#Gangster No. 1 Rewatch

[spockvarietyhour]

[hotasfahrenheit]

this lil sunshine angel baby, look at his face the way he smiles at Tew as;ldfkja;sflkdja;fdkjl

i want to gif up this whole scene (tho someone else has probably already done it with better quality video than i have access to) but i need to not be up all night making gifs so maybe later but i had to do these at least because LOOK AT HIMMMMMM

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - All's Quiet on the BL Front

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

May 2024 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

Wandee Godday (Sat YT) ep 3 of 12 - I love how were getting a solid depiction of two queers just genuinely enjoying sex with each other. That’s actually rare in BL. In this case, it manages to also be weirdly adorable and cute.

Dee is such a tease. I guess Y likes a brat? 

LOOK at those bedroom eyes!

Linguistics corner: when these two are being serious, sweet, or flirty with each other they use rao/nai which is kind of old fashioned and charming and not common in BL. They move pretty seamlessly into gu/mueng and back depending on the style of convo, tho. It's FUN to hear them talk.

Let the fake relationship commence!

My Stand-In (Thai Fri iQIYI) ep 4 of 12 eps - I HAVE THOUGHTS. I'm really enjoying the sinister backbone of this show. I hope they have the courage of their convictions in that regard and lean into a kind of sexy evil revenge narrative. It was a pleasure to watch the break up and I do not want a redemption arc for Ming or a romance for us. Fuck 'em, let’s just ride a revenge train, okay Joe baby?

That’s said, I totally sniffled at the ending scene where Ming (for two years!) has been paying penance cooking for two and waiting alone. Excellent pathos. Now, I understand how they're gonna make this a full 12 eps. And I’m excited about it. Carry on!

We Are (Weds iQIYI) ep 7 of 16 - I wasn't a fan of Winny & Satang in My School President but I'm loving them in this. The thing with Q, Toey, and Chain had me hooting with laughter. I think I’m finally just easing into the relaxed absurdity of this show. The key is not to expect anything from it. Just them being tiny gay idiots.

Two Worlds (iQIYI) ep 10 fin - Someday I’d like to really enjoy a MaxNat show, but today was not that day. (I feel like ever since Between Us I’ve been generally disenchanted with established OG pairs and what they’re bringing to the table. Perhaps that’s a discussion for another day. Cherry Magic excepted, of course.) 

OK, so this final episode, they sure tried to fit a lot in. But that made the pacing better for me. So I kinda liked this weird cliff notes resolution to the story.

In conclusion:

MaxNat do a credible job with a messy script about parallel worlds, gangsters, and strange diseases cured by forest fruits. It sounds confusing because it is. The chemistry is excellent the side pair is entirely forgotten about, and one could drive a Tardis through the plot holes. Still, I found it modestly enjoyable if not at all rewatchable. 7/10 

Only Boo! (Sun YouTube) ep 6 of 12 - I do love how bold and brash Moo is. He’s truly a great character, such an utter outgoing sunshine puppy focused on his pursuit of his older boy. I'm charmed by his utter harmlessness. They gave us a sweet coming out scene, and an awesome supportive mom. Frankly GMMTV has a good track record with moms. (With a few noted exceptions, of course.)

That said, I do keep forgetting this is a GMMTV offering. It just doesn't FEEL GMMTV. Just me?

OMG Vampire (Thai Sun ????) ep 1 of 10 - Starts tomorrow, will report on sitch next week. LeeFrank are back - not unlike the undead. But how do we feel about it? Unsure given their track record.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

At 25:00 in Akasaka AKA 25 Ji Akasaka de (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 5 of 10 - I like it. I like our sulky 2nd lead. He’s pouty, adorable, brash, and adding some much-needed tension to this narrative. The blurring lines between show within a show is a lot of fun. Probably the best I've seen done in BL so far.

Living With Him AKA Kare no Iru Seikatsu (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 6 of 10 - I like that we got backstory, but we also sort of already knew it. So this ep felt a bit like filler. They are wonderful when they’re on screen together but when they aren't it's a bit dull. I hope we just get them together for the next 4 eps. But this is Japan, so I doubt it.

Blossom Campus (Korea Thurs Gaga & iQIYI) ep 1 of 6 - The image resolution on this show (via Iqiyi ) is terrible. Meanwhile, awkward crush. Jock nerd pairing. Dorky. Maybe a bit too much awkward/dorky for me? I'm not sold on this one.

Meanwhile the ordering then not eating or drinking of food continues. Very upsetting.

Boys Be Brave (Korea Viki) eps 5-8fin - This show was just never sure what it wanted to be. Slacker sunshine KiSub moves in with nerd JinWoo, mostly because he knows JinWoo likes him but won't confess and that's never happened to him before. It reminded me of some earlier KBLs like Behind Cut, yes is had bones but not much flesh, so it only just hung together and progressed through not very much plot in a jerking rattling fashion like an animated skeleton. All the story and chemistry was with the side couple and none of the screen time. That just annoyed me. What did this BL want to BE? Who tf knows. I, for one, don’t care, and resolve to think no more on it. 6/10 

Blue Boys (Korea Sat YouTube) - This ended at 4 eps on a cliffhanger. Since this is a very small studio I don’t have a lot of faith in there being a part two. But they have bundled both this BL, and the GL, bingable chunks on YT. So if you want to binge it, it’s there. Just be aware that it ends on a cliffhanger.

My thoughts?

Promising reunion romances full of class and coming out struggles but I grade with what we got, not on expectations, and you know I HATE a cliffhanger. So yeah, it HAD promise but as of now it gets a 4/10 - fatally flawed. I reserve the right to change my mind if they amend for damages.

It's airing but...

You Made My Day (Thai YT) ep 1 of 5 - mini series staring the I Will Knock You couple Tar & Bom, started but I couldn't find it. I also didn't try very hard.

Lady Boy Friends (Thai WeTV grey) 16 eps - reminds me a bit too much of Diary of Tootsies only high school. Not my thing. DNF unless it turns a corner and is truly amazing.

A Balloon's Landing (Taiwan movie) trailer - A frustrated Hong Kong writer, Tian Yu, meets a Taipei street gangster, Xiang (Fandy Fan from HIStory2: Crossing the Line), and the two of them embark on a journey to find the Bay of Vanishing Whales. Along the way, they discover unexpected twists and turns and close bonds, which brings out the message that "there is always someone like you in this world who is waiting for you. This released to cinemas in Taiwan, no word on international release.

In case you missed it

A really really thorough and fascinating article on 2 Moons 2 and what happened.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

May Releases

VBL (Taiwan) is releasing 4 'Special Episode' epilogues to their 4 2023 shows every Friday this month on Gagaoolala, Viki & Viu. Not sure on search terms or how to find these. (Or, frankly, if we need them.)

5/10 – You Are Mine

5/17 – VIP Only

5/24 – Stay By My Side

5/31 – Anti Reset

5/25 The Time of Fever AKA Unintentional Love Story 2 (Korea movie) trailer - HoTae & DongHee are back but unfortunately not in a cinema near me. Side couple from Unintentional Love Story, same actors, same character names. I love them. I NEED TO SEE THIS.

5/28 My Biker 2 (Thai movie YT?) - trailer

5/30 Knock Knock Boys (Thai Thurs WeTV) - I'm hoping I can get it elsewhere since my WeTV account is inactive, but I do love Best and I'm interested in seeing him in a new pairing. That said, I'm not wild about Seng... so I won't be too cut up if I can't get hold of this. More here.

