#okay a better example of SA in media

[edwardslostalchemy]

So my friend wants to go watch the new kny movie that's coming out next weekend. So he gave my other friend and I homework: to watch kny so we could understand what would happen in the movie when we go see it. I got him into bnha so i think it's fair that he gets me into a series he likes (but not fairy tail ...... anything but that). I didn't expect for the explanation of watching the movie to be. Confusing? He gave me 2 options. Either finish season 1 and jump straight into the movie. Or watch the first 2 episodes of season 2 and then watch the movie. I figured out there's a 3rd option: watch season 2 episodes 1-7 and you basically watched the movie. My friend, who is going to start the series is confused about this, because she said she would only watch the seasons, but not the movie. And that's where I was like Now see you gotta watch it bc it's part of the plot. This is actually important to the story. You cannot skip the movie. And if she did, she'd miss out on the best Hashira besides Tapioca. I went into the series blind, which is honestly the way I like it (unless there's like sexual assault/abuse...then I would appreciate a huge heads up). My friend is going into it with a lot of information but she's having a problem with processing it. Hopefully, I am explaining things better. It is a very good series and I hope she's able to get into it. That way, our friend group can like bond over a series we've all watched.

[tocomplainfriend]

Responding to your post about fiction affecting reality: very well-written post and that’s something I agree with wholeheartedly!

Full disclosure: I am a Vivz supporter and don’t really interact with the critique community because of negative past experience (hence the anon), but I really liked your post as it was well-researched and brought up a lot of points that I did agree on. Mostly that, as you evidenced, “it’s just fiction” isn’t a great argument for poorly portraying a serious concept when there can be tangible consequences for that portrayal. And you gave some really striking examples.

In terms of Hazbin, it is not that I believe that Val’s portrayal as an abuser (and consequently Angel’s as a victim) lacks any impact, but instead that it adds a positive one. This isn’t something I’ve researched so the evidence I have of this is personal experience, but as you said in your post that media can affect real life I felt inspired to add to that conversation with how it personally affected me.

So I was aware rationally that a common result of abuse/SA is hypersexuality, like I’d seen that on psychology blogs and such but never really understood it. I’m ashamed to say I thought it was a little weird and very rare. Hazbin was what finally challenged that notion with me. Being able to see how abuse looks and attribute those events to Angel’s actions step-by-step made something click in my head. I even remember that shortly after seeing that episode, I apologized to one of my friends (a survivor themselves) over some judgmental comments I’d recently made over hypersexuality. Said friend also watched Hazbin with me and it’s the reason they talk more openly to me now and we’re a lot closer. Val’s “stupid” behavior in the show and mentioned in Vivz’s comments did not lessen the impact that episode had on me, or make it unbelievable to me that Val could be manipulative. If anything I understand more now that abusers don’t always appear as psychopathic masterminds. And I know my friend finds comments like the Mean Girls one funny and they tell me it’s empowering to make fun of Val’s incompetence.

That’s not the only positive influence Hazbin’s had on me, but the most relevant to your post, I believe. It’s the reason I’m often a skeptic on most criticisms, because my lived experience tends to go against them. You said the negative impact of Val was that people are drawing fetish art of him, but the only time I ever see that art is within critic’s posts. It never shows up in my regular feed, so it looks to me like he’s equally as fetishized as every other character; the unfortunate inevitability of the internet. I can’t say I’ve seen anyone post about stories like mine about learning to understand survivors, but I have heard positive stories from survivors themselves in person and online which lead me to believe that the positive impact outweighs the negative.

Fiction has real impact, very true. But consider that might be a good thing in this case.

Thanks for being respectful!

TW: Rape, SA

I'm a victim of SA myself and that's why I wrote all of this post. If you got something positive out of this piece of media, that's great. Same with victims that saw potion and were okay with it- that valid as much as the people that didn't like it at all. I recommend watching many others shows yourself (or movies, books, whatever) will help you out with sorts of topics in bigger ways. I understand you feel like you got something good out if (and I'm glad) but I do need to say, this is minimal in comparison to other media you could consume regarding the topic!

I personally suffer with Hypersexuality, and the treatment in the show (and merch and otherwise) I found completely wrong. Even if you got to a good understatement of the topic, please put research into it (also outside Tumblr for that matter! There are better places to find stuff about!). Thank you also for admitting your faults over your treatment of hypersexuality and apologizing for it. Many people will never let themselves grasp this concept, so thank you.

If you took Valentino's comparison to Mean Girls or Powerpuff Girl as a way of making fun of him, that's you. I found it, personally, terrible. Specially cause many comments regarding that (that I put on the post) were people actively disregarding the topic at hand. Saying that Valentino is just a karen, or He is Bubbles coded, feels so out of the realm of everything (the last one didn't feel like making fun of him). I don't like the comparison of an active sexual predator to a mean high school girl or a kinder garden girl that's regarded as bubblely or dumb. Feel like you should reach into his actions over It feels diminishing to me and other people (who also complained about this themselves).

People should be extremely careful of what they portray about this topic in media. Other stuff written in Hazbin or Helluva Boss regarding R-pe jokes also is extremely disgusting to me. Never forget that if you think this portrayal is ok, one episode apart it's a gang r-pe jokes towards Sir Pen... and an r-pe joke towards Moxxie in Spring Brakers. Which I find extremely disrespectful to do and adds to r-pe culture as much as any other r-pe jokes (general or towards men) in media. Especially when they want to portray it in a serious way with Angel, where was that energy then? (Don't say Viv didn't write that, she liked a tweet about the Sir pen joke, and the spring braker is written by Viv and Brandon.)

Also, about manipulation:

The tweet right below says that "He isn't manipulating them" because he is too stupid to do so. Responding "The Vees are just meangirls" it's crazy to me.

About "You said the negative impact of Val was that people are drawing fetish art of him, but the only time I ever see that art is within critic’s posts. It never shows up in my regular feed"

Val has being fetishized by the crew itself! The person (who is not an SA/r-pe victim said by themselves, who has being open of shipping ValxAngel and being into r-pe porn) is the one that produce the whole poison part of the episode (also based on his previously non canon ValxAngel comic). You could also go throught the people Viv's responds and likes and it's mutuals with, and they also do the same thing as this crew-member (Raph). Congrats that it doesn't appear in your timeline, tho. If this art appears in a critic post, it is because it's being criticized or brought up to make a point.

[It's not on my blog yet, but I don't like receiving double ask in the inbox, specially of anons! Sorry. I don't know if it's the same person or not, and I don't want to end up receiving 5 asks in my inbox again.]

[joelwindows7]

Top betrayal of websites & where people migrated to

That I know of right now.

YouTube. Community Guideline Strikes & DMCAs, & moar bad things. Go to Odysee now.

[tumblr] (formerly). Deleted & purged 69420. Go to idk, 888blr, and Twitter, and Newgrounds, and any Mastodon instances out there. Unbetrayed!! 69420 is back!!! But the damage has been done.

Twitter. Wait, what again? No, I forgot what Elon Musk did? Uh.... I still... idk... well let's say... did not make things better for all part (just few make betters are not considered enough), damn.. what is it?!. Go to idk any Fediverse like Mastodon or whatever it is. Also bot account or whatever API was that I forgor,... paid, coz spammers.

What was this Minecraft Launcher?. Lead dev gone rogue and deleted contributors, could possible lead to malware commit. Go to Prism Launcher.

Ubuntu. Uhhh... proprietary blobs increasing and more ironic proprietarisms (Snap is proprietary), and one example sauce here this. Go to different Ubuntu forks or maybe jump to another diffferent Linux Distro like Arch, btw.

VRChat. Implemented Easy Anti-Cheat instead of officializing community fixes like Anti-crash, anti-exploits, etc. etc. Go to different VR social media, like ChilloutVR. This is also Unity based VR social media, with mods allowed and many community patch and fixes (yes, mods) turned official. Heck, 69420 is even allowed, with a free DLC provided!!! No kidding!!! If you want to add me, same, JOELwindows7 & I was wearing BZ Protogen right now. Oh, one more thing. The Premium account is buy once, unlock forever!!! In VRChat, there is only subscription (temporary buy). There is also NEOS VR, which is Unreal Engine, I think.. idk... huh, no Godot VR social media?! Aw man..

Reddit. API is now paid because API does not serve them money through those intrusive ads in the original interface (effectively making maintenance way too expensive as lots of users use them, & it no longer worth it). Go to [tumblr], Lemmy (& maybe any Mastodon instances). See r/Save3rdPartyApps. Many subreddits gone privated in protest. Some come back, others forever. Some again restricted like mine. Basically private but still can be accessed, just no comment, no post, or neither. Fun fact, because of this, Reddit admin ironically active eradicating this protest by force removing mods and handing it over to somebody else who will, especially to basically force them public again. I mean, yeah, it's egregious, peck neck 💀, privated no access anymore. Your fault, spez. Why has Private in 1st place? Just restricted & public that's enough. And you yeeted their hard work away because of this? There is a better way bruh! Don't yeet mods and replace them, they'll further damage the subreddits, no idea what to do with them! Instead, if you want, just set them Restricted, keep mods, wtf man?!?!?!?!?!? Ugh, very awry.

Okay that's all I know, thancc for attention

By JOELwindows7

Perkedel Technologies

CC4.0-BY-SA

[cry0]

@mrdogface

I wrote a massive post reply to this and then tumblr fumbled and I passed out lmfao.

I'm going to try again.

first, I apologize. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'm not pitying you, but I want you to know I am sending all my love and good health to you. You deserved better. It's so hard already for men to stand up and admit when they've been a victim, esp of SA, so I know you using your voice is you taking control, you standing up for yourself, and I'm proud of you. If you ever, EVER, need to vent, talk, scream, cry, etc, know that there are strangers on the internet (including me) who will never, ever judge you. I hope you have loved ones that will do the same.

There are other examples of SA in comics, unfortunately even to Bruce, that you can use as an example.

knowingly using an extremely racist character take that the writer had to apologize for and has been retconned several times over.. is not good. I don't blame you for it, really. I love characters that I can see myself in. It's probably why I love Talia. I've seen myself in her fight between her love of her life and her love and loyalty to her father. thank GOD i dont have that issue to the same extreme!!

i know you mentioned talia fans are in ur ims bitching at you, and im not going to do that. i'm just going to ask that you, please, find another character to hate on. it's okay. i hate on characters all the time lol. but the book that grant morrison based their writing on shows a VERY consensual wedding and a VERY consensual sex life.

please find another character. and again, im sorry. and im proud of you. for whatever a stranger's opinion is worth.

i know nothing about tarantula, but i hope to god that the writer of that bullshit takes back the "it's not rape, it's non-consensual sex" garbage. that's rape. that is assault. i wish they would show proper healing for dick, but we know better. comics aren't good at that.

but don't enjoy this. don't enjoy the talia massacre. she represents a middle eastern and chinese woman written almost entirely by only american media. it's about time she be written as she was intended. as someone who represents good. arab + chinese people are never written well in american media, and i mean - you might can guess why. but it's stereotype based and it's not okay.

anyway, i hope you are well, truly. you deserve a better day and i honestly mean that.

EDIT: NOW tumblr tells me it actually posted that other one. omfg. I'm sorry for popping up in ur notifs twice. i AM going to leave this bc i think i touched base better here than before.

[n4talia-chaparro]

Just asking because I am really in need of an opinion rn

Is a au where a character that’s a child from a show gets SAed in a au make the writer a predator or no? Because I want to write about a au where a character gets SAed, gets support and moves on

Yikes...this is gotta be tricky but I need to get this out of my chest cuz this one concerns me.

So buckle up! || TW: SA (in undercuts cuz yea I dont wanna trigger anyone)

If you wanna make a serious and respectful representation of SA then good, go ahead but you gotta be careful how you write it. SA SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SHOCKING VALUE OR AESTHETICS, REMEMBER THAT !

It does not make anyone a predator if they make serious or well-written SA representation in the media. (Unlike Vivziepop of course...)

Small examples of known medias: Moral Orel, Tuca and Bertie, My Little Goat (on Yt), any media that makes good job representing SA

If you wanna learn more before writing I recommend doing proper research or review any medias to learn further.

( As long you are NOT romanticizing such topics you are okay. Pls be careful when writing a scene pls !! That way you should avoid mistakes )

Although I am bad at making aus, I do tend to improve the writing for Gp's childhood trauma slowly without screwing it up. I know how hard it is to write a character with trauma for the storyline especially if it's a serious topic like SA/CSA or any serious topics.

That's why I recommend anyone to do the research or see any media before writing cuz that's how I write Gp's story, well it's still in progress but you know. It's better to do research than just forcing yourself to hide a character's backstory simply because some stupid troll calls you a pedo over a backstory.

Feel free to write the backstory, make a good and respectful representation, be free.

[manogirl]

I dunno if y'all are watching the "A Story Worth Telling" reaction vids for KinnPorsche, but I think they're a REALLY good illustration of why it's maybe not the BEST idea to start with KinnPorsche as someone's first BL series, unless they're already reading BL novels, danmei, yaoi or the like.

(And disclaimers here: I'm not saying that anyone would automatically LIKE KP if they're grounded in those things, nor am I saying that I expect reactors to like whatever BLs they're reacting to. Please read some nuance into this if you can.)

For the record, I'm not saying that these two lovely men at "A Story Worth Telling" would like KinnPorsche better if they understood where it was coming from, but I am saying -- gently! -- that as a reactor, if you're going to talk about the darkness of the SA and abuse that's in KP, you should understand where it comes from.

Josh and Alex (the two lovely British men, who I do enjoy watching mak mak!) are having a VERY normal reaction to the rep that's in KP. It is sexual assault/rape! It is a LOT of abuse heaped on Porsche and the other bodyguards. AND LET ME REPEAT: It is OKAY if they ultimately don't like the show because of that dark stuff! No one is required to like any piece of media simply because it is queer rep.

