#bromance 2017 drama

[save-the-data]

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend | S01E03

Chinese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

Episodes | Gaga | Viki | YouTube | iQIYI | WeTV | Youku | Catalogue

Native Title: #我女朋友的男朋友

Genres: #Comedy #Romance #Sci-Fi

Tags: #Eccentric Male Lead #Bromance

Cast:  #Bai Shu #Li Chuan

[gabrielokun]

[waitmyturtles]

The Old GMMTV Challenge: The Master Post and Explainer

Updated: August 23, 2024

Hello! Welcome to The Old GMMTV Challenge (OGMMTVC), my personal syllabus and journey through the most important, and/or impactful, and/or seminal of Boys Love (BL)/Series Y dramas from Thailand.

I started watching Thai BL series in 2022 with the airing of KinnPorsche. From there, I dallied with shows that were referenced across Tumblr -- but I didn't dig into learning about the genre as a whole until I watched 2021-22's Bad Buddy, and was thoroughly moved by it in countless ways.

I subsequently learned that Bad Buddy was, in large part, constructed to communicate with tropes and expectations established previously by the genre. In order to get to a point where I could appreciate Bad Buddy in all of its historic glory, I therefore decided to start from the top -- to watch Thai BLs in chronological order so as to help me better understand the tentacles of this young genre. I was also impacted by a post from a BL Tumblr lifer, @absolutebl, who talked in 2022 about current shows by the GMMTV network, the biggest producer of BL dramas in Thailand, that were answering for mistakes made in the early Thai BL days.

Bad Buddy is a GMMTV show -- but in order to learn fully about the genre, I've created a syllabus of shows and movies that spans well outside the GMMTV network and sphere of influence. In the spring of 2023, I crowdsourced information about Thai BLs from the INCREDIBLE BL community on Tumblr, and came up with the syllabus below.

This syllabus is ever changing, especially as this young genre (which was arguably born in 2014 with the airing of Love Sick) continues to explore itself outside of its male-and-male romance genre boundaries, by centering women and/or non-binary individuals, and even leaving romance behind for horror, suspense, mystery, crime, and more.

Besides watching dramas on this syllabus, I'm also in the process of reading English-language books and articles about the Thai BL genre and its influences in Thailand and across Asia on queer and non-queer communities, as well as on the most marketed-to BL audience in young women. Links to reading materials are below the syllabus.

If you're looking to learn more about BL, this is but one resource to use. There's an incredible community of bloggers here with vastly more knowledge than me about the history of this genre. This is only my path, and I encourage you to explore the corners of Tumblr to create your own Thai BL journey!

The Drama Syllabus and Review/Meta Links

1) The Love of Siam (2007) (movie) (review here) 2) My Bromance (2014) (movie) (review here) 3) Love Sick and Love Sick 2 (2014 and 2015) (review here) 4) Gay OK Bangkok Season 1 (2016) (a non-BL queer series directed by Jojo Tichakorn and written by Aof Noppharnach) (review here) 5) Make It Right (2016) (review here) 6) SOTUS (2016-2017) (review here) 7) Gay OK Bangkok Season 2 (2017) (a non-BL queer series directed by Jojo Tichakorn and written by Aof Noppharnach) (review here) 8) Make It Right 2 (2017) (review here) 9) Together With Me (2017) (review here) 10) SOTUS S/Our Skyy x SOTUS (2017-2018) (review here) 11) Love By Chance (2018) (review here) 12) Kiss Me Again: PeteKao cuts (2018) (no review) 13) He’s Coming To Me (2019) (review here) 14) Dark Blue Kiss (2019) and Our Skyy x Kiss Me Again (2018) (review here) 15) TharnType (2019-2020) (review here) 16) Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey (OffGun BL cuts) (2016 and 2017) (no review) 17) Theory of Love (2019) (review here) 18) 3 Will Be Free (2019) (a non-BL and an important harbinger of things to come in 2019 and beyond re: Jojo Tichakorn pushing queer content in non-BLs) (review here) 19) Dew the Movie (2019) (review here) 20) Until We Meet Again (2019-2020) (review here) (and notes on my UWMA rewatch here)

21) 2gether (2020) and Still 2gether (2020) (review here) 22) I Told Sunset About You (2020) (review here) 23) YYY (2020, out of chronological order) (review here) 24) Manner of Death (2020-2021) (review here) 25) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) (review here) 26) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For The Sake Of Rewatching Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (re-review here) 27) Lovely Writer (2021) (review here) 28) Last Twilight in Phuket (2021) (the mini-special before IPYTM) (review here) 29) I Promised You the Moon (2021) (review here) 30) Not Me (2021-2022) (review here)

31) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) (thesis here) 32) 55:15 Never Too Late (2021-2022) (not a BL, but a GMMTV drama that features a macro BL storyline about shipper culture and the BL industry) (review here) 33) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) and Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (2023) OGMMTVC Rewatch (Links to the BBS OGMMTVC Meta Series are here: preamble here, part 1, part 2, part 3a, part 3b, and part 4) 34) Secret Crush On You (2022) (review here) 35) The Miracle of Teddy Bear (2022) (watching) 36) KinnPorsche (2022) (tag here)  37) KinnPorsche (2022) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For the Sake of Re-Analyzing the KP Cultural Zeitgeist (part 1 and part 2) 38) Honorable Mention: War of Y (2022) (for the sake of an attempt to provide meta BL commentary within a BL in the modern BL era), with a complementary watch of Aam Anusorn’s documentary, BL: Broken Fantasy (2020) (thoughts here) 39) The Eclipse (2022) (tag here) 40) The Eclipse OGMMTVC Rewatch to Reexamine "Genre BLs," Along With a Critical Take on Branded Ships (review here)

