This review may contain spoilers
Theo is an actual sociopath
There are three basic things that makes a series good: good plot, characters, and cast. This series somehow fail in all of these three categories.Let's just talk about the saving grace in this series: Fluke Gawin. This man is incredibly sexy with his guitar and his voice was the only thing that got me through this series. What an insane talent.
There's no other positives other than Gawin unfortunately.
Plot is horrendously messy. The writing lacked purpose and most plot point feels like a filler. The plot twist of Theo being his own enchante could've been fun if only he was written as a more likeable character. But that reveal, combined with the series of selfish and just generally unlikeable things he does prior makes him appear sociopathic. Akk had the potential to be a good character but unfortunately his personality revolves too much around Theo. He didn't get the chance to actually develop layers which is a huge shame.
Cast was also disappointing. I don't have that high of an expectation for GMMTV actors in general, so it wasn't easy to go below my expectations. However, the main cast didn't have much presence on screen and the acting is subpar. Some actors can't act but at least had some magnetism to keep me engaged but I didn't feel much from either Force or Book. I'm sure they have potential and I'm hoping to see better projects in the future.
Unless you're a die hard ForceBook fan, I don't think there's much of a reason you need to watch this. Even 'A Boss and a Babe' is better than this mess.
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This review may contain spoilers
Akk Deserves Better
Recap: Theo moves back to the Thailand after his Grandmother passed in an accident. He is reunited with his childhood best friend, Akk. His new life back home bores him so he writes in a french book in the library, Enchanté, and magically he comes back and someone wrote a message back in the book. After the search for the mysterious Enchanté, comes up with 4 possible people the story begins to unfold.⚠️Tread lightly spoilers ahead⚠️
First off Akk is the embodiment of perfect man imo. It was a running joke between the friend I watched this with and myself that Nubsib from Lovely Writer was our previous standard for men and now Akk has stolen his crown. He's kind, respectful, and kind of oblivious.
The problem lies with Theo. He's spoiled and manipulative. There were a a lot of things he did that left a bad taste in my mouth. We attributed a lot of his earlier behavior as possibly still reeling from the loss of his grandmother but then things kept getting worse. After the Enchanté reveal, his already not great character went downhill. Theo got mad at Akk for not telling him his parents split up but it wasn't Akk's place to tell him and he wanted to keep Theo happy. Theo immediately turning around and calling Sun after he got mad at Akk while drunk and angry is very bothersome behavior.
Theo also seems to have a habit of going to extremes. Akk doesn't pay attention to you for a day? Pretend to be a love rival to get his attention and bribe a guy to pretend to be said love interest with the promise of furthering his career. You find out your parents split up and you don't know if you are holding your boyfriend back in life? Well, don't talk to him about the issue, move back to France, and tell him straight up that you leaving and don't leave room for negotiation. He just got more unlikeable as the show went on.
The rest of the cast was unremarkable outside of Saifa (love you Fluke Gawin😘) and i saw some people say that the show should have ended after Episode 8 and I agree.
I recommend this show for a casual watch to fill the time. preferably after a drama that left a worse taste in your mouth. Props to the actors for their amazing acting tho. 💖
Note this was written between 1am and 2am after a work day so pardon the weird phrasing.
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Ending not great, but watch it for Theo & Ak's relationship anyway
Enchante’s storyline may not have been revolutionary, but I think there was a solid effort put into crafting an interesting story beyond the typical college BL plot. They could have just slapped together a bunch of good-looking guys, hoping that the eye candy (aka Gawin and Force) would sell the series, but they didn’t.But the mystery of "who is Enchante???" was not what I stayed for.
As a friends-turned-lovers kind of story, the series devoted serious screentime to a blooming romance between friends. And for me, the relationship between Theo and Ak was everything.
Scenes with sexual tension were executed effortlessly – with Force and Book’s effortless on-screen dynamic, their relationship came off as both playful and genuine. Banter aside, they also captured the beauty of falling in love with a friend: Tender gazes that lingered, the breath catching in their throat after one person moves too close, the fear of taking a step closer.
Constantly worried about inconveniencing Theo or making him uncomfortable with his affection, Ak put Theo first even when it pained him to step back. He gave unconditionally and selflessly, even when Theo couldn’t do the same.
