Wei Wuxian

The lying Gao Tu is doing to be close to Shen isn’t that different in my opinion. He’s ends up seriously hurting Shen without realizing it. I think we accept it more because his lies are physically hurting himself and Shen said some mean af things to him so he “deserves” our pity. He looks pitiful: he’s a poor omega with zero self-confidence because of his mother’s warnings so he thinks he can’t do much to change Shen’s view of him, despite his steadfast hidden love. Hua Yong is a rich enigma- top of the food chain, so we psychologically lean toward acceptance of the pitiful one. Hua Yong and Gao Tu are similar to me. Shen is the way he is because of events that happened on his childhood. He’s actually pretty pitiful but hiding it behind this facade because he’s an S-tier alpha so society expects something from him.

Hua Yong is also hurting himself by overusing the suppressants to be like an omega for Sheng. That’s why he passes out at the end of this episode. He uses significantly more (and stronger doses) in a short period of time because he’s so strong. Yet his scent still comes through- just more gentle, mimicking an omega. His natural scent is oppressive/intense. But the effects are just as bad for his system as the long-term suppressants Gao Tu has been taking for 10 years.

And yes, Hua Yong absolutely knows significantly more about Gao Tu than Shen. His cover story is basically Gao Tu. In the process of taking his back story identity, he makes sure Gao Tu’s sister is taken care of. He’s actually really kind to Gao Tu in the novel- in his way. He also passively tries to help Shen take the blinders off so many times. Shen is ridiculously one-sighted. For a ridiculously long time.

It was commented on much more significantly earlier- I think it’s just been accepted now.

He’s manipulative as hell. But I’m actually here for it so it doesn’t bother me. It’s not reality anyway. I read the novel so I know how it all goes down- text wise. His scheming is actually quite intelligently done to achieve his prize. Yet even though he’s manipulating everything, he genuanely cares for Sheng. His love is…intense, but his childhood is to blame for that in part. Him being an enigma is also to blame in part. When he’s sharing his feelings about or with Sheng, he’s being 100% authentic.

Just that not much is happening- to me. it’s like a detail paragraph in a book where there’s a lot of explaining about things. I think that’s why there aren’t many comments on it.

Not too much. It’s more of a set up episode for the next one, I think.

Why are these episodes SO SHORT😫😫😫 Another week of waiting. I’d love to be able to wait until it’s all done, but I’m not that patient. Waiting a week is already stretching my endurance! They really know what they’re doing with these ending points each episode. Still, why no 2 episodes a week? 😫BTS clips only take us so far. 😮‍💨

OMG the BTS scenes are so cute. 🥰 They’re very natural most of the time with each other, which is fun to see. This is why their chemistry is so good onscreen. All I gotta say is 6 people in a stall is crazy! Puts a whole new perspective on that scene. 🤭🤫 Srill love the hell outta it though 🤗🫠

(I watched the BTS on GagaOOLala.)

I’ve seen it well over 30 times in the last year alone. Just a feel good drama that always makes me smile. I wish they made a S2 with them post high school.

Japanese BLs. You either enjoy the “kawaii” or you don’t. I enjoy it. (Takara-Jun and Amagi-Jun is still my #1 rewatched drama.) There’s always an underlying point they’re targeting throughout the series. In this, it’s self-acceptance. There are a few JBLs like this- self-acceptance in the face of realizing you are “different” than what society expects of you. How these two grown men handle their own acceptance of who they are is revealed episode by episode.

At first, it seemed like in E5 had at least Kanade accepting himself fully, but he’s still not quite there yet and it shows in his awkwardness with Mashito and others. Mashito is still dealing with his struggle of not overburdening Kanade- this is largely him being overly self-conscious of his behavior due to his overbearing and emotionally manipulative mother. His issue is breaking free from her smotheringly manipulative hold over him, which affects his relationship with Kanade. It makes sense that they’re not suddenly healed of their past experiences forming who they are and how they interact with others and especially with each other.

