Jee is Done with Pharloom, Now Off to Valisthea
@jeeyee.bsky.social
Sort-of writer. Serial doodler. Daydream believer. One of the three Ghidorah heads at deconrecon.asia. He/him.
The two leads being middle-aged adds a complexity to their relationship, as they navigate the crossroads between a familiar (yet stagnant) life vs accepting change for love. By the end, it asks: what is a happy family? One that pretends nothing is wrong, or one that faces harsh truths?
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM
The two leads being middle-aged adds a complexity to their relationship, as they navigate the crossroads between a familiar (yet stagnant) life vs accepting change for love. By the end, it asks: what is a happy family? One that pretends nothing is wrong, or one that faces harsh truths?
Their Marriage (Shiawasena Kekkon) is an odd but compelling mix of cozy, middle-aged romance with mystery. The shift between the two can be jarring, but it mostly works thanks to great leads and it being, ultimately, about accepting the big changes (good and bad) that comes with marriage.
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Their Marriage (Shiawasena Kekkon) is an odd but compelling mix of cozy, middle-aged romance with mystery. The shift between the two can be jarring, but it mostly works thanks to great leads and it being, ultimately, about accepting the big changes (good and bad) that comes with marriage.
So I got the texture and look fairly okay, but they're too salty, on account of me putting too much of the scallion oil paste.
November 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
So I got the texture and look fairly okay, but they're too salty, on account of me putting too much of the scallion oil paste.
I feel like Mia Goth's Elizabeth is the POV of GDT himself, the person who sees the beauty in the macabre, the one who is kind and curious, and the one who empathizes with the "monster." And it was her who said what I feel is the thesis of the film: "Choice is the seed of the soul."
November 18, 2025 at 5:34 AM
I feel like Mia Goth's Elizabeth is the POV of GDT himself, the person who sees the beauty in the macabre, the one who is kind and curious, and the one who empathizes with the "monster." And it was her who said what I feel is the thesis of the film: "Choice is the seed of the soul."
What I like best about GDT's Frankenstein is that it's a conversation--a back and forth between father and son, the creator and the created, God and Humanity, monster and man. Within that we explore the measures that make us, the cycles worth breaking, and the life worth pursuing. I adore it.
November 18, 2025 at 5:34 AM
What I like best about GDT's Frankenstein is that it's a conversation--a back and forth between father and son, the creator and the created, God and Humanity, monster and man. Within that we explore the measures that make us, the cycles worth breaking, and the life worth pursuing. I adore it.
Got to revisit Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm. Roger Ebert put it best in his review: "...is a work of limitless invention, but it is invention without pattern." It's a messy film with little emotional stakes, but it is pretty, and fun, and sometimes shocking. Worth a watch any day.
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Got to revisit Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm. Roger Ebert put it best in his review: "...is a work of limitless invention, but it is invention without pattern." It's a messy film with little emotional stakes, but it is pretty, and fun, and sometimes shocking. Worth a watch any day.
Predator: Badlands is a thrilling good time with--unexpectedly for a Predator-starring Predator film--a lot of heart. Cool that, in a franchise that started off subverting expectations of 90s macho action stars, this one subverts the masculine lone-wolf narrative (to good effect).
November 17, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Predator: Badlands is a thrilling good time with--unexpectedly for a Predator-starring Predator film--a lot of heart. Cool that, in a franchise that started off subverting expectations of 90s macho action stars, this one subverts the masculine lone-wolf narrative (to good effect).
Been watching Breaking Bad (for the first time) and also going through the BoJack Horseman seasons I never watched, and I can't help but wonder if BoJack's Todd is a deliberate parody/critique of Jesse Pinkman. Like if Jesse is just pure-hearted and good with no big worldly desires, you get Todd.
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Been watching Breaking Bad (for the first time) and also going through the BoJack Horseman seasons I never watched, and I can't help but wonder if BoJack's Todd is a deliberate parody/critique of Jesse Pinkman. Like if Jesse is just pure-hearted and good with no big worldly desires, you get Todd.
