any_anka

The On1y One is on a completely different level than this series (respectfully). Acting, writing and directing are amazing, but... sadly it doesn't get a conclusion, so many people end up disappointed.

If you're looking for a decent Taiwanese BL, there is this cute little series airing at the moment called Fight For You. It starts off kinda ridiculously, but the leads have really nice chemistry and as it progresses, the relationship and feelings between them develop rather smoothly and naturally, the story is not overloaded with unnecessary elements (that don't get proper development) and the background story of one of the MLs is even kinda wholesome and heart-warming.
It's most definitely not the best thing ever, but it has this healing fluffy vibe.

Personally, I think this is not a good choice for your first experience with BL. It's simply... a bit too good 😋 There's a high probability it'd make majority of BLs out there seem lacklustre afterwards. There are plenty of BL titles out there that lack quite much in certain realms (be it writing-wise, production-wise, story-wise, acting-wise) and require high tolerance from the audience (who is often willing to bear it all for the sake of it being a BL - from my observations, that's my opinion, don't come for me too much ;)).

And while Top Form probably won't be my all-time-favourite, it definitely is already ONE of the best BLs I've watched. Ever.

Even if you opt to watch only Japanese and Korean BLs (which - in my opinion - have more chance to touch upon complex topics and lean towards more artistic expression), they often have lower budgets and lack in the realm of kissing scenes, intimacy scenes etc. (which Top Form really is excelling at; the chemistry/acting is great in those scenes and they're filmed with an artistic twist as well).

Generally, I'd say this drama is like a perfect blend of artistic and more mainstream-oriented. Giving you both food for thought (e.g. if you wanna understand better the motivations and actions of Akin, who's rather complicated emotionally) and content for squealing, kicking your blanket while giggling, holding your pillow and replaying certain moments😋 Not many shows can do both so well.

I haven't read the entire book because I kept hoping for s2 and didn't wanna get spoiled 😋 I did read a couple of chapters where I knew they'd be having a confession and their first kiss, to have some sort of a closure (just in case and because, you know, I couldnt wait ;))
I can tell you what happens there. But mind you, I read it months ago so I might get some details wrong (and I'm not the best storyteller).

Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian "make up". JT basically comes to SW and asks him to try to get back to their class and SW can't really say no to that. In the meantime they end up at an English camp (it was mentioned in the drama as well, if I remember correctly). It so happens that during that camp, SW has birthday. JT has prepared a gift, but finds out that SW doesn't like celebrating his b-day on the actual day (bcs his mom died), so he wants to celebrate with JT a day earlier.

They decide to go out to celebrate, end up going to sth like an amusement park and then end up drinking some local wine and come back to their dorm room (not the regular dorm, another dorm, a camp dorm :)). JT leaves SW alone in the room under some lame excuse and rushes to get the gift he prepared to make it in time before it's the next day and an actual SW's birthday. SW falls asleep bcs he's a bit tipsy.

When JT comes back, SW is asleep, JT sits on the bed (I think they had bunk beds and SW was on the top one, if I'm not mixing sth with the drama). JT is also a bit drunk + overwhelmed with emotions bcs he thinks he's late (and generally they had this weird tension building up between them already the entire day).

Thinking SW is asleep, he holds SW's hand and wishes him Happy Birthday. SW wakes up, goes down to JT's bed and they start talking. JT gives him the gift, which is pretty amazing bcs he gives him this photo album with pictures he took of a lot of places that SW remembered from his childhood. Then the last pic has just SW standing there. SW is actually really touched by it and also overwhelmed by emotions starts to press JT why he is so nice to him, with the gift and everything else.

They sit next to each other and SW can sense JT's heart is beating like crazy. I don't remember the entire conversation sentence by sentence but basically SW asks if JT is so nice to him bcs he is his Ge (as in his brother) and JT ends up telling him not to call him that. Then SW goes "why?" and JT answers "Because I'll think I'm going insane" and... he ends up kissing SW. SW doesn't push him away, so they just end up making out there, around midnight, both a bit tipsy.

That's their first kiss and as far as I am concerned that could be our ending of S1, even if S2 never got produced. I'd be content :)

Afterwards, they get more moments when they kiss, SW is the one who confesses (like, actually asks for them to be boyfriends) first. They kiss in their room, hiding around corners at school, at their parents' house and so on and so fort :) They also do a bit more than just kiss as well ;)

And then there is a separation that lasts a couple of years. I haven't read that part, but I think their parents found out abt their relationship, decided not to get married, but also made the two boys separate (and one of them even went away, like left town or sth).
They do get back together eventually, though. Still crazy in love as ever. And even have a cat together ;)

Dear fellow viewers, you don't need to take sides and either hate on Jin to empathise with what happened to Akin or put the blame on Akin to defend Jin'. They both are victims of this situation instigated by Johnny, who is the sole villain in here, btw. They both made mistakes in handling the situation (e.g. Akin lying to Jin and Jin giving Akin ultimatums when he was clearly distressed), but both were put in very painful and confusing circumstances.

