#Drama: Eternal Butler

[save-the-data]

Eternal Butler | S01E04

Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes Links: GAGA | Viki | YouTube | iQIYI | WeTV | Youku | Tencent

Seems like justified self-destruction because he bears some pretty rough trauma. No wonder he acts out.

[theside-b]

What's off limits? My glasses. Don't touch my glasses. Especially, don't take them off.

ETERNAL BUTLER • 全面管控 (2024) dir. Yu Zhe Lian

[heretherebedork]

Glasses based domming over an economics textbook.

[bl-bracket]

Introducing the Next BL Bracket: Deserved Better!!!

There are many characters in BLs with many different fates. The question is: do they deserve them? It is time to determine which BL character most deserves a better lot in life compared to what they were given.

There are multiple ways you can interpret this prompt, and all are valid. Any character who has had to go through things that they don't deserve is able to be in the bracket! Whether that's the continual horrors they experience in the course of the show, a traumatic backstory, or a depressing ending. Any character you feel like has gone through things they did not deserve and deserve something better fits!

Another way to think of it is: to what extent could this character use a "fix-it fic"

Rules are as they always are, feel free to check the pinned post and the form if you are unsure. Also Kurosawa from Cherry Magic cannot be submitted since he just won twice in a row and thus is in a cooldown period.

Submissions Close: January 24th @ 7 PM GMT

Submit Here!!!

@tournament-announcer

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Currently Watching - January

aka The Masterlist

Because I love a good little list - in alphabetical order! 😊

Regularly updated during the month, latest update 31.01.2025

A little link to my favorite bl-tropes-collection 💙

gif-requests are open, but you'll need to have some patience🌼

Here you can find all of my gifs.

At the end you can have a look at what we can expect in January with a MDL link and a link for a trailer (if avaible).

This is guaranteed to contain spoilers!

1. Eternal Butler 🇹🇼 (5/12)

I really don't like this one that much. Why am I still here? The plot is hiding, the acting is playing catch with the writing. Some emotions are shining through and yet this feels very muh bland.

2. Futtara Doshaburi 🇯🇵 (4/7)

My intention was to talk about what a nice social study this show is. How the lack of sex can make you feel this insecure and lost and that the missing communication is not helping. I wanted to talk about how much Nakarai is longing for some physical touch, some love, not just sex and how this situation is slowly eating him up. And then there was the preview and my mind went "oh." Just "oh". See you next week.

3. I'll Turn Back This Time 🇨🇳 (2/6)

Okay, just time travel this time. Cut the step brothers. I enjoyed this episode and Shen Nan building a connection with Gu Shi Wen. I still don't understand the time travel and the changes that been made because of it, but I hope we get a little more information in the future.

4. Ossan's Love Thailand 🇹🇭 (4/12)

What in the Luigi is happening here? This series is really challenging me. The only thing I kinda like is Mix's acting and the soundtrack. The OST is so funny. The show? Not so much. It is really difficult to watch. Just not my humor.

5. Sangmin Dinneaw 🇹🇭 (5/8)

This series is such a rollercoaster. One moment they are sweet and innocent and the other second they are eating each other! And everyone beside the main couple is just pure chaos. I watch it only half, because I can't watch most of the cringe scenes. And now I am kinda curious what Sangmin's secret is.

6. Study Group 🇰🇷 (4/10)

I like the study group. They are all such characters. And I really enjoy the fight-scenes. So the study group is finally complete and now they are fighting evil bastards? I guess. And I am here for it. But I am so sorry Cha WooMin. Ever since Weak Hero Class 1 I can't like you. You hurt me too much! And now you're a villain again? Damn!

7. ThamePo Heart That Skips A Beat 🇹🇭 (8/13)

Oh you mother of all slow burn! This is pure torture for them and for us! And I love every bits of it! So we finally get Jun telling his intentions (I was right, yeah!) and Thame showed again why he is the greenest flags of them all! He is such a fair player and a loyal friend, who wouldn't sacrifice one or the other, but wants Po to make the decision. Only Jun already knew that Po already likes Thame (and like everyone else knows too). I didn't like the fact that Jun told Thame and Po about their mutual crush, but without him, let's be honest, they would still just stare at each other. And yes, I was screaming at my screen "Just kiss already", but this is such a delightful torture of a slow burn! Really delicious! And we got some hand holding. But Thame... your idea putting Po's hand in your pocket and nobody will know is just dumb. But they hold hands! AHHHHH! And next week... AHHHHHH!

