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So, its okay when you call this as my own stigma without even knowing me? How is that any different from me calling you ignorant?
Grow up. Instead of backing up your argument with facts, you are resorting to tricks.

And yes, your inability to grasp the difference betn 2 genres only confirms why i called you ignorant. So, stay that way.

This isnt a desperate attempt by western audiences. First of all, im asian. Secondly, LGBT is a well established original term, while terms like BL/Yaoi and GL/Yuri were created by asians, especially in japan, to cater to a specific audience, mainly heterosexual women, by fulfilling certain fantasies with limited themes. If a show fits those specific themes and caters to that audience, it makes sense to call it BL. However, if the show belongs in the LGBT genre, labeling it as BL is disrespectful to both the genre and the community. Just because its adapted from a manga doesn’t mean it must be categorized as BL. Please learn the difference before assigning labels.

If you understand the distinction between the two genres, how BL originated, who it primarily targets and the themes it typically explores, you would realize that calling an LGBT show a BL drama undermines its significance. This isnt my own stigma, but a reality that ignorant people like you fail to understand.

The drama is outstanding, truly a masterpiece, but i have a question out of curiosity: do we really need to diminish its depth by labeling it as a bl drama? Honestly, it feels more like an queer/LGBTQ+ series, as it portrays the realities of gay relationships and their struggles. It doesnt quite fit the typical bl mold. Beyond exploring gay relationships, it also delves into darker themes like pedophilia, sex trafficking, prostitution, S&M and the harsh truths of the adult industry.

Thank you! You elevated my comment with your more detailed explanation. I really appreciate it.

I know seokryu's parents are a bit overbearing but thats because they were in the dark about her condition and have no idea what's really going on.

I genuinely feel sorry for them. Imagine suddenly discovering that the child you’ve raised with so much love had to undergo surgery to remove 70% of her stomach and has been battling cancer for a long time without your knowledge. How would you feel? Even though they're already dealing with dongjin's heart condition, they still have the right to know what’s happening with their daughter. What if she had passed away three years ago? They would have lived with guilt for the rest of their lives.

I hope all these characters work on their communication, because that’s what’s most urgently needed right now.

Kdrama viewers always have complaints, no matter the genre. If it's a plain romcom, they'll say there's no substance, just silly, cliche comedy (like KTL, which I personally never liked). But when a show mixes romcom with slice of life elements and healing romance, they'll complain it's boring and drawn out. Yet they conveniently overlook the meaningful storylines being crafted through the various characters.

In this show, the storyline is far more meaningful, with noticeable development in every episode. If you compare the titles at the start and end of every episode you'll see just how much progress is made within a single episode. At the same time, the show is gradually developing its characters.

Now, regarding the recent development, Seokryu has stomach cancer. She had it in the past, and i think now she's experiencing a relapse and she can recover as she is getting treated very early. The way some people are reacting, you’d think we were headed for a tragic ending, but that's not the case. She's simply dealing with an illness like anyone else might. This situation is completely different from what happened in QOT, in QOT situation was more dangerous, as there was no cure. Here, the focus is more on how she managed her illness alone for the past three years without telling anyone. From this point on, I believe her healing journey will begin. Once her family learns about her condition, they will understand what Seokryu has been going through. So I don’t understand the uproar over this twist, why is everyone so upset? It's not sudden; there were always hints, like her nosebleeds, but they were intentionally concealed, just as Seokryu kept it a secret from her parents.

Additionally, this is a mixed genre show, blending romcom, healing and slice of life elements. Naturally, there will be a balance of all three. You won't see romcom throughout the entire series, they already emphasized that in the first 5-6 episodes. Now it's time for things to get serious. I expect the seriousness will last until episode 10, and then we’ll see happier moments. That's what i have heard, someone mentioned that Jung Haein promised there would be a lot of happy scenes from episode 11 onward.

Have already watched all of them, and just because those shows made by queer people doesnt make them lgtbq shows, they still comes under BL category.

There is difference betn these two genres, please check explanation here.
https://kisskh.at/758821-love-in-the-big-city#comment-18619097

This is not BL but LGBTQ+ drama.

Although the show is set in the early 2010s, it was created in 2024 for a contemporary audience. Making the main character homophobic in a BL drama feels somewhat insensitive. It might have been more acceptable for some supporting characters to be homophobic, but not the protagonist.

