Thursday, 27 April 2023

Top 15 Favourite TV Shows of All Time

I don't usually like watching television. Not a lot of it, anyway. Indulgent activities such as binging the latest popular and trendy series, or any series, tend to end in burnout and disappointment for me, especially with shows that go on for much longer than they need to. I only watch what catches my interest, and discontinue and move on when I find it to be either lacking, underwhelming, misguided, ill-planned, mindless, insensitive, tasteless, offensive, or simply not for me. I am very picky. Plus my inclination to and admiration for things like western cartoons and anime (nostalgic or not) have faded for good and I have outgrown them, with a few exceptions. And now I know for certain I hate sitcoms and any kind of comedy shows.

Yet, it isn't until very recently that I find I still have enough love for enough TV programmes that I can, at last, make a list. Any reader can surmise my tastes based on it.

Get ready for nearly all-female-lead, nearly all-feminist-and-leftist, nearly all-animated, and nearly all-fantasy/fantasy world shows here!

There might even be a single enjoyable sitcom on the list!





15. Miranda (2009-2015)


14. Birds of Prey (2002)


13. The Simpsons (1989-present)


12. Princess Tutu (2002-2003)


11. Wonder Woman (1975-1979)


10. Amphibia (2019-2022)


9. Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)


8. Hilda (2018-present)


7. She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985-1987)


6. Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022)


5. Arcane: League of Legends (2021-present)


4. Sailor Moon (1992-1997)


3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)


2. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020)


1. The Owl House (2020-2023)



Maybe once I'm back on Netflix, Wednesday will be included on this list. Who knows. We'll see.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeee!



April 2023 Update

I have been very depressed for the last two months or so. That is part of the reason for my lack of posting recently. I've been processing things that have happened in my life; things I can't believe it's taken me so long to realise. I won't mention anything here, but it is traumatic. I am going to therapy, and hopefully this will pass, and I can move on. But whatever happens, whether I feel better sooner or later, I can't see myself continuing to blog after 2023. There's just not much to post. I'm pretty much burned out on nearly everything now. Maybe I'm finally growing up? I also want to stay as far away from social media as I can; so much toxicity and hate is not healthy. When online, I want to have fun and escape, that's all. Toxic fandoms, toxic creators, and toxic relationships of every kind should be averted and moved on from; they're not worth it in the long run, and you will come to regret engaging in and being a part of them; of having anything to do with them.

As of now, my final plans for blogging, and general online posting, in 2023 involve reading eight more graphic novels set to be published this year, and reading six novels. I still gravitate towards, and am soft on, the odd comic now and then, but I haven't enjoyed reading a whole prose book in ages - the last novel I legitimately, wholeheartedly liked was Legends & Lattes, and that was five months ago. Then there's Long Live the Pumpkin Queen six months ago, One Last Stop ten months ago, and Not My Problem fourteen months ago. That I might be slightly inclined to read some books that have recently caught my interest, despite too many disappointments, is this a sign that am I coming back? Am I getting better? We'll see.

I also plan to resubscribe to Netflix and Disney+ in June or July to watch some stuff. Like before, it will only be temporary. All these megacorporations we are giving our money to are dodgy as fuck, and incompetent, if not outright abusive, and they need to get their acts together and respect their paying customers.

And I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it: Fuck capitalism.

On a much needed positive note, happening in the present, I have now seen all of The Owl House. It is a great, wonderful, clever and highly emotional series. It might even be my favourite show of all time. It was made for me. I love it so much, and it makes me happy to see that so many other people do, too. This fandom is so positive and adoring. No toxicity in sight! Yes, one can't help but be saddened and wonder what could have been if Disney wasn't run by a complete and utter *%^*$! or two, but what we ended up with in the shortened finale is awesome nonetheless. As my love of Harry Potter has soured over the years due to its author being a terrible person, The Owl House has filled that void, in my love of fantasy franchises. And what I didn't get from Buffy (ditto its own toxic and abusive creator) I got from The Owl House. A fantastic, sensitive, and diverse and inclusive, animated fantasy series, made by a loving, passionate and dedicated crew - of passionate and worldly geeks and nerds! Remember: support creators, not companies. Companies, conglomerates, they have enough money, and fuck 'em in general. Dana Terrace's dislike of musicals still baffles me, though. As yet known she isn't a problematic person, at least.

