#allegra aoki

[niaking]

My books are on sale for pride season. Usually $20 each, you can get all three volumes of Queer & Trans Artists of Color for only $50 (and free shipping) until the end of June. These books include interviews with Janet Mock, Julio Salgado, Vivek Shraya and more! Get the discount here. Full listing of interviewees below the break.

VOLUME ONE (2014) ​CO-EDITED BY TERRA MIKALSON & JESSICA GLENNON-ZUKOFF

Mixed-race queer art activist Nia King left a full-time job in an effort to center her life around making art. Grappling with questions of purpose, survival, and compromise, she started a podcast called We Want the Airwaves in order to pick the brains of fellow queer and trans artists of color about their work, their lives, and “making it” - both in terms of success and in terms of survival.

In this collection of interviews, Nia discusses fat burlesque with MAGNOLIAH BLACK, queer fashion with KIAM MARCELO JUNIO, interning at Playboy with JANET MOCK, dating gay Latino Republicans with JULIO SALGADO, intellectual hazing with KORTNEY RYAN ZIEGLER, gay gentrification with VAN BINFA, getting a book deal with VIRGIE TOVAR, the politics of black drag with MICIA MOSELY, evading deportation with YOSIMAR REYES, weird science with RYKA AOKI, gay public sex in Africa with NICK MWALUKO, thin privilege with FABIAN ROMERO, the tyranny of “self-care” with LOVEMME CORAZÓN, “selling out” with MISS PERSIA and DADDIE$ PLA$TIK, the self-employed art-activist hustle with LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA, and much, much more. Buy book one here.

VOLUME TWO (2016) ​CO-EDITED BY ELENA ROSE

Building on the groundbreaking first volume, Queer and Trans Artists of Color: Stories of Some of Our Lives, Nia King is back with a second archive of interviews from her podcast We Want the Airwaves. She maintains her signature frankness as an interviewer while seeking advice on surviving capitalism from creative folks who often find their labor devalued.

In this collection of interviews, Nia discusses biphobia in gay men’s communities with JUBA KALAMKA, helping border-crossers find water in the desert with MICHA CÁRDENAS, trying to preserve Indigenous languages through painting with GRACE ROSARIO PERKINS, revolutionary monster stories with ELENA ROSE, using textiles to protest police violence with INDIRA ALLEGRA, trying to respectfully reclaim one’s own culture with AMIR RABIYAH, taking on punk racism with MIMI THI NGUYEN, the imminent trans women of color world takeover with LEXI ADSIT, queer life in WWII Japanese American incarceration camps with TINA TAKEMOTO, hip-hop and Black Nationalism with AJUAN MANCE, making music in exile with MARTÍN SORRONDEGUY, issue-based versus identity-based organizing with TRISH SALAH, ten years of curating and touring with the QTPOC arts organization Mangos With Chili with CHERRY GALETTE, raising awareness about gentrification through games with MATTIE BRICE, self-publishing versus working with a small press with VIVEK SHREYA, and the colonial nature of journalism school with KILEY MAY. The conversation continues. Buy book two here.

VOLUME THREE (2019) ​CO-EDITED BY MALIHA AHMED

Is it possible to make art and make rent without compromising your values? Nia King set out to answer this question when she started We Want the Airwaves podcast in 2013. In her Queer & Trans Artists of Color book series, Nia collects podcast interviews — with Black, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern and Indigenous LGBTQ writers, musicians and visual artists — which feature both incredible storytelling and practical advice.

In the latest installment of the Queer & Trans Artists of Color series, Nia discusses performing at the White House with VENUS SELENITE, the global nature of colorism with KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE, writing for Marvel Comics with GABBY RIVERA, using lies to tell unspeakable truths with KAI CHENG THOM, Black mental health with ANTHONY J. WILLIAMS, curating diverse anthologies with JOAMETTE GIL, growing up trans in rural Idaho with MEY RUDE, covering crime as a baby-faced reporter with SAM LEVIN, feminist approaches to journalism with SARAH LUBY BURKE, documenting Black punk history with OSA ATOE, crossing color lines with QWO-LI DRISKILL, fat hairy brown goddesses with PARADISE KHANMALEK, the usefulness of anger with JIA QING WILSON-YANG, transitioning as death and rebirth with ARIELLE TWIST, surviving homelessness and touring the world with STAR AMERASU and much, much more. Buy book three here.

[papasmistakeria]

Hogwarts AU cause I'm a sewer rat and a die hard potterhead

Gryffindor: Neil Melendez (Head of House), Jared Kalu, Alex Park, Lea Dilallo, Debbie Wexler, Steve Murphy (before death)

Slytherin: Marcus Andrews (Head of House), Allegra Aoki, Morgan Reznick

Ravenclaw: Aaron Glassman (Head of House), Jessica Preston, Shaun Murphy

Hufflepuff: Audrey Lim (Head of House), Claire Browne, Carly Lever

[mayapenelopeclutterbucket]

*SPOILERS* thoughts while watching TGD 3x01 “Disaster”

Someone plz tell me how these posts end up so loooong

Omg y’all I’m so pumped tgd is back oooon and idk if anybody has missed my thoughts posts or still wants them since I figured you guys liked them so much because you got to see what was going on if you couldn’t watch it live but now das me and I no longer have cable so have to wait until it’s on Hulu 😩 so HERE WE GOOO (imagine that in peters pans voice okay y’all know what I’m talking about)

-y’know I really did not need a l*mlendez recap 🙃🙃

-fuck Han but I love Daniel dae Kim 😭😭

-god damn it lim I wanted to know what happened on the date

-yay a l*mlendez kiss already 😑

-Morgan bby why you gotta do this to me I thought your heart finally grew three sizes

-I ship parmorgan this banter is cute af

-CALL L*MLENDEZ OUT HR LADY GOT EEEEEM omg I fuckin love her predicting limlendez will end 🙏🏼🙏🏼 also I like how she points out if that neil had gotten chief of surgery they wouldn’t have broken up but because lim did, it looks like he’s threatened by her power and insecure lmao

-aww my third year babies so excited about leading their own surgeries

-oh my god park and Morgan are awful 😂 being excited about a patient having cancer

-and I see melendaire working side by side 👀👀 and another look exchanged between them 👀👀 let me read into everything okay LET ME HAVE THIS

-aww Allegra got a haircut it looks nice

-oh shit glassy he got offered to be president again?!

