#jeng will NEVER end

[lady-nuggetz]

Randomly listed Jeng blabber cause I gotta mark my territory...

Mainly just prompts and ideas I've had written about!!

I like to think these two first met after Fang and the hooligans tried to mug Jest only to get their ass handed to them. Jest finds them pathetic enough to be good entertainment so she follows them around. Mainly Fang because of his ego and short temper. [She gets along with the other hooligans well too!! If you can consider it well!! Her and Bean are as thick as thieves and Bark sees her as an extra problem to deal with]

Fang and Jest on their own work out pretty well, though they're often just found bickering and mocking each other until their plans get foiled. They're threatening, yet you can't help but wonder if they're even focused on whatever's going on cause they end up arguing at random points.

Jest has always liked their bickering, she aims to annoy. After realizing how unphased and attached she was, she realized she had gained a little crush on the boy. It made her even more annoying and more forward with her true feelings.

Jest knows Fang likes her the same and knows he won't admit it so she'll always pick on him for it. [Fang likes being teased to an extent... ;3]

Once Jest became more forward with her love for Fang, she gave him a nickname, "Fangy-Wangy-Woo", which she invented for the purpose of tormenting him with because she knows it sounds ridiculous. It's even more effective when used in front of other people.

Fang also has a pet name for Jest that was originally used more in an insulting manner, "Chubby Bunny". It ended up having an unintended effect and Jest found it more cute than offensive.

Fang has banned Jest from ever driving his Queen but that has not stopped her from taking it out for rides without asking. He does however let her share his seat while he drives.

Jest likes cinnamon buns and she often asks Fang to get her some when they go out. She gets him to try some and they remind him of her.

Though Jest does like Fang, she can be cruel in the name of love, it's part of her sadistic nature. Can she be considered a stalker? Who knows. But she doesn't like it when other people are too friendly with him. [She's giving Trip a criminally offensive side eye rn /lh]

Fang doesn't have any rizz but when he can catch Jest off guard it WORKS WELL.

Though Fang and Jest don't think anyone has caught onto their little affair, many are aware. Bark and Bean especially, they're just waiting for the charade of vulgar insults and bullying to end.

And that's all! Hope someone read this and found it entertaining I'm just a filthy oc x canon fan

[nakasomethingkun]

I love that Jeng experienced heartbreak in ep 9. Hear me out -- First, I love that he got his heart broken and had a full on crying breakdown because it depicts a normal reaction to rejection, and it subverts the idea that “real” men don’t cry. Second, I love seeing gorgeous men suffer lol. Also, and this is really important, him confessing to Pat and losing his grip to cross that final line between them is a good way to enhance part of his character arc and have us come full circle, imo. I like that Pat is the one who had to firmly (albeit a little harshly) draw the line, because early on in the show, Jeng told Pat that he is too emotional and thus immature, and that he should learn to separate his personal feelings from work (after accusing Pat of acting out to get revenge on Jeng, which is not cool of you, Mr. Jeng). I’m not saying Jeng deserves to basically get his sentiments thrown back at him or anything like that, but I think it’s integral to his own development as a more empathetic person (instead of being the kind of person who bluntly says “Why are you crying? Crying is very Unprofessional and Inappropriate”, but we have seen him grow more empathetic throughout the show, and we love him for it <3) and to the show’s narrative.

Being on that receiving end of You need to control your feelings and be a grown up about it shows both Jeng and the viewers that it’s SO much easier said than done. How the turn tables, indeed.

[guzhufuren]

Thailand 🇹🇭 A Guide to Some of the Best Queer Asian Shows

Full list here.

1. KinnPorsche mafia boss/bodyguard; action; kidnapper/kidnapee side couple

Kinn, a son of a prominent mafia head, is ambushed by an enemy, and meets Porsche, a bartender who comes to his rescue for a price, thus beginning their reluctant relationship as boss and bodyguard, which soon turns into something more.

iQIYI

2. Bed Friend friends with benefits; office setting; trauma

King and Uea work in the same office. After a company outing ends in a drunken hook-up between them, Uea and King agree to keep seeing each other on a strictly physical basis. With no strings attached, will these two be able to keep things between them simple and carefree or will their emotions eventually get the better of them?

Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or GagaOOLala or cut on YouTube

3. The Sign reincarnated lovers; fantasy; thai mythology; police

The story of the love between Phaya and Tharn who used to be mythological creatures Naga and Garuda in their past lives, and were forced apart. But fate intervened, and two men were reincarnated in new bodies. Now, they work together as partners in the Special Investigations Unit to uncover violent crimes and supernatural mysteries while their love is tested by mystical forces and past enemies.

YouTube

4. I Feel You Linger In The Air period drama; time travel; bittersweet

Jom, an architect overseeing the renovation of a rundown villa, continuously dreams of a man he's never met. When a twist of fate transports Jom to Chiang Mai in the 1920s, he assumes the role of a servant to the affluent young master Yai, the mysterious man from his dreams.

GagaOOLala or YouTube

5. You're My Sky sports; university setting; coming of age

Thorn, a young basketball player follows his senior Fah to university as a result of the promise they’d made — to become national basketball champions. However, to his dismay, he finds that Fah has already given up on basketball. --- Aai has to work in pairs throughout the semester with San, 1 year footballer; in order to receive a scholarship to study in Japan, Ai must be willing to do everything to get an A grade. --- Track running requires the compatibility of the team members to be very high. Vee, who became the new racquet 4, has to speed up training to fit in with the team as quickly as possible, especially with Dome, spending extra time together to train. Is love actually a major obstacle on the path of being an athlete?

Viki

6. Cutie Pie (+Cutie Pie 2 You, Naughty Babe) arranged marriage; secret identity; crack

The sons of two companies, Lian and Kuea, have been engaged to each other since childhood. One decides he doesn't want the arranged marriage anymore while the other decides to win him back.

Cutie Pie: YouTube & Cutie Pie 2 You: Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or cut on YouTube & NB: uncut on IQIYI or cut on YouTube

7. Until We Meet Again reincarnated lovers; forbidden love;university setting

Two boys who couldn't be together in one life find each other again in another.

+ Between Us university setting; swimming club; trauma

A parallel story to Until We Meet Again. Win and Team get to know one another through the swimming club, and eventually develop a relationship. They grow their connection as Win helps Team deal with his childhood trauma.

UWMA: YouTube & Between Us: Special: YouTube & Between Us: Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or paid YouTube or cut on YouTube

8. Step By Step office setting; boss/employee; slowburn

Jeng is a marketing manager and son of the owner of the company. Pat is a new team member. Jeng develops a secret fondness for his new subordinate, but in this position, he has to be strict and picky with Pat.

Uncut 18+ on Viki or GagaOOLala or cut on YouTube

9. GAP The Series wlw; office setting; boss/employee; class difference

Long after Sam first came to Mon's rescue when they were kids, Sam is unambiguously Mon's idol. In order to be near Sam, Mon gets a job working under her. When they finally meet again at the office, Mon is surprised by Sam’s icy exterior, so different from the image she'd had of her. Mon and Sam aren't just different in demeanour; they stand apart in class and age.

YouTube

10. Lucky My Love wlw; office setting

In the pursuit of love, Nabdao has been doing everything. She has got her fortune read. She's gone on a string of blind dates. Unfortunately, no one seems to be on the same page as her. She starts to think that perhaps her gorgeous and caring boss Pheem could be the one for her. Then Vela, her new team leader, comes into the picture and shakes things up with her observant and affectionate care.

YouTube

11. La Pluie soulmate alternative universe

In an alternate universe where Thailand is perpetually rainy and soulmates exist, La Pluie traces the story of Saengtai, who suffers from sensorineural hearing loss every time it rains. The only voice he can hear then is that of his soulmate, but he is adamant about not giving said soulmate a chance due to having seen his parents’ (who are also soulmates) relationship deteriorate.

YouTube or iQIYI

12. I Told Sunset About You (+ Last Twilight in Phuket, I Promised You the Moon) coming of age; childhood friends to lovers; high school setting

Two childhood best friends-turned-rivals meet again, awakening an old rivalry and old feelings. They now have to navigate their lives together and the growing attraction toward each other.

Viki (ITSAY) & YouTube (LTIP) & Viki (IPYTM)

13. Ghost Host, Ghost House crush at first sight; ghosts; grief

Kevin's passion is the challenge of hunting ghosts. He returns to Thailand after 10 years to stay with his aunt's family, but he didn't know that he'd come to stay under the same roof as those hunted ghosts. There he meets Pluem, a young gardener working for his family and a spark ignites between them.

YouTube or GagaOOLala

14. Something In My Room ghost/human; mystery; bittersweet

Looking to start a new life in a new house with his mother, Phat feels something uncanny in his room, which turns out to be the ghost of Phob. Phob wants Phat’s help in solving the mystery of his death before it’s too late.

I recommend watching the extended uncut version on KissKH or Dramacool, but you can also watch cut version on YouTube

15. Manner of Death crime; mystery; dark

A forensic pathologist Bunn is threatened to identify a manner of one victim's death as suicide — something that is not true according to the autopsy performed. The prime suspect seems to be a man named Tan who denies all involvement. They team up together to find the real murderer.

