#i haven't seen anything like it since in a found footage thing

[wienners]

Other funniest thing about EMH is Evans baby. They literally never showed a baby on screen. The scene where Habits holding it is very clearly just a bundle of blankets and even in the qna they did in fact confirm there was no baby. But Evan describes how he remembers eating it so vividly and horribly in WAKE UP that im like. Damn I really do believe he ate that thing fr.

[tenderlady]

hi love!! out of curiosity, i didn't know about the lindsay ellis video, how bad is it?

hey, friend!

so, the video itself is here:

in the interest of full disclosure, i haven't actually seen it, so i really can't comment on the quality. my beef is not with lindsay ellis or the work that she's doing--as far as youtubers go, i think she's actually one of the better ones. this video might actually be good! but i haven't watched it, so i, frankly, don't know. my beef is much more with the video essay as a form and what it's doing rather than with lindsay ellis, or this video, specifically.

i'm guessing you're asking because of my tags on this post, which articulates a lot of my issues with the video essay industrial complex lmao, which gets at a lot of my discomfort with them. i used to watch video essays (a lot!), and a lot of my friends still do. like a lot of people, when i got out of grad school, i found i wasn't reading as much anymore, but i still wanted to be stimulated intellectually, and video essays were a good way to do that. but eventually i realized that i wasn't actually Learning Anything lol.

as ismatu gwendolyn says in her piece, "short-form video entertains more than it sticks." this was the place i was finding myself getting into when i was watching video essays a lot, and also the place i see my friends getting into. they are video (and arguably this isn't really short-form since it's over an hour long but i digress), but i find that most people i know don't actually Watch Them the way that you would watch a movie or, say, a lecture in a college class. instead they listen to them as you would listen to a podcast or an audiobook, which is to say While Doing Other Things. some of this is definitely because of the way our current economy is structured (a lot of the people listening to video essays are very busy, i.e., in university or working in a professional desk-type job, or have minimal downtime when not doing those things and have to double dip with their free time, so like things they can use to multi-task), and that is something i totally understand. but if we're looking at these as pedagogical objects (teaching tools from people who are trying to impart knowledge in some kind of way) they're actually not very effective. i respect folks like philosophy tube or contrapoints who include reading lists with their videos, but how many people are actually turning to these original sources? another of gwendolyn's points that i absolutely agree with is that you are engaging with a work in a totally different way by reading it. you have to give a written text your full attention, which is why the backbone of education is still Reading. this full attention forces you to have a deeper engagement with a text than you would while listening to it ambiently, or even just watching it. i get that there are people who can't do this for various reasons, but if actually sitting down with the texts a video essayist is talking about is available to you, you will find a totally different experience, even if those texts are just beatlebooks lol. (additionally, primary video texts--like interview footage of the beatles and yoko--are also hugely informative and different from the interpretive work i'm assuming is happening in lindsay's video)

i actually watched a good chunk of contrapoints' most recent video on desire but ended up dipping around the middle because she brought up anne carson and i realized i could just be reading anne carson lmao. i told a friend about this and he looked at me like i had sprouted an extra head and said "i never really thought about doing that. you're probably the only person i know who's ever done that." i get that like, 5 nerds in usamerica are hardly a representative sample, but that is the kind of behavior i see with video essays: people using them to fill a void of silence while they work/study/play video games/fold laundry rather than engaging with the material critically and learning in a concerted way.

the entertainment aspect is also something that bugs me, but i am a joyless hag, so that may just be me. i have a similar issue with john oliver. folks like oliver and the video essayists are definitely making complex issues more accessible to people who may be unfamiliar, but i don't know if they actually do much in the way of using that opened door to get people anywhere. there's also the issue of video essays being monetized. this isn't to say that Theory(TM) Isn't Monetized (they are published in journals and books, which you often have to buy), but that monetization isn't embedded into the work itself the way it is with video essays. nothing kills the vibe for me like talking about the great works of a philosopher and getting jumpscared by an ad for rocketmortgage or nordvpn halfway through.

like i said: i've watched video essays from time to time. i still do! but sometime in the last like.....4 or 5 years i realized that there were other things i could be doing with my One Wild & Precious Life.

to bring it back to the lindsay ellis video: i had a bunch of irl's (including a fucking ex that i don't talk to anymore!!!!!) send it to me, and i'm sure lindsay does a good job, but i kind of doubt she's going to tell me anything i don't already know lmao. one thing i love about the beatles fandom on here is that (for the most part) we aren't afraid to actually do Real Research Ourselves. the girlies are reading primary sources!!!! i just feel like the lindsay ellis beatle video is Not For Me, but feel free to prove me wrong!

[theamityelf]

Uh, I remember you have an AU where Makoto became Hope Tutor for Izuru. Can I asked more detail about it?

Gah, this is my first time doing this I don't know how to ask properly

That's totally fine; you're doing great!

Boy, "hope tutor AU" is definitely what I should have tagged this as, lol. Well, let's see.

First thing is, the AU isn't anime-compliant and might not be compliant with most other supplemental materials, since most of my Danganronpa fan works are based mostly on game canon.

In order for Makoto to have been identified as someone suited to the task of making Izuru come across as more personable and inspiring, he must have earned the faculty's notice in that regard. Which means this could cross over with the debate club AU (seeing as that's a good way for them to have seen him flourish in public speaking), but also it's not all that important to go into when exactly he earned their notice.

I'm thinking Makoto just walks into homeroom one morning and his teacher tells him that the headmaster has asked for him in some other room. He goes to that other room, and a couple of guys in suits are like "Makoto Naegi, the Academy has an important task for you. Should any details of this conversation be told to anyone outside this room, you will face consequences far more severe than expulsion."

Makoto is just like "U-Uh, okay. Are you sure you have the right person for whatever this is?"

They say something like, "Believe me, we're as surprised as you are."

Maybe they have Jin Kirigiri come in to cut the tension, like, "Hey, these guys are pretty intimidating, but really we just need you to help out with this great project we're working on."

And Makoto goes, "Oh, sure, I'd love to help."

And they take him down to the labs- not quite to Kamukura's room, but to a secondary room where Kamukura has also been taken. (Maybe Makoto's blindfolded on the way there.)

He's just left in an almost featureless room to sit across a table from Izuru, who's just Kubrick Staring him through his hair.

"Hi, I'm Makoto Naegi," he says nervously.

Eyes like rubies stare him down.

"They, uh...The guys who brought me here didn't really tell me what I was supposed to be doing. Just that I should come and meet you, and that you would take care of the rest. What's your name? I don't think I've seen you around here, but you look like you're around my age. I wasn't expecting that."

The person seated across from him straightens, raising his chin in a way that almost reminds him of Byakuya, but devoid of any of the fire or ice that usually sits behind Byakuya's eyes. And the stranger still doesn't say anything. (Probably. It would be kind of funny if Izuru went, "What else about my appearance didn't you expect?" and just generally probed at Makoto's words to make him flounder.)

Makoto waits for at least a minute before breaking the silence again, "Sorry, if there's something I'm supposed to be saying or doing, I don't know what it is."

Eventually (either right then or after more false starts), Izuru says, "Makoto Naegi, Ultimate Lucky Student from Hope's Peak's 78th class. You're here so that I can learn you."

"Learn me?"

"Yes. The faculty has assessed that, in terms of general likability and ability to sway people, you're the student who has the most to teach me. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything in your disposition worth emulating in the past few minutes." And actually, I am going to cross this over with the debate club AU, just because I like the idea of Izuru having already been shown footage of Makoto's debate wins before they met. "I've seen the footage of you in debate club. Is this how you are normally?"

"Well, yes. Pretty much."

"That explains why everyone looks surprised when they see you in debate club."

Makoto laughs nervously. "Looks like you've learned me already." Am I allowed to leave now?

"Not yet. Your contradictions are...almost interesting."

I like the idea of the scientists and teachers allotting Izuru an hour or so with Makoto pretty much anytime he wants it, because it means that when his (for lack of a better word) "use" for Makoto goes from pragmatic interest to subjective fascination to just enjoyment of being around him, he'll have people going "Are you sure you still need to talk to Naegi?" And he'll still be saying, "Yes. Bring him here."

And I like the idea that he can do this at pretty much any time, so he can pull Makoto out of any class, lunch, whatever. Maybe one day he's looking at the school's security cameras and sees that Makoto is having a good time alone with Sayaka and he sends for him then, just to separate them. And he wonders why he felt the need to do that, and that's when he realizes that he likes Makoto.

And then it's like, Oh, they were right. Even I like him.

[ilkkawhat]

tagged by @room-665 and @judyalvqrez, thank you both!💜💜💜💜

last song: Children of the Elder God by Old Gods of Asgard--in full. After that I was skipping through songs as I pulled into my neighborhood and driveway lol. honestly still seems like AW soundtrack music is like, the one thing I never skip since I got into it last November.

favourite color: Purple!

currently reading: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, have been for a while lol I gotta get back on it. My mom got a bit of a kick out of seeing me moving the book around and flipping to the back and such 😂

currently watching: Series wise, nothing really since I finished Sorjonen...I've been just kinda watching a lot of youtube videos or movies. Been thinking about getting back into Only Murders in the Building (I watched the first two seasons I think? Maybe the 3rd? See I just gotta start over lol) and then watching Poromafia for my next Ilkka series (beyond just skimming), and I'm probably gonna start Interview With a Vampire sooner or later cause it's all over my dash EDIT: FUCK i forgot I'm watching Star Trek Enterprise! very slowly, I watch it while I chill downstairs with my dog when my parents go out shopping (he's got bad separation anxiety and is not allowed to go up the stairs anymore for his safety so I just go to him)

last movie: Rewatched Hell House 2 in full, started watching Butterfly Kisses last night but couldn't stay up to finish it. Trying to get in the mood for spooky season and last year I got really into the found footage sub-genre.

sweet, spicy or savory: Savory...not good with spicy (lol says a woman who works with chipotle peppers. We mill dehydrated pods and it was so strong the other day I legit threw up on my way out) but on a mild level I'm okay with it. Do like sweet stuff but I do have limits with it.

relationship status: Single, probably always gonna be that way and that's fine lol. But if I happen to meet someone maybe I won't be as much of a coward as I have been with other potential relationships I could have had...it also sucks cause I can't say I'm surrounded with the most pleasant relationships (my parents especially)

current obsession: Primarily Alan Wake, secondary Ilkka Villi and really just the Remedy Verse as a whole--I think work's just beating me down too much to enjoy really anything right now but god do I just crave for the atmosphere and aesthetic of Alan Wake 2 right now

tea or coffee: Coffee though I'm not against tea at all and will admit I haven't drank as much coffee as I used to, I stopped during one summer cause it was too hot and I think I may have lost my idk taste? tolerance? for black coffee but I do get iced french vanilla coffee from mcdonalds like once a week lol. (really I just drink a lot of celsius for my daily caffiene fix)

the last thing i googled: Rune Factory 5 cause I saw it's on sale on the Nintendo e-shop and I'm debating getting it even though I have tons of other games I should be playing and let's be real, I'm just gonna continue playing Alan Wake 2 for the tenth time tomorrow instead of even playing the recently bought Star Wars Outlaws 😂😂 but RF5 is like, 20 bucks and that's the cheapest I've ever seen it so it can't hurt just to get it in the library and maybe start it later

breaking the tag chain but if anybody wants to do this, go for it and say I tagged you

[platonically-loving-alastor]

Hazbin Unus Annus AU Part 1: Trailer

The original first video was like a trailer, which I don't think Alastor and Lucifer would've wanted to make, considering it not only was not their idea, but they didn't want to put any extra effort (or footage) into something they both despised. But Charlie insisted that, since the videos would be public and would be a great opportunity to advertise how well the hotel worked, making a trailer would be a good idea to let people know about it. This took a lot of convincing, specifically on Alastor's part, as he didn't want it to be public to begin with. The only reason he ever (begrudgingly) agreed, was because it could be an opportunity for him to publicly humiliate the King Of Hell repeatedly throughout the year. This way, though, instead of it being a video telling us about the unstoppable march of time and inevitable death, it went a lot more like this

Lucifer: Think of these videos as an experiment to show you all how well the Hazbin Hotel can work! *mumbles, still audible but less performative* Because if this place can make us get along, it can do anything..

Alastor: We will also be purging the remains at the end of a 365 day time period-

Lucifer: Reasoning for which is uh, not to be revealed publicly.

Alastor: And let it be made explicitly clear; If any one of you decides to save and reupload any of it, I will track you down and make you wish it was an exterminator who found you first.

Lucifer: .. Uh huh. *clears throat* Anyway, you do no not want to miss this opportunity!

Alastor: Tune in tomorrow for the first sample of the content we'll be bringing to you throughout this year.

Yes, Lucifer lowkey sounding like he's announcing a limited time offer in an as-seen-on-TV ad at some points is purposeful. He and Alastor are both good presenters, but they have very different approaches when it comes to putting on this sort of front for an audience.

Oh, and here's some bonus context I didn't add in the original post but feel is important information about the AU:

Vox is obviously an avid viewer of their channel. He consumes their content like cocaine just like he used to do with Alastor's radio broadcasts, tuning in every single day. He thinks he's hiding it from Val and Vel. He is not doing a good job of it.

The rest of the Hazbin characters (overlords, hotel guests/staff, etc.) act as the guests they have on to teach them things. I haven't gone through the list and decided who's who yet, and there will be repeats. Vox is not an exception to this btw, in fact he would be particularly determined to find an excuse to be in a video (for marketing, jealousy, and general Alastor related reasons).

I'll go more in depth about it when I get to them, but the ghost-hunting videos are not taken seriously. They're in Hell, they know damn well ghosts aren't haunting the place. This is also a good time to remind you that many of the video ideas are not their own, and are more likely given to them by Charlie or Angel Dust. This is one of those ideas.

I also realized the fact this would be Lucifer's first presence in the public eye in an incredibly long time, which means thousands of sinners' very first impression of the King of Hell will be him acting like an idiot. Sinners already don't take him seriously, this does not help his case.

[dragonridernoobie]

🌸 More than Dust and Bones 🌸

A undertale fanfic

Part 2

🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️

🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️

(William Pov.)

My name is William Charles. I've been on this case for the last 3 years. Random disappearing children are high in Ebott City. No one had ever found out how these children qwere disappearing. People blamed it on the "monsters," but I don't believe these claims are true. These disappearances started 45 years ago before the monsters were free or known. After 3 years, I'm frustrated. I haven't found any clues or footage of these kids' last locations.

I was so close to giving up, but it seemed whatever higher power up there had mercy on me and gave me a breakthrough in my case. Somome tipped the police station about a building that was in the forest, and they saw kids enter it but never left. I'm on my way there now to see what is going on, and hopefully, I can get a clue on what this is about. When I went near the area where the person saw the building, I couldn't find anything. No road, no lights, not even a mailbox.

Thinking it was another joke, I kicked a rock and saw it go through the bushes. I was about to turn away and head back to my office, but the rock I kicked made a noise. It was like it was hitting something metal. When I looked behind the bushes, I was met with 12ft (3m). The gate was huge, thick, and had barbwire on top of it.

When I looked past the gate, I saw the building that the person who gave the tip talked about. It was small, but I could instantly tell part of it was underground. I wouldn't have paid any mind to this building if I didn't notice the guards. They were holding weapons and seemed to be guarding the building.

While I stared at this building, the more I felt unsettled. It seemed that whatever this building was hiding, It was dark. I watched as some guards spoke and seemed to change positions. I took this as my chance to quickly duck out of the bushes and away from the fence so I wouldn't be seen or heard. I quickly ran a distance away before calling it in.

"I need back up. I think I might have just found something bigger than what we were expecting."

(??? Pov.)

"Again!" I watch as 1-X03E8 was thrown to the ground again by the other hybrid, known as 2-B01KP. We have been trying to train 1-X03E8, so they don't rely on their magic. Since 1-X03E8 was awakened from their tank, almost 6 years ago, I've noticed how quickly they were able to catch onto things and adopt. Which was good for what is coming for them into the future but also bad since they can learn they have the power to go aginst our orders. When we made that revelation, we made sure to put shockcallers on all of the hybrids so they could stay in like and we can control how much magic they can use.

"Again! Do not try to use your magic! Fight with your fist! You are supposed to be the ultimate super weapon!" I yell at 1-X03E8. Kicking them. They get up, nod, and continue to fight 2-B01KP. While I watch, a guard comes up to me. "Sir! We have a high number of vehicles near our facility." "Do we have eyes?" "No sir!" "Then pay no mind intel they are in range." "Yes sir!".

"Alright, enough training for today. 2-B01KP, you did well today. 1-X03E8, I am very disappointed. Both of you, back to you're cells!"

The two hybrids nod and slowly make their way back to their cells.

(1-X03E8 pov.)

Disappointed? Disappointed?!? How dare he say that! It's not my fault he put me up against someone who was more human than a monster! 2-B01KP was almost 3 times my size! Can't believe he put me against him. He knows I'm better at using magic than anyone in this place, but he makes me fight in hand to hand combat?!?! I know I need to be ready for everything, including me, not able to use my magic, but still! I would rather run than fight someone who could snap me in half just by looking at me.

While I sit in my cell, I look over myself. Thin bones, all tattered with cracks and scars from the beatings and fighting.

What am I? They say I am the next savior, and I'm gonna make the world a better place. What's wrong with the world? What does it look like? Are there other places like this? I know im a skeloton, but they say I'm also human. How? I don't look anything related to them.

While I was looking at my bones, I felt the ground shake to the point the electric bars of our cells cut out a few times.

I heard the other hybrids yelling and asking questions. Whatever it was, it was a big concern since the base alarmed went off. They only went off if a hybrid was getting out of control or trying to escape....I wonder who it was this time.

Me and other hybrids watched as gaurds ran past our cell, yelling about a breach. What's a breach? While we watch the guards run past us, we all heard gun shots. "4-72E6! What do you see!!!" 4-72E6 was a hybrid who was at the end of the cells. Closes to the gun shots. "I don't know! I can't get a close look, but it seems whoever broke in is winning!" "Is this a training exercise?" One of the hybrids asked while I walked back and forth in my cell. "Don't think so" I say "if it was, those gaurds wouldn't get involved. We soon saw somone we never saw before. He ran and stopped infront of our cells.

"Holy shit! Guys, there are more of them!" When he came closer, I growled at him and tried to form a magic attack, but the collar was preventing me from doing so.

When I growled, all the other hybrids in the cells started to growl to. When more of those strange men came, they had wepons we never saw. One of them came to the cells and spoke. "You all are safe! Yiu will be taken and taken care of by our hospitals. Come along quietly, or you will be tranquilizezed."

I could see the looks of confusion and fear that passed in the hybrids that I could see in my cell. I don't doubt I had that same look. When they typed into the pad next to our cells and the electrical bars dropped. We attacked. I saw 2-B01KP attack first, picking up the nearest strange person and tearing him in half. We all saw the guts fall out of the dude while he screamed in agaony. So they were human. Easy to kill. We all killed them the way we knew how. Low and painful. I went up to one of the humans and shoved my hand through it's chest, grabbing its heart and tearing it out.

Its body armor was nothing compared to my strength. I watch the life from the human eyes slowly drain and go dull. When I was about to move to the next human, we all heard a gunshot and saw 2-B01KP drop like a fly. He had some weird thing in his arm. We all stayed still while we watched 2-B01KP just collaps when he tried to stand up. He was the biggest out of all of us. We heard another gunshot and watched 4-72E6 drop. Something clicked and I knew we dident stand a chance. So, I did the most logical thing. I ran. I tore through the humans, killing a few while passing them. The other hybrids close behind.

We heard the humans yell, "Don't let them get out!" And we heard bullets past us. When we saw light from the dark corner, I took that direction. Some of the other hybrids took the other way, but I heard gunshots. Idiots. I ran through the doors, and the first thing I saw was more humans but next to strange metal boxes. They aimed at me, but I quickly ducked unerneth there bullets or whatever they were and ran toward the weird metal wall. When I started to climb over it, I saw it was covered in a weird metal string. For once, I was thankful for not having flesh. I got over the metal wall and ran into the weird green things. I heard a loud shot, louder I have heard yet, and someone yelling. The next thing I knew, I collapsed with a surging pain in my side. When I looked down, one of my rips was shot off and laying on the ground. It dusted right before me. I quickly got up and ran. Soon, I didn't hear the yelling, shots, or alarms. I quickly climbed high in the weird brown poles and sat up there. I gently lifted up my clothes and saw my injured rib. It wasn't healing. This dam collar... I gotta figure out how to take it off, but how....what's that big blue thing with white puffy things?

(Sans POV)

It's been 4 years since red, edge, blue, and stretch came here. We got then their IDs, but it was hard. Red, stretch, and I have been trying to fix that god dam machine but we could never get it to run. We decided to call it a day and have a movie day. Even though edge is complaining, we decided to watch some random show. And that's where we are now. Infront of the small ass TV arguing about what to watch.

