fiflydramalover

Why it's a 10

So I finally figured out what makes this so good for me.

This is a perfect exploration of the nature of good and evil. It subverts expectations by its predecessors by actually giving a damn about its subject matter. It challenges us to think critically about what is good, what is evil, and how these things are defined. I'm trying to not add spoilers so I'm just gonna chill instead of ranting too far. Who knows, maybe I'll come back and have a spoilery rant-type review later. But for now, I just want to say if you love power struggles, writers that challenge their readers, and a story that doesn't shove morality into your face but still makes you think about it, then this is the show for you.

Now, yes the source material is problematic. I think it is important to address that. Is the story/show perfect? Not exactly, but it's a 10 for me just because of how much heart went into this struggle.

Edit 9/20/2021: I was thinking about this drama again and I just NEEDED to further analyze why this is so good.

I will never get over The Untamed. It almost makes me want to write an essay on it. Like the more I think about the story, the more I'm like "wow they did that. they really did that." Like Wei Wuxian is such an important representation of fighting systems of oppression and being true to oneself. And Lan Wangji is so precious as someone who both wants to believe in the system he comes from, and realizing that justice is something that must always be critiqued and not simply accepted by sources of authority. Jiang Chen is important because he helps us understand some of the reasons why people accept bad things even when they mean to do good. And Guang Yao's brutal end and his unexpected humanity reminds us that even evil has love and affection. It forces us to question morality and the systems we participate in, while also addressing the complexity of life and the people in it. Ahhhhh and now I'm crying WHY AM I CRYING AUGHHHH THIS STORYYYYYYY

And Guang Yao's humanity is also important, because it supports the thesis of the show. Good and evil is something we must question, and blindly supporting something as good or evil can result in evil itself. By showing humanity in Guang Yao, it forces us to realize that he also contained good traits, that of loyalty, protection, friendship, and reminds us that simply defining him as evil can create its own problems. Just as Guang Yao convinced everyone to look at the Wen Clan as evil for his own gain, viewing Guang Yao as wholly evil is an inviation for others to take advantage of evil for evil purposes. Instead of painting Guang Yao as wholly evil, we are forced to find what parts of him are evil. And even then, we must question whether actions themselves are evil, just as Wei Wuxian does when he uses taboo magic to save others, a kind of magic wildly considered evil.

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Healing

I think being a dating show kind of blinded me to what ended up being the most important element of this show to me. Some of the men here have been out for a long time and are active in their LGBTQ communities, and some of them are out but maybe isolated from queer peers, and some of them are still in the closet. That mix of people can be incredibly healing and nostalgic for the people involved. Knowing that this program created an opportunity for people to see the different ways people can live queer lives was very meaningful to me.

A lot of my early frustrations with the show programming was also addressed later on, which I liked. I was a bit frustrated that people didn't have activities to bond with as a group because I felt like it was harder to make connections without that. If everything is one-on-one, how do you bond with the people you don't meet?! And then later they finally added some group elements. That was a bit relieving. If the awkwardness in the beginning bothers you, persevere! There will still be awkward moments, but there is also tenderness :)

To be honest, several people annoyed me because they were a bit wishy-washy with their feelings haha. But I was also really touched by some of the people in the show. I was a bit frustrated, but by the time this finished I also realized I enjoyed it very much ^_^

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Heartfelt but Needed a Bigger Budget

I think the writing for this is sweet. The dialogue is believable and personal. The ending wasn't what I expected, but I also liked it more than what I was expecting. I liked the message of coming to terms with oneself and growth.

But the delivery of those lines? Sheesh! The acting was not good. Sometimes the actors seemed to be performing as if the other person was in front of them. It didn't feel natural at all, especially since the characters are supposed to be on the phone the whole time.

The production quality is pretty low. I understand this was filmed during Covid, but they must have had almost nothing for the budget. The camera crew are obviously untrained, and the camera quality is pretty bad as well. Sometimes the characters aren't fully in focus.

If you're looking for a story about a bisexual character, and enjoy tales of personal growth, I say watch it anyway. These aren't very common stories in television, so there aren't a lot of options right now. But, don't go in with high expectations. I started watching it at 2x speed by the third episode.

Did I enjoy it? Meh. I liked most of the writing, and I enjoyed the ending.

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If you like a really well made story with developed characters then this is it. If you want high quality suspense, enjoy a psychological thriller, and don't mind a bit of blood then this is the drama for you. If you like stories that ask you a haunting question, this is it.

I started and finished the drama in one day. It's only 8 episodes, but I'm still in a bit of shock. The pacing was perfect, the progression of the story was well done, even though it was only 8 episodes. Nothing felt rushed to too long. It was truly a well done and suspenseful story. The acting was on point. There were a few little moments where I could scrutinize, but nothing cringe worthy and nothing that was too bad (honestly, compared to some korean dramas, even the famous ones, the acting was perfect). Sometimes the sound was a bit echoey because of the set (I think they chose it because they wanted to show a big and powerful school. It makes sense but it's a pity sometimes. However, there are some moments where the echoes give a certain power to some scenes in which case the set was beneficial). The characters... wow the characters were pretty well made, especially those of the students. I really don't know how to convey how this drama was so... good. I'm a bit mad that it wasn't on dramafever or viki, but I'm glad I was able to find it.

I watched it because I was looking for Bang Sung Joon. I like him a lot and decided, why not pick up another one of his things? I found this drama and decided to check it out. The story sounded interesting but... well I didn't expect it to be what I ended up finishing. It truly leaves you wondering about what is right and what is wrong, about what is natural and what is nurtured. I'm still a bit unsure how they made the story get to the point it did so... perfectly I guess. Pay attention to names in the beginning, it makes it much easier to grasp the story.

I want more people to watch this, to be grabbed by this. I want others to understand what this drama is and what it does. However, this drama isn't for everyone. I had a friend who walked out several times because the story moved her so much in frustration and disgust, upset by what the story decided to do. This is a story that moves viewers like her so powerfully. If you have a high sense of morals and are easily disgusted in the wrongdoings of others and evil intentions, this might not be for you (unless despite yourself, you find yourself drawn to those kind of stories anyway). But consider how strong of an affect it had on her.

I think the part that impressed me most was the acting of the main character in the end. His character development is... well when you consider it from beginning to end, it has the heaviest effect on the story... Really, that second to last scene was amazing. ugh okay I don't want to give anything away. If you're curious or you're even thinking about watching it, then do it! I found it completely worth it. I've said a couple of things in here that might dissuade people, but honestly I found this story very well done and very well worth watching. I want others to watch and appreciate this beautiful and twisted gift the creators of this show gave us.

Watch it!!!!

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:(((

I loved how natural the dialogue was. They were cute angsty boys that really gave a young adult feel, classic college kids. This felt very queer because it touched on so many aspects of queer life. Gay bars, a flamboyantly gay character, conversion therapy, like the kinds of things that don't really get explored in BL dramas in meaningful ways.

The characters are flawed, which makes them feel more human. But what bothered me was the biphobia. Sure, some people might use the term bisexual before they're ready to come out as gay. I'm sure it's happened before. But what gave Judah the right to assume that was the case for Rocky? I hated how much he kept pressuring Rocky to come out, and how he kept trying to convince Rocky to do it "for his mom" when really Judah just wanted Rocky to come out for himself. Judah constantly pressured Rocky into situations he wasn't comfortable with.

It was a happy ending, and it felt realistic, but when I finished I felt kind of frustrated. Judah's actions really rubbed me the wrong way.

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:(((((((

This movie has a documentary feel. It's unique lens acting as social commentary on beauty, trans culture, and illegal activity has a "real" feel to it thanks to the use of hand held shaky camera work. The story is a sad tale of a crumbling sense of self worth. It makes the world feel somewhat helpless, watching cycles continue that hurt even when we know their dangers. Hiro was a sweet ray of light in the whole story, the one precious thing in the main character's life who she eventually hides from her work as she lowers her standards for herself. It was really such a sad story.

I watched the movie with zero expectations, knowing barely anything about it. Somehow, its made in a way that feels both intimate and distant, somewhat like her relationship with her boyfriend, someone she lives with but who no longer loves her.

As she walks into the dark, entering the darkest moment of her life, calling for a cab to help her escape, we see the next scene continue the dangerous cycle she's running from. Who is there to help? Who is there to give drive them into a better light? Alone, she waits in the darkness of her own making, wanting a way out, but feeling trapped by these circumstances. Ah so sad. So hopeless. I hope that one day this character finds a better life somewhere. I hope she moves back to Japan with Hiro and finds someone who truly loves her. But even if she leaves, what would that mean for the women left behind who continue these dangerous practices? And now I'm crying again T_T So sad

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Meh

There are two very good things about this drama. The first is the production quality. It's pretty good. Most kdramas, even webseries, usually are. The other great thing was Ryo Ho Sun's hat with the pink beads. I loved that hat. Such a good hat.

The story... ehh it was kind of lame. It followed many drama formats before it, so it had a basic level of good. But... how to explain... it's like there is a lack of depth there. The writing feels superficial, like it wasn't made to be taken seriously. In this way, it felt disappointing. There's a plot hole concerning the sister/brother switch. We never see the family's reaction to it, which just makes the story feel hollow and not thought out. Also, the development of the relationship between the main leads was so... empty. They didn't really have much to bond over. I think it would have been great if they committed to the whole, "this is my sister's marriage" and grown unexpected feelings while trying to convince each other that they could not be in love. It's a great premise, I just wish they actually supported that premise with an equally great script. The script was weak, but it could had been salvaged if the actors breathed some life into their characters. Which brings us to....

The acting... It was decent acting. They're not bad actors. But, they also didn't really think deeply about their characters. The kiss scene was so cringe. There was almost no chemistry between the leads throughout the whole show. It almost felt homophobic to watch if I may be so overdramatic. With a script like this, it really needed actors that added something to their characters. But these were actors that were just delivering lines in a way that felt human. Good eye contact, shifting gazes, etc. It was more, "by the rules" of acting and less *feeling* who their characters were.

Honestly, the whole thing is disappointing. I powered through to the ending because it was so short. This drama felt half-hearted in many ways. It kind of felt like an assignment. Like it was made just because someone wanted it to be made, but not because anyone actually cared about it. I don't know. Am I being too harsh? Do you agree?

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