what happened during the next prince was not NetJJs fault but the fault of a script that was written so bad and…
Yes, NetJJ didn't get much screentime or a deep enough plot to work with and I did point that out in my post! I truly hope that this BL will improve from now on and again, it's NOT JJ's fault that they handed him a subpar "script" so far, because he deserves much better than this! Thanks for stopping by!
If you're a Netjames fan, your opinion is biased because of that.
Me, being a NetJames fan as you put it, is no excuse for a brainless "script" or the fact that JJ got an idiotic "plot" that is way below the level of his talent and potential and he deserves much better! I like JJ and I love Net, so I wish from the bottom of my heart that they succeed and that this BL improves with each episode from now on! In my post, NOT once, NOT a single time did I criticize JJ, quite the opposite! Over the years I've been a fan of many couples who are long gone, but that doesn't make me blind or less interested or invested in new projects and new couples! When I comment on dramas and I know that I'm biased about it, I always put that into my post (you can fact check me on posts like 'Cat For Cash' that I wrote most recently) so anyone who reads it will be aware of that! Not to mention, that I was upfront about that for a few fleeting moments I was missing James, but that had nothing to do with JJ's performance and he definitely deserves praise for putting up with subpar writing!! Alas, this BL just started and outside of the idiotic writing (as of episode 1!) the rest of the production is solid so we'll go from there! Thanks for stopping by!
While I can't really comment on anything else being said here, since it's mostly a matter of personal opinion,…
I get your point, but I still think that JJ got shortchanged big time with this overly clownish character that they created for him! Of course, nobody wants him to imitate James in any way, but his role should've been more mature than this pathetic nitwit who can't find enough braincells to function like a normal human being! Naturally, everyone have their own preferences when it comes to comedy and everyone have different tastes! Yes, this BL just began and it might turn into something more palatable for fans like myself who would prefer a bit more maturity with well balanced comedy! We shall see! Thanks for stopping by!
The problem is you still want net with James so you will not see what we see and about editing they don't do much…
Thanks for the respectful input! You know, I wish that I was that shallow, because that would be easier to deal with than the fact that this "script" is lame and doesn't do any favors to JJ! In the past 18 years I've seen pairings break up many times and that's just how the industry works, that was always part of the game! A few moments of reminiscence has nothing to do with the fact, that episode 1 was filled gimmicks and idiotic scenes that cheapened the whole experience and didn't give JJ a solid foundation to shine! I really want to fall in love with NetJJ and I hope this BL gets better! I want them to succeed and build a formidable pairing that we can enjoy years to come!
First I thought, I should keep my fingertips to myself and let the series roll on without my very likely unpopular observations. Alas, I'm probably a closet masochist, because I know I'll be roasted for my unsolicited and unwanted input about the start of this BL, but here I am, typing away anyway! So, ladies and gents and anything between or outside of the identity spectrum, gird your loins and take a deep breath before proceeding to read my brain droppings about episode 1!
First and foremost I'm a big fan of Net! I think he is a good actor and I like him as a person as well! Naturally, I was heartbroken when James decided to step away from acting and one of my favorite BL pairing was gone in a blink of an eye! At that time I was absolutely sure that 'Love Upon a Time' will be shelved for a long time if not indefinitely! Meanwhile, Net needed a new partner and I was very curious who will that be. JJ was a surprise to me. He is cute and talented with a promising acting career ahead of him, but still to this day I don't know why did Net choose him! Regardless, I trust Net and if he decided that JJ is a good fit for him, who am I to question it? So, I was excited to see them acting together...but, after the new LUAT pilot aired I was taken aback a bit. I didn't get the chemistry that I was hoping for and the complete overhaul of the original vibe of the drama was jarring to me as well! Nonetheless, I told myself, that I was just overreacting, because I was still missing the insane chemistry between Net and James and when I'll adjust to the different connection between JJ and Net it will be all good! Fast forward to 'The Next Prince', I was eager to see how NetJJ would handle their first drama! Lets just say, that I wasn't feeling the supposed romance between them and to be honest, I started to worry right there and then about the future of their pairing. Again, I tried to convince myself, that they just didn't get enough screentime to develop a deeper connection and that's why I feel the lack of fire between them! So, I pushed those pesky doubts into the deep and swift water of the DeNile and let the current take me away!
