Ok but correct me if Im wrong, but they're not even supposed to be watching it right? They're using VPN to watch…
He does kind of show that turmoil - and the trailer kind of hint that they are going to address that
But to drag the acceptance to halfway the story (as in novel) will not give enough time to explore other side of the story, especially since novel also hints at parental rejection and separation.
In any case, people shouldn’t make assumption whether the series is going to be mostly faithful to original novel source or not this early in the series (just 2 out of 12 aired)
Ok but correct me if Im wrong, but they're not even supposed to be watching it right? They're using VPN to watch…
Exactly, and there are 113 chapters in the novel - assuming they want very detailed coverage of the novel, it would have to take at least 30 episodes if not more.
The first two episodes managed to condense about 15% of the story in the novel, and that's quite a feat. Not all the details can be replicated or shown exactly as it was in the novel.
I am currently reading through the whole novel - but I am not going to let my understanding of the story in the novel to affect my perception of the series, as I am aware that the series will have differences to the novel.
And I posted below that those who grilled the series (mainly from Mainland China - the novel fans) because it made changes from the original novel, they must realise that:
1. If this was picked up and done by Mainland China production instead - it would have ended as a bromance story (which would have changed a lot more and ruined the storyline)
(We must be thankful that it was adapted, produced and released by Taiwanese production - with some Mainland Chinese companies collaborations, that we get to see the story unfolds as best as it can be, not ending up as a 'bromance-ised BL' or outright banned like Addicted Heroin, or have to be adapted to another story like Stay With Me, or spinoff to Thai version like the currently airing Thai Addicted Heroin)
Each of the above scenarios changed a lot more to the original novel story than The On1y One has done (which still has the same characters, same names, and mostly similar storyline)
2. Directors, screenwriters and storywriters have some artistic liberty to tell their story in the adaptation - it is after all an adaptation, not a literal word by word play on the original novel. From the first two episodes and the part of the novel I have read - in fact, they have stayed quite faithful to a lot of parts of the original novel.
3. This story is set in present day Taiwan, not in Mainland China as in the original novel - so some changes in details, characters, education system portrayed, attitudes are necessary. This includes the much more negative portrayal and connotation of BL in Mainland China versus the more positive one common in Taiwan (and elsewhere).
So some people who seem to be a huge fan of the original Danmei are spreading soo muchhh unnecessary hate against…
I totally agree with this - I mentioned this in a reply above.
From my prior experience with Bad Buddy (Thai BL) which I am a big fan of, that drama series has even bigger changes and alterations as compared to its original novel story source.
Many drama series do not follow their original novel story source text by text, and story detail by detail. Plus, what many often overlook is the fact that this series (The On1y One) story is set in present day Taiwan, while the original novel (A Certain Someone) was set in Mainland China - different dynamics, cultural nuances and all.
And as you mentioned, we have to be grateful that this danmei is adapted and presented to us via Taiwan versus Mainland China - where it will very likely end up as a bromance which would have altered the entire story a lot more than this series.
i found this thread on why novel fans are mad about this adaptation very interesting..I honestly understand why…
I have read this thread as well, and read some parts of the novel (A Certain Someone).
For me, my opinion is that, the fact that this series is adapted from the novel and is modified to fit the different societal customs and vibes of present day Taiwan should be taken into account. Most obvious being, the two characters studying in a high school in Taiwan versus the original novel's location setting in Mainland China.
Unlike in Mainland China, which at the point of the novel's writing (and even now) BL and homosexual relationship representations are frowned against, and commonly show negative acceptance by the community, the present day Taiwan is much more open to both - hence, Jiang Tian is shown as being less homophobic here than in the original novel.
And while it is still probably too early to tell (with ten more episodes to go), I am quite sure that there will be the angst and hardships the couple faced in the original novel portrayed in the coming episodes. However, I believe that it may be less angsty overall.
Plus, I also feel that the director and storywriters have stayed quite faithful to many of the elements in the novel. They also have the right to have some creative changes and alterations to the storyline and details (which I am sure they had agreed on with the original author).
From my prior experience - as I am a big fan of Bad Buddy - Thai BL as well, that series also veered off quite a lot from the original novel (Behind the Scene) it was taken from. Different ending, different plotline, and different characters present, and in fact, the changes are more significant than the changes between A Certain Someone and The On1y One.
