AthenaTheStorierX

Fr. We see that thing happen in other genres frequently - where the person who sacrificed their relationship out of fear or a sense of inadequacy gets left behind while the other person moves on. But I can't recall seeing it in any BLs - despite the fact that it is a reality in queer relationships. If you aren't willing to stand up with and for each other against prejudices, you get left behind.

Their dynamic was pretty much the same when they were "just friends" and when they were dating. Except Ze Shou was more touchy-feely when they were dating. And they exchanged roses everyday. But other than that, pretty much the same. Which can happen with some friends-to-lovers dynamics. I think it's usually meant to show that there wasn't really any other alternative, they were already basically a couple.

It can also be written as a point of conflict as well. How do we fall out of our old dynamic as friends and into a new one as a couple? Why doesn't this feel any different? Are we truly a couple now? etc etc etc.

1.) We were led to believe that Nikita has known the MCs for years. She had long since pieced together Li Gong's feelings for Ze Shou and knows that he's been in love with him for even longer than that. Just because they're broken up does not mean that he's over it or ready to move on. The blind dates situation is clearly just to put on a show of moving on.

2.) I'm willing to bet that Li Gong told her WHY they broke up and that's why we didn't see that conversation. Plus Li Gong trusts her and needs someone else to talk to. So she would definitely know on another level that Li Gong is not in any way, shape, or form ready to move on.

3.) We have come to understand Nikita as being a proud, independent woman who would rather see her loved ones happy than to disrupt the peace. She likes to keep her distance and observe, so she knows alot of how relationships work, despite not being in one herself. Yet...? We're expected to believe that it's in character for her to basically throw herself at a guy fresh off a break-up, and who she knows isn't ready or willing for another relationship, begging for a chance to make him like her...? And that's all dependent on him being bi/pan as well (which I don't think he is).

I was really hoping and rooting for the reason they rushed certain plot points to be because they were gonna do something new…. I’m now disappointed. This solidly put this drama in middle of the pack status.

Also, i thought Nikita liked Yuki…? But either way, her actions this episode are very out of character. I hate it when stories can’t keep their characterizations consistent. And even if we used her excuse of “changing for the one she likes” yada yada, common sense clearly says its very very bad timing.

That's my interpretation as well. Ze Shou has liked him for a long time as well. Several of the clues were there since the first episode (i can and have went into detail with it). Ze Shou was just in denial about it because he doesn't trust love (because of his mother situation and the resultant abandonment issues) and was scared of losing Li Gong (a common concern in any friends-to-lovers story).

Granted, him accepting the feelings was a bit rushed. But I'm currently looking at it as a good thing - because that means we're getting away from the "the end goal of this story is getting together" story structure and moving towards the other things that come up as conflicts and obstacles AFTER getting into a relationship.

The second couple is simply one of those love-at-first-sight couples that we've moved away from the past many years. But, as we can see, there's a lot of getting to know each other, accepting each other, and communicating that needs to happen if they ever want it to work.

And this is all on rocky ground not only because of pacing (as someone else has pointed out), but also because it's pretty much an all newbie cast. They haven't quite mastered the nonverbals or stage presence needed for the nuance yet.

The date here on MDL i believe is for domestic audiences. The international air date is actually tomorrow.

Officially, it premiers on gagaoolala at 12a/0h EST Friday with full subs and on Viki with varied levels of subs (but they're usually fully up by the end of the day). The episodes will then go on unofficial streaming the day after (such as dailymotion, etc.).

Absolutely. The conflation of fiction and reality and is MAJOR problem right now. And I really wish I could say it's just kids doing it.

But either way, the fact is, it's such a major problem that many of us have been seeing for so many years, that some topics have become sensitive (for and against) as a result. Bedroom dynamics. Portrayal of violence/toxicity. Actor age gaps. Stereotypes. Tropes/Clichés. And the list goes on.

Now I'm not saying that people should stop talking about it (this particular topic especially). But I can't really fault the people who speak out against it. When you see that kind of toxicity over a long period of time, you get really tired.

I don't really care one way or another on this topic. As someone on the acespec, bedroom positions is at the bottom of things I think about usually. But also because I'm acespec, and the amount of time I've spent trying to understand allos, I'm familiar with how important this topic is for some/most people.

