I May Not Word This Right, But I Like That Apothecary Diaries Doesn't Reduce Any Of The Female Characters

I have a slight fascination in names and their meanings/historical context of how they're structured, and as far as the Perfect Court goes, there are a few fun facts about them that add an interesting layer to their backstories. We know Riko taking Jean’s middle name "Yves" was intentional and significant in signifying his lack of identity in the Nest. But Riko and Kevin also have (possibly unintentional) significants in their names as well.

For Riko, in Western cultures, we generally think of "Rico," the masculine Spanish/Italian name meaning "king" or "ruler," but in Japanese, the name "Riko" is traditionally a feminine name meaning "jasmine child" or "loyal child" depending on the characters used to spell it.

In Kevin’s case, it's a missing middle name, which is actually a bit more significant than Jean missing his. In Europe, middle names became a thing because of the high population prior to the Black Plague. (Multiple Johns or Marys could be distinguished by their middle name.) But, in Celtic regions, the belief in not telling people your middle name was associated with the fae. If they ask for your name and you don't give them your middle, then they don't have your "true name," and you're safe. As Kevin's mom was Irish, she definitely would have given him one as it's a normal practice. But by the Moriyamas removing it, it strips him of some of his cultural heritage.

Take this information and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. I just think it's an interesting thing to point out.

Does Fyodor know how old Dazai is? Like, I imagine Dazai looks older than he is just from the everything in his life. So, does Fyodor know he’s 22 or does he think he's older? If someone told him, would "I've lived multiple lifetimes" Fyodor just be like, "What do you mean my intellectual equivalent is a fucking child??"

Sorry, I didn't mean it in an intelligence way (just said intellectual equil because thats how he precieves him. Ranpo is definitely as well, but Fyodor doesn't seem to care about him) or that he would precieve Dazai as a literal child. I meant it in a "Oh you're a lot younger than I thought" way. For example, I was born in the 90's and when my best friend from work said she was born after 2000 I said "You're a child" jokingly meaning "You are so young" and then had a "fuck I'm getting old" moment. It wouldn't change Fyodor's perception of Dazai at all, but he'd probably feel his age a bit.

Does Fyodor know how old Dazai is? Like, I imagine Dazai looks older than he is just from the everything in his life. So, does Fyodor know he’s 22 or does he think he's older? If someone told him, would "I've lived multiple lifetimes" Fyodor just be like, "What do you mean my intellectual equivalent is a fucking child??"

I understand that you can get burnt out from anything, but there's something ... hollow? about being burned out on what you love. Like, I get that I need to step away from writing sometimes. That I need this burnout period to recharge. But I hate the numbness that comes with it. How bloody unproductive I feel. I can't focus. I can't do anything. I feel like a tiger pacing the length of its cage up and down. Up and down. Over and over. I know there's a point where the bucket is empty, and you gotta let it refill before you can proactively use it, but I hate waiting around for that spark to come back to life. Ya know?

Blue Thryssa after the events of Season 3: Are you fucking kidding me?! Seriously?! Anything else?!

Alternatively: Welcome to our monthly meet-up. Looks like we have some new fucking members.

Okay, so in the Traumerei Amizu flashback, it's implied that the only people to enter the room where Traumerei had shut himself in after Amizu announced that she was leaving were other members of the 10 family heads. Somehow, I doubt he was close to anyone else given his reclusive nature. If that is the case, then who the fuck is he?

There's only three family heads we haven't seen in any capacity. Ari Han, Bloodmadder, and Tperie. We can rule out Ari since he probably looks similar to his cousin, Arie Hon (personally, I think SIU should have leaned into the closeness of their names and just made them twins). That leaves Bloodmadder and Tperie. I'm leaning toward Tperie because of all the eyes. What's all your thoughts on it?

I feel like the only acceptable adaptation of AFTG would be a sports anime. It's the only medium that could match the intensity of Neil's inner monologs and not make it look completely ridiculous.

Also, when was the last time you saw a straight sports anime?

Chapter 16 is live! Here’s a little excerpt from the current chapter:

“Minyard did sign a five year contracted with the team,” Tetsuji said.

“Spare is dead to the world, so no one knows he’s here,” Riko replied.

“They know,” Ichirou growled. “That is why we are here.”

Riko blatantly glared at Neil and sneered. “Yeah, and I wonder how they found out.”

Neil met his gaze. “You accusing me of something?”

“Didn’t you talk to them after the game?”

“Yeah, because I have these things called friends. Ever heard of it?”

“Control your dog, Ichirou,” Tetsuji said.

Okay, this has been nagging at me since Season 3. I know having the first person the audience sees Fyodor kill be a slave kid named Karma is significant, but I'm not sure in what way. BSD has had a lot of throwaway characters, but they never put that much emphasis on one. Hell, Coffee Shop Dude has been seen multiple times and has ties to the main cast, and I don't think we even have a name for him. (Side note: according to the wiki, the waitress Dazai flirts with is named Belladonna. Puts a whole new meaning to "flirting with death.") But Karma gets a distinct look, full backstory, and a name even though you could've replaced him with a faceless grunt, and nothing about Fyodor and Ace's interaction would have changed.

It could've just been foreshadowing for Fyodor's actual ability. However, it seems a bit over the top to be that. Especially when the hint in Dead Apple is executed so well in such a short scene. Pluse, the writer and artist of BSD knows how to plant things in advance. The artist noted that Tachihara being a hunting dog is revealed in his clothing because he's the only one wearing the green that's on the hunting dogs uniform (in the manga) instead of the Mafia's red/black motif. And how long did that reveal take?

The random POV change to a throwaway character is just weird, too. As a writer and editor, it doesn't make any sense. There's no payoff. He's not tied to the main cast. It would've been more impactful to the audience if it were a character we already knew. And I doubt Fyodor cares or even remembers the kid.

I know that whole interaction was cooking something, but I don't know what, and it's bothering me.

Thank you for your time.

One thing that is not utilized enough in Baam/Khun fics is the fact that Baam is generally shown a back sleeper that straight up does not move in his sleep while Khun tends to be shown more as a side sleeper and not only moves quite a bit but is also cannonically a blanket hog. If they were to sleep together, Baam is being used as the human pillow and may or may not end up with blankets and/or bruises from being kicked.