For me this episode was very much a coming of age episode, in more than one way. Yes Yuan turned 18, and is legally an adult, but emotionally too. I felt a distinct change in his behavior, words and lingering eyes in this episode compared to the others. It all felt much more pointed. I think up until now, he's been unaware or uncertain of why he was "attracted" to Wei Qian, but now he's starting to realise and understand his sexuality. And as a result he is getting bolder. And I think the scene after the birthday party is very essential. The one ewen he's alone in his room, reading the BL novel, looking at the picture of them, drawing a parallet between the cover and him and WQ sleeping next to each other - that's when he accepts, that the feelings he has isn't one of a brother. And then he does this big exhale, like he's been keeping "something" in, but is now ready to let it out. That's how I interpret it anyway. 😄 Also, I don't think Wei Qian is aware of Yuan sexual attraction to him. I think he "worries" about him being gay for one, and second about him being so hyper focused on him, that he isn't really living his life. Which is a very "fatherly" concern.
@marieschmidt1262 it's Olympics season! For the next few weeks, our "but did it stick the landing?" critique _to judge_ the way a series wraps up will have real-life, real world currency! (For the unfamiliar: The expression originated with gymnastics [or maybe ski jumping, but wrong Olympics for that sport]. The landing is an element on which the competitor is judged.) For me, whether a series ends strongly is a big part of how I regard it's place in the pantheon. With so many series having ended within the past few weeks (or airing finales within a few days), let's just do a survey. Without explaining (because spoilers!), did the given series end well? For our purposes, "ends well" includes not just the finale but also the penultimate and at least one more before that one. Rate: Stick the landing? Flub the landing? In between? Wandee Goodday? Only Boo? We Are? My Stand In? Blue Boys? Under the Oak Tree?
@@johnmaster3748 What kind of rule is "without explaning"?? - That goes against my whole belief system 😂 I didn't watch Under the Oak Tree. I've sort of given up on the Vietnamese BL's, for some reason they just don't "speak" to me. But should I give this one a chance? Wandee and We Are didn't land yet, there could be turbalance coming, so we can't really say. Therefor I am reserving my *judgement* for later! In my opinion My Stand In, Blue Boys as Only Boo stuck the landing. But in very different kind of ways. But since I am not allowed to expand on that, I can't tell you why. 🤐
@marieschmidt1262 "No explaining" is hard for me to as well! But this video is about Unknown, and people may not expect extended discussion of other series. We Are, Oak, And Wandee end this week (Wed, Fri, Sat); and people may not yet have made up their minds. So, "the rule" is in the same spirit of "don't comment in the video of ep 4 about events that don't occur until ep 7." Spoiler-free zone.
@marieschmidt1262 Without knowing why the Vietnamese series "don't speak to you," I am hesitant to recommend it. It is _very_ Vietnamese. I see in it many of the same flaws evident in other Vietnamese series. Also, many of the same qualities I have appreciated in those same series. So, I'd be inclined to think you'd lump it with the others, too.
0:54-1:03 "I am trying to understand how siblings, adoptive siblings, could develop this kind of of romantic attraction towards each other." It is my judgement that this series exists to pose this question: is there a set of circumstances in which siblings might embark on a romantic relationship despite the power of the incest taboo? To say, "they are not biological brothers" is a glib response. It ignores the fact that the characters themselves act as if the bonds of family matter to them. It ignores the fact that the characters must move beyond the brother-status that they alla cknowledge. It matters to them. Before they see a path forward, they defuse the reluctance born of the incest taboo. How they get to that point is exactly what this series is about. That they are adoptive brothers is germane to that journey, but if a biology-dependent incest taboo were the only constraint, the series could end after two episodes. Ryan's comment, quoted above, reflects the exact struggle every character in this series grapples with. And it is the social construction of brotherhood, not the biological definition, that matters.