8. The Heart Killers 🇹🇭 (10/12)

Joong really delivered in this episode. His single tears were so good. Fadel breaking down and allowing Style to comfort him, to protect him, to love every side of him was indeed beautiful. The series is not good, but this episode was quite good. But Mama being the bad guy here. Who was surprised? Be honest.

9. Word of Honor 🇨🇳 (25/36)

Yes, I kept watching. Well, this will take me a while to finish, I fear.

10. Your Sky 🇹🇭 (11/12)

The question for me this episode was: Why do you think Rak can't have a happy family and someone who cares about him with Fah? Why do you think he needs a woman for that? The father really annoyed me with his I don't want to talk about it attitude. He is just worried? He wouldn't be worried if Fah was a woman. I understand where they were coming from with this plot line, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. What I still love about this series is the communication, especially between the mains. And that Rak didn't sacrifice his relationship in the end, but he stood by his man and so did Fah. I love them!

Finished in January

Series

Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu 🇯🇵

Somewhere along the way I lost interest. I don't like the trope of noble idiocy and that kinda ruins my wish to continue the series. And while it might fit into the narrative, I still don't like it. And so I didn't like the ending. Well, the ending itself was okay and it felt real. Coming out to the friends and family would have not fit the plot. I liked that about the series. Overall a strong start, a mediocre middle and a weaker ending. I give it a 7 out of 10.

See Your Love 🇹🇼

I went into this without any expectations. And damn, I am so happy I could binge this one. I loved it! They are so cute. The height difference is adorable! The story might came a little bit short, but but the characters and their developments and relationships made this series really enjoyable. I love how enthusiastic Yang Zixiang learned sign language. You could see, that this was important for him. The depiction of disability was good and well performed. The side-couple is the only thing that was not for me. I give it a strong 9,5 out of 10.

Fourever You Project 🇹🇭

I just binged this one. I started for Johan and North and I stayed for them. And for the others beside Hill and Ter. I adore Pond. I loved him in 180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us. But this series was not for him. He and Earth have no chemistry together. Perhaps I don't like the typecast of Earth. Most of the times his characters annoy me and he isn't allowed to play an adult. And with Pond there was no spark on my screen. Other with Maxky and Bas. Their characters were goo. The chemistry was good. Their story was good and not that cliche-loaded as HillTer's was. I want to know what is going on with the other two, Tonfah and Arthit. The plot was a college bl. Plain, good ol' college bl. Nothing more nothing less. I admit I skipped most of Hill and Ter's scenes after Johan and North got the lead. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Movie

Short Film

Dropped in January

Looking forward to in January

The Boy Next World - Trailer (Jan 5th)

Ossan's Love - Trailer (Jan 6th)

Call Me by No-Name (Jan 10th)

Impression of Youth (Jan 15th)

The Paradise Of Thornes - Trailer (Jan 22nd)

[doublel27]

So, because I am myself a neurodivergent completist, I needed to watch Anti-Reset before I could start Eternal Butler, and I am so glad I did.

Anti-Reset told the story of a man falling in love with an AI biomechanical humanoid, but was really an autistic 4 autistic love story. The story of a human who has never really fit into humanity. Who is obsessed with history and how it shifts but doesn’t feel a part of it really. Whose family tells him he’s broken and emotionally stunted and disturbed. Which is why his Uncle sends him Immortal 9, to fix his emotional problems. And Immortal 9 does but not the way his uncle expects. Because Immortal 9 and Yi Ping are able to connect precisely because they see and approach the world in similar ways. They both analyze and study humanity to try and unpack what’s happening to them. They both love rules and order. They explore the world together as an adventure they’re trying out. While Yi Ping becomes more social somewhat through Immortal 9’s relationship, he remains most comfortable interacting and spending time with Immortal 9.

There’s a long-term study on empathy in the autistic community that’s come up with the concept of the empathy paradox. The empathy paradox explains that it’s not that the autistic community lacks empathy as was long posited. Instead, they uncovered that autistic people show deep empathy and connection with other autistic people, and non-autistic people show the same “lack of empathy” toward autistic people that the psychological community long claimed autistic people held toward non-autistic people. The underlying commonality that was found is that communication between people with the same neurotype is much easier than communication between two people with different neurotypes. Yi Ping and Immortal 9 fall in love precisely because they communicate in ways that make a lot of sense to each other. Immortal 9 can push Yi Ping because the way he explains his reasoning and what he wants for Yi Ping makes sense to Yi Ping. Similarly, because Yi Ping recognizes his own humanity and reasoning in Immortal 9, he insists on treating him with great dignity and empathy, insisting he have his own bedroom, never actually signing a contract of ownership, insisting that Immortal 9 should make his own wants and desires known.

