The Scrambler's List: 10 Things I Don't Understand About Romance!

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Valentine's day is around the corner and I'm assuming you're either going on a date or two, or you're preparing yourself to watch Deadpool. Or maybe both. And to commemorate such a lovely event that we, for some reason take so seriously, I'd like to share my thoughts on things I don't get about romance. Frankly, I do not consider myself a very romantic person. I find feelings and those random sweet gimmicks you would normally find in a 90s chick flick, very stressful and even troublesome. So I'd like to highlight some more on those. Just a warning, this is entirely my opinion on certain things so if you get slightly butthurt on my view about romance, you can justify what you think about it in Disqus or on my Facebook page and I will be more than happy to consider what you have to say. But this is just an opinion, not the stone tablet that contains all the ten commandments that you are expected to follow. I'm just a 21-year-old nerd who is able to observe what romance looks like at a very certain distance. I also have my many friends to thank for this post. Hahaha. 

New Yolk Times: Thoughts on ARROW

We are almost done with our series countdown and for the second to the last, I will be talking about the fourth season of Arrow. Arrow has been my favorite TV series and I absolutely love talking about it here on my blog. If it weren't for this series, we would not have The Flash, Supergirl, The Legends of Tomorrow, and other DC TV shows going nuts around media.

New Yolk Times: Thoughts on THE FLASH

There are only a few days left till The Flash Season 2 returns on screen and I am beyond excited. Although, it irritates me that it returns the same time I go back to class. Also I got to warn you that there will be spoilers in this post. 

Anyway, The Flash season 2 is no longer this cute season where they capture random metahumans here and there. In the last episode of the first season, Barry had to stop this huge wormhole developing in the sky, but his heroic efforts caused a gateway to another parallel universe. And the metahumans from this other Earth are also dangerous and all of them seemed to be after the Flash. Turns out, the one who's sending these random metahumans to Barry is known as Zoom and he is another dangerous speedster that the Flash has yet to defeat. So the series revolves around the mystery on why Zoom is so hellbent on killing the Flash and on who he is. 

New Yolk Times: Thoughts on SHADOWHUNTERS

Hello! I am here with another New Yolk Times post for you and today I am going to discuss the series that I've been waiting for, Shadowhunters. As some of you know, The Mortal Instruments series has been rebooted as a TV series on ABC Fami--- I mean, Freeform. So the plot is basically the same as the one you read in the book or seen in the movie. 

To be honest, I was not looking forward to this. Yes, I got excited until I learned ABC Fa--- I mean, Freeform has decided to adopt the show. The promos to me were not too flattering but I was ok with the casting choices. And when I saw the pilot episode I gotta say... I was surprisingly okay with it.

New Yolk Times: Thoughts on SUPERGIRL

Hey! I decided to create a brand new segment on this blog New Yolk Times. It's what I would normally call a writer's block moment, or when I need to express my thoughts on something. It's my own breather from everything I've been doing on this blog lately. And today, I would like to talk about Supergirl. My original plan was to express my own opinions about the midseason parts of my current TV shows namely Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow. Supergirl, however, returned earlier than expected. And of course, I am excited for it, but the timing for this blog now seems delayed. However, I'd still like to express what I really think about the show as a whole. This is not a critique of any sort, just a page full of opinions.

Supergirl as most of you know, was a brand new television show based on DC characters. The story talks about the origins of Kara Zor-El, who is the cousin of Superman, as a brand new superhero in a cape called Supergirl. And yes, you can expect the storyline to adjust to a much more modern setting. Not only that, there are random cliches that you may also find in any Superman medium anywhere such as the fact that Kara wears a petty disguise, works for a media company, and her having her own version of Lex Luthor (Maxwell Lord).

Things I Don't Understand About Fanfiction

For me, fanfictions exist for only one purpose; they're supposed to help me indulge in my fantasies. Fantasies that I think won't happen in canons of my beloved fandoms. Most of the time, I get to read really great fanfiction. Whether they follow the plot of the fandom or not, they still end up compelling, emotional, and downright amazing. But there are also times, I get to read crappy fanfiction. It doesn't really hurt to read badly written fanfiction, though. It just expands your mind, and you begin to start questioning humanity. No worries, we are not just going to focus on the bad fanfictions in the world. We'll be talking about fanfiction, in general. And what I don't understand about them.

I guess the only limit to fanfiction writing is your imagination. The best part about fanfiction is that you can create your own stories but you have to base it off of your fandoms by using the characters, current settings, and all that shiz. But sometimes writers get creative and put established characters into different kinds of world-building (e.g. Harry Potter characters in a F.R.I.E.N.D.S.' setting). Nothing wrong with that, though. I actually find those kinds of fanfiction entertaining. What I don't understand are the formats in fanfiction websites. Like there are a few fanfiction websites who are quite strict about the way stories are being presented. Fanfiction for me is close to free-verse poetry; you can write whatever the hell you want and write in any way you want. It may be a minor thing but seriously, it's just fanfiction.

I know that you can do anything you want with a fanfiction story, but sometimes writers can get carried away. Fanfiction writing is also like constructing a specific building with Lego blocks; you can create whatever you want but in this case, you got a instruction manual on how you're going to build something. When you create fanfiction, you always have to keep in mind that these characters already have established personalities and they live in a very well-written setting. Sometimes, tinkering what the author already created is considered an abomination. There weren't official rules that you're not allowed to do that (if there are, please let me know). But it's an ultimate pet peeve for me to see characters not being themselves in fanfiction. For one thing, it feels like I'm reading a whole new different story and not a fanfiction. And it bothers me to see a character do something that he or she wouldn't most likely do (e.g. see a very asexual character suddenly have a sexual craving for a specific person).

I don't understand why "smut" fanfiction needs codenames like Lemon or Lime. Why can't we simply say that there is sex involved in this chapter and to read with caution? Heck, why even associate sex with food. We are blessed with ratings. Surely some readers can take a hint.

