#because is Tharn's last goodbye to Phaya

[lukaherehelp]

the thumbnail for part 4/4 of The Sign is what is keeping me sane right now, actually

[bengiyo]

The Sign Ep 12 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

It's been too long, so I barely remember where we are. We left at Tharn somehow maybe saving Phaya and getting stuck in a cave to maybe say goodbye because Chalothorn threatened him or whatever. Chart got caught for being undercover. The rest of the gang was lost in the woods. Anyway, let's finish this.

Wait, how are they successfully tracking anyone? I thought there was no phone service.

Oh lord don't start death flagging with promises about rings.

Damn, I feel bad for Chart. That final kick delivery was actually pretty good.

Bestie said they didn't need rope to get them out of the hole. The power of the Warrior's Bond and Yai's arms was enough.

I watch too much American action. The bullet stuff is giving recent Fast films.

Well, there goes Khem.

Why would they let Tharn run after them alone? He literally loses every fight.

Mhmm, see, Chalothorn had to intervene.

Montree still being afraid of Tharn came across clearly.

Damn, y'all ain't even shower before going back home?

Here we go. One last look at Babe's waistline before it ends.

Oof, the only thing Tharn responded to was an admission of his love.

Finally, 🍑

Oh, I liked that shot of the water leaking through the bed to show that Tharn was gone.

I feel like the grandma has always known more than she let on.

Did we really repeat the exact same death scenario? Chalothorn, you really suck at this. The circle remains unbroken.

I know Phaya's doctors have got to be frustrated that he keeps drowning.

Is Dao in France to cut down on filming schedule conflicts?

I love when dramas show the passage of time with facial hair.

So... Chalothorn just...got over it off screen?

Oh, a second season tag and Saint cameo. I guess?

Final Verdict: 5.5, Great Gowns, Beautiful Gowns. Overall, I just don't think the elements of this show ever really came together. I think the first two episodes of training and mythology teasers, along with the Lieutenant Tam mystery, made me expect these elements to circle and eventually converge in a more cohesive way. I also feel like some of the side stuff didn't really work. I thought some of the mythology about the Naga and Garuda was really interesting, but I didn't exactly feel the cycle they were stuck in playing out in this drama. I'm also hugely annoyed about the core angst evaporating off screen. So, in the end, I'll mostly remember it as copaganda.

That being said, I thought the cast chemistry was solid, and I really liked the execution and use of the CGI. I like that IdolFactory keeps trying more things, but I do think we need to get stronger script writers and editors in the room with a stronger say on the planning front.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - 2 GREAT Shows but everything else is kinda blah

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top. Happy new year, BLabies!

Jan 2024 Wk 1

Ongoing Series - Thai

Last Twilight (Fri YT) ep 9 of 12 - This show is really earning its chops, and these actors are executing beautifully. I think this is a great BL, and it reminds me quite a bit of ATOTS, only the physical comfort between the actors is more genuine and easy to watch. Unfortunately a guitar came out. Nice communication tho.

That was a very lovely romantic sex scene. Very prettily done. Classy boys, very classy.

Gah what a beautiful final scene with Day saying the last thing he wants to see is Mhork. Pure unadulterated romance of the highest order.

The Sign (Sat YT) ep 7 of 12 - If killer, why hot? Poor Tarn compelled to try to rescue everyone else from their fate, because he cannot save himself from his.

Meanwhile Phaya is finally learning that you catch more water snakes with honey lube than vinegar.

Stellar confession from Phaya brutally honest and very fated mates.

And another lovely sex scene, so I guess that was a vision and not a fantasy Tharn had.

Lets be clear those two shows were GREAT everything else this week was kinda blah.  

For Him (Thurs iQIYI) ep 6 of 12 - I find the backstory very odd. Are they twins? What happened to Blue? Am I meant to care? Do I care? 

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 10 of 12 - I mostly just feel sorry for First. He’s so rightfully confused. Zee/Sprite keeps blowing hot and cold because they two different people! The after sex cuddle was cute. 

