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Try not to let other people's stuff get you down. This is now my favourite BL series but I know that other people will think it's just average and some may not like it. The ratings and the critiques don't change how much I loved the show, and other people have the right to their opinion. It's not going to change how much the show has meant to you. =)

Hopefully, people can appreciate that just because we had critiques that it's not meant as a slight toward them...

I've wondered if it might not be a matter of lived experiences rather than gender and orientation. I'm really not sure. It's cool that people love it, but I was underwhelmed.

Once again, as a psych major, go back to what you've probably studied as key factors in the process of communication:

A receiver's openness to a message is greatly influenced by both the value they place on the sender, and their own opinions and beliefs.

A person who could not care less about awards, as a whole, is probably oblivious to what an awarding body may do.

In general, the older that people become, the less they are likely to assign high value to the opinions of others in matters of taste. They become more discerning in what they do and do not like for themselves, and are less swayed by outside opinion.

Even if a person places a value on awards, if an awarding body gives an honour to something/someone they really dislike, they are most likely to reject that opinion. They will also likely cry foul if something/someone they really liked was passed over.

If it actually makes you physically nauseous, then I would say without judgment of any kind that you should let it go. No television show is worth that. =)

It's definitely a good experience, even an accomplishment. It still doesn't qualify as 'proof' of something, though. It's great that ITSAY was the first BL series to win mainstream awards! That does not 'prove' that it is objectively superior to everything else, though. =)

Sincerely, I've probably been watching awards presentations longer than you've been alive. I'm also fully aware that they can be presented to pieces for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of a work. Intense lobbying goes on behind the scenes in the entertainment industries, worldwide.

Thank you, but I don't actually believe that a series should require a supplement for explanation. It should stand on its own merits first and foremost.

Behaviour is indeed multifaceted. I was just pointing out the weakness of the position, as presented.

As for the inconsistencies, there was a pattern of one-step-forward then two-steps-back in his relations with Oh that are indicative of an inconsistent approach.

As for it being Teh's coming of age story, it actually undermines him as a character to have the other people around him being more clear-headed. That's one of the reasons I said that it felt that he got more breaks than his character merited.

The tropish aspect is largely in the nature of his angst-ridden path toward self-acceptance. As a mature gay man, I can say that this approach has been presented so many, many times that it has become a trope. It's not innovative writing.

I liked ITSAY enough to look forward to the 2nd series, but I hope that the characters will mature in their journey through university.

I've noticed a trend whereby you try to claim that there are objective measures that prove ITSAY's superiority. (rating, awards, etc.) This is a work of fiction. No truly objective measures exist to apply to something that is subjectively viewed and varyingly enjoyed by the viewers.

There's nothing wrong with just saying you love it and discussing the ways in which you appreciate it. Even what are perceived to be the greatest works of literature in human history are ultimately considered in a subjective manner by those who read them.

Coming into this thread, though, and not really even discussing ATOTS yourself can make you come across as being motivated by some sort of grudge against it. Again, as a psych major, I'm sure that you can appreciate that.

Enjoy you day =)

Sorry, I meant your studies.

To some of your specific points:

"1. He's in a teenage phase. For a 17 year old, his behavior and decisions—more emotional instead of rational— is greatly affected by the imbalances of his hormoness."

If his age is a determining factor, why aren't his cohorts behaving in the same fashion? His hormones don't really have that much to do with it...

"2. As mentioned by Hoon, Teh is a cry-baby. It's part of his character to cry even at things that are superficial to others."

This is a fair observation, but it doesn't speak to the excessive nature of the crying.

"3. His motivations are shattered, not by others, but by himself. It was established early that his motivations are (1) the university of his choice to make his mother proud and (2) building a good relationship with Oh-Aew."

2) it was inconsistent for much of the series.

"That being said, his reactions to those external and internal stimuli is perfect, technically speaking."

As a psych major, I'm sure that you can appreciate that it is impossible to describe his reactions as "perfect" in any "technical" sense.

"Tarn's motivation is to pass the exam. That's totally it. She mentioned on the early episodes that it's what she wants and the relationship with Teh is at peripheral view. The implication: she's a strong women who knows her worth and is focused on obtaining her goals."

It's true that she was focused and it serves as a contrast to Teh. As I said before, many of his cohorts seemed to be more clear headed than he, yet he is is behaving in some rather tropish ways.

"Bas, on the other hand, does not share the culture of Teh's family. Teh is a Chinese-descent; they are conservative so when it comes to a man and man relationship, it's a no-no. Bas is more liberal and braver. That's why Teh felt challenged and confused when Bas confessed to Oh Aew. Why can this person do what I can't. And guess what happened later. Teh confessed to Hoon."

Bas was studying Chinese along with the others. I do not recall any reference in the series that specifically mentioned that Bas was not of Chinese descent. Perhaps you could remind me?

Very good! How far along are you?

I understand that you're very fond of ITSAY and that's obviously fine. Have you even watched ATOTS? It doesn't appear on your watchlist. If not, why are you posting in this thread?

I'm actually a psych nurse and I feel quite comfortable with my own impressions, thank you.

How juvenile. Never mind, though. As individual viewers, what matters is how much we enjoy a show, ourselves. Ratings and awards don't "prove" anything.

For me, ITSAY really did feel overwrought and melodramatic at times. That dulled my empathy to the point where I didn't shed a tear, and I'm a pretty sentimental kind of guy. I just felt like too many of the emotional moments were overplayed. The three closest points that I came to tears were the beach scene between Teh and Oh after the underwater kiss, Teh's discussion with his brother and Tarn's visit to Teh's after the exams were done.

I also felt that the story really lagged at times and I was tempted to fast forward.

Last, what I found was that I struggled to really identify with Teh, as a character. Yes, he's young, yes he's insecure, and he did have his good points but his contemporaries in the series had their heads on well enough (Bas and Tern, for example) and Teh's plights felt tropish. Ultimately, I feel his character got more breaks than he necessarily merited. (On a minor note some of the scenes exploring Teh's olfactory issues were just a bit weird: The way he scooped out that coconut and put it to his face as he ate it was just creepy and he also seems to be a little too fond of paper...)

Oh, for his part, made so many allowances for Teh's behaviour that he was a doormat, at times. The only way that I can comment is to ask, if I saw a good friend behave like Oh with a guy like Teh would I good with that? The answer is no. I'd be talking with my friend about valuing himself more and not making allowances for poor treatment. We deserve to be loved in a healthy and respectful way and we shouldn't have to accept and settle for mixed messages and/or being someones secret side order. I would be doing a disservice to a friend not to point that out and I feel it's worth mentioning, here.

A hallmark of something that I've really enjoyed is that I'll know I'll enjoy watching it again and again. I don't want to rewatch ITSAY. I'm not so put off that I won't give the 2nd season a go. If it feels to much like this one, though, I'll pass on the rest as soon as that feeling strikes.

As for awards, I've been around long enough to know that the process by which awards are often handed out are often anything BUT objective...

Ultimately, it just didn't speak much to me, either.

This was drivel. A derivative, wannabe, pool of drivel...

I guess you can't even muster an explanation, then. I thought not...

Not at all. I'm genuinely interested to hear how you think you can make such an obviously absurd claim.