#they might not learn whatever lesson for that ep was

[oh-gh0st]

midsummer summer tabimatsu atsushi...

#todomatsu #atsushi #atsutodo #oso san posting #ghost's doodles #for those who were at the second watch party this was the atsushi idea i was talking about during the summer kamen ep! #obviously i have NOT learned my lesson from the midsummer summer summer tabimatsu set. fuck drawing hibiscuses <3 #if people want to do whatever with his design go ahead... but i might make a ref for it if anyone wants it #i just needed an atsutodo cleanser after today... it was tiresome #plus i wanted to see atsushi with his shirt off ^-^ and ik some of u do as well. dont Lie.

[shortpplfedup]

Only Friends Character Rankings Episode 8

Well this was a whole-ass SITUATION. I'm still processing, but another outstanding ep. The twin scents of audacity and desperation hung over this episode. Sand tries and fails to have any kind of backbone with Ray. Boston sits in purgatory and decides nope, hell it is. Cheum learns more valuable lessons about perhaps minding her own business. Nick might be moving on to Zaddy!Papang. Mew spirals. Yo and Plug break up. And Top...maybe set Ray up to get arrested so he could look like a hero? Everybody had the goddamn audacity this episode. Y'all went up for Mew's crazy eyes last week, let's see where the gworls are landing for me this week.

⭐1. Atom

People with self-confidence like you are very charming to me.

OH SIR! Talk about coming in hot! Atom's in an experimental mood and looking for somebody to blow his back out, so of course he thinks of Boston, and he's putting out whatever sauce he can muster to entice him. I gotta say, this is a wrinkle I ABSOLUTELY did not see coming but the mess is MESSING and I'm fully on board. Cheum is gonna LOSE IT.

🔺2. Boston (3)

Alright. I’m a social leper.

Well he didn't do a lot this week but boy did he make it count: his bitchface at Nick, who it seems he might have really started to care about; poking at Top's soft spots; telling Cheum maybe she should mind her own business; and just talkin' gay shit with Atom who is VERY into gay shit right now it would seem...every second Boston was onscreen was a second of perfection. ESPECIALLY the second when he decides to make yet another terrible decision and take Atom home and maybe give him what he's been sniffing around asking for. I mean, has learned not ONE goddamn thing and I LOVE that about him.

🔻3. Mew (2)

You take no space in my mind at all.

I haven't seen a classic post-breakup slut spiral this well executed in FOREVER. When Mew did the line of coke I gasped, and when he shoved his tongue down Ray's throat right in Top's face I SCREAMED. Oh honey, you're SUCH a cliché and I love you for it. Mew does not feel an ounce of anything resembling love or attraction for Ray, and he knows it, and he also knows the thought of him and Ray will keep Top up at night, so cigs, booze, yeyo and tonsil hockey it is.

⭐4. Daddy Dan

If you have a friend who likes old people, introduce us.

Papang has arrived, and he's playing the kind of guy who asks college students he's hiring to hook him up with their friends so...that's all present and correct. They love to cast Papang as charming but also slightly seedy and creepy and I'm very into it. Also, in my country there is a strip club/brothel called Dad's Dan so I cackled for a solid 5 minutes at the previews.

⭐5. Freddie Mercury The Second

I want no business with someone else’s boyfriend.

The only person this episode to exhibit even an ounce of self-respect. I salute you sir.

🔻6. Nick (4)

What should I do to earn your forgiveness?

Nick's licking his wounds and trying to get back in the game with Boston, but Nick having never met a boundary he couldn't trample has pretty much sealed that deal for now. As Sand pointed out to him: what was he even doing at that party, other than making a fool of himself?

🔻7. Top (6)

Are you really picking Ray?

Ok so Top's the one who called the cops right? Because they knew exactly who and what they were looking for, and his #1 priority was getting Mew out of Ray's orbit and back into his. Top's beggin' tour wasn't working on anybody except Cheum (who...girl. GIRL!), but he still managed to end the night in bed with Mew, so I guess he'll count that as a win?

🔹8. Cheum (8)

They're all selfish. They don't care about me.

GIRL. Your girlfriend keeps telling you to LEAVE THESE BOYS ALONE AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Now you crying on the couch and don't nobody care except your girlfriend, WHO TOLD YOU. All them boys one by one just telling her to get out of their faces...GIRL YOU ARE A LESBIAN YOU ARE ABOVE BOYS MAKING YOU CRY.

🔻9. April (7)

I know you’re worried about Mew. But he’s a grown man. He can take care of his life.

Girl aren't you tired? That woman don't never listen to you and now instead of having a good time you're feeling her snot seep into your chest through your (slay) outfit and thinking about how you're not getting any sex tonight either. SHE DOESN'T EVEN APPRECIATE YOUR ART.

🔻10. Plug/Yo (5)

There were many people I gave all my heart to. I gave them everything I got. There were many people I gave my room key to. They all returned it to me in the end. I don't want you to raise my expectations. And then you leave me too.

Oof, poor baby Plug. He just wants to live that househusband life but Yo been THRU it and ain't interested in going thru it again. I was surprisingly affected by Mom breaking up with Cool Stepdad, given how little screentime they've had, but Jennie's just that good.

🔻11. Sand (5)

Friends? You and I have never been friends from the get-go.

What more can I say about this loser? He's so embarrassing I can hardly look at him. Ray does not give a good goddamn about him, he uses him as a plaything, a servant or a punching bag as it suits him, and instead of throwing rocks at his ass and telling him to GTFO, he FIGHTS THE DAMN COPS who are trying to take him away. It's almost fascinating, watching this bullshit: every time I think this is surely Sand's rock bottom, he goes lower. We've got 4 episodes left but I'm calling it now: Sand is the most pathetic character on this show.

🔻12. Ray (1)

Let's hire a DJ instead this time. I don't want a band anymore.

OH MY GOD FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE. Does Thailand do 5150s? Because Ray needs to be committed as a danger to himself and others. He got everything he wanted and IT'S NOT ENOUGH, just as we all (I hope) knew it wouldn't be. And then on top of that Mew refuses his kiss in private but lays one on him in Top's face and it's like he just lost it. That ugly scene, breaking up Sand's encounter with Freddie II (shades of him doing the same with Sand's date earlier in the season), claiming ownership of him (told y'all) forcing a kiss on him because Sand's his property right? Ray was downright nasty this week, and not in an enjoyable way.

#only friends the series #bless this mess #only friends weekly character rankings #i support gay wrongs #only friends #only friends series #bl meta series

[bengiyo]

Last Twilight Ep 2 Stray Thoughts

Last week, we set the table and met Mhok and Day. Mhok is a mechanic down on his luck because of his legal troubles, who is looking for work to take care of himself and keep his deceased sister's beloved vehicle. Despite his past, he's trying to stay away from trouble. Day is a national level badminton player coping with rapid vision loss, whose family is looking for a caretaker for him. Day was amused by Mhok's attitude when he barged into the interview and suggested they hire him. After initial resistance, Mhok decided to take the job after a second encounter.

Y'all should have been more explicit about the dress code for Mhok, though it is amusing to consider that his style of dress in the house only matters for the family.

8 to 6 six days a week??? WTF

I'm glad Mhok is pleased with his salary because this is basically all he's going to do.

The entire scene of Mhok looking around Day's room is fantastic. It lets the audience learn a little about Day, but we also learned about Mhok because we see what catches his attention. Mhok is so tactile and literally sticks his hand in the fish tank, but touching and rearranging things in a blind person's room is going to cause frustration.

Mhok tossed a cigarette in their yard! That's a good character detail.

I'm with Day. I don't like the smell of cigarettes wafted off someone.

I really like Porjai. I said this last time, but I like how their relationship feels behind them that she can discuss it so casually, even if Mhok doesn't get her lesson.

Aon had so much personality. I am charmed. I love the handshake he has with Day. Whatever Day is working through, I'm glad he has a friend.

Closing the door on Mhok was good comedy.

Unsurprised that Day selected Mhok as a way to make his mom give up on a caretaker.

Ah, the show is continuing to connect the experiences. Mhok's perceived reputation is being presented as similar to Day being considered invalid.

I like day taking Day's expectations as a challenge.

Of course Day needed help and Mhok has to take off his shirt to not smell like smoke. We even go to see him crawl around from behind. Oh, BL, never change, except in the ways I demand of you.

Yes, touch his tiddies so we know they're real.

I wonder how the eye drops help to give him limited improved vision.

Yes, Mhok, make him help you save his fish. We got him out of his room!

Oh, they were having fun, but it seems they haven't disclosed his condition and Night brought friends over.

Curious if they follow up on that terse declaration later for Mhok to give up his eyes. I hope not!

Oh no. Rung flashback. Trigger warning for suicide aftermath.

Yeah, that seems about right for Mhok. Also glad this show is doing nonsexual nudity. Anyone required to care for another person is going to have to be engaged with someone beyond what others might consider polite boundaries.

Porjai jumped to fix this quick!

Oh, I really like that the gift is goldfish slippers. We can feel assured this is something Mhok picked out.

I may be gay, but Namtam looks so goddamn good in this show.

Omg Mhok is trying to understand how Day has to do tasks while wearing a shirt that says FART PROUDLY.

