Have you come across terms like “Social Web”, “Mycelial Web”, “Fediverse”, “Threadiverse”, “Mycelium network”, “Nostr”, “ATproto”, “ActivityPub”, and “DDFON”? They can sound quite techie and confusing. Today, let’s demystify them!

(in alphabetical order)

ActivityPub (AP)

The protocol behind the fediverse mycelium network, recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) since 2018–01–13

ATmosphere

A friendly name for the whole mycelium network built on top of ATproto. ^{1 2}

ATproto

The protocol that powers the ATmosphere mycelium network, often incorrectly referred to as Bluesky.

Blockchain

A cryptographic ledger, popularized by cryptocurrencies, and also used in DDFON SNS like Audius (music), Hive (content), and Verasity (video).

Bluesky

The first public server powered by the ATproto protocol, commonly but inaccurately used to refer to the entire ATproto mycelium network. Bluesky is only one of many ATproto servers. (also see ATmosphere)

DDFON

Stands for “Decentralized, Distributed, Federated, Open Network” ﹘ a term I coined in 2011, ³⁴ also known as mycelial web.

diaspora*

The name of the protocol that powers The Federation mycelium network.

Fediverse

The friendly name for the mycelium network using the ActivityPub protocol and its predecessors (OStatus (2010–2020), OpenMicroBlogging (2008–2010)). Coined by Mark Eckenwiler in 2012-05-25 and by Marjolein Katsma in 2013-01-24. ⁵⁶⁷

Identiverse

The original name for the fediverse mycelium network, coined by Luke Slater in 2010-03-14. ⁸⁹

Jabber

A federated instant messaging mycelium network, the first DDFON. The name was dropped in favour of the term XMPP.

Mastodon®

A fediverse software using the ActivityPub protocol, incorrectly used to refer to the entire fediverse mycelium network. It is a registered trademark that should only be used within the context of the Mastodon® software.

Matrix

An IRC-like federated messaging platform similar to XMPP, serving as both the protocol and the mycelium network name.

Mycelium [Network]

A network of fungal threads in nature, applied to tech networks like the fediverse, ATmosphere, and Nostr mycelium networks. Originally suggested to replace the term fediverse but redefined in 2022.

Mycelial Web

Multiple networks of fungal threads (mycelium) is called mycelia or mycelial. In tech, mycelial is the umbrella term for mycelium networks like XMPP, fediverse, Matrix, Nostr, and ATmosphere; a friendly name for DDFON.

Nostr

It is a protocol that powers the NOSTRich mycelium network.

The name stands for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays.

NOSTRich

The friendly name of the mycelium network powered by the Nostr protocol.

OpenMicroBlogging

The first protocol of the fediverse from 2008–2010.

OStatus

The fediverse protocol, active from 2010–2020. ¹⁰

Secure Scuttlebutt (SSB)

A cryptographic mycelium network where content is shared only with followers.

Semantic Web

One of the original meanings of Web3.0, where the web becomes capable of analyzing all the data on the Web—the content, links, and transactions between people and computers through W3C standards.

SNS (Social Networking Service)

The original term for social media, still commonly used in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region.

Social Media

The term for SNS in English-speaking countries.

Social Web

Also known as Web3 or Web3.0, it promotes an open, interoperable web instead of closed silos. It is about building platforms that interoperate through federation and bridges, while ensuring resiliency through distribution and decentralization. ^11121314 It is the same as “Open Social Web” and “Open Social”, and is a very broad term that goes beyond DDFON / Mycelial Web. ^{15 16 17 18}

The Federation

The name of the network running on the diaspora* protocol.

Threadiverse

Refers to threaded fediverse platforms like Lemmy, Kbin, and Mbin.

In Korea, it refers specifically to Meta’s Threads platform with fediverse integration. ¹⁹

Web3.0

Refers to Semantic Web as coined by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee in 2006. ²⁰

Also refers to the social web “Le Web3” conference in France in 2007 and earlier. ¹²¹³¹⁴

Unfortunately also used to refer to blockchain technology ²¹ as defined by Gavin Wood in 2014. ²²

Web3

Initially coined for the social web conference in 2007 by Loic Le Meur. ¹²¹³¹⁴

It is also unfortunately being used for blockchain technology ²¹ as defined by Gavin Wood in 2014. ²²

XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol)

The first federated instant messaging platform, originally named Jabber.

In a fast-paced world like what we have today, recording events is often forgotten. This is especially true in the digital era, wherein we assume that every piece of information will remain available indefinitely, and archived somewhere. Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Sites, portals, databases, even software repositories, all come and go. If no one kept a copy, the information is gone forever.

It proved this when I started this project. There were countless information which are now gone forever, and in an age where words of individuals no longer hold any weight—unless they are a personality—a source is often expected, if not demanded.

My desire to change that resulted in the creation of The Federated SNS Timeline. A list of the Federated Social Network history, gathered on this page, with links to sources scattered everywhere.

UPDATE 2024-09-05: The most up-to-date version is located at the DDFON, Open Social Web, Fediverse, Mycelial Web SNS Historical Timeline repository.

The Fediverse Historical Timeline

The Federated SNS (social network service/system) timeline is a simple list of its history. To put it another way, it is a record of how the Fediverse came to be. This is only one part of the larger Federated Social Web. For this list, we defined SNS as services meant for posting updates (microblogging, macro-blogging, blogging), uploading images, leaving comments, re-sharing, and liking; or simply, the Fediverse.

Protocols and services like XMPP and Matrix are part of the Federated Chat grouping. While there is an overlap with the XMPP protocol when it comes to SNS, these platforms/software were not (yet) included (e.g. Juick, Movim, Buddycloud, Jappix, and OneSocialWeb).

Focus

The focus of this list is on information with sources. If the original sources are no longer available, there should be an archive via archive.org or archive.ph.

For example. There is some information I remember about the Federated Social Web. However, since this information is no longer available (sites went offline and there are no archives elsewhere), I did not include these in the timeline.

There are also no personal opinions on this list, and no endorsements. This list is a plain record of dates with a link to sources.

License

Creative Commons-Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) 4.0 International License

• Feel free to translate this work. Please share the link of your translation in the comments.
• Feel free to build upon this work. Share the link to your derivates in the comments!

As long as the conditions of CC-BY-SA 4.0 International License are met.

UPDATE 2024-09-05: The most up-to-date version is located at the DDFON, Open Social Web, Fediverse, Mycelial Web SNS Historical Timeline repository.

Without further ado, here is the timeline for the Federated SNS. Enjoy!

Timeline

2008

• 2008-05-18

  • First post in the Fediverse was made by Evan Prodromou: “This is my first post.” ^{1 2}

• 2008-07-02

  • Protocol: OpenMicroBlogging ^{3 4}

  • Software: Laconica was released by Evan Prodromou ^{5 6 7}

    • Protocol (first release): OpenMicroBlogging

  • Instance: Identi.ca ^{5 6 7}

    • Software: Laconica

• 2008 sometime

  • Instance: The TWiT Army Canteen

    • Software: Laconica

  • Software: OpenMicroBlogger was released ⁸

    • Protocol (first release): OpenMicroBlogging

  • Instance: OpenMicroBlogger.com

    • Software: OpenMicroBlogger

2009

• 2009-08-28
  • Laconica software was renamed to StatusNet ⁹

2010

• 2010-02-22

  • Instance: Mozilla was launched ¹⁰
    • Software: StatusNet

• 2010-03-04

  • OStatus protocol replaced the OpenMicroBlogging protocol ^{11 12 4}
  • StatusNet 0.9.0 switched to OStatus protocol ¹³

• 2010-03-09

  • StatusNet Cloud Service was released in beta. The first managed instance service. ¹⁴

• 2010-03-14

  • “identiverse” first coined by Luke Slater ^{15 16}

• 2010-07-02

  • Protocol: DFRN (Distributed Friends and Relations Network) ^{17 18}

  • Software: Mistpark was released by Mike Macgirvin ^{17 18}

    • Protocol (first release): DFRN

• 2010-08-17

  • Mistpark added DFRN protocol federation ^{17 19}

• 2010-09-09

  • Mistpark added OpenMicroBlogging protocol federation ^{17 20}

• 2010-10-13

  • Mistpark added OStatus protocol federation ^{21 22}

• 2010-11-03

  • Mistpark was renamed to Friendika ²³

• 2010-11-23

  • Protocol: Diaspora Federation

    • Network name: The Federation

  • Software: diaspora* was released by Dan Grippi, Ilya Zhitomirskiy, Raphael Sofaer, and Maxwell Salzberg ²⁴

    • Protocol (first release): Diaspora Federation

  • Instance: joindiaspora.com

    • Software: diaspora*

2011

• 2011-03-19

  • Friendika added Diaspora Federation protocol support ^{25 26 22}

• 2011-05-01

  • Mozilla instance was renamed to Social@Mozilla ¹⁰

• 2011-11-12

  • Friendika was renamed to Friendica ²⁷

2012

• 2012-05-25

  • “fediverse” was first coined by Mark Eckenwiler ^{28 29}

• 2012-07

  • Protocol: Zot ¹⁷

    • First decentralised and identity-aware (Nomadic identity) protocol ¹⁷

  • Software: red | Redmatrix was released by Mike Macgirvin ¹⁷

    • Protocol (first release): Zot, Diaspora Federation ²²

• 2012-08-27

  • diaspora* becomes a community-managed project ³⁰

• 2012-10-04

  • Protocol: ActivityPump ^{31 4}

  • Software: pump.io was released by Evan Prodromou ³²

    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPump

2013

• 2013-01-24

  • “fediverse” second (archived) usage by Marjolein Katsma ^{33 29}
    • no other archived copies found before 2013-01-24 other than 2012-05-25 (see above)

• 2013-06-08

  • StatusNet and Free Social were merged with GNU Social ^{34 22 4}
    • GNU Social is the surviving software name.

