#womances

No matter what happens in the last episode, Twenty Five Twenty One is going to be right up there in the list of best television shows of all time from anywhere in the world because of how beautifully writer Kwon Do Eun has written the relationship between Ko Yu Rim and Na Hee Do. It is e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. and the tournament in Madrid is perfection.

Bona's reaction to being told that Hee Do doesn't want to meet Yu Rim; Kim Tae Ri channelling every fierce female goddess ever when Hee Do watches Yu Rim compete from the sidelines; the unmasking of the helmets and that conversation while hugging — if that isn't trule love, there is nothing good in the world.

After the Madrid segment though, episode 15 was underwhelming. Twenty Five Twenty One has been perfection for 14 and a half episodes, so I suppose we should cut them some slack. But there's no denying that post-Madrid, the episode lacks rhythm and emotional depth (this is despite bringing in one of the ultimate global tragedies, 9/11).

I love the idea of showing the breakdown of a relationship by tracking how the same thing — being late for or missing dates — can take on different proportions and evoke different reactions in both parties, but the execution was not as elegant as the idea. It became a little monotonous and sentimental. This may also be because I for one feel a lot more invested in Yi Jin and Hee Do's relationship when they were friends than I do for them as lovers. (Also, I know it isn't really fair to compare but Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk don't have half the chemistry that Kim Tae Ri has with Bona.)

There's a part of me that feels that the whole romantic relationship with Yi Jin was only written so that Kwon could give us the scenes between Hee Do and her mother, where Jae Kyung points out to Hee Do that she has different standards for her mother and her boyfriend.

"It's unacceptable for your mom, but it's ok for your boyfriend?"

Because it's true. We have different standards for women, and we have way different standards for working women, and waaaay different standards for working mothers.

One of the things I've really appreciated in Twenty Five Twenty One is the way it's shown the media. Kwon doesn't forgive the media its mistakes. We see unscrupulous journalists who try to manipulate people, invasive paparazzi who hound celebrities, and news reports that completely fabricate 'news'. At the same time though, there are people like Jae Kyung, Jung Hyuk, Yi Jin and the guy handling the New York bureau, who do real journalism and these are the people who get prominence (rather than bad journalists). You see the actual labour, passion and idealism that goes into the actual work. You see the toll that it has on them — sacrificing family life, nightmares, sleepless nights, half-eaten meals, crushed hopes.

The way the media is shown in Twenty Five Twenty One is a reminder of what the media is supposed to do, a reminder of why it's called a pillar of democracy, and what it takes to live up to that job description.

I forgot to post this last episode- these two and their friendship. <3

IM cRYING

Ed: Damn it, it's strong! At this rate... Wh- What the! ?: So weak! You guys really are useless without me! Winry: Viola! Armstrong: Viola-dono!

and saves the day with some stuff she bought. Turns out Riza and Roy got ahold of some lady to heal her. Winry is so happy they helped Viola she enthusiastically thanks them before Vi even gets a chance. WOW THEY ARE TOTAL GIRLFRIENDS.

THIS IS WHAT VIOLA LOOKS LIKE BY THE WAY

WHAT A TOTAL CUTIE

so tuff

i can't believe i'm so invested in an original  character from a video game spinoff but i can't help it WINRY'S AUTOMAIL MECHANIC GIRLFRIEND

i may have found a fma femslash otp that can compete with Winry/Paninya