#Censored Adaptation of Same-Sex Original Work

[chicademartinica]

#high school return of a gangster #censored adaptation of same-sex original work #censored BL #korean bl

[save-the-data]

The Untamed | S01E22

Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes

Episodes | Viki | YouTube | Netflix | WeTV | Tencent | Prime | Catalogue

#Drama: The Untamed #CDrama #Wuxia #Mystery #Partners in Crime #Fantasy #Censored Romance #陈情令 #The Founder of Diabolism #The Untamed #Censored Adaptation of Same-sex Original Work #Xiao Zhan #Wang Yi Bo #Wang Zhuo Cheng #Liu Hai Kuan #Zhu Zan Jin #Yu Bin #Wang Hao Xuan #Chinese Drama - 2019 #Drama: 2019 #MDZS #CQL

[absolutebl]

Regarding Stay With Me

My dumbarse’s official statement on Stay With Me

Upcoming BL censored bromance:

Stay With Me

(2023)

This is the only time I'll be talking about this. You know my policy, censor the censors.

Yes it's a "Censored Adaptation Of Same-sex Original Work" as MDL puts it.

Yes that original work is 哥哥你别跑 or Addicted Heroin.

Yes I think it is actually disgusting they are doing this. ESPECIALLY to this property.

I’m aware Taiwan is somehow involved (and I’m scared about that) but I still think it will be a censored bromance, and if not it will be sad. (See 2022's In Your Heart. Or don't 'cause... sad.) 

It will be 24 eps, air Friday & Saturday 30 min each.

I will not be watching it. 

I will not list the source. You are permitted to watch it if you do so grey (waves hand in dictatorial manner). This is the one circumstance where I will say this.  

I will not talk about it further.

I will not be blogging or reposting anything about it after this.  

It will not show up in my weekly round ups.

Censor. The. Censors. Do not give them power. In the entertainment industry: power = attention. My policy = VOID. I too can practice the brutalistic art of censorship. 

I discus Chinese censorship of gay content here.

And I have a History of Chinese BL here. 

I remember 2016-2017.

I remember gay Chinese vloggers I considered friends being taken down and disappeared off YouTube

I remember danmei authors being thrown into prison.

You can make your own life choices. This is my blog you've strayed into. Guess what? I too have a ban hammer. Don't tempt me.

LOOK

It’s REAL FUCKING SIMPLE

If this show were het = they kiss. But they don’t kiss because they not het. I not watch it.

Mmmm’kay? 

(source)

#Stay With Me #chinese bromance #censored bl #i can't believe i'm doing this again

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Do you have favorite BL dramas or movies? If you do, what's your top 20 Asian BL dramas or movies?

Hi anon! 💙 Thank you for this ask! I can make a list! I love it 🥰

Of course I have favorites and I am so thankful you ask for my 20 favorite bls, because 10 would be too hard 😅

I don't have any logical reason behind my choices. Most of the times I go with the feeling I have while watching the show. The following is not a best to last ranking, just my top 20 favorite shows 😊

Goodbye Mother

A vietnamese movie about a young man, Van, who visits his family for the first time after being abroad for nine years. He doesn't come alone, but brings his boyfriend Ian with him. Van waits for the best moment to come out to his family and present Ian as his partner. It is more of a family drama than the typical bl, but it is such a good movie. The grandmother is the heart and soul of it all. It provides everything, happiness, sadness, anger, pain, love...just a perfect movie. It is still available on GagaOOLala, but on the list to leave soon.

A Tale Of Thousand Stars

One of my feel-good-series. EarthMix is one of my favorite pairing and they went crazy with all the staring and pining. The story of Tian and Phupha who meet at a village in the forest where Tian works as a volunteer teacher and Phupha is the local Chief Forest Officer. We whitness how two people get to know each other, understand each other and develop feelings for each other. It is a romantic fairytale dealing with important and serious issues and I love it! You can watch it free on Youtube.

Moonlight Chicken

Speaking of EarthMix...Moonlight Chicken is my newest favorite and one of the easiest decisions for picking as a favorite. It is a short series, but it tells so many stories in a perfect way. No character comes too short, no realtionship is undeveloped. It is such a perfect series. EarthMix are killing it, but GeminiFourth stole the show. Their depiction of a this first love between a deaf young man and an angry young man was just so beautiful. Both had their dreams and both felt unheard and unseen from the outside (especially the parents and guardians) and they developed such a pure and beautiful bond. I could go on and on about the beauty of this show. Perfect and free to watch on Youtube.

My School President

And another GeminiFourth project. I am so in love with this show. It is something personal. The story about a first love and such a healthy love and Tin, our school president is one walking green flag. The show helped me on a very personal level to understand parts of my own history and choices and I am forever grateful and will keep this in my heart. And besides that it is such a comfort watch. Every conflict is dealt with before the episodes end and there is no drama, just love and respect. I love it! It is also free on Youtube.

Triage

This is something else. We have time loops and some supernatural stuff happening while the main character tries to rescue this young man who is as it turns out the love of his life. And when it looks like it finally can work out, destiny or in this case a higher entity, plays a little bit with time and fucks everyting up again. It is really interesting and tense and there are twists and it is just amazing!

The Untamed

Does this count as a bl? It is not the typical bl, more a censored adaptation of same-sex original work from China. Nevertheless you can see the love and affection between Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. This is a masterpiece. When I tell people about it, who don't watch asian dramas, I always tell them it is better than Game of Thrones for me, so they can put it in relation. This show wrecked me. I cried like never before. And I can't put into words what this series made me feel. It is on Viki and WeTV.

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us

Speaking of non typical bls stuff. 180 degree is such a good series. It is difficult to watch, because it feels really raw at parts and it deals with so much stuff, like homophobia, grief, internal homophobia, trauma, loss, love different kinds of relationship, growing up and stagnation, resignation. And the cinematography, uuuhhh! Such a beautiful series and in everything you see on screen you can intepret something in it. As a person who studied language and the comparison between novels and their adaptations, this was heaven for my intepretation loving heart. You can watch it on GagaOOLala.

A First Love Story

Strongberry at its best. It is korean and a short film in two parts and perfect. It tells the story of two best friends who have feelings for each other, but one of them enlisted and has to go to the military soon. We meet them again after some time and get a very intimate view on a very short part of their lifes. The acting is good, the story is good, the chemistry is good. You can watch it on Youtube or soon it will be on GagaOOLala again.

Be Loved in House: I Do

My comfort watch. This is nothing special. It is just a workplace romance, but it feels so cozy and I love the story. It makes me feel all the butterflies and happiness in my stomach and I love this shit! The company gets a new boss, who is very strict, has a bunch of rules and forbids his co-workers to date, because love can be a distraction and because of his own personal trauma. Can his stone-cold heart be warmed-up again? Oh the cuddles are everything for me! It is on Viki.

History 2: Crossing the line

I like most of the HIStory shows, but tis one I like the most. I do love the secondary couple of HIStory 3: Make our days count and HIStory 4: Close to you (I know...don't judge me), but as a whole series I really like this one the most. Perhaps because it is something different with the whole Volleyball thing or because I think the main couple is just so sweet. I don't know, I like to rewatch it from time to time. You can watch it on Viki.

Bad Buddy

My first asian bl ever. I am so happy I could start with this one. I love the story of Pat and Pran. Enemies to lovers is something else and they did a really good job. And their love was so vulnerable and sweet. Even though Pat always tried to be the strong kind of macho man, he was soft and sweet with Pran and it was so cute to watch. And the iconic rooftop scene! What a scene! It is free on Youtube.

Long Time No See

Another movie. I don't want to spoil anything. This has assasins and mafia and love and romance and sweetness and blood and fighting. It is not the typical bl stuff, it is more mature, but a really good action movie in my eyes. I liked the drama and the action scenes. As it is leaving GagaOOLala soon, I just rewatched it and it is still good!

Semantic Error

I don't know how many times I rewatched this one. The enemies to lovers story that just melts my heart. I am reading the manhwa and this is so explicit! The series is so tuned down from the original. Nevertheless I love the story of how SangWoo made his way into JaeYoungs heart and melted our all hearts on the way. This one is on Viki.

