Senza

I know only 1/3rd of the series has aired so far, but honestly, i have a really strong feeling that this show will maintain high ratings in the 8.7-9.0 range.

Ok, lets exclude this show for now (though honestly, i still think there is a high chance this series will remain highly rated, probably in the 8.7-9.0 range) but since it still has 15 episodes to air lets exclude this one.

Now coming to thai BLs, just because of the shipping culture, you cant go and exclude Thai dramas. They are very much a part of the BL arena. Otherwise, even i could argue to exclude korean ones just because they are globally popular or something.

Thai dramas often have terrible scripts and weak acting, yet they still get high ratings. And not everyone who watches them is part of the Thai shipping culture. For example, take your case, you have watched plenty of Thai BLs and i dont agree with the ratings you gave to many of them, as i have watched them too. Yet you still rated them high, right?? So, are you also part of the shipping culture?? Thats why i said, dont exclude them, because they are still a part of the BL landscape.

There are plenty of shows i have watched and liked, The On1y One, Our Youth, Gel Boys, Love in the Big City, Happy of The End (JBL), etc. that truly deserve high ratings. Some of them did get it but many didnt. Why?? Because in the BL community, most people dont care much about the story. They focus more on how good looking the main leads are or how hot the NC scenes are.

There are many BL shows with good storylines that get ignored because of this. Only a few, like Love for Love's Sake, Our Youth or Gel boys, which actually have strong storylines and acting, get lucky with ratings.

Also, homophobia isnt really a factor in BL ratings. People who are homophobic dont even bother with BLs, they stay away altogether. Only a few shows, like Love in the Big City, were affected by homophobia, and that too because it was more of a queer drama than a typical BL. Apart from that, most BLs arent victims of homophobia.

Whereas with straight dramas, no matter how good looking your leads are, while giving ratings people often take storylines into the account. Otherwise shows like True Beauty, My Demon, King The Land, A Good Day to Be Dog etc many would hsve gotten as high as 8.8-9.0. but that doesnt happen with straight drama but only BLs, that to Thai ones, which i agree.

I completely disagree with the statement, "But it's also fair to say that straight dramas on MDL tend to be rated higher compared to BLs of the same quality." In fact, I would argue the opposite, straight drama audiences often give lower ratings for the same level of script or production quality. Just look at Kdramas as an example: many straight dramas with similar script quality have lower ratings. And if the male lead is toxic, the ratings drop even further. So I definitely don’t agree with that claim.

There are several popular Kdramas like True Beauty, Boys Over Flowers, and others, just check their MDL ratings. Now compare those with this BL, its ratings are way higher despite having similar or even more flawed elements.

You might bring up exceptions like Hidden Love, Business Proposal or other well received mainstream dramas. But those shows actually deserve their high ratings because of good production quality, well executed scripts and comparatively less problematic lead characters. Even in their case, a large part of the appeal comes from the chemistry between leads, which, again, is a major reason this particular BL is rated highly too.

Secondly, look at many Thai BLs, the scripts are often weak, the acting subpar, yet they still receive high ratings. If those same dramas were straight romances with the same level of quality, do you really think they would be rated that high? So no, it's completely inaccurate to say that straight dramas are rated higher than BLs of the same quality.

The truth is that BLs often get higher ratings regardless of actual quality, mainly because straight dramas are produced in bulk, while BLs are relatively fewer in number. This scarcity gives BLs a clear advantage. With fewer options to choose from, audiences tend to rate the best among them highly, even if the quality is just average.

You are completely wrong about korean BLs, its rare for them to get high ratings, so don’t say things like “korean BLs get high ratings even when the plot isnt good.” The highest rated korean BL is probably Love for Love’s Sake with a rating of 8.7, which is fair because it offered something new, the acting was solid, and the plot wasnt typical. The second highest might be Love in the Big City, which is actually a queer drama rather than a typical BL and it has an 8.4 rating, though honestly, it deserves more like 8.7-8.8 because it’s that good.

But i do agree when it comes to Thai ones, they are just plain bad. The acting is often weak, the stories arent good and they are filled with cringe, yet somehow they still get high ratings. At least here, the acting is good, leads have good chemistry but the plot isnt that good to deserve an 8.9 (maybe 8.4-8.5). But i do get why it got 8.9 as its from china and uncensored bl from china is quite unusual so fans are giving extra love.

