TianQi

This movie is adorable. A manga will always have a certain charm that a live action version won't, but sometimes, the warmth still gets conveyed well. It's plucky and silly, but it works. Docchi Mo Docchi gave me this same feeling. If you're a fujoshi or just lean more toward Japan in terms of style, this is for you. This is *not* for you if you normally -really- like Thai or Chinese BL.

This was nice. Just ok, in my opinion. Not as in depth or unique compared to Uncontrolled Love or some other Chinese BL with similar situations, but definitely not bad.

Maybe this should be marked as a spoiler so people who haven't seen it don't know exactly what happens at the end.

I see where you're coming from, but for me that weakness seems a little weird and unrealistic. After dating someone for two years and most meaningful people in your life knowing about your relationship (all of their friends and the school knows about them), it shouldn't be so difficult for him to express his feelings to Kongpob (who literally goes over the top to express himself every time).I get see what you're saying about it being in a public space with a group of people who don't actually know about their relationship (which is why the photo scandal was crazy), but at which point (before the photo thing) can't Arthit just not be so passive aggressive to the extreme and just say, "I love you and you love me, but having you at the job and this affectionate towards me is kinda awkward." It was barely tolerable, albeit more understandable, in the first season, but nothing about that part of his character seemed to have really progressed.

As a gay male, living in Asia (China to be specific), I promise I get the environment. My criticism is Arthit's lack of ability to communicate directly with a guy he's been dating for two years. He just isn't my favorite character type.

And is that really that unpleasant/uncomfortable of a surprise? ????????‍♂️ I didn’t think it should have been, but oh well.

I didn’t read the manga, but I really REALLY loved this movie from beginning to end. The acting was great and the cinematography was beautiful. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, but let’s you down nice and easy. Very well done.

The last three episodes really sealed the deal for me as far as deeming this a 'good series'. The writing was good and the acting was good. There were deep feelings felt by all the couples and good ethical points were made throughout the story. However, I feel like in spite of how well put together the elements of the storyline were, on the whole, it could have done with even more character development and more conflict.

Also, there's something I continually don't understand about Arthit and Kongpop's relationship. They've been together for two years and all their friends know they're together, but throughout the series it still feels like they've only been dating for about two or three months. The constant apprehension, particularly on Arthit's part, takes me out of it when I remember they've been together for so long. Also, I get personal boundary issues, but I don't understand Arthit taking it so hard having the guy that he's head over heels for living next door. Furthermore, again I get the boundary issues, but is it really that horrible to have your boyfriend working at your job? lol It sucked that they were outed, but we don't see anyone ever antagonize them for it, so I don't think Arthit should have reacted so harshly toward Kongpop for that.

I don't feel like typing a lot more, but I LOVED the three other couples as well.

Sotus S was well-crafted and truly sentimental, but I can't help but feel a *little* underwhelmed and bored at many points.

"TianQi - I am NOT an ally to a government that gives a supposedly 'democratic' president the title 'president for life' and then these new rules come out. I actually know a NATIVE Chinese person who tells me it's TERRIBLE out there for the LGBT. Most of the underground is fair enough and the rest is heading underground to escape censorship."

I don't support the government, I support our people. "TERRIBLE" out here for LGBT people? Define terrible, please. Gay people aren't having their heads bashed in for simply being gay as in the west and they aren't being flat out murdered like the are in the middle east. China has gay bars and other gay venues that are registered and not "underground". It's hilarious that you say you have a lesbian friend that says that because lesbians (much more so than gay men) are very visible here. It's not uncommon to see lesbian couples showing PDA in the cities.

"There IS a ban on LGBT entertainment and it's impossible for anyone who is LGBT to be public about it. It's been spoken about all over Asia as well as here in the West. Also I'm told that it's TRUE that many gay couples are marrying similarly gay couples of the opposite sex and pretending to be straight in public and co-habiting with both couples to satisfy the bigots around them and in the government."

Okay, no there is not a ban on LGBT entertainment else this series wouldn't have been made. Lots of crap about China that's inaccurate is spoken about...doesn't make it true. Yeah, gay couples do get married and co-habitate and that's awful, but it's getting better as more and more people are becoming more open-minded about it in spite of your harsh judgement.

