einepriseglitzer

**The most magical moments and lines in Cherry Magic**

I finalized the google form/poll. You can vote here and add options/answers. I just provided some possible answers! I'm going to post this daily here. If I forget it, I hope someone else posts it here :D

VOTE HERE:
https://forms.gle/YBpAqzNdQGwKwF8r8

THANK YOU

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43 voters so far!

NEW UPDATE: WATCH PARTY Episode 7-8, NO SPOILERS, Everyone is welcome!

Ok everyone, let's meet tomorrow, 26th December at 6 pm CET,

Episode 7-8, No spoilers!

Check your time: https://everytimezone.com/s/c0290df3

We are meeting here: https://www.watchparty.me/#substantial-grass-introduce

I think you should read Sapphiree's comment because she is actually trying to just be more mindful about the power our language holds.

I agree with her completely. Dichotomies like those she has mentioned have negative connotations. So when you mention that something is innocent and it's good in your opinion, the opposite would be that having sex is bad. Our language is a powerful tool. Sometimes we say things we don't mean but they can hurt other people and their (sexual) identity. Sometimes you can insult LGBTQ+ people without even realizing it. It's also that we are used to using those words in conversations due to the heteronormative world we live in but from a cultural and linguistics perspective, we can be the change and become more aware of our language and the impact it can possibly have on others. Sometimes you might offend people without being aware of it. Talking about these topics is very important. It's not twisting words, no one is perfect. If someone really wants to be supportive, they also need to consider their language.

I don't know but if you read Synchronicity's comment and gay male perspective (down below) who talks particularly about that t-shirt scene and why they didn't like it, they didn't want naughty scenes. I think valid criticism should be ok. This isn't just a manga and those are real people and real complaints.

"The reason I feel a kiss on the lips (even a small one) would have made the series even better, is this: having them NOT kiss, and showing a "teaser" like the one in the elevator at the end (not to mention having them wearing t-shirts in bed, after they obviously just had sex) made it so painfully obvious that "oh... these are actors, this isn't real.""

So far it seems to me that everyone here has a different perspective on what is considered criticism and appropriate and what not. For some people criticism only belongs in reviews but I personally think it's ok that people voice their opinions, without being insulting of course.

It does. Even if that's not the intention of people.

Some weeks ago people were complaining about spoilers. So if you are someone who is planning on watching episode 12, be aware of a spoiler that happens at the end

I posted on the discussion board :D no one mentioned it. I forgot. I added it if you want to you can edit your answer :) I think it should be possible...
thanks for voting! 18 people already voted :O

I can totally relate to your feelings and after seeing some other responses, I think we are not the only ones. I think you should read this comment chain on the interview with the screenwriter if you are interested in knowing more about it. But only if you want to know more XD https://kisskh.at/69463-30sai-made-doteida-to-mahotsukai-ni-narerurashi#comment-4829457
I think we both thought that the production was more aware and careful with this drama but seems like you said it feels like they didn't give 100% and tried to not hurt anyone but by doing that they did hurt the LGBT+ community in a way. I think the intentions are good but always it's not enough to have just good intentions. I'm not sure if I can say homophobia but yes maybe stigma. I hope that rumor its not true. I mean it's just speculations. But of course, if that's the case I agree with you, it's just really weird. I think some people can enjoy it without viewing it from a critical perspective. I just can't because for me BL men are not fantasy men.

thank you for sharing your perspective.
You made some really important points.

I agree with everything you said. I just want to say that they did sell this to multiple international platforms and the DVDs do have English subtitles and therefore it could be the case that not everyone watches it with the same approach/sensibility. I know Japan does create their media with no intention to reach the western market but if they sell their things internationally, I can understand why people react differently. I don't think someone should attack or insult but critique can be useful, as the screenwriter herself wrote on Twitter that she is learning
edit:
I mean I saw some critique by people of the LGBTQ+ community in Japan. So I think some criticism can only help with their future work? Attacking and critique are something else in my definition. Even if it was made for the Japanese market, it's a bit harsh to decide how people have to react to certain things. It's always important to respect the cultural background but it's also important to realize that this is not just some written work but real people playing those characters in the adaptation I think I'm not in the position to tell her to change things but someone who is Japanese and/or is part of the LGBT+ community should at least able to say something? How is the screenwriter supposed to realize that she maybe has to do something different in the future without critique?