Old Fashion Cupcake

The story of the 29 years old Togawa who tries to show 39 years old Nozue how beautiful life can be. And what better way to show him than to eat the most delicious sweets ever. I am always hungry and craving for sweets after watching this. This series gives hope. You are never too old to start enjoying life and to allow yourself to love again, even if the person is ten years younger. And another one you can watch on Viki.

Love Mechanics

I guess this is here because of YinWar. I mean, their chemistry is through the roof! The story itself...well...cheating and pain and War is crying quite often. But it is still good and I can't stop rewatching it. Yes the story is hurtful and a little bit stupid, but VeeMark are adorable when they are happy and in love. It can be watched on WeTV.

DNA Says Love You

We all love some slow burn, right? I mean, this one is very much slow burning, but with a reason and it is a really interesting story behind all that. It is a complex story with some really good staring and pining and hurt and comfort. You have to watch carefully to understand everything, but it is worth it and the wait while our hearts burn away through the slow burn is worth it too.

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Like in the movies)

This one is...it is cute. I don't know what else to say. It is not the best production, but the story is good and the actors are doing a good job. Karl needs to live on his own because a family tradition says it is a good idea to show early on how to survive alone in this world. So he moves into his uncle's apartment where he meets his neighbour Vlad and because of some reasons the end up living together. I love the soundtrack and their whole story. It is free on Youtube.

Once Again

My favorite bl series of 2022. It tells the story of Shin Jae Woo who deals with childhood trauma and because of some supernatural stuff happening, he jumps back in time to the year he was almost the victime of a crime, but Kang Ji Hoon helped him back then. JaeWoo wants to rescue JiHoon from this path. I was crying through most of the second half of this series. It is just so good. Painful and hurtful. Just watch is you can deal with sad stuff. Everytime I need a good cry, I come back here and it always works its magic. It si on Viki and GagaOOLala.

We best love: No. 1 for you

The true enemies to lovers story. The slow burn and the slow realisation is just so perfect. I feel with Gao Shi De through this whole story. I love to rewtach it and see things I haven't before. And the second season is good as well! Not as good as the first one for me, but still really good. You can watch it on WeTV.

Secret Crush On You

If you manage to get past the first episode full of cringe and you learn things about the characters, you see that these are all of us. The characters are not flawless, they make us cringe, because it feels too real. You can't act normal when you are living your secret crush. And you feel uncomfortable if you don't fit the norms. It is so beautiful to see that there are people out there who love you for who you are. And who isn't afraid to tell the world about it. This series makes my heart feel all the beautiful feelings. It is a little gem out there. And you can watch it for free on youtube.

Well these are my top 20 of all the bls I have watched. It was so much fun! Thank you for this ask!

I guess after this month there are going to be new favorites. Our Dating Sim or A Shoulder To Cry On are some really good shows and I hope they won't mess it up in the end like Oh! My Assistent did.

Have a beautiful day and stay happy and healthy! 💜

#josi answers #josi watching bl #top 20 bls #korean bl #thai bl #taiwanese bl #pinoy bl #japanese bl #my school president #moonlight chicken #once again #secret crush on you #dna says love you #love mechanics #and many more #bl recommendations #I guess #thank you for the ask! #it was really fun talking about my favorite shows

[bl-bam-beyond]

ADDICTED V.S. STAY WITH ME

ORIGINAL BL CENSORED

BROMANCE

Then: BAI LUO YIN Now: SU YU

Played by TIMMY XU Played by ZHANG

JIONG MIN

Then: GU HAI Now: WU BI

Played by JOHNNY Played by: XU BIN

HUANG

With no original plans to watch a censored version of ADDICTED, I opted to watch Episode 1. The actors are good. There are plenty of differences. Wu Bi (Gu Hai) is interested in Su Yu (Bai Luo Yin) because he reminds him of sculpture by his late mother. It's special because it was his mothers last work before her death. His father has remarried to Su Yu's mother yet he doesn't know Su Yu is his stepmother's son. Like the original they start with a contentious relationship as classmates.

Now Su Yu's father has a photo of his son that looks identical to the sculpture made by Wu Bi's mother which includes a mole on the ear just like Su Yu has.

In a flashback Wu Bi's mother says she is making a sculpture of the son of a new female friend. So it appears Su Yu's mother married the husband of her friend. Was foul play involved?

Now Gagaoolala has a tag line that says they're half brothers 100% Lovers. 🤔

While Viki has it as a BL (it can't be)

MDL identifies it as Censored Adaptation of Same Sex Original Work, Bromance & Friendship.

@pose4photoml

So this is the new Bai Luo Yin (Su Yu) & Gu Hai (Wu Bi)

#POST: BL VS BROMANCE COMPARISON #ADDICTED VS STAY WITH ME #CHINESE SERIES #24 EPISODES #AVAILABLE ON GAGAOOLALA & VIKI #My GIFS #MYGIFSET #BAI LUO YIN/GU HAI #SU YU/WU BI #A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BUT ALSO DIFFERENCES #I HATE CENSORSHIP BUT I'M INTRIGUED

[what-am-i-outside-my-google-tabs]

It is incredible how little is known online about the anime situation in Italy in the 80's, cause it was crazy, and noone outside the country know about it.

Everyone watched anime, and pretty normal on that. Same was in the rest of Europe and in Latin America. The series were adapted, censored in strange ways, the new opening created or chosen only for your country became a bop and sometimes a disco hit - Planet O always in our hearts - everyone danced on, all normal.

Sure, sometimes the television changed the finale of a serie to give it an happy ending. Sometimes the manga of the serie, when finished, was continued by italian authors to continue sell. But still everything in the usual realm of existence.

Till Kiss Me Licia.

When things went crazy.

It is a classic romantic anime, where a normal girl fall in love with the frontman of a rock band. Particularly successfull were the songs.

The one season anime is succesfull, and ok. The television wants more, and ok. So they call the original channel and SOMEHOW obtain the rights. And you think, well, this is strange. But just wait till i tell you WHO wanted this, WHO was behind: FUCKING BERLUSCONI. THE POLITICIAN. THE SEX SCANDALS POLITICIAN. PUTIN’S BEST FRIEND. THAT BERLUSCONI.

And the serie is created! And everyone watch it!

THEY CREATED A WHOLE EIGHT SEASONS LIVE ACTION OF IT.

Even when a character is a meatball fetishist. That have dreams about it. Even when there is no plot, and things just go wherever.

There is a talking cat.

Every character speak now in another language and live in another city, and work different jobs than in the anime, and this is never explained. They litterally made every one of them their italiansona.

The creators just tought molassa wouold hold every season in case they could not think at anything better for the plot, and the more they went on, the less they had ideas and recurred to that and acid.

In one episode one character hire a vampire as cleaner and cook. This is never explained. They only eat black food till he have to return to transylvania. 

One entire episode is about breaded cutlets. This somehow connect with the happiness of a friend, and the protagonist family have to decide between eating dinner or let one friend be happy. This is treated like a most dramatic moment, while still acted in the most sugared way possible.

A whole episode disappeared, and is considered to this day a mistery. Its is signed everywhere, on wikipedia and on the dvd cases. It is just, not actually in there.

One episode was a crossover with a variety tv program of the time, TV sorrisi e canzoni.

The chatolic church is there.

And so four seasons go.

Till the protagonist fell pregnant for divine intervention and can no more be the protagonist, cause motherhood, i guess. And her husband can no more be the singer of a rock band, cause faterhood, i guess. And you think, well, everyone is coupled and married and breeded now, we will finally have peace. This will have an end.

NO.

It was renewed AGAIN.

And the ACTRESS of the PROTAGONIST appear and take her place as protagonist! change title of the serie and now is about her! The real, in the flesh, actress!

This is never explained.

And so the torture continued for other four seasons.

And when everything finally finished, you would think, this is the end. But like for supernatural, there is never an end.

The serie ended up in court. Cause Berlusconi.

And thus still live in all our minds, just waiting to return again.

#love me licia #il piano è di far credere a tutti coloro non sanno che questo sia un classico post di fake news #si #noi sappiamo è tutto assolutamente vero #ma loro no #just think it would be funny #kiss me licia

[somesortofcoincidence]

The Pocket Watch in Literary Adaptations of Goncharov throughout History (Part 3)

So now, we are at the final pocket watch described throughout these various literary adaptations of the original Goncharov trilogy and...I'll be completely honest, I'm not really a huge fan of this specific trend of literary adaptations. For some historical context, during the late 1930's to the early 1940's, there were several pulp magazines based off of the original Goncharov trilogy released by this...publishing house called Diamond Dame Publishing, which is now defunct. They had a small team of writers and illustrators working on different stories to see which characters would have sex with whoever they wanted within the original cast of characters in the trilogy and...their most treasured writer was this guy named Alton Finley.

