#asian tv series review

[shamelesskpoper]

KDrama Review: Family Matters

Korean Drama Family Matters is a supernatural black comedy

Title: Family Matters, Family Plan Episodes: 6 Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Comedy, Family, Action Story: 8 out of 10 Characters: 8 out of 10 Cinematography: 8 out of 10 Korean Drama Family Matters is a supernatural black comedy Poster of the Korean Drama Family Matters Story A group of individuals with special abilities pose as a family to protect themselves.…

[rickchung]

Late Bloomer (prod. Jasmeet Raina).

Crave's Sikh-Canadian family sitcom explores the intergenerational complications of contemporary internet culture colliding with traditional South Asian values. Created by and starring the former "Jus Reign" YouTuber, who rocketed to online stardom before going dark, his series balances issues of pleasing your immigrant parents and chasing your dreams while still living at home well into your thirties with trying to be true to both yourself and your heritage. It reveals so much about juggling multiple cultural identities while trying to make it in a social media influencer ecosystem.

[lkjhgfdsaqwerty]

[Series Review] When I Fly Towards You

★★★★

Nonton ini karena katanya setipe sama Hidden Love, she fell first he fell harder hahaha. Bedanya ini si cewe ngejar cowonya brutal, terang-terangan.

Ini drama 2/3 lebih itu fokus zaman SMA, terus lebihnya kuliah + kerja.

Bagus, ringan, minin konflik. Cocok buat kalian yang nyari drama buat kabur dari penatnya kehidupan.

Romance-nya juga ga menye-menye, terus suka banget sama friendship 5 sekawan. Main couple gemes, tapi second couple-nya juga ga kalah uwu (apalagi Tom-Jerry relationship mereka hahaha)

Minusnya menurutku

karakter Zaizai ga ada development-nya, dari awal sampai akhir ya gitu aja. ya dari SMA sampai tamat ga ada perubahan

ini kan ceritanya ada rentang 8 tahun, tapi dari zaman SMA sampai kerja karakter utama penampilannya sama terus, jadi pas ep akhir, nonton adegan nikah berasa lihat anak SMA nikah (+ muka zaizai emang baby face, tapi make-upnya ga mendukung umur jadi ya gitu kesannya)

[cincydrawing]

No matter how many times I reviewed this scene, I still feel it’s so…well, gay.

A male recovers his memory bc seeing his lover is a very common storyline in Estern Asian romantic stories or TV series.

[room-surprise]

Dungeon Meshi Season 1 EP 5 review

Episode 5 of the anime came out and we got to see Kabru!!! My boy Kabru!!! Oh right there was other stuff after the first five minutes.

KABRU THOUGH!!!

I don't actually have a lot to say about this episode. I thought it was competent, although as always characters standing around and talking, or doing simple tasks like eating, are just not Trigger's strong point.

Has anybody deciphered the language that Kui is using in the backgrounds? SO HAPPY that her glyphs are here now, instead of the Japanese in the first episode. I've tried to figure out what they are, but I'm honestly stumped. Seems like a combination of Norse runes, Greek letters, Cuneiform and Sanskrit...

Was NOT a fan of the way they overdid Kabru scaring Mikbell. It's really not a joke that's even that funny, so I think the lighting change and drama of it was really overselling it. Would have been much better if it was like in the manga, some childish, light-hearted ribbing between friends while they get ready to leave.

Although it was VERY VERY funny, I was also not a fan of the youtube-poop-esque zoom out on Marcille when she sees the treasure bugs. Like Laios' galaxy brain moment, comedic edits like this remind me that I'm watching a TV show, instead of allowing me to be immersed in the historical fantasy world. If I wanted modern jokes I'd be watching an Isekai where the characters are in a video game, not Dungeon Meshi.

I think they could have gotten an equally good laugh just from doing a simple zoom out.

I love the way they're depicting Laios. You can clearly see all the red flags his friends are picking up on and how he might be scary to others, but he's also very sympathetic and sweet.

All the Japanese VA's are doing a great job. I liked Kabru's Japanese voice a little better than his English voice just because I think he did a better job capturing Kabru's dual nature - he started out very sweet and cute, and then dropped his timbre noticeably once he was no longer sweet-talking someone. The English voice actor meanwhile felt like their voice basically stayed the same the entire episode.

THE DUB

This is still the better way to watch the show, the subtitles are SO lacking that they make the story harder to follow. The dub script, meanwhile, does a much better job. I wonder if there's a way to watch it with Japanese audio and the English dub subtitles?

BangZoom continues to make interesting casting decisions that make me VERY curious to see how they're going to handle the elves when they finally arrive.

Kabru, Daya and Kuro are all voiced by black voice actors! Rin's voice actress is Asian American, and Namari's voice actress is nonbinary. They all sound fantastic and I'm excited to hear them develop their characters as the series progresses.

