#Korena BL

[absolutebl]

Unintentional Love Story

How to get it? 

For many of us, even if you HAVE iQIYI it’s not coming up in searches or inside  the app.

Here’s how I’m getting it: 

sign into iQIYI on a laptop or desktop browser 

same browser, Google Search 

Individual Circumstances iQIYI Episode [+ # hunting for] 

click to open it (iQIYI will still say the ep is not available but will start playing it automatically) 

Repeat for the 2nd ep

That said, now that I’ve shared the workaround who knows how long until before they close the loophole. It’s airing on Thursdays, I tend to get it on Fridays. 

*makes note to gank first 4 eps* 

#asked and answered in a post #because that way I can direct people at this post #Unintentional Love Story #korena bl

[absolutebl]

For you, because they were an absolute mood

this version of the meme is:

'right in front of my soju?'

- for when anything offensively heterosexual is going on

peace and love and stuff!

OMG YES.

Best moment ever.

And ABSOLUTELY...

gay disgust over PDAing hets =

right in front of my soju?

make it so interweds

#right in front of my soju #all the liquors #korena bl #gay drama #gay meme

[absolutebl]

If THAT Studio Remade Semantic Error

Ready?  

COPY A BANGKOK 

Cheewin would direct. Nothing would make sense, it’d be subdivided into some very strange installments. Poppy would show up. The sex scenes would all be super hot. 

Star Hunter Studio 

They’d pick the WORST anchor pair, then they’d add two more side BL couples with better chemistry but completely incomprehensible story arcs. (I’d do a trash watch.) 

Studio Wabi Sabi

New would direct and go off script. Yacht and Sammy would play JaeYoung’s besties. BounPrem would do a decent job but it would somehow be a little too bland and lackluster. 

MAME 

Ja’s JaeYoung character would rape SangWoo (both drunk of course), there would be a particularly contrived parting in ep 11, and at least 3 additional BL pairs added in, one of which was even more sus than the leads. All female characters would be removed and replaced with predatory bisexual men. (I’d do a trash watch.) 

GMMTV

They’d do an okay job but Mix would be a little too tsundere, Earth would be a little too serious, and GMMTV would draw the whole thing out over 12 eps and tease us with a GL side pair that never goes anywhere. 

O2

Bah Vinh stars as JaeYoung, opposite some random cutie. It is oddly all set at home instead of school, and the plot makes NO SENSE. But there is a shared bath, great kisses, and some lap sitting. 

Taiwan’s HIStory peeps 

There’d be full on sexitimes, more kisses, and an extremely problematic side couple. JaeYoung and SangWoo end up married, running their own small business, and adopting a kid by the end. 

(source)

#i'm just farting around #no oen is remaking semantic error #HIStory franchinse #taiwanese BL #Bah Vinh #vietnamese bl #O2 studios #GMMTV #semantic error #korena bl #Studio Wabi Sabi #BounPrem #Star Hunter Studio #Cheewin Thanamin #COPY A BANGKOK #thai bl

[absolutebl]

Hii

Thank you so much for your lists, meta, spreadsheets and so on. I found BL relatively recently but as a queer person who used to watch any queer movie I could get my hands on, it has been amazing. And your blog has helped me to understand BL, tropes, filming techniques/styles, media analysis, recommendations and so forth. Thank you so much for your hard work.

I wanted to ask, I have a friend a recently met that is queer and thought he (is from the US) might like BL. I was thinking in recommending him The new employee or Bad buddy, but wanted to ask you what would you recommend a queer person to first start in BL.

Also, I love Moon Ji Yong and Khaotung's in-love eyes. They're superb. I was wondering if you have a top of your fav in-love eyes of BL.

Again, thank you so much, sending good vibes ✨

Thank you for the compliments! So glad to be helpful!

My favorite love eyes?

Currently? Gongchan - Unintentional Love Story:

what would you recommend a queer person to first start in BL?

I thought I had a post about this but now I can't find it so I'm going to cobble one together for you.

I did do come intro level BL question here, but none of them speak specifically to a queer viewer.

#asked and answered #currently my favorite boy #Gongchan #korena bl #korean bl #thai bl

[absolutebl]

I just watched Love Class 2 and I have a couple of questions…

1. why did two of the couples have really good kisses (and even a sex scene) but one couple had dead fish kisses? Is one of them an idol or something?