Original characters inserted in a fanfiction are always put to question. Most readers immediately assume that the writer created that out of sheer desperation just to be with their fictional crush, and there hasn't been much effort into its character development. I have to admit, most of the time that statement can be true. But why so judgmental to original characters? I've seen enough good original characters in random fanfiction, at the same time I have seen characters who's only role in this fanfiction is to seriously be the love interest of this canon character. I'm only tired of seeing fanfiction like that and I want to see more stories with original characters who are just there not causing too much fluctuations on the character's personality and all that shiz.

I also don't understand how some fanfictions become very popular, irregardless of what their content is. Even the most crappiest fanfiction can become a hit overnight, and some of the best well-written stories will be shunned for all eternity. Seriously, how does the popularity game work in fanfiction? Yes, I guess traffic may not matter to some writers, since it tends to differ for a lot of reasons. But let's be real here. What does it take to have a really great fanfiction recognized by thousands across the world. E.L. James, I would like to know the secret to your success, if you may.

And that is it for things I don't understand about fanfiction. If you have other things you would like to share, let me know on Disqus by commenting below. Anyway, this shall be it for now because school is fast approaching. Till the next post and good luck on your next school year~

The Problem With YA Fiction Today

Recently I watched a Youtube video created by CassJayTuck and I found myself agreeing with everything she said. She was talking about what she thinks is the problem with YA Fiction today, saying that the ideas in current YA novels are not as fresh or original. In other words, writers are simply recycling so much ideas to the point they forgot the whole point of writing.

I'd like not only to reiterate everything she said, but to add up to it, because I think this is definitely an opinion that needs to be heard among more hardcore bookworms out there. If you want to have a head start, you can take a quick look on Cass' video here:

Before I begin, I'd like to make one thing clear; I have nothing against the Dystopian or Romance Genre. I'm saying this because it is one of the most common genres we normally see in YA Fiction. That's the reason why I don't hate them, they are just genres. If a writer wants a Dystopia, then he/she has every right to write one. So if I have no problems with these, then what is the problem?

Cass mentioned in her video that most novels in YA lack this thing called, "world-building". One of the many joys in reading is that you get suck into a whole different world, that your reading experience becomes more or less surreal. YA Novels today, unfortunately, do not give that much world-building. It only focuses on a certain element that the writers think will excite their readers, as well as editors and publishing companies. And this is what happens when you pretty much recycle from a classic YA Novel. You end up focusing on things that you think will make your novel become a hit, but let's establish the fact that all novels are not similar and shouldn't be. You might as well stick to fanfiction writing if you intend to recreate something that's already there. The main challenge of a writer will always be the creative juice. A reader will be able to notice right away if you're trying to rip something off. I'm not saying that writers shouldn't draw their inspiration from other books. If they intend to base their ideas on previous published stories, might as well put a little bit more flare and not put other used ideas in one book. There's a difference, yes. That's why being a writer is not as easy as you think. You shouldn't be using other techniques or styles. Use your own. Basically, most writers are missing the fun part in writing. You get to create your own world. The time and effort must be focused on that, as well as in character development and in plot ideas. Not in just who ends up with who. So Cass is right, give your stories a little bit more love. This is my challenge for aspiring writers. Create stories wherein I can enjoy a whole new world. Follow the example of children's books. Please. Or maybe, you can take notes from Anime, because most anime shows do that very well.

Back on the genre issue... genre should never be an issue. It becomes an issue when a book fails to deliver a promise. For example, you want to create Dystopian novel (sorry if I constantly use this as an example, but it's the most common one at the moment), but you want to put a bit of romance. I've read tons of novels similar to this problem, and instead of focusing on the main problem, it concentrates on the love triangles. In other words, the secondary genre suddenly becomes much more important than the dominant genre. Then the story strays from what it originally was. Twilight is a perfect example of a novel that is able to deliver its promise. Stephenie Meyer made it clear from start to finish, that this whole saga will be a love story in between a huge vampire-politic problem. And it was a love story that was in the middle of a huge vampire-politic problem. I've read many books that imply that this is gonna be a story about a conflict two parties, but when I read it, the story is purely or mostly about romance and how the character is so awkward about puberty.

I also want to challenge writers about writing protagonists, because they can also be a YA issue. Main heroes and heroines now lack a bit of originality, nowadays. We always get the following:

1.) The person who doesn't want anything to do with the situation but gets into the situation anyway.
2.) The sassy or blunt person with a terrible or sad past, becomes very indifferent to almost everything but still gets loved by everyone
3.) The confused person who runs into a middle of a crossfire, and surprisingly becomes a major part of the crossfire.

As you can see, the similarities between the three are endless. I'd like future writers to come up with a whole new and realistic main character. I guess this is why I like the Insignia Series so much. Tom Raines had sass all over his body, but he didn't conform to any typical YA cliche I mentioned above. So the perspective was new, fresh, and absolutely interesting.

I would like to discuss another cliche. I know romance is something that any young adult can relate to, but I am sick of love being the driving force or main motivation for any YA character. There's more to life than relationships and all that shiz. I am starting to get tired of YA for creating characters who would just participate in a war or do something totally crazy for the sake of their significant other. I give kudos for The Hunger Games, for giving Katniss a whole new realistic motivation, which is her family. It made perfect sense for her character and for the world she was in. So perhaps another challenge? If writers cannot write a straight YA Fiction without inserting a few love stories here and there, make it subtle then? Give your characters different kinds of motivations? Give your readers a whole new thing to be inspired about?

That's all I have to say about YA for now. If you have other misgivings about the current situation on YA (which won't end right away), let me know on the comments. Also, you can share this so it will reach to more people, particularly to authors (aspiring ones, included). And I will see you till the next post~

Writer's Block: On Tastes and Preferences

Whether we like it or not, we all get judged and judge even if it is considered a bad thing (source: The Bible). What's even worse is that we get immediately judged based on our interests. For instance, if I like watching The Star Wars Trilogy, then I am possibly considered a prestigious geek. If I enjoy reading Twilight, I am immediately labeled as this illiterate fangirl. I know that there are certain kinds of people who don't really care about what others say about their likes and dislikes, but its really depressing and infuriating to know that there are people who will think lowly of you simply because you like something generic.

