At this point, Riser feels like a social experiment to me. Sure, they put out some bangers but it baffles me how the spin-off(?) of a company known for their queer stuff is going "Actor with opposite sex in music video! Isn't that what you want to see???" and being surprised when people don't really want to see it.
(I'm pro-cp too, but I find GMMTV's relationship with its QL identity fascinating.)
i think the extra funny bit of the social experiment is that all their artists 110% bring their gay ass nonsense to riser as well hgkdjfkdjfkdkfkd i think if everyone was collectively trying to divorce riser from gmmtv (aka their musical careers from their gay ass acting careers), i'd be like: alright. whatever. this is what we are doing. but that's not the case at all jfksjfkdjkfkdkd all the regular shippers bring their regular yaoi-coloured glasses to riser events, interviews, and concerts. even emcees like leo reach for shipping questions and moments while promoting riser-related stuff. and, of course, by nature of their genuine closeness to each other, cps that happen to be a part of riser always end up gravitating towards each other. not to mention that they literally have emibonnie now! together! as a pair! because that's what riser is fucking built on and that's what the artists are comfortable with lmao
gmmtv's relationship with its ql identity is certainly fascinating. i would say it is very reluctant and resigned, in a way. if we talk about the execs (absolutely not about the directors or actors or really anyone involved in actually creating the series), i think they agree that it sells, so they have to deal with it, but i don't think they like it. i don't think they accept the idea that it reaches a wide enough market despite not being heterosexual, so they keep reaching back towards anything straight-adjacent - whether it's how riser is set up or how much they invest into something like scarlet heart or how they try to actively appeal to a straight audience in marketing even through their qls. i don't think their brains are ready to accept that qls just fucking work. not as a small niche, not as an exception, not through loopholes - they just work. there is a discomfort that comes with that conclusion, clearly. and if i know anything about rich people sitting up top, pointing fingers and barking orders, 'feeling uncomfortable' is their least favourite thing. right next to 'being told they are wrong' or - even worse - 'admitting they are wrong'.
