#forthbeam

It's been QUITE some time since I've done one of these polls but I'm back! I'm not watching Doctor's Mine but this poll is inspired by MonPak's pairing in the series. I know Lee Long Shi and whoever he's paired up with fits this trope too but they won't be on this poll and neither will IttPai from My Gear and Your Gown.

So you loved Pit Babe and you wanna see your favorite BL boy in his old series? But should you?

Here's a guide...

Babe AKA Pavel - 2 Moons 2

Pavel is one of my favorite actors in BL (he's this blog's icon for a reason) and actually 2 Moons 2 is pretty good, primarily because of his character, Forth. Who has an actual character evolution and growth arc... in a BL!

Amazing.

Don't be fooled 2 Moons 2 is a reboot and extension of 2 Moons, not a spin off. So you don't have to have watched the first iteration, in fact I recommend against it.

Anygay, the main couple of 2M2 is naff, but Forth is great and Pavel is great as that character. He has good chemistry with his pairing, and as a BL fan it's not a bad idea to know your 2 Moon's roots. 2 Moons is one of the most popular Y-novels ever written, one of the most popular shows of it's time, and the perpetuator of many Thai BL tropes.

Pavel's second BL, Coffee Melody, is not worth watching.

If Babe was your favorite character, and Babe & Charlie a pairing you enjoy, I would suggest Big Dragon as your next BL. Same vibes, high heat, chaotic. Another possibility is the slightly lower heat but stil unhinged Laws of Attraction.

You also might like some stuff out of Taiwan. They tend to have the angst + high heat + sappy softness that characterized Charlie + Babe.

Way AKA Nut - Oxygen

Nut is way different in his previous rolls, as the lead in both Oxygen, and Something in My Room. Same gorgeous voice and soulful eyes and Nut tends to play sensitive torn characters but the similarities end there.

In Oxygen, his acting is stiff. In fact, Oxygen as a whole is pretty stiff. I like it very much and it is a big comfort watch for me because of it's smooth peaceful softness, but it's flawed, slow and awkward. I did an episode by episode thing for that show (my first watch along).

In his second BL, Something in My Room, Nut demonstrates improved acting and chemistry, but I don't recommend it. It's a touch of horror, built on the "my ghost boyfriend" trope, and it's quite sad.

So try Oxygen but if what you're after is more BL with a Way-like main character then I would recommend Moonlight Chicken or The Eclipse chewy BL with sensitive boys and some grey morality.

Jeff AKA Pon - Starhunter Talent

Pon was with Starhunter before this and so has appearances in several of their BLs. He's demonstrated great natural acting talent, charisma, and good chemistry with all his pairs but because he often appeared in chaotic ensemble pieces has been easily forgotten (including by me). Starhunter chronically underused him but also utterly miss-applied him.

Gen Y 2 is actually a master class in flawed casting. They put Pon into a triangle, where he plays a fated mate pining uke against a very stiff lead pair - but they expected us not to want him to be end game. Big mistake. Watch this mess if you just want to see how a good actor can eat up all the air of a bad pair, winning hearts and influencing fans.

Otherwise the Gen Y series is a bloated mess, and I can't recommend them. I trashed watched so you don't have too. While Pon demonstrates skills against a backdrop of ranging tallent, oddball story, and chaotic outcomes I wouldn't have bothered if not for the dumpster fire.

Pon's first BL is The Moment, and he's good in it, but it's a terrible show. Boring and plotless.

He's fantastic in Make A Wish but only a side part (despite what is said in MDL) and his arc is VERY sad. Still it's a GREAT under appreciated BL, I recommend it as the one to watch if you have to see Pon in something else. It's nothing like Pit Babe though.

Yeah our pathway for Pon ends here, so lets look, instead, at

Alan & Jeff - Bed Friend

This was Sailub's first BL role, and I speak for all of us when I say... more please.

So instead of a watching a pathway for him, I'm gonna give you a few BL suggestions based on the assumption that this side couple was your favorite from this series (as it was mine).

What we had with this pairing was

older sensitive sweetheart sunshine seme + tortured dark scared tsundere uke.

FUN dynamic! Here are some options where this style took center stage:

Bed Friend

Between Us

Love By Chance (AePete only)

Triage

Tokyo in April is

I Became the Main Role of a BL

Pete & Kenta - Word of Honor

Ah you like your boys troubled with money, questionable morals, and the slight inclination to pick at their fingernails with a knife?

Neither Garfield nor Ping have done other BLs but here are my picks for BLs that feature this kind of character and dynamic, and we are leaving Thailand for these (since it's darker territory than Thailand usually handles... well).

HIStory 3: Trapped 

Long Time No See 

Irresistible Love

Word of Honor

Where Your Eyes Linger

Other familiar faces

NORTH AKA Michael

North played by Michael was our big comedy insert for this show.