Let me remind everyone that interest is called interest for a pretty good reason; we like it. That's all there is to it. Liking a movie or a book is kinda similar to being in love as described in most YA novels. In other words, sometimes we can't clearly explain why we enjoy something and I'm sure this is something most fangirls can relate to. In other words, why should someone be badly judged for simply having an interest in something? For me, it's not fair to insult someone's taste simply because it doesn't match your own. I guess it's something that I've learned growing up.

If you guys still can't picture what I want to emphasize, just think about your friends or siblings or anyone you're close to. At some point, you can express yourselves (or in the case of this blog, "fangirl") to them without having this tinge of fear of being teased. And that feeling is great. And I guess that's how your mortal life should always feel. Now think of your dislikes. When you encounter someone who happens to be interested in your dislikes, then the common courteous thing to do is to be polite right? But at times, especially when were still young and naive, we think disdainfully about why this person would even like this thing you consider crap. It may be just a thought to most people, but the fact that you've thought of it in your very own mind? That's terrible.

Looking back at the times I did that, I ended up being very disgusted with myself. Then I began thinking why can't we just respect that person instead of asking why they consider Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele the best OTP in literary history. Just thinking about it is time consuming and very exhausting. Because in the end, we would probably never be able to understand why. That's the beauty of diversity, my lovely people.

Our world is aspiring to become a place were we can be equal, just, beautiful, colorful, and unique all at the same time. But I believe that the beginning of something big starts with the tiniest step. And we can all start with this. If you're one of those people who does hate comments or thinks badly about other people's tastes and preferences, then please consider what you are doing if it is even worth your energy. Learn how to simply respect what they like, because that's the easiest way to go. So basically, yes, this is the best advice I can share to you. When you can accept someone liking something you don't like, then congratulations. You're on your way to maturity. If you guys think this is not maturity, then I don't know what else to say.

I have to admit, doing this is extremely hard. Especially when you consider yourself a very proud and firm person. But sometimes, there would be times that your pride won't be needed at all. All you have  to do is nod, and swallow that disgusting sin. Don't even bother trying to explain why you hate what he or she likes, like you're suddenly some debating expert (because if you think about it, is that really necessary?). Just say what you also like, and move on with your life. Make love, not war.

Till the next post~

Writer's Block: On Gamer/Geek Girls

For some odd reason, Gamer or Geeky girls create a huge buzz on the interweb. You see them on Tumblr, create fashion trends, or even on Youtube. And to be perfectly honest, I have no idea why they are such a big deal. From what I understand of social media's portrayal of them. they are the "rare-type-of-pokemon" girlfriend material for boys, simply because they understand the video game language and many other things. Now that's a bit strange for me. They're not really an endangered species. I have many friends who are gamer, geeky girls. Also, that very idea just became completely bizarre in a way that girls are suddenly pressured to look like gamers or just plain geeky. The question is why?

Recently, I saw this post on Facebook about the double standards that definitely made me decide to type this very post.

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If you are attracted to girls who like playing video games and read comics then that's more than okay. It means they're your type and there is nothing wrong with that. But in this case, we tend to forget that gamer girls are not a homogenous species. They're people and they are all different. Not every nerd of geek wears glasses, or looks like a cynical hipster. She may be this cute shy school girl who cosplays, but that does not automatically mean she's going to be perfect. Diversity does not exactly equate to perfection.To the people guilty of this ideology, don't expect nerdy or geeky girls to look like the one on the right. Every girl looks freakin' different, deal with it. And to the girls in the world who are bothered by this picture, never fear. You don't have to look like nerdy Tumblr girl just to look physically appealing or attractive. Just be yourself and don't pressure yourself to get those hipster Raybans everyone else is getting. In other words, don't pretend you look Geeky when you know deep down video games or anime isn't your thing. As you all know, pretending to be someone you're not was never a good idea.

The bottom line is that we all (and will) get judged like these two girls. No matter what happens, deliver whatever you have and give it all you got. Because not everyone in this world will hate you. And if they do, then it's time to reflect and find out what the heck is wrong with yourself. Don't give yourself a personality goal and try to be this rare-pokemon gamer girl. Be you.

Till the next post~

The 7 Realities of Selfie Culture

I am not going to lie. I actually love taking selfies. It just so happens that I don't post them all because I do not want to appear like a self-obsessed freak on the internet, which I am not. And this leads me to the whole idea of the Selfie Culture. A long time ago, we would all use our cameras sparingly--we bring it out only during times of special occasions like birthdays or graduation. But with the advancement of technology and the newly-enhanced front cameras we get each year, every moment we receive suddenly counts as a special occasion. Whenever we buy a new pair of shoes, we have to study for a hardcore exam, or even when we're just sick in bed, we document the visuals in our smartphones. That's the Selfie culture. If you still think it does not exist, here are seven instances that prove that it truly exists.

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1.) The existence of Photography Mobile apps
It's not a question that smartphones are now a thing among us. And if you are one of those people downloading Vscocam just to make your Instagram pictures look hipster or Tumblr-esque, then welcome to the world of Selfies.

2.) When you take more than one selfie and only pick that one special  shot to post to your Instagram
I'm not saying this is a bad thing. There's nothing wrong with expanding your options in terms of camera roll shots. But the idea of just picking the right selfie is not enough for us to realize that we are idolizing this brand new way of life.

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3.) When likes suddenly matter
Upon entering the world of Selfies, we tend to wonder why our other friends get at least a hundred likes per selfie. For me, I am still trying to calculate the factors contributing to this surprising phenomenon. Is it because of the quality of camera? Is it because my friend can actually pose? Is it the popularity? The effects of the filter maybe? That moment when that person suddenly looked photogenic? Seriously, what did they do to get celebrity-accumulated likes?

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4.) The dawn of selfie sticks!
Oh please. Do I really have to explain this?

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5.) There are songs and published works talking about the selfie
But first...let me take a selfie!

