#thank you for tagging me !!

[twig-tea]

just going to append a couple random additional thoughts to @lurkingshan's excellent post above: I am fascinated by Third watching a character nicknamed Khaoyai (broken eggs; a really in-your-face pun about a lack of balls made even more obvious when his friend makes a tacky joke about him needing pads for his period because of his lack of courage) hurt himself and the friend he's in love with for five years, only to decide that this character's pining was a romantic and admirable decision for maintaining the friendship--a friendship the protagonist loses, by the way, after he blows it up and then decides he's better off not trying to maintain it from a distance, even though she reached out to him. I love and relate hard to Third, but damn did my man take an unhealthy message from that film.

I really enjoyed how watching the film before the episode highlighted even more for me how Third does not notice that his hope for his relationship with Khai to organically morph into a romantic one without him having to say anything is the very thing that's slowly eroding their ability to stay friends, as he gets more and more resentful of Khai taking him for granted.

Theory of Love Episode 1: Dear Dakanda

And we're off! We begin this week with a 2005 romcom classic from Thailand: Dear Dakanda (the Thai title is more like "Close Friend"). The plot, in brief:

Mhoo buzzes off his luscious mane of hair and heads south to hit the beach. An accident on a boat lands him in the hospital with a broken leg and flirting with a local nurse, Nui, and as he gets to know her we flash back to his uni days in Chiang Mai to see what he's running from: Dakanda, the girl he met during Freshy games, fell in love with, and stayed close friends with while pining after her hopelessly throughout college. In the end, he ends up confessing only via letters after he already gave up and ran away, and the film ends on an ambiguous note.

For those who have seen TOL, I think the parallels here are fairly obvious, and the posters above confirm: Mhoo's story is Third's story. Like Mhoo, Third never says a word about his feelings, choosing to keep it to himself and cry and rage alone. And similar to Khai in these early episodes, Dakanda seems totally oblivious to her friend's feelings as she enjoys spending time with him.*

*There's another parallel to a Thai BL here: Nui is clearly an inspiration for Tharn in I Told Sunset About You! I won't get into that as it's off topic for this discussion. But it's fun to watch old Thai media and newly understand how shows we love were referencing it.

This movie is so much about how Mhoo hurt himself with his slience for years, and ultimately gave up without giving Dakanda a chance to even respond to his confession. Unfortunately, Third doesn't seem to have learned anything from watching it. We hear in his review of the film that he romanticizes--and ends up emulating--Mhoo's behavior rather than recognizing that Mhoo set himself up to fail and things might have gone differently if he was willing to be more honest with his friend. As @bengiyo pointed out, the fact that Third gets caught up in these heterosexual romance films and takes all the wrong lessons from them is part of the conflict at the heart of this story. I love how the show signals that by pointing us to this film right at the start. And with its story over the next 12 weeks, TOL will be in dialogue with this film, ultimately rejecting the notion that Mhoo's refusal to communicate and ambiguous ending was romantic.

As for this first episode, I love how it drops us right in the middle of Third's dramatic pining spiral as it sets up the world of the show. One of the things the show is super clear on is that Khai's player behavior, while kind of dickish, is fairly normal and accepted--Two and Bone act exactly the same way--and Third is only pressed about it because of his feelings. But as the film framing this episode signals, Third never says anything, just gets increasingly resentful as Khai keeps unwittingly reminding him that they are not on the same page.

And of course, he makes it worse for himself by agreeing to help Khai deal with his exes, a truly self-destructive choice that only fuels his jealousy. And every time Khai behaves selfishly or thoughtlessly or does anything to remind Third that their feelings are not mutual, his anger only grows, but Third can't help but press on it like a bruise. I groaned when Third went to catch Khai at the theater with the date he ditched him for; stop torturing yourself, my guy! For his part, Khai has some maturing to do, as he is far too willing to be an ass to his friends in the name of hooking up, and he also just doesn't get that he is constantly hurting Third's feelings by treating him so casually. But for the first half of the show, we are firmly in Third's story and perspective, and I'm excited to see him get to the end of his rope.

Tagging in my other watch partners in case they have anything to add: @neuroticbookworm @solitaryandwandering and @twig-tea.

[smol-stardust]

Hi mootie! Got a new tag challenge for you! Give a color palette, a nice quote, and a song rec; then tag 10 other beautiful Tumblrinas (only if you want to). Keep being awesome!!

Colour palette

Quote:

"I dream. Sometimes I think that's the only right thing to do." -Haruki Murakami

Song rec:

No pressure tags: @demigoddess-of-ghosts @written-by-kafka @thebestieyoureinlovewith @walmart-miku @lupvium @lilacs-and-memes @lovelyalicorn @monsterrat104 @ottobab @bananaede @morphestic @caffeiiine @le-petite-ivy @clowninthecoffeehouse @enby-ive

[sigurism]

I was tagged by @callumnova to create myself using this picrew! Thank you, darling doll.

I tig-tag: @filmnoiress, @conradrasputin, @mariamariquinha, @sturridges, @marlowe-zara

[burythecarnival]

i was tagged to post a selfie by the fucking precious @ohheyitsjustbear 🐻 your pics were beautiful!!

my brain is fucking mush following the horrifying election & you tagged some lovelies already but, i will at least tag a few more sweet bbies 🖤 @starinthebasement @spookycerezacolaaa @dem0ndawgg0 @starrystargazer @tallbtchdiaries @kitteecassee @freakkyvikktoria @keionfire @mochabeanzz @accarasshrekobsession @lovethisfatcryptid @dirtydisneyprincess @env0

[weatheringandweary]

LETS GOOOOOOOO

Unspooling Fate - The scroll of Clio

Chapter 1 is out! Here

I’ve been writing on this since September when I was just starting out so the beginning will be worse but it does get better!

(It updates on Sundays and Thursdays)

Tags for people who reblogged and commented -> if ur not here tumblr didn’t let me add your blog

@pjo-hoo-toa-freakazoid @little-ghostgirl-31 @zurophina9 @aloevera007 @galaxy-hannah @shattered-glasswork @ishouldsleepbut @weatheringandweary @sketchygainedyoursoul @arihuntress @ranathebatcat @apollosgiftofprophecy @sadlynojellybeans @rebloggingbeautifularts

[twig-tea]

2024 Tumblr Top 10

tagged by @lurkingshan here and @neuroticbookworm here, thank you both! This really reminds me that I need to do a real pinned post at some point.

If you want to generate your own, you can use this link! I used the link to find the posts but wrote this below because I thought reflecting on the posts would be fun.

My GL rec list (covering everything through to Feb 2024), which I'm very happy about taking first place. If you want GL recs, check that out first, and then feel free to browse my #GL recs tag.

The admittedly shady post from October calling out the director of the Addicted Heroin Thailand adaptation for (a)making weird choices and (b)defending them as artistic. But I stand by my anger about this. Censorship is not an aesthetic!

The non-novel-spoilery reaction post to episodes 1 & 2 of Love In The Big City which was also from October, but which honestly stands up for my reaction to the whole series. What a gift of a show.

A quick pitch for Akaya is in Love with Hiroko from July. This one hurts! I was so ready to cheerlead for this show and did several times, but the penultimate episode made me wary and the finale really upset me, to the point where I didn't end up writing about the finale, so I'll take the chance here: Don't make a show about two self-aware lesbians, one who has been comfortably sexually active for years and one who is super horny for her, and have them get together as adults and yet be celibate for a year out of "respect". Is the message that sex between consenting and enthusiastic adults is not respectful?! GTFO. For the record I can be respected with orgasms, thank you.

The episode celebrating the messaging in the finale of Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo from November. Glad that this is here between the previous entry and the next two, because this is a good balm for the pain. LFtCoT landed the ending and gave us all a giant hug while doing it!

The list of things I was thinking about at the end of Wandee Goodday ep3 from May. Another disappointment for me. The things this post shouts out are still things I like about this show, and reading it again is a reminder of where the back half let the first half down (not taking seriously some of the things we were told to take seriously in the first few episodes).

An early post about Love Is Better the Second Time Around from March. Another show that did not land everything, in this case because it felt like it tried to shove in a complicated conflict in the last two episodes that they didn't have time to handle. But I still love those early episodes and all of the interplay between Miyata, Iwanaga, and Shiraishi.

My clown theory for Every You, Every Me also from October, which ended up being correct! I've never been more happy to be right, I liked this reveal for the show so much.

In February I wrote this thesis about the state of Thai BL looking at data from 2022 and 2023, which I have been meaning to go back and update since I think Shan as usual was feeling the start of the wave and we needed more data to see the change actually play out in 2024. I now no longer feel (as I did in this post) that things haven't changed, I do think they have this year. But I need to crunch the numbers again to prove it to myself (and everyone else) though. Stay tuned!

In July I did a round-up post about the various theories surrounding Century of Love, and whether Vee and Vad were the same person. Turns out San did wrestle with this as I'd hoped but the show itself felt like it lost steam and copped out around this, unfortunately. At least we'll always have fox demon Offroad and grumpy old man Daou's collarbones thanks to this show.

