#ifylita spoilers

[pharawee]

Commander Yai | Khun Yai

—I FEEL YOU LINGER IN THE AIR 💮 Episode 1

[valentinaonthemoon]

I Feel You Linger In The Air episode 7 moodboard:

Bonus:

[clairedaring]

In addition to the excellent thoughts by OP above, I want to add on about the reason behind both Khun Yai (in 1927) and Kanthorn was born sick, and how that relates back to Commander Yai, which is why fans desperately NEED a season 2.

Khun Yai said he was born sick so his family had to make the blessing ceremony to try and bring his "spirit" or "blessing" back to him.

2023 Yai Kanthorn was also adopted because he was born prematurely and sick. His real mother is Ueam Dao (Khun Lek's youngest daughter) but his aunt Ueam Duean (Khun Lek's oldest daughter, Khun Yai's favorite niece) had adopted Yai Kanthorn so he got gradually better in health.

Point is both future reincarnations of Commander Yai were both both born sick, missing their "blessing". So why is this the case?

We can trace back to the words in the final chapter when Commander Yai was in a life and death battle and before he sacrified his life in that battle, Commander Yai made a promise to Jom.

"Jom-Jao, listen, though you are fated to be apart from me, my love will never fade, and it will follow you like a holy spirit, protecting you in my place. No matter where fate brings you, no matter the danger you encounter, may those misfortunes fall upon my spirit instead of yours."

To give some context, you can see the blessing ceremony being mentioned again in EP.12

It's an ancient belief among some northern people. They say we've got 32 blessings, which will protect us and bring happiness in our lives. When we get sick or undergo misfurtune, as you did, we should undertake such ceremony to bring the blessings back to you again. But when we die, our blessings will be reincarnated in the form of our close relatives. That's why when a baby is newly born, they tend to guess who it was in the past life.

You can see that because of this promise, Commander Yai had traded his "spirit"/"blessing" for when Jom had crashed his car into the river but did not drown, miraculously surviving -> resulting in his future reincarnations (Khun Yai and Yai Kanthorn) to be born sick with missing "spirit"/"blessing".

So when both 2023 Yai Kanthorn and 1927 Khun Yai meet Jom, they feel like they're finally "complete".

The dialogue in this scene in EP.10 is also evident of Yai's completeness after meeting Jom. The translation isn't able to do it justice but Yai uses "kwan" and "por jom kwan kong shan" which is both a play on word of the "spirit"/"blessing" and also "jom kwan" = my dearest jom.

In order for everyone to deeply appreciate the beauty of the show, let me explain how some actions of Khun Yai date back to Commander Yai and how the whole idea of how reincarnation and a pledge of love and two souls finding each other, no matter how hard they are pushed away, so perfectly (novel spoilers ahead) -

Commander Yai plays a very vital role for all his future reincarnated selves with his promise of unwavering love. In the novel, after Jom disappearing from Khun Yai's era, he is transported further back in time where he meets Commander Yai. Initially, Commander Yai is very harsh towards Jom and treats him like a prisoner.

My favourite part of the novel is how Jom, already head over heels in love with Yai, tries all kinds of tricks to get Yai to fall in love with him as well. In the series, we have seen Khun Yai courting Jom but here, we have a chance to see Jom actively pursue Yai. The funniest thing is that Jom does this in front of Yai's entire platoon and it's hilarious to see how Yai keeps brushing off Jom's attempts.

Finally, Commander Yai returns Jom's feelings and he takes a pledge that no matter what happens, he would always love Jom. And since, Jom had to suffer through a phase of unrequited love here, so he promises that, in his every life, Yai would be the one to fall in love first. So, we see Khun Yai being attracted to Jom first, falling in love first, getting the feeling that he had been waiting for Jom for a long time.

He gives his ring to Jom, which was given to him by the king, as a token of promise. The same ring that we see Commander Yai wearing underwater and in Jom's dream.

[dragonsareawesome123]

Omg, just found the I Feel You Linger in the Air special ep with English subs. Fucking finally!!!

