plottwist

Still unfamiliar with c-dramas, so the dubbing really tests my patience. It feels so antiquated, shooting without sound is a practice that ended in the 50s, and ADR is only used today to fix mistakes in post. These new crop of c-bls feel like taiwanese dramas pre 2015, both in terms of sound quality and story. The step-brothers, lets say fascination, is getting old at this point. Tbh, this is a quick drama that isn't too offensive so completionists, or those curious about the new c-bl wave like I was, might as well check it out, but don't expect anything remotely close to Revenged Love.

Um, I just looked at the episode count. 6 is criminal for how good this is. 😭

The way that shallow depth of field scene had double meaning, chef kiss 💯

The trailer and synopsis really tempered my expectations for this drama. School settings and music themed BLs always seem doomed to be bland. Moreover, typical tropes apply to this story. However, after watching the first two episodes I think this drama has a lot of promise.

We get to examine the main character, Hayakawa, at the points in life where his uniqueness pales due to societal norms and customs where the concept of music mirrors sexuality. He resents Konno who never faced those inhibiting experiences, yet admires him at the same time. Konno is an observer and exists outside of societal pleasantries, his camera represents a different viewpoint. His authenticity helps Haya embrace self acceptance.

Extremely relatable and complex feelings are tackled with nuance both in the actors' ability and story. Usa Takuma as Hayakawa Shuichiro is especially great casting as he can externalize his character's innermost feelings—something a factory-made BL actor can not do. So far, this is contemporaneous with j-dramas as a whole, who focus on mainstay motifs of ambivalence and dissonance rather than obvious external conflicts.

In terms of fulfilling BL demands, glances and touches are keyed in to create intimacy. There is also an intriguing element of voyeurism with cameras and perspectives. It is both sexual and represents the characters' focus on others and false perception. The cinematography and lighting is also good, reframing the usual drab walls of classrooms. Sexy, yet tasteful, imo, and less fantasy.

That Abe Alan. He's a comedic genius. The physical comedy is peak. Everything is so unserious and weird, I love it. Great-grandma once again denying that pervert the mandate of heaven. He's one of those horny FOR the censorship types, and him reading moe comes at no surprise.

There needs to be some warning. It would be technically animal cruelty because live animals had to die for this production (those fluffy white mice were real, not CGI). They died for the scene, the snake was fed for scene. It is deceiving to think it was for a snake's sake. This isn't a documentary, it is narrative fiction. When it's fiction, animals ARE NOT PROPS, they are animal ACTORS. It's animal exploitation.

I don't mean to go all PETA on you, because I believe in the natural course of life, but this isn't it.

I know it's in China, but this is an international site. Any time a real animal dies on camera, not of natural causes, it should have a warning "animals were harmed" "animal death" or "graphic depiction of animal death", if not animal cruelty. I never bother adding tags to this site because they never get approved, it's very political.

Tbh, it was alright. It's basically soft-core, which isn't my jam. This show is extremely lucky that I didn't mind watching the second leads, usually I skip, but here I was intrigued, which is good, because midway through it becomes their show. At first I didn't care about Kai, but later he became the most interesting character. To each their own.

It has to be just me, but… I found the entire thing to be boring. It took me half a year to finish it. The pacing was off. I couldn't stand the main actor/character, too.

Lol, the "I want to get on top of you" option is funnier 😂

The first version of this show is not good, imo. It's fine, but the acting, casting, story, intimacy, etc., is way better here in this remake. They are less limited in terms of censorship and budget. I never read the novel, so I don't know about accuracy.

Yes. I don't think it's sending any messages, maybe to be aware of bad breeding, but it deserves a trigger warning. I couldn't stomach the feeding scenes and using real mice so I had to skip. If someone knows how to add a tag for animal cruelty, that would be helpful to prepare more sensitive viewers.

Episode 5 was so cute, I was all smiles…then episode 6 snuck up, and now I'm depressed ;A; I really felt the drama during the dorm's drinking scene. I like that Jeong U respects Ji Won's privacy, and Ji Won feels the burden of it. His motives don't come across as shame, rather he wants to respect Jeong U's privacy, too. I understand both of their viewpoints, and there aren't any unnecessary misunderstandings, either. This healthy display of communication is refreshing. What is also refreshing is the amount of pure affection from the hugs to the caresses between the two actors. The way Jeong U raised Ji Won's gaze from his naked body left me in a ditch, help. 😭

Between the snakes, the doctor's office, and the violence… there are so many phobias wrapped up into one. 😭

Finally, China has a good quality BL series. It's such a step up from the og. Everyone is absolutely toxic and heinous 🐍 🐍 🐍

I think it was used well in this instance. There were multiple layers to it: power, exhibition, secrecy, and gay panic when he realizes who was turning him on. It lends itself to a relatability of others' gay awakenings. It's a common trope in gay films, so I'm not saying they reinvented the wheel. However, you are right to point out it isn't common in BL. Most of its audiences like the element of gender escapism, yet sometimes, like this one, it is effective. Also, it helps that we never see her face, the mysteriousness adds another unique element.

When he flipped around in the office, I was like, "RIP to his back". Our man is committed, doing his own stunts 🫡

Leads are scenery, a part of the backdrop. It is almost an anti-plot apart from the last three episodes. It has Call Me By Your Name's calling card all over, and plays as a mood board. Proverbs left and right—I would've accepted no dialogue. However, the scenery and actors do a good job of evoking the feeling of an expressionist painting. The allegations of gay Chinese twinks dressing as lesbians have not been beaten.

bro passed out and saw… the japanese version of julia child or god or some shit lol. I'm watching the raw version and can only make out 50%, but god I missed these two. Something about Akutsu Nichika… he kinda a badie. Abe Alan can play psycho so well 🤣 he has the evil eye down. I'm so freaking excited for five more episodes. This show is hilarious.

I am surprised I like this as much as I do, too…

True. I am also getting jock/nerd vibes instead of two athletes. Ji Won could've been given a relatively less demanding sport, like fencing or archery. In the grand scheme, the sport he played doesn't even matter to the story, it's just background fodder to give him a "has-been" or career change arc. His shy, awkward, non-competitive personality doesn't match a gymnast either, in my opinion. Maybe that's why he quit, but they don't go into that much.