5/31 The Time of Huannan (Taiwan movie) - May not be BL

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

I'm a sucker for this king of casual claiming. (Only Boo)

It me! (Wandee Goodday)

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a pain.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @sunflower-positiiivity @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious

If ya wanna be tagged each week leave a comment and I will add you to the template. Easy peesy.

[hausofmamadas]

PRIMOGENITAL | the Wisdom of Fredward Horniman

From The Gentlemen, Episode 1 - Refined Agression

∴

Look, you guys. He’s really suffered, okay?

He’s been STABBED in the heart, he’s been London-BRIDGED(?), he’s been FUCKED in the face, DOGGED on the floor.

And it’s true. He has, despite being the firstborn son, been relegated to the truly harrowing fate of being the most embarrassingly, painfully, mediocre progeny in the family line, that his dad had no choice but to break with 600yrs of tradition and cut him out of the will, passing everything to younger, much cooler more responsible brother, Edwina “Eddie” Horniman. And isn’t not having a bullshit title, nor the crushing debt of his father’s failed above-board business, nor having to deal with the surprise! extensive, underground potfarm on the estate grounds and all the accompanying stress and criminal hijinx with it— well, isn’t it just the most traumatic thing you can imagine???????

Now all Freddy gets to do is:

live in historic mansion with way-too-cool-to-be-caught-dead-with-him, Inexplicable-Stunt-Driver-Wife Tamasina (known by abs legendary nickname of Wham Tam) who also, when asked by Freddy in a moment of desperation if she thinks he’s a cock, rightly points out, “all men are cocks, Freddy”

pal around in chicken costume and steal cars with chill asf brother that he only occasionally wants dead, Steady Eddie who’s legit so good at everything that Freddy doesn’t have to be good at anything

go “fishing” aka chuck live grenades into lake full of salmon, a method worthy of Park-Tuna-Assassin Ramon Arellano Félix and invent Crack!Weed another Ramon-coded pasttime with bestie-botanist and lover of all things hydroponic, hallucinogenic, and Special Sauce, Jimmy Chang …. AND

Skeet shoot out in picturesque estate garden with creature-whisperer, actual live angel, and all around Dilf-of-the-manor, Geoff

Oh, the horror.

No, but honestly, I cannot summon from memory a single character I have so biblically despised on first watch, only to full 180, violently swing in the opposite direction to straight glee/appreciation for the comedic marvel that is Mr. (not!)Duke-SirFancyPants-RoyalDumpsterFire-LordSomethingErOther, the one, the only, Frederick “Fredward” Horniman aka thisprince👇

Yeah, talk about refined aggression? I had some refined ass aggression toward ole Fred, here. Like when I tell you I hated this “man,” I h a t e d this man.

All I could think the whole time, on first watch was, wowowow, y’know what’s worse than a useless, entitled, infantile, drug-addled, narcissistic man-fetus …?

A loud useless, entitled, infantile, drug-addled, narcissistic man-fetus.

My mans, Eddie is wayyy too generous here☝️and every other time he bails Freddy out of whatever pigshit he manages to shove his full face into bc I’d be throwing more than paper. That antique furniture would regrettably be sailing thru the air, straight at that fat melon of this nepo-baby dressed in DivineRightofKings drag, if only to get a precious few fucking seconds of silence.

Like the only one reacting appropriately here is Charly☝️who Freddy snarkily calls Lady Macbeth with a mix of love and contempt only a sibling can display which like, not the best? insult? To be called one of the most groundbreaking female characters of all time? But our boy is nothing if not scholarly, right. So im sure he super paid attention when the class was reading Macbeth

So, yeah. He’s basically the worst. There’s a metric fuck ton of evidence to support that. AND YET, this mf isn’t completely useless bc after my 2nd and 3rd rewatch specifically witnessing the genius that is his alter ego, plastic Russian gangster, Anatoly Givenchy Romanov who laavs orange cars and Siberian tigers let me do tell you, against my better judgment, I found myself growing to love and adore the (2nd) funniest character in an already hilarious show (crown goes to beautiful tropical fish Jimmy bc mans always proper vibin’)

And now, when I watch this scene, instead of berserker levels of enraged, I’m struck with a disorienting combo of secondhand cringe + juvenile glee??? Like instead of wanting to aggravated manslaughter my own tv, I’m just “awww, Fredward. What a little nothing you are. Look how silly you look in your lil boarding school jumper.” And it feels good(?) but mostly bad. And then I do this

like the true American scum that I am.

═

taglist: @drabbles-mc @when-did-this-become-difficult @narcolini, @ladygoatee ⇝ tagged bc even tho you have zero intention of watching, you were diligently taking notes

[gizkasparadise]

What is the worst, most technically inept drama that you secretly love? Tell us of the best badgood drama, the clunkiest dialogue, the most inexplicable casting, the hideously costumed yet most fun dramas, please.

🫥Anonymously yours🫥,

💜Purplehanfu😈💜🍇👾

dear complete stranger (<3),

man i love badgood dramas so much!!! i chose ones that are flatout objectively not good, but i was glued for them all. here's a few that are jumping out

triad princess (taiwan). it ends on a cliffhanger that will never be continued, the relationship building is non-existent, jasper liu basically plays himself yet still acts like he's doing a community service project, but omg it's cute and hit all the right notes for me. fave bonus is that one of the gangster henchmen falls in love with the FL's best friend, a shy boy who works at a mart and makes youtube covers

hold on, my lady (chinese). a bandit is offered a choice when she's caught during a heist: be executed or marry this aloof but beautiful but delicate son of the general. she chooses the latter, and hijinks ensue. made on a budget of pocket lint and just wacky, im going to rewatch this today, actually. fave bonus moment: the FL falls dramatically down and the ML breaks both his arms instantly when he tries to catch her

thumping spike & thumping spike 2 (korean). the two are barely related, but both deal with a competitive men's volleyball team! thumping spike 1 is about a washed up competitive female player going to coach a high school team to glory (just dont...think too critically about the age difference, there) and the second is COLLEGE EDITION with a love quadrangle between two identical twins, one of whom is a cheerleader for the team, the ace volleyball player who's too cool for school, and the WILDCARD volleyball player who gets mad when people call him gorilla. the second one is definitely worse than the first one, but neither are bringing home awards. i still watched them both in one sitting.

my heart twinkle twinkle (korean). this show is actually insane and a parade of toxic that i can never, in good conscience, ever rec to anyone. but gd did i watch the whole fucking thing. look at this fucking poster. this fucking poster looks like it was doused by a fake snow machine.

premise: Noble But Poor family has 3 daughters: the eldest, who is the caretaker; the middle who is Aloof and Ambitious; and the youngest who is A Fucking Menace. they are lead by their single father, who owns a fried chicken store

Rich but Dysfunctional family also has 3 children: the eldest, who is the only son and a fucking piece of work, the middle who is school colleagues with the other family's middle daughter and a hot mess who loves Da Club, and the youngest, who is clingy and gets into a ton of fights with the other family's youngest but is otherwise ok. they run AN EVIL FRIED CHICKEN FRANCHISE that is poisoning people through subpar ingredients!!

