Mar 17, 2022
I lied, my house is in the opposite direction and an hour and a half away Why? I like you.
seen from Jordan
seen from Netherlands
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from Italy
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United Arab Emirates
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Japan
seen from Russia
seen from Uzbekistan
I lied, my house is in the opposite direction and an hour and a half away Why? I like you.
What are you doing? I was just curious how you looked like
Blue of Winter (2022) – E02
blue of winter is already one of the cutest things this year, also another sports bl to to go along to you're my sky, yeaaaaaaaah baby
another year another reaffirmation that judo is gay
Hello Phi ! Do you know why in Thai BL, male characters can be swimmers and all kind of ballers but we have very few martial artists and in particular Muay Thai boxers ? No boxing clubs love stories ? There is a fight in Not me and The Eclipse played around with Judo a bit but I never seen a Thai show do what Where your eyes linger did with Jujitsu. Much love.
Second Chance has a Muay Thai story arc and I think there is at least one other. Ah yes, erm... what was that BounPrem vehicle called... Even Sun!
Judo/JJ shows up in Blue of Winter and Tasty Florida as well.
Honestly, I don't know why not more. Maybe it's not considered sexy? There actually are comparatively few sports romances for the gay romance genre which frankly LOVES these, usually.
This Week in BL - 2 GREAT Shows Ended & 1 Crappy One
March to April 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
My Ride (GaGa) Ep 10fin - BL grew up with this pulp - a truly lovely and special little show featuring the extremely rare pairing of sunshine/sunshine AKA a cinnamon roll couple. Mature explorations of relationships using one of the softest, sweetest and most innocent friends to lovers vehicles. Kindly, overworked doctor meets broken-hearted motorcycle taxi driver in an “other side of the tracks” slow burn romance. The support cast is excellent, making for great friendship groups and family dynamics. With honest queer rep that adds to, but doesn’t impede the story, and genuine conversation about the nature of class, wealth, and classism, not to mention communication, honesty, and respect for boundaries, you can’t go wrong with this show. In other news, I am a sucker for a single dimple. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 9/10
Cutie Pie (YouTube Sat) Ep 7 - This is a cute little show when they’re awkwardly trying to date each other and be domestic. I love a grocery shopping trope. MaxNat giving us some really good kisses. Nuea & Syn are also cute. AND a BounPrem cameo. Pretty much they just there to shill for a gay marriage. But okay. I like the gay mafia cabal they got going on at Pentagon. The public love confession in the club was kind of insane actually, but that’s sort of the way the show is going. Also I guess that’s what gay clubs are for... making out. Owner has to do it and show how it’s done.
La Cuisine (GaGa Sat) Ep 4 - This series is so soft and sweet. I love the way Ram is making his intentions clear without ever crossing a line very much the gentleman, it matches to Choup’s shyness really well. But I don’t see how they’re going to progress anywhere with these personality types. Meanwhile Sky is THE BEST boy. Being on the phone talking with your crush all night long is so first love, I can’t even. But I’ve actually never seen it depicted in a BL. I remain wild about this show and I love that they are confronting the cost of celebrity.
KinnPorsche (iQIYI Sat) Ep 1 - I loathe the opening credits and song, not that this matters much. Initial thoughts: We in for 50% car porn 50% actual porn? OK. I’m game. The fight sequences are really good. Kinn’s eyebrows are like seriously aggressive caterpillars - I’m half afraid they’re going to strike out on their own, take up the rainbow flag and join the march in Not Me. I was thinking about live blogging this one, but honestly that’s all I have a lot to say so far. I didn’t take a lot of screenshots, which is usually a sign I don’t have a ton of feelings on a show. So far KiinPorsche is fine, good even. I’m interested. I’m looking forward to the next episode. But the most exciting thing for me was the ombre (hombre, heh heh) suit, and it’s not whipping me into a verbal frenzy. Not even the suit. However, if I feel different next week...
Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul (iQIYI Weds) Ep 1-2 - I could imagine MaxTul anchoring this series but I’m glad to have Karn (the soul reaper Tua Phee) & Nut (Doctor Prakan) back on my screen. I like the nurse with the crush. In fact, I like all of the characters. The acting a solid too. I’m finding the music a little intrusive but I LOVE the premise so I’m willing to forgive it a few growing pains. Also we can’t ask too much from a New directed piece these days.
Cupid's Last Wish (YouTube Sun) Ep 1 - I like it a lot more than I expected. I like that they are basically boyfriends before anything goes down. I like the will betrayal as a fissure point (witnessed a few of these myself). I love that Korn can recognize Win behind his sister’s eyes instantly. Mix is acting his little heart out. I’m into it. I’m keeping it in rotation.
Miracle of the Teddy Bear (grey Sun) Ep 1-3 - This is NOT a premise that interests me. It consists of 16 short eps, airing Fri-Sun on Ch3 & 3Plus, reruns with subs on Netflix Asia, nothing else international. (Apparently it’s already super popular in Thailand.) I gave it a try on DC and I really do love the cast. I really like the leads dynamic, and the actor playing the teddy bear is adorable. But I find the inanimate objects talking really creepy. I ADORE the secondary couple - I always love a younger Ernest age gap romance. I think if it comes up on my radar again I’ll keep watching, but I’m not fussed.
Enchante (YouTube Fri) Ep 10fin - Well that was a thing. Honestly it probubly should get an 8/10 by my rating system but I was so disappointed I’m giving it a 7/10 and not bothering to write a review. RECOMMENDED WItH RESERVATIONS Live blogg ep-by-ep recap here.
The Tuxedo (GaGa Sat) Ep 5 - These two are very good at flirting. But I’m not sure I can ever forgive the rich kid character. Another BL that is squandering great chemistry. So I guess that isn’t just only GMMTV’s purview.
Love Stage!! (AISplay or grey Sat) Ep 8 - the subber I follow is on vacay so no report this week, I’m getting behind on this one.
My Secret Love (GaGa? Mon) Ep 1 - I thought this was supposed to air on Monday but... nothing, and no info on MDL either. So perhaps I had the date wrong?
Ongoing Series - Not Thai
Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea Viki Fri) Ep 6 - OMG SO CUTE. So awkward. College boyfriends campus couple. SO SOFT. Argh. I’m dead. Also it looks like Korea might serves us a little coming out drama next ep (not normal for them) gonna be interesting to see how they handle it. Delicately, I’d guess. I wonder if HaeBom’s gonna find out and leave, for TaeSung’s own good, and then TaeSung self destructs. That’s how I’d write it with this kind of pairing.
Blue of Winter AKA Judo Boys (Korea Weds YouTube) Ep 5fin - I don’t know, it was odd, like Strongberry decided to do a pulp? Not terrible but not good either. 3/10 NOT RECOMMENDED, I don’t know what I’m watching and neither does it.
Blueming (Korea IQIYI Weds or Thurs) Ep 1-11 - it’s ongoing if you want to watch it for free week-by-week, but my FairyBLParent got me VIP so I watched it all at once. I LOVED it. You’ll need to get through the first 5 eps though. YOU CAN DO IT! Review here. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 9/10.
Gossip
Star Hunter’s next Thai BL What Zabb Man (described as a chaotic romance, of course). Got a description: Poon is a hardworking guy who quit school to take care of his little brother after their parents died. He’s struggling to make a food stall work and then one of his customers recruits him as a chef for a hotel. The hotel owner, Tian, turns out to be someone he already hates, but once challenged to cook well, Poon can’t resist. Tian falls in love with Poon's cooking but won’t admit to it. Enemies to lovers commence.
New Thai BL Buddy Line Y Animal AKA Buddy Line Y(aoi) Animal (seriously?) dropped a trailer. From the same people who brought us The Yearbook and based on 4 y-novels written by Scriper, slated to be released this year. Stars Man & Tile (Yearbook), Oat (Make it Right), and unknowns.
Taiwanese BL (ish) Papa & Daddy has had a recast for season 2. The actor playing the seme role has been replaced.
To My Star stars, Son Woo Hyeon & Kim Kang Min are cast together (again) in non-BL Kdrama, The Golden Spoon. So far they have been in Tale of the Nine-Tailed (not BL) and To My Star 1 & 2.
Spring of Crush AKA Love in Spring (coming soon from Watcha (Light On Me, Semantic Error - we LIKE them). Is rumored to be... wait for it... A FULL LENGTH KDRAMA!!!!! Yes my darlings: 16 episodes at 30 minutes each!!!!!! Stars Yoo Youngjae (formerly K-pop BAP) and Kim Song (from School 2017). This is a historical cross dressing rich/poor romance and I AM SO EXCITED.
Korea’s Dramatist Studio released location photos of their upcoming BL original Happy Ending Outside The Fence feat Leo (VIXX) and Ha Jung-woo. I guess they are keeping that title. OKAAAAAYYY...
Korea has picked up Dongmul's A Shoulder to Cry On for adaptation, both leads to be played by idols, and it will be 12 eps. Story features forced outing, pubic shaming, sports, confident gay seme, and enemies to lovers. I’m getting Tharntype + Semantic Error + Light On Me. I’m not mad about this.
In Case You Missed it
Yes there really is a new Thai GL on the horizon. It has been a LONG time.