And the thesis of the show asks if either of them are broken and if broken things should be fixed or thrown away. The question Yi Ping’s uncle basically posits at the height of the conflict is if Yi Ping’s emotional disturbance is so great that nothing can fix it, and if Immortal 9 has made it impossible to reset him if he is beyond saving. It takes quite awhile for uncle to see the humanity in either his nephew or his creation. There’s also the question of how long either of their devotion will last, especially as they are eventually replaced through repairs or human cellular decay and regeneration. We are all a Ship of Thebes in a way. Are we the same ship?

And now the sequel, Eternal Butler, we are dealing with the CPTSD of a troubled young man and the question of both human and AI biomechanoid’s right to self determination. Immortal 4 is diving into the question of inalienable rights that Immortal 9’s story left us grappling with. Did Immortal 9 genuinely fall in love with Yi Ping or because he was programmed as a emotional repair android, was he coded to love anyone who came across his path? Was his going against the commands in his system to record memories and make them undeletable a sign of his self-determination or a natural conflict in his programming allowed him to over ride that other command?

Immortal 4 is taking some pretty serious hits for Immortal 9’s defection, but they’re still working together. Immortal 4 who was not programmed for emotions is leaning into them at Immortal 9’s urging. And he is also taking his own beliefs of AI’s right to self-determination even if society tells them they’re just products, and trying to make sure Luo Bushi understand that the beauty of humans is that they are unique and are in charge of their own destiny.

Luo Bushi is so deep in his own personal tragedy and sees Immortal 4 as just like everyone else, someone who will eventually abandon him.

And you know, if the moral questions of right to self determination and abandonment weren’t enough, the daddy/brat vibes of Immortal 4/Luo Bushi are immaculate.

Anyway, I am here for the ride.

[scarefox]

Maybe I am a bit obsessed with the taiwanese gay AI-bot-android universe.

Is it a bit low budget and cliche and sometimes silly? Yes and? It's neat, adorable, fun and a cool connected sci-fi universe with different characters. I need more of that.

I love when different stories take place in the same world building, with the same characters in it but different setting, maybe different generation too.

[aliceisathome]

OK, I'm stopping The Heart Killers at ep 4 and waiting for the end to binge. Not that I have any doubt there will be a happy ending *waves at Shakespeare* but because I can't BEAR the tension. It's going to be so devastating when Bison and Fadel find out about Kant and Style. Actually I'm most worried about Bison because although Fadel's past appears to make him more vulnerable to love shenanigans I think he'll understand Style was helping his friend to hit on someone but when Bison finds out Kant only hit on him because he was betraying him. Arghh.

So much as I love those boys and their characters I'm noping out so that I don't have the weekly angst they are absolutely going to cause me.

On to lighter things. I'm SO behind on everything so will be catching up on Caged Again, Love Sick, See Your Love et al and starting Fourever You and Eternal Butler. Not that they don't have their drama but I'm fairly sure I won't want to drown myself in gin.

[gay-meowmeow]

@scarefox youve influenced me to watch Eternal Butler with your posts and now im feral about them

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Whole Lotta Nothing

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top. (Which frankly, was only really Your Sky this week.)

Jan 2025 Week 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

Your Sky (Sun iQIYI) ep 9 of 12 - Them just flirting and being boyfriends at Fah’s fancypants condo is the world’s greatest music video ever. These two gave us a lovely sensual sex scene, for which I forgive the magically reappearing pants.

ThamePo (Fri YT) ep 6 of 12 - Ooo plot thickens. Pepper has a faen. The conversation about walking speed is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in a BL. BL boys all walk incredibly slowly, slower than dirt really. Why draw attention to this fact? We better get more Po character dev soon!

The Boy Next World (Sun IQIYI) ep 2 of 10 - Language play already and we’re just on episode two? Your spoiling me Mame. You shouldn’t have. Phu may not be boyfriend babygirl yet, but he already knows how to manipulate like one. I’m enjoying this. Despite myself.

The Heart Killers (Weds Gaga) ep 8 of 12 - This ep just swapped between being boring and bizarre.

