#mine: jeng

[khaotunq]

normal ways to approach people with pok and jeng

[itsallaboutbl]

he's got the prettiest smile 😍😍

[williamrikers]

jeng: pat. i know that you're at a difficult point in your life and i apologize for not doing this at a better time. but i cannot wait. i want to cherish you and take care of you, even if we might never be in a relationship. everything i've done over the past few months has been for you, i hope i haven't been too forward, i couldn't help myself, i just wanted to be near you and spoil you, whenever i look at you i feel true happiness the likes of which i have never felt. i love you, most ardently.

pat: holy shit you're GAY???

[mushiemadarame]

Man Trisanu's For Your Consideration entry ⇢ Man Trisanu Soranun as JengKittiphong Atthachiranon (Step by Step, 2023, EP08)

[basavapatr]

“i want to eat grass jelly with fresh milk!” “pat, damn it. it’s 2 a.m. where would i get grass jelly for you?” “khun jeng can make it.”

step by step | episode 7

[guzhufuren]

the 2 meters tall man giggled. i am ascending to heavens of every existing religion

[ditzybea]

100%! Most of the time, I agree with "Top of" lists at about a 50/50 margin, maybe 60/40. But this.... it's perfection and spot on!

Top 10 2023 BL Kisses

If you've seen at least a couple BLs you know that some of these actors are either uncomfortable kissing another man or just didn't get enough practice kissing literally anyone. So when they get it right and genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves, it is worth noting. Soooo grab a pen and paper, and take some notes:

You Are Mine: This Taiwanese drama was problematique with the unbalanced workplace power dynamics, but this sweet upside down kiss was worth the wait.

Dangerous Romance: This may not have been their first kiss, but it felt like the most romantic. By this point, they'd shared many scenes filled with awkward sexual tension, but this one didn't have an ounce of humor, and Kanghan and Sailom just melted into each other's arms.

Kiseki: Dear to Me: The lighting for this kiss really emphasized their till-death-do-us-part themed dialogue where they vowed to die seconds apart.

Stay By My Side: Lackluster supernatural subplot aside, this Taiwanese drama delivered the most adorable kiss as the main lead was too nervous to give in to his desires without closing his eyes.

Be My Favorite: It took Kawi a frustratingly long time to pull his head out of his ass and realize he would be lucky to have Pisaeng even as a friend let alone a boyfriend. Thank goodness for Pisaeng's patience, cause ours was wearing thin.

Love Class 2: Very happy Ma Ru realized he had feelings for his bestie and wasted no time making that clear with an epic kiss that I have probably rewatched a dozen times.

Only Friends: Honestly, all of their kisses were incredible, because both of these actors went from supporting characters to lead roles, and did not skip a beat. There was no awkward beginner's kiss phase. Those intimacy workshops must've been lit.

Step by Step: Their kiss chemistry was on point, but the car scenes were the most memorable for how very possible they would've been caught in the act in the parking garage of their place of employment. Caution meet wind.

Wedding Plan: These two were about five seconds away from making a baby in that car, and if this were the omegaverse, they probably would've.

Hidden Agenda: There was hunger in that kiss on both sides, and it took every ounce of strength in Zo to shove Joke out the door once he made his intention clear.

[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)

[wen-kexing-apologist]

WKA Gay Analysis Assembly

Hello! Welcome to my blog, please note I am unhinged about my silly little gay shows and as evidence I give you an exhaustive list of all the analysis posts (and some non-analysis posts) I have written :)

I will be updating this post as I write more, and the most recent show I am watching/writing about will be listed first. Please know my DMs and my Inbox are always open!

