Mom sure did reap the son she sowed, but those emotional slaps in the face, she kept taking from him, got harder and harder to watch. But it was Kang Ho's barely noticeable micro expressions, after handing mom the adoption papers, revealing how he's straining himself to keep all that pain, anger and past hurt under control, that really got to me. It broke him doing that just as much as he broke her. What a fine actor Do Hyun is.
The woman with the sheet masks, though. I'm cool with the tropey comic relief pack of villagers, but a total stranger rolls into farmville, and this woman can't pause her serum infusions for 10 minutes to tone down the creepy killer look? Nope, she enhances the Friday the 13th-experience with some cute ears instead. Either drop this joke now or explain, why she's like this.
I'm hoping, this will develop more in a healing, less revenge driven way.
Just finished it yesterday and will need to spend some time processing and then rewatch it at least once to catch the details, I definitely missed, while I was busy salivating my way through scene after scene of natural acting, outstanding chemistry, offbeat cinematography and well, just dealing with a truckload of emotions and thoughts.
I'm still kind of stunned by the fact, that the show matched my high expectations and actually lived up to, what was shown in the first teasers released on Youtube. These weren't just a sleek mix of highlights, the full series couldn't deliver on.
This comment section is already filled with all the superb specific parts, I loved as well, so I can't really add anything new there. I will however say, whenever BL productions are released with a general quality this high, it really puts into perspective the number of other BL productions I gobble down which - when compared to a show like this one - appear to be pulled straight from the "manga/webtoon/manwha to live action"-assembly line, sprinkled with one or two idols, a nice OST and delivered neatly wrapped up on one of the streaming services, I subscribe to. And this is just the Japanese/Korean BLs, as I'm still mostly staying away from Thai BLs.
This is of course harshly and very simply summed up, but I'm guessing like most BL productions The Eighth Sense didn't have a huge budget. In addition it wasn't an adaptation and one of the main leads was casted right off the street not even having the advantage of being used to perform (in front of a camera) like eg. idols turned actors are.
So while The Eighth Sense was rough around the edges (editing, scene transitions, parts of both dialogue and storytelling) with a few unfortunate drawbacks (episode 7, that one easy-breezy conflict resolution, the therapist), the show greatly succeeded in showing the benefits of taking a few steps back from the assembly line. And what can be achieved when passion, sincerity, boldness and care is thrown into the mix. Watching this series felt like every single person, who was part of making it, signed up ready to bring their A-game.
I'll still gobble down the majority of the increasing stream of "assembly line" BLs being released, take them for what they are, because I want to support the genre + the people working hard to bring these stories to my screen. But I truly hope some serious notes are being taken in the industry and that more industry people will recognize, what sets not only The Eighth Sense, but other shows with similar high, but different qualities apart from the rest. It doesn't have to be all angsty, gritty, artsy/experimental or deal with important themes. It can be light, fluffy and polished, while still creating a full course meal out of a few basic ingredients. Our Dating Sim recently did just that.
However much I applaud the general increase in BL productions, I'd prefer one great series like The Eighth Sense over 20 run-of-the-mill ones, even if it means slowing down or even stopping the assembly line for awhile. I would be fine with having fewer series to watch, if it meant the entire process was handled with more intent, patience and care. This goes for both indie and mainstream productions.
Now, how do I move on from Ji Hyun/Jae Won and register in my mind, that this show is over?!
So this seems to be a healing drama in a romance/quirky wrapping, and how I love a good healing storyline. I don't really need romance between these two and I honestly don't get the "romance chemistry" vibe from them either. Friends would be just fine. 3 episodes in I'm still not sure, if there's enough here for 12 episodes however short they are. The whole nakedness deal I actually get, but I'm currently mostly just fascinated by how this guy is all skin and muscles. He's not even beefy - there's just not any fat on that body.
OK, I'm adopting the little brother immediately. How is it even possible to be this cute?! Whenever he says "yeah"…
...and that scene in ep. 6, when FL realizes, she likes ML, but then pushes him aside, because he's momentarily not really important, since she's way to busy enjoying this new feeling of love and how happy it makes her - that scene is kinda awesome.
OK, I'm adopting the little brother immediately. How is it even possible to be this cute?! Whenever he says "yeah" with that "ungh!" sound, I grow 5 more hearts.
I love, how FL keeps throwing these intense, dry statements at ML, whenever he's the most unprepared to deal with them. Poor guy, he's shell-shocked 90% of the time, while managing life too.
!!!!Webtoon spoilers!!!!A bit of a long read but let me explain the ending a bit better and what happened to the…
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. I can see, I’ll have to read the webtoon now, bc there’s a lot of things, I think are better handled from what your comment says. Especially: Platoon Leader LIVES!! Now I’m even more hurt, they made me go through that massive heartbreak. I think they handled Young Soo losing his mind and going off at the end pretty well. He had been giving the signs from the very beginning of pt 1, that he would be a future liability, and I also figurered out early on, that the show would end with most of them dying, but I’d thought it was spheres or another kid military group, who would be their demise.
I just saw someone comment, that the actor playing Won Bin had his scene cut, explaining why he was not seen in the show. Which makes even less sense to me.
And that end credits scene? I can't believe they had this man leave me emotionally scarred at the end of both pt. 1 & 2 for completely different reasons.
I still can't believe how they wasted away two full episodes (7+8) like that, while not even bothering to aknowledge what happened to Won Bin. We got scene after scene of well, high schoolers being high schoolers, I get that, but they couldn't leave just one of those countless cringey filler scenes on the cutting room floor and give the guy a throwaway remark, so we'd be sure, we didn't hallucinate him all through pt. 1?!
