This works as a decent school friends drama. But this isn’t BL and I wouldn't even call it censored bromance. They treat each other as good friends only.
Ep.8 ended at the movie, then had an extra scene for fan service basically. I did like the alt ending, but where…
If you watch their parting scene where they put on their face masks they both have their rings on. I'm assuming they proposed to each other before they parted.
This felt like the cliff notes version of what should have been a longer story. The characters didn't have enough time to be fleshed out and their relationships to feel meaningful enough to pull any emotions from me. It's to bad since all the pieces are there to make a really great show. Hopefull the second season can do that.
This one is a show that is hard to rate. Li Cheng and Mu Ren are a standard enjoyable couple to watch. I laughed a lot in the first part of the series with these two and smiled when they got togther. There wasn't anything unique about their story but it was well done. I also appreaciated the inclusion of talking about sex, lube and condoms something of an unicorn in BL.
The Xing Si and Fu Yong are the couple that get all the dislike and I can see why. But I also found that their story was the more unique and interesting one. Right off Fu Yong is a stalker and he raped his drunk brother. Now that is an old trope for BL more in manga than live action stuff, but here is where for me it turns unique. Nobody in the show thought that it was ok and Xing Si didn't suddenly look at Fu Yong as a lover. Fu Yong also was upfront about it. He didn't let Xing Si think he was at fault taking advantage of his younger brother which is the standard BL trope in this situation. He also wasn't bragging but simply being honest about what he did and why. It was a trait of the character to be upfront and blunt about everything. He didn't hide from what he did.
The rape wasn't filmed as romantic or in a positive light. Listen to the atmospheric music and it is ominous. Xing Si was visible upset and the audience knows this isn't a "happy/funny" moment for anyone like it would be played up in normal BL. Xing Si's distress doesn't disappear in an episode or two but contiunes on through a good portion of the series. He doesn't fall into Fu Yong's arms and they don't make up right away. Fu Yong does manipulate Xing Si to see him again to explain his feelings. Yet Fu Yong doesn't actively pursue Xing Si or push himself in the Xing Si's life. He also is willing to let Xing Si dictate what their relationship will be brother, lover or nothing at all. Reapetdly from Fu Yong , their parents , and his friends ask Xing Si if he isn't just going along with Fu Young out of kindness.. Xing Si is the one that decided on his feeling over time to make his choice and the people around them choose to accept that choice. Was that choice unrealistic ? Yes, but at the same time it showed Xing Si agonizing and thinking about what his feelings were, and what he wanted. It is alot closer to real life than any other BL show,manga, anime that I've watched. Their relationship was never played up as happy healthly couple until the last episode.
Fu Yong isn't a normal mentally stable guy and the people around him acknowledge that. Xing Si specifially comments on it. He acts like a psychopath and I doubt a life full of mental heath help would fix what is wrong with him.
What Fu Youg did was rape clear cut but saying in real life Xing Si would have called the police or cut Fu Yong out of his life is unrealistic as the the drama having them together. Fu Yong was the beloved little brother and I doubt Xing Si would have wanted the police involved even if they would take the case seriously. Feeling are messy complex in real life. People stay together with others that have done bad things to them Fu Yong did get off lighly in this series but I also don't feel like they trivalized the situation either. It was a diffrent story line that wasn't done perfectly but I don't feel that is was done horribly either. This isn't a show that I will watch again but it isn't one that I felt wasted my time or left me unhappy at the end of it.
If this had been a show that was Mark and Kit only I would have rated it an 8. I liked grumpy Kit and Mark chasing after him. We also get time where their an actual couple without any stupid drama. Nothing epic I just like these tropes and the actors were likable enough.
The rest of the couples are a walking disaster area. I loved Jack and Koh competing for Wayu since it was hilarious, but that's it. I thought Wayu would end up with Pha in the 2nd season after a good explanation and lot of stupid drama between Wayu/Pha/Thanu/Phai. Adding the Phai/Thanu visions make absolutely no sense if they aren't going to end up together. I honetly didn't like any mixture of those four. The visions and flashback memories where neon flash plot devices that felt completely out of place. None of characters had a reason to like each other or be together. If it was destiny or fate they Phai was of the future Wayu the past.
Why were Tong and Pok even in this series? They were barely connected the the main or secondary couple. Their arc was another why are these two together? And why are the two just out of high-school kids, that aren't even a couple, the ones have implied sex with empty condom packages?
I was going to watch the 2nd season but I read some spoilers and decided that it a skip for me.
I just finished watching this for the second time. I found the rewatch more interesting in the beginning watching Nuea's interactions with Toh. This is definitely my favorite series. My only complaint would be they tried to stuff too much into this series. Bullying, transgender issues, Toh's collecting issues, body image issues, meeting parents, meeting old friends, ex girlfriends, plus five couples. Jao and Sky's story wrap up felt a little rushed and poor Daisy and Touch really got left out. Som and Tor were an after thought and although I love the idea of Kwan and Fon they weren't really need in the already over crowded cast. Daisy and Touch really could have used even the little space they took up.. That couple really need more since Daisy was such a unique character in the BL universe.
