#he's in like my fave lie to me episode too!!

[quitealotofsodapop]

Eating bugs.

I had to rewatch the episode to see that and yeah;

MK had a bug in his hair, and Wukong picked it out and ate ala monkey grooming instincts. Too big to be a louse, looks more like a silkworm in it's cocoon.

I bet he picked it up after getting slammed into the pavement - from personal experience no matter where you lie down in public, you *will* get a bug on you.

One of my fave hcs is MK's monkey instincts kicking in and he accidentally eats a spider before he realises. And promptly freaks out.

And because eating certain arthropods isn't considered as taboo in China (but still considered weird); MK's other family members have their own thoughts on the matter. Tang is 100% the parent who'd be like that one tumblr post about a guy eating spiders. Pigsy is with MK on the grossness of it.

Tang: "I don't see what the big deal is." Sandy: "Insects *are* a far more substainable source of protein than beef or fish." Pigsy, angry squeal: "Because its disgusting! You've no idea where it's been!" MK: "Thank you, Dadsy!" Tang: "MK, you ate fried silkworm grubs by the bucketful when you were little." MK, turning green with horror: "I THOUGHT THOSE WERE POPCORN SHRIMP!?" Pigsy: "That's what you were feeding my son when you took him to the night market!?" Tang, shrugs: "I'm a culinary explorer piggy. And if lil MK took a liking to my haul, who was I to deny him the boon?" Pigsy & MK, both at once: "BECAUSE IT WAS BUGS TANG!" Macaque, teasingly pokes head out of shadows: "Did I hear something about silkworms? I'm starving!" MK & Pigsy: *disgusted retching noises* Mei, the one who started the convo: *is busy recording all of this*

It gets so bad that MK will randomly ask other animal demons/celestials he comes across in his travels their thoughts on the matter. The answers are... less than encouraging.

MK: "Before we part ways, I have a big big personal question to ask you Mr Three Eyed God-sir." Erlang Shen, expecting a lore question: "Ok." MK: "Do you eat bugs?" Erlang Shen: "...define bug." MK: "wut." Erlang: "Because in the grand scheme of things, any creature that crawls with many legs can be called a bug. Crabs, prawns, and shrimp are in the same family as the common woodlouse." MK, despairing: "Nooo! Don't ruin shellfish for me!!!" Wukong: "MK, stop asking the gods if they eat bugs. They don't cook 'em good anyway." MK: *retching sound*

The poor monkey boy probably ignores these instincts for as long as possible, until one day MK takes a bite out of a giant bug monster and things quickly turn into Shaggy & Scooby vs the Cotton Candy Glob. Onlookers were horrified.

[pageofheartdj]

Well. I finally properly ended Jentry Chau vs The Underworld and I have THOUGHTS xD

First of all the usual FUCK Netflix way of releasing, I guarantee the fandom would have been more alive if the episodes were stretched at least a LITTLE to create a buzz =(

Also. Man the intro baited me xD I wish the whole show looked like that, but I understand it's unrealistic, oh well xD The show quality is not bad, it's just the intro is on another level! (wtf was that thing with Kit wings, show? Show?!)

The writing... well I guess I didn't appreciate enough shows with not-teens or mature teens xD Not gonna lie, Jentry's 'powers are not me'/'they are me how dare you'/'lets become normal together'/'nevermind go away'/'i dont like you'/'actually no i am jealous now', ugh so tiring xD It says a lot that I still like Jentry after all of this bullshit xD And like, her life became hella crazy, can't even blame her for being all over the place xD

Michael. Ah, Michael, I so wish the show didn't drop his whole power thing. Where was his talk with parents? Anything? No? Oh well. At least he has a 'good dog good boy' personality xD Untill he drops it randomly sometimes? =/

Stella, I loved her so much why was she not included more😭(do not give me the sapphic hint in the end, she should have stayed with Michael and be with Jentry, why shows keep messing with me like that xD)

Ed. Wow I have... complicated feelings about him xD He is adorable and I love him and originally I thought he'll be my fave after the intro but this spot was stollen xD The complicated feelings are connected to it...

Kit. Oh I LOVE Kit, fuck he is so tragic and complex and FUCK show for screwing him! Treating him like some special evil when Ed is Right There(what I mean is everyone being complitely fine with Ed and being on guard HARD with Kit even though Ed tried to kill Jentry too. Which is extra annoying when Ed joined Jentry after they defeated him and pushed against Cheng who he was afraid of in the first place. While Kit actively chose to not harm Jentry even though he had all the opportunities with his most treasured desire on the stakes). He had so much potential! I don't even mind his angry outbirsts in the end, the guy was going through a lot, but did they HAVE to just kill him off??? Now screw THAT >:(

Oh and uh. Overall plot is quit interesting, althought the boss rush in the end was a bit uh... okay I guess xD

Idk what future seasons there can be, despite some minor plot moments everything is wrapped.

[imanes]

doing a lil august reading wrap up because apparently i read 13 (!!) books. in chronological order (bolded are those i recommend):

city of stairs by robert jackson bennett: quite the interesting read. i think the character work in this one is a standout, as well as the world building. the good thing is i have no idea where this trilogy is going so it's exciting. the audiobook for the second book arrives in 2 weeks on my shelves on libby so I'll be reading the sequel soon

braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer: this one took me a whole entire year to read and finish lol. no comment. or maybe one comment: i think i'd have found this book a lot more eye opening if i had read it three years ago so right book wrong time i guess? i do recommend it i just think it didn't impact me as much as i thought it would

the blighted worlds by megan e. o'keefe: this one hit me like a truck!! i was so obsessed. it's a sci-fi space opera with an element of horror and an interesting romance sub-plot. basically everything i love lmao. i really do recommend this book it might actually be my fave of the month

sanctuary by ilona andrews: i have to stay up to date on all things kate daniels-related to this spin off was high on my tbr. it was a lot of fun but it petered out toward the end

where the dark stands still by a.b. poranek: a bit of a let down not gonna lie. the gist of my opinion is that it felt underdeveloped and in turn i felt under-interested in whatever was going on

shadows of self by brandon sanderson: once again i am begging the protagonists of this series to stop being aggravating

the fractured dark by megan e. o'keefe: continuing my obsession with the devoured worlds trilogy... unfortunately i have to wait on my libby hold to get the audiobook of the next one (i read with my eyeballs and listen at the same time to help with concentration)

the right to sex - feminism in the 21st century by amia srinivasan: i read this book because i know of two people who broke up with their significant other (one of them resulting in a divorce) after reading this book so i had to know what srinivasan had cooked in there and yeah she did cook.

the way of kings by brandon sanderson: just part of my re-read in preparation of the release of wind and truth in December. this month we tackle (again) words of radiance teehee

just for the summer by abby jimenez: womp womp womp. idk what it is with romance authors these days they're in a competition with themselves to portray the healthiest love stories but this one teetered on the wrong side of boring one too many times and the volume to therapy-speech in this one was staggering.