By, For, and About Queers (The By, For, and About Queers posts are not about any particular show, and are instead a little write up of the way I categorize the BL shows that I am watching)

By/For/About- Part 1 (a conversation with @absolutebl)

By/For/About- Part 2 (a conversation with @solitaryandwandering) Also check out the really lovely response from @solitaryandwandering here

Toxic and Messy: TharnType v. Only Friends (aka We Trust Jojo) (a conversation with @absolutebl and @respectthepetty)

The Sign

Feelings Made Visible: Design Choices in The Sign

Fantasy v. Reality in The Sign

Last Twilight

Episode 1 Thoughts (in which I state my fears that were later realized)

Reflections in Last Twilight (Episode 1-2)

Physical Touch in Last Twilight (Episodes 1-3)

Thoughts on Last Twilight, Ep. 5 (aka when I still thought the show was good)

Last Twilight, Ep 12 (in which I rant about the ableism in the narrative and the undermining of the show's themes)

Shadow

Shadow thoughts

The Left Hand of God

Is Brother Anurak the One Armed Man?

What Happened to Trin? aka Paying Attention to my Favorite Straight Boy

I Feel You Linger in the Air

Let's Talk About Sex: ESSAY #69!!! (breakdown of the sex scene in IFYLITA Episode 8)

Only Friends Academic Essay Series

Only Friends, Boston, and Queer Culture

Only Friends and Respectable Promiscuity

Only Friends, Racism, and the Commodification of Queer Asians Everything else

Ray and Rehab

Boston the Slut

Hypocrisy

Who is Mew, Anyway?

You're Mine No Matter What: The Commodification of Sand

Explosions (fight night round two, Ep. 6)

Fight Night (scene breakdown of the fight in Episode 5)[Sand Addition by @ranchthoughts]

Poor Boy (a discussion on the beloved Poor Boy t-shirt)

Watch The Warp Effect before Only Friends

Misunderstanding Top? (a conversation with @respectthepetty)

What the Fuck is Boeing Doing Here?

Only Friends Reflection

My Ride

Rain, BL Boys, and Reciprocity

My Ride Finale

Be My Favorite (how did I get here, I wasn't planning on watching this!)

Permanence in BMF (in conversation with @stuffnonsenseandotherthings)

Lack of Touch in BMF (in conversation with @wanderlust-in-my-soul and @dropthedemiurge)

Cupid's Last Wish 1. Trans Allegory in Cupid's Last Wish (in partnership with @so-much-yet-to-learn and @lurkingshan)

La Pluie

The Language of Love In La Pluie Ep. 8

Ep. 8 Stray Thoughts

Hands in Ep. 7

Hands in Ep. 6

Subversion (a conversation with @lurkingshan)

Pee Peerawich Can Fucking Act

Connection

Body Language in La Pluie Ep. 12

Step by Step

On the Subject of Pat 2.0- A Defense

On the Subject of Pat- A Timeline (a conversation with @waitmyturtles)

Totally Normal About Episode 7

Lighting in Ep 9 (a conversation with @istanchan)

Going Out- Sharing Space with the Unhoused

Compartmentalizing

Workplace Homophobia and Relationship Development Between Pat and Jeng

Our Skyy 2

OS2 x The Eclipse - Characterization

OS2 x BB x ATOTS- Phupa and Queerness aka Damn You WMT (that's right! Damn you, @waitmyturtles!)

OS2 x BB x ATOTS- Validation! aka Phupa and Queerness- Part 2 (and a shout out to @lurkingshan and @waitmyturtles for writing such brilliant meta I almost...almost didn't have to write one myself)

Pat, Pran, Losing Parental Relationships, and Sex (a conversation with @shortpplfedup)

Our Dining Table

Silence (including conversation with @laowen)

Yutaka and Yukata

Bed Friend

True Colors? (a conversation with @dribs-and-drabbles and @respectthepetty)

Uea and Red

Reflections + Uea and Yellow

Uea and Gray (a conversation with @respectthepetty) Uea and Gray but this time not tacked on to RTP's post

Mommy Dearest 2.0

Uea's Episode 7 Costumes

Bed Friend and Reflections- Part 1

Bed Friend and Reflections- Part 2

Bed Friend and Reflections- Part 3 (this is my favorite of the parts)

Water, Songkran, and KingUea

Moonlight Chicken

Heart Confrontation Scene

Heart and Li Ming Colors and Stripes

Red, Wen, and Blue

Naming the Deaf Character Heart

Heart's Communication

Wen's Badge Parallel

Modern Thai Sign Language to American Sign Language Index

Heart's Vocalization

Mommy Dearest (Jam and Li MIng)

Isn't it Difficult to Be Born Poor?

