einepriseglitzer

I just wasn't sure if people are actually interested in watching the raw episode:D Yep, that's the plan! Maybe we can do a test run to see if WeTv actually works with the virtual browser on watchparty.me

I'm trying to decide if I should watch the raw version tomorrow or wait, so I don't have to puzzle and pretend lol
Regarding watch parties, so I might host the last raw episode watch party tomorrow. But I'm not sure if anyone is interested.
I think Boron is going to host the WeTV subtitled episode 12, which airs one hour later, and the special episodes in the same room @ watchparty.me

Ok; I will :) hopefully, I feel motivated enough to write it, I actually have a lot of deadlines :D But this drama means so much to me and as someone who usually doesn't watch BL, it might be helpful to others

I wrote my first review recently and it took so much time. But I really want to. I feel like I'm the minority here who feels that way about this genre. I never felt comfortable in consuming BL media. I really came across this randomly. I'm not saying that people here are all hetereosexual women either because I don't think that's true. But we shouldn't ignore the target audience of the BL genre. I don't think I'm in the place to decide if this is wrong or right representation but I think it's always good to be critical and understand why not everyone is happy with it. In my opinion, we can only produce better media and be better human beings by being critical and listening to others.

I agree. I'm glad that we are able and free to have these conversations. It's an important part of the change. If the viewers are critical and say something, future dramas that depict LGBTQ+ people are going to be better. Seeing how many different viewers this drama has, I can tell that there must be a reason why so many people like it. But it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt anyone or is enough the way it is.

only when I have no other option :D

Honestly, I'm glad that you chimed in :D I was a bit shocked by the responses and the article. Because I care a lot about CM, but at the same time I can't just pretend the opinions of the LGBTQ+ community can be ignored.

I know. It's so horrible and backwards with what is going on in Hungary! I'm living in a western country and I don't think that we are there yet either. So being European doesn't really mean a thing. Some countries are more accepting than others but there's still a lot to be done. These conversations are very important. I'm glad that are connected through the internet and are having these conversations.

I definitely won't say that BL is wrong and bad and people who are actually part of the LGBTQ+ community don't enjoy BL. Btw, I know that YouTuber who is reacting. Everyone's experience might be different. It might feel like for some people that this is a move forward and for others, it's just again not realistic enough. People in Japan are still fighting for their rights, for instance for the legalization of same-sex marriage. So for them, this might be more than just an entertaining drama. Some people might be happy to have a popular BL drama where gays are not portrayed in a bad light. People want to see themselves in media where they are not shown in a dehumanized way and that's why I can see why people would like CM. As I said, it's not black and white. By being critical and realizing that there is still work to be done is very important. I think it's telling that BL dramas are more popular and mainstream than LGBTQ+ media. There also seems to be an issue that people categorize certain dramas as BL and LGBTQ+ at the same time and therefore it might be hard to appeal to people who want the cute BL romance and the LGBTQ+ community. By making it "universal" appealing, you are definitely going to get backlash. People who are looking at this with different backgrounds and intentions will be disappointed because it's not clear if this was made pure approachable by making compromises to appeal to a wider audience and heteronormative ideologies or to give the LGBTQ+ community a realistic representation. I wonder how many BL writers are actually part of the LGBTQ+ community or ask someone from that community for advice. That's another thing to consider.

That's very true unfortunately. I was thinking about the same thing with the broadcast after midnight...
I don't know if you speak japanese, but here someone from the japanese LGBTQ+ community talks about queer baiting, universal love, etc. and also mentions CM in some of the tweets. https://twitter.com/ssimtok/status/1341383683635232768
I thought you might be also curious like me lol

Thank you so much for your help in making more sense of this interview.
I saw some Japanese fans retweeting this https://twitter.com/ssimtok/status/1341383684595666945
I think this person is part of the LGBTQ+ community? I wish I could understand it because this person seems to have an interesting view

I don't think anyone is looking for a serious documentary, it's possible to represent the LGBTQ+ community just by not pleasing heteronormative views and tropes. By portraying universal love, they are ignoring that it's actually not that easy to be openly gay in Japan. I mentioned other points in the comment I directed towards CoNeTrIC. No one needs a drama that deals only with the struggles but leaving those out, might make actual people from the LGBTQ+ community feel like they can only exist and be happy in fantasy worlds and not real life.

