#modc

They bring that fire chemistry.

Y'all. I love a thick boy straddling a twink.

Tagged by @obsessedferalgremlin this is my 3rd one! Probably my last one so let me do it in the right format lol.

Pick something, whether it's the main colour of a scene or an item in a shot from a ql show or movie that you think of, which corresponds to a colour of the rainbow flag: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

Red-Big Dragon

Orange-Even Sun

Yellow-Until We Meet Again

Green-Monster Next Door

Blue-For Him

I’ve seen a lot of new people in the BL fandom (welcome) and wanted to give a summary of the Taiwanese HIStory series because I know they can be confusing.

Summary:

There are 8 series in total. They all have different storylines so you can pick and choose which one you want to watch. The names are there to confuse you, the stories are not connected, you don’t have to watch them in order; or watch all of them; to know what’s going on in either one.

Check the trigger warnings before watching, please

HIStory 1: Obsessed

Tags: enemies to lovers, nerd x jock, return back in time, high school

History1 is where Taiwan was really testing the waters with BL. Has probably one of the most common romance stories there is: A boy gets broken up by his boyfriend after years of being in love; runs away and gets hit by a car, only to wake up 10 years earlier in the body of his teenage self.

He decides that he’s not going through that heartbreak again, and actively tries to push away his love interest before they even start dating. Of course the BL Gods have other plans… shenanigans ensue.

Very short, hits all the right plot points, good chemistry. A very good start for Taiwan with BL. Not exactly extraordinary, but if you want to know where it all started, not bad either.

History 2: Right or Wrong

Tags: student/teacher, age gap, found family

A single dad struggling to raise his daughter enlists the help of a younger boy. Turns out that boy is in his class. A story about how our past does not define us and finding happiness in the little moments.

Despite the tags, this is one of the least problematic seasons of the show, relationship builds gradually, the little girl is adorable, and both main characters have surprisingly loads of depth. High school student who is struggling to accept himself due to the bullying of his classmates and teachers. And a father, who’s never had parent of his own to teach him what to do.

Not my cup of tea, I like my dramas a bit more toxic, but I get why people may enjoy this.

History 2: Crossing the Line

Tags: strangers to friends to lovers, slice of life

By FAR my favourite of the bunch! It’s cute! It’s adorable! Gives you little butterflies 🦋 in the stomach. It’s about a rebel boy who enters a new school. Wants to be left alone and out of drama when the captain and the coach of the volleyball team notice his talents and try to recruit him.

See the coach is also a student who used to be the best volleyball player in school. He got injured and he can’t play anymore but still has a love for the game. The rebel seeing his dedication to the sport and his caring personality, start to fall in love.

A sappy, very funny and adorable. Cannot recommend it enough 💛

History 3: Trapped

Tags: mafia, bad guy x god guy, mystery, enemies to lovers

Before Kinnporche or any of the other trending Mafia BLs, there was Trapped! You have to send yourself back, when BL was just entering popularity. There wasn’t any show where the main plot didn’t revolve around the relationship. Also, there wasn’t a show where both of the main characters were fully fledged adults with goals, desires and full understanding of their sexuality. So this was really a breath of fresh air for all of us.

Story revolves around a Mafia Leader and an honest cop both trying to uncover a murder. Being forced to work together their feelings deepen after they’re kidnapped and try to survive relying only on each other.

My favourite part of the whole show is the side couple: the unhinged bodyguard of the mafia and a very innocent and confused best friend of the cop.

Great storytelling and even better chemistry. Worth the watch!

History 3: Make Our Days Count

Tags: enemies to lovers, high school romance

Let me tell you THIS SHOW left a MARK on the BL fandom as a whole. This is not a recommendation, this is a must watch for everyone that considers themselves a BL fan. Not for any other reason, even though is a great show on its own, but mostly for the collective trauma it left on all of us.

Great acting, great plot, great side characters, especially the side couple are forever my beloveds.

Episode 6. This is all I’m going to say. If you know you know. Back in the day we were not spoiled with choice. We were lucky if the main characters even kissed or held hands. Episode 6 had us all gasping at the screens.

Spoiler: Anyways, if you want to stay happy and untraumatised, don’t watch the last 10 minutes of the final episode.

History 4: Close To You

Tags: pretend relationship, work rivals, friends to lovers

After the masterpieces that were Trapped and Make Our Days Count, there is really nowhere up you can go from there. Perfection has been achieved. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun!

