The plot is word for word from the book. The book is formatted the same way. So it may seem off while watching…
I don't care about the book. The book is irrelevant to what this show is as it is presented on its own. I've heard "it's just like the book," or "it's not at all like the Manga" here on MDL 7 zillion times. The live-action adaptation has to stand on its own; else a screen shot at the beginning should say "READ THE BOOK FIRST SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON."
Midway through ep. 3 and am shocked at how slow and boring this is, just as the MC likes to date slow and boring guys and then act surprised that they're not his thing.
This is one of the most strangely-plotted/written/directed shows I've seen.
Major events happen in a flash, off-screen. We only find out about them later. If I started listing all the implausibilites, plot holes, and oddly-constructed story arcs, I'd be writing here for hours, so here's just a few:
The MC seems peculiar, in ways such as his low-affect reaction to that big thing in episode 2. Especially since it happened as a result of something the MC encouraged him to do.
Why did he suddenly not hang with his gay buddies and was desperately lonely, but then there they are at the wedding?
Regarding that group of friends...they all have the same personality made up of gay stereotypes such as "pinkies up" (they ALL do that? Really? The director seems to think so. The personality the four guys share is almost entirely made up of gay behavioral stereotypes. I've been told the director is gay and that may be true, but I don't think he likes gay men very much.
I'm lonely...I know! I'll write a novel and win prizes! As per usual, that arc happened in a flash and was discarded.
The MC was miscast for this role.
The MC supposedly had a romantic period of dating with the photographer - we were shown none of it. His partner (???), who I adored for his basic sweetness, was neurotic, clingy/needy to the extent that his good looks did not make up for it. But suddenly, later on, we're to believe the MC adored him. The MC was an a-hole to the photog at the end of that, but I at least could see what the problem was. Why did he do a 180 on his opinion of the photog? Like a lot of things here, that development was not shown.
Wouldn't you know, when you pull a bag of blueberries out of the freezer, that it has hardly anything in it? Why would you try to pour its contents into a sizeable bowl and then act surprised that? There are a LOT of minor flubs here, that add up to a major problem.
The rings? Really? That was out of left field too. Did they ever go on a date? Not that we saw. Did they ever sleep together? Not that we saw...which is odd, considering the MC is a self-described "slut" with a history of sleeping around. Not that we saw any of that either.
OK, I could drone on and on, but you get my drift. The plot is presented in a clumsy, clunky way but I don't think it's deliberate. And yet, and yet, I must give proper kudos for the unabashed guy-on-guy making out on display here. No dead-fish or mannequin kisses from these guys. This series was on Korean television! That's a big deal in homophobic Korea! Hopefully, a lot of people realized the sight of two men kissing did not make their heads explode.
Despite these misgivings, I will continue watching, as the production values are great, the OST is interesting and it's not so bad that I'm not at all interested in where it goes.
Berant Zhu is incredibly hot, and this movie is incredibly bad. Both of these things can be true at the same time. I wouldn't know where to begin in describing how bad it is, but unfortunately it is not bad enough to be good...it's just bad.
Wow. I am smitten. If the first two episodes were the entire series, I would rate it 10/10, and I don't give out 10s easily.
That has to be one of the most magnificent, delightful smiles I have ever seen. And those EYES. I felt early that both characters are immensely likeable and at the same time extremely different from each other. Great acting, direction, settings, cinematography, mood. I could have done with a bit less of the cutesy music during "happy" scenes, but compared to the cute music atrocities committed in Thai BLs, this is nothing to nit-pick about. The triangle was set up subtly and beautifully. Can't wait to learn the background on THAT. Those two in the van: Beautiful perfection.
I'm particularly impressed with the physical/athletic training these actors underwent for the roles.
This does make me a bit nervous, though. In the last couple of months there were two BLs that started out incredibly strong, then either began falling apart at the mid-point or kept up the quality before blowing it all to hell in the final act. I can't imagine how that could happen here, but I know from experience that it could.
I am cautiously, but very optimistic for things to come.
As I suspected (see previous comments below), Mishima does not identify as a woman, but as a gay man. He just…
My guess is they form an emotional/mental attachment to the story and characters as it develops in their head while reading the source material. Of course, any story in writing and pictures has as many interpretations as it does readers; nobody perceives a story exactly as it is perceived by anybody else. But the SOURCE MATERIAL! fantasists don't understand this. They believe what they have perceived as the story to be the one and only valid version.
Then, they begin to watch a series or film based on the source material and quickly become cranky because naturally, they will be confronted by a thousand small and large differences in the live-action version from how it exists in their fantasies. They do not like this. It makes them irritable.
Then, people such as you, Honglou Meng, and I have the audacity to leave critical, negative observations and snark in comments under their pet show which is already not going as they think it should. Upon encountering our temerity, they lose their shit and go nasty as they lash out in response. They are hardcore reactionaries.
My strategy with this type is to fling a few snarkish nasties back their way but eventually move on. They are of no consequence and certainly not worth being irritated over. Either ignore them, tell them to f**k off, or engage as moved by circumstances. :)
Unless they actually looked into every single participant and had solid evidence that they were participating…
You are a walking parody, cliche, and caricature of a self-righteous, celeb-obsessed Netizen.
