#Erika does a WONDERFUL job with their characters

[irisbaggins]

This episode validated me so much. I left a comment on one of the shorts on YouTube, and I fucking clocked it. I was right. K and Evan worked together on helping people after Magic Broke, and after Evan left K felt like they had to do everything on their own. I'm just gonna attach my original comment below (everything bolded is to emphasise what I feel very validated on due to the new episode):

YES. Exactly! K and Evan are, fundamentally, very similar in their complexes around others vs the self, aka how they view themselves and how their value is tied to their usefulness. I don't know why they broke up, but my money's on the fact that both Evan and K were drowning in guilt for their actions relating to the breaking of magic, and that put a strain on their relationship. Especially as both K and Evan started to become self-destructive (or, even more in Evan's case) in their attempt to "fix" their mistake. I have an inkling that their breakup was more due to them drifting apart because of their Atlas Complexes (taking the world/their family on their shoulders) rather than an explicit Wrong having happened.

But yeah, Evan is fully in the right about his bodily autonomy and K having ignored that. However, what this clip doesn't include is K's actual reasoning and mindset around this. They wanted to "fix" Evan the same way they've been "fixing" magic as Itsy, and they thought they could do it all on their own; do a massive task that should have been done by a community all by themselves. K attempting to heal Evan and then proceeding to royally screw it up was just the natural progression of K's spiral; they were going to create an explosion at some point if they continued to act as they were. It was just, unfortunately, Evan's arm that got blown up, and not their van.

I am just. I called it. In a YouTube short's comment. I called that the reason for K's erratic behaviour was due to their guilt and sense of responsibility, and K nearly spelled it out when talking to Jammer. And with this confirmation, I feel even more bolstered in saying that I genuinely think that K didn't think through their actions when attempting to heal Evan; they saw that Evan had been hurt and scarred after their breakup, and most likely felt guilt over that. They weren't there for him, which led to him being hurt and having an injury heal wrong. K's a healer at heart, someone who tries to help and fix things, and here's living proof that they weren't enough. That they weren't there for Evan because of their own complexes. They just...hadn't considered what it means to heal an already healed bone, especially when magic is less "whimsical" and a lot more realistic right now.

I could go on and on about K and how their character is amazing, but I'll leave this here for now and bask in the feeling of having my analysis hit true. It's really helping my confidence which I need, oh no I have so much to write for my thesis

[heytherecentaurs]

Burrow's End is an absolute masterpiece.

In the span of ten episodes Aabria and Co. weave an exciting and emotional adventure story about a family of sentient stoats. It delivers huge laughs, interesting societal criticism, remarkably emotional and well-acted scenes and concludes with a series of epilogue scenes that feel appropriate for each character, some heartfelt and subdued and others bigger than life and all the funnier for it.

Siobhan and Izzy play the perfect pair of siblings. They fight and argue but they also love each other. Jaysohn (Siobhan) looks up to Lila (Izzy) and believes she's the smartest stoat in the world (and by the end she probably is) and Lila hypes up her little brother's athletic skills. They both fully embodied these kids and I could watch them do fun stuff for more episodes. Give me a version of Saved by the Bell with them. Stoat by the Bell.

Brennan and Rashawn, playing sisters, also knock it outta the park, showing a more mature sibling dynamic. Brennan portrays Tula as the quintessential overtired single mother of excitable kids, and Rashawn as younger sister Viola straddles a very interesting line of being intimidating to outsiders but very much more naive and looking to her older sister when she starts a family.

Jasper as Thorn, a guy everyone just lets be a cult leader because he really wanted to, is fantastic. His is a difficult role as the only non-blood relative. Jasper plays Thorn with such real humanity of a guy in over his head and letting his ambition wife call the shots, but also one who agrees with her goal, really loves her and has moments of real menace. He has some very funny scenes, his big speech is perfect, and I just enjoy him.

Erika is wonderful. They play the epitome of generational trauma as many have said but as much trauma as Ava has, she is also loving and willing to learn. The fact Erika took this adversarial role is incredible. The tense dramatic scene primarily between Ava, Tula and Viola is amazing. They act their asses off and make hard choices that I imagine are difficult even for such an experienced player.

Aabria's DMing always feels fun. She doesn't get bogged down in the rules. She knows them. She plays by them. But as a master, she knows how and when to break them too. Her seasons on Dimension 20 have all had a tenseness, a particular edge to them that can give me anxiety during dramatic scenes between two characters. It always feel like one of her NPCs may say something devastating and the tension between characters reaches really thrilling heights. This is present in other seasons, but I don't think anyone does it as well as she does. The first season of hers to have battle maps, Aabria really swung for the fences and gave us some of the wildest maps to date.

Shout out to Carlos Luna's voice acting. He did an incredible job. And shout out to the whole crew who have put together one of the best seasons of D20. They keep finding ways to build on what's come before and they should be commended for it.

Dimension 20 is most successful when the concept is very streamlined. They don't do huge 100 episode campaigns capable of handling huge winding complex narrative, but short focused D&D stories, which is why many of the Side Quests have been so fantastic. They embody this philosophy most clearly, but it's apparent in the most beloved Intrepid Heroes seasons as well—John Hughes/High Fantasy, Game of Thrones/Candyland, Retrofuturism, Film Noir but in a Brain... Burrow's End fits this perfectly. It's streamlined concept paired with great storytellers and great chemistry sets it up to be a smash hit before it begins. And goddamn does it deliver.

Thanks Stupendous Stoats!

[dropoutconfessions]

Understandably there's a lot of anti mismag asks rn, and I totally get their criticism. But also the show needs a bit of love :DD The props this season (and honestly, even in the last season are OUT OF THIS WORLD. I think it's like this with a lot of Aabria seasons, but still, it amazes me every time. The acting this season is also TOP NOTCH. The reactions to Evan's death???? HELLOOO???? That clip alone convinced one of my friends to watch the whole thing. Also, under appropriated thing in my opinion, Aabria does such a great job of portraying NPCs! I love her characters every time. Also she does an amazing job narrating intense moments, no wonder Erika snapped their wand. And it just seems like everyone is having fun! I love that! I love seeing people have fun!

-

[eyecan02]

Possible Charlastor Content for Season 2?

I'm surprised. I haven't seen anyone talk about this interview. I could've sworn I had also screenshotted the part of the interview where Viv mentions how episode 2x05 is also a favorite of hers, describing it as "grand" and how "lots of characters show up."

0.0 So I can't help but wonder if this grand episode with lots of characters takes place in a ball/gala type of setting. Charlastor dancing together?Will manifest it. And I also couldn't help but notice that Viv and Erika singled out episodes 2x05 and 2x07. As we all recall, episode 5 and 7 for season 1 were heavily Charlastor centered.

I'm manifesting it as their episodes again. Erika mentioned the things she liked about 1x07 and 2x07 was the tension in it that led to the finale. There was drama in that ep between her and Vaggie. but there was also a touch marathon between Charlastor and a foreboding tension due to them striking a deal.

In the interview Viv describes it as "fun tension" and Erika mentions that Hazbin does a good job of building tension" in this episode just like 1x07 so that sounds like whatever happens in 2x07, it's gonna be a catalyst for 2x08. Erika says they topped what they did in 1x07. What if the catalyst is Alastor cashing in on his favor? And also I wouldn't mind if they topped it by having Alastor in Charlie's bed again or even better, Charlie in Alastor's bed (if he has one and in whatever context).

[shara-dee]

Absolutely controversial review on 'Heatwaves' freshly out of the oven

okay, so this book is FUCKING INSANE.

and I don't mean it necessarily good.

I told someone in my comment section that I'm more or less positive about this book, but at the time I only reached the middle of the book and, well...

Let me lay out the facts first.

This book features:

• Pathological Altruism and God's Complex of Alex Chen

• Steph carrying the only brain cell

• Sapphic Drama™

• Many many flashbacks of Chen Family trauma

• Shit load of political drama

• And the equal amount of Daddy Issues

• A couple references both to Steph's Story and True Colors

• Immaculate voice acting from Erika Mori (this woman has range)

• Me, feeling sorry for Steph every chapter

Ahem. Now more in-depth and, as I hope, more coherent thoughts about Heatwaves. As was agreed between me and @areyouintogirlsorwhat, who listened to me yelling about it, I would describe this book as:

Shit happened. And also unhappened.

Let me just tell that, coming from me, as Alex and Steph are my dearest, I had a REALLY hard time with Alex in this book. A huge chunk of book is just Alex trying to understand that she doesn't need to overuse her powers to help people and- Well. It took her many pages to understand that even though all the events happen within only 2 days. It was really intense.

As for the setting, we enter Barbazal, a small town in Colorado, where we are just mashed into a big ass election drama. Yeah, election. Big Sigh. Actually super boring exposition and I didn't care much about most of the characters there, except some and pretty much in the end.

God knows, I was busy internally screaming at Alex.

Alex is. A lot in this book. And the worst thing, I can believe that canonically she would became a person from this book. I try to avoid spoilers as much as I can. But let's just say. SHE NEEDED TO STOP AND THINK FOR LITERALLY A SECOND AND THEN THIS BOOK WOULDN'T HAVE HALF OF ITS DRAMA.

