#my favorite even though i hate ben harmon more than anything

[maxxxines]

gif request meme ➝ american horror story + favorite season 

I think I have mommy issues. You know a good therapist?

[vergilboyfriend]

You should do all of them questions and 90 is true

I love you!!!!

1. Favorite instrument?

I work at a music store u can’t just ask me this. When my coworkers play it’s the saxophone or the flute, when the boys in the repair shop are testing repairs and they harmonize with each other or try to outplay one another it’s the bassoon or the trombone or whatever they’re fixing at the moment. When I hear 🎺 give his lesson on Wednesday afternoons it’s the trumpet, and when I think about middle school it’s the clarinet, the flute, the French horn. When I hear the nutcracker pas des deux is the oboe and when I hear edith piaf l’accordeoniste it’s the remarkable human voice. Really my favorite instrument is all of them, it just depends.

2. Favorite fic trope? Mutual pining 🥺

3. Sport you played for the longest amount of time? LMAO I wasn’t a sporty kid but I did ballet

4. Shoe size? 10-11

5. Most recent (good) dream? Uhh I had a dream last night about my coworker 🎹 it wasn’t bad though I can’t really remember what it was about

6. Last person in your DMs? smugg

7. Can you do a handstand? Nooo nooo lmaoo nooooo

8. Unpopular food opinion I don’t like oranges or red meat

9. Conspiracy you believe in? There’s some kind of weird weather dome in my hometown around the military base that makes most storms pass around us

10. Is your hair its natural color/style? Most of it is I dyed the bottom layer of my hair tho so it’s blonde rn

11. state a useless fact all that’s coming to mind is outright lies rn hold on. The inventor of pringles is buried in a pringles can that’s so fucking nasty omg

12. most interesting gossip you’ve heard? Idk I don’t really care for gossip uhhhh have u heard tho rin dippindogs is a huge gay hah she uhh she like men AND women lmao gaaay gaaaay

13. Middle name? Carolyn

14. Sexuality? Bisexual

15. Amount of sleep you got last night? Idk actually I think like 9-10 hrs tho I slept in until 11

16. Opinion on ice cream cake? Tasty!!!

17. Opinion on (cup)cake frosting? It’s depends buttercream is usually too sweet for me in large amounts so I prefer whipped cream frosting

18. Last board game you played? Idk??? We played hunt a killer tho last Thursday me n my family I guess that counts kinda

19. Project you want to start? I need ideas first baby

20. Project you’re working on right now? HAHAHAHAHAHA

21. TV show you’re watching? nothing rn I just rewatch bojack a lot if I watch anything

22. Last movie you watched? Lego batman I think

23. Ever left anon hate? Not legit hate

24. Ever left anon love? Yes all the time. Sometimes to strangers it’s my favorite thing to do

25. Best Disney movie? The princess and the frog

26. Best Pixar movie? Soul or Up I can’t decide

27. Best Star Wars? Um. Empire strikes back

28. Last thing you consumed? Fuit gumy

29. NoTP? Idk I don’t really hate ships unless they’re gross like pedophilic gross

30. story behind your (nick)name? When I was a fetus my great grandfather had a dream that my name should be Carolyn Marie but my parents were huge dweebs so they named me Marina after the actress of Deanna Troi in Star Trek. Idk about my nickname ive just always been Rina/Rin as long as I can remember

31. ice cream order? Lately it’s lemon sorbetto I know it’s SO high in sugar but I love it

32. describe your blog in <5 words I love you

33. how many blogs do you follow? 436

34. Describe your voice it depends usually I sound like a sick child but my customer service voice is really pleasant

35. Describe your smile it’s cute :)

36. What is the place you live known for? LMAOOO LMAO we have a military base nearby and like. I could go on abt that one but also like. There’s a lot of gang violence and a lot of the other consequences of poverty. People from the cities around us see us as “””ghetto””” or violent but it’s just. It’s more than that it’s always more than that. And idk what else there’s nothing really particularly special about this town except that we’re all here and not anywhere else

37. What is the place you’re originally from known for? (if they’re different)

38. pronouns? she/any idc

39. Languages you speak? English

40. first friend you made through tumblr? Idk. I probably don’t talk to them anymore :(

41. Person on tumblr you know in real life? my brother

42. First dog breed you think of shih tzu I have 2 next to me rn

43. room wall color? Purble!!!! The paint color is called grape juice that’s why I picked it!!!

44. Song that’s stuck in your head right now? It’s tricky to rock a rhyme to rock a rhyme that’s right on time it’s trickyyyyy

45. Favorite number? 5, 34

46. Color you associate with your name? Red

47. Favorite jolly rancher flavor?watermelon

48. Pets? 2 dogs rocket and groot and 4 cats loki danni who r from the same litter and we raised from kittens, miss kitty who we adopted from a shelter after my boy blue moon passed away and ben (his real name is Kylo Ren thanks to my mom but I refuse to call him that) he is my little baby and he has 7 toes on his front paws

49. Collections? Hot wheels

50. Character outside of your fandom you’d marry? Girl what lmaooo idk

51. Character outside of your fandom you’d kill? That’s mean :(

52. Have you met any celebrities? NO thank god id have to kill on sight

53. Favorite time period in history? Itslian Renaissance & Romantic Era

54. What time is it right now? 2:35 am oops

55. History or future? Future but like . A good one. Or prehistory

56. Space or ocean? Space

57. Fears? Abandonment

58. Command + v and post. It’s this list of questions u don’t want that

59. Favorite season? Spring

60. Describe your aesthetic. Messy just a mess, neon and old buildings and things, antiques, countryside if there weren’t so many trump pence flags still lmaoo give uppp give up, nature just al of nature and space and places humans can’t touch and places they used to touch but can’t anymore

61. MBTI? Infp but I haven’t taken it in a few years

62. What’s your relationship with your family like? Normal.

63. “Biggest fan” in your tumblr activity? I’m in mobile hold on acc to tumblr it’s akky

64. Favorite musical? Sweeney todd

65. Comfort book? Idk how to read 💔💔💔 wuthering heights tho

66. Comfort movie? Whisper of the heart

67. OTP? Girl idk

68. BroTP? Joey and Tristan yugioh

69. AUs or canon compliant? Canon ig idk

70. Opinion on the person who’s sending the ask? It’s an anon!! But I love them

71. FMK + 3 characters anon didnt leave any characters and I was going to say something very bad but I won’t

72. Dream date? I’ve wanted to do this for a while but ideally it would be after we’d been together a while maybe even engaged or whatever, I wanna go to like a Home Depot or a furniture store and pretend to be married and looking for house paints and furniture and plan what our home is going to look like I wanna do that so bad. But idk for a first/early relationship date i really want to go to the zilker botanical garden it’s one of my favorite places, we could also go to the natural gardener which is a plant nursery in Austin I really love it there too and it’s not that far from zilker.

73. Relationship status? Single

74. Ever dyed your hair? Do you plan to? Yes and perhaps. Maybe

75. Dream job/career? Idk anymore I used to have big girl goals and I haven’t had any in a while. But when I was younger I wanted to be a game warden

76. Favorite band/singer? Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

77. Something that makes you soft/that you find adorable? My cats

78. The first thing you would do if you won the lottery? Buy a house

79. Are you superstitious? Yes

80. Character you project onto? Shizuku tsukishima

81. Fictional character you’ve had a crush on? Vergil devil may cry. Forever husband

82. Celebrity crush? LMAO

83. Person on here you’d date? my mutuals

84. Person on here you’d marry? 🥺 my mutuals

85. Person on here you’d throw into the void? Smugg

86. Other social media you have? I’ve got a photography insta that I barely use and a Twitter that’s just nintendo switch screenies that’s it

87. Finish the sentence: Due to personal reasons, ___________i will be passing away

88. Bad habit? I find it rlly hard to say no or like to say when and why I’m upset I don’t feel like for the latter I don’t feel like I should bring something that’s upsetting me up because I know I’ll get over it on my own and I don’t really trust myself to be upset about rational things. Idk I’m working on it

89. Three things you like about yourself? I’m hot, I’m kind, I’m resilient

90. Ily and you deserve the world I love you!!!!! YOU deserve it too!!!

[mermaidsirennikita]

July 2019 Book Wrap-up

July was actually a really good month for me!  I read a ton of books, and a lot of them were actually pretty good?  It’s been a very transitory month for me; and I’m hoping to keep up the momentum as I start a new job.  The standouts of the month include War, of my beloved Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series by Laura Thalassa, and Lock Every Door, a creepy, apartment-centric psychological thriller by Riley Sagers.

