SEQUEL, please! :) Yet another Korean vertical BL that's a delightful surprise.
Great acting, good production, excellent casting (the three principals are perfection), and only one story hiccup I can think of. Sure, some cliches, but they weren't the focus of the plot, so I don't mind so much. Overall, the story is quite original. The apprentice falling for BOTH of them was a hoot.
Compliments to the director! It takes exceptional skill to make a vertical series that I enjoy this much despite the spaz format. That said, I only watch verticals when I can find a version where some kind person has stitched the stupid, 2-minute episodes into one long show. See the link behind the spoiler below.
9/10 from me, Simon.
P.S. All three leads are yum eye candy, but not a BL mannequin boy in sight. All three have a distinct look.
Episode 3: Sadly, we have jumped the shark into Rainbows, Unicorns, and Kittens BL Land, where the four most popular dudes in the high school are all big BL Manga/novel fans and like, totally into it...like completely and totally NOT bothered by the fag stuff. Sure, Jan. This is starting to remind me of the embarrassing Thai BL from a few years back, "Secret Crush On You," in which all the popular jock BMOCs turned gay for the queeniest nerds on Earth. Entirely plausible.
Regarding this episode specifically, it's wise to be cautious of new "friends" who begin paying attention to you because they see a popular alpha doing it first. They are not to be trusted. This goes double for the other three of the "Big Four." They're all treating Suzuki like he's a pet rabbit.
Did anyone else fall in love at first sight with little Matsuno last episode? What a doll face. He bats for my team for sure. To Hell with Serizawa and his fake friends...I'm shipping SuzukiMatsuno.
Although...could it be that the hot, bespectacled member of the Big Four is gay and nursing a longtime crush on Serizawa...?
From the preview to ep 4: Suzuki: "So this is how friends act..." I wonder if he'll still be saying that when Serizawa's love shaft is up his butt...?
I really, really like your comments. Thougtful, considerate and aptly formuated. And I am definitely sick of hearing…
hahaha...yes, we've been having "gender doesn't matter" shoved down our throats for a long time now...but it still does and always did. :)
It's one of those sunshine-and-rainbows statements born of good intentions, but which ultimately, in their saccharine brainlessness, undermine the perspective they're meant to shore up. In that way, "gender doesn't matter" is a companion sentiment to "it doesn't matter who we choose to love." Straight people don't magically CHOOSE to love people of their own sex one day, and gay people don't flip on a dime and go straight out of nowhere. To me, the baseline of sexual orientation and gay rights is that we do NOT "choose" anything about it; it's the way we were made and are meant to be.
Just to be clear, bisexuality is absolutely a thing. Bisexuals are made the way they are, too. It's just that many of us, myself included, after way too long in the closet, claim bisexuality as a stepping stone to accepting our homosexuality. That's fine, of course; most people do their best at any given time, but it's not to be mistaken for reality.
But, then, too...if I want to be super nit-picky, I have to admit I'm maybe 5-10% straight at the max, but that's what the concept of the spectrum is about and that measly percentage is hardly worth claiming, right? :) Plus, I've had all the vaj and boob I need in this lifetime.
Now look what you made me do...go off on another long-winded rant. :P "Considerate" is not an adjective many, if any, MDLers choose to describe me or my comments, but I'll take what I can get. :) Thanks.
He is fascinating to watch ,indeed. He's got the range ,remarkably versatile actor and he is kind of addictive.…
I just checked out "Lost." The story sounds like just my sort of angst-ridden, depressing sort of thing, but I watch very few mainstream dramas. Sixteen hours is a LONG time. Many of the plots would make great films, but stretched out over 16 episodes, not so much.
He is fascinating to watch ,indeed. He's got the range ,remarkably versatile actor and he is kind of addictive.…
I've only seen him in one film. What I mean above is the shape/structure of the various components of his face, purely from a visual perspective. He's beautiful and distinctive.
I don't understand why this is labeled a "spinoff" or "special episode" when it's clearly an essential part of the story and the same length as earlier episodes. Do NOT miss it. The show is not complete without it.
I LOL'd 483 times during this show, got misty 204 times, and peed myself twice. Tanaka Koki is gobsmackingly funny. His vocal deliveries and physical comedy bits are ecstatically funny. That face! It's rubber! :) Sawamura Rei is the essential straight man here, but his dry line deliveries and elegant/goofy Kishi Kishi mannerisms are a hoot.
Again, I would love to know how many times these guys cracked each other up during takes. :) Hmmm...could outtakes be lurking on youtube?
I can think of nothing wrong with the show and only a few things that might have been improved on, so it's a 9.5/10 from me, Simon!
All eps, with subs, including the "spinoff," are on Youtube.
Episodes 8 & 9: More hilarity with each episode, but now I feel the pathos building...! Genius all around. In tone, style, and story, this is one of the most original BLs ever.
Episode 8: Yes...I am an old...and I squealed. Several times. They are a joyful revelation.
Between this and "Duty First, Kiss Later," today is providing strong reminders that self-acceptance and self-celebration are, for gay people, hard-won, and just as importantly, deserving of perpetual maintenance.
It was obvious to me that Anus-uke's sexy buttocks are, indeed, good. Bon appetit!
Also, quoting Anus-uke in the preview of ep 9: "I want all of Okumi-san..." Could Okumi-san's sexy buttocks be next on the menu..? :0
Episode 5: Yes, yes, yes...it's one of the biggest BL cliches... But watching these two go through it was a whole other level of agony. :( And, truth is, the vast majority of gay men go through some variation of that cliche, or something close to it, often many times over, on our road to self-acceptance, assuming we get there at all.
That said, I've a feeling this agony is going to lead us to a place of great joy for Takoi and Shu. :D
I love these two. And I'm excited that we have FIVE more episodes to go. Surely enough time for three or four more giant misunderstandings and perhaps even a cheating arc...?!!!
MY friend, I only discovered this yesterday and thought like you, but something made me continue. Have now watched…
Hi Jolly! On your recommendation, I will definitely give this another try. Can you believe the number of Jbls that have come out this year, especially during the last four months or so? And most of them are GOOD. :O
Not bad. Pretty good, actually, all things considered. The hugest thing considered being the f**king vertical aspect, but hey, that's what links like the one below this comment are for. I don't mind this bizarre format nearly as much when I can watch all eps stitched together as one.
Story's pretty low-key the whole way, but kept me engaged. The ending wasn't my fave, only because he ended up with the wrong guy. :) My preference, of course...
The acting is very good across the board, but it's Park June Mok in the important supporting role who really shone for me. He's incredibly natural; I felt an authenticity and likeability that fit his character perfectly. Hwang Dong Hee as the established actor was good. I didn't like his character one bit in the beginning, but by the end I was on board. Bang Won Gyu as the lead is great, too. I like that none of these guys are typical mannequin idol types.
1 
1 
Yet another Korean vertical BL that's a delightful surprise.
Great acting, good production, excellent casting (the three principals are perfection), and only one story hiccup I can think of.
Sure, some cliches, but they weren't the focus of the plot, so I don't mind so much.
Overall, the story is quite original.
The apprentice falling for BOTH of them was a hoot.
Compliments to the director!
It takes exceptional skill to make a vertical series that I enjoy this much despite the spaz format.
That said, I only watch verticals when I can find a version where some kind person has stitched the stupid, 2-minute episodes into one long show.
See the link behind the spoiler below.
9/10 from me, Simon.
P.S. All three leads are yum eye candy, but not a BL mannequin boy in sight.
All three have a distinct look.
Sadly, we have jumped the shark into Rainbows, Unicorns, and Kittens BL Land, where the four most popular dudes in the high school are all big BL Manga/novel fans and like, totally into it...like completely and totally NOT bothered by the fag stuff.
Sure, Jan.
This is starting to remind me of the embarrassing Thai BL from a few years back, "Secret Crush On You," in which all the popular jock BMOCs turned gay for the queeniest nerds on Earth.
Entirely plausible.
Regarding this episode specifically, it's wise to be cautious of new "friends" who begin paying attention to you because they see a popular alpha doing it first.
They are not to be trusted.
This goes double for the other three of the "Big Four."
They're all treating Suzuki like he's a pet rabbit.
Did anyone else fall in love at first sight with little Matsuno last episode?
What a doll face.
He bats for my team for sure.
To Hell with Serizawa and his fake friends...I'm shipping SuzukiMatsuno.
Although...could it be that the hot, bespectacled member of the Big Four is gay and nursing a longtime crush on Serizawa...?
From the preview to ep 4:
Suzuki: "So this is how friends act..."
I wonder if he'll still be saying that when Serizawa's love shaft is up his butt...?
And the sourpuss hobbit is the main reason why.
It's one of those sunshine-and-rainbows statements born of good intentions, but which ultimately, in their saccharine brainlessness, undermine the perspective they're meant to shore up.
In that way, "gender doesn't matter" is a companion sentiment to "it doesn't matter who we choose to love."
Straight people don't magically CHOOSE to love people of their own sex one day, and gay people don't flip on a dime and go straight out of nowhere.
