I know others have commented about your TGCF review and I'm hoping you don't mind such comments as I will be commenting about it too. I'd like to apologise beforehand for the length of this comment, and please feel free to skip the spoiler part.
Although I can't comment on many points of your review since I have read a very small part of the novel and only know a little of the story, being the part which was adapted into a donghua and manhua (just the part that is included in book 1 I think?), I still can say that I've also never understood the hype about the series and I can clearly see why you find problems in certain parts.
I'm not going to delve into detail as to why and make this comment longer than it should be but HC so far just feels creepy to me and XL seeing him as this perfect person really irks me. Also I used to like XL for his kindness in the donghua etc. but unfortunately I agree that he really is as bland as you said. Reading some of his thoughts in the novel and seeing how blind he could be towards HC's actions, I seem to be slowly but surely hating him. It really just feels like your average hetero romance book at this point (especially with how XL is being overly feminized -or, again, as you said, written as a woman- in certain parts); a self insert character and an edgy love interest to go with it.
I also agree with the side characters, especially the Wind Master and Ling Wen, being much more interesting and likeable than the main two.
Although I don't know much of the story as of yet, to me, TGCF so far just feels like your average "made for a female audience" BL with all the fanservice and forced romantic (if you can call all that stuff romantic, that is) moments it has in it. I mean, of course, it has some adventure elements which wouldn't be seen in most series but still, the fanservice-y parts make those okay/enjoyable(?) parts of TGCF not that fun to read in my opinion. Not liking the main characters makes it even worse of course. Like, I feel like screaming anytime I see HC trying to get close to XL, he just feels like a walking red flag (no pun intended) with every move he tries to make. The relationship between the two in general also doesn't seem to develop naturally either, and feels as if MXTX is trying to forcefully put it together and shove it down the throat of the reader. And well, most of the readers eat it up without thinking twice to say the least.
TLDR; I really appreciate the honesty in your review and I share the same thoughts as you, so no worries, you're not alone in thinking this way! I'm honestly kind of looking forward to seeing more reviews from you as they are extremely well written.
*Literally currently watching episode 1 of season 2 of TGCF anime with 5 fanart posters on my wall and 4 buttons on my itabag and AN URGE TO COSPLAY THEM*
That hurt T_T
TGCF is the best book ever :D Like, NO JOKE, I hadn't read novels, like with letters, not manga but novels for like 10 years except one (1984), and it was literally, 100% seriously, TGCF (and her other series) that got me back into reading novels. No joke. I adore HuaLian to death. I want to write fanfics when I am finally done with the show. And I WANT THOSE PLUSHIES!!
But, maybe (no surely) the fact that I am a TOTAL fudanshi (I mean.. i have like 30 BL posters on my wall, 20+ danmei noves, 90 or so BL manga on my shelves physically, + like 150 volumes in eobook form, I cosplayed Noiz from DMMD for years, I have an uke t-shirt and a button, I have a ton fo yaoi buttons in my itabag- which is obviously PASTEL PINK because cute :3 -, 80% of my friends are fangirsl... the other 20% fanboys mostly... :D, and I am going in a bus for 8 HOURS there and back 3 countries over to paris (I am dutch!) just for a BL con in 3 weeks...) might have something to do with it... I admitsies. :D
I like how cons (not just y/con but also my fav mondocon for example) are bascially mostly just pride events with cosplay usually - rainbows everywhere, and so so so so MUCH yaoi (and yuri). I always feel comfy and right at home :D
REason I say that is - ffs, please don't worry about it being a "woman's space". BL fandom isn't and never has been, it's just a space with lots fo women in it, because target audience. But there is PLENTY of guys like me and many friends who absolutely love it too, around 15% of the fandom is guys, and never for a second have I not felt 100% part of the family :D NEVER. It helps also that many/most of the fangirls are bi, or pan, or lesbian, or later turn out to be trans, and many fans are NB, but my straight fangirl friends are just as fun so IDGAF :D I just discuss series, ship, read and write fanfics, and drool over hot fanart with them and fantasies for characters we uh, like :D
But yeah, mostly I wrote all this for two reasons - 1) my heart can't take it (but of course you are free not to like the series, we can't all be cultured or have taste :P /j ), -2) more importantly - if you like some BL or whatever, like MDZS as you said, please for the love of god, feel free and don't hesitate to join the fandom. From it being my whole life - and being in it for 15 years - you'll be MORE then welcome! it's the coziest fandom ever! (BL in general I mean :D).
Of course many guys like BL BECAUSE it's girly and cute a bit lol - I know I do. But there's also plenty of more MANLY ones :D (finder comes to mind! XD). I honestly slurp them all down like crack. (^_^)
(And Junjou romantica still has a special place in my heart, for being my first BL like 10 years ago or so. And also literally the reason that I found out I was bi at age 22... I am 32 now. Something I have heard from at least 2 other IRL friends too :D).
