Tanky Toon

200% this!

Yes that point is true. I am not sure YJ wants any explanation from MK especially since he's the one who "ended" things. However, YJ feels that despite MK saying he (mk) doesn't care either way what YJ does, why ask him that question about his (yj) sincerity? Also he's making snide remarks about YJ not being his true self. If he were to let things be, I believe that YJ would have also left him alone. What I DO commend MK on is that he didn't join YJ's chat. In this instance, I'm glad he didn't try to antagonize YJ. Contrarily, YJ barged in MK's chat room with guns blazing. I'm not sure why YJ needs justification on something that happened in the past. Clearly, both have unresolved issues they need to hash out before diving into a relationship with other people. Some people said it's perhaps MK still have lingering feelings for YJ, but I think it's his ego that is preventing him from acknowledging that someone lost interest in him. And not the other way around.

I've been on both ends (ghosting and being ghosted) and let me tell you it's not a big deal as some people make it out to be. I don't feel obligated to tell someone I am in a casual non-relationship with, the reason I don't want to continue it anymore. Likewise, if someone ghosted me, I can take a hint and not dwell on why I was ghosted and move on. There's a lot of fish in the sea to be wasting time on such trivial matters especially when they even said they were NOT in a relationship. I'd rather be ghosted than someone stringing me along and wasting my time when it will lead nowhere. I'd rather use that time and find someone who truly gives a damn about me and not play stupid mind games.

Yes, either MK doesn’t know how to read the room, or a masochist, or a shit disturber. My bet is on the poop.

Hahahah. That's what I first thought when MK called Hanmin on the first night.

Exactly. I find MK to be a shit disturber. Why follow YJ clearly knowing YJ's pissed at him. And later be surprised when YJ tells him to leave?? Is he an idiot or just enjoys riling people up??? I think he's the latter. Then he cries and plays the victim card and basically achieved his goal of making YJ looking like the bad guy. You (MK) are not fooling me dude.

Agree. I would be like YJ and be frustrated at MK regardless of what happened in the past. MK said he didn't want to bring it up, but he's the one to ask anonymous question to YJ. And I find MK more rude when he yawned and looking bored during the entire conversation, than YJ when he was almost yelling.

MK is Exhibit A of a master gaslighter at work

My take away so far after 8 episodes, keep in mind that these are subjective:

- Seungjin - I know I would be sad too if nobody seems interested in me, but he should remember that 7 people are only a micro percent representative of gay men in Korea and someone out there could be better suited for him.

Also, ever since the beginning SJ shows himself a true introvert, choosing the single room at the get-go, hardly interacting with others except in a friendly way with Hwi, cries and panics when he has to room with other people, clearly values his "me" time, I'm not sure why he even joined the show.

- Hwi - I liked him sinced the beginning. He's sweet and wears his heart on his sleeve. Also he did not waver ever since he chose Seongmin as his first and (most likely) only choice

- Minseon - I feel the same about him as I do with Hwi. Both are adorable and loyal to that one person but the people they like are hard to read

- Hanmin - I am really indifferent to this guy, except kudos to him that he expresses his interest in Yoong Jun right off the bat and he's considerate towards others despite wanting to spend most of his time with YJ

- Jaesung - I think he's probably kicking himself for rooming SM & Hwi in the first episode. He's not as calculative as SM separating the men he likes and that could probably be his downfall. Also, though he refused to admit it, I believe he would choose Hwi over SM if Hwi was closer to his age. Well, his loss.

- Seongmin - in the beginning I never saw his appeal, but his interaction with Hwi changed my mind until the day he found out Hwi's age. It was like a dark cloud hovered over him and because of it, his attitude towards Hwi seem to waver. His back and forth between JS and Hwi is giving me whiplash.

I think SM is the type to do spreadsheets of potential partners to see see their pros and cons and calculate total points to see who would benefit him the most on paper. We already see this when he was assigning rooms, instead of rooming with the 3 people he was interested in (like I would have done), he chose to segregate them from the group to prevent the others that he's sure of who have feelings for him, from changing their minds. He's approaching dating as a strategist as if he's on Survivor and is afraid that he would get kicked out of the island.