[aikawa-kazuki]

"i can excuse lesbianism but i draw the line on cheating"

[nymphomena]

Just because I'm curious and I saw some discourse about this topic:

I'm going to add the spoiler tag just so we can have a discussion in the comments so BEWARE non watchers!

[clairedaring]

Excellent observation from OP. It's interesting indeed to see what Dee Hup House has sped up (YaiJom moving in together, getting together, banging each other...) and what they're leaving behind. I understand that it's mostly due to the fact that DHH had to expand Part 1 of the Novel into 12 episodes.

If it had been adapted as is in the novel, we would have had quite an abrupt ending for YaiJom (praying they get a proper goodbye scene in the series, Tee Bundit bro I'm under your bed). I don't mind leaving the "goodbye arc" into the last 3 episodes since IFYLITA is giving us 1 hour+ episodes so they'll probably manage to cover everything nicely.

Since the series have kept some of the most iconic dialogues so far and incorporated them fantastically into some scenes, I'm sure YaiJom conversation about building houses, WW2 happening at one point (which was alluded to in EP.8 by the monk).

While the novel remains my favorite read in 2023 (and I have re-read it 7 times already), the series provides greater depth to the network of characters surrounding Yai and Jom. The novel (Part 1) is indeed an immersive experience and more Yai/Jom centric, I was always regretful we couldn't spend more time AFTER Yai and Jom got together (that cinema date better not happened how it was like in the novel or it's gonna kill me)

Needless to say I love both series and book. They're different but not so different at the same time. It's truly a thrilling roller coaster ride of emotions enjoying both mediums.

I think one of the most interesting differences between the book and tv show is that at this point in the book, Yai is fully aware that Jom is from another time.

Like Jom had shown him his cellphone, explained that WWII is going to happen and tried to help Yai begin to take steps to prevent any fall out for Yai and his family.

Yet the show seem to be trying to keep that secret for some reason. A bigger gut punch then Yai being forced to be engaged? Something that Jom is going to end up having to explain as he’s disappearing?

Neither path is better or worse then the other. I am loving both styles of storytelling and plot lines. Just a change that I noticed that intrigues me about the direction the show is taking.

[daemondamianwatching]

KDtM Episode 9 was like a single firework,

it was brilliant, gorgeous, captivating and moving but gone and over before I knew it - leaving me craving for more!

[blue-grama]

^Absolute shameless wet romance novel nonsense, I love it

Spoilers ahead for I Feel You Linger in the air, both the series and the novel --

I really enjoyed IFYLITA but the end had me a little(/lot) ??? so I went ahead and read the novel this weekend and thought I'd do a little mini-review of changes between the novel and series. The upshot? I SO want a full season 2 to A) retroactively make the ending of season 1 make sense and B) to put this team's artistic sensibilities to the task of fleshing out the second half of the novel. A few people have already covered the major change from the novel to show, which is that Jom is pulled away from 1928 not to the modern era, but back further in time, to 1767. This second half actually ties the story together really nicely, both in explaining the origins of Yai and Jom's connections and making 1927 their middle ground. That's the moment in time when they feel a connection, but neither of them knows what they are to each other. They develop their relationship organically in that era. It gave me a little bit more pathos, retrospectively, knowing that. The series also fleshes out the side characters more than the novel, which doesn't include much of a story for Ueang Phueng or Mei (I feel like there is a servant named Mei but she has almost no role). Fong Kaew also has a much bigger role in driving the plot in the series. I know some people like to focus on the main romance, but I ended up really loving this about the series. It felt more real and grounded that they had a three-dimensional people with their own problems surrounding them. I also really adored that Series Jom has a long-lasting impact on Yai's life. Because 1920s Yai's story is a sad one - he loses his love and spends the rest of his life alone. Yet we know that without Jom, it would have been even sadder. He would have been stuck in a loveless arranged marriage. He never would have lived his dream of studying abroad. It was Jom's appearance in Yai's life that allowed Yai to live fully, even if they couldn't be together in that timeline. I see SO much potential for the series to add extra depth to the 1700s plotline, which also involves those side characters entangled in similar dynamics. Commander Yai is more of a tsundere character, and I'd love to see Bright play out that personality shift. Jom also goes into ineffectual seduction mode, which could be pretty damn entertaining to watch, given how he doesn't do a lot of pursuing in the 1920s timeline. There is also a lot of chess by candlelight and bathing in streams and yeah I'm gonna need to see that with the IFYLITA team's cinematography. Anyway, it's a romance novel translated into English, so IFYLITA wasn't, like, the best prose I've ever read, but it really wasn't bad either, and it's a quick read. If you loved the show, it's worth a try. I'm going to be crossing my fingers for a second season! In the meantime, see you all when the special episode drops.

