Lorenzo

I understand you! The first episode I watched gave off different vibes than what I expected from a BL too but I do love those comedies. I did notice a lot is lost in translation because most of the BL elements comes from the dialogue and even most official subtitles don’t clarify the significance of certain words or phrases. I think I’ve seen two dramas that clarified the context of the phrasing and that reframed the entire scene. Hopefully when this gets an official international release they’ll have good subtitles.

I do like how they aren’t pushing the intimacy but give hints to something more since like you pointed out, one is still in high school and the other is older.

Not to be that guy but… those posts literally state BL-Flavored or is that a mistranslation? I mean from the marketing and instagram posts it’s obviously more than just a “Bromance”. Also the apparent subtex in the dialogue referenced by other comments points to this. First saying it’s no BL to it’s not explicitly BL? I understand tempering people’s expectations but it’s definitely BL light unless those special episodes changes things. Personally, I prefer the slow burn romances which is why I avoid certain countries bl content because it collapses into NC scenes and little story other than to lead to more NC scenes. I’ll definitely finish this series once the official subs comes out.

For clarification, who exactly posted that on X?

let me know if it’s good 👍

Wholeheartedly agree! This is probably the best vertical drama I have watched. The heavy themes, how they were explored and resolved were executed so well. The soundtrack was amazing and the cinematography too. I wished I didn’t put it off for so long but thankfully I came across it on IQIY.

I was rooting for him but I thought he won second place?

Trust me, I’m well aware of the genre’s roots. But acknowledging that a genre can and should grow isn't “revisionist”. Revisionism would be me claiming those toxic tropes never existed! Which I clearly haven't done lol. I’m simply noting that we don’t have to rely on those same tropes to create tension anymore. You’re conflating the history of the genre with its evolving identity, and using a revisionism argument to defend a lack of consent is a pretty shaky rhetorical reach.

There’s a massive difference between not understanding a genre and simply having a standard for it. I’ve seen the full spectrum for over a decade within multiple fandoms, and I’ve found that ruts and heats are far more narratively rewarding when written as scenes of vulnerability and trust rather than a shorthand for stripping away character agency. Seeing the genre mature past its most harmful tropes is a mark of progress.

We can agree to disagree, but I’ll always take a well-written, healthy relationship over a toxic power imbalance disguised as “core tension.”

Oh little one…

I know omegaverse and there are plenty of stories that don’t follow those disturbing trends and harmful tropes. I have read it since way back in the day on Fanfiction net and LiveJournal. When it was a niche concept and man those days were wild and full of disturbing stories.

Thankfully, because the genre has grown in popularity, it’s evolving past those disturbing concepts from its origin. For example, how ruts and heats are brilliantly written as scenes of vulnerability and trust. Strengthening the relationship between the characters.

Not excuses to glorify dubious consent.

Yup. I was so excited when this show first dropped because of the twist in dynamics and it’s an omegaverse but then I read the novel before the next episode and I couldn’t wrap my head around excusing the manipulation and abuse so easily. Like I thought the alpha had some kind of vendetta against liers but he was okay with it after all the reveals? Like at least milk one episode from the friction that obviously should’ve happened based on his character. I am definitely not one of those disturbing people who enjoy watching these types of relationships.

Yeah that is a very generous pov which gives way too much the benefit of the doubt to the talks around those shows. I see more praise for the abuse than for the redemption arcs or the intent no matter how twisted in logic it is. For me those “redemptions” don’t matter in the context of the offenses nor the twisted rationale behind those actions. For example in Revenge Love it’s much more understandable to forgive the deception than the physical violence in other stories which makes me hesitant on this series. It’s my personal preference but I’m definitely not going to subject myself to those stories that remind me too much of those extremely disturbing gay movies back in the day.

Thank god. I was a bit worried since most Chinese BLs are extremely “toxic” and abusive. I dislike the stereotype that gay romances have to be depicted that way since it’s two men in a relationship. I dropped ABO Desire because of that one scene and how it’s so easily brushed off because the other guy stalked him since he was a kid. I almost didn’t want to finish this one but it’s encouraging to know at least one of them is good. It’s honestly disturbing how many women genuinely like those abusive relationships (I’m talking about the comments on To my Shore).

Might be because of the channel.

Yeah, I get what you’re saying.

On first watch, my understanding was that HyeSeong originally distanced himself from UJin because he got colorblindness around him for some reason. I’ve read articles of kids who are artistic completely abandoning their dream of pursuing an artistic career because they developed colorblindness. It’s understandable why HyeSeong did that the first time around if he was serious about art. Also, I was under the impression that they weren’t even together in the original timeline but were just really close with unspoken feelings. After that reveal, it sorta doesn’t make sense that he would suddenly break up and study abroad if they’ve already confessed and were dating. To me, it makes more sense that the repression of his feelings in combination with the colorblindness drove HyeSeong away.

Now, when HyeSeong first went back in time, I thought maybe he wanted to keep a distance to avoid hurting UJin emotionally. But then they got close anyway, and HyeSeong started thinking UJin was meant to get hurt if they were close, because the same events were happening but in a different way. Then when it’s revealed that UJin dies in an accident, it makes more sense why HyeSeong broke up the second time around. He wanted to protect UJin from his destined death, which he believed was the result of them being together.

The twist that the accident was because of the break-up and that his sister and friend were keeping it from him is insanely convoluted. But it does provide HyeSeong agency for his second time traveling to make things right.

However, it is a bit strange in the context of his first time traveling. Knowing UJin is dead because of an accident he initially didn’t know he was partially responsible for doesn’t make a clean connection to try to keep a distance between them. If anything, he should’ve been even more motivated to form a connection! Which is why I think the keeping a distance plan failed immediately when he laid eyes on UJin again.

I can’t wait to see where the story goes and hopefully, all will make sense in the end. This is why I usually wait for the entire series to air, but I couldn’t wait with this one. Thankfully, it’s two episodes every week!

I was asking about Once Again 😅

Is it worth the watch? I have it on my watchlist for the longest time but I don’t like sad endings.

Also, I wonder if they’ll explore the color blindness. Kinda seems like they dropped it and the reason for their breakup changed to be UJin’s destined death chasing after HyeSeong. There’s still 4 episodes so maybe they’ll explore that later. Also, I wonder if HyeSeong will return back to the art room to restart the timeline or back to the moment he tore the portrait. Maybe he’ll retry keeping his distance from the beginning or salvage their relationship which seems like the easier route. Either scenario would make for an interesting story but I personally like the tension from “I like you but we can’t be together.”

Dang this is getting good! Some nice tension and a big reveal. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

It’s implied but like from one scene in the last episode of Unintentional Love Story. knowing that the side couple doesn’t have a proper ending is holding me back from watching the prequel. I’ll save it for a rainy day

I remember a time when there were little to no decent bl other than those weird af movies so I’m happy for more and more stories being told no matter the format.

Oh you might be right! I didn’t even think of that when I was watching but since it’s a fantasy series that could be it. I just thought he was going “color blind”naturally and that made him isolate himself because he’s losing a vital part of himself as an artist. Sorta like in I Hear The Sunspot where the lead who’s losing his hearing isolated himself. Ooo having HyeSeong lose color because he’s close with UJin is an interesting idea! It’s like reverse Color Rush.