#lita review

[dream-thief-forever-amen]

Review: Love in the Air - A Masterclass in Kissing

long and media heavy review on Love in the Air... got a bunch of tumblr fandom in there...

https://subtitledreams.com/2022/12/26/review-love-in-the-air/

I tagged everyone I saw, there’s probably a few I missed

@kdrama-mama @shippingcontacts, @prapais, @liyazaki, @scarefox, @bird-inacage, @perths, @endlessly-ranting-antheia, @piningintrovert, @guzhu-furen, @gunsatthaphan, @paisky, @viva-yas-vegas @yeetlegay, @alpha-peen, @akindofemotionaltether, @wahgifs, @dramaism, @pharawee, @djeterg19, @prometheuswelsh @alwayspining, @kwonzoshi , @hecalledhimhyung, @dramabiscuit, @intothealone, @7-starboi, @baijingting, @dreamingsnowflake2013, @cornyonmains, @laurenkmyers, @thefreeblog, @purplenimsicle, @themagnusbane, @theyellowhue, @zhaozi, @hoshinisuzu, @maibpenrai, @iwatchalotofshows, @fortpeat

[bird-inacage]

I’ve noticed an influx of newcomers to the LITA fandom of late and firstly - welcome! I never did do a wrap-up review when the series ended (probably neck deep in hysteria then) so I figured why not write one now. I will keep this brief, as I have a tendency to get carried away with my analysis on this show. You can peruse my index of deep dives for more if you wish. I will largely be referencing the Love Sky portion of this series because... well, my blog says it all really.

LITA is a story of two halves; the first 1-7 episodes focus on Rain's arc, whilst the proceeding 8-13 episodes focus on Sky's. Most BLs tend to have an interlacing structure that weaves multiple couples simultaneously. But LITA has done this to allow for chronological story-telling and doubles up well as a framing device. Rain's arc is more 'slice of life', humorous and light-hearted overall. Whereas Sky's arc is weighty and pensive, involving more serious themes, highs and lows. There is a distinct tonal shift between these two halves that feel like different movements within the same symphony.

As an adaptation of MAME's original novels, 6-7 episodes is a tight window to do each couple justice. This just about works for Rain’s arc over Sky’s, the latter of which definitely needed more run time, and feels awfully rushed at its crucial conclusion. Otherwise the narrative and romantic development progresses at a pretty steady pace.

Difficult topics around trauma and abuse are approached with sensitivity whilst still packing a gut punch. Thankfully this isn’t used as a gimmick but serves as an integral thread in Sky’s characterisation, and is consistently signposted throughout. What I really appreciate is how both couples overcome obstacles in a healthy way and learn to communicate. Our characters are able to learn and grow from conflict, and ultimately move forward in a positive direction.

Main Leads: Why this pairing really works for me is that I enjoy them as individual characters as well as together. A couple is only as strong as the sum of its parts - and for me to buy into a partnership, I need to be firstly convinced that these two people exist outside of just their relationship. Prapai and Sky are well balanced in that respect as they have clearly established identities of their own. This pair also had the added advantage of being introduced in Rain’s arc which really helped lay some ground work. Sky is a character most will easily love; perceptive, reliable and devoted, his insecurities are hugely relatable to anyone who has struggled with self worth. Whereas Prapai may divide audiences at first with his seemingly misplaced charm and (dorky) rich playboy aura, where a multitude of hidden depths are later revealed. You’ll come to adore this man in a similar fashion to how Sky is won over, seeing beyond his flirty teasing to the caring, patient and loving man underneath.

Pairing Rating: [SWEET + SENSUAL] This pair deliver on both soft comfort/domesticity as well as highly-charged intensity, a combination that will make your heart ache and break.

Other: This series very much centres its efforts around the leads. Relationship dynamics outside of our main couples tend to be overlooked and are increasingly forfeited towards the end (most namely Sky and Rain’s friendship which had a great kick-off in Rain’s half but was almost non-existent in Sky’s), likely due to time constraints.

Acting Performance: Relative newcomers Fort and Peat do a stellar job of making their characters feel fully realised and believable in such a short span of episodes. Both actors share uncanny similarities with the roles they are playing, which must have helped and is proof of great casting. I’m also hugely impressed that they were able to work against the reverse age dynamic they share in real life (Peat is 26, Fort is 22). Due to the heavier undertones in Sky’s storyline, this script really allows both actors to showcase a wider range of their acting abilities. Fort is a revelation, providing a very grounded and surprisingly mature performance. Peat does a wonderfully committed job of throwing himself into such a challenging role with enormous vulnerability. I give props to any actor who is willing to ugly cry and I mean ugly cry.

Visuals: Arguably one of the strongest characteristics of the show is it’s pleasing aesthetic that feels bright, clean, and really rather beautiful in certain scenes, particularly when it comes to the use of lighting, colour and camera angles. It’s very easy on the eye and elevates the charm of the everyday as its setting. Imagery is also utilised well when portraying Sky’s trauma.

Sound: The common gripe with LITA is the inconsistent quality of audio. Oh my, the audio. In some places the sound is insanely crisp and loud (think ASMR levels of breathing and shirts crinkling), and yet in others, dialogue is tenuous due to music, ambience or just dodgy recording in the first place.

>>>

FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s the couples that will lure in your heart and hold it captive. Despite the fairly simple trajectory of the storyline, the series is engaging with decent rewatch value. It would have benefited from a longer run. My blog is testament to how much I adore them - having written over a dozen metas on their relationship alone (but hey, I may be slightly biased). I wildly underestimated what this show was going to deliver when the trailer first came out, and my expectations were largely surpassed on all fronts.

(Disclaimer: These are just my own opinions. It goes without saying that one still can enjoy a show for all its successes as well as recognising its shortcomings.)