"We are not watching you're dumb ass metteton show! Our metteton is better!" Edge yells at papyrus. "Well, they aren't here, are they? So we will watch our metteton!" "How about the news? Somthings always interesting on there!" Blue chimes in, trying to help calm down edge. "Fine! If it means i don't need to watch that softys metteton." Edge grumbles and sits on the couch next to red. Papyrus flips on the TV, and the news came up. It was talking about new monster laws or something. When they started to talk about monsters and human marriages, they stopped. They then started to talk about something big. While I watched, it showed a bird eye view of a building with police cars all around it. Also trees. In the video they were showing, it shows some type of monsters being rolled out. "...the hell is dat?" Red asked while he leaned toward the TV.

"Breaking news! A agency was cought doing human and monster experiments! They have found a way to make monster humans before monsters came to the surface. It seems this agency was planning to make an army.......we just got word that soke experiments have escaped. So we must tell you that if you see any monster or human acting weird or dangerous, do not approach it. Call you're local emergency survises. I will say it again, do not approach the experment-"

The then shuts off. "HEY!" "The fuck" "what?" "The hell dude!" "I was watching that!" Everyone yells. Papyrus gets up and goes to check the TV.

"Its out." Everyone groans but stays quite. After a bit, red breaks the ice. "So...human and monster hybrids...guess you're world ain't all sunshine and rainbows." "Shut up." I tell red while thinking about what he said. "Well... now we need to keep a look out for those hybrids. I bet they are so scared and confused!" Blue says while jumping up and down. "No." I cut in. "We can't do that. We don't know how dangerous they are. We don't even know if they are capable of thinking."

The group stays quite but understand where sans is coming from. "I shall out more traps up incase a hybrid cones through." Edge says and walks out of the front door. "Oh, I should do the same!" Blue says while following edge. Papyrus following not far behind. Once they are gone, red spoke up first. "....so....if we find one?" "Call 911...." Red nods at sans awnser. "Hopfully we don't come across one...." Stretch says while he pulls out a lollipop.

"Agreed"

[knifedog-machina]

Gateway Operations: How My System Works

Written by Max on March 30, 2024.

I haven't seen many personal essays or in-depth posts by plurals that explain how their individual systems work and what their experiences are like, so I’m taking the alterhuman community mindset of Writing About My Personal Experiences as the host of a gateway system, just to archive my experiences in pen, since my memory isn't at all infallible.

I'm also posting on social media (instead of only a personal website) in hopes of seeing and being seen by other folks, people who have similar or different experiences! I like talking about myself, but not into a void, you know? I like it when people talk back! If you have replies, feel free to write them as a response! (If in a reblog, please put it under a cut if it's longer than a few paragraphs!)

Headmates and Visitors

First off, defining “gateway system.” I'm using the term to mean that the people in my system exist in an alternate universe - their version of a slightly futuristic Detroit, Michigan, in our case - and they walked into my brain as completely separate people from me.

My headmates are the people who I consider my brain roommates, the people who choose to live together with me in our daily life. So far this is a short list, just Jude and Gavin, because they like being here and I like having them around.

I've recently found that other people from their world can chime in from time to time - and they aren’t headmates, in my opinion, so much as visitors. They like talking to my headmates, and sometimes even to me, but they don’t want to live with me and just come and go as they please, usually just popping in when called (if they're free). So far, they’ve all been people who Jude and Gavin personally know, and people I know from their world and feel interested in. My working explanation for who can visit the system is that they’re all people in Detroit who we’re invested in, and if we want to talk to them enough, they can talk to us. Why? Who knows! What matters is that we can have a chat or two over lunch.

As the host, listening to my headmates talking to other people in their world really does remind me of listening in on a phone call - I’m not usually getting visuals from the other person, just their voice internalized in my mind. As far as I can tell, that's also how the whole thing gets filtered in-universe - for example, Gavin mentally called a friend from Detroit a couple nights ago, for the sake of trying to do so without expecting anything, and when she actually answered, it did solidify into a phone call, or at least she was talking into the phone on her end of the line.

The Back (and headspace, or lack thereof)

When I think about my headmates in the back, they’re in their apartment - which has mostly been Gavin’s apartment, historically, but Jude’s moved in. The impression I get in my mind’s eye when I’m visualizing the back is like that of a moving camera, seeing footage from a recording without being in the space myself. It’s very much their actual apartment, though - for instance, Gavin owns three cats, and if I focus on them, I can tell what they’re getting up to. As I’m writing this, I’m checking on the cats, and I get the impression that Lucy is taking a nap on one arm of the couch.

When Jude or Gavin check into the back, they tend to get impressions from their own points of view. For example, when Jude is laying on the couch and looking at Gavin in the kitchen, they’re using their own eyes for that, while if I’m the one watching him, I’m looking from a different viewpoint - it’s like my internal footage of them is being filmed on a security camera or using film shooting techniques, while they're just using their eyes like normal people.

This visualization is always very hazy and unfocused until I actually focus on what's going on, and then it clears up into a solid concept. It's a similar story for figuring out noemata or exomemory recall - from what I can tell, it all runs on a sort of Schrodinger's cat principle, where all the possibilities for what's happening are superimposed on one another until I'm actively thinking about it, and then it settles upon a single configuration and doesn't change again. For example, what the cats are doing. Jack is currently sitting on the windowsill, looking at the birds outside.

I used to think my internal camera was fixed to Gavin’s apartment, but since I've been able to look at other places, I think it's more likely that my headmates and visitors tend to talk to me when they're not busy, which tends to mean they're at home or otherwise unoccupied. A couple visitors were going on a walk in the park while talking to me, which was really quite nice. I've also found my point of view camera spinning over to watch them in their house, and that's quite different from Jude and Gavin’s place.

And because the back is their actual world instead of a mindscape that I made up, I don't actually exist in it. I can't project myself into my headmates’ apartment - I’m the host, so I live in this world, and I reside in my brain and body as thought patterns and self-perception. When I give up control of the front, I don't enter any specific headspace. If I'm co-conscious, I just exist as a disembodied voice, vaguely attached to my self-image and body, until I return to the front again. (It's not as disorienting as it sounds, I promise.)

Fronting and Co-Fronting

When my headmates are fronting, it's not like they blip back and forth between being in my world controlling my body, and being in their world controlling their bodies. They're actually in both places at once? I like to think of it like quantum superpositions, much like the memory and camera focus - if Jude is fronting and wants to hug Gavin back in their own bodies, they can do that! At the same time, they're still up here in my body. They can only fully focus on one or the other, though, so that's something that tends to happen more when I'm in co-front and can take over fronting.

Something that does happen for us, and happens so naturally that we didn't realize that other systems might not be able to do it, is partial possession. It's a new term for me, but it’s well-established in the tulpamancy community - basically, putting it into plural terminology, it's when one headmate takes control of some part of their shared body while co-fronting with someone else.

We do this voluntarily and semi-automatically, for a variety of reasons. When I’m suffering from sensory overload and don't want to eat despite being hungry, someone else might decide to take over eating while I keep using the spoon. If Jude wants to hold hands in co-front, they can take one hand and Gavin can have the other, and they can hold hands like that. If Gavin wants to walk while I listen to a podcast, he gets the legs and I keep the audio processing. It's a good thing for all of us!

Usually, when fronting, I can call someone's name to the back and get a response - this is how I know the difference between tuning in and out of headmate awareness throughout the day, where I can check in and get an immediate response if they're awake, and them walking out of the system for a time. When they leave, I call out and get no response whatsoever.

This gets distressing when someone other than myself gets stuck in the front, which happens when we're overloaded with stress, because that also makes it incredibly difficult or impossible to get responses from me or anyone else in the back, so it feels like the person in front is completely alone in there. For the record, this has always been a stress-induced communication breakdown for us, and we do always regain contact after calming down.

And I've found that our visitors also co-front sometimes, I think because they're used to having bodies and don't like being in the void in the way that we get when we aren't fronting or focusing on the back. (They don't usually care for it, which is part of why they aren't headmates - for example, Connor hates eating.)

I don't have a conclusion for this essay, really - it's a collection of observations, and might change or expand in the future. Who knows! It's nice to have it jotted down in one place, though.

[simplylove101]

2023 Horror Challenge: [64/?]

↳“What's on their videos are things that can't be unseen.” Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor (2023) dir. Stephen Cognetti

Plot: A group of cold case investigators stay at the Carmichael Manor. After four nights, the group was never heard from again. What is discovered on their footage is even more disturbing than anything found on the Hell House tapes.

Starring: Bridget Rose Perrotta, Destiny Leilani Brown, James Liddell & Gideon Berge

So, this actually became a last minute addition to the Halloween watches just because it being released yesterday made it so it arrived just in time for this year's challenge. Why put it off, right? Considering I actually appreciated the first movie for what it was and have been hearing it may be considered an improvement for the franchise, I was curious. Yes, I haven't seen the second or third one yet but it's probably true, and since these stories are one-offs (while they clearly take place in the same universe), I figured it was okay to skip around a bit. In terms of acting and visuals and things of that sort, it is a bit of an improvement from at least the original because they kept that cast tight enough that we can focus on who's who more. Now with it being filmed the way it is, it does lose some of that rawness from the original but it's just more visually pleasing to watch so I can't really complain to be honest. It's still found footage so format-wise it's gonna be a mixed bag for people regardless if they hate that subgenre. lol Like I said, the acting and chemistry within the group is better but I wouldn't say that makes it any less frustrating when you see the characters make poor decisions. Bridget Rose Perrotta brings a lot of energy to her role as Margot, which I commend her for, but sometimes in the beginning at times I wanted to be like, can she chill out a bit? XD Not gonna lie, I was very confused how this was gonna be a prequel since it's present-day and still am but they did reference the second movie plenty so at the very least I know it was tied to something in the franchise. Love how I went from funny clowns to scarier clowns this morning but that was definitely a coincidence. The creepy vibes managed to get me again at certain parts so I gotta give the creators kudos for that. I decided to be a chicken and save this for a morning watch cuz I was counting on that. lol I think I got what I expected from this, despite any flaws, so overall, it was worth the watch in my book. I'm open to them doing another movie if that post-credits scene is any indication.

[cipheramnesia]

I watched my first horror movie tonight since i was a teenager in the 90's. Back then i mostly giggled through Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer with friends. Then life happened and i sort-of stopped watching things in general. Anyway, I'm now finding myself on months of bedrest and am watching things to pass the time and decided I'd watch a movie tonight and picked horror just to see if i even like horror. I caught The Pope's Exorcist and actually really enjoyed it, which is delightful! It kept me on the edge of my seat and in suspense and i know my heart was racing at times. So I figure enjoying that one gives me a starting point in the genre, and i was wondering if you might be able to suggest others based off my liking that one? I picked it based off rotton tomato critic and audience ratings. Not because i care heavily about such things, but it made it a logical place to start of what's new. I'm not catholic so i don't care about religion based horror but I'm not opposed to it. I don't like jumpscares. Learned that from Sixth Sense and 12 years on tumblr. Oh! I've also recently seen Renfield, though none of the dracula movies that follow the books. I don't really count Renfield as horror in this regard because it's comedy horror and more funny than scary. Kind of like how i found 90's horror. Though that might have been just as much me being a punk ass kid trying to look brave with my friends. Who knows. It was a long time ago. Anyway, do you have any suggestions? Old or new doesn't matter. I'm bored and mostly stuck in bed. Thank you for your time!

I haven't seen The Pope's Exorcist so I had to search it up - exorcism movies don't do a lot for me, but The Taking of Deborah Logan and Daniel Isn't Real are perennial recommendations which I think would sync up with possession movies. Deborah Logan is kind of divisive with how it treats Alzheimer's and dementia - for me it resonated with my experiences and felt like a sensitive exploration of the topic for horror, but it can also reas the opposite way.

Hellbender and The Deeper You Dig are some fantastic work by a team of independent filmmakers who are also a family. They all act and direct and write together in upstate New York and have astonishing talent. A magnificent illustration of why seeking work by independent artists is such a good idea.

I just watched Ghost Crew, a weird little low budget Scottish movie that I won't say too much about except that it starts out as slightly cringe-comedy faux documentary and grows into a lot more. Zombie For Sale is an adorable Korean romantic comedy zombie movie I had a fun time watching. The Dark (2018) also very intriguing movie, basically victims of abuse getting revenge but one of them is a revenant.

Jamie Marks Is Dead is a queer ghost story that made me cry, everyone should watch it. Also in the sweet romantic category is Attachement, a Jewish and queer horror. It's written and directed by a Jewish person and to my experience felt very true to life. My personal reading of it was a kind of metaphor about how Judaism can be carried forward in different ways everywhere from generational to academically to people who convert. It's another one that I think could be read different, but the positive reading works better for me.

A Wounded Fawn is just bonkers surreal, I can't describe it exactly but it's about a serial killer who gets in deep with some very hallucinatory shit. Related, but Vicious Fun is exactly what it says on the tin. Very fun silly stuff. He's Watching is imho one of the most terrifying found footage movies ever. All found footage movies use a lot of pretty common and consistent tricks of limited light and limited perspective, but He's Watching fucks with the sense of reality by constantly obfuscating who or what is recording, where the line between real and film is blurred.

Babysitter Wanted is also a fun twist on the satanic panic trope. Also similar in that vein, Anything For Jackson is pretty neat. And while I'm thinking about Shudder, The Mortuary Collection is pure spooky fun, a delightful anthology movie with Clancy Brown getting to chew up some scenery. Also for the movie that has everything, Saloum. It's a kind of revenge crossed with magic crossed with evil spirits centered around a bad ass team of mercenaries for hire.

Also check out my horror movie tag.

[onilorian]

The Secret Double

Chapter 5 💋

Chapter 4

Masterlist

18+. MDNI.

Warnings:

Assault

Verbal abuse

Death

Smut

Oral (F > M)

Almost getting caught 🫣

You quietly slipped into the shadows before taking down the two guards that stayed put near the side exit.

You looked up at the camera before pulling out your silencer and shooting it in the lense. Once you pried the door open, you darted towards the security room.

The men inside expected you were coming after seeing the security footage, and you were aware of this. So you threw a smoke bomb on the inside, scaring them and hearing them shoot at it.

"Agh! I can't see anything!" One of the security guards spoke. You then again ran in and stayed low as you quickly and quietly knocked out the guards, being careful not to cause serious injuries.

You walked over to the control panel where you shut down cameras and other alarms that would trip if you walked past them.

You also were able to cut the power within the same room.

You quietly made your way to the cells, avoiding any guards that you could. Security had definitely become heavier as of late all thanks to your break ins.

When you finally reached the cells you found Favarone and Kent guarding the doors. "You guys better play pretend and act as if you're knocked out. You know I don't want to hurt you." You said and they both hesitated.

"This will be the last time I'm doing this." You said and Favarone sighed as he got onto the ground in a fairly awkward position, pretending to be passed out.

Kent positioned himself in a corner and leaned his head back. "Whatever you're doing, just make it quick." Favarone said and you chuckled, "Quite bossy today, aren't we?" You asked and he scoffed, "I hate going against the boss like this."

You sighed before pressing the numbers on the control pad. But it blinked red as you entered the same code from last time. "Shit." You murmured, he'd changed the pass code to the door.

You threw a bit of powder on the number pad before grabbing your uv light out of your utility belt.

"Hmmm..." You said aloud as you looked at the combination of numbers that had most recently been used. "Goddammit." You sighed as you took a screw and pried the control panel off the wall. You looked at the mess of wires and studied them for a moment.

You've done things like this numerous of times, you've had to study up on electrical wiring for many missions you've been on. Whether it's been to simply open a door such as this one or to even disarm a bomb.

Although you thankfully haven't ever had to disarm a bomb in your line of work... yet.

You carefully snapped one wire and then another wire before putting the two together and suddenly the door opened.

After securing them together you put the control panel back and walked into the room.

"G-Gojo...?" You heard her weakly say. "Gojo... where have you been?" She slowly lifted her head up to see you standing there.

Her eyes widened and she sat up straight "N-No! No! Get away from me!" She cried out and you turned your head to the side and examine her for a moment.

You noticed she seemed tired, and a little more frail than the last time. But she wasn't injured in any way.

"He hasn't been taking good care of you lately, has he?" You asked, the deep modulated voice scaring her a little.

"Why does it matter to you?! You're only here to hurt me like you did last time!" She shouted and you smiled underneath the mask, reminiscing your last interaction with her.

"Unfortunately my emotions got the better of me. This time I'm simply here to collect information." You explained, you hadn't took a single step since you stood in front of her.

"As if I'd tell you anything about him." She snapped and you sighed. "Not about Gojo. About you." You said as you squatted down and looked up at her.

"Who were you before coming here? And how long has it been since you've seen Gojo?" You asked and she turned her head.

You sighed as you reached for your gun holsted in your waistband. "I really hate to repeat myself. But because I'm in a good mood I'll let you slide," You said as you pulled out the gun and pointed it at her. You turned the safety off of your handgun and pulled the barrel back before letting it go and it clicking into place, loading in the next bullet.

Her eyes widened as her body shook. "I-I was an accountant before I was kidnapped. And I haven't seen Gojo since you've seen me last. He's the one that brings me my meals and my water." She said as she hung her head low.

You suddenly heard the door attempting to open and you stood up. As it opened you saw Gojo standing there, his chest heaving.

"I won't let you get away this time." He said as he stepped in, gun pointed at you and the door behind him closed. Your gun was still on the girl and she weakly called out, "Gojo...?"

He simply ignored her and came closer to you. "Don't come any closer or I'll shoot her." You warned and a sly smile spread on his lips.

"Kill her, I don't care. I no longer have any use for her. I'm just curious as to how you keep getting in and out of here like a little rat." Gojo said.

The girl's head quickly lifted as tears streamed down her face. "W-Wait! Don't say that Gojo. I thought you loved me!" She cried out and your eyes widened.

Gojo sighed as he shook his head. "Just be quiet now, hm?" He glanced over at her and you turned the safety back on before holstering your handgun.

"It was really simple honestly." You began as you raised your hands, "And I'll tell you the truth if you can promise not to shoot me." You added and Gojo scoffed, "And tell me why I'd make that kind of promise." He demanded.

You slowly reached for your mask and then swiftly took it off. "Because I think you'd be making a big mistake, Gojo." You said and his eyes widened as his face flushed a bright pink.

"Oh fuck, Y/N! Shit....." He said as he lowered the gun. The girl looked in between the both of you, "W-What the fuck? Why does she... look like me... and you call her by that name?" She questioned.

You smiled down at her and squatted before her once more. "He was only using you, because you look like me." You told her and her jaw dropped.

"Well you almost look like me anyway." You stood up and looked at Gojo, "You know that's quite cute of you." You added and he hung his head low in embarrassment.

"Aw come here don't be embarrassed." You said as you held your hand out and he shyly took it. "You should have just told me, you know." You remarked and he huffed, "If you didn't share the same feelings what was I going to do?" He asked and you shrugged, "Well you know I do." You said as you smiled up at him, his face still completely red.

"So now what're we going to do with this accountant?" You asked as you looked at her. Her head was hung low.

"She's an accountant?" He asked and you raised an eyebrow at Gojo. "I didn't check into the details. As soon as I knew no one would know she went missing, I took her." He explained and you rolled your eyes.

"Just kill me." She interjected and both you along with Gojo looked at her. "This is so fucking humiliating. Just kill me already!" She said and you looked at Gojo.

Gojo shrugged. "I technically don't have any reason to keep her around." He mumbled. You crossed your arms as you looked down at her and shrugged "Am I supposed to feel any pity right now?" You whispered and she rose her head slowly.

"It's all because I look like someone. I could have just continued on with my life, perhaps made something of myself. If only I hadn't fallen in love with you Gojo... But I know you could never love me-"

You whipped out your hand gun, quickly flicking the safety off and you shot her in the head. Gojo looked at you and you looked back at Gojo. "I think she was having a main character moment." You said and Gojo laughed a little, "If she was a main character her plot armor would have stopped her from dying." He said and you shrugged as you turned the safety back on.

All the lights came on along with the ventilation kicking in. "Looks like they got the power back on." You said and he sighed, "You really did cause me a headache you know." He turned to you and you shrugged, "Well at least you know I'm good at my job." You added and he rolled his eyes, "You've always been good at your job, that's what's scary." He chuckled a little.

"Let's get out of here, I'll get someone to clean this up." Gojo said and you nodded. You looked down at your outfit and then back up at him. "I should probably change. I don't think any of the guys here would be too happy if they found out it was me this whole time." You said and Gojo sighed once more, "Like I said, a real headache Y/N."

After getting your things and changing in a nearby storage room, you followed Gojo to the top of the building where both your offices sat.

The secretary ran over to Gojo with a panicked look. "Boss! W-What happened? The power completely shut down, I was worried something happened." She said and Gojo glanced at you for a moment.

"Oh nothing to worry about. Just a small malfunction on the power company's end. All is fine." Gojo lied with a bright smile on his face. You laughed quietly as you quickly turned to go to your office.

You entered your office and set your bag down next to your desk as you let out a long sigh. You looked at the time, noticing it was only 12:30 in the afternoon.

Gojo then entered your office, still talking to the secretary. "Yep! Yeah, you better go on your lunch now. Okay, yep, see you in an hour. Bye." He said before shutting your door behind him.

