Izzibot

I understand that sometimes an article is referencing what is being said, the controversy, not necessarily supporting a particular viewpoint. It is my understanding that Zhao Lusi is likely experiencing either a somatic or conversion disorder. Somatic and conversion disorders are widely misunderstood and stigmatized by those not informed of mental health disorders and frequently those who experience them face accusations of faking or malingering. Somatic and conversion disorders are both recognized and by the American Psychiatric Association and included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

I believe there is an opportunity, if reporting on the criticism she is receiving, to also offer additional factual information the health concerns she has been open about experiencing, to provide further clarification and education.

"What also struck viewers as odd is her health condition: she claimed her illness was so serious that she needed a cane to attend events — as seen during her first public appearance — yet just two months later, she is seen on a variety show, hiking in the mountains on a rural charity visit." There is nothing odd about her health condition at all, and having received treatment and had time in recovery, a marked improvement or resolution of physical symptoms wouldn't be unexpected or atypical. While it may have been unintentional, discussing the criticism she is receiving WITHOUT the additional context, felt very much as if she is being condemned and validating the criticism. It also further perpetuated stigma and flawed beliefs based around ignorance of her medical condition.

Unfortunately, I am not surprised by the criticism Zhao Lusi has received. I would, however, very much appreciate it if articles here if reporting on that, would not add to it and would instead raise awareness of and work toward reducing stigma related to mental health.

Thank you. There are a lot of wounds many of us carry, and a lot of really ugly and negative interactions out there stemming from hate, ignorance, and non-acceptance. I am grateful that you and I have found a place of shared commonality as people - even if we still fundamentally disagree on this series. That's okay, differences make for interesting sparks.

"We know all too well the trials and tribulations that await us beyond the confines of this safe space. It's not imperative for our entertainment to subject us to those trials." Hard agree on this. There is a lot of content or subject matter I do not consume for REASONS, no matter how good some may find it. Sometimes I need something safer, fluffier, and insulating. Sometimes I am open to something lightly pressing on my wounds, especially when it makes me feel seen. But my experience is not your experience, my wounds are not your wounds, and my needs are not your needs.

My inner nerd absolutely wants to mind-meld so I can share what this series as a series separate from the source material meant to me. And I am truly sorry that this series having deviated so much from the source material is it's own type of wound for you.

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I clearly disagree. Isn’t art lovely that way?

I am truly sorry that you did not get the story you wanted in this series. Frequently when something we love is adapted in a way that is different than what we envisioned it can be upsetting.

When that occurs, I make space for my feelings, and if so inclined I try to take the adaptation as something completely separate and offer myself the opportunity to like it or dislike it on it’s own merits.

I am operating under the assumption- admittedly, that for you that wouldn’t have made a difference. This clearly is not a series you liked. And, some of us appreciated how it called out het privilege and found layers and depth we had not expected.

We are allowed to have different opinions and perceptions around the art we like.

I am unclear on why you need to devolve to personal attacks and accusations of “people like you.” It is neither helpful nor enriches conversation about a series.

I am allowed to say that this series, for me, was full of a lot of rich depth and metaphors that spoke to the queer experience in ways that are different than the romance, and is still a queer experience.

At no point have I said that only these queer stories have value. At no point have I attacked YOU personally for your opinions or made assumptions and accusations about YOUR life.

I have simply said that for me, while I expected a much more uncomplicated light queer romance, what this turned out to be was a bigger, deeper, more painful, and very bittersweet story about a queer youth who lives and loves in a country with norms and values that often contradict with his personal truth. That living in that context is scary and resonates experiences that many- not all- queer people especially over a certain age or in less accepting communities have had.

The common definition of the BL bubble is the safe space frequently seen in BL romances where there are many queer couples, and peers, and there is a safe bubble to be queer. The BL bubble is not universal to all BLs, and the term BL is also debated between light queer romances and queer series, as more and more queer content is being created. When in reference the BL bubble, I am speaking to that specific phenomena. At no point am I criticizing the BL bubble, just saying that not all queer media has to live there, and that some stories can’t be told from within the BL bubble.

I think this show intentionally contrasted a queer vs het experience to tell a specific story. It brings awareness the unfairness and inequality in a heteronormative society. For me, I very much felt like this show highlighted and called out het privilege.

I am open to dialogue, discourse, analysis, and differing opinions. I appreciate when someone can offer a context I hadn’t considered, and I can rewatch with a different perspective and decide if I want to incorporate that perspective or not. I think it is unfortunate that discussion seems to have boiled down to literal screen time, limited queer content to romance content, and comes with a lot of harsh accusations and assumptions about the whys behind it rather than discussion of the story.

You, very clearly, have a different opinion. You are allowed to have a different opinion. The amount of toxicity and negativity and personalization you are bringing feels completely unnecessary, malicious, and isn’t fun, enlightening, or enriching to the conversation.

I am not interested in continuing conversation that is just slinging insults and accusations based on assumptions.

I don’t have an inner sadist, thank you for asking.

I am offering a different opinion and experience and pointing out that there are different ways to tell different sides of the story. I think simplifying it down to “the producers are stupid” is an over simplification and misses what for me, an older queer person who lived well into adulthood before marriage equality was a thing in the US- and sees is threatened still, I could absolutely GET the pain Heesu was in, and it hurt.

