etoks21

My point is that what works in a novel or Manga may not work on screen with live-action actors.

This is a major, big-budget, high-profile project.
The budget was there.
Whether it was used wisely is another question, and that's where things like lame CGI in a film that depends on CGI to carry much of the story come into question.

The use of "like" in translations for subtitles of Korean and Japanese shows is a gray area. As I understand it, Japanese has multiple words that more specifically apply to different levels/types of affection.
I'm saying that using "like" in JP subs does not adequately define the emotions being expressed.

Plus, in the situations/context in which "like" is used in countless BL subs, it is obvious that the speaker is saying a lot more than "I like you as a casual gaming buddy."
Such was the case in the bridge scene, and don't forget that Serizawa went in for a kiss immediately after saying that.
How many casual gaming buddies try to kiss the "friend" they "like" gaming with? 😅

Why are people pretending that Serizawa's clear, unmistakable confession in the bridge scene a few episodes back didn't happen?
Serizawa said the words "I like (love) you" out loud to Dimwit's face, then came within a hair's width of kissing him, and Suzuki turned in a panic to run away. But in the next scene/episode, it was as if none of that had happened, and Suzuki was back to "oh, he could never like silly old MEEEE."
Give. Me. A. Break.

It has been clear from episode 2 that Serizawa was hot for Suzuki all along, yet is has taken 8 episodes for the script to acknowledge that fact.

And...?

Bingo.

BLs and "gay romances" are not black/white, perfectly distinct categories.
Nor is there one, black/white perfectly applicable definition of "BL."

There are hundreds of shows that fall in the huge gray area between those two categories. For me, anything with even one classic, BL element gets called a "BL."

This show is definitely a BL and it is definitely a fantasy for the cotton candy clouds, unicorns, and rainbows fujoshis who love to squeal and kick their feet as they roll around on their beds squeezing their pillows.
They love BL gay boys who aren't real in any way, because the idea of two young men actually being together in real life, especially sexually, grosses them out and makes them "uncomfortable."
To these silly, embarrassing fangirls, Serizawa/Suzuki is the quintessential BL couple, which is why the 8.3 MDL rating is so high.

And yes, there is a homophobic element to this type of fangirl's perspective.

Yes, the silly idea that someone even half-aware of the world around them would have missed all these clear indications is ridiculous.
Perhaps this level of stupidity could be pulled off in Manga form, where you can get away with levels of absurdity that don't come across in live-action.

Perhaps this would have worked if a more blatantly comical approach were taken, one in which Suzuki's stupidity were played for laughs, but boy, it doesn't work here.

Which is why, naturally, the show has an absurdly high 8.3 MDL rating. 🙄

He didn't get cut off.
The words, "I like (love) you" were spoken loud and clear.

Yes! The bridge scene in which Serizawa directly told the dense one, "I like (love) you."
He also came within a hair of kissing him on the bridge.
And then, the next scene and episode it's as if that never happened.

Terrible writing.

Anyone in particular or everybody's?
I hate Serizawa's hair for sure.

This, too.

Also, this.

This.

Agree. He's handsome.

Serizawa confessed directly, on the bridge maybe three or four eps back.
It's absurd how they've dragged this out.

Nah...you've forgotten the bridge scene two or three episodes back.
Serizawa looked our intellectually challenged Suzuki right in the eye and said, "I like (love) you," then went in for the kiss.
He did it one or two other times.
This plot is a disaster.

kisskh.do (free)

Episode 10:
🙄 🙄🙄

Have you ever encountered a BL that gets worse with each episode, and yet you somehow feel obligated to give it that 25 minutes per week until the bitter end?

This is that.

"Too bad Taiwanese dramas get the least love on this site."

Boy, do I ever agree with this. 😠
It applies to films also.
Joseph Chang is especially under-known and underrated.
He's a fine actor.