My hot take this week has been that we can and should use product placement as genre indicators and, since someone so kindly asked, here's the breakdown:
Oishi Sweet Tea BLs: Typically hurt/comfort, muted colors, rural setting (or frequent escape to rural settings). Scent kink required
See: Last Twilight, Vice Versa, Bad Buddy
Canon Printer BLs: Typically a school or office setting, ensemble cast and/or larger cast, an aura of competitiveness or love/hate relationship
See: My School President, Our Sky
Ramen Noodle BLs: The home is an important setting, typically forced cohabitation (and they were roommates), physical humor and antics. Emphasis on domesticity
See: A Boss and a Babe, My Magic Prophecy
Snack Cakes/ Snack and Treat BLs: Typically shenanigan based. Feature unusual plots and bright colors
See: Kidnapped the series, My Love Mix-Up
Soy Milk BLs: Feature nurturing characters, usually soft and sweet. Grounded plots and a slice of life vibe
See: Cherry Magic, Boys in Love
Bread BLs: Typically show a brand new premise, actor pairing, or concept. Ground breaking in some way
See: KinnPorsche, Love in Translation, GBYFD
Car or Vehicle BLs: Someone is very rich, the love interest is not as rich. Probably an emphasis on power dynamics
See: Wedding Plan, Dangerous Romance
Skin Care/Supplement/Self Care BLs: typically have mysterious elements or a full mystery to solve, often relatively dark and featuring high stake situations
See: Khemjira, Knock Out, Love Upon a Time
Fast Food Restaurant BLs: give us a bit of camp. They're fun! Typically featuring silly characters and a plot that doesn't take itself too seriously
See: P10L, MSP, Wedding plan
You take these. Then you start mixing these products up in a single series and the genres start to cross and you end up with some interesting combinations and get shows like Pit Babe which features soy milk (nurturing characters), cars (power dynamics), bread (groundbreaking), and the elusive skincare and toothpaste category (dark, mysterious)