And I think if they had done their yaoi/BL homework a leeeeettle bit, and been able to say, look, we understand that KP is an example of a certain kind of yaoi/BL, and we still hate it, I'd have been much more comfortable with what they're saying.

I would also like to hear them acknowledge that this is a piece of media that they're watching that wasn't made for them! Yes it's queer, and yes it's available internationally and yes there is a legion of interfans who love it, but it's. not. for. us. We. are. guests. here.

Anyway, I've been feeling a little uneasy watching the vids, and I guess this is why.

[earlmothraoffangbanger]

Thoughts on Community, Media Literacy, and How One Conducts Themselves on the Internet.

Before I get started I would like to preface this with the fact that I am currently sick from coming off of medication. I will do my best to be coherent and concise in my writing. Thank you for your patience. Feel free to send Asks if you would like to hear more from me or need clarity.

CW: Mild mentions of abuse, SA, as well as harassment in general. Feel free to not read, your mental health is more important than my ramblings.

In this section, I will cover things I have seen in the trans community that I feel need to be addressed. The most pressing issue I feel is this presumption of guilt or innocence based on an individual's gender identity. Point blank I want to say it is not okay to assume ill of someone purely based on their gender. This is misogyny and there's no other way to skin it.

I've seen this weird idea that Trans Women are infallible to criticism or being called out on bad behavior just because they are trans women. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have seen people say that all trans men are terrible based on the fact that they are men. If you believe this you are playing into misogyny and mysoginysic ideals. No one is absolved of criticism in this world especially if they are actively doing bad things. You can still be a trans ally by calling out the bad behavior of a trans person just because they're being a bad person or behaving poorly isn't a reflection of their transness it's a reflection of who they are as a person as a whole.

The whole point of the feminist movement is to give people more freedom regardless of gender. To break down the barriers that gender poses. This is not only for cis women but trans women as well as cis and trans men and people who fall under the nonbinary umbrella. Saying trans men have it better than cis and trans women is actively counterintuitive to this goal. Saying cis men have no issues is also counter-intuitive to this goal. For example, many men are taught the only emotions they can have is happiness, anger, and horny and because of this many cis men have poor emotional regulation While this can and does harm society we also need to remember the negative impact this has on cis men be it men that fall under the binary as expected by society, are nonconforming to said societal standard, or trans men who are already not seen as a man enough for some people and constantly have their manhood under fire. Cis men also continuously have their manhood under fire if they dare show any sort of "vulnerability" such as crying or actually being in love with someone. This also comes back around to harm cis and trans women as they can be seen are not feminine enough if they have even just one masculine trait.

This is not to say that cis men don't have an advantage in society, I am painfully aware of this fact. We just need to remember misogyny affects EVERYONE.

Another thing I notice is that trans women can tend to be treated overly delicately which is something that stems from how society treats women in general. For example, there is this media "critic" (if you know me you know who I'm talking about) who despite having actively harmful and downright racist and fatphobic takes on the media she attempts to criticize there are those who think she can do no wrong because she is trans. Her fan's arguments are always "She is a trans person of color there by default you are over-criticizing her." This is actually harmful as it the person in question is not expected to take any responsibility for any of her harmful retoric and actions. And that's just about her takes on media. I'm not even going to get into to the actual allegations of crimes levied against her.

I'd like to conclude this section that just because someone is (insert characteristic here) doesn't mean that they are by default a good or bad person. you need to look at them as a whole and what they're actually doing and saying.

Next, I just want to say not all media has to be happy and nice to be good media. Some media has darker stories to tell and in doing so bring concepts to people that they may not have thought about before. For example, I would have never known that my father was abusing me had I not watched shows that painted his exact behavior as abuse and not okay. Up until that point, I had just thought "Well dads are just like that." Sometimes the stories that are being told bring much-needed awareness to those who need it. That is not to say that you have to consume this media I'm just saying it has a right to exist and a purpose.

Lastly, this is a comparatively small section but I feel is just as important. If you tell people that you want to rape or sexually abuse them or you tell them to kill themselves or you doxx them you are a bad person. There's no other way to look at that. I've seen so many people do this over just little things like disagreeing on headcanons or even someone just liking a character. This could not be a more extreme overreaction. Stop doing this and if you see people close to you doing this stop them too they deserve consequences for their actions. It's disgusting when people get away with this.

Thank you for reading my rambling and have a good day!

[starzknight]

so like, i understand where this is coming from but also no??? this will end up being just an excuse for me to talk about ennead but whaterver.

My problem with Ennead is not the SA in it but how it's handled, it borders fetishization and you can't convice me otherwise (especially if you've seen the extras) and i don't think people are wrong for expressing how they feel about it. I've seen some people say you can just skip those parts cause it won't matter seeing what happens just understanding what happens, but my thoughts in writing are "if not necessary why is it part of the story at all?", i would argue that nothing in Ennead is as graphic as the SA scenes so i understand people who are upset by it cause it's okay to critique a media. I don't agree with people supposedly threathening the author but it should be fine to critique their work, as any other sort of media. The driving point of the story is seth's trauma but i've seen people saying that it was not even SA cause the gods don't have this concept wich really upsets me cause it seems people are misunderstanding the core of this story.

Now i'm not a purist, actually i really like Ennead, i like the general idea for the plot, the artstyle and i can see the love and care the author puts in their craft just by the hyeroglyphs that are actually readable and give cool info. The reason i stopped reading is simply because i got bored, the second season is not nearly as good as the first one, i understand the necessity of the SA scenes in the first season, cause one is the reason seth kills osiris and the other is a part of the real myhthology the author decided to explore and that leads to important scenes, but in the second season they have almost no reason for being there and are barely plot relevant? sometimes i even forget they happpen and they're definitley less impactifull as the ones in the first season. It also feels way less eventfull than the first one. Also kill me for this but horus is such a boring love interest, he's generic broody quiet puppy like lover boy 1000, honestly even the bird has more persnonality than him, almost anyother ship is better than this one. I'm fine with most ships withac seth but honestly i can't get anubis and seth, not because "oooh it incestuous like the rest of the pairings", no i know that incest is sadly inescaple in almost any mythology (wake up hades and persephone are actually uncle and niece) because i know ennead says that gods don't care for parent-child status but seth deeply cares about his status as anubis father and that is a main part of his character which is why it doesn't go over my head.

Now for another thing i heard people yapping about in the comments is "well but in real mythology bla bla bla" first of people treat mythology like it's a book, like things are linear and all makes sense and conect, like the MCU(cinematic) when it's actually more like the MCU(comics) where one run might or not acknowledge things about another run; plus in real life mythology gods aren't characters: they are concepts, but when you're writing a story based on mythology you're working with characters not concepts. Secondly when you're reimagining a mythos or even building up from it you're changing it, you're not working with real life mythology you're working with your own version of it, think disney's hercules for example, it almost barely resembles real greek mythology but still works in it's own. Therefore, what happens in the og mythos doens't matter unless the author decides it does, so yeah what matters is what's actually in the story.

Well i guess that's my ramble ehhh, i dunno just a lot of thoughts that wer eating my brain.

"The SA in Ennead was so unnecessary and makes the story bad/ the author a bad person" IT IS THE DRIVING POINT OF THE STORY. IT IS LITERALLY WHY EVERYHTING THATS HAPPENING IS HAPPENING. IF YOU DONT LIKE STORIES WHERE BAD AND UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS HAPPEN THAN DO NOT READ THEM. THE RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS IN IT ARE UNHEALTHY AND COMPLICATED WHICH IS THE DAMN POINT. If you want to read stories where nothing bad happens and everyone is healthy and happy then don't read stories where the main focus is tragedy and trauma and then get mad when bad things happen to the characters. DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT.

[llitchilitchi]

tbh i have mixed feelings about ks being mlm representation, like on a surface level it could be considered that, but i think its too much a reflection or real horror stories around gay people? like especially considering the murder guy is straight, it represents more a story of a gay man as a victim of straight violence - i dont think this is necessarily bad, just for me its also not good rep of homosexuality in horror or sexual horror - especially since homosexuality is used quite a bit within sexual horror to condemn homosexuality, which i think could implicitly be represented through the stalker guy's obsession with the straight murder guy which ultimately leads to his sa and torture, as if he was asking for it (not that i think thats what the writer intended, just that it does reflect other aspects of queer sexual horror)

this is /nm ofc, just my interpretation ! sorry again if its a little rambly, media analysis is just like my favourite thing psksks

okay so I got this a couple days ago while we were discussing this and first I want to apologise for not answering this sooner, I've been busy, and secondly, as much as this conversation is probably over this is something that's been stuck in my mind since I first read it

this one gets heavy so this is a last warning for anyone to skip over this ask, we're talking about killing stalking here so all the tws that come with that will be discussed

I see where you're coming from! we do have to ask what we consider mlm/queer representation in media though. is killing stalking even mlm? one of the protagonists is gay, yes, but it isn't exactly Men Loving Men, it's a gay man being taken advantage of because of his infatuation with his abuser (who is straight).

besides, this is a psychological horror/thriller kinda story, so the sexual horror is somewhat expected, even if it is reflective of the horror real queer people undergo. it's something women go through in relationships with men, too, and there are several stories that are realistic-ish (the first to come to mind would be Jennifer's Body, and, in a way, Rosemary's Baby.) there are many stories that depict straight relationships like that and since I personally believe in 'stories with queer characters and same sex couples shouldn't be just pure and sweet and it's better like that, actually' it never was an issue to me that the main couple was two men.

the story also never came off as condemning homosexuality. while it was somewhat used against yoonbum it didn't read like the author herself was condemning him for being gay. the tone might have changed in the later chapters, if it did then that's just awful. but as far as I remember it was on the side of parodying classic yaoi tropes, as in pushing them to such an extreme it was the author more or less screaming at the readers THIS IS MESSED UP!! THIS IS WRONG AND NOT RIGHT!! NOT BECAUSE IT'S GAY BUT BECAUSE IT'S RAPE AND ABUSE!!

especially the intro, if Yoonbum was a woman the stalking would still result in abuse and rape, so I don't think it was intended to be read as 'if he wasn't gay this wouldn't have happened' cause hell, if Sangwoo was a woman the story would most likely read the same!

it does beg the question of why the author chose to write both protagonists as male, which I suppose, the best answer is 'why not?'

I get that writing these stories is tricky, especially with how people still view same sex relationships as either bad or as a fetish for them to indulge in (I'm talking fujoshi culture and straight men being into lesbian porn, for example), but I do feel like the best way to normalize queerness is writing any story with a queer character. including a story like killing stalking. (and before anyone comes at me with 'so you're saying that-' as long as it's not condemning them for being gay it's fine. as long as it's not saying All Queer People Bad it's fine. if the character is fucked up and gay then that's fine.)

tbh the only way I could see this story as being 'bad queer representation' would be if yoonbum was straight and sangwoo gay, tho I guess even that could be argued over. but you get what I mean by this, probably /genuine

[secretswansong]

nothing to see here, just Trese Tagalog dub superiority

On a more serious note, I'm writing about some of the language differences between the Tagalog and English dubs which make the Tagalog dub better for me.

Yes, the komiks were published in English, but it's set in the Philippines. Why wouldn't you want to watch the show with the Tagalog dub? Have you never seen a dubbed cartoon, anime, or film before? Dubbing makes foreign media such as movies and anime more accessible to Filipinos!

Apparently some people are saying that for the English dub, the Filipino accents sounded more Latinx? Or that the Filipino accent was unnecessary? Come on over to the Tagalog dub! But seriously, this is unfair for the Tagalog/Filipino speakers working on the show, particularly the English VAs. They expressed that it was great, not having to hide their accent or being Filipino.

The Tagalog VAs deserve more love, and by love I mean appreciation from viewers and more opportunities and compensation in the industry. Voice acting isn't sisiw next to live (?) acting, but voice actors are so underrated in the Philippines.

The Kambal say "hoy" instead of "hey" and I love to hear it.

The cursing is A+ (and A++ in Tagalog). Curse words/phrases in your first language are always sharper than in English (it's okay, native English speakers).

Friendly reminder that Tagalog-Maynila isn't the only dialect of Tagalog! There are regional and generational variations in languages. These variations (how formal or how deep a character's Tagalog is) give nuance to the characters, particularly their age, species (human or supernatural), and place of origin (in or outside Manila).

For example, Alexandra's more formal Tagalog makes sense because (1) she grew up in the province of Laguna, so there's a regional difference and (2) she deals with high-ranking and/or ancient supernatural characters who also speak more formally.

Meanwhile, Hannah, Ammie, Basilio, and Crispin are wonderfully conyo in the Tagalog dub! Nothing beats "Kapit ka na sa bangs mo" and "Pa'no ba 'to mag-work?" [God bless Simon dela Cruz.]

More under the cut + minor spoilers:

This is pedantic/prescriptive, but: "Pakibuksan ang pintuan" is both confusing and interesting. Translation: "(Please) Open the doorway." Pintuan means doorway, or the space (given the suffix -an), and not the door (pinto), so it might confuse some Tagalog speakers. The prefix paki- makes the verb buksan (open) polite, which is interesting, as the scene makes Alexandra come off as respectfully making a request and builds up to the cool, cordial interaction between Alexandra and the Emissary of Ibu.

In general, the incantations just sound better in Tagalog because, you know, the VAs are native Tagalog speakers who don't need to spend extra time working on diction and accent.

The Tagalog "nanlaban [siya]" hits closer to home than the English "[he] fought back," in the context of extrajudicial killings, the failed war on drugs, and police brutality in the Philippines. Cops play the flimsy "they fought back" card to justify the countless people they've shot and killed, and they're enabled by the current President.

