#bl review

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I'm All Over the Place, and so are the shows

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Nov 2023 Wk 5

Ongoing Series - Thai

Last Twilight (Fri YT) ep 4 of 12 - The Jasmine flirting thing was so darn cute, I can’t. I love these two so much. 

The Sign (Sat YT) ep 2 of 10 - Oh it’s great. Flirting. Fighting. Fate. Murder. Eventually we’ll add fucking. A trifffecta. I could do with a bit less training but whatever. And we have learned our boys are laboring under a geis. NO SINGING. Otherwise this ep was actually pretty flipping great. 

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) ep 6 of 8 - Ooo kidnapping and the sides are suffering betrayal. Also Tew kills again. I like that they don’t shy away from the fact that he’s a killer and Guy was genuinely scared.  And then Tew had to break up with Guy to protect him in Noble Sacrifice (tm). How Cdrama of him. Rough ep all round. 

For Him (Thurs iQIYI) ep 1 of 10 - It’s not exactly good, but it’s better than I was expecting, and I tend to cut pulps a lot of slack out the gate. The plot is more interesting, Him is a sweetie (I like that in a seme) and our uke has both game and pluck. He’s a femme bitch, I LOVE that in a boy + we never get it femme in the lead. The acting is not great, sound all over the place, but there are no terrible sound effects, the soundtrack is okay, and our high heat came with a side of BJ + condoms, and no one has sung (yet), so I think I like it. It’s giving me Big Dragon vibes.

Linguistic moment: 

Him used Him/ter for pronouns & ha. Very flirty. Nail used rao back a little bit of a challenge. (No pom and didn’t use his own name either.) Gauntlet thrown. Our baby ends up with rao/kao but I don’t think that’ll stick. Him is getting Phi out of him if it's the last thing he does.

Bake Me Please (Mon Gaga) ep 2 of 6 - The characters’ shared backstory is no surprise but I do like this show. Those little private smiles as they find family. Those lingering gazes as they find romance. Lovely. Also Shin wants to marry into Peach's family so bad, I’m reminded of Laurie in Little Women. All that said, it’s never the top of my list to watch for some reason. 

Cooking Crush (Sun YT) 1 of 12 - How could I have forgotten how stunning Off is? Meanwhile… I love Gun’s character, he's so cute. But this show is a bit too comedic for me. I wish GMMTV were taking this script seriously. Sorry Neo et al I’m not sold on the sides. In general? I don’t love it. I don’t hate it either. In other news, I think I'll go make toast.

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 3 of 14 - I love the sides and unholy amount and in general it was fine this week probably because I decided to do a trash watch.

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 5 of 10 - I’m getting fatigued. Also holy random sex Batman. Where did these extra sides come from? I’m confused. Tonal pingpong going on, and not just in the shower.  

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI ep 4 of 8 - Finally a direct confession Jade can’t avoid. Will things get a bit more serious?

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 10 of 12 - I don’t know why I watch this show, the acting is great, but it just makes me cry.

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 3 of 14 eps - What a bonkers thing this is. Very kinky and also just odd. I do keep thinking about the pinks with it. Similarly, there doesn’t seem much glue holding this thing together, dried cum of course but not glue. And despite what some kinksters say, the one cannot replace the other.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Fake Love ep 15 of 24 - This is a weird installment. Too stalker and random blackmail for me. But not as bad as abuse and death, I guess? 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

A Breeze of Love (Korea iQIYI) eps 7-8fin - Not much of a love triangle in the end (you just found out he is actually gay and broken hearted = an opportunity not a tragedy). Meanwhile I like that the high school break up was just mr insomniac's fault. He got jealous and angry and petty. No miscommunication just an asshole kid. I did find this show a little slow, even though it was your standard length KBL. Odd that. They are very cute boyfriends tho. 

All in all:

Tsundere insomniac grump reunited with his sunshine jock ex (human sleeping pill) who now hates him. Basketball is also involved. While the simplicity of a reunion plot makes this more cohesive than most KBLs, it is a tad stiff and slow, never managing to lift itself out of "pretty and pretty enjoyable" - I liked it but I don’t think I’m going to remember much about it. 8/10

VIP Only (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 3 of 10 - It has the feel of a one act, with such a limited cast and location, which reminds me of KBL. Still watching these two quietly fall in love and process affection through their own art forms is sweet. This is a very soft gentle show. 

Sahara-sensei to Toki-kun (Japan Fri Gaga) - Toki, a delinquent but pure-hearted kid falls in love with his handsome phys-ed teacher, Sahara. This is very much my trope but very manga campy, which I don’t love. I’m quite torn. Toki is an idiot but a lovable one. But do I like it?

It's Airing But...

The Whisperer (Sun ????) 10 eps - Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). He has dimples (My Ride) but I don't think even dimples can motivate me to watch. You can tell me how this goes if you can find it.

SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 14 eps - I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all) even one featuring Singto and Fluke. I'm holding off. If told it's good, I'll binge.

