tine

the "why" is quite simple IMO - at this point people like me are invested in the overall story and while the pair is obviously front and center there is more to the series than just them, so why drop it? also, it's still early enough so it's possible the chemistry I don't see will end up showing itself. I have doubts that it will but stranger things have happened.

no series is perfect and while I understand what you're saying about wanting to protect the actors I just don't think that's necessary or as helpful as you believe it is. as actors they know what line of work they're in and understand they will be critiqued in just about every way and some even welcome criticism to hone their craft as there is always room for improvement. but again, I really don't think they're lurking MDL and I don't believe my opinion was harsh. with that said though, if I or someone else had made my commentary on social media and tagged them I'd be agreeing with you as that would've been unnecessary and trollish, but as is I'm just innocently commenting what I think within the confines of this community which is comparatively harmless.

As for Shine, I have been watching and agree that it is excellent! 🤍

Veera 😢 💔
The writing was on the wall for Victor but Veera caught me off guard.

THE GENERAL NEEDS TO BE PUSHED OFF A CLIFF 🤬

I hear ya! can't say anything here sometimes 😭💕

exactly! good chemistry is apparent long before the romance starts. the side pair has it and it's not like their romance started so there's no excuse for the main pair to not have chemistry at this point.

after today's episode I'm thinking it's an issue of acting on one side. I've seen this issue recently in a different series with its leads and the chemistry there did end up showing up once the blander half of the pairing found a personality so perhaps there's still a chance for these two lol but it's a chore to watch them

This was in line with my way of thinking initially but chemistry is more than just romantic, no? Even characters who are only ever just friends tend to have platonic chemistry. I'd even say Khem has more chemistry (platonically) with the friends.

But had this been an enemies to lovers drama the two leads would have needed to have chemistry while still believably at odds with one another from the start, thus well before their inevitable shift to lovers. Ideally chemistry between actors should be apparent early on and be building towards the romance ark, especially in busy plots like this where there are so many moving parts which makes it easy for the romance to get lost and buried by said plot.

After watching today's episode I still think the chem is lacking but now I'm thinking it's a one-sided issue.

It's bizarre to me too. I imagine for a lot of them just seeing their favs onscreen in something, as leads especially, is probably more than enough. Quality, storytelling, acting, watchability, etc. be damned. "Negativity" aka criticism to any degree is an inconvenience they seemingly need to shutdown ASAP.

It's mildly annoying because 9 out of 10 times the many comments praising the chemistry, story, etc. won't have any replies from people like me who feel otherwise about it, yet 10 out of 10 times any comment that opposes or merely questions their fixed position on any point is swiftly countered and debated in the replies. And they're always so quick to say 'why waste your time commenting on things you clearly dislike' as if they're not doing the same thing in replying to any and all opinions they dislike. Make it make sense 😭

Shine is amazing and I have equally unpopular thoughts on some of the acting here myself (was even berated less than 24 hrs ago for saying I thought the leads lacked chemistry 😭) but I'm not sure the comparison to Shine is fair. That said, I don't consider myself a 'BL' watcher (didn't even know it was a whole thing until stumbling upon KP lol) as I am a serial genre hopper the things so maybe that's the only like factor that matters and is enough to warrant comparisons between the two but I don't see it that way.

To me they are two entirely different series not only in genres but also in the demographics likely being courting. And I'm of the opinion both production houses have very different goals and approaches to series making in general. BOC is story and quality focused and from what I can tell prioritizes casting according to skill and rightfulness for each particular role (which I love!) whereas companies like Domundi have far different expectations for the talent on their roster (ie: fixed pairings, sponsorships, fan events, fan service, music, etc) and will place them in series accordingly. Hence why the Domundis are able to churn out multiple series a year whereas BOC is limited to a single series, if that. And this is not a slight towards either, just saying there are notable trade-offs to both ways of doing things. Shine may have more cohesive storytelling and higher caliber actors and a whole band on retainer to score their series but the trade-off is being the lesser known series upon release as BOC doesn't have Domundi like resources to promote said series or perhaps don't care to make use of the funds they do have in that way. Meanwhile the Domundis opt to invest more in the marketability of their fixed ships which in turn breeds more than enough CP devotees who will watch/buy and amplify any and everything they put out. Doesn't matter if that series lacks continuity or is plagued by mediocre acting or awful storytelling - it will be eaten up with gusto and lauded as the best thing since sliced bread! Lol.

