#JAE WON & JI HYUN

[ppeonppeonhan]

The Sexiest 2023 BL Scenes

I think we can all agree that there is an art to executing a sex scene -- and not everybody's an artist. This year, we (and, by that, I mean you) gif'd a couple of masterpieces that range from romantic to...educational. Here are the ones that live in my head rent free, in order of PG-13 to NC-17:

BEST ROLE-PLAY SEX: Bed Friend

If you had told me last year that incorporating cat ears into foreplay would result in one of the hottest scenes in BL, I would've given you bombastic side-eye. But James, the actor who plays Uea, pulled it off, and is probably responsible for a lot of Amazon orders till this day. (Episode 6)

BEST BEACH-SIDE SEX: The Eighth Sense

This entire sequence was so beautifully lit in golden tones, with soft touches, and romantic moments. It almost made you forget about the depression plot. Almost. (Episode 6)

LONG-AWAITED SEX: Hidden Agenda

Joke yearned for Zo in a way that was borderline comical. From the moment Zo kissed Joke like he was trying to give him CPR and then promptly shoved him out of his apartment, I knew every kiss after that would have to come with a parental warning. I'm surprised Joke didn't move in. (Episode 8)

DO-OVER SEX: Love Class 2

The music for this sex scene was so perfectly matched with the caressing and hand closeups. And the fact that it happened after the initially-ghosted Joo Hyuk got Sung Min to reconsider made it even sweeter. (Episode 9)

BEST WET SEX SCENE: Kiseki: Dear to Me

I may have enjoyed Ai Di and Chen Yi's love story more, but Fan Ze Rui and Bai Zong Yi were helping us all live out our tall boy fantasies. When he mounted him with a soft bounce, I knew the gif Gods would giveth. (Episode 7)

BEST EUPHORIC SEX: Only Friends

Ray looked like he reached nirvana when he made love to Sand in that sardine can of trailer, so of all their sex scenes, this was my fave. (Episode 9)

BEST INSECURITY-INDUCED SEX: Only Friends

Say what you will about Boston -- and the fandom has said a lot lol -- but if you had to choose a cast member to get you off, you'd choose him in a heartbeat. And yes, this scene was grimey. He f*cked his friend's potential boyfriend in the backseat of his car after manipulating him into believing he was cheated on, but can you blame him? He was probably tired of always having to give and never receive. Plus, Top did this vibrating move that made me wonder who told Force to do that... (Episode 3)

GIF by wanderlust-in-my-soul

BEST CENSORED SEX: Wedding Plan

I'm still mad that this scene wasn't in the Youtube cut. It paints an entirely different picture of their dynamic and their personalities. But thank God for the gif'ers, otherwise I would've missed how ravenous they were when they weren't...wedding planning. 😳 (Episode 6)

BEST WHIPLASH SEX: Be Mine Superstar

To be clear, WE were the ones getting whiplash. One minute, we were watching a sweet love story between an innocent college kid and his idol crush, and the next minute we were watching a masterclass on how to bang your one-night stand (consensually) until he agrees to date you. It's like...Sir, I'm on the train. Could you give a bitch a heads up? (Episode 8)

***

While I am generally envious of every single one of these experiences, I'm even more envious of everyone's knee strength and flexibility. I could never. Rollerblading has ruined me. If I tried half of these positions, I'd have to get physical therapy. 🙃

[dramaism]

Hyung. Do you think we’ll be okay? All we can do is try. Are you scared? A little bit. Even if it’s scary, we have to try it to find out. Let’s try it together, even if we’re afraid.

THE EIGHTH SENSE (2023)

[maxescheibechlinichacheli]

The way their faces light up when they see each other. And Jae Won's world is literally changing colours when he spots Ji Hyun.

[respectthepetty]

What is tradition?

