ichiboi

So does anyone else notice the (actor portraying Ben's) "uncanny valley" acting?

When a main actor stars in two different productions in a short span of time, it's hard not to compare and contrast. Fortunately, Kokoy demonstrates consistent quality between his BL shows, so the eye falls on his co-actors.

Unfortunately, I don't find them completely inhabiting their characters. I don't feel Barry's shock and anger turned into resignation; I don't feel Krisha's nervousness and concern. Bash and Clark don't seem particularly ashamed to be caught in flagrante delicto.

So the important lines delivered in episode 3 about coming out, self-harm, and bisexuality seem preachy or a little on the nose to me.

I like your translation.

Is it just me or is there something off with that bedroom scene? I don't know if Ben really was drunk or not. If he was, I know that some people become stoic when drunk, so I'm not sure if that was the intended effect? Or if it just makes Jim appear emotionally detached while confessing his love for Ben.

Whatever it is, what's certain is they didn't go the usual route of heartfelt love confessions with warm lights and rousing music. Instead, it was a curious conversation in the dark, with silent tears.

The writer is a spoken word poet. He uses words to light torches in people's minds, to thrust swords into their hearts.

So I do think it's deliberate. Namely because there's an advocacy attached to the show. Some may find it preachy or pandering.

Knowing a vernacular in addition to a native language is a necessity for us to function as a country. We have between 120 to 180 different languages scattered across 7,000+ islands. And unlike other countries where certain languages are spoken only by a village or so, each of those languages we have are spoken by thousands of people. The Tower of Babel really did a number on us.

Okay, I had to look back to my actual comment at their official trailer to remember what I said verbatim:

Ichiboi: kontrabida mom? ugh.
Yayo Aguila: You have to watch this. I promise you will see me in a different light.

What's the different light here? That she's grieving and lashing out? I would expect that from any human dealing with loss.

I guess my point here really is I'm just tired of seeing mothers as antagonists hand-in-hand with bury your gays tropes.

I remember the actress portraying Ken's mom replying to my comment on YT where I said something like "ugh, not another BL with a toxic mother trope". This was before the show even aired. And she said something like "watch it, you will see".

Well, I'm watching, and all I see is, surprise! A toxic mother trope.

Can she find redemption with one episode left? Probably not. She will live with regret, and maybe pierce the alcohol-induced haze to realize she still has one living son.

Yeah, I said the same thing a week ago.

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Coming out is an expensive privilege that not everyone can afford.

I used to think some anime styles exaggerate eyelashes to make people pretty.

Then Paolo Pangilinan comes along.

Nearly everyone in the Philippines is bilingual, most commonly a combination of a native language plus a widely-accepted vernacular such as English or Filipino. Some are even trilingual, with a native language + Filipino + English.

Oh no, I didn't want to be right

Penultimate Episode Syndrome. The BL veterans will know.

To all the new folks, oh my sweet summer children...

Oh man, did they mis-cast Olan.

How can I root for Ben and Jim when Ben and Olan look sooooooooo much better together?

I suspect a bittersweet ending. They will have to part for now, but promise to meet again.

- the looming confrontation of Karl and his dad
- Uncle Santi comforting/rescuing Karl

But those are just the daggers. The big fat axes that will fruit ninja our hearts are

- Karl and Vlad still haven't had that iconic confrontation shown in the trailer
- They only have the weekend left to stay together

So, I hope you guys have stocked up on tissue paper. (I would actually suggest a towel instead to save the trees but crying into a towel is so lame haha). Two episodes left, and there are several daggers aimed at our hearts:

Episode 2 timestamp 04:46
-- Karl is ranting to himself "Darn those rich people" while preparing his meal. He was offended that Vlad could just waltz in on his unit and intrude upon his life just because Ate Judit wrote a check paying for his rent. He then says:

[Eng] "Some socialite or something?"
[Fil] "Anne Curtis ka ghorl?"

"Anne Curtis ka ghorl?" is gay Filipino slang/swardspeak for "Are you Anne Curtis, girl?". Anne Curtis is a local celebrity who gained notoriety when she went on an embarrassing drunk rant screaming "I can buy you, your friends, and this club!" This happened back in 2013, which would mean Karl was 14 at the time.

For an allegedly straight/straight-passing Filipino teenager, Karl saying that line while he himself was agitated would definitely raise eyebrows, confusedly for the heteronormatives, and knowingly for those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

(News article referencing the incident: https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/02/13/drunk-anne-curtis-slaps-john-lloyd-cruz)