Momo's brain cell

The above is a video shared by smrchildsadness on Twitter, showing a person participating in a pride parade exchanging a pride flag with a person standing on his (am using his pronoun based on the TikToks/Tweets of what happened) doorway who had a Portuguese flag. There are sounds of cheers and crying and the two people hug each other as they exchange the flags. The man at the doorway then waved kisses to the crowd within the pride parade.

The Tweet says: "NO YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HE WAS WAVING THE PORTUGUESE FLAG BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE A PRIDE FLAG AND THEY TRADED FLAGS AND HE'S SO EMOTIONAL TO GET HIS OWN PRIDE FLAG I'M EMOTIONALLY RUINED"

For context, apparently they were worried that maybe he's a nationalist because he was waving the Portuguese flag and some nationalists opposing the pride march were waving that flag. But upon interacting with him, it turns out he didn't have have a pride flag and he wanted to wave *a* flag in support of the pride march. So they had an exchange and now he has his own pride flag 😭🥹.

The image above is a Tweet by kunwara_ladkaa that says "I'm crying so much right now (Image taken by Manuel Fernando Araújo/Lusa)". The image shows the same man from the pride parade crying as he hugs his new pride flag.

The above image is a Tweet by dudz_zZzz that says "ainda não parei de pensar nele," which according to Google translate from Portuguese to English is "I still haven't stopped thinking about him." The image is a drawing of the person from the pride parade, crying as he hugs his new pride flag.

the almost pain in the longing of short, broken glances to avoid being caught staring, the eyes darting over his whole face instead of lingering too long on his eyes or lips, the tentative broaching of conversation and testing of boundaries that only happens with that level of anxiety in a queer relationship

the constant fear of "what if he's not?" "what if i'm mistaken?" "what if i step too far?" which straight people rarely have to worry about, because at worst if you ask another straight person out you'll get meanly turned down, but if you're queer and you ask a straight person out the reaction could be SO bad, so you're scared and you're withholding but you're just WANTING

there are whole scenes where their friendship is clearly blooming and they both forget their sexualities and they're just having fun like they do with other people

and then there's always a moment where it THUDS back home again. the wetsuits. the showers. outside the bar. on the beach. where they're both so clearly HYPERAWARE of themselves and each other and feeling so exposed and so so scared but still desperate to be near each other

2026 will be my year and that is a threat

There have been several conversations since Heated Rivalry got popular about what a lesbian version would look like (I ended up already reblogging one of them). But the thing is, we do have a lot of great lesbian content already, it can just be hard to find. And so I'm going to shamelessly use the platform of Heated Rivalry 's finale to plug just a small sampling of it. Here are 5 shows to watch after you've finished Heated Rivalry, women loving women edition.

Show Me Love (Thailand, 2023)

Starting off with the one I already recced: This is for the folks who wanted lesbian beauty queens and didn't know it already existed. This Thai show's main characters have to navigate their own sexual awakening, complicated by fans wanting to see them flirt with each other in promotional content, all while knowing if they actually came out for real it could end their careers. It's available for free on YouTube.

Roller Coaster (Thailand, 2025)

If you are more interested in a story about women who know they should not be together but are having great sex anyway, and you don't care about the reason being a sports rivalry, this Thai show is for you. It lived up to its name as an emotional roller-coaster between a woman who has been waiting for her ex to change her mind and come back, and the woman who wants to keep her company in the meantime. This one is also available for free on YouTube.

A League of Their Own (USA, 2022)

If you do care about the sports, actually, and also appreciated the element that Shane being mixed-race brought to the story (and maybe even wanted that theme explored in more depth), this American series includes women loving women, trans characters, and while it primarily follows women in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, it also follows the exponentially more difficult challenges of Black women who love women and who love baseball and just want to be allowed to pursue both despite the constraints of 1940s America in parallel. This one is streaming on Prime in most territories.

The Hockey Girls (Spain, 2019)

If you wanted more of the sports than we got in Heated Rivalry actually, and don't mind the characters being a little younger (and emotionally messier), this Catalan-language show has sport and mess in spades, and is available on Netflix.

Glow (USA, 2017)

If, on the other hand, your favourite part of Heated Rivalry was Ilya slamming Shane into the boards of the rink, and then slamming into each other, you'll enjoy the romance in seasons 2-3 of this American comedy drama about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling in the 1980s. This one is also available on Netflix.

Bonus: The Handmaiden (Korea, 2016)

Not a series, but I could not make this rec list without including one of my favourite lesbian pieces of media of all time, as well as one of the unabashedly horniest. This Korean film is full of twists and turns, but at its core is a relationship between two women who absolutely should not be getting involved with one another. If you want "they had a lot of sex before they actually had an honest conversation", this delivers. This is available for free on Hoopla using your local library card (available in US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; other areas of the world, you may have to search).