(Difference being Behind the Scene novel was relatively unknown prior to Bad Buddy, while A Certain Someone as a popular danmei novel already has a significant/big following prior to The On1y One)
State of Bad Buddy Report - 644 days after Finale (YouTube total of all four parts per episode - rounded to closest thousand)
EP 1 - 30,383,000 EP 2 - 23,054,000 EP 3 - 22,642,000 EP 4 - 22,817,000 EP 5 - 28,366,000 EP 6 - 23,789,000 EP 7 - 26,668,000 EP 8 - 23,394,000 EP 9 - 31,996,000 EP 10 - 22,605,000 EP 11 - 23,330,000 EP 12 - 21,215,000
Total - 300,259,000 Average per episode: 25,022,000
—————————————————————
Bad Buddy OSTs
Just Friend? - 19,070,000 Secret - 8,425,000 Our Song - 11,863,000
Total - 39,358,000
—————————————————————
(As of Friday, 27 October 2023 at 11.45 pm Singapore time/UTC+8h)
State of Bad Buddy Report - 490 days after Finale (YouTube total of all four parts per episode - rounded to closest thousand)
EP 1 - 27,900,000 EP 2 - 21,137,000 EP 3 - 20,785,000 EP 4 - 20,913,000 EP 5 - 25,981,000 EP 6 - 21,728,000 EP 7 - 24,426,000 EP 8 - 21,344,000 EP 9 - 29,595,000 EP 10 - 20,633,000 EP 11 - 21,309,000 EP 12 - 19,363,000
Total - 275,114,000 Average per episode: 22,926,000
—————————————————————
Bad Buddy OSTs
Just Friend? - 17,567,000 Secret - 7,918,000 Our Song - 10,687,000
Total - 36,172,000
—————————————————————
(As of Friday, 26 May 2023 at 6.45 pm Singapore time/UTC+8h)
While this series isn't perfect, and the pace was kinda a bit rushed towards the end, but I can appreciate the characters and the story quite fine.
I kinda feel that many of the comments here are tad too critical on the series. This series is not excellent, but it is not as bad as some comments below made it out to be.
I may be in the minority here. But to me, I find the confession scene in EP 9 beautiful.
It is what Nan has been slowly been coaching Phu to do, to be true to himself and to express himself without fear anymore.
Hidden behind all the actions and all the drama, is the fact that Nan has already fallen for Phu (as shown in the prologue). But he wants to hear it from Phu’s own words.
Nan wasn’t oblivious, in the prologue and the events in this current series, he must have already tied the threads together, and knew that Phu loved him (cueue to EP 5 just before the unfortunate revelation).
1 
Others mostly by Sheng Wang.
But to drag the acceptance to halfway the story (as in novel) will not give enough time to explore other side of the story, especially since novel also hints at parental rejection and separation.
In any case, people shouldn’t make assumption whether the series is going to be mostly faithful to original novel source or not this early in the series (just 2 out of 12 aired)
The first two episodes managed to condense about 15% of the story in the novel, and that's quite a feat. Not all the details can be replicated or shown exactly as it was in the novel.
And I posted below that those who grilled the series (mainly from Mainland China - the novel fans) because it made changes from the original novel, they must realise that:
1. If this was picked up and done by Mainland China production instead - it would have ended as a bromance story (which would have changed a lot more and ruined the storyline)
(We must be thankful that it was adapted, produced and released by Taiwanese production - with some Mainland Chinese companies collaborations, that we get to see the story unfolds as best as it can be, not ending up as a 'bromance-ised BL' or outright banned like Addicted Heroin, or have to be adapted to another story like Stay With Me, or spinoff to Thai version like the currently airing Thai Addicted Heroin)
Each of the above scenarios changed a lot more to the original novel story than The On1y One has done (which still has the same characters, same names, and mostly similar storyline)
2. Directors, screenwriters and storywriters have some artistic liberty to tell their story in the adaptation - it is after all an adaptation, not a literal word by word play on the original novel. From the first two episodes and the part of the novel I have read - in fact, they have stayed quite faithful to a lot of parts of the original novel.
3. This story is set in present day Taiwan, not in Mainland China as in the original novel - so some changes in details, characters, education system portrayed, attitudes are necessary. This includes the much more negative portrayal and connotation of BL in Mainland China versus the more positive one common in Taiwan (and elsewhere).
From my prior experience with Bad Buddy (Thai BL) which I am a big fan of, that drama series has even bigger changes and alterations as compared to its original novel story source.