7 Days Before Valentine (Weds WeTV) 10 eps - Giving me Luminous Solution vibes, so I'm waiting to binge if told it's safe.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) 8 eps - House of Stars meets Boyband. I was NOT impressed with ep 1. Waiting to be told if I should bother.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

In case you missed it

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) finished. Adaptation of Harada’s manga (which I did not like) about a clerk who (nearly) dies and ends up cohabitating with an angel. I was warned that the ending would not work for me so I decided not to bother.

My Biker BL short movie from Wayu supposedly premiered Nov 27 on their YouTube Channel for Members to watch. I couldn't find anything further. The MDL description makes me think it's not for me so I bother.

Next Week Looks Like This

Short list of the December offerings.

12/9 Cherry Magic (Thai remake) YouTube 10 eps

12/9 Behind the Shadows (Korea movie) ??

12/14 Dear Kitakyushu (Thai/Japan movie) ??

12/23 Dead Friend Forever (Thai horror) iQIYI

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED). With the end of the year upon us I'll do an "announced for 2023 but never happened list" soon.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

I love these dudes so much, and make no mistake they def dudes. On point banter, my dudes. (Sign)

Yes they are cute but so far that's all this show has going for it. (Middleman's Love)

I'm a simple human, I just like seeing Off kneeing. (Cooking Crush)

(Last week)

[chrispychanniem]

My Honest Opinion:

I read the Webtoon and definitely that one looked amazing. But when I watched the series, my mind was blown. I mean, I sure wasn't expecting that. Seo Ham are Jae Chan sure do have an amazing chemistry and they did full justice to the series.

In fact, I was definitely shocked when I got to know that Jae Chan is an idol. Idols are generally not that into kissing in the BL series. But Jae Chan gave it his all.

I really liked the fondness and frankness that the actors had developed while working with each other and I definitely will be waiting for the season 2 announcement of "Semantic Error".

[wontune]

Wannarat ㅤㅤ[ 케이팝 ] ♡ ator lockscreens

[ppeonppeonhan]

Dead Friends Forever Q&A-Style Review

I listen to a movie podcast called The Rewatchables, and they have interesting categories that I want to examine this series through.

Most rewatchable scene: It has to be the last one, because we've been talking about it nonstop since it aired. Plus, it lives in my head, rent-free, like Non is haunting me. Like WE failed him. 😱

But since I'm a BL girlie, who loves a well-crafted sex scene, I also have to include both of Phee and Jin's high-heat moments when Phee's trying to seduce him on the balcony and when they have rough sex in Jin's room. I'm not gonna lie: That was some king shit on Ta's end.

Best quote: "No one could leave this abandoned house — not even one." Come on! It foretold the surreal ending and fulfilled the victim's wishes. Gold.

What aged the best? The way that even the bullies perceived teacher Keng as a groomer, who took advantage of a desperate child — that will most definitely make that subplot still bearable even a decade from now.

What's aged the worst? The unaliving and SA montage in the finale that some have said was insensitive/irresponsible to have included. It was like trigger after trigger after trigger — practically a machine gun of traumatic scenes. The fandom could sincerely organize a class action lawsuit against the writer and director for them to pay for our therapy bills.

Scene-stealing location: The lake. Such a beautiful setting for romance, betrayal, and revenge. 😈

Best shot: Definitely the one of Tan from above when he's successfully drugged all of his victims. Iconic.

Are we sure this person is good at their job? Tee's uncle. The fact that he has so much riding on two teenagers is ridiculous. He didn't just start being a con man / mob boss that week. How does he not have a more stable criminal infrastructure at this point?

Best use of food and drink: Obviously, Tan spiking the beverages, knowing it would be the easiest way to poison everyone.

Was there a better title? Absolutely not. The play on the phrase "Best Friends Forever," an archaic term popularized in the '90s that puts way too much pressure on kids to find their kindred spirit and hold on to them through adolescence and adulthood, was inspired. It truly encompassed the impossibility of it all. There are just so many obstacles ahead of you, like peer pressure, family obligations, love triangles, bullying, ego, insecurity, and cowardice, that it's a lofty promise to make when you've barely finished puberty. Plus, it kind of hints at the ending...

Overacting award: Some could argue Barcode, but part of his performance was meant to be surreal, because it was in the dream state. I, personally, vote Jet (Top). Sometimes I felt like his character was in an entirely different, far more slapstick genre.

The "That Guy" Award: This category is for the actor/famous person you see all the time, but don't know the name of. I noticed a lot of people were excited to see Perth, so I "saw him all the time" on my feed. When I Googled him, that's when I learned that he was on a reality show with other Be On Cloud stars. 

Scene-Stealer (with very few scenes): Honestly, whichever extra/stunt double they had wearing that mask, freaking us out. The most memorable of which was when its creepy hand groped Tee.

