EscapeArtist

I’m here for Benjamin Tsang. I can tolerate anything else as long as he’s on screen. ☺️. Liu Dong Qin brings out the best in him, so I get to like him, too. Besides, I’m pretty curious how their relationship will develop in the drama.

To be fair, the cliches are all over the place, but our boys make the watch worthwhile, especially Benjamin. He’s not my kind of handsome, but when he starts to focus on Wang, you can feel the intensity, like his world revolves only around him. How incredible is that? How utterly sexy! I wonder why the photoshoot did not capture this.

Crappy storytelling aside, this is still a beautifully acted drama that I enjoy and will look forward to watching more of Jiang Tian’s possibly cliched journey to teenage romance.

True. Google Oblation Run. I’ve participated in one and proud of it. We cover our faces, ‘though. Wouldn’t have dared otherwise. I’m not THAT brave 😉🤣 .

The embarrassment, the gawking, the unholy catcalling, the rush! There was nothing like it! 🤣😂😅

Very valid argument.

I do have to disagree about the believability. Maybe it’s a generational or cultural gap, but, so far, the school life depicted is quite common in my time. Anywhere but home (where my parents live) is considered a haven for me, a home of some sort, albeit sharing it with 3 other smelly boys. Romance, especially with same sex, is unfathomable and shit scary and exciting. It takes so much courage for a 17 year old in 2012 Taiwan to even admit to himself that he’s in love with a boy, much more courage to accept that same boy is his supposed to be his brother.

It’s one hell of a scary ride for both boys…… And I’m here to watch them go through it, one painfully sweet moment at a time.

Wow. This is enlightening. Thank you. 😉😗I can only infer from my own experiences or inexperience (which seems to be the case) at this point. The idea of liking someone and fantasising about sex with them, do not occur in the same thought process for me. Wang is a tactile person. Touch, for him, up to this point in the drama was never erotic. I’m pretty sure Jiang Tian is the typical , horny 17 year-old boy who wants nothing more than devour Wang. He’s just very good at hiding it. But needs to up his ante when dealing with the oblivious and seemingly asexual (your words 😉) Wang. Why do you think he “lead” the stripping and the streaking? He wants Wang to awaken the idea of lust. It’s there, sure, but buried deep.

He does understand his feelings, but, to “act it out “ with Jiang Tian, (after accidentally seeing his male teachers kissing), is an entirely different concept to internalise. His reaction to the naked booties is a prelude to this “awakening “. I wonder how this plays out in the drama.

Not in Highschool. Google Oblation Run. 😂

It’s bad scriptwriting. Maybe the previous scriptwriters were absent/indisposed during this episode.

True. No hostage part in the book. They needed scenario where Mr. Xi has to be pushed to jealousy enough to stake his claim on Mr. Lin. Also, it provided a very weak/non-sensical plot for the downfall of Qi Jiahao. I’m very interested to know how the school will handle his rather grave offence this time.

Another episode is coming tomorrow. Just give it a try. I did skip the “hostage “ part. I think Jenny will be the catalyst for both male teachers to fully acknowledge their relationship, which in turn, will be Wang’s catalyst to fully understand the extent of his feelings towards Tian. The ending for this season, if they follow the book, will be bittersweet.

After KinnPorche the Series, I stopped watching Thai BL. Also, for a period of time, after watching Nirvana in Fire I can’t bring myself to watch period dramas.

In the summer of 2018, we rented a high-end BMW SUV (for the experience) for a month-long road trip across the US. After that, we flew back via Italy and drove home in our trusted OPEL. The driving experience was a big letdown. I felt quite guilty, like coming home after a swept-off-my-feet whirlwind, decadent affair. It was unreal and jarring and disappointing.

Here’s the kicker: once you’ve experienced something extraordinary, everything else just seems... well, mediocre.

Now, don’t get me wrong, *KPTS* isn’t exactly great, but there are moments that resonate in a way that feels refreshing—like a breath of fresh air in a crowded elevator!

As for Nirvana in Fire, that’s in a league of its own. Think of it as the live-action equivalent of Rurouni Kenshin—nothing else quite measures up. This is why I cling to things I love like a toddler with a favorite blanket; they’re just so rare! Maybe my taste is too niche, but I'm always on the hunt for new recommendations.