Obviously Kabru isn't black, he's Indian, but Zon also isn't black, so I appreciate casting people of color to play characters of color (?) or at least, characters that are minorities? It feels like that's what they're trying to do.

ON THE OTHER HAND, Daya is very much not a minority or a character of color... I suppose that would be a case of race-blind casting? Which is also a good practice, getting new, underutilized talent into the industry... But obviously not a part of the previous point. Regardless, she sounds great.

Again, REALLY wonder how this will influence their casting decisions with the elves. Wonder if any of this was done with instruction from Trigger or Kui, or if it's 100% BangZoom operating on their own.

[shitpostingperidot]

Kamala Khan’s bookshelves

Kamala’s room in The Marvels is an absolute treasure trove of little details to zoom in on, and I’ve identified so many books on her shelves!

Shelf 1, top to bottom:

1. Landmark Experiments in Twentieth Century Physics by George L. Trigg

College-level book about experiments that helped us learn about x-rays, lasers, isotopes, superconductors, and all kinds of other things I don’t understand. Meant to be more practical than theoretical since it talks about the actual methodologies of these experiments. Could be for school, or for Kamala and Bruno to run their own tests of Kamala’s powers. The first of many books in the Khan house that come from Dover Publications.

2. Space Time Matter by Hermann Weyl

“An esoteric initiation into space time physics” -Amazon reviewer. I’m gonna be real, I don’t understand half the words in this book description, but apparently it’s famous for introducing gauge theory, which was later reborn as phase transformations in quantum theory. I can see this being something Kamala reads to try and understand the bangle transporting her to the Partition. Also from Dover.

3. A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong

A graphic novel about a high school girl’s basketball team learning to work together despite their many differences and conflicts. Also it has a gorgeous color palette. Seems fairly self explanatory why it’s in this movie. I’ll definitely be borrowing this from my library! Like my friend Kamala recommended a book to me herself.

4. The Good Immigrant anthology edited by Nikesh Shukla

21 essays from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in the UK about their experiences. It was crowdfunded initially, extremely critically acclaimed, and has gotten spinoffs and sequels. Riz Ahmed, who is British Pakistani, is one contributor, and a fun fact is that Rish Shah (Kamran from Ms. Marvel) worked with Riz Ahmed in an Oscar winning short called The Long Goodbye. Also, the editor, Nikesh Shukla, is currently writing the Spider-Man India comics series!

5. Bright Lines by Tanwi Nandini Islam

A coming-of-age story about 3 young adults with complicated family, friend, and romantic relationships between them. They have to travel from Brooklyn to Bangladesh together one summer and thereby discover a lot about themselves. I haven’t read it, but there seems to be a ton of complex representation of LGBTQ, POC, immigrant, and Muslim characters. I wonder how much the three main characters can be compared with our three characters with complex relationships in The Marvels, and I wonder which character Kamala most relates to!

6. I can’t tell! The font is bugging the hell out of me because theoretically, with that amount of contrast, I should be able to read a word when I get two inches from the TV and mess with the settings. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

7. I also can’t tell, but I’m being easier on myself because the title is written in white on a yellow background. It’s not the only book I know off the top of my head with this color scheme (Yellowface by RF Kuang) because the title is definitely multiple words. Help!

Shelf 2, right to left:

1. One Night that Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

A YA romance where, through a convoluted series of events, a teenager must face all of her insecurities in one night. I can see Kamala devouring this as brain candy after wrestling with those advanced science books, or using it as fic inspiration!

2. Can’t tell, but love the color scheme!

This next one is a weird one, because I am 100% sure of what book it is, but I cannot find a picture of a matching edition.

3. Wizard at Large by Terry Brooks

It’s definitely, without a doubt, this book (where a character and a magical medallion are accidentally transported to Earth from another realm and switches places with an evil genie). Like those are the words on the spine and the plot of the book is an obvious choice for this movie. The fonts match on the audiobook, the ebook, and the next two books in the series. But try as I might, I cannot find any proof on the internet that the physical book that appears in Kamala’s room, that uses those two fonts and that spine formatting, exists. This is haunting me…

4. (On the other side of the box) It’s not The Twilight Saga Eclipse, but I definitely thought it was before I could watch in high definition. I think it’s a journal or sketchbook of Kamala’s; there are a bunch scattered throughout the room.

Shelf 3:

I’ve only identified the bottom book, which is Einstein’s Theory of Relativity by Max Born (Dover Publications). The third one up is HAUNTING me, it looks SO identifiable and yet!