I'd like to order up six straight hours of this, thank you.

[poomphuripan]

The production team of My Stand-In spent Valentine's Day watching the first episode 👀

[dragonagelesbian]

Just finished 😭😭😭 That was so good, I cried so much. Cannot believe after 12 weeks of following IFYLITA, it's basically over... (sans the special). So happy we're gonna get a second season, the story deserves it. And after seeing how Tee handled the story, I trust him (???). We shall see.

I agree with @luthienmpl that I wish the story had stuck to the chronology of the novel and not jumped to the future, but I also understand why series only fans might have been left unsatisfied by that. I guess I'll wait to see how Tee and the crew frame the second part before I pass judgment. Absolutely impeccable emotional beats until the credits, though. The OST was used to its fullest potential.

I will have more detailed thoughts later, but a few comments:

Feminist icon Jom acknowledging FK deserves her time to heal and deserves to make her own decisions

Maey looking beautiful and happy, gotta love that

That sex scene...with the gasps and moaning whilst their story played out? ...well played, editing team. Well played. Mirrors the scene later when we hear Jom cry as flashbacks come on. Very intense and poignant moments. Really showcased the duality of hanging on but knowing you'll have to let go. Being abandoned vs abandoning.

Absolutely CRIMINAL that there was no James or Ming. I said it.

I LOVED seeing Jeed!!! We needed that, honestly. The actress did an amazing job, Jeed and EP felt so different. So weird seeing her in modern clothes, too, haha.

Loved the Ohm chat. Felt necessary to end the season, honestly. I don't think that happens in the novel (?) Correct me if I'm wrong. But it felt very cathartic for both Jom and Ohm. Still think Ohm is trash but at least he has a good partner ig

Those drawings...those scenes of Khun Yai after Jom leaves.......... We imagined it in the novel, but it was a gut punch. Also the scene where the scuba diver rescuer wrenches Jom away from Commander Yai and he's shouting and fighting......CHILLS

This has been a 12 week rollercoaster. With this solid (if imperfect) ending, IFYLITA becomes my favorite Thai BL, sharing it's no.1 spot with Not Me. Incredible production, script, acting and directing. Truly a unique and special show. Please do give it a watch if you've been waiting for it to end so you can binge it.

Ready to watch IFYLITA finale!!!!

So excited, cycled back home in a hurry for it

[pharawee]

I'm thinking of reviving my super random (and spoilery so be warned!) review posts for I Feel You Linger in the Air because I have so much love for this show and I need a place to gather my super random thoughts.

I read the novel back in spring not really expecting much beyond a pleasant read but it's quickly become not only my favourite BL novel but one of my favourite novels in general. Does it need an editor? Yes (but I'm an editor so I'm biased - but tbh I'd rather have these "imperfect" translations out there than not having them at all, and IFYLITA's translator did a really good job). But beyond that it's insightful and sweet with a hint of sadness and loss. It manages to capture the moment perfectly, painting such a clear and nostalgic (but not sugar-coated) picture of the time period(s).

