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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

69:39

On Time and Memory

The Conversation ·

2023/10/23

It’s always time fuckery vs head fuckery when we head to the second chance romance well, and the fall was no different. Ben and NiNi talk Tokyo In April Is…and Be My Favourite.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:16-Intro03:10-Tokyo In April Is...11:01-TIAI: Comparisons with the manga14:15-TIAI: Strength of execution26:23-Be My Favorite34:00-BMF: The time travel mechanic44:47-BMF: Dings52:57-BMF: Jittirain and Gawin and Krist01:00:58-Outro

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91:47

The ITSAY Anniversary Show, Part 2

The Conversation ·

2023/10/19

In part 2 of our retrospective, NiNi leads a panel talk on I Promised You The Moon, and Ben and NiNi talk Last Twilight In Phuket.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:16-Intro08:00-Panel introduction08:45-How did you come to BL and ITSAY/IPTYM?14:35-Expectations of IPYTM22:40-Narrative structure31:36-Teh and Oh’s characters37:57-Presence or absence of queer community42:33-Relationship conflicts47:05-That snake Jai01:01:38-The ending and character development01:15:23-Favorite

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77:53

The ITSAY Anniversary Show, Part 1

The Conversation ·

2023/10/16

October marks the 3rd anniversary of the show that rewired the BL industry, and it felt like the right time for a retrospective. In part 1 Ben leads a panel talk on I Told Sunset About You.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Intro04:16-How did you come to ITSAY?11:31-Phuket as a setting19:00-Style and genre29:40-Characters36:18-Teh and Oh's dynamic50:07-Why do you care so much about ITSAY?01:04:08-Outro

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3:50

Fall Teaser

The Conversation ·

2023/10/12

Welcome to our fall series! We’re doing something a little different this season…

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118:58

Summer Lagniappe

The Conversation ·

2023/07/31

In our Summer Lagniappe, Ben, NiNi and a special guest discuss the ups and downs of the spring season and speculate on what we'll be talking about come the fall.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:15-Intro03:14-Talk Nice to Us13:11-Catch Up Corner13:59-My Only 12%22:52-Roommates of Poongduck 30426:14-She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat30:09-The Shipper59:46-Next Watches01:02:33-Me, My Husband, and My Husband’s Boyfriend01:15:53-Spring Roundup01:39:34-Girl, You Tried01:46:56-Looking

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113:54

Adult Swim, Vol. 1

The Conversation ·

2023/07/27

We haven’t written this much meta since the Bad Buddy era! Thailand put out two brain-melters at the very end of the season and we added an entire episode just for them. Ben and NiNi talk Step By Step and La Pluie.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:15-Intro02:13-Step by Step04:40-A Moment of Simping08:40-Big Themes16:52-The Romance25:45-Story Execution50:25-Where are we on Tee Bundit?53:10-La Pluie57:50-The Soulmate Myth01:08:22-Lomfon is Rude!01:13:30-Tai Also Deserves Some

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69:44

Comfort Food

The Conversation ·

2023/07/24

Japan is leaning into its cosy heartwarming bona fides and we’re (mostly) liking what it’s giving. Ben and NiNi talk J-BLs Jack O'Frost, Our Dining Table and Naked Dining.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:15-Intro02:01-Jack O'Frost23:40-Our Dining Table (Bokura no Shokutaku)48:00-Naked Dining (Zenra Meshi)01:02:50-The J-BL Victory Lap and the Food BL Flop

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93:05

Work, Bitch

The Conversation ·

2023/07/20

Office romance is shaping up to be the trend of the year, with more shows this spring vying to put their stamp on the subgenre. In this episode, we pit former collaborators Cheewin Thanamin and New Siwaj against each other with their pretty much opposite takes on workplace romance. Ben and NiNi talk Bed Friend and A Boss and A Babe.TW: Bed Friend discussion 2:47-41:01 including discussions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:15-Intro and Trigger

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125:00

Welcome Back My Boyfriend!