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 8 of 14 - Love getting more JeffAlan. Also I switch favorite character allegiances in the trash watch happening here.

Cooking Crush (Sun YT) ep 6 of 12 - Didn’t air this week and I hardly noticed. 

You and My Stars YT 1 of 2(?) - school kids, love triangle, it’s cute enough.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) 1626 ep 20 of 24 - Just so boring. 3/10 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

VIP Only (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 8 of 10 - I’m not into the love triangle. Although I kind of like the new suitor, he’s honest and a good communicator. I appreciate these things in a BL boy. But I begin to wonder if triangles should be left for KBL. Also, this should have been an 8 epper, 10 is too long.

Sahara-sensei to Toki-kun (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 5 of 8 - No ep until Jan 12 

I Became the Main Role of a BL (Japan Sun Gaga) ep 1-3 - AKA BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen - A rising star is paired with an (older) former child actor (doesn’t think he’s good enough) in a BL series. It’s fun, built on a dynamic of off screen paralleling the on screen, so near constantly meta. All the tropes are there but are as a result of the filming process. The star turns out to be obsessed with the former actor and very dorky about it. In fact, everyone in this show is a little gremlin weirdo (affectionate). There’s tons of scenery chewing miscommunication drama, slapstick, voice over head hopping, and eccentric sides characters. “And he comes with feathers” applies to a number of my friends. You know I don’t like stories around fan obsession, but otherwise this was enjoyable. 8/10

A nice start to the JBL year. Keep em coming, Japan.  

It's done I Need to Catch up

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - will binge when I have a spare day.

It's Airing But...

[INTERNATIONAL] Cherry Magic (Sat YouTube) ep 3 of 12 - yeah Japan put the smack down on our boys. Sadness. You can use a VPN if you like. Read all about it here.

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 14 eps - Dear Playboyy, it's not you, it’s me… I hate you. You’re about as deep (and as palatable) as a shot glass of cum. While I'm sure you’re someone’s kink, you're my weakest link. Goodbye. I DNFed this at ep 5. Frankly I'm impressed with myself for getting that far.

Night Dream (Sat YT) 6 eps - It’s a pain to track down and I really didn’t like the first episode so… DNF  

The Whisperer (Sun ????) 10 eps - Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). I don't think even the perfect single dimple can motivate me to watch. Word is... it's terrible.

7 Days Before Valentine (Weds WeTV) 10 eps - Giving me Luminous Solution vibes. I'm waiting to binge if safe.

Dead Friend Forever (Thai Sat iQIYI) - horror, meh, tell me if it's worth my time?

In Case You Missed it

All my year end round ups (so far) are as follows:

TOP 10 BL Trends of 2023

Top 10 BL Secondary Pairs of 2023

2023 BLs Best Trope Execution Awards! TOP 10

Best Back Hugs Thailand & Elsewhere

BL 2023 - Cute Bits of Domesticity

BL 2023 - Boys Feeding Boys

BL 2023 - BOOP!

All the BLs Announced for 2023 that didn't happen

Next Week Looks Like This

Starting This Week:

1/9 Time the series (Thai Gaga, WeTV, Channel 3) 10 eps - MFlow Entertainment brings us yet another "fix the past" narrative. After witnessing the gunning down of his beloved, a heartbroken actor uses a magic pocket watch to go back in time and discover the truth and maybe fix it.

1/11 Although I Love You and You AKA Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka (Japan Gaga) - Soga, who, after a divorce and relocation to Osaka, seeks solace in dining at 26-year-old Sakae's restaurant. Unbeknownst to Soga, Sakae sees him as more than just a regular customer.

More Coming Jan 2024

Beside You (Thai YouTube)

Love For Love's Sake (Korea ????)- based on the Manhwa ‘Love Supremacy Zone’ by Hwacha. A young man is dropped into a game based off a novel he loves. His mission is to make another player, YeoWoon happy. But then the game starts unfolding completely different from the novel.

Ossans Love Season 2 (Japan ????) - five years later, will anything have changed? This is Japan so... probubly not. I won't be watching this.