I felt like saying it because I see so many people having this 0-1 attitude, without appreciating the nuance and each character's perspective and what they're going through at the moment, expecting Jin to be some kind of a saint-like, omniscient figure or blaming Akin for not explaining to Jin properly what he himself doesn't understand yet.

Oh, for sure, Johnny SA-ed Akin. Even if he didn't go thru with it entirely (as actually raped him), leaving multiple kiss marks one a body of someone who's completely out of it and can neither consent nor defend themselves is very much already an SA.

What I meant was, that even if you take the solely "professional", money-oriented perspective of Akin's manager and even if they didn't think Johnny could SA Akin or didn't care if he did, leaving Akin with a stranger while he was so intoxicated could lead to tons of other situations possibly detrimental to his public image (like, idk, him vomiting all over himself and someone take pics and leaking them to the press etc.).

I'm happy to see someone showing some empathy towards Jin in this situation, because I saw many people blame him for his reaction. But the thing is, both Akin and him are victims of Johnny's crime, though to a varying degree ofc.

Jin doesn't have a crystal ball, he's not privy to what we are as an audience. And sure, one might argue that he should trust Akin more, but from his perspective what happened was:

- Johnny and Akin's were together last night.
- Akin lied when asked about what he did that night.
- Akin kept looking borderline guilty during their car conversation, unable to provide any reasonable explanation of what actually happened.

Did Jin do everything right? He obviously didn't. The ultimatum he gave Akin amidst him leaving the car was too much for my liking (I don't think ultimatums should be a thing between people who love and respect each other), but he was also in a heightened emotional state and pretty much broken-hearted.

I felt for both him and Akin in this episode.

P.S. While the obvious villain is Johnny, I really need that manager's a** fired. He was already showing Akin to be driven to work/from work by Jin before and now he literally leaves him there vulnerable and defenceless with someone who's pretty much a stranger (and a possible competition in the industry, if nothing else). Even if Johnny didn't SA-ed Akin, think about all the compromising pictures etc. he could've taken of Akin when he was that inebriated... 😠

A show featuring a scene of rape/possible rape *does not* equal romanticising it.

There are some BL series that indeed romanticise rape, but I saw no romanticising of what Johnny did to Akin in here. Even the way the scene is filmed doesn't make it look romantic or hot or exciting in any way or form. If anything, what's happening is made to look scary and disturbing (unless someone can't look beyond the actor's good looks, but I do believe most people *can*).

The problem is not dramas featuring these topics, it becomes problematic when they are romanticised. Which is often the case for many BL stories, I won't disagree with you on that, but Top Form is not really doing it... does it? Johnny so far seems to be totally portrayed more like a villain of the story than a possible 2nd love interest for Akin. Thus -> no romanticising of rape.

(Unless you refer to Jun's behaviour in earlier episodes and that non-consensual kiss at the hospital... In that case... I have nothing, honestly. You either decide to overlook for the sake of enjoying the romance or you just don't watch after that scene, I guess. I can understand both takes tbh)

Agree. That's exactly how I understand Akin's behaviour as well. When he leaves in the morning and arrives at his place, he's trying to remember what the hell actually happened, being like "think, think", so yeah, his brain is not directing him towards "I was assaulted" but towards "did I just sleep with that guy?!".

It's also a reason why he lies to Jin about what he did last night and why once Jun confronts him, Akin doesn't really react as someone certain of his innocence in this situation and why eventually he leaves the car (because he feels he has no standing/arguments/right to actually convince Jin nothing happened).

I appreciate the sentiment and your passion for this drama, but as far as I understand, this form is simply a request for them to broadcast an existing show, not to actually produce and film it. So, e.g. if you wanted to see some show on Netflix that's not available on their platform or in your region, you can use the form to get their attention and possibly - I suppose if the interest is high enough - influence them to try get a license to air it or sth of that sort.

EVEN if there was a way to reach Netflix and pitch an idea to them to film a s2 of The On1y One, they'd have to actually buy the rights from the current Chinese company that has them and still did not officially gave up on season 2 (not just the author of the book).

