As usual with this series I will be the dissenting voice. I give it a 6.5/10.
For me, Khai's fundamental character flaw is captured in the line of dialog that he says in episode 12 (or maybe 11) after he learns that Third doesn't want to be his boyfriend because if they end up breaking up someday, he will lose not only a boyfriend but a friend.
Khai's response to this is basically: Even if I end up losing a friend, I have to take the risk and win him.
Romantic, right?
Well, except for the fact that with that statement, Khai has twisted Third's concern all around, once again showing that he makes everything about himself. *Third* is the one who's worried about losing a friend. Instead of Khai reassuring *himself* about possibly losing a friend, he should be reassuring Third! But he's too self-absorbed to even enter that mode of thinking. To him it's about winning a game. He's a player till the end.
Still, lines like that do prove that the writers for this series did a fantastic job in creating the selfish, clueless character of Khai. I'm new to the wonderful world of BL dramas and this is my first series with Off in a starring role, and I have to say that the Khai character is now so indelible to me that I think I'll have a hard time watching him in any other role. I'll probably sit there the whole time wanting to punch him in the face.
The last two episodes felt rushed to me. The "turn" should have come about half the way into the series, so that the story would at least have had a shot at making Khai's conversion convincing.
I'll watch a Season 2 if it means that Khai is as tortured as Third was during Season 1. If it's just more of Third being abused by the emotional vampire Khai, I'll pass.
This is KIND OF a spoiler, but what you want basically happens half way through the show, Third realizes he's…
I'm all caught up now, and waiting for the Eng Sub of episode 11 to get posted. I like how it's going! It's like all of my wishes are coming true, including the side pairing I was hoping for.
I've been attached to someone in the same way you describe! Maybe that's a common factor in fans of these kinds of stories. We get to relive our own crazy, heartbreaking experiences vicariously and (hopefully) see the conflicts resolved in a positive way.
To be truthful this whole thing ain't doing it for me and I feel I'm forcing myself to like it to keep watching…
I agree that the way they make the girls all vapid fangirls for Khai is ridiculous. It's also a joke how P'An doesn't get at least a little attention from the females. Earth is one of the best-looking guys in BL drama and the P'An character is mature and classy.
This is KIND OF a spoiler, but what you want basically happens half way through the show, Third realizes he's…
I'm well into the "Third throwing shade" part of the story and I'm probably enjoying it a little too much. Yes, he's mean to Khai, but to me it all comes from a defensive stance so that he won't give in to those other feelings again.
Also, Third isn't going about it by doing the kind of awful stuff to Khai that Khai did to him, like making plans and then calling at the last minute to say he's got another obligation (oh, and to be lying about it, too.) Third's approach is completely from the standpoint of self-protection. I hold him entirely blameless.
I might believe more in Khai's transformation if the story had the two guys part ways for a few years and gain some relationship experience -- like Khai realizing that he likes men, dating someone and getting dumped, and seeing Third again with a whole new sense of what's important in life. This immediate transformation and sudden realization that he likes Third is a bit of a stretch.
Other random observations:
(1) I can see now that Flipped would have to be Third's favorite movie because the whole series is based on the same premise. I saw Flipped about a year ago and it didn't do much for me, but it's a great trope for a drama series!
(2) I'm at the eighth episode and I'm loving the hints at a Two-An pairing. (The "enemies to lovers" storyline always hooks me.) The character Two has grown on me so much. What a sweet guy, the perfect person to have on your side. How can Third not consider *him* to be his best friend?
(3) Like some others I fast-forward through the Bone subplot. There's no chemistry at all between him and the teacher.
(4) Just saw Khai's motorcycle accident. The fact that he finally understands Third's experience was done exceptionally well. I just hope that what comes next isn't Third feeling responsible for what happened and lowering his guard specifically because Khai got injured.
(5) I still don't know why Third ever fell in love with Khai in the first place. If I did I probably wouldn't dislike Khai so much.
This is KIND OF a spoiler, but what you want basically happens half way through the show, Third realizes he's…
LOL yes, I got that far now. I've been watching non-stop all afternoon haha. And you can bet that I perked up when I saw that lecturer talking about Gone With The Wind!
I should say that although I despise Khai, I love the series because amongst other things Gun's performance is phenomenal. Nobody should miss it, it's so amazing. Yes, you want to reach in and shake some sense into Third, but Gun creates such a real and relatable character that you have to be in awe of his sheer talent. (And he's got that "ugly-crying while leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down to sit on the floor" thing down pat. ;)
As I'm now getting to "Act III" of the big arc of the series I know I'm in for a role-reversal of sorts. But Khai is so utterly selfish that it's going to be hard for me to believe that what he does isn't just for the sake of his own comfort. I mean, how can a person like Khai even know what it means to "have feelings" for another person?
So, I'm still hoping that this season ends with Third waking up for real and walking away. He needs someone like Ae in his life. (Which reminds me -- why aren't any of those cute guys on the writing team making a play for him? I hope maybe one of them will.)
