#do yong gu

[stuff-diary]

The Moon

Movies watched in 2023

Director & Writer: Kim Yong Hwa

Mini-review:

I love space movies, especially when they're well-made, and The Moon pretty much ticks all the boxes for me. Tbh, the story is not original at all, and I feel like we've seen it in many other films over the last decade. Luckily, the director made sure to keep things as engaging and entertaining as possible. On top of that, the production values are fantastic. I have never seen better CGI in a Korean movie, and the sets are just stunning. That being said, the thing that truly carries this movie is the acting. This cast is full of top-notch actors, but the clear standout is Do Kyungsoo. He goes all in with his performance, and he's the main reason why you care about everything that happens. So, to sum up, The Moon offered me all that I wanted from it: a well-acted and enjoyable popcorn movie about space.

[cinemaquiles]

Perdido na lua: o alucinado filme coreano de ficção "the moon, 2023"

[tavina-writes]

MDZS Society! aka: there's a lot less killing than you'd expect

This follows from this post and also the recent translations of MXTX’s most recent interview (which I can now no longer bother to find bc this has been sitting in drafts for like, siiiix months? More? Oh god anyway.) which reminded me about my feelings regarding MDZS society and how different it is from the martial societies we see depicted in typical modern wuxia. (Small disclaimer, I am a wuxia genre fiend and I love like, thinking about fictional societies so this is like, “AHA! You’ve unlocked my trap card!”) 

For the purposes of this, I’m going to be looking at MDZS/CQL’s depiction of the jianghu (which I think is fairly similar! I don’t actually think the show writers made CQL’s jianghu/martial society more genre typical than it was in the book) and comparing that with modern classic wuxia (mostly Jin Yong and Gu Long works.) For this comparison, I’ll be looking at a Jin Yong book — Legend of the Condor Heroes (which is widely considered the starting point of modern wuxia as a genre) — and one Gu Long book — Dagger Li/Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword (widely considered his most popular work) — and seeing how their societies differ from MDZS society. 

This will likely come in two parts because this one was already getting long, and I don’t think we can fit “how often does nobility exist in a typical jianghu and what do bloodline sects look like normally versus what they look like in MDZS” in this post along with the main topic of “is MDZS society a particularly physically violent place?” 

This post discusses how often cultivators are socially expected to kill people. Like, actual living human beings instead of, say, monsters or ghosts which have been categorized differently than like, human beings. 

EDIT: I forgot to talk about Dagger Li but this was already much too long sorry. Feel free to hmu for more thoughts though.

Now, it might be easy to think that cultivators killing actual people is a really common thing in MDZS/CQL universe! After all, they do have martial arts training and one of the prominent things about the first life is just how many people die both in the Sunshot Campaign and the fallout afterwards. However, I would argue that a lot of the traumas and related issues and reactions that happen in MDZS happen because cultivators are, by training and education, not actually prepared for killing actual living breathing human beings! (And also that the morality of this world prevents it for the most part) 

Now, we do actually get a pretty good window into what the typical training is like for young cultivators in MDZS, because we get a fairly well defined schoolhouse scene where LQR is asking them questions about "how do you tell the difference between various different problems we have to solve?" and "how do you go about fixing this problem?" and none of those include the moral quandary of "if I, a young cultivator out in the Jianghu, see a guy who is doing something I morally disagree with, under what circumstances do I beat him up and/or kill him." This does not appear to enter the curriculum at any point, leading me to believe that the morally correct number of people not like, ghosts or ghouls or fierce corpses, a regular average MDZS cultivator is supposed to have killed is approximately 0.

Which. Is a thing you get in a normal martial arts wuxia jianghu. There is generally the threat of "oh yeah this that or the other faction will be doing shitty things and thereby try to murder you." Instead, in MDZS/CQL most of the heirs of sects are...attending school together. Doing teenage things like partying and gossiping and attending classes.

And sure yes, there was a case of WWX and JZX trying to beat each other up. But the sects did sure let their kids stay at Lan summer camp for months on end (sometimes repeatedly, see NHS) without fearing for their lives or that anyone would steal another sect's techniques or otherwise causing real havoc or intersect warfare etc.

Which is infeasible in any other sort of Jianghu situation. For example, contrast this scenario with this scene from LOCH where Guo Jing's shifus are giving him advice since he is newly 17 and about to set out by himself into the great big world:

Guo Jing therefore bid farewell to his teachers. They had witnessed his battle against the Four Demons of the Yellow River, and were not too greatly worried. The young man had proved that he knew how to use the skills that they taught him. Therefore they let him leave alone. On one hand, the meeting of outlaws in Yanjing worried them greatly, so that they could not ignore it; and on the other hand, a youngster always had to travel the jianghu alone, in order to learn lessons that no teacher could pass on. At the moment of parting, each made their last recommendations. As usual when the Six spoke after one another, Nan Xiren was the last one to express himself. "If you cannot defeat the enemy," he said. "Flee!" He knew that given Guo Jing's dogged character, he would prefer to die rather than to surrender, if he met a master, he would certainly fight to the bitter end, even at the risk of death. That was the reason Nan Xiren gave him this common sense warning. " Martial arts have no limits," added Zhu Cong. " As the proverb says, 'For every peak there is one yet higher', so for every man there is one stronger. Whatever your power, you will always one day meet a foe stronger than you. A true man knows to retreat when necessary, when facing grave danger, it is necessary to contain one's impatience and anger. This what is meant by the adage, « If one preserves the earth and its forests, one does not fear to lack firewood ». It is not therefore not cowardly to take good advice! When the enemy is too numerous and that you cannot face them there, it is especially necessary to avoid being too reckless. Keep in mind Fourth Shifu's advice!"

Does this seem like the sort of advice that any Young MDZS Cultivator would get? "You're a good kid, but when you go out into the world, there will be people who straight up want you dead even though they met you 15 minutes ago, you cannot persist in fighting with these people because they will want you dead and you are a baby cultivator who needs to learn to run away when shit gets rough or you will be dead."

And again I come back to how MDZS cultivators are more like occupational ghostbusters because this really does inform how their society functions and runs and how everyone reacts so badly to the Sunshot Campaign beginning and its aftermaths and possibly explains how JGS could get his way after Sunshot.

Because what happens when you get a society that does train heavily in martial arts and have Able To Kill Real People Weapons who spends most of their time solving very black and white situations of "okay is this ghost whose eating people's livers good or bad? y/n?" and a clear hierarchy of "how do we get rid of the ghost eating people's livers in town x" instead of say "is it morally correct to kill this group of bandits who's been threatening the town" or "is it morally correct to kill this shitty businessman who's been holding people hostage and threatening to hack off their limbs" you have a reduced level of philosophical musing on like, "what is the purpose of martial arts, which is designed to kill people and what do I use martial arts for?" and "under what circumstances and situations would I personally find it morally correct to kill a man?" Which are all questions that Wuxia coming of age stories typically have, and I think MDZS does have, but expressed differently.

Again, it appears that the number of Real Live Human Beings that it is morally acceptable to have stabbed in your life is approximately 0 in this universe, and the expectation that you, personally, might have to fend off people trying to stab you over brunch is also approximately 0.

This also leads to a situation where like, questions of vengeance have very difficult escape hatches! If your parents are murdered on the job by an evil rampaging ghost, this is very sad and tragic and now you're an orphan and of course that's not good, but this is a occupational job hazard, not like, "Yeah Joe Bob from the sect down the street murdered my dad because #Reasons~, and now it's my legacy to grow up to murder Job Bob from the sect down the street to avenge my dad."