I finally watched this week's episodes of The Eighth Sense and

Episode six was NOT a dream

Ji Hyun is alive but whatever happened is serious

This is a giant "fuck you" to tradition

First, Ji Hyun brings light to Jae Won's dark world. Jae Won is in a very dark place (and head space) after the confrontation with his dad and the camera breaking, so he reaches out to the light.

Ji Hyun is at his peak brightest because Jae Won is about to experience the darkest period of his life . . . again

Jae Won is also in a haze due to his mental state. The colors become less ethereal as their time together continues during the trip because Jae Won is becoming more grounded.

Next, since episode six is not a dream, that means something did happen to Ji Hyun, and it's serious.

Because it needs to be serious.

Someone already compared Jae Won to Team from Between Us. They share the same trauma. They share the same burden. They share the same mentality. Team loved Win but was too afraid to say it. He was too afraid to lose someone he loved like before. He was too afraid to push because the last time he pushed, there were fatal consequences.

Jae Won specifically voices this last concern. His brother died in front of him, and much like Team, I'm sure it is partially due to a rash decision Jae Won made, much like this one:

Someone pointed out that the back of their wetsuits read "RASH" and this entire beach trip was a rash decision by Jae Won.

If Jae Won feels responsible for his brother's death, he will definitely feel responsible for whatever happens to Ji Hyun, and because of that he will resort back to his old self even more.

Jae Won was an overachiever. The hospital staff thought he was older because he was mature and put together. He did exactly what his parents wanted. He did what society expected. He dated a girl. He befriended the masculine men. He did all of that, but lately, he has been rebellious. He's been drinking. He broke up with the girl. He is distancing himself from his friend(s). He doesn't want to go into business.

But this incident with Ji Hyun will put him back on the straight and narrow. It will scare him and shake him to his core because it is a reminder of what could happen when he doesn't stay in line - he could lose the one he loves the most. So to protect his heart and Ji Hyun, he will pull back, date the girl, hang out with his friends, and do what his parents ask. He will follow tradition.

But the problem with tradition is it's really just history repeating itself again, and again, and again.

The show is about the troubles with tradition. Tae Hyung is hellbent on keeping tradition alive. He wanted the freshmen to drink until they passed out on the beach trip. He wants them to cater to him. He is, at his very core, a traditionalist even though it has been pointed out several times how tradition hurt him. Yoon Won mentions every time how Tae Hyung was essentially bullied and hazed by his seniors, but instead of wanting to change for the better, Tae Hyung wants to continue the cycle of pain.

Ae Ri refuses to drink anymore at the beach. She rebukes traditional mindsets and gender roles. She speaks casually with the seniors and even when Yoon Won comments that the freshmen need to use formalities with the seniors, Ae Ri scoffs. She doesn't respect Tae Hyung and won't simply because he is a senior.

Tae Hyung needs tradition because it is predictable and structured. Ae Ri hates tradition because it is confining and restrictive.

Jae Won told his therapist that life after the military has been difficult. This is a common feeling. Military life is structured. Civilian life is full of choices. Military service is riddled with tradition. Jae Won is lost without the structure of tradition. He wants to break free, but the way he has been handling it (drinking, partying, not applying for jobs) is an extreme. Instead of one thing holding power over him, he is giving up power to anything and everything just so he doesn't have to make any decisions because when he does, people get hurt.

Jae Won wears a mask with everyone, but he was beginning to lean on Ji Hyun in hopes that Ji Hyun could make those decisions for him. Ji Hyun is the light in Jae Won's dark world, so why couldn't Ji Hyun just be Jae Won's entire world?

In the bar, Jae Won got upset at Tae Hyung but Ji Hyun was there to calm him down, both in the first episode and the fifth. But we saw in the trailer that Jae Won will hit Tae Hyung in the classroom because Ji Hyun won't be there to calm him down since Jae Won pushed Ji Hyun away after the incident.

Jae Won must take control of his own life instead of living in these extremes. He needs to find a balance within himself. He needs to define who he wants to be without depending on others to do it for him.

