InkedBark

Ok wtf... You can't "queer-wash" anything. For literally decades, there has been a PLETHORA of straight romance media for anyone to pick up and consume. But the moment others want an all-queer world in fictional media (see: BL), it's a problem and that it is incredibly important and a NEED to include one (1) single hetero romance in the progress (sarcasm). If I want to watch a straight romance, all I gotta do is close my eyes and play something random on Netflix or cable. But if I want to watch something very gay and queer, I have to intentionally seek it out because media (even today) is still heavily saturated with straight romance.

Heesu in Class 2 is a GAY manhwa, with the focus on the GAY main character and his progress towards a GAY relationship with another GAY character. The live-action adaptation should respect that (which is a bare minimum that it's struggling to reach).

The main problem is that Chan Yeong and Ji Yu never got together in the manhwa, at all, and one of the most meaningful scenarios that happen between Heesu and Seong-won is immediately sidelined to be an off-screen scenario. I'll never understand as to why they showed Chan Yeong and Ji Yu running down the sidewalk with a new guitar, but not once showed ANYTHING of the impromptu fried chicken date between Heesu and Seong-won.

People get (rightfully) agitated and angry when a live-action adaptation doesn't follow the plot, character development, or character features, but it seems so many people are alright with this live-action adaptation making numerous significant changes that are not in the original source.

They could have still gone for the slow burn without having to manufacture a hetero relationship that never existed in the first place.

The directors and producers could have easily created the adaptation to be like other KBLs, 8 episodes and 20-30 minutes per episode, only focusing on the actual BL pairing from the original source.

OMG "queerbaited in a LGBT show" is honestly the best way to put it at this point. I was so excited to see the two go on an impromptu date, just to not show it and have it as an off-screen scenario. But they included the frolicking-with-guitar scene? Just thinking about it alone is aggravating.

Ugh! Those desserts would have been perfect for the two to eat after their (irritably) off-screen fried chicken date T_T

This is definitely more of a Chan Yeong and Ji Yu series rather than Heesu. They willing put in a scene of them frolicking down the streets with a new guitar, but didn't show the impromptu fried chicken date between Heesu and Seong-won?

Now, I like both Chan Yeong and Ji Yu as characters, but only standalone or when Heesu and/or Seong-won are in the same scene. The fact they never got together in the original source (based on what others say as I did not read the manhwa), that is enough for me to not care about their romance storyline in this adaptation. Honestly, I just skip their parts when it's just them two alone.

I'm torn between continuing to watch this series or dropping it until all episodes have aired. I just want more of Heesu and Seong-won as the main couple and seeing more of their dynamics AND dates, not Chan Yeong and Ji Yu as a pairing. If I wanted to see a hetero pairing, I'd watch the one of many straight romance dramas out there.

Heck, I would have taken the typical 20-30 minutes episodes of standard KBLs if it means the stronger focus is on the BL pairing. (I'll forever be salty about that fried chicken date not being shown).

I'm hoping the next few episodes will focus more on Heesu and Seong-won's dynamic, but that feels a bit too optimistic.

As an Iñuk, I don't care if others don't find it derogatory or offensive, a large percentage of Iñuit DO find it derogatory and offensive as it impacts us the most given its history, The history of the word and its usage in recent history on us Iñuit is, to say the least, violent. We Iñuit have been talking about it for decades on and off social media. If the producers somehow came across the information in their research that Iñuit have the belief that the northern lights are where our ancestors reside, then there might have been a possibly came across additional information about how that word is derogatory. I only hope that GMMTV, and other producers from different companies, can learn from this, if they even read MDL pages. Personally, I can only extend my grace so much.

Inuit/Iñuit is acceptable term to use in a general sense rather than that derogatory term.

I don't mean this to be aggressive, but if you never known that term to be derogatory and offensive, that means you never interacted with and/or listened to Iñuit. We've been talking about that term for decades, and stating that it's harmful on most or all social media platforms. I hope you remove, or put in the effort to remove that term from your vocabulary. Iñuit/Inuit is an acceptable term to use in a general sense, and it is best to use specific cultures (Yup'ik, Siberian Yupik, Iñupiat/Inupiat, Canadian Inuit, Greenlandic Inuit).

They were in Iceland, so Iñuit are not Indigenous to that land. You might be mistaken Iceland for Greenland, which Iñuit ARE Indigenous to, but your point still stand. That word is derogatory.

Thank you for pointing this out! I'm Iñuk from Alaska, and that line took me by surprise. This series is one of my favorites to date just based on how fun and chaotic it got, but that line was just unnecessary. People may make excuses about why that was written in, and I have to say is: GMMTV is a big company with resources. They could have easily looked into the word or related topics and adjusted the script. Hell, just saying "Inuit" is better and uses the same amount of syllables. I've also seen appropriation of dream catchers, which originated from Anishinaabe culture in North America, in some BLs and shows (but that's discussion for another time).

