#la pluie bl

[heretherebedork]

My favorite part of this is that Lomfon tries to do the big romantic moment with making the movie about Tien and all Tien wants is the words. Tien just wants a confession, something straightforward, and Lomfon struggles with that.

But once Tien is clear about what he needs... Lomfon provides. The real confession, the clear one, the making of a real choice and not hiding from it. No hiding behind videos, no hiding behind unclear choices, just the real truth.

Because he doesn't just confess, he explains. He tells Tien what happened and he's clear and nothing is left up to chance, nothing left in silence (Tien knows silence too well, he will not have silence in his relationship).

I love Tien's slow realization that this is real and that he's being chosen and how he slowly, slowly comes to believe what's happening and it's beautiful.

But this just reminds me of how Tien was left outside after the fight in the rain so of course the true confession has to happen outside. Tien wants everything out in the open! He wants to be honest and for people around him to be honest and for relationships to be about open, honest communication. And that's what he finally gets.

And he finally says everything he needed to say, to explain his feelings and to finally unfuck it.

The final call to a choice. A call of being chosen. Because that is what Tien has always wanted. To be chosen.

But also Lomfon promised a practical confession but it's Tien who grabbed him and kissed him senseless once he was sure he was chosen.

Bonus: Height difference = 💖

[iguessitsjustme]

Thinking about how for someone who claimed to not believe in soulmates, Lomfon sure let fate and destiny put in all of the work in his relationships while he personally contributed barely anything.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Lomfon. But boy done fucked up. That’s why he and Tai would never work as a couple. Neither one of them puts in any work for the relationship because they put absolute trust and faith in the universe and destiny and fate and then never bother to actually communicate things. To anyone.

Lomfon held on to a keychain and proclaimed if belonged to his first love. Did he ever ask anyone about it? Did he ever look into who it belonged to? Or did he just use it and wait for fate to bring them back together?

Tai got upset and ran away by himself up a dangerous mountain. Did he think to tell anyone? Not even Patts but literally any of his friends on the mountain? His BROTHER? Did he think to leave a note? Or did he just think if he went up the mountain fate would give him the answers he’s been searching for when all he had to do was communicate with anyone?

Patts and Then have been doing all of the communication for these two. And I’ll be honest, I’m upset at Patts for becoming violent towards Lomfon but I understand why. But I think he has some self reflecting to do there but I digress.

Patts has constantly been the one reaching out to Tai for two years and was met with silence. Patts was the one Lomfon told about being Tai’s soulmate and Patts was the one who told Lomfon to stay away and not cross those boundaries. Patts is the one that wanted so badly to believe that Tai wasn’t lying to him that he went out of his way looking for Tai despite the evidence he had to the contrary. And Patts gave Tai every opportunity to tell the truth. He gave that to Tai and was met with hurt silence instead.

Tien has been the one constant in Tai’s life. Whenever Tai was upset or moody or distant or silent, Tien was there for him. How much of Tien’s noise is to make up for Tai’s silence? How much of himself did Tien give away to his brother, unknowingly? Tien was the one who broke down when Tai went missing on the mountain. Tien was arguably more distraught than Patts. Tien was the one who welcomed Patts with open arms. Tien was the one who was there and communicated with Patts when he was searching for Tai amidst the lie. Tien was the one who took care of Lomfon. Tien is the one who admitted first that he liked Lomfon without needing to prove anything to anyone. Tien was the one constantly reaching out to all three of them when they needed someone the most. And now which one of them has thought of him? Who is there to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart? Who even knew he was in love and is now breaking? Tien gave so much of himself to others who didn’t know to appreciate or even realize that they’ve left him with nothing but a hollowed out heart.

And I love all four of them. That’s what’s so great about this show. Is that even with how upset I am at Tai, Patts, and Lomfon, I still love them. They are just people and they’re learning and loving and growing. They are flawed and they are allowed to be and it doesn’t make them bad people. I would say they are all extremely good people. Destiny has played a cruel joke on all of them and they are all doing the best with what they got. Some of them are better than others at communicating and being there for when people need them. Some of them are shit at communicating and don’t realize when others need them.

