PPBongi

Watching this series is an experience. An inviting one. While it never felt deep and presented somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it is far more veiled than its flippant appearance. It has hidden messages everywhere, often disguised and gravied in humor and heartfelt tugs. It also had all the discerning elements of a love story, which tends to make the theme ‘ok’ The series was like watching a comic book story come alive. We kind of knew these people were not real and their problems and issues were all manufactured, with their solutions assembled right out of the trite and cliché playbook. But it was just so much fun to watch, right? Now let us talk at length about the baseness of this series, which I am sorry to say negates its positives. It is not necessarily out in-the-open but camouflaged and easily glossed over. Frankly, I am shocked that it is being given such a free pass. Interestingly, this series romanticized a sex-crazed, sexual abuser who treated people like they were his personal pets (snakes) along with a manipulative loser who is focused on revenge and getting what he wants using questionable if not illegal methods. And for this, they are praised and regarded as a beacon of BL romances? There are obvious rape and forced nonconsensual sex scenes throughout in this series that is appalling and no amount of ‘cuteness’ can cover that up. In case one needs to be reminded, simply because one is male and the perpetrator is male, it is still RAPE when sex is forced upon that individual! No in any way shape, form, or statement is NO! Otherwise, it is sexual abuse. Treating individuals as if they were property to do with as you wish, is reprehensible and vile. Overall, the way gayness is portrayed is demeaning and derogatory in so many other ways as well. It is hard not to ‘like’ this series but intrinsically, one has to force oneself to do so. The concept is called “Cognitive Dissonance.” Look it up. Become familiar with its meaning as it is important when those of us are trying to point out the something that seems ‘ok’ is not, especially in the BL world of fantasy. This is not love. Its message is wrong, and it is morally reprehensible and misguided. Rape is rape Forced sex is sexual abuse. Treating gay people like a commodity or stereotypically is plainly amoral. Cajoling and brow-beating through physical and emotional force to have sex or ‘like’ you is not courting nor romance. It is bullying.