#my okaeri

[okaeri-ossan]

I've been under the weather so I randomly picked up this Alice Soft visual novel called Diabolique. The company is a legend in the industry as is known for creating the (much praised and maligned) Rance series. I haven't played that but I have played Toushin Toshi and Mamatoto, both of which I enjoyed quite a bit. However, I've been really surprised by Diabolique so far...

Diabolique is a pure love story about a demon-ish kinkiller guy named Azulite falling in love with a very punished little girl named Leticia. Tragedy befalls them, and the immortal Azulite travels the land in search of Leticia's reincarnations with the goal of making her happy throughout all her lifetimes.

I was seriously surprised by how pure it all is. There were some lines in Toushin Toushi that made me go "awww" and I assume that's thanks to the writer Tori, who has had her in hand on Alice Soft since the start. There's lots of tooth-rottingly sweet sentiments, like "I'll chase all the bad things in your nighmares away" or "even if you won't speak to me, I'll watch over you so you're happy". They're the kind of straight-forward precious words that I always fall victim to. TOO KYUUUUUUTE! It gives the work a feeling not dissimilar to... joseimuke? But there's a bunch of monster r*pe sometimes too. But also there's cute stuff. So yeah, too kyute LOL

The most moe character isn't any of the heroines, though (even if Leticia and Aria are very adorable). It's the immortal demon protagonist, killer of his own kind. Azulite is the gentlest, sweetest man I have no clue how he ended up in an H-game.

When I said the game was pure love, I meant it. This man is too pure. He starts off the game wandering through the desert alone all badass-like before stopping to talk to flowers ("aren't flowers and humans the same?"). He's timid in front of people and painfully polite, always bowing and saying excuse me, tripping over his words when he's flustered (which is often). He has a genuine deep care for the heroine, promising to protect her from the painful things in her life. It's a promise so strong he follows her into her next lives. It's okay if she falls in love with someone else, as long as she's happy and safe. He tries to do all the domestic chores (FRILLY APRON TIME!), he gets up early to cook for her, he draws her a hot bath if she needs it, and most of all he watches over her when she sleeps so she won't get nightmares. In that case, isn't he like a guardian angel? He's a demon who hates himself and prays to God because he wants to be good, but I think he ended up acting like a real angel. Leticia, the poor heroine who experiences endless tragedy throughout her many lives, will always be loved where ever she goes. I still have yet to finish it but I want them to be happy in the end. And if they can't have a happy ending, then I hope he will continue following Leticia through her many lifetimes...

It's not a game I would recommend for various reasons-- the painfully outdated system, the menu functions that break the pacing in areas, the previously mentioned r*pe that pops up-- but it's got so much wholesomeness (I know that sounds silly after what I've just said) I can't stop reading. Sometimes, you need some sugar sweetness in a brutal world. Sometimes... malewife (╯▽╰ ) Okay time to go see if I can snag any doujinshis of the main couple they are mega totes adorbz KYAHHHH!!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

[sambrosiac]

in honor of the first ever omegaverse anime i would personally like to thank the incestious undertones in the hit cw tv show supernatural (2005-2020) for making this happen

[aceofwhump]

Tadaima Okaeri 1x02

[crehador]

[oddishblossom]

TADAIMA OKAERI - S1 EP1 ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

[ianime0]

Tadaima Okaeri | Ep5 | Hina-chan's sleepy. Hina-chan's keeyoo! She sure is cute! I'd love it if you'd cuddle with us. Come on up! Hi-kun's okay. Hi-kun's a big bwudder. Cuddle Hina-chan. Hina-chan's keeyoo!

[tojisun]

ok last one. alpha johnny loves omegas, but he also loves the thrill of making an alpha submit.

alpha price is traditional; heavy preference for omegas. but recently, he’s been eyeing that beta chick who works at the tattoo shop in the outskirts of the city.

