jpny01

This series is likely going to be more substantial than KH, and probably more memorable, but I like both. KH is a comedy, this is a drama - I don't think they're easily compared. I'm the outlier that didn't really like CM all that much - I liked it, but I enjoye both of these more. And I'm the one always whining about too many school dramas. Irony.

Fair enough, and I agree there was some over-the-line behavior. While Hira likes being ordererd around, they didn't know that, and it's still a bit low to go after someone for a disability - it's a minor one but he can't help it.

That's mild teasing to me, and they stop doing after the first intro - after that his nickname is based on his stutter, but that's what nicknames are, at least for boys - we all dread the day we make a mistake when we're that age, because it becomes your name for life. I don't think teasing is the same as bullying, and I think all of us have had a school experience like that. Teasing is part of the socialization process that makes you one of the group.

I got a very strong impression the warping thing was related to his social anxiety disorder, not being teased. There's probably a relation between the two, but he never "thinks" about the teasing, he thinks about having to be noticed, which he repeatedly says he doesn't like.

Again, I'm not saying there's a lack of problemmatic behavior, but I don't think it rises to bullying, and the time it did, it was Kiyoi who stopped it, and demonstrated to the class that Hira is under his protection. Some of the translation is too strong, too - e.g. Kiyoi didn't say "gross", he said effectively "blech" as in "too cheesy", which was his embarassment at being called beautiful.

Equal =/= healthy. An unequal relationship can be exactly what both want and makes them happy, whereas equal may (or may not) lead to misery and abuse. I like that Kiyoi doesn't allow anyone else to boss Hira around, but I can't call this healthy until it's clear that there's love and consent from both of them for the way their relationship works. Right now it's still lowkey bullying.

They order him around, but they don't insult or demean him other than that. And he can say no - in theory. Maybe he can't, but we haven't seen any sign that he dislikes it, and we're hearing his internal monologue. Submission isn't always low self-esteem or lack of love for oneself. Hira mentions when he's uncomfortable, but he never mentions unhappiness or self-hate - and none of his discomfort is ever caused by obeying Kiyoi. And, he's relatively fearless about expressing himself - it's just that he has a stutter and can't get words out. "You're very beautiful" is a very bold and confident thing to say.

I'm not saying there's nothing problemmatic here - I just don't think it's even close to irredeemable. Sometimes BLs give us a seme who is so horrible that you almost have to erase his behavior from your memory in order to accept them ever getting together.

I thought that was very mild bullying - it's really more D/s to me. Notice how Kiyoi does not allow anyone else to order him around.

I'm not sure it's so much the vibe as the central theme. Let's see if they're brave enough to go there.

They had better! Or it would be a pretty miserable experience for us to watch! But I'm confident it will be good. Can you go wrong with Boun?

That's fair enough - I guess lately there have been a lot of BLs that ran in circles for the entire series and I have a little PTSD that sets me off when something is vaguely repetitive. But for me Japanese BLs are the best written (by far - there are exceptional non-Japanese BLs, but Japan rarely misfires. Nobody is ever a match for the Japanese in humor. That's not an opinion, it's fact. :) ) so I shouldn't worry. I can't really get too much of Ida and his sad soulful eyes in any case.

I don't really know anything about Japanese music. I looked up Johnny's Entertainment and it looked like boy bands. I'm not Japanese, so it's definitely an age thing - how would I have listened to them way back? Streaming has only been a thing for 15 years.

And my text was poking fun at my own age, not a criticism. in case it wasn't totally obvious.

Thank you for the context. For me, I don't so much have a problem with things being drawn out, but I'd like them to move on to some other problem - you mentioned initiative & intimacy, which are more interesting than insecurity over what someone means when they say "I want to date you".

I want to see what happens when Best comes in - he was so good in Checkout and the other things he's been in. But if that doesn't jump-start it, I can pull the plug.

I'm really surprised. Ingredients was so good that I was excited for this series, but it's awful. I had to put it on 1.5x to get through it. It's not just the long, slow scenes, it's the lack of any energy on the part of anyone. I don't think either lead wanted to be in this.

Oh dear. That was terrible. It was essentially a long commercial for various products sold at Tops. It had zero energy, the acting was flat, and the characters had no motivation. Also, there's yet another ridiculous predatory trans character engaging in such egregious sexual harassment that it actually crosses the line into sexual assault, and the scenes from next ep show that this profoundly offensive and unfunny storyline will continue.

I don't know if I'll make it through the obligatory 3 episode trial period, but I'll try. After Ingredients I thought this could be good - the writing and editing for that was tight and snappy - this was wet cardboard, and maybe the worst Thai BL I've ever seen. And Gameplay is in my Top 10 favorite actors - or he was until this mess.

Thank you! I'll go find it.

Do you mean ep 2, or is there one I missed?

I hope Prem's character isn't going to be that whiney in the series. I thought I would like this more, but it was a commercial. Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the series.

The wods "may be" amd "probably" mean I'm assuming nothing. If I wanted to make and assumption I would have said "There is a difference" and "you are" And I already said this is my favoite BL airing. One minor criticism does not mean I don't like something. And without irony ou accuse me of making assumptions about you and then you turn around and make an assumption about me? Wow.

But if you're that sensitive I won't make the mistake of engaging with you again, This is a discussion forum, not an echo chamber.

I feel like this is written in English, and yet I have absolutely no idea what any of it means. But I'm old.

There may be a difference in perception here between a woman and a guy - to us, a lack of "go away or I'll call the police" is a "yes". Ida said "I want to date you" which to a guy would be "Whoh, I just said I liked you and you're already picking out wedding rings. Bye." That's an exaggeration, but from your own experience you've probably noticed that effect to a degree.

But we ended up at the end of it exactly where we were at the end of Ep 5. The sp on its own was good, but as a part of a series it didn't serve any purpose. It contained lots of great moments, but it didn't drive the plot forward, and with only 10 fairly short eps that's a large investment in a single idea.