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon.  3/5.  Heartbroken by the death of her grandfather--the only parent she really knew--Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland.  Ireland was her grandfather’s homeland, she she grew up on his stories of a family she has little connection with.  Going out on the lake, she suddenly finds herself thrown back into 1921, in an Ireland on the brink of civil war.  Taken in by Thomas Smith, a friend of her great-grandfather--who himself died young in the conflict--she finds a young boy who is oddly familiar, and a group of people she can’t help but connect with.  As she grows close to Thomas and enveloped in his political struggles, Anne becomes terrified of her lack of control over the time she’s in, or the future she’s facing.  This is a time travel romance, as you’d probably guess.  And it’s really not super amazing or much to complain about.  There is fluff.  There are the necessary “out of time” moments, the tension between the hero and the heroine.  It does seem that Harmon did her research on the Irish political landscape of the 1920s--but I can’t verify the novel’s accuracy.  To be frank, I think that this actually got in the way of the story to an extent.  The amount of time Michael Collins took up in this novel, acting as like...  the best friend character?  Was a bit awkward.  Otherwise, it’s a fluffy, nice read.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.  3/5.  Olive and Ethan hate each other, which is awkward as his brother is marrying her sister.  But after the entire wedding party--save Olive and Ethan--end up with food poisoning, they agree to go on the honeymoon trip together, to save it from being completely wasted.  The plan on avoiding each other the entire time; but when Olive encounters her future boss at the resort and tells what seems to be a white lie, they end up having to impersonate newlyweds.  You can probably guess what happens next!  Christina Lauren books usually feature protagonists with a fun, sweet chemistry, and this novel is no exception.  The beach setting and Olive and Ethan’s angsty, unresolved sexual tension makes most of this book a super fun read.  The only reason why I didn’t give it 4/5 is that the last twenty percent or so really annoyed me.  There is a very typical twist, which wasn’t the problem--how our male lead reacted to it was.  It didn’t ruin the book, but it did make me much less likely to give it a wholehearted recommendation.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager.  5/5.  After losing her job and breaking up with her live-in boyfriend, Jules is desperate for money and a place to stay.  As luck would have it, she stumbles upon an opportunity that offers both.  The Bartholomew is an old building, populated by the wealthy elite; and Jules has long idolized it as the setting of one of her favorite childhood books.  When the apartments are in between owners, their inherent value makes them targets for thieves--which is why the building’s managers employ apartment sitters.  Jules is offered $12,000 to live in an apartment for three months; and despite her wariness, she can’t turn that kind of offer down.  But when her newfound friend and fellow apartment sitter Ingrid goes missing, Jules sets on to a horrifying search for answers, which yield far more than she’s bargained for.  It’s official: I really do love Riley Sager books.  He’s 3/3 so far, and this one just may be my favorite.  Sager isn’t shy about drawing from classic horror tropes, and this novel is no exception--it owes a good bit to Rosemary’s Baby and The Shining.  But of course, another totally out there twist is thrown in, making the story his own.  I can’t say much without spoiling it.  But if you love thrillers and horror, try it.  What pushes the book over the edge for me is that it has a real point about today’s class systems, and the privileges of wealth and the victimization of the poor in America.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.  4/5.  Following a disastrous breakup, Tiffy needs a flat, and badly.  So when she sees the ad posted by Leon, she’s desperate enough to take it.  As Tiffy is an assistant editor and Leon is a night nurse, they have different schedules.  They live in the flat together and even share a bed--though they sleep on opposite sides--but never see each other, communicating through notes left about the apartment.  At first, it’s stiff--but gradually, as they learn more about one another and their separate troubles (from Tiffy’s obsessive ex to Leon’s incarcerated brother) they begin to rely on each other for more than just room and board...  This is a really fucking cute, very sweet romantic comedy that touches on deeper subjects than you might think.  The way through which Tiffy and Leon connect is pretty unique, and I felt for both of them.  They were pleasant without being annoyingly perfect, and I just had a great time with the novel.

War by Laura Thalassa.  4/5.  As the apocalypse rages on, Miriam struggles to live in an Israel ravaged by the literal War--that is, the horseman of the apocalypse.  When the supernatural warlord stumbles across her in the battlefield, he’s taken aback by her own fury, and declares that she was sent by God to be his wife.  Thrown in with War and his followers, Miriam is exposed to the true horror of the battlefield--while also learning that there may be more to War’s purpose, and her connection with him, than she thought.  This is the sequel to Pestilence, and part of a big fat series about women falling in love with the four horsemen of the apocalypse.  And I love them.  War is a surprisingly endearing hero, though Thalassa never shies away from how brutal the horsemen are--which I so appreciate.  You never forget that War isn’t a human, however you may love him.  Miriam is another fun heroine, and one of those lovely characters who is honestly quite softhearted but still aggressive and never weak.  It’s a cheesy romance novel, and it’s exactly what you should read right now, immediately.

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.  3/5.  Elisabeth is a foundling, raised in the Great Library of Austermeer to take care of its magical grimoires.  When the library is attacked and its most powerful grimoire unleashed, Elisabeth is implicated in the crime.  Sent to the capital to be dealt with, she becomes wrapped up in a conspiracy, with only a suspicious sorcerer to rely upon.  I adored Rogerson’s first novel (An Enchantment of Ravens), and I wish I’d loved this one more.  It was well-written, and the characters were interesting, but I just found the story a bit hard to get caught up in.  Honestly, I think this had less to do with the plot itself and more to do with the pacing and length of the book.  It took way too long for things to get started, and things just moved too slowly for my taste.  However, I do think that tons of people will LOVE this book--if sorcery and slow burns are up your alley, go for it!

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves.  2/5.  Thirty-year-old Anna is happy to take a dream teaching job--she’s tutoring the nearly-seventeen year old T.J. as his family vacations over the summer in the Maldives.  Flying separately from the rest of the group, Anna and T.J. are thrown off course when their pilot has a heart attack and crashes into the sea, leaving the two of them trapped on an isolated island.  As the years pass and Anna and T.J. survive together, they come to face the reality of a new world--and their changing feelings.  I had to read this for the what the fuck factor, basically?  To clarify, nothing happens between the leads until the guy is almost nineteen, and by then they’ve been alone for so long that it’s honestly pretty understandable.  I feel like this could have been great, trashy fun and it still kind of was, but the writing was so........................................  Not great?  It was really clunky and really awkward, and the characters kept repeating things to each other that didn’t need to be repeated.  The dialogue took me out more than anything else.  But I don’t know, I wasn’t disengaged?  It’s a spectacle of a book.

The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley.  3/5.  After the death of acting legend Sir James Harrison, reporter Joanna is set to cover his funeral.  There, she meets a mysterious older woman, who sets her on a path to uncover a secret that has been hidden for more than seventy years--connected to the royal family.  I don’t have much to say about this one.  It intrigued me because it was actually published a little over 20 years ago, but due to the timing--it was written when the royal family was at a peak low in terms of popularity, but published right around the time that the popularity took an upswing--it did rather poorly.   It was an interesting enough read, but never grabbed me. The characters felt disconnected and bland, and ultimately the thriller aspects were pretty light, or maybe just not the types that I enjoy.  It’s not a bad book, but it’s also not for me.  

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo.  2/5.  This non-fiction book follows three women throughout the years, focusing on their varied sex lives.  This just wasn’t for me.  Other people will love it, but I was looking for something less...  intentionally poetic.  I wanted it to be more honest and upfront and analytical.  

The Last Leonardo: The Secret Lives of the World’s Most Expensive Painting by Ben Lewis.  4/5.   An account of the history of Salvator Mundi, the allegeded Leonardo da Vinci work sold for $450 million.  Lewis writes in an engaging manner, revealing both the painting’s history and the case for and against it being a Leonardo--and what I really love too is his examination of the questions surrounding its value even if it is a Leonardo, considering the painting’s extensive restoration (which could have arguably taken away from the artist’s original hand) and its general quality compared to other works by Leonardo.  I’m not sure if people who aren’t into art history or at least history would be into this, but I found Lewis’s skepticism and reserve regarding the topic weirdly refreshing.  I have a lot of feelings about Salvator Mundi, and I appreciated the way he communicated his.

The Descendant of the Crane by Joan He.  4/5.  After the death of her father, Hesina is left as the heir to the throne.  The issue?  She thinks that her father was murdered--and in her pursuit of the truth, she seeks help from a sooth, one of the magic-users forbidden by the Eleven, the wise people who restructured the kingdom years ago.  She is then set to work with Akira, a thief who’s meant to represent her in court as she struggles to find the killer--but ends up on a path that will reveal more than she’d bargained for.  It’s hard to not spoil this one?  It has many twists and turns, to the point that it did get kind of convoluted (and the ending is far from resolved, though there’s no guarantee of a sequel). But I admire He’s ambition and the scope of the story.  I hope we do get a follow-up!

[indigo-streaks-in-her-hair]

500 Follower Ask Celebration :)

welp, here we are with 500 beautiful lovelies reading our fics. when we first started this blog, we never imagined such a wonderful response. everyone is the nicest & we both can’t express how grateful we are for every one of you.

thank you so much for sticking by us, even during our rough times. your support means the world to the both of us, & you all keep us going more than you think. you all inspire us every single day, & never fail to make us laugh.

you, yes all of you, are the best followers in the whole damn universe. you’re all irreplaceable & extremely dear to us. we love you guys so much. words can’t begin to describe how we feel.

and so, since we literally can’t come up with anything else to do on this momentous occasion, our original plan for 500 was to reblog a long ass ask list for you guys to send in numbers, but since that would all be complicated on the matter of the two of us answering, we decided to just answer all these 45 questions.

you’ll find the questions and our answers under the cut! enjoy!

 um she’s really lovely and sympathetic and true and magnificent and her name is summer and the most annoying thing about her is that she’s not annoying at all. -v

pretty much the fact that vic is better than me at  e v e r y t h i n g . she’s so much more caring and generous and beautiful and she’s always there for me whenever i’m having a bad day or if i’m just lonely or whenever i need someone to talk to. she’s also super polite and hilarious as hell. -s

2 • least favorite tv shows? 

oops sorry if i offend some people but i really don’t like vampire diaries, thirteen reasons why, gossip girl, or the uk version of the office. -v

i don’t, like,,,,, watch tv much so all honesty, i can’t really have an answer for this? sorry?? -s

3 • favorite moment with your best friend ( s ) ? 

