Froehlein

Why on earth are there all these nutcrackers in Nin's room? 😅 I had to laugh so hard and was so distracted 🤭 Kinda funny.

As far as IMDB is concerned, I can even imagine that it will settle around 9.0/9.1. The algorithm there also protects a little against deliberate downvoting. Hence the weighting of the individual votes, for example. I also think that the popularity will remain for a while, as TopForm has started rather low key and is virtually promoting itself. This means that many people will have only just discovered it. This also has a positive effect on the algorithm. So how much attention does the series receive on IMDB even after a long period of release? I can very well imagine that it will remain the highest-rated BL, because the quality of the production sets the bar very high.

Oh, your story sounds great. I hope one day I'll be able to visit the filming locations too...

I don't want a second season with different actors (or different director) either. S1 made such a coherent picture and evoked deep feelings in me that make other actors in a sequel seem like a mistake to me.
I wish we would at least get a special episode where they get together!

Exactly, I have to say I gave one series a 1* rating because the series glorifies rape and emotional violence. And I couldn't reconcile that with myself. It's History 4. I like the actors, I liked the one couple, it's just that the story of the 2nd couple was handled way too uncritically and that relationship was portrayed as so romantic. But that's the exception. I usually don't rate dramas I don't like or watch what's positive, even if I don't like the story/production. That's when I try to be as objective as possible. Besides the homophobes that you can't influence, I also have the impression that fandoms fight against each other from time to time. Then other popular BLs are devalued so that their own ship looks better. I find that pretty sad. I saw that with The Trainee back then, how it was massively downgraded after the first episodes and I'm not a fan of the show, but it wasn't justified. (It was rumored that it was because of Gun's kiss with Tay. ) We should rather support each other and be happy that we get more series and try to give constructive criticism. Like you did with your review for LITA.
That's also the reason why I can't necessarily trust high ratings on MDL for well-known ships anymore, but like to look for gems in the 7.x range.

With TopForm, I just love the way it impresses with its quality. It has earned its rating itself, without much advertising or fandom, and I hope that the rating at least stays that way. At least on IMDB I've done my bit, as my vote now carries a bit more weight ;)

Now 9.2

That is very nice. But I suspect it won't stay that way. I've already experienced it with another BL that also had similarly high scores. On the one hand, with more attention come more people who downvote on principle (let's be honest, why would someone rate this BL with 1.0 if not to keep it from being ranked high or for homophobic reasons?), on the other hand IMDB algorithms take effect, which is why ratings eventually drop. I've been through the other BL a bit, so I know a little about what can affect the rating. For example, the duration of the release counts and not every vote on IMDB has the same weight. A vote with a higher weighting can influence the rating more in one direction or another than several votes with less weighting.
For example, it's down from 9.3 to 9.2 today. But it would be nice if the high rating remained. It is well deserved.

So guys, I have to say episode 9 is my favorite episode so far. I feel like the show gets better with every episode. I love the raw, crude, honest and undisguised that is portrayed in this episode, the pain that comes from love, coming to terms with things on your own, the brokenness, the overwhelming emotions. It's all so authentic. I can't praise Boom and Smart enough here. I want to see that in dramas! I have a tendency to really like fractured personalities, they are the most interesting characters. I just wish they hadn't used sound in some parts. The director should have had the courage to ask the audience to endure certain feelings in silence. Really, I love this episode!

Yes, there are many and in my eyes they are the best staged, most emotional, most sensual scenes I have ever seen in a BL. The further the series progresses, the more raw, honest and natural they become.

No, that's not me. Whatever a neo-puritan is supposed to be. I actually like it when characters in dramas have rough edges. I like the gray. There was also a discussion about the kiss when it was broadcast. I thought the kiss was cute, especially as it was already clear at that point that they were attracted to each other. Other scenes were also interpreted and condemned where certain things weren't even clear, like Akin supposedly being filmed secretly. I don't feel Jin is abusive in the show. But I draw the line when rape is portrayed as romantic. Because I think it's wrong to say that love grows out of rape. And that was the case in the anime.
That doesn't mean that the series cut all the transgressive scenes. Based on the discussions after the episodes here in the comment section, you could see that some people didn't want to see certain scenes in a drama even though they happen in reality. As you say, we can't paint the world pink if it's not. I could imagine from your statement that you will like Johnny. He likes to play around in the gray area. :D

