#bl world has its issues for sure

[williamrikers]

On the subject of consent in recent BLs

In this analysis, I will take a look at several love scenes in recent Thai BLs, how they frame consent and the sexual agency of the characters, and why those matter.

(KinnPorsche deserves its own post: I��m sure people have already written in detail about how much emphasis is placed on issues of consent/non-consent throughout the show and how fundamental consent is to the relationship arcs of both KinnPorsche and VegasPete, and I won’t belabor the point here. Also, special shout-out to The Warp Effect for what it brought to the conversation about gay sex, but TWE isn’t technically a BL so I decided not to include it in this analysis.)

I am going to take a closer look at the following shows in this essay: Not Me, The Eclipse, A Boss And A Babe, Step By Step, and La Pluie.

Not Me and The Eclipse predate the other shows by two years/one year respectively, but I feel it is valuable to include them here because both show very explicit negotiations of consent that I feel are spiritual successors to the wonderful scenes we’ve been getting in the other three shows.

Why am I even writing this? There used to be an unfortunate tendency in the genre to have a power imbalance between the “seme” and the “uke” character, which translated into the seme deciding when to have sex and what kind of sex to have—and even though recently, several shows have done good work in dismantling the seme/uke dynamic and questioning the associated stereotypes, it cannot be denied that the archetypes are still an important part of most BLs, and even in cases where the tropes are played with and questioned, understanding those subversions still requires a knowledge of and familiarity with the original tropes on the part of the audience.

However, gone are the days of Until We Meet Again and Dean’s “I’ve waited long enough, make sure you’re ready.” (I enjoyed UWMA a lot but that was. Yeah. Not Great.) Now, we see characters actually talking about and negotiating their limits, and doing what feels good to them.

Let’s start from the very beginning. Not Me was an absolute trailblazer in this regard, and not mentioning it here would be a gross oversight. The first time Sean and White have sex, it happens in their version of the beach episode. (Which, in Not Me, is the two characters briefly living in a tent inside an abandoned building. This show is the best.) Sean and White are removed from their usual environment and protected from the outside world by two barriers: the walls of the old house and the tent that’s literally enveloping them and giving them a space that is unequivocally theirs, shared, in which neither one of the characters has any sort of power over the other. And what happens in that space when they’re about to have sex is extremely interesting: the first thing Sean asks is whether White is afraid of him, which White denies. The following exchange goes like this: White: "So, what are we doing?" Sean: "What should I do to you?" White: "That’s up to you." (Watch the whole scene here.)

I find this exchange incredibly meaningful because this already turns the seme/uke dynamic that can be found in a lot of other shows on its head. OffGun as a branded pair can easily be stereotyped into the seme/uke dynamic just because of their physical appearances, and clearly spelling out that both characters have agency in this scene is incredibly important.

And then it gets better! Sean assumes that White is sexually inexperienced (which is not true but the fact that White was actually in a relationship with a woman back in Russia never comes up again after the pilot episode, so maybe the show expects us to assume this, too), and suggests they try different things and White can tell him what he likes and doesn’t like. Compared to the stuff we’re getting now, this scene isn’t very high heat at all, but it’s one of my favorite intimate scenes ever because them asking each other “Do you like this?” after every kiss, every touch, is so incredibly unique and transports a wonderful sense of figuring out sexual pleasure together, as a couple.

Sex in Not Me is not something one character does to another, it is something that is discovered and shared together, and we even get an afterglow scene in which they gently tease each other about their fast beating hearts. (And don’t get me started on the importance of White choosing to ask Sean whether Sean is okay with White not being like Black in that moment right before they have sex, because he doesn’t actually want to have sex with Sean as Black! He wants to discover and share intimacy with Sean as White, as himself, not as his brother! The layers!)

Anyway, I think that scene paved the way for a lot of the conversations around consent we’re now getting in BL, just because it is so explicitly, unashamedly putting forward a definition of sexuality that has nothing to do with one character actively giving and the other passively receiving, but frames intimacy as something that is built together. (More on giving and receiving later!)

Now, moving on to The Eclipse. I decided to include the first time Akk and Aye have sex for a different reason: while we don’t really see them actually talking about consent, we see them practicing non-verbal consent. Let me explain. Akk’s and Aye’s whole thing is teasing each other. At first, Aye is usually the one doing the teasing, but Akk gets the hang of it towards the end of the show and teases his boyfriend right back. When they’re in Akk’s childhood bedroom together, Aye clearly alludes to the fact that he thought they might use this opportunity to have sex for the first time, which Akk pretends not to understand, all while alluding to it himself. I love this guy. (Watch the whole scene here.) Anyway, Akk says he wants to sleep, lies down and once again, tells Aye jokingly he just wants to sleep, clearly expecting Aye to do what other BL protagonists do at that point and not take no for an answer (sidenote: I HATE the “saying no as foreplay” trope with a passion and as far as I’m concerned it should die already).

However, Aye is not like other BL love interests, and he backs off. He stops touching Akk, lies down with his back to Akk, showing Akk that he takes him by his word: if Akk says he wants to sleep, Aye is going to let him do just that. So now, it’s on Akk to say that, no, that’s not what he meant, can Aye please come back to cuddle. And then Akk is the one to escalate from cuddling to kissing, which is extremely important: we know that Aye has been ready to have sex with Akk since forever, it’s Akk who’s been having hangups about intimacy this whole time.

They don’t put consent into so many words on this show, but Aye shows Akk that he respects his limits and that Akk only has to tell him he doesn’t want to do something and Aye will take him at his word.

So, these are, to me, two foundational scenes of establishing consent: one that shows consent as something that is established verbally, as an ongoing conversation, and one that shows consent as something that is established physically, by showing your partner that you respect their choices and limits by way of simply acting accordingly.

Now, let’s get into the fun part: scenes we got so far in 2023. I’m writing this post on the 13th of June, and I’m sure this year still has some great things in store for us, especially because Step By Step and La Pluie are both ongoing and neither of the main couples are actually together yet at time of writing. However, they’ve both already given us AMAZING scenes on the topic of consent, so I feel it is worthwhile to write about those already.

I want to start off by talking about A Boss And A Babe.

Let me just preface this by saying that the intimate scenes in ABAAB are some of my all time favorites in BL ever, because in them, sex is something that is just so normal. When Gun and Cher have sex, we don’t see them very passionate, excited, reluctant or wide-eyed innocent (which are some of the emotions traditionally associated with sex in BL). On the contrary, in every single scene that shows them being intimate, both characters are incredibly calm. They’re certainly happy to be with each other, but in a subdued way. Someone described their second intimate scene as them seeming like they’ve been married for a few years. They’re both just… incredibly normal about having sex with each other. It’s simply something they like to do together. It’s a part of their romance but it’s not more or less important than any other aspects of their lives.

And consent is at the very heart of it.

When Gun and Cher have their first time, we see Gun explicitly asking for consent two times: first, “Can I kiss you?”, then, “Can I do more?” The second one even comes with the promise that if Cher says no, Gun will immediately go to sleep without mentioning it again. And then it is on Cher to say yes, to pull Gun close and kiss him to show him that he is comfortable with taking things further. (In the show, these two questions were shown apart from each other, I cut together a version of the whole First Time Scene in its entirety, watch it here.)

Now, things get more interesting: the second intimate scene shows Cher initiating the encounter (watch the whole scene here). Cher pretty consistently falls into the uke category, both physically and as far as characterization is concerned, but he’s certainly not shy in the bedroom. And this time, he’s the one who asks for consent from Gun: Gun asks “You’re starting it?” and Cher’s response is “Can I?” Despite him being framed physically lower than Gun, basically at Gun’s mercy, he still seeks confirmation that Gun is okay with the way things are going. Not to overstate it, but to me, this feels revolutionary. Once again, we’re being shown that sex is something two people do together, as a shared activity, and that the “seme” character isn’t expected to just be up for it. He, too, has the right to say no.

On this show, sexual agency is taken extremely seriously, and it is clear that both Gun and Cher give each other space to decide what they’re comfortable doing. This is shown in non-intimate scenes as well: there are so many moments on ABAAB in which the characters negotiate physical touch and closeness, asking each other for hugs before actually hugging each other, Cher leaning on Gun’s shoulder in the car but not allowing Gun to touch him because that’s not what he’s comfortable with in that moment, and so on. (The only exception to this otherwise pretty consistent rule is the kiss in the car scene, which I’m still extremely confused about because it seems to go completely against Gun’s character. Who knows what happened there.)

Of course, the fact that so much emphasis is placed on negotiation and consent isn’t surprising on a show that has such obvious kink undertones and whose Our Skyy 2 entry basically consisted entirely of Dom/sub roleplay at work—I’m just saying, I think someone on the writing team is way into BDSM and knows all about the importance of enthusiastic consent from all parties involved, and I would like to send them flowers.