As for japan, their situation is kind of similar to korea. Their BLs also rarely get high ratings. I think Our Youth is the highest rated japanese BL with 8.9 and in that case, the rating is actually well deserved.

I genuinely enjoy this drama and love watching it but i do think the 8.9 rating is a bit inflated.

Yes, its entertaining but there is some silliness and childishness that makes it feel somewhat overrated. If this were a mainstream hetero drama, the rating would probably be around 8-8.3. Even if it were a BL from another country, i doubt it would score this high.

But because its a fully uncensored Chinese BL, with attractive actors who can actually act and have great chemistry, people are more inclined to give it a perfect score, even if it doesnt fully deserve it. The long drought of BL content from china has definitely made viewers a bit more generous with their praise.

When you see 455 (S2) and 456 (S1) people die in front of you and you are even partially responsible for their deaths, no person can remain sane or have the will to live, even for their loved ones. At the very least, he was able to save that innocent newborn baby.

Honestly there is nothing like character development in this kind of survival show where you are stuck in a life and death game. Character development is a term more suited for other genres, not shows like Squid Game. It's always a do or die situation and Gihun was consistent from Season 2 till the end of Season 3. Even though he failed to destroy the game, he was at least able to save one innocent life.

How is that considered suicide? I mean, what other options did he have? Did you want him to kill the baby instead?

I absolutely loved this drama! The satirical take on politics was clever and made it such an entertaining watch. My favorites were definitely Sehun and Jaewon, and Kwak Sanghyeon was excellent as the villain, he really nailed the role.
What i don’t get is the unnecessary hate this drama is receiving. I have even seen one particular account going out of its way to leave negative replies under almost every comment. If you didnt like the show, that’s fine, leave a review, share your thoughts, and move on. But constantly replying to others just to spread negativity? That’s not criticism, thats just hate. Some people seriously have too much time to waste on shows they claim to dislike.
My personal advice to anyone planning to watch it: dont take any reviews or comments too seriously, whether they are glowing or harsh. Just watch it for yourself and decide based on your own judgment.

For me, this was a solid 9/10.

After a long time, since Stay With Me, we finally got a proper CBL with full length episodes (40+ mins) and a solid episode count like 24. This silly romcom stands shoulder to shoulder with modern Chinese romcoms. It has its flaws but its genuinely enjoyable.

If the chinese government hadnt banned BLs after Addicted, the CBL industry would have easily overtaken the Thai BL industry years ago. Personally im not a fan of Thai BLs, they are hard for me to digest because of the cringe acting, weak plots and sloppy execution. Had the ban never happened, china would likely be leading the global BL scene by now.

Kdramas may dominate the overall asian drama space but because of the country’s smaller population, they cant really lead in the BL market. China, with its massive audience, holds a huge advantage. The CBL industry could have been booming by now.

(And before anyone comes at me, by huge audience, i mean china’s 1.4 billion population. Even if just 10% watch BLs, thats still a huge number. Korea, by comparison, has only around 50 million people so the BL/GL viewer base is naturally smaller.)

My thai drama journey began with thai bls, starting with My Bromance around 2015-16. At that time, i hadnt explored much of the broader asian drama industry. I had only seen a handful of selected series, most of which were quite cringe worthy so i didn’t pay much attention.

However as i started exploring other industries like korean, chinese, japanese and taiwanese dramas, i began noticing a significant difference in acting, writing and overall execution. That shifted my perception of the thai industry, i started seeing it as somewhat cringey with poor acting and weak storytelling.

But when i later watched some good non BL thai shows, i realized that thailand does have talented actors and writers. Its just that many thai BL producers seem to cater heavily to the fetishes of fujoshis which is probably why the industry hasnt grown as much compared to others.

From what i have seen through thai vlogs, series and movies, most of the rural population tends to have a darker, tan complexion. In contrast, the urban population appears to be more influenced by korean beauty standards so fairer skin is more common there. Still i often see a mix of complexions in thai films and non BL dramas especially those set in rural backgrounds.

