Z e n i a ' s  W o r l d

For disclaimer, I am not a critic nor do I have experience in music or anything related. I am aware that not everyone will agree with my takes on Blackpink’s latest album.

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As a Blink who has been here since 2019, I have always admired their hard work and bond as a group. I have seen and witnessed their development in terms of music and how they expressed their feelings throughout these years, whether in their solo or group comebacks. Right now, I try to be unbiased every time I listen to music, even though I may be their fan.

This album, while it wasn’t my most favorite, or should I say not my cup of tea as a Blink, I think I may have judged it too quickly. At a glance, it seems like YG didn’t even try. Didn’t put in as much effort as they should have. Alas, whether this is true or not, the production feels lacking in some aspects.

Base on my last opinion that got lashed by the fandom (my own fandom), I have learned not to say “ugly” because everyone has their own opinion and is entitled to it, so calling it bad or ugly may be a little too harsh. Instead, I would call it inconsistent and unclear.

DEADLINE may not be the best album they have released, and my overall opinion, not yet about the songs themselves, is that it has no depth, no character, and no clear purpose. 

Please don’t hate me yet. The reason why the concept of this comeback feels like it has no character or purpose to me lies in the choices YG made in preparing this album. As I stated above, it feels like there was no real effort from them. Knowing Blackpink is indeed one of the biggest groups, they should have focused on that. It is such an unfortunate and disappointing feeling that I have toward them.

Now let’s talk about each song on DEADLINE. Again, I’m not a critic, but I am entitled to my opinion.

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1. GO

Let’s all appreciate each member of Blackpink for writing this song altogether.

The first thing I noticed when I listened to “GO” was that the music felt distorted and their vocals were overshadowed by the loud instrumental. Whether it was purposely made that way or due to imperfect production quality, it seems that I needed more than one listen to actually enjoy it.

I like that they experimented with this song by using EDM as the main genre. Therefore, this song is a 3/5 for me because I expected a stronger lead track from them.

2. Champion

A round of applause for EJAE for composing this song. For me, it has a strong core. The lyrics are empowering as they show their confidence. 

I love that Champion is kind of influenced by 80s synth-pop, as it blends well with the other instruments. Therefore, this song is a 4/5 for me.

3. Me and My

Now, I know what we all mostly felt when we read the song credits. It is indeed a downer. I wish things had gone differently and that they hadn’t produced this with that person. Aside from that, I would have enjoyed this song a lot since it’s a hip hop track and I’m a sucker for rap and hip hop genre. 

However, it’s a 2/5 for me, I could rate them lower, but it feels too harsh. Why? Simply because it has no strong hook, it feels like just another hip hop song, and the lyrics are weak. It’s funny that this could have been a JENLISA subunit song, but, it wasn’t. This is my least favorite among them all.

4. Fxxxboy

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. It has strong vocals from each of them. It shows character, and not to mention, it’s slow-paced. 

Undoubtedly, this song is a 5/5 for me.

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You can agree or disagree, at the end of the day, it's only based on my opinion because I enjoy Blackpink's music for so long, I feel like, I deserve to have my own opinion since I care about them more than I should and simply because I am a BLINK too :)

In the quiet corners of my room, I found myself adrift in a sea of heartbreak. The aftermath of my recent breakup had left me feeling broken and lost. Our love seemed to be a fleeting illusion, vanishing like smoke in the wind. 

It hadn't been long since our relationship had crumbled, yet I couldn't help but notice that they had already moved on. The sight of them with someone new sent a sharp pang of pain through my heart. It had been a mere few months, and all the promises, the whispered dreams, and the undying faith had crumbled to dust.

Last night, I lay awake, feeling the weight of my broken heart. I couldn't fathom how they had replaced me so swiftly while I grappled with the ghost of our love. I was left alone to carry the burden of memories and the echo of their laughter in the corners of my mind.

Desperate to escape the suffocating grip of heartache, I tried to fill the void with distractions. I read countless books, immersing myself in different worlds, hoping to find solace in the pages; I play games. Although its competitive battles provided temporary relief from my pain, my heartache returned as soon as the game ended. I also did sports, hoping the physical exertion would exhaust my emotions. I walked, ran, and cycled for miles, but my heart remained heavy, and the memories clung to me like a shadow.

