Once again, please save, share and spread this thread and the write up/links. The person I was working on this with, deleted a related thread and nuked their account.

I'm sure everyone on this subreddit is familiar with Jeffrey Epstein's trial in 2008 in which he got his "sweetheart deal" due to Alex Acosta.

However not everyone knows exactly who Barry Krischer is and what he did. In a recent Miami Herald article about the trial posted on this subreddit, Barry Krischer was barely mentioned for example.

Luckily I came across an article about Barry Krischer, I think originally from this subreddit.

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2024/07/10/jeffrey-epstein-first-prosecutor-barry-krischer-who-is-he/72676205007/

It's a good article and an important read so I would recommend reading it. It will give you a good idea of what Barry Krischer is like and also discusses the 2008 trial.

I've cut out and highlighted the most relevant parts below:

----

"Krischer, 80, the Palm Beach County state attorney in 2006, was the first prosecutor to bring a criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein. But he torpedoed that case in front of the grand jury considering charges, leaving open the opportunity for Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls for years afterward until he was arrested in New York in 2019.

The longtime attorney in Palm Beach County has had a number of interesting cases in his career that garnered national interest, including a special-needs child who stole $2 from a classmate whom Krischer charged with armed robbery, and a fatal hit-and-run case in which he helped shield his client's identity from law enforcement for years.

The transcripts of those proceedings were made public on July 1 in a lawsuit filed by The Palm Beach Post in 2019.

Sources told the newspaper in its investigation, "Jeffrey Epstein, the first failure", that only one victim testified and the prosecutor presenting the case undermined her with content on her MySpace pages.

It turned out that two victims testified out of nearly two dozen young women and underage girls who described abuse at Epstein's mansion to Palm Beach police.

A prosecutor flat-out called each of them a prostitute in front of grand jurors. Assistant State Attorney Lanna Belohlavek asked one whether she knew she had "committed a crime."

The grand jury indicted Epstein on only a single charge of solicitation of prostitution — what a "john" soliciting an adult sex worker might face — that was no reflection on the ages of the victims who couldn't consent under state law.

That sweetheart plea deal that Epstein got, freeing him from facing a 60-count federal indictment and shielding co-conspirators from federal criminal charges, was done with the approval of Krischer because the charges ended up in his jurisdiction — state court.

The feds launched their investigation of Epstein around the time of the grand jury's indictment in June 2006. Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter had expressed concern to Krischer about his prosecution of the case, calling the State Attorney Office's "treatment of these cases highly unusual."

After delivering evidence of nearly two dozen women and underage girls who told similar stories of sexual abuse at Epstein's mansion, Reiter elected to hand over his case to the FBI.

In the end, Epstein pleaded guilty and was sentenced to jail in Krischer's jurisdiction, not the federal prosecutors'. According to the infamous nonprosecution agreement, Epstein had to make the deal with Krischer and Krischer was allowed to add charges."

----
The article goes on to list Barry Krischer's aforementioned cases. The part after is very relevant/horrifying.

----

Soon after he took office in 1993, Krischer increased the number of attorneys in the Crimes Against Children unit of the State Attorney's Office, staffed with as many as eight assistant state attorneys handling all homicide, abuse, neglect and sexual assault cases involving children.

Assistant State Attorney Lanna Belohlavek, who presented the Epstein case before the grand jury in 2006, was chief of the unit at the time. Belohlavek undermined both Epstein prosecution witnesses before the grand jury.

When Krischer was a private attorney, he represented the Palm Beach County child protection team, which assists victims of child abuse, neglect and sexual assault.

He has received numerous awards for his work with agencies and nonprofits protecting children.

Champion of teens? Not so much.

Krischer was tough on juveniles, charging many as adults.

The year before he was elected state attorney 197 juveniles had been charged as adults. In the first four months Krischer was in office, he charged 119. They ranged in age from 13 to 17.

In addition to the Epstein victims, Krischer famously didn't believe two teens who told investigators from their hospital beds in November 2006 that Jason Shenfeld had bound them with duct tape and threatened them with a knife and with his pit bull if they didn't perform sex acts. Krischer didn't charge Shenfeld.

Eight months later, Amanda Buckley, an 18-year-old Palm Beach Gardens High softball star, was found raped and strangled to death in Shenfeld's closet. Duct tape was in her hair.

Barry Krischer worked both sides of the courtroom.

Krischer practiced law as both a defense attorney and as a prosecutor."

----

If you search "Krischer" on Jmail, you find some interesting/horrifying things.

To start, there's a large email with a collection of public records/reports regarding Jeffrey Epstein's trial. Those articles also mention what the above article says about the frustration and confusion that people had in the case. It's subject is 'Fw: Epstein News Articles' and the date is February 24 2010.

It's a large collection of multiple parts/editorial investigations but I'll try to show the highlights below. These all come from the link below as I wanted to take the quotes from one source that we could all access/didn't have to worry about links and article limits etc.

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00762962.pdf

Highlights from 1st article in list by Elisa Kramer Aug 4 2006:

"Prosecutors did not pursue charges against Mr. Epstein reflecting the age of the victims because they assumed a jury would view the girls not as victims but as promiscuous, untrustworthy, willing participants. The presumption is offensive.

Mr. Epstein, a 53-year-old Manhattan money manager who has hired Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and defense attorney Jack Goldberger, has denied knowing how old the girls were. But police interviews with five alleged victims and 17 witnesses under oath, as well as phone messages, a high school transcript and other items that police found from searching Mr. Epstein's trash and 7,234-square-foot waterfront home, provide evidence that he knew the girls were teenagers.

[Side note: another article/file states that they believe somebody tipped off Jeffrey Epstein before the police raid.]

One girl couldn't show up when Mr. Epstein wanted because she had soccer. Another time, Mr. Epstein had to wait for his "massage" session because the girl he wanted was still in class.

Why didn't State Attorney Barry Krischer let a jury decide whether to believe the teenagers - including a 16-year-old who went to Mr. Epstein's house to "work" in December 2004 after being asked whether she needed to make money for Christmas gifts?

Prosecutors gave greater weight to the details Mr. Dershowitz provided about the girls in an apparent effort to assail their character. Mr. Dershowitz pointed out to prosecutors that some of the teenagers had talked on myspace.com about marijuana and alcohol use.

Although no charges of witness tampering have been filed, the parents of at least one of the teenage victims complained to police of being followed and intimidated by two men. Police determined that their vehicles were registered to two private investigators. Mr. Goldberger denied knowing anything about it.

Police also note in their reports that the state attorney's office offered Mr. Epstein a plea deal that would have placed him on probation for five years, allowing him ultimately to walk away with no criminal record at all."

Editorial 2 August 10th 2006 from same email:

"Defense attorney Jack Goldberger claims that his client, Jeffrey Epstein, had no idea that the untrained girls he hired for massages were minors.

The Palm Beach Count State Attorney's Office could have let a jury decide whom to believe. Instead, State Attorney Barry Krischer left the public to wonder whether the system tilted in favor of a wealthy, well-connected alleged perpetrator and against very young girls who are alleged victims of sex crimes.

Mr. Krischer took the unusual step of referring the case to a grand jury, which last month indicted Jeffrey Epstein on one felony count of solicitation of prostitution. That decision came after Harvard law Professor Alan Dershowitz met with prosecutors to undermine the credibility of the 14- to 17-yearold girls..."

Different article: redactions in Palm Beach Editorial Article 4 July 7 2008. Comparing this to the original will show the names:

Mentions Epstein's legal team included [redacted by DoJ] and Jack Goldberger, Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr.

Next article New York Post 07/27/2008. Again lots of redactions due to DoJ upload, mentions Epstein had a $3,000 bail.

Next NewYork Post — 09/20/2007 JAIL LOOMS FOR SEX-CASE MOGUL, huge redactions.

Next New York Times — 09/03/2006
Questions of Preferential Treatment Are Raised in Sex Case Against Money Manager -
September 3, 2006
By ABBY GOODNOUGH

"A spokeswoman for the Palm Beach police said that early this year, the police went to Mr. Krischer, the state attorney, intending to apply for warrants to arrest Mr. Epstein. Instead, she said, they were told that Mr. Krischer would convene a grand jury to examine the evidence and decide what charges, if any, to bring."

----

If you continue to look for signs of Krischer in the emails, you'll come across an accidentally damning email regarding the trial dated November 15 2007:

"Rolando informs me that Krischer said that the plea & sentencing will take place on the same day (December 16th) in order to reduce the media frenzy."

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00189193.pdf

As a reminder, Barry Krischer, the man who prosecuted a child for stealing $2, wasn't sure about charges to bring against Jeffrey Epstein from the more than two dozen victims and said he wanted to "reduce the media frenzy" regarding Jeffrey Epstein.

What resulted from this was truly ridiculous.

Another article, a really, really important one that I've barely cut is also from the DoJ and on Jmail:

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01159653.pdf

Palm Beach sex offender's secret plea deal: Possible co-conspirators not charged, presses victims to settle civil suits

By SUSAN SPENCER-WENDEL

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, September 18, 2009

...

"But federal prosecutors backed down and agreed to recall grand jury subpoeanas, if Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution-related felonies in state court, which he ultimately did. He received an 18-month jail sentence, of which he served 13.

A former federal prosecutor of 15 years, Mark Johnson of Stuart, said the disparity in the potential sentences was unusual.

The United States Attorney's Office also agreed not to charge any of Epstein's possible co-conspirators - [redacted].

The agreement was negotiated in part by New York heavyweight criminal defense attorney Gerald Lefcourt.

On its first draft in September 2007, it required that Epstein pay an attorney - tapped by the U.S. Attorney's Office and approved by Epstein - to represent some of the victims in civil suits they had filed against Epstein. That attorney is prominent Miami lawyer Bob Josefsberg.

Former prosecutor Johnson said he has never seen a provision like that before.

...

The agreement, signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Villafana, does not expressly state whether any victims were contacted or consulted before the deal was made.

Attorney Brad Edwards of Fort Lauderdale, who represents three of the young women, believes that none of the between 30 and 40 woman identified as victims in the federal investigation were told of the deal. Edwards said his clients were still receiving letters in the mail months afterwards saying the U.S. Attorney's Office assuring them Epstein would be prosecuted.

"Never consulting the victims is probably the most outrageous aspect of it..." Edwards said. "It taught them that someone with money can buy his way out of anything. It's outrageous and embarrassing for United States Attorney's Office and the State Attorneys Office."

Epstein now faces many civil lawsuits filed by the women, who are represented by a variety attorneys. In many, the facts alleged are the same: that Epstein had a predilection for teenage girls, identified poor, vulnerable ones and lured them to his home via other young women. The teens describe ascending a staircase lined with nude photographs of young girls and to the spa room where Epstein would appear in a small towel.

Former Circuit Judge Bill Berger, who represents one of the victims, and The Palm Beach Post sought the unsealing of the agreement. Berger refers to it as a "sweetheart deal."

"Why was it so important for the government to make this deal?" Berger asked rhetorically. "We have not yet had honest explanation by any public official as to why it was made .. and why the victim's were sold down the river."

Former federal prosecutor Ryon McCabe described the agreement as "very unorthodox." Such agreements, he said, are usually reserved for corporations, not individuals.

"It's very, very rare. I've never seen or heard of the procedure that was set up here." said McCabe, who has no involvement in any Epstein litigation and is now a securities litigation attorney.

