I like your answer! I will point out, my original comment was that I understand why Gameboys doesn't have physical intimacy and it doesn't bother me because there is an actual reason for it in the context of the show. If other BLs have relationships without sex, I think that is fine, as long as it makes sense within the context of the show. I don't think a general policy of just ignoring the issue (within the show) is good enough for me, but as long as there is some kind of context or explanation for why they are not having sex, I am okay with it.
Thanks for the nuanced response. I agree that relationships don't have to be based on sex. However, I feel like a realistic portrayal of a relationship would include conversations about that. I would say BLs in general would benefit from more talking about sex (whether that means having it or not). Even in the shows where there is sex, it is frequently not discussed in any detail. It's usually that one of the characters is the horny one and the other is the tsundere and freaks out every time the horny one tries to kiss or touch but slowly "gives in" and they have sex, and as long as the top doesn't full on rape the bottom, it's seen as being cute. And in some of the older BLs, it was full on rape (I'm talking about Ohm and Toey in Make It Right). I think this is a huge problem in BL. They need intimacy consultants to help them show healthy relationships (unless there is a reason in terms of plot to show an unhealthy relationship, but that needs to be acknowledged and addressed).
What I hate is this sort of unspoken rule in many BLs that sex and intimacy should be secret and hidden and talking or showing intimacy is a taboo. I understand that there can be cultural reasons for this, but considering that many of the cultural norms that lead to public intimacy being shameful are the same norms that are anti-gay and anti-woman, if we are going to show gay couples in TV at all, I want a more overtly queer, pro-LGBT stance from the shows I watch.
As to your point that some dramas (both straight and gay) show only hugs, that may be true. But what is also true is that there are dramas that show more, and they are successful as well. Maybe not quite as successful, I don't know. 2gether was super popular and there was very little chemistry or intimacy between Sarawat and Tine. Would the show have been *less* popular if they had kissed or had sex? Maybe, I don't know. But I am only speaking to what I want to see in BLs and criticizing what I see as places where, in terms of storytellng, they could improve.
I'm glad that that you are finally able to see more LGBT representation in media. That has always been super important to me, growing up as a queer kid in the 80s. Any tiny little bit of LGBT representation was so powerful to me, although it was usually terrible (the best friend with no life, the villain, lovers who die of AIDS or commit suicide in the end, or are murdered).
That being said, I don't want our stories to be treated equally to straight people. I want all of our stories to be told better and I want our stories to appear alongside and intertwined with straight stories.
Finally, there is nothing wrong with watching portrayals of sex in media. It does sound like you maybe grew up with messages that seeing sex on TV is shameful, or disgusting, or sinful, etc... I don't believe that. I think a piece of media can be sweet, loving, with strong caring bonds and relationships AND have hot sweet sexy times, all in the same media with the same characters.
If the characters don't want to have sex, ok. That is a conversation. But I want to see an end to producers using our stories to make money, and straight actors using our stories to make money, and then purposefully making them as UN-sexy as possible to appease straight viewers and "cultural norms".
One: No one said it did. If seeing people express physical intimacy to you sounds like porn, you might have some issues around sex and intimacy to work out. Therapy helps.
Two: I hear people argue all the time on this platform that they value "realism" in their dramas. When something bad happens (like a main character dies in a car accident) I immediately see commenters say things like, "Oh, that makes me like this drama even more! Yes, it's sad, but that happens in real life! It's realistic!" You know what happens very, very rarely in life? 20-something college students having relationships with no sex. That is unusual and rare. If there were a couple of 20-something college students dating and living together without sex, they would probably have some kind of religious reason, maybe? But I feel like their religious reason would be super obvious and talked about.
Again, this is about the choices of the production team. If there is no reason within the show for a couple to not have physical intimacy, but none is shown, that is because the production team is anti-sex, anti-gay, or cowardly. They are just afraid people will see the intimacy, be like, "gross!" and then not watch the drama. And that is their right to do so. And it is my right to refuse to watch the show and drag it in the comments whenever I want.
Watching Gameboys has helped me figure out an issue that I have had with BLs for years. I'm one of the BL fans that always wants to see the couples kiss, hold hands, sex scenes, etc... I get really irritated when a show purposefully leaves that part out. And one thing I realized watching Gameboys, which has not had any physical intimacy so far (for obvious reasons, they are in quarantine and can't meet in person), is that, the reason I hate it when there is not kissing, etc... is because usually it makes no sense! Take 2gether. Sarawat and Tine are two hot, 20-year olds in college. I remember college. You can't tell me they didn't have sex. There is no actual reason not so show their intimacy except fear on the part of the production company (or maybe the actors). Look at Tharntype. That is much more realistic in terms of intimacy. With Gameboys, it totally makes sense why they haven't hooked up. I'm glad this show helped me realize it's not that lack of physical intimacy that makes me dislike shows, it's when there is no physical intimacy for no reason and it is unrealistic and doesn't make sense in the context of the show.
I love what everything you said, but why do you have to insert the "incompetence of the government". As if it's…
I'm in the US and we are stuck with Trump. Our government is embarrassing. I support any/all criticism of crappy governments. If people don't like the political posts, that is of course their right to feel that way. But as far as I know, mydramalist doesn't have any rules about political posts, so I think we have the right to post political things if we want.
Also, didn't the government of the Philippines refuse to allow a major network to keep broadcasting? And isn't that the network doing Hello, Stranger? So politics does affect the BL world, too.
