#I’m only on ep 4 out of 7 currently out so we’ll see

[w3-posts]

The way The Day of the Jackal interacts with its politics is kind of interesting? There’s a guy who is ostensibly somewhere on the left who gets a contract put on him for wanting to expose everyone’s finances by wealthy americans. We see a bunch of Irish people peaceful protesting for unification until the cops start arresting people without cause. The cops (MI6) is constantly abusing their power and getting people killed. Some german political leaders are called fascists. But then it does things like constantly call people “radical leftists” in ways that feel off as hell, and it definitely feels its going to end up in “yeah the cops fucked up a lot of shit but its fine because they had to do it to catch the guy.”

It also doesn’t really interact with any of it. The protesters are framed as peaceful, but not as being on the right. The guy who is the target isn’t framed as particularly good, just a class traitor. The old rich guy who put out the contract is bad because he hired the assassin, we have no context (up to where I am) as to why he wants to keep his finances hidden. The german politician was only shown to be an asshole.

The Jackal himself is an entirely neutral force. Definitely not a good guy, but he’s not motivated by politics, just money and self-preservation.

It’s definitely more than I would have expected, and I think it’s good these elements were included. Just really weird how it has no comments beyond “yeah these are things happening in the world.”

[shijiujun]

山河令 | Word of Honor - Mega Masterpost

Hey guys, here’s a FULL masterpost of the following for all Shan He Ling | Word of Honor items, basically a where-to-find-what:

General - Where to Find What

Episodes - Where to Watch What

Merchandise - Stores to Look Out For

GJ & ZZH - Variety Shows, Magazines & Endorsements

♣ Updates as of 19 May 2021, updates for the GJ/ZZH sections will stop hahaha this is THE END ;-; of SHL-related promotions for em. Will only add on if more SHL merch or BTS footage comes up! ♣

(1) Novel ➩ JJWXC | Translations (Full) | No New Edition Print (For Now) - Because the first edition was printed a few years ago, the novel is 11 years old haha

(2) Drama Rec ➩ Here (I did this on the first day it aired so it’s based on the first four eps so yeah some info like where to watch is not updated but ignore that) (3) Audio Drama ➩ Here (Seasons 1 & 2, with 2 recently released)

(4) 山河令 Manhua ➩ Here (Up for two weeks and then taken down for some reason)

(5) Official Accounts to Follow ➩ 山河令 Weibo | Youku Official Twitter

(6) Wrap-Up for SHL Filming ➩ Here 

(1) Official Episodes (36 + 1 Special Ep)

➩ 山河令 on Youku (Original Simplified Chinese) - *How to Pay on Youku

➩ Word of Honor on Youku (Subtitles) - *How to Pay on Youku

➩ Word of Honor on Youku YouTube (Subtitles)

➩ 山河令 on Line TV TW (Traditional Chinese)

➩ Word of Honor on Viki (Subtitles)

➩ Word of Honor on Amazon Prime 

➩ Word of Honor on Netflix 

(2) Behind the Scenes ➩ 山河令江湖番外篇 on Youku - Partially (70%~) behind a paywall, each episode costs about 1 yuan (or if you’re in Singapore $1.50 SGD which is fucking expensive, in Indonesia it’s apparently $0.30 and in Malaysia $0.20 LMAO) - But you get about 4-8 minute long BTS cuts with original scenes released with original voices + green screens

➩ Word of Honor on Youku YouTube (Subtitles) - Definitely not full release of BTS and even if they did release everything, it’d take a while, but there are already some subbed ones on the channel, just have to do a search

(3) Noteworthy Extras

➩ Special Ep (Youku): 7 minutes long with the first 4 minutes an FMV and the actual alternate or extended ending (depending on how you see it) in the last 3 minutes - You have to pay for it on Youku (both on the CN and EN/multi-language versions), we’ll have to check this week if YouTube will have it available for free. 

In any case it’s a happy ending I suppose, do all of you know it’s a happy ending? I’m seeing people reblogging my posts with so much angst in the tags about how the ending is devastating (which I suppose it is by my interpretation anyway for Ep 36 but Ep 37′s healing properties have been spread far and wide)

➩ Ep 6 (YouTube)

➩ Ep 7 (Youku, BTS)

➩ Ep 12 (YouTube - BTS in Youku, Original Voices in Youku)

➩ Ep 17 (LINE TV TW & YouTube)

➩ Ep 20-21 (YouTube)

➩ Ep 27 (Youku) - Part 1 | Part 2

➩ Ep 35 (Youku)

➩ Official Interview with Cast

(4) 山河令 Concert - May 3 & 4 2021

➩ Livestream on Youku - *How to Pay on Youku

➩ Livestream on Youku YouTube - For international fans, think this is a cheaper option overall hahahaha

➩ Concert Trailer - Highlight 1 | Highlight 2 (I AM LOSING MY MIND)

➩➩➩ Footage now available subbed on Youku YouTube and unsubbed on Youku

➩ SHL Concert Merch - RWB Hair Accessories

(5) 山河令 Official OST

➩ Spotify

➩ YouTube Playlist

Official Stores for SHL Merch

➩ 歪瓜出品 - First store to come up with SHL merch, has shikishi boards, standees, keychains, cushions, fan, badges, puzzles and ZZS’ hairtie most recently. Also officially bought the rights to two popular WenZhou fanarts for merch, the other stores don’t have the same design. Ran by Boss Hu, a young dude who’s hilarious af on Weibo and has been trying to get permission to produce more merch and also struggling real hard to get us WKX outfit-inspired sweaters!

➩ Rua哇吧 - First to come up with WenZhou dolls. Currently they have a 10cm version and also a 20cm version. 

➩ Omodoki [Via Rua哇吧] - Hairpin, cushions, glazed armour keychain, enamel pins and other cute things like bookmarks too

➩ 阿里鱼 [Via 咕噜文化] - SHL OST. Enough said. PO is over so there is no link but once they produce it the listing might go up again.

➩ 娱影文创 - SHL-themed jewellery based on ZZS’ alcohol gourd and sword Bai Yi, or WKX’s fan, also has tote bags and the glazed armour

➩ 一直娱 - Another app, items cannot be bought directly from Taobao. They’ve got mugs, hair ties, scrunchies, mouse pads, coasters and a lot of cute other things that the other stores don’t have, including customizable phone covers etc. and best part is they sell WenZhou posters from scenes from the book. They’ve also got an official photobook, but IMO the one from 吾流文化 is more worth it.

➩ 啦啦酱JK - Wen Kexing outfit-inspired kimono outerwear, and also WenZhou inspired ties and ribbons

➩ 吾流文化 - SHL Photobook (the full version with costume, set and character designs etc.) and also matches another box set of items that include a fan and standee and some other things 

➩ 月心引力 MOONLY - Perfumes in liquid and solid form. They’ve also bought the rights to a set of WenZhou fanarts, and they’re making white-haired WKX for standees and freebies etc.

➩ 优酷模玩 x TOFU - CUTEST WENZHOU FIGURINES

➩ 地澈天清 - HANFU AND DRESSES!!!! Inspired by WenZhou I WEEEEEP they look real good and are also in the affordable range - A summary of what you’ll see

➩ CanCan x Youku - Cutest WenZhou fam items!!!! With WKX white-hair

➩ Prismland - New accessories!

(1) About ZZH/GJ

➩ ZZH Weibo | ZZH Studio Weibo | ZZH Instagram

➩ GJ Weibo | GJ Studio Weibo | GJ Instagram | Wuhu-Famous

➩ Ship Name: Lang Lang Ding (LLD) or JunZhe - Although there’s no really strong RPS to be honest, most people I know use JunZhe and LLD as a mix of platonic friends + the WenZhou drama ship, or use JunZhe just to shorten their names because they appear at a lot of shows/shoots/interviews together, faster to type as well. The word Lang Lang Ding comes from 浪 (lang) which means to wander, and then 钉 (ding) as in nails, the nails that ZZS inflicted on himself.

(2) Noteworthy Interviews

➩ Goodbyes to SHL - ZZH | GJ

➩ About their Characters (Youku)

➩ Interview with ELLE TW

(3) Fansites (Check out their Photobooks - Mostly for WenZhou and also individual events and they will add on the upcoming concert footage and shots as well)

➩ 越界 (Both)

➩ 起意 (Both)

➩ 怦然心动 (ZZH) *Special mention they’ve been around for the longest so far, about 3 years, way before SHL and they’re REALLY generous

➩ 春秋荒梦 (Both)

➩ 同谋 (Both)

➩ Percent511 (ZZH)

➩ 105度 (ZZH)

➩ Plenilune (GJ)

➩ From May (ZZH)

➩ 月下思凡 (ZZH)

➩ 初霁 (ZZH)

➩ 未央 (Both)

(4) Variety Shows (Since SHL aired - Mar 21 to Apr 21)

➩ Happy Camp (Youku or YouTube) - 3 April 2020 | 24 April 2020 (GJ only)

➩ Ace vs. Ace (Youku or YouTube)

➩ Ace Actress (Youku or YouTube) - Ep 1 | Ep 2

➩ CHUANG 2021 (WeTV) - Part 1 | Part 2

(5) Magazine Shoots (Since SHL aired - Mar 21 to Apr 21)

➩ 精彩!OK (Both)

➩ Madame Figaro 

➩ ELLE/ELLEMEN - ZZH/GJ

➩ SE 南都娱乐 - GJ

➩ CHIC - ZZH

➩ Wonderland - For ZZH’s Birthday

➩ Glitz - GJ

➩ VOGUE/VOGUEME - GJ (Not cover)/ZZH (cover)

(6) Endorsements (Since SHL aired - Feb 21 to Apr 21)

➩ Both

Tom Ford - 03 Lark and other shades

Armani Giorgio - Foundation

Wahaha Yogurt

➩ ZZH

Pandora - Jewellery

NIVEA - Sunscreen

Oneleaf - Skincare

Elizabeth Arden - Skincare

Sensodyne - Toothpaste

OPPO - Phone

Joyoung - Blender

Maybelline - Superstay Foundation, Loose Powder

Ariel - Laundry detergent XD

Baidu Maps - Don’t ask this is damn weird

Clinique - SKincare

Costa Coffee - Coffee mugs

Longines - Luxury watch 

水星家纺 - Bedsheets (He’s clearing the entire household)

Ahava - Hand cream

JBL - Earphones + Speakers

Killian - Perfume

Glico - Pretz

梦幻新诛仙 - Game

➩ GJ

KFC

Bearkoko - Dietary sweets

Wolong Nuts !!!

Sisley - Skincare

Vita - Drinks brand

Centrum - Supplements

Fresh - Skincare

Tangle Teezer China - Haircare

Loreal - Sunscreen

TT语音 - Some gaming social network thing

Revelation - E-gaming

Beast - Candles, aromatherapy

Ya-Man - Men’s skincare

ROEWE - Car brand

Braun - Shavers

Plant Selected - Oat Milk

YSL - Rose perfume

Tiffany & Co.

Louis Vuitton

Nescafe

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL

April 2021 Part 1

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Second Chance Ep 1 - living up to its name since it looks to be a series of redemption arcs. Launched with a college confession and a broken friendship, then a flash back to them as seniors in high school. Pairings include friends to lovers, nerd/jock, and maybe cafe boss/employee. There’s a lot going on, but it’s still... quiet and sweet. The script is pretty pat but it’s still WAY more watchable than Cupid Coach or Brothers and most of the acting is solid. Ep 1 tropes included: he’s in engineering, wound tending, fast & bicurious. This could turn into what I wanted My Gear & Your Gown to be. Fingers crossed. 

Love Poison 2 Ep 1 & 2 turns out I did watch and report on season 1 (8 eps), season 2 seems equally unmemorable. Thai countryside setting, strong dialect, incomprehensible plot, camp side characters, and ghastly singing. 

Y-Destiny Ep 1 (eng subs?) - opened with the sports romance enemies to lovers (they aren’t going in the teaser order). When the couple got over fighting, the flirting was v cute, but the flipping SPONGE BATH trope had to rear its ugly head. Still, this series is shaping up to be less coy and more frank than most BL, better than expected. It feels, I don’t know, gay-er or something?  *** Sources were correct that each couple is getting (at least) 2 eps, and MDL has been updated to say this is a 15 episode series (not 7). 

Cupid Coach 12 fin - The new Nite was great and should have been a main all along. It felt like we got a tiny nugget of what could have been in about 10 minutes worth of this last ep. It was way too slow with terrible editing and a criminally bad script, but at least it ended happy. Mostly, like Friend Forever, I’m just disappointed that these two actors were done dirty by the series. Bad Cupid Coach, no screen caps for you. 

Lovely Writer Ep 6 - breaking news, there’s a het couple I like: toppy bi femme + soft boi = such a good pairing! I know, but this NEVER happens. Meanwhile, Sib’s secret is out, Gene is a bit of a drama queen, and the plot thickens. We half way through.  

Brothers Ep 9 - Kaow had a serious moment of advice giving that was truly lovely. Lots of family dama made this a superior episode to... well... any of the others in this series. Which isn’t saying much. 

1000 Stars Ep 10 fin - at the start this series didn’t grab me the way GMMTV’s last BL, Tonhon Chonlatee, did. But boy did it end 1000x better. Might have given us 2021′s best forehead kiss. I enjoyed the ultra romantic cliff-top reunion kiss, and I LOVED the stinger flirting scene. That was an absolute gift we had no right to expect. This drama is a poster child for finishing on a high note (always focus on that dessert course). Final thoughts? This was FAR more a classic romance than it was BL. There were some BL tropes used but not many and most of them originated in the romance genre not yaoi. A picture perfect ending bumped 1000 Stars much higher up my best-of list than expected. Not sure how often I’ll rewatch it as a whole, but this last episode? I’m probably rewatching it right now. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Dear Uranus (Taiwan GL) Ep 3 fin - I guess that’s it? Okaaaaay  

HIStory 4: Close To You (Taiwan) Ep 3 (AKA Ep 5-6) - we got actual legit gay culture not just BL (always appreciated) from XingSi. I’m starting to find LiCheng’s “show them we fucking” hijinks hilarious rather than annoying (not sure why, maybe I just love a rubber chicken, or maybe it was the STUFFED CORN WITH THE TASSEL that did it). 

-- H4 Moment of RANT --

Tropes included beach trip, there’s only one bed, cook for him, baby is a floppy drunk, carry baby to bed, and.... drunk non-con. Whoopdedoo. Here we go again. Did TharnType teach us NOTHING? (Apparently it taught us if the chemistry is good enough, I have no morals at all.) At least H4 seems to be taking us out of cheese into serious when it comes to assault. Or is it? 

I take back what I said last week about XingSi & YongJie being codependency + salvation trope, that only works if YongJie is the uke. He’s NOT. So we got us an obsessive predatory villain with a possible redemption arc. That’s more common in crime dramas, mafia romance, and epic fantasy than BL. It’s real hard to redeem a sexual predator in a reality-grounded universe like contemporary romance (See Kla in LBC1&2). 

Next week is gonna be a test of the whole damn franchise. Imma remind both me a you that this was ep 3 of 10 so we got a ways to go yet... but ooof, what have we wrought, BL? (I ended up doing a whole post about the stepbrother trope because of this sub plot.) Taiwan is killing me.

-- RANT ended --

Word of Honor (China) Ep 19-21 - over half way point so we got ALL the back story (in a classic 4 act story structure midway reveal). Now we know who WKX really is and his lineage. We also got some cute hugs and hand holds. Moving along at a nice clip despite being 36 eps total. Still gayest thing to come out of we-not-gay China since Advance Bravely. 

Most Peaceful Place (Vietnam) Ep 2 - takes them a while to get eng subs together and ep 2 didn’t drop until late. So I’m putting this in a Thurs time slot going forward. Miscommunication already cleared up and a 2nd couple has been introduced. The pacing on these Vietnamese BLs is always a bit... off. But it’s still better than most of its ilk, enjoyable. I’m thinking it’s a 6 ep arc. 

We Best Love 2 (Taiwan) Ep 5 - after the initial drama DRAMA of ep 2, the current external crisis at work is much quieter, giving this whole season a top heavy feel. Taken along side the first season, I think it’s fitting nicely into a 4 act structure, but that might be my bias. I hope I’m not wrong, we’ll find out next week. Shi De puttering about being domestic with Shu Yi on his back was the best execution of the piggyback trope EVER. Meanwhile, our little D/s side couple of codependency, salvation trope + mental illness is becoming weirdly appealing. I don’t know. H4 done mess with my head. 

Stand Alones 

Absolute BL AKA Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko  (Japan) Ep 1-4 mini series. Found subs under A Man Who Defies The World of BL. IT���S HILARIOUS. It’s Japan making fun of us, but also itself for having started this whole BL nonsense - from yaoi roots to present day. It’s parody goddamn gold. Utterly cheeky unto the very last line. We are not worthy. 

Apparently the most powerful tropes of all time are: baby is a floppy drunk and the piggyback fo nobility. Oh and chocolate. {Full review here.} 

Honestly, this show may have been made with only @heretherebedork and I in mind. I don’t know if you’d even understand half of it if you don’t have a history with the manga source genre and an obsessive interest in underlying narrative devices. I haven’t seen much chatter in the blog’o’sphere on this one because, in the end, it’s not a romance at all, it’s social commentary. 

The ending line was a masterclass in lampooning a genre. I’m going to rewatch the whole thing just to catch all the digs I missed first time around. It is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. 

Thank you Japan. I forgive you all your hair-styling sins of the last decade. 

Breaking News 

Spring Line Up:

Scholar Ryu’s Wedding Ceremony AKA Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (Korean historical BL) April 15th 

Close Friend the series (Thai trailer) April 22. 

2gether the movie (Thai trailer) April 22 to Thai theaters.

Nitiman (Thai) May 7 on One31.

I Told Sunset About You 2 (Thai) May 27 on LineTV

Ossan’s Love (Hong Kong) June to Viu 

Gossip 

Bad Buddies released its first promo op via Arm Share, which means GMMTV is at least *thinking* about filming it. 

Fun behind the scenes gossip sesh with eng subs for Tell the World I Love You (that Perth Bas movie we are maybe getting someday but will likely be sad). 

New Thai BL Bite Me (adapted from novel Grab a Bite) dropped a teaser. It stars Mark Siwat (Kla in LBC) as uke character Ake, a delivery boy with special foodie powers, and chef Eua (seme played by Zung Kidakorn) who discovers him. It’s from the same author as Manner of Death so we might even get some actual plot. Since it’s an established BL actor who I happen LOVE, a known author, and a plot about FOOD, I could not me more excited for this one. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed a day later than actual air date for accessibility reasons. Some are dropping multiples at a time but just started so I’m not sure on numbering. 

