any_anka

Of course, judging by the story alone, we should get s2 for sure, since they not only left a few plot points open, but even set up the entire finale to be an obvious cliffhanger (not just the Liuyi part, but the entire plot of second couple).
Aside from that, actors themselves mentioned s2 so many times on different occasions I actually lost count 😋

The thing is, I think we're all collectively traumatised 😅 For some of us it is what happened with The On1y One (me, I am very much so still bitter about it), for others it's Stay With Me. And I happen to even remember how History2: Crossing The Line was rumoured to have a movie (when did that happen, cause I must've missed it 😋)
In general, there's not much encouraging precedence when it comes to continuations of Chinese/Taiwanese BLs.
Which is why getting an official confirmation/announcement would be *that much* reassuring.

The entire drama with subs is available on Linmon's official YouTube channel.

It's probably your brain mixing two things.
Apparently, according to some people who saw the news back then, when the casting for s1 started they were talking about 12 eps (and it later got cut down to 9). Maybe you read that one and your brain adjusted the story to fit your liking? My brain does that all the time 😅

Let's hope we get at least 12 additional eps once (if) s2 drops.

Let me join you in shared pain...

Our Youth. It has beautiful cinematography, incredible chemistry between characters and captivating story.

What am I even watching? 😂 The plot makes very little sense, and yet the emotional intensity is so real and so well executed...

It's a bit difficult for me to completely isolate my opinion from all I got to know about them from novel spoilers I came across...

But in general, no. I didn't get the vibe.
My original impression in the first two episodes was that there *might* possibly be something there also on Liuyi's part. However, it wasn't really strong and that vibe completely disappeared in the following episodes.

I think that the drama left a possibility there to expand on their relationship into romantic areas if there was a continuation and they felt like that was the right direction to head to (I personally kinda don't want them to do it though, but that's just me), while at the same time making Liuyi's behaviour platonic enough for Qinglong and him to have only this found-family/mentor-disciple/ge-didi type of thing.
That possibility of sth romantic coming solely from one scene in episode 1 (if I'm remembering it correctly), when Liuyi collapses drunk against the wall after the whole drama with Fei Qi and Qinglong appears there to hand him a handkerchief. The way this scene was filmed gave it a semi-romantic vibe, with Liuyi being drunk/vulnerable and him in that state looking up at Qinglong.
Having said that, that was like the most romantic interaction they ever had as far as I'm concerned 😋 Everything that followed didn't really cross the line of "we're close like family" by my standards. And even that scene I mentioned earlier didn't cross any lines either when it comes to Liuyi's behaviour. It was all in the filming alone (and Qinglong's actions/eye-acting).

Then, after Qinglong's death, that moment when Liuyi made Chusan drive him to the crime scene and had his talk to Qinglong, telling him about a new "friend" he made only solidified the nature of Liuyi's feelings for Qinglong in my eyes. That monologue felt totally like something you'd tell your parents, not your love interest.

Me? Wow, thank you, that's such a nice compliment to get ;)
But, but... I haven't read the novel and I saw you guys discussing in-depth some aspects of the novel there (I already spoilt myself because I originally expected spoilers from the drama and then my eyes just couldn't stop reading... 🙃) and I'm trying to stay as spoiler-free as possible...
Is it safe to go there? Will I get spoilt more? 😋
Which part would you like me to address?

I think it covered some 1/3 of the novel (according to the people who read it).
Yes, s2 is supposed to happen (allegedly this year, but don't trust me on that... or the main actors who said it ;) we didn't get the official confirmation/announcement yet).

Oh, wow, seems like you disliked way more than originally stating 😅
Well, it could be just me making excuses for the drama I adore, but let me address some of these.

We don't really know what is acting "in character" for Liuyi when it comes to liking someone or being jealous over someone. We never saw him even try to flirt with anyone, needless to say deal with actual serious feelings for someone. He does have history of hooking people he cares about up with someone w/o really considering if the attraction is really there (just based on the drama alone, there's more to in the book apparently, but let's treat them as separate works). So there is some precedence...

Escaping the crime scene and staying under the radar - ok, I see your point there, but let us remember that this is the 80s, there aren't cameras on every corner of the street, even if (very few) people have mobile phones, they aren't as trackable as nowadays. The 80s are considered the golden age of serial killers for a reason. It was way easier to commit a crime and just disappear. You also need to remember that the whole setting of Kowloon City is a place run by the mob. It's generally considered a lawless place, with plenty of crime never actually punished (plus I've listened to enough true crime podcasts to know that incompetence does happen in police force just like in every other field 😋)
Staying under radar? That part is even less unbelievable to me. Chusan, with his squeaky clean record and perfect image is not the first person police would check looking for Liuyi. And what would they do? Just barge in Chusan's place? Arrest him? Based on what premise? Plus Liuyi didn't even stay under the radar for that long. A day? A day and a half? Two days? Liuyi never left Chusan's place until Chusan was kidnapped, so the risk of him being seen was limited.

