#thai bl favorites

[justafriend-ql]

Thai BL Favorites List Tag Game

thank you to the lovely @firstkanaphans for tagging me! the original prompt list was created by @thatgirl4815. let's get into it!

(note: i'll try my best to not make this entire list about never let me go, but you know who i am)

favorite bl: never let me go (nobody is surprised) it's unique, innovative, the first gmmtv bl series based on an original script rather than adapted from a novel. the lovechild of cringe 90s thai action dramas and BL tropes that p'jojo flirts with or fucks with depending on how he's feeling. palm and nueng live in my head 24/7 and the cinematography of the series drove me to learn how to make gifs (something i would not recommend you do if you value your freetime lol)

favorite pairing: palmnueng :) power imbalance, social expectations, and simmering sexual tension that all breaks loose at the seashore. duty turned to devotion and loneliness turned to love. two 18-year-olds whose life circumstances couldn't be more different yet find mirror images of their own insecurities and lack of self-worth in each other. clinging onto each other only to let go in the name of love. but always returning to each other, their other half, their soulmate. literally everything i could ever want in a pair. bonus: they kiss each other like they actually want to.

most underrated actor: sing! he's great in comedic roles (had me wheezing with laughter in unidentified mysterious girlfriend). but completely slayed as todd in not me. toddblack scenes make me genuinely sick. i would love to see more of him in dark dramas. also you really just have to respect his dedication. he survived infamous early series like slamdance (he was paired with drake) and put his whole pussy into the puppy play in warp effect.

favorite character: palm pannakorn jannaloy my most beloved boy. breaks my heart and heals it at the same time. he's just such a fundamentally good, kind person. and pretty much nothing in his life makes that easy. eternally self-sacrificing, without much love for himself but so so much love for others. even when they leave him behind. look! the very first gif i ever made was of him - see below and kindly disregard the quality.

favorite side character: pa jindapat out of all the series i've watched, pa is probably the character i relate to the most. that's why she's my pfp! i love her messy buns and glasses and over-sized t-shirts. she just feels very real in all her interactions with pat and her cluelessness about her very big crush on ink. the little tremble in her voice in the dark room scene when she tells ink "i liked it. i liked it so much i thought that i was special to you" makes me tear up. she's funny and she's bold and she holds her ground and i love her. very much.

favorite scene: the farewell dance - never let me go, episode 9 there's no dialogue. just music. grief-stricken palm and nueng dancing slowly, somberly in a motel room palm will wake up alone in the next morning. nueng knows he's leaving; deep down, palm probably knows too. their steps slow and palm seeks comfort in a kiss that quickly turns desperate because they're both hurting and the only thing that will numb the pain is each other. the feeling of tears running down palm's face forces nueng to pull away. the look on nueng's face as he wipes palm's tears away is possibly my favorite thing phuwin has ever done. he looks so goddamn heartbroken and guilty, because nueng feels like palm's brokenness is his fault. also one of my favorite performances from pond - and he was in the hospital earlier that day!!

favorite line: "i love you. and i want you to love yourself too." ayan to akk; the eclipse, episode 12, part 1/4. speaks for itself i think.

most anticipated bl and why: dangerous romance although i'm definitely excited for only friends, i have a soft spot for underdogs and this series seems like one (especially if it airs at the same time as only friends). i love perth especially and both chimon and him are crazy talented actors. i hope despite the silly title of the series, the script gives them something good to work with. and i hope that "i hate you" kiss in the rain from the pilot is better in the actual series lmao. the bts photos are making me super excited! also: viewjune let's gooooooo

healthiest relationship in a bl: heartliming these two make me cry. really just the epitome of finding a safe space in another person and providing them with a safe space in yourself. everything about them is beautiful. the amount of effort and care they put into learning how to communicate with each other is incredible. i love that they fight alongside each other. and: "i love it when i'm with him" - sometimes it's really as simple as that.

