#I liked all the changes they made to Fuma and Kai’s story in this episode

[pigglepiephi]

Love the choice in LITA Koi to have no kiss between Fuma and Kai during their ONS. It made the sex feel even more impersonal and detached from Kai’s perspective - though as in the original Kai did enjoy the encounter.

Anyway the decision to not share a kiss here means that their first kiss, when there are real feelings involved, is hopefully really gonna hit! 🤞

[halliescomut]

LITA (jpn) Episode 7 Feelings

I did only watch the episode once, instead of doing a full second-rewatch, because I feel like I want to keep my initial thoughts. But I did also scroll through the episode to get the story bullet points, because there's so much happening and the bouncing back and forth, I didn't want to forget anything.

We start basically where we left off, which is Kurosaki approaching Kai, but now it's Fuma's perspective, as he's followed him. One of the things I appreciate about the choice of actor made for Kurosaki and for Gun in the og, is that they did intentionally choose attractive guys. There's a consistent trope in all media to make villians 'ugly'-the idea being that your 'evilness' will be reflected in your outward appearance, which is many levels of problematic. By making this absolute nightmare of a man from Sky/Kai's past pretty attractive, it subverts that trope. (Also, it's important to me that you know the actor playing Kurosaki was born in 1987...how TF does he look that good??)

I also think it's interesting to see Kurosaki's interaction with Fuma, it's almost an attempt to be unassuming, and Fuma doesn't really fall for it, because he's too aware that Kai wouldn't have reacted as he did if this man hadn't done something to frighten him. He might not guess they have history, but he would understand that this man was a threat to Kai for some reason.

This re-encounter with Kurosaki, sends Kai into a full spiral, he leaves, basically runs home and starts ignoring Fuma and any attempts he makes to contact him. I think this change from the OG, is one of the few that I kind don't see creating any real shift in the narrative. It's basically Sky/Kai was starting to feel comfortable- incident happens that reopens that Pandora's box in his mind that tells him eventually everyone get's "tired of him"- and he pushes Prapai/Fuma away in a desperate attempt to keep his heart from getting more broken. It is a good example of how you can change some details of a story and not only reach the same end, but have the same emotional journey. Things don't have to be set in stone.

And speaking of, one of the biggest benefits of having both couples' stories coincide, is that we're actually getting a lot more interesting interactions. While Kai is hiding from Fuma, he stays with Rei, (I think something similar happens in the og, but a couple other classmates are there as well) and while there we get a really nice and insightful conversation between Rei and Kai. One that especially helps to show Rei in a more serious light. I especially like this addition, because I do think it's good to have Rei also reminding Kai that he's worthy of love. Yes, hearing it from Fuma is important, but I think for anyone's long term healing, it's best to have that support from multiple places.

Our next big point/scene is the "break-up" and here we get a face-to-face confrontation, and I honestly don't know which is worse. I do know that I had an epiphany watching it again, which is that the words Kai throws at Fuma in his best attempt to hurt him enough that he gives up are that "he's tired of him" and "he's bored of him" and even though I've taken in this story countless times in 2 years...I JUST put together that Kai uses those words SPECIFICALLY because that's what Gun/Kurosaki said to him, and it's the most hurtful thing he can think of to say.

The whole scene is really beautifully done, very subtle acting from both sides, with Kai's sort of minimal/monotone voice and stone face, while we see some really subtle face acting from Fuma, the concern and confusion, but I think interestingly never anger here. We saw anger covering up the hurt in the og, Prapai throwing the phone, but such an outburst wouldn't be appropriate here. It's also oddly more affecting given the setting that was chosen, this brightly lit, sunny street, that should feel warm and happy, is a massive contrast to the emotions that are happening.

Once Kai leaves we cut to what may be that night, or a few nights later where Fuma has lost a race. We have the reappearance of Stop (I simply can't look up to check what his name is, it's a bit now), and he and his crony observe Arashi and Rei, setting up that we are in fact going to get the kidnapping. Stop's as greasy as ever, but Arashi and Rei are absolutely precious, and we get to see more of Rei's insights when the three return to what I'm assuming is Arashi's family shop. He encourages Fuma to not give up on Kai, that there was something there, and he should fight for that. I was very interested at the start of the conversation, because I truly was curious to see if we might get an inkling that Rei new about Kai's history, or at least knew about Kurosaki, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Fuma leaves, and Arashi and Rei are left behind to nest like two turtledoves.

Now...I'm not gonna say there aren't glaring problems with how Fuma gains access to Kai's apartment and his notebook, but I think viewers will appreciate that Kai directly calls him out for it, and doesn't mince words about it.