Step By Step hasn’t really reached the point where we can analyse the dynamic between the main couple (although we can take some educated guesses based on the interactions we’ve seen so far). However, last week’s episode had an extremely important scene between Pat and Put: Pat wanting to have sex with Put, then changing his mind mid make-out (watch the whole scene here). I really like the way this scene was done. No matter how shitty Put treats Pat at times, in this instance, he immediately understood and respected Pat’s change of mind without Pat even saying or explaining anything—at the end of the episode, Put says to Pat that Pat should tell Put when he feels ready to have sex. (We already know this will never happen because of course, Pat and Put are not endgame, but I do appreciate the sentiment.)

BLs rarely include a whole storyline in which the protagonist is in an actual, serious romantic relationship with someone other than his endgame love interest (hi Moonlight Chicken!), or if they do then just to up the angst factor. In this case, however, I feel that this scene raises our expectations for Jeng even further: if the guy who is definitely not a romantic match for Pat treats Pat with this much respect in the bedroom, then Jeng has to do at least that and then some. I do feel confident that Jeng won’t disappoint in this regard, but it’s fascinating to see a show frame this kind of respect as the absolute baseline minimum, with the endgame love interest expected to do even better.

Now, the one you’ve all been waiting for. The one that made me write this whole essay in the first place: La Pluie.

Oh boy. Where to start.

A week ago, we got an incredible make-out scene on Saengtai’s floor, which ended in Patts stopping the encounter because he could tell Tai wasn’t really comfortable taking things further—@bengiyo talked about that scene in detail here. And then, three days ago, La Pluie gave us the most unique, trope-defying, timeline-changing blowjob scene of all time, and I want to talk about it.

Tai and Patts are making out on their bed, Tai is not ready to go “all the way” and stops Patts from undressing him. We see a very realistic frustrated reaction from Patts, who nevertheless immediately stops and accepts Tai’s wishes—it is clear that Patts does not expect things to go any further at this point, and that he won’t pressure Tai into anything.

And then, Tai offers to blow him.

(Unfortunately, this show is only on iQiyi so I can't link to it, but you can get a good impression of the scene here.)

I mentioned the concepts of giving and receiving earlier: other people have said this more eloquently than me, but there is a tendency not only in BL but also in wider society to view sex in terms of giving and receiving, with a lot of expectations and stereotypes attached to the roles during different sexual acts. On other shows, that blowjob might be framed as a consolidation or an apology, something that the giver does out of a sense of obligation without enjoying it much. Not so on La Pluie! Tai is shown incredibly happy and satisfied afterwards, both when they’re sleeping next to each other, as well as on the morning after (see also @ginnymoonbeam's post about that here). Tai offered to blow Patts because he simply wanted to, not motivated by guilt or anything of that sort. And he genuinely enjoyed it! In the post I linked above, @bengiyo points out that La Pluie consistently centers queer desire, or more specifically in this case, male desire for a male body; much in the same way that the camera fucking loves Force’s body on ABAAB: the sensuality of the skin, the hands, the abs, the flat chests, the broad backs and shoulders of these men is explicitly emphasized, and Tai’s desire for a dick in his mouth is made absolutely crystal-clear. Of course, since this is a TV show and not a porno, we only see Patts’s thumb in Tai’s mouth instead of his dick, but the imagery, the implications, are clear as day.

And it is such a gentle framing, too: Patts caresses Tai’s lip lovingly, Tai opens his mouth slowly, seductively, then faces Patts’s crotch with a soft look on his face. We do get a clear sense of this encounter as tender, and gentle, and most of all, desired. Tai’s queer desire is at the heart of this scene, and at the heart of the afterglow scene as well. He wanted this man’s dick in his mouth, openly suggested it, showed Patts he was sure about his decision after Patts asked him whether he was, and ended up clearly happy and satisfied with the sex they had. This post, also by @bengiyo, goes into more detail on that.

This, once again, shows us sex as a conversation rather than a series of predetermined acts, shows us sex as a shared activity, as something that can be wonderful and intimate and make people happy without following what society views as “the correct steps”. I think this is extremely important because one part of queer identity is figuring out one’s own relationship to sexuality, one’s own desires and needs, and BLs that ignore this aspect fall a little short in my opinion. Sure, those men are kissing, but do they experience queer desire? Do they experience joy in their queer desire?

For me personally, a show that does not shy away from these questions is a lot more meaningful than a show that does, and consent is at the heart of it all. By framing sex as a conversation, as something that is built and shared together, the shows I looked at here are actively positioning themselves against the idea that there should be predetermined roles for partners during sex, and instead suggest that queer joy can be found in communication and consent. Understanding sex and intimacy as something that is built together, with both partners as equals in conversation, is just as radically queer as a man waking up with a smile on his face after giving his soulmate a blowjob the previous night.

And quite honestly, a male character who clearly, passionately, unquestioningly communicates that he wants a dick inside of him—that is incredibly sexy. But maybe that’s just me.

#*mine #not me the series #the eclipse #the eclipse the series #a boss and a babe #step by step #step by step the series #la pluie #la pluie the series #i said ''is anyone going to write a 3k meta analysis on this topic'' then didn't wait for an answer

[universe-club]

so i started watching enchante for the first time because i enjoy the forcebook chemistry very much in only friends and im very much enjoying myself, it's such a feel good show and it's so pretty and also akk. as i'm watching i'm going through old posts and i came across one about a lot of hate that either forcebook or enchante seemed to have gotten? and im so confused bc it just seems like a normal gmmtv show? would you mind explaining what happened there?

hi there! glad you’re enjoying yourself! as i’ve always said, enchanté is warm and the world is cold, so i hope it keeps you warm as well!

dearest, i wish i could explain it to you but there’s no actual solid explanation for this issue that plagues our every move to this day.

like. one could argue enchanté has a really flawed ending, which is true, but the show got SEVERE hate throughout its entire run.

people mocked book’s french accent from the start, absurd shit tbh. and then proceeded to pick the show apart for no fucking reason.

i understand if enchanté isn’t your type of show, whatever. if you have issues with it, whatever. nobody’s obligated to like it. but the amount of hate it got? unjustified. especially when they never tried to make it a revolutionary show, like you said, it’s a FEEL GOOD SHOW but like seven people got the fucking message.

and that has TRAGICALLY affected forcebook’s reputation back then and now. people hate on them all the time for no fucking reason.

“they have no chemistry!” “they’re bad actors!” “they don’t know how to kiss!” and even more offensive takes from mfs who clearly didn’t watch enchanté at all.

2022 was a really difficult year for them. they barely got work after enchanté because of all the nonsensical backlash.

it hurt my heart to see everyone saying they were sure forcebook were done for, that they were never getting another show. like. i’ve always respected everyone’s faves?? but god forbid people respecting mine 🫠🫠🫠

admittedly, 2023 has brought forcebook a lot of good things and new fans but the stupid hate continues and it insists on tarnishing everything.

it’s like no matter what force and book do, they’re never good enough to just be allowed to exist in peace. and it gets tiring, you know?

i mean, forcebook are graceful beings. they’ve always been the kindest throughout this entire mess. they get all that hate and give it all back in love and hard work. i truly admire their strength! but i’m honestly beyond tired of reading the worst possible takes about them all the time.

my point is: no, enchanté isn’t the worst bl out there and no, forcebook haven’t killed anyone that i’m aware of. but everyone will keep on acting like they did.

have a lovely weekend! 🩷

#sorry for the rant. #anonymous #mj got mail!

[juneviews]

a ranking & summary of my thoughts on gmmtv 2024 part 1

pluto: this is my everything already. A GL??? with two of my fave actresses film & namtan??? AND a complex, interesting plot??? I'm obsessed already!!! this looks so good I'm so happy it's happening & it will become my whole personality once it airs!!!

the trainee: I genuinely believed, even with the rumors that off, gun, view, kapook & sea would be in a show together, that we wouldn't get an offgun show this year. AND I WAS WRONG!!! is this what it's like to always fucking win??? like genuinely, my ship is THAT ship, I'm so lucky & happy and I love them so much <3

peaceful property on sale: duuuude, this looks so fun??? I was already hooked when I saw new's over the top character, but a ghost haunting show with taynew, jan & mook??? absolutely incredible! this looks ridiculous & I know I'm gonna love every second of it!

my golden blood: bruh, thank goodness I was warned about jossgawin in advance or I might have had a heart attack, but honestly????? THEY ATE THAT! and mond playing the villain????? babe, that casting is incredible & perfect, I'm obsessed!!! I usually don't like supernatural stuff but I was also a teen wolf fan bruh so atp I'm gonna EAT that shit UP!!!

wandee goodday: you might not know it, but I have a super power. every time I start being a fan of someone who hasn't done bl, they do bl the following year. this year it was nonkul, and next year it's gonna be great sapol. AND I LOVE THAT FOR ME!!! this looks really good & fun, the characters are interesting and the story not too crazy or too basic. I can feel that it's gonna be good!

ploy's yearbook: a female-led show & the return of mond as a main??? BLESS!!! I love most of this cast, this looks fun as hell, I adore my gmmtv girlies... gotta watch this for sure! love seeing earth in more roles outside of his ship too!