Raul's English lines would've been more natural and nuanced if "quota" was used instead of "statistics" (although this also goes for the Tagalog dub). Cpt. Guerrero already used "quota" earlier in the episode and it would've been great if Raul also got to say it. The word refers to the police's system of making a certain number of arrests per day/week, and this hasn't gotten better under the current regime's failed war on drugs.

(P.S. Trese does the good cop / nacab narrative and I'm saving that for another post)

"Harbinger of creation and destruction" and "this is how it was, this is how it will always be" (non-verbatim) sound pretty cliché and meant for a Western audience. Also, the use of "magic" sounds better in English but more awkward in Tagalog as "mahika" because there's a different concept of magic in the Philippines. (Salamangka is cooler but loaned from Spanish, and kulam refers more to curses or black magic. I think there are more words/terms in other Filipino languages.)

(The whole scene is more telling of the show's problems with pacing and buildup to the revelation and confrontation in the final episode, but I'll save that for another post.)

God, it would be so cool to get dubs in other Filipino languages like Bisaya, Cebuano, Waray, Kapampangan, Ilokano, Tausug, Hiligaynon, Chavacano, etc.

Bonus - here's what I really liked about the English dub VAs:

Dante Basco as Bagyon Kulimlim, lightning-made-flesh. That's it. I wish he hadn't gotten a one-off character, but I'm just living for the irony in casting the guy who voiced Prince Zuko. Bagyon Kulimlim's just gloating "there's no one who can protect you now" and indiscriminately hurling lightning bolts; Princess Azula would, at the very least, do a double-take.

But also when Bagyon Kulimlim screamed... THAT'S ALSO ZUKO YELLING IN "Zuko Alone" and it gave me life

God bless Dante Basco

Also, s/o to Jon Jon Briones! I've only seen him in Miss Saigon and AHS but he's a great theater/musical actor. He's wonderful as Hank Sparrow! Hank is an absolute tito.

Also God bless Manny Jacinto, who voiced the tikbalang prince Maliksi. He doesn't play the himbo in this show (s/o to Crispin and Basilio!), but I don't love him any less!

[bustyasianbeautiespod]

Episode 1 Transcript: Not Exactly Like the Tom Bradys

G: Hello, everyone, this is post-edit Grey. I just wanna inform you all that for this episode and a couple of the few ones after this, the audio quality is not exactly the best. However, I hope you guys still stick around, because it does get better. Thank you!

-

[intro guitar music]

G: Hello! My name is Grey.

C: And my name is Crystal.

G: And this is Busty Asian Beauties, a Supernatural commentary podcast where I, someone who has seen the show several times

C: and I, someone who only knows the show through social media, discuss every single episode of Supernatural, from start to finish. Also, we are both Asian.

G: We are both Asian.

G: So, first episode of the show, the pilot. Crystal.

C: Yep.

G: Since you've never seen the show before, I am going to ask you: what do you think will this episode be like?

C: Okay, so I feel like I've seen honestly probably most of the plot of this episode through social media already. I know it starts with a flashback and Mary burning on the ceiling and John screaming, "Mary, Mary," whatever, and then we go to Sam at Stanford, and then Jess is there and she's hot. And then Dean shows up, and they have to go find their dad, and then there's like some creepy ghost lady or something-

G: You know so much!

C: - I guess they kill her at some point? I guess I assumed it would probably be through burning or something. And then Jess dies at the end of the episode. Yeah. So I feel like I know what happens in this episode already.

G: Yeah, sounds like.

C: Next episode, though, no clue.

G: Well next episode, we can't even say the name of, so, Supernatural, go!

C: Right. Next episode, redacted.

G: So let's start talking about the episode now. The intro screen, right? It changes every season. Did you know that?

C: Yes. I don't actually remember what the intro screen was for this episode, it wasn't particularly memorable.

G: It's very forgettable, yes, it's not memorable. It's just a black screen and "Supernatural" in bluish-white, so it's not significant. I suppose every season we have to talk about the intro screen.

C: Right.

G: So that's going to be our thing.

C: That sounds like a good idea. Graphic design is their passion.

G: Graphic design- [laughing]

-

G: First off, we open up in Lawrence, Kansas, and it's a happy family intro. Okay, I have a question. I have a question for literally every scene in this show. Do you, in your family,for example, do you put babies in another room?

C: I think like when I was little, my crib was in my parent's room for a bit.

G: Yeah, exactly!

C: Because it seems a lot easier to do that than to have a baby monitor set up next to your bed and get out of bed and walk to another room every time the baby's crying. Like I don't know what the point is.

G: Like what if the baby chokes in their sleep? You have to have the baby beside you! What if the baby has a demon feed them blood?

C: Exactly! Exactly! If the Winchesters were just Asian and kept Sam in their room, none of this would have happened.

G: So, Sam is in a separate room, and the clock stops, and the lights flicker-

C: Can we talk about the decor in his room, actually? Because he has this baby mobile, right? And you look up. And it's like little baseballs and baseball bats just hanging around? Like, what is with that? Like, they were like, "this is a boy baby, and therefore, instead of having cute animals like the average baby mobile, we're gonna have sports so he knows to sport"?

G: Yeah, it's a baby. It doesn't care about sports.

C: And then later, John asks Dean, "Hey, do you think Sammy's old enough to kick around a football?" which is like, a joke I guess, but Sam is six months old, stop making him kick around a football!

G: Okay. It was kinda cute, okay, Crystal?

C: Fine.

G: It was kind of cute, so I'll give them a pass.

C: Alright, this is just the establishing scene, right, and they decided the establishing fact about Sam is that he is boy and does sport.

G: Yes. [laughing] It doesn't do wonders for our trans Sam agenda, but

C: I guess they just knew early. At six months old, their afab little baby was like "I'm a boy now" and they were all like, really supportive.

G: So, Mary thinks that John is in the room, so she goes out, and I must say, the shadow effect in this episode is exceptional. It looks really good.

C: They did a good job with it.

G: Like, every time that they do a shadow scene, so like, the Dean-Sam fight scene later on, the one where they're in the staircase, it always looks gorgeous. It looks amazing. And Mary walking around looks amazing as well. And then, you know, it's the usual. She finds John in the living room, sleeping, and then she runs upstairs, a scream, and then John, and then- we all know what happens. This is the pilot episode of Supernatural! We all know what happens.

C: Right. He looks up, there's blood dripping on his hand, he looks up, it's Mary, stabbed to death on the ceiling. He screams, and she bursts into flames.

G: And then there's the iconic line, you forgot it!

C: Oh right. [in unison] "Take your brother outside and run-

G: -as fast as you can, now, Dean! Go!"

Dean takes Sam outside and they're sitting outside and there are firefighters everywhere, and then we cut to black, and it's Stanford! We are at Stanford. Present day.

-

C: Good for Sam. I don't know how he got his rec letters or how he got in without any extracurriculars, but I don't know, but maybe 2005- or I guess 2001 was when Sam applied? I guess maybe it was easier back then.

G: So we're at Stanford, and we see Jess, first and foremost. She's wearing a-

C: - sexy nurse outfit.

G: Sexy nurse outfit! And she looks hot.

C: Right, she does.

G: She looks amazing doing it.

C: And they specifically pan up from her legs, like they're trying really hard to sexualize her.

G: I actually did not notice that because I was looking at the foreground, at the Mary/John portrait. I was focusing on that, and I thought it was, you know, it's Mary and John! What more do you want?

C: The perfect marriage!

G: And then we have the iconic- it's not iconic, but the first line in the show by a main character, well I guess Dean spoke earlier, but by Sam. "Do I have to?" Which, you know.

C: Poor Sam.

G: Really embodies Sam's character. It's just "do I have to?" over and over again.

C: Sam's getting dragged around all this episode.

G: And then they go to a party and they talk about Sam's LSAT score, which I have no idea what a high LSAT score is. Do you?

C: No, what did Jess say it was? Like 176 or something?

G: 174.

C: I'm assuming the LSAT is out of 180, but I can check. Oh, yeah, it's 120 to 180, so 174 seems pretty good.

G: Good for him! Good for Sam.

C: Congrats, Sam.

G: And then, this is the beginning of one of our little segments inside the segment which is talking about the actual show, which is "Grey doesn't understand Americanisms." Because I don't, and there's a line here where Sam goes, "We're not exactly the Bradys," and then the dude he's talking to goes, "Well, we're not exactly-" and then a name that I did not catch. Do you have any idea what that means?

C: The Bradys is referencing The Brady Bunch, which I think is like a show- oh, okay, so Luis said, "I'm not exactly the Huxtables," and I've not heard of the Huxtables, but Urban Dictionary says-

G: I thought the Bradys were like, Tom Brady? Because he's the only Brady I know!

C: Oh, no, no. No, it's like, The Brady Bunch, I think it's like a family show where everyone's really close? Okay, so the Huxtables was a family on The Cosby Show and it's used to reference upper-middle-class Black people or families.

G: Oh, 'cause he's talking to a Black guy, yes?

C: Right, right, I guess Luis is Black and Sam is white, so he is talking about the Bradys and Luis is talking about the Huxtables-

G: Oh. I really thought it was Tom Brady! Because they talked about, like, home run, right? And that's- I'm sorry, that's a baseball thing, right?

C: Yeah, it's a baseball thing.

G: And Tom Brady is a baseball player.

C: Is he?

G: Or, I don't know, football? American football?

C: Yeah, he's a football player.

G: [laughing] I am failing at understanding references.

C: It's all good. Honestly, I'm not great at references either.

G: When I was younger, 'cause Dean spouts references, right? Like, later on, he also says references that I took note of. When I was younger, I thought the reason why I didn't get anything that Dean says is because I'm just young. I haven't been cultured enough, so that's why I don't get it, but now I'm like, "no, he just really says shit, though."

C: Yeah, he really just says shit.

G: Later on in the show, he really will just start referencing whatever. And you know Cas's famous line, like [in unison] "I don't understand that reference." I feel that incredibly deeply.

-

G: We have Jess and Sam sleeping for the next scene. They kiss, and then they go to bed and sleep.

C: Yeah, and they're sleeping back-to-back under no blankets in late October where it's probably cold! What are you doing?

G: For real? Amazing. And then we get the next shadow scene, as I say, which is Dean walking into the... dorm? Is this a dorm?

C: I think it's an apartment because if Sam's a senior, then he probably has the chance to live off-campus, and a dorm would not allow him to live with Jess, probably, like I think school dorms are usually quite separated by gender, so I think it's an apartment that he and Jess are renting.

G: We get the Sam and Dean first fight scene. Yes! And then we get the iconic-

C: I love how we're supposed to-

G: Sorry. Go on.

C: I love how we're supposed to be scared of Dean when we first see there's an intruder or something, but then you see his silhouette. He has his stupid spiked-up hair, and honestly probably his stupid prettyboy eyelashes in the silhouette; that is not a threatening figure.

G: Literally, like, he was doing a pout! He was doing a pout with his mouth! He was like, pouting! Like he's not threatening at all.

C: Like, I'm not scared of this little man, he's 26, dude!

G: We get the iconic line, the first adult Dean line, which is, "whoa, easy tiger." I love that line.

C: It's the Year of the Tiger, by the way! Right? So, very opportune.

G: Yes. We are in fact Asian and we know that it is about to be the year of the tiger.

C: Right. It's not started yet.

G: So we have Sam and Dean talking. A line that I noted there was Sam says, "You should've called." And then Dean says, "Well if I had called, would you have picked up?" which is like oooh. Ouch. I feel bad for Dean. So like, throughout this episode I was like, "Dean is so fucking annoying! Sam has an interview, don't you get that?" And then towards the end, when he was like, "okay, I'll drive you home," and then the shot of the camera is just showing him- It's weird, because I've never seen them do this shot again in the show, I don't think. The shot where Dean is sitting- we're skipping ahead, but that's fine. So the scene where Dean is sitting and the camera is literally perpendicular to him, I was like, "I've never seen this shot anywhere else in the show." It's weird that they only use it once, if they only really did use it once.

C: Yeah, maybe it's a pilot thing.

G: But also, it's weird 'cause it separates them, you don't see the brothers together. So I guess the whole point is the separation or whatever.

C: Yeah, yeah. Good catch.

G: And then Dean says the Smurf comment...

C: Right. Love a man whose third line is sexual harassment.

G: [laughing] Oh my god. And then Sam pulls this thing where he's like, "If you wanna talk to me, you have to talk to Jess, too," and Dean was like, "Dad's on a hunting trip, and he hasn't been home in a few days." And Sam's like, "Excuse us. We need to go outside." And it's like, “Sam, are you stupid?” Like, you know.

C: Like what did you think he was gonna say?

G: Yeah, what did you think?

C: "Hi, Sam, can I borrow some money?" Like what did you think was happening here?

So they go outside, right, yeah?

G: Yeah, they go outside, and we get exposition, exposition, exposition. "Ever since Mom died," blah blah blah.

C: The most unnatural dialog ever.

G: But at least it looks pretty! Compare it to season 15 of Supernatural.

C: Sam looks real pretty with the shadows on his face.

G: Yeah, he has the K-pop boy mullet hair cut-

C: [laughing] No, he literally does!

G: Like it's like a middle part and then a little bit of a mullet thing going on. He looks good! He looks pretty. But it is exposition. And Sam says, "You think Mom would have wanted this for us? He raised us like warriors." And I was like, ah!

C: Yeah, I never understood why they said "warriors" instead of "soldiers." Warriors sounds quite heroic and noble, soldiers sounds more like "ugh, we're sludging through the trenches."

G: Well, you know. Actually, I don't know. I have no idea why they said warriors instead of soldiers.

C: Yeah, I guess maybe they were still trying to set up the glorification of hunting even though Sam is currently against it?