Recasting couch:

I think Nanon (Bad Buddy) could've been interesting as the tormented Tan, because we would've bought his innocence longer.

It could've added to the mystery if we had the BL twins, AJ and JJ, confuse the narrative. 

I would watch Neo in almost anything at this point, and he could've played the morally conflicted Tee as he showcased those skills already in Only Friends.

A younger Mark (Last Twilight) would've fit so well into this cast. He plays lost and guilty quite well.

Picking Nits: This category is for pointing out things that just don't add up.

Why didn't Phee's cop dad have more questions about his son's behavior and activities after he saw who his son was involved with?

What teenager is fine going somewhere that has no wifi or reception? Even I wouldn't do that and I've had wifi as long as these characters have been alive.

Why was Non, a teenager, being medicated for mental health issues, but not being monitored by a mental health professional?

If Tee's uncle didn't want to be at a loss if Non died unexpectedly, then why didn't he let him get his wounds treated and get some rest? Unless the plan was always to harvest his organs, which would still have merited rest. Nobody wants shitty organs.

Unanswerable Questions

If Jin and Phee survived, would they have got back together?

If Non were alive, would Phee have ditched Jin?

What did they do with Non's body?

And, of course, after succeeding: Does Tan recover from his grief and move on with his life? Does he successfully escape arrest? Does he leave behind evidence of what the boys did to his family to further persecute them in death? Is his revenge plot really over...?

That was fun! Tag me if you answer the same Qs.

[theadderalltoyourstiles]

At this point I genuinely don't understand how this series passed censorship.

(spoilers ahead)

The innuendos during dinner????

The blatant possessiveness, jealousy and whipped behaviour???

"Your mom is my mom" ????

The indirect kiss ???

The I love you with a pause ?!?!?!????

The cheek kisses ?!?!?!?!

And that was fucking lube on the bed wasn't it ???!???!?????

Censorship is just clowning at this point 🤡

[gm-bl-cult]

The BL novels with such excellent plot, that you are sad it has BL in it, otherwise you would force just everyone to read it.

#1.  The Earth is Online

Great Sci-fi novel with ‘alien intervention’ theme. Usually such plots has big problems with endings, but The Earth is Online managed to get a nice wrap for this very difficult theme. High-passed and absolutely interesting. What to expect: super smart MC, super sick brainteasers, unlimited flow, manly couple, twisted fairytales, uncommon special abilities. 

Warning: this novel has very weak romance line (you could probably just made it a friendship and almost nothing would be lost), but this is a great book nevertheless.

#2. Supernatural Movie Actor App

Best horror BL-novel I read. Every movie plot is stunning and quite uncommon and ingenious. Movies never has only one main theme - author interweave several into complex, deep, interesting narration with unexpected reveals and explanations. The overall plot is great too - it is type of the book where everything mentioned have a reason and place in a plot. Absolutely superior read. What to expect: super smart MC (explained in the plot), great horror stories, quite a bit of gore, unlimited flow, love between two personas in multiple personality disorder (explained beautifully in the plot), mysteries solving, manly couple.

Warning: the BL part is rather small, but really warm and nice to read.

#3.  Mist

The plot is insane - it is very smart, atmospheric and has great ending. Also it has a really strong balance of the plot and romance. There is CONSENT! And respect! FINALLY! Seriously, when ML asks MC even before hugging and they actually have conversations - even without supreme plot I would already loved this novel to the moon and back. It really hard to say anything about this novel without spoilers - it is mind-blowing. Period. What to expect: time agents, time loops, time paradox, complex plot, a bit (?) of gore, smart MC, great couple, a bit of ‘from enemies to lovers’ mood.

Warning: expect to burn a lot of your braincells to understand the time loops.

[firstyok]

- My School President End Notes -

So, I've finally finished watching My School President, after a ton of push from my friends, and here I am! It was a wonderfully sweet, adorable and innocent high school BL show, which stole my heart and made me emotional in too many ways.

In this review, I'll address a few of the best things that I enjoyed the most regarding MSP. So, stay tuned for what's coming ahead!

1. Musicality of the Show

I've never seen a BL show with so many amazing Osts, and musicality stuffed inside it. When I started out with the first episode, I was freaking hooked to the intro, like it was so good. Then the other songs which were introduced later in the show, or which then band has sung, over all I adore and cherish each and every song and composition the show has brought it. There were happy songs, romantic ones, and even realistic ones.

But the best part was how they've had also introduced the funky dancing numbers as well. As a huge music lover, I enjoyed every bit of soaking into the dance and music of the show. The actors did an immaculate job at portraying marvelous skills through their singing and dancing skills, and I just simply loved it all. Music has to be the major theme of the show, over all - because it certainly caught my entire attention just from this aspect.