Some comments have railed against the ending, demanding to know why Theo stayed hopelessly immature without any character development. But I think this shows not the ugliness of Theo, but rather, with a character like Ak, how there is no way any (necessarily flawed) human being could ever deserve someone like him.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/03/enchante-2022-review-above-all-a-story-about-friends-turned-lovers/
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too much misscomunication
When I saw this was a ForceBook series I really thought it was going to be better than this. I like the concept, but it gets tiring after a few episodes, I almost forgot that I still had episodes to watch :,) I think they give too much importance to the supporting cast, and don’t get me wrong, I love a good backstory, but since there were like 4 more besides the main characters, it felt like the plot was getting like “dissolved” in a way. The constant misscomunication, and stuborness really annoyed me, it happened until the very last episode.Was this review helpful to you?
It's messy but it's funny
It's actually bad, and messy, and the plot twist it's bullshit. But it's funny and ForceBook are sooo charismatic and has such good chemistry that they kinda make it work..? But I watched knowing that it was bad and that made the experience just fine, it was exactly what I was expecting, something funny and cool to watch after watching a tough series, and worked for me!It's kinda camp? I guess.. And my god the CGI was so fucking bad that I almost cried from laughing.
About the main character: Akk BEST BOY, he's lovely, caring and funny. Theo is fucking boring and I didn't like him at all...
Resuming: It's bad but it's funny and you can enjoy if you watch with low expectations like me.
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This review may contain spoilers
Enchante No More
Enchanté would have been better if the premise was actually used instead of what was thrown in the series. I thought Akk would have been part of the four ENCHANTE's as what I had assumed but he wasn't. I was rooting for him to be the mystery guy because it was so obvious to whom Theo would end up with.I like the construction of their relationship, their friendship were well established and I like how they really showed that they have a relationship instead of just being together because the script says so. The slow burn was there, the tension created by every chance they'd be an inch apart was so perfect that I overlook the red flags until it was all too late.
The entire plot about theo finding who enchante was pointless that it doesn't serve any purpose to the relationship of the main leads until the revelation in episode 8. There was no significant reason as to why theo was so adamant in finding out who enchante is. They didn't create scenes to build theo and enchante's relationship and the motivation where US viewers would also want to find who he really is. It was just a simple conversation over a book page and it took him 8 episodes.
The four guys were also useless, they serve no purpose whatsoever. When it was revealed that enchante was theo all along, I was disappointed. Even without that whole arc, Akk's attention would still be given to him.
"I'm waiting for you to say it". This line just pissed me so much. After finishing the series, it just made me despise theo. I hate how Akk is always the one to try to make up with theo. How he always has to put Theo's feelings first. How the characters around him pushes to Akk to prioritize Theo than him. How that football guy made Akk insecure when people's opinion about the lead's relationship where irrelevant. Akk's older sister telling Akk that "Theo might know that there is someone better than Akk for him" and making Akk's self esteem way way way lower is such a poor move.
Every single story were always made to for THEO. There is no them, only him. Theo tells Akk that he's selfish when He's the most SELF-ABSORB, SELF-CENTERED and selfish main character I have ever known. Even when they were still friends, he never asks about how Akk feels. He gets annoyed when Akk was playing with the dog in the book fair when the service was free, he never did anything for akk, he never showed understanding for akk, it's always about him. He knew that his lies about enchante were hurting akk along the way but when it was pretty reasonable how Akk never had the right to reveal about Theo's parents situation yet Theo put all the blame to Akk. He's such a hypocrite when all the drama for the whole 8 episodes where caused by him. Did he ever did something for akk that would make him swoon? No, it was always him waiting for akk to do everything. Was there a point where akk was able to lean on him? where he finds a way to lift akk's self-esteem and make him realize that other's opinion about them were not important?
Even in the end, it was still Akk who has to find ways to follow him in france and rebuild their relationship. Where was theo's efforts?
When they were young, he has no choice but to follow his parents decision about him living in france. He knows that it would hurt akk again when he plans to leave but now that he's an adult, he has every chance to just chose to be with akk but oh no, he chose to stay silent and left akk again. HE LEFT AKK AGAIN and HOPES THAT AKK WOULD CHASE HIM.
Seriously, who does that to their lovers? He lacks understanding, empathy, and connection. Like I can go on writing about how selfish he is and it still wouldn't change how unfair everyone has been towards akk. He deserves so much more. He deserves someone who's also there for him, someone who gives him assurance that Sun is just a Friend. Someone who doesn't deny their relationship infront of Sun. Someone who makes efforts and someone who isn't as manipulative and as narcisstic as theo.
