#its such a good scene the acting is absolutely amazing it really made me feel some typa way

[zuzu-romeave]

that moment with milchick and natalie talking about the paintings is such a standout moment for me

[lullabyes22-blog]

hi <3

i am once again asking your thoughts on the latest act of arcane?

Honestly, my feelings on S2 so far are pretty mixed.

:')

On the one hand, visually, it's absolutely heartstopping. The cinematography is incredible, and it's the first time in a while where every episode felt like an experience I had to endure in a good way. Plus the score, the voice-acting, and the sound design is, as usual, top notch.

Buuuut when you have all these stellar spheres working on this show, it makes the areas where they drop the ball stand out.

For me, that's the plot.

Alot of folks have criticized the pacing and how there's too much piled into one season. Personally, at this point I've made peace with the breakneck speed and sort of taken it as a given in a series where 'War' is the overarching theme. I can even let go of the fact that certain plot beats don't feel earned, as there's so much subtlety and foreshadowing that you can easily make the case for them via long-drawn out analyses of every frame.

But the writing, ohhhh boy. The writing. It feels like there's a disconnect between the overall plot and the individual character moments.

It's really hard to articulate, but I'll do my best.

I love that we're getting so much characterization for the main cast. Every episode, it feels like there's a new layer peeled back, and each of our leads has an opportunity to shine.

And that's exactly the problem. They're all shining.

Separately.

When I think about it, the reason why S1 worked so well was because every episode gave us a glimpse into the mind of someone different. We got a taste of what it was like to be in the head of every major player in the cast, and through this, we grew to understand their motivations, their fears, their hopes. I've used the 'gem' analogy in previous reviews, and the way the show handled that concept was amazing. Every character was a facet of the gem that was Arcane, and each shift of PoV allowed us to see them from a new angle.

There was coherence. There was cohesion. And there was a sense of complexity told in a concise and well-planned format.

S2, for me, doesn't quite work the same way.

It's not that I don't understand the characters, or that I don't appreciate the way they're handled. It's just that their individual journeys are so self-contained. I'm not getting a sense of their interpersonal connections. More as if they're crashing into and out of each other's lives, without ever stopping to have a proper conversation.

It's a common complaint with ensemble casts, and I don't mind it for the most part, but the problem here is that Arcane has been very careful about establishing its characters as part of a cohesive whole. They're not just random individuals who happen to share a stage. They're siblings, lovers, colleagues, friends, enemies, etc. And the reason why we can relate to them is because, on some level, they mirror our own relationships. We've seen how they treat each other, and we've come to care about them.

But in this season, I feel like there's been a failure to communicate.

Scenes between characters feel like a series of disconnected vignettes, some of which are great and some of which are not so great. It's as if the writers are trying to force the characters to react to the plot rather than the other way around.

I don't want to be overly critical. So much love and effort has gone into making this show, and I'd never want to disparage the efforts of so many talented artists.

But, yeah. Coherence is a bit of an issue.

I will say, however, that re: the subject of grief, especially in Jinx's journey, this season has delivered some beautiful moments. It's a surprisingly nuanced treatment of a complicated and ugly emotion, and it's something I wish more shows would tackle. The problem with a lot of modern storytelling is that, because it's trying so hard to be edgy, complex and subversive, it doesn't really leave any room for just letting characters exist. And Jinx's arc in particular is a perfect example of this.

I was worried, going into the season, that they'd take the easy route and paint her as a pure monster, utterly deranged from her loss. That's what the fandom seems to want, anyway, and it's what you'd probably expect given the general climate.

But instead, the show has chosen for Jinx to be vulnerable, and to let her arc be honest. Granted, Isha, though she's adorable, still doesn't quite feel like a full-fleshed out person, but Jinx's bond with her has been written with such heartbreaking realism that I'm inclined to forgive the former for the sake of the latter. It's just refreshing to see the series not to take that insulting and reductive 'but Jinx is crazy' route, and instead allow her to grapple with the pain of losing her family and the horror of what she's done, but to also heal old wounds with brand-new connections.

'Crazy' does not mean 'irredeemable.'

And it's about time more mainstream media got this memo.

The series also continues to be stellar at showcasing so much with such restraint. A lot of the scenes don't last longer than a few minutes, and yet you can feel so much conveyed in that brief window. And the framing and composition is consistently masterful.

Overall, though, I'm a bit underwhelmed by this season so far. It feels like an incomplete masterpiece, and the sense that the narrative has lost control is starting to get overwhelming. We've still got Act 3 left, and I'm hoping the final stretch is able to tie things together a little more neatly.

Anyway, thank you for reading this mess! And feel free to share your thoughts as well. I'm curious to hear how other people are finding the series.

<3

[starryalpacasstuff]

She Loves To Cook and She Loves to Eat: I can't summarize my love for it sufficiently

A while ago, I asked @lurkingshan for Japanese QL recs, and Tsukutabe was her first rec. And while I'm finally watching this significantly later than I expected to, I'm so glad I did. I watched both seasons as a whole, which turned out to be a good idea because while season one was good, season two was excellent.

I think, going into this show I expected it to be a simple, domestic show that was pretty much all fluff. And while it was all those things, it was so much more too. It's got a lot of hidden depth to it, particularly in terms of how mature and real it is.

Tsukutabe is many things, but at its core, it is a show about people being kind. It's about people receiving kindness and being kind to others in turn. From inviting someone to a home cooked meal to volunteering to cover overtime work, the characters in this show exemplify how much change you can bring by simply being kind. It's something that fills you with warm, fuzzy feelings as you watch.

It's also a show about healing. We get to see people who have very different relationships with food heal and develop them as the show progresses. One thing I loved about this show was that it consistently treated everyone's problems as equal, never downplaying any of them. Nagumo and Kasuga's problems and relationships with food are fundamentally opposing, but are also equal in that they are two sides of the same coin, and are treated as such. I nearly wept tears of joy at the balcony scene with Kasuga and Nagumo, which was absolutely beautifully handled.

The show delving into the pressures of family and society in regards to marriage hit extremely close to home in the best way possible. I really appreciated the realistic and relatable portrayal of people's views on marriage, in particular how the show delved into the relationships queer people have with marriage. The depiction of the common belief that queer relationships are less likely to last was also extremely familiar. My mother, who is more liberal than most Indians, once told me that an Indian lesbian she talked to said the problem with being gay in India is that, due to gay marriage not being legal, there is very little commitment in gay relationships. While I'm still slightly unsure of whether this was true, the point stands that this is a fairly prevalent belief amongst Asians who don't grab pitchforks and torches upon hearing the word gay. I really, really enjoyed how realistic this show is in this regard, because it made me feel so seen.

Kasuga and Nomoto's relationship was adorable. Watching them figure out their deeper feelings for one another, stumble into a confession and then figure out how to be in a relationship was delightful. I was extremely pleased that there was little to no miscommunication, and that both of them acted like mature adults with decent communication skills (what a surprise!). And finally, they had an excellent dynamic that felt very real.

Another thing I absolutely adored was how much focus this show gave to the food, to the point where it was practically the third lead. I mean, I'm sure that it's to be expected from a show called she loves to cook and she loves to eat, but I still found myself genuinely surprised by the amount of attention that was given to the food in the show. Whenever food was cooked and eaten, we were presented with generous shots of both, which, as a lover of both cooking and eating, I greatly appreciated.

This show is amazing in many areas; the food, Kasuga and Namoto's slowly blossoming relationship, and the fantastic explorations of relationships with food. But, what really stole the show for me was the supporting cast. Each character that they introduced was someone who was at a different place in their life, with a different perspective that they brought with them. And, most importantly, as I mentioned before, they were so kind. The interactions between most of the characters were incredibly wholesome, and the story did an amazing job of showing us as much about the supporting characters as it could in the limited screen time they had.

Not only was Sayama a consistent, reliable support and voice of reason to Namoto, she had her own issues that she regularly discussed with Namoto, because that's what friends do. Too often in QL do friends of the main characters seem to only exist to listen to their problems, provide (typically questionable) advice and further the plot. I loved how the story subtly showed us how marriage pressure affect Sayama as well, who seems to be searching for a boyfriend only because that is what society expects of her, which is likely the reason she cannot find anyone. Kasuga's coworker had a wonderful mini arc of her own, and despite nearly all of it occurring offscreen, what little we got was absolutely brilliant. The scene wherein she and Kasuga talked about having to care for elders has to be one of my favourites in the entire show. In this, she was probably one of the first elders to ever encourage Kasuga to act with her own wellbeing in mind. Similarly, Kasuga was likely one of the first people to tell her to do what makes her happy. The fact that they are, in way, speaking in place of each other's loved ones only makes this moment even more of a tearjerker. The final scene wherein we see her looking for a job was delightful; it was the perfect conclusion to her story. Yako perfectly embodied the older, experienced queer and I loved her so much. It's clear that she's not had an easy time being a lesbian and asexual, but she overcame the challenges and came out smiling. Although I do wish that the show had explored her asexuality more, and perhaps even expanded on her story, I also understand that time constraints wouldn't have allowed for it; and besides, there's a certain poignancy to the conclusion she got. Honestly though, I'd absolutely love to see a spinoff based on Yako's story, exploring the hurdles she's overcome and maybe even seeing her find love (season 3 anyone?). As for Nagumo, I don't think I even need to say anything. She had a wonderful arc that was extremely well written, and by the end of the story she had blossomed into a better version of herself. I also loved her friendship with Kasuga, how the two of them grew closer over time and helped each other with their respective problems. The wide range of characters helped emphasize the show's message of how everyone is different, and how it is these differences that make our world a better place. Even Nomoto's coworker is an example of this, as someone who seems to have little to no interest in romance, who doesn't hesitate to take up the overtime work so that the two girls can enjoy Valentine's Day. (I'm headcanoning him as aroace and you can pry this from my cold, dead hands).

Found family is a trope I adore, and this show has to be one of the most beautiful executions of this trope I've ever seen. Watching Namoto and Kasuga build a little family for themselves—one that accepts everyone as they are—was a very healing experience.

