solipsism5

I think it was said very well by Flypsyde, below, that this show should be given some artistic license. I don't mind people voicing their opinions but it is pretty rude to call others sickening for having differing views. These kind of views lead to things like censorship. It reminds me of how the show Addicted, depicting a "rape" scene between two step-brothers, got all physical intimacy between two men censored in mainland China.

From a totally "forensic" perspective, one can not be certain that what we saw in the show was rape. You don't know the time that passed from when Ye Xing Si left the bar to the scene in the bedroom. You don't know how drunk he was when he was having sex with his brother. You have the clear and lucid dialogue, without any slurring, in the bedroom prior to them having sex. You could still make your case that this was rape but you can't be certain.

From a plot perspective, why did this scene between the two brothers occur? I believe the writers wanted to create some situation that allowed Ye Xing Si to get over his repressed emotions. They could have done this by having him go through several years of therapy but that doesn't make much cinematic sense. The other couples storyline would also have to be amended to cover several years time span to accommodate this. The writers did not create this scene for the purpose of depicting the cruel rape of Ye Xing Si by his brother to demonstrate what a sociopath he was, but to move the story forward and to get the two brothers together. I think they would be very surprised at this very hostile reaction to the scene which was just, most likely, a narrative device to move the plot forward. It is also a nice emotional scene where the repressed love of the two brothers is finally allowed to have some expression.

I agree with someone below that what Fu Yong Jie did was not by any means very good, but it is more in a grey area rather than being evil, and perhaps it is a case of the ends justify the means. For those who are young and impressionable, maybe you can learn to take several lessons from this, both positive and negative. I think you can also learn from a depiction of reality.

However you look at it, it's really new territory for a BL. I think this show is a little out there but it's worth giving a chance. I certainly look forward to the next few episodes.

I don't disagree with you. There is a lot of variety among BL dramas. There are just a few too many shows set in schools for my taste (especially engineering schools). Lovely Writer, itself, is poking fun at some of these repetitive themes especially with their show "Bad Engineer". I'm not sure if all the hetero romances are that repetitious because there is such a huge number of them - there is quite a wide range in the Western classics if you look at Shakespeare, Tolstoy, George Eliot, etc. I wasn't saying there was a typical BL by the way, I was just saying there are certain things done better in this BL like the development of the side couples than most of the BL's I've seen. I share your sentiment as well about how this tiny genre has proliferated, especially gaining traction in more countries like the Phillipines, Vietnam, and South Korea. I really think the Pinoy dramas have added a lot more variety in their plot-lines, and thematic material than existed before.

This show has really gotten way better. Although I enjoyed Gene's bumbling, spaced-out interactions with Nubsib at the beginning it was starting to get grating. He was also just too much of the coy mistress. I like the new side of Gene that is much more volatile and it's totally changed the whole show. I thought Up did a great job acting there when he was finally allowed to do something different with his character.
Aoey's situation with his father was done very well. The brutal homophobic father played his role perfectly, and the weeping mother was played pretty convincingly. I like how they complexified the relationship with his sister who at first seemed an ally, was revealed to be treacherous and is now the remorseful friend. I like how Aoey doesn't forgive her at all, rather than making a cliche rapproachment. This whole situation could seem like a soap opera, but what's great about this, is that this is the drama of real life. Without considering the wealth of the family, this is the kind of thing that happens to a lot of gay people. I think it's done better here than most any other BL I've seen.
All the side couples in this series are really good and that is rare in most BL's. They seem to be making the effort to develop all of the side couples as well whereas, it seems, in most BL's they are just afterthoughts.

I would agree that it's scheming, but how else to break through the barrier of his brother's repressed emotions? I think Fu Yong Jie has given him every indication of how he feels and his brother is avoiding it due to, I assume, societal pressure. Of course, manipulating someone who doesn't care for you at all is something else entirely, but not all scheming is unjustified.

Perhaps you are susceptible to the trope that people who are drunk are oblivious to what is going on around them. This is not true in the real world. I do not defend rape of any kind, but did that look like rape to you (sans alcohol?). The brother had long repressed his feelings for the younger brother and the repression came back in the morning. Sometimes there is such a thing as "in vino veritas" because people lie to themselves all day long.

