#july comebacks review

[buzzcutlip]

Cracks and Gaps - The Waterfall (part II) Carmen Berzatto x Fem!Reader Mature (Explicit in the following parts) 6573 words

You meet Carmen in Copenhagen through a mutual friend and bond over shared experiences. After following his rising career from afar, you reconnect in Chicago when he renovates his late brother’s restaurant. As an editor, you can’t miss an opportunity to find out more about the comeback of this chef prodigy. part I The Worst Day

A/N: The angst continues and morphs. This part is full of fashion, understanding and soft words. Thank you Amy @foreveraimingtowardsthesky and E @butchcarmy for giving me the confidence to write and to publish this :) (Also reader is reffered to as someone who blushes, in case you would like to know this ahead of deciding to read the story)

THE WATERFALL

You want so badly to forget the fight, but instead, you keep replaying it in your head over and over, until it feels like a movie you saw on TV or in a cinema. Like it wasn't really you Carmen was shouting at. You try to comfort yourself by imagining what you should have done in that moment—anything but nothing, like you actually did. But at least you stood up for yourself. That’s somehow comforting.

The way forward is to go—to leave. To remove yourself from the situation and find a new environment that has nothing to do with what happened. For the weekend, you take a long-postponed trip to Seattle. People envy you for traveling to fancy places for work, but to you, it’s just that—work. This time, though, you’re unusually eager to get on the plane to another state. Nothing in Washington is going to remind you of Carmen Berzatto, you hope. The plan is to try a luxury wellness retreat for women in tech and business at Salish Lodge by Snoqualmie Falls. You’re not in tech or business, but the place paid the magazine to review the program, so you couldn’t really say no. There’s a "pillow menu for the best night’s rest" and a "Canna-bliss CBD natural ritual" option, so you’re not complaining. To escape the busy networking event on Saturday, you sneak out and walk to the top of the falls, take a deep inhale—just as you practiced during that morning's yoga class—and shout into the void, letting the roar of the water swallow it all. 

There’s so much pent-up energy in you that you start to worry you’re scaring all the Zen businesswomen around you. During a workshop, you realize that most of them are your age, or even younger. They have careers, partners, and some even have kids. It sucks, being reminded of what society expects from you when you’re thirty.

When you get back on Tuesday, the office clerk tells you that someone was looking for you on Monday. Not thinking much of it, you sit down at your desk to start working on your piece about the trip. It’s scorching outside—concrete city in July is unforgiving—and you’re grateful for the office's functioning AC.

The next time you check the clock, it’s already noon. You stand up to stretch and grab the empty mug on your desk. It was a silly gift from your parents when you first got this job—white with a black handle and a funny picture of a green pickle with a face that says "It’s kinda a big dill." As foolish as it sounds, drinking coffee from this mug always makes you smile.

As soon as you step out of your office, Dasha, the desk clerk, waves you over. Even sitting, she’s tall, her head and upper body towering proudly over the counter. She always wears amazing glasses.

“I love your glasses,” you say, complimenting her tortoiseshell frames.

“Thanks,” Dasha smiles. “You have a visitor. I was just about to call your desk.”

The blood in your veins seems to stop. You turn your head toward the guest sofa by the elevators. There’s no doubt who the visitor is.

“He said his name was Caramel—Carmel? Sorry!” Dasha fumbles with the name, blushing and nervously fiddling with her pen. “I should’ve written it down!”

Of course, it’s Carmen.

“You’re fine,” you assure her with a quick smile. Taking a very, very deep breath, you ask sweetly, “Could you send Caramel to meeting room three?”

‘I’m so Zen,’ you tell yourself as you walk to the kitchen, giving Dasha and Carmen a few minutes. If you’re going to meet him, it’s going to be on your terms, you decide standing by the fridge. Or, hiding by the fridge?

Wearing a summery yet elegant dress, heeled clogs, and your hair up, you look nothing like you ever did at The Bear. You’re pleased to discover, just before opening the door to meeting room three, that the tight feeling in your stomach isn’t just nerves—it’s also a bit of excitement and confidence.

The frosted glass door closes behind you, and you watch as Carmen’s eyes land on you. He’s already seated in one of the uncomfortable white plastic chairs, and now he’s looking at you. His gaze drops to your legs, where the frilled hem of your dress stops just above your knees, then to the mug you’re still holding, though it’s empty.

“Hey,” he greets you, shifting as if he might stand up. You sit across from him, setting the mug on the table.

“Hi,” you reply, curious about what he’s going to say. You’re fairly sure he’s here to apologize, probably sent by Natalie and Sydney—maybe even Richie—to make things right. You had texted Natalie to say you needed to focus on your "real" job as an excuse to avoid going back to the restaurant. Now, you wish you had told her the truth.

“I brought you something,” Carmen says, awkwardly pulling out a paper bag. “Thought you might be hungry.” He hesitates, then adds, “It’s smoked mozzarella mezzelune.” When you don’t make a move to take it, he places the bag back in his lap.

Leaning back in your chair, you fight the urge to cross your arms. You probably feel as out of place as he does right now—but you’re not about to let him see that.

“We didn’t have to meet here,” he says, glancing nervously around the room. “I just wanted to bring the food.”

You blink a few times, wanting to make him even more uncomfortable. “You could’ve left it at reception,” you say calmly.

Carmen rubs a hand over his face and purses his lips. “About before—the recipe. It was all bullshit.”

You grimace. That doesn’t sound like an apology. You're starting to lose faith that Carmen is even capable of one. Disappointed and at a loss for words, you scoff, and Carmen’s eyes dart back to yours. He looks almost offended, which really pisses you off.

“Bullshit,” you repeat, your voice steady. “I’m not interested in this, Carmen,” you say, meeting his gaze without wavering. “Go to hell with your food.”

He looks down, fidgeting with the paper bag. “I’m terrible at this.”

“Terrible at what? Apologizing? Well, it’s past time you learned.”

The urge to shout at him is strong. You want him to feel as humiliated as you did. But you won’t. He spent his whole life in an environment where people yelled for different reasons—or no reason at all. That’s not your style.

Not expecting anything else from him, you push your chair back, the screeching noise cutting through the tense moment, sending a shiver down your spine.

When Carmen suddenly stands as well, his chair scraping even louder, your heart jumps. You gasp, nearly sick from the fright.

“I—I also came to tell you that I’ll do it,” he stammers. “I’ll do the interview.”

You study him for a moment. Is he serious?

“This isn’t what I want, Carmen,” you say, shaking your head and rubbing your wrist. “Why now?”

“I talked to Syd and the crew. It’s the right thing to do. Right for the restaurant.”

He’s sincere, as far as you can tell. His eyes look huge, and that tortured artist look is back. A martyr. How much does he enjoy playing that role?

“Please, don’t ruin my Zen,” you say quietly, not wanting to return to how you felt a few days ago.

“I’m not interested anymore,” you add, praying Rob won’t find out and fire you. “Dasha will see you out. Or you can take the elevator.” The condescension in your voice is clear, but you’re not sure if Carmen even notices.

—

For the next two days, you decide to work from home and mope. Calling Becky isn’t an option because she would probably go talk to Natalie and tell her everything. The feelings of anger and humiliation are mixing within you, and you don’t know which one makes you more miserable.

When you get back to work, Rob calls you over to his office. Shit, you think.

You walk in with a smile and confidence—fake it till you make it. The usual clutter of papers and magazines is still there, but Rob himself seems unusually animated, almost buzzing with excitement. He waves you in, barely able to contain a grin. “Take a seat,” he says, his tone a little too eager.

You sit down cautiously, trying to gauge what's coming. Rob leans forward, resting his elbows on his desk, and you can see he’s practically bursting to share something. “So, I got a call this morning,” he starts, and you immediately feel a sense of dread creeping in. “It was from Natalie, the manager over at The Bear.”

Your heart skips a beat, but you force yourself to stay composed. You nod, prompting him to continue. “She told me that Carmen Berzatto—yes, that Carmen—wants to do the interview and a photoshoot,” Rob says.

“A—a photoshoot?” you stammer. “Is this the same Carmen Berzatto?” God, you couldn’t imagine Carmen wanting to be a center of attention like that. He would probably die right on the spot.

Rob ignores your snarky remark—as he often does—leaning even closer, his excitement palpable. “And get this—he specifically requested that you be the one to do it.”

He pauses, waiting for your reaction, clearly expecting you to share in his enthusiasm. But all you feel is a mix of shock and apprehension. “Rob, I—” you start, but he cuts you off, too caught up in the moment.

“I mean, this is huge!” he exclaims, practically bouncing in his chair. “The Bear is blowing up, and an exclusive like this could improve all the important numbers for us. And he wants you—he’s insisting on it! Do you have any idea how big this could be for your career?”

You do, of course. An exclusive interview with Carmen could put you on the map in a major way. But all you can think about is that last encounter in the meeting room, the awkwardness, the unresolved tension, and the anger laced in bitterness you thought you had finally let go of. Rob notices your hesitation and softens his tone, though his excitement is still simmering beneath the surface. “Look, I know there’s some history here,” he says, a bit more gently. “But this is a massive opportunity. And honestly, if Carmen wants you specifically, there’s something there. He’s not the type to just pick someone randomly, right?”

You shake your head and swallow hard, your mind racing. The offer is tempting, the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often. But it also means facing Carmen again, reopening wounds you thought were starting to heal but ignoring the issue—the healthy way, you think bitterly. But also, you would need to contact Nat and Sydney again about your place in The Bear, which you’ve been putting on hold for a long time now, in internet terms.

Rob senses your inner turmoil and leans back, giving you some space. “I’m not going to pressure you, but I really think you should consider it. We could make this the cover story. It’s that big.”

The room is silent for a moment as Rob waits for your response, his eagerness practically vibrating off him. You’re absolutely sure that if you don’t agree to this project, Rob will ask another editor, or even hire a freelancer. As much as you want to be offended a bit longer, letting it simmer inside you, you also want to do this with The Bear staff. As Natalie must know—this is all her doing, after all, you suppose—the visibility for the restaurant is going to be huge.

You take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. Then, you make your decision. “I’ll do it,” you say, your voice firmer than you expected.

Rob’s face lights up instantly. “That’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaims, practically beaming. “I knew you’d come through. This is going to be incredible, I can feel it.”

His enthusiasm reassures you, and for a brief moment, you let yourself feel excited, too.

Rob starts rattling off details, already planning how to make this the magazine’s biggest feature yet. “We’ll do a full spread—interview, photoshoot, the works. We can even tie it into some of the broader trends in the culinary world. This could be huge!”

You nod, letting his words wash over you, but part of your mind is still focused on the impending meeting with Carmen. You pretty much sent him to hell. How will you handle this?

“Let’s get the ball rolling,” Rob says, snapping you back to the present. “I’ll coordinate with Natalie to set up the interview. We’ll get the photographer involved, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

“Thanks, Rob,” you say, managing a small smile, not mentioning that you will get in touch with Natalie too. “I’ll make sure it’s worth the hype.”

“I have no doubt,” Rob replies confidently. “This is going to be something special.”

As you walk out of his office, the reality of what you just agreed to starts to settle in. You’re going to see Carmen again, face to face, in a setting that’s as personal as it is professional. It’s also a chance to prove to yourself that you can handle it—and maybe even come out stronger on the other side.

The nerves are still there, but so is a newfound resolve. This is your story to tell, and you’re ready to own it.

---

Naturally, you had to tone down your emotions in Rob’s office, as he didn’t know anything about your work you had done for The Bear or the situation with the chef himself. The need to show off your professional skills, both to Rob and Carmen, won. Natalie nearly pisses herself—her words, not yours!—when you confirm the news over the phone. She shares with you that it actually was Carmen’s idea to do the interview, supported by Sydney and Richie and Tina and everyone. The shoot not so much, but he’s gonna do it too, she says, and you can hear the mischievous smile in her voice.

The photoshoot is set to happen in a studio your magazine usually uses for smaller productions, as it’s only Carmen you need to get. Rob informed you that he had sent a photographer to The Bear earlier, so the photos from the place, as well as photos of the team, are already done. You know this from Natalie and Sydney already, who thanked you probably more than a million times for “arranging this,” but in front of Rob, you play guileless.

It’s awfully quiet in the room when you enter, the swinging door swooshing quietly behind you. No wonder. The shoot had to be planned on Sunday—the only day Carmen’s not at work, which has been met with not very enthusiastic responses. There’s no music playing, which is very unusual.

The studio has high ceilings and large windows that let in natural light. It obviously used to be a factory, now rebuilt into a fancy, modern building with that historic edge. You’ve been here a couple of times before.

You spot the photographer, Elena, adjusting her equipment with the precision of someone who knows exactly what she’s doing. She smiles at you and you give each other a quick hug. With a shoot this small, there’s no one doing production, as you’re using the magazine’s regular talents. As much as you want to stall, you know that Carmen must be sitting on the make-up chair, very probably freaking out. It’s a bit unpleasant, but the fact that he’s more uncomfortable than you here makes you feel better, helps you calm your nerves down. The situation is similar to the one in the office a few weeks back, and you realize it’s more your confidence than maliciousness.