there's so much that's so wrong with this, im going to bullet point it from another post i made:

the entire premise is that there’s a fried chicken restaurant rivalry between two families but somehow there’s murder and slush funds and this guy who owns a string of fried chicken franchises named after himself (yeah) has direct access to seoul’s police commissioner at any given moment

one of the main actresses was involved in a scandal a little over halfway through production so they just….vanish her character/entire plotline like it never happened

the main male lead is toxic personified. him and li chengyin from goodbye my princess could co-author a dating strategy/forced-marriage-after-you-kill-your-girlfriend’s-head-of-household book because jesus christ. he literally screams that he hates women and he ends the drama (rightfully!!) in fucking prison

the second female lead disappears/creates a new identity and becomes a chicken chef student of the world. shes later in a love triangle between a single dad chicken shop interior designer and another vanilla guy

that's right, one guy’s job is he’s an architect for chicken restaurant interiors i cant

the main male lead leaves the main female lead’s father to die in a chicken-coop-themed arsony and then cha-cha slides into the son-in-law’s role during the father’s funeral and later MARRIES the female lead

the main male lead tells the female lead’s father’s grave that HE WON AND DAD LOST because the male lead is standing and the father’s in the dirt?!

a friend/almost!love interest of the second female lead dies tragically in a chicken delivery motorcycle chase????

it's the worst drama i've ever seen. i watched all of it.

kakafukaka (japanese)

this one is so gd weird and unappealing it somehow circled back around and became off-puttingly charming to me? so the premise is that there's a 20something year old woman whose life has gone to shit and she ends up in a sharehome with the most sexually dysfunctional bunch of people in the world. one of these is her ex, who tells her that she's the only one he can get a boner with (yeah) and asks her to help him get over his impotence in order to write his novel (yeah). if you read the whole show as kind of an exploration into sex without romance/love, it's as not bad, and there's something weirdly endearing about everyone--i really love the second female lead akari in particular. but it's not a good show, not by a long shot (MDL rating? 6.6), and the ship is dysfunctional at the very best. the ost somehow is great though?

speaking of trash dramas with great OSTs, love in sadness has some of my favorite songs:

okay that's enough for now!!!!

[dcrewatch]

Detective Conan Rewatch: Episode 1137

Episode 1137: "The Secret of the Popular Restaurant’s Changing Flavor”

Before watching this episode, on a scale of 1-10, how much are you looking forward to seeing it again?

How about a 5?

Favorite screencap:

Conan: "Oh lord, they actually took Genta's suggestion for a eel dish."

Genta: "I HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN."

Favorite Moment:

The opening bit is pretty cute and I appreciate Conan and Haibara's reactions to "oh great, we're doing this, aren't we?"

Least Favorite Moment:

Nothing this time!

What’s one thing you noticed/realized about this episode that you hadn’t before?

Conan slips up and reveals his age again but covers it up saying Ran told him. Not sure when the last slip up we've had was.

Looks like textured photographs in the background for the ads for food.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate this episode?

I like the twist that the "gangsters" are actually nice and are just actors and no one was really in danger. It's honestly a refreshing case, I'll give it a 6.

Celebrate it!

Here’s a (not exactly) summary haiku:

Ramen changed flavor

DB go investigate

Chef has gone missing

Next Episode: Episode 1138

Previous Episode: Episode 1135-1136

[moaserendipity]

My Top 10 BL's of 2023

I am back with my personal top 10 of 2023. I know I've been super quiet these days but making a top 10 is always fun to do. The #1 has been decided early this past year but for the rest... It was a crazy year for BL but only a few were really top tier...🔥🔥

10. My Personal Weatherman (Taikan Yoho)

One of the Japanese BL's I really enjoyed watching. It was more grown up then the ones I've seen and that was very welcome. I love the dynamics between the main characters a lot. It was a bit of a slow one, with the lack in communication between the two but I forgive that because the chemistry was really good.

09. Wedding Plan

Oh how i looked forward to this one, the second I saw the trailer. I loved the storyline but I thought it was very short, which made them rush through it at times, which was a shame because it was actually really good and I just wanted to see more. I loved the chemistry between Sailom and Namnuea, So I really enjoyed watching them. They are very new if I'm correct but I didn't notice it at all, so hopefully they will get another BL together but a longer one. Also I love the GL in this BL, it was very natural and I in the end hoped they would be the ones that got to marry. Not to forget about the cameo;s of my babies Payu and Rain and of course Prapai and Sky.

08. Moonlight Chicken

This one I've waited for so so long and it was kind of a surprise because I love EarthMix, Like Mix is my man but my attention got taken away from them and got attached to GemFourth who played Li Ming and Heart. I just loved everything about them! I loved how they incorporated Sign language because Heart was deaf and just the overall chemistry between them, was everything. They made me smile so much. Jim and Wen, you know were amazing as well but I sometimes felt frustrated by their interaction. The close moments they had were amazing of course but it was not what I expected from EarthMix but overall this drama was definitely worth the wait!

07. Kiseki: Dear to Me

I absolutely loved this one. I couldn't get enough of it. I am a sucker for the Hate to Love trope and this had exactly that and in a gangster way. Like I loved it. ZeRui and Bangyi were made for each other and you can't tell me otherwise how he went to prison for ZeRui and even got hurt but he still decided to dedicate his bakery to him with his Strawberry cakes, ugh too cute. The second couple made me want even more. The sassiness of Ai Di and the coldness of Chen Yi, they were really something. The way Chen Yi didn't realize that Ai Di loved him until he went to prison or that one hot night made me slap my forehead because nothing was more obvious, so I can not explain how happy I was they finally got together in the end!!

06. My School President

This really was a GemFourth year because this was their first leading BL and boy how they won us over with their cuteness. The OST was also seriously top tier. I think I loved all the songs. This entire Cast was amazing! To think I almost skipped this one...That would've been a mistake for sure, so I'm happy that I decided to give it another try because I fell in love with them and bingewatched it in one go. I can't wait to see the next project from them.!

5. Our Dating Sim

this Korean BL was a welcome one. I loved the office setting of this BL and the fact that the episodes were short as usual, didn't disturb me that much. Their chemistry made up for that! I will never forget how my heart sank when Ki Tae thought Wan had disappeared again, this poor man but I loved how Wan immediately comforted him the second he saw him. I should really rewatch this again.

4. Last Twilight

I know it's still running but I can not leave it out of my top10 for 2023. I am impressed with Jimmy and Sea. These two are everything to me at this moment. Their chemistry is crazy and I am happy they have this BL to show their talents again. I am impatiently waiting every week for the next episode and so far no episode has disappointed me, which is rare tbh.

3. Sing my Crush

Sing my crush was not even on my radar but the second I came across it, I bingewatched it. I am a sucker for music BL's, where the actors can ACTUALLY sing and play instruments.. I loved it so much. from start to finish. I really think this BL was very underrated. I did not hear a lot of people about it but it definitely deserves more!

2. I feel you linger in the Air

Ever since I saw the trailer, I wanted to see this one badly and boy did it not disappoint! I was in awe every episode. I don't think I've ever seen a Thai Bl that was staged in the past. Also this way of time traveling is one I actually like. As long as no bodies get switched I am loving it. Their chemistry was top notch and those intimate scenes. That kiss in the rain, Art I am telling you and that massage scene, HELLO!! I literally forgot to breathe at that point and my face was almost stuck to the screen, crazy!! So yeah this was a true masterpiece!

