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The ending explained and likely, why they didn't kiss on the lips...
I, too, was initially confused by this lack of a lip-to-lip kiss, which is present in virtually every other BL. I kept waiting and waiting for one, but it never happened, which struck me as very odd.And then it dawned on me that this must have likely been made during the height of the CoVID pandemic, which is why they didn't kiss, probably. I remember reading on some other shows, even in the US, which took CoVID less seriously than South Korea, that at the time, writers of shows were trying to figure out how to do a romance without a kissing scene.
Or perhaps, it is as others suggested that they weren't quite in a relationship, which wasn't made clear as it could. They looked like there were in the process of getting into one. Still, given the one's fear of commitment, it wasn't going to happen until he was absolutely certain he wouldn't be abandoned, so for him, a kiss on the lips was taking that very last step, which he wasn't quite ready to make on their first vacation of away together. So when the other kissed him on the ear when he was sleeping, it was like him saying that he could wait. So in that way, the writers had them taking their commitment to each other seriously.
When they were on the bed at the end, they spent most of their time learning more about each other, which also goes to indicate that they were still building the foundation of that last step. The pajamas were the commitment-phobes protection trying to take the relationship one step at a time rather than rushing into it. I don't believe for one minute it is because the writers themselves were homophobic. But rather, they followed what the characters would actually do, rather than forcing the two to kiss, just to kiss.
So then the question becomes, why didn't they take that last step before the show ended? Why go for an open ending where the viewer has to assume they would? I blame that more on South Korean BLs not being very long in general. I've read the webtoon on when the show is based, and yes, they kiss there, and even at the very end, hint at having sex, but this only happens once they are living together. However, even though that webtoon is only 30 episodes, it still covers more territory than this show could in the 3.5 hours. They went for quality over quantity focusing on scenes and letting them develop rather than trying to cover everything from the webtoon to the point the two were living together.
These two had a complicated relationship, and I think the writers did a good job conveying that, for them, a kiss was more than just a normal kiss. It was a deeper commitment. I believe if they had more episodes, they could have explored the second half of their relationship rather than relegating it to a single episode that flew by.
So I think given the likely restrictions of CoVID, even preventing the classic accidental kiss you sometimes see in BL, and the character's motivations, it's not unreasonable we didn't get the ending kiss we hoped.
Given that, I rate the series as a 10/10 since it's better than most other BLs of comparable length for South Korea. Though it's not on the level of "Semantic Error" or "The Eighth Sense," which both blow away almost any other BL stories, this is still quite good. It definitely is within the top ten of all South Korean BLs. I don't compare it to either Japanese or Thailand BLs since those have different feels and are often longer, especially Thai BL that can go on for 12 episodes, over an hour long each.
If these BLs could be broadcast on regular TV as they are in Thailand, then we could have much longer BLs from South Korea, and we wouldn't have to be stuck with relatively short ones for the amount of source material they are trying to cover when based on webtoons. This BL does better than most in hitting the essential scenes but not having enough time for quite enough to conclude their relationship, leaving a more open ending.
I also wish to say that I found a lot of the romantic lines between the two males lead much truer to life than most other BL. They kept their semi-antagonist dialog throughout, partially as a defense mechanism and partially due to their general inability to handle intense emotions, relying on humor instead.
So, in conclusion, I hope that others that read these reviews will understand that this BL is still very much worth watching. Don't let all the other negatives review, mainly due to people's issues with the ending, prevent you from watching this BL that gets a lot more right than wrong.
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it’s fine to enjoy media that isn’t revolutionary
Overall i really enjoyed it. It was a short watch, about 3 and 1/2 hours total. And it was entertaining. it’s not the best most revolutionary piece of queer media to ever exist and it’s not pushing boundaries it’s just relatively simple love story.They never kiss, which is fine, and they also never officially say they’re together and that’s also okay. I really like their relationship and the mutual understanding that they have about their love for eachother. Not all things have to be explained through spoken exposition, we the audience are supposed understand the subtext.