Now, before I start trashing on these adaptations, I'll give Alton his due credit and say that...I feel like there was something very important he wanted to communicate to the reader in his stories. But the problem is that, he had to write each story within the formula that made those stories so appealing to other readers, but at the same time, it made them lose their edge as more of these pulp magazines got published. So then, whatever that message Finley was trying to communicate got lost in the vices portrayed throughout the medium.

In one of the issues, Goncharov pulls out a pocket watch to show Andrey and tells him what they wanna do together as best friends and...the watch that's being described and shown to the reader is just...absolutely ridiculous.

For the sake of following Tumblr's community guidelines, I've taken it upon myself to censor the image in question.

Just...look at it. I genuinely feel like we didn't need to see that pocket watch in those magazines.

There's a lot of things that were so wrong about them, but I think the main problem is that they focused less on the story aspect and focused more on sexual gratification. Now, granted, the pulp novels didn't always have sex. They had gambling, seduction, drinking, and some fist fights here and there. But then, there's other aspects of the story when you realize that...the setting in these stories was always the same, right? Everyone was always walking around in Naples, Italy. The characters in these stories never left that setting and they also never entered that setting.

Every character still retained their nationality, but they never explain where they came from or whatever problems they're going through emotionally. You'd think that particular detail was bad enough, but the way the characters were described in these novels was...just as terrible, if not more so. There was no emotional depth, no conflict, no backstory, no context, and there just didn't seem to be a rhyme or reason why these characters were together in each story. They just were. There wasn't even any emotional satisfaction between any set of characters after having had sex. The characters just seemed so emotionless.

Thank you so much for reading through my literary analysis of three specific examples as to the description and depiction of the pocket watch throughout the history of literary adaptations of Goncharov. I hope you d been able to learn just a little bit more about the story itself. I’ll see you next time!

#goncharov #gonchposting #unreality

[mygwenchan]

Just randomly found the "Censored Adaptions of Same-Sex Original Work" tag on MDL and it has 118 entries... this is just sad. I didn't know there were that many 😢 The things we could've had... I think I'll be forever salty. Censorship sucks so much. Them taking those BLs/GLs and removing all the queer parts really feels like a slap in the face. It's like they're deliberately trying to erase those stories all while still cashing in on the fans. This is why I won't watch heavily censored dramas, no matter how opulent and interesting they are. I don't care. I won't support this bullshit.

#118... my god #and that's most likely not even all of them #censorship really needs to end #this is not ok #i'm a bit shocked tbh #midnight thoughts #think i need to watch something silly now

[redoofhealermerch]

Fans of the fantasy anime Redo of Healer

You can find Redo Of Healer t-shirts from independent artists. They're available in different styles, including v-neck, crew neck, short sleeve, slim fit, and moisture-wicking active t-shirts. You can also purchase them in classic white or black. In addition to t-shirts, you can also purchase a variety of different t-shirts with the Redo Of Healer logo.

redo of healer merch

Fans of the fantasy anime Redo of Healer will be happy to know that all merchandise in the game is 100% hentai. This series is filled with sexual violence and excess amounts of rape, making it a distinctly hentai experience. The main character, Keyaru, is a man who hates using his healing powers, and the princess of the castle drugged, tortured, and raped him over the course of six months.

Redo of Healer merch features original artwork and is printed on high-quality products. All shirts are one-of-a-kind and made by independent artists. Every shirt is printed by hand, which means every purchase supports an independent artist. Additionally, you can feel good knowing that every money you spend on Redo of Healer merch goes directly to supporting the artist.

Despite Redo Of Healer's hentai content, its censored version is also available. The censored version covers up nudity and whole sex scenes. As such, an episode of Redo Of Healer can have anywhere from tenth to twenty-five percent of a sex scene that isn't necessary. On the other hand, a legitimate Hentai can have the same percentage.

If you're looking for some new anime titles, Redo Of Healer is one of them. It's an anime adaptation of a manga of the same name written by TNK, the "ecchi anime king". He has previously worked on High School DxD and Sin Nanatsu No Taizai. While most fans of this anime title haven't heard of the series, there are a lot of fans who aren't aware of the anime yet.

[ruanbaijie]

bestie i'm giving you free reign to go absolutely bonkers here, so do what you will with this question (give me all your thoughts)

Can you recommend some cdramas to watch?

hi mandy!!!! go bonkers you say? 👀

ok but full disclosure I’ve done a couple of recs posts before and since then I haven��t watched that many new cdramas, so what I’m gonna do now is to consolidate what I posted there (including my ramblings klaklsdklf) into one super long post (heh)

sorting them into shows I’ve watched, shows I plan to watch but have heard good things about, and shows I’m not currently planning to watch but have heard good things about. all synopses, genres, and tags are from mydramalist!

also! I tend to prefer shows that involve action, mystery, detective, crime, and/ or monsters (think vampires and zombies), so a lot of my favourites and recs (at least those on my completed and to watch lists) are shows of these genres!

someone else also asked me about cdramas / kdramas similar to akatsuki no yona which I’ve answered here for the kdramas! @ anon who asked that, if you’re seeing this post too, my same remarks reply: I’m not exactly sure if there’s a drama with a premise that’s super similar to that of ANY, but I’ve tried to put in notes here and there for dramas that might have similar tropes

completed + my faves (i.e. leT ME SHOVE THIS DOWN YOUR THROAT)

Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji, two talented disciples of respected clans, meet during cultivation training and accidentally discover a secret carefully hidden for many years. Taking on the legacy of their ancestors, they decide to rid the world of the ominous threat. But in a dramatic turn of events, Wei Wu Xian dies. Sixteen years later, Wei Wu Xian is brought back to life through a self-sacrificing ritual. He conceals himself behind a mask and assumes the identity of his summoner. Soon, Wei Wu Xian reunites with Lan Wang Ji and they start working together to solve the mysteries of the present and unravel the truth behind the events in the past.

Genres: historical, mystery, wuxia, fantasy

Tags: censored adaptation of same-sex original work, tragic past, flashback to past, bromance, power struggle

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mVGYSzg-Pk

ah okay I don’t know if you’ve watched this yet so I’m just dumping it here

it’s easily one of (if not the) most known cdramas internationally! and there’s quite a big fandom on tumblr

I don’t make much content for it now but I’d spent more than 2 years pouring my soul into gifsets for it and it was this show that got me into giffing!

might be similar to ANY because of... majority male cast, action, adventure

In the multiplayer online game Glory, Ye Xiu is well known as the textbook level expert and top-tier player Ye Qiu. Due to a series of circumstances he was forcefully expelled out of his professional team. After leaving the pro-gaming scene he resides at an Internet Café employed as one of the managers. When Glory launches their tenth server he throws himself into the game once more. Equipped with ten years of gaming experience, memories of the past, and an incomplete self-made weapon. His journey back to the top begins.

Genres: action, friendship, youth, sports

Tags: online gaming, strong friendship, game, competition, gamer, sismance, tournament, bromance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q16DV-6DidU

*SCREAMS*

ok if you’ve snooped around my tumblr recently, you might have realised that I’m VERY obsessed with this right now

I never expected to start 2022 getting hyperfixated over an esports show… alas.

no romance but why does a show need to have romance to be good amirite

amazing action, palatable cgi that I actually came to like

very strong found family feels and underdog story

also somehow manages to teach you life lessons

kickass music that IS NOT ON SPOTIFY ;u;

please just watch this why is the fandom on tumblr so small ;u;

YANG YANG AS YE XIU (´꒳`)♡

it’s a whole damn franchise that I’m getting sucked into right now

season 2 when

might be similar to ANY because of... majority male cast, found family

Set in the mid-1920s. A resourceful young police officer named Qiao Chu Sheng is on the trail of a brutal but devious killer. Realising that the police force will need some extra help with this difficult case, he decides to form an elite crime-busting detective team. He reaches out to a young man who has recently returned from studying in Great Britain, Lu Yao. Qiao Chu Sheng has learned that Lu Yao has remarkable powers of deduction and a brilliant mind – and believes he can help crack this difficult case. To round off the team, he enlists the help of Bai You Ning, a focused young female reporter for a daily newspaper. A free-thinking, independent young woman, she has a strong sense of justice – and pledges to help catch the killer. The trio form a small detective squad that specialises in solving strange and unsettling murder mysteries.

