John Master

This debate is two+ weeks ago, so it's already kind of dead. I will just chime in to observe that you two mostly agree on the main point: abuse of power is a problem that should not be tolerated. Having said that, Pixie's take on the issue is much closer to how I teach the subject of sexual harassment (which is a small component of one course I teach, not my area of specialization), and how I think CURRENT American law teaches it. Reefpicker's comment about director-actor trysts being "common" refers, in my view, to an earlier time when this problem wasn't taken as seriously and when the party with the lesser power would have had few options available to seek relief. It was common because 1) in the past the behavior was not commonly regarded as bad, and 2) the powerful party seldom faced any consequences. The spouses reference is irrelevant (to me) because the problem exists only if the sexual relationship commences during the project--and Reef is also correct that some of these relationships are entirely consensual. But if it goes bad, the onus should be on the more powerful party to prove they acted in good faith. The "new ethos" that Pixie defends is designed to guard against the possibility of exploitation. Remember, all the hoopla about abuse of power (and the MeTooMovement, generally) came into existence because an actual problem in the real world existed. Finding examples that don't fit that model does not in any way diminish that sad reality.

"If they had taken the ingredients they had and competently assembled them..."

I think you and I see the series in a similar way. Only you're more charitable regarding the lack of "competence" than I am. I will keep my eye out for "Tae's" next project.

I assumed there were some complications and that COVID may have played a role. My top theory for "Nite2's" existence was that "Nite1" may have been unavailable when shooting dates changed late in the process. (My third theory was that the filmmakers thought it was so clear to the audience that "Cupid Coach" god Nite was occupying the body of human Nite that they did not need further explanation.) (I didn't think this theory was right. It's just one of the things I thought of to try to make sense of Nite2.) I will revisit my grades in a few months. Time may mellow me out--and any time I feel like a good premise got "spoiled" in the execution always makes me grade things down. As for watching (you won't be alone, I'm sure) Tae standing in a field--didn't we do that in the Episode where he kissed Nite and again in the one after that when he was searching for his edelweiss god? :)

p.s. I accept your correction that it was originally to be 10 rather than 8 episodes. Your observation actually vindicates my point that it changed abruptly.