#like many shows after 2020s do and what audience expect

[kasumingo]

AT was just so groundbreaking through and through

[anncanta]

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Fandom: Dracula (2020)

Characters: Dracula, Agatha Van Helsing

Relationship: Dracula/Agatha Van Helsing

Rating: Teen and up audiences

@alma37 @hopipollahorror @moremoveslessannouncements-blog

Read on AO3

Or read below

‘What happens if I win this game?’

‘I beg your pardon?’

Agatha leaned forward and rested her hands on the table.

‘We both know this is not just a chess game. I don't know what you have in mind, but the fact is …’ she glanced briefly at the pieces. ‘You are clever, cunning and competitive. But that is not the case here. You took me from the convent – kidnapped me – and brought me here. You could have locked me in a box, you could have raped me or tortured me –’

‘Agatha, your expectations exceed my wildest –’

‘Yet you offered me a game of chess. And I want to know why.’

There was silence for a few seconds.

‘The fact that I am here is enough to consider you the winner,’ said Agatha.

‘Are you so sure?’

‘Yes.’

For a while, Dracula silently looked at the table, the chessboard, the waves of hair falling over her shoulders.

‘Maybe I am not,’ he said suddenly.

The room changed so abruptly that Agatha did not have time to understand anything.

…They were standing on a castle tower, on a small platform, and far below them stretched the valley, the forest, and the river.

Agatha went to the parapet. She rose on her toes and looked over the edge. Jonathan must have jumped from here.

‘This is that very tower,’ Dracula said from behind her shoulder, confirming her guess.

‘Do you want to show me my future?’

Agatha turned around.

‘I don't know what I want anymore.’

He stood in front of her, very close, and the sunlight touched his face. Agatha was surprised to discover that he had long eyelashes. She raised her hand and touched his cheek.

‘It's not real,’ she said.

‘No, of course not.’

Agatha nodded.

‘Then kiss me.’

…

‘What happens if I win this game?’

The pieces were all mixed up. Agatha's lips were burning.

‘I'll lose,’ Dracula smiled.

‘I couldn't wish for more.’

***

The Demeter arrived at Whitby Harbor right on schedule. After making the last entry in the logbook, Captain Sokolov put it in a drawer and left the cabin. The autumn sun that greeted him on deck was cold and unfriendly, but after long weeks of sailing in fog, the captain was glad to see it.

Everything was fine, he assured himself. The voyage had gone well. No storms, no incidents. The passengers were happy, the cargo had been delivered safely.

And yet something was bothering him, stubborn and persistent. Elusive, like a pebble in a boot.

‘How many passengers did we have?’ Sokolov asked Valentin, standing nearby, looking at the rigging and ropes, muttering something under his breath.

The old sailor frowned.

‘Six. Three men, a child, and two women,’ Valentin spat discontentedly on the creaking boards.

The captain nodded.

‘Six.’

He waved away the images of a tall man in a black top hat and a thin woman in a nun's robe that appeared in his head.

When the captain went ashore, he no longer remembered them.

‘And the king had a daughter, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood,’ said Agatha, watching the captain's retreating figure. Dracula, who had followed her down the gangway, threw a warm cloak over her shoulders.

The sun had almost disappeared behind the horizon, gilding its edge.

Dracula leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

‘I heard she was the most beautiful of all. No woman could compare with her. I think that's why her name meant “morning dawn.”’

[scoobydoodean]

how badly do you want to see a destiel kiss in supernatural?

Also how badly did you hope to see Dean kiss castiel after cas said "I love you, dean" to dean?

I don't care about kissing. (Shhhh don’t check my fan art like history circa November 5th-20th 2020). There are many things I would like to see happen with Dean and Cas before a kiss. I think they should scream and cry. I think Cas should have to deal with his ghosting/lone wolf tendencies etc etc. There could be some cuddling 🤔.

I did not hope to see Dean kiss Cas in 15.18. I did not think it would be reasonable to expect Dean to instantly process what Cas had said and that he was going to die and react to that with romantic reciprocation instead of what we mostly saw which was devastation. Cas was telling Dean all these things but he was using them as a means to kill himself and they both knew that.

I was watching the show live, so I hoped for a resolution in the next two episodes. Like the majority of fans around when SPN was airing, I did not think SPN would have the balls to do something like 15.18. Like anyone could see there was A Lot Happening There by the end but I assumed SPN would end with Sam and Eileen together, and Dean and Cas together (but ambiguous on romantic component to suit the general audience of non-shippers). Once 15.18 happened, I felt they locked themselves into resolving it, but clearly they did not feel that way. Season 15 is the season of blue balls.

[miradanii]

Cyberverse series complete!!!

A Review:

If you want a Transformers series that not only doesn't have any humans and later on has a good amount of Cybertron lore and enjoy a series that smooths out over the last few seasons AND AND do a banger job by the finale then I do recommend this series.

Just know it is geared towards a younger audience so it won't be as outwardly dark as Transformers Prime or really deep diving in a character's emotional trauma. It is possible to do that in a 10 minute episode but it's very clear where the shows priorities are in the episodes that were made.

Knowing what to expect made it a much more enjoyable watch that seriously helped those turning point of events caught me off guard.

The fun part I did not expect is when they keep adding more characters to the show, even towards the very end. However, somehow, it just kind of works out. There's the very obvious main characters such as Bumblebee, Windblade, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, etc. Yet, this show let so many of the characters they added shine. Even if their screen time is very brief, personally quite a few of the minor characters stuck out to me compared to part of the main cast.

I gave this series a second chance due to a few clips I saw online. Preceptor's comedic falling, Shockwave and his little guys doing a lil dance around Wheeljack, and especially Soundwave doing a funky lil dance with his eventual backup dancers...that got me.

Where I really started liking the series was in Season 1 episode 8. Season 3 and 4 is the strongest in terms of characters and story (I've seen others agree on) but it doesn't feel like a drag to get there once you settle your expectations and start enjoying the show.

More thoughts down below if you just wanna know...

If you've ever passed up on Cyberverse maybe try again. 7/10.

Btw spoilers and personal opinions

I remember season 1 coming out on Netflix in 2020 and I was still in the mindset of wanting a emotionally invested Transformers series ever since I finished Transformers Prime back in Highschool?? (Back when I was able to buy the Shockwave commander figure at Target I think) Robots in Disguise was whiplash of lighthearted fun (I couldn't finish. Bumblebee's design was....hmmm) while War on Cybertron was too dark and overly serious (I stopped in Kingdom. didn't finish). I hadn't considered the comics at that point. So when I began watching Cyberverse, I didn't set my expectations, skipped around and didn't give it a proper chance. Which sucked because I really wanted to get to know Windblade (yes I know there's comics but at the time I didn't have the money nor considered trying to find it online at the time. Last time I did consider getting into the Transformers comics I bought Dark Energon and got really confused because I wasn't sure how many issues back before getting to Windblade's issue. I didn't use reddit nor look up any forms to even find the information of where I should start or read as a solo issue. I do now though. Really enjoying MTMTE).

Cyberverse S1 has a good concept and had moments that caught me off guard but after seeing the entire show if you want to convince someone to watch it they got to really look past that first season. Episode 8 I believe with Blurr and his ENTIRE PLANET DYING and the backstory with Shadow Striker, I felt there werent any good hooks. Even with Windblade as a main character, it still wasnt interesting.

Seeing comments on videos and forms I agree that sort of after season 2, episodes start hitting better and every episode is either a bottle of fun or a oh shit that happened??????

The real turning point for me was in S2 with the Arcee and Grimlock solo episode. I think Cyberverse can write some genuinely fun character interactions. And that was one I kept craving for each season.