Genres: thriller, historical, mystery, romance

Tags: investigation, Chinese Republican Era, bromance, slight romance, friendship, roommates, murder, bickering couple

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ijcA-Fxh24

I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH OKAY I WATCHED IT TWICE

chuyao <333

though from what I’ve seen on tumblr you either love it very much or you drop it

a lot of people really don’t like the female lead though - she can get a bit annoying

also the scenes with english dub are.... hilarious

there’s a second season coming up with the same two male leads, with a similar premise of crime solving in the chinese republican era but they’re no longer playing the same characters (i.e. main characters are different I don’t know how that works)

In 15th-century China, a quick-witted, senior-ranking government official named Tang Fan takes a break from his routine activities in order to investigate a murder, teaming up with martial arts specialist guardsman Sui Zhou in a bid to solve the case. When the peace-loving landlord of the house Tang Fan is renting is found dead, the duo investigates. It is an apparent suicide, but the investigative pair quickly realises that something looks amiss. They investigate and eventually succeed in finding a suspect they believe may have killed the landlord. But they soon learn that this murderer did not act alone – and is just a smaller player in a much grander scheme. As they dig deeper into the crime, the duo soon realises that something very sinister is afoot – including a plot to launch a bloody coup. Can they stop the criminal mastermind before time runs out?

Genres: historical, mystery, drama

Tags: censored adaptation of same-sex original work, Ming Dynasty, bromance, investigation

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCEJd5EI5rc

a really good show! cases are much more solid than MRIAD imo (but I’m biased towards MRIAD *cough*)

adapted from a bl novel that is apparently quite different

In order to leave the assassin organisation The Window of Heaven, the leader Zhou Zi Shu performs an obligatory departure technique, leaving him with three years left to live. He disguises his face and tries to live the remainder of his days as a drunkard wandering the martial arts world. Three months later, he meets the mysterious Wen Ke Xing, who immediately notices Zhou Zi Shu’s façade. The two then grow closer when they get entangled in a conspiracy regarding the Glazed Armour, a protected legendary key to a powerful armoury.

Genres: historical, mystery, wuxia, fantasy

Tags: hidden identity, censored adaptation of same-sex original work, antihero, martial arts, jianghu, revenge, tragic past

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=danLFjQ53aw

another cdrama with a pretty big fandom on tumblr!

also another one for which I was making quite a number of sets a year back

there’s a short 37th episode because if they’d just stopped at 36 it would have been quite a shitty ending

might be similar to ANY because of... action, adventure

completed

During the Republican era, a river is haunted by inexplicable occurrences. Guo De You is a policeman who succeeds in his master 'Old River God' and has inherited his ability to weed out the guilty whenever he lights the pipe. He ends up being suspected of the murder of a distinguished chairman whose son Ding Mao joins hands with him to uncover the truth. Together with some unlikely partners, they begin an investigation that leads them to an incident that happened twenty years ago.

Genres: historical, mystery, horror, supernatural

Tags: Chinese Republican Era, shamanism, adapted from a novel, psychic, bromance, investigation, hypnosis

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egtvJ8Gs3dg

During the Song Dynasty, Ye Zhao cross dresses to become a general of outstanding ability, receiving a top rank of general. The Empress Dowager constantly worries about Ye Zhao holding too much power and took the opportunity to betroth Ye Zhao to one of the Emperor's nephews, the no-good Prince of Nanping, Zhao Yujin, who possesses remarkable beauty but is pampered, lazy and spends his time on "useless" artistic pursuits. Thus, the story of the real battle of who will take power in this new household begins.

Genres: military, historical, comedy, romance

Tags: tomboy, arranged marriage, female warrior, cross-dressing, multiple couples, gender role reversal, Song Dynasty

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZe-C_w67I

oh my god this show. it’s so underrated ヽ(´Д`;)ﾉ

the dynamics between ye zhao (sandra ma) and zhao yu jin (peter ma) are AMAZING

especially the heart eyes he keeps giving her when he realises how head over heels he is in love with her

and how much being in love with her changed him from lazy snotty aristocrat to actual functioning “I Will Protect My General Wife Even Though I Can’t Fight At All” member of the government

side note its chinese name literally means “general above/ on top”, and this series was adapted from a novel called 将军在上我在下 “general above/ on top, I am below” like HMMMM

also the costuming in this show is ridiculously colourful and lowkey japanese-like because they actually got a japanese costume designer

might be similar to ANY because of... strong female lead who kicks ass

A world beyond scientific understanding with a group of passionate adults trying to solve cases done by such forces. Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei are tasked with upholding peace between underworld dwellers and humans, and the story will focus on their friendship that transcends past and present lifetimes.

Genres: friendship, thriller, mystery, fantasy

Tags: bromance, censored adaptation of same-sex original work, star crossed lovers, hidden identity, tragic past, power struggle

MV of one of the OST songs sung by the two main actors but can pretty much function as a trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHz6e8c0FZY

ah where do I begin

adapted from Priest’s bl novel Guardian

terrible sfx (that makes the sfx in the untamed looks amazing), barely intriguing plot after the first few episodes

BUT. BUT.

the chemistry between zhao yunlan (bai yu) and shen wei (zhu yilong) is ridiculously good ヾ(*′○`)ﾟ.+:｡ﾟ☆

this show was censored so heavily and diverged so much from the original novel, but the actors and the entire crew knew that they were acting a romance and not a romance and it damn well showed

I believe that this show set the road for the untamed because even though it became so wildly popular among fans that I guess it signalled to show runners the possibility of drama adaptations of BL novels despite the heavy censorship

Set in the Republican Era in Shanghai in the 1930s: An intriguing crime case emerges amidst the bustling city. A beautiful new graduate of the police academy, Qin Xiao Man, joins the investigation unit. The famous detective Luo Fei becomes her colleague and neighbour. Together they solve case after case with a growing conspiracy appearing.

Genres: thriller, historical, mystery, comedy

Tags: crime solving duo, Chinese Republican Era, investigation, suspense, murder, Shanghai French Concession, Sherlock and Watson, attempted assault

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CLfIut0VDI

quite similar to MRIAD, in that it’s a detective show set in the republican era and is structured according to a few episodes per case (in this case - lol - it’s three episodes per case) but with an overarching plot

I feel like they didn’t really touch on the overarching plot here except for a couple of cases? the rest of the cases are unlinked to the overarching plot

though overall the overarching plot feels better executed than MRIAD (which was just… lol)

female lead is absolutely likeable and I’m so glad they didn’t force a romance between the male lead (bai yu) and her

very Sherlock Holmes-ey, down to the music

A story that follows Wang Lu, a young genius, who enters the Spirit Blade Sect and embarks on an unconventional journey towards immortal cultivation. The Spirit Blade Sect was established in the year 4233. Through years of producing martial arts prodigies, it has been hailed as one of the five great sects. As the nine continents face a crisis, a genius by the name of Wang Lu joins the Spirit Blade Sect and comes under the tutelage Wang Wu. Despite Wang Wu's beauty, she is hundreds of years in age. Famous for having a sharp tongue and an erratic temper, she and her disciple Wang Lu engage in endless squabbles while trudging on a path to becoming the strongest sage in all the lands.

Genres: historical, romance, wuxia, fantasy

Tags: xianxia, student-teacher relationship, bromance, slapstick, slow burn romance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5nshXtTD-k

quite a fun, lighthearted show to watch

big on humour but also has its smart moments

reminded me of a more lighthearted version of joy of life (below)

female lead is super sassy

Fan Xian is born in the ancient empire of Southern Qing with memories of the 21st century. He lives in a rural town as the illegitimate son of the Minister of Finance, raised by his grandmother. His mother, Ye Qingmei was once a celebrated inventor and the founder of the Overwatch Department, the country's spy network but was killed shortly after her son was born. Fan Xian has since been protected by a blind martial arts expert, Wu Zhu, his mother's bodyguard. He learns martial arts and the art of poison as a child, also assisted by his knowledge from the 21st century. After an assassination attempt, he decides to venture into the capital to find out more about his mysterious mother and why anyone would want to kill him, as he perceives himself to be an unimportant person. He also wants to know why he has memories of a sharply different era. In the capital, he accidentally meets Lin Wan'er, the sickly illegitimate daughter of the Princess Royal and falls in love with her.