2. Messages on Following your Dreams

Another strong message that I've felt through out the show was how they've consistently emphasised on the beauty, yearning and struggles of following what one truly loves. What makes the concept more appealing that they've successfully portrayed the realistic harsh side that drags you down from moving ahead. I was utterly heartbroken when Chinzilla didn't win the Hot Wave awards, because personally I've been a massive fan of their music. But once, that part portrayed how life is not always fair, and you'd always have someone who is better than you in every competition in your life, and that part hit hard.

When Gun auditioned for another music show recommended by Tinn, he was disappointed again because he wasn't the best one out there, which is always relatable. Even if we do our best, it is guaranteed that world will treat us kindly. But what matters the most is keep going, polishing your skills and passion, and doing it for the love of it - that is one thing that will fruitfullly keep you motivated on your journey. The constant feeling of giving up, the repetitive defeat of the band members felt too emotional for me, because I could feel it on such a deep level - that was a freaking realistic truth from such an innocently adorable high school BL show.

3. Innocence in Love

My School President has become the quintessence of the first childhood love. The most delicate and sweetest kind of love that blooms between two kids for the first time in their life and the portrayal of this wonderful thing has been successfully executed in the entire show. The confession scene of TinnGun was literally my favourite out of all confesion scenes, maybe because the quick and realistic approach of it. The way Tinn just hinted it out casually when Gun asked, and how even Gun somehow understood exactly what he meant.

The whole interaction was subtle and yet so deep, which actually happens in real life. That's what attracted me the most. I loved how TinnGun represented the purest form of love, without physical vulgarity or lust - it was simply two people wholeheartedly in love. Love is unconditional, love is about seeing the other person happy, and TinnGun have manifested this kind of love effortlessly through their charismatic performance, and I absolutely cherish it.

4. SoundWin

C'mon, I had to mention them because they flourished a new kind of interest in me throughout the show. For me, they were the most appealing part of the show - I was always looking out for more of their chemistry and interactions. I think SoundWin had the best kind of love story development I've seen so far - realistically speaking. When these two first were introduced to one another, has anyone of us thought they're gonna be a thing? Well, not for me. They two had the most casual and realistic romantic development that I absolutely loved.

Their love wasn't based on first sight or physical attraction, but as they proceeded on getting to know one another, getting to share personal stories with one another, they fell. Honestly, their chemistry is extremely sizzling, prove me wrong. Like their bandmates say, even when they bicker, chemistry is overflowing and I totally agree with that. It was so satisfying to see how Win silently cares for Sound when he had wrist pain, or how Sound constantly looks out for Win especially he's feeling broken, especially after the Hot Wave. I just am being fan of cute bickering couples, so automatically SoundWin just effortlessly pulled me in.

5. Packed with Supportive Characters

The show has the perfect combination of the best supporting characters ever, whether it is about the positive parenthood from the parents of TinnGun, or about the genuine friendship that is emphasised among the band teammates. I've immensely enjoyed how genuine, well-wishing people are around this entire show. It depicts how there are actually kind people around who are willing to have your backs and always end you whenever you're feeling down. My favourite supportive characters has to be Tiw, and TinnGun's parents. Tiw has been the best boy throughout the series, with innate helpfulness along with multitasking to help out others - Tiw is a marvelous character.

He has always got Tinn's back - it doesn't matter if he has to be a MV director, tutor, promoter or even a dancing coach, he is ready for all of it, if it helps his friends. On the other hand, the parents of the show displayed the ideal parenthood that must be looked up to. The fact that despite being of different mindsets, both TinnGun's parents had the welfare and happiness of their children in their minds all the time. They never forced their children, but tried to understand them and encourage them who they are and what they love. I hope more parents start achieving this standard, because this united efforts makes the world a much better place.

My School President is a charming cute BL show, that has stole my heart with it's wonderful characters, shared passion for dreams and most importantly the positivity that it portrayed. It surely has be the most green-flag BL I've ever watched. From the healthy handling of conflicts to the sweet pure interactions between two high-schoolers - this BL is another unique addition to chain of the most beautiful BL shows ever made.

[saezurumurmurs]

Calling BL Readers and Watchers…

Can you fill this out for the cause? Know folks that read or watch BL or both?

Like and reblog this post many times! Sharing is caring!

Feel free to ask us anything in the comments also!

We appreciate it so much!

[uff-tasye]

So, suddenly a fmv of “bad buddy the series” popped up in the recommendation and I ended up reminiscing the emotions felt throughout the series.

One sentence came to my mind,

“My whole world were against it but I still choose to love you with my whole heart.”

“I tried to hate you throughout my life while knowing deep down that I could never hate you. I wish I could hate you just like how I say. I wish, you would make me hate you so that I won't have to suffer anymore.” - these emotions I could feel through Pran's eyes in the last part of episode 4. I just can't forget how the emotions were so perfectly portrayed that I can still remember that. It was such an amazing series.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I Gave a 10/10 to a BL... me!

