![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rinjaonly a couple entries here but I had THOUGHTS;;; also might consider a 2025 wrap-up if i get around to it.
anime
(only two for now, funny though that both of these are by the two studios that are responsible for SxF)
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
studio: CloverWorks
romance, slice of life
I had seen trailers of this before it dropped and put it on two of my friends’ radars to watch, and they ended up WATCHING IT BEFORE I DID and wouldn’t shut up about it so they both totally forgot I told them about it first lmao. Absolutely precious, very sweet, and I binge watched it SO fast. Both of the main characters are so incredibly adorable and I would kill for both of them. Sometimes you just need a wholesome show to lift your spirits, and this fits the bill. Plus, it’s beautifully animated. Really looking forward to more seasons of this show, and may have to track down the manga in the meantime.
The Great Pretender
studio: Wit Studio
action, crime
I’m not quite done with this one yet, but it’s been an intriguing ride so far… and kind of spikes my anxiety haha. Japan’s self-proclaimed top scammer gets pulled into a giant heist against a powerful crime family in Hollywood. The storytelling is really fascinating so far, and the music is fantastic. But I’m so stressed out haha. I am glad I’m finally giving this one a watch though, it’s been on my list for a good long while and it is really good so far.
movies
… or just one.
Zootopia 2
director: Jared Bush & Byron Howard
animated, adventure, buddy cop comedy
Okay I didn’t wanna like this one. It’s a cash cow sequel from the House of Mouse and y’all… I hate that I enjoyed it as much as I did haha. I really loved the first one, but they had some fantastic one-liners in this one that had me crying laughing (plus the whole Succession parody KILLED me DEAD), and they did such a lovely job with the relationship development between Judy and Nick that it just made my little heart so happy. They expanded a little more on the universe too, which was an added plus for me. Surprisingly more heartfelt than I was expecting, especially since so many of the D sequels have really felt like money-grabbing slop. Ya got me on this one, Iger. Damn it.
tv shows
Drive to Survive
provider (US): Netflix
reality, sports
So. Uh. Without saying too much, I watched this because I needed a crash course (NO PUN INTENDED yikes me) on Formula One. For… like, legit work reasons. And Drive to Survive—while edited pretty heavily to promote wacky Netflix narratives in later seasons—did actually give me enough to work with. Enough that I can speak to the sport with some confidence now, ha. (I’ve been told I sound like a legit fan by a few of my coworkers and I’m like BRUH I JUST GOT HERE lol.) Really interesting series, gives you a little sense of some of the drama that goes on between teams in the F1 paddocks. I have in fact watched all 7 seasons and plan to watch the 8th when it drops, since it’ll likely cover some interesting spice from the 2025 season. F1 is a pretty big sport and fandom to get into, so if you’re looking into a more soft entry on the sport that gets you up to current speed (also no pun intended I’M ON A DAMN ROLL), this series isn’t a bad way to do it.
Heated Rivalry
provider (US): HBO Max (but we ALL know it’s really Crave behind this one)
drama, romance, lgbt+, “sports”
… my belovedddddd. The Hockey Yaoi Rabbit Hole. I fell straight in and am still falling haha. I can wholly blame the tumblr obsession with this show for getting me started, because I was like WHAT IS THIS?! THIS HAS TO BE HOCKEY RPF TURNED FICTION (yeah i do know now where it actually comes from lol and also very unsurprising that it was originally a hockey AU fanfic). I figured I’d have fun, at the very least. And then the All The Things She Said needle drop happened at the end of episode 4 and I knew I was in deep trouble here. (Episode 5 ended up being my fave, but ep6 is so sweet too.) Look, this show isn’t gonna be for everyone. It’s pretty raunchy, like 90% gays alternating between yearning and going at it and 1% “hockey” (some of the commentating has made me straight up LOL), but also extremely and surprisingly heartfelt. I love the romance in it. I really love the characters, and the direction Jacob Tierney is going with it. I picked up and started the books since I needed something to fill the void after the finale until season 2 (which is sounding like 2027), and this is gonna be a hyperfixation for a bit for me I’m afraid lol (sorry to any of my tumblr homies). Hockey Gays FTW, and I’m so glad this series took off like a damn rocket!!!
anime
(only two for now, funny though that both of these are by the two studios that are responsible for SxF)
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
studio: CloverWorks
romance, slice of life
I had seen trailers of this before it dropped and put it on two of my friends’ radars to watch, and they ended up WATCHING IT BEFORE I DID and wouldn’t shut up about it so they both totally forgot I told them about it first lmao. Absolutely precious, very sweet, and I binge watched it SO fast. Both of the main characters are so incredibly adorable and I would kill for both of them. Sometimes you just need a wholesome show to lift your spirits, and this fits the bill. Plus, it’s beautifully animated. Really looking forward to more seasons of this show, and may have to track down the manga in the meantime.
The Great Pretender
studio: Wit Studio
action, crime
I’m not quite done with this one yet, but it’s been an intriguing ride so far… and kind of spikes my anxiety haha. Japan’s self-proclaimed top scammer gets pulled into a giant heist against a powerful crime family in Hollywood. The storytelling is really fascinating so far, and the music is fantastic. But I’m so stressed out haha. I am glad I’m finally giving this one a watch though, it’s been on my list for a good long while and it is really good so far.
movies
… or just one.
Zootopia 2
director: Jared Bush & Byron Howard
animated, adventure, buddy cop comedy
Okay I didn’t wanna like this one. It’s a cash cow sequel from the House of Mouse and y’all… I hate that I enjoyed it as much as I did haha. I really loved the first one, but they had some fantastic one-liners in this one that had me crying laughing (plus the whole Succession parody KILLED me DEAD), and they did such a lovely job with the relationship development between Judy and Nick that it just made my little heart so happy. They expanded a little more on the universe too, which was an added plus for me. Surprisingly more heartfelt than I was expecting, especially since so many of the D sequels have really felt like money-grabbing slop. Ya got me on this one, Iger. Damn it.
tv shows
Drive to Survive
provider (US): Netflix
reality, sports
So. Uh. Without saying too much, I watched this because I needed a crash course (NO PUN INTENDED yikes me) on Formula One. For… like, legit work reasons. And Drive to Survive—while edited pretty heavily to promote wacky Netflix narratives in later seasons—did actually give me enough to work with. Enough that I can speak to the sport with some confidence now, ha. (I’ve been told I sound like a legit fan by a few of my coworkers and I’m like BRUH I JUST GOT HERE lol.) Really interesting series, gives you a little sense of some of the drama that goes on between teams in the F1 paddocks. I have in fact watched all 7 seasons and plan to watch the 8th when it drops, since it’ll likely cover some interesting spice from the 2025 season. F1 is a pretty big sport and fandom to get into, so if you’re looking into a more soft entry on the sport that gets you up to current speed (also no pun intended I’M ON A DAMN ROLL), this series isn’t a bad way to do it.
Heated Rivalry
provider (US): HBO Max (but we ALL know it’s really Crave behind this one)
drama, romance, lgbt+, “sports”
… my belovedddddd. The Hockey Yaoi Rabbit Hole. I fell straight in and am still falling haha. I can wholly blame the tumblr obsession with this show for getting me started, because I was like WHAT IS THIS?! THIS HAS TO BE HOCKEY RPF TURNED FICTION (yeah i do know now where it actually comes from lol and also very unsurprising that it was originally a hockey AU fanfic). I figured I’d have fun, at the very least. And then the All The Things She Said needle drop happened at the end of episode 4 and I knew I was in deep trouble here. (Episode 5 ended up being my fave, but ep6 is so sweet too.) Look, this show isn’t gonna be for everyone. It’s pretty raunchy, like 90% gays alternating between yearning and going at it and 1% “hockey” (some of the commentating has made me straight up LOL), but also extremely and surprisingly heartfelt. I love the romance in it. I really love the characters, and the direction Jacob Tierney is going with it. I picked up and started the books since I needed something to fill the void after the finale until season 2 (which is sounding like 2027), and this is gonna be a hyperfixation for a bit for me I’m afraid lol (sorry to any of my tumblr homies). Hockey Gays FTW, and I’m so glad this series took off like a damn rocket!!!