The problem is that this remark is never made here in the series. There is no connection as to why wings should appear here at some point. In the anime, it's described how Jin is called an angel by everyone because of his charm and public appearance. Only Jin/Junta is so obsessed with Akin/Takato in the anime and harasses him and becomes sexually assaultive and would like to f*ck Akin/Takato all the time (even without consensus) that he becomes “insatiable” for him. In fact, the story here was brought into the year 2025 (i.e. sa is not romanticized) and the character Jin/Junta was fortunately freed from his assaultive, non-consensual behaviour. Now he's still “insatiable” with Akin, but in a loving, horny way. You'll see that from episode 4 onwards and I think you'll enjoy it ;)

Wow, the scene after Akin breaks up with Jin touches me deeply. It's so beautiful and painful at the same time. It's intense and raw and real. For me, it's one of the best NC scenes in the drama. Kudos!

Haha, I guessed your reaction to the hair and the wings, I'm just missing the contact lenses ;) By the way, that's what I meant by “cons”. The wings make no sense here in the realization. Akin calls him “Wooden Boy” here and “insatiable angel” in the manga/anime and when he's extremely happy (and horny), the wings appear. In my opinion, however, this is not comprehensible for viewers here. But they are very close to the anime visually.

I wouldn't weigh their pain against each other, but yes, the disappearance must have been terrible. I just think both suffered enormously in their own way, both love enormously and were unable to deal with the situation at the time. That's actually quite sad when you think of how many years of love they missed out on. But I also think that JH goes through life more easily because he is self-confident, whereas MJ's life is characterized by insecurities.

Thank you also for your clarification on the cultural background of the wedding photo. I had the thought that it could be like that.

Hmm, if it was just JH perspective, the time of each perspective would be quite unfairly distributed, wouldn't it? Then I wouldn't label it as objective/“real”. I saw it more as an anxious person's perspective and how it can deviate from the actual reality. And this reality contains elements of JH's perspective.

Thanks for the tip. I really appreciate Billkin and am actually waiting for the new series of PPKrit and Billkin. ITSAY is my (Thai) BL favorite. I'll definitely check it out.

As for TopForm, that's based on Dakaichi. And it's kept pretty close to the original, which has pros and cons (they took a manga element, which doesn't really make sense here and is rather distracting). It's the debut work of the director and screenwriters and I think this crew has potential to produce good Thai BLs and have done a lot of things right here. They even hired an intimacy coordinator, which is noticeable in the realization (although there was an extra release of one scene in black and white, which I found far more aesthetically pleasing artistically) and I think Boom in particular is worth a watch. It has a few sound problems at the beginning, but they'll get better as the series progresses. Maybe it's a nice way to pass the time.

And check out the Black Honey scene after episode 4.

"OK, I said I'd be brief, so it's obvious I accidentally lied" - I had to laugh a lot. 😄 No problem, I find it exciting to exchange different perspectives.

I'll reply in more detail later.

The question that came to my mind while reading was, are they really going to the wedding as a "couple"? I can't quite remember the situation with the
invitation...

"When they were in the hallway with JH's friends after the ceremony, it would have been obnoxious to the max for MJ, after again being introduced as a friend, to boldly and obnoxiously say "Well, actually, JH is being less than truthful here; the fact is we are big, fat, gay lovers, so deal with THAT." :D " - That would be a plot twist, I think that would be a successful therapy ending 😅

"Over and over, when we see flashbacks of a common experience but from the two character's differing viewpoints, both dialog and even physical positioning have been changed. "

- I watched the phone scene from the various episodes a while ago. I just noticed that JH spoke of "he" in the first episode and "she" in the other. Now I don't know if I'm reading too much into it, but it occurred to me that the director was playing with the different perceptual perspectives. The first episode as MJ perceived it and the other as it was. So the different portrayals are used as an artistic device to emphasize the conflict of misunderstanding. Am I giving the director too much credit? I found the idea of implementing this in a drama quite exciting and innovative to play with...
Are you by any chance familiar with Schulz von Thun's communication square? It says that every statement always contains 4 levels (factual content, self-disclosure, relationship level and appeal). The two people communicating are not necessarily aware of these levels. This means that every message always contains more than one level of content and the different levels are often perceived differently, which leads to misunderstandings. I think the series is a good example of this model and I thought to myself, maybe that's what the series wants to portray?