the ex vows by joyce jessica: twas a cute poolside read, it's nothing revolutionary but it was pleasant enough and it didn't make me roll my eyes like just for the summer jdkjgsk at least the love interest had a personality and a life... i mean it's fiction so it's not a life but it appeared as if he contained multitudes or something

funny story by emily henry: I'll go ahead and say it nobody writes a contemporary romance quite like miss henry because she's got the secret recipe for the right balance between heartfelt feelings and amusing situations + her dialogues feel a lot more natural than most (though if i had to nitpick she always has this side character who's a fountain of wisdom and gives you life-changing monologues but i guess such people exist out there)

the thief by megan whalen turner: the megans are really out in full force because this is another book written by a megan that i loved so much. yes half of this book is a fairly episodic journey across made-up countries, yes i ate it up, yes the second half is worth the wait (if you were out of patience, which i wasn't, bc i was having fun) and yes the plot twists are chef's kiss. "gen's ambitions are his own" is the perfect summary. everand has all the audiobooks so you know what I'm gonna do... that's right... listen and read at the same time

as an aside the tandem reads i do with both books and audiobooks happen only when i like the narrators. if i find a narrator i like i stick to them like glue because they're few and far between as far as my picky ass is concerned. i never do romance audiobooks they're the worst...

[ddejavvu]

Ok since you brought it up about the episode “Riding the Lighting” maybe a scene like the hotch and jj one but with reader instead? Hotch has to take a moment after leaving the room because he’s really mad 👀 I’m obsessed with possessive hotch ;)

mmmmmutual pining with bau!reader because it's my fave <33

--

"There's three more girls we need to know the location of," You speak calmly and slowly, meeting the unsub's wicked gaze with your own confident one, "Megan Walsh, Casey McMillan, and Monica Chen. If you can tell me where those girls are," You flatten your hands over the table, fingers spread over each one of the girls' portraits, "We'll tell the court you cooperated."

"That's not going to matter much," The man laughs, evil seeping from his lips, "They're not going to repeal the death sentence, are they?"

"No, but they might not slam you into the door on the way out," Aaron spits from behind you, more venom in his voice than you've ever heard before. "And you might want to stop staring at my agent and start taking a look at those photos, because they're your only hope."

"They don't matter anymore," The man shrugs, jumpsuit baggy over his emaciated frame, "They're over and done with. You, however," His eyes trail down your face, examining the features he'd sought out in his victims, "You would have made a nice Number 9."

"That's it," Aaron snaps from behind you, his hand falling heavy on the back of your chair and yanking you out from the table, "You had your chance, and you wasted it. Now I'm going to tell the guards you perpetuated your behavior, and I won't look back if I hear a thud."

Aaron's careful not to hurt you as he pulls you out of your chair, the hand on your arm firm but gentle. He leads you by your bicep out of the room and leaves behind you, blocking the unsub's view of you from behind with his broad frame.

Once you're out of the unsub's sight Aaron rounds on you, keeping his hand on your arm and staring at you with a concerned glance, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," You nod, though you have to admit you're more shaken up by Hotch's reaction than by the creepy comment, "That's just... what they do, right?"

He stares at you for a second too long. Eyes against yours, searching for any lingering uneasiness. When he finds only resignation, he nods, registering your words late.

"Yes," He nods, letting go of your arm and starting down the hallway, "Unfortunately, that's just what they do." His jaw is tight, his steps heavy as he leads you back to the guards waiting for you by the entrance to the cell block, "If you'll excuse me, I need to make a private phone call. Y/L/N, you can wait for me in the car."

The officers are kind enough to walk you back to your SUV, pitching into tense conversation with questions about the unsub. You answer all that you can, shutting the passenger's side door to the SUV and glancing at the clock, wondering what time Hotch will be back to drive.

When your gaze falls from the clock it locks onto a small black device on the center console; Hotch's phone.

A comment he'd made earlier pops into your head five minutes too late, something about their being no outside cell service in the prison, so he was going to leave his phone in the car. No use carrying around dead weight.

But he comes back from his mystery outing with a droplet of water by his temple, soaking his hair that looks damp around the line. So he went to the bathroom, but to wash his face? Why did he need to lie about a phone call?

"Sorry," He apologizes, setting his suit jacket over the center console and effectively burying his phone, "I've been wrestling with the cable company for weeks now, we can't ever reach each other. I felt my phone buzz in there, figured I'd try reaching 'em."

You nod, silent, observant, "Funny, I didn't know you had a second phone."

"Hm?" He glances over at you, hands poised on the wheel. You peel back his suit jacket, one eyebrow raised as his eyes lock onto his phone.

"You're a good liar," You commend him and his years of profiling work, "Next time, just make sure there's no evidence."

"Alright, so I wasn't on the phone," He sighs, bracing his hand on the back of your seat to pull out of the parking lot, "But the cable company has been messing with me, I think."

"They're conspiring against you," You tease, "They don't want you to downgrade from the HD channels. Is that why you had to splash your face? Just so frazzled from the cable company?"

"Jesus," He hisses, rubbing at the wet spot against his temple with his sleeve, "You're new here but you don't act like it."

"So?" You try holding back the pride that threatens to burst from your chest, "What was it? What had the great SSA Aaron Hotchner losing it in the prison bathroom?"

"It was the way that guy talked to you," He admits, keeping his eyes on the road as they scrunch in disdain, "He was out of line."

"He's a serial killer," You laugh humorlessly, "There isn't a line, not anymore."

"Regardless. It's still not fun to be told you'd make a good murder victim. Are you really alright, Y/L/N?"

He takes the few seconds that a red light grants him to stare over at you questioningly. Although you'd felt uneasy at the man's comment, you'd been far more affected by Aaron's response, and the protectiveness he showed over you. You appreciate the fact that he seems to care about you already, even though you're a recent addition to his team.

"I'm alright," You decide, lifting your chin towards the green light so that he doesn't miss it, "Thank you for stepping in. I wasn't really sure what to say."

"I wouldn't have told anyone if you'd decided to punch him in the teeth," Hotch grumbles, "I'll have Morgan go over there tomorrow, and see if he can get it out of the guy. And if not..." He hesitates, glancing up quickly to clock a speed limit sign and slowing the car slightly, "I might tell Morgan to punch him in the teeth."