I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much. i am not a fan of queer media with homophobia. as a queer person myself, i am painfully aware of homophobia so i don’t want to experience it vicariously through characters.
the time skips at the end were a bit confusing but that’s probably my biggest complaint.
Anyways i genuinely enjoyed it, i recommend it if you just want smth to casually enjoy and wanna turn off ur brain for 3 hours.
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Very very nice drama.
Few to none nonsense.
Few to none illogical stuffs.
Almost followed the novel`s plot. Of course there were a few changes because of the censorship but nonetheless almost all important elements are there.
Nice effects, perfect choice of cast. I love the chemistry of Kim Jaehan and Shin Yechan. Those subtle glance and metaphor. Aside from those, the story itself is perfect. It makes you feel sorry for Taehyun at the same times to Dayeol but despite those, still have morals.
Masterpiece.
Worth watching.
Recommended
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Lost my interest
I ´loved’ watching it despite it not having any kiss because love isn’t all about kiss etc…The biggest thinh I disliked was the other bullying his later on interest and even when the other would tell him what he did to him (ruining his name, stealing away something valuable to him, mocking him) : bullying, he wouldn’t apologize. Not sincerely… And he would keep going on with that like…
Because that’s actually a huge red flag to be dragging someone's else name in the mud just for fun. I hate this character so much because he might have a trauma but as someone said in the comments on viki "that's a reason not a justification" to what he is doing.
At the beginning, I was stunned by the fact that the whole school (especially the teachers, the nurse and even the archer really mean coach) were calling him out for getting caught apparently having something going on with another guy like it was something really bad. They didn’t even bother to hear out from his point of view…Very lame.
The archer’s father is so swear ! I wish him all the best ?❤️!
Also how how can writers turn bullies to lovers atp ??? With all what have happened between them ? and so smoothly ?. I know the same occurs with ´straight’ romances but even that got me so annoyed. I don’t stand this trope and will never ! And people saying otherwise and attacking the others that have other opinions should mature because nobody should ´enjoy’ watching someone getting bullied (here I’m not talking about those who liked the series or whatsoever just those who cant stand other people having different opinions).
Then I feel kinda bad for the bully (tae hyeon?) thinking about how nobody actually cared about him when he went missing for like 3 days. Even his three closest friends and especially that one other bully who is supposed to be his best friend didn’t check on him and just assumed he was doing well because ´they were used to him going missing for a few days’. Then even the school went to asking if one of his classmate could check on him as if school didn’t normally have their students address and phone number…?
EDIT : dropping this at ep 3 (4min into it) because I’ve just lost my interest in it 😭
No memorable OST BUT the acting and the cast IS SO good OMG !!!
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A drama I’ll never forget
I literally love this drama so much because nowadays school BL drama are actually having worse plots and have zero chemistry while A shoulder to cry on actually covers all of that. I actually saw this drama when it first came out, but didn’t finish it until now and I’m pretty disappointed that I never finished it until now because it was so good. I am also a fan of Omega X and have met the actor of both Tae Hyun and Da Yeol in real life. This drama feels pretty real to me because of how both of the ML story’s are told in both point of views. Da Yeol’s whole life story is about him being a really good at archery to the point he even made it to the championships, but the sad part is that it was revealed that he actually has no interest in archery it that he’s been playing for so long to the point that he lost interest, but still plays it because he has nothing else left to do since he dedicated his whole life to archery. Tae Hyun’s story actually broke me, since he deals with both PTSD and depression since he doesn’t have parents he was put in an orphanage, but didn’t really talk he did end up getting picked up by a couple that doesn’t have any kids. One day his “mom” got pregnant, but you know when the baby comes he’s gonna be forgotten about and no one will care for him so one day while his aunt was watching him, he ran away to a park and once his “mom” came home she started to look everywhere for him, but once she found him they got into a car accident. Which caused the mom to not have a baby anymore so she became depressed that she LITERALLY jumped in front of her own child. So now Tae Hyun has to deal with the rath of his aunt blaming him for the death of his mom. To the point that she even came to the school to yell at him and that’s when Da Yeol found out but heard that he murdered so he became scared of Tae Hyun to the point Tae Hyun couldn’t deal with it anymore that he tried to d!e by hitting a pot at his head. But luckily Da Yeol helped him out after that. Which then started their chemistry with each other, what I love is that Da Yeol literally quit archery for the reason being is that he has something else that he has interest in and wants to dedicate everything to and Tae Hyun realizing that he can’t live without Da Yeol in his life because he became so important to him. What I really love is the last line which isn’t too accurate but it’s “If one day we fall apart again just come find me because you will always be a shoulder for me to cry on” I literally almost started to bawl my eyes out because that line is one the best last lines I have ever heard. I literally feel bad for whoever is reading this because it’s so long and I basically said the whole plot, but it proves that A shoulder to cry on is such a good drama. I really recommend this drama so much because it was really good and I didn’t regret watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
Hated it from the first 5 mins.. Sexual Assault is not a joke.
