#i really enjoyed nitiman overall but the finale?

[liyazaki]

Nitiman Episode 10 (Finale)

[liyazaki]

🎥 🏳️‍🌈 and 🙄 my life twin

🎥 favorite trope

Beyond my eternal bias, I'm a sucker for the classic pairing of the ornery tsundere uke and the starstruck-but-hellbent seme. For anyone not familiar with the terms, give absolutebl's excellent breakdown a read.

Lovely Writer got this trope SO right, skipping over the toxic relationship dynamics so many dramas with this pairing fall into. Nubsib’s intense desire to be with Gene is obvious, but he never lets that desire encroach upon Gene's autonomy (unlike say, Mork of FUTS...don't get me started). We get to thoroughly enjoy (guilt free) what makes this pairing so fun: the thrill of the chase and the romance/sexiness of it all when the uke is finally 'caught'.

A good seme also has to be both caring and extremely observant: the uke typically has problems communicating what they really need and want- or willfully refuses to communicate openly or honestly as a power move- especially in the beginning.

The fact that Nubsib is such a dominant seme- their relationship as a whole gave me D/s vibes, actually- yet his entire focus remains on Gene's happiness and well being? I can't think of healthier example of this trope in action.

Honorable mentions:

AePete (Love By Chance)- Pete was in no way a tsundere, but they're probably my top uke/seme pairing overall. So, so soft 🥺

Zhou Shu Yi & Gao Shi De (We Best Love 1 & 2)

DeanPharm (Until We Meet Again)- Pharm was also the polar opposite of a tsundere, but they're too healthy/precious not to include.

Cairo & Gavreel (Gameboys)

B-Bomb & Jin (Nitiman)

🏳️‍🌈 something you wish wasn’t so common in BLs

Un-informed live streaming/recording is one of my top pet peeves, but faen fatales (a term absolutebl coined), especially if they're female- are probably my number one.

It's a cheap and easy way to move a plot along, which is why it's so commonly used- but it's so unrealistic and one-note. I love when shows flip this trope on its head and give us supportive, interesting female characters that cheer on our leads, ala Pearl from Gameboys.

🙄 show you think is overhyped

You're going to get me in trouble here, but two immediately come to mind: 2gether and Color Rush.

2gether was 'ehh but OK'- then they actually got together, and it all fell apart for me. I tried to watch still2gether, but I have a rule that as soon as entertainment starts to feel like homework- which it was in a big way- I drop it.

I love a good metaphor and allegories in fiction, but Color Rush's employment of both for the queer experience were lost on me personally. I enjoyed it enough that I plan on watching S2, though, so maybe my take will change.

Check out elnotwoods' awesome BL ask game here!