MareAzurre

I wrote before that I did not find any character likable and that the sex is not even appealing, but ep 3 and 4 won me over, because of the victims of the blackmailers. Brilliant performance by the guest actors, and their characters stood up for themselves and took control of the situation. Well done! The blackmailers continue to be this truly unsavoury couple at all levels though Samuel has very engaging sides, probably merit of the sound actor that is Jae Hong, There is nothing redeemable about them but I keep watching.

I have loved this series from the get-go, original premise, enchanting CP, and additional characters but it got even better. The fact that the boys acknowledged they were gay and proud when they got bullied elevated this K BL to another level for me. I am a fan of Japanese BLs but one of the shortcomings is that the BL world looks quite separated from the reality of being gay in Japan and the word gay is hardly used, recently only Tokyo in April addressed the matter. So it is great to see that this K BL bring an affirmative message for the community.

I think the casting team got this wrong, I don't understand the appeal of this BL CP. Kan Hideyoshi (the chef) is giving a convincing performance but I cannot engaged with Nishiyama Yun performance. I know it is a comedy but it feels very much an overcharacterisation from his part. Because the lack of chemistry, they did not sell me why the chef fell in love with him at first sight, I could have believed it more if it was a progressive attraction.

I like this drama though I am still wondering which direction is going to take. I love the FL character, she is a female Robin Hood, and her actions are so moving like condemning herself to a life of misery at the hands of his evil mother-in-law for the sake of her maid - with all reason, her maid is adorable and so smart. I am rooting for both of them. Then is the ML, a great performance by Lee Jong Woon I love his face, is almost like a painting. I just want to see clearly how all these pieces are going to make a whole and wholesome storyline (and if anybody knows the song at the end, I love it with that female husky voice, please let me know)

This is very good, what a pleasant surprise! I was thinking of those very plain K BLs of lately but this is engaging from the get-go, new premise, and the boys look great together.

Amazing performances by Lee Yi Kung and Song Ha Yoon as the adulterous murderous couple throughout the series and particularly ep 8. Top acting, such complex roles and they can switch their expressions in a second, the chemistry between them is also superior, and they burn the screen, we need to see them as the main CP in a drama.

Agree with you that performances are good. In Woo is great and the adulterous murderous couple is so well matched! but FL is always doing the same in every single drama, she just repeats herself I could predict every single one of her expressions. She is not bad she is just an actor who does not have much catalogue of emotional expressions to say it somehow

Thank you for your well-informed post. Lots of people won't read a long post here but I appreciate your reflections. Main point this is fiction! the plot line is set from the get-go. As discerning adults, we decide whether to watch it or not. There is no need to come to a forum to rant about a lovely BL that you well described at the beginning of your post.

When I started watching this drama I thought it was OK, it was an interesting premise, but the "cartoonish" side of their characters is putting me off. The evil is too evil, the stupid is too stupid, even in 2013 your computer screen could be locked in a second! The dynamic between the abusive boyfriend, potential mistress and FL is getting so repetitive. Additionally, The "mystery" of all is becoming so complicated that it feels out of hand. I am not even rooting for the FL and I cannot understand what the ML character wants. I will keep watching but with reserved judgment. Having said that, performances are always good. I like the ML Na In Woo, his performance is very moving. The adulterous murderous couple is really well-matched and very sensual too.

I agree with you to some extent but not in the case of this series or Ossan love. In this case of Japanese fiction, because they tell you from the get-go what the story is going to be about so you decide whether to watch or not, you are in control, However, other Asian dramas, particularly Korean ones, they glorifies/romanticises other terrible habits e.g. excessive alcohol consumption, they force people to drink even when they say they don't want and everybody celebrates. This kind of message in apparently "inoffensive" romantic or rom-com dramas is constant and it is much more dangerous than an overt plotline that does not align with our values. It is also fair to mention that BLs in Japan are scheduled as late screenings in the Japanese networks, so all of them, are programmed after 10pm but most are programmed at midnight. You can check in the MBS (main Japanese network website). This will filter a lot of the younger audience. So a BL even very innocent ones are geared toward adults.

This person is talking about political correctness going crazy, and being too extreme, and people wanting fiction to accommodate their personal/group set of values, which carries the risk of restricting the creative process. In Japan, they allow themselves not to be too politically correct in fiction. If you have followed Ossan's Love "franchise" is about two bosses sexually harassing their two subordinates. This production was so successful that there have been various seasons. At the moment, they are broadcasting Ossan's Love returns.

How interesting! I bet they are not as nice as Toki though :-)

I am watching this for Haruta and Maki who I always like and in this season, as husbands, they are bringing more sweetness in their funny ways. I don't like the other characters particularly. The boss who now is the housekeeper is so annoying but I must admit, this series belongs to a particularly Japanese comedy genre and I don't always understand/enjoy that kind of humor.

I have to agree with you, this is fiction and we are a discerning audience. Since the ancient Greek times audiences watched plays about incest and all sorts of taboo subjects for the ancient Greek society. They acknowledged the difference between fiction and reality. Additionally, these are manga characters I will be inclined to think that there are no Toki-like characters in Japanese schools!

Love the series. It did entertain me from beginning to end. Dong Yoon and Nana were the loveliest romcom CP, but after the ending I have a big question: what happened to poor Potato?😇

The weakest point of an otherwise really enjoyable rom-com is the crime story. It could have been so interesting but they portray the police as a bunch of morons who never properly discuss the case and are so inefficient that in a real context, they all would have been sacked. In real life, they would have investigated thoroughly the husband as an obvious suspect! In addition, while the FL is lovely as a lover, as a crime witness is useless and puts herself in the most unnecessary danger.

I understand what you are saying, I thought was 3 year for teaching training, anyway in term of age even 6 years they are the same age generation, but as you say, the problematic issue is the teacher/student relationship.

It is not uncommon to have teacher/student romances in Japanese dramas and not only in BLs. While in other countries this is unthinkable as an enjoyable series, in Japan, they manage. I understand the age difference between new teachers and students in that grade (after this they go to University) it is not big, probably 3 years for new teachers, maybe regarding Sahara and Toki 4 or 5 but not more. They are, in fact, from the same generation, It is their roles that render their romantic relationship inappropriate/not ethical. Japanese series try to resolve that point by leaving the affair as platonic until the student graduates. I confess to love the series, Toki is one of the most endearing characters in a Japanese BL, with his big heart in the right place. Sahara is so moved by him and goes about calmly but full of joy savouring every moment. He ends up trusting Toki with an open heart. In ep 6, the scene in which Sahara is overwhelmed by the past and lies on Toki's lap is certainly tender.

Creepy is actually a good description! I watched ep 1 and 2 and I don't find any redeemable quality to recommend this drama.

I don't find any of the characters likable. In the first ep I thought the ML was quite endearing but by the end of episode 2, not even him is redeemable. What they do is not excusable at all so there is no way to root for them. The sex is not "sexy" so there is not even that attraction in the drama. I am still curious to find "something" in the drama so I probably will watch ep 3 but that's all.