Jammy Jacket Potato

Here is my basic review rubric when reviewing any media. This applies to dramas, novels, manga etc. 

1 – not only trash, but actively harmful to society

2- trash

3- a turd, but it may have a shiny pebble in it

4 – not great, below average

5 – It was a show/book, that I watched/read

6 – good but not great

7 – solid show, but had issues

8 – Great show

9 – Almost perfect

10 – perfection

-Spice level-

1 Pepper- Hand holding or hugging, no kisses

2 Peppers- Hand holding, hugging, kisses, off screen implied sex is a possibility

3 Peppers- Make out sessions and mostly off screen sex scenes are the norm

4 Peppers- On screen sex scenes, but you can see anything or they cut away before it gets too spicy

Love in the Air Country of Origin: Thailand Starring: Boss Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya (Payu), Noeul Nuttarat Tangwai (Rain), Fort Thitipong Sengngai (Pai), Peat Wasuthorn Chaijinda Where to watch: Rakuten Viki Seasons: 1 season Genre: slice of life, drag racing, college Spice level: 4.5 peppers Rating: 8/10

I almost didn’t watch this series because I had seen clips from it beforehand,  and boy is it spicy. Now it’s the only one I’ve done a rewatch on. It is refreshingly sex-positive, with no virginal boys or over-controlling tops. This show is definitely not for everyone and if you are looking for something grounded in plot this is not it. If you are looking for an exploration in relationships, desires, life and how to navigate all three, here you go. Big old warning that this drama contains the most sexy sex scenes in the most abundance I have seen and goes beyond shirtless licking. If you’re looking for a good ole fashion spice fest with very little, yet entertaining and engaging story this is a drama for you.

Summary: The series is split into two main plots following the two main couples. The first is Rain and Payu. Rain originally resents Payu after some awkward misunderstandings in which Payu thinks Rain is propositioning him and Rain’s crush reveals to him she likes Payu. Rain continues to try to “get back” at Payu by declaring he will make him fall in love with him (and then plans to drop him). But as he gets closer to Payu he begins to see him as the person he really wants and fights to be with. The second half follows Rain’s friend Sky and Payu’s friend Pai who meet at an underground drag race that Sky and Rain have snuck into. When Sky is caught, Pai comes to his defense, but only for something in return. They end up sleeping together and afterwards Sky sees it as a one-night stand and moves on, Pai on the other hand can’t stop thinking about Sky. Eventually he finds Sky again and attempts to pursues him, but Sky has a traumatic past that prevents him from trusting and he is so done with fuck boys. Oh by the way, this is a “sports” drama about motorcycle drag racing.

What I liked:

-All the actors in this are just so lovable, I can’t wait to see what they all do next (Zomvivor, let’s go!). -There was a lot wrong with this series in terms of story continuity and production (I’ve never experienced such wacky sound engineering before), but for some reason it still kept me majorly hooked. This is the only series I’ve done a re-watch on so far and my feelings about it have not changed. Despite the poor production, the actors bring the show to life. -I really liked Rain’s character. A lot of people find him annoying but I think he is just dorky and assertive. You don’t often see the Uke/Shou/bottom character who is as sex positive as Rain. He obviously enjoys it, does not try to act like he is just indulging Payu with affection (I hate this trope) and he has some cosplay fetishes that get explored which is always a good time. -The sex scenes never feel weird or awkward. The actors here did a phenomenal job. -Once characters are together there is no weirdness or awkwardness about affection. They are a couple and they act like it. -One of the most realistic college dramas I have seen in terms of college actually being a thing that the character has to do and not just a backdrop for the romance. It is actually a major point of tension that Rain is an architect major and he doesn’t have time for his school workload and pursuing his relationship with Payu. Even once this storyline is over, he is constantly pulling all-nighters and dealing with the never-ending homework load. -The show attempted (sometimes failed) to be very sex positive and explore things like kinks and sexual trauma. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not quite, but it never dropped the ball too hard. -The sex scenes were some of the most realistic I’ve seen in BL (still not quite there, but close). Though these scenes were spicy as fuck, they never felt overboard or like space fillers and were often used to convey the relationship dynamics between the two characters. -Gun with his creepy soft voice is such an evil villain. He did such a good job, I think his actor might be ruined for me in other roles.