41) GAP (2022-2023) (Thailand’s first GL) (review coming) 42) My School President (2022-2023) and Our Skyy 2 x My School President (2023), Coupled With a Speed-Watch of My Love Mix-Up Thailand (2024) to Comment on GMMTV Trying to Make Magic Happen Twice 43) Moonlight Chicken (2023) (tag here) 44) Bed Friend (2023) (tag here) 45) La Pluie (2023) (review coming) 46) Be My Favorite (2023) (tag here) (I’m including this for BMF’s sophisticated commentary on Krist’s career past as a BL icon) 47) Wedding Plan (2023) (Recommended as an important trajectory in the course of MAME’s work and influence from TharnType) 48) Only Friends (2023) (tag here) (not technically a BL, but it certainly became one in the end) 49) Last Twilight (2023-24) (tag here) (on the list as Thailand’s first major BL to center disability, successfully or otherwise) 50) Cherry Magic Thailand (2023-24) (tag here) (on the list as the first major Japanese-to-Thai drama adaptation, featuring the comeback of TayNew)

51) Ossan’s Love Returns (2024) (adding for the EarthMix cameo and the eventual Thai remake) 52) Dead Friend Forever (2024) (thoughts here) 53) 23.5 (2024) (GMMTV’s first GL) (thoughts here)

Additional Reading Material

Dr. Thomas Baudinette, Boys Love Media in Thailand

Dr. Peter Jackson, Queer Bangkok

Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific -- Issue 49, Thai Boys Love (BL)/Y(aoi) in Literary and Media Industries: Political and Transnational Practices, June 2023

[absolutebl]

Please help me find that one bl I watched but can't remember the name of it, I want to find and rewatch it do bad! So that's what I remember about the movie:

I watched this movie on YouTube and it was not Thai or Korean. There are two guys who are not brothers, the one with the parents adopted the other one. Gave him many things, like money and house. So they're basically step brothers. The adopted one is in love with the main boy, after some struggles that I don't actually remember, the main boy falls in love with him too. But his father doesn't allow them to be together. With this being the reason, adopted one faked his own death and the main boy was in pain for a couple of years (I think it was like two years? But I'm not sure tho) After some time, the main boy coincidentally sees his lover working at a cafe. And they have a happy ending.

I've been looking for it for a really long timeeee 😭😭😭

This sounds right up my alley so I should know of it. It's stepbrother trope which is one of my all time favorites. (After comment consults I think this must be Irresistible Love - see notes at end)

My guess is something early from China, pre 2018? It could also be from the Philippines or one of the other BL producing countries that I don't track carefully. I think... not Japan, that doesn't seem like the right tropes or narrative bent for them.

It's possible, if you saw it on YT it was a fan rip with an alter end (like it really ends sadly but the fan decided to not include that?)

But you said specifically not Korea so Diary of Heong Yeong Dang (Drama Festival 2014) is out, and that was my first guess.

My second best guess is Thai, My Bromance the movie (2014) or (more likely) My Bromance the series (2016)? But you said: NOT Thai.

So my final pull is...

Find You In The Crowd (China 2017) but this is a microfilm and it's sad. At last check it was on Gaga.

You're not thinking of The Promise (Vietnam 2022) are you? No, that doesn't have the parental stuff and it's very recent.

That's the best I can do. Sorry, the spreadsheet and my brain failed you.

Here is some homework:

There is a 3 Part series from Ellene Noire II of YT round-up videos highlighting VERY obscure queer, LGBTQ+ and BL content (they named title and country in the cards), perhaps it's one of those? It has clips so that might trigger your brain better.

I've had these videos saved to process into my spreadsheet for ages but haven't gotten around to it since they really are some of the MOST obscure and I know it just throws off my numbers with "can't be found" columns.

If you figure it out, will you PLEASE let me know the name and country? It really does sound like my kind of BL. And if possible I'd love to try tracking it down.

Meanwhile here's my stepbrother trope round up post.

Notes

movie on YouTube

not Thai or Korean

2 guys who are not brothers

parents of one adopted the other one (stepbrother trope)

parents give adoptee many things, like money and house

adopted one is in love with the main boy

main boy falls eventually falls in love back

father doesn't allow them to be together

adopted one fakes his own death and the main boy was in pain for a couple of years

after some time, the main boy coincidentally sees his lover working at a cafe

Okay after consult with comments (with the exception of the bold bits I think this really has to be Irresistible Love).

Irresistible Love China 2026 - 2 Parts! 2 Endings!

Irresistible Love: Secrets of the Valet

YouTube

Irresistible Love 2 AKA Uncontrolled Love

YouTube

I not-so-secretly love this BL: Kidnapping, whipping boy, obsession, mutilation, very hard fought happy ending (in one version). Absolutely classic Chinese BL pre-censorship. It's a wild melodramatic ride.

This 2nd movie installment has 2 endings, one unhappy and censored and one basically happy. This series is quite violent, lots of tiggers, whipping boy chassis.

[theflagscene]

So I’ve seen some TwitIdiots on Twitter talk about how OffGun needs to retire from BLs and how they’ve had so many, blah blah blah. So now I’m gonna get technical on their asses, because if there’s one thing I love is being an anal retentive jerk with a technicality. Technically, OffGun has only ever done two BLs in their seven years of working together. I know, I know, just follow me for a moment while I explain -

Puppy Honey (2016)/Puppy Honey 2 (2017) - A basic by the numbers het drama, nothing amazing but not terrible either. Unless you count Krist being in the second one as terrible, which I totally do, but I digress. Not a BL, OffGun played the queer side dish that didn’t technically get together until the second season.

Teenage Mom (2017) - Jokey guest roles as a dentist and a dental assistant in episode 5 that are sleeping together, not a BL.

SOUTS S (2017) - Off plays a barely seen side character, Bright. Gun is an unnamed drunk at Bright’s bar, only seen on the DVD version of the series. The entire interaction is negligible but I thought I’d mark it down anyways.

Our Skyy (2018) - Technically a BL, but not an OffGun helmed series. A mini series featuring an ensemble cast of already established gay ships from other shows, OffGun has one episode as PickRome from Puppy Honey.

Theory of Love (2018) - OffGun’s first real BL, they were the main characters and it was a full blown BL series, complete with special episode follow up in 2020. The special episode is not a separate series, it is all part of the Theory of Love universe.

Love from Outta Space (2019) - Not a series but a twenty minute long commercial for a lipstick. Off plays himself, Gun plays an alien who looks like Gun. Heavily implied that Off loves Gun, which is why the alien took on his appearance. Does not count as a BL or even a series, it is a commercial that was cashing in on the pairings growing popularity at the time.