There he goes joking about Mhok's body again.

They just dumped the fish into the tank?? Are they trying to shock and kill it???

Ope. Said the name in the preview. Finish your drink!

This is working for me so far. I'm enjoying a straightforward premise being taken seriously. Really appreciating the lack of slapstick about the situation and dynamics.

#last twilight #thai bl #bl series #Ben watches

[dangermousie]

So much of ep 33 to me is about choice and how TTJ chooses who he wants to be, that he fights predestination to be a demon god host. Because this ep makes clear that unlike in the novel, it’s not that TTJ decides to go evil and slowly becomes demon god, TTJ is merely a vessel whose role is basically to be demon god’s meat suit. That to me is even more horrible - his whole life is basically to become a vessel to be possessed by another entity. And he’s suffered his whole life to make him more receptive to be willing to give up anything for a chance to end his suffering and to destroy the world that hurt him (which is why it’s all supposed to be so bad as to want to drive him to suicide; someone who has given up enough and wants sessation of pain that badly would be OK with letting demon god puppet him - as we saw in the very beginning when he, at his lowest, was offering himself.) But also, if he is basically the host (with results best achieved when the host is willing, but even if not willing demon god can work with it), that makes all the “gotta murder him” or “his suffering is deserved” even more wrong and odious.

Susu here talks about her father but - I don’t want to say the same applies to TTJ because it does not. Di Mian chose to go evil and it’s definitely him who did whatever bad stuff. Demon God that Susu met in ep 1 is not really TTJ, is it? TTJ’s soul is not the driver, it is not it that looks out of demon god’s eyes. I am not really an expert in possession stuff but it’s like blaming someone who’s been possessed for what they did when they weren’t them. 

I love this so much. SO MUCH!

He now has something to live for - her, his sect, just generally the fact that he is not in constant suffering. Of course he would fight being taken over. Susu was on the right track though she never truly figured it out since she didn’t know they are separate entities, when she thought if he had kindness he might not become demon god. Who on earth would want to be possessed if they had a better alternative?

And I love that they do talk about it and even though Susu is hiding her demon bone plan, they are honest about his fears and how she sees him.

The way she unhesitatingly addresses his biggest fear - that she will always see him as demon god and not him. It took Susu a long time to get there but once she did, she is unwavering and I love it, I love that she can tell the difference, I love that she realizes potential is not the same as reality and that he cannot be punished for what the man standing in front of her never became (and that is not even him, since demon god is a separate entity in any meaningful sense.)

His looking for reassurance - because he insists so hard he is not demon god but he has to have doubts, it’s only human.

AAAA her answer!!! And also whatever lessons she’s failed to learn, she learned this one, no more repetition of that set of mistakes from past life.

Yes, thank you. It’s actually such an interesting set-up (if different from the novel) - the host refusing to host the demon because he has his own damn life to live and his own values. It’s kind of body horror but also so fascinating.

Awwwww

This has got to be such an utter horrifying trip. It’s interesting that all that suffering that was given to him to prep him as a willing host actually prepped him to be tough and deal with all sorts of insanity and thus enables him to fight demon god now.

Yikes! And knowing he’s terrified of it, we all know what will happen...

Poor man! Yikes. He can’t even properly enjoy his sect because in the back of his head is the worry he will be exposed and driven out yet again. Talk about being punished for something you have no control over and no fault in.

#cdrama #till the end of the moon #bai lu #luo yunxi

[oskarwizardman]

Alright saving my OFMD predictions here before the first eps drop (part 1?)

Episode one:

-We start immediately after season 1 in the dingey.

- Stede writes about 10 bottle messages

- there is a joke that they/one immediately washes up back to the shore

- Joke about Stede not knowing how to cope without money

- Stede convincing everyone to look for Ed mostly cause half the people with him are also looking for people on that ship

- pretty much every scene in the Teaser regarding the Wedding and the cake toppers is in this ep

- Ed in the Auxiliary Wardrobe

- Lucius alive reveal (obv.)

- Frenchie discovering Lucius and bringing supplies to him, only to get caught by Ed (but Ed does not see Lucius)

- Ed being very over the top dramatic as a source for comedy (along the lines of "all love dies so this bug on the wall might as well too")

- He probably throws a knife into the wall or whatever and their ship sinks

Episode 2

- Ed washes up on the shore of the same land Stede stays at

- The sea washes the makeup off of him

- He finds some shelter with a ransom guy in the woods and the episode will revolve around their interactions/ Ed learns some lesson idk he's still dramatic

- Izzy, Jim, Frenchie, Fang and Lucius find some place to stay together and maybe find Stedes bottled messages

- Stede still struggles to find a ship but starts to interact with the chinese merchant who likely turns out to be the pirate Zheng Yi Sao

- They agree to team up/ do something for her/ search for the same thing.... etc.

Episode 3

- My predictions are more fanfiction than based on anything from here on

- The heist or whatever between Stede and Zheng happens

- Ed and Stede spot each other at the end of the episode, Ed looking devastated/ Surprised and Stede looking incredibly happy

- ...

#our flag means death #ofmd #blackbeard #our flag means death 2 #stede bonnet #gentlebeard

[byrdiboo]

There is no sexism in Ba Sing Se

By now I think everyone has their opinions formed about the live action ATLA remake but as a non-fan I figured I'd offer my two cents to anyone still on the fence or who might be interested in a slightly less biased opinion. To clarify, I don't hate the show, I actually like hearing my friends talk about the fan theories and how they thought the various heavy subjects are handled, I just never got into it myself. Because my partner is one of those people who did get into it, I've at least seen up to the point of Kyoshi Village in both shows (ep2 Netflix, ep4 original). One of the things I've seen most people excited about is the special effects, especially the bending. I will say, it looks...fine. I'm not up on my fighting styles but the choreography seems decent. The effects are nothing groundbreaking - we've had these water and fire sims for at least 10 years - but it's definitely not awful to look at...when you can see it. Way too much of the show (ie more than 0%) utilizes the inexplicably popular "someone forgot to turn the lights on when filming" lighting technique and "shakeycam meets too-many-cuts" editing with motionblur out the ass for good measure (some of the opening scenes are on youtube, judge for yourself). At least all two of the creatures we get to actually look at look awesome. Perhaps the biggest thing I've seen talked about is the changes to the characters themselves. I will start by saying the actors deserve no ill will, they're clearly doing their best with a subject they love and a script written by people who thought ATLA should read like GoT. Aang and the others have a few goofy moments thrown in to keep people happy but for the most part he plays the part of Main Character Boy while the others are The Support Characters, rather than three children in extraordinary times doing what they think makes sense. This is where my knowledge of Aang and Katara is lacking, but I do want to talk about Sokka cuz his changes (rightly) had a lot of people worried (and a lot of his character arc is pretty obvious from ep 1, rather than revealed past the point I've seen). They didn't just tone down his sexism, they removed it entirely, taking him from an obnoxious but teachable idiot to a generic annoying dudebro. Maybe this is just me, but I was endlessly annoyed that they took away his sexism without addressing the things that made him sexist in the first place. After being told by the leaderly elderly matriarch character about the fire nation attacks wiping out most of the village, we are told Sokka is how he is because he was appointed the village leader at 13 for...reasons. So the village is still sexist enough to declare a 13 year old boy leader over the woman everyone already looks up to, but this didn't affect his character in any meaningful way, I guess? And for those looking forward to the Kyoshi warriors, you can go ahead and put those hopes down. The warriors themselves get minimal action time before Deus Ex Kyoshi-ghost-possession (yes, really) deals with the fire nation attackers for them. As for the love interest, they took what was a solid moment of "sexist gets ass beat by woman, begs woman for training, learns woman can do stuff too, ends up liking and respecting woman so hard she reciprocates" into the most bland "popular girl falls for cute boy at school" complete with eyelash fluttering, shy-can't-look-at-yous, and the most vomit-inducing "training" scene I've seen in a long time. No lessons learned, no character growth achieved, but hey they got rid of sexism or whatever. All this to say, I'm willing to give live action some passes, but personally I don't think this one's even worth a hate watch. I won't tell you to hate it, it does have a few moments of brilliance, but they're the glitter on a turd imo and Netflix doesn't deserve to be rewarded with your watch time. Despite my misgivings, the show is (supposedly) still getting at least mixed reviews from fans and non fans alike, so if you've bothered to see it I'm curious what you thought the remake (or my impression) got right or wrong.