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Nov 2023 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) ep 4 of 8 - I love this show. I adore Tew's the simple backstory. No frills. No fuss. He got dragged in the way many do and he can kill so they kept him. They aren’t trying to make it needlessly complicated (which is rare for Thailand). That said, the pacing is way tf off, the emotional arc is rushed and then sappy out of absolutely nowhere. Before you ask, the kiss is not at issue, we halfway through they should be kissing, but the romantic life changes - too soon. But I don’t care. Finally, they left us this ep reminded of 2 v important things,

this pair kisses beautifully

in BL all mafia be gay

Fun fun!

Last Twilight (Fri YT) ep 2 of 12 - It's official, I love this. It’s a classic caregiver/bodyguard trope where one of them is opening the other one up to the world, but sweetly. I’m enjoying the softness of JimmySea's take and I hope GMM TV takes its cues from the success of My School President and doesn’t push this particular show into rough or edgy territory. Stay on target GMMTV. Don't mess with my bias again!

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 3 of 10 - Finally, our adorable side couple has emerged! This show remains engaging without losing pace (despite the main couple being slow burn), which is all I want from a Thai pulp, and more I could ask for currently from a sports BL. 

(Note: when I dictate the computer always puts "Thai pope" instead of Thai pulp - this is hilarious to me.)

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 14 - I guess they didn’t strip the omegaverse out of this. Unfortunately, I’m not an omegaverse fan, so I find its presence extremely off putting. (But it’s kind of amazing that somebody finally put one on our screen.) Unsurprisingly, it’s a lot of alpha posturing and hyper masculinity, because that’s what this kind of worldbuilding is an excuse for (lazy writing and lazier characterization). This means I don’t like Babe AT ALL except that he’s smell orientated and a bit verse. Way is lovely tho, because Nut is a great soft screen presence amongst the testosterone haze. 

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI ep 2 of 8 - I’m not gonna lie (when have I ever bothered to lie to you all?) I’m struggling with this show. The sound effects are getting worse. That is not allowed. Still I found this installment slightly more bearable than the last last, probably because there was more of the cast in play and less of Jade being too cringe to live. 

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 8 of 12 - AKA temporal paradox of pain.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Friends Forever ep 13 of 24 - Ooo it’s a bit of a teacher/student (coach/player) thing. Linguistic negotiation and kinkification of phi. Also actually kinky. But not consensually. Gonna get dark. Bummer. 

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 1 of 14(!) eps - Whines. Must I? Gaga doesn’t have a skip ahead button. Sad sack main characters really do not work for me. But this was better than I expected. I wasn’t expecting much. 

Look: This is helmed by Cheewin (shudder) with screenplay by Den (Only Friends - shudder the second) under Copy A Bangkok (they deserve not my shuddders). It's gonna be a shizz show people. It's Thai dark War of Y style - my least favorites. Apparently, there is meant to be a "plot" but when has Cheewin ever bothered with plot?

On a completely different note does the blond look like that Korean actor/idol from At a Distance Spring is Green & Wanna One to anyone else? Or is it just me? (Park Ji Hoon)

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

A Breeze of Love (Korea iQIYI) eps 3-4 of 8 - I like it a lot. Dongwook is so obtuse and socially awkward and reserved and needy and Dohyun is so gay over and simultaneously wildly confused by this behavior. Fantastic. A bit stiff, even for Korea, btu I'm okay with it since everything else I'm watching right now is decidedly NOT stiff.

I finished it!

Let's Eat Together Aki and Haru AKA Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo - Japan BL movie 1.5 hr

Best friends life together during university - cheerful sunshine loves to cook, grumpy tsundere loves to eat. Aki is a bit manic pixie dream boy for me (not my favorite archetype) but they’re cute and it’s one of those Japanese slice of life pieces like Our Dining Table that isn’t really a romance in fact it’s barely a drama. This isn’t friends to lovers because they’re basically already in a relationship (which everyone around them knows) they just aren’t fucking. I did spend a lot of time worrying that they weren’t eating any green things whatsoever. In the end this isn’t my thing when there’s no kissing at all, and this was a bit too dull even for JBL. Sorry Japan, one cannot trade on cute and cheese alone. I know, you want to. But that's not a BL or a personality. 6/10 

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan, maybe coming to Netflix) 8 eps - This classic friends-to-lovers BL is everything Japan does best. Angsty. Emo. Aching. Driven by real thirst. Yamato is deeply in love with his childhood bestie, Kakeru, and has been for ages, unable to hide his ungainly damaging high school need. He wants Kakeru in every way possible and it oozes off of the screen. Kakeru is silly and a little simple, but not frenetic or overly camp about it. He is earnest, and genuinely wants to keep Yamato in his life which means giving a romance (and gayness) a fair chance. We watch him realize his affection and what form it can take in a truly authentic way. This show was impossibly kind to both of its lead characters and I felt honored that I got to watch something so lovely and rare play out on my screen.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS. IT'S SO GOOD.

10/10

Let me be perfectly clear: I have watched 646 BLs and only handed out nine 10/10s.

I talk more about why this one made the cut, here.

