#It's funny and charming and heartbreakingly sad sometimes

[shima-draws]

WAIT YOURE A MOTHER 3 FAN TOO????? BEST BLOGGER ON THIS WEBSITE FR FR

NJDASNJKDAS YEAH YEAH for the few people who have known me long enough to know my Origin Story. I actually joined tumblr ten years ago as a Mom 3 ask blog :") It literally was the Start of my online presence here and I hold it so near and dear to my heart 🥰

[whoiskt]

Today on Things Nobody Asked For: My review of every anime I’ve seen/am currently watching.

First, I want to split this list into three parts. Before I met Will, after, and ones I never finished. Just because I think it’s funny. Since I’ve started doing Cosplay Photography, however, it’s something I personally choose to get into.

Quick explanation of my ranking system: 

S-tier: Excellent, would recommend

A-tier: Great, would generally recommend if you have similar tastes

B-tier: Good, maybe recommend

C-tier: Meh, it exists if you’re into that

D-tier: Bad, wouldn’t recommend

F-tier: Horrible, I actively recommend you DON’T watch this

PRE-WILL ERA: (not in order)

1. Death Note

I saw Death Note around the internet a lot back (deviantart, youtube, talking about it on IM) in the early 10′s and was interested in the premise. It was readily available on the brand new streaming platform, Netflix. This all makes me feel very old.

I’m sure you’re aware of the plot.

Death Note, is, without a doubt, An Anime. They spend a lot of time just talking about doing stuff. It doesn’t sound appealing it’s ridiculousness in this aspect is one of the things that make the show so great.

A show where there’s someone hiding a major secret and you’re just waiting for them to get caught or pull it off are some of my favorites. Death Note is a classic. Everyone knows this.

S-tier

2. Supernatural: The Animation

No one fully understands why this exists or who asked for it. It’s extremely cursed. It generally follows the plot of Season 1/2, with a lot cut out or reworked for a japanese audience. 

I do like the art style but the animation is what you would expect for a 2011 anime series made to get Japan to watch The CW’s Supernatural. It’s been many years since I watched but I remember a lot of the changes weren’t really improvements by any means.

However, I am happy exists if only for the Abridged series it has on youtube.

D-tier

3. Princess Jellyfish

This one came to me recommended by tumblr. I don’t remember why tumblr recommended it but I’m guessing it was for the drag character.

If I remember currently, the drag character (I don’t remember anyone’s name) is trying to teach a group of pathetic girls how to be stylish and cool.

I have mercifully started to forget the details of this show over the years. What I remember is the drag character is just some rich boy whose entire motivation for dressing in drag is to piss off his rich parents. I was disappointed by this and the character as a whole. In fact, I found the entire cast kind of irritating. Except for the Kill Bill girl, who was the best part of the whole show.

No, the best part was it was only 1 season and it was short. So, I was able to finish it despite hating most of my time watching it.

F-tier

4. Angel Beats

This was another recommendation from tumblr. I think there was a compilation of funny moments on the show that got me good so I decided to watch for myself.

There’s many mysteries abound in Angel Beats and I think it’s best experienced going in with little information about it. Basically, there’s a group of students who are fighting for their existence in limbo/purgatory against a character named Angel.

It’s hilarious and it’s heartbreakingly sad. It’s still one of the best animes I have ever seen despite being one of the first.

S-tier

5. Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt

I believe this was a tumblr recommendation but certainly came from somewhere on the internet. Sometimes compared to South Park, P&S is a very raunchy comedy/action/supernatural show. I do not like South Park. I do enjoy P&S. The show follows two angels who were kicked out of Heaven for bad behavior and must defeat evil ghosts to earn their way back up to Heaven. Panty has her own side-quest of sleeping with 1000 men. Shenanigans ensue.

I usually don’t like very raunchy/sexual shows but this show just has some sort of charm to it. It’s funny and weird and surprisingly heartfelt at times. The fights always end with a live-action puppet being blown-up. It’s a show that really takes risks along with the risque. 

Watch it and if it seems to be your sense of humor then you’re sure to enjoy it. Otherwise it’s just going to be a weird and comfortable journey for you, haha.

A-tier

WILL ERA

1. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Jojo was on my to-watch list for many years. A lot of con buddies I had became Jojo fans, and my favorite youtubers frequently made references to it. However, convincing myself to watch anime was always a difficult task, and ESPECIALLY for a series I knew that was as long as Jojo.

On our second date, Will made a reference to stands that I was able to catch, and I stated I would be willing to watch the show. So, it began.

Each part of Jojo is a unique story, with connection being all the main characters from each part are related in some way, and each one is “Jojo” is some way. Theoretically, each part could be watched as it’s own story and being completely understandable. And each is different enough that they really deserve their own rankings. I don’t want to do that here though. Rest assured, some parts are great, some are ok, and some kinda suck. 

A-tier

2. Attack on Titan

AoT was a show I originally began Pre-Will and made it about half-way through the first season before I became busy and wasn’t able to watch it anymore. Along with the fact it went on a long hiatus and no one was really talking about it anymore, I never got back into it. Until season 3 starting airing and Will recommended I “get caught up.”

This show is another one filled with mystery which can be REALLY difficult to keep yourself from googling spoilers. Basically, some kids join the military to defeat Titans, who terrorize them and keep them living inside their walled up community. 

To me, it’s the mysteries and the slow reveal of answers--that really just give you more questions-- that make this show so good. Although it has some flaws and missteps, it is one of the best examples of good story-telling I have ever seen. Attack on Titan is not just a good for an anime, it’s good media.

S-tier

3. Death Parade

I had never even heard of this before Will but he has excellent taste and this proves it.

At it’s base, Death Parade brings the newly dead to play a game (darts, bowling, etc) that determines where they’ll spend the rest of their afterlife. There’s more going on but if it was only this I would still be super intrigued and want to see a hundred more episodes.