#atla #atla live action #avatar the last airbender

[midgarmosquito]

sooo instead of fantastic beasts 2 and 3 (which sucked) i wish we just got a 10-ep series abt newt going across pre-ww2 europe & cataloguing magical creatures 🤷‍♂️

maybe he noticed the creatures he had were oddly distrssed and went off to find the cause? maybe they sensed dark forces, aka. grindelwald's rise to power, the way birds can sense a storm

perhaps the creatures further east were more distrssed than those on the west? he couldve noticed that on his usual travels, or read some vague reports in the daily prophet

but ofc, the wizarding world doesnt rly care much abt magical creatures yet at this point. so the reports are pretty nonchalant and borderline joking

yet, they contain details that are pretty alarming to newt. maybe creatures harming themselves? or others? attacking muggle towns? herbivores suddenly hunting other animals? weird hybrids popping up that shouldn't even exist?

maybe its grindelwald experimenting with the idea of using creatures to gain power but psssst we dont know the reason yet ok

so newt sets off eastwards to figure our tf is going on. starting from britain and ending in ep 10 in romania (as we've learned in hp, romania has DRAGONS 🔥🔥🔥)

every ep has a different magical creature as the focus. some we know from hp (hippogriffs?), some are new. dark creatures (stuff from defense the dark arts classes in hp) also show up so there's action lol

and maybe grindelwald's minions are also on newt's tail? trying to stop him from sniffing around?

ofc jacob tags along because due to wizards not giving a fyck abt magical creatures yet, newt's only guides are local muggle rumors and fairy tales. and newt's a very awkward wizard, while jacob is an incredibly likable and normal man to whom villages readily open up

tina tags along too, because she's an american auror and is trying to figure out whatever dark forces could be gathering (but might be doing that in secret from local authorities cause politics).

theseus is there for the same reason except from the british ministry

we could have a slow burn romance with tina where newt's rly awkward and tina's rly reserved but they clearly care abt each other & over time & experiences, they bond

like newt has no idea how to be in a relationship or show feelings and might even doubt if there's space in his life for another person, considering how long he's been alone and how obsessed he is with his work. he's also kinda always been alone so it's all a strange new situation for him

tina, on the other hand, is incredibly guarded and careful to the point of seeming cold. over time she learns that yes, some people can be trusted.

oh and both learn to actually communicate lol

theseus has actually persuaded the ministry to send him (with some difficulty) because he was worried abt newt and wanted to be around to help. but he doesn't admit this, at first claiming the ministry made him come and that it's even a hassle for him.

he cares abt newt but theseus is a very regular dude who thinks newt's very weird. he loves his brother but struggles to relate to him at all. maybe even infantalizes him a bit? is overbearing?

over time he kinda Gets what newt wants to do and gets a newfound respect for him and learns to accept his weirdness and learns boundaries. and, again, communication lessons for both

i dunno how to shoehorn queenie into this but yeah she could be here too... if i think of a good pretext lol maybe she's just following jacob along

and queenie & jacob are very lovey-dovey but maybe they struggle with the realization that being together might mean being ostractized by their communities

maybe they get rly dramatic and queenie does an Edward Cullen like going "I never loved you" and breaks his heart because she believes he's better off without her

but ofc it horribly backfires and she admits what she did and the whole thing is a mess and they do get back together. but like everyone else, they learn to Communicate

and our merry band of misfits visits both other wizarding schools mentioned in hp (i dont remember their names sorry 😔🤡)

the french school has fairies and half-fairies in it and they have a connection to nature. so they give newt's concerns more attention than anyone else so far. newt's pretty stoked abt that, but there isn't much they can do. maybe the headmaster is too sceptical, despite other staff willing to help newt. maybe grindelwald's dark influence has spread, and the headmaster mistrusts foreigners, muggles, and wizards friendly with muggles as a result

the german school is far less welcoming. maybe they think he's a weirdo too. here grindelwald's influence is even stronger. but perhaps a student or young teacher comes out to help regardless of directive. maybe out of respect for newt's pure guts, wandering dangerous forests and risking everything for his beliefs. after all, their school values being stoic, and this student considers newt to fit this ideal. maybe they help the group find a giant (but i dont think giants are technically magical creatures...?) or an ice monster or something

i've always been fascinated by those other magical school, but we never got a glimpse. so i'd love it if they were very creative and had detailed interiors and exteriors. maybe the french one is an enormous living tree? maybe the german one is entirely underground?

along the way we might also meet other characters, both muggles and wizards, who help or hinder our heroes' journey. maybe we also meets other authors of future hogwarts books, or parents of known characters in hp. neville's parents are an idea, but i dunno if it's possible timeline-wise 🥴

along the way jacob helps a lot using the skills he has (strong social skills, loyalty, a good heart, maybe also knowledge of muggle affairs) and as such is a counterpoint to grindelwald's philosophy of wizard superiority

oh and in ep 1 newt has a near-death experience with a magical creature. rather than blaming the creature, he's understanding and just says the creature was distressed. (other people think he's insane, though.) this does scare him, though - what would happen to his beloved creatures if he was done? what about his body of work? his painstakingly acquired knowledge of magical creatures?

so he starts compiling his notes and writing a book, with doubles as an instruction manual on how to care for magical creatures. but he has no one to pass on his notes to, and it bothers him

maybe he tried to give the notes to dumbledore, but dumbledore smiles and says to give him the book when it's fully done

(dumbledore's lobbying in hogwarts to introduce care of magical creatures as a subject, but wont tell newt yet since its still uncertain)

oh and the eps can start with newt narrating the corresponding parts of his book. the ep's very first shot is always that shaggy, agressive meanace of a book we see in hp. then we see newt's hand carefully patting it, opening it, then reading

over time, he learns to trust his companions, and they begin to understand his work. maybe in like ep 9 he opens up abt his fear of dying and not being able to take care of his menagerie. so they all promise to care abt the creatures using newt's book, should anything happen to him

obv it does, he dies in ep 10 😭 maybe by sacrificing himself while trying to stop grindelwald from enchanting a dragon to do his evil bidding or something

his companions are sad ofc and they do keep caring abt his creatures. we see a montage of all of them doing so, jacob clumsily trying to feed some huge creature, theseus getting bitten, tina sadly stroking the back of some bird-like or horse-like thing

we can have a post-credits scene where, many years later, hagrid's teaching care of magical creatures. maybe fondly talking abt newt and wishing he could've met the man who Understood so deeply why all creatures matter

so yeah thats the kind of fantastic beasts content i crave and think about

and this is how i chose to spend my morning 😃 detailing my imaginary series into the void 😃

jk i regret nothing, this was rlyy fun to brainstorm about ☺🥰

#harry potter #fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts and where to find them #newt scamander #newtina #young dumbledore #gellert grindelwald #brain dump #brainstorm #imaginary scenarios #netflix please #long reads #au idea #someone write this #someone write it

[heretherebedork]

The Warp Effect is so good, I don't regret starting it, but now I need ep 4 asap! 😭

Oh man, episode 4 is going to be a journey. Hoo boy.

I am fascinated by the stories and I really wonder where so much of this is going and what or how Alex is going to fix things for people or even what he truly needs to fix.

Honestly, the fact that they have this drama interspersed with all kinds of lesson about sexuality, female health, kink discussion, balancing life and sex and romance, the idea of building a family, marriage equality starring lesbians (hell yes!) and everything else while still have the basic plot of 'did you know you can time travel via having sex at the wrong time and now he's a teenager trying to be a gynecologist' is honestly astonishing.

The Warp Effect, what a wild ride it is and is going to be.

We've got Alex trying to solve the whole time travel thing.

Ew trying to figure out how to balance kink, porn and the romance of his girlfriend.

Nim and her girlfriend and marriage equality and building a family.

Army and casual sex and the love he has for Alex whatever future he has (his story is the least obvious to me yet)

Jean and her sexual health and her activism and her creativity and her feelings for Alex.

Molly's story that looks like depression but might be other struggles.

And Jedi and Rose... being extremely happy and rich.

I do enjoy this show, even if most of my focus and enthusiasm is on Army and his hopefully happy future.

Although Nim and the whole 'let's build a family and I'll have the baby because you can't and we want this' makes me absurdly happy as well.

I am also definitely wondering where the Ew story is going because I think part of it is going to have to be him learning how to balance a relationship and kink which is a fascinating concept to me in a show.

ANYWAY.

Yeah, this show is wild and fascinating. Who knew that watching BL would lead me to a show the explained the basics of a gynecological exam?

#the warp effect #i am fascinated #gmmtv #thai drama #thai series

[blue-chimera]

What S15:E20 "Carry On" Did That S15:19 "Inherit the Earth" Couldn't

Before the finale, some of Supernatural's most resonant themes centered on found family ("Family don't end in blood" and "it doesn't start there, either") and anti-suicide messaging (with "Always Keep Fighting" standing as the official/unofficial motto of many in the SPN family).

While Jared was the face of "Always Keep Fighting" IRL, it was Dean, who struggled with depression and low self-esteem for years, who represented the fight against suicide to many viewers of the show... [spoilers below the jump]

So, when Dean dies in the Supernatural finale – and urges Sam to accept his death – it's more than understandable why fans might take that as a tone-deaf repudiation of the show's own message. But I would argue that a deeper, more nuanced message is being communicated to us here: one that embraces & enhances lessons that came before.

Throughout 15 years of Supernatural, Dean frequently devalued his own life. His actions veered from courage into recklessness and even suicidal disregard, and he regularly voiced doubt that his life was important. See: his suggestion in S2:E21 that his life was only meaningful if he sacrificed it to save Sam; his attempt to trade his life for Sam's in S11:E17 "Red Meat;" when he says to Billie, in S13:E5, "I don't matter;" or to Sam (in that same episode), "My whole life, I always believed that what we do was important. No matter what the cost, no matter who we lost... I kept on fighting because I believed that we were making the world a better place. And now, Mom and Cas... And I – I don't know. I don't know."