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Yes, you SHOULD apologize!

This was a FANTASTIC moment! Last Twilight

Night Dream referencing the Shrimp Trope.

Some didn't like this bit BUT I love a claiming moment, even in a briefing room... especially there.

I ALSO love a good Grandma Moment in a BL.

Such a good sex scene. The Sign

(Last week)

[timotey]

This was one of my favorite moments of The Sign Special, when Babe talked about which scene was the most difficult for him. I can't wait to see it because he was so emotional about it, it really felt like he was on the verge of tears just talking about it, about Tharn's last goodbye to Phaya. And I'm so glad that he and Billy clicked so perfectly...

If you want to watch it, it's in 3rd part of the Special on YT, starting at 7:20 or so.

Also, no wonder Billy said that it was dangerous to look Babe in the eyes for too long, that his eyes were so beautiful. If they did that, if they stared each other in the eyes like that before filming a love scene... yeah 😳

[mikuni14]

Watching DFF right after The Sign is a whole experience (which I don't recommend 😂). First you notice the huge difference in quality (in favor of DFF). Then you think how wonderful Phaya and Phee are, and even though you understand Tharn and Non, you know that they were forced to do what they do, you can't help but think how unfair it is. How Phaya and Phee give their all and FIGHT (successfully!), and Tharn and Non give up and choose a different path, one without their loved ones (and they fail). Non is still a child and I don't hold any grudge against him, I just feel sorry for him. Objectively, I know that Phee would probably be able to cope with this situation (because he is strong, confident and smart), but I understand Non, because he is a PERFECTLY WRITTEN CHARACTER whose behavior, although stupid, is VERY logical and consistent. But gosh, I wish Tharn would choose to fight for himself, for Phaya, for his grandmother, for his love, for his happiness and future. I would LOVE to see a power couple TOGETHER fighting for themselves, at least once, and not a knight on a white horse saving a nobly sacrificing lover... I want to see a rabid dog at the throat of someone who is threatening his family. Just fuckin once. Or a snake planning a surprise attack 😏 Whatever. Just not this tired old trope..

DFF is NOT a BL series, whatever relationships exist there are not happy and are background to the plot, But DFF did what The Sign cannot do - it created a plot so absolutely engaging and awesome that any BL relationship can easily be just background, without affecting the enjoyment of the series. This series would be great even without the BL element. However, The Sign is a series that, after removing the BL element, simply doesn't hold together and there is nothing interesting in it. And unfortunately, The Sign has been dimming PhayaTharn for several episodes, who either don't have scenes together because they fight, Tharn avoids Phaya , or are in hospitals, or when they are together, they behave like work colleagues, not lovers 😆

And to top it all off, the series has recently decided that the best way to do romance is to have episodes where nothing happens between Phaya and Tharn, only to stuff last minutes with rushed declarations of love that have zero impact after putting the viewer to sleep for the entire ep. Sorry, I don't want to sound like a hater, but... honestly I feel nothing while watching Tharn "saying goodbye" to Phaya. Because there was no tension building for this scene, Tharn literally sided with the doc against Phaya which they DIDN'T TALK ABOUT AT ALL (guess it was not a big deal for both of them??? just a normal day in their relationship??????) and because that's exactly what I expected would happen...

[timotey]

Ficlet: Clock Ticking

The Sign. Phaya/Tharn. Missing scene from ep 12. Unbeta'd.

Finally alone, Tharn allows himself to fall apart.

(A short missing scene, inspired by sad Tharn.)

-*-*-

Tharn hugs his grandma and closes his eyes for a moment, letting himself rest in her arms for one last time, soaking up her warmth, her love for him. He’s so glad that he could give her this, justice for her son and her daughter-in-law, before the end. That he can leave her with this, at least.

In the end, though, reality comes rushing back as it is wont to do. Tharn opens his eyes, and pushing away from his grandmother, he regards her smiling face with a little smile of his own. It costs him a lot, this insignificant thing, but he wants her to remember him like that, even though on the inside, he’s crumbling.