Special shout-out to @lurkingshan because two of the posts above are answers to asks she put in my inbox that spawned project posts. Shan knows what the people want to hear!

Tagging @italianpersonwithashippersheart @benkaben @ellsieee @colourme-feral @pigglepiephi @impala124 no pressure tags and apologies if you've been tagged already!

[thescrapwitch]

Thank you @zannolin for tagging me!

Tagging @dreamingthroughthenoise @camille-lachenille @echo-bleu @nighttimepatrons and whoever else wants to join in. No pressure of course!

[baronessblixen]

get to know your moots

Thank you so much @randomfoggytiger!

What's the origin of your blog title? Blog title comes from Doctor Who. They were (part of) the parting words from the 12th Doctor. If you mean my URL: I made this blog when I was going through a Meryl Streep phase and Out of Africa has always been a fave.

OTP(s) + Shipname: Mulder and Scully (MSR)

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite game: I'm old-school so maybe something like Mario Kart

Song stuck in your head: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

Weirdest habit/trait? I constantly feel the need to touch things - trees, walls and the like. Especially if the texture is interesting. Imagine me seeing a palm tree for the first time. I could not stop touching it.

Hobbies: Writing, reading, running, biking

If you work, what's your profession? I work in marketing

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be? I wish I knew cause my current job is making me unhappy and I'm ready for a new career. If only I knew what.

Something you're good at: Overthinking. I honestly don't think there's anything I'm particularly good at.

Something you're bad at: Lots of things. Communication. Sleeping. Sticking to schedules.

Something you love: my dog, nature, having a place to myself, the ocean, that feeling after a good, long run, the right music, sleeping in, having zero plans and responsibilities.

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: tv shows, movies, fandom, sports (the ones I follow anyway :D)

Something you hate: Lying, selfishness, arrogance

Something you collect: I collect snow globes (and other souvenirs) from places I've traveled to

Something you forget: Way too much. I've forgotten all the things that I've forgotten.

What's your love language? Quality time, for sure.

Favourite movie/show: Out of Africa, The Way We Were, Brief Encounter, Dirty Dancing, Look Who's Talking; shows: X-Files, Frasier, The Americans, Masters of Sex, Ted Lasso, Doctor Who, Evil

Favourite food: Steak? Pasta, pizza, burgers

Favourite animal: dogs and foxes, but also penguins and hedgehogs

What were you like as a child? Surprisingly talkative.

Favourite subject at school? Maths in elementary school and then English because of the language. I have a fondness for history and biology.

Least favorite subject? Chemistry probably

What's your best character trait? Hmm, no idea. I think people who have to deal with me can answer that better.

What's your worst character trait? I have zero confidence in myself.

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be? I just want to be done with the work day.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet? I would like to travel back to my childhood and spend another day with my mom. If that doesn't count, I'd like to travel back to early 50s Hollywood and spend some time with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

Recommend one of your favourite fanfics (spread the love!): just a few - I have way more!

Brief Encounter of the Interdimensional Kind by @randomfoggytiger

Testament by @libbytxf

Dancing the Tandava by @numinousmysteries

The Long Road to Improbable by @mldrgrl

Baseball Metaphors by @leiascully

[yourstorai]

Thank you so much for tagging me @fi-qalbii 🩵

go on pinterest and search for the first image that pops up for : fashion/pantone/mood/food .

Tagging: @afghan-blood @sseol @chhi-hiro @enouemenc @asdfghjkl-kyx

[atthefishhouses]

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒: 𝑔𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ "𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 + 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒," 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑥 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑥 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒.

Tagged by @opheliagreif

Wenn ihr (nochmal) mögt? 💫

@charmanter-glueckskeks @betweentimes @saralami @snowfox-98 @thefortysecondolive @rekishi-aka

[k-u-z-u]

Thank you for tagging me @reaxz ♥

Post the last song you listened to:

Tagging: @corruption123 @dontlook-backnow @mangatxt @lostkunai @glockjaw

No pressure ♥

[amalthea-felsblood]

Scent of the soul

Your Result:

🕯 Candle Smoke 🕯

Key words: Self-assured, courageous, intuitive.

You are an expert at overcoming your demons and should be proud of how brave you have consistently shown yourself to be. Others are amazed by your perseverance, strong personality, and unapologetic uniqueness.

Compatible with: Coffee, freshly baked bread. ♡

Tagged by the ever thoughtful @ubejamjar ✧ Thank you so much.