Moonlight Chicken is for the Queers

Resolution

Heart's Signs Translated (this one is not mine, but I don't want to lose this post so I am placing it here)

Best Criers in MLC

Worst Parallel

Utsukushii Kare

Self-Deprecation Harms Everyone

Our Flag Means Death

Over-analyzing the Color Red

Silk as Symbolism for Ed's Heart

[khaotunq]

I heard someone wanted to join the debate club. ⇢ Aou Thanaboon as Jeng (Hidden Agenda, 2023)

[itsallaboutbl]

yes, this is another gifset about his smile 🤷‍♀️

[williamrikers]

i haven't even made it through the entire episode yet but like. this is so dumb. i'm sorry but the plot got away from them in a way that is just not fun to watch

[waitmyturtles]

TW: probably unpopular opinions on Step By Step’s filmmaking!

I’ve had an insane work week so far, so I don’t have the largest amount of time to write an analysis of Step By Step, episode 8, and I’m already late in watching it anyway. But I will largely point everyone in the direction of @lurkingshan’s EXCELLENT analysis of Jeng’s reaction to Pat’s reaction that Jeng is gay (and to @neuroticbookworm’s post-Shan analysis of their prediction of the road ahead, which I subscribe to). 

I’m also late in watching this because I allowed myself the spoilers yesterday, and was admittedly frustrated to learn that the payoff of this episode is that Pat learns about Jeng’s preferences... in an episode that’s over an hour. It’s a very unpopular opinion I have! The editing and some of the writing of this show suck. I’m gonna repeat myself -- I would prefer crisper writing and dialogue. But I am still in favor of the deep focus on Pat and his mindset. It’s just that in some moments (like in the second restaurant), he’ll disappear and we won’t get feedback on that disappearance until MUCH later. (And forget about Jaab and Jen, I’m leaving that alone for this analysis. The show definitely had the time to examine that more in an hourlong+ episode, but didn’t.)

ANYWAY. Citing @bengiyo‘s and @ginnymoonbeam‘s conversation about Pat’s radar -- I want to build off of @bengiyo‘s comment for a moment, on something I realized when Jeng was with Tae, when Jeng got the text message from Pat that the restaurant crawl was on. Something I realized when Tae was asking Jeng about Pat’s intentions is that:

For Jeng, WORK IS LIFE. We’re spending a lot of time, and the show spends a lot of time, dealing with the boss-to-subordinate conflict. BUT. I would argue that Jeng’s whole world is work. The man is LITERALLY WORKING TWO JOBS, TWO HIGH-LEVEL, EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP JOBS. Man’s insane. 

I give Pat the gigantic benefit of the doubt that he “could” or “should” have known Jeng’s preferences intentions. (@lurkingshan, @bengiyo, and @ginnymoonbeam all know that before seeing the episode, I did state incredulity that Pat DIDN’T know this, so I recant before you all!)

BECAUSE: what PAT is seeing in front of himself, vis à vis Jeng, is a man that is WORKING ALL THE TIME. So I think Pat’s radar is off, in my opinion, because he can ONLY see Jeng as a boss and a leader, and would not allow himself to cross the boss-subordinate boundaries, even in settings where they are “working” on Jeng’s “other” job, because Jeng is a boss in that other space as well. 

And while Jeng doesn’t see this as “working,” Pat certainly does. 

I mean, I’ve tried to get glasses of wine with some former bosses of mine, just to create intimacy and get to know them out of office spaces, and like, all we talk about is work. Some people can’t relax and separate. I get that.

