RJ_Jacob101

Ah I see, I understand what you mean. I agree, I like natural chemistry and actors having fun with their roles that they really throw themselves into. It does make the whole experience more enjoyable for me too.

Oh I definitely see how that could get annoying, all the presuppositions muddy the reality. And true, I really REALLY hate slashers, or any crime drama that focuses on serial killers. I don't think they should be humanized in a way that seems to excuse, dismiss or romanticize that behavior but I don't think people who watch that stuff are evil... maybe the people who wrote it.... haha I joke i joke. Some people are just darker in personality or attitude than others. I'm not into lesbian porn either but for different reasons :P but I see your point. I'm not against straight people doing gay entertainment but I wish they were, I dunno, kinda more aware of the experience. Like do some research haha! But everyone is allowed to create their own fantasy and if others like it, I guess thats kewl. OMG yeah the BL fandom ime is widely accepting and healthy, but there are some who take it too far to the point of harassing actors about their real lives and that's not right. I'm kinda semi-escapist. I want an escape, being gay sometimes comes with a lot of adversity and heartbreak, I wanna be happy. At the same time, I want enough reality to keep me grounded and the material relatable. I wanna believe these two guys love each other, not see two straight dudes kissing haha! I like mixed bags in most cases.

True, knowing gay people in your own life definitely opens doors to understanding the experience better which can greatly enhance the quality of writing when it comes to believable relationships in that regard.

Oh yes I agree, most people I chat with who enjoy BL are very open, accepting, kewl people. I was speaking more in generalities about how sometimes the world sees gay+ people. And you are right, love has no gender true but romantic love does even for those who are interested in all genders. I personally don't like the whole "lets not label it" thing that people think is progressive but actually is pretty dismissive of large sections of people. Its kinda like how, until recently, bisexuals virtually didn't exist in BL lol. I mean they did, but they never identified as such. Some people think, why are labels important? I think, why are they not? Its how we categorize, organize and recognize. Its the same reason we all have names and so does all the stuff that exists that we know about. Everything ftmp has a label already haha! But BL has recently become more active about having characters identify as a specific sexuality. I think the REAL reason BL hasn't done so in the past is because it was a manipulative tactic to leave it ambiguous cuz they believe a gay man, or even a bisexual man, won't appeal to straight women despite them coming to BL to see two guys get with each other. They wanna have their cake and eat it too and then frame it as progressive haha! But its just business, a money making tactic imo.

Interesting convo so thank you for that! I'm heading to bed now but I'll reply as soon as I can!

I mean that's true, they didn't choose what happened to them and they cannot like give up everything natural to humans, like love, because of it. That's why I don't blame the characters themselves, more like I just don't jive with the premise. And I say hate but maybe that's too harsh a word, I like the chemistry and the acting. Its not an offensive show to me, just doesn't click I guess lol! With me personally, attraction is 1 third looks, 2 thirds personality. So when someone (at least me I guess) falls for someone, part of that is their looks. But maybe that's because I'm a guy I dunno lol. So if I fell for someone, then one day they get switched back into their original body, it would be jarring imo.

I love angst and fluff but I hate sad/bittersweet/open endings haha! So I like fluff too, I wish gay romance wasn't so depressing ftmp. Sure have angst, realistic experience, but have a happy ending! I want a show that leaves me feeling good so maybe a fusion of BL and gay romance? But I get what you mean, I like a bit of an escape too. I'm not into the straight-to-gay trope myself. I'm gay so the idea of "changing" a person's sexuality is a bit problematic in the sense that it bolsters the "you choose your sexuality" idea some people have about us gays but that's just my opinion.

I have played visual novels with outright assault and read really trashy smut mangas/manhwa so I'm not super against troubling narratives, so long as they end well haha! GMMTV is pretty tame ftmp, when I hear trashy I think smutty haha, like Mame's works, some of which I like haha! Anyways I hope I don't sound judgy, we all got our own likes and dislikes so I try best not to be one of those "Oh, you like THAT! Meh! MEH! You can only like what I like!" lmao! To each their own :D

Writing BL - Okay, two characters that are complete opposites, check! Make sure one or both are rich too, check! Scene where one guy nearly gets hit before being grabbed and pulled away into an embrace by the other, check! Rain scene conversation, check! Rooftop scene conversation, check! Beach/Camping/Road trip, check! One guy gets sick and the other tends to him, check! Nice guy second romance interest to shake things up, but they never win even if they are better, check! Silly misunderstanding that spirals out of control, check! All girls are evil or overly (like creepily so) supportive characters, check! Stereotypical gay comedic relief character that never has a boyfriend, check! Staring into each others eyes too long, check! LOL I exaggerate and of course there's BL that does it differently, and many BL I love but tropes are often utilized WAY TOO MUCH!!! lol I think this list probably mainly pertains to Thai BL but you can find it in all major BL nations.