Gojo's smile quickly disappeared before he took long strides over to you, his face seemingly neutral.

"Gojo?" You asked as you backed up to your desk. But he gave no response as his lips crashed into yours in a quick and heated kiss.

Gojo pulled away and placed his forehead against yours, his hands on either side of your face. "I'm so fucking embarrassed about this whole thing." He said and you smiled as you laughed a little, you placed your hands on his wrists.

"Well I can't say I was expecting something like that. But it made me a little worried when you didn't tell me a thing about that prisoner or about the break-ins. You only told me about the raccoons, remember?" You both removed your heads from the other.

"Oh speaking of which, that was also a real pain to clean up. I think you'll need to spend some time cleaning just to get a taste of the hell you've put me through." He said as his hands left your face and he placed them on the desk on either side of you.

"Oooor..." You said as you stood up. You placed your hands on his shoulders and moved him around the desk and sat him on your chair.

"Hearing an apology might not make you satisfied enough, but I'm sure my mouth can be used in other ways for forgiveness?" You asked as you knelt between his legs and he turned his head to the side.

"Oh yeah?" He asked and your hands trailed up his muscular thighs where you felt them flex under your touch.

"Mhmm." You hummed as you bit your lip and nodded. "Well let's see how good of an apology you can give me then." Gojo said, spreading his legs wider.

You reached for his belt and undid it in a swift motion. Unbuttoned his jeans was no problem, but clearly it was taking too long for Gojo as he helped you by pulling his pants and boxers down part way.

His cock lightly hit his abdomen, and you instinctively grabbed it by the base. You noticed Gojo was watching you intently, with every move you made his eyes were carefully watching you.

You brought your mouth forward and kissed his tip. Gojo's fist balled up beside him as he brought the back of his other hand up to his mouth.

"Tease." He muttered and you smiled. You didn't waste much time before licking his tip, and then putting his tip in your mouth.

You swirled your tongue on his tip, slowly moving further down before pulling back and then moving down again.

This slow motion continued for another moment or two before Gojo grabbed your hair near the scalp and rushed your motions.

You gagged slightly at the sudden moment and you felt Gojo's cock twitch in your mouth.

"Haaa... so good Y/N. Such a good girl." Gojo muttered under his breath as his piercing blue eyes watched you.

A sudden knock sounded at the door of your office and you froze. The door then swung open. "Miss Y/L I wanted to tell you about- Oh! Boss... I didn't know you were still here." The secretary said and Gojo cleared his throat.

"Er... yeah I was just waiting for Y/N to get back... she went to grab us some lunch and told me to wait here." Gojo lied and you huffed quietly through your nostrils as you began to move your head up and down again.

You noticed as Gojo's thighs flexed and his grip on your hair tightened.

"Oh! Well I was just going to ask about some documents before going on my lunch... but I'll just do that after. See you later, boss." She said and Gojo gave a simple nod.

The door then shut and you both listened as the sound of her footsteps disappeared. "So fucking impatient, couldn't wait until the secretary was gone before sucking me off hmm?" He asked and you continued bobbing your head.

Gojo then pressed your head down, his cock completely engulfed by your mouth and his tip touching the back of your throat. "Look at me when I talk to you." He said and you coughed a little as your eyes watered.

You looked up at him and he smirked down at you. The sight of you like this was enough to make him cum as the hot liquid slid down your throat without warning.

Gojo breathed heavily and you slid off of his cock.

"Good girl. I accept your apology."

Fin.

Taglist:

@ekaterinatepes

@ritsatoru

@bb-sg

@patchi-chi

@purpleguk

[airasora]

I hope this doesn’t come off as rude because it’s just an observation I’ve had.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone who edits Disney do it like you do. You only edit with your few chosen ships and nothing else whereas everyone else has their main ships sure but they edit with lots of different characters and change it up all the time.

Is there a reason why you don’t ever edit anything else? Does it not get boring editing the same couple over and over again? How do you come up with new edits to do cause surely with things like Hollina you’ve used all the footage in all the ways that it can possibly be used and you can see in some of your videos that you’ve reused situations.

Again sorry if it’s rude I’m just genuinely curious cause I’ve not seen anyone go so in-depth with their ships like you do and I find it interesting.

I have very recently edited with new characters so I'll be honest and say I find the timing of your ask a little ironic cause I am indeed for the first time in years ACTUALLY editing with new characters. So I wouldn't say it's rude, but it's a little weird you're asking this when the newest edits I've made are with characters I haven't edited much with before... 😅

I mean, my first Charmine videos was from December. And my Sinric stuff is from January. My last Hollina video is from November 2021, that's a year and a half...

So I'm not entirely sure why you're asking this now?

But like I said, I don't think it's straight up rude as such, but the way you're phrasing it does sound like you're judging me at least a little bit 😂

I disagree that I've done everything I can with Hollina. There's plenty of footage for them both that I've never used before and considering how many Hollina AUs I have, I have absolutely not run out of stories and situations to put them in. There's a few shots I have reused over the years, but it's very few and it's usually ones that I worked too hard on creating to use just once. It's also worth noting that since there are indeed AUs, every single one of my Hollina videos are from Hollina AUs. So some videos belong in the same universe and story. So of course some situations will be repeated there because it's the same story they take place in 😊

If I found it boring, I'd stop. I'm not forcing myself to edit anything I don't want to. And for a while, all I wanted to do was Hollina.

Then all I wanted to do was Thraxette for a bit.

Now I'm working with entirely new characters. Except Odette, since I'm using her for MxDisney, but her family is Medusa from The Rescuers and Michael from Peter Pan. Also two characters I've never edited with before.

I think the best way to explain how and why I go so in-depth with my ships is that it's just the way my brain works. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. So when I get into something, I tend to hyper focus and sometimes that lasts a week, sometimes months and then sometimes years, like Hollina did 😂 Not to say I'm not into Hollina anymore, but I'm not hyper focused on them anymore.

I also have ships I hardly ever do any work with. Like Robin Hood and Basil. I've shipped them for YEARS and only ever made like 2 videos with them.

I think what's also an explanation why I sometimes hyper focus on one ship for a while is also dependent on you guys. If I create a ship and loads of people get really into it, I get really into it. I didn't expect Charmine to become this popular, to the point where I've received SEVERAL asks and comments and AU ideas from you all! That, to me, is so amazing and makes me want to do more with them, because I also want to create what I think you guys will enjoy as well! So when you guys seem to be into a ship I like as well, I get more encouraged to make more with them.

Robin and Basil isn't straight up unpopular, but it's not nearly as popular as some of my other ships. Which is completely understandable, it's an anthro ship and what I usually do are humans 😂 so that's a ship I kinda just keep to myself sort of 😊

I've also always been very imaginative. Nothing is ever really... I don't know what to call it; "shallow" in my head? I go into depth with stuff, I like to analyze, do Easter eggs, inside jokes and get really deep into a plot or idea.

I think another way of saying it too is that I don't like canon couples. Or like, they don't interest me much. Why? Because they're already together. We know their story, we've seen how they get together. Of course you can still create your own universes for them and whatnot - and I do have a few canon ships - but it just doesn't trigger my creativity. With crossover couples, you have to make up stuff yourself. So why not go into depth? Why not imagine every single way these people could interact? At least, that's how my brain entertains itself 😂

I'm never bored. And that sounds weird, but I'm serious. I don't know what boredom actually feels like. My brain can always come up with SOMETHING. And it's never vague, it's always detailed and complicated.

That's why I can keep coming up with new stuff for the same ships. That's why I don't get bored with it. That's why I still enjoy working with characters no matter how many times I've already worked with them.

I've never had a problem with creating a ton... my problem has always been limitations. Hence why my response to your ask became this long 😂 Once I get going, I can't stop!

So, no. I'm not bored working with the same characters. Because I keep coming up with new stuff to do with them 😊

Thank you for your question!

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

What are your favorite horror movies? I'm not generally a horror person but you have good taste so I'm sure you'll give good suggestions

some horror films that i enjoyed are (in no particular order): hereditary, blair witch project, jacob's ladder, annihilation, dawn of the dead (2004), rec, lake mungo, event horizon, the ritual, apostle (2018), the witch, paranormal activity, taking of deborah logan, alien (people think of the alien franchise as action but it started as a horror), the ring, midsommar, hell house llc, rosemary's baby, it follows, the descent, autopsy of jane doe, as above so below (honestly kinda mid but i am including it because i love the concept so much and really want to love it and it /does/ have its moments), barbarian (2022), the conjuring, the fourth kind (kinda like as above so below in the sense that it's actually kinda mid but i really love the concept), signs, the thing, 28 days later, noroi: the curse, sinister, the bay, the others.

there are probably some i'm missing but i think this is a good start. i should also mention the "v/h/s" movies. since it's an anthology franchise the different films are pretty hit or miss, but kinda like "as above, so below" i really just like the concepts behind many of them so they make it worth watching for that alone.

also just as a bit of an addendum, as you can tell i'm not really big on like....slashers or torture porn or anything like that. i like movies that are more of a slow burn, especially movies that deal with cults, the occult, monsters, possession, zombies, etc. so a lot of the above deal with those sorts of things. oh, i'm also a pretty big fan of found footage films. also, a lot of these movies i haven't seen in years (some of them i haven't seen since i was a kid) so i can't really say if they hold up well.

not sure how old you are but the blair witch project was probably the single most traumatizing movie i have ever seen. but i think it's really one of those "you had to be there" things. the blair witch project was a cultural phenomenon. i remember when it came out. the marketing was so good. so many people thought it was legitimately real. me included. i still remember the first time i ever watched it and how fucked up i was after the last scene and how long i thought about it afterwards.

not sure why i'm mentioning that. i think i'm just saying that that movie (or that movie-watching experience really) set the standard for what i consider good horror. and nothing has ever surpassed it, though some of the above got pretty close.

[obislittleone]

Who Are You Really

Andrew Garfield!Peter Parker x Reader

A/n: There may or may not be spoilers in this, I haven't seen the movie yet... gonna write one or two more parts after this when I've seen it. I'm going tomorrow at 6pm so we'll see what goes down...

Warnings: ⚠️possible spoilers ahead read at your own risk⚠️, street assualt, attempted sexual assault.

You knew Peter Parker well. One of your class mates at Midtown, the boy you sat beside in English every day. You were just as surprised as anyone to find out he was Spider-Man. It was broadcasted everywhere in New York for everyone to see. It couldn't be mistaken as someone else. The footage was clear, and the evidence was there. Your classmate was Spider-Man.

You were supposed to have graduated a while ago, but when the blip happened, you disappeared with it, setting you back to a place where you had to redo your last year in highschool. Being a super senior was not fun, considering your friends who had survived were now five years older than you. Some out of college already and even on to their careers. It was crazy to think that so much could have happened during a time that was instantaneous to you.

No one looked at Peter the same after the day he was found out. He would walk down the hallways with his girlfriend and everyone would stare. You couldn't deny you felt bad for him. Everyone staring on as uf he had procured some sort of disastrous disease. He was a hero of this city, and shouldn't have been treated so wrongfully. One of the bullies in the school, Eugene Thompson was of course getting his kicks out of the humiliation of his classmate. He chuckled in the corner of the hall, waiting for Peter and MJ to walk by before he took an obnoxiously large step in front of them while nonchalantly walking to class. Peter dropped the papers he had under his arm, and they went all over the floor.

The others looked on this display of mishap with nothing but a second glance. They didn't dare get involved with the crime fighting Spider-Man.

You felt differently. You went over and helped him and MJ with the scattered papers and handed them over. He uttered a small thank you and a nod, and then they went on their way quietly. You thought it was awful, the whole thing. How anxious does Spider-Man have to be to get so caught off guard by a school bully. This must be taking a serious toll on him.

You didn't talk to Peter for a while, not even in the class you had together. You stayed just as quiet as everyone else, until one day.

Everyone seemingly didn't care anymore about the fact that Peter was Spider-Man. You'd even argue to the point where they forgot it entirely.

You spoke to him in your English class, simply discussing the week's assignment, and he seemed to forget himself even then. It was so strange, but you didn't question it.

Later that day news stories started coming up about strange portals opening around the city. They looked like they could be connected to the other super hero that lived uptown, Dr. Strange. Reports of strange persons turning up grabbed people's attention, and though worse things had happned in this world, you were willing to bet anything that this was really bad.

You had been living alone in your apartment ever since your mother passed away. She died during the blip from cancer, so you didn't even get to say goodbye. You'd been living pretty independently before that happened, but being by yourself in this time of craziness was not desired. You could hold your own if it came down to it, you'd just rather avoid having to inflict that upon yourself.

You wanted to see if you classmate knew anything about this mess, and having gone over to his apartment before to study, you knew where he lived. You weren't exactly friends, but if it came down to it, you knew could trust him. He was a super hero after all.

You went down the streets and tried to be discreet, knowing the part of town you were headed for wasn't necessarily kind and caring. You had your switch blade in your pocket at the ready just incase, but strayed from keeping it in your hand to avoid suspicion and extra unwanted attention.

Two guys had begun following you about a block ago, you could tell. You kept on, thinking if it was just a loose follow, you could reach your destination without any issues. The problems began when three other men decided to join their friends, making the group of five seem more intimidating.

You turned down an alley as a shortcut to the next street down, where the building you were looking for was located. Bad idea. There was a small gang of sidewalk smokers at the end to cut you off. You kept walking to test your luck, wanting to see if you were just being paranoid. You did let you hand lay closer to your pocket though.

"Ay mama, where you off to?" One of them poked at you, cutting you from the other side of the street. There were no passersby, you were on your own.

"To see Spider-Man," you taunted sarcastically, trying to push past the men while also making a slight to them.

"Oh spiderguy! He's a little punk, you know," you were pushed back to a corner, with few ways out. "You guys close or something?"

"Look, I just wanna go see my friend, can you let me pass?"

"Depends. Can you pay the toll?"

"What toll?"

The biggest man in the group stepped forward, blushing your hair strands away from your shoulder, letting his hands linger against you a little longer. Your hands were in your pocket, and you were about to stab someone, but held back, knowing the repercussions could be bad if you went against too many men without being able to handle them.

"Whatever you're willing to offer us, sweetheart."

That's it. Even just by pure unbridled rage, nothing could have stopped you from taking that knife and pressing it against the throat of the man closest to you.

"Everyone back up or he's dead," you threatened. You couldn't kill anyone, that you were sure of, but they were going to hurt you, so you could at least make them believe you could.

"That's so cute, look boys she's even got a little knife. Too bad she ain't know how to use it."

"Wanna bet?" You smirked, pressing it against the bulging veins of his neck. The red that rimmed the blade was enough to scare the man you held under it, but none of the others even flinched.

"She's all talk, grab her," one of them instructed, and two more reacted. They reached over and tried to take a shot, but you readjusted your hold on the guy in your hands, bringing an elbow around his neck so you could use the knife for better purposes.

One got sliced right through the arm, pulling back like a child who just touched a hot stove.

"Hands off, jackass," you tried ti slice through another, but now they were all on you. You were putting up one hell of a fight, you were cinfused why they still persisted.

You tried to break free, but it was more difficult now, and they wrestled the knife from your hands, leaving you pretty defenseless given your position. You struggled to get away, but then you saw a flash of red and blue swing into the picture.

"I'm not really great at talking to girls either guys, but 'hands off' seems like a pretty universal term."

Before your eyes, Spider-Man started to web up the deadbeats to the nearest wall, giving you an escape for a few seconds to put a few hits into the others. Spider-Man turned around, expecting to take down the rest, only to find them on the ground with their hands over their crotch. You lived taking cheap shots like that. Men had balls for a reason, that being so women could punish them whenever they misbehaved.

You quickly ran out of the alley afterwards, making it onto the street so that you could feek safer in the presence of the witnesses that drive by in cars every few seconds. Spider-Man followed after you, catching uo to your walking pace.

"You okay? You didn't take any bad hits did you?" He asked with a concerned tone. Funny, he didn't sound the same as in class. He looked taller, too. Glancing his way you saw a completely different costume than the one you were used to seeing on the news.

"No, I'm fine... I did actually wanna talk to you, though. I was on my over when those douchebags cornered me," you said, but the Spider-Man stopped in his tracks. You turned around and tilted your head.

"What do you- do I know you?" He asked. His voice definitely sounded different from in class a few days ago.

"You should. I'm your desk buddy in English," you furrowed your eyebrows, stepping back to be beside him again.

"I think you got the wrong guy," he chuckled, and you rolled your eyes.

"Parker everyone knows it's you, you don't have to play dumb anymore."

He froze immediately. How did you know? How did anyone know? What were you saying to him. You took a step closer and looked very closely. He definitely did not resemble the boy you knew, but then again, there was only one Spider-Man.

"Peter, you sound different, are you feeling okay?"

"How do you know my name?" He asked, afraid. This was not Peter Parker.

You reached a hand up and ripped the mask off, unprepared for the face that stared back at you. This was all too much to take in. Dark hair, yes. Brown eyes, yes. Peter Parker's brown eyes and dark hair? No.

"Who are you?"

.

.

Anyways I'm so excited for nwh can y'all tell?

[mrinafria]

K-Drama Master List [to be continued]

DISCLAIMER: This is mostly for my own reference purposes since I like to rewatch some of the dramas I've watched in the past, and then often can't remember anything about the title or the actors or the show. All opinions are only and only my own, and no offense is intended to anyone who has different views on any of these. Again, this rec list is more for me and probably a few of my friends and less for others, so please ignore if it bothers you. Peace!

List of Chinese (mostly) and other East Asian dramas here.

Rough ratings (which could change at any point of time):

Recommend/Strongly recommend: ranging from 'Well this is a pretty good show although not sth I'll obsess over' to 'This was REALLY good' to 'OML HOW DOES THIS PERFECTION EXIST'. As you might notice, the latter happens very rarely.

Worth a try: I like it (but not a 'fan') and I wouldn't mind rewatching a couple of episodes.

Watch if you have time: Self-explanatory. Only watch if you're on a binge-marathon, have plenty of time to kill and would watch anything as long as it's a K drama.

p.s. : There are dramas I've watched but won't include here because they're either very dated (like Boys over Flowers) or I watched so long back I don't even remember anymore.

p.p.s.: ratings may or may not change after a rewatch.

p.p.p.s: This doesn't follow any particular chronology or order, and I like to move things around in this lift often.

----

1. Vincenzo: Crime, action, slow burn-ish romance, dark comedy; love the FL-ML dynamic. Psycho villain 5/5. This needs a second season, seriously, and not just for the romance but I LOVE the whole plaza gang+kickass (albeit cringe-y) FL+ intelligent ML trope going on in here without any unnecessary toxicity+ great storyline which is an extreeeeemely rare combination to find. Recommend.

2. Suspicious Partner/Love in Trouble: Truth be told I watched this much, MUCH later in this list but there is NO WAY I'd not mention it at the top. Crime thriller, slightly rom-com, legal drama. Gripping enough to have kept me hooked throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed the twists. I know it wasn't the focus of the show but I really really loved the FL reflecting on the line between love and obsession/stalking in one of the earlier episodes. Also glad to see that the show didn't shy away from normal intimacy and skinship. The ex didn't turn vamp which was a relief. NEVER saw a male actor looking so devastatingly good in reading glasses. I usually like actors based on their acting skills but Ji Chang-Wook has completely destroyed me. Man has a killer smile which perfectly conveys specific emotions in specific scenes. Also FYI: I haven't checked on Viki but at the end of almost every episode (the original episodes are longer which are then divided in halves so if that's how you're watching it, it's often every other episode, after the end screen and precap scenes) there's a prologue kinda clip that shows how Bong Hee became a lawyer and additional gush worthy footage between Ji Wook and Bong Hee. I found this out during my second watch on a different platform. Recommend.

3. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim: Rom-com, childhood trauma. ML is a self-assured, narcissistic DQ ass (LOL) who you can't help but love as he navigates romance and love. Also found the PTSD thing quite original and refreshing. Recommend.

4. Healer: Romance, thriller, action. Plot = 5 dazzling stars. Acting by both the lead actors = 5 dazzling stars, again. No noble idiot trope that I've seen in many such secret identity shows which I LOVEDDD. The romance is ALL SORTS OF ADOOOORBSSSS. Pacing, execution, dialogue, chemistry of the leads, EVERYTHING about this drama (except for some tiny plot holes and some overdramatic BG music that I could overlook)= 5 to the power 500 dazzling stars. JCW = SLAY. RECOMMENDDDD.

5. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon: Rom-com with a dash of psycho serial killer. LOVE the ML, who is practically an adorable combination of a puppy and a kitty in love. Park Hyung-sik's looks and acting makes him the PERFECT Min-Min. Love how the ML is okay/learns to be okay with FL being far stronger and more capable than him and never feels threatened by her/ is not a jerk. Psycho killer track could've been a bit more crisp. Can rewatch any day because the ML is a friggin ADORABLE meme. Recommend.