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

[nikkiwriteswords]

Hi! I would love to hear your thoughts/predictions/hopes for s3, now that we got the episode titles :D

Hey Nora!! Let me go grab my tua theory hat real quick. Spoiler alert, it looks exactly like the umbrella hat on the 3 right here:

Full disclosure, I've only got like a pinky toe in the tua fandom right now, but I'm still going to see what BS I can spin from these titles.

1. MEET THE FAMILY. The description on imdb is "The siblings get to know some more of the 43 children in an alternate timeline." So, I think this is pretty self-explanatory. Netflix likes to start things off with a bang, so s3 of TUA will probably be no different: we'll probably get a vague flashforward/flash-sideways to a "what if" scenario that will make sense by the last few episodes, and the rest of the episode will be sowing seeds for the s3 plot. The big question is, what family are we meeting? I think this episode will revolve around themes of family (no-brainer) and redefining the relationships between our Umbrella siblings in light of the season 2 finale, as well as their new Sparrow 'replacements'. To that end, initial Sparrow sibling parallels will be presented and subsequently complicated in this first episode. I also predict we'll see varying reactions to this alternate Reginald, as the Umbrella siblings are thrust into an outsider perspective that follows on from season 2.

2. WORLD'S BIGGEST BALL OF TWINE. This is going to be a multi-layered metaphor. I can feel it. It will no doubt refer to the plot that's about to unfold (is it an outside threat to both parties - the Umbrellas and Sparrows - from, say, the Commission, or is it more to do with the two rival Academies?), but I wonder if it also refers to the Wizard of Oz type scenario the Umbrella siblings find themselves in: they aren’t in Kansas anymore. (But you know what is in Kansas? The world's current biggest ball of twine.) Also kind of want to see Klaus knitting again in this ep - perhaps as a way to subtly re-address his ongoing addiction issues, especially now Ben is gone.

3. POCKET FULL OF LIGHTNING. This probably has to do with powers. Sparrow powers, Umbrella powers. There'll be a lot of new flexes in this season, so who this refers to is anyone's guess.

4. KUGELBLITZ. Here's where it starts to get interesting, because this title carries forward the subject of lightning from the last one. According to a very quick internet search, kugelblitz literally means "ball lightning" in German, and refers to both a) a glorified WW2 tank designed to take out aircraft (a certified Big Boi), and b) a theoretical black hole made from light/radiation rather than matter. So this is absolutely going to be a new, unseen power - probably from the Sparrows. Hopefully from Christopher because a cube executing a move named after a sphere just makes me chuckle. Ah, fun with shapes... But in addition, this power is probably going to pack a huge, debilitating punch to whatever narrative is underway at this point in the plot. I'll bet money that whoever wields this power is the tank character in their party or they are after this at least.

5. KINDEST CUT. This throws me back to the barber shop meta, I'm not gunna lie. Someone's going to get hurt, either physically or emotionally, and it's going to be the lesser of two evils. If it's a follow through on the barber metaphor, then Reggie will be the one to orchestrate it. Or, in a surprise twist, will he be the one gTetting hurt or being silenced? (Remember that cutthroat allegory that chases the siblings through the first season, particularly Allison and Klaus. It was about becoming voiceless.) 6.MARIGOLD. Big shout out to this post for spreading the word on the marigold symbolism. I'm pretty sure this will be Reginald backstory, which ties in with the creation of the Umbrella Academy. Also, because I'm a sucker for flower symbolism and reading into things, consider that marigolds:

a) fall into two families, the calendula which means "little clock" and the tagetes, which is named after the Etruscan prophet Tages. The Etruscans believed heavily in predestination - some events are set in stone, and cannot be changed. (Consider the way the apocalypse seems to always come for one set of siblings...) b) are named as such colloquially because they were offered in place of money to the Virgin Mary. (More divine imagery, and reference to a pure mother figure...) They are Mary’s gold. So maybe it’s a reference to Reginald’s wife, which would fit with the flashback scene we see in 1x10.  c) are a flower of duality. They have strong connections with the sun and resurrection, yet the marigold is thought to be a flower of grief because it blooms in autumn. Again, think about that flashback in the first season. At the end of the world and a wife dying, there was the promise of rebirth. d) It's also a very common flower. Remember, there's actually 43 siblings out there. We've only met 14.

Also Netflix loves to do this thing around the halfway point (usually episode 5/6) in a season they're producing. They'll switch up the narrative with a twist or turn that provides a new perspective. 7.AUF WEIDERSEHEN. Once again, a German connection. And, obviously, a goodbye. Considering the last season focused on Kennedy, are we going to get some earlier Cold War time-travel shenanigans? Or maybe WW2? I think Blackman has said something about the Berlin Wall, which is interesting. A country divided... Umbrellas and Sparrows allegory? But as an aside, I'm also kinda lowkey hoping it's a nod to Auf Weidersehen, Pet. If you don't know the show, here's the wiki summary for the first season:

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven British construction workers who leave the United Kingdom to search for employment overseas. They find work on a German building site in Düsseldorf but despite promises of hostel accommodation, are forced to live in a small hut that reminds them of a World War II POW camp. The rest of the series is driven by the interactions and growing friendships between the various characters.

In episode seven, three of the “Magnificent Seven” visit an intercontinental hotel. Just saying. If s3 was to go this route, my money would be on Luther, Diego and Five getting up to shenanigans in this one. I miss 125 shenanigans.😢

8.WEDDING AT THE END OF THE WORLD. Honestly, I’m holding out hope that one of our fave siblings gets married. I feel like that’s a trap though... Actually I feel like it might actually be a trap. As in, this is when the rising action really kicks it up a notch. But also remember the title of 1x01: We Only See Each Other At Weddings and Funerals. Maybe the siblings get split up, possibly in episode 3/4, and they’re trying to reunite through episodes 5-7. Also thinking about hotels and apocalypses...  There’s something very fatalistic about these titles so far. I have a feeling that the B-plot or the subtext is going to reveal a lot more about Reginald’s history and the destruction of his world.

9. SIX BELLS. This makes me think of church bells, which is some nice continuity with the wedding of the last title. But church bells are rung for all sorts of reasons - as a call to worship, or in celebration or mourning, or to tell the time. (Thinking back to those marigolds suddenly.) But why six? Now I’m thinking of bell ringing (change ringing), and the way different bells have different cord lengths to control the time of their chimes. It’s a highly mathematical process. Will this episode be Five’s time to shine? Will he coordinate his siblings through a large attack? 10. OBLIVION. Does anything even need to be said about this one? Hotel Oblivion baby ✌✌ Any further theorising would require more knowledge of the coming plot tbh.

Edit: I wrote most of this at 2am, so I’ve just tidied it up a little. Thank you for the ask, Nora! This was fun to think about. 

[touchstarvedsam]

I was really gonna ignore that "superior"natural thing but I saw that they seem to have some talented artists. So I thought maybe they are doing something interesting (even if it's destiel) so I checked out their Google doc and omg I'm HOWLING! Eileen calls Sam moosie, Cas calls Dean squirrel. Dean calls Cas kitten, Sam calls Eileen otter. They say it's just a incollection of ideas that might not make it into the project, but you get a sense of what you're dealing with there. And this is from1/?

A brief perusal to see how much attention Sam gets compared to Dean & Cas (a word search gave 27/87/100 results for each respectively, so not too much attention to Sam. But sure, Sam is the favorite character of some of their writers). I'm sure a deeper reading will unearth more (like, Dean saying you are home to Cas, who says we're not at the bunker, Dean replies but you are home. That sounds like something Dean would say. And Dean wishes a tulpa into existence 'cause he misses Cas too much)2/?

They say they want to eliminate plot holes but it seems what's a plot hole depends on whether it serves their ship: purgatory stays (we know they love that arc) even if it makes no sense for Crowley and Cas to go through that much in S6 when apparently there are many ways in and out. Cas, the guy who failed at almost everything he's done, is a "master strategist". Every other retcon of later seasons stays as long as it serves ship purposes. Sam gets his fair share of attention but Dean is the3/?

One who teaches Cas about being human including the textures of food (Sam and Cas pbj moment erasure) and Cas should be the one to teach Jack about his powers (no mention of Sam and Jack's relationship). Other ooc things: Cas rides a bike and when Dean asks says it reminds him of flying. After Cain, Dean takes Cas to the farm for bees (?). Cas and Dean snuggle. Knowing Cas is alive gives demon Dean strength to fight to be cured? Dean speaks enochian to Cas. Cas making a mixtape for Dean. 4/?

Cas being in regarding Dean. "Baby jack walking around in cas’s trench coat going “I’m an angel”." Home alone type ep with Jack. Dean kissing cas's forehead when he's dead in 13.01. Crowley is Jack's godfather and gets him a hellhound pet. Sam has a pet fish? Dean sings you're my sunshine to Cas as he sleeps. "Uncle Gabe". Apparently John dropped Sam and Dean off at Bobby's all the time? I don't think this is canon? Keep 15.18 but change 19&20 (of course). There's no drama or angst like 5/?

Kevin's death or Crowley's death or anything that might add tension to the story. Unless of course it serves the ship so plenty of trauma for Cas including darkness (from the empty) and sharp objects (from Naomi). A small mention of Sam's trauma with Lucifer, thank God, but it's interesting that they have so little Sam. They can say they'll flesh out more arcs for Sam but it's clear he's not a priority from how he's not present where he should be. For example, Dean will explain everything 6/?

To Mary and break her out of her brainwashing. But where's Sam? She's his mother too. Other than Eileen Sam's most meaningful relationship seems to be with his pet fish (still confused about that). Even if this project gets better in the future, which I doubt, it's clear what the direction here is. It baffles me that they think this is superior to the show we have, as problematic as the show is. I wish them best of luck but I don't have any high hopes for this. Thanks for the laughs though. 7/7

Sorry for that long ass rant in your inbox. It's in the middle of the night but I'm cackling after reading their doc and I had to share it with someone. I thought you might find it amusing as well. Hopefully all my asks go through. On the one hand, I feel bad hating on a fan project. But the way they've positioned it ("superior"), the blatant disrespect to Sam, and all the shit their side has pulled since the finale (and long before that) has really irked me. Again, sorry.

I just- this whole thing was a whirlwind of nonsense, it took me a whole week to process it. I don’t even know where to start here, or if I want to just yeet my laptop out my bedroom window into the snow. They really consider their ideas superior to the original show? More like Inferiornatural, to be honest. Superinferiornatural? They can’t even seem to characterize them correctly, let alone come up with a decent plotline or idea.

So we’ll start with the nicknames, since that is where you started. The whole thing is painfully out of character, but the worst (and funniest) of them all is Dean calling Cas “kitten,” I might actually laugh myself into an early grave with that one. Dean gives nicknames to shorten people’s names (besides Sam; Sammy is the only person who gets an extended nickname). He’s not going to give someone a longer nickname than the original nickname he uses for them! And Cas wouldn’t actually give nicknames, especially not giving Dean the nickname Crowley gave him??? Otter?! Moosie?!  W H A T. Can we move on from grade school kiddie crush nicknames?

I’m currently manifesting Dean saying “kitten” in his gruff voice with that lip curl he does sometimes and I’m cracking up about it. Thanks for the amusement, heIIers.

Of course Sam would only be mentioned 27 times to Cas’ 100 because Sam means nothing to them. He’s only ever either been in their way or a cheerleader for that horribly characterized ship of theirs. I just love how, in order to make DestieI, they have to butcher the characters so irreparably that they’re unrecognizable. Good for them, they can’t even have fanfiction of their ship where the characters keep their canon personalities. 10/10 would laugh at again.

I love the Sam erasure. It’s true to the heIIers’ character at least. They’re a one-trick pony. I’m so used to it by now that I’m totally desensitized to their bullshit. But Dean speaking Enochian? What? When and how did he learn that? I can’t see Dean in his 30s sitting there willingly to learn the language of the angels. Not even if his “kitten” is the one to teach him. Dean doesn’t give a fuck about that. If any of them is going to learn Enochian, it’ll be Sam, and they can fight me on that. I will kick anyone’s ass that argues.

I hope the mixtape Cas makes for Dean is just 4 hours of that Spaghetti song by The Wiggles because Cas sucks at doing human things.

I’d love to see the Sam erasure in the Regarding Dean one. Just swap Sam out for Cas? So Cas is the only one Dean recognizes? Hmm. Where would Sam go? A smoothie place? Yeah, as if Dean would remember the angel who he’d barely known for 8 years at that time over Sam who he’d known since he was 4 years old, lol. Sure, Jan.

The entire 5th ask is WILD, nonnie. A pet fish? Dean singing you are my sunshine? Dean kissing Cas’ forehead? LMFAO. Crowley is Jack’s godfather. The KING OF HELL is Jack’s GODfather. I’m- hgfjdksl I’m sure Dean who was ripped apart by hellhounds would love for Jack to have a pet hellhound. Yeah. Absolutely. “Uncle Gabe” yeah, fuck that guy in particular. Honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t erased Eileen to make SabrieI endgame in their fic. SabrieI is the Sam version of DestieI. It’s just as nasty and abusive :) which was why the heIIers ship it. They’re into abuse. It’s their shtick.

I do wonder what the point of the fish is... Sam has always loved and wanted a dog... you’d think they’d give Sam a dog... but I forgot they don’t pay attention to the show unless the episode has Mushy in the credits. I literally saw a heIIer say they skipped episodes if Mushy wasn’t in the credits... so they don’t know how to characterize Sam or Dean, but from this message they don’t even know how to characterize Cas who seems to be their precious uwu baby angel so I’m not surprised. I can’t wait for them to start releasing this shitshow. It makes for good fodder to make fun of them all over again. They really watched a grand total of 146 out of 327 episodes and thought, “Yeah, my opinion about the show definitely matters,” and I think that’s fucking hilarious.

Sorry for taking so long to respond! Hope I did a good job, nonnie. <3

[starkeaton]

the adventure zone: graduation character list

Well, i accidentally deleted the original graduation character list post, so here i am making another one. Oops. And as always, if anyone has important details i should add then feel free to suggest them!

Here are all the characters introduced in episodes 1-25. Named characters only!

Also i can’t hide spoilers! So, um..... I can’t put spoilers on this one. If you need the version with spoilers try this version of the post that i made on the adventure zone subreddit but youre not missing out on much.

# -EPISODE 1- (19 characters)

Hieronymous Wiggenstaff (he/him): Head of the Hero/Villain school. at least 400 years old. wears shining blue armor with gold accents. also an elf. according to Tomas, he led the charge at the "battle of blood valley", brought the Kingdoms of Rickart and Dawnbreak to a peace treaty, and founded the school. a little boastful, a little prideful, [SPOILERS OMITTED], and overall a pretty good dude.

Higglemas Wiggenstaff (he/him): Head of the Sidekick/Henchperson annex, cranky old elf. has a dog named hero who shows no signs of anything strange at all, ever. 

Gary (he/him): friendly room gargoyle. pseudo-hivemind.

Groundsy (he/him): the groundskeeper. a pretty nice fellow. don't go in his shed.

Hernandez (he/him): beautiful centaur professor of animal handling.

Jimson (he/him): human battlegrounds trainer for sidekicks/henchpeople, world famous featherweight champion, wields a staff. married to crushman.

Crushman (he/him): silver dragonborn with a sickle, and self-described beefy boy! heavyweight blood champion married to jimson. never lost a match for 8 years. full name Frostus Crushman.

Rolandus Fontaine (he/him): former prince, son of deposed king, kind of an asshole, maybe. wears a cape (important detail)

Zana (she/her): "terrifying" tiefling villain sorcerer, friend of rolandus. barkept the test tavern in ep2

Rhodes (she/her): hero ranger, friend of rolandus.

Buckminster Eden (he/him): hero guy. son of "The Iron Lord". their dad is stronger than rolandus's dad. his wiki page says rogue so i think hes a rogue? i never caught that and ive listened more times than i wish i did

Leon (he/him): softspoken buff, bald "fighter" (although i dont remember any clarification on how exactly he fights), sidekick of buckminster, around 28. anyone else keep forgetting he's bald? i keep forgetting it. >!gets sorta-drafted into becoming a falcon for higglemas and so far hasn't done much else.!<

Rainer Michelle (she/her): cheerful villainous necromancer with a floating chair. also, her name is pronounced "rainier" despite not being confirmed as such? travis ships her with fitzroy.

Tomas (he/him): human man with "kind eyes" and a good (psychic???) memory. guidance counselor.

Stewart LeBoeuf (he/him): brawny human man. serves food. there is no joke here, i promise

Mulligan (he/him): teaches potions. mentioned but doesn't appear yet. and we're like 25 episodes in. maybe we'll see him someday

Germaine, Victoria, Rattles (he/him,she/her,???/???): Skeleton crew. They live in the training room i guess, and as a result can never die, because "no one dies in the training room!" (note: someone now HAS to die in the training room). also their races are never explicitly stated but i guess they're probably human? in episode 3 travis brings up something about how many bones are in "the human body" and at this point i think i'm looking too deep into this so i'll just forget about it and you probably should too.

# -EPISODE 2- (9 characters)

Riveau (he/him): halfling, blame-taking teacher.

Mimi (they/them): gnome sidekick who builds cool robot prosthetics

Bartholemus (he/him): owl aarakocra accountant teacher, known for being the best accountant in the land and having a face some might describe as "smoochable". very pro capitalist :��( hope he gets better

Ramos (she/her): goliath teacher of shieldwork. *

Dip (she/her): sidekick, half-orc twin of pip

Pip (she/her): hero, half-orc twin of dip

Festo (they/them): fairy with "beautiful gossamer wings", independent study teacher of magic, loves to party

Snippers (he/him?): Let me tell you my story about Snippers the magic crab. When Travis gave the list of animals that Griffin could choose as Fitzroy's familiar's current form, he listed crab near the start, and this gave me excitement. Now i knew that crab was pretty unlikely but god i hoped that he would choose it. When the list went on- Bat, Cat, Crab, Frog, Hawk, Lizard, Owl, Poisonous Snake, Fish, Rat, Raven, Seahorse, Spider or Weasel- I nearly lost hope. I was hoping so hard that Griffin would choose the crab, but i was ready to accept a non-crab familiar. It was just buried in that list. It wasn't the most useful animal and it was an obscure pick. And as Travis informed him that it didn't have to keep the form for the whole campaign, Griffin said those five words i wanted to hear so, so badly. "Well then it's a crab." Folks, I do not often react physically when something happens in media. But in that moment, i remember very clearly, i fist-pumped and yelled, "YES!!!!!!"

so anyway, Fitzroy has a crab.