oh omg i was texting summer a few weeks ago discussing and finalizing which fic requests we were each going to be taking and we had that one request asking for a connor imagine in which him and the reader take zoe to get her wisdom teeth out so i said something around the lines of “i can take connor and the wisdom teeth” and i literally froze before following that up with “omg that could be a name for a band”. summer freaks out and we’re both laughing hysterically over text and we stop everything and just spit out crappy band names that include connor and various body parts like “connor and the tonsils” and “connor and the funny bone” and even “connor and the fractured pelvis” and we’re absolutely dying because we can’t stop cackling at this stupid thing i brought up which made me laugh out loud a hundred times and i ended up scaring my own grandmother when she saw me giggling crazily with my phone. she ended up cutting me a slice of pie because she thought there was actually something wrong and the pie might help me calm down. so if the person who requested “connor and the wisdom teeth” is reading this right now i just wanna say thank you for requesting and your idea is amazing and your fic will forever be iconic ily. -v

oh my god, i was literally going to say the exact same thing vic did, but i guess i can choose a different memory.  one time vic posted a pic of a turtle on her sc story and i was like “girl omg” and she remembered that time she played the character Turtle in her school’s production of The Westing Game play and then we started reminiscing on our old nerdy memories like when a projected video didn’t work for her and she had to just say all the audio backstage, or the time after my school’s cheap ass production of the Wizard of Oz during curtain call i tried to quickly change from my farmhand costume to my tin man costume and i forgot to put my shoes on and i slipped and fell on my ass during curtain call (i also forgot to bow but unimPORTANT) and it was just so sweet and cute but honestly every moment with vic is the bEST. -s

4 • what’s one quality you would like to have? 

hm i’ve always wanted lighter eyes, mine are this boring brown color. whenever i’m in sunlight, they become shot through with these bits of gold and amber and it’s super pretty and that’s the only time they really lighten up. it would be really nice if they were like that all the time. -v

my big nose and thin hair have been the #1 qualities i’m most self conscious of, so i would really like to either have a smaller nose, or thicker hair. my face is already super oily as is, but my nose is the worst part, and i’ve always hated how my nostrils are almost as big has my eyes. as for the thin hair, you always have to be cautious about what you do with it, because there’s so little of it. like, i’m hella prone to sweating, which sucks, so if i sweat too much, my hair can easily build up enough grease to look like i just got out of the shower in a matter of minutes. or if i sleep on it the “wrong way”, and portions of are crinkled awkwardly or sticking out, then that’s how it’s going to look the entire day. and i can’t do any cute hairstyles with it because it all will fall out. -s

5 • name three people of the same sex you would kiss, marry, or fuck. 

kiss rachelle ann go, marry pippa soo, and fuck laura dreyfuss oops. -v

kiss pippa soo, marry eva noblezada, and as for the other one,,,, i’ll get back to you on that.. -s

6 • do you like your full name? 

hell no it sounds so boring and standard. -v

hahahahahah, no way. -s

7 • tell me your most embarrassing memory. 

erhm so many? how do i choose? i’ve tripped in front of crushes hundreds of times, i spelled a word wrong in a spelling bee that i really did know how to spell but my anxiety acted up and i panicked so badly, i ran into a sliding glass door literally yesterday, when i was little i sang in a public bathroom and everyone heard, i also fell out of a tree? does that make me evan hansen? -v

oh n o. there’s too much there, i swear. um, i got so nervous when someone asked me what my name was, i told them i was “helen”, but i think that was because i accidentally said “hell” too loud and tried to cover it up. i’ve tripped so many times on a flat ground. once i was crying in a public bathroom and a kid started banging on the door and told his mom that no one was in there, so before they got the staff to open the door, i panicked and hid my face in my sleeve as i ran out of there. omg there was also one time, a long ass time ago, someone asked me who my favorite member of one direction was and i didn’t know who they were because in my house we don’t listen to (at the time) contemporary music. not to mention anything in english?? but anyways, i’d heard of them but nothing about them, so me, trying desperately to fit in said “i like all four of them”. and they told me “there’s five”. there was also a time i was invited to this girl’s retreat thing in her youth group when we took a field trip to this pumpkin patch and they had this corn maze and we tried to go through it, but i got lost and nobody was around me and for some reason i thought everyone just left so i was terrified and crying and just started running straight through the corn. but then one of the other kids saw me and called me out to everyone and i was too embarrassed and anxious to say “i got lost”. there’s probably so many more memories and probably worse ones too, but in short, my life is a huge embarrassment. -s

8 • favorite color to wear? 

pastel baby blue is my number one. i have this off shoulder blouse that’s this pretty sky blue color and white and i think it’s my favorite item of clothing. -v

i can’t make a lot of colors look good on me so usually i turn to black, gray, or any dark shade. -s

9 • favorite restaurant? 

there’s a vietnamese place called “saigon diamond” in my city and it’s absolutely wonderful and i would go there every single day if i could. -v

i love this little place, it’s called “cafe vie” where they have boba tea, spring rolls, phở, all sorts of vietnamese food and it’s just so quaint and the food is the best there, honestly. i’m so hungry now. -s

10 • what would be a good first date for you? 

take me to a broadway show and then dinner and i will be the happiest girl in the world. -v

vic pretty much took it away at “broadway show” for me. and dinner is hella important, food is so good. i don’t have high standards, but if you really want to make an impression on me, then i’m literally the biggest sucker for romantic gestures. -s

11 • are you a good wrestler? 

thumb, yes. arm, no. full body contact, idk about that but i do know karate so i will fight you. -v

lmao, no. -s

12 • are you allergic to something? 

up until the time i was five or something i was allergic to grass and i had to wear pants whenever i went outside and it was honestly horrible because i couldn’t play tag or run around like other kids my age. -v

i honestly don’t know but most bug bites i get can get hella blisters and really gross even if i don’t touch them. -s

13 • would you be a good singer? 

i’ve been singing pretty much my entire life but it was only this year that i started gaining confidence with my voice so i guess i consider myself a good singer? i’m not completely there yet, though. -v

i really hope so. i’ve been a big choir nerd since i was 7 or 8 and i’m really passionate about singing, but that really has nothing to do with skill, i guess? i don’t really like the sound of my voice, but i’m pretty decent at harmonizing. -s

14 • who’s the last person you said “ i love you ” to? 

summer aka the shining light in this dark world. -v

victoire aka the actual light of my life?? love you, vic -s

15 • what car would you buy if you had enough money? 

um a porsche obviously because that shit is prime. -v

literally any car that doesn’t break down. as long as it can transport me from point a to point b without any troubles, then i am set. -s

16 • favorite cover of a song? 

currently it’s that cover of ben platt singing “ stay ” that’s floating around tumblr rn and i think i had an eargasm when i listened to it the first time i was so shook. -v

i can’t pickk a favv omg. everyone is so frickin talented it makes me actually want to curl up and yell. -s

17 • what was your last conversation about? 

coincidentally it was summer telling me we hit 500 and me proceeding to flip out. -v

hah, i don’t remember who it was with but i went around telling a couple people that my dad took my phone and i can only contact them from my crappy chromebook. -s

18 • where were you born? 

good ol’ michigan in the usa where i still live today. come visit us because we have chocolate fudge, cereal, and eminem if you like that kind of shit. we also have lots of lakes and pretty places and we’re so cool we’re shaped like a fucking mitten. -v

kansas, where i also still live today. maybe i don’t get out much, but it’s kinda boring here,, -s

19 • least favorite app? 

there’s this app on my uncle’s phone called “ chicken scream ” where this chicken has to jump onto platforms but to do that you have to scream and the octave of your voice determines how high the chicken jumps. seriously fucked up and i hate it but it’s hilarious watching people play it. -v

anything that can’t entertain me for more than two minutes. i have such a short attention span -s

20 • tell me two facts about the country of your birth. 

um we have the largest air force in the world and we sell enough pizza every day to cover one hundred whole acres and no i am not lying i read this in a book ok bye. -v

uhhh… its abbreviation, “USA” stands for the United States of America, and it’s made up of 50 states. -s

21 • do you like wearing sunglasses? 

actually i hate wearing sunglasses because they get tangled in my hair but if a pair looks good with my outfit then i will wear them for the sake of fashion. -v

i don’t wear sunglasses really at all, so i guess i can’t really have an opinion on them? -s

22 • when’s a good moment for a first kiss? 

goodbye kisses are the best, do not tell me otherwise. walk me home and then kiss me goodbye at the door and i will be thinking about you all the damn time and i’ll can’t wait to see you. -v

i think for a first kiss it should be a very important thing, so whoever you have it with should be really close to you, and someone you know that even if things don’t work out, you can always look back on it as a positive memory. but what would i know? -s

23 • what are your nationalities? 

i was born in america to immigrant parents who came from the philippines. along with the filipino blood, my great grandmother on my dad’s side was chinese, and my great grandparents on my mom’s side were spanish. -v

i was also born in america to immigrant parents, but they were from vietnam. my great grandparents on my mom’s side were chinese. -s

24 • what would make you drop college / university? 

ha are you kidding me if i ever dropped out of any sort of education my strict asian parents would probably disown me and mushu the dragon would appear out of nowhere and give me that whole “ dishonor ” speech. -v

^damn vic, i couldn’t have said it any better. -s

25 • a crossover between two shows ( any shows ) you would like to see? 

idk about any of you but a crossover between riverdale and doctor who sounds hella awesome. i’d definitely watch that. -v

frick;; i don’t watCH TV at like,,, all?? -s

26 • long or short hair? 

on me? honestly i prefer to have long hair but i’ll go shoulder length if i’m really feeling brave or something. when i was little i had super short hair with bangs so i was basically an asian dora the explorer. -v

short hair, for sure. i used to have hair down to my waist when i was younger and that was probably the grossest thing about me because it was so disproportionate to my head/face and made me look like if E.T. had two long strands of black yarn on its head. but even before that ofc i had a bowl cut. what asian kid doesn’t have a bowl cut, honetsly. although, over the summer i don’t cut my hair so i can dye the ends, then have it cut when school starts. the farthest it goes down is barely past my shoulders. -s

27 • a character from a book / tv show that shouldn’t of died? 

max lightwood from the mortal instruments book series was the purest bean, and he wasn’t even ten years old yet and that definitely broke my heart. as for tv characters, i sobbed for days on end when arthur from the bbc show merlin died. -v

um,,, crap idk. -s

28 • favorite movie scene? 