To me, the baseline of sexual orientation and gay rights is that we do NOT "choose" anything about it; it's the way we were made and are meant to be.
Just to be clear, bisexuality is absolutely a thing.
Bisexuals are made the way they are, too.
It's just that many of us, myself included, after way too long in the closet, claim bisexuality as a stepping stone to accepting our homosexuality.
That's fine, of course; most people do their best at any given time, but it's not to be mistaken for reality.
But, then, too...if I want to be super nit-picky, I have to admit I'm maybe 5-10% straight at the max, but that's what the concept of the spectrum is about and that measly percentage is hardly worth claiming, right? :)
Plus, I've had all the vaj and boob I need in this lifetime.
Now look what you made me do...go off on another long-winded rant. :P
"Considerate" is not an adjective many, if any, MDLers choose to describe me or my comments, but I'll take what I can get. :)
Thanks.
The story sounds like just my sort of angst-ridden, depressing sort of thing, but I watch very few mainstream dramas.
Sixteen hours is a LONG time.
Many of the plots would make great films, but stretched out over 16 episodes, not so much.
He was great in "Believer."
Thanks for the rec, though.
What I mean above is the shape/structure of the various components of his face, purely from a visual perspective.
He's beautiful and distinctive.
Bromance to Boys Love
I don't understand why this is labeled a "spinoff" or "special episode" when it's clearly an essential part of the story and the same length as earlier episodes.
Do NOT miss it.
The show is not complete without it.
I LOL'd 483 times during this show, got misty 204 times, and peed myself twice.
Tanaka Koki is gobsmackingly funny.
His vocal deliveries and physical comedy bits are ecstatically funny.
That face! It's rubber! :)
Sawamura Rei is the essential straight man here, but his dry line deliveries and elegant/goofy Kishi Kishi mannerisms are a hoot.
Again, I would love to know how many times these guys cracked each other up during takes. :)
Hmmm...could outtakes be lurking on youtube?
I can think of nothing wrong with the show and only a few things that might have been improved on, so it's a 9.5/10 from me, Simon!
All eps, with subs, including the "spinoff," are on Youtube.
When I wasn't going "ooh..." I was going "aah..."
This show is a marvel.
Nothing else like it, and that's a good thing.
And you have to be catatonic not to see all the gay shit going down here.
Now, before rating it, on to the "special episode!"
More hilarity with each episode, but now I feel the pathos building...!
Genius all around.
In tone, style, and story, this is one of the most original BLs ever.
He can look entirely different depending from which angle you view him.
I find Takoi's seemingly contradictory behavior sad but 100% true to life for someone in his situation.
Yes...I am an old...and I squealed.
Several times.
They are a joyful revelation.
Between this and "Duty First, Kiss Later," today is providing strong reminders that self-acceptance and self-celebration are, for gay people, hard-won, and just as importantly, deserving of perpetual maintenance.
It was obvious to me that Anus-uke's sexy buttocks are, indeed, good.
Bon appetit!
Also, quoting Anus-uke in the preview of ep 9: "I want all of Okumi-san..."
Could Okumi-san's sexy buttocks be next on the menu..? :0
Yes, yes, yes...it's one of the biggest BL cliches...
But watching these two go through it was a whole other level of agony. :(
And, truth is, the vast majority of gay men go through some variation of that cliche, or something close to it, often many times over, on our road to self-acceptance, assuming we get there at all.
That said, I've a feeling this agony is going to lead us to a place of great joy for Takoi and Shu. :D
I love these two.
And I'm excited that we have FIVE more episodes to go.
Surely enough time for three or four more giant misunderstandings and perhaps even a cheating arc...?!!!
I thought you were "Done!" lol
Good to hear from you. :)
On your recommendation, I will definitely give this another try.
Can you believe the number of Jbls that have come out this year, especially during the last four months or so?
And most of them are GOOD. :O
Pretty good, actually, all things considered.
The hugest thing considered being the f**king vertical aspect, but hey, that's what links like the one below this comment are for.
I don't mind this bizarre format nearly as much when I can watch all eps stitched together as one.
Story's pretty low-key the whole way, but kept me engaged.
The ending wasn't my fave, only because he ended up with the wrong guy. :)
My preference, of course...
The acting is very good across the board, but it's Park June Mok in the important supporting role who really shone for me.
He's incredibly natural; I felt an authenticity and likeability that fit his character perfectly.
Hwang Dong Hee as the established actor was good.
I didn't like his character one bit in the beginning, but by the end I was on board.
Bang Won Gyu as the lead is great, too.
I like that none of these guys are typical mannequin idol types.
8/10