The hardest part was trying not to think about them. I tried to bury the past, but the pain was still too fresh. Tears would well up in my eyes at the slightest reminder of all the shared moments and promises they made. It felt really unfair that I should be the one to endure the torment while they moved forward without a second thought.

"When will this end?" 

A haunting question loomed in my mind.

Was I perhaps too harsh in secretly yearning for the day karma would finally be present in their lives?

Last night, I found myself in front of the screen, immersed in the movie called 'A Man Called Otto'. 

To be very honest with you all, my dear readers, movies like this, don't often tickle my cinematic taste buds. But against all odds, this one managed to captivate me, weaving a thread of relatability that led straight to the protagonist, Otto, played by one and only Tom Hanks.

Otto personified loneliness without wearing it like a heavy coat; a peculiar juxtaposition of being surrounded by care, yet intentionally distant. His principles stood like unwavering sentinels, even as he quietly sowed goodness in the lives of others.

The man cared deeply, yet shrouded his compassion in a veil of nonchalance. Grief, a formidable force, had embraced him when his wife passed away. The specter of suicide loomed, its grip attempting to pull him under. Failed attempts weren't signs of surrender but note in a symphony of survival. Hallucinations painted by his own mind, his wife a spectral muse guiding his steps.

In the tapestry of cinema, 'A Man Called Otto' embroidered life's truth: to persevere amid the tempests that howl our names. It whispered the essence of goodwill, of harboring kind intentions even while navigating the labyrinth of personal methods.

This movie isn't just good; it's a poignant brushstroke on the canvas of existence. A narrative that tugs at the threads of purpose amidst adversity. I would give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

GAP The Series is the first Thailand Girls Love series that has been stealing hearts worldwide. They offer something truly special. It gives us an insight into the world we don't often get to see on television or film, which can be quite eye-opening at times; the lesbian relationships between Thai women who are struggling in a society where same-sex love isn't always accepted or understood by those around them. This show does not shy away from showing how difficult it can be for LGBTQ+ people living in such circumstances while trying to find acceptance within themselves, their families, and their friends. This show is so special and unique for many reasons, but for me, their great production and cinematography will be the main subject of this whole review. It is amazing how much effort they put into making this show special—it provides great entertainment. 

 Here are why the show is a must-watch, especially for the community:

1. Outstanding Cinematography 

The cinematography of GAP the series is definitely one of its best features. Using colors and angles to depict each character's personality and emotions brings a whole other level to this show. Mon is often shown with bright pink tones that reflect her cheerful and optimistic traits, while Sam wears mostly black with neutral shades around her, which conveys how she lives in sorrowful loneliness until she meets Mon.

Moreover, we can see how the director takes extra care in framing their scenes from afar at first – highlighting Khun Sam’s lonely life as she returns home after work every day – before slowly shifting the focus when Mon enters the picture, showing us just how much happiness has been brought into Khun Sam’s house.

Overall, it's clear that GAP The Series put great effort into ensuring they capture all these small details perfectly through their cinematography. Allowing viewers like us to really feel what our characters are going through on screen.

2. Conflicts that most people in the community can relate to 

As an Asian, I understand the struggles that many LGBTQ+ individuals face in our countries. It's hard enough to be accepted by society, let alone your own family. We often hide our true identities from our families for fear of not being accepted or facing rejection. Mon and Sam faced this problem; Sam’s family was not supportive of their relationship at first but eventually came around to understanding it and blessing them.

This story reminds us of how important it is for Asians to be more open-minded when it comes to same-sex relationships or gender identity expression issues. We all deserve love and acceptance no matter what our sexual orientation may be; there should never have been any judgmental eyes upon Mon and Sam simply because of whom they chose as partners in life.

3. Women's point of view 

It's not a secret that when it comes to girl-on-girl relationships in TV and movies, the sex scenes can often be disappointing. They tend to use the male gaze when objectifying women and often depict how they want women to look during orgasmic moments rather than what would actually make them feel satisfied or loved. However, this show caught my attention for its take on this. This series showed us how women could express themselves naturally without being overly sexualized or objectified in any way. The intimate scenes featured real emotions between two people who genuinely enjoyed each other’s company without feeling pressured by societal norms and expectations of what they should look like during an orgasmic moment together. Seeing these characters express themselves with such authenticity and vulnerability was heartwarming, something we don't get enough of nowadays.

The truth is everyone has different preferences regarding what makes them feel aroused, so why should we all be subjected to one particular view? This series helps us understand that intimate moments don't always require naked bodies or overly exaggerated reactions. Showing emotion through subtle gestures can actually create even more powerful, impactful stories about the true connections between two people.