Your steps echo as you walk around the corner to the make-up and hair spot by one of the big windows. Carmen’s just getting up from the high chair, his posture screaming uneasiness.

“Hi Margot,” you say to the make-up artist with a piercing in her eyebrow. She’s younger than you, so you get why she thinks that the 00’s are so cool, since that’s probably when she was born.

Then the spotlight is on Carmen and you, and it takes you both to the moment when you approached him outside of The Bear months ago.

Carmen stares at you without blinking, probably relieved to see a familiar face, and also terrified, because it’s you. It’s crystal clear he doesn’t know what is appropriate for him to do in this setting.

Deciding quickly, you move towards him, giving him a similar hug as to Elena—quick, light, and impersonal. When you feel his palm press against your lower back fleetingly, the touch immediately makes you shiver, unfortunately not completely in a bad way, but you don’t have the time to ponder.

“I’ve just fixed his hair a bit and covered some bits here and there,” Margot explains, already cleaning her brushes. You notice immediately that Carmen’s curls are more defined and softer looking. He also appears less tired, but that’s surely due to Margo’s concealer magic.

“Thank you, Margo, that’s perfect,” you say as Carmen stands unmoving.

“Carmen just needs to moisturize more,” she adds cheekily, giving Carmen a wink over her shoulder.

You suppress a laugh. You’re absolutely sure Carmen has no idea what moisturizing or face cream means. He’s as lost here as you had been in the Bear's kitchen.

“Uhm—” Carmen makes an unsure noise, his hand reaching up to his hair, but Margo interrupts him:

“No touching!” she says hurriedly. “Not until the end of the shoot.”

You laugh for real now.

“How is it looking, guys?” Elena calls from the other side of the studio, checking on you.

“We’re fine. Carmen’s about to get changed, so you can get ready, El.”

You turn back to Carmen, who’s checking the studio with a mix of hesitance and curiosity. He’s dressed in light blue denim—unusual—and a gray jumper you’ve seen on him before.

“I’ll help,” you assure him. As the stylist is absent, you promised Rob that you would give a hand on the shoot. Besides, some selected garments are meant to be ready, plus you know they had asked Carmen to bring some of his stuff. “Follow me.”

Disappearing behind a screen that creates a changing space with clothes and steamers, you come properly face to face.

“Hey,” you say, unable to think of anything better. Your voice remains steady despite the slight flutter in your chest.

“Hey,” he replies, offering a small, almost uncertain smile. He glances around, taking in the unfamiliar setting. “This is… different.”

“Yeah,” you agree, gesturing to the setup around you. “But it’s all about making you look good.”

Carmen chuckles softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “No pressure, right?”

You smile, unable to play the Ice Queen anymore, and for a moment, the awkwardness between you dissipates. “Let’s get started.”

Carmen glances at you, seemingly reassured by your calm demeanor, even if he’s out of his element. You walk over to the clothes neatly hung on a rack. Immediately, you spot the cool embroidered Bode jackets, simple Carhartt pieces, more tailored Ami Paris clothes. There’s Maharishi and PAM too, probably included by the stylist based on your comment that Carmen likes the workwear style, though they are a bit too colorful.

You tell Carmen a little about every brand, trying to get him out of his head and focus on something else. To give him a taste of the world of magazines, media, and fashion. Similar to what he had done for you in the restaurant—when he was in a mood to talk about his dishes, ideas about combining ingredients, and crafting new flavors.

“What about this?” you suggest, handing him a soft, tan brown Carhartt WIP suede jacket. You know that Carmy knows Carhartt because you’ve seen him in their clothes, and you also know that he’s a big denim head. This garment will also help him not to feel as exposed in front of the camera at the start.

Carmen takes the jacket, his brow furrowing slightly as if he’s analyzing every stitch. He slips it on, and you can’t help but note how well it fits him. Natalie nailed the sizes of his clothes perfectly.

You go wait for him at the spot that Elena has set up, Margo already waiting there too, in case any adjustments to the hair are needed during the shoot. When Carmen finally walks over, Elena gives him a reassuring nod as he takes his place in front of the camera, hands in the jacket’s pockets. You watch from the sidelines, a little amused but mostly impressed at how the whole scene has come together. The large windows bathe the room in soft, natural light, casting shadows that play off the industrial vibe of the studio.

Carmen is nervous—anyone can see that—but he stands tall, doing his best to follow Elena’s quiet directions. You watch the laptop screen from the corner of your eye, where all photos appear after Elena presses the shutter, frame after frame. Carmen’s unease is apparent, and for a second you wonder if this really was such a good idea after all.

After another five painful minutes, it’s clear that it’s not getting better. You share a quick look with Elena and say, “Could you put some music on, girls?” Then, turning to Carmen, you add, “I think we can change the outfit now,” you say easily.

You go back to the styling corner, Carmen following you. When you’re both hidden again, you glance at Carmen whose whole body is stiff, discomfort oozing off him.

“This is really not so bad,” you start, but Carmen shakes his head, running a hand through his hair, messing it up in a way that would drive Margo mad if she saw it.

“I’m a chef, not… this,” he says, gesturing to the setting. “I’m not supposed to be in front of cameras, doing interviews, pretending like—like I fucking know what I’m doing. This is all bullshit.”

You take a deep breath, trying to figure out how to reach him. You’ve seen him under pressure before, but this is different. This isn’t about the restaurant; this is about him feeling out of place, exposed.

“Carmen, you’re right. You’re a chef, and a damn good one,” you say, keeping your tone calm and reassuring. It’s strange to be this way for a person who you’ve only ever seen confident and sure, except for what happened in the office two weeks ago.

“But this is part of it, too,” you carry on, trying to catch Carmen’s eye. “People want to know the person behind the food. They want to see the passion, the creativity. Even the struggle. That’s what makes the Bear special—it’s you.”

He looks at you, eyes filled with doubt. “But what if… what if they see through it? What if they realize I’m just faking it?”

You step closer, close enough to reach out, but you don’t. Instead, you offer him a small, genuine smile. “Then they’ll see that you’re human, just like the rest of us. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be perfect, Carmen.”

He closes his eyes, exhaling slowly, trying to steady himself. “I don’t know if I can be that guy.”

“You don’t have to be anyone but yourself,” you reply gently. “And if you’re not feeling it, we can stop. We don’t have to do this. We could just use the pictures from the Bear.”

Carmen opens his eyes and looks at you, something shifting in his expression. It’s still a mix of fear and doubt, but there’s also a flicker of determination. “You really think I can do this?”

“Absolutely,” you confirm with deadly certainty.

The next moment, “1972” by The Smashing Pumpkins starts playing from the speakers in the studio.

Carmen surprises you by taking the initiative and choosing the clothes by himself. You turn when he starts shedding the jacket. Instead, you hang it back on the rack, needing something to do. When the rustling stops, you face the chef again. He’s wearing a pair of vintage Levi’s and a striped sailor crew neck. He looks good in the dark colors.

“Yeah?” he checks, trying to gauge your reaction.

“Yeah,” you nod, hoping it’s not obvious how much you like what you’re seeing. “Yeah.”

Gathering your courage, you reach to roll the sleeves up, exposing Carmen’s forearms, then move up to straighten the seams on his shoulders. You catch his gaze and this time, there’s a flicker of something—perhaps gratitude, or just recognition that you’re both navigating unfamiliar territory. Not just here, on the set, but also between you. You’re discovering another layer of your relationship, perhaps sensing that at this moment, you have the upper hand.

Carmen's expression softens from that tight apprehension to something more open, more trusting. “Thanks,” he says quietly, then looks down at himself, as if trying to imagine how he’ll appear in front of the camera now.

You step back slightly, giving him space, but also giving yourself a moment to collect your thoughts. The tension between you feels different than before, less about awkwardness and more like a mutual acknowledgment that neither of you has the playbook for this. And yet, you’re figuring it out together.

“Here,” you point Carmen to a big mirror in the corner, and he checks the reflection.

“I think I like it,” he says after a moment, and you give him a thumbs up, the silly gesture completely honest.

Back on set, with the music playing, the atmosphere lightens. Carmen doesn’t smile, but there’s a shift in the way he carries himself. He seems more settled in his skin, the dark colors enhancing his quiet confidence. Elena notices the difference immediately; she barely needs to give direction this time. He’s still far from relaxed, but there’s an authenticity in the way he stands, his gaze steady.

The photos start to reflect that subtle transformation, and you feel a tremendous sense of relief as you watch them pop up on the screen. Watching him, you feel an odd sense of pride. This isn’t just about Carmen being in front of the camera; it’s about him facing something that makes him uncomfortable and pushing through it, allowing himself to be vulnerable in this position. If you’re completely honest, you’re surprised that he’s willing to go through with this.

Elena seems pleased, giving Carmen a reassuring nod after every few clicks of the camera. When she finally steps back and lowers her lens, you see Carmen visibly exhale, tension easing from his frame.

“That was good,” Elena praises, glancing at the screen. “We’ve got some solid shots here.”

Carmen looks over, seemingly a little surprised, like he wasn’t quite sure it had gone as well as she said. “See?” you say, nudging him gently. “You nailed it.”

Carmen gives you a small, genuine smile this time. “Maybe,” he says, scratching the back of his head, messing up his styled hair.

After the third outfit change, Rob shows up, as planned, alongside the magazine’s publisher. As this had been arranged before the shoot, you hope it doesn’t throw Carmen off balance too much.

Luckily, Carmen slips into his professional chef mode as Rob greets him, calling him “Chef,” and thanking him sincerely for the opportunity. Rob shoots you a happy grin over Carmen’s shoulder. 

The final outfit is dark gray tailored wool pants and a simple white tee, similar to what you know as Carmen’s daily uniform—probably why he chose it. You suggest adding a nice leather belt with a silver clasp to complete the look. Elena positions Carmen on a high stool this time, changing angles and perspectives.

For the first time today, Carmen looks truly at ease, despite the additional onlookers. You know Rob is looking for the perfect shot for next month’s cover.

Elena captures a few more shots before lowering her camera. “That’s it! We’re done,” she announces, a smile of satisfaction on her face. “Carmen, you did amazing.”

Carmen slides off the stool, his shoulders visibly relaxing as the weight of the shoot lifts. He looks over at you, a small, almost sheepish grin playing at his lips. “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

You laugh softly, walking over to him. “Told you. You nailed it.”

Rob joins you and Carmen. “Chef, you were great today,” he says, clapping Carmen on the shoulder. “Can’t wait to see the final shots.”

Carmen nods, clearly more comfortable now that the shoot is over. “Thanks, Rob. I appreciate it.”

Rob turns to you with a grin. “You too. Thanks for making this happen.”

You nod, feeling a bit of pride at how smoothly things turned out. You’re careful not to jinx it—after all, the interview is still looming in the second half of the day, after you’ve had something to eat.

For the interview, you and Carmen sit down in a corner of the studio that’s been set up to look more intimate—two chairs facing each other with a small table in between. Your notebook rests on your lap. Elena is supposed to take a few shots of the formal interview, and now it’s your turn to be nervous. Very nervous.

You did an extensive amount of research and preparation for the article, keeping in mind your personal history with Carmen. He’s not just another personality you’re interviewing. He’s a guy you once knew. A chef at whose restaurant you had worked, or volunteered. These facts leave you feeling like you’re balancing on a thin rope, and you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to approach the interview. In the end, you decide to let Carmen set the tone. He could keep it personal or strictly professional.

“How did you enjoy the shoot?” you ask with a mischievous smile, starting off lightly. You don’t need to check your notes for that.

Carmen smiles, rubbing his lips with his fingers. “It was a new, interesting experience. I’m afraid I wasn’t very good, but I hope you’ll be able to find a couple of decent images.”

“And one excellent for the cover,” you add, careful not to interrupt him.

Out of habit and nervousness, you adjust the recorder on the table between you, making sure it’s on. Then you glance at your notes.

“When we met in Copenhagen ten years ago, you were staging at Noma. How do you look back on those times—when you were at the beginning of your journey but already experiencing the kitchens of the world’s best restaurants?”

It takes a moment before Carmen responds. “I was very young and very lucky. I took every opportunity that came my way, worked hard—harder than most—to learn and grow, and hopefully to stand out.” Carmen’s words are measured, careful. “Noma was my first experience outside the US, and it was intimidating. But also—it’s an incredibly peaceful and inspiring place. I loved every moment there. It also helped that I knew someone familiar in Copenhagen. That definitely made me feel less alone.”

You catch yourself staring, a warm feeling spreading through your chest—liquid heat filling every corner. You imagine this is what drinking Felix Felicis must feel like. You smile, and Carmen returns it with a quick smile of his own.