6. Abyss: Rom-com, fantasy, emotional. LOVE the friendship between FL-ML. The ML is never salty about the FL rejecting him over and over again and handles the FL very maturely. Not a fan of the whole physical appearance being a big deal thing (I mean, the FL didn't really develop any feelings/realize it until the ML became good-looking if I got it right, wut? and her logic for not saying yes earlier didn't make sense to me either). Love how the ending was written. Recommend.

7. A Business Proposal: Rom-com, ADORBS. ML is the same as the one in Abyss, Ahn Hyo-Seop. GREAT for comic relief and light-hearted fun. ADORBS secondary leads, the secondary ML gives off legit Clark Kent vibes. Recommend.

8. The Innocent Man: Revenge drama. I always love me a good revenge drama so even though this one is not heavy on the romance I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish the subs were better in some scenes. First half- LOVE it. Second half- some episodes feel a bit dragging and bit too dramatic, maybe cause I'm not a fan of the makjang/'drama' genre in general. MUST mention: The expressionless face and distant eyes that emote all the right things in the right scenes - Idk what's the right word for it but SJK does such a PHENOMENAL job at pulling that off. Also, all the scenes where he acts like he never felt anything for the FL are done so convincingly, I too got confused at times lol. Strongly recommend.

9. Her Private Life: Rom-com. FL is the same as What's Wrong WSK, Park Min-Young. Concept is interesting. Enjoyed the first couple of episodes. Overall an okay watch. Like how FL-ML past connection is revealed. Watch if you have time.

10. So I Married an Anti-Fan: Rom-com. WAY better than the movie. Like the story but writing wasn't very crisp, and didn't feel seamless. Chansung tried his best with the character he was given here as the 2nd ML. Watch if you have time.

11. Doom at Your Service: Romance, terminal illness, emotional, quirky, end-of-the-world. Seo In Guk is good no doubt, and the jealous-throwing-daggers Doom was an absolute treat to watch. The OST of this drama = GAH. Some of the cinematography = Killer. Maybe it's just me but I didn't feel the chemistry between the leads as much as it was hyped. Love the concept of 'Doom' falling in love with a human. Definitely worth a try.

12. Romance is a Bonus Book: Romance, motivational, slice of life, noona love. Tried watching but gave up after a while. The age-gap theme really interested me and I wanted to finish this but the story was too slow and felt like something was missing. ***EDIT: Gave it another try after, a year??? It's a bit slow at the start (the first 6-7 epis imo) and the pacing there is what initially put me off. What I liked most after this attempt is the way most things are handled so realistically and maturely in the drama, including the romance, cohabitation, third angles, separation of a supporting couple and relationships in general. Nothing over the top as a whole, and I love how the leads don't fuss over proximity or say exaggerated things like 'my world will stop without you' and all. The mature storytelling is quite refreshing and I honestly just love the fact that it's most likely the only drama out there with books as the main theme, leads who are into reading/books/publishing and that the office setup is a publishing house (I so badly needed a break from chaebol storylines for once). Recommend/Worth a try.

13. The Secret Life of My Secretary: Rom-com, chronic illness. I heard the term face-blindness only once before and didn't know this was a real medical condition called prosopagnosia. Not sure if the portrayal here is authentic or not but I'm glad it was such a different concept and storyline. Really sweet and not overly dramatic. Love that the ML actually cries on multiple occasions and is so emotional. Recommend.

14. Marriage, Not Dating: Rom-com, some drama. Wasn't expecting much from it since I don't think I knew any of the cast in here. The writing is nice, the FL really got on my nerves initially but she has some character development so that was fun to watch. For a 2014 drama, this is actually pretty well-written. Worth a try.

15. Cinderella and the Four Knights: Rom-com, hate-to-love. Again, didn't expect much from it but I was surprised to see the balance given that it is a 2016 drama. Love how the MLs got almost equal screen space and attention and how well each of their unique dynamic with the FL was fleshed out. Recommend.

16. My Secret Romance: Rom-com, light hearted. I like the storyline, not something I've seen in a while. The writing could have been better, same goes for the acting. Liked how the secondary leads/one-sided love interests didn't turn 100% negative and started planning revenge and stuff. Worth a try.

17. Because This Is My First Life: Rom-com, quirky. Started watching with no plans to follow through but really liked how the relationship progression was shown, not just for the leads but the secondary characters too. The guy playing the ML did a good job with that dead-inside face. Not extraordinary or anything but still a decent watch. Worth a try.

18. 18 Again: Sentimental, paranormal/supernatural/surreal, second chance, mature, age gap (kinda?), family bonds. If you've watched Efron's movie 17 Again, you already know what this is about: the plot is pretty much the same. However, because it's a series and because it's a K-drama, they did an AMAZING job with the storyline as there was more scope here. Seriously. If you could watch only one of the two, I'd hands down recommend this one. It's MUCH more nuanced (cuz let's be honest 'nuanced' isn't the word I'd use for Hollywood in general). The emotions, the pain, happiness, struggles, regrets, resentments, love are just perfect. Lee Do Hyun does a FANTASTIC job being his character in the most convincing way possible. Fun to watch. Really like how they covered so many things and explored the emotions of the characters. Still not entirely sure how the reverse/back-transformation happened but it's supposed to be one of those supernatural things I guess. The ending was quite well-done and very, VERY realistic. 100% rewatch value (done it so many times) Strongly recommend.

19. Touch Your Heart: Rom-com, law-themed. I really like the format of the show, and the FL character seems shallow and annoying at first but her being able to solve the cases/help the ML redeemed her to me. I personally didn't feel much chemistry between the leads, and I finished it mostly because I liked the storyline way more than the leads and their romance. Worth a try.

20. Oh My Ghost/Ghostess: Supernatural, romance, quirky, body swap. The actor playing the FL is the same as Strong Woman DBS (I think I see a pattern in the type of characters she portrays). I absolutely loved her 'possessed' version because she was a complete firecracker, and polar opposite of what typical FLs are like in K Dramas. Not a fan of the human version as much, although I was glad to see some character development later on in the drama. Halfway through, I felt like it started dragging a bit and got repetitive for me. Recommend (mainly because of the ghost version).

21. My ID is Gangnam Beauty: College, appearance/body shaming, self-love. Boy this hit me right in the face while I was least expecting it. Tbh I don't particularly like the drama title here and was not planning on watching it either. Started watching on a whim and really enjoyed till the end. I'm never fully happy with shows addressing body image and beauty because it's hard to handle such themes but this one was not bad. What truly kept me hooked was the ML, he has a great stoic face imo, and the epic flying kicks, oh my! It was so fun to watch throughout! Recommend.

22. Good Manager/Manager Kim: Office, comedy, antihero, idol drama, (implied?) romance, uplifting. Okay *breathe* long story short here: I am a sucker for all things Lee Junho and somehow I didn't know it was HIM who was in this drama as the gluttonous bad guy; I know the ML here is quite popular but for some reason his character didn't intrigue me enough BUT I still decided to give this one a try so imagine me going all dizzy and gasping for breath when I saw JUNHOOO in there like whaaaa *breathe* To be frank, he and the FL are the only reason I stuck to this drama and finished it (and enjoyed it so FRIGGIN MUCH). The character sketch and development in this drama is *chef's kiss* to the power n. I frankly didn't care about Manager Kim most of the times- he never grew on me and I found his habits and dialogue delivery quite meh tbh (could be wrong but I guess the character just didn't suit Namkoong Min well). LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. And this is probably the only drama where the second ML is given so much importance (romance and otherwise) and all credits go to 우리 준호 aaahahhh. Totally for those who are looking for something different to keep them hooked. ^Recommend always, everywhere.

23. The Uncanny Counter: Fantasy, supernatural, thriller. It took me about 3-4 episodes to get used to the tone and pace of the drama because it's different than what I am used to watching. I still had to watch most episodes on 1.25/1.5x speed because the pace felt slow in general. The story has a few loopholes and stuff I wish they'd taken the time to explain but it wasn't bad overall. Worth a try.

24. W: Two Worlds: Fantasy, romance. The first time I started watching it, I put it on hold after 2/3 episodes because it didn't really interest me as much but the second time around wasn't that bad. The concept of real vs the comic (manhwa) world was pretty intriguing, and the whole series felt like a roller coaster ride with me trying to understand everything that was being introduced and explained. Worth a try.

25. Mr. Queen: Time travel, historical, court intrigue, slightly rom-com. Probably because I have already watched the C drama Eternal Love that has a slightly similar plot, this one didn't seem as novel to me. Plus side: this one was far more detailed and well-written than EL. I also love how the romance was well paced, developing slowly on both sides and not insta-love. I just wasn't as invested in this one as I'd hoped. If you haven't watched EL, it might be different for you. Worth a try.

26. Empress Ki: Period drama, romance, court intrigue, tragedy. If you notice, I don't have many dramas with a sad ending on this list. Yes I have a weak heart and bawl like the world's ending when I watch sad endings. JCW made me do this. True story. It's a long drama so don't start unless you have the time. Quality-wise, I wasn't very impressed tbh. Again, I tried this because of JCW. It's very difficult to play a male lead role who has little to no conventional ML traits. JCW did a killer job of playing a character who I had a hard time liking on more than just a couple of occasions. Like, I hated him on most occasions, that's how good he was lol. His scene with the "real traitor" and the very last scenes with his Empress, his Yangya, makes me feel a pain too real, TOO. REAL. FL looks pretty but her reactions could've been better imo. Still liked the scenes where she acted like the strong 'Empress' she was destined to be. The OST music in the last scenes made me feel like it was me who lost something. GAHHH. Story-wise, I thought the first half (roughly until the inner palace politics begin) and the last couple of episodes were better than the rest. Everything in between, I just glossed over. It was still worth it given how wonderful the selected scenes between the leads were. Worth a try.

27. Oh My Venus: Rom com, drama, chronic illness. It's a more mature drama compared to most of other k dramas I've watched. When I first read the summary I thought this was going to be yet another makeover series where the FL becomes pretty overnight and because of that, everything gets sorted out. I am so glad to be wrong. This is the first series (k drama and otherwise) that connects being beautiful to being healthy and highlights leads who both struggle with illnesses. I've NEVER seen hypothyroidism being represented on television and it was so, SO refreshing to see that here, respect! There are things I didn't like of course but I really like how this drama, despite its flaws, has substance and meaning without going preachy or overboard. Wish we had more such television series. It doesn't have much physical romance but has a ton of banter, flirting and innuendos. And the ending, MY FAVORITE. Recommend.

28. It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Thriller, romance, mental health. It takes a while to get used to the tone of the show but if you are someone who struggles with mental health issues on a regular basis or know someone close to you who does, you might find this relatable. Enjoyed the comic scenes between ML-FL and like how ML struggles with his issues. Worth a try (since mental health is not everyone's thing).

29. Birth of a Beauty: I started this because I always love me a good revenge drama. This had so much promise but it all went down the drain because BAD. WRITING. BAD. EXECUTION. Throughout the whole drama, I found myself sighing over the lost potential of the storyline. Why would you come up with a decent script and do this? Watch if you have time. Or better yet, don't.

30. Secret Garden: Rom-com, supernatural, quirky. It's a pretty a old drama compared to the ones I watched. Maybe it had its appeal back in the time but I didn't get the hype around it. I was invested in the story for the last 6 or 7 episodes and they're pretty good but the first half is a dud imo. Watch if you have time.

31. Tale of the Nine Tailed: Fantasy/supernatural, romance, folktale. I wasn't invested in the story for the first half or so because I don't really like the ML's acting and the chemistry between the leads was lacking too imo. What kept me hooked throughout though is the storyline, and how the ML was able to outsmart the villain/s every time, which is extreeeemely rare to see, be it K dramas or other movies/shows. Normally, dramas would show these super smart super powerful leads who are pretty much invincible but then the villains come along and somehow they always beat the leads who keep making plans after plans that consistently keep going down the drain. I really, really, really loved how the ML, as a former deity, always had something up his sleeve and never let the baddies outwit him even when his plans failed and problems kept piling up. It was very refreshing to see a powerful ML who was, you know, powerful. Recommend.

32. Legend of the Blue Sea: Fantasy/supernatural, romance. I saw Lee Min Ho's drama after ages with this one. The story isn't too original or anything and the first half didn't feel all that special but I really enjoyed the last half, especially the last 4-5 episodes. Can be an emotional rollercoaster but some of the humor here is classic, and you'd prolly find these references in many YT kdrama humor vids too. Chemistry was okay. Really liked the parallel storytelling and how everything including the plot twists were revealed gradually and at the right times. Recommend.

33. Backstreet Rookie: Rom-com, quirky, off-beat, slice of life?, feel good. With this one, I think you'll either really like it or not care about it at all. I probably wouldn't have continued watching if it weren't for JCW but the story is pretty nice imo if you're into slice of life kinda dramas. It's nothing too fancy, just average people living an average life and finding happiness in things that some might see as average. It could've done without the unnecessary racial jokes. I loved the simplicity of the story and the characters. It doesn't have an ML who can land a punch, or one who goes out of his way to show his care or his love for the FL. The FL kicks asses (I mean, literally). It took me a while to get used to the age difference because the drama seems to keep hinting at that quite often at the beginning (that flashback scene with an adult JCW was hella weird) and I did find the chemistry a bit lacking but the scenes and the characterization made up for that for me. I found the lead characters quite relatable at times and it was so refreshing to see a slice-of-life story that wasn't over the top with anything (no prolonged plotting by a vengeful ex AND no psycho stalker? Whoa). It's a very clean drama iykwim and left me feeling light. Worth a try.

34. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo: Rom com, feel good. This is a lighthearted, feel-good drama through and through. It doesn't have any big reveal, or conflicts, or drama or misunderstandings. I haven't watched any of the other dramas by these leads so I didn't go in with any expectations. It's a cute college romance and pretty fun to watch if you're looking for something light and relaxing. Worth a try.

35. The Bride of Habaek: Fantasy, rom-com, slightly sentimental. The title of the drama sounds fancier than the story if I'm being honest. I wasn't too invested in the story but it was a good watch overall. Liked the idea of ML being a god without power on earth because the risk factor kept things interesting. Love how ML's name (Habaek) sounds. Didn't care too much about the FL character but she did grow on me to an extent. Liked the second half of the drama more, although things that bothered me here: FL's wish didn't make much sense to me cause to be fair it sounded a bit selfish, like she didn't really care how Habaek lived with his heartache and loneliness after that wish was fulfilled. I also wanted to know if Habaek does end up with a kid because the FL kept referring to it on multiple occasions. It felt as if they suddenly realized it was the last episode and tried to rush through everything, such a bummer. Still, worth a try.

36. Fight for My Way: Rom-com, quirky, feel good, motivational. Very, very cute story. I can see why this is so hyped. LOVE the friendship between the leads since childhood, and how they loved each other all along without ever realizing the emotion. Some of the earlier episodes are my favorite because it's evident there what they mean to each other. I really love dramas with end of epi prologues/bonus clips that are included in this one too. It's about fighting for your dreams and being reckless when it comes to chasing them, so none of the other conflicts are given much focus (FL's missing parent story, FL-ML's conflict over boxing, ML's ex angle etc.). Not too intense or anything. Recommend.

37. Twenty Five Twenty One: Nostalgic rom-com, bittersweet. Confession: I had to fast-forward several scenes in this drama because stories like these make me extremely sad and upset. The ending isn't my favorite at all but the last episode is hands down one of my most favorite ones in the drama if that makes sense. Writing, execution, dialogues, acting, aesthetics - everything EVERYTHING in this is top notch. [I mean: "I've kept you standing for long...this time, you leave first." Whaaaaa??? DEDDDDD.] The story, the struggles of the leads, the heartache and how they grow from it, even the supporting characters- I cannot commend it enough so good SO GOOD. Also, wait until the VERRRRY last of the final episode to see a heart warming snippet/epilogue (ML in his old office trying something) which made me smile. Strongly, strongly recommend.

38. A Witch's Romance/A Witch's Love: Rom com, drama, age-gap. Wasn't planning to follow through this one because the starting was a bit meh imo, and wasn't entirely invested in the story either since I took a break in the middle of watching this drama. Regardless, it's pretty good. Park Seo Joon always does justice to the characters he plays so I wasn't surprised. Didn't know the FL actor before but she did a good job too. I wish they explored the age-gap issue more since I was more interested about that. Like the ending and how FL learns to love again. [SPOILER AHEAD:] Didn't really get her dialogue on how their relationship may not end in marriage and it was okay, because I wasn't sure what the issue was (other than the age gap). Worth a try.

39. Coffee Prince: Rom com, light-hearted, gender bender/hidden identity. I can see why this is a favorite to many: some of the things addressed/shown here could be seen as risqué I guess, considering it's a 2007 drama. Unpopular opinion: Can't exactly pinpoint why but I just didn't find it as entertaining, perhaps cause I'm not fond of the kind of character the FL is? Characters who have a problem with everything and flip out at others when things don't go their way? IDK I was just trying my best to not get ticked off by her throughout lol. Watch if you have time.

40. The School Nurse Files: Quirky, supernatural, slightly rom-com. You will probably either like it or get bored out of your mind and drop it halfway through. I'm usually not a fan of dramas that leave so much up to the audience to figure out but this is an exception (maybe because it wasn't that long of a drama?) I really, REALLY liked how the ML has a disability and is shown to be self-conscious about it, and wasn't the typical popular guy but rather someone who finds the 'weird' more interesting and likable as long as that weird isn't something bad. The drama doesn't waste much time setting up the plot or explaining what is what and gets straight into the story which is why it can seem hella confusing at times as a viewer with little to no background to make sense of things (I know I had to pause several times too). I like how it's sort of an open-ended drama, leaving room for a renewed season perhaps. Surely worth a try.

41. Crazy Love: Rom-com, thriller. I like a good enemies-to-lovers story so I enjoyed this one too. Really liked the premise of it and the fact that the ML wasn't some great guy who only acted tough but was truly an a** to everyone, and was someone many people actually wanted dead. There was no insta-love and the hate to love progression felt quite natural (as natural as you can have in 16 episodes). [SPOILER: The pacing was good too, and I was relieved to see that the ex didn't turn psycho to the point of no return. It felt a little funny how the ML went around apologizing to everyone at one point but it's fiction after all]. Worth a try.

42. Crash Landing on You: Romantic, political/cross-border, comedy, action. Why had I put this off for so long? I remember seeing it on the streaming platform back in 2019 when it was released, and somehow thought that this would be too somber for my taste so I kept overlooking it ALL the times it appeared on my feed until now. This is so good, and the hype is truly well-deserved. I love how it handles both intense and funny moments, never felt like they were overdoing it. Strikes a really nice balance between happy, lighthearted and thoughtful, sad/painful narrative. The ending is not a typical one and I still love it to bits because it makes the story even more worthwhile. Cherry on top is Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin's acting and chemistry, muahhhh, man their eyes alone speak volumes. Strongly recommend.

43. The K2: Action, thriller, romance, politics. Needless to say I loved it because JCW was mind-blowing as always. I read that he underwent professional training to get the fight scenes right, and it was quite evident in all his actions tbh, they looked so difficult to pull off but he did an amaze-tastic job. I wanted to like the romance more but I wasn't TOO invested in it unlike his other dramas, partly because while Yoona did a great job with the role, the FL character itself felt very flat to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the 'spark' Je-ha (JCW's character) had with the antagonist/antiheroine (woman did a fantastic job there), would have loved to see more if the drama were longer. Could be just me but it felt like the creatives focused too much on JCW's expertise with action-thriller scenes and wasn't as smooth with other aspects of the story. I still enjoyed it. Worth a try.

44. Lovestruck in the City: Rom-com, slice of life, self-love, off beat. One of my favorite things about this Netflix series is how casual and 'meta' it is. They keep breaking the fourth wall with all the product placements all the time and just the overall format itself is so, SO refreshing to watch. I don't think I've watched anything after the English sitcom The Office that did something similar, and dare I say that I loved this format here way more than in The Office (gasp). JCW and Kim Ji-won did a great job, a pairing that seemed very unlikely to me and one I didn't think I'd enjoy. I also loved how it wasn't all sunshine and roses for all the characters and how the makers were still thoughtful enough to end it in a way that made people like me happy and not heartbroken (Looking at you, 25 21). Recommend/Worth a try.

45. Goblin-The Lonely and Great God: Supernatural, reincarnation, rom-com, emotional, age-gap. Started watching this after procrastinating for a looong time. Had to slog through the first half of the show. While I wasn't really invested in the drama for the most part, I enjoyed the premise and thought the plot was intriguing to have kept me watching. I enjoyed the bromance bickering more than the romance, and the rom-com scenes felt funny mostly because of the Goblin imo. Last 5 episodes or so are my favorite out of all, and that's when I was actually drawn to the drama (some parts also made me cry). The ending felt a bit abrupt, as if they suddenly realized they had to wrap up the drama so hurriedly tied up the loose ends. I really wanted to see MORE there and still think they could've cut down on a lot of redundant scenes. Regardless, overall, recommend.

46. Hyde, Jekyll and Me: Mental health, romance, suspense. I liked it for the same reason I liked What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?- it also deals with childhood trauma, mental health and illness alongside romance on the side. I can't speak for the authenticity of the portrayal of DID or MPD but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it on screen. Hyun Bin, with his dimples and stares and acting skills, is a treat to watch as always. I watched the FL in another drama before and didn't like that one much but she did a pretty good job here imo. Recommend.