pitch perfect two where ben platt’s character benji musters up the courage to kiss emily before the bellas go on. idk why but it’s so cute? maybe it’s just ben? -v

sidenote: vic, i love that scene. anyways, maybe that final scene in heathers where martha gets her one line. idk. -s

29 • do you ship more fictitional characters or real people? 

fictional characters of course. who would i be without my otps? -v

definitely fictional characters. -s

30 • favorite country song? 

i seriously despise country music. i just don’t like it. it’s bleh. i don’t really know half the artists or their songs so i can’t have a favorite. -v

frickin “your man” by josh turner. i’m seriously kidding. i don’t listen to country music efiouhadjhdsilvb -s

31 • favorite john green book? 

it’s tied between “ paper towns “and ” looking for alaska “ because both are equally cryptic and beautiful at the same time and i love when books are like that. -v

heck, i really like “looking for alaska” -s

32 • least favorite ed sheeran song? 

oh come on. i love ed. you can’t expect me to pick a least favorite. but when it comes to the song i skip over most of the time it has to be ” even my dad does sometimes “ from multiply ( x ). -v

uhhhhmmmm… hell if i know -s

33 • favorite ship? 

malec from shadowhunters will always be my otp until the day i die. the ship is so diverse and has so much chemistry and if you read the books magnus and alec are so in love i can’t handle. -v

i don’t frickin knowwww. i’m honestly feeling so attacked right now. i’m so sorry if all of my answers are like this, i’m literally the most indecisive person in the actual world. -s

34 • how do you deal with sexual tension? 

uM -v

uM -s

35 • name a celebrity who died that you miss. 

our queen carrie fisher. i grew up with star wars always on my tv and when i heard of her passing i cried and rewatched ” the force awakens “ with blankets and two boxes of tissues. -v

there’s really too many to choose from, and thinking about all of the happy memories they’ve brought to me and everyone is just getting me so emotional. -s

36 • favorite harry potter spell? 

i’m really fucking basic but ” lumos “ is the best. it’s so simple. it’s light. and idk why that resonates with me but i just think everyone needs a little light these days. -v

i literally said “lumos” too, but now i’m going to choose “riddikulus” because turning boggarts into something funny proves that anyone can find humor in their biggest fear. -s

37 • something you are scared of losing? 

my family. there’s no way in hell i’d make it through life without my little brother or my grandparents who are there for me. -v

i’m terrified of losing the few friends i have. everyone i used to know didn’t have a single hesitation in forgetting me or even trying to lose contact with me. -s

38 • someone you regret meeting? 

i could make you a list and tell you what each one did to make me regret even looking at them but i don’t wanna go out on a full on bitch rant about these people who ended up wasting my time. but i’ll just say i’ve met my share of shitty human beings. -v

too many. there have been too many people who’ve hurt me or betrayed me or have honestly made me feel like a horrible person, and i really wish i could forget every last one of them. little tip: it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known a person, it doesn’t excuse any sort of bullshit or betrayal they’ve done. -s

39 • have you ever been hurt by someone you thought was your friend?

yes and it’s caused a lot of emotional and mental issues. i’ve been backstabbed and used so many times and i just wish i could stop being stupid and blind for not seeing it in the first place. -v

god, yes. i wish it didn’t take me this long and this much damage to realize i shouldn’t have been throwing around my trust or my yearning to be accepted so lightly. getting hurt by the people you thought cared about you most is the most awful feeling, especially knowing that every single act of kindness and sympathy and love to them meant nothing. -s

40 • do you easily open up to people? 

yes and no, actually. it ultimately depends on the person and whether i have a connection with them. -v

it’s really hard to open up to people in real life because i don’t know if they’re confidently lying to my face or will use my own words against me to people who also know me irl. but online it’s easy to open up to my friends there because i can find people who understand shit i go through and actually take the time to give a crap. -s

41 • what is a gift you love receiving? 

hugs. i love hugs. gimme all the hugs you got, boo. -v

damn, v knows exactly what i’m going to say. i love hugs so frickin much, but honestly any sort of affection is all i need, like, smooches? yes?? compliments? absoLUTELY?? cuddles??? MARRY ME?!?! -s

42 • what is something you could leave easily? 

erhm maybe my notebooks? i usually journal in them but not that often anymore. -v

probably hair clips. i really can’t do anything with them, and on me they’re really tacky. -s

43 • rant about what’s eating you up. 

i’d really rather skip this one if anyone doesn’t mind, i’m sure i’d go on for a hundred paragraphs about my stressful life plus i’m sure it would annoy you. and my problems are the kind of personal ones i’m not comfortable putting out in public yet. -v

i really agree with vic here, i don’t want to be a huge bother to y’all and it’s really a touchy and personal subject here. -s

44 • if you could make a phone call to anyone right now, who would it be and what would you say? 

i’d call ben platt, tell him how much i love him and how much i love the show and whole cast, all while screaming and shaking. -v

i was going to freaking say ben platt too, seriously. i wish i could thank him for how much his representation of evan and the build up of his character has made me find something to relate to and learn to appreciate myself more, even in the slightest. i’d also love to tell him that he shouldn’t have to feel apologetic for doing the things he does to take care of himself physically and mentally, and his fans should be more than supportive of him taking care of his well-being. i’d also ask him to tell the rest of the cast, creative, and standbys how much i seriously appreciate them, but honestly i’d be speechless if i knew he was on the other end of the line. -s

45 • are you easy to love? 

aw yes. people say i’m lovable. i’m been compared to a teddy bear before. it’s happened, trust me. -v

i should hope so, but not very many people like to stick around me. i mean, i try to be someone worth loving and i’m more than happy to spill out all of my love to anyone who just asks politely <3. -s

[the-anti-internet]

