#thai branded pairs

[absolutebl]

Hi P’ABL! I saw the post earlier about branded pairs taking someone out of the story and just wanted to add my two cents, since you and I seem to be somewhat aligned on liking them (at least story/show wise). For me personally, another reason I like the pair system is I’m not worried about them being as uncomfortable!

I know the system has flaws, to put it mildly, but with the rise of pairs like EarthMix, FirstKhaotung, and even OhmNanon, it’s so nice to know that they were friends first, so they most likely could communicate better on boundaries while acting. I know they are all professionals, but something I always worry about with a lot of higher heat shows is the actors feeling pressured to do more than they are comfortable with (this isn’t unique to BL, either). When the actors are paired, and especially when they’re friends prior to being paired, I worry less that they were coerced into doing high heat they aren’t prepared for. It’s probably my anxiety that makes me worried about that more than usual.

Do you think the pair system could ever be moved to more of a healthy dynamic? On paper, the idea of pairing two actors who are comfortable with each other, good actors, with guaranteed chemistry seems amazing for actors and production companies alike. However I know there’s a lot of shit that happens in the background that makes it a lot more complex than that.

Hum, I think a lot about the 1950s Hollywood studio system with pair branding.

Do you think the pair system could ever be moved to more of a healthy dynamic?

Maybe? I mean it isn't the 1950s anymore, so evolution may go differently. (Much as humans love their repeated patterns.)

On paper, the idea of pairing two actors who are comfortable with each other, good actors, with guaranteed chemistry seems amazing for actors and production companies alike.

Yes.... on paper.

But never forget actors act.

It's what they, presumably, do best. I'm not saying any of these friendships we see between pairs are faked or forced, but I am saying that what WE see is performative.

Yes ALWAYS. On the v-live, on those bts cuts, on that reality TV show.

Also, please remember, actors tend to be narcissists - so how they behave around friendship, and notions of it, is different than many ordinary people. Their egos are both fixed, unmoored, and mercurial. Fixed because they are grounded in talent and beauty, unmoored because they often suffer from imposter syndrome (over one or both of those first 2 aspects), and mercurial because they take on other personalities so easily. Mimicry is their job, after all.

Maybe I'm jaded. But when I say never date an actor, I REALLY mean it. I mean I've plenty of celebrity-type friends, but they are a different kind of friend that requires a different kind of maintenance. They are TONS of fun to be around, but would I call them for help in times of need? Never. They aren't... how to put this nicely?... dependable.

Now when and how does the performance become the person, or the friendship? That's a fascinating question to examine.

You could watch 2017's Method, a KBL-ish movie that sort of tackles this. But it's emotionally rough going.

Since celebrities are notoriously difficult to study, psychologically speaking, we may never have actual data on this one. So in an awfully meta way I suppose we have to turn our attention back to fiction for the discussion.

(Never did I think there would come a time where I would recommend Method. Huh.)

[heretherebedork]

I cannot believe I have seen multiple posts in various places saying they can't support Kidnap because 'OhmLeng might replace OhmNanon' like, y'all, there is no OhmNanon! They're not working together anymore! There's not going to be another show! They're two separate actors seeking different things in their career and I hope they can stay friends but in sure this rabid shipping isn't helping!

Actors are people! Let them act! Support them if you like them! But just remember...

Pair branding is a marketing strategy.

[lurkingshan]

Wowwww. So I wondered what was going on with the low review score on The Trainee on MDL, and @neuroticbookworm bravely went into the comments to investigate. Apparently angry TayNew shippers are review bombing the show to get back at Gun for kissing Tay. I cannot fucking believe people.

[manogirl]

GMMTV should do two branded pair concerts every year, one for the "old" guys, and one for the "young" guys. Like, get Inn and Great up there with Off and Gun and Tay and New and Krist and Singto and honestly Force and Book and Earth and Mix at this point.

Then get all the whippersnappers up there, the Sea-Keens and the Gem-Fourths and Winny and Satang and you know, the babies.

I'd buy both, is all I'm saying.

[dribs-and-drabbles]

My suspicions following ep 2 of My Love Mix-up that Atom has the Mustard brand yellow-soled shoes have been proven correct after ep 5. But more than that, it seems Atom has three pairs of the sneakers.

The first, a white canvas with a thin blue stripe:

The second, a grey/clay canvas (similar to these):

And the third, the originals he wore back in ep 2, different from the first ones because they have no blue stripe (I think they're these ones):

Lucky boy.

And I'd just like to draw @respectthepetty's attention to Atom's blue socks in the fourth pic...and I'm sure you've seen Kongthap's blue sneakers (and the yellow flashlight Atom is carrying)...