"THAT is a terrible thing to force a human being to do just to be able to live in mainstream society. Can you imagine you and YOUR partner being forced into marriages with strangers under any reason? But just so you won't be discriminated against because the person you love just happens to be the same gender as you is right out there as no.1 in the NOT acceptable list."

Um ALL of Asia can imagine being forced into marriage with a stranger regardless of what one's sexual orientation is...do you really not know how big of a thing arranged marriage is here? lol Come on...

"I am also NOT an ally to a country that supports tyranny - such as North Korea. The people of North Korea are suffering miserable, suffering lives as shown by those who've defected recently."

You say that as if the Chinese commoners have any say in what the government does with North Korea. That's like saying you're not an ally to LGBT Americans because their government invaded Iraq (AGAINST the will of American people).

"I understand you love your country - but you cannot defend a tyrant and the reason YOUR internet is NOT 'free' (as in UNcensored as ours IS) is because YOUR leader wants to ensure you don't get too many ideas about free will and democracy. That's the REAL reason tattoos, LGBT, rap, hiphop and all the rest are frowned on - individuality is NOT acceptable under communism. Oh and whether 'guidelines' or hard laws I'm guessing by next year all those in the 'frowned on' categories will be invisible, just as the LGBT entertainment industry is already."

Again, no. Our internet hasn't been free since the internet came to China. lol We are acutely aware of how many lies come from the government and we're even more aware of how to bypass the firewall and have access to the outside world. We're also not as keen on the rampant capitalism and imperialism the west likes to parade as "democracy". Gay people exist in China openly. Tattoo parlors operate in China legally and the same rules that would apply to people who have them in other countries apply to us here. Communism doesn't operate the same way everywhere in the same way democracy doesn't. Don't use broad brushes, please. Also, individuality (that is to say: being different because you can) is frowned upon in Asia in general, largely due to the homogeneity of our populations. I love you *you*, outside of China get to say what's visible and not visible to us here. smh The industry is striving because the LGBT community supports it. We are not living in the grey-clothed, Mao-era China you're familiar with...sorry.

"My country is a mess too - but I can say that out loud and outside, even to my country's leader's FACE, without fear of facing retribution for not 'towing the party line'. That is difference between MY country and yours. You've also got to remember we in the West remember Tienanmen Square and the butchered students, including the brave soul who was RUN OVER by a TANK. NO ONE just 'forgets' that kind of government butchery which was shown ALL OVER the world."

You're right. We can't tell that to our leaders' faces and that does suck and at no point did I contradict that point. We do remember that. Protests took place all over China that day, not just in Tiananmen..I don't know why you think that just because government restricts reporting on it that people would have just forgotten about that. People died. People whose relatives are still alive today. It's insulting for you to insinuate that we have.

"I SUPPORT utterly TAIWAN as they allow gay marriage and are, at a GOVERNMENT level, opposing and undoing LGBT discrimination. They ARE making progress. NOT China - your laws are getting STRICTER and NOT more open. Same with Japan who will allow civil partnerships or Thailand that, whilst gay marriage isn't illegal, have a fairly open view on it and do allow people to have celebrations and 'promise ceremonies' that are like (not legally binding) weddings."

Okay. There is one China. The government on the island of Taiwan is called the Republic of China. The government on the mainland is called the People's Republic of China. We are one people separated an ugly government dispute. Please show a bit more tact. Again, my main opposition to your points have been that Chinese society is overtly oppressive toward gay people. It's NOT TRUE. The government is AWFUL, but the mindset of the people does not has not ever fully aligned with the will of the government...that's why they have to pretend to be 'strict' and pump out the propaganda. I promise you, not all Chinese are drinking the poison. Also, we TOTALLY have gay promise ceremonies here. You need to remember: the Chinese a largely Atheist and Buddhist people with a strong Confucian social structure. LGBT people have never fit into Confucian social structures, but neither Buddhism, Atheism or Taoism for that example call for the chastising of LGBT people. The homophobia that does exist here cannot be compared to the West where people literally think their children are possessed with demons for being gay. You'd get the same amount of opposition from average Chinese parents for being gay as you would for marrying a foreigner. China's just a stricter society and it's been this way for literally THOUSANDS of years. I'm not about to let you say that after 5,000 years of civilization, we're regressing. Xi Jinping and his crap regime are a setback, but the people are progressing.

