Kochase

I think it's more his weapon / fighting style. It's how everyone recognizes everyone in wuxia world lol.

Latest one of interest is The Blood of Youth. It's halfway finished airing. And in case you missed it... Are You Safe, Under the Skin were some recent ones.

So I'm trying to decide which will come sooner - HYX airing, or a coffeeshop near my place that has been 'coming soon' since before the pandemic. Chinese censorship whimsicality vs. American construction inefficiency. 🤣

No. His sister tries to hint at him who it is but LWJ was too thick. In the novel, they find out when Xiao Se unleashes his full power and one of the assassins recognized and called him out as Xiao Chuhe.

Not yet at episode 18. Should be though in the next couple of episodes.

Oh also, forgot to add to my original comment - in case you (or others) didn't know, there's a special episode, aka Episode 33: https://youtu.be/ol-Jeg7NA9o

Lol that's what I felt, but couldn't pinpoint clicking around the animation. Still, Lei Wujie definitely didn't know about Xiao Se when receiving the green pendant thing from his sister, so I'm not sure when they learned it in the animation. Next thing I know, Xiao Se is saying stuff like 'oh they're after me' and no one reacts like they already know. And then at the end Lei Wujie is all angsty like 'I made him come with me even though I knew the dangers around his identity'. So I'm quite confused. But that is quite a big change from the novel, and if this was a mistake or just a poor adaption choice, I'm hoping the drama stays way more true to the novel on that.

When did the others learn Xiao Se was Xiao Chuhe, and the person they were supposed to be guarding in the animation? In the novel, it doesn't happen until Xiao Se unleashes his powers. And I'm assuming the drama will follow suit as well, since they still have no clue at ep 16. But the animation felt like they didn't know it one moment and then suddenly, they did. Or was I just not paying attention and missed when it was said? In any case, it wasn't the same time as during the novel it seems?

They both follow the events of the novel. The animation is still ongoing, but I assume the drama will aim to tackle the whole story. We're about a fourth of the way through the novel at episode 16? So I'm curious to see how they're going to condense the later stuff.

EDIT: I also happened to see your comment / question further down about whether it'll be like the animation. I think certain scenes so far seem pretty similar, both following the novel faithfully. They do start cutting stuff here and there though. And one (big?) change that had me scratching my head, maybe because I watched the animation too fast and got confused is...

Oh Japan, I love you but you really gotta stop transposing animes / mangas into live action. It's called adaptation for a reason, you're supposed to *adapt* to a new and different medium. Not just copy paste it to a new medium. That means, let's do away with the cringey voiceovers / asides, stop with the awkwardly long stares like the moment is 'frozen', and let actors act out realistic characters rather than a scenes from a manga.

Hoping this gets better, because I really liked Ameiro Paradox as a story. That said, I'm anticipating this series to be strictly average. Probably still enjoyable, but not impressive. Frankly, the actors are also too young. I imagined the mains as people closer to their thirties if not in their thirties. They have established careers and a good track record to boot. You don't get that as a newbie who just graduated college. I can't even comment about the acting because idk if the script and directing is to blame. That's the problem with copy pasting scenes out of a manga - they're just not realistic. Can't exactly blame the actors for not being able to act properly when the scene they're acting out makes no sense.

Are You Safe was surprisingly bromantic! And I say surprisingly because... initially I thought it was just Tan Jian Ci (Under the Skin, Winner is King) paired with a baby face but actually, he's got another bro lurking in the plot background. Later on, it gets pretty funny as the kid ML gets rather jealous over their bromance haha. Bromance triangle. Only the side bro has a female love interest.

Just don't mind the PSA (which is actually useful; people should be more aware of cyber safety) and the more harmless propaganda (basically just showing the police as super capable).

Daomubiji (Chinese name of the series) is not BL in source material. It's... *strongly* bromance with arguably heavy queerbaiting between the two main leads, but it's not officially BL. So they can pass censorship. Although, this movie is focused on the side characters, who definitely have their own ship going and probably hence the dedicated movie. Still not officially BL though.

I highly recommend the story, but the production qualities have been all over the place lol.

I'm really hoping they find a way to give us some (well-fitting) pingxie moments despite Xiaoge and Wu Xie having zero interactions in this book... tbf though the whole plot is basically Wu Xie pining after Xiaoge. 🤣

Omg finally a government backed TV series that's not propaganda! This is a much needed PSA instead. Only watched a few episodes so far, but it seems fun.

As usual with tech drama... it always looks more dramatic than it is in reality. But lines of text is not as attractive as flashing graphics I suppose.

In short, the safety messages ring true, even if the portrayal of everything around tech is still... lulz. Hopefully they don't make romance a big thing... don't really need a romance drama amidst all these other drama.

Ok while I'm overall enjoying this and it's nice to have another BL that's got an interesting setting... wow Win's (borderline or just straight up?) emotional abusiveness definitely gets grating. Good job to Mix for acting him out on point! But yeah while some parts are quite funny, Win's behavior can get quite toxic - his sister is terrified of him, and he does emotionally manipulate people at parts. I do worry a bit that the 'demanding, unreasonable boy/girlfriend' gets played up a little too much for laughs (although a lot of it is pretty funny).

Still a great production and super fun to watch, but people should be aware this sort of behavior is not really ok. In fact, this is commonly how women become the abusive partner in the relationship, because they think the lack of physical violence means it's all ok. And I only call this out too because some of the way Win tried to guilt trip / manipulate those around them are exactly the kind of things I've heard people in unhealthy relationships say.

I haven't finished yet, but certainly hoping part of Win's character development will include some of this realization, dialing back the stubbornness and his overbearing control over the people around him, etc. Because the rest of it is hilarious and cute and I don't want to feel guilty about liking it at the end!

Lol when the other captain was leaving and was like '*nudge wink suggestive smirk* Shen Yi, you sure you don't want to take up my offer?' It was like... major love triangle vibes lol. Du Cheng be jelly and all 'You trying to steal ma man?' to the captain and then to Shen Yi like '*lowkey worried* you're not considering it are you?' And Shen Yi was like '*rolling eyes* knowing how much a certain someone loves me, how could I ditch them (you), you insecure sap?'

It was ADORABLE. Anyway... not saying two bros can't just be bros (and tbh bros can be jealous over bros in a totally platonic manner too), but my shipper heart strikes again.

Omg this series was so refreshing! Such a fun twist on the usual detective shows... ok Shen Yi is a bit OP, but what MC isn't... And some of the technology scenes are... lulz. But oh well. Overall, great story, gorgeous artwork, beautiful bromance (seriously, I'd think it was a censored adaptation if I hadn't seen it was original screenplay... but anyway it's perfectly stellar as a bromance too. ), and hope they do continue with a S2! Also my humorous thoughts on one of the last scenes...

I'm definitely getting vibes for potential bromance from ep 1... given how strongly the detective dislikes the artist from the start, and they have History.... that's a recipe for drama and bromance, right?

Two bros have a great relationship at start --> It's 90% chance gonna devolve into a bitter feud
Two bros have a terrible relationship at start --> It's 90% chance gonna become a great bromance.

Lol this. Too true. You drunk = your fault. You're not getting pampered. We just make sure you don't choke on your own vomit. If you're a tiny girl, you might get carried to a proper bed / sofa. But if you are a man, you probably weigh too much for people to want to put in any effort more than turning you on your side and calling it a night.

Lol you and everyone... unfortunately it was a bit of a one off that the production company that made this got this project in the first place (it kinda got outsourced to them)... it's unlikely they'll be asked to produce the finale but... one can hope!