#i will judge and rank every follower based on how loyal they are to me. on my web sites.

[cottoncandylesbo]

im on bluesky @ cottoncandylesbo.bsky.social

[notsp1derman]

an hyperfixated review of the apothecary diaries season one, by natsu hyuuga

First, I just wanted to say that I NEVER expected I would be here talking about this. I started Apothecary Diaries with the same jaded tiredness of someone who doesn't consider themselves an otaku anymore, so it has to be an EVENT for an anime to be truly enjoyable. After some time I just got bored of all the isekai and harems, shallow self insert characters, braindead action and hypersexualization of women, so you can imagine how often I watch something that has come out recently.

But this thing has consumed my life and my thoughts. It has made me go through a rabbit hole of ancient chinese history and culture, and I actually can't get enough of it. Apothecary Diaries managed to do a very rare feat in the chaotic anime industry: cover all its bases brilliantly. There's the perfect amount of everything a well-thought story needs: an incredible animation, deep and believable characters, an intriguing plot without any apparent holes, solid worldbuilding and just the right touch of social issues to make you think.

In an unnamed empire totally not a copy-paste of ancient China, we follow the story of Maomao, a poor apothecary's apprentice that gets kidnapped and sold to the imperial palace to work as a servant. But soon, her abilities of reading and writing (rare for a peasant) and poisonous plants get her noticed by Jinshi, an eunuch responsible for overseeing the famous inner palace: the garden of women where the concubines of the emperor live. Maomao then starts working as a food tester for one of the four most important concubines, to ensure she isn't poisoned in the politics of the palace, but ends up getting roped into more complex challenges and mysterious events.

Despite the clever plots and solutions in each episode, the true star of the show is the character of Maomao herself. She is a brillant example of a smart female protagonist, perfectly capable of solving problems because of her love for her job but still with her flaws and peculiarities that only make her more endearing. She is calculating and detached, but still shows a great knowledge of the inner palace's hierarchy, keeping her posture but discreetly helping people how she can.

Maomao is THE perfect example of a girls girl, and every other media should learn from her character. She has a strong personality and doesn't really like appearing too feminine or demure, but it doesn't stop her from being kind to her peers, helping the concubines and servants alike and never judging them for placing so much importance on their sexuality, despite not being interested in these affairs herself.

And despite having strong morals, Maomao is also keenly aware of her place in society as a poor woman. She know how insignificant she is to those in power, but instead of making rash decisions she works around the system. And this makes her the perfect counterpart to the other great reason to watch this anime: Jinshi.

Jinshi is an eunuch that supervises the inner palace, always butting himself in every problem to make sure the concubines are taken care of. He is a man born with everything: well-spoken and smart, signs of a great education; clearly high ranked, which makes him rich and powerful; an ethereal beauty that captivates every woman in the palace and loyal servants at his beck and call.

So when Jinshi discovers Maomao's great knowledge and usefulness, he is quick to think of her as another pawn to do as he says. He couldn't be more wrong. As they solve mysteries and develop a tenuous friendship, both of them are forced to change their perspectives: Jinshi is shocked to see a woman that doesn't fall for his charms and starts to truly admire Maomao as a person, and Maomao learns to trust a bit more and not judge a person by their status.

This whole ordeal leads to some of the funniest scenes I've seen in some time, and truly one of the nicest relationships I've seen lately. It helps a lot that Jinshi respects Maomao's intelligence and trusts her judgement, but his worry about her ingesting some unknown poison is very cute too lol

The side characters are adorable too, specially Maomao's sisters and how they treat her like a baby, and everyone has their space to shine. I think my only critique would be that the concubines are still too much sexualized. I believe firmly that you can have characters that show their sexuality without having to have giant boobs barely covered, specially in a historical context. But I know how Japan's anime industry works, and if this was the least they could pander to a male audience, I'll take what I can get.

Overall, even if all of this isn't enough to catch your attention, I would recommend Apothecary Diaries just for the insane animation it has. The colors are beautiful, the movements are fluid and there are scenes I kept replaying because of how well scripted they were. This is an unexpected gem lost among the slop, and I can only hope it keeps going strong in this second season!

★★★★★ ♡

[thefirstknife]

Some of the more interesting bits of today's reset and dialogues. I loved this from Mara. She acknowledges her participation in steering Uldren towards his downfall AND she realises that she will have to do better with him in the future. This is from the ending dialogue when you finish the exotic quest for the Ager's Scepter.

I want to mention something from the start of the week because I've seen people get angry (but when do they not when it comes to Mara?)

