WinterLemondrops

There's something very interesting about the dead hustlers, especially what their bodies looked like when they died. But I want to discuss Kokoy's because he, in the ending, reminds me of the famous execution of St. Sebastian (two arrows from his chest and side, semi-naked, with his hands tied behind his back). Not to mention, the backdrop he and Elijah stand in was quite similar to one of St. Sebastian's famous paintings of his execution, which makes Kokoy look like THE St. Sebastian straight out of the painting. But the question is: what makes the saint connected to this? I tried researching it, and it says that St. Sebastian became a prominent gay icon back in the Renaissance and the 19th century. This is due to these eras' artistic traditions, depicted in his famous pose: semi-nude, arrow-pierced body with intense physical beauty and ecstatic pain. Later generations of artists and writers, such as Oscar Wilde (author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, which also has pretty gay undertones btw), reinterpreted this as a powerful symbol of homoerotic desire, persecution, and the hidden, closeted experience. Also, some additional infos about St. Sebastian: his public torture and endurance resonated with queer people and marginalized individuals suffering under societal rejection. His hiding his faith from the hostile Roman king, being exposed by his military peers, and then being cast out, mirrored the lived reality of being closeted people. If yall guys don't know, it is said that St. Sebastian was so athletically fit that he became one of the King's strongest soldiers before the King executed him because of his faith. This is why the saint still manages to survive after multiple arrows are fired at him.

Fun Fact! - St. Sebastian is known to be the protector against plagues. Contemporary LGBTQ+ communities reclaimed his imagery during the HIV/AIDS crisis to represent resilience, suffering, and solidarity.

Now, for the ending, especially Kokoy's death scene. In my own interpretation, it shows Kokoy's character as a whole: a closeted gay hustler who endured the harsh reality of being queer and was "executed, " the same as the other gay hustlers. I agree with @Lys's analysis, but I want to elaborate on it further due to the symbolism yall might've missed. So, according to @Lys analysis, the REAL Kokoy was the one with the 3 other hustlers, while the Kokoy whom Elijah agreed to meet was an imposter who targets gay people through gay people he then killed (think of snowball sampling). The arrows on Kokoy's chest and side resemble a lot of St. Sebastian's execution, which art historians read as psychosexual symbols of penetration, rapture, and vulnerability. Kokoy also seemed to have fallen into the man's trap and has now witnessed the same man going to his next prey, wearing his own face.

Also, idk if yall notice it too with Kokoy's other hustler friends calling with the "doctor". I believe this is the same killer. This is why we see their dead bodies after that.

There's symbolism in the ending that I think yall mightve missed. Here's my own interpretation:

I don't think Pamilya Ordinaryo has any queer representation (???). Maybe the side character, sure. But I don't think it screams good queer representation

i remember watching this film 4/5 years ago and remarking how messy the flow of the plot is. back then, im still not a big bl or yaoi fanatic, and while watching the film, especially the scene when Ju JI Hoon and Kim Jae Uck hugged, i remember saying "Theyre supposed to kiss here, right?". Years later, I found out that Antique was original based from a bl manga of the same name (it even has a "lackluster" anime adaptation). It makes this kr adaptation so funny cuz the writer and director are trying soo hard to tone down the "gayness" of the original piece and make it like "theyre just good bros" kind of shtick then horrendously fails like bro... im literally watching the two leads itching to kiss each other every 5 minutes together.

did yall say BACOLOD??????? hell yeahhhh i love me some representation

Yes I'm actually aware of that, which is why I let it slide cuz i'm here for the story and the acting of both actors. But hey, at least the camera quality has improved in season 2, which is great. Nonetheless, it's amazing how this series manage to gain massive success by fans despite its difficulties, and they all deserve it.