4. Great Chemistry by the main characters 

A series would only be good with the role of the actress/actor and how they portrayed the characters in the series.

We’ve all seen it before—two actresses who play lesbians and have such incredible chemistry that people can't help but ship them. But, Freen and Becky have created an undeniable, special bond on the screen. Their performances are so convincing that viewers feel as if they're witnessing a real-life relationship unfold in front of them. No wonder these two talented individuals are getting so much attention from fans; their connection is truly remarkable to watch.

 Pagi tadi mami saya bertanya kepada saya, "skin Mobile Legends itu harganya memang berapa, sih?".

Sebagai seorang pemain Mobile Legends dari musim pertama, saya sempat tertegun dengan pertanyaan mami. Karena menurut saya, mami tidak pernah terlalu ambil pusing saat saya bermain gim tersebut—kecuali saat saya sampai marah karena kalah (manusiawi). Ternyata, salah satu tetangga kami curhat sama mami dan bilang kalau anaknya sampai membohonginya dan menggunakan uang SPP sekolah untuk top up diamond dari gim tersebut.

Lantas, setelah saya mendapatkan informasi tersebut, saya tidak dapat melupakan kenyataan kalau kualitas anak-anak jaman sekarang menurun. Siapa yang salah?

Kita kembali ke masa lalu saat pertama kali saya diperkenalkan konsol gim saat umur saya 4 tahun oleh keluarga saya. Konsol pertama saya adalah SEGA dan gim pertama yang saya mainkan adalah Sonic the hedgehog. Lalu kemudian berevolusi dan diperkenalkan dengan konsol gim lain seperti Playstation, Xbox, hingga gim PC seperti Counter Strike dan Point Blank. Semua itu saya mainkan dan hingga saat ini, saya suka bermain gim. Tetapi mengapa dulu saya masih terbilang tidak nyeleneh?

Saya ingat saat saya sudah mulai mengenal gim PC, saya bisa bolak-balik ke warnet dekat sekolah untuk bermain di hari Jumat selepas sekolah. Saya selalu bilang pada mami saya jika saya akan pulang telat karena bermain gim online. Saat itu sama sekali tidak terbesit dipikiran saya untuk berbohong atau bahkan berlaku curang dibalik apa yang saya lakukan. Bahkan saat masih kecil, ketika saya ingin bermain gim, saya harus bernegosiasi dulu kepada orangtua saya, sebelum saya bisa diperbolehkan untuk bermain—seperti cuci piring atau menghafalkan ayat Al-qur'an.

Saat ini, saat teknologi sudah semakin maju, informasi seolah semakin mudah untuk didapatkan. Orang-orang yang mungkin dulu kesulitan dalam mendapatkan informasi karena harus membaca buku, sekarang sudah bisa lebih memangkas waktunya untuk mendapatkan informasi di dalam internet dengan kurun waktu yang sangat singkat—bahkan informasi bisa diperoleh secara mudah dengan hanya menonton video singkat berdurasi satu hingga lima menit.

Lantas, mengapa kualitas anak-anak di era ini semakin menurun?

Saya pribadi berpikir jika kualitas anak yang menurun sejak dini merupakan hasil dari didik orangtua yang belum matang. Saya mengobservasi bahwa sebagian orangtua muda yang saya temui di luar sana, lebih suka untuk mengambil jalan pintas saat anaknya sedang tantrum atau rewel. Jalan pintas yang paling mudah ditemui adalah gadget dan video viral dari platform media sosial. 

Hal itu menurut saya yang menjadi dampak utama anak-anak di era ini menjadi;

1. Kurang berempati.

2. Kurang mawas diri.

3. Kurang memiliki sifat tanggung jawab.

Saya mungkin belum menjadi orang tua dan saya menyayangkan bagaimana masih banyak orangtua yang tidak siap dalam mendidik anak-anak mereka. Karena jika tidak dari kecil, hal buruk biasanya akan lebih sulit untuk diubah saat mereka besar nantinya. 

Harapan saya semoga siapapun yang ingin menjadi orangtua kelak, dapat membimbing anaknya dan memberikan pengertian lebih terhadap apa yang sedang mereka hadapi daripada harus menutup diri, karena komunikasi adalah hal utama dalam sebuah hubungan.