Jackle (he/him): kenku teacher of sneakery. creepy dude. apparently knows something about argo? also his name is not spelled "jackal" for some reason. Also in later episodes theyve started calling him "The Jackle" for some reason??? *

# -EPISODE 3- (1 character)

Dakota (they/them): tavern instructor, clad in black/red leather. no race stated? probably human. *

# -EPISODE 4- (6 characters)

Gerry & Tom (she/her, he/him): shopkeepers at barns and nobles who seem to have very bad names. also constantly competing for customers? these guys got dropped faster than the heathcliff quests, which is honestly just sad.

Barb (she/her): the bartender. runs Springs Eternal in Last Hope. has a sweet seeing-eye hawk familiar. 

Jaryd Reginald (he/him): owner of Reginald Ore. Wants the workers to be held responsible for the damage caused by the xorn. (fun fact: originally i wrote down "Jerrod" because i wanted it to sound like a fantasy name, then realized it was probably "Jared" because theyre named after listeners, but i was pleased to find it confirmed that it's actually "Jaryd")

Candice (she/her): A Miner. thought those werent allowed in bars but, i guess not. Wants the mine owner to be held responsible for the xorn's damage.

Jade Johnson Esq. (she/her): lawyer.

# -EPISODE 5- (1 character)

Xorn: a big hungry gem eating guy from the plane of earth Low-Down Deep with 3 arms and 3 legs. why did travis just say "multi-armed" instead of specifying it was 3? who knows! Anyway it leaves

# -EPISODE 6- (3 characters)

Osric (he/him): the man, the myth, the bursar. finally shows up after being mentioned in episodes 2 and 4. he's an elf. 

breeze through the willows (she/her): Pegasus attacked by demons, lost her parents. introduced in ep1 but gets a name here so fuck it. also in ep>!16!< we find out shes a "white arabian pegasus" and i dont think thats a spoiler bc we shouldve really known it from the beginning

Sabor (he/him): Librarian/research teacher. also a TORTLE. Really good at recalling stuff, i guess. kinda reminds me of Tomas's memory thing but i'm sure that's just a coincidence... *

# -EPISODE 7- (1 character)

Mosh (he/him): The goliath blacksmith who welcomes argo into the unbroken chain. Also, and this is specific to the tumblr version of this post, all the characters with an * at the end of their descriptions are also members of the unbroken chain. if someone knows how to do spoilers on tumblr please tell me

# -EPISODE 8-

:)

# -EPISODE 9- (2 characters)

Eeiïäá#æ&éñn (pronounced like "Ian") (he/him?): an imp but without a shitty voice. also happens to not be violent. what a coincidence?

Terence (he/him): a chain devil with a real demonic name. minor boss of the imps. very convincing and very threatening. has the frightening ability to make you zone out during his fight

# -EPISODE 10- (2 characters)

Althea Song (she/her): elf with autumn-orange hair. representative from heroic oversight guild. i'd like to personally thank travis for spelling her name out.

Crabtree (she/her): Artificing teacher. Long gray hair with a long grey beard. no mentioned race, one might guess dwarf but that would be an assumption i suppose. also unbroken chain member, presumably the dwarf argo didn't recognize in episode 7.

# -EPISODE 11- (3 characters)

Marie (she/her): Grey-haired elf woman. She's the school's physician, i guess. Member of the unbroken chain.

Dendra Maplecourt (she/her): Fitzroy's mom. Has hot mint gum, i guess. She was mentioned earlier but i wasn't convinced she was a real person until this episode

Cool Gary (he/him): AYY ITS ME GARYR

# -EPISODE 12-

no new characters again!

# -EPISODE 13- (7 characters hhhyyyuu)

Kale (???/???): Head of the Placement Department, in charge of real world assignments. First mentioned in Ep4 but i missed that the last few times bc it is so brief. Gives exposition about missions i guess????? is that the only reason this chara cter exists

satyr thief (unnamed) (he/him): tries to rob thundermen, dies instantly

Ogre (he/him): teamed up with the satyr. his name is ogre.

Moon (he/him): A Sidekick. small pale sullen guy. no mentioned race. Why is there another FUCKING sidekick WE HAD ENOUGH hhhyuuuuuu

Deanna (she/her): A bigoted centaur with an obnoxious voice. Malwin the Strong's second in command.

Malwin the Strong (she/her): Leader of the centaurs of the scarlet woods. Wants to appease the spirit of the scarlet woods so that thecentaurs of the scarlet woods will be protected in the scarlet woods. Had a relationship with Arturas in the past but their clashes are currently known to get pretty heated.

Arturas (he/him): Leader of the Centaurs of the Valley, i guess. Had a relationship with Malwin. Centaur. Did i mention centaur? i cant think of anything else about this character

# -EPISODE 14- (2 characters)

Calhain (he/him): Human wizard, Malwin's magical advisor. Kind of an amateur wizard in a job high above his skill level. Graduated Wigginstaff's as a hero.

Spirit of the Scarlet Woods: A spirit who requires sacrifice in order to keep Malwin's herd safe and prosperous. Not keen on dubiously canonical combos, i guess. i wouldnt be either. also apparently the sacrifice depends on personal value, not how much value it has to the spirit.

# -EPISODE 15- (2 characters)

Sylvia Nite (she/her): Fitzroy's magic theory teacher at knight night school, who he turned into a catfish by accident. oops!

Chaos (they/them, maybe more): Presumably a deity, gave Fitz his powers and wants him to give in to his chaotic desires. (physical desc: 9 foot tall, iridescent 'mother of pearl' skin, pure white eyes, fine burgundy cloak with gold/onyx lining. their physical form beyond that seems to change every time they show up.)

# -EPISODE 16-

none -w-

# -EPISODE 17-

some demins happened. the big dudes are called "Pit Fiends" and the armored demon ladies are called "Erinyes", by the way. that was incredibly hard for me to figure out the first time, especially without headphones, i thought travis was saying "pig feet" and i just could not discern what the other things were

# -EPISODE 18- (6 characters)

snow on the mountain: shire horse pegasus

storm at sea: peruvian paso pegasus, vehement defender of The Guardian. doesn't have a goofy voice.. but he could have....

thaw of the spring: a winged horse

night of no clouds: a winged hhorse

The Guardian: "An ancient and powerful being that guards the unknown forest." Has protected the flock from demons for many many years. apparently is the voice that was talking to our firbolg in episode 1?

Grey, the Demon Prince (he/him): wants to cause a war, originally wanted to kill hiero and higgs, forces the heroes to build an army to fight his. As "Fauxronimous", he has skin the *color and pattern of* (but not necessarily made of) slate splashed with liquid, pointed ears, sharp teeth, shining eyes, horns of unspecified shape. 12 fucking feet tall. wonder if the slate-looking skin is related to garys. plot twist detected? Also i recently looked at the episode descriptions and found out his name is spelled "Gray", but really does it truly matter?

# -EPISODE 19- (2 characters)

Shabree Keene (she/her): Argo's mom, killed on the Mariah, possibly by the Commodore. Long auburn hair, green eyes. Mentioned earlier but described here, so fuck it.

**Thomas** (he/him): Argo's first mate on the Mariah, as the Kraken, in his chaos-dream. may or may not actually exist.

# -EPISODE 20- (1 character)

The Commodore (he/him): Reknowned hero of the seas, military regalia, great naval hero, presumably responsible for the death of Shabree Keene. No mentioned race. Seriously, they never mention this guy's race. The only thing described about him is how he's dressed and his evil smile. Does that mean he's human? Elf? Dwarf??? Who knows! maybe it just doesnt matter. 

# -EPISODE 21-

none

# -EPISODE 22-

not any of them. not any.

# -EPISODE 23- (1 character)

Ozymondelius (sp???) (it/its): A warforged teacher who just so happens to like war or something? i guess its in the name. only mentioned in this episode, doesnt show up yet.

# -EPISODE 24-

they have a fight in the training room but nobody dies :\\ maybe next time. also no new characters. pog

# -EPISODE 25- (4 characters)

Gherkin (he/him): Tall lankier skeleton, has a scimitar and a merkin, which is a pubic wig... and he wears a jerkin? which i guess is a kind of coat? also i think hes mute 

Tibia (she/her?) : Shorter skeleton with gold teeth, and long canines. i think both of the skeletons are mute actually.

The Lich King aka Gordy (he/him): Rainer's dad. Commands armies of the undead. lives in The Crypt. described as a hooded, skull-faced man with intricate black lines on his face, but changes to a shaved-head man with dark skin and vetiligo. Abandoned as a babby, raised by traveling parents, had necromancy powers, took Rainier in. Not actually very scary at all i don't know why he did the creepy laugh. Kind of a warm fatherly figure actually. hm. also people are speculating Gordy might be short for Gordita and his parents are maybe supposed to be lup and barry but THAT S JUST A THEORY.

our firbolg's father (he/him): A firbolg who lived by the code and was there when our firbolg was banished. Came to respect our firbolg's interest in a new way of life, in his final moments.

TOTAL: 72 NPCS! (well, including 2 extra PCs, i guess.)

Average: 2.88 NPCs per episode.

i was gonna not include the bone-PCs and have it be 69 but our firbolg's dad was just too important to not respect with a spot on the list.

anyway as always make sure to smack me with a blunt object if i forgot any characters!!!!!

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh Ep 32 S4: Most Disturbing Kid’s Show Award Goes to This Episode

I often talk about how wonderfully effed up Yugioh is. What a freakin delight, how effed up this kid’s show is, somehow still remaining a Y7 kid’s show, despite everything it tries to do to get pulled off the air.

Y’all this was a filler season and it didn’t even have Bakura in it so...why did it go so edge? Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for how many levels of “OK THERE, KID’S SHOW” it was.

But what the hell was that, Yugioh?

Anyway we start off completely normal in this foggy ass graveyard--Halloweens in this season so I’m down for this. Halloween is also...cancelled...this year, so at least I can celebrate it somewhat in a Yugioh episode. Then again, can you imagine how many people would be dressed up as sexy Covid?

So I don’t really talk about the card game mechanics on here, and (full disclosure to any new people) I don’t know how to play this game. But, considering that this card doesn’t usually send you to distant graveyard memories IRL, lets get into it.

We’ve clarified before that Card Graveyard is a place--like an actual place--but that it isn’t the same place that the cards vibe in within the Puzzle necklace. It’s a separate place, but ALSO not the same place as the Shadow Realm, either. Card Graveyard is just...some other third place we never talk about.

TBQH I think the people who make this show have kinda forgotten how many random pocket dimensions we’ve made that are basically the equivalent of hell (including California, PS), and are just like “no one will write a blog about it and list them all in one place, we’ll be fine.”

We’ve only seen Tristan bum out here once in like S1 and he spent most of his time running away from the Grim Reaper. But, if you remember correctly, the Grim Reaper is currently hanging out and living his best life haunting some park in Japan, so now instead of the Grim Reaper it has...this?

So is this a memory stored within the card graveyard, or did Dartz literally take Raphael to the card graveyard and tell him this was a real ass graveyard?

We’ll never know! It gets very vague from here on out!

(read more under the cut)

First off, I’d like to welcome our new guest star--the Rain--there’s a lot of rain in this episode, and we animate it by just making all of our characters glow. This comes through fine in animation, but in caps I just want you to know that no one has gone super Saiyan, they’re just...wet.

PS get a gander at Raphael’s baby boy mutton chop mustache. They somehow got longer with time? And also, when soaked his hair is just as spiky. Everyone on this show has unparalleled hair gel. The real heart of the cards.

Anyway, Dartz shows Raphael a bunch of gravestones and is like “Get it???”

and me, the audience, was like “no???”

The headstones, by the by, aren’t...normal, either, they have Orichalcos symbols on them instead of words. So like...it sort of infers that his family was taken by Orichalcos, too. I mentioned before that it sorta feels like Dartz caused the whole shipwreck to munch up a bunch of yummy souls, and maybe he did in the Japanese version--cuz like...

...why else do all these headstones have Orichalcos symbols on this graveyard that you can only access through a card god like Dartz or Yami?

Just throwing that deep lore out there, and the fact that Raphael can’t really see it or understand is either because that didn’t happen or...Dartz totally killed his family, right? And that makes this relationship between the two of them extremely effed up?

This is a great show for kids with separation anxiety.

Which is...somewhat convincing of a motive for Raphael. He gives Raphael a way to move on from his trauma in the past, and it’s not a GREAT way to move on--but it’s falls in line with things Dartz has done with his other card generals by offering false redemption.

Like Mai needed to move on from her insane jealousy, so Orichalcos was her way to prove she was better than Joey Wheeler (which, honestly, no one needed proof of). Alister needed to move on from his dead brother, so Orichalcos was his way to get revenge. Valon also had a backstory but a bunch of it got deleted in the English version apparently so...

And Rex and Weevil needed...cards? I guess? I think they just needed a ride, mostly. And Orichalcos can give you a ride. It’s not like we had Uber in 2003 and clearly they were not fit for Caltrain.

And like Gurimo.............existed...?

Anyways, they’re looking for justice that they can see. Justice for their pain. To make that pain worth something for more than just suffering. A system where this type of thing can’t happen anymore. But the thing about justice is that...eh...it’s probably not done through cards that kill people.

OH OK, KID’S SHOW.

Mmmmm take in that burying up your grave imagery. Again, this show is rated Y7 for 7 year olds, and I think that’s amazing.

Anyway, this is symbolism that is so heavy handed that it really needs no explanation, so he’s just gonna dig dig dig for...days I guess? Relive his trauma over and over again? Dig up that past like you’re a popular artist on twitter and you gotta make all of your followers relive that time you got called out because you offended a hell ton of people?

(Which is so many people on art twitter right now, ps, you don’t even know which one I’m talking about because It’s SO MANY of them. Art twitter during Quarantine is like watching the fall of Rome but it’s freakin Art Twitter. Everyone’s the freakin worst and just poopin all over themselves as they roll all the way down the steps.)

But I want to know. Who’s grave this is? It has a slightly different meaning if it were his family’s or his own. I guess I’ll have to save it for the fanfiction.

And so to add another level of spook, Raphael’s card mom shows up and kinda just stands there with a sad face?

Raphael’s reaction to seeing his card just alive and hanging out was “I’ll get to you in a sec, I gotta do some unforgivable evil, first.“

WHERE DID THEY GO?

These two shots are like nearly back to back. They’re just GONE. No explanation.

And yes I’m gonna talk about the outfit because it makes no freakin sense, even for a Yugioh card. Granted, this was a show made in Japan, for kids, with a budget that had a limit. A lot of people get involved with these productions, many aren’t artists or historians versed in American History, just basic ass business people. That be TV.

But her outfit looks waaay too modern. Like she’s gonna go to a musical festival, drop acid and climb on top of a statue and take a bunch of instagram selfies and regret all of them 4 years later. If these are Atlantean cards, this is not an Atlantis outfit to match with Dartz, who has been dressed vaguely medieval. So whyyyyy would this girl be dressed more like a vague old western costume bought at a discount so she could vogue in front of installation art at Burning Man in 2008?

Anyway, I won’t even get into the bird that is slowly devouring her face as a stand in for a headdress or wtv. Just a lot of stuff happening here and I just wanna say, Yugioh did it so you won’t need to. Just delete that desire. Yugioh already did it so you are now free from wanting to draw...anything like this problematic situation on your own OCs.

And then Yugioh predicts exactly how I’d feel about this outfit.

And she then lights ON FIRE and falls dead into the grave he just buried for her.

And in case you were like “kinda on the nose there, Yugioh, that got DARK” she climbs out of his own grave with a spooky ass face and no more coconuts to share with her bros and he’s like...

Rapheal’s reaction was like...Ya OK I can get used to this, and Yami is just pointing at the scene desperately trying to follow Raphael’s brain waves.

And like, this is YAMI.

Yami just walked through Yugi Hell earlier today. He’s seen some stuff. He’s already undug his own grave this morning in a more poetic card sort of way. But Raphael’s memories of literally digging up his family’s graves with his bare hands because Dartz told him to was...stuff he didn’t want to see today. (especially since it’s super suggested Dartz was the one who...murdered them in the first place, like I know it’s a reach but...it just feels like we were supposed to reach that conclusion)

But whether or not Dartz put the bodies here or gave Raphael a bunch of phoney graves, Raphael is still essentially siding with the guy who ruined the only thing he has left of his family--this paper card mom--and turned it into an undead evil Mom. And it just had...no freakin impact on Raphael at all.

Like what?

He just murdered your card mom. This is fine?

Card shenanigans continue and Raphael eventually realizes what he should have realized like 10 years ago when he was digging up graves and killing card Mom’s. That maybe it’s a bad idea. So Raphael decides to sacrifice his remaining monsters to “free” them from the graveyard and basically commits suicide. There’s no other way to say it, really. He kills himself.

But wait, right when you figure this episode will end like every other Orichalcos fight before it...They decide not to.

Like an angel from heaven, our drunk ass looking music concert reject descends from the clouds, along with all of Raphael's dead family members!

Yeah.

I REALLY didn’t expect them to show up. This was so much content it’s like...an entire season of any other TV show. I say that a lot with Yugioh but these episodes really like to just jam-pack it in there.

And here I thought I’d actually have to take them off the Death Count one day. Here I thought 4 kids would do something to like...prevent this many dead kids, but I was wrong.

Everyone’s HELLA DEAD.

it’s both vindicating to actually say that, despite 4kids, these kids absolutely died, but also disturbing because even Raphael is like “ah, the hallucinations today are really swell, right?”

NO, GHOST CHILD.

DON’T TELL ME THAT.

And I’ve been over before how “heart of the cards” is a catch-all phrase that can mean literally anything in this show, and it’s not the first time that cards have kept someone’s spirit around. No word on his family members if they are thrilled to be trapped in a Pharaoh situation, or whether they only occasionally drop from the heavens, or whether they have actually been the spirit that was within each of these cards the whole time. I don’t know.

And so the card family “cures” one of the most evil people on this show.

He’s fine now. This guy murdered the hell out of Yugi, our main character, but don’t think nor worry about it. This isn’t the show to worry about such things.

This show has Marik.

Bro and I were talking Star Wars the other day, and mostly about the Kylo Ren arc and how a lot of people happened to dislike that particular ending. Mostly about how there is a difference between your character being redeemed and being forgiven. I think this children’s show wants to redeem Raphael, but honestly, much like Kylo Ren--he’s just forgiven. And that’s fine. You don’t need to have your characters redeemed. We can stop at forgiveness.

And also, Yami forgives him immediately because he knows he can’t throw a single damn stone, his house is made out of 2 mm of extremely problematic glass.

Man, RIP Weevil, right?