[alectricblue]

London was incredible

I was right in thinking England was made for me omg

I'll put everything about my trip (plus more photos) under the cut bc this is gonna be Long:

- First of all: I CAN SEE. Everything is constantly bathed in a dim light so I can open my eyes fully in photos during the day even if the sky is clear. I've never been able to do that!!! The moment I landed back in Spain I had to really shield my eyes from the sun bc of how bright it was, just squinting was useless 😂

- And the weather was perfect 👌. I love it a bit gloomy and miserable and it stays the same weather the whole day, unlike my home town which can have every kind of weather in a day. It did not rain ONCE the whole time I was there, the most it did was like two drops then stopped. But I wouldn't have minded it if it had rained

London isn't as cold as I expected, which was great, it was the same weather as my home town, except a couple degrees colder and bit more humid. The outskirts where colder, but I liked that too

- I don't have to talk to ANYONE there. Everyone minds their own business and almost everything is automated so I can go anywhere and do anything with only a few words at most. I talked in English more with my cousin's dog (he only understands commands in English and I luckily got obsessed w Victoria Stillwell's videos a couple years ago) than any person I had to talk to 😂

- British people are hilarious. I don't understand when people say they're serious and unpleasant or w/e they say. I've only found nice, charming and funny people. Maybe I'm biased bc I love their culture and their humor, but still, seems unfair

- Every big museum is free :D. I only had time to go to the National Gallery and it was so huge and overwhelming that I had to get out early lmao, but it was gorgeous. Now I've seen an actual museum! I say this one bc a British family behind me on the queue complained that in Madrid museums aren't free - I had no idea, and I agree, all museums should be free

- You don't need to have a car!! (At least in most of London). You can go anywhere you want with just a credit card and the Citymapper app. Sure, I spent a fuckload of money going everywhere and buying things (/hyperbole), but I was ready for that

- And oh the expensive suits shops 😍😍🤩 I want to buy everything (I could never, I can't spend £400 on a suit or a coat or a jumper, but I can dream)

- The houses, parks and streets are beautiful 😭. Just my kind of aesthetic. And you can find them everywhere, from the center of London to the outskirts. And most of the plants there are my fave shade of green (dark blue-ish green). I've never seen grass so green 🥹

- My red hair color looks fantastic against the gray sky lmfao. And bc of the high humidity my hair stays wavy and my skin doesn't itch or break ☺️

- Now, British food I can't say much about. I've only tried fish (haddock) and chips and a beef pie at a pub. And a cinnamon roll at another place (not sure if that one is British tho). Everything I tried was delicious and would gladly repeat. That's all I can say for now

- I love the tube. It feels like riding a poorly constructed rollercoaster that needs oil and sounds like it's gonna derail any second. And you REALLY need to hang on. It's so so fun (/not being sarcastic). And it's SO convenient, I used it way more than the bus, which was pretty good too

- There were crows, squirrels and foxes everywhere!!

- I can watch British telly :D. I watched the last episode of Junior Taskmaster and the whole last series of Would I Lie To You on my cousin's smart TV :D

And then I could visit the places I've only seen on TV!!!

- - -

I was there for four days, which made it essentially two days, so I had to make the most of it. My legs are dead now lmfao, but I went to SO many places 🤩 I might be short but I'm gay so I can powerwalk everywhere

My fave places were: 1. the Big Ben, bc it was the first famous place I went to and it's the one that shocked me the most bc, omg, I AM here, I AM in England, Oh my god. And 2. St James park. Sooo beautiful, I had no idea it was a nature reserve for ancient trees and many animal species

But I also went to places younger me would have been ecstatic to go to (and current me lmao)

I went to 221B Baker Street and Scotland Yard. Picadilly and the Gherkin

Ate lunch while sitting on one of the benches at St James park and passed Berkeley Square, the Ritz and Soho

Went to St Paul's Cathedral, where the old woman in Mary Poppins feeds the pigeons

AND WENT TO THE TASKMASTER HOUSE. I only saw the roof... BUT I SAW IT. Now when I watch Taskmaster I can say that I've been there!! :D

It was sooo much fun hunting every place down and I took LOADS of photos

First time on a plane/flying check✅️

First time travelling alone check✅️

First time on the tube and on a double decker bus check✅️

First time on a pub check✅️

First time in London/England check✅️

I can't wait to go back. I would love to live there. Well, maybe not in the center center of London, but in England in general. Such a beautiful place, I knew I would love it

I finally fulfilled my childhood/teenage dream of going to England 🥹😭

Now onto the next adventure 😄

[narrynukezankielover]

Again these are my personal opinions or what I personally see or think as someone seeing these episodes for the first time.

To begin with the episode where Dean and Sam die and go to heaven. I love when someone else talks about Cas and only looks at Dean. The angel told Dean and Sam that god had done a lot for them but he was looking directly at Dean while saying that god had saved him, put them on a plane and brought Cas back for you. Then turned to Sam to say after everything he’s done. That sounds like god brought Cas back because he knows how much Cas means to Dean. Otherwise he would’ve been looking between the two of them.

Then the necklace. Up until now that necklace was a brotherly connection between Dean and Sam. Like I think Dean didn’t want to give it to Cas in the first place because Sam gave it to him. It’s special to him but once he gave it to Cas it meant hope. Hope that god would help. Then when they found out god didn’t really care yes it hurt Dean but what I think hurt Dean more was that Cas lost his faith in god. It’s like as long as Cas has hope Dean has hope. Then when Dean threw away the necklace the look on Sams face was like “you’re seriously throwing that out? I gave that to you.”

To me Becky represents the Jared or the J2 fans. The ones that think Jared is everything. Even the ones that ship Dean and Sam. I’m not going to lie the scene where she’s writing a sexual fan fic about them makes me want to throw up. They’re brothers fake brothers in a tv show but it’s still disgusting. Then Cas expresses how much he hates Sams voice and tells him not to ask stupid questions. It made me bust out laughing but it felt like Cas represents the other side of the fandom. I just had to put that in there because I love Cas honesty with that stuff and I had to agree with him.

So far my fave’s 2 episodes are the Jimmy episode and season 5 episode 18 which I believe is also the 100th episode. There is soooo much Destiel in it. I knew about these scenes I just didn’t realize they were all in the same episode.

Dean telling Cas to blow him got him this look. Cas kept this look for a few seconds. It’s like wait that’s a sexual thing right? Did you really just say that? The guy is really confused.

The “not for nothing Cas but last time someone looked at me like that I got laid” scene. HOLY SHIT. That was clearly flirting not a joke. Sam even gave Dean a “are you seriously flirting right now” look.

(Sorry about the stuff in that picture I took it while I was watching the episode and clearly forgot to take it off). Then Dean gave Cas this smirk and a wink which looks like it might’ve been Jensen trying to make Misha laugh which could be why Cas look became even more intense. Could’ve been Misha trying hard to stay in character. Either way that’s some serious flirting.

Later Cas got worried about Dean and what I love is that when he heard something inside the room he opened the eye door but when he couldn’t see Dean he got really worried and had to go in. If it was anyone else in there Cas would’ve said it was a trap and left them alone but he couldn’t take that chance with Dean. I’m still trying to figure out tho how Sam left to find Dean a few seconds later yet Cas found him in no time (how did Cas know where to find Dean? Suppose it could’ve been he just went to the closest religious person. I love Cas honesty here telling the guy he prays too loudly) and Sam was back at Bobbys house when Cas and Dean got back. He didn’t spend much time looking for Dean.