However, by the time we reach the finale, we've seen Dean turn a significant corner on valuing his life and the difference he makes in the world. This turning point is made explicit in S14:E13 "Lebanon," when Sam laments that they can't change the past, and Dean replies, "We've been through some tough times. There's no denying that. And for the longest time, I blamed Dad. I mean, hell, I blamed Mom, too, you know? I was angry. But say we could send Dad back knowing everything. Why stop there? Why not send him even further back and let some other poor sons of bitches save the world? But here's the problem. Who does that make us? Would we be better off? Well, maybe. But I got to be honest... I don't know who that Dean Winchester is. And I'm good with who I am."

This is a remarkable break from Dean's prior attitude and a clear, concrete step towards self-acceptance. Dean actively choses himself as is over a hypothetical do-over... even a do-over that would mean John & Mary Winchester getting to live long lives away from hunting demons & monsters. It feels like Dean has gained a certain amount of wisdom, perspective, emotional maturity, healing – whatever you want to call it – and he's come to view the culmination of his life's experiences (both the joy & the pain) as positive. In learning to accept pain as a part of life, in learning to face it and avoid letting it overshadow the good things, Dean has come to a greater acceptance of his life and of himself.

However, like everyone, Dean is susceptible to backsliding. Most notably, he experiences sharp regression on this front when Mary dies. Once again overwhelmed by pain, he lashes out, turning against Jack and nursing a grudge against Cas, seemingly poised to bury himself in bitterness & despair. But he eventually overcomes this knee-jerk response. Despite his anger and pain (and even pressure from God himself), Dean steps back from the edge, refusing to shoot Jack. In Purgatory, realizing that Cas might die – that he might already be dead – Dean lets go of his anger against the angel, as well, tearfully apologizing for holding a grudge, offering forgiveness of his own, and acknowledging that he struggles with anger issues. And, importantly, this isn't something Dean names once and then forgets. Dean goes on to acknowledge the problem of his anger again in the penultimate episode, suggesting that he's gaining self-awareness & getting better at taking responsibility for his reactions.

Whether he's aware of it or not, Dean's anger issues are almost certainly rooted in feelings of anxiety & helplessness stemming from his parentification as a young child. Dean was aware of the existence of monsters (and the finality of death) and tasked with protecting Sam from these things long before he actually had the skills/capacity to effectively protect his brother. As a result, on at least one occasion, young Dean fails to protect Sam, incurring blame from his father & leading to feelings of worthlessness. Dean reacts to these feelings by manifesting a need for control – convincing himself that the key to protecting his loved ones lies in controlling every variable in their lives, trusting only himself (and, before John's death, his father) to make the necessary decisions to keep their loved ones safe – and by externalizing blame (in an attempt to escape the crippling self-loathing that follows when he blames himself after people he loves get hurt).

Hence, Dean's anger when people deviate from his plans or expectations or fail to disclose information to him, especially when someone gets hurt in the process. Seizing control is an attempt to protect himself from loss & the accompanying pain/fear/grief that's dogged him since the violent death of his mother and the subsequent upending of his world. Anger is his sword and control is his shield.

So, it makes sense that Dean essentially loses his mind when forced to confront his (apparent) helplessness in the fight against God. It's his deepest fear come to life. Dean's inability to face his fear of helplessness (and the loss that goes along with it) makes him vulnerable to Chuck's influence. He can't think clearly past it. It's what drives him to participate in (and make excuses for going along with) Jack's would-be suicide bombing. It's what allows him to be whipped into a frenzy of anger that almost ends in him shooting Sam.

And it's therefore extremely meaningful that Dean acknowledges his anger issues in S15:E9 "The Trap" (while praying to Cas) and then again in E19 "Inherit the Earth." In "The Trap," Dean recognizes that his anger is a problem, but he's still making excuses for it. But by E19, he sees that there are other paths – that he could've chosen to do something different. He's finally come to understand his anger as a reaction to pain & fear, a reaction that he's allowed to control him, and not as just a fact of life.

The seeds of this lesson are planted in E9. We see them take root in E19. Then, E20 rolls around. Months pass in a montage, and the Winchesters appear to have fallen into a comfortable routine: daily chores & exercise, gun-care & research. It looks like life has achieved some level of normalcy for them. "Normalcy" for a Winchester still seems to include hunting, the bunker, and bachelorhood, but now it also includes a dog, smiles, and a notable lack of apocalypses.

And then we get to the pie festival. Here, we finally see what's bloomed from those seeds: while Sam's enjoyment of the event is momentarily marred by thoughts of those they lost, Dean has learned a healthier approach. He's learned to neither avoid his pain nor use it as an excuse to lash out or lean into despair. Instead, he acknowledges it – saying, "That pain's not gonna go away" – and then uses it to affirm his choice to live & experience the joys of life: "But if we don't keep living, then all that sacrifice is gonna be for nothing."

In Dean's calm, contemplative assurance, we hear echoes of that earlier "I'm good with who I am." His pain no longer overshadows his joy. It no longer makes him doubt the value of his life, or whether it was all worth it. Somewhere in the months between defeating God and this moment, these lessons have matured to full growth, and Dean's found peace.

The rest of the episode puts this idea to the ultimate test – whether Sam & Dean are able to actually follow theory with action when it comes to each other. Again, Dean leads the way: as he's accepted the deaths of others in their lives, he accepts his own death. He reminds Sam that it was always going to be this way, suggesting that he was never going to willingly step back from hunting, and he knew (as we did, as we saw and heard again & again) that hunting was inevitably fatal, if you did it long enough. Dean's death throws into stark relief the immense danger of even a "routine" hunt, underscoring his immense courage in dedicating himself to that path. His death isn't flashy. It isn't a fairytale or action movie ending. It isn't there to entertain us, as if we were Chuck. It's just a death. It provokes the same feelings of helplessness & loss that Dean himself struggled with... and eventually learned to face.

Here, it's useful to reflect back on the themes of the show. Now, it's true that one of the points of the show was the importance of fighting on without being deterred by despair. But, balanced against that, we also saw the dangers of refusing to face pain & loss head-on (being unable to accept natural consequences). Dean makes a deal & goes to Hell because he can't cope with the idea of Sam being dead. In doing so, he sets off a chain of events that leads to the apocalypse. Sam forces a witch to cast black magic (and sacrifice a man's life) to save Dean from the Mark of Cain because he can't cope with the thought of Dean's eternal suffering. In doing so, he sets off a chain of events that leads to mass death at the hands of the Darkness. (We also see this lesson emerge in smaller plot points, such as when Dean is forced to be Death for a day.) And this is the point Dean is driving at in "Lebanon," as well: about learning to accept the bad alongside the good.

Thus, one of the big overall messages of the show comes out to something less like "always keep fighting" and more like the Serenity Prayer: it's about the courage to keep fighting even in the darkest times, when the odds are slim and hope is faint; but also the serenity (or perspective, or emotional maturity) to accept things you can't or shouldn't fight (when fighting would do more harm than good, or it's not your choice to make); and the wisdom to know the difference. Without Dean's death in 15x20 [or Sam's], we can't see that crucial character growth in terms of wisdom & perspective. If we fade to black while both boys are still alive and pretend to ourselves that no one ever has to die, we lose that nuance. Likewise if they died together (allowing both to avoid facing a life that includes the other's death).

So, far from being tone-deaf or antithetical to the message of the show, Dean's death in 15x20 carries one of the largest pieces of ongoing tension (Sam & Dean's struggle to process/accept the pain of loss, esp. loss of each other, even when failing to do so risks destroying the world) to a satisfying conclusion.

And this lesson isn't limited in applicability to stories where supernatural forces can intervene in matters of life & death. In the real world, it looks like accepting a relative's decision to move to hospice care when they're finished fighting a terminal diagnosis & they're ready to seek improved quality of life, even if it costs them the chance for a little more time. It looks like putting down a beloved pet to spare them great suffering you can't otherwise alleviate. It looks like all sorts of hard but necessary choices people make in end-of-life care.

In the end, S15:E20 "Carry On" elevates the overall message of Supernatural from something solid but not particularly noteworthy (as far as shows of this type go, "keep fighting" is a pretty basic message) to something outstanding, the kind of powerful & nuanced message you can only get from a show that keeps taking risks right up until the very end. Time/budgetary limitations forced the seams to show ever so slightly more than in past episodes (would I have loved a better wig, or more shots establishing that that barn was in the middle of nowhere? Sure), but this is, overall, an ambitious episode that sticks the landing. Grounded in reality and true to the seasons before it, "Carry On" is a bittersweet masterpiece... and a fitting end to 15 years.

#spn #spoilers #dean winchester #understanding dean winchester #finale #carry on #character analysis #spn meta

[invisiblegarters]

Be My Favorite Ep 8

Why. Why are we starting on the singing? Why. Look yes Gawin has pipes but put them away, please. I am just never gonna be a fan of this trope and Thailand loves it so much; we are incompatible in that way.

Kawi you really need to try kissing this man sober.

"When are you going to stop doing this?" CALLED IT. Kawi totally keeps getting drunk and making out with Pisaeng. My dude. Both my dudes, really.