I feel like this is exactly what the series is trying to capture as well. It's in the colour-grading and the lighting and the cinematography and the way both Jom as the main character and Chiang Mai as the backdrop (and I'd say almost a character in its own rigght) are introduced. It's in the mystique and the dread of Jom catching these glimpses of himself and what's to come. It's in the abrupt unravelling of Jom's ordinary life and the pain and loss (and later confusion and anger) he feels at not understanding how and why these things are happening to him - which imo becomes such an important theme later on as Jom gains understanding and acceptance. Because to me IFYLITA isn't just a beautiful love story. It's just as much about Jom (and Yai - but in the novel he's never a POV character until the special chapters, and he's never quite as aware of his past as Jom is, having lived every aspect of it) growing as a person. Not in a way that changes who he is - Jom is a very set and self-aware character who knows what he wants and I really like that about him - but rather in how he perceives those around him and his own feelings.

The novel also has a handful of spectacular and vivid bed scenes so I'm really curious how (and if) they'll approach them.

But on to episode 1.

I love this opening. It's so atmospheric and eerie. We feel just as out of place here as Jom does. And I love how he's the intruder here. This isn't his home, he's watching a very private scene unfold and it's instantly made clear that he's not (yet) wanted. The other Jom is more scared of him than he is in this moment. I also love how he's half in the light, half bathed in shadow, like he's already wandering between worlds. Ah, I love me a good foreshadowing.

And I love how we're then slowly introduced to Jom, to his work, his life, his mannerisms. He lights a scented candle, his flat is full of sketches, drawings and books on architecture. Apart from his work, he lives his life patiently and quietly waiting for Ohm, his boyfriend (who he met at university and who he believes is the love of his life). In his two years in London Ohm has never given him any reason to doubt his commitment, which is why his infidelity is such a heavy blow later on.

We are then introduced to another "character": Chiang Mai - as it is today with its busy streets and markets and landmarks. Old trees lining the waterways and what remains of the walled city itself. In the novel, Jom uses his knowledge about Chiang Mai to pinpoint where he is in the past and how things have changed. As an architect interested in art and culture he also makes a lot of observations about historical buildings and society - which is what makes the novel so special to me. You'd probably need a huge budget to visualise this on a similar scale in the series but they tried (and succeeded imo) with the market scene, and Khun Yai's house will soon become the visual focal point of the series anyway.

A house, which Jom specifically has been asked to restore by the owner even though he's only a few years out of uni.

And as with Jom's dreams, Jom already has a connection to the house. He's been seen by the workers when he wasn't there. He instinctively knows which key to use for the chest the workers found in one of the rooms. The chest contains several sketches that to Jom seem remarkable because they don't really fit the time period.

Hm, I wonder who drew those. 🙃

Of course, soon enough everything goes to shit.

And it hits even harder because Ohm's so much more callous and cruel than in the novel. In the novel, Jom almost becomes a bit of an afterthought, a side character, an inconsequential affair (and I suppose he's the affair here too) on Ohm's path to happiness. But here his actions toward Jom seem quite deliberate and careless. And his fiancée Kaimook is painted as just plain evil. It's like Ohm and her don't even love each other (when in the novel they do - with all the tragedy that entails).

I guess they really wanted to drive home how quickly Jom's life falls apart. And, damn, his speech about waiting for two years and somehow NOT becoming unfaithful was incredibly strong. Then again, he was the one waiting, holding his breath, essentially stopping his life to stay in Chiang Mai until Ohm returned. He's blameless, of course, but that's not exactly healthy either.

The attempted SA isn't in the novel at all. I get why they included it. It's very difficult to watch but it drives its point home. Content warnings would be appreciated though.

Then there's this. Commander Yai. I screamed. Here I was wondering if he'd make an appearance at all (and hoping they'd maybe end the series with a glimpse of him) but they just put him front and center.

The moustache is a necessity, I'm telling you. It wouldn't be Commander Yai without the moustache. Also, this is a fake moustache in an underwater kissing scene. All things considered this is amazing make-up. Embrace the moustache. Commander Yai is worth it, I promise!