Another thing I really liked about this show is how realistically conflict was handled. On the most part, the show did not antagonize characters. The man who told Kasuga to drink beer is treated as simply an annoying person one stumbled across (a common occurrence), the cooks at the restaurant make an effort by offering different sizes of rice portions after serving Kasuga a smaller portion due to her gender and both Nomoto and Kasuga acknowledge that it was not the real estate agent's fault for mistaking them to be friends. Nomoto's mother is slightly overbearing and conservative, but she clearly cares for Nomoto, something that hit very close to hom. I appreciated that the show portrayed this so well. Most people are not evil and out to get you, they're just people living their own lives based upon the beliefs they've built up over the course of their life, and most of the time it is not worth our time to get worked up over it.

Meanwhile, Kasuga's father is perhaps the only actual antagonist of the story. I really liked how this plotline was handled because of how real it felt. The show plays out exactly according to the actual thought process someone would have in a situation like this, in particular an asian; that our parents are products of their time and that while we wouldn't condemn them for their actions, the same does not make us responsible for dealing with them either. Side note while I'm on this, I was also very happy that the show did not compare Nomoto and Kasuga's different methods of dealing with family, because not only were they in different situations, the show also seems to emphasize that neither choice is wrong, and that it is up to each individual to choose their own path. Going back to what I said about being glad that the show did not compare Kasuga and Nagumo's situation, this seems to develop into a theme for the show. The show is filled with different people with different lives and different perspectives, and never once does it try to compare any of them, which I find to be a beautiful message.

If there's any criticism I have of this show at all, it's only that it's probably not the best pick for a binge. The slow plot, laid-back feel and fact that each problem that arises is resolved in the same episode makes it an excellent candidate for a show you watch a few episodes of every day. Unfortunately, I placed myself in an 8 hour flight with the downloaded episodes being my only source of entertainment, so I did end up binging most of it. It's definitely not bad as a binge, I certainly enjoyed watching it, I simply feel like watching it slowly is a far better choice. All in all, this is a wonderful show. It's cozy and comforting, and it's very realistic and mature in a way that's quite refreshing. Watching it made me feel warm inside and I'm so glad I finally watched it.

[lauraneedstochill]

I debated whether I should keep my opinion on EP3 in the comments to @st-eve-barnes post (she made some good arguments btw!) but I guess I’m out of fucks to give. just like the HOTD scriptwriters ✌

big fat disclaimer: I sincerely can’t say a single bad thing about Ewan. his acting was absolutely amazing, he owned the scene, and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t have a problem with nudity (if you watched “High Life”, you know what I’m talking about; if you didn’t, please read the warnings before watching).

my problem is with everything leading up to the brothel scene with Aegon — because this is NOT how you write conflict, and because it could’ve hit way harder if only it was done PROPERLY. unsurprisingly, it started in EP2:

➡ the fact that we got absolutely no reaction to B&C from Aemond is a joke. I’ve read some people saying “well, Jaehaerys isn’t his son so why would he care” — sure, Aemond wasn’t competing to win the uncle of the year award. BUT you are telling me he wouldn’t simply be pissed about the fact that a couple of nobodies managed to sneak into the supposedly well-guarded castle and kill a Targaryen like it’s no big deal? that they dared to put a knife to Helaena’s neck, that they clearly could’ve done worse things to her? that they left a mess in his room, touched his stuff? you mean Aemond, who is definitely an annoying perfectionist who puts every thing in its specific place, Aemond who’s extremely arrogant about being the best warrior, the biggest defender, the mister-know-it-all, Aemond who clearly has anger issues — HE wouldn’t be fuming on the inside? HE wouldn’t rush to the small council meeting to know all the details? HE wouldn’t volunteer to help Aegon murder the ones responsible? it’s a pity everyone’s forgotten S1 Aemond but I have NOT.

➡ I won’t talk much about the brothel scene in EP2 (@pygmyharmoset analyzed it really well) but I will say that to me it felt very disconnected from the main plotline. yet again, there is NO ! BUILD UP ! was it so hard to at least show Aemond leaving? to let us know what mood he was in (was he agitated? fidgeting? when exactly he decided to leave? did something trigger it?). they could’ve cut out the moment of his arrival so we wouldn’t know where he was going to have the big shocking reveal later when he’s suddenly with Sylvi, all naked and vulnerable. it would’ve only taken an additional MINUTE of screentime!

➡ now, to the worst of it — and I really want you to think over what I’m about to say:

people are allowed to grieve in their own way. not everyone is lucky to have all the right tools to process trauma.

did Aegon treat Aemond poorly? was he mean and cruel to his younger brother? yes. yes, he was (newsflash: there are no good people in this show. hope this helps).

BUT

was Aegon’s child killed because of a mistake Aemond made? is it possible that Aegon’s been harboring his resentment, that the absence of Aemond in that tragic, pivotal moment in their lives hurt him? the answer is also YES. Aegon doesn’t know how and has never seen how to cope with emotions in a healthy way, and it’s not in his power to break the cycle so he keeps repeating all the same mistakes. that’s the tragedy of it and that’s the ticking bomb planted under the foundation of their relationship.

the tragedy of that dumbass writing we’ve been presented with is that we did not see their conflict take root. we DID NOT get to see how their discontent kept growing, how they both felt caged and dissatisfied with their circumstances (Aegon realizes no one wants him on the throne and he feels helpless, Aemond is constantly being denied the chance to prove himself so he also feels helpless) — and how eventually that anger they couldn’t channel into anything else made them lash out at each other.

my first thought after watching EP3 was that there’s gotta be a scene missing between the small council meeting and the brothel scene. there SHOULD’VE been a scene with just Aegon and Aemond, they had all the reasons and opportunities for it! here, think about this:

Aemond’s comment at the end of the meeting comes off as patronizing (“It’s a brave thought” — Aemond is forbidden to leave with Vhagar so he’s glad that Aegon has to sit back, too). Aegon insists that he’s just “as fearsome”; but the thing is, he isn’t sure of it, so of course Aemond’s words stay with him, nibble at him, and it would only take a cup or two for him to get heated about it. he calls Aemond to his chambers and brings back the topic — “You don’t deem me brave, brother? You do not think I’d fight just as hard?”. it’s only the two of them, Aegon is in full armor, standing on his little wooden stool, a cup in his hands. and because he is hurting, he wants to hurt Aemond in return. so he gets off the stool and comes closer to him, sneering, “You are, no doubt, a fierce warrior,” — but then the smile falls off his face, and his voice gets quiet, pained, searing, “So tell me, where were you when my son was being murdered? I came to learn that they were looking for you, were they not? Oh, you would’ve fought them off with ease, for sure. So where were you, huh?”

and then you get the tension breaking, the emotions erupting — and, most importantly, the CONFLICT. Aegon throws the cup away, darts to Aemond, grabs him by his clothes (remember how desperately he held his face in EP9 of S1? the parallel would’ve been so beautiful !), finally screaming “Have you any idea what you’ve done? WHAT IT COST US?” — and now he isn’t talking about B&C but about Luke too. only, we’ve seen the extent of Aemond’s guilt and he isn’t about to show it now, taken aback by Aegon’s outburst, so instead of taking the blame, Aemond does what he knows best — he attacks him in return. they throw accusations at each other: Aemond reminds Aegon he was getting drunk, he himself didn’t do anything to be there for his family, he didn’t even do anything to deserve being on the throne. it’s nasty, it’s a shouting match, Aegon’s buddies eventually have to come in to pull them away from each other.

and it’s no surprise that Aegon goes back to drinking after that. and Aemond, overwhelmed and in disarray, goes back to the only place that can grant him comfort. so when Aegon finds him there and dares to humiliate him publicly and rob him of that illusion of comfort — that’s when something switches in Aemond. that’s when he decides he’s not a loyal dog anymore.

and that is, in my humble and very subjective opinion, how you properly bring someone’s temper to a boiling point. if only Ryan Condal ever cared, HA.

[lonelylittledot]

Wicked

~ a Wicked scholar's thoughts on the movie

Okay. I had detached myself from any feelings about the movie truly years ago, and so I walked into the movie theatre with really low expectations.

My overall opinion: it was not a bad adaptation. I'd expected to give it 3/10, it turned out as a solid 6.5/10.

Here are just a few things that stuck out to me:

The landscapes - didn't hate them but didn't like them.

The costumes - amazing. Pretty much every outfit slayed. I feel like they could have been even a bit more extravagant, but they were great as they were. - As for Elphaba, I think my favorite outfit was the first Shiz dress and the post-Popular outfit. - Glinda's bubble dress was exquisite, and I really liked her Emerald City ensemble, although I do miss the yellow dress, I feel like it doesn't get enough love

I liked Ariana's G(a)linda surprisingly a lot. Maybe it's because I know she's a huge Wicked fan, but I felt like her love for the source material really showed.

I wasn't really sold on Cynthia. Don't get me wrong, she has a truly fabulous voice, and she absolutely did shine in the big, loud parts - but overall, I wasn't a fan of her versions of the songs. She looked and acted great, though.

Michelle Yeoh, the woman you are. Fantastic casting, no notes.

Jonathan. Oh, dear, Johnathan Bailey. Looks? Hot. Vocals? Gorgeous. Vibes? Flawless. I wish he'd played the role a decade ago, because he does look forty and not college-age, but I think everything else about him truly makes up for it.

Speaking of - I liked that Fiyero got just a few tiny little additional scenes/lines, really helped to flesh out his character more.

Grammar-nazi Elphaba, my beloved.

Listen, I have shipped Fiyero and Elphaba since I was 14. And I'm not going to stop now. I stan them, I loved their chemistry in the movie, I will ship them until the day I die.

The direction on G(a)linda/Elphaba - hella gay. But I didn't quite feel their chemistry, neither friendly nor romantic. It was okay, but didn't blow me away.