Anyway, I've updated the communal wardrobe post with the top two pairs until I get a good confirmation of the third.

[thatgirl4815]

Hi. Im really curious about your opinion on branded pairs in Thai BL marketing, especially about Firstkhaotung. I happen to like both actors very much (since Moonlight Chicken) and then from the Eclipse and Only friends. It would be great to see them as a couple in an upcoming show but acting career wise it could limit their range or project choices if this branded pairs marketing strategy dictates certain limits. My somewhat negative feelings about it came from moonlight chicken which was the second Thai series that I watched and Earthmix seem to be such a strong branded pair that I found the watching experience strange and then the shoehorning of 2 Alan Gaipa scenes in the end. How do you see it? And which one is your favourite branded pair (if there is any)?

Hi! So sorry it’s taken me a bit to answer this - it’s been a crazy few days.

I also think there are both strengths and weaknesses to having branded pairings, and I think OF happened to be a really good example of that. I’ve seen quite a few disgruntled reactions to the branded pairings ending up together in the end…I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the one couple who didn’t end up together was the one that wasn’t pre-established.

In the case of Moonlight Chicken, I think it can apply similarly, though maybe not as obviously. I like the AlanGaipa scenes but I do agree that if it hadn’t been FirstKhao coming off of The Eclipse, would they have had those scenes in the end? My gut says no.

I’m kind of torn overall tbh, because I think branded pairings work for a reason. There have been so many standouts that have been hugely successful because of it - EarthMix, FirstKhao, and OffGun to name a few. The problem comes when those branded pairings interfere with plot and limit the creativity in these stories. The majority of audiences want to see their faves together, but that stunts creativity in some aspects if the plot could be better served by a different endgame (or no endgame altogether, in the case of TopMew in OF).

Anyways, I think it’s a slippery slope for gmmtv and bl in general to pursue branded pairings because it’s a huge money draw and appeals to fans, but it’s a balance of creativity and storytelling and appealing to the chemistry that viewers love so much. For me personally, FirstKhao has always been my favorite pairing since The Eclipse for a lot of reasons, but one that stands out is that their acting is so strong individually as well as together. I’ve noticed in BL especially, branded pairings have a tendency to lean into each other so much in their acting that it’s difficult to tell if they could actually hold their own on screen. FK have done that, and sprinkling in their chemistry when together just takes everything to a whole new level.

[watchthisqqq]

I am not very familiar with either of these pairings but I had a question. People seem ok with Dunk/Phuwin getting together despite them being in branded pairs. Why is that? When people get very upset in other situations if a person in a pair is with someone else. Even Pond and Joong seem to endorse it.

[theflagscene]

I’m watching the Zombvior blessing livestream and I’m such a parent lol, I stg. I’m just thinking like: Max wake up, Tommy stop talking. Wake up Zee! Park at least pretend to pay attention, Net, James stop giggling and you… I have no idea who you are but don’t play fight in the front row also why in heaven’s name would you wear leather pants!? It’s a blessing ceremony not a nightclub, plus it’s mid-morning in Thailand, aren’t you boiling!?

Listen, no one likes to go to church but this is part of your job, we know y’all have been to dozens of these but still at least act interested lol!!

In other news, the pure joy I got from seeing Jimmy again, healthy (hopefully) and surrounded by his other actors and colleagues. I’m just glad he’s well again, or well enough to work at the very least. Also, I didn’t see Boun there, I hope he just had to miss it because of other work commitments and not because he’s pulled out of the series.

Zee, absolutely too tall to be in the front row for pictures but legit everyone is screaming for him, so obviously they push him front and centre lol. And Yim just going to start to pass the blessed food out before everyone else was just too adorable, he was just like peace out, Imma go hang out with the screaming fans.

Huh, did Zee grow up secular? Or possibly Christian? Because he seems to be doing the very bare minimum, could be the poor dude is just freaking exhausted. But I could also see it kind of sucking having a religious ceremony tied into your contract for a religion you don’t follow, I know there’s a substantial number of Christian communities in Thailand as well even more Muslim communities, though it is a predominantly Buddhist country. But as I continue to watch I think it has to do with exhaustion more than anything else, the poor man seems dead on his feet, no pun intended, cause ya know, zombies.

Okay well this press conference is impossible to hear, hopefully they’ll have another event with better sound recording. Livestreams are always iffy, especially when held outdoors.

Considering how many pairings are being interviewed together, I’m thinking teh gay will be strong with this zombie series. Love the actors that aren’t being interviewed are just standing around in the shade eating ice cream, there are perks in not being the superstars lol!

