So what’s funny is that I had half of this particular newsletter written back at the end of October because I was going to talk about the various Halloween-y shows airing, and then I just never finished it. The shows airing at that time were also the inspiration for what I wanted to talk about today, which is pronoun translation.

Translation in general is hard, and the translations done at iQiyi and GMMTV are often either done with AI/MTL with some editing (IQ) or clearly pretty quickly with an emphasis on simplicity and clarity (GMMTV). Viki definitely has the best subtitles in the biz because they’re done by volunteer (?) teams who aren’t afraid to annotate word usage when it’s something that doesn’t have a direct English translation. Anyone who watches kdramas on Netflix knows the pain of seeing “hyung” translated as “bro.”

The real struggle is when it comes to conveying levels of formality and honorifics—I remember watching a time travel show with my parents where a big point that kept coming up was that the seemingly older character was using respectful/honorific language with the protagonist, and the protagonist would use casual language with someone who appeared to be his superior. We simply no longer have a way to convey that in modern English, and as a result so much gets lost.

And Thai simply has so many pronouns. All very interesting and useful pronouns, but it’s only because I’ve learned just enough Thai and seen just enough explainers that I even recognize when the captions aren’t getting something across. Like in ThamePo, Baifern and Po use rude language with each other to indicate that they’re very close, but there’s nothing in the subtitles that could help convey that. At the time when I started this letter, I was losing it at That Summer, which had Lava constantly calling Davin “Your Highness” in the subtitles, when as far as I can tell he wasn’t really, he was just using very formal language. Which makes more sense if Davin is supposed to be, you know, in hiding.

The other one that was crazy was Khemjira, both because there are multiple switch-ups in terms of formality between Khem and Peem (when they meet, Khem uses more formal language while Peem speaks very informally) and then later Peem starts using the pronoun “chan” for himself when talking to Khem, which is generally a more intimate and softer pronoun, but obviously the subtitles don’t tell you any of that. And then there’s the absolutely insane choice the IQ/Domundi subtitlers made when Peem tells Khem to call him “phi” when they’re alone together instead of “por kru”—the subtitles put his nickname there instead. So much, much later on, when he’s like, I have a nickname only my mother called me, you should use it, it’s Peem, it seems completely redundant. Me sitting there the whole time like, this is a batshit choice. Just use phi in the subtitles!!!

All of this is to say I think the conservatives are wrong and we actually don’t have enough pronouns. I think we should have at least 8 new ones. Possibly more.

Currently Watching (On Air)

Wicked Game: Okay, I’ve only seen the first episode of this and it was back in October, but I did enjoy it and am eager to get back into it. It’s so, so lakorn, which is not a bad thing—it was always clearly trying to be in the category of “dramatic rich family lakorn” and it definitely nails that vibe. While I think the fight scenes could probably be tighter, they’re still very good for TV, and I like that they have some Jackie Chan slapstick to them—it’s more fun to watch. I think what I’m looking forward to most is getting to see Offroad play a different type of character; up until now, he’s played pretty happy-go-lucky types with maybe a little edge, and now he’s playing a little bitch who is all edge, and that’s thrilling.

Petrichor: I did finally get to the girls kissing, which was very good. It still kills me that Charlotte and Engfa got paired up because people shipped them while they were in competition for Miss Thailand (?) or whatever. It puts their acting in perspective to know their background was beauty pageants, because they’re pretty good in a show that needs them to be on their game.

I have two main issues with this show, one of which is stylistic; it’s just shot in a way that I think is weirdly flat at times, and doesn’t have the energy of a thriller, which other Dr. Sam shows definitely do. My other issue is pacing; I don’t know if it’s because the couple gets together halfway through without the same level of conflict/suspicion as other Dr. Sam ships, or if it’s because the main case is being dragged out, but it doesn’t have the momentum I’d expect in a thriller.