most toxic relationship in a bl: going to second @firstkanaphans here and say tharntype this almost feels like a cop-out because it's so obvious, but it's true. nothing will ever excuse the things tharn did to type without his consent, and type's internalized and externalized homophobia wasn't dealt with satisfactorily in my opinion. there are good kernels in every story, but the bad overwhelmed the few good ones in this series for me.

guilty pleasure series: love by chance guilty because it's mame and i don't love how aggressive they make ae (the sweetest, gentlest boy) toward the end. to be honest i skipped everything except for the aepete scenes when i watched this so i can't comment on the rest. but i often find myself returning to episode 4, in particular, because ae's feelings realization journey is lovely and soft and seeing baby perth and saint is always a treat. i liked it enough to gif it, so...

bonus! most underrated series: my only 12% created this bonus category so i can beg you to watch this one if you haven't. trust me and suffer through the bad haircuts and slow burn. i knew it was different from other series when seeiw cries while watching a queer movie with his sister, recognizing his own feelings onscreen, then sneaks downstairs to watch the rest by himself in tears later that night. that experience is so fucking real. this series seared me with its portrayal of the nostalgia and grief of childhood friendships and eventual separation, and the role reversal post-reunion is so well done it makes me insane. i was sobbing in my room at 4am and that's the best review i can give a series.

i had a lot of fun doing this and i hope if you read to this point you got... well, something, out of it. tagging @cankersoregirl @first-kanaphan @feralmuskyscentedhoepran @akkpipitphattana @ayan-sukkhapisit @nongnaos and anyone else who may like to do this!

[coffeebookslovegt]

Si muero, mi mamá eventualmente lo superará, pero si simplemente desaparezco, eso sería demasiado cruel para ella.

[heretherebedork]

Got tagged by @littleragondin so why not give it a try?

Favorite Thai BL:

The impossible question. Do I go with the one I've watched the most? Or the one I genuinely think is the best BL? Or the one I'd recommend to the most people!? What does favorite even mean?

Um.

Anyway.

I'd go with Tossara just because of how many times I've watched it and still love it beyond all words, honestly. So many other BLs tend to lose my with the ending or with the middle drama and the tiny perfect package of Tossara makes it a winner in my book.

As for my favorite that is also actually genuinely good... A Tale of a Thousand Stars. This show has a very special place in my heart, started on my birthday and is just all around one my favorite BLs and my favorite Our Skyy 2 episodes. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the tone and them as a couple... just A+ all around.

Favorite Pairing:

Kan and Thua. Hands down. Expect to see these two mentioned again. Like, I love their story and their characters and just everything about them is so important to me. They are my most beloved and I don't think anyone soon will be unseating them.

Most underrated actor:

No idea? None? Who is even under or overrated? I don't know! Let's go with a pair of actors that I adore beyond measure and never got their true leading roles... Bank and Bonus. My beloveds. They played two of my top pairings for chaos and I love them so, so much. They made me love PokTong and the made me love MayonTengnueng. I have a special little spot for these two and seeing Bonus in Low Frequency always makes me happy.

Favorite Character:

My undying love for Ton is undying no matter the time. I love this boy and his deepseated but unfelt homophobia, I love how much he had to fight himself for every step of progress but how much progress he made as well. I love how much he loved and how much he hurt and how much he felt without ever really being able to label it or understand it without the support of everyone around him.

Is he perfect? Hell no. Do I love him? Yes.

... Look, my favorite characters tend to be side characters, okay?! I had to reach deep for this boy or it was just start listing boys from Vietnamese BL that didn't have side couples.

Favorite Side Character:

Kan. Forever. Frankly, he's my favorite character ever but he is technically a support character so he goes here. But this boy? This yearning, desperate, hurt and scared boy? He is everything to me. He grew so much and learned so much and found so much and I will never, ever leave him behind.

Favorite Scene in a BL:

Na and his sunglasses. Does this count? I don't know, if this doesn't count than nothing does.