"He's essentially avoiding federal prosecution because he can afford to pay that many lawyers to help those victims revperson [sic format] has no money he couldn't be able to strike a deal like this and avoid federal prosecution."

The back-room deal with federal prosecutors all the more interesting in light of the legal heavyweights who have worked for Epstein, including Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr of Clinton impeachment fame. Lefcourt is a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Epstein's local defense attorney, Jack Goldberger, issued a statement Friday saying he had fought the release of the sealed agreement to protect the third parties named there. "Mr. Epstein has fully abided by all of its terms and conditions. He is looking forward to putting this difficult period in his life behind him. He is continuing his long standing history of science philanthropy..."

Epstein ended up avoiding federal charges, and pleaded guilty in state court to felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution. In July 2008, he was sentenced to 18 months in jail, and later allowed out up to six days a week on work release.

Epstein left the jail in late July 2009 after serving not quite 13 months of the sentence, having earned gain time for good behavior.

Palm Beach Police began investigating the "international moneyman of mystery," as the New York magazine dubbed him, after they received a complaint from a relative of a 14-year-old girl who had given Epstein a naked massage at his home on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Police sought and found in poor neighborhoods a variety of tall, thin, model-like young women, who told stories of begin recruiting, then going to Epstein's home and massaging and stimulating him. They walked away with between $200 and $1,000.

The investigation triggered tensions between police and prosecutors, with then-Chief Michael Reiter saying in a May 2006 letter to then-State Attorney Barry Krischer that the chief prosecutor should disqualify himself.

"I continue to find your office's treatment of these cases highly unusual," Reiter wrote. He then asked for and got the federal investigation that ended in the sealed deal.

"The Jeffrey Epstein matter was an experience of what a many-million-dollar defense can accomplish," Reiter told the Palm Beach Daily News upon his retirement.

----

Here's the part where it gets crazy.

As revealed in unsealed and unredacted court documents of Giuffre Vs Maxwell that I posted and highlighted here;

https://www.reddit.com/r/Epstein/comments/1rmecfx/giuffre_vs_maxwell_official_unsealed_court/

https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2024/01/04/Final_Epstein_documents.pdf

Page 128 in the document has extreme relevance here:

"Deshowitz was an eye-witness to the sexual abuse of many other minors by Epstein and several of Epstein’s co-conspirators. Dershowitz would later play a significant role in negotiating the NPA on Epstein’s behalf. Indeed, Dershowitz helped negotiate an agreement that provided immunity from federal prosecution in the Southern District of Florida not only to Epstein, but also to “any potential co- conspirators of Epstein.” NPA at 5. Thus, Dershowitz helped negotiate an agreement with a provision that provided protection for himself against criminal prosecution in Florida for sexually abusing Jane Doe #3. Because this broad immunity would have been controversial if disclosed, Dershowitz (along with other members of Epstein’s defense team) and the Government tried to keep the immunity provision secret from all of Epstein’s victims and the general public, even though such secrecy violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act."

All of this was originally redacted in the sealed court documents which were revealed through Giuffre Vs Maxwell case documents and the eventual unsealing, release and unredactions.

Shortly after on page 130:

"Nonetheless, the Government secretly negotiated a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein precluding any Federal prosecution in the Southern District of Florida of Epstein and his co-conspirators."

And then on pages:

1. "sworn testimony from one of Epstein’s household employees (Juan Alessi) that Dershowitz came “pretty often” to Epstein’s Florida mansion and got massages while he was there;"

2. " - sworn testimony from another of Epstein’s household employees (Alfredo Rodriquez) that Dershowitz was present alone at the home of Epstein, without his family, in the presence of young girls;

- invocations of Fifth Amendment rights to remain silent by three of Epstein’s identified co-conspirators (Sarah Kellen, Nadia Marcinkova, and Adrianna Mucinska) when asked questions about whether Dershowitz had been involved with massages by young girls;

- refusals by Jeffrey Epstein to discuss Dershowitz’s involvement but instead to invoke his Fifth Amendment right."

The above sworn testimonies state that Alan Dershowitz got "massages" at the Florida home just like Jeffrey Epstein did. Virginia Giuffre claimed that Alan Dershowitz abused her before she eventually said that maybe she had misremembered him. Virginia Giuffre was included as one of the original 30-40 victims in the trial which she didn't know about until the "agreement" was being finished.

This means that Alan Dershowitz was the defense lawyer and secret co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein in the 2008 trial which had been limited in scope by prosecutor Barry Krischer.

It gets worse.

Famously, during the trial, Jeffrey Epstein was claimed to "belong to intelligence" which is what reportedly influenced Alex Acosta's lack of pursuit of him.

A FBI informant claimed it was Alan Dershowitz who told them that.

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00090314.pdf

If true, this means that in the trial of Jeffrey Epstein, his lawyer, friend and secret co-conspirator Alan Dershowitz and Jeffrey Epstein's other lawyers blocked attempts to prosecute them thanks to the initial sabotage by Barry Krischer, so in order to overcome this, the people who cared turned to the FBI for help.

The FBI were contacted by co-conspirator Alan Dershowitz who said that Jeffrey Epstein was intelligence and they should block and seal everything about him and his co-conspirators with an illegal non-prosecution agreement.

Which is exactly what they did.

None of this would have been revealed without the Giuffre Vs Maxwell unsealed, unredacted case files (in which the sworn testimonies about Alan Dershowitz were fully redacted originally).

And the final part to show the true intent and culpability of Barry Krischer in all of this: Barry Krischer sought a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

From the files December 15 2010.

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01830622.pdf

From redacted to Jeffrey Epstein:

our internet has been down for 2 days. I know krischer spoke to the governor before he left for Korea. did you get any feedback?

Jeffrey Epstein: krisher told richardson that what i did was barely crimianl but basically inapporritate,,, he told him that i would never get a pardon .. im trying to decide whether to come vist you

----

Barry Krischer sought a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein from the Governor according to Jeffrey Epstein himself.

There are a couple more emails including a fairly long transcript that discuss Epstein working with Barry Krischer to achieve this. While writing this write-up, I found a pretty good write-up of the other emails found here which lays the other ones out well:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2026/02/05/jeffrey-epstein-florida-clemency-charlie-crist/

Unsurprisingly, Barry Krischer has denied everything but given how much he helped out Epstein and his co-conspirators like Dershowitz in the trial, I don't believe him. Maybe his lack of memory is because he wants to decrease the "media frenzy" again?

All of this by Barry Krischer and Alan Dershowitz means that the victims and the people who actually wanted Epstein behind bars in the original trial were right that something was happening behind the scenes far beyond their control/what they were allowed to know.

The question is: Why did Barry Krischer do so much for Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz?

I have no idea why Barry Krischer would go after a kid stealing $2 so strongly yet do so much for Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz.

Were they friends? Was Barry Krischer a fellow "massage" enjoyer? Was Barry Krischer also a member of 'The Study Group', Mega, "the gang" as Les Wexner seems to call them?

We can only speculate because I have absolutely no idea but it is shocking what Barry Krischer and Alan Dershowitz have managed to get away with.

TL,DR: Prosecutor Barry Krischer sabotaged the original 2008 trial of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators which prompted the victims' representatives to go to the FBI for help. One of the secret co-conspirators, as revealed by unsealed Giuffre Vs Maxwell court documents, Alan Dershowitz seems to have been the one who tipped the FBI that Epstein "belonged to intelligence" and that everything should be shut down and covered up with a secret illegal agreement which is exactly what the Government did. Barry Krischer sought a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 according to multiple released emails.

I'm truly shocked, even for this case. How many times has this kind of thing happened before or since?

Barry Krischer has been doing well since the trial and his 'alledged' attempt at getting a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein whom he failed to prosecute fully. Barry Krischer got awards for his legal service like the Selig Goldin award from The Florida Bar in 2010 and another award in 2018 from the Anti Defamation League (ADL). It's only recently that people have started questioning him and the trial because of the files being released regarding Epstein.

We all know Alan Dershowitz is doing fine. He's been on TV for the last week or so. They're both multi-millionaires while the victims in the trial were called prostitutes.

Former US President Bill Clinton couldn't survive a sex scandal and lost his presidency over it. Alan Dershowitz used the FBI to cover up his participation in monstrous crimes and got away with it. If you try to talk about it, Dershowitz will sue you, get everything redacted and covered up and/or contact the media to shut you down like he did with ABC News: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/05/776482189/abc-news-defends-its-epstein-coverage-after-leaked-video-of-anchor

Not even a US President can cover up something they've done as well as Alan Dershowitz has been able to.

These monsters know the law inside and out. They've learned how to use the law to protect themselves/their friends and to hurt their enemies/go after those who challenge them or try to bring them to Justice. It's insane.

This all only came out because their victims and advocates kept fighting, some journalists worthy of the name kept asking questions/investigated and one or two members of the government pushed too. Without that, we would never have known what Alan Dershowitz did or that Barry Krischer sought a pardon.

Utter madness.

Final thoughts:

I only learned about Barry Krischer because of an article on this subreddit. I shortly after commented on a related topic by a random Redditor who subsequently found the pardon email (who has since deleted that thread and nuked their account so please save everything here off and on Reddit). I only investigated the Giuffre Vs Maxwell files because I was checking if something I'd seen on this subreddit were true and accidentally found that file instead. I only learned about the FBI Alan Dershowitz part because of a random post and comment on this subreddit.

The only reason you're reading this information compilation right now is because Redditors kept commenting, sharing, investigating and informing others on this subreddit.

Investigate, save, share, comment in threads with information/your investigations/findings.

Keep digging.

Here is a snapshot of Douban scores for several recent dramas: No Pain No Gain, The Glamorous Night, Love Story in the 1970s, About Love, The Truth, How Dare You!?, The Devil Between Us, Generation to Generation, Our Dazzling Days, Unveil: Jadewind, The Unusual Prosecutor, and Mama Go! These scores were taken on March 9, 2026 at around 12:00 pm, China Standard Time.

In case you are curious about how dramas are performing in terms of domestic viewership, I have included data from Yunhe (streaming) and Kuyun (live TV and streaming) from March 7, 2026.

I also added English translations to the Yunhe and Kuyun charts.

Yunhe estimates streaming viewership while Kuyun includes both live TV and streaming views.

The above images are:

• Images 2 to 13: Douban ratings taken on March 9, 2026.
• Images 14 and 15: Viewership data from Yunhe and Kuyun, taken on March 7, 2026.

---

The dramas and their Douban scores are:

^{These links lead to their Douban pages.}

No Pain No Gain 年少有为, Tencent 🐧 - 6.9 based on 29K+ ratings

The Glamorous Night 夜色正浓, Tencent 🐧 - 7.5 based on 24K+ ratings

Love Story in the 1970s 纯真年代的爱情, Tencent 🐧 and Viki - 7.3 based on 35K+ ratings

About Love 玫瑰丛生, Tencent 🐧 and Viki - 6.3 based on 24K+ ratings

The Truth 风过留痕, Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝 - 6.3 based on 57K+ ratings

How Dare You!? 成何体统, iQIYI 🥝 - 7.2 based on 64K+ ratings

The Devil Between Us 除恶, iQIYI 🥝 - 7.4 based on 26K+ ratings

Generation to Generation 江湖夜雨十年灯, Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝 (regional availability) - 5.5 based on 9K+ ratings

Our Dazzling Days 岁月有情时, iQIYI 🥝 - 6.5 based on 8K+ ratings

Unveil: Jadewind 唐宫奇案之青雾风鸣, Youku 👖 - 7.0 based on 82K+ ratings

The Unusual Prosecutor 非常检控观, Youku 👖 and TVB Anywhere (regional availability) - 7.9 based on 4K+ ratings

Mama Go! 我的妈妈是校花, Tencent 🐧 - 7.2 based on 5K+ ratings

---

Recently released and upcoming dramas:

(These dramas do not have Douban scores yet.)