Let’s meet the main characters: idiot 1 and idiot 2. They are best friends but also big rivals at the company they work at. So idiot 1 starts liking a coworker and finds out her interest is BL. In order to spend more time with her, he lies that he’s in love with his best friend, idiot 2, and wants her help to get him. Of course this is a bulletproof plan that cannot backfire in any way…

The side couple is a bit (a lot) more problematic. But honestly I don’t mind, it’s easy to skip all the scenes with their family drama and it won’t affect the enjoyment of the show. They’re toxic but also, I like it messy and toxic so this is right up my alley.

This is my comfort show. It’s not perfect, the plot is a little bit crazy, but the characters are adorable, the chemistry is unmatched and it’s funny as hell! Highly recommend!

Conclusion:

I know right now we are spoiled by BLs, I feel like there is a new one coming out every day at this point, but if you have the time, give those a watch. Taiwan really knows how to make entertaining series.

If you’re in the mood for something cosy - watch Crossing the Line or Close to you, if you’re in the mood for drama and heartbreak - Trapped and MODC.

Trigger warning:

SEE YOUR LOVE EP. 11 TODAY (2024)

Mr. Huang Chunchih as Mr. Huang in the show AND asking if people wanna buy his SALT farm

HISTORY3: MODC (2019)

MR. YU XIGU "I'll be right back" BECAUSE HE LEFT THE SALT ON THE SHELVES IN THE SUPERMARKET IN FAVOUR OF COKE

KISEKI DEAR TO ME (2024)

LET'S NOT FORGET OUR BE GANGSTERS

In a few weeks it's gonna be 14 years of obsessing over queer media, especially BL, so here are the ships always on my mind in no particular order.

Arata & Shingyouji (Takumi-kun Series 4: Pure, 2010): Listen the Takumi-kun Series from 2007 to like 2011 was my life as a (pre-)teen. In hindsight really sketchy but anyway haha. Those two really caught my eye back then though (especially their racy kisses) and I was happy they got their own bigger part in one of the movies.

Evan & Isak (Skam Season 3, 2016): Was there a queer European teen that wasn't obsessed with this season of Skam? I remember re-watching it so many times I could recite their text without speaking Norwegian. Plenty of beautiful Skam universe parallel couples out there but these two will remain the iconic blueprint.

ChenAi (Kiseki: Dear to me, 2023): Almost unfair to put them on here but seeing how I haven't been able to think about any other ship every single day for the last 3 months, I feel like it's justified. They just have everything I want and need to get hyperfixated on.

Seiryo & Yuzuru (Seven Days, 2015): Oh my, the way I loved this silly concept and how funny it was yet they managed to get me all emotionally involved in the span of two movies? Insane chemistry and just..everything I needed back then. Especially since it was then one of the very few BL's I saw without a sad ending.

KornKnock (Bad Romance 2016, Together With Me 2017 - 2018): Listen, plot wise Manner of Death is the absolute height to me but when it comes to MaxTul I will never forget them as Korn and Knock in these series. Forever grateful to all the fanvids that led me to finding my BL fathers. Chemistry forever out of this world. Also shout out to Yiwha, best female character in any BL and my wife.

WinTeam (Until We Meet Again 2019, Between Us 2023): The couple that made me aware of what second lead syndrome was because I waited so long for more of them, it felt eternal. I don't think I will ever get tired of these two.

VegasPete (KinnPorsche, 2022): Who said I couldn't like a toxic ship? These two took me by surprise, I didnt even know they were going to be a ship in the series. Definitely acknowledging how fucked up they are yet at the same time it's the forst toxic ship that really got me. I love them, in my own weird way.

HaoGu (HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count, 2019): I mourned them like I have mourned no other couple. I should have known from the title but they really lead me astray. My beautiful boys, the star crossed lovers. They still get me emotional now, I might go cry now.

Hira & Kiyoi (Utsukushii Kare, 2021 - 2023): Before ChenAi there were Hira and Kiyoi who absolutely owned my heart. I love how misunderstood by BL fans they were who claimed their toxicity. Meanwhile I simply love how weird their relationship is and getting to see a real Tsundere in action. I'm obsessed with them.

Honourable Mention: Kim Jae Wook as Min Sun Woo in Antique Bakery, 2008. The very first gay character I saw in Korean media. Forever iconic, forever in my heart.