Living Room Side Table:

1. Amateur Astronomer’s Handbook by JB Sidgwick (from Dover Publications)

2. Cosmology by Hermann Bondi (also Dover)

Both of these seem less difficult than the science books in Kamala’s room, but reviewers note that it helps to know calculus when reading Cosmology. Idk which member of the Khan family is reading these, but I love their family’s connection to the stars 💫

Tbh I’m having so much fun doing this! And I really wish we got to see Monica’s living space so I can analyze her books 😭

[carinalastimosa]

Man, oh man, oh Manny!

Star Wars’ The Acolyte may have been review bombed but it opened y’alls eyes up to the man, Manny Jacinto. The Filipino-Canadian actor made waves as The Stranger/Qimir. Now, if you haven’t seen the show, I won’t spoil it for you but I am sure by this point, you’ve seen some sort of meme/TikTok/post/text from your nanay, featuring the sexually charged (okay, Disney!!!) scenes between Amanda Stenberg’s Osha and Jacinto. In honor of The Acolyte’s finale, which aired last night on Disney+, here is a list of some of the other Asian men I’ve loved over the years on the big and small screen.

Paolo Montalban - The Definitive Prince Charming

One of my favorite movies, to this day, is the 1997 Whitney Houston produced television movie Cinderella. Even my top 4 on letterboxd proves this. It’s one of my first memories consuming pop culture because of the diversity in casting. Houston saw that this story didn’t have to follow traditional casting norms. You can have a Filipino prince and his parents be a white man and a black woman with no one questioning it! Since I saw this at the young age of 7, I thought this was the norm, when in fact, it was the opposite. It’d be one of those rare moments where my parents would ask, “Filipino?” because they weren’t and still aren’t used to seeing Filipinos on screen. Paolo Montalban as Prince Charming is honestly, charming! He brings an earnestness to the role and has genuine chemistry with the luminous Brandy as the titular Cinderella. Their chemistry was so strong, that they’ve even reprised their roles in the recently released Disney+ movie Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Tuxedo Mask - My First (Animated) Crush

That’s right! We all have one. And my animated crush was Tuxedo Mask from the Sailor Moon series. I mean, who could resist! The mask, so mysterious! The black, so tuxedo!

Dante Basco - Rufioooooooo!

The beauty of film is that it is forever. Which means, that for generations of kids to come, they have the exuberance of Dante Basco captured on screen as Rufio in Steven Spielberg’s Hook. I was one of those kids when I was first introduced to the film in the last 90’s. At first, it didn’t even register to me that Basco is also Filipino-American and I think that’s the beauty of Basco’s performance. He’s just one of the boys, the lost boys. While Basco’s career moved more towards voice over, he made his indelible mark as Zuko in Nickelodeon’s animated Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Charles Melton - This Man is a Movie Star

My first introduction to Charles Milton didn’t come through the hit CW series Riverdale. It was after my time. I’m of the Gossip Girl generation, xoxo. I started to hear about the Korean-American actor as the scene stealer in the hotly anticipated Natalie Portman-Julianne Moore headliner May December. And he didn’t disappoint. Melton completely transforms into a man forced into very adult circumstances, still trying to navigate his adolescence. It’s a deeply felt performance filled with longing. He should have been nominated for an Oscar. During the campaign trail, he exuded glamour with his style, affable charm during his interviews, and pride in his heritage in acceptance speeches. Proving why he should be Hollywood’s new leading man.

Lee Jung-jae - Quit Playing (Squid) Games with my Heart

Netflix probably didn’t realize they had a mega international hit on their hands when they dropped their all Korean language tv series Squid Game on their streaming platform. Studio execs will say a foreign language show will alienate audiences, that there aren’t enough bankable Asian stars even when shows like this and FX’s Shogun have proven otherwise. Squid Game made several stars out of the series, including model turned actor Jung Ho-yeon but Korea was already hot on Lee, already a well established star there, we were just playing catch up. It didn’t take long. Lee won numerous awards for his performance and he easily won my style heart. What an elegant, sexy ass man! Needless to say, I’m very grateful to his Gucci campaign.

Dev Patel - The Man

The Indian-British actor/producer/director has had an already varied and expansive career spanning nearly 2 decades, doing so with just 26 acting credits to his IMDb. Which tells me the industry is simply not using this man enough!

Henry Golding - Crazy Handsome Asian

To me, one of the most magical things a film can pull off is perfect casting. It’s a magic trick if they cast a virtual unknown, dazzling the audience, wondering how they did it. That’s how I felt with the casting of Malaysian-British tv correspondent Henry Golding in the film Crazy Rich Asians. A lot was already riding on this movie adaptation: a big budget, romantic comedy, starring an all Asian cast. It had to do well. Or else studio execs had the “proof” they needed to no longer back Asian-led films. Casting Golding as their leading man could have been a risk but with their heroine Constance Wu and Oscar-worthy supporting performance from Michelle Yeoh, the movie was in good hands. Golding holds his own in his first feature film outing. Effortless and magnetic. Buzzy roles quickly followed in Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor and G.I. Joe franchise Snake Eyes. He’s also taken on more dramatic roles in smaller films, further pushing his acting ability. He continues to develop his craft, further cementing why we fell in love with him in the first place.