WeTV

16. Triage time loop; hospital setting; crime; mystery

As a resident in the emergency room, one should be indifferent when not saving a patient's life. But Tin got the chance to reverse a random patient's death for the second, third, and countless times. To help Tol and save his life.

AIS PLAY

17.  Love Mechanics cheating; university setting

A love story that starts one night in a club — between Mark, who is drunk and carrying the painful burden of his one-sided love, and the boy who he bumps into and mistakes as the object of his affection. They spend a night together and gradually Mark falls for Vee, although he knows Vee has a girlfriend. Will the love between them make it?

WeTV

18. Wedding Plan wedding planner/groom; lavender marriage; wlw side couple

Nuea is a professional wedding planner. Sailom happens to be the perfect man for Nuea based on his visual considerations for a man. But the universe has an unimaginable sense of humor as Sailom and his fiance Yiwa turn out to be Nuea's new clients.

Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or cut on Youtube & iQIYI (special episode)

19. Laws of Attraction lawyers; crime

When working-class man Tinn's niece fails to receive justice for her untimely death, he encounters Charn, a cynical morally corrupt lawyer. As Tinn and Charn team up to delve deeper into the case, they form a close bond despite their ideological differences. The series explores Charn and Tinn’s fight for justice, even though they were on opposite sides of the fence at the beginning.

YouTube

20. Secret Crush On You “nerd”/popular guy; queer friend group; university setting

Discover the secret of a nerdy young man, Toh, who fell in love with a popular third-year senior. Because his dream is so far from reach, observing is the only thing he could do. But what happens when one auspicious day the world devises an opportunity for Toh to make himself known to his crush Nuea?

YouTube

21. To Sir, With Love period drama; family drama; rich man/lower class man

A powerful family suffering from internal power struggles is now facing an even greater secret threat, the oldest son and heir is gay.

YouTube

22. My Only 12% best friends to lovers; slow burn

Cake and Seeiw, next-door neighbors and childhood best friends, navigate their feelings towards each other as they grow up.

YouTube

23. Show Me Love wlw; beauty pageants

Meena moves to Bangkok to achieve her singing dreams. She chances across Cherine who asks Meena to join her in a beauty pageant. The girls' journey for the crown begins and a romance between them sparks.

YouTube

24. Pit Babe omegaverse; alpha/alpha; car racing

Babe is the number one race car driver and an alpha with special abilities who only has sex with other alphas. Nerdy naive alpha Charlie approaches Babe to ask for his help to become a racer himself. Babe agrees to help Charlie realise his dream, but it will come with a price.

Uncut on iQIYI or cut on YouTube

---

You can watch many shows for free on YouTube, and watch others on the streaming websites by setting VPN to Thailand. In other cases I recommend paying for subscriptions to show appreciation and support of content in order to get more of it in the future, but if you can’t, watch on KissKH (better quality), Dramacool or get files from MkvDrama. Enjoy!  🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[bowandcurtsey]

when y/n's ex appears Pt 1.

BC boys: Yuno | Zora | Luck [Part 1]

JJK: Sukuna | Gojo [Part 2]

Haikyuu: Kuroo | Nishinoya | Sakusa [Part 3]

x f! reader

This is gonna be a 3 part series because there's a lot of characters and the tags are gonna be so long so I just decided to put them into 3 parts in the end. Enjoy!!

Yuno Grinberryall

{So your ex shows up at the golden dawn base to ask you for help with his parents. And although reluctantly, you agreed to help a little because his parents treated you so well when you both were together.}

Yuno is extremely quiet all of a sudden. Eerily quiet. Plotting-someone's-death kinda quiet.

It was obvious the scumbag could settle his family shit on his own but he's just pulling on loose strings trying to get you back.

How could he ever hold a candle to Yuno? Yuno was a humble man but even he himself knew it; your ex could never compare to him.

But there was an eenie weeny part of him that asked: what if?

What if as you spent time together again and with his parents, you miss the old times? Or you realised he's not that bad after all? or worst, fall in love with him again?

When you came home, he'd still didn't talk much. he didn't know what to say either. He didn't want to ask how was your day because he doesn't want to know how you spent it with him.

He didn't want to ask why do you even do all these because he doesn't want to make you feel bad. he knew you did it because you were kind and you don't forget people that were once kind to you.

He loved you for you, so instead, he chose to keep quiet and pull you closer whenever you came home, hugging you close to his chest, nuzzling into your hair, to remind him that you're his. All his.

At some point you know you're hurting his feelings by being close with your ex again, so you reassure him again and again, that once the matter is resolved, you'll cut all contact with your ex.

Just add some cheesy, mushy compliment and Prince Yuno will be all blushing and feeling good again.

Zora Ideale

{Your ex came to the black bulls base, running away from some perpetrators, begging for protection and a place to hide at for awhile. He said he's do anything and he could do cleaning and odd jobs for free. Of course your captain Yami wasn't gonna give up on a free errand boy. Besides, it was only temporary.}

This man was salty af. He would side eye him, stare him down, prank him ALL THE TIME.

Your ex would get a stink bug multiple times a day at random places. Like his pockets, his shoes, his hair even.

Zora was extra snappy with your ex. He would nitpick even on the smallest things.

"It's "you are". not "your". dimwit."

Or he was extremely mean to him.

"You missed a spot here. can't even clean properly."

If you ever told Zora to "be nice" or anything along the line, he'd get upset. He'll give you the look and he'll roll his eyes a little.

Man simply does not care about your ex's feelings or whatsoever. In his eyes, your ex was a low-life for ever hurting you before and he hated the fact that he's now trying to squeeze his way into your life again.

Cue the extreme display for public affections. *Jeng Jeng Jeng*

He'll put his hands around your waist, on your ass, on your shoulders, in your hair, on your thighs. More often than normal.

If you thought that Zora has never cared before this, you're wrong. Now he's even more shameless. He could pull you in for a kiss just in front of your ex's face if he thinks that he's checking you out. (he barely took a glance). And he's always lying on your lap if you're sitting in the shared living room.

Zora never used to care about what you wore in the past. But now, you're not allowed to wear shorts or skirts above the knee. You're also not allowed to wear sleeveless clothes.

If you argue, he'd say: "well, you're the one that wanted to let that leacher in, so dress up unless I'll kick him out and you can be naked for all I care."

Behind closed doors, he's become more of the big spoon. Usually he's also happy being caressed in your arms, but during the period that your ex was here, he always held you firmly in his arms as he slept.

Luck Voltia

{well, you bumped into him when the bulls were on a mission. It had been awhile since you guys talked, so your ex was really keen in catching up. He comes to look for you at every chance he got - during patrol duties, during events, during your off days. Somehow he's appear.}

Luck was initially friendly to him. Asking him if he wanted to spar. Even when he introduced himself as your ex, Luck simple introduced himself as your boyfriend, proudly. He did not even batter an eyelid when your ex said that you used to date.

Your ex tried to spar with Luck but of course Luck would beat him hands down. Your ex tried multiple of times for the first few times they met. But he ended up just embarrassing himself, and Luck would always laugh.

Of course your ex being the stingy and petty person he was, he took it to heart and tried to complain about Luck to the Magic Parliament about a Magic Knight injuring a civilian.

Well, he obviously did not win because he then angered Captain Yami because Yami had to waste his time on a minor issue.

Luck finally understood what your ex was getting at and he then showed no mercy to your ex.

"so... you complaint that I injured you on purpose? Maybe let me show you what is on purpose..." he had a smile on his face when he said it, and it was hella scary.

Luck was on his tail for a good month, teasing him, pranking on him, chasing after him EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Luck was so fast, you didn't even know what happened but in the blink of an eye, your ex was sprawled on the floor. If your ex was headed somewhere, you bet Luck would bring him all the way back to the start point just as he was about to reach his destination.

Whatever your ex touched, was leave a static shock and Luck would just laugh. Your ex could never even find any evidence of Luck playing him or even touching him.

It went on until your ex had to kneel in front of Luck, begging him to stop, "I will never appear in front of you or y/n again, so please leave me off the hook!"

That night, Luck asked you if you would be sad to never see your ex again. "I'm sorry if I went too far this time round..."

But of course you reassured him that you have not seen your ex in ages and of course you would never mind not ever seeing him again.

And Luck was back to his jovial self.