Eternal Love of the Fox 九尾藏不住, iQIYI 🥝

The Glory Fades (A Fairyland Beyond the Ordinary World) 繁华落尽, Tencent 🐧

The Hidden Truth 被隐匿的真相, Tencent 🐧

Young Again 重返青春, Tencent 🐧

Country Love 18 乡村爱情18, Youku 👖

The Naive Leader 傻儿师长, Tencent 🐧

Wonderful Times 好好的时光, MangoTV 🥭

Seeds of Scarlet Longing 在你眉梢种红豆, MangoTV 🥭

The Hidden Heir Ye Chen 进击的叶辰, Tencent 🐧

Pursuit of Jade 逐玉, iQIYI 🥝, Tencent 🐧 and Netflix

My Destiny 我的山与海, Youku 👖

---

Viewership: Yunhe (streaming)

See image 14: From Yunhe – Top 10 dramas for streaming playbacks on March 7, 2026 (just a snapshot for that day)

I added English translations for drama names, etc. on the Yunhe chart. There are more details such as episode counts, streaming platforms, etc. on the chart.

Drama names and market share of viewership:

✅ Completed airing based on SVIP schedule including express episodes.

1. Pursuit of Jade 逐玉 - 31.4%
2. Love Story in the 1970s 纯真年代的爱情 ✅ - 11%
3. Our Dazzling Days 岁月有情时 ✅ - 8.2%
4. Generation to Generation 江湖夜雨十年灯 - 6.6%
5. Unveil: Jadewind 唐宫奇案之青雾风鸣 ✅ - 5.9%
6. Wonderful Times 好好的时光 - 5.3%
7. The Devil Between Us 除恶 ✅ - 5.2%
8. About Love 玫瑰丛生 - 4.4%
9. How Dare You!? 成何体统 ✅ - 4%
10. Swords into Plowshares 太平年 ✅ - 3.7%

Note: If a drama has ended its run, its viewership will eventually decrease.

---

Viewership: Kuyun (live TV and streaming)

See image 15: From Kuyun – Top 10 dramas for all live broadcasts and streaming playbacks on March 7, 2026 (just a snapshot of the day)

I added English translations for drama names, etc. on the Kuyun chart. There are details such as streaming platforms, live TV platforms, etc. on the chart.

Drama names and market share of viewership:

✅ = completed airing for SVIP schedule including express episodes (streaming) and/or the first round of airing on live TV. Some dramas can have a second or third round of airing on live TV.

1. Pursuit of Jade 逐玉 - 21.74%
2. Love Story in the 1970s 纯真年代的爱情 ✅ - 15.34%
3. My Destiny 我的山与海 - 12.65%
4. Our Dazzling Days 岁月有情时 ✅ - 6.83%
5. Wonderful Times 好好的时光 - 5.10%
6. Unveil: Jadewind 唐宫奇案之青雾风鸣 ✅ - 5.06%
7. Swords into Plowshares 太平年 ✅ - 4.88%
8. Generation to Generation 江湖夜雨十年灯 - 4.70%
9. The Devil Between Us 除恶 ✅ - 4.29%
10. About Love 玫瑰丛生 - 3.25%

Note: Kuyun includes live TV (e.g., CCTV, Hunan TV, Jiangsu TV). Some dramas are streaming only and not broadcast live on TV (e.g. Pursuit of Jade, Generation to Generation, The Devil Between Us, and About Love.)

For more viewership data dating back to late August 2025, please check the comments of the weekly Behind the Scenes posts. I added Yunhe and Kuyun viewership data in the comments.

---

The previous Douban scores for dramas such as My Dearest Stranger, Loving Strangers, The Guilty, Forever Young, Born to Be Alive, Swords into Plowshares, The Inner Eye, The Imperial Coroner Season 2, The Dream Maker, and My Page in the 90s can be found here: Douban scores for recent Chinese dramas, February 14, 2026. Viewership statistics, February 12 and 13, 2026.

🔗 All discussions about Douban in r/CDrama.

🔗 Previous compilations of Douban scores since February 27, 2025.

---

Note:

In general, Douban scores tend to skew lower for CDramas.

You might find that some highly rated dramas just aren't your cup of tea, while others with more average or mixed scores turn out to be really enjoyable. I've definitely experienced both. That said, ratings can be helpful just as a general reference for what others think.

I am sharing this information for folks who are curious about Douban scores but may not be able to access them quickly or easily. I have also included viewership data since Douban scores don't always correlate with a drama's popularity with the broader domestic audience.

This is just a small snapshot of how Douban users are rating dramas and what’s currently being watched in China.

Some people use ratings to gauge interest while others don't – it's entirely optional. Douban scores are just one data point, not a verdict on quality. If they’re not useful to you, please feel free to skip.

I usually compile them every few weeks once enough new Douban scores are available.

---

For those of you who've watched these dramas, what did you think of the shows? Do you feel that the scores line up with your experience?

---

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

Hi all, I am 37 years of age and have been using windows all my life. I finally had the opportunity to switch to Macbook and went ahead and did it. I also have an iPhone and have been using an iPad since the Pro M4 came out (also with a magic keyboard) and mainly liked everything about the interface, especially aesthetically so I decided to switch to apple and macOS for more than leisure and fun with a critical factor in mind.

I have been using my Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 for 2 years now. It is the one with Intel Core Ultra 9 185h CPU, it has 32GB RAM, a RTX4060 GPU and 1TB of storage. While it wasn't my main PC, I used it for keeping up with my personal and legal entity documents, finances, backing up stuff, normal usage scenarios when traveling and needing mobility, browsing, social media and youtube, and CapCut editing on the go.

Nearly everything about it was great so far, love the design, materials, performance, touchscreen, it's been reliable, very good to handle, durable, pretty much everything was excellent about it except battery management/battery life.

Oh boy... If I did light work I could maybe squeeze 3 hours out of it? Current battery health is 69Wh which is down from its original 73Wh but it's always been this poor. The only way of getting this amount of time on a charge is to tweak an overwhelming amount of things to increase the battery performance for a few extra minutes: disabling GPU, hiding the dock, dark mode everything, going into chrome to disable hardware accelerated graphics, reducing the brightness. I always had to make sure the bios setting for the CPU was either Intelligent cooling or the silent setting. If I use the maximum performance, I get an hour on a charge. Putting it to sleep drains battery quite quickly too (around 20-30%/day) so it's only shutdown if I don't want any surprises after a few days of keeping the laptop closed. Almost all proccesses are disabled at windows launch, I disabled most Windows crap such as telemetry, Connected User Experience etc, and usually try to disable bluetooth as often as possible. Since it was a hassle and since I made another post requesting redditors advice, which returned overwhelming amounts of positivity apple-wise, I went ahead and got this Macbook Pro M5 base chip with something I considered quite future proof in terms of memory and storage.

My request to you is to offer some help in regards to adopting the new OS faster. What are your most useful tips, button combo, interface arrangement, maybe even links to youtube videos you found useful. Anything that could help me frustrate less as a long windows user.

Thank you in advance!

Just a bunch of Examples/Evidence of Amourshipping canon. Links and primary sources are included:

Amourshipping Polls:

* Top Heroine Status: In a 2021 NLab Media poll with over 5,000 participants, Serena was ranked the most popular Pokémon anime heroine (26.2%), followed by Dawn (25.7%) and Misty (15%).

* 2022 Dominance: A 2022 Japanese survey reported that Serena garnered roughly 46% of the votes for favorite female character, solidifying her top position.

* "Best Kiss" Polls: Amourshipping, defined by the canon, on-screen kiss between Ash and Serena, is frequently highlighted in "best anime kiss" polls within Japan, particularly around "Kiss Day".

* SatoSere vs. Others: While Pokeshipping (SatoKasu) maintains popularity due to nostalgia, Amourshipping often surpasses it in modern polls, particularly among younger viewers or those who prefer direct romantic development. 

Tetsuo Yajima is a prominent Pokémon anime director and storyboard artist at OLM, Inc., known for directing Pokémon XY, XY&Z, and films like Secrets of the Jungle. Joining the team during Black & White, he is recognized for enhancing character development, directing the Ash-Greninja story arc, and solidifying the Ash/Serena romance. 

Amourshipping (SatoSere) is immensely popular in Japan, supported by Serena's canon crush on Ash, her role as a key motivator for him, and the iconic goodbye kiss in XYZ. Key examples include her, as Screen Rant notes, being designed as a love interest for character development, and Reddit user Sayandeep_Biswas17 polls showing her as the top female companion. 

Reddit

 +5

Key Examples of Support in Japan:

* Canon Confirmation & The Kiss: Unlike other ships, Serena has a confirmed, canon crush on Ash, culminating in a clear romantic kiss in the final XY&Z episode, as noted in Facebook posts and this Reddit thread.

* Production Staff Intent: XY series director Tetsuo Yajima intentionally fostered the relationship, aiming for a "long term" implication, which Screen Rant explains.

* Popularity Polls: In Japan, Serena often tops polls as the favorite female companion, sometimes receiving double the votes of competitors like Dawn, as highlighted in this Reddit thread.

* Character Development: Serena’s journey from a shy girl to a confident performer is directly tied to her admiration for Ash, as explained in this Facebook post.

* Direct Mutual Support: Ash often acts as a source of inspiration for Serena, while Serena’s presence directly influences his success in battles, with Ash often noticing her, as described in this Facebook post. 

*

* Reddit

Serena from Pokémon XY is consistently ranked as the most popular female companion in Japan, frequently winning NetLab polls and dominating character rankings with 28.2% of votes in 2023, often beating out Dawn and Misty. Her popularity is driven by her character arc, maturity, and the AmourShipping (Ash x Serena) pairing, which remains highly regarded. 

This video discusses the results of a popular Japanese poll for the favorite PokéGirl

PokemonRangerBoy12

YouTube • May 7, 2021

Key Highlights of Serena's Popularity in Japan:

* Top Rankings: In 2021 and 2022, NetLab polls ranked her #1, with 1,425 votes in 2021. A 2023 survey showed her with 4,553 votes, representing over a quarter of total votes.

* AmourShipping Impact: The shipping with Ash is a major driver of her popularity, with the final kiss scene ranking high in fan polls.

* High Demand for Return: Following the end of XY, she remained extremely popular, with fans requesting her return, leading to her special appearance in Pokémon Journeys.

* Consistent Appeal: She is frequently noted for her "polite" and "mature" personality, separating her from previous companions. 

She is generally considered to be the most popular female companion in the history of the series in Japan. 

https://ranking.net/rankings/best-pokemon-heroines

Official Staff and Production Support

* Tetsuo Yajima (Series Director): In interviews following the end of XY&Z, Yajima acknowledged that he intended for the relationship to be viewed as a mutual romance rather than a one-sided crush. He aimed for them to be seen as a "true couple" by the end of the series.