2. Did you notice the boom mic appear on screen many times?! What we’re they thinking? Korea usually has really good production values!

Yes

The idol in question is J-min of BAE173 (rapper, he's actually quite good).

2. Right? Usually they're more careful.

Their production values are slipping on some of these rapid releases, quality is going down as they attempt to flood the market. I'm not sure it's enough yet to call them KBL pulps, but I begin to wonder. They can try to take on BL Japan but they should even try with Thailand.

I wish KBL would pull back a bit and focus on what they do best... production and clean simple story telling.

I think Love Class 2 made a big mistake in taking on 3 couples. And I say this even though I liked the couple that probubly should have been cut (the hyungs) best.

#asked and answered #korena bl #love class 2

[absolutebl]

Hello ABL,

With the influx of new KBLs, would you be updating your 'Kpop idols in BL' list soon?

Do you think the likelihood of idols doing Bala increased or is this just the reaction wave after Semantic Error?

I think that more and more 2nd and 3rd gens will be willing to do a BL after their contracts are up. Especially those that don't solely rely on clout in the Korean market.

It's up to date!

Current final entry is Happy Merry Ending (which just started) generally if you follow the "source" click at the bottom of any of my posts it will take you to the most updated version of the post because... tumblr, it's all about the work arounds.

I don't put the idol on the list until their show is actually airing, so while we have new ones announced they don't count IMhO until they actually happen.

As to your question... I think the likelihood has increased, still the bigger better known idols will want to go for "real" film work, but others will see it as a valuable entry. There def are a few houses that are sticking with pro actors though, which I like. I think the pros turn in better shows over all (Our Dating Sim, To My Star, etc...)

#asked and answered #kpop and bl #kpop idols do bl #korena bl #korean bl #kbl

[absolutebl]

Hi ABL,

My question is how would you quantify the success of Semantic Error, we know it was the first big hit out of KBL. So how popular do you think it got? What were it's achievements and how do you think it'll affect KBLs moving on? Also in your opinion do you think Park Jaechan will do bl again? Even a season 2 of Semantic Error when his costar leaves military service? We know that Semantic Error did wonders for his group and if he tapped into that market again it would be a guaranteed hit, do you think he'll take that chance?

❤️ Mimi

Semantic Error Numbers

I don't have access to those numbers but we all watched how long it sat at the top of the Viki standings, how many reviews it got (both on viki and MDL), that the algos started rolling it out to non-BL watchers, how much chatter it got on social media, how many awards, how many interviews and promos the actors received beyond the norm for KBL. So the numbers had to have been spectacular. I would guess at lease double the nearest other popular KBL. Even the movie went right back up in the standings after release. The book got read more and garnered more reviews off the back of its success as well. My various Kpop news hounds mentioned it (they never talked about any other KBLs with idols). It left the BL world and went a little bit mainstream, and that's a key component to true success.

More BL from the Parks?

I think it's unlikely Jeachan will do BL again unless it's a second season of Semantic Error (or much later on in his career). Frankly, he doesn't need to anymore.

Seoham is already serving so we should see him back in a year or so. Frankly I am pretty worried about what it was like for him conscripted right after huge success for playing gay. Worries me a lot.

They both said they wouldn't be unwilling to do a season 2 but that isn't the same as willing. Still it's not entirely unlikely. I think in this case it would depend on how it was for them personally after Semantic Error's success. So I hope the fans behave themselves. 

I think it's more likely Seoham will get mainstream Kdrama offers. He's ideal to transition to het work. If he wants to continue acting after his release, my guess is he's more likely to do that. But if you wanted me to name which one is more likely to do another BL, it’s actually him, not Jeachan. 

#asked and answered #semantic error #KBL #korena bl #wild speculation #kdrama industry #bl industry #industry talk

[absolutebl]

Cherry Blossoms After Winter

(apparently) honeymoon photoshoot 

I have no idea what shoot these are from, they just VERY cute 

#Cherry Blossoms After Winter #korena bl #kbl #k-bl #Ok Jin Uk #Kang Hui

[absolutebl]

are there a lot of birthday scenes in bls? i can only think of love by chance and history trapped

BIRTHDAY SCENES IN BL 

I’m actually saving up images of this. Actually there are quite a few. Let’s see what I can do off the top of my head:

Still 2gether

LBC

LBC2

Don’t Say No

TharnType (obvs, the condoms) 

H3 Trapped 

Cherry Blossoms After Winter 

Love Area

Tonhon Chonlatee (the dad’s)

Papa & Daddy (the kid’s) 

Maybes? 

