#this drama is just a comedy disguised as a slice of life

[odukora-lore]

[ Main Stories ]

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✧ The Eternal: Fallout

adventure | modern fantasy

Helio Gaharu, a humble farm kid turned determined explorer goes on a journey to defend their hometown from corrupted creatures; ones that an old friend Jingle Tinsel swore to take down through a mountain expedition seven years ago, only to never return. Helio starts off as an incompetent recruit of the prestigious agency, before stumbling into the world of wild magic through the outlawed alliance. Throughout their journey, Helio grapples with their sense of morality, all whilst retrieving ancient artifacts, fighting threats from a fallen empire and discovering what it means to truly belong.

✧ Paradigm of Empyrean

mystery | supernatural

Cinnamon Swirl, an enthusiastic, resourceful inventor seeks to solve the disappearance of the princess from a neighbouring kingdom;  one that her best friend, Bramble Carver was framed for murdering after being cursed by a mysterious entity. Amidst solving the mystery and seeking a cure, she soon finds out the possibility to shift fate, going beyond her initial plan by reversing tragedy in pursuit of more clues and a shared dream since childhood. Along her quest, Cinnamon blurs the line between life and death, all whilst uncovering the bitter ties between ancient bloodlines and confronting the weight of impermanence.

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[ Side Stories ]

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✧ Swan Feather

action | medieval fantasy

Heron Solstice, the last prince of Alpenglow is being hunted down by a tyrannical empire, all to end the reign of his bloodline. Never trained to fight back, he runs away from his kingdom disguising as a commoner, training to become the best fighter as he hides away from a fierce warrior who swears to take him down, Dulcet Plumehart. Dulcet seems to only seek bloodshed, but is oddly amused by Heron's endless shortfalls and stubborn dedication upon every encounter. Charmed even. Meanwhile, Heron is distracted by the sight of Dulcet's oddly familiar eyes.

✧ Sundowner

crime | dark comedy

Restaurant owner by day, weapon dealer by night, Budgie only aims to get by as wild magic runs rampant throughout the streets. Owning the underground weapon trade with a gang of misfits, his job has never been harder, especially after Enoki showed up and swore to become his best assistant, whilst being a complete amateur at it.

✧ Where Time Meets Destiny

coming of age | romance

Macaroon Chiffon has just moved from the busy metropolis of Mount. Kimoru to the quiet little town of Rurene, accompanying her father Simnel as he struggles to run his newly opened cafeteria. Seeking thrill alongside unfamiliar faces has never been so exciting, especially when a strange customer came visiting several times after opening hours, only ever asking for coffee.

✧ Cupid's Serenade

romance | drama

After a successful collaboration, famous superstar Angie has no choice but to put up with her career arch nemesis, Azalea. For the sake of their fans, they pretend to enjoy the following partnerships whilst internally agonizing over the sight of each other. Shenanigans ensure.

✧ Cabbage Peak

comedy | slice of life

Zest, a city kid from Dusleth seeks freedom from a busy life as he moves to the tiny village of Cabbage Peak, unbeknownst to him that his childhood home has been sold away to Basil, some guy who is very keen to keep his garden alive, and doesn't mind having a new roommate to keep him company. They do not get along.

✧ Weather Headquarters

drama | comedy

Above the mortal realm of Naru lies a place colloquially known as the Weather HQ, where specialized immortals are given a map of Naru and told to control the weather through their fingertips. Casual workplace drama gets worse when petty fights may cause a snowstorm several miles below.

✧ The Sun is a Star

sci-fi | slice of life

Marble Meredith is a renowned researcher of Naru's one and only space centre. Having worked all to the way up to prove her theory on the origins of stars, she was met with disdain as the known prodigy, Skylar Altair barges in to ruin all of her plans with his even better theory. Now, they have to unwillingly work together to find the real truth for the sake of proving each other wrong, all while their colleagues are having fun racing spaceships along the orbits.

✧ Tales of Iridescence

magical girl | action

Sparklyn Neptune, a timid collector of forest resources and seller of apple pies is secretly the protector of another dimension. Fighting side by side with her friends as her magical alter ego, eradicating eldritch horrors isn't as much of a nuisance compared to reconciling her separate identities on a day to day basis.

[trustfarms]

Hunting lesson rose taipan

Netizen 3: This meaty smell is so bad and not delicious. Netizen 2: Chinese food? I’ve never heard of it before, who still eats this kind of nutritious and unpalatable food now! Netizen 1: Anchor, you can’t do this, I have no appetite when I look at it. The method is very simple and the braised fish with rice is a must. Ye Jin on the first day of the live broadcast: Today, I will live broadcast to make Chinese delicacies, fish porridge and braised fish cubes. Ye Jin had no choice but to go back to his old business and become a food anchor, hoping to solve his urgent needs. The weatherproof house is almost out of whack. Meanwhile, Kusumi, who dumped me when I became popular, is slipping away and regrets losing her place in both real life and online, but it's too late.Ĭomedy Drama Mecha Sci-fi Shounen Ai Slice of Life YaoiYe Jin once traveled to the interstellar era, and became an orphan on a barren star. I will be all over the world as the gentle brother of Isuzu, and I will even make my debut as a Vtuber! Isuzu, who is a cheeky little demon character in the stream, is revealed to be actually a kind-hearted girl and a brocon, who fights in the stream for her poor family. I, on the other hand, was a shady guy who was ridiculed and dumped by my classmate, Kisogawa Kusumi as a 'dull and not good-looking guy'.īut one day, Isuzu forgot to turn off the stream and her chat with me was broadcast. She is a very popular and promising newcomer, who has risen to her current position within six months of joining the big Vtuber agency. The true identity of Isuzu is 'Isuzu Wine', a very popular Vtuber with 1.9 million subscribers. When she is at home, she is the cute little sister and is usually very close to me and says, “I can't live without you, brother!” This is a romantic comedy disguised as a transformation heroine story, in which two beautiful girls who used to be men enjoy flirting with each other.Ĭomedy Harem RomanceI have a little stepsister named Shiojiri Isuzu who is a hikikomori and brocon. Thus, the two were reborn as women after their mutual goals clashed. Yes… The Wolf’s true identity was Magami, who had become a woman for the same reason as Hinata. However, the Wolf, who usually left without saying anything, suddenly asked her out of nowhere. As usual, she cleansed the Impurity with the Wolf, who also rushed to the scene. Just as she was about to ask her what was going on, the Impurity appeared and Hinata headed off to battle. She was Magami, who had made her debut during the same time. When she arrived at her classroom, nervous about her incredible summer holiday debut, she found an unfamiliar tall and beautiful woman there. Although she didn’t talk much, she had built up trust with her during their battles.ĭespite all these new encounters, the summer holidays eventually ended, and Hinata had to return to school. Always by her side in battle was the Wolf, a wolf miko. Spending summer holidays as fox miko, she fought the Impurity daily as the Fox. With this thought in mind, Hinata makes an unimaginable summer holiday debut as a gender bender. Hinata’s wish was to be with his childhood friend and best friend, Ooyama Magami, for the rest of his life.Įven though two men couldn’t be together, it wouldn’t be if he became a woman. However, Hinata has always had a wish he wanted to fulfill, and the proposal to become a woman was a godsend to reach that wish, so he readily agreed. It would have normally been an impossible proposition. He wanted to help Kon, but to fight against the Impurity, he needed to become a fox miko.Ī priestess… Yes, he had to become a woman. Kon was looking for someone to fight against the Impurity, which arises from people’s negative emotions, and Hinata was one of the few people who could fight against it. He was visiting his father’s family during the summer holidays where, by chance, he met the fox spirit, Kon. Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender School Life Slice of Life YuriInari Hinata was an ordinary high-school boy.

#Hunting lesson rose taipan

[cherryupworld]

Me @ me

#kdrama #korean drama #asian drama #this drama is just a comedy disguised as a slice of life #my liberation notes #my liberation diary #the yelp that chang hee let out was brilliant #son seok koo #lee minki #yeom chang hee #mr gu

[cartoonrankings]

Best Cartoons of the 2000s

The 2000s were an interesting time period for cartoons. So many fun slice-of-life shows for children, some awesome story-based shows and even some amazing shows catered towards teenagers and adults. It truly was a magical time with many outstanding cartoons. Here are my best cartoons from the 2000s!

10. The Grim Adventures of Bill and Mandy

Seeing how this is a list talking about the best cartoons of the 2000s, what better way to start off the list other than Cartoon Network’s hit series Bill and Mandy? Spanning a total of six seasons and running from 2001 to 2007, Bill and Mandy became a classic pretty quickly. The story revolves around a grim reaper that is forced to be companions to Bill and Mandy, two friends and this leads to many fun adventures. Overall, it is a pretty fun series delivering lots of slapstick comedy and even does transcends into dark themes at times. I love the premise alone, but the humor makes watching it even more satisfying. I also really commend the show for its excellent voice acting. While it is great, some episodes in the later half of the series can be weaker than others early on which is why it is only at number 10. Nonetheless, it is a great show with many more highs than lows. Watch it if you haven’t! You can watch it on HBO Max, Amazon Instant Video or iTunes.

9. 6Teen

Ah, Canada. The mid-late 2000s was an interesting time for Cartoon Network. Lots of Canadian exports dominated the channel, and while Canada does get hate for their cartoons, I strongly disagree. They do have lots of mainstream cartoons that are great like Total Drama and they have some more obscure gems like this one (and there is one more obscure gem from the 2010s I can’t wait to talk about). The series spanned from 2004 to 2010 running a total of 93 episodes. It is about 6 teenagers, Wyatt, Caitlin, Nikki, Jen, Jude and Jonesy who are just living everyday teenager lives. They go through lots of problems that teenagers go through such as losing a job (some more than others *cough* Jonesy *cough*), social issues and dealing with exams. It is a great show for teens, and one character that really stands out to me is Caitlin - she starts out as a shallow girl who is spoilt and we get to watch her character develop once she befriends the rest of the gang. The more raunchy humor is another plus. Despite having a few weaker episodes, the series stayed strong for its 93 episode run and it’s always fun to rewatch! You can watch 6Teen on the YouTube channel, Retro Rerun, Amazon Prime, Pluto or Tubi.

8. Invader Zim

Like 6Teen, Invader Zim was a series that while it was aimed at a younger audience, it was edgy. Though with Zim, it was more dark than raunchy. This dark cartoon comedy ran from 2001 to 2006 with a total of 2 seasons and 27 episodes. It revolves around an alien named Zim who gets sent to Earth by the Irken race as an attempt to get rid of him. Zim along with his brain dead robot assistant GIR attempt to conquer earth, and the only one aware of their plans is Zim’s classmate, Dib (Zim went to school to disguise as a normal kid). The plot points this series takes is truly amazing, and while some episodes are grotesque (there was an entire episode dedicated to Zim eating other student’s organs), they are never gross to the point where I wish to stop watching. Some highlights for me are the much darker themes and humor, the pacing which was relatively fast and made it so that the episodes would never feel too boring and the voice acting. I really commend Richard Horvitz as Zim. I also cannot stress enough how the dark atmosphere and colors add so much more to the series for me. It was overall a great show and I’d even argue it was ahead of its time. You can watch Invader Zim on Paramount+, Amazon Instant Video or iTunes.

7. The Boondocks

While the three previous shows I have covered in this list were edgier shows aimed at a younger audience, entry number 7 does actually aim towards an older audience. The Boondocks was a series running from 2005 to 2014 spanning 4 seasons and a total of 55 episodes. The series revolves around brothers Huey and Riley Freeman who move from Chicago to live with their grandpa in the suburbs. The black siblings try embracing a mostly white environment and they go through their struggles trying to fit in. Huey is more of a freedom fighter while Riley is “thugged out” to the max which provides many interesting and downright funny stories for both of them. Two highlights would be the episode “The Red Ball” where Huey leads the baseball team against a rigged team, and “The Fundraiser” where Riley organizes a fundraiser for his own selfish needs. While being a funny show, it was also quite introspective giving us the American life from a black perspective. This really was a great way to make people think outside of the way they usually think. My favorite character is Riley with his “thugged out” nature and his absolutely hilarious moments. Another highlight is the anime-influenced artstyle. The creator Aaron McGruder did say he was influenced by Cowboy Bebop. Despite 3 absolutely amazing seasons, the fourth one was weaker than the rest due to the creator leaving and at times felt more racist and embracing of the stereotypes instead of providing more of a social commentary. Due to the flaws with the last season, it earns a #7 spot. Overall, I still highly recommend it as it is an amazing show. You can watch The Boondocks on Amazon Prime Video.

6. Samurai Jack

Samurais are already such an interesting concept, and cartoons are something I love so what could go wrong with a cartoon about samurais? Absolutely nothing! Samurai Jack was a cartoon which ran from 2001 to 2004 only to return in 2017 for one final season. The series ran for 62 episodes. It revolves around a samurai named Jack who tries to stop Aku, a shapeshifting demon who has taken over his kingdom. Unfortunately, Aku sends him into the dystopian future where he is ruler. The first 4 seasons had a younger audience in mind, while the fifth targeted an older audience.The fifth season’s darker approach was outstanding as well, and while many did not like the ending, I loved it! Some factors I love about the series are the darker themes (especially in the later seasons), the very cool art style and colors which compliment the series very well and the awesome voice acting, especially by Phil LaMarr as the lead character. I would recommend Samurai Jack to anyone that hasn’t seen it. You can watch Samurai Jack on HBO Max.

5. Kim Possible

After mentioning a lot of Cartoon Network shows, it was only fair I mentioned a Disney show, and what show from the 2000s is better than Kim Possible? A comedy with plenty of action and adventure that ran from 2002 to 2007 and had a total of 87 episodes amongst its 4 seasons. It was about Kim, a high school cheerleader who was also a crimefighter. Assisted by her friend Ron and his pet mole rat, Rufus, Kim fought crime all over the world while still managing a “normal” school life. One way Kim Possible approached the high school crime fighter plot line differently which stood out for me was that Kim’s identity was not hidden. This really made it unique as in most shows with this concept, the protagonist’s identity remains hidden. Some of the highlights of this show are the fantastic characters (my favorites are Kim, Rufus and Shego), the unique concepts and the action. Some standout episodes to me are Rappin’ Draken, Trading Faces and of course the final episode. I would definitely recommend watching the entire series. You can watch Kim Possible on Disney +.

4. Clone High 

Way way back in the 1980s…just joking. We’re not going that far. Clone High was a classic cartoon that unfortunately only ran for one season comprising thirteen episodes. However, a reboot will be coming sometime soon. It was a very fascinating show with probably the most intriguing concept on this list. The series is a high school dramedy aimed at a slightly older audience. But get this: the students are all clones of famous people like John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Gandhi, etc. However, secretly, the clones are being used as a military experiment by a government organization. Filled with high school humor and a serious back story, Clone High was ahead of its time. The best part of this show is easily John F Kennedy’s character. Though, I would also like to praise the show’s unique artstyle which has started a whole new look prominent in Canada as seen in shows like Total Drama, 6Teen and Detentionaire. I also love the humor. I really recommend Clone High to anyone who hasn’t seen it. You can watch Clone High on the YouTube channel Retro Rerun, Paramount + or Amazon Prime Video.

3. Spectacular Spider Man

Spider Man is someone we all know and love...but have you guys heard of his underground series, Spectacular Spider Man? A series which ran from 2008 to 2009 and contained a total of 26 episodes. An awesome tale focusing on the origins of Spider Man, and it kept me hooked throughout. Some highlights for me are the high paced fight scenes, the awesome voice acting from the entire cast (but Josh Keaton stood out the most to me in his role as Spider Man) and the depiction of Spider Man. The series depicts Peter as a teenager really well as we get to see him learn about his responsibility as a superhero. Easily an awesome show which I recommend. You can watch Spectacular Spider Man on Netflix.

2. Teen Titans

Ah yes, the good old Teen Titans that we all grew up with. I’m sure this was expected. Teen Titans had a total of 65 episodes in it’s 5 season run from 2003 to 2006. This series revolved around a group of 5 heroes that call themselves the Teen Titans. The team consists of the leader Robin, a hero with the power to morph into animals named Beast Boy, an alien princess named Starfire, a cyborg named well…Cyborg and a goth girl with telekinesis named Raven. The series goes through multiple arcs with each arc focusing on a different character. What isn’t there to love about this show? Great voice acting, a soundtrack that matches the intensity of the show, a team of awesome superheroes with distinct personalities and arcs that are both action packed and heavy on emotion. I’m not going to sugarcoat this: watch Teen Titans. You can watch Teen Titans on HBO Max, Vudu, Google Instant Play, Amazon Instant Video or iTunes.

1. Avatar: The Last Airbender

If anybody who knows me in real life is reading this blog, they’d have known what number 1 would’ve been already. I mean who wouldn’t put this cartoon in their best cartoons of the 2000s list? This absolute gem of a show: Avatar: The Last Airbender. Avatar: The Last Airbender was a series that lasted for 3 seasons and had a total of 61 episodes. The series takes place in a world where there are 4 divided nations: water, earth, fire and air. The four nations lived in peace until the fire nation attacked. Only the Avatar who can master all four elements can restore peace. The Avatar is a young boy named Aang who alongside his new friends, Katara and Sokka travel to different nations in order for him to learn all the elements and to be capable of taking down the fire lord, Ozai. Where do I start with this show? It is perfect: the story is amazingly done, it has great humor, the anime-styled designs are amazing (seriously, I hear people talking about cartoons that look like anime a lot and this one is the best from those), the intense and emotional music, heck, I could go on forever. If I were to narrow it down to one thing I love about the show, it would be the fact that there are characters I deeply care about. And the reason I care for them is because they’re written so beautifully and the situations that they are put in are executed so well that you can’t help but to care for them. I am sure most of you have seen it but if not, watch it as soon as you can! You can watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix, the Nick+ channel on Amazon, iTunes or Google Play.

