I’m trying to get through the second episode of Candy Color Paradox and I’m really struggling. These guys just seem so bad at their jobs? I’m not and have never been a paparazzi (or any sort of journalist) so maybe I just don’t know, but I feel like they should be better at tailing people and hiding. They keep parking their car or sitting at tables in plain site! Like, I understand Onoe being bad at tailing, the whole premise is that he’s new to this pap gig, but would he really be that unsubtle? He is an experienced journalist, after all. And in the first episode, why didn’t Kaburagi already have the right lens on his camera? He knew how far he was from the door, he’s supposedly extremely good at his job, it seems like he would have been better prepared. Maybe the point is that he was distracted by his annoying yet cute new partner? idk

It’s a silly thing to get hung up on, but I think I was already at a deficit because I’m struggling with the idea of sympathetic paparazzi characters in the first place (at least as done by this show—see below for further details). And perhaps part of the story will be that they change and realize their job is harmful. The show's moral stance on paparazzi feels ambiguous show far. Yes, Kaburagi seems to be sympathetic about their Asaoko Yuma’s (their target) mother’s dementia, but oh look! It turns out she has links to organized crime. That feels like the shows attempt to elevate the dirty work of invading privacy and hunting for celebrity scandals to "serious" journalism with a public benefit. And I could not figure out what, if anything, the show was trying to say about Kaburagi’s strategy of lying to sources to get scoops.

However, I did love the paparazzi guy (Nikaido) in Kabe Koji, despite (or perhaps because of) one of the themes of the show being how harmful and invasive the paparazzi are. At the time I even wanted a romance story for him, and was a little excited at the beginning of Candy Color Paradox, hoping this show would provide that. But alas, it feels very different. I think what I like was that character was older, so obviously world weary and cynical. And that he was won over by Issei’s genuine kindness and dangerous charm, so that his conversion to realizing he didn’t want to hurt people through his job anymore felt meaningful. Although to be fair, I was intrigued by him even before his conversion. Possibly just because I liked his face though.

Kaburagi I think is supposed to be portraying the same sort of cynicism and world weariness, but he just looks too damn young, so that feels like a pose he’s putting on, rather than who he is.

It is interesting watching this after Kabe Koji, which had such clear things to say about the harmful invasiveness of the paparazzi and celebrity "journalists." And because I think the two leads are both idols (although I don't know how famous they are), which means they’re on the other side of this battle. How do they feel about portraying sympathetic paparazzi, I wonder?

I think I could like a romance between paparazzi (or even between a pap and a celebrity!) but it would have to be done just right, and not shy away from the toxicity inherent in the job. I suppose this one might win me over in the end. I don't have a strong reaction (positive or negative) to either of the main characters yet, separately or as a couple. They've had a few charming moments, and I do like how flustered Onoe is when Kaburagi turns on the charm, or the hints of jealousy he seemed to have when they met up with Kaori, the bar owner.

Perhaps this is one where I should actually watch the trailer to see if the show seems worth sticking it out for. Do y'all think I will like it more as it goes on?

Because this is in my head now.

Gay pride happens in June and gay wrath happens whenever hbomberguy drops a 3+ hour video essay about a specific topic

with that said there are characters that a fat maybe not canonically but they are spiritually. to me. they may not be drawn that way but i know whats true. ive seen it like a sort of prophet

So, just curious how many writers and creators will have to be forcibly outed by relentless harassment before we acknowledge that "This queer characters was written by a cishet person and that's why they're bad" is not good criticism.

We have moved past Maya and Franziska wingmanning narumitsu as a society. They would not fucking do that. We need to realise the truth which is that Larry and Gumshoe would try to wingman them and only succeed through failure

AU where Jason gets his revenge by becoming a lawyer and getting joker sentenced to the death penalty

Bruce is conflicted about it but any time he tries to say anything on the subject Alfred just talks over him like "oh we're so proud of you master Jason you finished college and you didn't even use your father's extensive resources that could've easily gotten someone in this family a degree aren't we so proud master Bruce that Jason got himself a respectable profession--"

i love normal guys doomed by the narrative

Radioactive Hero (but not really) au

Danny moves to Gotham, hear him out! There's really good jobs there that pay through the nose and the cost of living is cheap!

Plus, the city is riddled with heroes and vilains! It's so easy to slip under the radar!

Unfortunately, there are so many civilian casualties. Like, all the time. Even in Metropolis!

So Danny, for his first year in Gotham, opens small portals to the Far Frozen and gets schooled on being a field medic. None of his powers can really be used for healing, but they can make people feel better. He just has to be careful to be as far removed from the Phantom moniker as possible, so he can't use any obvious powers.