[flowerakatsuka]

おかえりなさい…

[written-in-the-stars3]

yall don’t understand how badly I need these two to get together and kiss

[kappamairi]

Okaeri BKDKBK challenge 2023 by kappamairi

This year I had lots of fun to mix Okaeri challenge with Autistic and ADHD love languages to portray neurodivergent BKDK🥰 🏳‍🌈✨I hope you'll enjoy spotting all the easter eggs hidden in the picture 💝 Have a good day folks 🌸

[watchingblsnowandforever]

2024: BL Year in Review

(The fact that I'm doing this hours before the year changes is actually the least surprising things of 2024)

Total BLs watched in 2024: 21

BLs watched that aired this year: 12

(BLs currently airing: 2)

(BLs watched this year that started in 2023: 3)

BLs watched that aired before this year: 9

________

10 random superlatives to wrap up my year (these are from series that have aired this year or finished airing this year):

1. The BL that predicted most accurately (the date of legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand)

Cherry Magic

It shot up to my Top 10 favourite BLs the moment I watched it. It's amazing and everyone should watch it, actually.

2. The most Bromance BL (is it a coincidence that my first two superlatives are both TayNew series? You can't prove anything.)

Peaceful Property

Another BL everyone should watch. It's technically not a BL, but it's a better BL than a lot of the ones I've watched before so.

3. The most average BL

My Love Mix Up Th

Very cute, but unlike Cherry Magic, I think I actually liked the original (Kieta Hatsukoi) better. It was nice, but very average.

4. My most loved omegaverse BL (...yes there were two. But to be fair, it depends on what you consider a 'BL')

Tadaima, Okaeri

It was so adorable. It had a sort of non-traditional ABO relationship (?), but I love how they used ABO to address other (more relevant-) socio-cultural issues.

5. The BL with the most wasted potential

The Trainee

It started off amazing, but the graph became a straight line (pun intended) somewhere in the middle and then went steadily downhill. It had so much potential, the ending physically hurt.

6. The most wacky BL (that I loved)

Century of Love

It's actually pretty great, but it's just so wacky (which makes it more adorable honestly). It kept surprising me too, which is always nice (...except when it's not).

7. The BL I (know I'm gonna) have the most love-hate relationship with

ThamePo

This is the first (hopefully only) BL that made me sob in the first episode. But it's so good. I almost cried twice in the second episode too, this is awful. (Then why do I love it?)

8. BL that gave me the most whiplash

The Heart Killers

If you haven't guessed already, I am insane about and insanely obsessed with FadelStyle. If we're watching the same series, I know you are too. :)

9. BL with the worst crash landing (26372892 dead, everyone else injured)

Last Twilight

If you watched this, you know. I have nothing else to add.

10. My favourite BL of the year

We Are

I'm very sure anyone who even clicked on my blog in April-July this year knows this. This silly little show just hit a chord in me and it never stopped ringing.

Honourable mentions:

1. BL with the most episodes ever in Thai BL history

Perfect 10 Liners

24 episodes. That's all I have to say.

2. My most loved new pairing

MarcPoon

The above gif is moments before The ChainPun KissTM. And let me tell you. They didn't only understand the assignment, they showed everyone else exactly how to do it too.

GL version:

1. The one that really tried

23.5

2. The best GL (I have watched)

Pluto

Please watch it.

If this post seems hurried, it kinda was 😭-

I'm just glad I could get this out in time T-T

Thank you so much if you got this far! ☺️🫶🏼

Here, have a new year's cake hehe 🎂

[okaeri-ossan]

.💚.+🌸.💌.* happy birthday, to heart~! .💚.+🌸.💌.*

[metalandmagi]

The Real Anime Awards of 2024

Every year, I like to make my own anime awards, that focus on the things we really care about. Because who cares about "Anime of the Year" or "Best Animation" when we could have awards for "Most Unhinged Show of the Year" or "Prettiest Anime Boy"?

So here's my anime meme awards for 2024!

Biggest Chad

Sebastian (Black Butler Public School Arc)

Munseong (Viral Hit)

Red Keeper (Go Go Loser Ranger)

Shikanoko (My Deer Friend Nokotan)

Lewis Smith (Bang Brave Bang Bravern)

Yoshino Somei (Yakuza Fiancé)

Honorable mention:

Hajime Nagumo (Arifureta season 3) I don't watch it but he seems like a standard isekai chad.

Most Unhinged

My Deer Friend Nokotan

Vtuber Legend

Bucchigiri?!

