#pleng do something

[girl-intrigued]

Pleng seriously needs to match Wan's freak !!!

Like Wan has been living in hopes of meeting Pleng for 13 years, bought a piano and guitar for her, kisses her goodbye before going to work, leaves the flat so Pleng doesn't have to move, doesn't mind if they are half siblings will love her regardless.

While Pleng is prepared to run off at any minor inconvenience!!! Like girl don't you dare my Wan!! She truly loves you unconditionally and you need to love her and prove your love to her as well. Wan is almost going to drown herself because of you!! Pleng needs to redeem herself in my eyes atleast. I need proof that she will love Wan forever and keep her happy!!!

[coldzonkprofessorturtle]

An Affair to Remember

Alright, let's get into Affair the Series, which has been giving me brainrot the past few weeks so feels like a good time to get into an analysis of why I find it so fascinating. Eventually I'd love to do a deeper dive into Thai GLs and that industry (that's a whole other thing though) but after having seen my share of them (Gap, Show Me Love, TSOU, The Loyal Pin) I've really found myself falling into the rabbit hole with Affair the Series and the way it depicts friendship, love, and acceptance.

Deep dive below and also thank you gif makers for your work 🙏🏽

(also will go over events from episodes 1-5, so spoilers ahead if not up-to-date)

So first off, I have read the novel, which is the first time I've finished one of those for a GL and quite frankly, the translation wasn't that great but the story still came through. I won't refer to it much and will base this on the show as I think they've done a fantastic job with the adaptation and fingers crossed continue to do so.

Where in most GLs the core conflict is external. The main couple can't be in love typically due to familial/cultural pressure or a man interfering (that still exists to an extent here) the main conflict in Affair is simply that Wan and Pleng love each other too much but they do so in different ways.

When we meet Wan and Pleng they're 17 years old and have spent their entire lives together. They're sisters but not and while Wan seems to have a social circle, Pleng really has no other friends outside of Wan. The spoiled rich girl and the maid's daughter. Couldn't be more different if they tried and yet by circumstance their lives are as intertwined as it gets.

At 17, they have different ideas for their futures. Pleng is musically talented, wins every contest and is financially set. She can live the life she wants. If she wants to be a musician then so be it. Her parents love and support her and there's no pressure. Wan on the other hand has an overbearing mother (and a resentful father), no prospects for her future but at least she has Pleng.

Despite her parents, Wan loves wholly and openly. She knows she loves Pleng and while she doesn't yet know it she does know that Pleng loves her too. I would argue that Wan truly knows herself, which is why she comes across as so self-assured in their younger years. She's slowly trying to guide Pleng to understand herself too.

Pleng, however, has never had to sit with her emotions in the same way. Take this as differences of personality, class and upbringing. Now that they're 17 and entering adulthood, Pleng has to start engaging with the world (and her emotions) rather than hiding behind the rich, insular lifestyle she's had up to this point.

As the idea of boyfriends comes up, Pleng starts to lash out. She's jealous, she's pushy but really she's just in love with her best friend and doesn't know it. Everything starts happening too fast. Wan meets a boy at an art gallery, Aunt Wi pushes Pleng to help Wan get with Ek, Pleng's dad is extremely stressed and she doesn't know to what extent and throughout that Pleng is dealing with her feelings that for some reason just won't go away. Feelings that Wan keeps bringing up in her over and over.

Pleng is a mess. She doesn't know how to connect with her peers, she knows something is wrong with her dad, she sees that Wan is seemingly moving forward in a way that she's not (dating a boy) and whether she realizes it she continues to isolate herself.

From Wan's perspective she couldn't care less about dating Ek. She's already completely devoted to Pleng (in ways that Pleng doesn't even know).

They're 17, hormonal, gay, and incapable of seeing each other's perspective. Wan wants Pleng to let her in. Pleng can't help but push everyone away.

As soon as Pleng starts to really come to terms with her feelings about Wan. That's when everything falls apart. Her dad kills himself, her mom goes into cardiac arrest, all of her family's assets are seized and she's now orphaned and staying with Wan's parents who clearly and vocally have no space for her. Pleng who was already struggling to find her footing before that fateful night now has absolutely nothing to stand on.

The break point is when Pleng finds out about Wan's academic achievements and that Wan had been hiding that truth about herself their entire lives. Wan has always been intelligent and capable but hidden herself behind a veil of ineptitude. Wan in loving Pleng puts her on a pedestal to her own detriment. She has no issue blighting her own light so that Pleng can shine but from the moment we meet 17 year old Pleng in the show we see her pushing Wan to better herself. Wan thinks loving Pleng means her own success doesn't matter whereas Pleng loves Wan and all of her potential.

They both love each selflessly but while Wan would burn the whole world to keep Pleng warm, Pleng loves Wan despite her own existence. So when Pleng leaves she writes,

"Your parents will feel at ease. And you'll finally get to live your life as your true self... I know you love me but I also want you to love yourself. And be proud of who you are."