Unfortunately, Commander Yai's early appearance might also mean that there won't be a second part of the series planned. They might just allude to Yai's past life without going into much detail - which I totally get. Another season about the Lanna period would probably be a logistical and budgeting nightmare. But still. Gimme!! 😭

Anyway, I love how Jom is immediately just so at ease with him. Granted, he's drunk, grieving and drowning but kissing a handsome, moustached dude during his near-death/time travel experience feels like the most normal thing ever. And I love how it's Commander Yai who saves him. The shot of him uplifting Jom was so beautifully filmed.

Good thing he's found by Ming my beloved and not a dozen angry bare-chested Northerners who promptly punch his lights out lol

And this is one of the moments where I wish I was (more, much much more) fluent in Thai so I understood more of the differences between Jom's Central Thai and everyone else's (old-fashioned) Northern Thai. I do understand there's a difference, and I do understand that they're using different vocabulary and some different grammar but that's about it.

Where is Jom's phone, though? He still had it in the novel and it's an important plot point later on.

I love Jom's brush with the old market. You browse, you buy.

Also Jom sitting down in a secluded spot and just devouring the food that was given to him. I don't know why but the scene really resonated with me. Maybe because it was as out of place as Jom must feel. Or maybe because it was so human - such a mundane thing to do after everything that's happened. Almost like the past is already much more soothing than the present that Jom has left behind.

I'm faceblind but that's supposed to be Ohm (in a past life), right?

Not Jom having an existential crisis over Ming namedropping his future father-in-law (and Ming pitying him in the background. He might be a bit strange, Ming, but don't even pretend you haven't already adopted him into your family).

Finally we meet the mystery man from Jom's dreams (sans moustache this time), and he looks just as suprised to see a familiar face as Jom is (albeit for very different reasons).

I love that they included the jasmine with the lantom flowers. Khun Yai only drinks jasmine-scented water so they're as much Jom and his flowers as the lantoms (and their meaning isn't as bittersweet either).

And then there's the underwater scene(s) which are just so imcredibly well done. So intimate and soft, and probably the only time Yai really looks as young as he's supposed to be.

So yeah, this series is so far exceeding all my expectations and I'm so glad we'll be getting twelve 1h+ episodes (and a special? And a second season? Please? 🥺) of this beautiful, beautiful show.

[waitmyturtles]

BLUBBERING SPOILERS BELOW FOR I FEEL YOU LINGER IN THE AIR, EPISODE 12/FINALE:

YEAH. SO. YEAH. SO!

This can't be meta. I don't think I can conjure it. Just blather. I'll try to be sensible. First, a little housekeeping before we start the meeting:

We know there will be a special episode (the preview looks..... LIKE A GODDAMN HOLIDAY GIFT, GAAAAHHH).

Peeps are going back and forth on a second season, and while it seems that Nonkul Chanon blurted it out during the final episode fan meeting (lol you cute, Nonkul), Tee Bundit is rolling back a bit, *likely* due to funding. But seeing social media going absolutely INSANE over this ending, I can't imagine that Dee Hup will have any issue with finding the moolah for a second season -- especially after that after-credits scene, WITH HORSES, WITH MUSTACHES, WITH TATTOOS, WITH ARMOR, the whole thang. Tee let that shit hang all out like that. Warrior-era Thailand, let's m'fing go. That was a hell of a lead into a second season that may not happen, come awn.

Alright, with that out of the way:

I didn't think a show would top Moonlight Chicken for me this year, but IFYLITA is my top new drama of the year (with the HEAVY CAVEAT that I have not seen La Pluie yet -- that's for either after my Old GMMTV Challenge, or just making sure I watch it before year's end).

Part of the reason why I lost my gatdamn mind last week on episode 11 is that Tee Bundit did not interfere with any damn nonsense last week -- he let the episode's story unwind without any noise. He let the emotion roll.

