like Elmo from Sesame Street, but I also said I was transitioning!

Shane: I like some red wines and some white wines Ryan, imitating him: I like the stuff with the alcohol in it...and sometimes it has bubbles and makes my tummy feel good and uhhhh, yeah Shane: Yeah, I don't really know... Ryan: Sick answer Shane: There's a kind my girlfriend always gets that's really good but I don't...I can't remember the name of it Ryan: That's a long name. That's actually a good name for a wine! The Kind My Girlfriend Gets, ever had it? They sell it at Trader Joe's. Shane: I'm not even trying to do like a...*weird cowboy voice* "I'm a man, so I don't drink wine. Only my girlfriend does." I like wine, I've just...I've never been good at wine. And wine makes me real sleepy, so I almost never have it. Ryan: That's why I don't drink red wine...and it also makes me look like I've been chewing on mud clots or something.

[What is one "unsolved" case that you're pretty sure you've solved?] Ryan: What was that one where I was like, I think I've pretty much solved this one? The Black Dahlia I'm pretty sure was George Hodel. I'm almost positive of it. Shane: Wasn't there like a missing child one that we thought we had sorta gotten? Bobby Dunbar Ryan: Bobby Dunbar. I think we had solved that one. Uh... Shane: We can never concretely say that we've solved it. Ryan: No, we can't legally, but I'm pretty sure D.B. Cooper's bones are an ornament in some pine tree out there in the Pacific Northwest [...] Shane: The case is pretty closed on Amelia Earhart, too. Ryan: I don't think so. Shane: Yeah, she got eaten by crabs. Ryan: I think it's closed in your mind. That's what you'd like to have happened. Shane: That's what happened. Ryan: Giant, man-eating crabs. It's amazing that those exist. I saw one dragging a coconut. Not hard to imagine that coconut being a head. Shane: Yeah. Of an aviatrix. Ryan: Of an aviatrix, yeah. The most famous aviatrix of all time!

Ryan: Fun fact, shaking my bones is what I call dancing.

Shane: I'll say that Ryan is 100% that bitch. Ryan: I'd say 0% actually. Shane: See, that's what makes you that bitch. Ryan, cracking up: What about you, Shane? Shane: Mm. 45.

Ryan: I don't know if people would like me walking into a room trumpeting "I'm 100% that bitch!" every time I walk in a room. I think there's nuance to it. You can't always be 100% that bitch. [...] Or if I'm trying to make an omelet and I can't make the flip...not 100% that bitch in that moment. I'll tell you, it's the bane of my existence Shane: You can't make an omelet? Ryan: It's impossible! Shane: It's not. Ryan: It's really hard! I don't think I have the proper pan. Shane: It sounds like you don't. Do you have a good spatula? Ryan: Maybe, I dunno... Shane: WHAT DO YOU MEAN MAYBE? DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SPATULA OR NOT? It’s a yes or no question! Ryan: I think it might be, I don't know! I have no idea where it came from, I got it from my mom. Maybe she bought it from Sur la Table? Shane: I was gonna say, go to *French accent* Sur la Table, get a little free espresso... [degenerates into arguing about French pronunciation]

Shane on working at Abercrombie: I was in the stock room, they didn't let me up front. Not my beat. [...] Me and my friends...would just hang out in the back and listen to music and eat cookie dough. And they'd be like "we need you to fold this box of girly shirts" and we'd be like "ah, okay!" and then we'd just take the box and be like "this is too many shirts." And we'd just throw it...this was the area like a loft area where you couldn't see anything. We'd just throw the boxes so we wouldn't have to fold the shirts. They're probably still there. Ryan: Sounds like you were a great employee.

Shane: I started as Buzzfeed as an intern. Ryan had started a month or two before me. So we came up in the same intern class together.

Ryan: I did grip and electric work for two years, which is basically like lifting heavy gear essentially on set and I realized I didn't want to do that for ten years before I even had the chance to sniff a camera.

Ryan: I filmed powerpoints for doctors...I did feel like a prisoner at times when I was there, listening to a doctor from USC's Keck medical school talk about irritable bowel syndrome for two straight hours...I was a couple days away from joining the union...That was concurrent with the irritable bowel syndrome filmings.

Ryan: I chose the internship at Buzzfeed not knowing what it was, met the Shaniac over here, and then, um...we went through that program, which was kind of like the Hunger Games. We saw all of our fellow interns die. [...] We worked our way up, I eventually made Unsolved.I made unsolved actually with a different host, Brent Bennett. He left the show because he didn't like...I believe the quote was "I don't like these stories anymore." Shane: *dies laughing* Ryan: And I turned to my right and was like, "hey Shane, wanna do this instead?" and he was like "sure" and that's that. And from then on I guess we never looked back.

