FreshKicks

Good catch.

Fourteen "Mains" in the cast. Might be a record!

I think Vee got it in his head that Mark was suicidal over losing Bar. There's the way he scolded Mark after pulling him up from the bottom of the pool, and of course his panic when Mark went missing.

For me one of the shining moments in Yin's performance as Vee is when he sees those abandoned shoes next to the pond and believes that Mark has, indeed, killed himself. In a situation like that there'd be a sudden and overwhelming sense of dread and horror, and that's exactly what we hear in Vee's reaction. Just a small detail but so impressive.

Over two weeks later I am finally replying to your wonderful comment. I'm sorry it took so long.

As you say, I don't "hate" Ji Woo -- I hate what the series did to his character for the sake of some flashy pain porn.

You make a great point about the lack of effort to show what happened over the course of the couple's year together. If they'd explored what led Ji Woo to abandon the relationship it might have set up a fascinating challenge for the viewer -- "do I empathize with Ji Woo or with Seo Joon?" Instead it's like the screenwriter couldn't wait to get to the juicy part where Ji Woo treats Seo Joon like crap, and filled in those random flashbacks as compensation. With things presented that way I found it difficult to care about what Ji Woo was feeling and only wanted him to stop being a big baby.

As for the people who love the series, while at one level it's mystifying, I realize everyone comes to these things with a perspective based on their own experience. If a viewer enjoys relentless emotional cruelty toward a person who is supposedly an object of love, I figure it must be appealing to something in their own psychology that has found a comfortable outlet. (I say "comfortable" because it is a fictional story far removed from their daily reality.) Maybe they've had to endure something similar in their own lives. Personally, I was UNcomfortable with watching so much purposeful emotional abuse and can't relate to it as a way of treating someone I love and who loves me.

It was fun to write my review. I chose that format because it seemed best suited for exposing the uncreative approach that they took to the series. I would love to have been privy to the actual storyboarding that took place before filming, because I bet it wasn't far off the mark from my satirical version.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and insights. I, too, wish I could read those reviews in the Chinese discussion groups, but you've given me a nice boost as it is.

At first I was going to respond with "No, no ... they're different!" but I think you have a point. Ploy turned cheating into a career choice, but they were both guilty of letting themselves become emotionally involved with other people and falling in love.

At least Mark kept calling Vee out on it. Mark was developing feelings for Vee throughout that time and it's to his credit that he tried desperately to hold the line.

I think you're exactly right.

Vee's protectiveness of Bar was just him acting out due to jealousy over the fact that Mark wasn't interested in Vee instead. Maybe Vee didn't realize it, but who gets that way over a friend's business? Bar didn't seem to need anyone's help.

Vee had had plans with Ploy on the night that he and Mark "did that thing" (I love that euphemism). To make sure Mark got out of the bar safely Vee didn't have to take him back to Vee's house, or take Mark anywhere for that matter. He could have called Yiwaa or one of Mark's friends to take care him. Instead, he ditched Ploy and took Mark back to his place.

And when he did all that, he was sober. It's like as soon as he realized that Mark thought he was Bar, Vee felt incredible temptation to take advantage. Maybe that's why he started drinking once Mark was in his room.

LOL me too!!!

Wasn't sure about this to start with but with Episode 2, I'm hooked. I like the sense that we're getting a glimpse of how the BL industry works, and the performances are excellent.

I'm enjoying this less now because it's becoming clear that there will be feelings of rejection for some of the cast, and you know that's not what these guys went into the house expecting.

The phone call concept was cute at the very start of the series, after they all first met, because it was a clever way to break the ice. (Although most of them didn't know who was making the call to them ... so they should have been required to identify themselves.)

Now that they've had time to interact the phone call has become like Judgement Day. Will I get a call? What if I don't? Why did that guy get three calls? What do I lack? You can see the anxiety in the guys who feel most vulnerable to being passed over. It breaks my heart when their expectations come true.

Wasn't the most recent episode pretty much all about the phone calls? Come on, producers. Quit making it a beauty contest.

LMAO. I'm with you there. I like a man who's fit but a bodybuilder physique is another matter.

The uncle character is wonderful! I'm sure he will be a useful source of advice, just like the uncle in "My Ride".

Well, when Mook was kidding with X she hinted that she knew he wasn't that into her, but gave no sign that she was aware of his interest in Q. So maybe she already knows he's gay. I will be very displeased if they end up using the "I'm not into guys, I'm just into you" dodge. That has started to age very poorly these days as more BLs are featuring characters who identify as gay or bi.

I agree that the premise is puzzling, though. How will X's scheme possibly work out in his favor, when he's pushing the boy he likes to pair up with a girl who'd apparently be quite prestigious to have as a girlfriend? X must be very confident in himself or know something about Q already.

But, I also realize that I'd be a terrible writer for BL because I don't have a gift for clever plotlines, so I'm ready to be surprised.

Yes! The one-letter names throw me off, at least for now.

The body on this dude!

All four parts are there now.

I don't think Yin and War are essential for those other two series. I started rewatching "This is a Love Story" (Nuea's twin storyline) and for the first episode or so I don't think Mark even had any dialog. It was like he was just there as a prop.

If those two series had indeed been put up on the shelf, after the success of this one they should rehire the team behind it and get to work on them.

I could have written your entire comment myself!

You are so correct about the acting. The bad subs gave this series a bad rep. I'm impressed by how it started out being a pretty standard "school setting" BL and got deeper as it went. Even by the second episode, with U confronting Chin in the rain, I knew this had a lot of potential.

Poor Pat, though. He went all out for that date with U.

Yeah, the one thing that didn't ring true was that Chin let U stand there in front of him, taking multiple hits from the nutcase dad, without pushing him aside for his own good. We saw earlier that he has the strength to do it.

Tisa's evil is a little over the top. And I have to rewatch the earlier episode where they first meet. I don't remember the meeting looking like it had been planned by their parents, instead it seemed like they were just coincidentally matched for that dance thing.

Kamphan and Yoo have a series of their own coming up, called "Call My Name"!

And in Episode 10 they tease it just a tiny bit at the celebration for the end of the school year.

And you're right about Ana and Fuse ... they have a series coming up called "Future". They also get a little tease in the last episode.

Yes, you're right. And it's great to see Tee again, isn't it?

I don't find Q to be on the same level as X looks-wise, but the character's self-confidence compensates for it. I look forward to seeing how Q is able to make the challenge to "get the girl" backfire on X.