Clearing your throat, you prepare for the real questions, the ones that have to live up to everyone’s expectations—Rob’s, Carmen’s, and mostly your own. As the interview progresses, you feel a shift in the atmosphere. The initial tension has faded, replaced by a sense of collaboration. You’re both here for the same reason: to tell a story that matters.

You ask Carmen about his journey in the culinary world, the chefs he’s worked with, and the chefs he looks up to. You discuss diligence, innovation, and respect. You briefly touch on the topic of Michael and Carmen’s family, letting him decide how much he wants to share.

“You can be more or less fortunate with the starting position you get in life. That’s out of your hands. But the rest is in your hands. There’s no point in thinking about how others might have it easier—it will only paralyze you, trust me. You have to focus on what you can do, what you can change. Take the little you have and turn it into everything you have. Be proud of it. Stand up for yourself. Value yourself, but also others.”

His words are thoughtful, and you can tell he’s reflecting deeply.

There’s a pause, and you realize he’s waiting for your next question. You nod, acknowledging the weight of his words. Carmen answered everything with a mix of humility and passion, offering you—and the audience—glimpses of the person behind the chef: the struggles, the doubts, the relentless drive to succeed.

You glance at your notes, then back at him.

“That’s it. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to share a glimpse of your life and The Bear’s story with Taste readers,” you say, finishing with a cheeky smirk, hoping Carmen knows you’re sincere.

Carmen chuckles at your tone. “Thank you for having me,” he replies, smiling with that familiar mix of modesty and quiet strength. “It was a pleasure to talk. Hopefully, your readers won’t be too bored.”

You laugh lightly, shaking your head. “I doubt that. If anything, they’ll be more intrigued than ever. You’ve got a story people want to hear—and not just about the food.”

He raises an eyebrow, studying you. "Well, that’s good to hear."

You stand up and reach out to shake his hand, a gesture of thanks and closure. He takes it, his grip firm but gentle. Then Rob approaches with more handshakes and thanks, joined by Mrs. Sullivan—the publisher. You quietly slip away, not wanting to disturb their networking, and head over to thank Elena and Margot, who have already packed up their gear while you were interviewing Carmen.

“You guys are cute together,” Margot teases, winking at you. “I didn’t know you actually knew him knew him.”

You absolutely do blush, and Elena adds, “Totally,” giving you a sly grin. “He IS cute.”

“You should see him in the kitchen,” you grumble, shoving your notebook into your tote bag to hide your flushed face.

Suddenly, Carmen appears next to you, having parted ways with Rob and Mrs. Sullivan, who likely have better things to do on a Sunday. “You did good,” he says quietly, almost as an afterthought, as if offering reassurance you didn’t know you needed.

Your chest warms again with that liquid heat, a mix of pride and gratitude blooming. You offer him one last, genuine smile.

“Thanks, Carmen,” you reply softly.

“Actually,” he begins, looking nervous again, hands on his hips, “I—I wanted to talk to you. If you have time now?”

He glances back at Rob, but the man is nowhere to be seen, already gone. Carmen nods, seeming relieved.

“Lead the way.”

—

The weather’s been sweltering lately, the sun heating up the city’s concrete walls, asphalt roads, and stone pavements until it feels like being in a big kiln. Luckily, the coffee shop has air conditioning, which both Carmen and you welcome. They are offering unusual caffeine drinks—most of them including something fruity and milky. Carmen orders a Coke with ice without checking the menu, and you go for an iced blueberry matcha latte.  

“Thank you for—” Carmen says when he’s seated properly, across from you once again.  

“Really, that’s enough of the thanks,” you wave him off, but Carmen talks over you, “For respecting that I wanna keep some things private. During the interview.”  

“Ah,” you nod slowly. “You know, normally I would send all the questions for authorization first,” you tell him truthfully, stirring your drink with the thin paper straw, mixing the green matcha with the milk froth and the purple syrup. “I wanted to be a bit nasty.”  

It’s Carmen’s turn to slowly nod, once. “I see,” he says. “I’m not surprised, honestly.”  

You fiddle with the collar of your cotton blouse nervously.  

“I appreciate that you had my back today,” Carmen continues. “It means a lot to me, you know?”

Not used to hearing kind words from Carmen, you find it hard to look at him directly, so you keep staring into your drink instead. “I think I do.”

As if sensing your hesitation, Carmen gives you a second before he asks:

“So, you have a thing for clothes, huh? Fashion, I mean.”

“As you do,” you shoot back playfully but honestly.

“I guess I enjoy the aesthetic aspect of it… I really liked some of the clothes today. It was nice to try something new. I’m not very good at new things,” he muses. “I liked the dress you wore in your office the other day. You looked—different,” Carmen adds uncertainly, playing with the napkin under the sweaty glass.

“I don’t wear dresses very often,” you stammer out, trying to hide the flush creeping up your neck. “And in the restaurant, I wanted to be in something that can get dirty. So… not too fancy clothes.”

Carmen notices how caught off guard you are right now.

“I wanted to bring up the topic of what happened at your work,” he explains slowly, hesitantly. “And what happened at The Bear before that… A lot of the aggression comes from my own frustration. And I shouldn’t take it out on other people. Like I said, there’s no excuse for it.”

You squirm in your seat, nervous to talk about the topic out loud for the first time. “It’s hard, Carm. First, you pretend you don’t know me. Then you barely talk to me. Then I feel like we’re actually starting to get along well, but you accuse me of this huge nonsense. All the while, I’m only trying to help you.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

“Because I don’t know how to respond to kindness.”

Your eyes fill up with tears, and you have to blink a couple of times to chase them away. You take a deep breath, your chest expanding with it. Carmen’s sitting still on the stool, looking like a schoolboy who had misbehaved during recess.

“Be kind to kind,” you say simply, spreading your hands, your eyebrows raising.

Carmen chuckles, sounding very self-deprecating, scratching his nose. “I’m working on it.”

He might think you’ll let it slide. You won’t. “Promise,” you press, urgent. “Promise me.”

His eyes meet yours, and he says it. “I promise.” Then once more, in a stronger voice: “I promise. And I’m sorry.” And your heart breaks for him because you know he’s never known much kindness.

“Deal.” To keep your hands occupied, you take out your chewing gum, wrapping it in an empty sugar packet. Then you raise your iced latte in a mock toast, taking a first sip of the drink.

“Just... be careful with the 'nasty' part,” Carmen says with a slight grin, breaking the tension. “I don’t think either of us needs more of that.”  

You chuckle. “Fair enough. I’ll try to keep the nastiness in check.”  

Carmen smirks, shaking his head as he relaxes back into his chair. “I appreciate that.”

[neenerisms]

enough rambles has gotten me to this point and the time has passed. the bear s4 wishlist right now.

(quick note these all dont have to happen in the same plot LMAO. its more of a "if at least ONE of these things happen, i'll be happy!" thing)

i'm starting this out on a rough foot: carmy and syd argument. it has to happen. i was serious about that when i said in a previous post. in each other's faces and everything. i need us circling back to the s1 vibes right now.

add on: this argument needs to be what prompts syd to leave. i need that whole crew seeing carmy as a bad guy for a few days. white boy loss!

more richie lore. more berzatto lore. more syd lore. all three. in terms of berzatto lore i'd fucking kill to know about their dad tbh. richie lore? i need to know how he got so close to the berzattos. there's obviously something going on in his family to why he's never seen with them. syd lore? ohhh so much shit i wanna know. her family! the catering! little backstory on her tats! storer don't even give me the fucking season if i don't get a syd centric episode.

i also really want a mikey centric episode too!! i understand that he's supposed to haunt the narrative, but i really want to see something about him rather than it just being "oh shit! mikey! anyways—".

marcus/syd/luca trio friendship. look, i have a lot that i want but i need this at the most. getting a scene where they all cook and shittalk carmy is something that will get me through the day.

i can feel the tomato that's about to be tossed at me, but carmy has to apologize to claire. the way i see it, he has three main people he needs to apologize to: her, richie (no, the one he did in ep 1 does not count. it was half-assed and he's more worried about the fact he did it rather than fixing the problem.) and syd. in my mind, i don't think he's ever going to get the balls to apologize to the other two if he doesn't apologize to her first. (or it might be flipped to where he cant apologize to her until he learns how to apologize to those two, but i'd prefer the former to be honest!)

rough foot p2: imo the bear can't come out in one piece. whether it's because of a bad review, jimmy running out of money as a whole so it can't get it funded anymore or, i semi remember someone saying burn it down. (which? i'd weirdly like??? i'd be devastated as fuck if that happened but also...i'm really interested to see the comeback from that.) i just need a wakeup call for carmy for the overall state of the kitchen. (also because i just DON'T see the show ending with it being like "and they did fine dining forever!" it just feels disappointing to end it that way, especially if the sandwich window is apparently doing way better than the restaurant itself...take us back to the roots!! or something!!)

the bear's timeline is so fucking confusing to the point i don't know what's the current date in the show right now (i've been assuming somewhere in between july-august?) so this one is less than likely to happen but i want them to go to some kind of award thing so bad...james beard or something else i don't fucking care, just give me the group in formal wear please. (extra points if this the only time they're bonding after a while!)

i'm not really into shipping culture like that w/ this show (aka idc who gets with who as long as they're happy.) BUT sydcarmies should at least be allowed a win with the way carmy apologizes to syd. i really want it to be somewhere personal and i hope it includes well—food. drop the collaborative dish while they talk in syd's apartment, thank you. (cause it's gonna leave a sour taste in my mouth if they're uncomfortably distant for life.)

lastly, don't give me anymore copenhagen flashbacks. don't get me wrong, i love seeing carmy happy but every time i read kitchen confidential, (which is mostly set in nyc) i just think "i wonder if carmy went through the same shit". more nyc carmy please if we're going to get flashbacks on past culinary experiences! it doesn't even have to be about fields, but i really wanna see what happened in other places carmy visited.

i feel like that's all in my head for now? feel free to elaborate on these, it's just me spitting out random shit that's been in my head. (i might make a hc list soon? is that something people want????)

[thisaintascenereviews]

Linkin Park - From Zero (with @jakeh2987)

Few bands have frustrated me more than nu-metal and rap-rock band Linkin Park. I’ve had such a complicated relationship with them for a multitude of reasons, whether for never listening to them during their initial popularity, their sound never being consistent for more than two albums, or hardly any of those sounds ever resonating with me. I’ve been listening to their discography as of late, as I’ve wanted to re-examine and re-contextualize their body of work. They’re a band that so many people love, but I’ve just never been able to “get it.” Maybe I’ve been too harsh on them over the years, so my thoughts might improve. There’s an elephant in the room that we need to address, though: on July 20th, 2017, vocalist Chester Bennington passed away by taking his own life.

I don’t know of a celebrity death that shook people to their core harder, especially for how unexpected it was. The band had just released One More Light, their foray into pop music that unfortunately didn’t sit well with longtime fans. Bennington’s death caused the band to lie dormant, and fans had no hope of the band getting back together, especially when Bennington was a once in a lifetime talent that no one could dare to replicate. They’ve stayed quiet for the past seven years, but they properly announced their return a few months ago, complete with a new singer in tow.

Emily Armstrong, of rock band Dead Sara, was touted at their new frontwoman, and boy, were fans angry. A lot of fans were welcoming and accepting, but even now, there are still a bunch of fans that can’t even fathom the idea of someone replacing Bennington, let alone a woman. Along with single “The Emptiness Machine,” the band also announced a new album, From Zero. Based on the idea of the band coming back “from zero,” as well as the band’s name being Xero, this record had a lot riding on it. I don’t want to talk about this album alone, though, so let’s welcome my buddy Jake back into the fold for this review! As a longtime fan of Linkin Park, how do you feel about them, and what was going through your mind when From Zero was announced?

When I look back on my musical journey and the development of my tastes, Linkin Park was my first favorite band, going back to around the time Minutes To Midnight came out. I just remember being excited by this form of more aggressive and heavier musc than I was used to at the time, and let's be honest, in 2006 going into 2007, I was just about to enter high school, so I was really prime for the angsty lyrics that were their signature. So, I've had love for this band for damn near 20 years now, which is kind of wild to think about, but you can imagine how shook I was personally by Chester Bennington's death. I think I actually remember you and I discussing it when the news first broke, and we were both totally shocked, because you're right, it came out of nowhere. I really had no idea what was going to happen next, but after they played their benefit show later in 2017, I was at peace with that being the end, because yeah, how could you replace someone like Bennington? Plenty of bands, absolutely iconic ones, even, have navigated tragedies and managed to come out the other side, sometimes bigger and better than ever (AC/DC immediately comes to mind), but Bennington's voice, both in the literal sense and in the sense of his lyrics and what he was saying about his mental health, was so integral to the band's identity, that I don't think you could blame anyone for wondering if they were done.

