the mdzs/cql fandom is such a hoot. each of us is convinced that *we* know what canon is and all those dummies who disagree with us are just making shit up, while they're stewing away thinking the same thing about us. and half the time we aren't even talking about the same fucking canon!!! whenever i see someone say something bonkers about a character i'm just like "i assume they are talking about one of the *checks notes* six versions of this creative property that i have not watched/heard/read" and i go about my day. instead of being incensed that people are being wrong on the internet i can just gently pity them for having a canon that seems less cool than my canon.
I’ve been listening to the MDZS audio drama for the first time recently. It’s S O damn good?? I love so much about it, even right down to how pretty the episode cover art is.
But I also made the horrible mistake of listening to the Yi City arc while I was working, and it was devastating, and it ruined me for the rest of the day. It’s one thing to read it, but hearing it is super ow. So yeah, I took a break and will be resuming today.
Omg I should have mentioned this before, there is one more adaptation of MDZS that's still ongoing and that's of course the Japanese audio drama by MIMI FM!
Most of the album art is by Gearous and they're stunning! So go support the J-audio drama...crossing my fingers that they'll do the full uncensored version of every papapa scene including the ones in the extras! 🤞🤞🤞
MDZS Japanese Audio Drama and (probably?) 兔仔 sensei deliver again by illustrating that scene in the library where Wei Wuxian is blushing and cannot focus on the book because Lan Wangji is so near and his voice is so nice and his fingers are so long 😳😳😳
wait shit you’re an MDZS fan too??? did i know that already?? hell yeah mutual
BRUH
I FELL INTO MDZS IN I THINK ??? APRIL 2019 AND COULDN'T GET UP UNTIL JULY 2022
it CONSUMED me.
read the book. watched the anime. watched cql. reread the book. listened to the audio drama. season 2 of anime came out and I got everyone I knew into it. reread book. listed to the audio drama in Japanese. watched cql again hating it the whole time bc of the yin iron shit but loving it bc it's so beautiful. watched the anime again.
I believe this is the standard psychological response to encountering The Fandom That Keeps On Giving
EDIT: I CAN'T BELEIVE I FORGOT TO MENTION. I LIKED MDZS SO MUCH I STARTED LEARNING CHINESE ABOUT IT
I really like other ships aside from just the main ones. Canon is good, fanon is good. But I can't stop feeling guilty about it. May I ask if MXTX ever made a statement on how we ship the main characters with the others sometimes?
Not exactly.
During the writing of MDZS, MXTX's author's notes mention that the romance is just Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, no third-party. But this is strictly a comment on canon.
During an interview, when asked about Xiyao, she said she did not intend them as a romantic couple, but then said people can view it as they like. So I'd say she's fine with shipping, and given that her friend and canon artist Changyang has drawn many non-canon ships like 3Zun, Nielan, etc., I don't think she's against shipping other characters at all.
If I may offer unsolicited advice: I don't think you should ever feel guilty for shipping characters, even main ones. One person's preference is different from another's, and if you like Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian with other people, you do you in your fanfiction and fanart. Don't feel guilty at all. I strongly dislike Nie/lan and Xi/Cheng, but I support their shippers' rights to ship and enjoy it.
Also! If you're curious to know more about what she thinks, on May 6th, a discussion between MXTX, the audio drama director, and Japanese novelist Risa Wataya will be published. https://twitter.com/mimifm11/status/1651053205810466817
This is super exciting and I cannot wait to read translations.