I reemember watching a German documentary 20 years ago about the increasing instances of blood-releated siblings getting involved. With the rising amount of broken homes, half-sibling, insimination, and adoptions happening around the world, the chance of blood related sibling getting together, without knowing it, has grown. In the documentary we meet 5 couples, who didn't knew each other as kids, but found each other as adults. According to the psychologists in the documentary, when that happen, there is actually a big chance that they can become sexually and romantically attracted, because they "recognise" themself, and so it feels like they find their other half. And so even though they intellectually know that they are blood-related siblings, they didn't each other as such, and so they got involved. It's a very interesting, thought provoking and heart breaking documentary! And i clearly remember feeling sorry for them, because it was obvious that they were tormented by the situation, that they felt guilt, shame and fear. But at the end of they day we all have a choice. These people, even though they were "victims" of curcumstances, still chose to get involved (some even had children) with the concious knowledge that it is not only consideres morally taboo, but is actually illegal.
Another taboo at play in Unknown is age gap. For the first several episodes, the younger character is a minor. This episode prominently features his 18th birthday. The series plays this up that age milestone because 18 marks a transformation in the dynamic between individuals (whether related or not). In the 21st century, that birthday (and/or the high school graduation that often arrives in proximity) delineates a line between childhood and adulthood. It is as if, in the earlier episodes, the younger character's attraction to his elder sibling could be dismissed or ignored because, as a child, he could not truly know his own mind. From this point forward, however, that will not be the case. When Ryan speaks of the newborn "confidence" in the actions and speech of the younger character, the series is telling viewers that their earlier concerns about the age gap can now be reduced. It is the first hurdle toward making palatable a brotherly romance.
@marieschmidt1262 agree...but I would extend your point beyond the mere legal. Any inkling of adult-minor relationship creates an ick factor for the audience. By showcasing this specific birthday for a character who has been a minor to this point in the narrative, the writers mitigate that ickiness and put viewers on notice that the character should now be taken seriously as an adult. You really explained it well in your freestanding comment.
Question for Ryan about the video title: we know you cannot post full episode reactions to this series. We also know you've recently begun splitting episodes [of other series] into two videos: Reaction and Commentary. But the content here is more typical of the Commentary section of your videos. Should it be labeled Commentary rather than Reaction?
"Obviously, we're not here to judge." 0:41 It kind of bothers me Ryan felt compelled to make this defensive statement. Also, he is wrong! All any of us do in here in this mileu of reactionary videos is one form or another of judging! Any reaction contains an implicit judgement insofar as one's instinctive emotional response to a given scene will include the Reactor's awareness of societal norms and also may, perhaps, indicate their attitude toward those norms. Any critique (including reviews or commentaries) requires judgement. Judgement of an episode (or series) includes assessments of what worked or did not work with that episode (or series). The craft of criticism (a field which offers professional careers and has professional standards) contains a more direct form of judgment describing how contrbutors (of actors, directors) performed their craft; of how technical personnel (wardrobe, set design, cinematography and more) executed their responsibilities; of the story and whether it effectively did its job of impacting an audience. In short, at a RUclips channel site such as this, neither the Reactor nor those who contribute to the Comments are immune from exercising judgment. Judgment lies at the very core of what happens here. It is inherent to the process--unavoidable and inescapable. Unlike a court of law, no judgement pronounced as critique carries the imprimatur of law. There is no burden of finality. And that finality we imbue to the legal process is what makes the court room judgement carry such weight. It is why the job "judge" carries the aura of respect an honor. Our stakes are much lower. Our judgements about these filmed entertainments carry only the weight the person receiving the words chooses to ascribe to the person pronouncing them. If Ryan's reactions to these courtships made no sense to the audience, they'd not return series after series to see how he reacted. A core audience trusts Ryan's reactions--and they return. Having a core vieweership reflects a judgment on the quality of this channel. If Ryan reacted to obscure series that held no appeal to a wider audience, he would not attract random viewers who seek out judgement on episodes they enjoyed. That drop-in audience reflects a judgement on the specific series. If the judgments we pronounce in our reactions and commentaries make no sense to others, then they are of little value. In conclusion, none of us should apologize for or shrink from the acts of judgement involved in Reaction, Commentary, and [on viewers' end] in reacting to the reaction or voicing our own takes on what worked or did not work in a specific episode. Judgement lies at the heart of this endeavor. We ought to embrace and accept that rather pretend these discussions operate in some neutral void. Two aspects of this type of judgement require caution. First, the unsupported judgement (opinion put forth without support or evidence). "I liked this episode" expresses a judgement. But it offers no clue why and so is of limited value to others. (In Court, the actual judge does not simply say "Plaintiff wins, Defendant loses." They must ground that opinion in facts, law, context, and comparison. Judicial opinions can run to tens of pages.) One problem in communication at sites like this is that full explanations are tedious to construct. We do not need to justify our pronouncemtns. Yet, if ten people all write "I liked this episode," then that repetition may reflect a consensus. But we will not know whether some liked the acting; others, the cinematography. A judgment supported by context tends to carry greater weight--but also leaves space for those with different judgement to dispute. Second, people must remember that their judgments are not binding on others--nor need they feel bound by a judgement uttered by another. All judgments made here represent non-binding opinion. Disagreement, therefore, is also inevitable. How we handle ourselves when disagreeing (or when disagreed with) is within our control.
