#the lawyer viewer is pleased

[mareastrorum]

"Lesson number one: In matters regarding warlocks, what's on the page is the only thing that counts." - Zara Sool

[matchalovertrait]

Alegría VS Caruso: Day 1, Part 3

Previous

Dulce’s lifelong friend, Matthew Fyres, agreed to take the stand in court to verify the digital evidence. He works in cybersecurity and is highly skilled in computer science.

Back in Italy, he lived a bit further from Dulce and Guillermo, so they didn’t get to hang out as much. However, their bond was as strong as ever. He was more than willing to help Dulce.

It was risky to use him instead of a random expert who would be undeniably neutral on the stance, but part of the strategy was to show that Dulce has a lot of support and loyal friends.

“Mr. Matthew Fyres, please explain your role and credibility,” Antonio calmly asked. He knew Matthew was quite nervous.

Matthew took a deep breath to soothe himself. “I work for the cybersecurity agency of Italy’s government. I cannot share much about what I do since I handle sensitive information, but I am a professional in this line of work.”

“And you have verified the digital evidence we presented thus far? Including Ms. Alegría’s cookbook project files and data from her channel?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Isabela smirked. It was her turn to question him.

“Mr. Fyres. I’d also like to point out the interesting timeline of the creation of these digital records. They only date back to about a year ago, correct?”

Matthew hesitated.

Dulce’s eyes widened.

It’s true! Still, it’s her work. She transferred everything over from-

“Yes..” Matthew admitted. He was stuck! He didn’t know what else to say to that.

The courtroom began to fill with a few whispers from the jury and audience.

Dulce was thinking of something, what was it???

Isabela took a sharp turn and faced the jury. “And the social media accounts? When the evidence was being presented, I noticed a small dip in viewership and subscriptions before Mr. Caruso’s video was published. There was one, correct?”

“Yes, because Mr. Caruso posted an Instagram story announcing the breakup. However, the percentages were an insignificant amount.”

“It was still a noticeable amount. Viewers and sponsors were already losing faith in her or only liked her because of Mr. Caruso. Her videos appealed to the masses because she was good at playing the part of a chef with humble beginnings. However, many comments in Mr. Caruso’s video prove that a good portion of viewers already had suspicions about her. He inspired other people to come forward with their opinions. Ms. Alegría is not a real chef. She is a liar and a manipulator. Her downfall was destined to come sooner or later–”

“Objection! Ms. Campos is making baseless accusations against my client.”

Too many objections can make a lawyer look like there is something to hide, but Antonio felt like he had to do it.

“Overruled. Continue, Ms. Campos.”

Antonio sat down, his mind racing.

“Here is my last question: So far, we’ve gathered that Ms. Alegría is rather skilled at exploiting others. Could she have persuaded you to fabricate or alter the evidence? Just like how she let Mr. Caruso believe there was a future between them AND persuaded him to let her take credit for his recipes?”

The courtroom burst with noise as people reacted to her bold claims. Some people seemed persuaded.

Antonio glared at Isabela. I miscalculated...

Dulce looked down. It was hard to concentrate with all the chatter. Gosh, can everyone shut up for a second?

The judge was exclaiming, “Order! Order!” to no avail.

Then, it clicked. Shit. My notebook! That’s where I originally kept all my recipes. Where did I last see it? Did I leave it in Tartosa?

She smiled.

No, of course I brought it! That's how I transferred everything from my notebook to my computer a year ago.

It’s in my office. It has the dates and everything.

Maybe we can do ink dating testing or whatever it's called!

Things look bad now, but her culinary friends would come another day. Her notebook could surely help too. She has to tell Antonio.

Previous

[summerpearlgirl]

Debling's Red Flags 🚩

On first viewing of S3, I liked Debling because he displayed some of Colin's attractive qualities of nerdiness, adventurousness, rebelliousness against society's rules, passion for purpose and disdain for fakeness. It was nice to see a suitor dancing with Penelope and complimenting her frankness and wit.

But on deeper reflection, Debling had several red flags.

He warned Penelope that he loved his work so much there was unlikely room in his heart to love his wife (🚩please get away from Pen).

He wanted a wife who was convenient, independent and capable of running an estate (🚩sounded like he was employing an accountant).

Debling was aware that Penelope is a romantic and yet he wanted to lock her in a loveless, essentially sexless marriage for life (🚩bastard, you are dead to me).

Penelope was right to feel nervous telling Debling in S3E4 that she is drawn to "reading stories of love, stories of connection and a better life" (better than the cold & cruel home she grew up in, meaning Penelope desperately desires a warm & loving home). The honourable response to hearing that from Penelope would be for Debling to end plans of a marriage of convenience. Instead Debling equated what Penelope said to how he feels about his work. 🚩Debling then proceeded to take steps to bind Penelope to a marriage contract that would remove any chance of her experiencing romance without catastrophic financial, legal and social consequences.

Some neurodivergent viewers may find Debling with his quirks and special interest in animals relatable. Which is more than fine. But Bridgerton is a romance show and I believe marriages work best when core values are compatible. Penelope's core value of "love & connection" is incompatible with Debling's core value of "work above all & indifference to love". Sometimes people change, but it is always safest to take people based on observed evidence of the compatibility of their character and values with yours.

Debling was hostile towards Colin too. It drives me insane when people say Colin's beef with Debling was one-sided. In the S3E4 library scene, Debling followed Penelope's line of sight and saw that she was looking with interest at Colin. He then stepped to the side to block Penelope's view of Colin. At the Innovation Ball when Debling came to collect Penelope to dance he interrupted as Colin was about to speak and then Debling gave Colin a savage, smug glare.

Some may argue that Debling was kind, intelligent and rebellious enough to not bend to social pressure and abandon Pen if he found out she was Lady Whistledown. But he failed to provide a long enough courtship to confidently demonstrate this. Debling was rushing Pen to the altar because his noticeable priority was to divest the responsibility of running his estate so he could depart to catalogue animal species. His lack of care for a longer courtship demonstrated selfishness, arrogance, impatience and disrespect. Qualities that do not bode well for a happy marriage. You can be passionate about your work, and a bit impulsive, but rushing into marriage/pregnancy with a stranger who has not proven to have a compatible personality over time and various challenges is not smart and not safe.

It is true that women had few options in Regency times and that marriage to a wealthy, titled and absent man could be preferable to remaining in Featherington House. To that, I say: give Penelope a helpful solicitor. Book!Penelope's solicitor was the MVP. He established publishing connections, managed her finances across multiple bank accounts, and utilised the deaths of distant relatives as a cover for large financial transactions. Honestly, "Go speak to a lawyer" should be the message more romance stories promote, rather than "Marry quickly and blindly hope for the best". I recommend this Polin fic with a helpful solicitor, it is empowering and romantic: Mistress of Choice by some_mad_lunge https://archiveofourown.org/works/29520279/chapters/72531312

Debling did not need to exist. The use of a rival courtship in S3 cheapened Colin's decision to declare himself by making it appear that it was predominantly motivated by possessiveness and a time crunch rather than driven by the genuine growth of his romantic feelings towards Pen.

The Debling plot stole precious time away from Polin building a stronger connection, character development for Colin and Bridgerton sibling support for Colin. The S3 writing/editing gave Colin crumbs and my boy deserved better.

There were many things I loved about S3, which I happily post about, but Debling is not one of those things.

(No hate to the actor. I loved listening to him on this podcast episode. He is a real sweetheart.)

[adrl-pt]

Saving Activist Andrey Gnyot. VPN Protest. Charity Lecture by a Political Philosopher.

You are watching the news from the weekly rally at the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. Today is August 24, 2:30 PM.

Since the end of last week, Belarusian and Russian activists have been holding a protest demanding that Belarusian activist Andrey Gnyot not be extradited to dictator Lukashenko. On August 21, Andrey and his lawyers shared the details of his case on the European Radio channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-upcgkIwWSA

On August 25 at 2 PM, we will gather in front of the Serbian Embassy in Lisbon at Rua de Alcolena 11. https://www.facebook.com/events/1043644033328903/

If you cannot come, please take photos with posters and send them to us at info@adrl.pt.