- Yoong Jun - he's certainly a fire cracker, but I prefer him over MK because at least he lays his cards on the table, as far as I can see, of course we are only shown what they show, but it's hard to disguise a personality like his. I don't think he's being confrontational with Myeon Gyun if MG wasn't provoking him. He was staying in his lane until MG brings up stuff in the anonymous Q&A. Although why would YJ also be so pissed about what MG does if he didn't have any residual feelings for MG? I could care less about someone who I don't have feelings for, and he supposedly moved on.

I know he ghosted MG in the past, but it is YJ's belief that MG was just stringing him along and wasn't really into a real relationship. I would also cut my losses if I was looking for something serious and the parter I'm with wasn't on the same page as me. Of course, he could have told that to MG too back then, but probably he didn't think MG warranted any explanation if they were not dating. I've been on both ends (being ghosted and ghosting someone) but I justify ghosting if you've been in less than 3 "dates" or just casual hookups where you are not obligated to each other. Any more than that, I believe a note is or a simple "Let's not meet again" or "I'm too busy to date you" would suffice and it doesn't even have to be the truth. At least give the other party closure and a chance to move on.

- Myeong Gyun - I didn't really want to stereotype this guy since the beginning, but his comments (though he may be joking) don't come across as funny but actually self-centered. I believe that MG thinks he's God's gift to men and his ego couldn't take it when other people "dump" his ass like YJ did without explanation. He wasn't clear with what he wants and seems to me that he enjoys getting a rise out of people. This maybe his idea of a joke, but YJ looks like he needed assurance of his partner's feelings. And with the way MG seems indifferent, I could see where YJ may have misunderstood MG's disinterest in him.

All I see is MG being a shit disturber; he wants his ego flattered and gets upset when he gets misunderstood when he didn't want to even say anything. He twists his words, agreeing on one hand that he was only at the flirting stage with YJ in the past and not really dating, while later says to SM that he was in a relationship with YJ and didn't even know why they broke up. How could they even break up when they claimed they were not technically together?

I was already miffed at MG when he seemed bored out of his mind when YJ was talking. YJ was trying to sort things out but MG seems so blasé about the whole thing. It's no wonder that YJ thought that MG wasn't really into him if the person I'm interested just tunes me out when I'm talking.

Yet MG still follows YJ, to do what? To check out and make sure that YJ couldn't be happy with other people and questions YJ's feelings for Hanmin? I would be asking the same question as YJ: "What does he really want from YJ?" He's being given the opportunity to voice out his opinion bit he doesn't do so because he said he would be exposing his weakness if he does. He doesn't want to be vulnerable but he expects others to be. He thinks that YJ is controlling but MG is a master at gaslighting and that's even worse. Emotional manipulation ain't getting you any points from me. I mean I do like a classic rivals-to-lover's trope but this ain't it. I feel sorry for MS who seems to be really hung up on this guy.

Anyway, let's see how the show goes. As of today, my prediction since the first episode stands: Only endgame I see is Hanmin-YJ. The other couple that I thought would be together was Hwi and SM but for Hwi's sake, I hope not. SM seems to me that he wants his cake and eat it too. Hwi will just get hurt because SM is so wishy-washy. He tells Hwi that he wants to go on a date with him but later approaches JS to ask him out.

My advice to the lads if they're listening: take all this experience as a grain of salt. If it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger.

As of now, for Historical Chinese dramas: Mysterious Lotus Casebook, Who Rules the World, The Untamed and Word of Honor.

Agreed. I preferred "Exclusive Fairytale" much more, with the same Female lead. And the story is closer to Hidden Love, but it's the guy who fell first.

I really should look at the tags more carefully and ran when “Female Chases Male First” popped up. The high rating blinded me and my friends’ suggestions swayed me into giving this one a try. After watching the first episode, I was ready to drop it, but I didn’t since I did like the FL in “Exclusive Fairytale.” But as the story progressed, the more I got pissed because it gave me a serious case of ISWAK vibes, and I seriously dislike people (not just females) who don’t have the dignity and follow a guy around just because you saw him for like five seconds and decide that he is your forever after.