6.)  When you take your picture-taking to the next level
You get extra lenses for your phone's camera, you actually ask someone to seriously take photos of you, you add more photography apps, you find a cute pet to pose next to you when you're really posing for yourself and not the innocent creature...you basically become an amateur photographer when it comes to your phone.

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7.) When selfies plays a major part in building your self-esteem
Again, this is not a bad thing. If you feel confident just because you think you look aesthetically good in your pictures, then knock yourself out. It is time for this generation to stop putting themselves down and start embracing every part of their bodies. Selfies actually play a really big part in character building, unless you let it do its magic the right way. Seeing those great comments about your dress is great. And knowing that there are people who find you really pretty or hot, is good. We are actually exercising common courtesy here. Nonetheless, selfies help in confidence boosts at the time.

Till the next post~

Love, according to Fandoms

One of the weirdest things I've ever did while I was going through puberty, was to base my standards for a potential life partner on my fandoms. Mostly anime shows. Back then, I thought it would be really great to just wait and see if I can actually have my very own carbon copy of Gaara of the Sand from Naruto. But you know, life happened and I completely forgot what kind of attributes I look for in a man.

Many of us do this all the time. This fictional character or person is so perfect, you just need someone like this in your life. Let's be real here; as a girl with random cliched thoughts, it would be amazing to wake up every morning to a Ryan Gosling-looking guy who can cook you breakfast every morning and rant about ducks while you read about The Tale of Two Cities. That's basically the effect our fandoms can have on most of us. Fandoms make us go beyond our imagination. We want their reality to become our reality. But let's be more specific and talk about love here.

Every fandom has their own definition of love and romance. And as members of each fandom, we have our own way of interpreting them. So here are my very own lovely interpretations on some of the most famous and cliched romantic fandoms ever! I won't be surprised if you disagree with me, though.

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The Fault in Our Stars- "Love demands to be felt."

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Once Upon A Time- "You know its love when prince charming still chooses you in spite of the Storybrooke amnesia."

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Arrow/The Flash- "Heroes have failed to avoid the friendzone."

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Frozen- "Love is an open door."

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Harry Potter Series- "I will put my life in the line because I love you. Always."

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The Hunger Games Trilogy- "Ain't got no time for love. But love has got time for the press."

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus- "You know a guy is dam serious about you when he gives up the gift of immortality--or at least, a major part of himself, just to be with you."

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Twilight Saga- "You need a super perfect, protective guy and you have to be naive and surprisingly attractive in order to have the best mysterious romance of your life." 

If you haven't really based your ideal girl or guy on the shows and books you love, then wow. I actually admire you. Many would want a girl who can play video games, because of Sword Art Online. Girls dream to meet the man of their dreams in a gloomy courtyard of some academy that they thought they would dread. I'm not saying that's it is abnormal to think that way, because it happens a lot. It somehow irritates me when a character is perceived as too hot or too perfect. It makes me feel conflicted, actually. I love how they're described, but I hate how it tries to ingrain into my mind that I need to marry someone who is almost like this character. In other words, fandoms like that encourages other girls like me that they should pick this mysterious, complicated god-like man with a high disposable income and the ability to come up with romantic gimmicks over a very simple guy who may not have much to offer but only has the sweet intention of getting to know you because to him you're pretty special. If every girl in the world would always chose this god, then yeah...nice guys will end up finishing last, unfortunately.

Whether we like it or not, the realities of our fandoms is so much different from the reality we are currently in.  Because in the end, finding someone who has the hair of Jace Herondale, the kind nature of Peeta Mellark, has the rock-hard abs of any vampire, and the flawless talent of Daniel Grigori, is almost impossible. If you have someone who is as majestic as that, then congratulations. But if you're that frustrated person who thinks they can't have a love life, I say don't fret. I know, who am I--a random person on the internet--to tell you this? Trust me, I used to be that girl who would make those lists about what she wants in a man. So, hang in there. Your man (or girl) will come. And if that person does not have the gorgeous features that you were expecting, then I guess it won't matter once he or she comes along. Which is why, I challenge everyone lurking on the internet to do one task...Don't come up with standards.

Do not raise them, nor lower them. Just come clean and see what kind of partner you will attract. Because every great story every told always has an element of surprise. Yes, even love stories. Bella never expected to have a man like Edward Cullen. Percy Jackson thought he would never amount to anything until he received the best underwater kiss of his life from the girl he's cared about since they were kids. And Felicity Smoak probably just wanted a boyfriend, not two chiseled vigilante businessmen. These characters only did their thing, and love came to them just naturally. They didn't do any sort of voodoo, nor did they bother to wait. They just continued being awesome. And that's something you can also do. Don't spend your precious free time thinking of what your future husband or wife should be like. Be yourself and let the story of your life surprise you.

Till the next post~

The Fandom Formula for the Perfect Boyfriend

Avoiding the Fandom War

When it comes to our beloved fandoms, we are ruthless. 

The love we have for fictional characters can be easily compared to the love a mother has for her children. Anyone who dares to get in the way of that love...is asking for a death wish.

If a person with not much knowledge about fandoms triest to insult us...they can be easily forgiven. Why? Well, they don't know any better. Come on, we're not that heartless.

BUT...if a fellow person with a certain range of fandoms dares to insult any of my fandoms...even if it is just about single strand of Killian's hair ...there will be blood.

Anyone who has a love for anything that's not real, getsinto fandom wars. It happens all the time. There was the war of the directioners and directionators; A war between DC and Marvel (Team DC for layf); A war between bookworms about Pro-John Green and Anti-John Green; A war between Team Jacob, Team Edward, Team Peeta, and Team Gale deciding who rules the YA fiction world; even Stephen King and George R.R. Martin are creating their own wars. And sadly, their war is something that not even the great Gandalf himself can pass through.

We all want to prove that our fandoms are the best. That our taste in books, movies, music, and TV series are superb than anyone else's. Waging war against other fandoms though is ironically, like a double-edged sword. It creates both harm and good. Up till now, I am not sure if it is generating more harm than good, or vice versa. These wars, exercises our minds. I thought I would forever be the girl who can't speak her mind. But when it comes to fandom wars, I go full-on Amazonian mode for the books and series that I love. And as much as possible, I try to do it in a healthy way. I end up explaining why this show is good, why the characters are not what they seem. I am not only using voice via social media, I am developing a critical mind. Yes, believe me, there are plenty of other ways of being intelligent other than trying to get straight A's on college algebra. That's what makes Fandom Wars good. Our right to express anything we want, is being used at its best advantage.

