#My Jun list

[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)

[milkyerinys]

eden and their fav food

[skyberia]

jun's "tell horoscope" contact dialogue

[randanopterix]

Fav Matches of 2022 (10/10)

El Desperado vs Jun Kasai

TAKATaichiDespe Mania. 9.12.2022

This match is a romance. It’s a love letter to life-affirming pain and struggle. El Desperado fights like his life depends on it and by the post-match you figure out he might as well have been.

This match is satisfying. It’s bloody, it’s relentless, it’s cathartic. I’ve watched this match a half dozen times and it never feels like 30 minutes.

[yeehawbvby]

Any Sun Haven hc you wanna share?

Sure! >:3

- Wesley doesn’t actually feel as strongly about keeping Nel’Vari shut off from the world as he comes off — it’s just the only concept he’s ever known! But, I do think he’d be more interest in the types of goods it could bring to open up, versus the types of people (just how many types of honey exist outside of their little town???)

- Darius isn’t actually as much of a hardass as he makes himself seem. Idk what marriage is like with him, but up until then all that “grr u are MINE FOREVER” once you date him, and being super into being treated like royalty more than like a person and etc. is all just an act he puts on because he feels pressured to be more kingly or whatever before he takes the throne

- Vaan is naturally flirty with most people he meets, not just us. Probably had an encounter with Lynn at some point after landing on, like, her roof or something, where she nearly fainted from his ~smooth moves~. We’re just the only ones lucky enough for him to actually take serious interest in!

- TRANS XYLA TRANS XYLA TRANS XYLA

- Maybe it’s a hot take or maybe it’s not but I think Jun smokes mad weed. There’s no way he’s just that chill without it vheocjsmcys

- Donavon probably plays video games, considering how often he hangs out in the Withergate arcade, yeah? I think he’s got a soft spot for dating sims. But like, the typical anime-type more than games that just have dating aspects to them (like.. sun haven for example lmao). But he also mistook DDLC for an actual dating sim, wanted to romance Sayori, but then had nightmares for like a week after her event

- Kitty was an actual idol at some point, not just an amateur/hobbyist that performs local festivals and stuff. Maybe she was super popular in another country/province/whatever once? (I can’t remember if she’s lived in Sun Haven her whole life or not, but I’d like to think she did some traveling if so)

[sinhasfluffyheadfur]

after reading the bamboo branch poem chapter I finally had an idea for something scum villain to write, very exciting yes yes

I’m thinking something told from Zhuzhi-lang’s perspective where he watches Tianlang-jun and Su Xiyan romance, so you get both the sugar daddy sugar baby incredibly amazing relationship and also some study of Zhuzhi-lang and how he views romance (which i think will be veeery fun to figure out)

curious if any fellow scummies are interested!! I’ll probably do it regardless but I do struggle with getting myself to execute ideas so if anyone wants to volunteer to be a part of it to beta read if you want or just tell me to work on it then much obliged, I will talk to anyone do not be afraid<3

[forsythi-amitie]

I think I gave up halfway, but didn't actually want to scrap it so I finished it anyways even though I was so tired.

[dabihawksluvr]

I have been playing Sun Haven for almost three weeks, and I haven't met all the Romance Candidates yet but I am starting to like a few already.

And this is my current list so far:

Kitty I liked from the start, her personality is very much up my alley and she loves animals too. So I always go to her for more chickens, just to chat with her again. And I've done the most missions for her too <3

Jun was the first male candidate I thought was cute, plus he has a very likable personality. He loves his community, and is always trying to make everyone happy. Plus, he is a legit therapist and I respect that. (and he looks emo too which I like)

Catherine is a total beauty, she first came to me asking if I could help her test out a crop potion on some Cinaberry Seeds and ever since I've wanted to see her more. I adore witchy characters so much, plus she has a gentle and kind personality. (and she is a rabbit Anima which I find adorable)

Shang initially seemed like a total asshole dick, but then I started to see he had a soft spot when I asked why he was such a jerk. It seems like he caresdeeply about his position, though he comes off as rude for acting that way and he doesn't realize it. Makes me wanna show him how sweet he can really be with someone <3 (I think he's a type of Tiger Anima? not 100% sure on that)

Kai is the newest to my list, mostly because I had just recently found him unconscious on the beach during the summer. He is the first Naga character I've seen thus far, and I do admit he is very handsome. He also seems pretty chill and relaxed, which is what I like when considering potential Romance Candidates.

