#WOO 2024 was hard to choose

[ace-and-the-rpg-horrors]

my favourite card sets from every year of PJSK so far <3

2020!!

2021!!

2022!!

2023!!

and finally, 2024!!

[thewhizzyhead]

warriors 2024 and the art of giving meaning to struggle

alrighty ramble time: let's talk about luther and how he managed to fuck up NYC for good. if luther were like i dunno lex luthor, i'd say his move to destabilize gang relations in nyc is a very fucking calculated move because i really do have to give credit to him in actually achieving the goal he set out for himself because his decision to kill cyrus,,,,aka the one that organized the "Please No Gang Fighting" summit that aimed to unite everyone against the bigger baddies of NYC,,,essentially fucking killed any and all chance of such a peace summit and unity initiative from ever happening again. because, like, after seeing a beloved and seemingly untouchable leader be murdered in front of all of you despite explicit instructions to Not Bring Weapons, would you even risk witnessing that chaos again in another summit? would you trust that forming a united force work after such a tragedy? is there even a possibility of finding trust among other NYC gangs if someone among their number killed your very hope? so yea knowing how the movie ends with just the gramercy riffs saying that the warriors (with two dead people and one arrestee in tow) are off the hook because someone else witnessed luther killing cyrus,,,the original ending is actually quite hopeless when you think about it in their shoes. in the words of movie swan himself in the movie, is what they end up with all their night of sleepless fighting and struggle is worth? hence, i now really see why warriors (2024) decided to make what I consider to be the 2nd biggest diversion outside of the genderswap: making cleon live - because otherwise, the warriors' struggles surviving the night can be said to be struggle for solely struggle's sake.

in the musical, cleon is an astute believer in cyrus and the future cyrus envisions for all of NYC - thus, she becomes the harbinger of cyrus' hope in the form of still breathin' and somewhere in the city. her being alive doesn't detract from the widespread tragedy faced by the NYC gangs - i still really believe that no matter what, luther effectively killed their one shot at true unity and trust - but in cleon's own words: "What do you do when they kill everything you believe in? Give it meanin." the decision to keep cleon alive is warriors (2024) counteractive measure at the absolute shithole luther placed NYC in because in her message of keeping the dream alive despite situations that are, realistically speaking, impossible to wholly recover from, gives their struggle meaning, purpose, and direction - the end goal being hope. that theme of hope despite and in spite of adversity now becomes evident on as to why we are made to be invested in the warriors' journey home and their subsequent growth. in mercy's decision to leave the orphans for a place of belonging and pride that can make her finally hold her head up high. in ajax's and fox's decisions to retaliate against their pursuants among sleazy old men in blue. in swan's persistence in getting the rest of her crew home alive despite still reeling from the loss of her leader and her fellow warriors. all attribute their own reasons to why they resist and rebel because they ultimately hope for something fucking better. ultimately, warriors (2024) exists because of the want to give more meaning to struggle in the form of hope amidst hopelessness. in the movie, the warriors find their meaning in the sweet simple bliss of survival - in making to coney island's sunrise. but in the album, another meaning is emphasized among not just the warriors, but the marginalized communities of NYC in general: their meaning of struggle goes beyond surviving the night - because they carry on and carry forth the dream of one day having a city where they all come home alive. because after all, isn't the formation of grassroots rooted in resistance - and isn't resistance born out of the want and hope for something better?

[cococassey]

Kdrama: Lovely Runner (2024)

My Rating: 10/10

Final Review:

Guys, how to say goodbye to Sun Jae and Im Sol, who I fell so hard for these past weeks. It's like the writer and PD said, how do we make the most fun hopelessly romantic kdrama and drive our viewers crazy with giddiness and agony each episode?

Name another drama where the OTP's faces are always a few inches, staring longingly at each other. This might be too much on another show, but in Lovely Runner, we craaave for it lol. Where umbrella holding for the other, is not some trite cheap kdrama move, but signifies how Sun Jae/Sol will just do anything to shield the other from pain and harm.