It’s not a sexual scene but it sure looks like it. Cas pushing Dean around telling him yet again how much he’s pissed that he rebelled for Dean so he wouldn’t have to say yes to Michael but yet here he is going to do it anyway. Dean didn’t even try to fight back. Don’t know if he knew Cas is a lot stronger than him and didn’t see the point in fighting back but knowing Dean I can’t see that being it. Or if what Cas was saying was finally getting through to his head and maybe thought he deserved what was happening and let Cas make the decision in this moment that he wasn’t saying yes right now.

I know the last episode of season 5 was supposed to be the last episode but some of it is just weird. Dean looked back at Cas sleeping and said “ain’t he a little angel.” Dean sounds so cute when he said that. It reminds me of in Good Omens Crowley calls Aziraphale angel all the time. At first it was because Aziraphale is an actual angel but over time it became a cute nickname like sweetie or honey. In this scene it felt like a cute nickname instead of just that Cas is an angel. Of course Sam ruined the moment when he said “angels don’t sleep.” Dean then looked confused and worried. The thing that pisses me off is that Sam made Dean promise to go to Lisa and have a life with her. It pisses me off because Dean didn’t say he wanted that life plus you just heard Dean saying something sweet about Cas and he thought it was a good time to bring this up. Really makes me want to punch Sam. Sam wants that life but he pushed that life on Dean in a promise. When they were in heaven Deans heaven was being with Sam but Sam’s heaven was being away from his actual family but being with a family. They really were going to let the show end with Dean liveing Sams happy ending. I’m trying to forget that shit happened but the fact that Dean didn’t want it makes it a bit easier. At least they didn’t try to say it was Deans idea.

[nijigasakilove]

Amazing episode as per usual, but this was one of my faves. Saki and Yuta both get very good and relevant advice from the unlikeliest of sources, but how long are they going to be able to run from their true feelings?

I didn’t expect a direct confrontation from Maya like that wow! Just straight up asking Yuta if he likes Saki. Well she knows, but just seeing what he’ll say anyway. Respect to Yuta for not showing any signs of nervousness and staying composed even tho he clearly doesn’t want Saki with someone else.

Lot of good stuff in this episode, for starters I love how happy and excited Saki’s mom got when Yuta praised her in front of the teacher at PTC’s. As a step parent being accepted by your new family is everything and it was a huge relief for her you can tell.

But the second PTC with Saki’s teacher was funny as hell to me. As a teacher saying your student is nothing like the rumours is crazy 😂 you’re not even supposed to be dignifying the nasty stuff high schoolers spread around, but her heart was in the right place. Plus she gave Saki the advice of going to check out the women’s college which I think is good for her

The professor at the women’s college was eccentric as hell, and playing relationship counsellor as soon as you meet a prospective student is crazy, BUT not a single lie was told and Saki needed to hear that stuff so I’ll allow it lol. Saki telling her to call her Ayse at the end made me laugh

I think Saki and Yuta trying to live separate lives and hang with other people will bring them right back to each other in the end as they realise how they truly feel.

One episode left, I can’t believe 3 months have blown by this quickly I’m gonna be so sad to see this end but at least we have the books going strong and the anime is soaring on the charts rn so can’t be too sad.

[otakween]

Digimon Frontier - Episode 5

Not gonna lie...this episode was kinda a snore fest lol. Just pretty forgettable all around. Oh well, at least we have all of the spirit evolutions now!

Notes:

I'm enjoying exploring a different digimon village every episode, it gives some of the background digimon time to shine. The Kokuwamon were cute and it was funny seeing baby Kokuwamon (still don't know how THAT works).

It seemed like they were going for a bug theme with the Kokuwamon, Minomon, and Snimon but then they stuck Goburimon in there too and it kinda threw things off? The Digimon franchise seems to slot in Goburimon when they need generic henchmen.

The Minomon had such cute voices in the sub but they were grating as heck in the dub. Funny seeing them play an antagonistic role.

This episode had a weird meta joke where they cut to a Kokuwamon saying "that's how it is" and the characters were like "that's how what is? You didn't explain anything" lol. It caught me off guard.

I get why they do it, but I was kinda sad when they did a split screen for 3 spirit digivolutions. It doesn't hit the same when everything's cropped and tiny.

Speaking of digivolution sequences, Junpei's was kind of disappointing. He does it with his back facing the camera for some reason? Tomoki's is still my fave for now.

Blitzmon's design is pretty similar to Agnimon's, just a jumble of colors and textures. I think this is just me not giving a hoot about mecha mostly. How am I supposed to connect with a robot whose face I can barely make out? His color scheme is nice I suppose.

When Junpei was fighting he suddenly pulled out some super sentai-like catchphrases outta nowhere. I thought they would have made a joke about him acting like a hero but it was played seriously -shrug-

The plot line of this episode felt very Japanese. The Kokuwamon are basically working for a black company with no bonuses/vacation/overtime pay lol. Poor things.

[13eyond13]

Hello, can I ask from this ask game :

https://www.tumblr.com/threecheersforinking/677824836625694720/anime-ask-game?source=share

For anime/manga : Death Note and Berserk.

Thanks 🌻

Hi! Sure thing:

DEATH NOTE:

Favorite Character: L was basically a "love at first sight" situation for me and the main reason I ever checked out the anime (I just really loved eccentric loner sad boys at the time and he just looked exactly up my alley at a glance, hahaha). And he has stayed extremely dear to me and my favourite cartoon guy ever basically since! I actually think Light is a bit more of a complicated/interesting character than L is to think about in-depth, and has become also kind of my favourite one in the series in a different way over time, but L is def the one that I was really obsessed with from the start.

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: I love everything up until the Yotsuba arc the most I think, I just find it so much fun in the beginning of the story when everything is so well-written and so exciting and tense and fast-paced. The university arc stuff MIGHT be the part that I just find the most fun and funny in the way that Death Note is known to be, with all the detailed little mind games and bitch moves and shocking reveals every other page, ahahah. I remember laughing out loud so many times during that section of the story just due to how ridiculous it gets and how often everyone is pulling the rug out from under each other nearly constantly.

And my favourite scene is probably the "first ever friend" scene in the manga. I WILL NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT IT it's just so funny and mysterious and intriguing and layered to me

Character I Think is Underrated: Mikami is fairly underrated, but at the same time I myself am not the best at intuitively understanding him or creating content about him either...

Character I Think is Overrated: Matt (sorry I actually like him in the manga, but I just don't think he's that interesting really)

Favorite Ship/Pairing: Lawlight! I never needed much convincing about this.... I went straight from watching the anime to going "omg they should have kissed..."

