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PODCAST

The Conversation

The Conversation is a podcast all about Asian BL/GL/QL and other queer media, coming at you from a film crit perspective. We swan in when we can to shoot the shit on faves, flops and trends, artistry and industry nerdery, and also crack and simping, because we contain multitudes. Ben (@bengiyo) is our executive producer. NiNi (@shortpplfedup) is our editor. Shan (@lurkingshan) is our associate producer. Our theme music is "Dedication" by Ron Gelinas Chillout Lounge (Music promoted by

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

77:06

Mixed Nuts, Part 1: Genre Smoothies

The Conversation ·

2024/05/15

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.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Grab Bag Part 1: Genre

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76:44

Roses, Thorns and Buds

The Conversation ·

2024/05/08

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.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Introduction00:03:54 Last Twilight: Roses and Thorns00:09:35 Last Twilight: Failed Expectations00:15:54 Last Twilight: Ableism00:22:02 Last Twilight: Buds00:25:22 Last Twilight: Final Thoughts and Ratings00:29:26

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53:07

Let's Go, Lesbians!

The Conversation ·

2024/04/29

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.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Introduction00:02:41 Chaser Game W: A Flop00:18:31 She Loves To Cook, and She Loves To Eat00:23:14 SLTCSLTE: The Women00:34:18 SLTCSLTE: Yako and The New House00:39:17 SLTCSLTE: The Food and Nagumo00:43:02 SLTCSLTE: Depictions of Intimacy00:50:53 Final thoughts and Ratings

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55:15

DISPATCH! (The Ossan's Love Episode)

The Conversation ·

2024/04/22

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.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Introduction and Some Context00:06:25 Ossan’s Love History and Summary00:13:42 The Characters00:28:23 Love or Dead and In The Sky00:39:00 Ossan’s Love Returns00:45:33 Final thoughts and Ratings

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90:00

The Pillars

The Conversation ·

2024/04/15

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.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Intro00:03:58 Cooking Crush: A surprisingly good romcom00:08:02 CC: Comedy ain't easy00:16:59 CC: Dynamite's queer writing and Ten as a rare romantic lead00:32:08 CC: Final comments and ratings00:41:14 Cherry Magic Thailand: Beating expectations and simping for Tay Tawan00:54:13

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2:49

Spring Teaser

The Conversation ·

2024/04/08

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.

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86:35

Winter Lagniappe

The Conversation ·

2024/01/29

Ben, NiNi, Ginny and Shan look back at 2023 and ahead to 2024 in QL.Episode transcript available here.00:00:00 Welcome00:01:15 Introduction00:03:24 Question: Holding back takes for the podcast00:05:39 Question: Under-discussed topics in the discourse00:12:44 Question: The draw of Japanese BL00:20:45 Question: Stories about older characters00:25:22 Question: Cross-country adaptations00:31:21 Question: Biggest wins and losses of the bl industry in 202300:36:38 Question: The next big BL trope

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47:30

The VIIB Awards: Special Class

The Conversation ·

2024/01/27

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.00:00 Welcome01:23 Introduction03:03 Interlude: The Beach - Moonlight (2016)04:18 Honourable Mention: The Day I Loved You10:26 Honourable Mention: Chen Yi and Ai Di - Kiseki: Dear To Me15:44 Honourable Mention: Sasake and Miyano Graduation21:41 6th Man: Mark Pakin Kuna-anuvit31:33 Standout

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41:30

The VIIB Awards: Top Tings

The Conversation ·

2024/01/25

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.00:00 Welcome01:23 Introduction02:29 Interlude: The very best in nosy neighbours - Big Eden (2000)03:02 Best GL05:03 Best Genre Romance10:18 Best Workplace Romance16:02 Best Second Chance Romance21:20 Best High School Romance34:45 BL of the Year40:09 Outro

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35:00

The VIIB Awards: Immortal Technique

The Conversation ·

2024/01/24

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.00:00 Welcome01:23 Introduction02:34 Interlude: Making a movie, Eddie Mannix style - Hail, Caesar! (2016)03:57 Best OST Song10:03 Best Music16:35 Best Production22:13 Best Writing27:17 Best Direction34:19 Outro

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29:25

The VIIB Awards: Ship Ahoy!

The Conversation ·

2024/01/23

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.00:00 Welcome01:23 Introduction02:19 Interlude: Mr. Darcy proposes - Pride and Prejudice (1995)03:19 Best Ghost Ship07:11 Best Friendship12:10 Best SIde Ship21:10 Best Main Ship27:49 Outro

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29:47

The VIIB Awards: Acting!