For Pleng, her leaving is the ultimate way to show her love to Wan. A clean break. She runs away so Wan can thrive but here's the thing Wan needs Pleng to keep her grounded. Pleng does too but she can't see it at this point. Too much has happened and so, in her desperation she removes herself. She is her father's daughter after all.

So when 13 years pass and Wan has spent that entire time holding on to whatever she can to keep herself close to Pleng (becoming a doctor, riding a bike to work, marrying Ek, separating herself from her parents); Pleng has become a ghost of herself. Wan has imbued herself with all the things she thinks/knows Pleng would like while Pleng is stuck in a cycle that she can't get out of: play music, make a bit of money, pay rent, rest, repeat.

Pleng never reaches out to Wan because why would she? Her loving Wan means staying away and on top of that there's a sense of shame of what her life has become.

So when they finally meet again it's too much. Wan is successful but she's still clearly in love with Pleng and while it was all Wan's doing, in a way her success is a direct result of Pleng's influence. In removing herself, Pleng slowly begins to realize not just that she took Wan's smile with her but the why and how. Wan's changed and devoid of the joy and innocence that Pleng loved most.

They slowly fall back into their natural rhythms but Pleng still can't accept her own presence in Wan's life. Wan is back to pushing (albeit more aggressively then before - time was wasted) and in pushing Pleng, Pleng pushes back. If they take their relationship that one step further, what then? What if it falls apart? Why not just stay in a cycle where nothing shifts? What if there's another ringing shot in the distance and everything changes in a moment?

If there's one core trauma to Pleng as a character it's her desperation to not feel like a burden to anyone. Especially Wan. And then she finds out that Wan (though separated) is still married to Ek and she can't accept that she could have ruined Wan's potential happiness. Not understanding that Pleng herself is Wan's happiness. Pleng feels like a disruption because at the root of it the thing she wanted above all for Wan, "I also want you to love yourself. And be proud of who you are" is not something that Pleng accepts for herself.

I'll leave it there and hope the show navigates the situations that are about to come as well as they have so far but kudos as Affair manages to oh so gracefully skirt what could otherwise be an incredibly toxic relationship. Somehow they manage to give these two characters so much grace despite their flaws. And truly that's also a huge credit to Sonya and Lookmhee's abilities.

It's chaotic and messy but in coming back together these two might just realize that's how they both best shine.

[top-pleng]

People seem to be confused so I will explain...

Wan 100% knows she wants Pleng, but Pleng is still resistant because she has hang ups still. She's still worried about ruining their relationship and changing their undefinable thing into something definable (like girlfriends) and she's invented this artificial line on the ground of "too far," and the moment that line is crossed they go from besties to something else.

Wan is very attentive to Pleng. As horny as she is for her, she has never pushed Pleng! She'll tease Pleng, but when Pleng gives her a firm "no," she listens and more than that...

WAN IS A BOTTOM! She is initating, but tbh this girl doesn't entirely know what she wants or is doing. She'd much rather Pleng be doing the doing which is why she is so flustered from some mild touching during the couch/floor scene and why she was so needy/excited in the doctor's quarters scene.

She is a bottom who is trying to seduce her girlfriend into fucking her and it is hard word when her girlfriend is Pleng!!!

[lurkingshan]

Helloooo, Shan! This is a bit out of left field but it’s something I’ve been wondering for a while. BL has developed more as a genre and shown itself to be increasingly sociopolitically aware (whether or not it effectively engages with that awareness beyond marketing is another thing), do you have thoughts on any sort of progression of how women and girls have been portrayed? Or observations on the general state of women and girls in BL? It seems to me their roles have become meatier, not just one-dimensional femme fatales or fujoshi. Or am I projecting a false narrative of genre evolution? 🤔

Hey Megan, thanks for sending! I love an out of left field ask. And I agree with you, I do think there has been a clear evolution in the way women characters are portrayed in BL, and I have been making note of it where I see it.

It used to be that female characters in BL were mostly just there to be antagonists, either as villainous femme fatales trying to break up the couple (like Plern Pleng in TWM) or fujoshis inserting themselves into the main couple's relationship in really inappropriate and fetishizing ways (like Pang in Love Sick). Even the precious few decent women characters from early BL (like Manow from UWMA) are still really only there as side characters who provide support to the boys and/or a bit of comic relief. Women in early BL were either problematic or kind of an afterthought in the narrative.

But more recently there have been BL dramas featuring women who are more fully fleshed out and actually a crucial part of the story. This is not linear and consistent, of course--there are BLs airing as we speak, like Knock Knock Boys and Blue Boys, that are still relying on women as primary antagonists--but there has been some growth. Here are some of the characters I find particularly notable in regards to the role they play in the narrative:

Ae Ri, The Eighth Sense

Ae Ri was a notable character because the narrative set us up to think she was going to be a typical femme fatale. She seemed to like Ji Hyun and we were naturally inclined to assume she would be an obstacle to him pursuing Jae Won, until the show completely turned that on its head and made her a knowing ally instead. It was a delightful surprise and she remained an important support and get a grip friend for Ji Hyun throughout the story.