Now, Liuyi fighting with blades instead of guns - yeah, that's stupid. Just about as stupid as every other action movie where you have people with swords or knives or one regular gun going against an entire army of enemies. That's almost part of a genre. You do have the point there, but at the same time, that's a super common inconsistency.

Chusan was supposed to outsmart the bad guys with his brilliance. There's additional scene just right after the beginning of the credits that sheds a bit more light onto it. I don't think it was shown perfectly, so I will not spend much time defending this part 😋

Clothes, cars and everything else not being 80s-like - well, but that's not really a complaint about the last few episodes, isn't it? It had to bother you from the beginning...
I honestly don't know about the clothing or hair, I don't know how was Hong Kong's fashion at that time at all. But there are certain things that are definitely not faithful to the era (from infrared sinks at the hotel to LCD screens in the hospital😅). Once again, didn't ruin my experience, but if they filmed s2, I would appreciate it if they paid a bit more attention to such details myself.

About the girl's age - you need to remember how much time has passed in between episodes. Chusan has already graduated and is becoming successful at his job. While I am not sure what is the "official" book setting for the girl, but I don't remember the drama ever stating she was underage. What I do remember is Dong Dong not knowing where she came from, doubting her age and specifically saying that she won't have someone underage working for her.
I assumed if the girl is working there already, most likely with the time passing she is not underage anymore (or maybe wasn't at all to start with).

I wish this was longer... at least an hour long, with some more focus on their interactions when being together.
Still, beautiful.

I don't think the plot is really that messy. Minus the last episode, in which they clearly were setting things up for the second season and a cliffhanger, nothing else was particularly messy?

Plus you kinda admit it yourself that the reason why you don't get what the deal is with the second couple is your lack of attention to them. And if that's the case, then the perceived messiness can't be blamed (solely) on the drama anymore... it's kinda on you? ;)

The leads are phenomenal, we agree on that :)

Thanks a lot! But there are sooo many different shows... I don't think I have it in me to commit to the story on this level 😋
I guess I'll just opt for being a bit confused similar to you ;)

No problem. Hope you liked it as much as I did (which would would mean you loved it ;))

Possibly. No official announcement as of now, but the actors themselves said it will happen this year.

I might've downplayed it a bit when I said it's "kinda sad". I think soul-crushingly sad would be more appropriate ;) (Though honestly I actually always thought the ending was bitter-sweet and even hopeful... but I think I am in the minority 😅)
I'm happy you enjoyed the pain ;)

btw, if you are considering the other drama I mentioned - Had I Not Seen The Sun - the actor who played Birdy in Your Name Engraved Herein plays the main character there. And may I say, his acting improved since the movie, he's crushing it in the show.
Maybe that would be an incentive to give it a try (but I will warn you, there is more pain awaiting there...)

Now I'm thinking that maybe History 3: Trapped could be something you'd enjoy... It's nothing like SCD in terms of cinematography or the overall vibe, but it does have: a gangster (and a pretty decent story around that tbh), a good guy who's falling for that gangster, and a really really healthy non-toxic relationship dynamics.

It's a bit older series (2019), but that's exactly why I'm thinking there's a chance some folks might not know of its existence. Enjoy ;)

Actually... both Matthew and Yanzhao can speak Cantonese. But since it's not the case for all the actors (and I guess the crew?), it makes sense they'd end up filming in Mandarin, who everyone could speak and unerstand. Otherwise it'd be difficult to convey all the right emotions during interactions between characters etc.
Still, Matthew actually speaks Cantonese in his scenes and Yanzhao spoke it in the final ep too.

So... no toxicity, Chinese, similar dynamics... Girl, saying you don't care it's gay or straight might sound like broadening the scope, but it really doesn't when these two other requirements are in place :P
I tried thinking hard what I could possibly recommend to you and in the end concluded that SCD is really special (not that I didn't know that already, but...), because I had genuine problems coming up with anything remotely similar.

Hear me out though. These... might not meet the requirements, but they kinda do in some ways ;)
"Your Name Engraved Herein" (a Taiwanese gay movie; accidentally also set in the 80s)
and (a straight) Taiwanese drama "Had I Not Seen The Sun" (my absolute favourite drama from last year, there are two seasons, complete story, both are out)

But... They are kinda sad... However, I think they have a potential to take your mind off SCD and start thinking of them instead ;)