[margoshamangolord]

A BIG POST WHY TFA SENTINEL IS A GOOD CHARACTER WHILE STILL BEING A FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT

lots of thoughts under cut

I hated him like any tfa viewer is expected to, and i still do, because he's wrong oftenly and very fucking immature about his own actions, but it's just that fandom treats him like a simple flat cardboard designed for nagging the main characters, while he's not. Even people usually fond of discussing character depth just go "ew" at him, but i want to prove that he's not worse than even ratchet or bumblebee in terms of writing. His actions have depths, reasons and explanations. I do not want to excuse him in points where he actually fucked up, but i do want to remind that he's a character with a history and insecurities like others in tfa

I want to start off with the fact that while the hate he has inside the fandom is not really interesting, it is easily expected. He acts like a piece of shit and has a lot of negative traits (for example you have his attitude towards organics, and while you could kinda write it into being a reaction to Elita's 'death', it wouldn't be really valid, since Optimus was there too, he saw the same things as him, but he has no disgust towards humans)

The first thing i want to show would be this screenshot from the allspark almanac. It actually broke me when i saw it and prompted to write this because it brilliantly explains his whole character drama.

He feels guilty. He actually knows and admits he made a mistake and he is weighed down by it. He is fully and painfully aware of his stupidity in the situation.

But is he going to admit it? Is he going to apologise? Of course he's not. He cannot carry the weight of his guilt, but he cannot apologise and let himself be weak. So he made a vow.

He presses Optimus down and puts that weight on him because it's easier for him to stand straight reassuring himself that he's not at fault at all here. He feels that if he says sorry, then he'll be guilty forever and will never let go if he acknowledges it. He is guilty and he knows it, but he's immature and he does not want to think about it at all. He distracts himself with the rules and regulations.

"I did it, i fucked up trying to be something greater than i should, breaking rules. I'm never gonna wash it off, I'm guilty, but i must be better. If I don't make any more attempts at throwing over the rules, if I hold down others from doing so, i will be better, right?"

Rules are safety and comfort for him. Breaking rules and trying to be special is something he associates with Elita's death, and his thought process basically is "no rule breaking=no tragic accidents to be responsible for". He's confident that if he does everything by protocol, how he's told, then there will be no situation he would have to be blamed in. Of course he takes it to an extent. You oftenly see him obsessing over rules and regulations more oftenly than others — and now that makes sense.

The second thing would be his profile and Optimus's words about him. This text doesn't really serve us much important information, just a simple outside opinion on how he acts, except the first phrase.

"Sentinel means well, he really does."

As bizzare as it sounds, even Optimus, who he has a very sour relationship with, understands this. Sentinel actually means well — but it's just his experience and perception that really distort what comes out in the end. His "well" is very different from others' "well", but he definitely does not actually mean intentional harm in most occasions.

An unconcious goal that he most likely has is "do not let the elita incident happen again". It actually explains why he's trying to press down Optimus's ambitions and yells at young autobots about the importance of listening to the code. He may see himself in others.

Last is miscellaneous details. He actually covered Optimus and Elita when they were retreating — wouldn't do this if he was as selfish as creators want us to believe. He says he made a mistake in the almanac (when he was kinda being interviewed, he told the truth). Wouldn't really do that too. Most times he's been a dick to Optimus and his crew were him simply not believing immediate information without proof like he believes is the right way, like he's supposed to, and from his perspective he was genuinely sure he's doing the right thing

Conclusion

I would still slap him if i met him. But it doesn't mean that he should be rushed and avoided during discussion of character flaws and I'm tired of him just getting flatted down by the fandom as "mean and stupid do not touch". I want him to be taken seriously, and tbh finding out that he actually feels bad about archa seven is all it takes to be suddenly enlightened about the inner workings of his brain, because it connects all the dots.

And i would give all my money to see him canonically get a better development and more focus in the show. I would love if he accepted his wrongs, and if he had a genuinely honest conversation with Optimus. I really would.

[jynxedtoxicityreports]

Love In The Air

Episode 8-13 PrapaiSky

Rating: ☣️🌋 (Heavy triggers and multiple uncensored NC scenes)

Triggers: Off Screen SA, Off Screen Abuse, Trauma from SA & Abuse, Disembodied Voices, Invasion of Privacy, Depression, PTSD, Victim Blaming, Flashbacks, Panic Attacks, Breakdowns, Bad self image/low self worth, Trauma Responses, Academic Pressure

Sky has nightmares & flashbacks of his SA & Abuse. The flashbacks has several times but do not anything beyond Sky crying & hands touching him

Sky blames himself for his trauma and makes several self hating comments

Sky suffers several breakdowns. They are intense in the level of emotional distress & fear but they are not anymore than sobbing

Sky dissociates on screen. Is just him having a blank face staring ahead

Sky displays signs of trauma repeatedly throughout the episodes. Nothing big but just certain ways he reacts, speaks, and feels toward things are in line with trauma symptoms

Pai uses several questionable methods to get into & stay in contact with Sky. It's nothing wild just repeated phone calls & randomly popping up. Sky is never scared of his behavior. It stops later.

Pai is very persistent but never escalates beyond pestering Sky

Sky struggles with academic pressures & obligations

Episode 13 Full Spoilers

Aftermath of abuse 8:52 -9:29 Sky has bruises on his neck & two cigarette burns on his arm

On Screen Abuse 9:40 - 11:01 Sky has his hair pulled,gun ignores Sky saying expressing that he doesn't like what they are doing, sky's gets face grabbed, sky's pushed, gun manipulates sky, it's implied that gun burns Sky with a cigarette but it's not shown

Group SA on Screen 11:11 - 12:28 Sky is held down by two of guns friends, Sky says no multiple times, there's the sound of Sky being hit but it's not shown, SA scene only involves clothes being removed, being restrained & the two men touching Sky & that's all.

Unwanted Touching 26:22 - 27:52 Gun touches Sky, he grabs him, and he presses against him

31:26 - 36:08

▪︎On Screen Violence Sky is forcibly restrained, hit several times and pushed

•Manipulation/Gaslighting Gun & his friends attempt to convince Sky that Pai ordered them to SA him

•Implied SA Gun is shown taking off his shirt & the scene ends

On Screen Violence Typical fight violence, Eyebrow snatched out shown but only a small amount of blood is shown, Gun is shown having blood on his face at the end of the scene but it is not graphic

37:30 - 41:55

Attempted SA 1st Gun on top of Sky but nothing graphic is happening. 2nd Gun is shown on top of Sky again but they are both still clothed from the waist down & that is the end of the moment

Dissociation Sky spends a significant portion of the scene in a dissociated state

Story of SA 45:31 - 48:00 Sky speaks about his past abuse & SA. There are no flashbacks. Sky speaks about himself negatively

[shadowland]

life is about talking to a 1979 peter fonda while he's on screen wearing his suits

[thembohux]

I don’t want to go back into work tomorrow.