I never attempted to change your tiny mind about anything. I pointed out what you are. Thanks for the rant to further prove me correct.
We here in the U.S. will eagerly be awaiting your verdicts on all the accusations against Diddy, so that he can be justly sentenced. To hell with that whole trial thing. Or do you determine the punishment as well as guilt or innocence from whatever country you're judging PD?
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Midway through ep. 3 and am shocked at how slow and boring this is, just as the MC likes to date slow and boring guys and then act surprised that they're not his thing.
Weird show.
MILD SPOILERS:
This is one of the most strangely-plotted/written/directed shows I've seen.
Major events happen in a flash, off-screen. We only find out about them later.
If I started listing all the implausibilites, plot holes, and oddly-constructed story arcs, I'd be writing here for hours, so here's just a few:
The MC seems peculiar, in ways such as his low-affect reaction to that big thing in episode 2. Especially since it happened as a result of something the MC encouraged him to do.
Why did he suddenly not hang with his gay buddies and was desperately lonely, but then there they are at the wedding?
Regarding that group of friends...they all have the same personality made up of gay stereotypes such as "pinkies up" (they ALL do that? Really? The director seems to think so. The personality the four guys share is almost entirely made up of gay behavioral stereotypes. I've been told the director is gay and that may be true, but I don't think he likes gay men very much.
I'm lonely...I know! I'll write a novel and win prizes! As per usual, that arc happened in a flash and was discarded.
The MC was miscast for this role.
The MC supposedly had a romantic period of dating with the photographer - we were shown none of it. His partner (???), who I adored for his basic sweetness, was neurotic, clingy/needy to the extent that his good looks did not make up for it. But suddenly, later on, we're to believe the MC adored him. The MC was an a-hole to the photog at the end of that, but I at least could see what the problem was. Why did he do a 180 on his opinion of the photog? Like a lot of things here, that development was not shown.
Wouldn't you know, when you pull a bag of blueberries out of the freezer, that it has hardly anything in it? Why would you try to pour its contents into a sizeable bowl and then act surprised that? There are a LOT of minor flubs here, that add up to a major problem.
The rings? Really? That was out of left field too. Did they ever go on a date? Not that we saw.
Did they ever sleep together? Not that we saw...which is odd, considering the MC is a self-described "slut" with a history of sleeping around. Not that we saw any of that either.
OK, I could drone on and on, but you get my drift. The plot is presented in a clumsy, clunky way but I don't think it's deliberate. And yet, and yet, I must give proper kudos for the unabashed guy-on-guy making out on display here. No dead-fish or mannequin kisses from these guys. This series was on Korean television! That's a big deal in homophobic Korea! Hopefully, a lot of people realized the sight of two men kissing did not make their heads explode.
Despite these misgivings, I will continue watching, as the production values are great, the OST is interesting and it's not so bad that I'm not at all interested in where it goes.
1/10
If the first two episodes were the entire series, I would rate it 10/10, and I don't give out 10s easily.
That has to be one of the most magnificent, delightful smiles I have ever seen. And those EYES.
I felt early that both characters are immensely likeable and at the same time extremely different from each other.
Great acting, direction, settings, cinematography, mood. I could have done with a bit less of the cutesy music during "happy" scenes, but compared to the cute music atrocities committed in Thai BLs, this is nothing to nit-pick about.
The triangle was set up subtly and beautifully. Can't wait to learn the background on THAT.
Those two in the van: Beautiful perfection.
I'm particularly impressed with the physical/athletic training these actors underwent for the roles.
This does make me a bit nervous, though. In the last couple of months there were two BLs that started out incredibly strong, then either began falling apart at the mid-point or kept up the quality before blowing it all to hell in the final act. I can't imagine how that could happen here, but I know from experience that it could.
I am cautiously, but very optimistic for things to come.
Do you think your women friends liking that stuff is comparable to the LGs on MDL who want fluff and cuteness?
Then, they begin to watch a series or film based on the source material and quickly become cranky because naturally, they will be confronted by a thousand small and large differences in the live-action version from how it exists in their fantasies. They do not like this. It makes them irritable.
Then, people such as you, Honglou Meng, and I have the audacity to leave critical, negative observations and snark in comments under their pet show which is already not going as they think it should. Upon encountering our temerity, they lose their shit and go nasty as they lash out in response. They are hardcore reactionaries.
My strategy with this type is to fling a few snarkish nasties back their way but eventually move on. They are of no consequence and certainly not worth being irritated over. Either ignore them, tell them to f**k off, or engage as moved by circumstances. :)
I never attempted to change your tiny mind about anything. I pointed out what you are. Thanks for the rant to further prove me correct.
We here in the U.S. will eagerly be awaiting your verdicts on all the accusations against Diddy, so that he can be justly sentenced. To hell with that whole trial thing. Or do you determine the punishment as well as guilt or innocence from whatever country you're judging PD?
lol