#2 Moons

[zhaozi]

the easiest way to find tee

[rythyme]

copter panuwat just came out as nonbinary??? 😭❤️

they edited their bio too, they prefer they/them pronouns or just their name ❤️

[bunnimarae]

Bahari at night

[absolutebl]

Thai Food You Should Eat Because of BL

Firstly most of these dishes have multiple spellings in English (and also often many different names within Thailand). I just picked one spelling, that will be enough to do a search, if you want to find a recipe for yourself. 

Som Tum in What’s Zabb Man

AKA Green Papaya Salad 

I think this is the one most people will know on this list. Unlike overseas, in Thailand there are many varieties of som tum (I’ve had an ocean-side version served with little blue crabs, raw and in the shell, AMAZING). It’s often a street food, and it’s usually quite spicy. You order by either asking the vendor (it’s traditionally served from market stalls just as we saw at the beginning of this show) for a heat level or number of chilis. The ingredients are then pounded together with a massive mortar & pestle. The order and amounts of the different ingredients are chef-specific, so the variety and uniqueness is immense with this dish. There are fans of it who make a point of trying as many different versions in each city they visit. Like being a wine taster.

Som Tum highlights what I think is best about Thai food - it’s bright forward freshness and deep complexity of flavors. Som Tum is the firework-in-your-mouth of salads: sour, sweet, salty, spicy, umami, herbaceous. It’s a spectacular dish (which has been ill served by it’s ubiquitousness outside of Thailand). It should be made fresh, (this is NOT a slaw), because if it sits at all the elements become soggy and the flavor muddled. 

What’s Zabb Man emphasized the important aspects of this dish. Its spiciness and its freshness, the uniqueness of its flavor, not to mention how each chef makes it his own. 

After all when Poon goes missing, Athip finds him again because, after one taste of his Som Tum, he knows who is in the kitchen. 

Kao Soi in Bite Me

AKA Northern Thai Curry Noodle AKA Chiang Mai Curry Noodles 

Did I do this post because I want to talk about this dish? Probubly. Here in the states it’s a rare to find on offer but it’s one of my absolute favorites. 

I’m obsessed with diaspora foods in general - AKA fusion foods that highlight immigrant, colonial occupation, and/or blended communities. Lamb Vindaloo and Banh Mi are some famous examples of this. There was one banh mi place I found in Nor Cal run by a Chinese/Vietnamese couple that made a char siu pork + pâté banh mi, it was WILD and wicked good! Sorry, I digress.  

This is a Northern Thai dish, common in Chang Mai, influenced by both Burmese (Myanmar) cuisine and local Chinese communities. It’s wildly variable by family and by region. This is also possibly one of my favorite foods. It’s notable in that it is one of the few traditional Thai dishes you will find served with chopsticks. (When I order it here in the states that’s one of the things I look for.) 

It is a noodle soup/stew. Can be rice, egg, or flour noodles, usually ramen style (but sometimes fettuccine), topped with a thick coconut forward curry broth, stewed dark meat chicken (usually on the bone) and raw onion. It has fried crispy flour noodles on top and is served with pickled vegetables, extra spices, fresh herbs, lime wedges, and raw shallots (or some combination thereof) - either on the top or on the side (banchan style). The curry element usually has more in common with Chinese or Japanese yellow curry powers (like those used for Singapore noodles) than red or green Thai curries. It combines what we would think of as traditional Thai flavor profiles with Chinese, and can also uses some Indian spices. It is a very layered dish, with more depth and earthiness and slightly less brightness than a lot of other Thai food. It tends to have a rounded heat to it (hitting all of the mouth, like Indian cuisine). I am a particular fan of the pickled greens element. 

Bite Me is not a great BL but Aek sharing his Chiang Mai roots with Chef Aue, most specifically around this dish, is key to the plot (what little there is). But this is not a dish that is served in Chef Aue’s restaurant. 

Khai Palo in Enchanté 

AKA 5 Spice Pork & Egg Stew

This is the dish Theo remembers from his childhood that Akk’s family cooks for him. It’s a fascinating dish because it’s retains a very strong Chinese influence and is noted for using soy sauce as its salt element (rather than the more ubiquitous fish sauce) and for NOT being spicy, also it involves 5 spice.