(I have a whole essay about how this pertains to both of the Nie Brothers, and how it pertains to JGY and also Jin Ling, and how this seems to routinely fuck people up in MDZS in a very specific way we don't typically see in other wuxias, but this is getting SO long as it is).

But yeah "the socially acceptable number of real living people (instead of ghosts or demons or fierce corpses or whatever) to have killed in your lifetime as a cultivator is approximately 0" means that the Sunshot Generation gets really really fucked up by all of this "killing real people" they did.

Which! might be why JFM was so slow to move on "yeah the Wen are threatening to kill your heirs." <- socially inconceivable behavior. Why society in general is so shocked by Xue Yang and the murder of the Chang <- which would be bad normally but not quite like this. And why no one did anything specific about JGS even if they felt he wasn't entirely correct. What are they going to threaten him with? Death???? A trial of his peers? Social Shunning??? Public shame???

"But Tav how does this relate to CQL!Su She's morality?" I hear you ask. Well you see, the question of "he should've been ready to die for his sect!" is utterly baffling in a society where nobody is expected to be ready to die for their sect on a regular basis because the idea that you should be ready for someone trying to stab you before brunch is utterly nonsensical in a world where most people expect that the baseline number of murders a cultivator does in their lifetimes is 0. That's the world he lives in.

On this regard CQL!Su She is utterly blameless. Nobody handed him a rulebook or expectations sheet for "the sect down the street will try to kill you" nor SHOULD they expect he'd be ready to die at a drop of a hat when no part of the education or social expectations include "ready to die for your sect because it's routine for people to try to kill you."

If you don't even expect to be stabbed and possibly die at a discussion conference where there are lots of cultivators from many sects why on EARTH would you expect to be facing down death in your own home when there's. cultivators here to kill you, this situation is so out of left field?

[asksythe]

MXTX Interview with Risa Wataya for Subaru Magazine P.7

Which creative works influence you: 

Risa: Please tell us which creative works influence you. 

Moxiang: Professor Jin Yong's wuxia novels (*)! Professor Jin Yong is my number one teacher in the craft of writing. His skill in crafting wuxia stories, his artistic palate, the sheer intellectual depth and philosophical complexity of his stories and characters. Professor Jin Yong's wuxia novels have a profound and immeasurable influence on all modern Asian creative professionals. 

(*: the legendary late professor Jin Yong. He's not as well-known in English-speaking spheres due to the complexity of his works being very difficult to translate to languages outside of the Sino-Tibetan language family. But in Asia, he's a literature titan. He's comparable to Tolkien in that he laid the foundation and codified the tropes of wuxia as a modern genre (alongside Gu Long and Liang Yusheng) and brought about the first and subsequent wuxia waves, and that there's also university courses and entire research field on Jin-Yong-ology. However, he's a much more prolific writer, having produced 15 wuxia series, among which 14 are of comparable length or longer than the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit combined. 

It would be no lie to say there's not a single creative professional in Asia that is not influenced by Jin Yong in some way, shape, or form. 

One of Jin Yong's trademarks is the overwhelming, often obsessive, sometimes destructive love that his characters exhibit. There's not one work of his that is not threaded through with larger-than-life romance, not just among the protagonists, but also among the villain characters. The trend of modern Chinese literature, especially wuxia and xianxia, to portray larger-than-life romance can be traced directly to Jin Yong's influence. 

Interestingly, he's also credited as having accidentally created the proto icon of danmei as a genre. 

I'm sorry. I'm so excited I want to cry. Professor Jin Yong is also my first teacher in the craft of writing. It turns out we all step in the footsteps of the giant, huh, Moxiang?) 

I also watch a lot of 90s Hongkong movies. Do you know "Shaolin Soccer'?  

Risa: I do know! 

Moxiang: Stephen Chow's comedy movies, Tsui Hark's wuxia, and fantasy horror movies. Lam Ching-ying's walking corpse movies. I love all of these. 

Risa: That's closer to jiangshi (*) than modern zombies.

(*: a type of Chinese walking corpse. The name literally translates to stiff corpse. Jiangshi is typically translated into Chinese hopping vampire in English due to their similarity to Western vampires. They are the dead that comes back to life. They suck yang energy from living people. They fear the smell of garlic. Etc... Jiangshi has real-life basis in an extinct profession in China: the corpse walker, i.e., people who made a living out of 'walking' corpses back to their home provinces in times of war and chaos. Corpse walkers are mentioned in Liao Yiwu's historical book 'The Corpse Walker') 

Moxiang: That's right. That's right. A hopping jiangshi. I watch a lot of such movies. Some movies are from before I was born, such as 'A Chinese Ghost Story' and 'Sword Man' (*). I have watched them more than ten times! If I meet someone who has never watched those movies before, I will enthusiastically drag them along while saying, "Let's watch them together!" My novel bears obvious and immense influence from these movies... For example, the funny scenes in my story are very close to the atmosphere of comedy scenes from Hongkong cinema. Or the walking corpses in my story. My inspiration came from these undead corpses. In the novel, I mentioned using glutinous rice as a cure for corpse powder. This knowledge came from the movie "Professor Jiangshi" (named 'Mr. Vampire' in English in the Wikipedia).

(*: Both of these movies are Tsui Hark's movies and are counted among the top 100 best movies of Asian cinema. They are known for their fantasy elements, eroticism, and homoeroticism. These movies came from a time where Asian cinema was pushing boundaries left, right, and center. Swordsman and its spin-off were adapted from Professor Jin Yong's The Smiling Proud Wander. The very same work in which he accidentally created the proto-icon of danmei. I wrote an essay about this as part of danmei history last year. I will make a separate post after this.)

Risa: To be honest, when I reached the part where glutinous rice was used to cure corpse powder in 'Mo Dao Zu Shi,' I was moved.

Moxiang: Ah? A Japanese author saw the glutinous rice scene in my novel and linked it to jiangshi movies... That is so surprising! 

Risa: When I was young, I watched a lot of jiangshi movies. I love them! 

Moxiang: I feel increasingly close to Ms. Risa now. As for other foreign literature, Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' greatly influences me. When I read it during elementary school, I was shaking from excitement. Perhaps because of the influence of Wuthering Heights, that whenever I see complex, intertwining love-hate situations, I feel such joy and nostalgia in my heart. 

There's also my favorite childhood mangaka Rumiko Takahashi! This kind of light-hearted, rowdy atmosphere where characters argue and rib each other is so cute! I especially like 'Ranma 1/2'. I think it's the best comedy manga. Other than that, 'Inuyasha' can only be described by the word romantic. Romantic! To this day, Kikyo is still a goddess in my heart. 

Risa: Although 'Ranma 1/2' is a work that features China in it, what do Chinese people think about it? 

Moxiang: The first thought that comes to my head is 'charming!' After that is probably fond familiarity. This work (Ranma 1/2) features many Chinese elements. I feel that the distance between our hearts is lessened.   

To be Continued (The next part will be the last) 

Translator: Sythe / NPD Khanh    

[thegreymoon]

The Story of Minglan

I am so upset about Buwei's death but very curious about what is coming next. Since this is a c-drama and they can't have an immoral Emperor on the throne as an endgame, I suppose that the Yong family is going down one way or another. Let's hope they take the Qi household with them, especially Princess Pingning.