IDINA AND KRISTEN???? love love love love my og queens

The movie dragged on. A lot. This is my only really big criticism, unfortunately it's a really important one. I think they could easily have made the whole musical into one 3h long movie, and it would have been much better for the pacing. - there weren't even that many added scenes; and a lot of the additions were pretty good, actually - some were totally unnecessary though. like the guards chasing Elphaba and Glinda and the whole balloon shenanigans? - similarly, many scenes were just unnecessarily stretched out; with the camera staying too long in one place or one moment being dragged out way too long - some of the songs just had slightly longer (like 2 bars?) breakes between the choruses added for no reason

Defying Gravity. This is the same thing as one of the previous comments, but I feel like it deserves its separate mention. The pacing in that scene (or, here, more like a collection of scenes) was extremely off, the song losing all of its momentum by being chopped up into pieces. And the way they made us wait for the iconic vocalization at the end; I honestly thought I'd die of boredom.

Sometimes I felt like the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be more stage-y and theatrical, and lean into the whole campy vibe, or more cinematic and "naturally" acted; and sometimes it switched weirdly between the two.

There was one single thing that looked way better onscreen than onstage. The Lion cub. In the movie, he looked extremely cute, tiny little adorable darling baby kitten. Way better than the creepy-ass puppet they use in the show.

There were many more tasty little details that I simply couldn't remember/write down, or else I wouldn't have been able to pay any attention to the movie. Once it's available, maybe I'll rewatch and dissect it in more detail (I should also finally watch the 1939 Wizard of Oz, it's a CRIME that I still haven't! I'm sure people who know it well could also see many references in the new Wicked - even I noticed the ruby slippers in Popular, for example!).

Summing up this unnecessarily long rant:

It was not a bad adaptation; although I doubt it will make many people into Wicked fans. At the end of the day, it's clearly a story made for the stage, and even though it was transferred to the big screen fairly well, I think it still belongs in the regular theatre, not the movie one.

[dilirebas]

My review of Joy of Life 2

The much-anticipated sequel to Joy of Life finally had its broadcast this year, and it picked up exactly where the first series left off. When Fan Xian returns to Southern Qing after a successful trip to Northern Qi, he immediately faces an assassination attempt by the Second Prince. Although he survives, this is just the beginning of the challenges and dangers that await him.

I really think, perhaps controversially, that the second series is even better than the first!

JoL2 has all the humour and warmth of JoL2 (seriously, it's still so funny), but it also has a darker overall tone. Fan Xian's experiences have shown us that this is an uglier and more dangerous world than we had originally thought. Characters are showing their true colours as their plans and motivations unravel.

We also see an angrier and less trusting Fan Xian. Not everything goes his way anymore. We realize that there are characters who can outwit him, and there are characters that have something to teach him. But that's what I find so exciting about JoL2 -- these newfound challenges raise the stakes and allow Fan Xian to grow as a character.

And at the heart of these challenges lies the fact that Fan Xian is a hopeful and principled person who can't ignore his vision for a fairer and better world. There are easier paths available to him but he refuses to give into his cynical surroundings.

It's true that JoL2 has a bit of a slow start. I'd say the pace and excitement picks up again towards the end of episode 3. But 3 slower episodes on the front end really isn't much to complain about. Remember that JoL1 had a slow start too, but those episodes served a purpose and they were 100% worth watching.

There are characters from JoL1 that will leave an even deeper impression on you in JoL2. For me, one of those characters was Lin Ruofu, and another one was the Crown Prince - for very different reasons. And, of course, the Emperor.

There are also new characters who are loveable and hilarious, including the Grand Princess of Northern Qi, the Eldest Prince of Southern Qing, and Deng Ziyue.

The cast chemistry in JoL2 is so good, you guys!! There are scenes where the actors' rhythms and energies come together so perfectly (whether it's comedic timing or dramatic buildup) and you just want to watch them over and over again.

I also think Zhang Ruoyun has improved as an actor. I know his original Fan Xian was already beloved and critically acclaimed, but he has continued to mature as an actor in the past few years. This time around, his performance as Fan Xian is simultaneously more explosive and more nuanced. There's much more happening in the details of his acting now.

To me, Li Qin as Lin Wan'er felt a bit like a weak link in a sea of outstanding performances. Compared to some of the others, she just felt less natural in her character. She's an excellent actress so this probably just isn't her best, and she still has several scenes where she makes a strong impression.

It took me a while to get used to the recasting of Yan Bingyun. I understand why it happened (Xiao Zhan's career skyrocketed after he filmed JoL1) but the new actor (Wu Xingjian) took a different approach that I didn't think was an upgrade. The new Yan Bingyun feels like a flatter and more transparent character, but that does also make sense in a way. In any case, Wu Xingjian still delivered in key scenes.

Through the lens of history (if you can call the setting history?), this drama touches on a range of themes and topics that remain relevant today. Fan Xian is not a saint but he's an admirable character by the standards of any society and he's the type of hero that every society needs.

If you've made it to this point in the review without having watched JoL1: I think you do need to watch the first series for the second series to make sense. But both series are amazing (like I truly believe they are among the best of the best of cdramas) and it will absolutely be worth your time. Run, don't walk!

[genericpuff]

welp, i finished the Dawntrial MSQ last night

it was

uh.

i actually enjoyed a lot of the things people were complaining about in the beginning, because while i could understand their criticisms, to me its flaws felt like something it would grow past as it was establishing a new foundation for a new story, which was what was promised to us, and obviously that's gonna require slowing down the pacing and lowering the stakes, which is fine!

but then the second half of the MSQ hit and i just-

on paper it should have been amazing

on paper i should have fucking loved it

but in execution, i stg trying to finish the lvl 98-100 MSQ took years off my life, even tho the majority of them took me a single night to beat, it still felt like it both overstayed its welcome and also did way too little with what it was trying to present us with

i know this is vagueposting because i don't wanna spoil, but man. "divisive" is definitely a word to describe the Dawntrail MSQ with, especially considering how many people were telling me "it gets better in the second half!" and again, I thought the first half of it wasn't as bad as people were saying, so I was HYPED for the second half, and instead I was brutally disappointed by what I got instead u.u

that said, the dungeon and trial gameplay mechanics are great, when the expansion remembers that it is in fact a video game it does it really well, it's just unfortunately not often enough for it to make up for the sloggy pacing of the story

the music is a bop, there are a couple tracks that i was a little eeeh on because they just felt really saccharine in a way that just clashed entirely with the tone of XIV and made me want to throw my headphones in the garbage, but the majority of the soundtrack was otherwise really well done, soken was really channelling his inner david wise here with the donkey kong vibes LOL but there are some somber tracks that are great too, there's a lot of range here in the soundtrack that should be appreciated despite the odd cringe track

environment design was solid, there were some zones that were questionable in their design because some of them felt pitifully empty despite promising bustling populations (looking at you, Tuliyollal and Solution Nine >:x)

but man , the last zone was brutal and that sucks because again, on paper, the concept SHOULD have been awesome, but ultimately it's still relying on the exact same plot devices in the past (insert lost civilization whose previous inhabitants/rulers are hellbent on keeping it alive even at the expense of current civilizations here) and the gameplay itself deadass forgot it's a game because there isn't a SINGLE instance of necessary combat or gameplay during all of it and so when the final quest (as per tradition, named "Dawntrail") finally pops up, it's like wait what ? that's it?? thankfully the last quest has both a dungeon and trial in it but it feels less like thought out design and more like the game devs remembering they had to actually include some gaming in their video game at the last minute LOL

i think the extra burden of directing FF XVI definitely caught up to Yoshi-P on this one, as well as the budgeting problems that still exist from COVID, and the fact that much of that budget clearly went to overall QOL changes like the graphics engine getting an almost complete rehaul (even in the previous expansions which is. a lot of work. like they want to re-texture ALL of the gear in this game and THAT'S A LOT, literally thousands of items!). where this expansion wins, it wins big, but those wins aren't enough to carry an overall lackluster experience that drags itself out way too fucking long for its own good. the story could have absolutely used a few more rounds in the writing room, if they couldn't afford more voice acted scenes then they should have simply just cut down on the amount of cutscenes, and i think the devs need to seriously ask themselves if the Trust system is worth dragging the Scions back into every adventure even when they have nothing to do (and it shows). like idk, just spitballing here, but the Trust system might be a good chance to re-introduce the GC squadrons, no? maybe go back to the roots a little bit and buff up the stuff that could still have a lot more life if given a chance?

anyways my experience with DT has been about a 6/10 and that score in the end will depend on how the patch quests go over the next couple years, I still prefer it over Stormblood (fr fuck SB lol) but it definitely feels like it's trying too hard to be like EW and ShB while missing what made EW and ShB so good in the first place (or acknowledging why its flaws were forgivable within the context of their respective designs, like yeah EW's pacing was iffy too but it at least had a lot more going on in it to justify it, DT is just grasping at straws by comparison). and in that sense it winds up being a lot more like ARR, where it's just kind of lost in what it's trying to do and creates a worse experience by the end. hopefully like with ARR back in the day the devs will figure out it's time to shake things up and try something new without using the old as a crutch.

[randomsufff]

Ok fuck it- I keep seeing the Great Gatsby pop up (thanks Gravity Falls lmao) and recently saw The Great Gatsby on Broadway and I need to spill out my thoughts on this musical

I’ll hold off my grips with it compared to the book till the very end- since I know a lot of argument around this musical is that it’s an adaptation and the adaptors are liable for taking creative liberties. Which- yeah! That’s valid! But I’d argue that in order to adapt something successfully, if you’re gonna make huge (and I mean HUGE) changes to the source material, it’s gotta somewhat follow some reason that makes sense for the characters and/or adds some layer or depth to the story or else you get something like HBOs Velma. But more on that in either an entirely other post or later depending on how long this gets

Read bellow if you want a really fucking long, detailed description of the show and what I think it did right and very, very wrong.

I will say- as a TLDR rn- I thought the show was just…ok. Like- “yeah that show sure was a musical.” kind of ok. The good songs and amazing spectacle of a few of the numbers kinda cancel out the bad pacing and really questionable narrative choices the show made. Also- hearing Eva Noblezada sing live changed my life.