The good thing about this show I'd like to make clear is that there are a lot of femmebots in Cyberverse (Clobber being one of my favorites. She's such a delight on screen). However, when it comes to having any autobots on screen, one of my gripes that was it felt like there was a rule of one femmebot per episode or an autobot group mission. They kept switching them out and I know they could at least have Chromia and Arcee go on a mission with Bee, Grimlock and Hotrod or something. During S2 when the Autobots are on their journey back to Cybertron, I had noticed Arcee and Windblade got to a point that they were never on screen at the same time, let alone interact for a 5 minutes or a minute at least. It could possibly be that as characters they aren't close friends with one another but come on. They're stuck on the same ship...It was distracting but by no means was a show ruiner. It was something I happened to notice through the rest of the seasons. Sure there were probably some other interactions I could go back to but I wouldn't have this entire paragraph here dedicated about it now would I? (Oh well, we have EarthSpark so that need is fulfilled).

Stand Out Characters That I Personally Gravitated To In No Particular Order:

Clobber: Her side conversations with Lockdown stuck with me. Being a character who didn't want to fight but was always ordered to and eventually joined the Autobots. She's so cute.

Soundwave: The writers gave him a lot to work with and it shows. His reaction to Hot Rod getting the shit beat out of him in the finale was so excellent as a call back when they were forced to work together during the Quintesson invasion. They hadn't had any episodes with any notable interactions since then but I felt like it was a smart choice, though it took me a second to remember why. Soundwave Superior. Rip.

Grimlock/ and Arcee: I just really like their dynamic and the show kept giving me crumbs after their own solo episode together. Out of all the friendships in Cyberverse, this stood out to me the most. They had really good vibes I'd love to see more of in other iterations of Transformers. Arcee was one of the front characters in the opening so I was surprised they didn't put her in as many episodes as they could have.

Dead End/ and Astrotrain: That was also another dynamic I really liked and had very small crumbs for. Gotta love a ship pissing off a grumpy character. Why do they hate each other? Who knows but it's funny and I can only imagine more...

Dead End is a new character I gravitated towards right away. I wasn't sure if it was a popular character or not in the Transformers franchise as a whole. I love a character that is unexpectedly smart in a selfish kind of way. He didn't give me "evil vibes" which the majority of the Decepticons were giving off in the show. Man just wants to live. Like Lockdown, he was really caring towards his fellow Decepticon, Clobber (which now I remember I do also like their interactions too. Seeing if they need to deactivate Shockwave comes to mind). Dead End is also is a very funny reactionary character towards the rest of the cast during the 3rd season. In the finale, he's become a bit more of a background character after Astrotrain died (rip Astrotrain :(((), but at least Dead End has a nice development on not choosing the option to save himself for once (In part one of the special I was sort of shocked they didn't give him a line about hating parades. I mean we see he doesn't like it, but that's just a me thing).

Megatron: Still made him a pretty complicated character, I just wish I had more episodes to see it.

Shockwave: I'm always a fan of Shockwave but I felt bad completely forgetting he offed himself while I kept wondering where he was before the Meteorfire and Cosmos. Oops.

Hot Rod: After I got used to his "dude bro" voice I was enjoying his development and becoming a main character in the 3rd season. I was wondering if he would ever become Rodimus Prime at some point other than having the temporary paint change but I mean I guess if you know then you know. He was a good central character with the team he has to work with. Made it a great change of pace.

Sky-byte: I cant help but laugh he has the Skeletor voice. The episode where he and Jetfire are introduced I really thought it would be an episode where the Decepticons and Autobots really see they shouldn't be fighting due to the insane amount of constant planetary damage their war with each other causes. But they didn't. So it landed in parody territory. I have no idea whether it was because it was time or intentional. But yeah Parody territory. Also later on after the peace treaty you don't see Sky-byte or Jetfire interact with each other in obvious friendly terms. I find this hilarious when I noticed Sky-byte was getting more screen time.

Wild Wheel: This man is the background after his solo episode. We're close to the end of the series and Cyberverse sneaks in a Western. As if Cyberverse wasn't already insane as it is. The good thing about his episode as it answered who was in one of the lost pods from season 1 aside from Grimlock and Bumblebee. AND Optimus is a sick shot.

Meteorfire and Cosmos: AUSSIE AUTOBOT. I guess it answers what other shows Cybertronians watch beside Cube??? Somehow also a banger solo episode. It's so silly and there's a random ass scene that is now in my core memory. The show may say "Bumblebee's Cyberverse Adventures" but it was an episode where a new character that eventually goes into the background steals the show. Also Cosmos was very cute. She's toe to toe with Weird Al Cosmos for me.

Perceptor: The character with one of the clip compilations that steered me towards watching the show. He is incredible. What a guy. Has an exceptionally high tolerance for his arm getting ripped off, going blind, and falling really far distances.

Teletraan-X: He's just a little guy, and I like his attitude. I was happy seeing him again in the finale with Windblade.

Tarn: I now know who Tarn is. Wowza scary guy.

Overall I'm glad I watched Cyberverse. I do agree it's underrated. I had a lot of fun watching, maybe I'll draw Dead End one of these days.

Up Next. Transformers Beast Wars...which I already started. I'm on episode 3.

[parisian-nicole]

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Can Do Right By Garvez

(Source: CBR.com)

Criminal Minds has gone through several staffing changes over the years. When Luke Alvez joined the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Season 12, however, he had immediate chemistry with resident tech wiz Penelope Garcia. Fans noticed -- and the Garvez ship gained traction among audiences who were rooting for the pair to translate that angry chemistry into romantic energy. In the series finale in 2020, they finally agreed to go on a date.

When Paramount+ brought the series back with Criminal Minds: Evolution in 2022, fans were excited to see what this meant for their favorite ship and how that date went down. They had to wait almost until the season finale to find out, but it was immediately clear that the dynamic that drew audiences in was missing. While the first season of the expansion series might have let Garvez fans down, Season 2 has potential to surprise, and one of those surprises can be righting the ship.

How Criminal Minds: Evolution's Season 1 Finale Teased Garvez

Flashbacks provided in Episode 9, "Memento Mori," showed what happened on the long-awaited Garvez date. The pressure that the two placed on themselves made the whole outing uncomfortable. Garcia calls the whole thing “clunky,” and the pair agreed not to pursue the romantic part of their relationship. But one bad date doesn’t spell the end for the ship, especially since the Garcia/Alvez pairing has become so entrenched in the Criminal Minds fan base.

The problem was that the awkward nature of the date spilled over into how the characters interacted throughout the revival. Viewers had come to expect -- and eagerly anticipate -- more of the pair’s chemistry from the original Criminal Minds, which was mostly absent throughout Evolution. By giving Garvez a chance and suggesting it didn’t work out, Evolution took away some of the best banter and personalities in the entire series.

The season still gave Garvez fans room to hope, however. "Memento Mori" also featured an emotional moment where Alvez helped talk Garcia through a moment of real despair and self-doubt, saying that they could get through it together if they leaned on each other. Their chemistry is still there, no matter how the date went. More importantly, Garcia ended things with her boyfriend Tyler in the season finale. He had been a part of the Sicarius case and her relationship with the man was ill-advised -- which Alvez let Garcia know. Breaking up with Tyler means the path to Garvez reconnecting is clear.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Can Easily Get Back to Garvez

Criminal Minds; Evolution Season 1 showed that that the relationship Garvez fans want is still there. With Garcia back at the BAU and near Alvez in Season 2, the series has a clear opportunity for the two to reconnect. And since there's now less pressure on the two of them because their first date has already happened, it's easier for them to come back together romantically.

Giving Garvez a chance in Season 2 isn’t just about letting them date, though -- it’s about the return of their chemistry to the BAU and to Criminal Minds as a whole. Now that the air has been cleared by those flashbacks and through their reconnection at the end of Season 1, it seems like things can return to normal. Even if Garcia and Alvez don’t go on another date in Season 2, the continuation of Criminal Minds: Evolution gives the series a chance to re-establish what made their pairing such a fan favorite and what drew many viewers to the show. Garcia and Alvez seem closer after Season 1 than ever before, and there's no reason not to pursue that.