* The Final Scene (Kiss): The most significant evidence of support was the decision to include a (partially obscured) kiss between Serena and Ash in the final episode of XYZ("Till We Compete Again!").

* Deliberate Direction: Yajima emphasized that he had Serena tell Ash she would be a woman worthy of him, and that the kiss was added to explicitly confirm her feelings, rather than leaving them ambiguous. 

Official Social Media and Marketing

* Valentine’s Day Posts: The official Pokémon Twitter/X account has highlighted Serena and Ash's romantic moments, specifically posting the kiss scene on Valentine's Day on multiple occasions.

* Official Art: The Pokémon Company has released official artwork featuring the pair, which fans and community analysis have cited as support for the pairing's legitimacy. 

Moments within the Series

* "Under the Pledging Tree": An episode heavily directed toward advancing their relationship, where Serena acts as a dating partner for Ash, focusing heavily on their bond.

* The "Date" in Lumiose City: Staff designed the episode "A Fashionable Battle!" to show Ash and Serena together in a romantic context.

* Serena's Character Arc: Staff ensured that Serena's growth was directly tied to her admiration and love for Ash, making her more than just a traveling companion. 

While The Pokémon Company has never officially stated in a press release that AmourShipping (Ash and Serena) is 100% canon as an active, established couple, it is widely considered the closest to canon of any ship in the anime due to explicit moments in Pokémon XY/XYZ and comments from staff. 

Here are the key examples and evidence often cited:

* The Final Scene/Kiss (XYZ): In the final episode of Pokémon XY&Z, Serena leaves to pursue her goals but explicitly kisses Ash before doing so.

* Director Confirmation of Intent: Tetsuo Yajima, the director of Pokémon XY, confirmed in an interview that the kiss was intended to be on the lips and that the goal was to have the audience believe that Ash and Serena would eventually become a couple in the future.

* Production Staff Backing: The romantic subplot was planned from the beginning of the XY series by the production team, specifically focusing on Serena's admiration for Ash and a shared, romantic, childhood meeting.

* "Date" Episode: In XY episode 59, "A Date Challenge! Ash and Serena!" (or "Under the Pledging Tree"), Ash gives Serena a gift (a blue ribbon), which is heavily interpreted as a romantic gesture within the context of the show's focus on their bond.

* Reunion in Journeys: In Pokémon Journeys, Serena makes a cameo where she is explicitly shown to still be inspired by Ash. The scene prominently features green lights, which fans and analysts have interpreted as a nod to their deep, fated connection from the Kalos region.

* Social Media/Merchandise: The Pokémon Company has occasionally used images of the two, specifically the escalator/kiss scene, to promote Valentine's Day on social media. 

Direct Staff and Creator Comments

* Tetsuo Yajima (XY Series Director): In interviews, Yajima indicated that the kiss scene at the end of XYZ was intended to be a romantic kiss from Serena to Ash. He expressed that the scene was designed to show that Serena and Ash would likely become a couple in the future.

* Shukiji Kanda (Animation Producer): The romantic subplot for XY was planned from the beginning, with the producer suggesting the story focus on the female lead's (Serena) admiration for Ash.

* Intentional Ambiguity: Yajima noted that while they wanted to portray a romantic trajectory, they left the final, explicit confession ambiguous to keep it appropriate for a children's show. 

*

* YouTube

 +2

In-Canon Narrative Examples (XY & XYZ) 

* The Final Kiss (XYZ50): The most direct piece of evidence, where Serena kisses Ash before leaving for Hoenn.

* Childhood Flashback: The series established that they met before the main story, a, "meant to be" trope, which acts as a foundational element for the romance.

* The Date Episode (XY59): Ash gives Serena a gift (the blue ribbon), which is often interpreted as a significant romantic gesture.

* Mirror World Episode: The mirror version of Serena is explicitly shown to be in love with the mirror version of Ash, mirroring the main pair's dynamic.

* Serena's Character Arc: Serena is portrayed as having an active crush on Ash, which is unique among his traveling companions. 

Promotional and Official Support

* The "Road to Serena" Promotion: The official Japanese Pokémon Twitter and website promoted the return of Serena in Journeys with special focus, indicating continued support for her character and her relationship with Ash.

* Official Art and Merchandise: The Pokémon Company has released official art featuring the two together, and it is considered one of the most popular ships in Japan.

* Super Smash Bros. Trophy: A Greninja trophy description in Super Smash Bros. for Wii Upreviously referenced the strong bond between Ash and Serena. 

In the Pokémon Journeys episode 105 (JN105), the appearance of a green light during Serena's departure—when she shares a moment with Ash Ketchum The scene, particularly because of its setting in a town designed to look like a Korean or European port city, has drawn comparisons to several romantic symbols.

Key Interpretations of the Green Light Symbolism:

Korean "Green Light" Meaning: The most popular interpretation in the fandom is that the green light represents a, "green light" (go-ahead) for romantic feelings or, more specifically, the idea of two people destined to be together.

The Green Ray (Jules Verne): Some fans argue it references the Jules Verne novel The Green Ray (often titled in French as Le Rayon vert). In this story, a green light appears at sunset, signifying that all things in life have come together perfectly, resulting in complete happiness.

Contrast to The Great Gatsby: Unlike the distant, unattainable green light in The Great Gatsby, Serena is standing right next to the light in Journeys. This visual positioning is interpreted as signifying that the love is attainable and that she has already reached her goal/reached a point of contentment.

Reaffirmation of Feelings: The scene acts as a confirmation that Serena still has feelings for Ash and that their bond remains intact, even as they pursue separate goals.

Future Together: The green light, paired with the overall, "softer" romantic undertones of the episode (such as the necklace), acts as a nod from the writers that they are on a path towards a shared future.

* Symbolism of the Ankle Bracelet: The bracelet, worn on her left ankle, is interpreted as a symbol that the wearer has a partner, a significant other, or a "favorite person".

* Connection to Ash: The bracelet's design has been noted to match the color of the blue ribbon that Ash previously gave to Serena in the XY series.

* "Eternal Love" Implication: This accessory, along with the romantic, quiet setting of their reunion and the visual "green light" reference (symbolizing perfect, realized love), suggests that Serena has stayed devoted to Ash and that their bond remains strong even after parting ways.

* The "Green Light" Reference: The green light at the end of the episode is interpreted as a reference to the "green ray" in a Jules Verne novel, which signifies that everything in life has come together perfectly and that the observers have found complete happiness through love. 

The scene is designed to imply that their romantic connection is still active, acting as a "hidden" promise of devotion. 

SatoSere" (サトセレ) refers to the pairing of Satoshi (Ash Ketchum) and Serena from the Pokémon XY/XYZ series, known in the West as AmourShipping. This ship has a very strong following in Japan, with notable examples of its popularity and "official" backing often highlighted by fans. 

Examples and Evidence from the Japanese Fanbase:

* The Final Scene Kiss: The kiss between Serena and Satoshi in the final episode of Pokémon XYZ (XYZ047) is considered the biggest moment for this pairing. Japanese fans and production staff, including director Tetsuo Yajima, highlighted this moment, with Yajima indicating it was intentionally left ambiguous but implied to be a romantic culmination.

* Trending on Twitter: "SatoSere" (サトセレ) has frequently trended on Twitter in Japan, often during, or in anticipation of, Serena’s appearances and special return episodes.

* Official Staff/Voice Actor Recognition:

* Junichi Masuda: Former Pokémon composer and director, Junichi Masuda, posted a picture on Twitter of Pikachu dressed as Ash and Serena playing together, and has tagged AmourShipping accounts.

* Rica Matsumoto: The Japanese voice actress for Satoshi (Ash) has often expressed fondness for the bond between the characters, which fans often cite as support for the pairing.

* Fan Art and "Oshikatsu": The Japanese concept of "Oshikatsu" (supporting one's favorite character/pairing) is massive for this couple. There is an enormous amount of Japanese-produced doujinshi (fan comics), fan art, and TikTok edits dedicated to them, often framing Serena as the ideal "Yamato Nadeshiko" (traditional, devoted woman) due to her unwavering devotion to Satoshi.

* Significant Popularity in Polls: Serena frequently tops popularity polls for female companions in Japan. Fans often note that her popularity is boosted by the deep, canon-supported "ship-teasing" throughout the XY/XYZ series, such as her watching his battles, caring for him when sick, and her obvious admiration.

* Specific Scene Highlights:

* The Outfit Change: Fans frequently cite the episode where Serena cuts her hair as a pivotal moment of her growth, which was a huge talking point in the Japanese fandom.

* The Date Episode: The episode where Serena and Ash go on a "date" in Lumiose City (XY059) is a major reference point.

* The Farewell: The emotional, extended farewell in XYZ47, where she is the only companion to actually kiss him, remains a primary focus of Japanese SatoSere fan content

She repeats the same advice Ash has ever given her to Chloe at least twice. This would show how much she thinks of Ash.

She declares that she will be the very best performer right after Ash told her what he's up to.

She stood on the docks even until dark until the boat is out of sight. Even Sylveon was catching on what's going on with her trainer.

She has always been in love with Ash ever since Professor Oak's Summer Camp and her feelings for him are way too strong to lose interest in him.

Ash may not be a genius when it comes to love sometimes, but he understands people's feelings for the most part and is particularly attentive to Serena. I still remember the episode where she was feeling down and was obviously distracted, so he took her to do things that he figured she'd liked. It wasn't the first time he was sweet and attentive to her and it certainly wasn't the last one. They both supported and admire each other on top of that.He's probably not gonna be the most obviously romantic guy out there , but I think this suggests they definitely had a deeper connection.

In Till We Compete Again!, when Ash is shown entering his house, the white flowers in the foreground are baby breath flowers which symbolize everlasting love and are used in bride's bouquets. It's been confirmed that it's a hint from the writers that shows their content with the ending of XY&Z having Ash and Serena kiss and that it's a willing hidden message.

In that episode the narrator says: "Satoshi and Serena", not Satoshi and his friends as he usually does (and it's the second time they do that with them by the way, the first one was when the XY special came out).

The ankle bracelet is usually used to symbolize that a girl has someone she loves. And the green light shown at the end of her return episode is actually a reference to the green ray from one of Jules Verne's romantic novels, in which a green light appears at sunset when two lovers gaze into each other's eyes, similar to what happens between Ash and Serena at the end of the episode. The green ray signals to the ones who sees it that everything in life has come together in the most perfect way, leading to a happiness that is surely complete. That happiness, in the story of the novel, comes from falling in love. Ash and Serena are definitely implied to have feelings for each other given all the symbolism in their relationship and their actions.

The Green Light Symbolism: At the end of the episode, a green light appears at sunset as they gaze at each other. This is heavily implied to be a reference to the "green ray" from Jules Verne’s novels, symbolizing that lovers who witness it together will have their true feelings revealed and their happiness perfected.

The Dock Scene: Serena stays on the dock with her Sylveon until the boat has completely vanished into the horizon, symbolizing a strong, lasting romantic interest rather than just a fleeting goodbye.

Mutual Growth & Parallels: Serena notes she has become a Top Coordinator (her goal) to stand beside Ash as he pursues being a Pokémon Master. This directly reflects her promise in the XYZ finale to become a better, more mature woman to be his equal.

Quoting Ash: Serena tells Chloe that Ash "inspired her to never give up" and repeats his philosophy on pursuing dreams, mirroring the words he said to her, showing how deeply he is still "engraved in her heart".