I get both sides personally.
It is fiction. And it’s perfectly acceptable to speculate about what happens off-screen to help build the story in our head. And certainly, in queer relationships top and bottom dynamics matter. And since fiction is often used as a way to experience different events than are found in our real lives, or to feel represented on screen - top and bottom dynamics may be a relevant tidbit to queer people.

The problem though, is the culture that this question has inspired at times. BL fans that will ask real people (especially strangers) the question because it’s seen as acceptable in fictional spaces. It’s none of their business and it’s invasive. And can be quite fetishizing (which i think the lgbtq+ community can largely agree is a pretty big problem with queer media fandoms). And then there are aggressive fans who will literally attack other fans bc they disagree on who is top/bottom (Bad Buddy comes to mind). Or will get mad and attack the creators because the story didn’t follow the dynamic they expected based on stereotypes (My Beautiful Man comes to mind). Or the people who couldnt care less about the story, the characters, or the messages - and are solely present for the skinship and intimacy (Kinnporsche comes to mind).

Well said. I definitely agree.

12. Viki only updates a few episodes at a time so they only say 10 right now.

But the other official platform, gagaoolala, is very clear that it will be a total of 12. And they don't do special episodes, so it is purely 12 episodes.

Definitely see this. I just kinda overlook it as being a whole cast of newbie actors. These actors haven't been acting as long or with the same bigger studios as those of our cameo actors from Be Loved In House. And the cameos had a whole series where they figured out their chemistry (they weren't very compelling in the beginning either).

I love cameos like nobody's business. but you always run the risk that established characters are going to outshine developing ones, ESPECIALLY when it's a fairly newbie cast.

Wow, the mothers are all so infuriating in this drama. One is verbally abusive. The other one has favoritism down pat - so much so that she doesn't seem to have any care left for the other child. Geez.

I hope this drama actually addresses those harmful behaviors and doesnt do some redemption/forgiveness arc that is solely based around "family is everything."

Unless you’re in an area where their YouTube channel is geoblocked, there’s no reason to resort to illegal streaming. It already premiers free with english subs officially on the GMMTV youtube channel.

And even if it is geoblocked, a simple free vpn set to a common location like the US will show it easy.

This isn't an adaptation. It's fan baiting.

The diner gets like 5 minutes of screen time - and it's just a setting for characters to come together and explain a plot development. We don't see orders being made. We don't see him cooking. We barely even see the characters eating. The plots aren't episodic (where a plot arc is contained within one episode). It's FILLED with angst. And our diner owner may have the same quietness, but he's a helpless version of the owner we love from the original. In the original, he was observant, and quick to put things together. And sometimes would give little snippets of guidance. Nope. Not this one. Honestly, this diner owner could be wiped completely from the script and events and you wouldn't even notice.

If you came looking for a retelling of the japanese franchise or some of the other adaptations, do not expect this to be anything like it. Just don't.

I would say yes. Amber identifies as a man. So it makes him part of a gay relationship - making the story a BL.

Definitely a hoarder that has trouble with change.
Fr. based on the preview for the episode, I was thinking it was gonna be about his ex-wife and I was prepared to be as neutral as possible. But this was pretty ridiculous.

Yuki still shouldnt have spontaneously throughout stuff that wasnt his though...

Does anyone else feel like the sheer amount of “i’ll always be there for you”s are really ominous?

There were alot of problems with the first season's director. None of the cast signed to return. I cant remember what all actually went down and what has been perpetuated and exaggerated by rumor anymore, so I'll just leave it at that for right now. Ill come back if i do decide to dig up sources again.

2 Moons 3 is apparently going to have a different cast as well. I dont think we know what exactly went down with season 2 for this set of actors to also no return. People tend to conflate/confuse the issues from season 1 with the issues from season 2. But i do remember hearing from credible sources that the director from season 2 is one of those people who's blunt personality can really rub people the wrong way.

I heard 2 Moons 3 is also going to be with a different company, so maybe whatever is going on (what fans refer to as the curse) will be actually resolved now.

Premiers first on Vivamax plus: https://www.vivamax.net/movie/C00090#/extra

But may be going on the standard tier on Jun 28th: https://www.vivamax.net/movie/T98280#/extra

Worldwide premiere on Vivamax on June 1st.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBfsfKLqzI/

It was previously June 3rd, but was pushed forward at some point.