The Conversation ·

2024/01/22

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.00:00 Welcome01:23 Introduction04:43 Interlude: Norma’s ready for her close-up - Sunset Boulevard (1950)05:29 Rising Star08:59 Best Cast12:49 Best Pair17:03 Best Actor19:57 Best Acted Scene24:10 Best Delivered Line28:43 Outro

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114:45

Tens and Chops, Vol. 1 (A Grab Bag Episode)

The Conversation ·

2024/01/20

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.00:01:15 Tens and Chops00:04:20 Kiseki: Dear To Me00:12:20 Dangerous Romance00:26:05 Love In Translation00:41:14 I Cannot Reach You00:54:43 My Personal Weatherman01:07:01 If It's With You01:15:38 Absolute Zero01:21:05 My Dear Gangster Oppa01:33:32 Middleman's Love01:49:07 Final

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65:30

OM NOM NOM (The What Did You Eat Yesterday? Episode)

The Conversation ·

2024/01/15

A second season provided the perfect excuse for us to finally GEEK OUT about our very top show. Ben and NiNi talk all things What Did You Eat Yesterday?Episode transcript available here.01:15 What Did You Eat Yesterday?: The Granddaddy12:08 Favorite Episodes19:22 The Show that Keeps Coming Back24:57 Season 2: Mortality, Family, and Hets43:10 WDYEY? is So Gay and Found Family50:54 Let’s Talk About The Food56:36 Final Thoughts (And A Moment to Drag Nobu)

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61:00

*Swoon* (The I Feel You Linger In The Air Episode)

The Conversation ·

2024/01/11

It was an uneven year for Tee Bundit, but he clearly saved his best for last. Ben, NiNi and Ginny talk the epic romanticism of I Feel You Linger In The Air.Episode transcript available here.01:20 I Feel You Linger in the Air: Big Damn Romance21:35 Depictions of Intimacy30:21 Head v. Heart37:37 Beyond the Romance and Story Integration49:15 Anticipating the Special (Or Not)54:08 Final Thoughts

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58:32

Bottom Dementia (The Only Friends Episode)

The Conversation ·

2024/01/08

It’s the Only Friends episode and David is back! Ben, NiNi and David start the year talking about six fucked up boys, and how frustrating fandom can be.Episode transcript available here.00:00 Introduction01:20 Only Friends and What We Liked13:47 What We Wanted from the Show26:40 Where the Story Breaks Down38:40 Bottom Dementia™47:38 Do Not Take Only Friends Seriously51:00 Final Thoughts (Two Months Later)

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7:43

Winter Teaser

The Conversation ·

2024/01/04

Fall gave us a few absolute bangers and an assortment of fair-to-flops. We’re ready to talk about them all with some very special guests, give out our VIIB Awards, and look back at 2023 one last time.Episode transcript available here.

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76:03

Julie's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (The Holiday Clip Show)

The Conversation ·

2023/12/25

Transcription team takeover! Ginny and Shan pull back the curtain and talk some of their favourite outtakes from the past year of conversations in our holiday clip show special.Episode transcript available here.00:20-Transcription Team Takeover06:57-Goofing Off14:45-Sex in BL22:33-Industry Stuff38:33-Gay Rants51:46-Other Media01:07:57-Gratuitous Mentions of What Did You Eat Yesterday?01:15:11-Wrap-up

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102:13

Fall Lagniappe

The Conversation ·

2023/10/30

In our Fall Lagniappe, Ben and NiNi reflect on a relatively quiet season, discuss some old and new shows with Shan, and look ahead to the end of the year.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome03:03-Letters16:15-The Pornographer29:20-Coffee Prince43:05-Be Mine, SuperStar49:40-Hidden Agenda56:14-Minato's Laundromat 201:06:47-Why R U? (Korea)01:09:51-Sing My Crush01:20:43-Heartstopper 201:30:45-Girl, You Tried01:40:23-Looking Ahead

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55:54

In Your Lavender (The Wedding Plan Episode)

The Conversation ·

2023/10/26

Y’all, MAME gave us one. Nobody’s more shocked than us. Ben and NiNi talk Wedding Plan.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:16-Intro03:00-MAME's previous crimes15:18-Realities of the closet and fandom misunderstanding the show29:23-Things we love and final ratings37:26-And another thing! The Wedding Plan special

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