OK- so I’ll start out by saying- I believe we had basically all the original current cast except for Jordan Baker was played by Traci Elaine Lee (who was absolutely phenomenal so I’m not too sad about missing Samantha Pauly)

I really thought the show was ok. Like I don’t hate it vehemently but I don’t love it either. I feel like the only reason it’s so famous is because of its two powerhouse leads (Hot take? Maybe.) Anyways, I don’t know how to go about this so we’ll go list form

1) PACING WAS ATROCIOUS

Again, not even comparing it to the novel- the pacing felt really off and didn’t even make much sense story wise. Like we would rush past certain information and then linger on scenes that didn’t really need to be lingered on? At least to me, I felt like there was other stuff the show should have prioritized showing- CAUSE THATS THE THING WITH THIS SHOW- is that they TELL not SHOW a LOT of information- so it kinda just feels like you’re being tossed plot without experiencing it.

For example, literally as soon as the show starts, Nick and party goers just throw all the information about Gatsbys party and being mysterious at the beginning by telling us and not showing, like he never shown to be cryptically hanging around in the first like 20 minutes of the show (at least that I remember- there was a lot happening in the opening number 😭) . Which sucks because they did this REALLY COOL thing right before the show started where Gatsby was standing there and was immediately gone as soon as a screen passed. LIKE YOU COULDN’T HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN THEYRE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT HIM???

(Also- recently saw a rehearsal (?) video where Gatsby like actually opened the opening song “Roaring On”, and that would have been great if they kept that! Because looking back, I felt like Gatsby had the least amount of stage time. Which probably I sn’t actually true, but it really felt like it. Like where is the main guy??? His first appearance (after his little disappearing act) is like, 20 minutes into the show. Idk for something that’s called “The Great Gatsby” he sure wasn’t on stage a lot. )

Then a couple scene later, Gatsby reveals to Nick- a man he JUST MET FACE TO FACE- that he’s in deep love with his married cousin and asks him TO HIS FACE that he wants him to set up a meeting with her. And then they move on. Like???

If you watched the show, maybe this’ll make sence to you, maybe this won’t, but it feel like they rushed past everything in the original source material, and only expanded and talked at length the aspects they wrote in.

Also the ending was so. Incredibly. Rushed. Like we don’t even get to see Daisys reaction to killing/hitting Myrtle. As soon as the fight at the Plaza ends everything else happens in like 15 minutes. Are you kidding me. WE DONT GET TO SEE DAISY ACTUALLY HIT MYRTLE. They did the ol’ “Bright lights get shined at the audience as character pretends to get hit” but that’s it! Literally THE REASON why Gatsby is killed and we don’t get to see it or their reactions in the moment. They just… tell us what happened instead of showing it to us. (“Daisy tried to swerve to the next lane but there was a car coming- and then… she just peeled off. She’s packing now…” YOU COULDN’T SHOW THIS TO US???) No idea of how Daisy or Gatsby reacted immediately after, only the next day. No rambled and frightened dialogue of their game plan, no glimpse into Daisys psyche where it’s shown she’s not going to choose Gatsby after all. Nothing.

Oh! And guess how long Gatsbys funeral was? Like a minute long. Just Nick sitting next to a casket in the background while party goers, Jordan and Wolfsheim dismiss Gatsby with a throwaway line. Like bro… that’s your main lead character… shouldn’t you give him, idk , at least more than a minute on stage when he dies? And like yeah I get that that’s the point that he’s forgotten, but I thought it was going to be more prominent than that! Give me Nick standing solemnly next to a casket thats dead center on a completely empty stage while he narrates how no one showed up. How despite the riches and infamy, no one, not even Jays own father (cause literally no one was by the casket on stage but Nick) showed up for his funeral. Instead of weirdly dismissing it like it’s not important?

2) NICK AND JORDENS “RELATIONSHIP”

Nah this actually pisses me off because there’s literally no point in this being so highlighted when it literally goes fucking nowhere.

So their relationship arc goes like this: Jorden says relationships sucks because she wants to be an independent woman in the 20s. Nicks like, I am not looking for a relationship but if we were in one I’d let you do all those things. They flirt, almost kiss, flirt more, do kiss, Nick says “let’s get married /j” Jorden says “yeah let’s get married /srs”, they get ENGAGED, they fight after discussing if they inadvertently caused Myrtle’s death (Jorden intentionally let Myrtle know where they were going that night), break up, and never speak to each other the rest of the show.

HELLO? What the actual fuck was the point of this then? If you wanted to expand Jorden to be the independent, feminist, girlboss *cough lesbian cough* that she is, just let her stay single?? She doesn’t need to be with Nick if you want her to be a part of the main cast.

The main problem I have with this is that the musical put wayyyy too much emphasis on it. And it’s so funny because there’s this big, dramatic, movie-esc pause Nick does after he says “I don’t want to marry you”, and sorry to the people who genuinely gasped, but be fr, are we surprised??? Jordan has been saying from literally her first line that men/marriage sucks, and that she would never do that willingly- then when she get married to a guy she knows for, at most? 1-2 weeks (idk how long the musical take place over), I’m supposed to take that relationship seriously????

In fact, I felt like their relationship often overshadowed Gatsby and Daisys, which shouldn’t happen, because the whole fucking shows about Gatsby.

For example, they steamrolled Gatsby and Daisys reunion with a budding Jordan and Nick plotline, for some reason??? Like they literally show Gatsby and Daisy seeing each other, have them say a few sentences wistfully reminiscing their first meeting, then have them go inside the house while their silhouettes are shown talking while the audience stays with Nick and Jorden OUTSIDE as they joke and almost kiss each other. HUH??? How are you going to literally push your years-long, slow burn yearning MAIN ROMANCE reunion to the side for a budding relationship that came out of nowhere and frankly dosent need to exist? And since we’re not going book accurate, you can actually SHOW how Gatsby and Daisy fall back into each others orbit, how their conversation went. But no.

It got so bad that I honestly can’t tell if one of the themes of this musical is something about marriage because of how much they pushed the “married/ people in a relationship” dynamic. Like what are you trying to tell me? All marriages are doomed??? I don’t even know (mayhaps just me being aroace)

What grips me the most is that they don’t even get any closure. Like they literally never speak to each other after that night Myrtle is killed. (Mostly cause the show ends literally 5 minutes later). The whole show they put these two together, build up their romance, show them having cute and funny moments together… all for what? For nothing?

AND I DID LIKE THEM. They were a cute couple, and their chemistry and jokes together were funny and charming. Their dynamic was interesting too, with Jordan wearing the pants, so to speak, and insisting she maintain her freedom while in marriage/ a relationship which wasn’t heard of in the 20s. But for all that to end because Jorden didn’t want to tell the cops Gatsby and Daisy possible ran her over/they’re partially responsible??? Like they INVESTED. SO. MUCH. in this relationship (to the point where they got ENGAGED???) that it feels so stupid and dumb for it to end like “wow you’re heartless :c I don’t want to marry you anymore :ccc” “well too bad, L, you’re guilty too asshole. Bye.”

AND what really grinds my gears is that if they cut this whole shit out, or at least made it more in the background, it would give more time to flesh out the few other problems I have with this show

3) SONG… EFFICIENCY (?)

Ok last point that’s not as much of a complaint as the others, but it was still something that bothered me. Some of the songs just say nothing/ repeat stuff we already know. Mainly thinking of (and sorry to people who like these songs- I’m not saying they’re bad! They’re just not a lot of info there) “For Her”, “Go”, or “Shady”

Like “For Her”, he’s just saying “I did [list of things involved with his fame/money] for her” for 4 minutes and you don’t even know who “her” is until like, the last line. Like this could have been a perfect opportunity to deep dive into Gastbys upbringing/ past, but the most the musical goes into Gatsby’s past is that he was in the war. Like you don’t get the sense that this man worked his way literally from the ground up for this woman. It’s just so repetitive that, even though it was Jeremy Jordon, I was getting bored halfway through.

AGAIN, this is not slandering Jeremy Jordan (JJ stans please spare me), you could have the most amazing Broadway singer sing with the best technique, but if it’s a dull, repetitive song, PERSONALLY, I’d be bored. They could have just combined this with another song, or as I suggested, add more purpose to the song and maybe put it later in the musical.

Similarly, “Go” (and, AGAIN, love Jeremy and Eva) was super repetitive and could have just been reduced to dialogue.

And “Shady”, though also a really good song, frankly could have been cut out. For some reason the musical really wanted Wolfsheim to be a main antagonist/prominent character and gave him this song- but there’s nothing in it that wasn’t already implied in the first Act and it really has nothing to do with any of the other characters, other then a vague “Jay and Daisy” gotta keep their affair secret (which… yeah I think we know that, but also to compare that to… hiding dead bodies and minding your own business- it’s???? Idk what they were going for)

(Tbh- I conversed with my dad who also mainly wanted to see the show for Jermey Jordan and Eva Noblezada and he said that none of JJ songs were that memorable, which I kinda agree with. He’s a great singer, a very talented man, but the songs he was made to sing in this show were not it. Just nothing of substance or catchiness. Which SUCKS. Because how are you going to get someone like Jeremy Jordan and not have him sing an absolute banger? But weirdly, none of his songs (maybe except “Only Tea” which I really liked) stood out which I’m so disappointed about.)

—————————

Ok that’s all just as it’s own thing (mostly) NOW MY FUCKING PROBLEMS WITH IT COMPARED TO THE BOOK

1.B) NICK AND GATSBY’S FRIENDSHIP

THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE- Nick and Gatsby friendship is so fucking integral to the original, and it feels like it didn’t even exist in the musical.

Like regardless on whether you ship them or see them as friends- Nick was Jays only fucking friend. He was the ONLY ONE who truly cared about him and went to his funeral when no one else did. In the book, Nick did So. Much. just because he wanted to for Gatsby. Gatsby had to ask Jorden to ask Nick to set up his tea meeting, he attempts to charm and lavish him in trips, and even tries to pay the man to get him to agree. But Nick refuses and is even offended that Gatsby would pay him money for such a thing and immediately accepts the night he finds out. And they actually hung out! Like a lot! At least before Jay asks him for the tea request. And though it could been because he wanted to make it easier for Nick to say yes, they were friendly with each other, and felt like actual pals. Nick genuinely was worried about Gatsby at the end, and even tried to warn him about what he was attempting to do multiple times.

