I find unacceptable any censorship, it’s like feeding lie to people. You don’t like BL’s - fine, nobody…
People claim the source material was "problematic," but adapting a problematic or controversial source material comes with responsibilities. The producers should've considered the potential implications of adapting such material and asked themselves whether they could handle the themes in a respectful, thoughtful way. By choosing to censor the source material, they are having it both ways: profiting off the source material and avoiding the uncomfortable, challenging parts. They don't get to use censorship as a crutch to avoid criticism. It would've been better to tackle the issues head-on or choose a different project to adapt
The producers selected a "problematic" story and claimed to remove the gay elements for profitability concerns.…
I didn't claim that "Yi Heon giving up his life" wasn't from the source material, please learn to read
"Deukpal had enjoyed the privilege?"
He lived a long life and experienced the joys and challenges of aging. Living to a ripe old age is a privilege that not everyone experiences. Yi Heon didn't enjoy the privilege in his first lifetime. He should've been given a second chance
"... it was the execs"
They still made the homophobic comment. It wasn't a lie
"18 IS MINOR in south Korea. 18-47 having s3x ..."
Deuk Pal's body is that of a teenager. His relationship with Se Kyung isn't "pedophilia." It's a tricky issue related to age, maturity, and consent that the novel was trying to explore
Censorship wasn't the answer. The producers should've had faith in the audience to grapple with these difficult themes. Or they should've chosen a different story to adapt. They denied the audience the chance to engage with the material and form their own opinions
"... you tryna find a way again to justify pdfilia"
"Pedophilia" is defined as an attraction to pre-pubescent children, and the scenario described in the novel doesn't fit the definition
"The BL genre faces limitations in terms of production costs, investment, and financial returns. So, we aimed to explore the concept of the project as a bromance"
"The team initially found the premise of the webtoon interesting and attempted to adapt it into a bromance. However, they ultimately changed course due to the ongoing challenge of ensuring commercial success"
Why don't you question the producers or their homophobic actions? They should've rejected the story altogether. It's hypocritical to condemn the source material and simultaneously attempt to profit from it
"I just found out that the original web novel actually had pdf filia"
The novel's depiction of a relationship between a 17/18-year-old and a 47-year-old's soul in a 17/18-year-old's body doesn't meet the clinical definition of "pedophilia," a 17/18-year-old isn't a pre-pubescent child. It might be questionable, but it's a more nuanced issue than the simplistic condemnation of "pedophilia" and age-gap relationships
A 47-year-old's soul in a 17/18-year-old body is influenced by the physical, emotional, hormonal changes of adolescence. They'd have more in common with other teenagers than with adults, and their relationships with other teenagers (e.g. Se Kyung) wouldn't be problematic or disgusting
Rather than censoring the story, a satisfying resolution would've been achieved if the producers depicted Yi Heon's return to his own body, granting him an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. Deuk Pal had enjoyed the privilege of a full life. He didn't need a second chance. The producers were open to "changing" the story, it would've been more appropriate and less homophobic to make a change in this direction
"Someone debunked the lies and misinformation that was being spread"
Multiple individuals claimed to have read the novel, with contradictory accounts. It's unclear why the word of one or two individuals is given credence over that of the many
"Well, objectively, the show *did* kinda make it seem like there *was* possibly something between Se Kyung and…
"Also they are atleast now in college so all legal adults and no minors involved"
Then Deuk Pal's soul could've waited for Se Kyung to reach legal adulthood to go on dates with him, there was no reason to remove the gay elements from their relationship. The producers had the option to depict the male characters dating after graduation
Be honest. The censorship was motivated by homophobia, and people are spinning it as a concern for age gap. They'd have been okay with Deuk Pal's soul "dating" college girls. To prevent mass cardiac arrests due to the shock of seeing two men dating on TV, the producers decided to censor the gayness out of existence
I wish they didn't prevent them. I'd pay good money to see homophobes pop like overfilled balloons
Personally, I haven't read the manhwa, so I don't know how it feels. However, we should consider the impact on…
"Don't they know the writer approved the change?"
We know, the author said, "hey, I'm cool with cutting out the queer stuff. What matters to me is more moolah in my pockets. Let's cash in on the homophobia train." Don't you know we can disagree with the author and disapprove of their decision?