If there's a chance, I hope akk would soon realize that he's inside a narcissistic relationship. Hope you'll find a way out bro.
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I DIDNT EXPECT THIS SERIES TO TURN OUT SO GOOD? WTF
Okay, so enchante might not be the best bl out there or a game-changer, but the plot gave me hope that gmmtv actually cares about their storyline lmao. I mean we can see that in their few bl series like not me, bad buddy or he's coming to me, but that's about it! Enchante is gonna enter that list if they wrap the final episode with the best resolution! I love the details and the hinted agendas happening here and there.> idk why yall mad at theo or akk and even siding one of them when they are actually both not wrong nor right! They both have reasons and i understand both of them. Theo was inebriated and dazed from the revelations. His parents didn't want to worry him because he had just returned from Thailand and his grandmother left .. Akk not telling theo becoz its not his business to tell. Everyone has their reasons, and you can't deny that or see things in black and white; there's always a gray area. WHY IS IT THAT EVERYONE ASSUMES THE SUN IS A BAD GUY? Is the goal to stir things up? What if he's there to convince Akk that he's deserving of Theo? Each ambassador served a certain role, so why can't Sun have one that isn't simply for show?
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Cute and Enjoyable
Oh wow, It's kinda new and I like the atmosphere watching this. It was so cute, no hardcore scene. I like this series tho, but I want more from the story (10 eps is not enough for me) I'm not complaining I just want to make it longer XD...Story: It's still a school bl story but it kinda new since no engineering course envolved here hahaha XD.. they are so cute to be honest. I can feel their chemistry together ( no cringyness watching them). The story, I kinda like it but I don't know I feel like there's still lacking when there's no reason for this series to be lack off ( I'm just can't believe it's already done T.T) but all in all Its a cute series to watch to.. 8.5/10
Acting: They are not cringy to watch but I want more emotion from them 8/10
Music: I also enjoyed their ost's and bgs... 9/10
Rewatch Value: Hmmm maybe sometimes? 7/10
Still a good series to watch tho. I Still recommend this to watch .
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A SKY PINK AND PURPLE
I feel like now with the end I lost the best part of my week, Enchanté was and IS a part of me that I will always remember, the story make you excited about everything, the actors are so fine, I'm really impressed, this is a story that I want more so bad that I will rewatch a thousand times, they litterally make the sky pink and purple for me in the lasts episodes, It's a story that I understand that are complete, but I want more and more and more. The soundtrack is AMAZING I always listen on spotify, the only weak point is the production on the last episode, just that. In general was amazing. I hope they release a season 2 or others story with the main roles because man they have CHEMISTRY.Was this review helpful to you?
LOTS of nonsense, but the actors are cute
SOME people say the series has turned to worse since the identity of “Enchante” was revealed, but it was not great to begin with. except for actors.* * *
THERE are dozens of series that depict “brothers” while casting actors that are not even remotely similar to each other, which is pretty annoying.
But here we have a few actors who could be bothers, but they are not in the scenario.
WHAT? Book’s character is written as a lass, so he is not interested in intimate fun? As almost always in BL series. Not believable at all. Also, the idea that they first become boyfriends and only then way later start to become intimate is completely backwards to how things happen in real life.
This tampers with the submerging into the story when you have to suspend disbelief in very basic truths of human life and relationships.
Other issues are covered in a spoilers tagged comment below.
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Lost Potential ...
I was really excited for this one, mainly because of the two ML and of course Fluke ...Although it started off really well, it did fall short after the 3 episode for me, and the main reason for this is the whole I am going to look for Enchante, not sure how many people actually go searching for a total stranger but then end up being your self, I did find kind of strange, and bit a of attention seeking, I do get the reason why he did though, but I do feel there was a way to confess your love. The moment it was revealed who the mysterious Enchante guy is, it just started going down the drain. then the main 4 so called popular role modals that turned out to be greedy or just wanted to use theo to gain something was a little off for me. The whole Enchante concept, build up and payoff was extremely lacklustre and disappointing.
The actor for Theo was pretty flat imo. His acting was fine, but I wonder if it was just because the character was so dull that I wasn’t that interested in him. Akk on the other hand is beautiful and charismatic- I really hope we see him in other works soon. Honestly if he wasn’t one of the male leads in this series, I may have just dropped it- it was that boring.
Overall: I did struggle to watch this every week, and it basically came down to well lets just end it, since i did invest time in it from the start, that goodness it was a shortish drama, as I don't think I would have continued with it if it was longer.
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