Finally, we have arrived to LUAT episode 1 and if you are still here, thank you for sticking with me through this little detour!
When I sat down for this series yesterday afternoon, I was full of excitement and giddy anticipation! I love, love, I mean LOOOOOVE historical dramas no matter the genre, so I was really pumped for a new adventure!
I wasn't ready for the rapid IQ drop that the first 20 minutes served up! I've been watching Asian dramas since 2008 and BL since 2010, so I'm pretty much familiar with any trope, genre or style that the industry could come up with! What was so mind numbing, is that such a high quality, expensive production got wasted on cheap gimmicks that went out of fashion after Chaplin died and JJ, such a talented young actor had to act as a circus clown in that drivel of a "script"! Maybe, because I'm from an older generation, my tolerance level for stupid gags in a otherwise very high quality production is as shallow as the depth of an oriental porcelain teacup! Last year my favorite BL comedy was 'I'm the Most Beautiful Count'! Now THAT was COMEDY!
At that point I was already annoyed, but I told myself, that when he gets teleported back to the past, things might improve and if all fails, Net will be there to validate spending my precious time on this series! I want to emphasize the fact, that JJ didn't do anything wrong and it is NOT his fault that people who should know better made this character a complete disaster from the the get go and JJ did the best he could to act retarded via "script"!
When Net entered the scene, my heart skipped a beat both with love and sorrow! I'm woman enough to admit, that as soon as I saw him walking towards JJ, for a moment I was lamenting that it wasn't James on the receiving end of that worried, loving look that was evident on his face! I won't apologize for that momentary weakness, because most of human emotions are completely involuntarily and a habitual reflex from our brain! His presence brought temporary calming effect in the chaotic madness, but it didn't last long!
By the end of the episode I was mentally drained. Both the "script" and the bad editing made a dent on the positive aspects (like the costume designs and the cinematography) and that's a shame! Net and JJ deserve much better than this "plot" and especially JJ should've given something substantial to showcase his talent!
I don't know if this BL will get better as time goes by, but for Net and JJ I will watch it to the end. For any of you, who got offended by my comment, I'm not here to mindlessly cheer on a BL series like a teenage girl who still waiting for her first boyfriend and easily charmed by visuals alone! That wouldn't help the actors or the industry and it will promote the production of similar dramas! Not to mention, that a talented young man like JJ will always be given the same tired " innocent/clueless high school/college student" trope, no matter how good they are! If we, the fans don't expect and demand more than this, how could we hope for anything better?
Finally, I'm well aware of the fact, that everyone is different and many of you really like this series already. I don't mind to be in the small minority with my criticism of this BL, and I RESPECT all the well reasoned arguments and opinions that you might have to support your take on this series!
For the next 11 Saturdays I'll be here to follow up on each episode and I'll write down what I think of this BL. As always, this is just IMHO of course! See you next Saturday!
Finally, these 8 weeks of "the Nightmare before, during and after Christmas" came to an end 🎉 I can't…
Great summary! I was wondering about the possible TOL merch as well, because I'm all in for the bedsheets and the scarf! That Gnome-y eyesore would totally spice up my love life! It's just oozing sexy vibes in the bedroom! I genuinely hope that this company stays in business and gives more gems like this for years to come! This was the best 8 weeks of Christmas BL cringe fest ever!
Hmmm….Where do I start? I’m going to miss this horrible drama where it was so bad it kept me watching to see…
I'm glad that you stayed with this North Pole sized, organic biohazard, otherwise you would've missed out on all the fan that this series' epic badness provided for our joy and pure entertainment! I'll be keeping a close eye on this company, particularly on this specific crew for future projects to make sure that I won't miss any of their upcoming offerings! Also, I'll try very hard to keep my name off from Santa's Naughty List this year hoping, that he'll bring me all the BL presents that I'm wishing for!
Oh, be still my heart, for I have to part from this masterpiece too soon!😭 How should I say farewell to something so, precious, so indescribably unique Christmas "miracle"? This will be the tale, that I shall pass down to my grandchildren in future Holiday Seasons with great reverie, so the next generation could carry it forward, so it shall never be lost!
