can someone explain why this is allowed to air in China but other BLs aren't? I'm sick and tired of false hope…
As isa mentioned, it was uploaded and taken down from iQiyi (where Chinese BLs go to die). The Spirealm was released and leaked by fans by a few months before it was re-released on foreign platforms officially, Blue Canvas was not leaked, we only had the official 4 eps from the iQiyi run and we just waited for an official re-release which happened just two weeks ago.
The difference between the TS and BC however, is the Spirealm, while not censored 'enough' to pass in China because the relationship of the MLs is still obviously not platonic, Blue Canvas is not censored at all, it's a proper BL. China still has the ban, but creators of BL content are trying new ways of sharing their works and we're hopeful for more Cn BLs in the future :D
but surprised to me that when i travelled to tianjin, i saw a lot of gay couples holding hands openly
I'm an atheist, so I won't be praying for anyone, but yeah, that shit's wild and a very fresh example of people having to just live their lives and wait for change. Just keep your head up, man, it's 2024, people don't just take shit lying down anymore.
On the morning Do Hoe left for the exams he heard his father beating Ju Yeong. He had known about the beatings…
Here on MDL, there is an option to review and read reviews episode by episode. If you click on EPISODE GUIDE at the top of the page it'll take you to a page where you'll see each episode. By clicking on the episode you want to read reviews for, you will see more tabs at the top. Clicking on 'REVIEWS' on the individual ep will show you reviews written for that episode. it will also include reviews for (8 of 8 episodes seen).
You can also rate episodes singularly if you like, and by scrolling down on each episode you click on, you will also see the reviews/comments written for the episode.
I will admit that Thai BLs do often rush emotional/relationship development, but they also often have plots and scenes that are borderline comedic or unserious, so for most, not all, but most Thai BLs, it's a part of the package. In this series, filmed much more seriously, certainly, the scenes I pointed out were meant to serve a purpose of relationship development, possibly blossoming subconscious attraction, it's just that they were just written rushed and not very well thought out scenarios. I guess we'll see if the pacing and interactions even out going forward.
What you're explaining here is the content interpretation, I'm pointing out the rushed adaptation writing flaws. Whatever you interpret from each scene is perfectly acceptable and valid to you, and it will differ from person to person, as it differs for me. That's what viewers get to do, that what it's about. I too, took away my own interpretations of these scenes from an entertainment perspective. What you've pointed out wasn't lost on me either, I just also noticed some technical things that stood out to me.
It's the writer's flaw that remains in the lack of logic and proper fleshing out of these important emotional scenes, it's like they're entrusting viewers to do most of the context guess work just because they know most viewers will, in order to see the most positive view of the leads relationship development. It happens in many BLs. It's a bit of lazy writing.
I don't know if the original was the same or not, but in this show, I feel they needed more (context/time), for it to be organic. Despite what was meant to be interpreted of the character's actions, the things I pointed out feel illogical and too abrupt to me, as they happened. Butwe all take away and accept what we will from shows in the end ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-breathes deeply- AAAAAAH satisfaction. Right in the fucking feels, man, I love it. I've said it before, I'll say it again, no one does emotional and character development like the Chinese. Many of their works' creators understand how to write, direct and execute the build up of emotions just right, and when there are good actors, like in this show, they don't miss the mark. Censored or, now, uncensored.
The way Qi Lu looks at Qin Xiao alone HITS so hard. The way Liu hesitates with Tan Yin HITS so hard. I even felt bad for Turtle.
Episode 5's theme felt a little like it was based on 'confession and rejection' regarding the 4 mains and the side story of Turtle too. I love me some complicated emotions and complex relationship dynamics. Life is not black and white, there is a lot of grey that people struggle to navigate in every day life and relationships with family/lovers/friends. I'm all in to see that play out here.
I enjoyed episode five hella, and I am super keen for episode 6 tomorrow. If I was the type to gush, I'd gush, but I'm not a gusher, so I'll just say BComYD uncensored, Let's fucking go!