There was some of this issue in Manner of Death, but that was also a conspiracy plot that used multiple episode of set up. There’s obviously some level of conspiracy going on, but the actual murder investigation part feels somewhat anemic. I think at this point in a thriller mystery I’d expect to have been introduced to multiple long-term suspects, but we really have met only one, and the main emphasis for him is that he was framed. There’s been a couple of brief red herrings, but they were all one episode/one and a half episode arc villains. I don’t know, I think I’ve just grown to expect more from Dr. Sam’s mysteries!

UPDATE: I’m watching episode 6 right now and there was just a major reveal that added the character motivation complication that I was expecting from a Dr. Sam, so I take back what I said! Although maybe it should have been teased or referenced earlier.

Head 2 Head: If I had a nickel for every time Surf was part of the b couple in a show where one half of the main ship was having prophetic and worrisome dreams about their neighbor frenemy love interest, I’d have 10 cents. Etc.

I am enjoy this show more than I expected! I figured I’d like it because it has a lot of elements that appeal to me, but so far the combination is working well. Sea is still improving as an actor, though I think he’s noticeably better than in Only Boo!, and Keen is very good, especially for how young and new he is. I get the feeling he’s going to get some really meaty scenes coming up, and I’m excited to see him tackle them.

The biggest surprise to me has been Surf and Java; I enjoyed Surf in I Saw You in My Dream, but I’ve only seen a bit of Java in that hetero show Phuwin and Dunk did where he was paired with Ryu. He’s a very different character in this, and I think he’s great; he’s really nailed the pining slut angle. They’ve also managed to make him look really beautiful in a lot of the scenes (not that he isn’t good looking as it is, but you know how sometimes they can just really bring it out). Their chemistry and their storyline has me chewing drywall, and I think next week we might finally get to see that come to fruition. Please. I’m in hell.

Me and Thee: God, what a show. It’s OTT in the best possible way, in a way that it had to be to sell the camp of Thee’s character, and what makes it work is that Peach clearly sees and knows that everything that’s happening is fucking crazy. And the style of the show commits; it looks great, the design and color grading are so rich and lush, and the use of musical stings and sound effects is, in my mind, perfect. I’m sure there are people who dislike it, but the comedy of the dramatic strings playing over Thee before coming to a screeching halt when it shifts to Peach does a great job selling that these two men are experiencing two completely different genres. I’m glad to know that it’s apparently doing well in Thailand with its lakorn references and styling!

Also, Est is so, so funny in this. It’s by necessity a more understated performance, but his little facial expressions and coughs are always so perfectly timed and really get across the “can you fuckin believe this guy” of it all. I’m on edge after that text from “R” last week, too. I stfg.

Burnout Syndrome: Just watched the first two episodes of this and it’s already doing a lot of the same stuff as Not Me—pretty wild initial character dynamic, very topical social commentary, gorgeously atmospheric cinematography. I don’t think I got from the trailer that this show would be addressing AI at all, but it makes sense, and I think works really well on multiple levels. Jira being an artist and Koh being a tech guy who is disinterested in human connection makes it a fitting storyline for them. Dew is killing it already, he’s so charismatic and handsome, and yet I can already see ways that he isn’t going to be what Jira wants or honestly even needs. Great second male lead.

Finished

Mu-Te-Luv: Diva Deva Meta: Look, overall I don’t think this is, like, deep TV. It’s very slapstick and at times juvenile humor, and there’s something in how that’s how kathoey/trans characters are often used in shows. However, something I was talking about to my friend is that all four of the characters do have more than one side to them, and at least two of them are consistently portrayed as beautiful and desirable, even if neither of them have an endgame relationship (man, I was really rooting for Nevia and Bank).

I think people were prepared to dislike Neo in this, but it seemed to me like he really took the role as Kat seriously, and I actually fully bought into her as a character. She’s crass and a little crazy, but he committed to her body language and style. He honestly served. Great looks for him.

I wish I understood more about the corner of queer culture being explored in this more, because I found some of it really interesting (the use of the words trans vs kathoey by some characters). I hope it opens the door for more varied queer portrayals from GMMTV and in general.