• 2013-07-12

  • Identi.ca switched from StatusNet to pump.io software. ^{6 4}

• 2013-11-20

  • Social@Mozilla instance was shutdown ¹⁰

2014

• 2014-09-06
  • W3C work on ActivityPub started ³⁵
    • Based on the ActivityPump protocol.

2015

• 2015 early
  • Redmatrix was renamed Hubzilla ¹⁷
    • Protocol (first release): Zot, Diaspora Federation

2016

• 2016-03-16

  • Software: Mastodon was released by Eugen Rochko ³⁶
    • Protocol (first release): OStatus ²²

• 2016-08-16

  • Diaspora Federation protocol becomes available as a Ruby library ^{30 37}

• 2016-10-26

  • Software: Pleroma was released by Lain ^{38 39}
    • Protocol (first release): OStatus

2017

• 2017-07-18

  • Hubzilla added ActivityPub protocol federation ^{40 41}

• 2017-07-27

  • Software: Socialhome was released by Jason Robinson ⁴²
    • Protocol (first release): Diaspora Federation ²²

• 2017-09-03

  • Mastodon added ActivityPub protocol federation ^{43 22}

2018

• 2018-01-23

  • ActivityPub became an official W3C Recommendation (web standard) ⁴⁴

• 2018-03-20

  • Software: PeerTube was released by Chocobozzz ⁴⁵
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2018-04-19

  • Software: Misskey was released by Syuilo ⁴⁶
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2018-08-17

  • Protocol: Zot6 ^{47 48}

  • Software: Zap was released by Mike Macgirvin ^{47 48}

    • Protocol (first release): Zot6

• 2018-08-23

  • Software: Osada was released by Mike Macgirvin ^{49 50}
    • Protocol (first release): Zot6, ActivityPub

• 2018-11-03

  • Software: PixelFed was released by Daniel Supernault ⁵¹
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2018-11-10

  • Software: WriteFreely was released by Matt Baer ⁵²
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2018-11-18

  • Friendica added ActivityPub protocol federation ^{53 22}

2019

• 2019-02-20

  • Hubzilla upgraded Zot to Zot6 protocol ⁵⁴

• 2019-05-06

  • Software: Lemmy was released ⁵⁵
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2019-08-20

  • Software: Hometown was released by Darius Kazemi ⁵⁶
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2019-09-22

  • Osada was discontinued ⁵⁷

• 2019-09-22

  • Zap added ActivityPub protocol federation ⁵⁸

• 2019-10-04

  • Mastodon dropped OStatus protocol federation ⁵⁹

• 2019-10-06

  • Socialhome added ActivityPub protocol federation ⁶⁰

2020

• 2020-03-08

  • Pleroma dropped OStatus protocol federation ⁶¹

• 2020-12-31

  • Software: BookWyrm was released by Mouse Reeve ⁶²
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

2021

• 2021-05-11

  • Software: Rebased was released by Alex Gleason ⁶³
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2021-07-18

  • GNU Social added ActivityPub protocol federation ⁶⁴

• 2021-11-07

  • Software: Guppe Groups was released Will Murphy ⁶⁵
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

2022

• 2022-01-29

  • Software: Akkoma was released by floatingghost ⁶⁶
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-07-19

  • Software: Firefish (f. Calckey) was released by Kainoa Kanter ⁶⁷
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-08-05

  • Software: Foundkey was released by Norm ⁶⁸
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-10-30

  • Software: Kbin initial release by Ernest Wiśniewski ^{69 70}
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-11-13

  • Instance: Vivaldi Social was launched ⁷¹
    • Software: Mastodon

• 2022-11-21

  • Software: AP Groups was released by Michael Puckett ⁷²
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-11-24

  • Software: Takahē was released Andrew Godwin ⁷³
    • Protocol (first release): ActivityPub

• 2022-12-03

  • Software: Streams was released by Mike Macgirvin ⁷⁴
    • Protocol (first release): Nomad Communications, ActivityPub ⁷⁵

2023

• 2023-05-04
  • Instance: Mozilla.social entered private beta ^{76 77}
    • Software: Mastodon

On updates

This is a living project. I will update it depending on the new information and my available time. If you have information available, kindly provide the relevant links for verification. If I can verify (rel=me; keyoxide; GPG; and other ways to verify your identity) that you are the developer of a protocol, standard, platform/software, a link is no longer needed (though still preferable).

Corrections would have to be clarified. Like, how is the correction more accurate than the currently sourced information? Or, how can we reconcile the correction with the currently sourced information? Of course, if you are the developer, and I can verify your identity, your information holds more weight (e.g. you prefer your software’s release date to be later than the current information).

Submit your information in the issues section.

UPDATE 2024-09-05: The most up-to-date version is located at the DDFON, Open Social Web, Fediverse, Mycelial Web SNS Historical Timeline repository.

Lisa, of BLACKPINK fame, recently released Rockstar, a J-hip-hop track produced and written by people from multiple nations. This raises the question: Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop? (from The Korea Times by Dong Sun-hwa). Logically and ethically, the answer is simple: It is Thai-pop (T-pop).

Understanding the X-pop Labels

In my article, What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?, I defined P-pop as:

This definition can be applied to other X-pop labels, such as J-pop, K-pop, M-pop, and T-pop. Therefore,

and

By this standard, Lisa’s Rockstar is undeniably T-pop (Thai-pop).

Addressing the comments

No one can argue that Lisa is a K-pop idol.

Lee Gyutag, a professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea, believes Rockstar is not T-pop because Lisa is predominantly recognized as a K-pop singer on the global stage. However, I disagree. Lisa’s work should not be disqualified as T-pop simply because she is recognized as a K-pop singer.

Again, I respectfully disagree with the esteemed professor. K-pop itself, or more accurately, the idol industry of K-pop, originated from the idol industry of J-pop. If we follow this logic, we could argue that the K-pop industry is simply an extension of J-pop.

In addition, Lisa has not announced she would give up her K-pop identity, but that doesn’t mean her new song isn’t T-pop. Expecting artists to announce their transition between industries is unreasonable. Moreover, promotional methods do not define the genre. Using Lee Sooman’s method does not define an artist as automatically K-pop [only].

This is subjective. What is Thai music? What defines a Thai music? Who should define what is Thai music and what Thai musical elements are?

Hip-hop is not exclusive to K-pop. Thai hip-hop has existed since 1985, predating the K-pop idol formula and industry. Meanwhile, the Philippines is well-established as the first (1980) hip-hop music scene in Asia, ¹ a decade before hip-hop entered the K-pop scene, and two decades before the K-pop idol industry was born.

Language should also not be used to determine a song’s identity. There were and will be K-pop songs predominantly written in English, yet they remain K-pop. Similarly, there are countless of Filipino music written in English yet are still officially considered OPM (Original Pilipino Music).

Categorizing SB19 as K-pop despite their Filipino lyrics only proves that language isn’t a definitive factor. What about Bini? Is Bini K-pop or P-pop?

I totally agree.

Absolutely.

Conclusion

Here’s what we learned:

1. People naturally identify with their origins first.
2. It is unusual for artists to announce their transition between industries.
3. The language of a song does not determine its category.
4. Music genres are not exclusive to one country.
5. Music is a universal language. It transcends labels like K-pop, Thai-Pop, J-pop, M-pop, P-pop.

Here are the key takeaways:

Lisa’s Rockstar is undeniably Thai-pop (T-pop).

• Note: T-pop can mean Taiwanese-pop or Thai-pop; just as M-pop can mean Malaysian-pop or Mandarin-pop (Mando-pop).

Earlier today, Meta’s Threads.net microblogging social network rolled out its much-anticipated Fediverse feature to over 100 countries (except for European Union members), including many in the Asia-Pacific region. If you’re keen on expanding your audience as a content creator, or as a content consumer you want to follow content creators without creating yet another account, activating this feature is highly recommended.

But what exactly is the Fediverse?

What is the Fediverse?

In simple terms, the Fediverse is a mycelium network powered by the ActivityPub protocol. ActivityPub is a web standard endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the authoritative body for web standards ensuring seamless interoperability across platforms. Some examples are SMTP for emails, HTTP/S for browsing, and HTML and CSS for websites. This makes the Fediverse essentially the web standard for social networking services (SNS), commonly referred to as social media in English-speaking countries.

What’s in it for me as a content creator/consumer?

Activating the Fediverse feature on your Threads.net account allows you to reach a broader audience. As a content creator, your fans more likely urged you before to join yet another network where they already are. Or, as a content consumer, you had no choice but to create a new account on yet another platform just to follow a content creator. With the Fediverse, content creators and content consumers can interact across different platforms, as long as both sides are connected to the Fediverse. This means fewer accounts to manage for both content creators and content consumers.