Mayonaka Punch

Dandadan

Yakuza Fiancé

Weirdest Concept That Still Works Somehow (not to be confused with “Most Unhinged”)

Delico’s Nursery

Oshi no Ko (season 2)

Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

If My Wife Becomes An Elementary School Student

Mayonaka Punch

Sasaki and Peeps

Show with the most drip

High Card (season 2)

Jellyfish Can’t Swim In The Night

Black Butler Public School Arc

Delico’s Nursery (bro even the kids in this show have the best outfits!)

Bucchigiri?!

Yakuza Fiancé

Most Insufferable Protagonist

Arajin (Bucchigiri?!)

Rudy (Mushoku Tensei season 2 part 2)

Atri (Atri: My Dear Moments)

Uryuu Kamihate (Tying the Knot With An Amagami Sister)

Ron *affectionate* (Kamonohashi Ron season 2)

Awayuki Kokorone (VTuber Legend)- My hot take of the year...

Best CANONICAL Couple

*Sorry Ranma and Akane...but they're still figuring out their relationship 😭*

Ine and Shouzou Saitou (Grandpa and Grandma Turned Young Again)

Masaki and Hiromu (Tadaima, Okaeri)

Adachi and Kurosawa (Cherry Magic)

Rika and Takuya (365 Days To The Wedding)- These two have kissed and they're engaged, so they count for me!

Kazehaya and Sawako (Kimi no Todoke season 3)

Takae and Keisuke (If My Wife Becomes An Elementary School Student) IT'S WHOLESOME, I PROMISE!!!

*That’s right, no Yuki and Itsuomi from A Sign of Affection, because my other hot take of the year is that I fucking hate Itsuomi and want Yuki to end up with Childhood Friend-kun.*

Biggest Disappointment

Blue Lock (season 2)

Uzumaki

Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc

The Elusive Samurai (good lord, just pick a tone)

Atri: My Dear Moments (sorry, I just don’t like wild left turns into lolicon territory)

That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime season 3 (how did this show turn into all the characters just sitting around a table talking for multiple episodes at a time?)

Biggest Trainwreck

(Not to be confused with Biggest Disappointment)

Uzumaki's entire production debacle

Blue Lock season 2's animation

Vampire Dormitory's concept of gender

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards

Kokorone Awayuki *affectionate* (Vtuber Legend)

Alya *affectionate* (Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian)

Gayest Anime That Isn’t A Certified Yaoi Or Yuri

How I Attended An All Guys Mixer

Bang Brave Bang Bravern

Bucchigiri?!

The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio (I can't include a gif of the stuff they do to each other...just trust me)

Jellyfish Can’t Swim In The Night

Kamonohashi Ron season 2

Honorable mention: Mayonaka Punch...because I don't really know how to classify it, but they're definitely all gay. 😆

Biggest Surprise

Senpai Wa Otokonoko

Orb: About the Movements of the Earth

Delico’s Nursery

Sasaki and Peeps

Cherry Magic

If My Wife Becomes An Elementary Schooler

Prettiest Boy

Master Jinshi (Apothecary Diaries cour 2)

Khun (Tower of God season 2)

Gerhard Fra (Delico’s Nursery) 

Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler Public School Arc)

Masaki Fujiyoshi (Tadaima, Okaeri)

Hisashi Ootomo (Tasogare Out of Focus)

Well, there you have it. I definitely didn't get as much variety in here as I normally do 😅I guess that means I need to start watching more trash lol. I know I could have made this a poll or series of polls, but this is just something fun and silly I put together every year, so I didn't want anyone bitching about my choices or saying "you forgot ___!"

I'll be posting my legit nominations later, and at least that will have more variety.

[aceofwhump]

Tadaima Okaeri 1x02

[bengiyo]

I can say with confidence that our collective favorite show, between you and me, is What Did You Eat Yesterday?, the GOAT BL, and an exemplary example of a slice of life drama. What are your other favorite slice of life dramas, BLs and non-BLs?

Thank you for this ask. I have been trying to stay out of a bunch of discussions about this, but it seems that people feel really strongly about how people talk about a mid-tier BL produced by the largest producer of BL content in the world, currently sold as a premium product exclusively on a Chinese streaming platform, and currently receiving almost universal acclaim from its viewership on this platform. So, since I am possibly the only person who has posted publicly how much this show doesn’t work for me, I will continue with my task and clear up some confusion I’m having with the discourse.