Most of the reviews are positive, getting carried away with the silly 10/10s, and the drama is overhyped. A lot of the positive reviews came from new accounts, so take them with a grain of salt. And if someone wants to give the drama a 1/10 for censorship and homophobia, that's their prerogative
well after seeing the ending it makes sense why they didn’t do it bl. can someone tell me how was ending in…
"well after seeing the ending it makes sense why they didn’t do it bl"
People condemn Deuk Pal's soul dating a teen boy, and turn a blind eye to the same soul going on blind "dates" with teen girls (the ending of the drama). The selective outrage is pathetic
I did personally see the chemistry/romance between Yi Heon and Se Kyung, which makes sense since its a censored…
@ThistleThrill's opinion is that, an opinion. We bring our interpretations and experiences to the media we consume, so different people see the same interactions differently
The concepts of "romance" and "friendship" are socially constructed. What might be interpreted as "platonic" by one person can be interpreted as "romantic" by another. Thus, the presence or absence of romance in an interaction can't be defined objectively
Your romantic interpretation isn't "twisted." It's different and valid
bro gotta start doing rom coms, that's the way to go
Lee Je Hoon's true calling is in the fast-paced, high-stakes world of action and suspense
"Romance" is predictable and less engaging for an actor with his skillset. He will grow older and have the luxury of time on his side to play clichéd "romance" roles. For now, he should seize the moment, make the most of his youth, and immerse himself in the thrilling roles he loves
I'm glad to see that Lee Je Hoon isn't giving up on his love of action, thriller, mystery projects or letting the seriousness of his health scare get the better of him. He's cherishing each moment on set and not taking anything for granted. He's a force to be reckoned with in non-romantic roles/genres, and I'm confident he'll deliver captivating performances in "Signal Season 2" and "Taxi Driver Season 3," provided that his health improves
Censorship that targets gay works and marginalized groups isn't something to be taken lightly. And comparing this…
"And yes, Deuk Pal is a good influence & role model? How is he not?"
That wasn't a question. I was throwing out possible descriptions for Deuk Pal, like "good influence" or "role model," and using the question mark to gauge if you agreed they were accurate labels for him
"There is also a valid claim that the show wouldn't have gotten the actors it did"
It's a valid claim, it's just disappointing to see that the drama had to compromise its source material to gain mainstream appeal and attract high-caliber actors. The censorship speaks to the systemic issues in the entertainment industry and society at large
I think I've said this before but I wonder how people who didn't know the discourse over this would view the show.…
I didn't know about that detail from "You're All Surrounded," it sounds like the production was testing the waters with the audience
"It's like they wanted to maybe allude to it but they didn't want to commit to it"
I agree, it's a common tactic in censored adaptations. The subtext is there in the form of subtle interactions, glances, and dialogue that alludes to something deeper. The producers hint at a relationship, and don't directly depict it, to appease the conservative audiences not comfortable with gay people or relationships
Censorship that targets gay works and marginalized groups isn't something to be taken lightly. And comparing this…
"What does you're being gay have to do with the fact that the target audience is straight females?"
Being primarily targeted towards straight identifying women doesn't negate the fact that BL provides important representation for gay relationships and can be enjoyed by gay people
The popularity of BL among straight identifying women is a positive development, it suggests there's growing acceptance of or interest in gay stories and experiences
"... but just because *this* exists doesn't mean the original doesn't"
Adaptations reach a wider audience than their source materials. They are translations of a story that carry cultural, social weight. Censoring the gay elements in this adaptation communicated to a wider audience that gay stories are "unimportant" or "inappropriate." That's why we criticized the censored adaptation even though the source material exists
"I don't even typically like romance much"
There's no shame in not liking romance. Everyone's tastes are different
"What would you call it? He's a good adult figure haha"
Censorship that targets gay works and marginalized groups isn't something to be taken lightly. And comparing this…
"Not to mention, BL content is often written by straight women for straight female audiences"
I'm gay and I find BL enjoyable. The genre can appeal to a wide range of audiences, including gay people
Romance is a genre dominated by women, and this is no less true for gay romance. I wouldn't dismiss BL because it's popular with women. Their interests aren't less valid than men's
Women have the right to explore and enjoy gay relationship dynamics in their writing. Some of the most successful, beloved gay romance stories have been written by them
BL is an alternative perspective on romance that celebrates gay relationships and challenges the dominant straight narratives about what relationships should look like. I believe that the representation and visibility it provides for gay people and couples is important and valuable
"I get that people feel a certain way about this project and it's a valid criticism" "I could enjoy both versions, the original & this version"
Thank you for understanding our perspective, I respect that you have your perspective on the issue
People are gonna have their criticisms and it's really pointless to argue but I just felt the need to say this:…
Censorship that targets gay works and marginalized groups isn't something to be taken lightly. And comparing this to an adaptation that Stephen King later came to appreciate doesn't fit the situation. The key difference is that the censorship isn't a creative choice, it's a deliberate erasure of non-straight elements to conform to societal norms or prejudices against gay people and relationships