Although Toh seems to be the polarizing part of the series he is one of the reasons I like it so much. He's weird and is allowed to stay that way. No miracle makeover to turn him into a glasses free adorable twink. His collecting issue is gradually explained and isn't turned into something cute. It is actually fairly appalling and both his friends and Nuea are supportive but don't treat as sometime normal either. It was also refreshing to see him take an active and rather enthusiastic approach to the physical side of their relationship. He doesn't pull away or hesitate even switching roles up in the end , something that is depressingly rare in BL series. He is a rather unique character in the BL universe that I could emphasize with enough to enjoy the flaws his character had.
Its actually a miracle the rating is still 8 , The amount of 1/10 rating this drama got after the last ep was…
I went into this know Tofu would end up as a Bear in the end. I also wasn't in love with Tofu and Nut as a couple. There didn't feel like there was anything sexual between them although it was implied. I was perfectly fine with them not being together in the end through most of the show. My rating up until the last two episodes would have been a nine or ten, by the end I felt like maybe a 5 or 6. I ended up rating it an 8. If you truly like them as a couple I could see why people intatanly rating 1 right after watching the show.
For me it wasn't because they didn't end up together as much as why and how they didn't end up together. Tofu and the other objects in the house came awake for the memories and feelings of their owners. Tofu from the memories and feelings Nut had about Tatarn. Tatarn himself had very little to do with Tofu except buying and giving him to Nut. Nut was even the one that found him in the store first. So why are the two connected and why can only 1 get to be awake and human? The reasoning is slim on this. Tofu became a bear again simply because these two are connected. Most stories where an object turns human they get to stay human in the end so it wasn't an unreasonable or unrealistic thought to have.
I kept waiting through each episode to see a reason for Tofu to turn back into a bear. Something like Nut couldn't move on from Tartan, or Tofu was Tartan without his memory. But Nut didn't look for Tartan after his father died, didn't obsess over him, look for his facebook, or pine for him. Nut also constantly chose Tofu over his feelings for Tartarn. He even went as far as to worry Tatarn might take Tofu away from him. Yes he regretted parting with Tatarn and missed him but Nut was IN love with Tofu through this whole series not Tatarn. Nut didn't want Tofu gone and Tofu didn't want to leave Nut. The only reason he turned back was because Tatarn would remain in a coma if he didn't. The only one that Tofu's death helped was Tatarn,a supporting character that I was somehow supposed to like more than the main one. Certainly Na would have needed Tofu more not less as time went on as well as Nut. He also touch and help the other supporting characters, that grieved his death. Tofu turning back to a bear served no purpose except to give Tatarn and Nut another chance.
The way that Tofu turned back into a bear also left a bad taste in my mouth. To have Tofu basically kill himself. He knowingly drank poison even if Jan was the one to give it to him. It was an horrific death that was drawn out as Jan gloat over him. Then to have both her and TRD girl get off free with only Sean getting in trouble felt wrong as well.
Yes, there were alot of great things in this series and logically the ending gave everyone a "happy" ending. But I didn't feel happy at the end of this or satisfied even, and I wasn't someone cheering for Tofu and Nut. Endings really matter and effet how people feel about the whole overall story. A 1 star review is rather harsh but given even people rating this 10 are using words like decent/realistic/okay to describe the ending it shows that this probably wasn't the best choice of endings. Also look at the rewatch ratings that are low even with 10 stars. There is alot to unpack in this series and I really thought this was one I would rewatch, but I won't be because of the feelings this left me with. For some yes those ending episodes did taint all 15 episodes before it.
You need a VPN set to Japan and make an account at the website. It is free with English subs.
The Xing Si and Fu Yong are the couple that get all the dislike and I can see why. But I also found that their story was the more unique and interesting one. Right off Fu Yong is a stalker and he raped his drunk brother. Now that is an old trope for BL more in manga than live action stuff, but here is where for me it turns unique. Nobody in the show thought that it was ok and Xing Si didn't suddenly look at Fu Yong as a lover. Fu Yong also was upfront about it. He didn't let Xing Si think he was at fault taking advantage of his younger brother which is the standard BL trope in this situation. He also wasn't bragging but simply being honest about what he did and why. It was a trait of the character to be upfront and blunt about everything. He didn't hide from what he did.
The rape wasn't filmed as romantic or in a positive light. Listen to the atmospheric music and it is ominous. Xing Si was visible upset and the audience knows this isn't a "happy/funny" moment for anyone like it would be played up in normal BL. Xing Si's distress doesn't disappear in an episode or two but contiunes on through a good portion of the series. He doesn't fall into Fu Yong's arms and they don't make up right away. Fu Yong does manipulate Xing Si to see him again to explain his feelings. Yet Fu Yong doesn't actively pursue Xing Si or push himself in the Xing Si's life. He also is willing to let Xing Si dictate what their relationship will be brother, lover or nothing at all. Reapetdly from Fu Yong , their parents , and his friends ask Xing Si if he isn't just going along with Fu Young out of kindness.. Xing Si is the one that decided on his feeling over time to make his choice and the people around them choose to accept that choice. Was that choice unrealistic ? Yes, but at the same time it showed Xing Si agonizing and thinking about what his feelings were, and what he wanted. It is alot closer to real life than any other BL show,manga, anime that I've watched. Their relationship was never played up as happy healthly couple until the last episode.