01. The Eighth Sense

Let's all act surprised by this one...... what can I say? This one touched my intire being. It touched my soul, My heart everything. I cried, laughed and even cursed at 2 people in particular.. This is the biggest masterpiece of 2023 and nothing can change my mind about this. The way I anticipated every week and felt sad when it ended, ugh!! I just want to praise Oh Jun Taek for the way he acted, because if I'm correct this was his first acting job or at least he is very new but he pulled it of perfectly and Ji sub, I am applauding him for the way he portrayed Jae Won. All I need now is a season 2 or an special episode where we see them do the things Jihyun wanted... like just please!! In al seriousness everything was amazing about this one and that's why it's my number 1

I really do think that the Korean BL's won this round. I feel like they are finally stepping up their game. It's still not as Explicit as Thai or Taiwanese but that's not what I am expecting. I don't always have to have NC scenes because without a story, it's not worth a lot. Overal the Bl's were powerful this year and Top tier. Hopefully next year will bring us even better ones!! <3

[mobileleprechaun]

oubgh Tagged Game

I was kindly tagged by the eminent @femboty2k, thank you so much for tagging me!

This one is about introducing yourself with the following:

- One tv show

- One movie

- One album

- One game

However, she went the extra mile and did two each, so I'll do that as well!

TV Shows: Whatever Happened to Robot Jones and Making Fiends

I'm not entirely sure what it says about me that both of my picks here were ill-fated and obscure cartoons cancelled before their time, but I certainly hope it's nothing premonitory about the trajectory of my life!

Robot Jones was a full-on obsession for me when I was young. It's about a robot child having to attend junior high in the 1980s so he can understand humans better, and all the awkwardness that goes along with that. Something about it struck such a chord with me – probably the fact that the protagonist was a sheltered misfit who couldn't understand his peers. I was homeschooled until college, and all of my interactions with other kids were painfully awkward along those lines, so I guess I just felt seen?

It's a weird show, and the tone is pretty bleak. He's mercilessly bullied by both peers and authority figures alike, and episodes rarely ever end with anything working out for him. Maybe I felt seen by that too. It's kind of fucked up, and I'm 70% certain bits of it didn't age well, but for what it's worth, people still really enjoy the one episode where RJ comes to the conclusion that he's nonbinary. It's also lost media at this point, so there's an inherent rewarding feeling that comes with being able to find it at all.

Making Fiends is also pretty bleak, but in a very silly and fun way. It's about a town that lives in mortal terror of Vendetta, this extremely cruel grade-schooler who is able to make monsters (fiends) that can serve her every whim. However, her nasty little gangster baby life is turned upside down when a very dense friendly girl named Charlotte comes to town, and Vendetta finds herself terrorized for a change.

I was obsessed with this one too and was a young stan of its creator. I love that it's about two girls just being dumb as all hell and having weird and fucked up things happen to them. Nobody's boy-crazy, either – both of these little gremlins just get to be people. Neither of them are particularly deep in terms of characterization, but they're so much fun to have a romp with, and they get to fill that slapstick-heavy role that's usually only reserved for male characters. Also, the humor is super fucked up and morbid, but the way everything is delivered will just keep you hooting. It's definitely less emotionally exhausting than Robot Jones.

Movies: Chicken Run and The End of Evangelion

Weird pair, I know!

Chicken Run is another of my childhood obsessions that persists to this very day. It's a fun and surprisingly poignant tale of an insurrection on a farmyard and the brave hens (and one mostly useless rooster) who make it happen. Aardman just knocks it right out of the park with the quirky designs of their ensemble cast and just how rooted it feels in its 1950s setting. The villains are fun, the heroes are fun, somehow Mel Gibson doesn't completely ruin it, and I dunno, it's just very cozy. I could rewatch it over and over again. Also, Mac is best girl.

End of Evangelion is not cozy at all! It's the fucked up and horrifying ending to a fucked up and horrifying anime, and it pissed a lot of people off at how mean-spirited it felt, but like... it's a fucking masterpiece, like it goes incredibly hard. Every element of it – the music, the voice acting, the visuals – it's all stunning, like all the way through. Yes it's sad and upsetting and very strange, but that's just how the anime went. None of it feels out of place, either. I can go back and watch Episode 1 again and not feel like EoE mismatches tonally. I still think about it on the regular, and I still bop to Komm sußer Tod.

Albums: Spirit Phone and Act II: The Father of Death

I've picked these two because these are both albums I always feel the need to listen to as a whole rather than piecemeal. There's some other amazing albums that I feel dirty not including here, but these two are just the ones that hit me the hardest as albums, and I have to be fully honest with myself about that.

Spirit Phone came into my life when I desperately needed it. I had just lost my youngest brother and was trying to find my first apartment after years of being my parents' adult subject. It was such a heady and wonderful thing for me, all these skrunkly-ass songs about the occult and the inherently fucked up nature of American culture. I played it on repeat for almost a solid month, and it gave me the strength and optimism I needed to muscle through the most terrifying time of my life. It's still such a cozy and wonderful thing for me, and I thank Neil Cicirega from the bottom of my heart for putting it together.

The Protomen: Act II wasn't something that got me through a crisis, but it was a fucking crazy-ass bop and a solid goddamn chaser to their first album, which I also love listening to as a whole. The story of Thomas Light's descent into living as a pariah in his own city after his own friend turns on him is masterfully told by this band, and every track hits like a truck. The whole subplot with Joe was incredible, too, and that guy who sings as Wily is so fucking good, and Panther is ridiculously versatile... I still get goosebumps thinking about Breaking Out. Gorgeous album through and through.

Games: Sonic & Knuckles Collection and Cave Story

It might be cheating to include the whole collection as one game, but I don't give a phuck!!!!

I was like 7 or 8 when I got the Sonic & Knuckles collection on CD-ROM, and holy fuck, y'all. I knew I loved The Adventure of Sonic the Hedgehog on TV, but getting my hands on that game about spoiled me rotten. It just felt so perfect in every way. Having gone back and played earlier entries in the Sonic series really gives me an appreciation for how well they perfected the formula here, it's just so smooth and refined. Going back through each stage playing as Sonic, Tails or Knuckles is so good, too, like you really get a feel for how much there is to explore with their different styles of movement. I just love it so much, it's so cozy and so jammed to the brim with pure fun.

Cave Story was something I encountered later in life, and was pleasantly surprised to find as a free download. I was not adequately prepared for what a ride this humble-looking little platformer would be. God, it was such a wonderful challenge, sometimes frustrating, but always so compelling as to keep me coming back. And what a beautiful story, too, and what a gorgeous setting. I full-on cried at many points. Pixel just put his whole heart and soul into this game, and it's so sickening and unfair that he got fucked over by that shitty licensing deal. If you haven't already, please show this man's work some love. It went hard enough that when Undertale was first announced, I assumed it was going to be a Cave Story fangame. 😝

waow that's media!!! I must tag four people; @sammytoesis, @fetus-cakes, @johannesson and @badgrlebie. But if you wanna do it too, DO IT!!!!

[veronica-nardi]

DRAMA QUIZ 2024

Innanzitutto... si vede che non bazzico più molto su Tumblr, sì?! 😂 Il mio ultimo post risale al Drama Quiz dell'anno scorso LOL.

