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kdramalands · 1 year

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year-end drama recommendation

Welcome, come on in. A whole year has passed, and it's finally time for me to emerge from my review cave again to show you my shiniest picks for this year. I'm glad to be back!

I hope 2022 was kind to you.

For me it was mostly uneventful, slightly challenging, and a bit turbulent at the end, but I emerge victorious. Maybe I'm wiser now, maybe I'm weaker, maybe more emotional than I was last year, or maybe I'm just different. But I'm here with another year-end recommendations to show you what entertained my days and allowed me to enter my escapism bubble even just for a moment.

I will present top 4 j-dramas from all Japanese series I watched this year. Starting from today, 28th of December, all the way up till 31st of December, New Year's Eve, I will post one recommendation a day. As always, I hope my list for 2022 will be well received and maybe it will convince you to check something out. I proudly present

1. Kanojo wa kirei datta/She Was Pretty (2021)

10 eps, 60min each

If you recognise this title and concept, you may have seen the original, Korean, version of this drama, She Was Pretty from 2015, or any of the remakes that's been made of this story: Chinese Pretty Li Hui Zhen (2017) or Thai Me Always You (2021).

Kanojo wa kirei datta tells a story of two childhood friends who, after a long time apart, decide to meet again. Hasebe Sosuke is a confident handsome man who's successful in his career, while Sato Ai struggles not only with her self-esteem but also with finding a job, which left her self-conscious about her abilities as well. Ai decides to lie about her identity to Sosuke, which causes a lot of misunderstandings and damage.

This story may seem superficial with how the romance plotline proceeds, but Ai's journey of rebuilding herself found a special place in my heart. I loved watching Ai starting to care more, accept more people into her life, and feel confident in her work. Koshiba Fuka's character is very lovable and relatable to many people who feel lost.

For those of you who watched Korean version, Japanese She Was Pretty offers a 6-hour-shorter experience that will feel lighter because setting and office drama don't take over the main romantic storyline as much. However, compared to k-drama, this version is more fast paced and more straightforward, so it may seem rushed at times.

Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4

#kanojo wa kirei datta #she was pretty #彼女はキレイだった #koshiba fuka #nakajima kento #akaso eiji #sakuma yui #jdrama recommendation #drama recommendation #year-end recommendations #japanese drama #jdrama #drama #yer2022

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radiowrites · 1 year

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I posted 2,064 times in 2022

14 posts created (1%)

2,050 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@goneahead

@talesofsorrowandofruin

@distance-does-not-matter

@smittenbypoetry

@writerscreed

I tagged 2,057 of my posts in 2022

#writing - 1,290 posts

#lmao - 473 posts

#art - 211 posts

#fanfiction - 206 posts

#ghost hunt - 122 posts

#eye candy - 104 posts

#kpop - 85 posts

#fanart - 83 posts

#fma - 40 posts

#music - 35 posts

Longest Tag: 114 characters

#yeah i’ve learned if i want english language fanfic for a korean drama i’m probably going to have to write it haha

My Top Posts in 2022:

Ten Random Lines

Rules: Pick any ten of your fics, scroll to the midpoint, pick a line (or three) and share it. Then tag ten people.

I was tagged by @radio-chatter! Thanks so much. This one looks fun!

Tagging: @writercorianarose @thedemoninthecorner @dreams-of-kalopsia @shesailsships @eyeliner-vampire @alonelyturtle @goneahead @csakuras and anyone else with fanfics they want to play this game with!

Ah, nothing like finding an error in a years old fic when doing a tag game...

Anyway, on to the lines. I jumped all around with the ages of the fics, and tried to do so with the fandoms, but if you are familiar with my works, you know that Ghost Hunt will dominate the list.

House of Memories / Fandom: Memorist (k-drama)

We’re not that close, she had told him, even if it had been slightly in jest. She had no right to watch over his restless slumber.

2. Day One / Fandom: Ghost Hunt (manga)

Only Mai could recognize the slight hitch of emotion in his voice.

3. Fix Me / Fandom: Ghost Hunt (manga)

“What do I need to do? Give over some blood, recite some spells?”

4. Unchained Melody / Fandom: Tale of the Nine Tailed (k-drama)

The moment broke when the music on her phone changed to something harsh and jarring.

5. The Last of the Real Ones / Fandom: Ghost Hunt (manga)

Luella told Eugene she believed him, of course. Mainly because she knew Oliver wouldn’t mess up his room for a prank. But no, she had not felt it.

6. Rebel Just For Kicks / Fandom: Final Fantasy XV (game)

Noctis pulled the truck to the side and went around the car. Ignis could see the fear-stricken faces of the passengers within.

7. A Noble Vow / Fandom: Pandora Hearts (manga)

She didn’t want to fall into another stupor and risk saying something stupid again.

8. Lost in the Echo / Fandom: Ghost Hunt (manga)

He dropped her off about a block from her home, and they never saw each other again.

See the full post

8 notes - Posted December 11, 2022

2021 Fic in Review

Tagged by @radio-chatter! Thank you! ^^

Hi, I’m RaisedonRadio & FortressofmyPast on AO3 and FF.net. This is a tradition going on for years! Check out my prior year end posts: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.

Total Number Of Completed Works: 2

Total Word Count: 4729

Fandoms I’ve Written In: Ghost Hunt (Japanese anime/manga), Memorist (Korean drama).

Looking Back, Did You Write More Fic Than You Thought You Would This Year, Less, Or About What You’d Expected?

Less. This past week I had hoped to finish another WIP, but instead I took the time to digitize a bunch of writing that had been trapped in notebooks. It was actually a lot of fun, there were so many stories I had forgotten about. But, do you know what this means? I ADDED SO MANY WIPs. -_-;; XD

What’s Your Own Favorite Story Of The Year?

I like them both for vastly different reasons.

Did You Take Any Writing Risks This Year?

I wrote for a fandom that only had two other fics in it - one in a language I don’t speak and one a crossover. It was fun because I had to know I was going into it with no anticipation of reader interaction. Truly had to write it because I wanted to.

Do You Have Any Fanfic Or Profic Goals For The New Year?

I’d definitely like to write more. Finish a few of these WIPs hanging around.

Most Popular Story Of The Year?

It’s not right to pit these two fics against each other, they are for very different fandoms, and I literally published the one on December 27th, so…

But I do like to compare the stats for AO3 and FF.net: Call You Mine had 6 reviews/29 favs on FF.net, and 6 comments/34 kudos/9 bookmarks on AO3. That’s a big deal, in the past years Ghost Hunt fics would get much more interaction on FF.net, now AO3 is breaking even.

Story Of Mine Most Under-Appreciated By The Universe, In My Opinion:

I appreciate every comment, kudo, and fav. I know I say this every year, but it’s true. I write for relatively small fandoms and whenever a reader takes the time to say hi, my heart glows.

Most Fun Story To Write:

Call You Mine. I went into it with the desire to make something incredibly fluffy as a birthday gift and I think I succeeded.

See the full post

10 notes - Posted December 31, 2021

First Lines Tag

Thanks for the tag, @talesofsorrowandofruin!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line, then tag some of your fellow authors!

I did a similar game to this a long time ago! It’ll be interesting to see if my opening style has changed any.