But all his roles prior to this were very serious. Till the World Ends and Call It What You Want are practically depressing, even his role in Oxygen is pretty dark. He actually has been in BL a very long time, he was one of Noh's friends in Love Sick at just 18. Frankly, that'd waht you should watch if you are gonna watch any of his back catelogue, but it's NOTHING like Pit Babe or his role in it, still it's the beginning of Thai BL and Noh is a little sunshine of chaos, and it's great so...

Where was I?

If you really want a comedic himbo lead character there are are quite a few out there, and it's a crazy playing field because Japan is in it to win it.

Leaving aside high school stuff, here are some options:

Cherry Magic (Japan)

Ossan’s Love 

Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss

Love Tractor

Bad Buddy

Love Stage!!

My Day

History 4: Close to You

KIM AKA Benz

Benz who played Kim has also done BL before, En of Love: This Is Love Story, but it is not good and not worth watching.

While I want the queer Falling Into Your Smile or Love O2O or Appledog more than anything, that doesn't exist. We have yet to have a true gaymer BL. (I mean come on, nerdy queer is practically a stereotype at this point, where is it?)

All of which is to say if Kim was your favorite... I don't know. Our Dating Sim maybe Semantic Error?

WINNER AKA Pop

Pop has lead out a BL, it's a very slow, very queer, very unwatched piece called La Cuisine.

@heretherebedork and I loved it, but it's hard to imagine anyone else enjoying it. You have to be a hard BL stan to tolerate the pace and pulp quality of that one. He's a completely different character but if you really like the actor try him in La Cuisine, I think he was better cast for that than Pit Babe.

I just enjoyed the show in general, what's next?

In general, if you really enjoyed Pit Babe itself as a series (and it's multiple couples and chaotic noise and erratic concept) you're in the KinnPorsche camp of Thai BL. I actually made a "watch next" pathways and rating guide for that show, which might work for you.

Specifically I would say Manner of Death. It's a little more focused in character and plot but still a wild ride. And MaxTul are the Kings for a reason.

You might also try Not Me, Never Let Me Go, and 3 Will Be Free although all of these, coming from GMMTV, are lower heat levels than Pit Babe.

Finally, seriously, try The Sign. I know it was airing "in competition" but there is room in your heart for both shows. I promise. They have the same wild sexy energy, and are loads of fun.

Phayu slipped into the room and quietly closed the door. His mind was busy with the thoughts that Fourth had left with him. Like the wolf to the moon he couldn’t help but gaze at Rain. He lay there on the bed, the blanket still pooled around his waist exposing his back to the moon light. The tattooed eyes in the wings of the butterflies that fluttered across his shoulders stared at him. It felt like they were seeing right through him. He needed to be more than honest. He needed to be what Rain needed. Rain had chosen him.

“P’Phayu.” Rain sleepily slurred, shifting on the bed bringing him back to his task.

Phayu didn’t waste time crossing the room. From there he could see the line of the IV going from Rain’s left arm up into the to blood filled pack hanging on a hook in the headboard.

“I’m here.” Phayu murmured as he moved to the other side of the bed where he had easier access while rearranging Rain to be more comfortable. Which of course the vampire was more than happy to do once he sniffed the air in his sleep then wiggled over to Phayu. Phayu gently gripped Rain’s thigh, hitching it over his lap. His thumb circled the sleep warm skin that’d shifted free of the blanket.

“P’Phayu.” He murmured into Phayu’s neck as he tucked his face into the warmth.

Why? Because there’s six of them and because it works.

First as Phana

Don’t tell me this edit of him in a Dr coat by @acharraa on twitter doesn’t look amazing. Plus he’s tall and is excellent at playing a simp.

Khaotung as Wayo

nasty bitchy Gaga? More like our beloved bitchy but sweet engineer who is ready to drink nom yen and sing his heart out at the moon competition

Neo as Ming

Admit it we all want more Khao and Neo bff roles since TonhonChonlatee and I know Neo would absolutely kill it as this confident but heartfelt campus moon. (and if you're thinking, hey that guy looks familiar? yes it's Joong)

Mark as Kit

I’ve seen Mark in MSP, I know he can make faces and give side-eyes worthy of the role of Kit. I happily entrust my favourite 2moons character to him.

Force as Forth

Force as an engineering bad boy who makes his intentions clear once he sets his heart on someone? Yes please. (Also he gets to take his shirt off, I know that’s important to him)

Book as Beam

Like Mew, Beam is probably the calmest member of the friend group, I think Book would fit the role perfectly! Let's see how long he can resist a ONS that wants to be so much more.

It all fits too well! A note on MingKit: as one of my favourite ships of all time, I think very highly of NeoMark to say they could pull off that pairing, but I have faith in their amazing acting and I look forward to seeing them more in Only Friends!

So we have First, Mark and Book as the Wild Doctors Gang. Neo and Khao as besties Ming and Yo. and Force as Fourth!

Bonus: Title as Park

From Be My Favourite and Hidden Agenda I can tell that Title is an excellent actor who is great at making characters very creepy and hateable, which is exactly what Park is!

Lookjun as Pring