Let's admit, the biggest pull of this show is how dreamy (and a doofus) Ryu Sun Jae is as a whole (equipped with Byeon Woo Seok's outrageously good looks). That cast and their chemistry are gold! It's so easy to make this another typical high school drama where the girl chases the arrogant popular guy who will slowly fall for the girl. But he is such a dork, charming our socks off with his awkward confession mishaps, and all that selfless pining! And his devotion to Sol, omg, like can we clone him for the better of mankind?

Sol, is no slouch too, traversing time and space to save him. As he has always saved her, she sacrificed so much for him too. Some are getting annoyed by all the noble idiocy, but the weighty circumstances in the show warrant it, and makes such good angst!

Spoilers:

Others are maybe bothered about the latest time reset, erasing all what has happened before. But him getting intrigued by her again as strangers, tearing up from unknowingly reading his OWN tragic love story, reading the lost love song he wrote for her, falling for her again and again despite the odds. Choosing her again and again in spite of the morbid consequences. OMG, simply swoony romance at its finest.

The conclusion did feel like there was a lot of drama magic for them to get together again, but I can't complain when it gives these two the happy ending they earned, darn it. The time capsule watch does feels like a deus ex machina, but at the same time it's kind of fitting too.

Undoubtedly one of the best epic romances, kdrama has to offer. THIS is why regardless of the language barrier, we love kdramas, they know how to do romance right. How I wish I can borrow Sun Jae's time travel watch and experience this for the first time all over again. Falling for these two yet again and again.

[convenientalias]

Kdramas I Watched in 2024

A little roundup as the year comes to a close :D

First, the dramas I watched that aired in 2024:

A Shop for Killers - I wasn't as big a fan of this as I expected to be. I liked Jeong Jian, and the uncle-niece moments, but there was a lot of screentime that was just gunfights and explosions, which kind of bore me. When it comes to action, my preference is fistfights and swordfights. I also think I might not actually be a Lee Dong-wook fan; this is the third show I've watched of his, and I never quite get into the characters he plays. I'd rate it 2/5.

Bitter Sweet Hell - Ever since watching Mine, I'm always looking for the next female-led thriller that can deliver the same femslashy energy, or at least an intense and complicated relationship between two women. Bitter Sweet Hell seemed like a good bet for this, as the two leads are both women (a woman and her mother-in-law), but it never quite hit for me. It is a bit femslashy between our FMC and the woman having an affair with her husband, especially towards the end, but overall, it's not a very shippy show, and as a thriller, it never quite got me fully invested. 3/5.

Black Out - I watched this show primarily for Byun Yo-han but also because I like plots about ppl getting framed for crimes. I read the book beforehand, which led to me constantly scrutinizing it for differences lol, and there were many. Some good, some perhaps less so, but I won't go into that here! I really enjoyed the whump (lots of that in the book too) and I loved Geon-oh's character, who barely appears in the book but here actually got some screentime. There are a LOT of terrible people, of course; probably the majority of the characters have committed some crime they are trying to cover up, and after a certain point, you're constantly watching them rip into each other and throw each other to the wolves. Barely anyone makes it out intact. I would recommend this one! 4/5.

Queen Woo - The first few episodes of this show are amazing. Beautiful costumes, political intriguing, complicated relationships, and a villain played by Lee Soo-hyuk who comes across as both sadistically evil and rather pathetic. Then the second half of the show is consumed by chase scenes and fight scenes, and the political intrigue kind of gets confusing and falls apart, and Lee Soo-hyuk barely shows up anymore, and the female lead's character goes from survival mode to girlbossification. This show infuriates me in a way only a show with great potential could. I still love the first few episodes though. Queen Woo/Go Bal-gi forever. 2/5.