Sadly, it is only one season, but it’s perfect as is. I cried a few dignified tears watching. I would recommend this to anyone.

S-tier

4. Dorohedoro

This one was recommended to me by @oubliette-od​ and I put it on in the background while I was working on some projects. I was quickly drawn in and ending up finishing it in record time. (I don’t usually binge watch shows.)

Dorohedoro is completely 3D animation, which isn’t my usual style but 3D animes have come a long way and I think this is a very fitting animation style for the series. It follows Caiman, an amnesiac, who is trying to find the sorcerer who turned his head into a lizard.

This show is gritty, blood, gross, action-packed, but also funny and self-aware. It sets up and interesting universe and all the characters are very compelling that it’s become an instant fave of mine. I love their wacky hijinks. 

A-tier

5. Hunter x Hunter

HxH is not a show I started watching because I found the premise particularly interesting, or because anyone really recommended it to me. I started watching this one simply because it was one of Will’s top 5 shows and I love him

This is one of those classic shows that everyone rates highly. I see it’s charm and definitely think it improves greatly with each arc, but I can’t help but feel it is a tad overhyped.

The premise is a boy, Gon, wants to find his father by becoming a hunter. A ”hunter” can be anything really but the license for it is incredibly hard to obtain. People die during the test for it. He makes friends and does stuff to try and find his deadbeat dad.

When I finished it, I was sad to know there wasn’t more because it wasn’t really complete and likely never will be. The characters are charming, the power system is a little too complex, and the fights are sometimes interesting. It’s really An Anime though, which can have it’s draw backs in over-explaining and still frames. At times! It gets better.

B-tier

6. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

This was one of the first animes Will recommended me. I had my doubts because, first, I am not really a fan of the magical girl genre, second, the cutesy art style was off-putting, and finally, I knew it had a dark twist and was worried it would be edgy.

Although the art style did take some getting used to, Madoka ended up being an excellent subversion of the magical girl genre without becoming 2 edgy 4 me. 

It follows a young girl who is deciding whether to make the contract to become a magical girl and fight witches for the rest of her life in exchange for a wish.

Now, something everyone failed to mention about this show which I love SO MUCH is the experimental-esque animation. It is a welcome difference from other anime and it is so beautiful.

This anime took me so much by surprise and it’s message is amazing. It really left me thinking about it for days and weeks after. One of my favorites.

A-tier (I’d rate it S-tier but I think it can be a little niche in taste)

7. Demon Slayer

I started watching Demon Slayer almost exactly a year ago because I had plans to see the movie. I only had about to week to watch it all so it was more of a task than enjoyment when I binged it. My friends were really into it which helped me get into it myself.

The show follows Tanjiro, after his sister is transformed into a demon, he fights to keep her safe and trains to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps to find the demon who killed his family.

What this show does best is character design. The characters all sport some of the most iconic outfits and hair you’ve ever seen. It’s a big title so it frequently gets beautiful and complex animation. Great fights.

In many other qualities, it is pretty average for what you would expect. Zenitsu is so annoying he drags the whole show down.

B-tier

8.  Neon Genesis Evangelion

Now here’s a show I watched solely because Will had never seen it. It’s everywhere and everyone knows about it because it’s another classic! So ha! Will! I’ve seen an anime you haven’t!!

This show is about children who have to get in mechs and fight off “angels” who are destroying stuff. It has very interesting lore and many biblical references (that don’t really make sense all the time). It also has a lot of movies and other shows tied to it that I can’t even remotely figure out what I’m supposed to watch or not. They really milked this property for all it’s got, and then some.

I’m not generally a fan of mech anime or mech anything. However, the show is more philosophical rather than action-based. The show ended so horribly (no budget) so they made a movie that made that fixed that. Overall, it’s DEFINITELY an over-hyped show, but it has it’s moments that make it deserving of being called a classic.

B-tier

9. Assassination Classroom

This one I impulsively started because I had heard about it a few times and I just wanted to know what it was even about.

Well, it’s about a weird squid-like yellow guy threatening to destroy earth, and has made an agreement with the government to teach a jr high class while they all try to assassinate him. I guess it is politically motivated to be considered an assassination, technically...

The show fails to stand out to me, yet I still find it entertaining. Animation? Average. Characters? There’s a lot of them and they’re mostly okay with juggling all their stories for such a large cast. Plot? It’s a little weird, as you might guess. Humor? Meh. Hitting emotional beats? For the most part, yes.

It’s enjoyable but not much more than that.

C-tier

10. Mob Psycho 100

Mob Psycho was one of Will’s favorites, so naturally I had to watch it. He knew I would love it.

It follows a middle school boy, Shigeo/“Mob”, with psychic powers, as he is mentored by the fake psychic, Reigen. 

This show has everything! Great characters! Compelling plot! Great humor! Character development! Hard-hitting emotional scenes! Great lessons! Amazing animation!

And openings that are freaking bops! 

S-tier

11. Komi Can’t Communicate

I started this one because I saw it on Netflix and was interested in a show about social anxiety, since I have pretty severe social anxiety myself.

Komi, well, she can’t communicate. It’s a slice-of-life humorous anime that follows her in her journey to make 100 friends.

The show has it’s charm. Komi and Tadano are cute. They have crushes on each other and that’s very endearing. Some of the friends Komi makes are.... not great. For example, one of them is a lesbian who is obsessed and commits creepy crimes to get to Komi. It’s bad representation of lesbians and I’m not a fan. In general, the whole class considers Komi a god, which would be flattering to see such a socially anxious character be so well-regarded! Except it’s just weird and creepy.

C-tier

12. Erased

As a fan of Death Note, I checked out this anime by the same director with Will.