Moonlight Chicken (for overall greatness)

Not Me (best action and political commentary)

Tale of 1000 Stars (for the feels)

Semantic Error

Country of origin: Korea

Starring: Park Jae-chan Cho Sang Woo), Park Seoham (Jang Jae Young)

Where to watch: Rakuten Viki

Seasons: Season 1

Spice level: 3 (I honestly don’t remember….)

Rating: 10/10

Its been a while sense I watched this, but I wanted to kick off my drama reviews with the first drama I watched recently. I used to watch a lot of Japanese dramas in college, but I never had much interest in other countries because I wasn’t learning the language. I literally got back in to drama again because of this series. I have been reading the manhwa of it and was really excited that the drama was being made. Best drama adaptation ever.

Story Summary: Cho Sang Woo, a computer science major who dreams of making video games, makes waves when he gives no one in his group credit for their final project. Why? They are all freeloaders who did no work! Cho Sang Woo won’t back down and as a result Jang Jae Young (Freeloader #3) can’t graduate and his study abroad plans fall apart. Meanwhile, the concept artist who is helping Cho Sang Woo on his indie game backs out and the artist she gets to replace her is none other than Jang Jae Young whose art style is a perfect fit for the game. Can they get over their differences? And how will Cho Sang Woo deal with feelings he has never experienced before?

What I loved:

-Everything.

-Neurodivergent representation! Cho Sang Woo is never labeled as neurodivergent, but very much coded this way. He is very set in his routines and structures and has a hard time with normal social cues. He looks at the world like he would a computer system and processes his feelings in a different way from most people.

-The concept of concent is not only there, but explored by the characters throughout the story.

-The show really took it’s time developing into a romance and dealing with all the complex feelings involved with it.

-Pacing was great, story was interesting, just so good.

-Great at showing the story from both mains perspective.

-Perfectly cast, especially Cho Sang Woo.

What could have been better:

-There should be a season 2. I know the content is there, the Manhwa is still ongoing and way further than the show is.

I’ve decided that starting today I am expanding this review blog to include any and all Queer media. This is because I personally consume all types of Queer media, from books to dramas (my current obsession) to podcast and animation and everything in between. I want to keep this blog going as I started it, as a resource to find new media to consume, but now I don’t want to limit it to just danmei.

Title: Seizing Dreams 夺梦

Author: Fei Tian Ye Xiang非天夜翔

Link To Original: https://seizingdreams-info.carrd.co/

Link To Translation: https://www.chickengege.org/novels/duomeng/

Link To Carrd: https://seizingdreams-info.carrd.co/

Status: Original complete, Translation complete, extra chapters incomplete (if anyone knows where I can find translations of the extras, please tell me!)

Tags: modern fantasy/scifi, dreams, slice of life, trauma

Rating:  8.75/10

 Story Summary: When accused of a crime he did not commit, college student Yu Hao, broke and at the end of his rope attempts to take his own life. As a result, he falls into a fantastical dream where he meets his guardian, General, and takes back control of his conscious from his dark self. Upon waking in the hospital Yu Hao truly has a new look on life and the much-needed strength to fight for control of his own life. While hospitalized he meets Zhou Sheng and Fu Liqun, two other students at the school who found him before he could die from his suicide attempt and Chen Yekai, a teacher who is willing to fight the university administration for Yu Hao. Even with his new found support network Yu Hao can’t forget General and soon finds himself once again brought face to face with him in the dreamscape. This story follows Yu Hao as he falls in love, helps others through trauma, and learns the secrets to the dreamscape.

This book has some trigger warnings as it deals with deep psychological trauma. These topics include: child sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, homophobia, cults/pyramid schemes, metal illness and suicide.

 My Thoughts: This story is such a good blend between fantasy, slice of life, and psychology. The dreamscapes are fantastical and reflect the dreamer’s self in really interesting ways. The way the novel flowed between real life problems like choosing a career and paying rent and the fantasy word of the dreams was really refreshing and kept the story from ever going stale. I never felt like “lets just get through this part.”  

One of the best things about this novel was the abundance of secondary characters who were all flushed out well and had development! It makes sense, seeing as the central focus of the plot was about character development through the dreamscapes. There were four main secondary characters, and the author gives a clear picture of each of their personalities and troubles. A lot of the time with Danmei novels we are given a slew of secondary characters who lack so much personality that you can’t even remember their names. With Seizing Dreams I can remember ever name, even more minor characters.