Manny Jacinto - The Inspo of this Blog

Everybody say, "Salamat, Manny"! He deserves all the roles. No more getting cut from films! In The Good Place, he played the classic himbo, which could have easily pigeonholded into similar roles but he's shown his versatility in shows like Nine Perfect Strangers where he held his own with, my favorite actress, Nicole Kidman. The Acolyte is another facet he's getting to show us and I hope this momentum carries him to the big screen. I'm rooting for this manny, talaga.

[beardedmrbean]

[Huey Zoomer Anon]

Me a 12 year who got into foster care (good homes though) and PJO and it sequel series was basically my hold onto sanity during my trouble years: Wow I love Greek myths, oh there thus graphic novel of the Odyessy in my school library that had a good review from Rick Riordan (creator of PJO) saying it a good book! Let me try it out!

12 fucking years later as 24 year old with all the discourse surrounding Nolan Adaptation: Wait people think the Odyssey is American Literature?

What this Emily Wilson translation of the poem: AAAAAAAAAH!

So I found a Bengali friend thanks to our Star Wars fan connections. And I became interested in make Hindu and southeast Asian inspired settings especially with sci-fi because I’m brain dead tired of only seeing American or Nazis culture in western sci-fi

Hmm shouldn’t Asians cultures being the most dominant human ones in interstellar stories?

But I decided to get make sure I bought proper translations of Hindu epics so make sure I understand their type of storytelling and such.

I thought…my ways…was the standard to understand stories works….

Now my big question for so many people

Do you people think the Hero Journey begins and ends with American Superhero comics and Star Wars?

If so that would explain a lot of headaches I started to have as a teen when it comes to storytelling discussions online

12 fucking years later as 24 year old with all the discourse surrounding Nolan Adaptation: Wait people think the Odyssey is American Literature?

Ya the whole Percy Jackson thing is honestly the biggest player in my confusion about people not knowing about the Odyssey, there was a hit YA series about the various bits and pieces of Greek/Roman mythology that spawned a few movies, radio drama, and a tv series.

Which actually might be why the people that don't know Homer might think it's an American story now that I think about it, still feels like a reach to me.

What this Emily Wilson translation of the poem: AAAAAAAAAH!

Adding girl power to Homer is just weird, there's goddesses in there already and they don't need your help emily.

So I found a Bengali friend thanks to our Star Wars fan connections. And I became interested in make Hindu and southeast Asian inspired settings especially with sci-fi because I’m brain dead tired of only seeing American or Nazis culture in western sci-fi

Jedi were samurai, even if we did have one of them leading the space nazis.

Young Ben Solo would have done well to have tried to embrace the zen aspects a bit more.

Hmm shouldn’t Asians cultures being the most dominant human ones in interstellar stories?

Joss Whedon's Firefly had random Chinese tossed into the lines because when earth that was was abandoned the US and china were the remaining superpowers iirc.

That and there's tons of Asian cultured that are incredibly dominant in interstellar stories, just gotta watch the stuff that was made in Asian cultures, or wait for the sub/dub to make it here.

But I decided to get make sure I bought proper translations of Hindu epics so make sure I understand their type of storytelling and such. I thought…my ways…was the standard to understand stories works….

there's going to be stuff you miss through no fault of your own, cultural nuance and what not, oddly enough your thinking about your way being the standard is due to the previously mentioned Greeks, whole western civilization thing and all.

Now my big question for so many people Do you people think the Hero Journey begins and ends with American Superhero comics and Star Wars? If so that would explain a lot of headaches I started to have as a teen when it comes to storytelling discussions online

I hope not, there's so many different stories that can be told and plots to twist.

Even if the basic outline has been the same for 10,000 years or more

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

I find myself questioning why I'm still bothered and how I let it get to me the lack of nuance in fandom discourse. Especially with K-Pop and everything I've witnessed in the last 3 years. The bigger the fandom, the less chances for it to be cohesive and attract a specific demographic able to participate in a certain high level of discourse.

I remember a few years back I was lurking in the Black Sails community here on tumblr. I was usually someone who would read the weekly reviews to tv episodes and that would be enough. In the case of that series, it didn't feel enough because to me, the reviewers were missing or ignoring the complexity of that show. And to my surprise (although it shouldn't), the fandom on tumblr was one of the best I had the chance to observe. There was dedication, yes, but more than that, smart people were writing these amazing essays and analysis worth of getting published in established journals. Well beyond a simple review. They were media literate, which is something that gets lost more and more as time passes.