Nara, La Pluie

Nara is another in the category of the subverted femme fatale trope, but this show took that much further by writing her with so much empathy and making her a fully fleshed out character with her own arc and even the start of a new romance by the end. It is still the best treatment of an ex-girlfriend character I have ever seen in a BL.

Fujisaki/Pai, Cherry Magic

Speaking of trope subversion, let's give a shoutout to these two corrective takes on the fujoshi archetype. Each version of this story did it a bit differently, but the common thread was that Fujisaki and Pai only wanted the best for their friends, and kept a firm line on how much to interfere in their relationship. Fujisaki is gentle and kind, offering small encouragements and nice gestures. Pai is much more of an enthusiastic fangirl so I was a bit weary at the start of her story, but the show used her fannish interests as an opportunity to model respectful fan behavior and I was quite pleased in the end.

Yiwa, Wedding Plan

And of course, I have to mention the current title holder for best female character in a BL, Wedding Plan's Yiwa. She is not only a great character in terms of having a fully formed personality, clear motivations, and a great set of relationships, she is also the engine that drives the entire narrative. I am still kinda amazed she exists.

This is separate but related to the recent increase in GL content and GL side couples in BLs, which is also getting steadily better. And I want both! I want solid GL dramas where the girls own the narrative, and I want BLs to write women better when they choose to include them in the story. I'm encouraged by the progress we've already seen.

[wastingoxygensince1983]

Affair 07.

At least the show remembered how bad Pleng would take a suicide in front of her. Other shows would forget details like that.

Ek's photos are insane. That far? at night? in the better timeline he is a photographer and never bothered Wan.

Interesting that two moms slapped Wan but you could tell that none of those hurt as much as realizing that Pleng was ready to go again.

I wonder if this lady is getting the points that Heng is getting because why be an homophobic mother twice?

Sometimes is hard to remember that this is the equivalent of a dark time for the characters. And that Pleng is always ready to run away because her depression tells her she is not enough to anyone. Even if Wan has fight so much for them. Causing all these trouble to the person she loves when she doesn't have any value is something that really affects you. I know that personally.

At the same time is good storytelling to see Wan realized that all the love she has for Pleng is not enough(even if it is the only thing is holding her so far) and that keeping Pleng when she is so ready to ran away is not good. Both are wrong but have understandable reasons. I really liked the letter.

I really, REALLY hope that these two dudes are there to kinda show that not every dude has to become an Ek and they understand that Wan and Pleng belong together and take it cool. I am tired.

The Gemini tattoo. The soulmate of it all.

Not really sure about the ending but in a narrative aspect it seems like they are setting Pleng to confront her trauma over suicide when the love of this life is basically doing it. Like Pleng is gonna have to save her instead of getting shock for the trauma.

One episode left. I can't believe is almost over. WE NEED MORE OF THESE TWO ACTRESSES,

So the kisses were already a part of their situation-ship. Thank you mid credits scenes.

[doyouknowthisactor]

By "roles" I mean playing a different character, and in a different piece of media; someone playing one character across a franchise only counts as one thing for the purposes of this poll, as does playing multiple characters in one franchise/piece of media

Below are some of this actor's roles. Please only check after voting!

Bad Buddy as Pa

23.5 as Sun

2gether as Pear

Home School as Pleng

More roles

[khaopybara]

Well. Affair sure was...something. I mean i definitely love LMSY and i hope they get another series together because this one was just...mhm 🫤🫤🫤

I don't understand why ek STILL continued to get so much screen time. Wan saved your fucking life so sign those damn papers already and let’s be done with him.

Marriage changed Wan like what the fuck was all that for??? And why didn't Pleng just invite Wan to the party to celebrate the album, wouldn't you think that's the type of event that you bring your wife to?

((also i don’t know where in the timeline this show falls but I don’t feel like the Nuengs of Gap or Blank would’ve been so eager to help Wan like that imo))

-🤫

well, anon, good news are, lmsy apparently will have another project together! so at least we have that to look forward to (and here i am hoping they actually mean it when they say they want to make something different).

and here's the thing, this is a thai ql problem. they do very well for 2/3 of the series, but few of them manage to stick the landing. affair and the secret of us were like that for me, so i'm excited to see them acting together again, of course, but i'm also sad bc they could be so much better.

they really needed to make eek of all people look like the hero after being the biggest pain in the ass since ep 1 i'm pissed af. this man deserves no pat on the back after the whole trauma he inflicted and sense of entitlement he had over wan AND HE DOES NOT DESERVE A CUTE DOCTOR FREE THAT MAN FROM EEK'S CLAWS.

wan has 0 trust on pleng, it's not just a jealous thing. they are one month married and are in dire need of a couple counselor (as well as separate therapists, but we've talked about that). that whole jealous fit was stupid. i hate pointless jealous plots that appear in the last half of the last episode like pls show some respect.

and to end it all, if i had a cent every time mother um apasiri had a change of heart in the last episode of a gl, i'd have two cents, which isn't much, but it's tragic that it happened two times in less than 6 months. this woman kissed other woman in the past, LET HER BE A GOOD MOM TO HER LESBIAN DAUGHTERS!!!