However, you know what they say. Too much of something can also be a bad thing. Now, the bad thing about Fandom Wars is that they can get so out of hand, to the point we become demons. We terrorize others by swearing, insults, and even cyberbullying others. All because we want to rub it in everyone's faces that Game of Thrones is the best TV show, that One Direction is the best boy band, that no novel series can ever compare to what John Green writes, and that this character is the worst.

I am not saying we should all stop being mean to each other, because that can't be done right away. We are all very convinced that social media can help us take advantage of the opinions and inner voices we thought we never had in the first place. And for now, we do not want to let go of that very idea. Social media has somehow made us feel powerful. We can easily criticize one thing and get away with it. We can bash this celebrity and there's nothing anyone can do about it because it is your opinion. Same goes in fandom wars. I can easily say that Tyrion Lannister is the worst character ever, and you can easily tell me that Arrow is the worst DC-adapted show in history. We can go on and on about what we want to believe in. But in the end, nothing much is going to change. No fandom will win. Will that very idea give us a reason to stop fighting?

Till the next post~

How Fangirls Deal with Hiatus

Do you know that feeling when you finish this book or TV series that you love and then you learn that the next installment comes in a year or two? I hate it when that happens.

As people with fandoms, dealing with hiatus is something that we have to see through in the end. Writers and creators do this for fun so they can build up the suspense and this will make us want more of what they're producing. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate the idea of holding on to the edge of my seat; I just don't like experiencing it because it can kill me. For years and years, I spend every year anticipating for the next book, the next season, or even a brand new release. Wow, Tama. What the heck are you doing with your life?

Surprisingly, we can deal with hiatus. The itching impatience is still there, but fangirls and fanboys can definitely hold out for a year (unless you're part of the Game of Thrones fandom). Assuming we need at least a year to wait for the next big thing, there are stages in a fan's year as to how they keep themselves busy. Luckily, we can measure that in months. Yes my fellow fandom-crazed freaks. We wait in months. Not in decades. Months.

If the art of fangirling needs math (oh no, not this again), we only need to remember five numbers: 2, 3,4,2,1.

Obviously, it takes a lot of time for us to take in a series of unfortunate events. People working on our fandoms nowadays know how to tug on our feels, to the point it becomes unacceptable. So yes, it takes time for one to let things sink in. But that is far from over. We need to keep talking about it until we run out of saliva. In these five months, we do headcanons, probably fanfiction, lurk in Tumblr, and devise theories. We do this...just to feel something.

But we are human too and we get tired. So we take a break, and being the inner lazy people we all are....a week is not enough. We need four months. Hopefully during this time, we try to keep up with our boring lives. Then at a certain point in time, our fandoms will randomly announce that they're going to arrive really soon and this is means that the hiatus is almost drawing to a close. We wake up from our realities and become reckless once again. We lurk in the internet, talk about it some more, come up with wild theories that can pierce our hearts--we do all of this... just to feel something. It also takes a lot of time for us to emotionally prepare ourselves for the worst, of course.

This kind of hiatus does not really feel like you're living the hobo life. You still communicate, you do not just twiddle your thumbs, sometimes you eat out your feelings, and you learn how to prepare especially when it comes to purchasing issues! It doesn't really sound that bad, at all. And during our 4-month break, we explore other things due to our boredom. And again, that's not bad. Discovery is part of life, after all. See what hiatuses can do to us?

Now if you think you cannot survive a hiatus, never fear. I repeat, discovery is part of life. So here's what you can do during your year of hiatus:

1.) Don't just stick to the internet. Join a group. Or at least, find friends you can talk to about it. It's like therapy only better.
2.) Look for other fandoms to annoy. Trying a new fandom may sound like a forbidden temptation, but it never hurts to expand your interests.

and finally...

3.) Evaluate your life. Usually, when we succumb ourselves to something that is totally addicting, we forget what is really going on. I know it sucks but...wake up. Life can be beautiful if you change up your perspective, which is something that fandoms teach us.

Till the next post~

Book-To-Movie: The Main Problem

Have you experienced witnessing your favorite book in the entire world be turned into a movie or a TV series? If you did, were you satisfied by the media's adaptation of it? Now that is a question.

I can't count how many times my favorite books and comics got turned into film, TV series, or even animated features. A summary of my verdicts were 50/50. Some adaptations were really good or a-okay, and some were just terrible. But I think most of us can relate to the situation, wherein the movie adaptation completely ruins the book(s).

Lemme share all of you a simple story. Before I officially became demigod, I watched The Lightning Thief before even reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. My thoughts on the movie? It was fine. Interesting, but it didn't wrap up my mind.  A year later, my friend recommended the Percy Jackson series to me and she lent me all her five books. After reading the first book, I was immediately hooked. I was mesmerized by how much depth most of the characters had, enticed by Riordan's writing style, and overwhelmed by the Greek Mythology references. Overall, I fell in love with the Percy Jackson series and I officially declared myself as a demigod.

But right after I read the first book, the first thought that came to my mind before everything else was this, "Oh my god, the movie ruined the book."

The moral of the story? If you want to start on a book series and you learn that it became or is becoming a movie or a TV show, start with the movie or TV first. You will encounter spoilers, no doubt. But you will be spared from the feeling of disappointment. The question is, why do movie adaptations suck?