Okay okay. I'm not usually one to bring RL into my BL, but...I wonder if Krist felt some kind of way about playing Kawi during that scene with the reporters questioning his relationship with Pisaeng. Just. Considering.

Still, Kawi is not wrong about it. Get yer noses out of the private lives, people! Do not like how he decides Pisaeng must be at fault, though. As if people need a reason to speculate about celeb's love lives.

Oof, did Pisaeng finally block his number?

Man, I kind of feel bad for Kawi right now. Yes he still wrecked his own life, but in this instance the Kawi currently sitting in the wreckage of that life might as well have had it wrecked by someone else.

But.

BUT.

In my opinion Kawi still hasn't learned his lesson. He keeps trying to fix the things that went wrong, keeps thinking that if he just does the right thing in all situations his life will turn out perfect. First it was saving his dad and making Pear like him, getting a good career with lots of money, etc...and it does sort of feel like he's doing that now with Pisaeng. Something about his insistence that he wants to set things right isn't sitting well with me.

Well that means that dad is gone for good then, right? It's sad but expected. I said it last time, but there are things that you just can't change. As early as episode two they had dad saying that if it was his time it was his time, you can't change that no matter how hard you try. Granted his dad was mostly using it as a reason not to take better care of himself, but he wasn't wrong. Dad's death is a fixed point; it can't be changed.

I still think the lesson here isn't about changing individual events, it's about changing himself. It's like he didn't grow up in the entire twelve years between the Buddy Reveal and turning 30, and he's doing it now.

So Pisaeng's mom still sucks. Yeah, that tracks. She sure is a politician, though, isn't she? All that smoke she was blowing about wanting Pisaeng to be happy in a country that will let him be him, neatly sidestepping his very direct question about whether she just wants him out of sight (I get the impression she does). Saying that he can live like "normal people" abroad. I see you, lady.

I already said my piece about Pisaeng not letting Kawi talk.

Hm. I wonder if there is something going on with Pear family wise, or if she was just disappointed to have to cancel her plans with Kawi.

I love Max. I'm not entirely sure how Kawi convinced him to stay fighting, exactly, but maybe he just means that having his bestie back made him more willing to fight in general, or made the situation seem less hopeless.

All this drama happening and me sitting here like why is Kawi's phone so little! It's so wee! I am unused to phones that small nowadays.

It looks like a toy. Do I just use giant mobiles or what?

And hey, Kawi admitted he liked Pisaeng. I genuinely thought it'd take longer.

Damn, now I want sushi.

Hahaha, I kind of love Pisaeng telling the old man he'll handle his own broken things. I read the theory that that's actually Kawi and I have to say, the fond smile Pisaeng gets when he says he'll handle his car himself makes me wonder. Who knows, though.

Next week: Kawi and PIsaeng dating era. I don't know why they are giving us the attempted kiss from the back when we've seen the trailer, but whatever. Is Pisaeng gonna tell Kawi to go back to the future? Because that feels...premature. Kawi really needs to stop bouncing back and forth. I said it last week, I'll say it again: you can't speedrun character growth.

#be my favorite #episode 8

[asmallermorehonestsoul]

RWBY: Volume 9 Ep. 4- A Cat Most Curious

In which new acquaintances are made.

I love the Cat’s whole design/aesthetic/whatever, so cool

“We’re even farther [from the tree]!” “Yeah I think thats because we’re six inches tall” Yang pls poor Weiss is struggling ggdggd

Ah so it is some kind of emotional journey to the tree, not physical

Alyx wrote the book? That’s interesting

Blake trying to use cat solidarity to protect Little sdafsfsg

Weiss being proud of her roast about CC, she’s trying dfssdfsg

Giving CC a Scroll, I love it fsdgsdgf cat selfies!!

CC roasting the God of Light for the Oz Collective setup is great, also the Ciel callback sdfdaf I guess with Penny’s secret revealed and Ironwood deciding Penny “doesn’t have time for friends.” (booo) she wasn’t… necessary? 

THEY DID CHARACTER VOICES FOR THE SHOW SUMMARY AND WE DIDN’T GET TO SEE IT? Unfair sfdsdg also leave Weiss and her voices alone CC, I’m sure she did her best!

Alyx was concerned with ‘trivial’ matters, but learned her lesson? Alright

CC thinks Remnant sounds like a strange place, ha! But again with the idea of everything in the Ever After being deliberate, with roles for everyone, even if it’s chaotic

CC asking how many more Relics Salem needs and how they’re going to stop her and Ruby’s just like “NOOOOOO THATS THE THING I'M SENSITIVE ABOUT”

Yang calling her Rubes again thank you for this treat

Weiss is DONE

The forest is very lovely but also don’t go after random humming!!!! Remember what CC said!!

The Herbalist is our Caterpillar stand-in? Such a cool design!

“Would you say you are good Huntresses?” Damn, Herbalist, just go right for the throat, huh? I guess he isn’t they should know who they are to get where they want to go

“This is how a king winds up a prince” WHAT… was the Red Prince NOT the Red King’s son, but him deaged?

And this is why we don’t follow strange guys who live in the woods to do substances, kids… Blake you might need to speak up if  you remember something about the Herbalist

So Blake is offered the chance to live a simpler identity as a human or cat, Yang is offered to be whole again, and Weiss is offered to lose the burden of the Schnee name… but they have already struggled and developed and came to terms with all those parts of themselves, so they don’t need it.

Ruby on the other hand… damn hallucination!Ruby you are so mean but yeah our girl is really feeling the weight of all this

CC to the rescue!! They did the heart thing to Herb that they did to the Red Prince!

AND THERE GOES HERB, OK FDSGGDG me too girls

THEYRE CREDITED AS TINY YANG, WEISS AND BLAKE TT.TT 

A beautiful location, some emotional character exploration, and the new implications about the Red Prince/King. A great episode!! Still no Jaune though… I love my girls and everything we got I just wanna know how my boy is... Our girls are still small though

#rwby #rwby volume 9 spoilers #rwby spoilers #my reactions

[lonelyneuronaboard]

you surely didn't seriously think wenclair could happen in the first season like that's absurd. the girls litro just meet each other in the first ep, wednesday is emotionally closed-off and she keeps saying she won't / doesn't want to fall in love.. like idk who thought all of this could turn around in a blink of an eye. the reviews are praising the show though and especially the friendship that blossomed between wednesday and enid calling it the best relationship of the show. also this reviewer guy hated the whole thing so do not base your opinion on his thoughts if i can advise you. don't let this stop you from watching wednesday.

English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

That said, you can rest assured I'm not the kind of person who bombs a show just because a Mr. Nobody, for what I'm concerned, said there's no Wenclair and plenty of male love interests for both Enid and Wednesday.

I'm a 90's girl, I grew up with the Addams Family series and movies. Christina Ricci was my Wednesday and when I saw Jenna Ortega as Wednesday I was like "jesusfuck she's perfect", and I defended Gomez when people complained about the actor. Yes, we grew up with the sensual & smooth af Gomez but I mean, did they see the comics? That man was another perfect choice.

Did I entertained the thought of Wenclair?

Yes I did because, lesbihonest, I'm hungry for good rep, but I never really hoped for it for different reasons.

Regardless of what the trailers may show or what is whispered around, I have ZERO trust until I see with my eyes what's going on. This bitch has been burned enough times, lesson learned.

As you said, "wednesday is emotionally closed-off and she keeps saying she won't / doesn't want to fall in love" and I totally understand that because I'm exactly like her. Friendship? Yes, If you're worth it I can give you the most beautiful friendship ever. But no girl, however cute she might be, could make me fall in love in such a short time.

I'm all for the slowburn, the angst, the enemies to friends to lovers, and all the fanfiction tropes you could think of. I find the U-Haul relationships truly annoying because I could never.

My only hope is that the relationship (whatever it may be) between Enid and Wednesday was truly handled in the best way and that the "plenty of male love interests" gets all a door in the face cuz shooo, I've had enough! I've grow up watching straight relationships and they bore me to death.

#wednesday addams #wednesday #anonymous asks #asks

[valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn]

I mean the whole point behind She-Hulk was that she had no rage issues or trauma she had to control. Jen being in a more stable situation is what allowed her to have control but of course the MCU can let a happy well adjusted woman just exist

I haven't seen the ep since I'm not planning on watching the series but some of the things I've read are... pretty bad, like certain quotes being celebrated as a big feminist statement when to me they sound like a competition on who's had it worse and who's superior to whom. Personally I prefer a feminism that aims to balance and create a partnership, not a competition.

If Jen can handle her anger easily and she's better at it than Hulk that's awesome, but from what I've read the writers used that to have her act like the superior Hulk instead of taking the opportunity to help Bruce with whatever techniques or life lessons she has learned to be able to deal with it better than him. That way you can have him teaching her something and Jen teaching him something in return, it's a partnership, it's better that way imo.

Also it would make more sense for her to explain how she's good at it by giving personal examples of her own experiences not a blanket statement on how bad women have it in the world.

But again, I haven't seen the ep so this is mostly from what I've read on here and reddit, there might be some context I'm missing.