Team Prince Yan!

***

Yawn.

My lack of sympathy for this woman and her whole family cannot be overstated.

***

Did any of you care whether other people lived or died?

Fuck you both.

And the best part is that his stupid ass thought that if he was to whine in front of the Emperor about Minglan, this useless man would grant him the marriage 🤣🤣

***

He has already forgotten that she beat Buwei to death because of him, smh, and they are back to business as usual.

Human lives literally mean nothing to either of them. I wouldn't be able to forgive her if she murdered a pet hamster to hurt me, let alone a whole human being 😡😡

***

Hopefully, he will be lucky enough not to meet you in his next life.

***

Oh, boo-hoo.

How terrible for your mother and you that your delusions of grandeur are just that. Delusions. Classism is hell of a drug.

I hope you get squashed.

***

Do it!! Please! Make my day!!

***

LMAO, WHAT HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP?

You have literally had people raped and kidnapped, and very likely murdered. And here you are, threatening to murder more. The cognitive dissonance, I cannot 🤣🤣

***

Oh, yes, your daughter is going to be so happy in this marriage 🙄

Sooooooo happy!! Everything a loving parent would want for their child 🙄🙄

They are all literally insane. Unlimited power and wealth have rotted their brains.

***

That this needs to be spelled out for him is just 🤯🤯

And, like, we don't even go as far as Consort Yong. His own shitty mother could and would do this if he was to somehow elope with Minglan. This is also why there is absolutely no chance the Sheng family would allow this marriage to happen without the Duke and Duchess of Qi fully onboard and Minglan would never do anything that would jeopardise her entire family, such as run off with him without their permission.

***

MTE, Qi Heng, I fully agree with you on this.

Why anyone would bother to even cross the street for your worthless ass, let alone bloody their hands to get you, is very much beyond me.

***

LMAO, YOU ARE A USELESS MOTHER!

He is not a "thing", he is a whole human and you are talking about marriage here, an entwining of lives. How happy is she going to be, married to a man who resents her? Who married her only because you threatened to kill his parents and the woman he loves? Are you serious? OK, I can buy that an endlessly indulged princess will have the brain power and impulse control of a toddler and may not be able to see the full consequences of this, but what is your excuse? Moreover, what is your husband's excuse? All of you have worms for brains.

***

I'VE BEEN SAYING!!

Why must you make me agree with Qi Heng, smh?

Anyway, I can't wait to watch Zhu Yilong in something else. No love for this particular character but he's really fantastic, very subtle and very expressive.

***

Oh, thank god.

Hopefully, now Minglan can let him go and go back to being her usual intelligent self. This doomed side ship has been getting on my last nerve.

***

What the absolute fuck are you talking about, Gu Tingye? I thought you were supposed to be smart and looking out for Minglan!

Yes, please kidnap a fucking Imperial princess and see how well that works out both for the House of Qi and Sheng!

Why is everyone stupid all of a sudden?

***

How is Yuanruo the one speaking common sense all of a sudden?

Gu Tingye, what the fuck is wrong with you?

[open-hearth-rpg]

Hearts of Wulin Now at Age of Ravens

Hearts of Wulin, a PbtA game of wuxia romance and melodrama is now at Age of Ravens Games. Written by Joyce Ch*ng and Lowell Francis (me). This game and its expansion, Hearts of Wulin Worlds, offers a range of playstyles by focusing on the powerful heroes trapped by a web of obligations and personal desires. 

It’s pretty awesome IMHO. It draws on the literature of writers like Jin Yong and Gu Long, in particular adaptations of those stories in dozens and dozens of TV series (Laughing in the Wind, The Proud Twins). It also works to include things like more recent web novels and their adaptations, with rules for xianxia and the fantastic. The core book includes ideas for various genres, narrating fight scenes, building entanglements, and handling historical/courtly games. 

Hearts of Wulin: Worlds includes several settings: 

Shadow of Joseon, set during the Korean Joseon Dynasty. (Yeonsoo Julian Kim)

1905: San Francisco, presents a Chinatown just emerging from the shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Act. (Banana Chan)

Cour de l'Eppee transports Hearts of Wulin to swashbuckling France. (Cat Evans)

Academy of the Blade offers a dueling academy inspired by Revolutionary Girl Utena. (Alison Tam)

Fight Me IRL is a unique take on cyberpunk. (James Mendez Hodes) 

Silk & Steam gives you a wondrous silkpunk setting. (Kienna Shaw)

It also includes two major rules add-ons:

The Villain, a new playbook. Not all wulin "Heroes" are heroes with a capital H. Some start in a darker place... 

Numberless Secrets, a new set of rules for telling mystery/investigation stories in Hearts of Wulin. 

These can be found on Drivethrurpg– both are part of the ongoing GMs Day sale happening right now. 

Personally I’m really excited about the future for Hearts of Wulin. Though I never learned the print run, I do know that the last of the physical copies recently sold out at Indie Press Revolution. I have a short list of things I’m hoping to accomplish. 

Get it up on itch.io. I know some folks prefer to get their ttrpg pdfs via that site. 

Figure out how to get Print-on-Demand versions up on Drivethru. I’ve been told this is a challenging process to get right, so I’m hoping to talk to some folks who have done it before. 

Publish the Names & Entanglements deck. This was a self-print add-on for Hearts of Wulin. It's a useful resource for character creation and I’m hoping to have physical copy available for sale. 

I’ve always said folks should feel free to hack and rework Hearts of Wulin as they wish. But I’d like to get a clear Creative Commons license out there for everyone and encourage folks to play around with the system.

Eventually I might do a 1.5 version bringing some of the HoW: Worlds material over into the main book, as well as a couple of rules updates.

I want to publish a collection of Numberless Secrets mysteries along with guidance for running detective wuxia games. I love the series Ancient Detective and this is the best way I get to play out those kinds of stories. 

Get an online keeper which has easy to use set ups for all of the expansion worlds. We have a solid one– newly automated thanks to Agatha– but it doesn’t have all the expansions. 

Some folks have done from amazing things with HoW so far (inspired by media like Scott Pilgrim, Cobra Kai, Star Wars and beyond). It would be great if I could assemble a collection of new hacks and settings, maybe with some additional play options.

Finalize the one translation agreement I’ve been offered. 

I want to thank everyone who has read and/or played Hearts of Wulin. It remains a game I love to run and it would be amazing to have more people try it out.