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: The anime's audio elements are just so iconic and so good a lot of the time! It makes some of the manga scenes SO MUCH better just with stuff like the gregorian chanting while Light's writing the names. And no lie, it's really easy to follow as a story without even seeing what's happening onscreen, too. I used to listen to the English dub while drawing or doing my work sometimes and it felt almost exactly like an audio play.

-

BERSERK:

Favorite Character: Guts is by far my favourite! Which was a total surprise to me, because I thought he was going to be a pretty boring macho action hero cardboard cutout type guy going in. I got very attached to him while reading the manga after a few volumes, and now he's one of my all-time faves...

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: I'm going to be very basic and say The Golden Age, but IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD OKAY. It's better than good, it's the reason the series went from just "ok this is pretty interesting" to "OMG WTF THIS IS SO GOOD I'M SO INVESTED NOW"

And my favourite scene?? Hmm.... extremely hard question, but I feel like the sword fights between Guts and Griffith are definitely some of the peak moments. Their first one is iconic in so many ways, but the second one in the snow really got me in the feels and made my stomach drop and my heart beat a bit faster as well!

Character I Think is Underrated: I feel like Casca is just kinda hard to talk about with other fans. She's my second favourite character in the series, but I feel like it's just really difficult to discuss her without it just getting either depressing or into too sensitive territory or something? I love her dearly in the manga, but the fandom space here seems only much fun to talk about Guts and Griffith in for me

Character I Think is Overrated: I am not THAT well-versed in who is overrated or underrated in this fandom, but I feel like mostly almost all the characters aside from maybe Griffith and Guts are a bit underrated and under-explored in fan stuff that I've seen? That might be entirely on me and the fact that I'm mostly looking at griffguts stuff, though...

Favorite Ship/Pairing: griffguts drives so much of the angst and the drama and I think is basically canon to me at this point... I don't think it's hard to interpret Griffith as in love with Guts, but I also think Guts is in love with Griffith too in just a more furtive sort of way

Something I Love About the Show/Movie:

I only partially watched the 1997 anime so far, and the Guts theme song in it is so good! My god that's still such a good fitting song for him and his personality somehow. And I'd never actually heard it before I read the series either!

[airasora]

That moment when you start seriously questioning yourself cause Aladdin is still one of your faves even tho you never had any interests in bad boys etc

Tho then again granted I haven’t seen the second movie or tv show and can’t really remember much bad from the third so I always viewed Al way differently and the moral of at least the first on and understood him.

Again this isn’t trying to demand you to feel the same but I’m just feeling so weird overthinking this now xD Like always agree to disagree

The issue I have with Aladdin is that his character arc in the first movie is his insecurities and that he lies to Jasmine to win her heart. I think he would be completely fine if that was the only time he lied to her, but it's not.

Second movie, he lies to her again. We even have Jasmine questioning him, asking him if he's sure he isn't hiding something and it results in a big fight, when Jasmine discovers the truth. She says: "More secrets? More lies? Oh, Aladdin, I thought you had changed."

It's made pretty clear that Jasmine still very much remembers how their relationship started on a lie with the way she's acting before and after he lies to her again.

And once more in the third movie, he lies! It's not made into as big of a deal as it is in the sequel, but he does still keep her in the dark... AGAIN.

And I can't remember the show too well, but I'm guessing he probably lies and hides stuff from her in a few episodes there too. At this point, it would almost be out of character for him NOT to hide something from her.

There's nothing wrong with liking Aladdin. In the long run, he's a fictional character and I am by no means judging anyone here; I am into yandere characters for fuck's sake, I am in no position to judge xD

Just as another reminder: I would have no problems with Aladdin if the lying was kept to just the first movie. It's the fact that he keeps doing it.

You don't need to defend yourself; you're allowed to hate or love any fictional character you want to :)

I grew up with a mother who taught me to always try to see things from other people's perspectives because it helps with not only sympathizing with people, but also figuring out how to either help them or at the very least cope with their behavior. My first instinct when someone is doing or saying something bad is "Why are they doing this?" so I fully understand what you mean when you say you always try to think the best of people and characters.

It's just that, to me at least, continuously lying to your partner like Aladdin does would be a deal breaker for me, whether it be a romantic partner, a friend or anyone really.

[jacegond]

the good

- luke’s funeral/the entire mourning process. really well done. my fave scene was prob jace trying to recount the support he had won for his mother, but unable to do so without crying

- aegon. really enjoyed him this episode. you can tell tgc is having fun with this and it translates brilliantly! highlights included his dad moments and his trying to figure out an appropriate moniker. the small touches of helaegon really worked as well. kinda surprised the writing omitted his Luke-is-dead celebration party but aegon pr team total victory for that not happening

- larys. he’s fun! pretty unsubtle in his manipulations but we need a messy varys or littlefingeresque bitch to shake things up

- alyn ok purrr nice setup for his role in the story

- otto ya he’s cool, doesn’t command the screen a la tywin like some people want him too but he works for me

the bad

- aemond ….. i just felt like the writers did not know what to do with him this episode and it showed

- baela and rhaena …. similarly to aemond, they did nothing this whole episode. like girlie is watching her brother-fiancé’s remains being burnt after he was viciously killed by a dragon and she doesn’t even have any speaking lines? bffr

- mysaria ….. the accent still goes through my fcking head.

the ugly

- blood & cheese. sorry but i hated it. the omission of maelor fucked up the whole incident, it just felt very anticlimactic and if that was meant to be hotd’s equivalent of the red wedding …. Lol. Just lol.

- alicole. this isn’t even abt me being a rhaenicent it was just ….. bad. Bad!! The decision to not show them falling in love but instead jump straight to pussy eating …. brother eughhhh

- the north. actually lowkey humiliating that i waited two years for this. five minutes of screen time, one walk on the wall and that’s it? no pact of ice and fire, no gods wood, no bonding??? brokeback winterfell was a LIE i haven’t felt this sick since got chose not to adapt satin

[jesncin]

(sorry I know you don't like talking about MAWS too much, but) do you think the voice actors did a good job with what they were given? I wish so badly that they had better material to work with, especially as a fan of many of them (ps just placed the first hold for the currently-on-order-at-my-local-library Lunar Boy! Congrats on your hard work paying off as such an epic creation, I can't wait to read it! 🎉)

I don't mind talking about MAWS (in moderation hehe)! And also, thank you for ordering Lunar Boy at your local library!! YEAAH AWOOGA!! ahem.

I know the voice actors picked for MAWS are beloved by people (and I was excited for a fresh take), but none of them stuck out to me- which I found really disappointing since I adore the STAS cast so much. Some of the reads are straight up bad. I've unfortunately memorized the show from writing detailed metas about it and, in order to cope, my twin and I have many running jokes about some of the dialogue reads asdfasf. Some faves:

ep 8's "There was an ACCIDENT and Superman CAUSED IT!" a background character says this line and it's the funniest thing in the world to me

I think Alice Lee had residue Heathers energy in her Lois performance because sometimes her line reads have a mean-girl energy for no reason. Lines like ep 4's "nobody NORMAAAL believes in aliens!" and her classic xenophobe line in ep 8 "just try being NORMALL??" whenever she says "normal" is has the energy of a prep school girlie bullying you for being gay asdfaf. This isn't adult jaded mean Lois woman energy it sounds preppy and I've decided to find joy in the pain.