[bl-bracket]

Horny on Main Round 1

Round 1

Kinn (Kinnporsche: The Series) vs Aob (Playboyy: The Series)

Hira (Utsukushii Kare) vs Tinn (My School President)

Porsche (Kinnporsche: The Series) vs Jang Jaeyoung (Semantic Error)

Pran (Bad Buddy) vs Time (Kinnporsche: The Series)

Lan Zhan (The Untamed) vs Joke (Hidden Agenda)

Sarawat (2gether: The Series) vs Chun Sangwon (Love for Love's Sake)

Wen Kexing (Word of Honor) vs Choi Jun (Jun & Jun)

Pluem (Ghost Host, Ghost House) vs Yechan (Love Tractor)

Rain (Love in the Air) vs Muang (Be Mine SuperStar)

Fighter (Why R U?) vs Nuea (Secret Crush on You)

Pat (Bad Buddy) vs Fiat (Don't Say No)

Boeing (Only Friends) vs Payu (Love in the Air)

Babe (Pit Babe) vs Sailom (Wedding Plan)

Kongpob (SOTUS) vs Bai Zhong Yi (Kiseki: Dear to Me)

Phaya (The Sign) vs Vee (Love Mechanics)

Jin Xun An (My Tooth Your Love) vs Chu Yi Ping (Anti Reset)

Boston (Only Friends) vs Nont (Playboyy: The Series)

Han Ying (Word of Honor) vs Palm (Never Let Me Go)

Ray (Only Friends) vs Yi (Cutie Pie/Naughty Babe)

Tan (Manner of Death) vs Segasaki Mizuki (My Personal Weatherman)

King (Bed Friend) vs Karan (Cherry Magic TH)

Korn (Bad Buddy) vs Charlie (Pit Babe)

Wen (Moonlight Chicken) vs Toh (Secret Crush on You)

Charn (Laws of Attraction) vs Yai (The Sign)

Prapai (Love in the Air) vs Prom (Playboyy: The Series)

Teh (I Told Sunset About You) vs Togawa (Old Fashion Cupcake)

Yok (Not Me) vs Win (Between Us)

Xiang Hao Ting (HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count) vs Tawan (Kinnporsche: The Series)

Nick (Only Friends) vs Jeng (Step by Step)

Phupha (A Tale of Thousand Stars) vs Tin (Triage)

Zhao Yunlan (Guardian) vs Mangkorn (Big Dragon)

Tharn (The Sign) vs Ritsu (The End of the World with You)

[lurkingshan]

Random BL Grievances, 2023 Edition

Listen. I was going to be nice. I was going to listen to my better angels. Shan, I said, there is no need to hate, it's all love! Just let it all go! But then my Tay Tawan was cruelly ripped away from me and @my-rose-tinted-glasses gave me inspiration. So fuck it, we ball. Hateration turned up to 11, let's go.

Worst Waste of a Good Start: Jun & Jun

Remember when this show started and it was all about scent kink and extremely horny energy, and then suddenly that all evaporated so we could add a bunch of side plots and do four different love triangles instead? Yeah I'm still mad about it!!

Most Overused Metaphor: Dangerous Romance

Hey y'all, did you know windmills need wind to power them?

Rudest Boy: Lomfon, La Pluie

The audacity of this boy. The chaos he sewed. Look at this scene! Immediately after this he not only plotted a secret date with his situationship's brother, he kissed said brother without consent. He made Tien cry. I may have forgiven your lanky ass, but I sure didn't forget!

Worst Retcon: Naughty Babe

This is not Men in Black and you can't just mind wipe me into forgetting these two already worked through half these issues in Cutie Pie. Not to mention suddenly turning a dog into a CGI tiger!! Thanks to Nat and Max for their service though those sex scenes at the end did help me cope.

Biggest Audience Betrayal: Minato's Laundromat 2

Plot contrivance amnesia! In my painstaking slow burn self acceptance journey that I have spent two entire seasons on. I will never forgive them.

Most Egregious Lack of Threesomes: Only Friends

You put me through all that messy drama and all those teases and I did not get to watch even one (1) threesome? Just a couple of kisses and everybody vacates the pool. I ask you, what was the point of Boeing if he wasn't here to fuck everybody! For shame, Jojo.

Most Undeserved Forgiveness: Eun Ji and Tae Hyung, The Eighth Sense

These two assholes are really up there amongst the worst friends in drama this year. I don't care what Jae Won says, I do not forgive you. Ji Hyun should have kept that petty energy for the both of them.

Biggest Character Letdown: Sand, Only Friends

Eternally pouring one out for the rougher, more cynical version of Sand who was wielding a baseball bat in the trailer. I don't know what happened to you, my guy, but you live on in my heart.

Most Baffling Dropped Plot: Thyme, A Boss and a Babe

Why was Drake even in this show? What was the point of all that plot set up in the first half if they weren't going to resolve it?? Why wasn't Thyme the mole??? Make it make sense.

Most Obvious Lack of Purpose: Between Us

How on earth did this happen? You have literal years to write a compelling sequel story for a wildly popular side ship and this is all you can come up with?! Aside from a couple nice sexy scenes at the start, this show really had no idea what it was about and nothing interesting to say.

Biggest Waste of Everyone's Time: Absolute Zero

New Siwaj, you're getting the triple dose on this list!! And AZ is your biggest sin this year because what the fuck was this! You had all that money, all that talent, all that time at your disposal, and this is what you did with it. UWMA squad was lined up to see you finally do another masterpiece, and you delivered this mess instead. What is going on with you, sir, I feel it's time for an intervention.

Worst Derailing of a Good Show: Step by Step

You didn't think this post was ending without me mentioning this disaster, did you? An all-time cautionary tale in how to waste a good slow burn. Jeng deserved better and so did we.

[chicademartinica]

2023 Favorites

Come play favorites with me.

Favorite Korean BL: The Eighth Sense. / Runner up: Our dating Sim

Favorite Thai BL: Never let me go / Runner up: Moonlight Chicken

Favorite Japanese BL: The end of the world with you / Runner up: My Beautiful man eternal (Show +Movie)

Favorite Taiwanese BL: Kiseki Dear to me / Runner up: Stay by my side.

Best director(s): Inu Baek & Werner du Plessis for The Eighth Sense (Korea and Germany) EX AEQUO with Jojo Tichakorn Phukhaothong (Thailand) for FIVE SHOWS (BL or not everything Jojo does is QUEER): Never let me go / Never let me go Our Skyy 2/ The Warp effect / Only Friends / Dirty Laundry. To be noted and congratulated: OG Thai BL director Tee Sintanaparadee with his best work to date: I feel you linger in the air.

Best cinematography: Never let me go by Rat Rungruang (Thailand) / Runner Up: Moonlight Chicken ALSO by Rat Rungruang EX AEQUO Never let me go Our skyy 2 ALSO by Rat Rungruang.

Best use of color theory : The eighth sense GREEN.

Best score /musical moment (instrumental): “Save you from the Death” by Ruiqi Zhao. This song is so good it was used in two shows, airing at the same time, produced by the same man, on the same channel. We first hear it in Never let me go (episode 05) as Palm ravenously kisses Nueng (for a long long long long time) for the first time. AND THEN it’s back in Moonlight Chicken (episode 01) as Uncle Jim and Wen do everything but kiss under the moonlight. Aof and Jojo really said we both using it to be desperate and erotic and what of it. 10/10 no notes.

Runner up: “Refined enlightenment” by Howard Harper-Barnes in I feel you linger in the air (episode 07): The soaring strings that perfectly follows Jom’s arousal as he masturbates to the memory of the most erotic oil massage ever. Refined INDEED. // “Bleeding Signs” by Chris Shards in Never let me go (episode 05): Dark and moody indie rock rumbles as Nueng reels from his brutal outing, homophobia, and Ben’s betrayal before collapsing in Palm’s arms in the yellow of Bangkok polluted twilight.

Best score/ musical moment (with lyrics): “I can’t lose it all” by Ben Goldstein in The Eight Sense (episode 06) The singer belting “I’m losing my mind (…) I can’t lose it all” are the only words we hear for the last minutes of a great, hazy fugue of an episode. (Last spoken line: “To give you trauma” before the lovers start kissing.) Jae Won and Ji Hyun make love and when the song stops, I was left with greys waves, panic, and a burning “JAE WON WERE YOU OR WERE YOU NOT HIGH OUT OF YOUR MIND FOR ALL OF THIS? Was that song a call back to “Where is my mind” of Fight Club fame just to play with our nerves? Good times. //Runner up: “Monsoons” by Johannes Bornlöf and Le June in Never let me go. This song plays for two minutes straight as Palm sways drunkenly in his lover’s arms as he reels from his mother’s violent death. “Monsoon rain and chest pains”, blurry lens and sloppy, tear-soaked kissing. Peak lakorn.

Favorite couple: PalmNueng in Never let me go. // Runner up : KingUea in Bed Friend.

Favorite chemistry: PondPhuwin as Palmnueng, GMMtv true hidden gem. Runner up: Nat Chen and Jiang Dian as Chen Yi and Ai Di in Kiseki Dear to me.

Favorite individual performance: Film Thanapat in Laws of Attraction// Runner up: Mix Sahaphap in Moonlight Chicken.

Most beloved actor this year: Mark Pakin.

Favorite Ensemble: Moonlight Chicken // Runner up: The Warp Effect

Favorite mother figure: Grandma in Laws of Attraction. Amazing actress, well written (Grieving!) character. // Runner up: Ji Hyun’s boss in The eighth sense.

Favorite friendship: Pat and Chot in Step by Step! Pat’s whole friend group! // Runner up: Alex and Army in The Warp Effect.

