#way more than what they have with DaOn

[mrinafria]

You didn't do it, right?

Been enjoying The Judge from Hell a bit more than I care to admit, and ig it's mainly because how well paced, well-balanced the setup and story have been so far, as well as the way the two (or three depending on how you see it) characters are written.

I couldn't help thinking about Freud's id, ego and superego in forming human psyche, and wondering if Justitia and Daon are supposed to be id and superego respectively. If id represents the unbarred, uncontrolled desires, needs and instincts, and superego represents the self which is driven by morality, civility, conformity, then it makes sense why as an audience, I find Justitia's actions somewhat problematic and yet feel this satisfaction every time she does her whole Ultimate Trial thing with the Gehenna knife. It's disturbing, and can be triggering even, yes, but she does what we cannot do, what we may have wanted to do on many occasions in life.

We want evil to be punished and held accountable, but our morality has taught us that there is a process to follow for that, that we have to trust the system (even if the system is flawed). Because we live in a society, because we are generally law abiding individuals, because we care about appearances and perceptions, because we care about consequences, because 'we should not think that way' or because 'that is not a sane, civilized, acceptable thing to do', because otherwise there would be no order and only anarchy. Because we are Daon, who is bound by the moral compass their superego has constructed.

It makes me wonder, then: who is supposed to be the ego, the middle ground, the mediator between the id and the superego as the story progresses? Will it be Justitia, who'd eventually learn how to pass verdicts that are not in violation with the morality of human world? Will it be Daon, who'd be compelled to go beyond the man-made laws because sometimes, to punish evil/bad humans, one has to call in their inner demon? Or as they join hands (presumably), they're both supposed take on that role as needed? (and what do we make of human Kang Bitna then?) Is Bitna ending up in hell part of some grand scheme, where Justitia gets to redeem herself while helping Daon rid himself of his guilt (because imo Daon would never get to the killer without Justitia)?

[stephreviews]

Steph's Weekly Watchlist (Mar. 17)

So many shows are starting this week! Whoooo! I'm so ready!

QL Dramas - Currently Airing

Lost in the Woods (Wed, Airing: 1/7)

This one looks like "Tale of Thousand Stars" style, except Fifa did not want to go to the town. Honestly same bruh. It doesn't look high quality, but I'll give anything a shot. Also, this got delayed by 1 week. So hopefully it's airing for realsies.

My Golden Blood (Wed, Airing: 2/12)

This show had a lot of hype but fell flat for a lot of people. This episode pretty much met my expectations LOL. I knew GMMTV's first real foray into CGI was not going to be pretty, but what I wanted was gay Twilight and God damn it that's what I'm getting.

Secret Relationships (Wed-Thur, FINALE)

It's interesting how differently all 3 men are treating Daon. Honestly? I'm not sure how I want it to end anymore. Soohyun forcing himself onto Daon was Not It. Jaemin is The Worst. But also like....it would be kinda messy and fun for Daon to pick one of the red flags, you know?

Top Form (Thur, Airing: 1-2/11)

This show looks really interesting! It's another meta (a few of these have come out of Japan recently, but I think this is the first out of Thailand), where it's two costars dating. See the extended trailer here.

Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist (Fri, Airing: 1/12)

I'm so excited for this show! Much like My Golden Blood, they released a behind the scenes episode. Mark is an amazing actor, but has been stuck as a side character for literal years. I neeeeeed to see him as a main. Watch the trailer here!

Flirt Milk (Sat, Airing: 9/10)

I binge-watched the 8 episodes of this show that are out this week one day when I was bored, and damn this show is so stupid. Nothing makes sense. I honestly feel bad for the actors. The actors are doing their best with a script that feels like it was either AI generated, or written by somebody who wrote like a single short-form fanfiction and then thought "I can write a 10-episode drama".

Every conflict resolves in 10 seconds or less so for some reason there's a billion things going on and way too many characters for 10 episodes. That wig and fake beard? Absolutely hilarious. Frankly I have no idea what the lesbians are doing there and how they're related to the guys. Took me forever to learn Phra Rong's name. Phra Rong was harassing Pai at the cafe and for some reason I can't figure out decided to flirt with him? I'm very confused. I feel like I'm on multiple drugs.

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun, Airing: 22/24)

Okay I just KNEW that bullshit with the mom was going to come back during this arc. I mean, we all knew Faifa's issues stemmed from the way his mom picked him up and threw him away as she pleased, but the way Yotha and Newton treat him? No one thought to call or text him when she couldn't come to visit? Also, this entire time that Faifa has been courting Wine, Yotha has been threatening him and telling him to not hurt Wine. What about Faifa's feelings?? Like my dude. Gun cares wayyy more about Faifa than Yotha does. I need an episode where Yotha gets a reckoning.

Ossan's Love TH (Mon, FINALE)

This episode took me on a wild ride. Honestly this whole show has been a wild ride, but I think it's the first love triangle I haven't hated, and I'm the number one love triangle hater. Kongdech is kinda pushy, but he doesn't let it affect how he treats Heng as his boss. They also address how Heng doesn't set boundaries and never says no. Mo also has flaws and never speaks his mind. It's three messed up adults colliding in a way that's funny, but relatable. This episode, we finally see everyone address their issues head-on....and then Heng gets amnesia!

QL Dramas - Catching Up

I see it as a win that this list keeps getting smaller 🥹

Fragrance of the First Flower SS2 (Tues, Airing: 9-10/12, Me: 1/12)

Reverse With Me (Wed, Airing: 7/8, Me: 1/8)

Exclusive Love (Fri, Airing: 7/12, Me: 1/12)

Us the Series (Sat, Airing: 10/12, Me: 1/12)

Other Dramas

The Witch 마녀 (COMPLETE)

This was an amazing show. It kept me guessing until the end, and I was surprised by how romantic it felt despite the leads barely interacting. My only critique: they introduced a second couple in the last two episodes. Either don't introduce them, or have a few more episodes to tell their story. I hate when a couple gets thrown together for no reason. The main couple, however, was amazing and perfectly developed. See my full review here.

The First Frost (COMPLETE, Me: 2/12)

I only had a chance to watch episode 1 this week, and I already got sucked in. The cast is high-powered, the chemistry is chemistry-ing, I love my girl besties, the cinematography, everything! I just need a day where I can binge cause I know myself and I will not be able to hold back.

Boys Journey 2 (Fri, Airing: 8/10)

They finally (!!) divided the boys up by their branded pairs and sent them on a scavenger hunt. We got lots of cute moments, like feeding each other and cuddles and hungry baby Pooh (that boy is a black hole). This show continues to be a hilarious addition to my Fridays, including the hashtag (#BJOuting)

(side note - I thought it was hilarious how Joss was shirtless for basically the entire episode of My Golden Blood. Will this be a theme? If so - I'm so on board.)

[miss0atae]

It's time to talk about episode 6 of Secret Relationships!

I found this episode quite interesting because all the cards have been put on the table and Daon isn't left in the dark anymore about what happened and how it shapes his relationship with his "suitors". I've always talked more about the "suitors" than about him, even if he is the main character and a catalyst for Jaemin, SuHyeon and Seong Hyeon. Now, that he knows everything (or at least most of it) how will he act? Daon isn't a spineless character. He has been show to reject actions he didn't want to submit to and even if his "suitors" seem stronger than him, he can reject their advances if they are unsolicited.