Weevil who just pretended to rip up a card that could have been Yugi and got tossed off the freakin Caltrain? Raphael got off so freakin lucky and I am boggled he’s still alive. He freakin killed Yugi!

The injustice to Weevil right now, omg. Not like I enjoy Weevil. I super don’t enjoy that character. But DAMN. Yami murdered Weevil for even mentioning Yugi. Just feels like there’s a bit of a hypocritical line here in how the justice is dished out and...that tracks for a Pharaoh so I’ll just let it go.

And also, looking at that sunshine and I’m pretty sure they’ve been up over 48 straight hours. No one’s slept since Yugi died, right? I mean Yami is fine. We know from Bakura that puzzle people don’t need to sleep, or eat, or have blood in their body. But like Seto really needs to get Mokuba to bed.

(Although I am 85% positive that Mokuba is still part Noah Kaiba so it is...also unlikely that kid sleeps anymore, just leaving Mokuba’s future therapist so much to unpack.)

The GALL of this show right now.

Of all the generals--they saved RAPHAEL? Arguably the worst one?

I would take even Alister. I would take even Weevil.

Raphael?

I mean if he ends up as the next Duke Devlin, just driving us around for the final season of this show I guess I’ll accept this but, damn.

Raphael?

Are you sure, Yugioh???????????????????????????????????

Can’t we just let that guy die? He’s basically dead already, Yugioh. This guy does NOT want to be alive anymore. Literally everyone he cares about is super dead and now he doesn’t even have Card mom because she sacrificed herself to save his soul. This GUY.

I can’t believe Mai is dead but we still have Raphael.

The same disappointment when I watch British Bake off, man, they just...sometimes they save people and I’m like...no man...that one can’t bake. Just because they pulled something off last second does not mean they get to the semifinals. Raphael can’t bake.

Anyway, the episode attempts to end on a cliffhanger but like.

Just want to reiterate how common and boring Earthquakes usually are to a Californian. This was the most normal thing in this episode.

Man.

Freakin Raphael.

Anyway, if you just got here and is like “I don’t know who the hell Raphael even is,” Yeah, I know, I didn’t think twice about the dude until like just now, but if it’s because you’ve never seen my recaps before, I’ll direct you to the link to read these in Chrono order:

https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono

Anyway, stay safe and have a very happy and safe Halloween alone eating your own carmel dipped apple slices.

[teagrl]

Some thoughts on The Mandalorian’s ep 5 without a speck of specific show context, (I’m mainly a Legends fan for the like two people who don’t know) but a deep abiding love for Jedi shit(tm) and okay, one Luke Skywalker:

1) I like the burnt out landscape though it did feel kind of small. Very small. Maybe I’m just used to the movies, idk. (The Magistrate had a Delian Mors vibe to me, but ehh maybe I’m seeing stuff)

2) I found Ahsoka sitting with Grogu really moving? I’m not really current with Rebels or anything, but the idea of her surviving the Purge and then meeting a child survivor too makes my heart clench.

3) The mention of Yoda makes my heart clench too. I wonder if he was one of the masters that trained him.

4) I’m so curious about this “memory going dark” thing.

5) The question of “Can he use the Force still” is great. Canonically (I don’t remember where though, I should look it up), Force powers tend to atrophy if you don’t use them at all. The question seems to draw from that assumption anyway...and it’s confirmed by the end when Ahsoka mentions it’s better to let his powers fade.

6) “So did the Empire yet it still hunts him” is a whammy statement. I think back to stuff @gffa​ has posted about the hostile feeling with which Force sensitives can be greeted. Like I said I have 0 context for the series, but in addition to the above the idea of getting a Force sensitive and using them to establish power is a trope across Star Wars. Off the top of my head I think this happens to the Solo twins SEVERAL times (and sure the Force powers are mixed up with the name recognition, lol, but I digress). It’s sadder when it’s an orphan ofc (I think the twins have several friends who slot into this, Zekk is one -- but this is well after the Purge).

7) Along the same lines hidding abilities to survive (and presumably how this can or cannot affect that atrophying point) is also interesting. Naturally, all this makes me think of trauma and poor Grogu.

8) And back to trauma as the explanation of why Ahsoka didn’t get the response that Din did. Clearly Grogu had some block with her that even her feeling like a Jedi wasn’t able to overcome.

9) Ahhhh seeing a lightsaber in action again. I’ve forgotten how exciting it all is.

10) But at the same time, pretty fight scene aside, there’s no way the magristrate could off a Jedi (one with Force precognition?) one on one if she’s not a Sith or augmented (did I miss the augmented part), so Idk that was so wholly aesthetic I had to roll my eyes.

11) Lol after Kenobi brought baby Luke to a bar fight I’m now shocked -- SHOCKED that Grogu stayed in the ship lol.

12) Tython! Okay I am a total irrational fangirl, but when Ahsoka says there’s a chance a Jedi might sense his presence and come looking for him, I did the whole

thing. But now that my rationality is back I can’t believe how coy they are about Luke Skywalker. Especially because of how nu!canon made this whole stink about how legendary/mythic whathaveyou he is. STOP BEING COY WITH ME. 

a)LOL seven seasons later Din’s gonna drop him off at Luke’s just you wait. We’ll see Luke from his back and that’s the end of the show (never mind he’ll be there for like what? 2 min before it burns the fuck down? I SEE YOU, SHOW. I AM ONTO YOU. Nah, jk, Grogu will never make it to the academy. Maybe by the time Din gets there it’s all in flames, and DIn’s like uh guess we’re late lolololol.

So unless we get some serious glowstick action again, I think this is the only ep that will hold my attention. I don’t regret watching it. There’s some interesting stuff, but it reinforces how marginal Luke is to nu!canon, which okay, I guess you do you, Disney, but *sad trombone* for me.

ALSO.

I’m trying not to be bitter that motherfucking THRAWN gets name dropped before Luke but I’M TOTALLY CHILL ABOUT THIS AND IT’S NOT LIKE LUKE IS THAT IMPORTANT ARGHHH ASJKHJKHWADG;

[aaronmaurer]

TV I Liked in 2020

Every year I reflect on the pop culture I enjoyed and put it in some sort of order.

Was there ever a year more unpredictably tailor-made for peak TV than 2020? Lockdowns/quarantines/stay-at-home orders meant a lot more time at home and the occasion to check out new and old favorites. (I recognize that if you’re lucky enough to have kids or roommates or a S.O., your amount of actual downtime may have been wildly different). While the pandemic resulted in production delays and truncated seasons for many shows, the continued streaming-era trends of limited series and 8-13 episode seasons mean that a lot of great and satisfying storytelling still made its way to the screen. As always, I in no way lay any claims to “best-ness” or completeness – this is just a list of the shows that brought me the most joy and escapism in a tough year and therefore might be worth putting on your radar.

10 Favorites

10. The Right Stuff: Season 1 (Disney+)

As a space program enthusiast, even I had to wonder, does the world really need another retelling of NASA’s early days? Especially since Tom Wolfe’s book has already been adapted as the riveting and iconoclastic Philip Kaufman film of the same name? While some may disagree, I find that this Disney+ series does justify its existence by focusing more on the relationships of the astronauts and their personal lives than the technical science (which may be partially attributable to budget limitations?). The series is kind of like Mad Men but with NASA instead of advertising (and real people, of course), so if that sounds intriguing, I encourage you to give it a whirl.

9. Fargo: Season 4 (FX)

As a big fan of Noah Hawley’s Coen Brothers pastiche/crime anthology series, I was somewhat let down by this latest season. Drawing its influence primarily from the likes of gangster drama Miller’s Crossing – one of the Coens’ least comedic/idiosyncratic efforts – this season is more straightforward than its predecessors and includes a lot of characters and plot-threads that never quite cohere. That said, it is still amongst the year’s most ambitious television with another stacked cast, and the (more-or-less) standalone episode “East/West” is enough to make the season worthwhile.

8. The Last Dance (ESPN)

Ostensibly a 10-episode documentary about the 1990s Chicago Bulls’ sixth and final NBA Championship run, The Last Dance actually broadens that scope to survey the entire history of Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson’s careers with the team. Cleverly structured with twin narratives that chart that final season as well as an earlier timeframe, each episode also shifts the spotlight to a different person, which provides focus and variety throughout the series. And frankly, it’s also just an incredible ride to relive the Jordan era and bask in his immeasurable talent and charisma – while also getting a snapshot of his outsized ego and vices (though he had sign-off on everything, so it’s not exactly a warts-and-all telling).

7. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)

This miniseries adaptation of the Walter Tevis coming-of-age novel about a chess prodigy and her various addictions is compulsively watchable and avoids the bloat of many other streaming series (both in running time and number of episodes). The 1960s production design is stunning and the performances, including Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role, are convincing and compelling.

6. The Great: Season 1 (hulu)

Much like his screenplay for The Favourite, Tony McNamara’s series about Catherine the Great rewrites history with a thoroughly modern and irreverent sensibility (see also: Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette). Elle Fanning brings a winning charm and strength to the title role and Nicholas Hoult is riotously entertaining as her absurdly clueless and ribald husband, Emperor Peter III. Its 10-episodes occasionally tilt into repetitiveness, but when the ride is this fun, why complain? Huzzah!

  5. Dispatches From Elsewhere (AMC)

A limited (but possibly anthology-to-be?) series from creator/writer/director/actor Jason Segal, Dispatches From Elsewhere is a beautiful and creative affirmation of life and celebration of humanity. The first 9 episodes form a fulfilling and complete arc, while the tenth branches into fourth wall-breaking meta territory, which may be a bridge too far for some (but is certainly ambitious if nothing else). Either way, it’s a movingly realized portrait of honesty, vulnerability and empathy, and I highly recommend visiting whenever it inevitably makes its way to Netflix, or elsewhere…

4. What We Do in the Shadows: Season 2 (FX)

The second season of WWDITS is more self-assured and expansive than the first, extending a premise I loved from its antecedent film – but was skeptical could be sustained – to new and reinvigorated (after)life. Each episode packs plenty of laughs, but for my money, there is no better encapsulation of the series’ potential and Matt Berry’s comic genius than “On The Run,” which guest-stars Mark Hamill and features Laszlo’s alter ego Jackie Daytona, regular human bartender.

3. Ted Lasso: Season 1 (AppleTV+)

Much more than your average fish-out-of-water comedy, Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso is a brilliant tribute to humaneness, decency, emotional intelligence and good coaching – not just on the field. The fact that its backdrop is English Premier League Soccer is just gravy (even if that’s not necessarily represented 100% proficiently). A true surprise and gem of the year.

2. Mrs. America (hulu)

This FX miniseries explores the women’s liberation movement and fight for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and its opposition by conservative women including Phyllis Schlafly. One of the most ingenious aspects of the series is centering each episode on a different character, which rotates the point of view and helps things from getting same-y. With a slate of directors including Ryan Bowden and Anna Fleck (Half-Nelson, Sugar, Captain Marvel) and an A-List cast including Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Sarah Paulson, Margo Martindale, Tracey Ulman and Elizabeth Banks, its quality is right up there with anything on the big screen. And its message remains (sadly) relevant as ever in our current era.

1. The Good Place: Season 4 (NBC)

It was tempting to omit The Good Place this year or shunt it to a side category since only the final 4 episodes aired in 2020, but that would have been disingenuous. This show is one of my all-time favorites and it ended perfectly. The series finale is a representative mix of absurdist humor and tear-jerking emotion, built on themes of morality, self-improvement, community and humanity. (And this last run of eps also includes a pretty fantastic Timothy Olyphant/Justified quasi-crossover.) Now that the entire series is available to stream on Netflix (or purchase in a nice Blu-ray set), it’s a perfect time to revisit the Good Place, or check it out for the first time if you’ve never had the pleasure.

5 of the Best Things I Caught Up With

Anne With An E (Netflix/CBC)

Another example of classic literature I had no prior knowledge of (see also Little Women and Emma), this Netflix/CBC adaptation of Anne of Green Gables was strongly recommended by several friends so I finally gave it a shot. While this is apparently slightly more grown-up than the source material, it’s not overly grimdark or self-serious but rather humane and heartfelt, expanding the story’s scope to include Black and First Nations peoples in early 1800s Canada, among other identities and themes. It has sadly been canceled, but the three seasons that exist are heart-warming and life-affirming storytelling. Fingers crossed that someday we’ll be gifted with a follow-up movie or two to tie up some of the dangling threads.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

I liked Breaking Bad, but I didn’t have much interest in an extended “Breaking Bad Universe,” as much as I appreciate star Bob Odenkirk’s multitalents. Multiple recommendations and lockdown finally provided me the opportunity to catch up on this prequel series and I’m glad I did. Just as expertly plotted and acted as its predecessor, the series follows Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman on his own journey to disrepute but really makes it hard not to root for his redemption (even as you know that’s not where this story ends).

Joe Pera Talks With You (Adult Swim)

It’s hard to really describe the deadpan and oddly soothing humor of comedian Joe Pera whose persona, in the series at least, combines something like the earnestness of Mr. Rogers with the calm enthusiasm of Bob Ross. Sharing his knowledge on the likes of how to get the best bite out of your breakfast combo, growing a bean arch and this amazing song “Baba O’Reilly” by the Who – have you heard it?!? – Pera provides arch comfort that remains solidly on the side of sincerity. The surprise special he released during lockdown, “Relaxing Old Footage with Joe Pera,” was a true gift in the middle of a strange and isolated year.

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

One of the few recent Star Wars properties that lives up to its potential, the adventures of Mando and Grogu is a real thrill-ride of a series with outstanding production values (you definitely want to check out the behind-the-scenes documentary series if you haven’t). I personally prefer the first season, appreciating its Western-influenced vibes and somewhat-more-siloed story. The back half of the second season veers a little too much into fan service and video game-y plotting IMHO but still has several excellent episodes on offer, especially the Timothy Olyphant-infused energy of premiere “The Marshall” and stunning cinematography of “The Jedi.” And, you know, Grogu.

The Tick (Amazon Prime)

I’ve been a fan of the Tick since the character’s Fox cartoon and indie comic book days and also loved the short-lived Patrick Warburton series from 2001. I was skeptical about this Amazon Prime reboot, especially upon seeing the pilot episode’s off-putting costumes. Finally gaining access to Prime this year, I decided to catch up and it gets quite good!, especially in Season 2. First, the costumes are upgraded; second, Peter Serafinowicz’s initially shaky characterization improves; and third, it begins to come into its own identity. The only real issue is yet another premature cancellation for the property, meaning Season 2’s tease of interdimensional alien Thrakkorzog will never be fulfilled. 😢

Bonus! 5 More Honorable Mentions:

City So Real (National Geographic)

The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)

How To with John Wilson: Season 1 (HBO)

Kidding: Season 2 (Showtime)

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs The Reverend (Netflix)

[goldenkamuyhunting]

Manga vs Anime: Episode 28 “The immortal Sugimoto Harakiri Show”

So let’s start with Ep 4 of the 3rd series… which is the 28 Golden Kamuy animated episode and we start with a request.

Yeah, this request is done because we need more GK.

Some data first.

This episode last 23:40 minutes and has an opening and an the ending. It covers part of chap 151, part of chap 154 and 4 other chaps of the manga, chap 155, 156, 157 & 158 for a total of around 96 pages (I’m discounting the covers) basically covering half of Vol 16.

The episode is titled ‘The immortal Sugimoto Harakiri Show’, which is actually the title of chap 156, chap 151 being ‘Muskies’, chap 154 being ‘Remaining Time’, chap 155 being ‘Yamada Circus Troupe’, chap 157 being ‘Karafuto Island Great Circus’ and chap 158 being ‘Key Performer’.

And now into the anime.

SUGIMOTO’S GROUP

Manga: Sugimoto’s group stops in an Ainu village, Sugimoto suggesting to spend the night there. Koito would like to reach Toyohara, which has better inns but Tsukishima says they’ll do it the day after so they’ll be able to do some shopping as well. Enonoka gives Cikapasi her father’s hohciri, explaining him that boys in Karafuto wear it until they turn ten.

Anime: This scene is completely removed in the anime.

My two cents: Normally I’m against cutting scenes but I’ll admit the first page isn’t really relevant as for the second, since the topic will come up later, the story could skip it.

THE MUSK DEER

Manga & Anime: Asirpa sees an animal she never saw previously. As Kiro explains her it’s a musk deer Ogata shoots it down, likely thinking they could eat it. Turns out the meat isn’t good and the pelt can’t be sold but they’ve a musk gland which, properly handled, can be sold to a high price, albeit currently smells horrible as Asirpa and Ogata discover. Kiro explains more about the musk deer explaining seasonal workers in Karafuto are called like “muskies” and this happened to him and Wilk as well. Kiro then tells her Wilk’s first prey was a musk deer and this allowed him to cut his hohciri. He then proceeds to explain her what an Hohciri is. Asirpa remembers she used to wear one and thinks thanks to that story she could discover something about her father and also remember something about him.

There are just some minor differences:

- In the manga, when Kiro explains boy cut the Hohciri off after their first kill the scene moves to Enonoka tying the Hohciri to Cikapasi’s hair, explaining him he’ll have to cut it off once he manages to kill a prey on his own, all this under Tanigaki’s gaze. In the anime this scene is removed, albeit it will come up later.

- In the manga Kiro smiles as he explains about musk deer and how they were called muskies, with Asirpa looking surprised at hearing this, Kiro getting up as he explains. In the anime Kiro doesn’t smile until he says what a hohciri is, Asirpa isn’t shown and they remain all crouched down. Asirpa’s surprised face is shown later, when she had heard what a hohciri is, possibly because it has caused her to remember something.

- In the manga she seems pleasantly surprised when she realized ‘that’ was an hohciri. In the anime she just stares at Kiro.

- In the manga Kiro’s head was lowered and his face heavily shadowed and barely visible when he said ‘I see’, as for Ogata he seems to look ahead with a firm expression. In the anime Kiro’s head is only barely lowered and showed from profile as for Ogata his expression seems sad or disappointed.

My two cents: In the manga when Kiro smiles as he remembers things, one gets the idea Kiro looks at those memories fondly so his lack of smile in the anime instead ands up on giving the feeling he’s looking at them with regret, which ends up changing slightly his characterization. Honestly, although Asirpa has shorter hair in the flash back, in the close up in the anime she doesn’t seem that much younger than she is now even though she should be at least 7 years younger if not more.

Basically the anime tries to imply she has grown up merely by making her head bigger in the transition between her younger self and her current one. You might notice it better if you put Asirpa’s current hairstyle on her younger self.

I’m not quite satisfied of how they depicted Kiro and Ogata in the end or of how they changed the framing of many scenes or the position of the characters to simplify them. They were doing a much better work with them in the previous episode. Still it’s not a big deal and I get they wanted to make things simpler to animate. On a VERY positive note they fixed Kiro’s character design so he finally doesn’t have a black weird animal on his chest but normal hair same as in the manga.