47. Master's Sun: Supernatural, rom-com, ghost/horror. I debated for a long time whether I should watch this or not since I'm really not into ghost stories. The horror parts aren't my favorite but liked the story itself and how the main plot unraveled with a dash of crime-solving/salvation thing happening on the side. I could kiiinda predict the plot twist near the end but I still liked it very, very much. It's an older drama and I don't really find the FL very interesting but it was fun to watch the leads bickering and slowly falling in love. Worth a try.

48. The Light in Your Eyes/Dazzling/Radiant: Chronic disease, sentimental, tearjerker, romance, offbeat. It's a little unconventional and no one should watch this unless they are mentally strong enough to handle loss and painful stories. The storytelling is very different imo and one of the main reasons why this stands out. Refraining from giving spoilers (also because I don't want to go through those emotions again) but it's a pretty solid series. Worth a try (only if you are not triggered by such content).

49. My Roommate is a Gumiho: Rom-com, fantasy, supernatural, feel good. I'm getting repetitive here but I really didn't think I'd actually be invested in this one as much as I was. Fun fact, the FL did a supporting role in Hyde, Jekyll and Me and I didn't know she is in the k drama Reply 1988 which is so hyped. She did a great job providing meme-worthy reactions and I really like how straight-forward she was for the most part. I like leads who communicate and except for a few times, both the leads had that in here. ML: didn't find him attractive initially but boy has a my-heart-has-melted-and-is-butter-now smile (with dimples too!) and I kept looking forward to seeing him smile basically. Secondary couple with the ex-gumiho girl and an overly emotional guy: Adorable. The plot development felt a tad bit slow at times and quite fast in the last episode: wish they had a balance there. Overall, thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommend.

50. You're Beautiful: Rom-com, hidden identity. Mostly a time-pass watch. Not sure if it's the FL or what but so far I've watched two dramas with Park Shin Hye as the FL and I didn't like either. The story was like the usual rom-com, hidden identity ones, reminded me a little of the HW movie She's the Man. Watch if you have (plenty of) time.

51. Dare to Dream/Jealousy Incarnate: Rom-com, chronic illness, office romance. Had to struggle with this one, finished it after several attempts. The premise is good and I like how it took a slightly unconventional turn at times. It reeeeeally dragged for the most part and I actually wasn't even interested until the last 8 or so episodes. Watch if you have time.

52. Couple on Backtrack: Feel good, rom-com, sentimental, time-travel. Very cute. Love the two navigating marriage, love that got lost somewhere down the line and college once again. There are some loopholes imo but overall really enjoyable. Worth a try.

53. Flower of Evil: Legal, romance, mental illness, thriller, murder mystery with a dash of psycho killer. LOVE LOVE LOVE the chemistry between the leads. It's hard to do good romance between leads who are married in the show but the drama did a phenomenal job. I didn't like the FL much in Innocent Man but she was great in this one, and Lee Joon Gi undoubtedly was fabulous in portraying the ML's character traits to the T. Strongly recommend.

54. Lawless Lawyer: Legal, action, romance. I was on the fence with this one but after watching LJG in Flower of Evil, there's prolly nothing I wouldn't watch with him as the ML lol. The humor and the romance is quite weak and the chemistry felt off to me but of course I was comparing with FOE and the bar there is simply too high hah. It gave me strong Vincenzo vibes, and tbh if I'd watched this before Vincenzo, I don't think I would've found the latter so unique (imo Vincenzo has a better execution). Watch it for LJG though. A morally questionable, gangster turned lawyer ML is totally LJG's thing. Strongly recommend.

55. Start-Up: Mature, rom-com, corporate. Still don't know what exactly I feel about this one. I like NJH and Bae Suzy's chemistry and performance, and the story was interesting too. It didn't hit in all the right spots but it was an enjoyable watch throughout. Worth a try.

56. Annarasumanara: Fantasy, psychological, mental health, college, coming of age, sentimental. This one gave me serious Alice in Wonderland vibes, especially a retelling I'd read a few years back that had an ML as charming and mysterious (with similar wardrobe) as JCW. The ending left me with more questions than answers, and while I know it's unlikely, I wish we got a season 2. Worth a try (especially if you are a book/comic to screen fan).

57. Another Oh Hae Young/Another Miss Oh: Rom-com, fun, quirky, slightly emotional and supernatural. Put this off for SO long mainly because the title didn't sound interesting. Didn't like the FL much for the most part of the drama but she did grow on me to an extent. Really enjoyed the overall plot and characters. Liked how the ML wasn't a jerk and had a valid reason for not opening up to people. Also liked how the 'pretty' Hae Young saw 'ordinary' Hae Young, going against the pretty but nasty girl stereotypes. Last few episodes are my most favorite. Recommend.

58. Sh**ting Stars/Shooting Stars: Rom-com, slight mystery, celebrity/idol, lighthearted. One of the reasons I put off watching this was the FL actor who'd starred in WFKBJ. Nothing personal, just that her acting isn't my favorite and pretty much for the first half of this drama too, she seemed like a grown up version of Kim Bok Joo which was hard to ignore imo. Apart from that I really really enjoyed this one. The ML did a great job with the humor and expressions. I usually skip the secondary plots/couples for most dramas but was invested in ALL of the characters here because their arcs and development were really well done. No unnecessary MUs and separation for the heck of it, and although there are like 10 different plots with a LOT happening, I liked the storytelling, the pacing and enjoyed how it didn't drag on and on for an eternity. There are conflicts and a bit of mystery element thrown in with ML's hater club plus an Ahjumma who really should've sought help but it never got too much to wear me down. Enjoyed the cameos 5/5. A cute drama with a good storyline (that might take some getting used to for some folks). Recommend.

59. Thirty but Seventeen/Still 17: Rom-com, quirky, found family trope, slight childhood trauma/guilt. I started this on a whim but like many others, ended up enjoying this thoroughly. I really like how different the FL's character is in this one, o/w it usually takes me some getting used to in typical kdramas because the FLs in general can...get on your nerves ig? Not the case here. Also, the distant-because-of-guilt but still utterly dorky ML = 1000000 stars. LOVED the found family trope and how ALL the characters make the drama so much more worthwhile (Jennifer is a national treasure), even the FL's ex-schoolmate/semi-rival and her childhood guy friend/the doctor (I was sad seeing how he sacrificed and invested so much for the FL :(). Recommend.

60. Good Job: Mystery, lighthearted, rom-com. This drama is a great example of what happens when you have good actors and a good plot but extremely below average storytelling skills. The direction, execution and plot holes (are they even 'holes' if they are that big? idk) is so painfully bad even the actors and the premise couldn't save it. I almost didn't want to list this here because it felt like such a waste of time tbh. I really wanted to like this drama because I dig such lighthearted, quirky (Sherlock-like) and cute stories where leads work together on solving something big but this was such a wasted opportunity ugh. Watch if you have time (or idk, don't).

61. Love in the Moonlight: Romance, court intrigue, period drama, emotional, rom-com. Well, whoever called this a rom com needs to be haunted down pronto. Sure, it had a ton of lighthearted fun moments where I was cracking up or just giggling shamelessly but the latter half of this drama had me tearing up in almost every episode with Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung's terrific expressions and acting along with those killer OSTs. "Your Highness, from this moment onwards, don't love me...I don't want to give you the devastating torment of loving a woman you couldn't protect" when FL is about to be beheaded NO I WAS DEFINITELY NOT CRYING ROMCOM MY A**. Legit got a headache trying to survive the latter half of the drama. I don't even like watching Sageuk and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The only thing that bothered me at times was the fact that the FL was weak most of the times and the drama often gave in to the typical noble idiot trope but then, it makes sense for a period drama I guess? Strongly recommend.

62. Splash Splash Love: Rom-com, lighthearted, period drama, time travel, coming of age. Okay so this is a mini-series compiled in two episodes and Idk how a 2 hour long drama can manage to entertain me so much but this totally did. I'm always skeptical about shorter dramas/mini dramas cuz the scope is very limited to show proper plot progression and character development. This did a pretty good job at that within a 2 hr time frame. Love how feel-good and meaningful it was, making the FL realize her worth. Time travel sageuk often end in a tragic or bitter-sweet manner but I love how they ended this one. Recommend.

63. Shopping King Louis/Shopaholic Louis: Rom-com, quirky, found family trope, slight mystery. Honestly I wish some kdramas came up with better names/translated names cuz the only reason I put off watching this for the loongest time was its name. It simply doesn't do justice to how amazing the drama is. It's cute, adorable, a little annoying and emotional at times but absolutely a worthwhile experience, seeing the leads coming from two extremes, helping each other grow and finding shelter in one another. I didn't like Doom at Your Service as much, so wasn't entirely excited about Seo In Guk as the ML here but portraying someone who has the best intentions at heart despite being a clueless puppy 99% of the time, this was a perfect role for him. Same goes for NJH who pulls off that clueless country girl role so well. For once, I was really glad to see the absence of a BIG childhood trauma (which happens in like 90% of kdramas). Even the bad guys aren't shown as the ultimate evil masterminds who never falter in their plans, which I liked. This drama left me feeling refreshed and light and happy. Strongly recommend.

64. Hello, Me: Self-worth, uplifting, rom-com (noona romance), supernatural. So glad my recommendations had this showing cuz I didn't even know this drama existed. Really sweet, a midlife-coming-of-age sort (if you can call it that) of drama with cutesy romance thrown in. I love anything with a Freaky Friday or Secret Garden kinda storyline but this one was even better. Despite a couple plot holes here and there, enjoyed how the story is more FL-centric and is so encouraging overall. Worth a try.

65. Dear M.: Romance, coming of age, college setting, feel-good, uplifting. Okay so this is really, REALLY, REALLY good, like butterflies-in-my-stomach kinda good. I'd say this is Gossip Girl but a little less dramatic and a more wholesome version if that makes sense. Also, Jaehyun, this guy, I never would've guessed this was his debut as a lead actor. Like, how do these kpop idols manage to sing AND act so well? Beyond me for real. Also, Jaehyun's dimples and eyes and smile and lips = VERY distracting. It's criminal how perfectly he played his part with just the right emotions for the right scenes UGHHH. Although I was of course the most invested in the leads' story, I loved ALL the couples in this drama (which is so rare of me for an ensemble cast drama like this). All the characters grow so well by the end of the drama, even the ones who are supposedly negative characters. Also, the hidden identity thing was a really nice twist. I know it's highly unlikely but I wish we got a second season for this drama but then I guess the controversy is not going to let that happen, plus a lot of these renewed seasons for college dramas show the leads breaking up on good terms or sth as a part of adulting (I'm looking at you, most hollywood TV series) which I'm not at all a fan of so I'd rather not lol. For some reason, the pacing of the drama felt very slow to me (reminded me of the pace of Hospital Playlist) and it took me a loooooong time to actually feel any significant interest in the story but the vibe of the drama was just great and left me with a nice and cozy and happy feeling. Strongly recommend.

66. Strongest Deliveryman: Quirky, motivational, slice of life, rom-com. I started this in the middle of watching another drama that got too heavy for me lol so this was a nice distraction. I didn't really see what the hype was about though. It's a good drama with a nice storyline that is quite motivating but that's about it imo. I really like the first 2/3 of the drama, and also how they didn't make the romance predictable from the get-go but rather built it up gradually for both the couples. The conflicts were nice but I felt it could've been better portrayed, so with the ending, it felt quite abrupt. Still, a good, lighthearted but hopeful drama. Worth a try.

67. The Great Seduction/Tempted: Romance, revenge, college/high school, mental health, drama, action. It's been a while since I saw a bad-boy-turned-good drama because they'd all started to look the same to me. This one was quite refreshing though. I read somewhere it's very loosely based on Cruel Intentions but I avoided that too cuz clichés lol. I love how it has everything: leads' struggle, cute moments, romance, action, angst, drama and craziness -all of it. The fact that leads managed to make me hate them when we were supposed to hate them shows how successful the characterization and acting was. Strongly recommend.

68. Kill Me, Heal Me: Romance, mental health, personality disorder, mystery, drama, emotional, quirky. First time watching Ji Sung in a drama, loved how he was able to pull off all his personalities to the t. Got attached to them so much I felt bad bidding them goodbye afterwards. His Yo-Na will be my forever favorite btw, that girl = five dazzling stars. The drama gets quite heavy at times, so much so that I had to take a break and watch other stuff in between. FL's acting isn't my favorite but it works for this drama. The plot twists are really, really good. Strongly recommend.

69. Be My Boyfriend: Mini series, school romance, idol drama, contract relationship. Just wanted to watch some fluff and randomly picked this. It's apparently a spin-off of another drama series Best Mistake, with a different cast and story, and I read it was very popular, so guess I'll try that one sometime too. [ETA: Tried this one. Meh.] This one was a trope-y drama and miniseries so things got resolved fairly quickly. The leads were in Sh**ting Stars too as supporting cast if I'm not wrong? Nothing remarkable but cute as a time-pass drama. Watch if you have time.

70. I Remember You/Hello Monster: Murder mystery, crime, thriller, romance. I vaguely remember the drama name from somewhere but didn't know it was this one. It has that typical crime-solving US show feel but PBG as the suspicious guy? Never thought I'd see this day, totally impressed with his mind-blowing performance. Even the slightest twitch of his eyebrow or eye or lips and the shift in facial features was done SO SO well. I wish the FL didn't start off as a clueless officer character but it was nice to see how the writers developed her character. The ending is still not totally clear to me because what even did Min finally decide to do? SIG was good as usual. Very less romance but it also felt realistic since they were solving such serious cases I can't imagine them stopping in the midst to have lovey-dovey time lol. Worth a try.

71. I Am Not A Robot/She Is Not a Robot: Quirky, fake identity, found family, romance, bit of a mystery. Really cute. First time watching the ML actor Yoo Seung Ho and imo he is so far the only ML who is able to pull off aegyo in a cute, non-cringey way. All his expressions and emotions in different scenes came out SO. WELL. Loved the premise, everyone's performance, execution- everything. Also, it was very refreshing to see an ex in the drama who didn't go all psycho and behaved so sensibly and maturely unlike most dramas. FL did an amazing job as well. The found family trope was excellently portrayed. Would have loved a more smooth ending, not to mention more exposition on the mysterious character. Sigh, the last epi felt too abrupt. Recommend.

72. The Witch's Diner: Mini series, female centric, supernatural, quirky, sentimental, noona love, found family trope. Best. Mini series. Ever. Each episode is crisp, well paced and each story is so significant and contributes to character development. Love how they managed to pull it off in such a short span. The romance is pretty much non existent and still so wholesome to watch. Both main FL characters are well written and take the center stage while the men work mostly behind the scenes (literally called 'Shadow' and 'Supporter' <3) and it never feels forced or done just for the sake of doing it. It's not a perfect drama of course but I love the premise, acting, execution--everything about this show. SO badly 'wish' to have a second season lol, this still has room for more stories but sigh, seems very very unlikely. Strongly, strongly recommend.

73. While You Were Sleeping: Crime/Legal drama, emotional/intense, rom-com, paranormal, fate. Okay I'm in love with this drama. The fact that this had Suspicious Partner vibes was already enough for me to enjoy this but SUCH AMAZEBALLS WRITING AND ACTING?? This is probably what perfection looks like. Well I'm sure you could find tiny holes here and there but I didn't and I'm elated to have watched this drama. Not a fan of Suzy's acting but all three leads (and the supporting cast) together did a PHENOMENAL job. Lee Jong Suk pulled off like 100 different emotions like the boss actor he is, Jung Hae In was ALL SORTS OF WHOLESOME and Lee Sang Yeob who plays the ultimate baddie (sorta) did a wonderful job too. LOVED the storytelling and how they drew connections. LOVED how every single episode had me fully invested in the story and all the cases they had to handle (something that rarely happens). LOVED the intensity and the OST of the drama. LOVE it. Recommend to the power n, forever and ever.

74. Ending Again: Mini series, romantic, contract marriage. Short and easy watch. The acting could've been a lot better but ig they are all new actors? Like the story but execution wasn't the best. The OST is pretty nice to listen to (esp. Rothy's Annyeong) and also liked the way art is used to depict their memories. Watch if you have time.

75. Rich Man, Poor Woman: Friendship, workplace, rom-com??. It's not right to call it rom-com I feel, since it has literally nothing I'd actually call romance up until the final episode maybe. This is the least romantic rom com lol. Has a Start-Up vibe but mostly focuses on the ML and SML who is his friend. Liked how SML and SFL both are not outright evil geniuses out to ruin everything and everyone, unlike most dramas. Good watch if you are bored but nothing too fancy. Still like how the FL decides to pursue her career. Would've liked a proper closure to the prosopagnosia track. Watch if you have time.

76. Madam Antoine: Rom-com, psychological, quirky, trauma/mental health. Well this is one interesting drama. I thought this would be like other dramas with case-solving with romance on the side but this was...different, that's all I can think of. Romance definitely takes the center stage and the FL has such enjoyable dynamic with all 2.5 MLs (not counting the flower boy as the ML lol) I more or less liked it. The latter half is WAY more interesting with the cat and mouse chase although the games and deception felt too much to me at times. Some scenes and some of the fights istg felt so immature and absurd given how both of them were adults, mature people. Watched the FL in multiple dramas now and for some unknown reason, I don't like her acting as much, not sure if it's the characters she plays or sth else. The only thing I liked about her character here is how she could still put 2 and 2 together most of the times in this drama, staying true to her perceptive character arc. Worth a try.

77. Kiss Goblin: Fantasy, mini series, feel-good, romance, cute. Wanted to watch this for time-pass but bruh this was amazing! I don't go into miniseries dramas expecting too much so this was unexpected. Except for one thing that didn't make any sense to me (ML's fight with the exorcist like it was so abrupt and boy why didn't you do that before lol), everything in this drama was enjoyable. I wish this was a full-length drama instead. Reminded me of Roommate is a Gumiho cuz the ML was the 2nd ML in that one (guy got a great baritone btw). I still wouldn't mind a second season to see what happens because it's like a new beginning of sorts and with fantasy, you can ALWAYS come up with a plot twist to keep going lol. Recommend.

78. The Devil Judge: Crime, dystopian, legal, thriller, bromance, anti-hero. OHMYLORDTHISDRAMAGAH. Take all the stars there are. The cinematography = chef's kiss. The music = perfect. The writing = magnificent. I had to rewind so many scenes cuz I couldn't believe what was happening. Love how strong the central characters are, even the antagonists. HOW COME people don't talk about this drama more often this is SO GOOD GAH. Strongly recommend.

79. He is Psychometric: Murder mystery, psychological thriller, supernatural, romance, found family?. Took me a while to get used to the drama, were not too invested in the initial episodes. The story was handled quite realistically and not everything was a simple happily ever after, which was both a good and a bad thing I guess? I got mixed feelings hah. Won't call the brother a 2ML cuz this is one of those dramas where both MLs play equally important characters imo and I loved it. The brother does a phenomenal job at portraying emotions in a non-emotional way if that makes sense. Didn't like how things ended for some characters but maybe it makes for a more impactful ending. Still wondering how the younger brother ML gets to live with psychometry after this, won't things be, difficult? lol. Pretty solid drama, a lot of it was unpredictable and well-executed. Recommend.

80. Secret/Secret Love: Melodrama, revenge, romance, hate to love, sentimental, murder. I'd forgotten how most pre-2015 dramas were like but this reminded me once again lol. Has SO many melodrama clichés you'd find in a kdrama and sometimes I had to remind myself this is an old drama. Despite all that, I thoroughly enjoyed it for the leads and the FL's bffs. It's on the mature side and has a lot of crying and other intense stuff. Love how I legit hated the ML at the beginning (to the point where I thought of quitting the drama lol). Personally not a fan of the FL but she did a great job here. Not a big theme but I like how she ends up with what people think of as a physical 'flaw' and the ML doesn't give two hoots about that. Wish the last episode was executed better, the story felt all over the place as if they were hurrying to tie up loose ends: badly needed more scenes with the leads and how things end up for them both. KMHM has the same leads and that is still my favorite compared to this. Glad to have a sorta redemption track but wish they fleshed it out more. Worth a try.

81. Law Café: Legal, quirky, webcomic adaptation, rom-com. First things first. The FL is one of my favorite things in the drama because of the way she screams, throws expletives when pissed and goes YAAAAAAA, lmao. Nobody (except for maybe their bestie cop FL who was a lead in Oh My Ghostess and Splash Splash Love) dares to breathe when she is unleashed, including the ML and the whole building/cafe gang. Truth be told it took me some getting used to cuz am not a fan of screaming FLs in kdramas but this was somehow different because her anger was directed at valid people and valid things for most of the times. Not that I liked everything about her (sometimes she was just being overly sensitive about a couple things imo) but it was her throwing fits was what made me enjoy watching. Also Lee Seung Gi = gem of an actor and this character was meant for him. He has the kind of face that complimented the whole genius-but-idgaf about it personality for his character, SO GOOD. Love love LOVE how the FL leads in majority of these situations, isn't shy and the ML is more than happy to oblige. Also, the way consent is stressed time and again, FAN of it. The FL even draws up a contract for intercourse LMAAO WAAT. What bothered me: although the FL is shown as strong and she says stuff like "trust me and lemme handle this", it's the ML taking care of of her things at least 98% of the times. There are times where the love feels slightly imbalanced and one-sided (makes sense ig given their history but still) and as if the ML was making ALL the sacrifices and adjustments to make the FL happy. Showing strong female characters doesn't mean showing women who refuse to adjust or find a middle ground imo. I love me a strong FL but the hypocrisy at times here just, ugh. Felt this quite heavily while watching, it was tiring. Side note: the café gang = MOOD. I won't say the writing is top notch, last two epis are particularly absurd, but the acting and storyline is decent overall. Recommend/Worth a try.