This was not the first novel I’ve read with an openly gay main character, but this is definitely the first I’ve read that deals realistically with homophobia and sociopersonal relationships within the gay community. The main character Yu Hao, who is very introverted but has been outed by his dormmates as gay, faces homophobia regularly throughout the novel starting from his dorm mates and school consular and later Zhou Shengs father as well as others who interact with him (such as the main villains).

One of the things I really appreciated is that the homosexual characters were not straight men later bent (though Zhou Sheng sort of thinks he is) but brought together because of their similarities in sexual orientation. This is how the gay community works! When faced with a society that can’t accept a fundamental part of who you are, you gravitate towards others who are in the same boat. This should be obvious, but the trope of a group of straight men all coupling up with each other is quite predominate within the BL genre, especially in manga. Chen Yekai approaches Yu Hao because he is young gay many who just attempted suicide and he has an emotional connection to that. Ou Qiheng approaches him because he is also gay and sees a potential ally in him. His boss later on in the story when he goes to work considers him for the job because they are both gay (among other things).

I really connected with this story on a personal level too, as Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng as well as their relationship really remind me of my own relationship with my husband (who is basically Zhou Sheng incarnate). I don’t usually see myself or my personal situation reflected in the novels I read, but I really did with this one. This is also because of the way real life struggles, such as poverty and overwork and mental illness are truly explored within the novel and real barriers. I think the effects of poverty are very predominant throughout the novel, even later on when Yu Hao becomes financially stable he is still very much effected by his poor upbringing. When I first thought about it, I thought it felt a little bit Cinderella cliché for his financial troubles to go away, however when I really thought about it and how it paralleled to my adult life (living through poverty and eventually working towards middle-classdom) I think it made the most sense. Poverty is a shackle, but these characters were not shackled by other elements that tend to keep one in poverty (family obligations, disabilities, mental illness, children etc.) so their upward mobility made the most sense. I really loved how they attempted the Cinderella story in Zhou Sheng attempting to take over his father’s company, but that it eventually failed due to his fathers inability to accept his and Yu Hao’s relationship.  

My personal favorite character was Mama Zhou. She was so flawed and a drain to be around, but when Zhou Sheng comes out to her and his father she GOES TO BAT for Zhou Sheng and throws all her weight behind supporting him. Let her have a lover younger than her son and go play majong every night! She got the shit beat out of her by Zhou Sheng’s dad for years and she deserves to live her life her way.

I also want to say that the way Shi Ni’s (a young girl who Yu Hao tutors) situation and abuse is addressed within the novel is so well done. Shi Ni as a character is not used for shock value the way I often see child sexual abuse depicted, but from the perspective of a girl taking back her life after seeking help. The trial where her father’s attorney tries to mount a defense is the most sickening moment, even though it was very cut and dry and it still never makes me feel like Shi Ni is being used as a display.

I think if I were to try to pinpoint where the novel could be lacking (and I’m really trying here) I would say somewhat in the writing itself. Please don’t get me wrong, it is not bad, just not Queen Meat Bun level good. I could read through the novel without making too many head corrections, but I noticed often repeated descriptors throughout and areas where things could have been described better but in less words. This could also be somewhat a translation issue as well. It was not bad though and definitely not enough to deter me from enjoying the story.

  Characters:

Yu Hao: The main character, and one with a lot of growth throughout the series. He starts out extremely introverted and suicidal. His poverty is like a shackle around his neck that prevents him from socializing in college and his outing as gay solidifies his introverted status. After General helps him take back his dreamscape and he meets Zhou Sheng and Fu Liqun, he begins to come out of his shell and is able to explore who he really is. Once able to explore himself, he is revealed to be a thoughtful man with an interest in social problems and helping people. He also picks up skateboarding which really fits him in a weird way. His dream persona is the Arc Angel and he has the power to heal in most dreams (stemming from others perception that he had the power to heal himself when at his lowest). His weapon is his grandmother’s laundry fork which he can turn into duel knives or a staff. He can use his wings to fly.

Zhou Sheng: Is the main lead. He seems like he does what he wants without thinking and is hot headed, but he is actually an extremely intelligent and calculating person. He is a sports major because he enjoys physical activities, but doesn’t really like competition. His family life is turbulent and abusive, with divorced parents who both put a lot of pressure on him. His father is wealthy and owns a successful restaurant chain that he wants Zhou Sheng to take over and his mother wants him to have nothing to do with his father. After saving Yu Hao from his suicide attempt, he basically imprints on him and won’t let him out of his sight. He struggles throughout the first half of the novel with his feelings for Yu Hao but once he decides on it, he never waivers. SPOILER: His dream persona is General/Sun Wukong. His original weapon was his great sword, but later is Yu Hao’s totem that he gives him in the form of a Jinggubang (power pole)/shield. He also has a Jindouyun (flying cloud), which he can ride. Oh, and a dragon that represents his “urges”.