I suppose it's theoretically not *entirely* impossible (after all, Netflix DID have an adaptation of Liu Cixin's Three Body Problem, which also had its 2023 Chinese drama adaptation). However, that Netflix show was just a totally Western take on the book, with Western cast and changes to the story... I don't really see Netflix picking up Mou Mou and keeping the same actors, director etc. I think this would be too much of a hassle for them to even bother. Besides, Liu Cixin's books were already globally popular beforehand and Mou Mou is more of a niche title, known only to danmei lovers or this drama fans...

Of course all of the above is just my opinion and it's a lot of theorising based on what I heard or understood to be the case. Maybe I'm totally wrong about everything I said, but personally I don't really see much hope for that idea to work...

It's not the best and as mentioned below, there's some lazy writing and some ridiculous developments. But at the same time, this drama maintains a very fluffy, cute feel that just makes a person feel comfortable when they watch it. Contrary to some BL disasters made in Taiwan recently, this one seems to have a certain charm despite not being flawless.

I'm actually enjoying it so far.

If they could've just reached the part where Wang and Tian kiss during the English camp, I think I'd be more than satisfied.
But no point fantasizing about it now, huh.

I wasn't even dying to see much of the "good things", I just wanted them to get a more proper closure. The ending was open enough, but the insert of Tian's childhood memory was an actual cliff-hanger (as in, what was that? what happened? how did it affect him etc.) In hindsight, it was completely unnecessary. Just as unnecessary were the inserts of redundant love-triangle between teachers and that jarring kidnapping scene. Aside from those, I honestly have no complaints. This is still the best-acted, and one of the best-written and directed BLs that I have watched (even if the premise is basic).

Great comment and analysis of his emotional turmoil and complicated position. I find this drama surprisingly thought-provoking, like e.g. that Akin's statement that he's been always acting/performing and it's nice to see someone giving it a lot of thought :)

Yep, I have exactly the same understanding/interpretation of Akin's behaviour. The only time one could argue there was some animosity was at the very beginning in ep 1 when Akin saw a newcomer in the industry and was evaluating him in his mind (with all the 7/10, 5/10, dropping to as low as 4 to later Jin regaining his standing as mid 5/10 😂), but that was solely based on professional skills and even then I'm not sure if I'd ever consider it "hate" (hence I keep using inverted comas).

I'd even go as far as theorize that Akin was intrigued by Jin and considered him handsome from the moment he laid his eyes on him :)

The script was written, but that was pretty much the only certain thing...
I think the company who's the rights holder is now gradually releasing the script online, but I'm not sure as I honestly stopped following the whole issue 😋

To your point about the spectacle, I wholeheartedly agree! I would've preferred to just get a straight-up official statement that they dropped the series instead of everything happening right now. People are confused, no one knows anything... it's a huge mess.

I mean... I get where you're coming from. He was hyping up the s2 quite strongly :P But to be fair, he never *declared there will be* a second season ;)

Besides, I kinda can't be mad at him, his artistry is one of the biggest reasons why this drama captivated so many (including me).

Actually, for me the storytelling and generally the narration flow is more pleasant and natural than most Thai BLs I attempted to watch.

I suppose maybe the impression of this sort of choppy-ness and your confusion come from the fact that the story is intertwined with the scenes from the dramas they're filming. There the dialogues sometimes parallel their actual interactions outside of filming, sometimes they also improvise... I guess that could be a bit confusing? Cause one might be wondering "ok, is that a fake dialogue from the drama or their real feelings now" and why are we in ancient China fighting with each other when we were just having an awkward moment doing an Insta stream ;)

As for Akin appearing to hate Jin and then suddenly being lovely-dovey... Erm... not really? If there was a time he actually "hated" Jin, it may be as early as in episode 1. Since then you get to see a guy who is kinda struggling with/in denial about his own attraction, just doesn't wanna admit it.
What makes things (and Akin's feelings) more complicated is the fact that two of them are actual rivals career-wise, at the same time the producers/managers/fans are pushing the idea of a ship on them etc.
But hate Jin? Nah, not at all, he was already getting rather enthralled with him before finally realising he wants him at the end of ep 4 (e.g. the scene when he watched Jin talk about him on a TV talk show and got so into it, he ended up following him on IG - and then following all his posts, mind you ;>).

I'm not familiar with the manga and anime, but just on the basis of the drama: a superstar working his butt off, top of his game as an actor and a mentor to newbies in the industry doesn't appear particularly weak to me. Just saying ;)
Also, just relationship-wise, him initiating a kiss on Jin in ep 4 also shows a level of proactive behaviour, not necessarily that submissive either :>