Sign and share the petition that could help Andrey in the Serbian court. https://www.peticije.online/slobodazaandreja

Also, support the fundraising for his legal defense. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-andrey-gnyot-save-his-life

We believe it is important to support Andrey because we understand the problems that dictator Lukashenko creates for Belarusians. Recently, with great difficulty, the rock band Bi-2 was saved from deportation to Russia. https://www.change.org/p/thailand-free-bi-2-rock-band

Currently, Russian citizen Vladislav Arinichev is under threat of deportation from Croatia. The reason is that Putin labeled him a "terrorist" and "extremist" for his anti-war statements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU2JQ9NArqo

In April, Novaya Gazeta Evropa reported that Rosfinmonitoring is adding both people suspected of terrorist activities and, for example, employees of an Orenburg gay bar in a case about the alleged "extremist LGBT movement" to this list. This list already contains more than 14,000 people, including well-known journalists, politicians, and theater figures. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/04/02/s-nachala-2024-goda-spisok-terroristov-i-ekstremistov-rosfinmonitoringa-popolnilsia-na-rekordnye-669-chelovek-17-iz-nikh-nesovershennoletnie-news

Back in 2018, Novaya Gazeta reported how law enforcement agencies find "extremism" in social media posts. https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2018/08/21/77560-etot-spisok-grazhdanskaya-smert

In the Freedom House Internet Freedom Rating, Russia ranks fifth from the bottom, while Belarus is seventh. https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-net/scores?sort=asc&order=Total%20Score%20and%20Status

On August 23, the director of the "Internet Protection Society" Mikhail Klimarev reported disruptions in the work of Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber. https://t.me/zatelecom/28739

On July 26, he shared two working methods for bypassing the blocks and slowdowns of YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbTGhCYFIsY

These are the Ceno Browser and VPN generator. https://censorship.no/ru/download.html https://t.me/vpngeneratorbot/?start=BrSh2607

The Telegram channel "Tech Talk" published a link on how to purchase Amnezia VPN while bypassing the blocking of their main site. https://t.me/ru_tech_talk/543

They also provided instructions on how to connect MTProxy, which helped with Telegram blocking in 2018. https://t.me/ru_tech_talk/544

While Russians are protesting by installing VPNs, Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov burned the files of Russian draft dodgers at the Sudzha military registration and enlistment office, calling them "smart people." One of the comments under this video reads: "One Ukrainian soldier helped these people more than their native Russia." https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qaeEidnquCE

On August 27 at 7 PM, we will hold a charity lecture on what a revolutionary situation is. The lecture will be given by political philosopher Ilya Budraitskis. We recommend registering using the phone number listed on the poster so that we can better understand how many viewers will attend. https://www.facebook.com/events/1021147643042506/

We are holding this event as part of our regular support for the Netherlands Orphans Feeding Foundation, which works to return stolen Ukrainian children. If you can't come, please make a donation from home. https://www.every.org/orphans-feeding-foundation/f/help-us-return-the-deported

Proofs and links are in the description. Subscribe and help!

[chaoticfandomgirly]

I always like to say the hard truths about shows and since I am watching Suits, it's their turn. And this is because I like to analyse stuff and I know there will be people who say 'it's not that deep' to which I say that all shows have intent, it's the viewers choice about how they see it.

Louis Litt is the definition of- giving it your all but never being enough- and the people who hate on him really should reevaluate their stance.

I am not gonna lie, I did find Louis irritating in the 1st season but the more I tried to see his perspective the more I empathised. The dude is so over stressed and wants to just fit in, feel validated and get reward for his hardwork...I really feel bad for him.

Does he make mistakes? Yes. Is he a petty son of a bitch? Also yes. But I think that is true for all the characters in the show. The only difference is, that Louis is the black sheep of the group. And frankly, the amount of times he has been bought down is enough to have a villain origin story.

So, when he found out about Mike, I didn't particularly hate that. Louis was hurt and betrayed so many times that it was the last straw. He had his breaking point. He was the only one who let emotions cloud his judgement and for the first time we see his true potential as a cold-hearted lawyer who doesn't make mistakes with good intentions but makes them with intent.

He wants to be on top just like everyone else and would do anything to get there just like everyone else in the show, so he is justified in it.

So even though I am the point where things have calmed down, I felt it necessary to say it. Louis Litt does deserve more.

Thanks to all who read my rant. And for those who don't agree, please don't pick a fight. But I do welcome civil conversations.

[absolutebl]

Hi there! I've just returned from a two-week holiday (as I'm writing this I'm actually still driving back home, but I want to get on top of it lmao), so I would like to defer to your knowledge:

could you pretty please provide me with an update on what series ended/started while I was away? I have a vague idea, but I don't want to miss out on the things that didn't get as much promo and are therefore not on my mdl.

if you can, my watchlist will be forever thankful!!

July Report: BL that Stopped & Started & Is worth Your time

Ended July 2023

Step By Step

This was Thailand’s answer to The New Employee, and everything I loved about that show I loved about this one.

This was an office romance between stern boss and sweet subordinate that felt more authentic to an office environment than previous Thai BLs of this ilk. And that authenticity added tension to the narrative and character development (how novel). Now that might be because it has western source material, or it might be because it is actually kind of old-fashioned (it’s been years since I worked as an office grunt). I also really enjoyed the brothers’ relationship, and kinda wished they hadn’t attempted (and failed) to give said brother his own side BL. That one flaw made it a 9/10 for me.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

La Pluie

This BL takes to task the fated mates trope and what it means to have love chained intimately to predestination. It’s about how faith in destiny before choice diminishes the authenticity of emotion, relationships, and connection. This is a high concept to examine through the lens of a BL.

By activating + examining the soulmates trope this show is challenging a foundation of romance: the idea that there is one person meant to be your one romantic partner all your life. This means that we, as viewers, spend much of the show worried about it having a happy ending, and that’s the source of both its brilliance and tension: would the narrative have the strength to truly challenge its own romantic core? But, ultimately, all this elevated complexity was executed in a somewhat shaky manner with the narrative derailing into some serious pacing issues and characters manipulated by miscommunication.

However, with good chemistry and decent acting all around, plus some excellent high heat and representation of consent and a few other rare tropes, this one has to (like it’s sibling show My Ride) earn a 9/10. I enjoyed it even as it made me think, so despite its flaws:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Started July 2023 & Looking GOOD

Jun & Jun

Korea Thurs Viki 8 eps

THANK YOU BL GODS. It is so good. Like everything I want in the world. I’m incandescently happy with this show.

It’s office set,

it’s an ex idol,

everyone is pretty as peaches,

and it’s all about remembering somebody’s smell!

I could not be more delighted.

Laws of Attraction

Thai Sat iQIYI 8 eps

(Icky picked it up but they are serving it in a complicated way that may require a VPN.)

Stars the pair from To Sir With Love with the same production team. IT’S SO GOOD. A morally corrupted trickster lawyer with a tragic past, sad eyes, and a beautiful smile that he uses like a weapon. Meets paladin martial arts instructor from other side of the tracks (who is out, at least to his baby sister).

Corrupt police.

Spoiled rich kid evil.

Ambitious politician.

Tragic death.

Terrible subs.*

This show is very like Manner of Death but so far it is a much better/tighter story (there's a Devil Judge aura happening). It’s NOT BL but it is fucking phenomenal. And you should watch it. Not wait to binge it. WATCH IT.

On a global scale this might be the best thing currently airing featuring gay romantic leads. Its really fucking good. It’s Lawless Lawyer but more complex character motivation and gay af. Fuck yes please and thank you. FINALLY.

Triggers for violence, beatings, death & torture depicted on screen. Like MoD they are not holding back. 

(* A lot of the familial names they are using are not gendered in Thai but translated as such, like “nephew”. This one is gonna go down a lot easier if you know some Thai.)

ALSO:

Stay By My Side - Taiwan Fri Gaga 10 eps

Hidden Agenda that isn’t hidden - Thailand Sun GMMTV YouTube 12 eps

Low Frequency - Thailand Sat iQIYI 8 eps

Started But You Can Probably Wait IMHO

Dinosaur Love (Sun iQIYI)

Be Mine Super Star (Mon Viki)

Wedding Plan (Weds YT & iQIYI) it's mame so A trash watch is happening! 

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu Gaga)

Hope this is what you wanted.

[haologram]

haologram's masterlist.

welcome to the haologram masterlist. all works are considered 18+, minors please do not interact. any minors or ageless blogs found interacting will be blocked.

key: [✦︎] angst ; [⚝] fluff ; [★] smut ; [♡] favorites

⇢ choi seungcheol.

... coming soon!

⇢ yoon jeonghan.

... coming soon!