Well, these are my best cartoons of the 2000s! I hope I introduced you to some new awesome cartoons! Which of these cartoons would you agree with? Which would you disagree with? What is your top 10 cartoons list? Are you going to watch any of the cartoons on this list? Let’s discuss in the comments!

And make sure you follow my Tumblr page for weekly blogs! I promise I won’t disappoint!

#cartoon #cartoons #animation #2000s nostalgia #2000s #the-grim-adventures-of-bill-and-mandy #bill and mandy #grim adventures of billy and mandy #6teen #invader zim #zim #the boondocks #boondocks #samurai jack #kim possible #clone high #clone high jfk #spiderman #spiderverse #spectacular spider man #spider man #teen titans #teen titains go #teenagers #avatar #avatar the last airbender #atla #avatar the last airbender aang #avatar the last airbender katara #best cartoon

[jennrecommends]

Title:: A Business Proposal (The Office Blind Date) (I Got a Date with the President)

Genre:: manhwa, comedy, drama, romance, slice of life, office romance, CEO, modern

Summary::

Shin Ha-ri is an amazing friend! So amazing she agrees to go on a blind date in place of her friend, who is sick of her father constantly setting her up on blind dates. The two plan to make Ha-ri's persona one that would scare off any guy on a first date… but they didn’t know their opponent was Kang Taemu. Taemu is just as sick of being set up on blind dates as Ha-ri's best friend. He sees them as a waste of time when he should be working so he’s decided that whoever it is that shows up on this date, he’s going to marry them. This comes as a huge shock to Ha-ri who realizes that the person she's on a blind date with is also her newly transferred boss.

Status:: Complete (124 chapters)

Warnings:: minor steamy moments and run around moments

My Notes:: Heeeeeeee….. I love this one! The disguise always makes me laugh and enjoy a comic! The art is gorgeous too! The kdrama of this one just released a little while back so it made me want to reread the comic. The kdrama is also very different than the comic but it seems they’ve kept the same premise. Definite must read for office romances <3

Official English:: on Tapas

[whentheresmoonlight]

anjum’s bkdk recs #7

Back to shounen ai recs! Once again, this list isn’t sfw, because the hosting website still has irl p*rn ads on it, so proceed with caution and minors dni.

Legend

hyperlinked title by author

genre warning(s): where relevant Summary/review

💚🧡 = faves

Alphabetical order by author

11. Flip Flop by aroe 💚🧡

fluff, humor, friendship The bakusquad thinks that Bakugou is really bad at dating, but Deku doesn’t think he’s so bad 😉 Takes place during second year! Funny angry Baku all the time.

12. Ability by cai 💚🧡

humor This one’s just silly. Bakugou and Deku have abilities like in an RPG, but they’re related to each other and they’re just ridiculous. It’s short and crackish—nothing but fun in good art.

13. Gift one and two by clipper/bisco (mov) 💚🧡

romance, slice of life, drama, Christmas In the first volume, bkdk are hit with a quirk that makes two children (biologically theirs) spontaneously appear. The children will disappear after 30 days, but if you name them then they’ll stay forever. So bkdk have to decide whether to keep them or not. The second volume gives us more background and more of what happens with bkdk and the kids!

14. Childhood Friend Allergies by i@box

drama warning: major character death (but not really, I swear!) Okay, half of me is recc’ing this because I did the typesetting for it, but this artist is also great! It’s some drama that ends up low stakes because of where the story ends (trust me) and then some soft bkdk hints at the end.

15. Missing Key Person by i@box

action, slice of life An amazing take on what happens if Deku becomes quirkless after defeating AFO. Bakugou takes him to join his agency anyway and Deku proves his worth! Plus, they’re living together and Baku is 100% pining.

16. Fine Rising Weather by Karinpani

friendship, fluff Some of Bakugou and Deku with Katsuma and Mahoro in Heroes Rising and some cute flashbacks of bkdk as kiddos.

17. Married as a Disguise, but Kacchan by Korosuke

comedy, romance There is a woohoo, but the most you see is a nipple, so I’m dropping it here in shounen ai anyway. It’s just as the title suggests! Bkdk are undercover as a married couple but Bakugou figures they might as well be method actors… 😉

18. Cause I Love You by Nochico

drama warnings: blood, grievous bodily harm, near death experience Deku is on the brink of death in battle and uses his last moments to give OFA to Katsuki. Deku is healed, but Katsuki can’t seem to give OFA back. So every day Katsu tries, with a kiss.

19. Be With & To Become by Pico (Mino)

slice of life Bakugou runs into Inko and Deku runs into Mitsuki. Just sweet moments

20. Wrapped up in your Scent by yonayona-grow (nae)

romance, slice of life This dj isn’t the most cohesive out there, but the art is lovely and, look, I just love slice of life bkdk, since we don’t really get any filler in canon. Just laundry and grocery shopping with a rogue Todoroki appearance!

more recs can be found here 💚🧡

#anjum recs #not/sfw #bkdkbk #bakudeku #bakudekubaku #bkdk #katsudeku #ktdk

[definitely-not-karen]

My unnecessary and irrelevant reviews about the transformers media I have consumed.

Please let me have this. I was doom scrolling and transformers is my comfort fandom.

G1: I have not watched all of it, I do plan on doing so but I did watch it when I was younger and does invoke nostolgia. I watched it on Teletoon Retro (does that even exist anymore?) ((just googled it, rip teletoon retro)). For some reason I really like the episode The Ultimate Weapon. I am a huge fan of First Aid and it was because of this episode and I have no idea why. Rodimus is the main character of that episode with First Aid just having a very prominent role in the side story of that episode. I really liked the Aerialbots and their storyline with the time traveling and the not knowing if they’re on the right side was really cool. Honestly the animation errors and weird inconsistent story are part of the charm I guess.

RID 2001: another show I’ve only seen tidbits of. I watched this one via random episodes illegally uploaded to YouTube in the early to mid 2010s and now all those videos are taken down. As a lover of camp, this is camp. I love it. Transformers as a concept is pretty camp (which is why I adore it) and I definitely will watch all of this one day. Though Sideburn is cool and all, I do wish he didn’t chase a red sports car every episode. Otherwise he’s one of my favourites cause himbo rights I guess.

Transformers IDW 2005: So... I read the entirety of the idw comics purely because I found out Thundercracker was a screenplay writer and I wanted to read the entire story so I got the complete context of his development from scary fighter jet to an Oscar winner. I was not disappointed, I was met with queer and trans representation of all sorts, a diverse storyline with action filled parts, comedy elements, slice of life, political drama, adventure, horror, and the best road trip through space. Honestly I was not expecting transformers of all things to have queerness represented so casually and quite well in my opinion (though technically they are guilty of bury your gays, I don’t count it cause there was a clear reason for that death) Thundercracker was marked as one of my favourites cause of this series. I did experience a wonderful story because I wanted to see how he got his happy ending. My biggest criticism of idw transformers is that I love their interpretations of characters and sadly I know I’ll probably never get to seen them like that again. But if I want to experience those characters like that, I’ll just re read it I guess.

Transformers Animated: I have watched the entirety of this great show twice and it still love it. Funny characters, a human character that has a purpose, and a fun change to the formula, Transformers Animated has one of my favourite Optimus and made a Bumblebee so lovably loud they had to take away his voice so he wouldn’t become too powerful. Loved all of the characters except the human villains, Headmaster did not age well and I wasn’t in love with Ratchet’s design but his personality more than made up for it. If you want more animated, I love Transformers ReAnimated the void is filled by that series and channel. While I wish it got another season, it’s ending was satisfying enough I guess.

Transformers Prime: Smokescreen is great and was underutilizes -100/10. Just kidding, kind of I really enjoyed Prime. I’ve only watched through it completely once cause when I was a child I did not like the designs since apparently as a child I was a G1 loyalist I guess. Though now Prime has one of my favourite styles that still holds up today. Dramatic story with actual character development, I can over look that the plots a tad slow. I wish Breakdown was utilized more and it also could have benefited from an extra season but the movie wrapped it up much better than animated’s ending. Knockout is an amazing character and I was spoiled while I was watching it that he turns Autobot though I didn’t realize that wasn’t until the literal end of the series. Would’ve like a completely fleshed out Breakdown and Knockout or at least Knockout redemption arc but there’s always fanfiction I guess.

Robots in Disguise 2015: I didn’t hate it? It definitely helped that I watched this before Prime for some reason. I liked the designs, Sideswipe... himbo rights. Biggest flaw is the lack of character growth. I just want nice things for Sideswipe, Strongarm and Fixit. Grimlock was fun, I like Bumblebee trying to be a good leader and Optimus should have stayed dead. The crossover and referenced to Rescue Bots was fun and Blurr and Sideswipe was the rivalry I didn’t know I needed. But the one I really needed was Smokescreen in there too. The ending arc was interesting though not executed the best and Steeljaw did a lot of the heavy lifting for the villain side to a point where they over utilized him and his character suffered as a result. Windblade was not as bad as people online said she was, splitting the group up into two was stupid cause I’m bitter and still don’t want Optimus there. Also long list of underutilization: Denny and Russel Clay, Jazz, all the characters from prime except Optimus and Bee, Jetfire and Jetstorm, More Rescue bots, and many more! Like that girl that’s Russel’s friend that I literally don’t remember because I’m pretty sure the writers forgot about her! Anyways, in retrospect the show probably wasn’t great but I liked it I guess.

Rescue Bots: This show is way better than it needed to be. I actually love the no Decelticons and war. I’m a sucker for slice of life and especially slice of life with a twist. Human villains that were actually interesting, actual character development, continuity (somewhat), great human characters all while being target for children. I’m so happy I watched this show while I was kind of the target age and rewatching it for the third time was great cause some of the science jargon actually made sense to me. Satisfying ending too and honestly it can just appeal to everyone. Love all four of the main rescue bots and constantly wish they made evergreen designs and toys for them so they could at least make cameos in other transformers media. Sometimes it’s nice to have transformers being wholesome I guess.

Rescue Bots Academy: ... I was not the age democratic for this show and I somehow still liked it? Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been gravitating to more wholesome content due to current events but it was actually good? Love all the students, I do miss the old crew and characters like Doc Green and Frankie are under utilized and the Burns family is almost nowhere to be found :(. Once again there’s some actual character development and Hot Shot’s mentor relationship with Heatwave is super sweet. Also actually having positive post war Decepticon and Autobot relationships in this children’s show? Woah. Biggest issue is like RID 2015; the lack of continuity and characters completely disappearing. Perceptor was fun and I was not expecting him to appear. And I love me some microscope dude. It was a good send off for the aligned continuity I guess.

Cyberverse: ending too soon. I was about to be upset that bumblebee didn’t have his voice but he had his voice in his head which was great. Episodes like the velocitron one was really good and it definitely got better with each season and peaked in the Quintesson arc and then rolled to the cancellation date. Thundercracker shouldn’t have been killed off but I’m very biased. Seeing the rebuilding of Cybertron was cool. Windblade and Bumblebee had a fun relationship. I really liked this iteration of Grimlock. Perceptor was super interesting but then they did nothing with him after the Quintesson arc which was a shame and I would have liked to see better relationships between the Autobots and Decepticons after the team up. Also wholesome Whirl was fun. Honestly this needed one more season so bad. I just think it could have been great if it got one. But it’s still good I guess.

War for Cybertron: ...let’s see how I feel after Kingdom comes out but right now, meh. For me my favourite transformers characters usually end up being side characters due to me wishing they had more screen time so in this case, Red Alert is great please show me more of Red Alert. I get what all the people are saying about the voice acting and whatever but I can look past it (though please give us Peter Cullen or let the current VC make his own Optimus voice). But one thing is that all the YouTube reviewers be saying that I completely agree with is that it’s dark. Like lighting wise. I occasionally had trouble making out what was happening because it was dark. Honestly my biggest issue isn’t a fault of the show. I like development of multiple characters to be shown so I can fall in love with a multitude of characters but due to short seasons, it makes sense to focus in completely on one character at a time. Siege in my opinion at least let me see more of the background characters rather than Earthrise but I’d probably like Earthwise more if I was a bigger fan of Optimus. I’m going to watch Kingdom but I’m not expecting to be wowed I guess.

In conclusion, I should watch Beast Wars, I’m going to re read the ending of Lost Light again and revel in the melancholic ending I adore and I really like Thundercracker and First Aid. One great thing about transformers and other franchises that have been around for awhile, if you don’t like the current thing, there’s plenty of last media and you probably won’t need to wait too long for the next piece of media you’ll hopefully like.

Please be good idw 2019, I’ve read a bit of you and I have a scrap of hope. Oh please please please be good. Give some characters the Thundercracker treatment.

#idw transformers #transformers #transformers idw #transformers rid2015 #transformers rescue bots #transformers prime #transformers cyberverse

[youarejesting]

Kisaeng (BTS)

[Masterlist]

Beta: @bluewhale52​​, @janetfraiserdeservedbetter​​ Genre: historical, drama, adventure, comedy, feel good, slice of life (if you lived in the 1654), spy’s (espionage). Rating: Teen and up Summary: Mulan disguised as a soldier, went to war to spare her father and save china. The bangtan boys disguised as concubines, went to an all womens home and saved a small village. Words: 12154 Announcement: This is part of a reverse trope project with castle bangtan. I am happy to have made this and for everyone who helped support along the way.

Winters End 1654 Hanseong,

Today my mentor Bang Si-Hyuk taught me the history of the Qing invasion and the passing over of the Ming to Qing era. We discussed the Qing Calendar and the offerings of princesses made to King Dorgon. Bang-seodang (teacher) told me I was a child for not understanding that there was a place for everyone. Men would fight in the wars and women would stay home and bear children. He is telling me this as news has spread that we are going to war and it is only a matter of time before they call for us. But when I think of my family and my sister, I want to protect them. I don’t want to fight in the war even if it is for my country. Leaving will only put my family at risk.

Kim Namjoon.

Namjoon placed down his brush and wiped his palm of ink that sometimes smudged. With a deep sigh, Namjoon got ready collecting his satchel, and headed to the town. Namjoon arrived at the small well-frequented building. The building held all the information of the residents in town and was also a place for people to send letters. That’s where he spent most of his days reading and writing correspondence for the villagers. 

He had received the earliest message about the impending war. There was only so much he could do to protect his family and he feared the coming announcement of deployment. Every available man was to go, leaving the women and children to fend for themselves. The women would have to tend the farm and care for the younglings which would only work if they stuck together. 

The problem lay with the men who would be allowed to stay behind due to business, like the butchers and the barmen and anyone who would swindle or pay their way out of deployment. These men were shady and wouldn’t hesitate to exploit and hurt the women left behind unprotected. 

Namjoon was in the middle of writing another love letter for one of the many present flower boys (beautiful men) within the town. Today’s letter was to someone Namjoon had written to on many occasions and yet never had the pleasure of meeting in person.

My dearest Kim Seokjin,

There is no one who can compare to your beauty. A man such as yourself would be ever so popular and have gardens of beautiful flowers for you to pick. But there is a part of me who wishes that I may be the sweet flower that you might choose. That I could be the one to make you smile. The one who can make a long day feel like it was nothing when you come home. 

“How does that sound, Miss Ahn?” Namjoon looked up, his expression deadpanned. He never expected his tutor to teach him the importance of reading, writing, history, poetry and Confucius’ philosophy, only to waste it on love letters from pining women addressed to the same two young men every week.

Part of him felt sorry for the two men, but another part of him felt jealous that these two men had the entire pick of women from the town, and he was stuck with his lessons. The constant “Scholars life is one without women” Bang-seodang (teacher) preached whenever he noticed Namjoon’s eyes wander from his books out the window at the young ladies giggling.

Namjoon finished with the letters and handed them over to Hoseok, the delivery man whom he only ever saw in passing; the man was so energetic and gangly. He had an odd tone of voice but it always sounded chipper. 

Namjoon had only the briefest of moments with the young man. “Here for the mail,” Hoseok called, and the letters were placed on the counter along with two coins for his hard work and he took the money and letters and headed on his way. 

Hoseok took a stack of perfume scented letters from his bag and rolled his eyes. Seokjin was a popular young man, only to be outdone in recent years by Taehyung.

The things Hoseok had to go through to deliver the mail was honestly scary in itself. He found it best never to stand around too long; best to simply hand over the mail and leave. 

He had a few regular customers he enjoyed spending a short time conversing with. Today he was delivering mail to the Noble Kim household. He walked in, nodding to the servants, and promptly followed the steward. 

“It seems the young master has mail once more,” The steward called and Hoseok was beckoned inside. He bowed low and shuffled quickly and quietly across the room where the Kim family were having breakfast. 

Hoseok knelt down and began taking out multiple letters addressed to the second son. “Father I don’t want to go to war,” Seokjin protested adamantly, slamming his rice bowl down onto the table.

“It is the way things are, how they’ve always been.” 

“Why don’t they send a few girls, why do they get to sit around at home? It isn’t fair”

Hoseok had heard about the possibility of war from the postal office. Any messages to and from the city passed through himself which left him privy to important and secret information. He did feel a tad nervous for his sister and mother. He wanted to stay home to protect them, but only a few men with jobs important to the community got to stay behind, men who provided essential services like the postman. The problem was that only one could stay behind and unfortunately, it would not be Hoseok to represent the post but the old man who ran the office. 

Hoseok wished he could just dress as a woman and stay behind but that was a crazy idea; men who did that were either shunned as cowards or killed. He handed over the stack of letters and moved on his way, bowing again before backing out of the room, leaving Seokjin with his hands full of letters of adoration and sickly sweet perfume.  