Favorite siblings: The Gu siblings in Stay by my side. // Jeng and Jaab in Step by Step.

My hatred for you knows no bounds: Uea’s "mother" in Bed Friend. // Runner up: Phupha in The Promise EX AEQUO Tae Hyung in The eighth sense.

Most beloved character: Palm! My sweet boy! // Runner up: King! MY King!

Favorite “I love you”: “I LOVE YOU UNCLE JIM” Li Ming in Moonlight Chicken.

Favorite proposal: Charn being a lawyer and a marriage equality advocate while Tinn is just trying to marry the nutjob in Laws of Attraction.

Favorite wedding: TinnCharn and the baby’s doll on the chair (Tears!). Runner up: Palmnueng marrying by proxy while being guests at a gay wedding.

The category is “Boohoo snot bubble I’m dazed and crying”: The eighth Sense. Runner up: Moonlight Chicken.

The category is “I’ve watched this scene without breathing.”: Ji Hyun’s reaching for Jae Won’s hand in The eighth sense ep 09 // Runner up: Ki Tae confronting Lee Wan in episode 04 of Our dating Sim.

The category is “My cheeks are hurting I’m smiling so much”: Our dating Sim // Runner up: Love tractor.

Punchline: “Have you been well? Without me?”  Ki Tae to Lee Wan Our dating Sim / “I miss you so much. I miss you so much” Fan Ze Rui to Bai Zong Yi Kiseki Dear to me.

Funny punchline: “You only love me when you do me.” Cher to Boss in A boss and a babe. // Runner up: “We can continue as a throuple” Rando in Laws of attraction.

Erotic honorific: “Call me Hia Win. Hia Win.” In Between Us. // “Can you tell Nong Cher what your present is Phi Gun” or “Phi Jeng” for “The kinkification of Phi” in A boss and a Babe and Step by Step.

The category is ‘What is this?!! A 90’s Yaoi Manga ?!!”: Kim Jong Chan’s (Korean actor Kwon Hyuk) Yaoi hands holding his lover’s whole head in his palm as they kiss in The New employee. // Runner up: Cho Jun’s ( Ki Hyun Woo) in a an all-black suit in Jun & Jun.

The category is "Whew why was this so hot ?" : Charn obscenely rubbing Tinn's arm up and down while Tinn is trying to punch him in Laws of Attraction// Runner up : Jae Won manhandling Baby Mouse by the straps of his backpack in The eighth sense.

Best smile: First Kanaphan as Sand in Only Friends // Nat Chen and his dimple as Chen Yi in Kiseki Dear to me.

Unfathomable eyes: Pond Naravit and his under-eye mole in Never let me go EX AEQUO Net Siraphop in Bed Friend.

Favorite dream sequence: Baby Ye Chan’s first erotic dream in Love Tractor.

Favorite kiss (on the lips): Palmnueng last kiss on the beach in episode 12 of NLMG. It’s soft and super erotic, there’s a bit of tongue, a bit of teeth and they are both shivering like crazy. Pondphuwin killed it and the magnificent Thai scenery finished it// Runner up: Bostonnick against the wall at the back of the store. Surprisingly Nick was the aggressor but was still moaning loud as hell. Neomark punched me in the face with their chemistry and hunger. Give them a good show and let them kiss. A lot.

Favorite kiss (not on the lips). Nueng burying his face between Palm’s shoulder blades to kiss his tattoo in the finale of NLMG. // Ze Rui rubbing and kissing Zong Yi’s beauty mark every chance he gets in Kiseki dear to me.

Favorite sniff kiss (special Thailand): Uncle Jim inhaling Wen’s face in Moonlight Chicken. Possibly the most erotic sniff kiss I have ever seen, shout out to Earth. // Runner up: Winteam having a HEAVY ratio of sniff kisses in their make-outs in Between Us.

Favorite neck kiss: Bed Friend’s King is the BL best neck kisser, licker, biter ever. Net being shorter than James made this even more enjoyable. // Ray being obsessed with Sand’s neck in Only Friends.

Favorite make out: JengPat car make out in Step by Step. Whew. // Runner up: WinTeam locker room make out. Whew.

Favorite erotic moment: Win seducing Team and making sure he is sober, single, and horny while fogging up the room in Between Us. // Runner up: I feel you linger in the air oil massage than orgasm to the memories of said oil massage.

Favorite O scene: Songkhram and Ai making love in Destiny Seeker. Who knew 69ing could be so cute? // Runner up: Ritsu and Masumi, I quote “going at it like monkeys” in The end of the world with you. Ritsu was a fuckboy from space but also like, a Japanese sex God.

Favorite cuddles: Winteam. In bed. Every single scene in Between Us // King clinging to Uea, dead asleep in the crook of his neck in Bed Friend.

Favorite hug: Li Ming hugging a sobbing Heart in Moonlight Chicken.

Favorite tears: WinTeam devastating sobs after Win saves his boo from drowning.

Favorite lift off: Ai Di spending one third of the show being carried by Chen Yi. // Runner up: Joke carrying Zo like he is not also 6ft1 in Hidden Agenda.

Favorite food : Love Mate's orgasmic post sex burgers and fries in episode 04.

That's my too long list of 2023 favorites. Hope you enjoy. @absolutebl and all of you booes are welcome to use the categories you like, please tag me in your lists. To a very bisexual (AND VAMPIRIC) 2024 together.

Chica.

[miss0atae]

Random Thoughts about High School Frenemy (EP 7 – 8): Reconnecting and healing.

Wow so much happened in those two episodes, I don't even know where to start. I regret a little a bit wanting to do my random thoughts of two episodes at the same time, but I will try my best to highlight what I liked about those episodes. So the school was really set on expelling Shin because of the fight and mostly because they needed a scapegoat. They think they are doing to end the school bad blood and the violence, but their attempt feels meaningless. Of course, they seem to be incapable of imagining any good solution and we can only rely on Jan and Sung to have empathy for the students of Class 2. Unfortunately for Class 2 students, they are poorly regarded and even if they do nothing, most of the school staff still believe they are doing something wrong. Of course, Saint wants to save Shin, but the feud they have is getting in between. Saint confessed about what he did to Shin and make a deal with him: he will stop going to school and lose the chance to be around him. The idea is that Saint would lose the most important thing in his life, just like he did to Saint when he stole his dream by hurting him. Some of his classmate and the two main teachers of Class 2 did their best to make Saint change his mind, but only Shin could do it. They are not friends again, but they are on the path of healing.

I think the story is really compelling and it set a very difficult question to answer: can you forgive someone who hurt you and can you both reconnect after? From episode 1 to episode 6, we've seen how Saint regretted what he did to Shin and apologize profusely. His attempts were never well-received by Shin who claimed that they weren't friends anymore and that he hated him. We knew something bad happen, but we never really understood how it could have happened. When you see how Saint is around Shin, you can't understand why he would hurt him. The way he talks about their relationship, the love he has for him and all his behavior were showing how much important it was for him to be a friend of Shin. I have to admit (and I didn't watch the OG version) I thought maybe it was a misunderstanding and Saint had a "good" reason… Why would he suddenly become angry at Shin and hurt him to the point of breaking his legs and robbing him of his bright future as a professional football player, if the reason wasn't good? It was Shin's dream and Saint has always acted like what Shin wants is the most important thing and he should get it. Unfortunately, his reason was so dumb and so stupid. Shin wanted to leave the gang and Saint couldn't accept it and he hurt him just to prove a point. So disappointing. Everyone can understand why Saint is so resentful to Shin.

Saint was too proud of his “Tsunami” persona and he felt like Shin was leaving him and not just the gang. He hurt Shin and then he disappeared from his life. Who would want to be friend with someone who hurt them?! I've read some reviews of other viewers and many of them seem to think that you can't go back from this situation. Even if Saint is really remorseful, Shin has every right to reject him. However, there is something that Shin must free himself from and that's the pain and hurt he still has from this. It was a very traumatic event: losing his dream and also losing his best friend at the same time. This kid needs therapy, but instead everything keeps reminded him of this incident: his mother's attitude, the fact he took for himself the nickname “Tsunami”, the fights with Udon Phithak campus, Jeng's gang and of course, Saint's actions too. He never had the chance to heal from what happened. The resentment, bitterness, and sometimes pure rage are slowly eating him up. I guess that's why he didn't really care about being expelled. What does it matter, when you can't seem to free yourself from emotions that consume you, slowly, until you are nothing but the memory of your overwhelming, righteous fury.

I still think forgiving is the best option for Shin. Of course, he will always remember what happened and that will be a way of setting clear boundaries. At the end of episode 8, Shin seems to have taken this decision to let go of the rage and determine what he needs. It's different for everyone. Sometimes the answer is to walk away, but in Shin's case, it seems that HE wants to keep Saint around him. Maybe we wouldn't do this, if we were in the same situation, but it's not so weird that you would want to keep someone around you, even if they hurt you in the past. You just need to determine what are your needs and when you find them, you can start healing and forgiving. I think most people around Saint don't understand clearly what happened and can't imagine themselves in his shoes. His classmates, even if they had the best intentions in mind, they weren't really understanding. Especially Peeta: I think it was a bit tactless what she said to Shin. He isn't sulking, he is hurting and that's not the same thing. What Shin needs is to accept that what happened, happened. Then, he can choose to find at least some understanding for Saint's actions, and then decide if it's in his best interest to let it go and move on. I think he already made his mind and even if we wouldn't do it ourselves, it doesn't mean it's a bad choice. It's his choice! Finally, Shin can make a choice and not go through the choice that someone made for him.