G: Yeah, the heroism of it all. Dean asks Sam, "What, are you just gonna do this? Live a normal life?" And then Sam says [in unison] "Not normal, safe." Safe, yes. And then Dean's like, "You ran away! Is that why you ran away?" And then Sam says, "Dad told me that if I should go, I should stay gone." And like, agh! Sam! Because when I first watched Supernatural, I was a Deangirl. I loved Dean. I started watching Supernatural again last year from the start. Because usually I just pick episodes I like and then I watch those. But this time I was like "let's do it chronological." And watching Sam now that I'm older and closer to his age at the beginning of the show, I'm like, "Oh! This hits!" 'Cause like his plot, I understand now why a lot of people gravitate towards Sam in the first seasons. 'Cause his plot, just in this first episode, is just like, agh!

We get Dean saying that- he says, "I can do this alone, but I don't want to," which is such a Dean thesis statement.

C: It is, yeah.

G: And then we get the iconic "I'm 26, dude!" Like Sam's like, "Okay, tell me the lore."

C: [laughs] Iconic.

G: Well, he doesn't say "lore" yet.

C: Yeah, I don't think lore happens until later.

G: I can't wait for it. I'm looking forward to hearing Sam say the word lore for the first time.

C: Yeah, me too.

G: But Dean does list the lore.

C: And I'm also looking forward to "So, get this" as well.

G: Yeah. "So, get this"? Ah! Sam! And then he lays out the voicemail, and I wrote in my notes, "I do not care," because I really do not care about the plot. I do not care about the hunting plot of any episode of Supernatural. So in this podcast, if you're expecting us to go into detail about the hunting plot of every episode of Supernatural, well, unfortunately, we really only care about the characters.

C: Yeah, very very true. And I only really care about Cas, so it'll be until season 4 when I'm really engaged.

G: [laughing] So Dean's like, "It's been two years, I've never asked you for a thing."

C: Right, which is weird because college is four years.

G: Yeah, and Sam is a senior.

C: Right, I mean unless Sam sped through his classes...

G: I think it's been talked about. I've read about it, this is a mistake in the script. 'cause they were supposed to age down Sam and Dean, and then they aged them up, but they forgot to add the two years in the dialog. But because they said it already in canon, it is canon that for the first two years of college, Sam and Dean were in contact! That could be interesting. Of course they never explore it, but it could be interesting.

C: Right. Right. Is that the end of the conversation?

G: Yeah, I think so.

-

C: Sam's like "okay," and then goes back in and he's packing, and Jess is like, "Are you sure you wanna do this? You never talk about your family or you seem to have issues with them, tell me where you're going" and Sam's like, "It'll all be okay! And I'll totally make the interview!" And then- I don't know, was there an issue with the way it was shot? Because it seemed like he just totally abandoned his bag of knives on the bed and then just walked out empty-handed.

G: [laughing] I did not notice that at all. Maybe he just forgot. Maybe later on he'll come back.

C: And then Jess yells after him, "At least tell me where you're going!" and then it cuts.

G: It cuts to Jericho, California.

C: And Sam's gonna feel really bad about walking out on Jess by the end of this episode.

G: Yeah! At least they have that call in the middle. Is that even a call? That's a voicemail, right?

C: You don't say I love you at the end of a voicemail though, right?

G: Okay. Here's a fun fact. In my country, we don't have voice mails, so I've never received or given a voicemail. It's just never occurred, never happened. So I don't know the etiquette of voicemails.

C: Or, okay, maybe- I think maybe actually you do sometimes say I love you at the end of voicemails. Yeah, maybe Sam was just listening to a voicemail. It seemed weird that he didn't reply to the I love you, like that seems rude, so perhaps...

G: Perhaps it is a voice mail. So this is the last time they spoke to each other. That is so sad.

C: Right. Sam didn't answer the question, and he just left all his knives!

G: He just left without his knives!

C: What if Brady went and stabbed Jess with one of the knives Sam left behind?

G: You know what's interesting? You know about Brady, and I don't. I don't remember Brady at all. But I know who he is.

C: The Samgirls are really into him.

G: Yeah, I know. The Samgirl nation is really into Brady. Unfortunately, I am more of a Casgirl myself, so... But I love Sam. Let it be known by everyone that I love Sam.

C: Yeah. Let it be known by everyone that I love Cas.

-

G: So we go to Jericho, California, and we see a dude come across this woman in a white dress.

C: Right. And at first I was like "Why the fuck would you let her in? She looks gray!"

G: Because it's Halloween. It's Halloween.

C: Right, it's Halloween. He was like, "This woman has creepy vibes, but that is on purpose and not as a result of her ghostly nature."

G: So the guy is obviously flustered, and the girl asks the guy to come home with her.

C: Right. He stares at her boobs a lot and then says, "Hell yeah!"

G: Yeah, and her thighs... It's, it's, you know. It's a scene from Supernatural.

C: Yeah. It's a scene from Supernatural.

G: So, they stop-

C: Do we know why she's in that dress? 'cause I'm assuming she didn't kill herself while wearing her tits-out dress.

G: Yeah, I mean, is it a nightgown?

C: Is it a night gown? Are nightgowns usually this tits-out?

G: Because it's like, thematic if it's a nightgown because Mary dies in a nightgown. Jess does not wear a nightgown, but she dies in a nightgown, right?

C: She's in some kind of white dress. There's like a sash on it though, right?

G: Maybe it's an oversized shirt.

C: Yeah.

G: We're just making excuses for Supernatural at this point.

They stop at the house at the end of- and I highlighted this- Breckenridge Road. I don't know why. It's irrelevant. But the woman says, "I can never go home" and disappears. Ooh! Creepy! And then [laughs] a bat attacks the guy.

C: Right.

G: Which I thought was so funny. And then he goes running away in his car, ends up on a bridge, and we see a blood splatter.

C: Well, first there's like the panning shot from him in the driver's seat to her in the backseat and then her in the mirror, which I thought was a little classic horror move, but I thought it was fun. And then screaming, car shaking, blood, uh oh!

-

G: We cut to Sam and Dean... Okay. I have another Americanisms question. Do gas stations like this really exist?

C: I mean, that one looks pretty run down, like grimier than the gas stations I usually see.

G: Because like, this gas station looks like it's from fucking Red Dead Redemption. [C laughs] Like it looks so old and run down... Isn't that dangerous?

C: You know, it definitely looks like it got attacked by the Dust Bowl and then no one bothered to fix it afterwards.

G: And this is in California, right? California, what is California?

C: Yeah, California doesn't have dust bowls.

G: Is it a desert state?

C: Yeah, well it's called the Golden State, I think is the nickname, but yes, it is mostly desert and also-

G: Yeah, so maybe it is in the desert-y area of California.

C: Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense.

G: But all I was thinking was, "It looks dangerous." Like, it looks so dangerous.

C: Yeah, I don't think it's really up to building code standard.

G: And Sam is talking about credit card scams just like, out loud.

C: Right, and also like in the sloppiest exposition known to man after the first sloppy exposition of the episode.

G: Yes. So he's talking about scams out loud for everyone and God to hear. Just, out loud. And then he dunks on Dean's cassette collection, which is always funny. We get the iconic line, "Driver picks the music-

C: "-shotgun shuts his cakehole."

G: Yes, amazing. And then we get our- is this the first music cue? It is, right?

C: Maybe, yeah I think so.

G: Yeah. We get "Back in Black." Which is a good song, I must admit. I have rocked out to it multiple times after watching Supernatural when I was thirteen.

C: I feel like I haven't really listened to any music that was made before 2000? So, is ACDC- is "Back in Black" from after 2000?

G: ACDC, yes. It's an old song.

C: I've heard of ACDC. Okay, yeah, I just don't know classic rock, like at all.

G: I only know classic rock because I watched Supernatural [C: Supernatural!] young. Literally. You know what, a friend of mine, a British friend of mine was like, "You are the prime victim of the American dream." Because like, I watched Supernatural once, and immediately I'm like "I'm gonna listen to classic rock, I'm going to do all of these things that are considered American."

C: Ouch.

G: It's, yeah, yowch.

C: Yeah, instead of yassification, USAfication?

G: Yeah, it's very unfortunate. And you know, we are pushing back against the USAfication of Grey.

C: Yeah.

-

G: Okay. So they drive some more, and they end up [in unison] on the bridge.

C: And for some reason, all the blood splatter that was there before is gone.

G: Yeah, totally gone.

C: And they're like, "The car is completely clean, there's no sign of a struggle..."

G: The car is clean. There's nothing on it.

C: Do you think she just licked up all the blood? Like what do we think happened?

G: No, because like, if the body is gone, it's not a leap to say the ghost

C: - disappeared the blood -

G: Disappeared the blood as well. Because it is also part of the body, so.

C: Right. That is true.

G: Yeah. It's not a continuity error at all. So, you know, we have federal marshals telling Sam and Dean that they're too young and Dean saying, "Aw, that's awfully kind of you mister!" or something like that, which I was like, "Ah! This guy is charming." Unfortunately. [both laugh] Okay. So they talk a bit to the marshal about what's going on.

C: Dean has his ACAB moment.

G: Yeah. Do you remember the line?

C: "Well, that is exactly the kind of crack police work I'd expect out of you guys."

G: Yeah. [laughing]

C: And then Sam stamps on his foot. Very siblings.

G: Sam stamps on him. And afterwards, Dean hits him on the head and is like "What was that for?" It's like, it's very funny. It's very siblings. Like, I have done that with my siblings.

C: It is very siblings. Absolutely.

G: It's very fun to watch. And then, you know, they go out. They go looking for this girl.

C: Right. Troy's ex, Amy?

G: What's her name? Amy? Amy.

C: And they find her.

G: They say they're Troy's uncles? Did you catch that?

C: Right, yes. Which, like, you know what? Is fair, because I'm the aunt to people who are older than me 'cause my dad's the youngest out of seven siblings, but like...

G: Yeah. My mom's the youngest out of ten siblings.

C: Oh, wow, nice! High-five!

G: It's, it's you know. I have cousins that are super old. Like, older than my mom.

C: Yeah. I think I'm technically a grandmother? One of my nephews is in his twenties and had a baby?

G: Yeah. It's the natural order when you have a big family. It just happens. But like, would you introduce yourself as like "I am the grandmother," "I am the great-aunt," you know?

C: I would not. Like, cousins works so much better. I don't get it.

G: Yeah. We're his cousins! "We're his uncles"? You're 26, dude.

C: [laughs] Also, like, it's weird. Amy says "He never mentioned you to me," like how often do you talk about your uncles to your partner? Like, not often.

G: Yeah, that's why they were able to get away with it! So it's fine.

And, you know, they're talking in the cafe booth. And you know, they mention the pentagram, Sam mentions it's actually to ward off the devil, etc etc, and then Dean- there's only one thing that I remember from this scene, and it's that Dean says "ladies," like he calls the girls "ladies," and I find that so annoying.

C: I remember that too. Yeah, I was like- I think I wrote down "Dean misogyny tally number 2" or something.

G: It's so annoying! Don't- I don't know.

C: Yeah, it seems condescending.

G: Yeah, it is.

C: Right, and like, her boyfriend just died? Be a little nicer.

G: But they do have that cute moment where the girl- or Amy says, "Oh, they talk about... something" and then Sam and Dean both go "What do they talk about?" at the same time. And I was like, “Ah! Siblings.”

C: Siblings.

G: Look at them.

C: Yeah. Still in-sync after many years apart.

-

G: And then they go and research about what Amy said, which was that someone got murdered on Centennial. And then when researching-

C: Using the world's oldest Google-

G: Dean's researching, and he can't find jack shit. So Sam pushes him aside and does the research for him. Dean calls Sam a control freak,

C: Which is so ironic, given that Dean is absolutely the control freak.

G: They find out that-

C: Constance Welch-

G: Constance Welch committed suicide after her kids died-

C: Both her kids drowned in a bathtub or something.

G: Yeah, her kids died on the bathtub, she died on the bridge.

C: Oh my god, wait, sorry, um, I'm looking at the transcript now, and it says that the last line of the article is, "'Connie might have been quiet, but she was the sweetest, most caring girl I ever knew,' said Deanna Kripke, a neighbor"!

G: [laughing]

C: Eric just namedropped his own wife into this article!

G: Yeah, well he's in love.

C: Oh, right. She's not like that hateful Jessica that broke his heart in college and now must die on ceilings.

-

G: So they go to the bridge and it's night now, it's nighttime. They go to the bridge and they start talking about- Sam is like, "I'm not gonna do this forever," which agh! Oh my god.

C: Sorry, Sam.

G: Sorry, Sam.

C: Sorry, bud.

G: Dean was like, "You're one of us," and Sam's like, "I'm not like you, I'm- this is not gonna be my life," and then Dean- the ic- I keep saying iconic, but it's actually not that iconic- but like the scene where Dean's like, "Well, you have a responsibility" and Sam's like, "What? To you? To Mom? Mom is dead, and she's never coming back." And Dean gets mad at him.

C: Right. That scene is so interesting to me because earlier we see like the brothers roughhousing around with the foot-stomping and the head-smacking, but this is a moment that feels actually dangerous, like it no longer feels like siblings, like I'm like scared of Dean, like I'm realizing there's a hierarchy in this relationship, you know?

G: I don't know. I didn't see it as that. I didn't see it as Dean being like-

C: I- as a Dean- as a Dean hater [laughing]- as a Dean hater-

G: Are you ready to alienate half of our audience?

C: Sorry. As a Dean- as a complicated feelings about Dean person, I felt- I think, it's also, I'm an older sibling, and I would never do that to my younger sister. I would not do that, like that's so bad! Like, they're on a bridge!

G: You have never had your sister on a chokehold? Are you-

C: No.

G: No? Well, I am the younger sibling, so-

C: Once she bit me until I bled because I was singing a song that annoyed her, but like-

G: [laughing] I think it's the sibling hierarchy. Like if you're older, and you're much older, you're not allowed to be an asshole.