Mostly things I find lack logical and organic premise. Like Minase not even asking 'why' or just saying no when Hirukawa, someone he barely knows and has a generally bad socially fueled opinion of, asks him to 'feed' him water, especially when he was physically able to drink the water himself. They're not friendly, they don't know each other even as classmates who get along minimally, they've barely interacted. I would say no, I think most people would say no, cause it's random and weird and wtf. Then, same scene, it's cold right? He said so. But okay, this kid just throws some water over his head for funsies? To be edgy? Kinda makes him seem mentally unwell tbh.
And then the classroom scene at the end of the ep, Hirukawa is all secretive about the fact his dad/guardian is kicking the shit out of him, he's like 'don't tell anyone' all serious, but then he just strips his shirt off in the classroom for Minase to help him, like another student or a teacher couldn't just walk in at any moment and see the bruises all over him. So, not so secret apparently.
These are poorly written scenarios done to rush 'emotionally intense' interactions between the leads, especially in short series with short eps, and it tends to stands out negatively to me, particularly in shows that are meant to be taken seriously, like this is. The premise of the show itself is interesting though, interesting enough to stick around for now.
Ep1: Qi Lu solves Qin Xiao's problem with another student, discovering Qin Xiao's excellent drawing skills are…
Np! To answer your question, Tan Yin has not tried to kiss Liu Mingyang, there haven't been any rejection scenes, and no proper confession scenes either. Tan Yin did say 'I like you' to Liu Mingyang at one point, but LM doesn't respond in any clear way, he just brushes it off. ✌️😁 You too.
Can somebody please recap the main plot developments in episode 1-4 ? I watched it some time back .I don't wanna…
Ep1: Qi Lu solves Qin Xiao's problem with another student, discovering Qin Xiao's excellent drawing skills are the same as the artist he follows online. Qi Lu makes an effort to befriend Qin Xiao. Liu Mingyang and Tan Yin are revealed to know each other, having met before when Tan Yin worked in a bar and Liu Mingyang stopped him from being drugged by a drink. Tan Yin likes Liu Minyang as more than a friend, but he doesn't know how Liu Minyang feels for him.
Ep2: Continuing to make an effort to befriend Qin Xiao, Qi Lu volunteers to help Qin Xiao to find his lost grandfather, and they finally break the ice, starting to get to know each other. Liu Mingyang takes Tan Yin out and gives him a hearing aid as a gift.
Ep3: Now that Tan Yin can start practicing talking out aloud, Tan Yin intends to confess his love to Liu Mingyang. Qin Xiao and Qi Lu have some moments of closeness as they spend more time together, feelings developing on different levels.
Ep4: Qin Xiao and Qi Lu go out to draw with two fellow students, the girl of the group seems to have a crush on Qin Xiao and this makes Qi Lu jealous. Qin Xiao and Qi Lu both realize more about their feelings for each other but Qi Lu is revealed to have had a negative past experience with liking someone and telling them. Tan Yin goes out with Liu Mingyang again, he reveals his past to Liu Mingyang at the same time admitting he is gay.
I think this is the basic break down of the main points for the first 4 eps.
There were some minor odd things in this first ep that felt like random poor writing, but over all, it was a fairly strong opening episode. I will be watching ep 2.
For people saying they don't understand some of the whys and whats that happened in the '12 years', this is my…
On the morning Do Hoe left for the exams he heard his father beating Ju Yeong. He had known about the beatings for a while already (as he admitted) but pretended not to know. He didn't want the beating to interfere with his exam, nor did he want JU Yeong to continue to endure them, so he called the police on his way to school to relieve them both of a 'burden'. He failed to get the exam scores he needed anyway and decided to move away where no one knew to find him. Ju Yeong and others tried to contact him, but because he was prideful and ashamed of failing the exam he stayed away. Do Hoe went on to retake the exam several times and failed each time, until he just decided to forge documents of graduating as an engineer from Hanseoul Uni. At some point during the time he was retaking and failing the exams, he ran into Hyeon Ho on the campus of the university (where I assume he was sneaking to attend classes or just hanging around the campus since he seemed familiar with some people). Hyeon Ho found out he didn't attend the university so he knew Do Hoe was committing fraud but he went along with it. Together they kept the secret.