Erased is about a manga-writer who is transported back in time for a second-chance to make a difference in elementary to ultimately prevent the murder of his mother.

All and all, Death Note feels like a more complete story although they both have their flaws. I felt like the ending has less of a climax to it in this which brings it below Death Note, but I don’t want to get too caught up in comparisons. They’re both intriguing in their own ways.

B-tier

13. Doctor Stone

Dr. Stone is an anime me and Will impulsively started together after it’s first episode came out.

Like Attack on Titan, it has a very interesting premise with questions you want answered. Dr Stone is about all the humans in the world being turned into stone by a strange light, until thousands of years later Senku is miraculously released from the stone and begins a new era.

I don’t think it reveals information in as interesting bits as AoT does however, Dr Stone is a science-first show also focused on fun around it. The animation doesn’t always keep up but the characters are all enjoyable and the plot is entertaining. 

B-tier

14. Jujutsu Kaisen

(STILL WATCHING!) So, I actually watched the prequel movie first, with Will who had seen the show first. Me? I thought the movie was pretty good! Will? He thought it was kinda boring and mediocre. The difference was the villain, Geto, seemed to really die. The character, Maki, was new and interesting and the reveal about her backstory with her family was compelling. But, if you see the show, you KNOW all this already. You know Geto doesn’t really die, and in a big way none of this really matters. I realize now how poor the movie would seem if you watch it in order. 

I’m still watching it but I do suggest you choose my watch order and watch the movie first. Especially for Maki’s character, her backstory is very brushed over in the show. Overall, the movie is a bit better at “show don’t tell” or at least telling in an interesting way.

The show is pretty light-hearted and most the main characters are very likeable.

Tentative B-tier

15.  The Disastrous Life of Saiki K

There’s usually some level of worry when watching a foreign comedy that the culture’s humor will align with your own. Pretty much regardless, there’s always going to be some jokes going over your head. Language-based jokes in Japanese usually can’t even be translated well to English.

However, Saiki K manages to be an absolutely hilarious show regardless.

The show follows our titular character, a psychic high-schooler, and the weird cast of classmates who like to gravitate to him. He doesn’t think of them as friends, but he definitely cares for them so, they’re friends. The show gets cute and heartfelt at times too.

The best anime comedy show if rated by humor alone.

A-tier

UNCOMPLETED ANIME:

1. Made in Abyss

One of Will’s favorites. He started playing it impulsively at a friend’s house one night. I saw the first couple episodes but after that night we never picked back up watching it.

It’s not that the show is bad at all, just random happenstance that I didn’t finish it. Would love to go back and rewatch and complete it.

2. Banana Fish

I heard this was good so I wanted to check it out on my own. It’s a fast pace show and the plot is not un-compelling. However I got lost in whether the two characters were actually going to get together or if it was some sort of queerbait? I ended up googling it because I didn’t want to get disappointed and it turns out they are ambiguously gay. I lost interest after learning that.

For whatever reason though, I feel like this would make a good live-action. Like, if Netflix wanted to pick this up I could totally see this working. It’s set in America so...

3. One Punch Man

Only saw the first episode. It wasn’t bad. I’m sure it picks up. Hearing that the second season sucks was a huge bummer and stopped me from watching more.

4. Shiki

I started watching this in preparation for a cosplay shoot with someone dressed as Sunako. It didn’t really have the tone I was expecting for a horror anime. Really not scary at all. Very anime-y. Not my style.

5. Soul Eater

I tried watching this so long ago that I can’t really remember the first episodes or why I didn’t like them. I remember being surprisingly bored. Maybe they spent too much time talking or something.

6. Inuyasha

Boring.

7. Promised Neverland

First season was sooo so good. Second season was ill-paced garbage. Stopped watching because I heard it was only gonna get worse. Sad! It had so much potential.

8. Interviews with Monster Girls

This was the anime that made me stop taking recommendations from tumblr. This show is borderline pedophilic and absolutely disgusted me. I think it was recommended for the teacher/teacher romance but one of the teachers is the one who is doing the interviews and all the students have crushes on him. They do very inappropriate things with him and he just allows it. These are his students. DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW.

[aethelar]

More of the genderfluid!verse! Now with bonus Tonks.

Graves meets Tonks at a guest lecture, one he's giving to the UK auror department as a favour to an old friend. He stays after to answer a few questions and there's this one bright young spark that has, like, a gazillion different things to ask. Far more than will fit into the one evening, so Graves leaves her his contact details and runs. She's still asking questions even as he backs into the floo, it's actually impressive.

And, somehow, he keeps being impressed. She's clumsy, true, but he's seen her be graceful when she needs to be and with the right bit of training he thinks she could be truly terrifying. Owled questions and the odd training sessions turn into mentoring sessions over coffee turn into the potions labs here are rubbish, come round to mine I need to teach you a thing. He introduces her to Newt as his new apprentice and Newt reads between the lines and therefore treats Tonks as a new granddaughter. Hot cocoa, fresh-baked scones, knitted mittens in winter - the works. Newt aces this whole grandparent thing, and Tonks can't help but love both of them. Her real grandparents, remember, are Blacks - worse, they're Blacks who struck her mother off the family tree. She's never had anyone quite like Newt and Graves. They're perfect.

Except, once, she lets herself in the back and there's a strange woman in the kitchen in her pyjamas. Tonks stops dead.

"Where's Graves?" she asks hesitantly. He's out, Artemis tells her. He'll be back soon. So, "Where's Newt?" Tonks asks, even more hesitantly. Artemis gives her a funny look, but answers that he'll probably be back soon as well. Tonks smiles awkwardly and asks her to let Graves know she called.

Once she's back in the safety of her own home Tonks shuts the door and sits down heavily against it and tries to convince herself that neither of her adopted grandparents are having an affair. She shakes herself. Of course they're not. Newt and Graves are as in love as it's possible to be, it's not physically possible for either of them to cheat.