[kdramaqween]

To finish off the year, here's my TOP 23 Ships from dramas I watched in 2023

1. Kim Doo Shik ♥ Lee Mi Hyun

Moving

2. Cha Jin Woo ♥ Jung Mo Eun

Tell Me That You Love Me

3. Seo Do Guk ♥ Han Yi Joo

Perfect Marriage Revenge

4. Xin Qi ♥ Min Hui

The Love You Give Me (C-Drama)

5. Choi Kang Ho ♥ Lee Mi Joo

The Good Bad Mother

6. Dongfang Qincang ♥ Xiao Lanhua

Love Between Fairy and Devil (C-Drama)

7. Jung Ki Ho ♥ Seo Mok Ha

Castaway Diva

8. Moon Jang Yeol ♥ Bong Ye Bun

Behind Your Touch

9. Gu Won ♥ Cheon Sa Rang

King the Land

10. Cho Yong Pil ♥ Cho Sam Dal

Welcome to Samdalri

11. Yoo So Joon ♥ Song Ma Rin

Tomorrow With You

12. Kang Hee Shik ♥ Kang Nam Soon

Strong Girl Namsoon

13. Dong Go Yun ♥ Jung Da Eun

Daily Dose of Sunshine

14. Gong Tae Gyeong ♥ Oh Yeon Doo

The Real Has Come

15. Jang Seon Gyeol ♥ Gil Oh Sol

Clean With Passion for Now

16. Cha Min ♥ Cho Se Yeon

Abyss

17. Heo Joon Jae ♥ Shim Cheong

Legend of the Blue Sea

18. Kim Tae Hee ♥ Baek Dong Joo

May I Help You

19. Jung Gu Won ♥ Do Do Hee

My Demon

20. Nam Si Heon ♥ Han Jun Hee

A Time Called You

21. Jang Tae Sang ♥ Yoon Chae Ok

Gyeongseong Creature

22. Lee Kang ♥ Moon Cha Young

Chocolate

23. Cha Eun Ho ♥ Kang Dan Hee

Romance is a Bonus Book

[vergoftowels]

Looking for Hanbok Resources

Hi Tumblr! I'm a clueless white girl who is looking for reputable and accurate clothing resources for hanbok, specifically Joseon-era men's hanbok - from the gat to the shoes. Although I've done some Googling, I'm having trouble finding anything like a clothing encyclopedia that names the different garments and shows their structure.

A resource that has illustrations like this jeogori drawing (sourced from TheKoreanInMe) but for all the different garments would be really helpful!

I mainly want to broaden my knowledge, as I recently rewatched an old Kdrama I fell in love with in college (Sungkyunkwan Scandal) and realized my base understanding of hanbok was very poor. I'd also like to make a doll of my blorbo (it's Gu Yong-ha!), and I want to be as accurate as I can in the medium of crochet. Like a nerd.

Like... how is the manggeon fastened and does it overlap in the back? What kind of outer jacket is the gold garment (I know there are different sleeve lengths, from sleeveless to full sleeves) and is the purple garment the jeogori here? When is it acceptable for the undergarments/undershirt to be visible (if ever)? What about different belts? They do spend a lot of time dressing and undressing in this drama, so maybe I should watch it again lol

I know that drama clothing is not always entirely historically accurate, but I hate not knowing things! Any resources would help, but English-language labeling is a huge plus. If you have book or pattern recommendations, I will definitely take them, even if they are not online free.

[tytangfei]

First, I just want to excuse because English is not my first language. So my question is what can you say about why Yuan Qi (Gu Jin) accidentally kills A Yin due to the reason that A Yin let the Fox Prince escape (although her reasoning is right) I think her just deciding to free Hong Yi even though there's really a Devil that controlled him, just felt disrespectful to the immortals who died but also risked her life who Hong Ri, Yuan Qi (Gu Jin), and Yan Shuang tried so hard to extend. Because as I watched and I saw a lot of reviews supporting to not forgive Yuan Qi for accidentally killing A Yin when they can clearly see the Point of View of Yuan Qi that he is also in pain. The one accused of the murder of those in Daze Mountain and the Heavenly Emperor is someone who he got close to at some point even though they don't get along much but they accompany each other in travelling in order to collect Feng Yin's scattered spiritual energy and extend A Yin's life. On the other hand, the immortals in Daze Mountain, A Yin and Yuan Qi (Gu jin) they are close to them and it makes it difficult to decide on sentencing the accused (Hong Yi) because they are close to him.

I just don't get all the hate to the character of Yuan Qi (Gu Jin) and why even other entity is opposed to him when he just followed through what is right. He even made changes to make the punishment to A Yin a bit lighter and they also shown the despair in his face after he realized that A Yin cannot take it. The pointers I got from Yuan Qi's parents Shanggu and Bai Jui that being a True God means they still need to follow through on what's right and not what they feel they should do, like taking note on how Shanggu and Bai Jue's relationship it's also chaotic. Being a True Gods/ddesses means Duty then Love.

I hope you can make it clear to me because I'm getting confuse. Thank you so much.

hi anon! apologies for not getting to this sooner. have you watched the recent episodes? i'm not sure if that already answered your questions or not, but here's my take.

I think her just deciding to free Hong Yi even though there's really a Devil that controlled him, just felt disrespectful to the immortals who died but also risked her life who Hong Ri, Yuan Qi (Gu Jin), and Yan Shuang tried so hard to extend.

what's important to remember here is that the devils had already made hong yi their scapegoat. if he had gone through the trial/punishment, he would've died. there was a lack of time to prove everything so a yin had no choice. it would've been more disrespectful to the immortals if they had punished the wrong person and let the devils get away. also, don't forget! a yin and gu jin's senior brothers already knew that hong yi was not the one doing the murders! they already asked a yin to reveal the real truth and essentially help hong yi.

for your other point: we the audience saw that yong yi, gu jin, and yan shuang spent a lot of time and effort to help a yin, but a yin does not know. and i don't think her friends want her to know. as friends, they are willing to help each other, not because they expect gratefulness or gifts.

in true xianxia genre style, there are sacrifices made for each other without the other person knowing--which leads to unintentional consequences. that's kind of the whole point.

for example: gu jin, in trying to save a yin from death, gives his command seal to hua shu--who later uses it to deceives a yin, making a yin think that gu jin doesn't care about her. in trying to save a yin, gu jin indirectly harms her ! it's tragic.

I just don't get all the hate to the character of Yuan Qi (Gu Jin) and why even other entity is opposed to him when he just followed through what is right.... (shortening here, but responding to your point!)

i also personally don't understand all the hate for gu jin/yuan qi, but i can see why some people are frustrated, especially on the point of gu jin not being more honest/transparent and communicative with a yin. his whole personality in the beginning of the drama was that he was very straightforward and always tried to clear any confusion with a yin. but after he got his emotional threads back (and after he had that one talk from his aunt), he started to keep things from a yin and then tried to shoulder everything on his own. it felt jarring to see him act like this. if he had just talked to a yin and if they could've just worked through some of the obstacles together, then a yin wouldn't have been kept in the dark for so long and wouldn't have suffered so much.

though it's true that gu jin suffered physically for a yin, he was willing. it was his choice. but for a yin, she never had choices. she suffered from other people's actions and from being kept in the dark. this makes it very frustrating/sad to watch a yin who faced injustice over and over.

but personally, i think this is the tragedy of the entire show.

gu jin, forced to become True God yuan qi through the death of his entire sect, forced to take on responsibilities he never wanted, forced to do a job he was never trained for. (We have to remember that Bai Jue and Shanggue grew in the God Realm, with other Gods. Yuan Qi, on the other hand, was pretty much a child in the God Realm briefly before he was brought to the Immortals Realm). He's forced to focus on Duty before Love, but he's trying to have it all--and he's failing.

For a yin, we know that feng yin will get her justice later in the drama, but the tragedy of a yin's death is that she dies at her lowest of low: no home, seen as an accomplice or helper of the devils, her actions misunderstood, her loved one (gu jin) seemingly not trusting her. she dies believing she is unloved. she dies, wronged.

I think it's super tragic all around.

--

Hope this helps! Sorry if it's a bit incoherent. It's been a few days since I've seen the episodes, so I don't remember all the details. If any other watchers are following along and want to address anon or add to what I've said, feel free!

[favevoiceactorbracket]

Meet the Competing Voice Actors!