The same light touch (or rather, a lack of interference) happened here, BUT: there was a LOT more happening firstly by way of closing some loops that were open, moving to new loops, and shedding more depth into Jom and Yai's final moments together

We got closure on Yai's dad, who was grumpily like, uhhh, I dunno what happened in my life, but yeah, daughter Eaung Peang, you go have a good life with Maey, crotchety crotch. I think that's the best we could get from politically involved dads of 1928 Chiang Mai. (EP AND MAEY SWINGING THEIR HANDS WHILE WALKING AWAY -- SAAAHHSHAY FROM ALL THAT, LADIES, SASHAY.) It looks like EP's herbal abortion left her safe -- thank goodness. We didn't see James or Ming this episode.

For loops that weren't closed, I'm not complaining, because we got an explanation for how Jom's beloved ones will repeat in his reincarnated futures and pasts, through the explanation of the northern Thai ceremony of having 32 blessings reinstated to you after illness or misfortune (THREE CHEERS for @blmpff for capturing screenshots of this explanation!). (AND THE WHITE THREAD, PEEPS, THE WHITE THREAD, I'm coming back to this in a second.) If we do get a season 2, then I will not be colored surprised if we see Ming and James in different roles. (And, yes. Your bitch here has relaxed on Pat's shooter, finally. My nose was trained on James being a colonialist interferer, but he did good last episode.)

But this episode belonged, of course, to Yai and Jom, their final moments together in 1928 Chiang Mai, saying the slow farewell as Jom slowly disappeared in front of Yai's eyes.

LORD. WHEWWWWWWWWWWWWW. The lacy fabric with which Yai used to cover the mirrors so that Jom wouldn't see himself fade away. The empathy of that. The scene where we heard their lovemaking over the flashbacks montage. WHEW. WHOA. (I did say, to my friend @shortpplfedup, something something Jom started really fading away after that intimate scene and something something had the ontology cough cough outta him, ANYWAY.)

The way that Yai pitched forward when Jom finally disappeared.

AND I MOTHERFUCKING SCREAMED WHEN JOM AND MUSTACHIOED YAI WERE ABOUT TO TOUCH INTO THE WATER AGAIN, AND THEN THE DIVER EMT WAS LIKE, BLOOP I'M HERE AND OH, JOM, YOU'RE ALIVE IN 2023. I yelped in the deli, shit. The way Jom was silently screaming in the water for Yai.

And, so. In the "present" day (present dimension, really), Jom survived that CRAAAAZY car accident (LIKE! WHAT?! He flew out of the car into the water, bros! The magic of fiction, anyway.)

He.......he holds space for Ohm?! Looking BACK on that scene, AFTER we get the explanation of the 32 blessings, we realize: despite Ohm's infidelity and his promise to a new woman, Ohm is still important in Jom's life -- he's still a beloved presence, as he did mean something, for a long time, to Jom. Of course, modern Jom did NOT let a moment to shade Ohm pass him by, oh no. But wasn't that interesting to note? That Jom's dimensions would allow Ohm to be in those dimensions -- that Ohm would be reincarnated through Jom's 32 blessings (at least in the past direction).

You know what I also loved about seeing Jom in his present-day apartment, with the present-day Jeed, Ohm, and Khaimuk (aka Fong Kaew). I LOVED WHAT THAT CASTING, THE SHIFTING OF THE CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATIONS, SAID ABOUT JOM'S PERSPECTIVE OF EQUITY IN 1928 AND 2023.

Jeed is NOT Khun Eaung Peang. Jeed is ALL SASS. But Jeed is YOUNGER than Jom. Jom, in 2023, is P'Jom, with the honorific. Present-day Jom can smack his little sister's head in jest. Jeed can be OUT and SAFE and have a crush on her girl friend, safely, and can ask for her brother's support, OPENLY.

Jom never stopped being Jom, whether it was 2023 pre-accident, 1928, or 2023 post-accident. Jom is comfortable in his own skin, and wants happiness AND EQUITY for the people he loves around him. I love that the casting and characterizations of the incarnations of the characters reflect Jom's state of mind that all people are equal and the same, no matter a fancy honorific or a royally appointed residence.

