Much needed laugh after the trainwreck the show has been. There is more entertainment in this review than any of the episodes combined (or singly because they're all disjointed anyway). You absolutely killed it in every paragraph but my favourite will be- that would mean that whoever wrote this was aware of the idea of a story. 10000/100
Last two episodes, especially episode 12 were truly disappointing. Quite a writing mess. The pacing was all over…
Oh God! Am I dreaming?!😧 One of my favourite reviewers on MDL just commented on my review!! And I read your review and your comment and totally agree with your view. I was starved for a good romcom and had high expectations for this one and felt so let down. But, like you said, had I watched it when I could actually just watch it without thinking, I probably would have liked it better.
Loved the review. I agree with 100% of it but what I agree 200% with is- the first good thing and why we love the actors. You really made some indisputable points there.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Said everything I wanted to say. I think I'll just ask people to read this review instead of writing one myself. I can understand the frustration behind the words, but I have to admit, reading it was hilarious. Most entertaining aspect of the show, probably lol!
BL really likes Christian funerals. I guess they're more sad than Buddhist ceremonies and easier to film. But…
I'm planning to watch the second season just because of this review. And I'm also planning to blame you if the show doesn't live up to what you wrote. You are warned!
Watching an on going BL for the first time. So far so good. P'Por looked suspicious right from when he gave those ten cards but I have a small theory here that the guy with him at the end of ep 3 is P'Kanghan. I haven't read the novel so I have no idea how the plot goes so this is just an assumption. No spoilers of the story in replies please!
I don't think that was transphobic at all. His fear is what was portrayed as ridiculous, not the character, and…
Yes I completely agree with you. The guy was only surprised and shocked that the person he'd been thinking was a woman turned out to be a trans woman. He was not disgusted by that thought. It would be transphobic if he was. Otherwise, it just conveys his astonishment. Also, a valid point about Nadia👍🏼
To those who are worried about Golden Blood and The Tuxedo having the same director, I've watched Golden Blood just today and I can say it didn't so much as have problems with direction as it did with the writing. That was where GB went wrong- even a drama with an ordinary plot can be good if it's written properly and if the characterisation is done well. GB faltered irrevocably on both those counts. So let's hope The Tuxedo will be different (it already looks and feels different but let's not count our chickens before they hatch).
Idk, suggesting a BL is alright/good because it doesn't romanticize rape is setting the bar pretty low.
Tharntype and HIStory 4 don't just romanticise rape. They are filled to the brim with every kind of toxic element available (unexpected from a HIStory series honestly) and I've only seen how much "love" they receive bcz "oh my gosh! The actors are so hot! The chemistry is so sizzling! I'm legit drooling right now!" I'm actually happy to know the shows receive the hate they deserve too. Just bcz they don't have any idea what to do with their drama in the absence of a plot (I didn't think Tharntype had any plot, HIStory 4 maybe a little) doesn't mean they can feed us 18+ scenes and toxicity and get away with it. Oh what am I talking about! They did get away with it!🤦🏻♀️
First, exposing the dark underbelly of this industry is something that should be applauded. It takes guts to go…
This comment is literally what I've been looking for bcz that the series shows the dark side of the BL industry is what anyone can talk about. In case you still haven't watched or read abt S2, there's another bs scene that happens- Bas goes from attempting suicide to making love to Marco in one scene as well. I nearly hit my head on the wall at that. It's good to focus on the bad, but it's bad to take everything else for granted. This is exactly what this series does, unfortunately.
Didn't know of this drama, not planning to watch it and not going to watch it either but...I lost it at K Baron Von Trapp! Or maybe I should watch? Just to see if the family comes together at a party to do a So Long, Farewell!
I'm often left dumbstruck by the amount of positive reviews this show has and I thought I'd never find someone say what I screamed at the screen every frame of every episode I watched once the adults entered the picture- the kids were good, they understood the job, got the good parts of the story and gave unforgettable performances. THEY should have stayed! So, it was nice to see someone agreeing with me on the exact same points regarding the show. I have several issues with the story itself but that's another matter.