@casterixe @thebrumeknight-ffxiv @archaiclumina @spoczkot @starrysnowdrop

Please feel free to take the quiz ⚘ I wanted to tag so many more.

https://uquiz.com/quiz/IVR82p?p=439952

[sunshinechay]

Poll time!!!!!

I was tagged by @befuddledcinnamonroll and @happypotato48

I’m going to still to QLs though I struggled a little with a theme and to pick just 5 but I managed it :)

So without further ado

I’m going to tag @bunnakit @dramalets @lukaherehelp @zoinkssc00b @talistheintrovert and anyone else who wants to do it :)

[lesbiangabriellle]

9 books for 2025

tagged by @airesgay (thank you!!) to share 9 books that i plan to read this year

The great hunt by Robert Jordan

This is how you lose the war of time by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (I know i'm very late to this party)

Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh

My first and only love: a novel by Sahar Khalifeh

Um defeito de cor by Ana Maria Gonçalves

Ainda estou aqui by Marcel Rubens Paiva

O Evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo by Saramago

Nebulosas by Narcisa Amália

Cien años de soledad by Gabriel García Marquez (my absolute favorite book! i reread it every year)

tagging @majoris @lizmitches @gilliandersons @ladyalysoftheblueajah <3

[twig-tea]

Tagged by @lurkingshan and @my-rose-tinted-glasses thank you both!

Last song: Shouting out my song treat from @troubled-mind (send her an ask and she'll send you a song from her epic BL OST playlist! Go play!)

[but if I don't cheat, my real answer is Present by Ai Tomioka]

Fav color: Teal (I love any and all bluegreens)

Last book: Probably still the same one I was reading the last time I answered this, MoDu/Silent Reading by Priest. Don't get me wrong; it's so good. The problem (beyond having too many shows to watch) is that it's so good I don't want it to end. I'm on Book 5 with just the finale to go.

Last movie: I rewatched this little GL film called Love of Secret from last year about a girl who is secretly trying to become an idol while also secretly dating her best (girl) friend. There is also a BL side. It's very PG and is more about the core family drama of the girl keeping secrets from her dad than it is about the queerness, and the problem of being a lesbian idol doesn't really get addressed, but it was very sweet. Featuring more extremely supportive grandparents, one of my favourite QL tropes.

Last TV show: Watched the latest episode of Chaser Game W

Sweet/spicy/savoury: Savoury 1000%

Relationship status: Married to the sea [I've told this story before but: I was on an empty remote beach during off-season and saw a gleam, it was a gold wedding band that fit my ring finger perfectly. I've considered myself married to the sea ever since.]

Last thing I googled: "Han Sohee husband" to double-check I wasn't behind on her relationship status (part of a conversation with @lurkingshan)

Looking forward to: My weekend plans include rewatching Grand Guignol, eating very rich bacon truffle pizza on sourdough crust, and spending time with a good friend. Beyond that, a real *break* at the end of December.

No pressure tagging @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle @benkaben @ellsieee @bengiyo @wen-kexing-apologist @pigglepiephi @solitaryandwandering [you tagged me in a different one but this one felt a little easier so tagging you back on this one instead for now :3]

[islandtarochips]

Thank you @fw-priyanshu and @kaitaiga for tagging me this!

Last Song: Would You Fall in Love with Me Again - Epic the Musical (I was sobbing at this song though🥺😭)

Favorite colour: Any shades of Blue

Last book: I…haven’t read any book lately😅

Last Movie: SONIC 3! AND IT WAS AWESOME AND FUNNY! I LOVE IT! CAN’T WAIT FOR FOUR!

Last TV show: Um…does the series counts? Because I was watching “Avatar the Last Airbender.” Real love action ones! And it was SOOOOOO awesome! They even added from how Aang ended up in the storm before showing to show Katara and Sokka!

Sweet/Spicy/Savoury: Depends on my mood though. I like ANY food that tasted so good for my mouth! I want McDonalds…

Relationship status: Single Pringle🥲

Last thing I googled: Is a series a tv show? (I feel pretty dumb when I’m searching this…)

Current obsession: My OCs. Always been my OCs. Working 24/7 on them and making new too. Even working on some STORIES that I’m TRYING to finished…help-

Looking forward to: Finishing my stories and the rest of my drafts. Getting some days off from work. Quit being lazy most of the time. And…hoping to take classes related to dramas.

Tagging (No pressure):

@alypink @welldonekhushi @revnah1406 @sleepyconfusedpotato

@deeptrashwitch @dirtfullofwork @dreamcast641 @sweet-samnang

@adlerboi @pricescigar