etoks21

Oh, I think the production as a whole, ie. acting (directing sucks)/production values/lighting/music/plenty of extras to make the nightclub and other public spaces realistic/etc. is great; that's a big part of why I'm still watching. But as I've said, the plot and execution are lame in my view. Absolutely "redeemable."

I'm taking it just two eps at a time so far, through ep. 4. That's when it grows tiresome to me. However, I'm open to bingeing the rest of the damn thing if it takes a turn for the better. To say it is "not my cup of tea" is inaccurate.

Which leads me to a significant problem in MDL comment threads: There often seems to be a black/white perspective on shows here. If you like it, you're supposed to LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it and post lots of worshipful remarks. If you like it enough to keep watching, but see major problems, you're expected to not post "negative" (anything but worshipful) comments, STFU in general, or drop the show.

The thread is supposed to be one long stream of fawning comments because a vast swath of immature MDLers consider coming across a negative remark, especially one stated aggressively, as interfering with their "enjoyment" of the show. Defensive/immature in the extreme.

Which is ridiculous of course. If one loves it so much, why would a small minority of comments pointing out deficiencies one doesn't see, in any way disturb one's rapturous viewing experience? Or there's always the option to skip over comments if you see a screen name you despise. Lots of masochists here.

"Bitter, angry, overly emotional, rude, psychotic, who hurt you?, you have no life, touch grass, etc." I get a lot of all of those. lol. Cuts no ice with me.

For the record, I have mentioned aspects of the series I admire, like the overall quality of acting. I just don't like much of what they're made to act out. Critiquing a show assertively, but still finding enough in it to keep one watching, has taught me over time how to watch live-action fiction with a great deal more acuity than I used to. I catch tons more details than i used to. Much of that is due to two great MDL friends I DM with frequently here. Thanks to the friends! :D This carries over into all genres of films and dramas I watch.

It seems sad to watch shows with either blinders or a microscope, as though there are no categories of perspective in-between.

And I would consider allowing you to do so.

I just answered this comment as you were writing it, above.

Stop lecturing. I am fully aware of the cultural/political effects of this show's AIRING in East Asia. It's no wonder your views on what's IN the show are unreliable. You can't tell the difference between its story and its cultural significance..

"Ethnocentric" Seriously, f**k off.

The fact of this series airing in East Asia with a known male star playing a gay role with smooching is what's "new." What is IN the series, the lives, activities, loves, drinking, sex, and all the rest is what "happens all over the world," every moment of every day.

It seems you have confused the groundbreaking newness of this material airing in East Asia with the common human experiences of the characters in the show, none of which are "new." What's new is most East Asians seeing this, not what they're seeing. Do you understand?

Perhaps you are too emotionally/personally invested in this drama as part of your cultural/political agenda to have any kind of subjective perspective on the quality of the production itself, ie. direction/acting/production. While most of us are actually WATCHING/ABSORBING the story, you're off in the corner running around in circles with your hair on fire screaming "A GAY SERIES WITH KISSING IS AIRING IN EAST ASIA!"

Sit down and watch the damn show.

lol

Kiss, not bite. :D

So glad you found this one, B. I think you will enjoy it.

YES! Love the Autism Spectrum theory! lol In messages to a friend here I said that Nam went from being a confident, aggressive, stern professional when they met at the shoot and MC was late, to being apparently, cognitively disabled, and the personality switch took place in a flash. Like most important elements of this plot, we saw no transition, no development, just the result.

The writers want me to believe the MC is so handsome, tall, and magnificent, and projects a mesmerizing aura of splendiferous glory, such that even the most beautiful and self-assured of men turn to jelly at the sight of him.

I do not believe what they want me to believe. :)

Yes, being loved by someone who'd take a bullet for you is great as long as they'd do it from a place of strong, confident self-respect rather than because they feel that without you they are nothing at all. How awful would it be to be in relationship with a non-entity who grovels at your feet all the time; who watched your every move for signs of waning affection? Pretty awful.

Maybe because he earlier went through the same thing with the photographer? So you're saying MC has no self-control and seeks out unhealthy partners for relationships?

Yes, I'd agree with that. It's one of the many reasons I find it hard to care about his character. At his core, he's self-destructive and repeats the same behaviors over and over. This is made acutely clear in his reaction at home to what took place at the restaurant. It is interesting to observe the MC's actions but difficult to sympathize with him.

But even if his character was lovable to me, I'd still be struggling with the manner in which the plot is being revealed overall.

There is nothing in this film that doesn't happen all over the world. There are no "new" stories, they've all been told. What matters is HOW they're told and that's where this show falls short for me.

"complaining..." lol

"Blah blah..." Incisive.
Bite me.

This.

lol

Please don't assume people have seen the entire show just because they're in comments. What Bangkok trip? What bg story? What about his ex? Which ex?

Thanks for the spoilers.

Nope.
Obviously there's enough of it that appeals to me on some level that I want to keep watching. As you know, I have no problem dropping low-quality shows, and maybe part of what keeps me going here are the excellent production values. If all this was happening in a Thai BL where people sleep with all the lights blazing, there's little on their walls, etc, etc. I would probably run screaming.

"(No matter the argument Nam was willing to change and be what or who he wants to be honest I saw no pride in him he would lay on a puddle of water for Go to walk on him and get to a dry surface)."

Interesting.
To me, that is exactly what's off-putting about Nam, despite his affection and good looks. He has no self-respect, no sense of self. The other half is almost always exhausted by a partner like that. They are forever looking to the beloved for validation.

After episode 4:

Wow. People seriously need to stop snooping into other people's stuff.

Oh look! A BL character went ABROAD. That's not been done before.
Oh look! A film character became a well-known author in one year's time.

MC is a masochist. The "researcher" had warning signs all around him from their first meeting forward. One of my issues with this plot is that I've been able to predict nearly all, maybe all, of the major developments ahead of time. I can't think of one surprise.

I'll give the actor this: He is great at weeping on cue. That is not easy to do. His scene at the foot of his mom's bed is the first that strongly moved me. But now that I think about it, I did not cry myself, and I'm a movie-weeper. Interesting. It's likely that I don't like him enough to care deeply for him.

He looked handsome with the mask on. Perhaps he should wear it all the time.

Tropes:
Single mom.
Absent dad.
Lonely child/no siblings.
Tending wound.
Car crash.
Cancer.
That thing that happened in episode 4.
Moving abroad.
Finding evidence of gayness by "accident." (I knew as soon as she leaned over to pick up his sweatshirt, what was about to happen. (She can barely walk. How did she get that crumpled photo from his apartment?)
There are more, but I'm troped-out.

And yet I keep watching. Guess I'm a masochist too.

She has been hogging that hospital bed for over a year!

Has anyone else noticed that apparently, men's fashion trend-setters are pushing us back into full-size blazers, suits, and pants? I guess we're leaving the "I swam across a lake in my suit and let it shrink on me" look, along with bare ankles in dress shoes, behind. Took me a while to figure out why I was getting a different vibe from the costuming.

In what way is this plot "non-linear?" Seems to me everything has taken place sequentially in time. I recall zero flashbacks.

Well, I found Nam to be obnoxiously insecure and clingy, though again, I sensed he was good at heart. I couldn't have survived that constant clinging either. But the way in which MC dropped him was exceedingly cruel. I get that sometimes with someone like that you have to cut things off cleanly, but he ran his mouth with all sorts of mean insults that were not necessary.

But come on...the rings...so quickly? That's psycho stalker territory. And yet we never saw them actually dating or sleeping together, but it seemed we were to believe they did at least the first.

I have never watched such an eventful plot where most everything happens off screen and we learn of it later. You find this show to be "fast-paced?" I'm bored to tears but have been told great things about it so keep watching. Yes, many events are happening, but the mechanisms of revealing them and many of the talk/talk/talk scenes are extremely boring.