Unbeknownst to him, she is the woman the emperor chose for him to marry so that he would be the new overseer of the Royal Treasury, an institute Fan Xian's mother established in the palace and currently handled by the Princess Royal. In the capital, however, he gets entangled in the intrigues of the Emperor and the two Princes, as well as the Overwatch Department, leading to him questioning his whole identity and inducing him to find his true life goals, abandoning his original intention to just "enjoy life".

Genres: historical, mystery, romance, wuxia

Tags: martial arts, time travel, sword-fight, power struggle, scheme, sci-fi

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D5AyJAXqiE

believe me or not, this show actually has quite a fair bit of science fiction in it

it’s a super clever show and involves a bit of thinking

also stars xiao zhan as a side character that has a completely different personality from wei wuxian

character to look out for: Second Prince. He’s the scene stealer

character description from wiki that I just had to include: Lin Wan'er, a chicken drumstick princess

A story that revolves around a Peking opera performer and a wealthy businessman who are brought together by their love for Peking opera. Set in the 1930's, it follows Shang Xi Rui, a Peking opera performer who relies on his exceptional talent to gain fame in Beiping. Being an outsider, he faces opposition from the locals but doesn't relent nor give up in fulfilling his dreams to promote Peking opera. As he pours himself into mastering the art, wealthy businessman Cheng Feng Tai becomes deeply captivated after watching a performance for the first time. He makes acquaintance with Shang Xi Rui and becomes an avid supporter. Through Cheng Feng Tai's help, Shang Xi Rui builds Shui Yun Lou and trains a new troupe. When the Japanese army invade Beiping in 1937 and patriotic men and women take up arms to fight, Shang Xi Rui and Cheng Feng Tai are moved to make sacrifices for their country.

Genres: historical, business, romance, drama

Tags: Chinese opera, Chinese Republican Era, censored adaptation of same-sex original work, businessman, bromance, performing arts

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k1XBsF1YlY

a bit of a long show but I enjoyed it from start to end!

a good show that introduces you to the chinese opera scene, plus with the backdrop of the japanese invasion

absolutely stunning costumes

ALL THE HEART EYES BETWEEN CHENG FENGTAI AND SHANG XIRUI

The iron triangle Wu Xie, Pang Zi and Zhang Qiling restart their adventure after receiving an unusual text from Wu Sansheng. Wu Xie, Pang Zi and Zhang Qiling have hung up their hats to end a ten-year promise. After trading their adventures for a normal life, a text from Wu Sansheng drives them to embark on a mysterious journey for the sake of family and friendship.

Genres: adventure, mystery, horror, fantasy

Tags: survival, teamwork, tomb raiding, bromance, treasure hunting, slight comedy

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=649NPvrwoLY

seems super long but was actually aired in two seasons

tbh I would’ve listed horror as one of those genres

because especially in the first half of the show I was watching most of it from behind my hands

there are a whole bunch of series and movies before this one, it’s part of a super big franchise (probably one of the biggest franchises) in china called 盗墓笔记 (the grave robber chronicles, or the lost tomb)

but you don’t have to watch the previous shows to know what’s going on because this one pretty much starts from a new arc, give or take a few casual references thrown into the conversation referring to their past adventures (which are also shown in the opening if you know what to look out for)

xhu yilong here is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from xhu yilong in guardian. there he was invincible ass kicking alien. here he is sick dying old uncle who needs to be protected but still pretty damn smart.

Miss Su Wen Li, a beautiful and witty socialite, forms an unlikely detective duo with the righteous and serious inspector Luo Qiuheng. Despite their many differences, the pair share an undeniable chemistry and - of course - go on to solve many cases together in and around Shanghai, all while Su Wen Li chases clues behind her sister's disappearance, which happened ten years ago, yet is forever a thorn in her heart.

Genres: historical, mystery, romance

Tags: Chinese Republican Era, investigation, detective fiction, historical fiction, slight comedy

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucsbbo5-P5o

another detective show set in the early 20th century! (I have A Type)

su wenli is absolutely incredible and sassy and the rare female detective

Chen Si is a righteous detective who got partnered up with Yuan Bu Jie, a dream reader with unrivalled interpreting skills as well as a dark past. They work together to find the truth behind a series of serial murders.

Genres: thriller, historical, mystery, supernatural

Tags: Chinese Republican Era, suspense, murder, detective fiction, historical fiction, special power

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHJ9tsxXITk

I really found this quite good and I was (am??) quite bummed that not a lot of people have picked it up ahaha

maybe it’s because it hasn’t really been subbed though?? at least when I was watching it. I’m not sure if it’s still not subbed in english

A story that follows two men who are polar opposites, one kills, while the other heals. One is a violent cop and the other is a compassionate doctor. Together they support and redeem each other during troubled times. Jiang Yue Lou heads the Jingcheng Police Station and appears neither good nor evil. Yet smugglers tremble at the thought of him. While investigating an opium case in Hong Kong, Yue Lou encounters Yu Zhi who learns that Yue Lou suffers from bipolar disorder. Although initially reluctant to undergo treatment, Yue Lou eventually opens up to Yu Zhi. Despite their differing values they slowly become close friends. At this time, the secrets from the past start to bubble to the surface.

Genres: thriller, historical, mystery, crime

Tags: bromance, strop friendship, censored romance, Chinese Republican Era, bipolar disorder, drugs, investigation

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fafu0-GU7Ko

the chinese name for this show is super poetic

another one for the heart eyes between the two main male leads

Young girl Chu Chu came from a family of coroners. She meets Prince Xiao Jin Yu, a dignified prince in charge of criminal lawsuit who appeared weak and sickly. Prince Xiao lacks reliable manpower to investigate case, while Chu Chu lacks people to step up, take charge and be a man. Together, they manage to unravel a shocking case that has dragged on for 18 years. After solving the case, she won the Emperor's approval and is finally certified as the Imperial Coroner, fulfilling her life goal.

Genres: historical, mystery, romance, medical

Tags: forensic medical examiner, investigation, slow burn romance, Tang Dynasty, coroner, palace politics

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otdEkk6ntdw

has romance as well as bromance

a good balance of forensics / crime-solving and palace politics shenanigans!

here’s a really well summarised infographic by @/dramavixen

You Yi is a young, innocent, and kind-hearted socialite and a successful author, living with everyone's adoration and envy. Her perfect life is turned upside-down when she discovers a betrayal by the two most trusted people in her life. With no one left to turn to, she finds refuge in the friendship and support of Yan Wei, a young photographer with a cold personality. Unbeknownst to all, Yan Wei has a deadly secret identity.

Genres: thriller, historical, mystery, drama

Tags: censored adaptation of same-sex original work, Chinese Republican Era, female centred plot, opposites attract, sismance, murder, revenge, extramarital affair, infidelity

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPDjkXC6io

a really quick watch, one of the rare wlw cdramas around

republican era aesthetics!!!

plan to watch

The story follows the amnesiac detective Jian Buzhi who starts on a quest to finding the truth and unmasking his father's killer. Along the way, he finds a love interest and a good friend who work hand in hand with him to solve mysterious cases.

