alterkrmn: Nozue from the manga Old Fashion Cupcake. His expression shows confusion. (Default)
I did many things this week… At least, that’s how it feels. I’ve been so busy with work, but I made progress on my craft project, and that makes me happy. I know I’m not an artist and my skills aren’t out of this world, but embroidery is an activity I really love. I read, finished a series I’d had on hold since December, and caught up on a few others from my list… though not all of them. I also kept up with my Chinese classes, went out for food and drinks with friends on Friday… and yeah, it did feel like I did a lot. There are days when I wish I could do everything, but it’s just not possible. I try not to sacrifice sleep to do everything I want to do, but sometimes my brain is too active and insomnia kicks in, so instead of just tossing and turning in bed, I read or watch stuff, though I try to keep that to a minimum.

But anyway, on to the update.

Currently making
  • Not-so-secret craft project – Yuri on Ice test for a future triptych…

Finished reading
  • SVSSS Vol. 2

Finished watching
  • El secreto del río (Mexican drama) – 8 episodes

Currently reading
  • SVSSS Vol. 3 – Chapter 15

Currently watching
  • Winter Begonia (Chinese drama) – Weekly, weekends – 33/49 episodes
  • My Stubborn (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Sundays – 8/12 episodes
  • Boys in Love (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Sundays – 7/12 episodes
  • The Ex-Morning (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Thursdays – 3/10 episodes
  • Break Up Service (Thai drama) – Weekly, Mondays – 9/12 episodes
  • Leap Day (Thai drama) – Weekly, Tuesdays – 8/12 episodes
  • The Bangkok Boy (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Saturdays – 2/12 episodes
On hold
  • Perfect 10 Liners (Thai BL drama) - No schedule - 4/24 episodes

Last weekend, I transferred the pattern onto the fabric. It’s a black cotton fabric that I love. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to dark fabrics, but there’s just something about them… I have some embroideries from almost a decade ago and I made them on black fabric. I think they have a certain charm. Maybe one of these days I’ll post pictures of them here. And last year, I made a gift for an event here on Dreamwidth… also using black fabric.

But before actually starting to embroider, I remembered there are some DMC threads that would be perfect for this project (on black fabric, though I think they’d look good on colored fabric too) and went looking for them. I found an online craft store in my country that sells them individually and was about to buy them (they’re in my cart), but before doing so, I wanted to check a local craft store that carries DMC threads, just in case, by some miracle, they had them. Since I was out on Friday anyway, I stopped by, but unfortunately, they didn’t have the specific series I wanted. So I’ll have to order them online… after payday.

Since they didn’t have what I needed, I bought some satin threads instead and started embroidering over the weekend. It’s still a test run, but at least I have a clearer idea of how I want the final project to look. Hopefully, I can pull it off, haha. I’ll share a photo of my progress… for accountability. I think I need to change the font of the text I want to add and maybe increase the size a bit, too.

Working on the embroidery let me finish (well, mostly listen to) El secreto del río, since it’s a Mexican series and I could follow along without needing to watch every second. The show is set in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and follows two childhood friends who share a dark secret. SPOILER! *One of them is muxe, and the series also touches on muxe life.* I’ll admit, one reason I paused it was because it deals with transphobic violence, and I wasn’t in the best mental space to watch it without feeling triggered. There are painful and difficult moments, but in the end, I really liked it.

After finishing the series, I embroidered while listening to music playing through my beloved headphones: the Yuri on Ice OST, of course. No, the obsession hasn’t ended 😀

Ahhh, SVSSS Vol. 2 was so fun. There were some really interesting and hilarious moments. Well, at least I found them hilarious. SPOILERS! *I loved the reveal of Luo Binghe sleeping with Shen Qingqiu’s corpse when he thought his shizun was dead and was trying everything to bring him back… meanwhile, Shen Qingqiu was already inhabiting his magical mushroom body. Luo Binghe is unhinged, but ridiculously sentimental (affectionate, I love a weirdo) when it comes to his shizun. I’ll admit, that passage gave me ideas. I imagined Luo Binghe dressing and undressing Shen Qingqiu’s lifeless body in different outfits like a doll, combing his hair, being absurdly gentle and careful, even talking to him (kinda like Hable con ella).* I don’t know, those thoughts made me want to read fics about it, but I haven’t gotten around to searching for something that fits what I want… As for writing it myself? Please, I haven’t even written MDZS fic… and I do have ideas sometimes. But anyway, I finished Vol. 2 and already started Vol. 3. Maybe I’m regaining some of my reading stamina? Who knows… but my need to know what happens next is strong, and that always motivates me, haha.

I’m almost caught up with Winter Begonia again, and that makes me so happy. But oh gods… the last seven? eight? episodes have destroyed me. It’s such a wonderful series, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the novel it’s adapted from. But beyond that… The visuals? The acting? Love it. I adore Shang Xirui more with each episode. I’d also love to embroider fanart of this series someday. There’s one of Shang Xirui’s opera costumes (not one of the more intricate ones) that I loved, and I think it’d make a beautiful piece.

I thought I’d have enough energy to finish this whole post, but I overestimated myself… my eyes are closing. I’ll write the rest tomorrow in a second part.

alterkrmn: Nozue from the manga Old Fashion Cupcake. His expression shows confusion. (Default)
This week, the "currently making" part of this update makes a comeback! Yay!!

As I explained in detail in a previous post, my week was pretty hectic, so I took advantage of the weekend to catch up on my shows. But I also wanted to make at least a little progress on my secret craft project… and I did!

Currently making

I already have the pattern, and now all that's left is transferring it to the fabric so I can start. Though I’ll admit, this is going to be a test run because I’ve been going back and forth on the background color I want to use. I’ll try my usual style: black fabric with colorful contrasting thread. I’ll see how it turns out, but I think it might look better with a pale blue or even white background, though I don’t love embroidering on white fabric… If I make more progress during the week, I’ll share photos.


Currently reading

  • SVSSS Vol. 2 - Chapter 10

Currently watching
  • Winter Begonia (Chinese drama) – Weekly, weekends – 29/49 episodes
  • Break Up Service (Thai drama) – Weekly, Mondays – 8/12 episodes
  • Leap Day (Thai drama) – Weekly, Tuesdays – 8/12 episodes
  • My Stubborn (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Sundays – 7/12 episodes
  • Boys in Love (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Sundays – 7/12 episodes
  • The Ex-Morning (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Thursdays – 2/10 episodes
  • The Bangkok Boy (Thai BL drama) – Weekly, Saturdays – 2/12 episodes

I’m really enjoying SVSSS, and I think part of it is that, despite it being one of the popular novels, I’ve been really good at avoiding spoilers. So I know the names of the main characters (some of them) and who the main couple is, but beyond that, I have no idea what’s going to happen or how. Plus, I love the meta-literary aspect, the commentary through Shen Yuan/Peerless Cucumber’s self-awareness, lol. It makes me think a lot about hypothetical scenarios where I’d be transported into different kinds of books and how I’d react. Like, what if I suddenly found myself in a gothic novel? How would my knowledge of the canon affect my survival in that world? Or, say, in The Witcher novels... as someone who doesn’t believe in the supernatural, getting dropped into a universe full of ghosts and monstrous creatures? Yeah, I wouldn’t last long, haha. But anyway, it’s fun how much this book makes me think.

I also wonder if I’d be enjoying it as much if this were the first novel of its kind I’d ever read. At this point, I’m at least familiar with some of the tropes and elements of the narrative. Maybe I haven’t read the exact type of novel Shen Yuan gets transported into, but having read Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know before, I know they exist, and that their protagonists would probably annoy me, lol. Though one of the fun things about SVSSS is how Shen Qingqiu’s intervention completely changes certain aspects of Luo Binghe. Maybe I’m just rambling, but I’m having fun. 

I just finished episodes 27, 28, and 29 of Winter Begonia, and they were intense. I cried during all three, though for different reasons. I adore Charmaine Sheh, and I love that Fan Xiang’er is such a complex character. Sometimes she frustrates me, but I can’t help feeling some sympathy for her, especially since she’s not some helpless damsel. Cheng Fengtai also drives me crazy sometimes, but in these episodes, he got into trouble for helping others, and well… I can’t deny I enjoy seeing him in uncomfortable situations. I also loved seeing him emotionally wrecked… frustrated, heartbroken, miserable. What can I say? I have a weakness for watching pretty men suffer (in fiction). I absolutely adore Shang Xirui, he’s THE character, and I love him. But yeah, these episodes made me cry. Not that it’s news… I’m an easy crier, lol.

Yesterday, I caught up with The Ex-Morning and Boys in Love, and today I watched this week’s episodes of Boys in Love and My Stubborn.

My Stubborn is turning out to be so much fun, and in the seven weeks it’s been airing (wait, what? Almost two months already? When did that happen?), every single episode has had at least one NC scene. But that’s not even its main appeal, it’s just genuinely entertaining to watch Sorn hopelessly obsessed, in love, and head-over-heels for Jun (whose name I’ve seen spelled at least three different ways in the subtitles…) without being able to say it explicitly (well, using words… because otherwise it’s been pretty explicit… okay okay I’ll see myself out) and how their relationship evolves (even if it’s just a little bit at a time). They’re both stubborn in their own ways, lol. And Sorn is a walking red flag, but he’s got his own charm. I’m dying to see him beg and suffer for Jun, but we’ll see. Sorry, this man totally brings out my mean side.

Boys in Love is still so cute, and I really like how they handle certain themes, like Mon’s rebelliousness and his mother’s concern. Sometimes it’s frustrating, I’ll admit, but that’s exactly why I like it… it reflects how being a teenager is complicated, how parenting a teenager is complicated, and how navigating that relationship isn’t always easy. I also love Shane’s internal conflict, Kit’s expectations, and how they deal with the struggles of their new relationship. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get hooked on this teen-themed series because I usually prefer shows about adults dealing with adult problems (even in BL-land, which is maybe why I connect more with Japanese series in that sense), but I really like it. It’s a great Sunday watch. Plus, I love Papang, and even though Nut and Tan’s relationship is a subplot, I’m invested. In today’s episode, I couldn’t help but relate to Tan’s insecurities… I just wanted to hug him. I’d love it if they got their own spin-off series someday (though maybe that’s asking too much.)

Leap Day and Break Up Service are still really entertaining, though Leap Day gives me a bit of anxiety, lol. It’s stressful because so many bad things happen, and the main characters keep narrowly escaping death. But it’s made me appreciate Pond and Gun even more. I like seeing these guys in something different from BL, and I also wish they didn’t always have fixed pairings for BL shows. But hey, wishful thinking. I know that system sells, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t absolutely adore the mascots, for example. 

Finally, The Ex-Morning is really growing on me! I love that the couple starts off as exes with unresolved baggage (we don’t know why they broke up yet…), and it’s so obvious they’re both still hurting even though the love is clearly still there. Now they’re forced to work together on a TV show to salvage Padtaphi’s (Krist) reputation… and career. This series is my introduction to KristSingto, and I have to admit, I love watching actors in their 30s. Also, can we talk about Singto? So unfairly attractive. That black high-neck sweater in the first episode? Chef’s kiss.

I’m seriously considering waiting until The Bangkok Boy finishes so I can binge it, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m already way behind, and I haven’t had much time. Sometimes I feel like I’m juggling too many things, so every now and then, I have to let one drop :(

Anyway, that’s the weekly update!
alterkrmn: Nozue from the manga Old Fashion Cupcake. His expression shows confusion. (Default)

I didn’t write this post on Sunday because my brain was still a little fried after nearly suffering heatstroke on Saturday, and I didn’t write it yesterday either because I wrote two posts… two! Many words were written and I think I demanded too much from my brain. But I’m catching up today because last week I watched a lot of things and added even more to my list orz (just as I’d said: I never learn my lesson, though it was only one more show).

Anyway, here's the update.

Currently reading
  • The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System Vol. 1 (novel) - Chapter 4

Finished watching

  • Yuri on Ice (BL anime) - 12 episodes
  • Dakaichi: I'm Being Harassed By the Sexiest Man of the Year (BL anime) - 13 episodes
  • Dakaichi: I'm Being Harassed By the Sexiest Man of the Year (BL anime) - Movie

Currently watching

  • Winter Begonia (Chinese drama) - Weekly, weekends - 25/49 episodes
  • Top Form (Thai BL drama) - Thursdays - 9/11 episodes
  • Break Up Service (Thai drama) - Weekly, Mondays - 5/12 episodes
  • Leap Day (Thai drama) - Weekly, Tuesdays - 4/12 episodes
  • Boys in Love (Thai BL drama) - Weekly, Sundays - 3/12 episodes
  • My Stubborn (Thai BL drama) - Weekly, Sundays - 3/12 episodes
  • The Bangkok Boy (Thai BL drama) - Weekly, Saturdays - 2/12 episodes
  • Perfect 10 Liners (Thai BL drama) - No schedule - 4/24 episodes

On Hold

  • El Secreto del Río (Mexican drama) - No schedule - 4/8 episodes

Well, I have been reading this first volume of SVSSS pretty quickly, though I haven’t finished it yet, but I think there’s a good chance I’ll finish it this week. I still find it really entertaining. I don’t love the ghost spiders and other monsters that showed up, but thankfully they didn’t give me nightmares, hahaha. It’s funny how obvious it is that Luo Binghe is no longer interested in having a harem. His devotion to Shen Qingqiu is more than evident now, and I’m intrigued to see how else the plot of the "original" novel will be altered. I admit that reading transmigration novels has made me wonder what kind of novel I might end up in, and it’s kind of amusing to think about the possibilities. What are the rules? If I read a lot of danmei now, would that mean I’d land in one? Or would I end up in one of my favorite novels? I wouldn’t love ending up in Pedro Páramo, for example. Ghosts scare me. Or would I land in a novel I hated? The only thing that came to mind was something by Carlos Cuauhtémoc Sánchez, LOL. No, God… that would be boring, and I don’t even remember the plots of the only two novels I read by him (in middle school, as homework… ew). But getting back to SVSSS, it feels good to count a volume as a book, hahaha. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, though it also kind of messes with me because it’s not the whole story… if that makes sense.

I finished Yuri on Ice and loved it. I adored it so much that I started rewatching it right away. I made a separate post about it (which was originally part of this one, but it got too long, so I decided to do it that way... I think it works better).

I also finally finished Dakaichi because I reached a point in Top Form that made me want to compare how they handled things in the anime. And I can say I liked it… just liked. I wouldn’t call it a new favorite, especially since the animation didn’t strike me as exceptional. It’s a fun story (yes, including all the problematic elements I’ve mentioned in previous posts). I also watched the movie, and that was hilariously fun. Not so much because of the story itself, but because of the Spanish the characters spoke (the plot takes place in Spain since Takato and Junta are acting in Blood Wedding by García Lorca, and Takato decides to train there, learn more about the country, and especially, learn flamenco). I laughed a lot, but mostly because it was endearing. They made the effort and that deserves appreciation.

Speaking of Dakaichi… last Thursday, I watched up to episode 9 of Top Form… because I gave in to the temptation of Fast Track… but I had some credit to spare, so why not? I have to say, I like it, I really like it. I especially enjoyed one part, which I won’t specify because of spoilers, because without Fast Track, the episode won’t be out until this Thursday for VIP access and next week (if I’m not mistaken) for non-VIP users… I really like Smart and Boom as a pair. I can’t believe there are just episodes left. I wonder if they’ll also do Fast Track for the finale… I’ve never experienced watching a series like this before, hahaha. I’m such a newbie… sorry. I wonder what a Japanese live-action adaptation would be like… what they’d change, what would stay the same. Though I imagine (like with Cosmetic Playlover) they’d tone down or remove the dubcon parts with Junta… though with the Ayagi/Johnny scene, it’d be hard to cut without altering some parts of the plot...

I’ve caught up with the Winter Begonia watch party, partly because I ended up adding other things to my list, and I think that was a mistake, but sometimes FOMO gets the best of me, sorry, sorry. But we’re past the halfway point now. I have to watch episode 26 this week, but probably will end up watching one more. 

Since it’s Tuesday, I’ve already watched this week’s episode of Break Up Service. It’s just okay, but I still want to finish it. At least it’s entertaining, makes me laugh sometimes, and the breakups they handle have all been (somewhat) justified in one way or another. That said, yesterday’s episode was a bit hard to watch. I felt anxious about how they’d handle the OnlyFans topic, and the ending was pretty intense compared to the previous episodes. Again, I’ll avoid details because spoilers… I’m not sure if my aro (and definitely not straight) lens affects how much I enjoy this series. It’d be interesting to analyze once it’s over, when I can form a complete opinion.

Leap Day is also entertaining, though in a different way from Break Up Service. It tries to be more serious (and it is… there’s death, mystery, and some angst), but sometimes it makes me laugh. I really like the relationship between Ozone and Day. I don’t know, I have a soft spot for brotherly bonds in series… Is this something I should analyze about myself? Better not, hahaha. On the other hand, Dream is adorable, but her years of chasing Night while he ignores her make her seem a little… pathetic? (the word I have in mind is trending lately on the Spanish speaking side of the internet, but I’m not sure if there’s a term in English). I get Night’s motives for acting the way he does, but I’ve struggled to fully understand (or justify) Dream’s behavior. For now, I’ll blame it on the plot needing her persistence. We’ll see how it develops.

Boys in Love is adorable and simple enough. I like it. I guess it works well as my weekly dose of fluff. So far, I’ve adopted Kit. But I like Kim and Mon’s pairing a little more. And I really want to see how the teachers’ relationship evolves 👀

I’m still watching My Stubborn. It’s entertaining, and there have been NC scenes in every episode so far. Right now, I get the impression that the main characters are… not very smart. Sorry. Sorn is in complete denial or just doesn’t understand what "no feelings involved" means in a relationship he decided to label as "fuck buddies." I’ve read several times that the plot isn’t very clear, and every time I see that, I think "Plot? What Plot?" (not complaining, hahaha). We’ll see if it keeps my attention…

In a very bad decision on my part, I started another series because it caught my eye: The Bangkok Boy. Mafia, violence, revenge… It looks interesting.

I haven’t made any progress on Perfect 10 Liners… but I want to… I need to find a little time in my weekly schedule at some point.

And that’s it. I’ll try to restrain myself from adding anything else to my list... at least until Top Form ends. Instead, maybe I’ll try watching movies. I want to check out the ones on the JFF Theater site. I’ll set reminders and try to watch at least one every two weeks or once a month.

And… that’s the weekly update.


alterkrmn: Nozue from the manga Old Fashion Cupcake. His expression shows confusion. (Default)
This week, I decided to start watching some new things and catch up on others I’d already started watching... and now my list is ridiculously long again. Guess it’s a lesson I’ll never learn 🙃 But a lot of what I’m watching is weekly releases, so it’s fine, though I also didn’t make much progress on other stuff I'm already watchin… it’s just that sometimes I’m in the mood for different things 🫤

But here goes the update.

Currently reading
  • The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System Vol. 1 (novel) - Chapter 2
Finished watching
  • Conclave (movie)
Currently watching
  • Winter Begonia (Chinese drama) - Weekly, weekends - 25/49 episodes
  • Top Form (Thai BL drama) - Thursdays - 7/11 episodes
  • Dakaichi: I'm Being Harassed By the Sexiest Man of the Year (BL anime) - No schedule - 9/13 episodes
  • Yuri on Ice (BL anime) - No schedule - 3/12 episodes
  • Break Up Service (Thai drama) - Weekly, Mondays - 3/12 episodes
  • Leap Day (Thai drama) - Weekly, Tuesdays - 3/12 episodes
  • Boys in Love (Thai BL drama) - Weekly, Sundays - 2/12 episodes
  • Perfect 10 Liners (Thai BL drama) - No schedule - 4/24 episodes
On Hold
  • El Secreto del Río (Mexican drama) - No schedule - 4/8 episodes

I’m about 1/4 into the first volume of SVSSS and really enjoying it. Shen Qingqiu’s interactions with the system crack me up, plus his whole… dilemma of not being a total jerk to Luo Binghe while trying not to act OOC. I might finish it soon (hopefully) because when I read it, I don't even notice how fast I read (for my off-work standards, ok?). But it gives me a bit of existential dread knowing it’s only the first volume. Maybe I should alternate with other (non-danmei) books between volumes. Doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but I don’t know if I’ll actually do it... I usually prefer reading stories straight through when they're divided in volumes, that's why I'm so bad at reading ongoing serialized stuff.

Last night, I watched Conclave with a friend and had a blast. Not sure if that’s the movie’s intended effect, but I had fun. Maybe because I love intrigue-heavy plots… and because I have zero emotional connection to what it’s portraying (the process of electing a new pope after the current one dies). And the ending was kinda surprising. One of my old college professors would even say it's effectist, and I kinda agree, but again... maybe I'm not the intended audience in the first place.

I’m one episode ahead of the Winter Begonia watch party because I’ve reached the point where I just want to keep going and finish it (not because I want it to be done but because I want to know more of the story). But at the same time, I enjoy the weekly ritual and reading the reactions of the only two other people in the watch party. Every new episode just makes me love this series more, honestly. So far, none of [personal profile] geraineon's recommendations have missed the mark for me... they’ve all been spot-on. At some point, I also want to watch LoGH, but I’ll admit I’m only just reactivating my mental muscle for animation. But that’s a topic for another post (which I’ll probably never write… you know how it goes, lol).

One series that’s got me hooked is Top Form. Only four episodes left, but it really grabbed me after the fourth one. Not sure why... maybe it’s the main pairing (SmartBoom)? Kinda related, since both are adaptations of the same manga, I didn’t watch any Dakaichi this week… partly because I didn't have much time, partly because I wasn’t in the mood.

But I was in the mood to start Yuri on Ice XD, and I’m liking it so far. Yep, this is part of my mission to watch older stuff. I wish Crunchyroll had Japanese subtitles too, but oh well... maybe I’ll fix that later, someday, by sailing the seven seas… One thing I loved immediately was the opening: it’s so beautiful, I adore it, and I don't skip it because I genuinely enjoy it. The show itself is fun... it’s made me laugh a lot, though I’m not a fan of the constant mentions about Yuri Katsuki's weight. I admit I would’ve kept watching more episodes today, but I forced myself to stop and write this post instead :D

Yesterday, I caught up with this week’s Break Up Service episode and officially added it to my list. It’s been entertaining and fun enough to keep watching. Plus, it stars Off Jumpol, and I like seeing BL actors in non-BL roles.

On Friday, I started Leap Day and watched episodes 2 and 3 yesterday. With that, it’s officially on my list now. The premise intrigues me, and I want to know how  the main characters will deal with their "curse." I like supernatural-themed shows because I love seeing how they explain the weird happenings. Plus, Pond Naravit and Gun Atthaphan are in it.

Another new series I started yesterday is Boys in Love (I watched a lot of stuff yesterday). So far, the characters are cute, and even though it’s a school setting (not usually my thing), I liked the first two episodes. If it doesn’t keep me interested later, I can always drop it.

I took Pit Babe off my list for now, because the day I tried watching the second episode, I fell asleep within five minutes. I wanted to finish the first season before the second one airs, but that’s definitely not happening. Maybe it’s just not for me. I don't know. Pavel is hot, and I thought that’d be enough to keep me watching, but nope. And it’s not even that I’m bored by cars or anything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I didn’t watch any Perfect 10 Liners this week either, but I’m not too worried. I went into it expecting to take my time finishing it.

Haven’t watched episode 2 of My Stubborn yet, but it just came out today, so I might still get to it before next sunday. Though let’s be real... I’m not watching that one for the plot lol

And that’s it. Let’s see what the week brings :D

Every Sunday, I’m shocked by how long these posts get >.<
alterkrmn: Nozue from the manga Old Fashion Cupcake. His expression shows confusion. (Default)

This week (at least since Wednesday) was a holiday (thanks to the catholics), and though I intended to get some work done, the truth is I couldn’t… I watched some stuff, started reading, and tried to rest, but stressful things happened on Thursday (as usual, hahaha lolsob), and I really had to distract myself.

Currently reading

  • The Scum Villain’s Self Saving System Vol. 1 (novel) - Chapter 1


Dropped/On Hold

  • La transmigración de los cuerpos [The transmigration of bodies] (novel) - Chapter 1/5


Finished watching

  • Kieta Hatsukoi (Japanese BL drama) - 10 episodes
  • Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (Korean drama) - 20 episodes (or 40, according to MDL)


Currently watching

  • Winter Begonia (Chinese drama) - Weekly, weekends - 21/49 episodes
  • Dakaichi: I'm Being Harassed By the Sexiest Man of the Year (BL anime) - No schedule - 9/13 episodes
  • Top Form (Thai BL drama) - Thursdays - 6/11 episodes
  • Perfect 10 Liners (Thai BL drama) - No schedule - 4/24 episodes
  • El Secreto del Río (Mexican drama) - No schedule - 4/8 episodes


 

On Wednesday, I started reading SVSSS Vol. 1, and I think enough time has passed since I read MDZS and other danmei for me to feel brave enough to tackle this novel. So far, I’m finding it fun. At least now I have more context about systems and transmigrators. I’ve marked some passages that made me laugh out loud on the bus and outside my therapist’s office. We’ll see how funny I still find it as the plot progresses.i think I have some idea but I want to avoid as many spoilers as possible ( I’m good at that :D)


For now, I’m not sure if I’ll drop La Transmigración de los Cuerpos for good or if I’ll come back to it later… but I think one of the biggest issues was that I just couldn’t bring myself to care about the main character. Though I’ve already talked about other reasons why I couldn’t connect with the story, so I won’t go into detail here anymore. 

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this here or just thought about it, but I’m on a mission to watch BL series that are considered "must-watch," and this week I watched Kieta Hatsukoi (2021). I really enjoyed it. It was sweet, funny, and a little exasperating in the way only teen dramas can be. There were moments when I genuinely wanted to reach through the screen, grab Aoki or Ida by the shoulders, and shake them so they’d communicate better. But that’s kind of the point… part of being a teenager is feeling lost in many ways, especially if you’ve always thought you only liked girls, only to suddenly realize you have feelings for a boy. Or at least, that’s what I think, hahaha*. And yes, I’ll say it again: Japanese BLs are truly my favorites (I’ve been meaning to reflect more deeply on this, about my own temperament and my high levels of emotional repression, hahaha, but I don’t know, I always end up chickening out).

I also finished Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung. This week, I watched no fewer than eight hour-long episodes, but things kept happening, and as they say, the plot thickened. So I just couldn’t stop. I suffered, I laughed, but above all, I kept thinking about History as a narrative: about what we know of the past and why, and by whose decision. These aren’t new reflections for me, especially as someone who studied literature, but also as a person from a colonized country with a very complex history. But I’m getting off-topic. One thing I liked was that, yes, there’s romance, but the other events and secrets were what really held my attention. And not just that, but the different kinds of relationships between the characters: I’ve already mentioned the sibling dynamics (between Hae Ryung and Jae Kyung, as well as Yi Rim and Yi Jin), but also U Won’s relationship with his father, the friendship among the female historians, and the (reluctant) camaraderie that forms among all the historians (both female and male). In the end, the only thing that left me slightly unsatisfied was the time skip and how some things weren’t explained in detail… but if I had the mental energy, they’d be perfect opportunities to write fanfics. I was surprised to find only 51 fics on AO3… but oh well… In the end, I really, really loved this drama. I grew very attached to the characters and absolutely hated the Second State Councilor. Thanks to [personal profile] forestofglory  for the rec <3

Today, I wasn’t really planning to watch any episodes of Winter Begonia because I’m still thinking a lot about Rookie Historian, but in the end, I couldn’t resist and had to check in on my adoptive son Shang Xirui (and he didn’t disappoint, omg). I can’t believe it’s the first time I’ve seen the opening and ending credits (because earlier this week, I opened iQIYI in my browser and discovered there’s an option to disable them… and apparently, I’ve always had them turned off). I like the ending song, and the animation too.

I only watched one episode of Dakaichi, but it’s fine. Maybe I’ll finish it next weekend.

I watched this week’s episode of Top Form, and even though I’d seen this part in the anime and knew what was coming, it was just as stressful as before. And I kept thinking about how I wanted to watch the next episode… because in the anime, things get resolved, but in this case, I have to wait until Friday (or Thursday night, if work leaves me with enough energy… I hate when my job gets between me and my gay shows…).

At some point, I also watched an episode of Perfect 10 Liners because… well, don’t ask me why, hahaha (it is because I want to see JuniorMark as FaifaWine, that’s why).

Finally, I also watched the first episode of Pit Babe to see if this time it would really grab me or spark enough curiosity to keep watching until the end. And out of curiosity, I checked out the first episode of My Stubborn, just testing the waters… I won’t officially add them to my list until I’ve watched at least the second episode…

And that’s all.

 


*It’s not that I’ve forgotten what being a teen was like... it’s just that I’ve always been attracted to both men and women for as long as I can remember… so I didn't have that kind of confusion, but I can understand it.

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July 2025

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