#netjames

[allovelyhappily]

They yearn for what they fear for _Dante's Inferno

[asylumwise]

King would like to officially welcome Charlie to the “mirrorkink” club

[absolutebl]

Best 23 of BL 2023 - Quirky Awards

SHOCK & AWE AWARDS

1. Biggest BL surprise of 2023:

The last 3 months of 2023 in general got my biggest WTF award.

GMMTV fielding OffGun AND TayNew in the same quarter while also airing Last Twilight

That they ALSO optioned 3 JBLs

That there's a high heat omegaverse BL staring Pavel

That there were 20 BLs airing and none of them Korean.

With 5 VAMPIRE BLs announced for next year

But my prize in this category goes to My Dear Gangster Oppa.

It's just crazy:

Thai talent, Korean money + IP (this is adapted from a manwha) airing on a Chinese channel (iQIYI). Plus it was FUN and made smart reuse of a pair who richly deserved it. I'm delighted by the eclectic insanity of this production. And wonder if any other film genre could even do anything like this.

2. The “that country did WHAT?” award:

The 8th Sense from Korea?!

I mean, seriously?! Dealing with mental health, suicide, darkness, therapy, (tiny) age gap, & first time love BUT FROM KOREA? And then openness and casual boyfriend physical affection? What's next? An actual hard fought coming out narrative with an HEA? Gay domesticity and families?

Careful Korea, you'll strain something. Possibly your own culture and film industry.

I should stop having expectations of Korea, they keep surprising me.

Runners up: Korea letting OnlyOneOf do Bump Up Business not to mention that OmegaX thing. AND Korea adapting Why R U? What are you up to, Korea? Qua? Is this a coded message? Should we send help? Do you need snacks?

3. Biggest casting whoa! where did you come from? award:

GeminiFourth in My School President.

Seriously? Babies what? How did GMMTV find you? How do you exist? How is BL this lucky?

4. That studio did WHAT now? award:

GMMTV putting EarthMix into Moonlight Chicken.

And then doubling down with G4 as the damn sides.

Fucking genius.

5. I’m sad you were ignored award:

Destiny Seeker.

It's just a really fun little Thai pulp, the pairs were good, silly dialogue, plus consent and other good sex rep. I enjoyed it. No one talked about it AT ALL.

6. 2023 BL That Actually Made Me Lose My Mind Award?

Laws of Attraction. -The casting, the crazy story, the soapy drama! But specifically: Film playing Charn - the range of his smiles alone. GLORIOUS

I mean I Feel You Linger in the Air also sparked something in me, but LoA drove me actually nuts.

NARRATIVE AWARDS

7. Best story 2023:

La Pluie

I know, you're surprised, right? At the time I didn't chat much about it but I really enjoyed the discourse others were having. I love anything that really examines the fated mates (soulmates) trope and the idea of "the one". What a clever way to do that. (This is one reason UWMA is my favorite Thai BL.)

This one reminded me of the way Color Rush approached allegory and that's no bad thing. Such an impressive little piece.

8. Best narrative structure 2023 award:

Unintentional Love Story.

I know this may seem a simplistic pick. But I love the tidiness of this no frills contemporary romance, how the culture of work and personal ethics and corruption fight against the main character's affection and integrity. Poor baby boy is driven into a corner and then punished for it. But it is punishment he feels he deserves, and so it is up to his (now) ex to figure out what went wrong and why.

It's just great. I love it when no one is stupid or wrong, it's just impossible circumstances and unintentional love deeply felt.

9. Best 2023 dialogue (script) award:

Jun & Jun

Never before has Korea laced a BL with that much perfectly executed innuendo. It was a master class. I didn't know you could be that lascivious in Korean, quite frankly. Plus the way the 2 Juns constantly seamlessly transition between formal register (work, public - where they are boss/employee) to informal register (when they are alone and age mates + childhood sweethearts).

Beautiful to hear and watch.

10. Favorite scene 2023:

The dub con scene in I Cannot Reach You because I AM TRASH for an out of control seme. I'm sorry I just AM.

I have said it before, I will say it again, NO ONE DOES THIRST like Japan. And when that thirst bubbles over, it is heart-clenching and very hot.

11. The most rewatchable BL of 2023 award:

Our Dating Sim

That scene where they lie on the floor + the stolen kiss + giggle? Come on, it should be on comfort repeat in war rooms. It could bring world peace.

ACTORS & CHARACTERS AWARDS

12. Best performance of a queer actor in a leading role, 2023:

Fluke in Make a Wish.

It was fun to see him as an irreverent immortal and while I love OhmFluke I also really enjoyed this new pairing. It was a genuine pleasure to watch.

