solipsism5

Great analysis! Everything is on point. I wish Gun's father had given his speech in some other series. There was something to it, like when he was saying that he was bullied when he grew up which would explain his mercurial demeanor, and how he raised Gun. They make little feints at characterization once in a while in this series. I'm not sure if some intern writes parts of the script. There are some accidental moments where inspired writing comes up that is drowned out by the mostly bad writing.

God, what an awful episode. As I predicted in a previous post, Gun and Golf would magically resolve their differences with a letter, but, surprisingly, it went beyond that, because they jump right into a marriage proposal. Ridiculous, and insulting to the viewers.

I am so disappointed that Name's story was just never developed. His trauma is never even explored, and his relationship with Em is totally truncated to possibly a segment of one episode. I know we were strung along thinking these two would be the major second couple of this series, although we suspected a few episodes ago that that might never really happen.

What was the point of having Champ's story in a BL? It was never integrated into any of the BL content. I don't mind being exploratory with the genre, but this is a totally half-assed attempt making a touching family drama. Champ is just a side character that is a friend of the people that are involved in relationships, and this is an absurd story to be included in a BL. You can introduce this concept into a BL, but who's going to follow their example when they do it so poorly? This whole story could have been condensed into a few minutes which would have allowed for the Name and Em story, which is a great BL idea, to have been given some proper screen time. Which leads to the problem with the other pointless story: Nan and Chompu.

The story of Nan and his disabled girlfriend is done so poorly and took up so much time. As several people have mentioned already - we are really disrespecting disabled people by making Chompu not have any physical contact with Nan, and having her brother chaperone her everywhere. Would this be done for any MF couple in a het drama? This is also just tedious to watch, and is just sentimental melodrama. I've even lost most of my interest in Chompu as a person because she never says anything meaningful. She's just like Nan's cheerleader. Why doesn't he do more to support her, instead? What's her job? Normally she would have been someone that we all could admire for overcoming some challenges in life, but she's just nobody in this drama, by the end. I don't even know who she is at the end of the drama except someone who loves Nan.

I am very lenient with BL's, and I always like to praise anything I see like an effort. This is just one of the worst I've watched and it has just strung everyone along with angst. That was their technique to keep people watching. Really a cynical, and mindless series, that has no real message, and no real stories to tell. Every emotion has been sterilized and made invalid because it is not treated with any seriousness. It's like a random slice of life drama with no heart that had pretensions of having some important themes and social messaging.

Next time this happens, I'll sedate you for two weeks, and you'll wake up when the next episode airs. Don't worry about your job - you're going to call off sick. We just have to focus on our priorities.

Here is just a little background about the actors. I'm not sure if anyone posted this already. I can't go through all these comments, so sorry if this is redundant. I like these things, because it shows you the contrast between the actors and the characters they play. These are a little more real than the one's I usually see out of Hollywood :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-uOJZcfa4k&t=306s&ab_channel=GMMTVOFFICIAL%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QimttWBTs&ab_channel=GMMTVOFFICIAL%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B

Have a happy New Year, as well! I'm finishing this, because I'm a little OCD, and I can't say it's because of the quality. I must admit I want to know how they finish Name's story - he's always been the biggest draw for me. I know I probably won't like what they do with it, but it's just the attempt to tell the painful story of someone with selective mutism, and no matter how much they butcher it, I think there is some positive there, and there is an idea that could be developed by someone else - the biggest problem is that the selective mutism has been completely forgotten, and you almost wonder what was the point of it. The wonderful acting by Title where he conveyed so much with his eyes was amazing, and all that heartfelt agony he was going through seems to have been lost. I don't want the character to suffer, of course, but the point is to show the real struggle of someone with that disability, and not to make it go away with a magic wand. They should have had some more of a transition, but that is beyond the ability of these writers, in my opinion.

