In case you’re wondering why Thai BL is such a hit: it’s a capitalist reification and idealization of gay experience. It uses the “gay gaze” — to salivate over good-looking and sexy actors portraying gay or gender-bending roles. It makes viewers live vicariously through fantasy. Reflexivity is a human reaction to Thai BL. We aspire to have what the story offers. We admire the characters while dreaming to have what they have. We wish and want to be in that idealized gay relationship. We want what we don’t have. We yearn for that fantasy to be real.