Detto questo, posso cominciare. Drama visti quest'anno:

Coreani: Crash landing on you, Little Women, Memories of the Alhambra (rewatch), A shop for killers, Gangster High School, The judge from hell

Cinesi: Lost Tomb 2, Derailment, Scarlet heart, Faithful

Thailandesi: Dirty laundry, Lucky star, Be my favorite, In family we trust, Master of the house

Taiwanesi: Danger Zone 2, Grocery store

Giapponesi: House of Ninjas, Shogun, La testimonianza di N, Paripi komei

Plus: Someday or one day The Movie

1) Il drama più bello che hai visto quest'anno

Memories of the Alhambra

Lo so, non è un drama fresco di visione ma è un rewatch, ma il quiz è il mio quindi faccio come voglio fatemi causa

Ho riguardato questa serie per tre motivi: il primo è perché avevo semplicemente voglia di riguardarla visto che mi era piaciuta un sacco (nel lontano 2020!), il secondo era per calarmi ancora di più nel mood andaluso in vista del viaggio spagnolo con @dilebe06, e il terzo era per poterla farla vincere come serie dell'anno nel quiz finale.

Ho sempre detto che il 2020 è stato l'anno dei grandi drama per me: ne ho visti tanti e un sacco belli. Sceglierne uno non fu facile. Alla fine premiai Live, un drama di vita sui poliziotti in Corea, e una parte di me non è pentita di averlo premiato, perché ancora lo ricordo come un drama bellissimo che mi ha regalato forti emozioni e tante lacrime.

Tuttavia un'altra parte di me ha sempre pensato: sì però anche Memories tanta roba. Quindi mi sono detta che se in un anno non avessi visto drama degni di nota, avrei fatto il rewatch di Memories per dargli quello che merita: una bella vittoria.

Memories of the Alhambra è davvero un bel drama: intrattiene da dio, ha una trama e location uniche e affascinanti, è ricco di suspense e colpi di scena; ha l'azione, il romanticismo e il mistero. Il tutto accompagnato da un'accattivante colonna sonora. Una volta entrati nel vivo è impossibile non divorare un episodio dietro l'altro.

Amo profondamente questa storia, e so benissimo che non sia perfetta, ma la tengo nel cuore come una delle più belle che abbia mai visto.

Ah, tra l'altro, adesso posso dirlo: SONO STATA ALL'ALHAMBRA E HO CAMMINATO DOVE HA CAMMINATO HYUN BIN (anche se dubito che lui abbia camminato così tanto @dilebe06)

2) Una serie che secondo te merita più conoscenza

Faithful

Sono stata un po' indecisa se premiarlo come drama dell'anno, ma ho deciso che stavolta Memories merita tutta la vittoria.

Tuttavia Faithful è un OTTIMO cdrama.

Non ne ho mai sentito parlare e non ha neanche un voto così tanto alto su mydramalist, e adesso so perché. Questo non è un drama per il grande pubblico: non c'è la storia d'amore, non ci sono cliché, non c'è azione (nel senso che non è un drama d'azione inteso con inseguimenti, scontri, combattimenti ecc..)

Faithful racconta una storia pesante che può anche essere difficile da guardare per certe persone. Racconta temi importanti e sempre attuali, e lo fa con forza e delicatezza insieme, e spinge chi lo guarda a pensare, a riflettere.

Questi sono i drama migliori per me.

3) Il finale peggiore

Ci ho pensato, ho riguardato la lista dei drama visti, ma dei finali che mi ricordo (alcuni sono non pervenuti), non ce n'è nessuno che proprio non mi sia piaciuto.

4) Il protagonista maschile preferito

Memories of the Alhambra

Non posso farci niente, devo di nuovo usare questo rewatch perché davvero non ho protagonisti maschili che mi abbiano conquistata, e il lead di Memories francamente parlando questa vittoria la merita tutta.

Un personaggio umano, non è un eroe, non fa sempre la cosa giusta, conosciamo i suoi punti di forza e i suoi punti deboli, e nonostante non sia un personaggio immacolato ovviamente si fa il tifo per lui e si spera ardentemente che se la cavi.

Mi piace come cerchi di risolvere il bug del gioco non perché vuole salvare il mondo, perché è la cosa giusta o perché è un eroe, ma perché DEVE farlo, per sopravvivere, per tornare alla vita reale.

È un personaggio che puoi criticare ma con cui puoi anche empatizzare, e i personaggi così sono i migliori.

5) Il personaggio più odiato

In family we trust

Non si tratta di uno solo, ma di vari personaggi, vari membri di questa famiglia in cui tutti sanno ma nessuno parla.

SPOILER: lo zio Mate scopre che la moglie del fratello gli ha avvelenato la prima moglie incinta, cosa che la portò alla depressione e al suicidio; scopre che anche il fratello lo sapeva, e alla fine viene fuori che un po' tutti gli adulti della famiglia lo sapevano. Oltre il danno, la beffa. Zio Mate perculato da tutti per anni. Infami. FINE SPOILER

6) La protagonista femminile preferita

The judge from hell

Conosco Park Shin-hye da anni, da quando ho cominciato a guardare drama nel 2019, anno in cui ho guardato You are beautiful.

Beh, che dire, è cresciuta bene la ragazza. In tutti i sensi.

A me personalmente è sempre piaciuta tanto come attrice, e ho sempre avuto l'impressione che facesse dei ruoli un po' sprecati per le sue capacità, che potesse osare di più.

Ecco, in The judge from hell ha osato parecchio ed è stata una gioia per gli occhi. Finalmente un personaggio diverso dal solito, lei da sola regge tutto il drama.

Ammetto che interpreti un personaggio sopra le righe e over power che oscura facilmente il protagonista maschile, tuttavia la goduria e soddisfazione che ti fa provare in certe scene te la fanno amare per forza.

E poi ho letteralmente adorato tutti i suoi outfit e acconciature, diversi ad ogni singola scena. Avranno passato più tempo a vestirla e pettinarla che a recitare XD

7) Il peggior villain

A me dispiace un sacco non rispondere alle domande, ma ho anche pensato che è inutile sforzarmi a tutti i costi di trovare in questo caso il peggior villain, solo perché voglio per forza rispondere alla domanda.

Se non c'è nessuno che mi viene in mente, amen.

8) Una bromance/sisterhood che ti è piaciuta parecchio

Faithful

Le due protagoniste di Faithful si portano a casa la sisterhood dell'anno.

Un legame messo alla prova, un'amicizia sincera distrutta, una relazione umana in cui c'è interesse e affetto, e in cui anche si sbaglia, ci si tira indietro, non si è sempre presenti.

È così che funzionano le amicizie nella vita reale, quindi ho trovato le due ragazze molto credibili e in cui potersi riconoscere.

9) La storia d'amore che ti ha fatto battere il cuore

Faithful

È bellissimo, perché non si tratta di un drama romantico, e questa storia d'amore non è nemmeno centrale, poteva anche non esserci se vogliamo, ma il fatto che ci sia e che io mi sia innamorata di loro in così poco tempo, mi fa pensare a quanto questa relazione sia stata scritta e recitata bene.

Davvero, questi due hanno una cosa come tre o quattro scene insieme in tutto il drama (25 episodi), eppure la loro intesa, gli sguardi, la grande fiducia, il rispetto, l'amore mai detto ma che senti ben presente, mi hanno letteralmente conquistata.

Sogno un film solo su di loro.

Ah, e alla faccia di tutti quei drama che sventolano storie d'amore incredibili ma che fanno comunque cacare dopo episodi ed episodi e con la love story protagonista della storia.

10) Il drama che ti ha fatto pensare di aver buttato del tempo prezioso

Dirty laundry e Be my favorite

Non mi vengono in mente titoli che mi facciano dire "ma tu guarda che cavolo di trashata che ho visto" (tipo Kinnporche), quindi cito questi due drama rispondendo in modo un po' diverso: sono drama di cui non ricordo nulla. Né la trama, né i personaggi, né il finale, ma proprio nemmeno una singola scena. Il nulla cosmico.

