#fahlanruk ep 7

[gillianthecat]

Fahlanruk - episode 7

I don't know if the show is getting better or my expectations have dropped, but I'm enjoying Fahlanruk more. Maybe it's just that it's the perfect sort of trash television to watch in bed while sick. I'm still not that interested in the main relationship, or even either of the main characters especially. But that's ok. It's the kind of show that depends on the couple's chemistry, and theirs isn't that interesting to me, but it's also stopped bothering me. Its relaxing, in a way, to watch a show where I don't really care about them. I am still invested in 💙PingTap💙, however.

A selection of reactions while watching:

Fah's death glare at Ping and Tap when they crash his date. And Ping's response - we just want to be around you when you're happy. Aww. I (and Fah!) can't be annoyed at his nosiness after that.

This sensual slow motion cooking scene! This is hilarious. I don't know if it's supposed to be sexy, but it's hilarious.

Is spaghetti carbonara the meal you cook your date to impress them in Thailand? I feel like I've seen it in a few other shows too.

Sick boy + caretaking + sensual wet white towel. This scene actually succeeded in being sensual. Although that position didn't look to comfortable for either of them. I love that Gaga translated the verb as "wipe"

Ok. I was intrigued by Pai at the beginning, but now I'm just annoyed. All of these outside characters trying to interfere are annoying. I'm not even that invested in Fah and Sher's relationship, but I wish everyone (even the twin brother) would leave them alone to figure it out by themselves.

Speaking of which, Sher looks too happy this episode; he's going to get his heart broken soon.

Tle! Already broke up with the new guy and had returned, trying to win back Fah. Ok dude. I had some sympathy for you before this for dating a cheater, but now I think I just don't like you. Although you are pretty.

If I went to a school this gossipy I think I would throw myself off a cliff. Or at least run away to the woods and never interact with another human being again. Fah, Sher and Tle are three meters away from you guys. They can hear every word you're saying 🥴

Who choose "ratchet" for the translation?!

Aww, here come Gear and Prince. I was wondering if they'd show up this episode. I admit I'm not particularly invested in them, but I hope they get their happy ending.

Yay Anna! Unfortunately every time we see her Pink and Tar are there. I want to like you two, you have the potential to be cute together, but every time we see you you're being awful in some new way.

Why is Prince upset about Gear asking him if he and Sher were dating? Was there some implications to the question in Thai that got lost in translation? Is he just annoyed because people keep asking him that? To me it seemed a reasonable question for people as close as these two, especially since he knows Gear is interested in him.

Is this grocery store a sponsor? Is that why there's such a focus on shopping and cooking? (Ingredients did it better. No offense.)

Aww this whole coffee/water bit was cute.

Ping you adorable disaster child. I love you. You didn't want Tap to think you cared so much so you pretended to go to the tennis match (despite his begging you to stay), except that you didn't want to be far so you went to a cafe nearby so you could be close if Tap needed you, except then you fell asleep so you didn't do either. And now you're finding out the results of the tennis match so that you can pretend you went to it instead of sleeping in a cafe all afternoon. My favorite disaster.

Do we recognize this house (Sher's? Fah's? It looks like the living room from where Fah was talking about his dad, but I thought they bought groceries for Sher's place?) Is it one of the commonly used locations that keep popping up?

Oh it is Fah's place. They just stopped there first for some reason.

Aww. Sher knows he's starting to care and is worried about what will happen when Fah gets bored of him. (He even sort of says it, in the guise of talking about stuff to do at his house.) Which, I don't blame you dude, I suspect Fah of the same thing.

Apo? 👀 Who are you? I would have guessed an ex that broke Sher's heart and made him scared of intimacy, but Sher looked just as confused as me. I guess I'll find out in 15 minutes, as soon as I move my laundry and start episode 8.

[aliceisathome]

Once again I am distracted by Fahlan's large nipples - and not in a good way.

Tap and Ping continue to be adorbs and that may have been one of the most romanticised white towel baths I've seen. I liked Sher's public claiming in front of Tle and greatly dislike the whole femme fatale Pai storyline.

I think my problem with this series is that I just don't like Fah very much. Hanging on in there for Tap and Ping though - it's all very MekBoss.

[absolutebl]

This Week In BL - The Floodgates Have Opened

Oct 2022 Wk 1

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) 9 of 12 - Aye is such an intense and focused little thing. The eye contact with these 2 is beyond eye fucking into something more like eye soul-mating. The pool kiss was fine, but they looked cold. GMMTV loves a pool kiss. 

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) 9 of 14 - this show makes me cry. Fee is a wonderful friend. This was a good episode, it was fun to see Eiw come into his own. I look forward to the reunion next week.

Ai Long Nhai (Mon iQIYI) 2 of 10 - I figured it out, this is Make it Right the uni years! That’s why I like it. Nhai Is apparently flirtier and gayer when drunk. I’ve known some British lads like that. OK so sex happened. I like that there was some kind of confused drunken consent. But also serious regrets and bisexual identity crisis. Poor Nhai: You can’t have your friend and eat him too. This plot is moving quickly: it’s ep 2 and they have slept together and confessed, plus a one month trial relationship. I like it. This is messy gay in a way I appreciate. 