82. Love in Contract: Rom-com, contract marriage, love triangle. Frankly speaking, this is by far my least favorite drama of Park Min Young. Had to physically force myself to finish this and that says something since I pretty much like ANY drama with the contract trope and a half-decent storyline. The love triangle did not work for me AT ALL since I could see who she would choose from miles away, and it seemed like the writers also didn't care at all about the dynamic of trio. I really liked her roommate/ex-hubby's character and he was probably the only thing why I kept going back since I wanted to see what happens to him by the end. I almost never skip episodes even if a drama isn't as interesting but skipped several scenes and also two whole-ass episodes (or was it three?) in the last half and STILL understood everything that had happened that far. Had to take so many breaks I even forgot I was watching this once. Sadly it felt like an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the leads but there's only so much they can do. Also, I miss how PMY looked earlier in her other dramas, she's lost so much weight, it was hard at times for me personally while watching this. I don't have a favorite per se for kdrama female artists so this is an unbiased view. Was relieved to have finished the drama. Watch if you have time.

83. Pinocchio: Newsroom, found family, rom-com, sentimental. Put this off for a looong time since it's a quite old drama and wasn't sure if I'd like this since I didn't enjoy another drama (Heirs) with the same FL. Her acting isn't great but it seems definitely better here compared to that one. Love the premise of the drama, the execution, dialogues, acting- everything. Love how each episode title is taken from popular fairytale/story titles. Also LOVE how well-balanced it is imo, like you have serious, intense scenes as well as fun, light hearted scenes so as not to make you feel too overwhelmed. Being an older drama, it has its dramatic moments and few shortcomings, it's not another While You Were Sleeping for sure but is still thoroughly enjoyable. I also loved how most characters in the show develop in gradual, satisfying ways, including the ML who learns to be a reporter above everything else. Again, it's a satisfying watch imo. Strongly recommend.

84. Familiar Wife: Time-travel, supernatural, rom-com. Wasn't into it tbh but wanted to watch something that didn't take too much effort so this worked. The plot is like any other time-traveling-to-change-fate story. I didn't like the FL in her other dramas as much but in this one she was quite good. Also loved the bank setup and all the supporting characters. ML's bestie looks so much like JCW from different angles it can be quite distracting lol. There is a nice balance of scenes so it didn't feel too overwhelming (I did take breaks in between though). Like how all the supporting characters get their different kinds of endings as well, and how ML realizes why things might have gone wrong the first time around. Also liked how the FL in the different timeline refuses to give up because she is not like the other version of herself. SFL's character in the alternate timeline didn't feel that great to me even though the ML felt like he failed her. It's not a remarkable drama and you won't miss anything tbf, just an easy watch with a decent story. Watch if you have time.

85. Wok of Love/Greasy Melo: Rom-com, workplace, noona romance, mature, motivational. Kept putting this off until I fell in love with Junho's acting skills in other dramas, not to mention his deep baritone that makes me want to make him narrate audiobooks which I could listen to all day. The first 6-7 episodes hardly make any sense and the writing and execution is at its weakest there imo. Love triangles usually bore me but they did a good job making it slightly unpredictable at the beginning so I couldn't guess at all who the FL might fall for and I liked it. One thing I really love about this drama is how the leads are already heartbroken and jarred and are in unsuccessful marriages that lead to divorces. Probably the first time (can't remember if there's any other like this rn) I saw a kdrama where leads are divorcees (as it's so frowned upon based on what I've seen), and I totally dig such storylines. It's not romance heavy imo, and is more about everyone trying to keep that damned restaurant business open with all the adversities and bad guys around BUTBUT every time they did do romance, it left me all flustered and swooning. That kitchen jump scene in 32 GHAA. LOVE the food p*** and all dem cooking scenes, might come in handy if you're learning to cook hah. You might also end up gaining a few pounds after watching ALL that food and the second-hand satisfaction of watching people eat lmao. I really like the maturity of the romance and not to mention the bond between the two male leads, both were FAB in pulling that off (even the FL was jealous of their love lol). Some things were unnecessary, like the absolutely pointless arrogance and cluelessness of FL's snowflake delusional mother (made my blood boil, why would anyone write such a frustrating character anyway?), FL not being able to do the right or the sensible thing (like knocking some goddamn sense into her mother) and not having a spine most of the times and many more. The story has several issues that went unaddressed (what about the two timing wife? the vet? the cat ffs?) and the last few episodes seem like the writer had an amnesia and forgot how to write but all said and done, I was happy watching Junho lmao. He and the second ML and their bond was the saving grace for me. (Especially if you like dramas with professional settings) Recommend.

86. Rain or Shine/Just Between Lovers: Romance, trauma, grief, heavy, childhood connection, healing. Not suitable for all for sure, since the whole drama has a somber mood to it. The romance is hella adorable, I even enjoyed it every time the leads were on my screen, romance or no romance. The bond between the leads feels very organic, not much trope-y stuff. Had to get through the dead fish kissing after a long time in this one because the FL actor simply never cooperated it seems lmao. Also like the ML-2FL dynamic. No stupid misunderstanding that got dragged unnecessarily. Everyone in the drama is struggling in some way and trying to cope however they can, and it's beautiful to see some of them finding ways to heal by the end. Great writing and Junho's performance *chef's kiss* Strongly recommend.

87. Tomorrow: Fantasy, afterlife, mental health, self-harm, uplifting, sentimental, quirky. Whoa, had no idea this would get so intense. After IOTNBO, this is perhaps the only other drama I've seen that deals with mental health so heavily, and it does a pretty good job at that. There are several loopholes and and a lot of things stopped making sense (for me at least) near the end, I still liked the whole thing overall. The way it deals with self-harm and suicidal tendencies can be thought provoking and has given me so much to reflect on, glad I watched it. Content warning for self-harm, abuse and suicide. Worth a try.

88. Twenty: Quirky, coming of age, teenage, friendship. This is a movie but idrc because I really enjoyed it and this deserves to be on this list. I rarely watch k movies and truth be told, the only thing that made me watch this was Junho's hairstyle near the end (진짜 궁금했다) and one of the FL character So Hee's convo with him about *stuff* in the class lmao. Not disappointed. It's one of those movies that made me wish it was longer; in fact, would've LOVED a drama on this. Sigh. It's not serious, it's not sentimental, it's sometimes sad but it doesn't let you linger on it much because that kind of reflection doesn't generally come when you're 20. It's absurd and nonsensical, but it all makes sense because they're all 20, that's an absurd time anyway lol. Worth a try.

89. Memory: Legal drama, chronic illness, office romance, idol drama. Really, really, REALLY liked how well-balanced, well-written this drama is. I'm into legal drama these days and this one perfectly fits that bill. Love how a chronic illness is addressed as an overarching theme and cherry on top is the Lawyer and Junho's dynamic, and the bonding these two and the FL share with each other. Worth a try.

90. Secret Royal Inspector & Joy: Period drama, rom-com, court intrigue. Ideal for a fluffy, lighthearted watch. Had to ff several scenes and the story isn't unique or anything but overall enjoyable. It's evident that the drama itself doesn't take itself too seriously, with reenactments of the red light, green light game from the Squid Game, meta jokes and references and 2PM song references, so it was definitely different than traditional period dramas I watched. Gave Mr. Queen vibes at times, and I like how the plotting/dramatic/sentimental moments made sense and still didn't overshadow the overall vibe of the drama. Worth a try.

91. 1% of Something: I guess this was popular and different back in 2016 when it aired, I just didn't get what the hype is about. It was decent at best, and I somewhat liked the first and the last few episodes but wasn't hooked or anything. REWATCH UPDATE/RATING CHANGE: Rewatched it after a long while because couldn't remember at all what this was about. Must say this drama has one of the best couple intimacy scenes that's very normal to have if two people are into each other. The relationship felt slightly toxic at times but was also portrayed maturely. Worth a try.

92. The Forbidden Marriage: Period drama, rom-com, court intrigue. See period dramas/sageuks aren't my thing and I keep saying this so I kinda thought I'd be quitting this drama after an episode or two because it simply didn't intrigue me as much. Finished the whole thing as it was airing, and it's probably because it's not your typical sageuk, there are meta jokes and references (like that spotlight when the leads were having a moment or references to pop culture like the tiktok proposals): it's more like a modernized period drama and what helped more I think is that it wasn't based on a real person or something (unlike The Red Sleeve which I refuse to talk about) so they could go into any direction to create humor while still handling serious stuff. Women being kidnapped and sold off was something I don't recall seeing in other dramas so liked the newness of it. Overall, worth a try.

93. Angry Mom: School violence, bullying, abuse/exploitation, self-harm, corruption, light-hearted humor, hidden identity. I'm thankful to the YouTube MV that had a clip from this drama which made me want to look it up and binge the whole thing. Thought this would be a funny school drama but bullying and exploitation is the driving theme here so might not be good for everyone. It was way more intense at times than I thought, and loved how the humor was balanced, although their song/bgm choice made me go errrmmm most of the times. Also like how it doesn't show ALL the bad guys getting caught iykyk. Worth a try.

94. Taxi Driver: Action, thriller, crime, found family, revenge. There are certain things that felt like plot holes to me for a drama as hyped as this one but must say I LOVE the overall vibe of the whole thing. Very few dramas can hook me with a good storyline AND a good OST, and Taxi Driver has both. I'm not against romance but it was refreshing to see no romance for once and just camaraderie amongst the characters. Season 2 (now airing) also seems intriguing so far and really hoping they don't mess this up. Strongly recommend.

95. Signal: Crime, thriller/mystery, paranormal/time-travel (sorta?), sentimental. Honestly started watching because of the ML cuz I had to drop every drama I watched previously with this FL. I still have questions lol but it's definitely very well-written and executed drama. A couple things might not make sense initially but they become clear near the second half/end. Like how the ended the drama too, wasn't your textbook HEA. Strongly recommend.

96. Crash Course in Romance: Mature, slice of life (kinda), societal pressure, mental health. Like the premise and how the story is handled but it got a little dragging and boring halfway through, so much so that I had to ff through the last half of it. Really liked how the FL's niece (adopted daughter) wasn't a tantrum throwing brat unlike how most teenagers in dramas are portrayed. Worth a try.

97. Love to Hate You: Rom-com, feel good, mature, feminist (in a good way!), quirky, celebrity life. Reminded me of Netflix holiday originals with that feel good vibe. Love the premise, the execution and how refreshingly different it is despite being a trope-y romcom. Unlike so many dramas out there that take the theme of feminism to extreeeeme trying to portray a strong FL who pretty much treats the ML as a doormat (hence falling prey to misandry), this one has a nice balance of things. The FL is strong and questions things like why a girl has to play the damsel in distress all the time, an ML who pukes at the sight of aegyo and whose heart skips a beat seeing a boomerang-throwing, ass-kicking FL and these two still behaving like lovestruck cuties when they fall in love. Although, tbf, the FL character does seem unrelatable on occasions, I chose to ignore it for the greater good lol. There are times when I felt they were trying to almost force it to be feminist without it being relevant which didn't sit well with me. The ML being blown by how capable the FL is reminded me of the CEO ML in SWDBS (Hyungsik was perfect in that role btw). This show has its serious moments but it's supposed to be a lighthearted but mature rom-com afaik and I think it pulled it off perfectly. Worth a try.

98. 100 Days My Prince: Rom-com, period drama/sageuk, hidden identity, fake marriage. Swiped past this one SO many times until I was bored one day and decided to give it a go (expecting to drop it after FFing some of it). But man. D.O. (Kyungsoo) serves again. I watched him in Hello, Monster and still get chills thinking about that role he played. There's just something about his face that makes these stoic-not-moving-a-muscle roles really work for him. Loved how it was a nice balance of everything and didn't go overboard. Jealous Won Deuk (D.O) is a darling lol and Nam Ji Hyun does a good job too, though I'm starting to think that's originally how she talks and acts and it isn't just her role (Suspicious Partner had me thinking otherwise). Of course this is fictional because of how it ends (I couldn't have handled another The Red Sleeve T___T). Overall, pretty good and definitely recommend.

99. Clean with Passion for Now: Rom-com, psychological disorder (OCD), workplace. Probably one of the rarest romcom kdramas with no stalker, psycho killer or a mysterious figure with a vendetta lol. This was refreshing for sure also because the leads don't get together in the last two episodes like many others. They are overall cute and it's an enjoyable watch. The storyline isn't epic or anything, and I think they could've done a better job tying up the loose ends in the episode finale, some things felt forced and abrupt. Worth a try.

100. Bad and Crazy: Unconventional, mental health, disorder, bromance. Wish they delayed the 'big reveal' but I can see that wouldn't have helped the plot so nvm. Love the casting, I think both the MLs do a great job pulling off their roles. The twists in this drama is *chef's kiss* and some of those I didn't see coming so yes this was a wonderful watching experience. Recommend. [p.s. btw this is not technically my 100th kdrama so not really celebrating lol].

101. Romance by Romance: Rom-com, miniseries, webseries, contract. It was fun. Predictable storyline and characters but it's still cute. I found an uncanny resemblance between the ML and Choi Woo Shik. Worth a try.

102. Mad Dog: Crime and corruption, corporate, revenge, found family, action thriller, comedy. I coincidentally stumbled upon this drama thanks to its OST and so glad I did. It's not the perfect drama but it's surely one of the good ones out there imo. The beginning feels a bit random and it took me a while to actually get what exactly were the 'Mad Dogs' about but it does pick up after a while. My BIGEEST issue with this: everyone TALKS.SO.MUCH. I assume they were addressing the audience to explain everything but I kept wishing they didn't at times because it was starting to feel like an audiobook with all the dialogue delivery. What made it worse for me was that some of these dialogues were forced attempts at cockiness and flex which were not necessary at all (like I could SEE, I didn't need additional exposition). That being said, I really enjoyed the connections that were made to show how it wasn't just a one person crime. I also loved the found family trope and the fact that they were quite subtle with the romance which suited the theme of the drama imo. Recommend.

103. Durian's Affair/Mrs. Durian: Paranormal, absurd, time travel. Not sure how I feel about this but it's probably mostly positive. The narrative style can be confusing at times, esp since they don't always do a good job doing it but it was what made my viewing more enjoyable. Wanted more on Durian-Dol Soe 2.0 and So Jeo-Deung Myung instead of a lot other fillers that really didn't interest me as much. I'm on the fence about asking for a S2, because while it'd be lovely to see what the characters did after that ending, I think we all left it at a good place and the ending doesn't indicate the need for a second season either. I won't rewatch it maybe but it's a nice one time watch if you want something slightly different. Worth a try.

104. Gaus Electronics: Office drama, rom-com, adaptation. I like the overall vibe of the drama: it's nothing extraordinary and I won't rewatch it but it's fun if you're into office dramas and sitcoms in general. I like how they tried to be inclusive without being offensive because that's an EA drama practice that ticks me off lol. I like how not ALL the problems are solved by the end because that's life, and how not all characters have some sort of enlightenment either. Worth a try.

105. She Would Never Know: Mature, office setting, age gap, second chance, slice of life (kinda), cute. One of those impulse-watch dramas I ended up loving. Was on my watchlist but the title somehow never interested me enough I guess? Have seen the FL's works before and think she does a good job playing bothered and occasionally-snappy characters. Tbf tho, I kept watching because how unbelievably considerate and honest the ML is. The idea of going all out? That's him, and not in the typical cheesy, showy way but something that is still realistic and looks feasible for people who are busy running around and getting things done in a busy urban life. The way he giggles and that occasional shaking of the legs like kids when he's thinking about/talking to the FL is adorable. Rowoon is such a good actor. The mom can seem difficult in the beginning but again, pretty realistic, and a cutie. Love the friends, love the sibling energy the ML and his sisters have, love the sisters' stories (and the niece giving the ML valuable life advice at times lol). Also refreshing to see how the older gen/parents don't play a major part in their lives (not that I mind it but it was nice to see sth new). Recommend.

106. My Lovely Liar: Paranormal, rom-com, cute. This is a bit too cute at times but overall a good watch. It's not a bad thing but just that there's only so much cuteness and cheesiness I can handle lol. Really like the premise of the drama, and although it isn't explored in as much detail as I'd like, the FL's realization about where and why people sometimes lie is nice to see. Like the twist and how the mystery element is handled for the most part. Really nice second male lead, hope to see the guy more in future. Good acting from the second female lead, she should get more meaty roles too. Good if you want a drama that's fluffy but has a proper storyline. Recommend.

107. Extra-Ordinary You: Fantasy, different dimension/world/reincarnation/different roles, high school setting, mystery, quirky, fated love. This has been on the list since forever, and never got to watching this because, idk, the thumbnail didn't look interesting enough I guess? It's pretty good actually, esp given that I now rarely enjoy dramas set in high school/college. The suspense/mystery aspect is well-done since I kept guessing and anticipating well after the first half. Rowoon does an incredible job as a budding actor. The FL does get on the nerves in the beginning but I suppose that's how she is supposed to behave then and she does mature over the course of the story. Really, really, really enjoy the quirky take on BOF and F4 (it was so obvious lol) and the violin-ML with his monologues and antics lmao. The casting for this drama is *chef's kiss*. Some of the twists are really well executed 5/5. Love how the drama takes you on a rollercoaster ride, showing fun, lighthearted, cutesy moments with a constant sense of impending doom on the horizon. Might need some getting used to first because the 'stage' vs the 'shadow' thing may not seem as obvious at the beginning. Strongly recommend.

108. The Good Bad Mother: Sentimental, strong women, corruption, terminal illness/chronic disease, amnesia. Let me think why I never thought of watching this sooner. Guess I thought this would be one of those too somber, too heavy dramas that will leave me depressed which is not what I usually look for. I was wrong. Oh boy. SO WRONG. It's sentimental and sad and left me bawling several times, don't get me wrong. BUT. It does a PHENOMENAL job of handling the heavier themes and balance it out with lighthearted moments in a way I couldn't even. Never thought I'd put a sentimental drama in my top-watch list but here we are, this one SO deserves to be in my top kdramas list. 100% rewatch value. What I love THE MOST THE MOSTEST MOSTESTTTT is how the Lee Do Hyun's and his mother's characters aren't one dimensional. You start by seeing how 'bad' the bad mother is but you also see what makes her that way, and although you can't condone her actions, you start to feel sorry as the plot progresses. See I never questioned the ML's actions as we see it at the beginning but I was curious how the drama will show him coming back from all that, and I was satisfied with it. The moment you start to think the son-mother dynamic is doomed for good, you can see there is more to that picture. Yes, there's resentment. But there's a desperation too. There is regret, and there's the obsession for revenge, and the way these two characters feel about these things had me surprised, ugly crying and screaming all at the same time because they are SO SO NUANCED I LOVE IT. All in all, excellent, excellent drama. Strongly, strongly, STRONGLY RECOMMEND.

109. The Glory: Bullying, harassment, trauma/ptsd, dysfucntional relationships, revenge, second chance, mature heartwarming romance, content warnings (bullying, swearing, violence, drugs, murder, self harm, blood, s*x, **dity). Boy this drama should be called 'The Glory: The Content Warning'. I can't think of a major content warning that it does NOT have. One of the reasons I like Asian drama is because it usually does not show heavy content unless it's relevant to the story. As much as I LOVE this drama, I think there are stuff that this drama could have done without. I get that the bullies are all messed up and dysfunctional in all 360 ways and the goal was to show what kind of lifestyle they had and why they had it coming, but I would have gotten the message without the drama showing stuff that didn't add much to the story imo. I was interested in the FL's struggle, her trauma, her and the ML, the ML's trauma, the ML's struggle, but on (many, many) occasions, it felt like I was learning more about the bullies than the main characters. I didn't care enough about them (even as baddies) to learn about them. SHK and LDH did a TERRIFIC job playing their characters. I'm honestly in awe of how Lee Do Hyun always plays these mature, older characters, and how well he nails it, EVERY. TIME. SHK- what a comeback. Should I be frank and say I kept watching solely because of the two? TRUE STORY THO. There's not way to escape from the content warnings in this drama so I won't recommend it right away. I'd just say the two leads made the experience worthwhile for me. So. Watch at your own risk cuz plenty of trigger/content warnings but worth a try.