Presumably, Hyeon Ho knowing this secret is a part of the reason Do Hoe never pushed him away after so many years and they redeveloped some kind of friendship that was (according to how I understood it) limited in sincerity from Do Hoe, and also one-sided romantically for Hyeon Ho. It is made to look as though they may have had some sexual relationship (to viewers, likely for some suspense) but Do Hoe confirms that he was never intimate with Hyeon Ho when talking to Ju Yeong in later eps. Hyeon Ho seems to possibly have been playing the long game, hoping to eventually win Do Hoe over romantically, but when Ju Yeong shows up again he realized he was shit out of luck and he tries to shoot his shot a few more times but ultimately doesn't score and gets permanently friend-zoned by Do Hoe.
Through finding the many university exam slips in Do Hoe's house/room, and piecing together some other odd things that happened (like what Hyeon Ho said at the dinner and finding out the drawings didn't belong to Do Hoe), and then going to confront Hyeon Ho and seeing the lawsuit filed against Do Hoe, he figures out mostly what happened. When it comes down to a confrontation Do Hoe basically admits he ran away and never contacted Ju Yeong because of his pride over failing to get into the university and be successful, but he'd been living in the area where he knew Ju Yeong lived, and he opened his business there, and he admits also that he subconsciously felt/hoped like Ju Yeong would find him, would come to him eventually. After all is said and done and cleared up and confessed, Ju Yeong forgives Doe Hoe for all his bullshit.
TL;DR: Do Hoe called the police on his father beating Ju Yeong so Ju Yeong was free from suffering, but Do Hoe failed to get the exam score he wanted multiple times and felt ashamed so he cut himself off from everyone, then he committed fraud, making docs to say he graduated from Hanseoul Uni so he could become successful and liked. Hyeon Ho knew he was a fraud and kept his secret. They were never sleeping together. Ju Yeong shows up, finds out all that Do Hoe lied about to him and why he stayed away, and forgives him.
I think that's all that was a little lost in 'nuance' and translation.
For people saying they don't understand some of the whys and whats that happened in the '12 years', this is my take on what happened under the spoiler:
Okay, so while I really, really did not like Do Hoe as a character (he is a personality deficient, unpleasant, selfish, insincere and wishy washy individual who I honestly cannot understand how anyone can be attracted to, behaving like he does, yikes, what a shit character) the show itself is really well done.
I really enjoyed the more serious tone of filming for this BL, it was a pleasure to watch each episode. I liked the somber but hopeful story/plot, the character choices, the production choices for sets and scenes, the pacing, the wardrobe and make up choices for the cast, the dialogue choices and flow of tense miscommunication and resolution between the characters, and of course, the acting from the cast, it was all on point from start to finish, very consistent. Done very well. Even the flashbacks were done well. The subs for non spoken Korean (signs, documents, etc) could have been better, might have lessened the guess work for some parts of what was going on here and there, but it wasn't so bad and in the end it all became clear what had happened. So they tied that up nicely. The OST and use of music was good too and the ending was solid.
Also, Sin Ju Yeong is such a great character, super likable. Hence, I don't get why he was simping over Do Hoe, should have let that shitty 'best friend' have at him, they were better suited as two shit people. Lol. But I have always disliked mains simping over unworthy love interests, a character needs to be Wei Wuxian and Xie Lian levels of worthy to qualify being simped over imo 😂 but alas, that is an unrealistic standard.
But yeah, good show, I was entertained. It was a good watch.
you should read the novel now. It hits different when reading the novel, imagining the scenarios with the TU cast.…
That depends on your preference. The closest to the novel's full story is the manhua (manga), but many people still prefer the donghua (anime). The novel is the original and best. My personal ranking order of favourites for this is: Novel TV Series Manhua Audio Book Donghua
MaxTul is always gonna be the winner for me, the rest I think are mid to good. This list is missing many better kisses, but specifically DaouOffroad's kisses in Love in Translation and OabPon's kiss (especially their first kiss) in Long Beans.