-finally Melendez isn’t gonna send Claire to give the bad news

-oooh Claire being so sure becauze Melendez is sure 👀👀

-yay shaun caught the wine bottle

-shaun always be calling people out on their bullshit 😂

-I am not ready Claire’s centric episode but I also aaaam (it’s ep 3x03 btw)

-aww shaun being happy Claire is asking him for guidance their friendship is so pure 😭😭 him being a role model to Claire 👏🏼👏🏼

-it’s gonna suck but shaun can’t always be right and can’t save everyone and sadly needs to learn that

-ANOTHER LOOK EXCHANGED BETWEEN MELENDAIRE 👀👀

-lim looks hot in her leather jacket and braid I said it

-I’m confused on how Andrews got fired for firing someone else

-and lmao asshole Andrews got her good god bless

-you tell him ruby park is so fucked up sometimes

-I really don’t want to see feet lmao 🤢🤢 I’m gonna vomit what the actual fuck was that

-lmao suck it park for not being able to open it either

-Morgan crying and having a heart 😭

-seeing her empty stomach like that is also disturbing

-damn shaun this date was kind of a mess 😂

-where’s Andrews’s wife

-I’m unsure if I want Andrews to become a surgical attending

-YES POWER FUCKING MOVE LIM A QUUUEEEEN

-fuck yesssss a sharly kiss 😭

-aww shaun 😭 you just need to be yourself is this why Carly tells Claire to butt out because she tells Carly what shaun is feeling or still tries to help shaun??

-the look on Neil’s face 😂 on everyone’s face bruuuuh Andrews man why’d you have to introduce yourself like that are there going to be problems with Neil and andrews now

-wtf just like that glassy is president again I AM CONFUSION AMERICA EXPLAAAIN

-Damn the writers really lead with this in sickness and in health vows 😭

-is that never say never by the fray I hear or am I tripping 👀

-I was tripping 😂

-aww they way everyone is listening to Claire’s moving and inspirational speech I fuckin love this pure angel so much

-aww shaun it is worth it

-And Claire’s answering the phone from her mom 👀

-aww park left for his son and Morgan doesn’t have anyone 😩

-AND EXCUSE ME??? WAIT WHAT THE FUCK?? Her grandpa is in the same hospital as her as a patient?? And for a second I was v confused thinking he was the guy with dementia

-and aww Carly just wants to date shaun 😩

-and that promo how did I know Andrews was gonna be a Debbie downer lol

Whelp the first ep back was good guys! What’d you think? I could of course always use more melendaire but....

And I’m v excited for the Claire centric ep ok next episode is going to be laying the groundwork and then boom my baby gets an episode titled after her

Oh yeah I also could’ve used waaaay more lea

[incorrecttgdquotes]

Andrews: *reviewing the hospital Christmas card* We meant "stronger" here, right?

Aoki: What’s it say?

Andrews,reading: "I’m proud to report that our residency program is stranger than it was a year ago."

Aoki: That’s a typo.

Jessica: It could go either way.

[connerwatches]

The Good Doctor (U.S.) 

S1:E1 - Burnt Food

[dr-shaun-murphy]

the good doctor characters as musicals i like + how they feel

shaun - dear evan hansen (wishing the world was different, trying to help, a little sad, full of too many feelings, wanting to be seen for who he is)

claire - finding neverland (always doing her best, trying to be kind, making peace with the fact that not everyone will like you but loving them regardless, keeping an iron grip on the relationships that matter)

allegra - bye bye birdie (lowkey doesn’t exist but is always in the back of my mind - kind of like this musical to me)

aaron - into the woods (full of life lessons, sarcastic, old but still relevant sometimes, dramatic)

jared - catch me if you can (running far away from problems, parental issues, learned independence through trial and error)

lea - mamma mia! here we go again (unbridled happiness, moving past any tragic backstory, wanting to give and receive love, trying to seem like she’s never second guessed herself)

alex- charlie and the chocolate factory (mostly insufferable but still here for some reason, is not for everyone, desperately tries to sound deep but is really just dorky, paranoid)

[tmisos]

i wanna make a the good doctor discord,, anyone in??? (like or rb if u would want to join)

[laurenstvuniverse]

The Good Doctor S1,Ep15        It's the sick patriarchal society we live in.

Dr. Andrews: You 're an attractive, smart, interesting woman. I'm sure there was a spark. But you can't date a donor like Colter. Sorry.

Allegra Aoki: There's no actual policy against it.

Dr. Andrews: I'm not talking policy, I'm taking optics. The last thing you want is someone thinking you'd use sex to get a big donation. It's double standard, I know, but it's the world we live in.

[shippingsince01]

Listen. I don't give a shit if he's younger and a donor. Let Aoki live!!!!