How to activate the Fediverse feature in Threads.net?

It’s straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Account > Fediverse sharing.

   

2. Read their version of “What is the Fediverse?” and tap Next.

   

3. Read the additional information provided and tap Turn on sharing.

   

4. Copy your Threads.net Fediverse username and share it with everyone!

   

Congratulations! You’re now part of the Fediverse mycelium network! Your posts will be visible to any account connected to the Fediverse, no matter the platform they’re using.

You don’t have to think about it. Just do your regular social network routine. It all happens in the background.

A friendly note: It’s still being tested

As of 2024-06-26, interoperability with the Fediverse via the ActivityPub protocol is still undergoing thorough testing. Expect some limitations in interaction for now, such as:

• Not all replies from the wider Fediverse may appear on Threads.net.
• Only the original post creator will see replies from the Fediverse.
• Threads.net users currently cannot reply to replies from Fediverse users.
• Posts may take at least five minutes to appear in both directions.
• Threads.net accounts cannot yet follow or search for Fediverse accounts.

Once again, welcome to the Fediverse mycelium network, powered by the standards-based ActivityPub protocol! Embrace this new way of connecting and enjoy the expanded reach of your online account!

Uncover the hidden gem in a K-drama disguised by its title the Missing Crown Prince. Follow the poignant romance between the Queen Dowager and her secret lover, and see why this series stands out for its unique narrative and captivating acting.

Story

A mistitled drama

Despite its title, the story isn’t about the Missing Crown Prince (Kim Junmyeon). He was missing for just about five episodes.

Main or support characters?

Officially, three young actors are billed as the main characters, but they are actually supporting characters. The true leads are the two actors listed as supporting roles, namely: Myeong Sebin as Taebi Minssi; and Kim Joheon as Choe Sangrok.

A tragic love story

The narrative centres on the tragic romance between the Taebi Minssi and her ex-betrothed turned secret lover, Choe Sangrok. Their relationship drives the emotional core of the series. The love story of I Geon and Choe Myeongyun was straightforward and clearly secondary from the start.

Performance

The acting is impressive, particularly from the actual main actors—Myeong Sebin and Kim Joheon—showcasing their veteran skills. The younger actors—Hong Yeji and Kim Junmyeon—also performed well, learning from their senior counterparts and creating great on-screen synergy.

Verdict

If you catch the early hints that the show isn’t about the Missing Crown Prince, it deserves a perfect 10 stars. This series demands the right mindset to be truly appreciated and rated accurately.

Official trailer

I’m planning to create a guide for foreigners visiting the Philippines, and I believe it’s the perfect time to start. Let’s begin with our first piece of advice: Context is king!

If you’re a foreigner in the Philippines, remember that context is key. What you hear, read, or see might have a specific cultural or historical background, and it’s essential to pause and understand it before forming conclusions. As a visitor, it’s likely that some cultural nuances might escape you, so don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.

Jumping to conclusions based on your cultural perspective could lead to an awkward or embarrassing situations. And this doesn’t only apply to in-person interactions; it’s just as relevant in the online world, including SNS or social media.

Here are three examples why context is important:

Examples of Misunderstanding Context

The “KKK” Misunderstanding

An African American vlogger visiting the Philippines once posted a video expressing outrage at a restaurant named KKK in SM Mall of Asia. He assumed the name was related to the Ku Klux Klan and accused Filipinos of racism, promising never to return to the Philippines, and urged others to avoid the country.

However, he faced severe criticism in the comments section from both Filipinos and his fellow African Americans. Why? Because in the Philippines, KKK stands for Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, which translates in English as the Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation, a revolutionary group that fought against the Spanish invaders.

While the video has since been removed, it’s unclear whether the vlogger apologized or acknowledged his misunderstanding. This situation clearly demonstrated the need to grasp the context before drawing conclusions.

Misinterpretation of the Word “Black”

A recent incident in the Philippines involved a half-Nigerian, half-Filipino individual who felt offended by how he was described in a receipt:

The English translation is: To the one in black, sitting at table 14, with curly hair, and resembling Black Jack.

The customer perceived this as a racial reference and took offense. However, in Filipino, nakablack simply means the one wearing black, with no racial connotations whatsoever. Meanwhile, the comparison to Black Jack referred to a well-known Filipino actor, comedian, and reggae singer, named Blakdyak, not a derogatory racial reference.

Despite this, the customer felt discriminated against due to a lack of understanding of Filipino language and culture. There was absolutely nothing racist in the said note pertaining to his skin color and/or racial background. In the Philippines, such descriptions are often used to identify someone based on their appearance without implying anything offensive.

Misinterpretation of “Negros”

In 2019, the popular P-pop group SB19 tweeted,

They were referring to Negros, an island in the Philippines with two provinces: Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

However, some foreigners misinterpreted Negros as a racial slur and even had the audacity to suggest renaming the island and its provinces. This reaction stemmed from a complete misunderstanding of the local context and geography.

These examples demonstrate that context is crucial when visiting or interacting with another culture. Without understanding the context, you might misinterpret harmless remarks and create unnecessary tension.

Conclusion

As a foreigner in the Philippines, or in any unfamiliar culture, it’s important to recognize that you might not fully grasp the context. If you’re unsure about something, take a moment to pause and ask for clarification. This can prevent misunderstandings and ensure a smoother experience during your visit.

Moreover, the Philippines has a diverse range of regional cultures, and even Filipinos can sometimes misunderstand one another. So, don’t be discouraged if things seem confusing at first—it’s all part of the learning process. Enjoy your stay, and remember to keep a broad mind, for yourself and for others.

Context is king!

In a previous article we explored how to account for the Three days and three nights in the heart of the earth passage in Mattithyahu (Matthew) 12:40. However, as we continue to deepen our faith and seek truth, new revelations come to light. Today, I’d like to share my belief that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) haMashiah (or Jesus the Messiah) was indeed in the grave for three literal days and nights.

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 12:40 is a verse often cited regarding the duration the Messiah was to spend in the heart of the earth. Traditionally, it’s been interpreted as spanning from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. However, this timeframe only encompasses two nights and one day, falling short of the three days and three nights requirement, as written.

Establishing an Agreement

So, let’s approach this with reverence for the Bible as our guiding authority. If it explicitly states three days and three nights, then that’s the timeframe we must consider. This is significant because it serves as a sign of the Messiah’s authenticity.

This understanding is crucial because it serves as a key indication that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) (Jesus) was indeed the Messiah. His fulfillment of this prophecy is essential and should not be one day and two nights, not one day and half a night, nor three days and three and a half nights.

A Literal Interpretation

Using the Zadok calendar (also known as the Dead Sea Scrolls calendar), which ensures that Abib 18 always coincides with a weekly Sabbath, we can track things as follows:

(aside: remember, a day begins at dawn/sunrise, which is approximately 06:00 in the morning):

• Abib 15 evening = First night
  • A High Sabbath.
  • The beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
• Abib 16 morning = First day.
• Abib 16 evening = Second night.
• Abib 17 morning = Second day.
• Abib 17 evening = Third night.
• Abib 18 morning = Third day.
  • A weekly Sabbath.
  • The fourth day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Three Interpretations of the Resurrection Timing

Regarding the timing of the resurrection, there are three interpretations:

1. The exact moment 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) gave up his spirit on Abib 15.
2. When he was buried or the tomb was closed, around the start of the evening of Abib 15.
3. Any time after dawn/sunrise (approximately 06:00 in the morning).

Yet, they all converge on the same conclusion: 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) haMashia (Jesus the Messiah) spent three days and three nights in the grave, from the evening of Abib 15 to the morning of Abib 18, thus fulfilling the prophecy and serving as the sign He was indeed the One.

That’s it. Simple, right? Praise YAH, the Most High!

Imagine a world where the power to decide a person’s guilt or innocence is no longer solely in the hands of the legal system but is instead placed directly into the hands of the public. This intriguing concept has been brought to life in two captivating K-drama TV series: The Devil Judge (악마판사) and The Killing Vote (국민사형투표). In a unique twist, both shows invite the public to cast their votes on the fate of the accused, evoking a sense of agency and empowerment that resonates deeply with the frustrations of the ordinary citizens.

The first of these excellent dramas, The Devil Judge (악마판사), aired in 2021. It follows a brilliant judge who masterfully exploits every nuance of the law, including its intricate loopholes, to ensure that the public comprehends the intricacies of each case. In a society where legal jargon often feels foreign and inaccessible, this approach resonates. By meticulously building cases using applicable laws and cunningly exploiting loopholes, the judge presents the facts to the public. Empowered by an innovative app, the public then exercises their collective judgment to determine the accused’s guilt or innocence.

Enter The Killing Vote (국민사형투표), the second series exploring this concept, which is currently captivating audiences. In this narrative, an anonymous individual takes matters into their own hands by spotlighting individuals released from prison or acquitted of their crimes. Constructing a compelling case against them, they present the details to the public. As viewers, we are transported into a world where we can cast our digital ballots through an app, deciding whether the accused should face the ultimate punishment: execution.

Both dramas delve into the pent-up frustrations of the majority, often marginalized and disempowered, yearning for a role in the pursuit of justice. The desire to witness fairness prevail, albeit suppressed by the complex legal system, finds an outlet in these shows. Furthermore, they tap into our society’s contemporary tech-driven landscape, showcasing the potential for direct public involvement in the decision-making process.