We Are…Struggling With Definitions

Thankfully, @lurkingshan provided a good framework to discuss what slice-of-life even means. While I am willing to accept that a strong episodic structure is not inherently required for a good slice-of-life drama, the bite-sized nature of an episode lends itself to enabling clear stories about the complexities of mundane human existence. It’s a very popular genre, especially in anime. As I said in an earlier post, this is a mature genre with a long tradition.

Most of my favorite approaches to slice-of-life are from Japan. When America does slice-of-life, you get it more as sitcoms than thoughtful dramas about everyday life. One of my favorites would probably be Midnight Diner. As Shan defined before, a good slice-of-life drama could go on forever, and in so many ways Midnight Diner has. 

I’m actually currently watching Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo because Machida Keita and Fujiwara Kisetsu are in it.

We Are…Already Familiar With Slice of Life QL

We’ve actually had a few QL projects cover the slice-of-life feeling before.

You and I are both big fans of What Did You Eat Yesterday?, a show I loved so much we had to do a whole podcast episode about it.

On the lesbian side of the equation, we have the lovely She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat.

We also had Naked Dining, which I had some mixed feelings about.

There's the gay dads drama from Taiwan in Papa & Daddy.

For people who seem to struggle with non-Thai productions, there’s also Ingredients with everyone’s favorite singer Jeff Satur.

Besides, I argue firmly that Tadaima, Okaeri is the only true slice-of-life BL airing right now. It’s the married gay dads show we’ve been asking forever to get, and it’s even in the omegaverse!

We Are…Possibly Suffering From Recency Bias

It’s surprising for me how hard everyone has fallen for this show, considering the long history of reactions to New Siwaj’s work. He’s been in the genre for over a decade.

I am intimately familiar with this man’s work, and have been a Make It Right Apologist for years. I’ve been with this man since I got into the genre. This isn’t even his first attempt at 16 episodes about boys in college.

Everyone else watched My Engineer at the time, but I watched EN of Love and was not surprised when Love Mechanics got its own full series afterwards. I’ve been with this man working through gay angst in Make it Right, examining intergenerational queer trauma in Until We Meet Again,  fumbling through Between Us, trying for something in Dear Doctor I’m Coming For Soul, hustling in Even Sun, still crying with him over Love of Siam (2007) in My Only 12%, and squandering everyone’s time in Absolute Zero. 

It’s kinda baffling to me that I’m catching strays over not liking New Siwaj works in 2024. It feels weird that the show I’m getting heat over not liking is the least-queer thing I think he’s ever made. I don’t know what that says about current BL tastes. I will say this plainly every time: Queer Truth is Non-Negotiable For Me In a Genre About Boys Kissing Each Other. If that statement bothers you, please swerve on.

We Are…Not the Only Examples of Queer Fun

While we’re here, I wanna talk about how there really is a whole gay world outside of BL. I feel very strongly that Western viewers are extremely rude and often racist when it comes to their disdain of BL. However, there is all kinds of fun to be had in queer cinema if you can handle projects made more than a few years ago. 

If you want silly fun, you can always go to TLA Releasing. They funded an entire gay parody of the American Pie franchise. They’re great for the types who want to see pretty people smile at each other and have sexy times. 

If you’re in the mood for something a bit more serious and heartfelt, you can dip by Strand Releasing. They have one of the best coming-of-age queer films I’ve ever seen. They also picked up a really melancholy Japanese film called Egoist. 

My favorite studio, who shows up repeatedly on my BL Syllabus is Wolfe Releasing. They have my all-time favorite Big Eden (2000), and many others. 

My point is that there is a huge world of queer media out there well beyond the latest mid-tier BL from GMMTV designed to keep the boys working. We also don’t need to argue that some of their shows are more queer than they actually are, especially when Cooking Crush is right there.

Thanks for the ask!

[oddishblossom]

“And you and Masaki had better protect me.” “No!” “What!?”

— TADAIMA OKAERI - S1 EP1

(BONUS: Masaki Wakes Up)