Fu Liqun: He helps Yu Hao get work study before he even really knew him because he noticed he had to drink tap water (cause he’s too poor to buy bottled water). He is Zhou Sheng’s best friend and everyone’s Gege. He is a person who seems like he has it together, but he really has no plan for the future after college and this is something that really bothers him. He is in a long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart Cen Shen, whose wealthy father does not approve of their relationship. His dream persona is a knight and his weapon is a halbert. He rides a mystical stead.

Chen Yekai: Yu Hao’s advising teacher. Chen Yekai is the first person in authority to tell Yu Hao he believes him about not stealing and helps him get through this ordeal when others within the school are trying to have him expelled. Chen Yekai gravitates towards Yu Hao because he is gay and dealing with the backlash around him, which as another gay man Chen Yekai understands. He went to college in the USA and lived there for many years with his now deceased lover. He was disowned by his family for being gay, but is very wealthy because he invested in a start up in college. He develops feelings for Yu Hao, but he never really understands what those feelings are and is very aware and respectful of his relationship with Zhou Sheng.  His dream persona is the Great Chieftain and his weapon is the scalpel he attempted to murder his former teacher with and the gun that his former lover used to kill himself. He has a serpent god that he can ride.

Ou Qiheng: A boy that Yu Hao meets when he is trying to find a boyfriend. He notices that string of cases being solved around Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng and attempts to get Yu Hao’s help to reveal the conspiracy surrounding his father’s suicide. He is still in high school, but a few months older than Yu Hao because he had to repeat his final year (I am confused about this, because he does really well in school. I am assuming it is because he must have missed so much school due to his dad’s suicide). He originally likes Yu Hao, but later hints heavily at wanting to court Chen Yekai. SPOILER: His dream persona is pilot (I actually really don’t know if I’m remembering that right and correct me if I’m wrong) and he has a Gundam that he can ride.

Hua Ting: Chen Yekais childhood friend and a police officer who helps Yu Hao with his theft case. He is very smart and notices more than people think. He is kind, but overworked and is always in a hurry and tired. After Ou Qiheng’s suicide attempt he makes sure to keep a close eye on him and becomes his Gege when they both move to Beijing. He is the only character to figure out what is going on before entering a dreamscape. His dream persona is the Arch Mage, his weapon is his magic “book of law.”

I literally could go in to all the side characters here as well, they are so well fleshed out! But that would make this waaaaay to long so I only did the Dream Warriors.

 Relationships:

Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng: They meet after Yu Hao’s suicide attempt and imprint on each other and are basically best friends from then on. Yu Hao catches feelings pretty quickly, but understands that Zhou Sheng is straight and does not pursue it and instead engages in some hilarious attempts at online dating. Zhou Sheng on the other hand struggles, but not because Yu Hao is a man, but because his own parents were so abusive towards each other he doesn’t want to get into a relationship with anyone out of fear of being like them. Once he gets over it though, he is all in and Yu Hao becomes top priority. I really appreciated that they got together less than halfway through the novel. This novel didn’t just focus on the build up to the relationship, but also on its growing pains. Zhou Sheng can be jealous, and Yu Hao can get frustrated, but they are still solid. I really appreciate the way their relationship is depicted as it feels more real and less idealized than a lot of danmei.

Yu Hao, Zhou Sheng, Fu Liqun: true sworn brothers! Even once get together, their dynamic as a trio and so good! They all support each other and are always there. I loved how when we were in the arc where Yu Hao is working himself to death as soon as Fu Liqun is in trouble he just takes leave for him. I also love how at no point do the roles within their friendship feel solid. They are to each other what they need to be at the time.

Fu Liqun and Cen Shen: They have a turbulent relationship as Cen Shen’s father does not approve. It is a major source of worry for Fu Liqun throughout the novel. They break up more than once, but it is more due to Fu Liqun’s lack of self-confidence than anything else. This relationship was a great representation of the difficulties faced by people of different socioeconomic status.