In the musical that bond is just… not there. They rush past meeting each other, they never hang out one on one, and any interaction between them seemed slightly aggressive or politely concerned, like one would be to a stranger, which they technically are!!! The only reason he agrees to Gatsbys plan is basically petty revenge against Tom for punching Myrtle and being an asshole to Daisy/ in general. (Which- I feel like a move thats so out of character for Book!Nick cause he also dislikes Daisy.) Like Nick never learns Gatsbys backstory here (I don’t think he ever tells it, not even to the audience).

The “ you can’t repeat the past” line seemed more aggressively exasperated in delivery then the more soft concern for a close friend I initially read it as. And the “you’re worth more then whole rotten crowd put together” line didn’t really hit as hard because they don’t feel like close friends and nowhere in the show has Nick expresses this pedestal he puts Gatsby on like in the book.

Literally the only times they’re together alone is their initial meeting, and setting up for tea at Nicks. Every other time either Gatsby is with Daisy or Nicks with Jorden. They could have at least put together a cool ass montage of them hanging together, using those moving panels, going through diffrent activities as Jay introduces himself with his Oxford and army line, instead of dumping it all on him on their literal first meeting in his study.

(Also noted that they made it so Gastby owns the property Nick lives on and is renting it out for the man. Idk why they did this- to make it so Nick is indebted to Gatsby??? Also Gatsby vaguely threatens/ says something with a condescending/threatening aura (???) before Nick leaves after Jay ASKS A MAN .5 SECONDS AFTER MEETING HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME FACE TO FACE for the tea set up. Like there was a moment where he held onto Nicks hand as they shake goodbye, held his eye and said a line (I forgor) and kinda stood there staring him down before Nick awkwardly left. LIKE WHAT WAS THAT???? WHO ARE YOU???? WHY??? Literally doing everything to make sure no one can ship them)

2.B) THEY STRAIGHT-IFIED MY BOY.

NICK WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU. It felt like they wanted to take away any whiff of an implication that this man is gay. Like literally no build up to Jay and Nicks friendship, no meaningful scenes between the two, going head first and completely committing to Jordan, AND THE MR MCKEE SCENE BEING LIKE THAT.

AND MR MCKEE, IM SO, SO SORRY WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO YOU. They made him to be some predator who harasses Nick the whole party scene. And this could have been so. easy. to fit into the queer lens if the actor who plays Nick (Noah J Ricketts, fucking what a talented man) acted interested in Mr.McKee but was actively restraining himself and trying not to engage in order to save face in front of Tom and Co. (Please, please, please- making a prayer circle and manifesting that one of the later actors does this down the line) But noooooo, Nick is shown to be mildly uncomfortable while McKee follows him around (in an unfortunately a banger of a song) EVEN THOUGH IN THE BOOK NICK ACTIVELY ENGAGES WITH HIM IN HOMOEROTIC DIALOGUE AND EVEN GOES TO BED WITHBNANJSBSJB

3.B) Jordan’s Purpose

Already touch this before but what the hell was the point of Jordan here. I love the “cool independent woman in the 20s” angle they were going for, but then why the hell would you immediately shackle her to a romantic relationship with Nick when that goes against literally everything she stands for. And I’m not saying she can’t get in relationships, but the speed in which SHE of ALL PEOPLE, was like “Yes I want to get married to you for real” make me…

Sure it was said in the novel that Nick and Jorden were together, but he was always flighty about her; saying he was attracted to her but also hated some of her qualities (dishonesty and heartlessness). It wasn’t the main focus like it was here (I can’t even remember much of their relationship in the book tbh) and they didn’t invest so much in it as they did in the musical that it didn’t feel out of nowhere or too much of a big deal when they broke up. Like it fr felt like the musical held up a “Gasp Now” sign when Nick said he doesn’t want to get married to her cause they wanted that moment to hit so hard for some reason???

AND. There was an ACTUAL PURPOSE to Jordan relationship with Nick in the book (a representation of the wealth he was attracted to then repulsed by [*cough* also contributing the “Nick is Queer” lens *cough*]) they… kinda? did it in the musical? And it would have been boosted by Nicks new naivety in the musical, but it falls short because they never speak again, or really explain Jordan’s value on wealth and herself is why it went wrong other then a “you’re heartless” line that feels out of nowhere. (Idk maybe I was too focused on how pointless that relationship felt that I failed to noticed if Nick had a Big RevelationTM here on Wealth and Jordan)

4.B) Character Differences

Some of them are great, like there’s more dimensions to some, but some character choices, I’m like- that goes against everything they’re supposed to represent in the book.

Like I found it so weird how willing Daisy was to run away with Gatsby in the musical when in the book it was more obvious, at least I read it so, that she was holding back a bit and was never going to run with Gatsby that far. Like wdym Gatsby could have had it all if he just ran with Daisy then, WDYM HE SAID NO BECAUSE OF HIS PRIDE???? HUH? WHERE did this priority of PRIDE come from???? When Daisy’s RIGHT. THERE. Like she was sobbing, begging him to run with her. In what universe would Gatsby turn that down???

Like many people say, this seems like it’s supposed to be a love story between Gatsby and Daisy, but in the book it’s pretty obvious how Daisy isn’t as committed to Gatsby then she is Tom cause of their Old vs New money.

And Myrtle? Why did she suddenly turn back to George? I felt like the only reason why that happened is cause the creators wanted shock and tragedy factor. Like “aw she finally found peace in where she is but oops now she’s dead”

And it would have been good if they actually showed why she thought this beyond the 3 minute song, cause that’s not enough time for someone who only chased after money to do a 180. Like, sure she figured Tom would just move on from her (YES EVERYONE CHEERED, GREAT CHARACTER MOMENT) but George isn’t shown to be that great either in his last moments with her. I mean he locked her in the house? Bathroom? and was pretty violent towards her. Sure we learn earlier that he’s doing a lot for her but we never SEE it. He sings to US the audience about his dream to move them out and live a nice life but not to HER which could have been a cute point of connection but nooooooo.

They also made Nick like, kinda naive. Like he really likes Daisy and Jorden and I guess Gastby (though it’s not shown) compared to his counterpart who know how money corrupts and kinda hates everyone (even Gatsby at points). Any I feel like they could have done well with making him naive to that fact, to really make this a tragedy (like Hadestown esc) but they fell short somehow. I think it’s cause the ending was so rushed. Like there wasn’t enough time to show the consequences of everyone’s actions and how hurt and changed he is. It all flys by in like 7 minutes.

—————————

Ok now we’re done being cynical- here are the good things I liked

1.C) The woman are 3-Dimensional yay/ Nicks also here

Myrtle’s song (Second-Hand Suit) is phenomenal. Great way to introduce more character and backstory to someone who originally had none.

Also, again, loved Jordan’s independence angle (if only they WENT SOMEWHERE WITH IT) and I lowkey loved the “well Tom cheats why can’t you” line and Daisy’s whole attitude as she one ups Tom in the dinner table scene. Also Daisy was already kinda complex in the book, but it really shows how turmoiled she is here and that’s interesting,

And despite how I kinda ragged on it, I really did like Nicks personality throughout the musical. He was sooo humorous in a way he wasn’t in the book. Also, thinking about it, his nativity is an interesting spin on his character that I really would have liked if it was executed properly.

2.C) The songs fucking slap

I can’t lie, most of these songs are bangers. I have half of the songs on loop. Not to mention the actors who sing them are absolutely incredible. I won’t lie, I was mostly interested in this musical cause of Jeremey and Eva; and Eva, holy shit, is an absolute powerhouse to witness live. I was So. Surprised by how effortlessly she sang notes and how clear and crisp they were (“Absolute Rose” was… idk what it was about that song, but I’m obsessed with how she sang that song, [except the “open” part? Idk it grates me for some reason???] even though it’s not my favorite song) Like she truly embodies Daisy Fay and it was incredible to see that in person.

However, the rest of the cast was so incredible too, ESPECIALLY MYRTLE (Chilina Kennedy). Holy Fuck is that woman amazing at singing. Her two songs she sang absolutely ate, like I’m obsessed with her voice. Wolfsheim (Eric Anderson) and George (Paul Whitty) also had amazing voices.

Also NICK??! Holy shit, I’m so sorry you’re not in like any promotional stuff cause you fucking killed it. The way I’m obsessed with how he sings “If only I’d knew then, that I would never be the same” in “Roaring On” and how he sings “The Met” is amazing

3.C) Visuals- kinda

Some of the visuals were ok tbh- kinda boring- but the ones that went big, WENT BIG. Of course “New Money”, “Roaring On” and “The Met” are the ones that stand out the most in my mind. “New Money” and “Roaring On” are exactly what you probably think it is, big dance numbers with sparks and huge lights. But I loved “The Met” cause the furniture slid around and literally moved around Nick while people drifted in and out of the room. It was just great to watch visually.

4.C) THE ENDING NUMBER HOLY SHIT

I. Love. Love. LOVE. How they brought back the opening number, and the theme of party goers going on from party to party to show how unimportant Gatsby was to the world, and how everyone moved on.

Like, Nick stood in the center of the stage, reciting the end of the book, in tears and voice cracking, as the ensemble in the back slowly get revealed and are just having a grand ol time looking for the next party. Just- chills. It was amazing conceptually and they pulled it off so well.

If the musical got nothing else in terms of structure going for it- at least they got the last minute right cause omg, I love when media has opposing moods in the same scene, and they did so well here.

—————————

Overall, yeah. Not horrible but I don’t love it. The lack in plot and nonsense relationships and complete disregard of the book didn’t totally ruin the musical cause I had a good time and liked the songs and such but I would not go back and re watch it.

I think of you know nothing about the book or anything about The Great Gatsby other then there’s a guy named Gatsby and he’s great and you just want a nice sounding show, you’ll probably like this, but people who are burdened by the knowledge of the book will be hung up on a lot of things I mentioned here.

Always, long ass post, congrats to anyone who actually read this real informal review. I haven’t gone into how this is a pretty bad adaptation, but I’ll have to do that in another post (if people want to see that) and another time cause this took my literal hours to type out.