Steph though? Is absolutely great. When I said she carries the only braincell out of the two of them I meant it. I was really feeling for her the whole book with how patient she was with Alez and how much she allowed her to do, still being at her side the whole time. And I mean it when I say that sometimes Alex could use Steph's angrier side.

Okay, I'm feeling like I'm too bitter about this book.

Actually it has so much potential. It makes a great job exploring Alex's character, her flaws, her thoughts, her powers, her overall feelings towards things. And I love how many flashbacks of her we have in book. Erika's voice breaking each time she says 'Dad', Alex always wondering how things could've been for her... She actually has character growth going on in this book. And it fills in some empty spaces the game has left. So even if I have a strong opinion about her certain choices, I really like how controversial she was there, because in the end it still makes her a really deep imperfect protagonist.

I didn't really care for the plot until it became super intense and insane. I thought I was going to explode reading the 16-18 chapters, because it had so much going on.

But, well, it still was an enjoyable experience nonetheless, BIG THANKS to Erika Mori who voiced it, I don't think I would've enjoyed it as much if it wasn't for her mad acting skills. Her acting as Steph is actually the cutest thing.

So yeah. My honest opinion? A solid 7/10 for me, but again, Erika makes me biased.

The plot is not really interesting, I suggest buying the audiobook specifically to hear Alex expressing all her emotions in character, really compensates for all the dubious shit she does.

I still would've bought it, even if I knew how much I would scream.

However, if you're not a big fan of Alex, I don't think you would like this book. If you want to read this book purely for Chenrich, I also think you will disappointed because even though they are still there, being cuties, their relationship is only a 25% of the book. And yes, again, there're many controversial things going on, so if you have hard time reading your fav making shitty decisions, maybe you should spare yourself.

Thank you for reading this review, will be happy to hear your thoughts if you read the book or if you have any questions and don't mind spoilers.

[hiskillingjar]

amazing writing as always, thank you for spoiling us!! i honestly always thought your fav btd character was lawrence because the way you write them is so beautiful...! (in hindsight strade does completely make sense) ALSO can i geek out and say im so happy you love the piano teacher too its my fav movie ever and im reading the book rn!! ive never related to a character like erika before + i love isabelle huppert <3

ahhh i'm happy to, especially when i get such a lovely response!

yeah lol strade has been my main beau for over eight years now, but i feel like i understand law the most of all the btd/tpof characters. their fears and insecurities and wants all feel so...human and real to me (despite how otherworldly she is), and reading them as autistic, transfem, 'othered' in a way makes her that much more relatable

and YES i love the piano teacher. it's so brutally sad and relatable and is so unflinching about why someone might lose themselves in fetish as a form of self-harm. haneke is one of my favourite directors and i think he did a fantastic job adapting such a difficult and wonderful text <3

[asmfic]

why care enough about oriko and kirika to give them a child

Because, fundamentally, Oriko and Kirika are the characters out of the entire PMMM universe that drive me the most insane. And that's saying something considering the competition. But it's so in character for those two to steal the spotlight, and that's one of the reasons I adore them.

This is going to be another long post (with images) as I will analyse both of them seperately, their relationship, and then in a follow-up reblog I will talk about how they constitute the foundations of ASM.

On the most basic level, it is because Oriko and Kirika serve as antagonistic forces towards our protagonists on a much more direct level then a systemic force like Kyubey. They are subjected to the same system, but make radically different choices than the Quintet does.

While Kyubey's capacity for malice is a question of much debate (and one I don't intend to get into here) his motives are certainly clear, collecting energy to combat entropy. It's his job, for the sake of the universe, for the sake of countless civilizations.

Oriko, however, does what she does for herself... Or at least, in part.

The daughter of a politician, Oriko lost her mother at a young age and was forced to grow up far too young. She took on responsibilities around the house- took on the role of her mother in caring for her father- and became the person that everybody looked up to. All of this in order to make her father proud, in order to uphold his reputation.

So when that reputation was ruined by political scandal, and when her father took his life, Oriko was left with nothing. She had lost everything she was, and she wondered why she was alive.

And then she met Kyubey.

Her wish showed the carnage that Kremhild Gretchen could unleash upon the world. When Madoka becomes a witch, the world has no hope, no future- nothing but The Witch of Salvation. So there is only one way to avert the end of the world. To stop an apocalypse, Madoka Kaname needs to die.

And yet.

Oriko grapples with the question that Kyubey never does. Her story shows the progression of Oriko making more concessions, more sacrifices, and yet also learning what truly matters to her.

Homura and Oriko are opposing forces in the life of Madoka, true, but also in relation to their attachments. Homura knows what she wants, she wants Madoka to live because she loves her, because Madoka was her first friend.

Oriko wants Madoka dead... but what then? What else? Oriko doesn't know.

But she learns, and she learns too late. And THAT is one of Oriko's most compelling points to me. Oriko Magica is a tragedy, it is the story of Oriko learning that Kirika is her world after she's already given her life for Oriko's cause. It's about Homura figuring out that something is wrong with this timeline but not realising before Madoka is already bleeding out. It's about love and sacrifice and how much a person means to you and when your ideals take the ones you love.

But that's getting ahead of myself.

Kirika Kure is a girl who once had a best friend. Close as sisters, they'd say, two of a pair. And then Erika moved away and Kirika was left to take the blame for her favourite person in the world's actions.

Kirika grew up distant and unhappy. Unhappy with others, unhappy with the world, unhappy with herself. And then she met Oriko.

It was a moment of random kindness, mere happenstance that Oriko happened to be in the right place to reach out and help Kirika. A sudden shining light in a world that had been dim and grey for longer than she could remember.

She wanted to find her, to thank her... but she doubted someone like her would be someone Oriko would remember. And so she made her wish.

Kirika is defined by her devotion, it's who she is now. By the very nature of her wish she's whatever Oriko wants her to be. She's a perfect tool.

And yet.

And yet Oriko goes from treating her as "a pawn to command" and "a piece in my game" to viewing her as a genuine friend. She enjoys her time with Kirika, she trusts in Kirika, and she wants more. She wants more time, things like sleepovers and cakes shared together. She wants Kirika because she loves her.

Kirika loves Oriko to the point that she becomes a Witch for her, a transformation born of devotion rather than despair.

Oriko loves Kirika to the point that she dives in front of Kirika's corpse to shield it from an attack, taking a grievous wound for the body of her beloved.

Their relationship isn't a healthy one, but it is a loving one. Both of them truly adore each other (even if Oriko realises it too late) and will do some absolutely incredible things to show that love.

And honestly, sometimes you want to read about a girl who would do anything for- including killing for- her beloved. A beloved who canonically wants Kirika the way she is, as shown by Kirika's wish.

At the end of the day, they haunt me.

Now, on their own (and even together) Oriko and Kirika are compelling characters. But it is more than just their interactions with each other, it is in the way they challenge, contrast, and compare to our main cast.

Oriko is put in parallel with Homura on a number of occasions, but most of all during their final confrontation.

Kirika is to Oriko what Madoka is to Homura. A true friend, the love of their life, someone who has become integral to the meaning of their lives. And as Oriko loses Kirika, Homura too must lose Madoka.

But there are other parallels that can be drawn. The impact of a father (and his death) upon his daughter's life. A ironclad code of what must be done for the greater good. Wanting connection with others and yet spurning it to pursue a dangerous but necessary life. Believing that the world can be saved.

Likewise, Kirika can reflect various traits from the quintet. And not just her, Yuma and Komaki and so many characters in Oriko Magica are in communication with the traits of the original Madoka.

There are similarities, but also many, many difference. Oriko and Kirika fit as a fascinating piece in the thematic puzzle that is Madoka Magica.

And in the end, Oriko does want to save the world. She wants to be important, to be worth something, to be more than just an extension of a father who looked at her and saw something monstrous out of her desire to make him happy. And sure, she make many sacrifices and take many lives along that path, but in her heart she truly did want to save the world. And along the way, she found her meaning. She found Kirika.

Also they're SUPER gay. If I'd put in gay moments I'd have a whole other post. And there's multiple parts of Oriko Magica and how it affects Oriko and Kirika that I obviously had to cut for space.

They're just so much.

[unsleepingtales]

Burrow’s End Episode Six Reactions! (And AP!)

Allow me to preface this by saying that my computer broke this week, I am doing all my schoolwork and real job work on my cellphone right now, and the following is transcribed from the reactions I wrote down in a real physical notebook while watching the episode on my phone.

If you’re wondering how I wrote emojis in my notebook. The small drawings are very bad. Onwards!

BUT SHE’S DEAD 💀

Some sort of mutation going on w/the giant thing?

Diversity Win! The threatening First Stoat uses they/them pronouns!

Bennett :D

She does tai chi 😎

Oh the twins! (So fun bc one of the main groups in my current home game is Also called the Twins)

Is this a dept head meeting or smth?

That’s. Creepy.

Ok.

OOP-

Blow up his spot lmaooo

I’m living for Brennan’s reality check analogies

Human ish teeth?

Erika Ishii I love you ❤️

Aabria the character voice you are doing for Kiran is Hot.

I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE???

I need Bennett to not be a bad guy ok? I need it.

What are you saying man

Brennan’s just Dying

That was pure Erika oh my god

Oh she’s full of it alright!

(‘Keep going’) oh Izzy <3

Y’know what if I was on the team to renter a nuclear power plant that had a reactor failure and I saw thousands of militant stoats I think I would just leave. Let them have it.