"Did you LIE about YOUR FEELINGS FOR ME??" hahaha man

Sorry to pick on Alice Lee but she tripped on her lines in ep 2 when she's talking with Jimmy at the park near the end of the conversation and it's so weird. Like first-take weird.

Alice Lee again sorry but her punk edgy Lois voice in the multiverse episode is actually painful to listen to!! It's clearly an uncomfortable range for her voice. It's like a prep school girlie trying to be a butch I'm sorryyy

Jack Quaid's Superman/Clark voice was grating after a while! There's so little to no difference between his Supes and Clark voice, so Supes just sounds like a whiny child for much of the show. I yearn for Tim Daly's voice,,,

Some characters are straight up miscast in my opinion! Chris Parnell brings 0 menace or presence to Deathstroke, I can not take him seriously. Mxy's voice (David Errigo Jr) doesn't match his character design and looks the most out of place. Livewire's voice actress (Zehra Fazal, who I know is competent elsewhere and I'm sure many of these actors were just done dirty by bad writing and direction) simply can not beat the charisma of Lori Petty in STAS. And Lex looks and sounds awful, like we knew they couldn't beat Clancy Brown's STAS!Lex but they didn't even try.

I thought General Lane's actor was the most decent voice (has menace and presence) but even then in ep 8 when he says "Negative. After this operation, Superman will cease to be a problem. PERMANENTLYYYYY." HAHAHA it's so bad he hisses that last part.

Mallah's French accent is awful. Maybe get an actual French actor.

Jimmy's voice acting wasn't awful but some lines really took me out of the scene. He gets chased by robots and says "ruuuuun" in a way that actually confused me as I watched it.

Sooo yeah. Not a fan of the voice acting in this show! Which surprised me, because I figured they would do better with STAS being the last show preceding it with such memorable voices.

[seospicybin]

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

And happy Alentine's Ay to to anyone who didn't get any V or D on this special day. Eitherway, I have just the 8 fics to make your heart fluttering. (Also, as an effort to beat the allegations that I only write sad fics!)

I curated a playlist of my favorite love songs here 💘

THINNING. Bangchan x reader. (s,f)

It's a classic friends-to-lovers. I surprised myself because I personally thought Chan wouldn't fit that trope. Why? Because I would catch feelings right away without being his friend first. fyi, this fic is inspired by a Reddit thread.

Fave quote: "But people oftentimes hide behind the 'actions speak louder than words' and that makes them okay with love left unsaid. No one is a mind reader. If you love someone, they want you to verbalize how you feel. This is real life, not a chess game."

PEACH. Lee Know x reader. (s, a whole lot of f)

The idea was born from the fact that Minho likes strange smells (e.g gasoline, concrete, etc) and he likes them because they hold certain memories for him. It's a one-shot with a sprinkle of breeding kink. One of my favorite old works of mine and there's a cameo from Soonie.

Fave quote: “You are one ripe, juicy peach,” he said against your lips, “and everybody wants a taste.”

PIED PIPER. Changbin x reader. (s,f)

I think I created a dangerous Changbin in this fic but do I regret it? Not at all. Think of campus bad boy Changbin who knows how to seduce you just right. Seductive and a little messy, just how I like it.

Fave quote: "One more look in the mirror and he gets the assurance that he doesn't need to be insecure about his body, he knows he'll never fit into everyone's standard but he feels good about himself. That's why girls are crazy for him. He is so sure of himself and it shows."

ONE DANCE. Hyunjin x reader. (s,f)

I never wrote a fic this fast. It's smut with a simple plot and not going to lie, I loved it so much. I'm writing the full fic on this from the mc pov, hope I'll be able to release it soon. And oh I recommend listening to Frank Ocean's Pyramid as you read it.

Fave quote: "His worry replaced with the guilt of ever doubting your feelings for him, but on top of that, he feels the happiest to know that you are his. He's indeed so lucky to have your love for free."

DOTING. Han x reader. (s,f)

It's dorky, awkward, and bizarrely cute (?) I got inspired by an episode of Black Mirror that I come back to from time to time. I promise you it has no grim ending, but you'll learn a lot of new random facts from reading it.

Fave quote: "If humans truly are made of star stuff, he believes you are made from the brightest star in the universe because he refuses to believe that he is made of the same thing. As he stares at your body he changes his mind almost immediately, he believes you are made of outer space and he wants to explore."

GODSPEED. Felix x reader. (s,f,a)

It tells about a relationship that forces one to be out of its comfort zone. I tried to capture every bit of Felix in it and it's my favorite Felix fic second close to Twin Flame. I know there's angst in it but trust me, the pain is worth it in the end.

Fave quote: "You can’t stay stagnant in a relationship just because it feels comfortable. You were too comfortable and that was why the space scared you both."

ONE PROPOSITION. Seungmin x reader. (s,f)

Do you also think that love is just... yuck??? If yes, then let Seungmin change your mind. It's cute but not on the cringe side (or I hope so) it's rom-com worthy and Seungmin is so Seungmin in it with his square shoulders and he's a good kisser and and and...

Fave quote: "Love is some hocus pocus shit, got you completely bewitched."

MILK. I.N x reader. (s,f)

Just like the title itself, a love story that is so simple and sweet. It doesn't have, let's say, 'the happiest of ending' but I like it how it is. A love that asks nothing, it's as pure as milk.

Fave quote: "They remind me that there are still some innocence and purity in this world. And the way they see the world with so much curiosity and full of wonder, I wish I could relive that again,” he said with a sigh.

“To experience everything for the first time all over again,” you added while looking up at the blue sky."

-

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Remember that the greatest love of all is the love you have for yourself, or that's what the one Celine Dion song taught me. ily 🤟🏻💘

[ezrisdax-archive]

Top 5 Stargate eps, comfort movies, and Canadian foods

stargate eps

Episode 200- ha bet you thought I'd say the time loop episode first but no, even this episode won out ahead. the in jokes, the jokes at other sci fis, the whole set up, the love of it all, when I have really bad days it is my comfort episode out of all comfort episodes honestly, I can't even begin to count how many times I've watched it and every time I cry when quote Issac Asimov at the end, I am a weak person lexi you know this

Window of Opportunity - okay yeah time loop was next, let's be real I am completely predictable but this was the time loop episode that really showed me how fun they could be. like I already loved the concept cause of TNGs one but this one? it's so funny, I've had people who don't even watch stargate watch that one with no context of the characters and still find it funny. and the ending is heart wrenching, what more do you want from a time loop (pst, lexi watch it with me again, now I miss it)

Abyss - I admit I loved Ba'al as a bad guy, he was so much fun for me and the episode introducing him was so weird with Jack haunted by memories not his (what do you mean I'm obsessed with that because of star trek and ezri-) and eternally whenever I chuck a shoe too far accidentally while taking them off I just think of "I just threw my shoe through you" when Jack is talking to Daniel, like c'mon that was so funny

The Fifth Race - I loooooove the introduction of the Asgard so much, not to mention Jack getting the language in his head. once again sometimes my brain just goes "there is nothing cruvus with me!" for no reason because of that episode.