Of course I don't expect that same thing in a fandom like Army. They can barely be compared. Army is way, way larger. It covers a wide demographic which is good and bad simultaneously. Theoretically, there's a place for everyone, regardless of their identity/background. So in cases like that, people tend to choose their own corner, subsection depending on where they fit and their interest. Perhaps a teenager is more likely to spend time on tiktok making edits and looking at clips, without following each and every type of content out there. Because they don't have to. Fans using weverse are also their own category that exhibit a specific type of mentality. Twitter and tumblr are places that offer the platform for a more discussion-type of engagement, with twitter taking the first place.

So, we find our community and that's supposed to allow fans to live in harmony. I know, funny. It's never like that because we like to peak and invite ourselves in other spaces. And the places can easily become echo chambers. But what is interesting to note is observing what the fandom deems as an echo chamber. A solo stan account or a shipper is an echo chamber, but an account focused on the group as a whole and only their achievements and updates is not. It doesn't matter that the user feigns ignorance when confronted with weird hashtags trending because they had no idea. They curate their experience. It's perfectly valid, but the danger of creating/becoming part of echo chambers happens to all of us, regardless of our type of engagement. The longer we sit comfortably in our corner, talking to people who are of the same opinion as ours, the greater the risk.

Nevertheless, there is still this need of showing one's superiority based on the type of subsection of the fandom we are part of. Which automatically fails because it shows our ignorance and getting to what I wanted to talk about, the incapability of engaging in a nuanced discussion. Of course this is not something that we should expect from everyone. Like I said, we need to know our "audience". I won't go to the weverse/IG pages wanting to talk about Asian fetishization in kpop fandoms. It would be pointless. But we do touch on those types of topics on twitter and tumblr. Which is why I don't find it completely absurd to have expectations.

Shipping within the fandom has once again been under fire today, more than usual. And it showed, as each and every time, that there is simply no bridge, no way of finding a common language, of willingness to have that nuanced conversation without resorting to generalized statements. The result of that usually creates more harm, divides the communities even more and sweeps under the rug the normalization of a specific type of shippers who transform mentions of sexual assault into a weapon to attack and offend. As serious as this is for people who are not online 24/7 in fandoms, it has indeed become the norm for those who are part of it. So then why we ignore it? Why do we generalize it instead of addressing the exact person or community who does it regularly? Because it's the crazy part of the fandom and those who are not part of it consider themselves to be better than others. Feeling superior is the ultimate goal. In a fandom of millions, we all try to differentiate ourselves in one way or another. And that leads to our fandom identity and automatically our position towards issues within the larger community. Being for or against, wanting to engage or not, is sending a message. It's always more about us than the people or content we talk about.

I know I haven't touched on 1% of what this topic should cover, but these are just some thoughts. We can't all be the smartest and better than everyone else when we are completely fixated in some beliefs that come to exist based on how much we want to use our intelectual abilities or simply refuse to.

[adeniyimariam1711]

7 Reasons MovieBox is the Best Free App for Watching Movies & Series

If you're looking for a free, easy-to-use app that lets you watch a variety of movies and videos without paying a dime, MovieBox is the perfect choice! It’s filled with amazing features that make watching videos fun and simple. From the latest movies and TV shows to music videos and educational content, MovieBox has something for everyone—all for free! Here’s why it’s the go-to app for all your entertainment needs:

1. An Interface You’ll Love

MovieBox has a sleek and simple design that anyone can navigate. With clear categories and a reliable search bar, finding what you want is effortless. The app also suggests trending movies and popular content, so you’re never out of options.

2. Free, Yet Packed with Features

Unlike other movie Apps, which requires a subscription, MovieBox is completely free with no hidden fees. It still delivers amazing features like:

Playback Speed Controls: Adjust the speed to suit your mood—slow it down for details or speed it up for quick viewing.

Subtitles: Enjoy videos with clear, customizable subtitles for better understanding.

3. Wide Variety of Content

If you’re a fan of movies, MovieBox is your dream app. It offers reviews, ratings, and recommendations for trending titles, including Nollywood gems, Hollywood blockbusters, and indie hits. It also brings a great selection of Asian movies, including popular Kdramas, to your fingertips.

Here are the top trending movies you can check out:

4. Trending Kdramas to Watch Now

For Kdrama fans, MovieBox offers a variety of trending series straight from South Korea. Here are some of the hottest titles to watch:

Face Me

The Judge from hell

Family By Choice      

5. Crystal Clear Video Quality

MovieBox prioritizes quality. If you're streaming a music video or watching a full-length movie, you can enjoy high-definition visuals without interruptions. The app adjusts playback to suit your device and internet speed, ensuring a smooth experience every time.