Stop making characters who objectively suck and expecting us to sit through a drama about them.I hate episode so much it made my stomach turn. Not only did the lie and say the ML attacked them sexually, which is a serious crime, they could have jeopardized all the ML’s hard work with archery over the years.
The writers should be ashamed of themselves to create something like this. Sexual assault is a big issue and minimizing that is so upsetting.
But I really shouldn’t be surprised seeing how South Korea minimizes sexual assault cases in real life. How disgusting of those writers. Shame on them!
In the future, I plan to avoid any drama written by these people or that has the 2ML acting in it. This whole experience has really triggered me.
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Don't read the synopsis on the details page! it spoils the first episode!
I have been waiting so long for this show to start airing. I didn't read the synopsis of the series so when I say I was surprised when I watched the first episode boy is that an understatement. I thought that it would be the stereotypical troupe where one character is broken and the other character gets magically thrown into said broken characters life and they heal together but that is not what the first episode is about. I like that the first episode is nothing like I had imagined. The first episode is attention grabbing , and let's us quickly feel a connection and develop a fondness for the 1st lead (Archer) I can't wait to see the development of the relationship between the two main characters from their first meeting. I also pray that our 2nd lead (class president) has good character development later in the show. The class president is cheeky, and cunning but he is a jerk and gets on my nerves I know that's kind of the whole point but like the 1st lead I want to throw a good punch in the direction of the 2nd leads smile.Was this review helpful to you?
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tak mělo to své mouchy
Bylo to fajn až na to jak si omlátil květináč o hlavu, což jaki nechápu jak si dokázal tak okrvit čelo.Tomu dlouhovlasýmu bych ten květináč o tu hlavu ale klidně hodila. co se sere do toho kdo koho má rad. jen žárlil, ze jeho nikdo rad nemá no. blbecek.
Můžete mi pak vysvětlit, když bylo o dva roky později, tak proč oba vypadali ještě mladší než na ty střední omg.
Ten špatný odstín rtenky v některých částech.
no a jako kde v ty poslední epizodě vzali ty bundy a ty další pyžama? jakoby to bylo v ceně? a jak si poznali kartacky, když byly oba kartacky stejný? no mám hodne otázek a málo odpovědi.
Jinak to bylo fajn. Oddechovka.
Herci jakoby z nich nejsou zrovna oskarový, ale šlo to.
Děj byl docela dobrý, takový basic s tím, že se zas umíralo a že zas měl někdo deprese, ze ten dotyčný zemřel kvůli němu. To už je takové klišé tady v tom všem.