I did wonder at the end of this one if the theme of this whole anthology is going to be that supernatural stuff is all faked. There was an article someone linked to on Tumblr related to the phrase “mu-te” (?) about how there’s a trend in Thai youth culture to participating in all kinds of superstition regardless of origin or belief, and how scammers take advantage of that. I’ll see how it plays out, but if so that would be an interesting choice for them to make.

That Summer: This truly was a YA novel, or a Disney Channel original movie that was gay and horny; the kind of fantasy wish fulfillment heteros get all the time. The double amnesia! The coup that happens entirely off screen! Paolo and Anya living a completely different show over in Arantha! The convenient baby!

I’ve said before that what I admire most about Jojo as a creative is his willingness to take big swings, and that’s still true. I do think he could use some help in focusing the scope of his ideas at times, and I think that is the main struggle in this show. There were some plot threads that could have been cut or integrated together better. Possibly if this were the former standard 12 episodes long it could have incorporated those aspects better, but I do think it would have hampered the overall pacing of the show. 10 episodes was good for this.

I was thinking that there’s another world where the main couple is the amnesiac prince and the resort owner running for village chief, because that is a tasty set-up on many levels. Admittedly, the storyline they had allowed the two couples to parallel each other in the ideas of being gay and a leader and in the public eye, which was interesting and was even directly addressed in the last episode.

Anyway, fun show! Totally escapist and for the id.

Revamp: Unlike That Summer, I do think this show could have used possibly one more episode to build up the threat of Dunk-possessed-Kay in the last episode. This was sort of emblematic of the show’s primary issue, which is that I don’t know that Director New is very good at directing action. Which is fair, he’s never done it before! He was really stepping out of his comfort zone (he did a supernatural thriller once but that was years ago) and it showed, mostly in blocking and how the fight scenes were shot.

All that being said, I did enjoy myself. It did some interesting takes on vampires and vampiric powers that I enjoyed, although now that I think about it, that brings me back to the opening of this newsletter and the issue of translation, because there’s this whole thing where Ramil tells Punn that he can read minds and then Pun seems surprised that he can later—but I saw a video explaining that actually the language Ramil uses when he reveals the true depth of his power is implying a more spiritual psychic-ness, which makes sense with how his powers get used later on.

A few other things: I liked that this avoided the usual solution to the vampire/human problem (it truly annoyed me so much in MGB that Gawin got turned without them ever discussing it); I love the three scions and how different they were; Aun and Stamp should have kissed; and the little post-credits scene where werewolf Junior shows up was absolutely inspired. Obsessed. I need the sequel of him and Methas now tbh. Make Kin a werewolf too so Ciar has to deal with that.

Khemjira: It’s going to be tough to make a decision between this and ThamePo at the end of the year for my favorite BL, but they’re so, so different. This was just really good television all around. Even though the episodes were crazy long at times, it never felt like it was dragging, the lore was so rich and the characters were so compelling (to me) that I was just annoyed every week that I had to wait until the next Saturday to see more. Did the finale go on a little long? Maybe, but it also wrapped up a couple of the last outstanding threads that admittedly didn’t need to be wrapped up but were very nice to see. I loved it! Would unreservedly recommend it to anyone okay with horror.

Spon Corner

The GOAT has to be the printer spon in Mu-Te-Luv where the person giving exposition keeps printing out new photos for them to look at, followed by the three girls in the scene doing a pose around the printer. Tongue-in-cheek and very funny.

BL News:

• Idol Factory is imploding somewhat spectacularly even as Interminable is ending—they’re apparently in debt or possibly bankrupt, and Saint has left the company, which has led to all kinds of accusations from both sides. I don’t know or understand nearly enough about the situation to have an opinion, but either Freen or Becky said that they haven’t been paid in a while, which is part of the reason they left, and that the company was always slow on payment, which is an interesting detail. I feel bad for all the artists attached to them as this blows up, though.

• Heated Rivalry is all the rage right now, and I will watch it at some point, but it has sure ignited some annoying discourse! I’m trying not to let it put me off watching, so I have it muted in multiple directions, but I have so many other show to try to finish before the end of the year. Please keep me in your thoughts.

urs,

hk