The Trunk - I'm not sure what to think about this one. I really liked the two lead actors, Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo. The atmosphere of the show (especially at the beginning) is strong, in turns mellow and tense, very absorbing, a bit slow paced. And the exploration of two people cohabiting, in a "marriage" that is at first stiff and impersonal but that slowly becomes something more. At the same time, I'm not sure I buy the central relationship as much as the show wants me to--I'm not sure I'm convinced that either lead would get over their past so quickly, or that these two really could not just be interested in each other but love each other. Maybe they just sold a tone of estrangement and nostalgia too hard, idk. I also don't love the way the second female lead is portrayed less and less sympathetically as the show goes on--the last episode tries to dial it back, but she's become very flat by that point. So, mixed feelings all around. I'd recommend more for vibes than for plot. 3/5.

When the Phone Rings - I'm only 2/3 through this one so I won't rate it yet, but so far it's been good. I love the identity porn and the complicated central relationship. Also the representation of mute and deaf characters, though I'm not sure the female MC would technically be called selectively mute, as she seems to be able to talk and chooses not to. In any case, the sign language is a cool aspect of the show. And I hadn't seen Yoo Yeon-seok in anything since Mr. Sunshine, so it's fun to see him again! (I also hadn't seen Byun Yo-han in anything since Mr. Sunshine until Black Out, so I'm associating these two shows in my head lol.)

Shows that didn't air in 2024 that I watched this year:

Circle - This was my fourth time watching this show lol. I think I've said all my feelings about this show before but!!! ITS SO GOOD. There are lots of shows that play with a split timeline, showing half the show in a flashback and half in the present, or just a short flashback every episode, but I've never seen a show use the format as successfully as Circle. The way it uses the separation of time as well as space to show the longing of two separated brothers to find each other; the way events in the past are slowly revealed at a pace that makes sense given what's going on in the future. The fact that the future portion has a significantly different setting in a dystopian sci-fi city, and the very existence of this city ties into what happened in the past. THE ACTING. Yeo Jin-goo and Kim Kang-woo at their best! AMNESIA. MIND CONTROL (of sorts). ALIENS. This show truly has everything. I know it came out in 2017, I KNOW I have recommended it a hundred times before, but I am never over it and yes, that's right, I'm not over it now either. Not only 5/5 but 100/5 To Me.

Crime Puzzle - This show? is not? good? Speaking of shows that use a bunch of flashbacks, that happens here too, but? it's just not well done? It was so boring I can barely remember what happened in it, and just... not satisfying. My favorite character died. The answers to certain mysteries were kind of obvious. I feel like the central relationship could have had Flower of Evil vibes if I had cared about them at all, but the chemistry was simply not there. 1/5.

The Deal - Kidnapping show! Kidnapping show! I LOVE KIDNAPPING it is my favorite trope of all time. And I don't know if I've ever seen a show that was as purely "Hey, wanna watch a kidnapping go wrong and everything be whumpy and fucked up" as this one. The two kidnappers and the kidnap victim are equally protagonists of the show, and both sympathetic. You just want them all to somehow come out of this situation okay and yet everything is constantly going wrong and the longer the show goes on, the more emotionally unstable everyone gets. Incredibly shippy between all the main three characters. I AM BEGGING YOU TO WATCH THIS SHOW. mostly bc I need more fanfic but also I would settle for just more ppl talking about it. 5/5, the best show that I watched for the first time this year.

Jirisan - I'd recommend this show primarily for the atmosphere and setting. It takes place on a mountain (Jirisan) and is about rangers trying to save people from life threatening accidents (and also murder). There's just so much panning over the landscape and it's absolutely gorgeous. Lots of hiking etc. As a thriller, it's decent; the setting leads to different sources of tension than usual, a lot of man vs. nature rather than the usual man vs. man conflict of the average thriller. But also a certain amount of detection and investigation. Also, one character spends a certain amount of the show as a ghost!!!!! which is very cool but I won't give too many spoilers on that. The only downside of this show is that the pacing can get kind of slow if you binge watch it due to the aforementioned focus on the beautiful landscape. 4/5.