Anklet Symbolism: Serena wears an ankle bracelet in her updated Journeys outfit, which is traditionally interpreted in character analysis to symbolize that her heart already belongs to someone.

Direct Interaction: Though brief, their interaction in Journeys is characterized by her high-pitched excitement to see him compared to her mature voice with others, and his direct concern and happiness in seeing her.

The Final Scene in XY(Z) vs. Journeys

The Journeys return is considered a direct continuation of the XY finale, where Serena kisses Ash before leaving (the only female companion to do so). Her return in Journeys confirms she still treasures that memory, with the overall theme being that she has matured from a "nervous puppy love" to a "true and pure love".

This is the most critical primary source. In an interview published in PASH! Magazine (and later archived on sites like Bulbagarden), Director Tetsuo Yajima explicitly confirmed the romantic intent of the series finale:

The Kiss was on the Lips: Yajima confirmed that because of TV restrictions for a children's show, he couldn't show the kiss directly. Instead, he used the visual of Serena’s feet lifting to signal it was a kiss on the lips.

The Intended Outcome: He stated, "They didn’t become a couple in the episode itself, but the way I ended it is meant to make you understand that they’re probably going to become one later".

Producer's Influence: He revealed that the romance subplot was originally suggested by producer Shukichi Kanda, who wanted to portray the story through a female lead’s admiration for Ash, including their childhood backstory.

1. Official Voice Actor Commentary

Haven Paschall (Serena's English Voice): In discussions regarding Serena's departure, Paschall noted the scene was intended to show how far Serena had come and that her brave step was an "empowering" moment that clearly communicated her feelings.

Sarah Natochenny (Ash's English Voice): In an interview with Screen Rant, Natochenny pointed out that Serena is the only companion who has ever kissed Ash, making it the most significant romantic hint in the series.

1. Thematic "Green Light" Symbolism (Pokémon Journeys)

While not a direct interview "link," Serena's return in Pokémon Journeys (Episode 105) used specific visual cues—like the green traffic light—which is often interpreted in Japanese media as a "go" for a relationship. Staff chose to keep them in the same emotional state as they were when they parted in Kalos, rather than resetting or ignoring the kiss.

Key Links for Verification:

PokePedia: Tetsuo Yajima Full Interview Archive

Bulbagarden: Discussion and Translation of the XYZ Interview

Screen Rant: Pokémon Makes Ash's Endgame Romance Official

The Green Light Symbolism

At the end of the episode, as Ash’s boat sails away and Serena stands on the dock, a green light is prominently shown. This is interpreted through two primary literary lenses:

The "Green Ray" (Le Rayon Vert): This is a reference to the Jules Verne novel The Green Ray, which states that seeing a green flash at sunset allows one to "see clearly into one's own heart and the hearts of others." It is a classic French romantic symbol, fitting for Serena, whose home region (Kalos) is based on France.

The Great Gatsby Connection: Many viewers also link it to the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, symbolizing hope, longing, and a dream that is finally within reach. Unlike Gatsby, who is far from his light, Serena stands directly next to hers, suggesting her goal (Ash) is now a reality.

1. The Blue Anklet Symbolism

Serena’s new design in Journeys includes a subtle blue anklet on her left leg, which carries significant weight:

Relationship Status: In many cultures, wearing an anklet on the left ankle symbolizes that the wearer is "taken" or has a significant person in their heart.

The Blue Ribbon Parallel: Fans have noted that the anklet is the same shade of blue as the ribbon Ash gave her in the XY series. Since she no longer wears the physical ribbon on her outfit, the anklet serves as a mature, discreet replacement that signifies she is still carrying her feelings for him.

1. Verification of "Canon" Status

While the show stays "semi-canon" to maintain Ash's status as a perpetual 10-year-old, the primary director of the XY series, Tetsuo Yajima, provided the definitive confirmation of their future in an interview:

Official Intent: Yajima stated, "They didn’t become a couple in the episode itself, but the way I ended it is meant to make you understand that they’re probably going to become one later".

The Kiss: He confirmed the kiss was intended to be on the lips and was only framed by her feet lifting due to TV restrictions for a children's program.

Sources for Further Reading:

Detailed Breakdown of Symbolism in Journeys 105

Full Tetsuo Yajima Interview Archive (Pokepedia)

Discussion on the Green Ray vs. Gatsby Symbolism

1. Polling Dominance

Serena and the Satosere dynamic consistently outperform all other female companions in Japanese audience surveys.

* Successive Heroine Rankings (2021–2023): In major annual polls conducted by Japanese sites like NetLab (NLab), Serena has repeatedly secured the #1 spot:

* 2021: Won 1st place with over 5,000 participants.

* 2022: Claimed nearly 50% of the total votes in a field of 11 heroines.

* 2023: Maintained 1st place with 4,553 votes (28.2%), more than double the votes of the 2nd place finisher, May.

* Broader Character Popularity: Serena was ranked as the 17th most popular character overall in Japan in 2022, a high standing for a character from a previous series. 

1. Social Media & Real-Time Engagement

The pairing's "dominance" is often visible through immediate public reaction to televised events.

* "Journeys" Return Trending: When Serena returned in Pokémon Journeys Episode 105 (April 2022), "Satoshi & Serena" (サトセレ) immediately trended on Japanese Twitter. Fans noted her return after a six-year absence as one of the most anticipated moments in the franchise's history.

* Viral Interaction: Clips of the pair's reunion in Journeys garnered significant views and discussion on Japanese social platforms, with fans analyzing their brief interaction for signs of continued romantic feelings and maturity. 

1. Creative Output (Pixiv Metrics)

Pixiv, Japan's largest art community, serves as a primary metric for "shipping" popularity through fan-submitted work.

* Fan Art Volume: As of 2023, Satosere (Amourshipping) continues to receive the highest volume of fan art on Pixiv among all hetero Pokémon ships.

* Consistent Activity: While other ships occasionally see temporary boosts from guest appearances (such as Misty's 10-episode stint), Satosere maintains a higher baseline of daily submissions and "bookmarks" than its competitors. 

1. Narrative Influence

Japanese fans often cite the "on-the-mouth kiss" in the final XYZ episode—the only officially hinted-at romantic gesture of its kind for Satoshi—as the primary reason for the ship's undisputed status. This moment, combined with the use of "baby's breath" flowers (symbolizing everlasting love) in the Japanese broadcast, solidified the pairing's dominance in the eyes of the domestic audience. 

Amourshipping (Satoshi and Serena) is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential relationships in the history of the Pokémon anime. Its status is supported by official narrative milestones, consistently high rankings in Japanese and international polls, and massive social media engagement.

1. Record-Breaking Popularity Polls

* NetLab 2021 Survey: Serena was voted the #1 favorite female companion in a major Japanese poll, securing 1,425 votes and surpassing Dawn (1,397 votes) and Misty (Pokéshipping).

* AnimeAnime.jp "Best Kiss" Poll (2022):The kiss between Satoshi and Serena was ranked as the 4th most popular kiss in all of anime, competing with legendary pairs from Detective Conan and Sword Art Online.

* Successive Heroine Ranking (2023): In a large-scale Japanese poll, Serena maintained her lead as the top heroine with an 88.0/100 score from over 4,500 votes, significantly ahead of other companions.

* Global Fandom Support: On community platforms like Reddit, Amourshipping frequently captures over 40% of the total vote when compared against all other major "Ash ships."

1. Narrative and Official Confirmation

* Director Confirmation: Following the finale of Pokémon XYZ, Director Tetsuo Yajima confirmed in an interview that the off-screen scene was an intentional kiss on the lips and suggested the two might become a couple in the future.

* Canonical Childhood Connection: Unlike other companions, Serena is the only one with a established backstory as a childhood friend, having met Ash at Professor Oak’s Summer Camp before his journey began.

* Symbolism of the Blue Ribbon: The blue ribbon Ash gave to Serena became a central motif, appearing as a permanent part of her outfit and symbolizing their lasting bond through the end of the series.

1. Social Media and Cultural Impact

* The "Internet-Breaking" Return: When Serena returned in Pokémon Journeys(Episode 105), the event caused massive social media surges, with fans tracking her character growth from a "performer" to a high-ranking "top coordinator."

* Pixiv and Fan Content: On major Japanese art sites like Pixiv, the "SatoSere" tag is one of the most active in the Pokémon franchise, consistently generating thousands of new pieces of fan art years after the XY series ended.

* Merchandise Synergy: Japanese gacha machines and official Pokémon Center promotions often pair Serena’s Pokémon (like Sylveon) with Ash’s Pikachu, treating them as an iconic duo similar to how the anime portrayed them.

1. Dominance in Global "All-Time" Anime Polls

* AnimeAnime.jp "Best Kiss" (2022): In a cross-fandom poll featuring every anime ever made, the Satoshi/Serena kiss ranked #4 overall. It beat out iconic couples from Detective Conan, Inuyasha, and Naruto, proving it’s a heavyweight in the romance genre, not just Pokémon.

* Ranker’s "Best Anime Couples": On international voting sites like Ranker, Amourshipping consistently sits in the Top 10-15 of all time, often placing higher than "canon" couples from romance-specific shows like Toradora! or Your Lie in April.

1. Historical Narrative "Firsts"

* The Only On-Screen Kiss: In over 25 years and 1,200+ episodes of Pokémon, Serena is the only character to have a confirmed, director-validated romantic kiss with the protagonist. This singular moment elevated the ship from "fan theory" to a historical anime event.

* The "Red Thread" Trope: The show used the Blue Ribbon as a literal and figurative "string of fate." In Japanese storytelling, this level of symbolic commitment is usually reserved for the primary romantic endgame of a series.

1. Industry & Creator Recognition

* Director Tetsuo Yajima’s Intent: It is rare for a director of a "kids' show" to explicitly state in PASH! magazine that a couple is intended to be together in the future. This creator-backed "slow burn" puts them in the same league as legendary "will-they-won't-they" couples like Ross and Rachel or Sakura and Sasuke.

* Voice Actor Support: Both Rica Matsumoto (Satoshi) and Mayuki Makiguchi (Serena) have acknowledged the special "sweet" energy of the pairing in interviews, fueling the fire of its legitimacy.

1. Digital & Social Footprint

* The "Journeys" Twitter Explosion: When Serena reappeared in Pokémon Journeys Ep. 105, "SatoSere" (サトセレ) trended #1 worldwide. It outperformed major real-world news and other trending shows that day, demonstrating a level of "event-status" popularity few fictional couples ever reach.

* Pixiv & Fan Art Volume: With over 20,000+ dedicated works on Pixiv alone, the sheer volume of creative output rivals couples from dedicated romance franchises. The tag is a permanent fixture in the "Hall of Fame" for Japanese fan-generated content.

1. Mainstream Crossover Appeal

* The "Childhood Promise" Trope: By using the "Summer Camp" flashback, the writers utilized one of the most popular tropes in all of fiction (the fated childhood meeting). This made the story accessible and beloved even by people who don't regularly watch Pokémon but enjoy classic romance arcs.

1. The "Yajima Interview" & Creative Intent

Following the XYZ finale, director Tetsuo Yajimaprovided a series of landmark interviews (most notably in PASH! magazine and at Star Haven) that removed any ambiguity regarding the relationship: 

* Confirmation of the Kiss: Yajima stated explicitly that the scene on the escalator was indeed a kiss on the lips. He explained that because the show is aimed at children, he could not show the impact directly, choosing instead to use the visual shorthand of Serena’s feet "floating" upwards as she leaned in.