Fragile Balance - I'm just a sucker for a good cloning episode okay, and Jack and the Asgard just don't miss for me! I'm a weak person lexi!!!!!

comfort movies

Star Trek: The Voyage Home - yes it's the one with the whales and time travel, two things I love specifically because of this movie probably. no lie this movie did have me really into whale conservation as a kid though, something that's stuck with me well into later years. but like it's got everything, Spock being sassy to McCoy, McCoy and Scotty off on their own adventure, chase scenes in a hospital with Chekov on the cart like it's fucking looney tunes, time travel, whales, the crew being the crew together! mcfucking love this movie

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - be honest, you knew I'd have this here because we've talked so many times and I've said it's my fave but like...I watched this movie every day for a year as a kid. I made my dad buy back up tapes because I wore it out on VHS. to this day I still have five copies. I want you to know I don't just love this one because Wedge appears the most here. Though that doesn't hurt. It's just about the conclusion of it for me, it does something for me where it gives me hope.

Canadian Bacon - this movie isn't gonna be known to like...anyone. but me and my best friend as a kid watched this movie like every week while we were up at my cottage and it's another movie I can quote by heart. the premise is the americans decide to fake a war on canada to boost the economy though canada doesn't know and this group infiltrate canada and I'm in tears laughing every time at the line "Aboot? it's about! about! we have ways of making you pronounce the letter 'o'" also Alan Alda is there.

Robin Hood Men in Tights - this was a movie I used to watch constantly with my siblings, we loved Mel Brooks movies but this one was the top tier for us for comedy sake and occasionally in the sibling chat we'll still send in jokes about it

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: I know you didn't love it and me having a spider related thing on here is weird but I just shut my eyes during those points and watch the rest in peace. like this movie was just magical to me, the way it handled the multi-verse and Miles' story and the art and music, it's so good and I have no words to really describe how good it is for me, I just love it.

canadian foods lmao that's so specific but is this because I'm sending you stuff soon?

All Dressed Chips, I cannot believe americans don't have this, you guys love your weird flavours on everything else and you don't have this??? it's like the everything bagel of chips, what is wrong with you guys

Ketchup Chips, I know I know that sounds like it tastes bad but no it doesn't and if you think that get taste

Beaver Tails - tragically the place that used to make them near my place closed down ages ago but I got to have a good one when I was visiting @trillscienceofficer in Alberta this year and that pastry is so good

Smarties - once again not your kind of smarties but chocolate which is NOT like m&ms we use better chocolate

Caramilk bars - while looking things up when I messaged you I found out you guys don't have those and hey??? what the fuck???

[sassybluee]

Dramas in 2023 roundup!

It's midway thru January, but it's never too late to reflect on the year before. I think I watched the most dramas I've ever had this past year, so I wanted to write a little roundup with my thoughts.

Here's an overview of the ones I completed!

Unchained Love (2022) ⭐️ 7.5

I've Fallen for You (2020) ⭐️ 8

Miss the Dragon (2021) ⭐️ 7

The Rational Life (2021) ⭐️ 9

Till the End of the Moon (2023) ⭐️8.5

A Romance of the Little Forest (2022) ⭐️ 7

Back from the Brink (2023) ⭐️ 8.5

The Starry Love (2023) ⭐️ 7.5

The Wolf (2020) ⭐️ 8.5

My Journey to You (2023) ⭐️ 8

Never Give Up (2023) ⭐️ 8.5

Ancient Love Poetry (2021) ⭐️ 9

Destined With You (2023) ⭐️ 7.5

Here are the ones I placed on hold/dropped

Legend of Anle

Love You Seven Times

Love in Flames of War

Only for Love (dropped)

The Snow Moon (dropped)

More detailed thoughts below the cut!

Unchained Love (2022) ⭐️ 7.5

Part palace drama, part comedy, this was a fun ride. I really liked watching the relationship between Bu Yinlou and Xiao Duo develop from friendship into romance. The comedy moments were really well done, and had me actually laughing out loud. The fight sequences were also really well done, and I liked the costumes. However, the last five or so episodes had such an abrupt tonal shift, and there were some questionable decisions made by otherwise smart characters, so it kind of fell flat at the end. BUT I would still watch it again, just maybe just skip the last eps.

I've Fallen for You (2020) ⭐️ 8

I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. The basic concept is: childhood sweethearts try to find their way back to each other, end up married after a strange series of events, but they aren't sure their spouse is the childhood sweetheart they're looking for. It's silly, cute, and very good fun. I really liked the secondary couple as well. The ending managed to make me very emotional, which surprised me. And I enjoyed that the heroine was a fan of doing autopsies (something that does occasionally become plot-relevant).

Miss the Dragon (2021) ⭐️ 7

Okay, first off, I know this one has a reputation of being a bad drama. And tbh, I agree! Objectively, it's not very good. HOWEVER! The viewing experience? Was so fun. The characters? Very entertaining. The frenemy dynamic between the ML and 2ndML? Hilarious and also a bit gay. The FL is a bit flat, but she does develop more personality through her various reincarnations. My fave life of hers was the 3rd, I believe (the lady general arc). Wang Hedi's acting is not the best but I still think he's very cute lol and he's watchable! It's just maybe not what you'd expect from him if you saw CLJ or The Rational Life first.

The Rational Life (2021) ⭐️ 9

Yes, this was for a bit of a palate cleanser after the overall ride that was Miss the Dragon. I wasn't sure if I'd be into the modern cdrama genre cuz fantasy/historical is more my preferred vibe of media, HOWEVER, I wanted to give it a shot because I'd seen some cute gifs. I really loved it, far more than I expected to. Every character was really well done, and I really liked how the story was centred on women's experiences in various workplaces/times in their life. It also gave me age gap brainrot, I won't lie. I loved the gradual build from coworkers to friendship to romance with Qi Xiao and Shen Ruoxin. I will say tho... I would like to know what whoever dressed Wang Hedi in this show was thinking. Some of those outfits were... a choice lol.

Till the End of the Moon (2023) ⭐️ 8.5

Everyone has seen or at least heard about it at this point. Dare I say it's iconic? I won't lie, my rating upon finishing it was lower. I had issues with the pacing in parts and I found the last episodes difficult to get thru because they just didn't capture my attention the way the beginning of the drama did. However, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Plus, the performances by Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu are amazing. And I really feel they embody the "enemies to lovers" trope better than anyone!