The Shipper (2020) - Guest roles as a couple outside a restaurant in episode 12, while the series itself is a BL, OffGun were background, blink and you’ll miss them, unnamed guest stars.

I’m Tee, Me Too (2020) - A comedy ensemble ‘bromance’ about the importance of platonic friendship. We all see what you were saying GMMtv and we still shipped the OffGun characters, you can’t teach us shit! But still, it’s not a BL and their characters were not a couple.

Not Me (2021) - OffGun’s second official BL, they were the main characters and it was a full blown series. No special episode as of yet, most likely won’t be one.

Club Sapan Fine 2 (2022) - BL elements, a massive ensemble cast. OffGun’s characters don’t even interact or know of one another, Off’s in episode one and Gun is in episode eight.

Cooking Crush (2023) - OffGun’s third official BL series, they play the main characters and it is a proper BL. Air date as of now is unknown, looks to be your standard rom-com set up.

So as you can see, over seven years and eleven series, they’ve only ever to this date actually headlined two BL series with their third on its way.

Gun had done BL’s before being branded with Off, such as The Blue Hour, Love Love You (he replaced Mild for just this one movie out of the trilogy) and Playboy and the Gang of Cherry. Whereas up until Puppy Honey, Off had never played a gay/bi/questioning character before or done a full blown BL series.

[staydandy]

Prison Playbook (2017) - 슬기로운 감빵생활 - Whump List

List by StayDandy Synopsis : Kim Je Hyuk, a famous baseball player, is arrested after using excessive force while chasing a man trying to sexually assault his sister. Shockingly to him and the rest of the nation, he is sentenced to a year in prison. There, he meets his childhood friend and fellow baseball player, Lee Joon Ho, who is now is a prison guard and one of Je Hyuk's biggest fans. The drama revolves around Je Hyuk's time in prison, as well as the prisoners he meets and events that take place there. (MDL) AKA : Prison | Smart Prison Living | Wise Prison Life

Whumpee : Kim Je Hyuk played by Park Hae Soo (left)

Country : 🇰🇷 South Korea Genres : Comedy, Crime, Life, Drama, Friendship, Bromance

Notes : This is a Partial List - I didn't list every bit of whump, just what caught my attention the most • This is it! The show that started it all! This is the show I watched 2 years ago that triggered my interest [ie obsession] with Asian dramas! I really aught to rewatch and make this a full list some day.

Episodes on List : 3 Total Episodes : 16

*Spoilers below*

03 : (near end) Kim Je Hyuk realizes that he is loosing feeling in his hand

04 : Hit in the head with a nail stuck in a board .. (bonus : Lieutenant Paeng sings at the end 😆)

09 : (past half-way point of ep) Collapses because of appendicitis

More Whump Lists for this show: whumpetywhump

[crowdvscritic]

round up // JUNE 23

The best things come in pairs in this Round Up. A few repeat offenders this June: 

Jason Schwartzman

Harrison Ford

Brad Pitt

Pixar

Archeological digs

Sports stories

1943 musicals

Tap dancing

‘80s pop-rock records

Two Tales of Cities

And, as always, Crowd and Critic are best when they’re in tandem. These are my top picks for June 2023 in the order I experienced them:

June Crowd-Pleasers

1. Shooting Stars (2023)

As a sports dilettante, I knew nothing about LeBron James’s pre-NBA life. (Full disclosure: I don’t know much about his post-NBA life either.) This sports drama probably sands off some edges (James produced this movie based on a book he wrote), but it hits its marks. It’s inspirational but not schmaltzy, and thanks to great performances (including an always stellar Caleb McLaughlin and I’m-always-glad-when-he-pops-up Dermot Mulroney), this story of five basketball-obsessed kids growing up is much better than you’d expect for a direct-to-Peacock movie. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10

2. Elemental (2023)

Pixar is back to basics with Elemental. In the best way, that means Pixar is up to their old shenanigans, but in another sense, it means this movie is, well, basic. Read my full review at ZekeFilm or watch my segment on KMOV to give you an idea on whether Pixar’s latest is for you. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

3. Flamin’ Hot (2023)

What Flamin’ Hot lacks in heat it makes up for in heart. With its relatable stakes and the comedy it finds in skewering corporate culture, this kind-of-true story of the creation of the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto (yes, really) is about as good as it could be. Read my full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 8/0 // Critic: 7/10

4. Coco (2017)

Finally watched after being one of my top “oops, I haven’t seen this yet” titles for years. Yes, Pixar did make me sob again. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Do you love to feel nostalgia or to be surprised? Do you like old school action or newfangled special effects? Do you enjoy historical adventures or stories about modern issues? Then the fifth Indiana Jones episode is for you! Literally the only thing this needed to achieve was to surpass the quality of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but why settle for that when you can make an action-packed adventure better than most summer blockbuster fare? Given that Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are two of the best adventure movies (or perhaps, just movies) of the 20th century, it’s no insult to say The Dial of Destiny ranks third for me in Indy’s canon with Temple of Doom and Crystal Skull following in distant fourth and fifth places. Crowd: 10/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

6. Bananarama-thon + Bangle-mania + Go-Go-palooza

What says “summer” more than 1980s girl pop-rock bands? (Or really, 1980s pop-rock period?) Bananarama, The Bangles, and The Go-Go’s made excellent summer soundtracks with their respective albums Deep Sea Skiving (1983), Bananarama (1984), and True Confessions (1986); All Over the Place (1984), Different Light (1986), and Everything (1988); and Beauty and the Beat (1981), Vacation (1982), and Talk Show (1984). Also, does Bananarama’s debut album have the greatest cover art of all time?

7. Sports Night (1998-2000)

My binge of short-lived behind-the-scenes shows continues! Clearly Aaron Sorkin and pals like Tommy Schlamme were still learning the ropes of TV, and they were not helped by the fact that premiering in the ‘90s mandated a laugh track in the first season. But the bones of Sorkin’s future are there: Josh Charles and Peter Krause’s bromance feels like laying the track for some of the best of The West Wing, and Felicity Huffman is one of his iconic strong female leads. Robert Guillaume’s elder statesmen of TV (both in front and behind of the camera) is the glue that holds the show together, and the show’s love for sports is so infectious it draws in non-sporty girlies like me.