In regards to the reciting of the notebook itself, I understand that it is incredibly hard to watch emotionally. But I also don't really think Fuma is in the wrong here. Kai needs to hear these thoughts that HE WROTE, he needs to reconcile that he was thinking about a future with Fuma in order to see that Fuma was also thinking about a future with him. It's a terrifying thing to be perceived, that's true, and a breakthough like this, not easy, but it's also necessary. Kai needs to believe in Fuma's words. He's already recognized the love expressed in his actions, this is the next step.

I'm not going to make any direct comparisons between the adaptation and og, because honestly, I think it undermines the emotional labor that was undertaken to give us these scenes by these four actors, and I'll just say that I was incredibly affected watching this for the first time, the same way I was with the og. Me:

Following all of this we have what I think might be another of my favorite changes, which is our second NC scene for Fuma and Kai, and I think the decision to have them not engage in sex until AFTER the journal confrontation is so much better for their story. I think it made it easy for Sky to see what they did as just sex, and use that as another excuse to undermine Prapai's feelings for him, where Kai doesn't really have that excuse. And while I think stringless sex is perfectly fine for anyone who wants to have it, Kai needs strings. He needs to know that he's loved as a person first, because part of his fear is that dehumanization and objectification that Kurosaki impressed on him.

(I'll make a note here that both NC scenes have very different vibes, which makes sense considering the difference in the mental/emotional headspace the couples were in, so it feels a bit odd to compare them. But I was also very distracted by the fact that Kai's head is basically resting on the shelf that's a part of his bedframe, and that simply can't be comfortable.)

We cut from that scene to both couples having lunch again at that cafe from episode 5, and I will say I do like this scene much better than the og when Rain finds out Sky and Prapai are boyfriends now, because it was genuinely weird that he was as shocked as he was. None of it made sense and I'm still confused. I much prefer Rei's effusive excitement.

Now as discussed, we do have kidnapping confirmed, and I fear that sadly Rei is also not beating the coconut allegations, because car horns and motorcycle horns do not sound the same. Why would he assume that is Arashi honking, but even less so, if he had forgotten something, why would Arashi not just call him? Questions abound and Rei is in the back of a nondescript van....and we'll see what happens next week. Though he didn't actually send the "I'm home" text so hopefully that means Arashi will figure things out earlier rather than later.

[turtlesocksv2]

Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan thoughts

It's ok! It's not as immediately charming as the original Thai but it's perfectly serviceable so far and that's what I expected. It goes to show that the story itself does matter - they clearly tried really hard to be faithful and respectful of the original and MAME's writing and i can feel that.

Rinka is adorable.

I love Arashi and Fuma's secret bro handshake. They do feel like Friends.

Rei's little frog ringtone is great. Rei is not as monumentally No Thoughts Head Empty as Rain is and that's interesting!

Being a Weeb since teeniehood and having recently been to Japan when I saw 700,000 yen for Rei's car repair bill i instinctively winced in a way Thai Baht doesn't hit.

A very neat detail that is changed slightly is that Arashi confronts the loudmouth loser talking about the race at the restaurant/bar not because he's talking about The Race in public but because he's about to drop the organizer's name. In the original everyone knows it's Pakin and they say his name all the time, but we haven't heard his Japanese Counterpart's name at all yet.

Kai's not as Mean as Sky. That's also interesting!

It does seem like they're going to integrate the FumaKai storyline more into the story instead of doing a Full Main Couple Switch later. I like that!

I like that the episodes are a half hour. that's nice. But it does mean that a lot of connective tissue is gone. Does Arashi even have a brother? and Like, just smashcut to Arashi spanking Rei without all the conversation leading up to it? ....ok? which i guess leads to

My Shallow Hater Opinions:

The change from a bathroom stall to Rei's car doesn't...really work. It's still a good scene but like...Arashi, Rei. Cars have windows. you ain't hiding that well.

Everything looks cheaper - the suits that Arashi and especially Fuma wear to race motorcycles? that's Temu quality.

None of the leads are as good looking as the originals: Kai looks like he's 40 and Arashi is Diet Phayu. It's really not fair to say, though, because the japanese cast are not bad looking at all they just look like Normal Guys and not smokeshows built in idol creation factories.

So my overall opinion after ep 2 is that if the Original LITA is an 8/10, LITA Koi is (right now) a 6.5. That might be a bit harsh since it's hard to compare a complete series to one that just has 2 eps out and I am definitely going to stick around and give the series time to grow and be its own thing. I like some of the changes they've made, even without the Instant Charm of the Thai actors, I still like the story enough to keep watching.

