In Strongberry We Trust

Watching history 3: make our days count, and I’m only on episode 6 but I’ve cried and laughed more than I have with other tv shows.

I can’t wait for the next episode.

Update: shit. This made me cry for days. Don’t watch the ending. I’m never trusting history again!!!!

This was so good. Highly recommend.

Review of Gameboys

I know I am late to the game, but I been a little busy. For starters, my aunt moved to another state just a couple of days ago, so I helped her pack stuffs and get everything set up. I was pretty much with her 24/7. Then I helped my cousin moved out too, and I was also busy with my own work. But, that didn’t stop me from watching some BL during my free time, and one that really got my attention and I think deserves all the hype is GAMEBOYS

Gameboys is the story of Cairo and Gav. Cairo is a gamer who streams his games, and Gav was one of his followers. After Gav wins a match againts Cairo, he sends him a friend request in a platform I feel its like facebook (lmao). Gav doesn’t waste time, and tells him that if he wins another match againts Cairo, he is going to start flirting with him. Gav wins the game and he starts flirting with Cairo. 

However, although this is all cute and all, what got my attention was not just their love story, but where and how their friendship ( and later relationship) starts, but how the director and crew incorporated what some of us are living during the pandemic. For instance: 

1. Lockdown

The majority of our countries, states, and cities, are in lockdown. Although some of our countries are moving faster than other in reopening again everything, we are still limited in the number of times we can go out, or we have curfews. The majority of us are trying to keep ourselves busy, trying to forget a little than we are living in the middle of a pandemic and that doctor, nurses, and essential workers are putting their lives on risks for us. We see can Gav and Cairo talk about how they are trying to live their lives in lockdown, and how their whole lives changed. Moreover, every time we see how they get into social media there are posts about how essential workers are doing, what their government is doing right or wrong. I think in a way, the director is making a wake up call to some governments that are not helping or protecting their people. For instance, I do not know if I mentioned this but I was not born in the United States, I was born in El Salvador, and although the president of El Salvador did an amazing job to try and stop the spreading of the virus before it hit our country, a lot of other countries did not, like Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. I am not saying that other politicians did not do what they could to protect their people, but right now, as far as I know, are hot spots in South America. Even here, Texas right now is worse than what New York was when the pandemic started, our governor Cuomo, is trying to stop people from Texas coming to NY, because we barely got out of the worse. 

2. Essential workers

Through the whole series we see how Cairo and Gav supporting essential workers, whether it is by reposting a status, or by preparing meals. More than once Gav was preparing healthy meals for the essential workers. I think this dynamic is helping us to appreciate what these people are doing for us. THEY ARE HEROES, and Gav and Cairo are helping us see that what we can do is staying home. In the later episode we see different doctors and nurses helping people, covering themselves with masks that look like those in scary movies. It is just a wake up call for us too. 

3. Families fighting the virus

If you watched the show you know that Cairo’s dad has the virus. All through the series we see how Cairo seems sad because of it, and I am not giving spoilers but we know now why. If you guys had families, friends, or people you just knew around your neighborhood that had the virus, you know how hard it is for their families. My mother was exposed to the virus, to the point that myself and my father experience the symptoms. I lost some pounds because I was not eating properly due that you literally do not have taste or smell. However, I am thankful to God that our condition was not too bad to go to the hospital. My mother and father did not experience fevers at all, but I did. I had fever for two weeks and I was in the middle of finals at my College too. Either way, when I watched how Cairo’s life was put upside down because of his father having the virus, and how much he cared for him, I really felt for him. 

4. Friends and Love

I think this is a story that has everything in it. I do not have words to explain enough how Gav and Pearl helped Cairo to be happier in his little and small world where he felt so alone. It is just so magical to see their friendship blossom, as well as the love between Gav and Cairo. 

5. Acceptance

I cannot explain either this theme in the story, but I can say the words that Cairo’s mom said to him “Don’t apologize for being who you are.”