6. Why It’s Better Than other Movie App

While other Movie apps are great, it comes with a price tag, and some users find it overwhelming to navigate. MovieBox, on the other hand:

Costs Nothing: Perfect for anyone on a budget.

Simplifies Choices: Curates content directly from all platforms, ensuring you’re always watching the best.

Offers Flexibility: No commitments or subscription deadlines—just open the app and enjoy.

Offers Variety of Movies & Series in HD quality

7. Moviebox is an App for Everyone

MovieBox caters to all age groups and interests. If you’re:

A student looking for tutorials.

A movie enthusiast looking for the latest trends.

A parent searching for kid-friendly content.

Moviebox Music Session has varieties of musics, Singles and DJ Mix

MovieBox delivers with ease.

Conclusion

MovieBox is more than just an app; it’s a free entertainment hub that rivals paid platforms. With its intuitive interface, trending content, top-notch quality, and unmatched features, it’s the ultimate choice for Movie lovers.

Download moviebox.ng today to watch Trending & Latest movies like Gladiator II, Wicked, and Moana 2, plus a variety of Kdramas, Hollywood, Nollywood and Asian movies. Experience why it’s better than the rest!

Download Now on Google Playstore Stream With your PC & iOS Via moviebox.ng Follow Moviebox Social Media Account for more Movie updates

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[shamelesskpoper]

KDrama Review: Light Shop

Korean Drama Light Shop is a horrifying emotional roller coaster

Title: Light Shop, Shop of the Lamp Episodes: 8 Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Drama, Melodrama, Tragedy, Mystery Story: 7 out of 10 Characters: 8 out of 10 Cinematography: 8 out of 10 Korean Drama Light Shop is a horrifying emotional roller coaster Poster of the Korean Drama Light Shop Story A light shop is always open at the end of a dark alley, bringing light and reassurance to everyone…

[redheadgleek]

Bookish asks - 2, 8, 13

2: Did any book inspire you to seek out further media, such as the movie/show/fanfiction? How did you feel about that take?

The only one that has had a tv series made of it was Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and I watched it after finishing the book and really liked it - it's a very condensed story (it would have to be), but overall it captured the atmosphere and the acting was phenomenal. Although, I wish I could scrub out the scene with the old woman and her cat from my mind forever.

8: If someone were to ask you what your top ten books for this year were, which would you choose?

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Book Lovers, The Grace of Wild Things, Crying in H Mart, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness, The Anthropocene Reviewed, Vita Nostra, Know My Name.

13: How would you summarize your reading choices for this year?

Eclectic. A whole bunch of books about women and their fraught relationships with their Asian (mostly Korean) mothers. A bunch of books recommended to me by friends that I might not have otherwise read. Lots of rereads to prepare for new releases in a series. Not enough poetry.

[risheet]

Blog Post #1: Fresh Off The Boat (Television)

Fresh Off the Boat is an iconic American sitcom that ran from 2015 to 2020. Created by Nahnatchka Khan and inspired by Eddie Huang's memoir, the show stands out as one of the few mainstream TV programs to center around an Asian-American family. The story follows the Huang family as they move from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, Florida, in the mid-1990s. The series captures their efforts to blend into American culture while holding onto their Taiwanese roots, offering a humorous yet touching portrayal of the immigrant experience. At the heart of the show is the Huang family: Louis Huang, the optimistic patriarch who opens a Western-themed restaurant, and Jessica Huang, the pragmatic and determined mother focused on her children's success. Their kids, Eddie, Emery, and Evan, face the challenges of fitting in at school and finding their identities amidst the clash of two cultures.

"Fresh Off the Boat" explores racial and ethnic identities in a rich and nuanced way. It dives into the unique challenges Asian-Americans face, from confronting stereotypes to balancing assimilation with cultural preservation. The show sheds light on the subtle prejudices and cultural misunderstandings the Huangs experience, offering insight into the daily lives of many immigrant families. The series also delves into intersectionality, particularly through Eddie's character, who is deeply influenced by African-American hip-hop culture. His passion for rap music and admiration for Black artists add another dimension to discussions about cultural appropriation, identity, and solidarity among minority groups.

By bringing these themes to the forefront, "Fresh Off the Boat" sparks meaningful conversations about race, ethnicity, and cultural diversity. It invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences and biases, fostering greater empathy and understanding. Through the Huang family's journey, the show challenges the often one-dimensional portrayal of Asian-Americans in media, highlighting the diversity within this community.

Moreover, the series broadens the dialogue to encompass the wider immigrant experience in America, touching on themes of belonging, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Fresh Off the Boat is an important addition to television, encouraging a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and the complex experiences of Asian-American families.

References:

Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. First new ed. New York: Back Bay Books, 2008.

