MAI

Hahah, thanks! I know the struggle of not being able to find shows so I'm glad to help!

I would say he'd end up in jail before visiting a psychologist lol. I deadass chocked on my drink when the man slapped In Hyung right in her face.

But from what I garnered he only did so after being persuaded by Guo Yu. Guo Yu's character is just getting increasingly manipulative throughout the story as he starts to slowly buckle under the pressure. His reason for telling the brother the truth about Blondie's death is not one of sympathy, he knows what will happen when the brother hears his sister is a murderer: the brother will either not be able to cope with this gruesome reality, or he will simply seek to protect his sister by taking her secret with him to the grave.

I'm currently only at episode 3 (so possibly too soon to judge) but I'm really missing the flair that the prequel, Burning Ice, had. It's clear that the director sought to continue the show with a similar vibe (the police squad basically consists of a bunch of identical personalities, there is yet another mysterious murderer that's toying with the police, and this show also ends with another mysterious rock song) but the storyline itself is not really drawing me in yet. While Liao Fan is an excellent actor, he does not have the same charisma that Qin Hao brought to the character. So far these episodes have definitely seemed more plot-driven while Burning Ice's strength was how it dealt with so many characters and their entanglements. What made the show intriguing to me were these intrinsically flawed characters and the way their motivations, desires, and choices brought the plot along. I'm not yet seeing that in The Long Night, mainly because Jiang Yang's desire to investigate this case of the past is not really explained. It still seems like a good show, and I will continue to watch since I do enjoy the suspense, but I'm hoping it will get better!

Had to do some digging since I downloaded this a while ago but the subs can be found here: https://www.a4k.net/subtitle/114742 (the download has both English and Chinese subs) and I think I downloaded the raw episodes here: https://www.ck180.net/184009.html (I'm not completely sure about the last link but this should be it). Remember it took me a day to download tho because I was waiting for seeders so you may need some patience if you're unlucky.

It's actually so interesting that you say this because that is the exact reason I generally stay away from Chinese romantic comedies lol! Those overtly-present gendered expressions get on my nerves. Especially since it is often the female character whose personality remains without any substance and depth (while, in contrast, the male lead's character and personal background does get exposition, but usually only so that his traumatic past can be used as an excuse for his current abusive behaviour). I love to see broken characters, I just don't want their brokenness to be glorified (or simply be seen as normal). Even in this show Geun Young doesn't really seem to have much (desire for) agency, she just goes through the motions and her primary personality trait is being an anti-fan, whereas Hoo Joon actually has has personal goals and desires (like searching for his long-lost father apparently). That being said, I do very much agree with you that the enemies-to-lovers trope is something I haven't seen in a while and I think that's why I am still very much enjoying this show. I love those kind of tropes but I just wish they could be done in a way that equally fleshes out both male and female characters (and won't make the female character alone seem like a petty little brat). Having said that, I also don't think that the tropes that are so prevalent in current dramas (e.g. the strong, badass female lead) are any less toxic than the trope you're talking about, unfortunately. These physically strong, ass-kicking, and borderline bitchy ladies have become the archetype for the female K-drama character whilst there are all sorts of ways in which a female character can be strong. Women don't have to prove their assertiveness or physical dominance to be worthy of screen time.

Oh, I know! I simply used it to distinguish between the two of them (especially since many commentators have been using that term).

I would suggest just skipping the first few episodes (unless you're easily pleased and just want to watch some fan-service rather than an actual well developed story). The quality improves from episode 7 onward but it would be a lie to say it's the best thing I've ever watched when it comes to BL dramas. It's okay and cute (and I will probably finish the show simply because the main characters keep changing every 2 episodes so the storyline is actually different each time) but just don't expect complex character developments or a unique storyline.

Yeah, I must say I didn't see that coming at all, specially since all the previous episodes were quite tame lol! I did find Kaeng and Puth's relationship a bit more convincing than what we saw in the first episode tho. Sure they're a bunch of horndogs (excuse my French lol) but I can at least believe that they are attracted to each other because the way they interact with each other actually seems realistic.

I'm excited that the evil sister is back now (can't wait to see the dynamics between Yao Meng Gui and Xiao Mu) but I'm also a bit fearful it may have been too soon.. We are only halfway through the show and we're already seeing all of these massive plot developments (also Xiao Mu confessing her love already)! What other things can we still uncover in the rest of the show? The pacing was perfect up to this episode, I really hope they will be able to keep this up.

Edit: just watched episode 12.

I just finished the movie and it was so fun to watch it after having read the notes! Especially the reference to Newton's cradle makes so much more sense now, I appreciated the mix between comedy, science talk, and horror elements.

I honestly just interpret their physical injuries/scars as physical manifestations of their inner wounded state. Both men have been harmed by life and society, they are socially impaired because they are outcasts as members of the LGBTQ+ community and their injuries are visual representations of the structural and invisible injustices they have encountered. During the first meeting at that bank we can see Tae Joon already limping (it's very subtle, also in the chasing scene where he very briefly grabs his knee; I even didn't notice it at first), which also seems to be the reason why it also takes him so long to hike up those mountain stairs. This is also kind of ironic since Tae Joon's name in the dating app was 'pedometer' lol. But, essentially, both men are injured, Won Gyu physically so because of the assaulted in that back alley, and Tae Joon is unjured purely because he does not fit the hetero-normative ideal of a patriarchal society. Him being 'other' already gives him a social disadvantage/injury in a conservative Korean society. I'm thus thinking the act of walking may symbolize social mobility (or freedom of some sorts). In the race of life, Tae Joon's leg injury will only cause him to lag behind. Maybe we can link it also to that TV show that Won Gyu watches in the beginning of the movie: the elephants swimming. Of course, elephants are land animals and swimming is not their natural state. In a sense, both Won Gyu and Tae Joon are like the elephants: they are also swimming/struggling to survive in a world/water that is not necessarily suitable for them. Similarly, during the sex-refusal scene (omg what is this analysis lol) Won Gyu turns on the TV to watch a zeplin, which makes me think this is his desire: he wants to fly (be free of constraints rather than be bogged down by his past ánd his disadvantageous sexual orientation) which could also explain on a symbolic level why he works for an airline.

But then we also see a lot of camera shots displaying just that freaking motorbike, so I'm thinking there is probably also some sort of symbolism behind that. There is some sort of progression as well: at first Tae Joon rides it alone, then he drags it along while following Won Gyu, and then finally they ride it together (Won Gyu refuses to embrace Tae Joon on that bike tho, so he has not truly opened up to him yet). Also Tae Joon mentions at the top of the hill, after they have bonded and are about to see the snow, that "it starts and ends on the road." So maybe the road/mobility/his bike is some sort of reference to the journey and progression of life. I've never seen so many camera shots of roads, after all.

Maybe I'm thinking about this wayyyyy too deeply, lol, but it is a film-festival movie so I would say it's save to assume those types of movies love to play with symbolism.



Edit/TLDR: so I'm hoping this is clear lol, but I'm basically saying that Tae Joon's injury is probably one that he has had from birth since it represents his unequal standing in a heteronormative South Korean society.

No you're completely right tho! The opening scene is essentially a flash-forward from the story which we are about to see in the rest of the movie. We see Won Gyu, once again, returning to South Korea. He reunites with Tae Joon, who is now a café owner (so no longer a delivery guy). We basically get the answer to the final open ending of the movie: apparently Won Gyu did not leave the cab to call Tae Joon's number years back, and this is their first time talking in person again. History repeats itself. I basically wrote a long-ass interpretation of the symbolism somewhere else in the comments if you don't get what I mean (otherwise it will just be a whole lot of copy-and-pasting lol).

I absolutely love the use of symbolism in this movie. It is extremely tastefully done, especially the way that the director makes use of (liminal) space. As gay individuals, we could say that Won Gyu and Tae Joon are largely marginalized (and remain hidden) in the more conservative Korean society, and their way of moving about the city represents this. They meet during the night (rather than day), they have sex in a random hidden and abandoned bathroom on top of a mountain (is this 'dirty' place mirroring the fact that they are seen as dirt by society itself?), and the gay bar they visit afterwards do not have windows (people cannot see those inside, but the LGBTQ+ community can also not gaze outside, at the world, themselves, they remain locked in). Even Won Gyu, as a steward, is constantly on the move and has no place of true belonging. He has no home that he can go back to (he mentions he still has his old house key but new inhabitants have taken his residence). As members of the LGBTQ+ community, Won Guy and Tae Joon's presence in society is one characterized by displacement and liminality-- they remain largely invisible. Not necessarily because they ARE invisible, but because those around them WANT them to be so (Tae Joon's mother wants him to move out of the parental house because she cannot bear the sight of her son with other men). Then we also get the bittersweet imagery of the first snow of the season (referencing the Korean belief that watching the first snowfall of the season with someone you like will mean that true love will blossom between the both of you). Both men, standing in the door opening of the public bathroom, seem to realise that there may be something developing between the two (Tae Joon even says what they have is "real").
All of these themes are strengthened by the fact that the story takes place in 2012 (the year when conspiracy theories about the end of the world were rampant). Just like the night is about to end (both men need to leave for work at 7 AM) the supposed end of the world puts pressure on the men to confront their true desires.

I think I've seen some people in the comments mention they are frustrated with the fact that this movie seems to have an open ending, but I would say that this is not necessarily completely true. In my interpretation, the movie is basically one large flashback to the first time Won Gyu and Tae Joon meet each other after matching on a dating app. Back then, steward Won Guy has returned to Korea to take revenge on those that had assaulted him in the back alley. In the opening scene we see Won Gyu and Tae Joon reunite after years of being apart. Won Gyu departed from Korea in a cab, and in a can he returns, picked up by a wating Tae Joon. From Tae Joon's aggravation it seems like the two have not been in touch at all during the time when they were physically apart (apparently Won Gyu decided not to call Tae Joon after all). Yet, the very fact that they are ale to meet at Tae Joon's café now that means that Won Gyu has not actually thrown away the phone number. We see history repeat itself: Won Gyu has a boy/girlfriend in Germany (like he mentions the first time the two meet), he mentions that the gangsters that assaulted him are now fresh out of jail (and once again roam the streets), and Won Gyu once again decides to abandon Jae Joon in the middle of their meeting. It seems like Won Gyu has not changed at all: he is still the first one to leave and disappear. Yet, Won Gyu does mention when they sit at the table outside that it may snow that evening (a hopeful motif referencing their blossoming love). We are thus left wondering whether history will repeat itself. Will Tae Joon, like he did during their first meeting, still decide to pursue Won Gyu? Will the two, once again, spend this night together?

Edit: Now that I think about it, I actually think Won Gyu's chewing of gum is a reference to the repetition of time and actions used in this movie. His chewing is clearly a habit and the constant repetition of him stuffing himself with gum is a nice addition to the 'repetition' theme of the story. And, at the same time, his habit contrasts with Tae Joon's habit of smoking. When they depart after their first night together, Won Gye offers Tae Joon a piece of gum (which the man refuses) but years later (that is, in the opening scene of the movie) we see Won Gyu not grasping for gum but, surprisingly, taking Tae Joon's cigarette when the latter is inside getting coffee. Maybe Won Gyu did change a little bit after all. Is it possible that he seems more willing to approach Tae Joon this second time around?

Great use of subtle symbolism and cinematic repetition. Worth the watch if you appreciate darker and somewhat melodramatic/bittersweet depictions of life.

Lol, let that actually be what you get with this series: 3 hours of Teamin silently breathing. There was some serious lack of dialogue on his side.

To be honest, I initially thought everyone was exaggerating about the poor camera work of this show but, good grief, I was proven wrong! The directors definitely had a little bit TOO much fun with the camera angles. I mean, I do acknowledge that 2015-2017 were basically the heydays of experimental cinematography (I also remember how many other shows of this era used shaking cameras for emotional scenes) but sometimes less is just more. This style of cinematography just doesn't suit the overall mood of the story in the slightest. The director went for this almost voyeuristic style of filming where these long and unedited shots give you the impression that you are some sort of third person on set (which is weird because the audience is CLEARLY not supposed to be part of the story). Combined with that overtly flashy editing (those flashbacks, man!) it just seems like this is produced by some first year film student who went ham in post production. Watching this on 2x speed literally made me feel dizzy. Unfortunately Taemin's character and his overall acting don't do much to improve this mess either. Maybe his lack of dialogue can be explained by the language barrier (or by a hectic idol schedule and the inability for him to actually memorise a script) but that sulking-tsundere mood that he has going on only comes across as pretentious. Shots of him sitting in a chair while longingly gazing at the moon don't exactly manage to save the show's poor writing. Hope the actors got paid well because this project was just embarrassing. Had to drop the series after the second episode.

Are my eyes deceiving me?! I can't believe I have actually been enjoying these last few episodes? The story got so much better after episode 7 and this week's storyline actually makes sense too! I was on the brink of dropping this show but this change drew me in again.

Bawling me: "I'm not crying, you're crying!"

Wth this is legit so cool, they actually reference legit scientific articles hahah! The work that went into this! Too bad I can't read the Thai notes...