I screamed at @shortpplfedup when I saw Jom wearing the white thread in bed during the thunderstorm. I stopped, rewound, and saw he was wearing the white thread in the water scene with Warrior Yai. The white thread never left his wrist -- he still has his blessings intact.

And, and, and, back to the house of Palanthip in 2023. Who's the lady of the house? This lady knows Jom's the only one who can open that chest. The chest opens, the drawings are there, THE PICTURE OF THEIR PARTY, AND THE LETTER FROM YAI TO JOM, THE LETTER, THE TEARS, AKSLKDF, AND, AND, AND --

Oh my god, I was crying, y'all. Shit. Just our confident dude, striding in, asking Jom, sweetheart, why are you crying. And Jom jumping into Yai's arms.

I was shaking my head. I mean. I love that we learned that Yai actually HAD HIS OWN BLESSINGS CEREMONY because he was so lost after Jom's departure. WE LEARNED ABOUT THE REST OF YAI'S LIFE. We know, now, that the Yai of 1928 yearned for Jom for the rest of his life. So much so that, at the twilight of the life of 20th-century Yai, that he had the good mind to leave Jom a letter, to let Jom know that his life was a good life, because Jom had been in it. To let Jom know that Yai's love had never faded away.

AND THEN THAT YAI CAME BACK TO JOM.

Jom, dude, you're a good dude, for these good people to be coming back to you, in dimension after dimension. That monk was right.

I told you this was just blathering; I can try to put some sensible thoughts together in a few days, but the structure of this story, the empathy of this story, the way this story was leveraged by drama and romance and HOPE. I mean. This series was utterly fantastic.

I know there's the lifelong debate of whether or not BLs "count" as queer media, and in many, many instances, they do. But since I've had the disappointment of Only Friends and GMMTV on my mind lately, I had to note, mentally, particularly during the lovemaking scene, and during the closure of this episode, that Tee really fucking handed it to anyone who criticizes BL as a not-as-sophisticated drama genre.

And you know what? I also wanna say that Tee fucking handed it to GMMTV as well. I am so DAMN glad this series was airing when Only Friends was airing. While Only Friends sat on the opportunity to present progressive ideas on queer love and queer community, IFYLITA ROLLED right into it.

(I'll ask @lurkingshan to fact-check me on the following:) Because this series was a historical drama with a queer romance centering it, I think Tee Bundit could feel free from the chains of BL tropes and expectations to do something truly singular. I felt that what I was watching was cinematic, it was moving, it was strikingly emotional, particularly because I felt that this show was showing me something that transcended any viewer's expectations of what we should be watching, as opposed to, say, a BL set in an office like Tee's Step By Step. Where that show fumbled was in the show itself not knowing if it was a workplace drama or a BL-centric romance.

IFYLITA knew what it was: a historical drama, certainly centering romance, but also balancing conversations about equity and wealth disparities across eras. With that uncomplicated centering, I think Tee Bundit made an absolutely BRILLIANT show, and it fucking WORKED.

I will scream to anyone who'll hear me. If you haven't watched I Feel You Linger In The Air yet, do it, PLEASE PLEASE. Y'all know I am an Aof Noppharnach girlie for life, and I LIVE FOR MOONLIGHT CHICKEN, I DO, I DO, all of my Asian references in MLC and the food and everything, god I loved that show, but --

IFYLITA was a cinematic masterpiece. Full stop. All hail @neuroticbookworm and @lurkingshan for telling me to keep with it after my Step By Step-PTSD. This show was worth every last minute I spent watching and writing on it.

Season 2, Warrior Yai, let's get him a better mustache -- let's FUCKING GO, BABIES.

P.S. BRIGHT AND NONKUL FOR LIFE, FOR LIFE!!!!!!! THE ACTING!!!!!! MY GOD!!!!!

[tortibomb]

I cried so much!! But it didn’t leave me completely broken hearted. I have hope.

