BL - and that's it

PHUWIN, ON BEING COMFORTABLE WITH FAILURE AND AGREEING WITH GEMINI'S "ช่างแม่ง" MINDSET

yes

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Watching this video what strikes me is how the presenter is able to illustrate the important points she is making throughout her script’s narrative, with Ancient Danmei adaptation footage as well as scenes from other magnificent queer-coded historical CDramas, but there exists no other country on Earth you can replicate this for.

I was only vaguely interested in the substance of this setting-the-record-straight video (I knew most of this history already) but what really hit me was the extent of relevant visuals that could easily be assembled to support the text. In the opening introduction above, she is able to illustrate her points using visuals from several Chinese TV adaptations created from Danmei novels - Love Is More Than A Word; The Untamed ; WoH, and still didn’t run out of content for the next 20 minutes.

I have often wondered why it is that Chinese TV and China-based streaming platforms have dozens of EPIC, including fantasy, wuxia, cultivation, detective, martial, and imperial court Danmei or other queer homoerotic story adaptations featuring MM or FF love on a grand, 50+ episodes scale, but there is not even one single gay Game of Thrones in the ostensibly more “accepting, non-restrictive and uncensored” Anglophone queer media sphere.

While China has these in dozens, many rivalling or exceeding GoT or Marvel scope of ambition, it would be hard to find five big budget, blockbuster queer cinematic masterpieces each, from the prolific filmmaking Anglosphere, even if you were to ask for the historical or costumed as well as any modern era queer, big-budget spectaculars to be combined. An interesting paradox, isn’t it?

- What’s the Reason the West has Not Produced Even One Gay GoT? -

This I think is a valid enquiry but rarely have I come across comparative media analysis such as this really honest, moving and illuminating reflection by a queer American person inspired by his multiple re-watches of CDrama, The Rise of Phoenixes, in which the author tries to wrestle with this very conundrum.

Very different perspective from how most western viewers of Chinese queer media usually approach evaluating these types of productions which are often produced by Chinese queer people themselves. This is definitely partially a result of evaluating the products of other peoples’ culture on the basis of naturalising and elevating the shortcomings of the media you grew up on, and then imposing them as the minimum standards for everyone else everywhere.

Even many international viewers who are fans of a Danmei novel before its adaptation seem to forget Danmei is meant to stand as a disruptive, anti western-centric force, in active resistance to normative discourses of western narratives, and still tend to evaluate them from the limits of what is available at home.

Consequently, Chinese Dangai and mainstream queer-coded CDramas depart from Japanese and other BL traditions by not being primarily concerned with the currently existing world of individual queer students or salarymen as in Thailand, South Korea or Japan, but with imagining whole alternative worlds in which systemic transformations producing just, new civilisations can be carved out and impacted on by people who happen to possess same-sex desire and who use their queerness to change the world around them, not just who gets to sleep with whom.

It’s the idea of *transgressive male intimacy* that constitutes the central nervous system of Chinese BL, not merely transgressive male-male sex, hence a much more socially and politically panoramic romantic, emotional, and erotic potential is contained within a queer Chinese TV production (A Couple of Mirrors), even when it’s queer-coded (Nirvana In Fire) or an original screen play that’s barely ambiguous (Killer And Healer) or less covert (ABO Desire) than its international peers. Among regional BL film producing countries only China offers this magnitude of narrative depth and expanse at scale and it’s always nice to see that acknowledged.

Important to remember that China has no media rating system according to age, so there is no such thing as *NC*, *Adults Only*, *PG*, and so on; if a piece of media passes the quality test in China, that makes it equally good for everyone to consume. This means both a minor child and an adult can be inspired, informed, validated and entertained by the same outstanding works, for example Ne Zha 2.

Sort of adds another layer to perspectives on censorship and media freedom when it comes to diversity and accessibility of explicit and implicit queer representation; a single, narrow story that’s allowed to be told about men, masculinity and sexuality in any time period for a restricted audience, versus a wider creative pallet of options that are available for the enjoyment of the entire population of cinema and CDrama consumers.

Among other things, this comes in very handy for illustrating the odd script about the normalisation of queer love in China, both ancient and modern 😉.