Patts is probably the best communicator of the bunch which makes sense because he’s older. Tien still needs to learn to communicate his own needs, wants, desires, and hurts. But Tien is excellent at seeing others. Tai is very in tune with his own emotions and what he needs but doesn’t think of others and what they might need from him. And Lomfon has been so blinded by destiny that he hasn’t seen anyone. Not truly.

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Delicious adjective, /dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/- used to describe a situation or activity that gives you great pleasure (Part 2/?)

Love In Translation

Our Skyy 2 - Bad Buddy

Something Crunchy, Crunchy

Deep Night

Love In The Big City

Papa, What Is Love 2

This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans

La Pluie

Playboyy

My Personal Weatherman

Part of my favorite bl-tropes collection, as always in no particular order.

[pharawee]

"You want to be a hero, huh?"

—JACK & JOKER: U Steal My Heart ♠ 09.09.2024

[bengiyo]

Hello 👋

All of your favorite horniest sex scenes?

Hello! I've been busy, so this has taken forever to get to!

I don't always need the guys to bounce around on each other and gyrate enthusiastically for it to out as horny. Oftentimes, I find myself more drawn in by the building desire between the characters, and the explicit acknowledgement of release. I like when the sex feels like it's also revealing something to us about the characters. I've highlighted many of these before, but it's fun to revisit.

Ghost Host, Ghost House Episode 4 Couch Scene

I will never get over this scene, and especially the director's cut of it. These guys knew they liked each other almost instantly, and it was so rewarding to see them reach a place where they could express that. Bonus points for discussing the logistics of gay sex.

This show has been on Gaga and YouTube for a while, but it's also now available on Viki!

La Pluie Episode 6 Floor Scene and Episode 7 Bed Scene

I liked this scene so much that I wrote about it. Again, there's a lot of anticipation between these two, and you can tell how far it's built up because Patts has to dial it back down when Saengtai wants to stop. It's especially important to me because Saengtai does blow Patts in the next episode. If you're on iQIYI, there's an extended cut of that at the end of the video lists.

Mood Indigo: The Post-Funeral Scene

These two are so horrible for each other, but damn are their sex scenes compelling. Theirs are the kinds of scenes only possible between two people you know can never work long term. I was so glad that we got back to Haruhiko in Playback, and the first thing he did was blow Rio in a car. If you haven't seen the Novelist, and you're itching for hornier BL, it's right there.

The End of the World With You "You're Soaked"

From the same team as The Novelsit, we got to experience baby's first fuckboy in this incredible show. Again, I love when we get scenes with couples who aren't ready to work, because they're allowed to have raunchier sex. They get to amp the intensity of the physicality because they need to give a reason why someone was so caught up and missed the warning signs. I actually love the car scene later as a more romantic intimacy scene, but we're focusing on horny here.

Jack o' Frost Birthday Sex

A common theme here with the Japanese offerings is that people are allowed to have more interesting sex scenes right before they split. This is true even in Jack o' Frost. We get a really great oner from the leads that precedes their breakup and Ritsu's accident. I think this might be my favorite of this list because the actors have to build the entire scene together since there aren't any cuts.

Gameboys 2 Bed Scene

Cairo and Gav are one of my favorite pandemic couples we got on screen, and I was quite relieved for them when they finally got to have this moment. We also confirmed they switch, and I love that.

Wedding Plan: Namnuea Showing Off His Stamina

No list for me would be complete without including them. I really loved seeing two gay men go at it after clearing out all of their misunderstandings. They had already had sad goodbye sex. It was thrilling to see them having enthusiastic, athletic sex. This also leads directly to one of my favorite emotional payoffs for a closeted character of all time.

Kiseki: Dear to Me Reunion

The second couple stole this show, but damn if I didn't love the way these two played out sex across multiple years between their characters. These two really suffered, and I really love the way Taro Lin and Hsu Kai captured the changes between these two as Bai Zong Yi grew and matured. This really was a solid sex scene.

