DramasBMH

The prosecutor is painted as two faced because he is nice at certain times & a workaholic at others?

I feel like I'm missing something with his character. In story he's treated as unreasonable when he hasn't done anything outrageous.

I am so confused; how is the male lead supposed to seem like the unreasonable one when he's literally *just* doing his job?

The assistant still had time to email the thing; it's not like he was sending her on an errand that would've lead to hours of overtime. Or am I missing something?

For me, it was like 11 am (EST)

Really?! I can kinda see that

She's so awesome haha
Whenever I think of her scenes, I smile haha
Especially when she was at the police station doing the dance thing

God, these arguments are so tiresome to scroll through. It's evident that some folks are commenting without even watching the show.

They are just complaining on principle with little to no context.

Anyone who ACTUALLY watched the show knows it's a good show. Whether you like or dislike, agree or disagree with the ending, the overall product was good. It had good performances, it had clear, meaningful developments and arcs, and it had decent OST which kept things engaging. It can also invoke discussion as well as resonate with different people. Those are ALL hallmarks of a good project.

Condemn? What are you even talking about? I think you might be replying to the wrong person because I didn't condemn anyone and I especially didn't talk about group dates.

I said the characterizations reminded me of wanting to allude to something but not commit to it. That was based on EVERYTHING that's happened in the show, not a line about a group date.

In another post, I wrote something like it might be weird for Deuk Pal to date cause of the mental age gap. Is that what you're referring to? If so, that still wasn't condemning anyone. Deuk Pal will ALWAYS have more experience and a different perspective compared to those in their 20s & 30s. I would assume it would take a certain type of person and situation for him to *not* see them as youngsters that he can look out for.

It's all wrapped up

I liked the ending but I agree with some of the things you said. Before seeing the finale, Yi Yeon's return was exactly what I was concerned about (concerned is too big of a word but it's the only one I got haha) because even though Deuk Pal technically bettered aspects of his life, those were all *Deuk Pal's* accomplishments. He was the confident one, he was the one who could make friends. Yeah, he was willing to give that life back over to Yi Yeon but Yi Yeon doesn't just magically have an interest or investment in life because of those external changes. He ONLY had the pain, weariness, and lonliness of years in his heart and on his shoulders. As many a suicidal or person with depression can tell you, just changing the outside doesn't necessarily make the inside better.

It was nice that he was able to get closure though

Fine; whatever you say.

This is exactly why I wonder what someone with zero knowledge of all of this would say about the show.

I kinda wish this show were on Viki so it could have a broader audience and more people could see the actors' performances.

I *really* want the actor who plays Jae Min to get more roles. I wanna end up validated in my belief that he has the potential to be a good actor, especially a good comedic actor.

This is random but I could kinda see him playing Lee Kwang Soo's brother or something haha

I just realized there's been no mention of the basketball guy apologizing and then asking to be Yi Yeon's friend too and Deuk Pal's response of "no, you're not [Yi Yeon's] style" haha
What in the sassy shade was that?! Haha

The argument about representation is tedious. I get it! You have a valid point. There is also a valid claim that the show wouldn't have gotten the actors it did if it were a BL and still wouldn't have reached a wider audience. The fact that this was made at all gives a spotlight to the content and if people are curious, they can read the original (if they can find it).

Again, if you've actually read the entire story, feel free to discuss it on the discussion thread so others can easily find it and know exactly what happens in the story.

And yes, Deuk Pal is a good influence & role model? How is he not?

You're talking about end of the novel?

I know right! When she showed up, I was like who is she? I thought she was Jae Min's sister until it was mentioned she was from the study hall haha

What does you're being gay have to do with the fact that the target audience is often straight females?

I don't even typically like romance much. There's been many a drama where I thought it would've been better without any romance. That's part of the reason this appeals to me: the focus on friendship and kinda mentorship. Well, I don't think he's exactly a mentor haha. What would you call it? He's a good adult figure haha

My point is that focus is good too. Like I said, I get that people have their criticism and they're valid but just because *this* exists doesn't mean the original doesn't and shouldn't be read. Watching the drama made me more curious about the source material.

Marginalized groups will always have a valid point on issues of representation but I still think this is a good show on its own merits and there are people who can relate these characters too.

I think I've said this before but I wonder how people who didn't know the discourse over this would view the show. Would they think there was any possible BL in this?

Well, objectively, the show *did* kinda make it seem like there *was* possibly something between Se Kyung and Yi Yeon haha.

It kinda reminds me of You're All Surrounded when for like the first half of the drama, one of the detectives had a possibly ambigiously gay vibe and then a little rumor he was gay (I say little rumor cause it was just like two scenes - one where a random cop says something like "hey, I heard he's gay" and the second scene to be like the detective looking at the other wondering if the rumor is true) only for the detective to NOT be gay but instead his brother was the gay one. When I saw that, I was like "you cowards" (about the production).
At the time, I didn't know how conservative SK was but still, what was even the point of having him be that way only to (a) not have him be gay & (b) change it once it was acknowledged? He no longer acted the same way and I think the issue turned to him being more accomplished & handsome.

Now, that I know that drama was likely filmed & aired in real time, I wonder if that was due to audience reaction and them not liking that.

I went a bit off tangent but Se Kyung's (and possibly Yi Yeon's) characterization reminds me of that. It's like they wanted to maybe allude to it but they didn't want to commit to it

I don't need a lecture on marginalized groups. I get that people feel a certain way about this project and it's a valid criticism. My point remains this should be judged on its own merits.

Not to mention, BL content is often written by straight women for straight female audiences.

I was using the Stephen King example because it was the only one I know off the top of my head.

I don't have a responsibilty to deflect. I have NOTHING to win or lose in this debate. It's a show that I enjoyed; nothing more, nothing less. I'm saying how I view it. I could enjoy both versions, the original & this version.

Because that's apart of college life. Again, those same things happen in high school/college set BLs. And this isn't a BL anyway

Sure, it didn't *need* to be said but that doesn't make it a romance.

People are gonna have their criticisms and it's really pointless to argue but I just felt the need to say this: this should be viewed on its OWN merits! Comparing it to the source material (that most haven't even read) just ruins the experience of forming your own thoughts and opinions.

I can't remember which Stephen King adaptation it was but there once was an adaptation of one of his stories, I think it was a movie, and he didn't like the changes that were made. Fast forward, there was another made for tv adaptation made that was more faithful to original story and it was not a good adaptation. I think he even said he ended up having an appreciation or respect for the first adaptation & its changes.l

You can also think of this as an AU of the webnovel & the webtoon/manhwa.