Oh, also maybe it’s just me but the scene in which Asirpa and Ogata smell the musk deer gland came out funny, same as the one in which Shiraishi said Kiro’s body was covered in musk.  As for the scene of Cikapasi, Enonoka and Tanigaki, it makes sense it was removed since they removed the 2 starting pages and since we’ll recover part of it later it’s not a big deal plotwise… even though all this will bring less focus on Cikapasi’s figure causing him to look an even minor character than what he already is.

CHAP 151 IS INTERRUPTED HERE

THE OPENING STARTS HERE

WARNING: The anime removed the whole Youichirou arc, which went from chap 151 to 154. As we can see Youichirou in the opening...

...is reasonable to assume they didn’t plan to cut him entirely but merely to move his arc later. At least I hope so. It would make sense as this episode covers a lot of pages so they wouldn’t have managed to fit the Youichirou arc here and they could probably postpone it to after the circus show. However we know the next episode contain the Vasily arc... and I think Youichirou arc as more sense if viewed BEFORE this arc as it was meant to be seen. Of course maybe it’s just me.

CIKAPASI AND TANIGAKI IN TOYOHARA

Manga: This scene doesn’t exist in the manga.

Anime: The anime shows Cikapasi and Tanigaki walking through the city, Cikapasi happily looking at his and Tanigaki commenting he likes it because Enonoka gave him that and telling him to remember he won’t be a real man until he cuts it off. We see a flashback of Enonoka tying it to Cikapasi’s hair before Cikapasi replying he knows. They then hear Sugimoto’s voice yelling to wait and turns toward it.

My two cents: This scene was likely added to compensate the fact they cut Cikapasi receiving the hohciri previously. Maybe it’s a matter of translation though, but it feels like the anime is already pushing the pairing Cikapasi/Enonoka by remarking how Cikapasi likes the hohciri because it came from Enonoka or how he’ll be a ‘real man’ when he’ll cut it. While it has its reasons to exist, the result is that the scene with Tanigaki and Cikapasi that was in the manga later and that showed them worrying for Inkarmat gets cut (they’ll place it in a ‘Golden Douga Gekijou’ 25 though) and, in addition, makes useless for them to hear Sugimoto screaming as in the anime they’ll join him only when they’ll hear Koito shooting.

THE CHASE

Manga & Anime: Sugimoto, Tsukishima and Koito are running after a boy, who stole Sugimoto’s bad inside which there’s a copy of Gansoku’s tattoo.

There are just some minor differences:

- In the manga, Tsukishima proposes to split into two groups to catch the boy in between them and leaves Koito with Sugimoto. In the anime this is cut and Tsukishima remains with the group.

My two cents: It’s a pretty small bit and the scene of them running after the boy is pretty fun in the anime. Now… it’s true Tsukishima’s plan will bring nothing but cutting it is a bit sad as it’s one of the few times Tsukishima is proactive.

TANIGAKI AND CIKAPASI SEARCHING AROUND

Manga: Tanigaki and Cikapasi are showing around photos of Kiro with no result. As Tanigaki asks Cikapasi if he’s tired, Cikapasi claims he can’t forgive Kiro for stabbing Inkarmat and will give his everything to track him down. Tanigaki thinks to a bedridden Inkarmat while Cikapasi goes on and claims he’s sure she too is fighting so he has no right to complain of being tired. Tanigaki tries asking info to another man but, by mistake shows his photo and then admits to Cikapasi he’s the one who’s tired.

Anime: In the anime the scene is cut and included in the ‘Golden Douga Gekijou’ in a shorter form. In fact they cut the scene in which Tanigaki asks about Kiro and the woman replies she would remember such a good looking men and Cikapasi’s reply.

My two cents: Well, the scene is not overly important but it would have been nice if they had added at least the Inkarmat bit to the previous scene with Tanigaki and Cikapasi as removing her is pretty bad. Recovering the scene in the ‘Golden Douga Gekijou’ doesn’t quite work as Cikapasi’s determination is cut and the focus is more on the joke than on Tanigaki’s worry about her.

THE CHASE CONTINUES

Manga & Anime: The thief grabs a pole and use it to climb on a roof and escape. Koito manages to jump on another roof and keeps chasing him, keeping up with his acrobatic escapes. The thief sees Koito keeping up with him as he continues running.

There are just some minor differences:

- In the manga, Sugimoto is shocked when the thief climbs on a roof and Koito catches his chances to surpass him as the thief runs on the roof. Koito then will jump on a less tall roof. In the anime Sugimoto is just worried and we can see Koito not just surpassing Sugimoto but also jumping on what is implied to be the same the roof on which the boy is running.

- In the manga the acrobatic abilities of the thief are well shown as he walks on a pole, jumps acrobatically on various roofs and then off of them. In the anime we only get a quick glimpse of his running on a roof and then jumping down it.

- In the manga we don’t see what happens to Koito after he’s hit by a branch. In the anime we see he manages to keep his balance and resume the chase.

My two cents: Now… I get that the anime is trying to fit a lot of pages in this episode so this is a bit of a cutting fest but the result is that the boy, Choukichi, seems a lot less of an acrobat than he is in the anime, while Koito seems much better than in the manga. Also in the anime the branch that Koito broke somehow gets ridiculously smaller when it hits Koito.

It would have never managed to support him not even for a second.

MORE CHASING

Manga: Tsukishima and Sugimoto regroups but they can’t find the thief. Cikapasi catches sight of them.

Anime: This scene is completely removed in the anime.

My two cents: Okay, this is nothing big and since they removed Tsukishima suggesting they split it makes sense to remove it.

CHOUKICHI REACHES THE CIRCUS

Manga and anime: Choukichi reaches the circus and the director, seeing him, scolds him, then notices he has a knapsack and worries he has stolen him. Gunshoots are heard. It’s Koito who has reached him and he’s now signalling his position to the others. Choukichi is impressed as this is the first time someone could keep up with him.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- The anime added a scene of Choukichi breathing in relief as he reaches the circus.

- In the manga the director of the circus hits Choukichi’s head. The scene is cut in the anime.

- In the manga when Tsukishima and Sugimoto hear the shoot they’re both on the ground. In the anime Sugimoto is messily trying to climb over a roof.

- The anime adds Tanigaki and Cikapasi hearing the shoots.

My two cents: On a personal note Choukichi character design makes him look a lot younger in the anime. His face is very round, his lashes longer, his side bangs much longer and his nose tiny, he might even pass for a flat-chested  girl. Tsukishima is horribly drawn here… -_- Maybe it’s just me but I get the feeling the anime cut the scene of the director hitting Choukichi as a form of censorship so as not to show a young boy being punished. This however causes the fact that, in the following scene, he attacks Choukichi with a katana, even more unbelievable than it was.

SUGIMOTO DECIDES TO JOIN THE CIRCUS

Manga and Anime: The director and Choukichi apologize for how the boy stole from Sugimoto. Sugimoto says it’s fine and the director instead says he’ll punish him so he cuts his cheek with the katana. Sugimoto punches him for hurting a kid but when Tanigaki tries to help the boy it turns out there’s no blood and it was just a joke as it was merely a magic trick used for their hara-kiri show. He also introduces Choikichi as an acrobat explaining this is the Yamada circus and he’s the troupe leader. Sugimoto, thinking Asirpa should be closer, decides to let her know he’s alive by joining the circus and performing in the ‘Sugimoto the immortal’s hara-kiri show’.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Yamada’s eyes are completely white as he says he can’t allow Choukichi to make more troubles and he looks scary. In the anime his eyes are merely close and he doesn’t look scary at all.

- In the manga in the flashback Asirpa as a sad and worried expression. In the anime she’s calm and smiling.

My two cents: As they cut the scene of the director punishing him and the one after it will be a joke Yamada’s declarations about how he punishes him seems to be merely lip service. When the anime shows a flashback of Asirpa talking with Shiraishi, picks up the same scene used in the manga, the one in which she was worrying about how her father betrayed the Ainu. The problem is in the anime this scene is cut. I’m not sure if they changed Asirpa’s expression in the flashback to fit with this but, if that’s the case, they could have used a real flashback of the scene they used, not a flashback of a scene that wasn’t included.

CHAP 154 ENDS HERE.

YAMADA IS PERSUADED TO LET SUGIMOTO TAKE PART TO THE SHOW

Manga and anime: Yamada doesn’t want Sugimoto in the show as he doesn’t want to share the trick of the hara-kiri show. Sugimoto forcefully insists he won’t become a performer and will keep the trick for himself. Choukichi suggests that, as long as Sugimoto and his friends agree to their condition they could let them all take part to the show, especially Koito, whom he sees as suited for that work.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Sugimoto tries to blackmail Yamada, saying if he doesn’t agree they’ll hand Choukichi to the police which pushes Yamada to say it would be very troublesome for them as the boy is their star. In the anime this is cut.

My two cents: I get the feeling the anime cut Sugimoto blackmailing Yamada so as not to show this side of Sugi who in the anime is much more of a noble hero than in the manga. As a result Sugimoto comes out as a lot less threatening than he was in the manga.

THE CIRCUS SHOW

Manga and anime: Sugimoto’s group is introduced to some acrobatic performances which Koito is capable to reproduce flawlessly. On the other side Sugimoto and the other completely fail at them. Yamada tells Sugimoto to stop trying and focus on the hara-kiri show while Tanigaki and Tsukishima will join the girl group and dance off the side.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga we see Choukichi performing first as Yamada explains the acrobatic act and then Koito. In the anime this is cut and we’re immediately shown Koito doing the act but Koito’s act too is cut short as we don’t see him falling or how they roll him as if he were a ball. Also they cut Yamada asking the group who they are.

- In the manga Sugimoto and Co try to perform the Kyokumochi. In the anime the scene is cut and included in the ‘Golden Douga Gekijou’ 26, and the only part cut from it is Yamada asking them to which circus troupe they belong with Koito replying ‘the 7th’ division’. These two lines though are placed when Koito is shown being good on a bicycle as well.

- In the manga we also see the ‘cycle whirl’ stage act with Yamada explaining it. In the anime this part is cut.

- In the manga it’s not explained why Tsukishima let go of Sugimoto’s bycicle, causing him to fall. In the anime it’s shown he did it due to being surprised by how well Koito was going on it.

- In the manga, when Koito says the circus troupe he belongs to is the 7th division, he has a serious face. In the anime he smiles.

My two cents: Well, this part got lot of cuts but it’s mostly explanation so it can work. The only thing I really don’t like is changing Koito’s expression as he says they belong to the 7th division because for me it was the fact he told it so seriously that made the scene really fun. Also the fact they gave Tsukishima a reason to let go of Sugimoto’s bycicle kind of affect a little Tsukishima’s characterization because it turns it into an accident, where in the manga the implication is he deliberately let go of him (if he did so as a payback for being put below in the Kyokumochi exercise or because he thought Sugimoto had to try standing on his own) is up to the reader’s speculation. The fact that Tsukishima might have let go of Sugimoto deliberately in the manga is also hinted by how we’ve a close up of his face which is shadowed when Sugimoto complains while in the anime Tsukishima’s face is totally unchanged to how it was before in the background.

THE DANCING GROUP

Manga & Anime: Tanigaki and Tsukishima joins the girls dancing on the side but Tanigaki keeps on getting scolded by Yamada Fumie, the dancing instructor in a quite vulgar manner. Fumie then accuses Tsukishima to be trying to win her over in hope to get a better treatment.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga when Fumie accuses Tsukishima of having fallen in love with her and so on Tsukishima is uncharacteristically smiling while in the anime he’s serious.

My two cents: Honestly it’s a pity Tsukishima isn’t smiling as it really made me think that, although Tsukishima hadn’t fallen in love with Fumie, he was trying to use his charm on her while in the anime  it just feels like her accusing him baselessly.

MORE CIRCUS ACT FROM KOITO

Manga & Anime: Koito does more impressive acrobatics acts, impressing Yamada who praises him a lot and thinks everyone coming to the show will talk about him. Sugimoto gets annoyed because according to him everyone has to talk about Sugimoto or there’s no point to do that. Koito tells him he’s just being jealous.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Koito is shown standing on two horses. In the anime this is cut.

- In the manga as Sugimoto hears Yamada praising Koito he gets worried and tells him to stop, explaining him why what he’s doing would make the whole thing useless. In the anime he gets angry as if he couldn’t stand it anymore. Sugimoto’s speech also gets cut so he sounds less formal, he explains nothing and merely gives off an angry vibe.

My two cents: Okay, the cut one of Koito’s many acrobatic performances doesn’t really affect the plot much and Sugimoto’s expression as he gets angry is pretty fun but it somehow messes up part of Sugimoto’s characterization as it’s real his purpose for doing that was mainly to have news of him reach Asirpa and Koito’s actions might jeopardize his plan. It’s true Sugimoto is also subconsciously doing this to feed his ego as he thinks he can easily be the star of the show when Koito is actually much better than him and that the plan is overall dumb, pointless and will fail but, credits when it’s due, the main purpose was still to find Asirpa, not just to give Sugimoto a chance to shine so it makes more sense to have him worried his plan will fail than angry at Koito’s phraises and he only got angry when Koito told him he was complaining merely because he was jealous.

TANIGAKI’S DESPERATION

Manga & Anime: Tsukishima finds Tanigaki crying and tries to comfort him thinking it’s because Fumie humiliated him. Actually Tanigaki cries because he thinks he’s being a burden to the girls’ group.

My two cents: There are no cuts on this one but somehow it didn’t impress me much either.

CHAP 155 ENDS HERE.

YAMADA TEACHING THE TRICK TO SUGIMOTO

Manga & Anime: Yamada explains Sugimoto how the sword trick works and then reveals the trick behind it. Sugimoto is told to try but his attempt is interrupted by some girls cheering on Koito’s performance and the cheers grow even louder when Koito throw a kiss at the audience. Sugimoto gets angry and claims Koito doesn’t need to be in the show. Koito claims all Sugimoto has to do is to give a better performance than his own. Yamada persuades Sugimoto to just work harder on his performance.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- The anime adds a scene in which Yamada points his sword at Sugimoto and Cikapasi, surprising them.

- In the manga Yamada says after Sugimoto has cut his leg he should hop on one foot toward the audience, showing them the blood. This part is cut in the anime.

- In the manga Yamada says Sugimoto should return to the centre of the stage, shows his upper body and pour water on it. This part is cut in the anime and only the visual is left.

- In the manga Yamada will keep on wearing his tuba even when he fakes dying. In the anime the tuba falls from his head.

- In the manga the explanation about how the trick work is more detailed than in the anime.

- In the manga Sugimoto practices the trick a bit but he puts excessive emphasis in his performance and refuses following Yamada’s instructions. This part is cut in the anime, although it also appears in the Golden

- In the manga Yamada praises Koito again. In the anime the scene is cut and included in the ‘Golden Douga Gekijou’ 27.

- In the manga Koito points out Sugimoto is acting in such way because he has no confidence in his performance. This is cut in the anime.

- In the manga Sugimoto admits Koito is sounding reasonable, although he then says he’s just making all this because everyone is making a big deal of him and thinks he should come up with another brilliant idea to drive the audience crazy, namely making a performance wearing roller skates. Yamada shoots his idea down. In the anime all this is cut.

- The anime added Sugimoto saying he would do better practice.

My two cents: In the anime the green aura with the visual sound effect when Yamada prays feels… disturbing to me. That greenish smoke seems more to indicate that Yamada is smelling than that he has an aura.

Cutting the part in which Koito accused Sugimoto to make all that fuss solely because he lacked in confidence about his performance and leaving the one in which Koito says if he can’t make a better performance than his own the idea he’ll get famous is a joke, feels more like Koito is competing with Sugimoto trying to outdo him to be the one who’ll get famous when Koito was likely instead merely giving his best and it was Sugimoto who was at fault for not being confident in himself to the point in order to top Koito he didn’t want him to perform, which is remarked by how Sugimoto admits Koito is being reasonable and by how he proves he’s not confident in his act by trying to come up with something different. The result is that both Koito and Sugimoto’s characterizations are affected.

CIKAPASI’S PERFORMANCE

Manga: As Sugimoto works on his act Cikapasi sees the giant spinning top act and decides he’ll perform that act.

Anime: This scene is completely removed in the anime.

My two cents: While cutting this part doesn’t affect the plot… well, it takes away from Cikapasi’s characterization as it showed he too wanted to do something.

TANIGAKI AND BENIKO

Manga & Anime: Tanigaki gets scolded by Fumie again and again he ends up crying outside, this time comforted by the little girls. Beniko tells the girl to go back or they’ll be scolded than explains Tanigaki this will be her last performance as they’re all orphans but she’s old enough they leave the circus. She then tells him she’s glad to make her last performance with him and to make it a success as Tsukishima is spying on them.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Beniko explains they leave the circus to be adopted. Unless this is a translation problem this part is cut in the anime making it sounds as if the girls are just left behind.

My two cents: The colours of the scene with Beniko are nice and no big changes are done. I’m unsure if the dialogues are really cut or it’s a matter of translation. If they’re cut… well, it doesn’t really work well.

TRAINING

Manga: We see Koito, Tanigaki and Sugimoto trying hard their act while Tsukishima just performs his act.

Anime: This scene is completely removed in the anime.

My two cents: Okay, it’s not a big deal plotwise but we kind of lose how hard everyone is trying (except for Tsukishima who’s not sweating at all) so it affect a bit their characterization.

THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGINS

Manga & Anime: The show is about to start, Enonoka and her grandfather about to witness it. Yamada tells everyone it’s a full house and Sugimoto says their performance is about to begin

My two cents: Nothing to say here. It’s a small scene and it’s transposed well enough.

CHAP 156 ENDS HERE.

THE ANIME PLACES HERE AN EYECATCH

THE SHOW STARTS

Manga & Anime: Yamada introduces his circus to the ones who came see it. We see some of the artists making some performances.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga we see Cikapasi performing as well. In the anime his performance is cut.

My two cents: The anime used still shoots for the audience. While this is pretty common and, credits when it’s due, each spectator was drawn differently their expression feel oddly still, their eyes too wide open in the first shoot. Maybe it’s just me though. The rest was nicely done, especially the way they handled Koito’s performance.

KOITO’S PERFORMANCE

Manga & Anime: Koito is performing his rope act when he sees Tsurumi’s picture discharged on the rope. He believes it to be his own but then the photo flies away and he chases after it in a spectacular way until he manages to grab it. Yamada is impressed, Sugimoto is shocked Koito is furious as he thinks it was Sugimoto who interfered with his act stealing the picture and placing it there.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga the picture flies away on its own. In the anime it seems it’s due to Koito moving too much on the rope.

