FreshKicks

You have a keener eye for the visuals so I can't comment on those, but I agree with everything else. The scenes do tend to go on a little longer than they need to. It could do with a little tightening of the script.

When I got wind of what Mean said I got miffed but I've gotten over it. I'm going to support the series. It's clearly aspiring to bring us something special.

When a synopsis has too many spoilers ....

I enjoyed it. It's refreshing to watch a naturalistic BL series without the campy stuff.

There are echoes of ITSAY throughout. I would even venture that Mean intentionally wanted to capture that vibe. It's probably too soon to say, but maybe ITSAY will have a lasting impact by showing directors and producers that it's okay to tell a BL story without all the silly unrealistic elements.

As a story, though, this one looks like it will be predictable, but for a first-time effort by Mean I'm willing to cut him some slack. The final product feels sincere, as do his words in the BTS segment at the end of the episode.

Something tells me that Daon is connecting with Taekyung more than he has with anyone before. When they were walking together outside the school after tutoring they both looked so at ease. True friends let you relax and be yourself.

I don't think it necessarily means the two of them will fall in love, but clearly Daon is going out of his way to change his schedule and habits in order to spend time with Taekyung. Like in any good relationship, each is providing something that was missing in the other's life before.

Maybe it's a mistranslation in the subs, but I think he's referring to how when someone decides to commit suicide, before they do it they can go from being very sad all the time to being really happy.

This is the first episode of the series that I can't wait to rewatch.

It means taking a gay character and rewriting the part so that the character is straight.

This is happening right now in "At a Distance Spring Is Green".

One more piece of evidence in favor of the Shinwoo-Taekhyung pairing: in this episode there was the classic "fall into a locked stare"© that foretells true love.

True. From the first episode it was clearly an "enemies to lovers" scenario.

The relationship with Daon will keep viewers wondering. Perhaps Taekyung will actually start to like Daon at some point, but it would be boring to have such an upfront courtship carry on for several episodes and then be the endgame. There's no dramatic tension with the Taekyung-Deon pairing other than the girl who wants to disrupt their friendship.

This episode .... wow.

I'm guessing that what happened to Shinwoo in middle school was that he liked one of his friends and confessed, and it backfired. I wouldn't be surprised if the chief bully from that earlier episode was the guy he liked.

So when Shinwoo's heart fluttered after that fingerflick from Taekyung, he started to worry.

But seeing Shinwoo smile was worth the wait.

The series is now running on all cylinders. We can sit back and enjoy the ride. :)

Don't forget that Viki's viewing numbers will also get factored in. Viki doesn't release that information to the public but they probably share it with the production company.

You make a good point. I've watched a few of these shortform Kdramas aimed at a young audience and they rarely delve into character psychology. Much of the time we don't even see any parents throughout the entire series.

I don't think we'll ever learn how TK came to be how he is. I do expect we will learn what happened to Shin Woo in middle school, but when we do I doubt it will be as a flashback. It will probably be explained in dialog, and this will be so there's more context around the bullies, not so much for character insight.

All this doesn't bother me though. I take it in stride with this style of Kdrama.

You've made me realize it would be fun to actually have a BL Boys Over Flowers.

He didn't crack but he sure seemed to be on the verge. Then he did his usual thing and internalized it.

This is a happy departure from that sad tradition. Within the first few moments of Episode One we hear one boy refer to another as his first love.

I don't expect any kissing to happen but I know this will be more than a bromance and will have a happy ending -- something Kdramas are not known for when it comes to gay storylines.

An official YouTube release of the series starts this Friday.

Starting this Friday, Nitiman will be airing on YouTube, so if you were unable to watch during its original run you’ll have a chance to do so without having to resort to unofficial sources.

I think another factor is that whatever happened to him in middle school is always in the back of his mind. It must feel terrible to want to be close to someone so badly but be afraid of not only being turned down but also of being ridiculed and bullied.

I read it whole, and agree with every point you make.

Including the awkward "youth trip" where So Bin and her nemesis are forced together but there's no tension between them at all. I kept waiting and watching for it, but no.

It's clear that they want us to start rooting for Professor Song to find love with Professor Park. As if! But, another rule in Kdramas is that evil characters achieve redemption once they've completed their service to the main plot. (In that regard keep an eye on the seniors -- I bet the ones not hauled off to jail will be good guys by the end of the series.)

I think you really did crack the code!