1
The difference between the TS and BC however, is the Spirealm, while not censored 'enough' to pass in China because the relationship of the MLs is still obviously not platonic, Blue Canvas is not censored at all, it's a proper BL. China still has the ban, but creators of BL content are trying new ways of sharing their works and we're hopeful for more Cn BLs in the future :D
You can also rate episodes singularly if you like, and by scrolling down on each episode you click on, you will also see the reviews/comments written for the episode.
It's the writer's flaw that remains in the lack of logic and proper fleshing out of these important emotional scenes, it's like they're entrusting viewers to do most of the context guess work just because they know most viewers will, in order to see the most positive view of the leads relationship development. It happens in many BLs. It's a bit of lazy writing.
I don't know if the original was the same or not, but in this show, I feel they needed more (context/time), for it to be organic. Despite what was meant to be interpreted of the character's actions, the things I pointed out feel illogical and too abrupt to me, as they happened. Butwe all take away and accept what we will from shows in the end ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I've said it before, I'll say it again, no one does emotional and character development like the Chinese. Many of their works' creators understand how to write, direct and execute the build up of emotions just right, and when there are good actors, like in this show, they don't miss the mark. Censored or, now, uncensored.
The way Qi Lu looks at Qin Xiao alone HITS so hard. The way Liu hesitates with Tan Yin HITS so hard. I even felt bad for Turtle.
Episode 5's theme felt a little like it was based on 'confession and rejection' regarding the 4 mains and the side story of Turtle too. I love me some complicated emotions and complex relationship dynamics. Life is not black and white, there is a lot of grey that people struggle to navigate in every day life and relationships with family/lovers/friends. I'm all in to see that play out here.
I enjoyed episode five hella, and I am super keen for episode 6 tomorrow. If I was the type to gush, I'd gush, but I'm not a gusher, so I'll just say BComYD uncensored, Let's fucking go!
Like Minase not even asking 'why' or just saying no when Hirukawa, someone he barely knows and has a generally bad socially fueled opinion of, asks him to 'feed' him water, especially when he was physically able to drink the water himself. They're not friendly, they don't know each other even as classmates who get along minimally, they've barely interacted. I would say no, I think most people would say no, cause it's random and weird and wtf. Then, same scene, it's cold right? He said so. But okay, this kid just throws some water over his head for funsies? To be edgy? Kinda makes him seem mentally unwell tbh.
And then the classroom scene at the end of the ep, Hirukawa is all secretive about the fact his dad/guardian is kicking the shit out of him, he's like 'don't tell anyone' all serious, but then he just strips his shirt off in the classroom for Minase to help him, like another student or a teacher couldn't just walk in at any moment and see the bruises all over him. So, not so secret apparently.
These are poorly written scenarios done to rush 'emotionally intense' interactions between the leads, especially in short series with short eps, and it tends to stands out negatively to me, particularly in shows that are meant to be taken seriously, like this is. The premise of the show itself is interesting though, interesting enough to stick around for now.
Ep2: Continuing to make an effort to befriend Qin Xiao, Qi Lu volunteers to help Qin Xiao to find his lost grandfather, and they finally break the ice, starting to get to know each other. Liu Mingyang takes Tan Yin out and gives him a hearing aid as a gift.
Ep3: Now that Tan Yin can start practicing talking out aloud, Tan Yin intends to confess his love to Liu Mingyang. Qin Xiao and Qi Lu have some moments of closeness as they spend more time together, feelings developing on different levels.
Ep4: Qin Xiao and Qi Lu go out to draw with two fellow students, the girl of the group seems to have a crush on Qin Xiao and this makes Qi Lu jealous. Qin Xiao and Qi Lu both realize more about their feelings for each other but Qi Lu is revealed to have had a negative past experience with liking someone and telling them. Tan Yin goes out with Liu Mingyang again, he reveals his past to Liu Mingyang at the same time admitting he is gay.
