1
Tate Arson
?A BL with a red flag
With such high ratings for this BL (8.9 on MDL), the last thing I expected was its worldbuilding to fall apart in the very first episode. And not just worldbuilding, but the basic character development as well. Yeo Woon changing his attitude in a blink of an eye while Myeong Ha, who's mission in the game is to make Yeo Woon happy, keeps treating him condescendingly. I can also recall the choice for Myeong Ha in the game to save either Yeo Woon or the grandma from death, and it makes no sense. Why would the game which goal is to make Yeo Woon happy offer to kill him? Ridiculous.
🚩Another disturbing issue is Myeong Ha's behavior in confronting the homophobic bullies at school. Myeong Ha kisses the offender on the lips saying "Now you're gay too", therefore demonizing the sexual orientation, and by that moment we don't even know if he is gay too or not. This scene hit me in the head with such internalized homophobia and made me feel uncomfortable to watch the rest while that issue of Myeong Ha is never mentioned again. Aren't BLs supposed to be a safe space at least for gay people? Isn't it one of their purpose along with entertaining heterosexual girls?
By comments of confusion from other viewers, I'm not the only one. There is enough runtime for the show to unfold, 8 episodes for 30-40 minutes, but it doesn't use it right. I genuinely cannot understand why the drama has so many fans if the quality of writing is absolutely incomparable with such BLs that are immersive from the very first scene, e.g. The Eighth Sense, 2023, or the shorter one with the similar concept of videogame dating Our Dating Sim, also released in 2023.
🔸The BL K-drama attempts to tackle such topics as loneliness, ability to rely on another person and ask for help, life regret, and even suicide. However it doesn't go further simply stating them, as the writer doesn't have enough skill to unfold such complicated issues. Especially if you're about to watch this BL with the amazing Death's Game in mind, you will hardly be moved by the plot of Myeong Ha making value of his life in other people.
Overall, there are parts to love about this BL drama, like the adorable actors, but the atrocious and problematic writing doesn't contribute to the mood at all.
🚩Another disturbing issue is Myeong Ha's behavior in confronting the homophobic bullies at school. Myeong Ha kisses the offender on the lips saying "Now you're gay too", therefore demonizing the sexual orientation, and by that moment we don't even know if he is gay too or not. This scene hit me in the head with such internalized homophobia and made me feel uncomfortable to watch the rest while that issue of Myeong Ha is never mentioned again. Aren't BLs supposed to be a safe space at least for gay people? Isn't it one of their purpose along with entertaining heterosexual girls?
By comments of confusion from other viewers, I'm not the only one. There is enough runtime for the show to unfold, 8 episodes for 30-40 minutes, but it doesn't use it right. I genuinely cannot understand why the drama has so many fans if the quality of writing is absolutely incomparable with such BLs that are immersive from the very first scene, e.g. The Eighth Sense, 2023, or the shorter one with the similar concept of videogame dating Our Dating Sim, also released in 2023.
🔸The BL K-drama attempts to tackle such topics as loneliness, ability to rely on another person and ask for help, life regret, and even suicide. However it doesn't go further simply stating them, as the writer doesn't have enough skill to unfold such complicated issues. Especially if you're about to watch this BL with the amazing Death's Game in mind, you will hardly be moved by the plot of Myeong Ha making value of his life in other people.
Overall, there are parts to love about this BL drama, like the adorable actors, but the atrocious and problematic writing doesn't contribute to the mood at all.
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