[airyoubreath]

The Knight and the Prince [Prt. 1 Ep. 4]

It's been five months since Kalani became the crown prince's personal guard. She's gotten into a solid routine. Every morning before dawn she'd get up and head to the prince's quarters. The guards outside Xajar's room, Bento and the Siamese who Kalani has come to learn his name is Hurji, have come to respect one another.

From there the prince would start his morning reading on whatever assignment Master Zito had assigned him, and he'd have his morning cream. Honey flavored is his favorite. Then they'd be off to the courtyard for the prince's private training lessons. General Zephyr trained him in hand-to-hand combat, ancient martial arts, and weaponry. Kalani has noticed that Xajar has shown interest in Khopesh.

She would then leave for lunch while someone temporarily took her place, then return to join the prince in whatever activity was on his agenda. As of today, Xajar was outside picnicking with his younger sister, Princess Miyumi, who just turned eleven two months ago. They sat under the gazebo at the edge of the lake behind the palace. Kalani watched from her post on the bridge, far away for privacy, but close enough to act if the Xajar was in danger.

The white she-cat wasn't alone today. She was joined by Rin, a black and white tom, who was the princess's personal guard. They both stood watching not saying anything Both focused on their surroundings listening to anything that may seem out of place.

The prince's voice echos in her ears as he calls out, "Kalani." Her blue eyes widen when she hears her name leaving his lips. "Come here."

Startled, Kalani didn't know whether to abandon her post or follow her future leader's instructions. Something nudged her side, blinking her out of her hesitant state. "The prince has summoned you."

Gazing up, the she-cat meets the tom's blue eyes. "Right," she whispers, walking towards the gazebo where Xajar and the princess are seated. When she gets a few paces away she bows, her right arm crossing her chest. "You've summoned me your highness?"

"Yes, I did," he said sipping on his cream. From the sweet smell wafting through her senses, Kalani could tell it was honey. "I'd like you to join my sister and I for our picnic."

Uncertainty forms on the female cat's face.

"I can't your highness, my job is to protect not drink cream, and eat crab and fish cakes like a noble." Kalani replied, her tail flickering behind her. She hoped the prince would take the hint and let her return to duty. But instead, he ignored her, telling her to sit. Not wanting to get on the royal's wrong side, she obliged, sitting awkwardly in the seat between him and the princess.

Who didn't seem happy about the she-cat warrior intruding on her time with her brother. Kalani could feel Princess Miyumi's annoyance coming off her in waves. Not that the white she-cat could blame her. She'd be upset too if her brother invited some stranger to sit with them during a private moment.

"Are you fucking my brother?" The princess asked out of the blue, making Prince Xajar splutter his cream, and Kalani's eyes widen in shock at the princess's inappropriate language.

"Miyumi," the prince hissed, noticing the discomfort his personal guard exuded.

"What? I was asking a simple question?" Princess Miyumi said as if that was a casual question you might ask someone in a conversation. Like the queen, her green eyes reflected innocence, but she wasn't.

Collecting herself, Kalani answered the princess's question despite the inappropriate assumption. "No, I'm not. What your brother and I have is strictly work, nothing more, nothing less." Kalani turns her gaze away from the princess and towards the prince. "Right, your highness?"

"Right," he agreed. "Anyways, Miyumi who's been filling your mind with such vulgarity? A lady of your stature shouldn't know what that means at age eleven."

Princess Miyumi doesn't answer her brother's question, instead she stands up and leaves the gazebo in a huff, her personal guard following closely behind her.

"I'm sorry about my sister," Prince Xajar apologized.

"It's fine," Kalani waved it off, thankful the conversation was over.

"No, it's not-"

"Shush, do you hear that?" Kalani interrupted standing up from her chair. Her ears flickered in every direction trying to pinpoint the sound. Her eyes scanned the area, seeing nothing. Then she heard it again a whistling, this one close. Her eyes bugged as she spotted an arrow heading directly towards him. Without thinking, she pushed him out of the way just in time before the arrow hit its target.

The prince was fine, Kalani was not. When the white she-cat looked down at her abdomen fear and pain raked through her body. The black arrow shot through her torso. The pointed end stuck out of her stomach. Blood stained the white cat's fur turning it dark pink, tears forming in her sapphire eyes.

Is this the end?

Kalani thought, as her knees buckled underneath her, and she slumped sideways on the gazebo floor. At the edge of her blurred vision, he could see the prince's mouth moving. However, she couldn't hear what he was saying, as darkness took over.

✳✳✳

The Knight and the Prince

End of Part One

#royalty #royal #prince #fantasy #animal #cats #kingdom #personal guard #knight

[onestowatch]

The 25 Artists to Watch in 2022

2021 was no one’s year... well, except maybe Pete Davidson’s. Whatever the case, if there was one silver lining, it was the deluge of new music and artists that scored every unpredictable twist and turn. And looking ahead, 2022 has no shortage of artists looking to leave their mark on the music scene at large. Ranging from pop stars in the making, genre-eschewing kids of tomorrow, to nostalgic throwbacks, these are the top 25 artists you need to be watching in 2022. 

BoyWithUke

With his face hidden behind an LED faceplate, we may not know who BoyWithUke is, but one thing we know for certain is that he’s poised to be the next big thing. The enigmatic pop icon creates in stark opposition to his anonymous persona, wearing his heart on his sleeve on albums Melatonin Dreams and Fever Dreams — both released in 2021. It’s this confessional approaching to songwriting paired with nostalgic indie pop that has earned the rapidly rising artist over 12 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a devoted, rapidly growing fanbase. Who Is BoyWithUke? He’s up next.

ericdoa

Digicore, hyperpop, or whatever microgenre you might call it, ericdoa is an artist more than capable of carrying the torch forward. The byproduct of a flurry of internet communities and collaborations, this kid out of a small town in Connecticut delivers a pixelated vision for pop’s iridescent future. 2021 saw the artist release then i’ll be happy, a collaborative EP with fellow hyperpop breakthrough artist glaive, and a series of singles, including “fantasize,” a summer smash that has been on repeat since its initial drop. As ericdoa continues to build on the foundation of an already impressive discography that speaks for itself, 2022 is starting to feel more and more like his year.

Wallice

There are few artists who can craft a beguiling song quite like Wallice. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter and self-professed jazz school dropout whisks into existence coming-of-age stories from the mundanity of leaving a Hydro Flask in the back of an emotionally unavailable ex’s car to the foolhardy ambition of having life figured out by the time you turn 23. These lessons learned and those she’s still trying to figure out build the emotional crux of her acclaimed debut EP, Off the Rails, a succinct collection of sprawling confessionals. And as we enter 2022, it certainly seems like there will be no shortage of stories, both deeply personal and universal, for Wallice to transpose into stirring indie rock.

midwxst

The culmination of 2021 saw the release of midwxst’s Back in Action. The project arrived as a sonic victory lap for the Indiana rapper and artist, delivering an intoxicating composite of pop, digicore, early childhood nostalgia, and emo-rap. But the road to Back in Action wasn’t paved in gold. Feeling like an outsider for most of his childhood, it wasn’t until midwxst found a home amongst a group of like-minded kids on SoundCloud that he matured into the artist he is today — one coupling all the unpredictable chaos of young adulthood with the honed maturity of a seasoned veteran.  

PinkPantheress

Even if you don’t know PinkPantheress by name quite yet, if you’ve spent any time on TikTok in the last year, chances are you’ve heard her music. The UK artist and producer blends hushed, diary-style musings with ethereal drum & bass. It’s an intoxicating cocktail of wistful inspirations that has earned PinkPantheress a particular level of online fame, with snippets of her singles often going viral long before their release. And with the release of her debut mixtape last year, to hell with it, showcasing the range of the inevitable UK star, 2022 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for PinkPantheress.

Bella Poarch

In the world of social media, Bella Poarch is a household name, and it seems like the next step in her inevitable world domination is music. While initial detractors may have been overly skeptical of the TikTok star’s pivot to cutthroat pop, any misplaced doubt was quickly put to rest with her debut single, “Build a Bitch.” Playing out as equal parts biting social commentary and twisted, carnival-esque pop smash, the single introduced the world to Poarch, social media icon and budding pop star. And with the release of the equally enthralling follow-up “Inferno,” it seems like there’s simply no stopping Poarch in the year to come.

Wet Leg

“Chaise Lounge” may have just been the best song of 2021, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Formed atop a Ferris wheel on an island off the south coast of England, Wet Leg, comprised of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, is built around a shared love of French disco, The Ronettes, Björk, and their lively imaginations. The result is a band that strays the line between talkative art-punk on the innuendo-heavy breakout hit “Chaise Lounge” and anthemic indie rock on songs like “Wet Dream.” Wet Leg is a laissez-faire indie rocker’s dream come true.

ENNY

ENNY is set to become a fixture in the UK’s thriving rap scene. The South London rapper saw her first instance of viral success following a remix of her single “Peng Black Girls,” which featured none other than Jorja Smith. Yet, even in its original form, “Peng Black Girls” is a shining illustration of what makes ENNY an act worth championing in 2022. Over a chilled-out beat, she muses on diversity and inclusion, and not just shallow portrayals of it that seek to appease passing trends of social consciousness but on the importance of seeing the inclusion of black women on your teams and the inherent diversity that exists amongst black women as a whole. ENNY is an artist with a poignant message and the sonic skill to carry it to a global stage.