Love Class 2: Sungmin and Joo Hyuk

I just really wanna thank them for reassuring me that if Korea wanted to, they could deliver.

Sleep With Me Jeans Scene

I am not a lesbian, but I share their beliefs. This scene was so good. I loved that these two, who have different kinds of disabilities, were able to have a very fun sex scene. I really like when it's clear both characters want to be there.

Only Friends: Boston and Top in the Car

Despite my eventual disdain for this show, I was impressed with Neo and Force for giving this incredibly selfish sex scene between their characters. This entire scene is about injured egos, and it's a standout scene from this show. We won't discuss the rest of the show here.

Thanks for the ask!

[absolutebl]

Best 23 of BL 2023 - Quirky Awards

SHOCK & AWE AWARDS

1. Biggest BL surprise of 2023:

The last 3 months of 2023 in general got my biggest WTF award.

GMMTV fielding OffGun AND TayNew in the same quarter while also airing Last Twilight (arguably one of their best BLs ever)

That they ALSO optioned 3 JBLs

That there's a high heat omegaverse BL staring Pavel

That there were 20 BLs airing and none of them Korean.

With 5 VAMPIRE BLs announced for next year

But my prize in this category goes to My Dear Gangster Oppa.

It's just crazy:

Thai talent, Korean money + IP (this is adapted from a manwha) airing on a Chinese channel (iQIYI). Plus it was GOOD and made smart reuse of a pair who richly deserved it. I'm delighted by the eclectic insanity of this production. And wonder if any other film genre could even do anything like this.

2. The “that country did WHAT?” award:

The 8th Sense from Korea?!

I mean, seriously?! Dealing with metal health, suicide, darkness, therapy, age gap, & first time love BUT FROM KOREA? And then openness and casual boyfriend physical affection? What's next? An actual hard fought coming out narrative with an HEA? Gay domesticity and families?

Careful Korea, you'll strain something. Possibly your own culture and film industry.

I should stop having expectations of Korea, they keep surprising me.

Runners up: Korea letting OnlyOneOf do Bump Up Business not to mention that OmegaX thing. AND Korea adapting Why R U? What are you up to, Korea? Qua? Is this a coded message? Should we send help? Do you need snacks?

3. Biggest casting whoa! where did you come from? award:

GeminiFourth in My School President.

Seriously? Babies what? How did GMMTV find you? How do you exist? How is BL this lucky?

4. That studio did WHAT now? award:

GMMTV putting EarthMix into Moonlight Chicken.

And then doubling down with G4 as the damn sides.

Fucking genius.

5. I’m sad you were ignored award:

Destiny Seeker.

It's just a really fun little Thai pulp, the pairs were good, silly dialogue, plus consent and other good rep. I enjoyed it. No one talked about it AT ALL.

6. 2023 BL That Actually Made Me Lose My Mind Award?

Laws of Attraction. -The casting, the crazy story, the soapy drama! But specifically: Film playing Charn - the range of his smiles alone. GLORIOUS

I mean I Feel You Linger in the Air also sparked something in me, but LoA drove me actually nuts.

NARRATIVE AWARDS

7. Best story 2023:

La Pluie

I know, you're surprised, right? At the time I didn't chat much about it but I really enjoyed the discourse others were having. I love anything that really examines the fated mates (soulmates) trope and the idea of "the one". What a clever way to do that. (This is one reason UWMA is my favorite Thai BL.)

This one reminded me of the way Color Rush approached allegory and that's no bad thing. Such an impressive little piece.

8. Best narrative structure 2023 award:

Unintentional Love Story.

I know this may seem a simplistic pick. But I love the tidiness of this no frills contemporary romance, how the culture of work and personal ethics and corruption fight against the main character's affection and integrity. Poor baby boy is driven into a corner and then punished for it. But it is punishment he feels he deserves, and so it is up to his (now) ex to figure out what went wrong and why.