8. Legal Eagles (1986)

A legal dramedy starring Robert Redford directed with the light touch of Ivan Reitman? This art heist murder mystery co-starring Debra Winger and Daryl Hannah is a hidden gem of the ‘80s...and also an addition to my Favorite Tap Dances list on Letterboxd? Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

9. The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses (1989)

A Rolling Stone article I shared last month got me curious about this band (whom I know nothing about beyond that article), and this album has been scratching The Smiths itch that lives in me.

June Critic Picks

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

It’s a visual wonder with stellar voice work, especially Jason Schwartzman’s clever villain, and once we get to the Nueva York universe, everything flies. But boy, does it take a while to get there. I normally reserve my Round Ups for praise, but since Across the Spider-Verse’s nearly universal acclaim won’t be tarnished by my critique, the spirit of transparency compels me to complain this film is at least 30 minutes too long. When you’re trying to be both a Gwen Stacy movie and a Miles Morales movie, the somber first hour slows down even more and delays revisiting the stuff we loved most in the first film. The kids next to me were antsy well before this was over, my dad fell asleep in the middle (which he never does), and then it rivals Lord of the Rings for fake out endings. Here's hoping Spider-Ham and Spider-Man Noir get to make up for their lost time in part 3! Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8/10

2. Ninotchka (1939)

When Soviet Greta Garbo travels to Paris on Communist Party business, can she resist the city’s charms? She and her fellow comrades find themselves succumbing to the amenities, champagne, and romance they can’t find in Mother Russia. An Ernst Lubitsch-directed rom-com co-written by Billy Wilder can’t miss! Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

3. Little Women (2017)

Another Round Up, another version of Little Women. I immediately pushed this PBS miniseries to the top of my watchlist when I dug into Little Mermaid star Jonah Hauer-King’s past filmography and discovered he performed alongside Angela Lansbury (!!!). Though I expect the budget was smaller than a big screen feature’s, the extended runtime allows for moments we haven’t seen depicted on film before. The cast of ringers includes Lansbury as a delightfully cranky Aunt March and Hauer-King as a lovelorn Laurie, as well Maya Hawke as Jo, Kathryn Newton as Amy, and Michael Gambon as Mr. Laurence in an 1860s Concord as bucolic as ever. Like a warm, encouraging hug!

4. Past Lives (2023)

This bittersweet romantic drama makes me want to call up my boyfriend who moved away the summer after 7th grade and the guy I never dated in college who studied abroad and then transferred and that boy I met at a party a few years ago who said he was moving next week to sail boats in Delaware and then be disappointed none of them are as I remember or imagined who they would become. The best film of the year so far? Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 10/10

5. Double Feature - Silly 1943 Musicals About Marrying for Money: Du Barry Was a Lady + Higher and Higher

Movies today should try being as weird as ‘40s musicals. In Higher and Higher (Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 7.5/10), a one-time millionaire tries to marry off his maid to a wealthy bachelor, though she may prefer to romance Frank Sinatra (playing himself!) instead. In Du Barry Was a Lady (7.5/10 // 8/10), Lucille Ball is trying to snag herself a rich guy, though she may prefer to romance Gene Kelly instead. (This is a much more obvious addition to my Favorite Tap Dances list on Letterboxd.) Both are silly, but when you’ve got Sinatra singing or Kelly dancing to Cole Porter songs, you’ve still got wow moments. More movies today should detour into 18th century dream sequences!

6. Valley of the Kings (1954)

Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker go on a high-stakes archaeological dig in the early 1900s set in front of gorgeous photography in Egypt. A fun prototype for Indiana Jones and The Mummy! Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 8/10

7. Asteroid City (2023)

Something Wes Anderson does not get enough credit for: The man has never made a film longer than two hours. This spring’s trend of Wes Anderson-inspired social media may have brought attention to the previously unacquainted, but it took only a few of those superficially xanthic posts to exhaust my Instagram feed. Most social filmmaking is ugly and chaotic, but Anderson’s attention to detail when blocking his troupe of players in the golden ratio, designing perfectly-shaped mushroom clouds, and using color theory to select his palette doesn’t just hold up on a big screen—it deserves it. Read my full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 10/10

8. Double Feature - ‘90s Brad Pitt: Legends of the Fall (1994) + The Devil’s Own (1997)

In Legends of the Fall (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10), Brad Pitt’s nonconformist Tristan upends the lives of his family members (including Anthony Hopkins and Julia Ormond) as they strive to keep their Montana estate through World War I, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. In The Devil’s Own (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10), Pitt’s IRA terrorist Rory upends the life of the family who takes him in (including Harrison Ford) when he escapes to America. One is a soapy historical epic, one is a gritty police thriller, but both show the promise of Pitt’s career.

9. A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

A pretty good adaptation of one of my favorite high school English class reads. Though the nuance and depth of the Mr. Charles “I Get Paid by the Word” Dickens novel can’t be captured in just two hours and the portrayal of Lucie is, well, a lot, Ronald Colman’s Sydney and Blanche Yurka’s Madame De Farge are pitch-perfect, and it’s as moving as its source material. Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

10. Good Reads

The incessant onslaught of more-TV-than-can-possibly-be-watched is reaching critical mass: 

“The Idol and Our Backlash Times,” NYTimes.com (2023)

“‘The End of Peak Television:’ Has the Era of Prestige TV Just Ground to a Halt?” TheGuardian.com (2023)

“Peak TV Is Over. Welcome to Trough TV,” slate.com (2023)

“From Warrior Nun to Three Women, TV Shows are Being Cancelled. Yet Somehow Emily in Paris Lives On,” TheGuardian.com (2023)

“Media's Succession Obsession,” axios.com (2023)

Thoughts on our moment in diversity in TV and movies: 

“Box Office: Early Summer Tentpoles Cash In, Fueled by Diverse Stars,” HollywoodReporter.com (2023) 

“‘Why is Bridgerton’s Race Twisting Acceptable?’ The Real Problem With the Show’s Black Fantasy,” TheGuardian.com (2023)

