#bad buddy review

[crow-caller]

This 1970s short story is about a black shelled lonely crab alien contending with human romance. I'm sure my enjoyment of it has no other factors...

(The Reality Trip by Robert Silverberg— i love my pulp short story collections, overall collection is quite eh so far, this story was a lot of fun, and then whoops, there's a sudden very racist one! I read a collection by Theodore Sturgeon before this so I'm still haunted by how much better he is than Silverberg at every turn.)

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Is It Really That Bad?

PREVIOUSLY ON IS IT REALLY THAT BAD...

That right there truly is the long and short of it. Producers held her verbally agreeing to be in this over her head, and so she begrudgingly worked on this movie. She was hostile on set, hated the director, had a stipulation one of the producers wasn’t allowed to speak with her or come to set when she was there… And it’s hard to really blame her when this movie ended up blasting her from Oscar-winning actress to a washed up talk show host. She wasn’t the only one who got obliterated like a stegosaurus chilling at the point of impact for the asteroid; director Johnathan Betuel never directed again (he did go on to found the visual effects studio Luma Pictures, most notable for their work on the Underworld films, so not a bad rebound for the guy) and the aforementioned producer, Richard Abramson, never produced again.

And really, these people should’ve seen this coming. They took an idea that had been trapped in development hell for years and turned it from a gritty sci-fi black comedy into a goofy buddy cop movie for kids! Is it any wonder it tested so badly they canceled a planned theatrical release and sent this one straight to video? Every single thing about this film screams “colossal misfire,” something that proved to be true when this bombed hard. But maybe audiences were simply too harsh on this film; perhaps there’s something of value that audiences back in the day couldn’t see. I mean, it’s a movie about dinosaur cops in the future! Can it really be that bad?

Oh yes it fucking can. But let’s take a look at it anyway.

THE GOOD

If nothing else can be said about this movie, it must at least be given some credit for how utterly weird and ambitious it is. This is a family-friendly take on Blade Runner, but instead of replicants dinosaurs are brought back to life and anthropomorphized for… reasons. The guy who did it literally says he did it just because, and you know what? That’s kinda based. I love this goofy-ass Sauron worldbuilding.

Uh… Yeah, that’s really it.

THE BAD

Hey you know how I said that the film was very ambitious? Ambition only goes so far if you don’t have the talent to utilize said ambition. And let me tell you, they had zero talent utilizing all the wild ideas in this story. This movie is about psychic dinosaur cops in the future solving murder cases… and this is used to make a generic buddy cop movie! There are so many ways they could go with this and they go the safest, most boring route possible so they can cram in a bunch of goofy kiddie jokes.

That’s another thing: This movie has insane tonal whiplash. You have Theo engaging in cartoonish antics where he bonks people with his tail and gushes about his love of cookies, and then you’ll have intense sci-fi B-movie violence right after. This movie really tries so hard to have its cake and eat it too, but instead it kinda just shits all over the cake and tosses it around.

Our leads aren’t exactly great either. Whoopi Goldberg understandably does not ever feel like she wants to be here, and the result is her character feels underbaked and flat. I can’t exactly blame her for not giving a shit; she did want out after all. George Newbern as Theo is serviceable enough, but it is such an awkward waste of his talents. This is the guy who played the greatest hero in all of fiction and the most evil villain too, and here he’s relegated to corny baby antics and cookie obsessions. Granted, this was before he became a bigger name in voice acting, but in hindsight it seems like a critical waste of his talents.

Oh, and the animatronic effects are complete ass. The dinosaurs barely work half the time, with some of them straight up not moving. Theodore’s eyes stop working at several points, and you can tell his pet dog is actually genuinely fucking terrified of him whenever they’re in a scene together. ILM did the effects and they somehow look worse than what they did for Howard the Duck—which is insane since this film came out the year after they convinced the world dinosaurs were real with Jurassic Park! Several staff members apparently worked on Dinosaurs too, a beloved series with great stylized dinosaur animatronics! What the fuck happened here to give us these malfunctioning uncanny monsters?

