#LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN

[25shadesoffebruary]

[usertoxicyaoi]

"Those eyes are unfair. There's no choice but to beg."

LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN (2024). EPISODE TWO.

[bengiyo]

Ben’s Big BL Blurb 2: Fall is Finally Here

I am simply too busy with worth, family, other hobbies, and life to write about every show in real time anymore. I’m sorry to all the Stray Thoughts readers who’ve reached out about whether I would pick that back up, and I simply just do not have the time to do them anymore. Instead, I’ll try to do one of these as often as I can to catch up on things.

First, let’s go over some shows I finished recently that I don’t think I wrote much about.

First Note of Love

I was so happy to see Michael back on screen, and I was glad to see that he’s still able to get great chemistry with his co-star. Unfortunately, I don’t think this show was very coherent, so I didn’t get a lot out of it emotionally. It was a pretty inoffensive watch overall, and thus an easy show to put on without having to work through too much. I liked the work between everyone, and Mei Lei was such a fun character. Probably won’t return to this one, though. 

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

This is probably the show of the year for me. There’s so much I loved about this show. I loved that the characters had sex, but were neither rewarded nor punished for it; their sex didn’t solve any problems. I also really love how this show explored how childhood trauma expresses in two different kinds of boys, and I love that we got to see a bully reckon with his actions and get closure. I love that this show ended with them being kinda poor, but happy together. I love how messed up they both were about everything. I loved that Juyeong wasn’t stupid, and could read what was going on.

I clearly need to write a separate post to unpack everything I felt in this show.

Let’s move on to what I’m watching currently, in no particular order…starting with the lesbians, and then the worst BLs.

Apple My Love

Genuinely having fun with this GL. I like how quickly most of the drama plays out. It’s giving me quite a bit of secondhand embarrassment, but I like the characterizations in this show. This new production house brought us Knock Knock, Boys! and Monster Next Door this year. We need to keep an eyes on them. 

Haunted Hearts

I’m so fascinated by Oxin Films teaming up with Regal Entertainment. The leads are very attractive, but the cinematography is really boring. I’m trying to stay invested, but it’s kind of a sleepy watch. Also amused that they started airing a ghost romance right after Halloween ended. I’ve kind of moved on emotionally from the season.

My Damn Business

This show could be good, but it’s not. I struggled with episode 5 because our lead looked more relaxed and happier with his senior than the guy he’s getting into a romance with. There’s something missing here in this one, but I can’t exactly put my finger on it. I think it’s primarily a side effect of the short run time, but I think the boss’s interest isn’t landing properly for the employee to respond to. 

Eccentric Romance

This show could be good, but it’s not. Still, I am obsessed with a murder mystery being the primary source of confusion between our leads. I was willing to forgive this show a lot of its rough edges, but it failed to handle the turn from friendship to sexual/romance really well. I feel like our guys just started dating and having sex, and I’m a bit frustrated that they didn’t talk about it really at all, particularly since this show features two different languages spoken on screen. Genuinely looking forward to seeing how this one finishes. 

See Your Love

I’m not sure this show is exactly working that well, but everyone is very pretty and I’m having a decent time watching it. I like the way Shao Peng stands up for himself, and I like that nothing that’s happened has been totally unbelievable or unreasonable (at least with the mains). I’ll be curious how the hard of hearing and deaf viewers respond to this one once it’s complete. 

Love is Like a Poison

This show is actually so funny. I love that Shiba is in his own lawyer genre separate from everyone else, and I really like how the two of these guys have become a team. I’m curious how they manage to resolve the scamming next week, but this has been the most unexpected dynamic of the year. 

Love in the Air: Koi no Yukon

MAME won this year, y’all. We all have complicated feelings about her, but she’s secured a loving adaptation from a Japanese team that’s put solid effort into bringing her characters to life. Every character feels correct compared to their Thai counterpart we saw on screen, and that’s a strong sign that the writing behind MAME’s work is strong, even if we all have issues with the way she tackles certain themes. I’m really impressed with this adaptation, and really like this version of Rain.I also feel like this show is doing a better job blending the forthcoming couple focus shift.