Letters again; they each began talking about the war wishing he came back safe as if he had already left and had resigned to his fate. Those words dwelled in Seokjin’s head more and more and made him feel ill and bitter. He tried not to crease his forehead. He didn't look good when he was angry. 

If only he could be a girl and laze around without a care. He would play and frolic in the gardens and he would have an easy life. 

Seokjin read each letter slowly and sighed. Of course, he was handsome, and these women had their way with words. Every day, the letters became more profound and he could feel his ego rising.

Seokjin sighed once more, a growing habit for the day as he got dressed. He looked fit for a Nobleman, his hair tied in a top knot manggeon (mesh headband that stops baby hairs sticking out) preventing any hair from falling in his face. He then wore his gat (hat) with fine jade bead gatkeun (beads that hang from their hat). 

He thought he looked quite smart and with his small pouch of coins around his neck, wandered from the estate. His father had ordered swords, readying for the war to come and had sent Seokjin to pick them up from the blacksmith.

Seokjin held his hands together behind his back and casually strolled through the streets, trying to keep his composure. He nodded at a group of giggling girls but his smile fell soon after he passed them. They were so lucky, they weren’t taking up arms to fight for their families. No, the women had it easy. 

Amidst his fuming, he accidentally made eye contact with an old drunk man who looked him up and down and smiled crassly. Seokjin shivered in disgust. Part of him wondered if he could pass as a woman; he had a pretty enough face and perfectly plump lips. 

He didn’t have much time to think as he arrived at the blacksmiths. He walked into the room and saw a shirtless young man, smithing. Beside him, an older man, presumably the man’s father, was shoveling coal into the fire.

“Jungkook, we have a customer,” the older of the two smiled at Seokjin before resuming his work.

Jungkook dropped his things and grabbed a towel, drying his chest of sweat. He headed to the wooden table by the entrance, draping his Hanbok over his chest and thin waist to appear more decent in front of the handsome nobleman. 

“Good morning, Sir, what can I do for you today?” He smiled a particularly wholesome little smile, teeth a little big but endearing.

“I am here to pick up the order of swords my father ordered?” The nobleman smiled.

“Your name sir?” Jungkook sat at the desk and opened the ledger. Though Jungkook wasn’t a nobleman with extensive education, he still knew how to read and write basic words associated with smithing.

“Kim.”

“Kim, Kim, Kim...gardening tools.... no, aha the swords! Yes, sir, that will be 100 mun a piece sir.”

“I should have enough here,” he smiled, placing down a pouch that made a heavy ‘clink’ sound as it hit the wood. 

Jungkook emptied the pouch and counted the coins with expertise, then handed back the change and the silk floral pouch it came in. He fetched the swords and carried them over; they were expertly made by him and his father. 

“Thank you,” Jungkook smiled and began explaining in detail the care and features they added to the handcrafted metal weapon. “Three foot long single-edged, weighted and balanced” 

Guiding the customer out, Jungkook handed over the two swords and held the door open for the handsome young man to crab walk from the smith’s shop. He looked completely out of place holding such dangerous weapons, and he pitied the young man. He was the son of a nobleman and would definitely be expected to set an example. 

Jungkook had on many occasions sparred with his father and was able to hold his own in a sword or unarmed fight. He wondered if his father would be okay alone. He would be exempted due to his job and physical condition, but he was getting older, would he be able to work on his own without getting hurt or sick?

Scooping up the bag of tools, Jungkook told his father to take a break and that he would deliver the tools and bring back some fresh fruit from the Kim farm. He poured his father a glass of tea then left.

As Jungkook traveled through the crowd to reach the fields across town, he passed the small bar. Inside, he could hear the raucous of unsavory street merchants discussing how they were going to bribe their way out of deployment. They had plans to pay the royal officials and take over the town when all the men had left. It seemed that all they wanted to do was cause havoc to all the families and businesses, and blackmail them into paying a safety fee.

He pressed on, trying not to think about his father being exploited or worse, given his current state. While musing, he arrived at the small farmhouse on the edge of town and was greeted by a handsome young man.

“Hello, Can you hold this?” The young man smiled, handing over a large rope. Placing down the bag of tools, Jungkook gladly held the rope tightly in his palms.

Taehyung raced to the other end of the rope and secured it in both hands, he looked up with a grin before shouting, “Okay pull!”

The young man who had arrived at the farm was confused but he pulled the rope nonetheless. Taehyung pulled back and the two were suddenly in a heated tug of war. 

Taehyung giggled and the young man seemed to give it his all. It was a battle of strength and the farmer’s son wasn’t particularly muscular as he very much neglected most of his farming duties for foolish games so it was only fair that the young delivery man bested him.

“Good game, you are pretty strong for someone so young,” Taehyung patted the Younger man's head before scooping up the rope.

“Isn’t this a child’s game?” Jungkook eyed the rope draped over the older man’s shoulders.

“Sometimes it helps pass the time to act a little childish, and it made you smile so you thought it was fun too right?”

“I enjoyed it, thank you for the game, I am here to deliver tools for your family.” He said now looking more serious.

“Ah yes you must be the blacksmith, you look like a blacksmith. All work, no fun.” Taehyung tapped the younger man’s nose before turning with a flourish, humming as he went, beckoning the smith to follow.

“I have to work to take care of my father,” He pouted, Taehyung enjoyed the boy's childish nature, the two could definitely get up to some mischief.

“My name is Taehyung,” He smiled, gesturing to the large box in the shed and removing a small pouch of coins from his satchel. 

“Jungkook,” He sighed, placing the tools down and gratefully accepting the money. 

“What are you going to spend it on, sweets?” 

“Uh, it's for my father's medicine,” Jungkook laughed, making Taehyung feel a little sorry for the kid, he was so young and yet working so hard already.

Taehyung with his unwavering curiosity decided to tail the boy once they parted, not trying to be discreet, just walking a few paces behind and whenever the boy turned, Taehyung gave him a smile and wave. Lost in thought for a moment, Taehyung didn’t take notice of the boy in front of him until they were colliding, fumbling with the empty porcelain soju bottles.

As Jimin fell, he pulled each bottle to his chest and held them; though the impact was quite jarring, the bottles were safe. Jimin lived with his grandparents and they ran a business selling rice wine which was popular but didn’t make them a lot of money. They couldn’t afford to replace any new bottles.

It was his job to deliver the full bottles to the bar and bring back the empty ones. If any bottles were broken, the bar would pay for replacements. That was the rule, but if they were broken during delivery, the money came out of his family’s pocket.

“I am sorry,” the man who had run into him was polite and gentle, helping Jimin to his feet and dusting him off, “Let me help you carry some of those, I promise I will look where I am going.”

“Thank you for the offer, you can carry this half” He offloaded a few from his arms. 

“I am Taehyung by the way, who are you?”

“Oh, I am Jimin,” he smiled, thankful for the help. The two journeyed through the vendors until they arrived at Jimin’s family business, “Gran, I have a friend who helped me,” Jimin called.

“Oh let me see him! Oh he is quite the looker, Jimin, if only you were a girl, what is the use of you being so pretty if you can’t lure in handsome young men,” she joked playfully, this was their running joke that Jimin was so pretty.

“I can lure in handsome men just fine, see if I was a girl I would have too many suitors. I wouldn’t be able to pick,” Jimin laughed.

“If you were a girl then you wouldn’t have to go to war.” Jimin’s heart sank knowing his grandmother really didn’t want to see him leave. 

“That would be one way to get out of the army,” Taehyung laughed and Jimin’s grandmother handed him a plate of rice cakes. The two boys wolfed them down happily, bonding over their love of sweets and games.

Taehyung left and Jimin was getting ready to close up shop; he lifted a large porcelain vase of Soju and carried it over to the butchers. The butchers were not the nicest of people; they were affiliated with the outlaws, the ones Jimin heard talking about taking over the city when the men left for war.

“Yah!” Yoongi called, seeing the graceful form of Jimin from the top floor of the liquor store. “Jiminie.”

“Hey Yoongi, I am here to trade.” Jimin smiled up at him and he nodded, coming down.

“Alright, dad’s got your meat pack ready, it's all freshly cut.” Yoongi handed over the basket. 

“Have you been preparing for deployment?” Jimin asked him, it seemed the secret war was not so secret as it was all everyone was talking about. The boy always meant well, this innocent question asked by anyone else would not have ended so well.

“I am not going, Jimin, my dad has bribed the officials trying to get as many men as possible to stay behind so that they can take over the town. there isn’t much resistance when the only people left are the elderly, the women, and the children.”

“You should think about staying too, maybe I can convince my father not to threaten your family and their shop.”

“I can’t; it’s punishable by death if you try to avoid your duty.” Jimin sighed, “Gran thinks I should just dress up as a lady and stay behind and protect my family.”

“You could definitely get by as a lady, you would just have to work on a few things,” Yoongi hummed looking him up and down. He eyed Jimin up and down wondering if Jimin could really do it, lie to the officials, and say he was a girl.

He would have to stay in the Kisaeng house; he couldn’t stay with his grandparents, because if he was found out they would all be killed. Perhaps Yoongi was thinking too far into this, but he really did like Jimin. He was the only person who knew who he was and yet still wanted to be his friend.

“Maybe that might be an option, I don’t know how my grandparents will do on their own being so old; the shop barely makes enough money for food as it is.”

“Look, if you can’t stay, I could try my best but it’s alcohol, and you know these men love to drink,” Yoongi said honestly, “they will probably go through all the supplies in a week and everyone else will struggle.”

Yoongi sighed, watching the boy leave looking rather forlorn; perhaps he shouldn’t have told him.

Spring 1654 Hanseong,

Today, I, Kim Namjoon, have done something stupid. I dressed as a girl but it seems like I wasn’t the only one. Five other idiotic bamboo shoots have no clue what they are doing. Stepping foot into the kisaeng house was taboo, only women and eunuchs were allowed entrance. But the officials have been bought out by the corrupt street merchants, the kind who plan to take whatever women and land they see fit. We are all honestly praying for a miracle, that no one will find out we are men, some are better at hiding it than others. We will see.

Kim Namjoon

Namjoon was rudely awoken by the call of war. He guessed today was the day. He dressed slowly, in no hurry to give his life away. Departing his room with little thoughts of breakfast, Namjoon heard the soft sniffles from his sister who was mournfully packing. There was not enough room for all the beautiful dresses so she had left many behind.

He wanted nothing more than to stay, if only to protect his sister in their own home and let her keep her luxuries of dresses and books. 

Namjoon knew women were not allowed to read or write but he made time every day teaching his younger sister or letting her sit in on lessons when father was away working in the palace. 

Namjoon hugged his sister, trying to comfort her as well as to calm his nerves. “Do you need me to walk you home, I can carry your bag?” He said trying so hard to prolong the moment.

“No brother it is okay,” she paused. “You are going to come back, you're smarter than any of the men out there. You’ll return, I know it.” 

She scooped up her bag and left the house, waving from the front gate. Namjoon was sure he wouldn’t get away with his plan. But he packed a few of his sister’s bigger dresses, hoping they would cover him entirely. He grabbed a subtle pink chima (skirt) and sky blue jeogori (jacket), looking at the two items, they honestly looked complicated but he knew logically which items went where.

Namjoon did his best stripping from his masculine clothes and getting to work. He wrapped his chest and followed the order he believed for the under skirts and silks. Once fitted, he was exhausted; wrestling fabric wasn’t easy. He didn’t want to be late or leave room for doubt, so he settled for a simple braid. 

He followed behind his younger sister, by a few yards, trying to mimic her walk and mannerisms, hoping that he could pass as a girl. He ducked past some officials keeping his head low until he saw the beautiful residence. A collection of young girls were already lining up with their belongings. 

As fathers and brothers were going to war, some children were left without parents. This meant the children were rehomed into other families. The young women old enough were left in the kisaeng house (home for courtesan), where girls were taught how to be wives before they were sent to the matchmakers.

Hoseok had secretly been stealing his sister's clothes, trying to perfect her style of makeup. The two had such similar feminine features,  the only difference was Hoseok’s athletic body. It wasn’t hard for him to slowly get the hang of her makeup and hair routines. Honestly, Hoseok thought he had a real knack for braiding hair.

He tried to round out his lean build with some makeshift breasts, but he couldn’t get them the same size; that and they had a tendency to slip. He had his chest wrap on but it was too loose around his chest and the fact he didn’t have boobs made the whole thing shift and the rice pouches he had slipped right out.

He deemed himself ready, heading out towards the kisaeng house with his coin purse on his hip. Lining up, he couldn’t help but blanch at the poor excuse of a woman standing in front of him.

Her hair was not at all perfect like his, but he seemed similarly dressed. Hoseok looked down at his own green jeogori and red chima, for a brief moment he wondered what the young girl was going through. Her family must be torn apart by the war; without a second thought, he tapped the tall woman on the shoulder, only to be greeted by Namjoon, who he recognized from their brief encounters at the postal office.

Almost revealing their identity, Hoseok covered his mouth. As the officials passed by, the two disguised men bowed politely behind their fans. The stuffing in Hoseok’s chest wrap slipped to his waist making his chest obviously lopsided. Namjoon’s face contorted in an attempt to keep his composure. 

Hoseok’s laugh came out uncharacteristically deep but he remembered why he was laughing, he was trying to appear feminine. Turning his body away, he faced Namjoon, “Let me fix your hair, sweetie, you must have been upset having to see your brother leave.”

“Ah thank you,” Namjoon said with a sweet soft voice. The two turned away from the officials so that Hoseok could fix his breast dilemma and also tame Namjoon’s hair before the two of them were found out as fakes. After doing a beautiful updo where Hoseok added one of his spare combs for decoration, he turned Namjoon to face him in order to add a little makeup from his floral coin purse.

Seokjin felt betrayed by his family; his father lied about the three of them going to war. It seemed as a Nobleman he was exempt, and as his older brother was the firstborn he was also exempt in order to carry on the family name. 

Seokjin however was the spare son. This meant he was expendable. He was begrudgingly on his way to the front gate of town ready to hand over his ID and his life to some stupid war when he heard the uncharacteristic masculine giggles from the line of young women waiting to spend their days pouring tea and strolling through town while he trekked the countryside and fought for his life and theirs. 

He followed the sound, eyes catching on two rather tall figures, and it didn’t take long to recognize Hoseok’s face. He couldn’t forget the face of his mailman and he had to admit it was a bit of a feat that he and the rather tall looking young man were both trying to pass as young women. Seokjin looked down at the sword on his waist and contemplated seriously about joining the two.

He caught sight of a beautiful silk chima in a brilliant dusty rose color, he leaned over the counter, “Excuse me, ma’am, I would like to buy this beautiful set for my sister before I leave.” He exchanged some of his coins making sure he had enough for what he had planned. He threw in a veil as well, not to cover his beautiful face but to offer to the taller man he saw with Hoseok, whose jawline was just a little too masculine.

Seokjin got dressed behind the postal office; he stepped out once more making sure to cut in line in front of Hoseok. Seokjin offered the tall man ahead of him the pretty lace veil which matched his outfit. “For your jawline, it is too prominent you must appear more dainty,” Seokjin muttered with a swish of his skirt. He was thankful he hadn’t fallen on his face with how much fabric encircled him.

The tall man took the offered fabric wrapping it around his face only to have Seokjin swat his hands away, “You are hopeless.”

“Ah Namjoon, this is Seokjin,” Hoseok gestured between the two.

The boys spent a few moments brainstorming new names and identities, in order to really get into character.

It didn’t take long for the three to reach the front of the line; they had taken to preening each other, trying to help one another appear more feminine. Seokjin almost anticipated Namsoon’s refusal but when he wasn’t pushed out, it was Seokjin’s turn. Stepping inside, he was met by a woman dressed in a brilliant dark grey chima and orange Jeogori. Her eyes had a sharp glint. The smirk on her face was prominent as she brushed her small fingers across her chin. “What brings you to my home, young lady?”

Jungkook was camping a few paces into the tree line behind the blacksmiths. He hoped he could look after his father and not get caught for staying home. He saw the officials handing out exemption passes and he knew he couldn’t leave. Not when the enemy had such large numbers behind them.

Jungkook went hunting, he didn’t want to bother his father by being an extra burden on their small supply of food. Catching something significant for dinner, Jungkook did his best to prepare the meat and then cooked it over a small fire.

The shadows crawled across the ground as the sun bowed behind the hills. Jungkook wondered if life could be this easy without wars and evil, if there could be harmony and peace one day.

Jungkook heard a commotion in town and frowned, going to the edge of the forest to listen. “The King has heard people have paid their way out of deployment, anyone caught will be sentenced to death. Come forward now and you will be spared and sent off with your fellow men.” The man read from the scroll, looking about the village. “We will now commence inspecting every household”

A few men stepped forward, walking to the front gate and signing their deployment. A few retreated and were cut down by the bite of the swords from the royal guards. There was running coming from his left and a small figure spoke quickly; “Run, the guards are coming”

Jungkook followed after the thin figure and the two stopped at the nearest window and climbed in. They were caught by a young woman dressed regally in orange, grey, and gold, “Good evening, can I help you?”

“Uh… we um?” Jungkook was embarrassed.

“I will happily help two young ladies such as yourself, but, you will have to dress quickly if you wish to make dinner” 

Ladies? Dress for dinner? Jungkook was confused, the sound of the royal guard growing louder as they searched for any men hiding from their duties. He looked up at the woman catching her eye, she smirked knowingly.

“You wouldn’t want the guards catching you underdressed now would you?” He realized then that she was offering them refuge.