A Romance of the Little Forest (2022) ⭐️ 7

Tbh... this show deserves less than a 7, but I rated it as such because I love my queen Xinxin, and her chemistry with Zhang Binbin was good. I think this would've worked better as a 24-episode drama, as the last couple plot arcs felt kind of tacked on. It's great if you want to see Yu Shuxin in various adorable outfits and a fun fake dating plot, but maybe stopping midway is good enough. Fair warning, the second couple's storyline was awful on several levels. Essentially, the man lies about being in a wheelchair to garner sympathy with his crush, who herself is partially Deaf. Yeah, it's BAD. Just skip all their scenes.

Back from the Brink (2023) ⭐️ 8.5

I really enjoyed this, especially how silly it could be. They really amped up the humour, and to me that worked well. At the same time, there were also some very heartfelt moments that made me tear up. I really liked the side couples as well, they were all quite likeable. It was just a really fun show from beginning to end.

The Starry Love (2023) ⭐️ 7.5

I really enjoyed this, up until the last arc. I found after that, it dragged a bit. To be honest, it dragged a bit in earlier parts too. What saved it for me was the humour, the relationship between the two sisters, the Void Realm subplots, and the adorable Di Lanjue. Unfortunately, Yetan/Youqin didn't really do much for me, but I still found them enjoyable at times.

The Wolf (2020) ⭐️ 8.5

This was a surprise for me. I didn't expect I'd like it much going in, but I still wanted to give it a try for my guy Xiao Zhan. I'd tried watching it before when it first aired, but I found the first couple episodes too cheesy. I still found them incredibly cheesy this time, but after about midway through episode 3 when the main plot kicked off, I found myself really invested. Fair warning, Xiao Zhan only shows up in episode 11, so if you're watching it just for him, you may be disappointed. Fortunately, I found myself invested in all the characters quite a bit. If you like messy toxic bitches, this is the drama for you. Warning: there was an attempted rape scene I found quite uncomfortable (though it's not played as being romantic, thankfully). There are a couple other dubcon incidents I wasn't a huge fan of, and one character has a miscarriage. Just things to keep in mind before viewing.

My Journey to You ⭐️ 8

Where do I even start here? Once again, I probably should rate it lower, because the story itself is a mess. HOWEVER, the characters, aesthetics, and cinematography are all excellent. The characters are really what stayed with me the most, and the episode focusing on Yun Que was devastating in all the best ways. The beginning episodes were also fantastic, the way the story unfurled. It just became clear in the latter half of the series that the writer had written himself into a corner and didn't know how to get out. Frustrating, but I don't regret my journey with this show (heh, get it). It's for that reason I'm not sure I can ever rec it to anyone, but I'll gladly talk about it to anyone who will listen.

Never Give Up (2023) ⭐️ 8.5

This was a fun office sitcom-style drama that I really breezed through after the horror show that was MJTY. Lighthearted with short episodes, it was very enjoyable. If you've ever worked in an office, you can probably relate. Once again, I'd like to speak with whoever dressed Wang Hedi cuz they made some interesting choices lol.

Ancient Love Poetry (2021) ⭐️ 9

Another surprise for me. I had tried the first episodes a while back and found it a bit dense, but restarting it this year I found it a lot more interesting. Maybe having more xianxia general knowledge helped me out. It was a really beautifully done drama. The CGI and sets were all superb. There was a whole host of characters to get invested in as well. It was a truly epic story from start to finish.

Destined With You (2023) ⭐️ 7.5

The one Kdrama on this list! I really loved the two actors, their chemistry, and the plot in general, but the pacing in the middle took me out a bit. I would still recommend watching it, as there was lots to enjoy. The modern with magic elements were really intriguing, as was the concept of past lives. I also like that the ML and 2ndML work together instead of constantly butting heads once it becomes clear who the FL will pick. The flashbacks to the past life were also really interesting--I wish we'd had more of that tbh! I'll definitely be looking out for both actors in other dramas!

As for the shows I placed on hold, I will likely stop lying to myself and drop them. But I might give them another shot before doing so. I'm still really disappointed by Only for Love, but I couldn't bring myself to finish it. Not even the power of Didi and Bai Lu could make me do it. It just got too frustrating.

Now, I'm currently watching Story of Kunning Palace, Royal Rumours, and The Last Immortal. I'm not super sold on the last 2, but SOKP has really grabbed me by the throat (just like Xie Wei to Jiang Xuening) so I'm glad to be starting the year off strong!

[ladyryukyo]

Yo, this is like way too late,,,, but top 5 Kyoya moments?

wow i really needed to think about this hahaha this was so harddd

1. forfeiting during the survival battle finale in fusion

everyone knows this scene, this scene is iconic. it shows how much kyoya cares about leone, that he has priorities that lie outside of winning every battle, it humanizes him so much, not just to the audience but also to gingka & co. who are just flabbergasted by his actions here. really really good, maybe my favorite one

2. his first meeting with benkei

let's set aside all shipping here, me loving this scene has nothing to do with me shipping kyoben. it's just the fact that even though kyoya defeated benkei with ease from the get-go, he was still impressed maybe even delighted to have found such a tenacious opponent that challenged him again and again. i love how much kyoya loves it lol

3. the damian fight in masters

i love to see my faves get hurt, it's true, i'm not apologizing. the fight against damian is so so good. the way kyoya jumps into hades' gate of his own free will and then endures so much abuse from kerbecs only to stand his ground moments later and taunt him with "that was nothing" DGAGHLSG fucking yes badass as hell

4. kyoya figuring out that hyoma is fucking with the group to keep them from entering koma village

when i first watched that scene i remember thinking that kyoya is super smart which up until that point i hadn't exactly realized. i love watching him get suspicious and then his triumphant smirk when he reveals what he knows. smug little bastard, i adore him.

5. meeting tobio in fusion

the whole episode makes me so happy, the way kyoya immediately has some kind of understanding of tobio's character, then their battle, and then emerging from the experience with that mutual respect. i cant stop grinning whenever i get to that episode in fusion. tobio giving kyoya a lollipop at the end. yESS THEY ARE FRIENDS

honorary mention for kyoya's dramatic ass with his dramatic entrances in literally every season: in fusion before infiltrating the dark nebular castle, in masters swooping in at hades city on top of a bus (he actually makes all of team wildfang have a dramatic entrance here 😭), and then in fury shooting an arrow with a challenge at gingka and then arriving in a boat surrounded by fog

another honorary mention for the ryuga fight in battle bladers. similar reason as the damian fight, i love seeing him get hurt like that but he also has some pretty badass moments in there. amazing fight, so cool to watch, shish-kebab-ed kyoya has a special place in my heart