12 episodes of fluff and questioning the script

Sorry for not liking enough, I do like the actors as probably most viewers, but I feel this drama shows the BL public would watch and be happy with anything as long as it has handsome likeable actors making out (here comes our rewatch value). I guess people are attached to the actors thanks to their promotional fan service activities, but what about the production value of this drama on its own?

I would question the scriptwriter about too many cliches, stuck recording developments, inconsistencies, for not realizing the full potential of such a beautiful metaphor of the Little Prince story. To me it feels more like fan service than a drama when the characters cannot decide their life on their own and need divine interventions from the shipping crowd around; the bigger the crowd, the more helpless the script. This drama is supposed to portray adult characters into their early 30s apparently, not typical BL schoolchildren who cannot make a step without being steered by their ship's captains (to the teenage audience amusement). On the other hand, probably it cannot be a BL story without these cliches? So the question is, does this genre requires and promotes a quality script in the first place?

Casting is not without an issue - the ex has better onscreen chemistry with both main leads separately (and this is probably the biggest innovation and the only refreshing moment in this drama.) The ex stole the show for me and it feels weird when the series is reaching its conclusion and instead of being immersed into the main characters story, I'm mostly sorry that both of them were too modest in their nightmares. Once again I would question the script. Probably it means that a possible s2 could have more of the ex (which he clearly deserves), but s1 shouldn't have sidelined its main couple story development from theirs points of view first of all.

I guess it takes significant efforts and team work to produce such a drama, wish the crew had a stronger foundation in terms of the script and direction. Or a better balance of the typical BL tropes cherished by the viewers.

Read More

Cautious reflections from Thai filmmakers // Diplomatic prequel to Call It What You Want

The documentary offers 20 minutes of intelligent, cautious reflections from several Thai filmmakers, who work with BL projects, apart from directing "normal" series, films, ads. The biggest input is from the director of this documentary, who appears genuinly thinking out loud, without delving into what the BL community would like or expect or hate to hear. Is it intended for the BL fan community at all? Not necessarily. An introduction to the BL genre for everyone else? Not sure. The filmmakers' cautious public reflection on BL series from a subtle, ambivalent, yet somewhat sympathetic viewpoint on the genre, which - it's not stated directly, but palpable - is treated as inferior within the Thai filming industry? Most likely.

If you, like me, prefer to just watch BL, without following the social media backstage of the BL industry with its dramas and gossips, this documentary is not too hot, not too cold: politely and superficially it covers many topics, without uncovering anything disturbing too deeply (occasional BL tendency to romanticize and normalize sexual assault is disturbing even being mentioned briefly).

Some observations from the documentary which were of interest for me as an international (non-Asian) viewer:

1) In the Thai soaps industry, BL series are apparently referred to as yaoi series. I'm not an expert in both yaoi and BL, but I thought they are different. What gives BL a much broader appeal, is a happy end becoming the norm. BL is expected to be a feel good story. It wasn't the case with a gloomy, sad yaoi. Thus, even though Thailand is internationally regarded as the kingdom of BL, the local filming industry apparently prefers to see it as a foreign, yaoi-inspired phenomenon?

2) Some of Thai filming crew could openly express their aversion while filming a kissing scene between male actors in BL. A glimpse into a bitter reality behind an idealized acceptance attitude in the average BL.

3) Thai BL productions experienced a rise in demand after the pandemic. Seems understandable. The director noted BL is all about a highly idealized unrealistic romance between men, often adopted from stories written by women, for women. People must be eager to escape to a perfect fantasy world at the time of the unprecedented pandemic restrictions. Also, Thai BL series reportedly attract many advertisers. Good to know for the international audience, it means the genre is viable and thriving, more BLs to come. For me, it's amazing that BL stories are perceived more or less similar all over the world, while the advertisements they feature seem to be much more representative of the local culture. 

4) The documentary's featuring a Thai LGBT group probably makes a case for BL being an ally or representation of the real people with a real cause. But, I wonder, being mostly a straight women's fantasy, aimed for female audience, how could BL be representative of real men's experiences? If I got it right, two of the featured directors actually think it could be eventually possible, either because it doesn't matter what label is applied to the relationship between two people in love (Call It What You Want) or by gradually challenging and changing the unrealistic or dated patriarchal BL tropes and clichés from within (Bad Buddy).

5) The fans who contributed to the documentary created an impression of a more mature, level-headed audience than the vibe from the average BL social media discussion in English.

As for actors, the director expresses his concern for the restrictions these fan-shipped BL actors face in real life. Surely, it puts tonns of extra pressure, but it seems like every social media personality nowadays walks on thin ice when it comes to what they say, post, endorse; or what their fans do. Some of the restrictions, specific for fan-shipped BL actors are mentioned in detail in the director's 2021 series, Call It What You Want. It seems like in the fictional settings Thai BL series and films tend to be more openly reflective, ironical and sarcastic about different questionable aspects of the BL subculture than in a documentary framework.