All right, so far for now. I want to let the rest sink in and think it through first :)

By the way, it's a pleasure to talk to you about this right now.

PS: -offtopic- Since I read a comment from you somewhere that your BL watchlist is empty, have you ever considered watching Top Form? I remember you don't like Thai dramas, but maybe this would be worth a try.... It's very much based on the Japanese anime.

Looking at the comments under Disney+ posts, a portal posting posters suggesting to inattentive/uncritical people that it is publishing official Disney+ materials gives me the impression that it is a deliberate action to force Disney+ to publish.

Edit: The fact that it only shows KSH and does not contain a Disney+ logo is suspicious in itself.

Exciting, I have a different perception of the situation. I think what you describe could be Min Jun's perception.

From another perspective, Jin Hwan could be perceived as considerate and waiting for Min Jun to set the pace. In his speech, Jin Hwan makes it clear that he wants to follow his heart. In the photo situation, Jin Hwan didn't pay attention to Min Jun, that's true. But you can clearly see Min Jun's uncertainty as to whether he should follow and he succumbs to his fear and sides with his colleague. When Jin Hwan realizes this, however, he makes direct eye contact and in my opinion is sad that Min Jun didn't come to the side with him. I also notice Min Jun's disappointment in himself for being so anxious again. I think Min Jun's inner turmoil, his desire to break out of his fear, shines through in this episode. And I agree with you that he needs therapy to help him overcome his fears.

As far as the situation with the friends is concerned, I don't actually experience it as mean. At the beginning, he freely says that he came with Min Jun and calls him. When the question came, he looks to Min Jun and I think he's sounding out how Min Jun feels about saying it right in front of everyone and leaving room for Min Jun to decide, who, understandably from his point of view, is withdrawing from the situation. Jin Hwan then says quite confidently and happily that he sees someone but has not yet confessed his love. And he also publicly presents Min Jun to his father.
So I see it less as a push and pull situation and more of a weighing of what might be too much/too scary for Min Jun and put too much pressure on him.

I can understand the perspective you're opening up here. On the other hand, it is also challenging for securely attached people to always act in a way that seems right for the anxious part. Would it be right for him to present the anxious Min Jun as his love in front of everyone? Wouldn't that overwhelm him?
From an anxious perspective, that would trigger thoughts of escape in my eyes.

If you're not so anxious and avoidant and don't perceive situations through a filter, it's sometimes difficult to realize that small things can trigger big fears. It's just as difficult as telling the anxious part: you don't need to be afraid of this situation.Some actions are therefore difficult for securely attached people to understand and they first have to learn what frightens the anxious part and when, because these are simply normal situations for them.

Personally, I don't see Jin Hwan as distant after the wonderful night, but rather that he can lean back in the security that the relationship with Min Jun can now develop into love and that Min Jun is setting the pace.

Thx, you're welcome!

That depends on the woman's age. I assume FL is between 25 and 35 years old.

At the age of 25 and 29, a body fat percentage of 22-29.8% is normal. 30.5% would therefore be very high and in the unhealthy range.

If she is between 30 and 34, the normal range is between 22.7 and 30.5%, so she would be just within the high normal range.

If she is between 35 and 39, she is within the healthy body fat percentage, in the high range, with values ​​here being 24-31.5%.

If she had this value at 50-59, she would be in the healthy, good range, as the values ​​are between 29.7-36.2%.

And then it also depends on the fat distribution. If the woman has a lot of (visceral) belly fat, it is unhealthier than if the fat is on her buttocks and hips. The measurement technique also influences the value. In general, women need a higher body fat percentage because it helps stabilize their hormone levels.

The normal range of muscle mass for a woman of 162cm height is 8.1-18.1kg. Below 8.1kg is considered weak muscle.

Thanks for your comment. Min Jun has an insecure, avoidant attachment style. Changing that takes time and requires a lot of courage and strength. Jin Hwan has a secure attachment style. This is particularly evident in episode 5. He, too, had insecurities and communication problems in the relationship. But he never questioned the connection. Overcoming an insecure, avoidant attachment style requires a securely attached partner who can tolerate the other person's fears and offer them security through their actions. There's no point in blaming someone like Min Jun, because they suffer the most from the situation. They want a relationship and are afraid at the same time.