The man does not know from cheese. The man "ain't never seen no cheese but orange before" and "I showed ya list to the cheese lady so if it's wrong it's her fault ok?"

I am 80% sure she sent him there for a really specific bleu cheese, 40% sure he does not have the very specific bleu cheese, and 100% sure he's done with her shit.

Our flight is delayed.

Cheese man has been demanding payment because apparently he went like six hours out of his way and paid with his own money and between the cheese and price of gas, he is pretty sure he does not have enough money in his account for an Uber home.

The lady is FLABBERGASTED that he is demanding payment at all, as she was under the impression he was doing this for her out of the goodness of his heart.

"OR ELSE WHAT?"

"I'm gonna-? THE BABY SHOWER? MONICA CAN'T EVEN HAVE THIS CHEESE SHE'S PREGNANT!"

"The cheese lady asked if it was for someone because the mushrooms or whatever in the cheese are dangerous for the baby or something?? You wanna poison Monica?"

"WHY WOULD I LIE ABOUT THAT?"

"YEAH OF COURSE I GOT THE CHEESE, THATS WHY I DON'T GOT MONEY FOR UBER!"

"YEAH, GO TELL! GO TELL MOMMA I STOPPED YOUR STUPID ASS FROM KILLING MONICA OR THE BABY! FUCK!"

*hangs up phone*

*head in hands, borderline hyperventilating*

The man in the three piece suit is in the chair next to him. He waits a moment, then reaches into his carryon and pulls out an entire bottle of wine with the TSA pre check sticker on it, and taps cheese guy on the shoulder.

2. Cheese guy is crying a little about the cash and opening up about his problems. The cheese lady is his younger sister. Suit guy is being very generous with his Pinot Blanc. We are having a picnic/improv family therapy session.

3. This is apparently the latest in a long string of his sister asking for something and then flaking when he asks to be paid back. Started with paying him back only some of what he was owed, then claiming something she paid for him was of equal value when it was not, then recently telling him his memory is wrong and he said it was a gift or that he'd do it for free.

"Yeah, the specific thing of trying to convince you your memory is unreliable is called gaslighting and it's really fucked up." I say

"yeeeeah. The other stuff I forgave because she's never really had a good job so she can't pay me back all the time but at least she was making an effort y'know? But that was. That was over the line."

"If you haven't already, check on the rest of your family's finances. My brother started trying to gaslight everyone when he started stealing from our parents." Says Pinot Blanc.

4. Shiba Inu Lady has purchased a cheddar. Apparently, the dog's name is Donut, and he's her service dog because she's severely visually impaired.

"Oh, he's a guide dog?" Asks cheese guy.

"oh, no." She laughs. "He's too short, and the way my eyes are, it's easier for me to navigate with a cane. No, the problem I have is that some morally impaired people see the cane and think they can get away with stealing my bag or assaulting me because I wouldn't be able to give a description- which is wrong, but rather than deal with that I got Donut, and he helps me by howling at anyone who gets in my personal space and biting anyone who grabs me!"

"Uh." Says Kirigumi. "He's been staring at me do I need to back up or..?"

"Ohdear! No, no- He wasn't looking at you! He loves cheese but he knows he's not supposed to beg so he decided the way to deal with something he wants but can't have is to stare in the other direction."

"OKAY!" Says Kirigumi. "I'm wearing fox pajamas and thought like. He thought I was another dog or something."

"No, no- he doesn't care about dogs, and you get a warning before he goes for the calves. Very helpful, when I was living in Italy!"

"Oh what part? I have family in Tuscany." Says Pinot.

2. I know they're planning to continue because Pinot talked to the gate agent so he and cheese guy can sit together and talk about family drama and cheese.

3. Pinot has been teaching him about different types of cheese and how to enjoy them.

4. Cheese guy apparently repairs computers and other technology devices for a living and is currently doing the software version of scraping barnacles and other crap off Pinot'macbook.

Now that I've heard the word aloud, and they are an astrophysicist. Who correctly believes in being comfy as fuck on planes. They are also familar with the concept of a meet-cute and is rooting for them too.

Got to walk the nice lady and her Tactical Assault Shiba to her next gate because it was on the way out and talk for a bit. Donut is called that not because he is the color of a Donut (which he is) but because he likes to sleep curled up in a perfect circle. He has a sister who does the same thing named Bagel.