It's Airing But...

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) 6 eps - adaptation of Harada’s manga (which I did not like) about a clerk who's stabbed, nearly dies, and returns home to find an angel waiting for him. With only 5 eps and a good chance this won’t end happy, I'm gonna wait and let you tell me how it goes.

SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 14 eps - I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all) even one featuring Singto and Fluke. I'm holding off on this one and if told it's good I'll binge later.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) 8 eps - House of Stars meets Boyband. I was NOT impressed. Waiting to be told if I should bother.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

Next Week Looks Like This

STARTING

11/20 Bake Me Please (Mon Gaga) ep 1 of 6 - trailer here, stars Ohm (of OhmFluke) opposite Guide (bestie from IFYLITA). This looks like an actually gay version of Antique Bakery (play it again, BL). I'm intrigued, it looks HELLA pretty.

11/22 7 Days Before Valentine (Weds ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk. Adapted from y-novel of the same name, directed by Tu (180 Degree) stars Jet (Why You… Y Me?). When you want your old love again, but fate sends you a reaper instead. All he can do for you is kill people. I'll likely give this a pass and wait to binge if safe.

11/24 VIP Only (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - Screenplay by Lin Pei Yu (WBL) about a chef who courts a shy writer with spicy beef noodles.

11/25 The Sign (Sat ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk, but with a suspense and adult characters. Special investigators who loved each other in previous lives reunite in new bodies. Stars Billy Patchanon (BillySeng) & Babe Tanatat (new). Includes other SCOY favorites as a special investigation team. I may give this a try (depending on distribution) because I'm into the non-horror bits.

11/26 The Whisperer (Sun ????) 1 of 10 - trailer here. Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). He has dimples (My Ride) but I don't think even that gives me the will. You can tell me how this goes.

11/26 Cooking Crush (Sun YT) 1 of 12 - OffGun are back, trailer here. Adapted from the novel “Love Course! เสื้อกาวน์รุกเสื้อกุ๊กรับ” by iJune4S this is about Prem who runs a not-so-popular restaurant with 2 friends. About to go on a cooking competition with a huge reward, Prem gets involved with Ten, a stressed-out med student who wants Prem to teach him to cook.

Still Coming November BL

11/30 For Him (Thurs ????) ep 1 of 10 - high heat trailer, I suspect iQIYI will scoop this one up. From the people who brought us Unforgotten Night (please no) based on a y-novel, man nursing a heartbreak has a one-night stand, but the other boy didn't want it to end. It looks terribly trashy so I'm in! Maybe I'll do a trash watch?

Nov 2023 line up with screen caps here. Not kept updated.

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

To be fair this was last week but I did get the screen shot until now. (You are Mine)

I Cannot Reach You serving all Japan's favorite tropes plus some very un-Japan decent kisses.

(Last week)

[chrispychanniem]

BL Title: Love is Better the Second Time Around

My Honest Opinion:

I am being completely honest, this is one of the only few BL series that actually managed to give me butterflies and win my heart. It's one of the best series hands down.

Each one of the actors worked really hard for their roles and it shows to be honest. It's one of the most refreshing BL series since after Kiyoi, we have another power bottom, Miyata. He is logical, confident and determined and hence, my favourite.

Takashi is the softest top I have ever seen. Man, he is so freaking cute. So don't think much and give this series a shot.

[nterini]

Be my Favorite Review

So far… I’m Obsessed

This might be my favorite Thai BL show on par with Not Me and I Told Sunset About You. Crazy Right? No!

“You want to go in the water, but you’re scared to dive in?”

What a beautiful metaphor by our favorite handsome prince Pisaeng.😍😍😍

Reasons why this is the quality of shows I want to see in the future?

The acting in this is professional and amazing. There’s not a single time where I watch Krist and Gawin together and get pulled out of the story because of unprofessional acting. This feels like two (the rest of the cast as well) seasoned and experienced entertainers putting their best foot forward. The chemistry is sizzling, they bring the characters to life in a unique way; it feels fresh, hot and new. (They look SO good together)

The pacing is wonderful. Especially related to the equally interesting and thought-provoking plot. It is really difficult to do sci-fi or fantasy in a way that’s not over complicated, but the way they set up the flash back and flash foward timelines is clean and engaging.

I’m on episode 7 now and I can’t believe I didn’t catch Kawi’s slow descent into alcoholism. It’s good to want to make changes in your life, especially if you are a coward like Kawi is, but skipping the necessary steps and work (by way of time travel nonetheless) will only magnify the toxicity you never worked on to the future and hurt others in the process. (If you are someone who says they feel normal, or most themselves while drinking, stop drinking now. You are on the path to alcoholism and substance abuse. Some people are not affected, but many are. Relying on this crutch will bring unsavory effects in the future.)

I love how forward thinking and queer it is. I love Max’s character so much. I hope they don’t use him as the magical flamboyant gay that only gives advice because he’s an amazing character in his own right 

Not can NOT be there.