This brings us to a thought-provoking question: Could this seemingly far-fetched scenario become a reality? Is there a genuine chance for ordinary individuals, like you and me, to have a meaningful voice in matters of justice? As we watch these dramas unfold, we’re compelled to contemplate the prospect of a world where justice is not a distant concept but a tangible right we can collectively shape.

The allure of participating in such participatory verdicts can’t be ignored. The act of casting a vote through an app feels more immediate and impactful than traditional elections and the justice system, often lengthy and corrupt, allowing us to directly influence outcomes we care about deeply. The dramas also ignite a conversation about the potential consequences of such a system. Would it empower citizens and restore faith in justice, or would it blur the lines between justice and vengeance?

As we absorb the compelling narratives of The Devil Judge (악마판사) and The Killing Vote (국민사형투표), the dialogue they spark is vital. It encourages us to ponder the direction society might take, the roles we might play, and the responsibilities we might shoulder if such a revolutionary justice system were to emerge.

What are your thoughts on this intriguing concept? Could this be a glimpse into the future, or is it a captivating yet distant idea? Share your insights below or join the conversation on the social media threads where this post is shared. Your voice matters, just as it does in these compelling K-dramas.

I recently began watching the Tagalog-dubbed version of Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) on Viu OTT after missing its original 2020 airing due to the deep pain caused by the end of my 15-year relationship. As I watch the series now, I find it surprisingly painful.

Apart from the intricate relationships depicted in the show, I’m captivated by the exceptional performances of Park Eun Bin (박은빈) and Kim Min Jae (김민재). In my opinion, this is the first time Kim Min Jae (김민재) seems perfectly matched with his on-screen partner, and in this case it’s Park Eun Bin (박은빈), to the point where I envision them being a perfect couple in real life.

While the show’s storyline reminds me of my recent breakup, it’s not just the narrative that stirs my emotions; it’s the underlying pain within it. Even though I’ve moved on, memories can still be haunting when there’s nothing to replace them.

Moreover, the pain experienced by the main male character, portrayed by Kim Min Jae (김민재), in his relationship with his mother resonates deeply with me. My own mother is currently ill, and the financial struggle to afford her necessary medical treatment leaves me feeling helpless and despondent. She has sacrificed so much to raise us and overcome various family challenges. Balancing my personal happiness and responsibilities towards her well-being becomes a profound dilemma.

Regardless of the challenges, disagreements, and ups and downs one may have with their parents, especially their mother, witnessing them endure hardships and illness is an unbearable burden. Though difficult to express, this sentiment runs deep within us. I find a connection with Kim Min Jae (김민재)’s character, not one-to-one, but in the underlying essence of his struggle.

While Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) primarily focuses on romantic relationships, it also touches on the love within families—how we navigate our connections with our parents and the impact it has on our personal lives. It compels us to contemplate whether our lives should solely revolve around our individual aspirations or also extend to supporting the parents who raised us.

In summary, Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) is a compelling drama that delves into the complexities of human relationships, both romantic and familial, resonating with viewers on profound emotional levels.

If you’re feeling confused about the ending of Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (판도라: 조작된 낙원), don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let’s delve deeper into the story and see if we can make sense of it together.

Recap of the ending scenes

In one of the final scenes, we sa Pyo Jae Hyun (표재현) take his own life, having come to the realisation that living a life not of his choosing was unbearable. Perhaps he was consumed by regret or too prideful to admit defeat.

A few years later, in Switzerland, Jang Gyo Jin (장교진) arrived at Hong Tae Ra (홍태라)’s home ahead of the others. As he was changing to fresh clothes, it was revealedd that Gyo Jin had the sasme distinctive lightning marks as Jae Hyun. The camera then pans to hiss face, and it was the face of Jae Hyun.

Seven possible explanations

Option #1: Identity Switch

In the scene where Jae Hyun wakes up, it initially appears that he simply left after attempting to attack Gyo Jin. However, it’s plausible that Jae Hyun returned and launched a surprise attack on Gyo Jin, who was attempting to wake up his mother. Jae Hyun used this opportunity to implant false memories and new commands in Gyo Jin’s mind.

There is also a possibility that Gyo Jin was in the process of creating a new face to conceal his burned skin. Jae Hyun saw it, and created his own face which he then placed on the unconscious Gyo Jin.

When Jang Do Jin (장도진) arrived later, the person sitting there was actually Jae Hyun wearing the face of Gyo Jin.

Also noticed how Gyo Jin’s mother was supposedly taken by her assistant and was never heard from again? It might be posssible Jae Hyun hid her body and told a fake story toDo Jin.

Option #2: Early programming

This option takes us back to when Gyo Jin was first brought into Hatch’s laboratory. It is possible that Jae Hyun implanted commands into Gyo Jin’s brain, which would only be triggered by specific words spoken by Jae Hyun.

Jae Hyun was established as a character who was always several steps ahead of everyone else, making him a formidable opponent. It is quite possible then, that when he woke up in Gyo Jin’s hideout, he spoke the trigger words which caused the false memories and new commands he had implanted to take hold of Gyo Jin mind.

Option #3: Hong Tae Ra never woke up

It is possible that Hong Tae Ra (홍태라) is still asleep and dreaming, much like ho they trapped Jae Hyun in an endless dream. However, this could only have occurred when Tae Ra was first captured.

In this scenario, everything we witnessed from that episode until the last was simply the dreams she was having, as the story was from Tae Ra vantage point.

Option #4: They were all implanted by a chip

Unbeknownst to them, all of them had been implanted with a chip by Jae Hyun at some point. This chip allowed him to manipulate their memories, issue commands, and even alter their perception of people’s faces.

Similar to the previous possibile twists, the person who committed suicide was actually Gyo Jin, who had been reprogrammed by Jae Hyun. The rest of them at the scene were only seeing an illusion of Jae Hyun’s face.

Years later, Jae Hyun visited Tae Ra at her home in Switzerland, and the sight of his lightning scars caused Tae Ra’s memories to correct itself, revealing Jae Hyun’s true identity.

Option #5: Jang Gyo Jin is the real mastermind

In this scenario, Gyo Jin has been assuming the identity of Jae Hyun by using implanted chips to manipulate people’s memories, appearance, and actions. He went as far as to murder Tae Ra fake sister and was struck by lightning as a result.

When Tae Ra later saw the lightning marks on Gyo Jin’s back, it triggered the false face that was implanted in her mind, causing her to perceive Gyo Jin as Jae Hyun once again. While the chip was supposedly already removed, both true and false memories are already a part of her.

Option #6: Hong Tae Ra is a test subject

The entire story of Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (판도라: 조작된 낙원) appeared to be a collection of memories or a dream by test subject Hong Tae Ra (홍태라). In the final scene where Tae Ra saw the lightning marks, it was only a programming designed to test how the human brain would react to something unexplainable.

Option #7: Hong Tae Ra was in a virtual world

Have you watched the movie “Total Recall”? It is possible that Tae Ra was simply playing a game, testing a military technology, or even on a vacation here she chose to play the role of a former assassin. Perhaps Tae Ra was simply experiencing her own version of a memory implant or a simulated reality.

In closing

Personally, I am not a fan of dream-like endings, but this story employs advanced technology to make it possible. The ending is definitive, and there are no alternate versions. The character who committed suicide stays dead. What we are left wondering is what actually transpired between the firsst scene of episode 1 and the final scene of episode 16.

We may never know the answer, but it is worth noting that the literal translation of the Korean title is Pandora: A Fabricated Paradise which itself provides us with hints.

1. Hong Tae Ra (홍태라) embodies the modern version of Pandora.

2. Pandora’s box represents the chip and mind manipulation technologies used in the show.

3. The show’s depiction of the horrific consequences that arise from opening Pandora’s box highlights the potential for such technologies to be abused to control people.

4. The notion of a fabricated paradise suggests that Hong Tae Ra (홍태라)’s life was a fabrication.

   If this last item is the case, then it is highly likely that either Option #6 or Option #7 represents what actually occurred.

What do you think? Which scenario likely actually occurred? Or, maybe, you have a different idea?

Duty After School recently concluded and it received a lot of negative feedback due to the way the live-action adaptation ended the series. But, are you aware that there are potential alternate endings to Duty After School?

DikshaG went through five different alternate endings.

1. The Webtoon ending

   I haven’t read the webtoon, in the original ending, most of the main characters survived instead of the brutal and senseless ending the live-adaptation presented.

2. It’s all a dream

   This is an ending which was hinted by the adaptation, an one that truly hate in any live-action fiction. I mean, why waste the audience’s time when it was all nothing but a dream? This route only works in novels.

3. Gook Yeong Soo’s suicide

4. The War Continues

5. Killed by the Spheres

The other three potential endings? I invite you over to read Duty After School: Exploring Alternate Endings for the Heart-Wrenching K-Drama by DikshaG. You would probably pick one of those three other potential endings.

Taxi Driver (모범택시) revolves around a group of people who are dissatisfied with the justice system and take on cases that have been ignored or overlooked by the authorities. They help ordinary people who have been left behind by the law.