The accident with Ji Hyun is going to push Jae Won back into his comfort zone, so he will be alone again, pretending with everyone and masking his true self.

But he will realize his comfort zone is his hell, and HE is the only one who can rescue himself from it. Ji Hyun can't be around while Jae Won figures out who he needs to be. He can't keep repeating the same mistakes.

Because

Jae Won's biggest problem is himself

And

Jae Won's only solution is himself.

He must be his own light.

Sidenote: I'm gonna marry this queen.

I have an answer for you @wen-kexing-apologist. I have thoughts for you @waitmyturtles and @dribs-and-drabbles. I agree with you @bengiyo

[25shadesoffebruary]

The Eighth Sense | Ep 6

[justafriend-ql]

completely obsessed with ji hyun as a character. the little "country mouse" who everyone assumes is naive and weak but is actually so observant, and tough as nails too. he nearly died and came back with absolutely no time for anyone's bullshit. despite his own trauma and pain he continually reached out to jae won with compassion and the persistence needed to support someone so used to torturing themselves with isolation. he took everyone's expectations of him, including jae won's, and said 'sorry, fuck that, i have plans' and boy did he execute them

[prapaiwife]

Y'ALL Look at them in their boyfriend era. jihyun is so clingy already, he's holding onto him so tight!!and they were sharing the same drink I CAN'T they are TOO MUCH FOR MY HEART TO HANDLE 😭😭

[krystaljungs]

THE EIGHTH SENSE (여덟 번째 감각)  episode 05, dir. Werner Du Plessis (2023).  

[blmpff]

he said the thing!! he said the thing!! literally!!

[chicademartinica]

Jae Won 🤝Mhok : The bag/shirt was fine I just needed to manhandle you a little to keep myself from doing some wild shit.

[alwayspining]

This kiss deserves a place here pt. 7

The Eighth Sense (2023) l ep 9 l dir. Inu Baek & Werner du Plessis

[dramaism]

1x08 vs 1x10 THE EIGHTH SENSE (2023)

[maxescheibechlinichacheli]

Their intense looks after Jae Won manhandled Ji Hyun are speaking volumes.

[respectthepetty]

Hii!!!

Your thoughts on the eighth sense, ji hyun represented with lighter colors and jae won with darker colors are sooooo valid!!!

the utter joy of finding this out in one of my favorite shots,,,,,,, the color of the seats on ji hyun and jae won's side!!!! I'm flying!!! this is ecstatic!!!!!!

You're amazing🥰

@how-to-be-a-tree,

I. Did. Not. Notice. The. SEATS!!!!!!!

I merely observed that their clothing showed their balance of light and dark (the nature of Yin and Yang)

And others have picked up on the use of light to showcase Ji Hyun bringing light to Jae Won's dark world

Like in the dark library scene

Where Ji Hyun is the light source down the hall

Others have noted that queer stories tend to be told in the darkness because that is a safe space away from the harshness of light

But I think this show is trying to tell us that Jae Won, who has hidden so much of himself that he is constantly living in the dark, must step out into the light and be open, and Ji Hyun is the light that encourages Jae Won to live his truth.

So you showing me that the seats are color-coded, when the reflections showed them as having no color even though Ji Hyun's backpack and stickers on his briefcase remained colored

Is truly a delightful revelation, not only because the seat coloring was intentional, but also the green light to indicate which side the doors will open lights up on Ji Hyun's side AROUND HIM!

This show told an entire story in this one scene.

Ji Hyun is the color in Jae Won's black and white world. Ji Hyun is light in Jae Won's darkness. Ji Hyun is Jae Won's exit to a fresh start. Everything Jae Won wants is within reach; he just has to move.

I feel a happy ending in this Chili's tonight!

Sponsored by this hellsite's malfunctioning tag system

[25shadesoffebruary]

You've changed.

[lemonfreshlysqueezed]

The kisses!

The snuggles!

And the biting!

This series got everything!