After the preliminaries and days of deliberating, here are you VOICE ACTORS COMPETING! One will take home the spot of Tumblr's Favorite Voice Actor!

A note before they are introduced! If you would like to support any of them send in an ask or make propaganda, any propaganda you make and post yourself should have me tagged! As well using the tags #favevabracket or #favevabracket2023!

And a quick reminder about the two rules that will be staying active!

No harrassment, hate, or vitriol will be tolerated. We are here to celebrate the work of voice actors not tear each other down

This is all for fun! Do not take it super seriously!

Good luck to all of our competitors!

Kirby Morrow

Rob Paulsen

Robbie Daymond

Tiana Camacho

Alex Hirsch

Khoi Dao

Megumi Ogata

Ray Chase

Sungwon Cho

tara strong

Yuri Lowenthal

Alejandro Saab

Billy Kametz

Billy West

bryce papenbrook

Cree Summer

Grey DeLisle-Griffin

Kevin Conroy

Phil Lamar

Zach Aguilar

Zeno Robinson

AJ Michalka

Alex Brightman

Allegra Clark

Ashley Johnson

Christopher R. Sabat

Daws Butler

Eartha Kitt

Erika Harlacher-Stone

Frank Welker

J. Michael Tatum

Jack De Sena

Jason Griffith

JK Simmons

John DiMaggio

June Foray

Kristen Schaal

Mark Hamill

Richard Horvitz

Steve Blum

Tom Kenny

Wendie Malick

Aaron Dismuke

Aaron Paul

Aimee Carrero

Alison Brie

Ami Koshimizu

Angela Bassett

Ashley Ball

ashly burch

Avi Roque

Ayumu Murase

Ben Schwartz, baby!

BETH MAY

bill farmer

Bill Scott

brandon rogers

Caitlin Glass

Casey Kasem

Cassandra Lee Morris

Cecil Baldwin

Christine Cavanaugh

Clark Duke

Colleen Clinkenbeard

Daman Mills

Dan Castellaneta

Dan Provenmire

Dani Chambers

Dante Basco

Dave Fennoy

David Tennant

Deedee Magno Hall

Deven Mack

Doris Grau

Doug Boyd

Dylan Marron

Elizabeth Maxwell

EG Daily

Elijah Wood

Ellen McLain

Eric Vale

Erin Fitzgerald

Josey Montana McCoy

Greg Chun

Gu Jiangshan

Guilherme Briggs (brazilian)

Haley Tju

Harry Shearer

Haruka tomatsu

Helen Gould

Hynden Walch

Jack McBrayer

Jackson Publick

Jaime Lynn Marchi

Jason Griffith

Jason Liebrecht

jason marsden

Jennifer Hale

Jerry Jewell

Jim Cummings

Jim Ward

John Burgmeier

John Swasey

Johnny Yong Bosch

Julie Kavner

Justin Cook

Kaiji Tang

Katey Sagal

Kdin Jenzen

Keith David

Ken Sansom

Kent William

Kevin Brighting

Kevin R Free

Kieran Reagan

Kimberly Brooks

Kimiko glenn

Kyle Igneczi

Kyle McCarley

Laura Bailey

Lauren Tom

Leah Clark

Liam O’Brien

Lorenzo Music

Lucien Dodge

Lucille Bliss

Lydia Mackay

Lydia Nicholas

Maddie Blaustein

Mae Questel

Mae Whitman

Maggie Robertson

Mara Wilson

Mark Oliver

Matthew Mercer

Matthew Zahnzinger

Maurice LaMarche

Max Mittelman

Mel Blanc

Melissa Hutchinson

Michael Adamthwaite

Micheal Sinterniklaas

Mike Judge

Monical rial

Natsuki Hanae

Nicole Tompkins

Olivia Olson

Olivia Wilde

P.M. Seymour

Parker Simmons

Patricia Ja Lee

Patrick Pedraza

Paul Castro Jr

Paul Frees

Penny Parker

Pete Gustin ( i think thats how it's spelled)

Peter Cullen

Phil Harris

Phil Hartman

Ricco Fajardo

Roger Craig Smith

Roz Ryan

Sandra Oh

Sarah Miller-Crews

Sayaka Ohara

Scatman Crothers

Scott Adsit

Scott Mcneil

Stanley Tucci

Stephanie Beatriz

Stephen Merchant

Steve Whitmore

Tabitha st Germain

Takaya Kuroda

Tom Kane

Tress McNeil

Veronica Taylor

Vincent Tong

Will Arnett

Yasuo Yamada

Zach Callison

Bobbie Moyinhan

Josh Brener

Andrew Francis

Brent Millar

Sebastian Todd

Kestin Howard

Lizzy Hofe

Andy Cowley

Todd Haberkorn

Yoshimasa Hosoya

Russi Taylor

[tavina-writes]

Do you have any particular headcanon or meta about mdzs's world? Mdzs's world is a little different from other xianxia's worlds imo

Hi Nonny!

The worldbuilding I like to do is intrinsically character related, so it changes a lot between different fics that I write, so I wouldn't say that I have any hard headcanons about the world of MDZS.

And if I may, because this is a thing that bothers me intensely, I'd like to clarify that neither modao zushi the book nor cql the show are....xianxias. They're very much genre bucking, but they are spiritually much closer to being wuxia than xianxia (which is more like tgcf from what I can understand of the plot of tgcf).

I would however, like to observe that the world of MDZS is much much more polite and not prone to killing actual literal people than the typical wuxia. Yes, despite the war. And also despite the many many crimes nearly everyone commits in this universe, MDZS cultivators are, by training, ghost busters rather than wandering hitmen or cops. This is also what causes so many problems when they try to figure out what to do about crime and punishment. They're not suited for crime and punishment OR for judging the morality of any particular action committed by humans.

I have a longer essay about this somewhere comparing MDZS and the structure of its society to other common wuxia (Jin Yong's Legend of the Condor Heroes and Gu Long's Sentimental Swordsman Ruthless Sword) but that's a much more serious meta essay for another day!

Thanks for the ask!

[seouldramaspot]

The Atypical Family – A Touching Tale of Superpowers and Human Struggles

"The Atypical Family" (Korean: 히어로는 아닙니다만) is a 2024 South Korean television series that blends the fantastical allure of superpowers with the poignant realities of everyday life. Starring Jang Ki-yong, Chun Woo-hee, Go Doo-shim, and Claudia Kim, this JTBC drama aired from May 4 to June 9, 2024, capturing the hearts of viewers every Saturday and Sunday evening. Additionally, it is available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions, making it accessible to a global audience.

The series revolves around Bok Gwi-ju and his family, who once possessed unique superpowers. However, due to chronic diseases and the pressures of modern life, they find themselves losing these abilities. The narrative takes a turn when their lives intersect with Do Da-hae, a mysterious woman with a keen interest in their family.

Main Characters

Bok Gwi-ju (Jang Ki-yong): Gwi-ju can travel back in time to revisit happy memories. Unfortunately, after his wife's death, he loses this ability as he grapples with depression and can no longer find joy in his past.

Do Da-hae (Chun Woo-hee): A mysterious figure whose fascination with Gwi-ju and his family brings new dynamics into their lives.

Bok Man-heum (Go Doo-shim): Gwi-ju's mother, whose insomnia prevents her from using her "precognitive dreaming" superpower.

Bok Dong-hee (Claudia Kim): Gwi-ju's older sister, who once had the ability to fly but lost it due to struggles with obesity.