Film news: I've seen the film adaptation of Matilda the Musical, and I love it. I haven't seen the stage musical, but I've listened to all the songs on YouTube, and I think both versions have worthy merit and credit. Aaaaannnd that's it on the film front from me, as of today.

Well, I've cheered up a little now. Depression and disheartenings aside, perhaps I remain a geek woman at heart. A bookworm at heart. These things, these parts on one's identity, just can't go away that simply. This year I've culled so many books - and manga and anime DVDs - but every so often I find myself adding more pop culture commemoratives to my room; to my collection. You bet I've already ordered The Owl House merch, unofficial so Disney won't receive a dime off of them!

One more personal list coming up, and that's it for this month. I'll be busy with real life important stuff next month, but I'll be reading a few upcoming graphic novels, too.

Wish me luck. And happy health.

Practice self care. Always.

Love everyone.



Monday, 10 April 2023

Graphic Novel Review - 'Belle of the Ball' by Mari Costa

I wanted to give Mari Costa another chance after very much disliking 'Life of Melody'.

Now I will not read any more of her works.

'Belle of the Ball' has pretty similar themes to 'Life of Melody' - terrible characters in seriously unhealthy relationships, doing terrible things to each other. Manipulation, threats (including death threats to an underaged drunk girl, from her love interest! ), bullying, physical assault, narcissistic and self-indulgent undermining of others' wants and needs, coercion, sudden "romantic" trips that can easily be read as kidnapping, victim blaming - these red flags and more are present. All of which get glossed over and forgotten about as soon as they rear their ugly heads. Details, such as side characters and plot threads, that are dropped in and abandoned right after they're introduced, plus a few odd and contradictory lines of dialogue, are other things 'Belle of the Ball' shares in common with 'Life of Melody'.

If it wasn't bad enough, in 'Belle of the Ball', these issues are conflated in a love triangle, and it is framed so that one relationship is presented as "less toxic" in comparison to the other, and therefore is the favoured OTP. It doesn't work like that - it's all toxic and horrible! I know the characters - all three of them, Hawkins, Chloe and Regina, who form said love triangle, and so are the only ones that matter, and who are given names - are teenagers and no one is perfect, but the messed up things they do and say here shouldn't be normalised! I'm shocked that this is indeed a 2023 story.

And almost every review I've read calls it cute and fluffy!

Maybe people would've noticed the obviously abusive tendencies more if the leads weren't all girls? The LBGTQ direction doesn't magically make it all okay.

Granted, there are some cute little moments and touches, like with the timid, nerdy tomboy Hawkins and her secret girly, Magical Girl-loving side, but they do not and should not negate how unlikeable and venomous Chloe and Regina are to her, and how they are to one another.

The comic's stylised palette of pink, white and darker colours and tones is okay, if not really fitting its darker underbelly, for there is not much that is actually rosy to be found. I am creeped out and disturbed whenever the characters are drawn off-model, with wide cartoony eyes, in "intense" moments - it's jarring. That kind of OTT goofy and unsettling artwork works in comics like 'Creepy Cat' because it's of the horror comedy genre, and it's supposed to get under your skin and make you feel slightly unnerved. It does not gel with "adorable" romantic comedies supposedly designed to make you go "aww"!

Also, I swear I never, ever want to see Chloe's smug, grinning, condescending, highly punchable facial expression again. Also also, about the Belle of the title? We never see her attend any kind of big ball, or a prom, for that matter, apart from snapshots at the very end, where she isn't highlighted to be anyone special. Like nearly everything else, it's glossed over. What a waste, and false advertisement.

In conclusion, I do not like 'Belle of the Ball', because I believe it perceives abusive, disrespectful relationships in a positive, "happily ever after" light, intentionally or not. I find it to be far from "cute". That and the bizarre artistic choices with characters' facial expressions. Not much of a plot or stakes, either: it's all about the high school love triangle, where the three leads are literally the only players that matter; who appear for more than a few pages.

The graphic novel disturbed me, and didn't succeed in getting me out of my current slump and depression. Oh well.

Final Score: 2/5