As for Saint, his hurt was co-dependent of what Shin would choose. Saint's remorse are true, but he needed to let Shin's put the boundaries he needs after what happened. It won't be easy for them to reconnect because the relationship will never be the same as it was. He will also have to accept that sometimes the memories of this event will resurface. It's inevitable. Over the time, it will be easier for Shin to deal with them, but Saint must accept it. At least, at the end of episode 8, they are on the path of healing. Both of them, needed it. Even if what Saint's did was terrible, I felt empathy for him. I wonder if the fact that he choose to disappear from Shin's life after the incident was because he already felt guilty and was avoiding him as a way of punishing himself. I think I'm not so far from the truth because when Saint and Shin were locked in the gym Shin said something like: “You gave up on me a long time ago”. Now that Shin has decided to start on healing from what Saint did to him three years ago, Saint only has to accept the boundaries he is setting. As for now, Shin doesn't see Saint as his friend, but just as his classmate and Saint has accepted it. He wants to be what Shin wants. Saint will only heal if Shin is also healing. Otherwise, he won't be able to do it. His guilt is too deep. I also think he would need a great therapy.

So is it possible to reconnect with a friend who hurt you? I don't know if there is a good answer. We are all so different, but Shin and Saint, they maybe are able to reconnect. We'll see how they are going to make it. As for me, I want to believe they will be friends again. This work they are going to do on their relationship will make them grow as a person and perhaps find a deeper meaning in the relationship itself.

[neuroticbookworm]

I was not planning on writing a Step by Step analysis this week, because my mind was too frayed from all the anticipation for the next episode. But then @lurkingshan posted this, and it knocked something loose in my brain, and now here I am.

Shan talks about how even though Jeng and Pat felt the spark of desire when they met a couple of times before they became boss and subordinate, once they knew they had to be professional, they dialed it back using very different mechanisms.

Jeng chose to keep his emotions under control in the workplace, and he harbored and nurtured those feelings in private. Pat, on the other hand, was already under stress in the workplace, and as @ginnymoonbeam and @bengiyo discuss here, he also misinterprets the initial strict mentoring from Jeng as proof that the spark he felt must've been all in his head. That his gaydar made an error, and therefore Jeng must be straight.

So when episode 8 begins, the mutual interest from their initial interactions is the only thing Jeng knows for certain, to assume that Pat might want a relationship with him. He also tells Tae that Pat never looks at him the way he looks at Pat, which makes the confession a pretty huge leap of faith from Jeng.

In the dance floor confession, Jeng observes that Pat is not ready for another relationship yet. He still confesses his feelings, but adds that he can be the safe space for Pat if that is all he wants from him. And that he will never want for anything more. He has already resigned himself here to the fate that he might never get to be Pat's boyfriend.

@respectthepetty explains here that Jeng would've fully gone along with Pat's understanding that Jeng is straight. He was forced to show his hand and come out when Pat referred to himself as Jeng's friend. Here, Jeng was no longer planning on making his feelings clear to Pat. He had no choice but to do it.

In the aftermath, Pat reacts with confusion, dawning realization and horror, and we know that Pat is reeling from this information because his mind is now doing a speedrun of all of their interactions and reevaluating them with the fact that Jeng is gay. But Jeng, oh my poor Jeng, thinks Pat is horrified for two reasons: the previously stated reason offered by his rational and logical brain, and the reason offered by his panicked and frantic brain that Pat is horrified by his advances, and that Pat never liked him in the first place. That he was utterly and completely wrong, right from the glass jelly incident. This thought may not have found deep roots in his mind yet, but it is there, floating and waiting for confirmation.

Now, some speculation for episode 9 (aka clowning). We see Pat has taken the day off, which further fuels Jeng's fears. And later Pat looks visibly unmoored and exhausted, like he hasn't slept for a few nights in a row. I was talking to @chicademartinica and she mentioned how Pat looks like he is disassociating in this episode. And I agree, he looks fully out of it.

Whatever happens that forces Jeng to confess AGAIN, I don't know yet. But what I do know is that there is a high possibility that Pat might say no after this confession, because he needs more time to process things. But, in Jeng's mind, that floating thought will finally get its confirmation and take root, and it will go, AHA I KNEW IT, HE HAS NEVER LIKED YOU, EVER.

I know we are all anxiously waiting for the slowburn to end (hopefully it'll happen before the sun swallows us whole), but we may need to hold our horses. Because the possible roadmap I see right now is: Jeng confesses -> Pat says no -> Jeng thinks Pat has never liked him and drowns himself (and us) in angst -> Pat finally finishes thinking and realizes that he does like Jeng -> Pat tries to tell Jeng -> Jeng is already packing his suitcases to flee the country OR Jeng has built his mental walls so high that Put can't get through to him without a massive effort -> Pat convinces Jeng to hear him out -> They finally sit down and talk to each other -> JengPat FINALLY BURNS

My fellow sufferers of this cursed show, I will be the happiest clown if I get proven wrong, but I think it will take a while for these two to work this mess out, and I think it might take more than one episode *runs*

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Gah, I can't stop thinking about Hidden Agenda. It's not even my top show on right now, but I think because I spent a number of years training people in communication and conflict, there's just a lot here that is hitting my radar.

I've seen a few takes online about the show being a mess, and how we already know the entire "hidden agenda" due to bad writing, blah, blah, blah. There are also a lot of people talking about how romantic they think the final scene is. And I will never tell anyone their take is wrong, but I want to explain why I feel like there's a lot more than what people are seeing, on both sides. (And credit to both @respectthepetty and @slayerkitty for picking up on the same vibes I am).

Alright, so I'm going to dive in a bit more to this idea of how love is not enough without understanding, and how I'm seeing it expressed in the show.

First thing - for a while now I've been wondering why the debate club was factor in the show. But they just spelled it out for us, and it fits with what I said in my first post about needing to be able to understand someone else's perspective, even if you don't agree with it.

See, at this stage of their relationship, I think Joke & Zo do love each other. But they don't understand each other. Debate-wise - they're on opposite sides.

Jeng and Pok on the other hand - despite getting short shrift on scene time, have reached understanding. (And I'm not a lighting expert, but I read their reaching understanding as being reinforced by the brightness of their room - followed by them literally going out into the light).

But with Joke & Zo we have some big issues still. And I'm mostly putting this on Joke at this point. I am not a savvy color person, but look at his environment when he's confessing. That is one drab-ass green. This is not a pretty shot (except for Joong of course, the man is always fucking gorgeous). There's darkness in this green.

And even once Zo forgives him, it's all artificial light, surrounded by darkness (and storminess).

I'm giving Zo more credit here, because although Zo started out as a lot more withdrawn, as their relationship has progressed, he has opened up a lot more with Joke. He was able to articulate exactly why he was upset and hurt. He is trying to explain his perspective to Joke. But Joke isn't doing the work to understand it. As I said in my earlier post, he feels justified. As long as he doesn't see any potential problem with his own behavior, he's not going to understand Zo's point of view.

And on the opposite side, I also think that Zo doesn't understand Joke. But I'm also putting this on Joke - because HE IS STILL HIDING SOMETHING. I don't know if this is more "the end justifies the means" behavior, or if he's so focused on being the perfect boyfriend that he's scared to let that mask slip. But there is still something more than just collaborating with Pat. He's not giving Zo the opportunity to see the real him.

Where does this clinginess and desperation around love come from?

Why was he initially so hostile when Zo approached him freshman year?

If he already started falling for Zo at that point, what were they fighting about with the freshy contest?

Joke and Zo cannot be together long term yet, because Joke cares more about love than understanding. Which is not enough. It's NEVER going to be enough. And Zo is going to have to hold him accountable for that.

If you've read this whole thing, you are a trooper and I love you.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Dog Days of BL but July is Incoming

June 2023 Wk 4

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 10 of 12 - I’m finding the time frames confusing. Still, a lovely crying kiss + a very high drama-lllama gay confession. Kitchen counter make out, my fav! The actor who plays Jeng kisses at MaxTul levels, which is to say = like a man who has actually done it before with genuine desire and is capable of portraying that on screen. (What makes MaxTul kings is that they BOTH do this.) Pat caught up, thank goodness. Also P’Jeng!!!! P’JENG!!! I love how intimate phi is when it’s been all khun prior. This is the Thai version of hyung slinging. Errotic linguistics, my fav. And ALL the work drama and homophobia fall out when you sleep with the boss. I really enjoy that the angst concerning their relationship has to do with the fact that this is an office romance. Lastly? I love Chot so much. Everyone needs a gay auntie. Also Bruce is SO DAMN GOOD. (I mean we knew he would be from Lovely Writer, but this... chef’s kiss.) 