(Tbh I might just do the adaptation essay anyways, cause I’ve written at least 4 papers on adaptation in media [and how Groundhog Day the musicals the best Movie to Musicals adaptation] and I love that shit)

[simplylove101]

2024 Horror Challenge: [44/?]

↳“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect. One single injection unlocks your DNA, starting a new cellular division, that will release another version of yourself. This is the Substance.“ The Substance (2024) dir. Coralie Fargeat

Plot: A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley & Dennis Quaid

Omg, the hype is very much real!!! lol This was meant to be saved for my Halloween movie marathon since I do always try to include at least one of my most anticipated movies for it (cuz naturally I'm expecting it to be a good watch) but they just had to release it today. Smh But yeah, I couldn't chance being spoiled (I'd already seen a couple out of context comments about it that made me go "Oh no, scroll away" XD) The hype has been building for it these last few months & all my reviewers have been saying this is the horror movie to beat this year. Gotta say, I wholeheartedly agree. It left me speechless. I swear it changed me and I'm never gonna forget it. As Haunted Hippie on YouTube declared, it's a body horror masterpiece. From start to finish, it's an insane ride. It truly tested me with the gore though, I'm ngl. To think Terrifier had me tapping out at the hacksaw scene, meanwhile I stuck it out with what this movie had in store for its audience. lol I resonated so much with the message behind this movie, it being a truly fascinating exploration of self-worth from the woman perspective. Beyond the script though, you gotta talk about the acting, the effects, the music/sound design. So many interesting things to talk about with this one. I'm gonna be predictable and say what others have been, that Demi Moore really did give possibly the best performance of her career. It was a ballsy move doing this movie and I'm glad she did it. Margaret Qualley may be a nepo baby but give her the props she deserves. She's been consistently getting cool roles lately & playing them well, so my hat's off to her. The effects are absolutely amazing in this imo. I was truly impressed. And gah, the music!! I loved it. It fit the tone so well. I've seen people split on that last act, but as far as I'm concerned that was a major highlight. It tested my stomach a bit but it was batshit crazy and I enjoy when a movie isn't afraid to dip its toes into being a little campy. I was surprised by how much it made me laugh at parts. I was thoroughly entertained by pretty much all of it. For an almost 2 1/2 hour movie, it feels like it breezed on pretty quickly imo so that's impressive as well. This really might be horror movie of the year for me. I don't feel like anything else can top it. It set the bar so high. Automatic classic in my book.

[pboogerswbb]

Ok I am so sorry this is so late, there's been a lot going on and I had some much pent up anger towards H*nn*h H*d*lg* I could not put pen to paper. Also you need to add this chapter to your masterlist its missing!

First of all I wanna say I wish I did reactions this whole time, this has been one of my favourite stories and I love your writing, I cannot wait for the new fic! Also I know you said it will be a while but I am so excited for an epilogue for this story. I am a softie at heart and I always love when there is an epilogue on a fic that flashes forward.

Ok onto the review!

We are all in agreement that BDB stands for Big Daddy Bueckers right? right?

Ok can I just say that I absolutely love how you gave actual reasoning for Paige being a player/toxic. It drives me crazy when fics have her being toxic for no reason - as it is completely opposite of everything Paige has made known about her personality. Giving her reasoning of being afraid committing to someone will distract her from basketball and that in turn she doesn't think she'd be a good partner to someone while focusing on basketball was just a really good approach to the situation and made a lot of sense. You did a great job here!

"You’re really milking that Unrivaled ad huh?" LOL. But seriously something about those ads is so UGHHHHHGIMMEENOWWW I want her to do more acting she's so hot and funny.

“Paige I’ve seen the folder on your phone full of lil things like that for you to say. You’re not that slick,” HAHAH SLAM ON PAIGE

Ok Val lowkey being a bit of a bitch about this dress situation before the date. But maybe I feel that way because I am absolutely a Paige in this situation and would forget to warn my girl to dress a certain way depending on the activity.

“I googled uh, romantic foods" this feels very in character

“Really? Now you wanna have that conversation?” I ask annoyed. -> Ok neither one of them is handling this well at all

"With that she leaves, no kiss, no hug and she’s gone. Just like she will be in a month or so." -> Stab a dagger in my heart why don't you

She scurries to me from behind the bar counter, and hugs me tight. -> why is the word 'scurries' so funny here

Ok this whole visual of them kissing and hugging at Teds is very very cute. This whole scene is actually I love it.

I can't blame Paige I have made a gf quit a bartending job before. Am I toxic 😂

KK and these handcuffs I can't. Does she even know they are a sex toy or did she just think they were cute 😂😂

“Hurry, P,” she whines, her hands wrapping around me from behind me as she kisses my upper back, making me see stars already. -> ok you described this so well because why is it SO cute when a girl does that

WOWEEE your smut is top tier. No notes. You have convinced me to buy some handcuffs.

“You alive mama?” Paige grins as my eyes slowly flutter open, watching her bring me water and a small present wrapped with a blue paper and white ribbon. -> Ok Paige's aftercare is so cute

“Girl you better not be proposing because I think it’s a lil early,” I joke, making Paige let out a heartfelt laugh. -> ya but you'd say yes if she was don't play

Well, as I said I have absolutely loved this fic. The story was great, it was funny, it was realistic, and it was so damn hot. You are amazing and as I have already said I am SO EXCITED for your new fic. The synopsis has me hooked already and I love fics where P is out of college and actually living life as an adult with her own apartment not beholden to Husky rules lol.

xoxoxo 🤱🏻

sorry it took me forever to get to this I LOVE THESE SO MUCH PLS JOIN THE BOOKCLUB IF YOU WANT TO EVEN A LITTLE BIT <333 it’s my favourite thing everrrrr

hopefully the epilogue of so it goes was up to par!! ty for all the kind words 🫶🏻

• yes BDB is big daddy bueckers - i don’t wanna hear anything else

• omg yess it’s such an ick for me if in a series paige is toxic for no reason!! we need character development and we need reasoning!! my characters will always have a motive i can tell you that much

• val lowkey would be me i’m so annoyed when people aren’t organised and prepared 😭 like that would annoy me too

• HAHA val scurries bc she’s so short it makes sense in my head

• if you are of age handcuffs can be… great 😇

• yeah val would say yes probably

AGAIN TYSM i love when you guys do these so much i’m starting a new tag for these

[riddleredcoats]

I just finished my first playthrough of Veilguard and boy oh boy, do i have thoughts.

but, TLDR:

Bros, this game is so fucking strange.

It literally giving me everything I wanted; every theory for the past 10 years I've had to speculate is bang on, they bring niche characters in a way that makes sense, they give us nice romances, they give us cool combat, EPIC set pieces and then [gestures].

Anyway, this is more for posterity than any real, coherent thoughts.

The Good:

I don't know what sort of wizardry the devs at Bioware made for this game, but this game runs smooth AF. Actually insane in the year of our lord 2024 that a AAA viddy game manages to do it. Kudos must be given.

The art-style grows on you really fast, actually. And considering what happens in the game, especially in the back half, I think making it more stylised was necessary to also compliment the aforementioned point of it running smoothly.

There is in fact, a lot of dark themes in this game. I don't know what game some reviewers played, but to say its basically a clean version of a DA game is... just wrong. I have a theory, in the Bad section, about why they believe that is the case, but Veilguard is filled with Dark Themes.

The set pieces of this game are fucking insane. Like, there is no comparison to any other Bioware game. Even ME3 with its bombastic set pieces isn't a match to Veilguard in the prologue. The Siege at Weisshaupt? Gagged the whole way through. That last 2-4hrs of game were amazing and while I have beef with it - further down - for what it is and what it is trying to be? They succeeded. Some of the best viddy game I have ever viddy gamed, frankly.

The lore drops are also insane. I basically watched all of Solas regrets back to back to back and basically it was confirmation upon confirmation upon confirmation. I'm still in the high of the Solas/Mythal confirmation and that happened like 3 days ago, lmao. And if you know me, you know why - it goes wayyy beyond Solas and Mythal for me, personally.

Morrigan's place in the narrative. Keeping it vague, but just [gestures to all of it].

Issenya... Just... Issenya, man.

The companions. Yeah, they're all great, I don't think there's really a dud one. Sure, I connected more with some than others, but man- these companion quests are involved and meaningful and progress the story. You do get to know them very well. Harding, Neve, Davrin and Emmerich will always have a place in my heart for their questlines, even though I love all the other companions too - but those really resonated with me.

Combat. Holy shit, a DA game with a fun combat system. That's all really.

The Middling

The music. I don't love it but I don't hate it. I can count on one hand the amount of times the music made me feel something - basically the last scene of the Harding questline and when The Main Theme came in during the final quests. Trevor Morris reigns supreme; I teared up more for The Lost Elf theme return than any other musical moment in the game.

The pacing of this game is... baffling. I'm not sure if its my own fault for basically trying to do everything in the first act, but Act 1 took me like 40 hours, while the remaining two acts took me 20. Weird. Will need to experiment because it might absolutely be on me, but yeah.

The Bad

It's basically one thing but honestly, every time it was brough up it was like a dagger piercing my heart while my stomach was stepped on by a bronto.

The lack of geopolitical talk both past and present.

Much as been said from the infamous 3 choices that Veilguard imports - and I will say, that even those 3 are laughably implemented imo - but never is it more felt than in this aspect. The past straight up does not matter. Worse; they actively disregard it imo. There is no difference between world states, no world leader talk, no nothing. It is just... nothing. And listen, the specifics deserve their own post eventually, but im just processing shit still.

The game is really fun, and the themes and characters that are there and the lore is fantastic and when im locked in, I'm REALLY locked in, but then when I try to put it in the context of the past games, what I loved about it - the politics, the disagreements, the sheer brutal way that history and prejudice can just fuck up a country, Veilguard just... it feels hollow, without any bite or flavour.

And this is the crux of all the problems, really, in the present in Veilguard.