I have watched most of them in plenty of series except for Krist and First, the ones you mentioned. Frankly speaking, i found them just decent, not as great as you are trying to portray. Of course, you are a thai bl fan so you will naturally praise them. But as a neutral viewer who enjoys all kinds of dramas from west to east, i dont find them exceptional, just average at best.
Secondly, Peaceful Property was average at best. It had plenty of plot holes and a lot of cringe acting (which obviously, you might overlook since you are a fan of the couple).

I can give you plenty of examples of cleverly written bls that were well received. Love in the Big City from south korea is one such example. So please don’t use the excuse that only badly written plots sell, that wont work with me. While most thai bls are badly written and filled with cringe, i recently watched Gelboys and Thamepo and both were received well. Their stories werent cringe and they were genuinely good. Thamepo may not have been the best but it was definitely above average and had certainly good storyline.

The issue isnt just writing, its also the acting, execution, cheap comedy and overall production. Even their working culture is questionable, considering how actors are treated as i have seen in some variety shows.
On one hand, you claim you are not a crazy shipper, but on the other hand, you want the same pair cast in every single project?? How do those two statements make sense together?? If you like a couple, then 2-3 projects together should be more than enough, ideally spaced out over time, after exploring different genres and working with different costars. But whats with this obsession of wanting the same pair in every other project back to back?? Fans like you dont want these actors to grow, you just want them stuck with each other.

Outside the thai industry, there are many other drama industries that work without such ridiculous policies. Sure, some pairs may reunite but only when it fits the roles and the story, not like in thailand, where they keep repeating the same pairs regardless of whether they suit the role or not. And trust me, those other industries are doing much better in terms of money, popularity and fame, without relying on this repetitive couple policy.

Its only not serious to you because you are getting what you want. But not everyone shares the same perspective, so please dont shut the conversation down with, its just business.

And whats with shutting down others opinions just because they dont match yours?? Saying things like "dont enjoy, dont watch, thats all the power you have”??Come on. This platform is meant for discussing dramas, whether we like them, dislike them, want to praise them or rant about them. All opinions are welcome, so why are you trying to silence people just because their views differ from yours??

Sorry to be blunt but do you realize how absurd your statement sounds, blaming silly fangirls who dont care about the story and only care about good looking faces?? Girl, im really sorry to say this but you are doing the exact same thing. You watch shows for certain pairs like TayNew or BenzGarfield just because they are good looking, regardless of the story. So should i blame you too?? You are also encouraging this nonsense policy of repeating couples in thai BLs, which prevents actors from growing, just because you want to see the same pair again and again.
You are watching Pit Babe just for BenzGarfield because you have a soft spot for them, even though you know the script is horrible. That makes you no different from the fangirls you are mocking, those who dont care about the story. And then you try to lecture me for criticizing actors?? I have blamed everyone, from writers to actors who cant act. If i find their acting cringe or poor, how can i not criticize them??

Lastly i just want to say, please read your own reply again and see how many self contradictory statements you have made.

I completely agree with everything you said. Personally, i just dont understand why they keep repeating the same pairs in every single project. Imean what kind of nonsense is that?? Let the actors explore different genres, work with different co stars and grow through diverse roles. But no, thai channels and producers insist on recycling the same pairs, even the same side pairs, in every damn project until the audience gets bored and starts scratching their heads.

Each project has different characters, which require actors with different calibers and strengths. So how can they justify casting the same hit pair in every show, regardless of whether those actors suit the roles or not?? Even if one actor fits the role and the other doesnt, they still cast them together just to maintain the pair. Its beyond absurd. This trend doesnt let actors grow to their full potential.

I also used to think thai humor was just different until i came across some genuinely good non BL shows produced by netflix. I realized its not the humor thats the problem, its the childish writing. Some of these jokes feel like they were written for 12 year olds.

And i used to believe thai actors couldnt act and always did cringey performances until I watched shows like The Believers, Mad Unicorn, Girl From Nowhere, Dont Come Home, GelBoys, Enigma, Leap Day and several good movies like How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, Love Stuck etc. Thats when i realized thailand actually has some really talented actors. The problem is the producers and directors dont use them properly. Instead, they keep casting good looking faces who havent even matured in their craft yet. Its like they are picking tiktok influencers, just based on their body, looks and social media appeal.

