KinnPorsche Episode 10
Jun. 11th, 2022 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tofuplusbeastI am screaming here as opposed to Tw*tter because right now, Thailand is going through a serious situation and people need the trending hashtags clear so that protestors and civilians on the ground can know what's going on and be up to date.
It's interesting to see the venues for fandom also be used for social service.
Anyway, aside from that,
OH MAN.
So I don't have much attachment to the KinnPorsche novels--I've only read a somewhat shaky English translation of the VegasPete chapters on Wattpad by a fan who openly admitted that English was their second language and they had no knowledge of how to edit to make the translation flow better, and to my knowledge the official English release of the main novels was done by the actor who plays Vegas, Bible, who is fluent in English but it's apparently not been proofread either.
That said, I know the (very vocal) fanbase on le internets have been up in arms whenever something is remotely edited/changed in the show from the novels, but speaking as someone familiar with adaptations and editing--I think the changes the show makes are good? There's more room for the actors and staff to focus on character study moments, fleshing out the characters more and making sure the tone switches aren't as jarring.
The series itself has been pretty bang on with its sets, lighting, and overall flavor, but Episode 10 finally brings that Hotline Miami meets Bangkok feel of neon-drenched grime that I've been waiting for, and not just because I'm a VegasPete stan (cough)
DO YOU LIKE HURTING OTHER PEOPLE, indeed.
The show has been setting up VegasPete's relationship to be a reflection of loyalty, understanding and redemption through pain, which in the book was explored through Vegas' systematic torture of Pete-->their inevitable BDSM relationship--->ironic incredibly fluffy ending.
I think the show goes a bit further and puts forth the fact that Pete's got some hidden depths and darkness in himself as well (hiding behind a constant smile and never, ever truly letting anyone know his real thoughts or feelings, as well as his masochism and acceptance of inevitability), and Vegas' attraction to religious iconography, The Noble Eightfold Path, and the idea of the Five Precepts of Buddhism (which he has ironically not followed at all, not in the slightest).
Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country, so as an Asian-American I find it really interesting to see elements of religious iconography being associated with a devil-like character using Buddhist ideology and concepts, as opposed to the usual reliance on Christian/Satanic imagery. Buddhism in general follows the idea that life is suffering, and through suffering and righteousness we reach a state of enlightenment. The end goal is to break free from the cycle of death and rebirth, so again, I find it very fitting that Vegas and Pete both inflict pain on each other (Well, Vegas by mostly physically and sexually torturing Pete, while Pete gets under his skin completely to the point where it even surprises Pete himself) , while Vegas (possibly jokingly) keeps telling Pete that they'll always meet in the next life, over and over again, despite the fact that he seems to be obsessed with the idea of breaking free of everything and transcending in accordance with Buddhist ideology.
Anyway, the show's handling of VegasPete got me thinking beyond what the novel put forth, and now here I am, cracking open my old Buddhist Sunday School prayer book to try and figure out what the heck is being referenced in the show lmfao. Again, I have no time for personal art projects (busy with stuff and streaming) but there's so much VegasPete I want to draw now, especially since this is a religion I grew up with and am very familiar with w.
ANYWAYS I very much enjoyed episode 10. It had so much good stuff in--thrilling Yakuza/RGG moments, KimChay sweetness and heartbreak, Tankhun stepping up, grindhouse gore and b-movie sleaze(!!) and KinnPorsche back together again. This is genuinely my favorite BL series of all time, now. Cannot wait for episode 11!
It's interesting to see the venues for fandom also be used for social service.
Anyway, aside from that,
OH MAN.
So I don't have much attachment to the KinnPorsche novels--I've only read a somewhat shaky English translation of the VegasPete chapters on Wattpad by a fan who openly admitted that English was their second language and they had no knowledge of how to edit to make the translation flow better, and to my knowledge the official English release of the main novels was done by the actor who plays Vegas, Bible, who is fluent in English but it's apparently not been proofread either.
That said, I know the (very vocal) fanbase on le internets have been up in arms whenever something is remotely edited/changed in the show from the novels, but speaking as someone familiar with adaptations and editing--I think the changes the show makes are good? There's more room for the actors and staff to focus on character study moments, fleshing out the characters more and making sure the tone switches aren't as jarring.
The series itself has been pretty bang on with its sets, lighting, and overall flavor, but Episode 10 finally brings that Hotline Miami meets Bangkok feel of neon-drenched grime that I've been waiting for, and not just because I'm a VegasPete stan (cough)
DO YOU LIKE HURTING OTHER PEOPLE, indeed.
The show has been setting up VegasPete's relationship to be a reflection of loyalty, understanding and redemption through pain, which in the book was explored through Vegas' systematic torture of Pete-->their inevitable BDSM relationship--->ironic incredibly fluffy ending.
I think the show goes a bit further and puts forth the fact that Pete's got some hidden depths and darkness in himself as well (hiding behind a constant smile and never, ever truly letting anyone know his real thoughts or feelings, as well as his masochism and acceptance of inevitability), and Vegas' attraction to religious iconography, The Noble Eightfold Path, and the idea of the Five Precepts of Buddhism (which he has ironically not followed at all, not in the slightest).
Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country, so as an Asian-American I find it really interesting to see elements of religious iconography being associated with a devil-like character using Buddhist ideology and concepts, as opposed to the usual reliance on Christian/Satanic imagery. Buddhism in general follows the idea that life is suffering, and through suffering and righteousness we reach a state of enlightenment. The end goal is to break free from the cycle of death and rebirth, so again, I find it very fitting that Vegas and Pete both inflict pain on each other (Well, Vegas by mostly physically and sexually torturing Pete, while Pete gets under his skin completely to the point where it even surprises Pete himself) , while Vegas (possibly jokingly) keeps telling Pete that they'll always meet in the next life, over and over again, despite the fact that he seems to be obsessed with the idea of breaking free of everything and transcending in accordance with Buddhist ideology.
Anyway, the show's handling of VegasPete got me thinking beyond what the novel put forth, and now here I am, cracking open my old Buddhist Sunday School prayer book to try and figure out what the heck is being referenced in the show lmfao. Again, I have no time for personal art projects (busy with stuff and streaming) but there's so much VegasPete I want to draw now, especially since this is a religion I grew up with and am very familiar with w.
ANYWAYS I very much enjoyed episode 10. It had so much good stuff in--thrilling Yakuza/RGG moments, KimChay sweetness and heartbreak, Tankhun stepping up, grindhouse gore and b-movie sleaze(!!) and KinnPorsche back together again. This is genuinely my favorite BL series of all time, now. Cannot wait for episode 11!