6) If same-sex marriages were legal in Thailand, BL wouldn't be so popular? I couldn't know, but not sure about this opinion from the documentary. If BL is driven by straight women shipping straight or undisclosed male characters in fiction and in reality, it could be not related to the legal status of same-sex relationships in reality. Is BL not popular in Taiwan or in the West?

At the end of the day, one should be able to sleep well after having watched the documentary (if they are not into reading between the lines). And maybe the filmmaker feels towards the BL genre a little bit more sympathetic than the title implies, and probably out of this good intention the documentary prefers the topic to fly safely under the public scrutiny radar. Or maybe not. The documentary has an open ending, viewers are invited to think on their own. 

My takeaway from the documentary and the subsequent series, CIWYW, is that I liked this attempt to look at the BL genre from a wider perspective, as they say in English, to think outside the box. Not being engaged in this (vicious?) circle of passionate shipping fans, blurring lines between fiction and reality; the industry management, tapping into the fans' expectations and flirting with them in order to monetize their addiction; this artificial BL genre, which originally doesn't reflect real men's experience, but mostly catered for straight women fantasy of an ideal romance between mostly straight men who happen to fall in love with each other, out of any realistic proportion, - and this is thought to represent the LGBT people for some reason; clichéd BL plots, depicting innocent romantic nonsense, stereotypical roles, derived from patriarchal experience of the past or sometimes disturbing sexual violence; all acted out by young actors, trying to make it in the industry, whatever it takes.

With all this mess in mind, known even without this documentary or the subsequent series, I like the simple reminder that there's a life besides BL. And will probably stay divided on BL as before watching it. Deep down, I would like to believe that BL is a feel good idealistic story, giving voice and public support to the universal idea of a more inclusive society, but this genre brings in its own inherent restrictions and divisions, capable of exploitation and misrepresentation of real people. All in all, I second one the previous reviewers, respect to the documentary for starting a public discussion on this subject, which many people all over the world are passionate about.

Read More

Charming, feel good, refreshing, mature characters, for adult BL viewers

The current MyDrama plot summary sounds to me a bit off in relation to some details. Thus it was more interesting to watch. I wasn't able to predict one or two turns of the plot (refreshing for BL!) and this, among other things, made me fall in love with this lighthearted movie (it's basically the same as the series).

My take on the plot summary: a bit spoiled, self-obsessed, but kind-hearted and easygoing famous actor has to cohabit for some time with an aloof, gloomy, strict disciplinarian young chef. As they say, opposites attract.

Stars in the sky is a beautiful metaphor of the series/movie. The series are directed in a way that there's always something untold and it adds cinematic value. One of the main characters is charming, lively, decisive (no prolonged dragging of the story). Great chemistry between the leads. Strong acting from all the cast. No black-or-white characters, less typical supporting characters. No ubiquitous supporting couple. Cuisine is one of the coolest areas of human expertise to watch (though I doubt any person employed in the culinary industry is in the habit of dealing with cuts in such a way.) Overall, short and heartwarming BL series/movie about mature characters for grown-up audience. I wish there was such a subgenre.

Read More

Totally sold on detective developments, not sure relationships wise

Thrilled by the detective story unfolding with each episode, but past the middle of the story the quality of the script significantly deteriorated, both in terms of the crime story (improved a bit closer to the ending) and relationships wise it turned into a loose collection of hackneyed BL cliches.

Love for:
1) The detective and forensic multilayered part of the story. Focus on relatable and recognizable real-life problems of developing world: corruption of the people in power. These aspects outweighed for me any minor and major issues I have found with this production.

2) Acting of the supporting cast. Two leads being grown-up characters. I liked the Doctor's character in the first half of the show then unfortunately he lost any depth of the personality, it felt like the actor had no substance to deliver.

What was not my cup of tea:

I failed to feel any sympathy towards the leading tutor-mobster character from the beginning. He developed more dimensions closer to the ending. I haven't watched any dramas with these two leads before. But given what I perceived as a lack of any tension and the spark between them it was clear they are an established onscreen partnership, who are quite ok with the usual fan service and closer to the end both the script and their acting looked like that. Their first time love scene was acted very sensual and genuine though.

I guess this is how this industry works and I only have to respect that established screen couples are cast, but... couldn't help but dreamt the doctor was romantically involved with someone more ethically suitable like a journalist or a policeman (then it could be followed with a new forensic investigative series!) I love happy ends, happy ends are everything, but... it didn't feel a good ending for me. I prefer the doctor to stay single than saying "yes" to the person who stages an armed kidnapping as his proposal. Sick. The doctor has no self-respect for accepting such a treatment.