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday! Just a brief reminder:

Want to help but have no cash? Reblogging helps too!

Ways to Give:

rosiethemage linked to a fundraiser for Lita, a friend who was hit by a car while cycling and needs help covering the medical bills, physical therapy costs, and basic supplies like groceries and pet food. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

thexturtle linked to a fundraiser for Liz, a personal friend who has been struggling since early 2021 with disability and unemployment issues; she's gotten more than $7K behind on her mortgage while trying to get on disability, and needs help to cover it. The auction of the home has been postponed, and they're trying to bring the account current in order to prevent the sale going forward. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

we_are_spc need to raise about $350 to make it through the next couple of weeks while their unemployment review is in progress; they have a job that starts at the end of January but overdrew their food budget, and need to cover that plus other bills. You can give via CashApp at $rowansong, Paypal at celticphoenyx@gmail.com, venmo at rowansong; you can contact them directly for Zelle, since it involves personal information they don't want to post up publicly.

nivchara-yahel and rivalconga are $450 short on January rent and fees; their synaglgues had agreed to help, but backed out after the deadline had passed for payment. They're trying to raise what they need before the landlord files for eviction; you can read more and support the fundraiser here.

Anon linked to karla-hoshi or Hoshi on TikTok, who is raising funds for cancer treatment for her cat Naku; they caught the cancer early and hope that he can survive it. You can read more and support the fundraiser here. (The blog is new because Hoshi didn't have a tumblr, so the anon helped make one in order to raise funds.)

Recurring Needs:

thelastpyler is raising funds for food and medication for them and their family; you can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

rilee16 is raising funds to cover utilities, to afford medication and possibly an upcoming move without local support and with short paychecks; their roommate, who has recently been physically aggressive, has destroyed some of their belongings and stolen controlled medications. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[oneyou]

Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan aka Premonition of Love (Ep. 1-5)

A Comparative Review: "You Win Some, You Lose Some."

As a huge fan of the original Love in the Air (LITA), I went into the Japanese remake with mixed feelings. My initial concern was that it wouldn’t live up to the original, which is my all-time favorite BL series. However, after watching the first five episodes, my fears have been somewhat alleviated, and I’m here to share my thoughts on the remake so far.

➤ The Visual Comparison: Not the Focus

One of the most common critiques I’ve seen online revolves around the appearance of the show and its cast. Many fans focus on whether the remake closely resembles the original series in terms of looks. While I do understand that changes can feel jarring, I’ve come to realize that visual comparisons aren’t the most important aspect. The core of Love in the Air lies in its characters and their dynamics, not how closely they resemble their original counterparts.

➤ The New Cast: Bringing the Characters to Life

My biggest worry wasn’t the visuals, but whether the new cast could embody the beloved characters of the original. I’m relieved to say that, overall, the actors are doing a fantastic job.

Rei greatly portrays Rain's blend of naivety and bravery, coupled with his clumsy and hilariously impulsive nature.

Arashi captures Payu’s dependable skillset, calm yet intimidating aura, and subtly teasing tendencies.

Fuma brings Prapai’s decisive attitude to life, showcasing his playful yet persistent personality.

Kai beautifully highlights Sky's reserved and caring demeanor while conveying the depth of the pain he carries.

While there’s always room for improvement, the new cast provides a solid foundation, and I appreciate the fresh take the remake offers.

➤ What Could Be Better: The Kissing Scenes

As with any adaptation, there are some areas where I felt the remake didn’t quite hit the mark. Specifically, I was disappointed by Rei’s kiss scenes with Arashi. While not terrible, the lack of passion stood out. It’s clear that Rei’s actor is still finding his footing, but it’s important to remember that the original set a high standard for chemistry and romance.

I understand that it was Rei’s first time, but it felt like the scene lacked the passion I had hoped for. In an ideal world, anyone joining this series would be aware of the original's legacy in portraying romantic chemistry and strive to evoke at least the same level of passion.

I’m also surprised that Fuma and Kai didn’t even kiss. Given the tension and the way they were building up the lust between them, I expected something more intense—like the iconic episode 8 from the original. Instead, the best way to describe their NC scene is to compare it to two kittens softly hovering around each other. It was a bit underwhelming, to be honest 😔😞😩

➤ Fuma’s Character: A Missed Opportunity

Another issue I had was with Fuma’s portrayal—I'm still not sold on the charm of this version. In the remake, he comes across as a little too caught up in the attention of fangirls, reducing his character to a more superficial "playboy" persona. This made him seem less charming and more "greasy."

In contrast, the original Pai balanced his playboy persona with sophistication, which made him charismatic without feeling shallow. I felt the remake missed that balance, making Fuma’s character less endearing than he was in the original ++👎

It’s as if they needed the "fangirls" around Fuma to emphasize his attractiveness, while Pai didn’t require that, since he naturally commanded attention.

➤ Creative Changes: Some Are for the Better

One change I appreciated was the reworking of the scene where Pai saves Sky from the guards. In the original, Pai’s joke about sleeping with Sky to escape the guards felt more "manipulative" (I didn’t feel that way because I know Pai couldn’t have known, but I did note that it might have felt that way to some viewers) due to Sky’s past trauma.

The remake, however, shifts the tone by having Fuma jokingly suggest the same thing but immediately adding, “I’m kidding.” This change lightens the scene and makes it feel more playful (exactly like the Love Sky novel). While again, I don’t fault the characters for how the original played out, I do think the remake improved the way Pai’s intentions were communicated.