Fu Yong isn't a normal mentally stable guy and the people around him acknowledge that. Xing Si specifially comments on it. He acts like a psychopath and I doubt a life full of mental heath help would fix what is wrong with him.
What Fu Youg did was rape clear cut but saying in real life Xing Si would have called the police or cut Fu Yong out of his life is unrealistic as the the drama having them together. Fu Yong was the beloved little brother and I doubt Xing Si would have wanted the police involved even if they would take the case seriously. Feeling are messy complex in real life. People stay together with others that have done bad things to them Fu Yong did get off lighly in this series but I also don't feel like they trivalized the situation either. It was a diffrent story line that wasn't done perfectly but I don't feel that is was done horribly either. This isn't a show that I will watch again but it isn't one that I felt wasted my time or left me unhappy at the end of it.
The rest of the couples are a walking disaster area. I loved Jack and Koh competing for Wayu since it was hilarious, but that's it. I thought Wayu would end up with Pha in the 2nd season after a good explanation and lot of stupid drama between Wayu/Pha/Thanu/Phai. Adding the Phai/Thanu visions make absolutely no sense if they aren't going to end up together. I honetly didn't like any mixture of those four. The visions and flashback memories where neon flash plot devices that felt completely out of place. None of characters had a reason to like each other or be together. If it was destiny or fate they Phai was of the future Wayu the past.
Why were Tong and Pok even in this series? They were barely connected the the main or secondary couple. Their arc was another why are these two together? And why are the two just out of high-school kids, that aren't even a couple, the ones have implied sex with empty condom packages?
I was going to watch the 2nd season but I read some spoilers and decided that it a skip for me.
Although Toh seems to be the polarizing part of the series he is one of the reasons I like it so much. He's weird and is allowed to stay that way. No miracle makeover to turn him into a glasses free adorable twink. His collecting issue is gradually explained and isn't turned into something cute. It is actually fairly appalling and both his friends and Nuea are supportive but don't treat as sometime normal either. It was also refreshing to see him take an active and rather enthusiastic approach to the physical side of their relationship. He doesn't pull away or hesitate even switching roles up in the end , something that is depressingly rare in BL series. He is a rather unique character in the BL universe that I could emphasize with enough to enjoy the flaws his character had.
For me it wasn't because they didn't end up together as much as why and how they didn't end up together. Tofu and the other objects in the house came awake for the memories and feelings of their owners. Tofu from the memories and feelings Nut had about Tatarn. Tatarn himself had very little to do with Tofu except buying and giving him to Nut. Nut was even the one that found him in the store first. So why are the two connected and why can only 1 get to be awake and human? The reasoning is slim on this. Tofu became a bear again simply because these two are connected. Most stories where an object turns human they get to stay human in the end so it wasn't an unreasonable or unrealistic thought to have.
I kept waiting through each episode to see a reason for Tofu to turn back into a bear. Something like Nut couldn't move on from Tartan, or Tofu was Tartan without his memory. But Nut didn't look for Tartan after his father died, didn't obsess over him, look for his facebook, or pine for him. Nut also constantly chose Tofu over his feelings for Tartarn. He even went as far as to worry Tatarn might take Tofu away from him. Yes he regretted parting with Tatarn and missed him but Nut was IN love with Tofu through this whole series not Tatarn. Nut didn't want Tofu gone and Tofu didn't want to leave Nut. The only reason he turned back was because Tatarn would remain in a coma if he didn't. The only one that Tofu's death helped was Tatarn,a supporting character that I was somehow supposed to like more than the main one. Certainly Na would have needed Tofu more not less as time went on as well as Nut. He also touch and help the other supporting characters, that grieved his death. Tofu turning back to a bear served no purpose except to give Tatarn and Nut another chance.
The way that Tofu turned back into a bear also left a bad taste in my mouth. To have Tofu basically kill himself. He knowingly drank poison even if Jan was the one to give it to him. It was an horrific death that was drawn out as Jan gloat over him. Then to have both her and TRD girl get off free with only Sean getting in trouble felt wrong as well.
Yes, there were alot of great things in this series and logically the ending gave everyone a "happy" ending. But I didn't feel happy at the end of this or satisfied even, and I wasn't someone cheering for Tofu and Nut. Endings really matter and effet how people feel about the whole overall story. A 1 star review is rather harsh but given even people rating this 10 are using words like decent/realistic/okay to describe the ending it shows that this probably wasn't the best choice of endings. Also look at the rewatch ratings that are low even with 10 stars. There is alot to unpack in this series and I really thought this was one I would rewatch, but I won't be because of the feelings this left me with. For some yes those ending episodes did taint all 15 episodes before it.