On top of all that, I hate the disparity of a clueless, clingy female chasing an apparently good-looking, smart guy who thinks he’s too cool to be with regular folks. Dropped, as this ain’t for me.

This is unexpectedly cute and sweet. The joys and confusion of having a middle school crush are being explored in this drama. For years, Takagi has been one-upping Nishikata in terms of jokes and pranks that the latter becomes frustrated. But every time Nishikata thinks he has gotten his revenge on Takagi, she outsmarts him. Despite this, both spend more time with each other than they ought to be, when Nishikata is supposed to dislike Takagi.

I loved the passive-aggressiveness of Takagi, juxtaposed with the naivete of Nishikata. Tsukishima Rui is fantastic as the witty girl who is harboring a not-so secret crush on her classmate. Meanwhile, Kurokawa Souya is adorable as Nishikata. His expressions are on point, especially when he becomes surprised that Takagi always got the better of him.

Their innocent flirtation is the crux of this story, and how they are more bonded to each other than they realize, particularly by the oblivious Nishikata. This drama captures the essence of that first sweet instance of blooming love, that I am too afraid to watch the sequel lest that bubble break.

I know. The age gap thing is really a big deal in some cultures. Usually an age gap of 2 to 3 years is fine, but anything more than that is usually frowned upon. My partner and I have an age gap of 3.5 years and for years, our families complained that we shouldn't get together because of it, referring to the gap as if we were more than light years apart. Even then, I don't consider a big age gap a deal breaker as long as you are compatible with each other, and both are above the age of consent. (Though I will perhaps draw the line at 40 years apart, hahaha).

For me it is ironic, that some of these guys would be more concerned about the age gap , than the stigma of them being gay. IMHO, Both (age and sexuality) should not matter, but hey if that bothers them so much, maybe they should not really be together as it will just cause problems in the future. Better to know earlier than later.

When I picked up this drama, I did not know the hype surrounding it. I just clicked because Cheng Yi is in it, though I was somewhat disappointed at first because it took me about 10 episodes to get used to Cheng Yi’s real voice. After overcoming that hump, it didn’t take long for me to be engaged in this intricate story about the once-glorified martial arts master becoming Sigu’s Sherlock Holmes. With unlikely side-kicks, Li Lian Hua traverses the pugilistic world, solving mysterious cases.

This is the third drama I’ve watched of Cheng Yi’s and he has proven again that he can definitely act. I loved how he portrayed Li Lian Hua’s brazenness with an ample amount of impertinence without coming across as arrogant. His comedic timing is impeccable without trying too hard. His facial micro-expressions were nuanced, but subtle. It was entertaining to watch him at work and the investigations were never dull.

For their part, both Joseph Zeng and Xiao Shun Yao delivered their roles respectively as Li Xiang Yi’s past rival and an ambitious wanna-be hero. It was funny to see how Di Fei Sheng stubbornly clings to their past conflict, to determine who is the best swordsman in the world, while begrudgingly admiring Lian Hua. Fang Duo Bing, on the other hand, is an over-eager neophyte trying to prove his mettle. Together, the three of them form an odd friendship that stands the test of time as they fight against the injustices of the world like the three musketeers.

The rest of the cast were not as memorable, but they were not one-dimensional and served their purpose. The major strength of this drama, aside from the trio, is the intricate plot. It’s thrilling but not too convoluted nor difficult to follow. Explanations brought forth by Lian Hua were plausible and not too farfetched. A drama that kept me on my toes and is not predictable is a plus in my books.

Yes thanks for letting me know. 2 yrs later. 😅

There’s also that coincidence where Cao Mu’s boyfriend, happens to be the brother of Min Hui’s acquaintance, who happens to live at the same orphanage as Xin Qi. Talk about a small (drama) world.