Pale Moon - I rarely watch a show focused on an affair that I actually like, but Pale Moon really did it for me. Part of it's the acting. Kim Seo-hyung in the lead creates a quiet, withdrawn character who sort of steps out of her life and starts creating the world she would want to live in: A younger lover rather than her distant and dismissive husband, a lover she can pamper with her own money rather than accept money from submissively. But it's fake - the money is embezzled from her job at a bank, and the lover, at first awe-struck by her and utterly infatuated, becomes less the person she loves the more support she offers him and the more success he finds on his own. Money courses through the show, enchanting and corrupting all the characters. The minor characters are also great, especially the MC's best friend, played by Yoo Sun. And the ending, while not entirely tragic, is still emotionally devastating (or at least, it devastated me). 5/5, maybe not for everyone but I think more people should try it out.

I also watched a lot of Korean movies this year! I won't go into too much detail here but I did rank 15 Park Sung-woong movies here. TLDR everyone should watch Daemuga, For the Emperor, Method, and New World. Apart from that, a brief summation:

In Dream (2023) - Spooky dreamwalking, but basically your average serial killer thriller apart from that. 3/5.

Love and Leashes (2022) - I came for the femdom and I did enjoy it but the structure of the plot is still very man-pursues-woman, plus the femdom in question barely seems to enjoy BDSM. So, it wasn't quite what I hoped. 3/5.

The Night Owl (2022) - Spooky happenings and Murder in Joseon. Lots of political intrigue. 5/5.

Tomb of the River (2021) - I just wanted to see Jang Hyuk in a gangster movie and I did get that. But the plot was not so strong, and after all the Park Sung-woong movies I watched this year, my standards for gangster movies have gotten higher. 2/5.

Burning (2018) - Have you ever watched a Murakami adaptation and said to yourself, yeah, that sure seems like a Murakami? I hadn't until this year but now I have. That said, it did make one change that, without having previously read the short story, I could completely pinpoint--there are some things Murakami just doesn't do. I liked the change, though, and I liked this movie. 4/5.

The Divine Move and The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful - I like watching people play go and murder each other in convoluted ways. Both these movies are a bit ridiculous and over the top, but I enjoyed them! And Woo Do-hwan is in one of them :D. 4/5.

Old Boy (2003) - Wins the "most fucked up movie I've watched this year" award. If you know, you know! 4/5.

Overall, I had a good year for kdramas and Korean movies both. The dramas I would recommend the most would be: First and foremost, The Deal, more people need to watch it ASAP. After that, Pale Moon and Black Out were really good; I also would recommend Jirisan but you do need some patience!

I hope you watched good kdramas this year too! We'll see what the next year holds :D <3

[consumeronionbulletin]

Queen of Tears (2024)

On the surface this seems like just an ordinary romantic drama with an interesting premise. It turned out to be a master class in acting, editing, cinematography and (even) writing. I loved these characters and was genuinely sad to see it end.

What Worked

The two leads were amazing. Kim Soo-Hyun put in his best performance so far, and Kim Ji-Won did an excellent job making you like a character that was written to be cold and unlikeable. I'd say it was her best role, but you know My Liberation Notes was still better.

The rest of the cast was great too. Park Sung-hoon was great at playing the villain and making him both sympathetic and contemptible. Kwak Dong-yeon did an excellent job at turning the biggest idiot kid brother into someone you were cheering for at the end.

This drama, more than most, also did a standout job of using editing and film work to help set the mood for the story.

What Didn't Work

This show is as close to flawless as you can get. There are things that I wish they'd done differently, but those are more about taste than quality, because the show was excellent.

The Performances

The cast was excellent across the board. I've already mentioned the two leads. I could probably go through and say something nice about each actor, but that would be way too long. There were a few actors that were new to me that especially liked watching.

Yoon Bo-mi as "Secretary Bestie" Na Chae-yeo. This actor did an excellent job of grounding the scene and making Kim Ji-won's character more human and likable. She was also very funny on her own.

