FrothyMix

Ummm...hello? There is this thing called "BLOCKING" and you can do it to any commenter who disturbs your tender feelings by daring to disagree with you.

I don't know what to call it, but it is definitely a "style" of acting unique to Japan, that somehow I have always found appealing. I've only lived in BL World for about 14 months and I noted the Japanese difference with the first Japanese BL/movie I saw. There is nothing wrong with there being a regional/country-defined acting style. To me, Japanese acting is more declarative, sharp with some kind of dark undertone I can't put my finer on. I really like it though. And I love the bowing when someone is apologizing or showing deep respect.

Someone needs to pull back on Suzuki's over-the-top facial machinations when he's trying to act upset or overcome. This episode it was in the art classroom when he learned of the suicide, and last ep it was out on the street when he heard Satou's singing/screaming thing he does. Both times I thought Suzuki was going to have a stroke.

I agree that the singing is SUPPOSED to be raw and kind of bellicose at this point, but the lack of variation in the volume of the shouting, which is what it is, shouting to a tune, is grating as hell after a few moments. I am interested to see how his voice changes, if it does, as they develop the song. It seems to me, that in this episode when Satou sang (shouted!) in their practice room, it was toned down a bit from when he first bellered out on the street.

That changeless shout, the way it is at this point, sounds awful to me. I hear a tune, I hear a potentially good singing voice under it, but that shout, the way it is now? No. I know it's supposed to be a scream from the depths of feeling and emotion deep in the bowels of the earth or something, but after about ten seconds of it, I have to cover my ears.

Love the overall, dark Japanese-ness of this series.
Nice to see our vengeful straight female trope seems to feel a little shitty about what she's up to.
Uenoyama is very good in the part, but the over-acting when he gets upset is hard to swallow. I feel like I'm watching an actor improvising an imitation of Jack Nicholson losing his sanity in "The Shining." I feared Uenoyama was going to have a seizure.
Cool to feel a backstory slowly emerging.
Great cinematography, sets, extras, production. Feels very real.
Love that the side couple look like real, actual Bohemian music dudes you would see in a rock band, and not a couple of production company models from a K-Pop group.
I get that Satou's voice is supposed to be some kind of primal shout from the soul (or something like that) but oh my god, all I hear is someone shouting really loudly, carrying a tune but with NO inflection, variation in tones, shading, feeling; just a monotonous shout, all at the same volume. I think there is a nice singing voice underneath that shout, but the guys in the band seem to dig it the way it is. So I'm curious to see where Satou's voice goes as the song they are writing (which sounds like tuneless crap to me, but I don't like rock so what do I know?) comes together. Will it remain that voluminous, changeless yelling or morph into something with variation and depth?

Either way, cool show. I like its different-ness.

"classist soap," lol Hey maybe that would work as a product line...

To me, the soap product thing is a cultural artifact, not a racist one. Upper class women in the U.S. long ago used to stay out of the sun at all costs to keep their skin as white as possible, not because they were racist, but because only lower class people labored out in the sun and they didn't want to be mistaken for one of them. Pretty sure the white/bright skin thing that has popped up in a lot of BLs is of the same origin, but it's evolved into a simple cultural preference. If you want your skin to be as white as possible, does that mean you're racist against yourself?

Later, in the U.S., in the 50s and 60s it became popular to have as dark a tan as possible because being out in the sun had come to be associated with upper-class leisure activities like boating and going to the beach, and sports. So...by your logic, was that ALSO racist, but in reverse? Native Americans and Blacks have naturally darker skin of many shades, so how could tanning be racist?

This quote from an article on the subject says it better than I: "In places like Asia, colorism exists more as a status symbol than a racial one. Pale skin was seen in ancient China as a signifier of being able to stay indoors during the daytime rather than being outside working, and a pale complexion became synonymous with nobility and wealth in Chinese culture. The paler you are in most of Asia, the more socieconomic currency is afforded to you based off of your looks."

Whatever.

You feel how you want and I'll do the same. If he is "hyperaware" of his "confusion" then how can he be hurting people "unintentionally?" Awareness means he knows what he's doing, the opposite would be "unaware." He is a fake and a liar because he IS struggling with himself and isn't brave enough to face up to it. There are lots of other paths he could have chosen, such as not flirting with boys like TK and nearly confessing to them and tutoring them as an excuse to spend time with them and running around with medicine kits at the first sign of a TK injury.

When I was that age I stayed in the closet and didn't try to play it both ways like Daon is doing. I didn't lead boys on and then slap them away when someone was looking. I didn't wear bracelets other boys gave me and then rip them off the first time a homophobe looked at me funny. I didn't hurt anyone the way Daon has hurt TK, so obviously it's possible to do. He is responsible for his behavior, and I assume you'd agree that teenagers can be assholes and if they are assholes to other people and hurt them, the reasons why don't really matter, do they? The damage is done.

Yeah, don't get what people see in Daon that makes them feel sorry for him. Because his mom is away a lot? That's standard BL home life.