enigma 2: I still haven't watched season one, am planning on watching it very soon, but I've heard great things so I'll be sure to catch season two as well! especially since I really liked toey jarinporn in the recent lakorn to the moon and back so I'm excited to see how she does!

my precious the series: as you know I've watched the movie in theaters, but I'm excited for it to be out as a series too, especially since there's extra scenes! seems like it might be even more lovable, and also if it's on gmmtv's youtube channel I'll finally be able to gif the iconic scenes :')

high school frenemy: this looks interesting & I like sky, but I feel like the plot doesn't make sense if it's not a love story... idk I feel like since this is adapted from a kdrama it's just gonna be a frustrating story that should be a romance but is reduced to bromance instead... I might still watch though :')

only boo: this looks kinda cute though basic. I don't know both main leads but might watch it.

we are: this has all ships I like, especially marcpawin & aouboom who deserve more spotlight, so I will be watching, but the plot seems really basic so I'm not expecting anything out of this world...

kidnap: this plot seems interesting but the cast isn't so... yeah.

summer night: I was so confused by who is supposed to be with who in the show lol, honestly I was down for dunkphuwin lmao, but this looks too messy for me :')

my love mix-up: I absolutely despise remakes even though I enjoyed kieta hatsukoi & like geminifourth, and although I'm certain this version will fix the chemistry issues of the original, I'm not gonna be watching it.

ossan's love thailand: same thing as for the previous show but even more so bc ossan's love is such a product of its time & shouldn't be remade in 2024 imo...

#axelle rants #gmmtv 2024 #pluto the series #the trainee #the trainee the series #peaceful property on sale the series #my golden blood #wandee goodday #ploy's yearbook #enigma 2 #my precious the series #high school frenemy #only boo #we are the series #kidnap the series #summer night the series #my love mix up #ossan's love thailand

[guesst]

MANHWA REC LIST PART 2

WAR OF THE PRINCESSES

i finished catching up to this like 2 minutes ago [EDIT: WROTE THAT THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAYM NOW ITS 2 DAYS AGO] and i genuinely really liked this. for a manhua its amazing!! the plot is unique and keeps you guessing, the characters are entertaining and NOT cookie cutter cutouts of isekai tropes, theres been some interesting reveals and a lot of people in the comments were hating on ml but personally i found him super fun; hes very morally grey n has definite flaws but thats what makes him a good character to read about !! not to mention the main character herself is great. i hate that my bar for good manhwa/hwa characters has gone down to 'has more than 2 personality traits' but she is leaping over it for sure

PLEASE REPENT, YOUR GRACE!

i dont read yaoi i dont read bl. i have never ever read it . however the vibes were so strong that i had to go back and check the tags because.. if you read it... you will see. its so strong. it radiates. (all that aside i really like the relationship btn the mains i think its really fun. they may not be gay (????🤨🤨🤨🤔🤔) but its still highly enjoyable i love it)

THE BABY SAINT WANTS TO DESTROY THE WORLD!

ive read 2 chapters but i just think the 'evil character reincarmates into the pinnacle of goodness' trope is the funniest thing in the world. i have no clue if its going to be a generic collect the characters take over the world type of thing but i just think its funny and its the newest one ive read.

IT SEEMS I'VE TRANSMIGRATED SOMEWHERE

i have been waiting for aomethinf like this for SO LONG hahah the main character is so diddly darn confused the entire time cus in her past life shes read too much rofan etc and now cant figure out what novel shes trandmigrated into. regular manhwa reader fr,, anyway theres a strong case for second hand embarrassment in this one, especially in the first few chapters or so, but i genuinely really like this just cus its so self aware, it keeps poking fun at all the tropes and its a nice lighthearted read. also theres a decent amount of plot despite it all and OH I ALMOST FORGOT the male lead is an absolute 10 personalitywise i genuinely love him. hes here for drama and thats it its amazing. so yea id say tropey but Well Written super fun 👍👍👍

HIDING THE ARCHDUKE'S HUMILIATING HISTORY

i think this is the first manhwa ive read where the ml pisses himself in fear the first time he meets fl (theyre both children)(hes scared of something else not fl but still). anyway its nothing particularly unique but its pretty fun! its one of those novel isekai where mc reincarnates into a little kid and the structure makes it a sandwich which has been keeping me very invested. this isnt a very good advertisment but its a good way to pass the time i think. heres a nice reaction pic

SUSU, HAN

oh my god??? just binged this whole thign in one go. first of all ots complete, second of all i guess you can say tjis is a character study in manhwa form. there isnt a particular overarching antagomist, its the characters learning to grow and face their own personal issues. but its also a slice of life, and lighthearted family drama, and comedy. its not a rofan this time lol. also the sibling relationships in susu, han are so good !! and theres so many lovely platonic relationships too. i really really enjoyed it.

THE TALE OF GOLDILUCK, THE BLACK KITTEN

WHOLESOME !!! WHOLESOME WHOLESOME WHOLESOME absolutely adorable, centres around a black cat that gets adopted by a young noble in ancient? old? korea. so so cite, read to soothe your heart

olay ive hit the image limit again. would yall like more

#manhwa #manhwa recs #recs

[kattahj]

More Asian QL reviews! Mostly Thai boys as usual, but a Japanese GL at the end!

KinnPorsche

What's it about? Kinn is the son of a mafia boss. Porsche is a bartender who happens to help him out once, and is then coerced into becoming his bodyguard.

Genre: Mafia action, possibly comedy?

Watch if you enjoy: Mafia tropes. High heat. Belligerent sexual tension that turns increasingly playful with time. Having a very hard time deciding what is or what is not meant to be funny. (I have a feeling some of the stuff I found funny wasn't meant to be.) Emotionally repressed vs emotionally oversharing teenage side couple, with love songs. Kinky dom/sub human pet sidecouple #2. Flamboyant drama queen with mental health issues who may be the most sensible of the bunch. Plot that is all over the place even when it isn't twisty (which it is quite often).

Gayer version of: your local kink club's Bugsy Malone theme night

Recommended? Hm. Yes for its influence, no for actual quality, but yes again if you just want some fun mafia hijinks without having to think or feel too much. And it never gets QUITE as bad again as the first five minutes. In some ways it's the worst of the QLs I've watched so far, but it's more entertaining and memorable than several of them. And ironically, it's one of the shows I've found myself writing fic for.

Watched on: Dailymotion

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

Laws of Attraction

What's it about? Tinn's beloved niece is hit by a car belonging to the son of senator Thatthep. Opportunistic lawyer Chan first works for Thatthep, but soon finds himself asking questions that puts him at odds with the senator. Despite their different outlooks on life, Tinn and Chan may have a common goal.

Genre: lakorn (Thai soap opera), action, drama

Watch if you enjoy: High suspense. Morally grey protagonist. Warm and righteous other protagonist. Changing your mind completely about at least one character. Having your heart broken and then laughing your ass off within a span of ten minutes. Lots of gay side characters, including a pair of badass lesbians. Best grandma currently on TV. Great emotional content. A few laughably bad action scenes and VFX.

Gayer version of: The Pelican Brief

Recommended? Yes! I watched it as it aired and could barely stand waiting for a week between episodes! Just make sure you can cope with dead child, dead dog, dead mom, and parental abuse.

Watched on: bilibili.tv, but it is also up on youtube. (It just didn't add subtitles fast enough for me.)

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wo7IKw9dWY

La Pluie

What's it about? A world in which, during the rain, certain people can hear the voice of their soulmate – and ONLY that. But is the soulmate thing really real, or just a way to explain an inexplicable phenomenon?

Genre: Romcom/drama

Watch if you enjoy: Nice people solving their problems nicely and with very little unnecessary drama. Subversion of both soulmate and BL tropes (though ultimately bending to the foregone conclusion). Loving families. Understanding exes. Sometimes a cat.

Gayer version of: I want to say TiMER (2009), but that film was a whole lot messier. This is sweet.

Recommended? Kind of? I think it's well done for what it is, but that twelve hours of low-stakes relationship drama, where every crisis is averted, was a bit long for me personally. Plus, it turns out that I don't like soulmates even when they're being turned upside down and shaken around. But if the premise seems like something up your alley, I thoroughly recommend it!

Watched on: Dailymotion

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz9HG8MGF8M

To Sir, With Love / Khun Chai

What's it about? It's the 1940s, and Thailand is at war. Mr. Song, the wealthy but elderly leader of the Five Dragons association, has two sons with two different wives. Yang is the cheeky rascal, Tian is the obedient and hardworking one. Tian, as the eldest, is set to take over business, and all would be well if not for one little secret: he is gay. If this becomes publicly known, it could ruin the reputation of the whole family.

Genre: soap opera

Watch if you enjoy: More JamFilm after Laws of Attraction, with Film in a radically different role. Brothers supporting each other. Overcoming homophobic surroundings. Rivalling soap queens who will literally walk over corpses for power – and supposedly for their sons, who want none of it. Magic murder mushrooms and other glittery potions. Obedient business heir vs. taciturn assassin gay romance. Feisty het side romance with a lady love who is so sweet and soft spoken that you underestimate what an absolute MVP she is. Acting that ranges from fantastic to terrible. (Looking at you, Nuan!) Absolutely stunning costumes.