I also don't get, why Jang-Soo was first shown to be killed by a purple squid before the dream sequence and Young-Soos kiling spree. Even the comedy, which I liked and thought was used well in pt. 1, was embarrasingly bad in pt. 2. They should've wrapped this one up in pt. 1.
Halfway through episode 8 and I'm struggling so hard with how disconnected this is from part 1. Multiple, extremely long scenes are almost impossible to bear due to how irrelevant, annoying and cringey they are. I don't know, what I'm watching? Forget about these kids dreaming of going back home and starting college. They somehow regressed to kindergarden, while I waited for these episodes. Time to power through and pray intensely for some action scenes.
Well, that just happened. I cried, while watching three people eat lunch surrounded by plush animals.
Yutaka (oh, let's just admit defeat. he's Yukata now) saying "when the person you like says it's good, it really makes you happy, right?", Minoru looking at him with eyes full of his growing affection, and then the sun freaking comes out? It should've kicked my pragmatic, sarcastic Scandinavian traits into high gear, but all I could do was sit there smiling like a clown with butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach.
Incredibly moving and comforting. Quiet, but never boring. Kind of uneventful, but packed with big themes and important lessons. Beautiful in all its simplicity. I cried so hard at the end. Whether they're lovers or friends, it does not matter. It's two people finding, healing and yes, loving each other. Their connection doesn't need a label. It's just so very...wholesome. Fukushi Sota really shines in this role. His big, wide smile is so warm and infectious. Don't even hestitate to watch this movie. It's time well spent.
The woman with the sheet masks, though. I'm cool with the tropey comic relief pack of villagers, but a total stranger rolls into farmville, and this woman can't pause her serum infusions for 10 minutes to tone down the creepy killer look? Nope, she enhances the Friday the 13th-experience with some cute ears instead. Either drop this joke now or explain, why she's like this.
I'm hoping, this will develop more in a healing, less revenge driven way.
I'm still kind of stunned by the fact, that the show matched my high expectations and actually lived up to, what was shown in the first teasers released on Youtube. These weren't just a sleek mix of highlights, the full series couldn't deliver on.
This comment section is already filled with all the superb specific parts, I loved as well, so I can't really add anything new there. I will however say, whenever BL productions are released with a general quality this high, it really puts into perspective the number of other BL productions I gobble down which - when compared to a show like this one - appear to be pulled straight from the "manga/webtoon/manwha to live action"-assembly line, sprinkled with one or two idols, a nice OST and delivered neatly wrapped up on one of the streaming services, I subscribe to. And this is just the Japanese/Korean BLs, as I'm still mostly staying away from Thai BLs.
This is of course harshly and very simply summed up, but I'm guessing like most BL productions The Eighth Sense didn't have a huge budget. In addition it wasn't an adaptation and one of the main leads was casted right off the street not even having the advantage of being used to perform (in front of a camera) like eg. idols turned actors are.
So while The Eighth Sense was rough around the edges (editing, scene transitions, parts of both dialogue and storytelling) with a few unfortunate drawbacks (episode 7, that one easy-breezy conflict resolution, the therapist), the show greatly succeeded in showing the benefits of taking a few steps back from the assembly line. And what can be achieved when passion, sincerity, boldness and care is thrown into the mix. Watching this series felt like every single person, who was part of making it, signed up ready to bring their A-game.
I'll still gobble down the majority of the increasing stream of "assembly line" BLs being released, take them for what they are, because I want to support the genre + the people working hard to bring these stories to my screen. But I truly hope some serious notes are being taken in the industry and that more industry people will recognize, what sets not only The Eighth Sense, but other shows with similar high, but different qualities apart from the rest. It doesn't have to be all angsty, gritty, artsy/experimental or deal with important themes. It can be light, fluffy and polished, while still creating a full course meal out of a few basic ingredients. Our Dating Sim recently did just that.
However much I applaud the general increase in BL productions, I'd prefer one great series like The Eighth Sense over 20 run-of-the-mill ones, even if it means slowing down or even stopping the assembly line for awhile. I would be fine with having fewer series to watch, if it meant the entire process was handled with more intent, patience and care. This goes for both indie and mainstream productions.
Now, how do I move on from Ji Hyun/Jae Won and register in my mind, that this show is over?!
The whole nakedness deal I actually get, but I'm currently mostly just fascinated by how this guy is all skin and muscles. He's not even beefy - there's just not any fat on that body.
A: Happy Merry Ending.
Well, that just ended my lifelong relationship with bacon.
I love, how FL keeps throwing these intense, dry statements at ML, whenever he's the most unprepared to deal with them. Poor guy, he's shell-shocked 90% of the time, while managing life too.
I just saw someone comment, that the actor playing Won Bin had his scene cut, explaining why he was not seen in the show. Which makes even less sense to me.
I also don't get, why Jang-Soo was first shown to be killed by a purple squid before the dream sequence and Young-Soos kiling spree. Even the comedy, which I liked and thought was used well in pt. 1, was embarrasingly bad in pt. 2. They should've wrapped this one up in pt. 1.
The OST is awesome, btw.
Yutaka (oh, let's just admit defeat. he's Yukata now) saying "when the person you like says it's good, it really makes you happy, right?", Minoru looking at him with eyes full of his growing affection, and then the sun freaking comes out? It should've kicked my pragmatic, sarcastic Scandinavian traits into high gear, but all I could do was sit there smiling like a clown with butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach.
Goodness, I'm all in here.
Whether they're lovers or friends, it does not matter. It's two people finding, healing and yes, loving each other. Their connection doesn't need a label. It's just so very...wholesome.
Fukushi Sota really shines in this role. His big, wide smile is so warm and infectious.
Don't even hestitate to watch this movie. It's time well spent.