The way people talked about the dark tone being gone? Yeah, I can see it here considering that there is no distinction between Dalish and City Elves anymore basically. The discrimination against elves is just... gone, apparently? Which is insane - because we are in Tevinter and it's just... abandoned? The way Rivain is all cool and shit about Magic and Spirits with like zero nuance or, more imporantly, any real consequences when [gestures to the past games] - it just makes the South Really Dumb because of course they are now ig. The Crows - these assassins that bought children to train, in what amounted to a sponsored slavery ring - are now freedom fighters and all the nuance of the assassinations is gone? The Wardens are fine mostly, really, but they are suddenly very above board all of the sudden.

And that's the whole thing here.

They have tried to make everyone stay so above board, to make everyone The Perfect Ally That No One In The Real World Can Criticise, that it retroactively sucked all the nuance and Flavour For Thedas At Large out of the story. It made the story worse because everyone is just so gosh dang nice and A Super Ally when in past games the conflict, the flavour of the Whatever Big Struggle was that everyone hated each other and was constantly in-fighting. Which made it fun and interesting to play.

Okay, sorry i forgot I had another one:

the fuck is that ending credit scene? with the executors implying they have been behind everything since DAO? Oh man, Bioware you can't do those types of stories - you tried in ME3 and [gestures]. Why can't Loghain just be a dude traumatized by Orlais which led to All The Things in DAO? Why can't Bartrand just be a greedy bastard whose actions bring about DA2 and DAI and basically informs Varric's character from then on?

What the hell.

Anyway.

Yeah, initial Veilguard thoughts.

Oh yeah, and Neve is hot and I love her.

[potatosapien5]

okay so this is specifically about the fnaf movie but also any other movie that applies. I just really need to write this out. the thing is, when people say “it’s okay to like a bad movie” or “why can’t you just accept that you can like a bad movie” it’s not the comfort that they think it is. It’s actually really hurtful. the thing is, I DON’T think the fnaf movie is a bad movie. Is it perfect? Fuck no. Does the plot have pretty big problems? Yes, of course! But the thing is, it’s clear to me that it was made with love and appreciation for the characters. Their relationships feel genuine to me. I don’t find the animatronic scenes to be cringey, and if they are, I think it’s a heartfelt kind of cringe. I think that Blumhouse set out to make a specific kind of movie, and, overall, they succeeded at that. you don’t have to agree with me. You can believe that it is bad. But that’s your opinion, and saying that I should just accept that I “like a bad movie” is misunderstanding MY opinion at best. I have criticisms of the movie, I think there are things it could’ve improved upon, elements it could have made better. I do think, despite loving THAT scene, it did cause an abrupt tone shift, one that would understandably turn people off from it. But that doesn’t make the scene itself bad. The elements that someone else may dislike, and consider bad, are elements I consider GOOD. I don’t like these elements ironically. plus some of the criticisms have just felt weird to me. One person said that the acting felt off, especially for the kids, like Abby. I don’t understand that. Abby felt very realistic to me, as someone who knows several children and has a younger sibling. Maybe I’m wrong about that, but I definitely wouldn’t say the acting in the movie was bad, I think that just doesn’t make sense. It wasn’t the best in the world, but it definitely wasn’t bad. And many of the things people criticized I just… didn’t find to be flaws. It isn’t that I like the movie DESPITE these things, it’s that I don’t see these things as detracting from the movie. They add to it, and not just in a funny, ironic way. In the end, I think this movie was made with a lot of care and love, and I think that shows. And I think it has many amazing qualities, despite its shortcomings. So no, I’m not just going to accept that I like a “bad” movie. I believe that I like a good movie, a flawed, but good movie. This isn’t to say that people have to think it was good, they don't. But they need to accept that I think it was good. I, and so many other fans. I’m sure some people would disagree with me, and say they do like it ironically, or because it’s funny, or because it’s bad. And that’s fine. But if I’m not going to tell you that you’re wrong, then you can’t tell me I’m wrong. Media isn’t objective. Opinions and feelings are different, but opinions aren’t absolute truth. So people who think the fnaf movie, or any commonly hated movie, is good, that’s real. Your interpretation of the media is valid, just as valid as anyone else’s. So you don’t have to say you just like a bad movie. You can like a movie people think is bad, because you think it’s good.

[fallenrocket]

#HuntForThePirateHome Watch Party

(crossposted from my twitter)

Hunt for the Wilderpeople reflects a common theme in Taika Waititi's work, and in OFMD, about people's perceived worth/capabilities. It's easy to look at someone from the outside and call them a "bad egg" or an idiot/failure.

But with love, affirmation, and understanding, people are so much more than that. It's funny when Paula sums up all of Ricky's delinquency, but it's also so sad that she's pre-decided his kid's entire future, boxing him in before he's even started.

***

I'd forgotten that Oscar Kightley was in this. He was one of my favorite parts of Next Goal Wins!

***

In a weird way, Bella is a bit like Stede after his reunion with Ed. She's thrilled to have Ricky there and eager to lavish him with everything he could want, but she's also cognizant of what he's been through and trying to respect his space.

***

"I'm so happy we found you, buddy. I'm sorry it took so long." 🥹

***

"He's tricky like that, Jesus"--lol, I love it.

***

Taika is so good at setting up little visual things that pay off later in the film, creating a great narrative moment without any dialogue. It's such a gut punch when Ricky pulls back his blankets and the hot water bottle isn't there.

***

I love this movie. Every element is just wonderfully executed. The acting, dialogue, camera work, music choices, even the chapter titles--they all serve to enhance the story the film is telling.

***

"Do you want me to go find help? ...I'd die, wouldn't I?"

Julian Dennison is so great as Ricky. Taika's gift for casting/directing kids is impeccable, he never misses.

***

The most heartbreaking thing about Ricky's story about Amber is that we the audience (and Hec) understand what really happened better than he does. Brilliant scene, gaahhhh!

***

"'Faulkner is Cauc... Caucasian.' Well they got that wrong, 'cause you're obviously white." Love that line!

***

I love Ricky's "he made me do stuff" monologue. It's common to have one character innocently say something that sounds completely wrong to another character, but it's rarely done with such finesse. Nothing Ricky says sounds forced for the sake of the joke.

***

I like Ricky and Hec's conversation about "majestical" vs. "majestic." I relate to that feeling of knowing a word isn't "proper" but using it anyway because it feels closer to what I want to say than the real word.

***

@netflix is a great platform for Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It would pair wonderfully with Our Flag Means Death, another hilarious, heartfelt story with a unique vision whose amazing cast features some talented Polynesian actors! Won't you #AdoptOurCrew?

***

"She wanted to save us poor wretches when no one else wanted us, like rescue dogs"

This is a line that could easily be uncomfortable and patronizing. But we've met Bella, so we know that this is true in the sincerest way possible.

***

Paula is a subtle Miss Trunchbull, change my mind.

***

Oh god, poor Zag--you were a good dog. 😢

***

"I was trying to tell you it was like The Lord of the Rings!"

Ricky Baker has never done a single thing wrong in his life, your honor.

***

"Don't even get me started on the national rugby team! They're not human."

Psycho Sam has entered the chat!

***

Okay, so Frenchie would absolutely believe the same conspiracies as Psycho Sam, but he'd also be like, "Take it easy, man, alright?"

***

It's hard for me to pin down my favorite Taika film, but I think Hunt for the Wilderpeople is his quintessential film. While his onscreen role is small, it's like concentrated Taika Waititi, and it's the one I'd use to introduce people to his work.

***

@netflix, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is about finding a place to belong after you've been rejected

Our Flag Means Death, which is also about belonging, was rejected by its former streamer

You could #AdoptOurCrew and give this diverse, critically-acclaimed show a new home!

[danganronpadedication]

DAY 10: DANGANTOBER

Day 9: Favorite V3 Character (substitute for Clothing Swap)

Guys, I'm literally named 'Mod Tsumugi', I DON'T know what to tell you. It's pretty obvious, Tsumugi is my absolute favorite character from V3. I picked her to be my little persona on here for a reason. I think she's so fun and amazing. She stands out to me, which is ironic, given how often she calls herself 'plain'.

I have a confession to make, but out of all Danganronpa media, I think V3 is my least favorite. Yes, it's still good in my opinion. I love a lot of the characters, the new mechanics and minigames actually challenged me, and Tsumugi being the mastermind was a reveal that ACTUALLY shocked me fairly. But, it's also got it's weak points, such as its ending, and how it handles certain characters and cases.

I didn't expect to like Tsumugi as much as I did. I knew I would enjoy her, by this point in the series, I had very few characters I didn't like. I had already taken a liking to Shuichi, Kiibo, Miu, Tenko, and Angie, and Tsumugi was setting up to be no different. Her intro was already so sassy, with her saying that she was ignoring Kaede and Shuichi in hopes that they'd just leave her alone. She comes off as a major nerd, and like someone I'd want to be friends with IRL. Majority of my friends already act like her, ranting about their various different interests to me, and I started a Danganronpa fan blog.

Through the game, she's very unassuming. I pursued her free time events with both Kaede and Shuichi, and she did not disappoint. She immediately gets into a little argument with Kaede about the validity of her ultimate, since Kaede is sort of downplaying cosplay. They make up though, and come to a sweet consensus. I think Tsumugi and Kaede would bond over those compilations of various, fandom-related songs done on piano.

With Shuichi, Tsumugi immediately tries to suck him into the world of cosplay, and it's really nice seeing her nerd out over her craft, and getting to talk all about it with someone actually willing to go to cons and cosplay with her.

I refuse to talk about her Love Suite. Let me forget that exists, let me believe that every scene in game between her and Shuichi is just really fun and nice, and has nothing to do with whatEVER HAPPENED IN THAT LOVE SUITE-

Eh, it's not as bad as Korekiyo's. Unfortunately, I got Kiyo and Tsumugi's back to back, so I was not having a fun time.

Poor Shuichi's a victim.

I think some of the things surrounding Tsumugi are pretty contrived, such as the cospox thing. I know it was introduced so that the notion of Tsumugi impersonating anyone wasn't brought up again in any other case, but couldn't we have just explained it in a different way? Maybe she didn't have access to their closets, and even then, where would she get wigs? It'd be an easy thing to not resort to, just saying.