I get your point, but it's quite a generalization though. Not everyone in those countries is against it. There are also people who live in those countries and don't believe in Islam.
But that's a whole different topic.

I feel the same way. I don't think a careful and tame approach is wrong. I really hope you are right. I guess I was wishing the writers were more aware of how impactful and important their writing is. A good side effect would be if people who enjoy watching the BL genre and watch this are now more critical about the BL genre and the way LGBTQ+ people are portrayed.

I just saw your response after replying to @CoNeTrIC
It's definitely more clear now.
I was agreeing to the approach that we should come to the point where it's not necessary to have labels but then I did more research and it seems rather difficult because the way BL was never created for the LGBTQ+ community but heterosexual women and girls.
In an ideal world, we wouldn't even have to label LGBTQ+ media, because there would be enough good representation to find. It's a difficult topic.
I don't think that she has bad intentions. But she never really speaks about the LGBTQ+ community right?
I think people should decide for themselves if they want to be labeled. There's a reason why people feel the need for labels. It gives them a sense of community and belonging when their identity seems to be invisible and not representative
I think it's good that she is touching on the sexualization of gay men. I saw people getting pissed who were Japanese fans of the manga. It might be a bit tricky because she is adapting a manga that definitely labels itself as BL.
I saw that she quote tweeted the interview and said something about that she is still learning?
I think hiring or asking someone who is actually gay, would have been helpful. If she really wants to change it and make it a story that needs no labels...

Did she say that with the Islamic countries or did you add that?
Thank you. There were a lot of different opinions on it. Especially after the screenwriter quoted the tweet and she said something about willing to learn, some of the reactions were still quite negative.

I see. I still don't agree with her family-friendly, heteronormative approach. So it implies that gay sex/identity is not intended for all ages? I get that we have to consider the cultural background, but if you intend to make a show that hurts no one but still discriminates against Japanese LGBTQ+ people getting an accurate representation of their (sexual) identity, it's discrimination. I get that people will argue that it's better than nothing but for people who are Japanese and maybe even questioning their sexual identity and see a BL that is desexualized, it would probably also make them question if their desires and identity are "normal". If this is the closest to mainstream representation LGBTQ+ people in Japan get and it still intended to produced for hetero people, I can get why people would be pissed. There also seem to be some pissed people because their definition of BL and LGBTQ+ media is different. Some people who love the manga I think.
If she is not labeling this as BL, I would assume that this drama is trying to give us a respectful and accurate depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships and not just give us a romanticized cutesy relationship. But I don't see actively her trying to make it LGBTQ+ friendly. So I hope, someone translates this interview in more detail. I'm still not sure about her definition of BL. If BL and LGBTQ+ media in her head are basically the same thing. Right now it feels like she just wants to escape the stigma of the BL genre by making it approachable. I saw that some people said her definition of aromantics and asexuals is also not accurate...

EDIT: I wrote this before I saw @kgingercat4 s comment

My opinion on BL has changed a lot after I've done more research. I read some academic journals on the origin of BL and why it appeals to hetero sexual women, especially in Japan. I like to analyze things from a cultural studies perspective that's why I don't think that something is strictly black or white. I think I will mention some of the things I found out while researching in my review.

I'm someone who is very critical of BL. The article made me sad, I won't forget the good things but as you said, it's also important to acknowledge the writer's intentions. I know some people don't care but I personally do So, it would definitely affect the way I would personally find the drama. I don't think that you should apologize. Everyone should make up their own mind.

honestly, some of her answers seem like she is LGBTQ+ friendly and others just trying to please the heterosexual viewers and BL fans. I definitely need more context and a more nuanced translation. I hope someone is able to translate...

I don't think that the google translator is enough this time. I asked someone if they could translate it. I'm very curious about some of her answers. Not all of them are very clear to me
edit: they told me they will translate it but it would take some time

lmao let's do it XD I even thought about streaming cherry magic for 24/7 once lol
we can host it in the same room at watchparty.me and you can take over the remote and I can help you in case you have a problem? <3

I really like his hair like this :) I sound very superficial today, im sorry XD

ok alright, I'm gonna check XD

really??! I thought I'm going crazy. I'm glad that I'm not the only one
He does haha