At the beginning of the episode he agrees and lets SuHyeon come to his apartment to save Seong Hyeon because he has already seen what SuHyeon is capable, the violence he can use against someone else. The kissing scene was something I had trouble understanding, but in the end I feel like Daon was still in charge. He accepted the kiss, but it was for a meaning that has nothing to do with "feelings" for SuHyeon. Was it because he knew it was the only way to "tame" SuHyeon? I don't know. I felt like it was, but this is really my own interpretation of this scene. Once Daon remembered the sad face of Seong Hyeon, he wanted to stop the kiss and SuHyeon knew why.

In the end, SuHyeon has always expected things to start back from where he left their relationship, but he never understood that him leaving overseas was always going to be the obstacle. He left behind Daon and I believe this is one of Daon's boundaries that you can't cross if you want to remain close to him. The fact that he left when he needed him, that's what doomed their possible love relationship. SuHeyon never realized it. He always thought Jaemin was the obstacle (and he was in a way), but it's also his own actions that made impossible to start over. However, he finally revealed the truth to Daon and thankfully Daon trusted him (because he also had starting to mistrust Jaemin).

Seong Hyeon was crushed by Daon suddenly cold attitude towards him. The more I'm watching the series, the more I see that this character is characterized by his undying loyalty. Even when he was pushed away by Daon (for his own protection, but also because Daon believe himself not good enough) he wanted to remain close to him. He was feeling dejected and sad, but he kept going back to Daon. His "love" is very deep, even if they never truly were together. In a way, his actions mirror what Daon probably felt when SuHeyon left him. Daon is experiencing the choice of staying with the one who needs him. It's probably how he realized he doesn't want to push him away anymore, by the end of the episode. As much as Seong Hyeon appears to be the one with the healthiest mindset among Daon's suitors, I still feel like he is in a grey area where love is consuming him and he can't stop it. Only Daon can give him what he desires and if he doesn't? We'll probably never see it, but it would be interesting to see if it would change him.

Finally, we saw the mask Jaemin was wearing around Daon fell off. He was shocked for a minute when Daon accused him, but he quickly admitted the truth and that's where you could see how crazy he is. He is always been scheming and manipulating people to control Daon. He previously said he didn't love him, but in this episode he told him he did everything because he loves him. Most of Daon's suitors has something that makes them a bit "unhinged", SuHeyon can be violent, Seong Hyeon lets his affection consumes him and Jaemin is greedy for control and feel that the ends justify the means. I believe he is the craziest among all of them. Especially with his last move in the episode. He acted without any hesitations. However, it was fascinating to see him accept that he couldn't lie anymore and to use another way to keep Daon to him. What a frightening character.

How will Daon navigates the turbulent sea of this toxic relationships? I'm so curious to see how things will turn out. The story is setting Seong Heyon as the best suitor, but a tiny part of me would love to see him choose to keep all of them to him, by being the one who manipulates all of them to agree to whatever he wants, as they are all obsessed by him anyway. Let him be the true mastermind that can have it all.

In addition, before ending this review I would like to say that Daon's sister was truly the most perceptive character and she was amazing. I hope she will be able to study and leave the toxic house where she is living. She deserves the best.

[locksnrocks]

Secret Relationships Show vs. Manhwa - how the main four differ

Spoilers for both!

I made a grave error and decided to start the manhwa last night. binged it all straight to 4 am aaaaaaa

Daon: Show Daon- reserved, soft spoken but not a doormat. Obviously carrying internal trauma brought on by an irresponsible family (but sympathetic, at least Da-Suel was in the show) + his two obsessive "suitors" manipulating everything in his life. We see the breakdown and his "I don't deserve to love or be loved" mindset - but holy shirtballz is Manhwa Daon in his own league. That boy is deeply, deeply unwell (I say 80% Jaemin's fault 20% his family- his family is straight up pathetic in the source material. Like, that's their role, even his sister- just pathetic people and I really did not empathize with them). M!Daon just makes seemingly bad decisions one right after the other- and you catch yourself saying 'girl just run' multiple times, and 'didn't your mother ever teach you- oh that's right, your parents didn't teach you crap because your entire family is pathetic- the parents especially'. This dude just did not have a chance. That's a source of reader frustration from what I saw in other comments ('oh he just sleeps around, what an idiot, he causes all this himself, etc.' - which, alright, but guess who hates Daon the most? Daon. He straight up states these criticisms of himself plainly - he warned Seong exactly what was going down), but like, of course he is like that- do you not see what he has been dealing with because!!!! hot damn, Jaemin what the hell

Jaemin: Show Jaemin - great acting, unhinged, wow what an escalation, he's the real danger, what a manipulative person. BUT MANWHA JAEMIN???? Every single thing/action that happens to/about Daon can have the tagline "and then Jaemin ruined it." The Creep factor is up'd to 200% - like heavy breathing 'he's in your walls' levels. There's something so utterly... pathetic + legitimately dangerous about M!Jaemin. If Daon stayed at that vacation house with him any longer, we may have gotten the show's wedding themed murder/suicide and not a single soul who read the webcomic would be surprised. I kept waiting for it because Jaemin pulling that seemed like such a natural next step for him to take.

The line "I can't wait for you to grow up and be an adult" <- some variation of it, can't remember the exact quote - Jaemin to/about Daon during a flashback with exactly the negative connotation you can associate with this particular sentiment is used. Hggn. There's more to say about him but I can't organize it all

Soohyun: Show Soohyun - hair trigger temper (great acting), the frustration is boiling over, impulsive, uses fear to get his way (and if there's remorse later, the lack of emotional regulation ensures that it is forgotten), does have a form of redemption in the end, a genuinely incompetent Director. Manhwa Soohyun - the temper is there, but the character is waaaaay more calm with interactions, snarky rather than mean, calculating, no involvement with Daon's workplace, clocked what Jaemin was doing almost immediately, he and Daon I think hook up the most consistently (and yes, it happens when Soohyun and Jaemin are fake dating but good grief I just can't be a "wow Daon is trash see he knowingly slept with Soohyun while Soo is dating Jaemin" because girl, wut - they have a stage during college (?) where they are pretty much dating without ever verbalizing it (and then Jaemin ruined it) because no one verbalizes anything when it comes to honest to goodness feelings beyond a trembling confession that you know is going to be pummeled into the ground - which I recognize is a plot point since communication would cause every drama ever to go from multi episodes to about 5 min of content.

Honestly, since my moral compass is not built on the morality/ethics of bl series, I can comfortably say that I was rooting for both Soohyun and/or Seong simultaneously. Either of them over Jaemin. At least exactly why Soohyun agreed to the contrived 'fake date' plan is marginally better explored in the manhwa. He also legit strikes Daon (past) + chokes him (present)- again, his temper is a very real factor, it's just not as outwardly explosive as in the show. Daon has genuine fear of Soohyun hurting Seong/himself in present time. Both versions of Soohyun are royally screwed over by Jaemin's manipulations, but M!Soohyun had the attitude of "I'm going abroad now, so Jaemin better shoot his shot while I'm gone because once I'm back, I will go all in." By the end, his 'redemption arc' is legit "I have no regrets. You better erase me from your mind entirely." and he goes back abroad to be with his family (his mother's religious but his family is not 'point a gun at him' terrible from what I could tell - he actually wanted to introduce Daon to them at one point). That 'erase me' bit just convinced me that if Soohyun had not removed himself, he (and Daon) knew full well that they would slide right on back to each other eventually. Heck, Seong probably knew it, too.