I hope you give this BL a try. In this lockdown, Gameboys is literally something I look forward every Friday. I CAN’T WAIT FOR EP 9 

Side note: 

I been having some ideas about a fanfic involving the 4 pillars of GMM, each one having their little story, but they have been friends since high school. I have like an idea, but I do not if you guys would like it. Each couple will face little obstacles like

Kris and Singto would like to adopt a child

Bright and Win having a hard time with their coworkers to accept 

Off and Gun trying to marry 

Tay and New trying to come out to their parents. 

And I have like little guest in each episode like Mew and Gulf, and other people from different BLs… I have like the whole plot of the story of Krist and Singto, but just let me know guys if you want to read something like that 

All love, 

Lullaby

this whole "job thing" is rlly starting to get in my way. i need to watch made up people falling in love on tv, and then i need to read more extensively about it online. why is that so hard to understand

Just started a new kdrama after watching Devil Judge and Beyond Evil. I don’t know where the gay is but I can smell it coming. It’s going to get Bromantic around here.

Update: finished two new dramas. I saw bromance and now I ship them. They’re gay and you can’t tell me otherwise.

can you believe that we have fanfiction. that we have websites dedicated to fanfiction. that there is a place that you can go and read tens, hundreds, thousands and thousands of pieces of writing that strangers have made. people who are not "writers". people who come home at the end of the day and have feelings and say, i am going to put that into words. i am going to share those words. short, long, sweet, sad, horny, funny, wonderful words. we are all just human and we all love to make and remake and share that with others. can you believe that.

my favorite bl’s as weird ao3 tags (part one | part two)

Asian dramas list (mostly lgbt).

I watch a lot of dramas and made this list for my friends so they knew which ones I like. Just putting it out there for anyone who wants some good recommendations.

🔹- particular faves.

- My engineer (the series). Four main gay couples. Adorable. Can be found on youtube. (Anxiously awaiting season 2) Thai.🔹

- 2moons2. Thai. (not just 2moons. The first series never got completed so they redid it.) three main couples, adorable. on youtube.🔹

- Love by chance. (Thai. Season 2 is currently benign released. On youtube, Viki and dailymotion.) two main couples, with two more iffy couples in the background. I don’t really count those. 🔹

- Sotus the series. One main couple. On Netflix. Season 2 is on dailymotion I think. Thai. 🔹

- Cause you’re my boy. Teen cringeyness, but adorable. One couple. Thai, On youtube.

- Why R you (the series). On YouTube’. Thai. (Two couples. Every couple is adorable in this. Main couple are huge dorks with a shared braincell).

- Until we meet again. (Has disturbing themes but happy ending) Thai. one main couple with a hinted second couple, on youtube.

- Theory of love. (Not my fave but still okay). Thai. On youtube.

- 2gether the series. (Adorable. Two main couples. Season 2 just came out) Thai. On youtube.🔹

- Diary of a tootsie. (A Thai comedy about a group of drag queen friends. Hilarious and crazy). On youtube or Dailymotion. There are two seasons and a movie. The movie is on Netflix. But watch the series first.

- YYY the series. Thai. (If you liked diary of a tootsie then this is also a ridiculous comedy. It’s a bit on crack) on dailymotion or Facebook.

- History3: trapped. (This is in mandarin). On Viki rakuten or Dailymotion. (All the history shows are on Viki).🔹

- History3: Make our days count. (Adorable but you’re WILL cry). On Viki and maybe Dailymotion. 🔹

- I actually recommend all of the history shows. They’re all lovely and cute. 🔹 (Update: Not History4: Close to you. The main couple are cute but I found the second couple triggering and toxic. I don’t recommend).

- The Untamed. (A bromantic Chinese drama but based off a lgbt novel). On Netflix. 🔹

- Advance bravely. (Another chinese ‘bromance’ based off of a bl novel). On dailymotion.

- Guardian. (Yet another ‘bromance’ based off a lgbt book. Fantasy show with a good plot and great characters) on Viki.

- Dark blue and moonlight. (Taiwan. On Viki, pretty good. The humans are flawed and it’s dramatic, but very realistic. On Viki).