These are all fanfictions that can be found on my AO3. They were written from 2021 to 2017 are listed starting with the newest.

Some observations I found:

16 of the 20 are under 15 words long.

1 out of the 20 is in first person (but 3 of them could be, if just from the opening line.)

17 of the 20 introduce a character by name.

3 of the 20 open with dialogue.

My favorite? Probably from Rebel Just for Kicks.

Tagging!

@writercorianarose @thedemoninthecorner @dreams-of-kalopsia @radio-chatter @csakuras @scribblesandsorcery and anyone else that has first lines they want to share! Tag me!

At first, Seon Mi didn’t give the last words of Jin Jae Gyu any weight.

- House of Memories, Memorist

It was the weekend.

- Call You Mine, Ghost Hunt

Masako Hara paused at the street corner.

- Waste It On Me, Ghost Hunt

See the full post

12 notes - Posted January 21, 2022

I think I made like one post about Nanowrimo this month, but just wanted to say whoa! I hit 50k words! I had no idea what to expect going in when I had decided to start barely two weeks before November.

I definitely challenged my perfectionism when it comes to writing first drafts and just getting the words down, and that was my goal.

I’m ready to leave these characters alone for a bit and go dust off a few fanfictions starting in December, ha!

13 notes - Posted November 28, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Oh interesting, I've never done this before!

Since 31 of my 45 fics are from the manga/anime Ghost Hunt, that's going to dominate the list, but I'll stick in one different fandom just to prove I do write occasionally for others!

Hello everyone, I am RaisedonRadio & FortressofmyPast on AO3 and FF.net. Here is five of my favorite works by yours truly.

Lin's List

A list of 25 things for Lin to refrain from - and keep Oliver from doing - during their stay in Japan. As suggested by Madoka Mori.

A humorous little oneshot under 1000 words. An oldie that has aged well.

The Last of the Real Ones

Being determined to expose them all as frauds might mean losing a piece of himself along the way.

I will admit, I am a oneshot writer. So here is one of like, two chaptered works in my portfolio (not including oneshot collections).

A piece that focuses on a young Oliver when his paranormal skills start to take over his life.

Same Old Lang Syne

Should old acquaintances be forgotten, and never brought to mind?

A post-series look at if the gang drifted apart. Yes, it's based after the Dan Fogelberg song.

Lost in the Echo

Can you call it a reunion if you’ve never met before?

A look into one of Ghost Hunt's biggest mysteries - the death of Eugene Davis.

And the honorary mention fandom, for a kdrama titled Tale of the Nine Tailed:

Unchained Melody

He’s teaching her to drive, why can’t he teach her to dance, too?

I don't normally fall for non canon couples, but I fell hard for Rang and Yu Ri.

Thanks for reading!

14 notes - Posted May 22, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #radiowrites #raisedonradio

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jpf-sydney · 6 hours

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All of Us Strangers

Book review:

• Newly adapted into a 2024 UK theatrical movie by the same name, this is the translation of the original story by Taichi Yamada. All of Us Strangers is an affirming yet haunting, modern-day drama set in Tokyo.

A middle aged man lives a productive but emotionally desolate life. Divorced and estranged from his only son, he has little identity beyond work. What starts with the cliched trappings of the flawed Japanese male give way to a sentimental, lingering story.

Harada's impulsive visit to his childhood neighbourhood ends up being more than a stroll down memory lane. Astonishingly, he encounters his parents alive and well despite both supposedly having died during his childhood decades ago. More oddly, they haven't aged and daily life in the old family apartment is just as it was in the past.

The original Japanese edition was published in 1987 and largely set in that era. This paperback is a rerelease of the first English edition translation, Strangers (2003), also by Wayne P. Lammers. Author Taichi Yamada passed away just last year but not before his old novel hit cinemas as the UK film All of Us Strangers (2023). Production began in 2017 and Yamada was aware and consenting of the film's changes. The screenplay is modernised and significantly reworked but the soul of the story is intact and unmistakable.

Floating around the internet are some cracking takes on this work (film and the novel) SPOILERS AHEAD "Set in the great human maelstrom of Tokyo, Strangers is a thinking man's ghost story" from the 2003 jacket blurb and greatly copy pasted. This gem from The Guardian in 2005 in an article titled Dead calm: "the real people in Harada's life are little more than ghosts to him, while the actual ghosts touch him in ways flesh-and-blood people have not". "An off-beat Japanese ghost story from the Eighties has been turned into a gay cinematic sobfest" The Times, 2024. Cosmic Circus points out that the story was adapted as a Japanese horror of sorts in Discarnates (1988) before its reinvention into "a British romantic fantasy film".

Shelf: 913.6 YAM [Ijintachi to no natsu. English]. All of us strangers. by Taichi Yamada ; translated by Wayne P. Lammers.

1st Mariner Books paperback edition. New York ; Boston : Mariner Books, 2024. ISBN: 9780063411524 (paperback)

201 pages ; 21 cm.

First US editon published in 2003 by Vertical as: Strangers.

#review #jcentral #fiction #english translation #yamada taichi #adaptation #all of us strangers #book to movie #drama #family #fable #fairy tale #romance #nostalgia #80s #mental health #depression #relationships #review 2024 06

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hansoheeglobal · 2 months

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[Exclusive] There is no impact of breakup with Ryu Junyeol...Han Sohee officially schedules commercial filming on the 15th

Actress Han Sohee is going on an official schedule after breaking up with Ryu Junyeol, who she was in a public relationship with. She plans to continue her activities actively, leaving behind the controversy and explanation surrounding her ex-boyfriend.

According to Star News coverage on the 1st, Han Sohee is scheduled to film an advertisement for Shark, an American global home appliance brand, on the 15th. Previously, Han Sohee signed a beauty-related global model contract with Shark. In the meantime, after acknowledging her romantic relationship with Ryu Junyeol, she faced difficulties for her immature response in the process of clarifying the suspicion of 'transit love', but she is still receiving love calls from the advertising, broadcasting, and film industries. It is said that there will be no major disruption to the company's future activities.

Han Sohee has received solid support among the 'MZ generation' with her outstanding visuals, unique fashion sense, honest statements of conviction, and confident charm. She debuted in the 2017 drama 'Into the New World' and made her face known in earnest through the 2020 drama 'The World of the Married'. She later appeared Nevertheless, 'My Name', 'Soundtrack #1', and 'Gyeongseong Creature'. She has steadily built her career as an actress by appearing in major works such as '.

Recently, when her relationship with Ryu Junyeol became known, she went through a lot of trouble due to her somewhat emotional response, but it does not seem to affect her future activities.

However, it is unclear whether she will be cast in 'Delusion/현혹', which was mentioned along with Ryu Junyeol. 'Delusion/현혹' is based on a webtoon of the same name and is set during the Japanese colonial period in 1935. It depicts the story of a painter who is commissioned to portrait a fascinating woman, the identity of the woman and mysterious events that become revealed as time passes, and the artist who is suddenly dazzled by the woman.

It is known that director Han Jaerim, who directed 'Elegant World' (2007), 'The King' (2017), and 'Emergency Declaration' (2022), will take the lead. The 'Delusion/현혹' side positively reviewed the appearance of Ryu Junyeol and Han Sohee, but as the two broke up, their appearance together also became uncertain. Production company Showbox said, “We were still discussing about the casting, and nothing has changed yet.”