IKUO. (2018). Fresh off the boat by Eddie Huang. IKUO Reviews. Retrieved from https://ikuoreviews.blogspot.com/2018/10/fresh-off-boat-by-eddie-huang.html ​

[lazzarella]

I use tumblr like a scrapbook, reblogging whatever takes my fancy. I love cinema, especially queer cinema, and watch too many TV shows (I started watching Asian BL series at the end of January 2024 and they've kind of taken over my TV viewing life XD), and I like art and music and just, you know, things and stuff

I have an MA in art history, but don’t let that fool you into thinking I have anything insightful or substantial to say about anything 😂

Sometimes I ramble about the TV shows I watch, and I've started posting longer reviews of BL series as I watch or rewatch them. I’ve been known to ramble about movies too!

♡ My playlists | my edits | my caps

♡ BL masterlist (all series I’ve watched ranked by country)

♡ My top 10 various things

A few of my favourite things: ♡ favourite songs

♡ favourite movies

♡ favourite tv shows

♡ all time favourite queer films

More of my own post tags under the cut (mostly for specific shows)

We Are (just TanFang)

Wandee Goodday

Peaceful Property

The Heart Killers

KinnPorsche

Kidnap

Perfect 10 Liners

Ossan's Love Thailand

Memoir of Rati (yes, already XD)

Heartbreak High

Saltburn

Quotes I've posted

[more-than-a-princess]

Hi! Love your sonia characterisation and from your ooc posting, I see your tastes are great~ Can I ask the mun: do you have any recommendations for books or TV series? c:

Hi anon! Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my IC content and OOC ramblings, that's really nice of you to say. I'm happy to recommend some things (I admit I did a 'Stitch laughing maniacally on a pile of wreckage' when I got this ask because anon, I am not sure you know what you have asked to unleash!).

However, I wasn't sure if you were asking for recommendations for books/TV series that have directly inspired my Sonia portrayal, or recommendations of things I enjoy in general. With that in mind, I'm going to be sharing a long list of books, TV series, manga/webtoons, and story-based video games that I just happen to like.

If you're looking for media that has directly inspired my portrayal though, please send another ask and I'd be happy to narrow it down for you!

In order not to keep the dash tidy, everything is under a cut, with notes (some important, some just me making jokes) beside a few of them. I hope you find a new favorite book/series to enjoy!

Books: 

General Notes: For book series where the first book title isn't the series name, I've indicated which book to start with, save for the historical romances because that's easier to find online and there's a lot of them. I hope that helps! Additionally, for all romance series, assume that there is some mention of sexual content in various degrees of description, aka. "spice." Depending on your comfort level of literary sex, I highly recommend checking out each title on https://www.romance.io/ for their spice level rating, at the very least. The site will also show you tropes found in each book as well as reviews.

Contemporary Romance:

The Time-Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

American Royals series by Katharine McGee

Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan (way, way better than the movie! It's a trilogy, followed by China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. I'd highly recommend this if you are writing a modern wealthy character of East Asian descent. Yes it's romance, humor, and contemporary family drama, but it gives what's apparently a very accurate look at high society)

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (if you are looking for contemporary romance with plus size heroines, you want to check out Olivia Dade! Also Mary Warren and for young adult romance, Kelsie Stelting)

Modern Royals series by Aven Ellis (start with A Royal Shade of Blue)

The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (and its sequel, The Heir Affair)

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (this was better than Red, White, and Royal Blue, IMO)

Fantasy Romance:

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas

A note about SJM series: I highly suggest reading TOG or ACOTAR first, with the understanding the first three or so TOG books and the first ACOTAR books have a slower pace and are more about worldbuilding than anything else. Read Crescent City after these two (CC 1 is also a big, long worldbuilding book). You must read ACOTAR to read CC, but you do not need to read TOG to read CC (though you'll miss some of the references/easter eggs!). 

The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros (Start with Fourth Wing)

The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig (Start with One Dark Window)

The All-Souls Trilogy/series by Deborah Harkness (Start with A Discovery of Witches)

Historical Romance:

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma Alban

Love by Numbers series by Sarah MacLean (start with Nine Rules to Break While Romancing a Rake. If you finish this series and like her writing, move on to the Bareknuckle Bastards series and the Rules of Scoundrels series)

Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare (start with A Night to Surrender. If you liked this series, move on to the Castles Ever After series and the Girl Meets Duke series)

pretty much anything by Lisa Kleypas (Bridgerton fans? This is how you get over your hangover/wait between finishing the books and/or Season 3. start with the Wallflowers or the Hathaways series, then move onto the Ravenels and the Bow Street Runners series. This is mostly historically the chronological order with crossover characters between the Wallflowers and Hathaways. Bow Street Runners is chronologically before Wallflowers but it's disappointing if you read it first, trust me!)

everything by Jane Austen. Just everything. 