The drama tried to cram so many things in the last few episodes, like we finally see Xin Qi working until he collapses because of exhaustion. Then besides all this, the villains did not get their just desserts, or at least, it wasn’t satisfactory to my taste. Are we supposed to forgive Xi Yue for all the things that she has done to destroy Min Hui? And how about Qi Rang? Yes, authorities arrested and convicted him for the sexual harassment he committed against Min Hui years ago, but what about his illegal dealings? Also, Xin Di’s absence in the main couple’s wedding is a glaring omission. The two secretaries were there, why not her?

I usually avoid dramas where one or both of the main characters has a child, because of my own peculiar reason since childhood, but both instances, including this drama, surprised me as this is the second time where the kid stole the show.

Like in “Unforgettable Love,” the child actor was so precocious and lovely as he became the catalyst where the two leads get together. I couldn’t believe that Cui Yi Xin was only around 6 or 7 yrs old when this drama was filmed. Quan Quan seemed more mature than his young age and perhaps because he had to go through a lot due to his heart condition.

The leads were not too shabby, even though it’s the first time I’ve seen either of them. In the beginning, Wang Yu Wen came across as bland and lacking personality, especially in contrast with Ma Xin Rui’s character, Cao Mu, who is spunky as Min Hui is dry. But throughout the show, she develops a backbone as she fights the injustices of sexual harassment and other political games that people were playing against her.

On the other hand, Wang Zi Qi balances the jilted ex-lover Xin Qi who misunderstood Min Hui’s intentions, and the protective boyfriend he later became to be. Although, at some point, he turned into a bit of a stalker, following Min Hui around the city to get into her good graces, while finding intel on her non-consequential blind dates. Some might get put off with this, but the drama defends this behavior as permissible since there was no malice behind it.

Speaking of which, I find it really laughable that Xin Qi spends most of the drama pursuing Min Hui that I wonder when he actually works as a CEO of a large company. Ru Ji mocks this trope in one of his later conversations with Zi Zhu, that only in a drama world, where a character can be with their beloved 24/7. There’s also a lot of contrived instances I found disbelieving. For instance, Quan Quan had multiple run-ins with Xin Qi because he had the freedom to roam the halls of the hospital or wait outside alone. He was also asked a few times not to open doors to strangers while his mother was out running errands. It was fortunate that all these encounters were with Xin Qi, who he later discovered to be his father, otherwise I would have been terrified by the thought of him being taken away by an unscrupulous person.

There’s also that coincidence [in the spoiler] where you really have to suspend your disbelief.

Talking about Cao Mu and her boyfriend, it was cute in the beginning until it wasn’t. But their pairing was better than Ru Ji’s and Zi Zhu’s, despite Ru Ji’s insistence to the contrary, that no, Zi Zhu isn’t a replacement. I lost interest in these four people after they coupled up and their non-existent chemistry fizzled.

Although the business back story provided the characters with material to work with, it didn’t captivate me as much as I anticipated. The Be Agile tech company serves only as a platform to showcase Min Hui’s intelligence, and the hostile takeover was only a way to bring the antagonist Qi Rang back into the fold. The drama started strong, and the ending was solid, but was mostly soft in the middle.

The absence of Quan Quan in the back half of the drama was palpable. I kept wondering, who is babysitting the child? Where is he and who is he staying with? The drama tried to cram so many things in the last few episodes, [in the spoiler] that I became frustrated.

But all in all, a decent drama about second chances.

First of all, I had this profile pic since I was in my teens and never changed it. That was ages ago. And my profile pic has nothing to do with what I'm viewing. Like my username, I didn’t bother changing it ever since I opened my first social media account almost 20 years ago and I thought that pic represented my username. It's just like if I put a baby pic of me as my profile pic, does it mean that my opinion is invalid because of that?

I kinda thought that Seongmin and Hwi would be one of the "guaranteed" CP based on how they act towards each other but if the age gap is such a deal breaker, then this is less likely to happen.

Young Joon and Hanmin hit it off the first instant they met so I think they will end up together.

Though probably one of the most good looking contestant so far, Myeongkun come across as arrogant to me or at least he seems like he could care less. Maybe he just joined this show not to look for a partner but to be more popular or get discovered. I get the same vibe from him that I did with Chang Min, that whoever ends up with them, will just get hurt.