I always knew that love can conquer all, including taste, talent or anything remotely artistic, because I love this BL with all my heart! How could I not embrace all this undeniably soul-snatching Hallmark-knockoff? The final episode cemented it's greatness within the genre and I think the bar is set so high, that it will be almost impossible for other projects to reach!
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Did you all see the exquisite bed sheets? Did you marvel at the sight of all that decor? Did you clutch at your pearls, holding your breath while they were hiding from a female who randomly showed up to molest the white carpet (That's one interesting fetish for sure!) as one does when entering someone's home without knocking, then proceeded to trample all over the house in her dirty boots without leaving a single stain anywhere!? That was scarry!😱 I'm a huge horror fan, so I absolutely appreciated the thrill of that Hitchcock-esque touch from our esteemed "writers"! No wonder our lovebirds needed a make out session of dying-fish kisses after such a fright!
During the Christmas feast on the aforementioned carpet, covered with tasteful and priceless tablecloth, our pure boy who just a day earlier spiked his beloved's drink, couldn't handle a pricey, aged and refined Spanish wine and longed for juice or a Coke to cleanse his delicate palate of such sludge! (To our Spanish netizens, please, indulge our boy's folly for just this once in the name of the Holiday Spirit!)
Speaking of unknown powdery substances, the power of forgiveness is truly remarkable or it's just me, who didn't get the memo that consent between lovers is no longer required and is so overrated! It could be a new Christmas tradition perhaps that I'm not aware of? As I've stated before, I'm learning a lot from this iconic series!
Somehow, I also missed all the knitting sessions that produced that wonderful scarf, so Jaehun wasn't the only one who was so surprised and touched by that gift! Our Haejun is multitalented and knows how to multitask! Between studying, sketching, painting, cooking and being chained to a bed or confined in a room, he managed to knit a commercial quality scarf with intricate patterns that my granny would envy and she had some wicked skills with knitting needles! Maybe Santa is real too, right?
The copious amount of "snow" was a beautiful touch, especially for me, the ultimate Winter lover who could never get enough of it! The perfect setting for a proposal to knock your scarf off! I don't know how others feel about it, but that diamond ring took my breath away, because I was worried that our boy's wrist might won't be able to handle that much weight 24/7! As an artist, he must take care of his joints you know!
The crowning moment of the night came with loud, off timed heavy breathing and moaning, huge amount of audible dying-fish kisses and the artistic finesse from both our beloved "sound engineer" and "chief editor" coupled with some lighting contrast for the NC scene! A cinematographic masterclass!
I'm not ashamed to admit, that I shed some tears, just like Jaehun in the final shot! I was completely choked up, knowing that I might never witness something so magnificent like this in my life! This masterpiece humbled and moved me in ways, that's hard to put into words!
My Wednesdays will never be the same! In parting, I vow to keep this legend alive and I will spread the tale of 'Tide of Love' wherever I go!
P.S.: Santa, can we have season 3 or a spinoff for next Christmas? We promise to be good, right guys?!
If Eun-bin accepts the role I want Lee Junho to play the emperor!Since I've seen 'The Red Sleeve' and 'The King's…
Unfortunately, it's true that the timing is not ideal, but if Eun-bin accepts the role, she is tied up with filming and promoting as well, so the production will be delayed no matter what! So, I won't give up hope just yet! That's being said, if Eun-bin wants to play the role and Junho is unavailable, who would you pick to play the emperor?
If they still haven’t announced the ML, it probably means he’s not a top-tier actor 😩 I’ve got a bad…
If Eun-bin accepts the role I want Lee Junho to play the emperor! Since I've seen 'The Red Sleeve' and 'The King's Affection' my dream is to see Eun-bin and Junho acting together in a historical drama!
thank God it's almost ending and don't make a season 3.
Oh, I'm rooting for season 3 or for a spinoff with my beloved fashion victim villain! The epic badness of this series is the highlight of the year so far and I haven't snort-laughed this much since 'Kiseki Chapter2'!