⇢ joshua hong.

how to be a latin lover - ✦︎ | ⚝

[26.8k] summer fling to lovers, ta!joshua x student!reader: the dreadful semester has started — meaning your summer vacation has come to end, and so has your summer fling…or has it? ⇢ part of the back to school with seventeen collab.

⇢ wen junhui.

... coming soon!

⇢ kwon soonyoung.

araneae - ✦︎ | ⚝ | ★

[18.9k] friends (with benefits) to lovers, ta!soonyoung x student!reader: when you realize your friend (with benefits) actually has feelings for you, a tangled web of lies and avoidance ensues. ⇢ part of the back to school with seventeen collab.

⇢ jeon wonwoo.

... coming soon!

⇢ lee jihoon.

stairway to the stars - ✦︎ | ⚝ | ★

[1.5k] established relationship, husband!jihoon x actress!reader: your husband has always been supportive of your dreams - from the sidelines. he stays to himself, he keeps his mouth shut. it's you that can't stop running yours when your co-star is all over him. ⇢ part of the 'a very seventeen christmas' secret santa event.

⇢ xu minghao.

... coming soon!

⇢ kim mingyu.

... coming soon!

⇢ lee seokmin.

... coming soon!

⇢ boo seungkwan.

unforgiven - ✦︎ | ⚝ | ★

[40.8k] rivals to lovers, athena!seungkwan x arachne!reader: seungkwan may have been represented by his considerably heartwarming traits, but he ruined his own fate with his vengeful and prideful behavior. despite his flawed outlook, he can still see you in every lover — until it's you, again. ⇢ part of the 13 gods of olympus collab.

⇢ hansol vernon chwe.

... coming soon!

⇢ lee chan.

... coming soon!

⇢ ot13.

... coming soon!

⇢ collabs hosted by me!

don't hate, litigate! - ✦︎ | ⚝ | ★

[TBA] lawyer!seventeen: let's say...you're in a bit of a pinch. Maybe your wife wants to divorce you, or you've (allegedly) been involved in third-degree murder. you are entitled to an attorney - whether or not it's a good attorney is out of our control. ⇢ posting period: october 25th, 2024 - january 25th, 2025. subject to change.

haologram © 2024 || no translations, reposting or modifications are allowed. do not claim as your own. viewer discretion is advised. your media consumption is your responsibility.

[whimsywandererech]

Total Drama Headcanons!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello there Tumblr reader ! Well I'm quite new to Tumblr so please try respecting me first before I say please follow me later on because I have huge ideas on these headcanons because it would help A LOT ! Thanks :3

Alejandro Headcanons

1.Alejandro possesses a unique talent for beatboxing, delivering impressive beats even when no one is present.

2.He enjoys cheesy romantic comedies and sheds tears at happy endings.

3.Alejandro enjoys experimenting with gourmet cooking and creating culinary masterpieces in his free time.

4.Despite his tough exterior, he's a softie for cute puppies and frequently volunteers at animal shelters.

5.Alejandro and Heather perform karaoke duets, transforming mundane nights into unforgettable performances with their powerful vocals and dynamic harmony, leaving the crowd in awe.

Beth Headcanons

1.Beth is adept at executing elaborate pranks using her chameleon-like abilities.

2.She is a shady science enthusiast who enjoys experimenting with gadgets and conducting unconventional experiments in her leisure time.

3.Beth, despite her shy demeanor, is a fierce competitor in gaming tournaments, dominating with her strategic mind.

4.She is a discerning snack enthusiast, always seeking out unique and delectable treats to surprise her friends.

5.Beth's ultimate goal is to become a passionate wildlife conservationist, dedicated to protecting endangered species worldwide, she wished she could do that but sadly she didnt have the chance to participate world tour.

Blaineley Headcanons

1.Blaineley is a renowned social media personality known for her glamorous lifestyle and controversial opinions.

2.She is a dedicated camping enthusiast who finds solace in the wilderness away from the spotlight.

3.Blaineley's secret talent is her opera singing, which leaves audiences in awe with her powerful vocals.

4.She is a confident vintage fashion collector, showcasing a wardrobe filled with rare pieces from various eras.

5.Blaineley aims to host a talk show, captivating viewers with her wit and charm, bringing drama and entertainment wherever she goes.

Bridgette Headcanons

1.Bridgette is a dedicated marine biology enthusiast who spends her time exploring the depths of the ocean and studying its diverse creatures.

2.She is a talented musician who uses her ukulele to create soothing melodies that captivate the waves.

3.Bridgette is a reliable friend who provides genuine advice and support to those in need.

4.She excels in beach volleyball tournaments, despite her laid-back demeanor, showcasing precision and skill on the sand courts.

5.Her dream is to establish an ocean conservation center, educating others about the significance of marine life protection and ocean preservation for future generations.

Coutney Headcanons

1.Courtney is a confident and strategic leader who effortlessly takes charge in any situation.Even though most people thinks that she sucks at it but she still believes that shes good at it.

2.She is a secret adrenaline enthusiast, enamored with extreme sports like skydiving and bungee jumping to satisfy her adventurous spirit.

3.Courtney, despite her tough exterior, has a soft spot for DIY crafts, dedicating hours to creating handmade gifts for her friends and family.

4.She is a dedicated fitness enthusiast, consistently working out at the gym to maintain her physical fitness.

5.Courtney aspires to become a successful lawyer, harnessing her passion for justice to advocate for her beliefs and make a positive impact on the world. She might get out of control because deep inside she wants to sue all of her enemies.

Cody Headcanons

1.Cody is a tech genius, adept at hacking complex codes and creating revolutionary programs, showcasing his bright geeky side.

2.The individual is a passionate film enthusiast, a knowledgeable movie trivia expert, and hosts epic movie marathons for his friends.

3.Cody, despite his nerdy background, is a breakdancing enthusiast who skillfully performs moves that challenge his stereotype.

4.He volunteers at animal shelters, demonstrating his compassionate side by loving and caring for their furry companions.

5.Cody's ultimate fantasy involves traveling the world as a tech travel blogger, sharing his unique experiences and spreading geeky positivity globally.

DJ Headcanons

1.DJ is a culinary genius who creates delicious dishes that tantalize the taste buds, blending each bite with a symphony of flavors.

2.The individual is a talented pianist who delivers soulful melodies that captivate audiences and transport them to a different world.

3.DJ, despite his size, is a skilled dancer who moves gracefully and fluidly, captivating audiences with his rhythm.

4.He is a nature enthusiast who finds peace and serenity in the outdoors, connecting with the earth and its beauty.

5.DJ envisions establishing a community center to mentor and inspire young people through his culinary skills, music, and passion for nature.

Duncan Headcanons

1.Duncan, a renowned graffiti artist, creates intricate street art that narrates tales of rebellion and freedom in the city.

2.The individual is a skilled skateboarder known for performing daring tricks and stunts that showcase his fearless attitude on the streets.

3.Duncan, despite his stern exterior, possesses a remarkable talent for poetry, composing raw and emotional pieces that reveal his underlying emotions.

4.He is a skilled craftsman who creates custom motorcycles, showcasing his unique style and mechanical prowess in each ride.

5.Duncan aims to establish a youth center, providing a creative outlet and sense of belonging for troubled teens, utilizing his rebellious spirit for positive change.

Eva Headcanons

1.Eva, a fitness expert, consistently exceeds her limits through rigorous workouts and training sessions, leaving others in awe of her strength.

2.She is a renowned rock climber known for her unwavering determination and fearless attitude, showcasing her exceptional skills in challenging peaks.

3.Eva aspires to establish a self-defense academy for women, empowering them to defend themselves and thrive in a world valuing strength and courage.

Ezeikel Headcanons

1.Ezekiel is a skilled woodworker known for his intricate pieces that showcase his skill and connection to nature.

2.The individual is an exceptional organic gardener, renowned for his vibrant fruit and vegetable cultivation, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable living and farming practices.

3.Ezekiel, despite his rural background, impresses with his unique poetry style, capturing the beauty of the countryside and the simplicity of farm life.

PART 2 COMING SOON !!

The more likes the more i can do !!

[ericdeggans]

My current TV obsession: edited clips on Law & Order's official YouTube channel

It may be cheesy and full of copaganda. But Law & Order remains a TV show that I love so much, I'm glued to edited clips of episodes on YouTube.

Note I am not talking about the new revival now airing on NBC, which is so wedded to the classic formula of creator Dick Wolf it’s been leached of nearly all creativity. And not the various spin offs, especially long-in-the-tooth Special Victims Unit, which mostly rely on the charisma of longtime stars like Mariska Harguitay to keep viewers hooked.