- In the manga, when Koito jumps on the stairs they break and he has to manage to keep balance on them. Also as he chases after the photo he performs the paper walking act and then he jumps on the guys on the bicycle. All this is cut in the anime.

- In the manga it’s unclear if Koito grabbed the trapeze guy deliberately or by accident while in the anime it’s clear it was by accident as he was actually attempting to grab the photo and ended up grabbed by the trapeze guy.

- In the manga Sugimoto seems solely shocked by Koito’s performance in the anime he seems more a mix between shock and anger as he’s clenching his teeth, but maybe it’s just me.

My two cents: There are a lot of cuts on Koito’s performance so it’s less spectacular than in the manga but I’ll say it’s still spectacular enough. The effect of the people cheering on Koito was well done. I’m not really fond of how they changed Sugimoto’s expression but I guess they kept it in line with their previous change.

THE END OF THE DANCING ACT

Manga & Anime: The dancing girls act end and the girls leave the stage. Fumie congratulate with Tanigaki.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga we see the dancer end their performance and the audience cheering on them. This is cut in the anime.

- In the manga we see the girls congratulate with Tanigaki as well. This is cut in the anime.

My two cents: My personal impression is that Tanigaki’s satisfaction is more visible in the manga but I can be just me. His expressions are still visible enough. The cuts aren’t drastic as you can figure the girls would be happy for Tanigaki.

THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO END

Manga & Anime: As Sugimoto’s performance is announced some guys are about to enter in the circus. Sugimoto presents himself for his hara-kiri show, hoping his message ‘I’m alive’ will reach Asirpa. At the same time Koito realizes the photo he had found isn’t his own as not only it’s different but his photo is still in its place. Also he doesn’t believe Sugimoto could have a photo of Tsurumi. Tsukishima says the saboteur was him and that he did so in order to make the Karafuto show plan work but it backfires instead. Koito explains they’re in trouble as he switched his blade with the trick sword. Outside Sugimoto is about to start his performance.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga, the guys entering in the circus are mostly shadows and one might think they aren’t important, in the anime it’s clearly visible they’re Russians and the camera pausing on them draws the attention on them.

- In the manga Sugimoto’s expression is calm, in the anime he’s frowning, his eyebrows furrowed.

- In the manga Tsukishima explains Sugimoto is not a man to stand down so Tsukishima expected his competitive spirit and stubbornness to cause Sugimoto to work his hardest. He also admits his plan backfired. Those things are cut in the anime.

My two cents: The focus on the Russians takes away the surprise of when they’ll appear at the show. Tsukishima’s revelation he’s the culprit comes out as kind of funny. They let the scene of Sugimoto complaining the water is cold this time but as they removed all the previous ones the fact he was advised more than once not to make all that fuss gets lost and one might think the water is really very cold.

CHAP 157 ENDS HERE.

SUGIMOTO SHOWS

Manga & Anime: Sugimoto is about to perform his act but when he tries to cut himself real blood comes out from his wound and he realizes the sword he has can cut. He sees Koito and Tsukishima holding the trick blade and realize the sword he has is the real deal. Despite this he decides to carry on and after cutting his legs attempts the hara-kiri act. However some Russians shows up on the stage and point a gun at him. He makes short work of them while Tsukishima punches the third into unconsciousness. Yamada orders everyone to go out for the final bow so as to use this to recover the bodies of the Russians.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Yamada tells Sugimoto not to say ‘ow’ and scolds him when Sugimoto does. This is cut in the anime.

- In the manga Sugimoto voices his thoughts and seems more frantic as he turns. In the anime he only thinks them and he seems frozen on the spot.

- In the manga Sugimoto is biting his lower lip, in the anime he’s clenching his teeth.

- In the manga we see Sugimoto being surprised with the Russians showing up. In the anime such thing doesn’t happen. It’s not clear but as Sugimoto raised his eyes before the Russians showed up, he likely noticed them earlier.

- In the manga Sugimoto cuts the Russian’s hand in half, in the anime he cut it whole at the wrist.

- In the manga Sugimoto switches the way he holds the sword (from the blade to the grip) by grabbing with his left hand the cloth he wrapped around the blade which he used to hold it without cutting himself, so he can use his right to grip the grip. The result is when he attacks the Russian the cloth remains in his hand. In the anime it seems what he wrapped around the blade where papers which flies around as he attacks… meaning he either gripped the naked blade with his left and magically didn’t cut himself or that he managed to switch how he was holding the blade without using his left hand… which would constitute as magic.

- In the manga when the shocked second Russian tries to shoot at him, Sugimoto avoids the bullet then rolls away and tosses his sword at him. In the anime, after killing the first Russian Sugimoto immediately runs away, the worried second Russian tries to shoot at him and Sugimoto, after running some more, rolls on the ground and tosses his sword at him.

- In the manga we see Sugimoto standing up. In the anime we don’t.

- In the manga it’s unclear if the third Russian was trying to escape, in the anime it’s clear.

My two cents: Despite the change Sugimoto’s fear is well transposed albeit more funny than in the manga. Overall I enjoyed how they made the hara-kiri show… until the Russian showed up. I much preferred how the manga showed Sugimoto’s surprise at them being there instead than making him all ready to act with them being there. While the blade switching scene was poorly done (what are those papers? Sugimoto would have cut his hand if he had tried grabbing), the following scene which shows Sugimoto moving away, rolling around and then tossing the sword to the Russian is well done. For once the anime pulled out an action scene which was engaging.

CONFRONTING THE SPY

Manga & Anime: Tsukishima questions the Russian and it turns out they had been ordered by the Russian government to kill “Yamada, the one doing the hara-kiri show” and mistook Sugimoto for him. Tsukishima figures this means Yamada is a spy, which Yamada confirms saying he’s a former office in the imperial army disguising himself as a circus leader to gather intelligence in Russia. Fumie comments he’s a third rate spy, kills the Russian and tell him to bury all the Russians under the tent as they’ll leave in the morning.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga it’s Tsukishima who says this time it was Sugimoto doing the show instead than Yamada, in the anime it’s Koito.

- The anime adds Koito, Sugimoto and Tanigaki being surprised at the ringmaster being a spy.

- In the manga Yamada looks his usual self as he explains his role as a spy while in the anime he seems much more serious.

My two cents: The colouring is nice, Yamada however seems to serious so the idea he’s a poor spy doesn’t really get through.

THE MORNING AFTER

Manga & Anime: Beniko is about to leave the group. Tanigaki cries and Beniko makes him promise he won’t forget them. Tsukishima reads to Sugimoto the article about his performance but it turns out it has a mistyping as Sugimoto is called the ‘Sugimoto the unhemorrhoidial’ instead than ‘the immortal’ . Sugimoto rolls on the ground in complain. Yamada begs Koito to remain with them but Koito refuses as Tsurumi would scold him. Tsukishima tells Yamada they’re pursuing some people and asks him if he has information who could help them. Yamada suggests Kiro might be heading to the Alexandrovskaya prison were many partisans were moved years ago. Sugimoto thinks Kiro might be heading there. Tsukishima comments although the performance didn’t help they got important info. Sugimoto says he’s sure the performance helped and Asirpa would surely see the newspaper and understand it’s him.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Sugimoto smiles as he says Asirpa might figure out it’s him if she reads the newspaper. In the anime he’s serious.

My two cents: It’s not bad. I like the font they used for the newspaper which made it look like a real newspaper. If I’ve to be honest I don’t like much the ‘depression aura’ or whatever that is coming out of Yamada but it might be just me.

ASIRPA IS SEEING SOMETHING

Manga & Anime: As Sugimoto hopes Asirpa will see the newspaper article Asirpa actually sees some poop which turns out to be Shiraishi’s.

There are minor cuts and changes:

- In the manga Asirpa is delighted with her finding, likely thinking they could hunt the animal which pooped. In the anime she sounds worried as if scared, and her expression isn’t shown.

My two cents: Honestly I prefers the manga version, with Asirpa being excited at the idea to hunt something. It might be just me.

TO SUM IT ALL

Overall it’s not a bad episode. They had to cut quite a bit to transpose all those pages but except for one or two things it wasn’t nothing too serious or too character characterization harming, the art wasn’t too bad either. If anything we can complain the episode isn’t as informative as the manga but this isn’t terrible. Some action scenes are nice. And everything seems to work.

[astro-break]

Thoughts on the 7th ep of Hypmic Rhyme Anima. Spoilers beware 

Ep.1 | Ep.2 | Ep.3 | Ep.4 & 5 | Ep. 6

Can we get an MTC ep for Samatoki’s birthday please?

nope its MTR

ah man i always get really down whenever i see Doppo’s workplace environment. it suckssss

EYYYYY BUSTER BROS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i forgot the name of the song in the moment but is Ikebukuro West Gate Park which is funny since thats where the ikebukuro prelims are held)

OOO IRIS ON A MOTERBIKE!!!!!!!!!!!! thats so hot oh my god, the CGI was good too! she had no right making to popping a wheelie over speedbumps look cool

Tom mentioned last episode that he had picked these three up from bad places and I have a feeling that Iris was once either an adrenaline junkie, thrill seeker, or involved in something that had her on the run

I don’t know about Rex. I think society just took one look at him and pushed him away because his personality is weird. He’s honest and kind, almost too kind. It don’t help that he doesn’t look traditionally Japanese which will garner him a lot of unpleasant experiences

MTCCCCCCCCCCC HELL YEAH

love that theyre one of the few units shown actually going out and doing intel searching on their own

god the TDD flashbacks harken to the manga and thats so cool

There’s a lot of underline threads going on in here and its going to be hard keeping track of them. I hope that the anime doesn’t choke itself on all the threads

T.REX is hilarious i think i might actually grow to like him. he’s a dumb himbo

ah even more threads and previous connections. i really really really hope that everything is ties up nicely by the end of the season though that doesn’t seem plausible, not with only 5 episodes remaining

OH GOD WHY WAS YOTOSUJUJI BROUGHT UP NOW IM TEARING UP

ah of course robberies are going to happen on the day of the rap battle

That ruikawa guy is suspicious. it might be my INFP speaking but his kindness seems a bit weird

ah yeah red flags right there. he’s definitely one of the robbers or in cahoots with them

ah yeah hes a robber. theres no doubt about that. “ive found a place to release what builds up inside me”. thats crime isn’t it. the fact that he won’t talk about it just raises more red flags

ahahaha see i was right

hey at least it was doppo’s hardass boss. could be someone more innocent and less asshole-y

YOU JUST GAVE YOUR INDEITY AWAY ASSHOLE wow even doppo caught on

EYYYY SHINJIKU STYLE!!!!! HELL YEAH

Those stills are absolutely mesmerizing though. 

i love the sense of trust and mentorship between matenro with Jakurai as Hifumi and Doppo’s mentors. At least that’s the feeling I get with them ahaha

Doppo’s english is a bit harsh but also weirdly fits his style. im a bit mixed on it but with the whole song being more melancholic with english sprinkled in, it matches the theme

The song itself is such a mellow and soothing song though. Its different than Maternro’s usual work and its a good different. I love the subway and old timey imagery that came with the song and the image of a subway train lighting up the way to a new path is such a great way of showing that there are different paths and different destinations that one can take. Even if you take the same train, you can end up in a different place. The light imagery in particular is just so good since Ruikawa’s original line of the city being a beacon of light for him is mirrored in the song.

The lyrics especially are so soft and powerful with the imagery within the words being simultaneously rough and tumble but also soft and reassuring. It seems more like a lament or a elegy to a life that could have been if they had gotten on a different train. I love the lyrics, especially the chorus since it speaks of mundane things but things that everyone can understand and relate to

it also carries mad Spirited Away vibes. It’s also called Falling which I think is pretty fitting

the only thing that I don’t like about the song Jakurai’s vocal beats within his verse. Usually it works since there’s a big beatboxing feel to those beats but with Jakurai his lyrical rap doesn’t mesh well with the harsh guttural sounds beatboxing

The pain of having one of your few friends betray you hurts and wow this episode is out to make me feel a lot of sympathy for Doppo

SMILING DOPPO!!!

Hell yeah they actually had a plan and followed through with it

Did they just set up the MTC episode lmao. thats sneaky

OOh that beat change for FP ending is so nice!!

--

I think I’m only noticing this just now but the episode titles are all famous quotes from people/proverbs. 

Ep. 1) “As Soon as Man is Born, He Begins to Die“ This is an old proverb. Who said it I don’t know and a quick internet search gave me nothing, but its commonly said to convey the meaning that nothing lasts forever. IDK why this proverb was chosen since there’s no indication of any of the teams disbanding any time soon except for TDD era teams which have already happened

Ep. 2) “Speak of the Devil and He Will Appear“ Again, another old idiom which dates back to the 16th century. This one is probably about Ichiro and how he appears whenever he is called or whenever he is needed. Though it could be a overall commentary on how the brothers are reliable no matter the situation

Ep. 3) “Two Heads Are Better Than One” - John Heywood This quote describes DoHifu pretty well. Its because these two work and rely on each other that they’re able to not only make it through each day but also make each day worth living. Because they help each other, but they’re not the same, they’re better for it. This could also apply to MTR as a whole being a team where each member thinks outside the box and their ideas collectively make such an interesting team

Ep. 4) “A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed” This one is an 11th century proverb which explains that in times of need, true friends will show their colors. That's the main mentality behind MTC though I believe that it applies to Rio in particular for this episode. While the entirety of MTC are willing to help each other in times of need, in this episode it mainly focused on Samatoki and Rio’s plights and how the members as a whole show that they are all true friends to each other

Ep. 5) “Seeing is Believing” The origins of this quote is blurry but there the bible seems to be the origin of this statement believe it or not. While it does fit the episode’s theme of ghosts and how rumor's can harm people and businesses, it doesn’t really describe FP like the other quotes do the other teams. I find it odd, but I hope that FP are redeemed in their next feature episode. FP deserves better and are being done dirty in the anime.

Ep. 6) “He Who Laughs Last, Laughs Best” - The Christmas Prince. I think this one is pretty nice in describing not only the episode but the series as a whole. It doesn’t matter who’s winning in the begging, or the middle. The final outcome is what really matters. It’s pretty apt for the series since even though The Party of Words are winning currently, its who wins by the end of the series that matters. The episode encompasses this pretty well too with the whole plotline.

Ep. 7) “The Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn” Dating back to 1950 ish, this one carries the simple There is hope in the worst circumstances message. Again, its pretty suitable for the series as a whole since the Party of Words might be making life harsh, but there’s still hope to be found in the world.

Ep. 8) “Dead men tell no tales” - Thomas Becon. NGL, this one scares me because it can either apply to MTC, or the universe as a whole. We’ll just have to wait till next week to know for sure but i think we’ll get some Jyuto angst with his parents

[waejinyoung]

Can’t Swim - EP . 7

word count: 4.3k+

a/n: hehe, hate me all you want but i’ve been having so much fun with this series. i hope the same goes for you guys. i haven’t heard much from you guys feedback-wise so i hope it’s because the content im putting out is fun to read. enjoy!

warnings: swearing, a lil saucy at the end, pretty much it

EP . 1 , EP . 2 , EP . 3 , EP . 4 , EP . 5 , EP . 6 , EP . 7 , EP . 8

Was this doctor joking? How could there be good news next to this sort of bad news?

Tuesday Morning 

“Doc, what good news do you have?”

“… for 2 months.” The doctor finished her sentence.

You let out all the air you had held since the doctor had announced that Jinyoung wouldn’t be able to sing. You held your heart and felt a little lightheaded and crashed back onto the bed. She did you dirty.

“Miss, are you okay?” The doctor dropped Jinyoung’s records to aside and rushed to you. 

Your heart rate skyrocketed before the doctor mentioned that he won’t be able to sing momentarily rather than permanently.

“I’m fine. Maybe finish your sentence quicker. I thought it was permanent that he won’t be able to sing until you mentioned 2 months.”

“I apologise Miss. Here’s a glass of water.” The doctor gave you a glass of water and you turned your attention back on to Jinyoung. He had also left a sigh of relief.

“D-doc. Until then what will happen?”

“Routine scans to check your recovery rate. Our recommendations now are to speak as less as possible, in a couple weeks time we’ll have you back on food and liquids.”

You smiled hearing that they’ll be a happy ending at the end of the dark corridor. You looked at Jinyoung with glee but remembered you had to change for work.

“I’ll celebrate in a second. I need to get changed!” You legged it to the bathroom to change and the doctor and Jinyoung let out a chuckle because of your obvious excitement towards the good news.

THIRD PERSON POV

“Your girlfriend is so supportive.” The doctor commented after Y/N had entered the bathroom.

“G-girlfriend?” Jinyoung sat upright in his bed.

“Oh, I apologise Mr Park. I just thought Miss was someone of that status. Sorry for assuming.”

“It’s fine, Doc. You’re c-close anyways. Soon-to-be girlfriend I-I hope.”

“Ahhh,” The doctor chuckled, “I hope she accepts.”

“Me t-too.”

Y/N’S POV

You looked at yourself in the mirror. Hair out from your twisted bun, lovely curls were achieved. You straightened your cropped cream blazer and fixed your lace top on the inside. You tightened you waist belt and then realised your heels were outside. Brushed your teeth with your belongings Mona brought in and then you were out.

“Me t-too.”

Jinyoung and the doctor looked at you as you were out.

“What?” They both looked at you without saying a word a bit too long.

“You l-look…”

Jinyoung started.

“… Like a mess. I know” You placed your feet in your black stilettos and looked back at the both of them and they were still staring.

“Now what?”

“Miss. You look really classy and elegant… if that’s your definition of a mess.”

“Good one, d-doc. You l-look great Y/N.”

“Hmph… Thank you for your compliments. I need to get to work as you can see I’m already running late. Doc, he’s all yours. Well, not all but you get what I mean. Jinyoung,“ You checked phone to see if Mark had replied to your morning message and he had, “Mark will be here in 10 minutes. I’ll be back in the afternoon. Anything you want that I can bring-“

“Pause. My b-brain doesn’t register that quick.”

“Mark will be here soon. I’ll be back in the afternoon. That’s all you need to know.” You said much slower.

“Great.”

“Ring me if anything happens. Same goes for you, doctor. Bye~” You rushed out the room smiling and went to the garage of the hospital. Like Mona had said, your car was parked near the exit and you were off to work.

JINYOUNG’S POV

“Great acting, doctor. She absolutely fell for it.”

“I must say Mr Park, your acting skills are much better than I expected. I almost believed your acting too.”