Ghost Host, Ghost House (Weds YouTube & Gaga) 1 of 8 - I'm enjoying the lead pair, the meet cute, and the combative nature of their relationship. I’m not wild about the premise but I like how different it is from all the previous “my ghost boyfriend” takes on this concept. More “our human pet.” I’m beginning to be weirdly charmed by how bureaucratic the Thai afterlife always seems to be. 

Big Dragon (Sat Gaga) 1 of 8 - Basically we have player love-rivals (a girl)/enemies to lovers + a rich/poor pairing: Yai & Mangkorn. It had a good hook but most of the ep was dull; thankfully Gaga has a 1.5x speed. The acting is bad but the sex scene was fine: dominance struggles, lots of switching, and verse stuff. *we likie* This show is using drugging (impaired judgement/dub-con/both men), sexual extortion, and blackmail as a plot device not unlike LITA. But it’s using antiheroes and presenting everything, including the characters, in a negative light. Thus right now in BL we have a great example of how the same plot device can be depicted differently and result in an entirely different perspective and watcher experience. In other words: a narrative I’m hating in LITA doesn’t bother me here, because of characterization.  

Work from Heart (Thurs YouTube) 3 of 7 - The agro yet deeply in-crush behavior of our tsundere seme is kinda fun, but the fashion remains truly terrible and the most unpleasant performer in this show. Although it’s got competition. 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) 8 of 13 - the premise and blackmail set up for this couple really fucked with me (because Sky is a broken angel-baby and Pai is an irredeemable pustule). I am not happy about it: DUMPSTER FIRE TRASH WATCH ALONG HERE. That said, there is a GREAT analysis of Sky’s character here (that I totally enjoy and want to be true, but I think gives Mame too much credit). 

Fahlanruk (Sun GaGa) 4 of 12 - So Fah’s bf cheated first? Okay, still doesn’t justify his behavior. Honestly, I really can’t stand this show. Now we are playing a game of how long can I go before dropping it.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan Thurs GaGa & Viki) 7 of 8 - these two pretty much define awkward. Takara because he is trying desperately to keep his cool reserve (and perform perfect seme) while simultaneously being so in love/lust with Amagi in high school where desire is, by definition and practice, uncool. Amagi is all frenetic movements and angles, like he cannot control his limbs or his emotions, everything is deeply confusing to him including Takara’s affection. Watching them stumble around each other and agonize over every little movement and conversation is an exercise in joy, patience, and agony. It’s all so “teenager” I can hardly stand it. This episode, however, was more about Tanaka coping with learning his friend is 1. not straight and 2. deeply in love with an adorable weirdo. It was a quieter ep than I expected but sweet. “He said something cute and I couldn’t help myself“ is so traditional Japanese seme in one sentence I can’t even.

Kabe Koji (Japan Mon Viki) 1 of 10 - basically this is A Man Who Defies the World of BL + Senpai This Can’t be Love (as @heretherebedork said). Nakao Masaki playing a sunshine bouncy himbo character is a fucking revelation, I didn’t think he had it in him. But our tsundere uke is far too tsundere for me, and despite the premise (AN IDOL LOVE INTEREST!) I do not not really like it. I just hate the stalker photograph obsession thing (My Engineer, SCOY, STCBL, now this) and I can’t support a character that starts out this way, it’s apparently a trigger I didn’t know I had until BL tried to romanticize it. I love Nakao Masaki (in a non stalker, no photos kind of way) so I might muscle through but... 

Once Again (Korea Fri GaGa) 7-8fin - Cute date plus hand holding and a mild but sweet moot kiss does not a satisfying ending make. They are great boyfriends even if only for a few days. As expected, like Kissable Lips, this one ends sad. Can’t stop the Koreans when a temporal paradox and death is on the line. They do love their tragedy, not to mention unavoidable fate. 2/10 NOT RECOMMENDED

It’s Airing But I’m Not Watching It

War of Y - 20 eps A spy have reported in on a spoiler assessment of the first 2 installments here. 2 more to go. 

Oh My Sunshine Night 16 eps - I’m scared it’s gonna be sad, so I’m waiting for spies to tell me it’s safe, so far reported to be quite the soap opera. 

To Sir With Love AKA Khun Chai 10 eps - dito OMSN, so I’m holding until it finishes its run. 

My Roommate - 32 eps of 2 minutes each? Terrible production values, worse than the pulps. I not bothering. 

In Case You Missed It

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us had a sad end, or at least, not a happy one, so I will not be watching it. I’m happy to leave it permanently listed dnf. 2022 will be the year I dnf’d the most BL, partly because there’s so much of it. (Thailand is at 108 BLs and counting this year). 

I talk a lot on this blog about linguistics (language intersecting with culture) here’s a fun podcast from Hidden Brain on How language shapes our perspective on life. 

Gossip

HIStory 5 is coming! Called HIStory5: Love in the Future. Since it’s going to be the only one under the 5 moniker I’ll probably default (like it did with H4) to just calling it H5. 