[tvseries-movies-stills]

The Good Doctor || 1x17 "Smile" [HQ]

[ivy-stclaire]

Holding Hands

If you didn’t know, @nathspeedymars challenged me with the 30 Day OTP Challenge and I accepted it. I’m writing this fics as Ivy St. Claire, whom you may already know as my personal original character. Should you want to know anything about her, go here or here 

The day dawned bright and sunny, birds chirping outside as the sun shone brighter than ever, illuminating the stretch of blue sky. Ivy decided it reflected her mood spot on. 

Ever since Neil took her out on their first date, two months ago, Ivy had been nothing but a bundle of happiness, ready to burst with joy. Everyone at the hospital had seemed to noticed the change in her mood, and apparently had yet to associate it with Dr. Melendez’s sudden softer demeanor. 

Today was the day they would go official. 

Neil had insisted on speaking with both families before declaring their relationship to the world. As expected, Ivy’s stepfather, the president of a hospital just as big as St. Bonaventure, had loved him from the start. It was only a relief that Neil’s elderly parents were just as happy with Ivy. 

So now, she stood in front of her full length mirror, pondering about what to wear. She wanted everything to be perfect. Absolutely down to the last detail. Her eyes caught a soft fabric sticking out from the confines of her closet.

‘Jackpot’, Ivy beamed at the dress. It had been the one Neil had bought her to meet with his parents. It was a simple sleeveless black dress with a modest cleavage, it ended about two or three inches above the knee. She loved it!

Pairing the beautiful piece of clothing with gold sparkly jimmy choos, Ivy neatly brushed her hair, her soft blonde locks cascading down her shoulders.

Any minute now, Neil would be there to pick her up.

Not a second later, her doorbell rang. Ivy almost tripped over her own feet in her rush to get to the door. Her boyfriend stood before her, a hand behind his back and his free one adjusting the lapels of the black blazer he was wearing.

Ivy took a moment to appreciate the view. Neil had obviously done an effort to clean up nice as well. Usually, he would be content with jeans and a pale shirt, but today, he had tried for her. 

The surgeon was wearing a black blazer over a snow white polo shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was sporting dark skinny jeans and polished black shoes, the tips glinting in the sunlight.

“Hello, handsome.” Ivy smiled at her beloved.

Neil smirked. “Hello to you too, beautiful.” He revealed the large bouquet of vivid red roses from behind his back. “Bought you a present.”

“I don’t have anything to give you in return.” Ivy replied as she walked inside her apartment, inviting him to do the same.

“A kiss will do.” Neil chuckled as he helped her put the flowers in a vase. 

Ivy shook her head in fondness and wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips gently brushing the nape of his neck. Neil slowly dipped his head and caught her lips with his, giving her teasing pecks until she opened her mouth and his tongue slid inside, enjoying the moment.

They broke away after a few seconds. Ivy went in search of her bag as Neil turned on the engine, predicting they still had twenty minutes before being considered late. Within five minutes, Ivy was inside his shiny black Mercedes and they were pulling out of her building’s driveway.

They were soon at the hospital, ten minutes early. Neil, being the gentleman he was, opened the car door for Ivy and reached down for a quick peck on her lips as he helped her out of his car.

Just before entering the hospital, Ivy stopped him and grabbed his hand. Neil laced their fingers together, kissing her knuckles. 

They walked inside, feeling every pair of eyes turning to look at them. Whispers quickly filled the silence, and Neil tugged Ivy closer to him, not liking the attention at all. He was fine being praised on his skills by a large number of people, but when the main focus of gossip, all he wanted was to run.

“Good morning, Ivy!” Claire approached them with a big smile, Jared trailing slowly behind her. Marcus Andrews and Allegra Aoki interrupted their talk on the corner to stare at the newest couple.

“Morning, Claire.” The pediatric gave her friend an one armed hug, never letting go of Neil’s hand. “What’s up?”

“You’re the talk of the day.” She commented dryly, pointedly nodding at their joined hands, but refraining doing any more, since Neil was still one of her bosses.

“We know.” He intervened smoothly, glancing around the lobby. “It’ll wear off... sometime. Won’t it?” Neil directed his last question to Ivy.

She squeezed his hand. “Sure, honey, whatever lets you sleep at night.”

“You help me sleep at night.” He retorted immediately, ignoring Claire’s giggling burst at his comment. 

Ivy smirked. “Oh, I know honey, I know.” She pulled him closer, wrapping her free arm around his waist and burying her face on his chest.

Neil rolled his eyes, kissing the back of her head. He noticed Marcus approaching them just as the intern surgeons quickly headed to the opposite direction.

“What are you people waiting for?” The chief surgeon barked at all the staff gawking at them. “Are you paid to stare at respected members of this fine institute?” 

They all dispersed at the disapproval in his voice. Ivy laughed as she lifted her head to look at her friend.

“Thanks, Markie. Was getting tired of that.” 

Andrews sighed at the nickname. “Will you stop calling me that?”

“Nope.”

“...Okay.” Marcus pursed his lips. His gaze then shifted to their hands. “Congratulations by the way, can’t say I didn’t see that coming.”

Ivy simply smiled, resting her head on the crook of Neil’s neck, sighing contentedly in the arms of her boyfriend.

[freemaagyemans]

R.I.P to these amazing TGD characters

They ain’t dead, just that the writers forget they ever existed 

[mayapenelopeclutterbucket]

My thoughts on tgd 2x09 ep “Empathy” aka I got cocky with all the melendaire moments & now I’m being punished 😩

-Aww glassman is back with the yoyo

-Damn shaun gonna go around glassman this is so emotional already wtf

-Oh shit looks like Neil got a haircut

-Fuck yeah melendaire doing surgery together again

-Claire already knows something is up

-Awww shaun telling park facts about empathy suck it park

-Am I supposed to feel bad for this dude Claire and Morgan’s patient because the answer is no

-Lmao be real aoki the betting pool is about when melendaire is gonna get together

-And I knewww it Andrews is gonna finally pick a chief of surgeon

-And I knew Claire would figure it out

-Aww yay residents getting lunch together and getting together how adorable 😭

-4:1 tho 👀👀 Claire is definitely the 1 that rooting for Melendez thank you @gilbxrt-blythe for pointing it out

-Lol morgan and Claire on opposite sides of course 👌🏼

-Ngl that was v cute with Morgan talking about Claire making sure everyone was validated and did she also eat her chips??

-And fuck I just said in the group chat he should be medically castrated why am I on a roll tonight??

-Oh shit Melendez looks like he agrees with Morgan and lmao Andrews 😂 but looks like I was wrong wow

-I love Melendez so much and he’s so attractive and is always looking at Claire also looks unsure about what he said to do to the patient

-Yes I’ve been wondering where you are Lim

-Omg Andrews stahhp but whispering that exchange was GOLDEN

-Damn that would’ve been a great opportunity for Morgan to be like I like men AND women

-Omg Lim and Melendez talking 👌🏼👌🏼 and Neil’s little laughs and omg that whole exchange was adorable and Lim sassing Melendez cute all of it was cute

-I love shaun 😭 and shea is back in a car together 😍😍

-Paige spara is so beautiful and I’m in love

-And omg melendaire is having a moment that long look between them fuck guys

-Yessss I KNEW MELENDEZ WOULD KICK ANDREWS OUT FOR CLAIRE but really you’re gonna take lims words gdi Neil 😂

-Lmao morgan and Claire don’t even believe that he came up with himself

-Aww shaun being overwhelmed 😩

-OH MY GOD CLAIRE I just busted out laughing and y’all wonder why Melendez kicked her off I love her but she is always ready to fight Melendez on his decisions and what she is speaking is the TRUTH THO

-Also I think we’re finally gonna get morgan and Claire friendship because morgan looked impressed by Claire’s sassing

-Melendaire is always on opposite sides and I’m HERE for that angst and drama and Neil would never let Claire throw her residency away falsifying records

-Daaamn everyone is sassing their attendings today

-YES AUDREY CALL HIM OUT damn Neil that was savage so much for the friendship moment earlier lmao and we all know he only spoke up because he wanted Claire to be able to speak up 👀👀

-FUCK HIM UP LIM

-We all know asshole Andrews is sexist so he better think Lim would be good for the job

-Lmao Morgan and her pun about the ball being in his court inappropriate time but still appreciated

-Aww Lea helping shaun learn to drive while using medical analogies 😭😭 they’re the fucking cutest

-He’s gonna kill him self isn’t he George I mean

-Yes my precious babies he’s driving omg of course it gets ruined and I’m so happy Lea is helping shaun do this and helping him learn SCREW ALL OF YOU FOR HATING HER

-Lmao the bet is so funny and Melendez and Lim are either both gonna get it together or not at all and DID YOU GUYS SEE CLAIRE GLANCE AT NEIL WHEN ANDREWS SAID SURGICAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

-WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK HOW AM I SURPRISED ASSHOLE ANDREWS STILL DECIDED TO BE AN ASSHOLE WTF CAN HE EVEN DO THAT??

-wow shaun was right tho look at him get all that money buy superbowl tickets shaun

-Im not liking this look Lim is givin Melendez🙃

-WHY AM I ALWAYS RIGHT TONIGHT WHAT THE HELL poor morgan and Claire for seeing that happen

-If Lim and Melendez sleep together I’m gonna flip my shit

-I wanted a bar scene w/ melendaire not THIS she’s supposed to tease Neil about feelings for his resident

-Park actually comforting someone again I’m shocked

-Yes the morgan/Claire friendship moment I need is happening I love them both now it’s official morgan please don’t make me regret it

-Aww shea taking glassman together to their appointment and Shaun getting license for glassman omg I CANT

-FUCK THE QUARANTINE PROMO IS COMING

-oh shit didn’t think the one who’d be infected was Lim

[niaking]

This pride month only! You can get all three of books in the Queer & Trans Artists of Color series ($60 value) for only $50, plus free shipping within the US. To place an international order, email niaking (at) zoho (dot) com. Order here.

Volume One:

A collection of sixteen unique and honest conversations you won’t read anywhere else... Mixed-race queer art activist Nia King left a full-time job in an effort to center her life around making art. Grappling with questions of purpose, survival, and compromise, she started a podcast called We Want the Airwaves in order to pick the brains of fellow queer and trans artists of color about their work, their lives, and “making it” - both in terms of success and in terms of survival. In this collection of interviews, Nia discusses fat burlesque with Magnoliah Black, queer fashion with Kiam Marcelo Junio, interning at Playboy with Janet Mock, dating gay Latino Republicans with Julio Salgado, intellectual hazing with Kortney Ryan Ziegler, gay gentrification with Van Binfa, getting a book deal with Virgie Tovar, the politics of black drag with Micia Mosely, evading deportation with Yosimar Reyes, weird science with Ryka Aoki, gay public sex in Africa with Nick Mwaluko, thin privilege with Fabian Romero, the tyranny of “self-care” with Lovemme Corazón, “selling out” with Miss Persia and Daddie$ Pla$tik, the self-employed art activist hustle with Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarsinha, and much, much more. Welcome to the future of QPOC art activism.

Volume Two: 

A celebration of queer and trans Black and brown genius… Building on the groundbreaking first volume, Queer and Trans Artists of Color: Stories of Some of Our Lives, NIA KING is back with a second archive of interviews from her podcast We Want the Airwaves. She maintains her signature frankness as an interviewer while seeking advice on surviving capitalism from creative folks who often find their labor devalued. In this collection of interviews, Nia discusses biphobia in gay men’s communities with JUBA KALAMKA, helping border-crossers find water in the desert with MICHA CÁRDENAS, trying to preserve Indigenous languages through painting with GRACE ROSARIO PERKINS, revolutionary monster stories with ELENA ROSE, using textiles to protest police violence with INDIRA ALLEGRA, trying to respectfully reclaim one’s own culture with AMIR RABIYAH, taking on punk racism with MIMI THI NGUYEN, the imminent trans women of color world takeover with LEXI ADSIT, queer life in WWII Japanese American incarceration camps with TINA TAKEMOTO, hip-hop and Black Nationalism with AJUAN MANCE, making music in exile with MARTÍN SORRONDEGUY, issue-based versus identity-based organizing with TRISH SALAH, ten years of curating and touring with the QTPOC arts organization Mangos With Chili with CHERRY GALETTE, raising awareness about gentrification through games with MATTIE BRICE, self-publishing versus working with a small press with VIVEK SHREYA, and the colonial nature of journalism school with KILEY MAY. The conversation continues. Bear witness to QTPOC brilliance.

Volume Three:

Is it possible to make art and make rent without compromising your values? Nia King set out to answer this question when she started We Want the Airwaves podcast in 2013. In her Queer & Trans Artists of Color book series, Nia collects podcast interviews —​ with Black, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern and Indigenous LGBTQ writers, musicians and visual artists — which feature both incredible storytelling and practical advice. In the latest installment, Queer & Trans Artists of Color, Volume Three, she discusses performing at the White House with VENUS SELENITE, the global nature of colorism with KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE, writing for Marvel Comics with GABBY RIVERA, using lies to tell unspeakable truths with KAI CHENG THOM, Black mental health with ANTHONY J. WILLIAMS, curating diverse anthologies with JOAMETTE GIL, growing up trans in rural Idaho with MEY RUDE, covering crime as a baby-faced reporter with SAM LEVIN, feminist approaches to journalism with SARAH BURKE, documenting Black punk history with OSA ATOE, crossing color lines with QWO-LI DRISKILL, fat hairy brown goddesses with PARADISE KHANMALEK, the usefulness of anger with JIA QING WILSON-YANG, transitioning as death and rebirth with ARIELLE TWIST, surviving homelessness and touring the world with STAR AMERASU and much, much more.

[formaldehyde40]

Blackblood!AU - Revamped

Manusia takut pada perbedaan; mereka yang berbeda, dan mereka yang mampu membahayakan manusia. Mereka yang terlahir sebagai mutan memiliki kemampuan untuk mengendalikan energi pada bentuk paling mentahnya, pada titik ia mampu mengendalikan energi tersebut sebagai energi kehidupannya sendiri dan memperpanjang hidup layaknya abadi. Genetik? Bisa jadi. Mutasi yang menyebabkan seorang manusia terlahir sebagai mutan mungkin dipengaruhi juga oleh faktor genetik, terlihat dari bagaimana anak-anak mutan banyak lahir dari keluarga yang pernah menghasilkan mutan sebelumnya.

Jarang ada pertanda jelas pada fisik luar seorang mutan. Ada memang yang mampu memanipulasi fisiknya; namun, kebanyakan akan berusaha menutupi jati dirinya sebagai seorang mutan. Satu yang tidak dapat disembunyikan adalah warna darah mutan yang lebih gelap ketimbang manusia normal; dan semakin tua, semakin menghitam.

.

.

Allegra Maeve Lynch.

Allegra adalah bisa dikatakan sebagai salah satu kemunculan mutan pertama. Lahir di Italia di pertengahan abad ke-14, imunitasnya terhadap Wabah Hitam membuatnya menjadi perhatian. Allegra remaja yang diketahui tidak pernah sakit hendak dijual kepada pihak penguasa; hingga akhirnya sekelompok penjarah membakar habis kediaman keluarga Lynch untuk menculik putri mereka yang berharga- meski gadis itu tidak pernah ditemukan. Allegra pertama kali menggunakan kekuatannya untuk mengubah wujud fisiknya; kini berpenampilan layaknya anak perempuan berusia sepuluh tahun di tepi jalan dan diselamatkan oleh keluarga bangsawan yang kebetulan lewat.

Sepandaipandainya Allegra berusaha menyembunyikan keabadiannya, ia tidak dapat melakukannya dengan sempurna sepanjang hidupnya. Demi membentuk pasukan yang tidak bisa mati, Allegra diburu oleh pemerintah Italia dan tertangkap. Dari Allegra, mereka berhasil menciptakan beberapa mutan yang sukses menunjukkan kemampuan uniknya. Allegra pun berpura-pura patuh, meyakinkan mereka hanya bahwa Allegra sendiri lah yang mampu membesarkan dan mengembangkan kemampuan anak-anak itu dengan semestinya. Tiga di antaranya adalah L'Imperatore; sang raja, yang dianggap paling mirip sang ibu. Ia memiliki kemampuan yang nyaris sama dengan Allegra; mengendalikan energi dalam bentuk yang paling mentah, memanipulasi fisik dan mental. Yang kedua adalah La Temperanza; yang mampu menyerap energi dan kekuatan dari mutan lain, serta menguras habis kekuatan dan kehidupan manusia. Yang ketiga adalah Il Diavolo ; yang mampu memindahkan kesadarannya kepada manusia dan mengendalikan manusia itu sesuka hatinya, termasuk mengirimnya pada kematian.  Allegra pun membesarkan ketiganya sebagai alat baginya untuk kabur.