I’m talking the original flavor of the show, which ran from 1990 to 2010 -- especially during its heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Wolf, who was a writer on the classic cop show Hill Street Blues, built a series which captured the gritty, world-weary atmosphere of New York City, welding cops and lawyers stories into a formula which felt revolutionary at the time.

Half the episode focuses on discovering the crime and the search – usually by two acerbic NYPD detectives – to find a suspect. The other half of the episode follows the district attorney’s office as they try the accused and attempt to put them behind bars.

It’s a rigid formula, with act breaks punctuated by the trademark Dun! Dun! sound effect, that packaged a surprising amount of creativity and style.

So imagine my delight when I discovered the show’s official YouTube page offers edited clips of episodes ranging from Season 20 in 2010 all the way back to the first season. I binged them like televised potato chips, inspiring me to write a passionate essay about Law & Order on YouTube for NPR’s digital series on obsessions, I'M REALLY INTO.

To check out the full essay, which takes on the show’s drawbacks and features shout outs to both John Mulaney and Idris Elba, please click here.

Read the essay, check out the YouTube clips and after you’ve spent an evening falling down the rabbit hole of suburban moms-turned-murderous sex workers and teenage high school students who turn out to be murderous twentysomething grifters, you can feel free to come back to this page and thank me.

For more cool stories, check out my obit for Law & Order star Jerry Orbach (on the far right above), where I recall hanging with him during a visit to the show’s set in 1998, and a fun feature on the Law & Order character Tony Profaci, a minor role which turned out to be the only character who had appeared in every season of the show when I stopped by the production back then.       

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

Everyone reading this knows that MAGA will try to tamper with the jurors--and even the witnesses—to help Donald Trump in his criminal trial that began Monday in New York. That is why the judge presiding over the case, Juan Merchan, ordered that the names of the prospective jurors be kept anonymous citing "a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)."  While Trump’s lawyers will be provided with the potential  juror’s names so they can research them, Judge Merchan’s partial gag order expressly bars Trump from “making or directing others to make public statements about any prospective juror or any juror in this criminal proceeding” as well as witnesses. That is something you would expect in a criminal trial for a mob boss or leader of a terrorist movement.  But then again, Trump is both a mob boss and the leader of domestic terrorist movement as the head of the violent, criminal enterprise known as MAGA.

In fact, Trump has been called the “Teflon Don” after New York mobster John Gotti who escaped criminal convictions in a few high profile cases in the 1980’s.  Those cases are instructive as to what we may see from MAGA in Trump’s current case. In Gotti’s first well-publicized criminal case in 1986, his minions threatened a witness who conveniently got a case of amnesia in the courtroom and was unable to identify Gotti as the man who robbed and assaulted him. Gotti walked. And then in Gotti’s 1987 trial, a person named George Pape was able to get on the jury by withholding information that he was a close friend of someone connected to Gotti.  Once on the jury, Pape was paid $60,000 by a Gotti intermediary to help the mobster beat the case—which Gotti did. Pape was later charged and convicted for crimes in connection with this bribe. In 1992, though, when there was neither jury nor witness tampering, Gotti was convicted of very serious felonies.

Turning to Trump’s case, on Monday we already saw clear evidence that MAGA would attempt to tamper with Trump’s jury to help him. One of the most jarring and overt attempts came from MAGA Rep. Byron Donalds who told viewers Monday on Newsmax to get on the jury and vote to acquit Trump regardless of the evidence. I’m not exaggerating. The Florida Congressman stated, “My plea is to the people of Manhattan that may sit on this trial: Please do the right thing for this country.”  He continued, “Everybody’s allowed to have their political viewpoints, but the law is supposed to be blind and no respecter of persons.” At this point, if Donalds had ended his plea by saying please follow the evidence and be guided accordingly, that would be fine. Instead, this MAGA soldier directly told the people of Manhattan who might be watching: “This is a trash case, there is no crime here, and if there is any potential for a verdict, they should vote not guilty.”

Here is a sitting member of Congress telling people who watch the pro-Trump Newsmax that if they live in Manhattan and are called to be a juror on the case, they should ignore the evidence and vote to acquit Trump. All that was missing was the $60,000 payment that Gotti offered the juror in his case. Then there was Fox News contributor Clay Travis who Monday morning—with the Trump jury selection about to begin—made an even more direct appeal to his more than one million followers on Twitter to ignore the evidence and help Trump.  Travis wrote, “If you’re a Trump supporter in New York City who is a part of the jury pool, do everything you can to get seated on the jury and then refuse to convict as a matter of principle, dooming the case via hung jury. It’s the most patriotic thing you could possibly do.”

Travis—with the line “do everything you can to get seated on the jury” -- was telling prospective jurors to follow the Gotti playbook of withholding vital information from the court of their obvious bias. Then ignore the evidence and cause a hung jury. In response to Travis’s post, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell—a former prosecutor—tweeted: “Jury tampering. That’s what they do. *It’s a felony.”  And National security attorney Bradley Moss  wrote on social media, “Clay is arguably conspiring to commit jury tampering here by encouraging someone to deliberately engage in jury nullification.” Those two were the most in your face attempts at jury tampering. Others, like MAGA Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York, were more subtle in trying to influence prospective jurors in her home state. On Monday she wrote on Twitter that the judge presiding over the case was “corrupt” and that this was, “A 6-8 week show trial... Total election interference.” This line of attack-- echoed by many Republicans including MAGA Senator JD Vance-- is a more subtle form of jury tampering where these elected officials are intentionally attempting to influence prospective jurors about the case before they see the evidence.

Dean Obeidallah bringing the heat on MAGA jury tamperers in the Trump business deal falsification trial.

[ellie-the-oracle]

The Bad Batch s2e12 Review and Discussion - The Breaking Point of Crosshair

Massive Spoilers Ahead!

That was by far one of the greatest episodes I think i've ever watched. I don't even know where to begin and I do not say this lightly - I have been thoroughly broken by this show. I am genuinely heartbroken at this point.

First and foremost, the music was on point. It hit every single emotion it wanted to convey and it complimented the themes of this episode perfectly. Kevin Kiner remains to be one of the best composers, in my opinion.

Secondly, the symbolism that was the lone ice vulture flying above Crosshair's head throughout the episode was just poetic. It really got the message across to the viewers that Crosshair is utterly and brutally alone. He is nothing more than something that is “expendable” in the eyes of the Empire. This episode made that evermore clearer to Cross.

Thirdly, the new clone introduced in this episode, Commander Mayday, was a perfect way to SHOW (and not just tell) Crosshair the tragedies, the mistreatment and the injustices that the clones are facing. Throughout the entire episode, both Cross and the viewers were reminded of just how poorly the clones are being treated. Mayday's inevitable death was the final moment for Crosshair; It genuinely broke him (and me, frankly). The lieutenant (I forgot his name because idfc) really rubbed it into Crosshair’s face about what the clones mean to the Empire.

The emotions that we get to see Crosshair experience throughout this episode really show just how broken his spirit is; he has reached his breaking point. He was left both physically and emotionally devastated by the end of his mission; losing yet another companion, another brother. Someone whom he was just beginning to confide in, especially to feel less alone. I also found it quite fascinating to see him express distress when the ship blew up and caused him a sort-of sensory overload. A bit of an ode to the Batches enhanced features.

 I appreciated the little details of him shivering in the cold as he and Mayday made their way back to the outpost; huddling together to survive. on top of that, his facial expressions really showed just how lost, distraught, devastated and broken he has become. Truly, what a masterful episode. Crosshair shooting the lieutenant by the end of the episode was his moment of “going awol,” albeit, in the most devastating and heart wrenching way. 

The ending of this episode was rather concerning. I literally have no idea what that lady poked his neck with nor do I have the faintest idea as to why he's on Tantiss but I'm very nervous about it. I hope he isn't being brainwashed again or [arguably] even worse, becoming the prototype of a dark trooper. Istfg If this happens, You’ll be hearing from my therapist and my lawyer, Filoni. For the love of all things decent in this world, please let him go home to his family. 

This episode, once again, cements exactly why I love Crosshair's character so much. Truly a terribly tragic character and I ate that shit up. I'm shellshocked.

 20/10. Feelings have been hurt.

[corleonewrites]

La Vérité

AU: Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Vincent Renzi x Original Female Character fanfic.

