Effie_Joon

Haha, honestly the first reason I started Sammy’s CD was to see more of that brunette boy 🤣
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not usually that shallow, and if I didn’t like the series I definitely wouldn’t keep watching just because of Yanchao’s looks.

I’m really glad you’re giving my boys a chance! What I actually think makes To My Shore worth it is how intentional it feels with its characters. The morally grey elements aren’t just there for drama, they’re tied to real consequences and emotional logic, so even when you don’t agree with what a character is doing, you can usually understand why they’re doing it.
It also handles tension and pacing really well. It doesn’t rush relationships just to get to the cute moments, but it also doesn’t drag things out unnecessarily. The push and pull between the characters feels very natural, which makes the emotional payoff hit even harder when it finally comes.

And I think you’ll appreciate that it doesn’t romanticize the messy parts in a weird way. It leans more into showing flaws and letting the audience sit with them instead of pretending everything is idealized.
Plus, the character dynamics are really at the center of it all, so if you like complex relationships and redemption arcs, it builds on that in a way that feels satisfying rather than superficial.

If you do end up watching it, I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts on it afterwards 😊

Personally, I tend to give higher ratings to shows based on how they make me feel rather than whether they’re flawless in terms of cinematography, directing, and so on. That said, I do think this particular series also does really well on those fronts, which is why I gave it a 9.5. For me, it’s one of the best BLs I’ve watched, even with the open ending. And if there is a second season and that’s actually how the first one ends, I honestly think it’s a pretty clever move.
I don’t really care how other people choose to rate things, but I completely agree with what you said. Everyone should be free to share their opinion as long as they’re not insulting others, and they definitely shouldn’t be attacked for it.

I, on the other hand, still can’t wrap my head around all the 10/10 ratings I see for other BL series that have super cringey scenes, at best average acting, and basically no plot like Only Friends, Me and Thee, and so many others.

I absolutely love reversible couples!
I really hope we see more couples like that in the future because the classic trope of the dominant top and passive bottom is getting old.

I watch pretty much every genre in general. Of course I have my preferences when it comes to the type of series I like, but honestly, no matter the genre, if it’s well made, has a creative script, and strong performances, I’ll enjoy it. I think I’m just going through a phase these past few months, which is why I’ve been watching only BLs. I’d like to believe it’ll pass eventually, that I’ll get tired of it at some point and go back to my old self 😅

As for BLs, I watch pretty much everything, though lately I’ve been watching fewer Thai BLs. I find them kind of shallow and repetitive now, and I usually end up dropping them after two or three episodes. But ever since last year and especially after Revenged Love, I’ve become seriously obsessed with Chinese BLs. I’m not exactly sure what makes them stand out so much, but I think it’s mainly the writing.

Still, when it comes to Japanese BLs, even though I didn’t become as obsessed as you did, I also haven’t seen anything better than Our Youth so far.

With Sammy’s CD, what really got me hooked was mainly the story (and Yanchao 🥵). Not that I didn’t fully enjoy everything else you mentioned too, because I absolutely did, but their story affected me emotionally in a way I didn’t expect. I know it’s not the most original plot and we’ve seen similar stories before, but here it was structured so beautifully, and combined with the gorgeous directing, it felt really special to me. I ended up loving the boys way more than I expected, to the point where I’m even following them on social media 😅
It’s only the second time in my life that I’ve followed a BL couple like this. The first time was with the boys from TMS. So yeah, it’s going to take me a very long time to move on from this one.

As for TMS, from the little I’ve understood through our conversations and from comments of yours I’ve seen here, I honestly think you’re going to love it. But! It’s not exactly a pleasant watch. It’s actually a very dark romance, with two of the most morally gray characters I’ve ever seen. There is redemption though, and it’s one of those series where, if you truly understand the depth of the characters, it completely pulls you in and stays on your mind long after you finish it. I think that’s why it has such a passionate fandom. Not necessarily a huge fandom like Revenged Love or The Untamed, but definitely a very devoted one.

https://futiledevices.blog/chusans-liuyi-childrens-day/

Oh, I see, you replied to me though

I know, I've read it multiple times 😅

Hahaha, I can't help it 🤭

So proud of them 💛

I'll come for help

Yes, both couples. In the extra chapters set years later, Chusan learns from his dear friend Guang Ming that he and Jia Hua are a reversible couple, and he gets jealous because Liu Yi never wanted to top him. So he ends up waging full on psychological warfare against Liu Yi until he finally gives in. Chusan ends up liking it, and from that point on they start switching things up regularly 🤣

That's huge 😍😍😍

They exceeded my expectations once again. I’m so happy because it makes the pain after finishing Sammy’s CD a little easier. Can’t wait for what’s next!

P.S. I’d gladly let Lu Feng ruin me with those looks 🥵

Yes, way before the main couple

I haven't seen the movies, but I remember clearly from the novel that the couple gets a happy ending. Or at least as good as it can be after everything that happened in their lives 😅
Anyway, in the novel they end up together eventually.

Yeah, I pretty much only watch BLs lately, I rarely watch other genres anymore 😅

And all three series you mentioned are among my favorites too, but I didn’t feel that way about Our Youth. As for The On1y One, that’s on a whole other level. I think I’ve only felt this attached to Sammy’s CD, The On1y One, Stay With Me (even though I wouldn’t exactly call it a BL, it feels somewhere between a BL and a bromance 😅), and To My Shore, which I still haven’t moved on from and honestly it doesn’t look like I ever will. It’s by far my favorite BL.
But I got really lucky with that specific CP from TMS, since they became hugely popular in China, and now I’m waiting for the special episodes to come out as well as an announcement for a new series with them, (although that last part might take a while).

Our boys from Sammy's CD are going live right about now on instagram. It's like they're doing it today specifically to ease our pain 🥹

It says there will be two episodes per week. Two episodes today, and starting next week one every Friday and Saturday. From what I saw, it airs today with two episodes on GagaOOLala, while on Viki it aires tomorrow.

I miss them every day 💛💛💛

I feel you, sis 😭
Even though this isn’t the first time I’ve felt like this since it’s happened to me with other BLs too, it’s really hard to enjoy or appreciate another series when you’re this emotionally attached. Honestly, I’ve been like this with almost every CBL I’ve watched since last year. It just feels worse with this one because we still don’t have a proper ending and we’re left waiting to find out when, or if, we’re ever getting a second season...