"You're upset that a gay person or couple was erased from the story, well, just imagine it's a parallel universe where they never existed." That's not a solution, it's a way of deflecting responsibility
It's interesting to me that this is an adaptation of a same-sex original work where they went avada kedavra on…
Adaptations should stay true to the heart of the source material. The novel centered on the tragic consequences of homophobic bullying for gay youth. If society hadn’t persecuted Yi Heon for his sexuality, he wouldn’t have taken his own life and the gangster’s soul wouldn’t have possessed his body. Homophobic bullying significantly damaged his mental health, and masking the motivation behind the bullying or denying the existence of a gay romance stripped the story of its heart
The producers wanted to cater to a certain audience. Frankly, they should've adapted a work that didn't feature queer elements in the first place
What queerbaiting tactics? Aren't you the one ascribing sexuality to a healthy male friendship? Bromance could…
It's not delusional for people to interpret the relationship between Yi Heon and Se Kyung as romantic, art is open to interpretation
Bromances are a marketing strategy that appease homophobes and BL fans alike. By presenting a close, non-sexual relationship between male characters, bromances signal to homophobes that the story is "safe" to consume and tease BL fans with the possibility of something more. They feel like queer-baiting
"Did they do dirty by removing the queer romance plotline? Yes. But that's an entirely different conversation to queerbaiting"
I understand your comment, we're seeing things from different angles
Some of us continue to oppose China's censorship of gay works. Some others have given up fighting because China has laws prohibiting the production of gay works, whereas Korea doesn't. It's more disappointing that Korean adaptations censor gay works
The producers and their homophobic audience are hypocrites. They censored a gay relationship in the name of age…
People in the comments weren't passing judgement on which relationship was correct or incorrect. They were criticizing the drama's hypocritical decision to censor a gay romance and permit Deuk Pal's soul to go on blind "dates" with teen girls. Some shared their preference for the bromance to stay purely bromantic. They didn't see the need for the bromance to be turned into a "romance" with either Se Kyung or teen girls
"Deukpal had enjoyed the privilege?"
He lived a long life and experienced the joys and challenges of aging. Living to a ripe old age is a privilege that not everyone experiences. Yi Heon didn't enjoy the privilege in his first lifetime. He should've been given a second chance
"... it was the execs"
They still made the homophobic comment. It wasn't a lie
"18 IS MINOR in south Korea. 18-47 having s3x ..."
Deuk Pal's body is that of a teenager. His relationship with Se Kyung isn't "pedophilia." It's a tricky issue related to age, maturity, and consent that the novel was trying to explore
Censorship wasn't the answer. The producers should've had faith in the audience to grapple with these difficult themes. Or they should've chosen a different story to adapt. They denied the audience the chance to engage with the material and form their own opinions
"... you tryna find a way again to justify pdfilia"
"Pedophilia" is defined as an attraction to pre-pubescent children, and the scenario described in the novel doesn't fit the definition
"The BL genre faces limitations in terms of production costs, investment, and financial returns. So, we aimed to explore the concept of the project as a bromance"
https://x.com/BLUPDATE2022/status/1761240687729950917
"The team initially found the premise of the webtoon interesting and attempted to adapt it into a bromance. However, they ultimately changed course due to the ongoing challenge of ensuring commercial success"
Why don't you question the producers or their homophobic actions? They should've rejected the story altogether. It's hypocritical to condemn the source material and simultaneously attempt to profit from it
"I just found out that the original web novel actually had pdf filia"
The novel's depiction of a relationship between a 17/18-year-old and a 47-year-old's soul in a 17/18-year-old's body doesn't meet the clinical definition of "pedophilia," a 17/18-year-old isn't a pre-pubescent child. It might be questionable, but it's a more nuanced issue than the simplistic condemnation of "pedophilia" and age-gap relationships
A 47-year-old's soul in a 17/18-year-old body is influenced by the physical, emotional, hormonal changes of adolescence. They'd have more in common with other teenagers than with adults, and their relationships with other teenagers (e.g. Se Kyung) wouldn't be problematic or disgusting
Rather than censoring the story, a satisfying resolution would've been achieved if the producers depicted Yi Heon's return to his own body, granting him an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. Deuk Pal had enjoyed the privilege of a full life. He didn't need a second chance. The producers were open to "changing" the story, it would've been more appropriate and less homophobic to make a change in this direction
"Someone debunked the lies and misinformation that was being spread"
Multiple individuals claimed to have read the novel, with contradictory accounts. It's unclear why the word of one or two individuals is given credence over that of the many
Then Deuk Pal's soul could've waited for Se Kyung to reach legal adulthood to go on dates with him, there was no reason to remove the gay elements from their relationship. The producers had the option to depict the male characters dating after graduation
Be honest. The censorship was motivated by homophobia, and people are spinning it as a concern for age gap. They'd have been okay with Deuk Pal's soul "dating" college girls. To prevent mass cardiac arrests due to the shock of seeing two men dating on TV, the producers decided to censor the gayness out of existence
I wish they didn't prevent them. I'd pay good money to see homophobes pop like overfilled balloons
We know, the author said, "hey, I'm cool with cutting out the queer stuff. What matters to me is more moolah in my pockets. Let's cash in on the homophobia train." Don't you know we can disagree with the author and disapprove of their decision?