[mariacallous]

Some imams use derogatory language about women in sermons, videos and social media posts, but the official organisation representing the country’s Muslims seems reluctant to take any action.

At Friday prayers in March this year, Shefqet Krasniqi, imam of Pristina’s main Mehmet Fatih mosque, called women who wear mini-skirts “immoral”.

In a video, Krasniqi also accused any girl or woman who exposes their legs of being deliberately provocative. “It sounds like she goes out to provoke other men, to show them what legs she has,” he remarked.

In an interview with television station RTV Dukagjini, Krasniqi doubled down on his sexist viewpoint, adding that “a woman’s place is in the kitchen”.

Krasniqi is not on obscure figure. He has cultivated a large audience at his mosque and on social networks, where he is asked about and comments on women’s roles, often using the same kind of rhetoric.

He was accused of misogyny earlier this year by women’s rights activists in Kosovo after he described popular 62-year-old folk singer Shkurte Fejza of being unreligious.

Krasniqi declined to comment to BIRN about the language he uses in his sermons, also insisting that he was being addressed in an incorrect, non-Islamic way. “Don’t say ‘hello’ to me, say ‘as-salamu alaykum’ instead,” he told BIRN’s journalist.

Sexist views ‘widespread’ among clergy

Although some imams have attracted criticism for sexist views, Krasniqi is far from alone in his attitudes among Muslim clerics in mainly Muslim Kosovo.

Ernes Goga, an imam at the Kushunli mosque in the western town of Peja/Pec, criticised women who wear the veil but post videos on the internet, calling them bad Muslims. “A veiled woman who misbehaves on TikTok is anything but a Muslim,” he said in a video posted on YouTube in November 2023. Such a woman, he argued, was “veiled but unveiled”. In response to criticism, Goga said that all he is doing was preaching Islam. “Don’t expect me to preach secularism,” he said. In the southern town of Prizren, another imam, Irfan Salihu, said in a sermon that women who don’t dress modestly are “not on God’s path”. “Women go out in panties, go out with boyfriends, they kiss in the road,” he elaborated.

Salihu was dismissed from his duties in 2020 for violations – but not for ones related to his sermons on women and gender-related issues. He declined to speak to BIRN about his comments on social networks.

Many mosques in Kosovo also remain open to imams from North Macedonia and Albania who make similarly prejudicial judgements about women.

In a sermon posted online from the south-eastern town of Kacanik, Abil Veseli, an imam from Skopje, said that “when you see women undressed [not dressed in a clearly Muslim way], you don’t know if they are Muslim, or [women] at a Serbian wedding” – also using the derogatory word shkije for Serbs.

Women feel alienated – but remain silent

Kosovo’s official Islamic Community, the BIK, the organisation that represents the country’s Muslims, declined to respond when asked about Imam Krasniqi’s sexist views.

Islam Hasani, dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Pristina, where Krasniqi gives lectures, told BIRN: “Individual unofficial statements are not part of our responsibility.”

However, Besa Ismaili, a woman professor at the faculty, agreed that some imams’ sexist language is alienating women. More inclusive language without patriarchal overtones should be used, she argued.

“Many women feel that male-dominated language in the discourse and interpretation of sacred texts distances them from the connection with the text, which makes them feel excluded,” she said.

Ismaili insisted that the current position of women in the community does not derive from Islam itself but from misinterpretations of the sacred texts and “because of a lack of knowledge of the Islamic religion”.

“Feminist discourse has raised the issue of gender inclusion. But the language used to convey the Koran’s meanings is often unfriendly toward women,” Ismaili said.

Florentina Termkolli, another professor at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, agreed that the language some imams use is a misinterpretation of the Koran and of Islamic principles. “There are many misinterpretations. Social networks are making this possible,” Termkolli said.

Along with the Women’s Department of the Islamic Community, Termkolli is leading a Kosovo-wide campaign against violence and discrimination against women.

“We are not staying silent on the violent and discriminatory speech of some imams or others, in mosques or outside them,” she said. “But it is true that we have not spoken out publicly yet.”

Vaxhide Bunjaku, who leads the Women’s Department at the BIK, said they do not agree with sexist comments made by some imams but try to confine their responses to internal channels.

“It does not mean that we agree or remain silent, but we address it within the institution,” Bunjaku said. She hesitated to say if any objections to such sexist sermons had ever been addressed, however. “We do what we need to do internally. We do not confront and do not react in public,” she said.

The BIK has not spoken out about any cases in which they have sought accountability from imams who promote gender inequality. BIRN looked at a number of BIK decisions in which imams had been fired or given warnings. None of them was about offensive or sexist vocabulary used towards women.

The head of the Peja/Pec branch of the Islamic Community, Musli Arifaj, said it was impossible to monitor all the prayers and preachers in Kosovo’s mosques. “Neither sexist nor discriminatory language is a policy of the BIK but we cannot observe every lecture,” Arifaj said.

Besim Berisha, head of the Islamic Community in Prizren, said that they are trying to counter sexist and oppressive language against women.  “We are trying to strengthen the role of women,” Berisha said. He said one problem was that women themselves were reluctant to speak out.

“Women hesitate to speak out and react, even though we have constantly urged them to be more vocal about things related to their position,” he said.

Culture of male centrality hard to shift

Summeye Pakdil-Kesgin, a professor in the Religion Department at Elon University in North Carolina in the US, says religion is a field that has been dominated for centuries by the idea of androcentrism – male centrality.

“It is not only patriarchy that is the issue but also the male-centred understanding of every subject. This is not about religion; it is about power and how power is represented and practiced in controlling different areas of life,” she told BIRN by email.

But Pakdil-Kesgin added that the growing education of women and their integration into the labour force was having an impact on religious interpretations and practices.

“Women have been fighting to create new spaces, like by reinterpreting sacred scriptures,” she said. “Women, by being visible in public, have been bargaining with patriarchy to find ways to create more space and rights.”

Mirishahe Syla, a women’s rights activist in Kosovo, said that the sermons delivered by some imams clearly contribute to a climate of sexism.

“They impact on the context in which discrimination happens,” Syla said. “In their sermons, when they speak of gender roles, the organisation of the family and society, they use religion more to strengthen patriarchal norms than to preach about the faith,” she maintained.

Some imams’ sermons reinforce a culture of discrimination that manifests itself in various ways in Kosovo’s patriarchal society, such as the practice of sons inheriting their parents’ property after their deaths, leaving daughters with nothing.

“Sermons are used as a means of control,” Syla argued. “[And] some [women’s] rights, such as the right of women to inherit, are not being talked about or implemented by many clerics or by others who pretend to live according to religious principles.”

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Morgan Jerkins at Mother Jones:

Last year, despite minding other people’s business online, I didn’t know what a “trad wife” was. Now it seems like every time I log in to Instagram or TikTok, there is another video of a beautiful woman cleaning her home or making an extraordinarily long and needlessly difficult meal. These trad wives, short for traditional wives, are women who post online content showing themselves adhering to patriarchal gender roles while keeping house and raising children—and making it look easy.

[...] I wanted nothing to do with her or any self-identifying trad wife in my own small piece of digital real estate, but their immense popularity (and algorithmic dexterity) had allowed them to trespass, and I find myself unable to turn away. Chances are, neither can you. But while it might be easy to write off the trad wives as a silly meme or a guilty pleasure, they should not be taken lightly. Given the misogynistic messaging and white-centric ideals some of these influencers peddle, they are indicative of larger forces at play—henchwomen in an ongoing effort to functionally erase modern women from the public sphere.