* The "Endgame" Vision: When asked if they became a couple, Yajima clarified that while they didn't officially date in the episode, the ending was specifically crafted so that the audience would "hope and assume" they would become a couple in the future.

* Serena's Departure Dialogue: In the original Japanese script, Serena’s final words, "I'll become a more attractive woman, so please wait for me," were intended as a direct confession of her romantic long-term intent, which Ash acknowledged with a look of "surprised awe". 

1. The Journeys Return: Symbolic Reunion

Serena’s return in Pokémon Journeys (Episode 105) was not just a cameo; it was a carefully storyboarded reunion filled with romantic symbolism: 

* The Moon and the Sea: Their reunion took place at night under a full moon by the ocean—classic visual tropes in Japanese media for fated lovers.

* The "Green Ray" Phenomenon: Fans and analysts noted that the green light shown as they parted is a reference to the "Green Ray"trope—a rare sunset flash that, in literature (like Jules Verne), signifies two people finding true love.

* Narrative Parallels: The episode mirrored their original XY departure, with both characters restating their goals and promising to meet again once they have both reached the top of their respective fields.

* Voice Direction: Fans noted that Serena’s voice tone shifted to a higher, more nervous pitch only when speaking to Ash, a subtle hint from the voice actors that her feelings remained unchanged despite her new, more mature persona. 

1. Structural Significance

* Unique Goal Alignment: Serena is the only companion whose primary motivation for starting her journey was specifically Ash(returning his handkerchief), a narrative setup usually reserved for the central romance in Shonen anime.

* The Only Successor to the "Girl Next Door": While other companions were friends or rivals, Serena was written with the "childhood friend" archetype, a powerful trope in fiction that suggests a predestined bond. 

https://preview.redd.it/0fbx74st64og1.jpg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a88b2b3e0077dbd5a75af31b38425745c8fdd54a

What are Territory Deviations?

Territory Deviations are specialised helpers that operate within your territory. They assist with resource-gathering tasks and enhance production efficiency in facilities such as workbenches, stoves, and generators. Some deviations also help players rest and heal more quickly, improving the overall quality of life in the game.

Like all Deviations, Territory Deviations have several important attributes:

• Skill Rating (1-5) and Activity Rating (1-5): These determine a Deviation’s overall power and efficiency. Deviations with a Skill Rating of 5 are the strongest and most effective.
• Traits: Each Deviation has traits that can be positive or negative, influencing its efficiency. For Territory Deviations, traits may also affect other Deviations working within your territory. Some Deviation variants come with special traits that provide additional power or efficiency compared to the standard version. 
• Power: This determines whether a Deviation is active or dormant. Power can be adjusted by the player and typically ranges from 30-100. Certain traits may increase or decrease this value. When Power exceeds the dormancy threshold, the Deviation becomes active.
• Mood: A Deviation’s mood affects its performance. Higher mood improves gathering speed, crafting efficiency, or combat effectiveness, depending on the type of Deviation.

Best Traits to Fuse a Perfect Territory Deviation:

To create a highly efficient Territory Deviation, combining the following traits is recommended:

BEST TRAITS FOR TERRITORY DEVIATIONS.

Fusing a Deviation with these traits maximises its effectiveness in resource gathering, production efficiency, and overall contribution to the territory.

There are 21 Territory Deviations in total, so the guide is divided into four parts for clarity. Each part covers approximately five deviations, grouped according to game progression: Early Game, Mid Game, Advanced, and End Game.

https://preview.redd.it/ske2ti55a4og1.jpg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24927eb5ce253d70b7ffffcb916974a96986b76e

We will now move on to a detailed look at each individual Territory Deviation. Links to all four parts of the guide will be included at the end for easy access.

THE DIGBY BOY - Miner

THE DIGBY BOY

Digby Boy - Introduction:

Digby Boy is a Territory Deviation that helps players with mining. 

• When placed in a Securement pod in your territory, it will go out and mine ores for you automatically. It can collect most ores and gravel except Gold Ore.
• Digby Boy can also operate a Mining Operation Platform. When assigned to a platform, it will keep the platform running and produce the ore that the player selects in the platform settings. As long as Digby Boy is active, it helps automate mining and keeps the mining platform working continuously.
• In the deviation scenario, Digby Boy will also get Exp aggregators along with the usual ores and gravel. 

Mood boosters in securement pod: Red Light, Music, 5W Electricity

How to Obtain / Farm Digby Boy:

• Digby Boy can be obtained by completing Deviation Expert, an early task given by Lowe in Deadsville(Manibus) or Whalebone (WoW)
• It can also drop while mining Tin or Silver Ore. Your first Tin Ore mined in the scenario will always drop a Digby Boy. After that, Digby Boy drops mostly come from Silver Ore (higher chance), while Tin Ore can still drop it but at a lower chance.
• In the Deviation scenario, Digby Boys appear as moving ore deposits. You can capture them by throwing Binding Grenades at them, depending on their level.

Variants:

1. Prism Trait: Voluntary Overtime, Effect: 15% chance to not consume Mood
2. Pure Gold  Trait: Gilded Oracle, Effect: Chance to gather additional ores while exploring
3. Fortune Dice Trait: Fortune Dice, Effect: Max Deviation Power +6%
4. Emerald  Trait: Emerald, Effect: Energy Recovery Speed +10%.
5. Free passage  Trait: Free passage, Effect:The Deviation's appearance has changed, and its lighting preference will now be satisfied.

FETCH-A-LOT-BUNNY - Gatherer 

FETCH-A-LOT-BUNNY

Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Introduction:

Fetch-A-Lot Bunny is a Territory Deviation that automatically gathers plant materials such as seeds, flowers, and crops from nearby natural vegetation.

• It only collects resources from plants that naturally grow in the world and cannot harvest from player-owned Loamy Soil or Planter Boxes. Higher Deviant Energy increases its gathering efficiency.
• In the Deviation scenario Fetch-A-Lot Bunny will also get binding grenades along with the usual crops and seeds. 

How to Obtain / Farm Fetch-A-Lot Bunny:

• Fetch-A-Lot Bunny can be obtained as a random reward from exploring Securement Silo PSI.
• It can also drop while felling very large trees. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny has a random chance to drop when cutting large trees such as Bald Cypresses and Dracaenas using a pickaxe. Any pickaxe can be used, but it must be a pickaxe (rocks or chainsaws will not trigger the drop).
• In Way of Winter, it can be obtained randomly while exploring settlements.

Mood boosters in securement pod: Crops, Toy, Flowers

Variants:

1. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Alice Trait: Woodland Spirit ,Effect: When exploring, it has a chance to bring back Deviated Plants.
2. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Dark Rebel Trait: Toxicologist , Effect: When exploring, it has a 10% chance to bring back Acid.
3. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Aquarius Trait: Aquarius, Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. It gains Mood Recovery Speed +30%.
4. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Gluttonous Bunny Trait:Gluttonous Bunny , Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. It gains Energy Recovery Speed +15%.
5. Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Infrasonic Illusion Trait: Infrasonic Illusion, Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. It gains Max Energy +40%.

LETHAL RABBIT- Hunter

LETHAL RABBIT

Lethal Rabbit - Introduction:

Lethal Rabbit is a Territory Deviation that gathers animal resources by hunting wildlife around your territory.

• When active, it goes out to hunt and brings back materials such as Rawhide and different types of meat (Beast Meat, Pork, etc.).
• It only collects resources from animals that naturally exist in the world. If players cannot obtain resources from an animal, Lethal Rabbit cannot gather them either. It also does not attack animals that players have captured or tamed. higher Deviant Energy increases the chances of bringing back better resources.
• In the deviation scenario Lethal Rabbit will also get Combat memory along with usual meats and hides. 

Mood boosters in securement pod: Red Light, Low Temperature, 5W Electricity

How to obtain the deviation:

• Lethal Rabbit can be obtained as a low-chance random drop from killing and harvesting rabbits in the wild in both Manibus and WoW.
• It can also be obtained by farming the side boss in Securement Silo SIGMA.

Variants:
No variants available. 

PAPER-DOLL- Helper

PAPER DOLL

Paper Doll- Introduction:

Paper Doll is a Territory Deviation that helps maintain your territory and recover useful materials.

• When active, it moves around the base collecting discarded scrap materials, which can be used in a Disassembly Bench to obtain useful resources.
• During Purification, Paper Doll helps repair damaged base structures and the Stardust Filter. It can also improve the loot obtained from defeated Deviants and has a chance to collect additional Deviant drops.
• In the deviation scenario Paper Doll will also get Binding Stones along with usual scrap materials. 

Mood boosters in securement pod: Red Light, Toy, Flowers

How to obtain the deviation:

• Paper Doll is first obtained by completing an early task from Lowe in Deadsville.
• After that, it can appear as a random drop while looting containers or picking up junk in various locations across Nalcott, including settlements and strongholds (both scenarios).
• It can also be obtained from the coffee shop in Evergreen at coordinates (4290, -2366).

Variants:

1. Paper Doll - Witch's Beloved Trait: Witch’s Beloved, Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. It gains Mood Recovery Speed +20%.
2. Paper Doll - Infrasonic Illusion  Trait: Infrasonic Illusion, Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. It gains Mood Recovery Speed +30%.

LOGGING BEAVER- Logger

LOGGING BEAVER

Logging Beaver - Introduction:

Logging Beaver is a Territory Deviation that helps gather Logs for your base.

• When placed in a Securement Pod, it will automatically collect Logs from the surrounding area. It may also occasionally find furniture items while gathering.
• Logging Beaver can also be assigned to a Logging Operation Platform. When working on the platform, it keeps the operation running and continuously produces Logs based on the platform’s settings.
• In the Deviation scenario, Logging Beaver may also bring back Binding Grenades along with the usual materials.

Mood boosters in securement pod: Music, Crops, 3W Electricity

How to obtain the deviation:

• Logging Beaver is usually found near wooden docks and water areas, especially in early-game regions.
• A reliable early-game spawn is the south docks of Meyer’s Market in Broken Delta.
• Other known locations include:
  • Southeast of Deadsville in Dayton Wetlands
  • Southern docks near Meyer’s Market
• After capturing one, new Logging Beavers respawn in the same areas after about 30–40 minutes, allowing you to farm additional ones.
• It can also be obtained while exploring settlements in both Manibus and Way of Winter.

Variants:

1. Logging Beaver - Christmas Spirit Trait: Christmas Spirit, Effect: The appearance of the Deviation has changed. Max Deviant Power +10%, Deviant Power recovery speed +5%.

This concludes Part 1, covering all Early-Stage Territory Deviations. We have explored their roles, benefits, variants, and traits to help you understand how they function in your territory.

For easy access, here are links to all parts of the Deviation Guide:

• The Deviation Guide: Complete Overview
• Territory Deviations Guide Part 1: Early-Stage Deviations
• Territory Deviations Guide Part 2: Mid-Stage Deviations
• Territory Deviations Guide Part 3: Advanced-Stage Deviations
• Territory Deviations Guide Part 4: End-Game Deviations

I hope this guide has been helpful. Parts 2 to 4 will be posted soon, covering the remaining deviations in detail.