Our Youth

We just got this show, but damn does it feel sharp! I’m always going to be a sucker for a cinephile character, and I’m so compelled by the way Minase is drawn to Hirukawa. The scene in episode 2 where Minase has to leave Hirukawa’s house might be one of the most impressive sequences we’ve had in a while, requiring a great deal of choreography and effort from the actors and the camera crew to pull off, and I’m excited to see how these characters split and then come back together. 

Smells Like Green Spirit

Let me just say that I need another Abe Alan appearance when he isn’t playing a character doing horrible things to his students. I’ve enjoyed meditating on the 90s with this show and what that era felt like. I’ve liked how the show has tried to focus on how different parents (especially the moms) have responded to their kids coming to terms with themselves. I’ve also really enjoyed the friendship that’s grown between Mishima and Kirino. I’m struggling with Yumeno a lot, because I’m really not a friend of bully romances. Still, I feel like this is one of those shows I’ll remember for a long time because of its focus on the 90s. 

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days

I think @lurkingshan covered reactions to episode 5 and episode 6 better than I could, and I loved @twig-tea giving context for the film history moment in episode 6. I remember screaming into the chat for friends to show up for this when I got to that moment. This show has two great pairs of dynamics going on that mirror well. It’s got such a strong handle on its characters’ motivations and how they would respond to the actions from each other. It’s probably the tightest thing I’m watching now, backed by extremely dialed-in performances. I will be thinking about Qi Lu organizing his potential first kiss with Qin Xiao, and how unapologetic he’s been about the entire affair. He’s being selfish here, but I kinda like it. I’m so thankful that we are somehow still getting this show, because goddamn do the Chinese actors deliver on chemistry sometimes.

Interview With the Vampire Season 2

I finished this with a friend last week, and holy fuck is this show still so, so good. We watch a lot of gay romance because of BL, and I am having so much fun watching the show about gay divorce. I loved the time we spent in Paris, Daniel’s shifting role in the narrative, and the new insights we got into Lestat this season. I will miss Claudia so much, and I have to give a standing ovation to Delainey Hayles stepping into the role of Claudia and doing the damn thing this season. I just love seeing my little fucked up gay people torment each other on screen.

I'm still thinking about Louis and Lestat reuniting in a hurricane after Claudia derided this as yet another chapter in their stormy romance.

Dropped Shows

Unfortunately, everyone can’t win. Some of these shows are just too long for me to keep up with them, and oftentimes I get bored. I’ve currently dropped:

Lovesick 2024 - I may go back. We’ll see

Jack & Joker - It’s just too long, and they just killed Jennie and a kid. I’m good.

Fourever You - I’m bored with Earth always playing this character type.

Pluto - Namtam and Film are beautiful, but this looks too messy right now.

Every You, Every Me - Wasn’t intrigued after episode 1, but the commentary may draw me back.

Kidnap - Ohm is not enough to keep me invested in this show. 

Uncle Unknown - How did they make a 6 minute show feel slow?

I’m genuinely not trying to be harsh to Thai shows out here, but I just do not have the time to keep up with all of them when they’re this long and dragging.

Thanks for stopping by, and let me know if there’s something I missed that I should check out.

[ppeonppeonhan]

Japan's Love in the Air Remake (Ep. 1 & 2)

When I first saw that Japan was remaking Thailand's Love in the Air, I laughed it off. The idea of them topping one of the hottest Thai BLs of all time (that didn't compromise storyline for raunch), and doing it justice seemed extremely ambitious.

And after watching episodes 1 and 2, I still don't think it possible, BUT I will say that it is the perfect plot for a J-BL: A skittish baby bi prince is seduced by a rich, charming, bad boy, bi king. Japanese BL characters reign supreme in the skittish baby gay category. In fact, Rei / Rain is giving serious Aoki (My Love Mix-Up: Kieta Hatsukoi) energy.

Meanwhile, Arashi / Payu is played by 22-year-old Nagumo Shoma, and he is killing his first lead role in a major series. Is he as hot as Boss? No, but he has potential. The tension between him and his costar is damn near electric.

My only issue with the series is the pacing. The Thai version had 45min episodes, but the Japanese version clocks in at 26min. It not only feels like a lot was left on the cutting room floor, but truncates the passion they're building up to.