#han sohee #xeesoxee #hansohee #lee sohee #한소희

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denimbex1986 · 2 months

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'It's the stuff of dreams: Andrew Scott, aka the Hot Priest, and Paul Mescal, Normal People's heartthrob extraordinaire, fall in love in an eerie new story directed by Andrew Haigh.

But things are far from breezy: Haigh's moody romance drama, a meditation on memory and love, drills down on the way human beings cope with loss. Things are not what they seem. Scott’s character, Adam, is still dealing with the death of his parents; Mescal’s character, Harry, has a substance abuse problem.

"If you don't cry at Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal's performances in All of Us Strangers, you need to start asking yourself some questions..." said the Standard in a piece about how to watch the film without weeping throughout.

Now the new film has just landed on Disney+, thrilling subscribers. Here's everything to know about All Of Us Strangers.

What's the film about?

All of Us Strangers is loosely based on Japanese writer Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel Strangers, which tells the story of a man who befriends two strangers who closely resemble his dead parents. His health deteriorates and he realises the pair are actually ghosts feasting on his energy.

In Haigh's adaptation, the film follows Andrew Scott's character, Adam, who returns to his rural childhood home from London, where his dead parents seem to be still residing.

Although they cannot be real, they certainly feel real, and the experience allows him to go over childhood memories: "All the way through All of Us Strangers, writer-director Andrew Haigh’s noble attempt to introduce the complex subject of gay shame to the mainstream, I was reminded of the most famous line of Philip Larkin’s poetry. “They f*** you up, your mum and dad/ They may not mean to, but they do.” What would happen, poses Haigh, if they got to apologise afterwards?" said the Standard.

Running alongside this story is the blossoming relationship between Adam and his neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal), who slowly fall in love.

Is there a trailer?

Yes...Against the extended dance version of the Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind, we are introduced to Adam and Harry. It’s not clear what they mean to each other yet – or will come to mean to each other – but they start talking about Adam’s childhood. His parents died just before he was 12 years old, he tells Harry.

The trailer takes us away from the London tower block, and to a suburban house – Adam’s childhood home. Adam approaches the building, and as he enters his mum (Claire Foy) and dad (Jamie Bell) welcome him, frozen in time?

“Is this real?” asks Adam. “Does it feel real?” replies his mum.

“Our boy’s back home,” smiles his dad, holding out his glass in another scene, as the reunited family sits around the table. Judging by these strange, sorrowful scenes, the film is going to be an absolute tearjerker.

Who has made the film?

All Of Us Strangers has been written and directed by award-winning British filmmaker Haigh, whose 2011 drama film Weekend told the story of a brief but intense romance between two men who meet at a gay club. The film was highly praised and won Best Screenplay at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Since then, Haigh has directed and written 45 Years (2015), which starred Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay as two retirees who have been married for 45 years. At the 2015 Berlin Film Festival, both actors won the Silver Bear awards for their roles in the film.

Haigh also directed Lean on Pete (2017), a coming-of-age drama which starred Charlie Plummer as a young man who makes friends with a racehorse.

What have the critics said?

All Of Us Strangers premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival in Colorado in late August, where it picked up some stellar reviews.

The film has 94 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been described by critics as “a nuclear-grade tearjerker”, “an enormously satisfying and affecting experience,” and having “piercing insight and arresting performances”.

The Standard loved it, describing it as "bleakly handsome filmmaking, with a virtuoso cast". Other reviewers have been just as taken by the film, calling it, "an emotionally wrenching masterpiece", "mesmerising", and a "glorious magic-realist meditation on grief".

What have the actors said?

Both Scott and Mescal have been doing a lot of press for the film. Speaking to British Vogue about working with Scott, Mescal said: "We became very close because of the nature of this project – not just because of the sex scenes, but because of the emotional intimacy that these two characters share. That was just the perfect climate to fall in love with Andrew as a human being. It’s a very easy thing to do."

Scott, who is gay, has spoken about the film's exploration of gay shame: "I think for so many people, particularly queer people, you can feel like a stranger in your own family," he said to ABC Entertainment. "Even if they haven't directly rejected you, you just feel slightly different… [But] discomfort within a family and love within a family can coexist. It's pretty common."

Where to watch All of Us Strangers in the UK?

For Disney+ subscribers, the film has now landed on the platform. For non subscribers, it’s available to buy from £9.99 on Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV.'

#Andrew Haigh #All of Us Strangers #Taichi Yamada #Disney+#Prime Video #Apple TV #Andrew Scott #Paul Mescal #Telluride #Hot Priest #Fleabag #Normal People #Pet Shop Boys #“Always on My Mind”#Claire Foy #Jamie Bell #45 Years #Weekend #Lean on Pete

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fmpnalogirlypop · 3 months

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Resident evil researching part 1

Resident Evil, or Biohazard in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, is a Japanese horror game series and media franchise created by Capcom. It consists of survival horror, third-person shooter and first-person shooter games, with players typically surviving in environments inhabited by zombies and other frightening creatures. The franchise has expanded into other media, including a live-action film series, animated films, television series, comic books, novels, audio dramas and merchandise. Resident Evil is the highest-grossing horror franchise.

The franchise returned to survival horror with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) and Resident Evil Village (2021), which used a first-person perspective. Capcom has released four Resident Evil remakes: Resident Evil (2002), Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2020) and Resident Evil 4 (2023). Resident Evil is Capcom's best-selling franchise and the best-selling horror game series, with 154 million copies sold worldwide as of December 2023.

The first Resident Evil film was released in 2002, followed by five sequels and a 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City. The films have received mostly negative reviews for Rotten Tomatoes and some for Metacritic, whereas some other films received mixed reviews on Metacritic, but have grossed more than $1.2 billion, making Resident Evil the third highest-grossing video game film series.

History

The development of the first Resident Evil, released as Biohazard in Japan, began in 1993 when Capcom's Tokuro Fujiwara told Shinji Mikami and other co-workers to create a game using elements from Fujiwara's 1989 game Sweet Home on the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan.

The first entry in the series was the first game to be dubbed a "survival horror", a term coined for the new genre it initiated, and its critical and commercial success led to the production of two sequels, Resident Evil 2 in 1998 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in 1999, both for the PlayStation.

Despite earlier announcements that the next game in the series would be released for the PlayStation 2, which resulted in the creation of an unrelated game titled Devil May Cry, series' creator and producer Shinji Mikami decided to make the series exclusively for the GameCube.

Gameplay

The Resident Evil franchise has had a variety of control schemes and gameplay mechanics throughout its history. Puzzle-solving has figured prominently throughout the series.

Tank controls

The first game introduced a control scheme that the player community has come to refer to as "tank controls" to the series. In a game with tank controls, players control movement relative to the position of the player character, rather than relative to the fixed virtual camera from which the player views the current scene.

Pressing up (for example on a D-pad, analog stick, or cursor movement keys) on the game controller moves the character in the direction being faced, pressing down backpedals, and left and right rotates the character. This can feel counter-intuitive when the character is facing the camera, as the controls are essentially reversed in this state. This differs from many 3D games, in which characters move in the direction the player pushes the controls from the perspective of the camera. Some critics have posited that the control scheme is intentionally clumsy, meant to enhance stress and exacerbate difficulty.

