Etrnalhope

Yes! I think that's actually what makes this show interesting (and good). Characters are consistent, the story is taking the core elements of these characters and playing those elements out. Lu Feng has always been about power and control, even during the "happy times." We can trace how the train wreck happened and see it coming

While watching this, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a BL a BL. And I keep thinking about how I read somewhere a few years ago that a BL *can* be a romance, but doesn’t have to be a romance. It’s only important that the crux of the show is a love story of some kind.

Double Helix has helped me to wrap my head around this understanding. This is not a romance, but it is a BL because there would be no story without the love story. But it’s not a romance BL, it’s more a psychological thriller BL or a horror BL. I’m actually not sure that we’re supposed to root for any of the characters, individually or together (even though I know some people do). It’s a thought experiment, an exploration of what happens if you put these characters together and how things can fall apart and get really fcked up.

I actually think they’re doing a spectacularly good job showing the descent into hell, establishing character motivations, and making excellent cinematography choices. I quite like it.

(even though I need to watch Fake Fact Lips as a palate cleanser afterwards, haha)

I like it not because the watching experience itself is enjoyable (for me, it isn’t, “enjoyable” is the wrong word), but I like that it’s a show I have to digest and think about.

I find the discourse on this show really strange. Honestly, so far, in both SA scenes, Xiao Chen is very unhappy about it, so I’m not really seeing this be romanticized. In fact, it feels less romanticized than when BLs start with “no, no, no” which then becomes “yes” and they stick romantic music and lighting behind it.

I personally find it helpful to not think of Double Helix categorized as “romance genre” but rather as a story with a central romantic relationship(s). When I watch it, I feel a little like I do when I watch something like Requiem for a Dream — the brilliant storytelling of people’s lives falling apart and getting increasingly fcked up. I personally hope the characters don’t get stay together, but it’s also fine if they do in the end, because I think the point is to show how terribly wrong things can go, and that can happen whether or not the characters are together.

Obviously, that’s how I’m approaching it (you may see it differently, which is totally fine), and I think it’s quite well done from that perspective.

I’m guessing people are watching on GagaOOLala, which, annoyingly, MDL won’t list as an available streaming service. I haven’t watched yet, but it looks like there are 5 eps out on GagaOOLala

Haven’t watched the other two, but I loved The On1y One! Bummer about that second season though…

I like where they were trying to go with it, just seemed a little disconnected in trying to get there though. I actually only watched parts of Addicted, didn’t love it, but I did really enjoy LAA, even so!

😂

It was an actor-funded project. I believe primarily by LFS. Apparently they had been wanting to finish the characters’ story for years. Definitely underfunded though. In their livestreams, they mentioned having a very limited budget and asking friends for help with parts of production.

I believe it's an original concept. I think the show is trying to comment on the entertainment industry and the fabrication of both scandals and good deeds to control public image/reputation, which is generally seen as distasteful to the public, but Yoki is wrapped up in it. I'm not sure why he's wandering the desert...I'm guessing it's an "eat, pray, love" scenario and he's working on some self-discovery by going on a long hike? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought I was the only one who noticed, lol! I was so distracted by them every time there was a hands closeup 😂

For anyone that’s worried about the ending — I was just watching their 1/29 livestream and someone asked if it would be a happy ending or bad ending. LFS and CW’s first reaction was happy ending, although there was a tiny discussion among them about whether it was an open ending with LFS ultimately insisting — “no, it can’t be considered an open ending, it’s a happy ending.” 39:55 in this video (didn’t watch with the auto-English subs, so not sure how good they are): https://youtu.be/lRvS9x6H61o

My understanding is that Yoki was exposed as cheating/faking things during the reality show, so people are suspicious of anything he does. Since he was the main person in the live streaming of selling the villagers’ fish, people are thinking that he was likely doing something also suspect with that too, like selling contaminated fish to make a profit, etc. And anyone who is connected with him is also considered suspect, which includes the villagers. And now no one wants to buy fish from the villagers. Does that help?

Is there any comedic relief in this one or is it pretty serious from beginning to end?

Yes, there’s definitely no omegaverse in Revenged Love.

Nope!

I totally just signed onto here with no hopes being like—“oh, it’s February now, maybe I should check if there’s news.” And there’s news!!!! 🎊

Yeah, it has that feel to it

I think it’s a pretty good adaptation. There are some changes, as is usual for an adaptation, but nothing that totally derails the story. It’s possible to just watch the drama and read the novel from Chapter 60 onwards. The major change is in Benny and Zhao Xi’s storyline. The drama doesn’t have Benny and Zhao Xi together in the drama at the beginning, so they’re experiencing some relationship parallels to SW and JT. I have mixed feelings about that.

The drama is based on a novel. The director wanted to film it altogether, but they only got enough funding to produce an adaptation of the first half of the novel. Folks are really pushing for funding a second season for the rest of the story. The script is written, but it’s still TBD. If you need the rest of the story, I suggest picking up the novel and reading from Chapter 60 onwards. It’s close enough an adaptation that you can just jump in.

Already signed it, thanks for getting it out there! :)