[jojotichakorn]

do you have wind inside of that skull instead of a brain or something? in what world has wan been better since pleng left?

[almayver]

This would be a really nice thing to do if he wasn't doing it just to get back with Wan when she clearly doesn't give a shit about him. It sours something that could be such a good thing for Pleng

[hughungrybear]

Thai BL Favourites List Tag Game

Why would you inflict this torture and cruelty on me, @lost-my-sanity1 😭😭😭😭

Favourite BL:

I said it before and I'll say it again, SOTUS holds a very special place in my heart. Say what you want about the storyline, plot, and actors (although, I will have your head if you come for my beloved Singto). I truly believed that the Thai BL landscape changed remarkably (for the better) when GMMTV released SOTUS in 2016. If you have been watching BLs as long as I have, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Image source: Icvr)

Favourite pairing:

Pat and Pran (OhmNanon) have revived something in me that I thought died with so many underwhelming BLs that had gone before them lol (hello, BBS Episodes 4 and 5) 😅 Although MLC's Heart and Li Ming (GeminiFourth) also had me in a chokehold.

More underrated actor:

Sing Harit. If you don't believe me, just look at his very extensive filmography. Also, Slam Dance, The Revenge, and Not Me. Enough said lol

(Image Source: My Drama List)

Favourite character:

In a Thai BL? Again, @lost-my-sanity1, just why???? Have I offended you in some way? Well, if you really must know then Sun (Chimon Wachirawit) from My Dear Loser: Edge of 17. Look, the way that Sun just accepted the fact that he'll never be number one - not with his family or with his beloved In (who sends Sun mixed signals every chance he gets, played by Pluem Purim), sends me into a downward spiral.

(Image source: Pinterest)

Another character that I love is Oh-aew (played by the ultra-talented PP Krit) from I Told Sunset About You. I'm just soft for characters who are oblivious that they are in a toxic relationship, okay? 😅

Favourite side character:

Definitely Pearmai (Aye Sarunchana) from Be My Favorite. Look, it has been a staple in a Thai BL to have (cis) female villains who are caught in a love triangle with one of the main characters (looking at you, Plern Pleng/Aim Satida of Together with Me). She admits she's not perfect and also cries when she found out that Kawi and Pisaeng are a thing. However, she didn't let it affect her friendship with the two. She even turn down Not's not-so-subtle invitation to be an effing rebound guy ("I'm disappointed, not desperate" will be forever etched in my mind).

Favourite scene:

I have so many. I can't just pick one 😭😭😭😭

Favourite line:

Have I talked about the script from Tale of a Thousand Stars? Because I really need to talk about how each effing episode is a nugget made of quotable quotes (For Pete's sake, from the very beginning, Torfun's "Where we are happy, we are home" sends tears to my eyes).

Most anticipated bl and why:

Only Friends because Jojo Tichakorn. Also, have you seen 3 Will Be Free???

Healthiest relationship in a bl:

PatPran. No explanations are necessary.

Most toxic relationship in a bl:

LOL. Where there is MAME anywhere near the writing and production crew, there is guaranteed toxicity in the plot (and not in a good, entertaining way — more like "you should have gotten a restraining order yesterday").

Guilty pleasure series:

I have to admit that I have watched 2 Moons 2 an embarrassing amount of times when there was basically only 2gether The Series in my semi-decent BL list.

Bonus! Most underrated series:

Dark Blue Kiss. I do not get all the hate TayNew has gotten over the years, but really the Kiss Me, Kiss Me Again, and Dark Blue Kiss were all worth watching simply because you can see how Pete and Kao grew as a couple.

(Image source: Pinterest)

Also, 3 Will Be Free deserves more YouTube views.

That's it. That's the post.

And since misery loves company, I'm tagging @dribs-and-drabbles, @telomeke, @ellasaru12, and whoever wants to undergo the same torture as I did when answering these questions lol

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I have thoughts on voice overs

Aug 2022 Wk 4

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) Ep 3 of 15 - The splinter thing was cute. I liked that they used it to show that Aye is a capable boy, and I enjoy that quality in a character. The disciplining of the 3 queer boys plot is giving me So Much in Love vibes. I’m a little confused by the friendship between Thua and Aye, did that come out of nowhere or is it just me? 