For BL drama Khai has to be one of the most unlikable leads of all time. I'm only three episodes in and I loathe him with the heat of a thousand suns. He's not even attractive. I mean, it's ironic that Khai is supposed to be a lure for viewers of Third's film reviews on-line. Third is adorable. He'd have thousands of followers in real life.
As someone who was in love with my best friend in middle school and also got ditched repeatedly, this series is not an easy watch for me. The ways in which Khai abuses and betrays his so-called best friend are so blatant that I'm angry at Third's other friends for not intervening, and at Third for just taking the abuse. (And yes, it is abuse.)
And why is Third in love with Khai in the first place? The writers make a mistake by starting with the premise that Third is already in love with Khai, but without showing us why. This is essential, especially with a character as horrible as Khai. Who knows, maybe they realized there was no way to do that so they didn't bother to try.
So, I don't ship these two at all. I will be thrilled if the series ends like Gone With The Wind, with Third telling Khai that frankly my dear, I don't give a damn, and walking away.
I wish the producers good luck in sustaining a fan base for this disaster because the "love" it depicts is of a person (Third) who must be broken in some way to let himself be treated so poorly and still say he loves his abuser. I don't know what to make of the fact that this is such a popular show. It worries me what that says about humankind. Seriously!
If ToL ends in anything besides Third finding his own courage and realizing how undeserving Khai is of his love then I will be furious. (And have Season Two be a reversal of rolls with Khai spending 12 episodes trying to win Third back. I'd be diggin' that!)
I just finished this series for the first time. (10/10 for me.)
Regarding TinCan, given the many posts here about how their relationship ended I actually had some anxiety as I watched Episode 14. Would there be a big blowup? Would Tin's older brother somehow ruin things for them?
When the episode was over I understood why viewers would be so unhappy, because I was unhappy too! I also felt I'd seen a good example of why in these series it's best to stick to tradition: provide a clear outcome for all of the couples and make those outcomes happy, dammit. The only reason I can imagine as to why the folks behind LBC didn't stick to this is that they were over-confident about the prospects of a Season 2. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if the plot for Season 2 had already been sketched out and was just waiting for a production green-light.
With this in mind, like many others I believe that the TinCan angst at the end of Episode 14 was intended as a cliffhanger. (A couple of the other relationships were also given their own version of cliffhanger endings, but of course those had nothing approaching the emotional wallop of TinCan's.) It all ended up backfiring, and the result is a stain on what would otherwise have been a beautiful canvas.
One thing that was also incredibly significant to me was that Tin wasn't the only one upset. After their last conversation, as Tin drove away and Can didn't feel pressured anymore, rather than feel relief he just stood there, shellshocked, and suddenly started to cry. I think he already felt regret, realizing that he was passing up on something precious. In the "story universe" of LBC it wouldn't surprise me if a few days later, Can got over his initial panic and approached Tin to talk again.
(Plus, in Can's defense, I have to say that I think Tin, being inexperienced in courtship, was moving on him way too fast.)
I realize that part of this is me wanting to rationalize that Tin hasn't lost all hope for love. Still, I think the writers and producers of LBC did a disservice to fans by being so over-confident that they'd get another bite at the apple.
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For me, Khai's fundamental character flaw is captured in the line of dialog that he says in episode 12 (or maybe 11) after he learns that Third doesn't want to be his boyfriend because if they end up breaking up someday, he will lose not only a boyfriend but a friend.
Khai's response to this is basically: Even if I end up losing a friend, I have to take the risk and win him.
Romantic, right?
Well, except for the fact that with that statement, Khai has twisted Third's concern all around, once again showing that he makes everything about himself. *Third* is the one who's worried about losing a friend. Instead of Khai reassuring *himself* about possibly losing a friend, he should be reassuring Third! But he's too self-absorbed to even enter that mode of thinking. To him it's about winning a game. He's a player till the end.
Still, lines like that do prove that the writers for this series did a fantastic job in creating the selfish, clueless character of Khai. I'm new to the wonderful world of BL dramas and this is my first series with Off in a starring role, and I have to say that the Khai character is now so indelible to me that I think I'll have a hard time watching him in any other role. I'll probably sit there the whole time wanting to punch him in the face.
The last two episodes felt rushed to me. The "turn" should have come about half the way into the series, so that the story would at least have had a shot at making Khai's conversion convincing.
I'll watch a Season 2 if it means that Khai is as tortured as Third was during Season 1. If it's just more of Third being abused by the emotional vampire Khai, I'll pass.
I've been attached to someone in the same way you describe! Maybe that's a common factor in fans of these kinds of stories. We get to relive our own crazy, heartbreaking experiences vicariously and (hopefully) see the conflicts resolved in a positive way.
Also, Third isn't going about it by doing the kind of awful stuff to Khai that Khai did to him, like making plans and then calling at the last minute to say he's got another obligation (oh, and to be lying about it, too.) Third's approach is completely from the standpoint of self-protection. I hold him entirely blameless.