I didn't mean to imply they could include all of the scenario I wrote about above in the script of this series. lol It would have to be three times longer. I was thinking maybe Shi Woon and So Hee would end up together but after this latest confrontation it's pretty clear he thinks she's despicable. I hope so; it would sadden me to see such a nice, funny, sincere character end up with a sociopath like her.

I grew up in the U.S. There is NO way that negative elements of this culture and social structure did NOT effect my development and perspective. And I will be working to rid myself of that "baggage" for the rest of my life.

So there is nothing silly or lazy or scathing about saying that "everyone" who grew up in Korea carries some degree of psycho-conservative, inhuman cultural baggage. You can't grow up inside a culture and be 100% free of its bullshit.

I think you're kidding yourself about America (and I hate when people call the U.S. "America." Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Argentina and many other countries are in and part of "America") in its awareness " of diversity of thought..." This country is also chock full of the most stupid, deliberately ignorant, religiously insane, stubborn and just plain hateful people. In certain areas are pockets of sanity of course, but this is the country that elected Donald Trump, which should tell you all you need to know. Another misnomer is the false labeling of this country as a "democracy." If it WERE a democracy, Trump would never have been president. It is a "republic," and its political structure is full of arcane, twisted, complicated, corrupt and very un- democratic devices designed to give inordinate power to a generally non-progressive minority in the small states.

Trump lost the election to Hillary Clinton by 3 million votes and still ended up in the white house. Some democracy.

Where do you live?

"Also, on a lighter note: saying something like, "I don't consider myself an American, I am a citizen of the world." is one of the most quintessentially American things someone can say. lol I don't mean that as an insult btw."

What does this even mean? How do you know what is "quintessentially American" to say? 330,000,000 million of us and you think we're all in the same category apparently, thinking and speaking alike. THAT is one of the most quintessentially lazy and silly things someone can say.

And of course you meant it as an insult. That's why you wrote it with an "lol" at the end.

Where do YOU live? I want to announce what is a quintessential statement from a citizen of your country.

Part of my lack of patience with Daon and people like him is that I don't believe for a second that they "discover" they are gay or attracted to men one day when they're 17. Daon didn't turn gay upon meeting TK; he's known of his attraction to men since at least early adolescence and probably much sooner. Little gay boys get crushes too, you know. So to pretend these feelings are all new to him, or that his discomfort with them is new, is silly. He's known for years. Nevertheless he has led TK on in a number of ways...what? he didn't think it was kind of gay to wear a bracelet given him by another guy until a couple of jerks called him on it?

He didn't know what he was doing all the times he flirted with TK, tutored him, held hands and almost confessed to him....? Nah, he knew what he was doing, he just chickened out when the homophobes came calling. Compare Daon's duplicity to Shin Woo's wounded and reluctant honesty and you'll know what I'm talking about. I didn't come out until much after high school, but I knew by the time I was 4 that I was different and I knew by 10 that I crushed on boys. I was terrified of it and stayed deeply in the closet, BUT I made a point of NOT doing any of the things Daon has been doing to TK to other boys, quite the opposite.

Completely agree about editing being so crucial, in film-making as it is in writing. You're probably familiar with the term about being willing to "kill your darlings" in that regard? I totally get that.

But just as some books and poems have long sections that take their time with description, explication, even just the sheer beauty of beautiful words combined and strung together or juxtaposed in lovely ways that are pleasing to the mind, to me this series does that with dialogue and action. And just as in those instances, the result isn't going to work for everyone.

As far as me thinking my perspective should be everyone's...I really don't think that and I think you've pointed out where I can choose my words more carefully to make that clear. Plus, as I said above, I respect your opinion and we frequently disagree. Frankly, it would be boring if we all perceived art in the same way.

Which is really interesting, because I respect your judgement a great deal in general here. And I suppose, actually, I respect it even in regard to this series, but yeah, wow, we're on different planets with this one. lol

EASILY one of my top-ten BL series of all time. This time around I had the good sense to plan ahead and know precisely where to hit the PAUSE button and end the show. On YT that would be the 4th episode at exactly 1:02:00 before the sham, amateur-hour, soul-destroying coda that some committee of douches at this production company thought was a good idea.

But enough about that. Taken to that point, this is just a gorgeous, well-acted, mostly well-scripted and beautifully produced journey of two young men from secrets and fear to truth and courageous love. There are plenty of obstacles and imperfect behavior, weakness, anger and a few regrets along the way, as there are in all love stories. These two actors however, are exquisitely matched in a yin/yang way, from their physical appearance (stunningly handsome in both cases, but not overwhelmingly so), their demeanor/vibe and their chemistry. They fit each other like a two-piece puzzle.

Without that obliteratingly stupid ending, this gets a 9.5/10 from me. With it, we're at a 5/10.

Remember, hit stop or pause at 1:02:00 in the fourth episode on Youtube or live to regret it.

Your comment perfectly illustrates my point: You feel that the pace of this show is akin to sitting in traffic and you believe this is how EVERYONE should react to it and that to perceive it in an entirely different way is worthy of mockery. You also believe that because it is not sufficiently rushed according to your preferences, it is not "disciplined."