That omegaverse Thai BL got cancelled. Probably because of the fuss being kicked up about it. I am sad. No trash watch for me. Maybe Japan will still do one at some point. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting: Remember Me starts tomorrow, Thai (Sun Gaga)1 of 8. 2 Moons 3 Thai (Mon ??) 1 of 10. Roommates of Poongduck 304 (Korea Thurs Viki) 1 of 8. SELF Thai (Thurs ??). My Tooth Your Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga & Viki) 1 of 12. Hard Love Mission Thai (Sat WeTV & iQiyi?). Wish Me Luck Thai (Sat ??). 

I’m traveling so I may not be able to watch the ones I already have in rotation, let alone track down the new babies. You on your own peeps, best of luck! 

Honestly Thailand, too many. You gotta stop now. We saturated. 

FULL October 2022 line up is here.

This week’s best moments?

The return of That Staircase in Eclipse! 

Tell us something we don’t know, Aye. 

Breaking news: Cute bit is very cute. 

Work from Heart: I just love the sniff test trope (AKA I like the way he smells) one of my favs. 

Although neck kisses are good too, thanks Ai Long Nhai. 

Activating seme agressive tendencies. 

Bisexual rep, yes please! 

And a direct address of drunk one night stand regrets. You’re doing well little pulp. 

Such boyfriends. 

The most seme line in a BL ever. 

(last week)

Current earworm? The Rose’s Sour 

[singto-prachaya]

So after I made gifs it’s time for a round up where I talk about all BL’s and the GL’s for GMMTV and the one non BL/GL I am interested in. Along with my rank in order of which ones I like the most.

Midnight Museum

So hold on! P’tor and Gun in a series together? Wow. That alone already had me interested. Then I saw the trailer and wow this looks interested and definitly something I want to watch.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QGCM2PO9vU

#1 Only Friends

Yo friends with benefits? Messy as hell story? Upgraded version of Fahlanruk! And that from GMMTV? GMMTV being bold here. I am totally here for this. I loved Friendzone and this is from the same director so bring it on. Also we see a new pairing here which is NeoMark. They are going to be in 2 BL’s together.  I wonder why GMMTV is trying out a new pairing with Neo? Do they feel like NeoLouis isn’t good enough? I am afraid they might sink that ship and I would be sad about it since I really like them. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veex4hF7wj4&t=4s

#2 Cooking Crush

Offgunnnnnnnnnn. Enough said. I totally didn’t expect this but I am so happy. This looks like a light hearted romcom so bring it on.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDabs7Cc_yA&t=4s

#3 Last Twilight

I have not watched Vice Versa and I also don’t plan on doing so. So I have no opinions on Jimmy and Sea’s acting. But I trust P’aof. This story is definitly something we have not seen in a Thai BL. 100% sad story and unless he doesn’t end up going blind in the end it’s a sad ending no matter what. So I will prepair tissues once it airs. I also really like the cinematography here.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oCqs7Ikfxo&t=6s

#4 Hidden Agenda

So I love JoongDunk but why another uni BL with them? I wish it was something else and I am also not 100% sold on the story. But I will watch this because it’s also not a 100% turn of for me.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMLWl6xVt-U&t=3s

#5 A Boss And A Babe

Seriously change the title! I beg you! This sounds rediculous. This one is pretty low because while I do not mind office romance the trailer was messy. We saw a bit of e-sports only for it to be thrown out the rest of the trailer. This is also by director New so my hopes for this being good is low.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=388W0CMt2bw&t=6s

#6 Our Skyy 2

Lowest one on the list of what I would watch. And it’s simply because it’s just one special ep for each pairing. So no priority for me to watch this.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaVz3vwzKm8

#7 Dangerous Romance

The plot looks interested but it has Perth in it so I have zero interest in watching this. If someone else but Perth was paired with Chimon I would have watched this. Also will they let Perth sing the OST? Because for the love of god no. I am still traumatized by his OST for Tell The World I Love You.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAnFhQxpVo&t=1s

#8 Cherry Magic

Look a Cherry Magic remake it self I have no problems with. But TayNew? New the guy who made fun of disabled people and never apologized for it? Yeh I will pass. But I also I wonder how Thailand will try and pull this off since Japan has a very specific type of humour only Japan can pull of.

23.5

Since this is a GL no rank for it since I will watch anyways. I am glad we are getting another GL. But I wonder if if GMMTV put in a side BL couple hoping it will attrack more viewers? 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72jftPTXeMA&t=3s

Anything else I want to say?

Yes I am upset by the lack of Louis and Pawin. Both only have 1 side role and they deserve better. I just hope they will let Louis sing lots of OST’s then. And that’s also how I feel about Arm. I know he has lots of other work but come one give him a lead role somewhere.

[negrowhat]

2022 BL ROUNDUP PART 4

Hey y'all, I've seen everyone doing their top 22, 20, 15, 10, and 5 BLs of the year and I didn't want to do a ranking! I just want to do a quick rundown of everything I watched and how I feel about it now! This is gonna be multiple posts! But I'll post them all at the same time.

Thai BLs I've watched in 2022...the ones that weren't my favorite but weren't bad.

Enchante. 7 out of 10. I really loved Akk and Theo for most of the series but Theo took advantage of Akk a few times and he never apologized for anything he did and that annoyed me. They were super cute otherwise, we love an old childhood friends to lovers storyline. I enjoyed watching them expose the 4 horsemen ambassadors.