The two nodded, taking the clothes thrown in their direction, rushing to dress. The woman helped tie their jeogori before leading them out to the Sigdang (dining hall). She led them to a table filled with some other strange looking ladies, some of which Jungkook could have sworn were in disguise as well. Was that Taehyung?

Taehyung smiled seeing the two new additions to their group. He recognized the blacksmith anywhere and smiled trying to get the young man’s attention. Giggling when he did just that, Taehyung hadn’t spoken with Jungkook for long the day they met but he knew those wide curious eyes. They looked just as confused when Taehyung handed him a rope that afternoon by his family's farmhouse.

The woman was in on it, when Jimin and Taehyung came up with the idea, they didn’t expect Jimin’s Gran to not only hear their plan but also support it. She went out of her way to speak with the woman known as Hojang (head of house).

The bargain was to take in the two gentlemen who would protect the women and to provide free wine for the building next door. Kisaeng was a place where women could stay and learn all the things a woman should know before marriage. 

Next door, however, was the tea house, at least during the day. At night it was filled with men, mostly guards and officials who would drink and dabble with opioids in the company of fine young women. 

These women were not forced to be there, but those who chose to be would leave with their coin purses filled. Some of the money was used to fund the house, and the rest was pocket money they could spend on new silks and anything else they desired.

Taehyung learned quite a lot about this during the days leading up to the deployment. The Hojang held such a big presence; she moved with grace and did business with the best.

Jimin’s Gran had painstakingly obtained the silk and hand made clothes tailored to her grandson’s and Taehyung’s bodies. She also taught them how to sit, stand, walk and dress like a lady. The two were doing rather well but the hojang scrutinized every little detail that they should work on in her home. 

Taehyung could see she expected nothing less than perfection from her girls and she wouldn’t make an exception for them. She would make proper ladies out of them if it took everything she had, and perhaps a little more.

Gran had always taught Jimin things that she loved herself. Jimin remembered dancing with his gran every afternoon, when he was young, the two would hold beautiful fans and perform. Jimin would do anything to make his gran happy.

The Hojang picked up on this early, pleased with his form but it didn’t last long when he opened his mouth. Though his voice was sweet, the words and drawl were masculine and crass.

Jimin was surprised when Taehyung and himself were joined by more young men in dresses. He didn’t think anyone else would have the guts or the stupidity to join the house. He tried to fight the smirk that stretched across his face when he saw the three young men sitting across the table.

The Hojang had laid out the rules that they had to obey while living in her house: they were not to touch any of the women, they were to share a room by themselves, they were to only refer to themselves as their female alter egos, and they were to act like graceful ladies at all times.

Jimin greeted the newcomers. “My name is Park Jimin” He smiled sweetly. He was glad his name was widely used by both girls and boys or he would have to remember something else.

“Namsoon,” the tallest smiled, holding out a large hand to shake but immediately retracted it with a small shy smile. ‘Definitely a boy.’ Jimin thought. 

“Seojin,” the broad shoulders were giving Jimin mixed thoughts. However, no matter if they were a female or male, Jimin knew this person was beautiful.

“Hye-Seong,” a cute voice said, surprising Jimin. The voice was a little nasally but it belonged to a man none-the-less. The group turned to the two newcomers dressed in beautiful silks and ribbons, their hair braided down their backs.

“Yoonji” A familiar deep drawl spoke, making Jimin drop his chopsticks looking over at him shocked. Jimin looked Yoongi over, seeing that the young man actually made a rather beautiful woman, he almost felt himself blush.

“My name is uh… Jeong-suk” Jimin found it almost laughable.‘Jeongsuk’s build was almost unbearably muscular in the outfit, it wasn’t fitted to him at all. He looked like he was an overloaded dumpling the way the fabric worked over-time to conceal him.

“Hi, My name is Taeyeon, it is nice to meet everyone” Jimin laughed at how deep Taehyung’s voice sounded before he lifted the pitch.

Yoongi couldn’t believe his father talked him into staying only to have it backfire. Yoongi thought finally he would be able to get away from his father and the immoral activities he orchestrated.

Now he was pretending to be a woman, this was probably the biggest disrespect he could have ever felt. He almost wanted to walk out onto the streets and hand himself in. He would take death over the humiliation.

“Alright ladies everyone at your table will be sleeping in your quarters, the token on your table is the room color you will be staying in,” Hojang clapped her hands. Yoongi looked at the token on the table and Jimin lifted it for all the occupants to see the Yellow wooden piece “I would like you all to bathe and get to bed as quickly as you can, as we have lessons tomorrow. And I will not have any giggling or you will be eating bean soup for the whole week.”

The girls obeyed the Hojang’s instruction and started filling out. Yoongi watched in amusement at the kid he had met in the forest leaning away practically in fear of the women passing by.

“I would like the yellow table to please stay behind.” The Hojang announced. 

Yoongi sighed, wondering what this woman had to say to him and his new friends. Once the room was empty, the Hojang addressed them.

“I am happy to house you all, but you will follow my rules and I will teach you what you need to know. I will have you getting men to empty their pockets and you won’t have to do anything more than throwing them a coy smile.” Humming, the Hojang looked at them all over, eyes settling on Yoongi’s making him feel vulnerable. 

“I can see who has good intentions, and I can see who thinks that women have it easy. I will show you what it means to be a woman, the struggles you will face.” She gestured the group to stand. Yoongi struggled, trying to get up as he was stepping on his skirt. He really tried to correct himself, but it was too late the fabric under his foot tore. The Hojang sent a disappointed and disapproving glare.

“Miss Namsoon, your sister is here, I have warned her to not refer to you as her brother nor Namjoon. I have told her if anyone finds out you are men, you will be killed. Your room is secluded across the courtyard and has its own private hot spring. So please bathe there and nowhere else. If I find out you are perving on my girls, I will turn you into eunuchs.”

Yoongi swallowed audibly. He felt respect for this woman. But he was also scared of her.

Summer 1654 Hanseong,

The past three moon cycles have been particularly painful. I have seen so much and started to really appreciate what women have to go through, if only from the first lesson that left us all so exhausted. The list of expectations of a woman before she could even be considered for marriage is frightful. The Hojang confiscated my books and ceased my ability to speak freely. My mentor explained Confucius’ teachings on how important it is to speak your mind and be true to yourself. But the first lesson from Hojang was not the same. I am proud to say I have grown, I now truly see how important words are.

Kim Namjoon

The day began with cleaning their sleeping quarters and heading to the sigdang, where they were to cook their own meals as was expected of wives (unless of course, they were wives of noblemen who had servants). Namjoon looked at the ingredients rather unsurely, he had no idea what one was supposed to do with them. 

He was a smart guy, he knew what everything was and how it ended up together, but the process in between wasn’t something he was familiar with. He saw Jimin take the rice and begin washing it without instruction. Jimin explained his family worked with rice for their business, making rice wine and that his gran was particularly fond of rice cakes.

“Why do you wash the rice?” Seo-jin curiously asked, Namjoon turned and watched the younger man work confidently with the ingredients. 

“To make it fluffy,” he smiled, “you have to wash the rice to get the frothy stuff off the top of the water.” 

The Hojang had invited a wholesome old woman for the cooking class; her small plump figure held such a firecracker personality. She spoke so lively and made the whole lesson amusing. 

“Now chop them into half-moons,” the woman smiled. “Be careful of your fingers, curl your hand into almost a fist and hold the knife against the back of your knuckles to prevent slipping and losing a finger.” Namjoon was trying to follow the instruction, but he heard an exasperated sigh from Yoonji. 

“Stop, let me.” It was impressive how Yoonji’s hands moved so quickly and precisely while cutting the vegetables. 

Namjoon knew at this moment cooking wasn’t for him but judging by the wonder in Seojin’s eyes, it resonated more with him. Taking his notebook out, Namjoon thought it best to write down the instructions the woman was giving on cooking so that he might be able to learn and practice. 

The Hojang had other plans, taking the book from his hands and leaning down. “Ladies shouldn’t burden themselves with reading and writing,” her words were bitter through the clenched teeth of a forced smile. She clearly didn’t believe what she was saying as she herself could read and write.

Namjoon realized that this was a privilege only for the king, the nobleman, the officials, and scholars. Namjoon realized that he had yet to meet a female scholar.

The house had been given some free time from the grueling lessons. Honestly, if Hoseok had to pour tea again and have the Hojang smack his elbows with the thin bamboo stick whenever they stuck out too far, he would rip his hair out. On top of that, it was frustrating not to be able to speak out and stand up for himself without getting another sharp tap across his hand.

The boys had all sat in the room that night discussing how the Hojang was abusing them for her own pleasure. “It has to be to get back at us for being male and suppressing her.”

The chance to be free was something important to Hoseok. He was a mailman for a reason, and that reason was to move when and where he wanted to, never be tied down and confined to one place.

Being held up in the kisaeng house was making Hoseok restless, so during this free time, there was nothing that could stop him from racing out from the cage he was supposed to call home. Taking to the streets, it was market day and vendors and merchants were in the town square selling anything and everything he could think of and more. With his coin purse on his hip, he began walking with a practiced giggle.

He almost resented the persona he was to live with, enforced by the hojang. Perhaps it was just because he was thinking of the woman, but Hoseok could swear he felt her gaze. Looking over his shoulder there she was standing on the front porch, parasol in hand, staring directly at him, as if to mentally remind him of the damned curfew.

Could that woman relax at all? Could she just learn to chill and have some fun for once? Hoseok huffed; some fun would probably make her less cranky, but he couldn’t see her acting nicer, that in itself was a scary thought.

Hoseok went past his home and saw both his sister and mother outside playing with the children they took in after he had left. He smiled; they looked happy and healthy and that was reassuring. ‘Perhaps I was worried for nothing.’

As he was heading back, he started wondering if he should have gone to war and defended his country. He shook his head; it was too late now, he had to accept his fate no matter how grueling it got.

Scuffing his feet on the way back to the town square, a sly smile creeping across his face at the thought of the scolding he would receive for doing something unladylike, like walking ungracefully.

“I have to get back, the Hojang will be expecting me.” A small feminine voice spoke, so timid and laced with fear. Hoseok looked down the small lane to see some of the young ladies from the kisaeng house cornered by a much larger group of royal guards. 

Hoseok paused, looking on wondering if they were trying what he thought they would do. He didn’t have to wait long to confirm that yes, in fact, they were. He stepped closer. “Ladies, we all have to head home now. We can’t keep the Hojang waiting,” Hoseok said a little cutely.

“We are just talking, come join us,” one of the guards said. “The more the merrier.”

Hoseok was guided over, he would have smacked away the guard’s hand on his lower back but it would reveal his identity.

He tried to squirm from the older man’s grasp. He smelt like alcohol. Amongst the women was Seojin, standing there looking concerned as he was eyed by the plethora of strong men.

Seokjin looked at Hye-Seong, he didn’t know why but he was tense. On a regular day, he was always unbothered, he was taught that as a nobleman there should be nothing he feared, not even death. 

Why did he feel so vulnerable? This was so unlike him. It was like he couldn’t say or do anything as one of the men pointed out how ‘cute’ he was while sliding his hand down Seokjin’s back. 

He felt a sense of dread, he honestly had never felt so scared in his life. Scared of what these men might do to him, what they might do when they found out. He was spared from any horrors he could think of when he heard a familiar voice, one that he usually cowered under.

There she was, the hojang. She slowly closed her parasol and fastened it shut with a ribbon, before looking at the girls. “Head back home and you can start the dinner preparations early,” she smiled reassuringly. 

Hye-Seong gestured for the girls to go and Seokjin took a moment trying to muster the courage to leave. “Seojin, head back.” A soft hand landed on his broad shoulder, the Hojang was smaller than him and Seokjin had no idea how strong she was but she looked at him and he knew nothing could hurt him.

Walking away he looked back and felt a swell of admiration for the woman who didn’t bow in front of the palace officials. They stepped forward and he felt scared once more, she did in fact look smaller in front of them despite never faltering.

Seokjin and Hoseok waited behind the Hojang, the two floundering on whether to go for help or to stand in her place. Suddenly, three figures barged past Seokjin with determination. Jimin, Yoonji, and Jeong-suk were all shoulders and fists stepping in front of the Hojang. 

“Ya, you have a problem?” Jimin’s voice was sweet and yet laced heavy with warning. It took the men by surprise as Jimin moved like he was dancing but ended up driving one of the men’s faces into the ground. Still, with his sweet expression, he said with a sense of finality, “We will be going home now.” 

It took a long time for Jungkook to get used to having people around his age constantly in his presence. He never had any big brother figures, it was just him and his father and they mostly worked in the shop. Of course, Jungkook’s father taught him many important life lessons, and he was thankful for them.

There was just something that grew in Jungkook like he had been locked up in his mind when he was working in the blacksmiths. It took a long time but eventually, Jungkook felt his shell break, and all his thoughts and feelings could be let out and expressed.

Nurtured by the open and honest environment in the kisaeng, he found himself no longer hiding away from the women, but instead connecting with them. Jungkook always took laundry duty for his sleeping quarter; he loved the smell of the clean fabrics and he also enjoyed the time with the women by the stream.

One would start singing to pass the time and the others would join in, they each made songs and they would sing it a few times until it felt right. Of course, Jungkook had his favorites and he would sing them as he strolled around the enclosed gardens.

Just one day, if I can be with you, Just one day, if I can hold your hands, Just one day, if I can be with you Just one day, just one day If only we can be together

For some, it was easy to adjust to the new way of life, for Taehyung it was not, with an abundance of energy he tried his best to expel it all. At first, he found a ball, and he and Jimin went outside to kick it around but were scolded by the Hojang who said “Women shouldn’t be seen doing anything masculine,” and apparently that included running around, playing sports, or just anything Taehyung deemed fun.

It wasn’t for lack of trying; Taehyung would find a new activity and a new area in the house or in the inner courtyard. He would barely set up or have a few moments of fun before he heard the voice that haunted him even in his dreams. 

“Taeyeon, follow me,” Taehyung sighed, dropping the small ball he had been kicking between him and some of the young girls, perhaps he was a bit of a bad influence. He walked slowly after the Hojang. Mentally cursing her and stepping quickly in an effort to step on the back of her skirt so she would trip but she was too quick.

She led him into a small room he hadn’t seen before and he got nervous; was he being punished for disobeying the rules? He eyed the bamboo cane in her hand while she moved about the room and made up two desks. She placed a sweet flower arrangement on one and a stiff parchment pinned to a board on the other.

“Sit and watch, and then I will let you have a go. I promise you will have fun.” She explained how to grind the dyes and how to mix them perfectly before she began painting the flowers within the vase.

Taehyung was fascinated by the way the picture came to life, although there was a moment of confusion and doubt before it all came together. She spoke slowly, describing her technique. “You will develop your own technique that will feel right to you. Feel free to come here often and practice, let out your energy.” 

“I can?” He seemed excited.

“A lady can do dainty activities, ones that are seen as beautiful and feminine.” She said softly.

“Why do you have so many rules?” He blurted out and winced, ready for a scolding but only felt a soft pat on his head.

“They aren’t my rules, no man will marry these ladies if they don’t meet these basic standards. Ask any man who they want to marry; they want someone who cooks and cleans, who doesn’t speak too much and is beautiful and feminine.” She sighed, “I would teach them how to read and write, but they are not expected to. I would teach them to fight and protect themselves but then they will not be seen as desirable young flowers, they would have too many thorns.”

Taehyung nodded slowly, and following the Hojang’s directions, began setting up his paints and parchment. He was allowed to paint whatever he wished. When he was done he frowned. “It doesn’t look nice.”

“What do you mean? Look at the depth you created here, you have such a good style, Taeyeon. Keep drawing until you grow comfortable and like what you have painted, but I will keep this one. Your first painting is precious.” She began to leave, “Don’t stay up too long, you have more lessons tomorrow.”

“Miss Hojang, I have a question?” Taehyung's voice was soft and curious as he turned away from the canvas. “If you could do anything that you ever wanted, what would it be?”

“Goodnight Taehyung,” she gave a small chuckle, smiling for the first time since Taehyung met her, and his opinion changed at that moment. She wasn’t as evil as he first thought.

It wasn’t long until Taehyung had told the whole group about the hojang; how she was actually a really considerate woman, who had nothing but good intentions for the girls she was protecting.

The boys talked about how the expectations were so unfair, that the girls should learn how to protect themselves and they should be educated. “I wish I could just teach them how to defend themselves,” Jimin hummed. “I learned from a young age how to fight, I could definitely show them some things.”

“I could teach them how to read and write, you could teach them how to fight,” The idea sparked inside Namsoon, they headed off to the hojang to present the idea, who agreed to their proposal.

Jimin led the class through the stretches thanking the girls for their cooperation, he had been teaching for two months and the girls were getting rather good. They really loved these new classes, they were so unlike what they were used to. It was hard for Jimin to teach his class in a dress but he made it work. Jimin had never felt prouder when he heard of stories of the ladies in the tea house defending themselves and others against rowdy patrons. 

He also helped Hye-Seong with his dance practice, it seemed he really liked the class. Hyeseong mentioned to Jimin after their first dance class how he had never felt freer in his life, and after a few more, Hyeseong was moving his body freely to the music.

Jimin loved the idea that his friends enjoyed things that could be considered feminine, just like the things he liked. Maybe he wasn’t odd for liking dancing if his friends enjoyed art and simple house chores and cooking.

Yoongi had snuck out to speak with his father not because he particularly cared for the man, but he just knew his father would be angry if he didn’t report to him. He was climbing over the fence when he heard a cough behind him. “Yoonji where are you going?” Jeongsuk asked in a tiny voice.

“I have to see my father,” he spoke softly, trying not to wake anyone else up, “You should go back to bed.”