Setelah ketiganya cukup dewasa, Allegra menggunakan kekuatannya untuk memanipulasi memori mereka; membuat mereka berpikir bahwa mereka adalah mutan-mutan yang sama ditangkap dengannya dengan latar belakang yang Allegra ciptakan di dalam benak mereka, serta menanamkan juga keinginan dan keharusan untuk melarikan diri. L’Impeatore kemudian dikenal sebagai Adolphus Lynch; satu-satunya yang kemudian bisa mengingat Allegra dengan sempurna, La Temperanza menjadi Vriyashra, dan Il Diavolo menjadi Moreno.

Adolphus Lynch.

Berkelana, Adolphus pun menjadikan tanah Makau sebagai rumah dan keturunannya menjadi keluarga Wang yang dikenal saat ini. Keluarga Wang adalah keluarga mafia penguasa kasino Makau, yang telah menjadi rahasia umum bahwa banyak anak-anak mutan yang terlahir dalam keluarga itu namun tak tersentuh oleh pemerintah maupun pemburu sebab mereka terlalu kuat. Adolphus pernah sekali mengubah manusia menjadi mutan; ia melakukannya secara tidak sengaja dan tidak bisa melakukannya lagi- tapi, menurutnya,  Il Mondo; sang dunia (re: Allegra), mampu melakukannya.

Oliviero Savino Wang.

Salah satu mutan termuda yang lahir di keluarga Wang; memiliki kemampuan untuk mengendalikan energi panas. Ia mampu mengendalikan panas tubuh manusia dan memadatkannya yang mengakibatkan ledakan yang memecahkan tubuh tersebut. Kekuatan ini menjadikan Oliviero algojo keluarga Wang.

Kelak menjadi pemimpin kelompok ekstremis, Babylon, yang memburu anti-mutan.

Clarence Wang.

Salah satu mutan termuda yang lahir di keluarga Wang, adik beda ibu yang beberapa bulan lebih muda dari Oliviero; memiliki kemampuan untuk membaca dan mengirimkan pikiran. Kelak, mampu mengendalikan pikiran.

Matthew Elio Wang.

Seorang manusia yang merupakan kakak satu ibu dari Oliviero dan anak angkat keluarga Wang. Adolphus sempat meminjam tubuh Matthew dan kejadian tersebut mengubah tubuhnya dan menjadikannya mutan; mengundang pertanyaan apabila ada kekuatan mutan yang mampu menyebabkan mutasi pada manusia.

Moreno Lynch – Tanudjaja.

Mutan yang mampu memindahkan kesadarannya ke tubuh manusia dan menggunakannya sebagai wadah. Selama itu, tubuh aslinya akan tertidur dan tidak menua. Menurutnya, ia bisa mati jika ia tetap berada dalam wadahnya ketika wadahnya mati; sehingga, satu cara agar ia bisa terus hidup abadi adalah berpindah wadah sebelum wadahnya tua/mati. Moreno menggunakan kekuatannya untuk mencari uang sekaligus kesenangan; menjadi pembunuh bayaran. Begitu banyak kasus pembunuhan yang terjadi dengan cara yang serupa dan pelaku yang sangat berbeda; menjadi pertanyaan bagi kepolisian Indonesia.

Moreno sering mengeluhkan bahwa ia sudah hidup terlalu lama dan tidak mampu mengingat masa lalunya. Hal ini terjadi sebab Allegra menanamkan seluruh memorinya pada Moreno dan membuatnya kabur, sehingga Moreno tidak bisa mengenali mana memorinya sendiri dan mana memori Allegra.

Konflik muncul ketika muncul seorang penyelidik yang mampu membaca sejarah sesuatu/seseorang dari sentuhan, dan Moreno berusaha menjadikan sang penyelidik sebagai wadah berikutnya. Sang penyidik membuka ingatan Moreno tentang Allegra.

Yuka Hiiragi.

Mirip dengan keluarga Wang, keluarga Hiiragi adalah keluarga pembawa gen mutan sekaligus terpandang di Jepang. Yuka memiliki kemampuan mengendalikan air dan berumur panjang. Ayahnya, Seigen Hiiragi, adalah kepala keluarga Hiiragi yang dianggap kuat dan abadi; pada akhirnya mati. Yuka menutupi kematian Seigen agar keluarga Hiiragi tetap ditakuti dan mengendalikan keluarga Hiiragi dengan menjadikan Seigen sebagai wayangnya.

Kangin Seo.

Mutan asal Korea Selatan yang mampu mengendalikan tumbuhan. Ia mampu menumbuhkan tanaman bahkan di atas tanah kering.

Reira Ogawa.

Memiliki kemampuan mengendalikan darah di tubuhnya sendiri, dan belajar untuk mengendalikan darah di tubuh orang lain berdasarkan arahan Oliviero. Pembunuh bayaran dan buronan. Mampu membuat darah yang berada di tubuhnya keluar dan mengeras layaknya eksoskeleton dan membentuk sayap.

Arunaditya Sakthi Wangsadinata.

Kerabat keluarga Wang yang tinggal di Indonesia. Seorang mutan, yang kemudian berperan sebagai agen ganda untuk komisi pemburu mutan di Indonesia. Ia memiliki kemampuan untuk mengenali dan menemukan mutan-mutan lainnya. Ditugaskan untuk memburu Vriyashra. Bergabung dengan kelompok Babylon untuk melindungi Vriyashra.