Vice Versa (Sat on YT) Ep 7 of 12 - It’s been interesting to watch Sea come into his own with this show, since at first Jimmy takes up all the air in the proverbial cinematic room. But Sea is good, subtle. Do I feel a little manipulated by the external conflict? Yes. And I still think Jimmy‘s character’s motivation is suspect. In other news, it should not be as weird as it was to watch someone eat carbonara Thai style, but it totally fucked with my head.

21 Days Theory (Sun YT ) Ep 3 of 4 - They are all so cute. The side noona romance, even the side Cyrano romance. I’m deeply grateful they ff the singing trope for me! OMG its so ADORABLE when X&Q switch to using X and Q. Eeeee!!!!!!! Q is so nervous and pleased about it. I love this show so much. The representation of an elder gay advisor, teaching about proper communication and warning of damaging romance tropes, PLUS language play and high school? Everything about this show is in my wheelhouse. 

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) Ep 3 of 15 - Well if anybody can advise a lonely confused gay boy in high school, I suppose it’s Fuse Kung. This one is moving along swimmingly, it’s complex, nuanced, and very well done for essentially a simple premise from Thailand. It’s not a pulp, but it’s not high production either. In style it’s more in the vein of UWMA than anything I’ve seen out of Wabi Sabi in a LONG time. Thumbs up. 

Love Mechanics (Sun WeTV) Ep 10fin - I really loved the class conflict with these two, and what it says about the characters in their families. Honestly THIS could’ve been the plot for this whole drama. It would’ve been so much better if it had dwelled in this space of family drama, rather than the chaotic messy bi-slut cheating space. And guess that’s it. That’s the end. Sigh. In the end I went with 6/10, I compare this to My Gear and Your Gown (a classic 6/10), and find it’s about the same. Yes YinWar are great, and they were great in this, but the story was not good, and not improved by being given more time to hang itself. I like the shorter En of Love version better (yes I think they can and should be compared) and I’m was left simply hoping YinWar get more better work in the future. 

Coffee Melody (Mon Viki) Ep 6 of 10 - Pleng & Yi are good communicators (now) but this show is kind of boringly slow. Jean is a KILLER flirt. Like the best, really. Yi should have taken lessons.

Unforgotten Night (Weds on GaGa) Ep 10 of 12 - I got drunk this time in order to make it through. Good thing too, I I NEEDED to be drunk. Because they threw a random threesome and a highly worrying and unstable kink in the shower sequence at me. It’s such a terrible show. TRASH WATCH HERE! I’m gonna start moving this to Thursdays and watching back-to-back with LITA for alcohol consumption reasons. 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) Ep 2 of 13 - there was a spanking, so that’s something, I guess? DUMPSTER FIRE TRAH WATCH ALONG HERE.

Check Out (Sat IQIYI) Ep 12fin - hadn’t dropped yet for some reason and I could not care less. 

Work from Heart (Thurs WeTV? YouTube?) from DV8 an office BL featuring lots of other couples. Stars Love With Benefits pairing Gameplay & Folk. It isn’t even listed on WeTV streaming in my territory, but it is airing to WeTV Thailand. Probubly still hunting for distribution.  

What If (Mon WeTV) Is on WeTV but for VIP only (pay wall). Neighbors who grew up together and have special feelings for each other but keep it to themselves. And then... university.  My FairygodBLer has provided, so I’ll be reporting in on what I can get starting next week. I must rewatch WBL2 first tho. Priorities!  

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Minato’s Laundromat (Japan Weds GaGa) Ep 9 of 12 - The mystery behind Asuka and Shuu is finally explained, and as @heretherebedork​ points out, is being used as a foil for the main romance thread. Also, the director did this transition around which character is being filmed standing in doorways and on thresholds (from Shin to Minato) that was SO CLEVER I kinda lost my whole tiny mind for a while. I ended up doing an unexpectedly deep dive into this filming trick as a narrative technique on the SQUEE WATCH ALONG . And yes, I think it’s possible this came directly from the manga, the manga seems very very SMART. 

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan Thurs GaGa & Viki) 2 of 8 - I can’t believe we are getting BOTH these from Japan right now. Japan, and I say this in all seriousness, we do not deserve you. These two are so shy and awkward and cute, and it’s so high school it’s almost unbearable. But I really enjoy the way burgeoning desire works with high school characters better than in any of the other setting Japan might choose. I gnaw on my knuckles and squeal a lot with this show. The handholding is so adorable. Also Amagi is so awkwardly jerky and angular in a way that doesn’t seem overblown like it did in Kieta Hatsukoi. Clever shooting on the erotic dream sequence too. I see what you did there, Japan. Amagi’s fears are all the fears of first love (and not just queer love, anyone’s first). I really like that. Also I really love the internal dialogue that’s happening around communication. Because part of first love should be learning how to talk to each other and communicate. The way Takara communicates is so good and so important to the genre I did a whole post about it.  