Except the woman doesn't go away. Sometimes she's in pyjamas, sometimes she's in flowing dresses with shiny necklaces, sometimes she emerges from Newt and Graves' shared bedroom in a rumpled dressing gown with her hair up in curlers and her feet in fluffy slippers. She moves around the house like she's familiar with it. She kisses Graves hello once, and he calls her Artemis and kisses her back. She's never, ever, in the house at the same time as Newt.

Tonks stares at Graves and wonders if Newt knows. Worse, she stares at Newt and wonders if Newt knows, and there's something heartbreakingly sad there because you'd never know to look at Newt and Graves that their marriage was anything but happy - except Graves is a cheat and Artemis is a homewrecker and does Newt know.

Eventually, Graves sits her down. "Look," he says, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "About Artemis."

Tonks feels her face freeze, and tries to keep her voice from sounding as wooden as she suddenly feels. "What about her?" she asks, carefully neutral.

Graves pauses, searching her eyes for - well, Tonks doesn't know. He can't expect her to just accept what he's doing to Newt, can he? Apparently though he does, because he finally asks, belligerent and decisive: "What's the problem?"

Tonks' jaw drops. "The problem?" she repeats. "You're married! To Newt!"

Graves scowls. "Actually it was Artemis at the alter," he says. "She wanted to wear the white dress."

And that's, that's worse, because, "Does Newt know he just a, a, misstress that you're having an affair with?"

"I'm a what?" Artemis asks, wandering in with a tray of tea and biscuits.

"He's a what?" Graves repeats, blinking in confusion.

Tonks looks between them and gets the sudden feeling she's missing something. "What?"

"... We asked first," Graves says. "What, exactly, do you think is happening here?"

"And do you want a gingersnap or a chocolate whirl?" Artemis chimes in.

They both look at Tonks expectantly, every bit her loving grandparents and every bit not two people caught in a torrid scandal of love spurned and marriages broken. The feeling of missing something starts evolving into the creeping dread of having fucked up and not knowing where. "Where is Newt?" she asks in a small voice.

Artemis deflates slightly, but still passes Tonks her tea. There is, Tonks notices, one of each biscuit balanced in the saucer. "Newt's not here right now," Artemis says, quiet and sad. "Would you rather talk to him?"

And it's not that Tonks doesn't like Artemis, because apart from the whole breaking up Newt and Graves' relationship - even if, apparently, it was Newt breaking up Artemis and Graves' marriage - Tonks loves her. But. "I just want to know where he is," she says, hunching over her tea.

Graves makes a strangled choking noise. "Tonks," he says slowly. "Nymphadora. Are you aware that Newt and Artemis are the same person?"

Artemis blinks. "Well of course she is," she says, frowning at Graves.

"Uh," Tonks manages.

"Honestly, what a thing to accuse her of," Artemis continues.

"Uh."

"I mean, really, she's even a metamorphagus herself. Saying she doesn't know - Graves, don't be so mean to the poor thing."

"UH."

Artemis, who is apparently Newt, who may or may not be some variant of metamorphagus and apparently thought Tonks was a lot more observant than she actually is, finally turns to Tonks with a hesitant smile. "... right?" she asks, nodding her head encouragingly.

"Not. Not exactly."

Graves facepalms. "An affair," he mumbles to himself. "A bloody affair."

Artemis sits back in her chair and looks somewhat lost. "You didn't know?" she asks again.

"In my defence," Tonks feels the need to point out, "Neither of you ever actually said."

"Cheating on my wife with my own damn husband," Graves continues, manfully swallowing a giggle.

“Shush, you,” Artemis tells him. “You’re not helping.”

"But," Tonks soldiers through. "Now I know. So, so now that no one's a homewrecker, can we please move on?"

"Homewrecker." Graves wheezes. He waves a hand in Artemis' vague direction. "Scandalous wench, my god, how could I have never seen it before, leading me astray with your wily charm."

She kicks him in the shin. Tonks drinks her tea (hot, too hot) and wonders if it's too late to ask for some sane grandparents.

[spideyxchelle]

HERE IS A HEADCANON BASED ON THIS SONG. HERE IS SOME PETER AND MJ IN THE SCHOOL MUSICAL NONSENSE THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR BUT I AM GIVING YOU ANYWAY. boom.

this headcanon NEEDS you to listen to the music along with it. or else it’s weird. I promise. 

peter has always been a good singer. and, since the whole Spider-man thing, a pretty kickass dancer. and since his body can do all kinds of fun shit now, he likes to spend some time after decathlon practice in the empty gym, his signature earbuds in, and he dances his heart out. spinning, turning, jumping, kicking. feeling the music. he doesn’t feel constrained by his body. it’s an incredible, weird sensation. 

his after-school dance time (when he isn’t out on patrol) is freeing, but it doesn’t last. his private time gets exposed. he dances his heart out, giving everything he has, to an ACDC song. and when the percussion hits, ending the song, his chest heaves heavy with exhaustion and pride and happiness. 

until he hears the vague sound of clapping from behind him.