C: I'm only two years older. I think I'm allowed to be an asshole, I just never really was.

G: You're kind of allowed. Meanwhile, [laughing] I have literally gone on wrestle fights with my siblings.

C: I've definitely fought my sister before, but it was never just a sudden- like there was always a chance for her to fight back, like the chokehold- there wasn't really a chance for Sam to fight back, you know?

G: Yeah, I guess so. But it wasn't like a serious threat, he was just like, holding him against the post.

C: Yeah, I think it's also that I'm scared of heights, so I'm like "Oh god! You're shoving him against a bridge! He's going to die!"

G: Anyway, they do jump off the bridge because they see Constance Welch. And then she jumps off the bridge, and she turns on the engine of the car, and she drives them off to the side of the bridge.

C: Right. Dean gets covered in mud-

G: Sam holds on-

C: Sam's hanging off the edge-

G: Right. Sam's hanging off the edge because he's smarter than Dean. [both laugh] And so he's holding off the edge, and then he does this little laugh, which is the first time we see him, I guess, laugh in Dean's vicinity. Like he does this laugh of relief, and that was very sweet.

C: Yeah, I was like "Oh, that's sweet! Because aww, you were just fighting, but you still care."

G: Yes. And then, you know, Sam gets off the bridge- Dean, I mean, gets off the bridge-

C: Dean says, "That Constance chick, what a bitch!" which is Dean misogyny tally number 3.

G: And he shouts it so loud, too.

C: It's so loud.

G: It's like, every single time I watch this episode- and I've watched it a bunch- I always am like, "Oh! Oh! He really just says it! He really just shouts it!"

C: It's so loud. Right. And it's like- I feel like in 2005, the word "bitch" was way worse than it is now? I feel like now, people just say it to talk to their friends all the time, I feel like in 2005 it was more of a swear word, so, truly Dean misogyny moments number 3.

G: If you keep that tally up, we will never- until the end of the show, I am interested if we keep this up.

C: Yeah, I'll try. I'll write down the numbers.

-

G: [laughing] So they go to the motel and they find John's room because of the credit card whatever. And then, you know, they find that John actually already solved the thing. He already solved the mystery! So why is this Constance "chick," as Dean says- do you say chick, by the way?

C: Yeah, he says "that Constance chick, what a bitch."

G: No, no, you. Do you say chick?

C: Um, no, I do not say chick. I feel like there was a reckoning in like maybe 2010 that it was kind of misogynistic and then it sort of like tapered off. And I was too busy being in elementary school before then to say chick.

G: I actually- in my country, you call a group of beautiful girls "chicks," and that's like, a bad thing. That's not something you should do.

C: Like a catcalling thing?

G: Yeah, it's a catcalling thing. So, "oy, chicks!" Like that. It's not good. So every time Dean says chick, I do flinch a little bit because of the way it is used in my culture. So...

C: I don't think it's necessarily as bad in America, but like it's definitely-

G: It's something.

C: -definitely a little bit condescending.

G: They have the no chick-flicks moment-

C: Right. Also- why is Sam apologizing? I think Sam did nothing wrong, I think Sam said things that were completely correct, and then Dean freaked out on him. Why is Sam apologizing?

G: Well, because- okay, to put myself in Sam's perspective, he did insult their mother. Like, he was like- And that's a sensitive topic for Dean.

C: I guess. But he said she wasn't coming back, which is a true statement.

G: Yeah, that's true. Yeah.

C: Like, he wasn't like, "that Mom chick, what a bitch!" Like- he just said she's not coming back, even if we get this revenge, which I think is a fair point.

G: But, you know, it's a sweet moment, and it's referenced in the show, you know, again.

C: Right, everyone's really a big fan of the line "no chick-flick moments." Oh, is this Dean misogyny moments tally number 4?

G: Why? Is it because he said chick-flick? I think chick-flick is fine. Or is it because he says "jerk" and "bitch"?

C: Can we combine "no chick-flick moments" and "bitch" and also when he calls the men who were killed by the woman in white "you sly dogs"- can we combine that into one misogyny tally? Like they're all kind of small, but can I combine that into one?

G: Yes. I approve of this combination.

C: Alright. Dean misogyny tally number 4.

-

G: So Dean finishes up showering and then he goes out to buy food, and it's morning. I don't know how the time works; was it midnight when they went out to the bridge? So like, it's morning now?

C: Yeah, maybe. Did they get to sleep? I hope they got to sleep a bit, but I don't think they did.

G: Probably not. We know Sam and Dean.

C: Oh, and we also see that John had a picture of him with Sam and Dean in the room-

G: Yeah. Sam finds it.

C: Which is quite sweet honestly-

G: Yeah, it is quite sweet.

C: But it's probably also quite sad for Sam to see, given that his dad kicked him out and hasn't spoken to him in four years.

G: [laughing] Yeah. So, Dean has his iconic putting on the jacket- the leather jacket moment, that he steals off his dad's room.

C: Right. Transmasc AF.

G: And he, you know, work work fashion baby. He looks good! And then he gets caught by the police. And he tells Sam to go.

C: And then the iconic "my boobs" line.

G: Yeah. "My boobs." "You got anything that's real?" "My boobs." Which is, you know.

C: Yeah, trans Dean moments. But also, [laughing] Dean misogyny tally number 5?

G: Hm... Ehhh...

C: No, I won't. I won't.

G: Yeah, it's. He's, you know. He's got boobs!

C: Yeah, you're right, you're right.

G: He is- This is like AMV fodder. Like if you make a Dean AMV, you put this scene. And I support that.

Anyway, so we find Dean in the police office. He's being interviewed. And then he says a bunch of words that mean nothing to me. He says, well first, I'm assuming that Nugent is a reference?

C: Um, I don't know, but-

G: Well, we'll never know.

C: Yeah, I mean, doesn't he take a lot of- Okay, so I'm looking it up, and Ted Nugent is a hard rock guitarist, so yeah, I think it's just Dean's thing of taking names off of music artists.

G: Yeah. And then he- the police says, "You're in trouble," and Dean's says, "Misdemeanor kind of trouble, or squeal like a pig kind of trouble?" And I'm like, what do those words mean?

C: I- okay, so a misdemeanor is just like- it's below a felony in terms of crimes-

G: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

C: So I know- "Squeal like a pig"... Right, at first I was like, "Is this sexual?" or like, maybe he just means "you will be slaughtered" kind of trouble, like a pig squealing before it's slaughtered. I'm not really sure.

G: I thought it was like a song reference or something, but I guess it's not. He's just saying shit at this point.

C: I think this is just Dean saying shit.

G: And then we see, for the first time, John's journal, which will haunt this show for eternity. This journal will be here for the rest of time. Something I noticed was, when it pans to the journal, and it pans to the coordinates, you see the grain of the film, and it reminded me that this was shot in film.

C: Right.

G: And I was like, yeah, it's good. It's a good choice to shoot. Especially because of the vibe of season 1 to 3. I think it really amplifies that vibe. So I commend that.

C: Definitely. It attempts to be a gritty show, and by using gritty film, that helps.

-

G: So Sam on the other hand is out there interviewing Mr. Welch.

C: Being the worst fake reporter in the world.

G: Yeah. He's saying that John and him are partners, and he's fact-checking- oh my god, king of fact-checking! [both laugh] Dean has the paperclip escape, after Sam fakes a 911 call. And in my notes I wrote, "Dean is soo pretty, he is so handsome, so charming." And he is. Like in this scene, he looks so good.

C: Sorry, I just think his hair looks too stupid in this episode for me to be attracted to him. His hair is so spiky.

G: Well, he's having a moment. He's having a hot boy moment. [both laugh] He escapes, and he calls Sam, and they figure out that Dad has already left Jericho- why am I calling John “dad”? [laughter]

C: Dean and Samcoded.

G: John already left Jericho. And then, Sam is like, "What's going on?" and then he almost- well, he hits the ghost, but it's a ghost, so he doesn't hit it. And then the ghost appears on his backseat, right? And then is like, "Take me home" or whatever. And Sam is like, "You're scared to go home!" And so he drives her to the house. And then-

C: Yeah, but, well first, she forces herself on him.

G: Well, no. He drives her to the front of the house, and then she, like, assaults him. Because to make Sam vulnerable to her, he needs to be unfaithful.

C: -unfaithful, and apparently, sexual assault is equivalent to cheating.

G: Yeah, well, you know, it's a ghost. It's an evil ghost. It goes to Hell afterwards, so, you know.

C: Right, yeah, her morals are not pleasant.

G: Dean shoots at the woman in white. Sam drives the woman into the house.

C: Yeah. He crashes the Impala into the house.

G: Yeah. Which is such a moment. It was good.

C: Yeah, how badly-made is this- are cars really that strong?

G: It's wood, right?

C: Yeah, I guess. So I guess cars are that strong.

G: I don't know. But like, he was kind of fazed afterwards. Dean was like, "Are you alright?" 'cause, yeah. And then-

C: The ghosts of the kids show up.

G: The ghosts of the kids of Constance shows up and then sends all of them-

C: Going "Why did you kill us, Mommy?" or something.

G: No, I think they just say "Mommy, you're home!"

C: Oh, and somehow they all die via group hug?

G: They die via group hug, in a scene that looks like they're all being sucked in by the Empty?

C: Yeah. No, I remember writing down "the CGI here is not great."

G: Yeah. And then, 15 years later, they will use the same CGI to get Cas into the Empty, so, you know.

-

G: We get "Highway to Hell" again- well, no. That's later.

C: We get ACDC again when they start driving back, and it is "Highway to Hell," which is a new song.

G: But like, Dean says like, "If you damage my car, I'll kill you," which is, you know, classic Dean moment. And then they do that "Highway to Hell." Dean's like, the scene that we talked about earlier, that he was like, "Oh, are you going? Are you going?" And Sam's like, "Yeah." And Dean's like, "Okay." And they do the classic buddy cop comedy scene where Dean goes, "We make a good team" and Sam's like, "yeah," and then just walks away.

C: So Sam comes in, he's looking for Jess, there's a note on the table over some cookies, like "I miss you, I love you." He's like, "Yay! Great! Time to eat some cookies and leave crumbs all over my bed while my girlfriend's in the shower, and afterwards we'll have hot return sex before my interview!" But then blood starts dripping on his face, and he looks up, and there's Jess.

G: Jess is on the ceiling!

C: Stabbed in the stomach on the ceiling, just like Mary. And then she bursts into flames. He screams. And then Dean runs in and he drags Sam out while he's screaming and trying to get to Jess, I guess sorta like a parallel of Dean taking Sam out of the fire when they were little-

G: Yes.

C: And then they're outside and Sam's like "Well, there goes my hopes at a normal life. Goodbye, Stanford Law School. Time for guns. We've got work to do."

G: Yes. "We've got work to do"! My question is, what are they doing with a carload of guns and weapons in a crime scene? Like, it's just open!

C: Right! I was like, it's just open, and there are like, firefighters and police right over there.

G: Literally you can see the sirens. The sirens are in the background, you know.

C: Yeah, like, my dudes. My dudes.

G: They were having a moment. And they needed the "we've got work to do" because it is an iconic scene.

C: Yeah, and the whole trunk closing shot is also iconic.

-

G: So that's the end of the episode! So, what did you think about this episode?

C: Um, I thought for a pilot it was pretty good, it established the family relationship pretty well. I mean, I thought the hunt was kind of boring and also I'm aware they "adapted" the monster of the week from... Mexican folklore? was it? and probably botched it a lot, but I liked the cinematography, I liked the shadows...

G: Yeah, the shadows were amazing.

C: Yeah. And I feel like it set us up for a good season where I know what's going to be happening, it's going to be monster of the week while they try to find John and more brother moments. So yeah, I feel like it was a decent episode.

G: So, we have this segment called "Guess the IMDB Rating," and I already looked at the IMDB before this because I was trying to figure out what we're going to do the segment about. So I know the IMDB rating of the pilot, but just the pilot, I don't know anything else about the other episodes. So, for this episode, I'm just going to ask you, what do you think is the IMDB rating of this episode?

C: Okay, so, well, the pilot is gonna be the most widely-watched and most widely-rated episode, which I guess makes it a bit fuzzy. I think it was decent, and I feel like people who are very into the show would go and rate it as a nostalgia thing, so maybe like a 8.7?

G: You got it like, right. Did you look?

C: No, I didn't! Is it literally an 8.7?

G: It's literally 8.7, yes.

C: Oh my god! Good for me!

G: You're very good, yeah! I would have guessed a little bit lower. Like maybe an 8.5. 'cause like, I guess I've just watched it so many times already, it just doesn't have any impact on me anymore 'cause I've just literally watched it so many times already.

C: Right. Yeah.

G: So, I'm like, eh, it's an episode!

C: Right. Those lines that I already know sure do line!

G: Yeah. So like, yeah! That's it for this episode of [both laughing] Busty Asian Beauties.

C: No Asians in this episode.

G: Yes, no Asians in the episode.

-

G: So next week, we're going to be doing season 1 episode 2, [together] redacted.

C: So- I don't know- subscribe?

G: No! It's follow, I think.

C: Follow? Follow. Follow us.

G: Yes, follow us on social media and on your podcast whatever, and then, yeah! Send us asks, whatever.

C: Recommend us to your friends 'cause we're very interesting to listen to and everyone loves us.

G: Yes. We did not just alienate all our Dean audiences.

C: Right. Um, I love- I love Dean, he's super totally hot and his eyes are pretty- what- what do Deangirls like about him?

G: I don't know.

C: He's serving absolute mother figure? Is that something they like?

G: He's serving absolute eldest daughter? Like, that's what they say, right?

C: Yeah! Serving absolute eldest daughter syndrome, he is also bisexual, and-

G: I mean, he is, so-

C: Well, he is, yes.