It's just great. I love it when no one is stupid or wrong, it's just impossible circumstances and unintentional love deeply felt.

9. Best 2023 dialogue (script) award:

Jun & Jun

Never before has Korea laced a BL with that much perfectly executed innuendo. It was a master class. I didn't know you could be that lascivious in Korean, quite frankly. Plus the way the 2 Juns constantly seamlessly transition between formal register (work, public - where they are boss/employee) to informal register (when they are alone and age mates + childhood sweethearts).

Beautiful to hear and watch.

10. Favorite scene 2023:

The dub con scene in I Cannot Reach You because I AM TRASH for an out of control seme. I'm sorry I just AM.

I have said it before, I will say it again, NO ONE DOES THIRST like Japan. And when that thirst bubbles over, it is heart-clenching and very hot.

11. The most rewatchable BL of 2023 award:

Our Dating Sim

That scene where they lie on the floor + the stolen kiss + giggle? Come on, it should be on comfort repeat in war rooms. It could bring world peace.

ACTORS & CHARACTERS AWARDS

12. Best performance of a queer actor in a leading role, 2023:

Fluke in Make a Wish.

It was fun to see him as an irreverent immortal and while I love OhmFluke I also really enjoyed this new pairing. It was a genuine pleasure to watch.

13. Best pining 2023:

The moot pining in Tokyo in April is...

Boys, seriously? Japan must you destroy us like this? Hurts so good.

14. Best wingman 2023 (The Namgoong Award)

Tiw from My School President

I mean, come on, of course it's him!

(Also can you believe Mark went on from this to do fricking Only Friends!? To Last Twilight! Come on GMMTV GIVE HIM A LEAD!)

15. Biggest OMG I LOVE you boys together, YAY!

Dimpled McMafia & Feral Bunny Foo Foo from Kiseki Dear to Me.

They were feral for each other.

We were feral for them

It was a whole delightful THING.

16. Most unexpected return of a BL pair? award:

The Private Lessons pair showing up in Love Class 2.

I know it was only a cameo, but SERIOUSLY? Thank you SO MUCH Korea! A big studio picking up a Strongberry pairing? I love you.

Seriously tho between them, Taiwan & Korea tried for ALL THE CAMEOS this year.

17. Well aren't you two just the prettiest? award:

NetJames in Bed Friend.

Need I say more?

18. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Bah Vinh in Vian & Mr Cinderella 2. I did like either show but I loved him in them. Especially the make outs.

Yes you have chemistry with all the boys in Vietnam and you kiss beautifully. But it's okay now honey, you have the crown. Relax, you're stressing us out.

RANDOM PICKS

19. Favorite Linguistic Moment of 2023:

Our Dating Sim

Caught in the act by the elevator scene. OMG it's so funny. They're being such boyfriend shits to each other, and to be caught in the act by THAT character, and try to manifest formal language whole cloth? Hilarious.

Honorable mention to War Peanuts in Destiny Seeker.

20. Biggest disappointment of 2023:

You Are Mine

Seriously Taiwan, AGAIN you disappoint me with an Office BL? You're Taiwan, land of offices and suits. This should be YOUR SETTING TO WIN. And yet... argh. I mean it wasn't bad. But it wasn't good either. Stop it Taiwan, do better.

Runners up? Between Us, Chains of Heart, Dangerous Romance - this was a HOTLY contested category.

+ 2 Winners in the sub-category of FUCK YOU FOR THAT ENDING award:

The Director who Buys Me Dinner - I mean this nicely but: you have your lane now Korea, stop hurting us, that's Japan's responsibility and they do it better.

I Feel You Linger In the Air - I'm just hugely disappointed. Thailand ALMOST got its second 10/10 from me, but that damn ending.

Argh.

21. Best Wardrobe/Prop Use 2023

The shower of packaged bedsheets in My Personal Weatherman

Amazing. Brilliant. No notes.

22. Best Queer Rep 2023

Chot in Step By Step

In fact, all the queer characters in this show were treated with great integrity.