Do I think all queer stories should tell -THIS- story? Of course not. I love the BL bubble and would like that to be a more accurate representation of the real world. But we’re not there yet.

I think the beautiful thing about art is that it can mean different things to different people. I know this was a deviation from the source material in ways that were very disappointing. And, as something separate from the source material it is beautiful and powerful too.

Thanks for the discourse.

The het characters and their hobbies serve as metaphors and analogies to display outwardly some of the internal fears emotions of Heesu and Seung Won. (There are some pretty great analysis posts on tumblr)

If you are looking for a simple a superficial story telling a queer romance- this is not that series.

If, however, you enjoy a deeper and complex story that weaves together different threads to tell the intended story- this series is well worth a watch.

If that was all YOU saw in the series and in those interactions- then you missed the point.

Sometimes a story is superficial, and a man dreaming about a sled is simply a man dreaming about a sled. But sometimes, a man dreaming about a sled is analogous for his lost innocence and a sense of belonging he longed for.

May you always find enough media full of sleds that mean sleds or could mean sleds and still be interesting to be satisfying.

Yep. Het dramas NEED more queer representation.

A queer drama doesn’t NEED het representation.

A screen adaptation of the manwha could have stuck to that story, and I’m sure it would have been lovely. This adaptatwtion chose to tell a bigger story, and that story couldn’t have been told in the BL bubble.

The queer experience is more than having a queer relationship. The queer experience this show references is that for queer teens, especially in a culture (be it country, community, school or family) where there is not acceptance of LGBTQ/ queerness - it may not be SAFE to come out, let alone simple or easy. The het couple(s) in this series are set up as a contrast. For example, “Just confess” is a theme repeated to Heesu and Seung Won - because for a het person, the only risk of confessing is rejection. If one is rejected, then they can turn their interest to someone else. And if a confession is accepted, dating openly is easy because it’s acceptable and the norm.

As a queer individual, a confession includes a lot of layers, because to confess doesn’t JUST risk rejection. It risks exposure if it goes badly. In the case of liking a friend, it risks the friendship, and possibly being met with various degrees of homophobia. There is mental, emotional, and physical risk that comes in to play in ways that the het couple doesn’t have to worry about.

There are also nuances and reflections that are represented by the side characters and stories.

We get to see the fear of our true selves being seen and on display. We get to see family rift and parental disapproval when parents don’t approve of your choices -ie “what you like.” We get to see the pain of repeated confession and rejection. We get to see the pain of disappointing your lover out of fear. We get to see the pain of staying in an unhappy relationship because it is socially acceptable. We get to see the exhaustion of lying, but doing it because telling the truth is scary and may hurt others you love. We get to see the pain when a friend becomes your lover and the romantic feelings fade.

It is through the side characters and in contrast to the het couples that we can see the depth of Heesu and Seung Won‘s experience and their struggles.

Even at the end, all the reasons Heesu and Seung Won weren’t openly out STILL existed. They were out to their families and -two- friends. The queer experience for many people, especially in high school, isn’t sunshine and rainbows- and unlike their friends who could publicly hold hands and engage in PDAs as a het couple, Heesu and Seung Won had to play it off as bromance and being “close friends” unless they were willing to fully come out as a queer couple.

So yes, sometimes telling a story about the queer experience includes het couples flirting and being lovey dovey. Sometimes the queer experience includes seeing where others have privilege and you don’t, and navigating all the complex feelings around that.

You and “many people” don’t have to like this story. Nothing will appeal to everyone. However, you questioned if the directors are “that stupid.” I am pointing out that I think they are far from stupid. I think those involved in the production of this series had a different, richer, and more complex story they wanted to tell about the queer experience- and that to tell that story, they had to include additional characters and elements than what was in the manhwa.

I think the producers, screen writers, and director were probably really interested in telling a queer story honoring the characters and the queer experience than pandering to an audience of het women fetishizing queer relationships. I think they wanted to appeal to an audience of queer people who can both enjoy lighter more typical BL fluff, but are also hungry for normalizing queer representation in media and sharing the queer experience.

I think they understood the assignment, and knocked it out of the park.

I’m sorry for people disappointed that they didn’t get another 8-10 episode series of 15-20 minute episodes that we would have got had they followed the manwha exclusively. I am NOT sorry that we got the story we did, because I think it is something so much BETTER and sure as hell did more in terms of bringing queer representation into a more mainstream kdrama than it would have otherwise.

If you are looking for another high school “light romance” where a queer character exists in a BL bubble - this is not the series for you.

If, on the other hand, you are open to a power, beautiful, and at times painful series reflecting the queer experience of two boys navigating how to be queer, have a crush, and the dichotomy of fearing others learning your truth while also wanting to stop holding the secret- then do yourself a favor and watch this series.

I personally don’t feel like Heesu and Seung Won are side characters in the least. In fact, all the OTHER characters in the series, all their relationships and interactions, for me, exist solely as tools to illustrate the POINTS being made in the story and as such exist to further the story of Heesu and Seung Won.