Also, Thailand is bring us some messy queer affirming chaos content Saneha Stories 4. Not much known about it with no MDL listing, but here’s the trailer. And of course, never trust it will actually be made or accessible or LIKE the trailer. I’ve been trying to get ahold of Saneha Stories 3 forever (it’s a trans romance featuring Ohm T, Yoon, and Gun K). So anyway 4 has:
multiple GLs,
Nut (Grey Rainbow, Dear Doctor) being hella closeted maybe dating a girl + Plustor + Earth K
a trans man (played by Tul, yes of MaxTul),
a trans lesbian character,
a (maybe) poly relationship with BoothNewyear + pregnant lady
an asexual storyline with KaownahTurbo
What we want is, of course, this just as a hella queer Friend Zone, but I think this is probubly a series of short vignettes. It’s looks very very messy and not BL but interesting. The kind of thing GaGa should like. Maybe they’ll pick it up.
Upcoming Japanese uni BL (live action yaoi adaptation) Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss! AKA Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shika Nai! starts April 21st. About a boy who is always unlucky, and one who it always lucky, who accidentally start dating. No inter distribution info but it’s from the My Beautiful Man people so... Gaga maybe?
Next Week Looks Like This:
Star and Sky: Star in My Mind takes over Enchante’s frigay time slot for GMMTV. Star Hunter’s new offering, What Zabb Man! starts Saturday (no inter distribution). And the Cherry Magic movie is releasing (in Japan).
This week’s best moments?
Cherry Blossoms, this show could not get any cuter.
Not my favorite of Yoon’s pairs but that was spectacular confession scene in My Ride.
Butch Queen of the Universe. Now accepting tribute.
Sky in La Cuisine = best boy.
Phai in La Cuisine = best tsundere bestie. Is that a thing? Well, it should be. Just look at him go...
He actually says nong saow to pink-haired girl and Kitty. I cooed with the queer acceptance of it all.
Look, I don’t like Our Days, but this bit with the boom mic was absolutely hilarious.
The *gasp* heard ‘round BL fandom.
BounPrem for the marriage equality shill.
I got tagged y @liyazaki (thanks sweetheart!)
Reveal Your Watch & Rewatch Drama List
Currently Watching BL
La Cuisine (GaGa Sat) - LOVE IT
My Ride (GaGa) - LOVE IT EVEN MORE
Cutie Pie (YouTube Sat) - wasn’t into it, decided it was Thailand goes super-yaoi and now totally am all over it. Plus, thank you for the chemistry, I almost forgot was that was like.
Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul (iQIYI Weds) - I like it more than I thought, but I’m a big cool premise person
Cupid's Last Wish (YouTube Sun) - also like it more than I thought I would, since one of the premise I do NOT like is body swap
Enchante (YouTube Fri) - Live blogging ep-by-ep here. I’m all over the place and now mostly disappointed.
Love Stage!! (AISplay or grey Sat) Ep 8 - it’s very good, I want to see Thailand adapt more Japanese stuff now (can I get a redo on Silhouette of Your Voice too? While we are at it, could Taiwan do Same Difference and Korea do Given? Please & thank you.
The Tuxedo (GaGa Sat) - might be dropping this one.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea Viki Fri) Ep 6 - FUCKING LOVE IT. Wasn’t wowed at first but it is SO classic yaoi and that’s so different from what Korea usual does and I happen to like the stepbrothers trope a whole lot (yes I know, not actually stepbrothers) but still! Yay!
Blue of Winter AKA Judo Boys (Korea Weds YouTube) - Korea does a pulp, it’s not good but also, can’t stop watching
Starting Soon BL
KinnPorsche (iQIYI Sat) - Eh, I’m kinda over it because of all the pre-production drama. Also I really don’t trust Thailand to go dark. If this were coming from Taiwan or Korea or even Japan I’d be excited. But now I’m just a little scared and going in exhausted. That said, I’ll probubly live blog it.
My Secret Love (??? Mon) - another Thai Uni pulp so it better be good or I just got too many going right now and I’ll drop it and maybe binge it during the late summer slump.
Miracle of the Teddy Bear (??? Sun) - i had a bit of a hunt and didn’t find it but also I’m not fussed this is NOT a premise that interests me.
Blueming (Korea IQIYI Weds or Thurs) - Korea bringing us another uni set BL? That I AM into though. We haven’t gotten many of these and they really hit it out of the parks with Semantic Error. I’m certainly watching this.
PlusMinus (Taiwan April 15) - FINALLY a new BL from Taiwan that I am really excited to see. Childhood friends and coworkers who suddenly become more.
Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss! AKA Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai! (April 21) Plot: Kota is perennially unlucky. Naoya (Yusuke Sato of Jpop LOL) is always lucky. They meet by chance at their university's freshman orientation. Kota's misfortune is alleviated when he's with Naoya and due to a misunderstanding, they end up dating. This seems like the college version of My Love Mix Up and I AM HERE FOR IT.
There are more that I am excited about but I only picked ones that have announced drop dates. But GAP, Oh! My Sunshine Night, and Between Us are up there.
Rewatching
Semantic Error
Light On Me
Plus the most recent episodes of Cherry Blossoms and Cutie Pie.
Korea be like, I see your pretty shoulder-blades, China, and raise you one eyebrow.
Blue of Winter (2022) – E02