Favorite Line in a BL:

I'm really sorry but I don't think I have one and if I do I don't remember it. Quotes are not my strong point and I tend to think in scenes/characters rather than lines from the show. And even the ones I do love don't tend to stick with me for long.

Most Anticipated BL (and why):

Dangerous Romance. Dangerous Romance. I am going to become the absolute wildest version of myself when that comes. BL Tropes and Class Commentary with tropes and social issues? My beloved! Yes, Only Friends has a lot to say but almost none of it will be in tropes so, you know, not my favorite. Very excited but this one? Everything to me.

Healthiest Relationship in BL:

Everyone in SCOY. Just... everyone. But especially my most precious SkyJao. I love them so much.

Special Mention to BeePrince, honestly, for being one of the best couples and healthiest, most open to each other relationships without actually being out because of social expectations and the way they just believed in their love.

Most Toxic Relationship in BL:

First place: PrapaiSky. No one can beat them out yet. He broke into his apartment and read his diary to him while he sobbed and begged him not to and had broken up with him. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Nope. Just miles of nope.

Second Place: MorkPi. For the manipulation, emotional abuse and the way the show portrayed every selfish and unkind thing Mork did as his Only Choice. I hope Pi got out of that relationship.

Guilty Pleasure Series:

History 1: Obsessed. I love this little thing and it's not objectively that good and it's got so many issues and I don't even care because I love it so much. Absolutely imperfect and absolutely fucked up and full of not so good tropes but I still adore it.

Most Underrated Series:

I don't know? I don't know what other people think! I will put Tonhon Chonlatee here because, obviously, I love this little show. But what else?

Pretty much all Vietnamese BL falls under this umbrella but I give a special spot to You Are Mah Boy which is adorable and fluffy and pretty and criminally underrated by people. If you haven't watched it, it's all on youtube and you are sleeping on something wonderful. Not super deep but just so fun.

+BONUS Favorite Setting/Location:

This is rough. Like... what even do I say? I dunno?

I think my real answer has to be forests. I love characters and shots in forests just in general, they make me feel happy and they're different than the typical beach things we get. Forests are common here and I love seeing different forests and the different ways people around the world move in the forest. It's just great. But rare.

My other favorite is, oddly and against all appearances, bathrooms. Bathrooms and elevators. Scenes where the character have the illusion of privacy without it being totally private and with the chance of being interrupted but also we're just observing them? Love it. Thes are my favorite moments, the illusion of privacy knowing it can be broken at any second but needing that privacy enough to keep going even without that.

Anyway, I don't tag people but feel free to participate if you wanna!

[gunsatthaphan]

🥃🔪🔥

[khaopybara]

so nice of him to return the favor.

ONLY FRIENDS episode 2 THE HEART KILLERS official trailer

[thisautistic]

Let me refresh your memory...

[potatoes-in-bloom]

Sunshine disguised as a Rebel

[absolutebl]

Best 23 of BL 2023 - Quirky Awards

SHOCK & AWE AWARDS

1. Biggest BL surprise of 2023:

The last 3 months of 2023 in general got my biggest WTF award.

GMMTV fielding OffGun AND TayNew in the same quarter while also airing Last Twilight (arguably one of their best BLs ever)

That they ALSO optioned 3 JBLs

That there's a high heat omegaverse BL staring Pavel

That there were 20 BLs airing and none of them Korean.

With 5 VAMPIRE BLs announced for next year

But my prize in this category goes to My Dear Gangster Oppa.

It's just crazy:

Thai talent, Korean money + IP (this is adapted from a manwha) airing on a Chinese channel (iQIYI). Plus it was GOOD and made smart reuse of a pair who richly deserved it. I'm delighted by the eclectic insanity of this production. And wonder if any other film genre could even do anything like this.

2. The “that country did WHAT?” award:

The 8th Sense from Korea?!