Fourever You (Thurs YT) ep 16 end - All the backstory in this one and it was fine.

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun YT) ep 12 of 24 - I like the actor pair, but I really don’t like the secondary couple as characters, in this installment. The relationship is just too unhealthy for me.

GMMTV always does shocked face good tho.

Sangmin Dinneaw (Sun iQIYI) ep 3 of 10 - Has gotten unexpectedly extremely racy. And also sort of a travel ad? I’m confused. Why the random hotel bellhop fetish thing? What’s going on? Also is this a cancer story. No thank you. 

Ossan‘s Love Thailand (Mon YouTube) ep 2 of 12 - Look I just think that EarthMix are better at serious drama. I think they’re not suited to this piece - even if I liked the original IP.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Eternal Butler (Taiwan Fri Gaga) eps 6 of 12 - So sappy. Not a whole lot happened in this installment. I do like the sides, I wish we got a little bit more of them. It’s fine I guess.

Impression of Youth (Taiwan Weds Viki) eps 1-2 of 9 - Lots of familiar faces, country+city match up. Basically about a bunch of artists of different ilks who meet in a countryside hotel. It's okay. 

Teenager Judge (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 15 of 16 - Am I warped that I liked the traumatized after kidnapping bit? Finally consequences in a BL. Also the acting was good. But then we go right BACK TO SQUARE ONE. Omg pleaseendnow! 

When it Rains it Pours (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 2 of 10 - No eng subs for me.

It's airing but......

Winter Is Not The Death of Summer (Thai) - It's done. Did anyway watch it? Thoughts?

In Case You Missed it

End of year wraps are here!

2024 Trend Report

MY BEST & WORST BLs of 2024

Best Kisses (and sex scenes) of 2024

BL's 2024 Quirky Awards

2024 Awards - Quick Picks

Next Week Looks Like This:

2025 Line Up

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 1

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 2

20 BLs Announced for 2025 That I'm Really Excited About

GMMTV 2025 Line Up - My Totally Biased and Wildly Flawed Feels

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENT

The one bright point in a dull week.

Just give them their own series now. (Perfect 10)

(last week)

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

[save-the-data]

Eternal Butler | S01E05

Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes Links: GAGA | Viki | YouTube | iQIYI | WeTV | Youku | Tencent

[theside-b]

Sing Hom and Lawrence Lo in ETERNAL BUTLER • 全面管控

[heretherebedork]

The hand on the neck and the kiss and now they're boyfriends!

[bl-bracket]

*IMPORTANT NOTE: due to winning twice in succession, Kurosawa from Cherry Magic is in a cool down period and won't be able to be submitted to the next bracket, in case that affects your voting

[gunsatthaphan]

~ Monthly BL Breakdown: December 2024 ~ 

🎆 Happy New Year!!! 🎉

Hey everyone! This will be my last breakdown as I have decided to discontinue the tradition. Making compilation posts requires a lot of work and dedication and unfortunately the engagement is not big enough for me to have the motivation to keep going. Thank you to those who have liked and reblogged and said nice things, I appreciate that very much!! 🧡 I will continue to run my blog as usual so I will remain available for asks about anything (as long as they're nice) and I will continue to post updates here and there. Thank you 🧡

Disclaimer: ALL shows can be streamed here or here, as well as on Youtube and other platforms. For more info on where to watch what, check out this post! 

As always feel free to add stuff! -> previous breakdowns

What came out this month? (green = seen/currently watching)

🌟 Addicted Heroin Special Episode - December 1st (Thailand)

🌟 Tokimeki Bomb - December 1st (Japan)

🌟 Hidden - December 3rd (Thailand)

🌟 You Want Some? - December 5th (South Korea)

🌟 Be Moon - December 6th (China)

🌟 Eyes on You - December 11th (Hong Kong)

🌟 ThamePo: Heart that Skips a Beat - December 13th (Thailand) ✅

🌟 The Renovation - December 14th (Thailand)

🌟 Only For Fans - December 15th (South Korea)

🌟 Eternal Butler - December 20th (Taiwan)

🌟 Gangster And His Boyfriend - December 21st (South Korea)

🌟 The Way Home - December 24th (China)

🌟 Sangmin Dinneaw - December 29th (Thailand)

Monthly Likes / Dislikes

❣️ - ø 👎🏻 - ø

New series & movie announcements

🎥 Lost on the River (starring JudoFluke) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 I'm Not Wrong - Date TBA (South Korea)