Gayer version of: Dynasty, but also I Claudius (what with all the murder).

Recommended? Ye-es? It's more soap opera than BL, so keep that in mind. And there's a lot of Rich People Bullshit. But if you're okay with that, I do recommend it! It ate my brain for several weeks, after all. And if you liked Laws of Attraction, you absolutely MUST see at least a couple of episodes, to experience the whiplash of the difference between Film's roles in those two shows.

Watched on: YouTube

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3goS7DVeto

Gay OK Bangkok (Seasons 1 and 2)

What's it about? A bunch of friends, boyfriends, hookups and acquaintances, and how they handle their relationships and life's other issues.

Genre: slice of life

Watch if you enjoy: People who feel like actual people. Down to earth relationship drama that doesn't necessarily end well for everyone. Compassion towards the characters even if they're sometimes being dicks. Multiple PSAs about HIV prevention. A relatively short run. (Season 1 is 5x30 minutes, season 2 7x45.)

Gayer version of: Oddly enough, I want to say 90s Degrassi. (The fact that Degrassi was the first show I ever saw that handled HIV may have something to do with it.)

Recommended? Yes! Season 1 is absolutely brilliant, and only some technical issues (soundmix, lack of subtitles for written info) kept me from putting it among my absolute favourites. Season 2 has more and longer episodes but less of a red thread, which means that while all the individual scenes are still well written and well acting, the first half in particular feels a little aimless. But it comes back swinging in the last few eps, and I have also seen viewers who preferred season 2 over season 1!

Watched on: YouTube

Trailer (sorry about the double subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3CJ9PiSSR0

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna / She loves to cook, she loves to eat

What's it about? Nomoto's hobby is cooking, but she lives alone and always ends up making too much food. One day, she notices how much food her neighbour Kasuga brings home and gets an idea: maybe Kasuga would like to eat some of what she cooks!

Genre: romcom

Watch if you enjoy: Sweet, understated, tentative romance. Lots and LOTS of cooking/eating scenes. (Don't watch while hungry! Do watch to get kitchen inspiration, if you are so inclined!) Lesbian self-discovery. Lots of serious issues in a fluffy setting: class, misogyny, heteronormativity, fat shaming, family hierarchies, and more.

Gayer version of: Julie and Julia

Recommended? Yes! It's very sympathetic and not very long (10 episodes of 15 minutes). The ending is a little unresolved, but fortunately there's a second season promised for 2024.

Between this and Old Fashion Cupcake, I do wonder if all Japanese QLs double as food porn...

Watched on: Dailymotion

Trailer (no subtitles): https://mubi.com/en/films/she-loves-to-cook-and-she-loves-to-eat/trailer

#kinnporsche #kinnporsche the series #laws of attraction #laws of attraction the series #khun chai #to sir with love #la pluie #gay ok bangkok #gay ok bangkok 2 #tsukuritai onna to tabetai onna #she loves to cook and she loves to eat #katta's ql reviews

[iguessitsjustme]

Okay I just saw your “Top Non-BL Asian TV Shows” list bc I was looking through the Love O2O tag (as one does) and I need to know if you have one for top BL Asian shows bc I’m obsessed.

Hello my dear anon! Sorry it took a few days to get to this. My brain has not been braining BUT I have a list for you! Before I get started though, I did make a list of my top BL from 2022 and there is definitely going to be some overlap there.

Anyway. This is in no way a comprehensive list and it's just gonna be in alphabetical order. I also couldn't limit myself to ten this time, so you're going to get 15. This got really long so it's going under a cut:

A Tale of 1000 Stars - This show is one of my all time favorite BLs. The story was so well told and the acting was phenomenal. Genuinely, this show almost made me cry (in a good way). I got real close and if you know me, that's impressive. This show is pretty close to flawless for me and it is the show I used to introduce my mom to BL and now she's seen a whole lot and loves it like I do. So this show will always have a special place in my heart.

2. Bed Friend - I went into this show expecting to mostly enjoy it but I was fully expecting it to be a trash watch. What I didn't expect was a beautifully told story about trauma and how that can impact relationships and how patience and kindness and support, genuine support, is a fundamental piece of loving someone. Truly astonishing. Blew me out of the water.

3. Cherry Magic - This show is so incredibly wholesome and cute. I love the premise and I always appreciate when we get shows about adults. Adachi and Kurosawa are so precious and adorable and truly the only people deserving of each other. No one else could possibly deserve the love and light of those two. Plus I love our aroace girlie. She deserves the world. I know Thailand is doing a remake of this show and I'm skeptical but hopeful. We'll see.

4. DNA Says Love You - I'm not sure if I actually classify this as BL but it is very queer and the friendships are solid. One of the best friend groups and such a compelling story. It took me a minute to get into it cause the first few episodes aren't the best, but once the story starts taking off it's so, so good.

5. Ghost Host, Ghost House - This show came at the right time for me. It was so heartbreakingly beautiful. Our main couple gets a happy ending but the journey to get there is hard and honestly I was going through a lot when this was released and watching it was very cathartic for me. It helped give me an outlet to process grief I was going through.

6. Light on Me - The only good love triangle I have ever seen. Daon is my baby forever and always. I truly believe this show did so much for Korean BL and opened the doors for longer form BL out of Korea. The real selling point to this show for me is the characters. The story is cute, if basic, but the characters and their relationships and how the interact with each other is truly wonderful. The acting is phenomenal and everything about it is just so pretty.

7. Moonlight Chicken - This show has so much of what I look for in older, more serious shows. This show was perfect in its imperfectness. We got two generations of queer men in a family and we got to see how each reacted to the world and to their own queerness. We got deaf representation and a character learning sign language specifically to communicate. Heart's story with his parents was honestly beautiful and I think it was handled really well.

8. My School President - So cute. Just incredibly adorable. FourthGemini are honestly ridiculously talented for their age. I'm very excited to see what they do next. My only issue with this one was the sheer amount of singing, but at least it made sense with the plot and it was built in singing. Watching Tinn and Gun's story play out was a treat every week. There was not a single episode that was not enjoyable.

9. Old Fashion Cupcake - This is it for me. Absolute perfection. This is flawless episodes. I have no notes. I love this show. This is my top BL of all time. Everything about this is excellent. I don't even know how to properly discuss this because I love it so much.

10. Our Dating Sim - I'm not normally a fan of reunion stories but this one is fantastic. One of Korea's best. There's not a minute of wasted time.

11. Our Dining Table - This is the cutest, the most wholesome, the most darling, the most precious show ever created. I could not be mad watching this show. Even if certain people pissed me off, if I went home and turned on this show, my rage was calmed and I was happy again. I bought the first volume of the manga for this and I'm planning on buying the rest whenever I'm able.

12. Seven Days - This is probably the most underrated BL out there. It's cute, it's wholesome, the characters are amazing. Watching these two fall for each other is one of the best treats you can give yourself. I'm about to make my mom watch these two movies in the next few weeks and I cannot wait.

13. Sing My Crush - I loved this show oh so very much. I'm pretty sure I stayed up until like 2 one night binging it. It scratched a particular itch for me in the pining childhood friends to lovers. I just love them so much. The villain was a bit too...evil...for my taste but it worked. Plus, I genuinely didn't mind the singing here.

14. The Eighth Sense - This is just good. I'm not sure I classify it as BL but definitely queer. I tend to prefer shows that deal with trauma of some sort and this show does that and does it well. How many shows do we have where a character is actually seeing a therapist? Plus the patience and love that Ji Hyun had to Jae Won was just heartwarming. This show isn't just one of my favorite queer shows. It's one of my top 5 shows of all time.

15. Until We Meet Again - To me, this is THE BL. I cried multiple times. It's tough to get me to cry once let alone multiple times. I had already gotten into BL when I started watching this but I'd say this show was probably my full blow decent into madness. I think I watched all 17 episodes in the span of 3 days while working full-time. Overtime at that. I didn't sleep. One of the most beautiful stories ever written. I'm a sucker for reincarnation stories and this just..is so incredibly beautiful. It got me in my feels.