It’s also often associated with children or childishness and comfort food. It’s most commonly found as a street food or homemade, and is relatively rare in restaurants outside of Thailand. It has a similar flavor profile to Moo Gratiem which is one of my favorite dishes. (It’s that white peppercorn and garlic thing = NOM.) It’s also very easy to make, I recommend it. There is a Mama ramen noodle version you can sometimes find and buy, but I always need to add more five spice. 

In Enchanté this dish is a plot point and is interesting because it highlights both the time when Theo was last in Thailand (as a child), Akk’s interest in courting and caring for him, and Theo’s somewhat childish nature/behavior.  

Gaeng Tai Pla in Close Friend 2

AKA pickled fish sour soup 

A famous dish developed in the fishing communities of Southern Thailand. Traditionally it involves pickled fish bladder (Tai Pla) + large chunks of dried fish meat, Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, and/or seasonal greens, with a spice profile similar to tom (lemongrass, lime, shrimp paste, red chili). 

I've never been lucky enough to eat this, but it's on my hit list. I think I could make something like it, but I can’t get hold of the the Tai Pla for love nor money.

Luk Choup in La Cuisine (& Until We Meet Again) 

AKA no other name, really, but this is also the main characters name in La Cuisine, ลูกชุบ (translation, coated pieces) but the meaning of this dessert is “loved by all, or adored.” This aspect of the name is a plot point in the series. Choup’s older brother, aunt, and grandmother all refer to him as the family’s beloved one, or special one, or most loved. 

Luk Choup are tiny imitation fruits/vegetables (or occasionally star shapes) these are made of mung beans cooked with coconut milk and sugar. Once formed, they are dipped in gelatin and painted with food coloring to resemble other food. Recipe here.

This one appeared multiple times in Until We Meet Again, on the bus, at the fair, and at the very end during Dean and Pharm’s separation.

I’ve eaten these.

Consistency wise the exterior is like a gummy but much tougher, and with a bite to it. So like if you made jello into sheets but with too much gelatin. I’ve actually never had anything else to compare to this texture, perhaps like some of the bits in bubble teas? The interior is like very thick humus meets the inside of a peanut butter cup. 

As for taste, the gel outside has no flavor and the inside tastes a lot like red bean paste. They are not very sweet.

Here’s a YT vid on how to make these.

Chor Muang in Until We Meet Again 

AKA Blue Flower Dumpling

Chor Muang is a purple or blue flower-shaped dumpling that is savory, stuffed with a spiced minced chicken. These days it is a popular appetizer but it was once served as a dessert. The coloring is done with butterfly pea flour. Recipe here. 

Chor Muang is a major catalyst food for the plot of Until We Meet Again. It is featured in a play starring Del and Manaow and is the reason Pharm meets and befriends Del. This allows him to start helping fix Dean’s strained family dynamic.

Later he feeds this dumpling to Team, Win, and Dean in front of witnesses. This is the first time he feeds Dean (it will not be the last.)

I did a post all about the sweets in this show. Here’s a YT vid on how to make these. 

Nom Yen in SOTUS (also 2 Moons, 2 Moons 2) 

AKA Pink Milk 

Pink milk is pretty ubiquitous in most Thai BL series. Technically, its origin for association with BL is the original y-novel of 2 Moons. However, most international watchers are familiar with it from SOTUS (more recently it has shown up associated with side characters in Nitman and Love Area). 

After watching SOTUS and both 2 Moons installments I got curious. Here’s the full post I did on pink milk, how it’s made and my experience attempting to recreate it. I can see why it might be thought of as a childish drink, it reminded me a bit of birthday cake flavoring, ice cream bean, or cotton candy. It’s very sweet and not a whole lot else. 

THAI LANGUAGE CORNER 

I haven’t learned the minutia yet but around ordering food in Thai but the Thai bestie always complains the monikers (also verbs?) for dishes have to do with what the dish is usually served inside. So some dishes have names/consumption verbs that have to do with bowls and others with plates. 

Much as in English we would use the verb “drink” for broth but “eat” for soup. (And also argue about which one is appropriate under which circumstances.) 