As for the cancel culture, I find this moronic and abhorrent. How is this different from a glorified, widespread cyber bullying? If the tables were turned, I wonder how these folks would feel. As they say, bullying is the refuge of the most insecure, seeking to gain control over others to mask feelings of helplessness. And you’re right. It’s a generational attitude. It’s just pathetic and sad.

Going back to the topic of MDL ratings, sorry for the detour. I’m glad you found a way to rate per episode. As to why it’s hard to find? Maybe because very few people (like you) actually cared. Most people are simply too lazy or don’t really care(like me), making a supposedly very helpful feature fade into obscurity, which is sad.

Right. This is not only exclusive to MDL. I have yet to see a truly independent rating platform. Nevertheless, one could argue that rating a show is always a personal decision. At least MDL provides categories for more “objective” approach in one’s evaluation. This is more than what other websites offer. Also, you can change your rating as you prefer.

I never really bothered too much about overall ratings when I decide what shows to watch. I mostly read reviews. 10/10 ratings, l usually ignore. It’s the lowest ratings that fascinate me. Some of these are purely trolling, but there are others that are quite insightful .

I’m a very biased person. What I like, I like—warts and all. But I’m not that blind to acknowledge the flaws if it’s highlighted by someone (like you), which I truly appreciate. Thanks. Your episode/s reviews are a breath of fresh air.

Sorry for the rambling, my point is: Even if MDL can come up with a“running “ rating, then an overall rating after the show finishes airing, do you think it would be different? The fans are passionate about their opinions and they will change their ratings anytime as they see fit.

I feel you, man. I picked this up from somewhere.

Rating a show while it is airing comes with distinct advantages for both viewers and producers:

1. Immediate Feedback: Ratings during airing provide instant feedback to producers and networks about audience reactions, allowing them to make real-time adjustments if necessary. It’s not applicable to most dramas, but there were dramas that were literally works-in-progress that could benefit from this.

2. Influencing Future Episodes: If a show is receiving strong ratings while airing, it can encourage networks to invest in additional seasons or episodes, knowing there is an active audience.

3. Engagement and Community: Rating a show in real time fosters community engagement among viewers, as they can discuss and share their opinions while the episode is still fresh in their minds.

4. Social Media Buzz: Real-time ratings can contribute to trending topics on social media, increasing visibility and potentially attracting new viewers who are curious about the show.

5. Impact on Advertising: Higher ratings during airing can attract more advertisers and sponsorships, as advertisers are keen to reach engaged audiences.

I think reasons 3-5 are the most relevant for MDL. More engagement mean more traffic and more traffic translates to more revenue. A win-win strategy.

I can easily see them as my classmates, which is a unique experience for me. The entire screenplay feels incredibly genuine. Liu Dong Qin clearly demonstrates his expertise as an actor. However, it was Benjamin Tsang's performance that truly captured my attention in this drama. He resembles a raw diamond gradually being refined to perfection under the guidance of a talented director.

So beautiful. Do you know that I always wait for your post after every episode? I find that reading it is a fitting end to a deeply satisfying story. Thank you.

Here’s an interesting and quite informative link to a breakdown of IG live interview provided by a very kind someone: https://www.tumblr.com/jasmineflower9/760947297841463296/the-on1y-one-interview-tidbits

Do you know that Benjamin Tsang shares a similar past with Jiang Tian that, for him, the role is quite difficult to play because he has to “re-live” this experience again?

He’s doing a great job in spite of this. And I think he needs all the love and affirmation that his efforts are not in vain.

I think it will be the teachers. Is Liu Dong Qin even allowed to do NSFW, considering he’s Chinese?

Read the reviews. mimi‘s and Ariel Alba‘s are objective and written well. Maybe it will help you decide.

There is a video of him in TikTok. I thought that he was talking about his character Jiang Tian, until I realised that some details don’t fit. He’s a sensitive soul, quite lonely as well, like JT. He needs all the support and friendships he can get. Here’s the link: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGewpGrrV/

Happy ending for S1? Or only for S2 with S1 ending in cliffhanger?