I don't understand the relationship between this series and the ban in China. Didn't they had ban for years. I…
That was because the show featured explicit queer romance. That's also why dramas that come from BL novels, like Word of Honor, are adapted into "bromances" that don't feature explicit romance. It's about homophobia, not sibling storylines.
Thank you for this. I agree, people will say "he wanted it" but he wasn't coherent enough to want it, and then…
I don't think it's fair (and given demographic studies on BL audiences, accurate) to classify tropey BLs as "fetishizing fanservice for straight women." This applies a purity test of queerness, where liking something tropey strips you of your identity. Also, and this should go without saying, BL media *is* a part of LGBTQ+ media. "LGBTQ+ media" just means stories that center queerness. Separating the two would be like saying "heterosexual romances" and "shoujo manga" are two different things.
Sanitizing queer stories is regressive, not progressive. Straight stories can feature all manner of problematic content (Game of Thrones, Forbidden, Dexter, etc.), so why is queer content held to a different standard?
You're right about Brokeback Mountain not being a BL, though. Infidelity is in no way comparable to incest, but Ennis and Alma were engaged long before he met Jack.
(And the story the movie is based on was written by a ~straight woman!)
This will be the last time I talk about this but I will like to make some points and you are welcome to agree…
This comment is like a breath of fresh air. Thank you for bringing a nuanced take! The thought process in the comments section has been primarily black and white thinking: "If you enjoy this, you're a bad person" and "I'm not a bad person, because what happened wasn't bad" are both terrible takes.
I like the YongXing couple a lot, but what YongJie did was despicable. Despite showing the scene in a sexy manner, the show at least hasn't attempted writing it off (the narrative seems to be XingSi is with him * despite* what happened, and characters keep bringing up how awful it was)--but it's doing a piss poor job repentance. YongJie assaulted his brother, period. Trying to spin it into anything else undermines the show and its audience more than people understand imo.
That said, you are 100% right that this is *fiction*. HIStory4 isn't trying to pass itself as a moral lesson on life. It's a character-driven story about navel-gazing characters. For example, LiCheng and MuRen's relationship clearly isn't meant to be a commentary on broader LGBTQ+ issues, especially since they don't even identify as queer (yet? hopefully in the future? one can dream). Adults *need* the ability to separate reality from fiction and stories purely for entertainment value from fables. And that's not even getting into the issue of people holding queer stories to a higher value than heterosexual ones.
???? but sib didn't know that aey told gene that nubsib was drugged... how exactly did sib manipulate gene into…
Gene had also been looking up the effects of Viagra. Then later in the ep when he confronts Sib about it he denies it, but he does it cheekily ("I did feel hot!") and Gene straight up says he doesn't believe him. Combine that with his blasé attitude and 0 follow questions about something out of left field as "You lied about this drug"--I hope it was just intentionally misleading and odd structuring, but since the narrative has spent so much time establishing Gene as sneaky ~*~in the name of love~*~ it isn't a stretch.
That said, even if we take out the Viagra bit we're still left with Gene chasing his boyfriend around the bedroom while he shouts "Don't come near me!" Which is,,,, not charming
I'm really enjoying HIS4 so far. Plus, it's a great reminder that not all queer stories have to be After School Specials. It's okay to like messy shows that are purely for entertainment value--and HIS4 is hella entertaining!
I hope it holds its quality to the end. I'm eager to learn more about YJ and what makes him tick. Seeing a layered, morally gray character in a BL series is so refreshing. But I'm invested in XS, MR, and LC too. This is a dynamite cast of complicated characters that has me eager for more.
Sanitizing queer stories is regressive, not progressive. Straight stories can feature all manner of problematic content (Game of Thrones, Forbidden, Dexter, etc.), so why is queer content held to a different standard?
You're right about Brokeback Mountain not being a BL, though. Infidelity is in no way comparable to incest, but Ennis and Alma were engaged long before he met Jack.
(And the story the movie is based on was written by a ~straight woman!)
I like the YongXing couple a lot, but what YongJie did was despicable. Despite showing the scene in a sexy manner, the show at least hasn't attempted writing it off (the narrative seems to be XingSi is with him * despite* what happened, and characters keep bringing up how awful it was)--but it's doing a piss poor job repentance. YongJie assaulted his brother, period. Trying to spin it into anything else undermines the show and its audience more than people understand imo.
That said, you are 100% right that this is *fiction*. HIStory4 isn't trying to pass itself as a moral lesson on life. It's a character-driven story about navel-gazing characters. For example, LiCheng and MuRen's relationship clearly isn't meant to be a commentary on broader LGBTQ+ issues, especially since they don't even identify as queer (yet? hopefully in the future? one can dream). Adults *need* the ability to separate reality from fiction and stories purely for entertainment value from fables. And that's not even getting into the issue of people holding queer stories to a higher value than heterosexual ones.
Seriously, thank you for writing this lmao.
That said, even if we take out the Viagra bit we're still left with Gene chasing his boyfriend around the bedroom while he shouts "Don't come near me!" Which is,,,, not charming
YongJie: "I'm not greedy."
XingSi: "But I am."
IS IT BROTHERFUCKING TIME, LADS??
I hope it holds its quality to the end. I'm eager to learn more about YJ and what makes him tick. Seeing a layered, morally gray character in a BL series is so refreshing. But I'm invested in XS, MR, and LC too. This is a dynamite cast of complicated characters that has me eager for more.