2023 Recap: The Fandom Experience

2023 Recap: The Fandom Experience

After years of binge-watching, I have returned to waiting for new episodes each week and let me tell you, it's been equally fun and frustrating. However, finding this tumblr corner was a blessing because honestly, nothing beats a collective frenzy around the things you enjoy (everything else that is to say about the community here was already mentioned by @befuddledcinnamonroll, I co-sign)

To celebrate the uniqueness and craziness of this den (affectionate) I present to you 5 of my favourite "JUST FANDOM THINGS" moments or events(?) that happened on my dash this year.

#1 That week during which we didn't know if episode 6 of The Eighth Sense happened for real or if it was just a hallucination.

This @jemmo post summarizes it well:

I admit I was a team "not all of the things we saw were real". And I still believe that it was partially shot through Jae Won's substance-addled brain.

#2 When @blmpff gathered troops to vote for Fluke Pongsakorn not to cut his hair.

Mags is doing the best work to keep us entertained and informed. That whole reblog chain and what ensued was hilarious. Spoiler. Fluke cut his hair anyway but I admire our collective dedication. (@callipigio, @neuroticbookworm, @omarandjohnny do you remember those dire times?)

(I could also mention the start of a @khunfeathers fanclub as one of the highlights. I'm expecting our bird to achieve the MoD cactus fame when Red Peaflow starts airing.)

#3 When out of nowhere my dash was full of La Pluie meta

I remember it mostly because I didn't vibe with the show myself so each week I was like, hmmm... good for you guys. It was a great mental exercise to identify the points that I agree and disagree with." @lurkingshan @bengiyo @neuroticbookworm and many many others put in incredible work. It felt like witnessing a creative writing course or something.

#4 When we started the QL songs tag game that made me watch half of the shows that I watched this year.

The number of songs I get to know through this game is INSANE. It was a final push for me to watch ITSAY because its soundtrack is a beloved one for many of you. And all the Pinoy songs @tenprem mentioned that led me to Like in The Movies! A brand new world opened before me, for real. Also, I got to follow lots of new people.

You can still see #5qls tag or check out mine and @thegalwhorants playlists.

#5 Watching His Man 2 tag be on fire and the 2sung fam growing stronger every week.

It's not connected to the drama world itself but still. I joined the hype train around episode 4(?) because @taikanyohou gifs and tags were too compelling, like in the example below:

And I wholeheartedly agree. The way this show was edited, those damn cliffhangers almost every week, the pacing... And to think that it's a dating reality show of all things, phew.

I didn't join the convo when the show was airing as I was still trying to process the fact that these are VERY REAL PEOPLE and I usually do not go there. However, refreshing the tag to see what those 10 users on tumblr thought about each new episode turned into a Friday ritual for me. Gosh. As @lurkingshan said this show is better than 90% of BLs that we had this year.

I probably forgot other fun times (please remind me!) but boy do I love it here.

The photo Charlie took we finally have it🥹

KP APPRECIATION : Week 10 – weapon(s)

Kinn’s Gun

+ Bonus : Porsche’s gun

I haven't got a job. Why not? I think they only want clean people. They haven't taken that thing off yet? It's gone. But I guess some people still see it.

Way: I'm tired of being a good guy!

Me:

Charlie&Babe Ep1 VS. Ep.6 😎

Video credit @mt9394_zy on Twitter 🙏