Hard to watch

I realize that with the title called Obsessed it was intentional that we get pretty questionable characters in this. I realize dark romance is not everyone’s type of thing. For me, I know I’m trash and a degenerate but I have limits. I’m okay with dark romance as long as its self-aware. But, that’s not the case here. It’s romanticizing the relationship here with the two leads. I found it hard to watch when you see Jiang forcing himself onto Shao Yi Chen. Nothing about that is romantic yet Yi Chen resists, but also melts into it?!!! I was left shocked and very uncomfortable. Hypothetically, let’s say that none of that happened. Let’s pretend for a moment that the sexual assault doesn’t happen in the drama. It’s not a good drama. I couldn’t understand why the romantic leads even liked each other? Also going back to the main premise, I’m confused. So, Yi Chen is heartbroken and dies after running away from his lover and getting hit by a car. He gets reborn with a second chance to live his life. He vows never to fall for his lover this time around. I’m confused because he doesn’t try very hard to resist lol. Like boy!!!!!! You have no self-restraint and there are ways to take yourself out of the toxic environment! Anyway, despite all this I do like the actors. I would like to see Teddy Ren in other roles but I don’t see that he did anything after this job which makes me sad.

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Initial thoughts turned into dropping the show

The first episode is confusing and a part of it is due to the editing. So often times I’m trying to figure out if what I am watching is happening present day or in the past. The way to tell is through character interactions and dialogue. You know it’s the past playing out because the 2 leads aren’t too familiar with each other yet versus the present day where there is clearly tension and history between the two we aren’t privy to yet. There isn’t noticeable visual cues that help distinguish the timelines. But other than that I’m still curious to continue on because I want to know how they got to the point of tears and angst. As for the leads, Amagi is very cute and adorable almost to the threshold where I’m like….hmmm I don’t know about this because he puts on the cuteness in an overtly exaggerated way. And as expected Takara fulfills the role of the popular guy in school pretending to be aloof and uninterested but who panics inside with how cute Amagi is. I don’t know how they’ll develop this in just 8 episodes but it’s short and something I can easily watch through as new episodes come out.

Update: I watched up until episode 3 and I’m on the fence about whether or not I want to continue with this series. I don’t think it’s a bad drama. It’s just that I’m not invested enough in the characters. They don’t seem real to me but caricatures being played out. It doesn’t help that the hair/wig? and make up really exemplifies that. It’s just not for me. I couldn’t help but think that I would’ve preferred this story animated. I think it would’ve lended itself better in that medium.

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Boys Over Flowers but make it a BL

Boys Over Flowers but make it a BL....Is it self-aware?

"They threw water at you from up high? Damn that sounds like a bully scene from a Japanese drama."

I mean that line could mean anything. But, the premise seems familiar. A scholarship student takes on part-time jobs to make ends meet. He stands up for his friends against a bully whose family rules over the elite school. Also, the similarities of the pranks and the student body as observers watching from their makeshift bullying ring. In addition to the similar sets....I point this out because I very much appreciate the homage while also departing from it and doing its own thing.

I think we all knew what was going to happen in the last minutes of episode 1 because Sailom is thinking strategy. He is trying to one up the bully by trying to anticipate or think through situations to find an outcome that weighs more towards his favor. His cunning shows and its a mind game.

So far, Im intrigued and will continue the series to see how it develops.