#trypod

Hey, haven't been around in awhile. I've been "busy" over at @petesmediadiary logging (once a week, usually Sundays) all the media I consume (plugtime over). But in honor of #trypod, a campaign to make people aware of podcasts, here comes a list of all of the podcasts that I listen to with a brief description of what the podcast is about: 12 Hour Day with J.D. and Connor -- Each episode is at least 12 hours long where the hosts hang out for a day. You follow them as they hang out, and do things around New York City. (Comes out a couple of times a year) Comedy Bang Bang -- Scott Aukerman hosts where each episode he has on a comedian and other odd people come in after a brief interview segment Mike and Tom Eat Snacks -- Each episode Michael Ian Black and Tom Cavanagh Pick a snack, Eat a snack, and Rate a snack. (Currently on extended hiatus, but worth listening to the back catalogue) The Indoor Kids -- Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V Gordon talk about video games and other stuff they are watching. (Also currently on hiatus, but might be coming back soon?) Womp It Up! -- Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham spun off their characters Marissa Wompler and Charlotte Listler from Comedy Bang Bang where Marissa has a senior project podcast from her schools library where they interview the schools faculty and other students. (Hopefully it will be back after Playing House season 3) Spontaneanation with Paul F Tompkins -- PFT has a chat with a celebrity guest and then he and some improvisors do a 30 minute long improv based on that conversation. Harmontown -- Dan Harmon has a mental breakdown on stage, and raps about having sex with your momma. The K Ohle with Kurt Braunohler -- No longer active, but it was a multi-format podcast that Kurt hosted. Pet-o-philia and Get Lost were the two best formats. Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People -- Chris Gethard takes a call from a random person and is not allowed to hang up for an hour. At the hour mark the call is ended. Surprisingly heartfelt and wonderful. My love of Gethard aside, this is a GREAT podcast. Hollywood Handbook -- Sean Clements and Hayes Davenport are two of Hollywood's elite and drop names on this red carpet we call showbiz. This is some of the hardest I have ever laughed. It does take some getting used to though. You will hate it for the first few episodes. Emotional Hangs -- Kurt Braunohler and Joe Derosa explore their friendship and break down adult friendships and try to be open and vulnerable with each other. Rose Buddies -- Griffin McElroy and his wife Rachel recap episodes of The Bachelor family of TV shows. (I have never watched an episode of The Bachelor Family of shows) You Made It Weird w/ Pete Holmes -- Pete talks about Comedy, Sex, and God with pretty much anyone (usually comedians) who will talk to him about it. (Harris Wittels #3 is one of the best episodes of a podcast I have ever heard. It's an episode where Harris is open and honest about his struggles with addiction, and he is so effortlessly funny about it too. Spoilers: While the episode ends hopeful and on a way that makes everything seem like Harris is going to turn it around, he died from an overdose less than a month after the episode was released) Who Charted? -- Howard Kremer and Kyla's Vilaysack count down the charts in Music and Movies every week. Pistol Shrimps Radio -- Matt Gourley and Mark McConville don't know anything about basketball, but that doesn't stop them from doing the play by play of a women's recreational basketball league in LA. The Worst Idea of All Time -- Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt watch and review the same movie once a week for an entire year. Year one: Grown Ups 2. Year 2: Sex and the City 2. Year 3: We Are Your Friends (currently still going) Doughboys -- Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger review a different chain restaurant every week. My Favorite Murder -- every episode Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff each talk about a murder and go through the story of it. The Dollop -- Dave Anthony tells an American history story to his friend Gareth Reynolds who has no idea what the topic is going to be. The Adventure Zone -- The McElroy brothers and daddy play dungeons and dragons together. It's some of the best storytelling you will ever hear and it's consistently incredibly funny. Never Not Funny -- Jimmy Pardo hosts a relaxed chat with a celebrity guest. Doug Loves Movies -- Doug Benson plays movie games with comedians and funny people. Totally Beverages (and Sometimes Hot Sauce) -- Andy Rosen and Intern Josh do blind shootouts of beverages trying to figure out which is which and guess their favorites. (I "produced" episode 100, so selfishly I would suggest that episode) CoolGames Inc. -- Griffin McElroy and Nick Robinson create a new video game every week. With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus -- Every week Lauren is the guest on a different host's made up podcast. How Did This Get Made? -- Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael talk about a different (usually) bad movie. No Such Thing As A Fish -- Writers of British panel show QI talk about their four favourite facts of the week that they learned while researching for QI. Ding-Donger with Matt Braunger -- Matt Braunger hitchhikes into your life for 30 to 45 minutes each week as he tells you what's been going on with him. Thanks for picking him up! The Bugle -- Andy Zaltzman and a rotating group of co-hosts talk about what's been going on in the world over the past week. (Formerly co-hosted by John Oliver) Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction -- Comedians write erotic fan fiction about pop culture and read it in front of a live audience. Slumber Party with Alie and Georgia -- Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark have a guest over and they play slumber party games. What Say You? -- Sal and Q from Impractical Jokers talk about whatever is on their minds. Cardboard! With Rich Sommer -- Rich Sommer (Harry Crane from Mad Men) talks about board games. Black List Table Reads -- Franklin Leonard produces "ear movies" each episode is a table read of an unproduced screenplay. Hound Tall with Moshe Kasher -- Moshe has an expert on a topic as well as three other comedians on stage to talk about the experts subject in a town hall style meeting. Post Pink -- Justin Linville and Robby (who's last name I've forgotten) talk about Weezer's releases since Pinkerton. U Talkin' U2 To Me? -- Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott talk about everything U2 related in the dumbest way possible. Tell Us How Your Dog Died -- David Kramer and David Stoll talk to a guest about how their dog died. Legitimately one of the best earwormiest theme songs ever. Even though there hasn't been an episode (and probably won't be any more) I still find myself singing the theme song to myself fairly often. 'Till Death Do Us Blart -- The McElroy brothers and the guys from The Worst Idea of All Time Review Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 every thanksgiving for the rest of eternity. In the event of one of their deaths they are to bequeath their spot to someone else who will take the mantle. FizzyBoys -- Don Finelli and Chris Gethard review a different soda every episode. The Ones Who Knock -- A podcast that recaps every episode of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul Decoding Westworld -- From the people who brought you The Ones Who Knock talk about Westworld. Analyze Phish -- Harris Wittels (rip) tries to convince Scott Aukerman that Phish is a good band. Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project -- Andy Daly's many characters from Comedy Bang Bang each try to get their own podcast at earwolf. Each episode is the first episode of what their podcast would be. New Years Eve with Neil Hamburger -- Listen to Neil count down the new year! In Your Dreams with Chris Gethard -- Chris and Dream Analysis Expert Gary Richardson analyze the dreams of people who called in with a different guest each episode. End of podcasts that I'm subscribed to. Now onto podcasts that I am either working through their back catalogs, or listen to depending on the episode: My Brother, My Brother, and Me -- An advice show for the modern era, the McElroy brothers give their listeners (and Yahoo answers users) advice. Started listening in June, currently on episode 114 out of 346. Hard Nation -- A spoof on Right Wing Political talk shows. Brothers Mark and Pete Hard host a show with a different political guest (a comedian pretending to be a political figure) Dr. Gameshow -- Jo Firestone hosts a radio call in show where listeners submit their ideas for game shows and Jo has comedians play the games in studio. No longer active and the back catalog is disappearing. So get on this one quick if you want to listen. Jordan, Jesse, Go! -- Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn talk with a different guest. (Guest dependent) Hopefully We Don't Break Up -- Couple Will Miles and Giulia Rozzi talk with other real life couples (usually at least one comedian) about their relationships. High and Mighty -- Jon Gabrus talks with a guest about something that they are both passionate about. (Guest and/or topic dependent) If I Were You -- Jake and Amir give advice to their listeners. (Guest dependent, but the Ben Schwartz, Jon Gabrus, Thomas Middleditch, And Rose McIver episodes are all must listens) The Adventures of Danny and Mike -- Danny Tamberelli and Mike Maronna (better known as Pete and Pete) go on a monthly adventure together. I Was There Too -- Matt Gourley talks to an actor with a small-ish role on a big movie. Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend -- Alison Rosen talks to a person of note. (Guest dependent) This Feels Terrible -- Erin McGathy talks to people about relationships and why they make people feel terrible. Fitzdog Radio -- Greg Fitzsimmons interviews (usually) another comedian. (Guest dependent) 100 Words or Less -- Interviews with musicians. (Guest dependent) Going Off Track -- Interviews with musicians. (Guest dependent) The Best Show with Tom Scharpling -- Tom Scharpling's long running radio talk show. I don't have enough time in my week to listen to this every week, but whenever I can squeeze it n it's always worth it. The JV Club -- Janet Varney interviews People about what they were like in their formative years and then plays M.A.S.H. with them. (Guest dependent) Put Your Hands Together -- The audio recording of the weekly standup show hosted by Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher. The Todd Glass Show -- Todd Glass has a guest and it's just non-stop bits. There we go. There are all of the podcasts that I listen to regularly (or at least check in with regularly). There should be something in there for everyone. You're a champion for reading all the way through this, and if you try one of these and like it, please let me know. I would be happy to talk about any of them.

[furederiko]

Today's a very 'cool date*', so to celebrate that, here's a Random-News-Digest!!! :D *) Uhm... it IS 17.02.2017 right?

Disney Live Action

Are you familiar with Niki Caro? I don't, but I know her name because she's one of the contenders to direct Marvel Studios' upcoming "Captain Marvel". In fact, somehow I'm rooting for her to take the job, after knowing her 'feminist' portofolio. Unfortunately, there's a possibility that we might need to cross off her name from the list. Why? Because Walt Disney Studio has just signed her up to do something else. A project that sounds equally feminist. What is that? Their live action adaptation for "Mulan". It seems many are already excited with this news too!

Of course, nothing much has changed since we last heard any news about the movie. At the time, Disney was said to be conducting search for Chinese actress for the lead role. But we haven't heard any development of it. Nevertheless, it's good to know that the project has an official helmer now. More importantly, the hiring of Caro sets a positive difference to SONY's version that will be led by a male director. For now, it's uncertain whether one version will be better than the other or not. We'll just have to wait and see. And while we wait for more updates about this project, we'll just have to make do with "Beauty and the Beast" that is soon to greet us. I hope that movie will be as wonderful as "Cinderella", or as great as "The Jungle Book". Crossing my fingers!

DC Films

Right now, "The LEGO Batman Movie" is cashing success here and there, with brimming praises from audience and critics alike. Sadly, on the other side, a dark shadow is looming over the live action side. It's so 'dark', that I actually don't want to talk about this... ugh, 'Cinematic Universe' too much. But sometimes, the temptation to analyze what's happening is just too strong for me to handle.

Fresh off the departure of Ben Affleck from directing "The Batman", another sign of storm has hit the project. As reported by Forbes, looks like Affleck stepping out of the director's chair is not enough for Warner Bros. Why? They want to completely ditch the script he wrote with Geoff Johns too! If you're a DC fan, and more than that, enjoyed his performance as Batman in DC Films latest two titles, then probably it's time to get worried. Joining "The Flash" that has been given a page-one rewrite by Joby Harold, script for "The Batman" might also get similar treatment. This isn't surprising though, because whoever is assigned as the new director would want to do it anyway, and it seems WB wants to have a fresh start with the project. Beside, the script we are talking about was already rewritten by Chris Terrio, who we all know has done an 'amazing job' for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".

Speaking of director, the report mentioned that Matt Reeves, famously known for his "Cloverfield" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", was in negotiation to take over the directorial duty. A current frontrunner, at least. Of course, that could be considered as old news now. Variety has confirmed this, and added that while no deal has been made yet, Reeves has already committed to the project. Assuming he doesn't walk out, of course, because we know that has happened more than once.

These decisions effectively pulled both movies from their initial... I mean, planned release dates. "The Flash" will never going to make its March 2018 date, and Cyborg's inclusion in the story has been put under question. What was once relied on Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher's chemistry, needs to be reevaluated with audience's response, especially when "Justice League" arrives later this year. "The Batman" will not likely be released in 2018 too, much to the disappointment of many (including yours truly). Because WB is more likely to give it an opening in 2019 instead. In my opinion, if these delays are necessary to produce a better product, then why not? It'd be much wiser for WB to craft a quality movie and gets them 'right' instead of rushing one, so that we can put a stop on discussing problems in the DC Films. Not because we hate DC and pro to the competitor, but because it's all for the better. Beside, we might already have James Wan's "Aquaman" and "Gotham City Sirens" in their place. For the record (but I'm sure you know this already), I don't have any ounce of interest for the former, and lost any bit I have for the latter due to knowing that... ugh, David Ayer is handling it. Bully lead actor and bully director? I'll pass.

Thing is, the possible rewrite for "The Batman" also indicated another problem. Mainly, for Affleck's standing in it. Remember, I said last week that him directing the next solo movie has been part of the deal he made with WB. To my knowledge at the very least, and that presumably included writing the script too. But now, not only has he stepped back from directing, his script is getting reworked as well. If you ask me, those are negative indications of something else. What is it? Yes, signs that he (just like Jared Leto who had openly voiced disappointment with "Suicide Squad") is burnt out and might walk out from playing the role as well. Mind you, this not official, so don't be alarmed just yet. That's just the message I get from these reports, and well, one that not only me, but practically anyone would easily come to assumption. But when you think of it closely, this theory DOES make perfect sense, and I don't think I would be surprised if such turnout is the case. With "Justice League", he HAS already made three DC Films, and yet, it has already been two strikes down. His involvement has been a pretty demanding process, and he already DID look pretty bummed out after the disaster that was "BvS". Not to mention, the actual drama on his personal life must be affleck... er affecting his concentration too.