Well, seven years later, it turns out Linkin Park had more to say and share with the world, and that's in the form of this album, From Zero. A few weeks before the initial announcement and comeback show, buzz had started to build about a potential Linkin Park reunion, and I remember feeling a little apprehensive, but ultimately willing to trust Mike Shinoda that he wouldn't do any of this if there wasn't genuinely something there. The comeback show happens, Emily Armstrong gets introduced to the world as the new vocalist, and we're getting new music from one of my very favorite bands for the first time in close to a decade, something I wasn't sure was ever gonna happen again! I had no idea who Emily was, so I liked the idea of it being someone lesser known, and I also immediately loved the bold choice of choosing a woman to front one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, in a genre that has so few non-men performers at the forefront. I also really liked "The Emptiness Machine" upon first listen; it felt like a cool blend of old and new, and having Mike carry the first bit of the song before passing the reigns to Emily was a very cool symbolic way to introduce her to the fans. So, I was riding pretty high on all of this initially, honestly!

That all being said, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least briefly touch on some stuff regarding Emily's past and why some people started to question the choice to bring her on, mainly her alleged ties to the Church of Scientology and her support of now-convicted rapist Danny Masterson, of That 70's Show fane. From everything I've been able to gather from researching this, it appears that Emily was born into Scientology and hasn't been actively participating in anything relating to it for a very long time, and her support for Masterson only extended to the very first court date, and she immediately backed away once more and more evidence came to light over the course of the trial. So, after all of that was bubbling up and then was later put into a more clear perspective, I think unless you're just stubborn, or misogynstic, or both, there's a lot to be happy about regarding this comeback. So, let's talk about this album!

First, I wanna ask you, given your past history with the band, what was it about From Zero that finally made Linkin Park click for you?

When “The Emptiness Machine” first dropped, I hadn’t gone through the band’s discography yet, but it’s not only a good first single, it was a good debut single to showcase Armstrong’s vocals and how well of a fit she is for the band. I surprisingly really enjoyed it, especially for how it revived the band’s harder edged sounds, but still maintained a really catchy core. The week before From Zero came out, I got the idea to go through the band’s first couple of albums, ultimately revisiting those to see if I could enjoy those more now. Spoiler alert: Hybrid Theory and Meteora are fantastic. Despite being rather dated in spots, they still hold up quite well and they’re impeccably written, but that got me wanting to listen to their rest of their discography as I was also listening to From Zero.

I wanted to be able to compare their newest album to the rest of their discography, especially when part of From Zero’s appeal for me, personally, is that it takes a lot of elements of their other records and packages it into a tight set of 32 minutes. After going through the rest of their albums, as well as Shinoda’s last solo album, you can hear a lot of that here. Whether it’s the nu-metal of their first two albums, the alt-metal / hard-rock of 2007’s Minutes To Midnight, the moody and atmospheric sound of 2010’s A Thousand Suns, the rap-rock-meets-pop sound of 2012’s Living Things (there’s a lot of Living Things influence here, surprisingly), the post-hardcore stylings of 2014’s The Hunting Party, or the streamlined pop of 2017’s One More Light. Even on Shinoda’s 2018 solo album, Post-Traumatic, there’s some influence there.

From Zero isn’t only their first album in seven years, their first with a new singer, as well as their shortest album to date, but it’s their first album to celebrate their legacy and their body of work. Instead of going too much in one direction, because they could have easily made a nu-metal album and it would have been fine, but they took bits and pieces from their discography. Their albums are still rather hit or miss for me, but I don’t outright hate any of their albums anymore. My thoughts have improved on most of them, but their inconsistency is still kind of an issue for me, but From Zero is the first album of theirs since the first two that I’ve been able to really enjoy front to back. What about you, Jake? How do you feel about this record?

I think you hit the nail on the head there, and why I really like this album a lot; it's a celebration of the band's legacy and everything they've done before, but at the same time, and really importantly, it's also pushing them forward in a new direction that doesn't ever feel like a cheap retread or a ploy for nostalgia. That feeling of nostalgia comes naturally, just from the band playing to their strengths and having a blast doing it. "Two Faced" is probably my favorite song on the album; it's very much a called back to the Hybrid Theory/Meteora era, but I just really love the energy on that song, and there's an undeniable swagger in the back and forth between Emily and Mike. You're totally right, though, it would have been very easy to just do an album of all that, but they didn't, and that's a testament to how Linkin Park was never a band to stay stagnant, even when it didn't always work. Another highlight for me is "Over Each Other," a more ballad-y song where Emily fully gets the spotlight. It wouldn't feel out of place on Living Things or even One More Light, but whereas I thought One More Light in particular didn't do a lot with the sound they were going for, a song like this takes that idea and infuses it with a renewed Linkin Park essence that makes it work a lot better.

What were some of your highlights on the album?

From Zero certainly feels like a new direction, too, even with a lot of their previous albums infused within its DNA. That’s another reason why this record works so well, because it has its own identity. As for highlights, “Two Faced” is my favorite as well, because it has that nu-metal sound of the first two albums, but with something new and interesting about it. Emily and Mike sound great, too, but speaking of risks, “Casualty” is another huge highlight. I didn’t have Linkin Park making a hardcore song on my bingo card for this year, but here we are. Emily’s screams are fantastic, and while Mike is kind of just shouting, he still is pushing his voice in a way he hasn’t before. I also really like “Over Each Other,” because it’s a solo cut from Emily, and it’s a good choice to put a song with just her here. Songs like that, as well as some of the more pop-focused cuts, like “Stained,” “Overflow,” and the closing track, “Good Things Go” have the same kind of sound that One More Light did, like you said, but with something more. The latter track is another highlight, too, because of its very emotional and weighty sound that closes the album out on a real good note.

"Good Things Go" is actually a really great album closer, and I love how the last few seconds loop back around to the intro track, making for a really cool full circle loop that makes it even easier to immediately replay the album. I also gotta show some love to "Heavy Is The Crown;" that song was chosen as the theme to this year's League Of Legends world champinships, and I believe there's even a version of it featured in the newest season of Arcane (a show I really need to watch), and it's very easy to hear why. It's another quintinsensially Linkin Park song, and that long scream Emily does during the bridge?? I feel like that was the moment that was like "Okay, she's got this" for me.

I love that it loops around to the intro, because it shows that it’s a full circle experience, almost like the band itself is circling back to when they first started. They’re starting again, essentially, so I love a lot of the symbolism here. Oh, man, I forgot about “Heavy Is The Crown”! That’s definitely within my top three songs, and it’s a song that I’ve been coming back to quite a bit, whether it’s for that hook, or Emily’s wicked screams. That’s a song that shows the past and the present for the band at the same time, because you can hear their earlier material there, but also something new. I was pretty sold on her when the first single came out, but both “Heavy Is The Crown” and “Two Faced” really sold me, and actually had me more excited for the album. Mike is surprisingly a solid rapper, so I’m happy he gets to shine a lot throughout this thing. Even as a singer, he’s improved quite a bit, and it’s awesome to see their chemistry.

I also quite enjoy the lyrics on this thing, too, because they feel very quintessential Linkin Park, whether they’re interestingly vague and specific at the same time, and there’s a ton of emotional catharsis throughout. They aren’t anything too deep or poetic, but they never needed to be. Their lyrics have always been vague but specIn certain points, when Emily screams a certain line, I’m eerily reminded of Chester doing the same thing on the first two albums, and it sounds so good.

Speaking of which, there is another elephant in the room that I think we need to discuss, and that can be a good way to start to close this out — there are plenty of people that are going to write this off simply for the fact this isn’t with Chester. Even if Emily was another guy, I guarantee that people would still refuse to even give this a chance. What do you think about that minority of fans that refuse to give anything else a listen by them if it doesn’t have Chester?

You know, on some level, I do kind of get it. Chester Bennington really was one of a kind, and the rest of the band had an utterly impossible task when they were looking for someone to carry on this role. Honestly, the only scenario I could see that maybe most people wouldn't be too upset with was Mike taking on all the vocal duties himself, but as solid as I think he's grown as a vocalist, having those dual vocals is another thing that's always put Linkin Park apart from other bands in the genre. So, when such a key piece of something that meant so much to you isn't there anymore, I can understand the hesitation. But, I listen to Mike talk in any interview he's done since the comeback and how much he didn't want this to happen just for the sake of it happening, and how it only really felt like Linkin Park again after Emily starting singing on the songs, I don't know how you don't at the very least give it a solid chance. If it's not for you still, that's totally valid, but what I don't love is when people (and to be fair, this is only a very small but loud minority) invoke Chester and try to say some nonense about how this totally shits on his and the band's legacy or how they should have changed the name, or even say some downright sexist shit like "Lol it's just Paramore now!" It's like, you could just quietly move on if it's not for you, and it's not as if the rest of their discography just goes away all of a sudden. I just don't see a world where you see how happy the band is to be performing again, and how Emily's really coming into her own as she gets more comfortable, and at the very least be happy that this band gets to continue in some form, even if their new album isn't for you.

I think that’s part of the cloud that hangs over this album, albeit from a small (but vocal) minority of people with that opinion, but the elephant in the room of this album not featuring Chester looms over this thing. For a long time, it seemed impossible that they could fill his shoes, and they could have easily had Mike take on lead vocal duties, but you’re right, LP’s appeal were those dual vocals, especially the rapped vocals and the sung/screamed ones. The hesitation is understandable, and I think most people would be, but that’s the other thing: Mike and the other members would not want to bring someone aboard that they weren’t comfortable and confident in, and they brought back Linkin Park as a labor of love, not because they need a paycheck.

I could understand if you give this album a chance, and it just doesn’t do anything for you, but there are people that will refuse to listen to it out, purely out of principle. I suppose I’m just baffled, because how wouldn’t this hit with longtime fans that love the first few albums? It has a lot of the same stuff that fans have loved, and just because Chester isn’t on it, it doesn’t mean it isn’t as good. I think that’s the thing about it, too, where people can’t just be quiet if they don’t like something. People always feel the need to express their vitriol for something, no matter how small, and they’ll always find something to dislike. It’s good that it’s a small minority, because a lot of the reaction I’ve seen has been positive.

I think what will be really telling for all this when it's said and done is how they follow up From Zero. This was the foot in the door, and Linkin Park has never been one to rest on their laurels and make the same album twice, so I'm so curious to see where they go from here. I'm also hopeful that after the intial feelings of having the band back at all and having Emily there wear off, if the people who aren't gonna give it a shor or maybe aren't as into this won't be willing to give what they do next a shot. I'm probably being a tad optimistic, but I'd like to imagine that now that people know what they have, Linkin Park can really blow the doors off the place.

Regardless of all of that, I think From Zero is basically everything I could have asked for in a Linkin Park comeback. It's a lean and mean collection of songs that shows the band back doing what they do best while also pushing forward, and I'm just happy this happened at all, considering how hard I imagine it must have been for them to even think about doing it.

From Zero is an album that doesn’t need to be anything experimental or revolutionary, because it’s exactly their foot in the door. They got back together, and they need to show that they still got it, so to speak, and this is them doing what they do best, all the while adding some new and exciting ideas. It’s cool that we’re in a new era for the band, because there were many years we never thought we’d get that, so I’m anticipating what we get next. I never have been crazy about Linkin Park, but this is the album that made me “get” them, so to speak. I’m happy I get to share this joy, even if it’s from someone that hasn’t always been their biggest fan, or grew up with them, but I absolutely love this album, and it’s one of my favorites of the year.

[forktutwtt]

How tf is Futurama literally exactly the same in every conceivable way after 10 years. EXACTLY the same. Like no time has passed at all. It’s insanely impressive how consistent this show is.

Here’s my longer review:

LIGHT SPOILERS

It’s amazing. I would not notice a shred of difference without the knowledge this is 10 years later (beside the fact they reference the show being cancelled like they always do). Nothing has changed.

Legitimately the most notable change was that Hermes voice sounds slightly off (still obviously the same guy but he’s probably just older). He had like 4 lines though so it’s hard to say it’s really a change.

I loved the way the episode acknowledges the time passing and the previous episode in terms of overall status quo changing plot. It makes sense while still placing it in July 3023 and that’s cool. Although the episode’s plot was resolved in a very silly way that makes it kinda hard to buy, the jokes were consistently funny (especially the professor), the events were creative and escalated well, and plots concluding oddly is pretty on track for this show. Which leads to my last point.

Literally all my problems with the episode are the same I have with the rest of the series. For example, although they explicitly show the events of the previous finale, after the reset they do not acknowledge Fry and Leela’s relationship directly. Other characters still act as though they’re dating though. I’d say that’s weird and disappointing but frankly that’s what the show’s been doing for 26 years: barely focusing on the relationship and keeping in the background unless it’s the focus. They seriously dedicated themselves to making it EXACTLY the same. No improvements and no losses in quality of any kind.

Amy even had all the bad jokes! That’s how you know it’s the same old Futurama.

Overall, I’m shocked this exists and I love the comeback so far.

