The Conversation

BL is really leaning into genre in a big way, and we're too big nerds to let that go uncommented upon. Ben, NiNi, Ginny and Shan talk some successes and failures in genre blending over the winter season in Playboyy, 7 Days Before Valentine, Dead Friend Forever and Love For Love's Sake.

**TW for Dead Friend Forever: discussions of violence and gore**

**TW for Love For Love's Sake: discussions of suicide and self-harm**

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/750570714469367808/spring-grab-bag-part-1-genre-shows?source=share]

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Grab Bag Part 1: Genre Shows

00:02:37 Playboyy

00:18:42 7 Days Before Valentine

00:29:35 Dead Friend Forever

00:50:03 Love For Love's Sake

01:13:39 Outro

Thai BL has been suffering some...performance issues lately, so we're diving into why these shows can't seem to keep it up. Ben and NiNi talk Last Twilight and The Sign with friends of the pod Aiden and Captain Hands.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/749926703983443968/roses-thorns-and-buds-a-last-twilight-and-the?source=share]

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction

00:03:54 Last Twilight: Roses and Thorns

00:09:35 Last Twilight: Failed Expectations

00:15:54 Last Twilight: Ableism

00:22:02 Last Twilight: Buds

00:25:22 Last Twilight: Final Thoughts and Ratings

00:29:26 Intermezzo

00:32:43 The Sign: Roses

00:39:32 The Sign: Thorns

00:48:43 The Sign: Buds

00:56:03 The Sign: WTFery

01:04:24 The Sign: Final thoughts and Ratings

01:10:02 Outro

Japan said it's GL time and we said YES. Ben, NiNi and Ginny talk Chaser Game W and She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/749112935687847936/lets-go-lesbians-a-japanese-gl-episode?source=share]

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction

00:02:41 Chaser Game W: A Flop

00:18:31 She Loves To Cook, and She Loves To Eat

00:23:14 SLTCSLTE: The Women

00:34:18 SLTCSLTE: Yako and The New House

00:39:17 SLTCSLTE: The Food and Nagumo

00:43:02 SLTCSLTE: Depictions of Intimacy

00:50:53 Final thoughts and Ratings

Another day, another Japanese sequel. Ben, NiNi and new friend of the pod Twig talk Ossan's Love, being influenced by fandom reactions and Old Man Yaoi.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/748486190269923328/dispatch-the-ossans-love-episode?source=share]

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction and Some Context

00:06:25 Ossan's Love History and Summary

00:13:42 The Characters

00:28:23 Love or Dead and In The Sky

00:39:00 Ossan's Love Returns

00:45:33 Final thoughts and Ratings

GMMTV's OGs came out to play! Ben, NiNi and Shan talk Cooking Crush, Cherry Magic Thailand and how a decade of experience makes a difference with Off/Gun and Tay/New.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/747834779623391232/the-pillars-the-return-of-offgun-and-taynew?source=share]

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Intro

00:03:58 Cooking Crush: A surprisingly good romcom

00:08:02 CC: Comedy ain't easy

00:16:59 CC: Dynamite's queer writing and Ten as a rare romantic lead

00:32:08 CC: Final comments and ratings

00:41:14 Cherry Magic Thailand: Beating expectations and simping for Tay Tawan

00:54:13 CMT: Relationship development and the powers

01:02:15 CMT: Other characters

01:13:51 CMT: Ratings

01:19:34 Outro

Welcome back, it's spring! Winter once again left us with a lot to ponder, and ponder we shall. Ben and NiNi tease what's in store this season.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/747218135483121664/ben-and-nini-spring-2024-teaser-spring-2024?source=share]

Episode transcript available here.

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction

00:03:24 Question: Holding back takes for the podcast

00:05:39 Question: Under-discussed topics in the discourse

00:12:44 Question: The draw of Japanese BL

00:20:45 Question: Stories about older characters

00:25:22 Question: Cross-country adaptations

00:31:21 Question: Biggest wins and losses of the bl industry in 2023

00:36:38 Question: The next big BL trope wave

00:40:30 Question: Welcome back, Kotter and go home, Roger

00:46:45 Question: To all the lurkers

00:49:31 2023 Headlines

00:53:31 Best Boy and Best Girl

00:56:17 2024 QL Resolutions

01:01:43 The BGP!

01:11:05 The Year Ahead (GIVE US LESBIANS!)

01:24:58 Outro

The Second Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards are here! In Part 5, Ben and NiNi award standouts that didn't quite fit into the QL genre but were just too good to NOT award.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740683579544256512/the-viib-awards-2024-special-class?source=share]

00:00 Welcome

01:23 Introduction

03:03 Interlude: The Beach - Moonlight (2016)

04:18 Honourable Mention: The Day I Loved You

10:26 Honourable Mention: Chen Yi and Ai Di - Kiseki: Dear To Me

15:44 Honourable Mention: Sasake and Miyano Graduation

21:41 6th Man: Mark Pakin Kuna-anuvit

31:33 Standout Queer Narrative: Moonlight Chicken

38:02 Standout Queer Narrative: The Warp Effect 

41:30 Standout Queer Narrative: What Did You Eat Yesterday? 2

46:54 Outro

The Second Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards are here! In Part 4, Ben and NiNi award 2023's Best of the Best.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740530190357331968/the-viib-awards-2024-top-tings?source=share]

00:00 Welcome

01:23 Introduction

02:29 Interlude: The very best in nosy neighbours - Big Eden (2000)

03:02 Best GL

05:03 Best Genre Romance

10:18 Best Workplace Romance

16:02 Best Second Chance Romance

21:20 Best High School Romance

34:45 BL of the Year

40:09 Outro

The Second Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards are here! In Part 3, Ben and NiNi get nerdy in the episode we look forward to most all year.

Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740421559761747968/the-viib-awards-2024-immortal-technique?source=share]

00:00 Welcome

01:23 Introduction

02:34 Interlude: Making a movie, Eddie Mannix style - Hail, Caesar! (2016)

03:57 Best OST Song

10:03 Best Music

16:35 Best Production

22:13 Best Writing

27:17 Best Direction

34:19 Outro