You Make Me Dance 

Ingredients 

DBK’s PeteKao did their anniversary, which I thought was cute.

Okay, what did I miss? 

#bl birthdays #thia bl #taiwanese bl #korena bl #2gether #love by chance #love by chance 2 #Don’t Say No #Cherry Blossoms After Winter #history 3: trapped #TharnType #Love Area the series #Tonhon Chonlatee #Papa & Daddy

[absolutebl]

Hi absolutebl! I was watching the trailer for MAME's Love in the Air. The end looked messy but I was amused with the uke of the Love Sky couple absolutely not wanting anything to do with the seme. Now the seme has no choice but to struggle to make the other boy look his way. Do you have any BL recs for a couple dynamic like this (which I am now going to dub as "the devil works hard but the seme works harder")? Thank you always! I hope you are doing well.

HI’YA! 

Ooo, hold on I think I do. 

Devil Work Hard But Seme Works Harder is a great way of putting it! 

I mean I love a pining seme which usually means he has to work hard, but devilish pining seme? Does there need to be an element of bully as well as hounding? Like say, JaeYoung in Semantic Error, Bohn in My Engineer, or Hao Ting in HIStory 3: The BL that shall not be named?

Like, would you count Shi De from We Best Love as one of these? Or is he too much a softie? What about Sky in SCOY? 

This is like pigtail pulling, or ink dipping, the: "notice ME no mater what the cost!"

Let me know a little bit more about what dynamic you are after meanwhile I do have:

Hard semes who turn into marshmallows (Korea likes this one, see Semantic Error)

And himbo bisexuals, who go from reluctant to enthusiastic.

Both kinda qualify as side versions of this trope.

I think it’s more common in Taiwan or early Chinese BL (percentage wise) than Thai. 

People who have idea/examples for this one comment? And if it’s enough different from the other two, I’ll put together a post about it. 

(source)

#thai bl #taiwanese bl #chinese bl #korena bl #new bl trope #bl trope #bl couple dynamics #bly archetypes #bl for fun #asked and answered #semantic error #bully romance #we best love #HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count #my eningeer #secret crush on you

[absolutebl]

Hey! I have two questions to ask you if you don't mind! Sorry for pestering you with kinda stuff but you are real insightful and help me to sort out my own internal feelings on things!

Is it just me or do very, VERY few BL's ever manage to stick an engaging,solid ending?

Out of all the BL's I've watched, the only ones I can name that truly nailed the ending imo are:

- HIStory 3: Trapped (imo. I know the ambiguity isn't appealing to you.)

- Bad Buddy

- My Beautiful Man

- His (The Movie)

- Blueming (The series itself is rife with pacing issues to me, but I think it stuck the ending really good.)

- Gaya Sa Pelikula

Some can come close enough for me;

- Theory of Love (yeah, yeah, I hate Khai too but the ending was nice imo)

- ITSAY/IPYTM

- TMS1 (suffers a bit from the HDS's consistent struggle with pacing towards the latter end of all her work )

- Old Fashion Cupcake (so close!!!)

- Restart After Come Back Home

- Cherry Magic

Most BL's introduce nonsense conflicts towards the end of the series with the Epsiode 11 drama (shivers in 2gether). I can't stand it when the final conflict comes out of LITERALLY nowhere instead of having been a continued issue that is resolved towards the end (think Cherry Magic, Utsukushii Kare, Bad Buddy, etc.)

Going further, they never seem...satisfying for whatever reason and I can't pinpoint why that is. I'm not necessarily left wanting more but feel like what I was given was unsatisfactory. Think a more subtle version of the feeling of seeing Vee/Maek end up together in the En of Love version (or Khai/Third for you I guess).

I wonder looking at it now if my hatred for the seme/uke trope has spoilt so many couples for me that I find any ending where they get together as unsatisfactory (I love The Effect btw. Can you guess why lmao?). All the shows in my best list are either very low on Seme/uke dynamics or have a very soft seme archetype (Blueming) / very unique seme archetype (MBM).