See I love ITSAY, great and respectful gay romance. I hate Vice Versa because of the body switching. I think to myself, hey those ARENT their bodies and yet they use them to be intimate with each other? That seems like a violation of that other person's body they are inhabiting lol. I like most of the actors tho. I'm just not usually into GMMTV BL because it seems sooooo mainstream (family safe) and formulaic. They do have a few gems, most imo are forgettable.

I like this writer, BUT they always (usually) seem to include an age-gap relationship for some reason.

I'm so SOOOOOOO hoping this has a happy ending, I hate sad/bittersweet endings lol. Koichi is just too adorable!

Haha totally! But seriously I wish this series had more episodes to tie up loose ends with other characters that kinda got pushed to the side in the later episodes.

I really like this series so far! Last episode was really cute and I'm liking the chemistry!

I am just not liking this series lol. I'm trying to get threw it, but I just don't jive with the characters, I don't like most of the pairings (latest couple has no chemistry and I don't like the stereotypical manly top with cute bottom trope, make them both cute lol), already seen the first couple together in a different series so nothing new, nothing special. Its depressing too, I love drama but not only drama. I don't like only fluff either lol. Needs more balance. Tops don't always have to look stereotypicallly straight or toppish.

They totally robbed us of RainPayoo and did them dirty.

Man Shun deserved a little more time, just an allusion to POSSIBLY getting with Oh , ugh. Not enough. Not enough Rain Payoo either, any development in their relationship we didn't get to see once he went AWOL. My favorite couple in this series and they get shafted. I like the main guys (the actors) but WAY too much focus on mains AGAIN.

Taiwan is an independent COUNTRY not a part of China. BL is banned pretty much in China, not Taiwan. Taiwan has gay marriage, China does not. Taiwan has their own ELECTED leader, China does not. Taiwan is a SOVEREIGN NATION.

I like the main couple so far, not into the boy-man secondary but at least its secondary.

Why? They can't have children. Seriously, consensual incestuous people are treated like gay people in the 1800's. Its not a weird dynamic, two bros, two sisters, two same sex cousins, assuming all are close in age, I don't see the big deal. I wouldn't wanna date my own brother, but I wouldn't mind seeing it depicted since the only arguments I hear about it are cultural and religious, NOT scientific (real). As long as no one is being victimized, live and let live.

FIRST! NEO! AJ!!!! ALL BOYS SCHOOL!!! Okay I'm watching this one when it airs tomorrow :D

Absolutely 100% agreed!

I did enjoy KimChay even though I'm not usually one for age-gaps (just a personal preference not a judgment call). I too would have liked a little more of their story as well so definitely agree there. It felt like a lot was missing. And yes, with the direction the show went I can totally see that happening. Such good natural chemistry demands it! Haha :P

I only heard about his passing recently, he was so young its so sad. Waterboyy was one of the very first BL movies I ever watched that got me into BL to begin with. RIP Beam. This world isn't fair.

Oops, probably should put a spoiler warning haha! Hear hear! I love the acting in KP so I'm sure it would be awesome and they already have a great chemistry from what I see :) LOL you and my BF are of the same mind on that one, he's been shipping them since we were first introduced to those characters and I agree it would be awesome! Especially since Chay and Kim seemed to have gone their separate ways at the end of KP. Especially Chay, who blocked him and deleted his video, which hurt but I understand why Chay feels that way. Poor kid went threw way too much. Barcode did such an awesome job! He JUST turned 18 and he's already better than so many actors way older than him!

Yes very true and thank you for the reply! It's good that they are handling it well then, I'm usually more okay when its the younger pursuing the older and so far that's what this one sounds like which definitely suits me better. Oh yes I haven't started watching it yet but I think I will now so thanks for your imput! I watch BL with my BF so it'll be nice to add another to the list since we just finished up other BLs and need some new ones lol :P

Very true! Oh yes and I haven't even updated all the ones I've seen haha! So I've been trying to play catch up on here. I've been watching My Secret Love and I REALLY like it so far!