Summary: Two people connected by the same past. Two lawyers. And one tangled case which brought them back together again, giving them the opportunity to sort out their feelings towards each other, no matter how painful memories are to both of them can be.

Chapter 4. Gnossiennes: No. 1

______________________________________________________________

It never occurred to me before, but I got really suspicious about the woman whose case we were about to solve and present at the court. And only when I was preparing myself to leave the hotel room next morning to meet Vincent and our defendant, I gave a second thought to the way of how did Vincent describe her.

______________________________________________________________

“Who’re we going to represent in the court?”, I asked my ex-tutor when the waiter brought me my coffee.

“She’s a good friend of mine, actually, I’ve known her and her husband for a couple of years now”, Vincent replied, when surprisingly for myself I drew close attention to it. “Her name is Sandra Voyter, she is a writer”

I didn’t believe in a “good friend” between a man and a woman, despite the fact that I had a friend of mine from university years, but I knew that he liked me at some point.

“Ah, well, okay”, I shoved it off, taking a sip from my coffee. Vincent looked at me long enough and asked:

“What?”

I got confused:

“What “what”?”

“What’s the reaction of yours?”

“You never told me about her before”, I shoved it off again, feeling the jealousy rising up out of nowhere. Even though Renzi wasn’t mine it was tough to believe that he could have women friends or hang out with somebody else.

“Oh, but we didn’t talk much with her anyways so there was no need to tell you”, he put the ash from his cigarette in the ashtray.

I got furious, not only I wanted to win the case but to win his attention over everyone. I knew that it wasn’t right to think like that, and tried to put my concentration back to the case.

“Fair enough, monsieur Renzi”, I tried to reduced it from my head and asked the waiter to bring us new ashtray.

______________________________________________________________

Vincent’s red vintage Mercedes stopped near the big wooden house with a balcony facing picturesque view on mountains. A woman with short blonde hair was standing there, and when she recognized us – she disappeared, probably getting down to greet us.

I remembered Renzi’s car from university years, when he used to pick me up after classes or from my flat and we drove somewhere only we knew where.

We got out of the car and Vincent introduced me to the woman:

“This is Camille Cadieux, I already told you about her and her abilities in law and advocacy, she was one of the best in my class during her master studies. Camille, this is Sandra Voyter”

“Nice to meet you”, Sandra held out her hand, smiling. I didn’t like to look at people’s eyes when I was meeting them for the first time, which was a very bad habit of mine, so black sunglasses were protecting my sight this time, when I shook Sandra’s hand:

“Likewise” We got inside spacious house, greeted Sandra’s son and his guide dog Snoop and sat around kitchen table, just as soon as the kettle finished boiling.

______________________________________________________________

“One ticket to Indian Summer, please”

I loved going to cinema by myself, it gave me the opportunity to pay very close attention to the film and not to care whether my companion liked the film or not. I’ve seen Indian Summer before, but since there was Valerio Zurlini’s retrospective at cinema and this film was among the other works of this Italian director I couldn’t miss the opportunity to watch one of my favourite films on a big screen.

When the film finished, I was about to leave the cinema hall, when I recognized Vincent among the viewers, who was also on his way to leave the hall when he saw me.

“Salut, Camille”, he smiled, when I moved closer to him, continuing our way to the exit, “Did you love this film?”

“It’s one of my most favourite, and I’ve seen it couple of times before”, Renzi was a little surprised when he heard me, but I continued, “I’m a film addict, absolutely crazy about cinema”, but then I laughed, “These were the words of Jean-Luc Godard, but they describe me as well”

“I see”, my tutor laughed with me, “I love to go to cinema, and especially to see old films, good old classics, and this film put a big impression on me”

“Agree, I was blown away by it when I watched it for the first time”, I continued, when we were going down the stairs and exited the cinema, “But most of all I loved this melancholy and desperation which you can feel in this film, everything is screaming about it”

“Why did you love it?”, Vincent asked me, but I didn’t know if I wanted to answer this directly, I didn’t want to say that I felt the same way as almost all of the main characters in it: lonely, melancholy and in need to have someone beside me who would listen and understand. Not to let it out I answered:

“Everyone needs to have someone who’ll listen to them and everyone is afraid of loneliness, even though they won’t admit it firstly”

My tutor looked at me in silence, as if he sorted out my clue, and he probably did. I wanted to say something else, but on this exact moment the rain started, and I forgot to take an umbrella with me.

“I parked my car near the cinema, I can drove you home, that’s not a problem”, asked Vincent, when I put my hands over my head to cover it from the rain

“To be honest I wanted to go to the café and eat, you can join me, if it’s alright with you”, I said it and couldn’t believe myself, I had no idea what I was thinking. But since I honestly didn’t want to go home and wanted to know him better than just listening to his lectures and him criticizing my essay, I decided to give it a try.

“That’s okay with me, yes”, Vincent took car keys, “And since it’s the weekend we can discuss Indian Summer and all the other beautiful films in cinematography rather than your essay, which is, actually, one of the best that I’ve read”

“I’m flattered, monsieur Renzi”, I smiled, but inside myself I was screaming from joy, because I put a lot of effort on my degree essay and I was happy that he thought like this. And that’s how I got inside his car for the first time and we drove to the city center, when the rain intensified. ______________________________________________________________

“Well, what do you think?”

The sun was already done when we left Sandra’s house, heading to one of the bars in Grenoble, which was close to hotel where I was staying.

“We need to organize the expertise which will measure the angle of the fall and all the details which we haven’t seen”, I answered, checking my notes, “Also, we should find if there were some recordings of her conversations with everybody for the past time, especially with her late husband”

“You’re right, I thought about it, probably I have some convenient contacts left from my previous case, they can help us now”

“Good”, I didn’t even look at him, “Also, we must know who’ll be the victim’s lawyer, I know some people who can potentially be involved, and some of them are too smart, too perspicacious and too inquisitive, they can turn the case upside down if they want to.”

“We’ll need help and I have some people in mind who can help us with it”, my ex-tutor replied and stopped the car: we’ve reached our destination.

______________________________________________________________

In couple of days later, after the meeting at the cinema, when lectures were over, Vincent asked me if I wanted to visit Louvre, because during the discussion of my degree essay we somehow switched from the topic to discussion of law in art and I mentioned that Louvre had one of my favourite paintings: Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio was among them. My tutorial on essay was the last one of the studying day and monsieur Renzi asked if I wanted to visit Louvre that evening, as we had time. To be fair, I was surprised by his question, but agreed. When I got inside his car which was standing near the university, I saw Estella’s and Loise’s amazed gazes, but didn’t pay attention to them. Of course, they’d ask questions and of course I wouldn’t answer them neither their little annoying gossips.

And on exactly the same moment when I was standing in front of the painting Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio – I felt Vincent’s gaze at me behind my back. And my mind didn’t fool my senses about such things, this tension and curiosity was filling the area where we were standing. He moved slowly and closer to me, when my heart started to beat faster with every new second.

He stood near me, looking at me, but then his gaze fell on the painting and he said:

“Pure beauty and photographic depiction, and the sacral topic of it, that’s what makes this painting so beautiful and eye-catching”.

I couldn’t reply to him, it felt like I was frozen in one place and couldn’t move. I didn’t like this feeling at all and was surprised that I felt the curiosity growing inside me towards Vincent. Not only this. The worst was that I started to understand that I was falling for him and not in terms of tutor/student relationship at all, but in passion and admiration.

______________________________________________________________

“What’s the number of your room?”, Vincent asked me, when we were going up in the elevator at the hotel where I stayed. We just arrived from the bar, slightly drunk and out heads were dizzy. I didn't want him to walk me to my room, but Renzi was persistent. Years ago, I liked it, but now it drove me mad, but didn’t say no to him. I just knew where it could lead both of us if we decided to forget the past and release our faded attraction towards each other.

“Honestly, you’re unbearable sometimes”, I sighed and led him in the quiet corridor to my room, which was exactly in the middle of the corridor.

“I know this. And you know this, mademoiselle Cadieux and used to like it”, Renzi sighed and leaned on the wall, when I was trying to find keys of the room in my bag.

“But this time is over, monsieur Renzi and tomorrow we should be prepared to work”, I looked at him, “So now I’m going to bed to have the bits of sleep, and you should do this too”.

Vincent looked directly into my eyes without anything. After a couple of moments he just said quietly “Good night, Camille”. I took the last of my strength in my hands, looked away from him and turned the keys in the door lock, saying “Good night, Vincent”, without even looking at him. The door closed behind me and the darkness and silence of winter night surrounded me.