Taking her hands in his, Tharn says softly, “I'll take a shower and then go to bed, alright? I’m really tired.” 

She nods, her eyes full of affection. “Alright, child. Goodnight.”

He leans closer and kisses her cheek lightly. “Goodnight, grandma.”

And goodbye.

Tharn gets up from the couch and on his way out of the sitting room, he passes Yai and Sand - he touches Sand’s arm and pats Yai’s back, trying to convey so much through those little touches, I love you and thank you and goodbye - and Phaya’s grandmother and his sister - he clasps his hands together and bows down to both, silently thanking them and entrusting Phaya back to them, asking them to take good care of him once Tharn is gone - and then Phaya himself…

Phaya, who's sitting on the couch next to his family, looks up at him with a concerned face and a question in his eyes, but Tharn only smiles - another pained little thing - and shakes his head, nothing to worry about, really, he’s trying to say. He rests his hand on Phaya’s shoulder for a moment, soaking up the warmth of Phaya’s touch when Phaya covers Tharn’s hand with his own briefly.

Then Tharn’s out of the room, in the hallway where he’s finally alone. He stops there, leaning with one hand against the wall, because his knees feel weak and he can’t seem to draw breath into his lungs. His world is falling apart around him and he’s shattering together with it. Mere hours from now, a brief moment of time, really, all this will be over.

Somehow, Tharn finds his way to his room where he takes off his clothes and throws them into the waste bin. He will never wear them again so there is no point in throwing them into the wash. After that he walks into the bathroom, closing the door behind him, and steps into the shower.

And he then scrubs and scrubs and scrubs, trying to get rid of all the dirt and sweat and blood, of all the horrors of the last two days. He scrubs harder and harder until his skin is all red and tender but he can’t seem to stop. He just… he can’t stop. Because the remnants of the past events are still there, etched into his skin, into his mind. It’s all still there and it’s ugly, ugly, ugly.

He got Montree, he finally managed to bring justice to his father, to his parents, and this should be a glorious day, a happy day, because his family finally found peace. But he feels no joy. It’s all clouded and marred by Doctor Chalothon’s betrayal, by what the man - the Naga! - had done, to him and to his, over the years, by what he is forcing Tharn to do to keep his loved ones safe now. This is the moment when Tharn should have had it all - instead, he is left with nothing. And nobody knows. No one. Not even Phaya. Especially not Phaya.

Phaya…

Tharn’s knees give out and slowly he sinks down to the tiled floor of the shower stall. He pulls the foamy sponge to his chest, squeezing it hard, letting suds slide down his arm and his torso, as he curls in on himself, head bowed down low - and cries. He cries so hard, his tears mixing with the water beating down on him, he sobs so hard he has to press his free hand to his lips to stifle the harsh sounds escaping his mouth because nobody must know, nobody must hear, shh, keep quiet, keep quiet…

Tharn’s alone, finally, after two whole days, there’s no one around, no one can hear, no one can see - and so he allows himself to fall apart. He allows himself to cry for what he is losing, for his love that will never reach a true fulfillment in a long and happy life. He allows himself to grieve for a future that won’t ever be. 

And for Phaya who will be hurt, so hurt by Tharn’s disappearance. Because Tharn promised, he promised he would never leave Phaya. And he is going to break his promise in the worst way possible - without even saying goodbye. But there is no other choice, he knows that, not if he wants to keep Phaya safe. Because Phaya would never let him go, he would fight for him - and die for him. And Tharn can’t have that. Anything, anything but that.

Tharn cries and cries, till he has no tears left. His throat hurts and his chest feels so tight as if someone were squeezing his ribs, not letting enough oxygen into his body. He feels weak and lightheaded, sick to his stomach, and his heart hurts so badly he fears it might shatter. It feels like his whole life, his whole world just ended.

When he eventually lifts his head, though, and turns his face into the water raining down on him from overhead, letting it wash away all traces of his breakdown, there’s also acceptance. It seeps into his body slowly and reluctantly and it leaves him a little numb, drained and exhausted, but strangely calm. 