Third-person shooter gameplay

Resident Evil 4 saw significant changes to the established gameplay, including switching from fixed camera perspectives to a tracking camera, and more action-oriented gameplay and mechanics. This was complemented by an abundance of ammunition and revised aiming and melee mechanics. Some critics claimed that this overhauled control scheme "made the game less scary." The next two games in the franchise furthered the action-oriented mechanics: Resident Evil 5 featured cooperative play and added strafing, while Resident Evil 6 allowed players to move while aiming and shooting for the first time, fully abandoning the series' signature tank controls.

First-person shooter gameplay and VR

Resident Evil 7 is the first main Resident Evil game to use the first-person perspective and to use virtual reality. It drew comparisons to modern survival horror games such as Outlast and PT. The eighth main-series game, Resident Evil Village, also features a first-person perspective. A VR version of Resident Evil 4 was released on the Oculus Quest 2 on October 21, 2021.

For the inspiration of Resident Evil and their series is for the building itself and the ideas of plagues that causes of the people goes madness to attack the main character or causes to become zombies that they were been affected by the virus from the government's scientists.

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morebedsidebooks · 2 years

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Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye

Important to note Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye has after its publication been banned in some US libraries. Because of this I decided I should share this review I’ve been sitting on for way too long because of different controversy the title has been involved in.

From an affluent family but with a messy home life and teased about his disdain for high school relationships, captain of the boys’ soccer team Bryson Keller is dared to date anyone from among the senior class (including underclassmen apparently would be gross) who asks him out on Monday. BUT… only for the school week. After over two months of Bryson with a parade of girls, the closeted and less than popular Kai Sheridan impulsively asks Date Me, Bryson Keller!

Kevin van Whye, a gay mixed race South African writer, in an author’s note to the book besides speaking on his own lived experiences lists several works and their creators he feels indebted to as inspiration for his debut OwnVoices young adult novel Date Me, Bryson Keller. These are Skam a 2015-2017 Norwegian teen drama TV webseries (especially season 3), two other English language young adult novels in 2014 To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, in 2015 Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, also the latter 2018 film adaptation, going way back a 1999 American teen movie rom com She’s All That, and finally a Japanese boys love comic series Seven Days written by Venio Tachibana and illustrated by Rihito Takarai. But it was concerning this last well-liked work where a nerve was touched across readers of Japanese comics and YA books.

Firstly, with accusations against Kevin van Whye of plagiarism. Seven Days features a popular first year high school student who dates the first person to ask him out on a Monday but, only for the week. Until, instead of a girl, a handsome upperclassman on a whim asks him out. For more details on Seven Days, I have previously reviewed the 2010-11 English edition. While dating with a time limit is common in the romance genre, I hadn’t encountered another title quite like it before. In fact, it was the mention of Seven Days which led me to put Date Me, Bryson Keller on my list of 2020 anticipated releases.

Secondly, the conflict involved the concept of representation and critique of the BL genre. During February 2019 the author posted a response on Goodreads. In part: “There were themes that I wanted to explore in a western setting and as an own voices writer. These were born from my own critique of the work with respect to actual and realistic LGBT culture, people and issues. I wanted to write a story for the LGBT reader, as told by my own lived experience.” Further in an interview on the YA Sh3lf blog in November 2019: “my own critique and feelings toward the manga Seven Days (and the Boy Love genre in general) definitely served as a jumping off point as far as inspiration.”

Critiques and the question of representation in Japanese BL is a decades long complex discourse. At times swinging from the more apolitical to political. Furthermore, especially fraught when involving identity politics. Which may be somewhat familiar as many other examples of queer literature from elsewhere around the globe undergo analysis, critiques, and disputes. Too movements like OwnVoices, intended to promote marginalized writers, became less helpful and after years faced demise. Unfortunately, I cannot begin to outline the parallels, differences, and nuances of these debates in this review. (Though if one is interested, I can suggest some scholarly reading.) However, it is this background which the author, who also pointed to a rudimentary TV tropes page on the BL genre, stepped right in to.

Speaking of tropes, I have a soft spot for dating tropes. Also, to include works like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. After old love letters are sent, Laura Jean Covey ends up faking dating an old crush Peter Kavinsky, which then turns into the real thing. (Also, Peter’s character most influenced Kevin van Whye with Bryson.) The concept of a dating dare is also the premise of She’s All That (itself a take on My Fair Lady, in turn adapting the stage play Pygmalion). Where soccer star and class president Zack Siler on a bet tries to make Laney Boggs, an artistic clumsy girl, Prom Queen to his King.

But heaping parts tropey teen dating novel Date Me, Bryson Keller is also a coming out story, with hardships. Grappling with the meaning of gay identity and the effects. In common with the hugely popular Simon (among several other similarities)and Skam Season 3.

Seriously, if one is well read in a genre, one knows the scènes à faire. Further if you are familiar with these works you can pick up the beats and bits from here and there, and there and here with Kevin van Whye’s book. He calls the stories “woven into the tapestry of this novel “. But, unlike some cases, these threads do make the work stand out less and feel more derivative. Even as the author specifically also talks about some of the aspects that are personal. Still, it is true as he writes in the author’s note: “I’ve always believed that more than one story of a certain type can exist. We need more representation all around. We shouldn’t settle for just one thing, because we are not just one thing. Our race, culture, geography, sexuality, and experiences make us different. These things shape our stories, our lives.”

#banned and challenged books #date me bryson keller #kevin van whye #lgbtq+ books #long post #cw: homophobia outing violence injury blackmail #cw: cursing car accident racism cultural appropriation infidelity pregnancy

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dan6085 · 9 months

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Top 20 live-action adaptations of anime series:

1. **Cowboy Bebop (2021)**: A live-action adaptation of the iconic space-western anime.

2. **Death Note (2006)**: A Japanese live-action adaptation of the Death Note manga and anime.

3. **Attack on Titan (2015)**: A two-part Japanese live-action film adaptation of the popular anime and manga.

4. **Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)**: A Japanese live-action adaptation of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga and anime.

5. **Rurouni Kenshin (2012-2014)**: A series of live-action films based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime.

6. **Bleach (2018)**: A Japanese live-action film adaptation of the Bleach manga and anime.

7. **Tokyo Ghoul (2017)**: A Japanese live-action adaptation of the Tokyo Ghoul manga and anime.

8. **One Piece (Upcoming)**: An upcoming live-action adaptation of the One Piece anime and manga.

9. **Nana (2005-2006)**: A live-action adaptation of the Nana manga and anime, featuring two women named Nana.

10. **Gintama (2017)**: A Japanese live-action film adaptation of the Gintama manga and anime.

11. **Parasyte (Kiseijuu) (2014-2015)**: A two-part Japanese live-action film adaptation of the Parasyte manga and anime.

12. **Dragon Ball Evolution (2009)**: A Hollywood live-action adaptation of the Dragon Ball anime and manga, which received mixed reviews.

13. **My Love Story!! (Ore Monogatari!!) (2015)**: A Japanese live-action film adaptation of the romantic comedy anime and manga.

14. **Initial D (2005-2008)**: A series of live-action films based on the Initial D manga and anime.