Here's another video from the same concert below, live performance of the dance sequence : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSR-AyYUmn0&ab_channel=JS_Mild

I think the characters are being drawn a little sloppily. It's just typical of GMMTV. Watch Vice-Versa, Enchante, etc. for countless examples of this. I'm suspecting there will be big plot holes, and a lot of illogical character motivations throughout this series. I hate to say that because I like the overall thrust of the show, but that fight scene was just off like you said, and I've seen several other examples in the first few episodes. Tanya could be more cowed by the uncle because he's a bigger threat than the tenants. He's cutting off people's fingers, after all. Usually the internal threat is scarier than the external one. But you could be right about this scene as well - we'll have to see how this plays out. I'll have to come back to watch that scene after this series is over.

I think Chopper is a little strange. I think it's weird he just sits by and watches someone's fingers being cut off and can just wave it off. He doesn't seem to care about what happens in his father's butchery business that much. Most of us would run away, but he seems a little too passive about it. I don't think he's into it like his father, but just not against it enough like a normal person would be. He's pursuing Ben in a real gentleman-like way which seems at odds with the way he has to be trained as a brutal leader of a mafia-like organization. And I'm guessing Ben is a snake, so is Chopper not aware of that? Is he really that naive, or does he like that snaky side of Ben? I don't know if these will be flaws in the character renderings in the script or if there is some really unifying thing to this character like he likes slimy Ben because he has an unknown good side, and accepts his flawed personality. Is Chopper really that nice or is he much more sinister than he lets on? I think the series does have a lot of mysterious characters and that's really adding a lot to the suspense. I don't really know about Tanya - she could be good or evil, and Palm's father could go either way as well. This is really a good set up and keeps you super interested in watching the next episodes.

I like that the series resolves issues quickly, usually within the same episode. It's avoiding the miscommunication trope which means that the writers are really working a lot harder than usual. They're not stretching anything out here, and every moment feels special because of it. I'm feeling confident that they can keep that going forward. The acting is really just so apropos and the characters feel totally alive because of it. It feels like they've captured the essence of every scene perfectly, and the music is really just the coupe de grace that caps every moment. Really one of the best BL's ever made so far, and I just hope they can keep it going.

Lol, that's so true. I love that clip. For anyone interested here's the full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr5lLZUhBOY&ab_channel=JS_Mild

This relationship between Gun and Golf is just poorly written. I've known plenty of couples with extreme work schedules that were much more taxing than what Golf had, and he's just starting out at some new firm. He would at least have some weekends, holidays, and evening hours that he could talk to Gun, so he's not just completely unable to pay attention to him. Golf was also the one who was the more communicative of the two, by far. He was the one that reached out to Gun time and time again before they got into a relationship. He's definitely the outgoing one with the very accepting family, so why does he become the reclusive, introverted one who can't read any cues? When did that change occur?

Shouldn't Gun have mentioned something to him? He really would have plenty of time, and he should have done it multiple times. There should be a few fights between them before the break up, and even some anger by Golf that he isn't given a chance to redeem himself. They have set this relationship up for a decade, and they should know each other by all the things they have written to each other. The momentum of the relationship should have been strong, and they both are warm and giving people. Golf has suddenly become so obsessed with a job that he can't remember the guy he's been pursuing for a decade, and he seems to suddenly know nothing about him. I don't buy it. It's just a poor setup, and you have to explain the reason behind the change in their behavior patterns. This series handles angst pretty poorly, and it also handles emotional psychology, in general, pretty shabbily.

But don't worry, even though this was a really angsty break-up, there will be a simple note, or some little text message that will clear all this up, and seconds later, this whole event will be erased and Gun and Golf will become their old selves again, forgetting their Jekyll and Hyde transformation, becoming a regular couple again that never has any real world issues to worry about. Because this show is not about real issues - it's about fake issues that are used to string people along to watch more of this shitty series.

I like how Sing's girlfriend whips him and then asks him, "OMG, who hurt you," and she starts mock comforting him while he's whimpering. This scene was just so OTT. This series is just about the funniest I've ever seen from GMMTV, and it's so explicit. I like all the coochie examinations as well - those are the funniest. It's amazing how relaxed Newie is in all of this. It's such a nice change. I wish he was this relaxed during a BL. Overall, this series is just so fun, and I think it's just a hidden gem. The pacing is great and the comedy is almost always good. It feels like a totally new kind of show. I actually look forward to more of these coming out, hopefully keeping all the different kinds of couples, because I think it's a great idea to have this kind of variety. We're missing the cosplay couple, the polyamorous couple, among others, but this has been a great start.