I don't think Ryan ment "judge" like that, as critique or reviews as a reactor or audience - but more in the sense of: I am trying not to be *judgemental*
@@marieschmidt1262 am aware. But "judgmental" isn't what he _said_ . And the two concepts are closely related and often conflated. And as often as BL fans label character behavior as "toxic," I think the case can be made "we are here to judge." I'd rather we accept the exercise of judgement as a legitimate and inevitable endeavor of this whole process than pretend it isn't occurring. At all levels of judicious discretion. Worth noting: this video dropped the day after the finale for My Stand In, and viewer discussion about _that_ series has been wildly incoherent since no clear consensus emerged about whether/how/when/why Ming was redeemable after his behavior in the early episodes. I have had judging on my mind this week even before this video..
@@CadaoReacts your job. Which is to spark conversation. What I should have said: the issue isn't whether we judge. It is whether we judge fairly and responsibly.
![[Eng Sub] สายรหัสเทวดา Perfect 10 Liners | EP.1 [1/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JmJ1JL0xxtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
For me this episode was very much a coming of age episode, in more than one way. Yes Yuan turned 18, and is legally an adult, but emotionally too.
I felt a distinct change in his behavior, words and lingering eyes in this episode compared to the others. It all felt much more pointed. I think up until now, he's been unaware or uncertain of why he was "attracted" to Wei Qian, but now he's starting to realise and understand his sexuality. And as a result he is getting bolder.
And I think the scene after the birthday party is very essential. The one ewen he's alone in his room, reading the BL novel, looking at the picture of them, drawing a parallet between the cover and him and WQ sleeping next to each other - that's when he accepts, that the feelings he has isn't one of a brother. And then he does this big exhale, like he's been keeping "something" in, but is now ready to let it out. That's how I interpret it anyway. 😄
Also, I don't think Wei Qian is aware of Yuan sexual attraction to him. I think he "worries" about him being gay for one, and second about him being so hyper focused on him, that he isn't really living his life. Which is a very "fatherly" concern.
@@marieschmidt1262 excellent comment.
@marieschmidt1262 it's Olympics season! For the next few weeks, our "but did it stick the landing?" critique _to judge_ the way a series wraps up will have real-life, real world currency! (For the unfamiliar: The expression originated with gymnastics [or maybe ski jumping, but wrong Olympics for that sport]. The landing is an element on which the competitor is judged.) For me, whether a series ends strongly is a big part of how I regard it's place in the pantheon.
With so many series having ended within the past few weeks (or airing finales within a few days), let's just do a survey. Without explaining (because spoilers!), did the given series end well? For our purposes, "ends well" includes not just the finale but also the penultimate and at least one more before that one.
Rate: Stick the landing? Flub the landing? In between?
Wandee Goodday?
Only Boo?
We Are?
My Stand In?
Blue Boys?
Under the Oak Tree?
@@johnmaster3748 What kind of rule is "without explaning"?? - That goes against my whole belief system 😂
I didn't watch Under the Oak Tree. I've sort of given up on the Vietnamese BL's, for some reason they just don't "speak" to me. But should I give this one a chance?
Wandee and We Are didn't land yet, there could be turbalance coming, so we can't really say. Therefor I am reserving my *judgement* for later!