13. Best pining 2023:

The moot pining in Tokyo in April is...

Boys, seriously? Japan must you destroy us like this? Hurts so good.

14. Best wingman 2023 (The Namgoong Award)

Tiw from My School President

I mean, come on, of course it's him!

(Also can you believe Mark went on from this to do fricking Only Friends!? To Last Twilight! Come on GMMTV GIVE HIM A LEAD!)

15. Biggest OMG I LOVE you boys together, YAY!

Dimpled McMafia & Feral Bunny Foo Foo from Kiseki Dear to Me.

They were feral for each other.

We were feral for them

It was a whole delightful THING.

16. Most unexpected return of a BL pair? award:

The Private Lessons pair showing up in Love Class 2.

I know it was only a cameo, but SERIOUSLY? Thank you SO MUCH Korea! A big studio picking up a Strongberry pairing? I love you.

Seriously tho, Taiwan & Korea tried for ALL THE CAMEOS this year.

17. Well aren't you two just the prettiest? award:

NetJames in Bed Friend.

Need I say more?

18. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Bah Vinh in Vian & Mr Cinderella 2. I didn't like either show but I loved him in them. Especially the make outs.

Yes you have chemistry with all the boys in Vietnam and you kiss beautifully. But it's okay now honey, you have the crown. Relax, you're stressing us out.

RANDOM PICKS

19. Favorite Linguistic Moment of 2023:

Our Dating Sim

Caught in the act by the elevator scene. OMG it's so funny. They're being such boyfriend shits to each other, and to be caught in the act by THAT character, and try to manifest formal language whole cloth? Hilarious.

Honorable mention to War Peanuts in Destiny Seeker.

20. Biggest disappointment of 2023:

You Are Mine

Seriously Taiwan, AGAIN you disappoint me with an Office BL? You're Taiwan, land of offices and suits. This should be YOUR SETTING TO WIN. And yet... argh. I mean it wasn't bad. But it wasn't good either. Stop it Taiwan, do better.

Runners up? Between Us, Chains of Heart, Dangerous Romance - this was a HOTLY contested category.

+ 2 Winners in the sub-category of FUCK YOU FOR THAT ENDING award:

The Director who Buys Me Dinner - I mean this nicely but: you have your lane now Korea, stop hurting us, that's Japan's responsibility and they do it better.

I Feel You Linger In the Air - I'm just hugely disappointed. Thailand ALMOST got its second 10/10 from me, but that damn ending.

Argh.

21. Best Wardrobe/Prop Use 2023

The shower of packaged bedsheets in My Personal Weatherman

Amazing. Brilliant. No notes.

22. Best Queer Rep 2023

Chot in Step By Step

In fact, all the queer characters in this show were treated with great integrity.

AND props to this cast for refusing to do fan service. GOOD FOR YOU! Fuck those sasang wankers.

Runners up? The found family cast of Love in Translation and the Rainbow Rice Cakes in The New Employee.

23. Best Meta Trope call out

Tin Tem Jai

Come on, what a zinger, but at themselves (and Taiwan)

Final question: which of the 23 was the hardest for me to pick?

Honestly? Question #1 this year. But also question #20.

(Last year: 2022's Version) 

Remember I only pull from shows that were completely finished by the end of 2023. Or The Sign probably would have taken multiple categories. But it will fall into 2024 offerings.

(source)

[oyeicher]

He's all mine.

Middleman's Love Ep 1

[blmpff]

📢 LOVE UPON A TIME UPDATE: James withdraws from the show, Net stays on

29.02.24

ETA: James' message

29.02.24

[namtan]

MIDDLEMAN'S LOVE | Ep 1

[gwenniesqueals]

My other best friend attempts to pair BL couples, they have only ever watched one episode of the Heart Killers.

"They both are staring into my soul". Yeah, valid, I did not pick the best photos.

"The guy in the tank top looks like the only man who could top the guy in the black open shirt." I died.

"Their backgrounds and their hair." Listen, I warned you that backgrounds don't mean anythinggggg.

"They look like they were styled by the same person, and touched by the same makeup brush." Yeah, well, thats one couple correct.

"They'd just look cute together." It's the lips, isn't it?

"Maybe it's the hair, but they both look like they'd be good in bed together" Uh....

"They give me the same vibes." Well....no. Not really.

"They're the only ones left." I mean, It's not bad, it's just not right.