🎥 Love Destiny from Hell - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Concealed and Blended - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 City of the Sun - Date TBA (China)

🎥 Secret Relationship - Date TBA (South Korea)

🎥 Love and Punishment - Coming March 2025 (Taiwan)

🎥 Desire - Date TBA (China)

Other news from the BL world

❗️ The winners of GMMTV's BL contest Y-Find have been announced. A total of 4 submitted plots by Thai fans will be adapted into series. The winning titles are My Lovely Pet, Who Killed My Boo?, Lost Time and รักนี้พอดีเป็นของพระรอง. Further production steps have not been disclosed by the company.

❗️ The Japanese BL I Became the Lead in a BL Drama is getting a sequel. The title as well as a premiere date have not been announced.

❗️ The Japanese lgbt dating reality show The Boyfriend is getting a second season. Further details are unknown.

❗️ Former Be On Cloud actor Barcode Tinnasit has joined GMMTV.

❗️ In a public statement, the writer of the novel Pit Babe, which was adapted into a series in 2023, announced that they have removed the Omegaverse elements from the sequel as it no longer complies with their beliefs and principles. These changes will be carried into the upcoming series adaption by Change 2561 in 2025.

❗️ The yearly Y Entertainment Awards were held on December 1st. The following BL actors/productions won:

Last Twilight: Best BL of the Year

Aof Noppharnach: Best BL director of the Year

Pooh Krittin: BL Prince of the Year

Pit Babe: Best Production of the Year

"Re-Move On" by GeminiFourth: Best OST of the Year (My Love Mixup)

Up Poompat: Best BL Lead Actor of the Year

❗️ WETV released their 2025 lineup on December 5th. The following BL productions were announced:

Shine (sequel to ManSuang, starring Mile P. and Apo N.)

Love of Silom (starring Up P. and Poom P.)

Top Form (adaption of the manga Dakaichi, starring Smart C. and Boom R.)

Knock Out (starring Gunner N. and Nice B.)

Me and Who (collaboration with Domundi, starring Big T. and Park A.)

Upcoming series & movies for January:

👉🏻 The Boy Next World - January 5th (Thailand)

👉🏻 Ossan's Love Thailand - January 6th (Thailand)

👉🏻 When It Rains It Pours - January 9th (Japan)

👉🏻 Idolfactory 2025 lineup event - January 12th (Thailand)

👉🏻 Impression of Youth - January 15th (Taiwan)

[dyscanthe]

Yuhan Special Halloween Drama Track: Proof of Patience

I see... so this is a costume that imitates the so-called vampire monster.

There are similar imaginary creatures in the eastern lands. But in the central lands, they don't have amulets on their foreheads.

Well anyway, it's Halloween so let's do all we can to entertain the Lord in this outfit.

—Start of Yuhan’s vampire roleplaying—

I'm glad you've come, human, and welcome to my mansion.

I'm a vampire who lives forever.

I've just had enough of dull moments, and the only solace for those of us who live in a darkness that will never end…is to spend even a few moments with a nice person like you.

Please take a seat. I'll make you a nice cup of tea.

Don't worry, just enjoy the tea.

I don't deny that I’m attracted to your beauty and the smell of your blood, but that's precisely why I don't want to hurt you.

Compared to my eternal life, my time with you is but a wink of my time.

I want to make this moment as long as possible.

Besides, I'm the type of person who saves the best for last.

Be patient... I'll eat you up before you reach your limit.

Oops, did I scare you?

It's okay... just calm down.

Not yet…

I won't eat you.

I'm a very patient person.

Mhm, let me show you the proof.

Look, I'm going to hold you from behind like this, right in front of me.

I can put up with a delicious looking neck.

Look, even if I smell it…

It smells so good, really appetizing…

Your skin is beautiful... and the complexion is amazing.

With such a delicious feast in front of me... I still can't do nothing.

I was going to hold out for a while longer.

Can I at least have a little taste?

Don't move. It will hurt more if you move.

Well then... Bon appétit.

—End of Yuhan's roleplaying—

Hehe, just kidding~

I am quite the impatient vampire myself.

I beg your pardon Aruji, for going a little overboard. Even with my acting and forgot that I’m a butler… and ended up enjoying myself.

But it may be nice to ease oneself like this once in a while, so that I can always be a patient butler, you know?