Speaking of Seong and the many, many 'poly is the answer' lines the show spawned - the real throuple that could have been??? Soohyun x Daon x Seong. Right at the end of the manhwa - legit if Soohyun didn't back down, with how Seong was written and how Daon was written, if Soohyun pushed and Daon caved, I could see Seong eventually settling at 'if this is what it takes to have (a chance with) you, then I will accept this' to be with Daon. Because he already had nearly the exact same sentiment earlier.

Seonghyeon: Show Seong - so gosh darn earnest and charming, clingy in an endearing (but a bit boundary stomping) way, a flawed real human with flawed reactions but I can't hold it against him because this situation is not normal, not a lunatic but has a bit of emotional manipulation going on, but again, he's human. Manhwa Seong - yes to all that, but I propose that while Jaemin and Soohyun where displaying black/red flags consistently, Seong had his own brand of obsession going on. He's not clued in immediately, but he does get a picture of what is going down, especially once he meets Jaemin. And armed with this information + a Daon who is pretty transparent ("You say you like me and I like you. But I also like Jaemin, who I confessed to and he rejected me. But those feelings are still here. Also, Soohyun is here now and we are hooking up and probably will continue to do so as I don't have much agency in that matter. I am a terrible person. It would be better for you to not pursue me." - wildly paraphrased and condensed, but you get the gist). And Seong, armed with all this information, ultimately takes the approach of Patience. Like, he is going to outwait the other two lunatics - he will wait for Daon to sort through the absolute crapshoot that is his life, work through whatever that is with Jaemin, sprinkle in a tiny bit of cold-shouldering here and there, a drunken kiss or two. And even once Daon makes the definitive choice and goes to Seong over Jaemin, that whole "Don't turn around" scene!! If it was Jaemin in the background making whatever expression that Seong acknowledge would cause Daon to waver, Seong still may have come out on top. But if it was Soohyun? Seong might not. Again, the throuple that could have been...!

Reading the manhwa in it's entirety till 4 am really made me appreciate the show. They hit a lot of the narrative beats and did it with style. I can see why tweaks to the characters were made, particularly Soohyun, as having his temper so prominent rather than the 'hidden under the surface' approach of M!Soohyun would make it harder to move things along, especially since Jaemin already checks off the subtle background manipulation thing.

poly could have saved Show dudes and/or made the whole thing messier but we all would have enjoyed the ride lol

no amount of poly would have saved M!Jaemin, do you know why?? because he ruins things.

[irmakkockan]

SECRET RELATIONSHIPS EP 5: THE IDIOT PART 2

Well, I’m not giggling, screaming, or kicking my feet anymore.

I’m just angry and sad. Really.

Ahh, Suhyeon, seriously? You could have had it ALL. If only you had grown some courage and hadn’t let Jaemin play his mind games with you. If only you had taken one step forward instead of running in the opposite direction every single time. The world was yours to take - and for you, that was always Daon. And now what? You’re just a violent, impulsive mess of a human, always screaming, never bending, never listening, and definitely never honest.

I mean, I’m this close to liking Jaemin more than you because, at least, he knows what he wants. He’s evil incarnate, sure, but at least he’s consistent. He’s working toward world domination one ungodly scheme at a time. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN DOING? You let yourself be manipulated by Jaemin, you didn’t confess, you ran away for seven years, then came back only to force your way into Daon’s life with fists flying. You threaten everything and everyone - like, what is your endgame here? Are you that out of touch? I just - UGH. I can’t even focus on anything else.

Why, just WHY aren’t you even trying to talk to Daon? I get it, you think the moment you mention Jaemin, he’ll shut you out. THEN START FROM SCRATCH. Tell him how you’ve always wanted to be by his side. Tell him how your feelings evolved - from interest to liking to all-consuming love. Beg him to listen. Apologize. For the contract. For fake-dating Jaemin. For the unnecessary violence. For leaving him behind. Just… SAY SOMETHING.

Now? You’re irredeemable. Everything you do is inexcusable. And it’s such a waste. A waste of a love that could have been beautiful. A waste of ten years. A waste of youth. It’s driving me MAD. I can’t get over this.

ANYWAY. That confrontation at Daon’s apartment complex? The kind of drama-lover’s dream that should have had me eating it up, but I couldn’t even enjoy it - I just need Seonghyeon to win this war. I’m done with this shit.

And honestly, I can’t even be mad at Daon for being passive, for being a pushover, for letting everyone walk all over him. The guy is TRAUMA PERSONIFIED. He came from nothing. His family is a mess. The two people he had deep, deep feelings for started dating each other, leaving him in the dust. One of them is a violent lunatic, the other keeps him at arm’s length. Suhyeon threatens him. Jaemin has been orchestrating his isolation for over seven years, making sure he never had anyone else, never formed any strong bonds. We should be amazed that he even has a job and an apartment, let alone the ability to speak to other people. The man should be a husk of a person. That he can even consider Seonghyeon as a potential partner is honestly a miracle.

God. This is getting tougher to watch. But I think we’re seeing Jaemin unravel in real-time - little by little, coming apart at the seams, growing more unhinged by the second. Now that will be my Roman Empire.

[delesaria-blog]

So, it's confirmed that Sunghyun has a hero complex. He was perfectly capable of ignoring Daon without an explanation until he saw that Daon was hurt, at which point he folded.

They cast Sunghyun's character so well because the amount of pushiness he exhibits would usually annoy me but his expression is so freaking puppy-like I can see why Daon can't resist him.

In another drama, Sunghyun might have been the clueless, persistent second lead, but here his competition is a cold, manipulative sociopath and a violent, domineering boss with the emotional regulation of a toddler. So he really comes across as the sweetest puppy. Daon seems to think so too.

Everyone in Daon's world seems to be a total scumbag (except for his little sis and Sunghyun). I really wanted to throw this so-called friend out the window.

What's interesting about this though is that everyone associated with Jaemin seems to look down upon Daon (this guy, the man who tried to assault Daon while he was passed out, and even Soo Hyun treats Daon as inferior.) I wonder if this is a class issue or if Jaemin's habit of viewing Daon as his dog actually affects the opinions of everyone around him.

Also, everyone in this show should reflect on this statement: No matter how close you are, you can't cross the line.

Our resident red flags are once again acting more obsessed with each other than Daon.

Both of you are equally stupid. Now stop fighting and make out. Or do both at the same time; either way I think you guys are perfectly matched.

Wow, Soohyun you're not self-aware at all if you're dropping this line:

Be careful who you say this kind of thing to, Daon. If you said this to anyone else in this show, you'd be cooked:

Thankfully Sunghyun just wants to drop honorifics. Linguistic flirting, my beloved. More of this please.