G: Good for him.

C: And also a- a babygirl?

G: Yeah.

C: There we go.

G: Yeah. We- we love Sam, we love Dean, we love Cas, you know. We will cater to your interests.

C: Yes.

G: Okay, that's it!

C: Oh, and you can email us?

G: You can email us.

C: At bustyasianbeautiespod@gmail.com.

G: Yeah. That's it!

C: Have a nice night or morning or day, guys.

G: Have a nice day, guys. Bye-bye!

[guitar music]

[life-rewritten]

WHAT I WANT FROM BLS IN 2021 AKA A LOOK AND DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE BL GENRE

Hi, Hello; Bls have become incredibly saturated and growing each day, every single day we hear about new projects, new ideas, latest trailers, and it's been so great to see how BL has changed from 2015 to now. It's been a positive upward trajectory; however, again, we have to mention that it's being overfilled and not always with good shows. From the six or more countries that fight to get our energy and time to watch their shows, movies and animations, to the low budget, lazy plots that don't need to be written, Bl can sometimes be a phenomenal experience and incredible stories that make us cry and feel and learn or it can be this flop with no message, no structured plot, stiff acting and more. Am I being harsh? Should we just be okay with the fact there are more BL shows now to binge and to watch? Should we just settle for these bad stories just because there's nothing else available? I don't think so, I think with shows like ITSAY, Cherry Magic, GAYA SA, Bls have the potential to be so prominent, so unique and even beat out other heterosexual shows. So I am here to make a list of what I would like to see in 2021 with these new BL shows. Because it's quality, not quantity we want, we want better stories, better characters, better developments, just better. If we can be better, we can take over a lot of media, and there'd be more representation, education and more for the voices that want to be represented through BLs. Okay so without further or do let's get into it; 

The problem with Skinship

Now I hate to be the one that has to mention this issue, because sometimes in BLs this is not an issue; in fact sometimes some shows have too many kisses/skin ship, that end up making fans bored and frustrated with how much screen time is not being used to tell a great plot. But for me, since I started this journey into this genre, kissing has always been an issue with forced censorship that makes no sense, and stiff actors that clearly aren't comfortable with doing that. To couples that are meant to be so devoted and in love they resort to acting like buddies who can't touch each other to cut scenes and weird camera angles for a scene. Skinship isn't always needed but when a couple is meant to be obsessed with each other or addicted to thinking about touching the other, or there's a build-up of longing, and they're a long term relationship,  passionate couples kissing makes it more believable to me. What's up with this pattern of BLS avoiding kisses; please stop it's irksome I know I sound like a fujoshi but those couples that do this make me want to throw something because they're not believable no matter how much they scream from the top of their lungs,  that they love being with each other, or are attracted to each other, the lack of skinship just makes me get annoyed by it all. I also love shows like Cherry Magic where it's a softer relationship but teasing kisses and then like hiding behind an elevator for the main couple, not cool.

 I'm not going to make it a big deal, but I did feel somehow cheated at the finale of the show because one, in the manga this is not a problem, there is a lot of kisses with Adachi and Kurosawa, two, why would the second lead couple get a kiss scene but then when it comes to the main it's hidden behind an elevator, it's such a cheap way to censor it in my opinion especially since we've been teased about these two's kiss since episode 2/3. I don't need to see Adachi losing his virginity or whatnot, but I was disappointed when the elevator scene happened I was like but why it could have just been a cute kiss scene on the roof. It didn't need to be so covered and hidden. Make it make sense.  

So I don't particularly appreciate being teased by stuff like this, because it's not a sin for two people to show they care about each other like an average couple and kiss. It doesn't make the show not tasteful, or too crass, it just means that the couple are attracted to each other. I don't know, maybe it's just me, perhaps I am a fujoshi, and this is bothering me. But it's seriously to me more than that; there are some shows where this isn't a problem, where we don't need kisses and all that, but there are some where it feels so hypocritical and odd to censor a kiss like it's a sin or something. And with these shows (2gether for example)  it doesn't sit well with me, it really doesn't.  Just my opinion

The Issue With Side couples. 

Side couples need to add something to the show's plot or be balanced: there's the saying too much or too little. And with BLs I have found that the screen time of side couples can ruin or elevate a show. If you can't write a well thought out plot for extra couples, then don't add them. Normally some side couples are written powerfully and interesting as the central couple like Tin and Can from LBC or KingRam from My engineer etc., other times side couples just steal screen time for no reason, we could be using that time to make the other main couple stronger and it would be fine. Not in every BL show, that every single person have to turn out gay in the show, it's not by force. What side couples should do in a show, is add to the structured plot, give information/exposition about the world of the show, the ideas of the show, the themes of the show, they should be just as 3dimensional, just as important and fleshed out as the other characters are otherwise there's no need for them. 

Why R U, for example, had great bases for every side couple but failed due to rushed editing, lazy directing and more to make use of them. At the end of the day, the confusion with the side couples ruined the show and made everyone feel frustrated and tired by how the show was done because it felt unsatisfactory for the other plots of the side couples. An example where a side couple was done right in terms of plot but also didn't have enough coverage was TharnType season 1 with Tum and Tar, their plot was fantastic, essential and necessary to the storyline and it made sense. However, it still left a weird empty feeling because their relationship was still confusing, in LBC 2 we were meant to sort that out and Love by Chance 2 was one of the worst ways side couples are done. 

They used them for product placement (same as TharnType 7 years). Their stories were just repeating the same things we've already seen before, with no effort, no energy, and no direction given to the actors who were working hard to portray these roles. It's frustrating when side couples could be just as great in the show, but they're ruined by bad writing. 

Either have side couples with depth and storytelling that is good or don't add them at all. An example of a show without a side couple is Gaya Sa Pelikula and ITSAY. And you didn't see us moaning or crying about the lack of side couples instead it was praised because every side character had a purpose, a story of their own to tell, and depth to their characters that was needed to get us to the rest of the plot. Everyone had their own important role in the plot, and it was brilliant. So you don't need a show with many couples, you can just focus on one, or if you do have many storylines for couples, please just make it worthwhile. Please? 2021? I'm begging

More unique BLS: 

When we think about plot lines for BLs, we tend to especially in Thailand have one thing in mind which is engineering, medical students, university angst and guys in white t-shirts playing the same role over and over and over again. Don't forget the sotus gear being a symbol of their heart. I find it funny because I don't have a problem with this; if the storyline is unique/addicting enough for me to not focus on the fact it's a university plot. For example, Theory of love, but it is funny that for a very long time BLs have been focused on one type of setting; the university. We had other BLs that came from China, and Taiwan and others that weren't always based on this setting, especially China which has fantasy and more but those ended up being sad, censored or ruined. 

This is the problem. Luckily in 2020/2019, Bls started to want to be different, with new stories based on mafia-like worlds like Trapped, with supernatural storylines like He's coming to me, with the introduction of Korean BLs and Philippine BLs, we're starting to see different tropes soulmate aus, paranormal, fantasy, action, adventure etc. And 2021 already has a line up where most of the storylines veer from this engineering university plot. It's exciting. To think every country is trying to move away from student/ university storylines or give them more depth and change the normal tropes and ideas with them is so exciting and needed. I still love these tropes, but less is more, and a unique plot is even more because it shows BL can be more than just stories, can have depth, can have different versions, and can reach out to a new audience, to other tastes etc. It's been changing, and in 2021 I can't wait to see these new stories come to life. 

It’s Quality not Quantity : 

This is so important, bls are becoming saturated as happy as this makes me; it also suffocated me with bad shows not worth the praise of effort and energy and these aren't put into some shows. In 2020 we got shows like ITSAY where the producers, actors and directors fought and worked so hard to make it happen, they went through obstacles, struggled with days, they pushed through just to make sure ITSAY was created to the best of its ability. This was so incredible, and it made me almost tear up each time I watched the documentaries about how ITSAY came to life.  

Shows like ITSAY and Gaya Sa again that have directors and producers with fixed goals of trying to make a BL show more than just a typical low budget show, putting all their effort, time and ideas to make this mean something is so incredible, so excellent, words can't explain the masterpieces that are created from people who take what they're doing with this genre seriously. And for a long time, we've struggled for people to take this genre seriously, to put in effort and energy to ensure that the story they're telling makes sense, and is done well. 

I'm always harsh because you know sometimes the things needed to make something high quality isn't always available. Some people are genuinely putting everything they can into shows. However I feel like you can tell which shows do that, you can tell when a show is doing all it can to be as great as it possibly could be, for example, the History series; it's a low budget, but it's brilliant, some shows like Love By chance season 2 yes I'm going to keep on calling out this mess, you can tell did not try at all with what they were given, it was a lazy attempt just to feed fan girls and make money. And the thing about things like that is that it's just insulting, to the fans who waited with anticipation only to see the sequel come to life, to the actors who put in the effort and tried to make it be something, it's just disappointing.

 I'm sorry, but like in 2021, we don't want a repeat of that. If you don't want to put in the effort and make something that is high quality despite the low funds or whatever then don't make a show. Other shows are being made and you won't be missed.  Luckily 2021 seems like we will be getting shows of better quality, GMMTV appears like they've invested a lot this year into making BLs be more, we have the incredible Filmania KinnPorsche that is just outstanding for just a 10-minute pilot teaser, we have new channels with budgets and research ready to make new shows like Channel 3, and we have China with new directors wanting to make more danmei donghuas (with incredible quality like TGCF, with excellent live actions like the Untamed) and we have more countries just making good stories and good productions with all they have. So yeah I'm excited to see what shows will be created with this type of energy in 2021.

Let’s make it more risky

So already discussed about unique plotlines and better quality. But one thing as well in the same category as all of these suggestions is BLs being riskier. There are times where BLs try and go overboard and take risks to do new stories that make people uncomfortable, or agitated like Friendzone but the thing is I live for these storylines because it's not just fluffy or tropey stories that are based on novels that need to be told. BL can be so much more. Sometimes bls are stale, and sometimes they try to do riskier messier stories with more depth. And for example, with a company like GMMTV where they have sources and sources of stories they can tell that can be riskier and be different to the pattern they usually follow, we can get such great plots and tales based on new ideas.  I want to see a show like the gifted with bl plotline, the shipper season 2, focused on WayKim,  things without using a book adaptation and without basic plots we needed to settle for. GMMTV is trying to do that now with Not Me coming soon and shows like Friendzone, Baker Boys etc. But I want more riskier stories. Again so that BLs are more than just what they're known for, the same tropes all over and over again, the same ideas and plotlines, but new screenwriters, unique stories not based on books or what's already been made, just new ideas. That's one thing that will pave new ways for BL. Like Give us a historical Thai BL, give us a sageuk Korean show, give us time travelling. I don't know just new ideas, sci-fi, new genres, more psychological thrillers. It could be anything, and it would be so fantastic. Let's see what 2021 offers. 

Let's keep with the PC Energy; 

Shows are being called out for unnecessary toxicity, sexism, bad females that don't get the point that they're beards, problems with non-consent; these need to stop in 2021. I'm not saying we can't have shows that talk about the results and consequences of these kinds of issues, because I find it fascinating when shows take a risk and mention that, like TharnType, but it is 2021 , a new decade, we really need to stop having shows that romanticise topics that aren't okay, emotionally abusive relationships should be seen as emotionally abusive and not praised, character toxicity needs to be called out and shown as that, not as a typical bad boy who needs to be saved trope etc. I don't want to get rid of angsty haters to lovers or flawed characters that need to grow; because those stories are so exciting to watch, and analyse, but don't just add trauma for no reason and not take it seriously, don't just make characters do things without making sure the audience knows this isn't okay. We're getting better, and we're getting more healthier relationships, tropes and conversations, but there's more work to be done in some shows in 2021. Some shows like the shipper in 2020 that had predatory behaviour, incest  (not dealt with properly) which felt like a flashback to the past. 

Longer BLS:

Looking at you Korea, don't mess around you literally can have this genre in your hand,s if you make a worthy production like a typical kdrama it doesn't have to be 16 episodes. Ten is fine, even just 30 minute per episode is okay with us. If you just add more minutes and more depth to the stories, so there are more character flesh outs and more chances for your stories to be developed and not rushed. Then Korean BL will literally take over everything.  There's nothing else to really say, Korea has fantastic plot lines, intriguing characters, fun storylines that make you addicted. Yet, it always feels unsatisfactory and annoying because it's just 10-15 minutes per episode. Make it make sense. I mean there are reasons for it because of budget, and lack of mainstream support but I still think we can just focus on one show, with all the money and effort from the other shows add it to one show, make it long, make it big and create a masterpiece and it will explode. The potential is there, plus with Channels like Channel 3 in Thailand, Bls are really starting to be one hour long and have like 16 or more episodes. That's been a fun journey. But Korea, please join this energy and make more shows that are longer and better. Please??

China it's enough: 

I'm being serious; I don't know how we'll ever pass this problem, but TGCF tried to, and I can see many companies are trying to find a way to overcome this. I know with China it's not fair to demand this it's not a full representation of the Chinese culture or whatever,  but it's irksome; there's a lot of shows that can take our breaths all away in China, so many great shows so please stop ruining that. I'm tired of the PTSD of the shows potentials we lost (The guardian)  because of censorship and other issues, sad forced endings, cutting scenes and deleting episodes like it needs to stop in 2021. Because now, don't pretend that the success of BLs isn't making money and causing the Chinese industry to make more shows like these. But this is my wishful thinking like I said I don't fault writers for trying to be careful with laws, but it is incredibly frustrating when you have a country with the best creativity, storylines, acting etc., and it's ruined by censorship. Let's hope 2021 finds a way to get around this. 

