Episode 3 Discussion *SPOILERS*

 Pincolino:

You don't need to tell ME this. I wasn't grossed out. But I felt bad for Bright. In the interviews he even felt the need to explain that he is a completely different person in real life. It was obvious fans had a hard time liking this character/actor. Most don't differentiate between a role and a person which is very stupid. I just thought back then, now we have FINALLY a gay men and nobody likes him :(

And that's where the producers need to really know the talent. The thing is if he does the main role with very likeable part  in BL dramas, then he would have to endure the shipping and the hardcore shippers. Porsch already has a same-sex partner and I believe he has gained more fans from those who adore their relationship.

But I still think he has to pick a role that would make him appear more wise and gay and very  likeable in next BL dramas to sort of offset a certain reputation he has endured in TWM.

 Slythe:

then he would have to endure the shipping and the hardcore shippers

Don't get me started on the shipping ;P Lately I'm just speechless how far people are taking this. 

 Slythe:

But I still think he has to pick a role that would make him appear more wise and gay and very  likeable in next BL dramas to sort of offset a certain reputation he has endured in TWM.

That would be great! He can play a villain later again. 

 Pincolino:

Yeah. And it was even addressed in the series by his friend (Techno? I don't remember) that he doesn't look "gay" – whatever that means. I also lately encountered a girl on this site who is drooling over Mew like crazy. Gay or not – he fits the stereotypical image of a HOT heterosexual man. As far as I know NewYear didn't get a role in a series, because he looked to "feminine". I think it was 2moons as Wayo, but I may have got this wrong. 

Many people were grossed out by his character (and also by the actor) and I still wonder to this day, why they had to make a real gay man so creepy in a series. 

As for 2Moons, it received backlash from the community for being too discriminating in choosing actors. I believe the series should be a lesson for producers of BL.

Straight actors may make a name by acting in gay roles but then they would eventually decide to transition in more mainstream roles with heterosexual nature. That's what happened in one of its leads where he doesn't want to be stereotyped in gay roles. 

BL dramas should be opportunities for gay actors because there are many hardcore shippers of same-sex relationships, which are regarded as target audience of BL. But then there's still that barrier or rather factors regarded as impediments in which I'm confused on why they're still there. I think it has to do with the thinking that ambiguous actors can get more opportunities and offers than gay actors. But aren't they realizing that many of the fujoshis keep on wishing that their ships would become real in "real life". I am actually done with BL dramas who always pair actors that are seemingly straight or want to remain the ambiguity of their orientation. it's time for that specific industry to practice authenticity.

I'm very glad though of straight women who are into BL but I still see some having lingering views that tend to be homophobic.  But I'm very appreciative of them for their open-mindedness.

 Slythe:

And there's where I feel like many of these straight women who are BL fans can't really understand the term "consent" in the gay world. This is where I blame certain BL dramas where they portray gay relationships to be too similar with heterosexual relationships. Like damn, many gay people are too closeted that they needed to be pushed to really get what they want for them to realize that it's really what they wanted.

You have an interesting point. In my experience it doesn't require pushing physically but yes, persistence can be key. Also, alcohol can help people loose the inhibitions that keep them in the closet.

I once was intimately involved with a guy who only came out to me (and btw also told me how he was molested as a child) after he was pretty drunk. I had known him for several months at that point. Still, I felt like I consented to what we did but it still left me feeling bad the next day (We were both drunk, and we were friends). To make matters worst, he decided to have a change of heart and acted like what had happened meant nothing which just made me feel more frustrated. We ended up not being on speaking terms after that...  Afterwards, many years later, the guy did marry another guy so I guess he finally came out!

So yes, I think I get your issue with consent in heterosexual couples vs gay couples, although I still think it is basically the same but in gay relationships you sometimes get closer to that grey line for various reasons.

I love SOTUS but yes, it has to be the most unrealistic depiction of homosexual relationships that I have ever seen. I think Lovesick gets to a middle ground. It is overall unrealistic but some elements are there, the confusion, your heart "shaking like this" every time you see your man, etc. I read someone describe Lovesick as being experts in "hand holding porn" and this is so true... But anyway, I digress.

I never finished MIR (personal reasons but I will get to it eventually). The few episodes I have watched made me think the relationship between Book and Frame and that first night between Tee and Fuse are pretty realistic. In fact what happened between Tee and Fuse is not that different to what happened with my friend that I described above!  I have also met people that had the same or almost the same "issue" that Book had when he first had sex with Frame... And I would say my first time, I kind of behaved like Fuse the next day. In fact how absent he was the next day in his conversations with his friends, how he had pain when sitting, all of those little details are amazingly well thought. They nailed that feeling of your first time very well.

I am going to come out and confess that, I rate Lovesick higher than SOTUS. I just think SOTUS is too rosy for me. MIR was looking like it was too good. In fact, its one of the reasons I dropped it. I really liked Book and Frame.

 reefpicker:

I never finished MIR (personal reasons but I will get to it eventually). The few episodes I have watched made me think the relationship between Book and Frame and that first night between Tee and Fuse are pretty realistic. In fact what happened between Tee and Fuse is not that different to what happened with my friend that I described above! I have also met people that had the same or almost the same "issue" that Book had when he first had sex with Frame... And I would say my first time, I kind of behaved like Fuse the next day. In fact how absent he was the next day in his conversations with his friends, how he had pain when sitting, all of those little details are amazingly well thought. They nailed that feeling of your first time very well.

I first watched MIR before SOTUS. And yes, you're right that it's more realistic than the latter. The Book and Frame pairing was unexpected and I ended up liking the couple.  

I get into Thai BL because of my gay friends recommending Lovesick. I haven't completely watched the whole series because of certain prejudice. Perhaps, it has to do with time and that I prefer watching Western shows with gay characters such as Hollyoaks and Emmerdale. I followed Aaron and Robert like crazy and I also have love-hate relationship with the characters. But I stopped following them when I get into BL more. 

But I love SKAM more.

I'm very glad that there are BL shows, which focus more on main leads in gay romance. It's just that, as many of you pointed out, an extension of yaoi in live action. I like yaoi just for entertainment. I like BL just for entertainment purpose but I can't help but question the sexuality of the actors when they get to be paired up in shows off-screen.