The Hollywood Reporter continues its impressive breadth of Writer’s Strike coverage: 

“Tom Hanks, Baby Jessica and Lessons from a Three Strike Writer,” HollywoodReport.com (2023)

“Guest Column: If Writers Lose the Standoff With Studios, It Hurts All Filmmakers,” HollywoodReporter.com (2023)

And a grab bag of pieces on baseball, basketball, and Beyoncé: 

“The Team Trying Very, Very Hard to Be the Worst in Baseball History,” slate.com (2023)

“Beyoncé Caused Sweden Inflation Bump, Expert Says,” politico.eu (2023)

“The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time,” NewRepublic.com (2023)

“The Flash Was Never Going to Run Away From Its Problems,” TheRinger.com (2023)

“Employee of the Month Rewarded With More Work,” vice.com (2023)

Also in June…

I’m processing a lot of emotions about what’s going on at Turner Classic Movies, and I’ve yet to figure out how to put them into words. Until I get there, I’m constantly adding to my list of movies I’ve watched thanks to the people who work there, and you can see the almost-350 of them on Letterboxd. 

Until the end of July, you can see what I’m watching in real time on Letterboxd. Yes, I’ve seen Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One; no I can’t talk about it until after the review embargo lifts on July 5th. 

Pending Twitter doesn’t self-implode before you read this, you can also find me there.

Photo credits: Bananarama, The Stone Roses, Good Reads. All others IMDb.com.

[necrogfie]

yk what i love ?

actual bl chinese drama. from 2014 - 2017 when it was allowed, and they didn't have to pass everything as bromance and act like the mls calling each others 'soulmates' was purely platonic and use symbolics to show they love each others

[lindalung]

Homoeroticism, Rivalries, and Doubling in Lo and Behold

( Let me just post some of my old essays that I wrote 2 years ago on here not that I think anyone cares )

Come Home Love: Lo and Behold is a sitcom from Hong Kong’s TVB (Television Broadcast Limited), which currently has over 1300 episodes and has been running since 2017. The name of the series, Come Home Love, comes from the previous installments of similar yet unrelated sitcoms, which all promote the qualities of familial love with a goal to bring happiness to the people of Hong Kong each day. In addition to familial love, there is no shortage of romantic storylines for the characters, although they are entirely heterosexual relationships. This is unsurprising as same-sex topics are still taboo and rare in Hong Kong media, especially within TVB. While there is a slow change emerging, as seen in Ossan’s Love, a television drama featuring relationships between homosexual male characters from TVB’s rival broadcasting company ViuTV, LGBTQ+ representation is still lacking. However, some characters in Lo and Behold exhibit interpersonal relationships with dynamics that can be interpreted as homoerotic and queer-coded in subtext. Netizens online refer to their favourite on-screen pairings as “CPs” (couples), and several popular CPs feature characters of the same gender. It is noted that there is virtually no distinction between romantic and platonic CPs, which further blurs the line between the two types of relationships. One of the show’s most popular same-gender CPs include George (Aaryn Cheung) and Chi Chi Hau (Hero Yuen), in which the former character feigned homosexuality in the show, when he was actually in love with the latter’s girlfriend at the time. The storyline between George and Hau is the only close to canon depiction of homosexuality. There are also more homosexual male CPs, such as the bromance between Kam Shing On (Kalok Chow) and Chu Ling Ling (Ricco Ng), and the rivals-to-friends pairing between KC (Jimmy Au) and John (Stephen Ho). Meanwhile, the most popular female-female CP is the pairing nicknamed and loosely translated as “Double Big”, between “Ms. Big” Linda Lung (Mandy Lam) and “Big Sister” Hung Sheung Sin (Joyce Tang). The frequent enemies-to-friends-to-enemies-again dynamic between the two have captured audiences since their first storyline together in episode 350, and have since been a fan favourite. The pairing between Linda and Sheung Sin encapsulate the essence of homoerotic subtext and queer-coding in the sitcom through the rivalry dynamic, subversion of female gender roles in characterization, and the mirroring concept.

The homoerotic subtext lies within Sheung Sin and Linda’s rivalry and obsession with one another, and their desire to anger the other person for amusement. Their enemies-to-friends-to-enemies-again dynamic is what makes their relationship work. While Sheung Sin and Linda have other rivals in the series such as Holly (Chelffy Yau), Linda’s rival socialite, they do not spark the same effect. Perhaps it is the combination of Tang and Lam’s outstanding chemistry paired with the right scripts that creates the fan-favourite “Double Big” CP. They frequently experience near-death experiences together, thus strengthening their bond and becoming friends momentarily, only to return to enemy status afterwards for the sake of their egos. Although they claim to hate each other in public, there are moments of vulnerability that demonstrate they care for each other. For instance, Linda admits to caring about Sheung Sin in episode 1192 when she visits her at the hospital, and refuses to leave her behind when they are chased by a killer. Sheung Sin and Linda’s obsession carries sapphic undertones as one can argue that rivalries are inherently homoerotic. For instance, Linda is often at the forefront of Sheung Sin’s mind, and functions as her muse in a way since she has based many of her screenplays’ characters on Linda. It is worth noting that Sheung Sin does so with the intention of angering her, which may further push the homoeroticism. Furthermore, their storylines depict tropes that would otherwise be romantic clichés if enacted on a heterosexual couple, such as constantly bickering like an old married couple, or the plot where their dogs were apparently in love and had babies together in episodes 397–420. It is not unrealistic to detect romantic feelings between the pairing; several heterosexual romantic relationships on the show, such as the popular “KungShui” CP between Kung Yip (Stanley Cheung) and Mary (Koni Lui), also follow the enemies-to-lovers trope. Therefore, the line between platonic and romantic attraction for the two characters is continually muddled throughout the long-running series.

The characterizations of Linda and Sheung Sin’s characters are largely subversions of how traditional Chinese cultures expect women to act, and thus contribute to their queer-coded nature. Queer-coding villains has been a common practice in media for decades; while Linda and Sheung Sin are not exactly villains, the writers assign undesirable traits that make them frequently loathed by the other characters and loved-to-be-hated by audiences alike. They are both extremely stubborn, short-tempered, and domineering, which is the opposite of how women are expected to act, especially in regards to Chinese traditions about submissive and gentle women. Moreover, misogynistic and ageist jokes are often made at their expense due to their identities as middle-aged women. For instance, Lung King Fung (Andrew Chan) often labels Linda as “middle-aged crazy lady”, and there are frequent references to their ages along with menopausal tempers. Their actions are usually made out to be unreasonable and heartless; for instance, Linda fits the “mean older female boss” trope who is often verbally abusive to her employees while Sheung Sin is a writer known for her vengeful heart and stops at nothing to bring pain on those who have wronged her. Lo and Behold has a variety of characters representing different ideals, including Tam Do Duk (Wing Chun Chan) and his family who are strict believers of traditional Chinese values that directly oppose Linda and Sheung Sin’s behaviours. These stark comparisons emphasize the distinction between the characters. For example, episodes 719–721 feature Linda and Sheung Sin at a camp run by Do Duk in attempts to transform themselves into good, traditional Chinese wives. However, by the end of the mini arc the two women and their partners realize that they prefer the way they are, and there is no need to change themselves. Their characterizations may not be directly linked to queer-coding itself, but complex relationships with femininity and patriarchal expectations are common for women in the LGBTQ+ community.

Linda’s canon romantic relationships in the show are also heavily queer-coded and subvert traditional expectations of a heterosexual relationship. Due to Linda’s wealthy family background, one of her biggest obstacles is her disapproving father Lung Kam Wai (Lok Lam Law) whom she vies for validation from. Early on in episode 40, Linda’s romantic past is revealed; her father disapproved of her college boyfriend and then she marries a man strictly for business reasons, which is not an uncommon practice among the wealthy characters in Lo and Behold. However, they later divorce and Linda has remained single until she meets her current love interest, Sung Shui Fai (Jack Hui). While under the influence of Sheung Sin’s hypnotism, she also later reveals that she did not receive her first kiss until the age of 30. A lack of romantic experience is common for members of the LBGTQ+ community, especially those who remain closeted throughout their teenaged years. Additionally, her romance-less marriage is resemblant of lavender marriages, which are opposite-sex marriages conducted by queer people in order to conceal their true sexualities. However, the most indicative factor of queer-coding among Linda’s relationships lies within her current relationship with Shui Fai. In the earlier stages of their relationship, their romance was a secretive affair since he is a lower middle-class worker and she is a member of the upper-class, and was also engaged to another man at the time. The themes of hiding in a secretive relationship and fearing being discovered are common in queer relationships due to the danger of homophobia. Furthermore, she is 6 years older than him, has a higher professional and social status, and has the dominant personality in the relationship, thus subverting patriarchal heterosexual relationships again. In episodes 627–628, Linda “comes out” about her relationship to her father, and is subsequently disowned by him, leaving her with few financial resources. These events are deeply reminiscent of young queer people getting disowned by their families who disapprove of their sexuality and their relationships. Like some parents in reality, Kam Wai has a complicated relationship with Linda, and he gradually gives her and her partner a chance after a long period of time. All of Linda’s previous love interests could be replaced with women, and there would not be many changes in the overall narrative because it already fits that of a queer character. Of course, the divide between Linda and Shui Fai in canon is a class related issue, but interpretation through a queer lens provides the conclusion that it shares many similarities with LBGTQ+ relationships.

Linda and Sheung Sin’s relationship verges on the mirroring concept in which two characters are extremely similar to one another to the point where their identities begin to blur into one can be found between. Borrowing from the Gothic genre, tropes such as doubling and mirroring can be used to explore sexuality and other repressed desires that may not immediately surface. These concepts are also explored in more recent pieces of media with homoerotic undertones such as Ingmar Bergman’s 1997 film Persona, David Lynch’s 2001 film Mulholland Drive, and the K-Pop subunit Red Velvet — Irene & Seulgi. While the tone of Lo and Behold gravitates toward mindless comedy rather than that of a psychological thriller, there are still familiar remnants of these classic tropes. Despite the social class difference, the two characters have similar backgrounds as eldest daughters of their family who had lost their mothers at a young age, in addition to the aforementioned shared personality traits. The other characters are aware of their similarities; in episode 990, Sheung Sin’s uncle Hung Shu Yan (Pal Sinn) points out that besides Linda’s signature wavy hair and sequined outfits, the two women are practically the same in temperament. Mirroring in Lo and Behold is also visually represented through deliberate styling choices, with several comical scenes in which Linda and Sheung Sin find themselves coincidentally wearing the same clothing (episodes 350, 380, 762, 1222, 1502). While the scenes are meant to elicit a few lighthearted chuckles, it emphasizes the effect of doubling through direct imagery, as if they are looking in a mirror. The characters are frequently mistaken for one another even by those closest to them, since the similarities run so deep inside and out.

The blurring of their identities does not stop with physical appearances and personality traits; Linda and Sheung Sin have both attempted to take over each other’s roles within their families for the sake of contention. Since their lives are intertwined with one another, their families often interact, making it easy for both women to manipulate each other’s family members to their heart’s content. Linda’s brother Terry (Kim Li) is an actor for the productions that Sheung Sin works on, and Sheung Sin’s own family members are often caught up in between the two women, since her uncle Shu Yan, her son Shing On, and her sister Mary all work for Linda. After Kam Wai cuts ties with Linda, Sheung Sin devises a plan to replace Linda’s role in the Lung family simply so she can anger her. In doing so, she transforms her hair and clothing into Linda’s style, temporarily becomes Kam Wai’s goddaughter, and gains the trust of her brother, uncle, and former employees, seemingly taking everything away from her. Although her plans are foiled, she tries to “become” Linda yet again in episode 1041, in which she becomes Terry’s replacement sister while he is angry at her over a misunderstanding. While Linda is less intent on becoming Sheung Sin, episode 709 features a jealous Sheung Sin because Linda had replaced her role as her son’s most feared person. From these incidents, it appears as though Sheung Sin has an obsession with taking Linda’s identity, to the point where their respective family members begin to feel confusion about who is who. The constantly blurred line between their identities and their habit of replacing one another resembles the tropes in other forms of media with homoerotic subtext.