To fully understand the rise of the trad wife phenomenon, it helps to look at its origins. In some ways, trad wives resemble the mommy bloggers of the mid-aughts to early 2010s. Back then, momfluencers like Dooce’s Heather Armstrong and Catherine Connors of Her Bad Mother commanded massive audiences through confessional posts about breast pumps and postpartum depression. As writer Kathryn Jezer-Morton pointed out in a 2020 New York Times piece, mommy branding was different back then: These bloggers were messy; they did not hold back in revealing all of the stickiness and ugliness in their matrescence. But then the vibe shifted. In 2016 and 2017, when Seyward Darby was doing research for her 2020 book, Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism, she noticed an ominous subculture gaining prominence, one in which women were performing this highly curated image of wife- and motherhood. “It was aggressively anti-feminist, anti-diversity; some of it was proudly pro-white,” Darby says. Trump’s rise helped give these women a larger megaphone.

Of course, many influencers bragging about being stay-at-home moms are not white supremacists, but, as Darby points out, “it is a slippery slope—and sometimes there’s no slope at all—between ‘I’m just a nice woman who wants to be a wife and mom’ and having a very white nationalist agenda. Whether they realize it or not, those are the waters they are swimming in.” Watching trad wife content can pull viewers into territory they didn’t expect. “What’s scary is that there is a subtext in all these videos,” Washington Post tech columnist Taylor Lorenz tells me. For example, a trad wife might advocate for “natural living” or homeschooling, and then veer into anti–birth control rhetoric or religious indoctrination. “When you engage with these videos, because they are so adjacent to fascist, far-right content, you are quickly led down a rabbit hole of ­extremism.”

Not all trad wives have direct links to the far right. But what unites them is a romanticized vision of domesticity, or, as Darby calls it, “June Cleaver 1950s cosplaying.” As self-proclaimed trad wife Estee Williams, who rejects any associations with white supremacy, declared in a 2022 TikTok video, “We believe our purpose is to be homemakers.” It’s not simply about looking pretty. Their aestheticizing of housework is a throwback to the mid-20th century, when women weren’t even allowed to get a credit card or a loan. Publications such as Ladies’ Home Journal were responsible for promoting a certain kind of wife as a way to reestablish social order after World War II, when many women had entered the labor force. As Ann Oakley puts it in her 1974 book, Housewife, “a good wife, a good mother, and an efficient ­homemaker­…Women’s expected role in society is to strive after perfection in all three roles.” Most trad wife content is marked with this desire for perfection.

[...]

So why are many millennial and Gen Z women an eager part of the trad wife audience? Here’s my theory: We’ve given up. The popularity of the trad wife content is demonstrative of a psychological resignation. In the past several years, we’ve experienced a pandemic, the fall of Roe v. Wade, and the end of the Girlboss­­ Era. The rise of the trad wives marks what Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of the 2024 book The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, believes is “a response to the failures of a neoliberal workplace feminism” stretching from the 1960s to the present day—one that focuses on individuality. “What women fought for was an entry into the workplace,”­ Mukhopadhyay explains, but “being a mother in the workplace was almost untenable.” Even after decades of supposed progress, she points out, “we’re still not paid equally, and most women still don’t have resources commensurate with how hard they work and how they contribute to their families.” According to a 2023 report from the liberal research and advocacy organization the Center for American Progress, women were 5 to 8 times more likely than men to work part time or not at all because of caregiving responsibilities. Maya Kosoff, a content strategist and writer who admits to me that she has become obsessed with trad wives herself, says their popularity is “a reaction to perceived systemic failures” that seem like they “can be easily solved by turning to the simpler life of homesteading.”

And look, escapism isn’t anything new. When life gets harder, it’s only natural that one would daydream about a different time. But fantasies are dangerous when the stakes are so high for American women right now. We have only started to feel the effects of the Dobbs decision. “We have not seen how bad it’s going to get as women are pushed out of public life over the coming years,” journalist and MeToo activist Moira Donegan tells me. “Our main educational institutions, our workplaces, our elected officials are going to start to look more male.” Sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom similarly argues that attacks on reproductive rights represent an erosion of women’s place in a democracy. “Women only get to be full citizens if they have control over when and how they have babies,” she says. “When that changes, your citizenship becomes vulnerable, so you attach yourself to a citizen: men. I think this reclaiming of being the traditional wife is here so long as there’s a threat.”

Mother Jones does a solid report on the explosion of tradwife culture in the wake of the Dobbs decision, in which abortion bans serve as a tool to drive women out of the workforce.

Tradwife influencers romanticize the 1950s aesthetic, and most of them tend to have far-right political views (especially on gender roles).

Read the full story at Mother Jones.

[iwanthermidnightz]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/19/pop-stars-must-do-more-to-defend-lgbtq-fans-taylor-swift

Taylor Swift has flagged her sympathies with this community, so why is her Eras tour visiting US states enacting repressive laws without comment?

Look what an overly aggressive security guard made Taylor Swift do. Over the weekend, the singer won praise for calling out a guard, mid-performance, who was being rough with a female fan.

However, as a queer Swiftie, I can’t help but wish she would channel that same energy and her enormous platform into denouncing the record number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws being introduced across the US. Since starting in March, Swift’s Eras tour has taken her to numerous states that have ushered in some of the most extreme anti-LGBTQ+ bills in decades, including Florida, Tennessee and Texas. Yet the singer has stayed silent.

For some, Swift’s silence undermines, or at least draws into question, the flurry of LGBTQ+ advocacy she embarked on in 2019. After a gay friend helped Taylor realise her position on LGBTQ+ rights wasn’t “clear enough or loud enough”, she came out swinging for the gays. Close to a million people signed her petition in support of the Equality Act, she brought drag queens on stage with her at a major award show, and also made enormous donations to LGBTQ+ charities such as Glaad and the Tennessee Equality Project. (She also released the homophobe-bashing single You Need to Calm Down, though perhaps erasing that from our collective memory would be more of a win for LGBTQ+ rights.)

When Swift broke her political silence in 2018 by publicly supporting two Democrats in the US midterm elections it felt like a watershed moment. The singer had seemed to have gotten over being “so fearful of making a mistake that [she would] just freeze”, as she once told Vogue. As she said in her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana, she cared more about being “on the right side of history”. Which is why her silence now feels so loud.

But the issue of pop and politics goes beyond Swift, raising questions about our expectations of pop stars, figureheads who have by and large become more politicised over the past decade. Should artists use their platforms to speak out on social issues, and if so, how often and to what extent? (The current calls for Swift to denounce past controversies by her rumoured boyfriend, Matty Healy of the 1975, for example, are both misogynist – expecting a woman to account for her partner’s behaviour – and demonstrative of fan entitlement.) Do we expect them to understand and respond to all the hot-button issues going on around the world? Which countries (or states, for that matter) is it OK for them to perform in?

Now more than ever, these are valid questions to ask of pop stars. Major pop tours are watercooler events akin to sports games, Succession and Eurovision: one of the biggest platforms around, speaking directly not only to young audiences who look to their idols for support, but the wider public who might be influenced by their views. And queer fans can reasonably expect to see support for their causes because today’s pop spectacle was built on the backs of trailblazing queer icons, to whom every star owes a spiritual debt. (In 2017, Swift’s Reputation tour paid nightly tribute to the 19th-century US dancer Loie Fuller, a gay woman who pioneered modern dance and theatrical lighting and fought for artists to own their work.)

It’s understandable that many stars are wary about speaking out, particularly when on stage. Audiences have come for a show, not a political rally. Perhaps that’s why some stars opt for softer actions, such as Harry Styles waving a Pride flag or Beyoncé making venue toilets gender-neutral on her current Renaissance tour. These gestures of support can mean so much for a young queer or questioning fan. But Madonna put her career on the line in the 80s and 90s with her HIV/Aids activism, including a card detailing The Facts About Aids enclosed with 1989’s Like a Prayer album. Considering we’re living through an era of humanitarian and climate crises with a growing backlash against the rights of women, people of colour and LGBTQ+ people, today’s pop stars aren’t taking radical enough action.