Laufey

Taking up the cello and piano at an early age, partially inspired her mother, a classical violinist, it was in her father’s record collection that Laufey truly found a kindred spirit, losing herself in the timeless sounds of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. The result is a modern-day reimagining of the classics, bridging the worlds of classical music, jazz, and modern pop to paint a lush sonic portrait that is nothing short of mesmerizing. Even though Laufey may only have one EP to her name, Typical of Me, her timeworn sound and spellbinding vocals have all the trappings of a timeless success story.

Weston Estate

Self-described as “ya aunty’s favorite boyband,” I have to say… damn, ya aunty’s got amazing taste. Comprised of longtime best friends, Srikar Nanduri, Manas Panchavati, Tanmay Joshi, Abhi Manhass, and Marco Luka, Weston Estate may have penned a deal with Arista Records and be racking up streams in the millions, but the North Carolina-based band hasn’t forgotten their homegrown roots. Insisting on doing the majority of their production and songwriting in-house, listening to Weston Estate feels like accidentally stumbling onto your favorite band’s impromptu jam session. Laid-back yet well-hone, dreamlike yet firmly planted in their vision, Weston Estate is shaping up to make major strides in the year to come.  

Slush Puppy

To say Slush Puppy’s music is explosive would be a severe understatement. On his Royal & the Serpent-assisted breakout hit “EAT SPIT!,” the San Diego-bred artist delivers his lines with the menacing snarl of a rabid junkyard dog, launching into earth-shattering bouts of catharsis against volatile, blown-out production. Yet, on “Juliette,” Slush perfectly plays the role of lovelorn slacker, evoking all the latent appeal of early ‘00s indie rock. It’s clear that whether you put a spike or plush velvet collar on this Puppy, his bite sinks his teeth into you never quite lets go.

redveil

17-year-old Maryland rapper redveil is a Prince George county kid just trying to make it, and he’s well on his way. With a deep, raspy voice that evokes Earl Sweatshirt and an effortless bravado that pays heed to the greats without feeling stuck in the past, redveil feels poised for a breakthrough moment. Spending the better part of his teenage years releasing relentless cut after cut, from the hypnotic “04” to the timeworn “Weight,” redveil has set himself up for a massive 2022.

Montell Fish

There is a spiritual quality to Montell Fish’s music. The New York-based artist’s sonic place of worship is adorned modestly by sparse, lofi instrumentals and his striking falsetto that often seems like it’s floating in a world of its own. Listening to Fish often feels like bearing witness to the creation of a new age of gospel music, one that seeks out the innate spirituality birthed in traditionally Black spaces of worship from the comfort of an unassuming New York apartment. And while fans will likely draw comparisons to the transcendent R&B of Frank Ocean or the gospel-inspired ruminations of early Kanye West, Fish’s vision is uniquely his own.

Nessa Barrett

Chances are you may know Nessa Barrett from TikTok, where she regularly commands an audience in the millions, but that was never the original plan. Before finding a home on the social media platform, the New Jersey artist had dreams of metamorphosing into an ominous pop queen. And following the release of not one but two breakout hit singles, the pop-punk leaning, jxdn-assisted “la di die” and undeniable earworm “i hope ur miserable until ur dead,” Barret is well on her way to making those dreams a reality. Let 2022 be the year of Barrett’s reign.

Gabriels

Gabriels make timeless, haunting music. The Los Angeles three-piece outfit, comprised of lead singer Jacob Lusk and producers Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope, eschew generations to deliver a uniquely modern vision that draws inspiration from the time-honored traditions of blues, soul, and R&B. This is music whose passion and pain you can feel from the very opening note to the last lyric sung, each heaven-sent falsetto carrying with it the full force of Lusk’s impressive vocal talent. Gabriels is set to leave their mark on 2022 and far, far beyond.

Amelia Moore

With her debut single, “sweet and sour” Amelia Moore perfectly shifted us from hot girl summer to spooky girl fall. Teasing the single for far too long with a series of viral TikTok videos, Moore finally revealed her debut single as a fully-formed blur of transfixing R&B, sinister pop, and rippling electronic textures. An emerging star was born. Currently working on her highly-anticipated debut project and set to join FLETCHER on tour this spring, 2022 is set to be the year Moore brings her enthralling pop vision to the world at large.

454

454 has a lot more going for him than a Frank Ocean co-sign (although that most certainly doesn’t hurt). On his debut album, 4 Real, the Florida rapper creates his own woozy vision of psych-rap that feels like stumbling through a Euphoria-themed house party at 4 a.m. That’s not to say 454 is all aesthetics, no substance. In between intoxicating bars and otherworldly beats and breakdowns, the Florida rapper touches upon deeply personal themes, ranging from losing family and friends to chasing fading highs. 454 is the next wave, and we’re here for the ride.

Luna Li

Luna Li holds a special place on this list as both one of our top artists to watch in the year to come and one of the most proficient beatmakers of recent memory. The Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist has found a fanbase through both her homemade beats, racking up views in the millions and serving as the foundation for her stellar jams EP, as well as her ethereal brand of pop that pours out like the sonic equivalent of floating on cloud nine. These two sides of Li merge beautifully on Flower (In Bloom), which saw her nourishing the succinct beats of jams into flourishing, fully-formed works of their own. We cannot wait to see what Li blooms into existence next. 

Riovaz

Riovaz exists at the hazy intersection of woozy rap cuts and bittersweet splice of bedroom pop and hip-hop. The result is a sound that blearily drifts between the lovesick indie pop of “Prom Night,” the pulsating thrall of “I Feel Fantastic,” and the atypical club meditation that is “Leaving You.” Yet, whatever newfound sound Riovaz glides toward, the end result is the same — an infectious earworm that begs to be played on repeat. With a handful of singles that have gained streams in the millions in the past year, 2022 is set to be a breakthrough year for the genre-blurring wunderkind.

Warren Hue

Indonesian rapper, singer, and producer Warren Hue is unpredictable in the best way possible. Whether it be the racing production and acrobatic flow of “omomo punk” or the genre-shifting twists and turns that build the kaleidoscopic world of the Chasu-assisted Sugartown, the sonic chameleon approaches music with a flexibility that is nothing short of infectious. Sending off 2021 with a series of standout singles and leaving his mark on Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings: The Album, the 88rising multi-hyphenate is poised for an even bigger 2022.

Teezo Touchdown

Teezo Touchdown has racked up co-signs from the likes of Tyler, the Creator, Madonna, and Givenchy’s Matthew M Williams. Decked in his trademark hair entombed in nails, The Texas-based artist, multi-instrumentalist, and creative tour de force makes the very idea of genre feel like an archaic misnomer. Demonstrating a unique sonic vernacular that can stand toe to toe with Tyler on the celebratory “RUNITUP” one moment and delve into the genuinely introspective on “I’m Just a Fan” the next, there simply seems to be no limit to Touchdown’s creative depth. If there was any time to believe the hype, this is it.

Hojean

Hojean makes the sort of music perfectly apt for listless summer days and carefree joyrides. It’s a testament to the Georgia-based singer, songwriter, and producer’s hypnotic blend of alternative R&B and modern pop. The cherry on top is Hojean’s charismatic and soothing vocals, which serve as a vehicle for lyrics that are ripped straight from the life of the Georgia artist and those closest to him. If there’s one fault to be found with Hojean, it’s that he’s teased us with numerous standout singles without ever releasing a full-length project. Maybe 2022 will be both Hojean’s and our year?

tsubi club

tsubi club may have released his one and only single last year, but it left an explosive enough first impression to firmly cement his place on the list. The solo project of soren, he describes the project as a "composite of music and visuals that combine everything I think is cool." It’s this omnivorous hunger that begins to explain the infectious appeal of “burbank house;” tsubi club’s debut single that stitches together emo-rap, alternative, hyperpop, outright euphoria, and a thrilling reckless abandon to leave us with an insatiable appetite for what’s to come.

marinelli

marinelli, the singer, songwriter, producer, and former Billie Eilish drummer, can seemingly do it all. When it comes to his solo work, the Los Angeles-based multi-hyphenate crafts cinematic pop that pairs all the intimacy of a bedroom pop confessional and the precision of his impressive musical pedigree. For proof, look no further than his FINNEAS co-sign or debut EP, Funny Bone, a concise yet impactful six-song collection that sees marinelli wearing his still bleeding heart on his sleeve over meticulously constructed soundscapes. If 2022 has any taste, it’ll be the year marinelli makes his mark.

Seori

Long before making her official debut, Seori was already amassing a legion of fans with a series of covers, ranging from Khalid to Rachael Yamagata, that earned her views in the millions. Not content to simply rest on her laurels, the South Korean artist released her debut EP ?depacse ohw to widespread acclaim. Tackling themes of isolation and loneliness and taking inspiration from Avril Lavigne, Paramore, and G-Dragon, Seori’s music is a transcendent fusion of emotional pathos and infectious pop-R&B.

