Thank you! I was considering watching it, because seriously, the Thai version had some serious problems, and if solved, a pretty nice series could have been obtained... But apparently that didn't happen, and rewatching Fighter and Tutor scenes sounds quite tempting indeed. ;)
"Their relationship was cute once they were dating, but still not satisfying because we never really got to see the details of how their romantic relationship progressed." - you are aware of Chinese censorship, aren't you? I was actually surprised that they showed *so much* in terms of the romantic relationship, from couple T-shirts to that lube in the bed.
The cousin dude was super annoying, and I think that acting contributed. I mean, that actor literally shows only one, single facial expression throughout the series.
"Who is believing that? Nobody!" - isn't that the point? The show is constructed in such a way in order to get passed the censorship, but also for everyone to understand the innuendos and to be able to guess when they switched from friends to boyfriends. "Their couple was funny" - I remembered it differently. One boy kept stalking, molesting and socially isolating the other, who showed a victim mentality. Not funny at all. In here, the boys are on an equal footing, regardless of the difference in wealth. Duo Duo turns the boys into father figures, showing that a gay couple can work as parents too. That's actually quite daring in a censored environment.
"One thing was Su Yu’s dad saying how all parents love their children." - I feel that he was trying to comfort WuBi. Honestly, if I were him, I probably wouldn't say anything smart either, so I understand him.
But he doesn't seem very concerned during the party in the last episode. His insecurity won't go away simply with…
In terms of realism - I agree with you. Like fully, 100% agree. But still I absolutely loved how Ji Hyun was sure of Jae Won's feelings and that there had to be some other explanation. Not only that, he actually figured out that explanation with his friends. Ji Hyun's confidence and insight in other people's feelings was like a superpower which I wish I had. Eun Ji was a sexual predator and Jae Won was a victim of her abuse, when he was most helpless due to his trauma. So I don't think he needed to apologise much for that. What rubbed me the wrong way though was how he was back to his popular boy persona in the last episode. I hate the "love cures it all" trope . The comment below is the best: just cut the last episode and you get a decent series.
I don't think mental health issues are well represented, though. The moment the MLs get back together, Jae Won's issues magically disappear. That's not the way things are in real life. :/
Very accurate list of the shortcomings of this series. I would add the miraculous curing of depression by means of dating - not very realistic either. I would remove the complaint about music, which I liked, but that's a matter of taste. I would also remove the complaint about the funeral talk - psychiatrists are just people too and they can also be out of line. I mean that shouldn't happen, but definitely does. As for the logo - wasn't it supposed to be a horizontal number 8?
"it still felt like a fictional "love cures all" by the end" - exactly! Jae Won has mental issues and wants to protect his love interest from himself, but when he finally gives in, those mental issues disappear like dew in the sun. The more realistic version, where Ji Hyun offers support in healing Jae Won's traumas and he decides to accept that offer, with the assumption that this will be a long process, would actually be more romantic. Also, I wish there were a hint that Jae Won would actually try with photography. I liked that we never learned what happened to the little brother, though. We meet Jae Won at the point in his life, where he is nearly ready to close that chapter - and he would, if not for the renewed pain. I'm extremely curious if there are people who cannot speak Korean behind the bar in Korea. Any Koreans to comment on that?
"Their couple was funny" - I remembered it differently. One boy kept stalking, molesting and socially isolating the other, who showed a victim mentality. Not funny at all. In here, the boys are on an equal footing, regardless of the difference in wealth.
Duo Duo turns the boys into father figures, showing that a gay couple can work as parents too. That's actually quite daring in a censored environment.
Eun Ji was a sexual predator and Jae Won was a victim of her abuse, when he was most helpless due to his trauma. So I don't think he needed to apologise much for that. What rubbed me the wrong way though was how he was back to his popular boy persona in the last episode. I hate the "love cures it all" trope . The comment below is the best: just cut the last episode and you get a decent series.
I liked that we never learned what happened to the little brother, though. We meet Jae Won at the point in his life, where he is nearly ready to close that chapter - and he would, if not for the renewed pain.
I'm extremely curious if there are people who cannot speak Korean behind the bar in Korea. Any Koreans to comment on that?