When I learned that The Mortal Instruments Series was going to have its own movie adaptation, I emotionally prepared myself for the worst. A huge part of me knew it was going to be terrible. A lot of people of the TMI fandom knew that, too. So they bombarded Cassandra Clare, who is the amazing writer of the Shadowhunter series--with lots of questions regarding the movie. Obviously, most of my fellow shadowhunters were concern who was going to play the main characters and how much of the plot is going to be in the movie. But in the end, Clare's answer is always said that it is out of her hands because she already sold the rights of her book to the filmmakers, and that the ones producing the film have the last say on what's going to happen in the script. I have to admit, that did not make me feel better. The good news was that Clare was highly involved in the production, but that did not stop the film from its downfall. I guess the main point of this story was to tell you that it is actually up to the filmmakers on how the story goes. Like, no matter how genius and creative the story is to you, they still have the power to change it. After all, to them it is just an adaptation. I don't know if they know how much these stories mean to us.

I guess I will never understand how the film industry dissects a plot from a book, but I do understand why we end up getting disappointed. It is because our imagination will never theirs. You can say that is the main challenge when you attempt to make a book series into a movie. If you want to make it a big hit, you should be fully aware that your target audience will be the readers. Don't just research the fandom, be the fandom. Because chances are a reader's vision is far different from a director's vision. However, I think trying to understand a reader's vision is...impossible. Because you're not just focusing on one member of the fandom, but thousands. Millions. Probably billions of readers. And each of us have a different version of this scenario. Each of us have a different idea of what our favorite hot male character would look like. Each of us have a different interpretation of what this feeling in the book is trying to express. And most of the time, our imaginations are just insane. They're so insane, they can't be comprehended in reality..sadly. The way people from fandoms envision their favorite characters is like how a women would set impossibly high standards for a mate. That's why most movies seem like they ruined our favorite books, somehow. Our standards are just way too high.

Till the next post~

Writer's Block: Otaku

There is nothing wrong with being an Otaku. 

If you do not know what an Otaku is then it's obviously a person who prefers to stay in their room and does nothing else but stuff their minds with whatever fandom comes to mind. Most people would see them as bums with no life. Sometimes the culture of an Otaku is also seen as something dangerous or simply unhealthy because they lock themselves in their rooms all day and prefer to face a computer screen rather an actual human being. I admit, living the Otaku life can be dangerous to your health, However, the problem is the a lot of people are only able to grasp just the idea of being an Otaku. That's why it's so easy for them to quickly judge them as sore losers who live under a rock. I may sound like biased person when I say this, but I am going to be completely honest with you; being an Otaku is not that bad. Perhaps it becomes a bad thing when you forget your limits, but apart from that living an Otaku life does not mean you don't have a social life or you are not knowledgeable enough to be considered an intellectual person. In other words, Otakus can be well-rounded people too. 

The first thing I would like to address is that Otakus are not stupid. In fact, they can be intelligent. They read and learn about informative shit in their fandoms and most of the Star Wars or Game of Thrones shit they love are based on actual facts that you ponder in school (or at work) everyday. Not only that, there are now blurred lines about any subject and the definition of a genius or a smart person is one of them. Being smart does not automatically mean that you are just a straight-A student. Heck no one told you that you need to be incredibly ambitious with schoolwork just so you can be considered intelligent. You can be smart or intelligent in your own way. Believe it or not, Otakus are already doing that. Watching one anime episode is enough for them to generate opinions about the most random things, including sensitive issues. Otakus are smart enough to think for themselves whilst reading, watching, or even playing video games (because playing games are not as easy as you think).

Another thing is that not all Otakus are bad at socializing. It may be a struggle but it does not mean we are stuck in this struggle forever. I am an Otaku and I started out as a terrible public speaker. And guess what? I decided that I do not want to remain that way, so I decided to build up my social skills because it was simply my choice. Like I said, Otakus think for themselves. We may make fun of ourselves being socially awkward, but we do not over indulge our faults for an eternity. Also, Otakus can go out. Otakus are not allergic to the outdoors. If some are, then deal with it. It just so happens there are people who prefer to stay inside the comfort of their homes for a reason. And if they prefer to stay there everyday, then I don't see why people have to make such a big issue about it. Staying indoors is a choice, just like going outdoors. When someone you know prefers to stay at home, it does not mean they end up deteriorating on the couch. It means that they just want to stay at home. That's it. There's nothing more to it.

Finally, Otakus do have lives. I am not sure what your definition of a life is, but I'm sure it centers around doing something you love. I have Otaku friends, but they have friends (like me, of course. I just said that they are my friends). They actually go to more parties than I do. They go to malls, have sleepovers, and attend Prom. Otakus can be suckers for the mundane things in life, too.

So if you're one of those people who look down on Otakus simply because of the idea of their lifestyle, then I just want to let you know that we live our lives  the way we want them to. And if you're one of those Otakus who live up to the social constructs that society labeled you to be (a.k.a. a total bum), then please do not revolve around this culture too much because too much of something can also be a bad thing. There is nothing wrong in making a little effort on trying new things. 

Teen Expectations and What They Actually Mean

Time to go off the pill.

Lately, adults think that teenagers or kids think that they know everything, while teenagers or kids think that adults think they know everything. It is pretty confusing, I know. What I'm trying to say is that as teenagers, we never fail to have a conflict with adults, especially with our parents. We fight for what we want and at the same time, our parents fight for what they want for us. In the end, we understand. But sometimes, we do not. Also, the conflict between kids and adults can vary. Not every situation is exactly the same. As for me, I grew up with mostly adults as my company (I have friends who are my age too, just so you know). I guess I would like to talk about the expectations imposed on the younger generation and what they actually mean. They may sound really unfair once you hear it, but once we comprehend a little bit further, they can be almost reasonable. Also these are the  expectations based on my country, so I guess it would be better if I express these so-called expectations in Filipino.

"Wag ka muna makipag-boyfriend/girlfriend." (Don't get a girlfriend/boyfriend yet.)
What it actually means: Enjoy your single life while you still can. Dating may seem like the best thing in the world, when it's not necessarily true. Adults know what its like to date someone and they know what is bad and what is good about it. Basically, they're trying to tell you that there are better things that you can do with your life. But if you firmly believe that love is the most important thing ever, then okay. At least you stand for something. Good luck telling that to your parents, though.
What Parents should say instead: I think discouraging your children not to date only encourages them to date. So if you are a parent of a teenager and you are reading this right now, then I am not surprised if your kid is secretly dating someone behind your back at this very moment (or probably worse than that, may God forbid). Trust me, I know plenty of people my age who are having sexual relations behind their backs, and chances are...your kid could be one of them. So yeah, you cannot force your child not to do something. Because at the end of the day, they will have to do things for themselves. If you really feel strongly against your kid dating, then explain why. Or simply encourage them there is more to life than just dating. That there are so much better things to do than looking for intimacy and the right person.