La Pluie (Sat iQIYI) ep 10 of 12 - There are enough meta-analysis on this one for me not to have to weigh in. Suffice it to say that I like what it’s trying to do, and I certainly appreciate the levels of consent and so forth but I’m not sure I actually like it as much now that we are swimming in high concept. Too much lying. I’m not sure I want my BL to make me think this hard. Also poly, boys = final answer. (Anyone else getting Color Rush flashbacks?) 

Be My Favorite (Fri YouTube) ep 6 of 12 - I love Max now and forever, and I made some very bad puns in the Trash watch here. Otherwise I’m not super invested. 

Dinosaur Love (Thai Sun iQIYI) ep 1 of 10 eps - from Ultimate Troop (The Yearbook people) so I shouldn’t watch this as it airs, after Remember Me? I swore never again. But there’s so little on right now, I’m falling on the pulp sword...  My initial thoughts? It’s an En of Love installment? What is going on? Why all this opening with the sides in a bar? Are we framing? Just move on to the 2 boys kissing! Don’t try to be clever, for fucks sake. Okay, good, the pulp has begun. I like soft wet-blanket Rak and his sad love life. I’m not wild about how aggressive Dino is plus insta-SINGING but I DO LIKE THAT HE’S OUT and knows what he wants which is refreshing. It’s trope filled nonsense (crash into me, instalove, sing feelings, floppy drunk, he’s in engineering, fast and bi-curious) also Dino used ter at first (how forward!) then he went to gu/mueng after rejection, while Rak uses khun & phi/pom. Love this for them. Despite my justified reservations with this production team imma stay watching. I need something on Sundays. * 

Luminous Solution (Sat Gaga) ep 6fin - That’s it? Bullsheiit. No seriously. That’s my review. 3/10 I DON'T KNOW WHAT I JUST WATCHED AND NEITHER DOES IT AND I’M MAD ABOUT IT.

* I got to say, you have only yourselves to blame for Dinosaur Love’s ranking. Once upon a time, I lived happily in ignorance of the Thai film industry. And then you all kept asking me extremely intelligent questions about it. And because I am a nosy little shit, I had to figure out what was going on. And now a BL like this, which ordinarily I would just love unconditionally, is a really scary place for me, because I know too much about the production house. The evils of too much information are all true. Remain happily in ignorance, I advise you, especially where BL is concerned. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Love Tractor (Korea Weds iQIYI) eps 7-8fin - Yechan is such a frank character it confuses all who meet him, also a truly terrible flirt. This is such a puppy/cat relationship. It was cute but it went too far into cringe for a KBL (for me). I don’t think Kdramas are good at farce (sorry), better if they stick with more subtle humor. It was a sweet ending tho, not too cheesy. Nice kiss for KBL but pretty rather than sexy. Full review below.

Tokyo in April is... AKA Shigatsu no Tokyo wa (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 3 of 8 - Oh, it’s GREAT. Damn it. There is a lot of subtext and things not being said. This is going to be one of those shows where it’s endlessly frustrating that they don’t just talk to each other. The crying first time was gut-wrenching. Ren is complicated & scarred & closed off. Kazuma is earnest & empathetic & thinks he’s unworthy - so will take whatever crumbs are handed to him. They are both giving parts of themselves away in a desperate attempt to shape themselves to the expectations they have of each other. These 2 are gonna fuck each other up while they fuck and fuck with our hearts. Japan is giving us the Bed Friends that Thailand can never even imagine. There is absolutely no guarantee this will end happily (it’s from the Eternal Yesterday people) but it is guaranteed to be painful and beautiful along the way. Oh Japan, must you? I guess you must. 

Stupid Genius (Vietnam Fri YouTube) ep 4 of 6 - I’m mostly confused by the catfishing & tarot side plots. But the mains sure act like bfs. To the point of our tiny jock idiot getting gay panicked by how much bfs they are. Surprise kiss! For everyone, it turns out. Yes I laughed. What? It was pat but also… FUNNY.

Tie The Knot (Pinoy YouTube) ep 3 of 8 - The main couple is adorable, but I’m not wild about the gay bashing blackmail side story. Still, it’s the best we’ve had from the Philippines in a while so I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

Vian the series (Vietnam YouTube ) ep 9 of 12 - Seriously? Bah Vinh = chemistry with EVERYONE. 

Naked Dinner AKA Zenra Meshi (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 12fin - So Souta just disappears off to Singapore and doesn’t say anything to his boyfriend about it? And then comes back with the perfect plan and life for both of them? Oh Japan, must you? Review below. 

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 English & set in LA (shudder) so I’m not bothering.

Ever After (Pinoy YouTube) 12 eps - Spies reported that it's a real mess and not a hot one.

Stay With Me ... NO I WILL NOT! And you can’t make me. 

In case you missed it

BL Express reviewed The Egoest. Oh boy am I never going to watch that. 

One in a Hundred - Gaga dropped all 12 episodes (c.10 min ea) at once. This is a 2020 Chinese show. It’s not BL. And it has a laugh track. I watched the first & final eps and won’t bother with the rest. DNF

I finally watched the 2022 thing I should have. 

To Sir, With Love - REVIEW

This is a true lakorn with scenery chewing performances from an ensemble cast focused on family obligation and past sins, especially from the mother characters. It is a Thai tellenovella + Gone With the Wind but gay. That said? I loved it: A glorious central brother relationship (the best, made me cry), het romances, class divide + gay *gasp* main romance, the camp of it all! It’s like it was invented by drag queens. Arranged marriage, rebellion, cut sleeves, dramatic death with curses and regrets, beautiful if inaccurate costumes, secrets unraveling, cover ups, sparkle murder, sex herbs, coils within coils including snakes and death by glitter (is anything gayer on this earth?). It’s a WILD ride. It’s not BL. It’s not a romance, it’s a family drama Thorn Birds style but it does end happy for our gay boys. Like Manner of Death I’m struggling to rate something on a BL scale when it patently isn’t a BL. I think I have to give it exactly what I gave that show, 7/10 

I loved it, but not as a BL. 

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS (over its BLness) 

Zenra Meshi - REVIEW

AKA Naked Dinner 

I have to be honest, I didn’t really like much about this show. The central premise was too odd and the main character too clumsy & slow on the uptake. I like the food, but there have been food-set BLs before that failed to meet expectations. Too many of them. This one joined that throng. Good ending tho. 7/10 

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

Love Tractor - REVIEW

Most of this country-set BL had me feral for the beautiful broken city boy and his hot young farmer. Hyung romance, puppy/cat pairing, open frankness meets jaded reserve, language play, water hose frolicking, only one bed, all my favorite tropes. This show was basically a light-weight Restart After Come Back Home and I’m not even slightly mad about that. 

But (and you knew there was a “but” coming) something about the cringe of the final 2 eps and the impermanence of the ending (both of which highlight the fact that ultimately these 2 are I’ll-suited: too different & too far apart) left me with the feeling that they probably won’t last as a couple. However, in this case, rare for me, I forgive it this finale for my love of the rest. 

I did dither a lot though, it’s not an 8 but not a 9 either. Better than Love Mate (8/10) not as good as The New Employee (9/10) but in the end I’m value adding up for the premise and the cast, giving it a 9/10. 

RECOMMENDED 

(Gotta say, because this is rare for me, that this had a great OST. Not the credit music but the refrain, Rainbow.) 

Next Week Looks Like This:

July 2023 Supposedly... 

7/3 Be Mine SuperStar (Thai Mon Viki) 12 eps - JaFirst whipping boy/spoiled prince, obsession, celebrity/mundane. Third-year film student Punn (Ja) gets an internship on the set of a drama. He’s come to learn, but "what lights his passion even more than the work" is leading man Achi, Thailand's sweetheart. Adapted from the novel “The Superstar and the Puppy on Set” (พี่พระเอกกับเด็กหมาในกอง) by Orpheus, cast includes Benjamin Brasier (2moons2), Bosston Suphadach (UWMA), Jo Kavinpat (War of Y), Kokliang (TharnType). Directed by David Bigander (Bite Me) which makes me nervous. Maybe he'll do better with an adaptation?

7/6 Minato's Laundromat Season 2 AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu ????) 12 eps - The story is a continuation of Minato & Shin's love story, and it picks up 10 years after the events of season 1 but the characters don't seemed to have grown at all. Very Japan of you, Japan.

7/7 Stay By My Side (Taiwan Fri Gaga) 10 eps -  Gu Bu-Xia has the ability to hear ghosts, except when he is around his new roommate Jiang Chi. So he starts to find ways to approach Jiang Chi. But is it  the ghosts or Jiang Chi’s charm?

7/8 Low Frequency (Thai Sat YouTube?) 8 eps - ghost boyfriend, celebrity/mundane - Mon's life as a spirit-seeing interior decorator is full of headaches. On good days, he helps settle problems for his relative, who is a star manager. But then he gets involved with the spirit of Thames, a famous young actor who is in a coma.