Papa & Daddy 2 (Mon GaGa) Ep 4 of 8 - Taiwan handles a love triangle so differently, especially with mature characters. It’s actually kind of beautiful to watch them explore ideas around infidelity, affection, lost love, and rediscovery. Also I love the gay sibling couples sharing tips on how to manage kids and parents. 

Want to See You (Vietnam YT) Ep 13 of 14 - I definitely like it better after the time jump. But I still feel jerked around by the uke’s behavior and decisions. Golden rule of BL: he’s never asleep.

In Case You Missed It

Viki has picked up old fan favorite Ossan’s Love 1 & 2 (the original Japanese version) which I don’t like very much. 

Viki also got Korea’s Love Class, which I enjoyed. review here. 

Japan is airing キスkissキス AKA Kiss X Kiss X Kiss Perfect Scandal starring Ryuga Akahane and On Nakano, on dTV. Depicts an “extremely risque yet beautiful forbidden love between the two idols, A and B, who were in the same idol group. The fans knew that they were good friends. However, the real relationship between them is... lovers.” WHY IS THIS NOT IN FORNT OF MY EYEBALLS RIGHT NOW? (It’s poorly rated so I am assuming sadness.) I am not alone the comment thread of people trying to get ahold of this is insane, seriously Korea why are you sleeping on this idea? 

The OnlyOneOf BL universe crossover continues with part 3. Oh Kpop. 

Gossip

Oh My Assistant is going for the reshoot option. Fascinating. Honestly this says a lot about the KBL industry that it’s so cheap to produce, it’s easier just to redo the whole thing when you’ve  the option on a popular manwha. Original info on why I thought this one was DOA. I’m delighted to be proved wrong but remain nervous over the fact that this is Korean doing high heat. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting this week: About Youth turns out to be uni set, not high school (this is my sad face). Still I’m looking forward to new BL from Taiwan and it’ll be on GaGa starting Monday. 

Ending: Check Out, Want to See You. 

MIP (missing in production): Ghost Host, Ghost House. 

Coming September 2022 we hope:  

9/14 Once Again (Korea) Viki we think. From Moving Picture studio & Idol Romance (Wish You, Ryu's Wedding, Tasty Florida, Tinted With You, and Kissable Lips - also forthcoming Happy Ending Outside The Fence and The Circumstances of Pungdeok Villa Room 304) Stars actors (no idols) Moon Ji Young (also star in an upcoming BL The New Employee), Lee Hyuk Jun, and Kang Woo Jung. time-slip fantasy BL

9/16: More Than Words (Japan) Amazon Prime Video JP adaptation of Etsuko’s two mangas In The Apartment and More Than Words, starring Ryōko Fujino (Fujoshi, Ukkari Gei ni Kokuru), Yuzu Aoki (Kakafukaka), Daisuke Nakagawa (Colorful Love), and Daiki Kanechika (EXIT). 

9/26 Ai Long Nhai (Thai) no international distribution as yet. 

Coming September 2022 we hope:  

Fahlanruk (Thai) WeTV

Comfort the Boy (Korea) - got an R15+ rating for topic & vulgarity, stars idols Jaehan & Yechan BOTH from Kpop group OMEGA X.

Happy Ending Outside the Fence (Korea ) Star Leo of VIXX. 

SELF the series (Thai)

This week’s best moments?

Advising elder gay REPRESENT!!! (21 Days Theory) 

Communication represent! (21 Days Theory) 

This should have been what this series was about (Love Mechanics). Or they could have wrapped the fathers reservations up with Vee’s miss behavior making for a more complex family dynamic because Mark’s dad would have been partly justified. 

Consider I recently did a post all about comparable Asian honorifics including how nong is (and is not) like Japanese -kun, this was very fun to see pop up on my screen. Thank you Love Mechanics. 

I love this friendship group. (The Eclipse) 

Such a little shit. (The Eclipse) 

Honestly? Takara & Amagi hit it out of the park this week, I have a bunch of shots from it because ep 2 was SO GOOD. 

(I’m not gonna tell you want’s happening in this shot, you gotta watch it. SO GOOD.) 

(last week)

current earworm? Jang Woo Hyuk’s Echo 

[bengiyo]

Coffee Melody Ep 10 (Finale?) Stray Thoughts

Holy shit this is not the end of the series? What does Viki know that the rest of us don't?? I really want this show to be over.

I almost feel like Duen Yi can't really appreciate Plengruk. Pleng, after a moment to reflect, understands what being s professional in the modern era entails and can handle his boyfriend leaving for a time for work.

Oh, we're back to the bully boss and Chan Chao.

That's right Chan Chao, take the talent and leave him on read.

Oh god they're still singing this song.

I can't remember the band member names to offer much beyond the curly haired boy has charisma.

What an abrupt cut from the porch scene to this scene inside the cafe.

Ope. They said the name of the show. Finish your drink.

I love Jean. He's going to be the most memorable thing in this show.

Chan Chao about to recruit the future on BL off the streets like that one show did in 2014.