"The only ones worse are Ukraine, North Korea , Russia and the Middle East. Please do NOT defend the indefensible. China has its tech to be proud of and its economy - that's not to be sniffed at; it's a powerhouse in those areas - more than anywhere else and something the workers of China (who are the ones making possible) should be very proud of. So choose that to speak about."

I'm not saying China is a haven for LGBT people. I'm saying it's NOT the level of abysmal depression you're making it out to be.

"Weibo, almost slave labour of some workers and all the rest; the netizens there who only go online to cyberbully some poor soul, the hate that is spat at those who are considered NOT to be behaving as they should or wearing what they should....that is NOT something to be mentioning."

Not sure what this is a response to, but yeah, as I said, netizens spoke out en masse AGAINST Weibo and their BS ban.

"Like said - sorry to rant; but I don't want others to suffer for just LOVING SOMEONE, for being born in the wrong body, or not dressing 'right', behaving 'right' or doing things that will 'promote the People's Republic of China in a positive way to the rest of the world'. I know I would fight the world to protect my cousin, her partner and their kids."

We're fighting for freedom of expression here and we've away to go, but at least we can say we don't have transgender people (that DO dress differently are open) being murdered every other week. We don't have gays being mugged and beaten on their way home from the gay bars either. So yeah, you have the laws, but many of your people are still so vile and indecent for it NOT to be uncommon to hear of someone having been murdered for being LGBT. I'm writing in defense of the people of my country, not my government. What western journalism covers based on what Chinese journalism purports is not the reality of Chinese people.

What you've mentioned aren't laws, but regulations recommended by CCTV as to how to further guide production companies. They aren't always strictly followed...if ever. President Xi ALWAYS had sweeping powers. Every president of China has. The difference is that technology is stronger now, so the influence is seemingly greater in terms of monitoring etc., but tbh Xi has tackling a lot of corruption that's been screwing over a lot of people in society...even if he is pretty corrupt himself.

Hip-hop artists are still seen on TV EVERY day and hip-hop is heard EVERYwhere and the tabloids that catch all these celebrities doing all sorts of things in and out of wedlock do NOT inhibit these same celebrities from continuing to land jobs. Please do indulge yourself and get to know more people living here in 大陆 (the mainland) or better still, come visit yourself before making sweeping judgements.

We're fighting the good fight here in China for LGBT rights and we've a ways to go, but we also love our country and don't need to be shat on at every turn by people who are supposed to be our allies in this fight.

I find myself going on this rant here a lot, but I don't care. I live in China and it's enough that the government censors and purports falsehoods and inaccuracies, but I'm not about to let foreigners on the 'free' internet do it too. All LGBT entertainment was banned from ONE platform: Weibo and after public backlash (that is: the Chinese majority who believes discrimination against the LGBT community is fundamentally wrong) the ban was lifted. The bit about all people connected w/ LGBT entertainment not being able to work in China is flat out wrong. Timmy Xu (Bai Luo Yin) from Heroin/Addicted (the most famous Chinese BL, if not the most famous BL, period) still enjoys a singing and acting career in and out of China. Huang Jingyu (Gu Hai) from Heroin/Addicted is currently **starring** in a tv series right now.

Chinese laws are strong and coarse on paper (sometimes), but rarely play out in society as strictly as western news media portray them. Also important to note: Chinese society, in general isn't anti-LGBT. Taiwan, like Hong Kong, is democratic and not directly controlled by Beijing, but unlike Hong Kong, it was never colonized by western countries and never came under as strong of a western influence at its core. If anything, more traditional Chinese culture is retained in Taiwan than in the mainland to many extents. Yet it was Taiwan that led the way for equal marriage in Asia and is a very tolerant society of ethnically *Chinese* people who've been separated from the mainland for less than a century. I'm really annoyed with the way China's painted by people who've clearly never been here.

Chinese dramas usually drag, but this one just doesn't. There's always some anticipation, goals accomplished, new problems arising etc. I've read other comments that say this series lasted too long, but if you're familiar with any other sort of palace/fantasy Chinese dramas, you wouldn't think this one drags.

Oh those types of marriages are EXTREMELY common nowadays. I think for most of those couples, they don't plan on staying in China. So, once they move to more accepting countries like the UK, US or just anywhere their parents can't get to them, it'll be easier for them to explain to the child and the child would maybe be more understanding of their circumstance.