➤ Friendships That Matter: Rei & Kai, Arashi & Fuma

A standout feature of the remake so far is the development of friendships. I love how the show emphasizes Rei and Kai’s friendship, as well as Arashi and Fuma’s bond. The characters are shown listening to each other and making time for their friends, which adds It adds a layer of depth to their relationships beyond just the romantic plotlines (not that I’m complaining about the romance).

(Also, can someone explain why the scene above, between Rei and Kai, felt so adorably intimate?) 😂

➤ The Gang Together: Unexpected and Hilarious

Seeing all four of the main characters together was a delightful surprise. I didn’t expect them to meet up so soon, but the scene at the café in episode 5 was a clever way to force Kai and Fuma to cross paths. It was messy and funny, capturing the dynamics of the group perfectly.

I also want to highlight Kai’s actor for his micro-expressions—he does an excellent job conveying fear, uncertainty, and even happiness with subtle movements, similar to how Peat portrays Sky in the original. However, one minor difference between Kai and Sky is in their demeanor: Kai tends to be more somber and melancholic, while Sky is sassier and more guarded.

➤ Rei’s Lucky Triangle: A Meaningful Addition

One change I loved was the inclusion of Rei’s lucky triangle. In the original, the triangle was introduced as an intriguing piece of lore but wasn’t explored much. In the remake, however, it becomes a meaningful motivator for Rei. This little change gave the triangle meaning and tied it directly into Rei’s personal growth and his desire to make Arashi proud. It always felt like a subtle but powerful way to connect the two characters.

➤ Honorable Mentions and Final Thoughts

Rei’s adorable moments—particularly when he looks pitifully cute on his knees with dominant Kai—are too precious not to mention ❤️

Arashi and Kai’s voices also deserve a shoutout: Arashi has this deep, sexy tone, while Kai’s voice is soft and clear, which makes me specifically enjoy their scenes with dialogue.

Overall, despite a few hiccups, the first five episodes of Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan have been a fairly decent watch. Nothing will ever top the original, but...I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes and how the characters continue to develop.

Even though I don't quite feel the same joy and excitement towards the remake, it's been a refreshing take on a story I already love, and I’m eager to see how the remake continues to carve its own path 🫰

*I was inspired to write this after reading @halliescomut post about her feelings on the JP remake, especially as someone who also loved the original LITA.

[fortpeat]

Hai 👋 so I happen to read your metas and they are quite insightful and made me see things in a different perspective but I have to say I don't agree with it all as there was quite a lot of mistakes within this series that I couldn't look past. I am not here to bash the series. I happen to have a question for you. Why do you love the series so much. You seem like the kind of person who doesn't hesitate to criticize a series if it happens to be flawed and yet I couldn't find any post of yours that talks about it. I am just trying to understand why.

I am hoping you could provide me with an answer.  Thank you.

Hey nonnie ❤️😊

First of all, thank you for the compliment—if it was one! 🤭

I see the flaws and imperfections in the series, and I'm not shy about pointing them out. But despite that, I love this series deeply because, for me, it was perfect. Maybe my love for Fortpeat blinds me a little, and I'm okay with admitting that because I love them with all my heart. That doesn't mean those who critique the series love them any less. How we view and focus on things varies from person to person. For me, the stories they told and the characters they portrayed resonated deeply. It was like looking into a mirror. When I don't connect with a story or a character, I usually drop it or watch it just for entertainment. But I wouldn't spend my only free day making gifs or edits unless it made me happy. Somehow, these characters have become a part of my life.

Let's start with Sky and Prapai. At first, I was more drawn to Prapai. I'm open with my feelings, I'm forward, and I don't hesitate to speak my mind. But after getting to know Sky, I saw myself in him. Even though I'm open, I'm still scared to love. Because of past experiences, whenever someone new comes into my life, I wonder when they'll leave—because it seems inevitable. I do speak my mind, but I'm still closed off about the things closest to my heart. But once I'm in, I'm all in. I love with everything I have and everything I am.

With Rak and Mahasamut, it's different. Despite issues with pacing and storytelling, I didn't feel them personally. I only noticed those flaws after reading some reviews, and I can completely see their point of view and respect it. How we absorb content is unique to our experiences and the culture we've lived in. With "Love Sea," even with its flaws, I understood the reasons for their actions, even if some didn't make sense. I understood why Rak was scared to love. I understood why Mahasamut walked away after Rak pushed him away, even though part of me wished he'd stayed to fight a little longer rather than leaving for the island the next day. These characters are fictional, and we sometimes place heavy expectations on them to make the perfect choices. But I'm thankful that they're flawed, that they make mistakes, and that they learn from them. I'd rather have a flawed character with room to grow than a perfect one.

Truth be told, I haven't reached the level of obsession with "Love Sea" like I have with "Lita." Paisky will always hold a special place in my heart, and they'll always be there. I don't even know if "Love Sea" will ever reach that spot, even if I love them so much. But that's okay. I suppose we all have that one series that owns a part of our soul, and for me, it's the story of Paisky.

Sky taught me that your past doesn't define your present, and it's up to us if we want it to control us. Prapai taught me to be tenacious in love and to always keep faith. Mahasamut taught me to always choose myself and that even if we're in love, we shouldn't sacrifice who we are as individuals for the sake of another. And Rak taught me it's okay to be scared of experiences that have only brought us pain, but we shouldn't let them ruin our one shot at happiness. And even if we get hurt in the process, maybe the end can be beautiful. After every storm, there's always a rainbow.

(Oh boy, I didn't expect this to be so long, but it's been a while since I received an ask 🫣, so I might have gone overboard. Honestly, I'm also glad I don't have too many asks because I really don't have the time to answer them all, even if it's one of my favorite things to do. It also makes me realize how much free time I had last year while I was still searching for a job.)

[scrumptiousstuffs]

better than not me?? damn i have to start watching the trainee then

Hello anon :)

I assumed this is in the context of me reblogging @/firstkanaphans post regarding JaneRyan (The Trainee) and agreeing with her that I think this is the best OffGun series so far.

I guess it's personal taste - but I will also say upfront my taste is weird. For example, I couldn’t finish many mainstream/popular Thai BLs such as KinnPorsche, LITA, The Untamed etc. (being very much aware I’m in the minority here…🙂‍↕️ and I do not plan of finishing these shows).