Oh baby, a KBL vampire rom-com, be still my heart! It's too bad that an episode is only 10 minutes long, because this is hilarious! I think, I'll have a fang-tastic time with this gem for the next couple of weeks!
'Hidden Love' is one of my favorite romance series of all time! I rewatched it a couple of times already and I'm sure that I will come back to it many times for years to come!
My god, this comments section is pushing me to hope for a third season of this… I don’t even know how to call…
Oh, yes please come to the dark side and wish for season 3 with us! I spent lots of time in Italy, including living in Torino for a year, so the abomination of microwaved cookies were definitely more diabolical than drugging the one you love! My Hungarian grandmother and great grandmother who gave me all their culinary knowledge and traditional recipes that's been passed down in the family for generations would faint dead away witnessing such sacrilege!😱 I've also had the privilege to learn to cook many Italian dishes from my ex's nonna, who really liked me and somehow didn't mind me being a straniera, so I completely understand how that scene made you feel!
I truly hope that this BL will improve from now on and again, it's NOT JJ's fault that they handed him a subpar "script" so far, because he deserves much better than this!
Thanks for stopping by!
I like JJ and I love Net, so I wish from the bottom of my heart that they succeed and that this BL improves with each episode from now on!
In my post, NOT once, NOT a single time did I criticize JJ, quite the opposite!
Over the years I've been a fan of many couples who are long gone, but that doesn't make me blind or less interested or invested in new projects and new couples!
When I comment on dramas and I know that I'm biased about it, I always put that into my post (you can fact check me on posts like 'Cat For Cash' that I wrote most recently) so anyone who reads it will be aware of that!
Not to mention, that I was upfront about that for a few fleeting moments I was missing James, but that had nothing to do with JJ's performance and he definitely deserves praise for putting up with subpar writing!!
Alas, this BL just started and outside of the idiotic writing (as of episode 1!) the rest of the production is solid so we'll go from there!
Thanks for stopping by!
Of course, nobody wants him to imitate James in any way, but his role should've been more mature than this pathetic nitwit who can't find enough braincells to function like a normal human being!
Naturally, everyone have their own preferences when it comes to comedy and everyone have different tastes!
Yes, this BL just began and it might turn into something more palatable for fans like myself who would prefer a bit more maturity with well balanced comedy!
We shall see!
Thanks for stopping by!
You know, I wish that I was that shallow, because that would be easier to deal with than the fact that this "script" is lame and doesn't do any favors to JJ!
In the past 18 years I've seen pairings break up many times and that's just how the industry works, that was always part of the game!
A few moments of reminiscence has nothing to do with the fact, that episode 1 was filled gimmicks and idiotic scenes that cheapened the whole experience and didn't give JJ a solid foundation to shine!
I really want to fall in love with NetJJ and I hope this BL gets better!
I want them to succeed and build a formidable pairing that we can enjoy years to come!
Alas, I'm probably a closet masochist, because I know I'll be roasted for my unsolicited and unwanted input about the start of this BL, but here I am, typing away anyway!
So, ladies and gents and anything between or outside of the identity spectrum, gird your loins and take a deep breath before proceeding to read my brain droppings about episode 1!
First and foremost I'm a big fan of Net! I think he is a good actor and I like him as a person as well!
Naturally, I was heartbroken when James decided to step away from acting and one of my favorite BL pairing was gone in a blink of an eye!
At that time I was absolutely sure that 'Love Upon a Time' will be shelved for a long time if not indefinitely!
Meanwhile, Net needed a new partner and I was very curious who will that be.
JJ was a surprise to me.
He is cute and talented with a promising acting career ahead of him, but still to this day I don't know why did Net choose him!
Regardless, I trust Net and if he decided that JJ is a good fit for him, who am I to question it?
So, I was excited to see them acting together...but, after the new LUAT pilot aired I was taken aback a bit.
I didn't get the chemistry that I was hoping for and the complete overhaul of the original vibe of the drama was jarring to me as well!
Nonetheless, I told myself, that I was just overreacting, because I was still missing the insane chemistry between Net and James and when I'll adjust to the different connection between JJ and Net it will be all good!
Fast forward to 'The Next Prince', I was eager to see how NetJJ would handle their first drama!
