semantichero

Episode 7: the composure and nerves of steel. MY girl! Bravo. (insert thunderous applause and roses/carnations flying through the air) I'd have stabbed a MOFO in the eye/or both with my hairpin, strung him up with my sash and choked him with stepmama's ingots. Lawd!!!

That fan! There was a scene where he taps and tilts her chin with it, yum is right haha

Loving this so far, six episodes in. Sure, it doesn't bring anything innovative to the world of cdrama revenge stories; after so many decades/ shows I think it would be hard pressed to create anything NEW and never done before, but the pace, acting, direction and aesthetics are superb. Some scenes are just gorgeous, the drama and scheming is subtle and not OTT and the sparring between the leads is sexy, muted yet really fun to watch.

I like the fact that despite the knowledge there is family strife, we are not being hit over the edge with it. Drama is great but I am not in the mood to be overwrought and have my blood boiling (about to finish Story of Xanxi Palace IYKYK so I am SPENT lol). Sometimes the sledgehammer approach works and at others a more subdued kind of vengeance is just what the doctor ordered. No wasting time on dragging out discovery means the plot will move full steam ahead (I HOPE!)

And lastly, on a supremely superficial note, I find Duke Su so freaking sensual and HOT. lol

Let's see how the rest of the show holds up to this fabulous start.

Ahhhh, its over. I really enjoyed this show despite a few flaws here and there. Was disappointed that the comedic elements dropped off in later episodes but not enough to lose any points. One of the better shows I have watched this year. Despite all the hoopla and "noise" both pro and anti in the comment section, I went in with no expectations other than "PLEASE DON'T GO OFF THE RAILS AT THE END!", which it didn't so thank goodness for that.

Not a masterpiece by any means but a solid show with little to no filler, Never boring, good acting and an entertaining MC. It was weird but fun seeing Hwang Bo Ra play a villain, she's usually so sweet and funny/perky in other shows.

I loved the ending (bar episode 7 that felt a bit off) and I agreed with the decision. All he wanted ultimately was peace. It rang more true than if suddenly this suicidal person is all well again and ready to jump back into his old/new life. Bittersweet ending and a satisfactory watch. Now off to go read the manwha (first time reading it).

First episode in and I'm absolutely loving this. So funny and refreshing. Praying the following episodes keep it up 'cause I am TIRED of high hopes and huge let downs recently.

You know, I rarely criticize shows deeply (ie. too negatively) 'cause I respect the work of the creators, cast etc but... it's becoming a thing now with my kdramas. They start out with such great potential, premises, a well lined up cast and then shit just goes all to hell. Plot holes my whole body could fall through, implausible events and coincidences (even if it's fiction COME ON!), characters that are SOO unprofessional and absolutely annoying and unbearable to the point one gets frustrated. Then the last minute rush to an unappealing conclusion.

This show had moments of brilliance, you know, like a cloudy day and sometimes the sun peeks through before getting overshadowed again. It could have been so so good but, they kept dropping the ball over and over with silly shit and that female lead I wanted to smack her so many times, it's not even funny. Her constant banshee wailing and tantrums. Lady, act like an adult for the love of crime solving. MY GOD!!!! ughThe inconsistency of how one episode ends and another begins showing a completely different version of events, I mean I could go on...but enough else I light sound like a grouch.

I plowed through it with sheer stubbornness and sheer will aided by the acting performances of Park Hae Jin and Park Sung Woog. Gave it an 8 for their efforts and the good bits. So yeah, give it a go at a time when you feel patient, be prepared to be pissed but sometimes thrilled. I got nothing else. Just...sighhhhh

Loved it. So many unexpectedly tender moments that brought tears to my jaded eyes. I found the last episode a tad anti climactic, there was too much time passed being separated then a quick rush to the conclusion. I don't mind stories with long separations but not when you sacrifice a good denouement by spending limited episode time on what I think were a few too many flashbacks/unnecessary scenes. Took a point off for that, but the rest of it was sublime.

I love shows where you don't feel like you're watching people acting, instead everything just flows so naturally and the viewer gets fully immersed with the story and characters. I "believed" everyone in their roles. If you're looking for a well acted, touching, non melodramatic love story, give this a shot. Reminded why I love Satoh Takeru so much. He is divine.

Ohhh I've read the novel, but I have been away from BL for a while (Over saturated my brain so I had to detox and recharge) so didn't even realize this was being made/existed. Yay!!!

I love Shui Qian Cheng with her asshole gongs. I hope they don't water the story down too much.

Let the binge begin.

Yeah, I love Kim Soo Hyun and wanted to see him in a drama again. It's on hold for now and I might never come back; unless I find about 10 extra hours hiding under my bed one day.