"Noong panahon ko, di ako masyado lumalabas." (Back in my day, I don't go out that much.)
What it actually means: It's not safe outside, which is very true. The crime rates around my place gets higher and higher as each day passes by, and it is scary. Whenever you go out, you never what could possibly happen to you. If your folks tell you this, then it simply means that they are just very concerned with your security.
What Parents should say instead: There's a difference between not allowing your kid outside and telling them that going out is simply a bad thing. In my country, this is considered as a way to discourage kids from going out and getting into trouble. When you are a person who goes out almost everyday, then the immediate first impressions would somehow involves you with sex, drugs, alcohol, partying, hainging out with bad company, or something that is just not good. I mean, it's okay to tell them that they can't go out because you say so, but implying that it's a bad thing is a different story altogether. Going out is not a bad thing, because as adults, it is something that you do that almost everyday too.

"Mag-aral ka nang mabuti." (Study hard)
What it actually means: Your parents want you to have a great life. They believe that education is the best way to give you that, because a diploma automatically means you have a chance to get a stable job...at least that's how it goes in my country. I don't think that's a bad thing, though. Finishing school may be a drag, but it's not necessarily the worst chapter of your life (unless you decide it is). If you are starting to think for yourself and having an opinion about something, then I guess those endless hours of school was not a complete waste of time for you at all; as long as you learned something because of school--may it be about yourself or about the substance of water--then education is important and you should cherish it. Otherwise, you wouldn't be answering back at your parents when it comes to fighting for something you want.
What Parents should say instead: Tell your kids to simply learn. Studying and learning are two different things. Based on my experience, I believe learning is so much better because I can apply it to my life not like some random complicated math formula. I'm not saying that you should stop bringing your kids to school (but then again, that's always your choice), because like I said earlier, bringing them out is not a bad thing.

"Bawal ka uminom, magparty, maningarilyo, magtalik, o magdroga. Conservative dapat." (Don't drink, party, don't smoke, don't have sex, don't take drugs. Be conservative.)
What it actually means: Don't waste your life on something that seems normal and cool, when in reality it is not worth it. Heck, I don't think you guys will bother to buy this because we live in a world where we are encouraged to do things that we want to do. I don't know what's everyone stand on vices, but it varies. In the perspective of your parents, always remember that they want what's best for you. So if your parents discourage from doing any of these, then don't feel bad only because you have friends with more permissive parents. They don't want you to have any vice, simply because they don't want you to be like other people. They want you to be yourself and you certainly do not need to drink or have sex to define yourself and your life. (I can feel someone disagreeing so strongly with this...)
What Parents should say instead: It's kind of like the whole dating thing; you can't completely deprive someone of doing something. Again, I have friends who do these things behind their parents back. So I guess it is safe to say that many kids are doing things behind their parents' backs. It's a given that you have to explain the extent of these things, but that's the best you can do. Eventually, it is up to your kids if they want to do these things or not. You can never impose that they should be conservative. If you don't want them to do certain things, then never tell them to be themselves. But if you want your kids to learn and be themselves, then don't tell them to be conservative.

Kids...Teens...if you are reading this, I want you to know a few things:
It's ok to make mistakes If you end up disobeying or screwing up (which happens all the time), then don't worry about it too much. You can sulk about it, but don't let it define your life. Learn from them and turn it into something good.
You can talk to your parents Don't be afraid. Why? Because they're the first people to love you. No matter how terrible your fights get, their love for you will never die. Sure, talking to your friends seem easier because they're good listeners, but there's no guarantee if what they're going to tell you is right. Basically, we're all young people trying to be mature and maybe our parents can help you with that.
Adults are not the bad guys, but they are not the alpha or the omega They're just people. They can also make mistakes and they have flaws. Don't expect them to be perfect, because they are not. Don't expect them to be assholes either, because they are not. Everyone is an asshole in their own way, so I don't think putting them down like that would make you a better person.

Parents if you are reading this, I also want you to know a few things:
Don't make your kids feel like the bad guys I remember watching this Youtube video once, and it was about drinking. There was this teenage who got drunk one night, so drunk she could not go home on her car. What made her upset was the fact that she could not call her parents for help, because she was afraid that her parents will judge her badly. Now what if that was your kid? I know many people, who can probably relate to this girl. Let your kids know that their behavior is bad, and not them as a person.
Let them know you can be a best friend too First off, you guys are--no offense--old. You've probably been through a lot of stuff, which makes you more qualified to help your kids with whatever problems they have. When your child screws up, tell them, "It's okay! I've been there, and here's what I did with the situation." Simple as that. It's okay to be authoritative, but it doesn't hurt to loosen the reins on certain areas, especially when your child finally turns into a teenager.
Don't belittle your children's problems Always remember that they don't have the same mind as you, in spite of genetics. You will probably see your kid's problem in a different- way-- don't do that. Try to put yourselves in your kids' shoes. It may not be an issue for you, but it is an issue for them. Understand what they're at, then that's when you starting advising.

For both parties I tell you...

Don't deal with each other. Understand each other. Be with each other. Love each other. You're a family, not random strangers under the same roof.

I feel so strongly about this because, our world has slowly become a place where it is okay to defy anyone; even our own parents. Basically, we're losing the definition of the word respect, even when it is being used all over the place. We demand it from our parents, we demand it from our teachers, we demand it from people we hate, we demand it from everyone. We keep demanding so much of it to the point, we forget that the whole point of respect is to respect someone first. But no, that's not how it is done anymore. It always has to be about us. Regardless of how badly we were treated or how big our problems were, we end up attacking everyone just to prove that we deserve all the goodness and the rights in this world. And this attack is affecting everybody. As in, everybody. I hope that one day, we would just start being nice with each other. Now this is one collective effort, I might say. Call this wishful thinking, but if we just stick to the simple and good stuff, then maybe we can be more satisfied, be more happy, more content, and eventually more merciful to this planet. I think.

