"And come onnnn, it’s rare to get a Korean BL that has 10 episodes with each being over 40 minutes long. They are evolving, and this one is just so beautiful"
Length ≠ Quality. A longer runtime doesn’t equal better storytelling. It's given the producers more time to stretch out weak subplots
Chan Yeong and Ji Yu’s characters could've been developed independently. They don’t need to be paired for the audience to understand them
"On the contrary, their dynamic plays a crucial role in the development of the central romance between Heesu and Seungwon"
A "straight" story isn't the ideal method for a gay character to achieve closure and move on. Hee Su could've benefited from a combination of therapy, introspection, and connecting with other gay individuals. The foundation of his growth could've been built on self-care and an understanding of his own worth (e.g., that he deserves better), as opposed to relying on the bitter experience of witnessing his crush involved in a "straight" relationship
The "straight" storyline isn't necessary or valuable, and voicing dissatisfaction over its excessive screen time isn't misguided. It reflects a personal, yet valid, emotional response to the producers "straightening" the drama for mainstream audiences
"Or you can do the Alpha and Omega world where men are able to get pregnant"
They shouldn't. Omegaverse is people with "straight" and pregnancy fetishes playing dress-up with female characters. They put women with their ability to get pregnant in a male costume and say, "it's a pregnant man!"
It's not, and omegaverse isn't gay. It's a dangerous form of gay erasure
"In the usa, so many lgbt+ people are rich and/or famous"
Would you claim racism doesn’t exist or isn't a problem because Obama was president? Wealthy, powerful LGB people are an exception. They won't stop a closeted teenager from being bullied at home or in school
"Straight" identifying people hold more positions of influence and power in media, entertainment, and politics. They set cultural norms that reinforce heteronormative beliefs and stigma against non-straight people. They wash away the gay from art and inject a "straight" presence to mimic their preferred reality, denying gay stories their right to safe spaces in reality and fiction. They and their LGB sidekicks crave for their heteronormative, mixed fantasies to invade every space. It comes as no shock that a portion of us feels vexed and annoyed
"Life is like that. Gay and straight realms mix and match in real life"
Fiction doesn't have to be like that
"Once Chun decided to explore new paths and GROW, HS got forced to do new things, and to meet SW"
I don't see the value. Growth is an internal process and comes from within. Hee Su's decision to grow shouldn't be dependent on a "straight" story or someone else moving on
"So, from my point of view. I would find it boring and artificial to watch just 2-4 gay gays on dates"
Life is boring. Trying to fit a "straight" story into a gay one won't alleviate life's monotony
"I think life is diverse and I think Chun having a girlfriend makes it more interesting"
Write your own mixed stories. You can't muddle up a source material that has a focus on gay experiences, and expect others to be okay with it
"All women anywhere are a major target of harassment"
"Straight" identifying women are harassed by "straight" identifying men for being women. They're not harassed for identifying as "straight." Men want women to be "straight" and available
"... and straight people too fight for social status and acceptance"
Gay and "straight" identifying people don't face similar struggles
"Any minorities, Natives, brown skin, immigrants, disabled, elderly, .... experience MAJOR MAJOR harassment and societal prejudice"
All gay people, rich or poor, experience some level of prejudice and harassment. Gay people of color experience *heightened* levels of prejudice and harassment. They're struggling more than the "straight" identifying people of color you mentioned, most of whom are religious and homophobic
"SO LET US NOT BLAME ANYTHING ON ANYTHING. if you arent happy, maybe it is not bc of your sexual orientation but bc of your CHARACTER"
You're blaming. Placing the blame on one's character and not acknowledging the external factors that might be affecting them and their mental health
"So, if you are in some mean environment, then MOVE"
Western countries are tightening immigration laws to protect their domestic job markets. Legal migration or moving isn't possible for everyone
"I was blamed here as a stupid person because all straight ppl are stupid and dont understand"
loved kim junseo's acting so much ! he needs to be casted in more dramas
In an ideal world, Jun Seo and other male celebrities would grace our screens in an abundance of BL/gay productions
I know that the actors who climb the popularity ladder develop a peculiar allergy to BL/gay roles, they worry about the negative consequences of going against intolerant societal norms. Even so, there's no harm in dreaming of a more inclusive, diverse entertainment industry
That's entirely fair. I mean, IKEA might be cheap, but it is popular for a reason. And it's not for nothing that…
I didn't mean that self-censorship is the answer. I meant that there's a line between good-natured satire and harmful mockery. And I wasn't suggesting you crossed that line, not at all. I was bringing up the general point that it's important to be aware of the distinction
I guess I was being overprotective of the producers' feelings. I should have more faith in their resilience to satire
That's entirely fair. I mean, IKEA might be cheap, but it is popular for a reason. And it's not for nothing that…
We don't have to be producers or involved in the production of these works. Our discussions play a role in shaping the industry. Producers pay attention to audience feedback, and a shift in audience preferences will result in a shift in content creation
Humor has its place in our discussions, it'll add a lighthearted touch to them. Humor is also subjective. The same joke that brings a smile to one person's face can bring tears to another's eyes. It won't be funny to everyone
For that reason, constant mockery might drive away producers. Producers will see their works being made fun of and lose their confidence or enthusiasm for continuing to create and pushing boundaries in their storytelling. A supportive, encouraging atmosphere would be more conducive to the growth of the BL industry and the enjoyment of its content
Are you of the opinion that tropes should be avoided?