So while we can applaud artists such as Lizzo, Orville Peck, Kelsea Ballerini and Hayley Kiyoko for their recent advocacy against the anti-drag and trans laws emerging across the US, statements and symbolic gestures won’t do anything to help the families of queer and trans kids fleeing Texas and Florida. What matters today is how pop stars who want to make a difference use their voice, platform and wealth to materially improve the lives of vulnerable communities. Shortly after the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, Adele stopped her Wembley concert to plead with the audience to donate £5 to the Unite for Grenfell relief efforts. On the Eras tour, it’s been revealed that Swift is making “sizeable” donations to local food banks at each stop.

Boycotts can also be effective. It was only seven years ago that North Carolina introduced an anti-LGBTQ+ bathroom bill, which sparked such a huge backlash that businesses left the state and major sporting events and concerts were cancelled. Less than a year later, the draconian law was repealed. LGBTQ+ communities are fighting for their freedom and it’s those kinds of actions that could make a meaningful difference to their safety. Imagine if pop stars highlighted local queer groups at each of their concert venues with donation stands. Or if they signposted information about local, state and national politicians fans could contact about anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. It would also be extremely powerful to see this done by artists without obvious queer fanbases such as Drake or Bruce Springsteen (who was among the artists to cancel shows in North Carolina in 2016).

With all eyes on these tours and every moment being beamed directly to TikTok, they’re one of the most powerful platforms out there and it’s devastating that more isn’t being made of these opportunities. The era of speak now is over. It’s time for pop stars who care about equality to act now.

[goldenpinof]

I wonder if the promoters (and dan) relied on his view numbers to plan those many shows. His video count up until wiqy had millions, and his collabs with phil also had those number of views when otherwise phil hasn’t had any million viewed solo video after dml2 (devastated to report this). Maybe they thought “the anticipation of seeing dan after a while and see what he’s doing” that worked in his youtube uploads will translate to a paying live audience as well? Combined that with AEG not used to working with a youtuber and its audience? Idk im just saying speculations out loud since at the end of the day we don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes

wait, all true and AEG sucks. but i forgot something in all my answers. Europe's promoter is mainly A Comic Soul + locals. Iceland show's promoter was Sena (as was written on the venue's website). i don't know if AEG delegated Europe to A Comic Soul and the locals, Dan never mentioned anyone other than AEG. and looks like they are responsible for the site that died after they added shows. i wonder if Dan has a contract not only with AEG but also with A Comic Soul and etc. wouldn't that be too much considering that he didn't want to search for local promoters and book venues himself? a lot to think about. it would be so much easier if we knew what was happening behind the scenes, at least related to public information.

you mentioned Dan's views numbers and i wanted to bring dd into conversation. what was before dd is very inaccurate and i don't think people thought about it as much as they should have. Dan disappeared for 4 years. BIG doesn't count, WIQY also doesn't count – coming outs and call outs get views. it's not about Dan, it's about the importance of topics, of course it gets views (BIG is bigger than just a topic, but you know what i mean, shut up y'all). dystopia daily on the other hand shows how many of us remained and how interested in Dan's content we are. and the stats are very sad. 500k, that's the maximum he can get now without any extra help from the algorithm. and with 500k views you can't book venues of 3k capacity and expect them to sell out like they used to when there were Dan AND Phil on stage.

"seeing Dan after a while" damn, it could work if this tour wasn't so out of nowhere and after such a long period of silence. people stopped caring after 2020. he uploaded BIG, then was something Pride related and he disappeared again. why bother waiting for him, you know? (that's why i think Rihanna's new album may flop, it's been too long, people let go. all hopes are on super bowl, unfortunately) even i don't remember when and what he did between 2019 and 2022, and i was here all this time :( a book, pride thing, hometown showdown that was never on his channel – but i can't name you years when each of these happened because there's no associations with other things. we saw, we nodded, we forgot in 2 weeks. it's not a foundation for a tour, it's dust in the middle of nowhere. and wad didn't have a proper foundation/base.

but tour is a huge thing. mid 2022 – mid 2023 will be remembered as wad, dystopia daily will be on the side. dd is good for promo but the timing of this comeback wasn't ideal for it to be the foundation. and look, he will most likely disappear again after the tour ends. and who knows for how long.

so how the fuck is he gonna sell the next tour and what audience is he expecting?

[vore-scientist]

What are some of your thoughts on these darker/crueler subcategories of vore:

- Punishment vore

- Revenge vore

- Torture (both physical & psychological) vore

- Long-term belly imprisonment

- Fatal vore

Obviously you’re not expected to talk about any of these that make you uncomfortable

I've written and RP'd all of these anon XD i really like all kinds of vore (as longs as its GT and oral).

Let me first rank these (A-F like a grade?) and then I'll site specific moments from stories i've written and RP'd.

- Punishment vore. Good shit. B+ i say, its cathartic.

- Revenge vore. This can pair with punishment. A+, revenge is a dish best served tasty.

- Torture (both physical & psychological) vore. Yonah literally does this??? A+. Traumatize the prey thanks.

- Long-term belly imprisonment. Im saying B. Its not my favorite but damn its fucking crazy i do love just extreme nature of it.

- Fatal vore. Yeah??? I used to be averse to fatal, it squicked me out. now im like "KILL THE BITCH" though I'm still gonna rank it A an not A+ because sometimes it still bothers me depending on the situation.

Now for Story/RP highlights!!!

Punishment Vore: to be fair this can range from safe to fatal. Yonah used to punish Sophia by eating her but over time this uhhhh no longer worked unless there was an intense reason sophia didnt want to be stuck inside Yonah's stomach. Usually bc there was something she wanted to do or see but nope, time out.

Revenge Vore: I see this as fatal, i dont really see how revenge vore could be dark/cruel without it. Otherwise it's just friendly getting back at someone. Anyways See Return of the Dragon King Part 1: Prison Break. Yonah chows down on the guards that tortured him. good revenge that. If I eventually get to it, yonah will get to eat Tobi's dad (who was the second in command of the facility).

Torture: In my RP sessions Yonah is often the body guard to a powerful politician and will torture prisoners/assassins/spies with her. Eating spies whole and not giving them safety charms but spitting them up partially digested but not dead. rinse and repeat. Biting off limbs, stuff like that.

Long Term Belly Imprisonment. Now that's an interesting one. Haven't played around with it much because I havent designed preds which that's really... possible. Though you could argue Yonah keeping someone overnight is "long term" ish. but i suspect you mean longer. I have done this in RP.

In one RP we had the characters kinda stuck in a limbo on a ship in the ocean and Sophia and the King of the Giants had to hunt down an assassin as everyone on the ship slept due to Yonah activating a sleeping beauty curse. Except the King of Giants was in a pocket of subspace (put there to avoid the curse). Sophia found the assassin and shoves them into the pocket dimension and The King ate them. The curse lasted THIRTY DAYS (i suggested 30 years LOL). Even after the curse was broken the assassin stayed in the King's belly as they sailed back to shore and was released a few days after arriving back in the Giant Kingdom. (this also counts as revenge/punishment to if you didnt notice)

I absolutely loved this entire little shenanigan and I want to write it really badly.