You're My Sky. I dropped it at first because Fah annoyed me, but he actually turned out to be very sweet. He and Thorn turned out to be cute basketball sweethearts and they were a good team. It's one of the few sports themed series I've watched and I loved that everyone played different sports. I loved Saen and Aii a ton, their relationship was lovely and Saen was the best boy. DomeVee made me mad though. Overall I did enjoy the series.

Cutie Pie the Series. I wasn't a huge fan of it overall. I didn't like all the lying between Lian and Kuea because it went on so long. Yi treated Diao like an actual child. I really enjoyed Kuea and Diao's bestiehood though and I enjoyed Jay and Poppy (can't remember his character's name lol). I liked the BounPrem cameo and I think there were some very relevant conversations had between the characters. The chemistry between both pairs was crazy good too, but now I feel weary of the type of series ZeeNuNew will be doing because that prince series feels like it's going to be similar to Cutie Pie.

The Eclipse. I've said it before but I was more interested in the activism than the romance. I really, really enjoyed all the protesting and watching this small group of characters fight against their school's rules because they were antiquated and harmful. I even enjoyed the snitch brigade as the ops, their friend group was cute. That whole part of the series was very interesting to watch and I was betting on who The Curse was. I couldn't really enjoy AyanAkk because of all their back and forth, it was too much whiplash. I really couldn't get into Thuan and Khan either, sorry.

Love Mechanics. It was a great series, but most of the characters annoyed me, except TOSSARA. No one listened to each other and there as bad communication. I wanted to fight Vee through most of the series and Mark at one point too. Yiwaa couldn't mind her own business and she was a bad friend to Vee. Nuea was very pushy with Mark even though he could tell Mark was not feeling him. Mark's dad was a jerk too. The series irked me in some parts. Again, it wasn't bad so I didn't dislike it, but it just made me mad lol.

Series I started but never got back to:

Fahlanruk. I couldn't stand Fah and how he forced his way into Sherbet's life. I heard Sherbet got really slappy towards the end too. I tried to stick around for Prince and Gear but I just couldn't, they were moving at a snail's pace.

Coffee Melody. I tried to stay for Pavel, but like gotdamn Duean Yi got really annoying. The series highkey had all the makings for a decent Coffee Shop series, but one of the mains was unlikeable and the series fell flat overall. It was boring and drawn out. Thitnuea and Jean were cute from what I saw though.

Even Sun. I blame the writers. BounPrem have natural and amazing chemistry but even that couldn't make me watch past ep 3 of Even Sun. The plot made little sense and the subs on iQiyi were really bad too. I just couldn't give it the time because I lost interest fast.

War of Y. I only watched BillySeng's story, I was never all that interested in the series to begin with and I was going to watch ToruFirst's storyline but it looked so messy.

[poetry-protest-pornography]

Episode 7 of Fahlanruk:

-These dudes drink and unreasonable amount. Therapy would be cheaper.

-There are so many people on this date, why isn't this girl more confused?

-Sher continues to be a dick to Fah for... No reason that has been made clear yet

-Gear and Prince are literally the cutest

-Ah, classic "why can't I stop thinking about my best friend when I'm trying to sleep with this girl" moment; excellent

-Man, brothers are so weird

-Everyone continues to be very invested in Fah and his... Existence

-Tap is the one with braincell this ep, but only half of it, because he's still real dumb about Ping's giant crush on him

-Wound tending as a love language, my beloved. Now with twins!

-Fah has been trying really hard these last 2 episodes to not be a fuckboi, and I'm proud of him

-AMNESIA?!

-Gear's accidental confession! The cutest! And Prince is thrilled! Gear is so awkward, and I relate so hard

-"I'll look like a crazy person with you" is so romantic, actually

-A date is happening! And it was Sher's idea!

-Sher: Emotions make me nauseous, actually; stop being nice to me

Is this show getting better, or am I immune to its failings? (Still unironically enjoying it, it is just objectively Not Great, but that's not a bad thing? Idk, you know what I mean)

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - P’ABL Versus The Hotel Wifi

(spoiler, I lost)

Oct 2022 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) 10 of 12 - Neo is so damn good in this role. But the plot is starting to drag. I don't think this show will hold up to a binge watch. But Akk & Aye really are a killer couple. Akk caught himself a live one. I didn’t even mind the wifey talk. 

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) 10 of 14 - Cake being back and jealous as fuck and totally into Eiw is way better and more satisfying than I thought it would be. Santa is good in this role. These 2 define codependency and it’s a little worrying, but Cake’s unalloyed joy at being with Eiw and just looking at him again is the warmest I’ve felt since the final ep of DNA Say Love You. This is a greta little show. 

Ai Long Nhai (Mon iQIYI) 3 of 10 - It is a perfectly serviceable little pulp, it’s hitting all the tropes, but was a bit dull this ep (plus a bit crass and theres the stalker thing). I don’t really have a lot to say about it. Ai does switch from mueng to ter after kissing Nahi - that was cute! 

Ghost Host, Ghost House (Weds YouTube) 2 of 8 - I still hold that the lead couple is nice but not sure about anything else. 