Avoiding the urge to move the plot and action hurriedly along, and instead making a specific CHOICE that requires a GREAT DEAL of discipline, is an admirable accomplishment. Most series and films these days are rushed along specifically to accommodate the ever-dwindling attention span of audiences in the Internet era. This young director goes his own way and I'm along for the entire, slow and measured ride.

I need to ask: If you're so terribly bored with sitting in traffic, why not take the next exit and stop watching the show? I never hesitate to drop shows I'm truly bored with, especially to the degree you describe. I'm almost there with "MY BOY" though.

That's simply your take on the style of presentation, which you don't care for. A lot of people, me included, find this luxurious pace to be a breath of fresh air. I love it. I enjoy that Mean doesn't feel the need to take an action-adventure approach to a tale that is mostly about feelings. I don't love the plot. I find this idea that there is ONE permissible pace of storytelling that is the correct one, and the one that will appeal to all people, to be...surprising to say the least. Loving this show stylistically. Right now I'm disappointed in the silly, disappearing person, re-appearing person trope. As stupid as every other time it's been used.

I don't know what to say except that I whole-heartedly disagree with you on almost every word you wrote here. And I don't know how much it's worth having a conversation about it because our perspectives on this series are day and night, so I don't think any minds are going to change.

I ADORE this series for its long, unhurried takes. I absolutely loved the good-bye talking in bed scene, and I had that very thought while I was watching it. I was being given plenty of time and room to absorb the emotions and the memories and all that had gone before between them...after all, it had been many years since they met as boys. Again, when Phob stood at the gate, he wasn't blank-faced, planted there like a statue. I felt a great deal from him as he stood there wondering what to say, not knowing what it would be, not knowing why he left without saying goodbye and wondering why he did that. I felt his nervousness as he waited, and because I felt all that, and had time to ponder it, when Nut showed up and dissed him I felt his devastation all the more.

I love the flashbacks, I love the pace, I love the running and thinking and hoping scenes...it's all very deliberate and to me not the least bit too self-reverential in its presentation of the material. This series is being directed and presented in a specific style of story-telling that just doesn't appeal to you and that's fine. There is not ONE correct way to tell a story, and it is impossible, and not even desirable, to attempt to please every member of an audience. This show, like any other, isn't for everyone. And that's OK. lol

What I'm NOT OK with here is the BL trope of people other characters are extremely close to disappearing without a good bye and then NOT COMMUNICATING at all for four years or whatever, then showing back up and saying "oh, hey, I'm back. How ya doin?" It's even a little worse this time around because apparently Phob returned just to drop the Big "C" bomb on Nut. Would he have looked him up ever again if he wasn't in that circumstance? I have no idea and I guess we'll maybe find out, but I don't respect people/characters who pull this stuff because it makes no sense and is blatantly cruel to the other characters they profess to love.

This reminds me of the idiotic plot to WE BEST LOVE 2 or whatever the hell it was called where one dude just disappears for years, then shows up again and wants the other guy back, after ZERO attempts at communication through phone, mail, email, telegram, Pony Express, Zoom, text, Facebook, IG, Tik Tok, NOTHING. This time around it's only 2006 but pretty sure we had telephones and long-distance service, postal service, hell, by then we had the Internet, email, text, etc already and still...Phob drops off the planet and comes back wanting to make nice. Spare me. As with WBL2, I can't wait to hear what the writers have cooked up to explain this idiocy. In the case of WBL2, it never WAS explained and that foolishness undermined the entire series. Nothing mattered or made sense because it was based on nonsense.

Maybe I will eat my words later, but I can't imagine why. Another four year disappearance and no communication...I can't believe another BL, one to this point I have loved, is pulling this stuff again.

Never has a more mediocre series with beautiful actors been better saved by the last 2/3 of its 12th episode, during which Aaron Lai, then Hank Wang, ripped their shirts off, we had a couple of genuine surprises and a great love scene that felt real, though cut far too short. :P

SiQi and Coffee Man are maybe best BL side-couple of all time. Their last scene made me cry.
Mannequin Man had me completely fooled until the last second of his reveal. I finally realized what his face reminds me of: a Chimpanzee. It's the square bone structure and the pouty little lips.
Lai and Wang are gorgeous together and have excellent chemistry. Maybe someone will write them a script deserving of their charms.
Aaron Lai has feature film, leading man potential all over the place: Great, unique looks, killer bod, good acting talent. I'd watching anything Wang's in in the future too.
Whoever put Lai in that blue suit and sent him running around looking athletic and love-lorn on the beautiful white bridge knew what they were doing.
Nice of SiQi to stop our emerging Fujoshi from taking a pic of our mains, but they were, after all, in full make-out mode in the middle of a very public place. :)

Wait a minute...the guy Aaron Lang bumped into while running around looking for Hank Lang? Was the LEAD in MODC? I don't recognize him from that at all.

On edit: Yup, that's him. I looked it up. His looks have changed quite a bit since MODC. I'm good with faces and I didn't catch that at all.