The homoerotic interpretation of the characters and events in Come Home Love: Lo and Behold merely approaches events and facts that already exist in canon from a different angle. The clear tension and subtext between Linda Lung and Hung Sheung Sin is present and creates an enjoyable viewing experience with two dynamic and fascinating characters, and brings an insurmountable amount of depth into a simplistic sitcom. Whether Sheung Sin wants to become Linda or whether she simply wants her is left up to interpretation, and the complex psyche of a twisted mind like Hung Sheung Sin’s is worth exploring.

[veronica-nardi]

Man to man

La serie dei travestimenti e delle garanzie

Voglio essere breve e veloce sul commento di questa serie, anche perché tra poco mi toccherà scriverne un altro su When the camellia blooms. Ultimamente non faccio altro che scrivere commenti.

Innanzitutto, sono molto offesa perché ho iniziato a vedere questo drama SOLAMENTE per la presenza di Song Joong-ki, presenza che ha avuto la grazia di mostrarsi al nono episodio, per un minuto e mezzo forse, nelle vesti di un banchiere.

Song Joong-ki che interpreta un banchiere non è oggettivamente credibile.

Me:

Ma a parte questo, preferisco fare una lista di quello che mi è e non mi è piaciuto, perché mi trovo meglio.

COSE CHE MI SONO PIACIUTE:

I personaggi secondari

Ebbene sì, il lead e la lead non sono riusciti a conquistarmi, mentre mi hanno convinta molto di più personaggi come il procuratore Lee, l'uomo dei travestimenti, e il signor Jang (ma questo attore sa fare altro oltre al poliziotto?), i miei preferiti della serie.

Pensavo fossero dei semplici personaggi di contorno che sarebbero comparsi qua e là, invece si sono rivelati più importanti di quello che credevo. Entrambi sono caratterizzati molto bene, sono stati divertenti e commoventi allo stesso tempo.

Per me, la vera bromance di questa serie sono loro, e nessuno potrà farmi cambiare idea.

Carino anche l'Agente Fantasma traditore del NIS, un personaggio a cui hanno dato uno spazio che non mi aspettavo e che mi è piaciuto molto.

Il rapporto tra Do Ha e l'attore.

Mi è piaciuta molto la loro l'amicizia e come si sono conosciuti: entrambi due sopravvissuti a delle tragedie, si sono salvati e aiutati a vicenda.

Si adorano e sono protettivi l'uno con l'altra, ma il loro rapporto non è mai passato a una fase romantica, è sempre rimasta una bellissima amicizia, e questa cosa mi è piaciuta un sacco.

Il signor Mo e Mi Eun.

So che il signor Mo dovrebbe essere uno dei cattivi di questa serie, ma ad essere sincera non sono mai riuscita a odiarlo o a strapparmi le mani nella speranza che venisse incastrato come si fa di solito coi villain.

Alla fine non sembra nemmeno un vero e proprio villain, di quelli cattivi fino al midollo.

Ad essere sincera, mi è dispiaciuto un po' per lui e credo sia il personaggio della serie per cui ho empatizzato di più. Non riesco nemmeno io a capire il perché. Forse perché non l'ho mai visto con i miei occhi fare qualcosa di cattivo? Voglio dire, quest'uomo ha passato il 90% del tempo seduto sul divano del suo studio a chiacchierare e complottare XD.

Alla fine mi è dispiaciuto vederlo distrutto dietro le sbarre. È la giusta punizione, così come è giusto dire che è un uomo che è stato ingannato e manipolato per anni (il signor Mo è la vera vittima di questa serie), e credo che questa sia la cosa che lo abbia distrutto di più.

Di Mi Eun mi ha colpito l'immenso sacrificio che ha deciso di compiere come Agente Fantasma per il bene della missione. Il signor Mo sarà stato sedotto e ingannato, ma lei ha dovuto sacrificare tutta la sua vita per un bene più grande.

Ma ora chi lo spiega al bambino che la madre si è sposata col padre con l'inganno e che per otto anni è stata un'Agente Fantasma sotto copertura?

Traumatizzato a vita.

Yeo Woon Gwang.

Lo salvo per il rotto della cuffia, solo perché è un personaggio caratterizzato bene e sfaccettato, che mi ha fatto tanto sorridere ma che si è anche rivelato più profondo di quello che credevo.

Ma secondo me meritava di più di passare 5/6 episodi a spolverare due statuette di legno con il senso della sua esistenza buttato nel cesso.

COSE CHE NON MI SONO PIACIUTE:

Il protagonista

Non è che mi abbia fatto cagare. È solo che secondo me è stato sfruttato male e non è stato approfondito abbastanza. Tutto quello che sappiamo di lui è che fa l'Agente Fantasma. Riguardo la sua infanzia, la sua famiglia, o il perché abbia deciso di fare questo lavoro, nulla si sa.

Oggettivamente, quest'uomo vive una vita difficile e triste, sempre in pericolo, sempre in viaggio, ogni volta con un'identità diversa. Non ha radici, non ha una casa, non ha stabilità. Ma questo punto non viene affrontato con la profondità che speravo, ed è un peccato.

L'unica cosa buona che poteva avere era un'evoluzione che lo portasse ad abbandonare questa vita per mettere radici da qualche parte, ma non gli ho mai creduto fino in fondo quando diceva di volerlo fare, e infatti...

Un'altra cosa che non mi è piaciuta di lui è quanto sia stato over power.

La storia d'amore

Stendiamo un velo pietoso. A parte il fatto che non si capisce bene come si siano innamorati, la loro love story sembra scollegata alla trama principale orizzontale, tanto che a una certa ho avuto l'impressione di star guardando due serie differenti.

Non mi sono poi piaciuti i loro dialoghi, che ho trovato poco profondi ma più confezionati da frasi fatte e tipiche da film.

Inoltre ho trovato la loro storia abbastanza ripetitiva e poco coinvolgente.

La struttura della serie.

Mi aspettavo una cosa più seria, ma non è questo il problema. La serie è del genere comedy-spia, tipo Ocean's eleven, ma a mio parere i due generi non sono stati fusi per bene, sembra di vedere due cose distinte, due storyline nella stessa serie.