Watched Sleepless in Seattle with the wife, who thought she saw it, but mistook it for something else (my guess was While You Were Sleeping). We liked it a lot. Truly audacious to have a romcom where your protagonists never met, but it works, thanks to great dialogue with great supporting casts.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Watched Sleepless in Seattle with the wife, who thought she saw it, but mistook it for something else (my guess was While You Were Sleeping). We liked it a lot. Truly audacious to have a romcom where your protagonists never met, but it works, thanks to great dialogue with great supporting casts.
Took a day trip to Melaka and had a good time, especially at the Crocodile Park, which I visited twice before (once as a kid, once as a teen). I'm just sad that the Haunted House attraction has closed down. The entrance and paintings evoke a sense of nostalgic dread, if there's such a thing.
November 9, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Took a day trip to Melaka and had a good time, especially at the Crocodile Park, which I visited twice before (once as a kid, once as a teen). I'm just sad that the Haunted House attraction has closed down. The entrance and paintings evoke a sense of nostalgic dread, if there's such a thing.
There's a curry noodles stall in Taman Megah that puts roast pork in it and may very well be among my 3 favorites right now.
November 9, 2025 at 4:15 AM
There's a curry noodles stall in Taman Megah that puts roast pork in it and may very well be among my 3 favorites right now.
I love it just as much as I loved the first Hollow Knight, though I like Hornet more as a protagonist. She's such a joy to control, and her personality gives more life to the way she interacts with the world. I didn't 100% the game, but 57 hours for 95% feels enough.
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I love it just as much as I loved the first Hollow Knight, though I like Hornet more as a protagonist. She's such a joy to control, and her personality gives more life to the way she interacts with the world. I didn't 100% the game, but 57 hours for 95% feels enough.
Finally finished Silksong! It's definitely tough and sometimes deviously frustrating, but no other game I've played in recent times made me feel so excited to just explore and navigate. Such wonderful areas to discover. Such wondrous artistry and music. Great NPCs to get attached to.
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Finally finished Silksong! It's definitely tough and sometimes deviously frustrating, but no other game I've played in recent times made me feel so excited to just explore and navigate. Such wonderful areas to discover. Such wondrous artistry and music. Great NPCs to get attached to.
Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love! hooked me quickly and deeply. This is a fun read, with a potent mix of rom-com and a bit of mystery, but the best part is protagonist Yumeko's boundless optimism, self-confidence, and wholesomeness that is just so joyous to witness. (Got my wife hooked on it, too!)
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love! hooked me quickly and deeply. This is a fun read, with a potent mix of rom-com and a bit of mystery, but the best part is protagonist Yumeko's boundless optimism, self-confidence, and wholesomeness that is just so joyous to witness. (Got my wife hooked on it, too!)
Good friends graciously lent me their PS5 so now I can finally get into Final Fantasy XVI, probably the only reason (along with FFVII: Rebirth) for me to get a current-gen console. I still have Silksong to complete, but now there's something for me to play when the wife is using the Steam Deck.
November 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Good friends graciously lent me their PS5 so now I can finally get into Final Fantasy XVI, probably the only reason (along with FFVII: Rebirth) for me to get a current-gen console. I still have Silksong to complete, but now there's something for me to play when the wife is using the Steam Deck.
Scouted a few books to get when I dropped by Eslite the other day, though I'll admit that I'm very intrigued by Uketsu's Strange Houses and how it uses floor plans to build mystery and dread.
November 3, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Scouted a few books to get when I dropped by Eslite the other day, though I'll admit that I'm very intrigued by Uketsu's Strange Houses and how it uses floor plans to build mystery and dread.
Finished Annie Bot over the weekend. What an amazing book, delving into misogyny, toxic masculinity & abuse from the perspective of an entity that is supposed to overlook all this, & in that process interrogates many aspects of our relationship with AI and tech. Sinks its hooks quickly & deeply.
November 3, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Finished Annie Bot over the weekend. What an amazing book, delving into misogyny, toxic masculinity & abuse from the perspective of an entity that is supposed to overlook all this, & in that process interrogates many aspects of our relationship with AI and tech. Sinks its hooks quickly & deeply.