When I first started watching this show, I thought it would be a silly romantic comedy that I would skim through each week and not think much about afterwards. Over the last few episodes, it has become unexpectedly deep. The themes of grief, parental acceptance, loyalty, and friendship have really been resonating with me. The last two episodes have been really helpful to me as I process my own grief for people who have passed from COVID-19 and as I confront the fears I have for what may happen in the future as this pandemic continues to affect the world. I mean, I have cried like 5 times over the last two episodes, but in a good way ;-).
Now I want Pearl and Cai's brother to get together, and some kind of physical meeting (if possible) for Cai and Gav, and this series will have a perfect ending. <3
I have been wondering when this would show up! Wayne Song has been sharing stuff on his IG about this for months! It doesn't look like a BL, but Wayne is hot like fire in his basketball uniform, so I can deal with 4 episodes of heterosexuality for that!
In which part do the MODC cast show up? I missed something here.
right at the very end, Akira goes to Alaska or whatever and ends up seeing Yuki. there is a guy waiting for someone. It's Hao Ting. And then Yu Shi Gu shows up! they are only there for about 30-40 seconds but, I believe that is their way of acknowledging that the last episode of MODC was terrible and made no sense, so they are showing that we can all ignore the final episode and just assume that they are together and alive.
1) I loved this, although as other people said, I was a little sad not to see the last chapter because the ending of the manga is so poignant and emotional.
2) I am interpreting the cameo of Hao Ting and Yu Xi Gu to mean that the final episode of Make Our Days Count never happened and we can now feel fully confident that everyone lived and stayed together and was happy! The last episode was just a fever dream, not canon. Yay! Now I can love MODC again!
Well, it's not good, but it's so rare to see a real Chinese bl, I am going to keep watching. Also, the actors are super brave after what happened with Addicted, so they definitely deserve support.
I like the slow burn. Gameboys is good, but Gavreel came in straight out of the gate trying to get with Cai. I like that in this one, they are getting to know each other, and slowly building trust and a relationship. I just hope there's not a lot of internalized homophobia and/or a scheming ex. I hate both of those tropes.
The characters are all cute and interesting. The acting is just okay, and the plot seems really thin, but it's enjoyable to watch. Not a ten but not a five. Feels like a solid 7.5, based off the first episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyjCVLZJNio
What I hate is this sort of unspoken rule in many BLs that sex and intimacy should be secret and hidden and talking or showing intimacy is a taboo. I understand that there can be cultural reasons for this, but considering that many of the cultural norms that lead to public intimacy being shameful are the same norms that are anti-gay and anti-woman, if we are going to show gay couples in TV at all, I want a more overtly queer, pro-LGBT stance from the shows I watch.
As to your point that some dramas (both straight and gay) show only hugs, that may be true. But what is also true is that there are dramas that show more, and they are successful as well. Maybe not quite as successful, I don't know. 2gether was super popular and there was very little chemistry or intimacy between Sarawat and Tine. Would the show have been *less* popular if they had kissed or had sex? Maybe, I don't know. But I am only speaking to what I want to see in BLs and criticizing what I see as places where, in terms of storytellng, they could improve.
I'm glad that that you are finally able to see more LGBT representation in media. That has always been super important to me, growing up as a queer kid in the 80s. Any tiny little bit of LGBT representation was so powerful to me, although it was usually terrible (the best friend with no life, the villain, lovers who die of AIDS or commit suicide in the end, or are murdered).
That being said, I don't want our stories to be treated equally to straight people. I want all of our stories to be told better and I want our stories to appear alongside and intertwined with straight stories.
Finally, there is nothing wrong with watching portrayals of sex in media. It does sound like you maybe grew up with messages that seeing sex on TV is shameful, or disgusting, or sinful, etc... I don't believe that. I think a piece of media can be sweet, loving, with strong caring bonds and relationships AND have hot sweet sexy times, all in the same media with the same characters.
If the characters don't want to have sex, ok. That is a conversation. But I want to see an end to producers using our stories to make money, and straight actors using our stories to make money, and then purposefully making them as UN-sexy as possible to appease straight viewers and "cultural norms".
Two: I hear people argue all the time on this platform that they value "realism" in their dramas. When something bad happens (like a main character dies in a car accident) I immediately see commenters say things like, "Oh, that makes me like this drama even more! Yes, it's sad, but that happens in real life! It's realistic!" You know what happens very, very rarely in life? 20-something college students having relationships with no sex. That is unusual and rare. If there were a couple of 20-something college students dating and living together without sex, they would probably have some kind of religious reason, maybe? But I feel like their religious reason would be super obvious and talked about.
Again, this is about the choices of the production team. If there is no reason within the show for a couple to not have physical intimacy, but none is shown, that is because the production team is anti-sex, anti-gay, or cowardly. They are just afraid people will see the intimacy, be like, "gross!" and then not watch the drama. And that is their right to do so. And it is my right to refuse to watch the show and drag it in the comments whenever I want.
Hope that cleared things up! <3
Also, didn't the government of the Philippines refuse to allow a major network to keep broadcasting? And isn't that the network doing Hello, Stranger? So politics does affect the BL world, too.
Now I want Pearl and Cai's brother to get together, and some kind of physical meeting (if possible) for Cai and Gav, and this series will have a perfect ending. <3
2) I am interpreting the cameo of Hao Ting and Yu Xi Gu to mean that the final episode of Make Our Days Count never happened and we can now feel fully confident that everyone lived and stayed together and was happy! The last episode was just a fever dream, not canon. Yay! Now I can love MODC again!