Lets just say, that I wasn't feeling the supposed romance between them and to be honest, I started to worry right there and then about the future of their pairing.
Again, I tried to convince myself, that they just didn't get enough screentime to develop a deeper connection and that's why I feel the lack of fire between them!
So, I pushed those pesky doubts into the deep and swift water of the DeNile and let the current take me away!
Finally, we have arrived to LUAT episode 1 and if you are still here, thank you for sticking with me through this little detour!
When I sat down for this series yesterday afternoon, I was full of excitement and giddy anticipation!
I love, love, I mean LOOOOOVE historical dramas no matter the genre, so I was really pumped for a new adventure!
I wasn't ready for the rapid IQ drop that the first 20 minutes served up!
I've been watching Asian dramas since 2008 and BL since 2010, so I'm pretty much familiar with any trope, genre or style that the industry could come up with!
What was so mind numbing, is that such a high quality, expensive production got wasted on cheap gimmicks that went out of fashion after Chaplin died and JJ, such a talented young actor had to act as a circus clown in that drivel of a "script"!
Maybe, because I'm from an older generation, my tolerance level for stupid gags in a otherwise very high quality production is as shallow as the depth of an oriental porcelain teacup!
Last year my favorite BL comedy was 'I'm the Most Beautiful Count'! Now THAT was COMEDY!
At that point I was already annoyed, but I told myself, that when he gets teleported back to the past, things might improve and if all fails, Net will be there to validate spending my precious time on this series!
I want to emphasize the fact, that JJ didn't do anything wrong and it is NOT his fault that people who should know better made this character a complete disaster from the the get go and JJ did the best he could to act retarded via "script"!
When Net entered the scene, my heart skipped a beat both with love and sorrow!
I'm woman enough to admit, that as soon as I saw him walking towards JJ, for a moment I was lamenting that it wasn't James on the receiving end of that worried, loving look that was evident on his face!
I won't apologize for that momentary weakness, because most of human emotions are completely involuntarily and a habitual reflex from our brain!
His presence brought temporary calming effect in the chaotic madness, but it didn't last long!
By the end of the episode I was mentally drained.
Both the "script" and the bad editing made a dent on the positive aspects (like the costume designs and the cinematography) and that's a shame!
Net and JJ deserve much better than this "plot" and especially JJ should've given something substantial to showcase his talent!
I don't know if this BL will get better as time goes by, but for Net and JJ I will watch it to the end.
For any of you, who got offended by my comment, I'm not here to mindlessly cheer on a BL series like a teenage girl who still waiting for her first boyfriend and easily charmed by visuals alone!
That wouldn't help the actors or the industry and it will promote the production of similar dramas!
Not to mention, that a talented young man like JJ will always be given the same tired " innocent/clueless high school/college student" trope, no matter how good they are!
If we, the fans don't expect and demand more than this, how could we hope for anything better?
Finally, I'm well aware of the fact, that everyone is different and many of you really like this series already.
I don't mind to be in the small minority with my criticism of this BL, and I RESPECT all the well reasoned arguments and opinions that you might have to support your take on this series!
For the next 11 Saturdays I'll be here to follow up on each episode and I'll write down what I think of this BL.
As always, this is just IMHO of course! See you next Saturday!
I was wondering about the possible TOL merch as well, because I'm all in for the bedsheets and the scarf!
That Gnome-y eyesore would totally spice up my love life!
It's just oozing sexy vibes in the bedroom!
I genuinely hope that this company stays in business and gives more gems like this for years to come!
This was the best 8 weeks of Christmas BL cringe fest ever!
I'll be keeping a close eye on this company, particularly on this specific crew for future projects to make sure that I won't miss any of their upcoming offerings!
Also, I'll try very hard to keep my name off from Santa's Naughty List this year hoping, that he'll bring me all the BL presents that I'm wishing for!
How should I say farewell to something so, precious, so indescribably unique Christmas "miracle"?
This will be the tale, that I shall pass down to my grandchildren in future Holiday Seasons with great reverie, so the next generation could carry it forward, so it shall never be lost!