I just do not care about Nava. I'm just gonna ignore him.

I totally get Jean's romantic hesitation. No amount of singing will change that.

I do like confirming that Yi's family will build a relationship with Plengruk.

The back and forth on Tit Nhuea's hair is just too much.

I feel like I like Benz and Pavel, but I don't think they worked for me here as a pair.

Okay, Coffee Melody, you better come out for marriage equality!

Well, that was something I'm glad I finished. I kinda dozed off at one point. I'm going with 6/10 because it was just dull and kind of annoying sometimes.

[top-pleng]

I love how from the beginning it's clear from the beginning that both Wan and Pleng are in love with each other, but only Wan seems to be aware of that while Pleng is in deep denial. She's terrified of acting on her feelings and Wan definitely knows that.

Wan is constantly teasing and baiting Pleng, but she's also very considerate and patient. She never pushes for it. In part, because she's likely terrified of ruining their friendship, but also because I think she just knows that this is something that is difficult for Pleng so she is willing to wait ... to wait forever as long as it means she can have Pleng in her life in whatever way that is.

Like, this push and pull dynamic occurs throughout the show thus far, especially in this episode with like ... I lost count of how many near kisses and lip stareing contests there were.

.

.

.

And it's especially noticeable because it is very different from the scene that the show opens with. The show opens with a scene of the two kissing and about to have sex when they're adults. Pleng acts much the same. She's clearly into it, but is partially resistant, but while the Wan of their adolescence never pushed Pleng, this version of Wan doesn't back down.

Pleng vanished for years after pushing Wan away, and it seems that this abandonment led to a major shift in Wan's personality. While before she refused to be pushed away, now she's doing far more than that. She's holding onto Pleng and keeping her close. She's taking what she wants rather than patiently waiting, because she wants Pleng and she's going to make sure that Pleng knows that and doesn't leave again.

[lurkingshan]

BL/QL Ask game : The Ugly, the Bad and the Worst

Tagged by @clara-maybe-ontheroad to start some trouble. There are a lot of these, so I'm mostly going to do quick hits and maybe expand on a few that really get me going.

The categories are:

Worst soundtrack / weirdest song choice in a BL

It would be easier to list the BL soundtracks that are not horrible (offense intended).

Most cringe-inducing line (cute)/Most cringe-inducing line (actually bad)

I'm so bad at remembering specific lines of dialogue unless I think they're beautiful/heart-wrenching, so I got nothing.

Most stupid decision made by a character

In a BL?? Baby, I do not have all day.

Worst plot line

Hmmm I'm gonna give in to recency bias and say faking amnesia to get your fiancé to love you again after you iced him out and denied him sex for four years because of your tiger attack-related PTSD (no I am not making that up, never change actually Naughty Babe).

The most problematic show you've watched

Problematic is in the eye of the beholder, so honestly who can say.

A show people love but you find bad

LOLOLOL. There are. So many. Probably the one with the wildest fandom fervor :: Shan personal enjoyment ratio is KinnPorsche.

A show people find bad but you will defend

Theory of Love and y'all stay wrong about this. It is easily one of the best early Thai bls and the writing, character development, and narrative structure are all excellent, but people hate slutty characters so they can't deal with it.

A show that is just objectively bad but you enjoyed it/were horny/because of that one character

Why r u? What can I say, I'm a Fighter/Tutor girlie.

A bad show that you kept watching because you were intrigued/fascinated

Hmmm I usually just drop it if I'm truly not having fun. I guess you could count me finishing Minato's Laundromat 2 despite knowing any hope for it was over at the end of episode 9. I just needed to see how mad I was going to be in the end (pretty damn mad).

A bad show that you would still recommend

There is too much BL nowadays to be trifling with the bad shit.

The character that ruined a show the most/most awful character that you hated

PLERN PLENG (Together With Me). cc: @bengiyo the co-president of the Plern Pleng antis.

Most awful character that you loved

Boston, a beautiful chaos demon (Only Friends).

A character that wasn't awful but that you just don't like

Anyone played by Podd or Jimmy (it's their faces I can't stand them sorry to those men).

A hero that should have been a villain

This is an interesting one! I’m not sure this counts, but I’ll just say I did not love the way The Untamed white washed Wei Wuxian and removed his culpability for all his worst choices (I recognize this was largely due to censorship). I much prefer the more morally complex and deeply flawed version of him we got in MDZS.

A morally bad character you're into/you're not into and you wish people would stop being into

I don't believe in holding fictional characters to real life moral standards. Bad behavior makes for good stories.

The show that disappointed you the most

Let me take this opportunity to drag Plus & Minus again, a show that had all the right ingredients to be a top tier friends to lovers narrative and absolutely blew it to do some beyond clichéd noble idiocy and breakup bs that violated character and undercut the relationship to such a degree that I can never rewatch or enjoy anything about it again.