Lost track of Pinot and Cheeseguy for a bit but when I saw them again at Baggage claim, Cheeseguy was holding both their jackets, and Pinot was on the phone to his hotel about "Well do you have any rooms with TWO beds?". The rest of the call indicated that yes, there were rooms with two beds, but Readers, I Had A Moment.

:)

I do it too, I’m not going to pretend I don’t make jokes about the hets, or the down with cis bus, or whatever

But I recently befriended a cis, straight dude and I have watched him be dismissed, degraded, and unambiguously insulted for the perceived “crime” of being straight — all in queer environments where he is allegedly “completely welcome” and surrounded by “friends”

This guy is not a toxic person! But I have seen him be made to feel so small and like his comfort and safety in those spaces are conditional on his silence and acceptance of being treated like a human dunk zone, and I think that some of y’all have had so much shit from straight/cis people that the second you feel like you’ve got an inch, you want to luxuriate in the perceived catharsis of bullying someone who— actually —doesn’t deserve it

And until he very, very carefully mentioned to me in private that it makes him feel bad, I didn’t even clock that I was involved in doing that, that it had become so instinctive for me to make casual jokes like that, and that— well meaning or otherwise —I had been contributing to an environment that made someone I really really like feel like shit

I’m gonna say this point blank— you’re a tar pit if you think this way

Your suffering does not make you special, you are not granted brand new permissions to be belligerent and cruel because you have been treated poorly, straight people aren’t an oppressed class, no, but they’re people who are entitled to the same amount of basic decency that you, yourself, are entitled to

For the past weeks, I've seen many Russian people talking about how strongly they resonate with Ilya's character. "I relate so much, I felt this deep in my soul, how the hell did they represent us so well, he's one of us, I'm triggered". Even people who never watch BLs or not interested in hockey, they all talk about HR online. Even I, who loves watching BLs all over the world but prefer the ones that add social message/character exploration focused, would dismiss HR if it was only about high-rated smut scenes. Like good job, we need this kind of stories but they're not what I personally prefer.

BUT NO. It's about painfully relatable experience. I'm scared to watched the new episode because it will force me to face my own life, situation and the doom hell my country is currently falling in with the speed of light. And many other Russians said they literally cried in the past couple of episodes.

So many queer people had to flee Russia in the past years, especially now (few years after HR timeline) when LGBTA+ were officially announced illеgal, ехtrеmists and tеrrоrists, with people fined and jailed for a simple makeup or a slightly gay fanart they posted 10 years ago. They still fear and overthink every single thing they say and do even in other country, whenever encountering queer events or trying to date someone. Seeing openly gay hockey couple kissing on the match screen? Oh that's probably only a partially exciting moment for Ilya.

I went back to closet even when I could have built my new, more free identity in another country, I still enter fight-or-flight mode when buying BL books even if they're written in different language and no cop will grab me for looking at the books in a library corner or when I watch queer show in perfectly legal and promoted cinema screening, I don't speak about queer culture and series in my own language, I'm still censoring myself and cursing myself out at the same time for being so stupid and affected by fear – and knowing that if I get more bold and free, shit can still unexpectedly hit the fan and my family back in Russia can get hurt.

This is another thing that hits Russian speaking fans - Ilya's relationship with his dad, brother and the funeral. I was lucky to not have abusive parents but there's always a fucked up past and traumas in CIS childhood. No matter how many traumas you have and how much you try to escape and live your happy life, you'll always face the relatives, you'll always love them despite it all, you will always hurt when they're alive and grieve when they're gone. And if you choose to be yourself and to find love and happiness on your own, you can not go back home.

My mom told me just last week: "Don't go back to Russia. Even if I die, don't you dare to come to my funeral". I also have to awkwardly joke whenever my sister or dad ask me whether I miss them already and when do I plan to visit them, and I miss my friends so much even when I make new ones here. I push down my thoughts that keep coming up about what I should do and how I will feel if I one of them dies, and I'm 4000km away without having made any close happy memories in the past few years.

I have never come out to my family, yet this is something that still hurts if you're just a young adult who had to immigrate from Russia to other country. I've seen other fans saying they were triggered by the "silly gay show" because they got reminded of their fear that they cannot be with their family in their hardships. We are literally risking our life, not even just a social rejection. Fucking Ilya Rosanov.

Connor managed to show Ilya's struggles and traumas so beautifully and so raw, so truthfully. The emotions in his Russian monologue, the exhaustion and double-edged sword in the shape of his situation (queerness and family) was too real, as if he's not an actor but he has those cold and brutal years of growing up in Russia for real. His exasperated broken "чёрт" ('damn', translated as 'fuck me' in subs) after finally sharing his inner turmoil made me shed tears. And of course, the love confession that sounds much more raw in your own language that forces you to face the reality and your emotion.