Series/books I'm in the middle of/currently on my TBR list so I can't recommend them fully yet but I'm actively reading them:

The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black (start with The Cruel Prince)

Letters of Enchantment duology by Rebecca Ross (start with Divine Rivals)

Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent (Start with The Serpent and the Wings of Night)

Hades x Persephone saga by Scarlett St. Clair (Start with A Touch of Darkness)

The Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (and Six of Crows. And everything else: I've yet to dive into Bardugo's series) 

A League of Extraordinary Women series by Evie Dunmore (Start with Bringing Down the Duke)

Royals series by Rachel Hawkins (start with Prince Charming)

Infamous by Lex Croucher

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Deliciously Dark Fairytales series by K.F. Greene (Start with A Ruin of Roses)

TV series:

Downton Abbey (my love for this show runs deep. It changed my life!)

The Gilded Age (Carrie Coon deserves an Emmy for this at some point I s2g)

The Crown (Claire Foy is the best QEII, Elizabeth Debicki is the best Diana, Josh O'Connor is the best Charles)

Gossip Girl (original 2007 series, not the remake)

The Royals (the E! show)

Succession (Come for Brian Cox emotionally and verbally harass his children, stay for Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Matthew MacFayden, Conheads, and a Ludicrously Capacious Bag.)

The White Lotus (Tanya is ICONIC.)

Miss Scarlet and the Duke

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (If you like Miss Scarlet, I can almost guarantee you will like Miss Fisher. And vice-versa.)

All Creatures Great and Small (the remake)

Sanditon

Black Mirror

Skins (UK series only)

Sex Education

The IT Crowd (the creator is an ass. The show is eternal.)

The Great

The Sopranos

The Empress

The Fall of the House of Usher

Midnight Mass (arguably the best Flanagan series. Fight me.)

Marie Antoinette (2022 TV series)

Dickinson

Euphoria

Stranger Things

The Tudors

Versailles

Unforgotten

Endeavour (you don't need to have seen Inspector Morse beforehand but it helps contextualize where some of this cast ends up in the future! Endeavour is the best murder mystery show ever written, IMO. Unforgotten is a close contender for second place.)

Outlander

Sherlock

Mad Men

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

American Horror Story (earlier seasons are way better than the later ones)

Gentleman Jack

Ted Lasso

Emily in Paris

Pride and Prejudice (the 1995 miniseries with Colin Firth)

Books and TV (that is, read and watch both!):

Bridgerton (books by Julia Quinn)

Magpie Murders (books by Anthony Horowitz. One of my few book recs that isn't a romance! Horowitz is a wonderful contemporary mystery writer)

Webtoons/manga:

(Because some people prefer manga/webtoons to novels! I have read all of these on MangaKatana. Mostly fantasy romance and contemporary romance, several have been made into J or K-dramas)

Under The Oak Tree

See You In My 19th Life

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?

Like Wind on a Dry Branch

Marriage of Convenience

Father, I Don't Want to Get Married!

We Are Not Ourselves Today

An Hour of Romance

Innocent (The sole historical drama over here. Every sex and violence trigger warning you can imagine applies to this manga. It is also one of the most beautifully-drawn and intriguing stories I've ever read. Rose of Versailles fans, this is for you: this is your fave but darker.)

Marry My Husband

Video games with excellent storytelling:

(mostly. These are primarily otome games, mystery visual novels, and horror visual novels):

Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (there are three games in this series: 999, Virtue's Last Reward, and Zero Time Dilemma)

AI: The Somnium Files (There are currently two games in this series, AITSF and AITSF: Nirvana Initiative. Zero Escape and Somnium Files are basically required to play after Danganronpa. I said what I said: the storytelling is better)

Code: Realize (The best storytelling of all otome games, hands down. Do not watch the anime: it sucks. The first game is the best and really the only one you need to play. The other two games have okay side stories and are mostly romantic continuations of the first game's routes)

Collar x Malice

Cupid Parasite (mostly for the last two routes, though: if you're using a walkthrough guide. Generally much lighter than your usual otome...save for the last two routes that serve to break you.)

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (you could watch both seasons of the original anime if you really want to, but the games are better)

Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Note: please keep in mind this was written 10+ years ago in Japan, especially when you get to the Big Reveals in the final game. There are Some Takes that would go over poorly today. Like Code: Realize, do not watch the anime: IT SUCKS.)

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark

Spirit Hunter: NG (You don't technically have to play Death Mark first but it makes one of the endings far more impactful if you do!)

Honorable mentions:

Hakuoki (so many routes, so very long! But if you like Japanese history around this time, you may like this)

Olympia Soiree (good on the more mature content, bad on some of the LIs giving me pause like 'this is not a good romance idea')

Amnesia: Memories (I'm not a fan of the female main character or two of the LIs. At all.)

Piofiore (Similar complaints as Amnesia.)