E no, non voglio andare a rivedermi delle scene per rimembrarli: non mi sono rimasti impressi, punto. Il che mi fa dire che allora potevo anche evitare di guardarli, quindi è un po' come se io avessi perso il mio tempo, no?

11) Una serie che meriterebbe un sequel

Posso dire che non aspetto nessun sequel dei drama che ho visto?

Non denunciatemi please.

12) Drama droppati? Perché?

Fiorisci con me, Lost Tomb, The three gentlebros

Il primo perché non mi aveva presa, il secondo perché non avevo testa di vederlo, il terzo perché semplicemente demenziale.

Anni fa odiavo droppare, non lo facevo mai, ma la trovo una cosa controproducente non droppare: perché guardare qualcosa che non mi prende o che addirittura non mi piace? È una perdita di tempo e un controsenso.

Voglio cercare di iniziare drama che mi ispirano davvero: questo per me è un passatempo e uno svago, come tale deve essere piacevole, godibile e interessante.

13) L'ambientazione più bella

The judge from hell

A me è piaciuto veramente tanto e ho trovato davvero fighissimo il modo in cui la lead punisce i vari cattivi: "benvenuto nel mio mondo."

Prima di spedirli nell'inferno vero e proprio, fa vivere loro un vero incubo facendogli passare lo stesso dolore e paura che loro hanno inferto alle loro vittime.

Queste scene erano curate nei dettagli, ogni cattivo aveva una punizione specifica, ed erano così soddisfacenti da guardare, perché la lead faceva quello che tutti noi avremmo voluto fare a questi stronzi.

Lezione della vita: non fare agli altri quello che non vorresti fosse fatto a te.

14) L'attore e l'attrice che ti sono piaciuti parecchio

Come ho detto, Park Shin-hye mi ha finalmente soddisfatta con il suo ruolo bello strong in The judge from hell, merita tutti i complimenti del mondo.

E siccome sull'attore maschile ho da passare perché non mi viene in mente un cane, ho deciso di nominare un'altra attrice che mi è piaciuta molto: Janice Wu che interpreta Meng Wan in Faithful. Ho davvero apprezzato come abbia messo in scena il suo personaggio, e ho proprio visto la differenza tra il passato, quando è una ragazza più ingenua e riservata, e il presente, dove è diventata una donna matura, sicura di sé e coraggiosa.

15) Il peggior bacio

Sono in difficoltà: io quest'anno non ho visto baci.

Qualcosa sì, ma nulla degno di nota. Per esempio in The judge from hell loro si baciano, ma non è un bacio così bello però nemmeno fa schifo, è un bacio normale.

Mi scoccia fare scena muta ma davvero non mi viene in mente nessuna risposta.

16) L'attore e l'attrice la cui recitazione proprio non ti è piaciuta

Raga, faccio schifo, ma non mi viene in mente nessuno, davvero non lo so.

Devo aver guardato i drama in modo distratto quest'anno.

17) Un must see che devi ancora vedere

The heirs

The heirs cavolo! Sono anni che penso di vedere questo drama e non mi decido mai. Chissà se il 2025 sarà l'anno buono.

Ah, per inciso, voglio vedere questo drama solo per la presenza di Park Shin-hye, ovvio.

18) Un drama dove hai tifato per il Second Lead

La risposta è molto semplice: io non tifo per i second lead. C'è chi addirittura soffre della Sindrome del second lead, io non so neanche cosa sia.

L'unico caso in cui potrei tifare per il second, sarebbe in cui il lead fosse un personaggio tossico per nulla romantico, e quindi non potendo sostenere lui, potrei forse tifare per il second. Forse eh.

19) Un personaggio che vorresti resuscitare

Sono ormai lontani i tempi delle morti che mi fanno piangere tutte le mie lacrime e mi spezzano il cuore, alla The Untamed style.

Quelli sì che erano bei tempi.

20) Il miglior bacio

Memories of the Alhambra

Come ho detto, non ho visto baci eclatanti quest'anno, quindi premio questo bellissimo e romantico bacio che grida al cliché, ma che mi è sempre piaciuto un sacco.

Adoro il dettaglio del bastone che lui lascia cadere per poter stringere lei, e la ost che accompagna la scena è stupenda.

21) La storia d'amore peggiore

Derailment

Per un semplice e chiaro motivo: perché lui le metteva le mani addosso.

E non dico che la riempiva di pugni, non era quel genere di violenza, ma comunque le metteva le mani addosso e i cdrama devono smetterla e devono imparare che questo non è romantico e non è amore.

Non c'è giustificazione che tenga.

22) Il miglior villain

Nessuno mi ha conquistata, ma a me sono piaciuti i cattivi di The judge from hell e Faithful, personaggi strutturati abbastanza bene e tutto sommato con una logica e un senso, il che non è sempre scontato trovare.

23) Un drama con un finale dannatamente soddisfacente

Memories of the Alhambra

So che a molte persone questo finale non è piaciuto perché si presuppone quello che succede ma non si vede.

Io sono una persona strana e adoro ciò che posso immaginare con la mente.

So bene come va a finire perché il drama lo fa capire chiaramente, quindi non ho bisogno di vederlo per apprezzarlo.

Non so, forse è anche il modo in cui è stato girato e montato il tutto, ma a me questo finale è sempre piaciuto da impazzire.

24) Un bellissimo team

Faithful

Vari personaggi spinti da motivi differenti uniscono le forze per vendicare un nemico comune.

Mi sono piaciuti molto, ogni personaggio è diverso e ha la sua storia. Affrontano il pericolo, discutono, non sempre si trovano sulla stessa lunghezza d'onda, ma il desiderio di ottenere giustizia è ciò che li fa andare avanti, anche se questo significa sacrificarsi.

Faithful è davvero una piccola perla di drama.

Challenge

Or dunque, la sfida per quest'anno era di vedersi un drama/film co-prodotto o con attori (principali) di due o più paesi.

Che dire, Dio benedica Shogun!

Meno male che ho visto questo, altrimenti avrei fallito la challenge. E no, non mi sarei salvata nemmeno con Memories of the Alhambra, perché anche se ambientato parzialmente in Spagna, la produzione è tutta coreana e non ci sono spagnoli tra i personaggi principali.

Per quanto riguarda la mistery box a tema drama per il prossimo anno, io scelgo il numero 17, giorno del mio compleanno.

Chissà se avrò fortuna.

Grazie ancora a @dilebe06 per questo quiz annuale. So bene che questo mio quiz ha fatto abbastanza pena, ne ho scritti di migliori; cercherò nel 2025 di vedere drama più motivanti per me, e di rispondere in modo più coinvolgente alle domande del prossimo anno.