[dreamaze]

.⟡. 2023 Year in Review .⟡.

cc year in review — every month in 2023 : link your favorite and/or most popular post from each month this year

tagged by: @shorelinnes, @xiaojuun, & @gnanii, thank you lovelies! ♡ tagging (no pressure, & the gifs were extra!): @ye-xiu, @eggheons, @nervousnotion, @honeyimissjoo (if you’ve already done this, feel free to drop the link! ♡)

Hello!! A brief(ish) recap before the actual list. It’s been a pretty wild year in wingsland, mostly thanks to finishing up my second master’s degree in December (finally, BYE!). Looking back, I’m surprised at how much content I actually created, but this has been a refuge and source of comfort for me while running on fumes between work and school and general adulting. 2023 also marked some changes in my listening and sources of inspiration. I fell more out of interest with txt (apologies to all followers who were here for them… this is the second time this has happened, oops?) but fell even more in love with Monsta X while discovering some other new or new-to-me artists (more on that in another post). Reason was my first official comeback with them, and it really lit a fire in my brain. I have a few ongoing series that I intend to continue, whether they’re gifs or audio compilations. I giffed a LOT of besties (minhyuk + hyungwon, the soulmates of soulmate besties). It brings me so so much joy to work on those sets and the various audio edits or just being excited about musical details in my music box tag. I also managed to squeeze in a few angsty mv sets along the way, because tbh I feel like I am thriving most as a creator when something is pulling at the heartstrings. I know mbbblr has been quiet lately (and must seem exceedingly so to those who were around years ago), but I will keep being noisy about them until mx6 is reunited and beyond. Thank you for sticking around with me ♡

(P.S. I am calling these my favorites and audience favorites because what even is popularity on tumblr, and also I am horribly indecisive and can rarely stick to one. Please enjoy the occasionally unserious post descriptions!)

January ⟡ My favorite(s out of an unusually prolific month): ‘Beautiful Liar’ lyrics + reflected shots, control imagery, & Minhyuk/Changkyun choreo; besties livestreams ft. minhyuk about to get his ass kicked by an indignant noodle & besties again not fighting ⟡ Audience favorite: Reason concept ver.3 (where did all those notes come from) followed by Hyungwon in Love Killa/Gambler/Beautiful Liar

February ⟡ My favorite: Besties Lone Ranger recording, Honey PD ’괜찮아’ Recording (ft. bonus honey threatening offering to kiss minhyuk on the lips), Hyungwon ‘Beautiful Liar’ mv + photoshoot behinds, & the following ⟡ Audience favorite: Unofficial art director Lee Minhyuk

March ⟡ The (only) favorite: Hyungwon FRED x Marie Claire (my favorite photoshoot coloring of the year)

April ⟡ My favorite: Minhyuk in Reason era & besties ft. not-very-tsundere hyungwon ⟡ Audience favorite: Hyungwon John Varvatos x GQ

May ⟡ My favorite: Besties All In mv + filming (for the 7th anniversary of All In) & the following ⟡ Audience favorite: Lights album preview

June ⟡ My favorite: Overdrive & “always you and me” besties ⟡ Audience favorite: Minhyuk x Singles

July ⟡ My favorite: Hyungwon x MV water imagery ⟡ Audience favorite: 1/2 of besties enlists (sobwail)

August ⟡ My favorite: Fighter performance video (…ft. besties), besties massage (fail), & the following ⟡ Audience favorite: Changkyun x Marie Claire

September ⟡ My favorite: Jaechan ‘Time’ ⟡ Audience favorite: Minhyuk vs the prop pear

October ⟡ My favorite: Besties with or without mx ⟡ Audience favorite: A pretty Joohoney

November ⟡ The (only) favorite: Minhyuk x Floun

December ⟡ My favorite: Giuk 'My Blue' & the consequences of putting besties next to each other in dance relays ⟡ Audience favorite: Hyungwon Givenchy Beauty x Singles

[girlmontage]

GIRL MONTAGE is an eight member girl group that debuted on MARCH 18, 2018 under GARDEN LABS. they debuted with the song GIRL'S CAPITALISM with mixed reviews from netizens. the song didn't get popular until 2023, FIVE YEARS after the group's debut.

despite their underrated status as a girl group when debuting, GIRL MONTAGE would slowly begin to gain popularity throughout their rookie year. however, their slow gain in popularity would come to a halt when member ROSIE would announce that she would be leaving the group in DECEMBER 2018. losing one of their most popular members without any explanation, many netizens would voice their concern as Garden Labs never officially explained what happened.

however, despite losing a member, GIRL MONTAGE would continue forward until MARCH 2019 when the group would be surrounded in a scandal. a twitter account would claim that former member Rosie had left the group not due to personal reasons, but instead because of "bullying among the members and staff" which immediately caused a witch hunt on the remaining members by netizens. this would force the group to go on a YEAR LONG HIATUS.

in late 2020, the group would eventually comeback; however, not without backlash from the previous scandal. the group would continue to make comebacks and slowly gain more popularity thanks to all the girls' solo careers. everything for the group would seem to be going well until JULY 2022, when Garden Labs announced that member LONDON had passed away. this sudden news of her passing would shock everyone in the k-pop community along with the members who would once again go on a SIX-MONTH HIATUS in order to mourn their passed member.

it wouldn't be until FEBRUARY 2023, that leader and main producer of the group ARA would announce that she and the other members of GIRL MONTAGE had filed a lawsuit against Garden Labs due to mismanagement and not protecting their artist. the court would rule in favor of the eight members and their contracts with Garden Labs would be terminated. this would put the group on an indefinite hiatus.

in SEPTEMBER 2023, Ara would announce that she and ARTEMIS had made their own label L'S MUSIC and that the rest of the members had joined them under this new label.

Im Gyuri was born in Busan, South Korea on September 14, 1998 to office worker parents. She has an older sister who's an art teacher. From a young age, Gyuri had been in love with music. Often singing, dancing, and even putting on small shows for her family when she was younger. It wouldn't be until middle school did she begin to explore music as a career option when her sister gifted her a piano for her thirteenth birthday.

From there, she would begin recording herself playing both covers and original songs and uploading them to youtube under the name ARA. Gyuri would begin to skip school in order to audition to entertainment companies and practicing her singing and dancing. When she was sixteen, Gyuri would be accepted into Garden Labs originally as a producer, but would be put into the trainee system.

For the next four years, Gyuri would train under Garden Labs before she would officially debut under the company as the Leader, Lead Vocalist, and Main Producer for the group in 2018. Along producing 90% of the songs for Girl Montage, Gyuri has also produced for a number of other artist in both K-Pop and the west. When producing she goes by the producer name PRICE X.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : ARA

FULL NAME : Im Gyuri

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Yuri, GG, PRINCE X ( producer name )

BIRTHDAY : September 14, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : Busan, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Producer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Leader, Lead Vocalist, Main Producer

Harlow Janet was born in New York City, New York on October 1, 1998 to a hotel owner father and boutique owner mother. Growing up, Harlow lived in the luxury hotel her father owned with her parents. Throughout most of her childhood and teenage years, Harlow was mainly with her mother while her father traveled the world to manage his other hotels. Despite the lack of her father's presence, Harlow would grow up as a happy child who had a love for dance. This caused her mother to enroll her in different dance academies before she eventually joined the dance team "WANNABE" which covered K-Pop songs.

Through the dance team, that's how Harlow and several of her teammates were able to be scouted by entertainment companies like YG and JYP. Harlow would be scouted by YG Entertainment and would accept their invitation and fly to Korea with her mother. Throughout her time at YG, Harlow would grow better and better in her dance along with her singing ability. This is where she would be put into the lineup for BlackPink. Unfortunately, she would be kicked out of the lineup and moved to a smaller company, Garden Labs, where she would continue her training.

In 2018, Harlow would debut as the group's Main Dancer, Visual, Lead Vocalist, and Sub-Rapper. She would also easily become one of the group's most popular members ranking up there with Artemis and former member Rosie. In October 2019, Harlow would make her solo debut and would eventually start to stream on Twitch where she would become popular on the platform from both her idol status and comedic personality.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Harlow

FULL NAME : Harlow Janet

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Low, Janet, Monster Dancer

BIRTHDAY : October 1, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : New York City, New York

NATIONALITY : American

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Streamer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Visual, Lead Vocalist, Sub-Rapper

Juniper Fujiwara was born in Kyoto, Japan on January 1, 1999 to her single father. She has a twin sister who is a popular model in Japan. Growing up, Juniper's father was a popular retired singer in Japan and because of that music was a large part of her life. Since she was younger, her and sister have done both singing and dance lessons together. By their elementary years, Juniper and her sister were in a performing duo together that became popular all over Japan with their dad as their manager.

As she grew up though, the more she would sing and dance, the more she would eventually start getting compared to her father who was a singer in his earlier years. This caused her to slowly begin to resent singing and dancing as she got got older. It wouldn't be until she was scouted by an SM Entertainment agent that she would decide to give it another chance.

Training in Korea, Juniper would be wildly known as a popular SM Rookie and also appearing on the Mickey Mouse Club. She was also suppose to debut in Red Velvet; however, she was removed from the lineup last minute. This caused her to leave the company a year later where she would join Garden Labs to finish her training.

In 2018, Juniper would debut as the Main Vocalist and Sub-Rapper of the Girl Montage. During their hiatus she would find a passion in painting and begin working as a painter as a side career. She is seen as the most popular member in Japan which is where most of her fanbase is.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Juniper

FULL NAME : Juniper Fujiwara

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : June, The Shadow

BIRTHDAY : January 1, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Kyoto, Japan

NATIONALITY : Japanese

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Painter

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Vocalist, Sub-Rapper

Artemis Song was born in London, England on February 14, 1999 to a professor father and writer mother. She is an only child. Artemis grew up as a social butterfly, not afraid to talk to anyone. She also had a natural talent for singing with her parents letting her compete in several singing competitions. It wouldn't be until her and her parents traveled to Korea to visit family that she would be scouted by several different companies after participating on the TV show "Sing It!" which also introduced her to the Korean public who all immediately fell in love with her and her personality.

This is was also when Artemis decided that she wanted to be a professional singer and idol. Originally she joined Jupiter Home Entertainment and after seven years she would be transferred to Garden Labs, their sub-label. Continuing her training her, Artemis would do several public busking performances and meet and greets, being seen as one of the most popular trainees at the time. Her popularity was also boosted thanks to placing 2nd on the first season of Produce 101 and becoming a member of I.O.I.

After I.O.I disbanded, Artemis would finish her training with Garden Labs and prepare for her official debut.

In 2018, Artemis would debut as the Face of the Group, Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, and Visual of Girl Montage. She is the most popular member of the group thanks to all the invitation of variety shows, commercials, magazines, etc. she has gotten over the years.

In 2020, she started a podcast called "Art's Poetry" where she invites other K-Pop idols onto the show and talk with them. Along with that, she has also been an MC for SBS's "The Show" since 2022.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : ARTEMIS

FULL NAME : Artemis Song

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Art, Artie

BIRTHDAY : February 14, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : London, England

NATIONALITY : English

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Podcaster, Actress

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Face of the Group, Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual

Jeon Chaeryoung was born in Jeju, South Korea on May 4, 1999 to an art teacher father and math teacher mother. she has an older brother. Chaeryoung grew up as a shy girl who instantly enjoyed music thanks to her older brother. As she got older, the two of them would begin to busk around Seoul in order to earn extra money. This would continue until her brother went off to college.

After her brother went off to college, Chaeryoung would continue to busk on the streets, performing covers of different songs. She would then get the chance to perform on the TV show "Sing It!" where she would meet her future group member Artemis.

While she was eliminated early on the show, her talent was able to get her recognized by JYP who would recruit her as a new trainee. Chaeryoung would first be known for competing on the survival show SIXTEEN before she was eliminated. Two years after SIXTEEN, she would choose to leave JYP and move to Garden Labs.

In 2018, Chaeryoung would debut under the stage name "Cherry" as the Main Dancer and Lead Rapper of the group. She chose the stage name Cherry because that was the nickname her older brother gave her. Chaeryoung made her solo debut in 2023. She is seen as one of the lesser known and popular members of the group.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Cherry

FULL NAME : Jeon Chaeryoung

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : ChaeChae, Youngie, Pink Cherry

BIRTHDAY : May 4, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Jeju, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Lead Rapper

Kwon Yulli was born in Gangnam, South Korea on November 17, 1999 to two lawyer parents. she is an only child. since she was born, yulli was raised by her nanny while her parents were away at work. She had always had a natural talent for the arts that her parents would force her into after seeing how good she was. Being forced to paint all day and night to improve on her painting skills.

When she was in middle school, Yulli would attend an art school and would compete in multiple art shows, place first most of the time. It wouldn't be until she was fifteen that she was scouted by Garden Labs. At first her parents refused to allow her to become a trainee, but after some convincing and several deals that Yulli would be allowed to become a trainee at the company.