I believe it's not a trope itself that determines the quality of a story, it's how it's used. A skilled producer can take a well-known trope and put their unique spin on it
Seong Hyeon is still a better love interest than the other two Taking advantage of an intoxicated person is a…
I value your input, and I’d like to expand on that
We have the advantage of viewing the story from a broader perspective than the characters themselves. Being outside of the situation, we differentiate between right and wrong decisions in a way that those inside it can't. The most well-intentioned, morally upright characters would falter in the situation/the heat of the moment
I predict that Seong Hyeon, hurt by Da On’s mix-up, will distance himself from Da On to give him the time or space to work through his feelings and choose who he wants to be with
I saw a comment yesterday that said these characters are two-dimensional. I couldn’t disagree more. The layers…
Seong Hyeon is still a better love interest than the other two
Taking advantage of an intoxicated person is a grave matter (in real life), but Da On might've been aware of what was happening and let himself get caught up in the moment
Even if Da On was too drunk, that doesn't mean Seong Hyeon was taking advantage of him. Seong Hyeon cares about Da On. He kissed Da On to express his feelings, and stopped himself from further crossing the line. One scene in a larger story doesn't define the characters or their relationship as a whole
It's nice that you care so much. I didn't know about the kiss, as I haven't yet seen the episode. But, if so,…
It's all good, you're free to rate based on your opinions
It's just that the kiss is so powerful, it's elevated the entire drama in my eyes. Idols don't tend to fully commit to a same-sex kiss. Jun Seo's fearlessness deserves to be recognized and rewarded with a high rating
That's entirely fair. I mean, IKEA might be cheap, but it is popular for a reason. And it's not for nothing that…
Instead of making fun of BLs or any other genre, it's more productive to have a discussion about why some tropes persist and how they could be improved in future works
Good news, the "thou shalt not kiss" commandment went out the window in episode 4. The kiss between Jun Seo (Da On) and Sun Hyung (Seong Hyeon) is full of intensity and emotion. I'd say that merits a rating boost of 2-3 points
Length ≠ Quality. A longer runtime doesn’t equal better storytelling. It's given the producers more time to stretch out weak subplots
Chan Yeong and Ji Yu’s characters could've been developed independently. They don’t need to be paired for the audience to understand them
A "straight" story isn't the ideal method for a gay character to achieve closure and move on. Hee Su could've benefited from a combination of therapy, introspection, and connecting with other gay individuals. The foundation of his growth could've been built on self-care and an understanding of his own worth (e.g., that he deserves better), as opposed to relying on the bitter experience of witnessing his crush involved in a "straight" relationship
The "straight" storyline isn't necessary or valuable, and voicing dissatisfaction over its excessive screen time isn't misguided. It reflects a personal, yet valid, emotional response to the producers "straightening" the drama for mainstream audiences
They shouldn't. Omegaverse is people with "straight" and pregnancy fetishes playing dress-up with female characters. They put women with their ability to get pregnant in a male costume and say, "it's a pregnant man!"