15. **Assassination Classroom (Korosensei Quest!) (2016-2017)**: A live-action adaptation of the Assassination Classroom manga and anime, with a humorous twist.

16. **Death Note (2017)**: A Netflix live-action adaptation of Death Note, set in the United States.

17. **Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) (2014)**: A Japanese live-action film adaptation of the Black Butler manga and anime.

18. **Gantz (2010)**: A Japanese live-action film adaptation of the Gantz manga and anime.

19. **Blue Spring Ride (Ao Haru Ride) (2014)**: A live-action adaptation of the romance anime and manga.

20. **Great Teacher Onizuka (1998-1999)**: A Japanese live-action TV drama adaptation of the Great Teacher Onizuka manga and anime.

Please be aware that the quality and faithfulness of live-action adaptations can vary, and some may take creative liberties with the source material. Additionally, new live-action adaptations may have been released or announced since my last update.

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minty-marshmallow · 11 months

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The [email protected]

Number of Episodes: 24

Air Date: April 28, 2017 - October 6, 2017

Synopsis:

THE [email protected], set in the world of Korean entertainment production, stars Korean idols of course, as well as other Japanese and Thai hopefuls. Like the original game, the drama follows a group of young women as they embark on a career in the entertainment industry, and depicts their sweat and tears, their hopes and dreams.

My Rating: 6.5/10

My Review:

I personally really enjoyed this drama. I will admit one of the downfalls is there is a good bit of just filler; where the girls are just kinda talking and giggling and nothing interesting towards the plot. I did skip through some of this. However, I did find some of it nice to watch. Sometimes it's just refreshing to watch a bit of "slice of life" where it's just kind of normal stuff going on.

The overall plot is nothing spectacular or new. It is nicely done though. The acting is good despite most of the cast being rookies and trainees at the time of filming. I definitely think you should give this drama a chance. Especially if you are looking for something light-hearted and not filled with drama or complicated plot lines to follow.

#asian drama #asian drama review #kdrama #korean drama #kdrama review #korean drama review #the [email protected]

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sorairokakera · 1 year

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some sentiments about Tamamori Yuta's acting journey - part 1

*💛 : drama main role || 💛💛 : movie main role

Gokusen 3 SP & Gokusen The Movie (2009) - as Takasugi Reita

It's the first time I saw Tamamori Yuta~! I started watching Gokusen series from Gokusen 2 then when I saw Tama, I'm not exactly sure what was it, there's something adorable about him that stuck on me. I got interested in him and searched more about him, found that he is one of Kis-My-Ft2 members, one of Johnny's junior groups that hadn't officially debuted yet. I already knew Kat-tun at that time, Kisumai got me interested for a while before some things in life put me away from internet world.

Support roles in Shiawase ni Narou yo (2011), Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata (2012), Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou The Movie (2012), Zeni no Sensou (2015)

I watched all his small roles after I watched his big/bigger roles~ I actually skipped almost everything except his parts (gomen) >_<

Ikemen desu ne (2011) as Katsuragi Ren 💛

Tama's first main role in drama!! I've watched the Korean drama they adapted long years ago (maybe soon after it aired at that time) but I watched this Japanese adaptation after I'm interested in Tama again (will mention this later on the drama that made me into him). Maybe because I watched this 10 years later, I cringed so hard ; x ; ugyah- I enjoyed the Korean one (story pretty much the same in adaptation) when I was much younger but not anymore? 😅 I even have the pig-rabbit doll from this drama that I bought soon after I watched the original long years ago haha~ The only reason I watched this whole (cringey) drama was because Tama, of course. Somehow he matched his role pretty well. First main role (and his real main job is idol) which not bad, pretty good for his career.

Ataru (2012) as Ebina Sho

Tama-chan acting with Nakai-san!! Tama's supporting role here was good and I enjoyed watching this drama, it's pretty nice and exciting~

Nobunaga no Chef (2013) & Nobunaga no Chef Season 2 (2014) as Ken 💛

Tama's main role for 2 seasons drama!! French chef travels to the Sengoku period (time-slip), eventually becomes the chef of Nobunaga Oda. It was pretty nice drama to watch. Tama got his main role here after the director (iirc) watched his (really) hard work on variety show, and he did it pretty well.

Pin to Kona (2013) as Kawamura Kyonosuke 💛

I like Tama's main role here~! His character is adorable and kind, he did well and I enjoyed watching this drama~ I'm not fond of main female character here but kabuki world as setting is quite interesting.

Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari 2014 Spring Special - Neet na Kare to Cute na Kanojo, Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi 2015 Summer Special - Doko Made mo Tsuitekuru, Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari 2019 Rain Special - Sakasama Shoujo no Tame no Piano Sonata (one of main roles in special dramas)

from these 3 drama specials I like Sakasama Shoujo no Tame no Piano Sonata the most, simply because Tama as pianist~! 笑 It's the most interesting from all 3 too. Neet na Kare to Cute na Kanojo is the kind of story I'm not interested to watch, it's okay~ I tend to avoid horror story but since it's Tama, I watched Doko Made mo Tsuitekuru with anxious heart ;_; (it's scarier since it based on true story?)

Seishun Tantei Haruya: Otona no Aku wo Yurusanai! (2015) as Asagi Haruya 💛

didn't enjoy watching this drama, watched it only because Tama's there ;_; one of his (drama) friends there becomes his good friend in real life, lovely~

Raintree no Kuni (2015) as Sakisaka Nobuyuki 💛💛

Tama's first main role in movie!! It's pretty okay~ not the kind of romance I enjoy though. Tama worked hard learning kansai dialect here, he did pretty nice in this movie.

Reverse (2017) as Asami Kosuke

THIS. When I first watched this (was it 2021?) I just finished watching one drama with Tama in it that made me interested in him again. I started watching this before checking casts, I used to see good reviews about this drama and finally watched it after several years. I was surprised to see Tama in this drama, first he looks different!! and then his acting here, I really enjoyed watching him~! his character gave me various feelings and Tama did very well. Heard that he really learned about acting from the director here and it improved him, like a turning point. I really wish Tama gets more chances to do grey/darker roles ; ;

Juuyou Sankounin Tantei (2017) as Maneki Kei 💛

Tama's acting improves gradually year by year but it's more apparent starting from 2017 (reverse drama). Actually I didn't really enjoy this drama, I also not fond of main female character here (again ; ;), but visuals, good~ When watching 2017's dramas of Tama I realized that his acting style is the type of acting I like a lot (the most), subtle and profound acting.

Parallel World Love Story (2019) as Tsuruga Takashi 💛💛

great actors and actress, adapted from a novel by popular mystery author, Higashino Keigo, I feel like this movie can be much more but okay, it still impactful personally because it's Tama's first bed scene >///< really, Tama is great in more complex/darker roles. Tama in this movie is very different with real him, and he did it very well.

--continue to part 2--

#kisumai super 年子 week day 2 2023 #Actor Tamamori Yuta

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film-in-my-soul · 2 years

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Drama Reviews Masterlist

Mobile-friendly navigation for my drama reviews.