Long post under read more:

It's about the discussion she and Ikora have at the terminal. Hot take, but both Mara and Ikora are right and wrong in the argument. Transcript:

Mara: "How long have your Hidden been privy to Uldren's resurrection?" Ikora: "Long enough to watch over him in your absence." Mara: "And you didn't direct him home. Why?" Ikora: "There was a concern he'd pick up some old habits." Mara: "You know the Garden made him sick. Riven twisted his mind. Eris would have seen it. She is not so easily deceived by skin-deep tricks." Ikora: "It's true I made mistakes, out of an idea of justice... out of grief. Are you leveling this same scrutiny toward Petra? Wasn't she supposed to be watching his grave?" Mara: "Petra has paid her dues. The Vanguard murdered him and has yet to pay theirs." Ikora: "We both lost family. I am sorry for my part in yours, but... Crow has been treated --" Mara: "My brother is dead. He was exhumed; his body twisted into a caricature. You had your vengeance." Ikora: "Is that what you're after? Cayde... I still feel that grief like a stone caught in my chest. Some days, it's more pronounced than others. Vengeance didn't erode that grief." Mara: "Then tell me. Who am I to blame? Who sent him to Savathun's clutches? Who bludgeoned Uldren into a scared animal and drove him from his home?" Ikora: "You did, Mara. And those Guardians that hurt him, did so out of misguided anger. Don't make the same mistake. Don't make my mistake."

This is some heavy stuff and there's a lot going on. First, I like that Mara doesn't respond at the end. It's uncharacteristic for her. It shows that Ikora's words did something to her. This is evident in the exotic quest later which I've already put at the beginning of the post. She's had time to think and she's admitting the part she played.

I dislike some of Ikora's arguments a lot. First, "concern that he'd pick up some old habits" goes entirely against the Vanguard policy and belief that Guardians are new people. They were only concerned because of bias towards Uldren due to what he's done. And Crow knows this! He said so last week when he wondered why is he the only Guardian judged by his past life. No one else is subjected to the same way of thinking. This is the reason why Guardians aren't supposed to dig around their past lives. Obviously with Crow, there's no way for him to avoid it, but the argument that, if he knew, he'd just magically become Uldren (and not just base!Uldren, but murderer!Uldren who will... I don't know, go after Ikora and Zavala or the innocent people in the City?) really shows how much the Vanguard mistreated Crow.

I also dislike the move to Petra. As Mara says, Petra has paid her dues. She really has. Let's not forget that Uldren was not just some guy to her or just her Prince; he was her friend. She had to watch him spiral out of control due to things she couldn't help him with, she had to make the choice to put him away until Mara comes back and at the end she had to make the choice to kill him. This trauma has shaped her.

The Vanguard hasn't paid any dues. That's kinda the whole point of Mara's questioning. Ikora tries to explain that this was due to grief and losing family, but pray tell Ikora, has Mara not lost family too? Mara mentions this immediately as expected.

Ikora is however right to say that it was ultimately Mara's actions that led to the situation we're currently in. The Vanguard had no say in Awoken royal family affairs. Mara knows this, she said as much in the past few weeks and other lore in general: she spoke at length about the distance she pushed between them out of perceived necessity, the need to shape Uldren in a way to make him less like himself (since she disliked his recklessness and dangerous behaviours), but ultimately that only made things worse. She's aware that his venture into the Black Garden was fuelled by Uldren's need to prove himself. Ironically, in an effort to make him loyal and devoted, Mara pushed him into more recklessness instead of stopping it. She's aware of this. Asking Ikora "who am I to blame" was just waiting to be roasted.

But Mara is also right to ask about how the Vanguard treated both Uldren and Crow. How they washed their hands from killing him "officially" by hiding behind the Guardian, how nobody in the Tower answered for this. Their treatment of Crow as well: forcing him into hiding, isolating him. Excusing all the suffering he felt at the hands of the Guardians as "misguided anger." The torture he endured from Guardians just for showing his face was so much more than just "misguided anger" and Mara is right to feel heated and enraged when she talks about this and when she asks her questions. She expressed similar distaste and anger in a voice line with Glint in regards to how the Spider treated Crow.

I got an interesting dialogue at the end of my Shattered Realm run which also made me really irritated on behalf of both Crow and Mara when it comes to the Vanguard. Ikora asks Crow why didn't he send his latest report and Crow replies that he's had a lot going on and a lot to deal with. Which is true! He's not the Drifter who doesn't send reports out of spite; Crow genuinely wants to help but he's struggling with a lot of things that we can't even begin to unravel. He deserves patience and understanding. However, the following then ensues.