Supporting Characters

Bok In-a (Park So-yi): Gwi-ju's daughter, a thirteen-year-old girl isolated from her family and classmates.

Eom Soon-gu (Oh Man-seok): Gwi-ju's father and the only family member without any superpowers.

Baek Il-hong (Kim Geum-sun): Da-hae's mother.

Grace (Ryu Abel): Da-hae's younger sister.

Noh Hyung-tae (Choi Gwang-rok): Da-hae's uncle

At its core, "The Atypical Family" is a poignant exploration of loss, identity, and resilience. The superpowers in the series symbolize personal strengths and coping mechanisms that the characters gradually lose due to life’s adversities. Gwi-ju’s battle with depression and his quest to rediscover happiness is a narrative that resonates deeply with many viewers, reflecting real-world struggles with mental health.

The series also tackles issues such as body image, family dynamics, and the sense of isolation felt by those who are different. Each character’s journey is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and find new sources of strength and joy.

"The Atypical Family" enjoyed impressive viewership ratings, averaging 3.778% nationwide and 4.418% in Seoul. It consistently topped viewership charts, underscoring its popularity and the emotional connection it forged with its audience. These ratings reflect the show’s ability to attract and retain a dedicated following despite being broadcast on a cable channel, which typically garners smaller audiences compared to public broadcasters.

The original soundtrack of "The Atypical Family" significantly enhances its emotional impact. With beautifully composed pieces by artists such as So Soo-bin, Lee So-ra, and Yi Sung-yol, the music resonates deeply with the series' themes. The OST includes:

Part 1: "Walking with You" by So Soo-bin

Part 2: "I See You" by Lee So-ra

Part 3: "Laputa" by Yi Sung-yol

Each track captures the essence of the characters' journeys and the show's emotional beats, making the viewing experience even more immersive.

"The Atypical Family" is a standout series that deftly blends the fantastical with the deeply personal. It offers a unique perspective on the superhero genre, focusing not on epic battles but on the intimate struggles of a family facing extraordinary challenges. The series' compelling performances, intricate character development, and heartfelt storytelling make it a must-watch.

For fans of Korean dramas and those new to the genre, "The Atypical Family" is an unforgettable journey into the complexities of human emotion and resilience. Be sure to catch it on JTBC or stream it on Netflix to experience this remarkable tale.

Honest Comment: At first I didn't know the other actors I only knew the male lead, at first I was confuse of the story like how it happens I will not spoil but it is Fantasy about super power but it is different. Its only 12 episode but it is worth the watch I like the plot the tense and how the story goes. I recommend this series It is worth it.

[thegreymoon]

The Story of Minglan

I am so damn tired. I don't know how other people manage to hold down jobs and have families and get all their shit together and still manage to find time for things they enjoy.

I can't manage to eke out time for one episode of a drama, let alone something more challenging. I will try at least half tonight and maybe continue tomorrow. I hate everything 😢

***

OK, I laughed 🤣🤣

***

God, I'm so face-blind 😭

Is this that royal cousin that he once saved in the middle of nowhere?

Are we getting to the royal plots now? I feel like I'm really struggling here with the transition from the last arc to this one.

***

Yup, it's him, I just went back and checked my old screenshots.

***

Oh, shit.

Assassins!

Anyway, here's to random Imperial cousin Zhao becoming the new Emperor!

Maybe he can even let Gu Tingye retake that stupid exam.

***

So nice 💚

***

They just keep poppin up, like toadstools after rain 😕

This drama is mostly a domestic, female drama, with female issues and struggles and household battlefields, so I find it very hard to switch gears and enjoy his wuxia moments that happen here every one hundred years because it just doesn't match the tone of everything else, but I've realised that I wouldn't mind watching him wreak destruction in another drama, where it would be more appropriate. He really moves very well and is such a strong presence on-screen.

***

Also, what is he fighting these bandits alone for? Was he not with Imperial Cousin the Younger when they realised there was an ambush? Where are the rest of their men?

***

Finally!

***

So many common themes with Love Like the Galxy!

Also, I am always reminded of Shen Zechuan breaking a prisoner out of the imperial prison to skin him alive.

***

LOL, that didn't take long 😅

Anyway, princes Yan and Yong are going down!

***

I love how these people still have faith in the useless Emperor.

The man has been mentally unwell for years, he is old and sick and they still think they can go tattle to him and that he will do anything to protect anyone.

***

I love Imperial Cousin, LOL! He's so bloodthirsty 🤣🤣

But he must be when Daddy Zhao is so meek and indecisive.

***

I love these big shots of scenery!

***

Yeah, dream on!

Gu Tingye is out there being best buddies with the next emperor! All your scheming is in vain.

But the biggest irony here is that Gu Tingye adored her. He really thought of her as a mother. It would have been endless glory and wealth for her and her son if she had just been half normal and not gone out of her way to ruin everyone's lives.

***

This can't be good 😬

It's just Minglan's luck to get stuck in the Imperial Palace when a coup is about to go down.

***

I know this woman!

Didn't she also play an evil Imperial Consort in Nirvana in Fire?

These roles suit her!

***

YESSSS! Consort Rong, go apeshit! 🔥🔥

***

Yes! Please, kill her!

Preferably beat her to death.

Let her know before she dies what pain she inflicted on helpless people. I am Team Consort Rong!

***

Wait.

If Prince Yong killed her sister, she is probably allied with prince Yan. And Prince Yan is currently trying to murder Gu Tingye and Unfavoured Imperial Cousins.

So maybe not Team Consort Rong after all because I do want Gu Tingye to win 🤔 But maybe she can kill Princess Pingning first.

***

Yep.

Go, Consort Rong!! Kill them all!! 🗡🗡

***

Oh, yes, dig your grave!

I will very much enjoy watching the whole lot of you die.

***

Oh, he's still alive?

I was wondering.

Also, the difference between his appearance and the Consort's, smh. She is so beautiful and he is a warmed-up corpse. My estimate is that he is at least forty years older than her.

***

LMAO, priorities 🤣🤣

I love Changbai! He is such a Lan Xichen 💙

[ilikedetectives]

tagged by @mistress-light ty :3

15 Questions 15 Tags:

Nickname: Mama Bear, not in the soft nurturing sense but in the landlady from Kungfu Hustle sense. Other times I am called Satan's cousin 3 times removed.

Height: 1m60

Last Google Search: "nioh 2 can't use character codes" (I was trying to figure out why my character code for PS4 doesn't work on PC)

Song Stuck in My Head: Melancholy Angel (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS) and Tegami-Haikei Juugo No Kimi E- (Angela Aki)

Number of Followers: 7k+

Amount of Sleep (I interpret this as the min amount of hrs I need in a day): 10 

Dream Job: travel the world and get paid good money doing it. A close second would def be taking screenshots of my fav video game crushes XD

Wearing: oversized t-shirt

Movie/Book That Summarizes You: Hero 英雄 (the colors in this 2002 movie teaches and inspires me on how I do colors in my photography)

Aesthetic: Wuxia and Xianxia, Symphonic Metal, Sailor Moon (I know these can't be any more different from each other)

Favorite Authors: Jin Yong (金庸), Gu Long (古龙), and Liang Yusheng (梁羽生). My wuxia obsession started with them ever since I knew how to read and it hasn't gone away.