Yulli would train for the next few years along with the other members of Girl Montage. Her parents would regularly check in on her and after her third year as a trainee told her that if her debut wasn't successful then she would have to leave the company in order to focus on school and painting.

In 2018, Yulli would debut as the Visual and Main Rapper for the group. Around 2020, Yulli would be diagnosed with social anxiety and would begin therapy in order to help her mental health. During the group's first hiatus, she would began creating and writing a Webtoon under the pen name Double Y. The Webtoon would become an immediate success to the public.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Yulli

FULL NAME : Kwon Yulli

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Lily, Double Y ( pen name )

BIRTHDAY : November 17, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Gangnam, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Webtoonist

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Rapper, Visual

Lane Gillian was born in New York City, New York on March 20, 2000 to a business man father and a model mother. She has two older sisters. Growing up, Lane was an active attender to her mother's shows and watched as she walked the runway. This caused Lane to want to grow up and become just like her mother. However, when she was in middle school her parents would divorce and she would forced to go and live with her grandmother and aunt.

This caused Lane to resent both her parents and she would begin to act out at school and as a result she her aunt put her in a ballet class. After several classes, Lane would fall in love with the dance. Because of this, she would also venture into other dance styles until she came across Hyuna and K-Pop. Lane would immediately fall in love with the genre and learn how to do several group dances.

It wouldn't be until her and her grandmother took a trip to South Korea that she would be scouted by SM Entertainment due to her looks and busking skills. This is where she met Juniper who was also a new trainee at the time. Lane would continue to train at SM and even become a popular and well-known SM Rookie. In 2015, Lane would decide to leave the company after Juniper, telling the other girl that they either "succeed together or fail together."

Lane would go on to debut as the group's Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, and Visual in 2018. She is also considered as one of the most popular members to both netizens and brands. In 2021, she would become an ambassador for Vivienne Westwood and in 2022 she would become ambassador for Selkie.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Lane

FULL NAME : Lane Gillian

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Laney, Vivienne's Girl, Fashion Guru

BIRTHDAY : March 20, 2000

BIRTHPLACE : New York City, New York

NATIONALITY : American

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Fashion Designer, Model

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual

Juliet Carlson was born in Wellington, New Zealand on December 23, 2000 to a nurse mother and professor step-father. She has a younger half-brother. Growing up, Juliet never really had an interest in music like her group members. Instead she wanted to a game developer due to her love of video games.

This interest would only continue to skyrocket as games such as Five Night's at Freddy's and Undertale came out which were created by mainly one developer. This is where she would begin to full start working and making her own video game. However, this would eventually be put on the back-burner when during a trip to Korea, Juliet would be scouted by a Garden Labs agent due to her nature looks. Her mother was the one to force her into auditioning, as she originally wanted to be a singer before she became pregnant.

With Juliet passing her audition, her whole family would move to Korea in order to support her. Her mother would soon become unbearable with pushing Juliet to do better and better than the other trainees, and her original dream of being a game developer was soon lost. Juliet; however, didn't have the heart to say no to her mother and did what her mother wanted.

Juliet would debut as the group's Maknae, Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, and Sub-Vocalist in 2018. Along with becoming an idol, Juliet would also be pushed into acting. Apart from that, Juliet would also get to work on her game again and get to officially release it 2022.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Juliet

FULL NAME : Juliet Song but legally changed to Juliet Carlson

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Julie, Princess Julie, Princess Maknae

BIRTHDAY : December 23, 2000

BIRTHPLACE : Wellington, New Zealand

NATIONALITY : Australian

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Actress, Game Developer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Maknae, Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Sub-Vocalist

MEMBER FOR ETERNITY

tw. death / suicide

London Kang was born in Stockholm, Sweden on June 12, 1998 to a actor father and an actress mother. She has an older sister and brother. Growing up, London was always in the spotlight thanks to her famous parents. London, herself, would also begin acting at a young age, appearing in several commercials and even became a regular on the Korean drama "Happy Ways."

However, London would realize that she didn't want to act anymore and would instead want to pursue a career as an idol. Thanks to who her parents were, London was able to easily get into CUBE Entertainment and start her training in 2012. This however didn't sit right with several other trainees at the company who would bully and mock London despite her being at the same level as the rest of them.

Eventually, London would move companies and join Garden Labs. When she joined, she immediately became friends with the other trainees like Ara and Harlow. London was one of the more popular trainees at the company thanks to her talent and hard working attitude.

In 2018, London would debut as the group's Lead Vocalist and Visual. While not an immediate favorite member, many Pathfinders feel in love with London and her natural charm, catching the eye of many new fans. During the group's first hiatus, she would go back to acting and do several small, indie films.

Unfortunately, in July of 2022, London would be found dead in the group's dorm by member Juliet. The cause of her death as remained out of public knowledge due to her family; however, many netizens and fans have suspected it was suicide.

In 2023, two members of Girl Montage, Ara and Artemis, would start her own music label called L's Music in memory of London. The song "BLUE" was also dedicated to her.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : London

FULL NAME : London Kang

KOREAN NAME : Kang Sowon

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : London Bridge, Lonnie, Blue, L

BIRTHDAY : June 12, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : Stockholm, Sweden

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - 2022

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2022 )

POSITIONS : Lead Vocalist, Visual

FORMER MEMBER

tw. death

Rosa Jung was born in Seoul, South Korea on April 1, 1997 to convenience store worker parents. She has two younger brothers and a sister. Growing up, Rosa had to take care of her younger brother while her parents worked. Compared to her former group members, Rosa grew up in a struggling household where her parents worked day and nightshifts in order to provide for themselves.

When she was in middle school, Rosa took a likening to idols and was inspired by idols like BoA and Girl's Generation. She realized while watching them on variety shows that she wanted to become an idol in order to famous. However, her parents discouraged her as the idol industry was a tough and ruthless place and had little faith in their daughter. Instead, they forced her to get a job when she was fourteen in order to help support her younger brothers and newly born sister.

It wasn't until two years later that tragedy would strike Rosa when her parents would end up in a car accident, killing them both. This left Rosa and her three younger siblings as orphans; however, their aunt would take them all in allowing them to be taken care of without the worry of money and support. Rosa's aunt would be the one to encourage her to audition and pursue her idol dream.

Rosa would pass her audition at Garden Lab's and be one of the last trainees to join the group that would eventually become Girl Montage. In 2018, Rosa would debut under the stage name "Rosie" and was the group's Main Dancer and Lead Vocalist. She was also quickly seen as one of the most popular members.

However, her idol dream soon changed as Rosa seen her popularity and began bullying the other members for not being as successful as her. This would cause a huge rift between Rosa and the other members to the point that she began hating all of them. A physical fight would break out between Rosa and Ara which would result in Rosa's contract being terminated in December 2018. Since then, Rosa has redebuted as a soloist under a new company.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Rosie

FULL NAME : Rosa Jung

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Rosie Posie, That Fucking Bitch, The Joker

BIRTHDAY : April 1, 1997

BIRTHPLACE : Seoul, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 ), Petal Music ( 2019 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE ( 2018 )

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist

ib : the blueprint @venusvity

[projazznet]

Happy birthday to Conrad Yeatis "Sonny" Clark (July 21, 1931 – January 13, 1963)

Sonny Clark – Leapin´ And Lopin´ (Full Album)

Leapin’ and Lopin’ is an album by jazz pianist Sonny Clark, released on Blue Note Records, recorded in 1961, and issued in 1962 . It was Clark’s last album as a leader before his death in 1963. It features a guest appearance from sax player Ike Quebec, who was mounting a comeback after a decade of low visibility. The rhythm section of Clark, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins would also appear on sessions with Dexter Gordon yielding his albums for Blue Note Go! and A Swingin’ Affair.

The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4½ stars and stated “Top to bottom, Leapin’ and Lopin’ is a definitive recording for Clark, and in the mainstream jazz idiom, as well.”

Butch Warren – bass Billy Higgins – drums Sonny Clark – piano Charlie Rouse, Ike Quebec – tenor saxophone Tommy Turrentine – trumpet

[loonarii]

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ari's review/essay masterlist . ݁⊹ ₊ .

monthly kpop roundups: (no longer an active series)

February 2024 (Twice, LE SSERAFIM, BABYMONSTER, JYP Family, BIBI + MORE)

March 2024 (ILLIT, ARTMS, VCHA + MORE)

April 2024 (NewJeans, IVE, RIIZE, Kiss Of Life, ARTMS, Loossemble, BABYMONSTER + MORE)

May 2024 (aespa, NewJeans, IVE, tripleS, ARTMS, YVES + MORE)

June 2024 (LISA, Red Velvet, NAYEON, NewJeans, KATSEYE, CHUU + MORE)

July 2024 (aespa, KISS OF LIFE, KATSEYE, STAYC, tripleS + MORE)

my imagined albums:

"LW2G" - The Debut EP by KATSEYE (my reimagining of their debut)

SPACE.COWBOY (my imagined ITZY comeback)

rankings:

My Top 15 K-Pop Songs of 2023

My Top 15 K-Pop Songs of 2022

ranking every RED VELVET title track as a non reveluv

Ranking EVERY Post-IZ*ONE Single

ranking EVERY aespa song

ranking EVERY BLACKPINK song

kpop reviews:

newjeans - 'ditto' review

LESSERAFIM - 'ANTIFRAGILE' REVIEW

thoughts on KEP1ER - 'GALILEO'

mini review: EL7Z UP - 'CHEEKY'

lets talk... xdinary heroes 'freakin bad'

JISOO - 'ME' (FLOWER) REVIEW

mini reviews #002: 'Teddy Bear' - STAYC

mini reviews #001: 'Killer' - KEY

'Stamp On It' - GOT The Beat REVIEW

NMIXX - 'ENTWURF' REVIEW

IVE - 'After LIKE' REVIEW

BLACKPINK - 'Pink Venom' REVIEW

my thoughts on 'sneakers' - itzy

lets review: 'IM NAYEON' - Nayeon

my thoughts on MADE IN KOREA (dear alice) ep.1

kpop essays:

Why 'GLITCH' - KWON EUNBI Is The Greatest Song Ever Made

wtf is going on with ITZY?? (an essay)

Idolizing Imperfection: The Ancient Allusions of 'Midas Touch' - KISS OF LIFE

kpop misc:

my 5 favourite kpop music videos

the kpop girl group concept compass

the best kpop songs you've (probably) never heard - VOL. 1

non kpop reviews:

Melanie Martinez - 'Portals' REVIEW

'Midnights' - Taylor Swift REVIEW

[aoiyuu]

CBX vs SM for dummies

This is a simple breakdown of the events that unfolded between CBX and SM. I will break it down as best as I can with links. This is solely for educational purposes only, and everything said in this post is alleged.

Ctto

Lawsuit 1.0.

[29.04.2023] The three members of CBX launch a lawsuit against SM Entertainment at the Seoul Central District Court to terminate their contracts, which were originally set to expire in 2025. [01.06.2023.] The press is notified about the lawsuit

[31.05.2023] One Signature is registered. The company was founded by Baekhyun, Cha Daeyoung (Cha Gawon's dad) and another person named Kang Chanhee. (This is also the company that have a debt amout of 13 billion won, and the UN village condo that was put on collateral for it is also the company's address and where baekhyun's living right now. INB100 was founded by Baekhyun on june 23th 2023, way after the first "lawsuit" started but the CEO/Representative is Kang Dongjun, SM C&C ex CEO.) Thank you to anon for this information <3

[01.06.2023] SM responds by saying that the lawsuit is disappointing and accuses an external party of poaching the 3 CBX members. SM accuses BPM of being the external party, BPM denies this claims

[July 2023] The show must go on. Exo proceed with their comeback plans regardless of the conflict

[01.06.2023.] SM refutes the claims raised by CBX in their statement, most notably their "slave contracts"

[02.06.2023] CBX lawyer keeps denying involvement of a third party. MC Mong also denies involvement [Translated article]

[05.06.2023] CBX files a complaint against SM with the Fair Trade Commission regarding SM's "abuse of market dominance" (antitrust).

CBX's lawyer urges the FTC to investigate the exclusive contracts of SM-affiliated artists

[05.06.2023] SM releases a statement saying they will provide copies of settlement documents for CBX. SM says: “We would like to inform you of the decision we have made after careful consideration of the request for copies of settlement documents from the 3 artists. In the case of a group, the information of other members is also included, requiring special caution." [Translated article]

SM wanted CBX to sign an NDA in order to review the payment details of their members, but CBX denied this. The only reason they were granted access to the private docs were due to ot5 consenting to it. In their statement, SM says: “Payment data contains sensitive information about each artist's activity details, payment rates, methods, and contract down payments, which is confidential information that cannot be disclosed to third parties such as our competitors. Further, in the case of a group, the information of other members may also be exposed, which requires added scrutiny of confidentiality.”