Link to the Rise of Phoenixes article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/01/the-refreshing-gender-politics-of-the-rise-of-phoenixes

Link to the full video the clip comes from: The Romance of Male Concubines in the Han Dynasty of Ancient China - https://youtu.be/WMCl-4SKjbs?si=FYSpo-c78n19RGa_

I'm currently in my "watching as much as I can and catching up on my BL series lag" era. Last Friday, late in the evening, I made the mistake of starting The Prosecutor's Proposal, which led me to stay up until 2 a.m. watching every available episode because there was NO WAY I could stop 😭 This series is perfectly tailored to my tastes, I love everything about it: the actors, the characters, the story, the many interesting details, the surprising plot twists, the intensity, the well-written and acted romance, the actors who can kiss and are comfortable with each other, the intensity and emotion. In short, everything that makes me obsessed.

Since then, my mind has been a whirlwind of thoughts about this series, I don't even know how to coherently describe my feelings. Besides, many people here have already provided wonderful analyses of the characters and plot, which I can only cosign 💖 So, I'll just list the things I liked:

Chaeha and Taeseon's relationship is one of the best I've seen because of their mutual fascination, their attraction to each other, and the kind of connection that was present in, for example, High School Frenemy, where two characters are connected by tragedy, a whole web of complicated emotions, a relationship with both positive and very negative underpinnings, which both have to navigate with difficulty and a lot of pain. Both of these couples share a tragic past that has created a space in which only they can exist, which has led them to be automatically fixated on each other. Because the most important moment in their lives—and the most dramatic one, one that has shaped their entire lives, psyche, careers, decisions, and motivations—is shared only with the other. Whether they want it or not, even if it causes resentment, rebellion, and frustration, they are unable to break out of the "bubble" they are in with the other person and not be closely connected to them. And because this bond exists, the other person is automatically intensely noticed, every little detail analyzed, which only fuels obsession, interest, fixation, and focus. It's also obvious to me that they are both gay, or at least bi, since this fixation easily morphs into erotic fascination, as evidenced by their behavior, how comfortable Taeseon is with Chaeha physically, how he uses the same cutlery and food that was already in Chaeha's mouth, and how he immediately grasped the meaning of Chaeha's gaze in this scene:

I'm sorry, but there's no heterosexual explanation for how he immediately tensed and got flustered and his eyes darted to Chaeha's mouth. And once we establish that they're both gay, their cat-and-mouse game, how Taeseon hovers around Chaeon like an exceptionally stubborn and irritating drone or horny dog, how he goads him, pulls on his pigtails, and teases him, how Chaeha lets him do whaterver he wants, wanting to impress and please him, his slutty, submissive behavior and lingering glances at Taeseon, their angry fuck—everything between them becomes clear and understandable 😎

The fact that they are children of the same tragedy, which created this painful and fascinating space that is theirs and theirs alone, and only they can navigate in it, and they must do so to survive, to find the truth, to be happy TOGETHER, is one of the most delicious things I've ever consumed in any BL. (Even if, if I understand correctly, Chaeha doesn't know who Taeseon is yet and in this "bubble" without his knowledge)

food as a form of showing affection, interest, the backdrop to their relationship, Taeseon inviting Chaeha to meals, adapting to him, even using food to "punish" him in his jealous tantrums 😩 and best of all - Taeseon having zero chill about putting things in his mouth that had just been in Chaeha's. The first time he did it with an ice cream scoop, I think I had a mini heart attack

Taeseon, with his stony face, which he struggles to maintain around Chaeha (but he tries really hard, and you have to look closely to see the emotions boiling behind that mask), the actor who plays him is truly good at micro-expressions. I really like how, at the beginning of the series, he couldn't contain his rage and snarled at Chaeha, oh he was soooo angry, that upper lip pulled aaaaall the way up ✨

I absolutely love how Taeseon is a storm of complicated emotions raging in his head and heart, that he's the perfect Tortured Protagonist with a Traumatic Past™, but he's also just a guy, thinking and making decisions with his Little Taeseon. And when Little Taeseon decided that Chaeha(ussy) was "now ours", Taeseon didn't question it, mess around or create drama, but focused on providing "their Chaeha" with protection, care, help, and started marking his territory. And above all, their angry fuck wasn't a reason for further torture and drama, but rather the beginning of a full-time, unfiltered pervert job and an invitation to continue harassing Chaeha, this time sexually (and marking his territory). Ngl, the fact that Taeseon abandoned all pretense and completely let himself off the leash makes me watch this series, giggling and blushing 😍

I also love that Taeseon is able to change, that he sees Chaeha for who he is, that all his hatred, his thirst for revenge, his multitude of prejudices, when confronted with facts, with Chaeha's tears… were dismantled by Taeseon. This represents self-awareness, critical thinking, and confronting one's own preconceptions and prejudices, which is truly amazing