Remember Me (Sun Gaga) 1 of 8 - I don’t know what it is about a voice over + Thailand but it never works well, it’s always jaw-clenchingly cliché. I don’t know if it’s the way the script is written or the limited capacity of those captioning it, but it’s never as poetic as it’s trying to be. It’s like a poem written by a middle schooler who thinks they’re very deep. This is one of those situations where the Gaga interface is failing me, because I need the skip ahead button and not the 1.5 speed (although I’m using it). Look, I’m really not into 90s nostalgia. All that said, and despite the fact that this was mostly about a pack of kids running around, which is not my thing, I actually enjoyed this ep. I was hoping to take this one out of rotation because I have too much on at the mo. But I guess it’s staying in. JaFirst = penpals who never meet. ManTitle = sunshine chatty and The Boy Who Never Speaks. Mean = the clownish leader, and random other boy = the token het. 

Big Dragon (Sat Gaga) 2 of 8 - Surprise kink! This is a bunch of rough and angry nonsense, but fun nonsense. Like relationship drama between friends you don’t really like. Things that are meant to be funny, aren’t funny, things that are meant to be tense, aren’t tense, but I’m still watching it. I think that makes me the sucker, tho. 

Work from Heart (Thurs YouTube) 4 of 7 - My Favorite boy with the tattoos makes a reappearance. But mostly this show is just really boring. 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) 9 of 13 - whatever, Pai: DUMPSTER FIRE TRASH WATCH ALONG HERE. 

Fahlanruk (Sun GaGa) 5 of 12 - And I’m out. This one is a dnf for me. Someone can tell me if the 2nd half is worth it, after it finishes, but I’m not gonna bother to watch it every week anymore. I genuinely don’t like any of the couples and the fujoshi framing is repulsive under the context of a narrative trying to be this authentically gay. I’ve lost all patience. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan GaGa & Viki) 8fin - These 2 were tooth achingly sweet and impossibly lovely. This show was beyond charming: soft, gentle, adorable and packed with cuteness and angst. Did anything actually happen? No. Was there any kind of even attempt at a plot? No. Did I enjoy the hell out of it, anyway? Oh yes. 9/10 TOTALLY RECOMMENDED UNDEMANDING FLUFFY GOODNESS 

Roommates of Poongduck 304 (Korea Thurs Viki) 1 of 8 - I like it a lot. Rich poor. Enemies to lovers. Forced proximity. Pretty boys. What’s not to enjoy? 

My Tooth Your Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga & Viki) 1 of 12 - It’s cute, quirky, well acted, and a bit slow moving. Pretty much what I expected. 

Kabe Koji (Japan Mon Viki) 2 of 10 - Seriously this should be everything I love in the world but Japan has to be overly creepy and stalker about it and now it’s totally borked it for me. Oh well. I’m still watching.

It’s Airing But I’m Not Watching It

War of Y 20 eps - it’s just all too much for me.

My Roommate 32 eps of 2 minutes each + terrible production values? - I’m not bothering.

Oh My Sunshine Night 16 eps (update: 20) - I’m scared it’s gonna be sad, so I’m waiting for spies to tell me it’s safe, so far reported to be quite the soap opera.

To Sir With Love AKA Khun Chai 10 eps (update: 28!) - dito 

2 Moons 3 Thai (Mon ??) 10 eps - I searched for it in a lacklustre manner but couldn’t find it legally anywhere convenient so gave up. I will watch it if it’s easy to do so. 

SELF (Thurs ??) - same again 

Wish Me Luck (Sat ??) - and again

Hard Love Mission (Sat WeTV?) - and again 

I might have a bit of a hunt when I get back, but for now it difficult enough to keep up with the main list. 

Gossip

I have been seriously considering an UWMA rewatch (as Between Us starts up next month). I’ve never chronicled or properly reviewed UWMA (which is my all time favorite Thai BL). And my understanding of Thai has markedly improved since i last watched it. What do you think? Anyone else interested? 

Japan announced a new Takumi adaptation. I think is is a terrible idea for many reasons. 

Sorry the whole work thing means I haven’t had time to check my usual sources for BL announcements and new releases. Also, you’ll notice very few screen shots. It’s a mad crazy world out there beyond the boundaries of one’s homey high speed internet. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Look my calendar is a nightmare. It’s all just too much right now, you’ll have to wait tell I get everything sorted. There’s a lot of stuff airing, you should watch what you like and ask me for recs if none of it appeals. 

October 2022 line up is here.

This week’s best moments?

Finally!

Those smiles! 

So many jellies 

(last week)

Current earworm? HYNN's The Story of Us featuring a very familiar face with some of my favorite dimples 

[absolutebl]

This Week In BL - October Is Looking Chunky

Sept 2022 Wk 5

Happy fall everyone! 

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) Ep 8 of 15 - The pacing is starting to feel off and I am getting frustrated with the plot. That said, K is such a killer actor. And Aye is so damn pushy but with emotions as well a physical affection, he exposes his own vulnerability as a kind of benevolent attack on Akk to instill trust and worth and value and safety. Akk is just so scared and closeted. This whole narrative is less about love than it is about courage. Whether that is courage to live or courage to love. 