Buone feste a tutti 😘

[samlikesbooks]

kdramas i watched this month and what i think about them :

• hometown cha cha cha : this drama deserves a 5/5 rating for acting, plot, cinematography, script. this is a wonderful, comfort watch. you just cannot have enough of it in one watch. you NEED to rewatch it. (other dramas like this : i'll go to you when the weather is fine, soundtrack #1, welcome to samdalri, midnight romance in hagwon)

• taxi driver 1 : my friend suggested this to me. i love this. first of all let me talk about the female leads. OHMYGOD. this is basically about a taxi organisation who are also a secret organisation to fight crimes. i love the concept. (other dramas to watch if you liked this : a shop for killers, extraordinary attorney woo, wonderful world)

• see you in my 19th life : bro this drama had so much potential but idrk i'd give it a 3/5 maybe for the plot. i loved the acting. but the plot literally had so much potential to be better but it just felt off. (other dramas to watch if you liked this : a time called you, twinkling watermelon, 18 again, seasons of blossom, good day to be a dog, born again, goblin, midnight photo studio, destined with you, while you were sleeping)

• escape of the 7 + resurrection : kim soon-ok (writer) and joo dong-min (dir) slayed as always. like bro i literally felt so empty after watching penthouse. i HAD to watch this. the best thing i love about penthouse and this series is how the portray the characters. they're neither good nor bad. and i love how in the end they choose the ‘good’ side of them. plus, the plot twists had me dying. (other dramas like this : penthouse : war in life, pandora : beneath the paradise, lies hidden in your garden, mouse, born evil, cafe minamdang)

• born again : this drama is an absolute masterpiece. but. yes, BUT. the direction and cinematography was so weak like some of the scenes didn't even make sense. 5/5 for acting, plot. but the script could have been better. i mean honestly the plot is amazing. JUST AMAZING. there hasn't ever been anything like this drama. the actors absolutely devored but the direction bro. it was so ehe :(

• the atypical family : i started watching this because like it was being really popular in social media but i ended up binging it. it was amazing. like so good. this literally tells us why we DON'T need superpowers. like the concept of psychological disorders linked with their superpowers were really an amazing idea.

• hierarchy : wt actual fvck was this??? because i had SO MUCH hopes and excitement for this drama and it ended up being what — a 2/5? maybe. i liked the acting, but it wasn't a mystery drama at all. it was TOO westernised and it was just bland. just straight up bland. like bro a mystery/thriller set in highschool has so much potential to be good. eg : the pyramid game. IT WAS JUST A GOD DAMN MASTERPIECE.

• heartbeat : my blood boils everytime i remember this drama is literally THE MOST underrated drama of all time. if you need a good cry please watch it. it was just — WOW. like wow. i am literally at loss of words. idk. from the starting to the ending it was just WOW.

• midnight romance in hagwon : it is currently an ongoing drama. anyway, this is like one of those comfort dramas one goes to rewatch everytime they're down. it is just so cozy, and cute and amazing. i love it <3

• mouse : this. THIS. this altered my brain chemistry. dude wth was this????? this was just on another level. like after penthouse and escape of the 7, this is something one should definitely watch to fill the void in their heart. i cried so much bro this was so sad, and engaging and sometimes funny at the same time. i went through all the five stages of grief while watching it.

• highschool return of a gangster : this drama was STRAIGHTWASHED. ofc. why would they even show representation???? anyway i watched it because i loved the first episode but i hated the ending man. i hated it.

• hansel and gretel (movie) : literally deserves all the awards. you know what i mean. 5/5 for everything.

• destined with you : started watching it yesterday and im already halfway through. i love this bro. it is so funny ohmygod. and i absolutely love past lives and reincarnation tropes so this is a win-win!!

+ some jmovies i watched :

• monster : ion think i need to say something about this.

• re/member : loved this. 5/5 for everything. i loved the plot, especially how ‘loneliness brings people together to fight against the evil - which is literally their own loneliness’. i wish there was a part 2 of this movie tbh.

• the forbidden play : this shit messed with my head so bad, i literally had nightmares and couldn't sleep. no because this was horrendous. literally wtf???

[drmsss]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers

Namma post ku laam like pottadhe 4 paeru.. Pathu paeraa... :)))) ... Seri ok enakku pudicha 5 vishayatha paapom ..

1. Capturing a watchable macro-detailed photo whenever I'm down..

2. Triggering those overtoxic fans for fun in my small circle whenever they confidently boast off their idols in an unhealthy way.. { For e.g., by pointing gangster Ganesh to aamais 𓆉 , sullaan movie to dhanuuss ratham[꒷꒦✧˖°🫀⋆｡𖦹꒷꒦], Villupuram run to anils ₍ᐢ•ﻌ•ᐢ₎} (andha kadaisi e.g. ah paathu irukkira followers um povaama iruntha seri.. )

3. Rewatching vjs's 3 consecutive films from his 2nd when I'm bored

4. Watching thala hitting a considerable no. of sixes in an IPL match in a crucial moment...

5. To hear any announcement regarding Alphonse Puthren's upcoming work.. :) (Manusana andha gold padathukku avlo adichurukka theva illa.. andha padam avlo mosamaavum illa)...

Namma pattiyal mudinchu .. avlodhaaaen :) @aes-555

[spockvarietyhour]

Gangster No. 1 (2000)

[verilydigital]

So, regarding the teaser for Lackadaisy Season 1 (beautifully made btw!), did anyone else notice this lil background sound effect?

Like, oh yeah, it’s an alley so it makes sense to have an alley cat to—… wait, huh??

Any theories on what (or, I guess who) is making that sound?🧐

But in all seriousness, the sound design in this teaser really is incredible, of course. It’s so fun rewatching to try and catch all the details that make it so immersive!

Alsoooo if you haven’t checked out the Backerkit campaign for funding a season of Lackadaisy on YouTube, I highly highly recommend giving it a look (and maybe possibly pledging if you can✨)

Here’s the link:

One episode has already been funded, and we’re close to reaching a second episode at $500,000!!🌟

[absolutebl]

Favorite first kiss?

Favorite First Kisses!

Doozie of a question. Here we go...

1 Until We Meet Again

I mean COME on. How could this not be the #1 best first kiss? It's so gentle and so good and so hot and just... EVERYTHING a first kiss should be in life. A++ romantic

2 Old Fashion Cupcake

THE LONG SHOT. The desperation. The finger bite. The oozing THIRST. A++ quality desire incarnate

3 Why R U? Korea

Korea, scooping in a top spot? It's just the body language, the striding in, dropping the backpack, the surprised MUTUAL response (no flinching), and all the yearning. A++ want

(Foreshadow: This may... or may not... be my top kiss of 2023.)

4 Bad Buddy

Seriously boys, BOYS! You had to make it so beautiful and so painfully heartbreaking at the same time? Thanks for that. A++ pain

(They may have a light kiss before this one, I can't remember. I keep meaning to do a BB rewatch but I have to gear up for it.)

5 Semantic Error

I mean, well, OBVIOUSLY. Just A++ they perfect, no notes

6 Second Chance

I am pretty sure this one got best kiss of 2021. All you KinnPorche stans are sleeping on this little gem = Tong delivering what amounts to BLs best drunk kiss ever. FIGHT ME. A++ confused needy babies

7 About Youth

Speaking of sweet af first kisses from first timers. This one drips in sweet innocence including a rainbow and some smiles. A++ first sweethearts

8 HIStory 2 Crossing the Line

Okay the actors kiss for a dream sequence before this but this is the characters' first kiss, so that kinda counts, right? It's just such a pretty kiss. A++ stay on target, stay on theme, utterly unique

9 My Dear Gangster Oppa

Ya know this show is just so much fun and so solid and this pair deserves more accolades then their previous series afforded them. A++ finally, well done you

10 I Feel You Linger in the Air

Okay it's just all the dialogue and execution around this kiss is great and then the kiss ALSO doesn't disappoint. Plus permission and snark and so much more. A+++ class & storytelling

Also, whaan (sweet) is a really good word to have seared into one's brain in Thailand. Useful when ordering drinks.