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Je ne sais pas pourquoi j'ai regardé jusqu'au bout
Je n'attendais pas grand chose quand j'ai commencé le drama, mais il m'a déçu. Après dès le premier épisode j'ai su qu'il y avait de grands risques que ça me plaise pas : tourné autour du harcèlement, rien de très intéressant niveau perso... Mais très vite arrive une petite nuance, qui est le passé d'un des ado, qui rajoute du drame à ça, et qui dépeint un personnage profondément dépressif, ce à quoi je peux relate à un certain degré. Mais je trouve qu'il insiste beaucoup trop sur ça, et en font des tonnes. Je n'ai pas réussi à m'attacher aux personnages, et même l'intrigue sportive n'est pas palpitante, alors que pourtant, le tir à l'arc... Mais je voulais savoir si ça allait devenir plus profond, alors j'ai continué, ce n'est jamais arrivé. Ce qui sauve le drama pour moi ce sont les acteurs qui eux sont bon et interagisse bien ensemble.Was this review helpful to you?
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O BROMANCE MAIS DECEPCIONANTE DO MUNDO
Vamos começar pelo pontos positivos porque não são muitos.Ambos os protagonistas são bonitos, no começo uma cena ou outra é bonitinha e é interessante o passado traumático Jo Tae Hyun.
Pronto, agora vamos falar de todo o resto.
Gente, não é possível uma coisa dessas, eu não sei como tiveram a cara de pau de vender isso como um romance, no começo até vemos intenções românticas mas depois foi só ladeira abaixo.
Acharam de bom tom colocar mil passagens de tempo (o que eu odeio), fazer o Lee Da Yeol abandonar o Jo Tae Hyun e negligenciar seu trauma, em nenhum momento acontece um beijo e no final parece que Lee Da Yeol deixou de amar o Jo Tae Hyun e agora só o Jo Tae Hyun ama (o que soa super unilateral).
Eu acho que a palavra certa para definir esse drama é "decepcionante".
Como lidaram com o trauma? De forma decepcionante
Como foi o romance? Decepcionante
As passagens de tempo? Frustrante de decepcionante.
O roteiro desse drama me fez sentir assistindo uma história de amigos e não de um casal, sem contar que o último episódio foi uma vergonha e totalmente desrespeitoso com o público, foi extremamente dissimulado esse final.
Que decepção.
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Это прекрасно
Я люблю как снимает Южная Корея. Это то, что всегда дает красоту и чистоту сюжета. Ведь основная идея не показать много страстных поцелуев и постельных сцен, а именно показать жизнь. Сама тема BL довольно не правильно воспринимается в последнее время. это нечто многогранное,но с круглыми углами. От красивых моментов влюбленности, отношения и любви, до безумного хота.И так дорама. Я сразу знала, что будет много критики. И все из-за того, что я написала выше и что вообще Корея всегда дает мягкость. Здесь не будет поцелуев. здесь исключительно на вашу пошлую фантазию или для тех кто читал манхву. А для меня это потрясающая дорама, сыгранная ребятами айдолами, потрясающе реалистично и правдоподобно, что мне не надо фантазировать, что было или нет, и "а где же поцелуи?" Психология, жизнь, взаимоотношения ... все здесь есть в полном объеме. Игра ребят. Джэхан. Его образ стрелка школьника. Настолько вдумчивый, правильный. и что мы видим в конце. Его взъерошенность, смущение, а вспомните момент с носками))) как он сыграл? да он как в номере с мемберами - прожил. Йечан. Сказать, что ему досталась легкая роль, ну нет. У него была наисложнейшая задача показать персонаж с огромной психотравмой. И если мы закроем глаза на те события, что случились с группой и что он прежде всего музыкант - он справился на миллион раз лучше многих именитых актеров. это было настолько правдоподобно. Потрясающая история любви. Дополнительно озвучивание мыслей и размышлений. Музыка, стрельба, история прошлого. Проделана отличная работа. у меня точно попадает в любимые и пересмотрю еще не раз. Йечан, прости, я слишком часто залипала на твои губы. А соты теперь греют душу и сердце в дождливые весенние дни.
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