“I will come with you,” Jeongsuk smiled, climbing over the fence with Yoongi who sighed. The two walked along the dirt road until they arrived at the butchers. 

“Wait here, Jeongsuk,” Yoongi spoke seriously, and quietly gestured to the spot just outside the lights of the street lamps. “I will be back.”

“My name is Jungkook,” He grabbed the sleeve of Yoongi’s jeogori before he pulled it off and helped him change into his masculine clothes and tied his hair up. “I know we aren’t supposed to tell each other our names but I need to say it, I need to feel like me for a little bit.”

“Yoongi,” he patted the younger boy's head, “Stay here Jungkook.” 

He walked inside, nervous to see his father, and to hear what he would say. Meeting his father’s gaze across the room of laughing drunk men, his father stood up looking as harsh as always. “Where did you run off to?”

“The officials came, they were killing everyone, I just went off for a bit until they lost me.”

“Where have you been, you look awfully clean.” A slur drew Yoongi’s eyes from his father. Yoongi knew he would have to answer truthfully or he would be found out and beaten.

“I was hiding at the Kisaeng house,” he sighed.

“At the kisaeng house?” his father said. “What, are you pretending to be a girl?”

“Yes, I am,” he said, ears a little pink, and perhaps he should have just taken the beating.

“No son of mine is dressing as a woman!” His father shooed Yoongi, his hand pointing to the door. “Get out, I didn’t raise you to become a whore.”

“I only used it as a place to hide, I am back now.” Yoongi sighed nonchalantly, trying to get his father to calm down.

“If you don’t get out, I will kick your ass,” his father said, taking long strides until he was towering over his son. “I didn’t raise you for twenty-six years only to have you acting like some delicate flower. You always looked too much like your mother.” He raised his hand to hit Yoongi. Without flinching or shying away Yoongi waited for impact but it never came. A hand had clasped around his father's wrist.

“Hey, let’s just go back,” Jungkook said, letting go of the butcher’s hand then towing a struggling Yoongi behind him.

“Let me go,” Yoongi hissed as they were walking back to the house. “He was right, I am a disgrace, why am I prancing around in dresses when I am a man?”

“NO!” Jungkook grabbed the older man, thankful that he was stronger. “If there is one thing I have learned about my stay here, it is that women aren’t weak, they aren’t to be looked down on.”

“Good for you, I don’t need this disrespect.”

“Why do you care so much about what your father and those bad men think, you know they are scum. You aren’t, Yoongi. You left and you are a good person,” Jungkook protested.

“Did you not see what was on the tables?” Jungkook said. “Land deeds, they are strong-arming women and children from their homes, taking ownership of land that isn’t theirs. We must use what we have to our advantage.”

“What do we have, dancing and the ability to pour drinks for men.”

“I don’t know but if we don’t do something, your father and those men will only make things worse, you have nowhere else to go.” 

How Jungkook got Yoongi to come back with him he would never know but he was thankful he did. As the two climbed over the wall to the kisaeng house, they were unaware of a pair of eyes watching them.

Summers End 1654 Hanseong,

Things have gotten worse. The officials have suspected someone in the kisaeng house is a man, it won’t be long before they send someone to investigate. We are trying to figure out how we can hide them and their extra appendages, but the situation doesn’t seem very hopeful. If things keep going the way they are, the town will become slaves to the merchants and no woman or child will be safe from their wrath.

Yeong-hui (Hojang of the Kisaeng house)

There was an abrupt knock at the door, startling the Hojang. She sat up and began dressing, as a woman should never be seen underdressed, then she opened the door. The steward bowed low before relaying a message. “There are officials at the front gate, asking to enter the premise.”

Yeong-hui didn’t waste any time. Tying her hair as she walked, looking regal as always, she stopped at the front gate and signaled for the doors to be opened. 

“Miss Yeong-hui, we have heard multiple rumors that the Kisaeng house is harboring a fugitive from war—” one of the officials started.

“I will stop you right there,” Yeong-hui interrupted. “You have the right to search the property only when my girls have woken and dressed appropriately. It is perverse for you to even insinuate that I would allow you to enter while they are sleeping. You shall be allowed entry in when the sunlight reaches the Jing (gong) in the town center.”

Yeong-hui gestured behind them to the Jing and the man went to argue. 

“No exceptions. Cooperate, or when you find there is no fugitive within these walls that you have barged into for nothing more than a story,” she eyed their Baji (lower part of a man’s hanbok), “well then I guess I could use a few more eunuch’s to help with chores now, don’t I?”

The men squirmed and the man leading the search party faltered. 

“I would also like to see the confirmation letter from the king as I want proof you are allowed to step foot into my home,” Yeong-Hui added.

“Fine, we will get permission from the King. We will return at the specified time and nothing will stop us searching the premise and the ‘girls’ within the walls,” the leader of the search squad huffed before steering his men away from the front gate.

Yeong-hui headed inside, waking the young women early. She raced to the secluded sleeping quarters where the boys were staying. She saw them all sleeping haphazardly and smiled fondly. 

She saw Taehyung wrapped around Namjoon, he was upside down on the older boy's futon hugging his calves, his face pressed between the scholar's ankles. Jungkook had his torso draped over Hoseok’s legs and his foot dangerously close to Seokjin’s face. Jimin’s head was on the eldest’s wide shoulders and even though Yoongi was the first away his pale thin arm stretched across the futon and was sweetly held in Jimin’s grasp.

They had all grown so much and had learned important life lessons that she was happy to be a part of their growth. 

Without a moment longer, she woke the boys with a clap and a call. “Ladies, it is time to get up, the officials are sending a search party to find any man hidden within the kisaeng house.” She said, and what happened next was like a flash of lightning before the deep rumble of thunder. The boys jolted out of their beds, then a barrage of young girls burst through the doors, clutching bags of makeup, hair accessories, and armsful of fabric.

“You have to get up and get ready, the officials are coming!” Some of the ladies shouted, helping the men get dressed without batting an eyelash, ignoring the fact that they were all practically shirtless. Yeong-hui smiled softly, it seemed she had underestimated the ladies, how they had found out about the boys, and even took care of them.

It was pleasant to see them all coming together. If only they could change the way men and women interacted, if only they could show women were more intelligent and stronger than they were perceived to be.

The Kisaeng house started breakfast early. Yeong-hui explained that she would have the girls present themselves to the officials one by one and each of the boys would be placed randomly in between the girls. It would draw too much attention if the odd-looking ladies were to meet the officials one after another.

The officials came and started their interrogation. After the first group of girls was individually interviewed and scrutinized, Seokjin headed inside. If anyone could pass, it would be him. The Hojang smiled, sitting on a magnificent seat at the head of the table while the officials were off to the side, on less elaborate cushions.

“This is the beautiful Seojin, she has become the best cook in the house,” Yeong-hui smiled, and the officials blushed when Seojin blew them a kiss after taking a seat gracefully.

“Alright, next” the official stuttered after receiving a wink. Seokjin had passed.

After the next group of girls, Jimin walked into the room. As his long elegant legs strode in, there was a presence around him that made all the officials tense. He moved with allure and as he sat in perfect posture, the sleeve of his Jeogori slipped revealing a dainty shoulder and sensual clavicle.

The officials were sweating profusely, shifting in their seats. “This is Jimin, she is a dancer would you like to see?” The Hojang gestured for Jimin to begin, and Jimin started moving slowly with a delicate wave of the fan. 

The officials were quick to decide and Jimin raced off smiling coyly. Another group passed and this time Hoseok came in, acting cute and charming the men. Yoongi’s turn then came, and his small frame and soft features helped him pass. When it came to Taehyung, he gave the officials his powerful gaze and devilishly said, “I can show you that I am a woman, if you want,” while playing with the hem of his skirt.

Yeong-hui was almost in stitches; something about the way these boys shamelessly flirted for their freedom had her choking back her laughter. Namjoon stepped in wearing a soft veil. “Miss Namsoon is quite a shy girl but she loves when some of the visitors to the tea house read to her.”

“Men such as yourselves would be ever so popular and have gardens of beautiful flowers for you to pick. But there is a part of me who wishes that I may be the sweet flower that you might choose.” Namjoon giggled slightly making the men nervous with such forward words “That I could be the one to make you smile. The one who can make a long day feel like it was nothing when you come home.”

Last was Jungkook who sang a song he had made to the group of men and talked about making friends whilst doing the laundry. Jungkook was allowed to leave and the men finished their search of the property before leaving, albeit a little flustered and a little sheepish for their antics earlier that morning.

The house was lively for the young women who had sensed the weight of the interviews and therefore felt the celebratory relief. Yeong-hui allowed the boys to run around and play freely; they and a few young women began kicking a ball around the inner courtyard.

As the group dwindled, Yoongi was left sitting on the porch, his head tilted back, eyes shut enjoying the breeze. Yeong-hui grabbed a bottle of the Park family's best soju and two ceramic glasses, then moved across the hand-polished wooden floor before sitting down, legs dangling over the edge beside Yoongi.

“You care for a drink?” Yeong-hui smiled softly waving the bottle in her hand. Yoongi nodded, moving to take the bottle as he was younger, but she began pouring for him. She poured elegantly and effortlessly, making no mistake as if she was demonstrating in front of the class.

Yoongi thanked her politely and the two began drinking in silence. It didn’t take long for Yoongi to spill all his troubles, expressing his struggles from the beginning.

“I can’t touch him, I will have to leave the town, my father won’t allow me to stay.  He has a pile of land deeds so even if I found a place somewhere, he likely owns it.” Yoongi downed the next glass. “I could show him how good women are, that they aren’t delicate flowers, that they can plot and scheme and m I could probably steal the land deeds right from under his nose.”

“Well, why don’t we do just that?” Yeong-hui smiled, and the two began plotting an elaborate coup to retrieve the land deeds. Yeong-hui walked slowly, leading Yoongi back to his quarters but when they got close, they could hear Seokjin’s voice shouting.

“I knew it! I knew those words sounded familiar! You have been reading my letters?” Seokjin said “...have gardens of beautiful flowers for you to pick. But there is a part of me who wishes that I may be the sweet flower that you might choose.”

Hoseok was cackling and pointed out, “he didn’t read them, he is the one who wrote them!”

“What do you mean?” Seokjin asked, his voice almost dying down.

“The women in town would pay me to write love letters addressed to you,” Namjoon said cautiously, and the group laughed. 

Autumn Chuseok (Harvest festival) 1654 Hanseong,

It took a lot of planning and preparation but everyone was willing and ready to do their job. Tonight was the Chuseok festival; the tea house was open and the ladies of the kisaeng walked the streets dressed elaborately, inviting men inside to drink at a fee. 

Usually, each young woman would bring in men who looked like they were of noble status. They were advised to stay clear of any man wearing the bandit emblem. Tonight, however, it was encouraged. The unsavory men were led inside and shown all the respects of a nobleman if not more. The women were working undercover and they weren’t going to let the operation down.

Within the tea house were Seokjin, Yoongi, and Jungkook.  While working, Yoongi was explaining who was who, and soon they had their targets. The boys split up, getting to work trying to impress the merchants, and having them each pay more and more money for some alcohol.

Yoongi as Yoonji was making quick work of his targets, whispering filthy things in their ears and having them drink until they were inebriated. Then he took their coin pouches and moved on to the next unsuspecting victim, who was also a member of his father’s gang.

Across town, Jimin, Taehyung, and Hoseok, accompanied by a handful of the kisaeng, headed to Yoongi’s father's home. Jimin was quick to move up the side of the building, slipping upstairs while the men were drinking boisterously downstairs. Jimin was light-footed and found the small box hidden just as Yoongi had described.

He took the box, it was heavy with deeds, gold, and more, and as he moved to escape, he bumped his foot on the side of the table. 

“Did you hear that?” 

Jimin froze.

“Good evening would you men be interested in going to the kisaeng tea house?  We have many delicious festival snacks for you to try?” Taehyung said playfully and the men blushed to see a group of women poking their heads into the butcher’s home.

The men looked flustered and eventually refused to say they had to stay and take care of the place. Jimin was able to escape and the group graciously began heading back to the kisaeng house. 

They were almost back safe within the kisaeng walls when they heard a shout. 

“Hey!” The group froze, Jimin hiding with the box in the middle of the group. “You dropped this” The man smiled, blushing profusely having to talk to a stunning Taehyung.

Taehyung took his handkerchief and smiled, “thank you.” The group continued on their way, hurrying inside the house where they met Namjoon, working hard over a desk. 

In the days leading to the coup, Namjoon and Yeong-hui had taken a census of families within the village. They found that the gang had been procuring land for many years before the war.

Namjoon, with the newly acquired land deeds from Yoongi’s father’s house, was now dividing land and profits, ensuring each family would have a home and land to live on.

The next morning, the members of the gang were regretful of their night and were in foul moods. Yoongi’s father marched to the kisaeng house and began pounding his fists on the doors, demanding to enter the premises. 

Yeong-hui signaled the doors to be opened, and the man entered, alone. He stepped forward, looking at the group of women dressed in baji and holding weapons. The man spotted Yoongi standing on the far end of the inner courtyard. 

Yeong-hui walked through the group of women until she stood in front of Yoongi who was dressed as a woman and was not at all ashamed. “You stole from me, you little rat?” Yoongi nodded. His father’s face was bright red, “I will kill you!”

The women moved with a loud cry and the man faltered, releasing a mocking laugh. “You think you can hurt me?”

“Yes, I believe we can,” Jimin smiled, standing in front of the women, just in case the man was an unexpected fighter. He was a street merchant after all and they weren’t known for fighting fair. However, it seemed the women were holding their own, as they started knocking the man to the ground.

Spring 1655 Hanseong,

With the power restored, the people are thriving, the women are stronger than ever. The land is now divided, ensuring there are better harvests and more trade among the vendors. I have been working to teach the girls in the kisaeng how to read and write, training them to be scholars. Seokjin and I are planning to present the young women in front of the king, as well-educated scholars. 

Seokjin has been around a lot. Having perfected his cooking skills, he happily teaches the women his favorite dishes. Something about being free and independent and able to make his food makes the man happy. He likes how free he feels, admitting he originally thought it was the women who were free to do whatever they wanted but he was wrong.

Yoongi has found he has a real talent for playing some of the instruments, and he and Jungkook spend their days making songs. Hoseok and Jimin enjoy dancing and are some of the best dancers, and Jimin also spends his time teaching the young ladies how to defend themselves. Jungkook has made light-weight weapons for the women who find themselves in the ways of fighting. 

Taehyung teaches Art and keeps things in the kisaeng house light with sports and games. It wasn’t long before a new age began, the age of female growth.

Let’s just say when the fathers, brothers, and husbands return home from war they will be in for quite a shock, as every family now owns the land and the land deeds are under the women’s names. The women are all stronger, smarter, and happier.

Every day the Hojang fights to liberate her girls more and more, we help however we can even if we have to dress up as women to do it. As for the Hojang, Miss Yeong-hui, whose name means eternal play, she has changed her name to Jester. She is now working on a project to use some of the young women trained to fight for future espionage.

Kim Namjoon

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[randomrichards]

BEST MOVIES OF 2020

10)          BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM

It’s a miracle Sacha Baron Cohen could pull off his guerilla comedy style considering how iconic his character is (especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic). Just as surprising is how uncompromising it is with its political commentary and how it never backs away from its deliciously inappropriate humour.

As everyone’s favourite anti-Semitic, misogynist dim bulb reporter (Sacha Baron Cohen) becomes a pariah in his home country, Borat tries to sell his daughter Tutar (Maria Bakalova) to Michael Pence (then later Rudy Giuliani). The result is an endless array of side splitting, cringy moments from convincing a baker to write an anti-Semitic slogan on a cake to Borat attempted disguises to avoid detection.

Not since Buster Keaton has a comic actor pulled such dangerous stunts for a laugh. Cohen puts himself in such risky situations for the sake of his comedy when he hangs around with Qanon nutjobs or barges into a Republican convention dressed as “McDonald Trump.” [1] Well, it’s not just for laughs. As with his earlier works, Cohen uses his guerilla comedy style to expose the ugly side of humanity and America’s complicity in said ugly behavior. A notable theme is the consequences of misinformation. Borat is an instigator and willful idiot for his home country’s propaganda, which makes him an easy target for conspiracy theories. It all comes to a hilarious head when his daughter becomes a rightwing pundit and breaks his heart with holocaust denial.

Maria Bakalova is the film’s breakout star. An unknown actress from Bulgaria, Bakalova matches him every step of the way as the gullible, degraded young woman. She shines in her own hilarious moments when she’s ballroom dancing with a bloody dress or cheering about the joys of masturbating in front of a Republican Meeting.  She also gives the movie a heart as Borat bonds with his daughter and forces him to reevaluate his beliefs.

It’s impossible for the film to reach the same level of impact as the first Borat considering what a surprise phenomenon the original was. But it’s still surprising the sequel was as good as it was without sacrificing its inappropriate humour.

9)            HIS HOUSE

Writer/Director Remi Weekes brings another great addition to the metaphorror genre with His House; a creepy horror flick about a Sudanese refugee couple who find their lives in Britain threatened by the literal demons of their past.

Dilapidated rooms with peeling wallpaper, decaying floors, and malfunctioning lights are a perfect atmosphere for horror, Weekes and his cinematographer Jo Willems takes full advantage of this environment to unsettle the audience. Bol Majur (Sope Dirisu) and his wife Rial Majur (Wunmi Mosaku) find themselves tormented by voices in the walls, and mysterious figures peaking through the crawl spaces. It’s clear these supernatural figures are the manifestations of their trauma.

Weeks contrast the supernatural horror with the real horror they face, which takes the form of an uncaring bureaucracy that sticks them in a dilapidated home in a crumbling neighbourhood with some hostile, indifferent neighbours. It shows how finding a doctor’s office in an unfamiliar land can be as scary as facing ghosts.

You care a lot about these two thanks to Dirisu and Mosaku, who bring a lot of quiet humanity and heart to their characters. You pray for them as they fight for their right to live with dignity after what they’ve been put through.

8)            WOLFWALKERS

British girl/wannabee warrior) Robyn (voiced by Honor Kneafsey) joins her father (Sean Bean) on a trip to a remote Irish village where she encounters Mebh (Evan Whittaker), a wild red-haired girl with the ability to control a pack of wolves. With her father tasked with killing Mebh’s pack, Robyn must find Mebh’s mother and protect the pack from the tyrannical religious fanatic Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) in Tomm Moore’s conclusion to his Irish Folklore trilogy.

The animation is just as gorgeous as Moore’s earlier films The Secret of Kells and The Song of the Sea with his trademark storybook-like animation style. A noticeable difference between the earlier is how deliberately rough the animation looks. There are moments you can see lines and circles that are usually erased when drawing characters. It fits with the wild energy of the characters.

There’re the clear environmental themes of humans encroaching on animal lives and the need to respect nature. Lord Protector believes he needs to dominate the wilderness and the wolves. The villagers in contrast have more respect for the environment but can’t do much under Protector’s rule. So, the wolves are forced to find a new home.

Another theme of this film is the importance of questioning authority and not blindly conforming to social norms. Robyn’s father expects her to train to be a chambermaid while he’s blindly follows Lord Protector’s orders. They keep saying it’s “for the greater good,” but that “greater good” involves the destruction of a wilderness and a denial of one’s true self. It just leaves everyone miserable. And all for a religious fanatic.

It’s a shame Moore’s films don’t get more attention because they have that rare sense of wonder.

7)            NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS & UNPREGNANT (tie)

I’m putting these two films together on the list because they have the same premise of two teen girls travelling across state lines so one of them can get an abortion. What sets them apart is how different they are in styles.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a grounded drama about Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) a teenage girl from Pennsylvania who secretly travels with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) to New York to get an abortion without their parents knowing. Writer/director Eliza Hittman avoids melodrama in favour of grounded realism. Flanigan and Ryder keep their performances at a lowkey level to reinforce the realism. Hittman also avoids political moralizing in favour of just presenting a slice of life showcase as the cousins travel to New York, try to find the appropriate procedure for her circumstance, then tries to find the money to get back home. In a way, it makes the little moments more meaningful when Autumn is forced to watch anti-abortion propaganda or when she and Skylar plays at an arcade.

While the former goes for grounded drama, Haley Lu Richardson’s Unpregnant bears a closer resemblance to comedic road movies like National Lampoon’s Vacation and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. This time, popular teen Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson) enlists the help (and the car) of social outcast/former friend Bailey (Barbie Ferreira) to drive from Missouri to Albuquerque to get the procedure without her parents knowing. The result is a chaotic road trip with the two crashing a few cars and meeting a few colourful characters along the way. This film has quite a set of cameos including Breckin Meyer, Betty Who and Giancarlo Esposito. This film has the John Hughes blend of broad humour and recognizable heart. This film gets its point across by showcasing the absurdity of how teen girls are treated. One notable example is Veronica’s boyfriend; a stage 5 clinger who lives under the “nice guy” mindset.

Both films celebrate teen girls helping each other out.

6)            THE VAST OF NIGHT

Switchboard operator (Sierra McCormick) and DJ Everett Sloan (Jake Horowitz) search for the source of a mysterious sound in The Vast of Night; a gripping and visual dazzling sci fi flick that captures the feel of the Twilight Zone.

Director Andrew Patterson and co-writer Craig W. Sanger wrote a tightly knit story the follows our heroes over the course of a night as they play detective in a 1950s New Mexico town. Never does a second feel wasted. Plus, it’s fun to see stereotypical 1950s nerds being the heroes in a story like this.

What truly makes this film stand out is its visual styles. From the Twilight Zone-esque opens plays on an old tv, cinematographer M.I. Littin-Menz has you under his spell. His camerawork is always gorgeous in both the way he is zooming into a 1950s high school basketball game and shining omniscient light from the night sky. There are also some unusual moments when the film will suddenly play on 1950s tv. This may either further the intrigue or take some viewers out of the movie.

The result is a unique experience for sci-fi fans.

5)            KAJILLIONNAIRE

Emotionally distant young woman Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) and her small-time con artist parents (Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins) find their lives turned upside down when a perky stranger named Melanie (Gina Rodriguez) joins in their schemes.

Some audiences may be put off by July’s stylized approach to filmmaking, especially Wood’s unusual deep voice. But for those into lighthearted, quirky comedies will be enchanted by the little visual oddities of the family stooping (or in Old Dolio’s case, leaning back) to avoid their landlord or the pink suds always flowing down their apartment walls.

Kajillionnaire fits into July’s celebration of the timid and the outsiders. But July surprises us with a dark side to the outsider. The parents reject the unfulfilling, debt filled conventional life, but they aren’t particularly good at their cons and struggle to make ends meet. It has also made their daughter emotionally distant and with severe trust issues. It takes Melanie to give Old Dolio the human connection she never had.

I can’t say much beyond that because it takes many unexpected twists and turns. What I can say is this colourful dramedy offers an assurance of human connection.

4)             SMALL AXE

Ok, I may be cheating on this one since it’s five films (two of them just barely over an hour), but director Steve McQueen’s anthology complement each other perfectly with their unflinching examinations of systemic racism inflicted on lives of West Indie Brits during 1960s and the 1980s. The films are also connected by their celebration of people who celebrate life despite overwhelming odds stacked against them.

MANGROVE centers on the title Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill. Owner Frank Crichlow (Shaun Parkes) just wants to serve customers and be left alone, but his business is a constant target of harassment by racist cops. It all comes to a head with a 1970 protest, which leads to Frank and 8 others falsely accused of inciting a riot.

The trial demonstrates how Police can brutalize protesters, then turn around and accuse the protesters of inciting violence. It also shows how the justice system is complicity by blindly taking the word of the police over civilians. Not helping is a prosecuting attorney who peddles in racist dog whistles, a defense attorney naïve about the justice system’s treatment of black people and an indifferent judge. But the defendants stand strong as they use the trial as a platform to expose racial profiling while poking holes in cop’s testimony.

The two standouts in the film are Parkes and Letitia Wright as British Black Panther Co-Founder Altheia Jones. Parkes brings a lot of sympathy as a desperate man who just wants to live his life but grows to become an activist due to circumstances outside of his control. In contrast, Wright is a powerhouse of righteous anger as she fights for dignity.

LOVERS ROCK takes us through a night at a house party, where two strangers (Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn and Micheal Ward) fall in love. There’s isn’t much plot in this one, its mostly just people dancing and playing music. But as the camera lingers on the DJ playing records and the guests dancing and enjoying each other’s company, this film enchants you with its celebration of music, dancing, and the joy of company. It feels like a much-needed break from the uncomfortable racism we see in the other movies.

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE Is probably the most heartbreaking. John Boyega portrays Leroy Logan, a young man who enrolls in the Metropolitan Police in hopes of reforming it from the inside. He underestimates the racism he’ll face during training or how the system enables the racism. What makes it worst is how his own community would turn against him, especially his father (Steve Toussaint).

Boyega gives a powerful performance as a determined and smart guy who fails to understand how in over his head he is. You feel his fury when Leroy berates his fellow officers for putting his life in danger by not answering his call for backup. Toussaint is just as powerful as a man who feels betrayed when his son joins the very people who have brutalized him for years.

ALEX WHEATIE tells the true-life story of a young man (Sheyi Cole) who would go on to become an award-winning writer after being jailed during the Brixton Uprising of 1981. We follow him from his childhood growing up in uncaring white institutional care homes to finding a sense of community in Brixton, where he develops a passion for music. Through his attempts to pursue a DJing career and his run ins with the law that he confronts his past and begins a journey to healing.

We conclude with Education, a coming-of-age story of Kingsley (Kenyah Sandy), a 12-year-old boy who was singled out as “disruptive” and sent to special classes for the “subnormal”. This film looks at an unofficial segregated system that dismissed black kids and discarded them in classes for people with mental disability. It’s clear Kingsley is a smart kid with interest in rockets and space, but he shows signs of dyslexia. But neither his headmaster nor are the special classes helpful, especially when the teacher cares more about play his guitar and teaching the kids anything useful. His parents are even less helpful when they dismiss his concerns (when they’re not working two jobs.) It leads to a sad moment when Kingsley hides inside a bus to avoid seeing his friends.

This film also shows the power of black women. You see it through Kingsley’s sister Stephanie (Tamara Lawrence) whose empathy makes her realize somethings up. You see through Lydia Thomas (Josette Simon) activism as she investigates these school conditions. You especially see it through Kingsley’s mom (Sharlene Whyte), not just from working to jobs to provide for her family but her ability to grow and learn. She goes through a journey as Lydia teaches her about the systemic racism in the education system, forcing her to realize how she’s dismissed her son’s concerns. Near the end, we see how children like Kingsley can be helped by those willing to understand his problem.

3)            FIRST COW

Timid forager Cookie (John Magaro) feels out of place among the hunters and fur traders in the Oregon Territory. Then along comes King-Lu (Orion Lee), a Chinese immigrant with big dreams. Together, they swipe milk from the only cow in the area to cook and sell pastries to the locals in the area. As their little business grows, so does the bond between these outsiders. But their success comes under threat when they attract the attention of a wealthy landowner (Toby Jones) who owns the cow.

A premise like this does not sound like the type of film that attracts major audience attention, especially with Co-writer/Director Kelly Reichart’s minimalist style. But when it comes to Reichart, less is more. Reichart takes her time to take in the muted colours and natural beauty of Christopher Blauvelt’s cinematography and allow the relationships to develop naturally. It’s helped by the low-key yet engaging performances. Lee showcased the enthusiastic determination of a born entrepreneur. But it’s Magaro who shines brightest with the most nuanced performance of the year, revealing Cookie’s humanity through the subtlest gestures.

Reichart’s subtle, patient storytelling isn’t for everyone, but through her gentlest touch she enchants the audience with a haunting tale of unlikely friendships and the achievements of outsiders.

2)            UNCUT GEMS

I know this is a film was released in 2019, but It didn’t come to our theatre until 2020 and It’s too damn good not to talk about.

This film is a cinematic panic attack. Never once do the Safdie brothers give you a moment to relax as fast-talking Jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) dodges pissed off debt collectors while plotting for the biggest bet he can get. The result is an experience that keeps you on edge from opening credits to end credits. In lesser hands this would be an unpleasant experience, but the Safdie brothers uses this to create a compelling, intense portrayal of a man who gets off on standing on the edge of a cliff.

One reason it works is because beauty and ugliness make strange bedfellows in their movies. Nowhere is this more perfectly summed up than in the opening scenes where cinematographer Darius Khondji travels through an inside of a gem. The colours and lights make you feel like you’ve ascended to a magical world, but this scene happens in between scenes of African Miners being exploited and the inside of Howard’s colon. Just as beautiful is Daniel Lopatin’s new wave musical score. On its own, the music lulls you into a beautiful sense of peace. But this music often plays over uncomfortable scenes of characters screaming over each other. Somehow these two elevate the cinematic experience.

But the true strength of the film is Howard himself, which is astounding considering how unlikeable the character is. Throughout the film, he keeps digging himself into a deeper hole as he gambles even more recklessly, which makes it worst when he starts putting other’s people lives at risk. But he’s too complicated to hate. He shares a close bond with his kids and his coworkers. The film makes it clear he’s excellent at predicting Basketball games with near perfect accuracy, which gives you hope he will win. But then again, you don’t end up with over a hundred thousand dollars in debt without making terrible life decisions. He would be impossible to watch without Adam Sandler’s performance. He blends a smooth-talking charm and panic desperation to his character every time he tries to fast talk his way out of his circumstance. You can see why people like having him around.

When the credits roll, you’re relieved it’s over and were glad to experience the thrill.

1)            THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO SEVEN

The real-life trial of seven protesters and Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale feels more like an SNL skit than a courtroom drama. From the Merry Prankster duo Abby Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong)’s tweaking the nose at the buffoon judge Hoffman (Frank Langella) to the Judge bounding and gagging Seale, this trial was so contrived it can only come from real life. And writer/director Aaron Sorkin exposes the absurdity of this story in The Trial of the Chicago Seven.

It’s funny how a film about a trial from the late 60s can capture the mood of 2020. But with brutal images of Police attacking protesters and Judge Hoffman’s horrific treatment of Seale, this film feels like it came at the perfect time.[2] The trial itself showcases how the Justice system works to silence discourse and smears protestors. Sorkin further emphasizes how the system attacks anyone by showcasing the contrasting beliefs of the protestors from the radical anarchism of Hoffman and quiet dignity of Seale to the moderate ideals of student protestor Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and the unapologetic pacifism of suburban dad David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch).

Sorkin does all this while keeping the film gripping and entertaining from start to finish. He brings his sharp wit to his dialogue whether it’s Hoffman’s political speeches or the Marx-brother’s esque exchanges between the Judge and the increasingly frustrated defense attorney William Kunstler. Matching his writing are the endless great performances from the actors including Joseph Gordon-Levitt as reluctant prosecuting attorney Richard Schultz and Strong bringing out his inner Tommy Chong. But it’s Cohen who steals the whole film bringing out the uncompromising radicalism of Hoffman, who seems to have a better understanding of the situation than most of the protestors.

The result is a film that perfectly captures the political feel of 2020.

[1] At one point, he was almost attacked by protesters.

[2] Which is ironic considering it took Sorkin over a decade to get the film made.

#best movies of 2020 #random richards #random richards reviews #best of 2020 #borat subsequent moviefilm #the trial of the chicago 7 #the trial of the chicago seven #uncut gems #first cow #kajillionaire #his house #wolfwalkers #never rarely sometimes always #unpregnant #the vast of night #small axe #mangrove #lovers rock #red white and blue #alex wheatle #education

[somegirlsnerdywords2]

Anime i’ve Watched

That begin with a W!

Yep this is how i’m going to bring over all the anime and manga i’ve watched and posted about on the old blog. It’s not so detailed but it will have to do. Anything new I watch or read from this point on will have their own posts.

Watashi ga Motete Dousunda (Kiss Him, Not Me!):

Genres: Reverse Harem, Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo

Synopsis: Kae Serinuma is a very kind second-year high school student and a devoted otaku. A little known fact about her, though, is that she's obsessed with BL, or Boy's Love. Serinuma can't help but to fantasize about her male classmates falling for each other and enjoys imagining them together. A more known fact about Serinuma, however, is that she’s noticeably overweight. While watching her favorite show one day, Serinuma witnesses the death of her most beloved character. Utterly depressed, she can't muster up the energy to eat her meals, let alone attend school. After an entire week, she finally recovers. But now there's something unusual about her—during the time she refused to leave her room, she ended up losing a large amount of weight and has somehow become strikingly beautiful! Now catching the eye of everyone who sees her, she finds herself at the center of attention of four boys she has always known at her school. Though they all wish to spend time with her, Serinuma would much rather they spend time falling in love with one another. How will Serinuma deal with the four boys pursuing her BL-obsessed self? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9.5 /10

Finished airing in 2016 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Love it! Love the art, characters, story, comedy, all of it. Also a big fan of the manga (which is finished btw)... now if only they’d release a second season and finish the story off. 

Wolf’s Rain:

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-fi

Synopsis:  In a dying world, there exists an ancient legend: when the world ends, the gateway to paradise will be opened. This utopia is the sole salvation for the remnants of life in this barren land, but the legend also dictates that only wolves can find their way to this mythical realm. Though long thought to be extinct, wolves still exist and live amongst humans, disguising themselves through elaborate illusions. A lone wolf named Kiba finds himself drawn by an intoxicating scent to Freeze City, an impoverished town under the rule of the callous Lord Orkham. Here, Kiba discovers that wolves Hige, Tsume, and Toboe have been drawn in by the same aroma. By following the fragrance of "Lunar Flowers," said to be the key to opening the door to their ideal world, the wolves set off on a journey across desolate landscapes and crumbling cities to find their legendary promised land. However, they are not the only ones seeking paradise, and those with more sinister intentions will do anything in their power to reach it first. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7.5/10

Finished airing in 2003 with a total of 26 episodes. 

My Thoughts: That animation/ artwork is dated and I have trouble ignoring that fact. The soundtrack is also dated but in a delightful sort of way unlike the artwork. I don’t know... I just wasn’t that into this series but i’ve heard from plenty of folks who were so don’t just take my word for it and give it a try if you’re interested! 

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii:

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life

Synopsis:  Having slept through all four of her alarms, the energetic Narumi Momose finds herself running late for her first day of work at a new office. As she races to catch her train, she makes a promise to herself that none of her coworkers will find out about her dark secret: that she is an otaku and a fujoshi. Her plan goes instantly awry, though, when she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, an old friend from middle school. Although she tries to keep her secret by inviting him out for drinks after work, her cover is blown when he casually asks her whether or not she will be attending the upcoming Summer Comiket. Luckily for her, the only witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are otaku as well. Later that night, the pair go out for drinks so that they can catch up after all the years apart. After Narumi complains about her previous boyfriend breaking up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi, Hirotaka suggests that she try dating a fellow otaku, specifically himself. He makes a solemn promise to always be there for her, to support her, and to help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Blown away by the proposal, Narumi agrees immediately. Thus the two otaku start dating, and their adorably awkward romance begins. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 8.5/10

Finished airing in 2018 with a total of 11 episodes. 

My Thoughts: An extremely enjoyable series that I really hope gets a second season! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a romance that isn’t between teenagers... and really anyone who enjoys some good slice of life comedy about nerds. 

#Anime #watashi ga motete dosunda #kiss him not me #wotaku ni koi wa muzukashii

[casually-inlove]

Hello. In one of your responses, you wrote: "I also have things that I don't necessarily agree with." Can you tell us about it? I am very interested in your representation of this manhua. What do you think is written well in the story, and what is not? What would you add or remove? What is missing and what is too much in history? I would very much like to know your TianShan headcanon. I have too many "wants". I'm sorry if I was rude.

Dear anon, this was not rude at all. Indeed, you have many questions, so much as I try to be concise in my posts, this one is going to be very lengthy. Let me start with a little disclaimer. Everything below is entirely subjective. It is in no way meant to undermine anyone's enjoyment of the series, nor is it supposed to be an attack against the author. I value the comic's episodic nature and light-heartedness myself, otherwise, I would not have stuck around. It is also true that for the past half a year my interest in it waxes and wanes. Besides, I am well aware that certain groups of fans grow dissatisfied with the manhua direction. That said, I must state once again, OX has every right to write the story as they please, while the fans, no matter how displeased they may be, do not have the room to make demands of the author. So then, without further ado, some of my quibblings follow below. Beware of the wall-of-text.

1) The plot and characters get stagnant at times — these two go hand in hand. I suppose it is a prevalent gripe with 19 Days, and I am sure everyone has experienced it at least once. Some of it stems from the very way the story is told: the manhua timeline moves slowly in comparison with the readers' timeline. It works for depicting slow-burn relationships and subtle changes in the characters' outlooks. The problem is, more often than not, the latest chapters are inconsequential to either plot or character growth. They do not have the substance or the conflict to them. When OX had introduced the characters, while undoubtedly charming and loveable, they were practically walking tropes. Jian Yi, the bubbly airhead. ZZX, the stoic childhood friend. HT, Mr Popular. As time passed, OX did the clever (and the right) thing — they have subverted these stereotypes, by showing us that the characters are not who they appear to be. Thus, we learned that Jian Yi is a lonesome, affection deprived kid who on occasion dreads going back home because it's empty; his bright grin is there to hide his sadness.  We also learned that HT had a dysfunctional family and had been exposed to violence since a tender age; we also learned that he used to lead an empty life devoid of close interpersonal connections and passions, etc. I am not going to write about Mo because it is obvious and self-explanatory.

That sudden change in the perspective is what made those characters fascinating. A few of these developments co-occur with the addition of the “darker” mafia/gangster subplot. Indeed, the introduction of the criminal legacy theme (which is true for Jian Yi, He Tian, and Mo to an extent) allowed to show the wounds and troubles these characters had to face. It also dangled the prospect of an intriguing plot direction — a mafia-related story that is disguised as a school-themed slice-of-life. It was the underlying gangster plot-line that hooked me up; I kept asking myself: Are they connected (the Jian family, the He family)? Were they responsible for what happened with the Mo family restaurant? Will their backgrounds converge at some point? How does Jia Yi's kidnapping fit into all this? That sort of stuff. Alas, right now that subplot seems to be put on a backburner, which is a shame because this is the plot-line that leads to future events, such as Jian Yi's disappearance. The kidnapping is still going to happen and the threat looming over Jian Yi is still real, yet OX does very little to explain anything about it. Naturally, revealing everything at once is out of the question, but if it were me, I would have opted for unveiling bits and pieces now and then. To start with, it would have propelled the plot forward. Apart from that, it would have given the readers some food for thought and kept the intrigue fresh — they would have been cracking their heads to piece the puzzle. Finally, the characters' darker backgrounds provide the opportunity to give them development. For instance, how would Mo's view of He Tian change, if he learned that the latter had to face his warped father to save Mo (ch. 245 and further on)? Or how would Mo react, if he learned that He Tian lost his mother (presumably) due to his family shady dealings? Would it make him understand the other boy, relate to him on some level? Etc. 

The comedy and fun, light moments are precious, but I miss those moments when the manhua challenged my impression of the characters. Right now, the plot stagnates in the sense that we know that someone is threatening Jian Yi, but we aren't being given any clues or updates on the matter, as if the whole thing wasn't important. So, in response to your question “what would I have removed”, I would say that I would probably drop quite a few school-centric chapters in favour of “criminal” subplot. Just a bit: maybe show Mr Jian's messages, or Jian Yi's mother discussing the situation with him, or He Cheng receiving some reports on the situation.  

The character recent portrayal also disappoints me on occasion. They started as stereotypical manga characters, then they were given some depth, and now they are close to becoming yet another set of stereotypes. Yeah, I get that Mo is a tsundere and enamoured He Tian is an idiot in love — OX has been depicting them as such for the past year. It would be cool to take a look at other facets of their personalities now and then too. While it’s understandable that only a few weeks have passed since the beginning of the story, OX should remember that years have passed for the readers; keeping the audience engaged should be among their priorities.

I suppose I do have a bias here because as an adult I have little interest in all things school-related, and in general, I am not too fond of slice-of-life (I typically avoid reading it).19 Days attracted me because it had some universal themes, like dealing with past and legacy, finding your path, healing from the old scars, learning to handle difficult relationships within a family, and of course its low-key “mafia” subplot. It could be that OX truly doesn't have a meticulously chapter-to-chapter thought-out plot, hence why the manhua meanders at times, or it could have something to do with Mosspaca's internal agenda. Perhaps, it is the latter and the company somehow insists its artists stick with simplistic plots for the sake of keeping their target audience. Even so, there's a catch here, which was brought to the attention by @agapaic: the original reader audience has aged up already so to keep them hooked it would be wise of OX to “mature up” the comic as well. Not in the sense of 18+ content, but in the sense of introducing more mature subjects alongside the comedy and slice of life. Perhaps, they are not looking to keep the fans but to attract the new, younger ones. Who knows.

2) Drama and comedy imbalance. It is a pet peeve of mine which I consider to be one of the prominent manhua flaws: there is lots of slapstick comedy which ends up being out of place on occasion. I do realize the comic is humorous, however, there is no denying that OX introduced themes and topics that are no laughing matters. Jian Yi's and He Tian's loneliness, bullying and ostracizing, extortion racket, absentee parents, youth gangs and violence — just to name a few. There is a lot more, but you get the picture.

It is also obvious that three out of four main characters carry the remnants of childhood trauma with them, which directly affects their present selves. All the same, these topics practically fizzle out as soon as they get introduced, or get swept under the rug with comedy. Considering the humorous nature of the comic, it is given that dispersing some grimmer topics with playfulness will be used now and then. To my mind, however, OX relies on that abrupt drama-to-comedy switch too heavily, which makes the transition steep and often out of place. At times, it creates an impression that the author does not take these issues seriously. There have been numerous episodes when emotional moments were subverted and then dropped, without gaining climax and closure. For instance, the moment that sticks out to me the most is when He Tian attempted to tell Mo why he liked him. The visuals made it clear that it wasn't easy for He Tian to say out loud, yet OX never gave the intense moment the needed closure.

Mo brushed He Tian off and the latter just rolled with it, as if it never took him any courage to say those words, and then everything was swiftly engulfed by slapstick humour (the ball-slapping scene). A panel showing a glimpse of He Tian's face sinking to indicate he was somewhat let down by Mo's nonchalant response would have been appropriate — in fact, it would be natural for someone to get hurt when their confession is taken lightly. Likewise, I half-expected OX to show a bit more of He Tian's reaction towards Mo's story about his meeting with She Li. We got to see his expression darkening when he learned that She Li gave Mo the ear piercings, yet this time — mind you, when Mo suggested that She Li might have murdered someone — we never see He Tian react much. For the record, it was He Tian who asked She Li a rhetorical question about being able to take responsibility for taking a life.

Furthermore, I believe that someone romantically invested in another human being would have naturally shown more inquisitiveness upon hearing a story like that. Sure enough, some would say that Mo would not have liked talking about a traumatizing event, and that is fine as well — just show it. A single panel of He Tian being concerned and trying to inquire further and Mo refusing to talk would have been a very neat detail that could have potentially smoothed the transition into humour, while keeping our heroes in character.

3) Sometimes there is too much focus on the couples. The manhua has introduced several reoccurring supporting characters which are directly linked to our main quartet. For example, Mo had bonds before meeting our boys: his henchmen, the Buzzcut. Likewise, He Cheng was the one to raise He Tian; he shaped the boy's outlook on life.  These characters all played important roles in making our boys the people they are today, and yet we know so little of their bonds. Maybe the Buzzcut is unimportant in the larger scheme of things, He Cheng, however, is not only linked to He Tian, but he also plays a part in the underlying mafia/gangster subplot. It would have made sense if he was the one to shed some light on the situation with Jian Yi and He Tian's traumatic past. I would have loved to see our boys interact with other people as well — it would have served to show the variety of relationships out there: friendships, familial bonds, mutual respect between the leader and underlings, etc.

Anyway, I am going to stop now. I could name a few more, but this text is already more than 2000 words long. I have made some posts with my nitpicking before, so if you wish you can read them here.  

link & link 

Once again, this is all entirely subjective and it is not meant to be perceived as me saying that the manhua is poorly written and no one should enjoy it. Writing and creating compelling plots is a tough job, especially when it comes to long pieces. It also goes without saying that the author should keep their target audience and marketing goals in mind. 19 Days appeals to a great number of people of all ages and that means that OX succeeded in creating something compelling. Their writing is indeed flawed at times, but there is no way around it. It is impossible to excel both at being a great artist and a good writer. While there may be things that each of us would want to change (when comes to characters or the plot), it is still important to remember that it is not our creation. We can only decide whether to keep reading and enjoy what we get or move along. There is no point in attacking the author or generating constant pessimism.

#19 days #long post #that...was a tiresome writing #Anonymous #q&amp;a time

[fandom-artworks]

My Favorite 2020 Spring Anime

2020 Winter anime I have watch and my ratings.

My Personal Top 10

1 - Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 2 - Rating: 10/10 (Must watch / Extremely recommended)

This is one of the best isekai anime ever. I would also recommend to watch season 1 if you hadn’t seen it. The Story of Myne continues as try to create a book. She has joined the church due to her mana needing to be drain into an magical items. There she discover various issues and faces challenges. She tries to make things better and also discover the more magical side of the world she is living in.

2 - Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 2 - Rating: 10/10 (Must watch / Extremely recommended)

I have seen many anime with romance / comedy with some drama. This is truly one of the best. Once again, watch season 1 if you hadn’t seen it. The story continues with Kaguya and Shirogane both trying to get an confession from each other. Despite not confessing, the show somehow managed to develop their relationship. The anime knows not to use the same battles of wits, it also shows the stories of the other members of the student council. And I died laughing too many times.

3 - My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Hamefura) - Rating: 9/10 (Very highly recommended)

This is an isekai anime that take place in an dating simulator. the world is magical but there no battle going on. Katarina was a child when hit her head and recall she is from another world, she found out she also the villain to the story and if the story works out like the game, she will either be killed or exiled. She the battle is to ensure she does everything she can to prevent that from happening. While the rest of the harem try to battle to get through the incredibility dense brain Katarina has to make her realize they all love her. This is a unique isekai to watch and really funny.

4 - Kakushigoto - Rating: 9/10 (Very highly recommended)

This is a slice of life / comedy with a dash of feels anime. It follows the story Hime the daughter of Single parent dad, Kakushi. He works as the head manga artist / creator of an ecchi comedy manga series. Due to it being ecchi, he hides the fact he is a manga creator to his daughter to protect her. He goes as far as to disguise as a business man when he leaves home. He also will go through many task and extreme to ensure Hime gets to live her live normally. However When Hime grows up, she starts to learn about his father manga and another secret he has been keeping. Go a an ‘feels’ trip with this anime.

5 - Arte - Rating: 9/10 (Very highly recommended)

Being an art blog, I would recommend all artist to watch this anime. It’s an historical anime about Arte, an female noble who loves drawing and painting. However, when her mother demands her to marry, she leaves her family and home in order to pursue an career as an artist.  However as most of the mentors refused to employ her due to the fact she is an women. Finally, Leo an lone Artisan accepts her. Leo doesn’t go easy on her and expects her to paint just like any other apprentice. However Arte continues to push herself in order to become a better painter. This anime shows an great inspiration for anyone to pursue a creative field. 

6 - Brand New Animal (BNA) - Rating 8/10 (Highly recommended)

Furry anime is getting more popular. BNA is one of them. The world is divide by human and beast men. Michiru is a raccoon dog who starts living in Anima City. But she is not just an normal beast men, she was once an human. As she tries to find a cure, she joins Shirou in helping to protect the beast men living in the city. She finds out bad things still happens and find a way to deal with them. She also finds out her lost friend is also living in the city. This anime is fun to watch and deals with modern political problems. I won’t go as far as to say it represents current issue like racism or LGBT rights. It is really more on how humans don’t like things that are different.

7 - Fruits Basket 2nd Season - Rating 8/10 (Highly recommended)

This is an drama / supernatural anime. Watch season 1 if you hadn’t. Tooru continues living in the Souma residence. She meets more of the Souma family and deals with their personal issues. She also tries to find out more on the zodiac curse and comes face to face with the head of the family, Akito Souma. I like the supernatural elements more in this story. But I think they need to do more then make Tooru solve all their problems. But damn, Akito is menacing.

8 - Princess Connect! Re:Dive - Rating 7/10 (Recommended)

This is an isekai anime where an man, Yuuki enters another world but has no memories. But they weren’t kidding when they say he has no memories, he doesn’t know how to talk, eat and pretty much do anything. Thankfully an elf, Kokkoro is there to help him. The two of them train and and he learns the ways of an being an adventurer. They meet Pecorine and Kyaru on their journey and creates a guild to discover various types of food and eat them. This isekai anime is quite unique in some ways, it’s also quite funny. Recommend for those who like isekai anime.

9 - Sing "Yesterday" for Me - Rating 7/10 (Recommended)

This is a love triangle / square anime concerning two man and two women. It would take too long to describe who loves who so please visit the link in the title. All I can say I really liked Haru. Like most people who watched this anime, I was a little disappointed in the ending. It felt mostly rushed. But the rest of the story is fine.

10 - Gleipnir - Rating 7/10 (Recommended)

This is an Mystery /Supernatural anime with violence and some ecchi. Shuuichi is an high school student and sometimes he turns into a monster. HE finds out more of this after being blackmailed by Clair who had took a photo of him. Clair ask him to help her find her sister who can also turn into an monster. They unravel the mystery to find out an alien is giving people abilities if they found one of his coins. But that’s just the beginning. Not a big fan of anime with strong violence and fight scenes but this is different. It has a good story and and good twist.

Other anime I have watch this season.

The 8th son? Are you kidding me? -  Rating 6/10 (Slightly recommended)

This is an isekai anime where he was born to an nobel family but was unlucky to be the 8th son. Meaning he the 8 in line to take over his family land. But he has magic so, things work out in other ways. The anime is unique in some ways. it show polictical and family status issues on top of the usual isekai tropes.

Tamayomi - Rating 6/10 (Slightly recommended)

Moe anime on a all girls baseball team. Not really into sports anime. but this one doesn’t have as much ecchi as other girls sport anime usually has. So it’s pretty okay. the sports scenes has the usual tropes.

Shachou, Battle no Jikan Desu! -  Rating 6/10 (Slightly recommended)

This is an isekai anime where instead of forming guilds, they form companies to hire adventures and send them out to get crystals and sell them. So it is a little unique for that. Some tropes still happens but it’s still watchable. 

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 - Rating 5/10 (Average)

So the animation was bad for some of the scenes, especially the fighting scenes which is what makes GITS great. Without that you just have the story which seem interesting. But I am just 50/50 on the whole thing so for now, it’s just average.

#mod post #anime list #Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 2 #Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 2 #My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Hamefura) #Kakushigoto #Arte #Brand New Animal (BNA) #Fruits Basket 2nd Season #Princess Connect! Re:Dive #Sing Yesterday for Me #Gleipnir #The 8th son? Are you kidding me? #Tamayomi #Shachou Battle no Jikan Desu! #Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045

[wazafam]

When most people think of anti-hero or villain teams in the DC Universe the immediate group that comes to mind is the Suicide Squad. It's certainly a novel concept: A bunch of street-level villains getting bombs stuck in their head and sent out on the kind of missions that no one else is crazy enough or desperate enough to attempt. It's resulted in some pretty classic comics too. No disrespect to Rick Flagg and company, but DC's got a much better villain team on its roster; a gang of damaged or outright deranged misfits who take on some of the most twisted quests ever to pop up in the DCU, that's when they're not hooking up stabbing each other in the back. Behold, the Secret Six in all their unstable, lovable glory.

While a TV adaption was once optioned by CBS, the Secret Six has always been an obscure title. The team originally started as a spy comic of sorts in the 1960s, followed by a reboot in the 80s. The most beloved and interesting version of the team came to form with writer Gail Simone's Villains United mini-series, created as part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis tie-ins.

Related: The Suicide Squad's Biggest Mystery is Finally Explained By DC

Led by a disguised Lex Luthor under the moniker of Mockingbird, the team consisted the Suicide Squad's own Deadshot, and a cadre of D-list villains and new creations like Catman, Cheshire, Knockout, Ragdoll, a random Parademon, and Scandal Savage. While many team-members would be killed off over time or switched with more high-profile characters, Catman, Deadshot, Scandal, and Ragdoll remain mainstays of the team through all of Simone's initial run on the series. While they initially started as villains bent on world domination, in truth, the Six are a lot closer to outlaws or mercenaries. They take on various jobs, some heroic and some outright despicable. Really anything that puts meat on the table. It should also be worth noting that they're all a bunch of weirdos.

Villains United proved to be lightning in a bottle that would spawn an entire run. The series about a group of oddball characters that don't fit in with heroes or villains struck a perfect balance between black comedy and character-driven drama. Every character in the series gets such a unique and fitting characterization. Deadshot is a pornstache personified; Floyd Lawton has never been as skeezy or charming as he is under Simone's pen. Ragdoll is essentially a violent contortionist version of  Dean Craig Pelton from Community. Scandal Savage is the badass lesbian ninja and daughter of Vandal Savage, who serves as team leader and voice of reason throughout the series. Lastly, Catman is probably the most remarkable character on the team and the closest thing to the protagonist of the series. Before Secret Six, Thomas Blake was written as an overweight loser who was eaten by a talking Gorilla in Brad Meltzer's Green Arrow series. Simone rewrote the character from the ground up and created one of the most layered and cool Batman knock-off's ever. He also snarls like a cat when he fights.

Related: Harley Quinn Claims Deadshot's Power in DC's Suicide Squad

Apart from the main four team members, Bane and an immortal banshee named Jeannette round out the team for the rest of the series. While Jeannette is simultaneously a frightening and charming character with a unique backstory, Simone's take on Bane is one of the best. Secret Six sees Bruce Wayne's greatest foe trying to turn a new leaf. He's kicked his steroid habit and is acting with utter honor, Bane also immediately tries to be an upstanding father figure to any distressed young woman he sees, resulting in a hilarious running gag throughout the series.

Secret Six is a mature book in every sense of the word. It's packed to the brim with sex and violence, to the point where it's absolutely incredible that DC allowed some of the stuff in the book to happen. Catman bites a man's face off, there's a sex scene between Mad Hatter and one of his hats, and almost everything that comes out of Ragdoll's mouth is jaw-droppingly obscene. But apart from all the blood, and bad words that usually get things pulled off TV, Secret Six features intricate character development and some very grown-up storylines. They find themselves rescuing a group of enslaved Amazons (after they're hired to guard the prison of course). Catman's infant son is kidnapped by a group of psychotic criminals, leading him onto a bloodthirsty rampage. Scandal grapples with the death of her girlfriend for a large part of the series. Then of course there's that trip to hell.

Related: Batman: Bane Just Returned in the Last Way Fans Expected

"The Secret Six goes to Hell" may sound like the title of a schlocky horror movie, but it reads like something far different. Each character comics to the realization that they're damned no matter what. While Deadshot and Ragdoll aren't particularly shocked about their own fates, it's a surprise for the rest of the team. For Bane in particular, it's heartbreaking. The series had served as a moving redemption story for the Man Who Broke the Bat, discovering that he won't truly change is a pretty haunting conclusion. However, he's since proven to be pretty irredeemable.

While there are lot's of very dark moments in Secret Six, the tone of the book is never dreary or bleak. A slice-of-life feeling is prevalent in the series that is absent from the bombastic, multiverse shattering world of superhero comics. It's not uncommon to see members of the Six eating dinner together or chilling out in a hot tub. One issue sees Catman pick up a tub of ice cream for a depressed Scandal Savage. Deadshot and Jeanette end up in a fairly healthy and supportive relationship together. And speaking of romance, the other members of the team set Bane up on a date and it's as hilarious as it sounds. Refreshing little asides like this differentiate the book even further from standard superhero fare.

Related: The Real Reason DC's CATMAN Has Basically Disappeared

There will never be another team like the Six. No other series from the Big Two will ever be packed with this much humor, tragedy, and outright weirdness. Where else can you see a joke like Catman transform into a compelling character or Vandal Savage get stabbed in the neck with some chopsticks by his own daughter? Where else can you see Bane try to make his team-mates go on a diet or Deadshot get in a Western style duel with Deathstroke? And on that note, there's even a one-off issue that sees an Old West version of the team, and it's awesome too. Gail Simone created one of the  ultimate villain comic book teams. A unique series about a group of terrible people who love each other taking down worse people that don't. The Secret Six is one of the funniest and most badass teams in all of comics, and they don't need to be implanted with bombs in their necks to do it either.

Next: Suicide Squad Could Be Adding The Perfect Batman Villain

  DC Has Another, Better, Suicide Squad | Screen Rant from https://ift.tt/3rtwB2V

#Blogger

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - Rapunzel’s Enemy

So we go from perhaps the best written episode in the entire series to the worst episode of season one. It’s not the worst out of the whole show, but it would easily make a bottom five list. 

Summary: During the annual Gopher Festival, Rapunzel is booed by a man in the crowd when she shows her new emblem to the people of Corona. After finding out that the person who booed her is an elderly shopkeeper whom everyone loves, Rapunzel is determined to uncover the reason for Uncle Monty's disapproval of her, even if it means disguising herself. Eventually, she inspires Monty to participate at the Gopher Festival Tournament with her. Meanwhile, Cass is in charge of taking care of the gohper for the tournament and Eugene isn’t helping. 

Tonal Dissonance 

This episode marks one of the bigger recurring problems in the show. The series varies wildly in tone from episode to episode, as if the creators can’t decide what the show should be. Is it a serious action adventure series or a cutesy slice of life sitcom? The problem with making it both is that together they undermined one another. The low stakes comedy clashes with the high drama, either undermining the tension of the story or stealing screen-time from more plot important elements. Watching the series gives you a serious case of mood whiplash. 

Forced Drama

The other problem with such tonal dissonance that the writers must now come up with contrived ways in order to keep up the tension. There’s zero stakes in the set up for this episode nor in most of the fillery slice of life stuff, so gotta throw something in there in the end. Pull a monster out of nowhere or something, idk. But worst of the worst is when the writers dumb down a character and make them do something stupid just to force the action to happen. 

In order to have a climax in this episode the writers decided to make Monty into a complete dumb dumb who places himself in danger for no real reason just so Raps is forced to save him. Even though Monty is shown to be a thoughtful intelligent person before this point. 

This is one of my biggest pet peeves in storytelling. I can forgive a lot, but not characters being made into idiots for the sake of the plot.  

It’s Redundant 

I understand the thought process behind this episode and why the creators chose to put it in. It’s here to highlight Rapunzel’s flaws and the interpersonal conflict that she’ll battle for the whole season, preferably in a low stakes situation so that the audience will be expecting it when that conflict comes and bites the hero in the ass big time later on in the story. 

Only it’s not needed. Rapunzel’s main conflict in season one is her need for validation and how she’ll bend over backwards to get it, hurting both herself and others in doing so. However, we already established the bones of this conflict in the pilot as she struggles with being assertive due to that fear. In order to really put a spotlight on this flaw, we should have gotten an episode concerning someone who is actually close to her, not a complete stranger. And indeed we get that in future episodes anyways so, what was the point of this story?   

Too Many Characters

This show has way too many characters, or more accurately, too much focus on the wrong characters. Monty doesn’t add anything to the show. He’s here for this one episode and then sits around doing nothing for the rest of the series. You could have streamlined his role by combining him with another more plot relevant character, like say Xavier, and the story would have been stronger for it.  

Favoritism in Conflicts

The other recurring problem in the show is presenting conflicts from the view of the main character only. The show actively tries to get you on the hero’s side by deliberately downplaying or outright ignoring the other characters’ grievances. Monty could have had any number of real reasons to dislike Rapunzel, but the show decides to have him be petty, shallow, and rude to her first so that by the time we get to where Rapunzel needs to learn something and admit fault, Monty’s more legitimate issues can therefore be glossed over.  The audience has now been manipulated to already be against Monty and rooting for Rapunzel, supposedly.

Which leads into next problem...

The Lesson Isn’t Learned  

Rapunzel once again doesn’t actually learn anything from this experience. Her not learning anything is the biggest downfall of the show. 

The lesson here is suppose to be “Not everyone will like you but that’s ok”; only Raps in later seasons still can’t let things go. Everyone still has to love her. Anyone one who doesn’t like her is painted the villain. ect. 

But even within the episode itself we have the lesson immediately undermined by having Rapunzel form a ‘friendly rivalry’ with Monty. That’s not the same thing as someone disliking you. If a person doesn’t like you they’ll just ignore or avoid you. If you have to come in contact with someone you don’t like, either through work or whatnot, you then just deal with it and move on. There’s no reason to go out of your way to annoy a person unless you just enjoy annoying that person and we see here that’s something they both enjoy. They do like spending time with one another, so ergo they don’t really hate one another. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, this episode should have been reworked or omitted entirely and turned into an actual story arc episode instead. Either by making Monty more plot relevant or giving the time and focus to a more important character altogether, like say Varian perhaps.  

#tangled #rapunzel's tangled adventure #tangled the series #anti-tangled #rapunzel #monty #critique

[softgrungeprophet]

I know Tumblr is like, imploding or whatever but I’m making a list of the webcomics I read because they are good:

First:

This is Not Fiction: http://www.thisisnotfiction.com/

I’ve been reading this since... college? I think? It’s sweet and heartfelt and makes me cry happy tears on a regular basis... It’s a ..... high school slice of life LGBT romcom? I guess? is it a romcom? it’s romantic and it has comedy and it’s very cute and earnest. Also it’s got a lot of great jokes!! Very fun and relatively lighthearted, for the most part.

Onward!!

Superpose: https://sp-gu.com/

SP is SO gorgeous and lush, and like most of the things I read it features LGBT/queer characters. But also... as you can see by the website, the creators are incredibly dedicated to The Aesthetic™  and I think it’s supposed to have magic at some point? it’s radical, and has computers and science and boardwalks and drama.

Agents of the Realm: https://agentsoftherealm.com/

Magical girls! LGBT Romance! Extremely good art and colors, oh my god? It’s good. It features lots of drama and excitement, but also sweet friendship (and romance ofc) and also, who doesn’t love color-coordinated magical girl uniforms???? I love it, everyone’s very fashionable.

Not Drunk Enough: http://ndecomic.com/

If you like horror, and also, like me, have long been a fan of Tess Stone's work, you will probably like this. It’s got monsters, and eyeballs, and a lot of blood, and supremely good color work and lettering. (how could it NOT) I think it’s also gay but I’m actually super behind so I can neither confirm nor deny... It’s mostly focused on like, not getting eaten by monsters. If you have a weak stomach it’s probably not for you. It’s very much a monstery, gory horror comic.

Kochab: http://kochab-comic.tumblr.com/

Absolutely gorgeous. I only started reading this recently but it’s soooo beautiful and does this thing where some of the pages are animated? And it’s really cool and atmospheric. It’s like, folk fantasy kind of stuff, featuring a djinn lady and a normal girl (falling in love)... Lots of snow, and a fancy palace, and just very good. I feel like, if you like stuff like Howl’s Moving Castle you should check it out.

Protean Sea: http://www.proteansea.com/

This is pretty new, I think, and so I don’t really know much about it... but it’s got really lovely colors and a very smooth, kind of soft style that appeals to me. Also robot people.  It uses a lot of really lovely greens.

Mare Internum: http://www.marecomic.com/

It’s about astronauts on Mars (and also a little robot) and is wrapping up fairly soon I believe? The characters are expressive and flawed in the way that most people are, and I appreciate that. There’s also a big shark alien, if you like those. She’s big. It really goes into like, you know, humans being humans but also addresses solitude and isolation.... BIG TRIGGER WARNINGS though, like, immediately and throughout the whole thing it deals with some really heavy shit including suicide and csa, so be aware of that going in.

Backlash: It was hosted on Tapas but has not been updating there since the changes made to the TOS, and it was being hosted on Tumblr but this whole NSFW thing has fucked up the reading order there... so Amber’s Patreon might be the best place to go for now: https://www.patreon.com/BITEGHOST

I’ll still link to the tumblr though: https://backlashcomic.tumblr.com/

It is about... magic.... dimensional witches.... living embodiments of celestial bodies...... punching...... there’s a dude with a helmet for a face.... Features a fairly androgynous female main character, which is really nice to see! The characters are all really charming and endearing, even the assholes, and there are huge buff ladies too which is aaaalways a plus. I’m behind on it, though... I think they want to punch god?

Novae: http://www.novaecomic.com/

Gay period drama.... about astronomy and like, necromancy? It’s super gorgeous, with beautiful backgrounds and beautiful costume design, and really nice inking. Feels very purposeful. To quote their patreon, Novae is an “LGBT+ historical romance comic steeped in mystery, necromancy and the wonders of the universe.” It has a prequel called Inhabitant of Another Planet, hosted on Sparkler, which I also recommend: https://sparklermonthly.com/ihoap/inhabitant-chapter-01-page-001/

Tiger, Tiger: http://tigertigercomic.com/

ALSO a period drama (and comedy), and EXTREMELY beautiful. It’s about rich people doing dumb rich people things like disguising oneself as one’s brother in order to set sail around the world and like, dissect sea cucumbers. I think there are pirates involved? I only recently started reading and I’m not caught up because my approach to reading webcomics is to check them once or twice a year. It’s really got an aesthetic going on, though, and has Exquisite comedic timing. I kept taking screenshots and showing them to my friend like every other page cause I was laughing so much

These are the main ones I’ve been reading!!

I’ve also been revisiting Lackadaisy (https://www.lackadaisy.com/), and recommend Ghost Resonance (https://tapas.io/series/Ghost-Resonance) and Good Morning Star Shine (https://tapas.io/series/goodmorningstarshine) as well.

this post is from 2018 so it’s a little out of date and i need to catch up on a lot of these but can confirm tiger,tiger is very good

#nadia rambles #like almost all of the webcomics i read have lgbt characters and MOST of the authors as well #with just a few exceptions.... like.......one #webcomics #long post #i mean it's under a cut but it's still a long one

[weebrecs]

BL Manhwa Recommendations Part 3

After all of the positive feedback from my first and second Manhwa list I’ve decided to make a part 2. For anyone who doesn’t know Manhwa are Korean Comics. Here’s another recommendation list for some of the ones that I’ve read. I’ve marked the Mature ones with (***)

***How Sweet is a Sugar Daddy (10/10): At first this art might be a put off, but the artist grows stronger and the story hooks you. Shihoon is a doctor, rich, and has everything he could ever want, but then one day the target of his affection is a young, beautiful MAN. Confusions arise when the man in question is his sister’s best friend and much younger than him. Slice of Life, School Life, Romance, Comedy, Drama

Star x Fanboy (10/10): Careful this manhwa might just give you a cavity with its tooth rotting fluffiness. Star is famous and learns about this new trend on Twitter where people pretend to be celebrities and act like them. Interested, he sets up a fake account for himself and becomes instantly smitten with one user, Fanboy. Their love is pure and beautiful as they constantly support each other through any struggles. Comedy, Romance, Showbiz

***30 Days With You (9/10): Iro is a young super genius that has started his own company. With his exceptional skill of creating machines he designs sex bots that accompany wealthy people for 30 days. He has grown tired of the monotony of his everyday life until a man named Rene appears and wants a sex bot. However, he doesn’t plan to have sex with the bot, but learn about them so that he can further his career. Iro disguises himself as a sex bot and goes home with Rene. Supernatural, Drama, Mystery, Sci-fi, Android

***Following Namsoo To the Bathhouse (8/10): Minjae couldn’t help but be curious about the mysterious man on the bus that smelled of soap. After following the man on a whim Minjea learns that the man works in his family’s bathhouse. Soon clothes are coming off and Minjae experiences the best bath and massage of his life. Now he can’t forget Namsoo and finds himself becoming a frequent client of the bathhouse. This manhwa started strong, but then it felt like the plot started faltering as their relationship turned into something like sex friends. Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life, Mature

***Scent of a Witch (9/10): For the third prince of Uren there is no thrill like the thrill of the chase. After traveling outside of his kingdom to the dreaded witch country he stumbles across a beautiful women. It’s said that under the full moon the old witch hags turn into beautiful women to seduce men and kill them. However, the prince isn’t afraid as he seduces the beautiful women. Little does he know that the beautiful women isn’t a hag like the rest of them, but a young male witch. Supernatural, Mystery, Drama, Gender Bender, Royalty, Historical

They Are a Couple (9/10): First loves never last they say, but for famous celebrity, AoYue, that is not the case. He has cherished his experience with a beautiful girl when he was younger, and since then he hasn’t loved anyone else. However, now he is struggling with his career and his company has created a last ditch plan of forming a boy idol group. Little does he know that one of the members of the group was actually the little girl he fell in love with during his childhood in disguise. This manhwa has really strong Love Stage! vibes to me, but it’s still really cute as it progresses. They fall in love slowly and genuinely start to care about each other. Slice of Life, Idol, Showbiz, Comedy, Romance

Because of You (7/10): Tells the story of a man’s unrequited love for his childhood friend while they were growing up. Afterwards, Se Woong gives up on love and believes he’ll be alone for the rest of his life. That is until his unrequited love moves in next door and Se Woong falls in love with his crush’s son. Slice of Life, Tragedy, Age gap, Drama, Romance

***Hogu Hagyeongsu (7/10): Where do I begin? This one is not for the weak of heart. Kyung-soo was once raped by his boyfriend and his friends, and since then he has spent time trying to forget that night. As soon as it seems he has his life together he starts falling for a regular at the store he works at. However, his plans of getting his life back together get derailed when he is threatened by his previous boyfriend. He is soon kidnapped and enslaved as per his old boyfriend’s wishes. He flips back and forth between his old and new love trying to determine who he loves more. During the struggle his previous boyfriend’s brother attacks him. Tragedy, Rape, Dark, Mystery

#scent of a witch #star x fanboy #30 days with you #how sweet is a sugar daddy #hogu hagyeongus #because of you #following namsoo to the bathhouse #recommendations #yaoi recommendation list #manhwa recommendations #bl manhwa