And why the fuck is Shaft in this?

IS IT REALLY THAT BAD?

Oh it absolutely is that bad.

Like let’s not beat around the bush here: This movie is a tonal mess with janky effects and a nonsense plot that squanders numerous fascinating concepts. There’s not really any sense being too charitable here. But this is absolutely what makes this movie so entertaining! It’s such a colossal, batshit misfire that it ends up being one of the most insanely fascinating films ever made. From the bizarre story of how it was made to the absolute clusterfuck of a plot that was put to screen, you can’t ever say this movie is boring.

Of course, one must lament that the original idea from the 80s was scrapped and forced into becoming a family-friendly action comedy at the behest of the studios. There are so many great ideas here, so many interesting concepts and worldbuilding, and none of it ever gets to soar like it should because the movie is the inept bastardization of interesting concepts by out-of-touch suits. It makes the film interesting as a freakish curiosity, but this genuinely could have been something on the “good” side of “so bad it’s good” (or maybe even straight up good!). As it is, this is one of the best of the worst, peak shitty movie to inflict on your friends on movie night.

Of course, this film has the easiest path of redemption in the world: Someone just needs to dub Theodore's lines over Advent Children or Superman vs. the Elite or even Injustice and it will all have been worth it.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL

June 2023 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Step By Step (Tues WeTV & Gaga) ep 7 of 10 - I really adore the family/household dynamics in this show. All the relationships between siblings are so well executed. All the tension and sub text and covert glances in the first “modeling” sequence was so good. I really want to watch the BL within this BL. Bruce is THE BEST. Jeng shutting down everyone with a cool few words is genius (especially given the curt sharp flat way he speaks Thai). Why does nobody have parasols or sun hats or sunshades or sunglasses or anything? I’m actually not mad about seeing an attempted reunion with the ex, bc we are getting to see both that (and how) they once were good together, and also the cracks that drove them apart (and will not allow them to ultimately be together a 2nd time around). I do feel sorry for Jeng, he moved too slowly and lost the 1st round. The captions were not good in the trunk seen, but trust me it was totally hilarious. 

La Pluie (Sat iQIYI) ep 7 of 10 - I finally figured out why I am so tense around this show. In openly taking to task and challenging the soulmates trope, this narrative is telling viewers not to trust it’s core trope - which means we cannot trust the main couple to end happily, nor can we trust those characters who believe most strongly in fated mates (Pat & Mai). This means I, personally, not only can’t rely on an HEA but (as someone who also does not believe in soulmates) I am not entirely sure I even WANT an HEA. This has NEVER happened to me before. It makes me uncomfortable because that’s a core part of my identify with these shows. I mean, good job La Pluie, but also.... huh. Back to this ep: Uh oh. The crush is obvious and the soulmate knows what’s up now. The sex scene twist was v interesting, v gay, and v unusual in a BL. Unfortunately it’s still a BL so the faen fatal just HAD to appear. Will there ever be one out of Thailand where this trope doesn’t show up? Next week is the tried & true uke damsels off into the woods alone. Sigh. 

Our Skyy 2 (Bad Buddy & 1k*) eps 12-16fin - Jimmy, baby, why so hot in an engineering smock? Please have mercy. Aw, Marc is back in yet ANOTHER BL. Definitely the current record holder for most BLs at any one time. (His filming schedule must’ve been insane at the beginning of this year!) PatPran are still great, and their eps this had me hooting with laughter (startling the cat). I forgot how much I enjoyed this show and cast. (Ohm looks great with longer hair, but also he’s lost a lot of weight. I hope he’s OK.) OhmNanon give pitch perfect LTR energy. Throwing EarthMix into the, erm, mix is fun if awkward. NO SINGING. 2 damsels in the forest! Also PatPran = geniuses at mock fighting. So much flirting. It was all quite adorbs. But me-thinks Chief & Tian have been eating moonlight chicken. Full review below. 