Let the BL animation rain; 2020 saw a remarkable rise to danmei donguas! I'm talking MXTX universe with scum villain, TGCF, Mo dao zu shi and more, so let's keep that energy; what I love about danmei is how unique the plots are we can have transmigration, fantasy, supernatural, mafia etc. it never ends, these stories are incredible, the quality of the animations are so excellent, and the love of the characters always get me. We just need to see more come to life. 

The Brilliance of Meta; 

With ITSAY and Gaya SA and Cherry Magic taking over 2020, meta in BLS have been delicious to watch and analyse, and I want more. This is such a selfish ask, but what can I say, I live for shows filled with meta, with depth, with analysis, with characters that are not just one way on the surface but they tell a different story in subtext. I live for clues, and evidence, and production choices, hidden facial gestures, and objects with meanings;  more symbolisms, more foreshadowings, more dramatic ironies, more character dynamics, more use or other literature/media as bases for the story (like Theory of Love with Flipped and movies). I live for this. It makes a show so much more special and exciting when we're part of the journey; it gives something to do other than just watch the story unfold, we can predict, we can guess, we can analyse, we can just be part of the world of the story and fully understand the message that the writer is trying to tell us. Give us something to look for; clues to watch for, to see where the story is going. Change my mind.  For example with Cherry Magic, the fact that it was already precious and made us smile, was even more enhanced by how relatable it was with the meta, the pain, and the struggles the characters went through was so fascinating to analyse and read into and relate to. That's what I want from more BLs, like it's incredible when any kind of show has meta. I think it's one of the best signs of a great writer and production team. 

More Dimensional Characters; 

Especially villains, we don't want  stale girlfriends who know they're a beard but refuses to let go, we don't want the stale homophobic parent all the time, we don't want the bullies that always try to out people. Give me villains with revenge that makes me question who's in the wrong, reformed villains who become love interests, powerful villains we can't help but hate, but we also love, shocking villains with plot twists we can't see coming (like Lhong from TharnType). Give me depth give me angst, give me plot.

 Villains can make or break a show, they can make the show so exciting and thrilling to watch like we want to see them be discovered or end up where they deserve to go, we like feeling bad for people, and getting to see another side of a villain, we enjoy seeing villains that are different from what we initially thought about them. We like deep villains; we don't always need the same villain, like give us unique ones, give us interesting, weird ones, give us conflicting ones that make us side with them. I want that. Example of a show where there's no actual villain, but they all act like it, is Friendzone and it's so incredible to watch and see how these characters behave, grow, regress etc. I want more characters like this, real, human and makes mistakes. I want more flawed characters with deeper reasons for why they're the way they are. It makes a show very addicting to watch. Maybe that's just me.

The problem with streaming services, YouTube and international fans;

  It's weird international fans need to be taken seriously,  international fans are part of your shows rise to fame, more fame, more success , more projects can be made, and more bls can be seen. Some shows in 2020 lost their chance to shine because of the streaming issues (My engineer), subtitle issues and more. Please stop, please take this into account; try harder, there is always someone internationally willing to help translate or help. Just let us know. Putting shows on Aisplay without subs when you can find a contract that enables you to do so, is a bad move. It's just making you lose because international fans will always find an alternative source to spite you. Like it makes no sense to me, if in 2021 we're still struggling with subs, and where to watch a BL show. It makes no sense because 2020 showed that international fans could break or make a show (2gether) and as much it's privileged for me to say this, international fans should be respected and taken seriously. Luckily Channel 3, GMMTV and others are starting to put more effort into recognising international fans. Finally thank you. Let's see if we improve in 2021. 

This has been a fun rant and discussion to write. I sound so spoilt, and annoying complaining about each of these minor issues, but it really does mean a lot when a BL show tries hard to make their show worth it. Like it might seem like a small issue, with like the skinship, censorship, meta, saturated stories etc., but if BLs just stop focusing on the genre and what other people think this genre should be if people stop focusing on BLs as just BLs and see it as stories of love and representation and more, BLs can be incredible, they can be better than other dramas out there with better budgets, and mainstream support, they can have meaning, and create incredible, incredible one a kind stories. I just want that so badly for this genre. Like I don't want BLs to be seen as just the same tropes, and same issues, and same ideas that we had about them in 2015, we want growth and improvement and effort, this is not just for weird rabid fangirls only, this can be more, it can be for representation, education, for entertainment, and it can be for more people and cause a shift in the media in the world. It really can one day become just as big as many other versions of media like the world of kpop, kdramas etc. in the world.  I don't know, that's what I've always thought it could be. And if that happens, it'll be just a great thing. Anyway Let's defeat 2020, we need to keep this upwards trajectory going, and from the shows coming in 2021, I think it's possible. 

[myimaginarywonderland]

Okay, so I read an article that said Kevin felt uncomfortable kneeling because "he doesn't fully support the political black lives matter movement." He means by that that he doesn't believe in all of the stuff "they fight for" like cis privilege (that's what the article brought up, don't know if he said it.)

And honestly? This makes me so angry and breaks my heart, especially with certain behaviours the other drivers have exhibited. (Charles liking tweets calling Black live matter a Marxistic organisation and so on.)

I will take this opportunity to state the fact that I am white. I have experienced racism and I will always have the white privilege no matter what other challenges I might face. I will never know what it is like to be a black person.

But that especially means I need to listen to Black people even more, heart what they have to say. I need to recognize what they have been through and why and I need to actively work against that so I try everything in my power to never have anyone experience what black people go through and have gone through again. I as a white person need to learn and see the bigger picture. I need to realize that it is not my place and will never be to say something is or isn't racist. I need to work and improve and I need to do that constantly because racism is such a deep rooted issue in society and will not be done with me just sharing one post. It will be done with education, with taking down fundamental racist principles and organisations and so on.

And you know what all of the seven drivers are not doing? All of that. They just think "Ah yes, this post I have just made with little effort was what ended racism." The add to this, they're praised for this by the media. They're not called out because some people will say that they're ignorant, defend them saying that they grew up in a sheltered environment, in a sport that knows basically no diversity. And as right as that may be, I just want to remind you.

They're adults. All of them are grown ass man. All of them are responsible for their own actions. All of them actively decide what to do. They have no one to hide behind. No one. Don't use Max's terrible dad as an excuse. I am somehow who themself has had so many toxic relationships (non romantic) with people even from my own family. That does not and will never justify being racist. Because let's face it. It's what all of them are. Maybe not the kind of racist where you threaten black people. But the kind of racist where you grow up with a "skin coloured" pencil. They perfectly embody that every day racism that is the problem. Yes, it is also the racism that literally kills people but the dangerous racism is the one we grow up with, thinking it's okay. They're the problem with their behaviour. The problem is thinking that you can just do one thing and it's done. The problem is thinking that you as a white person have any right to choose what to do to express your stance on racism. You don't. The only you get to do just like I get to do is listen and learn. Try to educate yourself as much as possible, grow into someone more aware.

This post is messy as are my thoughts because I did want to give them the benefit of the doubt but I can't. Not when they continuously ignore what people are saying, not when they are refusing to learn.

So I want to take this post to directly say my last words to all of these drivers. I want to make it clear with this post that I will no longer support any of them. I can't. Maybe this hits me so hard because I have experienced the same kind of ignorance when it came to my sexuality by having my friends (the people who I thought were my friends) completely dismise me. Maybe some people like to say I am overreacting.

But for me personally the worst part is ignorance. Because ignorance is the start of all. Ignorance is the root and they aren't letting that root be attacked. They outright trying to defend being ignorant with some half claims and this hurts. Because they don't change. And if they don't change, what will? Imagine if people just accepted they're treatment and the stonewall riot didn't happen. Imagine if people just let west and east Berlin be.

Imagine if in a time of need, the two biggest people, the young man who represent generations for a sport, chose to stay ignorant. But you don't need to. It's already happening.

Charles, I knew you are part of a team that might limit you in the way you can act. But you could act for millions and you choose not to. You see how you're colleague has called you amongst others out and you choose to like tweets that make it out like what he is fighting for is something else entirely. You see how many people support you and the team you race for. You could have such a huge impact but instead you make some sort of excuse. You gave actual, harmful racist the chance to have something in common with you. I can not support someone like that.

Max, you have the support of an entire nation. You are someone who is already celebrated like a champion. You are the reason why so many people still watch the sport. And yet, you saw the impact you have and turned around and did nothing. You were the reason why racists called kneeling unnecessary and it was trending on Twitter. And yet you said nothing, even after all of that. I can't ever support someone like that.

I expected nothing better from Sa*nz but I just want to say that what you are currently doing is the most self centred bullshit I have ever seen and it is so disrespectful.

Antonio, I truly hope you will come around. I still have hope for you but until you do what is necessary I will not be able to support you.

Räikönnen is honestly no surprise for me but I am so ashamed that needing an excuse for you is bullshit. God,how can you say those words and not feel like an asshole?

Daniil, I know that speaking up could really cause you harm. I know that you might not be able to. But if you would, you would set the greatest example. You would act eventhough you might have to face. People would admire you (which is bullshit since that is just the bare minimum) but you would give courage for a lot of people to speak up. I was never you're biggest fan but from all of these drivers, you're the one who I can understand the most.

And now, lastly Kevin. I actually really liked you. Not just as a driver but as a person. Bit what you are saying is coming from a place of ignorance. What you are saying is hurtful because it implies that Black lives matter is anything else then the fight for equality and the fight against racial prejudice and so much more.

Black lives matter is a necessary movement that is nothing controversial. It is not your invitation to open a discussion. It is not your place to make it about white people. It is the movement to erase all racism in even the smallest forms step by step. It will never be anything else but that. It will never be your place to act. It is your job to listen to black people. It is your job to make their voices be heard. It is your job to make their struggles known. It is your job to use your platform and spread the message of it. It is your job to use the voice and the rage you have to do your best to help. It is your job as a white person to learn, to educate yourself and to grow.

All of us white people need to finally learn that this is not our place to do what we want but it is our duty to do what is necessary.

And by kneeling so and spreading your consistent ignorance, refusing to learn you are doing the exact opposite of that.

It may seem like a small step to you but as a white person you don't get to say how important kneeling is. You truly don't.

Anyway, this was probably a lot more angry and longer than I intended but I am so done with white people, especially white man, thinking that they can get away with their problematic behaviour when that behaviour is really harmful and use by actual racist to justify their actions.

You are all part of the problem and that will not change until you change.

The first step is always to feel uncomfortable. You have to feel uncomfortable. The fact that there is something that you feel uncomfortable with means there is a problem. And I can guarantee you that that problem lies within you. Because you feel uncomfortable that something doesn't match what you believe in and that believe is 100% something that comes from our racist society.

(If you actually made it this far and understand what I was trying to say, thank you and congratulations because my train of thoughts is mostly all over the place and really complicated. )

[iamskypizzaaaaaa]

EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGY

EMPOWERMENT                                  TECHNOLOGY                                           ��                   INNOVATION                                                                                   THROUGH                                                                                                       SUCCESS

    Based, Of the previous lessons that I have learned about this subject; Is how does The world continue to innovate and lived with the modern technology that serves as a necessity for every human activity. Technology brings us together even from a distance. This subject avails us to gather more information typically to students like me who find reading tons of books just to come up with specific information. Empowerment Technologies as associated with Technology, lead the way to the Internet that gives aid in making our lives easier and convenient, therefore every one of us acknowledges the Internet as a reliable source for more knowledge to develop and accomplish more things that a person is unable or difficult to do. Along with it, I understand more that links in with the use of different devices such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, and many more devices making our lives more sufficient and less time-consuming.

                                                               HISTORY OF THE COMPUTER

   In our first lesson, I’ve learned about the history of the computer. On how does computer started and how it changes, innovate in a span of years. In addition to that, it also taught me about basic computer understanding like how does it start and how does it work. From this subject I’ve also learned about the different search engines that will be very helpful for us to gather the information that is relevant and advance. Not just that, E-Tech also enhances and expanded my vocabulary and one’s own spatial and critical thinking. These words that I have learned from this subject are of course are all related to technology. For example, those abbreviated words that are difficult for me to understand and to determine. With the help of this subject, I became more knowledgeable about what is the use of typical; devices. For instance, the word “bug”, before I’m not familiar with any terminologies related to “bug” but the insect only word is the thing that crosses my mind, but on the computer, bugs may have subtle effects or cause the program to crash or freeze the computer. The difference between USB and Flash drive also became clearer to me.

             ONLINE SAFETY, SECURITY, ETHICS, AND                                                                     ETIQUETTE

   Surfing the internet is fun, but we have to be aware and set some limits to keep ourselves safe from any harm and malicious content that is not appropriate for our age. We have to be cautious about every detail that we are going to add to the internet because these details cause a vulnerable risk that apparently might affect your way of living. Following these given precautionary measures will not just keep us safe from strangers but it can also ensure the security of the devices that we’re using. I also remember one time when our teacher is discussing this lesson she asked us about our experience with social media flaming and so on. So I shared my experience to the class that one time when I’m scrolling to Facebook a stranger took a screenshot of my account with a caption “Noob Ignorant bitch who shared my shared post without reacting, Malayo ka ba sa kabihasnan sizst?!” and I was like okay HAHAHAHHAHA but I really got mad when I opened my Facebook account that she’s using my Facebook account as an example of stupidity. So, I confront her, but she blocked me but because I’m fuming mad and I can’t help it I find ways to reach out to her parents and I told them what does their daughter is doing with social media.

 This subject also scopes up about the tips to be safe online for instance:

·         Do not accept terms and conditions, read it.

·         Do not share your password with anyone

·         Do not talk to strangers whether it is online or face-to-face.

·         Avoid downloading anything from untrusted website.