Taxi Driver (모범택시) features a star-studded cast, including Lee Je Hoon (이제훈) as Kim do Gi (김도기), Pyo Ye Jin (표예진) as Ahn Go Eun (안고은), and Kim Eui Sung (김의성) as Jang Sung Chul (장성철). Alongside them are regular and familiar actors such as Jang Hyuk Jin (장혁진) as Choi Kyung Goo (최경구) and Bae Yoo Ram (배유람) as 박진언 (Park Jin Eon).

Synopsis

Despite disbanding after Kim do Gi (김도기)’s successful revenge, the Rainbow Deluxe Taxi (레인보우 디럭스 택시) crew, including Jang Sung Chul (장성철), Ahn Go Eun (안고은), Choi Kyung Goo (최경구), and Park Jin Eon (박진언), can’t resist the call to reunite with their former leader. Though each attempts to live a regular life with a typical job, their innate desire to fight against injustice draws them back to one another. ¹

Now fighting for more clients than ever before, the crew continues to battle on behalf of those wronged by an unequal society. However, their work draws the attention of a mysterious organisation. As they try to uncover the organisation’s identity and motives, the Rainbow Deluxe Taxi (레인보우 디럭스 택시) crew faces their toughest challenge yet. ¹

Story

The narrative structure of Season 2 took on a more ‘serial’ approach, featuring an overarching storyline that developed with each episode leading to the finale. This was a shift from Season 1’s episodic structure, where each episode or two were standalone stories with little connection to an overarching plot.

This change in storytelling style left many viewers feeling conflicted about Season 2 during its first four episodes, as they had come in with expectations based on the previous season. However, the season ultimately proved to be a success, with each individual case presented in a way that could stand alone as a captivating story, while still maintaining a common thread that tied everything together.

In Season 2, just as in the previous season, many of the cases presented were inspired by real-life events in South Korea. However, the showrunners masterfully wove the fictionalized overarching storyline into these cases, creating a beautifully seamless blend of reality and fiction.

A true standalone sequel

Season 2 of Taxi Driver (모범택시) is a self-contained story that can be enjoyed by both new and returning viewers. Any references to the previous season were used sparingly as flashbacks to add depth to the characters and enrich the drama. It’s like watching a new show where some references to the past are used to help viewers understand the characters and their motivations.

Performance

The actors in Taxi Driver (모범택시) Season 2 delivered superb performances, demonstrating the same level of skill and commitment to their roles as in Season 1. Their acting was neither underwhelming nor over-the-top, striking a perfect balance that kept viewers engaged and invested in the story.

While there is always pressure to surpass the previous season, this can sometimes lead to overacting. However, the actors in Season 2 avoided this trap and remained true to their characters, bringing them to life with nuance and depth. Season 2 is more focused on the story arc than the individual characters, but the actors still managed to give their roles with the necessary emotions and complexity to make the show a success. Overall, their performances were outstanding, contributing to the overall quality of the show.

Production

Similar to the actors, the production team behind Taxi Driver (모범택시) Season 2 maintained the same level of quality and consistency as in Season 1. This decision to maintain a similar level of production was a wise one, as it ensured that Season 2 remained on par with the previous season. Rather than attempting to introduce new elements for the sake of being different or innovative, the production team focused on delivering the same high-quality visuals, sound, and overall presentation that made Season 1 such a success.

As a result, Season 2 of Taxi Driver (모범택시) was able to stand on its own as a powerful and engaging season, while still staying true to the look and feel of the franchise. It allowed the show to build on the success of the first season while still offering something fresh and new for audiences to enjoy.

Verdict

Taxi Driver (모범택시) is an outstanding season deserving nine (9) out of ten (10) stars. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I am eagerly looking forward to Seasons 3 and 4!

Did I mention that there is a potential for a spin-off? One possible spin-off could be an eight-episode prequel, exploring the story of Ms. Driver, the first Deluxe Taxi driver.

Official trailer

I mostly use Markdown, but I have also been considering learning Org-mode. Other than Markdown, Org-mode, and good old plaintext—which is not a markup language per se—there are also AsciiDoc and LaTeX, to mention two. I was curious if it is worth learning a new markup language, and what other people use. Was it easy for them to learn a new markup language? Are they using it for writing research papers, blogging, emails, and taking down notes?

No better way to find out other than by making a poll and asking the fediverse community!

Polls

Meta

• Duration: 7 days
• Date: 2023-04-02 to 2023-04-09
• Total votes: 83
• Total voters: 53
• The poll

Results

What are people saying?

For Fell’s thesis, LaTeX is the markup language of choice, but in all other cases, good old plaintext is more than enough because it is compatible with everything.

I agree. Plaintext is plaintext. It is the easiest and fastest way to take down notes. You do not have to worry about converting a particular file from one markup language to another.

However, for Nick Anderson, Org-mode is life. Nick uses Org-mode for everything: knowledge management, writing email, blogging, presentations, tracking time, Jira ticketing, and more. Nick’s entire workflow and daily routine, you can guarantee Org-mode is there.

I checked the articles Nick shared, and after going through Nick’s experience and process, I can imagine how it made Nick’s daily workflow faster and easier. This is a good thing, as I have mentioned I have been considering learning Org-mode and integrating it into my daily routine.

For Evan Keeton, the answers are LaTeX and Markdown markup languages. Evan shared that for anything mathematics related, LaTeX is the one to use. This is true, LaTeX is the choice in publishing scientific documents ¹. If you plan to publish a research paper, it is a good idea to master LaTeX.

However, for things like note-taking, Evan said that Markdown fits perfectly. For Evan, Markdown is easy to read even without a proper renderer. I can attest to that. As a long-time Markdown user, my mind processes a Markdown document as if my brain is a Markdown renderer. It flows naturally, I do not have to consciously think about the markups in the document.

Potung Thul shares the same view as Fell, plaintext is the most compatible format of all the choices in the poll. Vim is also Potung’s go to cross-platform software for editing texts.

Closing

From the above poll, while not conclusive, it gave a general overview on which format, or markup language, fediverse citizens use. The top two are: Markdown and Org-mode, followed by plaintext. While LaTeX is the de facto choice for scientific publications and in other fields ¹.

I have heard good things about AsciiDoc, though it only received a few votes in this poll, it is a markup language that one should consider. It may be easier for you compared to the other popular choices.

Should you try one of these markup languages? Yes, you definitely should. Markdown is common in software development, for example, it is the markup language used by web repository services like Codeberg ². It is also the default in many static-site generators like Hugo ³. There are also forum software which allow Markdown editing other than the old BBcode format.

And as was mentioned, LaTeX is the de facto standard in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) publishing. Authors can submit their papers as a LaTeX document, and the publishers converts it to their own preferred format without losing any text information, like bold, italics, images, and footnotes. Compare that to submitting PDF, ODF, and DOCX documents, more likely than not the publisher will have to check if the conversion was accurate. Or, the authors of the paper have to spend more time on these things when they can better spend it doing research and experiments.

Of course, plaintext is as good as any. If presentation is not important, like bold and italics, plaintext can fill our everyday needs in documentation and note-taking. Even before the age of computers, that is what we were already doing… writing down in plaintext.

Links and more information

For more information about the various markup languages mentioned, check these useful links:

• LaTeX
• Org-mode
• Markdown: CommonMark
• AsciiDoctor
• AsciiDoc
• Wikipedia: List of document markup languages

If you are wondering if there is a way to add a colour to diacritical marks, also called accent signs, then you are in the right place! Why? Because the answer is, yes, and I will show you how.

1. Create a CSS style like this:

   1 2 3 4 5 6

   .diacritics { color: hsla(0deg, 100%, 50%, 1); color: hwb(0deg 0% 0% / 100%); font-family: "DejaVu Sans"; /* Currently, DejaVu Sans has the highest accuracy in diacritical mark positioning. */ font-weight: bold; }

2. Place the diacritics within the diacritics class

   1	<span class="diacritics">span>

Done!

Here are examples:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

bata<span class="diacritics">̀span>
panibugho<span class="diacritics">̂span>
ara<span class="diacritics">́span>w–a<span class="diacritics">́span>raw
ke<span class="diacritics">̈span>tke<span class="diacritics">̈span>t
sag<span class="diacritics">̃span>nay or sagn<span class="diacritics">̃span>ay
pan<span class="diacritics">͠span>gulo
a<span class="diacritics">̄span>so
h<span class="diacritics">͞span>oy
pu<span class="diacritics">̱span>sà
trab<span class="diacritics">͟span>aho

• batà [ba·tà]
• panibughô [pa·ni·būg·hô]
• aráw–áraw [a·ráw–á·raw]
• këtkët [kët·kët]
• sag̃nay or sagñay [sa·ñgay]
• pan͠gulo [pa·n͠gu·lo]
• āso [ā·so]
• h͞oy [h͞oy]
• pu̱sà [pu̱·sà]
• trab͟aho [tra·b͟a·ho]

It is also available via CodePen. Or, you can clone a simple test page from my test-repo: Noto Diacriticals Git branch.

A release timeline of Dungeons & Dragons video games.