Moreover, the show aligns more with the BL genre than a broader LGBTQ+ narrative, which likely influenced the decision to remove Jiang Tian's internalized homophobia. If the show had been a full fledged LGBTQ+ drama that explored the challenges faced by the queer community, Jiang Tian's homophobia might have made more sense. However, this series is primarily aimed at a BL audience, focusing on a high school romance between the leads. Introducing a homophobic backstory for Jiang Tian, like witnessing his father kissing another man, would have made the show more serious and could detract from its intended appeal within the BL genre.

I believe this show will do exceptionally well on MDL, likely earning a rating of 8.5 or higher. It should also perform well on IMDb. However, its global popularity is uncertain, given that its a TVING original. I really hoped TVING would sell its global streaming rights to Netflix but it seems they never sell their originals exclusive streaming rights to Netflix. Typically, Prime, Viki or Viu secure TVING originals rights. Hopefully, Prime will get the exclusive streaming rights.

If not this drama, im confident that Ok Taecyeon's Soul Mate could pave the way for LGBTQ+ shows featuring mainstream top actors if executed well. Soul Mate has immense potential as its Netflix original, so if the story and execution are handled properly, it could significantly impact LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media.

I believe Nam Yoonsu chose to do this drama because it has more mainstream appeal with an LGBTQ+ theme. Most other korean BL dramas are low budget often resembling the short web series on platforms like KOKTV. This is why mainstream actors never participate in BL dramas, as it might be seen as a step down for them to take on lower budget projects. Similarly Ok Taecyeon agreed to his queer role in an Soul Mate because its a big budget production for Netflix.

I believe that playing a queer role is a challenging opportunity for any actor, so they would naturally want to take on such roles to challenge their acting abilities. However, they generally avoid low budget dramas. If the korean industry starts producing high budget LGBTQ+ shows, im sure we will see more top actors embracing these roles.

Im really enjoying the direction this series is taking. Who needs purely positive, goody two shoes leads? If thats what you're after, there are plenty of BLs in non thriller genres to choose from. But here, the grey shaded lead characters are what make it so compelling.

People are questioning Tyme's actions and why he treated Great the way he did. First off, Tyme isnt entirely in love with Great. He is also deeply hostile toward Great's father and he is using Great as a tool for revenge. For Tyme, avenging his parents murder is far more important than this so called two day old love. Everything he did was perfectly aligned with his revenge plan.

And lets not forget, Great is no saint. He was killed lady in a hit and run case and he was an accomplice in the murder of Tonkla's brother (even if he didnt directly kill him). When he had the chance to save Nan from those goons, he chose to stay silent. So, i dont think Tyme was wrong in his actions toward Great.

Very simple, he was accomplice in his brother's murder.

I personally liked the changes they made to the main characters from the novel. These adjustments were made to fit into taiwanese culture. While chinese and taiwanese cultures are very similar, taiwan governed by a different government, has more freedom. Its also the first asian country to legalize same sex marriage and is very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Portraying the main lead as a homophobe in such a context would have been insensitive. Ofcourse, there are still homophobes in taiwan but making the protagonist of an LGBTQ+ show in a country that is very supportive of the community wouldnt seem right.

Im glad they made the necessary adjustments to reflect taiwan's inclusive culture.

Some may question why they chose to adapt a novel featuring a homophobic main character when there are many other BL novels available. Perhaps the story itself strongly resonated with the producers but to suit the cultural context, certain changes were essential and they made them.

For everyone calling LITBC a BL, please understand that it is not BL. Dont diminish its significance by labeling it as such. LITBC is an LGBTQ+ show, and there’s a significant difference between these two genres.

The LGBTQ+ genre portrays the real life experiences of queer individuals, focusing on the challenges they face in society. In contrast, BL/Yaoi is a genre primarily created to cater to the fantasies of a specific audience, often heterowomen, featuring idealized and sometimes unrealistic depictions of male tomale relationships.

Thai shows are prime examples of BL, while films like Your Name Engraved Herein and Monster are notable examples of the LGBTQ+ genre. LITBC addresses serious issues faced by the gay community, so please dont refer to it as BL, as that undermines its depth and message.

Note: I made this post after seeing many people on X claiming that this is BL and that LITBC is coming to save KBLs. I just wanted to clarify the difference between the two.

Really agree with whatever you said, specially last years romcoms like King the Land & My Demon failed due to same reason which you mentioned in your post.

Are you new to Dramaland or what? He is the main character and his late introduction was meant to build suspense and get the audience excited for the next episode. And you're saying they're just using him? Seriously?

Its ok to take inspiration, but not total copy paste. But again do what suits you.