Fatal: So ive not posted many fatal stories, but oh boy, have I RP'd a lot of it. It's made me more comfortable with it in fact. pre-2020 me was still not super comfy with it but now im like fuck yeah!!! My RPs often revolve around fatal revenge/punishment set ups. taking down character's parents who want to train them as super soldiers, eating a circus ringmaster who used yonah as a side show monster (who was fed audience members. yup. fatally). These stories often have a healthy dose of Safe as well, fatal for revenge and punishment, safe for comfort and cuddling. Or protection! Even in the stories where the fatal was central to plot moreso than the safe. Example with the circus one is that after freeing all the other side-show monsters they all travel to a safe haven. but one of the monsters is a Naga who cannot handle the cold nights and has to be eaten by Yonah to stay warm :D

Thanks for this amazing Ask Anon!! <3

[felicitykings]

my bestie @holly-mckenzie tagged me to post 8 shows to get to know me. 

tagging: @justabritishmusicallover , @gothamstreetcat, @brvceselina, @apple-grass-and-smiles, @sonyarebecchi, @kaz-breker, @jennortegas, @mike-el , @gaffney, and @charlieconwayy

(please note: this is in no particular order)

stranger things (2016-) - i’ve been obsessed with this show since the start really, there’s just something about it, particularly those first two seasons, that just keeps me coming back. there’s fun characters that i enjoy watching and it has an awesome soundtrack!

gotham (2014-2019) - truthfully this was the first piece of media that really connected me to batman and that world. i’d seen movies before but i never felt connected to the character. but something about watching this kid grow up and earn the cowl, especially with all the choices he made that eventually led to him becoming batman had me rooting for him. and honestly, every single cast member on this show is so perfectly cast - particularly RLT as oswald. they’re the gold standard for me now. and i loved how everything fit together in this retelling.

primeval (2007-2011) this show has always been that show that has felt like mine, you know? i have so many fond memories of watching this growing up and it has always stuck with me without it ever being repeated on tv or having a large fanbase that regularly makes content long after the show is over. no, the show has just always stayed with me all through its own merit of having lovable characters and a really great storyline that i will always be upset was never allowed to be completed.

dark (2017-2020) - admittedly, i was super late to this party having only watched it earlier this year but WOW what a show. i think i can honestly say that this may be the best written and conceived show of all time - certainly of the shows i’ve watched. i have literally no complaints about it. the fact that most, if not all, the story seems to have been planned from the beginning is obvious with the number of twists and turns and strong character development/story arcs and it just makes it all the better when you can rewatch and spot even more each time. this show is incredible! i really can’t say enough about it and if i keep going here, i’ll never stop.

stargirl (2020-2022) - stargirl my beloved you were taken from me far too soon. i’ll be honest and say that i wasn’t expecting to love this show as much as i do when i decided to give it a shot. but it was so utterly charming with truly likeable characters - whether they’re heroes or villains - that you can genuinely enjoy watching. and it has a strangely nostalgic feel/tone despite its modern day setting that just adds to its likeability. 

rtd era! whoniverse (2005-2011) - this is probably cheating but just including doctor who in general felt wrong when it is this era (main show and spinoffs) that i cherish the most and i couldn’t include one without the others. maybe its the nostalgia idk but this was when the series felt the most grounded to me and despite its issues i still adore it as an era of this show’s history. the shows worked great side by side, targeting different audiences, with characters that felt real. in the case of the main show, you really felt that the companions were real people, with real lives who were plucked out of them to go travel with the doctor and it really dealt with the consequences of that which has been seriously lacking in recent years. for torchwood, the characters were allowed to be messy, truly truly messy and just plain human. they made mistakes, there wasn’t always some magical fix for them, they were on earth with limited resources just doing the best they can and sometimes it might not be the ‘right way’ but they still try and it’s beautiful. for sja, they’re just kids but they’re still real kids and they were never treated as less than their adult counterparts, they were given room to grow but never in a way that seemed patronising. there’s a magic in this specific era that i will love my whole life.

roswell (1999-2002) - i’ve always adored the balance that this show managed to get between the typical early 00s teen drama side and the sci-fi/fantasty elements. while in a lot of teen sci-fi fantasy shows these days focus on that rather than character dynamics/growth, this one really excelled at giving each character a compelling arc throughout the show, while developing a strong individual dynamic between every possible pairing of its main cast which is amazing compared to some of its contemporaries where there’s always characters who never interact outside the group setting. as such, you really get to see why these characters are putting themselves on the line for each other time and time again. they’re really a family and it’s shown consistently through the show (rather than characters just saying it without any development or actions to back it up) and it’s incredibly endearing.

the originals (2013-2018) - what can i say? i love this disfunctional “frankenstein family”. the show has its ups and downs but they’re all a mess and i love them. how many times can a group of people stab each other in the back? plenty and i truly love every second of it. morally grey characters / villain protagonists and such an interesting concept because there are barely any “good” guys to root for, it’s just a case of season by season, and sometimes episode by episode, deciding which ones are right this time, if any of them are.

other faves include:

pennyworth

all creatures great and small (2020-)

1899

swamp thing

the tracy beaker franchise

waterloo road (2006-2015)

sense8

get even

on my block

nowhere boys

we are lady parts

wolfblood

one of us is lying

teen wolf (specifically s1-4)

[fmhiphop]

Jermaine Dupri Curious Over Oversight Of Artist Young Dylan

In hip hop, there are producers, and then there are super producers, and Jermaine Dupri falls into the latter camp. However, on May 11th, Dupri, who is known for nurturing some of the best talents in the industry, became the highlight of public discourse. The super producer is a bit curious and seriously trying to understand the lack of proper coverage and promotion of hip-hop artist Young Dylan by major hip-hop outlets. Who is Young Dylan Young Dylan is an overtly talented young artist who has built an impressive industry presence in music and television. Dylan is also an artist that falls under Dupri's prevue. While it is more than expected for talent cultivators to push and promote their artists, Dupri's recent arguments have a depth that goes beyond seeking promotion. And here's why. Dylan began building his public persona at 10. The young aspirant hip hop artist showed his love for the craft on one of the premiere talent show showcases on television, "America's Got Talent." He more than won over the crowd with his impressive rendition of Kendrick Lamar's Be Humble. He was a star in the making, proud, assured, and obviously a hip-hop head. His aptitude and skill for the art form did not go without recognition, even at his young and tender age. https://youtu.be/m46g3Q5GWEk In fact, his presence and skill were so absolute that it led to a feature role in a 2020 series appropriately named after him "Young Dylan." Young Dylan Featured Headliner "Young Dylan" was a show that, as most might guess, reflected the young artist's life. The inspired mogul, writer, and film director Tyler Perry wrote the series. And it focused on a young hip-hop artist trying to make it in the industry. Many of the episodes also served as a showcase of the headliner's talent. https://youtu.be/3PbxbXAXIJQ However, being a Nickelodeon series, it was, of course, geared to younger audiences. But the fan base was undeniable. The show's success, much of which is because of Dylan's role, was underscored by consistent renewals up to a fourth season. Even still, the young artist is putting his passion into crafting his art outside of the Nickelodeon series. https://youtu.be/cGaLenhZXjc So, the question for Dupri became, with Dylan's success and recognized talent in the public medium, why aren't hip-hop outlets providing more coverage? Dissecting Jermaine Dupri's Argument Dupri makes a solid argument. It is apparent that Dylan is more than talented, and his hip-hop roots and endeavors in the industry do not differ from other artists. Dylan is the exact representation of what hip-hop is about, unique expressionism and lyrical presentation through rhythmic flow. And as Dupri expressed in a recent interview, "He thought it [hip-hop} was a young man's game." That is a solid premise. Meaning, aren't up-and-coming artists deemed the future of the culture, movement, and art form? Weren't these young aspirants supposed to be the focus? After all, these torchbearers are what it's all about, aren't they? So, what's the deal with the lack of proper coverage? And Dupri called out specific outlets noting their direct oversite. His statement indicated, "If it's a young man's game, then why hasn't — you know if it is and all these different sites claim—like “AllHipHop,” they claim it's all Hip Hop. But they ain't posted a Dylan record. “The Source” is supposed to be the source of Hip Hop. They ain't talked about the Dylan project." And that is indeed valid and interesting. An Unacknowledged Driver There is much to digest here. Dupri's recognition of the oversight highlights a looming question pervasive in the industry. And the super producer and talent cultivator is not far from his analysis and theoretical rationale for undergirding such decisions, which he fleshes out through inquiry later in his discourse. He poses this very telling question regarding Young Dylan and another such artist. It's a young artist trying to rap in the rap game, and these outlets claim they cover all Hip Hop; so I'm like, 'rappers that start at 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 years old—is that not considered real rap in the rap world?' Dupris Bullseye Assessment Therein lies the issue, one that is known but only sometimes highlighted. It's the ever-looming question of legitimacy, what that criterion is, and who decides such. Undoubtedly, several factors, some of which are prejudicial, drive the conversation of what is authentic hip-hop and who is acknowledged as a genuine artist of such. Unfortunately, this sentiment carries over even to the point of impacting who and what major publications cover. It's not necessarily an age thing, as young artists such as Bow Wow have received more than their share of publicity even at a very young age. https://youtu.be/RzRgScHpMGg The lack of promotion that Young Dylan has received is likely multifaceted. As Dupri also pointed out, he's been clued into the fact that maybe he's just not that good. The producer's response was one of acknowledgment. Okay, preference is understandable, but what does that have to do with the promotion of a young artist embracing hip-hop and trying to make it in the industry? No, denying that's an interesting perspective, and inquiring minds do seek clarification for better understanding. In Conclusion Dylan is hands down a great asset and credit to the industry. While all may not vibe with him, there are those out there who do. So why hasn't he gotten the same shine as most is an interesting question, and it's one everyone would like answered. The public may get that answer, and they may not. But regardless, FM Hip Hop celebrates all that Young Dylan is, all he has done, what he is doing, and what he will bring to hip-hop. And good on Jermaine Dupri for bringing to light something that needs addressing in the community. Written by: Renae Richardson Read the full article