AND props to this cast for refusing to do fan service. GOOD FOR YOU! Fuck those sasang wankers.

Runners up? The found family cast of Love in Translation and the Rainbow Rice Cakes in The New Employee.

23. Best Meta Trope call out

Tin Tem Jai

Come on, what a zinger, but at themselves (and Taiwan)

Final question: which of the 23 was the hardest for me to pick?

Honestly? Question #1 this year. But also question #20.

(Last year: 2022's Version) 

Remember I only pull from shows that were completely finished by the end of 2023. Or The Sign probably would have taken multiple categories. But it will fall into 2024 offerings.

(source)

[lurkingshan]

Bestie @my-rose-tinted-glasses sent me an ask but tumblr is being a weirdo and won't let me publish it, so let's try it this way. The ask:

Wonderful day in Thailand. but now for the important questions. Of all the ql thai couples, which wedding would you like to be invited to and why? Rose💜

So let's talk QL weddings!! First of all, I would like to give a shoutout to a few excellent weddings already depicted in Thai QL:

And I would have liked to have been personally invited to every one of them, thank you very much. I'm a very fun wedding guest! I drink like a fish, I'm a happy drunk, and I love to dance, and on top of that I'm a mom friend and consummate problem solver who will absolutely take over and handle shit if the wedding planner is incompetent.

As for the weddings I would still like to see, oh I definitely have a list:

Oyei and Cher, Wandee Goodday: This is within the realm of possibility in the very near future and I will be lighting all my candles and manifesting hard for the next month.

Ten and Prem, Cooking Crush: Those were definitely engagement portraits on the wall in that epilogue and I would like to see it! I feel strongly that if I don't see at least one pair of OffGun characters get married onscreen I will simply perish.

Patts and Tai, La Pluie: You just know Patts is gonna be so extravagant and Tai is gonna be such a drama queen about it. To restore balance to the universe, Tien should get to throw a tantrum and make Tai's wedding all about his latest fight with Lomfon.

Tian and Jiu, Khun Chai: I just think Tian deserves it!!!!

Every couple in The Warp Effect: We can make it a dorky group wedding if we have to, whatever it takes to see all those beautiful queer people lawfully wed to their chosen partner.

Phumjai and Yang, Love in Translation: They are business partners in love, they should get to have a wedding with a silly photoshoot in the aisles of their store.

Any pair, Knock Knock Boys: Stay with me now, I think the bl boys should get to partake in the time honored het tradition of getting drunkenly married on a bender and regretting it.

Khanin and Charan, The Next Prince: If this show does not deliver an extravagant royal wedding, what are we even doing here??

I recognize that some of these shows are long over, but I see no reason why we can't have the things that we want. Happy endings and wedding specials for everyone, I will pay!

[a-father-of-light]

I've always found Pee Peerawich attractive, but there's something about him as Hope.

Is it because they changed his hair?

Is it the costuming? Those black suits are doing a lot for him.

Or is it because he's playing a morally questionable character, which is such a contrast to his last role in La Pluie? Talent is attractive, and watching him act, and seeing his range is so impressive.

That deranged smile...

It was at this point that I couldn't pretend not to notice how sexy he got.

I'm soooooooooooo invested in Hope as a character. I want all the mess.

Give me the violent, deranged debt collector with a soft spot for his boyfriend.

Sidenote: I didn't know Pee would have a romantic partner in the show. So the joy I feel!

Sidenote sidenote: I'm questioning the age gap between Hope and Save though... Isn't Save in high school? How old is Hope supposed to be?

Sidenote sidenote sidenote: It's kind of insane how Hope has some kind of chemistry with everyone at this point. He could kiss Jack, Tattoo or Aran, and I'd be down to watch.

Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.

[lemonfreshlysqueezed]

Biting is a love language!

The sweet sweet way of showing affection by biting has been happening more recently in bl, and I’m here for it.