[Shane, how do you feel about being the second choice?] Shane: I'm fine with it. Really, there was so little fanfare to him asking me. Ryan: No ceremony at all. Shane: 'Cause we were just making stuff left and right at that point and series were not really an established thing at Buzzfeed [...] Even when Ryan had asked me "hey, would you like to be in this?" uh...I was like "yeah, lemme..." Ryan says I checked my calendar. Ryan: Yeah, Shane looked over at his google calendar, saw that next week was open, and was like "yeah, looks like I've got some time" and I was like "sweet, lock it in" and he was like "cool." And then we both put our headphones back on 'cause we sat next to each other at a desk and worked on other things and that was that.

[What is some of the silliest feedback you've gotten about your show?] Ryan: Luckily the fan base is pretty nice. There's plenty of fun, positive comments out there, however, this is one that tickled me the most. A guy somehow found my personal email address and emailed me to let me know. He's like "hey man, love the videos, excellent content to get stoned to. Keep it up, cheers!" I don't know who this man was.

Shane: I do have some hope that Bigfoot is real. A little unlikely. The other one I always root for is Champ in Lake Champlain. Ryan: I don't know why you have such an obsession with Champ. [...] Shane: Champ...there seems to be something fishy going on there. There's something going on in that lake. Ryan: Good pun Shane: Not even. There's something going on there and I've seen that lake and I've looked out at that lake and I've felt something inside me just looking out at it. Ryan: You sure it wasn't just IBS? Shane: We've established that you're the one with IBS Ryan: I'm not the one with IBS! Shane: You joined the union! Ryan: You were the one who almost pooed your pants on an investigation Shane: That's a different story! Ryan: You ate two hot dogs that were served at the baggage claim in Philadelphia Shane: We. Were. Hungry.

Ryan on Dyatlov Pass: I'm gonna double down here. I think it was a yeti. Or, not a yeti. I think it was an abdominal snowman. Shane: Abominable. 

[borderline unintelligible banter about an incredibly ripped yeti doing crunches]

Shane: I'm very content with the mysteries of the universe never being uncovered. It's fine. Ryan: It's frustrating. Shane: You're gonna go to the grave not knowing so many things, so you might as well just give up on them. Ryan: Such a nihilistic way to look at everything.

Shane: If you know anyone who's traveling and they're your enemy, you just call the FBI and say "oh, they're up to no good up there." Ryan: If Shane was flying somewhere I could just say "yeah, I think he's dangerous. I know him. He's the guy who couldn't fit a hat on his big head."

[interlude where they decide to name an anonymous suspect Shane Ryanson]

Shane: It would be funny if this was like the highest escalation of a prank war between two friends Ryan: That'd be a hilarious prank, getting someone thrown into federal prison. Super funny. Gotcha!

Shane: If you're the kind of person who is likely to call in a threat to the FBI solely as a way to get a dig in at your friend, that probably stays with you for life. That's pretty hard-coded into who you are. Ryan: That's true. Especially when you look like an out of work Batman villain [...] If this dude walked into a 7-11, I would drop my Slurpee immediately and run to my car. He's a scary man. I'm out. Slurpee's on the floor.

Shane: I'll tell you this in defense of dolphins, they do have funny little smiles.

Shane, on breaking into Sea World: That seems like an extremely Australian thing to do.

Shane, googling fairy penguins: Yes, it's a wonderful little penguin! He's so small! Ryan: This is great, this is like a dark gritty reboot of Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Shane: Just...to meet someone, get along so well that you each drink a half a liter of vodka together and then go swimming with dolphins and blast some sharks with a fire extinguisher Ryan: ...and then decide, let's top off the night by bringing home a fuzzy little friend Shane: I mean, by that point you've got a winning streak going. You're like, "yeah, we didn't get eaten by sharks! we did swim with the dolphins! Of course we'll steal a penguin!”

Ryan: I bet the penguin actually helped the hangover, to be fair. If I was hungover, I normally just see my blinds shuttered in my room, my shoes are somewhere in the house, but if I found a penguin I'd be like "okay, maybe this isn't so bad." Shane: A rehabilitation penguin. He just hopes on your bed in the morning. Ryan: Just starts smacking me in the face with his little fins. It's great, I love it.

Shane: I think she shouldn't have killed her husband. Have a little faith in his worm farm.

[rredcrystal]

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