Its kind of like their sex scene. I get it the first time was tender and tentative so I didn't mind that. But…
I agree! What has happened to JBLs of late? I know that it has always had its prim, proper, pilgrim pure shy-maiden side to it, what with the fish-eye kisses, non-kisses, and sometimes, the active absence of kisses. But JBL has also given us The Pornographer series and Taikan Yoho. Has this side disappeared altogether?
I suppose this is also the problem when one of the cast members is an idol, which Muto Jun, god love him, is. You can always tell when JBL casts an actor instead of an idol. An actor does not have the same scruples or fears.
Oh, JG. We're talking about a BL here. If the parents don’t die horribly in a car accident, how could BL as…
I know, right? I think I put it in my ten commandments for both KBL and TBL, and in the Dictionary of Thai BL. If I ever write a guide for JBL -- which will doubtless be an encyclopaedia -- I'll be sure to include it.
And, so it concludes. I've said it previously, this drama could have been my all-time favourite BL ever, however,…
Oh, JG. We're talking about a BL here. If the parents don’t die horribly in a car accident, how could BL as a genre exist? Imagine having to write character arcs for them! Who can be arsed?
Also, if Fujisawa wanted to give a fuck about poor Sei because of his fault, shouldn't he in fact “give a fuck”? (Which, let's face it, is what the poor boy wanted the most.)
"XIII: Nakarai to HagiwaraI can hear the ovaries exploding already."I guess that's the problem I have with this…
I mean, I’m a gay man myself, and I love (good) BLs. The problem is that most BLs are still stuck in the 80s and 90s, and forget that the depiction of sexual relationships between men cannot continue to cater to straight women alone… But then, look at the track record of how the straight world continues to treat lesbians. Sigh.
But, in short, for all its flaws and despite being replete with tropes, the first five episodes were very enjoyable. I was excited for each new episode. But the last two, alas, were just a damp squib.
I didn't like the last two episodes. What a shame it started good.
I agree with you. It’s JBL curse. In trying to squeeze a whole novel into 7 twenty minute episodes, it always starts off well, and then loses all steam by the end. Pity, I really liked the first 5 episodes.
We get it. We get it. Rain. Rain. Sunshower. Rain. Downpour. Rain. Symbolism. Rain…
Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umburella You can stand under my umburella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
I do agree with what you said. I am a bit tired of seeing posts and rants about the parameters of what can qualify…
Preach! (Ironically, of course! :D)
The thing is, I find that these kinds of distinctions tell me nothing about the show itself, or why it’s worth watching or not. It just seems to feed into a narrative — some might even call it homophobic — that gay men (must) just suffer, and that if they suffer, then it’s realistic. But if they just go around dancing in the street and holding hands, then that’s pure fantasy. As it happens, I have done both!
I do agree with what you said. I am a bit tired of seeing posts and rants about the parameters of what can qualify…
Me too. Especially when a new show comes along that most people can agree stands out in some way. Then, I wait with bated breath for the debate to begin.
The ironic thing is, the people most preoccupied by this debate are the straight viewers. Gay people, in my opinion, are bothered far less. They just want to see men desiring other men! I know I do!
I must say, I’m deeply troubled by the way people distinguish between BL and LGBT shows on this website (and elsewhere) — and already, it’s begun to flood the comments and reviews of this show. The tendency seems to be to say: “This show is brilliant. It is well-shot, well-written, and well-acted. It’s therefore LGBT, not BL.” By contrast: “This show is so cute. Homophobia and gay suffering don’t exist in this world. It’s a fantasy, and therefore BL, not LGBT.”
The distinction between BL and LGBT is primarily historic and cultural: parallel visions of women in Japan, say, articulating sexual desire without male violence, and of gay people fighting for their rights in their own name, say, in the US. As LGBT rights — one hopes — spreads around the world, and as women — one hopes — feel that they do not need to write themselves out of their own stories in order to explore desire, the distinction between BL and LGBT must needs become confused and vanish. It is already happening now. It is already becoming untenable for BLs to not use the words “gay” or “bi”, as it is for LGBT shows to just be about homophobia, difficulties of coming out, and gay suffering. The past few years have shown that BL can be well-made and yet talk about homophobia. LGBT shows can be poorly made — historically, most of them have been — and be pure fantasy.
So, let’s please stop with the equation that ill-made happy fantasy = BL, and that well-made pain porn = LGBT. It is obsolescent, and it does disservice to the very people whose lives it purportedly depicts.
10 
4 
3 
1 
I suppose this is also the problem when one of the cast members is an idol, which Muto Jun, god love him, is. You can always tell when JBL casts an actor instead of an idol. An actor does not have the same scruples or fears.
Also, if Fujisawa wanted to give a fuck about poor Sei because of his fault, shouldn't he in fact “give a fuck”? (Which, let's face it, is what the poor boy wanted the most.)
Ah. What could have been!
https://kisskh.at/profile/sasameyuki1950/review/423112
But, in short, for all its flaws and despite being replete with tropes, the first five episodes were very enjoyable. I was excited for each new episode. But the last two, alas, were just a damp squib.
That was the big payoff? Honey, what was that?
By the way, my review for this show, written in your honour, is now complete! Check it out!
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umburella
You can stand under my umburella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
The thing is, I find that these kinds of distinctions tell me nothing about the show itself, or why it’s worth watching or not. It just seems to feed into a narrative — some might even call it homophobic — that gay men (must) just suffer, and that if they suffer, then it’s realistic. But if they just go around dancing in the street and holding hands, then that’s pure fantasy. As it happens, I have done both!
The ironic thing is, the people most preoccupied by this debate are the straight viewers. Gay people, in my opinion, are bothered far less. They just want to see men desiring other men! I know I do!
The distinction between BL and LGBT is primarily historic and cultural: parallel visions of women in Japan, say, articulating sexual desire without male violence, and of gay people fighting for their rights in their own name, say, in the US. As LGBT rights — one hopes — spreads around the world, and as women — one hopes — feel that they do not need to write themselves out of their own stories in order to explore desire, the distinction between BL and LGBT must needs become confused and vanish. It is already happening now. It is already becoming untenable for BLs to not use the words “gay” or “bi”, as it is for LGBT shows to just be about homophobia, difficulties of coming out, and gay suffering. The past few years have shown that BL can be well-made and yet talk about homophobia. LGBT shows can be poorly made — historically, most of them have been — and be pure fantasy.
So, let’s please stop with the equation that ill-made happy fantasy = BL, and that well-made pain porn = LGBT. It is obsolescent, and it does disservice to the very people whose lives it purportedly depicts.