Be My Favorite (Fri YouTube) ep 3 of 10? - was enjoying it up until the last bit, why so digusted by smooches? Bad GMMTV no green tea for you. Trash watch here! Rollercoaster about to go DOWWNNNN. 

Luminous Solution (Sat Gaga) ep 3 of 6 - I still only like the high school characters + Dome (WHY so gorgeous?). Is he a magical spirit too? Also, the subs were well off kilter. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Our Dining Table AKA Bokura no Shokutaku (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 10 fin - God they’re so cute. This show used the manga as a storyboard, so I knew the “crisis of faith over possibility of loss” would happen. Still in live action this felt tonally off. While understandable given Yutaka’s character, and ultimately particularly important for the dad and a relationship with the family, I don’t know we needed it in this BL. The book does have a better ending second scene, but it wouldn’t be possible to do it on screen easily. Ultimately, this show had a simple, touching, quiet end to it. That’s very like the show as a whole. I did love it - it’s been top of my list all along. Full review after the special airs. 

Love Tractor (Korea Weds iQIYI) eps 1-2 of 8 - I LOVE IT SO MUCH. IT IS EVERYTHING. SHUT UP I AM FERRIL FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CITY BOY AND THE YOUNG FARMER. Come on. Korea. SRS? Plus some language play? I just go die now. 

Star Struck (Korea iQIYI & Gaga) ep 7-8 fin - Man this was a difficult show for me. I know we’re supposed to identify with HanJoon but I really felt for YooJae. I’ve been in his position more often than I care to count, and it’s terrible to lose a friend because they caught feelings and you did not. It’s an awful thing to hold a friendship hostage on condition of a romantic relationship. Especially if the other person is not sexually interested in you! All that said, the boyfriend ep was okay. Not sure I believed in this relationship, but it was cute enough. The final ep was (how do I put this?) a loser. We spent a lot of time with terrible home lives and then a semi happy for now final scene? Whatever. Full review below. 

Vian the series (Vietnam YouTube ) ep 6 of 12 - somehow I keep missing this one, I’ll catch it next week. 

Naked Dinner AKA Zenra Meshi (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 9 of 12 - I think the Taiwanese boss is my favorite character. Japan rarely (if ever ) trots out the faen fatal trope. I mean I named it with a Thai word for a reason, it’s not from origin yaoi at all. Yet still there she is. Sigh. This show. 

Stupid Genius (Vietnam Fri YouTube) ep 1 of 6 - RL Studio (Stupid Boys Stupid Love) bringing us yet another high school set VBL. It’s actually not bad. I see a lot of common faces whom I’ve enjoyed in past VBLs. 

It’s Airing But ...

House of Stars (Thai Mon iQIYI) 12 eps - I bounced at ep 3. Will binge if told it is worth it at end.

Stay (Pinoy YouTube) 7 eps - It’s mostly in English and set in LA so I’m not bothering but the first one did drop.

Ever After (Pinoy ????) - I got nothing. 

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (Japan Sun ????) 10 eps - NO ONE ASKED FOR THIS and no, I have no idea where to get it, why would I? (Say it with me everyone: Oh Japan, must you?*)

Boys Love Omegaverse (Japan ????) - honestly tho? Who tf cares? You’ll still tell me if you find it, because inquiring minds... Irony of this airing at the same time as Takumi-kun. Full circle much, Japan? 

Tin Tem Jai Special (Thai ????) - honestly I checked Gaga & iQiyi in my territory (craptastic hotel) and neither had it listed so I quickly gave up. I mean OF COURSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE Lee Long Shi in a bathtub, who wouldn’t? But... 

Just because I didn’t watch the special doesn’t mean I can’t gank Lee Long Shi wearing nothing but soap bubbles for you. 

I’m not a monster. 