Adding flame to the fire, Collider Talk (via Playlist) recently stated that "Ben Affleck, make no mistake, he wants out. He doesn’t want to be Batman anymore.". That Affleck IS in active discussions to remove himself from his DCEU deal. OUCH! Sure, take this information with a 'grain of salt', but as I said, it's not even hard for any of us to put all the pieces together and come to a similar conclusion. Try putting yourself in his shoes, and you'd no doubt understand the urge to just walk away in peace. If anything, "The Batman" might very well be his last picture as Bruce Wayne. Hmmm... this gets me thinking. Why not just kill him off in "Justice League" then? They've done the same before with Superman, right? I bet this stunt would cause a great buzz to help boost interest for the movie. Because frankly, eventhough it is meant to be a first-time ensemble movie, the Zack Snyder's movie doesn't even sound... interesting. Bad strategy? Perhaps...

DC Animations

Can we say that WB is doing better in the animation department? Perhaps. Once again, "The LEGO Batman Movie" is the example. Although, after finally seeing "Justice League Dark" over the weekend, I can't be too certain about it anymore. I won't say much, but let's just say I was quite disappointed by how that movie turned out. I even thought to give up completely on future direct-to-video movies, because frankly, well, they aren't working for me, as much as they used to be anymore. However, there IS at least one more title that I'm willing to check out. And that is the upcoming "Teen Titans: Judas Contract".

When I saw the trailer (courtesy of IGN) for this upcoming movie, a glitter of hope sparkled in my eyes. Finally, at long last, WB Animation is confident enough to stamp the Titans' name into their own movie. Remember "Justice League vs Teen Titans"? That was a good movie, but definitely a misleading title! I don't think they need to stamp Justice League on everything, and furthermore, incorporate Batman on anything they release (which is one of my major issues with "JL Dark"). Have faith in other characters, and let them shine in their own. "Judas Contract" is already showing positive direction towards that, obviously taking its cue on the "Young Justice" series. Sure, we have two members of the Bat-family in its core, but it's Dick Grayson's Nightwing and Damian Wayne's Robin we are talking about here. Characters who usually get gypped A LOT in any entertainments that is not comic. So it's more than high time for them to take the spotlight... on their own! Of course, I remain wary and not counting on too much with this movie. I have a feeling that WB Animation will try to unnecessarily snuck in Batman somehow, and I will undeniably cringe when that happens. But I'm biased for Nightwing (even if he's Red and not Blue this time around *sigh*), and I think that alone is more than enough as a reason for me to see this movie. At least to respect my favorite boy wonder...

Ghost in the Shell

Paramount Pictures has released the first official trailer for the movie. If past teaser have all focused on the character of the Major, who is played by Scarlett Johansson, or the setting, and the nude-but-not-really actions, this one showcased what the story is all about. If you're initially on the fence about it, well... you might still be in... one? No, seriously, nothing really change for yours truly.... Ahahaha. I have to admit though, even if I'm still not sold about it, this latest trailer did look much better than the previous teasers. At the very least, now I can say that "Hey, this movie might be good". I won't go running to the theatre to check it out, but I'm now 100% sure that I'll give it a try whenever it hits home video. Who knows, this could be the surprise hit that Hollywood has been searching for...

Bubbles

Last year (precisely on March), a biopic project involving the late Michael Jackson's chimpanzee Bubbles made the headline. Dan Harmon was said to be working on it, with a script from Isaac Adamson. If that sounded a little surreal to be true, well, it IS happening. Deadline reported (via Birth.Movies.Death) that the movie has secured directors to start production. Yes, directors, in plurals. And the names will give you a pleasant surprise! After completing "Thor: Ragnarok", Taika Waititi will be working on this movie. He's not alone, because he will be collaborating with Mark Gustafson, whose past portofolio includes the Oscar nominated "Fantastic Mr. Fox", and he will be co-directing "Pinnochio" with Guillermo del Toro soon. Several trades have mentioned that Adamson's script for this stop-motion animated movie was one of the "weirdest, funniest, most unlikely projects currently kicking around Hollywood". Now with Waititi's signature style of comedy, Gustafson's experience in the stop-motion style, and Harmon producing through his Starburns Industries (that created the Oscar nominated "Anomalisa"!), this project has risen to be one of the most promising title to look out in Hollywood right now. There aren't any more details about when it will start production or when it will be released, but let's just say, I won't be surprised if it's running for Oscar as soon as it hits the market...

X-Men Universe

'Superhero Fatigue'. I used to think that such sentiment was exaggerated, just an odd fad, and truth be told, I also don't feel that it's happening in the world. But unfortunately, thanks to all these DC Films news, and also FOX's lousy take on their Marvel properties, I'm starting to feel that I have finally caught one. I mean, I couldn't even get excited for "Logan", no matter how hard I try.

Moreso about the other X-Men property, namely the one Simon Kinberg is working on. You know, the one rumored to be called "X-Men: Supernova". If you've been wondering why I haven't been talking about it... well, that's because I sincerely couldn't care less. Was genuinely intrigued about the 'reboot', but it all went away upon learning that the same people are still in charge. The whole soft reboot headline felt nothing more than just a mere 'click-bait' attempt to attract attention... to gain back the franchise's fading popularity.

Anyway, My Entertainment World claimed that an official synopsis for the movie has been released. True to the rumor, it will focus on Jean Grey and her once again, downfall to the Phoenix Force. That synopsis strikes me as 'odd', particularly the "been on adventures that spanned galaxies" bit, considering it has never happened. But this is FOX we're talking about, so nothing has ever make any good sense, particularly in terms of continuity. This secrecy in development feels 'weird' too, and only reminded me of... yes, the disaster that was 2015's "Fant4stic Four". The rumor also mentioned that the movie will begin filming in Montreal in June. Interestingly, the synopsis points out that Professor X might be involved too. IF, and only if, this movie is indeed a continuation of that forgettable "X-Men: Apocalypse", then will James McAvoy and Sophie Turner return to play Prof. X and Greay? We'll just have to wait and find out. But one thing for certain, I doubt anyone is even asking for this movie...

Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios released the first official TV spot for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", and many had said that the 30-seconds piece contains a new footage. Hold on, 'many SAID'? Yes, because I haven't personally seen it yet. I'll be watching the movie anyway, so I don't need any reassurances to do so. As I've said before, when I've completely set my mind to see a movie, I will avoid any marketing or promotional materials to not get myself spoiled too much. I've done the opposite before, and I've ruined my own viewing experience. That's certainly not something I would do again!

On a side note, The Hollywood Reporter reported something VERY interesting about the movie. The site stated that Marvel Studios had conducted a test screening for the movie, and the feedback of the audience? A 'Perfect 100' score. That is AMAZING! The site compared it to "Iron Man 3" and "The Avengers" that previously scored high 90s. It can be considered as a new achievement for the Studio, although I doubt anyone would be surprised by it. But they also cautioned, that this result can't actually be compared with other non-Marvel movies, because it's the Studios' own style of "friends and families screenings". Other Studios might not use the same approach, and you can read the article to check how other movies performed and whether their score a good indication of the release product or not. Nevertheless, this is a great assurance, especially for Marvel fans who have been faithful with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Remember, eventhough "Iron Man 3" ended up as a bit polarizing, "The Avengers" was universally acclaimed. Both movies were equally crowd-pleasers.

"Thor: Ragnarok" has finally begun to show its might too! Inline with the Valentine's Day release of "Doctor Strange" Bluray (and digital download), some exciting concept arts from Chris Hemsworth's third solo movie have been revealed. We get to see how Cate Blanchett's Hela would look (EERIE and CREEPY!!!) and it even hinted that she might pursue Thor and Tom Hiddleston's Loki to Earth (New York, perhaps?). We get to see a VERY cool image of Mark Ruffalo's Gladiator Hulk in the arena with Thor. And shots of Waititi behind the camera, in a scene that strongly hinted the presence of Surtur, the Fire Demon of Muspelheim. If that's not enough, an official second trailer for "Team Thor" Mockumentary has been released on Marvel's Youtube channel. This special parody is available in the Bluray as well.

"Black Panther" had equally shown its fangs! The same featurette that could be seen through "Doctor Strange" Bluray, also gave several concept arts for the fictional country of Wakanda. And it looked nothing but GORGEOUS. This nation has been said to be a mixture of traditional African culture and advanced technology, and well, it's more than obvious that's indeed the case. It felt like Thor's hometow... er homerealm Asgard that exists on Earth! Just the look of this concept art alone is enough to make me want to see the movie right away!

Last but not least, Marvel Studios have officially released production announcement for "Avengers: Infinity War". You can view (yes view, not read) this announcement on Youtube or Twitter. Mind you, it didn't reveal who will or will not be in the movie. Like perhaps possibly confirming the inclusion of Benicio Del Toro's The Collector, or Michael Douglas' Hank Pym aside from his obvious return in the upcoming "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (that will begin production in Summer)? Nope. None of that.

It did however, confirmed several reports about the movie. Yes, the movie will feature the union of the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. And yes, Spider-Man WILL be in the movie. I mean, why else would Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt, and Tom Holland be the face of the announcement? LOL. That setting too, it looks oddly familiar to a particular... nightmarish scene in "Avengers: Age of Ultron", indicating that Tony Stark probably never hallucinated when he was hexed in that movie. Anthony Mackie's Falcon, Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch are all subtly confirmed via a quick glimpse of character cards. While both Thor and Bradley Cooper-voiced Rocket Raccoon are confirmed via a really cool concept art. One that showed the two working TOGETHER side by side. WOW!

Suffice to say, this announcement wasn't like they normally do. There are still plenty of questions, but it's enough to bring a storm of hype to MCU's fans. Here's hoping we'll get more confirmation, even unofficial, of who will be in the movie. I'm particularly curious about the new characters that will debut in it. Could we be seeing, a particular Atlantean jerk too? Hmmm... that would be neat. Why bring that up, you ask? Go check the last two paragraphs on Marvel TV section, okay! Carry on...