[vyvesvi]

space over! the next one will be after next round (3 weeks from now) hosted by pd101 japan global fanbase

gonna try to summarize points but i missed the first part & definitely don't remember a lot oops

how do people feel about leap high? general consensus- it's a grower

yumeki was disliked but he now has a cult following who think he's camp

more korean influence this season- next round will be in korea & they were in korea lomger this time. s1 & s2 had the same Japanese pds but this szn has new korean pds

jp fanbase is pretty typical - girls around the ages of the contestants & slightly older men

lots of people want ayane in toxic because she sounds like rosé

seems like momona, miu, ran, rino, tsuzumi, etc will be voted into &me. expecting this to cause some storyline drama. stacked group curse?

differences in storyline building across cultures: a lot of repetitive storytelling this season with trainees crying because they feel they can't share their true feelings with their teams and ultimately saying nothing. this could help explain why japanese trainees tend to disappear when they compete in korean shows

more differences: less evil editing. rumors that editors cut conversations about the hate that nakamori mikoto is getting right now. also more drama from the mentors compared to the trainees

what concepts/sounds/songs do we want to see for the final group? depends on the members, but &me is the most population 3rd round preview. (someone said e-girls, big agree from me)

we all miss the mentor sugai hidenori from s1 & s2 lol

there are way more experienced trainees on s3 compared to s1 & s2. some people are happy about this because it means they can do more interesting & challenging performances. host brought up that this is probably because korean companies having japanese trainees was wayyy more rare in/before 2019 compared to now.

don't like how they did the rap songs this time, with already completed songs. in s1 they just gave them a beat and they got to do more performance creation (this season afaik they wrote lyrics but they had to git the rapping in bijin & shut down) (personally havent seem the ep yet so idk tho)

suggestions for future round 1 songs: chao chao by happiness, vocaloid songs, recent akb because they have more kpop style choreo, songs by superfly

thoughts on song selection? it's kinda smart because theyre appealing to distinct groups- younger kpop fans & older jpop fans. cool that all of the popular trainees ended up in jpop songs (seifuku no mannequin and body & soul)

same note: ppl tried to give spoilers for r2 but no one knew run run, since it's really new, in korean and english, & swf isnt very popular in japan. when ppl tried to spoil namie amuro's songs they got them mixed up with other singers (ie, no super old jpop fans in the audience). when speed was called like 3 thirty+ year old women looked excited and no one else knew it

trainees discussed: momona's hair, momoka's husky voice (sukai rise potential?), kokona (below)

kokona had a very hyewon character but in this ep people realized that she can actually sing (someone then compared her to minju). since she's already #6 based largely on visuals, we might see a rank rise for her

do we have too many vocalists in the top? with jo1 (s1) & bonbon girls (chuang 2020) this messes with their line distribution & ability to maximize their skills. host feels that bonbon only shone through ballads since they couldnt dance & had 4/7 main vocals (i half agree - they had 3 members who couldn't hold a note), i feel that jo1's members do great in subunits (especially sho, ren, sukai, & takumi, as evidenced by their performance on the first take). pretty solid comparison although lapone habdles jo1 better than tencent handled bonbon imo. cant fully compare because bonbon only had 2 years full of indiv activity & preplanned music while jo1 is permanent & has had the opportunity to grow

lots of fascinating hair changes for r3. lots of bad extensions

jp fans are very peaceful, but things get downright nasty during the finals. last time there were d34th threats

the final is dec 16, we're happy because this means they purposely avoided jo1's formation date & that'll reduce any fanclash (although jams are very peaceful)

probably sharing this way too late but a couple big produce accounts are doing a twitter space right now! it'll probably end in an hour or so but i hope anyone who wants to join can!

[absolutebl]

Hello ABL,

After looking at your spreadsheet of doom, can you tell us how many shows have been released this year 2022 (including the shows that ended in 2022 like bad buddy) compared to the last 2 years by country. It will provide some perspective.

Thank you ❤️

I can but I usually do exactly that at the end of the year since the number announced is different from the number that actually air, so I have to wait until forth quarter closes.

So can you wait until the end of the year for the true stats in proper analysis?

Here's last year:

BL 2021 STATS & TRENDS BY COUNTRY (I reposted for ya) 

Here’s some rough numbers on the major producers that I track (includes microfilms and added new discoveries to previous years):

THAILAND

2020 = 22 

2021 = 42 

2022 = 108 so far

flipping heck, I genuinely thought their exponential growth would start to plateau at this point, no wonder I am struggling to keep up 

TAIWAN

2020 = 4

2021 = 11

2022 = 5 so far 

I don’t think we are due many more this year, maybe 2 if we are lucky 

KOREA

2020 = 7 

2021 = 17

2022 = 16 so far 

I thought they’d get over 20 this year and I think they still might make it. 

JAPAN

2020 = 8 (but 3 of those are pinks)

2021 = 6

2022 = 17 so far 

This was the biggest trend I did not see coming. I had no idea Japan, of all places, would respond to market pressure like this. Honestly I think it’s mostly a “HAY, we started this, what is Korea doing? Oh, I don’t think so. Let’s show em how its done.” AKA they aren’t taking this like they did Jpop, subconscious attitude. 

My 2022 BL Trend & Growth Expectations from 2021 were:

THAILAND will produce the same kind of thing as they did in 2021 with perhaps a few darker offerings, better queer rep, and a fall off in the pulps as money dries up. I don’t see how they can possibly keep up this level of exponential growth, their overall quality is seriously suffering. If we’re lucky, we will get at least 6 experimental pieces with stronger story and atypical setting (like KinnPorsche). ANNOUNCED? 73 BLs for 2022 (many of these are seed project fundraisers, I expect about half to die in pre-production or move to 2023.)