The Blackening was the perfect Halloween night movie for a Halloween night that we just wanted to stay in. Sharp satire of horror movie tropes while funnily exploring the intricacies of black culture. Would've been more fun if it was gorier, but was a great, laugh-out-loud time for a spooky night.
November 2, 2025 at 4:08 AM
The Blackening was the perfect Halloween night movie for a Halloween night that we just wanted to stay in. Sharp satire of horror movie tropes while funnily exploring the intricacies of black culture. Would've been more fun if it was gorier, but was a great, laugh-out-loud time for a spooky night.
I didn't catch up to the latest chapters but I do really like Ao no Orchestra. It has your buffet of shounen tropes - hard work, rivals, teen angst - but the drama of rediscovering love of music and the strive to be better is very engaging. A masterclass in visualizing music and its impact.
October 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
I didn't catch up to the latest chapters but I do really like Ao no Orchestra. It has your buffet of shounen tropes - hard work, rivals, teen angst - but the drama of rediscovering love of music and the strive to be better is very engaging. A masterclass in visualizing music and its impact.
As far as straight male wish-fulfilment isekai goes, Tensei Shite Inaka de Slow Life wo Okuritai is as cozy as it gets. It eschews any form of high stakes, just kinda coasts along, which I guess is the point. "What if I'm just rich and carefree?" is a good hook as any, just quickly boring.
October 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM
As far as straight male wish-fulfilment isekai goes, Tensei Shite Inaka de Slow Life wo Okuritai is as cozy as it gets. It eschews any form of high stakes, just kinda coasts along, which I guess is the point. "What if I'm just rich and carefree?" is a good hook as any, just quickly boring.
BlackBerry is incredibly engaging, tightly filmed like it's a political thriller in close, claustrophobic quarters. A
breathless cautionary tale of a Rise-Rise-Fall of an empire, undone by hubris and the systems that enable and swallow them.
breathless cautionary tale of a Rise-Rise-Fall of an empire, undone by hubris and the systems that enable and swallow them.
October 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
BlackBerry is incredibly engaging, tightly filmed like it's a political thriller in close, claustrophobic quarters. A
breathless cautionary tale of a Rise-Rise-Fall of an empire, undone by hubris and the systems that enable and swallow them.
breathless cautionary tale of a Rise-Rise-Fall of an empire, undone by hubris and the systems that enable and swallow them.
Could be that I went in with low expectations but The Marvels is pretty fun. Probably because there's a musical planet (that was underused!) and the rare Marvel film with female relationships at its core. But it's also oddly acted and edited, and with the emotional depth of a dinner plate.
October 28, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Could be that I went in with low expectations but The Marvels is pretty fun. Probably because there's a musical planet (that was underused!) and the rare Marvel film with female relationships at its core. But it's also oddly acted and edited, and with the emotional depth of a dinner plate.
The Lovebirds feels quite similar to other "night-gone-wrong" type comedies but what really works here is the chemistry between Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, who are so likeable and believable together that it held a film of much contrivance and lesser payoffs well enough to be thoroughly fun.
October 28, 2025 at 6:32 AM
The Lovebirds feels quite similar to other "night-gone-wrong" type comedies but what really works here is the chemistry between Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, who are so likeable and believable together that it held a film of much contrivance and lesser payoffs well enough to be thoroughly fun.
One thing City does better than Nichijou (which I still love and is an all-time GOATED show) is to have more moments of bittersweet and tenderness between the insanity and hilarity and ingenuity. It might have less episodes, but the heart and warmth is just as fulfilling.
October 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM
One thing City does better than Nichijou (which I still love and is an all-time GOATED show) is to have more moments of bittersweet and tenderness between the insanity and hilarity and ingenuity. It might have less episodes, but the heart and warmth is just as fulfilling.
If you don't enjoy the humor of Nichijou, I don't think City the Animation will change that. But its definitely one of the best anime this year, for the sole reason that it's made by talented, hardworking artists who pushed the boundaries of their art form just to tell a silly gag, or 100.
October 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM
If you don't enjoy the humor of Nichijou, I don't think City the Animation will change that. But its definitely one of the best anime this year, for the sole reason that it's made by talented, hardworking artists who pushed the boundaries of their art form just to tell a silly gag, or 100.