[kinglenaaaa]

JoongDunk are the smartest co-branded bl pair in whole of gmmtv, if not the whole industry.

The way that they use social media is so clever, they’re always in the spotlight even when they don’t have any show or promo activities. Twitter, text messages, ig stories, all of their media platforms work FOR them. All they need to do is just flirt, send a couple of “I miss you” messages or tweets, post a selfie and done!!

They’re very consistent, they stick to a narrative, and it pays off. Dunk has over a million followers, even though he only had ONE extremely mid show!! In comparison, Forcebook are still under one million, both of them.

Whatever my personal thoughts on the co-branding system are, I am so amused of the way joongdunk manoeuvre it in their favour, by smartly using their social media. Idk whose big brained decision it was, but it clearly works. I applaud them!!

[itmightrain]

Some people i follow on twt for kpop things have gotten big into freenbecky/gap and it's sooo funny bc they've never been Thai Gay Fanserviced before and they're so amazed by it

[ineffable-opinions]

I finally got around to listening the Ep.01 - The Origins & Boston Deserved Better 2024 and here are my thoughts.

I must admit that I didn’t like the characters from the get-go and abandoned the series at episode 4 because I could see the pairings ready to be shipped and the (non-BL) route the series was ready to take. I didn’t want to go down that path.

I didn’t like the making style. In my opinion, it was not a BL BL and borrowed heavily from western queer shows (Verbotene Liebe, Queer as Folks, Os Nossos Dias, etc.) that I watched while growing up and got tired of (so much so that I barely ever revisited any of them). These are not problems per se, just things that got me less and less interested in them. It had a flavor of what I call Channel V type series that has young adult/new adult characters acting without much rhyme or reason and very little connect to their immediate surroundings or social context, clearly inspired by western entertainment aimed at similar demographics. These were a mainstay of Hindi language entertainment aimed at youth for a while until Channel V went under, until they were swept under the new wave of entertainment that was more grounded and survives in pockets, catering to a specific class of audience.

Now on to the content of the podcast…

The discussion highlights a bunch of interesting issues and here are my thoughts on those:

khujin (actor CPs; popularly known as "branded pair") – it was obvious from the get-go that the series isn’t going to stray too much into the intense BL territory. Not was it going to go queer the way western shows do. Also, it is the farthest thing from other Thai queer media products. They had actors who are part of a pairing and pairings rather than shows are the money-making parts of GMMTV’s entertainment biz. Series are basically just another activity actor CPs participate in.

2. Formulaic BL – GMMTV usually sells a particular type of BL: those with a soft and comedic tone (傻白甜 storyline) and aimed at an audience interested in feel-good BL (source given above). The audience is there to cheer their beloved characters on as they navigate manageable issues. The BL formula or narrative progression exists to offer comforting familiarity for its audience who want to relax watching them. Another reason, I think, is the lack of knowledge of BL literacies among directors who never took the time to delve into the genre deep enough to learn other narrative progressions.

Only Friends don’t fit into the narrative progression GMMTV usually employs. But it could have fit into other narrative progressions.

Here are some typical narrative progressions for a (Japanese) BL:

あまあま – sweet

ユニーク – unique

シリアス – serious

邪道 – evil road (Jadō)

王道 - royal road (odo)

Any theme/one-line plot can choose to take any of these narrative progressions. Moreover, Thai BL usually originates online which allows for innovation in narrative progression. Consider KinnPorsche which led KinnPorsche on odo while VegasPete ventured on jado. Only Friends could do that, but only with a script written by those who are well-versed in different BL forms. MAME is probably the only one who ventured into BL making business in Thailand with knowledge of BL literacies. Most BL creators are basically working on products (novels) by authors (producers of Bl and BL knowledge) with limited knowledge of their own.

In case of GMMTV, its BL formula or preferred route of narrative progression is the first one – the overall flavor would be sweet and relationship progression is pretty smooth (SOTUS, Together, Bad Buddy, My School President). If not, then it would be royal road progression wherein characters have to go through troubles but end up with each other through hard work and perseverance (Never Let Me Go). Moonlight Chicken is an example of a BL with “serious” narrative progression, I guess. Eclipse may be regarded as having taken "unique" route, at least by GMMTV standard. Seems like Only Friends unintentionally took the evil road.

Let me try placing the characters in BL set-ups:

Boston is just a yarichin (playboy) riba (versatile character) who is osoi (sexually aggressive) uke (襲い受け) when it comes to Top. Top on the other hand is a black-bellied (腹黒) character who is set up to fall for Mew, only for him to be exposed (incorrectly to an extend) as a brute seme (鬼畜攻め) and that relationship to involve groveling and “wife-chasing”. Nick on the other hand is a yandere obsessed with Boston.