Lee Mi-sook as "Worst Mother Ever" Moh Seul-hee. The show didn't do much to explain the whys of her character, but Lee Mi-sook was so interesting to watch, that I mostly didn't care. Really good performance overall.

Kim Jung-nan as "Fighter Auntie" Hong Beom-ja. I had a hard time taking this character seriously at first, but the actor did a great job of showing you how much Beom-ja cared about her family, which made me start to care about the character. Alot of fun to watch (even if they should have given her a proper loveline at the end).

Jeon Bae-soo and Hwang Young-hee as "World's Best Parents (2024)." It would be hard to make Hyun-woo's parents unlikeable, since they get to be the moral center of the show in some ways, but it was also important to make them interesting in a cast of over the top characters. The actors did a good job with that, and I really enjoyed watching them play off the rest of the cast.

TL; DR:

If you like K-dramas you've probably already seen this. That being said, I like K-dramas and I still haven't watched this writer's other big hit Crash Landing on You, so it YMMV. Bottom line: it's your precious little life, choose wisely.

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Feb. 13, 2024

Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben (novel) vol. 1 was written by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou (Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat)

Wealthy and handsome, yet mentally unstable—He Yu has returned home from overseas with one goal in mind: to win the heart of Xie Xue, the girl of his dreams. However, in his time away, he has nursed more than unrequited feelings. He must confront his long-held grudge against Xie Xue’s overprotective brother, Xie Qingcheng, who doesn’t think He Yu capable of love.

But history is not easily rewritten. As He Yu’s former doctor, Xie Qingcheng is the only person in the world who truly understands He Yu’s volatile mental illness. When the two are involved in an explosive incident that exposes a dark secret, Xie Qingcheng’s suspicions about He Yu are confirmed. Now, He Yu must confront his own demons…including his dark obsession with Xie Qingcheng.

Love is an Illusion vol. 5 by Fargo

Love is in the air for Hye-sung’s friend, Kyungsoo! After meeting a beautiful and feisty omega at the bar he works at, even-keeled beta Kyungsoo quickly falls head over heels for the man, and the two engage in a steamy affair. But Kyungsoo has no idea that the man he’s seeing is Dojin’s older brother’s abusive ex-partner, Chowon! Is it possible that Chowon has changed his ways, or is Kyungsoo in real danger? Either way, he’ll get no help from Hye-sung, who’s busy with school—and keeping his marriage to Dojin a secret from his classmates!

Love Nest 2nd vol. 2 by Yuu Minaduki

FINAL VOLUME!

The year-end holidays have arrived, and Masato is finally bringing Asahi home to meet his mother... as a “friend.” But encouraged by memories of his mother telling him to live life how he wants to, Masato decides he will someday confide in her the truth of his relationship with Asahi. And as Asahi watches over this positive change in Masato and realizes just how important he’s become to him, trauma from Asahi’s own past bubbles up to torment him.

Punch Drunk Love (manwha) vol. 1 by MOSCARETO and Okdong

Seon-woo knows he’s painfully average in every way, but he can’t help pining for the hot new manager at work, Tae-moon. There’s no way to tell if Tae-moon is even into men, or if he’s the kind of dominant lover that submissive virgin Seon-woo yearns for in his deepest fantasies.

All that changes when Seon-woo catches a glimpse of Tae-moon's phone notifications during a meeting. Those steamy messages coming through confirm everything Seon-woo’s hoped for. He just needs to convince Tae-moon to give in to a night of passion, where Seon-woo will prove he can take anything Tae-moon throws at him…and then some!

Therapy Game Restart vol. 3 by Meguru Hinohara

Still living separately, Minato and Shizuma are finding it hard to see each other because of the distance and their hectic schedules. To remedy this, the two start apartment hunting in earnest and even make an appointment to view a promising possibility. But they’ve been down this road once before with disappointing results - is the universe on their side this time, or is a greater power telling them it’s time to throw in the towel?