TAIWAN has increased steadily over years but I think they’ll go down from 2021, and 6 is the max we can expect in 2022. I want them to do a gay spoof on Boys Over Flowers but they don’t have the funds. *sad sigh* (This is assuming China doesn’t carry out its political threats, in which case the world’s got more serious problems to worry about.) ANNOUNCED? 5 BLs for 2022 

KOREA. I expect them to double their BL output next year (from 11 to 20+), perhaps including something a little longer after the success of Light On Me. Of course, imma pipe dream Yuri on Ice staring Enhyphen’s Park Sung Hoon and you can’t stop me (but Japan probably will). ANNOUNCED? 15 BLs for 2022

JAPAN, look I have cried out for years for ninja/yakuza yaoi adaptations and something more adult domestic like Our Dinging Table, and Japan has announced both. BOTH I tell you. I am SO EXCITED for Japanese BL in 2022. Come on Japan, you can do eeet! ANNOUNCED? 4 BLs for 2022

VIETNAM should continue to improve steadily, and give us as many as it can, I’m just hoping it doesn't fall down the Pinoy rabbit hole of no story. They are evolving quickly, if Mr Cinderella is any indication, good things are coming. ANNOUNCED? 2 BLs for 2022

CHINA nothing but a few heavily censored bromances. ANNOUNCED? 1 bromance co-project with Thailand for 2022

2022 BL line up (announced projects, trailers, etc) as of the end of 2021 is here.

2021 audience analysis and thoughts here. I discuss growth in terms of audience, investment, and international market penetration. How I think pandemic viewing #s figured into it. Possible new production models. And changes in BL actors and their pairs. (Pure speculation since I don’t have access to these numbers.)

2021 BL Wrap Up - Top Trends analyzed & discussed

[jjheejz]

What is Fate?

[Part 5/5] WOH concert and after

WOH Concert (3-4 May 2021)

- The fact that they even have a grand scale wedding ceremony drama concert

- GJ did not attend ZZH's first solo concert, but both of them have their own concert together for the first time

- Chinese have a traditional tradition of calculating auspicious dates (metaphysics). It can be calculated commonly for when to move in to a new house, bury a deceased, open a business, hold a wedding etc. 3 - 4 May were auspicious dates for Wedding and marriage registration.

- The concert was held at a stadium in Su Zhou, but the entire city was blatantly supporting everything and anything about WenZhou like it's New Year's Eve. Eg. Building, helicopter banners, bus advertising, drone show, lantern display, subway endorsement, city's official account using WOH quotes applying to safety regulations, curated photo booths, life sized figurine of WenZhou (YouKu kept it as prideful display at their office entrance after the concert), crowds of fan support and cheers etc.

Drone show snippet:

- Both of them were given the center of attention for the entire 2 days of WOH concert. It was WenZhou/JunZhe concert in disguise as WOH concert.

= This gave them both the opportunity to show what they feel for each other openly (whether as WenZhou themselves or as JunZhe)

- To have a stage to be what they are* and have fun, while being accepted and greatly supported by a sea of Mountain people (山人), no matter how one sees it, it's an extremely touching form of support for them

*Disclaimer: obviously they weren't 100% themselves, mindful of the fact that this stage was monitored by important media bodies (not exactly sure what kind, but somewhat government-ish regulators I presume), but their gaze and body language is just as natural as what they are.

= The fact that the country in general is not open to this kind of relationship, yet they were in a place where most of the people were supportive.

- Yes, there were some important bodies (or eyes) during the 2 days concert. Which was why all the actors and actresses were warned. For whatever reason they chose to continue in their own way, it's daring consensus of support. And for whatever reason the regulators didn't do anything (there weren't any big news at all from them), is also a miracle.

- They had the opportunity to sing a duet on stage, live. For the audience, GJ's singing skills started from November 2020, ZZH likes GJ's singing, and 5 months later, they have a duet on stage.

- Official acknowledgement of cpfans

= First in history where the recognition was officially verbally mentioned in-person. You can say this fate belong to the fans.

- ZZH had the opportunity to vow a promise to GJ witnessed by X million of people in the stadium and those watching livestream, that he will always be there for GJ. He did not only vow as a companion to GJ, in ZZH terms, he actually vowed "I will love you forever" [ZZH on 'love' saga]

- The in-ear mic had the voices of the backstage crew's coordination. ZZH took it off early, but GJ was still wearing them during the exchange. That itself is a stressor as the backstage coordinator must have warned extremely sternly and loudly and GJ was shakingly nervous. When ZZH was giving this vow (which in the concert BTS release, we see him say "Don't I have a segment to speak to WKX?" Note, it's WKX, not GJ), the backstage crew was cursing and swearing when ZZH went with "I have things to say to Jun Jun." (as WenZhou, they have a disguise/a shield, with direct GJ, it's just...danger danger red light) Try imagine being the backstage crew and going all mad and crazy over what ZZH said that moment.

= ZZH's daring courage to say things like these was probably built up from his sportsmanship, hot-blooded passion from his past. It's beyond my peasant mortal's comprehension.

- Supporting Cast shenanigans and warnings for them, link here

After

- After the concert was over, solo fans expect the main leads to break up even as co-workers or say, being even in the same frame. This expectation is extremely strong in the industry for years. The same goes for JunZhe despite this time many are cpfans but they do know this prevalent expectation. So imagine crying over the vow and the next moment, just hours after the concert, JunZhe is happily sticking to each other singing in the same frame as if they did nothing big a few hours ago. They sang a phrase together with this lyrics: 30% arranged by fate/god, 70% arranged by hard work. A love for perseverance will lead to success/winning.

= Debunking expectations, breaking many years of industry's common consensus successfully. They invented after after-sales CP service.

- Stage, endorsements, film scripts, major public events, variety shows, top brands etc. Poured in, and although it's all solo events, we see traces of the other half.

- Aside from that, we now see social media exchanges (almost always for the other half), brand endorsement captions (almost always about the other half), official brands partnering with each other because of them (despite being legit competitors) etc.

- The word 'support' or at least 'love seeing them together', is the general reason CPfans are fans of them. But to both GJ and ZZH, it really goes beyond the word itself. Acknowledging is just the beginning. ZZH does take LLD to heart and GJ is very interactive with LLDs in his own quirky way.

*From the [Star X Moon Saga], to the developed feelings because of this drama and actually accepting their feelings, to the fact that the pitiful budgeted amount for WOH was not well received at all before it was broadcasted but boomed records in the end, to the open shipping support by the production crew/casts/general media/fans/brands/cities, to the climbing successes and mountainous opportunities opened for GJ and ZZH overnight, everything was unprecedented and unexpected, but they all dramatically happened to the two of them in a span of one year.

Bonus

A fan went to a temple to check out JunZhe's fate. You can only check for one person and she checked for GJ. She passed her result to a Master and he immediately tell her to give up because that person is taken and turned away. The fan quickly corrected and say she's actually checking for someone else, the master turned back and checked her read again and said, everything is aligned to their favour, it's blessed by the Gods. (If I can find the full article again, will add on more but that's the gist, surfing in China made me love Google's search engine algorithm so much more).

A few other fans who 抽签 (Chinese praying tradition - simply put: draw a stick of varying luck). They all got the bestest of luck for JunZhe. (Reading the readings, I'm just...in awe...I...)

= Borrowing the meaning of another famous novel title, to me, this is a true "Heaven's official blessing" pair.

-------End of series-------

🌻To returning readers: Updated info are in purple for your easy references!

🌸Part 1 - Before filming here

🌸Part 2 - During filming here

🌸Part 3 - After filming, before broadcast here

🌸Part 4 - Broadcast/Promotion period here

🌻Upcoming: JunZhe Saga series

🌻[Ongoing updates] Will add if I remember or found new ones - last updated 220721

🌻For long posts like this, I tend to look back for grammar and phrasing mistakes (sometimes info updates), so when you reblog for future references, do keep in mind that there may be updates in the original post! :)