In my opinion My Stand In, Blue Boys as Only Boo stuck the landing. But in very different kind of ways. But since I am not allowed to expand on that, I can't tell you why. 🤐
@marieschmidt1262 "No explaining" is hard for me to as well! But this video is about Unknown, and people may not expect extended discussion of other series. We Are, Oak, And Wandee end this week (Wed, Fri, Sat); and people may not yet have made up their minds. So, "the rule" is in the same spirit of "don't comment in the video of ep 4 about events that don't occur until ep 7." Spoiler-free zone.
@marieschmidt1262 Without knowing why the Vietnamese series "don't speak to you," I am hesitant to recommend it. It is _very_ Vietnamese. I see in it many of the same flaws evident in other Vietnamese series. Also, many of the same qualities I have appreciated in those same series. So, I'd be inclined to think you'd lump it with the others, too.
0:54-1:03 "I am trying to understand how siblings, adoptive siblings, could develop this kind of of romantic attraction towards each other."
It is my judgement that this series exists to pose this question: is there a set of circumstances in which siblings might embark on a romantic relationship despite the power of the incest taboo? To say, "they are not biological brothers" is a glib response. It ignores the fact that the characters themselves act as if the bonds of family matter to them. It ignores the fact that the characters must move beyond the brother-status that they alla cknowledge. It matters to them. Before they see a path forward, they defuse the reluctance born of the incest taboo. How they get to that point is exactly what this series is about. That they are adoptive brothers is germane to that journey, but if a biology-dependent incest taboo were the only constraint, the series could end after two episodes.
Ryan's comment, quoted above, reflects the exact struggle every character in this series grapples with. And it is the social construction of brotherhood, not the biological definition, that matters.
I reemember watching a German documentary 20 years ago about the increasing instances of blood-releated siblings getting involved. With the rising amount of broken homes, half-sibling, insimination, and adoptions happening around the world, the chance of blood related sibling getting together, without knowing it, has grown. In the documentary we meet 5 couples, who didn't knew each other as kids, but found each other as adults. According to the psychologists in the documentary, when that happen, there is actually a big chance that they can become sexually and romantically attracted, because they "recognise" themself, and so it feels like they find their other half. And so even though they intellectually know that they are blood-related siblings, they didn't each other as such, and so they got involved.
It's a very interesting, thought provoking and heart breaking documentary! And i clearly remember feeling sorry for them, because it was obvious that they were tormented by the situation, that they felt guilt, shame and fear.
But at the end of they day we all have a choice. These people, even though they were "victims" of curcumstances, still chose to get involved (some even had children) with the concious knowledge that it is not only consideres morally taboo, but is actually illegal.
Another taboo at play in Unknown is age gap. For the first several episodes, the younger character is a minor. This episode prominently features his 18th birthday. The series plays this up that age milestone because 18 marks a transformation in the dynamic between individuals (whether related or not). In the 21st century, that birthday (and/or the high school graduation that often arrives in proximity) delineates a line between childhood and adulthood. It is as if, in the earlier episodes, the younger character's attraction to his elder sibling could be dismissed or ignored because, as a child, he could not truly know his own mind. From this point forward, however, that will not be the case. When Ryan speaks of the newborn "confidence" in the actions and speech of the younger character, the series is telling viewers that their earlier concerns about the age gap can now be reduced. It is the first hurdle toward making palatable a brotherly romance.
Yeah the 18th birthday party isn't just there as a filler scene, it's to let everyone know what happens from here on out is legally okey!
@marieschmidt1262 agree...but I would extend your point beyond the mere legal. Any inkling of adult-minor relationship creates an ick factor for the audience. By showcasing this specific birthday for a character who has been a minor to this point in the narrative, the writers mitigate that ickiness and put viewers on notice that the character should now be taken seriously as an adult. You really explained it well in your freestanding comment.
@@johnmaster3748 I was actually writing my freestanding comment as part of the reply to yours, but though it should stand on its own.
Question for Ryan about the video title: we know you cannot post full episode reactions to this series. We also know you've recently begun splitting episodes [of other series] into two videos: Reaction and Commentary. But the content here is more typical of the Commentary section of your videos. Should it be labeled Commentary rather than Reaction?
