Clearly it’s an adaptation of the Chinese BL that we all loved… It’s normal to have a comparison. But Addicted took place years before Stay With Me. So it’s normal for Stay with me to have some changes or a different take on specific scenes and plots. Nevertheless, everything was done in a good way.

At first, I was skeptical to watch it for the following reasons:

1.) CH’s Censorship - that’s automatically a bummer to most of us BL lovers. Despite having a heart to appreciate a non-BL drama, it just still feels lacking or sad for us to get a BL adaptation without the essence of BL. It just doesn’t make sense, like if you’re going to adapt a BL and change it, then don’t even touch it right? Like go adapt an original bromance or create your own bromance story.

2.) Addicted has a special place in my heart - the actors in particular. Their chemistry was just so unique, it was something else. My mind couldn’t accept the fact that we’re getting an adaptation with the continuation of their story — but with different actors. It’s sad and we gotta admit it. We’ve always hoped for them to one day be able to continue the story themselves.

Now here are my realizations as I started watching Stay with me:

I realized, that I can actually love them BOTH at the same time. Like I don’t need to look for mistakes or flaws then bring it up and make comparisons, talk about it on socials - like what for? just to protect or avenge the original drama/actors? I realized that I can’t hate the new series just because I’m in denial of the fact that it’s not the original casting anymore and that it’s not literally tagged as BL.

That’s just so petty of me. And if you feel that way too? Here’s what I could recommend. If you’re not interested, then don’t watch it. If you watched it and was unhappy, then simply drop it. But that gives you NO RIGHT to talk about anything negative or recruit other possible viewers to hate on Stay with me, because you haven’t even watched it UNTIL THE END. It’s 2023, if it’s not your cup of tea then look for something else and move on.

By giving “Stay with me” a chance, I’ve learned to accept and APPRECIATE the changes and adjustments they’ve done. It’s like a 2023 take on the original story.

Comparisons are normal. But I gotta be real honest, Stay with me opened my heart and created their own spot in my heart. They’ve set their OWN standards. They got famous because they are them. I can’t invalidate the efforts of the new casts and producers and all the people behind this drama. They really did well, to satisfy the viewers WHILE considering the things they must uphold. It’s uncontrollable but they did their best. And I FELT IT.

That’s why I appreciate them so much. If only THEY COULD??? let’s admit it, we know and we can feel that THEY WOULD give us everything we hope for.

For me, there was never a dull episode released! Each episode gave us something to feel and think about. I’ve felt a lot of rollercoaster emotions throughout the series and I’ve enjoyed the ride!

After finding out that what we’re watching is the cut/edited version… all the previous episodes that we wished could’ve showed more context or showed more of what happened next — started to make sense! Honestly, I was already happy and contented with how it is right now. But knowing that we will still actually get more???? Of course, my heart is HAPPIER and more EXCITED!

Also, we cannot deny that this drama taught us a lot of LESSONS — with our emotions, the family matters, individuality, overcoming hardships, personal challenges, relationships, perseverance, unconditional love and a lot more.

I personally hope that by the time they shoot the Season 2 - the censorship will be more linient or totally lifted if possible. So they won’t have to hold back their creativeness and the natural greatness of their works. They probably feel bad too that they have to limit things. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind if they still have to in the next season. They’ve already PROVEN that they could still make it SATISFYING and BEAUTIFUL even with the censorship taking place.

I barely have the desire to rewatch a drama ever in my life. The first and last time I did rewatch a drama was “My girl” by Lee Dongwook. It was a korean drama and not a BL one. I’ve never tried to rewatch anything else after that, not until today. I know that I’ll soon have a feeling or mood to watch Stay with me again and I’LL GLADLY DO IT.

Stay with me is prolly one of the best drama in all genre, that has been released this year (so far). There are lots of good dramas but for me I have few that gave me remarkable feelings and it’s one of them.

I’m gonna MISS THEM ? everything about this drama felt like HOME to me. The characters, the setting, the location, the courtyard, the house, their rooms, the tree, the roof the boys always sit on, the music, their relationship. I could go on forever if I talk about it ?

I’M JUST SO HAPPY I GAVE “STAY WITH ME” A TRY, DESPITE HAVING A LOT OF BLs FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE/YET TO COME.

Stay with me even had me lose my interests to those upcoming BLs that were on my list. Like, I couldn’t give attention to anything else yet when I watched this. It still may take time for me to process and move on before I could go back to watching other BLs ?

Let me end this by saying: It may not be the most perfect drama (cause I believe there’s no such thing) BUT I am satisfied, contented and happy with it. I wouldn’t wish to change a thing! And SEASON 2 will definitely be my most awaited series, ever! I’ll be more than willing to patiently wait for them ? JIONGJIONG, BINBIN, AND TO EVERYONE WHO MADE “STAY WITH ME” POSSIBLE! THANK YOU SO MUCH! WE LOVED IT AND WE KNOW WE’RE GONNA LOVE THE NEXT SEASON TOO! ?