DragonLance

Single-player DragonLance games

1989: War of the Lance

Heroes of the Lance series

1. 1988: Heroes of the Lance
2. 1989: Dragons of Flame
3. 1991: Shadow Sorcerer

Krynn series

1. 1990: Champions of Krynn
2. 1991: Death Knights of Krynn
3. 1992: The Dark Queen of Krynn

Forgotten Realms

Single-player Forgotten Realms games

1. 1988: Pool of Radiance
2. 1989: Hillsfar
3. 1989: Pool of Radiance 2: Curse of the Azure Bonds
4. 1990: Pool of Radiance 3: Secret of the Silver Blades
5. 1991: Pool of Radiance 4: Pools of Darkness
6. 1991: Savage Frontier 1: Gateway to the Savage Frontier
7. 1991: Eye of the Beholder
8. 1991: Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon
9. 1992: Savage Frontier 2: Treasures of the Savage Frontier
10. 1993: Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures
11. 1993: Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor
12. 1993: Dungeon Hack
13. 1994: Menzoberranzan
14. 1998: Baldur’s Gate
    • 1999 xpac: Tales of the Sword Coast
15. 2000: Icewind Dale
    • 2001 xpac: Heart of Winter
      • 2001 add-on: Trials of the Luremaster
        • note: available for free
16. 2000: Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
    • 2001 xpac: Throne of Bhaal
17. 2001: Pool of Radiance 5: Ruins of Myth Drannor
18. 2001: Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance
19. 2002: Icewind Dale II
20. 2002: Neverwinter Nights
    1. 2003 xpac 1: Shadows of Undrentide
    2. 2003 xpac 2: Hordes of the Underdark
    3. 2004 premium module 1: Kingmaker
       • required: Hordes of the Underdark
    4. 2005 premium module 2: Pirates of the Sword Coast
    5. 2006 premium module 3: Infinite Dungeons
    6. 2006 premium module 4: Darkness over Daggerford
    7. 2006 premium module 5: Wyvern Crown of Cormyr
    8. 2019 premium module 6: Tyrants of the Moonsea
21. 2004: Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance II
22. 2006: Neverwinter Nights 2
    1. 2007 xpac 1: Mask of the Betrayer
    2. 2008 xpac 2: Storm of Zehir
    3. 2009 adventure pack: Mysteries of Westgate
23. 2012: Baldur’s Gate I: Enhanced Edition
    • includes: Tales of the Sword Coast
    • 2016 xpac: Siege of Dragonspear
24. 2013: Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition
    • includes: Throne of Bhaal
25. 2014: Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
    • includes: Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster
26. 2018: Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
27. 2021: Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
28. 2023: Baldur’s Gate III

Cancelled single-player Forgotten Realms games

• 2003: Baldur’s Gate III: The Black Hound ¹
• 2004: Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance III ¹

Multiplayer Forgotten Realms game

1. 2011: Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale
   • note: split-screen cooperative mode

Online Forgotten Realms games

1. 2006: Dungeons & Dragons Online ²
   • first known as: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach
   • 2009: changed to Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited
   • 2013: Forgotten Realms content was added; and name changed to Dungeons & Dragons Online
2. 2013: Neverwinter
   • a.k.a. (unofficially): Neverwinter Online
   • by Cryptic Studios
3. 2013: Lords of Waterdeep
   • note: mobile digital board game

Shutdown online games

• 1991: Neverwinter Nights ³
  • note: first multiplayer online RPG; ran on AOL
  • closed: 1997
• 2015: Sword Coast Legends ⁴
  • closed: 2018
  • note: can still be played offline if already bought

A release timeline of Ultima video games.

Single-player

1. 1979: Akalabeth: World of Doom ^{1 2}
   • a.k.a. (unofficially): Ultima 0
2. 1981: Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
3. 1982: Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress
4. 1983: Escape from Mt. Drash ³
   • note: not part of the continuity
5. 1983: Ultima III: Exodus
6. 1985: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
7. 1988: Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny
   • 2006: Ultima V: Lazarus ¹
     • note: a fan remake based on the Dungeon Siege engine
8. 1990: Ultima VI: The False Prophet
9. 1990: Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
   • a.k.a.: Ultima Worlds of Adventure: The Savage Empire
   • note: First appearance of Spark. The only known Britannian to reference the Avatar’s adventure. ⁴
10. 1991: Ultima Worlds of Adventure II: Martian Dreams
    • a.k.a.: Worlds of Ultima II: Martian Dreams
    • note: not part of the core continuity
11. 1992: Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
    • note: not part of the core continuity
12. 1992: Ultima VII Part 1: The Black Gate
    • 1992 xpac: The Forge of Virtue
13. 1993: Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
    • note: mentioned in Ultima VII Part 2
14. 1993: Ultima VII Part 2: Serpent Isle
    • 1993 xpac: The Serpent Seed
15. 1994: Ultima VIII: Pagan
16. 1999: Ultima IX: Ascension
17. 2018: Underworld Ascendant ^{1 5}
    • a.k.a.: Ultima Underworld III: Ascendant
    • note: The lore and characters were licensed, but they were not given the license to use the title Ultima.

Cancelled single-player game

• 1993: Ultima Worlds of Adventure III: Arthurian Legends ¹

Online games

1. 1997: Ultima Online
   1. 1997: Charter Edition
      • note: pre-order box set
   2. 1998 xpac 1: The Second Age
   3. 2000: Discovery Edition
      • note: Australia and New Zealand only; to celebrate the launch of the Oceania server
   4. 2000 xpac 2: Renaissance
   5. 2001 xpac 3: Third Dawn
   6. 2002 xpac 4: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge
   7. 2003 xpac 5: Age of Shadows
   8. 2004: 7th Anniversary
      • includes: patched installer
      • includes: Age of Shadows
      • bonus: Ultima IX: Ascension
   9. 2004 xpac 6: Samurai Empire
   10. 2005: Gold
       • includes: Samurai Empire
   11. 2005 xpac 7: Mondain’s Legacy
   12. 2005: The Eight Age
       • includes: patched installer
   13. 2006: 9^th Anniversary Collection
       • a.k.a. Eve of a New Age
   14. 2009 xpac 8: Stygian Abyss
   15. 2010 booster pack: High Seas
   16. 2015 xpac 9: Time of Legends
2. 2014: Crown of the Gods ⁶
   • note: a fan remake of Lord of Ultima

Shutdown online games

1. 2010: Lord of Ultima ^{1 6}
   • closed: 2014
2. 2013: Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar ^{1 7}
   • closed: 2014

Cancelled online games

• 2001: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin ^{8 9}
  • a.k.a.: Ultima Online 2
• 2004: Ultima X: Odyssey ^{8 10}

The Last of Us premiered on HBO Max this week. This new TV series is an adaptation of a game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog.

It is rare to see a good live-action adaptation of a game franchise. Produced and written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, I can say that The Last of Us is counted in those rare adaptations. ¹

Synopsis

In 2003, a fungal virus that turns its victims bloodthirsty and infects those they attack sparks a global pandemic. Joel (played by actor Pedro Pascal) flees with his daughter as the virus starts to spread, but was killed by a soldier. Twenty years later, the fungal virus has ravaged the world, and Joel was tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (played by actress Bella Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States.

Episode 01 Review

• Part 1: 1968

  It was a very good introduction. Straightforward. It saved the show from explaining it later. I do not know if this was how it went in the original material, if not, it was a good decision to get it out of the way.

• Part 2: 2003

  This is the part that I wish they spent more time on. They could have built deeper the daughter-dad relationship, and their relationship with their neighbours. It was lacking in this area. I did not feel anything when his daughter died. The Koreans are good at this, they could take a tip or two from them.

  The devastation and destruction were also limited. If all hell was breaking loose, I want to feel and see that. The urgency. The fear. Adrenalin kicking in. Survival instincts playing a major role.

  But, okay, it was 2003, the population were not yet into zombies, so everyone’s reactions were “he’s gone crazy”. If the outbreak happened in 2023, the reaction would be different.

• Part 3: 2023

  Too much time was spent on this. It could’ve been shorter, since they are going to leave the Boston QZ (quarantine zone) anyway, and it is the typical post-apocalyptic QZ. The time gained from it could have been used for Part 2 (see above feedback).

  Since I have not played the game, it would be interesting to see aerial shots. How big was the QZ? What’s the surrounding area look like? It does not have to be grand, just there to help the audience immerse in this post-apocalyptic 2023.

Verdict

Overall, it was a good premiere episode.

1. It set the tone of the series.
2. It explained the important details, like what was the underlying cause of the outbreak.
3. Introduced the main and support characters, and what kind of persons they are.

HBO Max only ordered ten episodes for Season 1. The three points I mentioned are key into keeping the focus of this season on the main plot.

I love it, 8 out of 10 stars! Now, where is episode 02?

Official trailer

Happy Gregorian New Year 2023! Another year has gone by in the Gregorian Calendar, 2022. Here is a list of some of the articles which were popular (and still are).

OPM, P-pop, and Idols

• What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?

• All P-pop are idols, not
  Are the labels P-pop and Idols the same? No, not at all. In this article, we dived into these two terminologies and clearly defined P-pop and Idols.

• P-pop idols, when did it all start?
  The trillion-₱eso questions: When did the P-pop Idol industry actually started? And who was the first P-pop idol?

Autism

• What is autism acceptance?
  It started with autism awareness, and then autism acceptance. But what exactly is autism acceptance? Are the people around us, autistics, have truly accepted us, or only tolerating us?

• Autistics on «Extraordinary Attorney Woo»
  Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) was generally received by real-life autistic persons. The show and the team, in particular the lead actor Park Eun Bin (박은빈), positive reactions from both autistics and neurotypicals. I am autistic myself and my opinions about the show only represents my own, this prompted me to contact autistic people and asked them some questions about the show and autism.

