MikeO

Moonlight Chicken is more slow burn in that it is real, honest but actually shorter than most Thai BL's and quite a departure from the typical GMMTV BL formula. For my money, it's one of the best they've produced. BL for those looking for a better written story.

I'd wait week so you aren't left hanging at a pivotal plot point, which is where we're at through four episodes

I have not watched the Netflix version, but I'm 26 episodes through the Chinese version, and it's a worthy watch. It plays like novel, with sweeping backstories and a slow burn. This would be what I'd call "hard sci fi" but they do manage to make equations and calculation "exciting" with editing techniques. I am enjoying it, though there are a couple of plot holes. I haven't read the novel, so I can't compare it.

My feeling exactly. How can we ever go back after an 8 episode tour through the heartbreakingly real BL world, where I’ve lived every one of those relationships and friendships.

totally agree

In the bar scene toward the end of the series, it was implied his love interest would return from China. Later a phone call came in, but the main lead his book on the phone and painfully resisted answering. Was this him? I thought possibly, but there was no translation in the version I saw. I was rooting for that couple, but this was clearly a story that was not going to have that kind of tidy ending. this is one of my favorite series of the year from Korea. well, not a BL per se it certainly is the most realistic true and hard having serious about gay relationships I’ve ever seen

could not agree more. needed a break after the first six episodes, only to get broken by the final two. mi nus the health twist, it was my 20’s on display

I related to every word of your review. I lived this in my 20’s growing up in the US. it was a painful watch, but art is supposed to be cathartic. This is the real Bl world.

Six of of eight episodes through and my heart hurts. I’ve been watching BL and while I wouldn’t put it in the BL category, I lived this life in the real BL world. so for me, best BL ever. Wow. I guess in any culture this is how it goes.

both seasons are in my all time fav list, and I’d even give a nod to season 2 to being the best of them, though it sure pulled me through the ringer emotionally. (just like this one is doing)

I’m watching on Iq where the translations are good. but we really didn’t get any sort of resolution as to what changed cause the distance Not yet anyway

I really like this drama. I think it needs more episodes. Feels like this has enough story in it for 12 or even 16 and so the plot has to be rushed along. just an episode alone to explain the change in relationship between grandmaster and his student seems warranted. the backstory between the bully (not bully) kid and the main character is another. somehow love in the big city is able to pull it off, but this one just felt edited a little too much to make the story fit but it feels like budget pressure on the need to cram the story into only a few episodes is working against what is otherwise a great production. I’ll still vote a ten because we need more stories like this with great directing writing and production values. (and to be fair we are only four eps in). a little more breathing room on this one would take it from good to great

What I find interesting is that thi ss version is more like photo shoot than a series, where all the feeling and emotion is conveyed through eyes and facial expressions. I think these two kids pull it off, in fact they kill it conveying so much meaning with not much more than a raised eyebrow or a yearning stare , and this performance art version of Love Sick works for me. Many side characters have stunningly beautiful faces..not portrayed in a way that’s exploitative but rather artistic. A lot of care went into this, especially given how young the cast is. this is not “high school play level, which it could easily have been, even the boings and slidewhistles are acting more grown up than I’d expect. i’m not one to ever notice make up, but it seems like the make up and cineatography are really artistic. Art in of every frame? I haven’t read comments yet, but I imagine there’s a few people skewering this for being Love Sick with Department store mannequins. Personally I’d reserve that criticism for live in love. I may be wrong, but it seems like they’ve made a very purposeful artistic choice here and I think it kind of works. it’s not like they were going full Playboy the Series with a cast so young…maybe even under age. Yest somehow this BL seems heartfelt and deeply romantic for what it is.

pS Hire this make up artist for season 2 of The only One…please

I think I’m being beaten down by the low bar set by many Thai BLs. that’s the only reason I liked it more than the current 6.8 rating. Even though nothing happened, the cast was too big for such a short drama, the acting was high school play level, and the cowbells and slide whistles were as annoying as ever, I kind of liked it (after the first 10 minutes). So, better than Dinosaur Love and Bite Me at least.

I loved it too. really hoping for season 2. Korea does dystopian better than any country. oh, and revenge too

Back here to see if there is any hope. I guess not. The first four episodes were so beautifully shot. They really took my breath away. China has some awfully talented actors and behind the scenes types. Imagine how much the quality game would be upped if producers were allowed to create true BL's and fans in China were allowed to watch. I'd never have to watch "Bite Me", "Checkout", "Dinosaur Love" or "What the Duck Season 2" level ever again to name just 4 of a a hundred wastes of digital camera hard drive space.. I appreciate Taiwan filling the gap, and this year their BL's are exceptional. Of course the US might as well have censorship with the number of mouthbreathers pushing the "Don't Say Gay" agenda here, so I'm throwing stones at China from a glass house (since Boys Love is a genre hardly touched here). Thank gawd for most Asian countries. And to the producers of Blue Canvas of Youthful Days, please find a way " Fighting!"

I had the same feeling about LC Season 1. 2 is better if you like understated. There is episode where they go camping that's like a dramatization of the camping in the reality series His Man Season 2. I never bothered to see somewhow if the same production company was involved but the setting and action that took place was eerily similar (and this doesn't give anything about the story away), but I'll mark as spoiler in case you disagree

One Spring Night literally got me into K-Drama around pandemic time. I loved the realistic, slice of life aspect and the low key style of director Ahn Pan-seok. (One irritating character tried to ruin it for me but couldn't) So then I watched the one released a year earlier than one Spring Night with the same director and ML actor Jung Hae-in Noona Who Buys Me Food (Something in the Rain)...and now am watching the director's latest..not as well reviewed by I like it. But since we're in BL world here, I thought I'd bring this full circle. If you like realistic, low-key, slice of life type K-dramas (which we can't say we see very often in BL's), try Love Class 2. It has nothing to do with the first season. It flew under the weather, and with exception of one cop-out fish kiss, the relationships portrayed are realistic and, for Korea at least, not afradid to go there. This one flew under the radar. However, It's the TOTAL opposite of Four Minutes and My Stand In ..both great. And if you want more of that try Dead Friend Forever, another from Be On Cloud that gets better and better as it goes on (especially once Barcode gets involved in the show) a few episodes in. There is some overacting early on, but the cast settles and its crazy premise held me until the end.. These reccommendations couldn't be more on the extreme end of the spectrum from one another.

yeah. not every series needs to involve “chest clean up required” type scenes. there’s a good mix of shows on right now lots of high quality productions, especially from Japan and Taiwan. But thank God for Be on Cloud to stir the pot every six months or so with their insanely addictive shows

JBLs are either as squeaky clean as the cone or among the most risqué and twisted. this seems like maybe it’s going in the latter direction from the decription. I’m ready for some Japanese style Be On Cloud type stories