I think this is the basic break down of the main points for the first 4 eps.
He failed to get the exam scores he needed anyway and decided to move away where no one knew to find him. Ju Yeong and others tried to contact him, but because he was prideful and ashamed of failing the exam he stayed away. Do Hoe went on to retake the exam several times and failed each time, until he just decided to forge documents of graduating as an engineer from Hanseoul Uni. At some point during the time he was retaking and failing the exams, he ran into Hyeon Ho on the campus of the university (where I assume he was sneaking to attend classes or just hanging around the campus since he seemed familiar with some people). Hyeon Ho found out he didn't attend the university so he knew Do Hoe was committing fraud but he went along with it. Together they kept the secret.
Presumably, Hyeon Ho knowing this secret is a part of the reason Do Hoe never pushed him away after so many years and they redeveloped some kind of friendship that was (according to how I understood it) limited in sincerity from Do Hoe, and also one-sided romantically for Hyeon Ho. It is made to look as though they may have had some sexual relationship (to viewers, likely for some suspense) but Do Hoe confirms that he was never intimate with Hyeon Ho when talking to Ju Yeong in later eps. Hyeon Ho seems to possibly have been playing the long game, hoping to eventually win Do Hoe over romantically, but when Ju Yeong shows up again he realized he was shit out of luck and he tries to shoot his shot a few more times but ultimately doesn't score and gets permanently friend-zoned by Do Hoe.
Through finding the many university exam slips in Do Hoe's house/room, and piecing together some other odd things that happened (like what Hyeon Ho said at the dinner and finding out the drawings didn't belong to Do Hoe), and then going to confront Hyeon Ho and seeing the lawsuit filed against Do Hoe, he figures out mostly what happened.
When it comes down to a confrontation Do Hoe basically admits he ran away and never contacted Ju Yeong because of his pride over failing to get into the university and be successful, but he'd been living in the area where he knew Ju Yeong lived, and he opened his business there, and he admits also that he subconsciously felt/hoped like Ju Yeong would find him, would come to him eventually.
After all is said and done and cleared up and confessed, Ju Yeong forgives Doe Hoe for all his bullshit.
TL;DR: Do Hoe called the police on his father beating Ju Yeong so Ju Yeong was free from suffering, but Do Hoe failed to get the exam score he wanted multiple times and felt ashamed so he cut himself off from everyone, then he committed fraud, making docs to say he graduated from Hanseoul Uni so he could become successful and liked. Hyeon Ho knew he was a fraud and kept his secret. They were never sleeping together. Ju Yeong shows up, finds out all that Do Hoe lied about to him and why he stayed away, and forgives him.
I think that's all that was a little lost in 'nuance' and translation.
I really enjoyed the more serious tone of filming for this BL, it was a pleasure to watch each episode. I liked the somber but hopeful story/plot, the character choices, the production choices for sets and scenes, the pacing, the wardrobe and make up choices for the cast, the dialogue choices and flow of tense miscommunication and resolution between the characters, and of course, the acting from the cast, it was all on point from start to finish, very consistent. Done very well. Even the flashbacks were done well. The subs for non spoken Korean (signs, documents, etc) could have been better, might have lessened the guess work for some parts of what was going on here and there, but it wasn't so bad and in the end it all became clear what had happened. So they tied that up nicely. The OST and use of music was good too and the ending was solid.
Also, Sin Ju Yeong is such a great character, super likable. Hence, I don't get why he was simping over Do Hoe, should have let that shitty 'best friend' have at him, they were better suited as two shit people. Lol. But I have always disliked mains simping over unworthy love interests, a character needs to be Wei Wuxian and Xie Lian levels of worthy to qualify being simped over imo 😂 but alas, that is an unrealistic standard.
But yeah, good show, I was entertained. It was a good watch.
My personal ranking order of favourites for this is:
Novel
TV Series
Manhua
Audio Book
Donghua
That said, they're all great anyway.