So im not the only one who finds this drama cringe? Lol but no offense this drama is so good. The actors are nailing it even tho there r some scenes that it comes out a bit awkward. Im actually here for Elijah Canlas cuz hes slowly starting to become my fav actor (in terms of acting) after watching About Us But Not About Us (peak film!), Sunshine, and other more films that ive forgot to mention. Its funny bcuz most of his filmographies revolves around lgbtq themes in realistic, melodramatic lens, and i fck with that sht! Ive still yet to watch his other highly acclaimed lgbt drama film Kalel, 15 but i still need to gather more courage to watch cuz of its dark themes. Until i found out that he also works to this drama i was shookt. I heard this drama so many times during the pandamic of how good this was. So now i managed to finish it and its so good! The actors were amazing and the stylish creative approach of just using zoom meetings and messenger vc is just so fun to watch and god it brings back memories. But what kinda bothers me is the film quality when its not in zoom or vc. It looks like it was filmed through a phone. But i let that slide its just a minor issue plus this is an indie low budget series. At least this drama's story and acting manage to sold every experience i have watching this drama. Great watch! 3/5

I believe its Taecyeon's management who did. Given to the director's previous bl work, he can literally go all out with the intimate scenes unless the two parties agreed to do so. Yet in my opinion, given to how homophobic SK is, plus Taecyeon being a famous actor there, its safe to say that his management chose to not give him more explicit scenes to save his reputation, which is a shame but we cant help it.

The Summer Hikaru Died mentioneddd??? That series is sooo peak it really show queer struggles and exloration so well

Actually i alr saw someone made an ao3 of soul mate. The author advertised it on twt hahaha and there were tons of edits on tik tok u can check that out. Ive alr saved tons of them lol

What abt the bar owner where Johan used to visit, which is also the reason why Johan is labled as "gay b*stard" by korean haters

Dead.😞😞

Waiting for the ratings to reach 8.0 so i can finally rest on peace🥰 this series is just toptier

Now that you mentioned it, i also (always) wondered why Sumiko didn't tell Ryu abt Johan being sick immediately after she talked to Sua but decided to then tell him a year later when Johan is slowly dying. It somehow doesnt make sense for a bit

Thats what im saying. People are just jumping into conclusions without even observing it carefully rather than depending whats on the surface. Media literacy is so dead

Its an artist admiring his muse. The fact that he drew him many times in his sketchbook is just so heart fluttering like isnt this an old-fashioned romance people yearned for?

I agree with the trauma porn one. I believe that Seiichiro's accident and Johan's illness is quite unnecessary. Despite that, Johan and Ryu's relationship really sold me

Yes i was honestly also disappointed with the false marketing. But im still satisfied. Even though its not bl like we hoped for, at least the queerness is still there, and im literally okay with that

In my personal point of view, i view queer people similar to straight people. Obv some of yall would tell me that queer and straight are so different, which that i agree. But when in terms to experiences-- friendship, family, romantic or platonic--they share the same struggles.

Honestly, when i first saw the trailer, i was also scared that it might turn out as bromance. But when i watched the series for the second time, thats when the romance started to make sense. Yes i agree that the series can be vague, which is why it will take patience and focus to understand what the message is (even though it takes a lot of work unless ure a classic overthinker). I just find it ironic to see the same people who see platonic characters queer but this series as not (which imo, is. No offense to those who couldnt see it). Whether these fans may be queer or straight. Ive seen a lot of straight media which is in the flow and delivery as Soul Mate, which blurs the line between romantic or platonic, same goes to queer ones i consumed (which even took me days or weeks for me to understand the 2 mcs' dynamic). Its just that this drama alr stepped beyond that line (in my opinion same goes to others who are in the same boat as me)

And yes, i can see a film/series where nudity or s*x is important for the plot. Ofc, its a sign of the person's stripping away their insecurities and guard down to the person they love and the union of two souls. But i can also tell whether if the scene is only for fanservice, which is fine but sometimes annoying. Which is why i noticed a lot of bl fans who are always craving for nudes and kisses just to prove that the series is not straight.

I believe its the ABO one. The person's comment is so vague cuz its written in russian and my translator had a hard time translating it