[serasennatonen]

The Prettiest Boys in BL: PT 3

Earth Katsamonnat

James Su

Nunew Chawarin

Noeul Nuttarat

Peat Wasuthorn

[sparklejumpropekitty]

Since it was announced James was involved in a future acting project in Mr Fanboy (as a villain, which he wanted to do for awhile now and DMD granted him that), I see many people spreading lies about him saying he quit acting which he never did. He has explained this MULTIPLE times for A YEAR and people still be twisting his words. This is just one quick compilation, there's more actually. There's also two quite recent interviews where he talked more in depth about the many factors that led him to withdraw from the series, and how the decision was a collective decision. This narrative has been consistent as Net also has said the same thing - they have talked for almost a year prior from the withdrawal announcement (James, Net, and their management). The two interviews are on YT - one with Poppy and the other one with Pondonnews. You can check out @xxjdesu translations for the interviews on her X account.

Summary of his interview, some factors that made him stepping back from Love Upon A Time:

1. He was struggling mentally while and after filming Bed Friend for awhile (he said it was more than a year). He often couldn't detach himself from the role of Uea (and as we know, Uea is such a depressing character), his family noticed this. (This makes so much sense of his demeanors during that time). He felt like he was losing himself.

2. He was miserable and found joy performing on stage - singing, dancing. He felt truly happy doing those more than acting at that time.

3. He also thought about how many more things he wants to do, while he is still able and young. Remember at this time, LUAT still has no progress to go into filming? No workshop, nothing. They only has shoot for the trailer (2022). That's all there was to that series at that point.

4. The company along with him and Net has had multiple discussions regarding their future with LUAT for almost a year. Then a decision was made and the announcement happened. I'm sure they're aware how miserable James was, but Net still wanted to continue the project, which he has every right to pursue, just like James has every right to withdraw. What they wanted for themselves at that time simply has divided, they no longer shared the same dream. IMO, the way DMD handled that announcement was what that makes people misunderstood and blame it all on James. He kinda was used as a scapegoat. It was a collective decision, but the announcement made it seemed like it was only James' decision and Net and the company just granted him that.

5. James read all the comments blaming him, right after the withdrawal announcement. He felt real bad and considered jumping off of his balcony. I remember him deactivating his X account and had bad feelings about it. I never would have guessed my bad feelings about it is actually horrid. He activated his account again the next day and I remembered him saying he's okay, he just fell asleep. Little did we know, he was thinking about ending it all. Remember he also injured his leg really badly. Just imagine how horrible he must felt. Luckily, his younger sister and her bf were there, taking care of him. If not, there would be no James anymore :'(

James revealed it has been two occasions where he has suicidal thoughts, one is what I wrote above and the other one after he was severely bullied for the Cover MV we all know of. And that one is also a fail from DMD. James took full responsibility on his own, saying it was his mistake not to do another version with proper mixing and post production. The sound they used for that MV was from Melt into You concert, it was only a backtrack. In the concert, James sang live on top of the backtrack, and with the stage production and dancing, of course people never noticed how the backtrack truly sound. So many were praising that performance. Of course, Idk what truly happened behind the scene, but DMD didn't do any quality checks before releasing that MV? The way all of them kept silent (still is until today) and left James being bullied alone truly baffles me. They didn't take down the MV or close the comment section, etc. They did nothing. Even My Chemical Romance, one of the legendary bands turns off their comment section when people stepped way over the boundary. When one of their controversial ex-band mate passed away, they turned off the comment section also. Why can't DMD do any of that? Just take down the TT videos and whatnot, that people still using to this day to mock him. And not one soul in DMD ever talked about that. It was only Neoul from MeMindy that said something multiple times to defend James (and also some people that supposed to be James band mates but that project is not happening anymore, so..)

What this man has been through are just so tough and challenging. I'm not even in his shoes but I cried multiple times because it hurts, knowing he's hurting so much. All he wants is to do his job and chase his dreams. Why people are so cruel to him to the point of spreading lies and accusing him of many things, when most of the time, those people don't even know him that well..

If you don't want to support him, that's fine. But don't lie and throw untrue accusations. That can tarnish his name and made him target for bullies (Which he has had to deal with multiple times throughout his lives, some since he was a kid.)

[queersouthasian]

Uea : *exists*

King : *horny and in love*

Same gus same

[allovelyhappily]

"My savor, who came to ruin my life." The handmaiden

[itsallaboutbl]

He has no right looking this good 😍

[seatawinan]

LOVE UPON A TIME

The story of the past. The one that you've been waiting for will return And you two shall meet again

[oyeicher]

Middleman's Love Episode 3

[blmpff]

NET SIRAPHOP and JAMES SUPAMONGKON (8s) cr

[chinzhilla]

Net Siraphop and James Supamongkon as King and Uea in Middleman's Love, Episode 1