To train your ear for BL food:

gin = to eat or to have a meal (also under certain circumstances/sentence structures is slang for to sexually consume or fuck). See Pharm misuse this one in UWMA when Dean first visits his condo. 

khao or kao = food but also actually rice, also a name and also third person he pronoun

talay = the ocean and also mixed seafood and a name 

pad = usually means a stir fried (dryer) dish 

pak = veggies! 

kai (sounds like gai) = chicken ไก่ but also egg ไข่ (yes they are different in intonation and spelling, but really I find it darn near impossible to hear the difference) 

A list of some common dishes is here. 

Please leave a comment if any other dish has shown up you want to talk about, because this is basically my favorite topic EVER. I love to eat and cook Thai food so, yeah. Also the oft mentioned Thai bestie is an AMAZING cook. I often act the part of her kitchen goblin. 

(source) 

[gabrielokun]

[my-boys-love-boys]

Kit: Why are Ming and N'Wayo sitting with their backs to each other? Phana: They had a fight. Kit: Then why are they holding hands? Phana: They get sad when they fight.

[bl-bam-beyond]

A LOOK BACK at Dr. Phana & Wayo aka Yo

2 MOONS & 2 MOONS 2 (2017 & 2019)

No matter which duo you preferred or perhaps you preferred both or neither. Dr. Phana (ITTHIPAT THANIT aka GOD or BENJAMIN BRASIER aka BEN) and his cute shorty Wayo aka Yo (SURADEJ PINNIRAT aka BAS or TEERAPAT RUANGRITKUL aka DIN formerly EARTH) are BL Icons.

Although maybe the saga of 2 Moons wasn't your thing. It always good to take a look at the history of a genre like BOYS' LOVE.

Although I personally have no interest in the most recent and end of the this saga (2 Moons The Ambassador) I liked both 2 Moons and 2 Moons 2 and it's main couple Phana and Wayo.

Actually my favorites were Forth and Beam from 2 Moons 2 as Forth and Beam were not a thing in 2 Moons.

[placetneplacet]

I’m sorry folks I draw the line at a third 2 Moons…

Like two separate versions have already experienced nuclear implosion and the Alternate Reality version, while at times a fun trash fire, was also a whole mess.

It’s time to give it up to the bl gods, it’s clearly some kind of roadside demon trapped in a bl that seems harmless on the outside, but is actually sucking life out of everything on the inside.

No more pink milk or clear umbrellas!

[imchunchules]

Thank you Triage for giving me closure five years later! I hadn't realized how much I needed it until I saw that kiss between Tol and Tin... 2moons left scars that Triage is healing.

[astrangefestive]

[zhaozi]

[moonbinu]

221005 Moonbin Universe Update

달과달 [Moon and Moon]

[unpopularopinionbydemand]

What BL would you recommend an age range from 8 to 12?

I'm bored and I'm overthinking, so I came across this thought and it had me wondering.

I'll set aside some of my favorites because I wouldn't necessarily deem them kid-watchable (UWMA, ITSAY, SCOY, YMS).

But then you get into so many different categories and you start to think, what is?

Now, this isn't too harsh of a question (OR SO I THOUGHT). Write off the bat, there are some I could recommend for their lightheartedness and pure fluff (Kieta Hatsukoi, Ingredients, Mr. Heart, 2 Moons). For sure KH, I mean, look at these two prudes (prudes as in my sarcasm that's not good through writing and they were my little babies)

I wanted to add Light On Me cause it's nothing but sugar and then I remembered this scene:

Cherry Magic was the first thing to pop into my mind, and then I remember that it is about a 30-year-old virgin, no matter how sweet it may seem.

Kieta Hatsukoi doesn't need much explaining since it was a ball of fluff and as PG as PG can be. Not that I can fully remember the script, but I can't recall any strong language, but mind you, I don't consider damn or hell curse words and I think it's not that big of a deal for children. (but I did just remember the thing with the girl and the coach but let's pretend it didn't exist so I can get my point across... hehehehe), It was cute, happy, fun, and had its blue moments, but the story had a moral by the end, and that's what children's television is all about right?

Ingredients is a football field size fluff machine, with good-looking food, so there's no wrong with this (also just remember that there's drinking so hahahaha...)