The series could have taken evil road deliberately. That would mean leaning into Nick’s yandere-ness, making him do some more reprehensible things and then reveal it all to Boston, mind-break to meriba (merry bad) ending. Or develop an isolation and codependency plot for Boston with heartbreak from unrequited love (involving Top), alienation from the friend group and overall despair, leaving him with super-Machiavellian Nick as his only solace. Or take the classic BL dark plot of confinement, breaking leg(s) or removing tendon and Lima syndrome with a bat-shit crazy Nick. This would be asking too much of GMMTV and its average audience.

* I think this warrants a disclaimer: making a (yarichin or otherwise) character go through mental/physical hardship in BL is not understood a punishing that character (like in Western media analysis). It is basically employing pain to elicit feelings of sympathy and doting from audience or for catharsis. If not, it is for a kind of perverse moe. In all cases, it is purposeful (in relation to traumas and various anxieties) since the days of June magazine and draws from tanbi lit (where in it was part of the overall melancholic aesthetics), even when the execution fails.

3. Virginity, NTR (infidelity both as a fetish or an element of a relationship), NP (ships involving more than 2 people; 3P, 4P, etc.), & open relationships – these are minority interests in BL. There are hardcore fans of these and therefore there is no dearth of these themes in BL. There are authors who specialize in these. Some occasionally focuses on these themes. Similarly, audience who are not especially interested in these themes also occasionally enjoy them. (Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, which contains NTR as a main theme, enjoys super-popularity.)

Another treatment: These themes also appear as issues in BL relationships that often involve punishing characters for infidelity – rupturing of trust, loss of innocence, etc. In case of virginity - as a source of anxiety and distance which has to be dealt with for the relationship to flourish.

It is also one of the preferences/fetishes/specific interest for at least some of the audience members to indulge in – you can find BL fans asking for recommendations with both characters being virgins & first times in forums and such.

There has to be clarity as to what these themes are supposed to do in a narrative for it to resonate with the audience.

Also, new queer media (some given below) feature many of the same themes as Only Friends. Clearly, there are differences and similarities in how BL and the following shows treat those themes. It might be interesting to compare how Asian queer media (other than BL) treat those themes with how Only Friends did. It would also be fascinating to look at the treatment of the same themes in shows from elsewhere, such as the west.

Cheers by Cheers 짠!하면 알 수 있어

Breakfast by 想再見你

Sesame by 百里屠伕

Shimbashi Koi Story by SHIMBASHI TUGBOAT

Will they; won't they about infidelity is the main source of drama in the last arc of Tugboat's Shimbashi Koi Story season 2.

Have an unpopular opinion about a BL? Don't worry, we probably do too. Saying all the things you do or don’t wanna hear Part 5 (of 4) is here to engage with BL media from Japan, Thailand, China, Korea and more. We're talking film-making techniques, narrative analysis, fandom woes, while asking questions like, hey why don't the bottoms move their arms? We may not be experts, but we are loud, chaotic, and full of opinions.

In today’s episode we’re discussing the origins of our hosts De and Sinna’s friendship and Only Friends! Mainly Only Friends cause, whew, is there a lot to talk about. Anyone else still salty over that ending? Or just us?

Show Description: Mew, Ray, Boston and Namchueam; a group of business students running a hostel together-blur the lines between friendship and romance.

Where to Watch: Only Friends

Check out the read more below for further reading resources on topics we discussed in today's episode like framing devices, and color theory in film. Along with a list fanworks we loved from the fandom! Add any fanworks you loved as well, give the people their stars.

Listen to this podcast on: Spotify | Soundcloud | Youtube

References:

Framing Devices

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FRAMING DEVICES

A Story Inside a Story: Using Framing Devices in Fiction

10 Films that Utilize a Frame Narrative

Color Theory in Film

Color Theory in Film — Color Psychology for Directors

What Is Colour Theory In Film?

Color Symbolism in Literature: Examples and Meanings

Stain: Phenomenal and Literary Approaches to Color Studies

BL Budgets

The Storyboard: Interview with the Dee Hup House director Tee Bundit - Original Interview | Translation

BL Production Info from Strongberry - Original Interview | Translation

Fanworks We Loved:

ONLY FRIENDS as SZA Lyrics 2/? -> SMOKING ON MY EX PACK by @firelise Run away fast as you can by @iwantoceans GIF Set BostonNick by @taeminie Boston GIF Set by @khaotunq Top x Boston | Only Friends | Crazy in Love by stb Boston & Nick | Angels like you can't fly down hell with me by Scodders sand x ray | ''i need somewhere to begin by thanxxjessie “Compared to Boston, you're a saint” by @rabbiitte If Boston has a million fans by @no2tinngunshipper Only Friends FMV | Cardigan | BostonNick by @technicallyverycowboy Told You So by CaffeineAddict94 You’re On Your Own by technicallyverycowboy “Boston was ostracized, isolated and berated to the point that it completely shattered his sense of self” and “Boston and his “friends”” by @neuroticbookworm “Dear Boston” by @lurkingshan "go for it." by @gunsatthaphan

Goodbye Forever (Until Next Time) by Anonymous

Credits:

Chaotic Hosts: Dé & Sinna Beloved Editor: Bones Creative Kingpin: Libby

Support the podcast

[absolutebl]

12 Favorite Thai BL Branded Pairs Active Right Now

Based on screen chemistry and personal taste entirely (not projects, rolls, characters). Some of your favorites will missing from this list (sorry not sorry). September 2024, not responsible for pairs getting busted up after this moment in time.

I would watch more from any of these boys even if I've disliked their previous work and am likely to continue to do so.

1 FirstKhaotung

2 JoongDunk

3 YinWar

4 Perth & Talay - YES STILL!!! I HOLD OUT HOPE!

5 TutorYim

6 JimmySea

7 MosBank

8 TayNew

9 G4

10 SailubPon

11 BillyBabe

12 GreatInn

MaxTul would make this list, but I think they're unofficially busted at this juncture, Tul seems pretty much out of the biz. And if he went back to BL most everyone would likely demand Mew.

Others that I'd pull but I don't think my own rules allow me to: JeffGameplay, BoomPeak (YES THEM), BoyTod (Ghost Host), BossPeter (Starhunter). Frankly GreatInn might not stick either.

Never Pair Branded

But not officially busted either. So I want them to do another show together. Some of these are pretty obscure, so I put in origin shows.

BeverTee - 21 Days Theory

BoomHaii - Chains of Heart

BossPre - Destiny Seeker

BrightNonkul - I Feel You Linger in the Air

PokeTongue - Star Hunter boys

BoatKenji - My Secret Love

Poom & Up - My Stand In

NohPeter - Oh My Sunshine Night

KunKiak - The Promise

OppNut - Secret Crush On You

JuniorFluke - To Be Continued

TT - Triage

PoohFiat - Top Secret Together

BoatJame - TharnType 2

JumpBoom - You're My Sky

I'll watch but I'm not invested

EarthMix

OffGun

PondPhuwin

ForeceBook

KristSingto

ZeeNuNew

MeenPeng

BounPrem

OhmFluke

DaouOffroad

MaxNat

KarnNut

PavelPoom

BossNoel

FortPeat

MileApo

Honestly I am always happy, if not gleeful, to see pairs busted up, but I do still have favorites. And I would feel a little twinge if any of those 12 were seperated permanently.

(source)

[heretherebedork]

Alternate universes... but somehow connected.

[sideysvault]

˖⁺‧₊The 5 times Deadpool calls you ‘babygirl’₊‧⁺˖

Pairing: Wade Wilson x fem!reader

Established relationship wc 929

Warnings: Minors dni. Foul language, canon typical violence, and explicit content ahead.

────────

1. The apartment was dimly lit. It was a chilly September afternoon. Both of you were parading around, frantically looking for all the flyers and menus that local restaurants have left at your door and car ever since you moved into the neighborhood. You had been arguing about what to order for dinner for approximately forever. And you guys were starving.

“Thai.”

“Not so quickly, hot stuff. We had that shit last week. Mexican.”

“We have Mexican food all the time. I love it but enough is enough”

The man let out a theatrical gasp and exclaimed “Enough Mexican food? What’s next?” Taking a deep breath, he began making a poor imitation of your high pitched voice “Enough of you! Enough of us!

You held in an amused giggle. He had the ability to make mundane endeavors quite entertaining.

“Ugh, fine. I’ll be an awesome boyfriend and cook for you tonight. Sounds good, babygirl?”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound of that word.

“What did you just call me?”

Wade got up from his seat and started to make his way into the kitchen. Just as he is walking behind you, he smacks your ass while giving your temple a soft kiss.

“Stop being difficult”

By the time he arrived at the kitchen counter, you had him trapped with a hug from behind. Leaving soft, sloppy kisses all over his back, neck and shoulders. You really loved it when he cooked.

2. Wade had no plans of introducing his partner to what he considered nothing more than losers in spandex. But now that he was presented with the opportunity, he was quite pleased with himself. A sense of pride filled his chest with a feather-like sensation. He still wasn’t sure of how a woman like you could even date him, but he was glad you did.