[insert-witty-drawings-here]

hey yall, heres a blast from the past! i missed my BNHA ocs a lot and some friends made me want to draw them again!

[waitineedaname]

i think it'll be funny to see how many fics it'll take me until lan wangji appears

[permanentreverie]

hey! your kpop asks had me wondering which groups do you listen to and who are your biases??

Oh and also any favorite choreographies?

girl do you know what you’ve STARTED 😭 ok let’s get into it:

bts (ot7 but bias yoongi) - fave choreos: run bts, dna, not today, idol, mic drop, dionysus, best of me, boy with luv, on, black swan, dynamite, airplane pt 2, save me/im fine, fake love, fire

seventeen (bias vernon, seungcheol, mingyu, and dk) - fave choreos: aju nice, hot, rock with you, cheers, _world, left and right, don quixote, super, fire, idubily

stray kids (bias han) - fave choreos: thunderous, domino, lalalala, maniac, back door, gods menu, easy

ateez (bias wooyoung and mingi) fave choreos - say my name, halazia, bouncy, crazy form, cyberpunk, deja vu, illusion

other groups i listen to more casually + am less familiar with are the rose (no bias and no choreo so can’t put them in the above list), txt (maybe bias yeonjun?), enhypen (bias sunghoon), nct (bias xiaojun, mark, jaehyun, and taeyong), g-idle (bias yuqi), twice (bias jihyo and dahyun)

[yurissweettooth]

Started Baldur's Gate 3 :)

[femmeroi]

kill yourself faggot

Our relationship is rough right now, but in a few episodes we will be married.

[staydandy]

Love Me Like I Do (2023) - 我的老板为何那样 - Whump List

List by StayDandy Synopsis : As a domineering executive, Liu Xi Lai feels that he is outstanding, but he has a fatal weakness wherein he becomes dizzy whenever he sees red. Sparks fly when he meets an artists, Tian Tian, and finds out that this girl who challenged him seemed to be the only thing that could stop himself from fainting. So he decided to keep his little "antidote" by his side as his assistant. Who could be more surprised to find that as they spent time together and formed a bond, a strong and beautiful love quietly grew between these two. (MDL) AKA : Why Is My Boss Like That?

Whumpee : Liu Xi Lai played by Liu Yin Jun

Country : 🇨🇳 China Genres : Romance, Comedy

Notes : This is a Full Whump List • Yeah, was disappointed with this one. He was "cured" before even the half-way point. From then on the focus was on a weird love-triangle. Then at the end they're like, oh yeah, gotta resolve these plot-holes real quick. • Can't say I'd recommend, even the whump is poorly acted.

Episodes on List : 8 Total Episodes : 18

*Spoilers below*

01 : Phobia of blood & the color red, remembering childhood trauma, passes out … dizzy, almost collapses

02 : Dizzy … dizzy, starts to collapse, caught, passes out

03 : Passes out … hospitalized … dizzy, blurred vision

05 : (near end) Hypnosis treatment, remembering childhood trauma

10 : Pretending to be drunk … scared of cats

11 : Drunk

13 : Nightmare

16 : Hit in the head with a bat, dizzy, remembering childhood trauma, passes out, hospitalized

[hxneylavendxr]

enstars tierlist of characters im obsessed with based on how i express my love for them 

[gameofthunder66]

'Modern Persuasion' (2020) film

-watched 6/3/2023- 1 [3/4] stars- on Hulu