Thank you John! You are correct! I was rushing to get this out while I was at work today , I forgot to put “commentary” on the thumbnail. 😅😅
"Obviously, we're not here to judge." 0:41
It kind of bothers me Ryan felt compelled to make this defensive statement. Also, he is wrong! All any of us do in here in this mileu of reactionary videos is one form or another of judging! Any reaction contains an implicit judgement insofar as one's instinctive emotional response to a given scene will include the Reactor's awareness of societal norms and also may, perhaps, indicate their attitude toward those norms.
Any critique (including reviews or commentaries) requires judgement. Judgement of an episode (or series) includes assessments of what worked or did not work with that episode (or series). The craft of criticism (a field which offers professional careers and has professional standards) contains a more direct form of judgment describing how contrbutors (of actors, directors) performed their craft; of how technical personnel (wardrobe, set design, cinematography and more) executed their responsibilities; of the story and whether it effectively did its job of impacting an audience.
In short, at a RUclips channel site such as this, neither the Reactor nor those who contribute to the Comments are immune from exercising judgment. Judgment lies at the very core of what happens here. It is inherent to the process--unavoidable and inescapable.
Unlike a court of law, no judgement pronounced as critique carries the imprimatur of law. There is no burden of finality. And that finality we imbue to the legal process is what makes the court room judgement carry such weight. It is why the job "judge" carries the aura of respect an honor.
Our stakes are much lower. Our judgements about these filmed entertainments carry only the weight the person receiving the words chooses to ascribe to the person pronouncing them. If Ryan's reactions to these courtships made no sense to the audience, they'd not return series after series to see how he reacted. A core audience trusts Ryan's reactions--and they return. Having a core vieweership reflects a judgment on the quality of this channel. If Ryan reacted to obscure series that held no appeal to a wider audience, he would not attract random viewers who seek out judgement on episodes they enjoyed. That drop-in audience reflects a judgement on the specific series. If the judgments we pronounce in our reactions and commentaries make no sense to others, then they are of little value.
In conclusion, none of us should apologize for or shrink from the acts of judgement involved in Reaction, Commentary, and [on viewers' end] in reacting to the reaction or voicing our own takes on what worked or did not work in a specific episode. Judgement lies at the heart of this endeavor. We ought to embrace and accept that rather pretend these discussions operate in some neutral void.
Two aspects of this type of judgement require caution. First, the unsupported judgement (opinion put forth without support or evidence). "I liked this episode" expresses a judgement. But it offers no clue why and so is of limited value to others. (In Court, the actual judge does not simply say "Plaintiff wins, Defendant loses." They must ground that opinion in facts, law, context, and comparison. Judicial opinions can run to tens of pages.) One problem in communication at sites like this is that full explanations are tedious to construct. We do not need to justify our pronouncemtns. Yet, if ten people all write "I liked this episode," then that repetition may reflect a consensus. But we will not know whether some liked the acting; others, the cinematography. A judgment supported by context tends to carry greater weight--but also leaves space for those with different judgement to dispute. Second, people must remember that their judgments are not binding on others--nor need they feel bound by a judgement uttered by another. All judgments made here represent non-binding opinion. Disagreement, therefore, is also inevitable. How we handle ourselves when disagreeing (or when disagreed with) is within our control.
I don't think Ryan ment "judge" like that, as critique or reviews as a reactor or audience - but more in the sense of: I am trying not to be *judgemental*
@@marieschmidt1262 am aware. But "judgmental" isn't what he _said_ . And the two concepts are closely related and often conflated. And as often as BL fans label character behavior as "toxic," I think the case can be made "we are here to judge." I'd rather we accept the exercise of judgement as a legitimate and inevitable endeavor of this whole process than pretend it isn't occurring. At all levels of judicious discretion.
Worth noting: this video dropped the day after the finale for My Stand In, and viewer discussion about _that_ series has been wildly incoherent since no clear consensus emerged about whether/how/when/why Ming was redeemable after his behavior in the early episodes. I have had judging on my mind this week even before this video..
Uh oh.. what have I done? 🤣🤣
@@CadaoReacts your job. Which is to spark conversation.
What I should have said: the issue isn't whether we judge. It is whether we judge fairly and responsibly.
Amen!! You know me, I’m not the best at putting words together. But you know what I mean 🙂