On the what, Ava?

Yeah no especially if those stoats were using the fucking nuclear power?? I’d just leave.

At least she remembers their hallway is blue.

I’m curious if everyone switching so quickly from calling it Blue to Light is a DnD/Improv/Adaptation thing or a characters assimilating thing? Maybe both? Maybe it’s conscious maybe not?

I’m still thinking about how smooth Aabria’s “Weap-Technology” was when introducing the departments

He’s not asking you to run. He’s asking you to stay.

I’m glad Aabria keeps pushing back when they read negative or nefarious intentions into things that one the face of it truly are just typical to this kind of situation and society

The family vibes are So correct.

Horrible. I hated that.

The most it’s possible to be.

Yeah, okay.

KIDS.

Oh god. Oh no.

Good GOD Tula

The SIDE EYE on that Jesus

Muahahahaha

Oh NO.

That went on for so long

I am Unnerved.

Hell Yes babe

GET HIS ASS I GUESS???

They’re like teenagers now right?

Well That was intense!

The casualness in Aabria’s asking for the stealth check while taking a sip. She does not give a fuck and I love her for it.

Check it out!

Do we not get to find out what happened to Ava with the Garage?

Oh that’s So creepy

MMHMM

I love Ava’s refusal to learn

YES THIEVES’ CANT MY BELOVED THIEVES’ CANT <3

I think what she said was “please help.” Which is different.

SIOBHAN.

Oh that’s gonna be merch.

The crack of noon is so true

THE COPPER PUN NICE ONE AABRIA

Ohohohohoho. The Dictator. Lovely.

🎶don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious🎶

Oh my GOD

Brennan of all people saying finally some action on this goddamn show

Also Brennan’s reactions to Izzy’s reactions… so funny to watch the face journeys happening at the table rn.

Love that for them

OH

A population support state 😭

Oh god oh fuck

MAP???

Oh holy fucking shit

I can’t wait to rewatch this on my computer so I can actually see and appreciate the detail. Oh my god.

Ooh the puzzle of it all is intriguing

“I’m gonna kill him.”

Jabroni <3

OOF.

Oh my god <3

That was really cool Brennan.

Ooh just noticed the dome!

Hey Brennan? That was really cool.

Everyone’s got Thoughts.

Oh yeah jump into the nuclear juice. Great.

Ava.

YES

Awwww

PUZZLE

Oh no

I need to get the build details of this map

Oh. My god.

HE WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME

Knight to C4 😭

That’s a fucking human skull.

Oh what does That mean

Huzzah.

(Most dejected/exhausted huzzah of all time)

God the comedy we do get in this season is so so gooOH

Not the wisdom saves 😭

Izzy.

Sometimes the dice fell a STORY.

Yeah okay

Oh god

Oh Jasper

Oh the stress is insane. Losing Jaysohn would break this family.

This can’t be the end of the episode?

Oh ok

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE

I love when DMs get to play DnD

DAD ARM

Nice catch!

OH I did not register that that’s the fucking radiation hazard symbol

Everyone at that table is so close to tears

AVA AND THORNNNN

Thorn himself <3

DOME.

Oh FUCK.

Preview for next week reactions:

What the FUCK.

WOLF??

I love JWC oh my god.

Adventuring Party Reactions!

Oh they’re jokingly pissed at her lmao

Woooo chipotle

Erika <3

I gUeSs I MiSsEd HiM

Aabria.

Erika takes METHOD NOTES

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who went ‘diversity win!’

Brennan Lee “Animal Facts” Mulligan strikes again

Felt so happy about seeing the human skull.

Jasper that’s such a fascinating theory oh my god

The intense NY came out

Okay but after this season… CAN we get set tours?

Yeah I am so curious about the in-world justification for the giant stone puzzle on top of the reactor.

OKAY thank you Jasper and Aabria I am Also a big reactor in games and sometimes I worry about being disruptive

I wanna go back and figure out what noise he’s talking about

Voice actor things! (Happy SAG Deal day!!)

I love actors so much. They are all FRIENDS.

[bookishandproud]

The Mystery of the Monarchs

by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Erika Meza

Book Cover Picture

Genre or category

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Target Age Group

PreK to 6th grade

Summary

Since he was a child, Fred Urquhart loved insects, monarch butterflies specifically. Over the course of his life, Fred and his wife, Norah, develop ways to track monarch butterflies to discover their migration patterns.

Justification

I chose this book as it is a Bluebonnet Award Nominee and a Junior Library Guild Selection. The book includes helpful migration maps at the end and useful information about lifecycles of butterflies as well as how the scientists, with the help of regular people, tagged and tracked butterflies across the Americas.  

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, tension, and theme.

The illustrations throughout the book were very colorful, using a mix of techniques and were a great way to establish the characters and the different scenarios. The illustrations were especially helpful when the story went through the different methods in which the main character, Fred, tried to tag butterflies in order to track their migration patterns. The art in the book does a great job of reinforcing the author’s writing by showing specifically what the author is talking about, for example, the inclusion of a map illustration shows readers just how far the butterflies were being tracked and reinforces the wonder of the story and just how many people across the country were working with the scientists in their project. The book included a lot of negative space on some of the pages that could have been filled with more background or illustrations, however, overall the pictures and use of space really highlighted that butterflies were the main topic of the book and with some of the illustrations representing quite a few people in them, the negative space helps to draw your eye to the characters and what is taking place to really get the message of the story.

Although a children’s book doesn’t seem like it would have a lot of tension, the tension in this book primarily comes from the story of Fred and his wife trying to figure out the best way to tag and track Monarch butterflies. Throughout the story you see Fred try and fail to track any butterflies and their migration patterns to discover where they fly, and the way the illustrations detail every method used along with the writing describing what is happening, the tension builds up as the reader waits to know what happens and if he is successful. Even as they receive help from people all over the Americas, the tension doesn’t necessarily build, but it plateaus as Fred and Norah actually embark on an adventure to follow the butterflies and discover just exactly where they go. By the end of the book, the tension is relieved, and the reader is left with a hopeful and sweet feeling.

The tone of the book is written in a very friendly and helpful manner. The author does not present information in a way that’s condescending to the reader. The tone is also straightforward but not overly simplified for the age group the book is written for. The author presents the story in the tone of the main character, who has a love for butterflies, so that sentiment is translated across the text and illustrations to interest the reader in the same capacity to get them to keep reading and learning about this story and butterflies in general. Although throughout the story the tension builds, but the tone remains optimistic enough to keep the reader moving and knowing that there has to be a happy ending, especially through the repeated trial and error the characters go through on their quest for information.

Rating: ★★★★

References

Rosenstock, B. (2022). The mystery of the monarchs (E. Meza, Illus.). Knopf Books for Young Readers.

[daysofourlivesrecaps]

Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Wednesdays, as I have mentioned before, tend to be pretty slow around Salem. And while a few of today's plots are little more than wheel-spinning for their respective characters, we also got a couple of MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS that just so happen to be QUINTESSENTIAL SOAP MOMENTS™, one of which I'm seeing for the first time since I started watching a year or so ago.

First up is Nicole. She's still pregnant and still confiding to Anna about it. And still not really providing us with any new insight into her character or... really, any new information of any kind. This storyline actually got me interested in Nicole for the first time ever, but I sure wish something would, you know, happen.

Eric and Sloan also talk about Nicole. Eric works out that the story about a virus at the hospital was a lie and Sloan comes clean and confesses that yeah, she did indeed lie. But she did it to protect Nicole's secret. Which Eric now knows.

Eric is none too happy about any of this, and takes his recently-harvested DNA swab and heads over to confront Nicole about it. So presumably something will finally be moving forward with all of this soon.

But not today.

Jada and Talia have a number of tearful exchanges at the police station, as Jada tries to explain to Talia that, even though Colin never actually hit her, he's still an abusive piece of shit. I do not mean to trivialize any of this as unimportant — it's good stuff; it's important stuff to talk about to an audience full of dumbs; and both performers do an excellent job with the material. It wasn't boring to watch, but it is hard to make jokes about. But don't worry — I am now pivoting to some gloriously stupid bullshit.

University Hospital has a new nurse on staff, apparently! She's one of the ladies from Fox's hit 90s sitcom, Living Single.

Not Queen Latifah.

Not Tootie.

The other one. Kim Coles.

(Apparently there was actually a fourth one but I don't remember her at all. My apologies, Erika Alexander. I enjoyed your show and watched quite a bit of it, both in first-run and in reruns. My faulty memory does you a disservice.)

Nurse Coles hits the ground running as she tends to Colin and he briefly mistakes her for Paulina.

Thirty seconds on screen and I love her already.

Paulina is actually in Abe's room, being her usual entirely impatient self and not for the first time I find myself wondering how she possibly made herself so rich in real estate with so little chill. Don't real estate people have to, like, negotiate or whatever?

Then Chanel goes in to talk to Abe and he wakes up! Yay! We love Abe!

But it gets better. Not only is he awake, but ABE HAS AMNESIA. 

I cannot overstate how excited I am by this. I have watched literally 500 episodes of this soap-ass soap and I've never encountered a proper case of actual amnesia before!

Chanel tries to jog the mayor's memory by showing him a picture of his wedding to Paulina, in that episode from last summer where they taught the white people in Salem what Juneteenth is. (I'm not gonna lie — I learned a couple of things from that one. As one of the dumbs in this audience, I'm genuinely glad they did that.)