The most unimpressive part was when the tutor-mobster chains his beloved man in a place in the middle of nowhere because... he cares for him? Ok, in real life, returning in 24 hours he would find him dehydrated, in a pool of his own urea and feces, and it's in the best case scenario. The worst case, the first guy never returns from his meeting with adversaries, the second guy most likely dies. That's love and care for you. Dear Scriptwriters, you have done a lot of amazing, incredible job with this series, please make next time a more coherent story for the characters we are looking forward to value/understand/fall in love with.

Read More

Rooting for such a genre of BL being incorporated into a bigger whodunit story

Just discovered this drama in 2021 and registered here to write my lengthy love letter of appreciation. Could we please have more like this?

What's to my liking:
1) a BL story is incorporated into a bigger whodunit detective framework, with elements of comedy, action, melodrama and real-life problems (why indeed the police are underpaid?) altogether.

2) it's about grown-ups, not students.

3) hate-to-love relationships are bound to have good character development.

4) bits of food philosophy throughout the series (yummy!)

5) Good acting from all the cast, and the actor playing Tang Yi shines in this drama in particular. Amazing how much his younger character from 4 years ago and Tang Yi as a mob boss feel like so different people. Gorgeous looks needless to say! And I really liked Unit 3 captain's acting as well. These two actors were cast perfectly.

Honestly, I didn't find Meng Shao Fei likeable at the beginning, then I realized that his character just was written this way, a bit childish, quick-tempered, but sincere and enthusiastic, since I made a journey similar to Tang Yi to start to appreciate and understand his character more, it turned out to be involving after all. With the gangsters' characters we discover their multidimensional/vulnerable sides going from their negative presentation - but with the police it is vice versa.

6) I'm not a diligent disciple of a BL genre, so probably don't know well, but I admire how natural, touching and not forced seemed all love scenes and tender moments between main characters in the middle and to the end of the series (Rewatch value: 10 out of 10).

In contrast to a number of trite cliches in the beginning (a guy falling into hands of his future boyfriend or medicine application - 🙄). IDK, probably it's a double-edged sword: sweetness and soothing predictability of BL are impossible without such cliches?

7) Like the job done by the costume team: obviously stylish clothing of Tang Yi and his childhood female partner in crime, but for some reason I liked even more how the clothing of the police unit 3 shows how... well... they live on a budget, quite palpable.

What I would have probably changed?

1) As a boring law-abiding citizen (not of Taiwan, but this is universal), I'd love police officers to be depicted at least as competent as career criminals. Two naive childish police officers in one unit - a bit too much imo.

2) Not a problem at all, just a thought. We, girls, love it and since I'm not from Asia maybe I don't know how it is there in real, but, I'd love confessions scenes among male characters to look a bit more natural - less full of nice heartfelt words. IDK, in my part of the world men normally don't expected to be able to express their feelings verbally in lengthy well articulated sentences. The actors delivered it sincere and moving nevertheless.

3) Few thoughts on the ending. Attention, SPOILER, for those who haven't seen yet, please don't read further.

I think Meng Shao Fei owes Tang Yi the biggest possible apology at the end. Really. He has been chasing him for 4 years for the wrong reason. The real evil and culprit was in his own backyard. Shorty at least was obviously shaken by this discovery that good guys turned out to have rotten apples among them, worse than bad guys they were chasing.

Also I don't understand why Meng Shao Fei so readily accepted Tang Yi's birth father. It's really only up to his son. And, since we know he doesn't tolerate drugs at all, basically for the older man it was a choice: either his son or he goes with the flow.

As for Meng Shao Fei's late mentor. Well, looks like she was neither a knowledgeable police officer when it came to her private life, nor she was a good mother when her 12 years old run from his adoptive father's home - she was away from work for whole 3 days, wow. Is it possible for a mother to live her life not trying to find out whereabouts of her child? I think it's not. Ok, I understand, it's difficult for the plot to be flawless and without gaps. In general, the plot is complex (not black and white but some characters are multifaceted) and engaging anyway!

Read More

Short and sweet BL series about grown-up characters for grown-up audience

I wasn't able to predict one or two plot turns (refreshing for BL) and this, among other things, made me fall in love with this short lighthearted series.

On the surface the plot seems somewhat predictable (this is BL after all): a bit spoiled, self-obsessed, but kind-hearted and easygoing famous actor has to cohabit for some time with an aloof, gloomy, strict young chef.

Likes:

Stars in the sky is a beautiful metaphor of the series. One of the main characters is charming, lively, decisive (no prolonged dragging of the story). Strong acting. No black-or-white characters, less typical supporting characters. Cuisine is one of the coolest areas of human expertise to watch (though I doubt any person employed in the culinary industry is in the habit of dealing with cuts in such a way.) No ubiquitous supporting couple.

Read More