I also hate how they use transgender people for cheap comedy. On one hand, they claim to support the queer community through BLs and on the other, they exploit trans women and ladyboys for shallow comic relief. Its just plain hypocrisy.

Dont even get me started on how unrealistic, childish and illogical most thai BL plots are.

This show feels incredibly childish as if it were written by a 14 year old Wattpad writer. There is no plot, the characters are completely unrelatable, the storyline lacks any sense of realism or logic and even the acting falls flat.

Unfortunately, this isnt uncommon in many Thai BLs. The formula seems simple: cast two hot guys, pair them repeatedly, regardless of whether they suit the roles, ignore meaningful storytelling and instead rely on juvenile scripts filled with recycled tropes. Throw in a few NC scenes to draw in the audience and suddenly its considered a hit. Then just spin off the side couples into their own shows and repeat the cycle, regardless of how poorly they fit the part.

Its frustrating that an industry claiming to champion queer representation often resorts to queerbaiting or fujoshi baiting, relying on physical appeal and NC scenes while sidelining genuine storytelling and meaningful character development.

It's an easy way to dodge criticism by saying, Oh, this just isn’t for you. But in this case, I clearly said I liked the first four episodes and saw potential for it to be a good show. However, the plot and characters have since derailed and become annoying, with no real development.

The ML has been a loyal dog from episode 1, and I expected some character growth but even now, he’s still the same doormat. The MC has been a crybaby since the beginning and hasn't changed either. The plot keeps going in circles with a repetitive breakup/patchup cycle over silly reasons. The ML has no self respect, so their chemistry has dropped to zero for me.

Their NC scenes aren't enough to keep me engaged. To me, those were just used to lure in audiences who are only interested in that type of content, rather than building character and plot development.

You can’t just say, Maybe this isn’t for you. It was for me, that’s why I liked the first few episodes. But its the creators who ruined and derailed the plot.

Secondly, they didn’t even handle the sasaeng type sensitive issue well. Sasaengs are genuinely dangerous to idols, yet here, the idol actor forgives her just because she tells him a sob story. If anything, she should have been behind bars, to send a clear message that what sasaengs do is a serious crime and absolutely unforgivable.

There hasn’t been a single thing they have handled well in the recent episodes.

I don't understand why this has such high ratings because, so far, it's just been purely annoying, both the characters and the plot. The ML is one of the most irritating characters I’ve come across in all the BLs I’ve watched. He basically has no personality other than being a loyal dog to the MC. Many might call him a green flag or whatever, but to me, he comes off as a doormat with no individuality whatsoever. All he does is cling to the MC, and that’s his entire role.

Even Johnny, despite his terrible personality, had more chemistry with the MC and that’s frustrating, considering he nearly tried to assault the MC. Yet somehow, their dynamic still had more spark than the one between the ML and the MC. There’s a difference between being a green flag and being a doormat.

As for the plot, it's just as annoying. It’s been stuck in this breakup/patchup cycle for the past few episodes, all because of silly misunderstandings and the MC's noble idiot syndrome. The MC keeps pushing the ML away, and the ML, lacking any self respect keeps running back to him. Its laughable. The MC is just a crybaby and exhausting to watch.

The first few episodes were promising atleast the first four showed some potential but after that, the plot completely derailed.

This is just my personal rant about the show and its characters, nothing against the actors.

Every review of urs is on top of page of those respectove shows

What about every other review of urs is on top of page of all those shows? Imean with 4 or 5 reviews on top i can understand but not every other review on top with big margin with other highest upvoted reviews, do u think we all are fools or what?

My reply doesnt matter yet you proceed to give me the longest reply under this comment, thats pretty hypocritical of you, lol. Also, even you know how much fake upvoting you have done on each and every one of your reviews. On Mr. Plankton, your review has 172 upvotes, while others barely reach 20+. Do you really think anyone will believe this nonsense?

Here is a small suggestion from me, at least try to make it believable, man.

Bro just go and check all his reviews, all reviews are top on every shows profile, now that cant be coincident right?? Its not like every review of his magically will get on top, there has to be fake upvoting from his multiple ids. I have caught plenty of such accounts doing these kind of malpractices and reported them and they are also on mdl fr quite long time. One of them is Lex and there was another one which got suspended by MDL for doing thess malpractices of fake upvoting. If you dont anything then just dont say anything.