Since we're always behind the curve, we just finished S1 of The Umbrella Academy. I am utterly bemused by the absence of some modern technology in a fictional world set in 2019 where Grace/Mom exists. (I've read articles about that deliberate choice, and I have no quarrel with it, narratively; it's just really jarring once you're aware of it.)

I have a whole lot of other thoughts about the show, but they really all boil down to "Reginald Hargreeves WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK."

Thanks y'all for the recommendation for The Repair Shop. It's been fascinating, both the history of the various objects and the repair techniques involved.

My DH loves The Repair Shop (it's his GBBS), so thanks for the heads up about the new season!

I watched the animated donghua version of the Untamed (subbed) and it's very good. I've started on the Untamed for the second time. Also watching Heaven Official's blessing (a similar donghua) streaming on Funimation. We don't get a ton of licensed Chinese animation so I'm sort of loving it. The music and animation is gorgeous.

I haven't seen the animated version. I've heard people who've seen both animated and live-action version consider them as separate stories. (Donghua is...what? Don't want to use the wrong terms) Apparently the anime had a lot more lisence than the live-action series b/c the Chinese censors aren't as bird-doggish on gay and supernatural issues as they are with live-action. I will say, these particular actors managed an awful lot with facial expressions, body language, and line delivery. Some of the actors' voices were dubbed, for whatever reasons (do they do ADR in China? Or just have voice actors do their thing at the same time as the onscreen actors are filming, to save time? Just curious), including at least one of the leads, but having heard his voice, they cast the VO actor *very* close.

I'm currently watching The Wolf, which is also gorgeous, live-action. And once you get past the squeaky ingenue and wardrobe's suggestion of raised-by-wolves in the first two episodes it gets pretty quickly into politics, intrigue, loyalty, soulmates, and all the good stuff. I've heard good things about Heaven's Official Blessing, and there is a live-action series in the works.

Bev, donghua is Chinese anime. (Probably only matters to anime nerds like me). And yeah, the censors are much tougher on live action. Heaven Official's Blessing is also BL (Boys Love, which most Asian countries use to for gay male protagonists.)

I watched the most recent ep. of The Mandalorian, and I am (possibly) unreasonably mad about it. Spoiler-ish: OH MY G-D Mando you are a bad stepfather. As soon as those stormtroopers showed up, you should have ran back to where you left the baby and STAYED THERE.

Ah! My from-osmosis guesses were both right. Thanks. So, donghua isn't a specific anime genre? Just all Chinese anime?

Ooh! I just found Mo Dao Zu Shi on YouTube, and after watching a minute, I've got it tabbed to watch later. It looks amazing! Thanks for the rec.

I assume Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is the sequel to MDZS?

And also? Oh goodie! A new rabbit hole to fall down. Thanks, Cash!

That's a very valid point, Atropa, but I'm sure the second time he failed to get through the Force field at all he thought "well, at least he'll be safe there" and just had that assumption sitting in the back of his mind from then on. From the previous week Ahsoka is my girl but are we sure she got that name right?

So. How about that Mandolorian, eh?