“Have You Seen My Son?!”

The non-existent fourth wall is staggering.

So are we gonna drop playing dumb with this whole pet cheetah being a weird song thing and admit it's the single greatest song on the album already? Cause it's giving me physical pain, it's honestly such a hit, guys please I'm begging you

So was I the only one who thought the new girl who took Hannah’s locker was going to be a recurrent character? 

Just me?

Altight.

when things go south

Spoilers for Dandadan, but I find it really funny how Dandadan has two simultaneous solutions for the Fermi paradox:

1. The aliens are already here, but like any other immigrants, they're just trying to live their life and just kinda fade into the background, so nobody really notices that they're even there.

2. Earth's haunted. The planet-conquering aliens are not ready to deal with that shit.

watch this movie. it’s life changing. and it’s worth every second.

Found some of my older essays in my google docs… you guys are very lucky. This may or may not be the last post until my winter break (depending on if i find more old essays)

love in slam dunk

Slam Dunk is best known for its intense basketball action and character-driven storytelling, but it also features some of the most pure and heartfelt depictions of love in shōnen manga. The relationships between Ryota Miyagi and Ayako, as well as Hanamichi Sakuragi and Haruko Akagi, provide a fresh perspective on romance, one that diverts from over-the-top romance tropes common in the Shonen genre, instead opting for moments of emotional authenticity among the series’s main two couples.

Ryota Miyagi’s feelings for Ayako are sometimes loud or obvious, but they are undeniably genuine. Ryota admires Ayako not just for her beauty but for her maturity, intelligence, and leadership as the team’s manager. One memorable example occurs when Ayako scolds Ryota for his brashness during practice, and instead of becoming defensive or aggressive, he listens attentively and takes her words to heart. He even scolds the others to listen to her words. This shows the respect Ryota holds for her, not as an idealized love interest but as someone who inspires him to be better.

What makes their dynamic so refreshing is Ayako’s independence and confidence. She acknowledges Ryota’s admiration without being dismissive or overly accommodating.

Throughout the series, Ayako’s support for Ryota goes beyond her role as the team manager. During games, she often singles him out with specific advice and encouragement, such as reminding him to stay calm under pressure or praising his quick decisions.

These moments may seem small, but they show Ayako’s awareness of Ryota’s struggles and it is her own way of reciprocating his feelings. Ayako doesn’t openly express romantic affection, but her actions—like cheering him on when he feels overwhelmed—speak volumes about her care for him.

Their dynamic, where love is expressed through small, caring acts rather than overt declarations/gestures, reflects a level of maturity rare in shonen manga. Their relationship thrives on mutual respect and understanding, and it shows that love doesn’t always need to be dramatic to be meaningful.

Hanamichi Sakuragi’s love for Haruko Akagi is one of the driving forces behind his decision to join the basketball team, but it is far from a typical romance. His feelings for Haruko are pure and earnest, fueled by admiration for her kindness and enthusiasm for the sport. What makes their dynamic unique is how Haruko inspires Hanamichi to grow—not by demanding it, but simply by believing in his potential.

Another thing sets their dynamic apart is how Hanamichi’s love is portrayed not as an obsessive or idealized fantasy, but as an innocent longing for connection. This innocence is most evident in Hanamichi’s fantasy of what it would mean to have a girlfriend. Unlike typical shonen protagonists, whose romantic aspirations might revolve around physical attraction or “weird” scenarios, Hanamichi’s dream is simply to walk a girl to and from school. This vision is strikingly pure and reflective of the awkward, genuine feelings of a teenager experiencing love for the first time. It is a big contrast to many shonen, which often sexualize their female characters or present romance in a way that feels transactional

Haruko, for her part, never mocks or diminishes Hanamichi’s feelings. While she is unaware of his crush, she consistently treats him with kindness and encourages his growth. A memorable example is when she praises Hanamichi for staying late to practice his shooting, showing that she values his effort and determination. Though Haruko’s heart belongs to Rukawa, her warmth and encouragement play a massive role in Hanamichi’s journey toward self discovery.

What makes Hanamichi and Haruko’s relationship so compelling is its emotional weight. Hanamichi’s crush is not rewarded with a confession or a dramatic romantic arc, but it serves as a catalyst for his personal growth. By channeling his love for Haruko into his newfound passion for basketball, Hanamichi discovers a sense of purpose and self-worth. Their relationship captures the awkwardness and uncertainty of teenage infatuation while showing how love, even unrequited, can push someone to be their best self.

In many shonen series, romantic subplots are rife with clichés. Female characters are often reduced to idealized figures or comic relief, while male protagonists are rewarded with their love interests after overcoming obstacles that have little to do with the relationship itself. In contrast, Slam Dunk grounds its romances in simple, yet authentic moments. Ryota’s admiration for Ayako and Hanamichi’s earnest crush on Haruko feel more like reflections of real human relationships than formulaic storylines.

For example, Ryota doesn’t win Ayako’s heart by performing some dramatic act; instead, his feelings are expressed through his consistent respect for her and the way he values her advice. Similarly, Hanamichi’s love for Haruko isn’t the reason he succeeds in basketball, but it serves as a gentle nudge toward discovering his own passion and discipline. These relationships are not about conquering or achieving love—they are about learning, growing, and connecting on a deeper level.

My favorite fandom is the Jacksfilms Fandom

It’s the only fandom that I can think of where the audience insults the Youtuber and the Youtuber insults the audience and both parties insult everyone else and the best part is that NO ONE gets hurt.

…except maybe Jinx but we don’t really talk about that.

Divide ÷

Why would someone make such an awesome album? Like I don’t think awesome is even close to describe it but oh well...

Leaving Castle on the Hill and Shape of You aside for obvious reasons; first I’d like to point out I loved every single song on this freaking genius piece of art but I just feel like some of them dug into me in a personal way, like Dive or Save Myself, that are practically the most relatable of all of his lyrics. Hands down for both of them.

And then there’s Supermarket Flowers that had me tearing up even though I have the luck of never have lost a close relative, I mean you just have to hear his voice to feel the pain as your own. Same goes with Perfect, Happier and Eraser (So glad he touched this topic and RAPPED it, makes a great convo with What Do I Know?). He just carries me with his emotions for me to decipher his feelings and finally understand. I don’t know about you but I personally don’t know many artists that have the ability to do this at such a level. 

I’m genuinely happy by the way of all the hopeful love songs he wrote (Perfect, How would you feel, Hearts don’t Break Around Here, Galway Girl...), I can tell how deep in love he must be. 

And I kind of found myself making a correlation between Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan. Man, Nancy Mulligan. I went through this one simultaneously crying and smiling like a mad person (well done there Sheeran, I hope you’re proud of yourself). What I mean is, there’s his granparents story, since the very beginning while Galway Girl would be his own love story, in both cases having an irish vibe, to say the least. 

I was also amazed at how he just went and throw so many different rythms, in Barcelona, Bibia Be Ye Ye, Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan specifically. You can tell he has been traveling a lot. 

In any way the album as a whole is such a good mix of songs, well balanced with love and nostalgia. Maybe is too soon to tell, I’m still shocked I’m not even gonna deny it, but divide is right now my favourite Ed Sheeran album, or one of my favourites in life to be fair. 

What is to not love this man, amiright?