It's not, and omegaverse isn't gay. It's a dangerous form of gay erasure
Would you claim racism doesn’t exist or isn't a problem because Obama was president? Wealthy, powerful LGB people are an exception. They won't stop a closeted teenager from being bullied at home or in school
"Straight" identifying people hold more positions of influence and power in media, entertainment, and politics. They set cultural norms that reinforce heteronormative beliefs and stigma against non-straight people. They wash away the gay from art and inject a "straight" presence to mimic their preferred reality, denying gay stories their right to safe spaces in reality and fiction. They and their LGB sidekicks crave for their heteronormative, mixed fantasies to invade every space. It comes as no shock that a portion of us feels vexed and annoyed
"Life is like that. Gay and straight realms mix and match in real life"
Fiction doesn't have to be like that
"Once Chun decided to explore new paths and GROW, HS got forced to do new things, and to meet SW"
I don't see the value. Growth is an internal process and comes from within. Hee Su's decision to grow shouldn't be dependent on a "straight" story or someone else moving on
"So, from my point of view. I would find it boring and artificial to watch just 2-4 gay gays on dates"
Life is boring. Trying to fit a "straight" story into a gay one won't alleviate life's monotony
"I think life is diverse and I think Chun having a girlfriend makes it more interesting"
Write your own mixed stories. You can't muddle up a source material that has a focus on gay experiences, and expect others to be okay with it
"All women anywhere are a major target of harassment"
"Straight" identifying women are harassed by "straight" identifying men for being women. They're not harassed for identifying as "straight." Men want women to be "straight" and available
"... and straight people too fight for social status and acceptance"
Gay and "straight" identifying people don't face similar struggles
"Any minorities, Natives, brown skin, immigrants, disabled, elderly, .... experience MAJOR MAJOR harassment and societal prejudice"
All gay people, rich or poor, experience some level of prejudice and harassment. Gay people of color experience *heightened* levels of prejudice and harassment. They're struggling more than the "straight" identifying people of color you mentioned, most of whom are religious and homophobic
"SO LET US NOT BLAME ANYTHING ON ANYTHING. if you arent happy, maybe it is not bc of your sexual orientation but bc of your CHARACTER"
You're blaming. Placing the blame on one's character and not acknowledging the external factors that might be affecting them and their mental health
"So, if you are in some mean environment, then MOVE"
Western countries are tightening immigration laws to protect their domestic job markets. Legal migration or moving isn't possible for everyone
"I was blamed here as a stupid person because all straight ppl are stupid and dont understand"
You don't understand, that's for sure
If you're curious and want to give it another chance, try approaching it with a fresh perspective. It might surprise you and become a new favorite
I'll be sure to check out "Century of Love" to see him in action
I know that the actors who climb the popularity ladder develop a peculiar allergy to BL/gay roles, they worry about the negative consequences of going against intolerant societal norms. Even so, there's no harm in dreaming of a more inclusive, diverse entertainment industry
I guess I was being overprotective of the producers' feelings. I should have more faith in their resilience to satire
Humor has its place in our discussions, it'll add a lighthearted touch to them. Humor is also subjective. The same joke that brings a smile to one person's face can bring tears to another's eyes. It won't be funny to everyone
For that reason, constant mockery might drive away producers. Producers will see their works being made fun of and lose their confidence or enthusiasm for continuing to create and pushing boundaries in their storytelling. A supportive, encouraging atmosphere would be more conducive to the growth of the BL industry and the enjoyment of its content
Are you of the opinion that tropes should be avoided?
I believe it's not a trope itself that determines the quality of a story, it's how it's used. A skilled producer can take a well-known trope and put their unique spin on it
We have the advantage of viewing the story from a broader perspective than the characters themselves. Being outside of the situation, we differentiate between right and wrong decisions in a way that those inside it can't. The most well-intentioned, morally upright characters would falter in the situation/the heat of the moment
I predict that Seong Hyeon, hurt by Da On’s mix-up, will distance himself from Da On to give him the time or space to work through his feelings and choose who he wants to be with
Taking advantage of an intoxicated person is a grave matter (in real life), but Da On might've been aware of what was happening and let himself get caught up in the moment
Even if Da On was too drunk, that doesn't mean Seong Hyeon was taking advantage of him. Seong Hyeon cares about Da On. He kissed Da On to express his feelings, and stopped himself from further crossing the line. One scene in a larger story doesn't define the characters or their relationship as a whole
It's just that the kiss is so powerful, it's elevated the entire drama in my eyes. Idols don't tend to fully commit to a same-sex kiss. Jun Seo's fearlessness deserves to be recognized and rewarded with a high rating
If you're eager to check out that steamy kiss right away, it's waiting for you at 29:31 of episode 4