I personally think it's a bit strange to be able to make such a distinction between LGBTQ+ and queer representation and the BL genre. That's why I was and am still so critical of the BL genre. But it's not like I see it only as bad and wrong. So BL is supposed to be just showcase fantasy? I think I read that some people think BL doesn't depict real men anyway. So it's not supposed give an accurate representation of homosexuals. It's kind of difficult for me to forget about the real people who are affected by this. Of course I would rather turn to something produced and written by the LGBTQ+ community to find a better representation but I think those people also deserve a sweet romcom that accurately represents them and their identity without being too unrealistic or too negative

I know you have good intentions and want to prepare people that there will be no more than a kiss, but I have to say that it feels weird. I don't think you have to do that. If people have different expectations and rate it according to their own opinion, then it doesn't really matter what the intention of the production was or what is considered normal in that genre. Not everyone is going to have your past Jdrama knowledge and their opinion is still going to be alright, even if they don't know the "standards". I'm one of those people you warned several times, in case I'm disappointed and I'm still disappointed. It just feels like because my expectations are different and therefore I won't get how good it is. I know that's not your intention but justifying the lack of physical intimacy by saying how that's normal and I should lower my expectations just isn't something I feel personally ok with.

I think it's really interesting that many people on the aero and ace spectrum like this drama. I personally don't think nudity or sex scenes are all necessary. Some are just random and add nothing to the plot. They are just there. There's also a huge problem with how those scenes are shot, etc. Like I said before if they wouldn't have teased us with the kisses and gave us the bed scene - and they in some way would have signified that Adachi needed an emotional connection, etc. - I would be totally fine with no physical intimacy at all. I would still be not happy with other things, but that's a completely different topic.

Yes, it's difficult to redefine a genre that was basically not created for the LGBTQ+ community but for heterosexual readers. But when people make BL dramas and try to give a good representation of the LGBTQ+ community, it's very difficult to please people and not offend people. Because of those different standards. The thing is those people are just not represented enough and accurately, so it may feel warm and positive to see only the good things but it's dangerous when people who are actually part of the community have to deal with the consequences of not being to express their whole identity. It's definitely an interesting topic. And I think it's important to question why certain media attracts us and who this media is written/produced by. Those things say a lot

Yep, it's a good thing. I just heard a lot of times here how this is normal for that genre or Japanese BL. So I think like you said, without expressing frustration and being more critical, this will be the standard for lots of LGBTQ+ content. We do to some existent have the power to say something and hope or even be the change. I don't even think that's just a Japanese drama problem.

I'm just gonna say it, this show tried to stay away from being labeled as BL. So by portraying this "universal" love, they attracted a lot of different viewers. This might be awesome in comparison to other BL dramas but people who usually don't watch things that are labelled as BL might not be happy about it. Not everyone feels strange about the way kisses, etc. were handled because they want to see some steamy scenes and fetishize gay men. Some people just want a more accurate representation. Even if this person is supposed to be on the ACE spectrum, the teasing is what makes this more marketable and can irritate people. By labelling it as "universal" they were able to attract so many viewers but this also means that different people will watch this with different intentions and opinions. This show is really special to me and I love the community here but I can be not ok with certain things, without comparing them to other BLdramas where this is normal or worse.

Idk why this seems to be an unpopular opinion here XD or maybe not enough people have seen it yet. I agree.

**The most magical moments and lines in Cherry Magic**

I finalized the google form/poll. You can vote here and add options/answers. I just provided some possible answers! I'm going to post this daily here. If I forget it, I hope someone else posts it here :D

VOTE HERE:
https://forms.gle/YBpAqzNdQGwKwF8r8

THANK YOU

I think you have all the right to be not happy about it. It definitely feels bittersweet now that we know about the screenwriter interview. The issue is that they don't want to label it as BL which I think it's good, as I'm critical about the necessity of the BL genre as such. She said that they were aiming for an approachable, universal love. It already screamed like they wanted to make it heteronormative and family-friendly. Their approach to not hurting anyone gets a complete different meaning by teasing us with those scenes. If you want to label this as universal love, it should have either all the scenes you would also see in a rom-com with heterosexual couples. If you can't do it because of the Japanese media, you shouldn't be teasing it. I also get that some people are on the ACE spectrum, but then I don't understand the unnecessary teasing scenes. Exactly, why flaunt it when you can't properly showcase it. This is as close as mainstream LGBTQ+ media a person from the community sees on the screen. So I see that there's a problem of not labeling things, but at the same time not being completely representative of what it means to be an accurate LGBTQ+ community. It's definitely a safe way to attract lots of viewers. I also think that due to the fact that this show has so many people who watch BL and who don't usually, some people assume that we are comparing this with overly sexual/sexualized other BL genres. But some of us just want a more accurate way of representing a community. It definitely shows that it's better to leave LGBTQ+ stories to writers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community or to consult someone who has the knowledge and is part of it. I'm not saying that they are able to revolutionize the system with one show but if you really want to not harm anyone, it can't be enough to aim for universal love. If you do want no labels, you have to think about possible backlash bc people are not able to see what the intention behind it is.

I absolute love the sweetness. I just don't like teasing kisses. I rather don't have them at all then. There's a lot of ways to show affection.

I don't like being the spoiler police XD but I don't want people to be unhappy lol
happy holidays!