He was given a choice. A seemingly impossible choice, yes, but still a choice. And he chose. He chose the lesser of two evils for his loved ones, for Phaya. And now he will have to live with the consequences.

There’s a knock on the bathroom door. Phaya. “Hey, Tharn? You okay in there?” Worry. For him. Like always.

Tharn props himself up against the wall of the shower stall and gets up. His joints ache, his knees hurt and there’s a crick in his back but that’s okay. That’s fine. “Yeah,” he calls out. His voice is a little rough, though, so he clears his throat and tries again. “Yeah, coming.”

He turns off the taps.

Silence reigns.

And time is still running out.

[timotey]

I'm still convinced that we will get a happy ending, or at least a hopeful one, or S2 (I would prefer that because I don't want to say goodbye to Phaya & Tharn yet!). But the thing is, if we don't? I'll be okay with that.

Which is odd because sad endings usually ruin my enjoyment of a drama. But in this came, it's not so. Because it would fit the overall mythology of the series, their karmic cycle, all of it. And, IMHO, it's a sign of a well written script when I can accept that, yes, it's sad but it doesn't take anything away from the beauty of it. Hm...

We will see. But in any case, this will remain a 10/10 drama for me, whatever the ending. Because it got me to write again, it made me engage in fandom again, it made me stan BillyBabe, it introduced me to Gap... The last drama that managed that, though not even then to this extent, was Dark Blue Kiss which made me write 30+ fics for PeteKao. And The Sign topped that. It simply makes me... happy.

[timotey]

I wanted your opinion on something. It seems like Saint and Idolfactory have been pushing BillyBabe out there a ton and solidifying them as leads for future shows. I know there has been a lot of discourse about the possibility of a not happy ending for the Sign and getting people ready for that possibility. However, most people watch love stories because they want the happy ending. With some fans upset with the ending of BillySeng last year, I feel that an unhappy ending would cause problems for future shows as we know people will not be able to separate happy ending from it was a good show but sad ending. I can't wait for Sunday!

I can't see this drama having any other ending but a happy one. I could see it having an open ending if they were given S2 but as much as I keep hoping for it (I'm not ready to say goodbye to Phaya & Tharn), I do not think there will be one. And unless the special they filmed this January is set at some point between ep 8 and the finale, Phaya & Tharn will end up back together before the finale ends since in the special, they're back to being intensely loveydovey, as in giving Phaya's bed run for its money!

I honestly don't know where all the discourse about an unhappy ending comes from. Will there be a ton of angst? Oh, you betcha. Will there be pain and anguish and much suffering? Certainly! But their reunion will be all the sweeter for it. It will allow the drama to end with a bang and not with a whimper. Personally, I intensely dislike dramas that solve everything in the first five minutes of the finale and then it's all fluff and cutesy blahblahblah. I need drama in my drama! They can keep the fluff for the special. This is a thriller/action drama and the ending should actually be thrilling!

So yeah, my two cents. Happy ending guaranteed but we will shed a bucket of tears before we get there.

[timotey]

So in the novel does Tharn meet his nephew at the end? We know his name? Does Phaya know about the child anyway? Does he see it too? Isn't there some sort of confrontation between Phaya and Chalathon at the end?

The boy's name is Chiravas. They all meet in the last chapter of the book. Like, they literally have lunch in a restaurant, Tharn, Phaya, Chalothon, Wanwisa, the little boy, Dao and Ticharuj, Phaya's Garuda brother. But there's no emotional connection between Phaya and Ticharuj, you wouldn't even believe they were brothers at one point. And though Chalothon and Phaya don't exactly get along, except for some pointed remarks, there's no confrontation. It's a goodbye lunch because the Nagas and Ticharuj decided to retreat from the human world once and for all because gods shouldn't meddle in the affairs of humans. Dao decides to live out her life as a human and once she dies to join Ticharuj in the Garuda realm. So, they have lunch and... that's it. Tharn and Phaya are simply glad it's over and they can now live a normal human life.