Ok, so the deal Jaemin struck back then with Soohyun was probably because he knew that Daon liked Soohyun. I'm so glad that Jaemin did that though, because he saved Daon from a partner who really doesn't respect him. Even back then, when Daon was assaulted, Soohyun let his temper control him and shoved Daon to the ground when he tried to interfere with his revenge. Sure, Soohyun will act sweet with Daon when things are going his way, but the moment Daon steps out of line, Soohyun uses violence against him. He's similar to Jaemin that way, except Soohyun uses blunt force and Jaemin wields his manipulation. I know it probably won't happen but Jaemin and Soohyun have so much chemistry I feel like they should at least have a fling to work out some of that crazy tension.

[theside-b]

BL Review: Secret Relationships 🇰🇷

From the same studio that brought you Semantic Error and The New Employee here comes what is possibly the hottest telenovela mess in recent KBL history. This joint has everything: a love quadrangle, pretty psychopaths, emotional manipulation, complete disregard for ethics, total lack of personal boundaries, no workplace etiquette, the most stupid bitches you have ever seen, all of that and I'm barely scratching the surface.

At first glance all major players seem like you basic tropes: doe-eyed innocent protagonist with a complicated past, the senior who is the long unrequited love, newcomer who after some silly misunderstandings is going to show what real love really is.

It's all pretty basic until it isn't, courtesy of Soohyun, the third suitor for Daon's heart and another one of his seniors with a long story between them, he shows up kicking the door and unleashing mayhem.

One of the main gimmicks of the series lies in the storytelling structure: the show skips certain events in order to cause doubt and suspense, only for it to show us what happened in a flashback usually a few minutes later. It's quite effective at first, but by the midway point it does get worn out and (probably) due time constraints the show glosses over important aspects of the backstory of the characters and the audience has to fill-in the gaps themselves.

Each episode sheds light in a different dynamic happening on-screen, some more interesting than others. While Daon and Jaemin are the first and seemingly most important people in each other's lives, once Soohyun and Seonghyon enter the picture the pink-sweater menace falls to the background, we find more about him through the consequence of his actions than actually spending time with him.

Jaemin and Soohyun relationship is also quite interesting, the show peeling a new layer with each episode, and it's always fun to see two crazy characters out crazing each other. Interestingly enough Jaemin and Seonghyeon don't share the screen in a significant way through out the show, a missed opportunity for some drama.

From all the leads is Soohyun who stands as the most interesting, the more complex of the four. The few moments the show dedicates to his backstory paint a tragic picture: ostracized by his father, treated as mere commodity by his mother and pressured into a life he did not chose for himself, he sees in Daon the chance for happiness. Both characters survivors of hostile family environments, which probably bonds them to begin with and the show takes it's time to build their relationship, eluding the viewers until we almost get a full grasp of what is really happening with these two. And when it does, it hits, because it's clear that nothing good is going to come out of it, but at one point it could.

As for Seonghyon? He operates in a different reality. It almost feels like he is a tourist from another world, and while the show makes an effort to present him as the "good guy" his actions say otherwise, he is a master in emotional manipulation preying early on Daon's emotional distress and masterfully so. Considering that we are dealing with a south korean production is to be expected that the "prince charming" would be nothing if not a walking red flag.

And while it's hot to smack-talk the suitors, Daon is no flower either, as I said he is an enabler who simply can't set personal boundaries with any of the men in his life. 90% of the show wouldn't have happened if he imposed limits or was able to speak his mind, annoying sure, but thanks to the other three leads dominating the narrative is not much of a problem, although by the end it gets ridiculous how much he lacks a sense of preservation, him running to meet Jaemin at the parking lot after everything that happened was beyond salvation.

Script wise this is a royal mess. It's all-over the place, going back and forth in order to instigate drama, never really fleshing out what is proposing and going all in for shock value and nothing else — Jaemin's suicide attempt to get Daon's attention is simply brushed aside because Daon had a prior commitment with Ju, and you know... Jaemin was just being silly I guess.

Another point of contention is how, and this is a wider problem really, the show paints certain actions as chivalrous while they most certainly are not. This is more present in Ju and Soohyun, no wonder part of the audience was asking for Daon to just ditch all of them and go to therapy.

Problematic aside, this show goes full-throttle on the drama and it shares a lot of DNA with latin telenovelas, with crazy behavior and even wackier development, all in order for some good ol' entertainment, and on that front is mightily successful even if it had to sacrifice some logic for it. All of that wouldn't be effective if the cast was not up for the task and I'll single out Kim Ho Young and Cha Jung Woo as Jaemin and Soohyun, they were by far (and up close) the best here, bringing a manic energy that is so unhinged that you never know when they are going to snap but at the same time constantly reminding us how sad and tragic both characters are — no wonder even doing the most heinous shenanigans they still managed to capture part of the audience with viewers rooting for them, especially Jung Woo (he is actually Daon's Junseo pick for favorite).

Secret Relationships is an all-around hot mess, but if you manage to turn off your brain and not question anything you are going to find one of the best telenovelas to ever grace the fandom, we were one Thalía song away from some real Televisa stuff here.

Top 10 most unhinged moments right after the cut!

Starting at the beginning. The moment Soohyun showed up brandishing his status as director of the company, Daon should've packed his stuff and bolted... but no, babygirl decided to throw survival instinct out of the window from the get-go.

I love you and want to control your life: the moment we saw that Jaemin had influence over every single aspect of Daon's life all alarm bells were sounding off. It took one assault, two debunkings and one timely voice over for Daon to finally catchup on what was popping.

Molesting the drunk cutie, but with puppy eyes so is not all bad: and here was when all alarm bells sounded yet again but with Seonghyon being the culprit. But apparently is fine to take advantage of someone who is completely blitzed. Hell, make him feel bad and ask for forgiveness for calling the wrong name while you are at it.

Getting what you want, but maybe not: Whatever was happening between Daon and Soohyun is never clarified. They liked each other, it was mutual, but how deep did went? I mean for a moment it seemed like it was very deep. But much like so many things that seemed important the show dropped this ball and never picked it up again.

If someone get more attention than me I'll kill myself and then you!: Jaemin's Fatal Attraction moment came at the tail end of episode 6, and it seemed like we were going to see some real shit go down. Nobody cared.

Trauma? Never heard of her: Some people suppress bad experiences in order to move forward, but none like Daon — the guy you spent years relying on and loving tries to kill himself in front of you? Oh bollocks no time for that! He has a date with the cutie who has been love bombing him!

Trauma? My best friend in the whole wide-world: If Daon seemingly moves from one traumatic event to the other like Aurora changes the color of her dress, Soohyun cannot say the same — from his dad pointing a gun at him, his mom pretty much prostituting him to the next bachelorette available and being manipulated for seven years by his rival for reasons unknown, our resident chaebol had it rough. He could've just left and taken a smitten Daon with him, but then he would have to work, and he is a one tragedy at time type of man.

Don't forget this is a K-Drama: We have kidnapping, blackmail, attempted murder, sexual abuse, moral abuse and some questionable directorial decisions but nothing beats Seonghyon and his pastel colors with fluffy cute aura whenever he shows up. It was always a guaranteed whiplash from a dark tale of abusive relationships to cute dramaland antics with puppy sound effects with him.

EVERYTHING WITH THE INTRO OF EPISODE 8: the kidnapping, the white tuxedo, the crazy x-mas wish that Deaon forgot (I was like BITCH HE WISHED TO DIE WITH YOU), the gasoline, the neighbor... it just kept going and getting crazier with each second.