There ya have it. That's a list. Definitely not all, but I'd be listing forever and getting my executive to function enough to write this was hard enough. ps if you like Love O2O, the ML, Yang Yang is the main character in King's Avatar which was another show I put on my top non-BL shows but I rewatched it recently and I don't know what I was smoking when I wrote that list but that show is so incredibly gay. There's no canon romance but it's still very gay

#thanks for the ask #i will probably do a top 2023 bl once this year is done #also not mentioned here because it's not bl but oh no here comes trouble is also one of my favorite shows ever ever #i cant even explain what that show did for me #anyway i think next time i'm gonna need to be stricter with the parameters i set myself #because this was many

[hellolimitless]

I am writing another post as I feel my previous post missed a lot of elements I had issue with. I remember in the beginning of the show, some people had problem with the episode having a lot of comedy, and the response of others were that it’s just the beginning, it would change once Porsche would enter the mafia world. I agreed to it and I thought the first episodes mixed the serious and comedy aspect pretty well even if the mafia scene left me wanting a little bit more. Now we are more than halfway through the show and we actually didn’t see much and Kinnporsche barely ever felt like a dark-mafia show. I’m really dubious because there is a lot of aspect where I feel the work was really there. The acting, the characterisation, especially Vegas who is by far the best written BL villain, the cinematography, the roles of lightning and the meaning, the emotionally-driven plot… but there are also massive issues such as plot-holes, forgotten plot and characters and characters plot-holes that feel really like your average BL convenient holes.

I was one who was really angry with Sarawat character assassination just for the sake of having an angst and a break up and 2gether was never about the plot and or even the characters, even if I think Sarawat undying love for Tine was well done and the show biggest success. For Kinnporsche, you can’t only rely on the romance or the softness. Kinnporsche is a universe rich with its characters and plot but not much is being displayed. Especially since they themselves introduced plotline they just can’t seem to handle. I am sure that Vegas reveal as being the one who drugged Porsche will be later but where is the search and most importantly why Porsche himself is not asking why they can’t find him. They are the main family of the mafia but they are made to be amateur to forgo a storyline. Also little details like the doctor they introduced on the first episode who never appeared again, for Porsche or kinn injury. Except for the bodyguards that are part of the supporting cast, all the extra disappeared. It might budget-related issue or even due to covid and not being able to have a lot of people in the same room but if that’s the case then that mean it was badly handled by the production team.

Episode 8 really enlightened all the problems Kinnporsche had, I thought we went somewhere with episode 7 and we were really moving into new territory but no. The episode centering around Kinn and porsche and their blossoming love was not really the problem, the comedic aspect was too much and took away the seriousness that should had been there and everything felt like a joke. For exemple, Tawan plot was ridiculous in this episode, nobody seems to be bothered that Porsche sees Tawan, know who he is and what he looks like. Instead it’s funny, Porsche can see a ghost and go to a monk for some prayers but is given a stick that looks like a penis. The bodyguards that should be highly skilled and clever individuals literally being oblivious to everything that is going on because it help with the plot. A scene like the footsie that was highly anticipated had zero buildup, we immediately went to Porsche playing with his foot and kinn reaction and then next scene. At least if Kinnporsche would have been a mess since the beginning, I would have understand but no there has been some really good scenes that are rarely seen on BL, the actors are the most understanding of their characters that I have ever seen, the production team also seems to know what they are doing.

#thai bl #kinnporsche #kinnporsche the series #bl drama #apomile #kinn porsche #kinn porsche the series #mileapo #apo nattawin #vegaspete #vegas theerapanyakul #build jakapan

[elfsone]

In the novel, pete still believes korn is a good person and is really involved with the main family esp tankhun and gang. I haven't read the new chapter (don’t plan to), but i think the writers want to play up the dilemma of pete...he still believes main fam is good and trustworthy. And kinn is well kinn. He won't do anything against his father. So the only people who will go against evil korn are vegas and porsche, and that's why they team up. Maybe vegas knows pete will try to convince him to talk to korn or something, so he doesn’t talk to pete. Honestly at this point, there's absolutely no way you can bring up trust issues between vp. It's been made clear multiple times in both novel and series, that vegas loves and trusts pete more than himself. I really hope the writers don’t take the tired bl trust issue narrative where both kinn and pete think that vegas and porsche are involved or something

While the series has taken a more of a ‘us against the world’ narrative with vegas and pete. I cannot see them leaving each other’s side at all. I am not even sure series vegas wants his minor family position back. If he does, he’s most likely gonna be pretty upfront about it with pete. Who knows, pete might even help him. It’s still so early, who knows how many years it’ll take s2 to come out. 

People need to understand that at this point, novel vp and series vp have diverged a lot. They are very different people... if s2 happens, things are not gonna be the same.  It’s still too early guys. Its’s just a single chapter. You have completely trashed the authors, called them names and everything. Its their story and characters at the end of the day. What we can do is make our choices, if i don’t like the novel vp, best not read it. So until a s2 announcement, i’m gonna be camping here on tumblr and ao3. 

#vegaspete #kinnporsche #I do like bbb as actors and would be interested in their future projects as well.

[telomeke-bbs]

Still being anonymous here. Thank you for the reblog of "An Old-ish Queer Says Things". This 70-year-old queer is familiar with the chain of western queer content, which goes back even further to films like Mädchen in Uniform (1931). Yes, the audience for BL is quite diverse.

Hi again Anonymous! Lots of gratitude for the pleasure of your company. 😊

I've attached the second part of your message in the image above, so that I can reply to both parts together. (Dunno why Tumblr limits the Ask length on PCs; if you use the Tumblr app on mobile you get to submit superlong Asks apparently. 🤷‍♂️)

If you have more to say on western queer films through history, I'd love to hear it! 😊 The difference between what was made in the past (and also allowed onscreen) from what we see now must be fascinating.

The reblogged article was really interesting too, wasn't it? (Article linked here.) It did make me think about two things especially.

The first: current generations always tend to take hard-won rights or privileges for granted, and many will blissfully ignore just how tough the battle to acquire them might have been. There is so much LGBTQ+ media freely available now that a lot of us in more progressive parts of the world seem to have collectively forgotten how sparse the offerings used to be, and how what was available then tended to be problematic. (That BL still has problematic areas is thus not an endpoint, and barring any upset it will get to a better place too.) But taking things for granted also carries the danger that freedoms we have now can also be taken away if we're not careful about protecting them. (People in the US should consider the implications of Roe v. Wade; there is talk now that LGBTQ+ rights there are next in the firing line of conservatives.)

The second: the Internet has vastly broadened the range of what we can see and consume, and I think it has greatly helped the LGBTQ+ cause by allowing everyone to see how things can be better (whether in fictional media that presents the LGBTQ+ experience positively, or in factual reporting from countries that have made greater progress on LGBTQ+ issues). This allows LGBTQ+ people everywhere to dream of a better world, and encourages efforts toward creating that world. But the Internet's reach and borderless reporting also highlights the disparity between different populations and how their LGBTQ+ people are treated – and in the overall scheme of things there is still so much more to be done. It's important to demand quality and positivity in the media we consume, and always to move forward, but at the same time we have to be conscious that many other parts of the world are still lagging so far behind on the LGBTQ+ journey. It's mindboggling to me that in the 21st century there are still locations on Earth where you can be killed for just being LGBTQ+ (or for even just being suspected that you're queer). So in places where things aren't that dire (or even where they are), rude comments and encouraging others to boycott media that still needs time to mature in terms of content and quality, simply come across as entitled and small-minded. It's a journey, never fully a destination, and if we stay the course BL will eventually get better (hopefully with less rancor along the way). In the meantime, its positive messaging regarding the exercise of self-agency in solidifying your own LGBTQ+ future can still function as a beacon of hope (if not a blueprint for action) to the oppressed, and because of that I always think it's worth supporting. Plus the casual BL fan/convert who's also a parent will likely transmit values of non-discriminatory openness and acceptance to their own kids as well. Not everyone needs to be a strident activist in the streets to bring about change. Sometimes a kindly BL drama winning hearts and minds in a hardened land can help to do it too.

With regard to the guitar, I can't say for sure why BBS didn't give more prominence to its story and Pran's journey to self-acceptance, but I'm willing to hazard a guess.

I think Bad Buddy was maybe a bit too ambitious in trying to tackle so many themes. There's only so much you can address in 12 episodes, and given how much there is stuffed in there already (especially when GMMTV budgets are never the roomiest, as evidenced by the heavy product placement) it's not surprising to me the treatment is a little underbaked.

It seems to me the makers of BBS felt compelled to give Pran a sub-plot about accepting his true nature and reconciling it with family, in order to provide a more wholistic LGBTQ+ message (especially since it would balance Pat's story arc about breaking free from living his life according to parental dictates). And they chose to make it about Pran denying his musical soul, as an allegory for the LGBTQ+ experience, with the guitar as the tangible target for his mom's hostility.

Now Pat's sub-plot was an indispensable part in telling the story of the animosity between Ming and Dissaya. (Ming was using his son to relive his own competition with her, to try and outshine her in one last attempt – "My son can do better than your son".) Ming and Dissaya's enmity was also the main reason that Pat and Pran were forced to be apart (over and above their friendgroup and faculty enmity). So the tale of Pat discovering his own authentic self – someone who didn't have to "hate" Pran in an unnatural proxy-life – got to be told even as it helped to shed light on the Jindapat-Siridechawat antipathy that was the greatest obstacle to their couplehood.

"I had to hate Pran, to compete against him, because of you? That’s the reason?"

And Pat's story arc also served neatly as another allegory for the LGBTQ+ experience of performative falsehood to please others.

