reefpicker

here is a good description of the differences and similarities between the two from someone who actually watched both:
https://aminoapps.com/c/k-drama/page/blog/similar-dramas-reviews-playful-kiss-it-started-with-a-kiss-vs-a-love-so-beautiful-havent-finished-post/eYms_3uELZNMW3zp4bz8Djaq6x66zJ6SQ

People are putting ITSAY up so high than I do hope when I watch it, I don't find any flaws or else I am gonna be pretty upset ;)

I am much more optimistic about the BL genre and where it is headed but I do admit there is a lot of crappy shows full of toxicity that are hailed as good. Still, I like the fantasy aspect and the romance. Also, it is not like the hetero C-dramas, J-dramas, K-dramas and T-dramas, do it better.

I based my comment on the comments in the A Love So Beautiful mydramalist page. Many there say it is similar to Itazura Na Kiss....

I see tons of similarities but the one thing missing thus far is the "stolen kiss" element. Also, at least in this Korean version the ML is less cold.

The fact that it is based on a novel means nothing. The novel could have been inspired by the Japanese manga.... The question is how similar are they. Thus far I had say, VERY.

J100, Pearl Next Door was made by the same folks who created Gameboys. Gameboys is a drama, not a student project. That is so condescending and insulting. The IdeaFirst Company has won multiple awards with Gameboys and got Netflix to buy the show from them to show it in its platform. Gameboys is arguably the most successful Filipino BL ever, and it was shot in the same style as Pearl Next Door and it is produced by the same folks. Calling Pearl Next Door a "student project" is calling Gameboys one too. And nothing could be farther from the truth. Gameboys is a brilliant show. PDL is derivative, yes, but it is a well-made series. Adriana So's Pearl is the best female supporting character I have ever seen in a BL.

Anyway, you are correct that GL doesn't generate a lot of money but trust me, Pearl Next Door was made for profit and it is profitable. The folks behind PDL have said they don't expect it to be as successful as Gameboys because the market is smaller for GL but they still felt that giving Pearl her own story was important.

Besides PDL there are a couple other GL shows but the name GL hasn't caught up either. I know at least of a Korean movie series and I think there is an American movie that is GL..... There have been a number of GL side stories in Thai BL.

GL has a drama. It is called Pearl Next Door.

I am not sure I agree with this statement: "gays feel always discriminated even if they have been given plenty of variety shows".

We gay ppl feel discriminated for a variety of reasons. How we are portrayed in TV is one of them. BL is not perfect but it is at least an attempt at portraying gay people in TV. Personally, I am fine with it but I do feel like there is room for improvement.

Why can't a BL be a masterpiece? People nowadays consider Love of Siam to be the first Thai BL movie and I think Love of Siam is a masterpiece, or at least the magnum opus of the director (who also went on to do Drew).

I am liking this show.. I am a sucker for fairy tales and this seems like it is going in that direction. Bart is adorable. I want to take him home. Bryce is a very interesting character. You can tell he likes Bart but you can also tell that he doesn't want to show his true feelings.

So, let me get this straight.... This is a remake of the C-drama A love so beautiful, which in turn is inspired/re-image of the J-Drama Itazura na Kiss, which in turn is a live action shojou based on the famous manga Itazura na Kiss. Wow..... LOL

That tongue.... I am gonna be dreaming of the magical things it can do hahahaha

I almost didn't recognize him at first with all the makeup and fake studs.

You are right, even as a villain he is sexy and charming. The man can't help himself.

Nigari is played by one of my favorite Japanese actors, Dori Sakurada. I am glad I am not the only one who wants to see him back ;)

Well, My Extraordinary did that too... but I just made a list for my blog and Sakristan made it to the very bottom as the worst BL I watched in 2020.

In real life, 30 years would have made them grow apart. I feel like maybe , this is one of those cases where if they hang out long enough, the fire would be rekindled and sparks would fly again once more.

I believe 100% that as they say in my native Puerto Rico, "Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan" / "Where fire once was, ashes remain". I think that this is not a matter of if, but when.....

However, it still was a depressing ending because they have now wasted 30 years of their life. If this movie had a sequel, I would watch it. One of the few movies in which the sequel has the potential to be more beautiful than the original. Can you imagine them trying to make up for 30 years lost? Can you imagine how they would feel when one of them dies or worst, becomes senile, and they have to cope with knowing they lost 30 years of happiness?

It is truly devastating.

this is what I thought. I don't know Mandarin but I know a little bit of Japanese and recognized the character for heart and was wondering about why they didn't go with the word heart in the title. "The name engraved in your heart" sounds a bit more heavy and poetic than "Your name engraved herein". Herein is such an odd English word, it feels like old English and makes the title sound like a legal document LMAO :)

I loved the ending of episode 5.

I am curious.... I don't know Chinese or Taiwanese but I noticed in the title ( 刻在你心裡的名字) the characters for heart (心) and name(名)... I wondered if the title is "Your name engraved in my heart". I used goggle translate and it said "The name engraved in your heart"....

I wondered why they choose, "Your name engraved herein" and also why they choose that for the plaque on the grave of the catholic priest.....

Any ideas?

you really think he is good? I didn't..... I mean, he is good for a 16 year old, but can he pull a whole show off? hmm..... IDK

this looks bad. I feel this will go down Sakristan's path. Great idea/concept, but the execution will kill it. Acting looks bad. Production looks cheap....

I don't think it was toxic but ok.....

I am not gonna lie. I liked it. LOL. I think I read this somewhere else here but the best way to describe this is a hot mess. If you start watching and feel like you are done with it, please at least wait until the character of Em shows up. He is the Frame of this show (e.g. like BookFrame and how Frame stole the lime light in MIR). His acting is above and beyond the rest of the cast members.

Now why do I want a season 3? LOL I do.... I am insane.

I know it is quite frustrating sometimes. It is not as frustrating as Make It Right's TeeFuse but it is almost as frustrating but there are some tender moments coming up and you will really get hooked after episode 7 or 8.

This show is not perfect. It is just a really well made and really well acted show. I hope you finish it!