I wish I could go back in time and make things right.
I wish that I could clear my family's name.
I wish that I could have one more chance to protect the one I love.
Is this the reason why I turned up here?
—LOVE UPON A TIME ❊ ภพเธอ ❊ Official Pilot
*In Thai, "ภพเธอ" is transliterated as "phop ter". It means "your world" or "your universe". The phrase is a poetic expression often used in romantic contexts to convey the idea that the person addressed is the center of someone's world or universe.
Oh, time travel historical gay romance with fruit seduction, a mystery, a need for revenge and the original identity that he has gone back in time to help dead? Plus a disastrous modern life that keeps hurting him? Yeah, yeah, I'm here for it. @absolutebl the power of peeled fruit!
Now that we are firmly in 2024 what shows are you most looking forward to this year?
Hope you're having a good day.
Rose💜
Oh hi Rose! Thank you for the ask, I was actually just talking about this yesterday so I do have some fresh ones on my mind.
Wandee Goodday
Y'all should just be prepared for me to lose all my dignity when this show airs, I refuse to be ashamed. @chicademartinica will be losing it over Great and I will be over here on the Thor beat. I cannot wait.
Spare Me Your Mercy
@ginnymoonbeam just reminded me this is coming in 2024 and I got very excited again because I love everyone involved in this project.
The Trainee (gif by @tenprems)
Is GMMTV really finally going to let my beloveds Off and Gun play working adults? I'm afraid it's a mirage.
Peaceful Property
If Tay and New are making a show, I am watching. I don't really know what this show is but it seems spooky and funny and I am excited to find out more!
Love Upon A Time
If a historical bl is dropping, I will be seated for the duration. And Net and James got that real real chemistry.
The Next Prince
See above. Also, I can’t lie I am kinda ZeeNunew trash in my heart.
I am also very excited for the jbls and kbls that will surely drop out of the sky like they did in 2023
I love nothing more than surprise premium content and Korea and Japan don't tend to give us early trailers and a big promo push like Thailand. One thing we know is coming is Hwang Da-Seul's next project, Break The Curse of Taekwondo, and I am very hype for that. Also Choco Milk Shake 2!! Which I am slightly worried about but I trust Strongberry a lot, so I am optimistic. No one ever knows what Japan has cooking and I like it that way--those mofos not only kept us fed with surprise titles in the Drama Shower line up, they also randomly dropped three of the best shows of the whole year right in the last quarter of 2023, and I hope they do it again next year.
Net x James: An important reminder that BL partnerships consist of two individuals and they are not just a single entity.
So the Netjames news has been a notable bombshell in the fandom of late, and I've been quietly observing this as it unfolded earlier this week, particularly the varying reactions and discourse around it.
In his statement, James explained that his current career goals are moving in a different direction, which has resulted in him pulling out of 'Love Upon a Time', and by extension his acting partnership with Net. He wants to explore his other avenues as an artist, whereas Net is presumably focused on acting for now.
With BL partnerships, we often see the two co-stars tied at the hip. Its part of the gig and it comes with the territory. They don't just work together on their project, but they do a huge amount of activity (both public and private) outside of that. They travel, perform, they do fan meets, press events, and spend a huge amount of time together as a twosome. So we get accustomed to seeing them as a united entity, which means news like this tends to hit harder because it feels akin to a divorce. This is one of the pitfalls of the Thai BL industry. When you create a narrative around two people who exclusively come as a package, it makes it incredibly difficult for both the actors themselves and fans to accept or make peace with any possible deviation from that. I think it's natural for any actor or artist to desire collaboration with different people: to develop their craft, to further their experience, to broaden their versatility. If sticking to only one working partner 'for life' doesn't work for them, I completely empathise with that.
In their recent Instagram lives, Net and James were clearly sad and their feelings still very raw. This led to a lot of speculation regarding any ill-feeling or fall out between the two. But such accusations can be harmful. Even in an amicable or mutual break-up where ending a relationship is in both parties' best interests - the two people involved are still grieving. Being brutally honest and transparent with someone close to you, that things can no longer continue as they are, isn't easy. If fans feel upset, just imagine how difficult this is on them both. When you've been nurtured as a partnership from the get go, your co-star whose always been at your side provides a sense of safety and familiarity. And the prospect of now moving forward without them is a scary new unknown. On top of that, they probably feel an immense amount of pressure and guilt in digesting the potential fallout and response from their fans. There will be trepidation in how well their careers will fare in the immediate aftermath.
Despite this, there are also positives to be taken from this decision. Arguably, Net and James were still in the early stages of their partnership. Bed Friend really put them on the map as a couple. So for James to come forward with this realisation now, before they got too established as a pairing was a responsible thing to do. I'm sure the last thing anyone wants is for their favourite artists to feel stuck or obliged to continue working together, which would undoubtedly lead to feelings of resentment eventually.
So respectfully, these instances are not to be taken personally or to be deemed as a betrayal of your support. After all, what we know of these artists is only a very small piece of their identities as people. It's okay to be devastated, but be respectful of their wishes. You can choose to continue supporting them as individuals, or choose to no longer support them at all - either way, you are perfectly valid and entitled to your choice, just extend the same courtesy back and be mindful of casting unfair judgement on their choice.
For me, it is admittedly a shame because I did see great potential in them both as a pair, and they had fantastic chemistry which could have been nurtured with more time and experience. Regardless, I truly believe they both have immense love for one another, and I wish them both the very best. They've just come to terms with the fact they no longer share the same vision for what they want in their careers. And that's okay.
(I will always be grateful that they gave us THIS iconic moment).