The bloody presentation: As my last wish I want you to present that proposal that will guarantee you a better job — I wanted to stand up and clap because whoever wrote that shit thought it was cooking (if someone told that everyone on the writers room was eating crystal meth like rock candy I would believe).

[negrowhat]

any good bl love triangle shows out there you like? what are they?

Hey anon! I don't watch a ton of love triangle series because the triangles really don't be triangle-ing the way they should. A ton of them have heavy indicators on who will be the winner in the end...especially Thai BLs because you know branded pairs. But let me take a look at my lil spreadsheet and see.

Light on Me. Probs the best love triangle I've ever seen ever. It was just *chef's kiss*. I love that Taekyung was able to spend time with both of the boys he was interested in. And I love that Shinwoo and Daon were so amicable about their mutual crush on Taekyung and didn't let it affect their friendship. And by the end I didn't care who Taekyung chose.

Love Sick s1 and 2 (the OG one). Okay so not really a triangle...more of a square. Both Noh and Phun have girlfriends, but they like each other but they also still care deeply for their girlfriends and they're also fake dating each other on the side. It's quite interesting to see how these teenagers navigate through their feelings of love and their queerness and friendships. Also there are a TON of familiar Thai actors in the series.

Tinted With You. This one stars my beloved Junhee from the group A.C.E. The series is framed as a love triangle but it feels more poly than anything else. Soon-to-be high school graduate Jung Eunho travels back in time through a painting where he meets exiled prince Lee Heon and his protector Go Geum. Eunho and Lee Heon get close really fast but Geum has had a longstanding crush on Lee Heon. Lee Heon is very close to them both. They all spend a TON of time together as they work together to keep Lee Heon safe AND get Eunho back to his world before Uni starts. The ending is very much poly-coded so, like I said, not really a love triangle but it is.

The Director Who Buys Me Dinner. This series is once again not really a triangle but more like unrequited love and soulmates. Director Min Yudam has waited like 500 years to reunite with the man he loved back in the day, Seol Dongbaek. A threat still hangs over Dongbaek's head that carried over the 5 centuries and Yudam must get Dongbaek to fall back in love with him to protect him. Their fates are connected because Yudam foolishly gave Dongbaek a name and redirected his destiny. Denis is also tied to Dongbaek's fate as Dongbaek was originally intended for him. Dongbaek does share a connection with Yudam but Denis shares a connection with Dongbaek.

Love in Translation. Phumjai is just a happy-go-lucky guy who spends 97% of his time stanning a popular youtube influencer named Tammy. He met Tammy a couple years prior on her first trip to Thailand and he took her around the city and he's been in love with her ever since. Yang is a down-on-his luck young man looking to buy a convenience store his family once owned before it was sold. He finds a business partner in Phumjai who wants to own a business to impress his beloved Tammy. Luck is on Phumjai's side because somehow Tammy actually becomes interested in Phumjai but also Yang has fallen for Phumjai as well.

[theheightofdishonor]

I watched Secret relationships and had a blast. It's so unhinged, and gave me all the toxicity and messiness that i've been missing in dramas lately. And I liked the way they'd frame a situation a certain way only to then reveal like further details. It was really well done at the beginning. Near the end, it wasn't as clever but still not too bad ig.

That being said I was left with so many questions. I even ended up rewatching the entire show just because the timeline in their university days didn't really make sense to me. Timeline and all my questions below lmao because this got hella long

Timeline

1. Jaemin "meets" Daon

2. Daon meets Su Hyeon

3. the ring convo has to happen here, there's no way that happened after Jaemin and Su Hyeon start 'dating'.

4. This is the catalyst supposedly for Jaemin to convince Daon to stay distant from Su hyeon

5. Church conversation where Jaemin and Su Hyeon meet for the first time? and Jaemin convinces Su Hyeon to 'date' him

6. Daon finds out they're dating

7. Su Hyeon flirts w Daon while still in a 'relationship' w Jaemin (the scene on the field)

8. Christmas

9. Despite the earlier coldness towards Su hyeon in moment 7, they still are or become close again enough for Su Hyeon to be the person that Daon calls when hes drunk - and for Jaemin to know that Daon would call Su Hyeon

7. Jaemin arranges for Daon to be assaulted and for Su Hyeon to go abroad.

This still leaves so many questions.

Like Daon kissed Su Hyeon back in ep 6. But in a way that atleast to me suggested that they've kissed before. But based on the way they act, it couldn't have been prior to Su Hyeon and Jaemin 'dating'. And it should definitely have been brought up if it was during the 'dating' period? I guess it could've just been like a second of residual feelings but it'd be so much more fun if they had previously issued.

How did Su Hyeon and Daon actually meet? I wanna knoww

Its weird that Daon says Su Hyeon left him when he needed him the most. Like in the context of having been sexually assaulted, yes it makes some sense that he'd want someone who's close to him at his side. At the same time though, everything we've seen of present day! Daon's feelings about this situation shows that this situation had left him scared of Su Hyeon. Not to mention the stuff about Su Hyeon 'tormenting' Daon by flirting with him when he was in a 'relationship' and how other things must've happened for Daon to be so sure that Su Hyeon will show up at his house that first day when he rejects Su Hueon at work.

AND that shit where Daon says he'll never take Su Hyeon asck def implies they was something more happening unless it was a mistranslation.

What did Daon mean about leaving a person the second he loves someone else? Like is it about developing feelings for Su Hyeon when he liked Jaemin? Or liking Seong Hyeon when he again had feelings for Jaemin? There's also the realistic possibility that there were other people he was involved with (the multiple people talking ab how Daon opens his heart too easily to others) though idk how much considering Jaemin's interference.

Why and how is Jaemin so close to Su Hyeon's mom. And what's a relatively short period of time. Like between them 'dating' and Jaemin conspiring w/ Su Hyeon's mom to send him abroad, it was maybe a couple months, definitely less than a year. And Jaemin still calls her up and refers to her familiarly 7 years later.

I also just want to know why either Jaemin or Su Hyeon like Daon. I don't really understand the initial attraction or the intensity of obsession in either case, honestly.

Jaemin's initial rejection of Daon made so little sense to me, even at the end. The two possibilities I came up with were that a) he still didn't want to date Daon for the same reasons as before or b) he wanted to preserve the bet to keep Su Hyeon away from Daon from fear that they might get close again. However, if it was a, then there still wasn't a need to let him down so harshly. And I don't know how valid that fear of losing Daon is because I think if Daon know Jaemin reciprocated his feelings, then the chances of him developing feelings for another guy is far far lower. Jaemin could've easily began to date Daon at this point considering how close they are and how long they've known each other for and it would've been easier than ever to keep Daon at his side. If it's option B, that's still stupid considering Daon's present day attitude towards Su Hyeon and also the fact that he's far closer to Jaemin and if Jaemin and him were dating, he would most likely choose to believe Jaemin over Su Hyeon as Jaemin himself points out. Like, you could've easily won here, my guy.

