#bl parallels

BALL BOY TACTICS [EP 5 vs CH 26]  Webtoon by Ji Seung Hyun

In Mr. Unlucky, the aquarium date gave us insight into some of the mechanics of the fantasy element. Being together doesn't just make Kota luckier. It makes Naoya less lucky.

In our currently airing jbls, the aquarium dates gave us insight into what was going on in the mind of each of our characters.

In Stay By My Side After the Rain, Kanade's anxiety over what others think and over intimacy is palpable. He's such a nervous kitten.

We get a peak at the issues Mashiro deals with and why his smile falters when he's by himself. Another mother for my hitlist.

In 10 Things I Want to Do Before 40, we reaffirm Tojo's love of cute things. We also see his anxiety and internal turmoil over openly embracing it. Is it really okay for him to order the cute dessert? YES.

We see how Keishi will give Tojo a push to love himself, and we get insight into just how long Keishi has liked him. It's been a while.

But I'd be lying if I said it was just the dialogue and character development that I enjoy in aquarium dates. As someone who doesn't live close to a good aquarium, it feels like a mini-field trip.

Sometimes I can get so excited over the animals that I forget to pay attention to the dialogue and have to rewatch. Like when I got distracted by the sea turtle behind Mashiro and Kanade.

And if all else fails, I can almost always count on an aquarium date to give me some type of symbolic plushie.

Seriously, what's not to love?

Bonus parallel for these three shows: The "we almost kissed" (but we didn't).

the inherent romance of tire repair in the rain

I am truly not surprised, though.

BALL BOY TACTICS [EP 4 vs CH 21-22]  Webtoon by Ji Seung Hyun