I am not going any further with the back and forth. Just came to say you're right about my misuse of the word lifestyle. What I want/meant to say is not everyone agrees with/is comfortable or understands people living their lives (as in, are) homosexuals (not that being one is a trend or whatever).

P.S "The "right to disagree" stops at the point it starts infringing on other people's rights." Precisely. Like I said, that works both ways.

Whoa there dear internet stranger!!! At no point did I police anyone's opinions or say they can't make them. If you read my comments they are based on curiosity not judgement. I am/was mostly concerned with the high levels of acrimony in the comment section. Please DO NOT group a passer by with the mob. I am a fervent watcher of BL shows, read countless danmei and yaoi manga/manwhas so I abhor being lumped in with people who are actual homophobes. I can still question the vitriol without being one.

Protest all you want, I just don't get the nastiness and vicious attacks.

"We don't have to be polite and respectful to those who would deny us our rights and stories." It works both ways sadly enough and this is getting nobody anywhere. Not everyone has to agree with the homosexual lifestyle and they have a right to do with that, what they want. "What is good for the goose and all..."

Anyway... Y'all have at it! I'm OUT! lol

Errr i don't know. Two episodes in and something feels off with this one. Maybe I am in the wrong headspace. I don't even feel like I am going to care what happens in the next episodes. Don't mind me, just here thinking out loud...

What people fail to understand is that while China (an authoritative country) "legally" censors homosexual content, in the minds of many Korean people it is still considered very immoral. They are a democratic nation, yes, but they have yet to fully embrace LGBTQ rights despite BLs coming out of the country. I don't have the numbers to back it up, but I am almost positive if one did a survey of the consumers of Korean bl we might find that the audience is predominantly international. I am open to be proven wrong.

Thanks for the polite response. I completely understand the points of the arguments now. Like I mentioned in my comment I hadn't read all that has been said and so to me it sounded like a bunch of yelling about homophobia etc. This site has been the source of so much moral policing so I imagined this was another occurrence.

If we are saying China always censors these works and because the Korean producers didn't have to makes them homophobic is disingenuous. Maybe for marketing purposes they decided to remove that element to make it more accessible to their reserved audience. It does beg the question "WHY adapt a BL novel then?" But I am not in his/her head so I can't answer it. And while it may be queer baiting it still doesn't explain the vitriol and anger I read being directed at it. I mean, people are here insulting each other...it's bizarre.

I still maintain my stand though that despite being a democratic nation, Korea and many other such democratic nations still have ways to go in acceptance of gay rights/representation and whaling on each other and name calling in the comment section does not help the community in any way.

Ummm, I can read pretty well thank you very much. No need to be snide. I personally don't come on here to read and wade through wall to wall "pages" of arguing which is why I asked the question; to get an informed, summarized version of why the noise. And forgive me but "no such thing as censorship" in Korean TV? They barely hold hands and kiss and this is on heterosexual shows. They are a nation focused on morality and conservatism eg their stance on marijuana etc, and you don't have to like it or agree with them but the claims to homophobia seem a tad bit hyperbolic. Anyway, y'all keep raging and arguing and I will keep coming here to do what I normally do. Have a great day/night.

I haven't watched the show, I tend to wait till they are over to binge them but I just had a question after reading some of the comments. So, The Untamed is one of the most popular and heavily censored dramas that was adapted from a BL/LGBTQ novel, one with quite graphic sex scenes if you have read it. Did I miss it or was there THIS much debate, arguing and whingeing about the censorship of that show? The comments here are UNHINGED so it made me wonder. And that's just one of the pretty popular shows that the homosexual element was removed. Why is THIS one causing such an uproar? Just curious.

Is it because it's expected from China but not Korea? We might have Korean BLs but please remember these are still outlier shows not yet mainstream there and the country is still VERY conservative when it comes to homoexuality etc. so what's the gripe exactly?

Absolutely.

Replying to myself for others who might feel this way (above comment): Hang in there, it gets better. Newer characters are added so there is more depth beyond the antics of that always scheming, highly annoying Noble Consort (does the b**** ever SLEEP ?! Damn lady!!!! Find something to do with your free time) and older characters are being given more air time. Great show!

lol I completely understand. It's one of those the mood has to be just right. Hope you finally enjoy it when you try watching it again!

That was me for a long while. I took a long break from the show while watching this. I kept watching it late at night and the background music in too many scenes kept putting me to sleep and I just couldn't anymore. I felt bored. I suggest putting it on hold and then after a couple shows come back to it. I felt rejuvenated and finally completed it. Weirdly enough after the break I really enjoyed it. It might be the same for you where the music is just killing the whole energy and vibe of the show/plot but eventually it gets exciting enough where you want to see how it ends/complete it.