Mr. Heart leaves way for pretty much as much fluff as you can bear. (although there is that one scene where he's rubbing vaseline on his nipples which I don't see as being a big thing, but others could?? so what do I know at this point???)

But 2 Moons has to be it, it has to be the fluffiest of thy fluffy (and I strained my neck trying to remember anything non-kid-watchable, but I think this is really our winner!) Again, don't remember if there was any strong language, but it couldn't have been more than Damn or hell.

Soooo, maybe my first go-around wasn't the best, but I think out of any BL, there's going to be something, even if it's just a scene, that's not as kid-friendly as I thought, and maybe it should be deemed more towards PG.

Levels of Content

Language: Again, I think curse words like damn or hell are completely fine, as long as the child is mature enough to know they're not supposed to repeat what they see adults saying. Explicit jokes are fun if they're managed well enough, deeper conversation about sexuality and finding oneself is also okay as long as it doesn't reach a sexual manner.

Intimacy: I'm leaving it to only the very mild kissing, and the other cooing stuff that kids would get giddy about (handholds, hugs, forehead touches, head-on-shoulder, head-in-lap, cuddling, etc..). If anything, the spiciest kiss on my list above would be Ingredients but I still think it's worthy of kid-friendly. Obviously, anything that's more than kissing (like make-outs or sex) is out of the picture, even if it's only slightly implied.

Plot-wise: I don't want to leave out some BLs that are just spot on when it comes to the story, but I will leave out anything that could potentially be triggering or shocking for someone so young to see. For example, explicit deaths (meaning we see them dying or bleeding out or dead on the ground, I think death being implied or part of the story is fine), Suicide, SA, Explicit drinking (like drunk off their ass, making bad decisions drunk, it being the plot device to further a relationship), drugs, sex, nudity, and you get the rest.

Gore - I was the type of kid that LOVED to see blood and guts and gore, but some children can be sensitive to that, so I'll leave it to the very minimal bruises and scratches. Some blood on the face or body I'll keep in mind as long as it isn't overbearing.

Further Thoughts

Okay, so the further I dwell on this debacle, the more I just say f-it and the kids should just close their eyes on the no-no scenes. Also, All children are different, so while there is content one could watch, maybe not another, I know for a fact that 8-12 is a terrible grouping because 12 is leaning more towards becoming mature while 8 is just being able to watch Disney Channel with an adult present, so I'll change it to 8-10 and 11-12.

Safe BLs for Kids 8-10! (with parental guidance of course)

Note: I'm going off of what I can remember. There could've been a scene or phrase I don't recall, but I'm telling you, it's still fuff!

2 Moons: Seriously, I think this a just the show that kids at any age could watch. The plot is easy to follow, the characters are for the most part fun, it's a lighthearted romance with one at-the-end kiss, and their relationship is cute. I could be missing BIG parts, but I watched this a decade ago and I don't feel like trying to pull teeth to remember (also, too lazy to go back and look).

Great Men Academy: This is a series that I'm a huge fan of so I think children could easily enjoy this, especially since it has a unicorn and magic water, as well as a VR game plot. It has some very mild parental jokes, but it's a fun watch for the whole family!

Ingredients: From what I can remember, the worst this series could get is maybe some drinking and a somewhat explicit kiss, but genuinely, this is all I can think of. It's still pretty fluffy and sweet.

Lastly, The Love of Winter: Short and cute, so it gets the stamp of approval from me.

And here's a separate list of things I would let my children (8-10) watch if I any:

Sotus (hazing, strong language, probably drinking too)

Mr. Heart (weird nipple touching thing which could be weird. Mild stalking if I can remember correctly)

My Engineer (drinking, make-outs, maybe strong language)

Keita Hatsukoi (that one weird coach/student thing that's immediately shut down, but still weird)

Safe BLs for Kids 11-12! (some w/ and w/out parental guidance)

Gameboys: We did just get out (still in it, but not as hectic) of a very harsh pandemic, so maybe this isn't the first thing they want to see. I know they talk about (and have) sex in the movie, but I don't remember in the series. I could imagine that there was some dirty teasing talk here and there, so I would say this is a show they can watch with parental guidance (but if they're mature enough, they can watch it themselves).