Pear is my Queen Goddess.

Pisaeng deserves the world.

God bless Kawi really. If anyone needs a time traveling device to fix their life multiple times, it is that loser no matter how cute he is.

P.S. Kawi just really needs a therapist. 

[bl-danmei-planet]

Some thoughts on: Jinx (fandom)

I got obsessed with the hottest manwha of the day. The fandom especially on tiktok is going crazy and the work has received a lot of love and hate. I'd like to examine some thoughts about tiktok fandom and jaedan dynamic and what makes it so addictive and controversial (to some.)

"Toxic bl" "Red flag", To some young readers Jinx seems to be the first yaoi they are reading. It might have the Killing Stalking effect, it has shock value and people read it even though they hate it. It has the typical seme-uke dynamic from their character design to the plot as the wholesome virgin uke being in debt and the rich sex-crazy seme. Dan suffers physically, economically and emotionally in life and in the hands of Jaekyung. The dynamic is far from equal. Will it eventually become one? Will Dan's suffering be ever equal to Jaekyung's? This is what keeps the story interesting.

I think it's not contradictory that Jinx is popular in the time when two things in love are considered important: communication and consent. This is where the critique comes from. Jinx lacks both but is still hugely popular(but so are many heterosexual romances in this category: "Oh no what if a popular rich man had to have sex with me and fell in love with me even though I'm a poor virgin".) I think the taboo of it draws in, and Jinx being a yaoi as a genre it is somewhat still considered taboo although modern western fandoms might not think so(conversations around lgbt+ rights, respectability politics, representation etc Everything is very visible and has to seek approval from everyone. Where does sex fit into this?)

Debate of the fandom nowdays: fiction=reality? I have seen comments comparing Jaekyung (and his fans) to a real-life rapists and murderers. I think the topic of fiction affecting reality is interesting and nuanced but what matters here is the context: this work is part of a niche genre and audience. I also think that some people should stay away from smut. They lack literacy both in fiction and sexuality.

BDSM, violence, coersion and transaction as part of romance: Here is also the "classic yaoi" dynamic: the BDSM undertones, that in some fan theories will come play a bigger part of the plot and Jaekyung's character. The power dynamic is supposed to be unequal in such fantasies. It's not for everyone. The thing about dark topics/dynamics is that they catch the attention of the reader. Sometimes they are more psychological and sometimes it's just for the smut and gore. I'm interested to see how in depth Jinx will deal with these topics. So far it has been highly entertaining with constant suprises and cliffhangers.

"Who will fall first? Who will fall harder?". Jakeyung has already fallen for Dan but he does not realize that yet. He shows his feelings through possessiveness. He is an emotionally detached workaholic. He deals with stress through sex and that way Dan is his savior as well. He also represents something different, something genuine to him compared to his previous partners. Dan also has feelings for Jaekyung as he worries and cares for him. I think they will continue to communicate their feelings for each other through sex(/bdsm) and protecting each other in difficult situations in life.

I think Mingwa has crafted a very addicting story and I'm interested to see where this story goes. It might be a tropey romance but sometimes that's what you need.

[jenyifer]

3 Will Be Free 9/10

I loved the show so much. Very unexpected. Action mafia done well. I know people who have been in Poly relationships before and was nervous to watch this show worried it’d be over sexualized or make things look terribly easy but the show did a fantastic job building up the main 3’s relationship. I also adored the heartbreak of Ter and Mae there was not a moment when they were on screen where I wasn’t paying attention. The plot wasn’t too complicated. I didn’t get stuck in the weeds like I thought I would after the first episode. I did have to knock off a point for the sheer amount of killing. It felt like there should have been consequences or something. I also was a bit confused by the ending. Were the main 3 still a couple or was Shin also with PP? I love PP and I think his over enthusiastic attachment style would be good for Shin. Also I think he’d make a good body guard however I still want shin to be with Miw and Neo. Also did Mae come to work at the resort? She would have deserved it.

But I’d definitely recommend this show. I’ll forever keep Ter and Shin in my list of fave boys.

What will I watch next??? I’m not sure maybe Theory Of Love for the millionth time before it’s taken off YouTube. But if someone sees this has a suggestion ask box or dms is open.

Okay okay time for the last screenshots spoilers if you haven’t seen the show I guess. But Tay Tawan’s outfits are worth a peak omg 😭 mafia man I love you.

[heretherebedork]

Well, it ended, Nikko isn't dead but he's rather obviously cut Eli out of his life because he doesn't want him to wait for him and I think that might actually be worse in some ways.

But the prom scene was adorable and the two prom kings was wonderful and the dance was very well done but having the genuine ending be about the power of love but still having the only contact with Nikko come through Justin in the end... oof.

Anyway.

Yeah.

It's a sweet show that had to have a depressing twist and, tbh, I only recommend it if you're in the mood for a slightly bittersweet ending about the power of love but also making the choice to end a relationship due to a terminal illness and distance.