Most of the reviews are positive, getting carried away with the silly 10/10s, and the drama is overhyped. A lot of the positive reviews came from new accounts, so take them with a grain of salt. And if someone wants to give the drama a 1/10 for censorship and homophobia, that's their prerogative
People condemn Deuk Pal's soul dating a teen boy, and turn a blind eye to the same soul going on blind "dates" with teen girls (the ending of the drama). The selective outrage is pathetic
The concepts of "romance" and "friendship" are socially constructed. What might be interpreted as "platonic" by one person can be interpreted as "romantic" by another. Thus, the presence or absence of romance in an interaction can't be defined objectively
Your romantic interpretation isn't "twisted." It's different and valid
"Romance" is predictable and less engaging for an actor with his skillset. He will grow older and have the luxury of time on his side to play clichéd "romance" roles. For now, he should seize the moment, make the most of his youth, and immerse himself in the thrilling roles he loves
That wasn't a question. I was throwing out possible descriptions for Deuk Pal, like "good influence" or "role model," and using the question mark to gauge if you agreed they were accurate labels for him
"There is also a valid claim that the show wouldn't have gotten the actors it did"
It's a valid claim, it's just disappointing to see that the drama had to compromise its source material to gain mainstream appeal and attract high-caliber actors. The censorship speaks to the systemic issues in the entertainment industry and society at large
"It's like they wanted to maybe allude to it but they didn't want to commit to it"
I agree, it's a common tactic in censored adaptations. The subtext is there in the form of subtle interactions, glances, and dialogue that alludes to something deeper. The producers hint at a relationship, and don't directly depict it, to appease the conservative audiences not comfortable with gay people or relationships
Being primarily targeted towards straight identifying women doesn't negate the fact that BL provides important representation for gay relationships and can be enjoyed by gay people
The popularity of BL among straight identifying women is a positive development, it suggests there's growing acceptance of or interest in gay stories and experiences
"... but just because *this* exists doesn't mean the original doesn't"
Adaptations reach a wider audience than their source materials. They are translations of a story that carry cultural, social weight. Censoring the gay elements in this adaptation communicated to a wider audience that gay stories are "unimportant" or "inappropriate." That's why we criticized the censored adaptation even though the source material exists
"I don't even typically like romance much"
There's no shame in not liking romance. Everyone's tastes are different
"What would you call it? He's a good adult figure haha"
He's a good influence and role model?
I'm gay and I find BL enjoyable. The genre can appeal to a wide range of audiences, including gay people
Romance is a genre dominated by women, and this is no less true for gay romance. I wouldn't dismiss BL because it's popular with women. Their interests aren't less valid than men's
Women have the right to explore and enjoy gay relationship dynamics in their writing. Some of the most successful, beloved gay romance stories have been written by them
BL is an alternative perspective on romance that celebrates gay relationships and challenges the dominant straight narratives about what relationships should look like. I believe that the representation and visibility it provides for gay people and couples is important and valuable
"I get that people feel a certain way about this project and it's a valid criticism"
"I could enjoy both versions, the original & this version"
Thank you for understanding our perspective, I respect that you have your perspective on the issue
"You're upset that a gay person or couple was erased from the story, well, just imagine it's a parallel universe where they never existed." That's not a solution, it's a way of deflecting responsibility
The producers wanted to cater to a certain audience. Frankly, they should've adapted a work that didn't feature queer elements in the first place
Bromances are a marketing strategy that appease homophobes and BL fans alike. By presenting a close, non-sexual relationship between male characters, bromances signal to homophobes that the story is "safe" to consume and tease BL fans with the possibility of something more. They feel like queer-baiting
"Did they do dirty by removing the queer romance plotline? Yes. But that's an entirely different conversation to queerbaiting"
I understand your comment, we're seeing things from different angles
Some of us continue to oppose China's censorship of gay works. Some others have given up fighting because China has laws prohibiting the production of gay works, whereas Korea doesn't. It's more disappointing that Korean adaptations censor gay works