Kumo

JINGJING YU as WINE VETAKA.

WLW MATCHING ICONS 🧚‍♂️🏳️‍🌈

Korrasami- both bisexual (from Avatar: Legend of Korra)

Catradora- both lesbian (from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Harlivy- Harley is bisexual, Ivy is sapphic (From Harley Quinn, The Tv Series)

Lumity- Luz is bisexual, Amity is lesbian (From The Owl House)

WELL HERE YOU GO BUD

Also! Wine knowing that they can't tell Lal about the mole still being in the company is so smart and funny at the same time.

And can we talk about how good a detective Lal and her team is??? She clocked that photo on Masdai's phone like snooping is second nature to her. All six of them (sales and accounting) should just open a detective firm, their talents are wasted on this company. Or better yet! The company should open an internal investigation unit and transfer them all there! I'm kinda shocked that with being such good investigators Numnim and Bass didn't figure out who the bubble tea thief was earlier. (Whoever said it was Masdai, congrats! We got it right!!)

And Lal baiting Madsai with that meeting is truly chef's kiss. I was extremely impressed with Lal for pulling such an epic uno reverse on her, and with that flawless execution with Proud! Such good teamwork! I still don't get why Proud doesn't like Lal, she's the most honest, sweet, caring, compassionate person, Wine is lucky to have her after all of those crappy relationships she had in the past. Is she going to warm up to her when Wine and Lal eventually end up together? Probably ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I want to mention how awesome Lal and Wine's ride or die friends are. Lal's friend is such a sweetheart not letting her cry alone.. not saying 'I told you so', and being so supportive, it was so beautiful how much trust they have and how he gives her space to grieve her situationship without judgement, even going so far as acknowledging that it wasn't a short fleating thing.

And Proud! Being there for Wine, being her shoulder to cry on, going above and beyond to help her with whatever she needs. Their friendship is so strong and sweet, even though Wine is still a bit closed off she trusts Proud enough to lean on her. That's no small feat.

As much as I'm sad for Lal and her poor broken heart, I flip it and think of Wine's perspective and it's heart-wrenching.. For probably the first time in her adult life she feels like she's truly found her person, the person who feels like home, like safety, like a refuge. And she feels like her only option is to turn her back to all of that. That in order to protect the one she loves she has to sacrifice both their hearts. Wine knew Lal is in love with her beyond what she claims, Wine is also aware that she has fallen for Lal like she never did before, that her walls now have a big 'ol gate wide open for Lal to enter. And yet! She sacrifices all of that so Lal could finish her crusade against Korn, so Lal could keep her job because she knows how many people depend on Lal. She knew that they were going to get exposed no matter what, and she didn't want Lal to have to lie to anyone. So Wine kept her composure and lied for her. It must have been hell to say all those lies, how it meant nothing, how she doesn't even like Lal at all, how they were never more than colleagues, that she knows nothing about Lal's personal life and vice versa. While the only thing keeping her going is her love for Lal and the feeling that she's doing the right thing. Even when she's dying inside, probably ripping herself to shreds in her mind. Saying all of those false statements while Lal's eyes are screaming 'I still love you, why are you doing this'.

**Spoilers**

So much to say about this show but let's start with

"Enemies with Benefits" has shown us how far Thai GL series have come.

This is by far one of the most realistic portrayals of queer experiences we've watched.

No rich CEOs/heirs and the subordinates/rivals/etc.that they will eventually fall in love with (not that there's anything wrong with that), just a queer working woman trying to keep her job, send money to her family, get along with colleagues, and have a (love) life, too. Anyone else feel like Lal represents all (extra)(ordinary) queer peeps everywhere?

(Basically, Lal is all of us.)

4. The way Lal and Wine's non-break up break up (lezbi honest, these two have been dating for the better part of 7 episodes but refuse to admit it) hit us right in the feels because Lal sobbing to her friend, missing Wine, is every queer person who's ever been dumped and can't move on. The way everything reminds Lal of Wine, this is also the most accurate depiction of queer post-break ups.

(This show has been plagiarizing actual queer angst since Ep.1 LOL).

5. Can we just say this queer relationship is the most accurate as well? The non-label, the moving in together, the intense feelings, the equally intense break-up?

6. Also, also, it needs to be said: Wine is basically every queer person's (femme) girlfriend or ideal girlfriend. The kind that's strict, but kind-hearted, goofy but will not take anyone's bullsh*t, but also, will actually put up with your bullsh*t. LOL

(Anyone who's ever had a girlfriend will know this look from your girl: the one that says, you're being weird but will put up with your bullsh*t anyway)

7. Lal essentially having (unconsciously) decided to be Wine's savior, from Ep. 1, against the Japanese guys, against a sleazy co-worker during a bowling game, against an equally sleazy colleague/ex (New), and another (sleazy) boss, Korn. Come to think of it, Wine is every woman (queer or not) who's ever had to put up with sleazy guys and harassment.

8. The only thing that this show is lacking is a bit more agency from Wine. Esp. when it comes to dealing with toxic guys. Lal is always saving her against male colleagues, making it seem like Wine is unable to save herself? Different from HeartCode's Vicky, for example, who saves Capt. Than back.

9. However, we also tried to consider Wine's trauma. The things she's had to go through with guys has essentially traumatized her and made her unable to fight or talk back like Lal (though she does secretly help Lal by finding dirt on Korn). Also, Wine getting blamed, changing her wardrobe, acting tough so people take her seriously and NOT s*xually harass her is every harassed woman's experience ever.

10. However, the show has to balance these depictions, too, 'cause there's also the danger of thinking Wine fell for Lal because the guys kept treating her bad, and Lal's the first one to treat her right, so she's choosing a woman because of bad experiences with men (meaning she just hasn't met the right man) whereas, well, queer women are queer because they just are, inspite of/despite/regardless of treatment from guys.

11. But also, some women DO fall for other women because, well, women know how to treat women right. Lal and Wine's honest conversations, right down to Lal asking Wine to tell her where she wants to be kissed, or touched, is why women sometimes choose other women. Facts. LOL.

12. So yeah.Nuances. Important in narratives. Which this show has. In spades.

13. Also, this show is consistently fun. It feels a bit like lightning in a bottle. Perfect casting. Fun/funny dialogue. Smooth storytelling. Particularly enjoy the rapid-fire exchanges, for example, between Lal and Proud, who mutually dislike each other, Lal and her gay best friend, Lal's subordinates, etc.

14.It helps that since this is more adult, they've cast older, more seasoned actors - Janhae and Jingjing's (life) experience, confidence and chemistry shine through, Janhae and Ciize's scenes are fun, basically, pretty much every Janhae scene with everyone else. She seems to bring out the best in everyone, people bounce off of her and come out with excellent performances. Loving the self-awareness, lack of pretension and the way she doesn't take herself too seriously, too.

15. Bummed Ep.10 is the last episode. But grateful this series got made and aired. This show and its cast deserve all of the awards honestly.

Will miss this goofy MF and her equally goofy (hot) girlfriend.

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And I also wanted to mention that humanitarian organisations have free courses too, like the Red Cross on international humanitarian law.

Enemies with Benefits - Episode 8 part 2

Bonus whimsy because that ending was rough

Didn't you say you weren't that drunk? I'm not that drunk, really. Then why are you- Even when I'm not drunk, I still want to do this.