110. Beyond Evil: Murder, suspense, thriller, intense, love-hate bromance, nutcase protagonists. It's a bit harder to get into imo. It also has a slightly back and forth storytelling which might take a little getting used to. I like how the drama never lost its focus and was true to its genre till the end. The two MLs play their roles to the t. It feels like a roller coaster ride of emotions at times and does get pretty intense on several occasions so you need to be on the right frame of mind to enjoy this. I wouldn't rewatch this on a regular day (or even on most non-regular days) because of the somber, heavy tone. Recommend.

111. Alchemy of Souls (S1 and S2): Fantasy, prophecy, powerful leads, coming back from dead, rom-com. Tbf, I didn't follow S1 as closely as S2 so take this with a grain of salt. It was harder for me to follow S1 in general, most probably because the emotions and the foreshadowing of the ominous was a bit too much for me to handle. S2 is easier to follow and feels muuuch more lighthearted and I really like all the character growth, how they changed over the years in the story and the way the plot progressed. I didn't like how the FL character was portrayed. The FL actor did a good job and while I can see why she is not the same as the FL in S1, it felt like she was, how to say it, over-softened? She reminded me of typical kdrama FLs and that's not my favorite type. Still, if you watch binge the seasons together, this might be more enjoyable as a whole. Recommend.

112. Scripting Your Destiny: Fantasy, supernatural, fate and destiny, romance, mini series. This is a quick watch and kept giving me the Goblin vibes. The ML also has a similar vibe. Not saying he is Gong Woo but his bromance with the other guy and the overall theme have a resemblance. I really, really like the storyline. The acting could have been better in some parts but I suppose the focus was more on to have eye candy MLs. I have mixed feelings about the ending but I can see why it makes the most sense. Recommend.

113. Happiness: Apocalyptic, survival, intense, pandemic, horror, supernatural, very slow build romance. For some strange reason, it took me months to finish this drama, because of the number of loooong breaks I took while watching this. Just that, horror ain't my cup of tea and although this isn't horror in the typical sense, it's intense enough. Both the leads did an incredible job with their roles and the script. Execution is well done, with perfect timing for the suspense moments. Great storytelling, feels very timely with the pandemic irl and all. These storylines don't seem so far-fetched at all at this point. Strongly recommend.

114. Heartbeat: Supernatural, vampires, rom-com, rebirth, emotional. Kdramas need to stop doing this. Start nicely, with perfect comic timing and lighthearted moments, only to end unexpectedly with a finale that you don't know how to interpret. Taecyeon does an amazing job and the FL (first time seeing her) does too. The last half of the drama somehow left a bad taste in my mouth, maybe cuz I was expecting a lighthearted kdrama throughout. Regardless, good drama to watch. Worth a try.

115. King the Land: Rom com, broody ML, strong FL, workplace. Was really excited for this drama, since I heard its announcement. And I do like it. In fact, love the first half of the drama. Also really love how it handles the trope-y conflicts. So refreshing. Also like how consent and respect is given importance in here. Can't exactly pinpoint what, but I kind of lost interest near the end. LOVE how they communicated throughout tho, and the fact that they didn't have MUs or breakups over things that are SO.OVERDONE. in kdramas. Love the besties' subplots, and also how the married one handled it. Maybe because the sweetness was a bit too much (not being bitter or anything lol) but the second half didn't feel as intriguing as the first half. Still, really good drama to watch overall if you're into well-written rom-com and don't want any other plot/subplot in it. Worth a try.

116. The King's Affection: Period/costume drama, romance, emotional, childhood, cross-dressing, misunderstood identity. This wasn't even on my watchlist but Rowoon made me give it a try. Great performance by the leads, great execution and a solid drama overall. If you are okay watching period dramas, this is definitely worth the try. I love the way it handles certain plot points, such as the realizations, revelation and some of the separation moments. The ending is so cute gah, left me feeling all warm and giggly. Recommend.

117. Destined with You: Supernatural, past lives, romance. Took a while to get used to the FL character. First half was pretty good, kept me hooked. Really like the ending too, although second half's storytelling leaves much to be desired imo. Worth a try.

118. Castaway Diva: Found family, sentimental, motivational/inspiring, domestic abuse. ***SPOILERS AHEAD. I have so many questions about FL's life in the island but nvm. Feels like the drama tried to have too many plots at once so I am not entirely sure what the central plot is supposed to be. It's about the FL and her dreams I suppose? Also, while I like the domestic abuse angle the most, I seriously wonder what is this obsession kdrama creatives have with psycho characters. There'll be (almost always without a fail) either a stalker, a psycho killer, an abuser or a combination of of these in every kdrama it seems. At this point, I'm more shocked when I don't see any such character in a drama. LOVE the brothers, how natural and real-sibling like their dynamic looked, and the amazing bond the older one shared with the FL. I almost had a second lead syndrome for a moment there. The shares and the ent agency and the competitor subplot could have been better, it felt disjointed. Like that the song success near the end didn't come rightaway to the FL. Not happy with that psycho leaving the world thinking he won, wdf. Guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but still. I was momentarily mad. Recommend.

119. Twinkling Watermelon: School, found family, time travel, sentimental, supernatural, mental health, special needs (sign language). Favorite drama of 2023. Didn't really think I'd have one for the year but this hit AAALLLL the right spots. It made me giggle, cringe, cry, scream and fangirl over so many things, and the wave of nostalgia gah. Wish they put in a bit more work for the post-time travel storyline because it felt very rushed and abrupt. Still, best one, and also has rewatch value imo. Strongly recommend.

120. Perfect Marriage Revenge: Revenge, time travel, second chance romance, melodrama. This was such a shocker tbf. Not a fan of the makjang-ish dramas so thought I'd end up dropping it but this was GOOD. Ofc there are loopholes and as mentioned, melodrama, it was enjoyable regardless. Love LOVE the FL. Saw the ML in other dramas before and not particularly a fan but this character suited him well. Was not at all convinced how the issues with the FL's father were while the mother had to wait for her to come around like uh? Strongly recommend.

121. Marry My Husband: Comic/book to screen, adaptation, revenge, time travel, second chance romance. Tbf PMY's last drama didn't leave a good impression on me, and the ML ain't a personal favorite so the only reason for trying this is because it's an adaptation. Most importantly, a well-executed revenge? WITH time travel? YES PLEASE. Reminded me of Perfect Marriage Revenge but glad to see these two are able to show distinct things despite having almost the same premise. Liked that the second chance came with its specicf do's and don'ts. First half is DEFINITELY executed better imo. the breakup episode especially doesn't make ANY sense because that is SO ANNOYINGLY OUT OF CHARACTER for the FL. You can't pull that off after showing the understanding that is developed between the leads by that point NOPE. Second half feels rushed although really like the ending. Worth a try/recommend.

122. Behind Your Touch: Supernatural, serial killer, romance, idol, quirky, small town. *** SPOILERS AHEAD. Psycho serial killer runs amok in a small town, aka more or less the plot of so many kdramas Idek. Once you adjust to its quirkiness, it's not half bad. Problem is, one should know when to stop killing characters off. I was already upset by the time the other superpower guy died, then they go ahead and kill off the second male lead too. I can see why him being out of the picture is necessary to make the ML and the FL happen but seriously, there are TONS of other ways to make that happen. AND iirc, it is never explained if the killer had killing instincts pre-vision too or not. Like, that isn't sth that happens overnight ig? Keeping the suspense is done well but it feels like the writers themselves didn't know how they wanted to wrap it up so they just went with whatever. Worth a try.

123. Dear X Who Doesn't Love Me: Supernatural, college romance, bff to lovers. When it comes to mini webseries like this, I set my bar pretty low. However, this seems way better than many other shorter dramas I've tried in the past. Ofc there are loopholes, the writing isn't top class and the execution feels weird at times, but I like the overall vibe. Also LOVE the underlying message, I don't think I've seen other dramas take this route to convey the same theme? Worth a try.

124. Our Blooming Youth: Costume, hidden identity, supernatural, court intrigue. The pacing is slow, the storytelling drags further in places and if you're a PHS fan then he might be the only thing you'll enjoy here. The FL character isn't a traditional costume drama FL and tbf, I LOVE how different the character and the actor herself looks (would call her unconventionally beautiful ig by kdrama standards?) Anyway, it's still a good story overall, albeit I did find getting lost in the information flood at times. I was just happy to see the kind of ending they showed given kdrama writes and their obsession with unexpected trauma-inducing endings. Recommend.

125. The Story of Park's Marriage Contract: Time travel, past lives, fated, strong FL, mystery. Still trying to understand the logic behind the MLs being different in the two lives, like I get it and still don't. GREAT to see that the FL's dreams are ACTUALLY reflected on her lifestyle (clothing, ideas etc.) unlike many other FLs. Love the younger brother and the secretary-FL's help. Music is pretty nice. Recommend.

126. Love Song for Illusion: Romance, mental health, dissociative identity disorder, trauma/PTSD, costume, fantasy/supernatural. Liking it so far but somehow I don't feel as invested as I'd like to? Will try to resume after a break.

127. Moon in the Day: Costume, reincarnation, revenge, supernatural, star-crossed/doomed, romance. Started off intriguing but somewhere down the road lost its charm ig? Halfway through the drama, I stopped being as invested. The ending is realistic and I usually don't mind these but maybe due to my lack of interest afterward it didn't have as much an impact. Still not bad. Watch if you have time.

128. She was Pretty: Childhood friends, physical appearance, workplace romance, rom-com. This was long due but tbf the main thing that kept me away (aside from the old-ish look of it) is the FL's makeup. I've seen her in several dramas already; she ain't bad but for some weird-ass reason her makeup and the way all her characters behave make me cringe. Kdrama FLs tend to overact on most occasions (and that's fine) but it doesn't suit her at all imo. Anyhoo, it was a fun watch, with the ML, SML and the bestie. Has many loopholes and I wasn't really sure at times what was even going on but not bas overall. Worth a try.

129. Unlock My Boss: Quirky, surreal, found family, mystery (ish). Took me almost two years to finish this. Why? Nothing major, just the first half is quite weak imo and the story felt all over the place. The mystery was there, but didn't feel well written. Second half (and the plot twist) is WAYYY better and made the struggle worth it. There are loopholes ofc, and I wish they didn't kill off that one character (makes sense but still. Isn't too heavy on the romance and suits the tone of the drama perfectly. Worth a try.

130. Doctor Stranger: Romance, lost love, medical drama, political intrigue/cross-border, hidden identities, revenge (?). This felt like a mix of everything with also a huge dollop of unconditional love. I love the medical aspects of it and how each case was handled, although there were SO many things that didn't seem realistic or make sense. The whole "grand" political scheme in the second half made very little sense imo, given how things were resolved in the end. I like the drama in parts, as well as some of the morals which truly gave me food for thought. Recommend.

131. Ghost Doctor: Supernatural, medical drama, bromance, plotting, swapped identities, found family, inspirational/emotional. Tried watching this last year and gave up cuz the beginning felt meh. Second time try thoughts: second half is WAY engaging and interesting once you get used to the first few episodes. There are plot holes ofc but I didn't mind because it was fun to watch the story unfold. Bromance in this one >>>>> romance for both the couples. Supporting cast did a great job. Recommend.

132. My Perfect Stranger: Supernatural, time travel, hidden identity, murder mystery, suspense. Pacing feels a bit dragging at times. Strange but fun to see how the drama doesn't take the time traveling do's and don't's too seriously, and keeps messing up (RIP Back to the Future). The drama does an amazing job of building up and keeping up the suspense but what killed it for me was the "big" reveal. It feels like the makers didn't know where to go with the plot and just went with anything through process of elimination. The reasoning was very weak (not that psycho baddies need a strong one), nothing that actually made proper sense. Had many questions left unanswered and not in a good way. Worth a try.

133. A Good Day to be a Dog: Supernatural, past lives/reincarnation, workplace romance, hidden identities, quirky. Not sure if it's the source material (never read the webtoon) or the direction/execution that is bad but the story, especially in the last half is all over the place. Bummer since the second half has WAY more things happening and had so much potential. Everything just conveniently got resolved. Still liked ML's acting, Eunwoo has improved a lot. Didn't care much about anyone by the time it ended and I blame poor storytelling for that. Worth a try.

134. Adult Trainee: Mini web series, high school, puberty, coming of age. Revolves around three different pairs and three individual stories, each taking about 2-3 episodes. Saw 2/3 stories. Tried it only because of a YT MV of the second couple whose chemistry I think is FIRE, absolute FIRE, like clutching-dem-pearls fire. Short series so don't expect a lot of exposition or character/plot development. Watch if you have time.

135. The Secret Romantic Guesthouse: Costume/period drama, hidden identity, mistaken identity, romance, comedy, palace intrigue, plotting, sentimental. Kinda really dislike how so many kdramas have these weird English titles, because it took me a year to try this drama solely because a) the title, b)costume kdramas aren't usually a favorite, c) again, the title. Gotta admit thought, REALLY REALLY love how the suspense around the identities are portrayed. The creatives went as far as to swap the ML sequences during the intro OST #respect lol. Seriously though, for around 2/3 of the drama it leaves you wondering who is who and it's a treat to try to figure out imo. BIGGEST issue: once the audience is in the know, nobody seems to care about the secrets anymore? It's like the main characters assume everyone around them is a non playable character so they keep meeting/exposing themselves and talking about massive secrets just casually out there like it's nothing. As if once the audience was made aware, the makers stopped trying altogether and were like 'yup the suspense part is where all our braincells went so bye now'. Even the watchman, who I was liking more than the ML throughout, loses his edge somewhere along the way. What makes mad (real, real mad) is the double standards with which his actions are treated, esp by FL's sis: ik she's in grief but COME ON, your fiancé was gonna MURDER A LITTLE BOY during the hostile takeover woman are you fr? what do you think he was doing as a soldier, playing sword sword? if the watchman didn't do what he did, the love of your SISTER'S life would be dead, DEAD. GAH. Not even gonna bring up the watchman-obsessed father who behaves as if the world has wronged him, and tries to gaslight the watchman even as he meets his end pfft what was that. That aside, really like how the courtesan girl doesn't take the typical jealous route unlike other kdramas. Love the bromance between the three MLs, and just the overall dynamic of the trio and the FL, it's so fun and gives the necessary comic relief without bordering on slapstick. Worth a try.

136. Dr. Slump: Mental health, depression, ptsd, mature romance, revenge/plotting, healing, slice of life?, medical drama, enemies to lovers, comedy. There is a distinct type of physical comedy that PHS does SO well, and it's visible in almost every character I've seen him play (as long as the character has room to do comedy). It's too extraaa, too dramatic and over the top, and it still is funny kind of? This works really well in here given how intense and somber the general tone of the drama is supposed to be. Ofc, mental health issues don't always get cured as easily but overall, the drama still does a pretty good job. Love the balance between the FL vs the ML's mental health portrayal, healthy communication, boundaries, slow healing and the quite realistic portrayal of family/emotional support systems handling these issues. Recommend.

137. Reborn Rich: Time travel/time slip/body swap/transmigration/rebirth, revenge, bittersweet, plotting, betrayal, mind games, romance, fantasy. It took me 2 years to finish this. Put on hiatus halfway through, was starting to get a whiplash on who double-crossed who to eventually betray whom, the games got too much lol. Love the trip down the memory lane with the initial episodes where we can see why the ML makes certain choices leading to certain future outcomes. It's not a bad drama per se, because the latter half gets more intense when everyone drops their facade and starts to openly fight for power and the "throne" if you'd say so. What turns me off the most (trying to stay spoiler free here so bear with me) is the fact that the audience are given the most exposure to 4.2's character; yes, we know 4.2 is not really 4.2 but also is, at least in the timeline we witness as an audience. If anything, 4.2 is the true and only rightful successor of the founder. You allow for us to emotionally connect to 4.2, root for them to win this war against a power so big, relate to them and feel happy when everything seems to fall in place...all for what, THAT?? Yes, we all know that's probably going to happen sooner or later, but it feels such an, insignificant way to be done with the character? They deserve more? On the other hand, we're given seconds to come back to where it all started and be able to connect to this character which tbh never happens for me, at all. If anything, I connected with this original character better when it's shown parallelly in 4.2's timeline compared to their actual timeline (go figure). That jump left me reeling and made me realize that I really didn't care much what happened to the original character anymore. It was a bummer that the FL's life took such an unexpected turn (but love how that explains her whole "S's Grim reaper" nickname from the earlier episodes). What's worse is that the original character now has memories of both timelines and somehow has to be okay and, move on? Yes it's fiction but still doesn't sit well with how difficult that can be for a person. Wish we had more time and exposure to the original character to be able to care more about what happens (still can't get over the fact that all their achievements and progress just went pooofff with that one incident, like what was even the point T_T). Recommend but also watch at your own risk.

138. See You in My 19th Life: Fantasy, romance, quirky, reincarnation/past lives, trauma, sentimental. Another example of a not so good drama title. The leads aren't a particular favorite but another reason it took so long to watch is the title. Pretty good drama tbf. Like how it has so much romance without actually showing a ton of romance such as kisses etc., makes it more impactful imo. Also the fact that comedy doesn't feel overpowering. The pacing for the most part is good but the ending feels a bit rushed. Still love that there was no typical MU or breakup trope with reunion in the last epi, LOVE it. Great acting, nice storytelling, haven't read the original text so dk if it's true to that or not. Recommend.

139. Wedding Impossible: Romcom, contract relationship/marriage, coming out, enemies to lovers. Held off watching this because the leads and the plot didn't intrigue me enough. The premise is not bad, and the progression is decent too. Writing and execution leaves much to be desired, as much as the lack of chemistry between the FL and the ML imo. Not sure what concept they have going for the FL but her character just looks tired and done with it all (KS's Bella Swan vibes). The ML does a nice job in the first half but somehow that goes south in the final half imo. I didn't find myself looking forward to their romance (or the lack of it) because that 'zing' was missing and even during the most romantic or most emotional moments, I couldn't feel invested. Pretty unrealistic climax, with all that the male leads do, as well as how FL ends up professionally after everything that happens. Watch if you have time.

140. Welcome to Samdal-ri: Mental health, healing, childhood friends to lovers, romcom, suburb. I can't pinpoint exactly what, but I like this drama overall. It's not amazing or anything but it stays true to showing how Samdal gradually heals and owns her self and her roots. Very real and relatable for anyone who's ever felt like a fish out of water in this hustle culture. JCW's comic timing is a treat to watch too. Recommend.

141. Lovely Runner: Romcom, time travel, idol, pining, loser men in love. Ah. The fact that it took me several months after the show ended to even write this because in my head writing this means it's over and I still don't feel like it is. All I'd say is: please check out the 'Lovely Runner' tag on my blog. That's all you need to know how I feel about this drama. This blog has become 90% Lovely Runner/Wooseok/Hyeyoon brainrot thanks to this show. It even made me introduce the whole 'loser men in love' category to categorize a drama in here. It has many typical kdrama tropes and if you're expecting some totally out of the ordinary show, this might not be for you. However, the beauty of this show is it does what it's supposed to do exceptionally well, with the acting, the execution, all adlibs, the OST, everything. It has changed my kdrama viewing experience so much that it took me solid 3+ months to finally start another drama. I seem to have invested all my fangirling energy with this one, since I can't bring myself to fangirl as hard no matter how much I like any other show. Let's not forget the OG platforms, Viki and Viu and the days of them throwing shades at Netflix because of the hilarious stunts the latter pulled to cash in on the fame of Wooseok and Hyeyoon. Let's not forget Netflix bagged the streaming right only a few months after the show ended because of the major FOMO lol. Lovely Runner the legend you are. STRONGLY RECOMMEND.

141. Miss Night and Day: Supernatural, hidden identity, quirky, motivational, legal, thriller/mystery. This was a fun ride. Had put it off earlier to binge and I'm glad I did because don't think I'd have had the patience to wait for the episodes regularly. The story feels really balanced, with the case, Mi Jin's issues, "Lim Sun" and her kickassery, humor, mystery criminal as well as the supporting characters. LOVE Mi Jin's bestie, as well as the investigator and the other male lead. Love Mi Jin's dad and her mom and her aunt (sob). Love how the other male lead's story was wrapped up. Love how the ex-detectives are connected to the case. I did have my hunch about the criminal being that one person, and glad it wasn't wrong. Would've loved to see more of their Seoul life (no season 2 for this T_T). Strongly recommend.

142. Hometown Cha Cha Cha: Slice of life/feel good, idyllic, sentimental/ptsd, bittersweet, romcom, motivational. This is my least liked character played by Shin Min Ah. For about 85% of the show I had a hard time liking her as a character. She grew on me yes but not a character I might look back to often. Kim Seon Ho did an incredible job as Du Sik. Guy balanced the humor, lighthearted, intense, raw emotions so very well I often went back to repeat some of the scenes. Everything else about this show also gives off such a positive vibe, even the one loss near the end. Strongly recommend.

On-hold/Just started/To watch:

Soundtrack

Thirty nine (dropped)

Dali and the Cocky Prince (dropped)

Find Me in Your Memory (dropped)

Melting Me Softly

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Café Minamdang (on and off)

Tomorrow with You

Kairos

Imitation

Graceful Family

Good Detective?