“Baby, this is the russian tin man and his teenage sidekick, Guys, this is my beautiful sexy babygirl”

You immediately feel your face heating up with embarrassment. Luckily, the duo seems to be very accustomed to your boyfriend's antics. They quickly laughed it off with a roll in their eyes.

At the end of the day, he may be the biggest asshole in the world, but they are happy to see Wade in a good, normal relationship. Or at least, as normal as you could get with him.

3. He could feel you wince in pain with every step he took. Your nails were digging into his skin with such force that Wade was pretty sure it was making him bleed. But as long as he got you to the hidden safety offered by the forest near the road, nothing mattered. He tried to put you down as gently as he could. No matter his efforts, as soon as he laid you on the humid duff, you let out something stuck between a gasp and a scream. And as soon as Wade heard it, he felt his heart stop.

It was your very first time getting shot. And it has been his fault.

“It’s okay baby girl, I got you. Just look at me, okay?”

“I know it hurts, baby. We’ll fix it. Brand new. I promise.”

He did not soften the hand which he used to apply pressure on your wound. And he did not let his protective hug soften either.

4. The bed sheets felt humid. You assumed it came from the salty sweat on your body. The woman had been awoken by a nightmare for the third time this week. You panicked for a second, feeling the warm sensation of breath behind your neck. But you soon realized that it was Wade. He had his arms around your waist and you could hear a light snort coming out of the man. You let out a breath you did not know you were holding.

You two were together, at home. Turning around to face him and hide your face in the crook of his neck, pulling yourself as physically close to your boyfriend as you could. He woke up with a groan. Wade kissed your forehead and sloppily rearranged the messy hair out of your face. You could hear him mumbling sweet nothings as he tighten his grip on you and softly tracing invisible lines on your back.

“Go back to sleep, baby girl. You are safe”

- 5 -The cold sensation of the wall against your nipples was completely intoxicating.

Your head felt dizzy because of the constant stimulation. You were pretty sure you were about to pass out. But Wade’s hand kept your head in place, while he left a thrilling trail of kisses all over your neck and back.

The woman lets out a whine almost every time she feels the thrusts. Her pussy was filled with the overwhelming tingles of a denied orgasm.

“You can do it, babygirl, you are so fucking tight. Keep it up, honey”

Your hand reached for the back of his head, pulling his head closer as he pounded into you with more strength than before.

His hand covered your mouth as he mumbled into your ear “Bite it. We are not over yet”

Notes: Hi pretty! Thank you so much for your follow and your requests! I hope to write them all soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading this one. Take care! -Sidey xxo

Based on this request.

[fadelbison]

can't imagine being aof nopparnach award winning pioneer in thai queer cinema, creative pillar of one of the biggest production houses in the country and also responsible for a range of some of the worst branded pair goof ups to just plain silly in what I can only describe are calculated risks he willingly took????

like imagine being so good at your job that you convince a worryingly big ghost ship to be brought into the branded pair scene officially only for you to convince them to reprise their roles AGAIN for the sake of the craft AFTER a really public blow out all of it leading into the worst fan reaction to a branded pair break up since probably freaking mewgulf.

he was so high off his pairing success with EM during ATOTS that he flew right into the heart of the sun during MLC leading to The Most Prolonged fight between a branded pair who were also Pretending That Everything Was Just Fine simply because they had to promo this show and could NOT for the life of them take any time apart to freaking think. like did you guys know that Mix wasn't even his first choice for ATOTS? He just saw how gay Earth was for Mix and said okay lets explore this further and he explored them right into couples therapy.

he clocked that unhinged sexual tension in First and Khaotung and did not even audition them for The Eclipse. Just handed them over to P'Golf like harness this and harness that they (P'Golf) did! Then he wrote in their characters being in love into MLC even before The Eclipse had aired because the decisions he makes in life can only be swayed by unhinged sexual tension and nothing so trivial as commercial success or fan preferences. And then they (FK) were handed over to his (Aof's) best friend (Jojo) who then rebranded them into The GMM High Heat pair and they've now gone from the threeway kiss fanservice guys to peeing separation anxiety all over social media because Khaotung has a solo concert abroad and dear god how will he ever figure out how to feed and dress himself without First.

and now he has written an RPF script for the comeback of The BL Prototype Daddies at the behest of one of the actors themselves, reimagining their real life story as exes having gone through a bad breakup. great good surely nothing will go wrong.

[waitmyturtles]

Hey,

I'm not 100% sure how this works. Also this is more of an opinion than a question. I just feel the need to brain dump. You are under no obligation to reply. 😁

I fear that First and Khaotung are being wasted at/by GMMTV. They're both stellar actors and seem to have the sensibilities to tackle more serious material.