Favorite Song: 江南 (Jiang Nian - South River) by JJ Lin

Random Fact: Oscar was actually my first go-to English name to choose (thank you Riyoko Ikeda for Rose of Versailles), but I didn't want to have the same name as the academy award (not because it was a masculine name), so I went for Colin instead (funny thing was I didn't know Colin was masculine lol). So either way I am destined to have a masculine name lol Or in Vietnamese we call this kinda situation duyên (it can be fate/karma but also pure coincidence, nobody knows, the beauty is in the ambiguity and there's no need to find out which).

[salanaii]

Learn Korean with me - Week 6/Day 1

Day 1: Let's Speak Korean Chapter 4 - Shopping (1 - 50)

어서오세요. Eo seo o se yo Welcome.

무엇을찾으시나요? Mu eos eur cha jeu sin a yo What are you looking for? 

혹시반바지있나요? Hog si ban ba ji iss na yo Do you have shorts by any chance?

모자를 / 신발을찾고있어요. Mu ja reur / sin bar eur chaj go iss eo yo I’m looking for hats/shoes.

찾으시는스타일이 / 브랜드가있나요? Chaj eu si neun seu ta ir I / beu raen deu ga iss na yo? Is there a style/brand you are looking for?

도와드릴까요? Do wa deu rir gga yo? May I help you?

사이즈가어떻게되시나요? Sa I jeu ga eo tteoh ge doe si a yo? What is (your) size?

입어봐도되나요? Ib eo bwa do doe na yo? Can I try (this) on?

이사이즈있나요? I sa I jeu iss nay o? Do you have this size?

제사이즈는30입니다. Je sa I jeu neun 30 ib ni da My size is 30. = I’m a 30.

조금큰 / 작은것같아요. Jo geum keun / jag eun geos gat a yo I think it’s a little small/big.

딱맞네요. Ttag maj ne yo It fits perfectly.

얼마예요? Eor ma ye yo How much is it?

세일하나요? Se ir ha na yo Is it on sale?

재고있나요? Jae go iss na yo Do you have (it) on stock?

확인해주시겠어요? Hwag in hae ju si gess eo yo Could you check, please?

반품가능한가요? Ban pum ga neung han ga yo Is it possible to return? = Is it returnable?

얼마동안에반품할수있나요? Eor ma dong an e ban pum har har sui ss nay o (Literal) Within how long can I return? = How late can I return it?

환불가능한가요? Hwan bur ga neung han ga yo (Literal) Is a refund possible? = Can I get a refund?

반품하고싶습니다. Ban pum ha go sip seub ni da I’d like to return.

게품에문제가있나요? Ge pum e mun je ga iss na yo Was there a problem with the product?

아니요,사이즈가맞지않아요. A ni yo, sa I jeu ga maj ji anh a yo (Literal) No, the size isn’t right. = No, it doesn’t fit.

아니요,스타일이맞지않아요. A ni yo, seu ta ir i maj ji anh a yo (Literal) No, the style isn’t right. = No, I don’t like the style.

다른색상이있나요? Da reun saeg sang I iss na yo Do you have different colors?

이게마음에들어요. I ge ma eum e deur eo yo (Literal) This is to (my) liking. = I like this.

그냥둘러볼게요. Geu Nyang dur reo bur ge yo I’ll just look around.

구경해도되나요? Gu Gyeong hae do doe na yo May I look around?

탈의실이어디죠? Tar ui sir I eo di jyo Where is the fitting room?

남성용 / 여성용인가요? Nam seong yong/ yeo seong yong in ga yo Is (this) fir men/for women? = Is this men’s or women’s?

여기흠이있어요. Yeo gi heum I iss eo yo There is a scratch/nick/defect here.

원래이런가요? Won rae I reon ga yo Is this usually like this? = Is this normal?

할인해주실수있나요? Har in hae ju sir sui ss na yo (Literal) Can you discount it for me? = Can you give me a discount?

신상품있나요? Sin sang pum iss na yo Do you have the latest products?

정���맞나요? Jeong pum maj na yo Is this an authentic product?

매니저를만나고싶습니다. Mae ni jeo reur man na sip seub ni da I’d like the meet the manager.

계산해주세요. Gye san hae ju se yo (Literal) Please calculate (it) for me. = Please ring it up for me.

쇼핑백을주세요. Syo ping baeg eur ju se yo Please give me a shopping bag.

포장해주네요. Po jang hae ju ne yo (Literal) Please wrap (it) for me. = I’d like to have it wrapped.

영수증을백안에넣어주세요. Yeong su jeung eur baeg an e neoh eo ju se yo Please put the receipt in the bag.

영수증은저에게주세요. Yeong su jeung eun ge ju se yo Please give the receipt to me.

카드되나요? Ka du doe na yo Is (credit) card okay? = Do you take credit cards?

현금도되나요? Hyeon geum do doe na yo Is cash okay, too? = Can I pay with cash?

현금으로사면할인받나요? Hyeon geum eu ro sa myeon har in bad na yo Do I receive a discount if I buy with cash?

택스리펀드되나요? Taeg seu ri peon deu doe na yo Is it eligible for tax refund?

택스리펀드는어디에서하나요? Taeg seu ri peon deu neu neo di e seo ha na yo (From) where do I do (=file) tax refund?

이렇게작성하면되나요? I reoh ge jag seong ha myeon doe na yo (Literal) Is it right if I fill out like this?

배달도되나요? Bae dar do doe na yo Can it be delivered as well?

홀드해주실수있나요? Hor deu hae ju sir sui ss na yo Can you hold (it) for me?

다시찾으러올게요. Da sic haj eu reo or ge yo I’ll come again to pick it up.

수선가능한가요? Su seon ga neung han ga yo Is alteration possible?

[idontwanttowhy]

Review: Mr. Queen (2020)

Joyously Utterly Ridiculous with a dash of Politics

Synopsis

So there's this outspoken Blue House head chef, Jang Bong Hwan, who gets in some trouble and is running away from the police when he has a near-death experience. But instead of regaining consciousness in the 21st century, he wakes up in the body of softspoken Kim So Yong, the Queen Cheorin in the Joseon period (19th century). Here he gets thrown into marriage preparations to King Cheol Jong, and swept up in the secrets of the palace.

AC Overall: 9/10, just good fun at first...and then I really got into the plot

Lord Jesus when I tell you I CACKLED at the mere premise of this womanizing man waking up in a Joseon woman's body--and a Queen much less! So I watched the first few eps just out of sheer awe of the plot and hilarious shenanigans that ensued. And honestly didn't pay the rest of the plot much attention...

But then it became something worth paying attention to, and it grasped me until the end of the drama. Very thoughtful. This is a comedy with some political undertones, and a romance (or 4) to die for (lol).

Favorite things about the drama: the silly comedy, the plot, the character development, the list goes on. And kudos to the team for not making the gender swap too weird, I've seen other dramas do it less tastefully. It's a step.

AC Review (spoilers)

Let's face it, Bong Hwan as So Yeon was the best thing that happened to that palace, to Cheol Jong, Bong Hwan himself, to So Yeon herself, to the country...etc. The ~growth~ Bong Hwan went through as a result was *chef's kiss*. From the jumping-into-any-body-of-water-to-get-back-home, to establishing the "no touch" rule between him and the King, to being willing to further ~explore~ romance, sex , pregnancy as a woman, was beautiful, thoughtful, even intriguing to watch, and didn't seem abrupt or distasteful. Do wish we could've seen So Yeon in 21st century Korea as a man more too, though we did get glimpses of her trying to unsuccessfully bag some men at a club and then engaging with a woman in the kitchen's storage room as Bong Hwan himself used to do. I suppose Mr. Queen's developing attraction to Cheol Jong could be imagined as being from/because of So Yeon's co-habitating yearning soul but, I prefer to believe he organically developed that soul-soul attraction while So Yeon's soul was galavanting around Seoul.

