The Conversation – Details, episodes & analysis

School's in at GMMTV, but we gotta put two series in detention for not fulfilling the assignment. The actors were charming, but the finishes were...rough. Ben, NiNi and Ginny talk 23.5 and Only Boo, the merits of high school stories, and the specific challenges of telling stories about queer high schoolers.

Episode transcript available here.

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction

00:02:18 23.5: Early Reactions

00:14:18 23.5: Supporting Characters

00:21:27 23.5: Frustration with the Writing and Execution

00:33:42 23.5: Final Arc and Ratings

00:38:42 Only Boo

00:48:06 Only Boo: Popping the Bubble

00:58:42 Only Boo: If You're Gonna Do An Idol Story, Commit

01:05:06 Only Boo: Final Thoughts and Ratings

01:08:45 Outro: High School Blues

Second chance romances, long-term pining, and their roles in queer narratives are our JAM, so we gotta talk about how two Japanese BLs should have been 10s but absolutely flopped for us. Ben, NiNi and Twig talk Love Is Better The Second Time Around and Living With Him. Join us to break down what it's like to watch a show fall apart in real time.

Episode transcript available here.

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 Introduction

00:02:38 Love Is Better The Second Time Around: What Worked

00:13:31 Love Is Better The Second Time Around: What Didn't Work

00:23:32 Love Is Better The Second Time Around: Final Thoughts and Ratings

00:26:54 Living With Him: How It Started

00:36:33 Living With Him: Where It Went Wrong

00:44:40 Living With Him: Final Thoughts and Ratings

00:52:03 Why The Queerness Matters

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]

Ben, NiNi, Ginny and Shan look back at 2023 and ahead to 2024 in QL. 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

The Second Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards are here! In Part 2, Ben and NiNi award the 2023 ships with real wind in their sails. Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740330360977702912/the-viib-awards-2024-ships-ahoy?source=share] 00:00 Welcome 01:23 Introduction 02:19 Interlude: Mr. Darcy proposes - Pride and Prejudice (1995) 03:19 Best Ghost Ship 07:11 Best Friendship 12:10 Best SIde Ship 21:10 Best Main Ship 27:49 Outro

The Second Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards are here! In Part 1, Ben and NiNi award the actors and actresses who stood out among a crowded field in 2023. Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740238151164067840/the-viib-awards-acting-by-ben-and-nini?source=share] 00:00 Welcome 01:23 Introduction 04:43 Interlude: Norma's ready for her close-up - Sunset Boulevard (1950) 05:29 Rising Star 08:59 Best Cast 12:49 Best Pair 17:03 Best Actor 19:57 Best Acted Scene 24:10 Best Delivered Line 28:43 Outro

We gotta clear the decks ahead of the VIIB Awards, so it's a grab bag episode! Ben, NiNi and Shan talk a bunch of shows that we couldn't NOT talk about, and award the fall's Girl You Tried. Episode transcript available here. [https://www.tumblr.com/the-conversation-pod/740060316509044737/tens-and-chops-vol-1-a-grab-bag-episode?source=share] 00:01:15 Tens and Chops 00:04:20 Kiseki: Dear To Me 00:12:20 Dangerous Romance 00:26:05 Love In Translation 00:41:14 I Cannot Reach You 00:54:43 My Personal Weatherman 01:07:01 If It's With You 01:15:38 Absolute Zero 01:21:05 My Dear Gangster Oppa 01:33:32 Middleman's Love 01:49:07 Final Thoughts, and Girl, You Tried