20th Century Girl (review on hold)

The Penthouse 1, 2, 3?

Mouse (pending, also the movie?)

Again My Life

Rookie Historian (dropped)

Strong Girl Nam Soon (dropped, my Ryu Shi Oh T_T)

Wanted (maybe?)

Lovers of the Red Sky

Tracer (1,2)

Link: Eat, Love, Kill (maybe drop?)

Heavenly Idol (maybe drop)

Welcome to Waikiki (maybe drop)

Queen of Tears (on hiatus)

My Demon (on indefinite hiatus)

Lovely Runner (obsessed, hooked, going to die on this hill) [may not edit this name out of this list cuz I keep rewatching like a SeolJae junkie]

My Sweet Mobster (on hiatus)

Serendipity's Embrace (on hiatus)

Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (on hiatus)

Love Next Door (the LOVELY RUNNER PARALLELS??? ugh.)

Cinderella at 2AM

Bad Memory Eraser (liking this so far)

No Gain No Love

[Will be updated as I go]

[ripperdaddy]

the viktor vector romance path + ending we deserve

Disclaimer: This is definitely something I came up with in my head. There will be a few instances that are solely made up so it can tie in with the “story.” This is purely fictional; something I wished happened if there was a possible Vik romance 🥰 This is based on my general knowledge of the game & Vik’s life. All gifs + images are from my own personal play through, but wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Appearance Menu Mod, found on Nexus Mods by the creators, MaximiliumM and CtrlAltDaz. And the shirtless Vik mod by the lovely samsnak ♡

It would start after completing the Paid In Full quest where you pay Vik back the eddies you owe him.

I feel like realistically, the general player would have to be at least halfway through the story to have collected enough eddies. I would say that a good point in the story where we can begin the romance is that you’ve already established a connection to Alt and have dealt with the VDB’s.

I think it would be a short side quest like River’s. Vik already plays a big part in the story overall on his own, so I don’t think it’s necessary to make his “side quest” too long. His romance would just be an addition to the ending.

And as much as I would love for him to be a bisexual option for both male/female V, if we’re sticking with the game’s standard with limiting partners to only one kind of partner, he would only be romance-able by a female V with a feminine voice.

V: Finally scrounged up enough eddies to pay you back in full.

Vik: Hold on to ‘em just in case - you need ‘em more than me.

V: I’m not taking them all the way to my grave, Vik. Here. And.. thanks again for doing so much work on me ‘thout ever seein’ an enny.

Vik: That’s what friends are for.

Then, there is an additional option for dialogue to trigger the romance path.

V: Friends? I think you’ve been in and out of my body more than anyone else I’ve hooked up with in Night City.

He laughs, with a coy smile. “Well, can’t argue with you there. Why don’t we take some of these eddies and grab a drink. You know, to celebrate. Catch up on old times. Haven’t seen you round here much lately, kid.”

You agree to meet at the El Coyote Cojo tomorrow evening.

You meet around 9 PM and you are welcomed by the sight of Pepe and Vik at the bar.

V: Nice choice of venue.

Vik: Thought you’d like it. Haven't been here since.. well, you know.

V: I miss him, Vik.

Vik: I know, V. Me too.

You immediately take a seat and tinker with a few dialogue options, where you can either have a sweet moment talking about Jackie or some surface questions to ask, like how he’s doing, what kind of drink he likes, etc. But it all winds down to Jackie anyway, where Vik confides in you about his past. Judging by how Vik was so affected by Jackie’s death, and V’s (if you chose the suicide ending), you can tell that he has lost a lot in his life, and keeps his circle very small.

You then achieve an even closer, more personal relationship with him. But, ultimately nothing happens other than the usual, wait 24 hours in game for a text/phone call from Vik to head into the next stage. At least now, you have established the foundation for a future romance.

Halfway through the 24 hour period, you get a text from Vik thanking you for the lovely evening. No reply needed, as he calls you once the 24 hour mark hits and invites you out for another date.

You meet at Tom’s Diner for coffee in the afternoon. It starts off with him apologizing for being emotional the previous night and asks if you’re open to hanging out again and going down to Pacifica to watch a fight with him.

Vik: Hey, V. I just wanted to apologize about last night. I didn’t mean to be such a downer.

V: It’s okay, Vik. We share the same grief.

Vik: I was going to head down to Pacifica and catch a real good match later on today. I was wondering if you’d like to come along, think it’d be great for the both of us, you know, as a distraction.

pssst even Johnny’s rooting for y’all ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Johnny: Hmm, interesting.

V: What?

Johnny: Never thought you'd be going out with this guy.

V: Vik's amazing. And I mean--we basically owe it to him since he practically saved our life.

Johnny: Don't tell me you're going out with him out of pity.

V: I'm not.

Johnny: I know, I can feel you get all mushy-gushy. It's almost repulsive. Just wanted to hear you admit it.

V: Eat a dick, Johnny.

You arrive before the GIM and blend into the crowd.

V: Nothin’ like watching guys beat the shit out of each other to get your blood pumpin’, huh?

Vik: This is a real good matchup, V. This kid’s fresh, young talent.

V: You miss it, don’t you?

Before the fight begins, Vik shares a story about his time in the ring and coming in second in the Watson Boxing Grand Prix.

There’s some extra fun options in the dialogue, you can bet some eddies on who’s gonna win, or side with him. The fight ends, and you two head outside.

Since you’re already out in Pacifica, you head over to the boardwalk (where you would ride the roller coaster with Johnny) and he starts telling you about the last days of his boxing career and how he transitioned from the sport to being a ripperdoc.

You both share a sweet moment with each other, reminiscing about old times and talking about V’s future with the relic. This is where I would see Vik confessing how he feels about you, mentioning how grateful he is for Jackie introducing you to him.

The evening ends and Vik asks you to give him some time to try and dig up some footage from his storage and have you come over to watch. You can kiss him then wait another 24 in game hours before the last quest. Halfway through, he texts you and asks you what you’d like for dinner. You can opt for pizza or chinese.

I haven’t seen or read anything about how or where Vik lives. If I overlooked something, please let me know! But for the sake of the story, let’s say he does actually have his own place that’s now introduced in the game. Personally, I think he has a typical bachelor pad, like a really nice apartment. Not too far from his clinic either. He looks like he would just walk to work. Vik definitely has a lot of money, but he’s so humble I doubt he would choose to live lavishly. As mentioned in the beginning, he typically just “sleeps nights” ever since he was over “being a legend” so I’m guessing his lifestyle is very routine. He goes to work, goes home, sleep. Seems unlikely he has a place like the Peralez’s. It would probably be just the same as V’s but decorated to his taste.

The evening comes and you are over at his place. He’s dressed in just a white undershirt, no exo-glove. You get to know more about his family, how he grew up — scanning things around his place. Then he plays some footage of one of his fights for you, while you two have a conversation and share a beer. As you two sit on the couch, you get close, then have an opportunity to kiss him.

then this is where da sex happen hihihi (ノ・ω・)ノ

The next morning you wake up and you two have a heartfelt conversation about where this is going. He already knows your situation, so I would assume he is very accepting and supportive. And with Vik, he seems like the kind of guy who would still want to be in your life and keep the friendship the same way despite no longer being together romantically. So it’s official. He’s your man 🥵 !!11!1!

Like how River gives you the “fuck the police” tank top after sleeping with him, I think Vik would give you his Night City Devils t-shirt that provides you with a significant amount of armor or some kind of cyberware upgrade that makes you invulnerable for a brief moment while using your hands to fight enemies.

Note: I was thinking of Vik giving V his boxing glove necklace, but because it's part of his character's appearance in the game, I don't think we would be able to essentially "take it" from him - unless he gives you a replica as a keepsake. Which I think would also work.

If you successfully romance, during the rooftop scene near the end of Nocturne OP55N1 (despite Vik’s disposition of him telling you to take matters in your own hands and being a little closed off), you still have an option to reach out to him when Johnny advises you to call a loved one.

V: Hey, Vik. I just wanted to say, thanks for hanging with me, until the end.

Vik: Quit talking like it is, V. Just do what you need to do.

V: I mean, think of it. It’s like I’m heading into the last round of this whole thing.

Vik: Well, in that case.. remember—keep your hands up, guarded at all times. It ain’t over just yet.

V: Heh.. I can feel it, just a few more punches.

Vik: Now look at you - the new welterweight champ of Night City.

V: Thanks, coach.

Vik: Last piece of advice from the coach's corner. Just.. be careful, kid. Remember, I’m with you.

Okayyyy, soooo I’m not the biggest fan of how CDPR gave us two of the same endings (Path of Glory). The only difference is that Rogue’s life is spared. I would have assumed that not only would we get to keep Rogue around, things should have played a bit more differently for V if we took the route of going solo against the corpos. So let’s tweak it.

This specific ending; it should be after getting through Don’t Fear The Reaper where you single-handedly manage to rip through Arasaka by yourself. Johnny goes back to Alt & Rogue is still alive. Yes nobody dies!!!

(honestly this ending can apply to any love interest you choose)

Vik and V are now living together in a lavish penthouse, entertaining an upcoming merc to do their work for them (which is now the current POV of the player.) You were recruited by Rogue at the Afterlife, who told you to visit this couple for a real, preem job.

They give you some vague details about the gig and go on for a brief moment about what you will be doing and what you should expect. Vik emphasizes to you that it’s important you get what they need because it’s for his wife, V, as her life depends on it.

As Never Gonna Fade Away is playing in the background, they tell you to break into Arasaka HQ.

Then the game officially ends.

[satanfemme]

Freaky Movie Fall!

happy halloween! for you, beloved followers, I’ve compiled a list of 31 days worth of movies to watch this autumn! (<- would've been for the month of October if I weren't already 13 days late, but what can u do lol) these aren’t all horror movies, but a mixture of: horror, fucked-up, and/or simply the vibes of the season.

quick disclaimer: altho I recommend all of the movies listed here, I also highly recommend checking a synopsis or doesthedogdie.com before watching anything you're unfamiliar with, as this list sometimes jumps between family friendly films vs. actually disturbing films. but for your convenience, I’ll also be making note of each title's MPAA rating, and I'll be starring the title with an asterisk (*) if any version of the movie includes a sexual assault scene.

(also if the organization of this post only makes sense to me, so be it hdfghf)

Part One: by god it's fall

1. The Plague Dogs (1982), PG-13 - an animated talking dog adventure that's maybe a bit more for adults than children, this movie features tragic (and sometimes outright gruesome) content without it ever feeling forced or out of place for the weird yet moving story being told. never has a movie made me care about cartoon dogs more than this one.

2. Ginger Snaps* (2000), unrated but around PG-13 imo :shrug: - a coming of age supernatural horror(-comedy?) where a werewolf curse serves as a metaphor for puberty. this movie really hits the nail on the head for what it's like to be a Weird Teen, while also discussing some really interesting themes surrounding codependence / leaving unhealthy childhood habits behind.

3. The Blair Witch Project (1999), R - I'm not usually big on found footage shaky cam horror like this, so I put this movie off for such a long time, but boy am I glad I finally gave it a shot. not only did the blair witch kick off the genre, but it more than perfected it imo. the arguments between the characters can be a bit grating and long, but if you don't mind watching a family vacation simulation for a few hours, the built up is worth it.

4. The VVitch (2015), R - although this horror doesn't have the most memorable plot imo, the atmosphere and setting are both notably great. yeah that's about all I've got to say about this one. there's some cool goats in it too? give it a shot!

5. Re-Animator* (1986), R - what if an unhinged medical student discovered how to bring the dead back to life? what if he were gay enough that the tumblr lgbts love him for his crimes (for.. some reason?) yeah, this movie's not my fav but regardless it's still a classic good time 80s sci-fi horror movie, and the gore effects are campy as hell. literally what else could you possible be looking for from this list? this is a movie to watch with popcorn and friends.

6. Pink Flamingos* (1997), NC-17 - ok lets get into it! this postmodern exploitation comedy film (yes I had to google that) is the wildest mix of fun(?) lighthearted humor plus... literal-shit-eating and foot fetish sex scenes (not at the same time). total autumn vibes and what I'd describe as "baltimore core" aesthetics (if you grew up there, you'd know), but definitely not for any fainthearted viewers. for what this movie lacks in horror, it makes up for with everything else it has going on. personally, my fav part is when a block party kills and cannibalizes a group of cops. divine plays the main character, who's also named divine. I've run out of things to say about this that isn't just a content warning list. if any of u ever call me out, please include "is a fan of pink flamingos" in that google doc actually.

7. Watership Down (1978), PG - here's a good breather after that last movie, and serendipity to round this first section out. animated by the same company as the plague dogs, and based off a book by the same author as well, watership down is probably the #1 infamous "violent and bloody animated animal movie". but if you haven't seen it since you were a kid, now's the time to revisit it. its reputation is blown out of proportion - the violence is no worse than, say, a warrior cats AMV. but the story itself? genuinely great and withstanding. this one's been my fav since middle school, for real.

(putting the rest under a read-more for length! u should know what to expect by now wrt the genre range I'm covering here as we only move further down the iceberg)

+ here's a wayback machine link in case the read more ever goes down x

Part Two: creature feature

8. The Thing (1982), R - now THIS is some classic 80s practical effects horror. it's been too long since I've seen this one but I remember the tension being palatable. oh my god they made amongus into a movie??? also there's a fucked up evil dog! idk what else to say about it, I'm scared of antarctica now lol.

9. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002), R - the third installment of the ju-on horror series, this movie has great special effects and memorable ghosts. if you haven't watched any japanese horror movies yet, this is a great intro.

10. Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), R - uh oh babyyyyy we're in vampire territory now!!! although the slow plot of dracula routinely fails to hold me, the beautiful cinematography and establishing vampire lore makes this the must-see beginner film for the next few movies on this list.

11. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), R - the modern vampire romance to end all vampire romances. like the last one, this is a slower movie, but I thought it'd be fun to add here as a comparison (or perhaps even as a foil) to the last. also the vampires in this movie are sooo beautiful in an etheral way, it's unreal 😳.

12. Interview With the Vampire (1994), R - picture this: a coven of vampires impersonates themselves as a theatre troop. now, in front of a human audience, they put on a "play". vampires pretending to be humans pretending to be vampires (how avant garde!). now at the climax of this performance, they actually kill and eat a live mortal woman. the audience, believing this all to be acting, do nothing but watch as the woman on stage screams for help. all this and more can be yours for the low low price of watching this movie.

13. The Queen of the Damned (2002), R - did you enjoy that last movie? well here's the sequel! - but don't expect this one to have anywhere near the same contemplative tone. instead, this one sports a nu-metal soundtrack and an off-the-rails plot to match (side note: world famous rockstar lestat's "coming out" as a vampire speech, totally reads like a coming out speech a la brian slade's in velvet goldmine, lol). if you're the kind of person who still watches twilight out of middle school nostalgia, this movie's the one for you. except the characters in this movie aren't mormons - they're goth!

14. The Lost Boys (1987), R - you know that fantasy you always have about running away to the california coast, joining a gay commie vampire polycule, and then eating innocent people every night, riding on ur matching 80s vampire motorcycles all the while? well that's what this movie is! in this horror-comedy (which is way too campy to ever actually horrify), the main character's transformation into a half-vampire reads as a gay awakening/coming out story, and the costume design is more than outstanding. this is honestly the highlight of these vampire movies imo, and maybe the highlight of the 80s as well!

15. What We Do in the Shadows (2015), R- a great way to tie off these last few, and this last section as a whole: what we do in the shadows is a genre-referential mockumentory about vampires. both this movie, and the spin-off tv show it inspired, are a genuinely funny and genius take on the vampire myth. ntm the re-watchability in this one is off the charts!

Part Three: the real monsters all along

16. Saw (2004), R- this franchise may be infamous for being shallow torture porn, but the first movie has a genuine plot to it and isn't any more gory than your average horror movie. a mystery more than anything, saw is about two men trying to find their way out of a deadly puzzle, and maybe even learning a lesson along the way. (<- and/or learning that they're gay, if the popular tumblr fanon is to be believed hfgjdfh).

17. Parasite (2019), R - this thriller deserved every amount of praise it received when it was released. it discusses the horrors of capitalistic inequality (especially that in south korea) in such a brilliant way by setting up for one plot, and then completely turning it on its head halfway through. great plot twists and a thrilling climax, 10/10.

18. Carrie (1979), R - a coming-of-age supernatural horror movie with the most sympathetic main character in the world, carrie is just as much a tragedy as anything else. side note: if you've been following along with all of these movies, this film would be fun to compare and contrast with ginger snaps! (I expect a 2 page times new roman essay about it on my desk by monday thx).

19. Hellraiser* (1987), R - an extremely horny and gory 80s horror movie about a group of sadomasochistic entities torturing and killing people in a practical effects masterpiece. meanwhile, another character tries to bring himself back from the dead in a manner equally as horrifying. if you love good gore, this is the crown jewel. if you're squeamish about torture...... .. . ... sorry.

20. Tetsuo the Iron Man* (1989), unrated but I give it a solid R - a japanese cyberpunk body horror film about a man who undergoes a curse slowly transforming him from flesh into metal and machinery. the plot can be hard to follow at times, but the body horror is genuinely incredible (and nasty!) and the fight scenes towards the end get super fun.

21. Scream* (1996), R - a genre-referential slasher, though beginners to the genre will absolutely "get it" too (you'll notice this list itself is lacking in slasher movies oops). this movie can feel a bit full of itself at times (imo), but it pulls of horror-comedy in a way that's been rarely pulled off since.

22. Train to Busan (2016), unrated but I'd give it an R - a claustophobic action adventure zombie horror movie with incredible heart at its core! I can't remember if I cried at the end, but if I didn't then I came close. if nothing else on this entire list strikes you, just watch this movie, please.

23. Mysterious Skin* (2005), NC-17 - generally I don't recommend this movie to people due to its content, but I figured if pink flamingos can be on this list, so can this one. this coming of age drama may be a respite from all the horror films in this section, but it's still by far the most upsetting imo. mysterious skin follows the story of two teen boys living parallel (yet often intertwining) lives in a small town, one a sex worker, and the other a UFO conspiracy theorist. this movie is incredibly moving, disturbing, thought provoking - and also the kind of movie I watched once and will never watch again.

24. The Crow* (1994), R - remember when superhero movies were good? this is a superhero movie but good. a goth and undead rockstar goes on a killing spree getting revenge on those who killed him and his wife - all on devil's night. and when I saw goth, I do mean goth; the cure recorded a song for this soundtrack, and it's still my favorite thing they've ever done.

Part Four: halloween week!

25. Rob Zombie's Halloween* (2007), R - yeah yeah yeah I'm putting this one before the original, but in my defense I'm saving the original for the 31st slot (halloween night...). most of the remakes and sequels in this slasher franchise aren't necessarily worth checking out on their own - but this one is. a sympathetic and rob-zombie-core take on the plot of the first halloween, I'm still convinced michael myers did nothing wrong.

26. House of Wax (2005), R - this movie plays My Chemical Romance for the end credits. helena by my chemical romance plays at the end of this movie. hey did you know that -- yeah I'm still not over this fact. uhm. the movie itself is pretty cool too. idk it's a 2005 slasher movie with a hot antagonist, have fun!

27. House of 1,000 Corpses* (2002), R - if you hated rob zombie's halloween, you'll hate this one too. but it you loved rob zombie's halloween... well good news! literally all of his movies are the same! this is a rob-zombie-core slasher with fun character designs and truly despicable antagonists, plus dwight from the office is in this one! this movie's about as campy and fun as a slasher can get.

28. Eraserhead (1977), unrated but probably an R idk - movies of ALL time, I'm truly obsessed with this one. eraserhead is an experimental and surreal body horror film by david lynch and about fears of fatherhood (among other things). this movie follows its plot in such a way that it makes me feel like I'm watching it in a pretentious new york art gallery black box theatre or something, sitting in silence among my classmates who are also visiting on our field trip. top tier lynch film.

29. The Addam's Family (1991), PG-13 - believe it or not, I have surprising few opinions on this movie! look, it's the addam's family. I'm sure u at least know the vibes of this franchise, right? halloween comedy? well here, watch it and have fun between all those weird and fucked up movies I keep throwing at u.

30. Noroi: the Curse (2005), unrated but probably around an R- movies that scared me SO bad I couldn't sleep at all, this film is a japanese horror mystery that's been compared to the x-files but don't let that fool you. between disturbing body horror, legitimately startling ghost effects, and many unsettling found footage shaky cams, the x-files wishes it were even a tenth as horrifying as this documentary-style movie is.

31. Halloween (1978), R - my wife!!!! my wife is here!!!!!! (author's note: michael myers is my male wife, thank you). no, ofc this movie isn't "good" but it's a slasher and it's fun, and the first time I ever watched it was perhaps the most fun I've ever had on a halloween night in my life, so I Absolutely recommend this one if you love silly 70s horror and want to have a good time!

and that's it!!!! 31 movie recommendations from me to you! watch these all in the order I gave you, or pick and choose based on my reviews, it's up to you! either way, I hope this is fun and helpful to at least somebody, and feel free to reblog or save this post to your heart's delight <3