However, Pran's side-story feels a little extraneous, partly because it's a duplicate of something already put forward by the narrative. Dissaya raised him with a lot of restrictions and instilled in him a fearfulness of the "Big Bad" outside (sniper eyes on Ming here); because of that he turned out emotionally repressed and hiding in many ways from the big, bad "Outside" as well.

Dissaya's rejection of Pran's guitar and his music-making also caused Pran to repress himself, but it was a musical repression, not an emotional one. The reason for her doing so also feels tenuous, since it's only because music-making happened to be a bridge to the Jindapats (and not even Ming himself directly) that it got blacklisted by her.

Pran's journey to accepting his musicality also follows its own route and is quite separate from the main storyline about how Pat and Pran overcome the opposition around them to establish their romantic partnership, since it wasn't really needed to explain or support anything on that narrative.

The makers of BBS could have removed the sub-plot about the guitar and Pran's self-denial about his musical soul, and the story of his emotional healing from Dissaya's strict hand in raising him would still be valid. (This was depicted in the story arc that commenced in Ep.6, when Pran reconsidered his rejection of Pat's love, that had been brought about by excessive introspection and overthinking of The Kiss in Ep.5. And his journey to stop repressing his feelings I think concluded with Pran casting aside his fears and striding confidently forward to meet Pat during their engagement/wedding on the Archi steps in Ep.10. I would rather it had concluded with his awakening at the beach in Ep.11 though, as that would have drawn his forgiveness of Dissaya into the mix.)

But on a thematic level that would have left BBS without as vivid an allegory as the guitar side-story, about an LGBTQ+ young person trying to repress their queer truth, healing from that, going on to flourish, and healing their family relationship too. So they left it in, even though it already had a parallel with the more abstract story of Pran healing his (emotional) repression through Pat's love. And then it kind of got beaten in the competition for screen time with all the other elements in BBS.

Our understanding of Pran's (musical) repression would have been clearer had they given us more backstory to justify Dissaya's disapproval of his musicality. But what we saw more of instead was Pran's emotional repression due to Dissaya's overly-firm hand shielding him from Ming and his family. It would have been more believable (to me, at least) if guitar-playing and/or music-making were shown more explicitly to have been the main activities that Pat and Pran were naturally drawn to and were bonding over, which would better explain Dissaya's aversion for the guitar and musicality in general. There are signs that this was being addressed, but they probably ran out of time in trying to develop this to a degree that was enough to anchor the allegory more firmly in the mind.

For example, Pat and Pran compete as rivals in rugby first, but then they move on to collaborate as friends/lovers while working on the Archi musical. In Ep.1 they have a drum/guitar face-off, trying to find some kind of rhythm and flow together, even as they try to figure out what their relationship is after Pran's exile. Pat salvages and returns Pran his guitar. They make an excited trip to the music shop together (though a second one cheerfully suggested by Pat outside LogTech is vetoed by Pran, and of course they have that awkward encounter there that triggers Pat's awakening). Pat obviously loves hearing Pran sing and play his guitar, begging him to do so when they revisit their old high school and also at the beach. And just as Pran's guitar draws Pat to him in Ep.12 [4/4], Pat's ranat ek draws Pran back to him in Ep.8 [4/4].

So there are many examples of Pat and Pran interacting because of music, but BBS stops short of presenting it as the main driver of their closeness (and thus it doesn't feel enough to justify Dissaya's ban on Pran's guitar). It's also not the only plot point that needs elaboration and resolution, and this idea of music as something that binds them together gets lost among the rugby drama, wontons and khanom jeep, bus-stop budgets and building, friend group fights, Wai's rehabilitation, InkPa's sweet lesbian love story, Ming and Dissaya's own conflict, Pat recovering from a gunshot wound and so much more.

Meanwhile, all we have to go on for Dissaya's musical disdain is the one time she caught Pran collaborating with Pat in high school during the Christmas song contest, and Pran alluding to it in Ep.6 when conferring the guitar to Wai's keeping.

"I don’t get it. How come your mom hates guitar so much?"/"It isn’t just about the guitar."

The elements are there, but they probably needed more time to be satisfyingly incorporated (plus more screentime to land with believable resonance), and this was the one cat that kind of got away while Director Backaof was herding all the rest.

As with any act of creation, it’s only after you've substantially completed your work that you can take a step back and see if the (almost) finished product meets with expectations. The problem with filming series on tight budgets and deadlines is that you can't go back and film more once it's done, even if additional filming would help to fill in gaps and flesh out parts of the narrative that need more heft. I suspect this is what happened to Bad Buddy's side-story with the guitar. It's got a great message – I just wish they hadn't rushed it out of the oven before the flavors were fully developed.

Thanks for your Ask! Always happy to chat about Bad Buddy and other things. 💖

#bad buddy #bad buddy analysis #telomeke #patpran #bad buddy pran guitar

[purposelynana]

What Did I Watch: #23

EVERYBODY SHOULD WATCH TRIAGE.

Triage could take the whole world by storm if not airing on the same period as KinnPorsche. Because personally, me thinks, Triage is a better story than KinnPorsche. That is true, its set production a lot poorer than the later but, the foundation of a great visual medium is always the story and characterization. And goddamn Triage is surely like has been written by Christopher Nolan in his teenage years probably. I'm not exaggerating, I mean I could say it's like had been written by Christopher Nolan on his prime era (*cough*The Dark Knight*cough*) but Triage still had its minor flaw. It was too rushed on certain parts, over-simplification, and making some scenes just like a complete dumb. Yet overall, I'm going to write something controversial.

This by far, the closest I felt joyous, like having nearly the same feeling as I watched Interstellar.

It was freaking genius. On the level script, I have not found something as this genius as what.... when was the last time I watched a genius series? Sherlock? I mean I rarely watched time-travel thingy when it presented in TV. But the logic was tight and the rules on the universe did make sense. And I just can help to compare this little series that the minority of the world know to a mega box office such as Interstellar. Because you see, you know that when you watch both of those things. The foreshadowing, clues spreaded into tiny little details, and god actually a BL which didn't try so hard to became a BL. Fuck even you can ignore all of the BL aspects, it would still a decent drama. This is, motherfucker, what I want on a freaking drama.

And Love Mechanics, why this wasn't trending when now its currently airing? Nobody told me that the shots were straight like movies eh. The framing is to die for, and everything seemed so screenshot-able. Genuinely I felt rather surprised because the budget sure hell increased a lot than their previous incarnation. It presented like, "yes, now we're damn expensive!".

Sure, the Director's Cut is more in conjunction to each scene rather than the usual Cut, because the usual Cut, I'm not saying it's all over the place, but it's quite a bit messier. When I watched a certain scene, sometimes I wondered why this happened, why it suddenly cut to the other scene that has nothing to do with the previous scene. Meanwhile Director's Cut is neater and I could understand the purpose of why something happened in the first place. I get the point why they had the urgency to separate the two cuts (it's money, no surprise). But as far as I concerned, this isn't airing on broadcast television. It's only on the streaming platform, why bother? God, capitalist.

Love Mechanics is still following Vee Vivis, the ultimate asshole who can't seem make up his mind, and the unfortunate Mark Masa. Thank God the story did tone down from the novel by a lot. Vee is all the same, a destructive unknowingly bisexual, but this time, unexpectedly, I understood him. I understood his intention to try his damn hard to make everybody happy. And Mark, I just couldn't help but to comprehend his stupidity to falling in love with someone like that. Well I know that we couldn't choose the person who we fell into. I've been there and certainly having issues to see my stupidity reflected back at me through Mark's action.

At the end of the day, Love Mechanics is a reminiscence of past events. Past loves. Exes. How stupid I am back in the day.

By the way this is what we called Emmy contender for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. Can we agree on that?

#triage the series #love mechanics #what did i watch

[panlyv]

Things don't have to have substance, bunch of straight shit has no substance and is still entertaining at the very least. BL should be allowed have masterpieces and... the direct opposite. Not everything has to be a work of art and it's fine for it to not be.

Not sure what the context for you hating KP is (I don't follow you and this showed up in the KP tag), but the actors can actually act and have great onscreen chemistry and that's why I personally enjoyed the show despite the flaws it has in addition to the Meta the fandom produced and the engagement the creative team allowed for the audience to have.

Can't say most of BL shows produced and their team + fandom can come up with the things the KP fandom has or had put in the effort/complexity the KP creative team has.

Most BLs have the most mediocre actors paired with the most lackluster scripts so, at least for me, it was a gem. Also, I'd been waiting for it for 2 years before it came out. *shrugs* It was different, it was mature, it stepped out of the university setting I was so mind numbingly tired of.