I also couldn’t for the life of me finish watching “We Are” and “GAP The series” despite the good reviews - I tried! I’m sorry…. I liked all the actors/actresses in these shows. The BTS are cute and the photoshoots of these actors/actresses are gorgeous. Also, snippet of gifs I see on my tumblr dashboard about the shows always make me intrigue. However, I find my mind wandering when I watched them. So I stopped cause I couldn’t concentrate. But these shows I may revisit one day, when the mood is right!)

I will also say that I liked watching Not Me - but not for the OffGun romance. I enjoyed that series for the grittiness, the story telling and the friendship gang. And personal highlight is of course we have First being THE iconic Yok. But the romance OffGun part? - I just didn’t really buy it. I was bemused how Sean suddenly liked “Black” when they have been fierce enemies from the get go.

However, it’s the opposite for The Trainee - I enjoyed it because of the slowburn OffGun romance. The storyline has a simpler premise than Not Me (although I am thoroughly enjoying the almost realistic portrayal of internship in workplace). Also, Off playing a grumpy, overworked mentor with a heart of gold is 😘 while Gun as usual is adorable as a clueless intern who means well but also bring so much chaos to Off’s workplace - it is entertaining to watch.

I will finish up this post with the soft, yearning faces of JaneRyan:

“Can you call yourself Phi to me, forever?” - Ryan

“Sure.” - Jane

[forkaround]

Anyone else notice that the only female screenwriter/director that's also a 'household' name is loathed for her work when the same tropes/situations in other BLs, by male screenwriters/directors are not? I'm talking about MAME. (who else?)

Pan BL fandom she is hated no matter what and she is the only BL writer (OG and Screen) that's treated like this. She is a very good writer. I've seen people complain about the plot but she is very much not a plot writer, she is a character writer and her characters are brilliantly crafted. They don't fall into pure moralities. They are complex. Human. She makes brilliant shows. She knows the foundations of writing very well. Not a single one of her shows has fizzled out at the end like most of GMMTV and many other companies/writers work. She started a business by herself to tell the stories she feels compelled to tell. She doesn't stick to a 'formula' (12 episodes, 11th episode breakup, etc.). Each story is told in a format that suits the story being told. Hell I'm sure she saw the DSN reviews about the second half not being as good and came up with the LITA formula (which, imo, is genius). I believe Wedding Plan is one of very few proper QLs where the female characters are crafted/given screen time equally to the male characters for the story being told. (Looking at you Bad Buddy, would it hurt you to have more InkPa?)

And despite all this she is, first of all, the only female 'household' name in BL and, also the most hated. People talk about her like spiting venom. The fandom picks apart her work in the most bad faith way possible just because it's a MAME product. Somehow it's fetishization only when she does it. The same story, the same tropes/plot line, the same SA under a male writer or director's name isn't scrutinized the way it's under MAME. If a man does it, it's a realistic queer experience. But it's the same thing. So I'm wondering why people hate when she does it but not when they do it? Especially since most of BL is written and directed by MEN! (Anyone going BL is for-by women really needs to look up who is writing and directing 90% of BLs in Thailand. Japan has the opposite stats, it's mostly made by women, that is as much as I could find.)

I believe Thai people love her (from what I've heard) and this is a everyone else thing. Foreigners hate her for some reason.

As a writer myself the mentality of the English speaking fandom I encounter on the internet is very concerning. Purity is very important to these fans. That's why they opt for the most tame BLs, all from GMMTV. And when some character does something slightly bad the fandom has to justify it with something. Take Only Friends for example, they are making these 20 smts into Korn TPKL level masterminds to justify liking or hating a character. Or fans would justify a characters bad behavior as them having been abused at home like Tantai from Laws of Attraction. As if that's an excuse. (explanation, yes. Excuse, no).

Purity has no place in art. Art isn't pure. Art is messy. It can't be anything else.

[bird-inacage]

bird-inacage's BL Meta Directory

For all you meta lovers out there, I've collated a master index where you can easily find all the deep dives I have written in long-form around BL shows I've watched or am currently watching. This is being updated in real time.

The Heart Killers Meta Index *CURRENTLY POSTING*

EP4: Kantbison as "Partners in Crime"

EP4: Is Bison Playing Dumb?

EP2: Kant's Game of Deception

EP1: Early Hints into Kant's Backstory

EP1: Kant & Bison's Desire for Agency

Character Interviews (Kant/Bison Focus)

Predictions: Kant as Bison's Keys to Freedom

Character Styling Update (FirstKhao Focus)

Pilot Trailer: Initial Observations (FirstKhao Edition)

ARCHIVE

Love Sea Meta Index (10 posts linked)

Only Friends Meta Index (22 posts linked)

Love in the Air Meta Index (38 posts linked)

BL REVIEWS

Only Friends (2023)

Bed Friend (2023)

The Eclipse (2022)

Love in the Air (2022)

[absolutebl]

Recs for Uni or HS BLs where studying impacts plot

My ask box is bonkers, sometimes I get a message in email saying someone asked a question and then when I check on the hellsite itself, it's gone... (What does this MEAN?)

Anygay...

@sagi-kari asked a question:

Do you have any recs for Uni or HS BLs where the main focus is studying or study related (they have to actually do the thing). Like LITA with Rain's studies being a caveat to their relationship or Big Dragon with Mangkorn's New York internship/job idr.

Basically, the study needs to be an important thing to the narrative.

This is a doozie and I'm only gonna rec stuff I rated over 8/10

University & HS BL Revolving Around Study

Semantic Error - class conflict is the inciting event, and this is one of my favorite BLs of all time. So yeah, it tops the list. I am assuming you have watched it because EVERYONE must watch this little pice of perfect. Full review here.

Blueming - the school project is the source of the conflict, this is a complicated chewy very thoughtful BL, longer than normal for Korea. If you enjoy things like The 8th Sense you might like this. Full review here.

Love Class - the whole show is about a manufactured relationship as part of a social science class experiment. Full review here.

You Make Me Dance - I mean it's a dance major so no actual book study but yeah, it's there he has to win a dance scholarship as a main part of the plot. I've never done a full review of this, and frankly that's an oversite. Time for a rewatch?