LEGO Movies / Series

Last week, I ranted a bit about "The LEGO Ninjago Movie". I have also mentioned how the movie had sort of flown under the radar for me. That trend seemed to be continuing, as I just discovered that an official trailer for the movie has even been released! I won't say much about this movie, because my concern about it... remains intact. The design alone is enough to rub me in the wrong way. I want to get excited for this, but for the time being I just simply can't. Desperately need more persuasions...

More importantly, I'm very surprised to know that the franchise has begun airing its 7th Season... since December! I know I didn't follow the news for "The LEGO Ninjago" TV Series dilligently, but how... HOW could something I've been patiently waiting for, happened behind my back. Great Gawd!!! Turns out, the "Day of the Departed" special that put Cole on the centerpiece, was immediately followed by this new 10-episodes story that's focusing on Kai and Nya. It looks intriguing, and I'm expecting good things too, since this TV series has only continued to outdo itself in each new season. I just hope I can watch it soon... *sigh*.

Marvel TV

More casting announcements! And they've come in big numbers too, considering both Marvel's "Runaways" and Marvel's "Cloak and Dagger" require an ensemble cast.

The former in particular. We know that 6 young actors have been confirmed for the Hulu Project before. Problem is, in the comics, the antagonist for this team of runaways is called "The Pride" and it consists of... their own parents. Yep, that means we will need 12 more actors to fill in their roles. And well, faithful to the source material, that's exactly what has happened. At least, 10 of them for now. Marvel TV officially announced that Ryan Sands, Angel Parker, Brittany Ishibashi, James Yaegashi, Kevin Weisman, Brigid Brannagh, Annie Wersching, Kip Pardue, James Marsters, and Ever Carradine have joined the show. Sands and Parker are set to portray Geoffrey and Catherine Wilder, the parents of Alex. Ishibashi and Yaegashi are set to play Tina and Robert Minoru, the non-mystic-warriors(?) parents of Nico. Weisman and Brannagh have been cast as Dale and Stacey Yorkes, the parents of Gert. Wersching and Pardue will play Leslie and Frank Dean, the... human(?) parents of Karolina. Last but not least, Marsters and Carradine will play Victor and Janet Stein, the parents for the team's smart-jock Chase.

You can read their character description on the announcement, and well... as noted by the '?'s, it has sparked some questions. Especially to fans who have read the comics. The one that has gotten people talking, would be Ishibashi's role as Tina Minoru. Why? Because a character by the same name has already debuted in "Doctor Strange"! She was played by actress Linda Louse Duan, a Master of Mystic Arts in Kamar-Taj, and assuming the prelude comic is canon (it SHOULD be, IMHO), one of the core protectors of Sanctum Santorums. On the same level of Daniel Drumm, Kaecillius, and Wong himself. Is the character being recast for the show then? That's a possibility. After all, Duan's Chinese, while Ishibashi is Japanese, a more race-appropriate actress for the character. What's bugging me however, is how she's being described as "A perfectionist 'tiger mom.' In her professional life, she is a brilliant innovator and ruthless CEO". Wait, WHAT? Is that even... the SAME character?

This reveal, led to a polarizing discussion of one important thing: whether this show exists in the MCU or not. Honestly, when I heard that this title has been developed for TV (it was previously for a movie), I immediately thought this would be a great place to intersect both the movie and TV side. An "It's all connected" move, that has gone into oblivion following the internal affair between both divisions. Particularly because there IS a character that breathes in both side. So if you ask me, the re-casting (if that's really the case) of Tina Minoru sounds like a wasted opportunity on that part. Is it difficult to call the same actress for the role? I do have another theory about this though. I believe, and this is just speculation only, this "Runaways" TV series is NOT AT ALL related with the movie side. In fact, it might exist in its own continuity, a separate universe that might be a completely different plane from the world of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and the Netflix shows. After all, that IS the major purpose of "Doctor Strange", right? To open the MCU's floodgate for... *drumrolls* MULTIVERSE. That will make a lot of sense.

Besides, technically speaking, Hulu is its own streaming provider, that is NOT related to ABC or Disney. Even if ABC Signature Studios is co-producing this series. Think of it like "Gotham", "Lucifer" or "Preacher" that each take place in their own individual worlds. NOT connected to "Arrow" or "The Flash" at the slightest. One other thing, if I'm not mistaken, one of the character is supposed to be a mutant. And we fully aware, that mutants don't exist in the MCU. CAN'T exist in it. By changing a bit of the character's backstory, Marvel TV can dodge the copyright problem fairly easily. They have made a deal with FOX for "Legion" anyway. So yeah, I'm very certain that this theory is indeed the case. A bit disappointing, because Marvel TV had missed a huge potential to cross-polinate between movies and tv shows, but I really don't mind. If anything, now I don't really need to push myself see it anymore. I mean, why should I invest my time on it, when it's not connected? For now, let's just wait for confirmation about this from Jeph Loeb. I'm SURE somebody from entertainment sites would go ahead and ask him this particular question.

As for "Cloak and Dagger", Andrea Roth, Gloria Reuben, Miles Mussenden, Carl Lundstedt, James Saito, and J.D. Evermore have officially joined the cast. Roth will portray Melissa Bowen, who is Tandy's mother. Reuben and Mussenden will play Adina and Michael Johnson, obviously the parents for Tyrone. Lundstedt is playing Liam, who is described as "Tandy's partner in crime while moonlighting as her boyfriend". Basically, the third-wheel, right? Saito is playing Dr. Bernard Sanjo, who has 'unusual relationship' with Tyrone. Lastly, Evermore will play Detective Connors who MIGHT be the one tracking down Tandy and Tyrone. The casting of Lundstedt and Evermore was previously 'scooped' by Deadline.

This might sound pessimistic, but my interest for "Cloak and Dagger" only continues to fade out thanks to this announcement. Why? It feels more and more that the show's going to be... what the word... 'generic'? Especially after reading the description for Lundstedt's character. I think I immediately subconsciously uttered "Oh boy, this is going to be another Glee bully character" after reading the news. Not that I hated that teenage musical show, but... you know, I... Oh well, I shouldn't have expected something more than that, should I? My bad, I guess.

Are you satisfied with these new casting announcements? NOPE? Well, I agree, because you shouldn't. Because there's still one show that only continues to be a mystery until now: Marvel's "The Inhumans". Why haven't we heard the cast names for Inhumans' Royal Family? Or at least scoops about it? What's taking so long, or why the long delay? Latest report by Reel News Hawaii have stated that production for the mini-series will commence very soon in Hawaii. I think, possibly at the start of March. According to the site, the working title is called "Project Next", and the production team has rented a large, unused Naval facility to house props. Production itself, will take place in the Kapolei-Kalaeloa-West Oahu area, which is west of Honolulu.

Interestingly, and this might just be me overthinking stuff, is the 'choice of words' Reel News Hawaii used to describe the soundstage: "The new Marvel Studios Oahu (I like the sound of that). This is where "The Inhumans" backlot/soundstage & production offices are in Kalaeloa". Nothing wrong with that? Indeed. But observe how they used "Marvel Studios" instead of "Marvel's Studio". Are they playfully making a mistake by referring to Kevin Feige's movie division? OR... it IS being produced by that division instead of Marvel TV? Hmmmm. Here's hoping we'll get an official confirmation about this very soon, alongside that long-awaited casting announcement. Marvel's "The Inhumans" will debut in IMAX on September 4, followed by a TV series on ABC starting on September 26.

Last but not least, a new intriguing rumor has sparked earlier today from the same source, regarding the same Oahu-based studio. What is that? That Marvel is secretly working on... "Sub-Mariner"!!! Obviously, this means the arrogant Namor McKenzie, who is a crucial character in the Marvel comics. Now, now..., there isn't any solid evidence about this yet, apart from a tweet comparing the character with DC's Aquaman. Not to mention, the site cautioned that this is merely a rumor, and could've easily mistaken this report since Triton of the Inhumans has an ability that's almost completely similar to Namor.

Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch has hinted the arrival of the Illuminati in the MCU, and Namor is one of its member (could he debut in... "Avengers: Infinity War" then? Hmmmmm). Sure, Production Weekly has just added credibility to this rumor by listing the title "Sub-Mariner". But it's still worth noted that the site placed it on both Movies and TV Shows category, which indicated that they might NOT be sure what this is all about. Heck, that's exactly the same reason why I'm putting it here. Because it's still unclear. I personally would have preferred this to be a movie, due to massive special effects that will be used, but even I'm not too certain about it. After all, "The Inhumans" required the same thing, but ended up as a TV series instead. Hmmm. As always, grains of salt. At least until we have an official announcement, or scoops from trusted trades. Till then, let's just speculate away...

Netflix

LOL. Mere hours after my last R-N-D went up, Netflix released the official trailer for Marvel's "Iron Fist". I could've included that, right?

The good part? We finally get to see Finn Jones' Danny Rand showcasing his mystical Iron Fist power. Which looks AMAZING, at least for me. The bad part? Not everyone's a fan of the plot. Why? Because many of them immediately compared it to none other than... CW's "Arrow". Just when I thought I was alone having superhero fatigue, turns out others are feeling the same! LOL. Of course, this doesn't mean that "Iron Fist" will be a perfect carbon copy of the CW series. I personally don't feel that the two even share similarities THAT much, not to mention "Arrow" itself is already stealing... er I mean adapting the story of Batman, not its own source material. And remember, people who watch "Arrow" AFTER seeing "Iron Fist", would obviously say the other way around. Am I right?

