TianQi

I don't think you come off as a Daon hater. I just don't think his motives are as malicious as they come off.

I guess I'd be more given to distrust him if he said one thing and did another. He doesn't do that, though. I think his rejection of Taekyung, if that's what happens, will have a lot factors into it. Hopefully it won't involve him trying to be selfish, but we'll see. But yeah. Therapy is in order for Daon.

I feel like it's more that he does it because that's what he feels subconsciously pressured to do more so than being totally self-serving. Even with the girl who called him out. While I totally agree he wasn't straightforward with her, he still didn't lie to her about anything (that we know of). He just kept responding to her messages until when she finally asked him out officially, he rejected her. I think there's a line between not taking a hint and being led on. I dunno. Maybe I'm just emotional after this episode. lol :')

To be honest, it does seem to be somewhat callous, but in like a lazy way, because as of right now, I'd say we actually know at least just a *little* bit more about Daon's character and his background than we do about Shinwoo. So, even if one weren't trying to pay close attention, it's very easy to see what's up with Daon even as we gush over baby Shinwoo because it's just been in our faces a bit more. I think if we got an actual scene of Daon's family rejecting him somehow instead of just the phone call it may have driven the point home all the more, but like I said, I think it's quite evident and people just aren't being as empathetic.

I guess something I can say is that it's the nature of Daon's character to always be surrounded by people, so that's how he is in many scenes. Some of his important feelings are often being shown when there's lots of others around so I think it may be easy to forget about as a person and just see him as a crux or equalizer for whatever situation he's in at the moment.

I think Daon's got being accepted and harmonious down pat. What Daon seems to be lacking is the actual ability to get what *he* wants. He likes Taekyung and he can't even begin to know what to do about it because he has his own intimacy issues, Sohee down his back, Shinwoo *also* wanting Taekyung (and regardless of Shinwoo encouraging him to be with Taekyung, you KNOW it's putting Daon through because he's worrying about hurting an old and good friend), and Taekyung being the most direct and most caring person he's ever been attracted to. He's overwhelmed and he floundered this episode. I felt bad for him this episode. No clue what's on the horizon for him, but I feel like he's not gonna get happiness in the way he needs/deserves by the end of this.

I do feel like people have been in the position of Shinwoo more often than Daon though, of course. Neglect and depression don't affect most of us as deeply as it does Daon.

If they do, it might be one of those things where at the end of the last episode when everyone's getting their last lines in, they make an indirect confession to each other and stare into each others eyes for a bit before the scene changes or something.

It seems like people are taking away Daon's humanity a little bit and it's sad. We get to root for Shinwoo because we all know what's going on in Shinwoo's head. Irl we don't know what people like Shinwoo are actually thinking unless we're best friends with them. Brooding, quiet, secretive, unsmiling people are just that until you get them to not be at least two of those things. Somehow, we can work through all that and see it for Shinwoo in spite of himself, but we can't work through the blatant trauma Daon has? He's like an animal in a circus that can't do anything but perform. You see the sadness in his eyes. You see the hurt, the confusion and everything else. It's plain as day to everyone. His being fake or insincere or emotionlessly 'nice' is a very, very thin façade. The kid hurts and all his friends see it and want the best for him, but many in the audience don't seem to. It's almost like if Shinwoo expresses himself in the wrong way, it's "Go, Shinwoo! Better luck next time!", but if Daon does it's, "God, why is he so fake and terrible?"

It looks like Shinwoo's going to be next of the three to take Namgoong's advice and I'm ready for it. He's fumbled, he's got back up again, and he's closer to Taekyung now than he's ever been before. Obviously, he's not exactly cleared for landing yet, but I really have to admit I'm just happy to see him on screen talking more. I want to see much more of him and less of Sohee.

Speaking of Sohee, though. She's the 'villian', I guess, but at least she's somewhat more multi-dimensional than other 'evil girls' have been in other BLs? I'm not entirely sure how much more multi-faceted she'll turn out to be, but her dialogues with Namgoong are always special part of the show for me. I suspend whatever contempt I hold because they're just so cute together as friends...or siblings...or a couple *shrug*

I feel like we're finally going to see things go south with Daon this week, which is sad, but I really hope his character gets a good ending.

The fandom would absolutely explode. lol

What you said, I mean.

That's exactly what it sounds like.

Two episodes in, and my main takeaway is: I need to invest in an air fryer.

Yep. I'm watching both of his cooking shows now. Help.

Jeez. Talk about a light at the end of a tunnel. This was heavy, but I liked it. I like how hopeful it is.

They exist because people like shows that are light-hearted and borderline cartoonish, sometimes. BL started as manga anyway, so a lot of that still carries over into the present day. Personally, I agree with both you and Reen. Though I must say for every one realistic LGBTQ production I watch, I like to see about four BLs. lol Luckily, at this point in LGBTQ history, there are copious amounts of both.

Some people just don't know how to let things go, unfortunately. No matter how much they should.

The way I love Jeff & Gameplay is unhealthy.

Polluted air in winter is pretty much a hallmark of northern China in general except for rural places like the Mongolian grasslands, which is where I think you went. Beijing’s air quality is much better now than it was even just five years ago, but it’s not because we’ve started using cleaner energy sources, it’s because they moved the factories out of Beijing to the province next to it.

Oh and that reminds me: I think Beijing’s polluted winter air makes an appearance in Addicted....but I doubt THAT’S what caught the government’s attention.

I'm not sure.

Even if there were going to be a second season, did we really need a whole 12-episode setup?? lol I was only half on-board with this show at first, then it got better and suddenly around ep 7 or 8 stuff just stopped happening and it got boring.

Took the words right out of my mouth.