HIStory 2: Right or Wrong - it's about a teacher student relationship so...

Addicted: Heroin - especially the first half, I know what you're thinking, but also, THINK about it. It's all within a class from environment for most of the first 6 eps. I believe it counts. This is, without question, the best BL China has ever produced. FIGHT ME.

Destiny Seeker - an under appreciated pulp that is basically predicated on the university sorting hat. I have great affection for this hot mess, including all the sides. Mostly takes place within and around the complexities of dorm life. Full review here.

Kiss Me Again series (BL cut) + Dark Blue Kiss (AKA the PeteKao series staring TayNew) - it's not necessarily a driver but engineering and study is actual integral in a setting as character kind of way. And there is a lot of "make-out while studying." Plus we in the TayNew renauances and I have great affection for their original series. Everyoen shoudl watch it. Here's the watch guide.

HS BL - not exactly study, but sorta & they really good

Light On Me - Another one of my absolute favorite BLs, but it's about the school government club, not actual study. Full review here.

Love Sick - if you count club activities. I just got a full load up of this series with new subs, so I was going to do a watch along in honor of 2024 (its 10th anniversary). I am still considering it.

My School President - also, if you count extra-curricular & club activities. Another BL that i absolutely adore. No full review but I did have a long discussion on how this plays into Thailand's new norm in BL here.

Takara & Amagi - ugh I love this show so much but it's more about popularity and social acceptance in HS than studing, full review here.

About Youth - if you count external parental pressure to over achieve, another underappreciated gem, this time for Taiwan. Full review here.

I dithered...

Bad Buddy - maybe, I mean departmental conflict is a large part of the story, plus high school back story club activities, but there is very little study. Full review here.

Please feel free to add more on a RP or in comments, but remember my codicil was I have to have personally rated it over 8/10 so your baby might not be on here because it wasn't to my personal taste.

(source)

[jynxedtoxicityreports]

Love In The Air

Episode 1- 7 PhayuRain

Rating: 🚩👅 (Red flag toxicity and multiple uncensored NC scenes)

Triggers: Under negotiated kink, On Screen Violence, Homophobia, Invasion of Privacy, Kidnapping, Academic Pressure, Coming Out

Spoiler under cut

Payu punishes Rain twice for his behavior before they have fully entered into a relationship but Rain is not against either of these times and doesn't appear distraught or hurt afterwards

Violence is on screen but it's nothing graphic just punching & kicking

Payu uses questionable methods to keep contact with Rain

Small homophobic remarks

Rain is not out in the beginning

This story pretty much plays out as a meet cute with a brat and a brat tamer. Rain is a little ditzy but overall he's adorable and has a good heart. Phayu is stern but not overly mean or cruel. Its a cute low stakes story with lots of humor mixed in.

[averyangrytissuebox]

Considering that there are very few campaign reviews for Arkham Horror, I figured I should throw my hat into the ring and give it a go. This will probably be a short series of posts for each campaign. I have played almost all of the campaigns (I am on the last scenario of Scarlet Keys playing Charlie Kane and on scenario 3 of an Innsmouth campaign that will return eventually). I will be exclusively reviewing the main campaigns and not the return to's because it is near impossible to get them these days (I recognise this limits The Forgotten Age's review but c'est la vie). With all that said and done, lets delve too deep together and get some experience.

Night of the Zealot: Let's start at the Beginning. It is a very good place to start

Yes, I am aware this is a mini campaign technically because it is only 3 scenarios but shush or I am removing your text box

I have much less to say about Night of the Zealot than I do about the other campaigns but that is simply because of its brevity. This campaign is tight and the three scenarios are used well to introduce the main mechanics of Arkham Horror as a whole. It is easy once you know how to play and deck build properly but by that point, there are 9 other options plus some fantastic fan made content.

Midnight Masks is the true stand out of this campaign because of the game feel. The dynamic of spending clues to uncover the cultists across the town who you can either kill or fulfil unique challenges to entrap them in other ways. The scenario also has a catch up for players that fall behind when the first agenda advances, it brings in a unique cultist that is easy to kill and gives XP.

If I had to name a bad scenario, it'd be the last one. Adding a random encounter set means that we don't get to enjoy all of the flavour that Arkham can do so well. We also can finish the scenario before we see the big bad and the big bad is less interesting than it could be. Umôrdhoth The Devourer Below, for reasons beyond my mortal comprehension, is not a monster and so Lita doesn't help you get through it's massive health pool. All three of these scenarios have ancient evils which is an interesting choice for an introduction but the agenda numbers are very generous so I assume it's more about scaring new players. I've run through this campaign on expert and you do feel a crunch but it's not super tight.

There are no specific investigators I'd recommend for this due to its brevity and limited upgrades. So long as you aren't playing a build that requires 15+ xp, you should have a great time

Overall, I have a lot of fondness for this mini campaign. It is a fantastic way to lure in new players to a phenomenal game that I have sunk many hours into. It isn't my favourite but a good taster before I can get them to agree to playing one of the better campaigns.

Other reviews in this series:

Dunwich Legacy; Good but with growing pains

Path to Carcosa: The perfection of the base formula

The Forgotten Age: Flawed but interesting

[invisiblegarters]

Micro (or not) BL Reviews

It's that time again. Seeing as how a couple of things have ended recently and I let my obsession with a certain drama sort of take over everything else of late, I dedicated this week to catching up on all the things I've been missing and doing a quick round up (or not so quick, as it's me).

So let's get started, shall we?

Recently Completed

Stay By My Side - Oh Taiwan. I just love you. I think we had like eighteen "fall into you" moments in the first three episodes alone. The premise was fun - it reminded me a lot of Master's Sun, but the execution of course is totally different. The leads were cute. The chemistry was chemistrying. I loved the sister and that basketball boys. It was mostly fluff, which I am not complaining about because I love me some fluff. That said, I don't think it did anything particularly revolutionary and it never really did manage to grab me.  7.5/10

Wedding Plan - A MAME offering, but…not bad? I mean, not great either, although I will put up with a lot for the premise because I eat shit like that up, but I've seen way worse from MAME. However, it's not going to become a guilty pleasure show like LITA or an unexpected comfort show despite myself (at least the AePete parts) like Love by Chance. It was fine.