I like this series but I do have to suspend a lot of disbelief. I don't see why Tanya wouldn't liquidate that whole gang of thugs that harasses her son. Ok, not liquidate, but get them expelled. If she's worried about her son enough that she has a bodyguard watching him, you know she would find out about what's happening to him. Especially after what happened this episode, she would get Phum expelled at the bare minimum. When you are taking on dozens of unhappy tenants, and running a mafia-like empire you think about these things.

But forgetting about that, I love the chemistry between Pond and Phuwin. I think it's electric, and I love how Palm obliquely expresses his love for Neungdiao, telling him that he's the one he most wants to protect in the world. I'm sure Ben is a slimeball. He's just too slick, and he just uses whatever knowledge he has to make Palm feel uncomfortable, making him question Neungdiao. I think Ben knows he has a rival in Palm and wants to make him jealous watching all his interactions with Neungdiao, and will probably press the class issue later on when he gets the chance.

So far, an excellent series with a lot of realism, despite some flawed premises. I especially liked the evil uncle and his barely concealed threats to Tanya this episode. It really captures the brutality of the underground world of the mafia. This adds such a nice level of extra drama to this BL. Whatever love Neungdiao and Palm will have for each other will be truly earned after they go through many difficult, and visceral trials. I'm expecting this will be a great series because of that.

I have a feeling Champ is going to make it. He has to be there to cry over dead family members and regret being such an a$$hole not hearing their death throes while lining up new customers. Isn't that his purpose?

But someone is going to die, because I think the title implies it. I hope it's not Golf or Gun. God, if that happens, I'm beating up the director. I also hope it's not Em - please, no! You can kill Nan if you want, though. I'm leaving that to your discretion.

Oh just watch, the episode count will go up to 16 after I said that. There are series that really need those extra episodes. They should donate the rest of them to a series that deserves them.

No wonder they need 2 more episodes, because episode 12 is just filler. What the heck? You're near the end and you just put together a bunch of scenes where no one does anything? I understand what people are saying about Golf and Gun, but I don't know why they don't say one word to each other about the break-up. It's more like where do you want to put this suitcase, Golf? I don't see any emotion out of either one of them. Golf just doesn't want to fight for the relationship and neither does Gun, and no one even articulates why they are breaking up. GRRRRR...I hate this series.

Next, Name and Em have a meaningless scene where they just sing a birthday song for mom. They are still nowhere even near a bromance at this point. This is one of the most sexless BL's ever. Speaking of which, Champ is as far away from having met a human being for sex as Robinson Crusoe. And absolutely nothing happened with his story this episode, except he ignored some pressing messages from his family where someone is barely hanging on to life. But Champ is too busy with his sexy new job to listen. Rinse and repeat with him and the dead body count.

God, and that ugly wig of Golf has now become the number one eye sore. Mean's is terrible but Golf's is just entangling itself all over his face. I hate it and I want someone to relieve me of the visual pain of seeing it. I wish I had a filter to just block out his face now. Well, another excellent episode that I tortured myself with. I'm expecting nothing out of this series after this. I just want it to be over.

What fight? I don't follow them at all, so just curious. That would be a shame that they no longer are friends.

They just don't have the budget. The audience isn't there, nor is the product placement [meaning the advertisers]. It's a little bit more homophobic in S. Korea so they never get the audience draw. This is going to take a while. The cost of production is also much higher than in Thailand, Vietnam, or the Phillipines, and similar to those in Japan and Taiwan [who still have a more welcoming audience].

It's very interesting and quirky. I think the acting is just among the best. The director plays a totally serious character who says stalkerish words with a totally dead-pan delivery. Jeong Woo plays the baffled secretary well, and I like how he cringes - it's really done well whenever the director makes a move on him. I don't know what the hell's going on, but it seems consistent enough and I'm counting on the story making sense by the end of this. It's a totally professional production, and is definitely worth watching.

Here's a short film that's meant for Christmas. Just something to help while waiting two weeks for My School President to come back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfsJAOdZrJ4&ab_channel=TelescopeStudios