Ended This Week 

Our Skyy 2 final 4 eps thoughts: This was an interesting combination, and don’t get me wrong I very much enjoyed it, but it felt like the story was carried by PatPran’s characters while the setting and narrative followed an ATOTS arc - ultimately disjointed. OhmNanon are so bold and vibrant they’re too stark a tonal contrast to EarthMix’s more refined and elegant approach, so for me the screen presences and the style of story clashed. It was like a bouquet made up of tulips & roses: they are both flowers and they’re both pretty, but I feel like they actually belong in different vases. Still, enjoyable. And I got a crying kiss. Always makes me happy. Definitely the best of this bunch, and probably the best Our Skyy (and I genuinely loved both the NLMG historical installment and SOTUS.) 8/10 

Star Struck. A friends to lovers story that felt more friends to tolerant yet disinterested partner. It was more about challenges with parents and class strife. I would’ve been disappointed if the show hadn’t come out of nowhere so I had no expectations. But as KBLs go, don’t bother. 6/10 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting:

6/15 Tokyo in April AKA Shigatsu no Tokyo wa (Japan Gaga) 8 eps - Based on a yaoi, this is a reunion romance that takes place in an office. Japan does Our Dating Sim? Yes please.

Still Coming - June 2023

6/22 About Us but Not About Us (Pinoy movie from 2022 on Prime) - A professor grieving the loss of his partner meets an ambitious literature student.

6/24 Why You (Khmer BL ????) - Billed as a horror romance, not sure if this is a movie or a series where it will air... nothing except that it exists.

6/24 Tie The Knot AKA Under the Same Sky (Pinoy movie on Prime) Trailer - I guess Prime is coming for our Pinoy BL? From OXIN Films (Rainbow Prince), announced for 2022 based on a true story, Briggs's family runs a bridal business but he has never had a chance to fall in love until he meets Shao, a groom to be.

6/25 Dinosaur Love (Thai iQIYI) Trailer 5 eps - from Ultimate Troop about a uni student, Rak, whose partner cheats on him with Rak's best friend. This gives bad boy hazer Dino an opportunity to hit on Rak at last. From The Yearbook people so I will not watch this as it airs. After Remember Me? Never again with them.

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Bruce is so damn fantastic in this show.

Consent comes in all different forms. (both Step by Step) 

Fight fight fight!

Sex sex sex blow job! (both La Pluie) 

Smartest boy in the show. 

Not enough InkPa... never enough. Never never never! 

Love the suit.

All from the Our Skyy 2 BB + ATOTS cross over. 

(last week)

Current Kpop earworm? IVE’s I Am

[oldshowbiz]

[catgirlreisuwa]

GOSH REI you are so pathetic and useless… kisses him with tongue. kisses him with tongue. kisses him wi

[uff-tasye]

So, suddenly a fmv of “bad buddy the series” popped up in the recommendation and I ended up reminiscing the emotions felt throughout the series.

One sentence came to my mind,

“My whole world were against it but I still choose to love you with my whole heart.”

“I tried to hate you throughout my life while knowing deep down that I could never hate you. I wish I could hate you just like how I say. I wish, you would make me hate you so that I won't have to suffer anymore.” - these emotions I could feel through Pran's eyes in the last part of episode 4. I just can't forget how the emotions were so perfectly portrayed that I can still remember that. It was such an amazing series.

[civilization-illstayrighthere]

Johnny wandering around the villa making all these quippy comments about what he thinks kerry does in the house, smiling when he sees the never fade away album and then giving v whiplash in the next moment complaining about why he doesnt get why kerry ‘hoards shit’ like that. “This is Kerry’s favorite guitar” he says before promptly taking it off the wall and playing it. weighing in unprompted on if he did or did not choose the furnishings, sitting there w his arms crossed w the most morose pout on his stupid face etc etc etc they’re so divorced coded it’s driving me insane

[kattahj]

Summary of half a dozen Thai BLs

Now that I've watched half a dozen Thai boys' love dramas, I thought I'd sum them up for people who haven't yet watched any, and think that they may want to.

