AthenaTheStorierX

Yea well they had to switch companies and reshoot everything (because the old company understandably wouldn't transfer their footage). I think they also had to recast some of the support roles? So the wait is understandable.

And thank you!

Keep an eye on this spotify playlist, they might find it - they've been doing a good job so far. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dAye4Ca3kHptk1B7537Bj?si=644b2980bbee4434

Keep an eye on this spotify playlist, they might find it - they've been doing a good job so far. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dAye4Ca3kHptk1B7537Bj?si=644b2980bbee4434

The song before the kiss scene was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcIXyf4Sz_U
Credit goes to Maryann0 who tracked it down in more recent comments.

Ah.. Gotcha. Thanks!

Fair enough. But at the same time, in person you'd also have the context of when they are practicing and training together. It seems like everyone likes Thorn bc he helps them, keeps in mind their strengths, and is really dedicated to the team. But as viewers, that's not a focus point of the plot - so we don't see that as much.

But I probably wouldn't get along with Thorn too well myself anyways. I don't think our vibes would mesh well.

He only brought up the fact that White hasn't been telling him anything. It really does seem like Todd is Tawi's employee, and put White in there so he could get info. The manufacturing stunt, plus the protest, did major damage to Tawi's reputation and status - so pressure is probably coming down on Todd for not informing Tawi about it, which led to Todd coming to remind White to keep him informed.

I love the way Not Me is making real life allusions.
Last week with the working petition QR code.
And this week with what appears to be a nod to an actual famous painting (credit for recognizing this goes to a commenter from youtube): https://arthistoryproject.com/artists/alexandre-cabanel/fallen-angel/

I'm in the middle of my master's thesis, so I'm not really watching anything on IQIYI at the moment. I was only keeping it for Gen Y, at least until I finish my thesis and go back to watching more stuff. And besides, I think i heard KinnPorshe will be on IQIYI? So I'll definitely be going back. But there's no point paying for the subscription right now, especially with how hard IQIYI is making it to watch the one thing I was keeping it for during this time.

I think it would be more internalized homophobia if we hear Fah say something like "we're both men," "i like girls," "I've only liked [whats-her-face]", "i'm straight," or something like that. But we're only seeing him concerned right now with the fact that it's Thorn, not because Thorn's a guy.

Yes, exactly. Black woke up and seeked out White. But never reunited with him at that time because he ran away after getting with Gram. So it wasn't until almost the very end that White and Black actually reunite.

But yet it looks like Black and White reunite this episode straight away after Black watches White and Sean through the window. So what's happening doesn't line up with the book at all.

I wouldn't say he got bitchy. He was disheartened.
He wasn't passed to at all during that game, even though there was a scout there. Fah even got a tryout because of it.
And he wasn't told what was happening. Considering the tension between him and Fah recently, he might've thought it meant Fah was avoiding or upset with him. It also probably reminded him of their past when their old coach sabotaged him, and Fah started distancing himself from him in favor of other players. And Fah was able to move forward in his basketball, but Thorn didn't - despite them promising to stick together.
Context is important. Thorn isn't inherently selfish. We see that in the freshy games game, in training, in flashbacks, etc.

His character is pretty stiff. Even when around Thorn, he doesn't ever really relax. I do believe that that is intentional, and so I dont blame the acting or story at all. But it does stand in pretty stark contrast to all the other characters.

Same! I was reminded of the same scene in this episode. Lol.

Same! I was reminded of the same scene in this episode. Lol.

For one thing, they JUST reconnected and are mending their relationship. It wasn't long ago that Thorn had "pokerface Fah" written in his notebook, and the 2 were figuring out what they might've done to each other to make the other feel bad. They are both insecure and cautious by nature. And it's made worse because they don't know everything that's going on in each other's minds anymore.

For another thing, Thorn is his best friend since childhood. Perhaps he even considered him like a brother. And he's been actively only pursuing the other girl for years. Realizing that 1.) he might have nonplatonic feelings for him and 2.) he might not have feelings for the girl anymore - that's scary, and confusing, and really shakes up your perception of things.

Plus, what would pursuing those feelings do to their currently mending friendship, as well as their basketball collaboration and dreams?

He probably invited the girl out to see if he still likes her. And he'll probably realize he doesn't. If it was internalized homophobia, when Aii brought it up in their conversation - he would have said something to suggest it being a problem because their both guys, he's straight, or he likes the girl. He didn't bring any of that up. Which suggests that he's confused because it's Thorn, not because Thorn is a guy.

We see this same dilemma occur in just about any friends-to-lovers story. Whether they be straight men and women friends, two out and proud homosexuals, or what have you. It's not reading internalized homophobia right now. Please don't assume that hesitation automatically means homophobia. There are ALOT of things that can't make someone hesitate.

Fah and Thorn have been extremely close friends for so so long. Almost like brothers perhaps (at least in Fah's mind). So coming to the realization that there might be something bigger there, combined with the fact they'd been distant from each other for so long and are still mending their relationship (like the whole "poker face fah" situation in a previous episode) is scary and confusing.
There might be some internalized homophobia there, but right now - I am only seeing a man who's been only interested in this one girl for years and is just starting to come to terms with the fact that he might actually have feelings for his best friend since childhood. And what all pursuing those feelings might mean for their mending friendship and current basketball dream.

Anybody else watch the cast reactions to the new trailer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJmAwASH7o

Nah, i get it - in some shows they have used it for like the passage of time - but when it goes back and forth like that, it's just that they didnt touch it up.

It's fairly common in a lot of Asian productions, especially ones from non-major production companies, to forget to touch up blond hair dye. There's a lot of reasons why this might be the case 1.) because day-to-day there's not a lot of difference; 2.) blond can be kinda difficult to color match and maintain when youre also dealing with alot of things being put in your hair (like an actor would be) and of course 3.) they have other things to worry about, and Asian dramas tend to have a quick turnaround time to abide by.