Anyway, MCUExchange had posted a detailed breakdown to this trailer, and pointed out that "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" alumn Ramon Rodriguez (don't remember? He played that annoying Shia LaBeouf's roommate?) MIGHT be playing a secret important character in it. Could he be playing Davos, the Steel Serpent? I don't see why not. It makes sense even, especially with the odd veil of secrecy about his involvement. Erik LaRay Harvey's Diamondback, anyone? What do you think? Guess we'll just have to wait until March 17 to find out. For now, go ahead and check out the Final Defender's first featurette that was published via Twitter.

Meanwhile, Marvel's "The Defenders" continues filming, and looks like we'll be getting a scene of Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, Mike Colter's Luke Cage, and Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones... commuting the subway together. My only reaction for these candid images was... WHERE'S DANNY?!!!! One more thing, don't expect this much anticipated mini series to arrive before June. Why? Netflix already has a tight schedule of release dates until June 9, and not a sign of "The Defenders". My guess? It'll arrive in August, considering Marvel has "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in July. They can release it at the same month though, making it a New York-based month for Marvel.

The second season of "Stranger Things" might have 'suffered' the same delay. After all, it won't arrive until Halloween, right? Not to worry though, if you're already aching to get your doze of the creepy Upside-Down, a few official(?) images from the new season have hit the internet. It looks the threat of the supernatural isn't over yet, and Will Byers' return only triggers more problem. After all, almost everyone look scared in these images.

As for how many season we'll be getting for this series? Ross and Matt Duffer Brothers spoke to Entertainment Weekly and revealed that it might go on to last four of five seasons. That means, assuming it's released in a yearly basis, it will last until 2020. I bet the kids will be in senior high school when the time comes! LOL. It's not a fixed plan though, and things can change along the way. But they have planned a "finite ending" for it, and don't want the show "runs out of gas and they lose it because they’re losing interest. You wanna end when you’re on top.". That's a good approach. After all, many are already concerned, and have been voicing disagreements to even have this second season, especially because of how good the ending was. As always, we'll see what happens next.

One last thing before I wrap up this category. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" Season 3 has a release date! YAAAY! Netflix has even released an official teaser, and this one is focused on Titus Andromedon. Did this teaser just hint that he's no longer with Mikey? Oh noooes. I'm always annoyed when a show puts a twist on its great couple *sigh*. Anyways, I'm a fan of this irresistble unbreakable show, so of course I'm excited about it. Now I only need to wait patiently until May 19, right? Dang it, can I make it? That's TOO LONG... XD

Kyoukai no Rinne

Hey, it's the only anime category in this post! Ahahaha. Okay, this will be brief. NHK has officially announced the premiere date for the 3rd season of "Kyoukai no Rinne". The season will begin airing every Sunday, starting on April 9, 2017. Two new voice actors will be joining the season as well. Miyuki Sawashiro will be playing Anematsuri Annette Hitomi, who is the lady that was already hinted in the post credit scene of Season 2's finale. Prolific voice actress Megumi Hayashibara will be playing Otome Rokudou, who is none other than Rinne's own mother. Her casting would make for a nice nod to Rumiko Takahashi's former work, considering both her and Kappei Yamaguchi (who is voicing Rinne's father Sabato) voiced the different genders of one Ranma Saotome in "Ranma 1/2"!!! We already have Yukino Satsuki, a.k.a Kagome Higurashi in "Inu Yasha", who's been voicing Rinne's ageless grandmother Tamako. Wouldn't it be more awesome if we're getting even more 'Takahashi-alumni' in this show? Noriko Hidaka, Rei Sakuma, Kikuko Inoue, and/or Minami Takayama perhaps? That'd totally made my day... XD

Street Fighter

Looks like that fan-speculation might be true after all! Helen/Kolin has been revealed to be the 2nd character (if we count Akuma) of the 2nd DLC lines for "Street Fighter V". Or as CAPCOM said it, 2nd Season. The good news is, Kolin's a new character that hasn't been playable before, but the bad news is, she's NOT exactly new, considering she has already debuted in "Street Fighter III" albeit as minor character.

Kolin, as she should be referred to by now (she used the name Helen to avoid spoilering the game's connection to SFIII), played a plot-moving part in the "A Shadow Falls" Cinematic Expansion. She served as an intermediary of the Illuminati, reporting to Urien, and well, resurrected Charlie Nash and used the poor-sod to bring down M. Bison and his Shadaloo Empire. All for the sake of her master Gill. This character will be available on February 28, and will arrive with her own Story Mode, variety of costumes, "Premium Battle" feature, and "Nostalgia" costumes. She will be using the martial art of Russian's Systema, and also utilizing the power of ice, which as far as I remember can be considered as new. Design-wise, it does seem that she's getting a face makeover. Depending on user's preference, this could be either good or bad. CAPCOM UK's Matt Edwards has revealed how the game's character select screen would look with the addition of the latest 2 DLCs.

CAPCOM promised to reveal the remaining four characters 'every other month' beginning in February, which means the last character will arrive in October at the earliest. Looks like the company is dodging the bullets in advance, learning from their past mistake of failing to fulfill their own promise for a monthly release. Letting players know ahead that they won't be getting more characters soon, can be considered a wise movie. However, I don't know if Akuma, Kolin, and these 4 'completely new' characters would even manage to satisfy fans. Especially in such extended duration of release. Personally? I'm NOT too impressed with Kolin, due to many reasons. Not just her, but the remaining 4 characters too, assuming the speculation is 100% correct. Really, I'd be more grateful if we get veteran fan-beloved fighters like Sagat, Cody Travers, or Sakura Kasugano instead. Or even better, a 100% new character that hasn't been seen anywhere before. A blank canvas, if you will. From what I've been reading online, I'm definitely not alone in this. Could this be the title's last straw for many players? That seems to be the case. Let's not jynx it too early though, we can never tell what might happen tomorrow...

Pokemon (Pocket Monsters)

The Johto Pokemon has arrived in "Pokemon GO"! When Niantic first announced it on the official trailer, I didn't think it would arrive this fast. Yep, in case you missed it, the latest update (version 0.57.2 for Android and 1.27.2 for iOS) has been made available THIS MORNING (my timezone), and yes, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, and all the new species from "Pokemon Gold, Silver & Crystal" are now available in the wilderness. Trust me, I've encountered Chikorita, HootHoot, Wooper, Chinchou, and others with my own eyes. Darn it, those are the exact Pokemon types I would love to obtain, some are my all-time favorites *cries in joy*. There will be a long seemingly-infinite loading process once you've executed the update, but don't worry and just wait for a while, and you'll get all the features working.

I know what you're thinking. It took 2 damn months after the first baby-batch was released! But this update came with massive changes too, so why the long frowning face? In the official release note, Niantic has confirmed several features that they have revealed several days ago: - Over 80 additional Johto Pokemon. Is this everyone? There are 100 new Species in Johto. If we count out the 6 Legendaries (since not even the Kanto ones have been available), we only get 94. Remember, we already had 8 species before via Eggs (Pichu, Togepi, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Elekid, Magby, and Smoochum, Togetic), which leaves us with 86. Note the word 'OVER'? Yep, this is basically every species then! - Gender-specific variations are now available. You can check this on your Pokemon status page. I wonder if this will lead towards "Breeding" feature then? Hmmm... - PokeBall and Berry selection carousels, are added to the encounter screen, which might take a while to get used to. There are also two new Berries available, the Nanab and Pinap. Nanab can slow a wild Pokemon's movements, while Pinap will double the amount of Candy that is earned when capturing the Pokemon. I personally haven't seen these Berries in effects so far, but it's there. Niantic has posted official screenshots for them. You can also... 'catch' it on the announcement trailer. LOL. - There will be bonus Candies for catching evolved Pokemon. Something the App should've implemented since day one! *sigh*. Oh and yeah, you're still going to need them too. Some Kanto Pokemon can be evolved into new forms, but with a catch. You not only need the right amount of Candies, but also a "Specific Item" to do so! So if you want, you can evolve that drool-ugly Gloom into the adorably charming Bellosom this very instant. As long as you have the Sun Stone!!! OUCH!!! Now it's going to be a real challenge to get Scizor, Politoed, Slowking, Kingdra, and some others *sigh*. These items will be obtainable through PokeStops, so it all relies on pure luck. Which is NOT so good for players who are running low on one. Oh well, at least Crobat, Espeon, and Umbreon won't be as hard to get. - New encounter mechanics. Some Pokemon will be more 'tricky' to catch, with random movements that might surprise you. For example, Yanma will fly around making it hard to focus your throw, while Remoraid will swim around from left to right, causing you to have problem in aiming the Pokeball. I haven't noticed anything else, but this is a nice change nonetheless. - New Avatar outfit and accessory, which is a nice touch because that trainer jacket looks boring. Unfortunately, several casual clothings are available if you... purchase them with Coins. Yep, it's NOT free, and that's a little bummer. Oh well, at least there's an option to not wear hats and gloves now. I don't recall it was possible before. Now if only we have more hairstyles, and also body size, "Pokemon GO" can end up looking more diverse like the recent handheld titles, right? Hope Niantic is hearing this. - New night-mode map are added too. These ones I can't state for sure, because it's not yet night in my time. - New encounter music? I could've sworn nothing changes. Perhaps only for the night mode? Hmmm.

It remains to be seen, whether this update will boost back the game into popularity. Would players who have given up, return to see new faces and enjoy the new features? I think the more important question is, how long will this hype stays on? Let's just hope that Niantic will find a way to keep their players interested and invested. To celebrate this long awaited update, Niantic will be giving 'discount' to purchase Pokemon Storage update. Which makes perfect sense (and should've been FREE of charge, IMHO), because we're going to need it more than ever now. This sale only last from February 16 to 28 though, so you need to be quick. So what are you waiting for? Hurry up, get out there, and start getting more Pokemon in your city. If only there's a "Trading" feature though... *winks*