Why don't we get BLs second seasons?
- Tonei Angel
- Jan 31, 2023
- 7 min read
Hello! this is my fourth follow-up post!
I hope everybody is doing amazing, as I hope my future self is also doing well, otherwise I will edit this out and add some crying paragraph over how bad I am doing and how I want to just. anyway!
So, for today's post, I am writing about second seasons, as we don't get them often in BLs, but the real question is why? well, I have some thoughts on why I think so.
As you guys know, my Tumblr blog used to focus on this type of posts, and reviews or memes, so Hehe. I just wanted to say that, that's all.
1. Time frames of bls.
The number one reason why I think this doesn't happen often is that most of BLs use 12 episodes, and in those 12 episodes of 40-45 minutes they address 2029093 issues. BLs such as Don't Say No, which threw 20 issues at us, were solved in 10 minutes and then moved on. We don't need a second season, and we don't want it either. Why? because the writing was bad the first time, what other problems are you going to include in this problematic show? Or Korean bls, which most of them would give you the vilest type of issues such as neglecting parents, and then it just... resolves itself. A second season would be beneficial maybe to explain what the fish happened, but honestly, if you wouldn't solve it right the first time, then maybe just don't include it. Unless is a cliffhanger for... you guessed it, a second season.
On the other hand. Take for example Sotus, which did get a second season, Sotus deals with the bare minimum of issues (first season), which includes, first love, homophobia, stalking, etc. at a superficial level that is, but season two, however, deals with jealousy, the workplace, separation from your loved one, (at a superficial level as well), etc. As you can see, Sotus divided its issues into two different parts, which is fitting, even when they were explored at a superficial level (count the many times I have said that). However, most BLs do not do this at all. They like to shove it all in just one season, and you can, as long as you write it cohesively. Take Bad Buddy, for example, it does not need another season, why? because the writing was just too good, it addressed many different issues cohesively and the end was fitted for the show. Unless they go on to show what happened during certain years and how the relationship developed into a more mature one, but other than that, it is fine just the way it is.
There are other shows such as Semantic Error, in which a second season will help show the development of the relationship between robot boy and charming boy, which would be a treat. To see how the shy, timid, but angry guy gets to develop his feelings and how he handles being in a serious relationship out in the public, and such. That would work perfectly fine.
2. Mediocre acting.
Every company is at fault for not training its actors as they should. Most of the time, bls shows get buried into a pile of others because of the lack of promotions, however, sometimes is because of the acting and the writing. Sotus was a hit just for being about two guys who are not gay but they fall for each other, but it wouldn't have had a second season if it wasn't for that (I just ate that sentence UP). Quote me on that one. Sotus was almost everywhere, even on USA Netflix, so it is natural that they would make a follow-up, however, the acting on that one? super F. it is bad, and now that we are living in a different era where Bls are well-known, people take this into account. Shows like Vice Versa or Unforgotten Night have been receiving criticism over their lead's acting skills, to the point where that is the reason why people stop watching them shows (including me, Vice Versa had it's up and downs, but I finished). Others such as Bad Buddy or KinnPorsche have received positive reviews because of their main couple and side characters' acting, etc. You get the point, nobody is watching bls nowadays just because of gay characters (or I would like to think, because from what I see, the new fans of bls are still doing that, I think it is the older audience or the ones who have been in this for a while now who takes this stuff into account). So, nobody is going to make a second season of a show whose main couple was heavily criticized for their lack of chemistry and/or bad acting... just as nobody is asking for a Fish Upon the Sky second season...
3. Lack of creativity (aka. bad writing).
A lot of shows nowadays (count the many times I have said this word and you'll be rich) feel rushed, not the soap opera rushed but just painfully rushed. At least with telenovelas, we get 100 episodes for one season... but for bls is like everything is rushed, and the writing just does not make any sense. One of my most anticipated BLs was Vice Versa, and that show started well but then it just became the same BL formula. At some point, I forgot about the whole different universe thing, and that is just bad when your show is about... the universe thing. Then take 2gether into account, the show did well enough, of course, but the writing is not the best. They needed to make a mini-second season to include what the first season lacked, kissing and just more drama lol. Like you wouldn't need to do that had the first season been written out better. Anyways, it's not like I am a writer. But because of this lack of creativity, most of these shows end up with just one season, there is no room to make a new one, or even worse, there is just too much room to make a new season which is bad because we all know all you want is to amend all the mess you did for the first run.
Nobody is going to watch the second season of Love by Chance, the writing was bad the first time and there is no guarantee that the second round will be better. Sometimes it does, movies do this all the time, well, sometimes. Horror films such as Ouija, got a follow-up that was better than the original (or so they say, I do not like the second film because of the lack of jump scares lol), or Toy Story 3, which in my book it is a horror film, that final scene, traumatizing. But these are not films, these are shows, and if your writing and lack of creativity are not working, best believe we ain't watching and no second season will happen.
Or Aliens which is better than Alien, fight me.
4. The pandemic effect.
This is something I came up with. After the pandemic, have you all noticed how there is one BL from each company that has an impact on like the whole industry and they have the other shows, the ones that were delayed because of the pandemic, had reshoots, rewrites, and recasting? They did not work at all. Shows such as Enchante, Tonhon Chonlatee, and others that I forgot about, did not make a single impact on anyone, and everyone probably forgot about them. But the pandemic kinda prompts everybody to release 2-3 bls with the same actors, which just makes the show forgettable... like do you get what I am saying? like the pandemic prompted (ayeeee count this one too) these companies to write and shoot many bls to keep up for some reason, I don’t know, money-wise? maybe. or relevancy? lol, I don’t know if my point is coming across, but anywho.
5. Finally. The over-saturation of BLs.
Just how many BLs are coming out this year in comparison with 2019? I mean don't get it twisted, I am all for the gays, but when you release 10 songs on one year calendar, people kinda get bored of you... like babe, let me enjoy that one song you dropped a month ago. Same thing with bls, and even movies, you see how sometimes superhero movies don't do well, yeah, people get tired. And when you have three bls come out in 5 months with the same actors... it is saturation. It does not help the fact that they are short, and you just can't relate to the characters, and that the plot is similar in each one of them, which sums up all of the reasons I mentioned before. Had BLs been longer, 18 episodes, 45 minutes, and then take a break, and write something cohesive, then maybe, we could be getting second seasons, otherwise, bls every year just falls into the forgotten categories, just like a lot of other shows outside of the genre, but I write about BLs in specific so.
But then you got those that were lucky and got a second season. Mostly those bls that offered the bare minimum (or that had a simple storyline) and benefited from this, the second season helped tied up some loose ends. To my Star, Love by Chance, TharnType, etc. from the bunch, To my Star deserved, the first season was too simple, cute, but simple, so a second season was a much-needed treat. Others that could benefit from this are Light on Me, and even complex shows such as Manner of Death, only because it has room to explore other issues. But shows such as LBC or TT... did not deserve it. and the fact that those made no noise whatsoever, they trended for like an hour, and then... nada. so, maybe, leave it at that, you started out controversial, leave it. noticed how these two are Mame's bls too *giggles*
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