I think the producers could potentially film in those other places, but it would be much more expensive and it's not like BL movies get a lot of funding to begin with. :/

It's talking to you. I like being able to share firsthand about things in China. :)

Even if mainland production companies did want make movies in Taiwan, it would be really difficult as most mainlanders aren't allowed to go there unless they have a very specific visa..and it usually requires them to be with a registered tour group and they can't stay for much longer than a week at a time.

Having to hide in the shadows is definitely no way to live, but it's a reality for us here. As a gay guy myself, I feel it. However, for the most part, gay people are out to their friends and classmates. Parents and co-workers are the ones that tend to be left in the dark.

About the lead actors from Addicted, they were banned from being on television together, not being seen in public together.

This thread was a good read. ^_^ I just wanted to add: Chinese society gets a terrible rap because of the (reported) actions of the Communist Party. Very many people -hear- things reported about China by western news sources, but so few actually come here (to China) and experience it for themselves.

Firstly, LGBT characters, movies, and tv shows are not completely banned. Each one gets reviewed on a case by case basis and it's usually after the fact that the government pulls in the reigns. This is because the Party always seeks to -deter- "deviant" behaviour that gets too popular (a la Like Love, Addicted and Advance Bravely), not forbid it. Lu Zhuo from 'Love Is More Than A Word' and 'Till Death Tear Us Apart' appeared on national television on a talent show in full drag and went on to play a transgender character in the show 'Untouchable Lovers' which aired on primetime television this year. Also, the movie 'Swinging Blossoms' is a BL with romance and sex that wasn't banned. Granted, it also didn't have a 'happily ever after ending', but it can't be said that that was necessarily due to government intervention...and the ending wasn't horrible. You guys should check it out.

I'm not saying that the government is tolerant, because it's not, but it certainly isn't as anti-LGBT as it is: anti-American imperialism, anti-Japan, and anti-religion. LGBT people here live in social niches like everyone else and try not to ruffle any feathers. People aren't getting the shit kicked out of them here because they're gay and, in spite of not having a gay pride parade, there are gay clubs, bars and meeting spaces ALL over the country. Blued, a gay hookup app, isn't banned nor is Grindr or several others...while Facebook and YouTube are (LOL).

As for the hip-hop thing: that was the direct result of two things 1) the sharp rise in popularity of hip-hop; non-Chinese things that become immensely popular in China are always subject to government reduction no matter what it is. 2) A Chinese rapper who made it on the tv show "China has freestyle" (a famous hip-hop talent show) got criticised for making lewd remarks about women in his songs; to which he responded: "Well, I get it from black people's culture because that's where hip-hop comes from." to which Chinese people responded on social media with, "BULLSH*T!" then it sparked a huge debate and so the government banned cut his music from major music share apps and reduced the amount of hip-hop seen on mainstream tv. This is not to say you won't hear hip-hop on the radio, nor that famous foreign rappers aren't allowed to come to China to perform, nor that you can't have a rap battle with your friend in front of Tiananmen Square if you wanted. lol

Lastly, consider this: the demographics of Taiwan are the same as the mainland, over 95% Han Chinese, most of whom moved there post revolution and still have family whom they communicate with on the mainland. Even in spite of the regime on the mainland, mainland people are generally as open-minded and tolerant as Taiwanese people are. Please, please, please don't let Emperor Xi and his red posse taint your perception of the people of China. <3

This is one of the funniest comments on a drama I've ever seen. hahaha

When did it start to drag for you? I put off watching this one for so long because I wasn't sure if I was ready for 63 episodes of potential dragging, but I'm at ep 21 and it's been doing ok so far. Usually, Chinese dramas lull around this time.

She does! hahaha And it's not even *that* good of a color on her.

Most Taiwanese are Taoists and Buddhists, so the tolerance level is really high there as well in addition to being a democratic country. Actually, culturally speaking, Chinese people have always historically been pretty tolerant of LGBT people..even some emperors were gay.

I think Taiwan is a good example of what mainland China would be if it weren't for the government. Chinese people are very tolerant, the government is not.

I almost don't like to compare them because I liked them equally for different things. This story fits the "BL" genre more. Right or Wrong was good as just a gay movie, in general. The story was definitely unique.

Yeah, it's one of the few gay, but not BL Thai movies out there and it was great. Totally underrated.