But the picture rings no bells for Abe.

Out in the waiting area, Rafe orders this cop, who appears to be about thirteen years old, to prep Colin for his transfer to prison. This is obviously just to kill time in a short episode, and surely has no relevance to the plot.

While Chanel is off getting her mom, Nurse Kim Coles enters Abe's room. Abe, still muzzy from the surgery and having only seen a single cell phone picture of his alleged wife Paulina, thinks the nurse is his wife. The nurse, for her part, says nothing to dissuade him of this misapprehension.

Turns out she's a Mayor Abe Carver Superfan! And also? Maybe a bit crazy in the ol' pants?

And speaking of pants, Rafe checks on Colin, only to discover that Officer Skippy had his pants stolen by said gross creep. Also the rest of his uniform.

That's a rock-solid defense though, Skippy. "He got the better of me." No court in the world will convict you.

So now Colin, in disguise (as a cop whose uniform actually fits), easily slips out of the hospital unnoticed.

And right after him comes Nurse Kim Coles, pushing the amnesiac and highly confused Abe out of the hospital in a wheelchair "because he's in danger." 

 AMNESIA AND WEIRDLY UN-MALICIOUS KIDNAPPING. WE HIT THE SOAP JACKPOT TODAY, Y'ALL!

[crystalelemental]

Unit Teambuilding - Sygna Suit Brendan

If you had told me that one day, I would be legitimately excited to pull Brendan of all people, I would’ve spat in your face.  And yet.  Here we are.

General Overview Yeah, look, Brendan’s probably my bottom tier protagonist. I know I’ve made a habit of dunking on Lucas for being a weenie, but Brendan and May as rivals never really impressed me given that they duck out of trying before they even fully evolve their starter, and Brendan in particular immediately bothered me with “Since your dad’s a gym leader, I assumed you’d be a boy.”  Like, what does that even mean, Brendan?  No wonder Reddit cares so much about you...

Anyway, Brendan is a Dragon-type support, a rare breed in this game, and even more bizarre because it’s Latios.  I feel like the Lati twins reversed roles, but don’t worry about that it’s fine.  Brendan comes packed with some solid tools, including Dragonbreath for a 30% paralysis rate, Luster Purge for a 50% debuff to special defense, Potion for heals, and a 1MP trainer move that buffs special attack and special defense by +4 for the team, and grants +1 crit.  Also free move next if he uses three gauges, because the trainer move consumes gauges, but don’t worry about that.  This is all solid.  Now, add Unexpected Benefit x2 so Luster Purge is a guaranteed -2 special defense.  Add Team Sharp Entry and Team Smart Start so he gives max crit and +2 special moves up next just for existing and mega evolving, which also gives EX double buff.  Now give him Double Potion MPR.  Now give him Freevenge 9 on mega evolution, so every action is effectively gauge free in Gauntlet where all foes do is attack.  And as a final option, give him Impervious, Hostile Environment, or Team Tough Luck 4, to answer specific Gauntlet gimmicks.  Let him have all of that...in a single set.

SS Brendan is nothing short of insane.  I am honestly floored at how good this is as a support.  The fact that he can get all of this at once - perfect gauge control, maximizing crit, obscene defensive utility, and Gauntlet gimmick counters - is nuts.  I legitimately struggle to find a flaw here.  I mean aside from it being Brendan.  If you were thinking maybe the stats were bad, sorry.  At EX, over 350 defense and over 400 special defense.  And with an instant +4 special defense, Brendan may as well be unbreakable on the special side.  This...is good.  This is really good.  We’ve gotten a decent number of premium special attack/crit buffers, but this...honestly may out-perform all of them.  The only one I will hold to as outright better is SS Kris.  Yes, even my beloved SC Jasmine is not really as good as this guy, and for me to say that in a contest between my favorite character and my least favorite protagonist/rival?  You know it’s good.  I know we’re early in the Hoenn Villain Arc, but it’s going to be really tough to top this moving forward.  If you were wondering about breaking your Anniversary savings for anything coming up, so far this is probably the best use of your gems.  He’s that good.

Team 1: SS Brendan, SS Cynthia, Lucas In an attempt to salvage old units before their potential grid expansions, let’s talk about SS Cynthia.  Her setup is pretty slow!  And her damage output could be better despite the four-bar move.  Lowering defense every time she attacks is pretty rough too.  But oh wait, what’s this?  Someone who easily caps her crit, dramatically and rapidly lowers special defense of a foe without consuming gauges, applies reliable paralysis for her multipliers, and has Potions to heal her up?  Christmas came early.  Lucas provides the Dragon Zone buff that lets her explode a stage into powder.  Good job helping, buddy!

Team 2: SS Brendan, Hau, Volkner I mean okay, Volkner’s not gaining anything too great, but this sets up Hau magnificently for his sync nuke, and continues to apply huge pressure via debuffs.  This is also a really solid Tornadus answer.

Team 3: SS Brendan, Plumeria, BP Erika Just because Looker’s coming out doesn’t mean we can’t talk about Plumeria!  This is a pretty strong comp for Plumeria, offering the needed crit rate, a massive buff to special attack that she appreciates, and special defense drops to improve damage.  BP Erika applies Toxic for multipliers.

Team 4: SS Brendan, Clair, Winona/May In absence of SS Kris and/or Lucas, this a really strong pick for Clair as well, checking Rain multipliers and paralysis multipliers thanks to Dragonbreath Hostile Environment.  Clair can invest fully in damage, and has little issue with anything, while also reaping the benefits of special defense drops.

Team 5: SS Brendan, Ghetsis, Tech Hitmontop/Brock Anniversary is coming up, and maybe you’re hoping to pull 1/5 SS Brendan and call it good.  This is fair.  While you lose out on capped crit rate for the team, there is someone who pairs beautifully with him: Ghetsis.  Even at 1/5, Brendan’s trainer move and Unexpected Benefit x2 gives Ghetsis everything he could need for raw damage.  Add in something that debuffs speed, and Ghetsis’ sync nuke is going to go ham.

Team 6: SS Brendan, Anni May, Caitlin Honestly, I never liked Brendan and May as a ship.  I know it’s some weird thing where they tried to push a lot of these male and female protagonists as a potential ship, but exactly none of them work, and this one especially given his introduction to May.  So I have zero interest in getting him to work with any of her alts.

But fine, here you go.  SS Brendan and Anni May can combo.  But not well.  See, the problem is that SS Brendan rapidly buffs her needed special attack, but May is perfectly capable of buffing her own crit rate.  You then have to fight over whether Brendan or May takes first sync, with Brendan being what finishes capping Caitlin’s crit rate for move damage, and May getting access to her own Unexpected Benefit x2 for her needed debuffs.  I know there’s an argument for the combination of debuffs, but if you’re that worried about full nuke investment Anni May, Bede’s probably an outright better choice, since he hits both at once.

Actually, his tools are like...infinitely better for her base form.  Base May really benefits from everything he provides.

Team 7: SS Brendan, Lisia, Darach/Mina Now if you want someone from Hoenn he does seriously help, Lisia.  He gives basically every stat buff she could want, alongside the debuffs she craves.  Darach can debuff evasion, which is part of her multipliers for some reason, if you want to go that direction.  Otherwise...uh...I guess Mina or Surge?  Look, my main purpose for Darach was debuffing evasion for multipliers and attack to supplement Lisia’s bulk, so I guess Mina’s the logical next in line?  Though if the stage is mostly or entirely special, I guess Surge works out well too. “What about Dragon Zone?”  Casual reminder that Dragon Zone is worse for Lisia’s sync nuke, and is only good for her move damage, which is probably fine with the special defense debuffs.  Use Lucas for someone who appreciates it.

Team 8: SS Brendan, Glacia, Candice Okay.  Okay listen.  This is not at all a good idea.  But I’m also going to try it.

If you 20/20 her, did you know Glacia has almost 400 special attack, two easily accessed +10 damage tiles for Frost Breath and Invigorating Hail 5?  Considering EX is very likely in a couple weeks, that’s also double damage buff.  Brendan and Glacia’s trainer moves give +6 special attack.  Brendan doesn’t need to mega evolve right away because Glacia won’t need the crit rate, and can focus on spamming Luster Purge to debuff foe’s special defense.  All she needs then is the Hail support that comes from Candice.  Now, there’s still accuracy issues, and this damage output is still effectively low.  But I’ve been going through all of Zinfogel’s old sync pair analysis videos and his penchant for making meme damage builds on supports has inspired me to get irresponsible a bit, and this could legitimately work.

Final Thoughts SS Brendan is really good.  I could probably continue on, but I think results will speak for themselves.  His main role is a special attack/crit buffer, again, with the added benefit of debuffing foe’s special defense much more rapidly and consistently than SC Jasmine.  But she has Safety Net and Vigilance on grid for Status Immunity so she’s better!  No it’s true, shut up!

The main reason against Brendan is frankly just anniversary, and the second half of the arc.  DeNA is pretty wise to the fact that datamines occur, and if the 2.5 anniversary is any indication, they’re aware enough to try and break up their events into phases when something big is in the works.  And they clearly learned a lesson about how to code their “key,” because this time it’s different and no one has been able to unlock the second half.  They’re absolutely planning something they think will make a big splash for the second act, whether it be the newest Steven alt, or a rerun of Archie and Maxie with primal reversion.  And all of this is still before the main anniversary.  SS Brendan is definitely the best reason to break for something now, but considering he’ll be up until the next datamine at the halfway point of the month, it’s a good idea to at least wait.  Not that I will.  I make exclusively bad decisions and love supports.

