DROP

[marow]

DROP (DРОП) is upcoming russian-produced web-series filmed in Ukraine. 

The series is based on real events (Kerch Polytechnic College massacre). The first season will consist of 8 episodes, there are 4 main characters. Each character will have 2 episodes, in which the story will be told through their eyes. One of the revealed main characters is Vlad, who is confirmed to be gay. He's the one in glasses.

From released photos and videos, it looks like he will be crushing on his friend Mark (who is the other main character out of the 4).

Other info:

- the show should premiere this May
- they're still filming
- it will be released on YouTube along with english subtitles

If you wanna be informed about the progress of this show, you can check their socials: instagram, vk, twitter, youtube

[mizuryuu]

It is a Russian show, so I would keep expectation low. Especially if Vlad is crushing on another main character, it is highly unlikely they will have half the main cast in a gay relationship.

Considering it is based on the Kerch Polytechnic College massacre, which is done by someone called Vladislav Roslyakov, lets just hope they don't go with making Vlad the school shooter because of being gay.

[justinate]

Is this a Ukrainian or Russian show? If it's Russian, there is zero chance of any meaningful or positive gay content. Kerch is in Crimea which was annexed from Ukraine by Russia; this incident took place post-annexation. In Russia I believe it's now illegal to promote any gay "propaganda" (i.e. depicting queer people in a positive light).

Unfortunately, looking through the Wikipedia article on the Kerch massacre, I am not too optimistic about Vlad.

There were also reports that he may have been bullied. According to an ex-girlfriend, Roslyakov had informed her he had lost faith in people when his classmates started to ridicule him for being different.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerch_Polytechnic_College_massacre

On the other hand, whoever runs the show's Youtube channel commented on a gay fan channel thanking them for the publicity.

[mizuryuu]

It is a Russian show filmed in Ukraine. So like you, I wouldn't keep high expectation for this show, they will probably make Vlad the shooter with him being gay being the reason.

[justinate]

Actually the teaser video in the first post appears to show who the shooter is, and I don't think it's the same actor? Or am I misled by the haircut?

Russia has actually had a school shooting in Kazan today - the show's social media is referencing it but I don't know if it means a postponement of the show's premiere. I notice the Instagram account now says "Series premiere: May-June 2021" where it previously just said May.

[mizuryuu]

Even if he isn't the shooter, considering Russia's Gay Propaganda laws, I would keep expectation low.... very low...

[marow]

Russian show as in show in russian language (for wider reach). It's completely filmed in Ukraine for a reason. Plus it's independent web-series, nothing russian law can do about it.

[marow]

wondering what route they're gonna go with because I can't tell

[marow]

The first episode should be released this month. They finished filming episode 7 at the start of this week.

[justinate]

I'm cautiously optimistic ... unless the show's social media manager is playing us.

[kevvoi]

They did have a sign of life earlier this afternoon:



I will say it is a handsome cast.

[marow]

honestly don't know what to think anymore I don't wanna get my hopes up but... 

[justinate]

Well, looks like we won't have to wait that long to find out. The show just posted an Instagram story that indicates the premiere dates:

Clip 1 - June 18
Clip 2 - June 20
Clip 3 - June 22
Episode 1 - June 24 (I assume it's a compilation of the first 3 clips and potentially an additional one?)

[kevvoi]

Clip 1:



Courtesy of DROP channel.

[marow]

Looks like they're just gonna release three random excerpts/clips before the episode airs.

[justinate]

Yes it doesn't follow the specific timing.

But I thought it was a promising start nonetheless. It helps that we started with the gay character - and no, not (just) because he took his trousers off. I do cynically suspect that is marketing savvy, since everyone knows that SKAM exploded in global popularity due to its gay couple. Not sure Vlad will get his happily ever after here though, but I'm along for the ride.

[kevvoi]

I do find it odd that they are posting them out of order - here is the second scene they put up - the actual second scene, when the last one posted was scene 7???



I think I am going to just wait to watch (and probably post) the full episodes - as these teases are actually kind of annoying.

[mizuryuu]

So they are posting random teaser, for the full episode release that comes a week later? Weird approach

[justinate]

Yeah I don't get it either. They've gone through the trouble of creating clips that are timestamped like SKAM, why not release them at the timestamps on the videos?

But I will note that both clips released so far are focused on the gay character. So either we're being queer-baited like crazy or they actually have learned from the other remakes and chosen to put their gay character front and center from the outset. If the latter is correct, then who would've thought that a Russo-Ukrainian remake (or rip-off?) would be the one to actually do that? After other, allegedly more progressive countries actually erased or downgraded their gay male counterparts to Isak!

[kevvoi]

First episode courtesy of DROP:



No subs yet

[mrfixit477]

courtesy of DROP:

[mizuryuu]

So far, not much has happen, but I am so glad they basically rule out Vlad, the gay character, as the school shooter.

[kevvoi]

Episode 2 - currently without subs:

[mizuryuu]

There is subs now

[kevvoi]

Episode 3: