Daiya no Ace Part II...Oh Boy...

Happy thoughts, Kaoru, happy thoughts. 

I really hesitate to put on Daiya no Ace as the opening pic or video. I can do better than Yuji Terajima (I refuse to call him sensei now because his horrid writing nowadays just want to make me drop it but because Sawamura is the only reason why, flawed and sweet Sawamura, to not drop the series no matter how bad the downward spiral is).

To be sure, even mediocrity is even better than what DnA devolved to. I would love to think Part II would be even better or to be at least decent or even mediocre/average but it's not. It's bad to see how Sawamura is treated, even by a character who is known to be kind and soft-spoken and one of the few characters who treated our main protagonist with the kindness that others didn't reward him for all his hard work. We are told of Furuya's power-ups but we were never shown anything worthy to note. These characters are from a powerhouse school and they should know better that Furuya's official stats and ERA is terrible alongside with his poor openings and sportsmanship; Furuya's a second year and he had not improved. It's bad to see how much Haruichi to suddenly lose his skill on BATTING when that's his strong point established in Part I; if you want to show a somewhat bad skill improved into a good one, you could do the fielding since you focused a lot on the batting on the first part. Just what in the name of Godoka and Man and Woman of the Beginning are you doing?! What Miyuki putting down Sawamura? Miyuki is a kuudere and has a hidden soft spot for Sawamura, the only other person beside Chris he can allow to be himself. Miyuki, the one person who found Sawamura to be interesting, is putting down his favorite pitcher in favor for the Creator's Pet. All of the OOC and insane troll logic application make me want to yell at the poor community dogs around my neighborhood and I love those dogs. And throwing street signs and public property into the air, accumulating debt but whatever.

Help me, Russia!

I would point out that DnA in Japan is losing popularity to Sports' Anime/Manga newcomers in Haikyuu. DnA has the advantage being a long-runner for nine years and the most popular sport in Japan but seeing from the Japanese and Chinese sites, there are more dislike and even hate towards Terajima lately. From the comments I can translate on my own, they fear there would dead balls and repetition with Furuya's pitching and it's less Sawamura's rise to ace status and more Furuya no Ace.

Just like I wouldn't put too much money on Bleach and Naruto's arcs, I wouldn't put much money on any consistency that real baseball fans who can take their suspension of disbelief for since the series is realistic to a degree. A nation who loves baseball would point out what's wrong when official stats are there for all to see and what the series have shown to be really bad.

Look, diehard DnA fans, you can like whatever you like or see a character in a different light but when the construct of the story is falling apart in its new logic especially once you took in official records and what is happening in said games particularly with Furuya and Miyuki and everyone in Seidou but Sawamura, you should know better. The story is heading toward a disappointment that the series is devolving into.

You know at some point I was thinking of doing a fusion of Kamen Rider with Daiya no Ace. I was actually thinking of actively killing off Sawamura so that when all the characters realize just how much he had done for them, Rider or not. I was actively thinking of making Sawamura leave in some way either as a space god or just plain dead to get my point across to these unappreciative Seidou team AKA Terajima but Terajima does seem to hate his own MC even though the MC is the reason why many chose to go along with his laughable insane logic story. Furuya is comparable to Micchy except Micchy realized his wrongs and atone for them, being the lone Armored Rider of Earth. If it's that bad that I think putting together a show that's known to be dark and serious to the point of tragedy with a work that's about sports in a realistic setting but nonetheless have no tragic setting on par of Gaim or Ryuki or Black to the point I was willing to kill off a character who is my baby of the series. I even wanted to send out a letter to the mangaka to kill off Sawamura at this point because of his horrendous treatment of him that even those who bashed the characters would feel the harshness. You know what, even those who bashed characters, that these people show less creativity than you Terajima, love wherever their fic came from. Yeah, I pulled Insults to Rocks trope and would that show how much I despair of the sports manga/anime lately. Hell, if I wanted to kill off Sawamura, I would let him get his revenge a la Sound Horizon's Marchen even if it's OOC and it's basically bashing characters but what I wanted to do is call them out for their inappropriate behavior towards their Ace. I want them to be regretful towards their Ace all along that their insults towards his character, a character who improved in taking loss and behavior. He may be stupid but he's not brain-dead that Terajima tried to push. By god, Sawamura is serious on the field and he would do anything to win a game for his team and played with his team. Remember the first game we saw Sawamura played in the first chapter/episode of the dang series, he was completely serious even if his team on the losing end, make that losing streak. I just wanted to cry when this serious boy slipped, fucking slipped!

Sawamura is not perfect. He's loud and annoying. His personality traits are blatantly there and emphasized excessively by the characters AKA Terajima. Yet he works hard and gets results. You cannot turn a blind eye to progress. If there are athletic teachers who do this and put down their students for their personality rather than for progress, then that teacher's horrible. You cannot turn a blind eye to hard work that ended up not getting rewarded. If I was actively thinking to kill off Sawamura so that these characters would be back to their original characterization, then you know it's bad that I am thinking of killing off my baby of the series. I didn't even think to kill off my babies in other fandoms.

You too, Shizuo. You help me get my point across!

I don't want to hate the series. I really don't even want to dislike it when I love the arcs of the Third Years with Second and the First Years before the third-years left. I love the development and the story presented. It's just for a sports anime/manga I like, it's discouraging to see characters warped when the mangaka feels like it. Wait, that's the series: not Daiya no Ace, the new title is When Terajima Feels Like It, The Baseball Edition. This is why I love Hiromu Arakawa, people; she knows how to tell a story and keep consistency with her characters and plot without driving them OOC.

Even though the road I am heading on the DnA manga route is leading to disappointment, at least I got loads of other series that no matter how mediocre/average/decent/good/great they are those works got better writing than what DnA is right now. I just want to cry in despair and rage whenever I read the new chapters, yelling at the poor logic and development when the first part at least established logic that's realistic enough to understand and development are decent, throwing street signs and vending machines like Shizuo Heiwajima. The original second Yugioh series has much better writing than DnA even though the whole franchise is full of absurdities. They're both game anime but if I were to choose, I would prefer YGO rather than DnA nowadays. Seriously, YGO has better logic and development in later arcs than Part II in the whole. DnA would have been my choice if there had been better writing but the insane logic, especially for a realistic setting, is so frustrating. At least YGO has the excuse of being over-the-top even though later installments deconstruct the foundation in spite of sloppy writing. Arc-V is the closest I have seen for a very brutal deconstruction on par of Gen Urobuchi of YGO yet. Even from the many episodes of the original YGO, it was absurd although Narm Charm kicks in and maybe that's what attracts me to it. I didn't say I dislike the original; it's after all that got me watching YGO after all. It's just some subplots go nowhere, characterization goes nowhere and didn't exactly live up to its potential...well to a degree but in comparison to later installments, those took it to a whole new level and have better writing. YGO the original anime series, the second one, is average in my opinion.

By the way, I don't drop works no matter how bad they're getting. I usually put them on hold and until I'm interested in that again, I would finish where I had left off. I have a love-hate relationship with Disney and Pixar nowadays and I still watch them while avoiding praise/criticism to teasers and misc. Frozen is definitely not my favorite but again if I were to choose between Frozen or DnA, then DnA because at least there's effort...on the wrong details sure but at least there are things to like, however small. Same could be said about Frozen but it's too small and I just wished more effort and coherence could be made in an otherwise flawed but enjoyable film. My cousin hates the movie and she and I love to rant about it while still respecting those who like it. Again, I don't hate Frozen and the virtues drilled into my head in school like respect and kindness overcome any kind of negativity in me. I'm the Switzerland of my family, taking a neutral stance. Hell, even in high school when there's a debate in my Government class, I took the middle of the room and the only one besides another person that stands for agreeing and disagreeing with both sides. Though I am not gun-happy as Hetalia Switzerland/Vash.

Daiya no Ace used to be good with development for loads of teams, individually and together. Now the series devolved into the mangaka's favorites, warping characters to OOC, ignoring logic and canon that he previously written to fit whenever he feels like it. I am not saying that he has no right to his story but when his manga is losing popularity despite its many advantages, he really should have known better.

Please, Godoka, get rid of my despair!

The only two reasons I am even staying with DnA is because of Sawamura and the Misawa battery. I cling to see the Misawa battery (and to still see it in Part II makes me cry tears of relief) so much because I don't want to have a dethroning moment with any type of media. Eijun has such great development and to see it backtrack from his performance from the autumn tournament makes my teeth grit.

Fanfic Rec - Rumours and Diamonds

Yes, Arthur hugged him willingly. Too bad Merlin was enchanted to kill him. That and Arthur seemed to ignore how on earth Merlin got out of the situation of bogs and burglars at all. Arthur just seemed too happy.

I know I have been giving fanfic recs for a while now but I don't feel like I want to give a review (mini or final). Not in a mood but giving those who want to read some good literature. Fanfiction is still literature. Yes, it may not be the best thing with all the smuts and slash all over the place but there are well-written pieces that must be shared that can be even better than the source material at times.

I really need to hold in my rants. I don't want to go into a huge rant like I did with my long complaints about Glee in my Dalton and SPAH recommendation post. I would just try to do this in concise words so you get the picture. Glee just agitates me with its potential and the writers' terrible writing.

Okay, Merlin isn't the greatest show ever lived. It does have its issues (issues you cannot deny although the chemistry of Brolin and great acting tends to shoot the plot holes. Remember that I will look at writing perspective first than other perspectives like feminism and cultural but I have to make sure of research first just to be clear. I honestly do not want to get cultural context wrong when reviewing something. For one, I personally dislike how they handled the Lancelot issue, with him dying when he could have lived and provide a better resolution to the love triangle. How I wanted to strangle the writers for that despicable episode in S4 although Arthur's wrath is IC even though the Arwen romance left much to be desired and it supposed to be the truest love ever when no it's Arthur and Merlin from the start. Hell, the two wouldn't even be interested in each other (I don't think that's right. It would be correctly be called teenage infatuation.) if it hadn't been for Merlin in this verse when we know that in the original legends the two of them were in an arranged marriage. Time after time again, we can see that Merlin is number one in Arthur's heart, not Gwen and if S4x07 have shown anything, it's that Merlin has the power to break Arthur's heart, not Gwen. Whether you see it as romance or bromance, you cannot deny that this is love, the truest form of love that the writers tried to do for Arwen. Merlin and Arthur is the heart and soul of the show and those who don't ship admits it so. Yes, I understand the schedules but even I know what to do with an actor's conflicted schedules (make Lancelot going on quests or missions, not kill him off. Just do something that do not remove agency of characters. This time, Lancelot can come back and show more interactions with Gwen who loves him not Arthur. We know how the legend goes. Are you telling me that one incident persists when we were supposed to believe that Gwen and Arthur has the happy marriage ever and the latter should be the one everyone would know not the former. How did Lancelot and Gwen become one of the enduring romances and not Gwen and Arthur in this verse? Tell me. God, you must make sense and even if this is a fairy tale or a pre-Saxon England, you must have logic why the original legends we know are more recognizable than say a Golden Era under Queen Guinevere. It's like saying that Princess Nunnally's reign of Area 11 and thus Britannia never happened. Legend hundreds of years later will only lower her to a Ophelia-like character while Schneizel would be fully recognized as the one who brought in the Golden Age instead of his young sister. I would be agitated too if something as welcome such as the Golden Era isn't jot down by the right person. Writers you kept using the 'family show' excuse. Really? When your show have murder, betrayal, and loss constantly in every episode, infidelity is the the type you want to drive away from even if it means disrespecting the legends, actors, and the viewers. Kids are more perceptive and understanding than the Disney show you trying to prove the Arthurian legends to be. Speaking of murder, why haven't we seen anybody mourn for anyone? Merlin, with the horrendous kill count out of everyone, is still the sweet and naive boy who would mourn anyone he would have to kill. He is the type of mourn anyone. Just because in the Dark Ages it's okay to kill in self-defense make it feel awful for the character who is too caring but have to go to desperate measures just to achieve goals such as poisoning a friend when he doesn't want to.). How the show handled the famous love triangle was not the greatest (in fact I wanted to be Shizuo Heiwajima and throw a person into the air with a street sign and won't kill them too) yet it does have a lot of potential seeing that all the people involved in the love triangle do love each other immensely and doesn't want to hurt each other and the best execution of the love triangle I ever seen is T.H White's The Once and Future King book series in which this fic I recc'd right now takes a lot of inspiration from). For one, watching the show make me cringe because I read Arthurian legends (from which I can get my hands on) and knowing what's going to happen from Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot love triangle to Mordred is just despairing especially for one who would love everyone get some good. Definitely the show's differences make it what it is such as the deaths of the many characters to Merlin being the same age as Arthur. The homoerotic subtext oh goodness... So much chemistry and potential... I know that you're adapting the Arthurian legends and making it your own identity much like how T.H. White's books did but you could have actually gone for the romance between our two male leads. Two straight males does not have eyesex constantly, eyeing each other intensely and looking at each other like you're the goddamn world. You only look at the one you pursue a relationship with. Even I know that and I'm not even dating anyone, too focused in getting my English degree. My brothers have his friends come over and they do not look at each other like that. I'm pretty sure I don't stare at my best friends that way and I'm bi. I don't know about my friends' sexuality since most of them never pursued relationships focusing on their careers. Everyone saw it - you the writers, BBC, the actors and actresses involved, you all saw it. Seriously, the subtext became text and everyone saw it and there was so much potential. Not to mention, it's fictional. If fans can write Merthur without fear, why not you, writers and BBC? You do know that you would just add to the legends, don't you? In the legends, Merlin and Arthur already love each other so depicting a romantic relationship between them would not only do well for your show but also for the LGBT community. Sure there will be detractors but you do know that Arthur needs love, right? In the original legends, he was one big f***-up and in many versions committed sins on par with what the show depicted, sometimes even worse than that. Why not just give this guy who may have been a Good King but clearly a flawed human being love especially from a character you deaged to match the same age as Arthur? And already destroyed the UST meter? I can feel their UST from gifs alone. I don't mind open-ended-ness but the 180 is just off-putting for you writers and BBC. I don't mind actors though since you're not the one in charge of the writing. Look at Tiger and Bunny where the title duo, according to the producers, was planned from the start to be either interpreted to be a romance or a bromance and are both correct. Why don't you try something like the crew in charge of T&B? Yes, you guys are queerbaiting (those who are concerned, do not attack ships. Do not hurt the people who just want to have fun and their interpretations. Go to those who are responsible. Let's see; There were literally no homosexuality implied in the Frozen sauna sequence and treated as more of a joke and that character seems more like the type to work his family in the cold and that family could have been some tourists. Fans put in homosexuality even though there isn't anything implication unlike any other show I seen and it's hard to interpret the romantic tension between Merthur or Suzalulu and those are my interpretations. This is fans' queerbaiting not the writers' queerbaiting which can be unfortunately be there in Merthur or any queer Merlin ships but other than that, slash is in every fandom so I really won't attack those who ship it especially for shipping reasons. I'm pretty sure Disney won't come right out and say that guy is gay. Anti-Freeze pointed out to the fans rather the writers and that's what make the difference. Don't you see that I hate ship wars with a passion with those who hate and those who love? With all those unnecessary ship hate when the point of shipping is supposed to be fun? I'm trying to be objective of shipping but it's hard when toxicity of ship hate and all the bashing of characters just for shipping reasons make me sick just like the feeling of hate I feel) but you sure as hell didn't expect the chemistry that pulled off between your leads that leads to the UST (those long poignant looks, oh god. I'm sure those weren't scripted and it's just the actors' chemistry coming full force just like Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch's and seeing the looks Bradley James and Colin Morgan is totally not scripted. Any other actor would not have the same level of chemistry as scorching one between the two latter and it would be a pretty different sort of chemistry between different from the latter two.).

Speaking of Arthurian legends, I would mostly refer to the familiar versions we hear from Le Morte d'Arthur and other versions that came out around that time and a little after. King Arthur didn't exactly exist even though likely he's a 5-6th century chieftain or general who had been given a historical hero upgrade. Wow to that war hero, good job being remembered even if it's basically fanfiction of your life. And then fanfiction of that fanfiction. Look, I don't mind changes as long as they kept major events such as Arthur's Excalibur, The Round Table, Merlin's advisory, somewhat implied incestuous feelings at most between Arthur and Morgana (you could have them having sex too and producing Mordred even but seeing how society looks upon incest and since the Arthurian legend was meant to be Christian-based, yep, much like a PSA), and the famous Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot love triangle. The Little Mermaid kept major events enough to be recognizable but Frozen has nothing of their supposed inspired Snow Queen bit except really queen with ice powers. No matter what version even before Lancelot was even created, Guinevere did and always will cheat whether it was with Mordred or Bedivere. You cannot change Guinevere's infidelity, ever. It's there, even in the medieval legends and just because the show is like every other revival/reboots of Arthurian legends, fanfiction...publicized and approved fanfiction since the Arthurian legends are public domain. Just because one creator have the rights to create a show based on the legends does not make fanfiction of Arthurian myths written in the internet any less approved. The show doesn't even want to tackle the love triangle maturely but rather neutralize it so it won't get in the way of Arwen TRULUV4EVA in a single episode rather than an overarching storyline like Merlin X Arthur's relationship. I honestly want to like Arwen, I really do (I try to avoid shipping and try to objectively see if they're plausible or not based on chemistry and circumstances and since I am very kind and respectful due to my upbringing and school that knocked these virtues into me, I am open-minded enough to listen to shippers' reasons why they ship this couple and those I seen are sensible unlike the rabid fans of both het and slash. Het fans do seem to have a sense of entitlement to them and just because people ship slash does not negate their opinion, don't be a child, rabid het fans. I seen Arwen fans trying to negate Merthur even though shipping as a whole supposed to be fun and that's from one fandom. Hell, in the Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan's fandom I avoided shipping anyone...to a degree since I do love Eren X Levi, Jean X Marco, Armin X Annie and I didn't ship Furuya with anyone in Daiya no Ace's fandom since I'm waiting for Furuya to grow up first before I would think of coupling him with anyone. Even in How I Met Your Mother, I have a distaste for Robin X Ted ship due to expectations and inability to be oneself and pure unhealthiness while I like Barney X Robin because whether or not you like Barney, you know that Barney according to the overarching narrative changed and he changed for Robin just as Arthur changed for Merlin) but when the show is forcing it down my throat and suffocate me with forced awkwardly written romance that makes no sense with equally nonexistent chemistry with constant telling of their supposed true love coupled with the actors' best efforts to make the most of the script, I really wanted to throw something at the writers, yelling at the top of my lungs to make it more believable that other characters and their relationships (even Arthur and Gwen are warped so much. Is it bad that in other shows and works that the characters aren't warped to make them into a relationship like even Ted and Robin doesn't have warped personalities...unless you consider the finale that is. I want the characters I recognize and love, not the characters who needed to tell the audience that they're willing to do everything for each other. Why do we need to be told that Arthur would be saving Gwen? Look at how Merlin and Gaius' relationship was depicted. We're shown a lot especially the season 1 finale. It's bad writing that we needed to be told this because anyone watching an episode where both Gwen and Merlin are both in distress would see that Arthur is doing something for Merlin, saving him not Gwen because we were shown constantly that no matter how much belligerent the relationship Arthur loves Merlin so much he does not want him to die on his account, saving him in a few weeks after his appointment as his personal manservant. Why do we need to be told that? Bad writing, so bad writing. How about Gwen's supposed destiny? When did Merlin and the Great Dragon talked about that? There is no way since The Great Dragon is all about Arthur and Merlin's destiny, coin metaphors and all whole nines. I seen nothing about Gwen's destiny to note as so did many others when I was reading canon fics I noted that there is literal no mention of Gwen's destiny at all, even in stories that dealt with Camelot as a whole there is literally nothing. If many people can see that Gwen's destiny is in no way intersected with the main duo you know this is bad. Bad writing to force two people together when everyone knows Gwen would choose Lancelot. Don't give me the crap that Lancelot was an infatuation and he's no longer in her heart. If you do, you would face my wrath because the love triangle was an incredible part of the Arthurian lore, a tale of human courage and piety as much as it's about human fragility. When you do a vanity search of Guinevere and..., what name popped out instead of Arthur? Lancelot. That part was relegated for the Merthur but not the TRULUV4EVA Arwen. When the show neutralized the love triangle, the love triangle that everyone was waiting for to tackled with maturity, we got childish cowardice instead. The potential you got from your own bad writing was mountainous and would help you but instead you got us angry. This is the development editor in me screaming. I may love Merthur and try my hardest to like Arwen but I am ultimately kind and just want to tackle the legends maturely. You may be loose such as de-aging Merlin and Uther being alive till Arthur's adulthood and the main knights you pick to be common-born but there is things you want me to scream while throwing mailboxes and street signs into the air. Arwen is nothing more than Shine's invention and in no way showing how powerful the Arthurian lore still is today.) greatly suffered in the cause for Arwen even though everyone know that the relationship of the show is Merlin and Arthur.

The timeline in Merlin is very vague and I'm unsure what are their ages at the beginning (hell there was a fanfic series on AO3, setting during S2, and the boys are described as teenagers, making Arthur 19 and Merlin is younger so it's really vague). Conflicting canonical details and from what fans said like one fan said he died in his twenties and another in his thirties. First season said 20 years since the magic ban and then how Camelot came to be so I'm going off on a whim here and have Merlin come to Camelot when he's eighteen, shy younger than Arthur whose eighteen or nineteen, which is still close enough for the two-decade marker the series set up. In Rumors-verse, the pair finally got together after 5 years of obliviousness and really unconscious intense stares that best friends do not exchange on a daily basis (unless you know they're in love with each other) so they would be nearing their mid-twenties or a little close to the early twenties but a little later than that if you take my thoughts on the ages based on what the first episode set up. This is all opinion though so you can make them get together in their late twenties and married six years later. Regardless, Merthur in this fic would get together in five years since the first episode and married six years later and if Arthur's prophetic dreams aren't indicating something, they have been together for decades.

I ended up not keeping the promise anyway. *Sighs* Well, expect wall of text AKA rants in anything I would likely post.

For this fanfiction series Rumors, I would mostly focus on the second installment since the later installments, while pushing some relationships forward and some development, isn't as in-depth. You could find it in the author's compiled list on her FFN profile or in the collection on AO3.

All The King's Horses And All The King's Men/Truths and Rumors - King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are loved by the people, The Knights of The Round Table are becoming legends, and the king's manservant is stumbling his way through Camelot as always. The King is on his throne and all is well. Until the rumors start ... (A/M)

Red means romantic. Yellow means platonic. Pink means either unconditional or obliviousness depending on the person.

Really, slow build. I don't mind it since it's the execution that matters not the exact concept. And it's executed well like the love square (ahem, Arthur and Gwen do love each other but they're also in love with other people. Arthur fell in love with Merlin in the course of the series, loving far more than his wife. His wife loves Lancelot perhaps more than she loves him. Lancelot do love Gwen far more than his code of honor he upheld. Merlin is in a state of confusion and denial of his own feelings for Arthur who believes his love is unrequited but clearly want more despite his efforts in maintaining a friendship. Yet nobody is depicted as the bad guy, just events spiraling out of their control. All the people involved in the love square do care and love each other dearly. Despite knowing how everything would end up horribly if they keep going like this, they tried to do so.) The end of Arthur and Gwen's marriage is inevitable since the story takes a lot from Arthurian legend. Arthur, dear, he didn't exactly reject you. Merlin is just too much into fulfilling your destiny (and his utter devotion and worship for you) and thus doesn't consider much of romance with anyone including you. Freya may be an exception to the rule but he was young and immature. As we can see, Merlin doesn't have as much wisdom in that particular field. Just let him sort out his feelings after you confess your undying love for him. With your desire to hold onto Merlin, lover or not no matter how much you long to be more, you allow him a lot of time in his hands to consider a relationship with you. Also the marriage of Gwen and Arthur would more or less end in this universe regardless of Morgause's interference because the actions of everyone in the love square. The rumors may sped up the process but it's still going to happen. Meaning that if the marriage is still instated, then likely Merlin would never knew his own feelings and Arthur's feelings for him, but obliviously continue on saving Arthur's life whereas Arthur would pine for him, knowing that his feelings would never be returned because Merlin sees him nothing more than a friend instead of a lover which he really wants. Even if Merlin did realize, Merlin won't act on it. Arthur, no matter how much he loves Merlin, is like the other people involved in the love square, too noble to commit adultery. Gwen would continue pining for Lancelot and perhaps some part of her would scream for her to cheat but Gwen is not a cheater nor is Lancelot, the one person who upholds the code of honor, the one to commit adultery. In a couple years time, maybe the two would divorced. While the events presented in the fanfic is bitter, what we see is just years taken off of a long-suffering pain for all involved. It's still going to be pain and bitterness and the whole lot of negative emotions but better late than never.

Characters are very spot-on. As depicted in the show, Gwen and Lancelot are not the type for infidelity unlike their Arthurian legends versions (although if King Arthur was real and is real in Merlin universe, we can see how these events shaped the familiar stories we heard about King Arthur today...in Rumors-verse. Since scribes aren't close to those involved, it makes sense they would make use of gossip and rumors circulating to form the stories. If they don't know, why not use the sources, no matter how awful the sources are? Certainly there are some truth). Only outside forces would finally give the couple what they want: each other despite the horrible events that led up to their get-together. I do believe that Gwen and Arthur do love each other, not once upon a time, but I don't think that a lasting relationship would do either of them well that no matter how much they do love each other, they're in love perhaps more than they ever have with another. Merlin, being oblivious to Arthur's growing feelings for him, is totally him. Merlin's too focused on the Destiny bit for any kind of romance to come into mind. If his own feelings grow for a particular someone, he wouldn't likely to notice until someone points it out, specifically Gwaine who is still observant in spite of appearances. Arthur is just like the one in the show. Also Arthur did changed from Merlin's influence and he did not change for Morgana or even for Gwen who did brought out something good in him but in comparison from what she did to what Merlin did...yeah, admittedly there are so many intimate moments between Merlin and Arthur that the Arwen moments paled in comparison. The only person he would change for is for Merlin and in this universe, it is indeed Merlin he changed for, the person he's in love with more than Gwen, his feelings he desperately tried to ignore. I'm sure Gwen know, not about Arthur's love for Merlin, but about the attraction that she knows that she could lose Arthur to Merlin any time, knowing just how deep the relationship and how it's very unusual very much like her relationship with Lancelot; Likewise with Arthur, who always knew that Gwen loves Lancelot. I couldn't help but see that our royal couple had taken the safer route. Arthur would either take the Gwen route or the Merlin route while Gwen herself has the Lancelot route or the Arthur route. Even though Arthur and Gwen knows that they love the far more dangerous route endgame more than they love each other and they do love each other. Lancelot stirred passion in Gwen far more than I saw with Arthur, again I don't doubt she loves him as well. That's how I always see Gwen and Lancelot; there's a passion and love stronger than I had seen in canonical Arwen, which while it has sweet moments compared in stark contrast with Merthur and Lancwen paled in comparison with the latter two's intimacy.

Also spoilers in the aftermath of the story's magic reveal: I do believe that Arthur is both justified and unjustified on the mercy/punishment for Merlin's sentence. He does love Merlin so very much and he's not willing to kill someone he love more than his wife. Also the magic outlawed is still a problem so Arthur can't let him go unpunished. Arthur not only have the kingdom and its people in mind but also what he know what he have to do even when he hates having to punish Merlin, the one person he loves most in the world. No-win for all involved. The story is very much on the gray area when there is no black/white in reality especially in the reality of Merlin's universe.

It's not only faithful to the show's adaptation of the legends but also the legends itself...well the versions we are mostly familiar with like Lanceverethur love triangle. I mean it's very unlikely we're going to see an Arthur/Merlin romance (you know the reason why) in any other work except Merlin. Morgana being good and all kinds of wonderful at the start was admittedly startlingly since I know about Morgana Le Fay and the show could have provide a chance of redemption. I do not honestly believe a woman who grew up with caring family, friends and staff and threw it all away because her half-sister is driven too much by hate. I already know what's going to happen but this is Merlin, a revisionist King Arthur.

Speaking of revisionist King Arthur (hey, I will see and read any version of King Arthur I can get my hands on and yes I know Code Geass is a huge allusion on King Arthur legends and again not even subtle. Come on, Suzaku pilots Lancelot. I will be in heaven if I ever went to a library that has every book ever written from poetry to nonfiction to legends/fables, etc...Yes, I am still crying about the Library of Alexandria.), the fic takes a lot from T. H. White's The Once and Future King series and the Disney adaptation. Remember what I said that the love square have people love and care for one another. I would have to give some spoilers. Please skip the slashed lines, please. The love square to writ that there are no bad guy and it's the actions building up to the end of the marriage. Arthur won't see Guinevere and Lancelot ever again as the latter two are very much into each other and he won't deny them that. Arthur sincerely cares so much about them and love them so much and Gwen and Lancelot also loved him dearly. Mim. Marvin.

As for the plot, again slow build with all the tension from the romance and politics, politics that make sense in-universe. It's not stifling but it's slow burn. I wonder how the royal household's reaction from the relationship taking a turn to the romance for Merthur. I mean rumors and gossip must be going around at some point of the really inappropriate relationship of Merlin and Arthur. It's understandable about Gwen and Arthur but in comparison to Merlin's relationship, it's sugar and sunshine.

Yeah, well, in this verse, you would be promoted from manservant to friend/adviser to lover to consort (hell after Gwen escaped with Lancelot, the chapter has The Consort, lyrics by Rufus Wainwright and in some ways Merlin already fulfilled some of the role of a consort even though he have yet to come to terms about the true extent of his feelings for Arthur) Although I'm not quite sure about the consort part since Arthur did propose to Merlin  (via handfasting) who did accept and did say what they're doing is kinda illegal and Arthur made a remark that he's the King and he can do what he wants. I'm not sure if Arthur did implement a law that allowed same-sex marriage in the Dark Ages or it's just something between the couple. We know Lancelot and Gwen married in a private ceremony at Elena's kingdom so it would make sense for the other Official Couple to marry privately. 

Still, read this fic. It's the fic I had been unconsciously look for. Not it only kept true to the adaptation Merlin but also the Arthurian legends and their characterization, it featured a believable romance between Merlin and Arthur presented in-canon. I personally don't think Merlin would know about his growing feelings for Arthur since he's, I repeat, too focused on Arthur's Destiny and Destiny in general which is why I don't think he's asexual to be honest. He may not be thinking of romantic attachments but he is clearly in love with Arthur whether he realizes it or not. Again, this is my own interpretation but I honestly don't think he's asexual based on what I seen even without the Merthur sexual tension, just too focused on Arthur and his lifestyle protecting Arthur doesn't seem to leave much room for romance and his character is oblivious to any romantic attachments; Just because his character made the deliberate choice to be celibate does not mean he's asexual. If there was someone he was interested in romantically, I would say Arthur or Gwaine but more on Arthur. One notable asexual I can recall is Light Yagami. While he has sex and romances, he is only using them for what the have, power/propaganda/connections. I also thought Dumbledore was asexual as well. Throughout the series, we see him not even thinking about romance except others' love stories. Even if he had begin realizing this revelation about his feelings, I doubt he would know immediately since he had expressed confusion on the matter of love, viewing it idealistically rather than the complicated business that it is. We can guess it's about Freya but the series is about the epic romance between Arthur and Merlin. Hell, while Gwen has a great send-off, the finale focused so much on Arthur and Merlin that I even screamed at the computer to kiss already. It's really that bad, coupled with the actors' performance and chemistry that already pushed the heavy-laden subtext. Anyways, the fic also presented Morgana's redemption which I really like to see in canon personally.

I don't mind canon divergence at all since I do love Canon AU (Dalton, SPAH, Walk on In, The Trajectory of Laughter to name a few) but again some fanfiction are just so great that it deserve to be literature.

Just read it, please. I haven't seen it recc'd enough so it deserve a spot on recommendations.

Also if you want to talk to me about seeing friendship instead of romance, that's fine. I have already seen people not shipping Kotetsu and Barnaby, Kurt and Blaine, Suzaku and Lelouch, etc. Shipping is subjective and supposed to be fun, not supposed to break friends apart, just don't make me yell at any of you. Do not take offense to something like shipping that is supposed to minuscule to something like trust. Love is love, regardless of friendship or romance, both of which are still love. You know they love each other still so interpretation of friendship or romance still counts. Believe me, I saw a comment that says that same-sex relationships aren't romantic when I was reading a review for an episode of Merlin. I was stifling screams at that post since I am bi and there are LGBT's out there, fighting for their rights, for their relationships. I don't have anyone to talk to about my sexuality and I couldn't join the gay alliance at my high school since I was hardly thinking of my sexuality at the time although its existence piqued the question of my attraction to both sexes, well that and that I was really insecure of myself like how would my friends think of me if I join it when I am questioning my sexuality or my family would ask questions about my school life due to their constant needling to know what's going on as long as I do well with school. Just because I join the Queer Alliance at my college does not mean I am ready to come out to the rest of the world meaning my world of friends and family. Just because you don't ship one pair does not mean you can offend an entire communities of gay, bi, queer, trans, lesbian, and more labels out there under the LGBT circle.

Yes, like what I did to my previous post, I will add on stories so that I don't have to make a needless single post dedicated to one fanfic from a fandom. I won't really add edit so if you know where the changes was, then there it is. It's a side-effect due to the essay-writing I do since high school. Anyways, moving on.

It's a good set of pics for one of the stories I'm recommending.

I usually don't focus on the writers as much I give credit for writing the damn fics they write everything they deserve. I much prefer CP Coulter or Tainted Ink and Paper or any writer who wrote my Favorited and Alerted Fics in FFN and AO3. I'm an avid reader and would love to be a editor for fiction one day. Get me any book and I will read it as it's the ambrosia of the Gods. Today, I'm going to review Footloose's fics, the acclaimed Loaded March and We Are All Diamonds.

Summary for LM: Captain Arthur Pendragon has put together the best team of specialists that the SAS has ever seen, but when his superiors assign Lieutenant Merlin Emrys as his communications officer, Arthur does everything to make him feel unwelcome. Arthur's job is to protect and guide his team through dangerous missions, and he worries that he can't do that when the newest member has a mysterious background and acts suspicious when he thinks one is looking.

As their assignment become more dangerous, Merlin can't help but use his magic to keep his team-- even his prat of a Captain -- safe from threats they couldn't possibly understand. But when they are sent on a undercover mission against a group of zealots intent on a magical apocalypse, Merlin needs to confront his fear of discovery and derision, and to finally trust his team with his secret.

Arthur and Merlin rely on each other for much more than the sake of their mission. The entire world is at stake. When they learn -- from dragons, no less-- that they are prophesied to restore the balance of magic to the world, they fight regardless of the outcome, because duty, honor and loyalty is a far stronger driving force than destiny.

Summary for WAAD: As the precocious heir of a diamond magnate and a famous designer, Arthur lives his entire life sheltered, protected, nurtured, and spoiled. He always knew that he would have to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight to run the family business some day, but he never expected that it would happen so soon or that he would enter resistance from a board of directors who believe his disability makes him unfit to lead.

Merlin has stood on every stage in every city in the world, performing to critical acclaim, but after years of globetrotting, he's well and truly burnt out. He didn't quit -- he ran away from stardom, dropping to obscurity in the blink of an eye, forgotten, just another face in the crowd. He's aimless and without purpose until a friend asks him to fill in on a job.

Neither Arthur nor Merlin are looking for salvation. They don't think there's any for them, that things are just too rotten, too far gone. But in the end, Arthur's quite strength will be a balm to Merlin's broken soul, and it will be in Merlin's steadfast faith that Arthur finds courage.

I haven't read all of Footloose's fics yet but I am assured of her skill of storytelling and characterization. Just how each conflict is highlighted, the characters aren't name-dropped and definitely not in passing, the attention to detail and the research, each character made in impact and especially the romantic tension of Merlin and Arthur.

It's much more easier to explain how a machine doesn't work as opposed to one that does. Regardless, while I do love LM, I felt a connection with WAAD that just hit me. I don't know but it just does hit my heart. I have felt this feeling before such as my first viewing of FMA 2003. If you read my Favorite Anime Not-List, then you would know the 2003 version of FMA is number one on the list. WAAD just hit my soul and I just can't describe it.

I certainly does help I love opera too so it's a bonus. Nonetheless, both of these fics are deserving of one of the Merlin's subfandom Merthur's classics.

Character - Arcana 

Merlin - Wheel of Fortune/Death

Arthur - Emperor

Gwen - Empress

Morgana - Moon

Gwaine - Hanged Man/Sun

Lancelot - Star

Mordred - Wheel of Fortune

Uther - Tower

Gaius - Hermit

Hunith - Priestess/Hierophant

Fanfic Rec - Dalton and SPAH~!

Apologies beforehand for the really scathing rant (and I didn't cover all my issues with the series as a whole!). Obviously not about the fic but about the fandom where the fic came from (no, not Klaine). I have a tendency to ramble and I need to let it all out. I am so sorry for the parentheses but I do have a tendency to get off-topic a lot. Forgive the wall of text. Just, please.

In a previous post I made of Glee, I happily lambasted its story and music. Well, it still is quite narmy and watching it seriously especially when it takes social commentary in itself (especially school shooting. Honestly, there are some subjects that I won't touch with a ten-meter pole and that's one of them. Glee unfortunately other than recycling storylines and characters which also include cheating when there are other ways to separate a couple even temporarily or even permanently that is downright insulting to a healthy and mature relationship that is Klaine and Tike have the habit of emotional manipulation (like how they reset Sue Sylvester's family issues with her sister and later with Becky) to pull in ratings and then later throw it out and not mention in any way again. Canon divergence for Glee is very much appreciated (my point of patience was Furt which I view to be a decent episode if you really want me to point out where I would see it diverge...at least from Kurt in Dalton along with Blaine should be the same grade as Kurt in the first place) since everything including what they did with Dalton (steroids?! Fucking Steroids?! Is the Glee universe trying to make sure there are no such things as friendly rivalry!?!??! Also didn't Tina in the first season mentioned that Vocal Adrenaline takes human growth hormone? Why the fuck didn't VA disqualified ages ago?!?! No, I shouldn't even think about it when they degrade a group that supposed to be all about acceptance and should have been Kurt's new friends who allow him to grow into his full potential and himself. Seriously, New Directions for all its preaching about equality and acceptance never really followed through with it and sometimes there aren't enough meaningful interactions to even describe them as True Companions (why would Kurt dedicate a song to the guys who isn't close to him? Even the fanfic writers know this. They know that Kurt isn't as close to the boys as to the girls. The boys, while they may love and accept him, always have a distance with Kurt. Look at the difference how the boys treat Blaine where they treat him like a guy whereas Kurt is treated like a girl even though he is also a guy. He may not be in the manly-man stuff the rest of the boys whose indoctrinated into but he is still a guy. It wasn't until years later they accepted Kurt into the boys' group when Kurt started to show masculine traits.) whereas Dalton never tries to do that. Dalton and Spah have meaningful conversations, friendships, unrequited, true love, familial love, mad love, etc all written well and what should have been Glee. I read a tumblr post somewhere where it placed like public high school cliques stereotypes and I do believe that it is true. McKinley's Glee Club is basically the jocks who tried hard to be brave and all whereas Dalton is the theater kids of culture and welcome everyone with open arms. McKinley definitely isn't the theater kids no matter how much they try. Most of the time, McKinley's Glee Club make me want to yell at them for their immaturity and stupid drama that can be easily resolved if all the members would just talk. Why else would I think Klaine and Tike are by far the healthiest and mature couples of the entire group? Why else would I think S1 is the most tolerable season? Which means in turn, RIB makes me want to yell in their faces while throwing heavy items into the air.) and Carmel (I will say this. I want them to be overworked performers who used underhanded techniques then and there but overall if even High School Musical knows how rivalry can work, then how about Glee?!) is just downright insulting, even the character assassinations are just shocking. They make it less human and well normal (let's not forget the slut-shaming and virgin-shaming! Though some were certainly deserved when characters don't seem to have the ability to wait like Will to Emma.) than McKinley which seemed to be placed on some kind of pedestal where a Glee club is depending on the writer top of the food chain or the bottom of the food chain. No consistency! I honestly just want Kurt to stay in Dalton and carved his own spot among colorful cast members in Dalton and Lauren Zizes (I love this girl more than every other girl in ND) also have her own spot in New Directions. There is just so much goddamn potential in how Glee could have taken and canon is eye-rolling and insulting to characters, making some of the characters jerkasses for the sake of drama instead of having issues that was previously established coming to a head/natural progress or what the writers think to make a relationship when there is no such need for that. Are you basically saying that my cousin or her husband have to cheat and work it out then get back together?! My cousin's a sweet girl and the new in-law is just so nice that I honestly don't see him cheat in any form. If he did cheat, hell will swoop down on him especially from my cousin's mother. I haven't seen them fight but I saw my parents fight sometimes and they work it out and it's not relationship-based at all, it was family, money, school, transportation, any other topic than their own relationship which was a stable relationship. As you can see, I did watch the whole show no matter how times the show jumped the shark and I could tell you how many times I wanted to outright rage-quit with season 6 being the worst of the lot where I nearly screamed at my computer in the middle of the night. The only reason why I can take Rachel's flaw is that it's her fatal flaw that drove a wedge in relationships and the way she got into NYADA is just offensive to any students who auditioned well to get into school and didn't receive an acceptance.) is just cringing. Sometimes, when it does something well, it does something well like the overall theme of acceptance with the original song Loser Like Me. Regardless, the series has so much potential in tackling and developing characters beyond repetitive cheating and plotlines and characters that don't have much to work with. At some point, I thought Big Bang Theory is far better than Glee. Pitch Perfect is how I see Glee if better written and embracing tropes that aren't played for drama or for laughs, just over-the-top fun. Hell, what I see in the relationships in Pitch Perfect 2 is how I want the relationships in Glee to be depicted, no useless break-ups when we know that they'll get back together. Even Big Bang Theory knows this (if you want me to talk about Amy and Sheldon's break up, it's completely justified since there is so much one can take and Sheldon have changed but he needs to show that he did change, even if just a little. If he can understand that, then the two can restart their relationship or begin where they left off. I certainly like how Penny and Leonard's relationship is much more stable now, giving each other space and time to talk like a normal couple. No pressuring like what Sheldon did to Amy).

Now imagine the story I'm recommending that fulfill a serious story of love, redemption, forgiveness, and strength that Glee would have but in a far better-written manner.

Dalton: Post-Furt: Spinning off from Glee, Kurt begins an entirely new chapter in his life at Dalton Academy for Boys. Blaine, Wes, and David and the boys of Windsor House make his life, for better or worse, far more eventful than he imagined.

Warblerland Wiki

SPAH-verse: I can't really find a summary since it's more like connective one-shots rather than a flowing story like Dalton. Okay, it flows but it's like Hetalia with short comics connecting yet not.

Think Dalton as Ouran High School Host Club of Glee basically. I'm not just talking about how the lavishly wealthy attending the school of Dalton and Dobry. I'm talking about the Dysfunction Junction of the original characters. Ouran has strange, out of the world tinge to it with a host club being very popular. Considering how much I love OHSHC, I cannot unsee Dalton as something similar to that. SPAH... Hmm... I would liken it to Hetalia where certainly has serious moments interspersed within its insanity much like the tantalizing series that is Hetalia. And OHSHC and Hetalia are still popular one way or another.

Both of these Dalton-centric stories popularized in the bloom of the Blaine Anderson and Dalton Academy mania when Never Been Kissed aired. I won't deny my interest in all-boys and all-girls private schools both in Westerville and who can show kindness and benevolence to the rest of the world. Both of these as boarding schools are just so appealing. That New Directions doesn't have to worry about a rival actually going their way out to hurt their members emotionally and physically but willing to befriend and listen to them, help them that Carmel's Vocal Adrenaline (notice how I just mention one. I would consider Dalton and Carmel to be the major rivals since Haverbrook and the other rivals don't have as much focus. Just look at Dalton and Carmel as foils. Carmel has robotic but elaborate performances, willing to commit borderline crimes whereas Dalton is willing to listen and advise them on their drama and visa versa while going through their own drama. One major rival means no harm at all, unlike another major rival. Both are well-funded groups from their respective schools but their sportsmanship and maturity are completely different. While Carmel burns bridges, Dalton doesn't, willing to extend a hand to other groups and applaud to each and every rival's performance, even helping them on fundraisers and getting way too much into it. The Warblers even want to learn to dance Single Ladies.) and the rest of the school population of McKinley is unwilling to. Think Richie, Drew, and Solidad from Pokemon along those lines. Solidad even won the Grand Festival for god's sake. Hell, think Kawakami, Sawamura, and Tanba from Daiya no Ace (Furuya is a one-sided rivalry and doesn't really look friendly especially from Furuya's cold treatment).

Yeah, you can taste my bitterness how Dalton and their sister school Crawford Country Day (Dobry Hall in Dalton and St. Jude in SPAH) handled in canon, right? So much goddamn potential!!!

I'm sure it has been repeated time to time on recs already about this story. Great characters, plotlines that aren't recycled from the original series (even if it was like the idea of love triangles and cheating but even that we can see the endgame unlike Glee taking partner-swapping to a whole new level.), a great development for all characters who are all flawed in their own ways. I love how the story portrays LGBTQ matters well. CP Coulter is a supporter and the way she handled homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgender is just so smooth in comparison to Glee's bewildering display of maturity (the biphobia is the one thing that popped up in my mind. There are literally no bis in a show that is supposed to be groundbreaking in handling LGBTQ matters. To some extent, it's okay on that but again biphobia. I'm bi and I'm insulted by what the series repeated said about my sexuality.).

In a canon divergence (thank god though because it seems in Glee Ohio you can transfer as easily as one can when I'm pretty sure it's not as easy as I think it is. I only saw one person I know who transfer out to another school and she complained a whole lot to her best friend who still kept in contact. I can see Kurt transferring into Dalton but after Jesse in McKinley for a few weeks at most then transferring out is the least realistic and the only way I can accept that is through bribery since the spying necessitate only just weeks), we see changes to Alice and the Wonderland around her. Admittedly if I was on the team on Glee, I would be questioning lots of stuff and would see to the editing like mad like what the fuck is Dalton in canon? There are no established facts like if it is a boarding school or not and why would Blaine drive two hours away to Lima just to get some coffee when we see that there is coffee in school.

I love Alice in Wonderland allusions considering how much I love literature. It's just great to see these allusions at all but I had rewatched Blaine and Kurt's first meeting. Blaine was carrying a pocket watch and looks like he's late for the performance, befitting his nickname in Daltonverse as The White Rabbit. He pulled Kurt - Alice - into Wonderland - Warblerland - where insanity runs rampant far worse than McKinley.

I literally cannot unsee Dalton was a previously established reformatory (if not then just a private school running its own rules) where the faculty and students tried so hard for propriety and failing when it's basically Wonderland. I really can't now. Every time I see Dalton in canon, I see CP Coulter's Dalton (and SPAH! verse is just as doable) and how much I wanted to strangle RIB for such terrible writing. I love Dalton Academy and their Warblers so much that I wanted a friendly rivalry between two groups that can be possible in Glee. Look at the characters who are treated in Dalton, it's just so good to see friendly rivalry and a rivalry a la Rosemead and Arroyo High possible. That's how I want to see Glee.

As for SPAH. Well, it's a category is crack. But like I said, it does have serious moments with the Lim (the equivalent of Light/Jogan. I'm serious. The idea of these guys who love each other for a long time and I do mean a long time yet took so goddamn long to get together. One is notoriously gay and the other known to be straight who maybe isn't completely straight. The latter tried so hard to get the former's attention and lost hope to even get him to notice him yet would give the one he loves what he desires even if it is not him.) and others. I like the nerdy references and like my reaction to the OCs in Dalton, intricate and well-drawn out characters.

Still, regardless of these boys whose mind seemed to run off more often than not is what I often read and look for in Dalton-centric stories (italics would mean story while non-italics would mean the school) rather than the stupid uptight that the creators made intentionally so they would return Kurt to McKinley which is damn insulting. If they wish for Kurt to go back to McKinley, Kurt would go back on his own terms. Since it was his decision to transfer even the Karofsky issue, he left with no other choice but to leave but whether or not he wants to stay is upon him, should he choose to stay and take more of the bullying and ignorance or transfer to a world where he can be himself and be happy for once. I would be affronted if I was forced to transfer just because people are scheming to be Prom (insert title). Writers, please let your characters have the agency which you don't allow them to. Please, Kurt is a countertenor and the Warblers would welcome him regardless.

I'm really sorry about my scathing rant towards Glee but Glee had so much potential in becoming a great show that deserved more than a hatedom (because a hatedom is in practically every fandom, really so I could care less). When Dalton and SPAH, fics that redefined Dalton Academy for me, has so much going for it, then why not the original? You already saw how much I hated Sherlock S3 (but even then it just simmered down to apathy because I honestly don't like the feeling of hatred. It feels gross and consuming.) and be lucky I don't hate Glee (yeah, it does test my patience many, many times. Even if S1 and quarter of S2 are tolerable while S4 and S6 are downright insulting and disgusting and offensive, coming close to it is S3 and S5, cutting close with a majority of S2). Glee just has so much potential and it's disappointing and in my opinion, disappointment is far worse than hate. Just to make this clear, I will never have a Dethroning Moment for work in particular. Yes, I will criticize and point out mistakes in writing, etc but I will never stop watching/playing something just because it has a moment that is just too offensive or ridiculous for me to stop watching. Yes, I will complain but I'm stubborn and can bear through those moments that others might find offensive for them to dethrone something they used to like. I would rather complete the whole series and judge it from there rather from a single moment that ruined forever the series or the creators even for some people. Hate and criticism do not equal I'm-not-watching-this-ever-again for me. Although I can no longer watch something due to the creator's arrogance and lack of fairness such as Confused Matthew and AniMat, the latter who I saw was fair until I can see just how he favors Disney so much that his other reviews suffer & the former is so narrow, needing to be spoonfed despite the reviewer can be intelligent (his Space Odyssey review is horrible and I fear any symbolism or any kind of figurative language would fly over his head. The film is supposed to be visual, not shouting at the top of their lungs about this is true love, see, this is true love or this character would sacrifice his status for this person even though he already showed a perhaps greater love for someone else.)

There are some covers that I do like the Warblers' "Teenage Dream" and Rachel's "Don't Rain on My Parade". This video, this performance of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing", is the song that spells the musical potential of the series; when there's a performance done right, then it's incredible. This performance is Glee in my humble opinion. It's down-to-earth yet has that show-tune New Directions are known for.

Glee has so much potential... I want to like the series but there are so many things that make me want to rant. Everyone is allowed to enjoy and like something; if it makes you happy, then more power to you. Just admit the flaws, alright? Recognizing the flaws does not make you a bad person.

Character - Arcana 

Finn - Magician

Kurt - Lovers

Rachel - Emperor

Mercedes - Priestess

Santana - Chariot

Quinn - Hanged Man

Tina - Strength

Artie - Justice

Sam - Sun

Blaine - Star

Will - Devil

Sue - Tower

Emma - Hierophant

Jesse - Magician

Fanfic Recommendation: MiSawa

On the previous post, I mentioned that I consider Daiya no Ace a good sports series with Free!, Haikyuu!!, and Baby Steps. I haven't watched Major and been meaning to pick up sports anime that had been recommended to me along with Princess Jellyfish, the third season of Uta no Prince-sama, Your Lie in April, and Nodame Cantabile.

But I digress.

The two of them are always together in official art.

I love the Miyuki X Sawamura interactions and to see how much Miyuki is so interested in Sawamura, attracted to that personality, a personality that can draw Miyuki out of his shell and comfort zone, the two as a battery and as close friends (?) are so explosive. This is Miyuki, who is completely obsessed with baseball (expressed no interest beyond baseball... literally the Seidou boys have no lives beyond baseball and school. I know Eijun would have some social life and he would finally open up Miyuki.)-dealt and to see him interested in something other than baseball is just so good for him.

So I am giving recommendations involving the pair.

Fic: The Trajectory of Laughter

Summary: Some say laughter is the cure for everything, but they obviously never heard Miyuki laugh...

Review: This is one of the best MiSawa fics I have seen. Good character development (even Furuya is pushed in a good direction and if you read my previous post, then you know just how much I am exasperated with the selfish character development. He did get some character development to those who say Furuya don't have character development but his development is rather revealing on his really unpleasant traits. I don't know where Terajima is going with revealing Furuya's bad traits but if it is to set contrast with the rest of the team especially Sawamura, but at the rate he is going, Furuya is going to be stripped of the ace number not just from a writing perspective but also Sawamura is our main protagonist and shown traits that is befitting of a captain and an ace. I do honestly think Sawamura can be captain. Anyways, I acknowledged Terajima's talent as an artist and a writer. Seriously, I love Eijun's character development from a talented albeit bratty beginner to a strong leader who can shoulder the pressure of an ace and come back stronger every single time.) and plot is what make it what it is.

Fic: String Theory (one hundred two beats per minute, the sound of silence)

Summary: Sawamura Eijun is only five years old when he first falls in love with music

So Sawamura's laid down his cards. That's fine. That means it's Kazuya's turn, and he falls on the opportunity like he's starved for it.

"Come here, Sawamura," he says, and he doesn't even bother to hide how breathless he sounds.

Review: Encompassing good character development and plot while still retaining differences from canon (the yips arc didn't occur at all and the baseball club that Seidou has turned into an entire curriculum for music students with music theory and history. Because Kawakami and Sawamura is more able enough, they are able to compete with Furuya for the concertmaster position after the third-years retire and the placement auditions make it way).

The reason why Eijun went to Seidou was partially because of Miyuki and the sound of the pitch into his mitt. The music Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is that sound in this particular verse. There are parallels to canon yet there are still differences enough to make it its own.

Seriously the partnership of Miyuki and Sawamura is so attractive and even placed in an orchestra AU, Sawamura's raw talent and Miyuki's skill was what make them so spectacular.

I am guessing that Seidou Chamber Orchestra is a full ensemble depending on the people making it. Strings like violins and cellos make up a big lot of the orchestra. Aside from Isashiki, Tetsuya, Ryosuke, Higasa, Shirasu, Zono, Kuramochi, Kanemaru, Toujou, Nabe, Miyuki, Sawamura, Harucchi, Furuya and Chris-senpai Yuu Takigawa, we don't know the rest of the first string.

I can only guess that Toujou and Kanemaru make Seidou Symphony Orchestra for the time being and upgraded to Chamber Orchestra.

I'm guessing the pitchers are violinists (make the concertmaster position to be the ace number parallel) & pinch hitters and clean up batters are cellists (Raichi as a cellist and in a suit just makes me giggle. Now I can't get rid of the image that he's now a cellist, been playing since he was young due to his father.) though there would be exceptions. I doubt Kariba is a pianist (I think he's more of a clarinet) though I don't doubt Koushuu to be one.

Furuya no Ace.... No.

NO!!!! Don't cry, sweet baby! He just got it for now. For now! How many tears must you shed before receiving the ace number you deserve!?

I consider Daiya no Ace/Ace of Diamond to be a good sports series. I am currently locked up in the domain of sports anime yet somehow can't get out of the Hetalia series. However, when it comes to sports rivals...at least the main one for Sawamura which is supposed to be Furuya, that is where the story falls apart.

I am already disgruntled by Furuya's selfish character development. I don't mind flawed characters as Miyuki and Sawamura are very flawed and I still love them all the same. I love the humanity of the characters from Daiya no Ace and Furuya is very much human. However, where the way Furuya is written annoys me. I have nothing against this character since I said before that I do consider Furuya's flaws (selfishness, bullheadedness to name a few). He is a rounded character but he is a static character.

Furuya never got the character development that fits right in a series that focused a lot on team spirit and especially that baseball is a team sport. I always thought that he was pushed in the wrong direction that I wanted Terajima to break the haughty. It's just hard to sympathize with him at times when he got everything on a silver platter (seriously the only reason he got the number in the first place is because Sawamura and Kawakami were undergoing trauma, experiencing 'technical difficulties' and he's the only one able. If anything, it's a hollow victory. That and he haven't proven anything of ace quality. Even reading the spoilers due to scanlation gap, he is taking the credit for his fellow pitchers' dirty work of the ace.). Furuya's pitching is just boring to watch (compared to Tanba, Kawakami, and Sawamura, their pitching's just exciting to watch coupled with the suspense) and even placed in supposed to be exciting parts, it's only exciting because it's basically down to the last play not because of Furuya himself. He doesn't stir me with joy, unlike Sawamura.

It certainly doesn't help that everyone else kept fawning over Furuya when Sawamura is pushed to the side, looking by the sidelines in jealousy, leaving him with no recognition. People hardly recognized him and his growth and talent, working so hard and getting results even after the yips. It's still about all about Furuya. Why the hell am I still watching/reading the damn series if it's going to be about Furuya from a fellow batchmate's POV whose views are far more refreshing? There's one thing to be the Butt Monkey but there's another to not recognize how far one had grown. This is not just me speaking from a writing perspective, it's me speaking from personal experiences.

Sawamura might not be the only MC but we see through his POV. When Sawamura is denied, I feel I'm denied. When Sawamura shunted to the side, I'm shunted to the side as well.

Again, I don't hate Furuya. I just dislike the way his character is written and how poorly written a rival he is. He's a poorly written rival. If you want to see a better-written rival, please see Rin Matsuoka and Sosuke Yamazaki from Free!. Hell, even Kanou Shuugo from Oofuri is a better friendly rival.

There's no interaction that is rival-like, friendly or otherwise, that show a clear rivalry. Because of the cast's unhealthy obsession with him, Eijun cheering him on, and Furuya monologuing how the mound is his while the team fawn over his fastballs, the rivalry crumbled because there is little interaction. Narumiya and Raichi have far better rival-like interactions with Eijun and I love the brat and monkey. Raichi is just pure adorableness and Mei is hilariously self-centered. Hey, at least those two got the development that is just right for the series and the character.

Unfortunately, Furuya involved the part of the series I don't like other than the poorly written rivalry and development that pushed in the wrong direction.

The story set up the premise that we will be seeing Eijun Sawamura's rise to be the ace. If the story continued with Furuya as the ace while his so-called 'rival' would never achieve the ace number (and I would forever grit my teeth when Furuya cruelly said that there is no need for two pitchers on the mound. Those are goddamn cruel to someone who worked his ass off and has grown so much over the span of nearly a year. Fans of Furuya, you cannot deny the flaws of your favorite character just because he is your favorite. You have to acknowledge the flaws and you cannot deny that his words to Sawamura, his supposed rival, is cruel.), it would never fulfill the premise that had been established from the beginning.

Speaking of the ace, Terajima seems confused about what exactly makes an ace when he tries to say something that makes an ace. He's just confused. So if he continued to say that Furuya with his stupid skills with the lack of good development for him with his selfishness that he need to be forcibly removed, speaking from a teacher of mine's perspective, he would rather lose every game than give it to a selfish player in a team sport.

If the new first years fawn over Furuya, I would put the series on stand-by until I hear something heavenly, preferably that Sawamura finally got the recognition he deserved and getting the ace number. I'm still putting the DRRR vol. 13 on standby due to vol. 12's utter disappointment.

From the start, we got people acknowledging Sawamura's talent and growth but those are so far and in-between moments in comparison to the overhype that is Furuya.

It's just frustrating that some of the problems of the series revolved around one character whom I tried to like. I never dislike a single fictional character in my life. I'm neutral to Furuya but that's just barely when the way Furuya is written ticked me off.

Forgive this post for its ranting. I just need a place to rant and with my friends and family busy with their own work and I know that they definitely won't understand what I'm talking about.

Anyways, let me go into another tarot assignment to the characters of Daiya no Ace. I'm not sure how to list the characters and some are still in debate in my head. Some choices are more easier than others like Eijun and Furuya.

You know what, I am adding Haikyuu!! to this particular list. Obviously the Haikyuu!! characters would follow after the Daiya no Ace characters. This is mainly to keep me sane. I am pulling together a compilation of tarot assignment I made so far and that's still in development. Finalizing which series I am going to add first before going into new ones. Okay, going to add Free! characters into the mix...

Character - Arcana

Eijun Sawamura - Fool 

Kazuya Miyuki - Hermit

Chris Yu Takigawa - Hanged Man

Youichi Kuramochi - Empress

Kenta Maezono - Justice

Tooru Masuko - Strength

Haruichi Kominato - Priestess

Satoru Furuya - Devil

Tetsuya Yuki - Emperor

Kouichirou Tanba - Star

Jun Isashiki - Temperance

Ryosuke Kominato - Death

Norifumi Kawakami - Strength

Shinji Kanemaru - Magician

Hideaki Toujou - Sun

Hisashi Watanabe - Hierophant

Koushuu Okumura - NA

Seto Takuma - NA

Kesshin Kataoka - Justice

Rei Takashima - Hierophant

Hiromitsu Ochiai - Devil

Raizou Todoroki - Hierophant

Raichi Todoroki - Wheel of Fortune

Shunpei Sanada - Star

Mei Narumiya - Tower/Sun

Masatoshi Harada - Temperance

Wakana Aotsuki - Priestess

Nobu - Star

Shouyou Hinata - Fool

Tobio Kageyama - Judgment

Daichi Sawamura - Emperor

Koushi Sugawara - Empress

Ryunosuke Tanaka - Priestess

Yu Nishinoya - Chariot

Asahi Azumane - Lovers

Kei Tsukishima - Tower

Tadashi Yamaguchi - Magician

Chikara Ennoshita - Strength

Kiyoko Shimizu - Priestess

Hidoka Yachi - Lovers

Ittetsu Takeda - Hierophant

Keishin Ukai - Hierophant

Yui Michimiya - Empress

Tooru Oikawa - Tower

Yuutarou Iwaizumi - Hermit

Hajime Kindaichi - Devil

Kenma Kouzume - Hierophant

Tetsurou Kuroo - Justice

Lev Haiba - Strength

Takanobu Aone - Strength

Kenji Futakachi - Hierophant

Kotaro Bokuto - Sun

Keiji Akaashi - Star

Wakatoshi Ushijima - Emperor

Haruka Nanase - Wheel of Fortune

Makoto Tachibana - Empress

Nagisa Hazuki - Magician

Rei Ryugazaki - Justice

Rin Matsuoka - Emperor

Gou Matsuoka - Lovers

Aiichiro Nitori - Chariot

Seijuro Mikoshiba - Temperance

Sousuke Yamazaki - Strength

Momotarou Mikoshiba - Sun

Goro Sasabe - Hierophant

Miho Amakata - Hierophant

Kisumi Shigino - 

Status Update

I deleted several of my posts which include my Ship List and the Holmesian related posts. I would only leave the fanfic recommendations that involved anything the latter (but only in groups with other couples) since regardless of shipping (queerbaiting in-show or actual subtext/text), a fanfic would still be great.

I'm not going to explain my reasons for deleting the posts. I have my reasons and they are moreover personal and polarizing to share.