To be honest, many Russian viewers were genuinely confused with Shane's hesitation about publicly coming out because he will not face even 1/3 of the amount of much more horrible consequences as they would (or Ilya would) :D (jk, everyone's fears are valid)

As another joke, somebody commented that they are not surprised at all that canadian autistic guy was still better in processing and talking about his emotions that neurotypical russian guy lmao

Anyway, HR is not only about sex and public coming out, it's also about queer people who left their homeland (forced or happened to) but still have cursedly tight ties to it, who dance painfully with 'crime' and 'family loss' in their embrace.

and if you read it, feel free to expound in the tags on what it was about and if you learned anything!

The upcoming drama season lineup looks pretty promising!! I'm listing some that caught my eye.

Queer

Bokutachin'ie ("our house"), Nippon TV

An original drama portraying people living on the “fringes of society,” struggling against prejudice in the modern world, yet pursuing love, freedom, and a true sense of belonging with resilience and warmth. At its heart is the story of a kind-hearted 50-year-old gay man (Oikawa Mitsuhiro), who meets a cool, younger gay man (Tegoshi Yuuya)—and falls in love.

Two gays aged 50 and 38 buy a house and take in a 15-year-old girl who's running away from home. BL has become a genre for tokusatsu actors and idols not yet established in the industry, so I had to rub my eyes when I saw the casting.

Oikawa Mitsuhiro is one of the most established names to grace our BL screens. Tegoshi Yuuya was a super popular Johnny's idol who got sacked from his group after going to the club during covid, and this year he is making his comeback to the public eye. Starts on October 22 in the Sunday night prime time slot (that's big for a queer show!).

Oishii rikon todokemasu ("delivering a delicious divorce"), Chuukyou TV

A brilliant lawyer (Maeda Gouki), renowned for winning huge divorce settlements, teams up with his partner, a sharp-witted private detective (Mizusawa Rintarou), to tackle high-stakes cases of “love gone wrong” in this human legal drama. Masuda Risa joins the cast as a mysterious young girl who suddenly shows up on their doorstep.

Japan needs to legalise same-sex marriage like yesterday, I'm interested to see how this show will handle that discussion. I was completely charmed by Masuda Risa in Nippon ichi saitei okoto, so I'm actually more excited about her than the guys haha.

Futari escape, TV Osaka

Based on the manga of the same name, this comedy follows an unemployed, cute “senior” and a deadline-driven manga artist “junior” as they repeatedly escape from reality. By showing their carefree disregard for time and money, the story offers a gentle, humorous cheer for modern people feeling trapped by life’s pressures.

I already posted about this here.

Other

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite (can't translate this title without context), Fuji TV

Written by Okada Yoshikazu, creator of the Saigo kara nibanme no koi series, this heartwarming home comedy paints a humorous yet tender portrait of family life. At its center is a married couple (Kitamura Yukiya and Nakama Yukie) raising two children (Kotaki Nozomu and Kondou Hana). Nineteen years ago, the couple made a secret pact: once the children turned twenty, they would divorce.

Okada Yoshikazu is a master of poignant comedy with some absolute bangers under his (very long) belt (of over 30 years), so I have high hopes for this.

There is a also a lesbian couple played by Ono Karin and Ishii Anna but I don't know how big their roles will be so I didn't include this in the queer section.

The Royal Family, TBS

Set in the world of horse racing, this sweeping twenty-year saga follows passionate men and women who relentlessly chase their dreams. Through unshakable bonds with family, friends, and the racehorses they devote their lives to, they come together to create miracles. Directed by Tsukahara Ayuko, celebrated for bringing numerous acclaimed dramas to the screen.

I'm actually conflicted on the subject of horse racing lol but I'm here for the cast, namely Tsumabuki Satoshi and Matsumoto Wakana, as well as the director Tsukahara Ayuko (Unnatural, Dearest, Umi ni nemuru diamond) who has become one of my favourite directors on Japanese television. The TBS Sunday night slot is probably the most prestigious slot right now so it's at least gonna look good.

Moshi kono yo ga butai nara, gakuya wa doko ni aru no darou ("if the world is a stage, where is the greenroom"), Fuji TV

Set in Shibuya in 1984, brimming with hope and youthful energy, this coming-of-age ensemble drama captures the frustrations, passions, struggles, and loves of a generation. The screenplay, written by Mitani Kouki, carries semi-autobiographical elements. Suda Masaki plays a young theater actor who, believing in his own talent, charges headlong through the final years of the Shouwa era.

