matschi

well he is a pure villain but he doesn't have to stay in that lane when the story ends. I also don't sympathise with FX so far but YSL can be a character to root for and in the end by proxy one can see FX in a better light based on him YSLs choice or simply because of FXs own actions. Also an interesting story can be enjoyed without sympathy for any of main characters imo, if the story itself is a good one

it was never directly stated that they are verse. Hua Yong suggested he bottoms once but SSY did not went through because Hua Yongs health at that time was not good

Fan Xiaos "competitor" is so funny and endearing and also kind of a red flag but who doesn't act out all his impulses. I hope the show keeps this character faithful to the book

this claim is literally kindergarden behaviour. adults know that auditioning is an actors doing and casting is the producers decision. it is literally the most common thing to try to get a role and end up in being rejected or offered another role throughout all the countries that produces to shows or movies

To My Shore is a dark romance with all the toxic elements one could imagine but it is also a fictional story that highlights the importance of characters being able to deliberately choose their relationship/entanglements by the end of the main story

Sad ending or happy ending are not important to me when watching shows. What I care about is an ending that is inherently logical to everything that happened in a story until the end, an ending that do justice to character developments and does not disregard the characters lens while looking at things and their personalities.
The source material (novel) had the potential to serve a sad or happy ending both equally, the author choosed one option and I am convinced cause the author delivered the right puzzle pieces through plot development and inner monologues so that the ending can be accepted easily and happily. While consuming creative works there are always different takes according to the personality of the audience/reader. The creators can only try their best to deliver a logical ending from their lens, happy or sad there will always be people who don´t agree.
For To My Shore (the show) ending: I have faith that the script writers will deliver an ending which is seen from YSLs perspective as the road he wants to choose while having all the facts layed out, without blind spots anymore. All the stances like "I don´t think FX deserves forgiveness or love" or "I think FX is a poor soul if he repents he should be taken back by YSL" for me missed the mark if the audience choose their take to "forgiveness" as measurement to determine a creative works quality.

the series often showed Fan Xiaos obsession with You Shu Langs neck since the beginning, before they got together and also during many intimate moments during the relationship. In my eyes it can be seen as a physical/intimate kink of FX only or it can also be seen as a metaphor. Fan Xiao is so obsessed with YSLs neck and often bites and held his neck tightly is equivalent to his unhealthy love for YSL in which his trapping and blackmailing actions can be seen as him squeezing YSLs neck so strongly that YSL will suffocate under his twisted form of love

Fan Xiao after realising that he actually loves You Shu Lang: I will protect YSL from physically getting hurt (baseball bat dodge) but I'm going to destroy him mentally by cornering him and trapping him so he will stay in my life. It's not that I don't know that emotional wreckage can also lead people to hurt themselves physically (I just literally always do that to myself). He who clowns himself, my most appreciated dumb psycho

Trailers are sometimes misleading. Just looking at them and there are already people who thinks now it's YSL turn to be scum and toxic and jump in to pity Fan Xiao and cry for him. I'm curious how their stance will be after watching the next episodes. the only red/black whatever color flag is still only FX in this pairing. Fan Xiao is a villain with great character arc and a character who is very competent and interesting and therefore I like him very much but I don't have to shade or lessen the goodnes of the other character for this purpose

Personally I don't think Lu Zhen is a horrible person or even a character that should get any animosity from viewers. He shot himself in the foot and is suffering the consequences of his decisions as it is directly shown. What the show failed to highlight is that Lu Zhen is not really a materialistic person, the book is much clearer Lu Zhen refused to use the credit card You Shu Lang left for him for the party and felt uncomfortable receiving gifts from Fan Xiao, he fell for the scam just because he mistook gifts as a form of caring an appreciation. I don't defend LZ because I think the actor is cute, honestly his looks does nothing for me even if he is considered conventionally attractive, but he was not really a bad or stupid person in the novel

Fan Xiao who clowns himself with this sentence in his little act: I am willing to kneel in front of you but not as a sinner. I had to laugh because it's literally in the intro and also yes in the book the kneeling has a different context but the subtext is exactly that, he knelt because he did bad things and wants YSLs forgiveness

I think for filming purposes of such an intense scene they cleared the set so the actor for LZ was not there but in wide angle shots they should have sat him down for consistency. that really seemed little strange and took me out of the intensity a bit cause I was also wondering what the heck where is LZ

At the end of the book the question is answered: it's not because FX deserves the happy ending or YSLs love, but YSL deserves to be happy and loved by FX wholeheartedly, that's why they ended up together. FX did change to some degree and YSL also had time to process and reflect

best and most insightful comment so far on this show!!! also thanks for explaining the concept/genre so well. YSL in later stages is as you described: walking to hell with his eyes open, although imo he walks into the fire because he strongly believes that Fan Xiao is sincere to him at that later stage

he found an unwilling therapist in the beginning of this show in form of You Shu Lang imo as a book reader. YSL is crucial to FXs mental health development later on. a person like FX would be a hard case for conventional professional therapy

Well personally I agree with description of FX as a red/black flag because of his actions and mindset. His childhood and family environment is an explanation, not an excuse. This show highlights real world complexity by dramatic means well: FX who become a person who hurts people because of trauma, sadness and harsh environment with no love while growing up versus YSL who has at least the same amount of trauma and sadness but at a critical time found a family who cared about him so he became a normal decent person who still kept his strength and wits but doesn't mess with people.

recently if Desire is mentioned in one breath with To My Shore it's often to state how TMS is much better. Objectively that maybe true to aspects like directing and production but it's still unfair to compare across genres (modern fantasy vs. contemporary normal world setting). also why don't they drag other shows in as a bad example, many shows have manipulative male leads. guess people only see Chinese BL and red flag and promptly yay let's compare

people throwing out the term red flag like it's on sale. Saw some comments which stated FX is a black flag and YSL is a red flag after ep 8. what the heck I don't know if they have watched the show or just some edits. YSL is not a saint, as stated by himself and portrayed in the show so far, but he is not problematic and sinister at all. Just because he reacts strongly after each lie of FX got exposed doesn't mean he is scum. Different personalities react differently to manipulation and deceive. Some break down, some hit back. YSL is portrayed as a sane and sensible person, who has fangs and sharp crawls but who unlike FX doesn't actively goes around to mess with people just because he can. Save the term red flag for characters who actually are ones. YSL is not one of them

Glad they kept Lu Zhens character unconsciously walking to You Shu Langs apartment from book to show but him deciding to knock on the door from one second to another seems strangely abrupt.
Fan Xiao is a very meticulous person in lying he thinks about many details but imo even if his friend didn't send those texts You Shu Lang would still not have bought his act of being falsely accused, YSL is at least as clever and meticulous as FX, just not as evil or sinister.
Great Acting and directing again, every scene comes across as intended, sweet, heartfelt moments hit just as devastating sadness.
This story can be divided in 3 parts.
1. When YSL thought FX genuily loves him but FX himself doesn't think so
2. FX knows he loves YSL but YSL doesn't believe it anymore (at end of episode 8)
3. YSL once realises that FX truly loves him
Each of these 3 parts are equally interesting written and well made to live action so far.

there have been many complaints about FX as a whatever color flag even in this comment section though.