#boywithuke #wet leg #redveil #pinkpantheress #454 #tsubi club #bella poarch #montell fish #wallice #gabriels #ericdoa #slush puppy #nessa barrett #midwxst #riovaz #marinelli #amelia moore #teezo touchdown #laufey #weston estate #luna li #warren hue #hojean #seori #enny #2022

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket Manga Review , ch 111

sigh~~~ I feel that my recent posts are a bit negative towards the anime, but thats cuz the chapters I’ve read so far are either unbelievably important character depth content cut for no valid reason or content in the anime but packed with million other things that it lost its purpose or importance. Basically tohu’s ep 6 which consists of 4 chapters & now ep 5 which is a momiji ep & yup, packed with 4 chapters as well... so, I apologize for any negativity, my intention is just analyzing artistic & story-telling aspects, I love se03, but yeah it screwed up lots of important characters due to its not so thorough plot decisions & harmful character insight choices.

today.. we explore Momiji... but only before his curse breaks.

Furuba anime struggling to know how to design an episode based on various plot-heavy chapters?

so, they decided 13 eps, & decided one ep for momiji cuz motoko’s graduation & the fanclub is the core of the furuba & have already cut tons of tohru, cuz who cares? she’s kind. be like her. end of lesson. No. really, jokes aside, how to do this?

How to combine several chapters in one ep? collect small snippets from chosen chapters/content like a bee does flowers? you gotta skip some content, you gotta highlight others. The ep is only 20 min after all & you got an op & Ed that you cant always skip.... so.. furuba team decide that momoji’s ep should be true to his zodiac animal, this is the rabbits last appearance in spirit. so, they went with quick hopping from one chapter to the other like a rabbit?

No really, ep 5 is really like a rabbit in its flow, you can’t savior a moment enough before jumping to the other: we learned momiji grew up!! loves toheu romantically, challenged kyo, really meant it, wanted a fair love game, got freed, lost tohru romantically & faced momiji! but that’s not all? we still have space!! quick add akito’s moodiness & love triangle with her dog & her submissive bed partner, add a happy comedy for no reason whatever & make shigue kiss tohru & wish shes 'was his lover instead!!!!!!!!! Mind you all this happened in the anime before shigure hurt tohru with his “the truth of the zodiacs talk & them accepting & feeling consolance that kyo is doomed”talk. 

-Gets whats my biggest surprise after reading this chapter ?????????

Shigure is consistent!! He isnt a rabbit hopping here & there. The dog is loyal & is tired for good reason! Him being depressed & his weird talk with thoru makes so much sense given the manga’s order.

Kyo is consistent!! In the anime, momiji surprise him with confession he loves tohru & challenge him, then kyo la~la~la~joins them downstairs for curry. Not a single expression on his face, where is the expression? it will appear when the plot is forced to address it: by the end of the ep when momiji face hin again. Then we get kyo’s reaction.

I need someone to tell the anime that actions require a reaction. You can refrain from showing a certain reaction if you can’t address it now, but you can’t erase it, negate it, then make it appear when have to!!!! couldn’t they make kyo refuse to join them & eat together? the     other characters wont be surprised they think he’s needlessly moody. The audience will know that kyo is troubled with momiji’s challenged & it will excite them!!! having kyo just go eat & watch the momiji/hiro/haru/yuki comedy skit is weird.

The manga’s author wanted kyo to join the dinner, like the anime did. but huge difference. the author actually cares for logic reaction & understands that the audience aren’t dumb little kids that will sit & wait for kyo’s turn to...react! nope! she did this: (a) & (b) below.

-Lost Small Bits/ Panels from the chapter.. But Sadly Big Huge Chunks for Characters buildup & Growth:

(a) addressed the fact the hiro noticed kyoru is in love & dressed that shigure was right!! the cat being in love is a weird concept to the zodiacs! hiro reacted naturally & the author used hiro to flesh yuki’s (the rat), momiji’s (the rabbit) & haru’s (the cow) decision to silently watch the kyo (the cat) makes his own decisions to live!!! They won’t interfere or tell akito or remind him of his state as the doomed caged cat. So sad this moment is cut from yuki. Why must yuki only interact with kyo to beat him (all seasons)? why must yuki only think of kyo to envy him (all seasons) ? Here, yuki’s growth towards kyo as a person & his relationship with tohru is 1000 times better than all tohru is my mom’s sh!t & I envy kyo’s Sh!t we saw in the anime over & over till we memorized it.

(b) kyo didnt just go la~la~eat with momiji after knowing he loves tohru. Nope, there’s small bits missing: called logical emotional reaction. He was surprised he’s caught pining over tohru! cuz yuki, the audience representative, has told us in the previous chapter that ppl in love dont notice anything around them. Kyo thinks him being cold hid his feelings. the dummy’s feelings are as bright as the sun in the Sahara, tohru too. a child read her! such small thing that wont take much space from the ep but was cut cuz kyo only needs to be responsive at the ep’s end. & this scene of kyo & tohru looking awkwardly at each other is minor in space but so important cuz kyo is determined to let go but his decision is challenged by not only momiji, but his natural attraction to tohru. Here he knows he’s caught & exposed... here he knows momiji is a better choice for tohru cuz he wont didn’t hurt her mom... here he knows that even yuki is better cuz never had to pretend to be cold to her... here he knows the world is better than him... & here he just cant help by smile & walks towards her... T_T ... another lesson in writing slow burns by Takaya-san.

-Why would the anime team pass on this?? drawing kyoru closer after the epic tear in Cinderella ep, cuz they want empty suspense~! The anime team thinks that if kyo & tohru stand next to each other, then it means all their issues are solved & the audience are so stupid as to forget tohru’s mom, kyo’s imprisonment, kyo not confessing his sins to tohru & tohru’s need to make a choice wether to fogive hom or not.. nope! you see, they think, ppl who read mangas are smart, so the author can give this epic symbolism & pp would still be not sure kyoru is end game & tohru will forgive him or kyo even fogive himself, but ppl who watch, oh no, gotta cut all the plot worthy content, produce a graduation song for a minor character, cut all kyo/tohru interaction cuz it only means romance & not at all character depth & oh if we show yuki actually formulating deep thoughts that aren’t centered around him, the audience might forget his se02 struggles! or that might ruin yuki’s upcoming growth moment in the finale where he .. you guessed it hits kyo.. as he always do & sulk &  think abt himself cuz yuki can only do monologues when he’s directly involved.... man~it is so sad how the anime is dumped down.. Who is the target audience again? not kids as young as hiro cuz even hiro is smart!

-just look:

 Momiji talks abt kyo shouldn't give up loving tohru & the authr shows this this ghost!!! his mom! The author reminds us that kyo isnt da~~~~ forgetting anything. He’s a deeply troubled soul & hos mom wants him locked cuz she too was locked in a cage & thinks that’s safer...why oh why you dump ur own story! sh!t~

Side Notes:

I like the closeups on Kisa’s face as she interacted with kyo. It’s very rare for kisa to have a world beside the endearing parental/big protective bro/big doting sister love she has with tohru & haru & off course the romantic love with hiro which was perhaps since their birth or sth. lol.  Kisa & kyo arent much on the brotherly side as they rarely interact, but its one of those  refreshing  interactions she has that helps cast a new light on her as tiny as it is,  but its sth out of the norm around her. She sees him  around tohru & gets to perceive his true unprovoked character. “He is  nice guy”.

I really wanted to punch kureno this chapter.. like Shigure is a jerk shitty dog for sleeping with akito’s mom but kureno... dude.. you submissively sleep with the guy’s eternal love interest & still walks in on him talking to her!!! lol. you’re mentally, emotionally & physically weaker than him & yet, she puts you on her bed, not him & you, tho not wanting her at all, dont walk away. No wonder shigure is defeated & wishing for someone like tohru, lol! Even if shigure met an older tohru-like person, it wont work. shigure deserve someone like him mean, schemer & loves playing power games. Tohru is someone who values honesty & commutation, not saying she’s an angel on earth, but tohru knows who suits her.. except fate is saying: NO. .... currently. lol.

I know kureno’s weakness is part of his character & I love that such characters exits. There are ppl ike that in real life. It’s just this chapter, I felt shigure’s frustration. XD

Yuki in this ep is the best yuki. no exaggeration here, I love when yuki is calmly thoughtful of others & here its kyo of all ppl !!!! cutting this scene is sad.. without it, kyo & yuki remain a cat & rat in the anime. Only ever thinking abt each other thro envious binoculars or hateful words or yuki giving kyo comedic hitting or life’s problem-solving hitting. Why can’t anime yuki be interactive outside his self-centered issues is beyond me.

Momiji & kyo’s interactions are always the best! whether comedy or drama.

I hated the curry cooking scene in the anime... so weirdly out of the ep’s flow.. very forced comedy... in the manga it had a purpose! not just quick add comedy cuz next shot momiji curse breaks & drama & we’ll close the ep with tears & sadness & glimpses of hope...

I love haru’s answer to hiro... so him.. “a guy can’t fall in love?”so chill.. so..simple.

#Fruits Basket #Anime Only #manga spoilers #fruits basket manga #manga review #sad paper #mad paper #I'm having shitty personal day dont mind me #sorry for extra anger #if it sounds like I;m screaming or shouting #I'm not i swear #I really love the anime & se03 is the best content among the other seasons #its just have big giant issues in plot & characters....