I mean, seriously?! Dealing with metal health, suicide, darkness, therapy, age gap, & first time love BUT FROM KOREA? And then openness and casual boyfriend physical affection? What's next? An actual hard fought coming out narrative with an HEA? Gay domesticity and families?

Careful Korea, you'll strain something. Possibly your own culture and film industry.

I should stop having expectations of Korea, they keep surprising me.

Runners up: Korea letting OnlyOneOf do Bump Up Business not to mention that OmegaX thing. AND Korea adapting Why R U? What are you up to, Korea? Qua? Is this a coded message? Should we send help? Do you need snacks?

3. Biggest casting whoa! where did you come from? award:

GeminiFourth in My School President.

Seriously? Babies what? How did GMMTV find you? How do you exist? How is BL this lucky?

4. That studio did WHAT now? award:

GMMTV putting EarthMix into Moonlight Chicken.

And then doubling down with G4 as the damn sides.

Fucking genius.

5. I’m sad you were ignored award:

Destiny Seeker.

It's just a really fun little Thai pulp, the pairs were good, silly dialogue, plus consent and other good rep. I enjoyed it. No one talked about it AT ALL.

6. 2023 BL That Actually Made Me Lose My Mind Award?

Laws of Attraction. -The casting, the crazy story, the soapy drama! But specifically: Film playing Charn - the range of his smiles alone. GLORIOUS

I mean I Feel You Linger in the Air also sparked something in me, but LoA drove me actually nuts.

NARRATIVE AWARDS

7. Best story 2023:

La Pluie

I know, you're surprised, right? At the time I didn't chat much about it but I really enjoyed the discourse others were having. I love anything that really examines the fated mates (soulmates) trope and the idea of "the one". What a clever way to do that. (This is one reason UWMA is my favorite Thai BL.)

This one reminded me of the way Color Rush approached allegory and that's no bad thing. Such an impressive little piece.

8. Best narrative structure 2023 award:

Unintentional Love Story.

I know this may seem a simplistic pick. But I love the tidiness of this no frills contemporary romance, how the culture of work and personal ethics and corruption fight against the main character's affection and integrity. Poor baby boy is driven into a corner and then punished for it. But it is punishment he feels he deserves, and so it is up to his (now) ex to figure out what went wrong and why.

It's just great. I love it when no one is stupid or wrong, it's just impossible circumstances and unintentional love deeply felt.

9. Best 2023 dialogue (script) award:

Jun & Jun

Never before has Korea laced a BL with that much perfectly executed innuendo. It was a master class. I didn't know you could be that lascivious in Korean, quite frankly. Plus the way the 2 Juns constantly seamlessly transition between formal register (work, public - where they are boss/employee) to informal register (when they are alone and age mates + childhood sweethearts).

Beautiful to hear and watch.

10. Favorite scene 2023:

The dub con scene in I Cannot Reach You because I AM TRASH for an out of control seme. I'm sorry I just AM.

I have said it before, I will say it again, NO ONE DOES THIRST like Japan. And when that thirst bubbles over, it is heart-clenching and very hot.

11. The most rewatchable BL of 2023 award:

Our Dating Sim

That scene where they lie on the floor + the stolen kiss + giggle? Come on, it should be on comfort repeat in war rooms. It could bring world peace.

ACTORS & CHARACTERS AWARDS

12. Best performance of a queer actor in a leading role, 2023:

Fluke in Make a Wish.

It was fun to see him as an irreverent immortal and while I love OhmFluke I also really enjoyed this new pairing. It was a genuine pleasure to watch.

13. Best pining 2023:

The moot pining in Tokyo in April is...

Boys, seriously? Japan must you destroy us like this? Hurts so good.

14. Best wingman 2023 (The Namgoong Award)

Tiw from My School President

I mean, come on, of course it's him!

(Also can you believe Mark went on from this to do fricking Only Friends!? To Last Twilight! Come on GMMTV GIVE HIM A LEAD!)