God I should just get over this contempt of seme/uke fuckery. Its ruined so much for me (from WBL, to UWMA).

Know how? Also, is there any particular reason you see as for why BL's fail to stick the landing? Or am I making this up?

Second question is simple. Why do BL couples often become boring when they get together and are happy? Is it just that the chase is over? And if so, what can be done to keep such a story engaging if anything at all?

Now that I read this back, it definitely isn't two questions as much as a set of compound ones but eh, here goes nothing.

Is my unhinged ranting coherent at all?

Honestly you named a lot of ones that I dinged points specifically because I didn’t like their endings. Old Fashion Cupcake and Cherry Magic would probubly have been 10/10 for me if the characters had just kissed at the end. And I say this totally aware of Japanese cinematic traditions that dictated why they wouldn’t, I’m just grumpy. 

To answer the second question first:

Why do BL couples often become boring when they get together and are happy? Is it just that the chase is over? And if so, what can be done to keep such a story engaging if anything at all?

Yes. This is the problem every romance series contends with. This is why most romances end with the couple getting together (sex, engagement, marriage), This is why I don’t like second seasons, they usually have to separate or break up the couple to give the story tension. 

And now... your unhinged ranting!

It makes perfect sense, and I think you either 

don't really like 3 act structure (did you watch a lot of anime growing up, per chance? maybe not so much (or really dislike) Disney stuff?) or, 

more likely, you don't actually like romance.

Not the idea of romance, but the classic romance novel beats and pacing. The Taiwanese and Thai stuff in particular tends to stick to that consistently. (Hence the ep 11 crisis of doom, AKA the unnecessary break up.)

Korea has a western romance aesthetic but they often shoe-horn in 4 act structure, which is why we get that (to me) super weird disjointed thing in Kdramas where they break up the couple (or separate them with time/distance) in the last 1/3 of the final episode and the rush this odd reunion thing in the last 10 minutes. I find this maddening, but it does mean that their non-BL billed and early gay short stuff might appeal to you. 

You don't mention it but Thousand Stars is probubly the most classically paced and executed romance novel in BL form that we have ever gotten. How’d you feel about that ending. I’d also be interested in your thoughts on Seven Days (of course) as that’s Japan’s version of the perfect love story. 

I think you probubly like more experimental narratives and arthouse cinema styles. I’d encourage you to check out short form BL, especially those from Strongberry (Korea) on GaGa. Also Dark BL depending on your squick factor. 

But honestly from what you said it seems like you’re a prime candidate for the following:

Moody Arthouse Smackdoodle

Your Name Engraved Herein (Taiwan 2020 Netflix) - this movie is fantastic but it is also seriously depressing, it’s a self acceptance journey, but if you wanna wallow in high quality acting and serious gay drama, this’ll do it. It’s nto a super sad ending, it’s not happy either. 

Goodbye Mother AKA Thua Me Con D (Vietnam 2019 Netflix) - like YNEH this is a great movie but it deals openly with homophobia, bashing, family trauma and social acceptance.

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese AKA Kyuso wa Chizu no Yume wo Miru (Japan 2020) - obsession, cheating, breakup, reunion, then break up again, explicit, grey characters and grey concepts including morality. 

Pornographer movie series - AKA The Novelist, Mood Indigo, Pornographer Playback (Japan 2018-2020) emotional manipulation, cheating, obsession, seduction, May/December (age gap AKA younger/older), kink, touch of necrophilia, explicit, complicated but ultimately... not sad.  

Method (Korea 2017) - May/December, actor idol pairing, that should have been everything I wanted in life but it’s more about the actor cheating on his wife and their weird “artsy” relationship and frankly, I hated this. And I don’t say that lightly. The chemistry and acting can’t be faulted though and the story is... interesting. 

His the series AKA I Didn’t Think I Would Fall In Love (Japan 2019) - boy goes to visit his absent father ends up kinda homeless on the beach gets adopted by local family falls in love with the boy working and living with them. Lots of long drawn out glances. Wistfully pretty. 

Innocent (Taiwan 2021 GaGa) - mental health, childhood trauma, actually kinda sweet.

Does the Flower Bloom? (Japan 2018) - this is a May/December romance about an artist student and the house he inherits from his recently dead parents and all the people around him who are obsessed with him, including an older man. 