[05.06.2023] SM releases a response to being reported to the FTC. [Translated article]

[05.06.2023] CBX responds to SM's response to being reported to the FTC (omg yawn. It's getting repetitive). [Translated article]

[08.06.2023] Airport-gate.... awkward video from the airport shows that there's trouble in paradise. Exo members seem to be split into cliques.

[08.06.2023] SM starts being investigated by the FTC [Translated article]

[19.06.2023] WAR IS OVER. Both parties have resolved their issue and the members will remain under SM. Most notably, SM said in their statement: “Initially, our company received reports that a third-party external force was approaching the three artists with unjust intentions, which we mentioned as the main cause of this controversy. However, through the discussions, we have come to realize that our company had misunderstandings regarding the involvement of a third-party external force. We would like to apologize to those concerned for causing concerns with our announcement.” (keep this in mind for later) [Translated article]

Miscellaneous

[19.07.2023] MC Mong is suspected to have approached Baekhyun and Kai in a leaked transcript, in an attempt to coax them. MC Mong denies allegations

[08.08.2023] Baekhyun talks about setting his own (dance) company with a 13 billion won (approximately $9.9 million) loan. He put down Chairwoman Cha Gawon's penthouse in Hannam-dong for collateral. He also lives in said penthouse. On the nature of their relationship and the loans, Baekhyun says: “I haven’t received this house. I am paying all the loans. I am not in an inappropriate relationship with Chairman ‘C.' [Translated article]

[14.04.2024] Suho alludes to a winter comeback at Exo's anniversary fancon.

[30.05.2024] Baekhyun also alludes to a winter comeback

[12.08.2024] SM among several K-Pop companies fined by the FTC for strict purchase policies

Pre-lawsuit 2.0.

[08.01.2024] CBX comes to an agreement with SM to start their own company, where SM gets 10% of all revenue. So INB is funded by Baekhyun.

[22.03.2024] Baekhyun cancels his Japan concert date. SM pays his penalty fee. [Translated article]

[05.09.2024] CBX sends a formal letter of complaint to SM Entertainment denying the 10% fee should be paid.

[16.05.2024] INB100 becomes a subsidiary of One Hundred Group, home to Million Market and Big Planet Made Entertainment (BPM). The major investors in this company are Cha Gawon and MC Ming. Refer back to SM's claim that an external force, namely Cha Gawon and MC Mong, were involved in coaxing CBX.

Lawsuit 2.0.

[10.06.2024] CBX announces emergency press conference, but fail to show up. During the presscon, their team claim that they did exo activities without pay, SM did not keep their words on distribution fees, they didn't get renewal bonuses and are prepared to take legal actions against SM if they do not abide by their terms. Attorney Lee Jaehak: “The three artists are working as an EXO team to protect the group and their fans, without receiving any contract renewal payments.” Reporters and netizens alike call the presscon a waste of their time and claim it overshadowed both Cignature and Everglow's comebacks. During the presscon, Cha Gawon refers to her relationship with Baekhyun and MC Mong as "closer than family." She also declares a full-on war against SM

[10-11.06.2024] SM claims CBX were stolen from them by CGW and MC Mong, like they had suspected last year. “MC Mong and Cha Ga-won have been approaching many of our artists from long ago." + “CBX started finding fault with all sorts of things in order to nullify the exclusive contract. Nevertheless, we heeded their call with patience and agreed to CBX’s demand to start their solo careers on their own. So a deal was signed where our contract with CBX was still valid but we allowed them to pursue their solo careers through their own agencies.”

[11.06.2024] SM seemingly cancels Exo's winter comeback. [Translated article]

[13.06.2024] SM sues CBX for unpaid fees, demand 10% royalty. According to SM Entertainment, the trio has been evading the 10 percent royalty fee that was agreed to in a contract signed in June.

[14.06.2024] CBX countersues SM. In a statement, the trio states: "We proposed a compromise to pay for the use of SM's music and EXO's brand name, instead of 10 percent of our revenue, during the press conference, but the company ignored this." + "Since SM was the first to file a lawsuit, we will disclose everything, including last year's negotiation process and engage actively. ... We'll file a lawsuit against the company for a settlement of accounts, which we have always been suspicious of." The trio also expresses their dissatisfaction with SM for not allowing them to have physical copies of the exo members' financial breakdown, only allowing them to see the contracts

[18.06.2024] In an interview, Suho is asked about the CBX situation. Suho reveals that he and other members were not informed and found out about the presscon through the news. He also mentions his doubts for the winter comeback. When the non-CBX members asked CBX what happened, they told them to refer back to the article.

Nothing has come out of the situation since...

TLDR

In 2023, CBX randomly decided to sue SM for coercing them to sign their new contract in promise of the group getting a financial bonus, stating their contract was a slave contract. SM fired back saying that the trio was being coaxed by an external party, but they denied this. CBX also reported SM to the FTC for breaching antitrust laws. CBX managed to reach an agreement with SM for them to set up their own company, having to pay 10% of their earnings to SM. Baekhyun then set INB100 up. SM apologized for accusing them of being poached and they apologized to the parties they accused.

In 2024, INB is acquired by One Hundred Group, ran by Cha Gawon and MC Mong. CBX announces an emergency presscon where they don't show up. Here it's announce they no longer want to pay SM their 10% fee, since SM failed to provide them with a 5.5% distribution fee with Kakao. SM says that this was only a verbal agreement and out of their hands since they don't own Kakao. SM sues the trio, the trio sue back. They also requested in 2023 to get copies of the other members' financial information, but SM only allowed them to see the contracts, not get any copies.

There hasn't been any outcome of the lawsuit 2.0. yet.

My take

No matter how I look at this, CBX are completely in the wrong. Not only did they lie about the (non-)involvement of a third party, they put their members' personal information on the line as well. Their actions, blinded by greed and hunger for money, hurt their members first and foremost. I don't know how anyone can believe that they're not motivated by money when all of the claims they bring up against SM has to do with money. They're not martyrs. If they truly felt like SM was treating them unfairly, they should've sued them alongside Luhan.... The first round of lawsuits were solved rather quickly, but round two has been dragged out for entirely too long and non-involved members have sadly been implicated. I hate how much damage these petty lawsuits have done to the group, the group's image and the members of the group.

SM did promise them verbally that they would only have to pay 5.5% of the distribution fee with Kakao if they chose to distribute their music through them, but clearly, SM is not Kakao. The fact that they're now acting surprised that this part of the agreement wasn't fulfilled just shows their lack of intelligence.

But regardless, everything CBX have raised as a concern in their lawsuits has been about money. Money, money, money. Idk why money is such a concern for them, especially since Baekhyun took out a $10 million dollar loan and lives in his sugar mommy's Cha Gawon's Hannam-dong penthouse, driving luxury cars and being decked out in name brands.

Here's my opinion on CBX: It's Baekhyun and Co. I truly believe that Baekhyun convinced the other two to join him. He was the one in cahoots with CGW and MC Mong from the very beginning, being closer than family with them. I think he realized that he couldn't go through with leaving SM alone without being labeled as a traitor, so he convinced the other two to join him. I'm not saying this to alleviate them of any wrongdoings, but it's only getting more apparent that Baekhyun is using them as pawns as time goes on. It feels like XC have been cut off from the rest of the group, whereas Baekhyun positions himself as the bridge between Exo and CBX.

On their relationship: I don't think any of the non-CBX exo members like Baekhyun. I wouldn't blame them either, after CBX ruined I can't even speak about their relationship with XC, because we haven't seen them with the other exo members since lawsuit 2.0. The common consensus on twitter is that Baekhyun is beefing with Suho, but I think that's an oversimplification of the matter. It's Baekhyun vs exo. Even if Baekhyun and Suho beefing were the case, Chanyeol, Kai and Sehun are bound to take Suho's side. They have shown were their alliance stands countless of times, so for Baekhyun fans to try and spin a narrative that Suho is this evil and jealous member that's after Baekhyun is beyond ridiculous to me. Not to mention, Chanyeol literally wiped his Instagram feed clean off Baekhyun, but let pictures of Kai and Sehun from the same day stay up...... And only Suho, Kyungsoo, Kai and Sehun went to his concert, and he made sure to shout them out later about it. Guys, please wake tf up. These men are not all friends. I think it's better if you guys just focus your energies on the members that are trying to keep Exo alive, instead of acting like Baekhyun is the savior of Exo.

Sources

My main sources for this has been the brilliant timeline by Jazmine Media. And a special thank you to the aoiyuhive on retrospring for always keeping me informed <333

Please do let me know if I missed something or if anything is amiss!!

[feytouched]

got a parfums de marly discovery set as a treat for surviving the endoscopy ordeal so scent of the day reviews will be making a comeback in july <3

[cherrylng]

THE INCREDIBLE ALBUMS OF EARLY 2008 - Coldplay [ROCKIN'ON (July 2008)]

THE INCREDIBLE ALBUMS OF EARLY 2008 And in-depth coverage of the biggest releases of 2008!

Six months into 2008, we are entering what can be called the first release rush of the year. In this special feature, we look at new releases that herald the start of a drastic new chapter for some of the biggest bands in the UK and US, including Coldplay, Weezer and Offspring, which herald the beginning of a drastic new chapter, as well as The Music, which has made a miraculous comeback, and Cajun Dance Party. Following on is Rocking On's biggest newcomers of the year, Hadouken! Green Day's alias project Foxboro Hot Tubs, and Primal Scream's new album, which arrived just before the deadline, its name is "Beautiful Future"! ……We pick up seven albums that will inevitably make the first half of 2008 hot and driving, and push them hard with long interviews and thorough reviews by the entire editorial team. Incidentally, more than half of the artists featured in this special feature are already confirmed for Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock. So, with the summer festival season just around the corner, here are the most important albums you must listen to. Combined with the second feature ‘NOW & NEW 14 BANDS’, which also lists a number of promising newcomers, another major feature of the summer festival season, you can create your own sound map for this summer!

[icouldntfindquiet]

I think the photos are from this review:

https://allmusicmagazine.com/catfish-and-the-bottlemen-a-triumphant-return-in-the-park-festival-sefton-park-liverpool-11th-july-2024/

Ahhh, yes! Thank you! I quite like this photo as well. ❤️

[blysse-and-blunder]

In lieu of a making a comeback

11:45pm Sunday, June 18, 2023

Went through my drafts folder today, scrolling quickly past all the posts I’ve saved for when I’ve finally finished succession and found that the last time I drafted a commonplace book post was back in early May? I may post that one later—it’s a bit of a time capsule now, and isn’t even fully finished (hence why I saved it rather than posting). but rather than wait for perfection—my lesson of the year it seems—I’ll dash off a short one here. for my own entertainment, which of course is the point.

[no read more on mobile; scroll or press J to skip]

Reading just started victoria goddard’s bee sting cake, the second book in the greenwing & dart series. jemis’ narrative voice sounds a little too much like fitzroy’s — exacerbating my prejudice against first-person narration where the pov character just kinda sounds like the author’s mouthpiece—but seeing more of ragnor bella, this area of the twelve kingdoms, these references to the Interim and the Last Emperor, remains delightful. Also about 80% of the way through ursula k. le guin’s a wizard of earthsea for the very first time, which has been a slow because I’m absolutely savoring it. one of those books that feels like it’s in conversation with Tolkien but goes about ‘let’s make magic literary’ in a totally different way.

watching the aforementioned succession. @hematiterings and I were doing a rewatch (for me; her first time) and we have now gotten up to season 4 episode 3, You Know the One, which means that there’s only one more episode before I’m in new territory. it’s been a really rewarding rewatch, even as I’ve been doing laptop work the whole time—I’m understanding characters’ relationships and the stakes of different decisions and events so much better than I did the first time.

listening for some reason this week and last I have not been able to get enough of Hildegard von Blingen’s bardcore covers. Specifically the cover of taylor swift’s willow, which is not a song I knew, cared about, or really even noticed before now? But it the bardcore cover elevates it so well? hildegard’s voice is so lovely? one of those sopranos I usually don’t quite believe are real—just a pleasure to listen to. bad romance and holding out for a hero have been on repeat as well, and pumped up kicks (buskin boots!) is so much more interesting than the original, but willow has been the one I actively searched by name.

playing d+d campaign one tonight for the first time since FEBRUARY. it was good! we laughed! R tried to seduce a jaguar! we might be starting a schism in a fantasy meso-american religion or possibly playing the ball game to avoid that! we won’t be able to play again until late July, early august! The real boss fight is—has always been—scheduling.

making look at this dining room chair I glued back together.

No after pictures yet but it was clamped for a few days and has now been back in use with no ill effects since…gosh, last weekend? so we’ll count that as a win.

working on between finishing my most recent slog of grading (32 review assignments, which I spent waaaaaay too long on out of an anxiety of needin to help them revise for their final portfolios) and the next round of grading (final exams for 385 are due…thursday, possibly? and portfolios Friday, though I expect I get many either late or with extension requests, my fault entirely), I think I have to write at least one job app for June 30 and. maybe try to slap some new stuff into ch 2. or conference paper? hm.