The White and Blue Between Us by Kiyuhiko

Is it ever too late to make up for a lie? Or can the opportunity be swept away, like white clouds across a blue summer sky?It's been seven years since Hozumi left the island town he grew up on, leaving behind not only the seaside, but also Mishima--his close friend and first love from high school. The two haven’t spoken since Hozumi turned Mishima down when he rejected him and lied about his own feelings, so when Hozumi returns for his high school reunion, he wants nothing more than to make amends with Mishima--a task easier said than done. In their years apart, Mishima has distanced himself from not only Hozumi, but everyone in the entire town, choosing to live alone in the lighthouse his grandfather used to tend to. Will Hozumi finally be able to break down Mishima's walls, clear the air between them, and finally confess his true feelings, or are the two fated to be separated from one another?

[billconrad]

How’s That Book Marketing Going?

    My book marketing effort has been a dismal failure thus far. The present plan is to write more books and beg for reviews, and when I have 100, I will use Amazon’s paid promotion services. I know this awful plan does not involve social media or professional advertisements.

    What was my initial plan? I expected Amazon, Kubo, Barns, and Nobel to promote new authors with gusto. It is in their best interest to turn them into best sellers. Yeah… That is lottery ticket grade, wishful thinking.

    What else did I expect? Honestly, I hoped to find a magic lamp. Many marketing experts can promote something simple, like a book. All an author needs to do is go to website X, pay $50, and BAM! The experts take care of everything. Instant book sales! Woo-hoo! Money in the bank! More wishful thinking.

    The problem is that if someone has money, others will take it. Why should book promotion be any different? I located many marketing sites that promised success for pennies. Unfortunately, the services they offered were laughable. Even worse, they blast people with spam, which angers them. Plus, these sites offered no metric of success and no guarantees—the textbook definition of wasted money.

    Every self-published author faces the same marketing wall. There are millions of old and thousands of new books, with one hundred coming out daily. This vast array of solid titles competes for the reader’s attention. Remember that readers also like eating, social media, television, sports, movies, exercise, work, family, travel, and other costly activities. Somehow, a self-published author must break through that entire spectrum to convince a reader they should click “buy it now.”

    For example, a reader could purchase The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy (an excellent read) or Interviewing Immortality (An astounding book. Trust me, I wrote it.) by an unknown self-published author.

    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy is a well-written classic that everybody should read. Why would a reader spend hard-earned cash on a self-published nobody? Another possibility is to purchase a six-pack of Diet Coke. Let’s think this through. Go with the established author because it is a sure bet to be entertained. “You have purchased The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy. Thank you for choosing Amazon.” Good choice.

    Will I ever sell over three books a month? I believe in myself, and the few people who read my words provided positive feedback. This sentiment encourages me, and I have a positive writing future ahead of me. Blah, blah, blah. Answer the question. Alright, alright. The path I have chosen is difficult. Marketing is a skill that I have put little effort into developing.

    What I am missing is a bubbly personality and advertising drive. What if I took the leap and spent money on a billboard with my books? Yeah, I will get right on it…

    I have never been one to give up, and I see success in my distant future. What I need is to be more engaging and spread my wings wider. I am not on Twitter (X), Instagram, YouTube, or any other site, and if I expect any success, social media needs to be part of my core plan.

    I did have one idea. Pay a YouTuber to promote my book. Lots of people promote works through YouTube. It’s fast and easy. Girrrrr. I’m not too fond of that option. Too much risk. Too much money. Girrrrr. I’m in the way of my success.

    You’re the best -Bill

    February 03, 2024

    Hey book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

    Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in soft-cover on Amazon and eBook format everywhere.