Things I really did like:  Nuea's family and his workmates (I loved how fiercely both sets of people stood by and supported him through everything from his huge mistake in sleeping with the groom to running back home to deal with it to basically adopting Lom into the group when they worked it out ("we have a new brother in law"). The lesbians - I could have used a bit more heat but I'll take it for now. Let's work on normalizing GL in our BL (frankly I'd love it if we started doing more of that and less of the token straight couple or three)! Was a little annoyed by how they had to fix everything but I won't pretend that the bits with them in episode 6 didn't get to me - I may have teared up a little when Marine was being treated so horribly by Yiwa's mother - that whole thing was so upsetting on a number of levels. And I was happy for them that they could afford to run away to their own happy ending. Also the gag of Lom pretending to be devastated when he was anything but was kinda funny, I will give the show that. And I did like the way that Lom's mom came around - realizing with time that losing her son the same way Yiwa's mother lost her could be a very real result if she kept being rigid. I also liked that she didn't just suddenly become a PFLAG member (or whatever the equivalent would be here) but simply told her son that she would work on it, because that felt more realistic.

The show also got me with how fucking lonely it must have been for both Lom and Yiwa, to know that they were gay and that they could never say anything, and how overwhelming and relieving it must have been to find someone who understood in each other. No fucking wonder they'd do anything for each other. I would have too, if I'd had someone like that growing up.

So yeah. It was fine. I mostly had a good time, even if I got a little bored once or twice. Frankly when it comes to MAME, being a little bored is preferable to feeling like the top of my head is about to come off because I'm so annoyed. Final verdict 7/10

Jun & Jun - Korea keeps making office BLs and I will continue watching them until the end of time. Especially if they keep on serving good kiss while they do it. And this one had bonus scent kink! I honestly don't know what's gotten into Korea lately but I am very much here for it.

This was a fun little office BL.  I liked how flirty it was from the get go, the way that both Juns danced around each other with the full knowledge that they were flirting. The intern group was fun, too. I really enjoyed the boyfriend episode at the end.

Everyone was very cute in this, but Simeon was my utter favorite. He totally stole the show for me. Him and Young. Young especially was a surprise, since she drove me bonkers when she first showed up. But she grew on me. I liked how fast she decided to embrace Lee Jun, and her and Choi Jun's friendship was cute.

I shipped Simeon and Hyung Hyun Jae too. Hard.

All in all this was cute, even if it didn’t manage to grip me as hard as I hoped. Like I said before, I'm not sure what's gotten into Korea lately but I hope it continues. 8/10.

Laws of Attraction - When I first saw the trailer for this, I decided to skip it. The leads were attractive enough but to be honest it seemed kinda poorly made and like it didn't know what it was going to do with itself. And I was feeling surly and judgmental and decided that it just wasn't for me. Also it was on iQIYI and I had no interest in signing up for another subscription.

But then I saw someone had stuck it on youtube and I was bored one Saturday an there were a few eps already out, so I thought, eh, why not?

And I've not regretted it for a moment.  I loved this show so much my god. Even when OF started (and you all know how much I obsess about OF) this was still the thing I looked forward to most on Saturdays. I adored Charn and his shark smile from moment one, and that adoration did not cease throughout the entirety of the show's run. His character development was by far the best on the show, and I loved the slow, stumbling way he regained the person he used to be, while still keeping the ruthlessness of the man he allowed anger and bitterness to let him become (up to a point). I loved that the show began and ended with his shark smile, but for very different reasons. And he and Tinn were adorable.

I appreciated them banging the marriage equality drum, too, and especially Charn's very pragmatic reasons for wanting it to be legal (as a lawyer, he would think like that, and I appreciate that the show kept him in character even when he was sappy). I also loved his wedding jacket I want four.

I also loved Tinn, and I have to give credit to Jam for the way he portrayed him. While Film totally ate as Charn I do think that in some ways a character like Tinn is harder to portray, because it would be very very easy for him to become preachy because of his morality and rigid sense of justice. But Jam played him with enough nuance that he never slid into that for me - he was willing to occasionally be at least slightly underhanded when the situation called for it, and while he expected Charn to be better (and read him to filth when he caught him out lying to and manipulating him), he thankfully also seemed to understand the fine art of compromise. Plus he's really pretty. Both of them are really pretty.

But the thing that I never expected was just how hard I turned around on Thaenthai. He drove me absolutely bonkers for the first few eps, and I was loudly annoyed by the fact that after about ep three (if not sooner), it became clear that he was not the one who had hit Tonkhao but that he was being made to take the blame. It felt to me like the show wanted me to excuse how vile he was (acting like Tonkhao's death was nothing, beating the crap out of Tinn when he was already tied up and helpless, just generally acting like a spoiled, entitled, horrible shitstain of a human being) because his father beat him. And while that was horrifying and I wanted him to get the hell out of there as soon as possible I still felt that a worm is a worm is a worm, even if the worm's father happens to be worse.

But then the show went and did something I did not expect it to do: it didn't just tell us that Thaenthai was lashing out because he was caught in a desperate limbo of wanting to run away from his and wanting to please him, but it went and did the work to show it. I started turning around on him after he found out about the gardener his father used as a scapegoat once things started getting heated, because we finally got to catch him before he had time to put on his mask. And it just kept coming, because now we knew what to look for. He's still an ass for beating the shit out of Tinn when he was tied up though, lol.

Another thing I really loved that this sow did with him was show him loving his dad in spite of everything. This man beat him, nearly drowned him, let him take the blame for a murder he did, tried to kill the only person Thaenthai felt was really on his side (because I do think that the intent was always to kill Thee - I'm just not entirely sure why it didn't happen as soon as Thaenthai got on that plane. I guess because we needed a happier ending. I am not complaining), and told him to his face that he could never love him because he killed his mother, and yet Thaenthai still loved him, still wanted his attention and his respect and his love in return. And it just rang very painfully true to me. You don't stop loving your parents because they're shit, and humans for some reason tend to be wired to try harder for love that is hard to receive (or impossible, in this case).  It did not surprise me that Thaentha tried to visit his father in prison, or that he was sad when he died. But neither did it surprise me that something in him seemed looser in those scenes as well, because even though he loved his dad there's a part of him that's glad he's gone.