Anyway - I feel better now. I have a TGCF anime to get back to watching :D But yeah, don't hesitate to join fandom. It's FUJN! And there's plenty of guys in it - but it;s just as easy to make friends with the girls and they're just as nice, we all like the same thing. :D
Ah, this was longer then I hoped right. Sorry, if I rambled a bit, I JUST REALLY love BL and my precious gaybies- I mistyped HuaLian sowwy - so my autistic brain tends to get PASSIONATE. :D I'll leave it at this. But yeah, explkore fandom if you like some BL. You'll be welcome, don't worry ;)
Hey... no I haven't got the chance yet. Yeah there was a lot of stuff that wasn't to my taste either, mixed with amazing unforgettable stuff I've never encountered in any media before...
bruh...like omg was it annoying 🥴 lol
Even though I gave TGCF a high rating (because of reasons... but I hated a lot of it too, especially the whole "HC worships XL and has no life of his own" thing and the torturing of XL part), I almost entirely agree with your review. Really enjoyed reading it, it just needed to be written.
All Comments (8) Comments
TLDR; I really appreciate the honesty in your review and I share the same thoughts as you, so no worries, you're not alone in thinking this way! I'm honestly kind of looking forward to seeing more reviews from you as they are extremely well written.
That hurt T_T
TGCF is the best book ever :D Like, NO JOKE, I hadn't read novels, like with letters, not manga but novels for like 10 years except one (1984), and it was literally, 100% seriously, TGCF (and her other series) that got me back into reading novels. No joke. I adore HuaLian to death. I want to write fanfics when I am finally done with the show. And I WANT THOSE PLUSHIES!!
But, maybe (no surely) the fact that I am a TOTAL fudanshi (I mean.. i have like 30 BL posters on my wall, 20+ danmei noves, 90 or so BL manga on my shelves physically, + like 150 volumes in eobook form, I cosplayed Noiz from DMMD for years, I have an uke t-shirt and a button, I have a ton fo yaoi buttons in my itabag- which is obviously PASTEL PINK because cute :3 -, 80% of my friends are fangirsl... the other 20% fanboys mostly... :D, and I am going in a bus for 8 HOURS there and back 3 countries over to paris (I am dutch!) just for a BL con in 3 weeks...) might have something to do with it... I admitsies. :D
I like how cons (not just y/con but also my fav mondocon for example) are bascially mostly just pride events with cosplay usually - rainbows everywhere, and so so so so MUCH yaoi (and yuri). I always feel comfy and right at home :D
REason I say that is - ffs, please don't worry about it being a "woman's space". BL fandom isn't and never has been, it's just a space with lots fo women in it, because target audience. But there is PLENTY of guys like me and many friends who absolutely love it too, around 15% of the fandom is guys, and never for a second have I not felt 100% part of the family :D NEVER. It helps also that many/most of the fangirls are bi, or pan, or lesbian, or later turn out to be trans, and many fans are NB, but my straight fangirl friends are just as fun so IDGAF :D I just discuss series, ship, read and write fanfics, and drool over hot fanart with them and fantasies for characters we uh, like :D
But yeah, mostly I wrote all this for two reasons - 1) my heart can't take it (but of course you are free not to like the series, we can't all be cultured or have taste :P /j ), -2) more importantly - if you like some BL or whatever, like MDZS as you said, please for the love of god, feel free and don't hesitate to join the fandom. From it being my whole life - and being in it for 15 years - you'll be MORE then welcome! it's the coziest fandom ever! (BL in general I mean :D).
Of course many guys like BL BECAUSE it's girly and cute a bit lol - I know I do. But there's also plenty of more MANLY ones :D (finder comes to mind! XD). I honestly slurp them all down like crack. (^_^)
(And Junjou romantica still has a special place in my heart, for being my first BL like 10 years ago or so. And also literally the reason that I found out I was bi at age 22... I am 32 now. Something I have heard from at least 2 other IRL friends too :D).
Anyway - I feel better now. I have a TGCF anime to get back to watching :D But yeah, don't hesitate to join fandom. It's FUJN! And there's plenty of guys in it - but it;s just as easy to make friends with the girls and they're just as nice, we all like the same thing. :D
Ah, this was longer then I hoped right. Sorry, if I rambled a bit, I JUST REALLY love BL and my precious gaybies- I mistyped HuaLian sowwy - so my autistic brain tends to get PASSIONATE. :D I'll leave it at this. But yeah, explkore fandom if you like some BL. You'll be welcome, don't worry ;)
bruh...like omg was it annoying 🥴 lol