Vice Versa (Sat on YT) Ep 12fin - They are very cute and domestic boyfriends, and I realize GMMTV often does domesticity with their couples in the final episode. I’m thinking about the fantastic final ep of Dark Blue Kiss. “Celebrity coming out for love” is very Love Stage!!  Interesting that they advertised Not Me at the end, does that mean we have no new BL in this time slot from GMMTV next week? Curious choice they still have 4 more from their 2022 lineup.* I half expected the high school one. 

So what do I have to say about Vice Versa? 

It’s a solid BL with a weak plot but a strong concept. It’s very well acted and Jimmy remains the most charismatic talent that GMMTV currently fields. I hope we get more of this pair, either together or separated. That said, this is never going to be one of my top rewatch rotations, so I’m calling it for an 8/10. RECOMMENDED 

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) Ep 8 of 15 - Oh goody more pain. Look I like the noona romance thread. It’s obvious she had to break his heart, it’s what I would’ve done, it’s what Minato should have done. But it was still sad to watch. This is a well cast show. Sniffling at the end of this ep. Looking forward to seeing Siew come into his own and Cake crumble while they are apart. 

Ai Long Nhai (Mon iQIYI) Ep 1 of 10 - Words cannot adequately describe how much I dislike the credit sequence and music on this show. I nearly DNFed before a single line was spoken. The subs are also not good, but my Thai is getting better so I don’t mind as much as I once did. The show leads us out with: Slow motion + instalove + tons of familiar faces + some very terrible sound effects. Pretty much standard pulp territory. Despite all this, I actually kinda like it and they are so pretty. A rare sunshine/sunshine pairing! Nhai is an adorable idiot and Ai is confident king and I’m chortling away. Also GAY DADS played by IRL husbands Arm & Porsch! We’re good here, I’m happy. 

Work from Heart (Thurs YouTube) Ep 2 of 7 - Cute ex boyfriends. Thank god for uniforms. But now evil ex is overly aggressive. I’m getting Check Out vibes and that’s not a good thing. I love the tattooed actor who plays Guy, I wish he’d get more roles. I loved him in Ingredients too. 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) Ep 7 of 13 - It was a fine ending to the first couple and a good (if audio dubious) start to the second. I made more puns in the DUMPSTER FIRE TRASH WATCH ALONG HERE.

Fahlanruk (Sun GaGa) 3 of 12 - And now identical twins? SERIOUSLY?  The show sucks so bad. The story of 2 players never runs deep. Absolutely nothing happened this episode. I might drop this one. 

* GMMTV’s remaining 2022 BL line up is:

My School President - which I expected to be in VV’s time slot.

Moonlight Chicken - EarthMix’s next one, probably what they are working on next

Be My Favorite - recasting 

Never Let Me Go - filming now (assuming this will take on Eclipse’s time slot) 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan Thurs GaGa & Viki) 6 of 8 - This is my favorite BL currently airing BY A LANDSLIDE. 24 minutes of pure agony and joy. It just makes me so happy but it’s also so high school angst and traumatic to live through. This is the best of Japanese BL, I keep getting a feel of Seven Days off it and I don’t mention that comparison lightly. Takara is SO CORNEY. Also. THAT ENDING. Yes. Exposed! No more secrets! Squee! I can’t wait to see what happens next week. 

Once Again (Korea Fri GaGa) 5-6 of 8 - This show. I swear it’s so in the throat creepy and tense (in a Kassandra the mad prophet way) but also weirdly sweet. Poor Ji Hoon, he’s such a nice guy in a world just has a in for him one way or another. I’m glad both actors are so good since it’s the whole reason to watch this. I’ve no idea how they are going to manage to resolve it, but it looks like we get a cute date next ep!  

It’s Airing But I’m Not Watching It

War of Y - too hard on my soul. Will I watch it eventually? Maybe? Probably not. I think we have an ITSAY situation going on here. Also BL Express was not best pleased, and I while we rarely share taste, in this instance I trust their reporting.

My Tempo - a Thai BL movie about the Thai music industry. Yeah, no thank you.

Oh My Sunshine Night - I’m scared it’s gonna be sad, so I’m waiting for spies to tell me it’s safe

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us - ditto above

In Case You Missed It 

More Than Words (Japan indie subbed by furritsubs) - TIP ‘EM if you like em!)  All the eps have dropped, so I binged it. Basically the definition of moody arthouse smackdoodle. Makki is an outgoing but mysterious boy with secret pain. Eiji is the an older gay boy struggling with identity. Mieko is a broken angry girl who both makes them work as a couple and aches to belong with them. This is a story about all 3 and their complicated interweaving relationship. It’s about love and intimacy in all its many faceted forms. This is not, and I'm being very clear here, a romance. In fact this is not a romantic show in any way. It’s poetic, sad, and wistful. Is it beautiful and a little lovely? Yes. Did I like it? No. For BL stans like me? NOT RECOMMENDED. For the ITSAY and YNEH folks... have at. BL Express likes this kind of thing and did a great review. 

Zero Supporter featuring EarthMix in their KornWin roles dropped. Look these two are just so cute together. They aren’t as good at this premise as OffGun were in Our Skyy, tho. Still, ultimately, I like this special better than the original Cupid’s Last Wish. 

NetJames (forthcoming BL Bed Friend) portray a BL side couple in Thai drama Catch Me Baby starting Oct 6 on WeTV. 