Korean Dramas:

The Devil Judge (2021)

Sweet Home (2020)

You Make Me Dance (2021)

Kiss Goblin (2020)

Where Your Eyes Linger (2020)

Japanese Dramas:

Old Fashion Cupcake (2022)

Chinese Dramas:

N/A

Thai Dramas:

En of Love: Love Mechanics (2020)

Manner of Death (2020)

My Engineer (2020)

HIStory 1: Obessed (2017)

Taiwanese Dramas:

N/A

#film-in-my-soul-dramareviews #my reviews

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thedramafilesblog-blog · 7 years

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Appearing before the Dramacourt: Boku Unmei no Hito desu Ep 8

***If this is your first time browsing The Drama Files, please read The Rules section first for our reviewing and rating system***

Issues:

Whether Yamapi God is kind of a jerk

Whether Haruko’s father getting mad at Makoto is reasonable

Whether the underdog theory really works

The Rule(s):

Yes.

Not really.

People generally do root for the underdog, but in this scenario, the theory isn’t linked well to the drama’s plot.

Analysis:

Jubiemon J: Unfortunately, I have to say that this episode was another lacklustre one. I sort of anticipated that it’d feel like a filler/boring episode and sadly, I turned out to be right.

Co-worker forces Makoto out to ask for some love advice

Boss voicing his opinion

Haruko’s dad happens to come by the restaurant and then hears about Makoto’s gossip

Makoto trying to explain things

Too pissed so walks out . . . -0-‘

Makoto’s ex love interest -> Beautiful woman’s ploy, gets caught again. 9 men were scammed 100 millions of yen.

Haruko’s father finds out that Makoto fell for this con artist woman and thought that she was the one. Then he gets super pissed at Makoto, so mad at him that he even fights with Haruko. Haruko and her father has this long period of no talking. Her father even throws out that water fountain and puts it in the backyard. Here we have this totally unreasonable fit of anger coming from Haruko’s father when he was the one that was totally rooting for Makoto to be with Haruko before. Ugh…

Yamapi God’s suggestion for Makoto to win over Haruko’s father again doesn’t make much sense to me. I even watched his explanation twice to see if I got anything wrong and did some research about a Japanese word he used. His theory is that an underdog aiming for his/her dream would lead to more success and seem more fabulous than the typical person realizing his/her dream.

Yamapi God gives an example of someone who strayed from the right path and then turned into the boss of some company or the hot, seemingly dumb girl would go to the best university in Japan, Tokyo University. Makoto would be like an underdog too and his striving to win over Haruko’s father’s respect would reap greater results. I just don’t think this theory is that profound or funny. In fact, Makoto goes off and practices how to play golf by himself because Haruko’s father likes golf and Mitsue was able to win over Haruko’s father respect by being on a golf poster and playing golf. (Somehow playing golf = a serious, honest person . . . right.)

Mitsue talking about how Haruko’s dad used to hate her.

The two of them listening to what Mitsue did to win over Haruko’s father’s trust

“Well I was this model for this golf poster”

Mitsue being a cute golfer

“Then her father thought I wasn’t that bad..”

Lol . . . Remember Mitsukuni’s poster? Chasing after Mitsue now? lol!

Makoto trying to learn golf by himself . . . without taking any lessons . . .-0-‘ (doesn’t really work that way – I know from personal experience.)

Golfing and golfing

Troll Mitsukuni joins in on the fun and goes off being weird. lol.

Then the drama writers throw in this clear underdog. He’s one of the employees working at Haruko’s father’s workplace. He is trying to win some boxing tournament to prove to himself that he’s good enough. He’s definitely not fit compared to the other boxers, but he tries super hard. Still, he fails which is expected and Makoto steps in to try to convince the boxer’s coach to let the guy box. Haruko’s father overhears this conversation and then thinks Makoto is still a good guy. The issue I have with this whole segment . . . I think this drama has already overused the underdog theory in the first place; we always see Makoto working hard. In this case, I just am not really touched or don’t think the scenes of Makoto working hard are funny/interesting. Plus the random underdog co-worker story . . . felt weird and out of place. How does that have to do with Makoto being an underdog and winning over Haruko’s father?

The preview for the next episode wasn’t that interesting as well. There’s some mystery about Yamapi God. I get the feeling that he’s not actually a God. He’s probably Haruko and Makoto’s kid from the future. Maybe his parents are splitting up and he doesn’t want them to split up. Perhaps, he’s just Makoto or Haruko’s kid and the two actually never really got together, but Makoto/Haruko still loves the other.

I’m really disappointed in this drama. There was just so much potential . . . but things just dragged on. Sigh.

Issue 1: Whether Yamapi God is kind of a jerk

Jubiemon J: I actually think he has always been a jerk, but since he’s funny (and doesn’t hurt that he’s good looking), he can get away with his bad attitude. I immediately thought he was a jerk when Makoto asked if he should go ask Mitsukuni for advice. Then Yamapi God was like “nope” and then he said that Mitsukuni was useless now and an empty shell.

Yamapi God: Mitch is useless, an empty shell.

Mitsukuni getting all excited and then Yamapi God ….

One episode back, he was being all “bromance-like” with Mitsukuni. Remember how I said Mitsukuni was super annoying in the first few episodes when he was fighting for Haruko’s love? I honestly take that back when you see him being super genuine and friendly with both Yamapi God and Makoto. Whenever Makoto has needed help later, Mitsukuni helps him immediately. I felt so, so bad for Mitsukuni because he was so eager to have a 3 people golf game. Yamapi God agreed at first, but then as soon as Makoto said he wasn’t going, Yamapi God immediately rejected Mitsukuni’s offer in a harsh way. Poor Mitsukuni . . .

Look at poor Mitch . . . being all sad when Yamapi God rejects him.. 😥 My little heart goes out to Mitch..

Issue 2: Whether Haruko’s father getting mad at Makoto is reasonable

Jubiemon J: No. I’ve said in the beginning how I thought Haruko’s father was getting mad for no reason. Makoto wasn’t even in the wrong. It’s not as if Makoto was dating the con artist girl AND Haruko. Makoto wasn’t even dating the con artist girl; he almost dated her. I think the fact that Makoto was deceived by the con artist girl just shows how “innocent” and “pure” he is. He’s pretty much the type that’ll believe in people’s words. I mean, in the start of this drama, Haruko’s dad was super supportive of the two of them and then in this episode, he did a whole 180 degree change. Ugh.

Besides this, I have to echo again how I think this whole madness was resolved was really weird too. The random underdog boxer and then the golfing? I just can’t push any deep theories out of this at all. And although I’ve said I liked how this drama plays on fate vs choice, I really thought sticking in the scene where Haruko’s father and Makoto was at the boxing match was just . . . a bit over. When Makoto said he knew what to do to win Haruko’s father back and then the scene went to Makoto going to to watch the tournament, I thought that meant that Makoto knew that Haruko’s father would be there. That’s why he went to support the underdog. To my surprise, Makoto acted super shocked that he saw Haruko’s father there…..-0-” Yeah . . . no.

Issue 3: Whether the underdog theory really works

Jubiemon J: I think we do like underdogs–seeing how a poor, weak guy gets his revenge over the evil boss, how a delinquent gets his/her act together or a small band becoming huge makes us root for them. However, I just don’t see how the underdog theory is particularly relevant to convince Haruko’s father to trust Makoto again. I don’t think Haruko’s father is seeing Makoto as some underdog and rooting for him. Just . . .doesn’t work.