______________________________________________________________

La Vérité masterlist

[dayscapism]

K-Dramas recommendations & short reviews

Because I've watched way too many to not make a list. Warning: I like romance and fantasy a bit too much.

These shows made me cry. 10/10. Five stars. Recommend to anyone. They live in my mind rent-free:

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) - Attorney Woo is such a wonderful person, I love her character. I can't say much about the representation, but I like that it opens up the conversation around autism & neurodivergence, discrimination and prejudice, particularly in work environments. I rarely like shows about law or lawyers but I was surprisingly engaged with the cases and the story. It deserves a second season. (The only thing I don't like about this show is they're pushing for a MinWoo and Choi Su-Yeon ship. Which huh--disrespectful.)

Hotel Del Luna (2019) - A great place to start with k-dramas if you like paranormal fantasy. This show has such a special place in my heart. I wanted a different ending but I am okay with it because it was a tight narrative. The main character is iconic (Man-Wol please step on me). The show has amazing sets, AMAZING costumes, an amazing OST, amazing and heartbreaking performance by Yeo Jin Goo. The main couple is so soft; like they're such good friends and coworkers and gentle with each other (eventually). It's enemies to reluctant friends to lovers. It's perfect for asexual viewers who want more than physicality in their romance shows. Cons: the secondary characters' goodbyes and backstories left a little to be desired. A few other nitpicks like Chang-Seong is the one to suggest the main character a new hobby instead of her just discovering it by herself.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) - Also a good place to start with k-dramas. This show is a lesson in good narrative; this has perfect writing & storytelling. The cast is so good. The female lead is an icon. The character work I excellent. The mental health issues are so well addressed and it taught me a lot about mental health I wasn't aware of. Each small minor character plays a very important thematic role. (The villain isn't the best thing ever but she serves her role in the themes and plot.) The production and the storytelling with the children's book animations are just *heart eyes*. The OST is so good too. You need to watch this to understand how good a k-dramas can be. A must-watch.

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016) - This is the most iconic fantasy/paranormal k-drama ever. A lot of current tropes were started here I think (including the weird k drama last-episode time jump separation of the main couple). This show broke me. You will cry. The bromance and comedy are amazing here too. Gong Yoo and Dong Wook Lee have great chemistry. Main female lead is so cute and her character is so heartwarming. The ending felt a bit rushed. The death, existential related stuff with the grim reapers and such is so good tho.

Business Proposal (2022) - Best rom-com ever! (Well, it could be gayer tbh.) It's my new comfort show. I already watched it twice. It's campy, hilarious, chaotic, iconic and messy in a way that feels like real life (but obviously played up for drama and comedy). Excellent character work. The love interest is definitely written by a woman. Gorgeous cast (Sejeon omg I have a crush, but also the others). It was too short! I would have loved another episode, and more of Grandpa and Ha-Ri. Warning: this has the weird kdrama last-episode time jump couple separation.

W: Two Worlds (2016) - A young resident medic accidentally finds her way inside the webcomic her father created. Like, that premise is killer. We have Lee Jong Suk at his finest here; the character fits him so well. He was born to play a lead. This show has amazing meta-commentary on writing, authorship, and existential crisis. The confrontation between the webcomic character Kang Cheol and the author is insane! The main couple is an epic pair. Would rewatch. High wump value. Cons: The second part could have been more swoony with the romance, Kang Cheol kind of became a bit cold. (A warning: this show also has the k drama weird last-episode time jump couple separation.)

Would recommend with popcorn, I rate them 8/10:

Crash Landing on You (2019) - Really good. The main couple has the best chemistry I've ever seen. It's not that much of a personal fave show, but still pretty awesome and will tug at your heart. It got a bit overly dramatic in the last episodes and again, has that k-drama last episode weird time jump couple separation, but here it actually makes sense. And sort of mirrors the separation and eventual unification of the Korean Peninsula. It was very interesting to see the contrast between North and South Korea.

Shooting Stars (2022) - Aside from the terrible, horrible, insulting Africa storyline (where the male lead goes to 'help' African kids with water scarcity, not even a country name is called, he just goes to *gestures vaguely* Africa to help goddammit he's such a beautiful soul! /s) There's a weird creepy sugar mommy wannabe side storyline and it's weird and out of nowhere. But the rest of it is good and campy and the main characters are so cute. All the couples are cute. The male lead is a cute disaster. Female lead is also a capable cutey but a disaster when it comes to romance. It's hilarious. I love all characters. It's fun. It's great. It shows a very interesting side of the entertainment industry.

While You Were Sleeping (2017) - A man and a woman who don't know each other have precognition powers and after they meet, they use them to take down a corrupt lawyer. The show isn't very heavy on the romance, tough the pair work pretty well together. I liked the main actress. Lee Jong Suk has chemistry with anyone. The male role was not exactly a good fit for Jong Suk. He's so much more naturally charming than the character. It's a fun show to pass the time. The found family is nice and all the characters work great together. The mom is great.

The King's Affection (2021) - I'm going to be honest, I didn't finish watching this. Ups. I got bored after episode 15. It's a very slow show but what I watched was quite good. It was just not a show for me. Having a bisexual male lead was awesome, I appreciate that he falls for the main character while he thinks she's a man. (Could be gayer tho, just saying.) Pretty good discussions and reversals of gender cliches. It has complicated parent-child relationships that are very well written which gives a lot of heart and heartbreak to this story. The political stuff gets very convoluted. I really wish the queer part was bigger though, and not limited to the main couple. We could even have poly representation! I still have half a mind to finish this but I don't know There are so many other shows I'd rather watch instead. (Boy, I really need to get into the actually queer side of k-dramas because the side I'm currently on is giving me crumbs.)

Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) - The premise was so cool. This has so much lore I like and the setting is beautiful and rich, but it also has so much lost potential. The plot is very weak in the second half and could be restructured. I loved the atmosphere, costumes and the actors and their characters: the blind cursed scholar nobleman, the female genius cheeky painter and her friend trio and the prince are all great characters. Ahn Hyo Seop is pretty good in it and looks very pretty indeed in historical costume (but the design of the villain creature he's possessed/cursed with is so, so bad omg). Great premise failed execution. Good first half but it went over the rails quickly. Still entertaining if you like historical fantasy.

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019) - It's a bit slow and could have done so much more with the female lead and her child. She's a bit underwhelming and her daughter is barely in the story. The second female character played by Jeong Eu-Gene was awesome, I love this actress now. Lee Jung Suk is always looking hot and being an excellent actor with what he's given; he's very charming here. He could have chemistry with a piece of wood and yet I wasn't that fan of the romance. Maybe it's just because friends to lovers isn't my cup of tea. There's a weird out-of-nowhere backstory between the male leads. The commentary of ageism in the workplace is a bit surface level (it's not that big of a deal for the company if you're overqualified for a job, the point should be that is an issue for you and your career, who is too good for the company). You can tell the writers really care about books; it's definitely a love letter to editors and an interesting window into the world of book publishing; you can feel the love editors put into making books. Bonus: the founding members of the publishing company have very funny moments.

Do no recommend:

King: Eternal Monarch - Couldn't even finish this. I was so, so confused. The dialogue, narrative and backstory make no sense! Everything is so unnecessarily confusing. There's no chemistry between the main couple. The king and the bodyguard had more chemistry. Lee Jung-Jin (playing the villain Lee Lim) & Woo Do-Hwan (the bodyguard) carried this show and are pretty much the only thing good about it. The female lead is sidelined. It had an intriguing premise but failed execution.

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim - Skimmed most of the second half. It's a mess. The love interest CEO is such a narcissist and asshole he wouldn't be able to keep a working, healthy relationship with his partner without some serious therapy first. The female lead seems to be repulsed by him most of the time even when together and even looks scared when they get intimate. There's an unnecessarily convoluted plotline about the main lead's brother and a kidnapping in their past. It has tonal issues and it's cringy rather than funny. The secondary characters are just a lot of useless filler. The female lead sacrifices her independence and dreams to be with the main guy. Just go watch Business Proposal instead.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo - The only pro of this show is IU. The romance went the undeveloped route. Cheap-looking production, with too many episodes, melodramatic, characters pivot in place instead of naturally developing; it's definitely a telenovela. The point that the female lead is from the future doesn't even matter for the story (should have made her a Goryeo historian instead of a random cosmetologist). Pass!