I always knew that love can conquer all, including taste, talent or anything remotely artistic, because I love this BL with all my heart!
How could I not embrace all this undeniably soul-snatching Hallmark-knockoff?
The final episode cemented it's greatness within the genre and I think the bar is set so high, that it will be almost impossible for other projects to reach!
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Did you all see the exquisite bed sheets? Did you marvel at the sight of all that decor?
Did you clutch at your pearls, holding your breath while they were hiding from a female who randomly showed up to molest the white carpet (That's one interesting fetish for sure!) as one does when entering someone's home without knocking, then proceeded to trample all over the house in her dirty boots without leaving a single stain anywhere!? That was scarry!😱
I'm a huge horror fan, so I absolutely appreciated the thrill of that Hitchcock-esque touch from our esteemed "writers"!
No wonder our lovebirds needed a make out session of dying-fish kisses after such a fright!
During the Christmas feast on the aforementioned carpet, covered with tasteful and priceless tablecloth, our pure boy who just a day earlier spiked his beloved's drink, couldn't handle a pricey, aged and refined Spanish wine and longed for juice or a Coke to cleanse his delicate palate of such sludge! (To our Spanish netizens, please, indulge our boy's folly for just this once in the name of the Holiday Spirit!)
Speaking of unknown powdery substances, the power of forgiveness is truly remarkable or it's just me, who didn't get the memo that consent between lovers is no longer required and is so overrated!
It could be a new Christmas tradition perhaps that I'm not aware of?
As I've stated before, I'm learning a lot from this iconic series!
Somehow, I also missed all the knitting sessions that produced that wonderful scarf, so Jaehun wasn't the only one who was so surprised and touched by that gift!
Our Haejun is multitalented and knows how to multitask! Between studying, sketching, painting, cooking and being chained to a bed or confined in a room, he managed to knit a commercial quality scarf with intricate patterns that my granny would envy and she had some wicked skills with knitting needles!
Maybe Santa is real too, right?
The copious amount of "snow" was a beautiful touch, especially for me, the ultimate Winter lover who could never get enough of it!
The perfect setting for a proposal to knock your scarf off!
I don't know how others feel about it, but that diamond ring took my breath away, because I was worried that our boy's wrist might won't be able to handle that much weight 24/7!
As an artist, he must take care of his joints you know!
The crowning moment of the night came with loud, off timed heavy breathing and moaning, huge amount of audible dying-fish kisses and the artistic finesse from both our beloved "sound engineer" and "chief editor" coupled with some lighting contrast for the NC scene!
A cinematographic masterclass!
I'm not ashamed to admit, that I shed some tears, just like Jaehun in the final shot!
I was completely choked up, knowing that I might never witness something so magnificent like this in my life!
This masterpiece humbled and moved me in ways, that's hard to put into words!
My Wednesdays will never be the same!
In parting, I vow to keep this legend alive and I will spread the tale of 'Tide of Love' wherever I go!
P.S.: Santa, can we have season 3 or a spinoff for next Christmas? We promise to be good, right guys?!
So, I won't give up hope just yet!
That's being said, if Eun-bin wants to play the role and Junho is unavailable, who would you pick to play the emperor?
Since I've seen 'The Red Sleeve' and 'The King's Affection' my dream is to see Eun-bin and Junho acting together in a historical drama!
The epic badness of this series is the highlight of the year so far and I haven't snort-laughed this much since 'Kiseki Chapter2'!
Thank you for stopping by and I'm glad that you enjoyed it!❤️
It's too bad that an episode is only 10 minutes long, because this is hilarious!
I think, I'll have a fang-tastic time with this gem for the next couple of weeks!
I rewatched it a couple of times already and I'm sure that I will come back to it many times for years to come!
I spent lots of time in Italy, including living in Torino for a year, so the abomination of microwaved cookies were definitely more diabolical than drugging the one you love!
My Hungarian grandmother and great grandmother who gave me all their culinary knowledge and traditional recipes that's been passed down in the family for generations would faint dead away witnessing such sacrilege!😱
I've also had the privilege to learn to cook many Italian dishes from my ex's nonna, who really liked me and somehow didn't mind me being a straniera, so I completely understand how that scene made you feel!