Genres: historical, mystery, romance, wuxia

Tags: murder, amnesia, bromance, sword-fight, hidden identity, strong friendship, swordsman, death

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3J7CML_u50

Wu Xie and Wang Pan Zi are trying to find out what really happened during The Mystic Nine's trip to Parcel Island while also curious about his uncle’s past. Weighing heavily on his heart though, is the disappearance of his friend Zhang Qi Ling/"Xiao Ge". Wu Xie finds himself mixed up in the same elaborate conspiracy he has been trying to solve but with what looked like dire consequences. Undaunted, he forged ahead with clues he'd uncovered from place to place, finally reuniting with Xiao Ge, joining another group of explorers led by Wu Xie's old acquaintance Ah Ning along with his friends Wang Pan Zi and Pan Zi. They were also later joined by Xie Yu Chen and Hie Yan Jing, along with Wu Xie's uncle. During this trip, Wu Xie was dealt a devastating blow while Xiao Ge lost his memory again. After briefly returning home, Wu Xie and Wang Pan Zi decided to try and find out more about Xiao Ge's past to help him regain the memories he lost. That trip led them on another adventure and they found themselves backtracking to their previous expedition and the evil force trying to cover up some dark secrets. Thanks to an ancient Lei family blueprint, Wu Xie became acquainted with Madam Huo of the Jiumen Sect. At her insistence, the group embarked on a tomb raid of the real Zhang Manor which the Jiumen Sect had attempted many years ago in a final attempt to search for the truth. At the last possible moment, a puzzle is incorrectly solved leaving the entering group including Xiao Ge to disappear into the unknown, with the mystery unsolved and Wu Xie devastated. All hope is not lost though, as Xie Yu Chen makes a suggestion to Wu Xie that he simply cannot refuse.

Genres: action, adventure, thriller, mystery

Tags: tomb raiding, bromance, survival, teamwork, strong friendship, slight comedy, horror

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4H5tWUKJiU

A story that follows an aerospace engineer Yu Tu and the shining star Qiao Jing Jing. A decision is made to start gaming in order to save her endorsement deal brings her face to face with an old crush. As they grow closer, the two forge ahead to become each other's glory. Being a well-known celebrity, Qiao Jing Jing has to keep up with appearances in order to maintain her multi-faceted image. Alas, one starts to crack when someone leaks a video of her playing an online game and being terrible at it which is completely inconsistent with the image she has created for herself as the game's ambassador. Thus, she joins a gaming competition to prove her skills and to prevent herself from losing her endorsements. Qiao Jing Jing decides to use all of her free time towards improving her game and her decision leads her to reconnect with her old high school classmate, Yu Tu, whom she once had a crush on. He was a legend at their school, outstanding in everything that he does, while Qiao Jing Jing was just your average girl. Yu Tu went on to become an aerospace engineer who is also an expert gamer. It seems that the online game brought them together once more so she asks him to become her gaming coach.

Genres: comedy, romance, life, youth

Tags: time skip, first love returns, steamy kiss, friends to lovers, aerospace engineer, dream

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23PlXDnakJM

Xu Xiao is the King of China’s Northern Liang in an era of great upheaval. Steppe kingdoms have materialised with deadly intent, as rebellious uprisings threatened to destabilise the Southern realm. Against all odds, Xu Xiao managed to defeat them all. During this period, his unconventional, free-spirited heir, Xu Feng Nian been on the road, honing his equestrian skills and bolstering his fighting prowess. On his journey, he encounters the double sword-wielding martial artist Nan Gong Pu She, who’s soon to become his confidante. In the court of Northern Liang is Jiang Ni, a twelve-year-old girl who is actually a princess from a rival kingdom, with a mind for revenge. As Xu Feng Nian ascends the throne, concerns arise fearing him incapable of following in his father’s footsteps. Xu Feng Nian, despite having mounted a decisive campaign, encounters a crisis while en route to a neighbouring province. Its outcome could very well determine the entire realm's future.

Genres: historical, wuxia, drama, fantasy

Tags: sword-fight, martial arts, master-servant relationship, scheme, slight romance, father-son relationship

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tO6MsdVphM

When Li Shi Qing awoke that fateful morning, she had no idea her life was about to change forever. Going about her day as usual, Shi Qing boarded the bus without ever giving her actions a second thought. But when the bus she was on was involved in a horrendous accident, Shi Qing had only seconds to realise that her life was about to end. Or was it? Waking up that very same morning, going through the exact same motions, boarding the same bus, and dying in the same accident, over and over again, Shi Qing soon realises that she has become trapped in a never-ending time loop. Desperate to find a way to escape not only the loop but her tragic fate, Shi Qing inadvertently drags fellow bus passenger, Xiao He Yun, into the loop with her. Together they try to find a way to alter their fate, by ensuring the bus arrives safely at its destination but attempting to do so proves anything but easy.

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi

Tags: time loop, explosion, investigation, suspense, slight romance, student, game designer, time travel, web series

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot4OfjUF_Zo

The young painter Shen Yi resigned from the Academy of Fine Arts and entered Haicheng Public Security Bureau mysteriously. Interpol Captain Du Cheng was furious and said that he would never accept those who caused his comrade to be killed in the police force. Five years ago, Shen Yi, who was still a student, was sketching on the street. A man took a picture of a child and asked him to draw what the child would look like as an adult. However, this painting caused Haicheng detective Lei Yi Fei to be exposed as an undercover agent and he was killed. And Lei Yi Fei happened to be Du Cheng's long-time friend and confidant. The strange thing is that, no matter how hard Shen Yi tried of recall for a few years, he couldn't draw the face of the man who asked him to paint the child's photo. Five years later, the guilt became heavier. In order to find out the truth, Shen Yi accepted the invitation of Director Zhang of the Public Security Bureau and became a portraitist of the Interpol Team. Under Zhang Ju’s persuasion and arrangement, Du Cheng had to accept that he became a colleague with Shen Yi, but he was still full of annoyance and despised Shen Yi’s “drawing to solve cases,” and the two became the “ticking bomb” in the team. However, in several collaborations, Shen Yi has repeatedly cracked the "dead end" of cases with his "three-year-old painting", "drawing based on audio," "micro-colour discrimination" and other stunts, which slowly started to impress Du Cheng. More importantly, the truth of Lei Yi Fei's death is still buried in Shen Yi's memory. On the way to find out the truth of Lei Yi Fei's life and death, the two people who were pursuing alone gradually untie their knots and rely on each other. In the end, "the heaven-matched partners" work together to uncover the dust-covered secrets and create a new world for each other.

Genres: thriller, mystery

Tags: murder, death, investigation, forensic sketch artist, deepfake, imposter, domestic violence, detective, elder fraud, plastic surgery

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddWLaA5DEMk

not planning to watch but still recommended!

In sixth-century China, Emperor Xiaoxuan of Southern Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law General Lin Xie, alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi. Secretly surviving the massacre is Lin Xie's son, Lin Shu, who undergoes medical treatment that changes his appearance entirely and leaves him in a weakened state, unable to perform martial arts again. Lin Shu changes his name to Mei Chang Su and later becomes the chief of the pugilist world and establishes the Jiangzuo Alliance. Twelve years later, Lin Shu returns to the capital with a secret plan after being sought after by Prince Yu and Prince Xian during their fight for the throne. He decides to covertly assist Prince Jing, the unfavoured son of the Emperor, and wisely rids the court of all scheming officials.

Genres: historical, wuxia, drama, political

Tags: power struggle, tragic past, hidden identity, scheme, childhood friends, political intrigue, revenge, bromance, sword-fight

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ5LBRJCUcg

Having finally sold her TV series script, aspiring screenwriter Chen Xiao Qian soon falls under the scrutiny of the male lead, who refuses to act out the role. Vowing to make her script successful, she starts re-writing. While napping, she is transported into her own story, becoming the Third Princess Chen Qian Qian, a side character. Armed with the knowledge of her own script in which her character is soon to be killed in the third episode by Prince Han Shuo, the male lead, Xiao Qian is determined to stay alive and find her way back home.

Genres: historical, comedy, romance, fantasy

Tags: transmigration, screenwriter, parody, bickering couple, writer, love/ hate relationship, gender politics

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5kTims-cmU

A thousand years since the battle between the demons and heavens took place, the souls of the Star of Mosha and the God of War are sent to the mortal realm to serve penance. In the mortal realm, Chu Xuan Ji, daughter of the Shaoyang Sect Leader, is deprived of her six senses. At a tournament, she meets Yu Si Feng, a skilled disciple of Lize Palace who was born on the same day as her, and the two develop a friendship. Promising to meet again, Si Feng returns to his sect where he is punished for breaking the rules and forced to wear a mask that could potentially harm his life, while Xuan Ji leaves her home to train in martial arts. Four years later, their destinies intertwine anew. While traveling together, recovered memories from their past lives surface, revealing secrets and conspiracies involving themselves and the three realms; demon, heavenly, and mortal. These revelations have a profound impact on their relationship, creating an imbalance in all three realms.