[murasaki-murasame]

Thoughts on Higurashi Sotsu Ep11

Studio Passione: “We paid good money to animate Rika’s festival dance, and by god you’re gonna ENJOY IT!”

Anyway, thoughts under the cut, plus Umineko spoilers.

I know I talked about my theories for how this episode would be paced out last week, but I’m genuinely amazed that they managed to stretch the rest of this loop out into the entire episode, lol. It’s almost impressive how they managed to pad out half an episode or less worth of content into a full episode.

It kinda doesn’t even give me that much to talk about, yet again, which is kinda awkward, but either way this basically proves that I was totally right about my interpretation of the whole Keiichi scene, so I feel kinda pleased about that.

Long story short, the scene we saw in Gou was just an illusion depicting the story that Satoko told Ooishi about what happened, after she set the crime scene up to make it fit her version of events. I guess there’s still a non-zero chance that there’s some extra layer of mystery going on there, but at this point I really doubt it. I think that’s basically all that was going on.

I think this is going to be one of the more polarizing parts of Sotsu for people, depending on how they feel about the way that this is tying itself in to Umineko. This is the sort of storytelling device that’s basically never been used before in Higurashi, but is integral to how Umineko is set up, so it’s one of those times where it becomes undeniable that this is meant to bridge the two series, and is drawing inspiration and ideas from both of them, instead of this just staying within the boundaries of Higurashi alone.

With how this arc feels like a point of no return in the transition between the two stories, I really like how the first thing Satoko does when she accepts that she’s a witch is to start bringing Umineko-style narrative trickery into Higurashi for the first time. I think it’s a neat way to show how she’s starting to ascend beyond the game-board itself and is operating with a different set of rules. Obviously people aren’t gonna like that if they don’t like the idea of this being tied to Umineko, but I think that ship has long since sailed at this point, lol.

And honestly, even without relying on knowledge from Umineko, I think they did a fine job of having that scene in Gou seem weird and suspicious right from the get-go. For one thing, we were also told in Gou that Keiichi had no memory of what happened, and everyone else in that scene was dead, so it’s not that hard to start guessing that we were shown a false version of events.

I think I said this last week, but the confirmation that this is literally just Umineko Logic 101 really makes me wonder if Ryukishi is doing it this way in part to ‘prepare’ people for what to expect from Umineko. There’s still the possibility that we’ll get a full on remake after this, but even if it’s as simple as this basically ending on the note of ‘go back and read the Umineko VN’, he might still be trying to give people an idea of what to expect from it so they don’t get turned off by ep2.

This is getting more into theory territory, but if we keep going down this rabbit hole of transitioning into Umineko logic and narrative structure, I wonder if the entirety of Gou/Sotsu is going to end up being contextualized as a set of forgeries, in the same way as it worked in Umineko. Something along the lines of Satoko ‘seeing Rika’s loops’ being a metaphor for her being given manuscripts to read by Featherine based on Rika’s account of events, and then the Gou/Sotsu loops being forgeries made in collaboration between Featherine and Satoko, and presented to Rika as a new mystery to read and solve. At the very least, this could arguably justify stuff like how everything seems to go in the way Satoko wants, regardless of how reckless she gets.

I’m not 100% confident in that, but it’d definitely continue the trend of this being a blend of Higurashi and Umineko’s writing styles. I think it’d also provide a more comprehensive non-magical interpretation for what’s going on than just ‘Satoko fell asleep in the shrine and just dreamed all of this’, or whatever.

I also don’t really think that’d contradict the whole idea of Satoko being Lambda, though. Looking at it through this whole lens, it’d be sorta like how Ange goes through her own whole character arc in the process of reading Featherine’s forgeries, and basically ends up becoming a witch by the end of it. So the whole narrative arc of Satoko venting out her anger at Rika by trapping her in a new set of loops and slowly becoming a witch would still be intact, and still for all intents and purposes lead to her becoming Lambda.

There’s also various ways this could be tied into the whole deal with Lambda being Takano’s benefactor in Higurashi. Considering how Lambda never actually plays a part in Higurashi itself and is never mentioned by Takano, it could be as simple as ‘Satoko reads Featherine’s manuscript version of Higurashi and ends up relating a lot to Takano and wants her to succeed’, which gets morphed into her granting Takano her blessing of certainty. Either way I think that the whole timeline of events is weird and nebulous and isn’t really intended to make logical sense.

Anyway, probably the most surprising part of the episode was the reveal at the very end that the next arc won’t be called something like Nekoakashi, but instead it’ll be Kagurashi. I’m not really sure how much to read into that, though. It could just be as simple as them speeding through the Nekodamashi stuff, and most of Kagurashi will be the aftermath of that, so they gave it a unique name. Or it could be a completely new arc that does something totally different. Lots of people have suggested the idea of it being an arc all about Eua and Hanyuu and their backstory, which would be one way of doing something entirely different to a Nekodamashi answer arc, but who knows. I don’t think the final scene of this episode necessarily proves that the next arc will be about those two, though.

But on the topic of those two, at this point I think it’s probably safe to say that Hanyuu is effectively meant to be Eua’s piece in this game, and that they probably have a similar relationship to Bern and Erika, going by how much Eua seems to look down on Hanyuu. Although it’s not exactly clear if this Hanyuu is the same person as the Hanyuu from the VN, or if she’s like a clone of her that Eua created after Hanyuu disappeared or whatever after Matsuribayashi. 

Either way, I’m not entirely sure how they’d even approach an arc focused on those two. It’s not like Umineko really explained Featherine’s backstory, unless Sotsu is going to straight up introduce Ikuko/Tohya, which I guess could tie into my above theory about this being a forgery. On the other hand, I guess they could maybe do something like the Hanyuu backstory arc from the Higurashi console ports, but that wouldn’t really feel relevant to Sotsu’s story at this point.

Really the big question is just if the entire story will wrap up in four more episodes, or if there’ll be some sort of third season or whatever to wrap things up. Considering that this entire episode was just about wrapping up this loop, and we haven’t even gotten into anything from Nekodamashi, it at least feels like we’re running out of ways they could pull off an ending with just the next arc. But it’s not impossible. The simplest way to handle it would be to spend one episode at most on skimming through the next set of loops so we can get back to the cliffhanger from Gou, and then continuing from there, but if my theory about the overarching structure of the story is correct, then there might not even be that much to show after the cliffhanger, and the continuation of it might just happen in the meta world [or the ‘real world’], not the world of that loop itself. It’s also possible that, if this does lead into some kind of Umineko remake, the ending won’t even be particularly conclusive, and will just be continued in that series instead.

Even with how the pacing has gone thus far, I’m not really sure how confident I am in the idea that we might get another entire season out of this. Maybe we might get another nine episodes to fill Sotsu out to 24 episodes total, but I don’t know if we really need another full cour or two after the next arc. At the very least it’d feel kinda agonizing to have to wait even longer for ANOTHER full season to see how things actually end, lol.

There’s still the whole question mark of how the OP and the key visual for Sotsu depict Rika and Satoko as teenagers, and the other club members in different outfits to the ones from Satokowashi, but who even knows how that all might play into the story at this point. I still think we might get a Saikoroshi-style arc where Satoko loses her game and is banished to a world where Rika doesn’t exist and her relationship with the club members is totally different, but I’m not even sure what the whole point of that kinda development might be, or how long it’d take to get through.

At this point I think the best thing to do would be to just go all in with the Umineko stuff and have this end with the birth of Bern and Lambda and their whole love-hate relationship of mutual torture, even if it means leaving things kind of inconclusive, and without Satoko getting much punishment for her crimes. I think it’d be much worse if they just drag this out for even longer only to end it on the note of this whole conflict being neatly resolved and everything looping back to square one like nothing ever happened.

I guess we’ll just have to see how the next few episodes go, lol.

[letterboxd]

Bridging the Gap.

Filmmaker So Yun Um highlights ten underrated Asian American and Pacific Islander films set against the backdrop of America.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month has many film lovers seeking to celebrate Asian American cinema. Beyond Minari, Always Be My Maybe and Crazy Rich Asians, there are dozens of films that depict the Asian American experience. In choosing to focus on ten of the lesser-seen, I contemplated the notion of what defines AAPI cinema.

For me, it goes deeper than films that have been directed by, or star, Asian American and Pacific artists. Having watched a wide selection of Asian American films, I can firmly say our cinema, no matter the genre, puts Asian Americans at the forefront on both sides of the camera. I believe the essence of Asian American cinema was born out of resourcefulness, mining themes and ideas that distinctly bridge the gap between Asian and American culture. These films tell stories that explore the vast differences between the two, and the ways in which they coexist, whether comfortably or uncomfortably.

In selecting these ten underrated AAPI films, I searched deep to find stories with uncompromising vision and character; stories about Asians that could only be told within, and against the backdrop of, America. These ten films highlight intimate, distinct and unfiltered experiences mostly unseen at our local multiplexes: family and cultural obligations, generational and cultural gaps, and raw, mostly obscured views of American life.

