This Week in BL
Aug 2021 Wk 2
Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.
Ongoing Series - Thai
This was the week of visitors from the past: The Yearbook got Mean & Prem, and Love Area got Jeff. Always nice to se familiar faces.
Golden Blood Ep 8 fin - cute ending to a series that was a whole lot softer than we had a right to expect (also higher heat), plus some light punching. So many tropes: pinky promise, ground lie, hair dry, kitchen romance, boyfriend claiming x2, boop, back hug with a striped shirt combo. (full review here) RECOMMENDED!
Love Area Ep 3 - (no subs) if this is a love triangle, I am now entirely in the 2nd leads camp (the cute pre-med across the hall) I loathe a slovenly character. Although I love a good guy uke who still knows how to protect himself and say no. Meanwhile Jeff Satur showed up looking very suave. Hooray! I think this show is good but dialogue is getting too complex for me to follow without subs. (Although I did catch that the play within a play is using “ter” which always makes me happy.)
The Yearbook Ep 5 - nothing is changing my mind that this is ITSAY meets Fault is in Our Stars. At least we finally know why they’re so devoted to one another. Plus we got the trope of passing the familial obligation of care, been a while since I’ve seen that one. And yes I did tear up. I’ve explained before: self = BIG FAT SAP.
Top Secret Together Ep 14 - (no subs) lots of EakPhob to start, my least favorite story arc, plus I have terrible second lead syndrome for the cutie younger seme. But then a ton of my two being THE CUTEST BOYFRIENDS EVAH. Look at them communicating and talking about their feelings! Yeah! Nothing from the other couples. Definitely getting Gen Y unevenness from this one.
Don’t Say No Ep 2 - I’m starting to enjoy it for the delightful shitshow it isn’t (although still kinda is). We got us an out pansexual slut character and a hilarious scene with a prostate wand. So I’m all in and disposed to enjoy myself. Honestly, with a pansexual and a prostate wand, who wouldn’t be? “Hilarious encounters with pansexuals & prostate wands” is the subtitle of my tell-all autobiography. Just FYI.
Ongoing Series - Not Thai
Light On Me (Korea) Ep 13-14 - TaeKyung & ShinWoo = most terrifyingly awkward and cringe-inducing first date ever? I think so. Despite this, the frenetic love triangle persists. How will this resolve in only two eps? Also sassy TaeKyung is the BEST TaeKyung.
Given (Japan) Ep 4 - it’s still quite good and moving along a pace. I’m so glad we’re getting quality old school live action yaoi from Japan. Makes me nostalgic.
Gossip
CLEARS THROAT
Hear ye hear ye! Taiwan has a new BL movie coming called Light (from GagaooLala). It is a dark high heat movie about an undercover cop and a sex worker with themes of ownership and abuse. My Drama Listing has a good full description. Trailer & Teaser (watch both, they different)
But guess what?
Behold THE PROPHECY!
It appears to be set in a SUIT SHOP!
@heretherebedork basically willed this thing into existence.
Meanwhile, I unearthed very old news that Korea’s Color Rush (my favorite BL this year, seriously, nothing will beat this one for me) is, apparently, actually getting a second season. Which means that stinger at the end of Viki’s movie version is for realz.
(I actually don’t think we need more but I’m disposed to be pleased and confident in Korea.)
GL-based drama Couple of Mirrors is supposed to start airing. Read that “based” carefully, this looks to be censored GL. So not a bromance a... baimance? Babemance? humm erm ooo oh oh!
Romanchick!
eh, I don’t know. But you get my point.
In Case You Missed It
My Lascivious Boss one of my favorite Vietnamese BLs of this year put the full drama with eng subs up on their YouTube channel as a movie. So if you like to consume that way, you now can. I think the subs are worse and some of the heat has been cut out, so you’re better off with the original. (Full review here.)
Chinese actor Zhang Zhehan (AKA ZZH) of Word of Honor embroiled in a HUGE scandal which has resulted in him being censored, cancelled, and dropped by fans & brands. You know me, my policy is to censor the censors, so if you want the deets I would start with the link I provided, and also educate yourself about the long involved history between Japan and China. Best of luck.
Grey Rainbow (Thai BL from 2016) is popping back up on Daily Motion. Please don’t watch this. It will break you. It’s HIStory 3 level trauma. You’ve been warned.
Next Week Looks Like This:
Some shows may be listed later than actual air date for International subs accessibility reasons.
Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.
Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.
This week’s best moments?
What you want more than @here & self basically willing a Taiwanese BL into existence for the Honor of Grayskull? I think that’s pretty fucking special sparkle unicorn shit right there.
Fine, well here’s other good stuff:
