any_anka

Why march? Was there some declaration as to when the final decision will be made?

The lack of profits from merch/magazines etc. is exactly what I was mentioning in one of my previous posts. No Chinese fans = no big purchases made.

But to be fair, I'm not even sure if international fans would know where to buy any of these things, even if they wanted to and had money to spare. I went quickly to Waves' insta page, but I didn't even see a mention of LDQ or Benjamin. I did see Taemin instead 😉

To me it's bittersweet (bitter, because they lost all this time and had to go through harsh heart-break while young), but sweet because of all the things you just said.

For me, what ultimately made this ending a hopeful one was the final scene when the camera shows their younger versions walking through the streets of Quebec, singing the song A Han used to sing to Birdy. It's like they can finally pick up where they left, only this time, the environment is different (and not as harsh as back in the past).

And of course, there were those "wan an"-s they repeatedly told each other. On the one hand it looks like they just don't want to separate yet, but to anyone who watched the movie and paid attention, we know very well what "wan an" means.

That would be one hell of an expensive coffee for me 😜 Even if I went for that entire pumpkin creation a certain brand starts selling around this time of the year.

I didn't know the story of people behind GagaOOLaLa, that's lovely.

I actually wanna defend their subtitles, though. I watched The On1y One on two platforms, Viki and Gaga. It wasn't to inflate the views, stream or anything like that. I loved the drama and I found myself finding new details to appreciate on a second watch, which is why I watched twice. I watched on two platforms, because I found Gaga's subtitles actually better in some ways than the ones on Viki.

Sure, there are typos, grammar mistakes etc. when it comes to Gaga's subs and the ones on Viki are more polished. However, the ones on Gaga were actually not censored, which is something I can't say about the Viki subtitles.

That actually made a difference in at least one (in my opinion pretty important for the development of the characters' bond) scene, when Viki team obviously tried to walk around the language used and completely altered the meaning of what happened. Gaga just went with "F... your mom", which was actually the case 😊

So yeah, you want more unfiltered and real subs, Gaga is probably the choice for you.

Yeah, I was confused why Gaga was not on the list of streaming platforms for this show... So you're telling me it's a homophobia thing, huh. Curious... and kinda hypocritical, considering how much traffic people watching BL dramas must bring to this site...

Watch it, it's a beautiful movie.
A lot of people consider the ending heart-breaking, but to me it's more bittersweet than sad and certainly full of new hope.

Ah, well... I guess it is different for different countries/regions...

It's a bit late of a reply and I don't know if it's the same for each region, but I can watch it on YouTube, on iQIYI's official channel.

Obsession with colour? I think they put tons of makeup on LDQ to hide his five o clock shadow (i.e. his facial hair) to make him look more youthful 😜 Not to mess with his skin colour. Benjamin's skin tone is darker than LDQ's and I didn't see anyone trying to hide it.

Taiwanese (and Japanese) dramas usually don't white-wash their actors that much in my impression. This is more of a kdrama/cdrama thing.

Why? Well, as far as I know, it *had* to do with social status. Back in the day if your skin was darker, it'd be associated in some societies with outdoor work and hence fair skin was linked to being richer/of higher social standing. It used to be like that in UK as well, from what I learnt back in the day. (Then it changed in some countries (at least where I live) and tan started getting associated with being able to afford vacation in exotic countries=being richer 😜)

Oh, sure. I don't expect them to have a release date or even announce that they started filming. Isn't LDQ filming something in China currently, anyway? And that's just him alone, you need to coordinate with the rest of the pretty extensive cast.

All I wish for at this moment is some form of a declaration, along the lines: "we secured the funding, the second season got greenlit, the cast is booked, s2 is scheduled to be filmed some time in the second half of next year".

Even without the threat of a ban, there's no guarantee, really. I read this interview with Patrick posted somewhere in the comments where he mentioned that while filming s1 he asked for more money and the investors gave it to him - so that suggests they do have money (good), but also that they already spent a lot. If they don't conclude it was worth it, why invest even more? There has to be some incentive to keep investing and at this point I'm wondering if they'd feel there is one.

The series got shunned in China so there goes money from selling merch, magazines, fanmeets etc. (Chinese fans' spending force is huuuge). But maybe they accounted for that.

Ok, then there's streaming on official websites - I think we all know how it went. I've never seen so many videos of full episodes posted on UTube during the actual airing. The episode would be out, and someone immediately would upload it. Some videos had hundreds of thousands of views. How many of these people bothered to go and watch the rest of the drama on Viki, GagaOOLaLa or iQIYI when they had it ready and on schedule every week for free?

Then there's a question of exposure. Since so many people watched it (even illegally), then maybe it catapulted the leads to fame? That could be some argument, considering that the investors were pushing for LDQ being involved, so he is somewhat connected to them and they may have interest in promoting him further. But was the fame-effect really so big? I couldn't tell. I'm not much on social media, I think his IG did gain some fans, but was the increase big enough?

There are too many unknowns, which is why I am very sceptical.
I know you wrote this comment in response to some negativity, sorry for spreading it further 😜

Thank you!
But honestly, this doesn't look like an official confirmation. He's been advocating for season 2 for some time now and this feels more like him being like "keep the fight guys, jia you to us!"-kinda thingy.

But at least YNEH has a hopeful ending... I always think that camera shifting to show young characters walking in the same streets as their older counterparts, singing the song that was written by Jiahan for Birdy showed that they can finally pick up were they left. This time with no obstacles from the past.

Well. There is this ongoing Taiwanese BL "First Note of Love" I think.

I don't know if it's good, though. I watched 3 episodes and put it on hold, because I got too invested into The On1y One.

Don't get me wrong. I loved the show and - despite some complaints about certain things it did - I consider it outstanding among other BLs and hope for the second season. But as of now, before it is released or in a very possible situation that it never sees the light of day, what we got as The On1y One so far is the complete body of work and that's how I see it (which is why -> "slice of life", yeah).

Oh, but I loved Tian's "very moments". And I really liked how after JT and SW moved in together, the moments disappeared only to merge into their shared memories. I think it was a cute way to underlining how close they grew and how much Jiang Tian opened up.

Having said that, I didn't like JT's "very moment" in episode 11... I thought it was confusing to put it there and... then never even address it afterwards. If we don't get the 2nd season, this memory will be just hanging there unresolved one way or the other.

Nah, it wasn't that long, mine wasn't that much shorter 😉

I also personally don't see them as brothers. They didn't grow up together, there's no blood connection, and even on paper - at least so far - they're two unrelated people.

However, Sheng Wang sees it differently, mostly thanks to the boys' parents who constantly drilled into their heads how they are supposed to act like brothers, how SW should call JT "Ge", how JT should take care of Sheng Wang as his Ge... to the point that they announced them being brothers at school, so that now everyone around them "knows" their relationship (in inverted comas because that's clearly *not* what they have).

This label of stepbrothers is also a double-edged sword. There was this very insightful post by one user (I sadly don't remember who it was) that talked about how them being "stepbrothers" was in a way helping them hide behind this title and generally attribute their growing bond to this "familial connection". I liked this interpretation and I think that's also why it takes some time for SW to truly realize his feelings.

There were earlier signs, however. Even if we ignore the racing heart sound during the dare kiss (I guess while attacking someone in such way, one would be pretty nervous, considering the consequences might be anything, including a beating 😜), Sheng Wang was clearly affected by the second kiss (feeling hot after he came back to his room while reminiscing on what just happened or later staring at JT's lips when JT showed up to collect his drunk ass).

The thing is that whenever they got close, the parents would pop up somewhere and confuse Sheng Wang (I always had the impression that JT was more aware of his feelings, but who knows with that episode 11 ending?). It was especially evident in episode 7, when Sheng Wang realised just how much Jiang Tian cares and worries for him and both boys skipped school and had their "date". It was also in this episode when Sheng Wang got visibly sulky at the thought about him and JT being brothers (first at Grandpa Ding house, second time when talking to JT about his dad's proposal). I also think that both boys, but maybe especially Sheng Wang were torn between wanting their parents to find happiness and their own emerging feelings (hence why, SW could be excited for his dad's proposal one moment and getting kinda ambivalent about having JT as his brother the next one).

But yeah, even when I reminisce on those scenes, it was always the brother-thing, not the gender-thing.

Then, the forced separation during Sheng Wang's injury was the moment when I feel SW started realising more and more than being with Jiang Tian, seeing Jiang Tian, missing Jiang Tian felt... somewhat different. It's totally plausible for me, because sometimes in order to understand our own feelings we need this fresh perspective. Sheng Wang's behaviour shifts slightly, he becomes more bashful and aware of their physical closeness. Then the witnessed kiss between Benny and Xi was the final stroke, the missing part of the puzzle that at that point was already pretty much put together.

And when he put it all together, the *real* problem emerged. The thing that was always there, until then obscuring his real feelings, but now being a real obstacle. And that was them being "brothers".

I don't even know why I narrated all that, as you obviously watched the drama 😜 But that's generally how I saw Sheng Wang's journey of discovering his own feelings. And the stepbrothers-thing was always looming in the air.

Can you elaborate on the 1st point? I've been following the comments here in the recent days, but haven't seen a firm confirmation.

I am confused why so many people understand Sheng Wang's behaviour as him running away from liking a guy. I don't know if I'm super dense, but that was never how I understood what happened. Jiang Tian being a guy might've slowed down Sheng Wang's realisation that he likes him "that way" (as JT is, what it looks like, his first love), but I never got the impression the gender was a big issue.

When SW talks to Shi in their dorm room about how to know if you like someone, he feels pretty accepting of his feelings for JT and gender doesn't play a big part in it at all. It's always about them being stepbrothers-to-be. In his inner monologue he goes on "Do I like him? I know the best... But it's impossible, he is my brother" (more or less, I'm writing from memory). He's not thinking "we're both guys". Even in earlier episodes, he has these moments of getting slightly sad or quiet when reminded by somebody that him and JT are "brothers".