15. Biggest OMG I LOVE you boys together, YAY!

Dimpled McMafia & Feral Bunny Foo Foo from Kiseki Dear to Me.

They were feral for each other.

We were feral for them

It was a whole delightful THING.

16. Most unexpected return of a BL pair? award:

The Private Lessons pair showing up in Love Class 2.

I know it was only a cameo, but SERIOUSLY? Thank you SO MUCH Korea! A big studio picking up a Strongberry pairing? I love you.

Seriously tho between them, Taiwan & Korea tried for ALL THE CAMEOS this year.

17. Well aren't you two just the prettiest? award:

NetJames in Bed Friend.

Need I say more?

18. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Bah Vinh in Vian & Mr Cinderella 2. I did like either show but I loved him in them. Especially the make outs.

Yes you have chemistry with all the boys in Vietnam and you kiss beautifully. But it's okay now honey, you have the crown. Relax, you're stressing us out.

RANDOM PICKS

19. Favorite Linguistic Moment of 2023:

Our Dating Sim

Caught in the act by the elevator scene. OMG it's so funny. They're being such boyfriend shits to each other, and to be caught in the act by THAT character, and try to manifest formal language whole cloth? Hilarious.

Honorable mention to War Peanuts in Destiny Seeker.

20. Biggest disappointment of 2023:

You Are Mine

Seriously Taiwan, AGAIN you disappoint me with an Office BL? You're Taiwan, land of offices and suits. This should be YOUR SETTING TO WIN. And yet... argh. I mean it wasn't bad. But it wasn't good either. Stop it Taiwan, do better.

Runners up? Between Us, Chains of Heart, Dangerous Romance - this was a HOTLY contested category.

+ 2 Winners in the sub-category of FUCK YOU FOR THAT ENDING award:

The Director who Buys Me Dinner - I mean this nicely but: you have your lane now Korea, stop hurting us, that's Japan's responsibility and they do it better.

I Feel You Linger In the Air - I'm just hugely disappointed. Thailand ALMOST got its second 10/10 from me, but that damn ending.

Argh.

21. Best Wardrobe/Prop Use 2023

The shower of packaged bedsheets in My Personal Weatherman

Amazing. Brilliant. No notes.

22. Best Queer Rep 2023

Chot in Step By Step

In fact, all the queer characters in this show were treated with great integrity.

AND props to this cast for refusing to do fan service. GOOD FOR YOU! Fuck those sasang wankers.

Runners up? The found family cast of Love in Translation and the Rainbow Rice Cakes in The New Employee.

23. Best Meta Trope call out

Tin Tem Jai

Come on, what a zinger, but at themselves (and Taiwan)

Final question: which of the 23 was the hardest for me to pick?

Honestly? Question #1 this year. But also question #20.

(Last year: 2022's Version) 

Remember I only pull from shows that were completely finished by the end of 2023. Or The Sign probably would have taken multiple categories. But it will fall into 2024 offerings.

(source)

[piningintrovert]

I'm sorry. I really am sorry. And I'd like to thank you too. Because what you do for me means the world to me. Are you drunk? No, I'm not … Yes, I am. But, I'm not saying it because of that. I really do want to apologize.

Fluke Gawin as PISAENG & Krist Perawat as KAWI BE MY FAVORITE (2023), dir. Waa Waasuthep Ketpetch 

[25shadesoffebruary]

[rythyme]

Boston and Ray running into each other during booty calls at Nick and Sand's shared room

[dramalove247]

Favorite Things: Jack & Joker

Love this show for so many reasons. Can't stop thinking about it.

❤ To keep it organized, here are some Jack & Joker posts we love (spoilers ahead)

There are so many amazing posts to share!

Gifs posted by @pothame of Joke crying in the hospital in case you need to rewatch War's amazing acting skills and relive that pain.