7/9 Hidden Agenda (Thai Sun GMMTV YouTube) 12 eps - JoonDunk are back. Zo, a college freshman whose never been in love, decides to change it by making the college’s star Nita as his gf. He approaches Joke, Nita’s ex, for dating advice. What he fails to realize is that Joke has had his eyes on him for a long time and uses this opportunity to approach Zo. TMS 2.0.

7/15 Laws of Attraction (Thai Sat ????)  Stars the pair from To Sir With Love and with the same production team, cryptic description, but it seems to be Manner of Death esk.

7/19 Wedding Plan (Thai Wed YouTube & iQIYI)  - It's Mame and she's coming for our GL. She's such a misogynist IMAGINE what we will get with a GL? It's going to be absolute carnage. To crane your neck as you drive by the car wreck or not... that is the question. Me? I'm wallowing in the guts.

7/20 Jun & Jun (Korea Thu Viki) - From 2022 (TutorYim rumored to cameo) this office romance features 2, yes 2! Bls. Seme looks aggressive, we in classic yaoi territory. There is an idol involved. Past failed flirts. I am very excited about this one.

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

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

To Sir With Love

Best execution of the piggyback trope ever? I think so. 

Fucking GENIUS piece of acting. Bruce we LOVE you! 

All Step By Step 

It was stupid funny, okay? (Stupid Genius) 

Ridiculous man, you don’t have to eye fuck THAT hard. But we all appreciate it. (Vian) 

Dangerous thing to say in a show about identity in relationships. 

Brave boy.

I said this show was deep, not that I was. Although Patts seems to be going there. 

I’ll stop now.

All La Pluie. 

(Last week.)

[respectthepetty]

Step by Step Finale

Because I have no morals and no patience, I watched Step by Step's finale.

Find out below if I'm seeing red.

SPOILERS! and cursing

Let's get this out of the way -

Y'ALL ARE GOING TO HATE THE FINALE!

And here's why:

It's one hour and forty-five minutes long. That's the runtime of an entire Korean BLs.

Two years have passed, and Jeng still works for his father. 12/10 Alans.

Which means Jeng was still trapped in those fucking boxes for a good portion of this long-ass episode.

Jaab was in it for maybe two minutes, and Jen and Khanun were only mentioned and shown in a single photo.

I don't know if Jaab and Jen were together and Jaab was going to Japan to help Jen move his stuff back to Thailand, or if Jaab and Jen were dating, broke up, and Jaab was going to Japan to get some stuff back. I have no idea. It was lost in translation, literally.

Put was essentially the one who got Jeng and Pat back together.

It took one hour and six minutes for the guys to make up.

Singing was a key element to getting Jeng and Pat to speak to each other. 20/10 Alans.

Now for the good

Chot is the best damn character EVER! I need a spinoff with him IMMEDIATELY! He was not here for Pat's (or Jeng's) bullshit, and said several times very nicely, "don't fuck with my money" yet was still on his blue boy's side. Bless.

Chot, Ae, and Pat now have their own company, Broccoli House, and it had to compete with Jian for Forjd's (or however we spell that company's name) business, so we got to see Nan, and Pat's blue morphed into his uncomfortable brown since he was forced to see Jeng.

Jeng and Jaab did wear red, but like . . . thank goodness Jaab was very vocal about Jeng needing to resign YEARS ago because I don't know about their colors, fam. I'll have to circle back on Tuesday.

There were callbacks to shrimp nuggets, glass jelly, birthday cakes, and many more pivotal Jeng x Pat moments.

They got back together with Jeng saying they would take it "step by step"

Jeng did resign and did it in Pat's blue! Thank fucking Jesus!

They weren't social media out, so the frame was still there, but they were both in the blue and their parents and friends are aware of their relationship, so I'll take my wins where I can get them.

There will be plenty of GIF sets of Jeng and Pat's honeymoon phase, and I will gladly reblog each and every one of them.

And it ends happily with them talking about their future as they walk under a "BE BOLD" poster

Vibe Check

I'll come back around to my feelings about the show once I can watch it with better quality Tuesday, but for now, I'll split the difference.

The last quarter of the show was chaotic, it had a lot to say, but much of it got lost in the sauce, and the second pairing never blossomed, but Jeng did what most of these BL boys refuse to do and went against his father to quit his job, Pat and Jeng both apologized for their behavior and are trying to change, and what the show was trying to say was a good message - Be Bold, and

FUCK YOUR SHITTY FATHER!

[heretherebedork]

So we have Zo who was manipulated by a friend who wasn't ready to come out of the closet but flirted with him nonetheless and then turned him down in the cruelest way possible without ever seeming to realize how cruel he was or how much he hurt Zo and we have Joke who has obviously set up this entire situation of Zo coming to him for advice with his friends so he could flirt with him and have the chance to confess to him and go out with him...

But my other parallel is to Pok and Jeng. Because they might be together but they are stuck in the closet because of the world around them. They reflect what could have happened if Puen hadn't simply turned Zo's confession into a joke and hurt him so deeply it was a struggle for him to ever open up again.

A relationship in the closet. A relationship behind closed doors. A relationship where anyone seeing you is a danger and anyone knowing about your love is something to avoid.

Zo was manipulated cruelly but in return Puen kept them out of a relationship that would have to be hidden and have to be a secret... which is worse, in the end?

I don't know why this made me think of that. Actually, I think it's about the hidden agendas part of the show titled hidden agenda.

Puen was flirting with Zo and had feelings for him but he hid his own agenda because he couldn't handle the actual reality and idea of their relationship. Now, Joke is flirting with Zo but he used manipulation to get there, including his friends, to get them closer and to find their way together.

And then we have Pok. Pok, who fell in love with Jeng and has closeted himself for the man he loves and their relationship and is trying to stay happy but isn't. He isn't happy and we know he isn't but he wants to be happy. He wants to convince himself this is enough, this is all he wants.

Joke and Zo will never be in the closet about their relationship. Joke's grandmother already knows. Zo told his friends Joke was flirting with him. Joke enlisted his friends in helping get them together. Their relationship will be in danger but it will never be from trying to hide it.

I just... I feel like there are these gorgeous parallels between all the relationships and all the pain and all the healing and the question is will we actually get any of that from Pok and Jeng or am I trapped with them not getting any kind of emotional arc or pay off? They are a very small side couple. This could just be about Joke and Zo and we're left to assume that Pok really is fine. But I hope not.

[quodekash]

guys jokezo just made out and now they have to share a bed together. just chew on that for a bit.

NO, DON'T GIVE ME THEM SITTING ON A BUS

GIVE ME WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY HAD TO SLEEP IN THE SAME FREAKING BED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY MADE OUT

👀

(they made out last night btw)

(just in case anyone forgot)

(and then they had to share a bed)

ass x7

also zo is fully just not doing anything lmao

everyone's pushing with all their might and zo is just 🧍‍♂️

FUIWEBSDGIOUVEWJBOGD

oh the desperate thigh grab

yeah, im with him on this, they need to talk about it. especially about how they had to slEEP IN THE SAME FREAKING BED AFTER THAT

welp. I guess joke's day was just ruined in a slap to the face disguised as a few words

AND THE WAY HE TAKES HIS HAND OFF ZO'S THIGH AFTER THAT????? OUCHHHH

I must say tho, this is really giving episode-6-of-bad-buddy

its very patpran-post-rooftop-kiss-core

the vibes be gay and yearning and very very sad

OKAY, THE MOTHER, FINALLY

a few things to say about her

1. she's gorgeous

2. DAMN she is SHORT

3. I was rewatching the first four episodes yesterday and today because I could, and I noticed in the first episode, zo asked his friends to not tag him in photos they took at the bar, because "I don't want my mum to see"

but my question is... why? he's just out drinking with friends, he's an adult, he's not being irresponsible or anything, so why doesn't he want her to see the photos?

is it something to do with what his mum thinks of him? is she overbearing? does she have high expectations of him? does she kinda suck?

she's probably lovely though, and ill end up adding her to my list-of-fictional-parents-to-get-adopted-by (it's a very long list)

I guess we shall find out today as the episode progresses

oh, honey, you're so queer

the amount of times ive done exactly this

she's so short its hilarious omg

also: ive decided I love his mum

she's so sweet

and neither of them know how to use a stove and I think that's so hilarious and endearing

HSDHSHFSHDHHS

(also: this scene is making me think of akkayan at aye's house having a meal with his mum and rhbgdhjgb)

he's putting two and two together

the few braincells he has that aren't dedicated to debating are whirring in his mind

I can practically hear his thoughts

"he kissed me back... he wants to talk about the kiss... we went on two dates together at his suggestion... he showed up at my house and charmed my mother... he says I have secret admirers..." cmon sweetie youre so close

"WAIT, DOES HE LIKE ME?" omg honeybun you did it!

or maybe he didn't do it

maybe he was still shuffling the pieces in his brain but hadn't put them together and then his mum said something and distracted him

either way: that was hilarious and I want to high five dunk for his acting there

HIGH EXPECTATIONS, I KNEW IT

still love her tho

high expectations suck but she seems wonderful so far (obviously my opinion will change if the circumstances do (like if it turns out she completely sucks) but for now she's made it to the adoption list)

brb, gonna go cry real quick

well now their thumbs are making out

you see, I understand the things he's saying. and I honestly agree with him. if I were ever somehow put in his position, id probably say the same things.