Chan is Missing (1982) Directed by Wayne Wang, written by Isaac Cronin and Wayne Wang

There would be no Asian American independent cinema without Wayne Wang’s Chan is Missing. Shot on black-and-white film, this striking noir follows Jo, a San Franciscan cab driver, and his nephew, Steve, as they track down the titular Chan after he disappears with their money. Wang’s unpredictable directing career spans neighborhood intrigues, rom-coms and family movies; alongside which, he has kept a strong focus on Asian American stories (he helmed the adaptation of Amy Tan’s generational bestseller, The Joy Luck Club).

In Chan is Missing, for the first time on screen, we get to finally see an “ABC” (American-Born Chinese) story from the source, with an all-access pass to the often misunderstood terrain and people of Chinatown. It’s the tightness of the plot and the authenticity of its characters that make this movie such a classic. Even after 40 years, Chan Is Missing doesn’t feel dated—its laugh-out-loud dialogue (they actually utter the word “FOB”!) and moody tone capture why Chinatown continues to be an enigma. Spoilers: Chinatown runs by its own rules.

Available on DVD via Indiepix Films.

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) Directed by Justin Lin, written by Ernesto Foronda, Justin Lin and Fabian Marquez

Justin Lin’s directorial debut film is a visionary portrait of Asian Americans that’s still relevant two decades on. Since its release in the early aughts, there has yet to be a film that explores the nuances and complexities of the average Southern-California Asian American teen like this film does. Better Luck Tomorrow focuses on a group of Asian American overachievers who become bored with their lives and enter a world of petty crime. It’s loosely based on four Sunny Hills High School students and the real-life murder of Stuart Tay, a teenager from the OC.

With its depiction of overachieving A+ students who are also foul-mouthed, drug-taking kids, this film was the launching pad for many iconic Asian American actors today—Sung Kang from the Fast and Furious franchise, John Cho (Star Trek) and my personal favorite, Jason Tobin, star of the Warrior TV series. (It’s entertaining to see the seeds of the Fast and Furious series planted in this film in the character of Han, played by Sung Kang, before the explosion of the franchise: one of the characters mutters, “Rumors about us came and went fast and furious”—and the rest is history.)

Better Luck Tomorrow still stands as the most iconic film to capture the suburban Asian American teen existence in all its good, bad and ugly light. “I was part of a movement,” Tobin recalled in this GQ oral history of the film, “and it was a culmination of all the battles I had fought before that to get Asian faces on the big screen.”

Available to stream and rent on multiple platforms.

The Grace Lee Project (2005) Directed by Grace Lee

If you’re an Asian American who grew up in California or New York, chances are, you know at least two Grace Lees in your life. But growing up in Missouri, Korean American filmmaker Grace Lee was the only one she knew with her name. She soon discovers that with the name comes a certain stereotype, that of the “good” Asian—quiet, well-behaved and a hard worker. Lee goes on a quest to interview a wide range of women who have the same name and soon discover if this wildly common stereotype is true.

Lee’s witty, autobiographical documentary is effortlessly funny and insightful. The Grace Lee Project dives deep into identity politics to reveal that sometimes, a name is simply a name. This was the start of Grace Lee’s journey as a filmmaker and she continues to be an important voice in not just the documentary space but in narrative stories as well.

Streaming on Kanopy.

Saving Face (2004) Written and directed by Alice Wu

Alice Wu’s Saving Face is a timeless queer love story. Produced by none other than Will Smith (yes, that Will Smith), Saving Face follows a Chinese American lesbian woman and her traditional mother (played by Michelle Krusiec and Joan Chen, respectively) as both battle with their reluctance to go against cultural expectations and reveal their secret loves. It’s part family drama, part rom-com, exploring expectations specific to Asian women across generations.

While most Asian American films focus on familial obligations through the point of view of the children of immigrants, Wu’s film considers the conflicts of both daughter and mother. For Asian Americans, it’s a tale as old as time but with a twist that shows that no matter how old you get, you still have to, unfortunately, fight to be who you are. I also highly recommend Wu’s spiritual sequel, The Half of It, on Netflix.

Streaming on Amazon Prime and Tubi, and for rent on various VOD platforms.

In Between Days (‘방황의 날들’, 2007) Directed by So Yong Kim, written by Bradley Rust Gray and So Yong Kim

So Yong Kim’s debut feature, In Between Days, follows Jiseon Kim, a Korean teen immigrant, who falls in love with her best friend while navigating the challenges of living in a new country. Director Kim is a masterful storyteller and captures life as it should be seen: unfiltered and trivial at times, but using the mundane to find cinematic magic.

I like to categorize So Yong Kim’s work as a showcase of extreme intimacy. Her story features painfully delicate characters and moments so real, you’ll wonder how any of these scenes could be fiction. There’s a sense of vulnerability and loneliness that fills the air as Jiseon struggles to assimilate to a new country, replete with toxic relationships, self-sabotage and unrelenting jealousy. So Yong Kim’s work is so painfully real, it hurts to watch.

Available on Kanopy and Amazon.

Ping Pong Playa (2007) Directed by Jessica Yu, written by Jimmy Tsai and Jessica Yu

There are two things that embody countless Asian American men’s experience: their love for basketball, and their love of rap music. Ping Pong Playa covers both, and is exactly the kind of Asian American comedy I’ve been waiting for! Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (played by co-writer Jimmy Tsai) is a wannabe baller and a supreme slacker who has to step up to the plate when his family’s business and ping-pong-champion reputation is on the line. In addition to being centered around an Asian family, the core of the film rivals any other low-brow, underdog sport film.

Laugh-out-loud hilarious, this is Academy-Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu’s first narrative feature, following a groundbreaking career full of daring documentaries (her Oscar was for this portrait of writer Mark O’Brien, who spent much of his life in an iron lung). Seeing C-Dub as an NBA-loving slacker turned ping-pong playa felt validating; it showed that even if you’re a lazy and immature Asian, you can always find something to succeed at.

Streaming on Tubi, and for rent on Amazon and iTunes.

In Football We Trust (2015) Directed by Tony Vainuku and Erika Cohn

While Salt Lake City, Utah, is seen as predominantly a white Mormon town, it in fact has the largest population of Pacific Islanders in the US mainland, due to the strength of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ proselytizing in the Pacific. The documentary In Football We Trust follows four Polynesian high-school students, as they chase their lifelong dream of attaining professional recruitment. Told in moments of adolescence, the film follows the greatest challenges for these four young men, as they chase their dreams while trying to grow up.

In no time, they’re faced with the harsh reality that just maybe, football isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. As much as their hefty attributes and builds serve as their greatest advantages, these boys’ cultural and familial obligations become both their greatest motivations and, possibly, their downfall. Filmed over the span of four years, first time filmmakers Tony Vainuku and Erika Cohn chronicle the NFL hopefuls as they navigate the pressure to balance dreams and family to win a golden ticket out of gang violence and poverty.

Streaming on Kanopy, and for rent on various VOD platforms.

Spa Night (2016) Written and directed by Andrew Ahn

In his directorial debut, Andrew Ahn perfectly captures a specific corner of Los Angeles’ Koreatown. Spa Night’s focus is David, a closeted Korean American teenager who takes a job at a Korean spa to help his struggling family, and then discovers an underground world of gay sex. You may recognize Joe Seo as the goofy bully in the Netflix hit show Cobra Kai, but it’s Spa Night where you can see him truly shine—he won Sundance’s US Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance.

Seo delivers a powerfully restrained performance, exploring the burden of hiding your true self from your family. Spa Night is more than a coming out story, it’s also about the broken American dream that so many immigrants experience. Ahn’s direction is finely tuned, honing in on the specificity of Koreatown. It is an acutely queer story of second-gen Asian Americans, where coming out is never really about just you, but also your family.

Streaming on Kanopy, and for rent on various VOD platforms.

Punching at the Sun (2006) Directed by Tanuj Chopra, written by Tanuj Chopra and Hart Eddy

Mameet is young, angry and has always lived in the shadow of his basketball-legend brother, Sanjay. When Sanjay is suddenly killed during a robbery at the family store, Mameet spirals and takes his anger out on anyone and everyone. Coping with loss at a young age is hard enough, but Punching at the Sun mixes in the specific anxieties of being a South-Asian man amidst the backdrop of post-9/11 America. In doing so, the film addresses the difficulty of juggling teenage angst and immigrant identity—Mameet is not afforded the option to express his anger and grief.

Cathartic and emotionally validating, this is a simple yet nuanced slice-of-life story that conveys the heaviness of growing up with the weight of the world on our shoulders. In Mameet’s case, thank goodness, he ultimately shares some of that burden with his comical friends and knit-tight family.

Available to rent on Vimeo.

Meet the Patels (2014) Directed by Ravi Patel and Geeta Patel, written by Ravi Patel, Matthew Hamachek, Billy McMillin, and Geeta Patel

In the romantic documentary Meet the Patels, Ravi Patel is a dutiful first-gen son whose parents are continually nagging him to marry a nice Indian girl. With Ravi's sister Geeta Patel co-directing and co-writing, and his parents in the frame, his film (and true-life story) are indeed a family affair. What starts as his journey to find a wife to make his family happy becomes an enlightening intro to Indian culture and modern love—think dating apps, weddings and a Patel Matrimonial Convention (gotta see it to believe).