The Conversation ·

2023/07/17

2 hours, 8 specials...it's the Our Skyy 2 episode! Ben and NiNi break down and rank all 8 stories from worst to first, and talk a little bit about why sequels matter.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:15-Intro06:07-Vice Versa14:23-Star In My Mind19:20-Never Let Me Go28:00-A Boss and A Babe36:45-The Eclipse49:50-My School President01:00:24-Bad Buddy x A Tale of Thousand Stars01:59:13-Overall Score for Our Skyy 2

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91:18

The Eighth Sense Episode

The Conversation ·

2023/07/13

Ben and NiNi talk The Eighth Sense, and Ben explains the whole Hedwig thing.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:04-The Eighth Sense18:00-The Relationships Between the Seniors and Juniors27:45-The Hedwig Incident36:32-Ae Ri42:50-Ji Hyun and Jae Won50:38-Joon Pyo and Boss Lady56:28-Let’s Talk About The Kissing (And Episode 6)01:06:21-The Party Scene and Forgiveness01:17:14-On a Possible Second Season01:24:10-Checking in Two Months Later

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97:18

Round 1: FIGHT!

The Conversation ·

2023/07/10

Korea cranked out a bunch of BLs in the spring, and we can’t agree on any of them. Ben and NiNi talk All The Liquors, A Shoulder To Cry On, Our Dating Sim and Unintentional Love Story.Episode transcript available here.00:00-Welcome01:02-Intro02:43-All the Liquors13:20-A Shoulder to Cry On31:54-Our Dating Sim57:25-Unintentional Love Story01:32:02-Conclusion

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3:06

Summer Teaser

The Conversation ·

2023/07/06

Welcome to our summer series! Spring was a season of challenging and thought-provoking watches, and we’re ready to get to talking about them. Here's a little tease of what's in store.

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61:26

Spring Lagniappe

The Conversation ·

2023/04/24

In our Spring Lagniappe, Ben and NiNi look back at the winter season as a whole, catch up on some stuff we missed, and talk a little about what we’re watching now, and what we plan to be watching over the next season.

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78:50

Second Chance Romance

The Conversation ·

2023/04/20

Everything old is new again, in four shows that might make you consider calling up an ex…or not. Ben and NiNi talk The Warp Effect, The Director Who Buys Me Dinner, The End of the World With You and Individual Circumstances.TW: discussions of suicide 30:06-36:12

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55:05

Season 2: Electric Boogaloo

The Conversation ·

2023/04/17

So nice you gotta do it twice? These three shows went back to the well for a second outing, with mixed results. Ben and NiNi talk Cutie Pie 2 You, Utsukushii Kare 2 and Between Us.

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76:12

The Moonlight Chicken Episode

The Conversation ·

2023/04/13

Yes, a whole goddamn episode. We’ve got a lot to say y’all, buckle in! Ben and NiNi talk Moonlight Chicken.

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60:48

I AM YOUR BOSS

The Conversation ·

2023/04/10

These three shows are the stuff of HR nightmares, but we suppose the course of true love never did run smooth. Ben and NiNi talk GAP the Series, The New Employee, and HIStory 5: Love in the Future.

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85:00

High School Heartthrobs

The Conversation ·

2023/04/06

We’re kicking things off this season by looking at two wildly differing takes on high school romance. Ben and NiNi talk My School President, and Never Let Me Go.

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1:17

Spring Teaser

The Conversation ·

2023/04/03

We’re back! Welcome to our spring series! We were well-fed this winter so we’ve got a LOT to talk about, and we’re really excited to get to it, and here's a little tease for ya.

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65:20

Winter Lagniappe

The Conversation ·

2023/01/27

LAGNIAPPE \LAN-yap\ noun: A French Creole word that means 'a little extra'. We discovered our two cultures have this word in common, so we absolutely had to use it for our bonus episodes!In our Winter Lagniappe, Ben and NiNi break down the shows we will be, won't be and may be watching in 2023. Will NiNi return to Taiwanese BL? Will Ben get his watchlist down under 50? Will this finally be the year Summerdaze comes out? Nobody knows what the future holds, but the speculation is always fun.Episode

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