Through the game, she's there, she shoots off a funny quip or two, and she slays. Literally, poor Rantaro and Kaede.

I really like her as the mastermind. For the other masterminds (and I have a different definition of mastermind so there's more to me), I feel like they were made to be impossible to guess. Junko's supposed to be dead, Hajime's just as surprised as the rest of us, and the other applicable masterminds, like Monaca from UDG and Tengan from the anime are either obvious, or have no real bearing on the plot. Tsumugi's reveal as the mastermind is actually crazy to me.

She gets found out like so many culprits in Danganronpa do. One tiny slip-up. She says she went to the bathroom at the time of Rantaro's death, and Shuichi immediately clocks it, since he had earlier discovered a secret passageway to the hidden room in the library from the bathroom. From there, her defenses fall like a house of cards, and she's revealed as the mastermind. Tsumugi is the only mastermind who actively lies to your face about who she is, she pretends to be one of the group the entire time, so when she's shown to be evil, your jaw DROPS.

While I think the ending of V3 is weak, Tsumugi's the best part of it. She switches from a polite person, to someone who just eradiates sinister energy. When she's not switching between cosplays of beloved characters at lightning fast speeds, she's revealing bombshells left and right. This whole game is fictional, you're fictional, you're being watched right now by an audience who will be satisfied if you live or if you die, everything you've experienced has been carefully crafted, your memories are false, illnesses that took lives weren't real, your emotions were faked, etc. I think I'd have a mental breakdown if I was any of the V3 survivors.

She relishes in their despair like a true successor to the queen that is Junko Enoshima. The part that really gets me is when she manipulated Kiibo. Over the course of chapter 6, we slowly get more and more information that ultimately culminates into the reveal that Kiibo is a glorified camera, an audience insert. Built to only observe and be controlled by the fans watching outside. He starts freaking out, understandably so, and her response is to simply ERASE HIS ENTIRE PERSONALITY. Talk about disturbing, especially since I love Kiibo. Luckily, Kiibo's goated and manages to maintain enough control over himself to destroy the Academy and pave a way for the survivors to escape.

After losing, Tsumugi celebrates the fact that her plan was a flawless copy, even failing at the end, before dying like Junko. A 'cosplaycat criminal'. This even gives me, the upset viewer, hope that the events of the previous games actually happened in-universe.

After Hajime, Tsumugi feels the most like me IRL. She's nerdy, a little awkward, and self-deprecating with her "I'm so plain" comments, but she can also be witty, cunning, and incredibly intelligent. Without tooting my own horn, I think we're very similar people. That's why she was picked to be my persona on here as well. A nerdy blog for nerdy, Danganronpa things?

Tsumugi quite literally says "I've given my life to Danganronpa!" I've been stuck in this fandom since 2020, I'm just as big of a Danganronpa fan as Tsumugi. My Monokuma and Makoto plushie, Nagito Pop-Up Parade, and Kokichi keychain are staring at me as a write this. My Monokuma onesie is on the way.

The fact that she's also just a Danganronpa fangirl is wild, I know she's probably supposed to be representative of how obsessive the fandom had gotten at the time, but I mean, I'll rant with her <3

To end these off, I like to discuss certain points in-depth. I don't think Tsumugi was intended to be the mastermind, and if she was, I think she was merely written that way like everyone else. First of all, I think Angie was supposed to be the antagonist of the game, and Kokichi was supposed to be the mastermind. After chapter three, where Angie and Tenko die, that's when Kokichi really starts to step up as an antagonistic force. Before then, he was just a tad annoying, a bit of a nuisance, but nothing compared to Nagito and Byakuya. Angie was the one stirring up discussions in trials, and starting a straight-up cult in the Academy (which both Tsumugi and Kiibo were part of). Angie's death was unintended, only happening because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This might've messed up Team Danganronpa's plans, and they needed to scramble to fix it. Lacking an antagonist, they slotted Kokichi in that spot. That's why in chapter five, Kokichi talks about in-universe things like Junko and the Remnants of Despair. That's the remnants of the original script's plans sticking around. I don't think V3 was meant to be meta in the original plan for that season. Kokichi probably was supposed to be the leader of a new despair movement, and that stuck around when the script changed.

Once he was gone, they were in desperate need of a mastermind character. Now, you can believe Tsumugi did work for Team Danganronpa, after all, the audition tapes look like they could have been recorded in her lab, and she talks like she had a big part in the entire game. What gives me pause is her reaction right before she dies. She goes from being a Junko copy, relishing in everyone's despair and even in the despair of losing at the end, to looking disappointed and upset in her final moments.

She even looks a little confused. It's not a look of happiness, like Junko, and it's not fear or sadness or anything like that. It's just kind of annoyed. Like she doesn't know what's going on.

Also, I doubt this is what being fired looks like in Team Danganronpa.

I don't know, it's late where I am, but Tsumugi is definitely one of my favorite characters. There's more to her than meets the eye, she's very smart, and conniving. Despite V3's faults, she manages to make the game very interesting and exciting, especially in that final chapter.

I will never talk about the Love Suites unless someone sends asks about it lmao.

-Mod Tsumugi

[keen-on-euphemisms]

I just finished C2E92 of Critical Role and have some personal stuff to say. I'll put it under the cut, in case of spoilers for someone.

While watching Beau's interaction with her dad the thing that was on my mind was that despite absolutely amazing rp from Marisha I fealt like... I don't know. Normal about it?

Normal to the point where I couldn't really understand why everyone is acting so weird towards it.

So naturally I went to the comment section to understand.

And then it hit me.

Oh boi, it's me who is broken.

I rewatched the whole thing and realised that this behaviour of Beau's father is... what my parents do all the time. Yes, I was bad, no one have taught me how to be a parent. Your grandparents were no peach either. I made mistakes but you remember yourself? You are to blame for all of this too. Its good to see you grew up to be strong as if my actions are not the main reason for that.

To the point where I am so honeyed in broken redistributing of responsibility and guilt that this feels like normal to me. Like there is no problem at all.

The other thing for me was that our family was maintaining the "perfect look" for outsiders eyes. Rewatching this scene I couldn’t help but thinking how it would have went if Beau would face her father alone. And to my pain I already know the answer.

I remember how it broke my heart to see my friend's interaction with her father once. I was staying the night, travelling to her city, and it was her father's birthday. She was apologising for not getting the exact thing as a present that we wanted, but it was close enough. His response was: it doesn't matter, love, at least I will have something that you gave me. I remember I cried so hard that night (and crying now while writing it), while my heart was tearing apart, wishing to have even a small fracture of that and knowing that I never will.

And returning to realisation about the CR episode - I just uncovered another huge thing to work on in therapy. I never had an understanding of what a normal family would look like. All I had was - is - a broken one.

I understand now, why people say that this was a turning point for a lot of people in liking Beauregard's character - I loved her before but this really shook me and sent it to another level.

None of my friends watch CR, so I'm a bit lonely in that regard about sharing those kind of revelations hence this post exists. When I say I love each and every one of the cast - this is what I mean. People playing a pretend game on another continent and giving me so much hope on how maybe one day, I'll have my own found family and it will be better than the one that raised me.

[akaiuchiha]

So, I couldn't sleep so I decided to went through my notes and there was a period when I translated song I liked (english cover for example) and I translated Reason Living at some point (and English cover).

Guys, I think you have no idea how crazy this opening is to me.

(Beware, spoilers ahead, don't read if you don't want to be spoiled)

The symbolism behind it is just awesome.

Dark Era is really one of my favourite arc. It made me cry and grieve FOR MONTHS before I was even able to listen to the opening without wanting to cry.

And I KNOW how BSD works, it's about the characters but also about saving the world and crazy people trying to change everything with the page.

But if you think about it, BSD is also about people finding themselves. I think we can all agree that some characters for whom we got backstories or even explanations DID find themselves are at least, they are going in the right direction (they clearly are not Zoro). And Atsushi is the main character for a reason because he is still finding who he is and why he is worthy.

And Reason Living? It's just pure hope and angst at the same time it hurts. They PLAYED IT while Odasaku was fighting Gide and I HATED that because the irony of it always made me cry. Playing REASON LIVING when Odasaku LOST his reasons to live??? I know maybe he could have try to keep on living because he wasn't alone but that's not the point and I fully understand Odasaku okay. That man lost his ideals, his ideas of a brigther future because of Mori, how was he supposed to react in other ways than wanting to kill Gide?

But playing this song, about not knowing why you are alive, why you should stay alive but still wanting to find a reason, wanting to find hope?? Yeah that was a horrible experience.

This song describes so much characters. We can obviously state Dazai who's still trying to find himself (I personaly think he is about to have his answer in the manga but it's not the topic here), but it also describes Atsushi who is still learning about his ability and how to deal with it and how to deal with his past. Maybe we can also include Kyouka, even Kunikida because I'm quite sure he is as lost as everyone.

They act but they don't know why, they just know they have to and that maybe they'll find why they have to keep on living.

And I swear this opening hit HARD. I never questioned why I was alive, I just want to be alive because I don't like death at all. It's scary and the end of everything so yes, I never thought about it. But this opening? It takes your feelings and crushes them under the pain, the hope, the despair and everything the characters feel.

BSD is really one of my favourite manga and it really hit me how this manga is about people searching themselves and trying hard to create a brighter future.

Yeah, it might be stupid because Reason Living is probably not the only opening talking about all of that, but it's still my favourite out of all of them. Also, it's clearly stated in the title "Bungou Stray Dogs" how the story is not going to be a walk in a park.

And yet, this story is absolutely amazing and the influence of Dark Era, of Odasaku in this universe is crazy because he's not really a good man (this scene in the novel traumatised me, the one with the vacuum cleaner) and his influence is clearly less important than Natsume's, but we can all agree that it is weird how in every universe, he can't live if Dazai's alive.

Anyway, I really went too far, I just wanted to vent about why Reason Living is a really good opening and how soul crushing it felt to hear it during the fight. Even without speaking and understanding japanese, I felt its meaning deep within my soul.

Thank you for reading!

(I'm really sorry if it's seems a bit..weird to read, it's late where I am from (like, 2 in the morning) and my hands were going ahead of my brain).