Humorous as it is outrageously charming, Meet the Patels ultimately shows the struggles and cultural expectations most immigrant offspring face, on top of the million other obstacles of trying to find your one and only true love in this mad, mad world.

Streaming on various platforms.

Related content

Ten Underrated Asian American & Pacific Islander Films, a Letterboxd list

Best Asian American Films: So Yun Um’s list

Debbie Chang’s comprehensive Asian American film canon list (also features Asian-Canadian, Asian-British and other diaspora)

Bellamy’s list of feature-length films directed by Asian Americans

Follow So on Letterboxd

[vateacancameos]

How To Move to Night Vale: Step 1, Arrive in Town; Step 2, Automatically Become a Resident

Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale Characters: You, Minor Cecil Palmer, Other characters Words: 1476

Summary: How does Night Vale get new residents? Given the high death count, either all the citizens have a TON of kids, or Night Vale simply ... acquires new people. I imagine the town is sentient enough to pull in people it likes. Here's a story of how that might happen.

***

You don’t intend to move to Night Vale. It just sort of … happens? You have a good job and a good home, and you are perfectly satisfied—no, not satisfied … content—with your life. But Night Vale happens, and you just go with it, like you always do. Your friends have always told you its your best trait.

You’re traveling to visit your sister, and on the drive across the desert that takes you to her, you stop overnight at a motel on the edge of the town you hit around supper time. You think it’s a little odd that you have to sign the register in blood—you have a perfectly nice working pen in your bag—but hey, if they want to conserve ink, who are you to tell them otherwise? You’re just passing through.

The next morning, after one of the best sleeps you’d had in years—you aren’t sure if it was the mournful moaning three doors down or the sickly sweet aroma bubbling out of the misting machine by the bed, but whatever it is worked like a charm—you find an orange envelope slipped under your door. In semaphore drawings, it tells you that you have been assigned as the new English teacher. Your semaphore knowledge is weak, so you’re not sure if the previous teacher quit or was swallowed by a black hole, but it doesn’t really matter.

read the rest under the cut

You shrug. You majored in psychology and have been working in the field as such for the last five years, but you did have a lot of writing to do in school, so you think you can handle this. English is mostly about reading books and talking about them, right? You can manage that. You like to read. You call your sister to let her know you won’t be visiting this week after all, but your phone starts smoking and sparking as soon as she answers. You’ll have to remember to hunt down a computer and try emailing her later.

You arrive at Night Vale High School and are directed to the vice principal’s office. She’s very excited you showed up already in uniform. You look down at your grey t-shirt, jean capris, and orange Chuck Taylors and ask about the color of the shoes. Everyone else’s seem to be a rust color. She waves you off and says that will be taken care of at the morning sacrificial ceremony. You nod. It’s always nice to not have to change your look just to go to work.

You are given attendance sheets, scrolls, and a watercolor set and directed to your room. When you arrive, the class is already full. It’s always nice to come into a new job where everything is already in place. You take attendance, which takes a good forty minutes, since everyone must perform their own interpretive dance routine to announce their presence, then you open up the scroll to see what the students are working on.

The scroll is filled with numbers and letters. Algebra? Geometry? You barely past stats in college and have tried to forget as much math as possible. You ask one of the students. They look at you funny and say “It’s English! What kind of English teacher are you?”

Now, you’ve been pretty roll-with-the-punches so far, because it’s in your nature to be so, but this is definitely not English. A tiny elfin-looking creature at the back of the room stands up and sighs. “Come on, Mike, give the new teacher a break. The administration only switched English and algebra a week ago. Maybe she wasn’t around to hear that announcement.” It’s nice being in a place that gets your gender right on the first try.

Your shoulders drop in relief. You say that you only arrived in Night Vale the night before and had indeed missed the announcement that English and algebra had been switched. You make a mental note to talk to the vice principal, but figure you can handle one day of teaching. Maybe it’ll turn out that you’re really good at it. You won’t know until you try.

Unfortunately, you’re pants at algebra, both in learning and teaching it. The morning drags on forever, but lunchtime eventually comes. The sentient patch of blue fog that teaches theater (“I’m Misty. Yeah, my parents have terrible taste in names, laugh it up.”) invites you to eat lunch with her. You’d rather eat alone, but you’re polite and accept. Perhaps you can learn more about the school and town.

You’re warned not to ever go to the library (“Not that an English teacher ever needs to go to the library”) but told that the Moonlite All-Nite Diner has the best invisible pie in town. Misty gives you a spare coupon for a free slice of pizza from Big Rico’s. When you say you’re gluten intolerant, Misty laughs and says, “Aren’t we all?” She’s cute when she laughs. You wonder if she’d go get a slice with you some evening.

The afternoon goes faster after you decide to forgo teaching algebra and just talk about your favorite movies instead. You applaud the school system on molding such polite, intelligent children. They all do exactly as asked, and the one time a student speaks out of turn, he looks completely terrified, which concerns you just a bit, but you let it go. It’s your first day after all. They’ll get used to you.

You try to talk the vice principal into switching you to … would it be called algebra? ... class, or really anything else but math, but she shrugs and said it’s already been carved into the bloodstones. When you say you’re terrible at math, she asks if you can count to eight. When you affirm, she says you’ll be fine. You sigh and nod.

You ask her where the closest real estate office is, so you can look into getting an apartment—the motel is great and all, but the orange buzzing lights are really annoying after a while. The vice principal’s eyes go wide and her face pales to an olive green, she stutters a bit before the administrative assistant pokes his head through the door and reminds her that you can just take the old English teacher’s home, since they no longer need it, being an Erika now. The vice principal looks relieved.

You raise your eyebrows but follow their directions to your new home—a cute tri-level with a yellow door, the bloodstone circle that you’d learned earlier that day was required in all Night Vale homes, a cheerful kitchen, six bedrooms, and no bathroom.

A smooth voice whispers that the last occupant converted the bathrooms to bedrooms, since they had no use for them, and gives you the number of a reliable plumber. You wonder if your neighbors are nice enough to let you use theirs until you can get one installed. One waved to you as you arrived earlier. He had a very furry face, but there seemed to be a smile hidden under the hair.

Your neighbors are indeed very nice. They are a fairly young couple with two children. The man who waved at you says you’re welcome to use their bathroom whenever. The other man, the one who answered the door, gives you a key to their home, plus the appropriate runes to keep the door from eating you. You make a note to bake them a pie in thanks. You talk about the weather, as good neighbors do, along with the chances of Night Vale’s football team this year (a topic kindly suggested by the woman in a balaclava and cape hiding in the verge) before heading back to your new home to unpack your one bag. You’ll have to go shopping soon. Your Chucks won’t last long if they get covered in blood every day, and you’re about out of deodorant.

That night, you lay in your bed, listening to the screeching of the setting sun—it seems a bit late, almost eleven, but time has never meant that much to you anyway—and think about your first day as a Night Vale citizen. This place is like no other place you’ve ever lived. It’s strange, you won’t deny it, but you like it. It’s comfortable. Even while your brain is telling you it’s wrong in so many ways, your body is saying it’s perfectly natural.

Your mind finally calms when your radio turns itself on for the government-mandated community radio show, and you consider your future. The radio host gushes about the town’s resident scientist, and you smile sleepily when you hear that they just got married. You make a note to sit with Misty at lunch tomorrow. You really should ask her out.

You look forward to tomorrow for the first time in years. You think you’re finally home.

[thefandomsurfer]

Tagged once more~

Lots of love to @mikotofubar for tagging me~

Rules: Pick 5 shows then answer the questions given. Dont cheat! Then tag some people.

1. Fruits Basket.

2. Soul Eater.

3. Noragami.

4. Tokyo Ghoul.

5. Durarara

 Who is your favorite character in 2? Crona! They’re adorable, tragic, and hella interesting! 

Who is your least favorite character in 1? Umm...I dont hate anybody much in this. I guess Ayame? I just dont completely resonate with his character like I do with most of the others.

What is your favorite episode of 4? Ahh...Since this isnt about the Manga I’d say...Episode 6 of Re:. Because while it was rushed a bit, I got to have Juuzou with Big Madam, Haise vs Seidou, and the Mutsurie hug scene. 

What is your favorite season of 5? Ketsu!! Otherwise known as the last one haha. I adored it a whole bunch. I thought everything was put together and intertwined nicely.

Who is your favorite couple in 3? Oh man this is really tough. All the main ones are so good. I’d say Yatori wins over though~Its so sweet but also has just enough angst in it to keep me on my toes. KazuBisha is a very close second though!

Who is your favorite couple in 2? A toss up between CroMa and SouMa-It just goes back and forth so often its hard for me to say. They are both so cute and have their own strong points-When I first watched\read it I prefered SouMa but the older I got and when I rewatched\reread it I couldnt help but like CroMa more and more.

What is your favorite episode of 1? This might change when the new season comes out-But as of Season 1 I’d say the ever Iconic Kyoru hug episode. Whats not to love about it? Equal parts sad as it is heartwarming. (I really, really love Hanas backstory episode as well-So this was hard to say.)

What is your favorite episode of 5? The epsiode when Masaomi fought against his gang and overcomes his cowardice-Then it ends with Mikado and Anri coming to help him with Celty. I just really loved that episode a lot.