Many drama series do not follow their original novel story source text by text, and story detail by detail. Plus, what many often overlook is the fact that this series (The On1y One) story is set in present day Taiwan, while the original novel (A Certain Someone) was set in Mainland China - different dynamics, cultural nuances and all.
And as you mentioned, we have to be grateful that this danmei is adapted and presented to us via Taiwan versus Mainland China - where it will very likely end up as a bromance which would have altered the entire story a lot more than this series.
For me, my opinion is that, the fact that this series is adapted from the novel and is modified to fit the different societal customs and vibes of present day Taiwan should be taken into account. Most obvious being, the two characters studying in a high school in Taiwan versus the original novel's location setting in Mainland China.
Unlike in Mainland China, which at the point of the novel's writing (and even now) BL and homosexual relationship representations are frowned against, and commonly show negative acceptance by the community, the present day Taiwan is much more open to both - hence, Jiang Tian is shown as being less homophobic here than in the original novel.
And while it is still probably too early to tell (with ten more episodes to go), I am quite sure that there will be the angst and hardships the couple faced in the original novel portrayed in the coming episodes. However, I believe that it may be less angsty overall.
Plus, I also feel that the director and storywriters have stayed quite faithful to many of the elements in the novel. They also have the right to have some creative changes and alterations to the storyline and details (which I am sure they had agreed on with the original author).
From my prior experience - as I am a big fan of Bad Buddy - Thai BL as well, that series also veered off quite a lot from the original novel (Behind the Scene) it was taken from. Different ending, different plotline, and different characters present, and in fact, the changes are more significant than the changes between A Certain Someone and The On1y One.
(Difference being Behind the Scene novel was relatively unknown prior to Bad Buddy, while A Certain Someone as a popular danmei novel already has a significant/big following prior to The On1y One)
After 2 episodes (of 12), the series, the characters have impressed me a lot. Highly recommended!
See my data below ):)
(YouTube total of all four parts per episode - rounded to closest thousand)
EP 1 - 30,383,000
EP 2 - 23,054,000
EP 3 - 22,642,000
EP 4 - 22,817,000
EP 5 - 28,366,000
EP 6 - 23,789,000
EP 7 - 26,668,000
EP 8 - 23,394,000
EP 9 - 31,996,000
EP 10 - 22,605,000
EP 11 - 23,330,000
EP 12 - 21,215,000
Total - 300,259,000
Average per episode: 25,022,000
—————————————————————
Bad Buddy OSTs
Just Friend? - 19,070,000
Secret - 8,425,000
Our Song - 11,863,000
Total - 39,358,000
—————————————————————
(As of Friday, 27 October 2023 at 11.45 pm Singapore time/UTC+8h)
Happy Bad Buddy Friday everyone!
(Yes, I’m back here again)
(YouTube total of all four parts per episode - rounded to closest thousand)
EP 1 - 27,900,000
EP 2 - 21,137,000
EP 3 - 20,785,000
EP 4 - 20,913,000
EP 5 - 25,981,000
EP 6 - 21,728,000
EP 7 - 24,426,000
EP 8 - 21,344,000
EP 9 - 29,595,000
EP 10 - 20,633,000
EP 11 - 21,309,000
EP 12 - 19,363,000
Total - 275,114,000
Average per episode: 22,926,000
—————————————————————
Bad Buddy OSTs
Just Friend? - 17,567,000
Secret - 7,918,000
Our Song - 10,687,000
Total - 36,172,000
—————————————————————
(As of Friday, 26 May 2023 at 6.45 pm Singapore time/UTC+8h)
You can see some of their rants and comments down below.
Our Skyy 2 Bad Buddy trailer! It's finally here!
If it is not to our liking, it is what it is, as no series will ever satisfy everyone, no matter how excellent or great that series may be.
I kinda feel that many of the comments here are tad too critical on the series. This series is not excellent, but it is not as bad as some comments below made it out to be.
It is what Nan has been slowly been coaching Phu to do, to be true to himself and to express himself without fear anymore.
Hidden behind all the actions and all the drama, is the fact that Nan has already fallen for Phu (as shown in the prologue). But he wants to hear it from Phu’s own words.
Nan wasn’t oblivious, in the prologue and the events in this current series, he must have already tied the threads together, and knew that Phu loved him (cueue to EP 5 just before the unfortunate revelation).