Yingmi

I don't think it was possible to miss what you wrote. And I also didn't mean you should be entertained without understanding. I'll approach this differently.

If you are not a minor, I am going to request that you check the movie "The Secretary" (2002) on IMDB. An american movie that "explores an intense relationship between a dominant lawyer and his submissive secretary". And after you check the description, I'll also recommend checking the number of awards this movie received.

Here's from a Critic
"Lee and Edward aren't picture-perfect Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant types who meet cute and live happily ever after; they're quirky, questionable people with enough baggage to fill a 747 and a disconcerting need to "assume the position," figuratively and literally. Nevertheless, they're also soul mates in the grand romantic tradition, and their journey towards finding passionate fulfillment and securing the ties that bind (so to speak) is a joy to watch."
"...Indeed, the course of true love never did run smooth, but Secretary proves that sometimes it's the roughest of rides that leads to the happiest of endings."

Your approach to love, cinema, relationships,... is quite enfantin. And I wouldn't have said this, if you didn't call the relationship toxic. It's not because something is not conventional enough for you, that it can be randomly called toxic. You don't even realize how disturbing this is.

Since we are going to go in rounds after this, I'll stop here.

(I'll remind again those, who haven't seen this, that I am not comparing the movies). Utsukushii kare is 15+ on viki and to understand that it is extremely light-hearted:), the opening credits are enough to see it.

I think for any relationship, what matters is how ideal it is for the two people involved. And an important message in many dramas, too....

I think that A-Xiu's awkwardness is part of her character (her nature). Part of her awkwardness is the past, may be. But part of it is also because she is in front of someone she likes.

And looking at the two of them, I get the 'romance', (in the dressing scene for example), but I get it more from the non-said, than the 'said'. And this is why, I like the actress a lot in this (I don't know her otherwise), and this is why I always love XZ.

All of the rumours about budgets come from social media..
Let's take Nirvana. It invested in making 'rich' costumes (at first site). And cql paid a great designer, who made "modern" and stylish costumes in simplicity (To emphasize, I don't mean 'cheaper'). For a viewer to deduct how much the costume or cost, it's impossible. Especially when these deductions are made based on 'taste'.... But even if they could deduct it, Nirvana, could have a big budget to pay a known actor. but cql could have, to purchase the rights for the adaptation.
I am not even mentioning JoF.

One producer invests in a script, another in décor (I don't remember the figure, but the square footage of cql sets only is absolutelt impressive). the third, in editing, etc. To deduct a budget, you should be a genius.

Let's imagine that Nirvana had a bigger budget. Why not? Budget isn't a factor in cinema. Independent films win the most prestigious awards. 'Expendables' doesn't. Therefore, it doesn't matter, which drama had bigger budget. What matters is if the miney was well spent.

The funny thing is actually, that not just about cql, there are often misconceptions about chinese dramas in general. I saw posts about different dramas, or platforms (that are within the the richest in the world), not having money:) Tencent, including by the way. One of the world's richest, and one of be cql's producers.

There has never been any remotely credible information about cql budget.

How did you write what I wanted to say since I've watched this?
Even when reading 'danmei' I've noticed that translators use the word 'disgusting' wrongly a lot of times.
It's important to remember that a word in a foreign language can have ten other different meanings, both when translating and when watching.
Words influence your perception of the character and therefore shouldn't be understood '1st level' either.

"I love you to death, even if it creeps you out or I am laughed at"...
💜

I was having dinner the other day and there was buffy on tv.

And all of a sudden it hit me, that if buffy aired today (and if it was a bl), what we would hear about it...
Is it healthy to love a vampire? Isn't it toxic to want to be with someone who wants to kill you?:) (For those, who haven't seen this drama, I have to remind that t I am not comparing the plot or the characters).

To making my point clear.
1. Fiction isn't realism. ( This doesn't mean, by the way, that characters or relations can't be realistic.).
A child appreciates 'the beauty and the beast' without 'thinking' whether it's healthy to love a 'beast':) We, too, by the way.

2. That there seems to be double standards when it comes to dramas with male leads. I am just curious, what dramas with m/f leads qualify as having toxic relationships?

Lastly, about this drama...
Two beautiful (and I don't mean outwardly) characters for me, in a beautiful, fluffy, relationship called 'love'.And, call me 'unhealthy' but someone I am in love with, can order me to buy a few drinks for him:) I'd buy them with pleasure🍻 I wonder if I should go to a doctor and get cured from this. Hm... 🤔

Funny:)

'Follow' went to my permanent soundtrack.

This song has so much 'style'... Much like the drama!

This is when the match is so perfect, that you don't know whether it's the drama that made the music or the music that made the drama.

Unbelievable.

First of all this is Fiction. On top of all without any indication as to even what battle they were fighting in 2 episodes out of 25. Because the drama isn't about it.

But more importantly:
The ultimate message that should be taken from a military/war drama, including this one, is that, there is no right or wrong in a war.

If by setting camp you mean people who love the drama enough, stay on the page, share and discuss. Then I don't have a problem with the term. Because whether cql or this page, this has always been the fans' purpose.

:))

Cql is a Must See. I don't have to compare it to another drama to tell this.

That was the one that I had in mind talking about overwhelming. Very beautifully done <3

Hm... I actually prefer talking about this on utsukare site not to disturb this fandom. But I have very different feelings. Here, it's not bullying like you see in some kdramas for example when it can rake quite violent form. It's more like 'ordering around between people who like each other? And it's lighthearted... But if we are to discuss further let's do on utsukare page.

The scenes between the two, the marriage scene,... were just beautiful . I like the actress here. Plus XZ superb as always. It was overwhelming.

I agree,, the portrayal was just right.

I'lI have to write another time about this
But in short. Neither the term 'bl' in japan, nor danmei in china aren't equivalent to homosexual. If danmei is said to be a 'romaticized' tale, it's because it has certain characteristics. Of course the line isn't crystal clear for every novel and understanding a literary genre is complex.

But tharntype, whatever it is based on has very different characteristics and it isn't about the country only. It is about the literary work. In my understanding.
EDIT. This is clear even if you just take the topics in tharntype.

I need to go since I don't have time. But if there's an occasion, let's discuss more.

Thanks:)

I have to tell this separately. The thing that hit me right away when watching the first japanese bl, were the Actors. They take excellent actors. And this by itself makes the whole difference.

Of course. I wanted to edit my post. Since I forgot to mention that the execution is what makes it perfect! (I'll read the link).
But I don't think that I managed to express what I wanted to say:((((
Let's take two dramas.
Utsukushii kare
Tharntype.
Utsukushii kare is a 'bl', as in 'genre of the Novel'.
But Tharntype isn't a 'bl' as in 'genre of the Script'. EDIT (In fact I don't mean the source, but how certain topics are portrayed and therefore I mentioned the script).
Of course, any country can make a perfect drama with male leads. But they aren't 'bl' (as in original sense of this term), and as in what I personally have preference for.
Hope this is clearer. But if not, I'll think another time, how to explain this.

Thinking back, I think it's completely illogical that when I wanted to watch 'bl', I started from Thailand and Korea. Considering 'BL' is a japanese genre and it's exactly the genre that attracted me in the first place. (Of course I discovered it through danmei, having different but also similar characteristics).

I edited this message 10 times, since I don't manage to express what I want to say.

I love this drama because this drama represents 'BL' as I love, in the first place. I hope this is clear.

I appreciate all recommendations. But if a movie ending is heartbreaking (and please don't elaborate further on this:) then better to include a spoiler. For example by splitting the post into 2.