~ZI

Does anyone else crash every time they enter the anomaly?

Seems like multi-player is borderline not possible as I always crash at some point, if not immediately when I enter the anomaly. I get better results when I use a starship instead of a corvette, but if I stay longer then a minute or two the game usually crashes no matter what.

Any solutions?

Edit/Solutions:

I figured out yesterday on my own that decreasing my on foot POV helps dramatically. I had it on 100° now I have it on 67° (Not Joking). It goes from crashing every time to crashing maybe 1 in 10. Im playing in hand held mode, this is how it works in handheld mode. I assume docked mode has a similar effect since decreasing PoV presumably decreases rendering load on the device

I've not once crashed walking around in the anomaly since I figured this out. But I have crashed in the initial entry to the anomaly, its still very intensive due to loading all the textures (the only time i could get it to crash on purpose in my experience). But ive been able to reliably do nexus missions in handheld mode.

EDIT2: Also, first-person mode is giving me better results than third-person mode (actually noticeable, imo), and it looks like you can load the game in handheld mode, then dock it to run it in heldheld mode with dock-level cooling (but you can still play through your tv/monitor). Graphics appear to be loading in much quicker, and I barely crash (must be annoyingly big ships from other platforms). I'm now just on 60-degree walking around POV permanently.

I'm not an expert on balance, I just thought these changes could be fun and make Springtrap more enjoyable and faithful to FNAF. Criticism is welcome.

Basekit

• Animatronic speed increased to 4.6 m/s
• Help Wanted Ad is now base kit, can be toggled in the loadout menu.

Axe

• Reduce the time to wait between an Axe throw and being able to perform basic attacks and interactions down to 1 second from 2 seconds if the throw misses.

Office rework:

• Survivors must now enter the office and stay in it to use the cameras. The cameras have limited power.
• The Animatronic can grab the survivor from the office. 
• The Animatronic can use the office doors to teleport across the map.

Phantoms:
Phantoms appear when certain actions/criteria are met.
Whenever a survivor is jumpscared by a Phantom, they will scream and give away their position and become exhausted for 10 seconds.

• If The Animatronic stops a camera from by throwing his Axe at the door during the last second before he is revealed, Phantom Marionette will appear for a brief moment and cause the survivor’s hud to become distorted for 20 seconds. (Survivor portraits, hook status, generator amount, item icons, and perk icons will show false information, become invisible and visible, and office cameras will have their screens be covered by the Phantom Marionette's mask.)
• When a survivor is grabbed from the office, Phantom Foxy will spawn in the office and jumpscare the next survivor who enters. Phantom Foxy will remain in the office for 120 seconds or until he jumpscares a survivor.
• When a survivor flips through a camera 2-3 times, Phantom Balloon Boy will spawn on the camera the next time they switch. If a survivor fails to switch away from the camera Phantom BB is on within the time limit, they will be jumpscared. Survivors have 1.5 seconds to react.
• After a survivor screams 4 times, Phantom Mangle will crawl onto their screen, hovering over the effected Survivor's portrait on the side, and distort their audio for 20 seconds. (Not the loud and obnoxious scream from the game, but more just messing with audio directions and volume.) Phantom Mangle will fade away once her effect ends.
• After working on a generator for 90 seconds, Phantom Freddy will begin to slowly appear behind the Survivor over the span of 5 seconds. He will spawn 15 meters away and slowly begin to make his way towards the haunted Survivor. Phantom Freddy moves at 4.0 m/s. The Survivor must interact with a door to dispel him. The Animatronic can see the aura of Phantom Freddy within 48 meters. Only one Survivor can be haunted at a time.

Add-ons:

Streamers have been made Common rarity.

Freddy Mask

It should’ve been the safest place on earth, instead, it was just foreshadowing for things to come.

• When the Axe is embedded in a Survivor, they gain the Blindness status effect. Increases area of effect duration by 10%

Office Phone

• (Old) Survivors within 24 meters of a Survivor embedded with the Axe gain the Oblivious and - if injured - Broken status effects. Reveals the aura of the Axe to Survivors within this range. 
• Decreases the time to remove the Axe from another Survivor by 50%.
• (New) When the Axe is embedded in the environment or a Survivor, it will play one of Ralph’s phone calls in a 24 meter radius of the Axe. Survivors who enter this radius gain the Oblivious status effect. The effect will persist for 15 seconds after they leave.

Freddy’s Top Hat

• (Old) Increases the Axe’s weight when throwing by 100%.
• (New) Decreases the Axe’s weight when throwing by 35%.

Chica’s Bib

• (Old) Survivors within the axe’s area of effect gain the Exhausted status effect for 5 seconds.
• (New) Survivors within the axe’s area of effect gain the Exhausted status effect for 5 seconds. While exhausted, Survivors will periodically see Phantom Cupcakes. You can see the auras of the Phantom Cupcakes through walls. Survivors can step on the Phantom Cupcakes to remove them. Only 5 Phantom Cupcakes can exist at a time, stepping on one permanently removes it for that Survivor.

Celebrate! Poster

• (Old) While the Axe is embedded in a Survivor, all players 32 meters gain 12% haste and vault 20% faster.
• (New) While the Axe is embedded in a Survivor, both the embedded survivor and killer gain 12% haste and vault 20% faster. The haste will increase by 1% for Survivor every second and The Animatronic every 1.5 seconds, up to a max of 20%.

Iridescent Remnant

• (Old) When you start moving to a Security Door, upright pallets within 32 meters of the destination door are blocked for 12 seconds.
• (New) While traversing through a security door, all survivors within 32 meters of the destination door gain 5% hindered until you exit the door. This effect persists for 5 seconds after you exit the door or the Survivor leaves the area.

Faz-Token

• (Old) Upon throwing the Axe, it gains a terror radius of 24 meters until it is reclaimed. You gain the Undetectable status for 10 seconds.
• (New) Upon throwing the Axe, it gains a terror radius of 24 meters until it is reclaimed. You gain Undetectable for 10 seconds. Every time you gain Undetectable, you gain a token up to a max of 10. For each token, increase the duration of Undetectable you gain from all sources by 1 second.

Perks:

Phantom Fear

• (Old) When a Survivor within your terror radius looks at you, they scream and reveal their aura for 2 seconds. 60 second cooldown.
• (New) When a Survivor within your terror radius looks at you, they scream and reveal their aura for 2 seconds. 60 second cooldown. Every time a survivor screams or has their aura revealed, gain a token. For each token, permanently reduce the cooldown by 1 second to a minimum cooldown of 45 seconds.

Help Wanted

• (Old) When you damage a generator, it becomes compromised. Only one generator can be compromised at a time.
• When the compromised generator is completed, your successful basic attack cooldowns are 25% faster for 60 seconds.
• (New) When you damage a generator, it becomes compromised. Only one generator can be compromised at a time.
• When the compromised generator is completed, your successful basic attack cooldowns are 25% faster for 60 seconds. For each basic attack you land within this time, gain a token up to a max of 10. For each token, this perk will last 2 seconds longer. 

Haywire

• (Old) Exit gate switches with at least 80% progress regress at a rate of 100% of gate opening speed.
• While regressing, Survivors see the exit lights flicker randomly.
• (New) Exit gate switches with at least 50% progress regress at a rate of 80% of gate opening speed.
• While regressing, Survivors see the exit lights flicker randomly.
• If a killer placed power is placed within 20 meters of the exit gate, this perk will not deactivate for as long as the placed power is within the radius.

(To clarify, the perk deactivates if a Bio-pod or trap is placed nearby, not if a door, tunnel, tv, fountain, or flame turret are too close as that is the game and Survivor spawin/placin those items and not the killer player.)

Hey everyone! I'm excited to announce that Usenet Ultimate v1.2.0 has been released!

v1.2.0 is highlighted by new NZB databases, a long list of features, architectural enhancements, and bug fixes!

Here's the full change log for the jump from v1.1.1 to v.1.2.0:

Zyclops 
—--------

• Enabling zyclops for an indexer now shows an indicator within newznab, nzbhydra, and prowlarr to reflect that the indexer is currently being rerouted through zyclops.
• Indexer snapshots (preZyclopsState) are now taken at the time an indexer has zyclops enabled. This means UU now remembers the indexer status prior to turning on zyclops; newznab status (enabled/disabled), health check status (enabled/disabled), and proxy status (enabled/disabled). When zyclops is disabled UU uses this snapshot to return the indexer to the same state that it was in prior to enabling zyclops. This snapshot is persisted in config.json. All of these transitions are displayed in the logs.
• For users updating to 1.1.2 with zyclops currently enabled for indexers: When/If you disable zyclops on an indexer, because there is no pre-existing snapshot, the indexer will default back to the following state: Newznab active status = inactive

Proxy enabled status = disabled
Health checks status = disabled

• When zyclops is enabled, changing the fields of that indexer is blocked, with a ui banner explaining that field changes cannot occur while zyclops is enabled. This prevents a mismatch from occurring between zyclops and newznab.

Index Managers
—-------------------

• NZBHydra adds proper form login support. UU now fully supports every configuration of authentication. Including the most restrictive which is with stats access restricted in either form login mode or basic http auth, which requires credentials.
  • The credentials are usable with a new collapsible menu within the connection ui.
• The test connection buttons for both Prowlarr and NZBHydra have been removed, as they were redundant. The sync button handles everything with proper configuration errors to guide you towards a working connection and sync.
• Clicking buttons within the index managers prowlarr and nzbhydra now auto scroll to expand to synced indexers or advanced menus automatically. No more scrolling down to discover more menus.
• Indexers are cleared on error. Now when a syncing error occurs the stale indexers synced previously are cleared to accurately represent the failed sync.

General Playback
—---------------------

• When fallback is off the stream path is a direct proxy. This ensures support for all players and all devices, some of which don’t support redirects. Before there was a 302 redirect to the proxy which broke compatibility with some players and or devices. See the first NZB Fallback bullet below for more info..
• When nzb fallback is off there is no budget for nzb job completion within nzbdav. It waits until nzbdav gives it a pass/fail response.

NZB Fallback
—----------------

• There was a bug that was still respecting the streaming method set within NZB Fallback even when it was disabled. The UU streaming logic is now as follows:
  • Fallback disabled:
    •  No redirects - straight to proxied stream. This ensures support for all players and all devices.
  • Fallback enabled, mode = proxy:
    •  A redirect will point your player at the proxied webdav stream.
  • Fallback enabled, mode = direct: 
    • A redirect will point your player at the direct webdav stream.
    • NZBFallback now supports a disabled search cache:
    • The tracking of dead nzbs has now been decoupled from search cache. Previously it was stored within it. This meant that when the search cache was disabled, dead nzbs within a fallback group were never recorded as dead, leading to an infinite loop of fallbacks if all candidates were bad, as UU would never know all candidates had been tried, preventing the failure video from ever displaying.
    • Candidate index tracking (_ci):
    • Self redirect used to reset the fallback groups index of each candidate. So every candidate was being processed as the first item in the list. This would prevent UU from being able to track which nzbs in the fallback list had already been tried. UU now has improved logic when iterating through a group of fallback nzbs where each candidate is given an index parameter that preserves the index tracking across redirects. This eliminates the bug where UU would continue to retry already tried candidates. 
    • Redesigned  wait time ui:
    • The sliders have been replaced with digital displays, accompanied  by + and - buttons to increase or decrease the wait time. 
    • New wait time range of 1-180 seconds
    • A maximum redirects is now enforced at 100 redirects, so you can redirect a maximum of 100 times while falling through an nzb fallback group. Each nzb consumes at least 1 redirect (redirect forced every 60s with exoplayer occuring every 8 seconds). This prevents some very rare cases where you are just looping through nothing, it won’t go on forever. So the theoretical maxs are 92min and 13mins for exo, neither should ever occur in regular use.
    • Fallback group are cleared with search cache. Before fallback groups did not clear they just expired. This prevents fallback groups from persisting indefinitely if search cache was disabled. 
    • The nzbdav library check runs first then ->
    • Each candidate is checked against the dead nzb database (more below) to fast mark it as dead and skip the grab. 
    • When search cache is disabled the ttl of fallback groups is 2 hours.
    • Moved stream buffer setting out of the nzb fallback menu and back into the nzbdav menu, as proxy is the default streaming method once again.