Haruko’s father asking Haruko to bring Makoto over for dinner

Reconciliation dinner – Man . . . look at that yummy tempura!

Nervous Makoto~

File No: Boku-Unmei-no-Hito-desu-Ep-8 Appearing before the Dramacourt: Boku Unmei no Hito desu Ep 8 ***If this is your first time browsing The Drama Files, please read The Rules section first for our reviewing and rating system***

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aixcc79 · 4 years

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Dolunay

The very first turkish drama I’ve watched and it’s all worth it. Addicting, cute characters, real handsomeness (well I’m tired watching korean guys where you will think of the impossible, all fantasy, in your dreams type of guys! So no kdramas for me for some time now).

Dolunay has this tamang kilig, captivating eyes from the characters, plot was not new but it’s ok, I never knew turkish…

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tytangfei · 2 years

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Jina's dramas awards 2021!

Late by 1 day but here it is!! I got to start many dramas this year but only some kept my attention for the entire time. Here are my favorites of 2021! (Check out my favs from 2020!)

As usual, these are mostly Chinese dramas and they're typically historical or period costume, non-modern dramas (although I do have a category for modern dramas).

best overall drama:

the long ballad (I literally finished this in 3 days and every episode had me in a rollercoaster of emotions and even dramatic entrances made me cackle!! Everything was solid from soundtrack to cinematography to acting.)

most delightful/fun drama:

queen of attack (just. This little mini, low budget series that was supposed to generate little buzz and make tiny money really went and did more. Full of classic tropes, the fresh couple made it work so good that it even received a 2nd season!!)

most impactful drama:

killer and healer (it came to me when I needed it the most back in March; I literally even re-learned Adobe Premiere so that I could create FOUR videos for it. Definitely not perfect but grabbed my heart and soul completely.)

most unexpected drama (aka the dark horse):

the imperial coroner (full of fairly new actors and seemingly typical characters, this drama took the world with its strong political plot and refreshing likeable and logical characters; the romance isn't overdone--some may say it's even a bit underdone--but when it happens, it's so so good.)

Miss the dragon (I saw all the bad reviews and first reactions, I know. But damn it, I still enjoyed every second of it. It's melodramatic and tragic and I loved it.)

drama with the best soundtrack:

ancient love poetry (literally has some of the top OST singers in the business like Mao Buyi. It's great. My fav is "Perseverance" where I can still recall that scene of her father's death; so beautifully well done and tragic.)

best costume/design/set drama:

song of youth (no matter how the ending was, this drama had great costumes. Even saw a post about how everything was pretty accurate to the times.)

favorite modern drama:

once we get married & unforgettable love (the chemistry just worked!! Also funnily enough...both are contract marriage dramas lmaooo I guess I have a type!)

favorite drama aired from any year & watched in 2021:

go princess go (2015) (what an iconic drama; no other drama could ever.)

let's shake it (2017) (my beloved zheng yecheng's drama that was a bit wacky but full of comedy and heart. Love it so much.)

drama with a soft spot in my heart:

not a chinese drama but Cherry Kiss (Japanese drama, BL) is everything and my heart believes in love & good because of it.

favorite currently-watching drama:

none this year sadly, I've been a bit busy.

favorite scene from a drama: (I couldn’t choose....)

ancient love poetry episode 41: gu jun’s death/sacrifice for his daughter. the swelling music, the tearful tragic goodbye. If I want to cry, I watch this scene.

also, if i want my heart to ache above love, I watch song of youth episode 37 about two minor characters’ separation due to their different social classes--with her being carried away in the bridal carriage while he watches and walks along tearfully--and she sees him!!!!!!!

the imperial coroner episode 1: chu chu unknowingly doing a test on xiao jinyu and jing yi laughing and choking on his tea. this whole scene makes me laugh every damn time, especially jing yi enjoying every second of it.

That's all for me! What were your favorites of 2021 and why? feel free to hit me up and let me know!

#the long ballad #queen of attack #killer and healer #miss the dragon #the imperial coroner #ancient love poetry #song of youth #once we get married #unforgettable love #go princess go #let's shake it #cherry kiss #jina dramas awards list #cdramas #jina watches cdramas #hi all i miss yalls and hope you had a great new years

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absolutebl · 3 years

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Top 10 BLs Out of Taiwan

(Presented in order of my personal preference.)

We Best Love: No 1 for You & We Best Love: Fighting Mr 2nd (2021 WeTV) - the 1st season is a short run classic university set BL combining the best of Korea & Thailand’s modern takes on genre. The 2nd season moves into the office, and employs Japanese style in terms of setting, obsession, and mature concepts. WBL thus successfully managed to pick up and combine the best features of Korean, Thai, and Japanese BL right now. Couple that to the insane chemistry from the leads, and we have one of the best BLs of all time, cooking to a recipe I doubt anyone else will ever be able to replicate since only Taiwan is this flexible. Full review here.

HIStory 2: Crossing the Line (2018 Viki) - Taiwan’s best example of classic BL with a sports romance foundation using some of the most prototypical and least offensive yaoi tropes.

Be Love In House: I Do (2021 Viki) - A cute classy office set BL with a few plot raised eyebrows, but no other concerns, plus a general sweet softness that’s pretty rare from Taiwan. Full review here.

See You After Quarantine? (2021 Viki) - Taiwan’s answer to Gameboys is just as charming and adorable and still quintessentially Taiwanese as one might hope. It features a Japanese love interest and the cutest most confused disaster gay. The two have almost no actual screen time together and yet manage some truly amazing chemistry. Honestly how does Taiwan do it? Full review here.

DNA Say Love You (2022 GaGa) - DNA deserves extra marks for an upbeat approach to a queer story arc that other shows have systemically mishandled with sadness (in the guise of realism). There is a twist, which I found predictable, but knowing what would happen didn't spoil this show. The leads are luminous and engaging, and it’s full of queer found family representation and an unexpected amount of domesticity, plus it’s Taiwan, so the kisses are great. The last few eps really are special and life/love affirming - and the ending is big-grin charming. Full review here.

HIStory 2: Right or Wrong (2018 Viki) - another one that picks up and uses a classic yaoi tropes that most other BL producing countries have dropped - teacher/student. I happen to be okay with this power dynamic (and the child abandonment issues) and really like the grumpy/sunshine leads. But this is basically a happy reboot of Japan’s 2007 Boys Love, one of the first ever live action yaoi.

HIStory 3: Trapped (2019 Viki) - not quite BL, more a mafia set cop versus criminal cat-and-mouse gay romance, where the leads end amorphously but the side couple ends up together, but wonderfully acted, and the SUITS are to die for. Literally.

About Youth (2022 Gaga) - a truly lovely little coming of age high school BL with a classic YA low drama but high angst story. I didn’t even mind the singing, and that’s saying a lot. Lots of BL tropes but also this is quite queer and very Taiwan with an earnest depth I haven’t seen since My Ride, and an almost real world authenticity. Full review here.

HIStory: Obsessed (2017 Viki) - very strongly sourced in yaoi, this one features the obsessive stalker love trope and “kill the gay” but with a twist that allows for an HEA in what I would call almost self-referential poking fun at all those murder gays Japan gave us for so many years. The strongest seme/uke Taiwan has ever give us.