This is my collection, for now. I most definetly will be adding to it 😇

The Eighth Sense

Jae Won x Ji Hyun (Episode 6)

Gifs by @dingyuxi

A Shoulder To Cry On

Tae Hyun x Da Yeol (Episode 5)

Gif by @forcebook

La Pluie

Saengtai x Phat (Epsiode 3)

Gif by @singto-prachaya

Laws of Attraction - Both couples!

Tinn x Charn (Episode 6)

Gif by @spicyvampire

Thee x Thaenthai (Episode 8)

Gif by @pharawee

Secret Crush on You

Sky x Jao (Episode ?)

Gif by @stormyoceans

Between us Special

Team x Win (Episode Week 2)

Gif by @hoshinisuzu

Love Syndrome III

Day x Itt (Episode 3)

Gif by @crispywizardtale

Link to part 2 and 3

[sparklyeyedhimbo]

Top 5 favorite kisses in BLs this year. 💕

like how am i suppose to choose just 5????? you are getting all of my favs (and no there is not a pattern in these kisses no)

there are no pit babe, playboyy or the sign kissies because they are still ongoing. will add them later maybe

[shouldiusemyname]

I would just like to point out the noticeable lack of fan service coming from La Pluie and Be My Favorite (in addition to Step by Step).

[heretherebedork]

So I'm going to just completely ignore the little 'Tien gets hearing loss and a soulmate' thing at the end because he knows it's a choice (he saw Tai break his connection) and he's already chosen Lomfon and we can just... ignore that. Seriously.

(But, honestly, it felt almost mocking after the entire show and the ending we got. Like, why? We didn't need to go out on a comedic note. It was okay! Everyone was happy! It feels pointless and frustrating to end on this note of 'but what iiiif?'

[iguessitsjustme]

Can someone smarter and more knowledgeable than me talk about how Tien lost his yellow but it’s being picked up by Tai? My man is currently constantly surrounded by yellow. On the plane, his backpack, the motorbike? Hello???? I love this

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Comfort place - the bathtub (Part 2/?)

I Feel You Linger In The Air

Love In The Air

Only Friends

Bed Friend

Playboyy

Happy Of The End

La Pluie

Pit Babe

My Beautiful Man: Eternal

My Stand-In

Favorite bathtub-scenes as part of my favorite bl-tropes-collection in no particular order.

[liyazaki]

we get to choose our own paths, instead of what destiny chooses for us.

LA PLUIE THE SERIES | EPISODE 12

[bengiyo]

Too 5 horniest sex scenes

There were actually a lot of really solid sex scenes this year. For you, I will cheat and add extras.

Masumi and Ritsu in College in The End of the World With You

I actually think these are better in retrospect because we got to see what these two look like ten years later.

Yang and Phumjai Knocking Down Their Own Store in Love in Translation

I just know this was a fantasy for Yang and he absolutely still has that footage somewhere. They both had beds upstairs!

Namnuea Showing Sailom the Real Him in Wedding Plan

We did not get enough focus on characters who have experience sharing that with each other.

Kim Sung Min and Yoo Joo Hyuk in Love Class 2

We don't often get solidly built boys together in BL, and once again we got two men who knew how to fuck going at it.

Boston and Top in that Car in Only Friends

Top was trying to send that boy into orbit the way he jackhammered him! You know Boston's ass was clean and ready for this moment that he orchestrated.

That First Night Between Nail and Him in For Him

Nothing like a rebound hookup. Bonus if he looks exactly like your ex, amirite??

Saengtai Blowing Patts in La Pluie Ep 7

There's an extended version of this in the special episode on iQIYI. You should check it out. My man Patts was about to lose his mind in this and got what he needed to keep going.

Kon Diao and Yi on the Couch in Naughty Babe Ep 6

Let us never again mention the thumb incident in episode 8. Instead, let's talk about Kon Diao taking charge in this scene and blowing Yi so good that he had to keep his socks on.

King and Uea Explore Kinks in Bed Friend

King was trembling in anticipation when he shared this with Uea.

Ask Me Top 5 BL 2023 Anything