HE FREEZES. and slooooowly turns around. Michelle “MJ” Jones is standing in the two open doors of the gym, watching him. 

he gulps and asks, “what’re you doing here?” “i got held up after practice,” she says, brushing off his question and asking her own, “where’d you learn to do that?” Peter’s face heats up, “I just like to dance....I’m a natural learner, I guess?” “bullshit....but the school musical could use your skills, Parker.” “THE SCHOOL MUSICAL???” he yelps. “yep,” she shrugs, “think about it.”

and then, like she was never even there, MJ is gone. Peter sits dumbfounded on the bleachers of a long time before a buzz from his phone startles him out his thoughts. it’s Mr. Stark telling him to get going for his patrol.

but the thing is even patrol can’t stop him from thinking. he always liked musicals growing up. uncle ben and aunt may used to do two-man re-enactments of les mis and rent and wicked during his childhood. ben was always the beautiful soprano, aunt may was ben’s brooding love interest. he remembered how the music made him feel. how those moments made him feel. 

so the next day, he finds MJ at her locker and says without waiting for her to acknowledge him, “I’ve never acted before in my life.” “doesn’t matter,” she says, not missing a beat, “you lie all the time, Parker. its the same thing.” he stumbles and tries to come up with an excuse, a reason why he isn’t always lying. but it falls flat and, besides, MJ doesn’t care. she just lifts her hand and says, “I don’t care what you’re hiding. if you can dance and even kind of sing it’ll be an improvement from last year’s musical.” 

Peter vaguely remembers the sophomore musical-- Guys and Dolls-- being basically unwatchable. but the new drama teacher has visions of grandeur and seems excited to breathe some life into a risky production. or so MJ says. he would believe anything she said when it came to theatre anyway. everybody knew MJ wanted to be an actress and NOBODY (noooobody) knew more about theatre than MJ. nobody. musicals weren’t really her passion, she wanted to dive deep into Chekov and Shakespeare but high schools only really did Shakespeare and she took what opportunities she could get. besides, from what peter could remember, MJ had a sweet, lilting voice. 

without her asking, Peter tells her, “I’m gonna audition.” “I don’t care what you do.” but he’s pretty sure he spots a ghost of a smile on MJ’s face as she stalks away to class.

May helps him the week leading up to the audition. he’s never fucking HEARD of Finding Neverland before. he’s pretty sure that Johnny Depp did the movie a million years ago and it has something to do with Peter Pan. but they don’t get down to Manhattan a lot to see stuff on Broadway. so he’s not sure what exactly the tone of the musical was, whenever it was on. they find the soundtrack online and May swoons over the guy from Glee. it’s all really embarrassing. but he figures the music is big and romantic. 

and so May tells him that he should sing something just like that. so he does.

dressing in his nicest science-pun shirt, he waits in the wings for his audition on the day. everyone before him is not great. they sing too loud or too out-of-tune or its too dramatic and peter finds himself flinching with each try. 

but then, again like she was never even THERE, MJ slinks by Peter and steps on the stage when her name is called. he’s not sure why but he perks up at the start of her audition. 

she nods at the piano and something sad but serene pours out of the keys. MJ doesn’t move much when she sings. she stands and her face is subtle. she’s not throwing her hands or holding herself tight like this is some dramatic piece. there is a surrender, an acceptance about the song she’s singing. 

he takes a step forward, like everything about her is drawing him into her orbit. her mouth has a quirked kind of smile as she sings about feeling kind of funny that any boy but especially the boy she likes would ever like her. because she’s not pretty or smart enough or good enough. and he’s shaking his head. because doesn’t she know she’s great?? and then he has to remind himself its just a song.

but...but...it touches him. in a way he’s surprised by. 

the song swells and MJ takes the slightest step forward. it feels like she’s made some GRAND gesture. a small show of emotion, an insight into who she is. and then the song slows and she’s singing “isn’t it funny....isn’t it funny.....for a moment he convinced me I could be pretty............” and then heartbreakingly she adds “funny”. 

there is silence once she’s done. AND THEN OUTRAGEOUS APPLAUSE. peter barely notices he’s clapping, too. fuck. 

she rolls her eyes at the applause but she does seem pleased. when she gets off stage peter almost wants to tell her she’s great but she’s gone before he gets the chance. 

he’s still so STARSTRUCK by her performance that he almost misses his name. they call it three times before he crosses on stage with a litany of apologies. and then, he starts to sing. 

it’s easy and romantic and he’s got a boyish charm to him (or that’s what Aunt May says at least). this whole song is him going back and forth anxious and nervous. it plays right into his brand. and he gets to really sing a little. which he likes. and then the music gets quiet. and he starts singing “i didn’t know she mattered to me but now I can see she does” and his eyes can’t help himself. he looks toward where MJ walked off. he tries to shake it off. but its hard. 

he’s surprised when the song is over, tbh. and even more surprised when the drama teacher stands and claps. he bounces a little, proud of what he did. he gives an awkward bow and runs off stage.

he goes on patrol that night with a HUGE grin on his face. and the flicker of MJ’s voice in his head. because wow. they’ve been friends, real friends, for almost a year now. after Vulture he tried to calm down with ditching things and then MJ trusted him enough to hang out. but he’d never seen her like that. not really. she was magnetic. really, freakin’ magnetic. which, AHEM, was totally her acting. yeeeeeep. 

the surprises don’t end, though, when the next day at school the cast list drops and Peter sees his name next to J.M. Barrie. the lead. cooooool cool cool cool. he’s panicking. A LITTLE. and the panic doesn’t subside when he looks at the name beneath him: Michelle Jones -  Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

he doesn’t know much about the musical but he knows they’re the love story. and he’s half-terrified and half-thrilled.

when rehearsals start he realizes its not just a romance but an EPIC romance. about two people who become friends and then trip face first in love. which is stressful. for reasons. REASONS he doesn’t want to talk about. 

lucky for them the first two and a half weeks of the four week rehearsal period are dealing with ensemble numbers, which there are a lot. and they dance. they dance so much. and when they aren’t dancing Peter is struggling to learn his lines and work on his solos. he only really sings a few things MJ. two to be exact. and only the one in act two is romantic. but the one in acting two is ROMANTIC with a capital R. 

and they’re working through the show chronologically. so it doesnt start to get awkward until the very end. and, even more, because they’re a high school production. they’re very behind schedule. so a week out from the show’s opening night. they’re staging THE BIG NUMBER. 