[lgcmanager]

NOTORIETY TIERS 014

SCHEDULE TYPE: N/A RESTRICTIONS: only open to anyone who has 200 NOTORIETY and is an IDOL ( who debuted in a permanent group ), ACTOR, or MODEL.

as a reward for people’s dedication and hard work towards the rp, we have opened this for anyone who has met specific requirements. this new concept also allows for our members to plan their muses’ career outside of roleplay-sponsored events. more details about the notoriety tier can be located in THIS GUIDE created by ADMIN *! since this is a new concept for all of us, if you do have any questions pertaining to the guide, feel free to message the main!

for MAY, we listed the muses that are eligible for this opportunity and the tier they belong in:

AHN YEIN ( @lgcyein ): tier 4

BAEK SEONA ( @lgcseona ): tier 4

CHA HYOSEOP ( @lgchyoseop ): tier 3

CHOI KAI ( @lgckai ): tier 1

HAN JISOO ( @lgcjisoo ): tier 5

KIM CHERRY ( @cherrylgc ): tier 2

KIM JINSEO ( @lgcjinseo ): tier 9

KIM JINYOUNG ( @lgcjinyoung ): tier 5

KIM NAYOUNG ( @lgcnayoung ): tier 3

KWON SENA ( @lgcsena ): tier 2

LEE HYUNSOO ( @hyunsoolgc ): tier 2

LEE JIHO ( @lgcjiho ): tier 10

LEE MINJI ( @lgcxminji ): tier 4

LIM SANGHYUN ( @lgcsanghyun ): tier 9

MOON HAYOUNG ( @lgchayoung ): tier 6

PONGSAK TEE ( @lgctee ): tier 3

SEO MINSEO ( @lgcminseo ): tier 2

SHIN JIEUN ( @lgcjieun ): tier 4

SON NABI ( @lgcnabi ): tier 5

SU PARKER ( @lgcparker ): tier 4

WATANABE MIYU ( @lgcmiyu ): tier 3

YU MILAN ( @lgcmilan ): tier 3

for this cycle, most of the gigs will be scheduled for JULY-SEPTEMBER depending on the claims submitted. please keep this in mind with the details mentioned below AND when deciding on the gigs ( if you want to do one that is time-sensitive ).

GIG RESTRICTIONS

for DRAMAS, we will only be allowing TWO new dramas because these dramas will last until the end of Q3-Q4 2024 ! since 'MY LOVELY LIAR' is the only drama airing during Q3, only OSTs can be claimed from that drama. HOWEVER, the mun is expected to submit their gig posts EARLY to give the admod team enough time to review and process them.

as for SONGWRITING/MUSICAL ARRANGEMENT claims, here are a list of songs that are claimable:

bloom - twice ( b-side / crystallis )

cool with you - new jeans ( b-side / crystallis )

get up - new jeans ( b-side / crystallis; need at least 50 english as well )

hard - shinee ( title track / type zero )

Icantfeelanything - nct dream ( b-side / type zero )

mr. - cravity ( b-side / type zero )

odyssey - weeekly ( b-side / crystallis )

overwater - queendom puzzle ( b-side / crystallis )

ruby-duby-du - weeekly ( b-side / crystallis )

swan song - le sserafim ( b-side / crystallis )

for FASHION SHOWS, the ones claimable during this cycle are:  AMSTERDAM FASHION WEEK ( AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2 ), NEW YORK FASHION WEEK ( SEPTEMBER 6-11 ), LONDON FASHION WEEK ( SEPTEMBER 13-17 ), and MILAN FASHION WEEK ( SEPTEMBER 17-23 ).

SOLOIST ( JIHO )

for JIHO, as the first and official soloist among the lgc muses, he will be given an opportunity to suggest 5-10 SONGS ( at least 3 songs in the list must be suited for a TITLE TRACK ) that would match JIHO's next comeback, if and when the opportunity happens. the songs must be solo or duo songs released BEFORE JUNE 1, 2022. as a disclaimer, there is a possibility that not all of the songs suggested may be chosen in the end, so it's advised to provide multiple songs as options.

completing the form in the NOTORIETY TIERS DOCUMENT ( under the LEE JIHO tab, which will be linked below ) will serve as a replacement to the NOTORIETY TIERS for this cycle. this means that if you do not want to do the MAY NOTORIETY TIERS you can submit songs instead.

to do this, please fill out the "REQUEST FORM (SONGS)" section before MAY 25, 2024 11:59PM EDT.

NT GIGS CLAIM PROCESS

for this cycle, we’ll be implementing a different way of submitting gig claims as a way to help everyone see what can be claimed.

first you will have to go to this DOCUMENT and check the “INTRODUCTION” tab to read the instructions. afterwards, you will go to your muse’s tab and fill out the “REQUEST FORM” section ( activity level, gig, other participants [ if applicable ], skill distribution, and notoriety ). the “ADMIN APPROBATION” column must be left blank and will be updated whenever one of the admins has reviewed and scheduled the gig. once you are done filling out the request form section, you will see a row that says “READY FOR ADMIN REVIEW?” and a drop down menu next to it. select “YES” when you are done. once everything has been reviewed by an admin, the drop down menu will change to “REVIEWED” and you can start writing the twitter posts for it. when we receive the twitter posts, that status will then change to "APPROVED" by the admins. you have until MAY 25, 2024 11:59PM EDT to fill out the request form.

the twitter posts form is listed below and you have until JUNE 22, 2024, 11:59PM EDT to fill out the form below and submit them to the lgcmedia blog:

MUSE NAME · MAY NOTORIETY TIERS ACTIVITY ##: ( list the name of the gig ) IMAGE: ( insert 1-4 image links that you would want us to use ) CAPTION: ( write a short caption describing the gig and any relevant information about it. the caption must be between 100-280 characters long. ) COMMENT #1: ( write a positive comment related to the gig/muse. please make sure that the comment focuses more on the muse and avoid mentioning other muses unless the gig is shared with other people. the comment must be between 100-280 characters long. please include a username associated with the comment as well. ) COMMENT #2: ( write a neutral/negative comment related to the gig/muse. please make sure that the comment focuses more on the muse and avoid mentioning other muses unless the gig is shared with other people. the comment must be between 100-280 characters long. please include a username associated with the comment as well. )

if you take more than one notoriety tier gig, please copy the section multiple times but make sure to submit all of the gigs in one submit to make it easier for us when processing them! once all of the gigs have been processed on both ends, we'll make a note on NOTORIETY TIERS DOCUMENT. you can link the document in your points sheet as reference.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

while it is optional to fill the section in the sheet, we recommend muses ( especially ones who have recently reached 200 notoriety in the past few months ) to fill that section in case you are planning on taking any gigs that may have some pre-reqs associated with it ( eg. being a temporary [ 1 month ] co-host in a music show, which would require having 75 KOREAN, 50 MCING/HOSTING and prior experience as a one-time co-host/host for a podcast, youtube show, or vlive show ). there’s no deadline with completing the section so you can do it past the deadlines if you wish.

[anqelblccm]

⊹˳⁺ ⠀⠀⠀ THE  DISCOGRAPHY  OF  HERO  !  (  cw  :  flashing  lights,  eye  strain?  ) 

debuting  in  2021,  HERO  is  called  the  most  well-known  artist  of  MIGHTY  DEVIL  RECORDS  since  the  company's  establishment  back  in  2014.  after  the  disbandment  of  X1,  HERO  seemingly  disappeared  for  the  whole  of  2020  before  he  was  suddenly  mentioned  by  the  company  in  mid-2021,  surprising  his  fans,  who  longed  to  see  him  in  the  industry  again. 

on  july  11th,  HERO  released  a  single,  KILLING  ME  SOFTLY,  that  was  promoted  for  four  weeks  and  received  three  music  show  wins.  due  to  the  singer's  popularity,  his  first  win  was  only  four  days  after  his  official  debut,  making  him  the  fastest  idol  to  reach  one,  even  passing  X1.  he  was  credited  for  both  the  lyrics  and  the  choreography  of  the  song  and  a  video  was  posted  on  his  youtube  account  with  a  date  that  showed  he  produced  everything  a  year  before  his  actual  debut.  KILLING  ME  SOFLY  received  good  reviews  from  multiple  critics  and  other  people  in  the  music  industry,  and  it  set  a  bar  for  him  to  perfect  even  more  in  the  future. 

DREAMING  AWAKEN  is  the  first  mini  album  released  on  november  19th,  with  THAT  VOICE  OF  MINE  as  its  title  track.  HERO  promoted  the  song  for  five  weeks  and  received  seven  music  show  wins.  the  soloist's  first  comeback  could  be  deemed  different  due  to  the  experimentation  around  neo-soul  with  clear  jazz  /  r&b  influences,  which  is–  by  the  artist's  words–  something  that  he  never  dabbled  in  before.  THAT  VOICE  OF  MINE  was  a  hit  on  tiktok,  blowing  up  primarily  due  to  the  dance  featured  in  the  music  video. 

the  first  comeback  of  2022  was  with  BAD  LOVE,  from  HERO's  second  mini  album,  RATED-R.  the  album  was  not  as  big  a  hit  for  netizens  as  much  as  it  was  for  international  fans.  still,  despite  all  the  hate  HERO  received  for  the  album's  name,  BAD  LOVE  won  five  music  show  wins,  placing  the  song  on  billboard's  top  100  at  16TH  place,  the  highest  he's  ever  placed  so  far.  to  the  question  whether  BAD  LOVE  was  written  due  to  something  that  happened  to  HERO  in  real  life,  he  replies  that  even  though  the  song  is  about  a  toxic  relationship  that  he  is  desperate  to  break  out  of,  it's  not  about  him  but  rather  someone  he's  very  close  to  as  a  friend.  

mid-2022  was  a  terrible  time  for  ODDITIES.  DEMON  &  YOU  was  released  four  months  after  RATED-R,  but  during  the  promotions  of  DANCE  FOR  TWO,  HERO  unexpectedly  released  a  short  documentary  about  his  career,  explaining  how  his  year-long  disappearance  from  the  industry  was  due  to  his  anxiety  disorder.  "it  was  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  company  was  reluctant  to  let  me  debut  solo  for  the  whole  year,"  he  explained,  breaking  his  fans'  hearts  even  more.  the  promotions  during  D42  were  significantly  smaller,  taking  only  three  weeks  but  receiving  ten  wins  for  the  song  and  a  5TH  place  on  billboard's  top  100  for  the  whole  of  the  promotion  era. 

when  fans  thought  that  was  it  for  2022,  HERO  surprised  everyone  again  by  releasing  a  third  mini  album,  LIVE  AND  LEARN,  with  BULLS***  as  its  title  track.  the  soloist  followed  the  same  schedule  he  had  for  D42,  promoting  the  comeback  for  three  weeks  and  winning  four  wins  at  music  shows.  a  lot  of  netizens  complained  about  the  singer's  approach  to  his  songs,  mostly  saying  he  always  uses  vulgar  words  as  titles  for  his  albums  and  songs.  ODDITIES  came  to  defend  him,  saying  he's  an  adult  and  can  decide  on  his  discography  due  to  having  complete  freedom  over  what  he  will  produce.  even  though  BULLS***  didn't  receive  as  much  attention  as  his  previous  album,  it  still  got  him  a  lot  of  appreciation  and  love  from  his  fans. 

while  the  singer  confirms  all  songs  are  written  and  produced  by  him,  HERO  admits  he  also  has  help  from  other  producers  in  the  music  industry  for  some  of  the  significant  songs.

[heywoodsays]

Supporting Actor: Hollywood Loves a Comeback

The nominees are

Sterling K. Brown — American Fiction

Robert De Niro — Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey, Jr. — Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling — Barbie

Mark Ruffalo — Poor Things

Similar to Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s hold on the Best Supporting Actress category, RDJ has had Best Supporting Actor locked up — perhaps even since last July when Oppenheimer came out. The only major blemishes on his record are the National Board of Review (who chose Ruffalo) and the National Society of Film Critics (he tied for second with Gosling, both losing to Charles Melton in May December).

Gosling may be most likely to threaten for the prize, but I think it’s such a distant second it may not even be worth discussing. Brown, De Niro, and Ruffalo all give strong performances (especially Ruffalo) but this contest is done. Even though I like all the nominees, I still somehow wish there was room for others like Melton, Ruffalo’s co-star Willem Dafoe, or Dominic Sessa in The Holdovers.

Who will win: Robert Downey, Jr. — Oppenheimer

But look out for: Ryan Gosling — Barbie

Who I’d vote for: Robert Downey, Jr. — Oppenheimer

If I could add one more: Dominic Sessa — The Holdovers

◄ Previous: Adapted Screenplay | Next: Best Supporting Actress ►

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