Genres: historical, romance, wuxia, fantasy

Tags: reincarnation, deity, female warrior, hidden identity, xianxia, fated love

Trailer (no EN subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkS_XhQNBYQ

On a hunt for treasure and extra cash, sixth year primary school student Shi Guang discovered an old Go board in his grandfather’s house. Upon touching the Go board, he was possessed by the spirit of a Go master from the Southern Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Song, named Chu Ying, that resides within. Chu Ying dedicated his life to Go. And under his influence, Shi Guang gradually developed a passion for the game.

Genres: comedy, drama, sports, supernatural

Tags: bromance, competition, strong friendship, character development, go game, rivalry, friendship, spirit, life lesson

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m2bSej0HxQ

The year is 626 C.E, and the realm and its political center Chang’an, are shaken to its core by the Xuanwu Gate Incident, a successful palace coup to take charge of the Tang Dynasty. A scheming prince leads the bloody coup and kills the family of Li Chang Ge during the raid, although she manages to escape. Now the prince has placed himself on the Imperial throne, and rules as Emperor Tai Zong. Li Chang Ge has her mind firmly set on revenge – and musters a powerful army intent on overthrowing the new Emperor. But her plans are thrown into disarray when she suffers an unexpected defeat against the armies of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. The victorious General, Ashile Sun, decides to keep her in his service, making her his military strategist as he looks to pursue his own military goals. The duo forms a formidable military partnership. And over time, she finds herself falling for her captor – as he also starts developing feelings for her.

Genres: action, historical, romance, war

Tags: friends to lovers, character development, Tang Dynasty, betrayal, hidden identity, slow burn romance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ2xNMT7d7Q

As the only true immortal who possesses pure essence energy, Shang Gu has spent countless lifetimes acting as the head of the four true immortals of the ancient world. The four most powerful beings in existence, these true immortals have become gods in the eyes of the mortals who constantly beseech them for help. When commoners encounter difficulties, they will pray to the Gods, but what if Gods meet obstacles? It tells the deep love and hardship between two of the four true Gods, Bai Jue and Shang Gu.

Genres: historical, romance, wuxia, fantasy

Tags: xianxia, reincarnation, bromance, action, demon

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4m_IYU7ENI

#*recs #*replies #cdrama #long post

[yurimother]

Did Anime ‘Ex-Arm’ Censor a Same-Sex Kiss, or is it Just Completely Incompetent?

Visual Flights’ television anime adaptation of Shinya Komi’s Ex-Arm has been making waves in the industry recently with bold choices like putting a poorly animated 3D CGI character next to a 2D character and hoping no-one would notice and assembling a main staff unbridled by burdens such as any experience working on anime at all. Yoshikatsu Kimura directs his magnum opus, and its groundbreaking avant-garde approach has earned the attention and scrutiny of the anime community, as they struggle to comprehend the sheer stupendousness of it all.

Questions were raised about the series recently when a kiss scene between two female characters appeared to be censored, with a bright flare of light appearing on the screen during the frames of the kiss. (Shown: a screenshot of the kiss from the anime, and a panel of the same scene from the manga).

Calls went out on Twitter for Crunchyroll, which streams the anime as a Crunchyroll Original series, to respond to the perceived censorship. However, another possibility was offered by many of the show’s “fans.”

Some proposed that the light was not intended to censor a same-sex kiss, but to disguise problems with the animation itself. Many have noted that the 3D characters in the series do not have animated faces beyond opening and closing of their jaws in a ventriloquist’s dummy-like fashion. Indeed, it may not have been an intentional elimination of LGBTQ content, but an attempt to hide distorted or nonexistent animations created by a staff so woefully unprepared and poorly managed that they were unable to deliver the scene properly.

Callum May of the Canipa Effect explains “The extend of facial animation in EX-ARM is a single bone through the jaw that they waggle up and down... It’s not just that they had to cover up the lack of animation. Their noses are probably clipping right into each other.”

Follow the Canipa Effect @CanipaShow on Twitter.

Crunchryoll has not yet publicly responded to the accusations of censorship or the quality of the show’s animation. What do you think? An attempt to shield the eyes of impressionable viewers from disturbing content (to be clear the kiss, not the animation) or was it a lazy attempt to hide the complete incomitance of the show and much of its leadership?

#Yuri #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+ #queer #gay #ex-arm #anime #editorial #opinion #crunchyroll #animation #censorship #news

[save-the-data]

The Untamed | S01E13

Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes

Episodes | Viki | YouTube | Netflix | WeTV | Tencent | Prime | Catalogue

#Drama: The Untamed #CDrama #Wuxia #Mystery #Partners in Crime #Fantasy #Censored Romance #陈情令 #The Founder of Diabolism #The Untamed #Censored Adaptation of Same-sex Original Work #Xiao Zhan #Wang Yi Bo #Wang Zhuo Cheng #Liu Hai Kuan #Zhu Zan Jin #Yu Bin #Wang Hao Xuan #Chinese Drama - 2019 #Drama: 2019 #MDZS #CQL

[absolutebl]

Hello and good day to you! This is my first ask (mostly because I've only now gathered the courage for it). I'm keeping it simple: what do you think of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's works and their adaptations? (Maybe this is smth you've already answered before, but I'm really to interested to hear your thoughts on this!and I wouldn't presume to have read all your posts...)

Hello hello!

I'm delighted you worked up the courage but I am afraid I haven't read any of them. I'm not well versed in Chinese cultivation source materials.

For those reading this:

“Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (墨香铜臭, Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù) is the pseudonym of the author of the novel Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi). Her three danmei (耽美, Dānměi) web novels were originally published online at the Chinese web novel site JJWXC, where they became extremely popular.” source 

Best known in BL circles as the author behind The Untamed. 

I come out of reading the Japanese yaoi printed manga traditions for the late 90s and early 2000s, then I kinda lost fandom for a long while (LIFE STUFF) so I missed everything to do with the west’s rising engagement with Cdramas and also cultivation, danmei, and wuxia. 

To be frank, while I originally come from SFF fandom, I’m not a big consumer of epic fantasy and never really have been (it often gets too dark for me). Also for me, too much world building and magical systems and stuff. Just doesn’t really interest me since I left high school (and the Lord of the Rings movies, of course).

I know there are QUITE a few here who discovered BL because of The Untamed but I actually didn’t know about Mo Xiang Tong Xiu or Priest or any of their oeuvre until Untamed started cluttering up my Tumblr feed in mid 2019 or thereabouts, which prior to that had exclusively been Thai BL. 

I waited Untamed out in disgusted obstinacy (knowing it was censored) and then watched the BL cut (after watching the ending) but I do NOT have the patience to watch the whole thing for THAT ending. (grumble) 

I did watch Word Of Honor while it was airing and I’m still a little sad about it. I mean I LOVED it but also, sigh... so many deaths. I know not the same author but I bucket them into the same category. 

I have actually saved a link to Untamed/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation in translation (because actual gay sex scenes!) but haven’t read it, and I’m not sure I ever will. 

Which is a long way of saying, not really my corner of fandom. Sorry I can’t be of greater use. 

#Mo Xiang Tong Xiu #priest author #Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation #Cdramas #cultivation narrative #cultivation #danmei #wuxia #the Untamed #Word Of Honor #chinese bl #but is it?

[menarddg3]

THE SHANGHAI GESTURE: A PLAY WRITTEN BY JOHN COLTON - F. Orion Pozo reviews Johnny Colton's play, titled "The Shanghai Gesture." Pozo writes "Still relevant almost 100 years after it was written ..."

Pozo reviews Colton's play and published it through Amazon.com in the United States on March 4, 2012:

I became interested in this play after watching the 1941 movie of the same name that was adapted from it.

To get the movie past the Hollywood censors many changes had to be made to the story and I wanted to see what the original 1918 play was about. Fortunately my local university library has a copy.

Here are some excerpts from a March 16, 2009 OffBroadway.com review of a recent production of this play.

"Written in 1918 and last produced in New York on Broadway in l926 The Shanghai Gesture is a 100-year-old historic American play that has always been controversial for its bold confrontation of still-relevant issues."

"The Shanghai Gesture confronts issues of women's rights, the sex trade, child abuse/slavery, and what happens when one country imposes its culture upon another."