I’m reaaaaaally not into reading novels but I MAY have to pick this one up. I need the rest of the story from these two.

I’ve been putting off this one for a while because of the ending.

It’s time to get into my sad feels though.

Let’s go.

I Feel You Linger In The Air

[bengiyo]

Hi! I have a few questions I hope you don't mind me asking. Would you say that you like Lovely Writer more than I Feel You Linger In The Air considering the LW is a 9.5 in your book but IFYLITA is only a 9. And even though IFYLITA is only a 9, do you think you would include it within your Queer Cinema for BL Syllabus considering other notable aspects about it

Hello! I don’t mind questions at all.

Ratings are Recommendations for Me

Before we get into why each show got a different score, I think it’s important to explain my ratings system again. I come from the land of media criticism, and the primary question for me is “How easy is this to recommend to people?” I secretly use a five-stars system (5 Great, 1 Terrible) that I simple double for the 10 stars of MDL that basically works as such:

No one should watch this. It is incoherent, poorly made, and offensive.

Only genre fans could appreciate anything happening here, but it’s still offensive and/or poorly made.

Genre fans can appreciate this show, but it has major flaws in execution, narrative, or themes.

Genre fans will love this. Strong execution overall but requires some familiarity to truly appreciate.

Everyone will love this and is a fine entry point for the genre. Excellent execution and strong storytelling.

Bad Buddy is a 9.5 for me because, while it is an excellent project, the episode 12 first half sucks so hard

So why does IFYLITA get a lower score than Lovely Writer?

IFYLITA is a beautiful show with strong performances across the entire cast. However, it is a time travel show in which I don’t exactly know what the point of the time travel is, other than to enable a historical romance and enable the storyteller to play with that setting from the modern perspective. I don’t know why Jom is being dragged around the time stream or why he’s doomed to fall in love with and be torn from Yai repeatedly.

Additionally, this is a slavery romance. I am a Black gay man born and raised in the South. Solomon Northup’s autobiography is required reading, as are other first person accounts of chattel slavery in the US and the way the North surrendered Reconstruction to the South. I also watched Kindred this year after having not read Octavia Butler’s work in a long time. I am not a person who typically enjoys the power dynamics of historical romance, and I really don’t like slavery romances. I was talking with @lurkingshan yesterday about how much I didn’t like Jom and Maey sitting on the floor as Eaeang Phueng says goodbye to her family.

Finally, I think Lovely Writer is more coherent. It’s a single-season story about a potential romance between a BL actor and a BL writer. The show goes on to unpack all of the complexities surrounding these two as they are forced to collaborate and cohabitate during the filming of a show. IFYTLITA muddles its ending, and we have been reliant on spoilers from book readers to make sense of what the hell happened at the end of the episode. I don’t like that. I hate when we’re reliant on commentary from the source media to understand what the hell happened in an adaptation.

So, because of these particular issues, Lovely Writer is slightly easier for me to recommend to people over I Feel You Linger in the Air. Despite how Nonkul and Bright delivered on what may be the most accessible romantic chemistry of the year, and how much I loved the way this show tastefully approached m/m intimacy and sex, the show has some stumbles that I think diminish it slightly. I think episode 11 is incredible. I think Episode 10 is too pat. I think Episode 12 is hedging too much on a potential second season and doesn’t close off season 1 in a way that’s satisfying for me.

These are all bigger or smaller issues than others. I also very, very rarely go back and change my ratings for shows based on modern circumstances. Lovely Writer was special when it released. We don’t get IFYLITA without Lovely Writer. When I finished Lovely Writer, I thought it was one of the best shows of the year and I thought every BL fan needed to watch it. It doesn’t get a 10 because so much of the drama is about BL itself, and so there is some explaining that’s needed for people who aren’t in genre.

So, to be clear:

For me, Lovely Writer is easier to recommend to people than I Feel You Linger in the Air. That’s the .5 difference between them.

I hope that all made sense. Thanks for the question!

[aikawa-kazuki]

that's definitely not about jom's ass