[peterparkersnose]

2023 Wrapped (lil late)

(All + is compared from last year, my 'improvement' so to say)

I have 12,482 followers (+10,679)

I have 97 published works (+12)

I have 10 different fan groups I wrote for (+2)

I have 20 characters I wrote for (+2)

Marvel Word Count was 36,982 words (in total)

DC Word Count was 8,400 words (in total)

Star Wars Word Count was 38,675 words (in total) (+12,351)

Stranger Things Word Count was 11,957 words (in total)

Top Gun Maverick Word Count was 5,148 words (in total)

Klitz (The Girl Next Door) Word Count was 6,500 words (in total)

Javier Peña (Narcos) Word Count was 6,200 words (in total) (+1,700)

Joel Miller (The Last of Us) Word Count was 29,200 words (in total) (+27,900)

Aemond Targaryen (House of the Dragon) Word Count was 8,600 words (in total)

Aegon II Targaryen (House of the Dragon) Word Count was 3,000 words (in total)

Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy) Word Count was 2,800 words (in total)

157,462 words in total. 157,462 (+56,351 words)

Average of 1.6k words per posting. (+500 words)

There are about 70,000 to 120,000 words roughly in any usual book. Landing right in the middle of that statistic warms my heart. (I beat this statistic, woo!)

I started college this year, and I know I've slowed down in posting. Thank you guys for all the continued support and the love you still show to some of my oldest fics. I know I’m not the best writer out there, I’ve read MANY fics this year that beat out mine by a long shot (check some of them out here). Thank you to all my readers, I’m glad you enjoyed my work. To another successful year, hopes for 2024!

My Favorites of the Year

Movie: Saltburn (2023)

Album: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (Waterparks)

Man: Ewan Mitchell

Character to write for: Aemond Targaryen

Fan base (everyone is so lovely, it was so hard to choose): House of the Dragon (a trend as we all can see lol)

Fan Base to write for: The Last of Us

Series I wrote: jealousy, jealousy + i fall in love too fast (Joel Miller)

Video Game: Hogwarts Legacy

Least Favorite Character I wrote for: Sebastian Sallow (y'all are haters fr)

Show: House of the Dragon

Favorite Genre: Angst (again)

Least Favorite Genre: Smut (I can enjoy on occasion but I like a good argument vs good sex) (again)

Top Three Stories I Wrote

Spoil (Aemond Targaryen)

I Fall in Love Too Fast (Joel Miller)

Throne (Aegon II Targaryen)

[tzpnet]

Nicholas Galitzine honored by Taylor Zakhar Perez for EW's 2024 Entertainers of the Year: 'The best is still to come'

Galitzine's "Red, White & Royal Blue" costar shares on-set memories and celebrates the "Mary & George" and "The Idea of You" actor's big year.

We're gonna need some pizza for this one. After winning over a whole legion of fans last year as Prince Henry (George Edward James Hanover-Stuart Fox — a real mouthful) in the adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue, Nicholas Galitzine took a trip back to 17th-century England for the series Mary & George, where he played the titular George Villiers, whose mother encourages him to seduce and become King James I's lover. And then he wooed Anne Hathaway in the romantic dramedy The Idea of You, as boyband lead singer Hayes Campell — singing his way into more viewers' hearts, if that was even possible.

Taylor Zakhar Perez, who plays his enemy-turned-lover Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz (also a mouthful — IYKYK) in RWRB, pays tribute to his costar and friend.

It comes as no surprise to me that Nicholas has been named one of EW’s Entertainers of the Year. Over the past two years, he’s continued to build an impressive career, with memorable and unique projects like Purple Hearts, Bottoms, The Idea of You alongside Anne Hathaway, Mary & George with Julianne Moore, and, of course, the much-loved and highly anticipated Red, White & Royal Blue. Having had the privilege of sharing the screen with him in that project, I can say firsthand that his talent and dedication are evident in everything he does. Behind every “overnight success” are years of hard work, and Nicholas’ journey, spanning more than a decade, is a testament to his perseverance and passion for his craft.

The first time we met in person was at the first rehearsal for RWRB. Everyone graciously gave us space and time to chat and connect, allowing us to find our rhythm before diving into the work. Contrary to popular belief, we rarely get to choose our costars, and this project was no exception. That made this time together even more valuable, knowing we’d be spending the next three months filming, and then the following year promoting the movie. Little did we know, two years later, we’d also share the incredible experience of campaigning during Emmy season.