"It takes place in China in the roaring twenties when Shanghai was a truly cosmopolitan city filled with Russian refugees, its people exploited by opium traders and adventurers from all over Europe and Great Britain, and visited by American entrepreneurs.

Mother Goddam is a Manchu princess shamed and discarded by an aristocratic English merchant and sold into sex slavery who can never return to her home. A survivor, she has risen to great power and reputation within a complex society where she runs an elegant brothel frequented by governors, mandarins, and princes who chose amongst women who are beautiful and tastefully dressed. Tonight there is great excitement, for she is having a dinner party - and society folk, the British and other European aristocrats and their wives are coming to dinner.

What transpires during the dinner is hypnotic, humorous, erotic, terrifying, shocking, surprising, sad, and utterly fascinating. Many secrets - those of each guest - are revealed, and the ultimate secrets - those of Sir Guy Charteris - literally change lives. Even Mother Goddam must face an unanticipated revelation of a secret of her own.

Unlike Madame Butterfly, Mother Goddam chooses not to view herself as a victim. Instead she outwits and punishes her male oppressors. This single fact made this play (produced so soon after women had gotten the vote) a great favorite with female audiences as well and it was taken up as a popular feminist tract.

It played the Martin Beck (now the Hirschfeld) for an extraordinary 210 performances and then moved to the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers) where it continued to play for many months more."

There is not a lot to add to a review like that. In the book's introduction, John D. Williams talks about the significance of the title. The verb "shanghai" as in "to be shanghaied" originally meant to kidnap or force someone to work on a ship by drugging them. It is not much used these days but it came to take on the more general meaning of being coerced into doing something against your will.

From this comes the gesture that some know as the Shanghai Gesture. We all have seen it at one time or another. In the UK they call it "cocking a snook."

Williams describes how it is made. "Place the fingers of your right hand extended. Distend the thumb of your right hand until it touches your nose. The little finger of your right hand is stretched venomously toward the world. You say nothing but you think much, and that is that." He goes on to say: "When the world puts its heel on a derelict, when life is just a little too hard, when a man is marooned, by parents or otherwise, before he has a chance to plead, he is wont to accept his condition -- if there is no way out -- but he only accepts his fate after making the Shanghai Gesture."

It has a long history. The gesture can be seen in The Festival of Fools, a print made in 1560 by artist Pieter Bruegel (the elder). This may explain why a fool is pictured on the cover of Gary Indiana's 2009 novel The Shanghai Gesture.

@George David Maynard, A good job of work by F. Orion Pozo in reviewing John Colton's play "The Shanghai Gesture."

#linkedin

[booasaur]

Don't know much about the network behind it, not sure if it's only a webseries (don't think so) and it does say that this drama is a "censored adaptation of same-sex original work" so I think we all know what it means. It's probably gonna very ambiguous, a gay knows it's gay but it can still be passed as "just friends" for others. Btw, there are some bts videos that have some future scenes and you can kinda get the vibe of how it's gonna play out, if anyone is in doubt about watching it.

Oh, hmm. I mean, censored doesn't mean it'll remove ALL the gay, it could still be verbal, but I see, this does recalibrate my expectations. Thanks for the information!

#replies #femslash related stuff #sent on 20210817 #Anonymous #5 #couple of mirrors #yan wei x youyi

[herrashmoo]

secondly, im not a tumblr teen. ive been on this website for god knows how long and ive been well versed in queer history. me calling them a pedophile, after a conversation with them resulted in them refusing to admit sexual imagery is not for children, them calling me a bootlicker and several other names, before getting wildly upset and blocking me, had nothing to do with their sexuality and everything to do with the fact that they couldnt tell me sexual imagery is not a thing for minors to consume period end of story. this is AFTER the fact i had been a bit more educated about pride and had ALREADY agreed where i went wrong. now about the sanitization of pride- thats wrong as well. dont get me wrong. but you cant seriously look me in the face and tell me that sexual imagery is not for minors. like- just that statement alone, right? so how is this such a controversy?

ugh okay I guess I’m gonna write A Thing. I’ll get into a proper response to your final questions but first, let’s do some context work.

first thing to make clear is that I know Jux irl, and I also want to make it pretty clear that they and I have pretty similar opinions here, I’m just slightly more likely to put my anger aside to reply to stuff. Do not get it twisted, rhetoric like the kind you were/are using is like, a big red flag for me, it’s the kind of shit reactionaries have been using for eons and like, were I in a less chill mood, I would’ve also likely written you off as a bootlicker troll. Their response was pretty aggressive but not completely misplaced, so I just want to make it clear that like, as another queer dude who is tired of seeing this shit every fucking May for the better part of a decade, I’m also exhausted and pissed off.

As for my claim of teenagerdom, I apologize if that offended, but you have to understand that, generally speaking, the loudest groups having this conversation on the regular are (1) right-wing reactionaries, TERFs, and their ilk trying to stir shit up (see: Operation Pridefall) and (2) young people who don’t have any context for Pride, often haven’t been, and only really have queer politic and history from tumblr and twitter threads featuring reactionary revisionism from the first group. When I see people engage in this conversation, I generally assume they’re in the latter group, as it helps me try to frame my responses in the best faith I can given how tired I am of this shit.

But that aside, sure. Kink isn’t for children. But provided there’s a parent accompanying this hypothetical child at Pride, their job is to explain and provide context for the things they can, and give a solid “you’ll learn more when you’re older” for the things they can’t. The Village People are all each in different kink gear, and as a kid I was told “they like to dress up, and there’s some costumes specifically for adults,” and I was good. I saw bare titties at festivals, smelled weed at concerts, saw bulge at the beach — these are normal human things that happen in the world, and having a responsible adult nearby to explain or provide context for them made them non-issues for me. I don’t think a kid seeing a pup hood is thinking anything more than “oh cool, that dude is dressed up as a dog.” Kids understand fantasy and make-believe. And especially as they age into their teenage years, withholding or sheltering them from knowledge about sex and sexuality can do real damage — hell, we’ve been having that conversation for over a century at least.

(Spring’s Awakening was first published in 1891 and was deeply censored in productions for the better part of a century, due to the content of the work, which is about how sheltering young teens (both straight and queer) from sexual content (and also mental health resources) leads them to try to figure shit out on their own and make catastrophic decisions that they don’t understand the consequences of until it’s too late. Great play, pretty great musical adaptation, wild that we keep rehashing its points like clockwork over a century after publication.)

But I am also of the opinion that Pride isn’t for children, as, while two decades of assimilationist politic would desperately try to argue otherwise, I am queer because I am sexually attracted to, and have sex with, other men. Pride is a response to the criminalization of queer sex acts, and so it is, in turn, a celebration of queer sex acts. So if someone wants to walk around in chaps and a jock, great! If someone wants to wear their pup gear or a harness or a rope tie or a vest, fuck yeah! It’s a space specially carved out for celebrating the queer experience — the original Pride flag (before it was simplified to make it easier to mass produce for profit, which, again, love seeing our culture made into product) had a pink stripe at the very top, specifically representing sexuality. It is, ostensibly, the thing that defines our community (at least the L G and B parts of it) as an outgroup against the mainstream society.

I think that, if you are uncomfortable with kink displays, or you’re uncomfortable with children seeing kink displays, then Pride is not for you or your children! Don’t go! There’s kid-friendly and sanitized versions of Pride in most major cities, do some research into your local/state Stonewall organizations and you can find more about them. But I’m already sick of having actual cops at Pride, I don’t need people who are uncomfortable with displays of sexuality also policing myself or any other queer person in a space they have spent decades carving out for themselves.

A final note — if you don’t understand why a queer person would blow up and completely write off your bullshit after calling them a pedophile, I urge you to do more reading, more listening. I know that in this brave new world of same-sex marriage equality and PrEP access that it’s hard to remember the collective trauma that the community has experienced, but this shit is inflammatory, you’re straight up spewing fightin’ words. The dude wearing a leather harness at Pride isn’t trying to corrupt any youth or fuck any kids, they’re just trying to live their shit, and I’m sorry that you and so many others have somehow decided that that’s an attack on a demographic of people who aren’t the audience for a celebration of sexuality. We’re not fucking pedophiles, and this “think about the kids” nonsense is some Reagan-era bullshit.

#the discourse