You both chuckled.You knew how much Y/N cared for you, so you took it to your advantage. The strangling and Max situation is all true. Although, those test results? Absolute bullshit. You were actually not that badly damaged. 2 months seemed like a reasonable time for you and Y/N to become close and then finally ask her out properly. You weren’t sure if you could last that long, but you were sure it wasn’t going to take any longer.

“I even thought I had really bad damage done to my throat.”

“Just some minor bruises Mr Park, I can assure you. Your eye will be fine in a one weeks time too. Ready to ask Miss out.”

“Thanks doc.”

“It’s my pleasure Mr Park. I’ll be off for my morning rounds. I’ll be back to check later.” With that the doctor left and you were left waiting for Mark.

Y/N’S POV

You were driving and decided to switch the radio on to catch up with the world. To your surprise, a story familiar to you was being voiced so you turned up the volume. The report was as follows...

“GOT7’s Jinyoung suffered from a vicious attack yesterday in Jinhae’s well-known leisure centre. The suspect allegedly strangled Park Jinyoung until he had passed out. Park Jinyoung has now been hospitalised. We are waiting for further notice from JYP Entertainment about Jinyoung’s current condition. The suspect is now being kept in custody as officers continue with their investigation. It’s been speculated that the attack was triggered by the news published yesterday about GOT7’s Jinyoung and his potential new girlfriend. We’ll be back with more news once we are informed.”

Max.. held in custody? The guy who helped you through such hard times has now ended up in the hands of authority for violence. It was only 2 weeks ago where he would have been the closest guy friend to you and now he’s one of the furthest. How pathetic.

You arrived at the company entrance only to see paparazzi yet again. You wasn’t going to adjust your lifestyle to them; You were going to hold your head high. They all realised the arrival of your car and started to surround it like moths to a light. You waited for your company’s security guards to come near your door and opened it for you whilst creating a safety bubble. It was about a 15 second walk up the stairs and then threw the doors. That’s it.

“Miss, whenever you’re ready.” One of the guards told you. You gave them all a nod and started to walk. The questions came streaming through.

“Was the female at the beach you?”

“What response do you have for all the dating rumours?”

“Is it true that you were handling both Mr Park and the suspect at the same time?”

Dating both at the same time? These people are outrageous. These allegations were much worse than you expected.

“We are halfway there Miss.”

“Are you with Mr Park for his money?”

Money?

“Some fans are blaming you for the situation, what are your thoughts?” (ahgases are not like this but this is for the soul purpose of the series x)

That was the end of the bombarding questions. You guys had made it to the building and the guards let you through to safety whilst they blocked off the paparazzi. You looked back and gave them a thumbs up whilst they put up with the paparazzi. You turned around to see Beck looking at your distress after the swarming of strangers.

“Good morning to you too Beck. Now can you stop with the staring?” You waved your hand in front of his face. He shook his self back to reality.

“Y/N. What is going on?” You realised his stern and agitated face. He was expecting an explanation as he should.

“Damn. Not even a morning greeting. Fine, I’ll explain in my room.”

You guys took the elevator to your office. Beck sat down and was waiting in urgency for your explanation.

“Where do you want me to start?” Which bit was he the most curious about?

“Why did you need to leave from the meeting?”

“Jinyoung, the actor from the news, he was strangled by Max at the leisure centre after the lesson had ended.”

Beck’s face dropped after hearing about what Max had done.

“I was hoping the radio was lying. I guess not.”

He was feeling a sense of disappoint in Max. Beck knew of Max, but you wouldn’t regard them as friends. Beck just assumed people you were friends with had some sort of value. Max was an anomaly, as he described it.

“I wish it wasn’t true too. I didn’t get to see him at the hospital. Apparently he only had some minor scratches and once sorted out he was taken by officers.” You gave a sigh, sick and tired of things not going well.

“Here’s some good news, to make you a little happier,” Your face lit up immediately as soon as you heard the words ‘good news’ come out of Beck’s mouth, “The dinner with Mr Chan went really well. He was a little gutted to not have you there, but I think I did a good job making up for it. He’s a really chill person considering his age and status in the world. He does want to have another dinner but with you this time so make sure to give him a ring when he’s back in the country.”

“I most definitely will. That’s so good to hear. At least something went well yesterday.” As soon as you finished your sentence, you were getting a FaceTime call from your mother.

“I’ll leave you to it. Once you’re done with your call can you come to my office?”

“Will do. This shouldn’t take long anyways; It’s mum.”

Beck left you to have your call and headed to his office across yours. You then accepted the FaceTime call.

“Hi mum! Isn’t it really late there for you to be calling me?” 

There was a large time difference between you and your hometown, so it was weird to be getting a call from her right now.

“Y/N darling, please tell me that the news isn’t true.” You gulped.

Your mum picked up on the silence which meant that it wasn’t a lie.

“Mum, it’s true. Although the news will be taken down soon.” You hoped anyways. You waited for her reaction.

“Since when did my daughter go kissing men in the middle of the night on a beach. Those photographs are atrocious Y/N. Did you forget you have a family back home who faces relatives every day?”

“Mum I’m highly aware but this isn’t a fling. I don’t go kissing guys on a daily basis. His agency is working on taking down the news as soon as possible. Could you be happy that I’ve found a guy that I can trust in? Forget about what others think. Isn’t this what you always wanted? For me to settle with someone that I-“

“Love? If you’re about to say the word love…”

“I think I am mum. He’s exactly what I’ve ever wanted. The only down factor is that I’ve only known him for 2 weeks but I’m not planning on progressing quickly. That kiss solidified so much, it’s not just a kiss for me. It meant so much and I’m 100% sure it meant a lot for him too.”

“Y/N!! You should have said this earlier. My girl has found herself a man. It looks like you’re at work. We’ll talk about this later. About you and my soon-to-be son-in-law, bye!” 

She abruptly ended the call and left you gobsmacked. Wasn’t she slewing you off a second ago and now she’s excited about her potential son-in-law? Sometimes even you couldn’t understand women.

“Welp… I guess time to go to Beck’s office.” You spoke out loud.

JINYOUNG’S POV – HOSPITAL

“Mark hyung… You fell for it as well.” You started laughing your ass off.

“Jinyoung, I swear to god. Once you’re out you better run from me and most likely Y/N. You and doc played us to get Y/N worried sick all for a surprise. Do you know how distraught she was? You’re mean man Park Jinyoung.”

“I know hyung. Please don’t remind me. When she came into the room and broke down I struggled to contained myself. I felt so bad. But I’m going to make it up to her. I also got some time off work.” You smiled and winked at Mark.

“You sneak. You’re lucky you actually mean a lot to me or I would have snitched.” You blew Mark a cheesy kiss just to annoy him a little more.

“Please, nothing cringey. Do you have anything planned?”

“In a months time I want to take her out and ask her the second big question. I’ve been thinking about going out and doing an activity. Do you have any suggestions?” Mark always liked doing activities and sports, so he was the best person to ask.

“I’m sure she would like any water sport. You on the other hand. We can’t risk a drowning so let’s stay away from water. Why don’t you guys go horse riding? Its nearly the end of cherry blossom season but the field just out of town is still full of them. It would be perfect.” This is exactly why you ask Mark for ideas.

“You never disappoint Mark hyung. I’ll give that a go but erm… where do we get the horses?” Mark gave you a grin knowing he had the solution to your problem.

“I have a friend who works on a farm. I’m sure if I beg a little she’ll be up for lending two horses.” You clapped due to Mark’s surprises.

“You’re amazing Mark hyung. Don’t know what I would do without you. I’ll let you know when I’ll need them so you can sort it out. Until then, I want to get to know Y/N more. It has just been the handful of occasions we’ve seen each other so this month I want to know everything about her.”

“She’s not a subject Jinyoung. You won’t be having an end of topic test on her in a months time, chill out.” You both chuckled at Mark’s comment on a typical Jinyoung move.

“I know, I know. You understand what I mean though. There’s so much I want to know about her.”

“Alright love boy. Focus on getting better asap so you can fulfil what you’re planning on.”

“Will do.”

With you revealing to Mark about the real truth behind your recovery, you guys talked about what you had missed at the company plus what happened at the centre. All the legal actions being taken place now with Max and the news about you and Y/N. Your whole day was spent with Mark who had gotten the day off. He also went to get Milo to help with the recovery. Soon later the clock was showing afternoon hours and you were hoping Y/N would walk through the door any second.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON

“She’ll come soon Jinyoung. Now can you give me and Milo the same attention you’ve been giving the door for the past 10 minutes.” You moved your gaze from the door to Mark and registered what he said.

“Sorry, hyung. I just want to see her. Ask her how her day went, what she did today and so on.” Mark was grinning at Jinyoung’s in love state. It was nice for him, seeing his younger member finding someone who he thought completed him.

“She’ll be here soon don’t worry- “ And right at that moment the door opened to reveal Y/N with paperwork and what you guessed was food in a bag.

“Hi Mark. Who’s this?” She gestured at Milo.

“This is Milo. Milo, this is Y/N.” Y/N knelt down and gave Milo loving kisses and a rub on the tummy. Your heart won’t be able to contain any longer the overload of cuteness the two excreted.

“Another male from the club. Have you looked after Jinyoung for me whilst I was gone?” She cooed at Milo as if the puppy could give her a reply. You were sure your heart was about to leap out of place.

“W-what’s in the b-bag?” Mark whipped his head round towards you since you were back to acting badly injured duties. He couldn’t help but let out a helpless smile.

“I figured Mark wouldn’t have had a proper meal yet, so I brought a late lunch/early dinner over. You on the other hand. Bon appetite to your syringe meal.” Mark laughed at Y/N’s comment and you gave her an annoyed gaze hoping she’d get the idea.

“Mean.”

You weren’t going to sulk now. Not when Mark was here.

“Thanks Y/N. I’ll eat here and part to meet with the rest. Won’t you be eating?”

“I haven’t had much the appetite lately but don’t mind me, enjoy the food.” Mark gave you a gaze knowing Y/N’s loss of appetite was mostly likely related to you being in hospital. You felt bad but you were going to make it up to her.

“You bought steak! I love steak. Cough it up, who told you.” She smiled as if she knew he would be happy.

“I have my ways.” She brushed her shoulders.

“I need to learn your ways. Thanks for the food. Bon appetite Jinyoung!” He held up a piece of steak and cheers with the syringe tube that was feeding you.

“Y-you’re actually pathetic Mark hyung.” Y/N let out a laugh and Mark choked on his steak laughing at your comment. Milo had taken his place lying on Y/N’s feet slowly falling asleep. She realised the puppy’s position and gathered him onto her lap so he could fall asleep in a comfier place. You just looked at her in awe at her loving character.

“H-how was your day?” She focussed back on you and gave you a smile.“Busy as usual. Sending out documents to third party teams for the eco hotel. Held a company meeting. Got an invite for an architecture festival award thing that’ll be taking place in 2 weeks times, debating on whether or not I should go.”

“That sounds like really good news. Why wouldn’t you want to go?” Mark questioned.

Y/N let out a self-conscious chuckle and continued, “These awards end up always being a load of guys trying to either have a fling or get my number. It’s a bit disturbing if I’m honest. It has it’s good sides, my shareholder is able to make good connections but when I try to do the same the opposition is more interested in me rather than the work. I tend to just not go.”

“I’ll c-come.” Y/N and Mark looked at your sudden invite to the occasion.

“I’d like to remind you Jinyoung that you won’t be fully recovered until 2 months. This night will be in 2 weeks.”

“Y-Y/N, I’ll be better in 2 weeks. It’s not l-like I’ve b-broken my l-legs. I could still attend.”

“And why would you want to attend?” Mark was grinning at the situation since you were making it extremely obvious that you were jealous.

“Because…” She’s got you on the spot again. She’s good at this.

“Because?” She repeated waiting for you to continue.

She interrupted the silence, “It seems to me you’re jealous. Don’t you think Mark?” She directed to Mark hoping he would agree with her.Mark made only one comment which led her to smile widely.

“You’re making it obvious Park.” He ate another bite of his steak whilst grinning at his self. Mostly because he just sold you out in a second.

“Waaa, Mark hyung. Thanks f-for selling m-me out.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s say this… If you are definitely well enough in 2 weeks time. Then sure, you can accompany me at the awards. If doc says it’s fine too.”

“T-This is going to b-be fun. An architecture a-awards festival. Will y-you be getting an a-award?” You were curious about how things worked in her field.

“I don’t want to sound vain, but I think our company will be receiving an award. Don’t know about the individual architect awards though. We’ll find out that night.” You couldn’t wait. To get to see other people’s achievements, especially someone’s who you care about so much.

“C-can’t wait.”

“I can’t stand the flirting. Me and Milo are leaving. I’ll continue with the steak later this afternoon. Thank you for the food again Y/N.” Mark waved you both goodbye and left the room whilst you guys laughed at his childish behaviour.

“He can b-be a k-kid sometimes.” Y/N nodded.

“How was today? Did you hold up well?”

You gave her a nod and an okay sign.

“Good, good. I brought over some of my work to do here. I hope that’s fine by you. I might zone out so beware.” She smiled as you waved her okay.

She gathered all the paperwork and her laptop. She took off her heals and slipped on the slippers the hospital had given her and headed into the bathroom to clean up. Soon or later, she came out of the bathroom with her hair held up in a bun with a pen and no makeup on. You were happy that she felt comfortable to show this side of herself to you.

“What will y-you be working on?” She propped back on the bed with her legs crossed and her laptop on her lap.

“I need to get back to some emails. Then send some blueprints to our construction team for the hotel. Send an apology email to the client for the hotel too. Start coming up with ideas for a fruit orchard-“

“Damn. You’re b-busy.” She nodded as her eyes were fixed on her laptop screen.

“Don’t you think y-you should take a b-break, having c-come from w-work.” She lifted her head from her screen and looked at you.

“This is the life of an architect Jinyoung. We are busy from day 1. I had my little break last week. Back to action.”

You gathered that it was going to be hard to get Y/N’s attention when she worked. You were thinking of ways you could get her off her laptop and a sneaky idea came up to mind.

“But I don’t f-feel too well.” She immediately retracted her eyes from her laptop to you and left her laptop to aside.

“Shall I call doc? Or a nurse?” She was close to hitting the notifying buzzer, but you got a hold of her wrist before she could. You stared into her eyes, wishing it would last forever. You also noticed the shift in colour of her cheeks.

“What can I do to help?” You pulled her closer to you, so she was now sitting on your bed with her face above yours.

“This.” You closed the gap between the two of you. You didn’t even know where you had gained this sort of confidence from, but you weren’t complaining.  Your lips moulded with hers moving at a slowly pace, enjoying every second of the kiss. Your hand reached behind her neck pulling her closer in order to deepen the kiss. It had been so long since you wanted to do this. You also thought it would be the best way to get her to stop working for a bit. She reciprocated with the same amount of passion and emotion. You could sense how much she also wanted this. You would wanna do more, but your current state and the location was exactly appropriate.You guys parted from each other, both breathless from the passionate kiss.

“You are an absolute dick, Park. How do you think I’ll manage to do my work, now that you have me all…” Her words drifted into a silence and she bit her lip restraining herself from continuing. If she continued on like this, you wouldn’t be able to hold yourself from going in for round 2.

“All what Miss?” You gave her a pair of innocent eyes knowing she was about to say hot and bothered but you wanted to push her to say it.

“You know what I mean?” She tried to loosen her hand out of your grip, but you weren’t going to let her go that easy.

“All what Y/N?” You gave her a stern look almost demanding her to say it. You liked this affect you had on her, let’s see what she was going to do about it.

“You’re a bit overly confident for a man handicapped to a hospital bed, don’t you think?” She fluttered her eyelashes at you and eyed your face. She built up her defences and wasn’t planning on giving in easily to your game either. Competition, ay?

“Imagine how I might be out of this hospital bed then.” Your eyes dropped to her lips for a millisecond only to look back up to make eye contact with her beautiful eyes again. She wasn’t going to continue was she? Surely, you’ve got her on the spot.

“A bit hard to imagine. Gonna have to wait for you to just show me.” She really is something else, you thought to yourself.

---

I’m not teasing this episode. It got a little saucy near the end, I hope you guys liked it! I have so many plans for future episodes, but they are further along after all of what is done. I love the cocky attitude’s both characters are displaying towards each other although I don’t know if I can get into naughty writings, so I apologise. I feel like Mark is a really good big brother figure, so we’ll see a lot of him too. Also, Jinyoung is lying to Y/N but she has no clue. I probably gave some people heart attacks making you guys think Jinyoung won’t be able to sing again EVER. 

I’ll be back soon with another episode! 

writer-nim x

[mylifeiskara]

I made this thread on Twitter kind of comparing how The Mindy Project and The 100 seem to be handling their cast shake-ups, which might seem rather silly of me because they are different genres, but I’ve been rewatching The Mindy Project recently, and I remember how upset the writing and stuff made me while I was watching TMP, even though I knew that it was because Chris Messina had asked to be on the show less to pursue other projects. He was in like a million movies in 2016! But as I go back and rewatch, I’m realizing they actually handled it very well, and I thought I’d elaborate a little more on my thread where there is no character limit. So spoilers for TMP and what we’ve seen of season 7 of The 100 probably.

Tl;dr: I still think Bellarke is happening, and I don’t think what we’re seeing on screen would be that much different, even if Bob hadn’t asked for time off.

So season 3 of The Mindy Project ends with Mindy and Danny (played by Chris Messina) together and expecting a baby, though Danny has said he’s not sure he wants to get married again. He even travels all the way to India to visit Mindy’s parents and explain to them that he is in love with Mindy, but isn’t sure he wants to marry her. This is where the first episode of season 4 picks up, and at the end of this episode, after Danny talks to Mindy’s parents and comes to the realization that he wants to work past his hang-ups on marriage, he proposes to Mindy.

Now somewhere in between season 3 and the writing of season 4 Chris Messina asked to be on the show less because he was interested in pursuing other projects. So the writers had to navigate how to tell a story where Mindy’s fiance and the father of her child was not on the show as much. They first did this by setting up the conflict of Mindy realizing that she does not actually want to be a stay-at-home mom, like she initially agreed. She wants to still be a doctor and continue to grow her fertility practice. She has a hard time telling this to Danny, because since his mother was a single mom and always working, he felt alone during childhood, and he doesn’t want his kid to feel alone or unloved, though Mindy argues that just because they both work doesn’t mean that Leo will feel unloved. This argument and conflict gets put on pause when Danny’s father has a heart attack, and he goes to California to take care of him. While he’s gone, Mindy goes back to work and realizes for sure that she doesn’t want to stop working. When Danny returns this conflict continues, because Danny wants another kid soon, and Mindy realizes she’s not sure she wants another kid, because she’s committed to growing her fertility practice, especially now that her new business partner Jody is involved. They can’t work past this, and end up breaking up, which is told through an extremely well done montage if you’d like to watch season 4 ep. 14.

