jpny01

But if the novel is bad, then why not write something else? Or have the two actors play completely different characters?

I couldn't deal with LBC2 because the actors didn't really seem to care anymore (probably because of poor directing and scripting), and resetting the TinCan story made no sense. It ruined the continuity and therefore my interest in their romance, which was in the original series one of the most interesting and compelling I've seen. It's never a good idea to put an author in charge of a production. A visual medium is totally different than a written one, and you really need people who understand what you can do visually to make a great series.

If you think about the actual plot of ITSAY, was it anything special? Not really. But the directing, acting, and cinematography were so top-rate that the result was one of the best BLs of all time.

Ep 3 was unpleasant to watch. Once again, we drag out the ugly stereotype of an old effeminate gay man being a shameless predator. Wasn't that the same actor who almost made me drop My Day? And the fall-so-faces-are-too-close-together-and-stare-at-each-other-too-long cliche that BLs can't seem to do without. Granted, this was a variation, because it was Plot Device that fell between them, instead of one of the boys, but still.

What is this show even about? Jaime was coming on to Winston so strongly that it was laughable, and Winston didn't cancel the whole thing? Also, now Winston looks like he's in love with Jaime. Seriously? I can imagine being in lust with Jaime fairly easily, but to fall in love with a vacuous creep in a single day?

Given Jaime masturbated to Jaime's podcast in Ep 1, I assume he's been into Winston for a while, but do you expect to win someone over by fake-dating his heart-broken best friend and coming on so strong that it's disturbing?

Jaime is either the most horrendously bad actor I've ever seen, or a total genius playing a fully-realized character hiding behind a strange and dull surface persona.

I'll give it another episode because the first two were weird and interesting, as opposed to this empty formulaic mess, and the production values are high, but I'm on the verge of dropping it.

If you like weird characters like Na then you'll like ITSAY. Also, it's not often that you have a more effeminate character as a main and who is portrayed positively. And great directing, acting, and cinematography make it break free of the herd.

Totally agree about K-dramas etc. Things are formulaic because it's easy and it's what audiences expect. That's partly why it feels so amazing when something goes beyond the formula, especially if it's done consummately well.

I was half-serious. The great mass of BLs are formulaic and not exactly the most healthy representation. When you get a masterpiece like ITSAY, it's so different than the usual BL formula that it feels like a different genre.

Yes - 100%.

It's horrendous - like inexcusable. It's as if this show was filmed 5 years ago and forgotten on a shelf and someone shrugged and said "we might as well release it. Everyone will enjoy seeing Pod shirtless every episode [✓ True]." But Na is so compelling that I can't stop watching it. I LOVE this character - he's so weird. He's the only thing fresh and interesting in any Thai BL in the last three years. (Not counting ITSAY, which isn't a BL, it's a masterpiece. I'm not sure those two terms are compatible.)

Does anyone at all want to see Chon end up with Ton? What kind of self-loathing masochist (and no, there's nothing wrong with masochism) would want Ton even with that hot as f$%^ body. I guess I answered my own question.

But seriously, Na would be 1,000 times better as a bf, and I'm not exaggerating for the sake of drama. Also, did the production not notice how beautiful Neo is? Why would they cast someone who so overshadows the main love interest? Maybe Na will end up with Ton's brother-in-law - I need Na to be happy. OR I WILL BURN THINGS DOWN.

OK, so that was really good. You would think there would be some limits to what you can do with an extended ad for a sex app, but they definitely pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

Again, Filipino productions win because they hire really good actors. I almost forgot I was watching actors they were so in these roles - that's some serious talent, And the directing & writing are so good.

BTW, the distance indicator isn't super-accurate. Depending on your signal, it can be tens of meters off. James & Dale would both have gotten the same distance apart in the lobby as they did when James was in his room (it would fluctuate even then), so there was no plot hole other than James being that dense.

Ep 4: First time a gay man has acted like a gay man in a BL (don't hurt me, I'm joking. Except I'm not.) I'm sure if I scan down there will be a huge number of negative comments about the ending of the Ep. But I would think everyone would have been aware of what this series is advertising, so....

When I was in college I worked as a hotel desk clerk - men travelling don't want to have to work for companionship, so the desk clerk is the most obvious choice - especially if he's cute.

I'm enjoying it, but the level of secondary stress from all the awkwardness is too high - I have to take breaks in 10-minute episodes.

You're the best. But so is shinshinshin.

Well, it turns out Ton's brother-in-law is gay - and I'll bet his father is too.

Ton's character is a bit inconsistent - but I'm OK with his confusion, as I've experienced it myself, and I would have been terrified if Chon had done that to me.

My issue was with the portrayal of effeminate gays as predators (I think it was Ep 1, or maybe 2), and there being no consequences for Ton's homophobic violence. Also, all the sterotypes - they're so tiresome at this point.

On the other hand, I do appreciate the shameless exploitation of Pod's hot body - I think we've had at least one shirtless scene per ep, lol.

I couldnt get through the episode. The first few seconds caught my attention for sure, but then nothing interesting happened

I am revolted by people talking with their mouth full, an there's someone who does it all the way through (at least to where I quit) in a particularly disgusting way. I don't know if that was supposed to make her cute - if it was to make me loathe her, mission accomplished.

But also, this is too unoriginal for me to spend any time on with so much BL to choose from. There are safe ways to film during COVID.

If it turns out everyone is raving about it I can always go back to it.

Is it possible to have a more First World problem than "I've faced so many challenges in my life. I wrote a Yaoi." My eyes have rolled so far back in my head that I'm going to be stuck looking behind me for the rest of my life.

That was super-cute, but that's about it. Although major points for playing and singing that song themselves.

Also, what the f#$% did they do to Tommy's hair? Why would they do that?

That's unfair. There was at least 10 or 15 minutes of plot between the 3 eps.

The thing is, it requires you to have watched a series that this is not a continuation of (?) And it would be equally tiresome no matter what the circumstances. I know the Pha thing is supposed to be an intriguing mystery, but it's not. He would need to turn out to be a space alien or a robot (well, maybe not a robot - that would surprise no one. Literally no one) for me to have even a sliver of interest.

You can see Jack/Koh coming a mile away, but at least it's something different, and it's really funny.

Thanks. I do feel better after ranting.

This show is surprisingly good, but it's horribly marred by the endless and excruciatingly tiresome Wayu/Pha non-relationship. What is the f#$%ing point of this? It soaks up half the run time of the show which could be filled with MingKit, or just about anything else. There are probably two pigons in the quad that would be more interesting to watch as a couple.

What the f#$% was the writer thinking? Seriously, what the f#$%? It's so frustrating that I'm having a hard time enjoying everything else, which is great. Can they get Padbok back and have him strangle Wayu? Like to death? I would enjoy watching that at this point.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with their being no kiss in an episode - the last scene was way better at portraying love, for example. But it is an issue when it looks like there's supposed to be a kiss in a given scene but there's not. It's not so much a lack of a kiss as an avoidance of a kiss, if that makes sense.

I don't know why they do it - what I wrote was meant to include all the possibilities. Whether it's a decision based on the sensibilities of the actors, or their ability to act out a decent kiss, the writing, directorial choices, studio mandates, fear or negaitive reactions, I don't know - but there's something wrong somewhere.

I live to serve. :)