Now, I'm a fan of Welcome to Waikiki (S1...couldn't watch S2 it was so...not Waikiki) so it was hard for me to see Kim Jung Hyun as anyone other than goofy ass Kang Dong Gu. And honestly, his acting here was...aight. His way of portraying the King as comely-in the agreeable sense only imo-was by lowering his eyelids and looking like a zombie. Forgive me, but i. wanted. more. nuance. They had a hard time convincing me he was pretending to be meek around the palace and was truly a force beyond. Shin Hye Sun's acting carried the drama, she was a star in portraying Bong Hwan's soul and So Yeon's soul at the right moments. A little extreme at times...but the drama called for it.

And I can't not shout-out the side characters here too. Court Lady Choi and the Royal head Chef need a spinoff, they were so cute together, and maid Hong Yeon deserves the man of her dreams--maybe the King's best friend Hong, maybe not. I was so proud of her for turning down Kim Hwan so beautifully...and let's be real, he deserves someone too, such a sweetheart! Both Prince Yeongpyeong and Byeong In needed a happy ending too...why was it that both these men looked like they had been crying in every scene??

Speaking of my Byeong In...in every drama I have a "man", which is usually the one who could do no wrong because he's so good to look at (both inside and out, thankyouverymuch). Most of the time it's the second lead, and that held true here too. My man...I know his character's a little gross for romantically loving his (adoptive?) cousin the Queen, but I kept rooting for him, even when he became a bad apple and tried to force her to be the Kim family's puppet. And I must admit Mr. Queen had a point when he accused Byeong In of not noticing the change in his loved one after the soul switch. How could he still believe that was his So Yeon?? But I forgive him, he redeemed himself by letting the Queen live, get away, and ultimately find her King and make it back to the palace for some sweet revenge.

(Not gonna mention the family drama or Eui Bin here, it was exhausting enough to watch. But Eui Bin redeemed herself too, I guess.)

All in all I really loved this drama, and it's something I know I wouldn't have appreciated before this year, honestly. Lots of laughter, good chemistry between the King and Queen, and the storyline wasn't bad either. Give it a watch if you need some silly laughs with a dash of romance and substance.

P.S.: Kinda mad that in the end, the real So Yeon got to ride the wave of love from the King that had developed for Bong Hwan's soul...So Yeon didn't earn his love! And I felt bad for the King too, having lost Bong Hwan and his ~energy~ without so much as a goodbye. (And it would've been cool to see Mr. Queen give birth...) But hey, they all needed a happy ending after everything they went through those last few eps.

MZ Overall: 6/10, i needed to know how this whole thing would end

AC described this as a "comedy with some political undertones" but I would say the opposite: a political show with some comedic undertones. WAY too much plot. I was not trying to follow all that. AC also said to me that this romance was a "slow burn" which was JUST A STRAIGHT UP LIE. I was struggling at the end. There is a lot to like about this show if you like physical comedy and politics. I'm very whatever about this show though.

MZ Review (spoilers)

As usual, AC and I have disagreed completely on a drama. Firstly, this show did NOT need to be 20 episodes. After 10 I was truly asking myself if I was going to invest another 10 hours of my life in seeing it through. That was when I decided to watch it while crafting, so I'll see the major plot points (dramatic background music is a universal language!) without feeling like I had to have my eyes peeled.

By the end, I was staying to figure out how they were going to resolve the whole thing with Jang Bong Hwan. Would he go back? Would he stay and somehow fuse with So Yong? I don't know what I wanted but what happened was.... not it.

Ok, so I wasn't staying only to see how it ended... I was also there for Lady in Waiting Choi. She had the absolute best bit in the whole show, with the smutty kaleidoscope. Why was I ROLLING when she brought it out? The writers did not have to do her like that but there it was and I loved it. The side characters are generally good in this show overall, which also made it fun to watch.

I would use the rest of this time to complain about how Lady Uibin and Kim Byung In were terrible love rivals, but that is quite frankly my most boring take. Instead, I'd like to talk about queerbaiting. I am from the era of fandom tumblr that was held in a chokehold by gay ships such as Merthur, Destiel, and Johnlock, so I am no stranger to this concept. What I haven't made up my mind on is how queerbaiting shows up (or not) within k-dramas. And while I'm completely comfortable with accusing white people of the global west in engaging in this sort of practice, I would not extend this lens to cultures I only know through slivers of the media they produce. Which is to say that I can't speak to one of the hallmarks of queerbaiting: trying to "lure in" queer/ally audiences using these suggestions of representation.

So for the purposes of this blog, when I say "queerbaiting," I'm referring to how showrunners write/create visuals/otherwise hint at romantic relationships between people of the same gender, but who are ostensibly straight. I'd say this is part of the undercurrent of Mr. Queen, and particularly the relationship between Bong Hwan (as So Yong) and Cheol Jong. It is usually played for laughs: So Yong's body has physical responses to Cheol Jong, that Bong Hwan mentally fights off. Bong Hwan still has his urges, leading him to seek out courtesans, pick out the concubines for Cheol Jong, and TRY TO KISS HONG YEON AS SO YONG. The writers go through great pains to establish Bong Hwan as a Straight Man (TM), which begins to crumble after he and Cheol Jong have sex (but he's drunk and in a woman's body and thinks he is having sex with a woman, so it's not gay, just lowkey sexual assault!!!). What begins to dissolve is how much Bong Hwan is portrayed as pushing back against the affections of So Yong towards Cheol Jong. Especially towards the end, how much of the kissing, affection, and care was Bong Hwan? This is a question that is up for the viewer to decide, even up to the end.

When Bong Hwan wakes up in his body back in the 21st century, the first thing he does is attempt to find out what happened to Cheoljong. He then figures out that their lives changed forever because they met each other. He learned that he can ~fight injustice~ in any era blah, blah, blah. No addressing how he was about to die for Cheol Jong, or how he had fully even stopped trying to get back to his body, or how Cheol Jong felt like he "lost something" after the fight.... No, just Cheol Jong being straight with So Yong and Bong Hwan getting to go back to his life as a Man.

Listen, I know this show was not supposed to be a rom-com, but am I so wrong for still wanting some kind of resolution for this? They really wrote themselves in circles trying to make sure we know they are straight, and yet they throw in just enough doubt... In my view, classic sign of queerbaiting.

And to disagree with AC again, I have seen genderswap/gender changing done MUCH better in other shows. Take You're Beautiful (2009) for instance: when the heroine has to pretend to be her twin brother to join an all-male band, one of the bandmates never figures out that he is a girl, so struggles with his growing attraction to her. This show was far from perfect, but we actually see the characters deal with the fallout of the gender swap rather than just be like "oh that happened." We see something similar in Coffee Prince (2007), which sees the main male lead struggle a lot over his attraction to the main female lead, who presents as a man. Both of these, while far from perfect, at least portray something about what means to contend with sexual/romantic attraction in homophobic/transphobic society. Both of these shows were made over 10 years ago; you would think that by now we'd be doing a bit better.