Tomorrow - Could not finish watching. Please, please don't watch it if you're dealing with depression, bullying or suicidal thoughts. Please don't. By episode 2 I was just screaming at the screen. Problematic? This show invented the word problematic. The supernatural task force that's supposed to save people with suicide risk is terrible at therapy and suicide prevention. They tell the person trying to commit suicide, literally on the edge of a building about to jump, that they should do it, that they're weak, they should just jump, go ahead! Like ... what????

Mystic Pop Up Bar - Didn't capture me by episode 2. Got bored. Some say this is better than Hotel Del Luna but I don't agree.

Abyss - It's a weird tonal mix. Would have preferred if it leaned further into the absurd (go all in with the humour or don't at all), the sci-fi or the murder mystery. Instead of just revealing by episode 3 who the murderer is, quickly changing the plot into a chase after the villain, even though he's so lame. But also he is keeps killing people and it gets dark. And then we cut to the main couple being silly and cute. It's so jarring. The leads have a great dynamic and Ahn Hyo Seop knows how to differentiate his characters really well, give them their own flavour., but in the end it's just a cool premise, failed execution. Very average.

Currently watching:

The Crowned Clown - Very interesting concept and gorgeous, gorgeous visuals. Plot drags a little. Has some tonal problems and oversimplification of politics. The best part is when Yeo Jin-Goo acts with himself haha. He's such a talented actor.

The Uncanny Counter - Get's a bit melodramatic sometimes but all four main actors are insanely good.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed - The main romantic relationship needs a lot more development, but the entire show is worth watching just for Dong Wook Lee and Kim Bum as brothers.

Alchemy of Souls - 6/10 so far. Currently watching season 2/part 2. Aside from the prince, I don't particularly care for any of the characters. Unpopular opinion but the main romantic pair have no chemistry. Mu-Deok has more chemistry with Yul and the prince, and the prince has more chemistry with Jang-Uk. The lore is confusing and inconsistent: it breaks its own rules. (Two souls in one body what?? when was this established as a thing?) There's not enough foreshadowing and setting up the rules of magic in this world (the Ice Stone comes up as a deux ex mahcina big plot point in the last second). It also drags; the episodes are too long. There's a lot of saying and ultimately the show doesn't deliver. The narrative structure is straight out of a fantasy Wattpad. The set and costumes are fun and cool for a fantasy world, and the first episode was great.  

[complete-idiot-inc]

Persona: Phantoms Of The Night

Context: I wrote this back in April before we got Miyazawa's calling card and boss fight, but after a certain point, the Update dropped for his boss, so this whole thing was rendered moot; Wonder's name is "Mitsuki Ichinose" per a name idea I had earlier this year.

“It’s the Swordsman of Flavor, Hiromu Miyazawa!” An obnoxious man in a cutlery themed jacket and with a predominant skunk stripe in his hair said, as he stared into a live camera. 

“As I said before, I’m going to make a grand announcement here at Ashouken, live for you all to witness!” Hiromu said as he gestured to a restaurant behind him. 

“And without further ado, I will enter this alleged “restaurant” and make the big announcement!” Hiromu almost shouted, before a man in a suit walked up to him.

“Miyazawa-sama, I urge you to not enter!” 

“Right after this commercial break!” Hiromu adlibbed, before turning to the suit. 

“What do you mean I can’t enter! Don’t you know who I am!? I’m the Swordsman of Flavor, and I’ll enter any restaurant I so damn please!” Hiromu furiously shouted. 

“But sir—“ 

“But nothing! Camera! Resume broadcast ASAP!” Hiromu shouted again, before he started to return to character. 

“My apologies, loyal viewers, but someone was trying to interrupt our broadcast. And now, without any more delay! The big news!” Hiromu recited, as he charged into Ashouken headlong. 

Only to be met with a restaurant filled with black and red cards, some emblazoned with the words “Retake your Desire” and others with a series of cut-out text.

“What the hell is this!?” Hiromu shouted, as he saw how defaced the restaurant was.

“I was trying to tell you, sir!” The man in the suit said, “Someone broke in and plastered these all over the place.” 

Hiromu then slowly walked over to one of the cards, and once he got a good look at one, he gasped.

The big liar of Vanity, Gourmet Star Hiromu Miyazawa, is a great sinner who robbed many chefs of their pride and customers of their smiles and purpose in life. 

He is a villain who lines his pockets by deceiving the masses and robbing them of their dreams. 

We, the Phantom Thieves, will not overlook those twisted desires. 

“What nonsense!? Everyone knows I only tell the absolute truth in my reviews,” Hiromu said deliriously before turning to his camera crew with a scowl. “Right!?” 

“Yes, sir, Miyazawa-sama!” his crew fearfully replied as Miyazawa looked into the camera. 

“My humblest apologies, dear audience, but I'm afraid I must once more postpone my announcement for a later time. Keep your eyes peeled for it. I promise it’s huge. Goodbye!” Hiromu said before signaling his crew to cut the feed. 

“What scoundrels, what villainous idiots would try and ruin my reputation like this!? Get the police and my lawyers, NOW!” Miyazawa shouted as he fled Ashouken. 

Suddenly, the area changed, now a pitch-black void, and where Miyazawa stood was replaced with another version of him, one dressed like a Samurai with obscene amounts of make-up on. 

“You phantom thieves dare interrupt my beautiful scene!? Fine then! Prepare yourselves for a climactic showdown!” The other Miyazawa said before returning to the real world. 

Across the street from Miyazawa’s breakdown, a gruff-looking man with blue hair and a Kokatsu academy uniform watched as Miyazawa ran away before the onlooker pulled out his phone and sent a message to a group chat. 

Kanou: Miyazawa saw the cards. Now what?

Arai: Perfect!

Ichinose: Now we need to return to his palace and steal his treasure. 

Kanou: And that will make him confess?

Arai: I mean, it worked on Kiuchi. 

Ichinose: “The lack of a treasure means Miyazawa will feel like he has nothing to hide, as well as feel immense guilt for his wrongdoings” - Ruffle. 

Ichinose: There's going to be a fight, so make sure you're well-rested. 

Kanou: If it will finally bring him to justice, then so be it! 

[caledfwlchthat]

💖 🤲

WHY HELLO MUTUAL IN MY INBOX, it is actually nice to receive things, but only now do I seem to find enough executive function to pull together a response. (tomorrow I start writing my first holiday letter to friends in like a decade, I'm not even kidding)

💖 What made you start writing?

hmm. Do I rules-lawyer this? How far back do I go. Because I've been writing expressively in one way or another very nearly since I could hold a pen. Motivations probably ranged from exploring early interests (wildlife, aerial battles) to sci-fi/fantasy OCs to collaborative post-by-post silliness of the kind we see here on Tumblr all the time. Plays, poetry, fiction. Attempts at more serious blogs. I am all about the mad wordz. You could stop doors with printouts of my emails to friends.

What made me start writing fanfic was that when Homestuck -- maybe not the first media of which I could say I was a fan, but the first for which I considered myself belonging to a fandom -- ended in 2016, I saw immediately that the main source of material for my voice acting blog (entitled, as you can see, "One Man Homestuck") had reached its limits. I had at best lukewarm ambitions for a truly solo dub of the entirety of Homestuck, and I found it hard to gel with several VA collaborations to that point. These days, of course, I could always just offer to podfic my lovely mutuals' fics...

Anyway, so Homestuck had [S] ACT 7 go up in April 2016. While I was wondering what to do with myself after that, I saw a post go up about the Ladystuck Remix Challenge 2016 -- my first encounter with a fic exchange. I liked the premise of using someone else's fic as a prompt, as an amusing exercise in constrained form. So I got myself an AO3 account, threw up two short VA intro scripts I had written for Jade and Terezi as qualifying works, and then wrote How Your Other Quarter Double-Dies -- which I can't say was what I had been expecting to write, but which ended up being stacks of fun. For extra credit I did The Cafe Mocha Caper which was a stretch for my powers at the time but I can at least say it was ambitious!

And then the rest has been history. My still-in-progress longfic Rose: Remember has been going from around the same time, and while I enjoyed Ladystuck it's this fic that seems to be my big Homestuck legacy. <kermit-flail waves to @laurasauras, @katreal-fic, @hussianphilosopher>

🤲 Would you please share a snippet of a wip?