[pinkkop]

This week's recap is brought to you by Jaemin doing a one-person reenactment of The Ides of March just in time for the actual event ... with a dinner knife🤯

QL Recap for Week 11

The 10th of March to the 16th of March

🇹🇭 Gelboys

Episode 6 of 7 || Watching on: iQiYi, Saturday

Oh, boys! So much crying! My heart is aching for them and their poor broken hearts. I do think it was romantic and such a significant sign of personal growth that Chian made such a big gesture. He apologized, showed that he knew what he'd done wrong and clearly told Fourmod what he feels and wants going forward. That zoom call was, however, so painful to watch, because they all just can't figure out what they're feeling and what they actually want. I am entirely convinced that Baabin likes Bua, he just needs to finally let go of his hope and feelings for Fourmod. Like, my guy, there is no hope there!! And you had to put on two pairs of socks to hide away your nail-polished toes! I've never seen such a clear sign that someone is in denial and that denial is going to keep hurting people a little longer it seems. So far, I'm Team "Baabin's Happiness" and Team "Get Bua a Different Dream than being an Influencer, Please!" and the minute I'm reassured that Fourmod still likes Chian, I'll be on Team FourmodChian as well. Also, final random note: I totally thought that Fai was dating someone else in their friend group so this week took me by surprise. It fit the show and plot well but I do kinda wish that they had only ever stayed friends. I need more strong friendships in my shows and I got so excited when she comforted Fourmod the episode before this week. I do worry that this whole friendship group will have dissolved by the end of this show because of all the drama.

🇹🇭 Secret Relationships

Episode 6 of 8 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Wednesday

This show is insane!!! ... in the best way possible. I had no idea Korea could go this toxic but I'm having a blast. Daon clearly has or does love them all, but Jaemin and Suhyeon just lost their chance. Seems like Suhyeon and Seonghyeon are teaming up next week so maybe the evil polycule isn't quite of the table yet. Suhyeon just has to stop being so violent before that can happen. Anyways, I don't really care who Daon ends up with as long as he's happy.

🇹🇭 Perfect 10 Liners

Episode 21 of 24 || Watching on: Youtube, Sunday

I just keep loving Fai and Wine week after week!! They are so good for each other and could have such a good and long lasting relationship if they just made it official. It's really interesting to see their friends' reactions to the little bit they learn about Fai and Wine's relationship because neither of them have really shared the extent with which their relationship has evolved. I'm assuming we're going to run into some struggles soon, which I'm looking forward to, but until then I'm happily basking in their cute interactions and excited for them to meet Tawan.

🇹🇭 Reverse with Me

Episode 6 of 8 || Watching on: iQiYi, Wednesday

I guess we're in homophobia central with this week's episode, yikes! I felt so bad for Kliaokhluen. Both her family and best friend! At least it seemed like Meow saw some sense. Luckily the plot is plotting and I'm enjoying it very much. Especially after the homophobic conversation, I really hope Meow doesn't end up with Thi. It would be much better if they just end up good friends.

🇹🇭 My Golden Blood

Episode 1 of 12 || Watching on: Youtube, Wednesday

Just to get it out of the way: I'll be watching My Golden Blood and talking about it on tumblr the same way I do all the other shows. If you don't want to see or hear me talking about the show, I tag all my posts so any My Golden Blood posts should be easy to filter out. I talk more in depth about My Golden Blood and Joss here but let's get to my thoughts on the actual episode. I didn't really have any expectations for this show so the bar was pretty low and the first episode passed it easily. As many people have pointed out, this show gives Twilight and 2000-2010s Vampire show vibes and I was definitely knee high in those back then so I am not complaining. I'm keeping my expectations low but I liked the first episode enough to want to see more.

That's it for this week!!

For links and airing schedule check out World of BL (Only for BLs)

[mrinafria]

I'll gladly let you kill me then.

-That promise, make sure you keep it.

So I think Daon's backstory is significant for us to understand a bit more about Han Daon as a character. He's got this huge scar from his childhood incident that he never really healed from. Also, he's no saint. We've seen him wavering in what he should/should not do more than once so far.

He knows giving police protection to criminals is a waste but still does it because it's the lawful thing to do. He wavers for a couple of seconds there when Kang Bitna offers to kill his parents' killer for him because the law cannot. From what I see, he's always walked on a thin line between what is right or wrong according to society's definition. He definitely has a violent streak in him; he's just never had to fully give in to that.

You bet he'd have ended up on the dark side after his parents' death if not for his noona who never gave up on him, turned him away, with her love and kindness, from a path that could have led him to darkness and uncertainty. Now that Detective Soyeong is gone, the person who showed him light is gone too. His only family after he'd lost his own, gone. And he's back to being that kid again who had so much unresolved hurt, trauma and angst against the law that didn't believe in him (a wound he still carries). Law that wasn't enough to give him his well-deserved justice. Back then, he had Soyeong who was a human and law abiding individual. Now, he has Kang Bitna aka Justitia, a demon who serves justice in her own way because she knows the human law is faulty. If Han Daon was guided to life and light back then because of Soyeong, would he then give in to death and darkness now, because he is already spiraling as it is and there's no one to bring him back to light?

Why do I feel Kang Bitna actually wouldn't want that? It was different back when she'd stabbed him, but the switch is flipped now, and I think she'd care very much about Han Daon's future and fate. The way she goes 'HAN DAON!' and 'Then you'll end up in hell too' and stares at him like she doesn't recognize this version of Daon--I've replayed that scene far too many times.

Because Bitna may say Daon's morality and tenacity to get to the truth is annoying, but I think she doesn't even know that she appreciates it, which is also why she gets so worked up every time she feels like Daon's faked his emotions or betrayed her with his words: she expects him to be on the side of truth and righteousness.

Even though we see her supporting Daon in the precap for eps 9 and 10, she might go out of her way and even risk her own existence to keep Daon away from darkness later, because now if something happens to him, she'd be the first one to cry.

A part of me also thinks Daon cannot go ALL the way with his revenge because he'd made a promise to Detective Soyeong to always be a detective first and do his job. It's his vengeance talking right now but once that wears off and reason kicks in, I don't think he'd want to kill somebody unlawfully, disrespecting the promise he made to his noona.

Or we could totally have a switch up with Bitna becoming the superego and Daon, the id. It'll be interesting to see if Bitna starts shifting gradually toward the 'unevil' side while helping Daon, having his back and protecting him. She might have to take Daon's life after all (deal with the Demon and all), but at a time when it'll hurt her THE MOST doing so. Maybe the power of Kylum can come to their rescue then, reviving Daon? It also makes me think if the 'Other Thing' you need for Kylum to work its divine magic is unconditional love/sacrificial love, where Bitna would have to willingly give up her life to revive Daon?

*cough* ^I take no responsibility for what I just said above thank you very much T-T

[stormyoceans]

MONICAAAAAAAA hi.

I am late as usual but I just finished Secret Relationships and OH MY GOD I GET IT. Suhyeon x Jaemin.

They're such red flags but like... together they could paint the whole world crimson, y'know??

The fake dating while real hating... the violence... the manipulation... the possessiveness... the babygirlism!!