Speaking of Taeseon seeing, noticing Chaeha - that's another thing I adore about him, how he sees him, how he sees all the big things, like the bullying Chaeha is experiencing, as well as the little things, like how Chaeha's cuff might have gotten dirty, how his hands are cold, or how he eats slowly 🥺

I won't even mention how actively he protects him, even bending his own rules to help him, how he stopped his uncle from hitting him and discreetly moved Chaeha behind him. He can help without drawing attention to himself and, above all, Chaeha, which wards off any potential consequences for his help from his abusive uncle

Taeseon's jealousy deserves a separate mention, and it's interesting that he was jealous from the beginning (is it because Chaeha is part of Taeseon's "special bubble" and no one should be bothering him? Because he was already "taken"? Because he was already the object of our specialest boy's specialest attention? 🤨). I bet Taeseon will call Chaeha "whore" at least once before the show ends, for something like looking at another man.

Actors' mutual chemistry, excellent kisses, and comfort are among the highlights of this series. The actors can sell and justify why their characters are already at this stage of their relationship and they're both crazy about each other and horny af

I keep writing about Taeseon, but my bright-eyed boy, Chaeha, needs to be mentioned too. He's my baby, another broken but brave and kind boy who, despite what's happened to him, chooses the right path in life, his own dignity and ambition. He takes care of himself, and manages his own life. And when a big, bad wolf appears in his life, he'll take care of it, put a leash on it, and fuck that wolf. All the while maintaining his dignity and those big, wet eyes (coincidentally, a wolf's weak spot). Chaeha deserves the best, and Taeseon better take care of him and spoil him to the max, or we'll talk

The series is genuinely funny. I love Chaeha's special relationship with carrots and the thumb thing 😆 Taeseon's jealousy, and his unhinged lines. The fandom of this series on Tumblr is hilarious and a worthy reflection of Taeseon in all his crazy, freaky glory 👍

Both MLs need each other and complement each other. They're both good at what they do, they're professionals, they're committed, they're smart, and they're strong. Both are horny and crave intimacy, both are deeply hurt and crave justice and closure. For the first time, a tentative thought entered their minds, that maybe they wanted something more from life, that maybe they wanted to be happy—surprisingly for Teaseon, with this person with whom he's connected so much, on so many levels, including the most tragic one, which wasn't his, their fault. This is the kind of romance that personally blows me away, and I can't stop thinking about it.

He's exerting a tremendous amount of power and money to mold Sun.

Sure, he's giving Sun the tools and opportunity for his revenge. But Sun has to take those tools, learn how to use and weld them himself.

I mean, Jay is not an altruistic person, so it's not about giving Sun the opportunity for revenge for the sake of revenge. It seems to be Jay creating the perfect partner for himself and prodding Sun in a direction to meet that need.

It's a weird mixture of having some sort of control over Sun and getting him to a certain point but also doing it to create a more equal partner. Two very opposing things.

Wu is really playing in our faces haha. First the soul binding ritual and now Pete's mother's ring on Niran's left ring finger?

I was really planning on avoiding jumping into any SkyNani or Wu discourse, but they are making it hard for me to avoid.

I don't know exactly what to call what this show is doing, but I don't think it's queerbaiting. If it were an American show I might see it that way, but I think the context of this being a GMMTV series flips the idea of queerbaiting on its head.

I understand queerbaiting to be about using queer subtext as a commercial strategy in order to gain queer viewership without assuming the risks of telling explicitly queer stories.

The "baiting" part of queerbaiting is the bait and switch where it feels like we've been promised queerness that never materializes. Queerbaiting is particularly an issue when there is little queer representation in the media landscape. In the context of scarcity, viewers invest heavily in the possibility of seeing queer romance on screen and then are disappointed (or even angry) when we don't get the payoff that was implied.

GMMTV has produced over a hundred BLs, several GLs, and has queer people and relationships depicted in much of their non-QL content. They have assumed the risks and gathered the rewards of portraying queer romance more than any other mainstream media company I can think of. They are promising and delivering queerness in abundance, and they are not promising explicitly queer romance with their bromance shows.

The trailers and pilots to SkyNani series have never promised us gay romance. It's not queerbaiting because there is no bait and switch. Wu is playfully exploring the blurry lines between platonic and romantic love, which I think is fun and even kind of beautiful.

But this hug, the first in the modern era, it’s different.

It’s the only time his hand doesn’t immediately go into Nakhun’s hair to pull him closer, so he can rest his head on his shoulder like he used to.

And noticing that stings a little.

Because even with the same memories, you can see he isn’t quite the same person anymore. Nakhun came back from the past, but Phop didn’t. The Phop we knew died 400 years ago.