I feel like coming off Not Me, the themes in The Eclipse kinda went over my head. My fear was and still is that I didn't understand all the nuances. And that's why I felt like the show was lacking. Also I think the very first preview set it up as an entirely different show (more supernaturalmystery/thriller) in my head, so there was a disconnect there as well.

Their next project was Moonlight Chicken where both of them shined as actors but negligibly as a BL pairing. Having said that, they seem to be on very solid ground in the BL fandom - I am referring to their fan meets.

Only Friends was a masterclass of acting as far as FirstKhaotung were concerned (i was all about Ray and Sand), but I think the overall reputation as show that fell flat on its face overshadowed or at least took away (for me) from the gravity of FK.

And now we're here. With The Heart Killers and I am very wary of how Ota all going down. I see that the final trailer got over million views and I'm happy for them, but based on I think the absolute travesty that was OF, my expectations for this show are on the ground.

I really want more of an insight into how projects are picked up and distributed inside GMMTV (if you ha e any, I'm dying to know). I feel like they would benefit greatly from being on a show like PS I Hate You or something like Peaceful Property.

It feels like they're backsliding in terms of material given. Which I am sure is a) not their fault and b) me possibly being weird and dramatic in the wee hours of the morning. But I wanted to get it off my chest and I was reading your previous reviews when I felt, and then gave into the impulse to write to you.

Also I'm a MaxTul girly too and somehow, you made me want to give Make it Right another chance.

Have a great week ahead and keep up the absolutely exceptional work! ❤️

NIHILISTIC! It's great to hear from you! And thank you for the compliments!

TW for girlies out there who are not Nihilistic: this post will contain criticisms of The Heart Killers trailer. Read at your peril, delicate hearts!

I'll go backwards to save the biggest stuff for last. If you write anything about Make It Right, please tag me! @bengiyo and I always give a little DJ air horn to each other when we've nabbed another one into the broader cultural reconsideration of this AMAZING show. MaxTul, man. Nobody beats them! (Okay, almost, Tul admits he wasn't the strongest actor, but. We'll let it slide, dahling!) Chemistry, humor, pride representation, everything, they're great. I yelped when I saw them in Triage!

Okay, so you are a FirstKhao girlie, and you're worried about what The Heart Killers bodes. (Out of transparency, I have The Heart Killers tag filtered because of Only Friends PTSD. I'm gonna filter my own post!) For you, Nihilistic, I just watched the trailer for it.

I will get to all your questions about the GMMTV model in a moment.

Now, out of even MORE transparency, I am watching the MESS that is Kidnap right now, and listen, it's NOT GOOD. I'm fucking not even writing about it anymore, I'm just reblogging the sessy gifs. I am watching it to support Ohm Pawat, and am hoping that this partnership with Leng Thanaphon will hopefully lead to better scripts.... somewhere. (Or at least, better scripts for Ohm at a place like One31 or Channel 3. I also hope Ohm keeps up his anti-branded pair stance, but if GMMTV forces him to pair permanently with Leng, it won't be a fucking surprise, and more on that below.)

To focus specifically on THK for a sec: the THK trailer evoked a lot of what's gone utterly wrong in Kidnap for me. I think writing Thai BL/Series Y scripts to be different, fresh, and innovative, is just going to be really fucking hard, especially for stories featuring branded pairs that MUST end up together in the end. Because we, the viewers, KNOW that they MUST end up together in the end, what kind of mystery and conflict can a script convincingly evoke to keep us, the viewers, engaged and interested in the drama?

A few of us Ohm girlies were excited that Kidnap could have had non-romantic plot points (CRIME!!!) to drive concurrently with a romance plot. There are Series Y that have done this BEAUTIFULLY, particularly Sammon's stories of Manner of Death and Triage.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't get that from the THK trailer, and that THK smells a lot like Kidnap to me. The trailer itself is giving an indication that the "jobs" these guys have as double agents are going to be compromised due to them falling in love. And after the debacle that was Jojo Tichakorn's Only Friends -- a show premised on the exploration of mean, icky, really horny humans, a great place to start an interesting show! -- knowing that THK will HAVE to end up in a romantic place, with FK and JoongDunk being in memorable and memeable entwinements... that's a lot to ask of a show that already isn't making sense by drive, emotion, and tone in its trailer alone. What matters more to these characters? Their work, or their need to be in monogamous relationships? Seems like the latter to me by way of the trailer, which makes me wonder what the point of the plot is. (Joong's chest, probably.) (Gahddayum.)