I'm a little out of my mind but I just figured you would get it. <3

ABBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜

IM SOOOOO HAPPY YOU SEE THE VISION TOO BECAUSE I'VE HONESTLY BEEN SO FERAL OVER THESE TWO AND IM TRYING MY BEST NOT BE INSUFFERABLE AND JUST MOVE ON FROM THEM BUT GOD. IF I THINK ABOUT THEM FOR LONGER THAN A SECOND I START GOING INSANE

LIKE!!!!!!!!! listen. im the biggest fan of poly. i think poly should always be the answer, and i do love to imagine an alternative universe where jaemin and suhyeon are a little bit saner, or daon and seonghyeon are a little bit darker, and the four of them end up in one big happy polycule, however. i don't think this would have ever been possible in canon, for a lot of reasons. jaemin and suhyeon, tho.....there's just so much potential there!!!!!!

because, see, jaemin's way to love someone is to swallow them whole and keep them forever, to permeate every aspect of their being – their thoughts, their dreams, their actions – until there's no corner of their life that jaemin doesn't touch, no part of them he doesn't claim. until the two of them are so tangled in each other that the edges of their individual identities begin to blur. jaemin tried so hard to make this happen with daon, but daon could have never given him what he wanted, because daon spent all his life fighting tooth and nails to carve himself a place in the world, and sooner and later he was always going to break free from jaemin's control

the funny thing is that, while trying to get daon, jaemin got suhyeon instead. suhyeon was never supposed to be more than a pawn in jaemin's plan, and yet he's the one who was shaped by jaemin the most. he got twisted inside out until his love turned into violence and obsession. unlike daon, suhyeon has always been weak (he's not brave enough to fully break free from his parents, he doesn't believe in his relationship with daon enough not to fall into jaemin's manipulation, he doesn't love daon enough to sacrifice himself) and jaemin despises that weakness, but hate and love are two sides of the same coin, just like the two of them are. suhyeon may be stupid and easily manipulated in jaemin's eyes, but he is also the one who knows jaemin best and who, just like jaemin, has a taste for the all consuming, even if he never takes that final step towards losing himself. if he was pushed into it tho, if jaemin put his full focus on him...... who knows what suhyeon could turn into. after all, even a pawn can become a queen

and don't get me wrong, jaemin and suhyeon together would be extremely messed up, but i think it would also be incredibly interesting to explore this kind of love, a love that is violent and tastes like blood, that hurts and breaks and sacrifices your entire being at the altar of a twisted devotion. they could make each other soooo much worse and yet be exactly what they've always wanted

AND IM NOT EVEN GONNA START WITH THE CHURCH SCENE OR WE'RE GONNA BE HERE FOREVER BUT THE POINT IS [FEMALE HYSTERIA]

[miss0atae]

We got the last episode of Secret Relationships and I just want to talk about it very quickly. I admit I had fun watching the "toxic polycule" (can't remember who gave them this name at first on Tumblr, but thanks for this name, I think it was really fitted). The dynamic between all the characters was not something I expected when I first heard about the series, but I think they managed quite well. The actors all look great and there was a nice chemistry between them.

In the end, we always knew who Daon would end up with and the story gave us the happy ending he deserved. Caught between the "love" of all his "suitors", he just needed someone who would not hurt him, abandon him and that would respect him.

Jaemin was by far the craziest between all the suitors. He convinced himself he deserved to be with Daon because he saw him first and couldn't accept that Daon could have fallen in love with someone else. He thought he was the only one who truly did what was needed and that Daon was too flicke to understand it. He manipulated everyone to be the one who Daon would go for when things would get too complicated. He proud himself of being the best option for him, while looking down of Daon for not being the way he wanted him to be. I bet it would never have worked for them even if Daon never met SuHyeon. He was too insecure. He tried to die with Daon because he thought it was a proof of love, but in fact it just showed how he was lacking self-confidence in this love he thought he had.

SuHyeon stayed in the background in this episode. He worked with Seong Hyeon to find Daon after they both realized he was kidnapped by Jaemin. Despite his hot temper, SuHyeon never truly understood how extreme Jaemin could be. He has probably heard all his life that his proneness to violence was the real sign that something was wrong with him. It is true, but he finally learned something by the end of the story while Jaemin remain convinced that he has always been right. I liked the fact that SuHyeon took responsibility for his previous behavior and finally let Daon go. He has remorse and regrets, but he has to live with it. I wish we explored more what it meant for him to not risk his life to save Daon. Jaemin told him it is because he doesn't have something to give to Daon, but I think it's more than that. SuHyeon was idolizing his possible relationship with Daon because he never truly got the chance to live it. It was stolen by Jaemin and his own insecurity or fear.

Finally, Seong Hyeon was the one for Daon. He looked for him when he was kidnapped, put himself between him and Jaemin's weapon and supported Daon's dream of going abroad for a year. I also like the fact that he wasn't just a "paragon of virtue". He made mistakes along the way, but he is just human and I think Daon knew about that. It is probably why he felt in love with him. We don't fall in love with a perfect person, but we feel like they are perfect for us, despite their flaws and mistakes. I'm glad the series gave us some sweet moments between them before Daon had to leave overseas. They looked really cute.

The last flashback was unexpected but it was a pleasant surprise. It made me think that Daon met all his "suitors" once in the past and time has always been an important notion in the series.

Overall I had a really fun time and I'm glad Korea gave me a good series after so many where I didn't get the appeal. It may not be the best Korean BL, but it was a very entertaining one. I now wish for a real story with polyamory (toxic or not) but when they all end up together (Deep Nights gave me a taste for it, but they weren't the main characters).

[locksnrocks]

Scene Comparison - Soohyun & Daon Library scene

I appreciate how the show took moments/dialogue from the manhwa and adapted them - there was *a lot* of material they had to work through to get this thing condensed down to just 8 episodes. Overall, I understand the changes the show made because if they tried to shove everything in this timeframe, the ending would have felt way more rushed than it already did.

One favorite scene:

If you haven't read the manhwa and if there's any part of you that felt even a little bit bad for the crash and burn of the 'ship that could have been' (Soohyun x Daon), then please enjoy a small snapshot of how the library scene played out in the manhwa. It is during their 'not dating but basically dating/FWB' phase during uni.

Just to show what Soohyun/Daon could have been...! The show added a lurking Jaemin in its version, but he's not here in the webcomic. He does see (spy on them) them around campus being close and couple-y and gets tilted.

I guess the show left it up to us as the viewers to decide if Soohyun and Daon were 'together' at this point in their uni days.

[becauseimanicequeen]

Pride Month Watch: Light On Me

I'm currently going through my Pride Month Watch List.

Light on Me hasn't been on my radar very long, but I've heard about it from various sources recently, so I figured I would watch it this month. I don't know anything about it, but I've heard it's good. So, let's dive in!

I'm about halfway through the first episode and realized one of the actors has one of the main roles in Black Knight (a dystopian k-drama, which I enjoyed when I watched it last year).

So, the first episode is over, and I feel like Shinwoo (the guy who was against Taekyung joining the student council) is Taekyung's first love. Or, perhaps I've seen too many enemies-to-lovers stories and this trope might just be messing with my head...

I'm near the end of episode 2 and must say that Daon is really sweet. He's my favorite character at this point. I get the feeling that he might remember Taekyung for other reasons than just having a good memory. But, please don't tell me we're getting a love triangle...

I love that the moody brooder Shinwoo wears dark (black/gray) clothes every time I've seen him so far.

Namgoong is ridiculous, so I love him (obviously).

Oh, lord. The date in episode 3 is so awkward. But I love how completely honest Taekyung is, he just says what's on his mind.