However, while I put myself through the torture of watching it till the end (because maybe it'll redeem itself, maybe that's why it is rated high), you commendably saved yourself from the nonsensical bullshit the plot becomes after Ep5.
Thanks for your feedback, I found it to be very interesting to read from someone who looked at the characters…
It's interesting actually. Gi Hoon might not have done any antangonistic things in the game but he's playing the game because of his once antagonistic actions in his life. Another reason Gi Hoon appears less of a baddie is because Sang Woo appears more as one. Like it's already mentioned, the two friends were pitted against each other from the start- the intrigue was always about how each of them would clear the hurdle, what methods they'd use and what strategies they'd adopt. Gi Hoon was spontaneous and instinctive while Sang Woo was more methodical. They tried to highlight this difference all through.
Sang Woo's choice to kill himself actually makes sense to me for the same reason. Like you said, he had an ambition, to be successful once again. He's so ambitious that he defines himself by it. So when presented with the options of dying and quitting the game, he dies because he's lost himself and his identity in the process of winning the game. He doesn't bat a lid to kill someone who needs to die for him to advance and he doesn't mind being advantageous over others, whatever wins him the game. Losing in spite of his cleverness (he's rather clever, I'm sure many would agree) and the moral decay he lets himself undergo, is a bigger failure than failing in his real life. So he commits suicide.
All of this reflects on Gi Hoon to make him the hero, to project him as one. He proves himself to be a capable leader, no doubt, but being a leader and being a hero are not the same. That said, I don't think anyone in SG was a hero singly but they each had their moments of heroism- Gi Hoon when he chooses to return to the games the 2nd time, Sang Woo when he saves their team during the tug of war, KSB when she stops GH from killing SW, Ali when he saves GH in Red Light, Green Light, Han Mi Nyeo when she kills herself and the thug in the stepping glass game, Ji Yeong (or No.240) when she chooses to die, etc.
The cop actually had better and more direct heroic moments than Gi Hoon, whose heroism comes in greater parts from being presented as a contrast to a more vicious player. However, this is just my opinion.
It was a very interesting article to read, though.
I'm a bit confused with the rating...I realise everyone has their 'thing', but I'm assuming it's mostly teens…
Just here to say your comment is fantastic! I'm about to start this after storing it in the back corner of my watchlist for years, so I can't say if I'd agree with your opinion. But even if the story doesn't stay with me, your comment definitely will. 😂
And I read your review and your comment and totally agree with your view. I was starved for a good romcom and had high expectations for this one and felt so let down. But, like you said, had I watched it when I could actually just watch it without thinking, I probably would have liked it better.
However, while I put myself through the torture of watching it till the end (because maybe it'll redeem itself, maybe that's why it is rated high), you commendably saved yourself from the nonsensical bullshit the plot becomes after Ep5.
Sang Woo's choice to kill himself actually makes sense to me for the same reason. Like you said, he had an ambition, to be successful once again. He's so ambitious that he defines himself by it. So when presented with the options of dying and quitting the game, he dies because he's lost himself and his identity in the process of winning the game. He doesn't bat a lid to kill someone who needs to die for him to advance and he doesn't mind being advantageous over others, whatever wins him the game. Losing in spite of his cleverness (he's rather clever, I'm sure many would agree) and the moral decay he lets himself undergo, is a bigger failure than failing in his real life. So he commits suicide.
All of this reflects on Gi Hoon to make him the hero, to project him as one. He proves himself to be a capable leader, no doubt, but being a leader and being a hero are not the same. That said, I don't think anyone in SG was a hero singly but they each had their moments of heroism- Gi Hoon when he chooses to return to the games the 2nd time, Sang Woo when he saves their team during the tug of war, KSB when she stops GH from killing SW, Ali when he saves GH in Red Light, Green Light, Han Mi Nyeo when she kills herself and the thug in the stepping glass game, Ji Yeong (or No.240) when she chooses to die, etc.
The cop actually had better and more direct heroic moments than Gi Hoon, whose heroism comes in greater parts from being presented as a contrast to a more vicious player. However, this is just my opinion.
It was a very interesting article to read, though.