and its weird because in the last few weeks peter thinks he and MJ have been flirting. or well, their version of flirting. which is peter smiling big at her and bringing her favorite tea to rehearsal and MJ knocking into him with her shoulder. and that little small contact shouldn’t make his whole day but it does. because, what did his song say?  “i didn’t know she mattered to me but now I can see she does” and its true. because its getting harder and harder day by day to ignore how much she means to him. 

which makes the song, WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME, terrifying. because he’s not even said those words to her yet. and now he’s expected to sing them. 

the song is memorized, the dialogue too. they don’t have a lot of time to workshop it. so their director just tells them to feel it out with each other. she trusts their instincts or some shit. and peter feels like she’s teasing them. like she knows. but the song is quiet and intimate and doesn’t need a lot of staging. he knows he just has to look in her eyes and he finds he doesn’t want to, he’s afraid of what he’ll see there.

so the piano starts and peter looks everywhere but at her. MJ groans and the pianist stops and the director climbs on stage.

she grabs the two teenagers by their upper arms and says gently, like she’s trying not to frighten teenagers just coming into adult feelings, “this doesn’t have to be loud or grand, okay? this moment in the play is about when feelings. and feelings are real and intense...and scary. don’t shy away from the scary. sometimes the best things are.”

the director nods at the pianist and he hears the piano start. slow and cautious. 

peter faces MJ, takes a deep breath and starts to sing “standing here, all at once, all the words run dry” ....he sees MJ make a decision and she steps in toward him but not quite touching him and she sings “something’s changed, can’t explain and I can’t deny” Peter takes another and sings back “turning in circles and blurring the lines the unspoken is calling us tonight”

and the piano waits. there is nothing but silence between them. he knows he’s holding his breath. he knows she is too. and then, together, they take the final step that has their faces mere inches from one another and together they sing “i won’t lie i’m a little bit frightened of my imagination, i swear I’ll try but I’m feeling enlightened you’re my inspiration” the music keeps going and they keep singing. but they don’t move. they just stand facing each other barely touching. 

the chorus ends and Peter lifts his hand barely brushing a curl off her face and then he attempts to cup it before he sings alone, “every word and every sentence, nothing seems to make a difference, nothing can explain just what you mean to me.” MJ closes her hand over his and he’s ashamed that he shutters “every shape and all the colors, all the love from all the lovers never could express just what you mean to me” 

they go back and forth singing together until the music travels off alone. they don’t sing. they just stand there and sing “turning in circles and blurring the lines.” the piano hits three sharp chords and Peter feels something in him snap. he grabs for her waist, he pulls her close and MJ grips his forearm. their foreheads touch, their eyes close and together they sing, “i won’t lie...I’m a little bit frightened of my imagination I swear I’ll try but I’m feeling enlightened but you’re my inspiration..” 

and the song starts to wind down. their eyes open but they don’t even dare move their foreheads away from each other. they want to be touching. they want to be close and in unison they sing “every star that’s ever fallen...knows the way to where we’re going...now I really know just what you mean to me.....” 

as the piano trails off, Peter tucks a hair behind MJ’s ear and kisses her. she makes the smallest surprised noise in the back of her throat but then she’s gripping the forearm she’s holding on to and leaning into the kiss. 

it’s quiet. the music is done. and they’re still kissing. slow and earnest. 

peter pulls away first and brushes his nose against hers. sweet and urgent. she smiles and he thinks he might have died. because her smile slays him. 

an awkward throat cough echoes in the auditorium. they don’t let go of each other but they both turn their heads to the side. 

their director is there standing next to the blushing freshman pianist. ONLY THEN does Peter have the wherewithal to let go of MJ. he backs away from her. and cracks a guilty grin. his voice hitches, “good?”

MJ playfully smacks his arm. but the director laughs and nods, “good. but a small kiss would suffice. no need to makeout after, Mr. Parker...Miss Jones.” 

[kpopgerapitico]

EOYR 2017: K-Dramas Part 2

These dramas are good. With a capital G. I love them all very much. They may have problems, but I either don’t remember them, or I don’t care about them. Or the show was so good that I forgot about the downfalls.

These aren’t in an order (they are in my heart) because I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Quick Honorable Mentions: I decided to not include any drama specials/web dramas in the rest of this post, so I have to mention a few here instead.

My Runway:

In A Sentence: Body changing with models. That’s it, that’s the show

Steer Clear If: You require depth, because you will not find it.

Comments:

This drama is not deep or long, but it is sweet. It is a lollipop in drama form. It is a drama that is neither hard to follow or offensive. It also didn’t come out this year, but was released to Netflix this year, so this is the year I watched it in. It holds a spot close to my heart for being adorable and requiring no brain power, which sometimes is all I want from a drama.

Last Minute Romance:

In A Sentence: Baek Se’s bucket list includes dating an idol star . . . oh and she has 3 months to live.

Steer Clear If: This show depicts both cancer and depression. Both are treated respectfully (and often in a new way).

Comments:

This show gives me even more reason to love Han Seung Yeon. Also, this is a depiction of cancer I have NEVER seen in dramaland. It is both unerringly optimistic as well as realistic and grounded. The romance is sweet and understated. The main character dies (it’s not a spoiler, you know she has cancer in the first 5 minutes) and (this IS a spoiler) her boyfriend chooses to live his life and not be totally sad, and is successful. It is a refreshing take on a lot of common drama tropes that keeps you watching. The Romeo and Juliet speech is really good, and any scene with Han Seung Yeon (most of the scenes admittedly) are great as well. It is a worthy watch.

Individualist Ji-young:

In A Sentence: What happens when lonely people who don’t acknowledge that they’re lonely meet each other.

Steer Clear If: This deals with depression, and an almost sort of suicide attempt.