What is your favorite season of 2? Uhh...I guess the first? Netflix just updated it and made them all one big season so I dont know anymore. But the one where Medusa goes to get Asura out of the bag-Crona and Maka fight-And Blackstar and Kid have Erika and Free to deal with. That ones my favorite and the one I was the most riveted by.

How long have you watched 1? Oh jeez. I was like...9 when I first saw the original Fruits Basket-So its been about nine years since I watched it last. 

How did you become interested in 3? Well I was just bored one day and clicked on the first anime I saw with a interesting sounding plot-Then the show really captivated me.

Who is your favorite actor in 4? I’ll do voice actors since this isnt a live action-And In the Japanese sub I’d say its Rie Kugimiya the voice of Juuzou! She does an excellent job. And in the english dub I’d say its the voice of Kaneki-Austin Tindle! His voice acting is on point in certain parts. 

Which do you prefer, 1, 2, or 5? Oh this is rough. Ohh man. Uh-Well I think I prefer Fruits Basket just by a little. Soul eater is great-But the anime got off the road the Manga paved-And Noragami is really amazing even in anime form to me...However filler and parts they took off of it to make it more comedic make it lose points quickly. And Durarara is so, so good. Oh goodness do I love it. However there where parts I was just like-I really....Dont care about this character they are focusing so much time on. Fruits Basket is wonderful. The plot is about healing and love-And I just love it. Im eagerly awaiting the season 2.

Which show have you seen more episodes of, 1 or 3?  Noragami has more episodes as of right now-So I’d say Norgami lol.

If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be? Can I choose nobody because holly shit everybody is fucked up one way or another in this show Uh I’d say Saiko? Maybe? She seems like the one who has the least messed up backstory and present during the Tokyo Ghoul series to me. 

Would a crossover between 3 and 4 work? Hmm...Maybe? I could see it work a bit depending on what ends up going on. It would certainly be interesting! I’d definitely read\watch it. 

Overall, which show has the better story line, 3 or 5? Well. Both are highly interesting-But if were only doing Anime I’d say Durarara. Maybe even If I were to take into consideration they’re Manga (Or novel for Durarara) counterparts I’d still choose Durarara. Because I love how every character is connected to another, who is connected to another and nearly all of it is relevant to the plot in some way.

Which has better theme music, 2 or 4? Tokyo Ghoul definitely. Unravel and Katharsis are some of my all time favorites-However Resonance and Black paper moon are also really good. 

@juzuya-13, @haveanicedaymyself, @kyanitedragon, @icameoutofthecupboards, @aya-mesto-01, @ilovejuuzou, @juuheizou, @ashistr-ash and anybody else who wants to do this!

[love-sapphirerose]

10 Toxic Anime Couples We Wish Would Break Up Already

https://www.cbr.com/toxic-anime-couples-break-up-worst/

What a feeling it is, to be in love. It's a popular belief that there's someone out there for everyone, a Yin to every Yang,  a lid for every pot and so on. The same can be said for anime characters and there's nothing like seeing two characters with great chemistry deciding they belong together. 

Unfortunately, not all relationships are created equal. In fact, there are many that are downright toxic. Incompatible, inconsiderate, mean-spirited, abusive, or just wrong on so many levels, here's some examples of anime couples that make you wonder why these characters haven't just broken up already. 

10. SASUKE AND SAKURA FROM NARUTO AND BORUTO

It's no secret that Sakura has been in love with Sasuke for a long time. It was even a dream come true for Sakura when the two were put on the same team together, but from day one the romance between them has always been one-sided. Sasuke originally had little to no interest in Sakura. Even after she admitted her feelings in tears, Sasuke seemed to care very little about her.

It continued this way even after Sasuke attempted to kill Sakura and yet despite that, the two eventually got married and had a child. Unfortunately for poor Sakura, Sasuke is a bit of a deadbeat who's rarely ever home to be around his wife or daughter. If their relationship has proven anything, it's that Sakura has the patience of a saint.

9. JOSEPH JOESTAR AND SUZI Q FROM JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

The second JoJo may be a master of Hamon techniques and outwitting his enemies, but he has no understanding of romance or matters of the heart. Joseph met Suzi Q when he trained with Lisa and they were later married at the end of "Battle Tendency."

Joseph is guilty of being consistently inconsiderate to Suzi, losing his temper when she forgot to tell his friends he was actually alive and keeping her in the dark about their daughter's condition during "Stardust Crusaders." However, his worst act was during "Diamond is Unbreakable," where it's revealed Joseph had an affair with Tomoko Higashikata, who would bear his illegitimate child. They surprisingly didn't divorce, even after that. 

8. GOKU AND CHICHI FROM DRAGON BALL Z

Maybe this one was doomed from the start, considering Goku thought marriage was a kind of food at first. Goku may be DBZ's most powerful warrior, but his skills as a husband and family man could use work.

Goku's mind is focused solely on fighting and getting stronger, which leaves little time for things like spending time with his family or getting a job to support them. It's not that he doesn't care for them, it's more that he doesn't understand that they need him on a personal level. On the other side of things, Chichi's high expectations of Goku cause her to often lash out when she feels he's not doing his part. Between Goku's naïve, free spirit and Chichi's angry outbursts, it's clear they're just not compatible. It says something when even someone like Vegeta somehow makes it work with Bulma.

7. ODA AND KICHOU FROM NOBUNAGA TEACHER'S YOUNG BRIDE

A relationship between a student and a teacher is already bad. It's much worse when the age discrepancy transcends time itself. Oda is a middle school teacher whose life gets turns upside down when Kichou, a 14-year old girl from the Sengoku era, appears before him and reveals he's actually a descendant of the historical figure Oda Nobunaga and claims to be his bride. The rest of their relationship is summed up by Kichou trying to get Oda to make babies with her. 

It's about as uncomfortable as it sounds. Despite the fact Kichou is supposedly much older than her appearance, that doesn't take away from the fact that she looks like she's 14 and watching her try to force herself onto Oda feels wrong for so many reasons. 

6. KYOUSUKE AND KIRINO FROM MY LITTLE SISTER CAN'T BE THIS CUTE

There's absolutely no reason why these two should even be together. Kyousuke and Kirino have no chemistry. In fact, most of their interactions are just arguments and verbal abuse. Yet somehow, even though there were many girls that surrounded Kyousuke that would make for a better romantic interest, he ultimately chooses to be with Kirino for seemingly little reason.

Already it's a bad Tsundere romance, but addressing the elephant in the room makes this go from uncomfortable to extremely icky. They're also brother and sister.

5. ERIKA AND KYOUYA FROM WOLF GIRL AND BLACK PRINCE

To be fair, Erika did bring this on herself by lying to her friends that she and Kyouya, the most popular boy at their school, were dating. However, Kyouya takes advantage of this situation by going along with it, on the condition that she becomes his pet. The rest of this anime showcases just how sadistic and cruel Kyouya is to Erika, abusing her and humiliating her at every turn.

For some reason, over time Erika genuinely starts to love Kyouya and wants him to reciprocate her feelings, even though he continues to treat her like trash and withhold any kind of affection. If anything, these two are the very definition of an abusive relationship. 

4. SEJI AND MIKA FROM DURARARA!!!

This romance involves a love triangle with a severed head. That is not a joke. Mika fell in love with Seji one day. However, Seji had no interest in her. Mika didn't give up though, going so far as to stalk Seji and eventually get surgery to resemble the same severed head Seji loves. After finding out the truth, Seji accepts Mika but makes clear that he will ditch her if he ever finds the real head.

The reason these two just don't work as a couple is that there's no love between them. Seji doesn't care about Mika, he's just using her to replace the head of Celty while Mika is completely fine being used as long as she's with him. There's an obsession on one side and manipulation on the other.

3. LADD AND LUA FROM BACCANO

Every couple has their way of talking intimately to their partner, but Ladd goes a little too far with Lua when he describes the ways that he'll kill her. Anyone else would find the fact that Ladd is very clearly a psychopath horrific, but Lua is almost blissfully unaware of the situation to a disturbing level.

To Ladd, Lua is just his plaything. Love isn't the word one would use to describe their relationship, they're less like a couple and more like a kidnapper and a hostage with Stockholm syndrome.

2. ENJI (ENDEAVOR) AND REI TODOROKI FROM MY HERO ACADEMIA

There's a loveless marriage and then there's this horrorshow. Enji, also known as the #2 hero Endeavor, only really married Rei so that he could have children who had both his fire quirk and her ice quirk. His hope was for a child that could surpass his rival, All Might. 

The abuse Enji showed Rei and his children to reach this goal was violent, to say the least. A lot of it was left simply implied, but what is known is that it was so bad that Rei was driven to the brink of insanity,  and burned her own son. Shoto Todoroki. Afterward, she was committed to a mental hospital. All of this was the result of Endeavor trying to satisfy his own ego.

1. LOUISE AND SAITO FROM THE FAMILIAR OF ZERO

Louise and Saito are probably one of the most infamous examples of a Tsundere romance. After accidentally summoning Saito to her world from Japan, Louise makes the poor boy her familiar and proceeds to verbally and physically abuse him for any little thing.

Even though he's very clearly a human, Louise treats Saito more like an animal. Eventually, the two begin a relationship, even though nothing really changes in their relationship. Why they decide to stay together is a complete mystery, since their relationship feels both disingenuous and neither side does anything to earn the other's affection.