There's nothing wrong that happened between the two step-brothers. I don't believe it was rape because he seemed fully aware during their interaction. As someone said below, it was perhaps the alcohol that allowed him to engage his true feelings for his step-brother. They had always been in love. The older brother confesses his love to him, and that is not someone who is being forced to do something he doesn't want to. If this situation makes you feel uncomfortable you should definitely not watch it but you don't have to moralize about it so much.

I love the performance of these actors. It is really so much better than most BL's. You almost feel like these two were lovers offscreen. I just wish the jarring plot contrivance of the 5 year separation wouldn't keep rearing its ugly head. We are into episode 4 and we are still explaining this thing. The main problem I have with it now is that the story of the drama can't even move ahead because so much time is wasted explaining the implausible scenario from the beginning of this series. It's like we are wading through molasses to get somewhere.
The only real drama occurs with the character with Asperger's Yu Zhen Xuan, and Pei Shou Yi. It is really mysterious and complex. I find it much more interesting than the story of the main characters and equally well acted. It is heart rending to see Yu get rejected by Pei, but there are also enough subtle clues that tell you that Pei has valid reasons to reject Yu, making all this so emotionally complex. I don't think I've seen this anywhere else in BL - it's really great to see a show that is going in new directions and doing it very skillfully.

Very moving episode. There was a lot action in the last episode and this had a lot more tension though it didn't have the physical drama.
I'm glad that someone realized that Longtae was put in danger by Tian in the last episode and that clears up one of my complaints from the previous episode.
There were so many wonderful emotional scenes that weren't melodrama. I love how restrained they were. Tian and PhuPha never even say I love you and the story was developed in such a way that you know you don't want them to. This was well done by the author - it is love that is so real and natural it does not need to be said because it loses its purity. Almost all of the BL dramas are missing this. I think this is what makes it better because it feels like a regular well written drama that doesn't depend on cliches to express its poetic message.
I think Mix did a great job acting here for his first time. I could feel he was struggling but he really worked very hard. If anyone has any complaints about it, I think they are being ungenerous. I think there were scenes in the previous episodes that were a little more forced, but I think he put in his best performance here. Earth is just sensational. I think he has such gravitas as an actor that is just nearly non-existent in the BL world.
The ending of this episode with Phupha and Tian separating is more metaphor than literal to me. Tian has to learn more and decide what he wants to do. Most of his life decisions have been either poor, or driven by guilt. Phupha is also, I feel, driven by his own sense of obligation to Tian's father but it is in combination with his thought that Tian should have a chance to experience life without him first. I don't think this is like a long term tragic separation (like Tess of the D'Urbervilles). I think people are being overdramatic in reading it like that. I think Tian also senses he needs to separate himself to have a stronger and more permanent relationship.
I feel it's less beautiful to just throw them together forever after a few rushed events and to have them openly defy Tian's father as well which wouldn't be consistent with Phupha's character.
This is definitely one of the best dramas in BL I have ever seen. I think everyone should recommend it despite its flaws. I don't mind saying I cried during a lot of scenes here because it was so incredibly moving.

I know - it seems like they have a formula for these Korean dramas - they have to be 15 min. or less per episode. It feels like someone has made an inflexible budget or schedule. I can't quite understand it but these dramas need some more "breathing room". They need that extra time when they need it. If a scene needs 10 extra minutes to fulfill its potential they need to give it to them. The Thai and Pinoy dramas have like 30 minutes per episode which is more realistic. You can fill the extra time with more of what I could call "cuddling" content if you had to make up the time, but they never really seem to need it - there's enough real content to go around.

The dance is for the audience, and customer service is paramamount for the customer - I love how they make this connection for the two leads at the end. Its the complete mix of the best aspects of business and art and they combine the two to make the connection between the two lovers. It's just brilliant.

This show is just sensational. It has something I can't quite describe. The juxtaposition of the debtor and dancer is just so strange but they make it work - this is just a testament to how amazing this show is. The adorable cuteness of the leads mixed with their gritty, unforgiving circumstances is just almost magical. Its realism mixed with fantasy and they deserve a 10 for execution of a seemingly impossible premise. I find it thoroughly enjoyable.