The Worst Show of Them All Because of Your Own Reasons

Hmm I do not have one. It's rare for me to not be able to find something of value in any media I consume.

Tagging @chickenstrangers @sorry-bonebag @kayatoasted @blmpff @twig-tea in case you want to play!

[thepoetcarpenter]

A Love Story That is Hilariously Entertaining

I remember over a decade ago, I was in my friend’s car getting off an interchange at Finch Ave from the 400. I spotted a chromatic grey Infiniti G35 at the red light, and I told him this revelation that I had. Why were all the G35s I see are grey. I thought at the time it was a fact that Infiniti mostly sold grey G35s. Then he told me straightly, it was just my mind thinking that. I have this perception of things, and when I see it, it affirmed my beliefs. 

With that as the preface, ever since I started reviewing films and shows, I come to this new revelation, there is a disappearance of Hollywood romantic comedies. And I think I am right. This time.

Hollywood A-listers today do not make romantic comedies any more. But, ten or twenty years ago, we have an endless list that includes Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Steve Carrel, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and so on and so on. Now the movies they make are more popular genres like sci-fi, comedy, action, and even drama. 

So why? While in East Asia romantic comedies are more popular than ever. I think audiences are tired of Hollywood’s tales of the cool and handsome guy who is perpetually struggling to get the pretty girl even though he has everything going for him. While, in countries like Japan, Corea, and even Thailand. It is this strange and weird stories of the loser who has nothing going on for him but through faith and fate, he ends up with the girl. Something like that resonates more with audiences today.

With that being said, I Fine, Thank You, Love You, which is streaming on Apple TV+, is the best example of that. Seemingly this handsome guy, Yim, loses his girlfriend, Kaya, makes a deal with Pleng to teach him English, so he can get sponsored to work in America and there he will reunite with Kaya. The male protagonist, Yim, is played by Sunny Suwanmethanon; the female lead, Pleng, is played by Preechaya Pongthananikorn; while Kaya is played by Sora Aoi. Though Yim seems cool on the exterior, he is quite a loser once we get to know him. He is dumb and struggles to learn English from Pleng, and that is where most of the comedy lies. Their relationship is weird and strange, but once they become close that awkwardness is really endearing and charming. It is a love story for people like me when the only time I was cool was when the temperature was frigid. 

The interactions between Yim and Pleng are awkward and form into a weird little relationship that they both have. Their onscreen chemistry is rooted in the distain that they have for each other. Overtime, their time together outside of the student and tutor roles brings them closer ‘til they see that the right person for them is each other. And that makes for a great love story.

This is one of the best romantic comedy not just out of Thailand, but from the world. It is hilariously strange and at times hilariously gross. This is the type of movies that East Asian audiences love. When the leads do not quite fit into the mold of a hero and heroine, and their flaws shine through as something that ought to be more charming and endearing. 

To go back to the original questions and this time I ask them as rhetoric. Are all Infiniti G35s grey or is romantic comedy an endangered specie? Not in East Asia. The spirit of chick flicks is alive and well more than ever. And we could all use a little laughter and a little romance when the mood calls for it.

[chalkrevelations]

Caveat lector - last comments on Enchanté, probably:

Theo, you’ve got a lot of nerve calling Akk dumb, when all Akk needed was a two-minute conversation with Sun to figure things out, after you’d been so extra that he had no idea what was going on in your bratty airhead for nine and a half episodes. If YOU had an actual honest two-minute conversation with him at any point, a ton of bullshit could have been avoided. When Akk said he didn’t deserve you, I wanted to shake him, because I think that’s the other way around.

(Although I’m super amused that I was RIGHT, and that the two-minute convo was essentially Sun renouncing his position as Theo’s Dom to leave space for Akk to take on the role. Becuase lbr, that’s what was happening there, and in the final pre-credits scene when Akk talks about being the right one to “take care” of Theo. I’d like to think that during the months Akk was applying for scholarships, he was also getting a crash course from Sun on how to do this properly.)

Jimmy remains the bright spot of this - I would say the sole bright spot, but Pleng Keetapat also exists and made Egg a delight, and then there was the teeny tiny lip wobble that Force pulled off at about 1:17 in Part 3/4 as Theo was crushing Akk’s heart to bits, along with that subtle way Akk backs away from Theo a few seconds earlier (at the 1:00 mark) when Theo steps toward him. Perfection. Those two moments honestly may be even better than Sun’s little thumb rub when he’s holding Theo’s wrist while comforting him about his parents (at about 17:46 in Part 1/4).

I kind of hope Force and Book do something together again, because from bts and other media stuff I’ve seen, I think I Iike Book, but I unfortunately can’t stand Theo, and it’d be nice to see them work together in something where I don’t spend the entire show wanting to reach into the screen and throttle one of the characters, and in a way he wouldn’t even like.

Still not tagging with the name of the show, because it seems kind of an asshole move to put this is the tags. Might go back later and add the show in tags, for completion’s sake.