Ikora:

Crow:

Ikora:

This last part is a nice sentiment. But excuse me. Crow has literally been resurrected, isolated, tortured, enslaved and then "rescued" only to be thrust into a cage in the Tower and given "responsibilities." He is not obliged to be the Vanguard's errand boy. It's honestly quite rude from Ikora to tell him that he has to take his responsibilities seriously. The man hasn't lived a single day in his life without anxiety over whether he'll be tortured to death in the street if he shows his face.

I know the Vanguard gave him protection from the Spider and stuff to do (which he enjoys) and accepted him into their ranks. That's all good. But there's very little empathy here that acknowledges the life he's lived. Crow deserves to experience things that aren't isolation, imprisonment and following orders.

And most of all, he deserves to know the truth. Something the Vanguard has denied him for almost a year now. I know Savathun's schemes were involved and specifically, they were involved through impersonating Osiris which made a lot of people turn a blind eye. But now that this is known?

Crow can't share his burdens without knowing the truth. That's the whole problem. Everybody, except him, knows who he was. Everyone looks at him and treats him through that lens. He can't unburden himself without being told half-truths and being denied information. His burdens exist precisely because he doesn't know while everyone else does. So while the sentiment is nice, it reads more like a "that sucks buddy" than a genuine offer to help him with what is really bothering him.

On the other hand, obviously sharing the truth is difficult. His past life is more complicated than for most other Guardians. He's been through things that other Guardians haven't. The situation is complex on every single level and every character has a reason for the choices they've made.

Sometimes those choices are wrong and they are mistakes. And Mara isn't the only one who made the wrong choices and mistakes, consciously and unconsciously. It's a disservice to the complexity of the situation, Ikora, the Vanguard and Uldren to boil everything down to "Mara bad." Doesn't make for a compelling story.

That's what I wanted to address in detail because on the surface, it's easy to just dismiss either of the character you dislike more. And that's just reducing the story to a spectrum of black and white that Destiny really, ironically, isn't about.

[samuraispirit365]

[[ CaptainTsubasa DEBATE CORNER ]]

💖💘💘💘-- JUN MISUGI x YAYOI AOBA Centric --💘💘💘💖

Hi and welcome everyone, 😃

Thank you for your kind attention. Normally I'd not waste my precious time on such cheap tabloids. But here I am sharing my opinions in hope of knocking some sense into whoever needs it. Feel free to translate into your language but English/Anglais/Inglés/Inglese/Inggris/英语 is the universal means I will use to convey my ideas. Thanks. 🙂

**TARGETED ARTICLES:

1/ https://www.facebook.com/geekuoficial/videos/398114580717008/ by Geek-U

2/ https://www.facebook.com/dralilydewakabayashi/posts/2544044139252241 by Lily de Wakabayashi

To begin with, I find it funny how people were earnestly willing to accept something based only on an initial or superficial presentation, without taking any further proof, verification, or investigation into account. 🤔 They allowed themselves to criticize an unfortunate little boy while totally ignoring the context of his actions. They think they have every right to make fun of such a sensitive moment in CaptainTsubasa (CT) and still call them CT "longtime" and "loyal" fans. 🤨

- Firstly, allow me to ask: How much do you know about JunxYayoi relationship? and WHO are you to judge them without understanding?

Ranked as the most talented player of his generation, Jun Misugi needed NO pity from his opponent even though he was sick, because he had undeniably surpassed Tsubasa in level. He wanted a clean and fair battle before he could say goodbye to soccer forever. It was his pride, frustration, and stubbornness as an all-round genius, whose dream was thwarted by his illness, in this last competition against his most-desired rival (Tsubasa) that led to him hurting his best female friend (Yayoi), having taken her previous action as a betrayal - a great insult to his righteousness. But above all, Jun didn't mean to hurt her and neither did he know Yayoi cared for him as more than a friend. 😒💔

- Secondly, you'd think Jun didn't regret his action? In fact, he did.

While the 1983 version was an exaggeration and thus far from the truth, the 2018 version followed the original Manga closely enough, but the only VERY IMPORTANT detail being left out was Jun's aghast facial expression right after Yayoi broke into tears and ran away from him. That emotional scene has forever imprinted in my mind ever since I was a kid and I'm really SHOCKED to find that NONE of you there actually cared enough to give a darn about what you're talking and/or discussing about. 🤨🙄😑

(( View the 1st Manga page for reference ))

See??? SEE>>>??? Do I need to provide each of you with an ultra-large Magnifying Glass in order to see how sad Jun looks after his deed? 😡😡🤬🤬😡😡🤬🤬😡😡🤬🤬

Yeah, it was wrong of him to do that and the little Prince did know that and was aghast he could've done that to Yayoi. In essence, Jun immediately regretted his action! And after that he never does anything like that again. NEVER.