My Tooth Your Love (2022 Viki) - earnest dentist hottie with sad eyes who worries too much is smitten by an adorable sunshine neurotic bar owner with serious anxiety issues. They fall madly in love while courting each other with food, plushies, and naps. Then, shocker, talk about their feelings and try to actually sort out their problems so they can have an adult relationship. Bonus crumbs = 18 year old poor little rich kid in mad crush with a much older man. Fun premise, killer dialogue, there was a solid lead pair with charming chemistry, soft flirtation, and delightful smiling kisses and stinkingly cute domesticity. Trigger for family abuse.

Honorable mention to the amazing BL side plot in Love is Science? Seriously, watch this!!!!

Taiwanese BL in Brief

Taiwan is relatively new to the BL genre. Their first actual BL offering was 2012′s high school set queer coming of age mircofilm Pair of Love, which featured both gay and lesbian couples, ending happily for one pair but not the other. But it wasn’t until the first of the HIStory series entered the fray in 2017 and proved successful that Taiwan really started producing consistently.

(Prior to all these there was 2006′s YA coming of age Eternal Summer(s) which is not dissimilar to Thailand’s Love of Siam in that it owes more to queer indie than to BL.)

Like early Chinese BL, Taiwanese BL owes a lot to the Japanese gay cinema and “the dark side of BL” (which I talked about in Japan’s entry in this series). There’s a lot of obsession, death, and even some kidnapping in Taiwanese stuff. It also tends to lean higher heat and use more mature actors (if not in character behavior and emotional maturity).

It’s grittier than a lot of other BL, for lack of a better word. It’s settings and filming style is grungy, sticky, and raw (although not as much as the Philippines). It’s also overtly queerer.

Taiwan is great on their chemistry and workshopping to ensure sex and kissing appears authentic, possibly because they have one of the least homophobic cultures in Asia.

Speaking of which, unlike other BL producing countries, Taiwan has something to prove. Gay marriage has been legal there since 2019 and they have been spearheading a supportive agenda and pro-queer messaging since 2017, which is GREAT and boy do they deserve to flex those (pretty pretty) muscles. (The platform GagaOOLala with all queer streaming content is based out of Taiwan.)

Their 2017 BL microfilm Faded is so short and yet uses so many BL tropes in order to get across a strong message of inclusivity, and it was clearly made for Taiwan’s older generation in an effort to tip the marriage equality vote. (Yes, it’s a queer propaganda piece!)

That said, Taiwan’s BL is inconsistent in terms of length and HEA.

With some series running short at only an hour or so total, like Korean BL, while others that go all the way up to 20 episodes or more (see HIStory’s season 3). They seem to have no set pattern, and as they don’t produce that many BLs in a year, no pattern seems to be forthcoming.

They are a very small film production country in general, and with only one or two houses even intersted in making BL, we just don’t get much from Taiwan. However, what we do get tends to be high quality. They even came out with a quality historical gay drama, Your Name Engraved Herein (not HEA and not really BL so I don’t list it, but it is an excellent movie as a movie).

Because of their tiny industry Taiwan is king of cameos. You will see the same actors over and over again, and often the same pairs in little nods (especially within the gay universe of, our goddess, Lin Pei Yu.)

But Taiwan is inconsistent and bifurcated in their approach to BL, producing both light BL new wave (more like Thailand), and dark BL old style (more like Japan).

For example, 2021′s HIStory 4: Close to You proved divisive because it showcased both these story styles at once. Each one a classic example of BL’s yaoi roots:

the side stepbrothers plot which has all the dark obsessive elements that gave us Japan’s favorite early oeuvre of “death and the murder gay” (dark BL) contrasted to H4′s lighter more comedic...

friends-to-lovers office fluff piece that feels a lot like Japan’s 2014 Docchi Mo Docchi decided to reboot itself in Mandarin, only as gay as it was always supposed to be (light BL)

H4 is, in a way, Taiwan’s internal dialogue with its own style of BL and where it wants to go. Whether it is willing to go up against Korea in the arena of shorter run strong concept but ultimately happy new wave BL, as it did with We Best Love, or whether it wants to continue down the shadowy path of amorphous endings which risk a discontented fan base but garner critical acclaim as they did with HIStory 3 and Your Name Engraved Herein.

You can all guess which path I’m hoping for. (Full H4 review here)

Taiwan may be my favorite BL production sphere, it’s no accident that I chose them to cast and produce MY ULTIMATE FANTASY CAST AND BL MASTERPIECE.

Here’s more on Taiwanese BL:

Taiwan’s relationship with BL and how they can more honestly represent gayness than some of the other BL producing countries (as well as mess with the seme/uke dynamic) as a result of local politics and marriage equality.

Why Taiwan tends to gravitate towards taboo tropes.

Here’s the Taiwanese BL industry casually flexing Taiwan’s marriage equality muscles.

Taiwan futzes with seme/uke (and why)

A Guide to the HIStory Franchise (and here I am Remaking the HIStory Franchise) and the damaging tropes within it

Top Ten Best Kisses from Taiwanese BL

This is part of a series on top 10 BLs from each country coupled with a history of BL. I try to keep it up to date but tumblr doesn’t make that easy.

Japanese BL

Chinese BL

Taiwanese BL

Korean BL

Thai BL

Where of watch it? Taiwanese BL usually launches and/or ends up on Viki (they are why I have a subscription). With very few exceptions, everything else is on GaGa, with soem of the very old stuff showing up on YouTube.

ALL BLS OUT OF TAIWAN

That I have watched and rated, by date & then rating out of 10. Top ones highlighted.

2006 Eternal Summer - 2 2012 Pair of Love - 3 2014 100 Apples - 4 2016 Friend or Lover - 6 2016 He's Out There Somewhere - 1 2017 HIStory: Obsessed - 8 2017 Red Balloon - 7 2017 HIStory: Stay Away From Me - 6 2017 HIStory: My Hero - 6 2017 Faded - 5 2017 We Are Gamily - 5 2017 Dark Blue and Moonlight - 3 2018 HIStory 2: Crossing the Line - 9 2018 HIStory 2: Right or Wrong - 8 2019 The Teacher - dnf 2019 HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count - 2 2019 HIStory 3: Trapped - 7 2019 Departure - 3 2019 Bro and Me Bro & Me - 3 2020 Because of You - 7 2020 Craving You - 5 2020 Our Memory - 3 2020 Your Name Engraved Herein - 2 2021 We Best Love No. 1 For You - 10 2021 We Best Love Fighting Mr. 2nd - 10 2021 Be Loved In House I Do - 9 2021 Love is Science? BL Cut - 9 2021 See You After Quarantine? - 8 2021 HIStory 4: Close to You - 8 2021 Papa & Daddy - 7 2021 My Type - 7 2021 Innocent - 5 2021 Light - 5 2021 Friend or Lover - 5 2021 The Immeasurable - 4 2021 The Immeasurable - 4 2022 Plus & Minus - 8 2022 DNA Says Love You - 8 2022 Papa & Daddy 2 - 6 2022 About Youth - 8 2022 HIStory5: Love In The Future - 7 2022 My Tooth Your Love - 8 2023 Stay By My Side - 8 2023 Kiseki: Dear to Me - ? 2023 You Are Mine - ?

(This is as of Nov 2023. source)

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