I love stuff like this, because it's so complicated and realistic and it hurts in a way that only something that resonates with reality can. I ate it up.

Shout out as well to Not Vorarit, because he really did a good job with Thatthep. The way he slowly unraveled as the show went on was pitch perfect, every little nuance from his first intro as the shady but possibly not *that* shady "concerned" parent right up until that last scene with Charn where he's just a cackling monster. Kudos, you created an excellently detestable character. Watching him get his comeuppance was certainly a highlight of the show for me.

I was also really into the way that Tonkhao was very much a main character despite the fact that she died so early. One of the best strengths of this show was the way that it never let us forget what started this whole thing, it showed Tinn and Grandma grieving for their little girl, talking about her, missing her. Being reminded of her around every corner. They kept her in the forefront of our minds exactly the way that they should have, and I was delighted by it.

Other fun notables are himbo ex Nawin and Rose and Maya, our GL couple that I wish had gotten a little more screen time *as* a couple but either way were fabulous. I will love this show forever for introducing Nawin in the final hour and making him such a great combination of ridiculous and ruthless. And the way they let him breathe as a character - they really just stood back and were like "look at this ridiculous man stealing the show" and it was amazing. And Rose was just - she was such a good friend to Charn the whole way through, and both her and Maya's utter delight for him when he found Tinn (and them welcoming not only him but grandma into their little family so readily) warmed my cynical heart. And I will watch Sylvie Pavida in pretty much anything, I think.

All this raving and yet I still have to go with a final score of 9/10. I recommend this show, it's way better than I thought it would be, but there are some questionable choices made, the CGI and the fight scenes are laughable (the fire at Charn's office made me laugh so hard I had to pause), and they pulled out a guitar and sang not once, but twice. And they don't even have the excuse that one of them is supposed to be a singer. Also frankly nowadays every Thai show I watch I have to ask myself "did I enjoy this more than Moonlight Chicken?" which I only gave a 9.5, and for this one, the answer was no. So 9 it is, but a highly recommended 9. This was so much fun and it will be very missed on Saturdays.

Currently Watching

Be Mine Superstar - I really do  not get why they have decided to give the doom eleventh episode to this drama. It makes such little sense from this couple, who are the least dramatic pairing possible. They should have just left the angst to Muang and the doc.

Speaking of which, I have been disappointed with that storyline. I feel like we went from nothing to boyfriends with no real development, and now that they're not boyfriends again we're supposed to care, and I just don't.

Also Title is really out here doing the most. My dude, can't you just bow the fuck out gracefully? Blergh him and the manger stuff is still really annoying. Kevin was a delight though. Even though that's one too many dudes thirsty for Ashi for my personal taste (although he is very pretty so I totally get it).

Hidden Agenda - I actually kind of loved how ridiculous the conflict between Joke and Zo wound up being. Oh sure, Pat helping Joke along was a betrayal of trust or whatever, but it just felt perfect for the kind of drama this is. I get the idea that it felt like a betrayal of trust, but I also don't really get how it was too much different from what Zo was trying to do with Nita. Whatever, I love my low stakes drama on Sundays, keep it coming Hidden Agenda.

Kiseki: Dear to Me - This show is doing what I wanted from Only Friends and giving me all the cameos. The way I yelled when I saw the two from history: make Our Days Count. I think my favorite is Ai Di - poor little ball of adoration and pettiness and jealousy. I adore him. Oh, and that scene in the spa was great - I loved how everyone was looking at everyone else while the episode's guest stars (HI, Be Loved in House I Do guys! Good to see you) side eyed the lot of 'em. Me too, my friends. Me too. They're all messy and in love with everyone else and I am here for this weird quadrangle.

The main couple has less of a chokehold on me, but I like our uptight, traumatized doctor to be. And okay, yes, it got me with his unwilling return to a solitary life after Ze Rui disappeared on him. My guess is we're gonna speed run to the imprisonment and amnesia in the synopsis, and I'm good with that. I hope the cameos continue, but even if they don't I'm really enjoying this.

Taikan Yoho / My Personal Weatherman - I saw this called live action yaoi and at first didn’t really believe it, but no. No, it really is. And I am *here* for it. I can't say it's my favorite thing airing right now but I'm enjoying it.

The Jungle - (not a BL, so I'm cheating here, ah well) I don't know who thought that what we needed was four entire episodes of Pine's manpain, but they were very wrong. At least for my money. On the bright side, August is gorgeous and Pat is killing it. The series has been uneven for me and I'm a little annoyed they apparently want to wrap up Pine's BS, Nathee and Florence, *and* address Hunter's backstory in just two eps. But eh, whatever, I was only ever really watching for the women and Mix and thankfully Hack and Irin gave me all the mess that was promised (and not really delivered on, unfortunately. Not that I wanted a bunch of assholes womanizing, but aside from freaking Pine everyone's stories wrapped up in a couple of episodes of mostly no mess at all). 

Looking Forward To

23.5 - Come on GMMTV get this thing out already I want it. I have been patient but come oooooon. I had three highly anticipated dramas for this line up and this is the only one that hasn't been released yet and I want it. Gimme my GL.

Absolute Zero (Sep 27, iQiYI)- this is gonna hurt but at least I know it going in?

The Box (Sep 22, not sure about where) - Not a BL, but looks like a good time. Plus I'm interested to see Prem in a thriller - I think he'll do well.

I am also wondering what will replace the Monday/Tuesday hole The Jungle will leave when it stops airing or if they plan to do reruns.

And apparently we're getting the GMMTV 2024 lineup in Oct this year, which seems really early but maybe I'm wrong. I didn’t actually pay attention to the 2023 lineup until way after it came out so I can’t be trusted. *whispers* please let Midnight Museum have a season two, please let Midnight Museum have a season two.