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Trying too hard

It felt like the movie was trying too hard to be deep . When there arent any explicit scenes on the screen that take up a majority of the attention, all we get is monotonous and dull dialogue that points to some overarching metaphor that they try to pull in. Its okay to put out a purely trashy naughty film, but nope gotta also sprinkle in some artsy meaning in to the film...I guess? Starting from that odd dialogue when Myeong Seon meets Gi Jun for the first time and the discussion oddly goes to hands. What did you notice about me? My hands? You studied my hands? Then Myeong Seon compares Gi Jun's hands to that painting from da Vinci. And then all the hyperfixation of hands begins. Camera angles at Gi Jun's hands getting undressed and dressed. Hands clenching and unclenching in nervousness. He uses his hands nervously to cover his nakedness but Myeong Seon constantly tells him to put his hands away repetitively during the photoshoot. When Myeong Seon is on top of him to get a head shot of Gi Jun's face, he flicks his hand away from the shot. Myeong Seon had mentioned previously that he doesnt heavily edit his photos. It's supposed to be natural. But all we are seeing is dictated postures. Towards the end of the movie they hit you over the head with a close up of Mona Lisa's hands, the infamous painting he mentioned at the start. You can know a lot about a person from the hands. Gi Jun's hands is soft like the painting he says. But Myeong Seon chooses to ignore it and flicks it away and that's how he treats their affair. He does not care if Gi Jun is already in a relationship with someone else. He is aloof and mean and he knows it and purposefully so. He chooses to keep a distance and tries not to get too involved. At the end of the movie when he tries to look for a photo of Gi Jun and finds it tucked away in a book, you can tell it is heavily edited. Blemishes are erased. It isnt natural but posed. When Myeong meets Gi Jun's look-alike, Jung Hyun, you can tell he has regrets now that the roles are reversed. This man looks like Gi Jun but he is strong in personality and demeanor. He is not soft. The professional camera isnt used on this look-alike. You see Myeong Seon using a 35mm film camera when he unexpectedly runs into a sleeping Jung Hyun in the woods taking candor shots of the "fake" Gi Jun. Myeong Seon is also shown using a poloraid to get raw and imperfect instant photos of Jung Hyun passed out on their bed. When he gets intimate with Jung Hyun, it ocassionally shifts the camera to first person pov which hadnt happen before with Gi Jun when he was trying so hard to keep space and distance as photographer and subject. Perspective has changed as Myeong Seon is trying to reclaim those feelings. Then the mystery continues: Is Gi Jun and Jung Hyung the same person? Overall, it didnt matter to me cause I didnt care to know. All this got clouded by boring dialogue with not much effort with character development and a weak plot.

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This is weird and I’m scared…but it’s alright so far? (Emphasis on the question mark)

What did I think this was? I remember watching the trailer but I don’t remember a premise like this? My gosh I was surprised. I did not expect a show where both a cat and a dog reunite with their owner Jung Woo, but as humans. What?!!! So, now I’m scared because this could toe a line that I don’t want to think about. But for now the first episode is alright and cute because it’s innocent and comedic.

It’s a first of its kind that I’m aware of. I’ve never encountered a BL drama where animals become humans. The actors look like or at least portray the animal that they are supposed to be. Reminds me of Korea’s face type trend where celebrities and idols are often compared to animals: puppy face, cat face, bunny, turtle, etc. Maybe this premise was bound to pop up at some point. But, I digress. It’s too early to tell what direction this drama will take.

What makes me scared is several things and originally I was going to write down my worries but I want to give this a fair chance. I can see this going in a direction that is good or bad. I didn’t want my worries to color this review in a negative light when it’s only 1 episode. We’ll see how it goes.


Update:
Im 9 episodes into this show and I Iove this drama so much. Any hesitation I had before is gone. The actor's performances are soooo good!!!!! I had to come here after episode 9 because the range of emotions I saw portrayed especially with the actor playing Milk is astounding but they are all great. Im such a fan of UncleMilk!!!!!! Also it makes me happy that Strongberry, this small indie production that is putting out queer stories, is starting to get some attention. They deserve more. If you do happen to watch it and want to support, definitely watch for free on their YouTube channel!

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Feeds the heart....literally!

When I first heard that this was going to be adapted, I was soo impatient and ready for it. After the wait, it's finally here! I absolutely loved the manga and I was sad because it's a short stand alone one volume story and I wanted to stay with the characters longer. I get the chance to do that with this live action! So far with 3 episodes out, it appears that Yutaka's backstory is a bit different from the manga based on the flashback scenes we saw. It seems like with the drama they are going to flesh out the backstory way more, which makes sense because of how short the manga was. Im curious to see how it all turns out. The drama gives you warmth with a lot of love and happiness and that feeling is just how I felt when I read it (definitely need to reread at some point). To me, that's all that matters is that feeling and it's faithful in that way. You'll find yourself smiling and clutching your heart while watching this!

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