The two teachers' story might be a more accurate display of internalised homophobia on Xi's part, as I saw someone suggested, but I am not even so convinced of that. Xi lived in this probably agonizing but somewhat comforting in its familiarity state of being bros with the guy he liked for almost a decade. That level of friend-zoning yourself requires some mental gymnastics, which was why - I thought - he was so shocked, and in the end, still in disbelief about Benny's feelings towards the very end.

For me what happened to them served as a correlation and contrast to what was happening to SW and JT (almost a cautionary tale 😜: see what can happen, if you don't openly talk about your feelings to each other and decide to brozone yourself for the next 8 years or so? you will end up like these two guys; don't make that mistake!)

I think Sheng Wang's decision to distance himself by the means he chose was due to the fact that he didn't want Jiang Tian to know about his feelings and didn't wanna jeopardize the "friendship" they had. Mind you, Sheng Wang is certain his love is "unrequited" (his own words). JT tries to press him about it once during the dinner at grandpa Ding and Sheng Wang doubles down on his lies. He is also somewhat flabbergasted by JT's reaction "Ge, are you angry at me?" which he didn't really account for in his plan.

The way I see it, in his little head, he was thinking as follows: If he simply announced he's moving back home, that could cause too much suspicion, he'd have to do a lot of explaining (forget his dad, but most importantly to JT). It would've been clear it was his decision. Sabotaging himself during the exam was a more seemless way to go (I just failed, it wasn't on purpose), that still could provide him with some time apart from Jiang Tian. Of course, Jiang Tian is very insightful and observant and didn't buy any of it, which Sheng Wang should've expected, but that's another thing 😜

In defence of the director, he kept talking about season 2 pretty much from the moment the drama started airing, so it wasn't as if anyone tried to hide their intentions... 😜

No one asked for petitions from fans, as far as I know. The one circulating is just an organic initiative from people who loved the show.
What was asked for was showing regular support for the drama, liking the IG accounts of the actors etc. Honestly, pretty basic stuff. Considering how much hate they allegedly were receiving at first, asking for support seemed pretty understandable to me.

After the initial shock, I think the ending was rather beautiful (acting, cinematography, the poem mentioned by Froehlein), but it did feel a bit rushed and slightly unpolished. I made peace with it and decided to treat this drama as a slice of life tale of the first love that didn't necessarily have a happy ending (for now, at least).

However, I do think Sheng Wang's realisation about his age and invincibility came about a bit... too quickly? I loved this scene where both of the boys are sitting in their respective classrooms and camera slowly pans out, showing them looking with anticipation outside the window (the one LDQ mentions in the 2nd part of Starbox interview as his favourite one) and I get that it was an elegant shot to conclude the story, but... Sheng Wang, sweetie, you just created all this mess, if you have a "change of heart" so quickly, why couldnt you have it a tiny bit earlier (bless your heart)?

I've been watching this person's edits during the airing of the drama and even more frequently after the drama ended.

I am exactly hoping on it sustaining me until the season 2 gets released 😜 (or on them serving as a consolation if the show gets dropped...)

Maybe the choice of the word "brave" on my part was not the best one. Ironically, I actually took a moment to chose one, as I didn't wanna sound to confrontational, because - as you said - we are on a discussion board and anyone can share their opinion. But if not brave then... I guess I'd go with unsubstantiatied?

I explained why, and how I witnessed a completely different phenomenon, where people were lowering their initial ranks after the finale, so I don't wanna loop.

I guess what I will add is that I've read so many comments, including very detailed and insightful ones, from people liking this drama, some even sharing their personal experiences that the drama managed to resonate with, that I just didn't want to see... if I write "what they said being invalidated" it will sound too deep, won't it?

So let's just say I didn't like the statement suggesting they got... bated into giving a high score based on a promise of a second season. Because I actually agree with what you said in another comment - the ending is kinda baity 😜

As for what you wrote about stories ending with a confession, and works actually exploring the challenges of a relationship - I agree wholeheartedly, so no argument from me there 😊

I get you, but for me it's still a no...

The director could bring Edward Chen or Terrance Lau (both amongst my absolute favourites) in, and I'd still be dissatisfied. Hell, he could bring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo to both play male leads, and I'd still be against it 😜

But I understand that what you're trying to say is, you just really wish the season 2 to come to fruition. I do, too. But with the same cast.

I saw you guys share different stuff here so I wanna share something myself. I came across a channel on YouTube with fan edits of different BLs. The five most recent videos are all dedicated to The On1y One and the creator does a fantastic job at capturing the mood of the story and the feelings I've been experiencing while watching this drama.

As silly as it sounds, after the ep 12 I kept waiting for this channel to release a new edit, as I hoped watching it will help me come to terms with the ending (I know it sounds stupidly dramatic, I know 😜)

The channel's name is @llamarall

I am in no way affiliated with it, I don't know the creator. I simply came across something that I think is good and thought: why not share, maybe you guys weren't so lucky to stumble upon it.