Semantic Error won Best Couple at the APAN Star Awards 2022. And Jaechan won the Popularity Award. 

Gossip

Thai casting call went out for the world’s first omegaverse BL Midnight Fortune. Twitter went as pearl-clutchingly hysterical over it as we might expect. It's not my thing personally and I doubt I will like it (frankly I doubt it'll be very good, either, the plot looks like it was written by MAME & Jittirain) but you better believe I will dumpster fire trash watch this SO HARD if it airs. It's about time Thai BL started to get seriously experimental in its cinemagraphic life cycle. It will be gloriously whackdoodle. I did have it down for Japan first, Thailand is so plucky! 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting: Mon: To Sir With Love AKA Khun Chai - Thai (10 eps 40 min ea) on One31HD & possibly WeTV. Kabe Koji - Japan (10 eps 20 min ea) on Viki.  Weds: Ghost Host, Ghost House - Thai (5 eps 30 min? ea) YouTube for reruns. Sat: Big Dragon - Thai (8 ep 40 min ea) reruns on Star Hunter’s YT. Sun: Remember Me - Thai (8 ep 40 min ea) Gaga. 

FULL October 2022 line up is here. 

This week’s best moments?

Fucking awesome Takara. 

This year’s Namgoong Award for BEST WINGMAN goes to Katori in Takara & Amagi. He’s glorious. 

Ai Long Nhai calling itself out. 

And again. 

Eclipse being a tease. 

My Only 12% pulling our heart strings.

Vice Versa, beat that drum honey! 

I LOVE a back hug. 

(last week)

Current earworm? JJ Project (fetal GOT7) Coming Home 

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - 2022 is the Year of Cheaters

Sept 2022 Wk 4

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) Ep 7 of 15 - Screw you GMMTV, that was a dream kiss? That’s some Kdrama bullshit, that is. Still Aye is such a good character, so perceptive, I ADORED his interaction with Kan. Neo is doing an epic job with that role. That was that softest achey stolen kiss in the world. Also this ep = Beach frolic trope and a Make It Right moment.

Vice Versa (Sat on YT) Ep 11 of 12 - DOOM EP was not very doom for an ep 11 (except for the acoustic guitar). Pluen goes back because of what Tun did accidentally, not him, which honestly I kinda like as a twist. I was very confused about the “month long tidal inaction,” did the alt universe have extra moons or something? 

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) Ep 7 of 15 - a tear jerker this week and likely next too. Also piggybacking across a bridge, two tropes in one. We about to get the time jump which is going to be interesting. 

Work from Heart (Thurs YouTube) pulp office drama featuring lots of couples starring Gameplay. Started dropping on YT so I picked it up and stuck it into rotation. Poor Dee, his gramps is so overactingly bad, mean, evil, and homophobic. Still there is a sweet little masked meet cute. There’s a bunch of drama around a workplace and other couples all over the rainbow, so that’s fun. Sort of SCOY goes to work. There’s some nifty linguistic stuff going on so I’m actually enjoying this pulp trash. Shocking. Truly TERRIBLE wardrobe tho. And I don’t love Nammon w facial hair. 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) Ep 6 of 13 - Not a bad episode, I wasn’t mad about it. But that’s kind of how I am with MAME, it’s always up or down and last week’s a cappella counter liftt situation rough, so I’m glad this one was a bit of a break. DUMPSTER FIRE TRASH WATCH ALONG HERE.

Fahlanruk (Sun GaGa) 2 of 12 - I do not like the narrative framing technique of the female blogger/whatever. Her character does not belong in this show. What she hast to say is unnecessary, pat, and boring. In other news we got into KP bathroom territory really quickly. “Do you really like him or do you just want to win?” would appear to be the premise of this show. Both characters are players, cheaters, flirts, and anti-heroes. They better both be deeply wounded or the narrative can’t save them. I’m assuming Sher made himself this way after some similar player type broke his heart. Not sure about Fah. That said, I do like how very gay, switchy, and verse these two are. Although a complete change of underwear in the middle of a sex scene was weird to say the least. I like the side dishes. No surprise there. Still I’m not sure I can take 12 episodes of this nonsense. I contemplated a trash watch but I’m not feeling snark-inspired just sad about it.

Linguistics corner:

Fah is using phi/nai or nong (in a belittling way) with Sher. Sher is using guu/mueng with Fah, Which is highly inappropriate and rude with a phi. These two are linguistically combative, to say the least. Also the show has all the wifey language your a little heart could possibly desire.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan Thurs GaGa & Viki) 6 of 8 - No new Ep 6 this week. Have a lovely Shūbun no Hi if you celebrate. Otherwise it’s a good tome to be self reflective and contemplate about life balance etc.. around the Autumnal Equinox. 

Once Again (Korea Fri GaGa) 3-4 of 8 - It’s a little bit more creepy than it is romantic, but it’s also weirdly amusing (this strange kid just keeps hugging him - that’s like 1000x even weirder in Korea than most places) and more enjoyable than it has a right to be. It’s a really interesting take on the childhood crush trope among other things. JaeWoo must seem like SUCH a weirdo to JiHoon. I guess what I’m saying is, it’s odd but tense and well acted, which is a nice change for BL.