Dark Blue and Moonlight (Taiwan 2017) - maybe? You like some of my least favorites, so this might be your thing. I sure as shit wasn’t mine but also it HAD ME HOOKED even though I didn’t want that. It’s the warped version of a CEO romance. 

Also the “it’s a BL but I make no case for it” category: 

Life: Love on the Line (Japan) - you would probubly NOT like the directer’s cut (which I prefer, of course) that ending is too saccharine, so go for the original. 

Silhouette of Your Voce (Japan) You are one of the few people I think would really like this one. 

Not Me (Thailand) - you don’t mention it but I assume you’ve seen it 

Manner of Death (Thailand) - same 

3 Will be Free (Thailand) - same, if not, watch this next  

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Japan) - there is not plot, so yeah, maybe that’ll work for ya? 

Long Time No See (Korea) - SO GOOD, but edgy and twisted too 

DNA Says Love You (Taiwan) - maybe. This one is... odd and oddly paced. 

Joujou Pure Heart (Japan 2010) 

Great Men Academy (Thailand) 

Oh right and the bromance dirty half dozen:

Untamed

Word of Honor 

The Guardian 

Devil Judge 

SCI Mysteries 

All of these have ambiguous ends, and ambiguous (cough cough not gay)  relationships. 

#it's BL but I make no case for it #moody bl #cinematic bl #CHinese BL #Chinese bromances #Untamed #Word of Honor #The Guardian #Devil Judge #SCI Mysteries #Joujou Pure Heart #Japanese BL #Adapted from a manga #live action yaoi #DNA Says Love You #Taiwanese BL #Long Time No See #Korena BL #strongberry #Korean BL #K-BL #KBL #What Did You Eat Yesterday? #3 Will be Free #Thai BL #Manner of Death #Not Me the series #Silhouette of Your Voce #Life: Love on the Line #Dark Blue and Moonlight

[absolutebl]

Hi absoluteBL,

I read your Review of utsukushii kare and saw that you love it just as much as I do :D

In the beginning I thought that Hira was the Uke in this show and that he was punished by the narrative for pursuing the seme (just like Intouch in uwma).

While watching the ending of the show, it became clear that Hira totally fit the Seme type, and Kiyoi was just a big tsundere Uke. This made me wonder why I thought all this time that Hira was the Uke. And I guess one big point is, that the seme is often portrayed as the cooler and more handsome part of the couple. Because the Uke often represents the "female part" in a BL - which is dumb because there's obviously no female part in a m/m relationship but you now how the writers/producers like to push their heteronormative thinking on these shows- they aren't seen as important in the show and don't need to be as beautiful as the seme. At least that's the feeling I get from some shows.

Now to my actual questions:

How you did you see Hira. Did you know that Hira will end up being the seme? Do you have a show, where you were surprised to find out that the Uke is actually the Seme or vice versa?

Sorry for the long ask! 😅

All asks are good asks. No apologies needed!

Did you know that Hira will end up being the seme?

I did see Hira as the seme from the start, but then I am used to whipping boy (attack dog) + spoiled prince narratives. The moment Hira goes crazy and beats up the other kid because of what is done to Kiyoi, his role is confirmed. That’s because it's more common in a bodyguard context like Golden Blood or Where Your Eyes Linger. But Japan and China (in particular) and fanfic/fandom love a quiet, shy, reserved character who is only really driven into fight/rage/extreme emotion by threat to their beloved. It’s a very popular narrative framework for characterization. You’ll see this deployed with the clumsy uke getting hurt or sick. (The baby is a clumsy bunny trope.) Or the protect baby from bullies thing used in a lot of het romances. 

The fact that My Beautiful Man also makes Kiyoi possessive and protective is very clever. But also a classic spoiled prince role. 

“He’s a monster, but he’s my monster.” does also go into, “That means only I can activate him.” Especially when we have an indentured ego/identity as whipping boy often entitles. 

In other words, because Hira will never act to protect himself, only to protect Kiyoi, it is up to Kiyoi to make sure no one else but Kiyoi can take advantage of him. And Kiyoi does. 

In fact I was more surprised when people thought Hira wasn't the seme. But then spoiled princes (and brats) are one of my favorite archetypes, so I am kinda trained for this one. Japan used this one with their ninja yaoi a lot, the idea on fixed loyalty from powerful warriors. 