In any case, there is enjoyment to be found in both series for different reasons. Different strokes for different folks and all that.

If you disagree with the opinion you read why not scroll past it? Why give your free time to not only reply but DEBATE a comment with a personal OPINION you disagree with? Seems like you believe your opinion is somehow more valid than theirs. Maybe consider what your reply says about you.

Well, there is agreeing to disagree and then there's making outlandish assumptions and belittling people for having opinions you don't share or like. You did the latter and are now trying to reframe it as the former.

Saying they lack chemistry is not a harsh critique. Not compared to what it could've been. Had I expanded on why or what I think could be the underlying issue with their chemistry it would've definitely been a slight towards an actor hence why I simplified it in the way that I did, out of respect for said actor. People should be able to express their opinions whatever they may be so as long as they're doing so respectfully.

TNP was awfuL (IMO) but this comment section is starting to resemble that one with the overly combative defenses and debating/policing of opinions by super fans which turned a lot of people off of that series. I understand fans want to protect their favs but to the degree it's often done and the manner in which it's being done alienates viewers so I can't imagine the trade off is worth it.

MDL is probably the safer place to express negative opinions. If people start policing opinions here then they'll end up pushing people towards X, which I would think the actors and studio heads are more likely to be monitoring so the odds of them seeing harsh criticisms is much higher there than it is here. Just something to consider.

In any case, let's enjoy today's episode.

wow, domundi couple shippers are truly something else because what a wild and wrong conclusion to make... I don't care for NC scenes as less is more IMO and 95% of them these days are doing entirely too much. and I'd argue that that's an entirely different chemistry and so not the one I'm talking about because many of the series that go crazy with NC scenes do so to distract from the fact that their story and/or actors are weak. ex: TNP. I don't think THIS story or the actors are weak. and these actors look young so I'm definitely NOT interested in seeing more of them in that way. also, if I don't think the actors have chemistry while interacting why would I want to see them in an NC scene? what would that help? makes no sense to me.

I think you've confused me with a different kind of watcher. I don't follow pairs or actors or studios or anything like that outside of MDL so all I know of these people is what I see of them onscreen when I choose to watch something. so this series is the first I'm seeing of these particular leads. clearly you're a fan of fixed ships (where I am not) and you've taken my opinion of their onscreen chemistry personally but your attack is seriously unnecessary because I'm not a hater and am open (hopeful even) to them proving me wrong and winning me over by the end. so please be sure to enlighten me, were they in something else together prior to this series that you'd recommend so that I can see this chemistry you felt worthy of fiercely defending in this manner?

I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but the leads have zero chemistry and Khem in general is a dud. Peem is also kinda dull but the series isn't named after him and I like his scenes with the twins so it's whatever.

At first I thought the story was just too busy for the chemistry to be apparent but after thinking about it I've realized what a BS excuse that was. Chemistry is either there or it's not and here it most definitely is not. With TNP, story and execution was all-around awful but the chemistry between Z+N (and support pairs too) was obvious from their first interaction. Same can be said for MGB - a hot mess (the bad kind) of a story but the leads had really great chemistry.

So yeah, the chemistry between leads is stilted unlike the Chan + Jet duo who have probably shared more glances than sentences yet still have more chemistry than Peem + Khem

That actually makes sense!

question... is there a reason HY is so formal with SSY?
it's always "Mr. Sheng" which is both strange and cute
but it's HY so I'm guessing there's a reason behind it?

you're not wrong, he is always angry lol. I think today's episode may have been the first time he wasn't so on edge and seeing his face in a more relaxed state was almost weird lol. I like him though. he's comic relief for me

omg, he's going to give Mr. Sheng a heartattack!
good to hear he finds out from Hua Yong though

tysm! 🤍

When about does SSY discover HY's an enigma?
And please tell me he finds out from HY himself.

Zheng Yu Shan > Hua Yong

💀

I'm sorry but...

True, maybe even reasons beyond legal ones.

I just hope stuff is going on bts with Smart potentially seeking a way out b/c if he stays with GIR the likelihood of him returning as Jin is slim to none and if it somehow does miraculously does happen under GIR then I imagine the reunion would be awkward and sadly there's a really good chance this whole mess killed the magic and trust they had the first time around. So yeah, hopefully Smart is moving smart bts. It's the only salvageable way forward.