I think Pat ASSUMED Jeng was like that, because in doing social activities, it seems, from Pat’s perspective, that Jeng is still working -- and for that restaurant crawl, he totally is! And Tae knew to call that out and maybe tease Jeng for being a little delulu, which, accurate. 

So I write this, now not in criticism of Pat’s radar, but in grudging support of it, and I say grudging because I do not think the editing of the show is supporting the slow burn anymore. Unpopular opinion, I know. I think this show is doing Pat dirty. I believe the payoff will be good. But the show is dragging and not giving us enough by way of internal communication on Pat’s part to demonstrate intriguing development that grabs me. 

But we get a confession next week. Let’s see how long it’ll take to get there. 

[lady-nuggetz]

Y'all are in for a treat actually cause not only is the Jeng PMV about to be finished [friend of mine wanted to make a piece that I intend on adding] but imma make more fang comic edits cause I'm THAT BITCH

[guzhufuren]

KHUN JENG I AM NOT GOD S SRONGEST SOLDIER

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Oh, do I have THOUGHTS about this week's Hidden Agenda. I'm going to try and articulate this best I can in the limited time I have.

Here's the thing. There will be times in your life when you upset someone you love, and you will be 100% convinced that you did absolutely nothing wrong. But if you go into trying to rebuild things holding on to that belief, you are going to have problems.

As a friend of mine once said, you can be right all the time, or you can be in relationship. You can't do both.

(Key here is healthy relationships, abuse dynamics are a whole different thing).

I want to talk about how Joke fucked up, and how the relationship may seem fixed, but there's still a huge problem. And how in contrast, Jeng actually ended up doing this right - even though at first glance the two situations may have seemed to have played out the same way.

So in both cases, Joke & Jeng feel like they've done nothing wrong. In Joke's case, he wanted to get close to Zo. He's made it clear from early on that for him, love is a valid justification for behaviors that others might question (such as when Kot pushes back at him for how he's behaving with Zo). Jeng also feels like he's done nothing wrong because Pok entered the relationship knowing they'd be closeted.

But as we've all learned, Zo feels strongly about being manipulated, especially after his horrific experience with Puen. And Pok may have started off being able to deal with hiding his relationship, but his feelings have changed as he gets hurt more and more. (And people are allowed to change what they want in relationships; having agreed to something doesn't mean you can't change your mind - even though it may sometimes end the relationship).

So we then enter the absolute cringe phase, where Joke thinks he can romantic gesture his way into Zo's forgiveness (side note, that "big gesture" was absolutely horrifying and I would have died on the spot). Because he didn't really do anything wrong, right? Cuteness should be enough.

Bonus points to Kot for also having some emotional intelligence here.

Let's switch to Jeng for a moment. I do find it ironic that Joke is actually the one who reminds him to consider Pok's perspective here (but let's face it, we're all better at giving other people advice than ourselves).

And then, by being a part of Joke's gesture, Jeng has a good opportunity to realize how futile something like that is, if you don't have real understanding behind it. He shows up home with flowers (another superficial romantic gesture) to discover he is on the verge of completely losing Pok. At which point he does important thing number one - he shows that he has actually considered Pok's perspective, and UNDERSTANDS IT.

This is such a key thing that I think a lot of people miss when it comes to interpersonal conflict. You can disagree with someone else's perspective, but still take the time to understand and empathize with it. And in many cases, once you take the time to do that, you actually tend to realize the other person had a valid point - which Jeng realizes here.

And here comes important thing number two for Jeng rebuilding his relationship with Pok. He IMMEDIATELY follows it up with behavior that proves it when he says Pok is the most important thing in his life.

So why is it different with Joke? On the surface, he does the same thing. He says he understands, he says he is sorry. Why do I think this conflict is not resolved?

Because of this, right here.

He still feels justified, y'all. He knows why Zo is mad, and he is sorry. He will say what he needs to say for Zo's forgiveness. But he will 100% do it again.

This isn't over.