Do you have a show, where you were surprised to find out that the Uke is actually the Seme or vice versa?

I don't think so? Maybe, one of my trash watches? So like the show itself wasn’t clear on its narrative. Like Gen Y. 

Generally it's more I'm surprised when they go for verse/switch or no seme/uke dynamic. So at first the Taiwanese stuff used to confuse me, now I'm more surprised when they do execute a strong seme/uke since for them that's the exception rather than the rule. And I think that has to do with their preference for physically matched muscled co-stars, and their more gay/queer lens given the social structure in Taiwan.

Thailand still shocks me. Like Bad Buddy, or right now Vice Versa which I *think* is going to avoid/play with the dynamic.

I'm sure there were some out there that surprised me, maybe Japan? Mr Cinderella definitely, but that was more I didn't think Bah Vinh would allow even a hint that he might be an uke.

But these days I kinda am rolling with the different country’s styles and that guides my expectations into more predictable standards. Which is great for me, since I garner much comfort in the predictable. Just not TOOO predictable. If that makes sense.

#Utsukushii Kare #My Beautiful Man #japanese bl #japanese yaoi #adapted from a manga #live action yaoi #Bad Buddy #Vice Versa #thai bl #golden blood #where your eyes linger #korena bl #korean bl

[absolutebl]

I read that Gaga is releasing one episode of Love class a day for six days which isn’t a model of release I’ve seen before. I think this is actually quite clever as the short KBLs do work better as a binge rather than 2 a week. It keeps the momentum up, which binging and 2 a week doesn’t seem to be able to do. What are your thoughts on the different models of release in terms of viewer enjoyment?

I love this personally, I find it very enjoyable as a viewing experience, and it's not uncommon with streaming services, but I don't think it's working very well for GaGa in this instance.

It's not generating enough buzz or momentum online (so far as I can tell). 6 short eps might just be too sort.

I might have gone for “every other day” airing instead... (from a marketing perspective).

But I do think the show will be very worthy of binging... 

If they stick the landing.

#love class #love class the series #GaGaOOLaLa #korena bl #Thai BLKorean BL #kbl #k-bl

[absolutebl]

Tagged by pose4photoml

1. Are you named after anyone?

2. When was the last time you cried?

3. Do you have kids? 

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people? 

6. What’s your eye colour?

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

8. Any special talents?

9. Where were you born? 

10. What are your hobbies? 

11. Have you any pets?

12. What sports do you play/have played?  

13. How tall are you? 

14. Favorite subject in school? 

15. Dream job? 

#asked and answered #I might do all tagged quiz memes like thi shenceforth #because I am a little shit #Thai bl #korena bl industry #japanese bl #taiwanese bl

[absolutebl]

I got tagged y @liyazaki (thanks sweetheart!) 

Reveal Your Watch & Rewatch Drama List

Currently Watching BL 

La Cuisine (GaGa Sat) - LOVE IT 

My Ride (GaGa) - LOVE IT EVEN MORE 

Cutie Pie (YouTube Sat) - wasn’t into it, decided it was Thailand goes super-yaoi and now totally am all over it. Plus, thank you for the chemistry, I almost forgot was that was like. 

Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul (iQIYI Weds) - I like it more than I thought, but I’m a big cool premise person 

Cupid's Last Wish (YouTube Sun) - also like it more than I thought I would, since one of the premise I do NOT like is body swap 

Enchante (YouTube Fri) - Live blogging ep-by-ep here. I’m all over the place and now mostly disappointed. 

Love Stage!! (AISplay or grey Sat) Ep 8 - it’s very good, I want to see Thailand adapt more Japanese stuff now (can I get a redo on Silhouette of Your Voice too? While we are at it, could Taiwan do Same Difference and Korea do Given? Please & thank you. 

The Tuxedo (GaGa Sat) - might be dropping this one.

Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea Viki Fri) Ep 6 - FUCKING LOVE IT. Wasn’t wowed at first but it is SO classic yaoi and that’s so different from what Korea usual does and I happen to like the stepbrothers trope a whole lot (yes I know, not actually stepbrothers) but still! Yay! 

Blue of Winter AKA Judo Boys (Korea Weds YouTube) - Korea does a pulp, it’s not good but also, can’t stop watching 

Starting Soon BL

KinnPorsche (iQIYI Sat) - Eh, I’m kinda over it because of all the pre-production drama. Also I really don’t trust Thailand to go dark. If this were coming from Taiwan or Korea or even Japan I’d be excited. But now I’m just a little scared and going in exhausted. That said, I’ll probubly live blog it. 