Sure, uh! Lessee. <rummages around in the back stockroom>

Oh man! I had forgotten about this one completely -- so maybe to say it's "in progress" is a bit much, but I like the concept. Premise is a peek into the kinder, gentler dreams of some of the Friendsim trolls which, unfortunately for them, are no more than that. A sampler:

"Now, you may remember that last week," Ardata intones for the grubcam's benefit, "Mashya and I brought this poor abandoned lopwing in from the sun's searing heat. We found him half-culled in the dumpster behind our hive, his ribs kicked in and a wing slashed. And it annoys me greatly to think someone, anyone, would have done this anywhere even near here." She crouches down to join her charge in the cam's frame. "How could they! This precious boy! Who knows whose lusus he could have been!" Throughout her patter, Ardata feels the palmhusk in her trouser pocket shudder with the stochastic rhythm of Chittr notifications. She'll have to take a few of those later, since they're streaming live and the chance for her viewers to interact with the rescue beasts is part of the maverick appeal of her channel. There are still a few haters who still preferred the old times when the den was a dungeon, when the floor was slick with blood, when you could smell the suffering hanging in the dank air even through the remote link. Most of them are ignored, while a few persistent hecklers are derided or quickly shouted down. She's not quite as popular as she once was, but her new brand has a persistent counterculture staying power she would never have guessed at before Mashya arrived. Ardata purses her lips to mimic the lopwing's squeaking call, and the wounded animal hops over to close the few feet of remaining distance. Her rustblood assistant silently zooms the grubcam's view in as she gently pulls one iridescent wing open. The lopwing flinches and its eyes widen, but it allows examination of its wing's torn surface -- a helpful touch from another waiting aide. She knows she couldn't do this without him, even if she can't formally acknowledge his contribution. The wing is still a mess, the ragged edges of the membrane still crudely stitched together with silk thread. But by turning it into the light, she can see that the nearby elements have begun to revascularize, which may in time knit up the great scarred slash. She points this progress out to her fans. In another three weeks, the lopwing might be able to take short flights again; a week after that, perhaps it will finally be able to outrun the predating barkbeasts and cholerbears, and can be safely released. Ardata's palmhusk buzzes again and she fishes it out, throwing her hair over her far shoulder with an artfully careless toss of her head. "Anything you'd like to tell our little guest? Let's see." She frowns, seeing no text immediately apparent in the comment box. A quick double-tap highlights what was written: What exquisite cruelty. How, exactly, will this once-wild animal last more than fifteen seconds out in nature again? Your ministrations, and those of your misguided partner in crime, have rendered it unable to survive outside; you have merely drawn out its demise. And finishing: You sick, sick monster. I approve.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Truly, Madly, Deeply Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD Do you believe in love at first sight? ❓ 🦇 Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers. As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. Unfortunately, she feels like an imposter after catching her fiancé cheating learning that her parents are separating. When she meets Colin McCory, she's anything but ready for a relationship, even if Colin drives her a little crazy. Okay, a LOT crazy. Can he change her shattered view on love, or are there no more happily ever afters?

💜 Excuse me while I shove my entire fist into my mouth to squeal in delight from the absolute cuteness of this. For the record, I read most of this between 10pm and 1am with my girlfriend fast asleep beside me. I lost track of how many times I had to stop reading to silence myself before some giddy, disgustingly adorable, definitely disruptive sound of glee escaped my body to keep from waking her up.

💜 Now that we got that out of the way, why are we not talking about this book? You bookish bats LOVE asking about book boyfriends/girlfriends. Have you MET Colin? You need to meet Colin. Just, trust me. Listen to me. Meet this man.

💜 It's 2am as I write this all heart-eyed, with a fire alarm chirping across the house and a storm raging outside, and I don't care about any of it because this. WAS SO. CUTTTE. From the MOMENT Truly sets eyes on Colin, all bets are off. She describes him as gorgeous, her breath hitches, she (a writer) stumbles over her words. We expect that from plenty of rom-coms, right? But the moment they get at it, their witty banter CAPTIVATES, chemistry off the charts, screaming off the page. I told you I had to pause reading multiple times? Every, EVERY time, it was because of a quick-wit exchange between these two. Truly looks at him appreciatively at first, sure, but otherwise tries shutting her heart off. Colin, though? Colin is full-on SMITTEN over her. He's lost from the beginning and KNOWS IT from the very start. And then we get to the smut and woooooh I had to get out of bed to find water and the nearest AC vent.

💜 And then. AND THEN they both realize they're bi but have never been with someone of the same sex, and maybe don't quite feel "queer enough" because of it (please, check the quotes I shared!). Bierasure is a real thing, but it's not often that we talk about internalized biphobia (a topic I haven't seen in a book since Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales). Bisexuality is part of the queer spectrum. We're not confused, and who we're with does not change or negate our sexuality. This was such a perfect scene to read at the start of Pride Month.

💙 The pacing for this one was a bit off for me. While I loved every scene, the momentum doesn't pick up until the very end, and by then, we're nearing the epilogue. The Parent Trap-esque sub-plot, while important to Truly's character development, felt awkward and a bit immature (though perhaps fitting for a romantic who defined love based on her parents' relationship). My biggest hang-up is the lack of real conflict, which is more internal (Truly's doubts about love) than external (which only manifest as Truly keeps Collin at arm's length...briefly).

🦇 Recommended to fans of Practice Makes Perfect in search of a steamy, queer rom-com that's full of tension, heat, and witty banter.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 📚 Bi4Bi / Queer Romance 📚 Contemporary Rom-Com 📚 Parent Trap Sub-Plot 📚 Opposites Attract 📚 Forced Proximity 📚 Witty Banter 📚 Musical Theatre References 📚 He Falls First

💬 Quotes ❝ No one, and I mean no one, deserves to be living rent free inside your head if they aren’t making you come so hard your brain leaks out your ears.” ❞ ❝ “Maybe I don’t want to play nicely with you.” ❞ ❝ Words were her thing, and Colin gave as good as he got. ❞ ❝ Colin’s praise was like swallowing the sun. It left her hot all over, flushed not just in the face but from her hairline down to her feet, damp in the creases of her elbows and her knees, uncomfortably sweaty all over. ❞ ❝ There’s no such thing as being queer enough. Action and attraction are two different things. You could go the rest of your life never dating a woman and it wouldn’t change a thing. If anything, I think you’re the perfect person to talk about bi- erasure in media because you spent the last six years in a straight- presenting relationship that was queer because you’re queer. And the gender of your partner? Doesn’t change that.” ❞ ❝ Truly (11: 16 p.m.): Screw you, McCrory. Colin (11: 16 p.m.): Promises, promises. ❞ ❝ As much as she got a thrill from playing verbal tug-of-war, there was an argument to be made for this tenderness, in laying down her sword and letting Colin hold her. ❞ ❝ With anyone else she might’ve considered the moment broken, but with him it just felt like turning to the next page in a book she’d never read. A book she’d left lingering on her nightstand for weeks, picking it up and putting it back down, her hopes for it so high she feared there was no earthly way the reality of it could live up to her expectations, too afraid she wouldn’t like the ending. She didn’t know what would happen next, but for the first time, the thought didn’t make her want to close the book and it didn’t make her want to flip ahead. ❞ ❝ I do like you. I like your obscure facts and how your eyes light up when you talk about them, when you share them with me. I like it that you aren’t afraid to call me out on my bullshit and that for some reason that’s completely beyond me, you haven’t given up on me even though I’ve given you a hundred opportunities and a thousand reasons why. For some reason you like me and most of the time I’m not even sure why, but you do and I like that, too. I pretty much melt when you say my name, it sounds better when you say it, and when I’m with you, it’s easy to forget what I’m afraid of, but when I’m not, I guess I have a tendency to get in my head.” ❞ ❝ “You said it yourself; we’ve all got flaws. But the day I don’t want you is the day the earth starts rotating backward, okay?” “That’s a hell of a bold statement from a guy who’s known me two months.” “Remember this moment in twenty years. Can’t wait to tell you I told you so.” ❞ ❝ “I see, caffeine and kisses are the way to your heart in the morning. Good to know.” ❞ ❝ Love launched ships and started wars and inspired sonnets and drove people to madness. Love was heaven and hell, sin and redemption. It was as real to her as any other force of nature, hurricanes and earthquakes and lightning storms and meteor strikes. It fascinated her as much as it terrified her as much as it humbled her and— She’d spent her whole life trying to put it into words, eighty thousand of them at a time. Love had to be enough. There was no point if it wasn’t. ❞