[halliescomut]

LITA (jpn) Episode 3 & 4 Feelings

Okay, I watched ep 3 and 4 because I didn't want to wait, but in the end I think it was probably for the best. I'd mentioned before I wasn;t sure how they were going to fit things into the new runtime when it seemed like they were doing a point for point remake of the first 2 eps, and episode 3 was the same. The solution is they combined eps, 4-6 basically into a single storyline. Now...hearing this you may feel understandably bothered, because 4 and 6 are iconic episodes...but truly I think if you didn't have the og to compare to, you wouldn't even notice. It's not clunky or weird feeling because Stop is introduced early on, and the big third act thing being emotional sex still works. Honestly, I think in the end the only thing that felt weird to me watching was there was almost an attempt to combine the vibes of the two separate NC scenes and so it feels inconsistent emotionally. Because there truly is a HUGE difference between a first time in multiple ways sex scene and a post-victory dickdown where the formerly virginal participant is now more experienced and comfortable.

But to talk about timelines, episode 3 is the wooing of Arashi by Rei, including the iconic 'you can buy me dinner', one of my fave scenes in the og. While some changes are made, the overall feeling of watching two idiots in love shines here, especially Arashi gently antagonizing Rei into asking the server for his support in romancing Arashi. I also think the post meal conversation where Arashi tells Rei to switch dumb for cute, to kind of help him understand how he shows affection to him is pretty cute. Then, you know, things go downhill as Rei fails to turn in a project on time because he has been spending time with Arashi. I don't think it's portrayed poorly here, but it didn't really punch me in the gut the same way it did in the og.

Now that is at least a little bit because I know where the story is going, I have a set expectation from the og, and I can't really experience the story beats for the first time, but it still was very affecting.

We also get a lot more of the Kai-Rei dynamic in episode 3. I love their friendship overall and I think in this episode in particular you get to see Kai showing more affection for Rei, but also more of what I talked about previously of how because Kai is a switch, he has Dom moments and you see those in his interactions with Rei. I doubt I can find a gif of the moment, but it's the beginning where they're standing in front of the calendar Rei has scrawled on the white board and he gets overwhelmed and just sits down all depressed. Kai bonks him with his papers and reprimands him for not answering his calls because he was worried. I personally adore the friendships in the show, so seeing Kai and Rei and Arashi and Fuma is always enjoyed, especially since it was possible they would cut what little we had before to accommodate the runtime.

Moving to episode 4, this whole episode goes so fast really. Idk if it feels faster because they have condensed multiple episode story points into one, or if it was because I had a high level of anticipation watching it, want to see Rei succeed and be able to go to Arashi. People talked when the series first came out about how barely anything happens in the Phayu/Rain story, but Rain's growth is the story. Him finding himself, building confidence in himself, taking himself seriously and maturing, that's the story. And considering how coming-of-age is a staple in BL, Thai BL specifically, it's makes sense.

Switching to what Arashi is doing during all of this, it's not that they include more scenes with Fuma and Arashi, but more that they took all the moments from multiple episodes and squeezed them into one, but that makes it feel like we get so much more of them. As with the og, I do absolutely adore the mechanic friend of Payu/Arashi. Like there's just something about his aura that is so friendly and delightful. On the opposite end, Stop (who I still haven't bothered to see if he has a different name here) has been so incredibly well acted throughout the four episodes that I absolutely despise him. He is the epitome of skeevy, and I absolutely hate him so much. So that actor's done a fantastic job.

Now....ppl are gonna ask my opinion on the NC scene...so I'll be a bit more detailed, but my statement above about the vaguely mismatched vibes still stands. It's clear and understood that Boss and Noeul were lightning in a bottle as far as chemistry. Trying to recapture it with new actors would be difficult and trying to 'copy' it would be folly. The actors here do a really good job for most of the scene. There are moments that feel awkward in an unintentional way. It's not that it feels unbelievable, I think the affection and chemistry between them feels very believable actually, but faking having sex is not always easy to do in a realistic way. We suspend disbelief because we know that it would be inappropriate and unreasonable to have actors do things in the most believable way, and often the good is so good, that you don't notice the tiny details that remind you it's not real. (Remember Payu's boxers in ep 6).

We do end the episode with one of Kai (Sky's) nightmares, which is jarring to say the least. I'm...excited seems the wrong word given the story...but interested to see how the Sky and Prapai story is presented. As previously mentioned probably somewhere, they are one of my favorite stories/couples in BL.