Comments:

This drama is the reason I refuse to give up on Gong Myung. Because he may keep choosing shitty drama after shitty drama, but this one shows that if you give him a character with a lot of charm, a little bit of depth, and the job to make puppy eyes at the lead, he will succeed. In spades. This drama also shows that you don’t have to be optimistic in your portrayal of depression in order to get a happy ending. I also love the fact that Ji Young gets to a better place with her depression (I hesitate to say she is better) post breakup. She is not saved by a man, she is forced onto a new path maybe, but the healing comes off screen and away from him.

Basically, watch more drama specials.

Now back to the long format.

Argon:

In A Sentence: They used to be the best news team, and maybe, they will be again.

Steer Clear If: You don’t like news shows. That’s it.

Comments:

Coming into this show, I had no expectations, except that it was one of the last things Kim Joo Hyuk did, and that I loved him in Like For Likes (and also Two Days One Night). This show was what I wanted Newsroom to be.

By having 8 episodes, Argon manages to avoid the downfall of so many news shows that get lost in the procedural nature of the show. Instead, every case feels important to the main plot, and every case feels important to the growth of the characters. The show is tightly paced without feeling rushed.

This show made me care about news that was either fake, or about people in a country far far away. It made me teary eyed both at the plots and emotions of the show as well as the fact that this role was so damn good for Kim Joo Hyuk, and I will never be able to see him in another like it in the future.

And that may have been the main reason that I cried during the last episode. That and everyone having some great successes. Or maybe just Kim Joo Hyuk walking out of a building, leaving Argon as well as the world.

Father Is Strange:

In A Sentence: A family lives their lives as a whole lot of normal people problems happen to them.

Steer Clear If: You cannot handle a long show. There are a LOT of episodes in this show.

Comments:

This was the first (and only) weekend drama I have ever watched, at the recommendation of Dramabeans’ javabeans. And I’m very glad that I listened. This show takes the tropes of a weekend drama, keeps the ones it likes and uses the ones that are annoying judiciously. The main characters are all deeply written, and often have equal amounts good and bad in their personalities. No one does something out of character, which was a rarity in the shows this year.

It was also a show that made me happy just while watching. It wasn’t groundbreaking. It wasn’t overly complicated. It didn’t try to be anything it wasn’t. Instead, it used stellar acting in nearly every role to convey a family faced with crisis after crisis who choose to stay together.

It is the supportive family that we all want. And yeah, everyone makes mistakes, including most of the members of this family, but that never makes them stop loving each other. For that alone it is worth watching.

Because This Is My First Life:

In A Sentence: The contract marriage show that is about so much more than just the relationships between 2 people.

Steer Clear If: I honestly don’t have any warnings about this show . . . Actually, that’s a lie. There is some noble idiocy sort of stuff that I am super tired of, but fits the story so it doesn’t bother me. It might bother you.

Comments:

There is a reason everyone loved this show. And the central relationship was only part of it. It had Lee Minki as a man who is un-apologetically different, un-apologetically weird, and makes very few changes to that personality over the course of the show. And for once, that isn’t bad, because his original personality is good, and it is more exposed than changed over the course of the show. And it has Jung So Min (in her second show of the list) as a woman who lives her life sort of floating along, accepting what happens to her, while also being smart enough to change what she thinks she can. The combination doesn’t seem like it will work, but it somehow works beautifully.

There is also the side relationship of the CEO and the friend, which does a wonderful job of showing what it means for a man to respect his partner, and just as importantly, for a woman to demand that respect.

There is also the side relationship of the friend and her long term boyfriend (another appearance for Kim Min Seok) that is heartbreakingly real. I especially liked how the show treated the final breakup, and how it forced the characters to confront their emotions instead of ignoring them.

It is a romance whose plot is nearly almost all the romance, which is where its strength lies. It doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t, and it manages to be stellar at what it is.

The Package: (my a little bit favorite)

In A Sentence: Everyone goes on vacation for different reason; some for love, some to run from love. (I know that’s vague. It’s intentional)

Steer Clear If: This show is sometimes slow in a contemplative sort of way. There is occasionally some tropes that the show doesn’t avoid so much as dives into head first.

Comments:

These is a pre-produced show. And because of that I had high expectations on the visual quality of the show. I had high expectations. They were shattered.

A significant portion of this show is a love letter to France. It is beautiful. The whole show is shot in tones, from the green of night to yellow tinted days in France, to blues in Korea (you could probably write a whole color theory essay on this show). It tells the visual part of the story so so damn well. From the location choices, to wardrobe, the whole show quietly excels at using the budget it got to full visual effect.

And that is a perfect adjective to describe the show: quiet. Instead of sticking to one point and hitting it over and over, it meanders between characters and side plots. It is rarely uproariously funny, or depressingly sad. It spends most of its time in the mundanity of stories and characters that feel so very real.

The whole cast is amazing, and does wonderful work in the wonderful roles. Instead of listing the actors, I’ll give some tropes without too many spoilers.

There is the elderly couple, the wife dying of cancer, the husband continuing to annoy her and everyone else on the trip.

There is the young couple, who are in and out of love (mostly out), and trying to figure out what to do.

There is the older man with the younger woman. And that is all I will tell you about them.

And there is the guy who was stood up at the terminal boarding the plane to Paris.

Oh, and the girl who never stopped running.

And that ensemble is the real reason the show excels. You may tune in every week to see how the romance is progressing, but for many episodes, it isn’t the most important thing happening. There is illness, and heartbreak, and anger. There is laughter, and joy, and love. I have cared more about other casts before, but I never cared for this many people all at once.

It is maybe the most satisfying show I watched this year. And one of the most underrated.