The next two seasons show Mindy as she handles being a working single mom, co-parenting with her ex, and even some of her dating adventures. She even ends up marrying someone else for a while, and Danny gets engaged again. So even though Chris Messina is no longer a series regular, he is very much still part of the story. Season 6 shows how Mindy and Danny grow back together in a way, as they realize that they’ve both grown and that they still love each other and want to work through their issues and be with each other again.

I then think about what TMP would have looked like had Chris Messina not asked to be on the show less, and I honestly think it makes sense for them to still have done something similar. Danny was always Mindy’s main love interest, and seasons 1 and 2 saw Mindy through many boyfriends, Danny and Mindy’s “will they, won’t they”, and their eventual decision to be together. Season 3 was them being together, and also navigating long distance for a period of time as Mindy went to do a fellowship at Stanford. Yeah, this is a rom-com, but I think it would have been pretty boring for seasons 4-6 to only be about the “happily ever after.” Even if Chris hadn’t asked for time off, I think conflicts still would have arisen between Mindy and Danny, because they are very different as people and they both had some growing to do, even if they do have to stay on somewhat decent terms because of their son. The whole point is that they never stopped loving each other through all of this.

So what, might you ask, does this have to do with The 100? Well I’m assuming a similar sit-down happened between season 6 and the writing of season 7 where Bob asked to take some time off. Obviously the situation is different, but Bob and Chris are both the second leads, so it’s definitely something the writers have to sit and think about in terms of how they’re going to handle it.

If your second lead asks to take time off in the last season of the show, it makes sense to write him missing for most of the beginning half of the season. So that when things wrap up at the end, Bellamy will be there as the story comes to a close. Now that we’ve seen six episodes, I’m assuming that we’re about to start wrapping up some of the side stories so that when Bellamy is back for real, the focus will then turn back to Bellamy and Clarke. People have been saying that Bellamy is the key and Clarke is the key to whatever this story unfolding is. Their stories are connected, and you can’t fully tell one without the other. I think it’s safe to say that later on we’ll see them reunited and learn more about what this means. But for now, we’re focusing on other characters, and I’m okay with that.

Since the story is coming to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about the overarching journey. We’ve seen Bellamy and Clarke go from adversaries to reluctant leaders, to best friends, and I’d still say we are most definitely on track for a Bellarke ending. I’m one of those people that actually loves when Bellamy and Clarke are separated, because I find their reunions to be incredibly meaningful. And I think the reunion that we’re being set up for is going to be great, though I don’t have much of an idea on how it’s going to happen. I’m just waiting to watch all the pieces fall into place.

I know a lot of us talk about what would have happened if Clarke made it up to the Ring in season 4 because it was pretty obvious there was such unspoken tension and love between the two of them, but honestly? I don’t think there would have been much reason to continue the show. They would have gotten together on the Ring, and then what? It’s always been about Clarke and Bellamy, and them being together leaves little story to tell, if we think about it. The whole conflict of season 5 was that they had spent so much time apart that Bellamy had to start thinking with his head (per Clarke’s advice) and they had grown without each other, so they had to take the time to recognize that and be on the same page again. Season 6, they are on the same page, but then Clarke “dies” and Bellamy’s entire story becomes how to get her back. And now in season 7 though it’s not just Bellamy missing, Clarke seems very focused on getting back Bellamy in particular. Sure there’s a lot going on at the same time, but Clarke’s main focus currently is getting back to Bellamy, especially after Bellamy did so much to save her last season (which was like a mere few days ago Sanctum time).

Had Bob not asked to take time off, I think the story would still play out similarly. Maybe we’d see Bellamy a bit more, the way that we saw Danny every now and again in season 4 of TMP and through voiceover text messages to Mindy. But I think this was always going to be what the story looked like. We also have to remember that storytelling on TV and storytelling in other forms are fairly different, since you can’t necessarily have a bunch of long scenes where people just sit and talk about their feelings. That’s boring to watch. I think that’s why we got that Princess Mechanic scene in 7x06 when Raven and Clarke were stuck in the body of that organism and Raven broke down, or the scene in 6x11 where Octavia and Bellamy had a heart-to-heart. Neither of those scenes were very long, but the characters were working towards another goal while also talking through some issues that they were having. There’s different time constraints and factors to consider when writing a scene for TV that you could handle differently in a novel or a fanfic.

None of this is to say that I’ve never taken issue with how the story is told, because that’s not true. I just think that the overarching narrative is about reuniting Bellamy and Clarke, similar to how The Mindy Project’s overarching narrative is about Danny and Mindy growing so that they can be together again. Unlike when I watched season 4 of The Mindy Project, I’m taking the time to watch how the story plays out here, because I spent a lot of time back in 2016 being needlessly angry over something that in retrospect was actually fairly well done given the circumstances. I’m watching what’s presented to me on screen, because that is the story that we’re working with. And I’ll see how I feel about the whole thing once it’s all over. I’m hoping I’ll be satisfied with the ending, but if not, there’s a whole lot of very talented content creators who I know are already geared up to write some fix-it fanfics.

[jcmorrigan]

NINE FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS IN POSTERS

Got tagged by @gavillain​ again for favorite shows in posters, and this one, the challenge was narrowing them down. I can’t even name HMs because there are too fucking many but anyway, here’s a rundown

1. I think RWBY is my biggest consistent favorite. It grabbed my attention right away upon debut and is only growing stronger and stronger. Listen, if I don’t just throw a bitch tantrum and stop liking something the moment it kills off my favorite villain, you KNOW it’s good stuff, and my boi was dead five volumes ago. Anyway, if you’ll pardon me, I have to go sob in the corner over Qrow and Clover for another thirty minutes, THEY DESERVED SO MUCH BETTERRRRRRR

2. Big Hero 6 is the only other long-running current show that I can really say I’ve committed to whole hog. It’s EXACTLY my brand, which is weird in this day and age. It seems like as things shuffle the idea of “villain of the week” to the back, this is the one series that’s just like “No, let’s give our plucky heroes development by pitting them against a rotating deck of familiar foes.” But really, I can’t just say this without explaining that it feels like a revival of...

3. The more I go on, the more I realize that even if I don’t talk about it, Kim Possible changed me as a human being. My early relationship with villains was...weird. Too long of a story for here. But KP offered me a constant plate of fun baddies I could enjoy without strings. You can tell by now I’m also one for wacky comedy and bold young heroes learning about themselves as they save the world, and those can both be traced right back here.

4. The Huntsman put his blade to my throat and demanded I include American Dragon: Jake Long here. But no, as a young mythology buff, I was captivated by this show’s wide catalog of multicultural magical creatures and creative ways to implement fantasy elements and high stakes into yet another high school coming-of-age comedy.

5. Okay I’m CHEATING because Epithet Erased isn’t technically a show-show but I wanted to include it. Despite certain DRAMA I’VE HAD in this fandom (only ask if you REALLY want to know), I keep coming back to this cast and wanting to declare them all my children. Let Giovanni adopt Molly 2k21. Let Mera have a prison break 2k21. Let me marry Giovanni 2krightfuckingnow. Also this is the kind of off-the-wall humor that I can’t even deal with (”Please, call me Indus. Mr. Barrier is my Epithet!”).

6. BUT IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIPS - My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic took a huge dive after S4, and as for the fanbase...uh...we’ll just...we’ll just leave that one alone because it’s way too much to unpack. But even if I did go through several years’ worth of feeling sour on Discord because of That Redemption Arc, he still remains one of my ultimate favorite villains. The girls are a road map for how I want my perfect hero team. And the entire setting is just filled with so much magic and color.

7. Storm Hawks might be one of the fastest binges I’ve ever done in my life because I had to have more. This turned out to be a mistake because the ep “Payback” was extremely triggering and never fucking got followed up on and I just blazed through without processing, but I’ve since made my peace with it. It’s got more unconventional fantasy/sci-fi worldbuilding, and though every stock trope you can imagine is here, that’s what makes it a good comfort series. Sometimes you don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just need to see the bumbling comedic egomaniac learn humility in a series of madcap shenanigans with pirates. Also: STORK, MY DUDES

8. Mozenrath. Mozenrath, Mozenrath. Mozenrath Mozenrath Mozenrath; Mozenrath. Ayam Aghoul.

9. I intentionally put Gotham last because I wanted you all to read through eight posters of brightly-colored animated series and then crash into it. But the thing is, and I wanna do a longer meta post on this someday, even though Gotham has a noir aesthetic and heavy subject matter, it’s a series for adults that doesn’t forget what we loved about superhero shows as kids. Flamboyant villains of the week, heroes who really try their best, a dash of zany character-driven humor, relationships filled with heart, epic villain team-ups, over-the-top climaxes. Even though this series had its weak points, such as the Galavan arc and all the stuff surrounding Ra’s (though that latter one is more of a matter of opinion), I feel like it ended so strong that it stands out almost as a perfect series to me. In a world where our favorite long-running series just seem to refuse to resolve in a satisfying manner, THIS IS THE ONE that ties up all the plots in the end - the will-they-or-won’t-they straight couple ties the knot, the gay villains go as gay as they can possibly be under contract and FINALLY make peace with each other, the character I thought was absolutely the weakest in S1 managed to loop from sucky hero to badass villain to sassy antihero, you get ONE OF *THOSE* ENDINGS WHERE THE MAIN HEROES AND MAIN VILLAINS TEAM UP TO HOLD THE LINE AGAINST A BIGGER THREAT, I just - I’m not over it and I won’t be. Though the fact that not a single S4 poster I found had the entire J-Squad on it? BOO, YOU WHORES

Tagging no one. Do if you want

[helihi]

The Good, The Bad, and the Dirty: RWBY Vol 7 Ep 4

Thank you for renewing your Punch Jacques Club Membership, I cannot confirm or deny that you’ll accomplish your goal this season, but we’re family.

Overall rating of the chapter: 7.5/10 

*Spoilers Ahead*

The Good

To start off this chapter, we learn more about the true dynamics of the Ace Ops and, more importantly, about Atlas Academy. At Beacon, teams are chosen by interactions and collaborative efforts during a recorded test. Ozpin chose teams based on trust, leadership skills, and bonds. In Atlas, teams are chosen based on effectiveness. The students are not viewed as people or individuals, they are viewed as numbers.

In the previous episodes, there were a couple of things that didn’t quite sit well with me: Harriet’s original comment to Ruby regarding her Semblance felt more mean than playful, and the fact that Marrow was everyone’s punching bag. At first, you might think that this is just playful banter between friends, like Yang and Ruby referring to Jaune as Vomit Boy from time to time, however, that’s not true. Since Harriet declares that they are not friends, you may realize that they are not “picking on Marrow”, they are actively bullying him. There’s no complements thrown his way, there are no mutual laughter or apologies, it’s just drag after drag after drag.

I have the slight feeling that Marrow might consider them his friends, and that’s why he’s letting the comments slide. We should also consider that he is the only Faunus in the team, and although I believe their comments don’t come from a source of casual racism, but rather at pointing out the fact that he’s the most childish of them all, we should pin that for now.

I get Harriet, there’s a difference between co-workers and friends. Though some times you may befriend your co-workers, playful banter and after office outings don’t translate to friendship. I say this as someone who has worked for a big company. There were coworkers I genuinely befriended, and other who I was friendly after office hours, but never hung out with outside work parties or outings.

That being said, I find it hard that you wouldn’t bond with those whose life you’ve saved before, the same who’ve saved yours. Interestingly, when Yang inquires about this and gets dismissed by Harriet, you can see the way Blake reacts in the background. Have we bonded over trauma? Is that all that this is?

Let me be clear: people can bond over trauma, but at the same time, going through a lot of things with a person can show you sides of them you never noticed before, you see them in a different light. That being said, Team RWBY’s enemies haven’t been random people: Cinder killed Pyrrha, their friend; Emerald was someone they trusted; Mercury framed Yang in front of Remnant; Adam was Blake’s abusive ex and his goal to destroy Blake and Yang was personal. During the arcs these characters have gone through, they have grown as people as they faced death, obviously they are going to bond.

This may have been pure coincidence, but it’s interesting that an anti-bee section of the FNDM posed the idea that Yang and Blake’s relationship is based on mutual trauma. This claim is ridiculous because both of them cared about each other before the Fall of Beacon. The traumatic event made their relationship take a turn, and realize some things that they didn’t notice before or made things clearer for them. (On a side note, Asami realized she had feelings for Korra when she thought the avatar was going to die at the end of book 3). Sometimes certain situations change your perspective about things and people.

I want to note that Nora’s comedic relief landed perfectly, and Jaune’s sass was on point. Once again James is presented as someone trouble seeking the best outcome through the wrong means. That being said, Tyrian and Watts plan seem to be to overthrow him and generate chaos through political manipulation, and as someone who comes from a country with high levels of corruptions and suspicious murders, this is true real. Also, don’t think James is a good poor guy trying to be his best. He’s actively choosing one portion of the kingdom over the other and dooming certain populations.

Next stop is Jacques “Scumbag” Schnee making his first appearance in the volume. TBH it was about time. Given how the opening frames him, he had to show up soon. Just like I expected the moment he started bickering with Ironwood, he turned around and will now help Watts. At first, Jacques might have had power over Ironwood, but now he doesn’t, at least until he get his seat at “The Council”, which I’m expecting him to win.

As someone with an abusive parent, Jacques’s mannerisms make sense. The shift from his violent approach to a more manipulative one are common abusive tactics of an abusive person when in public or when their victim stands up to them. My parent used to be more physically abusive when I was a child, but when I grew taller and stronger, they switched to a psychological one since I could defend myself. In this case, Jacques was super close to striking Weiss again, but stopped the moment one of her true dads stepped in (Ironwood).

Jacques using Willow to guilt trip Weiss was dirty and awful, and once again adds on to my theory that she might be the Winter maiden. Thankfully, like Ruby promised, Team RBY is right beside her.

Blake is ready to kill him, and Yang is processing how awful the man is. Ruby is utterly confused at his attitude. Following this, we find that Winter was siting for him to leave before showing up. She looks around to confirm that he’s no longer there, and Weiss points out “Winter, it’s nice for you to finally show up”. Just like I've talked about before, while Weiss got out of the abusive environment and found a real family (Team RWBY), Winter escaped Jacques by joining the military. James Ironwood is only missing one Schnee child to adopt, and we’ll get to that soon enough.

All our kids are now huntsmen! Congrats! Just like they say, the licenses feel hollow after all they’ve been through, and TBH I agree. It also shows progress for the characters, specially Yang who had the most superficial goal out of the 4 Team RWBY members. Regardless of that, it’s nice to see the goof around, take pics, and eat cake. Something I thought it was adorable is how Winter interacts with Penny: she’s so caring and nice. I love them.

We got a really good moment between Ruby and Qrow, and some background on Summer. The DC comics have helped us understand Summer a little bit ore, but this confirms that she was a brat (hell ye). Apparently, her last mission was a “Summer mission”. I really need those Team STRQ flashbacks. I bet Raven know more than we think.

I also think it’s important that Qrow pointed out how Ruby is not Oz since she doesn’t keep the secret to herself. I think certain conditions should be met to be open about Salems existence, especially considering current circumstances.

Jaune offering to protect little children is the most Jaune thing ever, never change boy.

Lastly, Watts finds an ally: the douchbag who married into the Schnee name. That small interaction with Whitley and Jacques might be a small sign of foreshadowing him having a reception arc. His father doesn’t trust him to invite his heir into the meeting, and he treats his son rudely. Whitley looks genuinely dejected.

Watts faked his death, that might be an indication why Ironwood doesn’t have a clear suspect yet. Now, he’s part of the Asshole Mustache club.

Anyways, next episode it looks like we’re going to meet Robyn. The sheep faunus and the tattooed guy next to her might have been part of her team.

The Bad

Those quick animations for cheap comedic effect have started getting kinda annoying. I wish they didn’t overuse them ass much.

The Dirty

Where’s Klein.

--

Final Rating: 7.5/10. Good, but not above expectations.

A.N.: Alost 18 mins, keeping up with the consistent episode length, congrats!

[macbethvsromeo]

spoilers!!!!

safe to say that seeing Chat Blanc was the equivalent of smacking the back of my head against the ground (that of which happened earlier today LMAO)

so now that I’m back from the tourneyyyy, i have

thoughts and QUESTIONS

1) did the Hawkmoth reveal happen at that moment or did they know earlier on? bc they crash into his Dead Emilie Room and it’s under Gabe’s house soooo

2) I wonder how long it was between Adrien’s identity reveal (also it happening at his house and not at the school shook me) and the battling Hawkmoth. Coz if Gabriel knew his son was Chat Noir (because FUCK you Nathalie, you’re a 🤡🤡🤡) then why didn’t he try to take his ring before they found him? Or did his dumbass decide he finally had the balls to take them on, despite all previous battles?

3) rip the ‘Nathalie’s like a second mom’ hc coz this bitch doesn’t gaf about Adrien eitherrrrrr

I mean Adrien can still see her as one maybe but ig in Nathalie’s mind it’s Gabe, the terrorist >>> Adrien, the child being currently neglected and emotionally abused

4) okay but Adrien’s bOdyguard??? MVP, the only one I think actually gives af about Adrien and his emotions

it’ll actually break my heart if it turns out he knows too ;-;

5) yo where was Mayura during that fight? did she finally knock out lmao

6) Im gonna wait for the English dub to give my full thoughts on the Adrien Finds Out Marinette = LB and Loves Her sequence. I have initial thoughts but I also don’t speak French (yET) so we’ll come back to this next week

7) can someone tell me why Marinette’s hair was down? Like is it metaphorical? Telling Adrien freed her in some way? idk man

I don’t really like her long hair IM SORRY I DONT SHE LOOKS WEIRD KINDA

8) Chat Blanc trying hard to fight back against Hawkmoth’s control >>>>>>>

honestly i think he was borderline insane coz even as an akuma he still remembered killing his dad and LB

and whoever made that observation in the trailer about how “he [Chat] is circling her like he hasn’t seen her for a long time” was right lmao coz she died

9) Gabe tries sooooo hard to akumatize Marinette and he fails every time, take this L and sit in the corner

10) this is last one but it’s the best one and it’s that yAY ADRIEN HAS BRAIN CELLS

the way he connected the dots and said Mari = LB??? kwamibuster energy

also this ep is after Kwamibuster yeah? wonder if he made a comment about that

ANYWAYS

thanks for reading this dump post, I’ll be laying in bed hoping I don’t have a concussion and playing Mario Kart, seeeee ya later