Gianinno Narendra Angkadiredja.

Manusia yang bekerja untuk komisi pemburu mutan di Indonesia. Kemudian bergabung dengan Babylon.

Marcellia Gayatri Evania Bramasathya.

Bekerja untuk komisi pemburu mutan di Indonesia. Ia tidak menyadari bahwa dirinya adalah seorang mutan; baru mengetahuinya setelah Arunaditya memberitahunya. Kemudian bergabung dengan Babylon.

Yunoh Park.

Manusia, kekasih (re: baby boy) seorang mutan wanita. Kekasihnya semestinya abadi, namun pada akhirnya mati. Setelah kematian kekasihnya, Yunoh hidup dengan kemewahan yang ditinggalkan wanita itu dan meminum darahnya yang dibekukan. Menurut pengakuannya, darah wanita itu membuat Yunoh tidak menua.

Cleve Wu.

Manusia. Pemburu mutan yang tadinya ditugaskan untuk membunuh Clarence dan berakhir mengabdi pada Clarence. Berambisi untuk menjadi mutan agar bisa hidup abadi dan terus mengabdi.

Claudia Halim.

Mutan. Memiliki kemampuan untuk membentuk perisai yang menahan segala jenis energi/kekuatan di sekitarnya. Perisai dapat didorong sehingga menyerupai suatu ruangan; entah Claudia berada di dalamnya maupun di luar.

Jiyong Park.

Mutan, yang menyembunyikan fakta bahwa ia adalah seorang mutan. Memiliki kemampuan untuk melihat sejarah dari partikel/objek yang disentuhnya, meski tidak terasah.

Genevieve Wienata.

Manusia. Memiliki adik seorang mutan yang harus kabur karena diburu, Genevieve memiliki ambisi untuk melindungi mutan. Merupakan anggota Badan Intelijen Negara.

Jocelyn  Aoki.

Salah satu mutan pertama di dunia bersama dengan Allegra dengan kemampuan memadatkan materi menjadi kristal, termasuk tubuhnya sendiri. Selagi Jocelyn membuat kristal yang melingkupinya dan tertidur/hibernasi, Jocelyn tidak akan menua. Jocelyn lahir di sekitar abad ke-20 dan memasuki masa hibernasi panjang setelah kakak tertuanya diburu.

Jasper Aoki.

Mutan yang lahir di abad ke-20. Jasper hidup dalam pelarian setelah kakak perempuannya tertangkap dalam perburuan. Dalam pelariannya, Jasper bertemu dengan Allegra. Jasper memiliki kemampuan untuk berubah wujud menjadi seekor naga; dan dalam wujud itu, ia mampu menyerap segala bentuk energi di sekitarnya dan menjadikannya energi kehidupan. 

Josephine Aoki.

Josephine lahir beberapa saat sebelum perang dunia kedua pecah. Orang Jepang yang terobsesi pada keabadian berusaha mendapatkan kekuatan ketiga Aoki bersaudara dan berhasil mendapatkan Josephine. Josephine yang mampu mengendalikan energi matahari dan menjadikannya energi kehidupan memang nyaris abadi. Setelah lama menjadi objek percobaan Jepang, Josephine dibeli oleh Laboratorium 9710.

Richard Alden.

Anak manusia yatim piatu yang tanpa sengaja bertemu dengan Allegra dan Jasper. Perang pecah di kota yang mereka tinggali dan nyaris menjadikan Richard korban. Di saat ia sekarat, barulah ia menyadari bahwa kedua temannya bukanlah manusia. Allegra bertanya pada Richard apakah ia ingin melihat dunia setelah perang usai dan Richard menginginkannya. Allegra pun menyentuh Richard dan mempercepat kemampuan regenerasi tubuhnya, di saat yang sama, mengubah Richard menjadi mutan. Richard mengadaptasi kemampuan Allegra yang mampu mempercepat kemampuan regenerasi, baik tubuhnya sendiri maupun tubuh orang yang disentuhnya.

Raniero Byron.

Satu dari kembar Byron. Terlahir sebagai mutan sementara saudara kembarnya, Delano Byron, terlahir sebagai manusia. Memiliki kemampuan mengendalikan api. Ia tahu Delano tidak akan bisa hidup normal layaknya manusia jika ia terus bersamanya, dan memutuskan untuk pergi bersama Allegra, Richard, dan Jasper.

[sextonsharpwinhalstead]

Okay, so I’m a slut for medical dramas but I also get frustrated when there’s a lack of diversity or when queer/PoC/disabled etc characters exist solely to suffer at the hands of writers. Could you rank the current medical dramas from best to worst in terms of diversity?

 HO’S UNITE! 

I completely understand. Not only in the lack of diversity but also a lack of the KIND of diversity. I have a weird theory about television and often movie casts. Of course this ranking is only of the shows I watch. Worst to Best.

The Resident

The Good: 

The show begins with the audience following Devon Pravesh, a Gujarati and South Asian man. He’s on of the most realistic characters considering most medical shows seem to gloss over the fact that most people in medical school as well as working practitioners look an awful lot like Devon and less like Conrad. They have the shoot-for-excellence-at-all-times Nigerian immigrant surgeon and all around bad-ass Mina Okafor, and of course The Raptor, AJ Austin who was adopted by a Chinese man and a Black American woman. The newest edition of Dr. Barrett Cain adds another bit of chocolate goodness to look at too.

The Bad:

Aside from Mina’s poorly cast mother Lynne Whitfield and the introduction of Devon’s parents the show hasn’t figured out how to weave in the different ethnicity's and backgrounds of their characters of color. No one speaks in their mother-tongue, celebrates any holidays or traditions tied to their respective cultures and religions and of course the most obvious. EVERYONE here is straight and able-bodied. And there are only TWO female leads, with most of the other recurring female characters being sent away or killed off.