First off: I recommend ALL of these. They're ALL very gay with happy endings. They ALL have fun plots and generally good acting. (There are some actors who knock it out of the park more than others, but they're spread out over all the different shows, and some appear in more than one.) If you're only going to watch one and you don't care about genre, I'm going to say Moonlight Chicken, but if it actually matters to you what the show is about and what kind of story it is, here's a summary of them all (in the order I watched them):

Moonlight Chicken

What's it about: The owner of a diner hooks up with a customer late one night, but is hesitant to let the encounter turn into a proper relationship.

Genre: Slice of life

Watch if you enjoy: Messy characters who get tangled in relationships in different ways. Family, including found family, and multiple gay couples. A fairly realistic view of gay life in Thailand (including the impact of a lack of marriage equality), and also issues such as class, disability, and the multiple effects of the covid crisis. My first BL and still my favourite.

Gayer version of: a Mike Leigh movie

A Tale of Thousand Stars

What's it about: A rich guy who gets a heart transplant decides to make his life useful by taking up the profession the donor left behind, namely as a volunteer teacher in a remote mountain village. There to teach him the ropes is a stern forest ranger.

Genre: Classic romance

Watch if you enjoy: People who are so in love everyone can see it, but still take ages to admit it. Secrets and lies. Scenes with cute children. The same main actors as in Moonlight Chicken. Pretty boys crying/fainting/in mortal danger.

Gayer version of: The Sound of Music

Bad Buddy

What's it about: The sons of two rival families, who are also members of rival university faculties, are way more in love with each other than they're willing to admit, even to themselves.

Genre: Romcom (or romantic dramedy, it gets pretty serious at times)

Watch if you enjoy: Belligerent sexual tension. Chemistry so thick you can slice it with a knife. The couple getting together halfway through the show, and that's just the start of their troubles. Environmental issues on the side. Adorable lesbian side couple. Love songs. Metaphorical homophobia in a world with no actual homophobia.

Gayer (and happier) version of: Romeo and Juliet

He's Coming to Me

What's it about: Lonely ghost who can't seem to move on makes friends with a young boy who is the only one who can see him.

Genre: Paranormal romance with a side of murder mystery

Watch if you enjoy: Cute ghosts. The hijinks when people don't know that the ghost is there. Having your heart broken only to have it mended again. Absolute himbo main characters. Fantastic coming out scene. Surprisingly cute het side couple.

Gayer version of: Julie and the Phantoms

Not Me

What's it about: After a young activist is beaten into a coma, his twin brother secretly takes his place, trying to find out what happened.

Genre: Action-adventure with a political bent

Watch if you enjoy: Bikers doing parkour. The softest babiest man in existence trying to pass himself off as a badass. Lots of discussions about law and justice, and absolutely wrecking the lives of rich assholes. Any of the following: Enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, or friends and possibly lovers to enemies.

Gayer version of: The Parent Trap crossed with Face/Off.

The Eclipse

What's it about: Rules at a high school are strictly enforced, with threat of a "curse" against those who break it. A rebellious new recruit immediately clashes with the head of the prefect club.

Genre: High school drama, mystery

Watch if you enjoy: Aggressive flirting. Teenage rebellion. Old stuffy school being shaken up. Getting to see First and Khaotung stretch their acting muscles (they play side characters in some of the shows above). Multiple gay characters. Homophobia dealt with directly as well as indirectly.

Gayer version of: Dead Poets' Society

Feel free to ask questions if you want to know more! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try a seventh show. :-)

[incandescentflower]

2023 Fic Roundup

I've been doing this for the last few years and it's been a satisfying exercise so time to take a look at my AO3 and see what I did this year for writing.

A full list of all my fic can be found here on tumblr or on my AO3. (sometimes I forget to update my tumblr list but I end up catching up eventually). I also tag posts about my fic with the incredibly creative tag "my fic."