It is such a low bar for mame to NOT include SA in her works but even that bar is too high for her to reach. Honestly, if this work doesn't include SA, I may watch it, but that's being a bit too optimistic tbh.

Well, it's mame, unfortunately. It seems like she heavily relies on SA in most (or all) of her works to push the plot, get the pairings together (in some twisted capacity) or both, when she really doesn't need to. I stay away from her works because of that and it's unfortunate because it looks like the main actors have really good chemistry and visuals together. It'll be a miracle if mame doesn't rely on that type of trauma in this series, or any future works.

Oh my god exactly! The entire situation is messed no matter what angle people can view it from. They could've skipped out on writing in the NC scenes with Fuaiz, or just cast someone much closer to the age of Bas and JJay if the NC scenes were THAT necessary for the plot.

omg your analysis is amazing.
There are times when I love a certain media for some unknown reason, then when someone points out the underlying messages of said-media, I love it even more. I was captivated by the plot of "Blackmailed-by-Police Informant spying on Murderous Robin Hood Brothers" but you pointing the other points is just chef's kiss.

I originally thought a second season wouldn't be necessary because the way the series ended is fine the way it is. It is more hopeful and realistic, and not all chapters of our life end with us have everything we wanted. I personally think LitBC is more on the realistic side of gay representation and queer media, rather than a BL that should end with a happy ending.

BUT your idea is a solid one, one from Gyu Ho's perspective of his and Go Young's relationship. How actually difficult his life was before meeting and moving in with Go Young, his internal thoughts and struggles during his relationship (thoughts regarding his relationship and his personal life), and how he fared in China after the breakup. If the minds before LitBC wanted to appeal to those wanting a happy ending, they would show Gyu Ho moving back to South Korea and making amends with Go Young and having them start fresh with Go Young finally realizing what he lost, is finally back in his life.

I may need to rewatch the series so I can have a clearer understanding of both Gyu Ho in episode 5 and 6, and the way Young goes about the problems and obstacles he faces throughout the entire series. There may be some context or nuances I might be missing with my interpretation of the entire ordeal.

Go Young just needed to communicate with Gyu Ho more effectively about both their relationship and Young's obstacle of not being able to go to China. Or Gyu Ho was the one always trying to reach out but Young is the one holding back and Gyu Ho reached his limit with Young's lack of communication. That might explain why he threw his food at him at the airport. Again, I might be missing some nuances and context of the history of their relationship.

TBH, I do not want a second season or a special episode. Love in the Big City is an incredibly realistic portrayal of a gay man's life, and part of that realism is not having a relationship when closing out an important chapter in life. The ending was more hopeful for Go Young to continue on in his life, living with HIV, and understanding more about himself and love.

The series really does stick with you. Not going to lie, after I watched the final episode (and absolutely cried my eyes out), something about the series hit me like a truck and told me to get my life back on track.

I do agree some intimacy between Qi Lu and Qin Xiao would have been nice, maybe not to the extent of Mr. Liu and Tan Yin, but some. The only way I can live with this is that not all couples are like that in reality and that's totally fine. They both have their own, special way of portraying their intimacy and love for each other.

Touching on the topic of Qi Lu's father: it seems like a realistic approach of how many abusive parents can and do get away with their monstrous behavior and demeanor. It also doesn't help that his father seems quite affluent, so that wealth could possibly buy some silence, keep certain people's attention away from it, and/or be used to reprimand anyone who reports it. I also hoped for a better ending regarding the father, but Qi Lu seems happier now and possibly no longer in contact with that monster anymore. I'll accept that if that's the case.

I am not sure if it would even be considered a twist by others, but I do. It sort of reminds me of how Hwang Da Seul would do something similar in some of her BL works (all of which I love)

Spoiler for the ending!!!!

The "twist" in the final episode made everything worthwhile.

If anyone remembers the specific scene in the middle of series, they were talking about what future they wanted to have (Qi Lu being a director and Qin Xiao continuing his art), and there was a hypothetical scenario of what it would look like. In reality, that "hypothetical" scenario was the future they actually would have together. So happy with how it ended. I didn't even mind the time skip, because the love they had for each other persevered despite the long distance, no contact, and lost time.

Go Young couldn't go to China due to his HIV status, even though he wanted to go, as seen when they were both practicing Mandarin. Gyu Ho was willing to drop the job opportunity to stay with Young in Korea, but Young did not want to hold him back on furthering his career so Young broke off the relationship.

I watched the show over a month ago, so I cannot remember if Go Young couldn't go to China because of his job at the time, or because China forbids foreign HIV+ people from entering, or both.

As for wanting Gyu Ho to show up... I do not mean to plant the seed of hope, but there MIGHT be a possibility of a second season: if I remember correctly, the bar scene where the bartender told Go Young that Gyu Ho is going back to Korea to finish up some business was added just for this series, and it was not in the book.

There's a nagging feeling we will get both a happy ending and a sad ending: one ending for each pair, but IDK which ending will be for who.