My Secret Love (??? Mon) - another Thai Uni pulp so it better be good or I just got too many going right now and I’ll drop it and maybe binge it during the late summer slump. 

Miracle of the Teddy Bear (??? Sun) - i had a bit of a hunt and didn’t find it but also I’m not fussed this is NOT a premise that interests me.

Blueming (Korea IQIYI Weds or Thurs) - Korea bringing us another uni set BL? That I AM into though. We haven’t gotten many of these and they really hit it out of the parks with Semantic Error. I’m certainly watching this. 

PlusMinus (Taiwan April 15) - FINALLY a new BL from Taiwan that I am really excited to see. Childhood friends and coworkers who suddenly become more. 

Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss! AKA Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai! (April 21) Plot: Kota is perennially unlucky. Naoya (Yusuke Sato of Jpop LOL) is always lucky. They meet by chance at their university's freshman orientation. Kota's misfortune is alleviated when he's with Naoya and due to a misunderstanding, they end up dating. This seems like the college version of My Love Mix Up and I AM HERE FOR IT.  

There are more that I am excited about but I only picked ones that have announced drop dates. But GAP, Oh! My Sunshine Night, and Between Us are up there. 

Rewatching

Semantic Error 

Light On Me 

Plus the most recent episodes of Cherry Blossoms and Cutie Pie. 

#current watch list #tag you're it #thai b; #korena bl #taiwanese bl #japanese bl #Semantic Error #Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss! #Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai! #PlusMinus #Blueming #Miracle of the Teddy Bear #My Secret Love #KinnPorsche #Blue of Winter #Judo Boys #Cherry Blossoms After Winter #The Tuxedo #Love Stage!! #Enchante #Cupid's Last Wish #Dear Doctor I'm Coming for Soul #cutie pie #my ride #La Cuisine

[absolutebl]

Hi, I just wanna ask your standards when it comes to consent in BL. I see people getting upset over the kiss Sangwoo did when Jaeyoung was asleep (which is valid) but for me personally, I didn't mind. I know this has something to do with the impact our media has upon its audience and "unnormalize" toxic behaviors that are typically seen as romantic. I'm curious about your point of view in this.

Consent in BL is a Can of Worms? Pickles?

I think you can probubly grok my standards from these posts: 

WHY SO MUCH DUB CON IN BL? (I talk all about the nature of consent in BL) 

Tharntype the Disaster in a Nutsack (my first major encounter with dub con in a modern BL) 

Heat & Angst in BL + Terms Explained (includes non-con & dub-con) 

I guess you could say my standards on conditional on the source material, the source country, and the origin style. For BL: they aren’t modern, they aren’t Western, and they aren’t ones I would apply to real life. Outside pre-established protocols and limits of a D/s scene or negotiated BDSM dynamic/lifestyle. 

The Semantic Error Sleep Kiss

Sangwoo kissing Jaeyoung while asleep in Semantic Error didn’t bother me. But not for those reasons above, but because of the narrative prior to the kiss. Because Jaeyoung has made his interest perfectly clear and is obviously in the power position in the narrative. 

In other words, we know that if he knew, he’d welcome the kiss and probubly take serious advantage of it, if Sangwoo did it while he was awake. So it’s safer for Sangwoo to test his own interest levels (safer for Sangwoo physically and safer for Jaeyoung emotionally) if Sangwoo does it while Jaeyoung is asleep. Does that makes a strange kind of sense? This has to do with their power positions in the narrative, their reluctance/eagerness for a romantic relationship, not real life. 

However, I can see why it might upset people. 

I’d be more worried about hia kissing drunk Nu in Cutie Pie though. Because the power dynamic is off in the wrong direction. And that boy was VERY drunk. 

I don’t like the normalization aspect of dub-con which is why I get so excited when I see consent and communication represented in a BL. But I grew up reading old romance novels and I watch too many het k-dramas, so I’m kinda inured against both dub-con and benevolent sexism at this point. 

And that’s my character flaw as much as it is these shows.  

#korena bl #korean dramas #korean bl #k-bl #k bl #semantic error #tharntype #cutie pie the series