Sorry fandom ruined it for you. It was, for me, one of the most engaging fandoms since ITSAY and Not Me and for that, I personally liked it despite its various shortcomings.

hi anon! first of all! my main problem isn't that kp doesn't have substance per se. i agree wholeheartedly that bls should have amazing, complex, mind blowing shows but also allow room for more silly and turn-your-brain-off kinda series and everything in between. we as queer people deserve the same range of shows and reps as cishets get in their own television, but my issue with kp is that people keep acting like it was a revolutionary show. it was not! it could've been, for sure. i expected it to be, and i'll be honest and say i was completely let down by the end result because i, too, waited over 2 years for it to come out, i was really excited because i adore apo and the premise of the story seemed fantastic, but alas, amidst all the troubles this production went through, the final product did not survive and we ended up with a show much different from that very first 9 minute "teaser" that made us all enthralled in what apo and mile could offer.

to me, kp had so much potential to be a great, thought-provoking, mature show that completely deviated from everything we've been used to in thai bls, but what came of it was a contradictory plot with many many plotholes and characters that didn't make sense or added anything to the story. apo is a good actor, and so is mile, but none were phenomenal or oscar worthy as some of you try to make them out to be, and the rest of the cast was mediocre. the production crew had many issues too and the vp actors are two shitbags im not gonna waste my time on.

like. fine!!!! you can enjoy kp i don't mind!!!! just please stop putting it on this pedestal as if it was the best thing in the world. be realistic pls. it *is* exciting that it offered something totally new to the thai bl scene, yes, but that by itself doesn't grant it a gold star. the show *was* lackluster and we all know it could've been so much better had they followed that original teaser. or, hell, focused more on the actual story than on those saturated sex scenes.

as for the fandom. well. i have a lot of bones to pick with like 90% of the people who engage with kp content, but i do admit some beautiful fan work came out of it that deserves praise. but overall, a very much braindead fandom by the stuff i've come across. again, it's not like there was a lot to work with considering the changes they made to the plot (like the house porsche and his brother live in, which does not add up to the situation they are living in, when in the original teaser they lived in a very small apartment.) and most of the show was just a display of hot men that i was personally not interest in, but the lack of critical thinking and the will to overlook serious problems and situations for the sake of finding actors attractive was honestly baffling. when kinn >sexually assaulted< a drugged porsche, people thought it was cute. when vegas drugged porsche and attempted rape, he was a little meow meow. when vegas, again, kept being completely awful and disgusting with porsche and then proceeded to torture pete, it was a love story. when accusations came out that pete's actor had done terrible things, no one gave a shit because y'all are much more interested in seeing men fuck than in the wellbeing of those who he hurt. like wake the fuck up, what's wrong with you all? shows are allowed to be complex and problematic, my complaint is not that. i don't care that vegas is vile and that kinn is flawed, but i do care about how you people willingly excused their behaviours for vanity. i swear petev3gas girlies are the most repulsive people i've ever seen and i hate each and every one of them with a burning passion. it's fucking hilarious actually how many maaaaany of them are all very anti-th4rntype and m3w and "sexual violence is terrible!!!!" but were so very quick to turn the blindest of eyes to the countless awful things vegas did and have the fucking gall to root for petev3gas.

anyways. like kp if you want, but i'm sick and fucking tired of y'all holding the show to this high standard when many others are far better and more cohesive, with a much better message, characters and storylines. please develop some critical thinking skills that tiktok and twitter probably sucked out of your brains and learn to accept that not everything you like is a masterpiece and that's okay.

#phew #dawn.odt #anon

[neppu]

Watching/Rewatching/Planning to Watch List

Thanks for the tag! @scarefox

So, currently watching:

Between Us: Swim team hunks hooking up & catching feelings with a ridiculous number or side dishes. I liked WinTeam in UWMA and was thrilled when they announced this. So far, it hasn't disappoined, even though I'm not crazy about all the side pairings.

My Tooth Your Love: The first and only dentist bl. It completely took me by surprise with its mature approach to queer relationships, great chemistry between the leads and honest potrayal of mental health issues, but that's Taiwan for you.

My Schoool President: A priviliged Scrabble-loving nerd pining for a clueless scrappy little terrier with a guitar. He then gets a chance to help hus crush to fulfill his musical dream but in true high school bl fashion decides to go about it in the most complicated way possible. I don't love all the singing tbh, but it has so much heart and charm that I'm willing to look past it.

I Will Knock You: A literal child leading a vintage-themed street gang full of adults is determined to win over a certain girl's heart. A nervous tutor who's booksmart but also painfully stupid when it comes to surviving in the real world manages to catch the attention of the wannabe-thug at the worst possible moment after bitter rejection. Fate then leads our fearful-yet-determined boy to become the baby-gangster's tutor. This show is weird in that 60% of the time one of the leads looks like the other one is pouring cold yoghurt down his back but somehow it still translates as chemistry. It's ridiculously campy yet impossibly charming. I do think it would benefit from shorter episodes, though, some scenes just drag on unnecessarily imo.

Happy Ending Romance: Honestly, I'm still on the fence with this one. A promising novelist ruffles the wrong feathers and gets shunned by the whole Korean publishing industry. His friend, also a writer, takes him in and they date?? I guess?? It's very vague on that front so far. Then a perpetually optimistic wannabe-publisher with a failing start-up approaches the blacklisted novelist wanting to publish his next book. The set-up is promising but the flow is kind of weird, and I have no idea which pairing to root for so far.

Planning to watch:

Reborn Rich

Never Let Me Go

Gap the Series

609 Bedtime Stories

Strangers from Hell

Alice in Borderland S2

Moonlight Chicken

What's that one bl coming next week... Candy Paradox something? I'm on my phone and I'm afraid if I switch apps to check, I have to write this all over again

The upcoming Utsukushii Kare sequel movie

Cherry Magic movie

I'm sure there are more but I can't remember atm

Recently rewatched/finished:

Semantic Error (movie cut)

My Beautiful Man

Choco Milk Shake

HIStory: Trapped

Light on Me

Beyond Evil

Big Dragon

Tagging @claminosity @zo2paintedlady @mellens and @howlingmusketeers

[juneviews]

hey, i was just curious (and i apologise if you've had a question like this before) but are there any bl's that you consider to be criminally underrated for no good reason? because i feel like there must be some out there that are good but just don't get talked about or are overshadowed in one way or another.

(ps. i know how personal your content is, so i'm sure if you enjoyed something you've probably put a spotlight on them yourself, but i'm just curious if there's anything i'm missing out on 😂)

hi! well frankly, every bl I love tend to feel like they're being overlooked by others bc they always deserve MORE in my eyes, you know? and also when we're talking about underrated, I don't just think about tiny series that are underrated, but also bigger shows who also get overlooked in one way or another. but I'm gonna try to limit my list & not only talk with my heart lol, though all of the bl shows I watch are ranked from my favorite to least favorite here in case you ever wanna check that out :)

not me: obviously I've ranted 50 times about how gmmtv & the bl audience failed this show, and I will make a full video on it so I'll just stop there, but this show??? DESERVES THE ENTIRE FUCKING WORLD! literally the most important thai drama ever made, I cry thinking about it every time lmao

mood indigo: so so so so so underrated & such an important show. it might get clouded by its explicit nature in certain people's eyes, but this show navigates societal expectations & queerness wonderfully, and it's such a well directed story. it tends to be overlooked bc it was a sequel, and it didn't get an official subbing & distribution platform.

my ride: such a cute show, I think people might overlook it like I initially did bc it seems like a really basic & mediocre bl show (and also there were a lot of subbing & distribution issues), but this one really captured my heart bc it was really well directed & written, and was original & quirky enough that it was still very compelling.

long time no see: THE original kbl, came out before the explosion so many newer fans don't know about it, but it's really, really good, and actually acknowledges sexuality contrarily to other korean bl shows. if it was released today it would be such a success, which is annoying bc it truly deserved more at the time of its release.

boys' lockdown: definitely one of my favorite filipino bl shows, it's short, cute & efficient, and had such relatable characters. it's not revolutionary but it really captured my heart bc it was really well executed imo. it was probably overlooked bc so many filipino bl shows came out in 2020 & it was one of the later ones so it got drowned with the noise, especially since the summary seems pretty basic.

his - I didn't think I'd fall in love: ugh, this show is so so special, definitely one of the most underrated japanese bls & it deserves the world. this one is so understated & sweet, and its message around sexuality is really important imo. also it has very compelling female characters, which I love. it's just such a lovely show, but it was probably overlooked again bc of a lack of official subs & proper hd distribution.

xxx

#answers #not me the series #mood indigo #my ride the series #long time no see #boys' lockdown #his i didn't think i would fall in love

[spainvisas]

Explore Spain's Most Beautiful Cities: Your Ultimate Guide for 2024

Spain, a country renowned for its rich culture, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cities, beckons travelers from around the globe. If you're planning a trip to this enchanting destination in 2023, you're in for a treat. Here's a rundown of the 12 most beautiful cities in Spain that deserve a spot on your itinerary.

If you want to travel to Spain then you need to get the visa for Spain the trusted partner. I personally suggest spainvisas.co.uk because they will help to getting appointment with BLS without any issue they booked your appointment. I personally use their services.

1. Barcelona

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a mesmerizing blend of modernist architecture, sandy beaches, and lively street culture. Don't miss the iconic Sagrada Familia and the vibrant La Rambla.