- Hello stranger. (A Filipino drama. Ongoing- I’m currently watching this). On youtube.

- Game boys (Filipino drama set in lockdown, just came out. I related to this so much. Will cry!). On youtube. 🔹

- Just like the movies, Filipino drama. Roommates combined with the fake bf trope. (Currently being released. On youtube).

- The shipper, Thai drama. (Angsty with gender bending themes. You will cry!)

- Life: love on the line. (Japanese. On Viki) it’s similar to history. Absolutely adorable. 🔹

- My gear, your gown. (Thai series currently coming out. Cute so far. On youtube).

- Mr heart. Korean. (Just became available on Viki. Adorable. I died a few times). 🔹

- Oh my general. Chinese. (Straight couple in a fantasy setting by explores gender roles a lot and is rather funny). On Viki.

- Arsenal military academy. (Chinese. Set in the twenties. Girl dresses as a boy to attend military academy. Funny and action filled. On Viki).

- My roommate is a detective. (Hilarious Sherlock homes inspired drama set in the 30s. Bromance and great friendship. Ignore the shitty English characters) on Viki.

- Winter Begonia. (Yet another bl book turned into a bromance drama). Chinese. On youtube.

- Thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard (also known as cherry magic). Japanese bl. Absolutely adorable. Can be found on Dailymotion. 🔹

- Until we meet again & Love is more than a word. Chinese bl dramas. Both have the same casts but set in different times. One is a historical setting abs the other is in the 1930s. It’s the idea of reincarnation and lovers connected through lifetimes. Whole cast is amazing. 🔹

- Uncanny counter. Korean fantasy drama. Lovely characters. Absolutely adorable and great plot. Male main character is so wholesome. On Netflix.

- Gen Y the series. Thai drama. Main couple are adorable. Not sure what’s going on with the second couple though. On youtube.

- Ingredients the series. Thai. A very short adorable series obviously filmed in lockdown. Boyfriends cooking. On youtube.

- Colour rush. Korean lgbt mature drama. Short episodes but really good plot. Based off a webcomic and the two male leads are so pretty. On Viki.

- We best love N1: For you. Taiwan drama. Came out 2021. Enemies to lovers. On dailymotion. Adorable. 🔷

Siblings

Me to my brother: *waving a straw. Wingardium leviosa!

My brother: what do you expect me to do?

Me: fly bitch fly.

Calling all BL academics! You should check out Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific Issue 49, June 2023. It's devoted to Thai BL and it's Thai scholars, publishing in English, and available free. So basically everything I ever wanted.

Thai Boys Love (BL)/Y(aoi) in Literary and Media Industries: Political and Transnational Practices - This is the introductory article. One interesting takeaway is that there's a market for western M/M romance in Thailand and I'm dying to know what sort of titles have gotten Thai releases.

Chinese Historical BL by Thai Writers: The Thai BL Polysystem in the Age of Media Convergence - I didn't read this one. It's about the phenomenon of Thai writers writing danmei set in ancient China.

Authorial Revisions of Boys Love/Y Novels: The Dialogue between Activism and the Literary Industry in Thailand - This one was super intersting. It was about how the backlash to certain problematic tropes affected both revisions to Y novels and their tv adaptations. It uses Jittirain as a case study and includes passages from 2gether that were rewritten.

Boys Love (Yaoi) Fandom and Political Activism in Thailand - This article has a lot about Not Me, both about the backlash to the novle due to it being originally a GOT7 fanfic (allegedly) and the political context for the series. It also discusses a few other series related to the youth movement and marriage equality.

Heterosexual Reading vs. Queering Thai Boys' Love Dramas among Chinese and Filipino Audiences -This really only covers up to 2019 and as we all know everything is changing fast. I'll be interested in future scholarship that covers the current period. Basically expands on some of Baudinette's work.

Provincialising Thai Boys Love: Queer Desire and the Aesthetics of Rural Cosmopolitanism -I just skimmed this since I'm not familiar with either series mentioned or the rural culture of Isan.

#cute couple activities: murdering a van full of homophobes together :’)