My favorite change though so far is the at-school seduction scene switching from the bathroom to the vintage car. It seemed more realistic and...sanitary. lol

I am so far underwhelmed by the Japanese version of Prapai-Sky, and low key think Shoma would've made a better Prapai, but I'll give 26-year-old Suzuki Asahi (Fuma), who is also making his BL main role debut, a chance. Sorry to Nagatsuma Reo (Kai / Sky) though -- there's no way he'll out sassy power bottom Peat.

But I look forward to seeing what other elements they change and whether they can match or even top the iconic PayuRain and PrapaiSky lovemaking scenes.

[piningintrovert]

Nagumo Shoma as ARASHI and Hamaya Takuto as REI LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN (2024), Ep. 1

[poetry-protest-pornography]

Rei anticipating a kiss that isn't coming, and Arachi being amused by it

[lurkingshan]

Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan is entirely on point.

✅ Casting

✅ Chemistry

✅ Character dynamics

And they only have about half as much screen time, so we are likely to get a more concentrated version of the core story, with less filler material. It’s everything I hoped for an adaptation of this show.

[guzhufuren]

Hamaya Takuto and Nagumo Shoma as Rei and Arashi in 'Inside You' M/V OST for Love In The Air Koi

[chicademartinica]

[bl-bam-beyond]

LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN

Episode 2

Rei (HAMAYA TAKUTO) and Arashi (NAGUMO SHOMA) hide in Rei's car so as not to be found by two juniors looking for Arashi Senpai.

Before Rei knows it Arashi has taken control...again.

Making seductive demands to be called Arashi Senpai, Rei has no choice but to acquiesce. And acquiesce he does.

@pose4photoml @just-another-boyslove-blog @absolutebl @negrowhat @wanderlust-in-my-soul

[lostyanting]

Love in The Air - 恋の予感 (2024) // Episode 1

[25shadesoffebruary]

[usertoxicyaoi]

"Call me Arashi-senpai."

NAGUMO SHOMA AS HAYASE ARASHI. LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN (2024).

[mygwenchan]

So what if I decide to ship Payu with Arashi, what then? 🤔😋

[prapaiwife]

Love in the air koi ep 1!

Okay so as u know or follow me whatever love in the air is my favorite show! so of course I had to go into this unbiased and know that this is too completely different cultures. So although it may stay similar in some aspects I was expecting to see some differences and or changes. Obviously I've seen a few Japanese shows so I know the clear difference between the two.

Now anyway on to the actual episode the casting was something that for me personally i had to warm up too. I think arashi is great as payu it's on point with the aura that payu holds I couldn't really see anyone else play this part better than naguama. REI is I feel a lot more childish in this one compared to the Thai version and that was a big complaint for a lot of people just in general about rain with his naive nature about things just childish Friday enjoy it and personally for me it didn't bother me so I was prepared for the Japanese version to either exaggerate that more or maybe tone it down. And it seems like it's a little bit at least to me more just as much as a Thai version or a little exaggerated and I feel like that's just rain though so lol. Arashi and rain in this episode was okay like I thoroughly enjoyed it they definitely made rei more apparent to arashi just more I guess you can say mutual of the feeling that he is attracted to him. Because the Thai version is kind of up to the viewer you may think it is not that way in the beginning because of how rain is so it seems unaware of it all in the beginning. But to say that thing was pretty good it was okay I am looking forward to seeing where they're going to do next week I love the bathroom scene and bossnouel did that part of other parts but like that scene if you know you know lol. I'm just curious to see how they're going to tackle the rest of their relationship and the dynamic of it in this I have hopes though because it is Japan and I think they will do it in their own way that is compelling.

Fumakai obviously haven't started and since this is going to be 10 episodes I am up and nervous how they're going to put their story into this and a cohesive way. Because it needs the time for it and I think with the Thai version and it being split up into two it was good in that part because we needed to have that time to see by story thoroughly. But they have prapai look more of what I think people imagine him to look compared to in the Thai version. And the Japanese version he is way more a player boy a lady's man or whatever you know like more older looking lol. Kai I really like so much I can't wait to see you once we get to that part of how the actor playing Kai will portray those emotions sky has been going through I see from some of the shots in the opening and it looks very promising so I'm going to like be very optimistic and see where it goes.

[piningintrovert]

You're really handsome. Ah, I meant...

LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN (2024), Ep. 1