I might believe more in Khai's transformation if the story had the two guys part ways for a few years and gain some relationship experience -- like Khai realizing that he likes men, dating someone and getting dumped, and seeing Third again with a whole new sense of what's important in life. This immediate transformation and sudden realization that he likes Third is a bit of a stretch.
Other random observations:
(1) I can see now that Flipped would have to be Third's favorite movie because the whole series is based on the same premise. I saw Flipped about a year ago and it didn't do much for me, but it's a great trope for a drama series!
(2) I'm at the eighth episode and I'm loving the hints at a Two-An pairing. (The "enemies to lovers" storyline always hooks me.) The character Two has grown on me so much. What a sweet guy, the perfect person to have on your side. How can Third not consider *him* to be his best friend?
(3) Like some others I fast-forward through the Bone subplot. There's no chemistry at all between him and the teacher.
(4) Just saw Khai's motorcycle accident. The fact that he finally understands Third's experience was done exceptionally well. I just hope that what comes next isn't Third feeling responsible for what happened and lowering his guard specifically because Khai got injured.
(5) I still don't know why Third ever fell in love with Khai in the first place. If I did I probably wouldn't dislike Khai so much.
I should say that although I despise Khai, I love the series because amongst other things Gun's performance is phenomenal. Nobody should miss it, it's so amazing. Yes, you want to reach in and shake some sense into Third, but Gun creates such a real and relatable character that you have to be in awe of his sheer talent. (And he's got that "ugly-crying while leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down to sit on the floor" thing down pat. ;)
As I'm now getting to "Act III" of the big arc of the series I know I'm in for a role-reversal of sorts. But Khai is so utterly selfish that it's going to be hard for me to believe that what he does isn't just for the sake of his own comfort. I mean, how can a person like Khai even know what it means to "have feelings" for another person?
So, I'm still hoping that this season ends with Third waking up for real and walking away. He needs someone like Ae in his life. (Which reminds me -- why aren't any of those cute guys on the writing team making a play for him? I hope maybe one of them will.)
As someone who was in love with my best friend in middle school and also got ditched repeatedly, this series is not an easy watch for me. The ways in which Khai abuses and betrays his so-called best friend are so blatant that I'm angry at Third's other friends for not intervening, and at Third for just taking the abuse. (And yes, it is abuse.)
And why is Third in love with Khai in the first place? The writers make a mistake by starting with the premise that Third is already in love with Khai, but without showing us why. This is essential, especially with a character as horrible as Khai. Who knows, maybe they realized there was no way to do that so they didn't bother to try.
So, I don't ship these two at all. I will be thrilled if the series ends like Gone With The Wind, with Third telling Khai that frankly my dear, I don't give a damn, and walking away.
I wish the producers good luck in sustaining a fan base for this disaster because the "love" it depicts is of a person (Third) who must be broken in some way to let himself be treated so poorly and still say he loves his abuser. I don't know what to make of the fact that this is such a popular show. It worries me what that says about humankind. Seriously!
If ToL ends in anything besides Third finding his own courage and realizing how undeserving Khai is of his love then I will be furious. (And have Season Two be a reversal of rolls with Khai spending 12 episodes trying to win Third back. I'd be diggin' that!)
Regarding TinCan, given the many posts here about how their relationship ended I actually had some anxiety as I watched Episode 14. Would there be a big blowup? Would Tin's older brother somehow ruin things for them?
When the episode was over I understood why viewers would be so unhappy, because I was unhappy too! I also felt I'd seen a good example of why in these series it's best to stick to tradition: provide a clear outcome for all of the couples and make those outcomes happy, dammit. The only reason I can imagine as to why the folks behind LBC didn't stick to this is that they were over-confident about the prospects of a Season 2. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if the plot for Season 2 had already been sketched out and was just waiting for a production green-light.
With this in mind, like many others I believe that the TinCan angst at the end of Episode 14 was intended as a cliffhanger. (A couple of the other relationships were also given their own version of cliffhanger endings, but of course those had nothing approaching the emotional wallop of TinCan's.) It all ended up backfiring, and the result is a stain on what would otherwise have been a beautiful canvas.
One thing that was also incredibly significant to me was that Tin wasn't the only one upset. After their last conversation, as Tin drove away and Can didn't feel pressured anymore, rather than feel relief he just stood there, shellshocked, and suddenly started to cry. I think he already felt regret, realizing that he was passing up on something precious. In the "story universe" of LBC it wouldn't surprise me if a few days later, Can got over his initial panic and approached Tin to talk again.
(Plus, in Can's defense, I have to say that I think Tin, being inexperienced in courtship, was moving on him way too fast.)
I realize that part of this is me wanting to rationalize that Tin hasn't lost all hope for love. Still, I think the writers and producers of LBC did a disservice to fans by being so over-confident that they'd get another bite at the apple.