Gotham Pilot Episode: First Look

Gotham is here (source)

As you all know the brand new show called, "Gotham" premiered it's very first episode this week. Basically kind of like an origin series for the notable characters of Gotham City. So far, the pilot starts with the murder of Batman's parents (of course). And guess who is working on the case? It's none other than our favorite commissioner, James Gordon and his partner, Harvey Bullock. From there, they encounter a few of Gotham's ultimate villains, namely Poison Ivy, Riddle, and Penguin. Since this is just the beginning, I'd like to share a few things regarding on some parts of the show.

Catwoman

Catwoman observing the Wayne Manor from a distance. (Source)

Catwoman was also featured--she happens to be the very first character to appear--but  like a ninja, she makes brief appearances every now and then. Specifically, whenever young Bruce is within the vicinity (yes, I can hear the SelinaXBruce fans rejoicing from a distance).

Personally, I am looking forward to her back story. I find it very interesting that they somehow connected her life to the murder of Bruce's parents. She was a witness, and this automatically gives her a connection to Bruce, somehow. And it gives the writers more reason to make her become more involved in the series.

Apart from that, I am dying to know how she ended up wandering around the streets and where she learned how to do those acrobat-like skills. However, the fact that she wears the same face whenever she is spotted at a place where Bruce is (Funeral, Wayne Manor), was not that impressive to me. I'm not sure if that's the facial expression you should have if you are following a boy you just saw after witnessing his parents getting killed (but then again, who can blame her? Young Bruce looks adorable!).

The Death of Thomas and Martha Wayne 

How it all began (source)

It's been quite a long time since the murder of Bruce's parents have become an important element to a Batman-related story. In most shows and movies, the only scoop we get from them is that...they were killed by a random mugger. But here in Gotham (and in the comics, obviously), it's implied that there's more to this. As mentioned earlier, the pilot episode revolves around James and Harvey solving the murder case of Bruce's parents. Although it's remains unresolved for now (thank you, Detective Bullock), the end tells us that this case is definitely not closed and that we will (hopefully) find more about the true killer of Thomas and Martha...and maybe we will know why.

Harvey Bullock and his "connections" 

Harvey Bullock (source)

Detective Bullock has these connections; connections that not everyone has and connections that can put your life in the line. Not only that, it's very clear that he's the type of guy who wants the job done, no matter what happens at the middle. Could it be that's the reason why he has mafia guys and mobsters as friends? At the end of the episode, I began to ask myself how is he connected to the likes of Fish Mooney and Carmine Falcone and why? Another intriguing character right here.

Penguin

Robin Lord Taylor truly captured the Penguin essence (source)

What will he do next?

Fish Mooney

Watching out for this character... (source)

Quite an odd name for a character, but it somehow works. Judging from the second name, it's safe to say that it's pretty easy to figure out what her motives in life are.

One thing I really like about DC is how they can make any character dangerous. At some point of any DC character's development, they will do only one thing that will make our jaws completely drop (may it be a badass moment, a high sex appeal, or something that can trigger your feels), Because of this, they become unforgettable, even if they are not part of the biggest of chunk of their respective plots. I know the same goes for most stories and fandoms, but DC has been quite consistent with this kind of thing, in my opinion.

Now, Mooney... I think the word dangerous is an understatement for her. If I could put a sign on her, I would seriously put a "Keep Out" sign--or any sign that has anything to do with avoidance and extreme caution, on her. Because, seriously, I think she's the main highlight of this episode for me, simply because she has this certain aura that can make your spinal cord shatter. It's implied that you can be friends with her, but you better watch it. Press the wrong buttons and you are officially screwed. Not only will you receive a bitchfit, but there's a high possibility that it will be the last bitchfit you will ever  have to experience.

I honestly do not know how to describe her. She's very unpredictable and it's been a long time I've encountered such a character. So I'm very intrigued and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Jada Pinkett Smith.

So far so good. Gotham is overall, very intriguing for me and I can't wait to see more from the characters, particularly the ones I mentioned. Personally, I recommend this show to Batman fans who are not too knowledgeable on the DC comics or to the fans who are just new to the whole Batman/DC fandom. It may not be exactly as accurate as the original, but it's a head start.

Fangirl Moment: Wonder Woman Revealed!

Source

Hello again! As most of you know, the appearance of Wonder Woman for the upcoming film, "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" has been revealed during the San Diego Comic Con. And I must say, it must have been considered one of the golden moment for DC fans worldwide (aside from the 75th anniversary of Batman, maybe). I mean, it's been a long time since we all seen a remake of a live-action Wonder Woman, right? And personally, out of all the superheroes ever created, Wonder Woman deserves some major appreciation. She's the definition of nobility, strength, honor, and justice. Furthermore, her character development as a person is quite impressive. So I am very happy that she will be featured in the upcoming Batman/Superman film and I am thrilled that she will have her very own film in a few years. Although, I haven't seen how Gal Gadot acts, I am hoping that she will nail her role. The photo of her as the Amazon looks very promising. It was something I did not expect. First of all, it is not any random rendition of her past costumes, nor is it the one in New 52, but it is something very different. It's hard to make out the actual colors of her costume, but I definitely do not see the star-patterned  bottoms. Not that I'm against it though, I am actually very happy with her outfit here. It screams Amazonian and that's how it should be. The pattern on her armor is also beyond amazing, words cannot describe how in awe I am by the details. Right now, I am waiting for at least a teaser that will feature Gal as Wonder Woman, so everyone can have an idea on how her acting skills are (since that's the most important!). To be honest, I am looking forward for DC to take over the film industry next, because the stories of each superhero and villain (including anti-hero) have sooo much potential, plus they have a whole set of amazing characters! And don't you think it's about time for Marvel to rest and let DC take the lead? Tell me what you think!