• Whale couple Filipino memes
  Funny and witty Filipino memes about the Whale Couple from Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우).

Explained

• (Updated) «All Of Us Are Dead» explained
  There were a lot of questions about this popular series. In this explained article, I tried to answer each question and explained why it was so.

• (Updated) «Grid (그리드)» explained
  This Disney+ series gained a lot of attention in Korea and overseas. As with any complex time travel stories, most of its audience were confused. In this explained article, I answered and explained each and every question from an in-universe perspective.

• «Reborn Rich» (2022) explained
  Confused about the ending of Reborn Rich (재벌집 막내아들)? Who was Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) and Jin Do Jun (진도준) exactly? Are they one person or two? Were there two timelines or only one? But Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) said he did not time travel, right?

• What is in the name, Le Sserafim?
  HYBE and Source Music first teased about their new girl group with their motto IM Fearless on March 25, 2022. On March 28, 2022, they revealed that their motto is an anagram of the group’s name: Le Sserafim. But, what is Le Sserafim?

And cool ones

• «The Law Cafe» episode 4: Child Abuse
  Episode 04 of this show tackled the issue of child abuse. They did not shy away from showing the truth and the intense pain a child goes through from abusive adults.

• Bioman, Maskman, & Shaider full theme songs in Tagalog
  Tagalog theme songs are not easy to find. In this blog post, there are six Tagalog theme songs from three tokusatsu series. Check it out!

• Most coherent list of K-pop generations
  A more logical approach on defining the generations of K-pop.

A list of Marvel Cinematic Universe productions in sequential order as it happened in-universe.

Official Timeline from Disney

Based on the official timeline by Disney+, unless otherwise specified. (As of 2023-01-10.)

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (film)
2. Agent Carter (TV)
3. Captain Marvel (film)
4. Iron Man (film)
5. Iron Man 2 (film)
6. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (shorts)
7. Thor (film)
8. The Incredible Hulk (TV) ¹
9. Consultant (shorts)
10. The Avengers (film)
11. Item 47 (shorts)
12. Thor: The Dark World (film)
13. Iron Man 3 (film)
14. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV) ²
15. All Hail the King (shorts)
16. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (film)
17. Guardians of the Galaxy (film)
18. I Am Groot: Groot’s First Steps (shorts)
19. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (film)
20. I Am Groot: The Little Guy (shorts)
21. I Am Groot: Groot’s Pursuit (shorts)
22. I Am Groot: Groot Takes A Bath (shorts)
23. I Am Groot: Magnum Opus (shorts)
24. Avengers: Age of Ultron (film)
25. Ant-Man (film)
26. Captain America: Civil War (film)
27. Black Widow (film)
28. Black Panther (film)
29. Spider-Man: Homecoming (film)
30. Doctor Strange (film)
31. Thor: Ragnarok (film)
32. Ant-Man and the Wasp (film)
33. Avengers: Infinity War (film)
34. Avengers: Endgame (film)
35. Loki (TV)
36. What If…? (animation)
37. WandaVision (TV)
38. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV)
39. Spider-Man: Far From Home (film)
40. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (film)
41. Eternals (film)
42. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (film)
43. Hawkeye (TV)
44. Moon Knight (TV) ³
45. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV)
46. Ms. Marvel (TV)
47. Thor: Love and Thunder (film) ³
48. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (shorts)
49. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (film) ³
50. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (film) ³

Announced

1. Secret Invasion (TV)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (film)
3. Echo (TV)
4. The Marvels (film)
5. Loki: Season 2 (TV)
6. Ironheart (TV)
7. Agatha: Coven of Chaos (TV)
8. Daredevil: Born Again (TV)
9. Captain America: New World Order (film)
10. Thunderbolts (film)
11. Blade (film)
12. Fantastic Four (film)
13. Armor Wars (film)
14. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (film)
15. Avengers: Secret Wars (film)
16. Nova (film)

Confused about the ending of Reborn Rich (재벌집 막내아들)? Who was Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) and Jin Do Jun (진도준) exactly? Are they one person or two? Were there two timelines or only one? But Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) said he did not time travel, right?

These are probably the questions you have in your mind right now, and in this article, I am going to give you an explanation that you more likely agree with.

As with any explanation I did before, there are guidelines and rules on how we should find a satisfactory answer. This is very important, otherwise, we will be all over the place.

Guidelines

1. Approach from an in-universe perspective. We need to think as someone who lives in the world of the characters. We need to unlock what was in the author’s mind.

2. Remember these two important rules in creative writing / fiction:

   • Show, don’t tell. If the storytelling style is to tell, then we are reading a scientific paper or watching a documentary. We need to watch to find the answers.

   • If a scene does not move the story forward, delete it. An experienced writer makes sure every scene is important to the story. This means that we can not assume that some scenes were insignificant. All scenes are significant and a potential clue.

3. Everything shown is canon. We can not dismiss something shown as false. If an information was included in the show, then it is official.

4. There is only one timeline, or universe, in this story. Forget about the many-worlds interpretation (MWI), or more commonly known as multiple timelines and parallel universes. This series established in episode 16 that there is only one timeline.

Fixed clues

1. Episode 16: Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) did not possess the body of Jin Do Jun (진도준).
2. Episode 16: Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) did not time travel to the past as Jin Do Jun (진도준).
3. Episode 16: Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) was in a coma state, or slept, in a hospital for one week. He never died. Which means he can not be reborn, or reincarnated, as Jin Do Jun (진도준).
4. Episode 1 and Episode 16: The history in Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우)’s period (2022 or later), was similar to what we have seen from the vantage point of Jin Do Jun (진도준).
5. Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) and Jin Do Jun (진도준) met twice. The first one was on a road. The second was when Jin Do Jun (진도준) was assassinated.

These are fixed clues. Any attempt at an answer, or theory, should be able to reconcile these five fixed clues without resorting to lazy writing and writer error.

The answer

It is quite simple. When Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) was in a coma, or slept, for one week, he started to dream the memories of Jin Do Jun (진도준). Since Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) is the one dreaming the memories of Jin Do Jun (진도준), he remembers his own life as Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우).

His dream of Jin Do Jun (진도준)’s memories was not perfect. There were gaps, and as the dreamer, he was also able to do things on his own to some extent. But, as he learned the hard way, events still happened the way it should.

That is it.

FAQ

A beautifully woven story about life and death, and how we are all connected together.

Synopsis

Baek Dong Joo (백동주) (character played by Lee Hye Ri (이혜리)) is a former professional ping pong athlete, who has just started to work as a funeral director. On her first day on the job she finds out she has the gift, or curse, to momentarily resurrect and talk to the recently deceased people when she touches them. She has to grant 21 wishes to be freed of this fate.

Kim Tae Hee (김태희) (character played by Lee Jun Young (이준영)) works as a man for hire. Employed by his uncle Vincent running the newly opened errand service company “A Dime A Job” he can be hired for any odd but legal task for as little as one hundred Won.

One day, Kim Tae Hee (김태희) encounters Baek Dong Joo (백동주), when he was hired by her boyfriend to break up with her in his stead. After that, their paths continue to cross, and by the virtue of their jobs their fates get intertwined deeper and deeper in a series of life and death situations, surrounding the wishes of the people who had died, and the painful past it is going to unravel for both of them. ¹

Review

At first, one would think it is just another comedy, ‘feel good’, “very fictional”, TV series. It was easy to drop it just because. But, a fair warning, doing so would be to your detriment. This series is about life, the value of relationships, and yes, what death means for you and me.

The story transcends faith and religion. This was beautifully depicted with the Catholic priest and the Catholic confessional box; as well as, by the Buddhism beliefs of the other characters. Life, relationships, and death, are universal, and commonly have the same depth of meaning regardless of one’s faith and religion.

It is not about ghosts. In fact, there is nothing paranormal in the story, rather, it is more supernatural. A higher being supernaturally allowed the female lead character to have a spiritual “Stella’s touch”. One last opportunity for the dead to make their wishes known; and for the living to have peace.

The ending is a must-watch, but only if one watched the series from the beginning without skipping anything. It is rare to see an ending that blows the audience, and leaves a long-lasting impression. An ending deserving of the beautifully woven story of the male and female lead characters, and their relationships with their loved ones, their regrets, and their hopes.

This TV drama is a story about you and me. It is a story about the living and our dearly departed. It is a story of healing and moving on. A story of regrets and hopes. It is painful, sad, and you will definitely cry no matter how strong you may be. But in the end, it reminds us how good it is to live, and that all the pain and hardships of life we may have gone through and will go through, are nothing compared to having been loved.

May I Help You? (일당백집사)

Verdict: 10 out of 10 stars!

Music

The song I want played if my turn to leave this world comes.

We came to the world as strangers. We will leave as friends. “Goodbye, My Friend” / “Annyong My Friend” / “안녕 My Friend”.

Official trailer

OST

Start-Up PH is a 2022 Philippine drama starring Bea Alonzo, Alden Richards, Jeric Gonzales, and Yasmien Kurdi. This show is about two sisters who dream of starting the next highly successful startup company, but learn that being a successful CEO means first and foremost being human.

Synopsis

Sandbox PH is the Philippine branch of Sandbox, a fictional incubator company from Korea (from the original series). They take in people aspiring to build the next big tech company in the Philippines while learning the ropes of managing a company and developing a new product.