(I haven't watched the latest episode of Jack & Joker, btw, but I understand that THIS WEEK's episode is ALSO going through something similar, with dead-end and uncommitted plot points all to get to a kiss. Oy.)

To summarize these points and to touch at your question about how GMMTV chooses scripts: GMMTV has an economic model to sell in giving happy endings to their branded pairs, which I wrote about at length in my Old GMMTV Challenge rewatch of The Eclipse. No matter where a script goes, the ending must be memorable and monogamous to satisfy the retweeting hunger of the branded pairs' fandoms, in order for GMMTV's artists to increase online engagement and to maintain earned media values to sell products.

The wonderful @flowerbeasblog noted to me recently that Tha Sataporn, the CEO of GMMTV, said in an interview that as the productions of Series Y in Thailand continues to increase, there is a greater need for more scriptwriting talent across this niche genre, creating competition for more excellent writing. (By comparison, in the States, when streaming services like Netflix and Hulu starting commissioning more original series just about a decade ago, the demand for scriptwriters and excellent writing also went up by incredible scale -- only to come crashing down recently with pandemic and strike-related losses in revenue.) GMMTV's recently announced script competition, Y Find, updated itself last week with a notice that the company would need more time to sift through scripts to judge. In other words: the demand for creative plots is so high at this company that they are literally fielding entries from the general public.

At the same time, Tha Sataporn has been blunt in indicating that "good shows" are not the priority of his GMMTV, and that talent, management, and engagement are his indicators of success. So, economically -- as long as a show hits that happy ending, and gets the girlies excited online with commentary and purchasing power, then the studio has won, in GMMTV's eyes.

ULTIMATELY, Nihilistic: what we are dealing with regarding your concern, as fans and/or critics of Series Y shows, is a conflict of values, among critical fans like ourselves, other fans who only watch shows for romance and shipping, and the economic bottom lines of the studios/agencies themselves. Some of us just want narratively good scripts, like Bad Buddy or He's Coming To Me. Others are content with having a show end with their fave pairs confirmed together in the end, no matter the process of how they got there. Those are different values we hold in watching shows. I appreciate that while you're a fan of the FK branded pair, that you want stronger scripts for them. I do, too, but that's not a value that every fan -- and GMMTV itself -- holds. And I believe that's why we've been seeing more and more mediocre scripts from that studio in particular.

I actually want to note maybe something positive about FirstKhao. Other than The Eclipse, it seems like they haven't been locked into high school or university settings. Only Friends, Moonlight Chicken -- these are shows that show First's and Khao's characters as young adults, and THK is going there, too. I hope they can avoid the university settings as they continue to work.

Is stellar acting wasted at GMMTV? Oh, yes. Besides First and Khao, who I truly think are good actors, we have Gun Atthaphan, Nanon Korapat, and Ohm Pawat -- these three guys are on my list of the best Thai actors out there who have done BL, and they haven't had great scripts in years. (Gun, arguably, has had the best pickings of decent shows recently in Cooking Crush and The Trainee, but they weren't high art; and Nanon's Dirty Laundry was the last Jojo script I was truly impressed by.) All three of these guys were in MOVIES at one point. Those ambitions, on behalf of these actors by GMMTV, seem to have gone by the wayside in preference for a huge economic push to boost branded pair-based series insteads, with their plot holes and guaranteed romances.

I hope the genre's tide turns for the sake of quality scripts, especially at GMMTV, but my hopes are low for this agency at the moment. My joy in Thai shows recently has been in watching past shows for my OGMMTVC. I've been on a lakorn kick lately, having watched The Miracle of Teddy Bear and I'm looking forward to watching Khun Chai soon. Other agencies and studios, like One31 and Channel 3, are breathing down GMMTV's neck and producing more interesting shows, sometimes with branded pairs and sometimes not. Triage only came out two years ago, and that show's trilogy (along with Manner of Death) will end with this year's airing of Spare Me Your Mercy, starring the very likely one-time pair of Tor Thanabob and JJ (Jaylerr) Krissanapoom, two gigantic artists in Thailand who are circling BACK towards the much smaller genre of Series Y for SMYM's sake. I have VERY high hopes and expectations for that show -- and that show is well out of the purview of GMMTV.

I think what you're smelling about the THK trailer is right, Nihilistic -- to me, the trailer isn't cohesive, and jumps already to its forgone conclusion of a romantic end. Unfortunately, for those of us familiar with Jojo Tichakorn's work, we know that if he was given more leeway, he'd likely come up with something more interesting. But now that he has to work with branded pairs -- who are shipped in the eyes of their fan beholders -- he's got a lot less room to be creative and interesting, which ultimately stifles the otherwise excellent acting we'd see from these young men.