The Good Doctor

The Good:

Although not the first medical drama to introduce a character with Autism it is the first to have one as the lead and his autism is a focus of the show. In the beginning there was the English born Dr. Jared Kalu, we know he comes from money and is assumed to be Asian, the actor is actually Nigerian and white, after he left the show Dr. Park was introduced. The Good Doctor has had the most Asian representation on a medical show I believe EVER in the history of prime-time television. Allegra Aoki, Dr. Aurdrey Lim, and Dr. Jackson Han round the out the Asian representation on the show.  Carly Lever, Dr. Claire Browne, and Dr. Marcus Andrews are represented as black or mixed-race Black Americans. Dr. Neil Melendez is the only Latino or Hispanic character he really doesn’t lean into it. Dr. Glassman and his wife are both Jewish.

The Bad:

The Good Doctor is doing something different having an autistic character as the lead, and although Freddie Highmore is a talented actor, he isn’t autistic. Also it would’ve been even better if Shaun could’ve been Shauna. A chance was missed here by taking a look at the often under diagnosed sect of girls and women who are autistic. The show has a lot of women on it both recurring and regular but ALL of them, just like the men,are straight. And a missed opportunity too considering the actress who plays Carly has been married to a woman since 2013. Also, Carly and Claire can pass the paper bag test, NO ONE is bilingual, and if they are they don’t show it or any of the other aspects of their cultural differences it’s very “American.

Chicago Med

The Good:

Out of all the One Chicago Shows, Med has the most racially diverse cast as well as diverse recurring characters. They have four black women on the cast. April Sexton whose real surname is Suassuna is Afro-Brazilian, who speaks both Spanish and Portuguese, attends family functions based on her heritage and has even shared a few anecdotes and beliefs from her culture which also include her brother Dr. Noah Sexton. Ditto for the recurring character Dr. Isidore Latham. He has Asperger’s, is Jewish, and observes all aspects of Judaism including wearing a kippah, and sharing some Jewish based jokes. Dr. Ethan Choi is believed to be Korean and Iranian born Dominic Rains has been added to the cast as Dr. Crockett Marcel rounding out the leads of Asian descent. 

The Bad:

Ethan’s ethnicity and race has only been brought up when it was being demeaned. Other than that the show leans heavily on his military background to give him depth but gives zero basis for any customs or cultural traits he probably had growing up. Nary a mention is given about Crockett’s race only his southern New Orleans heritage leaving us as an audience wondering if he’s Creole? Spicy White? No idea. Also April is Brazilian but almost exclusively speaks Spanish when not speaking English to her brother which is by far the strangest considering I have never met anyone who chooses English if they are raised in a multicultural household, and definitely not in conversation with their family members. But never Portuguese. All of these shows fail at representing Black American cultural, which leaves Maggie and Sharon with very little to share. And of course the most obvious. There are no LGBT characters on the show. None are leads and it doesn’t appear as though they are adding any or thinking about opening any new doors within the characters.

New Amsterdam

The Good

New Amsterdam does a lot of things right. My dear Vijay Kapoor who’s Indian identity is very wrapped in who he is, from his accent, to his prayers, mannerisms, and discussions of his past he isn’t just a token he’s a full character. Although the show has yet to address it Dr. Helen Sharpe who is obviously black is played by Freema Agyeman who is not so obviously half Iranian on her mothers side. But she is English and her disposition, her language and slang are represented in that regard. Lauren Bloom is a neurodivergent character with ADHD and a struggling addict. Dr. Floyd Reynolds is Black American who has Sunday dinners at his mothers. And Dr. Iggy Frome is a gay married man with 50 bajillion Pakistani children and aiming for one more. Recurring characters, Dr. Valentina Castro, Dora, and Casey are all  Latino and Evie Floyd is mixed race, white and Black American. Not to mention this show has plethora of diverse peripheral characters, little people, hijabs, turbans, kippahs,everywhere, you name it you’ve probably seen it. The show has to be diverse because it’s in New York and it’s supposed to be an international hospital. The place is MASSIVE. 

The Bad:

All that diversity, all the difference, cultural richness, ripe stories running amok and the entire show is centered on a cis-het white man. Not mention Casey and Dora don’t even have last names. Maybe that’s why the actress isn’t on the show anymore and is now on Emergence, New Amsterdam’s rival at that time slot. 

Grey’s Anatomy

The Good

Where do you start with the longest running medical drama on television.

They’ve had it all and still do. They constantly have LGBT characters, who are shown to get hot and heavy the same as their het-counterparts. Where other shows have two men bird-kissing like they don’t even want to touch, Levi and Nico are rolling around in ambulances and hooking up in on-call rooms. Ditto for the women, I stan Callie x Arizona especially their golden years. Nothing will ever touch the way Arizona used to say “Calliope” when they first started dated, it still makes me smile thinking about it. They’ve had addicts, alcoholics, neurodivigent characters, every race you could think of, Muslim, Christian,Jewish,and atheists. All kinds of socio-economic backgrounds. If you can think it they’ve had it and there really isn’t much reason or room to list all the characters both recurring and regular who have checked damn near every box.

The Bad:

It’s time for more brown Asians. And a regular neurodivergent character although there is more than enough room to diagnose a few of the characters if they wanted to. I’d be happy with a deaf doctor too. Also Carina DeLuca is currently the only Bi-character and she’s been kind of only used as a bed warmer which is...well, yikes.