First Love Again: Highly entertaining but there are deaths (not explicit ones, but still ones that might sting a bit) Maybe some strong language if I can remember right, but this is pretty fluffy mixed with a bit of angst.

Tinted With You: One of the better stories if that child is looking for some complexity in the plot. Honestly, 8-10 could probably watch this too.

Bad Buddy: There's one explicit make-out scene and maybe some strong language, but this is pretty much cute, and if you X-out all of that, this could be a Disney channel series.

No more gifs beyond this point :(

The Best Story: it's really just sad, nothing explicit (they don't even kiss), just idk if children are into sad endings.

Close Friend: FUn and cute mini-stories. This I completely harmless.

What I would let my children (11-12) watch if I had any:

ATOTS (the shooting that takes place could be a bit much for children. Also, a lot of sex jokes)

Light On Me (just that ONE scene with the d***o, but other than that it's super kid-friendly)

Oxygen (if they can handle a very mildly implied sex scene)

The Best Twin (again, if they can handle a very mildly implied sex scene)

OKAY, THIS IS IT. I'm tired and quite frankly, this is all I can come up with. I'm sure they are some that I'm missing, but I think this list can surfice. Are there any others to list? It's hard to please my level of content when there's just that ONE scene that could really ruin it all. Just close your eyes kids! Otherwise, you're going to miss out! ( I don't really speak on kids and watching gay content because we're going to pretend we live in a world where parents are okay with their child watching mlm relationships on television)

[get-w-rec-ked]

5 Times They Said Goodbye (Plus 1 Time They Didn't) (22864 words) by HyacinthsSoul Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: เดือนเกี้ยวเดือน | 2 Moons The Series (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Ming Mingkwan Daichapanya/Kit Mongkol Intochar Characters: Ming Mingkwan Daichapanya, Kit Mongkol Intochar Additional Tags: 5 Times, Hook-Up, Single Parents, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Feelings Realization Summary:

Kit is an exhausted young doctor still in his residency. Ming is an exhausted single dad trying to balance work and parenting. Who's got time for love? Not the two of them, that's for sure.

[absolutebl]

Thai BLs That Feature a Popularity+Beauty Contest & Talent Show

I think this is a popular trope for the same reason proms are a popular trope in YA romances. A good dramatic event gathering is always useful to drive narrative. 

It’s origin is probubly the 2 Moons y-novel but it first visually shows up and became popular for Thai BL in SOTUS. It’s called various things: Star Contest, Moon Contest, Moon & Star Contest, King & Queen Contest. 

What it amounts to is a popularity + talent + beauty contest like prom King/Queen. 

I think we’d seen even more of them in Thai BL but because they require a crowd scene and lots of speaking roles, they’re too costly. 

SOTUS

How it showed up?

In conjunction with freshy games, and hazing as a kind of quest to be won. 

How the boyfriend to be reacts? 

Result? 

He won. 

2 Moons

How it showed up? As a kind of talent show that had to be practiced for and gave the wild doctors and chance to flirt. 

(Anyone else mis pinkmilk’s snark subs? good times)

How the boyfriend to be reacts? Buys him all the red roses in the world so he wins the popularity side of the contest. Takes him home. 

Result? He won Mr Popularity. His best friend Ming wins Star. Boyfriend takes him home. Smooches. 

2 Moons 2

Same as the above, only prettier. 

My Gear and Your Gown

How it showed up? As a mostly off screen beauty contest. 

How the boyfriend to be reacts? Arranges to throw the contest so baby wins. Arranges a photo display of their past, smooches him silly in front of his homophobic parents. 

Result? He wins but doesn’t much care about it.

Oxygen 

How it showed up? Mostly as a talent show and excuse for sing your feelings, that Solo resents having to attend but is the reason he finds out more about Gui.

How the boyfriend to be reacts? Smiles lovingly from the audience, holds his hand.

Result? Solo wins but more importantly to him: Boyfriend! 

Star in My Mind 

How it showed up? Another mostly off screen kinda thing. A vehicle for the cohabitation trope and establishing of a friendship group. 

How the boyfriend to be reacts? Gives him all his own red roses so he wins the popularity side of the contest. Takes him to the beach.

Result? He won Mr Popularity. The love rival wins the contest and tries to steal the boy. DRAMA. 

(source)

[gabrielokun]