We both understood the gravity of the assignment — the responsibility to do justice to this beloved adaptation — and the weight that came with it. But beyond the professional expectations, we connected on a deeper, more personal level. I’m a Midwest boy now living in Los Angeles, and he was contemplating a move to L.A. full-time. We bonded over our shared love for travel, music, our passion for acting, and the surreal experience of watching our childhood dreams come true. In this job, you have to be emotionally vulnerable and willing to drop the masks quickly, diving into the authenticity. That’s exactly what we did. Sitting in that room, about to film a major movie, we had a quiet moment of recognition: “We’re in this together.” It was such a cool shared moment, one I’ll never forget.

Spending two days rolling around in cake with Nicholas, wearing medical gowns to eat in our Saville Row tuxes, and texting each other that we found even more frosting in our ears days later — really solidified our friendship. After that, I knew we’d be friends for a long time — whether he liked it or not, he wasn’t getting rid of me that easily. In London, he became our personal tour guide, often steering clear of our American tourist antics. Instead, he introduced us to his close-knit community of actors — the friends he’d grown up with in the industry — making London feel a little more familiar, almost like home. He’d hear me doing my vocal exercises in the morning, yell through the door to mock me, and then we’d end up performing hilariously awful duets outside our trailers. Rachel Hilson would always join in, adding her signature touch with some over-the-top interpretive dance moves. Those moments, filled with laughter and shared antics, made the experience so much richer.

What really stands out about Nicholas, aside from how ridiculously funny (and dashing) he is, is how locked in he gets the moment the director yells “action.” Some actors are asking at 5 a.m. what time lunch is, but with him, it’s like the weight of the normal world disappears, and he’s completely present in the scene, making really specific, thoughtful choices. He’s also the kind of scene partner who’s incredibly generous even when the camera isn’t on him. Set days can get long — 12 to 16 hours sometimes — and it’s easy for the energy to dip. That’s when it helps to have a partner like Nicholas around keeping things light no matter how tired we were. Working with him made the tough days a lot easier and the good days even better.

I’ve seen every version of Nicholas now, his highs, his lows, and everything in between, and he’s seen mine. This industry is a rollercoaster, with extreme highs and crushing lows, but the real work happens between the work and on long phone calls reminding ourselves why we got into this in the first place: to tell meaningful stories that foster empathy, understanding, and a space where everyone feels seen and valued. As actors, there’s always this underlying fear of being misunderstood, whether it’s in your performance or the creative process. Getting to know the real Nicholas, beyond the work and the business, has been incredible. (Okay, I’m done calling him Nicholas, he’s “Nick” or “Nicky 2 Takes” to me.) He’s someone I genuinely enjoy spending time with, both on and off set, and we’ve built a brotherhood-like friendship, which is something extremely rare in this line of work.

I love watching my friends transform on screen, whether in television or film — I’m that fanboy (fanman?) for my friends. Watching Nick in The Idea of You and Mary & George this year, I felt like a proud brother. I was beaming because I know how much young me dreamed of moments like these and I know he’s feeling that same sense of awe, too. Seeing it all come true is surreal — the wildest dreams realized.

As I look ahead, I feel nothing but pride and excitement for Nick and the incredible journey he has ahead of him. He’s already achieved so much, but it’s clear this is just the beginning of an extraordinary career. Whether he’s stepping into the role of He-Man or taking on the next project that captures his imagination, I know he will continue to captivate audiences and elevate every story he is part of. Nick isn’t just a remarkable actor, he is the kind of person who brings out the best in everyone around him. He’s talented, driven, and endlessly generous with his humor. Here’s to Nick and everything the future holds: more unforgettable roles, more laughter, and more moments that remind us why we love doing what we do. I’ll be in his corner, rooting him on, knowing the best is still to come.