Tristan ‘Good Boy’ Hernandez is an intelligent, independent, and self-made investor who had a difficult past and used it to achieve remarkable success in life.

Danica ‘Dani’ Sison is a quirky dreamer with a firm determination to prove to herself and the world that she can become a CEO of her own company.

Katrina ‘Ina’ Diaz is Dani’s older sister, who lived with their mother abroad and later returned to the Philippines. Dani and Ina met again in Sandbox PH and were immediately at odds because of their life choices.

Davidson ‘Dave’ Navarro was a mathematics genius when he was young. He and his friends are newbie entrepreneurs willing to learn and take risks to fulfil their dreams.

What will happen when they all meet together in Sandbox PH? Will they come together to make their dreams a reality? Are they willing to do and learn everything to be successful in this cutthroat tech industry?

Premiere Week Performance

From the premiere episode to the fifth, the actors brought their characters to life closer to the original drama series while keeping the characters true to being Filipino. Bea Alonzo’s acting as the Filipino counterpart of Bae Suzy (배수지)’s character Seo Dal Mi (서달미) earned her the nickname the Bea Suzy of the Philippines, and I could not agree more, as Bea portrayed her character Danica ‘Dani’ Sison amazingly.

The boy next door Alden Richards is playing as Tristan ‘Good Boy’ Hernandez, the Filipino counterpart of Kim Seon Ho (김선호)’s character Han Ji Pyung (한지평). Alden was not only at par with Seon Ho (선호) in his attractive looks and charming dimples, Alden’s acting was top-notch when he captured Ji Pyung (지평) so well and translated it into a Filipino character.

Another outstanding talent who brought the show’s high ratings in its first week is Yasmien Kurdi as Katrina ‘Ina’ Diaz, the Filipino counterpart of Won In Jae (유인재), played by Kang Han Na (강한나) in the original series. Ina possessed the same fierceness and intimidating qualities of being a big sister as In Jae (인재), with the added Filipino touch of being mataray (blunt; mean; pretentious; sassy); excellent acting from Yasmien.

Premiere Week Production

When it comes to adapting a story to a local setting, it is critical to have balance. Changing everything to what is locally common can ruin the essence of the original story. There are different types of adaptations, but in this particular scenario, it was a retelling of the original story in a Philippine setting. The Philippine adaptation of Start-Up (스타트업) did not disappoint. In general, parts that should be the same remained as-is while modifying those that fit in a local context.

Premiere Week Verdict

My verdict after watching the premiere week episodes is a perfect ten (10)! I rarely watch locally produced movies and TV series these days because the plot is usually the same. If it was an adaptation, either the production was subpar or there were excessive changes. Start-Up PH is on the same level as the original series, similar to the Philippine adaptation of Descendants of the Sun (태양의 후예). I am looking forward to seeing the rest of Start-Up PH, especially how there were already hints our lead female character may choose her childhood pen pal in the end—a different choice from the original series.

Official trailer

Start-Up PH Links

• Official website
• MyDramaList: Rate and leave reviews
• IMDb: Rate and leave reviews
• Official hashtag: #StartUpPH
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Check out my «Start-Up» review.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) was a Korean TV drama with an autistic person as the lead character and central to the story. It depicted the challenges and prejudices faced by an autistic in Korea, in particular a lawyer.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) was generally received by real-life autistic persons. The show and the team, in particular the lead actor Park Eun Bin (박은빈), positive reactions from both autistics and neurotypicals. I am autistic myself and my opinions about the show only represents my own, this prompted me to contact autistic people and asked them some questions about the show and autism.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Portrayal of autistic persons was never good. For decades autistic characters were portrayed with stereotypical traits and quirks, and usually depicted in a negative way. I asked fellow autistic persons about it.

Autistics agree and so do I.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 the highest, I asked them …

Next, let’s talk about the romance between Woo Young Woo and Lee Joon Ho.

Pretty strong answer from Autistic A. In a way I agree, it is one of the stereotypes seen in other shows with an autistic character. Someone who is different gets the blame and the lack of one shifts it to gender-based blaming.

I totally agree with them. Not explaining the reasons for a break up is not an autistic thing, it is a relationship thing. This is the same with the previous question, the autistic person was blamed because she is autistic; if she was non-autistic, the audience would defend her decision and make Lee Joon Ho as the inconsiderate one in their relationship.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) is about an autistic woman’s growth as she navigates on her own—for the first time—a world with prejudice about autism. However, an integral part of the story are the legal cases.

Check out my A Brilliant Young Mind review and «Innocent Witness» review.

Thank you to everyone who responded and participated!

When the place you call home is no longer your safe and happy place but you still hold on to the very definition of home, it is hard to escape from it even though it has become a place of abuse and misery.

Our home should be warm, full of love.

This is the topic of the latest episode of The Law Cafe (법대로 사랑하라).

There are many forms of abuse, most people assume it is physical but it can be emotional, it can be psychological. Parents shouting, for whatever reason, is abuse. Parents fighting at home, shouting at each other, throwing hurtful words, is also abuse.

This episode is a must watch. It was a heartfelt true-to-life story which hopefully will remind adults to love children.

Korean screenwriters have a fascination with time travel for the past five years or so. Korean time travel stories are commonly taken seriously by fans as hard science where time travel mechanics should be explained. Alienoid (외계+인) is a time travel adventure that is easy to follow and is a mix of science fiction and fantasy.

Synopsis

Guard (가드) (played by Kim Hyun Joong (김우빈)) is a highly advanced cyborg from a distant civilization. Together with his sidekick robot Thunder (천둥), they ensure the Paros (what the aliens call their criminals) they imprisoned on planet Earth across all times can never escape. However, time started to fracture when they brought back a baby from the past to the present.

Mu Reuk (무륵) (played by Ryu Joon Yeol (류준열)) is a Dosa (도사) who use his abilities as a bounty hunter, a profession despised by many Dosa. He learned about a bounty to find an object called divine knife with a very generous reward that can solve his financial problems.

Lee An (이안) (played by Kim Tae Ri (김태리)) was born in late Goryeo Dynasty (1374–1392). She has been searching for the divine knife for ten years and has learned how to use a gun. Her path eventually crossed with Mu Reuk (무륵) and together they fight the Paros who also want the divine knife.

Story

The story is straightforward, Guard (가드), Thunder (천둥), and Lee An (이안) must capture or eliminate the criminal aliens who have successfully taken over their human prison. If these aliens acquire the divine knife they will be able to awaken their comrades and end humanity.

Time travel was also easy to follow, though they hinted there is more to time, it is pretty much linear in this movie. Time travel was only used as a literary device to trap the protagonists and the antagonists in late Goryeo Dynasty where magic and spiritual abilities were still practiced.

Anyone looking for a fun science fantasy adventure film, Alienoid (외계+인) is the answer.

Performance

The main actors for our primary characters are all well experienced in acting. They casted actors who can deliver the kind of acting that fits who the characters are supposed to be.

We have Kim Hyun Joong (김우빈) who played Guard (가드) and the many alter ego of Thunder (천둥). Many would recognize him from his recent acting comeback in Our Blues (우리들의 블루스).

There is also Ryu Joon Yeol (류준열) who played Mu Reuk (무륵). Fans of Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) would definitely know him.

Of course, Kim Tae Ri (김태리) as the gun-wielding martial artist, time traveler, and Goryeo-born Lee An (이안). Her recent TV drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One (스물다섯 스물하나) landed her Best Actress (여우주연상) at the 58^th Baeksang Arts Awards (제58회 백상예술대상).

I would not be surprised if their characters were written with these actors in mind before they were offered to star in this film.

Production

There are two eras in this movie: early 21^st century (2012 and 2022 Korea); and late 14^th century (1380 and 1391 Goryeo Dynasty). In both eras, they paid attention on how they use special effects and the graphics design.

In the 21^st century Korea they brought in the looks of a highly advanced technology. I love the transforming spaceship, it is similar to the Western show Team Knight Rider or the 32^nd era of Star Trek: Discovery. (When are we going to have this technology in real life?) Another thing was the armor of Guard (가드), it reminded me of the Japanese franchise Guyver (ガイバー).

In 14^th century Goryeo Dynasty they showed the architecture and designs of late Goryeo. The special effects for magic were kept simple and appropriate for the period. But what can be easily missed and misunderstood is the design and graphics for the aliens. With two vastly different eras, they opted to keep the aliens bare. I think the aliens are wearing some sort of an armor and they have not shown what they actually look like. This was a good decision as it made sure the aliens fit in both eras.

Verdict

They should have showed more fight scenes in the Goryeo era since it is the main focus of Alienoid (외계+인) part one. The fight scenes and special effects in the modern era were great but those were things commonly scene in an alien invasion story set in modern times. What makes science fantasy very exciting is seeing the interaction of … well … science and fantasy. It was a good start to bring in guns in Goryeo but they should not have stopped there.

They should also be careful with dates. Lee An (이안) was still a baby when they met her in 1380. Yet in 2022 Thunder (천둥) said she came from 646 years in the past which would be the year 1376.

For Alienoid (외계+인) part one I give it 9 out of 10 stars. It would have been an 8 if not for the performance of the three main actors and for keeping the special effects appropriate for the Goryeo Dynasty depicted in the film.

Official trailer