2. Madrid

As the vibrant heart of Spain, Madrid boasts world-class museums, grand boulevards, and a pulsating nightlife. Explore the Prado Museum and take a stroll through the picturesque Retiro Park.

3. Seville

Seville, with its Moorish influences and flamenco rhythms, exudes an irresistible charm. Visit the stunning Alcázar palace and marvel at the grandeur of the Cathedral of Saint Mary. Get the Spain tourist visa uk for the visit purpose

4. Granada

Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is famed for the majestic Alhambra fortress complex and the vibrant streets of the Albaicín neighborhood.

5. Valencia

Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, offers a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. Be sure to visit the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and indulge in the city's delectable paella.

6. Bilbao

Bilbao, situated in the Basque Country, is renowned for its avant-garde architecture, including the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Take a stroll along the picturesque waterfront of the Nervión River.

7. Cordoba

Cordoba, once the capital of Moorish Spain, is home to the breathtaking Mezquita, a mosque-turned-cathedral that showcases stunning Islamic architecture.

8. Malaga

Malaga, birthplace of Picasso, entices visitors with its Mediterranean charm, historic landmarks, and vibrant cultural scene. Don't miss the Alcazaba fortress and the Picasso Museum.

9. Toledo

Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum of Spanish history, with its medieval streets, ancient synagogues, and stunning Gothic cathedral.

10. San Sebastian

San Sebastian, nestled along the Bay of Biscay, is renowned for its beautiful beaches, world-class cuisine, and the annual San Sebastian International Film Festival.

11. Salamanca

Salamanca, home to one of Europe's oldest universities, enchants visitors with its golden sandstone architecture, lively plazas, and rich cultural heritage.

12. Segovia

Segovia, with its fairytale-like Alcázar castle and ancient Roman aqueduct, transports visitors back in time to Spain's rich history.

Whether you're drawn to the architectural wonders of Barcelona, the cultural richness of Madrid, or the coastal beauty of San Sebastian, Spain offers a plethora of experiences for every traveler. With its easy visa procedures, including Spain visa services from the UK, exploring these enchanting cities has never been easier. Start planning your Spanish adventure today and immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of these captivating destinations.

FAQs

1. Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?

Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK, do not need a visa for short visits to Spain (up to 90 days within a 180-day period). However, requirements may vary depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Check with the Spanish consulate or embassy in your country for specific visa requirements.

2. How do I apply for a Spain visa from UK?

If you are a resident of the UK and require a visa to travel to Spain, you can apply through best spain visa provider. The application process typically involves filling out a visa application form, providing required documentation (such as passport, travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, and financial means), and attending an in-person appointment for biometric data collection.

3. What are the main tourist attractions in Spain?

Spain is home to a wealth of tourist attractions, including architectural marvels like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the Alhambra in Granada, historic cities such as Toledo and Segovia, picturesque beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa Brava, and vibrant cultural hubs like Madrid and Seville.

4. What is the best time of year to visit Spain?

The best time to visit Spain depends on your preferences and the regions you plan to visit. Generally, spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds, making them ideal for sightseeing. Summer (June to August) is popular for beach vacations but can be hot and crowded in many parts of the country. Winter (December to February) is a great time to visit southern Spain for milder temperatures.

5. What are the transportation options in Spain?

Spain has a well-developed transportation network, including high-speed trains (AVE), regional trains, buses, and domestic flights. Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia also have efficient metro systems. Renting a car is another option for exploring rural areas and smaller towns, although parking can be limited in city centers.

#spain visa #visit spain #spain visa uk #spain attractions

[codleo2]

Leveraging Salesforce Consulting Services to Maximize Efficiency

The world post-pandemic is quite different in every way imaginable. Be it redefining life priorities, mental health, and the way we work. Companies in these uncertain times have woken to the fact that a great tech stack is a way forward. To maximize efficiency and productivity, they need to be ahead of the competition with digital tools like Salesforce CRM and other cloud products of their universe.  Either the companies wake up to this reality or perish along the way as other companies steal a march over them using a great tech stack. What would it be if it was your business? This is where Salesforce consulting services offered by Salesforce Consulting Services come into play.

Let’s see how Salesforce Consulting Services maximizes efficiency in companies:

Customized solutions – Every company is unique and has its own set of unique challenges & issues. Salesforce Consulting Services partners based on their intensive engagement with companies prepare customized solutions that address these unique business challenges. There is no cookie-cutter approach. Salesforce Consulting partners have intensive knowledge of what works ideally with the different versions of the CRM tool, enabling the creation of personalized CRM approaches that are customized as per the client’s business goals.

Streamline processes and workflows - Salesforce Consulting Services offers solutions for automating & streamlining processes and workflows. Automation of mundane and repetitive processes frees human staff to focus energy on high-value tasks. This is a sure-shot way to maximize efficiency thanks to Salesforce Consulting Services. Salesforce Consulting Services firm's expertise in comprehending how ideally clients engage with various technologies enables them to pinpoint sectors where technology would be a catalyst within a business workflow.

Data security – For any company protection of its data is paramount and cannot be compromised. Every other day we hear of data being hacked/stolen compromising the private & confidential information of ordinary citizens. Deploying any software/apps is best done with the help of experienced professionals like Salesforce Consulting partner firms as they are proactive in protecting businesses from cyber-attacks or any malicious activity that poses a risk to a business and its data. The team working for Salesforce Consulting Services undertakes all security measures to ensure that this does not take place. With all security measures being used by Salesforce Consulting Services firms in place, businesses can be secure in the knowledge that their data is safe.

Integration between different apps & platforms – A business uses multiple digital tools, apps, and third-party systems to get its work done. This means switching between platforms and screens. What if all these tools & apps could be integrated with one platform so there is no need to switch screens? Sounds ideal, no? Well, this is what Salesforce Consulting Services does when it integrates a host of tools with a CRM tool. So, work can be done on one screen, all data gets collected in one centralized place, faster response time, saving manual work hours and boost efficiency. All thanks to the work done by Salesforce Consulting Services.

Customized consultancy – The primary job of Salesforce Consulting Services companies is to provide detailed and relevant consultancy. This includes suggestions on software that can be ideal to turn things around. These suggestions ensure that the future of the company in these turbulent times is vital as they address important needs of the business.

Salesforce Consulting Services enable companies to leverage tech tools to stay ahead of the game and become a lean & mean machine. Companies up productivity and efficiency by leaps & bounds thus ensuring that they thrive in a highly competitive environment thanks to the services of Salesforce Consulting Services. Read more blogs:- 

Also Read:- How To Evaluate The Best Salesforce Consultants?

#salesforce consulting partners #salesforce consulting services #salesforce consultants #salesforce partners #salesforce services #salesforce data migration services #digital marketing services

[anewbeginningagain]

Hey girl, Lilah's father is David Fear. He runs a $1.5 billion hedge fund. See link to WSJ article on him. Lilah is not the first nor last skater to have millionaire parents but that money has bought her many things namely Lewis, Marie France and Romain. I can name at least 10 partnerships where the male partner's expenses are paid, it's totally normal and a tradition in the sport. In the 90's people referred to it as "Rent a Russian." I also don't have any issue with her paying more for MF & R's time and expenses. Often skaters have to rely on their feds and while I'm sure their fed contributes now, they didn't have to rely on them in the beginning. Finally, if they want MF with them at a comp like lake placid she can pay all her expenses and not have to split with other skaters. The money simply buys more attention. https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-MBB-34175

First, thank for being the first to actually send some kind of source, it's locked for me, and I can't say I get how people know he is her dad but so be it I guess.

The rest of what you wrote I find kind of offensive in a way? First, his money does not buy her MF and Romain, Fear/Gibson are paying for training costs like the other 22 teams at I.AM, some from their own pocket, some by funding from their federation, they legit have so many teams from such different financial backgrounds. Second, Lewis is a full-grown man, with a job (or two if I remember correctly) that had aspirations to succeed in skating, he is not some hired help. I know that there are partnerships in which the costs of one skater is covered by the other's family when the gap is big, I think Nguyen/Kolesnik were like that and he lived with her family since he was originally from Ukraine, but as we've seen it does not guarantee a successful partnership. I get what you are saying, but I think how the details are framed in their case is purposely made to make them look bad. Secondly, Fear/Gibson traveled without MF plenty of times. Third, I.AM have so many teams that they can just choose which federation should pay for them...

And you know what? with all that money they weren't even on anyone's map until they had a breakthrough season with their disco FD, their breakthrough is completely like that of so many other teams. People feel comfortable posting all that crap on buying scores without realizing how absurd it sounds, if they are buying scores they would be buying top 3 in the world or an Olympic medal, not top 10 in the world ffs. And really, they haven't been getting an abnormal amount of attention at all, they don't stand out in that in the slightest.

What you are listing are things that money can potentially help with, none of it feels like something that actually happens too much in Fear/Gibson's case. Its not a dig at you or anything, I appreciate you being the first and only person to legit show up with a source, but it's all just a mixed bag of narratives and assumptions, nothing concrete.