                                        MICROSOFT WORD

   Microsoft Word is everything. Microsoft also come with different applications for different uses these are: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Access, and SharePoint. Microsoft is a very useful tool application for me, especially for document-making and editing. As a student especially a Senior High student Microsoft Word is not just important it is also reliable as it helps me to compile everything I needed to pass with particularly with my paper works and home works. I have learned using mail merge wherein I can send the same document to several addresses at once, yet if you’re going to try it you still need to customize it yourself. Imagine living in this particular time without Microsoft Word imagining the idea, it would be difficult.

        MANIPULATING TEXT, GRAPHICS, AND IMAGES TO                    CREATE ICT  CONTENT INTENDED TO ONLINE                                                      ENVIRONMENT

      Comes in range with different elements to come up with a graphical design. There are many photo editing applications to make some changes and to enhance photo quality. In this lesson that showcases how does designs is widely accommodating with business posters and logo to captivate the attention of the people.

                 MAKING INFOGRAPHICS USING CANVA

   Have you seen a compilation of certain information in one look in a form of the graphical and most creative way? Here come infographics that come up in different ways of interpreting data in many forms. This is helpful to understand a topic utilizing Human visual ability from patterns. Yes, seems like infographics is another way of communication to present information in a trendy way.

   We couldn’t deny the fact that technology becomes part of our life, it brought us a better life of understanding communicating and innovating, and learning. We encounter Technology whenever we go. Technology is a reliable instrument we’re using especially during this difficult time. Technology helps us especially a student like me to work efficiently with my studies, submitting my requirements, and to have more ideas to adapt and fill the gap with the very demanding occurrence of our lives. With technology, our lives become more flexible with the use of our gadgets and internet connection, for example, my father, with the use of technology he doesn’t have to go into their office just to send his forms of schedule he just logs in from a website and fills the forms for his attendance and schedules.

     Technology is also good for our economy and for those business sectors to advertise their products and services. It also helps them to expand their profitability and to provide a better management with their competitors, with this subject there are a lot of things we could learn that we can benefit from, it only depends on us if we will let technology become a useful tool or the technology to use us.   

      “Technology will not Replace great teacher but Technology in the hand of Great teachers can be transformational”                                               ~George Couros~

[redflaggg]

Soooooo I have kwento yung friend ko now nag sabi sakin ung naging impression nya nung di pa kami close hahaha, (above pictures it was taken 2017?2018? I guess) see that piercing on my left upper ear?the way I dress, the way I take selfies/pictures - ayun i was judged because of that hahaha *hindi makakagraduate* *party girl* *richkid* etc etc.. deym I was just like PUTANGINAMO! 😂😂😂

Sya: HAHAHA that was before nung di pa tayo close hahahaha

Me: hahaha wow pano mo nasabi?

Sya: the way you take selfies on social media, the way you dress, ung piercing sa ear mo 😂

Me: hahahahahah you easily judge me because of that????? You judge me base on how I looks? Hahahahah putangina ka tlaga hahaha pero okay lang it doesn't matter (atleast sinabi nya atleast di ako siniraan sa ex ko) hahahahah.

Sya: pero nung nalaman ko na graduate ka na pala tapos you're taking up Masters of arts in psychology, na matalino ka (naks matalino daw ako 😂), na mabait ka- ayun natawa ako na shock ako haha sinabi ko kay kuya mak mo na Mali pala kami sabi nya *ikaw lang yung Mali di ako* Haha (si kuya mak boyfriend ng friend ko now, and kuya sya ng ex ko)

Insights:

Actually di mo naman tlg maiiwasan mang judge ng ibang tao base on their looks(face, body) , base on the their actions, base on their personalities/character they have and base on the situation- I mean judgement - it'll automatically process by the brain eh it depends on the person on how they control their mind - as long as di sya nakakaharm/degrade ng tao it doesn't matter I guess? Dunno correct me if I'm wrong 😅. Example: may na meet kang lalaki full of tattoos in his body pustahan naisip mo agad na di sya mabuting Tao I mean bad boy like basagulero, pariwara etc.. I don't blame you kung Yun agad naisip mo kasi lumaki tayo/sila na ganun ang thinking pag nakakita ng taong ganon, sabi ko nga it's okay na ganon na isip mo ikaw yan eh utak mo yan isip mo yan basta di mo sya binabastos, di mo sya sinisiraan sa ibang Tao and syempre give them a chance na makilala natin sila fully I mean ung judgement na un wag mo hayaang mag stay na un lang alam mo be open minded, I mean kung iisipin mo kasi - nung pinanganak ba sya may tattoo na sya agad ahaha syempre hindi or ung character/how he behave masama ganon- di naman lahat innate sa tao, what I'm trying to say is everything has a reason, the way they dress-the way they looks (pinaka hate Kong judgement is ung they judge people base on their looks na dumadating sa point na binubully pinagtatawanan, inaayawan, pinagpapalit - I mean wow everybody has own beauty and sometimes looks can be deceiving😅, nagffade ang looks remember that pero ang ugali ng Tao naaaaa), the way they talk, the way they behave, the way they treat other people - it something to do with the PAST kasi lahat ng mga bagay na nangyayari sakanila/satin ngayon -sa present its because of our past- it's up to us if that *past* will motivate us to be a better/successfull/good person or not.

[genderonthescreen-blog]

Queer Representation: How Can We Get The Gays to Watch Our Movie?

The Vito Russo Test is the queer equivalent to the Bechdel Test (which tests the representation of women in films). It was created by GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and is used to test the representation of LGBTQ+ people in film. The way a film passes the test is if there is an “identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender” character who isn’t defined by their sexuality and/or gender identity, and who is significant to the plot. Despite the fact this test is quite easy to pass, most films do not. Out of the 109 films released by major studios in 2017 only 14 had LGBTQ+ characters in them (that’s 12.8%). Gay men are the most represented out of those 14 films (64% or 9 out of the 14 films feature a gay man that pass the test) while trans people are the least represented in 2017 (zero out of the 14 films featured transgender characters). These numbers are insanely low, and shows that there is a clear problem with the representation of LGBTQ+ people in films.

But, even in the movies that feature LGBTQ+ characters, how well are they being represented, really? Films like Call Me By Your Name (2017), Carol (2015), Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013), and Brokeback Mountain (2005) have all been praised as iconic queer movies with great representation, but how great is this representation? Right off the bat you can see that all of these characters are white. Not a huge surprise when it comes to Hollywood, considering how bad they are at representing people of color, but, still, not all queer people are white, obviously—Marsha P. Johnson, anybody? How about happy endings? Shouldn’t queer people be allowed to see a relationship like their own end happily? Well, it seems not. In Call Me By Your Name, they break up; in Blue Is The Warmest Color, they break up; in Brokeback Mountain, they break up and one of them dies (the good-olde “bury your gays” trope https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/30/queerbaiting-bury-your-gays-tv_a_23005000/ )! Carol seems to be the only one that has a semi-happy ending. Although, Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett) do breakup at one point, at the end of the film it is implied that they get back together. An implication is a we can get apparently. Oversexualization is also an issue. All of these movies have semi-graphic sex scenes in them, with Blue Is The Warmest Color’s sex scenes are borderline pornography—and definitely from the male gaze. Now, sex isn’t the problem here, if a director wants to show two characters getting it on, they very well should be allowed to do so! The problem is that the only kind of movies that are popular and feature queer people at the forefront are romantic dramas (usually tragic) that are very heavy on the sexual discovery. This would be fine if there were just as many goofy LGBTQ+ romantic comedies or action movies with queer leads as there are LGBTQ+ romantic tragedies.

Now, that’s not to say things aren’t getting better! With the release and success of Love, Simon in 2018, a romantic comedy about a teenage boy coming out as gay, things are, hopefully, starting to look up. However, there has recently been a new disturbing trend when it come to LGBTQ+ representation in films. A film will announce that there is an “openly gay” character in their movie before the film is released. Thus, attracting a large queer audience that is sorely disappointed when they realize “openly gay” actually means “not openly gay at all.” Take Beauty and the Beast (2017) for example. Before the release of Beauty and the Beast, Dir. Bill Condon announced that there was going to be an “exclusively gay moment” (WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN?) in the film involving LeFou (Josh Gad), Gaston’s groveling sidekick. Fans were obviously excited! But, when the movie came out, what we got was very a stereotypical depiction of a gay man (who is supposed to be crushing on Gaston?), and one moment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sadujj45Y90 blink and you’ll miss it) where LeFou accidentally starts dancing with another man and… that’s it—wow, how groundbreaking.

While there is at least a small moment in Beauty and the Beast, other films that use this tactic to get a more diverse audience don’t even bother following through. Before the release of the much anticipated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan announced that Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) is pansexual. This revelation prompted fans to go crazy, but when the movie came out there was nothing, besides some semi-flirty lines and an “implied” romantic relationship with a droid (okay…), explicit in the film that showed Lando’s pansexuality. Some people (https://lwlies.com/articles/queerbaiting-solo-lando-calrissian/ ) are calling this trend, a new from of queerbaiting, and going by the definition (“the practice of hinting at, but then not actually depicting, a same-sex romantic relationship between characters in a work of fiction, mainly in film or television” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queerbaiting ) I’m have to agree. Except, this kind of queerbaiting is almost worse because the “hinting” starts before the film comes out. Therefore filmmakers are literally using a the possibility of a potentially queer character as bait to get more LGBTQ+ moviegoers into their theaters.

There are other, less nefarious, examples of this kind of queerbaiting. Tessa Thompson, who plays Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok (2017), made a post on twitter before the film came out about how her character is bisexual and how she wanted that to come through on the big screen. However, she was quick to add that Valkyrie’s sexuality is never explicitly shown in Thor Ragnarok (https://www.avclub.com/thor-ragnarok-ultimately-cut-the-one-scene-that-confir-1820047758 check out this article). It’s clear that Thompson wan’t trying to get more LGBTQ+ people to see Thor Ragnarok, she was just trying to spread the word about her character’s sexuality—Valkyrie is canonically bisexual in the comic books.The character of Albus Dumbledore, the grandfatherly headmaster of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter film and book series, could also be another example of this kind of queerbaiting. However, unlike all of the other examples, Dumbledore’s sexuality was revealed by author JK Rowling after the release of the last Harry Potter book in 2007 (https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3755544&page=1 check out this article from that year talking about it). Dumbledore’s sexuality was never explicit in the Harry Potter books or movies, but recently Rowling has started another film series that takes place in the Potter universe (but during the 1920s) called Fantastic Beasts. Before the release of the second installment, it was announced that Jude Law would be playing a young Dumbledore in that next film (Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald), and people began to ask if Dumbledore’s sexuality is going to be addressed in these films. Not much was said by Rowling, but before the movie was released Dir. David Yates said Dumbledore’s sexuality is not “explicitly” shown in the film. Fans were obviously upset be this—myself included. However, after seeing the movie, I feel like it’s safe to say only a person in serious denial would claim that Dumbledore is straight after watching The Crimes of Grindelwald. There isn’t anything “explicit” in the movie (Dumbledore doesn’t say “I’m gay” or kisses a man) but the relationship between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, the antagonist of the series and Dumbledore’s ex-lover, is shown or alluded to in in more ways than one—not explicitly telling the audience about his sexuality is in character for Dumbledore, who has always been secretive. As a fan of Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts films, I hope in future installments Dumbledore’s sexuality will be more explored—and it should, especially since the main antagonist is his ex-boyfriend!

Queer representation is important. The constant censoring of LGBTQ+ people and relationships in media needs to end. It’s often said that this kind of censorship is to protects kids from exposure to “inappropriate” content. News flash, there are kids out there who are queer! (Because queer people have always been queer.) I remember when I was a kid how big of an impact seeing queer characters and couples in film and TV were for me. Seeing characters like Tara (Amber Benson) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer made me feel like I wasn’t alone and that there wasn’t anything wrong with me. Even though queer representation in film is still lacking it’s getting better, and it’s getting even better on TV shows! The Legend of Korra, and Steven Universe are two kids shows that feature LGBTQ+ couples. Sense 8, Orange is the New Black, Queer Eye and Black Mirror (specifically season 3’s episode San Junipero) are all Netflix original series that have great LGBTQ+ representation and/or are LGBTQ+ centric—trans characters played by actual trans actors? YES! Things are looking up and I have high hopes for the future when it comes to queer representation.

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Check out these cool sources!

https://lwlies.com/articles/queerbaiting-solo-lando-calrissian/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/01/disney-launches-first-exclusively-gay-moment-beauty-beast/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/05/17/lando-calrissian-pansexual-solo-star-wars-reaction/620566002/

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/movies/jude-law-dumbledore-gay.html

https://www.thedailybeast.com/glaad-report-hollywood-is-failing-lgbt-characters-in-its-movies

https://books.google.com/books?id=AoQrDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT143&dq=the+vito+russo+test&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj25Yj_oaDfAhXwx1kKHZODBU0Q6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=the%20vito%20russo%20test&f=false

https://www.glaad.org/sri/2018/vitorusso

https://www.glaad.org/sri/2018/overview

How about this cooler bibliography!

https://books.google.com/books?id=UWtECwAAQBAJ&pg=PT203&dq=queerbaiting&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJ6M3zzprfAhWu11kKHT6ZAcwQuwUIMTAB#v=onepage&q=queerbaiting&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=f6YwSZlsyJMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=lgbt+film&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjprcyuz5rfAhXSq1kKHbkGAzgQuwUILTAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=jI_IHFUidlwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=lgbt+film&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjprcyuz5rfAhXSq1kKHbkGAzgQuwUIUTAH#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=ROhSbOQIzmYC&pg=PA31&dq=the+hays+code&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6tc3zzJrfAhXIqFkKHaOoAUQQuwUITDAG#v=onepage&q=the%20hays%20code&f=false

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/we-need-to-talk-about-lgbt-representation-apparently_us_5a3d4dede4b06cd2bd03da68

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0HsPIquRmc

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/22/lgbt-representation-in-hollywood-has-somehow-got-even-worse/

Photo credits go to Netflix.