After a few absolutely maniacal years of writing, this year slowed down. I missed it, but life and more responsibilities at work got in the way. Still, there were some satisfying accomplishments.

Words posted: 178,315

Fics posted: 14 - less than half of what I wrote last year :'(

Fics completed: 13 (still one wip nagging at me, sigh)

Fandoms written in: Cherry Magic Th, Bad Buddy, Be My Favorite, The Eclipse, My Tooth Your Love, Never Let Me Go, Our Dating Sim, Semantic Error, Word of Honor

Fandom most written in both word count and fics:

Bad Buddy with 3 fics (1 wip) and 59, 071 wc

Fic with most hits, kudos and comments: Somebody to You for Semantic Error - an arranged marriage AU

Other notable fics I wrote this year:

I finished Echoes in the Dark, a fic I started about a month after Word of Honor aired and then I was distracted by some other fandom events. It's an AU where Zhou Zishu is also kidnapped by the Ghost Valley master when he and Wen Kexing were children. There's great art for it from the wip big bang and I'm really proud of it.

I also wrote sending wishes into the sky, a fic focused on Wen Kexing's relationship with Gu Xiang and processing her death for a discord exchange that I ended up fully outlining in a few hours and finishing at warp speed because I knew exactly what I was trying to do with it.

And a few one shots for Our Dating Sim that I even feel warm and fuzzy when I read them.

Plus finally finishing the Semantic Error fic I linked above that I started in 2022.

My writing this year was dominated by thai bl shows, which is interesting since I had not written for any thai bl until Bad Buddy. But I did a few exchanges (one in bbs fandom and one in GMM fandom) so that definitely made it more likely for me to write them.

Last year I said my writing goals will be to continue to work on finding a balance between catching inspiration when it comes and keeping going when a story requires more detailed work and sustained attention. This remains a continued goal. I finally finished two long standing wips this year and I have one more to go.

Also, related, getting better at outlining longer plots. haha.

For 2024, I will finish The Triple N Project if it is the last thing I do. I would also like to write some more for Cherry Magic Thailand and go back to a reincarnation AU I started for The Devil Judge long ago.

(all stats are for fic finished in 2023 only, my 2022 and 2021 posts are here)

[vicontheinternet]

Ppl who watch 911 for a fanon ship but refuse to watch lone star as see 911 as the “better show” even though they never gave lone star a chance give me the hebiejebies if buddie stan have no haters im dead

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

Well, i have read the sample from Shusters book and what can i say. Now i get what the other anon was saying. Just from two chapters it’s already clear that Shuster is trying to paint Ze like some applause dependent dictator, who doesn’t give a fuck and his kids and wife(As Shuster wrote «Puts his work above everything else»🤡🤡)

Interesting, what you can say about that book because i’m already disappointed…

.

[panicsimss]

Goodbye sims, I'm in my crappy ps2 castlevania era

[neonsbian]

i think i might read the dangerous romance novel after it's done airing

[oldshowbiz]

Shecky Greene's contempt for Don Rickles.

[randomjreader]

Wait wait, so you mean to tell me ohm and nanon and milk and love all play love interests again in vice versa??? THERE'S A SHOW THAT EXISTS THAT PUTS OHM AND NANON AND MILK AND LOVE OPPOSITE EACH OTHER AGAIN??

[rjptalk]

CROSSING THE PARENTAL BOUNDARY

CROSSING THE PARENTAL BOUNDARY #PatPran needed courage to finally cross the boundaries their parents set. It is time to revisit the #BadBuddySeries and the excellent work of #OhmPawat and #Nanon_Korapat

Bad Buddy Series Revisited, by Rich Paschall All parents set boundaries for their children. We would expect nothing less. In some cases, the boundaries may be too extreme. This could cause family conflict between the parents and children. Such is the case for Pat and Pran in the award-winning Thai television series, Bad Buddy. Right from the outset we see the parents laying down the…