I loved several new aspects of Episode 5: -- The episode broke completely with the Bangkok-centric world (at least…
I totally agree with all the points you make. In Thai BL people, have become so used to conflict being driven by toxic masculinity they keep complaining there isn’t enough drama or that the skinship isn’t coming fast enough. Savages!
I had to point this out somewhere else already today. Aek and Aue’s conflict isn’t just an age gap or even employer\employee one, rather it is over coming from two different worlds despite sharing a love of cooking and even maybe some growing affection for each other. Because of Aue’s privileged position he can afford to approach life and it’s challenges with a sense of complete personal freedom because he’s not bogged down by the burdens of being the only man in a rural, fatherless household who will need to make choices that transcend just doing what he loves but that will enable him to look after his Mom well and also not let down her aspirations for him as an her only child.
That’s why Aek is upset after the gallery. His pride is hurt in multiple ways Aue is only starting to understand after spending time in Nan. But I loved that Aue’s first instinct was to apologise immediately and unreservedly even though he didn’t quite grasp exactly how he hurt Aek. Other BLs would’ve let that unspoken misunderstanding stupidly fester for weeks (or perhaps months or years as in ATOTS).
I thought the age conflict is also sensible because the older person will assume a mentoring role even without trying to impose themselves because a Phi, with some age and experience, can see the potential a Nong doesn’t even see in himself. So that’s something they have to work out together how to communicate better in an age-gap relationship with more sensitivity required on Aue’s part. It’s another take on the idea of consent in relationships. In earlier episodes the tension focussed on Aue’s vulnerability, mostly within himself, knowing he’s interested in Aek professionally but also personally and toeing that line as an emotionally intelligent person.
People are so used to conflict being driven in Thai BL by toxic masculinity they don’t know how to compute two men in a relationship, resolving conflict that isn’t caused by emotional abuse, self hatred or performance of hegemonic masculinity. The fact that they’re also not a masc4masc couple seems to drive people crazy, especially North American male fans, but that’s what I love about BiteMe best because that’s what’s challenging patriarchal ideas of gender, masculinity and femininity is all about.
That the least hyper-masculine man in this series is being chased by two women, envied by another and has a hot, socially dominant man head over heels in love with him almost at first sight, is giving me the same joy I felt when I finally understood the irrational hatred for Pharm in UWMA and the “I didn’t watch GameBoys at first because I didn’t like the visuals” nonsense. In other words, like Pharm and Cai in Game Boys who got the same sceptical “it’s not realistic” treatment the most desirable man in this drama is the one whose identity is more closely identified with being comfortable with his femininity.
To me that is the kick up the backside to patriarchal heteronormativity that we do not get to see in gay series or on the gay social scene where every man has to look like a Tom of Finland character as if big, loud, muscular, straight-passing performativity isn’t the most heteronormative vision of masculinity of all.
PS The music and the English lyrics on screen is another reason I love this series. I can sing along each time 😍😍💕
Haha yeah pretty much. For a show that manages to be progressive in so many areas, you get the worst treatment…
It’s so stupid and counterproductive. We’re all watching for GaHan end game; nothing else. It’s the reason the DJ ratings are through the roof and this is how you fujoshi bait a loyal fandom? Wow. I would’ve been happy with a Soo Hyun and K endgame and character death for Minister Cha and Sun Ha. Nothing else makes sense. That whole Soo Kyun forced episode was a real insult to women. I don’t even want to watch Ep 13 now 😅
It is the gayest drama I've ever seen, and I generally don't watch those BLs. It's like Ga On and Yo Han were…
They could’ve just left things open ended with GaHan together at the end. That usually satisfies homophobes. It made more sense for K to be with Soo Hyun than GaOn. Even K’ character had more screen time, a point and a personality. The Soo Hyun kiss and aftermath was a travesty
You know, I don't follow this series closely. I hardly know what's going on, but the chemistry between Yo Han…
A mess. It’s like they killed a whole person to send the message that GaHan is Not a thing after teasing that relationship with the most character development and chemistry for nearly 13 episodes. Surely there’s an “H” word for this
Haha yeah pretty much. For a show that manages to be progressive in so many areas, you get the worst treatment…
What the actual hell was this? In a show so otherwise brilliantly written they forced her into a second lead role after zero character development for 12 episodes and with a man who’s known her his whole life but only ever saw her as his best friend. Isn’t this the same reason we stopped watching het shows - because they just grab two people of opposite gender and say right, two two are a couple, for no other reason. I’m actually outraged. Oh, and if that kiss had been between GaOn and YoHan it would’ve been 🔥🔥🔥🔥 instead of that dry ass thing we saw that could’ve started brush fires 😆🤣🤣
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I had to point this out somewhere else already today. Aek and Aue’s conflict isn’t just an age gap or even employer\employee one, rather it is over coming from two different worlds despite sharing a love of cooking and even maybe some growing affection for each other. Because of Aue’s privileged position he can afford to approach life and it’s challenges with a sense of complete personal freedom because he’s not bogged down by the burdens of being the only man in a rural, fatherless household who will need to make choices that transcend just doing what he loves but that will enable him to look after his Mom well and also not let down her aspirations for him as an her only child.
That’s why Aek is upset after the gallery. His pride is hurt in multiple ways Aue is only starting to understand after spending time in Nan. But I loved that Aue’s first instinct was to apologise immediately and unreservedly even though he didn’t quite grasp exactly how he hurt Aek. Other BLs would’ve let that unspoken misunderstanding stupidly fester for weeks (or perhaps months or years as in ATOTS).
I thought the age conflict is also sensible because the older person will assume a mentoring role even without trying to impose themselves because a Phi, with some age and experience, can see the potential a Nong doesn’t even see in himself. So that’s something they have to work out together how to communicate better in an age-gap relationship with more sensitivity required on Aue’s part. It’s another take on the idea of consent in relationships. In earlier episodes the tension focussed on Aue’s vulnerability, mostly within himself, knowing he’s interested in Aek professionally but also personally and toeing that line as an emotionally intelligent person.
People are so used to conflict being driven in Thai BL by toxic masculinity they don’t know how to compute two men in a relationship, resolving conflict that isn’t caused by emotional abuse, self hatred or performance of hegemonic masculinity. The fact that they’re also not a masc4masc couple seems to drive people crazy, especially North American male fans, but that’s what I love about BiteMe best because that’s what’s challenging patriarchal ideas of gender, masculinity and femininity is all about.
That the least hyper-masculine man in this series is being chased by two women, envied by another and has a hot, socially dominant man head over heels in love with him almost at first sight, is giving me the same joy I felt when I finally understood the irrational hatred for Pharm in UWMA and the “I didn’t watch GameBoys at first because I didn’t like the visuals” nonsense. In other words, like Pharm and Cai in Game Boys who got the same sceptical “it’s not realistic” treatment the most desirable man in this drama is the one whose identity is more closely identified with being comfortable with his femininity.
To me that is the kick up the backside to patriarchal heteronormativity that we do not get to see in gay series or on the gay social scene where every man has to look like a Tom of Finland character as if big, loud, muscular, straight-passing performativity isn’t the most heteronormative vision of masculinity of all.
PS The music and the English lyrics on screen is another reason I love this series. I can sing along each time 😍😍💕