He gets a bit of a reputation in Gotham; a small time hero of the people, for the people. A hero not invested in fighting, but in dragging civilians away from the danger. He doesn't even have a moniker; people are too busy arguing over the best one for him.

So while aliens are attacking both Metropolis and Gotham, Danny is out in full kit; a gas mask to hide his face, all black, repurposed kevlar from the vests the GCPD did not properly dispose of, no identifying markers.

But one of the clean up crews notices something insanely worrying; the geiger counter they have to point at alien spaceship parts? Yeah. Yeah, it's going off when they point it at the new small-time hero.

That hero's power is radioactivity. Holy shit. It's not at a level that will hurt people, but when he's dodging through fighting the level goes up.

The clean up crew concludes and shares via Twitter that the medic-hero is only a danger to others if he gets too stressed.

Word spreads fast, and pretty soon the absolute second Danny shows up on a scene, all fighting stops.

After all, no one wants to piss off the living Nuclear Bomb.

Basically, Danny's ghost-everything sets off Geiger counters, and now absolutely everyone is convinced that the medic-themed hero only refuses to fight because his meta power is just...being radioactive.

But he isn't.

So now, because it's the perfect cover and completely disassociated from Phantom, he has to play along and pretend like yes; that is his power.

Laios's three Boy Best Friends. And yes, they hate him.

...okay, one more, because Epel's white rabbit outfit is SENDING me. everyone in this event looks like a decadent little pastry and I want to eat them all.

(credit: lace stock)

It is truly wild how much that, like, having a Following on any social media makes you this weird poppet onto which people project their weirdest hangups. Does the thing have anything to do with who you really are? Nope! But it sure says a lot about that person, the things they project onto you.

Like, my friend, this is a parasocial relationship you have with that person. It's just a negative one. Your obsession does nothing to them, and it's bad for you.

I just want to fall in love with someone who makes me feel safe like even when we’re angry or sad or upset i just want to know that both of us are still going to be okay

It's interesting how Buck's love interests are all written in a way that ends because of the reason they meet/happen in the first place and then of course, we have Eddie.

Abby, who changes Buck's view of a healthy relationship but then turns around and ghosts him, making him wait for months on end and letting him realize she's not coming back on his own.

Ali, who meets Buck during a dangerous situation in his line of work and then leaves him for how dangerous his work is.

Taylor, who lashes out at Buck for using her as a fake date and saying she thought she could trust Buck to be a friend who then ends up using him for her career and chose to put his friends in danger.

Natalia, who's there to help him embrace and deal with his temporary death but it leads to their break up because of the constant talk surrounding death when Buck's not comfortable with it.

We can't confirm for Tommy till it ends but it's important to note how he offers to get Buck into his interests like flying and muay thai yet doesn't show effort with Buck's interests like dressing up according to the bachelor party theme despite Buck being stressed about it. And we also have the fact that the entire reason they got together was due to Buck's jealousy for Eddie which he then claims to be was for Tommy. Makes me think they are either going to end because of differing interests OR because of the jealousy issue popping up again.

Funnily enough, every scene above has an Eddie parallel:

Eddie co-parents with Buck and not only does this not stop after a dangerous event but Eddie also has Buck down as a legal guardian (healthy relationship - Abby).

Eddie is in the same dangerous line of work and they have each other's backs. This happens right off the bat too.(dangerous job - Ali).

The Lawsuit era and The Dispatch era - both where they "betray" each other but manage to work through it (betrayal/lie - Taylor).

Eddie doesn't pressure Buck to talk about his temporary death until Buck's ready and is more focused about him living than in his death (death doula - Natalia).

Eddie who has different interests than Buck (poker, basketball and UFC/MMA) but also manages to show interest and actively takes part in whatever Buck comes up with; he suggests their outfit for the themed party AND ends up staying there for Buck even when others leave (different hobbies & showing interest/taking part - Tommy).

Absolutely fascinating when you start noticing that Buck's relationships keep failing for one reason or another and then we have him and Eddie who face the same sort of situations but they still come out of it stronger together.

It's clear that there's a reason Buck is able to overcome anything when it comes to Eddie (that conversation with Maddie about being there for each other even at their worst 👀) and we've already established that everything Eddie looks for in a partner is already something he has found in Buck. So really, all that's left is for them to realize that hey, the one I'm looking for is right in front of me! 🤷🏽

And yes, it's been said to death (hah) but you don't find it son you make it. And Buck and Eddie have already made it.

got him off-balance!

substitute

Let me look at you 💖