HOWEVER, I just want my bl boys to kiss again and be happy and together and I appreciate the realism over the usual fantasy kinda situation we go for in bls, but I just want them to kissssss

this is very good advice

I hope that jokezo kiss again this episode

also AAAGBRDHFKBG JENGPOK CRUMBS

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO'S LOSING THEIR MIND OVER JENGPOK AGAIN

BERIUFDJKGBEORPVFD

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

SHUT UP

SHUT UP SHUT UP

IM NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

FHEWSDGFVESDV

THIS IS TOO FUNNY

im gonna start crying soon

its so funny

help me

girl is worried

I know this is what jeng told you to do but is during debate club really the right moment

im so certain that she ships it

awwhhhhh

HE SAID IT

HE SAID THE THING

AAAAAAAAA

hell yeah

GOUERJLHDGOBIERVLDNF

AAAAAAAAAAA

IM SCREAMING

THATS IT??

THAT'S THE END OF THE EPISODE??

THEY DIDNT EVEN KISS

OR ADDRESS THE FACT THAT - and I can't stress this enough - THEY SLEPT IN THE SAME FREAKING BED AFTER FULL-ASS MAKING OUT

omg next episode is gonna be amazing

I can't wait

gekjrdsbfd I love them so much

im like 70% certain they're gonna kiss next episode so fingers crossed

ALSO NITA DEFINITELY SHIPS IT

anyway. that was good. I should go to sleep now

[smittenskitten]

Trying to decipher Step by Step timeline

and failing.

This is just my takeaway from what we have seen so far. Lot of the timeframe I am assuming here are from their office work and Ae's pregnancy

episode 1: we learn Pat is a fresh recruit. It's only been a month since he joined Jian group so he is still in probationary period.

He has another 8 months till becomes a regular employee. Most company will keep their recruits in probationary period from anywhere between 2 months to a year. So in Jian Pat's probationary period is 9 months....like Ae's pregnancy

Side note: I never put this together but Pat did his internship at Ae and Beam's company.

Episode 2: A lot has happened. Pat is not having the best time with new Manager Jeng and at the very end when he is preparing to resign he gets a notification to do a peer review on Jeng. Usually peer review frequency varies from company to company but most perform theirs at the end of the quarter. Some mncs will perform peer reviews twice in one quarter, one being at the beginning and another one at the end. So that being said Jeng has to have been the manager for a few months for Pat to give such scathing review.

Ok, so it's Q1. Which would mean this somewhere between January-March

episode 3: The peer review is sent and Pat is stresses so by the end of this episode he has prepared his resignation letter. I don't know how to read Thai but google translator tells me this is dated February 2023.

episode 4: no specific date for me to follow but Forge project is in it's presentation stage + finalizing production company for ads.

episode 5: Jeng's dad's ultimatum, so Jeng has till the end of 23 to show progress for his department or his Dad is shutting it down

We also find out Ae is pregnant.

episode 6: nothing specific on the time. Put asks for a second chance

episode 7: lmao! I wish! But yes some companies do be giving maternity leave from 3 months to a year. But there is also the issue of paid, non-paid maternity leave which is a whole other thing.

From the looks of it Ae is not that far into her pregnancy???? So she might be waiting to take that leave later.

episode 8: Pat and Put have broken up. Ae's bump isn't that visible sitting in the middle but it's there.

episode 9: now we have some specific time again. Both of Pat's parents are visiting him to celebrate his birthday. Which is October 31st

We don't know exactly how far along Ae is. But it's the end of October and she found out she was pregnant in episode 5 so maybe in March/April!!!

Pat has his birthday and with that we are entering November. One last peer review perhaps? lol. Jeng has to show his dad significant change in the department but he is leaving Jian and looking for his replacement.

Yes please.

Ae is more that 30 weeks pregnant when she has her baby. Lets just assume they are well into December by now for my sanity and everyone else.

and this is late birthday gift from Jeng

in conclusion: it's been somewhere around a little over a year up till episode 9. Pat is likely a regular employee now.

edit: more timeline explanation on notes

[ginnymoonbeam]

Top 5 kisses of the year!

Oh friend, you know what I am ABOUT! I have so many opinions on kisses, I even have a spreadsheet with a detailed assessment rubric. If I'd kept up with that sheet even a little bit this year, I wouldn't have had to scrabble through my recollections to answer... but the scrabbling was fun, and also gave me an excuse to rewatch some choice scenes.

Before I answer (you knew this wasn't going to be short), some general thoughts on what makes a really great drama kiss. Physicality is important: the lips, the hands, the eye contact, the way both bodies express desire and the pull to be closer. But a really great kiss is also full of emotional context and narrative meaning. It's as much an expression of character as any other actions or words. It shows who these people are to each other in this moment, and it lets us see the individuality of their desires and feelings.

The really great kiss scenes usually also come after a buildup of tension, releasing like a musical chord resolving. A kiss that I have been dying to see will hit so much harder than an equally sensual kiss with an established couple that does it all the time, or with a pair I've just seen meet. That's not a knock against established couple kisses or lust-at-first-sight kisses: I enjoy both, a lot. But the kisses that really make an impression, that make my chest ache and leave me thinking about them for days, tend to be Big Moments.

So here you go, my top 5 BL kisses of 2023.

Step by Step car makeout

gif by smittenskitten

Step by Step might have been a letdown, but Pat and Jeng's chemistry never faltered. This car makeout, after having to spend a day in the office trying to keep up a professional front, holds some of the most raw, frenzied desire we've gotten this year. The way they look at each other, the way they grab for each other, it's blazingly good. And the thing that makes this a standout scene for me: in their groping and grappling, they hit the car horn, stop and laugh about it, and then keep kissing. One of my kissing scene peeves is when any small interruption brings the scene to an end, as if a spell has been broken and they've been reverted to normal not-kissing people. I punched the air when Pat and Jeng stopped for a minute and then got right back into it, like two people who really want to be kissing each other should do.

I Cannot Reach You infirmary kiss

gif by jimmysea

Now we go to the opposite end of the sensuality spectrum. This kiss was short and gentle in comparison to every other kiss on this list, but the narrative impact is profound. I Cannot Reach You is only the second BL I've seen to put direct focus on the physical intimacy side of a friends-to-lovers story, where sexual desire appears as an unsettling element in the friendship that both parties need to wrestle with in their own way. This kiss shows the resolution of that struggle, the mutual acceptance and mutual desire. Yamato is not holding himself back any more and Kakeru is fully accepting and reflecting his desire. And while it's not the most involved kiss, the sensuality is absolutely there: the softness of the lips, the cradling of Kakeru's face, the hands! Gorgeous.

Last Twilight rooftop kiss

gif by jimmysea

Aof Noppharnach knows how to build a goddamn moment. Not for nothing is he the architect of the top-rated kiss on my spreadsheet (yes, it's the one you think.) This is the perfect example of a kiss as character and story work, a kiss that has a distinct narrative role, a kiss that's physically distinctive and suited to the moment the characters are in. Day has just been kissed out of pity and is despairing that that's the only feeling he can evoke in others; Mok has spent weeks realizing how much he wants Day even as he watches Day move away from him and toward someone else. Mok needed to kiss Day aggressively in this moment, and Day needed to feel that desire aimed at him, and we the audience needed a release from the agonies we'd been feeling for both of them all episode long.

I Feel You Linger In The Air post-ballroom kiss

gif by tenprems

Whew... what is there even to say? The buildup to this one was extraordinary, the romance of it unparalleled. Gorgeous, gorgeous scene. Also this is a good place to mention that kissing in the rain is good. Kissing in the rain is always very good. I've been known to give bonus points for other environmental elements too, but rain will always score big.

This list hasn't been ranked thus far - all four of these kisses are wonderful in such different ways, and I didn't want to take the time to actually fill out my rubric to get a numerical score for each of them (maybe I will after I post.) But the last is unquestionably #1 for me: it's the one I knew right away was going on the list, the best kiss scene of 2023 and one of the best of all time.

La Pluie apartment floor makeout

gif by wanderlust-in-my-soul

In all my talk about narrative weight and character, let it not be thought that I don't care about the physicality and the sensuality. Boy do I, and boy did this scene deliver! These boys want each other intensely, and every element of the scene made me feel that right down to my toes. It's the way they touch each other, the way they look at each other, the way their mouths move. There's an editing choice that I adore, perfectly conveying the escalation from first exploratory kisses to heated passion. And then the way they stop, because Patts recognizes that Tai would regret going further in this moment, as fired-up as he is right now. This kiss scene says so much about who they both are and how they feel about each other, and it does it while delivering a fire I still feel after [mumblemumble] rewatches.

Thanks so much for the ask and letting me go on about one of my favorite things!

Ask me my Top 5 BL anything!

(they probably won't all be this long)