Inoltre la trama, quella vera e propria, è un po' incasinata e spesso poco chiara, incapace di dare risposta a tutte le domande, e povera di colpi di scena, ma ammetto che si risolleva abbastanza negli ultimi episodi @dilebe06

La bromance principale

Sono delusa. Pensavo che Man to man mi avrebbe regalato un'altra bellissima bromance da inserire nella mia lista delle più belle dell'anno, ma la verità è che non mi ha soddisfatta.

Per carità, è carina e ci sono scenette molto divertenti, ma di questa bromance io ho avuto due impressioni: che l'attore fosse molto più investito nel rapporto rispetto al bodyguard, e che la relazione non sia mai stata approfondita come si deve.

Oddio, non è ai livelli della "bromance" di My Country perché lì i protagonisti si sono infilzati a vicenda per quindici episodi per poi morire abbracciati nell'ultimo, ma secondo me questa bromance poteva dare molto, molto di più.

Per il resto, a livello tecnico Man to man è fatta molto bene, talmente bene che la tecnologia messa in scena sembra fantascienza. Belle le scenografie. Carine le ost, anche se abbastanza ripetitive.

Punteggio: 6.8

[sweetchan91]

“I reached for you”

[save-the-data]

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend | S01E01

Chinese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

Episodes | Gaga | Viki | YouTube | iQIYI | WeTV | Youku | Catalogue

Native Title: #我女朋友的男朋友

Genres: #Comedy #Romance #Sci-Fi

Tags: #Eccentric Male Lead #Bromance

Cast:  #Bai Shu #Li Chuan

Another one of all-time favourites, a lot of throwbacks at the moment. This drama never fails me to feel happy.

[gabrielokun]

[absolutebl]

Do you know any thai BL dramas with sad ending?

Sure thing:

36 Thai BLs With Sad Endings

The Miracle of Teddy Bear 2022

Till the World Ends 2023

Hidden Love 2021

SELF the series 2022

Country Boy 2021

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us 2022

Restarted 2022

Love Area 2021

The Best Story (YinWar) 2021

The Love of Winter 2022

Loveless Society 2021

Timeline 2013

I Am Your King 1 2017

Waterboyy the series (remake) 2017

My Bromance the series (remake) 2016

Something In My Room 2022

My Dream 2018

The Tuxedo 2022

Grey Rainbow: Views of Love (KarnNat) 2016

Love Machine 2021

Red Wine in the Dark Night 2015

Dew the Movie 2019

Love of Siam 2007

Love Next Door 1 2013

Feel Good to Say Goodbye 2015

Water Boyy the movie 2015

Gray 2016

Present Perfect 2017

What the Duck 2018

The Best Twins 2019

Secret Love: Love Behind One's Back 2014

My Bromance the movie 2014 & My Bromance 2: 5 Years Later 2021

My Blessing 2023

I Love You 2017

Sweet Student Boy AKA Sweet Boy 2016

The Effect 2019

Sad end = by romance standards AKA the main couple does not end up together.

It's the BL bit that's a bit shaky on some of these early ones in particular. Wild times before 2019 in particular.

The bold ones are the ones that really messed with my head in a bad way.

I VERY MUCH recommend against The Effect, My Bromance 2014, and Grey Rainbow in particular. If you watch them, you can't say I didn't warn you.

Love of Siam's lead actors 15 years after the original movie. It still hurts.

[waterywet]

same

[jwoongz]

Hello. I've been wanting to get into SF9 for awhile now and I was wondering, what would you recommend variety show wise / music wise.

Hi, hi!! Welcome new Fantasy so happy to have you here. I hope you know that getting this ask makes me immeasurably happy. My sf9 boys are beyond talented and it brings me a lot of joy to be able to recommend things to you!! I'm sorry this ending being horribly long and has a million links, but I hope you find it helpful!

Variety Shows:

League of SF9egends

Secret Code 9

Trip With Fantasy

SF9 Fact in Star <- Be prepared to die of laughter.

Mafia Dance (Poor Chani this whole episode ;-;)

SF9 Sangsa

They will also be on Weekly Idol next week, July 13th, so check them out!! :D

Title Tracks: These are personal favorites!

Summer Breeze

RPM

Mamma Mia (They said their new comeback has a similar style and I'm excited)

Easy Love

Savior This is actually a Universe release! But the video and song are sooooo good.

B-Sides: These are some that I really love. I tried to pick from a variety of their albums so there is a good spread. :)

My Song, My Story (It's actually one of my favorites in all of kpop)

Shadow

On and On (Inseong and Youngbin)

Fire

Jungle Game

Play Hard

Love Again

Liar

Some Really Amazing Performances: Quite a few of these are covers but, I feel like you get a better idea of a group's talent when they are out of their elements so I wanted to include them. :)

"The Stealer" Kingdom Legendary War

"Move" Kingdom Legendary War (Best performance from the whole show imo)

"Love Shot" KCON 2019 NY × M COUNTDOWN

"Good Guy" Comeback Stage

"RPM" SF9 LIVE FANTASY #2 UNIXERSE

"Fanfare" Debut Stage

"K.O." Debut Stage (Literally some of the most insane choreography in kpop)

"Be Mine/Growl/I Need You" KCON Japan 2017

Dramas: This may be a little on the extra side since I know that watching dramas is a whole new level of commitment, but SF9 are frequently in dramas... likely more than any other group. It feels like such a huge part of who they are so I wanted to include it! These boys have been in so many!! You can get a full list here, but some fantastic dramas they have been in are:

Hwiyoung & Chani / Imitation - they were part of a project group called "Shax". Hwiyoung even gets his own romance sub-plot, and it is just the CUTEST.

Rowoon / Extra-ordinary You - He has been in a ton of dramas, but this one is my favorite. It's about comic book characters who are trying to change their destiny.

Dawon /Doom at Your Service - This one is about a girl who is dying who makes a deal with a god of doom. Dawon plays the little brother and has an adorable bromance with the male lead. It's such a cutesy character, but the show is pretty top tier and he does such a good job!