etoks21

Ninety-nine percent of the time, films featuring child actors in scenes no child should see are filmed using time-honored methods, assuring that the young ones have no idea what the final edit will make it seem they were aware of.

Totally agree about their being far more that we don't know than that we do know about their past, but Itsuku's present behavior that calls into question the plausibility of a reconciliation.

Even if Yuma somehow drove him to his current state (and no one "makes" you behave in ways that don't reveal something about your own character), he is still in that current state, that of being a cold, passive-aggressive, really vicious jerk.
He could have simply removed himself from the situation, but then he wouldn't have anyone to sponge off of while he plays video games.
Come to think of it, It reveals a lot about Yuma that he wants to get back together with someone who does the things Itsuku does.

Asian cinema/drama has taught me not to fear sad endings so much, as they can be a rich experience in their own way.
A life in the US and Hollywood movies taught me to expect happy endings, or at least everything tied up in a bow, so I would "know" answers to all questions I might have.

Now, I find contrived, happy endings a tad annoying. :D
I'd rather have a sad ending that makes sense.

Are you really immortal?
I can't believe I'm corresponding with an immortal person. Wow.

Here ya go! :D

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061122/?ref_=fn_t_1
https://tubitv.com/movies/100008108/the-trouble-with-angels

I haven't seen it since I was little.
Finding it for you has me excited to watch it again, but I won't tell you how many years it's been since that first watch.
Don't want to scare you. :)

What do you mean, "why?"
Why does anyone have a crush on anyone?

Or...I don't know, maybe because Tanrak is sweet, adorable, kind, generous, and handsome, with a killer bod?
Would those be sufficient to answer the question, "why" in the world YOU live in? They are more than sufficient in mine.

Then, there are the indicators of affection in how he gazes at Tanrak, separates him from Barth for private chats, seems suspicious of Barth, and sneers disapprovingly at them when they're together.

Perhaps you don't see those things, but I do.

Earlier on, I feared that it would be Barth who ultimately chose to go to seminary.
That may seem nutso at this point, and I think it highly unlikely now, with only two episodes left and Barth very much not believing in God, let alone the Catholic Church.
That quick a turnaround in two eps would be hard to buy.

On the other hand, and this is what sprang to mind suddenly during the second episode:
As a kid, I saw and loved the Haley Mills movie, "The Trouble With Angels." I know, I'm dating myself. I'm ancient.
It's about two mischievous young girls in Catholic high school in an English convent. They get into all kinds of trouble, play hilarious pranks, and cause pandemonium among the sisters, Haley leading the way. The look forward to graduating and escaping into the world.

But in the end, it is the bigger brat and troublemaker Haley who, as a complete shock to her best friend and accomplice, decides to join the order and become a nun. I was horrified. I'm still in shock over it. :D

So, I'm thinking the most shocking ending would be for TanBarth not to break up, but for it to be announced that Barth, not Tan, is going to seminary!

What do you think? Am I nuts?

I didn't have a choice.
My parents were staunch Lutherans who attended parochial school themselves. Plus, I didn't know any better, and of course, it wasn't until later that I came to understand all the damage that had been done.

On the other hand, if not for the mental torture and anguish inflicted during parochial school, I wouldn't be experiencing such a powerful connection to this show. :D

More about my foreboding under the spoiler below:

I think I've been on the same page with you at different points in my life and have considered "extreme measures" (I didn't know of that euphemism until after discovering Asian cinema/dramas and, along with them, the issue of celebrity suicides, especially in Korea.) a few times myself.

So, what I want to say is please reach out for talk therapy and whatever other mental health treatment you may need. There is zero shame in doing so, other than that inflicted on us by morons, so ignore that and go for it. Those tools saved/are saving my life, every day. :)

Movies/art can be valuable in helping us recognize ourselves in others, but no drama is going to save your life. :D All best to you.

Barth offered Tanrak the apple just as the snake offered the apple to Eve.

I'm saying the reference, like some others here, is muddled.

Yeah, you're correct.
You did not write those exact words.

What you did write is that sexual expression is less simple, less sincere, less genuine, and ultimately less pure than what you saw as the focus of episode 4.

Fair enough?

hmmm...

"...FAR DEEPER AND MORE MEANINGFUL than MERE sexual discovery or forbidden desire."

Maybe I'm interpreting it that way because of the words you chose and the order in which you put them.
Your own words frame the erotic pull between TanBarth less deep and less meaningful than the romantic.
To me, it's all mixed together and wrapped around, as a beautiful whole.

The emphasis on carnal desire did not take center stage until the last third of episode 3.

Even though the apple bit made Barth out to be the snake? :)

Their dynamic has never been "solely" about forbidden desire or sexual attention. It has also been, and was originally, emotional/mental in origin.

Your last sentence seems to suggest otherwise, that sexual expression of one's humanity is necessarily complicated, insincere, false, and impure.

I'm generally not a GMMTV fan, but this show is quite good.

Oh, thanks.
I thought you were referring to a character in the show. :P

hahaha

Someone's panties are terribly twisted.
Your mental/emotional state, made clear by this outburst AND the fact that you believe I have ever defended a pedophile, is precarious.
Seek therapy.
Also, probably, meds, too.

"Episode 4 was the first time we saw Barth and Tanrak’s relationship evolve into something far deeper and more meaningful than mere sexual discovery or forbidden desire."

This is an example of the sex-phobic, Puritanical attitude toward physical expression of love that predominates on MDL. TanBarth's relationship has NEVER been about "...mere sexual discovery or forbidden desire."
And your use of "mere" is the tell that you see sex for its own God-given joy, as less-than.
You seem to have already forgotten the three-episode buildup of romantic feelings and emotional attraction leading up to TanBarth finally doing the nasty in the bathhouse.

Sex is as god-given as romance.
Both can be and are abused millions of times every day.

There is no green light on Tan's face, and light does not "reflect" off of fabric.

Kongdech is not "ignoring" Tan, but rather the opposite, he's watching every move Tan makes with Barth. Tan has been ignoring Kongdech because he's crushing on Barth, which is totally a human thing to do. Kongdech is jealous that his friend has found a new friend or a new lover. I suspect Kongdech will be the first to openly accuse TanBarth of being boner buddies.

So, Barth doesn't believe in God but he's also striking cruciform poses on the soccer field?

Barth's brow was scarred by a leather and paper Bible?

I find it insulting when people tell someone they don't believe in God and the response is "I will pray to God for you." If you want to pray, keep it to yourself. Saying otherwise is a passive-aggressive slam, equivalent to "since you're wrong and I'm right but you're too stupid to know it, I'll continue being right on your behalf."

"...if you don't get it you don't but trying to make it seem bad and giving it low ratings when it's not even bad it's just a blatant lie. you can have your opinion but at least either finish it or step away from it because it wasn't made for you clearly.

Your entire last paragraph is hilariously passive-aggressive and insulting to anyone who disagrees with you and whose opinion is as valid as yours.
The above-quoted bit is the equivalent of someone saying to you, "...if you see stuff that isn't there and are just trying to make the show seem good and giving it high ratings when it's not even good it's just a blatant lie." hahaha

Your comment above contains some interesting insights, but just as much, if not more, pompous windbaggery. Work on developing a less professorial-wannabe style. It makes you sound silly.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "pure?"

TanBarth didn't seem too worried about "purity" at the end of episode 3.

..."if you think there's a disconnect there then that's your inability to relate to the story."

"...whilst it's ok to have your opinion, you're viewing this too shallowly and at such surface-level hence why you feel like the show isn't great overall because you're not understanding..."

"whilst" lol
Are you a properly-spoken Brit or just someone trying to sound like one?

Also, I just noticed that you're a condescending asshole.
Yet, it's clear that you're in no position to condescend to anyone, child.