Suda Masaki, Nikaidou Fumi, Kamiki Ryuunosuke and Hamabe Minami are here, I'm also here. Mitani Kouki is a living legend with a very distinctive and eccentric style in directing, but he's mostly known for his theater productions and film, so it's interesting to see how his vision translates to television.

Chotto dake esupaa ("just a bit esper"), TV Asahi

After getting fired and hitting rock bottom, an ordinary salaryman (Ooizumi You) suddenly discovers he has a touch of psychic power—and is thrown into the role of saving the world. But there’s a catch: an absurd, unshakable rule—he must never fall in love. In this original sci-fi love story, he’s forced to confront the true meaning of love, friendship, and what it really takes to save the world.

An original science fiction story starring the nations favourite Ooizumi You, Miyazaki Aoi and Dean Fujioka (and some others who haven't been revealed yet). This is Miyazaki Aoi's first big role since her break from acting (she had four kids!), and I'm thrilled to have her back. Ooizumi You is my spouse's favourite celebrity.

The script is by Nogi Akiko (Nigehaji, Unnatural, Umi ni nemuru diamond, Slow Train). I absolutely adore her dialogue and the warmth in her stories. She has my trust.

Jaa, anta ga tsukutte miro yo ("you try making it then"), TBS

Based on the hit manga of the same name, this romantic comedy follows a mismatched couple: a woman who always puts love first (Kaho) and a man with old-fashioned, domineering views (Takeuchi Ryouma). Though they broke up right after his proposal, fate brings them back together through the simple act of cooking. As they share meals, they begin to rethink the things they once took for granted, and slowly rediscover how to grow together.

I haven't read the manga, but I like the cast and the simple act of cooking. This is the only the second adaptation on this list, I'm happy to have so many original scripts.

Synantrophe, TV Tokyo

From Konomoto Kazuya, the writer of the hit anime Odd Taxi, comes an original youth ensemble mystery. Reflecting the struggles and sensibilities of today’s young generation, the story unfolds within an unsettling world, weaving together intricate foreshadowing and sharp, layered dialogue to create a beautifully emotional portrait of human relationships.

The interesting vibes are there, Bandou Ryouta and Yamada Anna are there, someone's got blue hair.

Fake Mommy, TBS

The story begins with the outsourcing of motherhood. Two women (Haru and Kawaei Rina), who have lived completely opposite lives, enter a forbidden “Fake Mommy” contract: posing as mothers for the sake of a child’s future.

Yo long time no see bitches (i just started college again for the second time) Ya'll on here and some internerds all over the internet start to get on my nerves again. the amzing @arminthada already compiled a lot of Thai fan's response and the writing team behind the webcomic feeling on the matter. and i want to say they was so sweet and thoughtful in their engagement with ya'll, BUT SADLY this month had been a lot for Thai people (we almost/still maybe has a war and there were a mass shoting) and i'm at my limit to be nice to you non Thai Jabronies who speaks with so much confidant on Thai topics that ya'll has no idea what ya'll talking about.

NO! THAI PEOPLE AREN'T BOYCOTTING THIS SHOW BECAUSE THE MAIN LEAD IS FEMME.

We are boycotting this first because of the colorism. And unlike you fuckers I'm as a Thai Chinese person with paler skin tone than the average Thais not gonna speak much on this because i haven't faced any of the issues that people with darker skin in Thailand been facing. but here the thing it not just the skin tone of the actor but also east asian beauty standards that people are complaining about the casting choice of Ping. and here, here the motherfucking thing people seems to be missing the point. The biggest reason why people are boycotting this show is because they fucks with the Story that has so much potential to do good within Thai society, the story of the webcomic is extreamly political. it satire the history that had been used and continued to be uses to justified so many shitty things in Thai society.

So me a Thai person who can't speak on certain topics without fear of being throw in jail can be upset and annoyed by how this story in the right hand could had been but ended up with a watered down harem BL romance stupid nonsense with awful production, awful casting and awful dialogue. And i can be more upset for the author and writing team with how much dumb ass fans of and change2561 itself treated them. this company has no respect for Thai arts, no respect for queer thai people and abosolutely has no respect for Thai audiences. SHIT IS STILL BAD HERE and to see an importent art being butcher in the name of BL capitalism is fucking hurt.

And look like i have to say this every year but

YOU DON'T LIVE HERE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAI PEOPLE HAS BEEN LIVING UNDER AND JUST CUZ YOU WATCH SOME THAI BLS DON'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO OPEN YOUR MOUTHS ON WHY OR WHY NOT THAI PEOPLE ARE DOING OR FEELING.