(@absolutebl my final review is here and you dropped it at just the right time, tbh.)

[firstyok]

- Moonlight Chicken End Notes -

So, I've just finished Moonlight Chicken, and it was a deep, mature bl series, where it conveyed a lot of realistic life messages. It was new and refreshing to witness such a bl storyline, which speaks for real people.

Below, I've addressed a few of the best things that I've enjoyed about this show.

1. JimWen Chemistry

It was my first exposure to an EarthMix series, so I was definitely excited. The chemistry of the actors was magnetic, and it didn't take a moment to give me butterflies. Wen is super seductive, and I enjoyed it. In the first episode, when they both hooked up, I was like, "Oh wow.. that's.. sexyy", I kept thinking these stuff. So, definitely I loved their chemistry very much in this show.

2. GeminiFourth Acting

Once again, it was my first time watching the acting of GemFourth. I haven't watched MSP, so - MLC is my first exposure. My God, I was in love with their storyline, acting and everything as a whole. I truly loved Fourth's acting range, he is a great actor for such a young age. The way he portrayed such a mature, sharp tongued minor in the story, it was really heart-melting as well as sweet. His slow friendship with heart, was the best part of the show, I'd say. Gemini did a splendid job, portraying the character of a deaf child.

They both had such a lovely rapport, chemistry - I kept looking for their moments in MLC the entire time. For me, these two held the greatest importance to me in the show. The beginning of their meeting with a conflict, that slowly led to understanding both of them, which further led to friendship and young love. The progress in their story was beautiful to witness. I felt so happy to see some specific moments of them, such as Heart's face lighting up when figured that the paper was slid under the door by Li Ming, or the moment when Li Ming first heard Heart speak.

3. The Character of Alan

Eventhough the story presented him in a negative light at first - personally I could vastly relate to Alan. Personally, I'd say he's someone with the most depth and complications. He shared a 5 years long relationship with Wen, which is never an easy thing to let go off. I deeply empathize with Alan, not because he was dumped by Wen, but because his story speaks realistically. It is devastating to be out of love, when the other person still wants to be with you. Eventhough their relationship was not tampered due to Jim's entry, it will still make Alan doubt whether it is something that he lacked, and Jim didn't. It is normal to have these thoughts, because I've been there in his shoes too.

Eventhough he reacted violently with Wen and Jim at the diner, I believe it was valid to acknowledge how frustrated and insecure he had been, when he is losing the love of his life to someone else, in front of his eyes. It's a hard pill to swallow. Later on, I'm relieved how Alan moved on from their relationship after Wen decided to have a clear cut conversation about them during their last barbeque meal. It was necessary, because if he didn't give Alan the closure he needed, he wouldn't have been able to move on, just like all these prior months. Alan is a great character, he is flawed, and speaks life. He didn't use his injuries to hold Wen back, instead he insisted on being left alone, because he knew the hope has subsided. I think that's a wonderful character implication.

5. Gaipa is a Positive Embodiment

If Alan showed the dark side of handling emotions, Gaipa portrayed true well-intent and kindness throughout the series. I really enjoyed Gaipa's character in the series. He was like a ray of sunshine that needed to be added in such a mature heavy series. His role was like a breath of fresh air, whenever he appeared, he either made me feel better, or simply broke my heart - when he got rejected by Jim or when he lost his mother. But I really loved how he handled himself calmly upfront others, eventhough he was tearing apart inside.

His relationship with his mother was also iconic, definitely one of the best moments of the series. It shows how loving and understanding a mother-son relationship should be. It filled my heart with happiness when his mom was completely okay with him being gay, and how she encouraged him to find a lover. Losing such a great mother in his life, has to be the most heartbreaking experience ever, and this show portrayed it so deeply.

6. The Satisfying Ending

The ending of Moonlight Chicken has to be the most satisfying one, eventhough I'd have loved to see Alan and Gaipa officially ending up together. But, I really enjoyed their initial blooming stage of liking each other, it seemed so sweet and refreshing at the end of the show. When Heart and Li Ming were dining together, along with Leng and Praew in the scene too, it seemed like all the lovey dovey couples are finally enjoying their moments with their partners. I loved that scene, and Wen was helping out Jim as usual.

We even got a sneak peak of how maturely Alan handled the situation when he was with Gaipa and Wen gave him water - the smile on his face spoke as if - he deeply appreciated what Wen and Alan once had, but now he has Gaipa, and he has finally moved on from him, to focus entirely on his new budding love. That scene was really symbolic and my eyes teared up at the collective happiness of the show couples.

I've really enjoyed the show, everyone's acting, performance, along with the cinematography was stunning and praiseworthy. Additionally, the cast was a dream team, including EarthMix, FirstKhao, and GeminiFourth. These three couples smoothly pulled off the entire show with their elegance and hardwork! Kudos to the director, and everyone else involved in the production of the series!