More Than Words (Japan indie subbed by furritsubs - TIP ‘EM if you like em!) Adaptation of Etsuko’s two mangas In The Apartment + More Than Words. Has a violent crazy beginning but it is necessary for the story. About a lonely neglected/abused girl and a cheerful kindly popular boy who go to school together and become besties. When they get part-time work at a restaurant, a cute older gay boy enters the picture. This is classic Japanese close-filmed melodrama, and it isn’t a BL. But it is excellent. Can’t be relied on to resolve happily, or even resolve at all. I’m engaged even knowing this, and I love this subber so I’m gonna stick with it.  

It’s Airing But I’m Not Watching It

War of Y - too hard on my soul. Will I watch it eventually? Maybe? Probably not. I think we have and ITSAY situation going on here. Also BL Express was not best pleased, and I while we rarely share taste, in this instance I trust their reporting.

My Tempo - a Thai BL movie about the Thai music industry. Yeah, no thank you. 

Oh My Sunshine Night - I’m scared it’s gonna be sad, so I’m waiting for spies to tell me it’s safe

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us - ditto above 

Finished This Week

Coffee Melody (Mon Viki) Ep 10fin - (I am assuming episode 11 is a bts or music video.) The family dinner with the new bf was endearing awkward. We had a classic Korean one year time jump in the last five minutes of the final episode. (Which shoudl be left to Korea. Actually, even Korea should get to have it anymore. We’re done with this trope. I say this on behalf of the international viewing public.) My side crumbs got a cute little mutual kiss, unfortunately ALSO multiple sing your feelings tropes. (Will I ever get a week of BL without this trope?) It will be a long time before I forgive this BL for muffling Pavel’s light this way, I know he can do better. Very disappointing. Ultimately this show is so forgettable I’ve pretty much already forgotten it. 5/10 JUST DULL

Papa & Daddy 2 (Mon GaGa) Ep 8fin - It was a standard execution of the “marriage finale” endemic to most romcoms, just v. gay. I do like that my second lead syndrome got a little prospective action. Did I tear up at the wedding? Of course I did. We have established this before, I am a sap. All in all, this was a serviceable follow up to the first installment in the series, if riddled by unbearably unlikable parents, lack of story, and sappiness. 6/10 WORTH WATCHING BUT FLAWED 

About Youth (Taiwan Mon GaGa) Ep 7-8 of 10 - I thought this was a 10 episode arc so I’m a little sad to find it ending this week. Are we ever going to get an explanation about what happened with the side dishes Taiwan really likes a romantic “one boy balances another boy on wheels” thing. I really wanted Guang to leave his awful parents but Im glad he at least threw the test. And I really appreciated that he sent a video since it was a way for him to accurately communicate his feelings without being interrupted. Cute final kiss! Very squee-worthy. Rainbow was a little on the nose. tho. All in all it was great little BL. Classic YA low drama but high angst, I didn’t even mind the singing, and that’s saying a lot. I wish it had been given a bit more space to breathe, but all in all a great edition to the Taiwanese Bl lexicon which was in dire need of a good sold high school BL. Full review here. 8/10 RECOMMENDED 

Everyone say “Thank you Taiwan, may we have another?” 

Gossip

In a Forbes interview the executive producer of Semantic Error (and CEO of AXIS CPP) revealed that AXIS production will be opening Blue by Blue, a drama label whose first BL project is about vampires. Interview here. 

Kimmon and Copter are reported to star on their 7th BL together, a romantic comedy series, Boy Never Smiles. KimCop aren’t the longest running pair (MaxTul, BoomPeak, OffGun, and KarnNut trade that crown around) but they may now have the most BLs under their collective belts. 

New Thai BL from Uncommon Studio Midnight Fortune adapted from a Y-novel by wickedwish for 2023. The MDL and tag lines are bonkers so I’m not dignifying them here. 

Cutie Pie is getting a least one special episode, The Wedding, we assume. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting: Tomorrow Sept 25, 2022. 

ErthMix’s Cupid’s Last Wish special spin-off mini series Oishi advertisement Ep3 of Magic Of Zero: Zero Supporter on GMMTV’s YouTube. 

Male Entertainer (movie?) from Wayfilm, about a young man who works as an escort to support his family, on their YouTube channel (Trailer)

Monday Sept 26, 2022 

Ai Long Nhai (Thai Mon 10 eps iQIYI) About a man expelled from foreign university who returns to a Thai univ in disgrace and meets A Boy. Adapted from a y-novel, directed by Nob (La Cuisine, Gen Y). Secondary couple Nan & Sippakorn are IRL husbands Arm & Porsch (Together with Me). Familiar faces include Gun (Love Area’s Valen) and Jom (Nitiman’s Jin).

Ending: Vice Versa 

October line up coming soon, still waiting on distribution for some. 

This week’s best moments?

Heartbreaking but so good, My Only 12%. 

About Youth giving us a seriously classic old romance trope 1950s style. 

4th wall breaking snarky bestie in Work From Heart. 

And even more snarky queers. 

They were shiny crumbs in a sea of dull, Coffee Melody. 

This week’s worst fashion? 

OMG Work from Heart with the HELL? 

(last week)

Current earworm? Blackpink’s Shut Down