Interesting take on the hang man game kissing scene by @tipsyjaehyun 👇

Video of said kissing scene posted by @moranapologist 😘

Enjoyed this analysis by @doublel27 of how the personalities of Tattoo, Jack and Save impact how they each go about protecting the people they care about 👇

Interesting points @heretherebedork made in this post about the differences in the way that Jack and Joke are willing to sacrifice themselves for the people they love 👇

Loved this breakdown of a Jack and Joke scene (with gifs) posted by @sunshinesanctuary. The characters and acting are just amazing ❤

Gifs by @itsallaboutbl of Jack and Joke exchanging rings because it's adorbs

A gorgeous Jack & Joker fanart by @thatgothsamurai 😍

Have other posts you love? Share with us in the comments. We want to see it all!

[thebroccolination]

KAWI WAS ALWAYS OBSESSED WITH PISAENG

Hey, hi, how're you? Do you ever think about this kiss here:

and how, in that original timeline, Kawi was, like, definitely more obsessed with Pisaeng for twelve years than he was with Pear?

Because, I mean, think about it, right?

Look at his face when he's reminiscing about Pear (left) compared to Pisaeng (right):

I'd argue that if Pear had dated and gotten engaged to anyone else, Kawi would have gotten over it. Because it's not Pear he wants, even in that beginning timeline.

It's always been Pisaeng.

And that's the underlying message throughout the series.

When Kawi thinks he's in a dream, he uses what he believes to be a consequence-free opportunity in the past to…follow Pisaeng around all day. Kawi could, at any point, go find Pear. I mean, when he gets to the classroom the gift exchange was in, he's only just missed her. He could have easily turned right back around and asked someone where she went and found her.

Instead:

He meets Pisaeng, and his inner gremlin activates.

Kawi bothers Pisaeng,

steals his clothes,

follows him to work,

naps on him,

and antagonizes gang members with him.

And every now and then he mentions Pear, but obviously he's not trying that hard to find her. The entire first episode is Kawi telling us that he wants Pear and showing us that he actually wants Pisaeng. Which makes the writing in this show so stupidly brilliant it makes my teeth hurt.

And the episode's ending shot is the strongest representation of that:

And of course, it keeps going!

After Pear leaves the mall with her friends after Kawi and Pisaeng's terrible failed attempt to set up Kawi and Pear on a date, Kawi calls Pisaeng.

When Kawi reminisces on the Mystery Man's advice to "be sure where your present is," he decides not to check on the future and smiles fondly at the turtle Pisaeng won for him.

When Kawi gets his first kiss from Pear, he invites Pisaeng to see him record for the first time.

When Pear invites Kawi on a date to meet her father, Kawi dips and runs to Pisaeng.

When Kawi gets the timeline where he does date Pear, he loses her because he cannot let Pisaeng go.

LIKE! The midpoint of Be My Favorite is so perfectly written because yes, the pivotal action that changes everything is Pisaeng finally walking away from Kawi for good. But I'd also posit that Kawi finally looks at his own behavior and realizes he was using Pear to hide from his feelings for Pisaeng all along.

Which is why, as soon as he goes back in time again, he's completely platonic with her in every measurable way.

He still cares for her because of everything he thought he loved about her. He just isn't in love with her, and now that he's accepted it, their friendship can become the support pillar in their lives that they both need.

Which leaves Kawi open to admit what he's been lying to himself about from the beginning:

To me, this is the scene where Kawi finally says aloud what he always wanted, but was too afraid to ask for.

And he spends the second half of the series fighting himself every step of the way to deserve their happy ending.

THIS! FUCKING! PERFECT! SERIES!

[heretherebedork]

The first two kisses of Beer and Wan, before the confession, before the feelings, before the fear, the love between them that will bring them back to each other.

[gunsatthaphan]

how it started // how it's going

[khaopybara]

i'll hire you for something else next time.

FIRST KANAPHAN as KANT PATTANAWAT episode 2 of THE HEART KILLERS