I only wish we’d get more episodes a week or longer episodes. With the opening and ending credits, the episodes are a little over 20 minutes. 🥺 Next episode looks interesting though. 😊

OMG Iwase Yoji and Mashiko Atsuki together in a quasi-bl series? I'm HERE for it! I've watched both of their BL series countless times. While watching E1, I find that I have an aversion to the Minami character. I hope she improves that personality as the series progresses.

OMG The cast list is crazy. I’m looking forward to this for the cast alone.

"Side Story" seems a bit misleading. More like "Part 2" or "Chapter 2". They really could turn this into a full length series. I think more background on our MC teacher is needed. And what happens with the 1st guy? And this guy? Does he also ghost Student 2?

Nevertheless, this continuation gives our MC more depth and a little more emotion than a robotic teacher. I hope they do more "side stories" to answer some of my/our questions.

I think we will be able to finish watching this series. It's doing well on GagaOOLala. I don't think either ABO Desire or Revenged Love will be pulled from Gaga. China has probably done all it can do to stop this series. Won't stop their citizens from accessing the series through illegal channels though. People always find a way as long as production continues and episodes release somewhere.

I know it...unfortunately.

Those BTS scenes and the interview body language has my BL mind in overdrive frfr! I have an incurable disease since joining the BL fandom.

I posted in one saying it wasn't my business. Still people were replying to me to try to convince me that it somehow was important that I knew or whatever. I maintained that I was just there for the series, rumors be damned! (I'm from the USA, so something like this is nothing to us compared to some of the other craziness that IS substantiated by facts with our celebrities (*cough, Diddy, cough, Bill Cosby, cough cough*) I doubt it made an impact because people like sordid and unsubstantiated rumors. It's crack for them. I can equally enjoy and support RL, ABO Desire, Secret Lover, and Promise of the Soul with zero hate to any. These fandoms are crazy with their stanning. Can't we like more than one thing? Why is everything a competition?

I think it's more because it was competing with other Chinese dramas on Chinese platforms. If they hadn't caused such a stir both internationally and domestically, maybe they would have slipped under the radar a little longer. Who knows? The suspension notices happen at odd times. The SpiRealm was taken down within hours of dropping all episodes. Justice in the Dark was taken down after dropping 8 episodes. ABO Desire is taken down after 5 weeks of episodes... Who knows what motivates their government to act? The MPREG aspect was already known well before the first eposide was released because of that 10 minute trailer. I'm sure the government knew about it, too. I heard (so a rumor until substantiated) that someone reported their YouTube channel. Seems like it all snowballed from there.

I'm a RL fan but didn't buy into the whole nepotism that a few were throwing out with no evidence. Most of us don't actually believe that theory. The government is always more powerful than one rich family. I think they just tried to spread to as many sources as possible to recoup costs. RL just did GagaOOLala- and that's holding steady despite the media craze. The same toxic fans were also defaming the author/director of ABO Desire, saying outlandish things about them. People with sense also don't buy into that BS.

Generally, BL series on GagaOOLala fair much better, especially if they are labeled as Tawainese or Singaporean instead of Chinese BLs. It's a shitty loophole they have to go through, but necessary until China's government gets over their antiquated same-sex hate policies.

They probably already had a release contract with the platforms. I don't think they can renegotiate that easily. But they should definitely try to air it on Netflix or sell it to Taiwan or Singapore. It'll be extra safe that way.

I honestly don't see why not- IF they can work around legally there, it makes sense. Or perhaps a business in one of those countries need to buy the rights like Japan did for Justice in the Dark- 8 episodes were released before it was shut down, but a couple years or so later, the rest of the series was able to air unimpeded by the Chinese government (though I'm still bummed that Japan didn't release it internationally and I had to resort to an illegal streaming site- I'd rather support officially than sneakily). YouKu kept the original 8 episodes up (I watched them there) even after broadcasting was halted. So even with 5 episodes out, they can do the same, I think, if needed.

There's a historical Chinese BL coming out soonish: Kill to Love. I'm concerned for it unless they contract directly with GagaOOLala or get it bought out by a Tawainese or Singaporean business. It really would be best if Netflix took it, because Netflix gives no fs.