Okay, let’s admit it, all of us have done some nasty or callous things at one point, maybe not even knowing it. It could be something simple as having a bad week and yelling at someone without meaning to. Most of us already made an effort to adjust our actions and do the right thing since then, but it seems there’s no such thing as context in YOUR eyes regarding Jun Misugi, huh? 🤔🤔🤔 And this is why the little Prince sequential actions have no bearing on it also! You will call him whatever demeaning and degrading stuff you feel will hurt him regardless of what happened, like how he doesn’t care about anyone but himself, how he's victim-blaming, how he needs to cater to others' feelings or else, he's a horrible person blablablah. Heck! Even when he wants some alone time can result in your saying that he's a cold and selfish person. RIGHT!? 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Give the poor guy a break! I appreciate you anti-fans all think you are doing justice to Yayoi but she doesn’t need it, and the 11-year-old was way more mature than you in this situation as she already knew very well that Jun didn't mean to hurt her and forgave him and stayed with him in the rain to give him her utmost support until the end. They made peace soon later and the Prince's heart, too, was full of gratitude and solemn joy being aided by his Princess. So WHO are you to judge him? We are in NO position to judge and we shouldn’t have been too critical of someone else’s fault unless we’re perfect, which none of us is. 🙂

(( View the 2nd & 3rd Manga pages for reference ))

The Field Prince is a cool, noble and very kind guy. You should all recognize this fact unless you've created a false impression of yourself as a true CT fan. Nonetheless, even the nicest guy makes his mistake! There must have been something terribly wrong with you if you allow this small misbehavior the Prince made as a kid to ruin his entire image & character on purpose, while totally disregarding other values that keep the romantic relationship between him & his Princess healthy and lasting. 😤

TRUE LOVE is a total commitment, an energy that makes us feel completely alive being by each other's side, and a REAL MAN is determined by the size of the smile of the woman next to him. 🥰 It is very naive of you to think Yayoi only experiences persistent feelings of anxiety and sadness being with her Prince. In total contrary, from what I see Yayoi always smiles happily by Jun's side, as if lost in a Perfect Dream she never wishes to wake up from 🥰🥰🥰 (well, she'd cry, too, either when he shined brilliantly or was found in some serious trouble on the field, but it'd be a different story not to be discussed here).

So, she always smiles and WHY? Because as adult Jun has never made Yayoi question her self-worth or lose confidence in herself or their love, instead he has cherished her and stayed faithful to her and treated her like a Princess ever since they officially started dating in middle school and together they has overcome so many obstacles in order to be together until these present days, for better or for worse. I know for sure that they both are happy with the choices they made, despite the ups and downs as the road is long and difficult. Because TRUE LOVE is knowing that the other person will always be with you regardless of what happens. Yes! True Love is being together in good times and in bad times. True Love is HOW you hold tightly onto each another and fight for it when the battle seems to be a loosing one. That's the reason JunxYayoi has never failed our adoration as the MOST BEAUTIFUL Couple in CT!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

___________ View more Manga moments of JxY above to feed your dry empty and barren soul. I'd gladly provide you with a thousand more from both Manga&Anime just to prove the deep bond between them if needed! ___________

In the end, just to recap, the bottom line is that you're desperately in need of a thorough refresh of mind & memory as you're definitely getting too cynical and insidious in your way of analyzing CT characters, particularly anything that concerns the Prince of Japanese Football. 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

It's not a bad thing to be shallow-minded when watching any Manga/Anime series because they're, after all, just for entertainment. But in the case of analyzing its pivotal characters, notably those as complicated and deep as Jun Misugi the Field Prince, it's absolutely forbidden, especially once you have claimed yourself a veteran fan of the series. 😃 I apologize beforehand for being very straightforward but it's true. While you may have a zest for CT, you often get so caught up in the drama of your feelings that your power of reason gets watered down to the point where you lose track of your objectivity altogether. Your sole focus on criticizing/attacking CT characters without thorough knowledge about their true essence only makes it worse. 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

_ To sb I once considered my friend, I understand that you might have suffered from a strange kind of phobia that doesn't allow you to understand or accept any other characters of better qualities compared to your beloved goalie, who has been roughly removed from the spotlight for almost a year in way of providing more precious space for everyone else to shine. But kindly STOP inventing anymore deliberate misreading of the story of your own reasons, whoever you are, if you want to avoid putting your foot in your mouth later when the great Takahashi proves you all wrong in the very near future. Because if you keep doing this, do you believe you are Social Justice Warriors? No, you're Moral Abusers. I really don’t think this needs more elaboration here. THANK YOU. 😉

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**Manga Pages © Takahashi Yoichi. Translations by Shinji.

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++ Related Topic ++

1/ FOREVER ONE LOVE

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