Okay they kinda kissed before but this is the one that counts:

I didn't know how else to put this category but I had to include it so I could include this kiss:

We Best Love

The crying bridge-top kiss. I mean COME ON. One of my favorite kisses of all time. I love it when the weep+smooch.

La Pluie

Honestly? All their kisses are good so I can't remember if this was their first but, it great. Frankly, off all their kisses it's not my absolute favorite, but they deserve a mention because... wow boys. Just... wow.

The Eclipse

Because of their dynamic I am pretty sure there was something before this one, but this one lives in my head.

Be Loved In House I Do

I'm not sure this counts as their first because I can't remember the sequence in BLIHID (he through line is a bit wonky in my brain) but it is a killer kiss.

There should be more Taiwan but...

The thing is, once a Taiwanese BL starts delivering great kisses they just keep it up. So unless the narrative puts particularly strong plot intent on the "firstness" of that first kiss, they just get all sexy domestic muddled in my head.

Honor the Crumbs - Sides & Shorts, Best First Kisses

Some More

"You can kiss me, heong."

2 Moons 2 - MingKit

It's just such a sweetly perfect first kiss of the very first time variety. Before About Youth, we had these two.

Cutie Pie - NueaSin

Kissing the kiss that won them their own series. No other audition needed. In the land of amazing kisses, and up against Zee, this ONE stood way out. Very good boys. Very good indeed.

kiss x kiss x kiss - perfect scandal (AKA the office ep)

Look, this is the kiss we should have gotten in Cherry Magic. It's great, both the hesitant "permission given" first part and everything that comes next. Track this down if you can, it's a lovely little short from Japan.

My Secret Love - TimMai

Very minor side dishes but they were all I cared about in this show. They gave me the kiss I wanted even if they didn't get the screen time the deserved.

You're My Sky - SanAi

We all know they stole this show, not that there was much to steal.

Kiss Me Again - PeteKao

Maybe not the best as a kiss, but it was 2016 and this was SO SIGNIFICANT to the fandom, to the plot of the show, to coming out, to EVERYTHING. This is THE TayNew kiss. I will never forget it. Never.

I don't have a good screen cap but MarkOuwen's kiss in the taxi in Love is Science? was also fantastic.

(source)

Kisses as of Dec 2023. Not responsible for great first kisses that come after this date.

Opinion and preferences based on these ideas of good kiss chemistry.

I want you thoughts, RT and add your favorites or leave a comment. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

MORE?

[quoththemaiden]

I highly recommend watching Good Omens in another language because we're all obsessed and it's an excuse to rewatch it because hearing it in another language 1) helps you notice things you otherwise wouldn't have, and 2) brings in so much potential for different emotional impacts based on translation choices.

With that in mind, please enjoy some choice highlights from the Japanese dub of Good Omens, Season 1, Episode 5. This post focuses on point #2 — the translation choices that were even more emotionally intense than the original. For point #1, see my companion post on general things I noticed as a result of watching more closely.

The episode picks right up with the bookshop fire, and the Japanese dub opts to go even more directly for the jugular:

English!Crowley: AZIRAPHALE! For God's— For Satan's— AGH, for somebody's sake, where are you?!

Japanese!Crowley: O God— O Satan— AGH, anyone is fine, just save him!!

Aziraphale gives us a similar sucker-punch when Crowley chokes out that he lost his best friend:

English!Aziraphale: So sorry to hear it.

Japanese!Aziraphale: What I did was inexcusable.

The change in Hastur's line after he escaped from the answering machine and ate the humans in the call center really drove home that he ate the humans in the call center:

English!Hastur: I needed that.

Japanese!Hastur: That was delicious.

Inside the burning M25, we find Crowley putting his faith into the book Aziraphale found so important:

English!Crowley: Come on. There must be a way across it.

Japanese!Crowley: I'm counting on you. There must be a way across.

Over in Tadfield, the choice of farewell the Them use to say "Goodbye, Adam" (sayounara) gives a very "goodbye forever" vibe to it as compared to the many more casual options for "goodbye" you'd normally have expected from a bunch of 11-year-olds (ja na, ato ne, etc.).

The montage of Adam's life is also quite touching, as you hear his mother naming him at his birth: "Hello, Adam <3" in English, and "You are Adam" in Japanese — a rather fitting way of saying it in the context of a scene where he's having to decide that he'd rather be Adam than the Adversary.

Over with the four Horsepeople, we find Death using informal grammar, but not in the same way demons do. He doesn't sound like a gangster; he talks with a sense of authority and like he's so done with everyone else being so much younger and more impetuous than he is.

I rather like to picture the translators having had a drinking game for every time they had to translate a joke based around blasphemy, since swear words don't have the same tendency to be religious in Japanese. Still, they managed gamely whenever the plot demanded it. Just look at this masterpiece:

English!Officer: Who the hell are you?! English!Death: I am neither of Hell nor Heaven.

Japanese!Officer: Where did you come from--?! Japanese!Death: Asking where I'm from is the wrong question.

Some lines, admittedly, made me totally crack up with their choice of phrasing:

English!R.P.Tyler: It's probably because your stupid car is on fire!

Japanese!R.P.Tyler: It's probably because your car is on fire like a fool!

That one, however, inspired a shockingly touching 1k fanfic, though, so it holds quite a special place in my heart.

[lattexalmond]

No one seems to know the name of this tag Lolol Tagged by the bestie @gunsatthaphan

Current time: 9:30am

Current activity: listening to Zerobaseone, thinking about what song I want to listen to next. Drinking my cold brew coffee and probably going to start Triage soon. I work in 5 hours lol.

Currently thinking about: how much work needs to get done. Christmas needs to be set at work and we still have pallets of truck and another 9 come tomorrow. Also I’m alone tonight. Woohoo. Anyone want to come work for me? 😂 I pay a competitive rate and I will buy snacks.

Current favourite song: I love music so I can never just pick one. Here are my top 5 songs right now this changes constantly and this was difficult in itself lol

1. Trouble by EVNNE

2. I Want That by (G)I-dle

3. Guilty by Taemin

4. God of Music by Seventeen

5. Deep Down by Tomorrow x Together(I fully believe this song is TopMew’s song)

Currently reading: I really wish I still read books I just don’t have the attention span honestly.

Currently watching: I am on episode 4 of my Triage rewatch still enjoying it just as much as the first time. Highly recommend that show 😍 I am also watching Kiseki Dear to Me(Bai Zongyi is the cutest character to ever exist), My Dear Gangster Oppa(cold persona and sunshine is one of my fav tropes), Boys Like Boys(Taiwan’s reality dating show and it just got 🤔), Kimi No Wa Todokanai(subs are terrrrible but the story is so cute) and You Are Mine(started off so funny then just 👎🏻) I also am on episode 10 of Boys Planet. I need to finish that 😂

Current favorite character: My favorite character right now would have to be Mew from Only Friends. I really identified with him. I don’t know why. I also have a soft spot for Book Kasidet sooo 😂

Current WIP: trying not to overwork myself to death since I am short staffed. Also I organized all of my seventeen photocards into a binder lol. That was fun 😍

thank you for the tag!!! I’m tagging @wanderlust-in-my-soul @pharawee @forcebook @morkofday @athousandbyeol @moonkhao @taeminie @mrsandypants if anyone else wants to do it or not do it lol. Thanks for reading my novel 😂