[openlockswhoeverknocks]

Another trip, another highlights post

I'm back with another highlights post after my birthday trip to the McKittrick. As usual, these aren't in particular preference or chronological order. - Finding Jenna's Nurse up on 5th at the start of my first show feeling jetlagged and giddy at the same time. - Watching Jenna's incredible dancing and how creepy and intense her interpretation is. - Ida's Lady Macbeth. Incredible every single time. - Ida's Lady Macbeth's not so subtle glances at Danvers during the ballroom always plotting and ruminating. - Ida's Lady Macbeth post breakdown bath imperiously demanding for a white mask to help her out of the tub and for another to dress her. After that, the gradual descend into "sanity" as she went back down to the third floor her whole body straightening and becoming stronger the closer she got to her room. - Nick D's speakeasy always throwing a curve ball or two throughout the loop. So intense and funny at the same time. - Emily's Sexy Witch always winning over my heart with her flirting and dancing. - Emily's Sexy Rep Bar solo. Her drowning, her struggle, her breakdown on the floor and Hecate whipping her out of my arms and glaring at me for daring to help her. - Emily's Sexy now being scared of white masks after her solo while she puts her shoes on and running away from us all to get to the banquet. Interesting touch after spending the rest of the loop toying with the white masks. - Ginger's Matron and the wonderful combination of playfulness, loneliness and sorrow. - Steph C's Bald Witch and everything she does. Her ballroom solo is out of this world and I love the gasp/scream she does to stop Macduff in his tracks at the end of the solo. - Dancing with Steph C's Bald at the top of the show after stumbling upon her in the trees and having the decision of who to follow first made for me. - Steph C's Bald and the way she walks. Glides up the stairs remaining super powerful and walking with that animalistic saunter of hers that no one else can quite do. - Andrea's gentle and childlike nurse and her beautiful window solo. - Andrea's Nurse stealing Taxi's teddy bear at the end of third loop and putting it down on the Macbeths' bed. - Ryan's more playful yet still powerful Bald Witch. A brilliant ballroom solo and creepy yet fun interactions. She always changes things up and adapts so well to her surroundings, fellow performers and followers. - Ryan's Bald crawling towards me on the floor, me moving away from her thinking she needed space to get out of the little alcove, her crawling some more, me moving back some more until she grabbed me by the foot and I realised she was intending to crawl at me. Whooops. - Ida's beautifully elegant Agnes. Her gentleness in the 1:1 coupled with a hidden fierceness when she got angry was beautiful to watch. - Jenna's Danvers and how wonderfully weird and sexual she is. I never know whether to laugh, be creeped out or plain old marvel at her talent when I watch her in that role. - Steph C's understated and sad Nurse. The focus she puts into everything she does drew me into such focus that at times I forgot where I was and that all I was doing was watching her fold some pyjamas. I could've still watched her do that all night though. - Sarah's ridiculously intimidating yet thrilling Danvers. She has such authority around that building that I'm not surprised the Porter just shrank away from her at any of their encounters. Such a Queen Bee. - At the opposite end of the spectrum, Sarah's sad and vulnerable Agnes and her never ending quiet determination to find her sister. - Elena's super intense Nurse who seems fairly matter of fact and normal until she takes you into a 1:1 and goes completely unhinged. Don't judge a book by its cover people! - Ryan's Lady Macduff. What beautiful dancing coupled with such a nice combination of innocence and giddiness at the impending birth of her baby. - Virginia's Matron. Sometimes heartbreakingly sad, sometimes angry, sometimes plain old creepy but always with an undertone of determination and some deeply buried strength. - Jackie's Hecate and the way she cackles, holds a room at attention and takes no shit from anybody. So good and so intimidating. - Tori's Hecate who feels wiser and otherworldly than others I've seen. Her stare seems to read deep into your soul and not once do you get lulled into a false sense of security with her. I was on tenterhooks the whole time I spent with her despite knowing what Hecate does in the loop relatively well. - Jeff's Speakeasy and how he basically uses the whole of the fourth floor, its characters and audience as a giant playground. - Jeff's Macduff climbing all the way from the ballroom to the mezzanine in order to do the Door dance with Danvers. WHAT THE FUCK?! - Nick D's Porter and his goofiness, sadness and frustration at his situation. Those silent screams he does had me wanting to go up to Hecate and slap her into submission to free her. Except she's terrifying and I could never do that. - Mallory's Agnes making a return and breaking my little heart all over again. She's such a wonderful Agnes full of subtleties that others don't do. I also always get so stressed out when she steals the money because she feels so desperate and panicked it's genuinely contagious. I was SO happy to see her roaming the hallways quietly and sadly. - Ryan's Danvers who I was desperate to see in the role and not being disappointed in the slightest. She has no patience for Duncan and it's brilliant! I loved her dancing around the Macduffs' like she owned the place too. - Telling Ben's Man in Bar so many bad jokes and ruining a joke for him by telling it to Kit before he got to. I don't think he'll ever forgive me for that but it was great. He's also such a welcoming presence you never feel awkward around him. - Similar to Ben's Man in Bar, Ilana's Woman in Bar is so charming and welcoming, all you want in life is for her to be your best friend. - Elizabeth Lindsay's ever falling dress strap still driving me up the wall. - Having many a moment in the hut trying so very hard not to laugh or giggle and luckily, always managing not to. - Bringing in my birthday by being with friends, and watching Evelyn Grey's follies (which I had always been desperate to see and always missed by a week or two). - Being brought up on stage to slap Evelyn and be slapped by her 30 times as a birthday treat (or punishment?). - Being allowed to wait in Manderley until midnight so I could be given drinks and cupcakes and hugged by the loveliest and craziest of friends. I'm sure there's more highlights and I will reblog with more when I remember them but I head is so full of moments and memories I probably need to process a bit more. Hope you all enjoy these and feel free to comment and discuss anything you like! Sooooo much love for everyone on here that I saw on my trip and met properly for the first time. You know who you are :)