I haven't seen episode 5, but my sentiment is that this is a really fun show. It's not really anything like 1000 stars or ITSAY, but I love it for its pure silliness. It's really very comical and Up plays his character perfectly. I love the cutesy back and forth with the two leads. Its a comedy of errors that's done a little more intelligently than people suspect.

I know, I get where you are coming from. I normally wouldn't accept this. I was watching one show The Shipper, and I would not forgive them because they killed off the lead for what seemed like just plain 50's style homophobia (I really am not sure whether it was intentional or not). I am only willing to forgive this because I think they aren't going to end this on a tragic note.

It's actually not hard surviving in the US, so I don't think my situation was that bad really. If you really love who you love, there is no way you would make GSD's decision even as an Asian. The only thing I have a question about is that if I lived in Taiwan, would these homophobic parents really go after their kid and their partner? That's what I'm hearing these guys saying below and I must admit I'm not familiar with living in Asia itself. I just find it hard to believe that in a developed country you couldn't support yourself and get away from your unaccepting parents.

BTW if this was a straight couple in this drama I would not forgive this plot device, lol. I might be, somehow, morally wrong there, I don't know... :)

My opinion on what happened in 1000 Stars episode 8 is evolving. I want to be clear that I love this show and I love BL shows with far less merit than this one. I totally agree this is a unique show and should be given a lot of praise for being so singular in a very good way. No toxic female lead, no unimportant side character that causes one lead to get jealous so that he realizes that he actually loves the person he loves, etc. This show went beyond our normal expectations and delivered big time. Melodrama is derived from the word melos which means song but is usually used as a pejorative, but some melodrama is suitable and what you said makes sense to me. Think of this as song drama or poetic drama. Even in great literature like Pride and Prejudice very unlikely coincidences are used by the author to make a narrative point, and I see what you are saying about Torfun's heart. Thank you for your perspective. It really makes me appreciate this show more.

Yeah, and I'm Asian. I told someone down below (Tankytoon), a really nice person, really , that I didn't agree with her opinion. My partner and I went through this experience with just terrible homophobia from my parents but we just didn't worry about it. I just had to give up my nice allowance and car and live a life of poverty. So I really should take offense at this silly plot contrivance. But it's ok, I'm happy that we're getting something - just watch the guy with Asperger's syndrome, for one, and it will end with some great rapprochement between the leads that will bring tears to my eyes, I'm sure.

I saw that. I love that characterization and it is exactly my sentiment. As always, I'm willing to forgive them, because I see the merits in this show. Have you seen Kate's review? I think that the father's comical character is really fun and he really makes me laugh, but how is that the same father that acted like a little Stalin? Again, I resort to separating the two shows in my mind. And I think to myself, ok, this is fantasy land where magical illogical events happen.

I really enjoy reading your posts. I have the same sentiments as you. I felt there is just such a lack of these kind of dramas in the US, and how you talked about the little kid inside of you- that is exactly what I feel. I have that huge need for these BL shows. They are just so innocent and pure to me and they have that kind of childish romance that I didn't even know I wanted. I don't care that they are following all the same formulas - it's like new faces with that same kind of moral uplift and it always works for me.

Talk to you again soon :)

I love these dramas like a person parched in the desert. I just rewatched episode 8 and did enjoy it (I rewatch all these dramas in the background). I'll be rewatching this for years probably. I think it helps to talk through some of these things in a chat forum.

Ok, I'm flexible. I'll give you that it is not realism, but more realistic than most BL's which are totally artificial. I loved that it had an authentic environment, and maybe I was reading too much into that.

Nice discussion. I appreciate your insights here and other posts I've seen on here. I appreciate most of these dramas - it's really like my main source of entertainment. They are so relaxing and uplifting after the usual grind at work.

I really appreciate your answer. I had a similar problem with my first partner, but I maintained it and I had to basically cut off my financial support from my parents but it's not hard at all to survive in the US. You just have to give up almost all of your luxuries. I think the storyline is still hard for me to swallow, but I think if they had shortened the time and had a little more communication between the two the plot would have been less jarring. I'm enjoying this series a lot, though.