I have a feeling that Daon being nice to everyone will become a bigger problem in the coming episodes.

I’ve just started episode 4, and I’ve decided that every time Shinwoo says he doesn’t like Taekyung from now on, he’s actually saying that he likes Taekyung.

This is starting to look like a love... what's the next thing after a triangle? Love square? Love quadrangle? Well, you get the point, it's a mess, lol.

I’m on episode 8 and the girl (whom I can never remember the name of, lol) is using Daon being nice to everyone against Taekyung to say that he’s not anyone special to Daon. And, at the same time, Shinwoo is stepping up his own game to get closer to Taekyung, which Daon is seeing. This is getting delicious.

I'm halfway into episode 9 and this series is starting to lose points from me. Honestly, the BL screenwriters who write female characters to be the wedge between the queer boys who like each other, just because she likes one of them too, need to develop their repertoire...

This is obviously a me-problem because I know that Korea is a very different country than where I'm from (I'm from northern Europe, btw) and their view of girls/women is very different from where I was born and raised. But I can't help but get annoyed at it.

Sohee (yes, I remember her name now) is so stereotypically written and boring at this point. Hopefully, it will change in an episode or two. Hopefully, Daon will be upfront with her that he has zero interest in her so she humbly backs off. His dilly-dallying with her isn't exactly helping either.

Anyway...

Thank every higher power Namgoong is here to be ridiculous. I love him so much. So, whatever points this series is losing because of Sohee (and Daon not telling her what's up), Namgoong makes up for it. And Shinwoo's longing stares at Taekyung. I love those too.

So, Shinwoo's way to get closer to Taekyung was to physically bump into him?

No wonder Taekyung ignored him, lmao!

Daon taking off the bracelet he got from Taekyung physically hurt me. It's understandable considering the conversation that led up to it (and that conversation in itself was annoying to watch even though it felt more than realistic). It still hurt me. And that Taekyung noticed Daon wasn't wearing the bracelet anymore hurt me too.

I'm nearing the end of the 10th episode and Taekyung feel like he has been rejected by Daon because of the bracelet, Daon's reaction when the dudes interrupted them, and Daon not being able to find the words to say anything. Then they showed that Daon has one of those tubes you store papers in (commonly used by architects and artists), where he (most likely) has a drawing of Taekyung (which Taekyung asked for in a previous episode).

Daon clearly likes Taekyung. I get the feeling that he's holding back because of what those two dudes said to him earlier. There could be something more behind it as well. The family is often a reason, but they haven't been mentioned all that much (just that they practically ignore Daon).

Namgoong just stood up to Sohee for Daon and Taekyung, and I love him even more than I did before.

I'm on episode 11 and it seems like the family might be another reason Daon holds back and that potential rumors could hurt their reputation or status. I hope this doesn't turn into one of those stories where the parents transfer him to another school just because of rumors...

This is getting really painful to watch. Painful for the characters, I mean (because I love the pain it's giving me, lol).

I'm glad that at least Taekyung has someone there for him when he's falling apart.

I hope Daon has someone to be there for him too. I'm sure the other three (Shinwoo, Namgoong, and Taekyung) will stand up for him against the idiots at school, but he seemed so lonely at home. It breaks my heart.

I love how Shinwoo took on the role of Daon's friend and then Taekyung's friend to share the different perspectives on what happened so that Taekyung could understand things from Daon's perspective but also feel like he had Shinwoo in his corner. I love friends like this.

I've got so much respect for Shinwoo after his conversation with Daon in the 12th episode. He knows that both he and Daon like Taekyung, but he doesn't take advantage of Taekyung now that he's heartbroken and vulnerable. Instead, he told Daon to stop avoiding Taekyung and to fix things with him.

I love this. It's not a competition or about who gets the boy by playing dirty tricks. It's about two long-time friends who respect each other and just want what's best for the boy they like. It's such a big contrast to the whole Sohee and Daon situation, and I fucking love it.

I love Namgoong so fucking much!

I’m at the beginning of episode 13 and I’m glad Daon got pissed at Sohee. He had every right to be considering she outed him and Taekyung to the whole school. I like the way he handled it and how he told her he never wanted to see her again. I mean, she betrayed his trust. Let’s see how long it lasts (I hope it lasts until the end of time, but that’s just me being petty as fuck when it comes to people who betray my trust, lol).

I’m glad Sohee apologized to Taekyung, as she should. That doesn’t mean I would want her as a friend, though. Taekyung is clearly not as petty as me, lol.

It’s near the end of episode 14 and Daon has practically forgiven Sohee, so that didn’t last long. But I’m glad he said they might not be able to be good friends right now.

It was a drawing of Taekyung in that tube. Too bad Daon's declaration of love comes now, though, because I feel like Taekyung is already moving on. Timing is everything.

Have I said that I love Namgoong? No? I fucking love Namgoong. He’s so sweet and funny and ridiculous that I can’t help but smile like an idiot when I see him on my screen. I love him so much.

The way I cheered for Shinwoo when he asked Taekyung at the end of episode 15 if Taekyung was going to keep him waiting… Shinwoo has waited for a long time to get closer to Taekyung.

And then the way I cheered for Daon when they showed the flashback of him kissing Taekyung’s forehead… These boys...

I have no idea how this is going to end (probably enemies to lovers since that’s so common), and I’m not really leaning more toward one rather than the other. (Normally I would be loud about poly at this point, but I don’t think these boys are ready for that.) So, let’s see what happens.

The way I laughed when Taekyung said he was thankful that Shinwoo had honest ears!

Look at these boys linking arms!

And holding hands!

I’m so happy for them!

Overall, this was a great show. I really liked the friendship between the four boys. I haven’t written anything about the teacher but I loved his role in the series. He was always so kind and gave great advice to all of them. A guiding light in the murky waters of being a young queer kid.

Obviously, my favorite character was Namgoong. He was ridiculous, funny, sweet, and an amazing friend who stood up for the people he cared about.

Seriously, I love Namgoong!

This is definitely one of the better QLs I’ve seen from Korea, and I’m happy I watched it.

[delesaria-blog]

Yikes, that was like watching a lion maul an antelope. Daon looks mentally checked out.

So we know Daon was threatened into the situation by Soohyun but Sunghyun doesn't, which makes this statement kind of unhinged:

Um, why? I get that you want to be a hero, but how long have you known Daon? A couple weeks? What gives you this level of confidence?

So, I tried reading the comic but couldn't stand how spineless Daon was there, but he's a lot more likable in the show. Sunghyun is his boss, who is also violent and wealthy enough to get away with assault, but Daon still resolutely shut him down.

Jaemin is a piece of shit. If I was Daon and found out that he caused someone to hurt my sister, I'd freaking bury him. Also, props to Dasul (the sister) for consistently sensing that something is off about Jaemin. The man managed to fool literally everyone in the show at some point, but not her.

Finally, Daon manages to question his idealized perception of Jaemin, which culminates in the most deranged moment yet.

I really wish we knew more about Jaemin, other than that he's even more insane than he is rich. What brings someone to the point where he's willing to self-mutilate when things don't go his way? Daon really should just leave and call an ambulance for him. I always thought Soohyun was the worst physical danger, but Jaemin looks ready for a murder suicide here.