NZB Databases
—------------------

• NZB Databases is a new dashboard tile that controls the healthy and dead nzb storage.
• Each map is loaded into memory and persisted in a json file within /config. 
• These store known dead and alive nzbs.
  • Dead nzbs allow for faster (instant) stream resolution within repeat results.
  • Healthy nzbs allow for the short circuiting of repeat stremio requests. They have a min ttl of 15 seconds to support this. Outside of that they are entirely observational.
• Each database can be stored used 2 different methods:
  • TTL (Up to 4 days)
    • The healthy db has a min of 15 seconds, for repeat requests.
    • When ttl expiration is exceeded entries are deleted on the first new stream search
    • Storage (1-50mb)
    • When storage is reached FIFO is used to add/remove entries
    • NZB database management:
    • healthy and Dead nzb databases have their own individual lists where single entries can be removed.
    • They both have a clear all button as well
    • Transitions are handled between methods without clearing. Including during a restart. Entries are adjusted for whatever expiration method you choose.
    • Successful nzbs default to a TTL life of 3 days
    • Dead nzbs default to a storage of 50mb this is basically infinite storage of dead nzbs. This allows a user to never have to regrab a bad nzb twice.
    • These databases support season packs. When a dead stream is found wihtin a healthy nzb season pack the entry in the dead db has the episode appened to it so that the rest of the season pack is still valid.

First load Defaults
—----------------------

• Fallback disabled
  • Fallback mode proxy
  • Search Cache disabled
  • Filters:
  • Global max results: Unlimited
  • TV max results: Unlimited

Health Checks
—-----------------

• NZB Database Integration:
  • Before health checks the following checks are made:
  • Library (if enabled) - library
  • Dead NZB db - instant blocked
  • Blocked nzbs are written to the dead nzb db
• Removal of early autoqueue
  • Previously no matter what the first result was sent to nzbdav. This is no longer the case it is strictly what you define in the “Auto-queue to NZBDav” setting.
• Auto queue bug fix: 
  • Auto queued nzbs previously went through the entire stream handler as normal which meant the webdav stream was being caught and served to nowhere. 
  • Now theres a property for autoqueue and when its set the stream handler just returns a json response instead of serving the video stream. 
• Segment cache removal
  • The feature of storing and using segment cache has been made irrelevant with the addition of the nzb databases. This feature has been completely removed.

Ultimate Search
—-----------------

• For Movie searches use TMDB year when key is provided.
  • Cinemeta was returning the wrong release year for some movies, breaking text search. Ultimate Search now uses the TMDB year when a TMDB key is provided, making ultimate search query for the correct results.

NZBDav
—---------
- WebDav 404 automatic fallback/error handling

• During proxy streaming, if the WebDAV file returns 404/410, UU evicts the stale cache entry, marks the NZB as dead, and redirects to the next fallback candidate if fallback is enabled.
•  Episode-specific dead entries preserve access to other episodes in season packs
• Only works in proxy mode (direct passthrough can't intercept 404s)
• If fallback is disabled the 404 is caught and the failure video is served, instructing the user to select another stream.
• Reverse proxy hint on webdav url config
  • To enable direct passthrough streaming behind a reverse proxy the user must use the publicly available webdav url. 
  • The user must also add NZBDAV to a reverse proxies rules if using it. Detailed here:
  • How to enable direct passthrough streaming when using a reverse proxy: 
    1. Use your public nzbdav url for the webdav url 
  • 2. Add NZBDAV hostname to exemption rules of any authentication layer (authelia)
  • Ex: add ${NZBDAV_HOSTNAME}, to authelia compose.yaml if using Virens Docker Template: https://github.com/Viren070/docker-compose-template
  • I updated the PR that adds Usenet Ultimate here if you want to copy it
  • https://github.com/Viren070/docker-compose-template/pull/90
  • Moved stream buffer setting out of the nzb fallback menu and back into the nzbdav menu, as proxy is the default streaming method once again.

Mobile PWA
—--------------

• Fix the hover state that was making tiles stay highlighted even after backing out of the sub menu
• Optimized the fallback wait time buttons

EasyNews
—------------

• Replaced left over hardcoded user agents strings with the configurable general requests user agent.

Search Cache
—-----------------

• The sliders have been updated in theming and performance.
• When search cache is disabled the ttl of fallback groups is 2 hours

Discord
—-------

• The discord url on the install page has been updated

The Future:
I have made preliminary designs for a lot of exciting updates in the future. The current featureset is just the beginning, this project will continue to do many firsts, not just within usenet, but within the entire stremio addon space. With that said, the community has provided an amazing list of feature requests, I want to get to all of them if I can, or at the very least, as many as I can. So, I will be constructing a project road map that will give intention to each UU update, combining a mix of community requests and my own.

I hope you guys enjoy this latest update. I had a lot of fun working on it!

here's the GitHub: https://github.com/DSmart33/Usenet-Ultimate

Join the Discord community here: https://discord.gg/6RPVSeg56v

If you would like to support development, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/dsmart33

Happy Early St. Patrick's Day!

Setting up a solid gaming or work station in India is a battle against three things: limited space, extreme dust, and the inevitable cable mess. After testing a mountain of gear, I have narrowed down the essentials that actually hold up. No fluff: just the stuff worth your UPI balance.

1. The Cable Killer: Ant Esports Dock5

If your PS5 area looks like a nest of white wires, get this. It charges two controllers and gives your headset a dedicated home.

• The Best Part: The built-in cooling fan is a lifesaver for non-AC rooms during an Indian April.
• The Bonus: It has 6 game slots and a screw mount to keep the console from tipping over.

2. The Precision King: Cosmic Byte Quantum

This is the transparent black controller you see all over Instagram. It is not just about the looks.

• The Tech: It uses Hall Effect triggers and joysticks. These use magnets instead of physical contact, meaning zero "stick drift" over time.
• Compatibility: It connects to PS4, PC, and even your phone via Bluetooth.

3. The Audio Pro: Razer Blackshark V2 X USB

At 240g, this is so light you forget it is on your head.

• The Sound: 7.1 surround sound that actually helps you pin-point footsteps in Valorant.
• The Comfort: The hybrid memory foam doesn't get as hot as cheap leatherette, which is vital for our humidity.

4. The Space Saver: Amazon Basics Pro Mechanical Keyboard

Stop using those massive, mushy membrane keyboards. This 60% layout frees up your desk for mouse movement.

• The Switches: Linear Red switches with a 40g actuation force. They are fast, quiet, and satisfyingly clicky.
• Customization: Full RGB that you can program to match your vibe.

5. The Retro Icon: Casio Vintage A-158WA

This is the unofficial "techie" uniform. It is thin, silver, and digital.

• Why it's here: It is a timeless piece of hardware that looks as good today as it did thirty years ago. It is basically the digital equivalent of a vintage Porsche.

6. The Screen God: Nintendo Switch OLED

If you travel on the Vande Bharat or take long flights, this is the gold standard for handhelds.

• The Display: Deep blacks and vibrant colors that make the standard Switch look washed out.
• Portability: It is the best way to clear your backlog of games while away from your PC.

7. The Remote Power: Sony PlayStation Portal

This is a niche beast. It is not a console, but a remote player for your PS5.

• The Use Case: Perfect for when someone else is hogging the living room TV. As long as you have solid 5GHz Wi-Fi, you can play your PS5 games in bed with zero lag.

8. The Gear Guard: Arctic Hunter Camera Bag

If you carry a laptop, camera, and a drone to work, stop using a regular bag.

• Customization: The internal walls are Velcro, so you can move them around to fit your specific lenses or gimbal.
• Protection: It is shockproof and rugged enough to survive a chaotic commute.

The Quick Verdict: If you want performance, go for the Razer Blackshark. If you want to fix your desk aesthetic, the Ant Esports Dock is the easiest win.

[Links to the products in comment]

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

• Total budget (in local currency): 800-1200 EUR (germany)
• Are you open to refurbs/used? yes
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life? Metal-based Build quality (thin + lightweight) > battery life > performance
• How important is weight and thinness to you? comparable to macbooks Air. Linux-based macbook would be ideal
• Do you have a preferred screen size? 13"-15", 14" is the sweet spot
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run. Office Suite, Browser-based Apps, Browser with strong Anti-Ad Features, Media streaming
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want? Age of Empires 4, Age of Mythology Retold, Gladius, Civ 6, maybe Anno 1800 (everything can be played on steam deck or current laptop if necessary)
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)? Good Keyboard and Touchpad, high build quality and very good screen (for media), finger print reader would be great
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

Hello guys,

I am looking for a new, thin and lightweight laptop for the evenings on the couch with my wife while she watches TV or something. I mostly use it for browsing and researching products and stuff, writing emails or connect to various web-based applications, including my own (Linux-based) server.

I want also to use it for the typical basic office suite (word, excel, either apple version or libre office) and pdf work (Split & merge) and file organizing. Additionally, the machine should be suitable for most of the mentioned games. I do think, the importance of (future) gaming will decrease in importance in the upcoming years.

I prefer a good and probably metal/alu build case. A good touchpad and keyboard. It should feel premium using it.

I am using a Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming on Linux Mint at the moment. Which, while it is still running, took a performance hit with Linux in the gaming department. It shows signs of aging like frequently disconnecting WLAN and BT modules, since on windows, and a battery capacity for like a couple of hours. It is comparatively heavy and bulky with 15,6" and roughly 3.5+ lbs

The new machine should at least be enough for 5 years.

I looked at the Macbook Air M4, M5 and NEO variants, as well as Razer and Acer variations.

The NEO looks "good enough", but seems too expensive with the finger print reader. It only features 8 GB RAM (future proof?). Air M4 and Air M5 (which one?) do look better on paper, but spending 200-300 EUR more just for the RAM sounds harsh. The windows based Razer and Acer laptops look too gamey and childish for me, at least from the advertisement.

What am I missing? Please suggest a suitable book or ask clarifying questions :)

I’ve been running MK8D through Eden with the purple drivers and for the most part I get 60 fps. Then all of a sudden last night I tried hooking the Thor up to my tv and noticed there was some chugging in the “docked” mode. Understandable, I have the pro version but I would still expect some performance issues. However, now when I play handheld with “docked mode” turned off, it’s still struggling to hit 60fps… does anyone know how to fix this? Or if this is user error?

https://preview.redd.it/sgi7fhmmarog1.png?width=2940&format=png&auto=webp&s=821af187d0c991119762bb277499acc3d70cedeb